As Irom Sharmila prepares to end fast, diktats fly in thick and fast

In an ironic turn of events, Irom Chanu Sharmila, of Manipur who is going to end her 16-year-long fast on Tuesday faces a diktat from insurgent groups on her decision to live, marry and contest elections. Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup and the Kangleipak Communist Party — two insurgent groups in Manipur issued statements urging her to continue with her fast to demand the repealing of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (Afspa), after her 26 July announcement to call off her fast. The Alliance for Socialist Unity of Kangleipak, another radical group even issued a diktat against her to not to marry an outsider. Irom Sharmila, who is in a relationship with a Goan-British man Desmond Coutinho is expected to get married to him. The radical group said in a statement that, although her boyfriend is an NRI, he is an ‘Indian’ and because of the increasing number of marriages between Manipuris and ‘Indians’, the natives are facing identity crisis. [caption id=“attachment_2942508” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Irom Sharmila. PTI[/caption] The group also warned her that some former revolutionary leaders who changed course to join electoral politics were assassinated. Surprisingly, most civil society organistions that have been vocal against army atrocities in the state maintained a stoic silence on the infringement of Irom Sharmila’s rights by insurgent groups. In fact, a close associate of hers who has been supporting her in the struggle against Afspa, distances herself from Irom Sharmila by saying that the decision to end the fast, marry and contest election is a sort of betrayal. Babloo Loitongbam, who leads an organistion named Human Rights Alert, says that everyone has the freedom to express his or her opinion including the fasting woman as well as the groups and people who are opposing her latest decision. But he adds that Irom Sharmila is not a person who will cow down to diktats. He welcomed Irom Sharmila’s decisions, but declines to comment when asked whether he sees the diktat issued as an transgression of Sharmila’s rights as an individual. The Patriotic People’s Front Assam, one of the few civil society organisations that has been supportive of her rights as an individual, expresses utter dismay at the diktat issued against her. Nava Thakuria, of the PPFA says, “It is ironic that few people have expressed support to Irom Sharmila’s right to decide her own fate as an individual, when she risked her life for 16 long years to protect the human rights of the people of her state.” He also opines that she should be allowed to pursue her decisions freely without any pressure. “Sharmila’s decision to end her fast should (must) be respected and nobody can come in the way of her new life, The Okram Ibobi Singh-led government in Imphal must ensure her protection in the backdrop of the situation and the Manipuri civil society should come forward raising their voices loud and clear against those elements who dare to prevent an individual from fulfilling one’s personal (legal) will.” Irom Sharmila, who is in judicial custody under the laws related to suicide is expecting to end her fast after completing the formalities in the court. She has been continuing her fast unto death from the year 2000, demanding that Afspa be repealed.