Chang Baptist Lashong Thangyen and Sumi Baptist Akukuhou Kuqhakulu held an exchange programme at Suruhoto Town Baptist Church.
Zunheboto, August 3 (MExN): Taking forward the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) Clean Election Movement with the theme ‘My Vote, My Future,’ the Chang Baptist Lashong Thangyen (CBLT) and Sumi Baptist Akukuhou Kuqhakulu (SBAK) held an exchange programme at Suruhoto Town Baptist Church.
Addressing the occasion, Dr Wongto Chingmak, Pastor, Chang Baptist Church Dimapur who is also the Convenor, CBLT Clean Election Movement said that ‘the major downfalls of the Naga people is the evil of election by selling ones birthright, proxy voting, use of alcohol and drugs.’ He observed that ‘many hands are bonded by these evils,’ and “we should wash our hands and purify our minds for clean hands and clean votes.”
Dr Wongto also stated that ‘oftentimes the churches are being attacked for standing against social evils, political injustice and moral failures in the land’ and ‘churches are being attacked for rising up to go for justice and mercy in the land.’ “Nevertheless it is the call of good conscience for the good of Nagas today and better tomorrow,” he asserted.
Rev Achu Chang, Executive Secretary, CBLT expounded on the strategies the CBLT has adapted to go about with Clean Election. He stated that the strategies were working together with civil societies, to have open forum for the candidates, to get slogans from different churches where local churches can come with their own slogans, to have signature campaign which will be started from Chang Baptist Church Dimapur, to clean electoral rolls doing away with voting for death persons and such.
He added that the churches from CBLT will have no commitment with the candidates in the name of church buildings and such and also to have guiding leaflets on dos and don'ts of Clean Election furthermore give campaigns during vote casting urging the voters not to sell their votes. They have decided to continuously preach on Clean Election in church services, Rev Achu added.
A press release issued by Media Cell, Clean Election Movement, SBAK NBCC stated that eEarlier, the programme was chaired by Katoli V Sumi, Secretary Women Department, SBAK, invocation by Ongmang Chang, former ES CBLT, greetings by Kughato K Chophi STBC Convenor Clean Election Movement SBAK, Pastor SBCZ Dr Hutton Sumi responded on the Clean Election speeches, Rev Hukugha Sumi ES SBAK took prayer and commitment, vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Niholi Sumi, Principal NTC and benediction by Khutovi Swu, Pastor Khukishe Baptist Church.
