From: maglin P <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
*_AN APPEAL FOR SOLIDARITY TO SHARMILA DURING THE WOMEN'S DAY_*
Dear friends,
During the last 7 years, Sharmila Irom has been on a hunger fast with a
single demand: Withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958
(AFSPA) in Manipur. The act legitimizes any army personnel to shoot,
kill and destroy a person or a property on mere `suspicion'. According
to Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission `the Act itself has become a symbol
of oppression, an object of hate and an instrument of discrimination and
high-handedness'. The United Nations Committee on Racial Discrimination
under the International Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Racial
Discrimination urged the Govt. of India to repeal the AFSPA within one
year. The proposed time provided by the UNCRD is ends on February 26, 2008.
According to our knowledge, no man or woman including Gandhi has ever
undertaken such a long fast. It is a matter of shame that the Govt. of
India is still ignoring the issue in spite strong recommendations, media
reports and people's resistance.
The women's movement in India have supported the cause of Sharmila Irom
during the Calcutta conference. We feel that more consolidated action
and support at a national level is needed to bring justice to Sharmila
and the people of Manipur.
Recently, Theeradesa Mahilavedi facilitated solidarity meetings on this
issue in Trivandrum, Trichur, Calicut and Cochin. It was decided during
this campaign that we must act on the coming International Women's Day
on March 8, 2008 expressing solidarity to Sharmila Irom.
Therefore, we appeal to all women's groups and democratic forces to
involve in some solidarity action in support of Sharmila Irom during the
coming Women's Day. Possibilities of action could be:
1. Solidarity protests, 2. Film screenings (copies of a film on
Sharmila will be available from Wilfred, INSAF, A124/6 Katwaria
Sarai, New Delhi Ph: 011-26517814), 3. Letters to Prime Minister,
Defense Minister and political leaders, 4. Signature campaigns,
Interventions through press, or 5. Any other action you may feel
appropriate. For more information on the issue, please visit:
manipurfreedom.org <http://manipurfreedom.org>
We hope that with such solidarity actions in different parts of the
country, we can reach a bit more close to the claims of `democracy' in
this country.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Magline Peter
Theeradesa Mahilavedi
Thiruvananthapuram
Phone: 09495987879
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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