The public consultation deliberated on the inadequacies of the electoral process and how the public can be made aware of the process of election monitoring and participation.
TFM Desk
A public consultation on the topic ‘People’s Watch on the Manipur-2022-Election’ organised by Youth Collective Manipur (YCM) discussed the possibilities of initiating a civil-society-election-monitoring-process in the context of Manipur.
The event held at Manipur press Club, Imphal on Sunday was necessitated after the YCM observed increasing incidents of pre-poll violence and volatile situations in the state before the Assembly elections.
A note issued by YCM coordinator (Admn) Keisham Donny said that during the public consultation, former chief minister Radhabinod Koijam also released a music video titled ‘Luchingba Khanba Heitare’, lamented erosion of ethical standard of electoral politics and gave his best wishes to YCM for taking up the daunting task of its rectification.
The public consultation began with Rebica Lamabam and Priyadarshini Ningthoujam of Human Rights Alert presenting a comprehensive report on pre-poll violence in Manipur and stated the fact that most of the cases as reported by the media and social media were not officially taken up by concerned law and order enforcement authorities.
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Advocate Chongtham Victor deliberated on the efforts to spread awareness on the existing Model Code of Conduct & cVIGIL initiative of the Election Commission of India. He stressed on the need of the public to effectively use cVIGIL platform provided by authorities.
Joel Mark Barredo from the Philippines, of the ASEAN Youth Forum, who joined the consultation on virtual mode spoke on Political Participation of Youth in South East Asia.
During the consultation, a panel discussion on People’s Election Monitoring of Manipur-2022 was held. The discussion analysed the possibilities of initiating a civil-society-election-monitoring-process in the context of Manipur.
In his address, retired bureaucrat RK Nimai pointed out the limitations of the present election monitoring by the authorities. He called for an effective use of the cVIGIL complaint mechanism by the public.
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DM College of Arts assistant professor Dr Arambam Noni, who attended as panellist, opined that for any civil society group to monitor elections in Manipur, they must be well aware of the political dilemma that the unresolved political issues escalating into armed conflicts pose to limit the undertaking of a comprehensive monitoring mission.
Journalist Grace Jajo said there was a need for an inclusive election monitoring process. Considering the gender stereotypes that constrains women’s political participation in the society, she said the process has to mainstream gender dimensions throughout the election monitoring phase.
Frontier Manipur executive editor Paojel Chaoba highlighted the need for independent media free of interference from political parties and to maintain its neutrality in reporting election.
The press note also mentioned that Hmar Inpui president Joseph Hmar spoke on electoral practices in the hill districts and pointed out how corrupted politicians are fearful of the rapid increase in people’s political consciousness.
The release furthermore stated that Human Rights Alert executive director Babloo Loitongbam, who moderated the panel discussion, summarised the points – to reinvigorate the awareness campaign of Model Code of Conduct and cVIGIL amongst the masses; encourage the media to effectively monitor the upcoming election by being conscious of the domestic and international standards to be followed in electoral processes; and to call upon the people of the state to remain vigilant of the election malpractices and take legitimate actions promptly.
YCM also stated that it firmly believes that an effective people’s election monitoring will assist in ensuring the electoral process to become a genuine free expression of the will of the people as enshrined in Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
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