DIMAPUR, JANUARY 5 (MExN): The Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) today sought the immediate intervention of the Nagaland State Governor and the State Government into calls for boycott of the upcoming Municipal Polls and “threats and intimidations by some tribe organisations on intending candidates, which also includes women.”
A press note from the JACWR said Naga women have welcomed the decision to hold the polls and are well prepared to contest in the elections. It expressed concern that after more than 10 years of not holding elections in the municipal bodies, “some of the tribe bodies and other organisations want to continue the status quo, by stopping the process of filing nomination by candidates and using force to intimidate the public.”
It alleged that there are also vested interests that are “misleading the public on the legal validity to hold the municipal election and implement women reservation in these towns and municipal councils as can be seen from the various statements emanating from various organisations.”
It reminded that the JACWR is comprised of the Naga Mothers Association, Eastern Naga Women Organisation, Tenyimia Women Organisation, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur and the Watsu Mongdang.
The JACWR stated that Naga women are not confronting or challenging men. “We are fighting for our rights as guaranteed under the provisions of 243T of the Constitution, which has been enforced in 1993 and ratified by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly itself to include reservation for women, in 2006,” it said.
The JACWR informed that it had meetings with the Naga Hoho, ENPO, APO and different tribe organisations over the last few months and made its stand clear on “our Constitutional right to reservation as mandated by the Amended Act.”
It further stated that the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the JACWR in the Supreme Court was an appeal for holding Municipal Elections in Nagaland and women reservation as per the law.
It said that the Supreme Court in the final hearing stayed the Division Bench Judgement and order, thus reviving the earlier Judgement and Order of the Single Judge of October, 2011. Furthermore, the apex Court categorically observed in the successive hearings that Reservation for women in municipal and towns, does not infringe on Article 371A, the JACWR said.
Reservation, it stated, is implemented in most towns and cities in the rest of the country, including the North east. Despite enjoying special provisions through Constitution Articles like Nagaland, Mizoram has implemented 33% reservation for women, in its second tenure without any infringement on its special provision, it added. The JACWR further informed that Arunachal Pradesh despite being a tribal state has implemented the 73rd Amendment of Panchayati Raj and implemented 33% reservation for the last many years. Even Manipur, it pointed out has implemented 33% women reservation and conducted municipal polls. Meanwhile Assam has implemented 33% reservation, and Tripura has implemented 50% reservation for women.
The JACWR said it has informed all its tribe women organisations to help the women candidates file their nominations, as per the dates fixed by the State Election Commission.
It further informed that women candidates in various towns have responded and have started filing their nominations. “Therefore, the latest threats from certain tribe organisations to excommunicate candidates who dare to file their nominations is shocking and objectionable,” it said.
“To seek mandate through the democratic process of filing nomination and election is the fundamental right of every citizen. To excommunicate a legitimate citizen who performs a fundamental right is highly questionable,” the JACWR stated.
It pointed out that in Naga custom, “ex-communication takes place only in the highest crimes like murder, rape and when sacrosanct sacred rules are violated. Are we equating exercise of our political and democratic right to severest criminal action?” the JACWR questioned.
It further appealed for reason and judicious understanding of the law and respect for legal and democratic rights, to enable the long overdue municipal and town council elections to be held peacefully and see the progress and development of towns through mandated, elected councillors and Municipal and Town Councils.
