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Reclaiming Nature from Mizoram Context - Rebecca Lalhmangaihzuali

Posted on: 2007-09-07 16:34:11 After passing the hot and humid plains of Assam, you will enter a completely different scenario, the exotic hills of Mizoram (1). You will be welcomed by long winding roads, surrounded by the green forest of bamboo, ironwood, teak and other small trees and shrubs, and a cool moderate climate. And the deeper you go the scenic greenery of the landscape will marvel you. Oh, what a glorious place it is! The empty space is the envy of people in other states, and the sight of jhum cultivation is spectacularly breathtaking. When you breathe the fresh pollution free Mizo air, you’d smell heaven!

Campaign for Manipur Freedom Struggle from AFSPA


Start Date:2009-10-30  End Date: 2009-11-30

Signature Campaign for Manipur Freedom Struggle from AFSPA

 

Dear all SCMers,

 

On 2nd November 2009, Manipur poet and activist Irom Sharmila will enter the 10th year of her hunger strike demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

 

Introduced in 1958, the AFSPA grants the Indian military special powers throughout North-East India to:

  • Arrest citizens and enter their property without warrant
  • Shoot and kill anyone on mere ‘suspicion’
  • Enjoy immunity against legal action

 

Under the cover of the Act, the Indian Armed Forces have indulged in killing, torture, enforced disappearances and rape, bringing great shame to India and much misery to the people of Manipur. According to the government appointed Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission ‘the Act has become a symbol of oppression, an object of hate and an instrument of discrimination and high-handedness.’ The United Nations Committee on Racial Discrimination has urged the Indian government to repeal the law.

 

It was on 2nd November 2000, Irom Sharmila Chanu, a Manipuri poet decided to go on a hunger strike after the Indian Army massacred ten civilians in Malom, Manipur. On 6th November 2000, she was arrested by the police and charged with attempt to commit suicide under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code. Her health deteriorated gradually and she did not accept even a single drop of water. She has been in solitary confinement as a high security prisoner for the last nearly ten years. She is routinely released every year only to be re-arrested again. This ritual has been going on for a decade now.

 

In solidarity with her local civil society, particularly the women have been on a relay hunger strike since December 10, 2008. On the occasion of her struggle entering the tenth year, they are poised to celebrate her resilience as a "Festival of Hope, Justice and Peace". We are convinced that Sharmila’s struggle is not just to defend the human rights in Manipur, but in reality it is reshaping the very foundations of democracy in India. Therefore, it is important that all those who defend justice, peace and democracy to support her struggle.

 

We as SCMer should defend Justice, Peace and Democracy and show our solidarity with her through our Signatures for Condemning the anti democratic law AFSPA of 1958