By Witoubou Newmai
When Manipur was living with the fear of frenzied men-in-uniform violating human rights under the garb of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for long, and when the public psyche was shuddered at the intense brutality and misplaced fervor of humanity, Irom Sharmila became a rallying point against the military apparatus. There is not an iota of doubt that she has been the inspiration and symbol of anti-AFSPA movement for the past 15 years or so.
However, of late, there appears to be a growing lack of concern towards the cause Irom Sharmila is fighting for, even from the people who inhabit the highest realms of social movement from where her inspiration and strength come. Irom Sharmila’s recent comments have confirmed this sorry situation. This is, in fact, a retrograde stand of the civil society organizations and public leaders. Such attitude not only displays the weak status of the civil society organisations, but it also reflects hypocrisy. This very attitude also goads the human rights violators to further their activities. In fact, the dearth of genuine spirit to explore the highly charged situation has failed to have a more equitable and empathetic interpretation of the existence of a responsible society. Irom Sharmila's frustration in this regard became more glaring when she told waiting journalists on Tuesday at the Court that "people’s support to my struggle against AFSPA has been steadily waning". She also stated that "people should not remain silent even if they are not direct victims of AFSPA for the draconian Act affects dignity of life and creates a feeling of insecurity for one and all”.
But what exacerbated the atmosphere? The recent police head constable's confession on the "extrajudicial killing at the behest of the higher authorities" had failed to stimulate the public. Definitely, this development portrays the human rights activists and the civil society organisations as obtuse to their obligations. This case might have really disappointed Irom Sharmila, so much so that she had to confirm her decision to break her agitation. "A rare opportunity to galvanise sufficient support for removal of AFSPA passed away when people of the state failed to stand behind police head constable Thanoujam Herojit even after he had confessed to killing Sanjit in cold blood at the behest of higher authorities", she told journalists on Tuesday.
The police head constable had “implicated the Manipur chief minister, the state police chief and Imphal West district police head (SP) at that time of having knowledge of the order to execute the extrajudicial killing," according to a daily newspaper (IFP) report. Commenting on this episode, Irom Sharmila said that "the response of the public to the courageous disclosure of the police head constable was a mixture of fear and nervous repugnance, and therefore instead of triggering a major upheaval wasted the opportunity for her to end her anti-AFSPA stir".
Apart from this, many people and some sections of the media have been very mean to Irom Sharmila when it comes to her private life. These people find more stimulation in her private life than the cause she is fighting for. Sharmila is ridiculed for being a human being. They found her wrong because she had human instincts---she is in love. Such attitude filled her with disgust. Her exasperation became more pronounced when she said, "But, as a human I want to partake my share of hardship, happiness and sorrow".
Today, her expression is more than her message---it is also her lamentation.
