13th February 2014

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The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 41

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[ PAGE 8]

Nicole reveals Keith leaves her a love letter every night they are apart

Dr. S. Kemp memorial watchtower inaugurated [ PAGE 2]

In peace talks, Assad plays for time

[ PAGE 11]

[ PAGE 9]

By Sandemo Ngullie

NPF set to declare LS candidates after Feb 19 DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 12 (NNN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) is scheduled to declare the names of its candidates for Manipur and Nagaland after February 19, with regard to the Lok Sabha polls. NPF sources confided this to NNN on Wednesday. The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland will hold a meeting to discuss the matter on February 19.

Ao organizations demand ‘justice’

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 12 (MExN): The Ao Senden, Watsü Mungdang and Ao Students’ Organization have demanded answers from the Nagaland state government, as to why the July 4 Dimapur murder case is “lying dormant for so long.” A joint statement reminded that representations, regarding the case, had been submitted to the Nagaland Governor on July 22, 2013 and to the Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice on August 8, 2013. Despite several appeals made by various organizations to expedite the case, they expressed concern at the “total lack of concern shown by the government” to crimes against women. The Ao organizations asserted they will leave no stone unturned to see that justice is not denied, due to “lapses of the government and its law enforcing bodies.”

“Let justice prevail immediately before the public demand goes beyond control,” it cautioned.

Bill for lifting of prohibition in Mizoram

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AIzAwl, FEBRUARY 12 (PTI): Mizoram Excise and Narcotics minister R. Lalzirliana today said efforts are being made to introduce the Mizoram Excise Bill, 2014 in the state assembly during the coming session, which would automatically repeal the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995. Lalzirliana told reporters that the Mizoram Excise Bill, 2014 was already drafted and was being examined by legal experts after which it would be sent to the state Law Department. “We intend to introduce the bill during the coming session of the state legislature which was scheduled to commence from March 18,” he said. He said, following the passage of the bill, wine shops would be opened in some places but bars will not be allowed. The proposed legislation would provide stringent punishment for offences regarding intoxication and liquor related crimes, he added.

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–Plato

Yuvraj, Karthik big winners at IPL 7 auction [ PAGE 12]

rail Budget: fares, freight rates on hold ahead of polls

reflections

If you want to make the entire state sober, why don’t you begin with your husbands, sons, daughters, grandparents and in-laws first?

Thursday, February 13, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4

Knowledge without justice ought to be called cunning rather than wisdom

President for bringing education out of mediocrity

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NEw DElHI, FEBRUARY 12 (REUTERs): India left train fares and freight rates unchanged in its interim railway budget, as politicians try to please voters and manufacturing companies ahead of national elections due in the next three months.

India’s state-owned railways are the world’s fourth-largest, with 65,000 km (40,000 miles) of track, after the United States, China and Russia, but have suffered from years of low investment and a lack of policy reforms.

India last raised passenger fares in January 2013, after a nine-year gap, snapping a populist trend in order to mend the finances of a creaky rail network that drags on the economy.

Railways Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said the department would rely on budgetary support as well market borrowing to invest in new tracks. “Inadequacy of financial resources is a key constraint to railways,” he said, while presenting an interim budget for the first four months of the fisMeagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada compete in the pairs short program figure cal year to March 2015.

Indian Railways plans skating competition at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Winter Olympics on Tuesday in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo) to invest 643.05 billion

railway focus on extending connectivity to north east

NEw DElHI, FEBRUARY 12 (IANs): In a bid to bring the North Eastern states within the railway network, the Indian Railways are now on course to converting or commissioning various rail lines in three states in the region - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said here Wednesday while presenting the interim railway budget in the Lok Sabha.

The Railways are on course to converting the strategically important 510-km-

rupees on new lines and other infrastructure in the next fiscal year, up 8.3 percent from a revised figure of 593.6 billion in the current fiscal year, he said. It expects support to the tune of 302.23 billion rupees from the federal government’s budget, and plans to borrow about 198 billion from the market.

In election years, India presents an interim budget to seek parliament’s approval for planned expenditure for a few months, but leaves the next government to take major policy steps in the full-year budget after the polls. The rail-

long Rangiya (Assam) to Murkongselek (Assam) metre gauge line into broad gauge within this financial year. “The capital (Itanagar) of Arunanchal Pradesh would soon be on the rail map in this financial year, as Harmuti-Naharlagun newline is expected to be commissioned shortly,” he said. The state of Meghalaya is also all set to come on the Railways map in this financial year itself, as the DudhnoiMehendipathar new line is getting completed by March 2014, he added.

way budget precedes the federal interim budget, to be presented in parliament

by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on February 17, which is likely to raise funding for some vote-winning projects while trying to rein in the fiscal deficit.

In a bid to please voters, the railways minister announced 72 new trains, despite the financial woes that beset the sector. Successive governments have milked the railways to provide voters with cheaper transport and employment. The railways spend about $4 billion on passenger subsidy each year while

charging higher freight tariffs. In the past five years, it has added about 260,000 staff to rank among the world’s largest employers, with a work force of nearly 1.4 million.

The railways remain India’s chief mode of long-distance travel, despite a poor safety record of more than 2,200 deaths in railway accidents in the last decade.

India added just 1,750 km (1,087 miles) of new lines during the period from 2006 to 2011, compared with 14,000 km (8,699 miles)

by China, auditors Ernst & Young said in a report.

Detailed news on page 8

Call for changes in ‘male-dominated’ Naga society nAGAlAnD HeAltHcAre: needing Human solutions

NEw DElHI, FEBRUARY 12 (IANs): Naga activists and scholars Wednesday robustly called for changes in the maledominated society of Nagaland state, saying that it barred women from inheritance, land rights as well as political equality.

“We are now fighting for our constitutional rights of representation and reservation by going to the Supreme Court,” said Rosemary Dzuvichu, associate professor at Nagaland University. Acknowledging that there were some positive developments, Dzuvichu remarked that while constitutional bodies like the state government did not implement its commitment to re-

serve 33 percent of elected posts in municipal bodies for women, traditional male-dominated groups such as the Naga Hoho also opposed it.

Speaking on the second day of the international conference of ‘The Eastern Himalaya: Gender, Poverty and Livelihoods’ organized by the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research at Jamia Millia Islamia, Monalisa Changkija, founder-editor of the Nagaland Page, remarked on the “`second-classness’ of Naga women and male-stream customary laws which restrict us”.

Challenging the romantic popular concept of Naga and other tribal women being more

equal than other Indian women, Changkija, who is also a poet, declared that Naga women were “better educated, more mobile and more visible - but that does not protect us from customary law”. The intense sessions also heard from scientists, engineers, activists and civil society organizers on the Uttarakhand deluge of 2013 and the grim lessons it held for the northeastern states.

Mindless “development, insensitivity to forest and mountain ecosystems and laying of infrastructure expanding dams and roads and poor governance were responsible”, they said.

Traditional building structures of wood and stone were being

replaced by concrete buildings with state support without caring for safety. “Dams were buried under sediment,” said Ravi Chopra of the Peoples’ Science Institute in Dehra Dun. A pronounced feminization of agriculture as a result of migration was visible. “There is also a collapse of mountain agriculture,” he remarked, a view echoed by speakers who shared experience from Nepal, Myanmar, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Assam. Male migration is a major phenomenon with farm owners moving to cities in search of jobs, putting women under great pressure while running the farms.

Police reach out to ne people Law students in Nagaland

NEw DElHI, FEBRUARY 12 (IANs): Faced with criticism over its perceived lack of sensitivity and outreach to the northeast community in the capital, Delhi Police is set to launch a Facebook page and a Twitter account for people from the northeast where they can post complaints and suggestions.

In another move, a 24-hour Delhi Police helpline will be publicized widely by their social media websites. The decision was taken by Delhi Police in the wake of an alleged “racist” attack on Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania that led to his death and a furor among people from the northeast region.

Delhi Police already has a committee, formed in 2012 and headed by a Joint Commissioner of Police, to tackle problems faced by students and other people from the northeastern states living in Delhi. It is currently being headed by Joint Commissioner Robin Hibu, who hails from the region.

“A Facebook and Twitter account of Delhi Police will be launched soon where students from the northeastern region can put forth their grievances and suggestions,” a police officer told IANS. He said the accounts will be monitored regularly by a police team with good knowledge of social media and computer handling. “Delhi Police will take note of the posts and act upon them.” “We will also post the action taken by Delhi Police on the complaints and suggestions,” he added.

Delhi Police will also publicise its 24hour helpline number - 1091 - on the website of the ministry of development of north east region (DoNER), as well as its Facebook and Twitter pages. It will also encourage northeast students to pen down their thoughts and experiences on wattpad - an online community themed around writing and story-telling on which users can post articles, stories, and poems about anything.

The DoNER ministry has already launched a support centre for students from the northeast following the death of Tania. The decision was arrived at after a joint meeting between Delhi Police and officials of DoNER Feb 5, said another police official. The support centre has been opened at the NorthEast Council Guest House in Chanakyapuri in central Delhi. Professional counsellors will be hired on contractual basis to deal with problems and issues raised by northeast students at the support centre.

In another step at outreach, Delhi Police is planning to conduct half-day seminars once a month that will see professional counsellors and northeast people discuss issues and problems faced by them. In this move, the DoNER ministry would also chip in. Delhi Police holds meetings once in two months with students and people from the northeast in the seven police districts of the capital. The minutes of the meetings are forwarded to Hibu and the Delhi Police commissioner, said an official.

Delhi Police’s new FB, Twitter pages for people from North East

lag behind, states NLSF

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 12 (MExN): The Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF) has sent a memorandum to the controller of examination and vice chancellor of Nagaland University highlighting the plight of law students in Nagaland, asking for their grievances to be addressed immediately.

Following the NLSF General Assembly of all law colleges in Nagaland on February 10, the memorandum has asked the authority concerned to “declare the result of the LL.b Semester examination within 60 days of writing examination as per UGC norms.” Other grievances that the students’ body has asked for a positive response for include: to give examination routine 30 days before the commencement of semester examination, to make LL.b mark sheet computerized which is handwritten now and to set up separate Law department under Nagaland University.

The memorandum has been signed by the president of NLSF, Kehounei-u and general secretary, Hotoka Zhimo. It states that it is “disheartening to note that the Law students are facing a lots of problems due to the lackadaisical attitude and step motherly treatment given to Law students of Nagaland by Nagaland University which is greatly effecting and hampering the career of the Law students.”

This attitude of the University “for so many years without any response from the authority concerned,” has put students of law in Nagaland behind other universities for almost one academic year. The NLSF has thus requested the authority concerned to “take up the case with outmost sincerity and give us immediate positive response failing which Law Federation will adopt democratic means of agitation to make our voice heard.”

Abokali Jimomi Zunheboto | February 12

Even the best physicians need light to see in the dark, unless they wear futuristic night-vision goggles. To save a dying patient, they require much more.

Beside knowledge, and compassion, they need equipment, medicine and, the basic, biological necessity – light, to be able to see the patient.

Mid-February in Zunheboto with winter still harsh, at the Civil Hospital two years ago, a relative had delivered a child. In the same ward was another heavily pregnant woman.

Fortunately for the relative, the delivery happened during daylight hours but the other woman went into pains during the night. Both the women had come to one of the only two hospitals in Zunheboto Town from nearby villages.

According to the relative, her pregnant neighbour was screaming in pain and desperately wanted the doctor, “it was around 8 pm and there was no doctor. A nurse was in charge and there was no light or Inverter.” Upon contacting the absentee duty doctor, he replied that he could do nothing till the power was back.

The woman narrated that the patient “frantically phoned all possible relatives in the town to get help or take her to the other hospital to see a doctor… she even called up her mother in the village to say she was about to die.” One of the patient’s relatives finally informed some doctors: two doctors (one retired and the other off duty) arrived to help and she was taken to the Operation Theatre. However, said the woman, “there was still no light, so, a frenzied hunt began for torch lights, candles and collection of all sorts of Chinese Emergency Lights the other patients had… the doctor sent a staff to one of neighbouring houses who owned a very bright solar lamp.”

“Candles were lit and placed in a neat row from the corridor

leading to the Operation Room, all torch lights shone while the doctors worked… mother and baby were saved,” said the woman who, with her husband in the course of those two to three hours, “felt utterly helpless and hopeless.” She said, “we even forgot about our newborn… not knowing what to do, we just prayed and prayed that she would not die.”

When it is difficult to see a doctor even when you are in a hospital, imagine the plight of not just pregnant women (there are many instances of pregnant women from villages dying enroute to hospitals), but also of many emergency medical situations in rural Nagaland.

Several villages still do not have emergency medical centers: A 60+ man fell from a tree and lost consciousness. People from his village put him on a Tata Mobile and sped off to the Government hospital in Zunheboto, but having reached after sundown, there was no doctor, so they took him to the other “paid” hospital’s doctor, then brought him back to the “unpaid” one – imagine a severely injured old man, carried to and fro on a pickup truck searching for a doctor.

Recently, a vehicle fell off a cliff in Kiphire; with one dead, the other survivor could be given First Aid only after reaching Zunheboto.

One could say “so what?” like a young Naga once said, “It’s their fate!” If 8 out of 10 people, all living in a small house, are perpetually plagued by life-and-death situations, wouldn’t the other two’s “good fate” be disrupted?

They would either have to leave the house for peace of mind or collaboratively find solutions for harmonious co-existence.

As Chinua Achebe wrote, “we cannot trample upon the humanity of others without devaluing our own. The Igbo, always practical, put it concretely in their proverb Onye ji onye n’ani ji onwe ya: ‘He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down.’”

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The Morung Express 2 LocaL Zunheboto farmers join ‘White Gold’ rush PAINTING THE TOWN GREEN Dimapur

Thursday

13 February 2014

ZuNheboto, February 12 (mexN): According to a press release issued

by Department of Land Resources, Zunheboto District Project Officer, Levi, demand of rubber also known as white gold is continually rising. Nagaland being one of the potential states in North East for rubber plantation has already started the race for ‘White Gold’. Rub-

ber plantation will not only provide a sustainable economic settlement for many rural population of the state.

However, it also carries environmental benefits, as it will help control Jhum, moreover enrich the soil’s organic matter by debris recycling, and at the same time prevent soil erosion. The economic gain from rubber is evident, but the environmental aspect is

a boost.

Rubber is already grown in agro climatically suitable identified areas of Dimapur, Wokha, Mokokchung, Peren and now Zunheboto. Focusing on certain areas of the district, rubber farming has been enthusiastically taken up. The farmers of Zunheboto have joined the white gold rush.

In a bid to encourage

rubber farmers of Zunheboto district and to obtain firsthand knowledge of rubber cultivation, the Department of Land Resources, Zunheboto organized two days training cum exposure visit to rubber farm in Tuli, in Mokokchung district for the rubber growers of Zunheboto district on February 11 and 12. The team comprised of nineteen farmers from four villages, i.e. Philimi, Ustomi, Kichilimi and Kitami accompanied by five field officials of Land Resources, Zunheboto.

The resource person was T. Imo Yaden of Anakiyimsen, a very progressive rubber farmer who was assisted by the field officials of Land Resources, Mokokchung. The main topics covered were method of planting, intercropping, how to maintain the plants, tapping, economic returns etc. The resource person clarified all the queries and doubts of the farmers to their satisfaction.

mokokchuNg, February 12 (mexN): In implementation of the Area Officers Scheme – 2012, Anil Subramaniam, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development along with M Rama Khrishna, Under Secretary, visited the State, in particular the districts of Wokha and Mokokchung as Area Officers from February 5 to 9.

On their maiden visit

to Mokokchung district, the MORD officials visited the office of DRDA and MIS Cell and had an interaction with the officials and Data operators of MIS. They then accompanied by the officers of DRDA, RD Blocks and Social Welfare Department proceeded to Mangmetong Village of RD Block Ongpangkong South.

Detailed discussion on the coverage of eligible beneficiaries under the three NSAP schemes viz.,

IGNOAP, IGWP and IGDPS was made whereby the MORD officials stated that from 2014-15 onward NSAP Scheme is going to be implemented as a C.S.S and universalized to have a wider coverage of many uncovered applicants.

The visiting officials were highly impressed after scrutinizing and crosschecking the documents maintained at the village level along with spot verification of works taken up

under IAY, SGSY, and MGNREGA. The VDB Secretary of Mangmetong village was specifically lauded for his data/record maintenance and appreciation was expressed to officers for the quality of works taken up under MGNREGA. While interacting with the officials, the beneficiaries expressed satisfaction with the system and implementation of the various schemes taken up in the State.

Rubber farmers of Zunheboto in a Rubber Farm at Tuli, Mokokchung.

MORD officials visits Mokokchung, Wokha

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Our Correspondent Kiphire | February 12

A day before leaving the district as the Kiphire Deputy Commissioner, Kesonyu Yhome (IAS), today in the presence of civil societies, tribal leaders, NGOs, officers and ward chairmen at the DC’s conference hall declared Kiphire as the first “Green Town” in the state.

While formally declaring Kiphire as ‘Green Town’, Kesonyu Yhome (IAS) addressing as special guest said, “The concept behind declaring Kiphire as the Green Town has many things embedded in it where, conservation of ecology and environment, sustainable development, conserve energy and protection of flora and fauna are the main aims.” He added that this project will not stop here but will have to carry on.

Kesonyu Yhome advised the people to take the green project with an aim to bring significant change in environment. He expressed hope that if the leaders and citizens of Kiphire give due importance of the things implanted under green project with all the best resources the district have, Kiphire will one day become a hill station where people from all over the country would come to spend vacation and holiday. He added that this would not only improve the economy but also the living standard as well. Further, he warned that if the citizens do not take care of the objec-

An ariel view of Kiphire district (File Photo)

tive in the project the next generation would not even have clean air to breathe.

Yhome also added that 25 years down the line, Kiphire should be the district with energy free town, maintaining production of energy and any developmental activities should not be at the cost of environment and displacement.

