By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: The Co-ordinator of National Alliance for People’s Movement (NAPM) Md. Faisal Khan was not given permission to meet Civil Rights Activist Irom Chanu Sharmila by the Manipur Government. Khan, who arrived at Imphal on February 4, to meet Sharmila was not given permission to do so by the Home Department, Government of Manipur.
The Human Rights Alert and Just Peace Foundation had submitted an application to the State Home Department seeking permission to meet Sharmila on behalf of Khan on January 20.
Md. Faisal Khan speaking to media-persons at the Sharmila Kanba Lup Shanglen at Porompat
Khan is also at present the Co-ordinator of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC). SSSC is an alliance of more than 100 organizations and its main agenda is to gain support of non-Manipuri and non-Kashmiri for repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958.
Speaking to media-persons at the Sharmila Kanba Lup Shanglen at Porompat in Imphal on February 5, Khan said SSSC would join hands with several civil society organisations from across India to launch a strategic week-long nation-wide campaign in support of Sharmila’s struggle against AFSPA, 1958. The campaign will be launched on March 8, which is International Women’s Day, and will carry on till March 14, which falls on the birth-day of Sharmila, he added.
He further expressed that on the last day of the campaign, around 25 prominent social activists of this country, including social activists like Sandeep Pandey from UP and Zulaikha Jaber from Chhattisgarh would be coming to Imphal to observe a day-long fast to show solidarity to Sharmila’s campaign against AFSPA. Afterward, the activists will proceed to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS)’s Security Ward to meet Sharmila without seeking official permission. If necessary they will be courting arrest, Khan added.
Khan said the Government of Manipur has denied him permission to meet Sharmila for the fifth time. A dejected Khan expressed that once he reached Delhi on March 9 he will be filing an RTI petition against the State Government for not giving him permission to meet Sharmila on 5 instances. Khan also said that the time has come for the State and Central Government to hold unconditional talks with Sharmila over her demand.
Distributing pamphlets written in various Indian languages, organizing of rallies and press conferences would be main highlights of the nation-wide campaign. Khan will be speaking during the week-long campaign.
Sharmila, known to the world as the “Iron Lady of Manipur,” has been on fast since November 2, 2000 demanding repeal of AFSPA.