~ Dr. T. Jamedi Longkumer, Assistant Professor, Dimapur Government College
Okila
Iba YSS online sabang nung Clean Election den sendakba onük aiben jembia arudaki. Naga lima nung Clean Election Campaign (CEC) Nagaland Baptist Church Council ajanga 2012 küm tenzük aser State Assembly election ana (2013 & 2018) mapang iba wadang kanga meranga Arogo, laishir aser nüburtemi inyakogo aser nisung aikati CEC ajanga election nung temelenshi bener aruba aser takok anguba indang jembir. Nagaland State election 2018 temer külen NBCC tongti lenir ka dang media interview nung CEC indang asüngdang dang pai yamai langzü, “The campaign was more successful this time (2018 election). We are doing well so far; not all, but majority of the people have been impacted.” Pai Clean Election Campaign ajanga Naga nunger tiemba ka taküm nung impact/influence süogo, tetezü nisung jenti taküm nung temelenshi adoktaktsüogo (election related nung) ta ashiba oji hau ta agizüktsü kanga tasak amai nibo bilemer. Kechiyong, mezüngbuba nung, tesüiba election nung clean election platform ajanga candidate ka danga takok mangu aser tanabuba nung, constituency ka nung danga clean election principle nung nüburtemi vote agütsüba mali. Clean election activities aika conduct asü aser sensaksem/mensem jenti ayong, saka tatem nungba akhi tejen yimya nungdang nüburtemi vote agütsü. Shirnoki rongsen tiemba indoka nüburtem vote alizük, shirnoki bangdak tashi teyari/support, sen aser kidong/yim/tsükong politics ajanga ngutet parnoki election nung takok angu. Seminar, workshop, interaction aser social media ajanga Naga nunger aikati clean election indang angashia metetogo südi saka metetbaji implement mesütet aser mapa küma meinyaktet. Theoretical knowledge metetba kisüngjibo amajok, implement mesütetba aser mamshitetba tashitemetetjibo impact/tajangzük mali. Denial nung asenok melili – it is what it is! Clean election campaign has been a clear failure in Nagaland thus far.
Kechiba Naga lima nung CEC tamakok angu?
Arogo aser Laishiri ayongba CEC ya kechi komala tongpang ka? Iba tongpang nung tsükchirji kechi? Iba tongpang akoktsü atema kechi tenokdangbatem/challenges/barriers/ hindrances anema raratsüla? Iba tongpangji asenoki size-up sür ma? Iba tongpang magnitude-ji asenoki angatetogo ma?
Item tasüngdangba telangzüba bushitsü atema tesüiba election mapang tatalokba otsü ka tongmelang agi study asütsü merangdi. 2018 election nung asen Aor sensotemi clean election agenda/platform nung contest asütsü merangba indang ni jangja memetet, saka Kohima district nungbo Angami nunger ka contest asütsü merangba indang kanga otia media aser public domain nung jembia prokshiba asenoki metet. Rev. Dr. Mazie Nakhro, shiba Jotsoma yim nungi laishir ka lir pai clean election platform nung Western Angami constituency nungi election contest asütsü mulungtet. Rev. Mazie-i yamai ashi, “I decided to set an example by contesting in the elections on two platforms – NBCC’s clean election campaign and the anti-corruption stand of ACAUT (an anti-corruption organization).” Kodang pai yamaji contest sünüba declaration agütsü par kidong (Nakhro) aser par yim (Jotsoma) putu menden-i pa candidature anema apusoa noktak. Kidong aser yim putu mendeni pa dang yamai ashi, “Na clean election platform nung election tokteptsü merangbaji amajok, tangar yim nungi tokteper candidate anema nai kodanga takok mangutsü, nai ochishia merüka election contest asütsü merangra nai tangar makoktsü aser asen kidong/yimer takoksa tulu asutsü” ta shia pa contest nungi candidature anogo ishika tsüngda nung withdraw südaktsü. Pa withdraw südaktsür külen par kidong nungi tangar ka kidong candidate ama shim (shibai clean election agenda/principle magizük aser sen/tashiyim amshia election tokteptsü/contest asütsü mulunga liasü), aser iba nisung yimer senso candidate ama election-i ai aser takok angu. Iba “Interesting social experiment of a Clean Election contestant: Rev. Dr. Mazie Nakhro’s case” nungji asenoki ‘Naga nunger politics’ noksa jangja angur. Pai ‘Naga nunger election yimya – Naga election style’ nung election contest asütsü memulungba agi par kidong aser yim putu mendeni pa election nung contest mesüdaktsü. Rev. Mazie-i ‘Naga nunger existing election culture’ anema aposoa tasen election culture/sobaliba ka tenzüktsü merangba yong pa candidature magizük.
