I love life. I only want justice and peace, says tearful Irom Sharmila at trial

Expressing her desire to live life, Irom Sharmila, clad in a white shawl and an orange phanek, when produced before a Delhi court told the judge in a wheel chair, “Mine is a non-violent struggle. I just want to live like a human being…What I am doing is following the principle of Mahatma Gandhi.”

Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on fast for about 12 years demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), for allegedly attempting to commit suicide during her ‘fast until death’ here in 2006.

Metropolitan Magistrate  Akash Jain framed charges against 40-year-old Sharmila under section 309 (attempting to commit suicide) of the IPC after she refused to plead guilty, saying that her protest was a non-violent.

When the judge read out to her the prima facie charge against her that she is being accused of attempting to commit suicide, a tearful Sharmila said “No.”

In response the Judge said, “I respect you. But the law of the land does not permit you to take your life. To which, Sharmila responded, “I love life, I love life. I only want justice and peace.”

Sharmila pleaded not guilty to the charge. Reiterating her stand before the judge she said, ” I am following Mahatma Gandhi’s principle…If AFSPA is repealed I will take food again.”

The judge said that that was political decision and the court at present was concerned only with charge to attempt to commit suicide. “I understand that yours is a non violent struggle but the state does not permit you to take your life.”

Putting her on trial, the court has now listed the matter for May 22 for recording of prosecution evidence in the case relating to her fast until death which started on October 4, 2006 at Jantar Mantar.

Amid protest outside the court premises, Sharmila appeared before the judge and said, “I do not want to commit suicide. Mine is only a non-violent protest. It is my demand to live as a human being.”

Even after discussions with her lawyers, who too met her first time in all these years, Sharmila said, “If AFSPA will be repealed by the government then only I will take food and will throw the food pipe.” She is being force-fed by a food pipe through her nose for more than a decade.

Sharmila had launched her fast unto death in 2000 after 10 civilians were killed by Assam Rifles personnel at Malom area near Imphal airport.

Later while meeting the media persons outside the court room Sharmila reiterated that she is only following Mahatma Gandhiji's principle of non-violence while voicing her protest against AFSPA.

“I am just a simple woman who wants to follow the non-violent principle of Gandhiji, the father of the nation. Just treat us also like him and do not discriminate. As a leadership, don’t be biased against a human being,” the 40-year-old Manipuri activist, whose counsel had sought court’s permission to talk to media, said.

Sharmila was flown in to Delhi from Manipur last evening.

“I am doing this for the society and other AFSPA affected States but we are the citizens of a democratic country and so my demand is for rights of a democratic citizen who needs justice. We need peace, not violence. Our democratic leaders should hear my non-violent protest,” she said.

Sharmila, who is in judicial custody and is being fed through a tube.

She also accused the government and the Army of colluding for cheating people.

Asked if she was satisfied with the developments on the issue of extra judicial killings in Manipur on which Justice Santosh Hegde is conducting hearing even as the apex court has formed a probe committee, she said the government is not behaving “as a leadership which should work for society’s betterment”.

“The government will remain adamant for the time being because they are not realising. They are not behaving as a leadership which should work for the betterment of the people and the society,” she said.