Anti-AFSPA Stand gains momentum, fast held across country Sharmila steps into 12th year of fast

IMPHAL, Nov 5 : In comme-moration of Irom Chanu Sharmila completing the 11th year of her unsur-passed crusade against the infamous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, people of Manipur staged protest demonstrations at different corners of the State.


Sharmila has been fasting for the last 11 years demanding repeal of the controversial AFSPA in the aftermath of the massacre of ten innocent people by Assam Rifles at Malom on November 2, 2000.


Pointing out that Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has admitted AFSPA as inhuman in addition to Justice Jeevan Reddy’s recommendation to scrap the military Act, the protesters demanded the Government of India and the Government of Manipur  to repeal AFSPA without any further delay.


Further pointing out that the Government of India responded with all the urgency when Ana Hazare fasted for just 11 days whereas New Delhi has been paying no attention to Sharmila’s 11 years old fasting, they decried partial attitude of the Government of India.     


Joining the State-wide demonstration in solidarity with the crusade of Irom Chanu Sharmila, BJP Manipur Pradesh functionaries and supporters also staged sit-in-protest at its Nityaipat Chuthek office campus.


Speaking to newspersons on the sideline of the protest, State unit BJP president sh Shanti-kumar said  BJP MP from Guwahati constituency Bijoya Chakrabarti at a calling attention motion in the Parliament on August 18, 2010 demanded removal of AFSPA from areas where it is enforced.


He also contended that the BJP is totally against continuous imposition of the draconian Act in Manipur for several innocent lives have been lost due to brutality of security forces operating in the state.


Like in other parts of the State, a protest demonstration was staged at the memorial site of the ten people mowed down by Assam Rifles at Malom.


Speaking to media persons by the sideline of the protest demonstration, Kshetrimayum Subadani, mother of Ksh Inao who was one of the victims of Malom massacre, said that her family could be re-established till date after the dead of her son who was then earning the livelihood of the whole family by working as a goldsmith. 


Shortly after the dead of Inao, her sister committed suicide by consuming poison.


Before the year was over,  their father too died because of mental agony, Subadani said.


She made a fervent appeal to repeal AFSPA and stop killing innocent people.


Sinam Chandrajini, mother of late S Robinson and late S Chandramani said that she was bearing the loss of her two sons when it was very difficult for any mother to bear the loss of a single son.


Robinson and Chandramani were brothers and they were murdered by Assam Rifles on that fateful day.  Chandramani had also won Bravery Award before his young life was cut short.


Saying that Sharmila’s crusade cannot be allowed to go in vain, Chandrajini called upon one and all to support the crusade against AFSPA until Sharmila achieves success.


Soibam Tarkon, mother of Prakash, another young victim of Malom massacre said that the agony of losing her young son would go away only when she dies.


Tokpam Thoibi, mother of late T Shantikumar asked if there was anything which can compensate for her son.


Shantikumar, then only 17 years old, was killed by Assam Rifles together with the other nine victims.


Women vendors of the three market complexes of Khwairamband Keithel too suspended their daily activities and staged a protest demonstration under the banner ‘Save Democracy, Repeal AFSPA’.


Rani, one of the protesting women, said that AFSPA brought nothing positive apart from unleashing a reign of terror.


She also decried the discriminatory treatment of Ana Hazare and Sharmila by the Government of New Delhi.


They also pledged unrestrained support to Sharmila until she wins her battle.


Liklaileima of the Khwairamband Keithel Nupi Lup stated that India cannot remain indifferent to the crusade of Sharmila for good.   


It would be prudent on the part of the Government of India to scrap AFSPA before it comes under international scrutiny


                                                                                               
                                                                                                    Source: The sangai Express

From Sharmila to Dr Manmohan Singh

Imphal, Nov 3 : Irom Sharmila Chanu, who is set to complete her eleventh year of huger fast against the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act on November 5 , has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take into account her struggle for the cause of the people.


 The ‘Iron Lady’ of Manipur expressed her mind when former Vice Chancellor of  Aligarh University, M Rahman met her today afternoon at the security ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (Jnims) close to her Promopat residence in Imphal East.


