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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 8
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www.morungexpress.com
Bullock sweeps People’s Choice Awards
By Sandemo Ngullie
Friendship inspires renewing age-old bond [ PAGE 2]
Nuclear talks hit snag on centrifuge research [ PAGE 9]
[ PAGE 11]
[ PAGE 8]
reflections
Friday, January 10, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4
I count my blessings every day, quite honestly, because I take nothing for granted Good times are coming - in a few months: Modi
ATTENTION
(L-R) nagaland State Home Minister G. Kaito Aye, State Minister for Planning, T.R. Zeliang, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and nagaland Chief Minister neiphiu Rio are seen here in New Delhi at Shinde’s office.
Rio brings up Nagaland railway lines with Kharge Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, along with his Cabinet colleague, T.R. Zeliang, Minister for Planning, urged the Union Railway Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, to intervene in the pending railway projects pertaining to Nagaland, such as connectivity between Dimapur and Zub-
za and between Dimapur and Tizit, at a meeting held today. This was informed by the New Delhi Resident Commissioner’s Office of the Government of Nagaland in a press release. The Union Railway Minister reportedly directed Chairman, Railway Board to submit the status report on the pending projects. The Railway authority also
informed Rio, according to the press release, that the Ministry of Railway has approved a 16 Km stretch from Dhansiri to Dimapur to connect Zubza and the land plan has already been submitted to General Manager (construction), NF Railways. This was done to avoid the track passing through a township area, it was reported.
The Rengma naga Students’ Union, Karbi Anglong, and the Karbi Students’Association, in collaboration with the national Students’ Union of India (all of whom are seen here in the picture), organized a candle light vigil-cum-march in Diphu town today. The silent march, which saw many students from both communities participate in it, started at 6pm, with students planting candles at various significant spots of Diphu town. At the Diphu market, shopowners were asked to light a candle each in memory of those who lost their lives in the recent conflict that engulfed Karbi Anglong. The students’ unions were supported in the endeavour by the law and order department. The initiative was described as “successful”, even as other initiatives through the joint work of the students’ unions of the Karbi and Rengma naga communities of Karbi Anglong have averted bandhs and economic blockades before.
RNCP demands rehabilitation & compensation
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–Mario Andretti
Man City crushes West Ham in League Cup [ PAGE 12]
shinde assures security AfsPA: Goi urged to help to nagaland, Assam investigate violations
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 9 (MExN): Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio along with his cabinet colleague, G. Kaito Aye, Home Minister and T.R. Zeliang, Planning Minister discussed the prevailing law and order situation after the recent clashes between Karbi and Rengma Naga communities with Union Some petty thief picked Home Minister, Sushil Kuyour pocket and you want to file an FIR? You idiot. De- mar Shinde today. This was informed by the New Delhi mand a CBI investigation. Resident Commissioner’s The Morung Express Office of the Government of in a press release. POLL QUESTIOn Nagaland Rio, noted the press Vote on www.morungexpress.com release, informed Shinde SMS your answer to 9862574165 that all possible steps are been taken to bring about Should Nagaland also have a different time zone from normalcy between the two the Indian Standard Time? communities. The Union Home Minister, in turn, assured all possible security Yes no Others help to the two State Governments, it stated. The matter relating to the pending reimburseDear Subscribers, ment claims of the State Please inform us if The Government relating to Morung Express is not Security Related Expendibeing delivered to you tures (SRE) was also dison a regular basis by cussed for early settlement your paper hawker. of dues. T.R. Zeliang, addiContact us directly at: tionally, urged the Union 9856230555. Home Minister for his inWe are open to sug- tervention in the issue regestions, constructive lating to the rights of the criticism and feedback State Government on Peabout how The Morung troleum and Natural Gas in Express can improve its the State. Jyoti Kalash, IAS, reporting and raise so- Resident Commissioner, cially conscious issues. Nagaland House, New DelThis will increase the hi, was also present at the newspaper’s relevancy meeting. and responsiveness to our readers. The Morung Express
BOKAJAN, JANUARY 9 (MExN): The Rengma Naga Peoples’ Council has demanded for rehabilitation and compensation of displaced Rengmas from the Rengma Hills, following the recent violence and unrest in the area. In a letter to the Commissioner, Hills Area, Dispur; the RNPC demanded that an ex gratia payment of Rs 6,00,000 be made to the families of the seven Rengmas killed on December 27, 2013 and that a compensation of Rs 2,00,000 each be paid to the ones injured in the same incident. It further called for compensation of Rs 5,00,000, 7 bundles of CGI sheets each for “all the houses burned by KPLT militants” and compensation for all granaries burned down, oranges and betel nut trees cut down and domesticated animals killed or taken away. It further demanded at least one year ration for the affected villagers and that rehabilitation of all affected villagers in their villages be provided. The RNCP added that the announcement of ex gratia payment by the Assam government for the nine Karbis found dead in Dimapur without any corresponding ex gratia payment plan for the Rengmas killed in Assam “has hurt the sentiments of the Rengma people.” It however said, that it remained confident that the Commissioner’s Office “will look into the matter with outmost seriousness and expedite the same.”
