“I am a human being and has all human feeling”, said Sharmila, adding that she also wants to set up an ashram to continue her struggle. On November 2, 2000, an Assam Rifles battalion had allegedly killed 10 civilians in a village near Imphal.
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“Manipur, like some other parts of the northeast, faces unrest from separatist militant groups fighting for ethnic enclaves or independent states”.
The world’s longest hunger strike has ended after 16 years. Attempted suicide is still an offence in India. She is inexperienced in politics.
“I want to be the CM of Manipur to make a positive change”.
This movement towards politics, while not completely unopposed, indicates a move towards a real change, a change that has been out of reach for the people of Manipur but transformed Sharmila into an icon of protest and resistance.
“(Some) people can’t be convinced right now.
“My fight so far has been all alone and so I have chose to wage a war against the (AFSPA) act democratically by becoming a lawmaker instead of continuing with my fast”, she told reporters at the time.
The 44-year-old activist was clear in her resolve to withdraw her fast and appealed to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court to set her free, soon after she reached the court at 10.58 am.
With regard to receiving threats, she said: “Kill me if you wish”.
She rued the fact that people have gravely misunderstood her. Ill contest the next assembly election from Khangabok in Thoubal district.
Authorities said police would maintain an escort for Sharmila because radical groups and rebels were angry with her and had threatened her for ending the strike, seeing it as weakening the fight against the military law. Arun Singh, a doctor at JNIMS while accepting her decision to end fasting refused to support her as a politician.
“I need power to remove the black law, ” Sharmila said referring to the immunity provisions. I’m inclined to think there is a large political design in this.
Activist Irom Sharmila is taken back to a hospital after a court appearance in Imphal, in the north-eastern state of Manipur, India, Aug. 9, 2016.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both called the law “draconian” and say it violates international law.
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“Oh, Mr. Prime Minister, you remain indulged in violence”, she said. Politics in India is a different ball game.