Contemporary Naga election culture kodang aroka examine südir asenoki tongtipang determining factor ana ajitettsü: Sen (money) aser Senso (identity). Iba tashi/power/factor ana-i Naga lokti alena aliba yong Naga lima nung free and fair election tanü tashi magiteter. Sen tashi-i tamakoktsü ajak takoktsü kümdaktsür – sen agi vote alir, muscle/gun power alizüker, local authority/bangdak favour/support angur. Media nung State election analysis report ka yamai adok, “(Nagaland) State’s worst-kept secret: that its votes are up for sale to the highest bidder. For years now, elections in Nagaland have seen people voting for the party and candidate willing to dole out the most, in cash, kind, or both.” Naga nunger candidate-temi election nung sen indokba indang Kohima based organization YouthNet-i parnok post-election study ajanga yamai ngutet: Rs. 570 crore (2008 Assembly election), Rs 938 crore (2013 Assembly election), Rs 1061 crore (2018 Assembly election). Election Commission report nung zülua aliba agi Nagaland State Assembly election 2018 nung total votes 9,96,170 agütsü, anungji vote ka jenjangji approximately Rs 10,650 atoker. India lima nung election sen indokba aser vote ratio bushidangra Nagalandji teimtiba asütsü südi. Election mapang sen laluba (wastage) aser sen tashi (money power) amshia takok bushiba maparen ya meshidak aser yamai meindoktsüla ta nüburtem ajaki angateta (consensus) maru tashi Naga lima nung free and fair election magitettsü.
Clean election magitettsüsa nokdangba tanabuba factorji senso/identity politics or self-centered politics ya lir. Asenok Naga nunger-i clan/village candidate nominate asüba aser yim bangdak tashi amshia yimer vote ajak iba candidate nem agütsüba ajanga democracy tamendakdak (foundation) raksatsür aser linük/nübur meimba lenisüba madoker. Kechiyong shitakba democracy nungbo senso shirnoksa election contest süner parnok ajak contest sutettsüla aser nüburtemi item candidates rongnungi tajungtiba (parnok manifesto/agenda/plan/character/ experience/contribution) tendanger külen universal adult franchise (one-person one-vote) ajanga parnok representativeji shimtsüla. Saka Naga nungertemi senso/identity basis nung dang aiben asen representative shimtsü meranger aser yamaji kinunger, kidong, yimer, tsükong, tribe dynamics aser preferences basis nung politics saitepba rural aser urban constituency balala nung asenoki angur. Tesüiba election 2018 nung takoker candidates rongnung identity politics candidate kwika liasü ta survey/research agi nungbo, takoker tiemba ka identity centered senso candidatetem dang asütsü ama bilemer.
Anungji Naga lima nung Election merüka agitsü atema item corrupt election practice/inyakyim – Sen aser Senso – anaji indoktsü stakeholders ajaki (Church, Civil Society, Political Parties, Citizens) bangjema mulungtettsüla aser tejangja election level playing ground ajak asoshi lateta yutsütsüla. Nisung ka anati clean election agenda nung contest asütsü merangba ajanga Naga election culture memelenshitsü. Temelenshi bener arutsü atema nüburtem mindset melenshitsü nungdak aser arok ‘social consensus’ ajanga temerük/tajung inyakyim akanga renemtsüla. Iba change/temelenshi bener aruba nung Arogoi aser Laishiri mapa tulu aser tongtipang inyaktsü lir.
