Sharmila's support base continues expanding in Manipur

Guwahati, Oct 15 (UNI) She might earned the wrath of the authorities by her six-year-long fast, but her support base has only expanded with the duration of the fast.

Sharmila, who recently had moved her agitation to New Delhi, was shifted to the AIIMS by the government and the government continued feeding her with nasal tubes as in past years.

This was clearly evident from the sentiments of Ms Jeinpoi Phaomie, a member of the Development Agency for Tribal People, based at Tamenglong district of Manipur.

She was in the city yesterday to participate in a regional-level worshop.

Talking to UNI, Jeinpoi said, '' I fully support Sharmila's agitation. She has not violated any law and has been registering protest in a non-violent manner. '' She said women were suffering in the region due to the prolonged armed conflicts and the counter-insurgency operations by the security forces. '' We are subjected to many hardships due to the tense situation prevailing here. We feel unsafe to venture out after dusk in our own villages and towns, '' she added.

The women rights' activist underlined the dilemma women were facing in Manipur now.

She said, '' We had helped the underground activists on certain occasions as they are our own sons. But they have not spared the women and failed to respect them as mothers. '' She said there were instances when women were molested and had to undergo other forms of harassment at the hands of the ultras also.

'' The activities of the security forces in the name of counter-insurgency operations are of public knowledge now. Women in my state have been passing through very hard times these past few years, '' Jeinpoi added.

She informed that women fora of leading tribes of the state, working individually until recently, had now come together in United NGO Mission, Manipur. She said, '' We hope to coordinate better now and fight for our causes unitedly. '' Jienpoi, however, was absolutely confident on one point that women of Manipur would continue supporting Sharmila and their fight against atrocities.

UNI SG SJC RD 1317