Sharmila's support base continue expanding in Manipur

Guwahati, Oct 16 (UNI) Manipur's 'Iron Lady' Irom Sharmila may have irked the authorities by her six-year-long fast, but her support base has only expanded with the duration of the fast.

Ms Sharmila, who recently had moved her agitation to New Delhi, was shifted to the AIIMS where she was fed through nasal tubes, as attempted earlier.

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

Ms Phaomie, who was in the city yesterday to participate in a regional-level workshop, told UNI that she fully supported the agitation as Sharmila had not violated any law and had 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 tensed situation prevailing here. We feel unsafe to venture out after dusk in our own villages and towns,'' she added.

She said, ''We had helped the Under-Ground (UG) activists on certain occasions as our own sons. But they have not spared the women and failed to respect them as mothers.'' She added that there were instances when women were molested and had to undergo other forms of harassment at the hands of the UGs also.

''The acitivtities of the security forces in the name of counter-insurgency operations is of public knowledge now. Women in my state have seen hard times in these past few years,'' Jeinpoi added.

She informed that women forums of leading tribes of the state, who had been working individually until recently, have now come together in Manipur's United NGO Mission.

She said, ''We hope to co-ordinate better now and fight for our causes unitedly.'' Jienpoi, however, confidently said Manipuri women will continue supporting Sharmila come what may.

UNI SG PP SB RAI1038