Mizoram nung Clean Election maparen
Mizoram nung Clean Election takok anguba otsü asenok ajaki meteta lir. Mizoram nung 2008 Assembly polls nungi tenzüka tanü tashi Mizo Arogo aser Laishir lenisüba nung clean election agia arudagi. Iba movement koda tenzük aser kodaser wadang takok ngua aoer angatettsü atema asenoki merangdi. Reverend Lalbiakmawia, Mizo People’s Forum Mendenbuba, pai Mizoram clean election genesis indang media interview ka nung yamai ashi, “In the 1998 Assembly polls, we saw a steep rise in election expenditure, which went even further in the 2003 polls. We also noticed the involvement of the underground movement in the polls. In the northern part of the State, there were the armed groups of the Mara community. On the western side, there was the Bru Liberation Army, on the Eastern side, the liberation army of Myanmar and some Naga underground groups were getting involved in the State elections. It worried the Church and the Mizo civil society. We urgently felt the need to curb it so that there is peace in the State. So in 2006, the Mizo People’s Forum was set up keeping the 2008 Assembly polls in mind. We sought the cooperation of everyone who wanted the peace to continue in Mizoram. The political parties understood our concern. The public was happy because it led to a considerable change in the selection of candidates by the parties.”
Mizoram election nung sen (money) aser tashiyim (force) onsara amshiba nokdangtsü atema Mizo People’s Forum (MPF) 2006 tenzük aser Mizoram nung election merüka agitsü atema mapadong ajak iba bangdak-i anir inyaker. Parnok inyakyim tongtipang kar yamai agütsür:
- Young Mizo Association (YMA) ama Mizo People’s Forum (MPF)-ji Mizoram Presbyterian Church-i tenzükba aser nungiba (support) socio-religious Forum ka lir.
- Iba Forum nükjidong aser mandateji: Mizoram nung election ‘free and fair’ aser ‘without money power’ agitsü atema.
- Election agitsü mapang jilia MPF-i political parties ajak den ‘partnership agreement’, election related “dos and don’ts”, lemteta sign asür aser ajaki metettsü atema agreement kaketji public nem lemshia agütsür. Reverend Lalbiakmawia yamai ashir, “This is (done) to inform the public about the dos and don’ts during the campaigning by the candidates so that they also get to know the rules set for the elections by MPF. Any violation is (being) closely monitored.”
- MPF aser political parties ‘agreement’/telemtetba nungji electioneering aspects ajak abensa cover asür – election expenses, selection of candidates, promises in the party manifesto and the manner of the campaign. Tatishitsü agi, party candidate shimtsü atema political parties-i item ‘qualifying rules’ reprangtsüla ta lateta lir – pala ji “without any record of infidelity, “free from alcohol and other substances”, “diligent and faithful” taküm ka asütsüla ta agüja lir.
MPF-i Mizoram nung election mapang political parties aser candidates ajak atema ‘level-playing ground’ yanglua yutsür aser item temzüng/ozüng tashi anga nüburtemi election nung shilem agir. MPF-ji official election watchdog (election commission ama) ka masü sürnung political parties aser nüburtemi kechiba akhümtsübua iba Forum-i ashi anga anidaker? Iba telangzübaji senior reporter kati Mizo daily newspaper ka nung yamai agütsü, “Apart from the fact that Church plays a big role in our Mizo society, the civil society groups are also respected a lot. They are considered to be the moral drivers of our society…so political parties cannot defy them easily, particularly not during an election.” Mizo Arogo aser lokti lenirtemji par lokti asoshi moral compass (libaliro len sayur) ama Mizo nungertemi agizüker – kechiyong parnoki par Arogo aser Civil Society jagi par nübur aser lima ajungtsü aser terenlok atema dang kechiserina mapa ajak inyaker ta metet aser yamaji temulung lemtettsüsa kuli ngua lir (Trust-capital in religious and social institutions is already present/cultivated).
