Irom Sharmila comes back to Imphal

Imphal, May 13: Irom Sharmila, who has been on an unprecedented fast unto death demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 since Nov 2000, today returned to Imphal from New Delhi.

Sharmila, who had approached the New Delhi High Court, was released on bail by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi on Friday after executing a surety bond of Rs 10,000.

She was supposed to return yesterday, however she was not allowed to travel because of her poor health conditions.

She had also announced earlier at Imphal that she would accept the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, South Korea. However, she could not be present owing to her health condition. Her elder brother Singhajit is expected to accept it on her behalf.

She had been kept alive by forced nasal feeding by doctors at JN Hospital, Imphal, as she had refused to eat or drink anything since 2000.

The Selection Committee of Gwangju had selected Irom Sharmila and Lenin Raghuvanshi of India as recipients of the award.

The committee for this year's prize distribution was headed by Chairman Lee and Hong-Gil Chairman of the Board of Directors of the May 18 Memorial Foundation Committee.

The members were Kim Chil-Jun, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Commission, Jeong Ui-Yong, Korean National Assemblyman, Moon Guk-Joo, Executive Director of the Korea Democracy Foundation, Cha Sung-Hwan, Director of the Pusan Democratic Movement Memorial Association Bijo Francis.

UNI