Pointing out the problem of development in the state Yhome said, “Illegal taxation, land ownership and immediate benefit are the main cause of stagnation of development in the state.” He asked the gathering to play the role and responsibilities to tackle illegal taxation, to do away with selfishness, to have patience and not greed for immediate benefit. He assured saying, “if these things are done away with we will witness how beautiful development will be.”

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The main theme of the programme was “biodiversity conservation: traditional and cultural practices in the context of Naga society.” Atoholi Jimo, Director of the DAN and other resource per-

sons from Pro Rural Organization animated the programme. Altogether 50 students participated in the programme.

The students were told about the traditional and cultural prac-

tices of conserving bio-diversity in the Naga society context. It is the native land ethics not to take more than one’s need of the land can provide. They also further shared the richness of bio-diversity affecting the well-being of human as a whole.

Based on the theme, the resource persons spoke on the basics of biodiversity and the importance of conserving diverse biological lives with specific reference to local scenario such as livelihood, health, social life, economy, ecological, cultural, educational and aesthetic values etc. It further pointed out that, “Nature is to be respected as God’s gift and it is the human’s responsibility to take good care of it.”

Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): Sarva Shishak Abhigyan (SSA) sponsored Government Primary School at Lungwiram, Dimapur, has commenced normal functioning following inauguration of the school building this morning in the presence of the elders and teachers in-charge and newly enrolled students.

Exhorting the gathering, the Colony chairman Ringsanbo Zeliang said one of the basic principles in teaching is dedication to job. By dedication, he said it is an absolute love for doing something in pursuit of achieving the Lungwiram residents, teachers in-charges, newly enrolled students goal. Directing his speech towards the teachers, he said they along with parents during the inauguration of GPS on February 12.

should love the teaching profession, love the children and love the surrounding environment.

Terming teaching a noble profession, he said teachers has sacred duty in moulding and shaping the life of growing children.

Stating that residents have great expectation from the teachers to nurture the new GPS to a model school, he had advised the teachers to work hard with dedication in order to realize the dreams. He has also assured all possible help and cooperation towards development of the school.

He has expressed gratitude to the district administration and School Education department for

establishing the GPS at Lungwiram. He has further appreciated the chairman and secretary of the School Management Committee for the timely completion of the school building.

Pastor of Lungwiram Baptist Church, I Panme, who also said the dedicatory prayer, has urged the gathering to endeavour to make the school a centre of excellence. He desired that the school should provide quality education to enable students acquire knowledge and wisdom and become responsible citizens in the society. He later read the scripture portion and said the dedicatory prayer.

Students and others during the National Environment Awareness Campaign Programme (NEAC 2013-14) at Little Angels School, Dimapur on February 12.

ment Action Network (DAN) in collaboration with Nagaland Pollution Control Board and Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi carried out the programme.

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Outgoing DC Kesonyu Yhome launches green project, declares Kiphire as first ‘Green Town’ in Nagaland

‘Indigenous people have vital role in environmental management’

Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): “Indigenous people such as that of a Naga society and other local communities have a vital role in environmental management and development because of their rich experienced knowledge and traditional practices. State Government should recognize and duly support their identity, culture and interest and enable their effective participation in the achievement of biodiversity conservation.”

This was taught to students during a National Environment Awareness Campaign Programme (NEAC 2013-14) at Little Angels School, 3rd Mile, Dimapur held on February 12. Develop-

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Elaborating more on the green project Kesonyu Yhome (IAS) said, before the month of March 2014, the citizens of Kiphire will witness development under green project where all the basic amenities resembling developed cities will be done in Kiphire and added, “this also reflect that development is beautiful if money is used judiciously and workmanship is maintained.”

He also maintained that painting Kiphire town areas with green paint is symbolism for education and sensitizing. Yhome said, “Rural people may not know this whole concept even if we tell them, but when they come to town and see the green paints in all houses they may have eagerness to learn more so this should be the point for education and sensitizing the rural people.”

Dr. Tinojungshi Chang,

ADC who spoke on behalf of the KTC administrator said that the painting of the town green is for preservation of flora fauna and keeping surrounding clean for healthy environment.

He also suggested to the HoD in the district to contribute meager amount towards green tax so that development can also take place through support such as that and appealed to the officers to take up any pilot project in the town under green project. USLP Vice President, Yangkhaba appreciated the outgoing DC for his innovative ideas and concern for all round development. Representative from YTC also spoke on the occasion, while T. Lankonsen Tsanglao SOD (C) chaired the programme and Pudusul Luho Member secretary District Innovative Fund and DPO proposed the vote of thanks.

The Nagaland State Commission for Women led by Dr. Temsula Ao, Chairperson, and Members Kakheli Jakhalu and Asangla Cholong called on Banuo Z. Jamir, IAS on February 11 to felicitate her on assuming the charge as Chief Secretary of the State.

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'Basic principle in teaching is dedication to job'

1st Death Anniversary of Late Mrs. abolom Seyie

Maruti Suzuki launches ‘Celerio’ in Dimapur

Students discuss the paper after appearing in their examination of NBSE board in Dimapur on February 12. The HSSLC commenced from February 7 and will conclude on March 1 while HSLC started on February 11 and conclude by February 25. (Photo by ManenAier)

Dr. S. Kemp memorial watchtower inaugurated Our Correspondent Sendenyu | February 12

DTO Dimapur, Clara (extreme right) along with Progressive Motors management staff during the launching of Celerio. (Morung Photo) C M Y K

“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear.”

In remembrance, -Loving husband and children.

Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): Auto giant Maruti Suzuki officially launched its latest and new car ‘Celerio’, the first car in India with revolutionary auto gearshift technology, in Dimapur at Progressive Motors on Wednesday. The vehicle was launched by District Transport Officer

(DTO), Dimapur, K Clara in presence of Progressive Motors management staff, customers and well wishers.

The introduction of the new car will make driving easy and altogether a new experience as one can drive without having to press clutch pedal or change gears. “This is the best in

car category of cars with highest fuel efficiency (23.1 km/ltr) both in auto gear shift and manual gear shift”, the management stated.

According to Progressive Motors management, the starting price of the new car is Rs. 4.3 lakhs and customers can book Celerio now by depositing Rs. 10,000.

Late Dr. S. Kemp memorial watch tower was inaugurated by Sidramappa, IFS, DFO Kohima on Monday within the area of Sendenyu Village Community Biodiversity Conservation (SVCBC). This was inaugurated in the presence of Nagaland Legislative assembly (NLA) deputy speaker Er. Levi Rengma, Rengma Hoho president Sawathang Kez Seb and several other dignitaries.

This tower was dedicated to late Dr. S. Kemp, advisor SVCBC 2000-2012 by the people of Sendenyu for his contribution in village community conservation works. SVCBC chairman

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Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) deputy speaker Er. Levi Rengma, Kohima DFO Sidramappa and others during the inauguration of late Dr. S. Kemp memorial watch tower on Monday. (Morung Photo)

Gwasinlo Thong said that ers, adding that his name late Dr. S. Kemp had shown will always remain in the deep concern for the villag- history of the village.

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3 Regional 'Everyday life pictures will help understand NE better' Assam politicians Thursday

The Morung express

neW DelhI, February 12 (Ians): There have always been only exotic pictures of the northeastern states presented, so there is a need to present more mundane pictures from the everyday life of the people to understand the region better, said an exhibition curator from Mizoram.

"When one thinks of

13 February 2014

northeast it is only the exotic landscape, the dresses and the dance that people relate to. To understand these states better, it is important to present more nuanced pictures from the everyday lives of the people which will actually depict the socio-cultural history," Joy. L.K. Pachau, curator of a Feb 11-17 photography exhibition at the India Inter-

Northeast Briefs

national Centre, said Tuesday evening.

"The photographs that have been collected are from the family albums hence it is a more intimate way to showcase the Mizo society and help people understand it," added Pachau.

According to the curator, unlike the other northeastern states, Mizoram did not have professional anthro-

pologists or photographers.

"As these are images taken by the people themselves, it helps to broaden the way history is written about a particular place.

Visuals bring other story to the front," Willem van Schendel, the co-curator of the exhibition told IANS. The photographs at the exhibition show the everyday ordinary Mizo engage-

ment with their social environment, the transition of the society from colonial rule to the arrival of missionary to the inclusion of the state into the Indian union in 1940 and the longest insurgency between 1960s and 1980s.

"Photographs helps constituting a kind of social history, helps in seeing transformation in different ways and

makes an attempt to invoke some kind of reality," said Janaki Nair, professor of historical studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Echoing the same feeling Berenice Ellena, a renowned photographer who has extensively clicked people in Nagaland, said, "Pictures will help build bridge between the northeast and rest of India."

Manipur journalist beaten up by security personnel Imphal, February 12 (agencIes): A journalist of English daily was allegedly beaten up by security men who mistook him for a thief at Kangla Western Gate area here, official sources said today. Aribam Dhananjoy alias Chaoba, a reporter of 'Imphal Free Press', was beaten up allegedly by personnel of the India Reserve Battalion while he was returning home from office at about 11.30 PM last night, they said. Chaoba told the security personnel that he was a journalist but security personnel insisted that he was a thief moving around late night and beat him up.He was later taken to the J N Hospital and discharged after first aid. The Indian Reserve Battalion was not available for comment. Later the journalist lodged a complaint with the police. The All Manipur Working Journalists Union condemned the attack on Chaoba and urged the state government to prevent frequent attacks on scribes by drunken security personnel. Meanwhile the North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) has condemned the assault. A press note from the NEDF stated that the media fraternity in Manipur “has often been the soft target in the hands of both the state and the non-state actors.” “Today, the role of media, particularly in this conflict torn region has been, broadened from sheer reporting to greater participation in finding the answer of a crisis,” it stated. NEDF asserted that “democracy without an efficient media is a democracy only in paper.”

NEDF stated that harassment by security forces, “Despite producing valid press cards, has been a common tragedy faced by our media persons.” It recalled that in 2009, around 130 journalists had surrendered their accreditation card to the government in protest against the assault of two journalists. To make its point, the NEDF cited the various cases of assault on media persons in recent years.

It called upon the government to book the culprits involved In this Monday, February 10, 2014 photo, migrant Muslim women gather to attend the awareness and service camp unin the physical assault of Chaoba and that punishment be der National Rural Health Mission at a very remote Baralakhaiti village on the sandbars of River Brahmaputra, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) north of Guwahati, Assam. Dr Ilias Ali, head of India's family planning program in Assam, blends awarded to them as per the law of the country.

Assam to ban all non-smoking tobacco products from Thursday

guWahaTI, February 12 (pTI): Manufacturing and use of non- smoking tobacco products in Assam will be banned from tomorrow with the government to notify the relevant Act, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today. In July last year, the Assam Health (Prohibition of Manufacturing, Trade, Advertisement, Storage, Distribution, Sale and Consumption of Zarda, Gutkha, Pan masala Containing Tobacco) Bill 2013, was introduced in the House. "We have received the Governor's assent to the Bill. Today we will notify it and it will become an Act. From tomorrow, all non-smoking tobacco products will be banned in Assam," Sarma said. It was clarified that tobacco would include all products, which were smokeless and for chewing, and included leaves and parts of Nicotiana-Tabacum. Under the act, those engaged in manufacturing, advertising, storing and trading, distributing and selling zarda, gutkha, panmasala containing tobacco would invite punishment. A violator could be punished with imprisonment up to seven years and a fine not less than Rs one lakh, which might extend up to Rs five lakh. The Act also suggested a fine of Rs 1,000 on the consumer for the first offence and Rs 2,000 for the second and any subsequent offences.

BSF to deploy women troopers along borders

agarTala, February 12 (Ians): Indian border guards will soon deploy women troopers in the northeast frontiers to deal with the trans-border crimes involving women, officials said here Wednesday. "Around 30 armed women BSF (Border Security Force) constables would be deployed soon along Tripura's border with Bangladesh and similar number of BSF women would be posted along Assam frontier," BSF Deputy Inspector General B.S. Rawat told IANS. He said: "The BSF women constables would frisk, search and interrogate women suspected to be involved directly or indirectly in trans-border crimes, including smuggling." He said it was problematic to frisk suspected women since the border was manned by men troopers only. In some places on the India-Bangladesh borders, women are the main transporters of contraband goods. BSF women troopers have already been deployed along the West Bengal and Punjab borders. Number of women constables would be increased gradually. "Women armed personnel were greatly in need to check all kinds of trans-border crimes. Inimical elements can involve the women to carry explosive goods and arms from across the border," the official added.

religious scriptures with science to popularize birth control as he explained the use of Copper T, an Intrauterine Contraceptive Device to migrant Muslims living in remote sandbars, Monday. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

very polite: NSG Chief

guWahaTI, February 12 (pTI): Politicians in Assam have come in for high praise for their ‘polite’ behaviour by the chief of India’s elite commando force National Security Guard — the accolade coming at a time when the political class nowadays is regarded as arrogant and brash.

J aya n t o N a r aya n Choudhury, the newly appointed DG of NSG and exDGP of Assam Police, was effusive in his praise for the highly ‘polite’ conduct of Assamese politicians.

Chowdhury said that the politicians from his home state never tried to get work done forcefully.

“I have to say that political leaders in Assam are very polite. They never bullied me during my service in the state,” he said during an exclusive interview. “Even if they (politicians) wanted things get done, they made humble requests and never forced me. And if I could not fulfill it, they also accepted it,” he noted.

A 1978-batch IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Choudhury served as the Director General of Assam Police from January 16, 2012 before being nominated as the 28th NSG Director General. On January 23 this year, he took over as the new Chief of the NSG. He will head the ‘black cat’ commando force, which renders counter-terror, counter-hijack and VVIP security tasks, till his superannuation in May, 2015.

Talking about his stint as DGP of Assam Police, Choudhury said: “It was a very satisfactory period.

Serving the home state and my own people was really great. There was nothing to regret in Assam.”

Known as a ‘gentleman’ among his colleagues, the top police officer of Assam had experimented with “implementation of a practice” to improve the police force’s behaviour towards general public in the state.

“I focused on civil policing. After decades of fighting with insurgents, the Assam Police’s behavior was something like those of para-military forces. I tried to improve that to deal with common people. Still, a lot has to be done. Hope, I made the beginning,” Choudhury said.

The police force in Assam needs urgent reforms to deal with various kinds of problems and newer forms of crime, he added without elaborating further. “The entire Assamese society is fragmented now on the basis of ethnicity. The tendency of the young people is to get easy money. There is easy access to weapons… So the police force has to deal with all these issues. Every problem has backward linkages,” Choudhury said.

A Masters in Economics from the Delhi University, he had earlier served a number of years in the Intelligence Bureau. Prior to that, Choudhury had also worked as Additional Superintendent of Police in Assam’s Goalpara, Barpeta and Jorhat districts among others during early 80's.

Besides, he had served as the SP of North Lakhimpur district from June 13, 1983 to June 19, 1985.

Rail blockade in Assam Shops closed during 'curfew' in Imphal disrupts train movement KOKraJhar, February 12 (pTI): Train services between Assam and rest of the country were disrupted today for about seven hours following a 12-hour rail blockade by Bodo organizations demanding a separate state carved out of Assam. Slogan-shouting demonstrators squatted on the railway tracks with placards and prevented the movement of trains in Chirang, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Kamrup districts. Major long-distance trains like the Rajdhani, Northeast Express,

Saraighat Express were delayed and controlled at different places from New Jalphiguri to Guwahati.

Hundreds of the bandh supporters squatted on the tracks from 6 AM at Basugaon railway station in Chirang district, various stations in Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts, besides at Rangia in Kamrup district, the sources said. The blockade was, however, withdrawn at 1am after the agitationists were invited for tripartite talks in Delhi on February 21.

Imphal, February 12 (pTI): Non-Manipuri people on Wednesday closed their shops and stopped business transactions during the 18-hour 'curfew' imposed by a students' committee to protest attacks on Northeast people in the national capital.

Officials said shops and business establishments run by non-Manipuri people were open at the busy Thangal market complex in the heart of the capital complex in the early hours.

But they subsequently downed the shutters at Waheng Leikai, Sagolband, Nagamapal and other places in the heart of the capital complex and went indoors after learning about the 'curfew' imposed by the Joint Students' Coordinating Committee

neW DelhI, February 12 (pTI): Naxals are trying to set up organizational bases in the Northeast to forge ties with other insurgent groups to meet their military needs and the AssamArunachal Pradesh border has emerged as another theatre of Maoist activities, the government said today.

"The CPI(Maoist) has developed close fraternal ties with Northeast insurgent groups like the Revolutionary People's Front and People's Liberation Army of Manipur. Both the outfits have agreed upon mutual cooperation in the

areas of training, funding, supply of arms and ammunition," Minister of State for Home RPN Singh told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The minister said the Upper Assam Leading Committee (UALC) of CPI (Maoist) is presently operating in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and have been involved in incidents of looting of weapons and extortion from local villagers.

The government said UALC has also been engaged in recruitment and training of cadres for the outfit in Assam and these cadres have been utilised in extensive

propaganda against mega dams in Assam.

"In this backdrop, Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border has emerged as another theatre of Maoist activity. The outfit is also establishing separate channels in the Northeast, particularly in Nagaland for procurement of ammunition," the minister said.

Singh said the central government has alerted the state governments concerned of the Northeast in this regard. The government is also monitoring the situation closely, he said.

"The activities of CPI

(JSCC) from 5 am, they said.

Hair salons run by non-Manipuri people were closed all over the state, reports from the districts said. JSCC, formed by six powerful students' bodies, has strictly asked the non-Manipuri persons to 'obey' the 'curfew', JSCC sources said.

Blaming the central and Delhi governments for their failure to protect people from the region, JSCC convenor Thangjam Premananda told reporters that it was "very shocking" that people from the Northeast region were "not only ill treated but looked down" in the national capital.

The death of Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, the rape of a Manipuri girl, physical assault on

'Assam-Arunachal border a new theatre of Maoists'

Freedom heroes from the North East remembered neW DelhI, February 12 (Ians): Little known heroes from the country's northeast played valiant roles during the freedom struggle, reversing a myth - like many other misperceptions - that the region didn't play a great role in the independence movement, says a new book.

