Rights activists across the world today kicked off a five-day demonstration in support of the movement in Manipur for the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers Act) and hunger striker Irom Sharmila - The Telegraph reported.

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The programme is being coordinated by the Imphal-based Manipur Forward Youth Front and Mumbai-based rights forum, the National Alliance for Peoples Movement.

Sapamcha Kangleipal, president of the Front, claimed that demonstrations were held at seven places in the US, two places in the UK, Bangladesh, Pakistan and in some Arab countries today. But the details of the demonstrations in other parts of the world could not be immediately available.

"We have sought help from the world community in the fight against the draconian act and also solidarity for Sharmila. This is to mount pressure on New Delhi to repeal the army act," Kangleipal said.

Led by leaders of the Mumbai-based rights group, mostly women, a 'solidarity fast' was observed at Imphal's Keishampat crossing today. The fast will continue for five days.

The leaders of the alliance, Faisal Khan from Mumbai, Biju Borbarua from Assam and Sandeep Pandey from Uttar Pradesh, are taking part in the fast.

Magsaysay Award holder and renowned social activist Sandeep Pandey has expressed grave concern over the continued imposition of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act and other black laws in occupied Kashmir. Pandey said the army act had no place in a democratic country. Instead of solving problems, it has become counter productive. So the act should be repealed, he said.

Talking to media men in Guwahati, India. Pandey who is also the convenor of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) said that because of presence of the heavy troops in Kashmir, Kashmiris have suffered a lot. He called upon the government of India to opt for a political solution to the conflict instead of depending heavily on its military forces to tackle the problem.

He expressed anguish over the failure of the Indian government to respond to recommendations by two of its own commissions - Veerappa Moily Administrative Reforms Committee and Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission - for repeal of the AFSPA that had led to gross violations of human rights by Indian troops in the conflict ridden region.

The launch of the solidarity fast came two days after the Apunba Lup observed Anti-army Act Day on September 11 here to mark the completion of five decades of the act in the Northeast.

The Apunba Lup, a conglomeration of 32 organisations, has sought peoples' suggestions on how the movement against the act should be taken forward and has lent full support to the fast. The Front is a constituent of the Apunba Lup. The fast could mark the second phase of the movement against the act. Kangleipal said more leaders of human rights groups would arrive here tomorrow from other parts of the country to take part in the fast.

It is after the Apunba Lup launched a relentless campaign that the Manmohan Singh government constituted the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission to review the act in 2004.