 Rahman, who is a retired IAS officer and a key functionary of a Pune-based NGO Sarhad, said he would convey her message to the PM through appropriate persons.


 “There is no place for the draconian Act in this democratic country and I’m struggling since the last more than ten years against it . The Central leaders especially the Prime Minister should take note of the cause I have taken up,” Sharmila said.


 Reacting against the State Government’s failure to issue permission to a team of her supporters to meet her recently, Sharmila expressed deep disappointment against the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio.


 Participated by 25 activists , the  4,500 km long Srinagar to Imphal ‘Jan Karvan march’ campaign was flagged off by social activist Medha Patlkar in Srinagar on October 16 and it reached Imphal on October 27  after holding series of meetings and other activities in nine cities including   the national capital.


On October 29, the campaigners left Imphal without seeing her as the State Government denied permission for the meeting. The previous day they courted arrest during a hunger fast protest.


 “The CM should know that they (campaigners) came all the way from Kashmir to Imphal. They should be treated as human beings with sympathy. Instead, they were denied by the Government to meet me. I’m deeply hurt by the Government’s unwanted attitude towards them,” lamented Sharmila.


 Taking note of the angsuih of Sharmila, Rahman said, “You have responded in a Gandhian way. You have made a tremendous sacrifice for the cause of the people. We will work for repealing the Act. We will definitely convey your words to the PM through appropriate persons.”


Social worker Jeevan A Ninghou,who coordinated Rahman’s Manipur visit, said he would work for translating some letters  sent to Sharmila from her supporters in Kannada language to Manipuri. Ningthou, who also accompanied Rahman in Sharmila’s meeting, took the letters from her and assured to do the translation works very soon.


                                                                                   
                                                                                                 Source:The Sangai Express

Sharmila, the light of Manipur

Irom Sharmila has been leading an unnatural life, out of choice and goaded by the Manipuri society, especially civil society groups. For nearly 11 years now, it has become a routine for her to remain housed in hospital, in judicial custody, with a tube dangling from her nostrils to force-feed her. Always flanked by cops rather than relatives and friends, she visits the court every fortnight in an ambulance and says “no” on being asked if she will end her fast.

Her resilience to carry forward the silent protest since November 2000 against a draconian law, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), has earned her the title Manipur's ‘Iron Lady.' She has put little known Manipur on the world map with probably the longest running hunger strike in recorded history. She has become an iconic figure for the entire Manipuri society; she is the torchlight-bearer of the people against a law that gives the security forces power to kill with impunity.

AFSPA is in force in the ‘disturbed areas' of Assam, Manipur (excluding the Imphal municipal council areas), Nagaland, parts of Arunachal Pradesh, 20 km in Meghalaya bordering Assam, a few police stations in Tripura, besides Jammu and Kashmir. Her hunger strike began following an incident in which the security forces allegedly sprayed bullets and killed 10 innocents at a bus stop in Malom town. Since then the incident has been known as the Malom massacre. The civil society groups are proud of Irom Sharmila for carrying on with her crusade on behalf of the people.

How long will she fast is anybody's guess? She is 39 years old and already past her youth. When she acknowledged to a journalist about her fondness for a man called Desmond Coutinho, a British national of Goan origin, whom she met only once in March this year following a yearlong exchange of letters, there was an element of disdain for her by those who used to shower her with praise and affection.

In one fell swoop, their pride in her has crashed. Why? Is this feeling out of desperation because all along, they supported her and probably in the process pinned their hopes on her “sacrifice”? Did they in the process start misreading “her” struggle as “our” struggle? Is this why her willingness to lead a normal life jolted them?

The civil society groups' struggle, however, appears a long-drawn affair. There has been no progress to replace the Act with a more humane law as was promised by the Union government in 2004. The reason being the security establishment, particularly the Army, is opposed to the idea of tinkering with the Act. Home Minister P. Chidambaram has also admitted the lack of consensus within the government on the issue.

No doubt, Manipur's young and old have had their own share of struggle and apathy. But does it mean that Sharmila has no right to lead a normal life? She has, of course, said she will marry only after the Act is repealed. Whether she is being tricked in this love affair as suspected by many

Babloo Loitongbam, human rights activist from Manipur and Sharmila's long associate from the Just Peace Foundation, refuses to comment on her personal life. “She can stop her fast whenever she wants, she can marry whoever she wants. There will be no interference from our side.”

