Irom Sharmila a 44 year old activist has been on hunger strike since November 5th 2000, that's nearly 16 years now.
Irom Sharmila also known as the iron lady decided to go on a hunger strike in protest against an Indian law that suspends many human rights protections in areas of conflict.
The iron lady started her hunger strike November 5th 2000 and was arrested 3 days into her hunger strike. She was arrested because the authorities in India said her hunger strike was an attempted suicide, which is a crime in India
Prison officials at a government hospital in Manipur have since force fed her through a tube in her nose. After more than a decade of hunger strike the iron lady has decided to end her 16 years hunger strike.
She said, "The only way to bring change is electoral process. I will stand as an independent candidate from Malom constituency."
She also stated that the single issue on her agenda would be the removal of the law that allows the military to act with absolute impunity.
The Indian laws states that troops have the right to shoot and kill suspected rebels without fear of prosecution and to arrest suspected militants without a warrant.
Irom Sharmila spent most of her detention in hospital, where doctors make sure her condition is stable. Her long hunger strike has gained her supporters from across the world.
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