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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 127
Campaigning for marathon LS elections finally ends [ PAGE 8]
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Motherhood: All love begins and ends there
British, US experts join Nigeria search for girls
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Sunday, May 11, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Robert Browning
TISS to establish institute at Chuchuyimlang [ PAGE 2]
ZBN asks Peren people to be vigilant
[ PAGE 9]
naga leaders need to connect with people
By Sandemo Ngullie
Morung Express News Dimapur | May 10
This year instead of presents I’m giving you the day off. Happy Mothers` day!
Charred debris of houses razed by a fire in Burma Camp, Dimapur on May 10. Two fires in Dimapur on Saturday left several families homeless and destroyed property worth several Lakhs. (Story on page 5)
ladiagarh votes amid tight security Morung Express News
Story on page 5
Myanmar, India ink accord to curb insurgency & trafficking NAY PYI TAW, MAY 10 (IANS): Myanmar and India signed an agreement here to prevent insurgency and curb human trafficking through the border areas of the two neighbouring countries, a media report said on Saturday. According to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed here on Friday, the two countries would take measures to bring in peace and stability in the border regions, Xinhua reported. The MoU also called for exchange of information and coordination between their armed forces for border security to check illegal trespassing. Myanmar’s Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Kyaw Nyunt and India’s Ambassador to Myanmar Gautam Mukhopadhaya signed the agreement.
Yanglok (Longleng) | May 10
Voting at Polling Station 1, Ladiagarh under 49 Tamlu A/C was conducted peacefully on May 10, with a voter turnout of 58.61 percent. There are 302 registered voters at the Ladiagarh Polling Station 1 and the polling was conducted at a makeshift polling station, a few hundred meters away from Yanglok village. The Nagaland state government deployed a large
number of security forces in order to thwart any eventualities. It is reported that three companies of the IRB were deployed. High ranking officials from the police, led by a senior officer in the rank of an IGP along with two DIGs were stationed at Yanglok village to monitor the whole security system. The IRB jawans were deployed for peripheral security while regular Nagaland police personnel provided security in and around the polling station.
There were some voters from Ladiagarh who claimed that Assam Police tried to prevent them from going to the polling station and that they had to slip through the jungle. While the polls were held peacefully, whether it was held in a fair manner is up for conjecture. Many were seen casting proxy votes, some even to the tune of ten times. The conduct of elections at PS 1, 49 Tamlu A/C is seen as a victory for the voters in
the area, as Assam Police had earlier prevented the voters from exercising their franchise during the April 9 polls. Assam Police had refused to vacate the designated polling station – the LP School in Ladiagarh. Meanwhile, re-polling in 2- Akhakhu, and 25- Naltoqa concluded peacefully with voter turnouts of 31.25% and 41.37% respectively. The overall turnout in all three polling stations was recorded at 43.74 per cent.
Limie Phom, a twenty two year old Naga woman, appears disinterested when asked about the kind of person she would like to see leading Nagaland state. “Someone who we can connect to and vice versa would be nice,” she says, while dusting off flies from sweet wrappers at her tiny pan shop in Dimapur. Limie however questions whether what she wants “even matters.” She instead views that the power holders and policy makers live in a state of disconnect from the majority of the people. Results for the Lok Sabha polls in Nagaland state, along with the rest of India, will be declared on May 16. With the possibility of having new leaders manning the helm of state affairs, many view it as an opportunity for change, while some look at it with skepticism. Bonnie Konyak from Mon discloses that, regardless of who leads the government, she “does not have very high hopes, especially one like the Nagaland government.” But she harbors
certain expectations as well. “I dare to hope that it will be a government that takes up genuine issues of the people and come with concrete, well thought of steps to tackle the basic problems of connectivity, healthcare and education,” she adds. Some feel that the new leadership should work towards taking tangible action over making promises and assurances. Jacob Yanthan, a teacher from Kohima states, “It is almost certain that we
earn my living? It won’t be easy” she mulls. She ponders whether the needs of a shopkeeper will even be considered in the mad rush to achieve a form of contrived development. “I want a leader who will take things like these into account?” she states. Echoing ideas in the same vein, Yanthan hopes that a new leadership will “strive to ensure that state policies and programmes are people friendly,” and that “high minded visions do not blur the present realities.” “It is possible to achieve economic development on paper, but that will only be for a select few. The political elite should make sure to avoid such a scenario, where a majority of the people is left out of the development process,” he states. Yanthan adds that that a bottom up approach needs to be incorporated in order to “earn people’s trust” and to ensure that leaders do not contribute to the milieu of cynicism, that exists in may sections of the people. “The leadership needs to connect with the people in a real and sincere way,” he asserts.