"A widespread perception exists that the northeastern region did not actively participate in the Indian freedom struggle," says the book "Little Known Fighters Against the Raj: Figures from Meghalaya". The book has been published by the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, Jamia Millia Islamia.

While the Assamese were better known to have taken part in the freedom movement, others resisted British imperialism in different ways but their names are not known even to scholars and students, the book says.

The lives of these freedom fighters "are rarely remembered" except

Dimapur

by some academics of the region and the regional press and during commemorations by local governments and ethnic groups, the book says.

Speaking at the book release Tuesday, Sanjoy Hazarika, director of the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, said: "Given the continuing lack of understanding of the region and its people which lead to tragic incidents in process of discrimination, we hope this book can form part of the teaching syllabus and curricula for graduate and post-graduate levels in the social sciences."

The book studies the lives of little known fighters from Meghalaya through essays by prominent historians, scholars and writers such as Imdad Hussain, David R. Syiemlieh, S.N. Lamare, Patricia Mukhim and Abhijit Choudhury. The book is an edited collection of papers presented at a workshop here March 7-8, 2011.

It details the struggles of fight-

ers such as Togan Sangma of Garo Hills, U Tirot Sing, Syiem of Nongkhlaw, U Kiang Nongbah, Dharanidhar Mahanta, Monoranjan Nandi and Nar Bahadur Gurung.

The last three were part of the Indian National Army.

The Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills were annexed and came under political control of the British in phases but not without resistance from traditional chiefs and leaders. Historical records have details of the Garo resistance, particularly that of 1870 when Togan Sangma led his band of fighters against the British.

Much more is known of the Khasi struggle, the book says. It has been termed the Anglo-Khasi War, which it was as the Khasis struggled to keep their independence.

In 1860, and again in 1862, the Jaintias revolted against the British.

The Jaintias were led by a commoner, U Kiang Nongbah, who was hanged in 1862 by the British.

two Manipuri youths and two girls in Delhi showed that mainland people did not take the people from this region as their own compatriots, the spokesman said.

Various social organisations, including student bodies, yesterday took out rallies in several parts of Manipur to protest against the discrimination of their people in New Delhi, official reports said today. Reports from interior districts said people were protesting by organising sit-in protests at various places. Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has urged Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to take some concrete steps to prevent racial discrimination against the Northeast people, officials said.

(Maoist) has declined significantly in the Northeast in recent times, consequent to the arrest of important cadres from the area," he said.

LAND FOR SALE (URGENT)

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GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT NAP TRAINING CENTRE CHUMUKEDIMA: NAGALAND

NO.NAPTC/QB-3/2013-14/3043 Dated Chumukedima, the 12th Feb’2014

TENDER NOTICE

Sealed Tenders are invited by the undersigned for supply of the following ration items to NAP Training Centre for the year 2014-2015.

1.

All kinds of Dal 2.

Iodized Salt 3.

Potato 4.

Onion 5.

Fresh Vegetables 6.

Khasi(Goat/Sheep) (MOH) 7.

Pork (MOH) 8.

Chicken/Egg/Tinned Fish (Substitute Item) 9.

Fire Wood 10. Charcoal Tender Forms can be obtained from the Office of the undersigned on any working day. The last date for submission of the Tender will be on 5th March 2014 at 1200 Hrs and opening of the Tender will be at 1230 Hrs on the same day.

(IMLISUNEP), IPS Commandant, NAP Training Centre, Chumukedima:Nagaland

APPRECIATION The “Dimapur District Truck Drivers Welfare Trade Union” Dimapur extends its sincere appreciation to the Diphupar Police Personnel and Dimapur Mobile Squad on their timely intervention and initiative taken up by them in apprehending the culprits/criminals who abducted the Driver and Handy-man of the truck bearing Regd.No. NL 01 G 1095 near 5th Mile area on Sunday. The union further acknowledges and urges the law enforcing agency to continue their active role in future to eradicate the crimes in the society and put in such and selfless acts effective in safeguarding the welfare of the citizens.

(Kaiho Zhimomi) (Suren) President General Secretary

NEUROLOGY CAMP Patients who are suffering from headache, epilepsy, stroke, sleeping problems, neck pain, back pain, neuropathy, difficulty in walking, shaking hands & legs, to & fro nodding of head, frequent falling on ground, slow monotonous voice, difficulty in memorising can consult Dr. A. R. Baruah, MD (Med), DNB (Neurology). Doctor from GNRC hospitals will be available for consultation on 17TH OF FEBRUARY, 2014.

FOR PRIOR APPOINTMENT PLEASE CONTACT- 0370- 2290080

OKING HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CLINIC

C M Y K

4

businEss

Thursday

Dimapur

13 February 2014

H&M to open first store in India

local

KVK Wokha conducts field day on double cropping Wokha, February 12 (MexN): Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Wokha, ICAR for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre organized field day on rice based oilseed double cropping with toria variety TS-36 and TS-38 on January 28, 2014 at Integrated Farming System model farm, Liphanyan covering an area of about 60 ha.

According to a press release, the primary objective of the programme was to gather feedback from the farmers about the performance of the new toria variety and also the economic returns from practicing double

cropping system. Interaction and feedback session was initiated by N. Khumdemo Ezung, Programme Co-ordinator (i/c), who informed the participants that the main objective of the demonstration was to provide additional income to the farmers from the second crop from the same piece of land, which otherwise is not practiced by the farmers since the farmers mostly use long duration varieties like Ranjit and Bahadur. Farmers reported that the two varieties performed satisfactorily even though there was moisture stress.

On double cropping sys-

tem, it was reported that the farmers have gained additional income from the second crop and therefore, have targeted to cover larger area under the system of cultivation during 2014.

During the Kharif of 2014, KVK is targeting to provide short and medium duration rice varieties to the farmers which will then enable them to take up the system of cultivation. 67 farmers participated in the demonstration programme covering Yanpha, Liphanyan village and Integrated Farming System Model Farm at Liphanyan.

Mushroom cultivation becoming popular

DiMapur, February 12 (MexN): Low cost scientific and organic mushroom production technology introduced by the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre in the state is becoming popular amongst rural mass, according to a press release.

Mushroom cultivation is gaining momentum across the state and the farming community is coming forward to reap the benefits of nutritional security and subsidiary income through this venture.

It is a landless cultivation procedure with optimum utilization of available space and less input investment.

Women folk are increasingly coming forward to learn the cultivation skills.

This was witnessed at the ongoing training on “Mushroom cultivation, spawn production and value addition for livelihood improvement” organized by ICAR, Nagaland Centre sponsored under the Tribal Sub Plan project from February 12 to 14. Out of the 40 partcipants, wom-

enfolk comprise the majority with only three men. The participants are representatives from Khar village, Chungliyimsen village, Waromong village, Dibuia village, Mongchen village, Mangkolemba and Alongkima town of Mokokchung district, Okotso village of Wokha district, Jharnapani village and Dimapur town.

The release stated that the trainees will gain knowledge on nutritional and medicinal value, distinction between poisonous and non-poisonous mushroom and different species of oyster mushroom suitable for growing in different seasons as well as hands on practical experience of spawn production, low cost organic mushroom cultivation and processing. The resource persons for the training are from ICAR, Nagaland Centre and SASRD, Nagaland University.

The training is co-ordinated by Tasvina R. Borah, Scientist Plant Pathology along with the staff of ICAR Nagaland Centre and KVK Dimapur.

The Morung Express

StockholM, February 12 (reuterS): Hennes & Mauritz will open its first store in India this year, it said on Wednesday, as the world’s secondbiggest fashion retailer becomes the latest to take advantage of the opening of Asia’s third-largest economy to foreign operators.

H&M, which said last year it plans to spend around 100 million euros on an initial 50 stores in India, received final approval in December from the Indian government to invest in the country.

“We are very excited to open our first store in India.

It is one of the most exciting countries in the world right now, with so much potential,” H&M CEO Karl-Johan Persson said in a statement.

H&M has not yet decided where the first store will

be opened and is looking at several big cities and locations, but can act fast now it has government approval, a spokeswoman said.

The Swedish retailer

has almost tripled store numbers over the past decade to over 3,100 outlets in 53 countries, but it has lagged bigger rival Inditex in expanding in fast-grow-

ing emerging markets.

H&M still makes about 80 percent of sales in Europe, while Inditex, with over 6,000 stores in 86 countries, makes about 20

percent of sales in Asian economies versus 6 percent for H&M. H&M said last month it planned to open 375 new stores worldwide in 2014, including 80-90 in China. It also plans to enter Australia and the Philippines this year.

A flurry of international retailers, including Swedish budget furniture chain IKEA, are looking to expand into India after its government moved in 2012 to allow foreign firms to set up wholly-owned subsidiaries in the country. Inditex is already in India through a joint venture.

Indian retail consultancy Technopak has predicted the textile and clothing market in the country would more than double to $141 billion by 2021, from $58 billion in 2012.

Soon, withdraw cash from India wasted 1.94L MT foodgrain ATMs without bank account between 2005-13: RTI report

MuMbai, February 12 (ageNcieS): People without thaNe, February 12 (pti): As at 25,353 MT in 2006-07, 4,426 MT in a bank account in India would soon be able to withdraw cash much as 1,94,502 metric tonnes of 2007-08, and 20,114 in 2008-09, the refrom an automated teller machine (ATM) with the use of mo- foodgrain worth crores of rupees was port said.

It also said that of the damaged stock, bile technology, Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram wasted in India due to various reasons around 84 per cent (16,3576 MT) was Rajan announced here Wednesday. At present, only bank ac- between 2005 and March 2013.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice and 14 per cent wheat (26,543 MT). count holders can withdraw cash from an ATM. Punjab with a total damage stock of “We have recently approved the in-principle setting up has given this information in reply to an of a payment system which will facilitate the funds transfer RTI query sought by a city-based activist 98,200 MT recorded 50% of the total damages, while Maharashtra recorded a from bank account holders to those without accounts through Om Prakash Sharma.

He had filed an RTI query last month total of 20,067 MT of damaged stock, acATMs,” Rajan said while speaking at the NASSCOM India Leadership Forum on financial inclusion and technology. “Essential- and sought information about the counting for 10 per cent of the total loss, ly, the sender can have the money withdrawn from his account foodgrain wastage in India, which he got the report added.

Talking to PTI over the issue, Sharthrough an ATM transaction. The intermediary processes the on Tuesday.

The reply provided details of the ma expressed concern over the governpayment, and sends a code to the recipient on his mobile that allows him to withdraw the money from any nearby bank’s ATM. region-wise and commodity wise stock ment’s inability to curb wastage of food The system will take care of necessary safeguards of customer accrued as non issuable (damaged) for grain in the country.

“At a time when so many people die of identification, transaction validation, velocity checks etc.,” Ra- each of the years separately for the 23 rehunger in the country, there is so much of jan said. “We need more such innovative products,” he added. gions in the country.

The damaged stock which stood at wastage of food grain taking place. Those The RBI governor said cashing out is important for remittances, because the country has a large recipient population, most of 95,075 MT in 2005-06 came down to responsible for this loss should be pun3,148 MT in 2012-13. The wastage was ished,” Sharma said Head of Offices in the Dis- whom do not have access to formal banking services. trict are to ensure that their employees’ salaries are invariably routed through their link SBI Account and intimate to the Bank when- MuMbai, February 12 Kingfisher Airlines, launched regional manager for north-east Asia Rs.550-600 crore in the first phase ever, the loanee employee (liveMiNt): Losses at Vijay Mal- in 2005, has never made a profit. at Jet Airways (India) Ltd. by selling pledged shares of assois transferred from their lya’s Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, which The finance costs of Kingfisher Kingfisher’s operating licence ciate companies of Kingfisher Airestablishment. hasn’t flown since October 2012, for the reporting quarter stood at was suspended in October by avia- lines’s parent UB Group.

Deputy Commissioner widened to Rs.822.42 crore in the Rs.350.99 crore against Rs.401.25 tion regulator Directorate General The Indian aviation sector is expressed his gratitude three months ended 31 December crore in the same quarter the previ- of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following a set to see increased competition to all the officers who had compared with a loss of Rs.755.17 ous year. The redelivery cost of air- strike by the airline’s employees. The as more airlines are readying to fly. extended their fullest co- crore in the year-ago period. craft and engines rose 45.83% to permit has since expired, although it Tata Sons Ltd has floated two joint operation to him during With planes remaining on the Rs.400.73 crore against Rs.274.80 can be renewed within two years. ventures to run airlines, one with his tenure as Deputy Com- ground, the airline had no sales in crore a year ago.

The group of 14 lenders led by Singapore Airlines Ltd for a full-sermissioner of the district. the reporting quarter, mirroring “There is no reason for Kingfish- State Bank of India (SBI) expects vice airline and another with MalayHe requested all the of- the zero sales a year ago. The Mum- er to continue without being liqui- to recover at least Rs.1,000 crore sia’s AirAsia Bhd for a low-fare carficers to extend the same bai-based airline had accumulated dated. The only plausible reason is as it starts taking possession of rier, after the government relaxed support to the new Depu- losses of Rs.16,023.46 crore on 31 that Mallya is still waiting and hoping buildings, helicopters and other foreign direct investment (FDI) ty Commissioner who will March and its net worth was a neg- for a foreign investor,” said Bharat fixed assets of the grounded air- rules for the sector. Both ventures be taking over soon. ative Rs.12,919.82 crore.

Mahadevan, who until recently was line. The consortium collected are awaiting regulatory clearances.

Phek DPDB discusses departmental activities

phek, February 12 (Dipr): The Phek District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) meeting for the month of February was held on February 11 at the DPDB conference hall under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner & Vice Chairman DPDB, Phek, Neposo Theluo. The Board reviewed the minutes of the last DPDB meeting.

DVO, Phek, Dr. Weprenyi Mero presented a report of his departmental activities. Treatment, vaccination, awareness campaign, RKVY scheme and rural piggery were the

activities highlighted. In course of the discussion, the Board opined that the department might put more effort to provide piglets to the farmers, as there is huge gap between the demand and supply.

The Board also observed the necessity to introduce commerce stream at GHSS Phek, for which the department concerned was requested to submit feasibility report in the next DPDB. The irregular repayment of bank loan under SBI by the employees was also discussed. It was reiterated that all the DDO’s/

Kingfisher Airlines posts Rs.822 cr loss as planes stay grounded

_

LEISURE

Simple Rules - There is just one simple rule: “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box co ntains the digits 1 through 9.”

SUDOKU Game Number # 2790

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2801

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

STD CODE: 03862

Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital: Shamrock Hospital Zion Hospital: Police Control Room Police Traffic Control East Police Station West Police Station CIHSR (Referral Hospital) Dimapur hospital Apollo Hospital Info Centre: Railway: Indian Airlines Chumukedima Fire Brigade Nikos Hospital and Research Centre Nagaland Multispecialty Health & Research Centre

Answer Number # 2789

KOHIMA

Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home:

232224; Emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 228846 228254 231864, 224117, 227337 228400 232106 227607 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026

STD CODE: 0370

Northeast Shuttles

100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

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ACROSS

T A E Y S E A L I G H T N I N G

1. Attired 5. Seize 10. Largest continent 14. Ascend 15. Sound 16. Cushions or mats 17. Appraisal 19. Raindrop sound 20. Grippe 21. G-string 22. Aquatic mammals 23. A breed of dog 25. Light purple 27. Arrive (abbrev.)

28. Unusual 31. Amount of hair 34. Turbine part 35. Japanese sash 36. Hurry 37. A worker of stone 38. Religious splinter group 39. Venomous snake 40. Large black bird 41. A friction match 42. Transparent 44. Black gunk 45. Assistants 46. Fetes 50. A fabric resembling velvet 52. Seasonings

54. Bite 55. Quaint outburst 56. Likeness 58. Naked 59. Malicious 60. Region 61. Adolescent 62. Everglades bird 63. Benefit

DOWN 1. Skill 2. Fine thread 3. An ancient Assyrian city 4. D 5. Laundry machine 6. Gossip 7. Biblical garden 8. A set containing a single member 9. Preschooler 10. Attraction 11. Raunchy 12. False god 13. Vipers 18. Mixes 22. Aspersion 24. Impetuous 26. Computer symbol 28. Modelled 29. Competent 30. Liturgy 31. Snare

32. Ploy 33. Promenade 34. Stunningly beautiful 37. A ceremonial staff 38. Brusque 40. Boorish 41. The language of Persia 43. Basswood 44. Pill 46. A group of lions 47. Accustom 48. Duck down 49. Talk 50. Confined 51. Chills and fever 53. Arab chieftain 56. South southeast 57. Faucet

Ans to CrossWord 2800

DIMAPUR: 03862-232201/101 (O) 9436601225 (OC) CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862-282777/101 (O) WOKHA: 03860-242215 (O) 9402643782 MOKOKCHUNG: 0369-2226225/101 (O) 9856872011 (OC) PHEK: 03865-223838/101 (O) 9436012949 (OC)

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LOCAL

The Morung Express

Rio’s visit to Myanmar path-breaking: NPF Kohima, February 12 (mexN): Naga People’s Front (NPF) today stated that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s visit to Myanmar was a significant and pathbreaking visit that is bound to have positive impact for the Naga people, especially those living in Myanmar.

Congratulating Rio for the first ever official visit of a Nagaland chief minister to Myanmar, NPF Press & Media Bureau in a release expressed that Rio has “successfully brought the welfare of the Naga people to the forefront in the most positive manner.”

Stating that Speaker of the Myanmar Parliament had described the visit as historic and important, NPF said Rio’s meeting with the Speaker, Myanmar Union Minister for Border Affairs and the Chief Ministers of Mandalay and Sagaing have highlighted the plight of the Myanmar Nagas and at the same time his efforts will go a long way in enhancing bilat-

DGAR visits Assam Rifles’ training centre Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): Director General Assam Rifles (DGAR), Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, SM visited Assam Rifles Training Centre & School (ARTC&S), Dimapur on February 11 and 12, 2014. Brigadier K Narayanan, Commandant ARTC & S briefed the General about the training and administrative aspects of the Centre.

