Indian completes 'ten year hunger strike'

britexpat
By britexpat

I was fascinated by the headline - BUT, Is this really a hunger strike ?? Should the state let her die for her beliefs ??

A human-rights activist in northeast India who is dubbed the "Iron Lady of Manipur" has completed 10 years on hunger strike and vowed to continue her protest, her supporters said on Wednesday.

Chanu Sharmila, from the remote state of Manipur, which borders Burma, began her fast on November 2, 2000 after witnessing the killing of 10 people by the army at a bus stop near her home.

Now 38, she was arrested shortly after beginning her protest – on charges of attempted suicide – and was sent to a prison hospital where she began a daily routine of being force-fed vitamins and nutrients via a nasal drip.

Sharmila is frequently set free by local courts, but once outside she resumes her hunger strike and is rearrested.

She is campaigning for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that enables security forces to shoot on sight and arrest anybody without a warrant in impoverished and heavily militarised Manipur.

"She decided to continue with her fast-unto-death mission until the draconian legislation is repealed by the government," said Babloo Loitongbam from local human rights group Human Rights Alert.

Source: Telegraph

By ex.ex.expat• 4 Nov 2010 19:30
ex.ex.expat

In this case, I do not think the woman is crazy. I think she wants to die to make her point and I think she should be allowed to.

By Oryx• 4 Nov 2010 19:15
Oryx

Was Emmeline Pankhurst unbalanced because she went on hunger strike? or was her hunger strike a heroic sacrifice? mmmm ;)

By ex.ex.expat• 4 Nov 2010 19:06
ex.ex.expat

Hence that argument fails. Again, I think it's a personal decision that should be discouraged (because most people doing so are mentally unbalanced) but ultimately accepted.

By hapy• 4 Nov 2010 19:06
hapy

she is following example of father of the nation

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 19:01
anonymous

I think they just Punish them for incompetence.

Success is rated very highly in India and if someone can't even die properly then what else will he do in life so he is sent to prison to learn to die..

Ok ok I am just kidding :P

By ex.ex.expat• 4 Nov 2010 18:54
ex.ex.expat

to die.

Besides is suicide illegal in India? I never really understood the notion of making suicide illegal...

By laplandsql• 4 Nov 2010 18:47
laplandsql

every possible step should be taken by the military to check terrorism.if she is an indian citizen,she shud coperate with that...the govt. is kind enough and committed to save her life even though she is against humanity.

By soniya• 4 Nov 2010 17:37
soniya

sajmarhab, yes i would say it for umpteen number of times that her fasting is nothing but a mere foolish act...

The so called IRON LADY isn't a minor who still couldn't make out after being fasting for USELESS reason for last 10yrs that her demands can never be fulfilled by any government that will come in power...

There are many other ways to fight for the justice..But i am sorry, what she is doing is quite un-acceptable...

And those who are comparing her with MAHATAMA GANDHI,can u plz shut the mouth up??? She stands nowhere near our FATHER OF NATION..got yaa??

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 15:54
anonymous

Of course she's doing it for media attention. If she didn't get media attention than noone would know about her or her cause and she'd just be another dead person.

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 15:22
anonymous

i 've studied my education in Pakistan, never read more about Gandhi, except that he was a very clever Leader among all against white party.

Not less, nor more.

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 14:43
anonymous

This is what happens in China. Atleast pick a better example, will you?

http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=77&catid=2&subcatid=7

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 14:39
anonymous

Oh my she is being compared to Gandhi now, Is that the story in Pakistan???? Lol... STOP it..You are getting ridiculous now..

By gudone• 4 Nov 2010 14:39
gudone

may b shez on diet...for 10 years... IRON lady...

By hapy• 4 Nov 2010 14:38
hapy

Liu Xiabo did not disappear.

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 14:37
anonymous

And don't compare her with Liu Xiaobo, Do you even know what her hunger strike is about or you just hop on to air your Anti India views???

By hapy• 4 Nov 2010 14:36
hapy

Mahatma Gandhi did for media attention also.

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 14:36
anonymous

We have a competition for the comedian of the day now.

Hapy if she was a Chinese, she would have disappeared the very first day.

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 14:32
anonymous

Simple.. in this fantasy world, she's in hunger strike just for media fame? I admire height of her confidence and will power. Know what, she's 36 now.. lost her menstrual due to this. You say just to grab media!! Government hospitalized her in private cell forcibly feeding liquids. Her mother hasn't see her for 6 years afraid she might loose her confidence.

