Elder Indian womyn's nude protest against military

In India's Manipur state, July 15, around forty elder women, ages 50 to 65, held a naked protest against military violence.


After stripping, the women threw their clothes at Assam Rifles (AR) "security" personnel. ''Silence of the state authorities towards our appeal, and their negligence in redressing our woes, forced us to go beyond shame,'' says Ms. Thockchom Ramani, 62, representing the All Manipur Women Social Reformation and Development Samaj.


Protesters accuse the AR of killing Miss Thangjam Manorama, 32.
[ For details, please see:
 http://www.webindia123.com/news/m_details.asp?newscode=62058&catcode=ENG3&subcatcode= ]

Manipur, in northeastern India bordering Burma, has long suffered from military repression and guerilla warfare.
Around one-third of the people belong to "hill tribes", especially Nagas and Kukis.
In Victorian times, the Naga were famous for their traditional nudity.



Five days earlier, in peaceful Marin County, California, many women stripped and reclined on the ground, so their nude bodies would spell the word VOTE. They were assembled by an anti-war group called Baring Witness, whose leader Donna Sheehan writes:
"Our bodies are powerful messages.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION!
..... Join our powerful movement and be part of history."

For more info, and possible future actions, please visit:
[ http://www.baringwitness.org ]


Donations may be snail-mailed to:

Donna Sheehan
BARING WITNESS
P.O. Box 753
Marshall, CA 94940
USA
...............



-- report compiled by SUN of San Francisco
[ http://pages.prodigy.net/seniornude ];
sponsoring Nude Peace Day
for adults of all genders and orientations
on 9 October 2004
at Baker Beach, SF, CA
.............