Tuesday, August 25, 2009

UZO Post Election Syndrome: What Lies Ahead After Election?

UZO Post Election Syndrome:
What Lies Ahead After Election?

Mr. Khai Minthang
Dallas, TX

Election and conference is over, and obviously party line is over. Although our politics divide us, we have to keep in mind that our identity as a nampi must stand against all odds and must know the fundamental principle of a democratic principle — “majority’s rule and minority’s right.” Apparently, there will be some post election syndrome in the hearts and minds of our leaders and every individual Zous.

There will obviously be some ups and downs on the journey. However, now that we have come to a close, the ruling party ought to reach out to the people and leaders irrespective of party lines. And, our heading, policies, programs, visions etc. has to be dealt with in a bi-partisan approach. And, the new leaders ought to know that they have been elected to represent the people, not their party during the election.

One thing so obvious to me in this election is that our people have played our own part(s) to make this election a success. The incumbent UZO and the expecting ZWC (party lines and independents) played a vital role in executing their responsibilities, the mobile news — Zolengthe and Zoheisa played their part, the online ZouWorkshop and Zolengthe, no doubt, also played a vital role in assessing and analyzing the issue, the Zou arm wings played their part on the ground, the Zou Nute have come up to make their voice hard, and many more of the Zou people, individually and organizationally, took part in the process. And, thanks to Pu Zolengthe for his live updates of the UZO Election cum Conference. The Zou people are indebted for your part in the process. We all have done our utmost sacrifices in terms of physical, financial, human resource, mental power, etc. for our people, and we are all applausable and commendable.

Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge and congratulate the Zou Nute for coming up to make their voice hard in the process. No women of our neighboring tribe(s) have started such a massive agitation in defense of their children and their families so far. We are truely proud of you and we really felt mothers’ love and sacrifices. This will be known throughout our history, and history will credit and compensate your sacrifices henceforth.

Now that we have new leaders for the new term, the Zou peoples’ expectation are on the rise to cherish their dreams, to be a beacon of hope to the hopeless, savior to the bonded, food to the hunger, law to the lawless, uniting force to the divided, and everything to everyone. More importantly, to give a better future to the next generation. We expect our leaders to focus on the “binding factors” not the “dividing factors” as our community is on the move. We expect our leaders to bind us together because we all share a common blood and naval cord (DNA), progenitor, history, anthropology, custom, culture, traditions, folklores, language (with various accents), etc. We expect our leaders to remove our differences in terms of our accents, our political party lines, our denominational affiliations, etc. but strive for a common ground, in a united approach. As long as we focus on our “binding factors” we will not be divided and there will always be a way or an avenue to be united in word and in deed.

Our "dividing factors" include politics such as election, denominational affiliations, clanism, nepotism, special interest groups, etc. We expect our leaders not to allow anything, formal or informal, of the above points to be injected within our community. The moment we (our leaders) focus on our “dividing factors” our political boundary will run in the middle of our dinning table, and we will victimize ourselves for the political gains of someone. A house divided against itself will not stand. It will bring pain and sorrow to the Zou people being represented. And, it will not just be shameful, but it will truely be painful in the fullest form. We have experienced the pain and sorrow of it, and we don’t like it anymore, do we???

We need to accumulate our resources — physical, intellectual, financial, etc. to building a more peaceful and lasting society. We need to revive the fearless and independent spirit of our forefathers. We need to revive the Zou Gaal memorial hall, school and trophy because the “Zou Gaal” is the most important war that we have fought, and the only war we can make ourselves known to the world.
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UZO to Zou Tribe Council Part - II

UZO to Zou Tribe Council: What is Wrong With Us?
Part Two

Khai Minthang

(This article was taken from my writings at the Zou Workshop Forum dated Aug. 19, 2009)

