Yiepetso Wezah
Introduction
Nagaland State Assembly Election is likely to be held in February 2008. Various political parties and candidates are now gearing up for the election. In a democratic State, the electors are given the freedom to elect their leaders according to their choice. But in the context of Nagaland, the political parties in their fight for power have affected the economy, social, religious and moral life of people. The election system has brought a divisive force among the people and people are divided as a result of a partisan spirit. Further, it has created division in the Churches and deadened spiritual life due to bribery and enmity among the church members. Hence I would like to highly some of the issues and suggest a few preventive measures in order curb unwanted elements in this coming election.
1. Present Practices and their impact on the people
1. 1. Election Camps:
Election Camps are opened at almost all the villages by contesting candidates. People are reduced to camp followers. The candidates pour in money as much as they could. Supporters are entertained lavishly. Free messes are running spending lakhs of rupees by each candidate for weeks. It is an open bribery enticing people to support him. Men and women work together, eat together and drink together. This leads many young boys and girls to involve sexual immorality.
1. 2. Physical Clashes:
The present election system is physical strength show. There are always clashes between parties, beaten up opponent, damaging properties, kidnapping and even killing party workers. This is leading innocent people to political party war. Physical clashes create enmity between brothers and sisters and clans within the village and even between villages.
1. 3. Money Power -Bribery
The purchase votes become very expensive as the cost of votes become very high. However, in order to come to power, contesting candidates are compelled to purchase votes at any cost. They might spend lakhs of rupees only for buying votes. One elderly man said that some people sell votes like selling domestic animals. Every politician wants to carry a lot of votes in his/her pockets, because votes give power and the very motive of contesting candidate is to capture power.
Voters do openly look for bribe. They thought that election is the only time to get their share because they would not be known after election.
This practice affects both candidate and voters. Contesting candidate sacrifice the truth. They spend a lot of money to come to Assembly in pauperized condition. Bu they have to refund the amount that they have spent. Thus they take away public funds, which are meant for development. On the other hand, voters sell off their democratic rights. They sell the truth in exchange of money.
1. 4. Gun Power:
The last two elections show the power of guns in the State Assembly Election. Today, guns control the process of State election. Indeed, there is no democratic process of election today. It may become worse in this coming election. The candidates have a tendency to misuse underground groups in order to come to power. So also the vested underground groups support their own candidates so that in return they may receive benefit. However, it creates terror to the public during the election.
1.5. Proxy Voting
Proxy voting is one of the unfair means in the election. Those who dwell in towns do have their names in the voting list in their respective villages. Their relatives vote in their names. The under-age children’s names also listed in the voting list without the consent of parents and they either vote or other vote in their names. This will certainly affect their future in the competitive examination and government services. However, we seem to be very short-sighted.
1. 6. Wine
Wine is used to entice people. Those who have never tasted wine before are also enticed to drink wine. It spoils the morality of many people. However, party workers and some of the candidates supply wine to supporters in order to keep them happy. Physical clashes mostly occur under the influence of wine.
1.7. Character Assassination
Character assassination creates division and enmity between families, clans, villages and ranges. It sows the seed of disunity, suspicion and the spirit of rivalry while fighting for leadership.
1. 8. Division within the Church
Church leaders do have the right to exercise their franchise. But many of them have openly supported contesting candidates. Many of them have publicly supported one candidate against the other by joining election campaign directly or indirectly. This has created disunity and disharmony within the Church members. This has created suspicion and non-cooperation among the co-workers of the same church.
1. 9. Division in Society/Village
The present election system creates un-repairable damage to society. People are divided in the line of partisan spirit. Village Council Office bearers or Town Council Officer Bearers are also selected/elected according to State political party line. One of the problems is that they do not want to work together or come under the leadership of the opponent party leaders. The division and disunity according to party line is affecting the development of the villages and towns.
1.10. Failure of the Church
It is now a well know fact that the present system and practices of State Assembly Election are affecting individuals, families, clans, villages, Churches and society as a whole. However, on the one hand, they are indifferent to State politics, but on the other hand, they have no way of escaping from their association with politicians and bureaucrats. They become mere followers of the rich and powerful politicians. This is because Churches become dependent on them for financial assistance.