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SENAPAtI, JANUARY 9 torture, enforced disap- tory treatment of all those (MExN): In order to limit pearances, rape, illegal de- who are not, or who are no the effects of war, a Consul- tention, committed against longer, taking part in hostiltation has urged the Gov- the indigenous Manipuris ities. Most of provisions of ernment of India to imple- people with intention to Protocol II are now considment the Common Article 3 destroy, a national or ethnic ered as a part of customary of the Geneva Conventions, or racial or religious group IHL and, thus, binding on all 1949 and Additional Pro- in the pretext of counter parties to NIACs. tocol-II, 1977, in the North insurgency is nothing but Nobokishore termed East region of India. AFSPA a “racist piece of leggenocide.” The Consultation held U. Nobokishore, Secre- islation and a symbol of a today on ‘United Nations’ tary of United NGOs Mis- racist regime.” He also deLaw of Armed Conflict sion-Manipur, as a resource scribed the Act as “dated and Armed Forces (Spe- person, described IHL or and colonial-era law that cial Powers) Act, 1958’ in “Law of War” as a set of rules breach contemporary interPuangringlong (Charoi which seek, for humanitar- national human rights stanPandongba) village of Se- ian reasons, to limit the ef- dards.” Above all, he said, napati district has urged fects of armed conflict. He the Act is a “discriminatory the Government of India to added that IHL classifies and genocidal legislation.” “immediately investigate” armed conflicts as internaHe said that the Justice cases of rape, torture, dis- tional armed conflict (IAC) Jeevan Reddy Committee’s appearances etc. commit- or non-international armed report also endorsed this ted by the “Government’s conflict (NIAC). aspect briefly as, “the Act Security Forces in has become a symManipur,” repeal AFbol of oppression, an SPA, 1958 and “pro- Call for the implementation object of hate and invide compensation of Common Article 3 and strument of discrimand assistance to the ination and highAdditional Protocol II of handedness.” He victims of rape, torture, trafficking and also recalled the obGeneva Conventions families of those ciservation of Christof vilians killed by the Heyns who stated, “it Indian Security Forces.” He explained that Com- is therefore difficult to un‘Political Armed Op- mon Article 3 of the Geneva derstand how the Supreme position Groups’ in the re- Conventions of 1949 spe- Court, which has been so gion have also been asked cifically applies in the case progressive in other areas, to respect and implement of conflicts “not of an inter- also concerning the right the Common Article 3 and national character.” Com- to life, could have ruled in Additional Protocol II of mon Article 3 stipulates 1997 that AFSPA, did not the Geneva Conventions, the minimum protection violate the Constitution.” reconcile and stop faction- that must be afforded to all Sobita Mangsatabam, al fights in the interest of ci- those who are not, or who speaking on the topic ‘Jusvilians and sign and respect are no longer, taking an ac- tice Verma Committee’s rethe ‘Deed of Agreement of tive part in hostilities, for port and Rape as an InstruGeneva Call.’ Geneva Call example, civilians, mem- ment of War’ stated that is a “neutral and impartial bers of armed forces of the United Nations Security humanitarian” organiza- parties to the conflict who Council Resolution 1820 tion dedicated to engaging have been captured, are of June 19, 2008 defined armed non-state actors to- wounded, or surrendered. rape as an “instrument of wards compliance with the It provides for humane war.” She further said that norms of International Hu- treatment and non-dis- Verma Committee’s report manitarian Law (IHL) and criminatory treatment for also reflected the same human rights law. all such persons, in partic- observation and recomThe Consultation was ular by prohibiting acts of mended for trial of rape jointly organized by North violence to life and person cases in civil courts even East Dialogue Forum specifically murder, muti- while AFSPA is in use. Cit(NEDF), People’s Action lation, cruel treatment and ing some incidents of rapes for Development NH-53 torture, the taking of hos- committed in the region, (PAD-53), Senapati district, tages, and outrages upon such as of Th. Manorama Puangringlong (Charoi Pan- personal dignity, in par- (Bamonkampu), Ningthdongba) Village’s Authority, ticular humiliating and de- oujam Ongbi Ahanjaobi Women Society, Youth Club grading treatment. It pro- (Takyenthongbal), Rose and Farmers’ Club. hibits also the passing of (Ngaprum Khullen Ukhrul) Giving the key note ad- sentences and carrying out and during Operation Bluedress, P. Ashen President, of executions without judg- bird by the Indian Military, PAD-53, noted that even ment being pronounced she said that rape and oththough the North East re- by a regular constituted er forms of sexual violence gion has been reeling un- court providing all judicial have been used as “instruder violent armed conflict guarantees recognized as ment of war by different acfor more than five decades, indispensable. Finally, it tors in the ongoing armed the very existence of armed imposes an obligation on conflict.” She called upon conflict in the region has the parties to collect the all likeminded civil organinot been officially recog- wounded and sick and to zations and individuals to nized by India. Taking a care for them. come together and build a strong stance against the Additional Protocol II of collective struggle to end AFSPA, 1958, Ashen said, 1977 provides for the hu- the heinous crimes com“Extra-judicial execution, mane and non-discrimina- mitted against women.
