Meet The 28-Year-Old Woman Who Has Been On Hunger Strike For 12 Years

How is this even possible?

When someone famous, like the former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, goes on a hunger strike, the whole world knows about it, but Irom Sharmila Chanu, an ordinary woman from India, has been on a political fast for the last 12 years, and hardly anyone even knows she exists.

Irom Sharmila Chanu, also known as the Iron Lady of Manipur, went on a hunger strike on November 4, 2000 in an effort to  have the Government of India withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Manipur and other parts of India. This draconian act practically gives the military the power to do as they wish, as it prohibits any legal or judicial proceedings against army personnel without the previous sanction of the Central Government. It has taken away the people's right to protest against atrocities or engage in any lawful democratic activity. Simple civilians can easily be labeled as 'terrorists' or 'suspects' and taken into custody. According to official figures, 25,000 people have been killed in Manipur alone, since this Act came into force, in 1980.

The 28-year-old woman was particularly impressed by the story of a young girl who had been raped by security forces at Lamden village. On November 1st, 2000, a group of insurgents bombed an army column, and the military retaliated by gunning down 10 civilians at a bus station in Malom. The young activist could not bare to see the blood spilled on the street.

Meanwhile, Irom Sharmila Chanu continues the longest political protest in history…

Did I hear how has she been surviving? Erm...please ask her for me..

Culled From Oddity Central