Citizens embrace the present political scenario with both opportunity for change and skepticism will have a new Chief Minister. Personally, I feel that whoever takes charge needs to stop the mere rhetoric on development and translate it to actions.” Then again, what kind of development and at what cost? Limie’s shop lies on the edge of a busy road in Dimapur and she manages to eke out a living. “I have this small shop on rent. What if someday the road widens and I need to look for another way to
noke says prepared to lead nagaland Nagaland RO on poll scrutiny
KOHIMA, MAY 10 (NEPS): Nagaland Minister for PHED, Noke Wangnao has said that Vizol, Vamuzo and Neiphiu Rio could become Chief Ministers of Nagaland with the support and blessings of the ENPO. “It is time for payback to us,” he said asking, “Whether you have the spirit of paying us back is a big question?” Talking to NEPS here on Saturday, the Minister who had thrown his weight around for the coveted post of Chief Minister in the state, reasserted that he was prepared to lead the state if he was asked by the NPF to do so. Noke reiterated his political stand and principle saying that he had never wavered
Dismisses reports that he would be just like a puppet
from his “political ideology.” The Konyak strongman dismissed various news items that he would be just like a puppet. “This is nothing but only trying to tarnish my political image by those who are afraid of my spotless clean political integrity and career,” he said. “I have long political innings spanning over 40 years and I think with these experiences, I can smoothly run the affairs of the State.” “I have been enjoying supports of many and I have full confidence that I can efficient-
ly run the government in the state,” Noke asserted and stated that those incapable of leading the state have been trying to “portray” him as “incapable.” “This is nothing but canards,” he added. Noke also revealed that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had told him to take over from him (Rio) as the next Chief Minister. “And that stand is still there,” he said. He elaborated that Rio could have come up to pass on the baton of Chief Minister to him, in view of Noke being the
senior most regionalist and the senior most legislator in the 12th Nagaland Assembly. When asked about TR Zeliang reportedly camping with over 20 NPF legislators at a resort in Assam’s Kaziranga, Noke stated that they should not indulge in such a culture of camping. “If the power tussle is between the Congress and the NPF, then such camping may be alright,” he explained. But why such camping should be there within the NPF. Such mentality should be checked, he added. “If we are to choose the leader for the post of the Chief Minister, then we should sit down and do it amongst us here,” he said.
Painful echoes from An indelible Past Imti Longchar
Dimapur | May 10
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Hamilton takes pole in Spain, Vettel’s car stalls [ PAGE 12]
[ PAGE 5]
reflections
Foothill Road Withdraw Nit: NFhRCC to PWd (R & B)
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Twelve days after her threeyear-old daughter, Moamongla died in her arms, Tekatemla, a 33 year old mother of three, felt herself sinking into abject despair the morning she woke up to the cold hands of her fiveyear-old son Ridongyimba. Just like her sister, Ridongyimba had succumbed to malnutrition and a viral disease after days of fighting it. “My grief and pain of loss was indescribable,” she says trying to sound detached. But even after 57 years since, the stirring of emotions in her voice is unmistakable. The year was 1957. During the time, the army adopted a military tactic of grouping of villages in an attempt to break the supply and intelligence network of the volunteers and also smother the spirit of freedom and defiance of the Nagas. This involved moving an entire population of neighboring villages to one village. In February, the whole population of
Mangmetong was taken to oldest survivors still alive Longkhum village where to tell of the atrocities and A 90-year old mother rethey were herded inside inflicted by the counts the agonizing bur- suffering bamboo barricaded fences. army during the period of den of pain and loss she Imprisoned and isolatgrouping. Her’s is not only ed inside a cell like house story of sadness and sufendured during the 1957 afering, which was barricaded by but also a testimony grouping period of Naga of love, courage and endurbamboo fences and spikes, Tekatemla had nowhere to villages by the Indian Army ance faced by a mother. turn for help. She and her She says what hapthree children were segpened is in the past. But regated from her relatives she still struggles to come and other villagers because to terms with the gripping her husband was a volunmemory of the devastating teer, an ‘underground’ loss of her two children - or fighting for freedom. the night her son died. Her grief over the death “I still feel great pain of her two children was and regret that my son more excruciating becould not taste the venison cause she was powerless meat his father had cooked to change the outcome. “I and smuggled in for us am a mother and would through a villager.” readily give up my life for She recalls how on that my children, but there I fateful night, her son insistwas, powerless to change ed they eat the meat portion Tekatemla the outcome,” she narrates together the next morning of her utter vulnerability at and ate only the dry yam fant daughter to see that she, that point of time. leaves on which the veni“I staved off despair and we both survive.” son was cooked. He did not Their confinement at live to see the next dawn. gathered what was left of my strength and courage. I sol- Longkhum village lasted a Chosen to be the volunteer diered on because I had to year. vice president from MangmeTekatemla is one of the tong village, her husband Imtimother my youngest, an in-