Indians,you are aware of POTA Act.. take a little guess about AFSPA (Armed Forces SPECIAL Power Act)? Google it.. Indian Government appointed two commissions to inquire this act..the armed personnel were reluctant

Y'll remorse...

By hapy• 4 Nov 2010 14:31
hapy

If she was a chinese dissident she would have received a Nobel by now.

But atleast she is getting vitamins which would be a luxury for hundreds of millions of poorer Indians.

By Colt45• 4 Nov 2010 14:15
Colt45

a thousand comedians are out of a job and of all people, ELICS decided to be one today!!! :-(

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 14:12
anonymous

Hahaha ELICS...

By Colt45• 4 Nov 2010 14:09
Colt45

I'm sorry to say, but your reasoning is BS... how can a person making weapons be a perv? Enlighten me blease!

By Colt45• 4 Nov 2010 14:06
Colt45

You're my new hero for today... :-)))

By ELICS• 4 Nov 2010 14:06
ELICS

you are right, 40% of indians have nothing to eat because some indian pervers are busy in making weapons and boosting weapon race which is promoting terrorism in the region because of poverty and injustice.

Remember, its hunger, next hungry people and you can expect anything if one get hungry.

By sajmarhab• 4 Nov 2010 13:48
sajmarhab

atleast you posted one of the best subject...

Most of the comments in this thread, it is really hurting to know that our QLers are heartless, Soniya you are saying she's doing for publicity stunt... just try yourself these so called fasting, atleat 3 day in a row, then you'll realize how painful it is. when you are joking to her, you are also joking against to our Nations father, Mahatma Gandhi whose main weapon is hunger strike, against the heartless British. please try to learn about the strike as deep as you can...

Dear brit,

As an Indian my land is not shining dear, almost 40% of the people is in HUNGER STRIKE but they are forced.. bcoz they dont have nothing to eat...this is fact.

By timebandit• 4 Nov 2010 13:37
timebandit

Ten years is nothing.... I reckon if I stopped eating today, I would live for at least 20 years on my reserves.

By FathimaH• 4 Nov 2010 12:53
FathimaH

she's still at it,huh? Guess that's one way you know time flies. when your told the "iron lady" completes x years of her strike..lol. It seems like just a short time back I heard it was some seven years or so. She was featured in all the "girl power" mags. Sadly with all the publicity etc she's gotta realize by now she's really not going to get what she wants and that she might as well chose another approach or just jump off a cliff already!

By soniya• 4 Nov 2010 12:49
soniya

senti, good that you realized it soon..:D

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:49
anonymous

They can try to explain to her the importance and the need of that particular act there instead of letting her die but I think they may have tried that already sometime during the 10 years

By sentibhim• 4 Nov 2010 12:43
sentibhim

After reading all comments,i reach in this conclusion " LET HER DIE " :P

By soniya• 4 Nov 2010 12:40
soniya

drmana, her demands to a certain extent is unreasonable and thus the GOVT.hasn't acted so far...

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:40
anonymous

She is living in full comfort on government expense for the last 10 years when she wants to die.

Yes this is unfair and our money shouldn't be wasted on a moron

By soniya• 4 Nov 2010 12:39
soniya

Cryspy, what to cry for??

what will be the end result?

That lady is fighting for last 10yrs with no result uptil now...so do u think if we would support her, she will gain the justice sooner or later...Ah puhlzz..

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:35
anonymous

amazingly, no one is saying and lauding voice for a fair trial,,,,,,,,very very bad indeed.

By soniya• 4 Nov 2010 12:34
soniya

brit and smoke, this all what the local people are calling her as FOOL and DUMBO who will gain nothing at the end...

Yes, she is hogging the media attention(though not much these days)..Govt.is feeding her forcibly in order to make themselves away from getting any INTERNATIONAL hue-cry...

By drmana• 4 Nov 2010 12:32
drmana

Let her try to get what she wants. Its democracy after all. She is not harming anyone else in the process but herself. Fair enough I say. If her demands are reasonable government will notice her and do the needful. If her demands are unreasonable, it will be ignored. As long as she is not harming anyone else by her protest, no need to be harsh on her IMHO.

By soniya• 4 Nov 2010 12:30
soniya

Exactly smoke...

Since i have stayed in north eastern(ASSAM)part of INDIA for quite a longer period of time, i know about this IRON LADY..

At first, it looked very promissing on her part to do something for the people who were not related to her..

But as the time passed, many people are calling her FOOL to do all these just to hog the media limelight..