A press release stated that the General expressed his happiness on visiting the premier training establishment of the Assam Rifles. He exhorted all officers and men to uphold the rich traditions of the force and to maintain highest standards of professional conduct and moral uprightness. He emphasized on quality training of the men so they become brave soldiers and a better citizen of the nation. While addressing the troops, he also stressed on being upright and honest in every sphere of life and be the true ‘Sentinels of the North East’. He assured his full support towards improving the training infrastructure and expressed his desire to enhance the levels of IT training to recruits and all ranks in keeping with the present environment.

eral relations between India and Myanmar. “His efforts towards uplift of the Nagas in Myanmar, strengthening ties between the people of the two countries and promoting peace and goodwill have been rightly acknowledged by the leaders of Myanmar,” it added.

It also affirmed that the visit of the Nagaland chief minister will surely contribute towards confidence building measures and increase people-to-people-contact, which will ultimately improve development and human progress.

The party further acknowledged the aid package announced by the Prime Minister of India amounting to 25 million US Dollars, over a five year period, for the border regions of Myanmar, including the Naga inhabited regions. It expressed hope that this momentum will be carried forward and enhanced during the Prime Minister’s visit in March 2014.

Thursday 13 February 2014

MMA students receive certificates from Trinity College and Rock School Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): Mountain Music Academy (MMA) today held a felicitation program for students who were awarded certificates

by Trinity College, London, and Rock School, UK. A total of 70 students – in piano, guitar, violin, drums, and, vocal – were awarded certificates during the event held at Aiko Building, Bank Colony here.

Alobo Naga, Brand Ambassador of MMA and one of the vocal teachers of the school, chaired the event.

He encouraged the students to work hard to succeed in the music industry and sought support from parents in helping their children with homework and practices. At the same time, he urged the children to balance their music studies with their academic studies.

Yin Sareo, Administrator, MMA, also sought the support of parents and

Students of Mountain Music Academy pose with their certificates.

stated that MMA was committed to nurturing talents.

Cautioning that a career in the music industry was not an easy task, she advised the students to work hard if they wanted to succeed in the industry.

Mountain Music Academy, formerly Furtados School of Music, was founded in January 2010 and is a one stop studio for all music-related educational needs and is committed to offering quality music access for all levels of aptitude. MMA offers a

full schedule of private lessons and group classes in a variety of discipline including piano, guitar, violin, drums, vocal and dance.

The facility is fully air conditioned, sound proofed and equipped with state of the art teaching materials and equipments. The School also offers space for mini recitals and live jams.

MMA conducts exam for Trinity College, London, and Rock School, UK - two certifying institutes recognised worldwide. Trinity College is an international

exam board that has been providing assessments since 1877. Trinity exams are internationally recognised and fully accredited

by Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) and other education authorities in many countries around the world. While, Rock School is the leading accredited provider of rock and pop exams worldwide. Rock School qualification is vocational structured and designed to aid one’s career as a professional musician.

Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): Agriculture Production Commissioner & Principal Secretary (Agriculture), RB Thong paid an official visit to Dimapur district on February 6 to get an overview of the ongoing developmental activities implemented by agriculture and allied departments.

Accompanied by HODs of all the agri-allied departments, RB Thong had a brief

interaction with the beneficiaries of RKVY Project at Hovukhu Village regarding the benefits derived out of the Project and problems faced by them. He also formally inaugurated the Open Marketing Shed constructed under RKVY Project by the agriculture department.

Besides, RB Thong inspected sugarcane cultivation under SUBACS at Vihokhu Village; Boro (Winter)

Paddy at Vihokhu, Hovukhu and Zeheshe Villages; Muga Farm at Hovishe Village; Agriculture & Allied Departments convergence developmental activities at RKVY Project at Hovukhu Village; and Oilseed cultivation under Oilseeds Development Programme.

This was stated in a press release issued by Dimapur District Agriculture Officer S. Bendangtemsu.

Poultry Farmers’ Association (DPFA) and Dimapur Poultry Wholesale Traders’ Union (DPWTU) have resolved that, in order to velopment of our state in all streamline the poultry spheres. market for the benefit of local poultry farmers, the Dimapur Bangali Samaj President of Dimapur wholesale union will pick

up local products first before importing ready birds from outside Nagaland.

They also resolved that for better co-ordination in the marketing of ready birds and depending on the availability of ready birds in Nagaland, DPFA will issue an acknowledgement slip for importing ready birds from

outside Nagaland. According to a press release issued

by DPWTU general secretary and DPFA general secretary, the resolutions were adopted after series of meetings and thorough deliberations for the welfare of the local poultry farmers and the poultry industry in Nagaland.

Principal Secretary (Agri) visits Dimapur

Resolutions to benefit local poultry farmers

NPF Minority pays homage

Bangali Samaj, K K Paul, Advocate, has also offered sincere and heartfelt tribute to late Manik Bhattcharjee, social worker, educationist, public leader and a fine gentleman, who cared for his people and did yeoman service for the community.

A release appended by information secretary of the Samaj, Rajesh Choudhary stated that the president advised the members of Bangali Samaj in Dimapur to derive lessons from late Manik’s life and emulate his path in their interest of Dimapur in particular and Nagaland in general.

5

MEx FILE Hindi teachers’ meeting today Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): An emergency meeting of all Hindi teachers appointed in the batch of 2012-2013 under Dimapur district, who are yet to receive salary for the last two months, has been called on February 13, 12:00 pm at SDEO office, Half Nagarjan Dimapur. All affected teachers have been requested to attend the meeting.

Runguzumi Advisory Board informs

A fire broke out in a commercial building in the main town of Wokha around 9:30 pm on February 11. The fire completely razed the building which housed bakeries, crockery store, clothing stores, pharmacies and godowns. Seen here are people sifting through the debris Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): Dimapur while onlookers watched. (Photo: Rose Patton)

Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): Naga Peoples Front Minority Cell has paid homage to social worker late Manik Bhattacharjee, on his 6th death anniversary on February 13. A press release from NPF Minority Cell president Bishnu Bhattacharjee informed that late Bhattacharjee participated as ‘champion of regionalism’ and pioneered in developmental activities in and around Dimapur since statehood. “He was a flourishing socio-political leader and his contributions are benefiting our society and new generation,” the president stated. He advised that the younger generation should follow his path and contribute towards the de-

Dimapur

(From left) Parliamentary secretary for CAWD, R Tohanba, parliamentary secretary for Jails, Home Guards and VGs, Kejong Chang, Sao Chang College principal, Chubasangla and ADC Tuensang, Sushil Kuar Patel, at Sao Chang College. The parliamentary secretaries inspected the newly black-topped NH-155 stretch from 3rd NAP Junction to Sao Chang College in Tuensang district headquarters on Tuesday. The road repaired under BRGF 20012-13 was supervised by district administration and DRDA. (Morung Photo)

Kohima, February 12 (mexN): Office of the Runguzumi Advisory Board has informed all concerned that a multi-departmental seminar with all teachers, students, parents, village functionaries, and Church leaders will be held at Runguzu Nasa and Runguzu villages of Chozuba area (Phek district) on February 13 and 14 respectively, with elders and officers from Kohima and Dimapur as resource persons. The programme will start at 10:00 am on both days. Educational development will be the main focus. It is mandatory for all concerned to attend, stated a press release issued by the board vice president Vekho Vero and it general secretary Veta Nienu.

GSUK election on Feb 15

Kohima, February 12 (mexN): All the Gorkhas of Kohima district are informed that the selection/election of the new executives of Gorkha Students’ Union Kohima (GSUK) for the tenure 2014-2016 will be held on February 15, 3:00 PM at GPPK hall. In this regard, Chief Election Officer Prem Kumar Thapa has requested all concerned to attend the same without fail.

ZBN expresses shock

Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland (ZBN) has expressed shock at the sudden demise of Izierangbe, also known as I. Jeme, on February 5 at Lodiram NC Hills, Assam. A condolence message issued by the Baudi general secretary, Meijiang Gonmei remembered the deceased as a prominent Zeliangrong elder and charismatic Naga leader from Assam, who was one of the pioneers of Zeme Council Assam, Zeliangrong Baudi Assam, Co-convenor of Zeliangrong People Convention in 1980’s. He also contested in the general election from Assam Haflong A/C in the 90’s, it informed. Acknowledging his selfless sacrifices and contribution, particularly to the Zeliangrong community and the people of Haflong town at large, ZBN conveyed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family.

Tungjoy unions condemn February 4 killing

Kohima, February 12 (mexN): The Tungjoy Unions, comprising of Tungjoy village authority council, Kathikho-Karong Tungjoy union and Rikhumai Taphao Tungjoy union Senapati town has vehemently condemned the abduction and killing of Akha Shepou of Tungjoy village on February 4 at Senapati town reportedly by NSCN (IM). The unions expressed “deep grief and anguish for such inhuman torture and killing of innocent citizen for petty reason” and appealed to all the right thinking citizens to condemn such barbaric act. The Union also urged the authority concerned to award severe punishment to the culprits as per the law of the land. The union stated killing such innocent person in the Naga society will not solve the aspiration of the Nagas, rather it will create more enmity and division amongst the Nagas, according to the press release issued by Th. David chairman, Tungjoy village authority council.

JKCV condemns

Dimapur, February 12 (mexN): The Jamir Kidong (Clan) of Changki Village (JKCV) has vehemently condemned the “inhuman and despicable act of Chubasunep, who had set fire on Temsusenla Jamir on January 30 last.” Temsusenla Jamir succumbed to the burn injuries on February 9. A press release issued by the president of JKCV, Aoningsang Jamir and general secretary, D Wati Jamir said that the victim was lured away from her parents’ home on January 19 last. Despite suffering third degree burns all over her body, she was denied any medical aid and rather kept confined inside the boy’s house, the press release alleged. Condemning the act, JKCV appealed to the authority concerned to deliver justice at the earliest. Otherwise, it cautioned, “we will not remain silent but exercise our own traditional form of justice delivery.”

Public SPace

The Gathering Clouds Of Lok Sabha Election In Nagaland ANPSA condemns & condoles

A

Thepfulhouvi Solo

t normal times, a Chief Minister vacating his or her Seat in the State for Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha Seat in the Centre appears an example of good riddance of bad rubbish by the Party. It is better political wisdom to sometimes vacate the Rajya or Lokh Sabha Seat for the well cushioned powerful Seat of the Chief Minister and not the other way. The Chief Minister of Nagaland vacating the Chief Minister’s Seat for a Lok Sabha Seat appears odd and puzzling. He must of course have his reasons more than we ordinary mortals can fathom.

Most recently, such a pattern happened to perhaps a possible Prime Minister of India being stowed away in the glittering Chamber of the President of the Democratic Republic of India. Chief Ministers usually prefer the spacious and thickly cushioned Seat of the State more than the cramped wooden benches of the Parliament, Parliamentarians vacating Seat at Delhi, for the Number One Seat in the State has recently happened in Bengal and that is the normal direction political animals move.

The question Nagaland wonders is: Will Neiphiu Rio be able to serve Nagaland better from the centre? In the State, he is the most powerful person and can do almost whatever he likes: in the Centre –if he ever gets the crumbs that fall from the great Indian cut-throat political Table- it will be only a dry piece of local bread without any butter. Here in the State, he is the Greatest Prophet, but in the Centre, he will be smaller than the least Prophets.

Is the Chief Minister of Nagaland running way from the Political and Economic Mess of the last many years? Or the CM is running after his own personal Interests? This is an unpalatable ugly question but is very important question to all politicians who ostensibly claim to work for the State as if they have no other personal Interests.

The Chief Minister is the best adviser to himself and by the look of things, he has advised himself very proficiently for the last many moons in the State. And if wealth is any measurement of the worth of a person in Politics, the Chief Minister has steered himself very adroitly in the widening Gap between the Haves and the Have-nots in poverty rich

Nagaland.

My hunch is that the Nagaland Cow has grown old and now its milk drying up; so the CM is searching for a Jersey Cow somewhere which would give 32kg of Milk per day.

Sometime back, someone could have calculatedly and wisely leaked the Chief Minister’s desire for the Lok Sabha Seat to the New Media and his Party is reported to have dutifully shed the Crocodile’s tear.

They dutifully expressed their undiminishing love for the CM and claimed they do not like to loose him from the State.

When this Writer read those News, he never believed they were expressions of Reality; the Writer expected the Party men would make a U-turn when the proper time comes and would strongly support the CM for the journey, ostensibly in the interest of the State.

That situation seemed to have arrived to Nagaland now and everybody seems to enthusiastically support Neiphiu Rio in his decision!

The majority of Nagas is nice gullible people and follows the Shepherd unquestioningly. I sometimes feel angry with God why he has made so many docile unreasoning obedient poli-

tician Disciples but very few doubting Thomas’s; however, I fear I may be Irreverent to God I fondly believe, and so I simply stopped at that.

Nagaland’s young Chief Minister is gifted with ability to manage his Cabinet in such obedience and peace. The Sea of Galilee is said to sometimes experience sudden unpredictable Storm in the afternoon and People thought there would be storm in the political sea of Galilee at the time of Portfolio allotment after the over-doze of NPF success in the last Nagaland Assembly Election; the CM silenced the evening Wind in the political Sea of Galilee in Nagaland with consummate ease; he is considerably big hearted sometimes and his forbearance is admirable, he seems to have an innate acumen for Showmanship; I even thought he was fervent for the Lord.

But a Christian Chief Minister of so-call Christian State of Nagaland cuddling with the Hindu Rightist Party of BJP questions his principles for the Lord. The Chief Minister seems to be short in principles and long in ad-hoc Issues, seemingly selfish. The decision to allow Manipur Students to appear without any restrictions

in the Nagaland HSLC Exam against the decision of the both the States was a show of rash decision; the attempt to buy the Manipur Rongmei Tribesmen living in Nagaland at the Cost of his own aboriginal Tribesmen of Nagaland; the inability to create Friendliness with the neighboring States, the unwise pampering of NGOs with Members from Outside the State; his consideration to keep certain Armed Naga Nationalist Group at improper distance, are some of Neiphiu Rio’s memorable mistakes.

As a Government Officer, the Writer has not seen much benefit to Nagaland for having joined the Northeast Council.

Nagaland refused to join the NEC during Vizol’s time; Nagaland was put into the NEC during the President Rule against Nagaland’s wishes. Today Rio has become the Convener of Lip Service Regional Parties of the Northeast. Nagaland must co-operate with all the neighboring States but it must remain independently Nagaland: The Political Case of Nagaland is different from that of any other States of India, even of the Northeast States. Nagaland must remain pure of its political position.

T

o Come to learn about the plight of students who didn’t get their admit card for HLSC exam was heart breaking, what will happen to their future? Many of whom if not all must have prepared seriously and would have looked for a bright future. ANPSA condemns those responsible for such gross negligence and it condoles with these students who have been victimized for no fault of theirs. Of course ANPSA goes along with those organizations who have come forward to resolve their crises.

A part- reflection makes one wonder how did this come about? When in class VIII or IX, the students, or guardian / parents did not bother to check with the authorities whether everything was on correct line for the finals. Did the headmaster not bother to request another registered school to accept his candidates? Did the NBSE somehow warn such unrecognized runinstitute. The ANPSA couldn’t involve more with Blooming Buds Montessori School, as its primary role is with the registered member schools only.

Perhaps this incident should be an eye-opener for students, parents, and authorities.

For students, because they are the first and formost

stake-holders. When a student reaches Cl-IX he must know through his counterparts in other schools what are the procedure to stake claim to write the board exam after one year.

For parents, because they admit their wards in schools, they must find out whether the school is recognized or not; whether the school will pull through the finals without any hitch and that it ensures a good percentage of success.

The authorities of the school should not play with the lives of students. The bible says, “If anyone misleads a little one, a milestone should be tied round his neck and thrown into the sea.”

Much - much before the board exam, we should be in touch with the educational board.

Finally, if the NBSE could publish from time to time the list of recognized schools for the sake of public awareness, such misguidance of misgivings could be minimized.

What has happened has happened. Could the NBSE sympathetically consider this case and provide way and means so that the unfortunate students can write their exams at a later date and thus prevent the loss of a full academic year.

Andrew Ahoto (President ANPSA)

The Morung Express is introducing “Public Space” as part of our intention to provide deliberate space for the opinions of the people to be expressed and heard through this newspaper. Nonetheless, The Morung Express points out that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.

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IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express THursDAy 13 FEbruAry 2014 vol. IX IssuE 41

by Aheli Moitra

‘without problems or pride’

L

ove’s tail was bit off in 1943. Ayn Rand published her Fountainhead, and postulated the tenets of individualism—a theory she called objectivism. The battle for love, she made clear through her hero Howard Roark, is never selfless. So her protagonists never help each other find or build their love—they focus on building themselves, their own empires instead.

Rand consistently wrote about the selfishness of love (and everything else, even before 1943). She argued, through repetition not argument, that altruism does not exist. That, human beings supporting each other is an exercise in hopelessness.

In politics, for Rand, people ought to give themselves up bodyand-soul to anyone more heroic than them (she is known to have raped young men), and that the Native Americans deserved to be stripped of their land as they failed to create a “productive capitalist society.” Such was the shortfall of her vision—and no one suffered its fallacy more than her.

She fell in love, and when things did not fall in place based on a “logical argument” of her supremacy, she slapped and cursed her lover. She felt pain—why was this man only thinking of himself; in finding himself his own sort of lover over her? The man she fell in love with was her ardent disciple and, needless to state, had engineered his life only for himself. Some of the most powerful people in the United States of America, till date, are followers of Randian ethics.

Love, however, at the core of political organisation, has altruism as its core. It is why it gives us wings, but it also makes us give those wings away to, or make wings for, the people we love. Even with warships outside our door, love seeps in and restores faith in being human beings. For it is us who have, through such things as Christianity (“love thy neighbor as thyself”) or Socialism (“from each according to his ability, to each according to his need”), have taught each other to share the good things in life. When humans have found themselves in the worst end of the social or political pyramid, without education or food, love indeed has kept them hopeful and alive.