Arogo aser Laishir Shilem
Mizoram Arogo aser Laishir lenisüba nung clean election takok ngua inyakba ama Naga lima nunga takok angutsü atema itemi nungdak ta bilemer:
1). Arogo aser Laishir lenisübaji nüburtemi agizüktettsüsa aser temulung lemtettsüsa asütsüla.
Kechiba Naga nungertemi NBCC/ABAM-i ayongba clean election campaign principles aser practices magizüker aser election ana tashi nung tejen yimya nungdang, sen aser tashiyim amshia election agi? Arogo aser Laishiri ashiba kechiba nüburtemi tashi manger? Nüburtemi hau ta magizükbaji Arogo aser Laishir dak temulung malemba ajanga asü? Arogo aser Laishir lenisüba nungji tajitettsü (questionable/doubt) langka lir asü? This calls for introspection and reflection. Iba olong rajemtsü atema ni Billy Graham quote südi (Nearing Home), “We cannot pretend to be something we are not; a Christ-like character cannot be faked. If Christ is not real to us or if we haven’t learnt to walk with Him and submit our lives to Him every day, then our spiritual impact on those who follow us will be far less than it might have been … people are very sensitive to hypocrisy; if they sense it in us, they will dismiss our pretences and pay no attention to our advice. On the other hand, if they can sense (that) our faith is sincere and our love is authentic, then they will respect us and take us seriously (even when they know we are not perfect).” Tanü asen Arogo aser Laishir kong nokdaka lir? Khrista ochiba, temeshiba, tekümtet, yimjung, temeim, temulung lemtetba, ajemaluba, tazüokba, tashi aser shisatsü nenok dak nüburtemi ngudar ma? Tsüngremer raraba sobutsü ajak (armor of God), Efesa 6 nung zülua aliba to, abensa asen Arogo aser Laishiri sübo nung dang CEC wadang jeta koka inyaktettsü.Trustworthy leadership is the need of the hour.
2). Naga/Aor lokti stakeholders aser nüburtemi Election merüka agitsü telemtetba agitsüla – a SOCIAL CONTRACT on Clean Election is required.
Arogo aser Laishiri anir social discourse Naga nunger/Aortem rongnung alitsüla aser election merüka agitsü atema social consensus aser agreement generate asütsü mapa inyaktsü nungdak. Sen aser tashiyim amshia election agibaji Naga nunger/Aortem ajak asoshi takoksa (shinga majangzüker) ta asen nüburtemi angatettsüla aser item memerükba alima shi-azü mapa indoktsü mulungtettsüla – ibala ama ‘social contract’ (arok lokti telemtetba) ka meyanglu nungbo temelenshi bener arutsü makoktsü. Clean election campaign can be a success only when the people embrace self-examination, purify themselves and decide to live for what is right and true. It can come about only through people transformation. After all the election corruption is just an opportune manifestation of the moral rottenness within – lust for money, power, self-interest and pride– evils ruling thehearts and minds of our people. Meimchir mulungjang nung temenen tera alibaji atsüteta indoktsü mulungtet nung dang tajung inyaktsü lenmang lapoktsü. Iba ‘tekümtet’ mozüji Arogo aser Lashirtemi Temeshi Laishiba nungi Tanela Temeshi leniba aser tashi nung nüburtem nem agütsütsüla. Kodang civil societies, political parties aser nüburtemi (general public) election agiba yimya merüktettsüla ta angateta iba mapa nung shilem agitsü (participate) mulunga kümdir idangjiang clean election campaign takok angutsü.
- Mizo People’s Forum ama clean election maparen/agenda implement süa monitoring mapa inyaktsü atema organized body ka tentettsü nungdak.
