IROM SHARMILA TO END HER FAST

After sixteen years of her fast against the AFSPA, she believes it would not lead to the repeal of Act and thus is going to end the fast on 09 Aug 2016.
AFSPA- Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA), are Acts of the Parliament of India that grant special powers to the Indian Armed Forces in what each act terms “disturbed areas”. One such act passed on September 11, 1958 was applicable to the Seven Sister States in India’s northeast. It is a Act which gives the armed forces special power to arrest, or detain anyone without warrant merely on the specious ground ,a law which empowers armed forces personnel to shoot and kill on the mere suspicion of “a threat to law and order”. Documented atrocities — killings, disappearances, rape, harassment, torture — have piled up over the years. The AFSPA has been promulgated in most parts of Manipur since 1980.
In Nov 2000 sharmila decided to go on hunger strike demanding the repeal of the above said Act, ans is force fed by nasal tube in Imphal’s jawahar lal nehru hospital.she is in special ward which serves her prision But now finally she decided to end her fast on coming 9th and is planing to contest Manipur assembly election as a individual candidate
“And it is rightly said if u want change in something, stop complaining and enter into that to make a change.”
The 44 year old rights activist said she would join Election as she no longer believes her fast would lead to the repeal of the draconian Act.The Assembly election are due in early next year. Ms sharmila also expressed her desire to get married after leaving prision on Aug 09 . Her decision of joining politics is welcomed by many political parties including congress and BJP as Earlier many political leaders has tried to persuade her to join politics.
Irom Sharmila’s decision to end her fast is a moment for us to pause, and take stock. It is also a moment to celebrate not only her extraordinary grit but also the fact that she will live free once again. On August 9, she will resume normal eating, and by so doing, become a free citizen: No longer jailed, under a spurious charge (“attempt to suicide”
by: PRIYANKA GANGWAR