Centre, state 'spoiled' Sharmila fast, says anti-AFSPA activist

GUWAHATI: Lourembam Nganbi, one of the imas (mothers) who took the world by storm by staging a nude protest in 2004 in Manipur against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), on Wednesday said Irom Sharmila's indefinite fast was 'spoiled' by the central and state governments.
Lourembam, the vice-president of Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL), said, "Sharmila is a brave lady.She was on a fast for 16 long years. But before ending her fast, she should have waited for the voice of people. We strongly believe the Centre and the state government have spoiled her (Sharmila's) movement. That is why they never listened to Sharmila or other Manipuris who are against the law," Lourembem said on the sidelines of the second Northeast India Women Peace Congregation here.
A state government spokesperson said ending the fast was the civil rights activist's individual decision.
On August 9, Sharmila virtually stunned fellow activists and rights organisations in the state by ending her 16-year-long fast against AFSPA. Since then, Sharmila has expressed her intention to join politics and even talked about her aspiration to become the chief minister of Manipur.
Although Sharmila's decision drew criticism from civil society groups, especially from Sharmila Kanba Lup, the rights activist had reiterated that her withdrawal of fast did not mean change of her stand on AFSPA and that it was only a change of strategy.
On Tuesday, the 44-year old civil rights activist was produced before the court of chief judicial magistrate (Imphal West) in connection with an attempt to suicide case which police brought against her. Sharmila said she would now broaden her campaign against AFSPA and wanted to travel outside Manipur.
A two-day peace conclave, organized by the Manipur Gun Survivors' Network, Control Arms Foundation of India and Northeast India Women Institute for Peace from Wednesday, focused on involving women in peace processes between the government and insurgent groups.