It is why more lovers around the world find more meaning in Pablo Neruda, “…I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you directly without problems or pride…” Love’s tail might have been bitten off, but it has served to be an endless twirl in which the human soul has found drifting peace.

Love letters, this year, may be directed to moitramail@yahoo.com

lEfT wiNg |

Anjuri Nayar IANS

Woman should have an identity beyond her looks

B

e it her flawless skin or well worked-out body, Katrina Kaif has always been known for her beauty. But the actress feels "there is more to beauty than just the physical appearance". "I feel it is important not to get overly obsessed and overly carried away with just the physical aspect. There is more to beauty than just the physical appearance. You are also a complete person and a woman should have an identity beyond just the way she looks," Katrina told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

Media appearances and film shoots are regular in the actress' life, which require her to look perfect at all times.

This can be "tough", said Katrina. "It is tough in a way. You are a human being at the end of the day and everyone has his or her good days and bad days," she said.

Hair and make-up can be challenging for the actress, but the people who she works with often make the "time consuming" job into fun. "I think the hardest thing is the hours spent in hair and make-up every day. It is time-consuming, but it can be fun when you are working with a new team," said the 30-year-old.

She also says that keeping skin healthy and hair shiny is a tough job. You have to "keep at it", says the actress, even doling out tips for this purpose. "Start with a good diet and healthy food.

This is important for the body. You need to see that the products that you use are of the best quality...you have to make sure you are protecting your skin with a sun screen, using good shampoo and conditioner on your hair because that is something that we don't take seriously," said Katrina, who recently launched hair care range "6 Oil Nourish Hair care" by beauty brand L'Oréal Paris.

The five must-haves in her daily routine are also equally practical and easy to follow. "Sun block, lip balm, a good shampoo and conditioner and a leave-in serum after you wash your hair, to apply," she said.

For someone, who is often seen in formal gowns and extravagant saris at public events, Katrina's personal style statement is simple. "It is very casual, simple... basic jeans and t-shirt, maybe summer dresses...I am very simple outside of my work," she said and added that her public appearance is an "extension" of how she really is. "I think that is an extension of me. I don't think I go overboard when I go out or dress up," she said.

On the movie front, the actress was last seen in "Dhoom 3", which did extremely well at the box office. Katrina played a gymnast in the action drama. "For me every film is special. In 'Dhoom', whether it was the acrobats or songs, they interested me at that time," she said.

She added: "The kind of roles which I am doing is what I am happy with...you go through different phases where you are looking for different things."

S O U N D BITE

I

n the last 20 minutes they put us under pressure and they scored a goal as a consequence. Maybe they deserved that point.

A point is a point and at the end of the season we will see," ... "I think the game for 60 minutes was completely in our hands, West Brom didn't put one foot in our box. We couldn't kill the game."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Johann Hari Le Monde diplomatique

Uruguay surrenders to win

W

hen I travelled across Mexico, pictures of the missing were everywhere in the streets, like dystopian corporate advertising. Human Rights Watch says that more than 60,000 people have died in the drug war launched in 2006 by former president Felipe Calderón; the US pours money and arms into Mexico to suppress the drug trade, while rival drug gangs battle for control of supply routes.

As Charles Bowden wrote, there is a war on drugs, and there is a war for drugs. Both are deadly.

Until recently, there was a despairing sense that the violence could not be stopped, only moved on. But over the past two years, Latin American leaders such as Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos have begun to demand a different course, which they claim will end this violence. José Mujica of Uruguay has taken the first step, and in 2013 became the first leader anywhere to legalise the production and sale of a banned drug.

Mujica was already unusual. He was a Tupamaro guerrilla in the 1980s, imprisoned at the bottom of a well for two and a half years. After being elected president in 2009, he refused to live in the presidential palace, preferring his tiny shack in a downmarket area of Montevideo, and going to many meetings by bus. He gives away 87% of his income to the poor.

In July 2013 the coalition he heads passed a law permitting the growing of marijuana within the country and its sale to adults. They will be allowed to purchase up to 40g a month from a pharmacy or grow six marijuana plants per household.

This is the first definitive break from UN treaties prohibiting cannabis.

Mujica told me that there had been repressive policies on drugs for more than a hundred years, but their failure had finally become apparent.

Uruguay’s defence secretary, Eleutorio Huidobro — another ex-Tupamaro (who also survived imprisonment in a well) — explained why his country took this step. The administration realised that “if we don’t do this now, in a matter of time what happened in Mexico [will happen here].

We’re going to be in big trouble.” Uruguay is on a drug supply route, with cocaine from Bolivia and marijuana from Paraguay being smuggled through to western Europe. A deputy from Mujica’s Movement of Popular Participation (MPP), Sebastián Sabini, says a third of the country’s homicides are related to the drug trade.

The remedy is worse than the illness Huidobro explained that drug prohibition created narcotrafficking, and the violence that followed: “By not legalising marijuana, what you do is transfer all that money to criminals, and make the drug dealers into a big institution with power.” In a criminalised economy, disputes cannot be settled through the courts, only by violence and terror. As the economist Milton Friedman pointed out, this is why alcohol prohibition gave the world Al Capone and the St Valentine’s Day massacre, and drug prohibition produced the Zetas gang and the massacres in northern Mexico. Huidobro said: “The US drug war causes more harm than marijuana itself. Many more deaths. Much more destabilisation. This is worse for the world in general than any drug. The remedy is worse than the illness.”

The Mujica administration believes the eradication of the drug trade is a utopian fantasy. It regards the UN slogan — “A Drug-Free World — We Can Do It!” — as absurd. The desire to get intoxicated is a human instinct. Mujica’s chief of staff, Diego Cánepa, says there has never been a society that didn’t seek out chemical alteration.

The only effect of massive military suppression is to move the trade a few hundred miles: “the balloon effect” (push down on the air in a balloon, it pops up elsewhere). Colombian pro-

A

spate of sudden infant deaths following vaccination in India has prompted leading paediatricians to call for stronger regulatory mechanisms to evaluate new vaccines for safety and efficacy before their acceptance into the national immunisation programme.

According to data obtained from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, over the last one year 54 babies are recorded to have died soon after receiving the newly introduced “pentavalent” vaccine that is designed to prevent infection by five diseasecausing microbes.

Rolled out gradually in different Indian states since December 2012, the pentavalent vaccine is a combination which seeks to confer immunity against Haemophilius influenzae type B and Hepatitis B, in addition to the protection afforded by the traditional trivalent vaccine against Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT).

“Going by the ministry’s figures, an average of one death has occurred for every 4,000 babies vaccinated with pentavalents,” says Dr. Jacob Puliyel, who heads paediatrics at the St. Stephen’s Hospital here. “If the birth cohort in India of 25 million is vaccinated with pentavalents, 6,250 babies will die each year from adverse effects following immunisation (AEFI).

“The huge cost in terms of lives lost from AEFI on being given the combined pentavalent vaccine is difficult to justify,” Puliyel tells IPS, adding that the time-honoured DPT vaccine had a far better record for safety.

Given that the reporting of AEFI in many Indian states is unreliable,

José Mujica has attempted to change the premises and conditions of the drugs wars through the legalisation of marijuana.

Although even the people of Uruguay don’t really back their president’s initial reform, at least it’s a start duction moves to Bolivia; Caribbean supply lines flow through northern Mexico. Given this reality, Mujica concluded that the only sensible solution was to take this enormous market back from armed gangsters, and regulate it. Legalising alcohol in the US ended speakeasies and alcohol dealers; drug reformers point out Budweiser does not try to murder people who work for Guinness.

Legalising marijuana — and marketing it in licensed outlets — will mostly end the participation of criminals. The sales can be taxed, with the proceeds building drug treatment facilities and high quality drug education programmes.

The new Latin American legalisers are not arguing that marijuana use is positive, or should be encouraged — Mujica has called drug users nabos, “dickheads”. They say that it is no worse than drinking alcohol and that we have to find a sensible way to live with it.

Beneficial for teenagers The Uruguayan reformers were not aware that they were challenging the prohibitionists. For years, people have been told legalisation means a free-forall, where anyone, including children, can get drugs anywhere. But the Uruguayans argue we have anarchy now — unknown gangsters sell drugs of unknown quality to unknown customers. The reform is a way of regaining control of the market and regulating it for the first time.

They argue this will have a good effect on teenagers. There is substantial evidence that cannabis use among teens can permanently lower their IQ, and all sides agree ending teen use is a priority. Yet many American teens find it easier to get hold of marijuana than alcohol because no drug dealer asks for an ID. Legal, licensed drug retailers will have to see an ID, or lose their licenses.

Worldwide, legislators and police privately recognise the advantages of legalisation. What was different in Uruguay, and why didn’t fear of the US (See A globalised business), or fear of public opinion, stop reform? Several factors came together. There was an especially vigorous marijuana reform movement, spurred by injustices.

In April 2011 a teacher from the military academy, Alicia Garcia, 66, was arrested for growing a few marijuana plants, and faced a potential pris-

on sentence of 20 months for commercial production. A movement rose around her, and the younger parliamentarians in Mujica’s party began to champion reform. A major factor in their success was the popularity and determination of the president, whose long incarceration had no doubt equipped him to resist pressures both internal and external.

Meanwhile, the ability of the US to lecture the world on this policy was collapsing from within as, in 2013, the states of Colorado and Washington adopted a bill approved by referendum to fully legalise the use, commercial production and sale of marijuana.

Ordinary Uruguayans unconvinced Mujica and his allies have not yet succeeded in persuading the wider population of their case.

Although there has been a small shift in opinion, some 60% of Uruguayans still oppose the moves.

Opposition deputy Veronica Alonzo said: “As soon as you legalise ... people will be using more.”

Evidence suggests this is not correct. Since 1976 the Netherlands has allowed marijuana-selling coffee shops. (To remain within the UN treaties, the Dutch didn’t technically legalise: they just announced the police would not prosecute the shops.) About 5% of Dutch citizens smoked cannabis over the past month, against 6.3% in the US and 7% on average in the EU. This suggests that the fears are wrong.

The second worry is the gateway effect, that more people will go on from marijuana to harder drugs, especially “pasta base”, a crack-like derivative of cocaine used by a very small but visible minority in Uruguay. Dr Raquel Peyraube, the leading drug treatment specialist in Uruguay, says marijuana users are, under prohibition, subject to the opposite process, which she calls the gondola effect: illegal marijuana is sold by a dealer who will almost always sell other drugs. “You know how at the supermarket you buy things you don’t even need.” Dealers offer marijuana users cocaine and other drugs cheaply. Recent research from George Soros’s Open Society Foundations backs this up: the Netherlands have the fewest problem drug users in Europe, in part because they have separated out marijuana.

Dr Peyraube debunks the claim that legalisation will lead to a rise in schizophrenia, saying that if marijuana caused schizophrenia, the rate of the illness would have risen across society over the past few decades, since marijuana use has grown. Yet the rate has held steady. It is more likely that people developing schizophrenia are drawn to cannabis, to try to calm down.

Some people in the Uruguayan administration are privately receptive to a more substantial critique of these reforms: marijuana is only a part of the trade in prohibited drugs, and not the largest. Legalising it will shrink the black market significantly, but leave the most profitable parts intact. To cripple the cartels, the market in other drugs will have to be legally controlled, by regulated sale for ecstasy or cocaine, and by medical prescription for heroin, as has been successfully piloted in Switzerland.

Sabini, the main champion of the current legalisation, agrees: “It may take some time — it’s not going to happen now,” but “we’ll be able to bring this same cause to the public when it comes to other drugs.” Mujica’s most likely successor as president has already publicly proposed to legalise cocaine.

The alternative is fighting a war everybody knows, as Huidobro put it, is “lost already. Totally lost.” While they wait for the politicians to admit this, people such as Emma Veleta from Mexico, who lost eight family members, pay the price. David Simon, creator of the television series The Wire, in which drugs are an alternative economy and society in the US, has warned that the US seems willing to fight the drug war “to the last Mexican”.

Doctors Resist Deadly Vaccine ranjit Devraj Inter Press Service

paediatricians believe that many more deaths may have occurred than recorded, and recommend a ban on the use of pentavalent vaccines until there is a thorough investigation of the policy change that allowed their entry into India.

In September 2013 Dr. Yogesh Jain, former assistant professor of paediatrics at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and currently expert at India’s Planning Commission on developing universal health, filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on pentavalent vaccines.

Jain’s lawyers argued at preliminary hearings that the “five-in-one” vaccine is banned in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Japan as also in the developing countries Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, following infant deaths.

Puliyel says that pentavalents gained entry into India as the government chose to bypass the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) that was set up in 2001 to advise on the introduction of new vaccines. “NTAGI instructions for evaluation were not done after the first year.”

In most countries vaccines are introduced into the national pro-

gramme after an expert committee has studied the burden of the disease, the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and affordability. If these are satisfactory the vaccine may be considered for inclusion in the routine immunisation schedule.

“Of late, the World Health Organisation has been recommending vaccines that are accepted without regard to local cost effectiveness,” says Puliyel.

“Organisations like the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) have also been pushing new vaccines into India and other developing countries by providing substantial donor grants at the introductory stage.”

Typically, according to Puliyel, once a vaccine gains entry into the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), funding is withdrawn and the government finds itself saddled with the full costs of supporting a vaccine of doubtful value and, in some cases, dangerous.

In India, until recently, when a vaccine was proposed to be introduced into the UIP, a subcommittee of the NTAGI would review the available literature and consult experts to make an informed decision. In the interests of transparency the minutes of the meetings and recommendations would be uploaded onto the ministry’s website.

wRiTE-wiNg

In 2013, an Immunisation Technical Support Unit funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was set up to “help” NTAGI in its work, but a new confidentiality clause was inserted to protect the “proprietary” interests of commercial, academic and research institutions.

“In fact, the confidentiality clause is not limited to proprietary matters and NTAGI members are barred from divulging discussions, opinions or decisions for 10 years after leaving the committee that decides on the new vaccine,” Puliyel says.

“Vaccines being introduced in the UIP must be cost effective and look at the disease pattern and load in the country, rather than ape models from other countries,” says Sumbul Warsi, leading city paediatrician and medical director of the well-known Holy Family Hospital.

“The NTAGI must be a totally independent body which is capable of resisting pressures from outside and be transparent,” she tells IPS. “It seems that of late there has been a lot of interference in the process leading up to the introduction of vaccines.”

Puliyel says the government must publish information about a vaccine under consideration for inclusion in vaccination schedules. Stakeholders, including patient groups, health professionals, academic institutions, vaccine companies and organisations like the WHO and GAVI can then register their interest.

Transparent processes would gain the confidence of the public, which is vital in any mass immunisation programme, Puliyel says.

Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The Morung Express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: morung@gmail.com All letters (including those via email) should have the full name and Postal address of the sender.

Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

7

Thursday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

13 February 2014

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

Ten Things I've Learned About Trauma Catherine Woodiwiss

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least two types of people: the crisis team — those friends who can drop everything and jump into the fray by your side, and the reconstruction crew — those whose calm, steady care will help nudge you out the door into regaining your footing in the world. In my experience, it is extremely rare for any individual to be both a firefighter and a builder. This is one reason why trauma is a lonely experience. Even if you share suffering with others, no one else will be able to fully walk the road with you the whole way.

A hard lesson of trauma is learning to forgive and love your partner, best friend, or family even when they fail at one of these roles. Conversely, one of the deepest joys is finding both kinds of companions beside you on the journey.

Sojourners

wasn’t really expecting painful things to happen to me.

I knew that pain was a part of life, but — thanks in part to a peculiar blend of “God-has-aplan” Southern roots, a suburban “Midwestern nice” upbringing, and a higher education in New England stoicism — I managed to skate by for quite some time without having to experience it.

After a handful of traumas in the last five years, things look different now. Trauma upends everything we took for granted, including things we didn’t know we took for granted. And many of these realities I wish I’d known when I first encountered them.

So, while the work of life and healing continues, here are ten things I’ve learned about trauma along the 5. Grieving is social, and so is healing For as private a pain as trauma is, for all the healway: ing that time and self-work will bring, we are wired for contact. Just as relationships can hurt us most 1. Trauma permanently changes us This is the big, scary truth about trauma: there deeply, it is only through relationship that we can be is no such thing as “getting over it.” The five stages most fully healed.

It’s not easy to know what this looks like — can I of grief model marks universal stages in learning to accept loss, but the reality is in fact much bigger: a major life disruption leaves a new normal in its wake. There is no “back to the old me.” You are different now, full stop.

This is not a wholly negative thing. Healing from trauma can also mean finding new strength and joy. The goal of healing is not a papering-over of changes in an effort to preserve or present things as normal. It is to acknowledge and wear your new life — warts, wisdom, and all — with courage.

2. Presence is always better than distance There is a curious illusion that in times of crisis people “need space.” I don’t know where this assumption originated, but in my experience it is almost always false. Trauma is a disfiguring, lonely time even when surrounded in love; to suffer through trauma alone is unbearable. Do not assume others are reaching out, showing up, or covering all the bases.

It is a much lighter burden to say, “Thanks for your love, but please go away,” than to say, “I was hurting and no one cared for me.” If someone says they need space, respect that. Otherwise, err on the side of presence.

trust casual acquaintances with my hurt? If my family is the source of trauma, can they also be the source of healing? How long until this friend walks away?

Does communal prayer help or trivialize?

Seeking out shelter in one another requires tremendous courage, but it is a matter of life or paralysis. One way to start is to practice giving shelter to others.

6. Do not offer platitudes or comparisons. Do not, do not, do not “I’m so sorry you lost your son, we lost our dog last year … ” “At least it’s not as bad as … ” “You’ll be stronger when this is over.” “God works in all things for good!”