But what about the Meira Paibis, who took up the cudgels against wrongdoings in the State? In July 2004, Meira Paibis made the headlines worldwide when they stripped themselves — the ultimate form of protest — in front of the Kangla Fort, against the excesses committed by the security forces on the people. Why did they not support Sharmila? Why did they not stand up for another woman's cause?

Interested parties see a conspiracy and burnt copies of the newspaper that published her interview and banned the newspaper in Manipur. Why? According to some civil rights activists, a relationship has surely developed between Sharmila and Desmond. But the venom is against the reportage. “In the backdrop of Anna Hazare's fast against corruption, the article was more about her love story than the cause for which she has been on a hunger strike for more than a decade. The write-up also tried to create differences between her and us. …why?…how can we intrude into her personal life when we are not even allowed to meet her?” asks a civil society activist.

But, how long will the civil society groups ride on Sharmila's shoulders? On the one hand, these groups strongly support freedom of the press and, on the other, they ban the newspaper in Manipur for publishing Sharmila's interview. Why this double standard?

Whatever the case, Sharmila should not be allowed to end up like Bobby Sands, the revolutionary spirit of freedom who represented the Irish nationalist aspirations and died on the 66th day of his hunger strike in May 1981. Or like Pedro Luis Boitel, a political revolutionary from Cuba, who died in jail in May 1972 following his fast unto death. Potti Sreeramulu, the Amarajeevi (immortal being), died in December 1952, following his fast for linguistic re-organisation of the States and achieving Andhra Pradesh. And, there are also others who have died — unsung heroes like Swami Nigamanand in June 2011 after fasting in his quest for stopping quarrying in the Ganga.

                                                                                                                                                Source: The Hindu

New updates for Sharmila Irom

Supporting the cause of the Manipuri civil rights activist, who has been on fast for the past 11 years demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, several organisations came together here on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi to launch a nation-wide “Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign.”

The campaign began at Jantar Mantar with several people coming out in support of the cause. “It is the first time in 11 years that people from all over the country, including non-Manipuri organisations, have come together to support Irom Sharmila,” said Faisal Khan from the National Alliance of People's Movements.

The campaign will culminate on the International Human Rights Day on December 10. “That day, leading social activists will sit on a day-long fast and then march from India Gate to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit the signatures collected during the campaign,” said Ravi Nitesh, another member of movement.

The campaign was launched on Sunday in 21 States and around 300 signatures were collected in Delhi, he said. Signatures would be collected on banners and “signature sheets” distributed at different places by volunteer groups and supporters.

“The next step is to reach out to as many people as we can. We have student coordinators in all Delhi University colleges, who will distribute signature sheets till December,” said Mr. Nitesh. The campaign would also approach other public and private universities in the capital.

The campaign has laid down four main demands: initiating a dialogue with Ms. Sharmila, sending an all-party delegation for talks, sending members of the National Commission for Women to assess her condition and deputing a special team of doctors from New Delhi to examine her.

As part of the campaign, a caravan of supporters will travel from Srinagar to Imphal, covering 10 States, between October 16 and 26. A cycle rally will also be organised at State levels.

At present, the campaign is supported by over 50 organisations across the country and it is reaching out to people through different media, including streetplays and distribution of pamphlets.

Source: The Hindu

Irom sharmila chanu's fast for the past 11 years

Irom Sharmila Chanu (born March 14, 1972), also known as the "Iron Lady of Manipur" or "Menghoubi" ("the fair one") is a civil rights activist, political activist, and poet from the Indian state of Manipur. Since 2 November 2000, she has been on hunger strike to demand that the Indian government repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), which she blames for violence in Manipur and other parts of India's northeast. Having refused food and water for more than 500 weeks, she has been called "the world's longest hunger striker".