Dear friends,
1. We have shared a good many ideas from our current UZO and ZTC issue. I am not against the new name, but I am so skeptical about (rather against) the name we are going to leave. Because, we have left the "Zomi" and the word or term was taken right away. How many organs or assns. have come up with the word "Zomi" now? Leave "United" and it will be taken again. Leave "Organization" and it will be taken again. Any existing name cannot be taken by someone. Leave/Throw the UZO, someone is gonna take it and make it alive, and you will behold without being able to do anything with the existing name anymore. If someone uses UZO you cannot take it back. Any registered and existing name (trade name, brand name, org. name, etc.) cannot be taken/used by anyone.
2. There is no way of comparison between "(Name of the tribe) National Council" and the "United Zomi/Zou Organization." "National Council" is in its term unacceptable because of its very word "National." India is a nation, but Tribal names cannot be followed by "National" because one tribe is not a nation. That's understood. And, I think that would probably be the reason they removed "National" and changed it to "Tribe." Coming to our part of the issue, we have never used the inappropriate term/word "Nation" or "National" in our name. There is nothing inconsistant or odd in adding "United" and "Organization" to our name. But, it rather defines who we are and what we stand for. It is an organization that aims at streaching our arms and our optimum potential for the welfare of the people within the organization/Tribe.
3. "ZOU" is the name of the Tribe recognized by Government of India, not the word or not with the word prefixing (United) or suffixing (organization)it. And, I don't see any untoward circumstances on the part of our development project that cannot be undertaken because of the words prefixing and suffixing the name of our tribe. We have been blessed by the Almighty Father through the Government, NGO, etc. with our UZO, and I have no idea if some of our blessings have been forfieted, diverted or upheld because we don't use "Tribe Council" (Correct me if I am wrong). If "Tribe Council" is the key to civilization or the key to opening the concealed blessings of the UZO, why don't you tell us? But, for us, with the current state of chaos, it will be the key to opening the Pandora Box of evil.
4. "There are some 573 communities recognized by the government as Scheduled Tribes and therefore eligible to receive special benefits and to compete for reserved seats in legislatures and schools." (1) There are 29 recognized tribes in Manipur under the constitution of India. The officially recognized tribes are - Aimol, Anal, Angami, Chiru, Chothe, Gangte, Hmar, Kabui, Kacha Naga, Koirao/Thangal, Koireng, Kom, Lamkang, Lushai (Mizo), Maram, Maring, Mao, Monsang, Moyon, Paite, Purum, Ralte, Salte, Sema, Simte, Tangkhul, Thadou, Vaiphei and Zou. (2) But, I don't see anything that says "Tribe Council" or whatever to receive "special benefits" from the Government. It's the "Zou" that receives "special benefits" not the terms or names prefixing or suffixing it.
5. The law or constitution is more concerned about the language, culture, practices, custom, traditions, history, folklores, etc. of the people, not the words or phrase that comes before or after the name of the tribe. What, according to the law and constitution (as our friends mentioned), is the realism (realistic aspect) of being under "Tribe/Tribal Council" against "United Zomi/Zou Organization?" I don't think taking or accepting "Zou Tribe Council" will give us "Changkanna/civilization" as our friends have suggested. There are alot of tribes among the 573 approx. tribes who are "Changkang" without prefixing or suffixing "Tribe Council" and this term is not the term that makes the difference. We can also be "Changkang" with our UZO if we change our policies, programs, visions, etc. but not necessarily our name.
6. It is very sad to note that our leaders are trying to redefine us, rather then redifining our policies, programs, visions, etc. for a change to take place. I don't see the need to redifine our fundamental foundations that defines us. Don't change our name, but change our heading, policies, programs, visions, etc. Listen to the voice of the people you represented. Come back to the foundation, give honor to the founding fathers who have given thier optimum potential and selfless secrifices to take us to this height, and DON'T CHANGE THE LANDMARK!!!
7. Look out the horizon and see beyond your next meal. We all are writing/making history, and history will judge our deeds accordingly. What you and I do here will be our history 100 years from now. It will be a document and source for their thesis, dissertations and research papers of the next generation Zou scholars and researchers. You might not be aware of your conscience and your sound judgement, but our scholars and researchers of the next generation will weight and judge what you use as the base-line of measurement and judgement now.
I will write (If I could have time) some of my thoughts on how the UZO could be more people-focused, more pragmatic and more hopeful than the status quo..... So, help me God!
Regards,
Moderator

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1. http://countrystudies.us/india/70.htm
2. http://www.manipuronline.com/Features/May2002/tribalpractice05_1.htm

UZO to Zou Tribe Council Part - I

UZO to Zou Tribe Council: What is Wrong With Us?
Part One
Khai Minthang

(This article was taken from my writings at the Zou Workshop Forum dated Aug. 15, 2009)