When a loved one is suffering, we want to comfort them. We offer assurances like the ones above when we don’t know what else to say. But from the inside, these often sting as clueless, careless, or just 4. Surviving trauma takes “firefighters” plain false. and “builders.” Very few people are both Trauma is terrible. What we need in the afterThis is a tough one. In times of crisis, we want math is a friend who can swallow her own discomour family, partner, or dearest friends to be ev- fort and fear, sit beside us, and just let it be terrible erything for us. But surviving trauma requires at for a while.

3. Healing is seasonal, not linear It is true that healing happens with time. But in the recovery wilderness, emotional healing looks less like a line and more like a wobbly figure-8.

It’s perfectly common to get stuck in one stage for months, only to jump to another end entirely … only to find yourself back in the same old mud again next year.

Recovery lasts a long, long time. Expect seasons.

I

t was a joy to find the road free from cars. One could walk with dignity and freedom. I experienced this on Republic Day on B.J Road on the sea front at Bandra in Mumbai after the school students’ parade.

Thousands and thousands of children and their parents returning from the parade seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the freedom from cars. The whole road of some 2 km was closed to motor cars. There was not a single policeman around and there was no need for the cops. There was perfect peace and human bonding.

There were people from different communities including a large number of Muslim women, some wearing the burkha. There was no littering of any kind which was something considering the huge debris left behind after the Marathon runs and other public functions.

This was organized by people themselves and it was not a State function.

The residents of the area voluntarily agreed not to take out their cars. They were so unlike the Marine Drive residents who claim special privileges.

Mumbai’s traffic police joint commissioner Vivek Phansalkar in a special appearance on television had said sorry to the residents of south Mumbai for the inconvenience caused by the State Republic day parade at Marine Drive and not at Shivaji Park. Marine Drive residents should have the least reason to complain for any curbs on their cars as they can easily commute by train with the Churchgate station right behind them and a good bus service nearby.

True democracy prevailed at the Bandra parade and after. There was no display of the might of the military. The Air Force and the Navy had their presence but in a very unobtrusive way, to give information to youngsters about some aspects of their functioning. In the past cars have kept off roads during Mumbai bandh. But there was not much life on roads, though cars were not there. January 26 in Bandra was unusual for the vibrant street life in the absence of cars.

Rahul Gandhi has started talking these days of empowering people. Had he been really serious he would have thought about making at least some streets car- free on some days. It does

7. Allow those suffering to tell their own stories Of course, someone who has suffered trauma may say, “This made me stronger,” or “I’m lucky it’s only (x) and not (z).” That is their prerogative. There is an enormous gulf between having someone else thrust his unsolicited or misapplied silver linings onto you, and discovering hope for one’s self. The story may ultimately sound very much like “God works in all things for good,” but there will be a galaxy of disfigurement and longing and disorientation in that confession. Give the person struggling through trauma the dignity of discovering and owning for himself where, and if, hope endures.

8. Love shows up in unexpected ways This is a mystifying pattern after trauma, particularly for those in broad community: some nearstrangers reach out, some close friends fumble to express care. It’s natural for us to weight expressions of love differently: a Hallmark card, while unsatisfying if received from a dear friend, can be deeply touching coming from an old acquaintance.

Ultimately every gesture of love, regardless of the sender, becomes a step along the way to healing. If there are beatitudes for trauma, I’d say the first is, “Blessed are those who give love to anyone in times of hurt, regardless of how recently they’ve talked or awkwardly reconnected or visited cross-country or ignored each other on the metro.” It may not look like what you’d request or expect, but there will be days when surprise love will be the sweetest.

9. Whatever doesn’t kill you…

In 2011, after a publically humiliating year, comedian Conan O’Brien gave students at Dartmouth College the following warning: "Nietzsche famously said, 'Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.' … What he failed to stress is that it almost kills you.”

Odd things show up after a serious loss and creep into every corner of life: insatiable anxiety in places that used to bring you joy, detachment or frustration towards your closest companions, a deep distrust of love or presence or vulnerability.

There will be days when you feel like a quivering, cowardly shell of yourself, when despair yawns as a terrible chasm, when fear paralyzes any chance for pleasure. This is just a fight that has to be won, over and over and over again.

10. … Doesn’t kill you Living through trauma may teach you resilience.

It may help sustain you and others in times of crisis down the road. It may prompt humility. It may make for deeper seasons of joy. It may even make you stronger.

It also may not.

In the end, the hope of life after trauma is simply that you have life after trauma. The days, in their weird and varied richness, go on. So will you.

The Joy Of Walking On a road Without Cars Vidyadhar date Countercurrents.org

not cost anything, on the contrary it saves money on fuel, reduces congestion, improves air quality and health.

This is being done in several Western countries. Democracy has to become manifest on the streets first, ordinary people have to be treated as equals with respect. But our rules are not interested in such good global practices, such world class facilities for ordinary people. They want world class for themselves while depriving common people of basic dignity. Our ruling class believes in reinforcing hierarchy, class inequalities and in humiliating people. The recent circular providing for more perks for members of Parliament at airports and in flights is a pointer.

Shashi Tharoor’s description of ordinary air travelers as cattle class clearly shows how elitist is the thinking in the ruling circles is, how much contempt they have for common people. How much contempt they must be having for users of public transport and for pedestrians. The result is that Delhi now has the dirtiest air in the world among all the cities because of the unchecked motorization taking place in total contempt of the national urban transport policy. The government’s policies on urban transport have been completely lop-sided. How short sighted the government is can be seen from the Bharat Nirman advertisements which boast about flyovers and airports. These are false symbols of progress considering the all-round failure on other fronts.

Far from being empowered, people are being disempowered on roads and humiliated by a traffic system that prioritises motor vehicles over pedestrians. People should be able to cross safely at a traffic junction at least outside Mantralaya and the Counci Hall, the legislative Vidhan Bhavan. Democracy should prevail at least here. It does not.

It is becoming more and more unsafe to walk here even when the signal is green.

The motoring class is very vociferous about its freedom . It is true that there is a lot of corruption at different levels in vehicular toll collection. But the point is motorists do not want to pay for the huge facilities they enjoy at the cost of the society. The statewide vandalism of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena under the directive of its leader Raj Thackeray against the toll booths is an expression of the assertion of the motoring class to move without restriction. Imagine how the State would have reacted if pedestrians had indulged in such violence to protest against the brutal treatment being given to them all over the country. The State has been capitulating before the violence and threats of the Shiv Sena for the last 30 years and of the MNS in the last few years.

It is seldom realized that pedestrians have to pay some kind of a toll in Mumbai. There are few road links between the eastern and western parts of the city and citizens have to use railway bridges and buy a ticket just to cross the bridge even when they do not want to travel by train.

Besides, the whole motorization model adopted by the elite has failed miserably and only worsened traffic problems. The much trumpeted Nano car of theTatas has proved to be a worse disaster than was thought earlier. The latest crash test results carried out on this and other Indian cars in England have shown how unsafe they are. The nose of the Nano car folded like a cardboard box during one such test. Imagine, the CPM fatally championing the cause of this car and the BJP government in Gujarat giving it subsidy of hundreds of crores of rupees. The Indian aviation safety ranking is also downgraded. This shows the complete defeat of the elitist transport and traffic policies of the Indian elite.

Catherine Woodiwiss is Associate Web Editor at Sojourners. This piece originally appeared in Catapult magazine's January issue, Ten Things.

Interstingly, Mr Ratan Tata has made some honest observations in a moment when he is not driven by the profit motive and car obsession. He said people want to travel by car but we talk our hearts out when we are walking. If you want to walk fast, walk alone, if you want to walk far, walk together. A good celebration of walking coming from a man whose image is so tied to the automobile.

One of the biggest threats posed by the automobile is to children and this is not only on roads. Cars have deprived children of space to play in the compounds of their buildings. And even playgrounds are not safe now. On January 31 I saw cars driving through the playground of St. Andrew’s school in Bandra when little children were playing football. The motorists going to the St Andrew’s auditorium invaded the ground as the regular access road was being repaired. Here car parking is free and this further encourages the use of motor vehicles which can be easily curbed if people use taxies. But this is below the dignity of the arrogant class which wants to flaunt all their possessions while it lives a culturally bankrupt life.

So many car trips in Mumbai can be easily reduced with better planning.

Mumbai’s rich seem to lack any sense of planning even when it comes to their own needs. I notice that not a single decent new school has come up in the whole of the island city in the last few years. The result is that all the rich who are now displacing the poor in the island city are driving a long distance to send children to schools in the suburbs.

The rich have grabbed hundreds of acres of mill land for luxury housing and commerce completely forgetting about the cultural and educational needs.

In the suburbs, where much more land was available, few decent theatre auditoriums or auditoria have come up with the result all the elite schools there organize their annual cultural programmes far away in St. Andrew’s auditorium in Bandra. So hundreds of cars make totally avoidable trips besides causing terrible congestion and traffic safety problems around the auditorium.

Vidyadhar Date is a senior journalist and author of the book Traffic in the Era of Climate Change.

Walking, Cycling, Public Transport need priority

Historic failures haunt Moro peace deal richard heydarian

A

Inter-Press Service

fter two years of intensive negotiations, the Philippine government and the country's largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), have signed a final peace agreement which paves the way for a lasting resolution of one of the world's longest-running intra-state conflicts.

The January 25 agreement stipulates among other things the disarmament and eventual reintegration of about 12,000 MILF soldiers into the Philippine security forces. This could effectively end a primary source of armed challenge to the Philippines' territorial integrity, and put an end to four decades of conflict in the southern island of Mindanao that has resulted in the death of up to 150,000, mostly civilian, individuals.

In exchange, the Philippine government will facilitate the establishment of an autonomous "Bangsamoro" entity in the predominantly Muslim regions of Mindanao. The Philippine Congress is expected to pass a law for enactment of the new autonomous entity this year.

Nevertheless, critics have raised concerns over the viability of the peace agreement and the lack of inclusiveness in the negotiations.

"It has been a difficult road getting here and we know that the path ahead will continue to be fraught with challenges," declared Teresita Deles, special presidential advisor for the peace negotiations. "In a world looking for peaceful solutions to all troubles, we are grateful that we have found ours."

Intent on optimizing the diplomatic dividends of recent negotiations, the administration of President Benigno Aquino hopes to finalize the establishment of Bangsamoro before the end of its term in 2016. This means the minority Muslim population will finally have an opportunity to enjoy a significant measure of socio-cultural and political autonomy, with the Bangsamoro sub-state entity exercising considerable powers over the management of domestic natural and fiscal resources.

Leaders from across the world welcomed the agreement, hoping that a more stable Mindanao will contribute to the retrenchment of Islamic fundamentalism and extremist ideology in Southeast Asia. US Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated the Aquino administration for "concluding negotiations toward an historic, comprehensive peace agreement", and hailed the promise of "peace, security, and economic prosperity now and for future generations in Mindanao".

Washington also commended Malaysia as well as the International Contact Group, composed of representatives and conflict-resolution experts from around the world, for their pivotal role in brokering the final agreement in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, international investors have turned their attention to economic implications of the peace agreement.

Mindanao is estimated to have as much as US$300 billion in untapped mining and natural resources. Given the increased regulatory uncertainty in other mining hubs such as Indonesia, investors are considering the prospects of large-scale investments in resource-rich areas such as Mindanao.

The Philippines is already among Asia's fastest-growing economies, averaging 6-7% in annual GDP growth in recent years. The Aquino administration has sought to integrate the long-neglected regions of Mindanao into the rising economic tide that is lifting the country. Mindanao is home to one of the poorest regions of the Philippines, with poverty rates increasing in Muslim-majority provinces in recent years.

Given the relative backwardness of infrastructure in Mindanao, post-conflict reconstruction efforts could significantly increase domestic spending and investment rates.

Because of its favorable geography and fertile lands, Mindanao is also considered a potential agricultural powerhouse. The economic revival of Mindanao could boost the Philippines' GDP growth rates by another 0.3 percentage point, according to Standard Chartered economist Jeff Ng. But the Philippines faces tremendous challenges ahead.

Splinter groups such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have opposed the new agreement, pledging to continue their struggle against the Philippine government.

Immediately after signing the peace agreement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched an offensive against BIFF fighters, hoping to stamp out any resistance to the implementation of a Bangsamoro entity.

Last year some rebel groups, including members of the MILF's parent organization, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), tried to scuttle peace negotiations by launching a siege on Zamboanga city. The result was a massive humanitarian crisis and weeks-long military clashes, which tested the momentum of peace negotiations.

The main concern of other rebel groups was their exclusion from the peace negotiations, and, more importantly, their lack of trust in the Philippine government. In the past, the government and the MNLF were able to arrive at a peace agreement (1996), which paved the way for establishment of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

But the final outcome fell considerably short of its initial promises, with the MNLF struggling to cope with governance challenges in the least developed areas of the Philippines. Even worse, succeeding administrations did little to reinforce earlier peace negotiations.

The Joseph Estrada administration (1998-2001), for instance, launched an all-out war against other rebel groups such as the MILF. Former president Estrada believed in a maximalist approach, whereby: "Sometimes you have to wage war to earn peace. You have to show them that there is only one flag, one armed forces of the Philippines, one government."

As government officials such as Deles admit, the previous peace agreement "failed to put post-conflict rebuilding mechanisms in place". There were no credible and sustained commitments by the Philippine government to ensure reintegration of rebels and the rehabilitation of conflict-hit areas. No wonder, there are concerns whether the next administration will ensure proper assistance to the Bangsamoro leadership.

For many civil society organizations, the negotiations also fell short of ensuring full participation of a whole host of indigenous communities in the conceptualization of a new autonomous entity in Mindanao. The greatest threat, however, stems from deeply entrenched warlords and local oligarchs, who will try to hijack the emerging political order by establishing new networks of patronage politics.

Overall, it seems that the Aquino administration has generated enough momentum to push ahead with a new political order in Mindanao. But it remains to be seen whether the MILF will make a successful transition towards becoming an effective agent of governance in Mindanao. This will undoubtedly require sustained commitment from the Philippine government in the decades to come.

Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

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Dimapur

NATIONAL

Thursday 13 February 2014

The Morung Express

India Inc gives thumbs up to Rail Budget

neW Delhi, February 12 (Pti): India Inc on Wednesday said the government’s focus on modernisation and expansion of the country’s vast rail network without touching passenger fares and freight rates was a step in the right direction.

Expressing happiness on no populist measures being incorporated in the budget, PHD Chamber of Commerce President Sharad Jaipuria said: “The focus was rightly on attracting huge investments to upgrade, modernising and expanding railways as per aspirations of people and attempting to bring in foreign direct investment (FDI)”.

Passenger fares and freight rates were left untouched on Wednesday in the interim rail budget, which talks about plans about involvement of private sector and FDI as part of efforts to modernise the largest transport network in the country.

“Increased private participation, as rightly noticed by the government, seems to be the way of future development. The increased efforts towards unlocking the value of railway assets would go a long way in achieving this objective,” Assocham President Rana Kapoor said.

Presenting the interim budget for four months in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said an independent Rail Tariff Authority is being set up to rationalise fares. he also said there was a proposal to expand dynamic pricing of tickets in line with the airline industry.

He announced the launch of 17 new premium trains, 39 express trains and ten passenger trains in the coming year and providing rail connectivity to Katra and Vaishnodevi in Jammu and Kashmir, and Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh in the Northeast. Annual Rail Plan has been pegged at Rs 64,305 crore with a budgetary support of Rs 30,223 crore.

Highlights of interim railway budget 2014-15

Following are the highlights of the Interim Railway Budget 2014-15 presented in the Lok Sabha by Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge: - No change in passenger fares and freight charges - 72 new trains to be introduced: These include 17 premium trains, 38 express trains, 10 passenger trains, 4 MEMU and 3 DEMU - Three trains will be extended and frequency of 3 other trains will be increased - Proposed outlay of Rs.64,305 cr with a budgetary support of Rs.30,223 cr - Gross traffic receipts targeted at Rs.1,60,775 cr with passenger earnings of Rs.45,255 cr, goods Rs.1,05,770 cr and other coaching and sundry earnings Rs.9,700 cr - 19 new lines to be taken up for survey in fiscal 2014-15

- Three new factories - Rail Wheel Plant in district Chhapra, Bihar; Rail Coach Factory at Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh; and Diesel Component Factory at Dankuni, West Bengal, have become functional and commenced production during 2013-14 - Operating ratio budgeted at 89.8% - Fund balances pegged at Rs.12,728 cr - Pension outgo budgeted at Rs.27,000 cr in 2014-15 against Rs.24,000 cr in the current fiscal - Ordinary working expenses placed at Rs.1,10,649 cre, higher by Rs.13,598 cr from the current financial year - An independent Rail Tariff Authority to be set up to advise the government on fixing fares and freight charges - State governments of Karnataka, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, AP, and Haryana have agreed to share cost of several rail projects in their respective areas

Waitlisted passengers to get automatic SMS alert

Indian Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge holds the interim Railway Budget to be presented in parliament Tuesday, February 12. Kharge is likely to announce more trains, new lines and better passenger amenities in the interim budget, according to local reports. (AP Photo)

neW Delhi, February 12 (Pti): Giving importance to the role of information technology in rail operation, railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday spelt out a series of steps including SMS alert and online booking of meals in trains in the interim Rail Budget 2014-15. “IT has revolutionized our customer interface over the last few years. We intend to continue the process,” he said in the Lok Sabha.

US defends meeting with Narendra Modi

Washington, February 12 (Pti): The US has defended its decision for ambassador to India Nancy Powell to meet BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, arguing that this is part of its effort of increased engagement with Indian leaders.

A day after the US State Department confirmed that Powell would meet Modi in Gandhinagar later this week, its spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday that all relevant people required to take a decision were involved in the process, which basically overturned the 9-year-old US policy of non-engagement with Modi.

However, the official did not confirm if US Secretary of State John Kerry or US President Barack Obama were involved in it. “These decisions don’t always rise up to every highest level. But certainly, all relevant individuals who needed to weigh in weighed in, and agreed that it was certainly an appropriate meeting to have,” State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference.

