One of India's most-prominent political activists has ended her 16-year hunger strike. Licking honey from her hand, Irom Sharmila declared "I will never forget this moment."
- World’s longest hunger strike ends
- Irom Sharmila licks honey from her hand
- She plans to run in state elections in 2017
ADVERTISEMENT
One of India’s most-prominent political activists has ended her 16-year hunger strike.
Licking honey from her hand, Irom Sharmila declared “I will never forget this moment.”
India's 'Iron Lady' ends 16-year hunger strike over military law https://t.co/6pfhZnueki pic.twitter.com/0vHuZEV8Nm
— Reuters Top News (
Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/763050977423400960">August 9, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </p> <p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's The Powerful Moment When Irom Sharmila Broke Her Fast After 16 Years <a href="https://t.co/1B6MnP3eqS">https://t.co/1B6MnP3eqS</a></p>— BuzzFeed World (BuzzFeedWorld) August 9, 2016
How has she survived this long?
She has been fed through a tube since 2000.
Why was she in custody?
Sharmila had been charged with attempted suicide, a crime in India.
A judge granted her bail on Tuesday.
Why did she embark on her hunger strike?
She began her fast in protest at security legislation in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur.
She plans to continue to oppose the law that gives security forces wide powers to search, enter property and shoot on sight in remote parts of the state.
She says she plans to run in state elections in 2017 to have the legislation struck down.
“I am being the real embodiment of revolution, and I want to be the CM (Chief Minister) of Manipur. And the foremost thing will be the removal of this draconian law,” she told reporters.
Sand artist
sudarsansand</a> creates a sand sculpture of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IromSharmila?src=hash">#IromSharmila</a> who breaks her fast after 16 years. <a href="https://t.co/9yWjndmv9k">pic.twitter.com/9yWjndmv9k</a></p>— All India Radio News (airnewsalerts) August 9, 2016