On November 2, 2000, in Malom, a town in the Imphal Valley of Manipur, ten civilians were allegedly shot and killed by the Assam Rifles, one of the Indian Paramilitary forces operating in the state, while waiting at a bus stop. The incident later came to be known to activists as the "Malom Massacre". The next day's local newspapers published graphic pictures of the dead bodies, including one of a 62-year old woman, Leisangbam Ibetomi, and 18-year old Sinam Chandramani, a 1988 National Child Bravery Award winner.[

Sharmila, the 28-year-old daughter of a Grade IV veterinary worker, began to fast in protest of the killings, taking neither food nor water. As her brother Irom Singhajit Singh recalled, "The killings took place on 2 November 2000. It was a Thursday. Sharmila used to fast on Thursdays since she was a child. That day she was fasting too. She has just continued with her fast". 4 November is also given as the start day of her fast. On the Friday third of November she has a last supper of pastries and sweet things then she touches her mother's feet and asks permission to fulfill her bounden duty. Her primary demand to the Indian government was the repeal of the AFSPA, which allowed soldiers to indefinitely detain any citizen on suspicion of being a rebel. The act has been blamed by opposition and human rights groups for permitting torture, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions.

Three days after she began her strike, she was arrested by the police and charged with an "attempt to commit suicide", which is unlawful under section 309 of the Indian Penal Code, and was later transferred to judicial custody. Her health deteriorated rapidly, and the police then forcibly had to use nasogastric intubation in order to keep her alive while under arrest.Since then, Irom Sharmila has been regularly released and re-arrested every year since under IPC section 309, a person who "attempts to commit suicide" is punishable "with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine, or with both".

By 2004, Sharmila had become an "icon of public resistance". Following her procedural release On 2 October 2006, for around four months, Irom Sharmila Chanu went to Raj Ghat, New Delhi, which she said was "to pay floral tribute to my idol, Mahatma Gandhi." Later that evening, Sharmila headed for Jantar Mantar for a protest demonstration where she was joined by students, human rights activists and other concerned citizens. On 6 October, she was re-arrested by the Delhi police for attempting suicide and was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, where she wrote letters to the Prime Minister, President, and Home Minister. At this time, she met and won the support of Nobel-laureate Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Laureate and human rights activist, who promised to take up Sharmila's cause at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

On 23 August 2011, Sharmila was involved in the wave of Anti-corruption movement on invitation by Anna Hazare via letter. Following Mr Hazare's promise to visit Imphal and support Sharmila there he announced in an interview with NDTV on September 13 that he would be sending two representatives to meet with Sharmila soon to prepare for the meeting 

Sharmila was nominated to the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize by a Guwahati-based woman's organization, the North East Network.

She was awarded the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, which is given for "an outstanding person or group, active in the promotion and advocacy of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights". She shared the award with Lenin Raghuvanshi of People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, a northeastern Indian human rights organization. In Addition the largest monetary prize the first Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize was given to her in 2010 by the New Delhi IIPM.She was awarded the Sarva Gunah Sampannah ‘“ Award for Peace and Harmony"  aka the 12th Signature Women of Substance award (Assam) also in 2010. 2009 she was awarded the first Mayillama Award (Kerala). And in 2010 in the presence of the Law Minister Sri V Moilly in Bangalore she was awarded in absentia a lifetime achievement award. She was most recently awarded an Adivasi Ratna award accepted by her brother.

On 28 November 2010, UK Green Party leader and European Parliament member Keith Taylor wrote to the Indian government seeking the release of Sharmila and the repeal of the AFSPA.[21] Her main supporter in the European Union is Sir Graham Watson KB MEP  chair of the India/EU delegation of MEPs. He has consistently made interventions on her behalf most recently to Dr J Bhagwati Indian Ambassador to the EU who responded on 1 July 2011 to his request to respond to the death threats made against Irom Sharmila. Indian Ambassadors reference BRU/AMB/48/2011 Embassy of India, 1050 Brussels. He responds only that he understands that Irom Sharmila is a hunger striker and that the modification of AF(SP)A is under consideration. Previously in April 2011 Sri Graham Watson and the EU delegation had tried to visit Manipur but were not allowed to do so by the Indian Authorities. They visit each year this year they were allowed to visit, Delhi, Patna and Mumbai. Although Keith Taylor did write three letters on one occasion he has never responded to further input. Sri Graham Watson and other members of the EU delegation do always respond to further requests for help. For example a Dutch member of the India EU delegation Peter Van Dalen whose special interest group is Dalit and subaltern groups released this press statement for publication at the gathering at her tenth anniversary of fasting in November 2010 Smt Sharon Bowles MEP sent Sharmila a personal letter of support which is now with Sharmila. She had added her personal regret that Sharmila was not nominated for the Sakharov last year due to insufficient support from other MEPs a nomination requires at least 40 MEP signatories. This year's nominations close on 13 September 2010. Another MEP member of the EU/India Delegation has stated that he does not believe Sharmila will be nominated this year either as very few MEPs know of her or Manipur.

