A tale of defiance

IROM Sharmila has done the incredible, beating even Mahatma Gandhi. Her fast has entered its 15th year, beginning in November 2000 in protest against the shooting down of 10 unarmed civilians by the armed forces. She has been crusading for years against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). She has taken the vow to go without food until the Act is revoked in Manipur. The state has seen a great deal of bloodshed during these 15 years with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and several other rebel outfits on the rampage. There was a historic protest by Manipur women against the rape and murder of a PLA activist, Manorama in 2004 by Assam Rifles personnel. The cold blooded shooting of a former militant by the police in a crowded market followed in 2010. There have been skirmishes between Nagas and Meitis in aManipur escalated by the NSCN (IM) demand for a chunk of the state to be included in Nagaland. Finally, economic blockade of the National Highways led to rising prices and great suffering of the local people.
True, Irom Sharmila has not actually gone without food. She was force-fed by a state writ for fourteen years. She was even known to have been involved in a spot of romance. Nevertheless, she has shown steely will and determination defying the state and the Army. Government indifference shows inhuman brutality. The point is that the whole affair has happened in a Northeastern State. Sharmila’s fast for 15 years has had no effect. The reason lies not merely in the Centre’s authoritarianism and the State’s realpolitik. It is a real Catch22 situation. Militancy is a serious threat to peace and development in the state bordering on Myanmar. If the AFSPA is withdrawn, who will tackle the rebels? At the same time, how can the atrocities of a large number of Army personnel be wished away?