“We are often engaged in concentrated outreach to senior political and business leaders. We began doing that months

- Surveys for doubling five existing lines will also be taken up during the year - Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh to be brought on railway map - Independent Rail Tariff Authority set up to advice on fares and freight - Gross traffic receipts pegged at Rs.1,60,775 cr - Working expenses pegged at Rs.1,10,649 cr, which is Rs.13,589 cr higher than the revised estimates for the current fiscal - Freight earnings target set at Rs.94,000 cr. Loading target raised to 1,052 million tonnes - Services on Udhampur-Katra section to start soon. It will take passengers to the foothills of Vaishno Devi shrine - Allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in railways is under consideration - Emphasis on attracting higher investments from private sector

ago, if not years ago – in different scales, of course – to highlight and continue our US-India relationship. There has been no changes in our policy per se. This is an effort in that engagement,” Psaki said.

“I can certainly confirm the appointments or the meeting upcoming,” she added. Powell is expected to travel to Gandhinagar to meet Modi later this week, the first by the top US diplomat after the Gujarat riots. In the last few years several European allies have met Modi. “We do broad outreach to a range of officials in India and many countries around the world with different backgrounds. And it’s simply just an example of that,” she said.

“We meet with officials from a range of backgrounds in many, many countries, including India, and it’s simply an example of that,” she argued. Reiterating that the US does not take positions in elections of any country, Psaki argued that Powell meeting Modi is not an example of the US taking a position.

“We don’t take positions. So no, it wouldn’t be a reflection of that. It is just a reflection, as I’ve stated a few times, of us reaching out to a range of individuals from

He announced several initiatives such as proliferation of cash accepting Automatic Ticket Vending Machines and ticketing on mobile phones in the unreserved segment. As per the budget proposal, waitlisted passengers will get automatic PNR status update once their tickets get confirmed.

Train running information system will be installed at rail premises to facilitate dissemination of information about trains on real time basis.

Online booking of meals on trains for selected enroute stations and introduction of electronic transmission of railway receipts for freight customers has been ensured.

Kharge also announced computerization of claims settlement process.

Fire, smoke detection system on trial in Rajdhani Exp A comprehensive fire and smoke detection system is on trial in Rajdhani Express

and it will be extended to all major trains along with induction of indigenously developed anti-collision device, Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said today.

Expressing “deep” concern over recent accidents, he said in his Interim Budget speech that “safety is never compromised” on the system and several measures have been and are being taken for its further strengthening.

different backgrounds, different political affiliations, which we do in countries around the world,” she said. Psaki said there is no change in the US visa policy.

“When individuals apply for a visa, their applications are reviewed in accordance with US law and policy. This is not a reflection of any change. We don’t speak to that. This is simply a meeting happening on the ground in India. It’s not a reflection of anything else than outreach to a broad range of officials,” she said.

Responding to questions, Psaki refuted the allegations that this decision of the Administration is influenced by the lobbying efforts of some pro-Modi group and business community in the US. “This is simply a meeting that we’re going to be having that the Ambassador is going to be having on the ground.

Nothing has changed about our visa policy. We don’t speak to that, given it’s private,” she said. “So this is not a reflection of that changing, and certainly not a reflection of anything changing regarding our longstanding and strong advocacy for human rights around the India’s opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, center, interacts with people as he launches the ‘ discussion over tea’ campaign in Ahmadabad, on Wednesday, February 12. world,” the spokesperson said.

(AP Photo)

‘My heart bleeds over what Karnataka ex-minister Prez for bringing education out of mediocrity February 12 (ians): tive ideas and also facilitative of faster istrator Vijay Kelkar, said a spirit of is happening in Parliament’ Ramdas attempts suicide Kangra, competition and collaboration has to Observing that not a single Indian insti- decision making.

“The expertise and experience be instilled in the central universities.

Mysore, February 12 (ians): Karnataka’s tution figures in the world’s top 200 uniHimachal Pradesh Chief Minister former BJP minister S.A. Ramdas attempted suicide versities, President Pranab Mukherjee of alumni, who are well established, can be utilised for effective university Virbhadra Singh underlined the imWednesday said transformative ideas by hanging himself soon after checking into a guestare required to steer institutions out of management.” portance of the Rashtriya Ucchatar house here, BJP sources said Wednesday. But Ramdas “Our universities have to be the Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) in reinvigosurvived and was out of danger though he was under the muddy waters of mediocrity.

“Some of our universities and en- breeding grounds of creative pursuits. rating the state’s higher education observation in a hospital, a party source told IANS. gineering institutions are indeed ca- They have to be the source of cutting system by linking funding of instituThe incident happened late Tuesday. pable of figuring much higher in the edge technological developments. A tions with the institutions’ willingRamdas, a 54-year-old bachelor, was reportedranks,” the president said. beginning has already been made by ness to implement academic and govly upset after learning that a woman claimed that Delivering the second convoca- the opening of innovation clubs in sev- ernance reforms. they had got married recently and threatened to tion address at the Central University eral central universities to promote inUniversity Chancellor Arun Maira expose their relationship with audio and video evi- of Himachal Pradesh at Shahpur, 250 genuity and exchange ideas,” he said. said: “GDP growth is important but dence. “He (Ramdas) threatened to commit suicide km from state capital Shimla, he said: “As the next step, innovation clubs more important are the social, politiif I spoke to the media and revealed our conversa- “Concrete action is required to not should work in tandem with innova- cal and environmental forces that will tions which I had recorded on my mobile handset,” only have an in-depth understanding tion incubators located in the IITs or shape and define economic outcomes.” she said.

He stressed on inclusive growth, of the criteria and process followed by NITs in the region to take forward the Ramdas, who held the medical education port- the ranking agencies but to also devel- novel, workable ideas of grassroots in- decentralisation of governance and folio in the first Bharatiya Janata Party government neW Delhi, February 12 (Pti): Expressing his in the state, lost to the Congress in the May 2013 op a strategy to project the achieve- novators to create useful products,” he architecture of institutions that would enable more effective management of added. anguish over disruptions in Parliament, Prime Minister assembly elections from Krishnaraja in the Old ments more effectively.”

The president, who presented ho- the environment and faster growth of Mukherjee said governance strucManmohan Singh on Wednesday said his heart bleeds Mysore region. tures have to be supportive of innova- noris causa to economist and admin- employment. over what is happening in the House and it is sad for democracy.

“My heart bleeds to see what is happening in the House,” he told a group of MPs soon after disruptions in Lok Sabha over Telangana issue during presentation of the interim Rail Budget. “It is sad for democracy individuals, starting with (but not recreases (including reducing deduc- CEOs, university presidents, labor leaders that such things are happening even after all appeals neW Delhi, February 12 (ians): stricted to) international graduates of tions) and less spending (through effi- and national laboratory directors. for calm,” the Prime Minister said. Singh’s comments A multi-disciplinary brains trust is being co-created for India by noted Harvard proUS universities. ciencies in entitlement programs and It works to set an action agenda to came after the storm over Telangana on Tuesday derevised spending priorities), embody- drive US competitiveness, while striving railed the presentation of the Interim Rail Budget fessor Michael E. Porter with a mission to - Rewrite the corporate tax code with lower statutory rates and no loopholes. ing a compromise such as Simpson- to offer innovative public policy solutions 2014-15 with Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge replicate the US structure and enhance India’s prosperity, according to sources Create an international taxation sysBowles or Rivlin- Domenici. such as ensuring lower cost, easy access being forced to cut short his speech in Lok Sabha beprivy to the development. tem for multinational companies that On his part, HBS dean of Indian origin to high quality education and training for cause of the turmoil.

The Indian Council on Competitiveness taxes overseas profits only where they Nitin Nohria has pitched in with a “US Com- all Americans. It also aims at maintaining Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath also are earned, without additional taxes on petitiveness Project”. The work included two long-term federal investments in science condemned the incidents in Lok Sabha. “It is very un- will be co-anchored by Harvard Business profits repatriated to the US. surveys titled “Competitiveness at a Cross- and technology leadership, as also reforfortunate..., the obstruction and creating disturbances School’s (HBS) Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, chaired by Prof Michael E. Aggressively use established internaroads” with the latest version involving mation and simplification of the tax code and all kinds of unruly scenes... This is a very bad prectional institutions to address distortions nearly 7,000 alumni and over 1,000 mem- to stimulate investment and attract global edent for the future Lok Sabhas,” Nath told reporters Porter, and the US Council on Competitiveness and the Institute for Competitivenss. and abuses in the international trading bers of the general public, illuminating ac- capital to the US. outside Parliament House.

“We will reincarnate this bold strucsystem that disadvantage the US. tions that business leaders and policymakThe council’s target over the next 10 He said that the rules clearly state that the House belongs to every member and protecting its dignity ture consistent with India’s unique re- - Streamline regulations affecting busi- ers can take to improve US competitiveness. years is to help create at least 21 million ness by focusing on outcomes while After HBS’ evangelism, the US politi- jobs, cut unemployment to under 5 peris the duty of all sections. “It doesn’t belong to a par- quirements,” Professor Amit Kapoor, pressimplifying reporting and compliance, cal spectrum, business leaders and the cent, prune government debt by $4 trillion ticular section. It is the duty of the government and ident and chief executive-designate of the reducing delays, and minimizing the public have been urging President Barak to ensure America’s long term solvency, inall members to protect the dignity of the House and Indian Council on Competitiveness, told this IANS columnist. need for litigation.

Obama and the Congress to put the federal vest $2.2 trillion in infrastructure to mainensure that the House functions as per rules. ParliaIn recent months, Porter has led a high- - Enact a multi-year programme to im- budget on a sustainable path, reform the tain competitive advantage, and double mentary democracy is to discuss, debate, oppose and visibility campaign in the US for mending prove logistics, communications and corporate tax code, improve America’s in- exports. dispose,” the Minister said. energy infrastructure. - Agree on a fed- frastructure, address distortions of the inCharles O. Holliday, Jr, the chairman of Asked whether it was the government’s duty to do that country’s fault lines. These, the Bisheral regulatory and reporting frame- ternational trading system, and craft a re- Bank of America, is its chairman emeritus. the floor management, Nath said, “It is not the duty op William Lawrence University Professor work to guide the responsible develop- sponsible framework for developing new Deborah L. Wince-Smith, president and of the government. It is (of) all the members of the has argued, can’t be attributed merely to ment of newly accessible American gas energy sources. chief executive of the US Council said: “The House... The basic thing is that the House is not to be economic downturn.

The points flagged by him and co-auand oil reserves The US Council on Competitiveness Indian body will be committed to addresscontrolled by the government. The House is to be conthor Jan Rivkin include: - Create a sustainable federal budget is a non-partisan, non-governmental or- ing the issues pertaining to India’s competitrolled by the Speaker and the members.”

- Ease the immigration of highly skilled through a combination of revenue in- ganization, comprising of peer corporate tiveness in a multidisciplinary manner.”

Harvard to co-create US-like competitive body in India

InternatIonal

the Morung express

Thursday 13 February 2014

Dimapur

9

In peace talks, Assad plays for time

GENEVA, FEbruAry 12 (AP): Even as he fights to hold on to power, Syrian President Bashar Assad has agreed to destroy a significant part of his arsenal and to join negotiations whose stated aim is to remove him from his post.

Those seemingly contradictory moves may point to a shrewd strategy: negotiate, play for time and hold the West at bay while his troops wear down an increasingly divided and dysfunctional rebel force on the battlefield no matter the cost.

So far the strategy has been working.

Since peace talks began in Switzerland on Jan. 24, Assad’s forces have stepped up the pace of aerial bombardment against opposition-held areas and increased attacks in the north and around Damascus. Opposition groups say nearly 1,900 people were killed during the first week of talks last month — including more than 800 in the northern city of Aleppo alone by dozens of crude helicopterdropped “barrel bombs.” Some 220 others died in fighting between Islamic extremists and other rebels.

In addition, the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented 2,454 deaths so far in February, making it likely to be one of the

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad, hold up his portraits as they march during a demonstration is solidarity with government forces, in al-Inshaat neighborhood of Homs, Syria, on Wednesday February 11. Meanwhile the Syrian government on Tuesday allowed over a hundred men of fighting age to leave rebel-held areas of the besieged city of Homs after they were questioned and cleared of rebel links, state media said. (AP Photo)

deadliest months so far in the Syrian civil war.

“You want to negotiate from a strong position. You want to show exactly how immune you are internationally. And I think nothing says that more than conducting attacks during peace talks. It creates an im-

pression of non-vulnerability,” said Firas Abi Ali, an analyst with the think tank IHS Jane’s.

For Assad, protracted, U.N.-brokered peace talks are a chance to engage with the international community — much of which shunned him soon after the uprising began

in March 2011. Peace negotiations sponsored by the U.S. and Russia offer Assad a means to claim relevance — just as the deal last year to destroy his chemical weapons to avoid U.S. military strikes helped bolster his standing.

That agreement, brokered

by Moscow, called for destruction of Syria’s chemical arsenal by mid-2014 and took armed U.S. intervention off the table.

Assad signed on, but has already missed several deadlines with no consequences.

“The Syrian regime which pretends it is coming to Geneva kicking and screaming in fact loves nothing more than a process because it can claim that it’s the only side with which the world can negotiate,” said Rime Allaf, a political commentator who specializes in Middle East affairs.

The talks’ objective is finding a political solution to a three-year-old conflict which has killed more than 130,000 people and displaced millions from their homes. The Syrian war has fanned regional sectarian hatreds, attracted thousands of jihadi foreign fighters and extremists and destabilized neighboring countries like Lebanon and Iraq.

But the two sides have been unable to agree even on an agenda. The opposition — backed by the U.S. — wants the talks to focus on establishing a transitional governing body that excludes Assad. That’s a non-starter for the government which has not budged from its demand that halting “terrorism” must be the priority.

For negotiations to have

any hope of success, analysts believe they must reflect the reality on the ground. Assad has little incentive to give major concessions when his forces still hold 13 of 14 provincial cities and continue to make slow but steady headway against arms-strapped rebels in Homs, Aleppo and around his seat of power Damascus. The rebels are more fractured than ever, bogged down in infighting against an al-Qaida splinter group.

More importantly, Assad can still count on the unwavering support of strong allies Russia and Iran.

“Assad still thinks he can regain control of Syria even after all these events,” Allaf said.

This line of thinking is perhaps justified in light of the international community’s unwillingness to get involved.

Military action against Assad appeared all but certain last year following a chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds. The weapons deal removed that option, leaving the U.S. and its allies with no alternative but a political process which Assad has no interest in wrapping up quickly.

Many Syrians have little faith in the seemingly toothless process, which is already drawing comparisons to the so-called Oslo talks on interim

peace deals between Israel and the Palestinians which have dragged on intermittently since the early 1990s.

Opposition spokesman Louay Safi rejected such parallels Tuesday, saying the talks will not go on indefinitely.

“There will come a time when it will be clear that the regime does not want a solution and we will ask the international community to act,” he said.

Western diplomats have sought to play down such doubts. “This is not a timewasting exercise,” said one diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record. Others have expressed quiet concern that the government will continue to block negotiations, forcing the opposition to withdraw at some point with no Plan B in the wings.

Mohammad Ballout, an analyst with the Lebanese daily AsSafir newspaper covering the talks in Geneva, said the world has no choice but to engage with Assad because it fears the collapse of the Syrian state.

“The alternative to Bashar Assad is not a democratic one, with all due respect to the opposition,” he said. “The alternative to Bashar Assad is chaos at best and Islamic fiefdoms with no central government at worst.”

Meditation can reduce stress disorder in 10 days! koreas hold senior-level meeting at border village

NEw yOrk, FEbruAry 12 (IANS): For people suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), here comes a good news: Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique can significantly reduce the stress disorder in flat 10 days. In experiments on Congolese war refugees living in Ugandan camps, researchers found these fascinating results.

“An earlier study found a similar result after 30 days

where 90 percent of TM participants dropped to a non-symptomatic level. But we were surprised to see such a significant reduction with this group after just 10 days,” said lead author Colonel Brian Rees from US Army Reserve Medical Corps. The researchers tested 11 participants after 10-days and 30-days TM practice. After just 10-days, PTSD symptoms dropped almost 30 percent.

“What makes this

study interesting is when we tested them in the 90 days before they began the TM technique, their PTSD scores kept going up,” said co-author Fred Travis, director of the Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition at Maharishi University of Management situated in Iowa, US. “The Transcendental Meditation technique is increasingly being seen as a viable treatment by the US military,” added Rees.

According to the researchers, during this particular meditation technique, one experiences a deep state of restful alertness.

Repeated experience of this state for 20 minutes twice a day cultures the nervous system to maintain settled mental and physical functioning the rest of the day. This helps minimise disturbing thoughts, sleep difficulties and other adverse PTSD symptoms, said the study.

Australia falls short on Aboriginal welfare

SydNEy, FEbruAry 12 (AFP): Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday admitted Australia has failed to meet important targets on Aboriginal welfare and vowed to work to ensure all indigenous children went through school.

In delivering his first “Closing the Gap” report to parliament, which aims to improve the lives of the Aboriginal population by bridging the divide with non-indigenous Australians, Abbott said outcomes so far were mixed. The plan to halve the gap in child mortality within a decade was on track to be met, he said, while the goal of having 95 percent of children living in remote areas enrolled for pre-school was also on target.

However, he said: “The bad news is that there’s almost no progress in closing the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and other Australians -which is still about a decade. “There’s been very little improvement towards halving the gap in reading, writing and numeracy. And indigenous employment has, if anything, slipped backwards over the past few years. “We are not on track to achieve the more

important and meaningful targets,” added the conservative leader.

The Closing the Gap project was launched by the then-Labor government in 2008, the year it offered a national apology to Australia’s original inhabitants for wrongs committed since British settlement in 1788. It set targets on health, education, mortality and imprisonment, with progress to be reported each year. Abbott, who came to power last year vowing to be the “prime minister for Aboriginal affairs”, said his primary goal was to make sure indigenous children received a proper education.

“Because it’s hard to be literate and numerate without attending school; it’s hard to find work without a basic education; and it’s hard to live well without a job,” he said. “We may be doomed to fail --I fear -- until we achieve the most basic target of all: the expectation that every child will attend school every day.” In a bid to reach that goal, he proposed a new target of ending the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous school attendance within five years.