Education key to India’s next golden age: Prez Two arrested for kidnapping NEW DELHI, JANUARY 9 (IANS): Education is what will determine how fast India joins the ranks of leading nations of the world, President Pranab Mukherjee said here Thursday. “I believe education is the alchemy that can bring India its next golden age,” Mukherjee said in his address at the valedictory session of the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the annual gathering of the Indian diaspora. “The success we achieve in educating our people will determine how fast India joins the ranks of leading nations of the world,” he said. Mukherjee said that if India has to attain a growth rate of nine percent per year, as has been envisaged during the 12th Five Year Plan period, “we must put in place enabling factors, most prominent of which is education”. He pointed out that no Indian from India has won the Nobel Prize since C.V. Raman in 1930, and said educational institutes in the country should focus more on research and development. “I have been urging our educational institutions to invest more in research and development and to pursue greater international linkages by establishing collaborations
with foreign universities and inviting the best of faculty from across the world to come and teach in our institutions,” the president said. He said the government has prioritised higher education and supported it with increased resources, and enrollment to higher education institutions in the country has increased from 1.39 crore in 2006-07 to 2.18 crore in 2011-12. “India has today 659 degreeawarding institutions and 33,023 colleges,” he said. However, despite the rise in the number of higher education institutes, India has very few institutes of global standards, Mukherjee said. “Time has now come for us to reclaim our leadership position in the world as far as higher education is concerned. Our effort to increase ‘quantity’ must be matched with commensurate efforts to improve ‘quality’,” Mukherjee said. He said that in a world that is facing increasing constraints on natural resources, innovation was another key area India should focus on. “China and the US are amongst the countries at the forefront of innovation with over five lakh (500,000) patent applications filed by each country
in 2011,” he said. “In contrast to this, India filed only 42,000 patent applications, which is far behind these countries. As per an international survey, only three Indian companies are amongst the world’s 100 most innovative companies.” He called on both the industry and higher education institutes to emphasise on research. “We have only 119 researchers in R&D per million people, as compared to 715 in China and 468 in the US. Out of the total student strength of 71,000 in NITs, there are only 4,000 PhD students. In IITs, there are only around 3,000 PhD students in the total student strength of 60,000,” the president said. Stating that upgrading the standards of higher education in India should be accorded top priority, he said: “Overseas Indians such as all of you gathered here can play a major role in supporting and supplementing the efforts of the government to remedy this situation.” He said the Indian economy was more resilient than most other countries. “I am sure you have (the) confidence in the inherent resilience of our people and the dynamism of our economy which has the ability to overcome temporary downturns,” he said.
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 9 (MExN): Dimapur Police on Monday arrested two persons in connection with the hijacking of a truck and kidnapping of the driver and handyman from Chumukedima area. The arrested persons have been identified as Atoka Achumi (12) and Sabu Uddin (31). Police recovered one .32 pistol with two live rounds from possession of the arrested persons. A press note from the Additional Superintendent of Police, Dimapur informed that on the evening of January 6, information was received from a reliable source that occupants of an unregistered Gypsy had hijacked a truck near Patkai Bridge. It stated that police, on receiving the information, immediately swung into action and intercepted the truck at Chumukedima town. On seeing the police, the person driving the truck abandoned it and escaped under the cover of darkness. The truck was then taken to Diphupar Police Station by the police. The note further informed that at 8:30 pm, one unregistered Gypsy was sighted travelling towards Dimapur at a very high speed. Police pursued the vehicle and in the ensuing chase, a shot was fired from the occupants of the Gyp-
The two arrested persons in police custody.
sy, prompting the police to fire back. The Gypsy was subsequently intercepted and the two persons were apprehended from the vehicle. According to police, both the occupants of the Gypsy confessed to their crime and revealed the place where they had held the kidnapped driver and handyman of the truck. Accordingly, police rescued the kidnapped duo and released the truck, which was loaded with potatoes and onions. The note informed that a case has been registered in this regard and that investigation is on to nab the other absconding accused.
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