CEC inyakyim sentong atonga mapa küma inyaka aotsü atema organization tajung ka nungdak. Iba organizationji efficient aser above reproach (tarak maket) bangdak asütsüla. Tetezü iba bangdak lenirtemji nüburtemi hau ta agizüktetba nübu asütsüla (leadership that inspires confidence, trust and action). Asen lima nung lenisüba mendenji aiben pei self-interest aser self-benefit atema dang amshiba ajanga asen lokti raksar, timatemer aser lokti tejakleni maoer. Mizoram nung CEC takok anguba tongtipang reasonji Arogoi nungita yariba Mizo People’s Forum-i ochi/upright aser tebendang maliba/impartial leadership agütsüba ajanga lir. Mizo Arogo lenirtemji nüburtemi akhümtsübur kechiyong parnoki Tsüngrem tsübur aser Temeshi Laishiba tesayuba ama taküm alir. The Mizoram experience with clean election campaign has been successful to a large extend mainly because the Church and its affiliate Mizo People’s Forum is very clear about what is and what is not acceptable. The Mizo Church has been fighting against corruption and this has encouraged people to raise their voice against what is wrong. It does not compromise even with VVIPs or moneybags.
CEC Achaayangba bangdak tamendakdak:
- Arogo Mungdang ajanga iba CEC bangdak tentettsü.
- Iba bangdak-i political parties aser stakeholders ajak den sensaksema/consultation agia election related ground rules and regulations latettsü aser ajak asoshi election tokteptsü atema kasa inyakyim lateta yutsütsü (create a level playing ground for all candidates and parties without any partiality or preference).
- CEC bangdak-i political parties ajak den equi-distance maintain asütsü aser shinga anema mesüra support süa meinyaktsü aser mejembitsü (The clean election campaign must not support or voice out against any party).
- CEC bangdakji principle-grounded initiative ka asütsü – election nung tashiyim aser sen amshiba anema noktakba people’s movement ka asütsü (Rejection of violence, threat, identity-politics and inducement).
- CECji democracy tongshi ‘honest and fair election’ (ochi aser liromedem election) Naga lima nung meraketa akangakanga tentetdaktsütsü merangba bangdak ka asütsü. Linük senso (citizen) shirnoksa election nung shilem agitsü temsüa ali (voter mesüra candidate ama) parnok ajak kecha tetsübu aser tenokdangba mali pei shisa tajung amshia (through informed personal choice) shilem agitettsübaji CEC nükjidong asütsü.
Otem
Naga society-ji Mizo society ama homogenous lokti ka masü; asenok telemsa onsara, anungji Naga kin ajaki khen nungdangbo Clean Election onük nung arok tangatetep (general consensus) kati arua maparen külemi tenzüka aotsüji tasak asütsü ama bilemer. Saka district level nungbo CEC maparenji takok ngua inyaktettsü lenmang lir, kechiyong district teimba ka nung majority kin (ali kibur) ka dang. Tatishitsü agi, Mokokchung district nung asenok Ao kin-i CEC inyakyim agizüka inyaktsü bangjema telemtetba agira aji takok ngua inyaktettsü. Aser asenok Aortemi, Ao Arogo Mungdang, Civil Societies aser nüburtemi, yamaji Mokokchung district nung inyaka sayu nungbo Naga kin tangartemia jilo ajizüka asen sülen anitaktsü. Anungji Clean Election Campaign-ji asenok Aortemi Naga nunger lenmang tasen kati anir aotsü maongka (opportunity) tulu ka asen madang Tsungremi yutsü ama bilemer. Kum 150 tejaklen asen kin-i tamangba aser shisaliok lenmang tasen mesemteta tasü ita Naga kin ajak anir apusoba ama tanü asen jakdang iba kasa lenisüba mapa election wadang nung inyaktsü anungdaka lir. ABAM 150th anniversary 2022 küm amongtsü aser 2023 küm State Assembly election agitsü – iba electionji Mokokchung district nung Clean Election principle nung agitetra koda tesüngmangtsü aser jangratemtsüka asütsü!
*****
The Nokinketer 