Globalising indigenous communities

by Afreeha Jawad

Uganda's pastoral communities reportedly are agitated over new land management laws coming in as they begin to lose ground over their much enjoyed long lived freedom. These laws itself will in the future see a chained community far different from the one that currently exists. A community that tilled their land and tethered their cattle in whatever place they liked will soon confront territorial restriction with land surveying followed by fencing when commercial ventures step in to transform land - their most valuable asset into a market driven one. Losing their valued independence, these communities will regretfully end up labouring, slotting for business magnates who in turn will be wallet fattening at the expense of their sweat.

This then is not a transformation overnight. Carefully thought out, well articulated, highly manipulative scheming forces obviously have a hand in such self seeking projects. It vehemently displays secretive, collaborative might of external and internal elite that thrive on such underclass for the survival and fostering of its own.

Uganda's marginalised then is only one among the many of the world's indigenous communities into the globalisation network for which socio/economic politicisation is a compelling need. These forces for sure as before will end up creating elite groups from within such deprivation who in turn will be nodding appendages to their political economic mentors. With such communities becoming increasingly politicised, the loss of traditional values is only inevitable as custom gradually dislodges into law.

Elitists' safeguards

These laws make theft, murder and possession of narcotics criminal offences yet do not voice any defence in protecting people's social, economic, cultural rights. Existing laws invariably are protective measures in upholding elitism. For instance its deprivation that leads to robbery and even murder. As for big names involved in the drug trade - they go scot free yet the law swoops down on the possessor. Today's urgency is to introduce protective measures to efface social inequity by rounding up political, economic, bureaucratic elite that disregard ordinary citizens' socio/eco/cultural rights. Law's vulnerability into ineffectiveness is a highly politicised society. Invariably the right connections to the top always protects the offender. This then is the Sri Lankan style of administrative functioning ever since the once prestigious public service lost its independence.

The law's ineffectiveness depends on the degree to which a society is politicised. Human rights violations in such environs is only to be anticipated. Significantly then, the need for institutional development instead of institutional building arises. All easier said than done against the backdrop of electioneering and power consolidation. For instance what of the electorate if laws are to be made effective. A political appendage who has been heavily in to the victory of a politician is in turn obliged to the offender. This clearly is a case for the victim's human rights violation.

Even in pro government set up, blatant violation of administrative rules and procedures to accommodate political capital is also a denial of other longstanding employees rights whose remuneration is a distant wail from that of the unjust appointee not to mention the perks and privileges he or she is in to despite lack of intellectual skills.

The greater a community's politicisation the more 'impressive' are human rights violations. Even in some highly developed countries, the absence of social equity and human rights violations is evident, In these countries an independent public service has been key to high growth at the cost of an exploited working class.

In many third world countries the twin goals of national development and peace are hurdled by the primary objective of election victory for which an essential pre-requisite is the politicisation of the community. Thus appointments and transfers have been resorted to over the years from the platform of political decision making. To reach the apex on merit is a forgotten past as public servants well ware of the 'goings on' curry favour with political authority. To think that the general administrative pattern has ended is akin to life on a fools paradise.

Caste, religious and ethnic affiliation are still operative - discretely of course. Yet even from within such marginalised circles chances of recognition are aplenty should one be a 'yes man' or even 'yes woman' which is how celebrities in ethnic communities win political party goodwill and deposit themselves in hot seats - a non-confrontational approach.

Significantly a new trend is in the kind of voicing opposition yet staying on with the mainstream. An oft' heard expression these days is, "well I've said what I wanted to but I'm here into this post because I was only invited." Never mind all the boot licking behind closed doors.

Intense politicisation also leads to high degree opportunism among people. They soon begin to know whom to approach for what. Selfishness is rampant. Greed and envy is widespread.

Lost values

We also see today how politisation of religion has lost the most sublime and noble values contained therein. In such environs rituals emerge that undermine religions' spiritual essence. Secular religion has now come to be - obviously the only way out to play on people's most sensitive chord. This writer has even observed certain vehicle drawn slogans that read 'May Budungey Desayai' (This is the Buddha's land) when the Buddha himself has said not even our physical self belongs to us. Needless to say what holds out where physical territories are concerned.

Deliverance of one's self being-the ultimate goal of all religious has today transformed into self indulgence due to politicisation of religion.

Politicisation of the economy has brought in greater social inequity and the distancing between the 'haves' and 'have nots' has gained foothold. As a result there is much dissent yet carefully undermined by political forces that resort to whipping up ultra nationalists feelings - a sure way for political survival. These trends are a continuation of several decades of politicisation.

A culture based on values has set in replacing a value filled one. Commodifying culture is a new trend arising out of politicisation of. The market culture has come to stay overtaking what was once the culture of goodwill.

Not surprising then the market orientation of lives of the few remaining global indigenous folk.

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