Rev. Dr. Wati Longchar
Yushan Theological College & Seminary, Taiwan
The collective solidarity resistance movement in the street against corruption in public life is the only answer in Christian dominated state in Nagaland. The NBCC has been in the forefront against social evils and the ongoing campaigning on Clean Election is laudable. Seminars, awareness campaigns, public lectures, pulpit exchange, songs, social media network campaign, white flag, etc are noteworthy. Vote buying, selling vote, denying to vote, misleading people will false promises are all evil practices that deny justice and inalienable rights of an individual. To fight against evils and unjust system that deny inalienable right of the people is biblical mandate and the church will continue to stand for clean election and just practices.
The political parties and candidates who are contesting in election and Naga public in general should understand that the church is fighting to protect the democratic principle and justice in public life. It is a massive endeavour and the church alone cannot do much without the active support of citizens. It is time that all right thinking citizens should come forward to support Clean Election campaign. This campaign is not for village, clan or individual gain, but for the common good of the Naga citizens. People want and should be allowed to elect honest and committed visionary leaders who can work for all round development of the state and beyond.
To make the Clean Election Campaign more effective, we need to address the larger corruption issue in public life. Every morning we read in our newspaper about the fights and accusations of two NPF parties; scams after scams: oil adulteration, food supply scam, Dimapur city tower area road construction, 4th mile bridge construction, Golden bridge construction in Mon-Tizit road scams, etc and backdoor appointment; and pathetic road conditions all over Nagaland and negligence of public properties. Interestingly, no one has been arrested. Are there no laws in Nagaland for those corrupters? It shows that Nagaland Government is running without law. One cannot expect desirable outcome of clean election without addressing the larger corruption issue in public life. Silence will encourage more corruption. The apex church body like the NBCC and associations have not come out to street on corruption issue. The church are failing in our calling.
The ACUAT is doing a commendable work for Naga society and we thank them for their courageous act. Why are the other civil organizations silent? The silence will imply that we are collaborating with corruptors. The hohos, student’s bodies and NMA should come forward to strengthen the hands of ACUAT. In the name of “Save Nagaland from Corruption” the civil organizations need to form a collective solidarity movement for justice and come out to street demanding justice like Anna Haraze anti-corruption movement. This is the need of the hour in Nagaland.
The church and the right thinking citizens must also come out to the street against corruption and give pressure to investigating agencies to take appropriate action as per the law of the land to those officials who are involved in corruption. We need a political party who stand to fight against corruption but not a political party who is involved in scams after scams. The church should have courage to name those corrupters and openly declare that they have no moral right and unfit to hold public office. The church should also stop “Chief Guest or Guest of Honour Culture” during jubilee celebrations or other important functions of the church. Inviting a chief guest expecting donation is nothing but doing corrupt business and encouraging officials to do more corruption. We need to give due honour and respect to our leaders, but one should not worship money and power. It is not only the church but all the hohos and student’s bodies are doing the same. In this way we become participants in corrupt practices. Along with Clean Election Campaign, NBCC can take a lead in campaigning against corruption not only within the four walls of the church but on the street for the common good of the citizens. It is not only within the four walls of the church, but we worship God by doing justice in public life. Peaceful demonstration pointing out justice is another element of the worship of God.
