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Irom Sharmila - sidelined but undaunted
By Geeta Lourembam
Irom Sharmila Chanu’s lonesome fight for a better tomorrow for the entire state of Manipur by forgoing her mental, physical and spiritual desires is not in the limelight anymore. When Irom Sharmila began her fast onto death, demanding an end to the draconian laws that are throttling the lives of the people of Manipur, she was accompanied by two other women, but Sharmila in the main has been alone in her struggle for our motherland. Irom Sharmila’s hunger strike has been pushed to the back ground for some time even though she is relentlessly pursuing her Satyagraha.
The people of Manipur have now learnt to live with despair at the lack of political will or rather the desire to free the people of the oppressive Armed Forces Special Power Act of 1958. While it is obvious that majority of the people are in favor of removing this black law, but the political leaders who have been voted to power by this very people are refusing to disturb the status quo for reasons not explained to the people.
The people of Manipur unlike their counterparts in other states of India have been subjected to repressive measures and they are unable to enjoy the pleasure of being citizens of free India. The repressive provision of this act can only be unleashed after declaration of ‘disturbed area’ under section 3 of the said act.
The Governor of Manipur has the full authority with regard to the declaration of ‘disturbed area’ in any part or whole of the state of Manipur, with, of course, the aid and advice of the council of ministers. The ‘disturbed area’ status of the entire area of the state of Manipur under the AFSPA was reaffirmed in the notification issued in the Manipur Gazette Extraordinary No 131 dated June 13 2000. As per the notification the declaration is to expire on June 1 2002. If the members of our council of ministers give their advice to the Governor for a fresh declaration without feeling the pulse of the people, it will be a very sad day for the state of Manipur.
It will not be out of place to say that Manipur has been mismanaged and misruled since its merger to India, without any imagination and vision. The state of Manipur has failed in all sphere, the economy is in doldrums, the education up to the high school level through government institutions has totally collapsed, our people has no work culture, government jobs are sold for money, quality has not been given due importance.
The law and order problem is also in a confused state. If the law enforcement machinery is to investigate the various crimes alleged against government officials, the law enforcing agencies will doubtlessly break down due to the sheer magnitude of the crimes.
In this scenario it may not be a wise option of the council of ministers to suppress the voice of the people by again unleashing the repressive provision of Armed Forces Special Power Acts by declaring the territory of Manipur as disturbed area.
At the present juncture instead of repressing the people the government should endeavor to win the confidence of the people. The state will only move forward and prosper when the confidence of the people is restored. Bold and imaginative actions are the need of the hour. Otherwise the feeling of colonial rule existing in the minds of the people will only harden and one day it may become impossible to govern the people of Manipur.
Sharmila’s relentless effort is a glaring example of the dislike of the people for the repressive measures adopted by the government. The government of Manipur is at its wits’ end with the problem of Sharmila. The jail authority is going bankrupt in providing medical facilities to Sharmila. Even if just one hundred more persons resolve to follow in Sharmila’s footsteps, the government of Manipur will have no resource to meet the problem.
The council of ministers should act with wisdom before deciding to declare disturbed area in any part of Manipur. If the government of Manipur chooses to remain ignorant of the desire of the people of Manipur to live freely as do their counterparts of other states of India, it will not be a surprise if the entire women community of Manipur follows in the footsteps of Sharmila.
At that time the government of Manipur will have no alternative but to concede to the true and just demand of the people.
(Courtesy: The Imphal Free Press)
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