‘Systemic dynamics in Naga society and politics’

Dimapur, Dec. 17: The location of the voice of the people – whether imagined or real – in the context of the emerging democratic functioning and process of Naga socio-political system was at the centre of a panel discussion initiated by Heritage Publishing House here on Saturday.

Held at Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo’s Elim Hall on the topic ‘Systemic dynamics in Naga society and politics’, the talk had Toshi Wongtung, former president of ENPO; Mmhonlumo Kikon, one of the youngest legislators in Nagaland today; Khekiye K Sema, a retired bureaucrat, and Dr Walunir Tzudir, who teaches at Amity University, as panellists. The talk was moderated by Dr Pangernungba Kichu, an Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at Oriental Theological Seminary.

At the end of the three hour long discussion, the discussion veered towards the possibility of a “revolution” in Naga society at this juncture. The uncontested idea to emerge in the end, after all the exchanges that took place, was that time was not yet “ripe” for a revolution in Nagaland.
In the opinion of the editor of Morung Express, Akum Longchari, so long as the reference point of the people remain confined to the state of Nagaland revolution was not possible. He suggested that instead of revolution, what could be possible was reformation.

Within the apparatus of the state of Nagaland, he said, the people will always have to turn to the judiciary. This would mean reformation and not revolution, he suggested.

His assertion was in consonance with Dr Walunir, who had also shared earlier that the Naga people were not ready for revolution. According to Walunir, in the present context, Naga people could pursue only reformation. “Either ways (reformation or revolution), it needs mobilization of a strong public movement.”

Speaking on the topic of ‘Relationship between representative bodies and people’, Walunir said that there was disconnect between the two alignments – be it in terms of civil societies, government or the Naga political groups.

The existing system, he said, was that of ‘representation without representations’. If the NSCN (IM) could consult with “experts from South Africa or anywhere (else)”, then they should also be able to come and discuss what was being negotiated with the Naga people, he said. “Why should we talk only through the newspapers?”

The disintegration of Naga civil society into “Naga sectarian blocs”, he said, was not in the interest of the people. “It is not part of my interest. I’m sure it’s not part of your interest either.” The connection between the government and the people should not end with the press of the button (adult suffrage), he said.

According to Khekiye K Sema, while speaking on ‘Regulatory mechanisms in democratic systems: Moving beyonf RTI’, “with the present system there is no way Nagas could improve”. He said that the state legislature ‘focused on recuperating’ election expenses has bulldozed the execute into doing what the legislature wants.

In turn, a weakened executive unable to stand on its own feet has left it to the judiciary as the last bastion of justice and redress, he said. But even the judiciary, according to Sema, was not free from various extraneous pressures.

Toshi Wongtung said that the projection of Nagas as farmers was flawed. “We are not farmers, we are peasants,” he said while arguing that ‘farmers’ imply a marketing system which was not in existence in Nagaland.

He also said the government should focus more on ‘state-wide’ primary education to help the people understand the meaning of administration and responsibility. The sad reality of Nagaland, he pointed out, was that the statehood package arrived before infrastructure and human resource development.

Kikon’s topic was on ‘Good governance and inclusive development in Nagaland: A perspective’. He said that the electoral process of Nagaland was characterised by its ‘winner takes all’ nature. This in turn has contributed to discrepancies in distribution of services. He termed it as the tyranny of majority.

Good governance, he said, must begin with how all these decisions are taken. Kikon also shared that it was wrong for people to protest “but wrong for informed people not to understand the rule of law.”

Rev Dr Wati Aier, in his concluding remarks, said Naga people must be able to adopt a “model of inclusive mechanism that involves ecclesial institutes, learning institutes, communal participation leading to a pedagogy of transformation” not dissimilar to the one followed by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation.

The movement, he shared, must be guided by the intellectual class. “Power (at the grassroots) without intellectual guidance will lead us to a zone called chaos.”