Radical Socialist
Irom Sharmila completes 10 years of hunger fast against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
will sonia gandhi acknowledge her peaceful struggle and end
her solitary confinement while in imphal on nov 12, 2010?
Over the last few weeks the Manipur valley has been paying tribute to 10 years of the relentless struggle of the Imphal-based poet, Irom Chanu Sharmila, against the AFSPA. In response, the government of Manipur has systematically disrupted peaceful public meetings and banned rallies and concerts that were being attended by people from all over the country who had met to honour Irom Sharmila and re-iterate their long-standing demand for the immediate repeal of the AFSPA - a draconian law that has been force in many parts of the north east as well as Kashmir for almost 60 years now and left a terrible legacy of killings, torture, disappearances, rape, and many other crimes committed with impunity.
For too long, the government has turned a blind eye to excesses by the armed forces committed under AFSPA. For too long, it has refused to implement the recommendations of several of its own Committees – from the Justive Jeevan Reddy Committee to the 2nd Administrative Reforms Committee – to repeal AFSPA. For too long it has suppressed peaceful voices of protest like that of Irom Sharmila by holding her in solitary confinement, without rights of visitation granted even to convicted criminals in the country.
On November 12, 2010 Chairperson, UPA and AICC President, Ms Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to visit the Manipur valley to inaugurate some developmental projects and a Congress Bhawan Annexe Building. But it seems, that like the government she heads, Ms Gandhi has no time or inclination to listen to the voices of the people of Manipur, or indeed to live up to the promises made by her own government – after all, on 2 December 2006, PM Manmohan Singh promised the speedy removal of the AFSPA at the historic Kangla Fort from where she will now address a public meeting.
As Chairperson, National Advisory Council, we urge Ms Gandhi to go beyond political affiliations by meeting Irom Sharmila on her current visit, and initiating proceedings to end the undemocratic way in which Irom Sharmila’s freedom of liberty and speech have been taken away from her.
As democratic voices, peoples’ organisations, women’s and students groups and concerned individuals we demand that if Ms Gandhi truly wishes to do something for the people of the region, she must not remain silent on the spate of aggressions by the state government in the valley and hill areas, especially over the last year. She cannot visit the region and fail to initiate a political dialogue with the people. She cannot ignore the impact of militarization by the State that dominates peoples’ lives. She cannot remain silent on the AFSPA anymore.
Sd/-
1. Uma Chakravarti, Feminist Historian
2. Neingulo Krome, Former President, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights
3. Bimol Akoijam, JNU, Delhi
4. Vani Subramanian, Saheli, Delhi
5. Urvashi Butalia, Zubaan, publisher of Irom Sharmila’s book of poems, The Fragrance of Peace
6. Harsh Mander, Special Commissioner for Food Security
7. Yambem Laba, Ex- Member, Manipur Human Rights Commission
8. Babu Matthew, Former Director, Action Aid
9. Dr. K.S. Subramaniam, IPS, (Retd)
10. Vrinda Grover, Lawyer
11. Babloo Loitongbam, Human Rights Alert
12. Dr. Th. Suresh Singh, Retd Director of Health Services
13. Henri Tiphagne, People’s Watch, Madurai
14. Jiteswar Sarma, Chairman, Manipur Peace Centre
15. Ammu Abraham, Women’s Centre Mumbai
16. Anand Chakravarti, Retd Prof Delhi University
17. Anjuman Ara Begum, Dept of Law, GU
18. Anuradha Pati
19. Anusha Hari, JNU
20. Asha Kotwal, Gen. Sec., NCDHR
21. B. Prem Sharma, Social Worker
22. Basantakumar Wareppa, Human Rights Alert
23. Chit Ranjan Singh, INSAF/ P.V.C.L
24. Chitra Ahanthem
25. Cynthia Tiphagne, People’s Watch, Madurai
26. Daisy Phukan, Photo Journalist
27. Dhana Loukrakpam, Poknapham
28. Diamond Vahali Oberoi, Delhi
29. Dimple Vahali Oberoi, Shimla
30. Forum Against Oppression of Women, Mumbai
31. Geeta Charusivam, Tamil Nadu
32. Geeta Seshu, Mumbai
33. Geetanjali Gangoli, UK
34. Honey Vahali Oberoi, Delhi
35. Jayshree Mutum, S.G. Lecturer
36. Joshy Joseph, Film maker
37. Joya Mitra, Writer/ Environment Activist
38. K.P. Sasi, Film maker/ Visual Search
39. Kalpana Viswanath
40. Kalyani Menon-Sen, Gurgaon
41. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, JNU, Delhi
42. Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Advocate
43. Kamla Bhasin, Sangat South Asia
44. Kh. Imomacha, Media
45. Khaidem Mani, Advocate
46. Khelen Thokchom, Media
47. L. Pardisi, Committee on Human Rights
48. L. Romikanta, Law Student
49. Lena Ganesh, Mumbai
50. M. Labeeb. Theatre
51. M. Nilomani, Employee, Raj Bhavan
52. Madhu Mehra, Partners for Law in Development, Delhi
53. Maya Subrahmanian
54. Meena Seshu, Sangram and VAMP, Sangli
55. Meihoubam Rakesh, HRLN
56. N. Pramod Singh, LMS
57. Nilanjana Biswas, Bangalore
58. Ningthuiyang, Law Student
59. North East Network
60. O. Jiten, Research Scholar
61. O. Romen, Just Peace Foundation
62. Oinam Doren, Photo Journalist/ Film maker
63. Ojas S.V., Theatre Activist, Pune
64. P. Biramangol, Teacher/ Writer
65. Pamela Philipose, Women’s Feature Service, Delhi
66. Paramita Nath, Independent Filmaker
67. Penkoottu, Kozhikode, Kerala
68. Ponni Arasu, Chennai
69. Pramada Menon, Gurgaon
70. Pramodini Pradhan, Civil liberty activist
71. Prasanna Nair. Kochi, Kerala
72. Pratiksha Baxi, Delhi
73. Premjit, Businessperson
74. Priya Thangarajah
75. Ramlath Kavil, Mumbai
76. Ratna Appnender, Student
77. Richa, Jan Abhiyan Sanstha, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
78. Rohini Hensmen
79. S.K. Yumnam
80. Sajjad Hassan, Centre for Equity Studies, Delhi
81. Salam Bidyalaxmi, Student
82. Samrat Sinha, TISS
83. Saratchand Thiyam, Sahitya Thoupang Lup
84. Saumya Uma, Consultant - Gender, Law & Human Rights
85. Shipra Nigam, IIT Delhi
86. Shruti, Student, JNU
87. Suneeta Dhar, Jagori, Delhi
88. Supriya Madangarli, Mumbai
89. Thresiamma Mathew, Archana Women's Centre, Kottayam
90. Trupti Shah, Sahiyar (Stree Sangathan) Vadodara
91. Nisha Biswas, Scientist, Activist
92. Veena Gowda, Lawyer
93. Bisakha Dutta, Point of View, Mumbai
94. Teena Gill, Filmmaker, Delhi
95. Vineeta Bal, Scientist, New Delhi
96. Mary John, Director, Centre for Women’s Development Studies
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Radical Socialist is an internationalist Marxist organisation based in India.