1. I am absolutely saddened and furious about our haste movements with our fundamental structure. Just two/three years ago we have changed our age long United Zomi Organization to United Zou Organization, and now Zou Tribe Council. While the pain of United Zomi Organization to United Zou Organization still lingers deep inside of me, another pain of agony is in the process of haunting me day and night, giving me sleepless nights and moodless days. I could not understand why the United Zou Organization survived so short. If we were to take this changes as the base-line it is more than likely that (the proposed) Zou Tribe Council will survive another two/three years followed by another foreign name (A name not chosen by the people). And, if this happens, we will have at least 3 to 4 different names the next decade (ten years), 30 to 40 different names the next century. Not only that, we will lose our identity and history. It is a very serious issue for conservative Zou people. What is wrong with us?
2. Rest assured, there is nothing to get/gain on the part of the Zou people from changing our names from United Zomi Organization down to United Zou Organization, and further down to Zou Tribe Council. But, there are VERY FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES between United Zomi Organization, United Zou Organization and Zou Tribe Council. Are we not leaving the United Zomi Organization? Are we not trying to leave the United Zou Organization? Pakistani forces are occupying Kargil, Drass Sector, etc. when the Indian left those places. (Or, they fire mortals, guns, rockets, etc. intimidate them, etc. and overrun them, or whatever). Leave Kashmir, they will occupy it. Leave Himachal Pradesh, they will occupy it. Leave (the?) Punjab, they will occupy it. Leave Rajasthan, they will occupy it. Leave Haryana, they will occupy it. Leave Delhi, they will occupy our national capital. They will not only occupy, but they will also make/build thier forts on the occupied areas. They will not stop occupying until we stop leaving. So, stop leaving or keep leaving/moving??? It is a very serious issue for conservative Zou people. What is wrong with us?
3. There have been so many amendments on our fundamental structure. Can an Israelite who does not practice the Jewish tradition, and who does not speak Hebrew be considered a Jew (Israelite)? Absolutely YES. They are still looking for the return of the lost tribe, no matter what language(s) they (the lost tribe) speak, and no matter what culture or custom(s) they practice. Let us compare the aforesaid statement with our constitutional amendment on “Zou ham zangteng leh Zou tawndan zui teng Zou ahi." If you speak any language other then Zou, you will not be Zou anymore no matter what your DNA is. Your father may be a full blooded Zou, but you are not Zou anymore if you don't speak Zou language!!! Why should we have such an exclusive point of views within our community when the world focuses on globalization with an inclusive point of view? It is a very serious issue for conservative Zou people. What is wrong with us?
4. I have the feeling that our representatives are not representing us. More than 80% (maybe 99.99%) of our agendas (the UZO agendas) stemmed from the UZO office bearers (ZWC), not from the people, and most of our agendas are not for the welfare of the people being represented. I don't think "Thangkhal issue" is the issue of the people. We are of the same family, the same language (just another accent of the Zou language like the other accents such as Haidawi, Khuongnung, Khodai, etc.). There is no Zou language and Zou people if Thangkhal accent is not Zou accent, and if the Thangkhal people are not Zou people. Our political boundary runs in the middle of our dinning table, and we are victimising ourselves for the political gains of someone. It brings pain and sorrow to the Zou people bieng represented. It's not just shameful, but it is truely painful in the fullest form. It is a very serious issue for conservative Zou people. What is wrong with us?
5. Let us separate 60 Singngat A/C MLA and the United Zomi Orgazization at the earliest. The earlier the better for ourselves. This is the biggest challange, the worse enemy, and the most destructive politics of the 21st century among the Zou people. They are literally different, practically different, symbolically different, morally different, theoritically different, and what more???? The 60 Singngat A/C MLA and the UZO President are like Polar Bear and Penguin. They look similar because they both live in the snow (poles), but they never ever lived together -- Polar Bear in the North Pole and Penguin in the South Pole. They are 20014 kilometers (12436 miles) away from each other, and they live 180* from each other. It is a very serious issue for conservative Zou people. What is wrong with us?
Let us all turn back to God and seek His face, please... We have gone too far. Our leaders have gone too far!!! We need an U-Turn right now!!! God can only heal our land, our people, and our ailments. National day of prayer is just not enough; we need national day of mourning. Can we overtake the blessing of God that is leaving us? David asked the Lord, "Shall I chase them? Will I catch them?" And the Lord told him, "Yes, go after them; you will recover everything that was taken from you!" (1 Sam. 30:8) The Lord is still willing to give us back His blessings that He has put for us.
Hhhhmmmm...... alot more..... but let me wind up here!!!!
Regards,
Moderator
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