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Women on relay fast to save Sharmila

Iboyaima Laithangbam

Imphal: The Manipuri woman Irom Sharmila, who has been on a fast-unto-death for eight years demanding the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, has got support from women.

To save Ms. Sharmila, hundreds of women have been on a relay hunger-strike for the past 45 days near the J.N. Hospital here, where she has been lodged in a room (treated as a sub-jail) for the past eight years.

As Ms. Sharmila needs constant medication and attention of doctors, she was shifted to the hospital from the maximum security jail at Sajiwa here.

The Act, under which Ms. Sharmila was detained, empowers the authorities to keep her in jail for one year only. Every year she would be released and she would resume the fast, forcing the police to re-arrest her.

Hospital sources said Ms. Sharmila, who has not taken any solid food all these years, is kept alive by feeding though nose. Her general health condition is deteriorating.

Ms. Sharmila has spurned all appeals from the Union and State government leaders to call off the strike.

The Centre has made it clear that it is not possible to repeal the AFSPA now in view of the continuing violence in the State.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who also holds the Home portfolio, told Ms. Sharmila that the AFSPA could not be repealed as the militants were having a field day.

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