[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n 1991 several senior statesmen realizing the danger of destruction in Nagaland tried to bring some basic social and political reformation to salvage the situation. They formed the a body called the “Conscience Forum of Nagaland”. But soon they realized that that a greater political movement alone could begin reformation in the social and political life through the Electoral process. The Forum converted into a political movement and launched a party called the Democratic Labour Party on August 27, 1992 with Chalie Kevichusa as President. Barely one month later Kevichusa was brutally assassinated on September 23,1992 in Dimapur.
22 years have slipped away since the Conscience Forum of Nagaland was formed. The issues and challenges then and now remain the same, rising like smog over the social and political scene in Nagaland. At this juncture of approaching 50 years of statehood, a seventeen year old Ceasefire, the public voice heard in the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation and now the YouthNet study report on state election expenses coming close to the last nail in the coffin of Naga society …the aims and objectives of the Conscience Forum of Nagaland is being shared with the new generation to be emboldened to stand firm in what is right to remind the older of a missed opportunity to change our circumstances. “Search for Conscientious
Reformation”
INTRODUCTION: Nagas are politically conscious. As early as 1929, a memorandum spelling out the Naga political aspiration had been submitted to the Simon Commission. This was followed by countless numbers of dialogues and negotiations with Indian leaders as well as representatives of the Government of India. Some agreements had even been reached; notable among these are (1) the Nine Point Agreement in 1947, (2) the 16 Point Agreement in 1960 and (3) the Shillong Accord in 1975. In 1964, even a Cease-fire Agreement had been made between the Federal Government of Nagaland and the Government of India. But in spite of these agreements, a resolution of the political issue is yet to be formed.
OBJECTIVE: Reformation. That’s the word which has been tantalizing the sub- conscious minds of a good many Nagas. Recent events clearly indicate that Nagaland needs a change – a turning point from the present suicidal course to one which will lead to a reformation of character and rebuilding of the damaged Naga image. As a matter of fact, such a reformation has been long overdue, and simmering discontentment threatens to boil over and engulf the Naga social fabric in one huge conflagration.
CULTURE of CORRUPTION: At the root of public discontentment is rampant corruption which has permeated not only the political system and the bureaucracy in the State but also the society as a whole. Corruption has touched even the religious leaders, the student community, the people at the grass root level and sections of the underground – groups such as the (now defunct ?) Naga Youth Liberation Front who, in the name of eliminating criminal activities and corruption have turned to terrorism. Such groups will proliferate unless social reformation takes place at all levels of the society.
COMPLEX PROBLEM: In the Naga national movement, divisions among the leaders have only exacerbated an already complex political issue. There was a time when the issue concerning the Naga people’s political differences with India could have been resolved through political dialogue. Today, that is not possible as no group or faction can rightfully claim to be the sole representative of the Naga national aspiration. No one can say whether in some distant future, those fighting for independence and the Government of India will be able to come to a negotiated settlement which will be satisfactory to both sides. As things stand today, such possibility seems remote. Hence, in the context of today’s political scenario, any promise of a political settlement on this issue has become a mere plank simply to garner votes in elections.
POLTICAL PARTIES: In the course of the quarter century following the creation of the State of Nagaland, two political parties emerged, each with a distinct ideology. Both parties have now deviated from their declared policies. Today, the only mark of distinction between these two political parties is in the degree of their corruptions and political immorality.
THE NAGA VIS-a-VIS CORRUPTION: Meanwhile, the ordinary Naga citizen, living under one corrupt regime after another, stands to lose not just his identity but the very meaning of his existence. During the last quarter of a century, the single largest casualty has been the Naga character.
Nagas were known to be honest. Today, no one trusts a Naga. The rot has set in deeply, and degeneration continues to take a heavy toll of the Naga character. Should matters be left to drift in this manner? Or can anyone do anything to salvage the Naga social image?
OPTION: The urgency of a movement for reformation of the Naga character cannot be over-emphasized. In order to make a start in this direction, we appeal to all citizens of Nagaland to examine their own motives, listen to the voice of conscience, and answer the following:
1. Should any registered political party become involved with the Naga national movement? If so, to what extent?
2. Can the State of Nagaland be used (i) to rebuild Naga character? (ii) to restore Naga traditional values? (iii) to raise the living standard of the people in the villages? (iv) to provide security to all manner of people in the State?
3. In Nagaland (i) is there any honest and /or sincere person still to be found ? If so, (ii) is it possible to elect him/her to the State Legislature? If not, (iii) is it possible to start a mass movement aimed at bringing about reforms in the electoral system which will be more compatible with the Naga way of life?
Do you have any other suggestions besides your replies to the above question ? If so, kindly share your opinions.
Issued for and behalf of Conscience Forum of Nagaland by
Chalie Kevichusa, Dimapur
26 August 1991
The Conscience Forum of Nagaland, was far ahead in focusing on the shortcomings that still plague us. The 2013 general elections to the Legislative Assembly was notable not for any positive aspect, but because of the abnormal rising trend of excessive expenditure to woo the voters’ votes. All the political parties had spent almost double what they spent in the 2008 elections. In this context, it is also the people who are to share in the results of the rot that had set in because it was for them that so much money had been spent. What is of immediate concern is that the time must be used to introspect and strive to elect a worthier Legislator(s), male or female, based on their proven sincerity. It is presumed that such people still exist in spite of so much negative aspects prevailing in our society.
What we need is a mass movement for reforms in the electoral system which would be more compatible with the Naga way of life.
The late Convenor of the Conscience Forum of Nagaland always maintained that one of the edifices on which the Forum stood was for the betterment of the future generation. He would often say the Forum is at best an attempt to address the malaise of corruption because, it would be terrible lest one day the youth reflecting on our history should turn around and ask ‘was there not even one Naga who could speak out for the truth?”