The European MEPs were initially brought in by one of her Western campaigners Nicholas Crawford a philosophy student at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. He also chairs a small student think tank. The Wilberforce Society. At the annual garden party Mr Crawford gave a speech about Irom Sharmila and the AFSPA in attendance was their patron Lord Wilson, a former head of the civil service, and Sir Christopher Hum, former UK ambassador to China. Before Xmas they hope to have a seminar on India and Human Rights. And plan to visit Manipur and Sharmila next summer. Sharmila has many letters from offices of Western Dignatories including those of HM Queen Elizabeth II, The Duchess of Cornwall, The President of Eire, Tony Blair and most recently the Scottish First Minister and the Mayor of London all stating that they are sorry about her circumstances but are unable to offer her any assistance. But she has always cared more about genuine letters seeking to make connections. The only campaign that has the endorsement of her office is http://kanglaonline.com/2011/06/facebook-event-write-to-irom-sharmila-chanu/ the one asking for letters, postcards etc and provide her with some support in her lonely campaign.

In Turkey 8–11 December 2010 The Which Human Rights Festival organized by the Turkish Human Rights Group the Documentarist was dedicated to Irom Sharmila

The controversial BJP politician Varun Gandhi also a descendant of the Pandit-Nehru lineage recently used an internet tweet to announce his support of her  She has written a lot of poetry most recently a 12 poem bilingual anthology (Meiteilol and English), "Fragrance of Peace" (Nungsigi Leinam), was released by Zubaan books to coincide with the tenth year of her detention, with profits used to support her cause. This appears to have been a project first suggested by Norwegian designer Mr Lars Muller, who was appointed in December 2007 by the World Organization against Torture OMCT as her 'Defending the Defenders' sponsor.

Deepti Priya Mehrotra's Burning Bright: Irom Sharmila and the Struggle for Peace in Manipur details Sharmila's life and the political background of her fast.[30]

Kavita Joshi's short documentary My Body My Weapon (released by Why Democracy? in 2007) alleges violations by security forces that fuel Sharmila's resolve to keep fasting until AFSPA is repealed.[31] Tales from the Margins, a twin project of the above film, also focuses on Sharmila, locating her resistance in the larger context of women's protests against the AFSPA in Manipur.

Ojas S V, a theatre artist from Pune has been performing a mono-play titled Le Mashale (Take the torch), based on Irom Sharmila's life and struggle at several places in India. It is an adaptation of Meira Paibi (Women bearing torches), a drama written by Malayalam playwright Civic Chandran.

Recently Save Sharmila Campaign has been launched by a joint network of civil societies (NAPM, Gandhi Global Family, Asha Parivar, Jagriti Mahila Samiti, Yuva Koshish, Asian Centre of Social Studies and Mission Bhartiyam. They all are raising voice for Irom Sharmila. Save Sharmila Campaign has organised a candle light solidarity prayer[34] on 25th JUNE 2011 at Rajghat New Delhi. Approximately 200 people participated in it from all walks of life. Later on Volunteer of Save Sharmila Campaign met with Irom Sharmila on 5th JULY 2011. Volunteer Md Tanveer Iqbal Editor Situationsasia fortnightly e-mag shared the campaign strategy with Irom and received her message for the campaign. Well he met her briefly during one of her habeas corpus hearings at Lamphel. A Srinagar to Imphal jouney and National Signature Campaign also planned by Save Sharmila Campaign volunteers in the month of October. Save Sharmila Campaign Volunteers demand with government To take positive steps of talks To send all party delegation to meet Irom To send special team of doctors for health check up of Irom. Other activites also planned and campaign is still running.

