IMPHAL, November 2: Showing solidarity to Irom Chanu Sharmila for completing 15 years of her hunger strike, the Women Action for Development (WAD) jointly with North East Dialogue Forum, United NGOs Mission-Manipur, Imphal East Samaritan Resource Centre, People`™s Platform Secretariat, Village women Coordinating Committee, Peoples`™ for Human Right and Climate Change today conveyed a press meet at Manipur Press Club, Imphal.
Speaking to the media, secretary WAD Sobita Mangsatabam said that Irom Chanu Sharmila in agitating against the draconian Armed Forces (Special Power) Act 1958 and started her fast on November 2, 2000 after the killing of 10 innocent civilians by the Assam rifles at Malom, Imphal.
She said that Sharmila`™s struggle to repeal AFSPA-1958 is the longest hunger strike in the world in the largest democratic country in the world.
She said that many women have been raped and murdered by the security forces under Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958.
Taking advantage of the day, the joint body demanded the Government of India to release Irom Sharmila immediately and to repeal AFSPA-1958 from Manipur, urged Prime Minister of India to investigate all the cases of extrajudicial execution, sexual violence against Thangjam Manorama and punish the members of the Indian Armed Forces according to the Indian law and International Law and lastly urged the Central government to provide compensation and rehabilitation to the victims.