A leader of the Naga pacifist organization, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, has challenged Naga civil society and citizens’ stakeholders to the task, necessity and importance of imparting ‘education’ in Human Rights to the functionaries of the Naga political groups. It is suggested that ‘training’ in Human Rights may be imparted to functionaries “perhaps at least up to the (rank of) Captain or Lieutenant” of the Naga political groups, said Convener of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier today.
Dr. Aier told participants at a Human Rights day program in Dimapur today December 10 that Naga citizens normally talk of Human Rights ‘as if its out there somewhere’ but citizens’ basic Human Rights – Right to Life, Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, Right to Work and Dignity of Labor and Income for instance – are being violated in the Nagas’ very own backyards.
Dr. Aier – honored recently for peace-making work – was addressing an International Human Rights Day/63rd Anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights observance in Dimapur. Under the theme ‘Social Media and Human Rights in the Local Context,’ the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) commemorated the occasion with Dr. Aier as the keynote speaker.
Dr. Aier said institutionalized and systematic perpetration of violence, discrimination and subjugation is the most widespread form of violence. “I have come across this form of institutional violence even in our context,” the leader of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation said, while not referring to any organization in particular. “When we talk of institutionalized violence, let us not think it is out there somewhere. We must also think about the Naga political groups,” he said in apparent reference to the growing public discontent at excesses committed by members of the “Naga political groups” in the recent times.
“We are badly in need of education on Human Rights. Human Rights training to the underground groups up to (the rank of) perhaps Captain or Lieutenant can be imparted; The NPMHR can work on this. Perhaps you can advocate this issue?” he queried the civil society leaders attending the event.
Dr. Aier, also Principal of Oriental Theological Seminary in Dimapur, said ‘this issue must be the agenda of civil society like the NPMHR. We must speak more often on Human Rights violation issues.’ He informed that the issue was also broached in the various interactions associated with the ongoing efforts the ‘Naga reconciliation process to reconcile the Naga armed organizations.
Urging that the issue in question must be in the agenda of the NPMHR now, Dr. Aier said the role of “social media” is imperative – liaising and working in tandem with other civil groups, church and people.
“This is where the social media comes in need. Whatever the form of violation maybe, it is still a discrimination and violation itself; you have been social activists for long; but as Human Rights groups, are we using his channel?” Dr. Aier queried. “I would like to encourage the NPMHR to regroup, find a little finesse and be a little bit intentional on such issues,” he said.
In attendance in the event were also top leaders from Naga frontals such as the Naga Mothers’ Association, Naga Students’ Federation and Nagaland University Teachers’ Association. Civil society leaders delivered speeches of solidarity. Among the speakers, Dr. PS Lorin, founding-member of the NPMHR, reminisced on the birth of the organization in Delhi, in 1978.
Prominent social activist Rosemary Dzuvichu also spoke urging the leaders to prescribe and contextualize the denial of rights to women within the ambit of Human Rights. She said Human Rights “in local context” is not only contextualized by political descriptions. ‘If we are talking of Human Rights in our local context, then women are being discriminated,’ she reminded the gathering. She citied an instance, that of the Watsu Mungdang – apex organization of Ao Naga women – which was suspended recently. She said one cannot talk of rights when basic Human Rights are being suppressed. “This is also institutional discrimination when basic rights are being suppressed by a more imposing authority,” she said.
