Irom Sharmila, an Indian human rights activist, broke her 16-year-old hunger strike on Tuesday; her strike was the world’s longest to date.
The 43-year-old activist has not eaten for years because she was protesting the draconian law that gave unlimited power to India’s military. This law is called the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. In cases of abuse in the country’s conflict zones, the military enjoys immunity. India has allowed its troops to shoot and arrest in areas of insurgency such as Manipur and Kashmir, protecting them from prosecution. Prosecution of soldiers is only allowed when approval is granted from the central government, which rarely occurs.
Human Rights Watch has asked India to repeal the law, citing India’s troops engaging in torture during interrogation in army barracks as inhumane. The army has blocked attempts to repeal the law, with some senior officers saying they cannot fight terrorist groups any other way.
The government force-fed Sharmila through a nasal tube, saying that her protest falls under the category of suicide. She has been arrested several times due to her hunger strike and she is widely known as the “Iron Lady of Manipur.”
“I will break my fast as the government has failed to give any positive response. I will fight elections to resolve the issues,” Sharmila told AMI, the news agency, outside the court in India’s northeastern state of Manipur. She appears outside the court twice a month.
Manipur will hold elections next year; Sharmila will run as an independent candidate.
She broke her strike by consuming a few drops of honey. When asked how she felt about eating after so many years, Sharmila replied, “I will never forget this moment.
