Moa Jamir
Recent events, particularly the inglorious ‘baptism’ of unpaid teachers in Kohima in November and use of tear gas and water cannon against peaceful anti-corruption rally, is taking us into an unprecedented terrain in governance and polity where the edifice of democracy lies doused and trampled – metaphorically and literally.
A terrain, where dividing lines between legitimacy and legality is blurred and fuddled, a stark reminiscent of another familiar draconian law - AFSPA. Such unleashing of ‘State Powers on its own citizens is alarmingly assuming a dangerous precedence. It needs immediate rectification.
At the outset, it makes one wonder whether the concept of impunity, hitherto existing in social and political spheres, are creeping into administration and governance. Anthropologist Winifred Tate describes impunity as "the lack of punishment and sanction for the perpetrator of an abuse and the failure to provide reparations for the victims...produced by indifference, inadequate information, or ignorance of the abuse, as well as by active obstruction of investigations and legal proceedings.”
Drawing upon that Randy David in the Inquirer.net opined that “impunity” is no longer treated only as the result of a failure to “take notice or to assume responsibility for a wrongful act; rather, it is something that can be actively produced, either deliberately or unintentionally.” This impunity of corruption is being actively nurtured and on verge of gaining legitimacy in our context with an indifferent public incapacitated by years of systemic and endemic corruption.
On the other end, it is also creating rooms for a sycophantic relationship between executive and legislature whereby any form of opposition both in and outside the Assembly is sought to be crushed.
For instance, the Police admitted that “orders from the top” had made clear that the Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland public rally organised for unconditional release of its activists should not be held at any cost on December 15. They were arrested on December 12 on a counter FIR lodged by an alleged accused. A peaceful signature campaign the two other days before the rally were met with similar resistance from the police.
The Commissioner of Police promulgated Sec. 144 CrPc (curfew) within 100 metres radius of the Dimapur City Tower on December 15 with the apprehension of “disturbance of public peace and tranquility” and thereby justified to prevent “breach of peace.”
Going by this yardstick, any large gathering can be considered under the ambit. But if such imposition is based not on the ‘intensity’ of the apprehension but on political exigency, the impunity has had reached a perturbing stage.
Are we heading towards formal legitimization of kleptocracy through coercion and intimidation?
Thousands have pinned hope on ‘social media warriors’ for redemption. Looking at the recent events, one cannot help observe, with agonising awareness, that there is a colossal disconnect between online idealism and practical reality.
As a conscientious person, cynicism is justified and support should remain issue based. One can doubt the integrity or intention, but it does not negate the event itself. The fight against corruption is not about particular individual or organisation, but in everyone's interest.
Righteous indignation should not be only yardstick for trivializing any fight against corruption but this has become a norm in the social media. Did any of the incidents in the unfolding events inspire any change of attitude?
The occasion calls for collective responses where impunity should be relegated to background and joint actions assume pre-eminence.
For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com
