Ravi Nitesh/ Devika Mittal/ Tanveer Iqbal: New Delhi
Delhi: Just after the death of Sh. Rajiv Gandhi, former PM of India, Indian government declared 21st May as Anti Terrorism Day. Years ago, Indian Parliament promulgated Armed Forces Special Power Act on 22nd May 1958 in parliament, which came in effect on 11 september 1958 in North Eastern states and later on extended in Jammu & Kashmir too in the year 1990. The contrast is that, today we celebrate Anti Terrorism day and just after a day we feel shame on the law made years ago against terrorism.
In fact, at the time of discussion, the AFSPA, passed from parliament only after a brief two hour discussion, while there was a need for long and detailed discussion on this serious ordinance. Some MPs from the North East states opposed to introduction of this law, as the ruling Congress had the majority of MPs; the law was passed in the parliament easily.
Every concerned citizen, who want to make himself/herself aware about national and international issues and problems, who want to know about problems in neighbours state and who wants to contribute something to society through his act even be tiny,should know about the effects of AFSPA. We should feel that how horrible it will be if our civil colonies being filled with guns and bullets and security personals. In addition to this horrible scene, it has also been reported that civilians feel insecure with the presence of these securities. Many cases of rapes, bonded labors and human rights violation have been reported till date. Many international human rights organisations have opposed this law and termed it as Lawless Law.
A body of United Nations also requested the government to repeal the law, but in spite of all these things, government has not repealed the law.
AFSPA is a draconian law, which permits an army officer to shoot to kill, to capture any property, to arrest without warrant and all these rules are violation of our Right to Life. How a person can be given these kinds of permissions in any civil areas? Apart from the other political demands and problems, this is the problem which is related to human rights and which is continuously tells us about insult of our human values. Human values must be protected and respected in all conditions regardless any other problems.
AFSPA is introduced in almost all part of J&K and NE states. Though state government cannot remove it alone from all areas but still state government may send its recommendation through governor of state to repeal this law. There are ample reasons to remove it and throw it in dustbin. At least government can take initiative to remove this law from civil areas, and to demilitarize the civil areas. If not permanently, then at least for some months, and if the results become good, then it may be removed forever. We are sure that people will welcome it because people are unhappy, they are facing problems physiologically and psychologically because of this law,they are under pressure of their sorrow and anger. It is a duty of government to initiate the action to respect the wish and welfare of people and to respect the human values of its citizens. It is sure that if government will not open the safety valve now, then the internal pressure which is continuously increasing in people's heart, will blow up and a situation of burst may come in front of the world.
Removal of AFSPA will be a welcome move if it happen, but its continuation may create the situation more panic as it is in present scenario.
Now we heard have Anna now let us know about this sister in North eastern state Irom Sharmila who is fasting for last on decades .
WHO IS IROM SHARMILA ? WHY IROM IS ON HUNGER STRIKE?
Irom Sharmila Chanu, is a woman from Manipur. She is on hunger strike since the Year 2000 in Manipur. When Irom started her fast, she was only 28 years old journalist, poetess from Manipur. Irom already felt that AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958) which was imposed in Manipur, was continuously interfering the routines of citizens there. By the time, security personals behaved rudely with citizens, and therefore day by day they were losing the trust of citizens. Army was deployed in civil areas too. Irom Sharmila Chanu, reported that because of lack of restrictions and stringent actions, army was violating the basic human rights of citizens there, citizens were living under fear everytime and this situation not only resulted to negative psychological impacts on the mind of people but they became victims of innocent and fake killings also. In the context, in NOV 2000, security personals opened fire and a girl who was winner of annual bravery award from President of India, was killed along with other people. Irom Sharmila, then decided to move on the track of non violent appeal to establish the fear free administration of peace and justice where basic human rights must be respected and protected, and she, since that day started her hunger strike.
WHAT IS THE DEMAND OF IROM SHARMILA?
To repeal the AFSPA, to establish the fear free administration of peace and justice where basic human rights should be respected and protected. She demands for a fearfree administration, she demands for establishment of administration of peace in Manipur. She favors the demand of global peace and harmony, where people respect human values.