By britexpat• 4 Nov 2010 12:30
britexpat

But is she hogging the media limelight ?

Is the reason that the government keeps force feeding her that they don't want her to become a martyr ?

I personaly believe that she should be allowed to die for her beliefs..

By smoke• 4 Nov 2010 12:30
smoke

well if its the media limelight that she wants to hog and fill her stomach then by all means go ahead, there are millions of other people in India who are actually starving and the Govt. doesn't even notice them :P

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:27
anonymous

can some one tell me

"why is a woman, another woman worst enemy?"

By Rizks• 4 Nov 2010 12:27
Rizks

Cryspy by ur comments, i am having a feeling tat you are one of her RELATIVE....:)

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:25
anonymous

Rizk

if by any chance she has an expat relative, registered on QL, and send her all these posts? :P

By sentibhim• 4 Nov 2010 12:24
sentibhim

Thanks soniya for the link.i got the job for today lolz.

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:24
anonymous

They repealed the AFSPA for a while in Greater Imphal, the frequency of the bomb blasts doubled. Did she care for the deaths of those who died in those blasts?

DUMB woman.

By smoke• 4 Nov 2010 12:23
smoke

LOL soniya i'm with you on that, seriously...there are better ways to let your voice be heard and TODAY if it were not for brit i'd have never known about this lady..forget about the freaking Indian Govt. knowing about her existence, what were they doing for 10 years? She needs to get a grip on reality and eat some chappati :P

By Arien• 4 Nov 2010 12:23
Arien

Tinker honestly I ddnt bother to read the full post lol. I saw it now ;)

By Rizks• 4 Nov 2010 12:23
Rizks

does she have a laptop or access to Internet from her place to read our comments ?

does she know wat is QL ?

does she know wat is a computer even ? :(

By No_Good_Thing_Dies• 4 Nov 2010 12:22
No_Good_Thing_Dies

tinker, "if she wants to die let her die......the populatin is not gonna suffer anyways......"

sorry, but, its very rude...after all...she's not a criminal :(

By Arien• 4 Nov 2010 12:22
Arien

arrest her and charge her for suicide.

Let her die

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:22
anonymous

she must be disappointed by reading comments of QL ladies.

By soniya• 4 Nov 2010 12:20
soniya

Well the IRON LADY is damn fool to deprive herself from the DELICIOUS food just for the sake of getting justice...:D

By britexpat• 4 Nov 2010 12:20
britexpat

That suicide is painless

It brings on many changes

and I can take or leave it if I please.

The game of life is hard to play

I'm gonna to lose it anyway

The losing card I'll someday lay

So this is all I have to say

That suicide is painless

It brings on many changes

and I can take or leave it if I please

By smoke• 4 Nov 2010 12:20
smoke

attempted suicide is a crime..and you can be arrested for attempting or assisting in someones suicide :p

By drmana• 4 Nov 2010 12:20
drmana

Attempted suicide is a crime I think unless one is successful.

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:19
anonymous

but IMHO, she's right, and those Army Men must be bring in court for a fair trial.

By soniya• 4 Nov 2010 12:18
soniya

sentibhim, google it....u will get 50-50 answers for your query.

http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=why+suicide+is+a+crime&aq=1m&aqi=g1g-m2&aql=&oq=suicide+is+a+crime&gs_rfai=

http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=attempted+suicide+is+a+crime&aq=3m&aqi=g2g-m2&aql=&oq=suicide+is+a+cr&gs_rfai=

By Rizks• 4 Nov 2010 12:16
Rizks

No Suicide is not a crime, its a Joke - performed by some Jokers....:(

By sentibhim• 4 Nov 2010 12:15
sentibhim

Is Suicide a crime ?

By sentibhim• 4 Nov 2010 12:14
sentibhim

Is Suicide a crime ?

By Rizks• 4 Nov 2010 12:14
Rizks

lol Cryspy...

who knows, might be eating Masala Dosa in dark when the whole world is sleeping....:(

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:12
anonymous

taklay

didn't U read forced Vitamins ;)

By Rizks• 4 Nov 2010 12:12
Rizks

10 Yrs ? :(

how is she surviving ?

By soniya• 4 Nov 2010 12:12
soniya

Heard the news about her some time back on news channels..But after that, media even stopped highlighting her demands..

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:11
anonymous

she's inspired of Arun Dathi Roy.

By anonymous• 4 Nov 2010 12:07
anonymous

Let her die if she wants to. Why waste money on her.

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