Indian activist ends hunger strike after 16 years

16 years ago Indian activist Irom Sharmila took a stand against a law that privileges the armed forces in certain regions of her country. As a protest, she started a hunger strike but was arrested on charges of suicide, a crime in India. Arrested, she was force-fed through a nasal tube.

Irom's protest began on November 5, 2000, after 10 people were murdered by a group of Indian soldiers. During her time in detention at a hospital, the activist dedicated herself to trying to overturn the Armed Forces Special Rights Act of 1958 - these special rights allow Indian police to act without judicial mandates and to use methods of torture and execution against them. who does not follow the rules.

Last Tuesday, however, Irom struck a written agreement that would give her "freedom on bail" as she agreed to stop the strike. Although she signed the deal, however, Irom told reporters who had waited for her on the way out of the Imphal court in Manipur state that she is not sure whether or not she will be released.

According to activist attorney Naveen Kumar, the judge authorized Irom's freedom in exchange for 10, 000 rupees, the equivalent of $ 470. Now she is due to return to court on August 23.

Plans

Known as the "Iron Lady of Manipur, " the activist said little to the press and soon returned to the hospital where she was hospitalized in recent years. Due to the extremely long strike, Irom has become a great world icon of human rights.

Now, with the end of the hunger strike, she said she will run for the 2017 regional elections: “I have been fighting my fight alone and so I decided to fight through democracy by becoming a deputy rather than continuing with fasting, ”she said when she announced in advance that the strike would be over - besides not eating, she didn't comb her hair or look in the mirror.

Among the activist's plans is also marriage, and although she has said so, she has not revealed exactly who she intends to marry. “I am the true embodiment of the revolution, ” she declared on the day she obtained freedom.