All those who involved in corruption are Christians. But they have no qualms about indulging in corruption and violence. The churches have failed to play a prophetic role. They do not speak against evil practices. Hence, the Church workers are to a great extend responsible for the corrupt practices in the Election and political process. Should we continue to remain as mere spectators and allow evils practices continue to damage our people, churches and society? I will like to suggest a few practical preventive measures for our deliberations.
2. Preventive Measures
2.1. Criteria for the Contesting Candidates
Today, only rich and power holders can contest election and there is no place for poor and honest candidates to contest election. In order to prevent corrupted candidates from contesting election, certain criteria can be set by the Church and NGOs for the contesting candidates. Only those who qualify the criteria can be elected to power. The citizens of the state can be educated to vote for only those who meet the set criteria. For instances-
(a) A candidate should be above average in his/her personal life (b) A candidate should be good Christian (c)A candidate should be free from corruption (d) A candidate should be respected by people irrespective of villages and linguistic groups and tribes (e) A candidate should be knowledgeable and capable Certainly, the criteria would be able to control corrupted persons from contesting election. This help in electing good and capable persons to represent people.
2.2. Common Platform
A village or nearby villages can arrange a common platform and invites contesting candidates to address public only about their commitment to serve people, their vision and manifestos. They should be restricted to speak ill of their opponents. People can judge their commitment and manifestos and vote for only those who have strong commitment to serve people. Common Platform will also prevent contesting candidates and party workers from house to house campaign and bribery will be reduced to a great extend.
2.3. Neutralize Partisan Spirit
Public should not be hyperactive in the election. They should exercise their franchise, but should not actively involve by supporting one candidate against the other. For whoever wins has to work for the common welfare of the people and society. The contesting candidates also should not show favouritism as it blocks the development of villages and towns.
The party workers usually submit the names of the supporters to the candidates. It creates a lot of suspicion and misunderstanding among the citizens of a village or a town. Hence, public need not identify themselves to whom they support. Also party workers be stopped in listing the names of their supporters. In this regard, political education must be given to general public.
2.4. Political Education
A thorough political education should be given to people. It can be given from Church pulpit or public meeting. It should emphasize on biblical and democratic principles. (a) The right of franchise (b) The value of vote (b) Not to sell vote, (c) Not to take bribe/bride voters, (d) To elect God-fearing candidates (e) To elect those who have commitment to serve people and (f) those who have a vision for the welfare of the people and society. In order to give this kind of education, there can be exchange touring of Area Church Council leaders along with Council Staff. A pamphlet can also be widely circulated to people as a conscientization/education process.
2.5. Restriction of Election Camps in the Villages/Towns
Election camps are found to be major problems. Hence, Village/Town Colony Youth Organization, Students’ Union and Mothers’ Association can be mobilized to stop Elections Camps in their respective villages/wards. This will certainly minimize election expenditure, quarrels, physical clashes and using of intoxicating liquors. It will save both contesting candidates and public from moral corruption.
2.6. The role of Naga National Workers
Instead of involving in Indian state political election, the Naga National workers should check corrupt practices in the election. They can effectively educate our people to caste their vote only for faithful and capable candidates who can work for the welfare of the State and Nagas a whole. It would be unwise to support one candidate or party against the other party or candidate, for the sole motive of Naga National workers is to liberate the Nagas from the political bondage of Indian State.
2.7. Prophetic Ministry
The Churches should be faithful to the call of God and have to play a prophetic role. They have to give constructive criticism and correction like that of the Old Testament prophets. Also they have to follow the foot steps of Jesus Christ in the field of politics. (1) To change the hearts of humans to communion with God and to establish a horizontal relationship among people and help to develop their concern for one another in a community. (2) The churches must affirm their belief in God to eradicate the root causes of the problems facing today. The churches should seek the co-operation of NGOs in their effort to lessen injustice, corruption and repression. The churches should educate and mobilize people to challenge and transform the practices that destroy humans and society as a whole.
Conclusion
The issues highlighted in this article are a few among many. The preventive measures suggested here should be thoroughly reasoned and bring out practical steps for necessary actions. The entire motive is to safeguard our people from further damage and to work for the welfare of our people and State as a whole.
The writer is the Academic Dean, of Baptist Theological College, T. Chikri, Pfutsero, Nagaland