Politically the Janata Dal minority opposition party has publicly agreed to campaign for AF(SP)A repeal during the monsoon session of the Indian Parliament. Within Cabinet Dr Singh the PM has publicly asked for a reform of AF(SP)A to make it more humane. Sr V Moilly who also chaired the second adminstrative reforms committee one of whose recommendations was the repeal of AF(SP)A also supports change. As do the Home Secretary Sri Pillai and the Home Union Minister Sri Chidambaram. Though Sri Pillai has asked for local CMs not to apply for disturbed area status and therefore AF(SP)A whether on the books or not would cease to apply. Mr A K Antony the defence minister and General Singh commander in chief of the Indian Armed Forces lead the opposition to change or repeal of AF(SP)A

On August 21, 2011, Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy, in her The Hindu editorial on Anna Hazare, contrasted Anna's media-publicized fast with the decade-long fast of Irom, including the motivations for both.

Save Sharmila Campaign organised documentary screening and panel discussion in various colleges of Delhi with support of its student coordinators and volunteers. Screening and discussion already organised in September month in South Asian University, Delhi College of Arts & Commerce. Core Committee of Save Sharmila Campaign have already get support from various eminent social activists. Main members of Save Sharmila Campaign are Faisal Khan, Ravi Nitesh, Md Tanveer, Qamar Intekhab, Veena Behan, Gufran Khan, Devika Malhotra, Manisah Kaushik, Aditya Diwedi & Sandeep Mishra. This campaign has already received message of Irom Sharmila. Singhjit (Irom's brother) is coordinating the campaign in Imphal. Campaign already announced Natiowide Signature Program from 02nd October 03 PM.

Sharmila does not seem to be edging anywhere close to her demand, but she surely has lost much in the interim. Keeping aside the health issues, it has been reported that her brother lost a government job because he chose to remain on her side, the family had to go bankrupt. Irom Sakhi’s (Sharmila’s mother) sacrifice stands tall among all else. She has never met her daughter since she blessed her on the momentous day when she undertook her fast. Irom Sakhi, with tears in her eyes told a correspondent: “It is just possible that my getting emotional on seeing her may weaken her resolve. And I do not want that my daughter lose in this battle, which is for the betterment of humanity.” (Tehelka, 2006)

Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Laureate and human rights activist, has also supported Sharmila’s cause and said to a group of journalists : “If Sharmila dies, Parliament is directly responsible. If she dies, courts and judiciary are responsible, the military is responsible… If she dies, the executive, the PM and President are responsible for doing nothing… If she dies, each one of you journalists is responsible because you did not do your duty…”

Sharmila was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize by a Guwahati-based woman’s organization and Science and Rationalists’ Association of India and Humanist Association demanded that Irom Sharmila Chanu again be nominated for 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. When she was awarded the Gwangju prize for Human Rights, 2007, she said “My struggle is not for the sake of fame or award.” (Wiki). Her resolution has also grabbed Amnesty’s attention and they have requested the Indian Government to repeal AFSPA.

And what does our government have to say about this? In response to the recommendations by the Jeevan Reddy Commission which was set up in 2004 after the Manorama protests, Pranab Mukherjee, then defence minister said that it is impossible to repeal the Act as the military cannot function without these powers. And thus we all choose to shut our eyes to the atrocities continuing in the North-East, in a part which does not belong to the Mainland India!

I would conclude with the lines from a report in Tehelka, 2006 – ‘Menghaobi, the people of Manipur call her, The Fair One. Youngest daughter of an illiterate Grade 1V worker in a veterinary hospital in Imphal, Irom was always a solitary child, the backbencher, the listener. Eight siblings had come before her. By the time she was born, her mother Irom Shakhi, 44, was dry.’ Her mother could not breast-feed her. Her brother would take her to “other mothers”, any mother he could find to suckle her. “Maybe this her service to all her mothers”, 

                                                                                                                      

Manipuri women protesting against the Army in light of the numerous rape cases