Manipur Woman Fasting Since 6 Years Against AFSPA

Irom Sharmila Chanu, a 35 year old woman who hails from Imphal, Manipur would complete 6 years of fasting in November, in what is perhaps the longest such political protest ever recorded.

On hunger strike since 2000, Sharmila is demanding the repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act or AFSPA, which gives sweeping powers to the army in the state.

She is is being force-fed through a pipe in her nose on the orders of the state administration.

Manipur, with a population of 30 million, has been administered by the Indian army since 1980 and human rights organisations often describe the army's powers as "draconian".

While the government maintains that the law is necessary to restore normalcy in a state racked by a militant secessionist movement, civil society groups allege gross human rights violations by the army.

Her brother, Irom Singhajit Singh says she began her fast after soldiers of the Assam Rifles paramilitary force allegedly killed 10 young Manipuri men in Malom.

"The killings took place on 2 November, 2000. It was a Thursday. Sharmila used to fast on Thursdays since she was a child. That day she was fasting too. She has just continued with her fast," says Mr Singh.

Three days later, police arrested Sharmila on charges of trying to take her life. Later she was transferred to judicial custody and taken to hospital where she remains to this day, force-fed a liquid diet through her nose.

"My fast is on behalf of the people of Manipur. This is not a personal battle - this is symbolic. It is a symbol of truth, love and peace," she says.

"I will withdraw the fast as and when the government withdraws the Armed Forces Special Powers Act unconditionally," said the gutsy lady.

Doctors say her fasting is now having a direct impact on her body's normal functioning - her bones have become brittle and she has developed other medical problems too.

The government cannot afford a high-profile martyr for the Manipuri nationalist movement. So they cannot let Sharmila die.

To keep her alive, she is fed a cocktail of vitamins, minerals, laxatives, protein supplements and lentil soup through the nose with a rubber pipe.

The BBC quotes state director general of police, AK Parashar, as saying, "A young citizen of the country cannot be allowed to die. We have an obligation to see that she doesn't die an unnatural death.

"We are doing our best to keep the young lady alive. She is doing her job - we are doing our duty."

The editor of a local daily newspaper, Irengabam Arun, feels the administration has its own reasons to keep Sharmila alive.

"On the one hand, human rights activists across the world know about her and on the other hand, if she dies, the armed forces act will be back on the centre stage. The government cannot afford that," he says.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which is operational in the north-eastern states of India and Jammu and Kashmir, has been in force in Manipur for 26 years now.

A committee formed by the government has suggested the act be scrapped, but its report has been rejected.