Aküm Longchari
Madam Chairperson, Honorable Chief Guest, Distinguish guest and most respected people of Mon,
As I stand before you, I feel overwhelmed and privileged because I am among the people in the land which my late grandfather Rev. Longri Ao loved so much. And at this time I wish to personally thank the people of Mon for accepting him as one of you and for the generous warmth and kind affection you showered upon him during his stay here. I believe that it was through the stories and experiences of the people of Mon that he was inspired to serve the purpose of his existence. We remain in gratitude. Thank you so much.
It is indeed an honor for me to be in your midst today as we stand together in solidarity to commemorate World AIDS Day. Today December 1, is the day when all nations that make up the rich multitude of God’s humanity from across the world come together in unity of purpose to remember all those that have died of AIDS and recognizing that much needs to be done and therefore the need to reaffirm our commitment to strive in the human struggle against AIDS.
Human experience has shown that AIDS knows no boundaries, it only seeks to destroy human hopes and dreams; and it is our endeavor that we resist to overcome the scrouge of AIDS, which is a threat to our existence. AIDS is more than just a virus with health consequences; it is socio-political disease that continues to test human frailty. The factors which contribute towards the spread of AIDS are many and widespread. Issues surrounding poverty, underdevelopment, trafficking, exploitation, gender inequality, conflict, militarization and cultural taboos around human behavior and sexuality are all responsible in germinating the conditions which make AIDS, a leading concern in modern times.
Hence AIDS is more than just a health issue; it has social, economic and human consequences which inevitably require the presence of a determined political will to address AIDS in a manner consistent to the fundamentals of existence. I am afraid that without political will our struggle against AIDS would be futile. We require political will to discern courage and reasoning of the collective imagination to comprehend the praxis necessary to propel us into proactive action against AIDS, to make possible the continued collective survival of humankind.
The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is, Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise. It will be a theme that will be ongoing for the next five years. It suggests the imperative need for evolving a process in which it demands the active participation of communities as an essential necessity against AIDS. It further implies that since democratic governments are accountable to the people, it is crucial for people to question whether governments have kept their promises to contribute against AIDS and to assess the progress made thus far.
At the heart of this year’s theme, it recognizes that each and every individual can and will make a difference if one has the political will to keep their promise. In essence, it is calling out for a global peoples’ movement against AIDS, and today as we gather together, our presence and participation has become part of the global movement.
AIDS is about people and therefore there is a need for people to take ownership and responsibility in evolving practical and meaningful programs to confront it. It is time for an approach where people themselves make decisions through active participation. At the heart of such a praxis, it requires that any approach to AIDS must have people at the center with a deliberate intention to build strong and responsive communities that would be prepared to meet present day challenges. What we need is a process that would provoke critical consciousness to address the reasons that have caused AIDS to become a threat to our existence; and to generate solutions that are practical and effective.
Ever since the harsh realization that AIDS had become the pandemic of our times, much deliberate and conscious efforts has been garnered to fight it. However, with every effort there is a greater recognition that much more has to be done. In the course of our struggle against AIDS thus far, there have been many been successes as well as lessons learnt on the areas where we can do better and where we must do things differently. With this year’s theme we have an opportunity to re-examine ourselves and our efforts against AIDS in a constructive and critical manner, so that we can revitalize ourselves and the movement against AIDS.
Today as we examine ourselves, we have an opportunity before us to make a pledge to ourselves and to each other. On realizing that the struggle against AIDS needs to start from within, we recognize that the promise we talk about has got to do with very ordinary things that happen in our every day lives. So let us search our heart and reason together so that we do what is best for the future.
Is it asking too much for us to promise the need for us to accept and embrace people living with AIDS and to create healthy and supportive space for people to access the services provided for them by NGOs and Governments. (eg. Nelson Mandela contribution against AIDS changed with greater impact when he came out public regarding the death of his son from AIDS.)
People must take the responsibility of holding their government and administration accountable to do more against AIDS. We need to arouse critical consciousness and to stop cultural practices, institutionalized policies and societal norms that are discriminative and derogative against people living with HIV/AIDS. Let us promise not to suppress the voice of people living with AIDS. Rather we must extend support and be a voice for them and speak out for those who are too ashamed and afraid to speak. We must be willing to be guided by their wisdom and experiences of people living with AIDS so that our efforts are consistent with their needs. We need to have the political will to enable a social support system to address the human consequences of AIDS and contribute in empowering each other in ways that would enable people with AIDS to have dignified lives.
From today we are called to recommit ourselves in the fight against AIDS and so let us begin with the basic need to ensure that the campaign against AIDS is led by the community. The leadership role should exist within the communities and their efforts should be supported and facilitated by NGOs and governments. In essence, our approach against AIDS ought to be people oriented.
Respected friends, as we gather today, I must say that seeing each one of you here, I believe the people of Mon can be a leading example for the Naga society in the struggle against AIDS.
I am inspired and encouraged by your presence and participation and as the Managing Director of The Morung Express, I make this pledge that I promise that The Morung Express will be a newspaper that will be a voice for those affected by AIDS and to be a newspaper that will actively participate in the struggle against AIDS.
I believe that ordinary people are can do extraordinary things. Thank you.
(Key note address delivered on December 1 at Mon by Aküm Longchari, Managing Director, The Morung Express)