WHERE IS IROM AT PRESENT?
Irom is presently on hunger strike and has not left her protest. She is still with her demand to be heard by the way of non violence. Her hunger strike has become the longest in the world, and now people call him "Iron lady of Manipur". She has been nominated for Nobel Peace prize in the year 2005 and has been awarded by various other national and international peace prizes. She is under protection of government and authorities generally do not allow the public to meet her.
WHAT ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA?
Government of India, after looking over the support of Irom Sharmila by general public of Manipur, decided to arrest her under the prosecution of committing suicide. Irom didn't left her hunger strike, and therefore government regularly arrest him under the law.
Irom didn't accept food and water since the year 2000, and therefore government feed medicines to her through her nose.
Government denied giving permission to her to meet with general public, media, supporters and even friends and families. Government very few time give permissions to meet her.
Government formed Jeevan Reddy committee to know about the necessity of AFSPA, but never opened the recommended points of committee, however it became public through other sources that committee recommended to remove AFSPA.
WHAT IS THE CONCERN OF OTHER AGENCIES?
Various national and international agencies, human rights organizations and even United Nations have expressed their concern over this law and over the matter of Irom Sharmila.
South Asian Human Rights Network, during its survey found that after this law, government is loosing the faith of public, people are unhappy with their situation and told it "LAWLESS LAW". The network told that AFSPA is violating basic human rights.
WHAT OTHER EFFECTS?
Apart from these results, it should be noted that deployment of Army in any dense civil area, will make negative impact over the public life there. Apart from the other things, living in the shade of guns is itself a negative impact which may affect child psychology.
Safety of women and children is prime issue and many cases have been reported about the rapes and other sex abuse by security personals.
WHAT NEXT?
We can simply move on or we can do something regard to these. On a humanitarian grounds it is duty of all of us.
SAVE SHARMILA CAMPAIGN
Save Sharmila Campaign is an intiative of joint network of civil societies NAPM(National Alliance of People's Movement, Asha Parivar, Mahila Chetna Kendra, Jagriti Mahila Samiti, Khudai Khidmatgar, Sadbhavna Mission, Yuva Koshish, Mission Bhartiyam, ACSS(Asian Centre for Social Studies) and Munushi to generate awareness about Irom Sharmila, her struggle and sacrifice, among general public with some demand to government.
WHAT THEY DEMAND?
• As a concerned citizen of India, They feel that NE states have already facing many problems such as foreign interference, threat of destroying natural resources and culture, lack of development, lack of communication from rest of India, threat of AFSPA and lack of attention of media, public and government.
• They feel that, government is still ignoring the non violent voice of Irom Sharmila, who adopted Gandhian way of Satyagrah to be heard.
• They feel that non violence should not be ignored. Government talks with terrorists and naxals, but government is ignoring a non violent protest which demands peace and harmony. This is injustice, and it is against our democratic principles.
• Apart from other things, we demand to government to pay attention towards Irom Sharmila Chanu, a woman, who is on hunger strike since last 10 years. Let the talk start. Ignorance is not a solution; instead it will help to those who favor other ways to be heard.
THEIR DEMANDS:
They demand to government of India:
• To take ‘POSITIVE STEPS OF TALK'
• To send All Party Delegation
• To send member of NWC and NHRC
• To send special team of doctors from New Delhi to examine her health
On October 2n on Gandhi Jayanthi a nationwide signature campaign is been organized which has earned support of many colleges, Universities and Organisation across the nation. The campaign is already a successful virtually due to the support of netivens through e-mail, blogs and various social networking sites. Due to the campaign the work about Irom Sharmial has reached to far as Kaniya Kumari but it seems the Delhi is unheard or acting to be unheard.
(The writers are human rights activist and volunteers of Save Sharmila Campaign. The campaigner can be contacted at savesharmila@gmail.com)
Published in Situations Asia online portal (http://situationsasia.com/node/868)
