PRESS RELEASE
Irom Sharmila appeared before the metropolitan magistrate Akash Jain in the Patiala session court of Delhi on 5th and 6th June 2015. The Court was required to record statements of the witnesses that included the doctors along with another person who had recorded the protest of Jantar Mantar when Irom Sharmila was in Delhi in 2006.
In this case, the Delhi police had lodged FIR upon Irom Sharmila under section 309 of “Attempt to suicide’. Now as doctors did not come, the next date was given by the court with the hope that it will be the final hearing.
Save sharmila solidarity campaign (SSSC) members accompanied Irom Sharmila in the Court and were present in the court in solidarity. Campaign observed that though it was a judicial requirement, but such kind of hearings are mere unnecessarily harassment on the name of section 309 upon a human rights activist. It is a clear contradiction in Irom Sharmila’s case as while she is fighting for right to life, she is being charged with the allegation of taking away the right to life.
It is also observed that despite Irom Sharmila’s desire to meet Prime minister of India, prime minister office have not called for any meeting yet. It is her demand since long time that she is hopeful with democracy and she wants to meet Prime minister. Save Sharmila Soldarity Campaign believes that not calling a meeting with her is actually a denial of state to meet this crusader of non-violence. It is a time when Irom Sharmila has global supporters to raise voice for her cause, but despite all efforts and unparalleled sacrifice and struggle, Indian state is continuously ignoring and suppressing her. It is unfortunate that the government is giving priority of talks with those who are adopting violent ways, but it is continuously ignoring the non-violence.
Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign is already involve in campaigning and will increase its activities from coming months to spread awareness and to advocate for the cause of Irom Sharmila.
SSSC also condemns the Manipur attack and the questioning of demand of repeal of AFSPA. It was reported and SSSC re-iterates the statement of Irom Sharmila who had condemned the Manipur attack. She regarded the killing of soldiers to be shocking and shameful. She has always condemned killing which is the reason for her protest. She regards killing, no matter by whom, as shameful and unacceptable. She had also said that this incident happened in a region which is under full control of AFSPA but still it happened. It shows that AFSPA has not been the solution.
SSSC agrees and fully supports her view. SSSC feels that such attacks are also failure of state itself as it seems that state has not even capable of protecting its own functionaries. Also, the fact remains that the common people are the sufferers of atrocities of both the state and anti-state groups. Through AFSPA, the state has been involved in performing extreme atrocities upon common people in past. SSSC believes that imposing hard laws like AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) in civil areas are of no use and it has been used against people widely. There must be a strategy to remove AFSPA from all areas of North East and J&K as without it confidence building cannot be done. AFSPA is a failed law and it must go.
Press Release issued by
Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign
India Political Prisoners 
It’s nice that people write about Sharmila most Delhites were unaware of her presence. Would it not be more respectful to seek Irom Sharmila’s opinion. Most don’t. I am her fiance and have been given full authority to speak on her behalf. But perhaps think. What northeasterners usually complain about is that any protest in Imphal will be easily ignored. First Sharmila is still kept under arbitrary isolation orders. I was imprisoned with torture for 77 days even though I had a local judge grant me a court order requring police protection during an agreed prison visit. I was informed on release if I tried to get another court order I would be beaten up and imprisoned again for breach of the peace. For now for those who are a little more adventurous because of the NIA investigation you’d be fairly safe from the local police and their representatives from the local NGOs. Nobody wants to draw attention to themselves because those that the NIA name if they do their job will be looking at a death sentence not some cushy sentence in a VVIP cell. So here’s a thought. Instead of continually condemning the court case in Delhi and colluding with those who want the case dropped. What about this strategy. Present an actual defence. So invite the great and the good Shirin Ebadi the Nobel Laureate spoke for Sharmila in 2006 just after her arrest. She could anchor the character witnesses. Dr Binyak Sen could give expert witness testimony on the Malta Directives of the WHO for the defence. There are many celebrities who want to talk for Sharmila on TV debates or on UN junkets abroad. But they all seem to desert her when it counts at this show trial. And of course Sharmila can be given the right to address the court and have put into public record what satyagraha means. I know this group has connection with local Manipuri NGOs. I have always maintained that this nexus seeks Sharmila’s death. And when pressed those not directly involved will admit they have no connection with those NGOs and are not pushing any agenda. But these are my thoughts. Sharmila is campaigning for the removal of the AFSPA any campaign that supports that for now is helpful. She is not campaigning for the right of hunger strikers to die in obscurity. She is not trying to kill her self. She is not fasting unto death. Nor does she seek the right to fast unto death to be enshrined in Indian Law. Those who have any respect for history should know this. Or they could listen to her words. Instead of having press releases and fake campaigns. I am sure there will be a candlelight vigil announced for when Sharmila isn’t in Delhi. I hope that those of goodwill will come to support Sharmila in August if she is sent by the GoM. She has been sent now 4 times out of 16 attempts by this court and there are two other trials concurrent in Imphal. Nobody attends those as they are being managed with the usual manipuri violence that doesn’t get reported because no Indians (Mayangs) are involved. The NIA investigation now active in Manipur gives Sharmila a breathing space from the death plots which also remain underreported.
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