Newmai News Network
Imphal: Even as she was repeatedly arrested on the charge of committing suicide, undeterred transgender activist Malem Thongam is determined to achieve what she has been demanding i.e. to end the ongoing violence in Manipur.
Thongam has been on a fast seeking an end to ethnic violence in Manipur.
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She started her fast on February 22 in Delhi where she was detained by the police and along with members of Lamyamba Irabot Memorial Integrated Trust and Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee (DMCC).
After the police released her, she continued her fast in front of the official residence of Union minister of State for External Affairs and Education Rajkumar Ranjan Singh from where she was again detained by the police.
She returned to Imphal recently only to continue her stir at Khurai Konsam Leikai in Imphal East district from where she was arrested by a team of Porompat police station on March 1.
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After being released on bail, she continued the stir at Singjamei from where she was again arrested only to be released on bail again.
Soon after her release on bail, the transgender activist resumed her fasting stir today at the western gate of Kangla Fort.
Talking to reporters today, Santa Khurai, a fellow transgender activist who has been steadfastly supporting Thongam, alleged that the refusal to entertain a memorandum submitted to prime minister Narendra Modi in Delhi prompted her to resort to a fasting stir.
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She said that her fellow activists had submitted a memorandum to prime minister Modi besides attempting to meet Union minister of state RK Ranjan but receiving negative responses.
Khurai said that she appreciated the decision Thongam had taken while asking whether there is an efficient government in Manipur.
It has been 10 months since the ethnic violence unfolded in Manipur and the governments, both at the centre and in the state, are not doing anything to end the cycle of violence.
“Do you think there is a government in Manipur? Everybody is asking the question in their hearts as this is a land where no one can express his or her opinion,” she said.
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Khurai further said that she supported the stir being launched by her fellow activists because she did not resort to violence means while seeking to fulfill her demand.
She wanted to draw the attention of the government in a peaceful manner and she (Thongam) will continue her stir until and unless the government listens to her voice, the fellow activist said.
“If she happens to choose a violent form of protest, we, the transgender community, might not support her. But, she chose the non-violence way of protest. So, we are supporting her wholeheartedly,” she said.
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