chujang, was in hiding from the Indian Army. It was four days after Ridongyimba’s death that his father, taking the risk of capture by the Indian Army, dug up the coffin from the Longkhum village grave and carried it all the way down to Mangmetong to bury it there. “I wouldn’t ever wish the burden I have carried on any mother. I believe not many mothers have experienced a tragedy of such magnitude. I am grateful to God for giving me the strength to survive and arrive at where I am now,” expresses Tekatemla who turns 90 this year. Tekatemla is now a mother to eight children. Her husband passed away in 1974. Like her, during the grouping of Naga villages which lasted from 1957-59, countless of mothers and daughters along with their men-folk were forced to endure untold suffering, loss of property, trauma and humiliation in the hands of the army. Their stories of suffering remain untold and their memories scarred.
Alleged ‘video clips pertain to the conduct of mock poll’ DIMAPUR, MAY 10 (MExN): The Returning Officer (RO) of Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency, Temjen Toy, who is also the State’s Commissioner, has written to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Nagaland informing about the fresh scrutiny conducted on May 3 and 4. The RO, in his letter to the CEO Nagaland dated May 9, 2014, gave a detailed report of the fresh scrutiny, which was conducted, according to the RO “in accordance to the parameters set by the Election Commission of India vide letter No. 495/NLHP/2014 dated May 1, 2014.” The RO informed the Election office that apart from the two polling stations namely, 2-Akhakhu and 25-Naltoqa under 33 A/C Suruhoto, which were recommended for re- poll, all the remaining polling stations scrutinized did not have “substantial basis for declaration of the polls as void.” “Accordingly, we do not recommend re-poll in any of the polling stations,” he stated. In connection to the 5 point complaint of the NPCC President to the Chief Election Commissioner, the RO in his letter to the State CEO has clarified it point by point. With regard to allegations of the Opposition Congress about video recordings showing poll malpractices, the RO explained that it did not understand “how and under what circumstances the video contained in the CD submitted by the NPCC was filmed”. The RO pointed out that as per ECI letter No. 464/INST/2008/ EPS dated January 19, 2009, no photography or video recording by any person inside the Polling Stations is permitted except by the persons authorized by the Commission. However, in order to be abundantly clear, the CD was referred to the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), Wokha, who is also
the Wokha DC. In the ARO Wokha report it was pointed out that “the video clips pertain to the conduct of mock poll.” A copy of the report submitted by ARO to the RO was obtained by this newspaper. The ARO Wokha stated that the video clips pertain to Part NOS. 10, 11, 13, 36 and 37 of 39 Assembly Constituency falling in Lakhuti Village. However the reports submitted by the respective Micro-Observers did not contain any mention of mal-practices having occurred during polling, stated the ARO report. It was also informed that Micro Observers were appointed to all the above Polling Stations and also that the agents of the INC candidate appended signatures, suggesting that there was no complaint on the conduct of poll. The ARO Wokha, disclosed in his report that a former MLA and prominent member of the Indian National Congress in the state had telephoned him on polling day (April 9, 2014) informing that the “polling process was going on smoothly in Lakhuti village, where he said he was stationed”. The ARO contended that in case of any suspicion of electoral mal practice as suggested by the video clips, Sulanthung would have reported in the said phone call. On other allegations, the RO expressed regret that after having continuously carried out the scrutiny in the most transparent manner, he was being “accused of clandestinely picking up two polling stations for re-poll”. He stated that the entire process of scrutiny was video recorded should there be any doubts on the role of the RO and that every effort was made to detect any malpractice. He further stated that it was not aware of any rule wherein polling stations recording over 98% of voting should be recommended for re-poll. In fact, the RO was of the opinion that the high percentage of voting shows the effectiveness of the SVEEP campaign carried out in Nagaland state. Full text on page 5
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