Abbott said when attendance was

UN urged to act on Vietnam over death penalty

HANOI, FEbruAry 12 (AP): The United Nations should immediately freeze anti-drug assistance to Vietnam after the communist country sentenced 30 people to die for drugrelated offenses, three human rights groups working to get countries to abolish the death penalty said Wednesday.

The call from Harm Reduction International, Reprieve and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty cites the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s internal human rights guidance requiring the organization to stop funding for a country if it’s feared that such support may lead to people being executed.

“Our organizations have, for many years, been raising concerns about UN assistance for drug enforcement in countries that continue to apply the death penalty for drug offences,” said the letter, which was sent to the UN resident coordinator in Vietnam and the UNODC country manager.

Last month, a court in northern Vietnam sentenced 30 people to death last month for heroin trafficking, the largest number of defendants sentenced to death in a single trial in the country’s court history. The trial of each defendant lasted around a day. There are nearly 700 people on the death row in Vietnam, many of them for drugs.

UNODC media officers didn’t respond to emailed requests for a comment sent to them on Tuesday. UNODC aid to Vietnam will exceed $5 million for technical assistance, equipment, training and other support for the 2012-2017 period, the letter said. Drug control is the largest component of the program. Last year, two European nations stopped funding anti-drug programs in Iran via the United Nations because of the execution of drug suspects there.

above 90 percent for all schools, regardless of the number of Aboriginal students enrolled, the target would be achieved. Currently in some Aboriginal communities, school attendance is under 60 percent. Aborigines, who number about 500,000 of a total population of 23 million, are the most disadvantaged Australians, suffering disproportionate levels of disease, imprisonment and social problems as well as lower educational attainment, employment and life expectancy.

They are believed to have numbered around one million at the time of British settlement two centuries ago. Abbott, who won office last September and pledged to spend a week every year in a remote indigenous community, said he intended to keep that promise. “After 226 years of intermittent interest at most, why shouldn’t Aboriginal people finally have the prime minister?s undivided attention for seven days,” he told parliament. “None of this makes me more worthy or less fallible than any of my predecessors -- but it does demonstrate that this government is serious about Aboriginal policy.”

SEOuL, FEbruAry 12 (AP): Senior officials from the rival Koreas met Wednesday at a border village, their highest-level talks in years and a potential signal that Pyongyang wants better ties and the resumption of lucrative cooperative projects.

Seoul officials said the meeting was requested by North Korea, which has launched a recent charm offensive after raising tensions last spring with repeated threats to fire nuclear-tipped missiles against Seoul and Washington. Later this month, the two Koreas are to hold reunions of families separated since the 1950-53 Korean War. It would be the first such reunions in more than three years.

Wednesday’s meeting began with no fixed agenda, but South Korea wants to discuss ways to make the reunions run smoothly and whether to pursue them regularly, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry, which is responsible for ties with North Korea. The details of Wednesday’s closeddoor meetings weren’t immediately available.

North Korea canceled planned reunions at the last minute in September, and has recently threatened to scrap this month’s reunions because of upcoming U.S.-South Korean military drills, which it says are preparations for an invasion. But outside analysts say it’s unlikely that

In this photo released by the South Korean Unification Ministry, South Korean chief delegate Kim Kyou-hyun, second from right, shakes hands with his North Korean counterpart Won Tong Yon, third from left, during their meeting at the border village of Panumjom, South Korea, on Wednesday, February 12.(AP Photo)

North Korea will halt the reunions this time because it needs improved ties with South Korea to help attract foreign investment and aid.

South Korea has so far dismissed North Korea’s recent proposals for a series of measures that Pyongyang says are needed to ease tensions, saying the North must first take nuclear disarmament steps and show how sincere it is about its stated desire to improve ties.

Wariness in Seoul is still high because of a weekslong barrage of threats and provocations last spring from Pyongyang after international condemnation of its third nuclear test.

Pyongyang, which has repeatedly vowed to expand its nuclear arsenal, is try-

ing to build nuclear-armed missiles that can reach the continental U.S., but most experts say the country has yet to master the technology needed to mount an atomic bomb on a missile.

Last month, the top U.S. intelligence official said that North Korea has expanded the size of its uranium enrichment facility at its main nuclear complex and restarted a reactor that was used for plutonium production before it was shut down in 2007.

The chief South Korean delegate at the meeting, Kim Kyou-hyun, is a viceministerial-level national security official with the presidential Blue House.

The North Korean delegation is headed by senior ruling Workers’ Party of-

ficial Won Tong Yon, a veteran official specializing in ties with Seoul. North Korea demanded South Korea send a senior Blue House official to the meeting, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry.

The meeting is the highest between the Koreas in years. They held a series of high-level meetings in 2007, including a second summit of their leaders, according to the Unification Ministry.

Nuclear envoys met in 2011 on the sidelines of a regional security forum in Indonesia. Since then, ties have become increasingly bad. Last June, plans to hold a high-level meeting fell apart because of a protocol dispute over who would represent each side.

dren were among the dead.

Military transports in Algeria routinely carry not only soldiers but military families and sometimes even other civilians, if space is available. Commander Farid Nechad, who was coordinating recovery efforts, told the AP that 55 bodies had been recovered so far but conditions at the crash site were difficult.

“Unfavorable weather conditions and storms accompanied by snow in the region were behind the crash,” the defense ministry said. The presidency announced a three-day period of mourning, calling the soldiers who had died “martyrs for the country.”

Lockheed Martin’s hulking C-130 Hercules transport, born out of the experiences of the 1950-53 Korean War, has been used by air forces all over the world to help fight wars or save lives in humanitarian situations.

Lockheed Martin confirmed that it sold C-130s to Algeria from 1981 to 1990 and said if Algerian author-

ities asked, the company would work with them to investigate Tuesday’s crash. It did not release specific information on the age of the plane.

In other crashes involving similar planes, six people died in November 2012 when an Algerian Air Force C-130 crashed into a hillside in France, according to the Aviation Safety Network’s database. In 2003, 10 people died when an Algerian Air Force C-130 crashed after an engine caught fire shortly after it took off from an air base near Boufarik, Algeria, according to the database.

The worst plane crash in Algerian history occurred in 2003, when 102 people were killed after a civilian airliner crashed at the end of the runway in Tamanrasset. There was also a single survivor in that crash.Sole survivors of large plane crashes are extremely rare, said Ky Dickens of Chicago, director and co-producer of a documentary on such survivors.

AlgeriAn plAne crAsh kills 77; one survivor

ALGIErS, FEbruAry 12 (AP): An Algerian military transport plane slammed into a mountain Tuesday in the country’s rugged eastern region, killing 77 people and leaving just one survivor, the defense ministry said.

Air traffic controllers lost radio and radar contact with the U.S.-built C-130 Hercules turboprop just before noon and dispatched helicopters to try to find it. The plane was discovered in pieces on Mount Fortas near the town of Ain Kercha, 50 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of Constantine, the main city in eastern Algeria.

The plane was heading to Constantine from the southern Saharan city of Tamanrasset, which has a massive military presence due to its proximity to the country’s unstable southern borders.

It was at least 24 years old, according to sales information supplied by its maker, Lockheed Martin Corp. The plane carried 74 passengers and four crew members, the military said in its statement,

People look at the wreckage of Algerian military transport plane after it slammed into a mountain in the country’s rugged eastern region, on February 11. A civil defense official said 102 people on board were killed but one person managed to survive. (AP Photo)

blaming poor weather for the crash.

Earlier in the day, Algerian government officials and Algerian state media had reported that the plane had 99 passengers, making for a much higher death

toll. The lone survivor — a soldier — suffered head injuries and was treated at a nearby military facility before being flown to the military hospital in Algiers, a retired Algerian intelligence officer told The

Associated Press. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

Civil defense officials at the snowy crash site said the plane broke into three parts and women and chil-

10

Dimapur

SPORTS

Thursday 13 February 2014

The Morung Express

Mourinho rues lack of killer instinct Tom Hayward

strong enough to get out in the last 10 minutes. The game doesn't end until the last Reuters whistle and the defensive mistake led to Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho lamented the goal," he added. his side's failure to kill the game off as they were held to a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich TORRES RETURNS Albion on Tuesday and missed the chance Mourinho was at least able to welcome to go four points clear at the top of the Pre- back striker Fernando Torres, who was a mier League. Chelsea, who had won nine 69th minute substitute for Samuel Eto'o, of their last 11 games in all competitions, after he was sidelined since suffering a were expected to make light work of a knee injury on January 19. "He's one more West Brom side languishing in the bottom option, for the last month we've had only three. The league leaders looked in control Eto'o and Demba (Ba)," he told Sky Sports. until the closing moments but it was their "If we have all of them available then I inability to handle the late pressure which think it's going to be more than enough." frustrated Mourinho.

West Brom coach Pepe Mel said his "In the last 20 minutes they put us un- side could have taken all three points but der pressure and they scored a goal as a needed to get back on level terms earlier. consequence. Maybe they deserved that "I am very pleased. The players worked point. A point is a point and at the end of hard and were strong. If we scored the the season we will see," he told the BBC af- goal earlier, we would win the game," he ter his side moved on to 57 points. "I think said. "Chelsea were in front, for me today the game for 60 minutes was completely in is a good day. The players performed very our hands, West Brom didn't put one foot well and, for sure, if we scored a goal bein our box. We couldn't kill the game." fore them, we would win the game."

The 51-year-old Portuguese has conSince Mel took over from Steve Clarke sistently played down Chelsea's title cre- in January, West Brom have taken points dentials, labelling them a 'little horse' in from Everton, Liverpool and now Chelsea the race with second-placed Arsenal, who despite trailing and he was confident they are two points behind, and Manchester would stay up. "One-one against Everton, city, who are a further point back in third. Liverpool and Chelsea. Now we need to win "I was feeling that the only thing we our next game. West Brom next season will could do is defend well. We were not be in the Premier League," he said.

West Brom's Gareth McAuley, left, competes for the ball with Chelsea's Fernando Torres during the English Premier League soccer match between West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea at The Hawthorns Stadium in West Bromwich, England, Tuesday, Feb. 11. (AP Photo)

Chelsea title bid stumbles in draw at West Brom LONDON, February 12 (reuters): Premier League leaders Chelsea were hit by an 87th-minute sucker punch as they were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday, handing the title race initiative back to Arsenal and Manchester City.

It looked like Jose Mourinho's side would move four points clear after defender Branislav Ivanovic, who got the winner in Chelsea's 1-0 triumph at Manchester City last week, smashed the ball home in first-half injury time to put the visitors ahead.

However, Victor Anichebe grabbed a precious point for the hosts when he headed in Saido Berahino's cross, leaving Chelsea in pole

14th Nagaland State Challenger 2014 DIMaPur, February 12 (MexN): The Nagaland Chess Association (NCA) is organizing its 14th Nagaland State Challenger 2014 from March 4 to 7 at Red Cross Conference Hall, Kohima. A press note informed that interested persons may register at new capital book house, old NST Kohima on or before March 3. An entry fee Rs 750 is required for open category and Rs 500 is required for the under 16 category. Participants for the latter must submit their age proof or birth certificates.

Interested persons can contact 9402697344, 8 7 9 4 8 5 3 2 0 2 , 9856294948 or 9436266242.

position in the table but possibly for only 24 hours.

Chelsea now have 57 points from 26 matches, two ahead of Arsenal, who host Manchester United on Wednesday, and three in front of City, who are at home to Sunderland.

At the other end of the table, West Ham United again showed they can win without suspended striker Andy Carroll as they beat Norwich City 2-0 to ease their relegation fears with a third successive victory and fourth straight clean sheet.

Second-bottom Cardiff City missed the chance to move out of the drop zone when they were held 0-0 at home to Aston Villa while Southampton jumped to eighth with a 1-0 win

at Hull City. Chelsea have found The Hawthorns an unappealing prospect in recent seasons, having lost on their previous two visits.

With Mourinho's side having scooped 26 points from the last 30 on offer and West Brom winless in four matches under new manager Pepe Mel, few predicted anything other than a win that would see Chelsea's title challenge marching on relentlessly.

Chelsea had kept six clean sheets in their last eight games, so the writing appeared to be on the wall for the hosts when visiting Serbian defender Ivanovic blasted home from a corner. But with the clock ticking down, Chelsea's defence was disrupted by an injury to Gary Cahill, who left the pitch with a calf

Moin Khan named coach of Pakistan

IsLaMabaD, February 12 (aP): Former captain and wicketkeeper Moin Khan was chosen as the new coach of Pakistan, while Aamir Sohail was removed as chief selector by the new management committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday. Sohail was appointed only last week by Zaka Ashraf, who was sacked on Monday as PCB chairman

by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who appointed the eight-member management committee.

"The record reflects that Mr. Aamir Sohail was never issued a letter of appointment for any post in PCB therefore he holds no post in PCB," the committee said in a statement.

Khan played for the 1992 World Cupwinning team and recently managed the Pakistan team which drew the test series 1-1 against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates last month.

Azhar Khan, a member of the threeman selection committee, will be acting chief selector.

PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed said the committee endorsed Najam Sethi as their chairman during a meeting lasting well over five hours at Gaddafi Stadium.

Ex-test opener Shoaib Mohammad, son of the great Hanif Mohammad, was appointed as fielding coach while bowling coach Mohammad Akram's contract was extended for

two years. The new coach and fielding coach were recommended by a coach-finding committee which included Intikhab Alam, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram.

Khan and Mohammad were appointed only for the two major events in Bangladesh — the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 — this month and next, after which Ahmed said their performances will be evaluated. They replace Dav Whatmore and Julian Fountain, who resigned last month at the end of the series against Sri Lanka. In other administrative decisions, Taffazul Rizvi was restored as PCB legal adviser after he was removed by Ashraf last month.

have now kept four clean sheets in the league for the first time since 1985.

"I had the chairman ringing me up to say we had not won under lights this season or last and that was in my mind," manager Sam Allardyce said. "Our goalkeeper kept us in the game and we scored late, when it is hard for anybody to come back into it. It's a great end to an important run of fixtures."

Jose Fonte scored the only goal as Southampton improved their prospects of securing European football by winning a tight encounter against Hull at the KC Stadium. Fonte's effort in the 69th minute was adjudged to have crossed the line by goalline technology and left Hull three points above the relegation zone.

Durant leads Thunder past Trail Blazers

Real cruise to Cop del Rey final

Schumacher hit by lung infection berLIN, February 12 (aFP): Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, who is still lying in a coma in a French hospital, has contracted a lung infection, the German newspaper Bild reported on Wednesday.

The effects on the fragile state of health of the 45-year-old were unknown, it said, without citing sources. Schumacher's spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, told the newspaper: "We are not commenting on speculation." Schumacher has been in a coma since his December 29 ski accident, when he badly injured his head, causing serious swelling of the brain. The doctors treating him in the hospital in the French city of Grenoble two weeks ago said they were trying to coax him out of the coma by reducing his sedation.

Kehm said the process could take some time. With little information being given to media, the hospital has been left to fend off rumours. Last Thursday, it had to deny speculation flaring on social networks that Schumacher had died.

problem, only to return seconds before job. Every game is difficult and every Anichebe rose to flick his header into team needs points." the net off the foot of the post.

West Ham and Norwich had identical records coming into their clash TOO COMFORTABLE but the momentum of recent results The point moved West Brom out was with the Hammers. Their third of the relegation zone above Sun- straight win came courtesy of two derland on goal difference and left late goals, with James Collins giving Mourinho trying to put a positive spin them the lead after 84 minutes when on a result that could have a decisive he beat Norwich keeper John Rudimpact on the title race. dy to a Mohamed Diame cross and "We were comfortable in the flicked a header home. game, maybe too comfortable. We Diame made the game safe in didn't kill the game when we had the added time, latching on to a clearance, chance," Mourinho was quoted as running the length of the pitch and dissaying by the BBC. "In this moment patching the ball into the net with the we have one more point than be- help of a deflection. West Ham, whose fore. If Arsenal and City win tomor- defence was the butt of jokes followrow they go above us but that is their ing some heavy defeats in January,

Real's Cristiano Ronaldo tries to score as he faces Atletico goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia during a semi final, 2nd leg, Copa del Rey soccer derby match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid, Tuesday Feb. 11. (AP Photo)

MaDrID, February 12 (aFP): Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice from the penalty spot and was also hit on the head by a lighter thrown from the crowd as Real Madrid sealed their place in the Copa del Rey final with a 2-0 win (5-0 on aggregate) over holders Atletico Madrid.

Any chance of Atletico recovering from their 3-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu last week was extinguished after just seven minutes when Ronaldo opened the scoring after being upended by Manquillo.

The Portuguese star doubled his tally nine minutes later from another penalty as this time Gareth Bale was felled by Emiliano Insua.

Ronaldo's eventful evening continued as, moments after being booked for a clash with Manquillo, he was then hit by a lighter thrown by the Atletico fans as the players headed to the dressing rooms at half-time. The Ballon d'Or winner was however fit to continue at the start of the second-half before being substituted late on.

Real will face either Barcelona or Real Sociedad in

the final on April 19 with Barca holding a 2-0 advantage heading into the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted that Ronaldo was fine after being struck and lauded his side's feat of reaching the final on the back of eight consecutive clean sheets in the Cup this season. "Cristiano is fine, he scored two goals and he doesn't have any problems," he said. "We are still alive in all competitions and whilst this is the least important of the three in comparison to La Liga or the Champions

League, to get to a final is always a good thing for the team. "We have played well in all the Cup games. We have kept a clean sheets throughout and this speaks well of the mentality of the team."

Atletico boss Diego Simeone appeared to have given up any hope of an unlikely comeback from the off as he rested Juanfran, Diego Godin, Arda Turan and captain Gabi, whilst four more first-team regulars missed out through injury and suspension. However, despite suffering three defeats in a week, Simeone is hoping for a positive reaction from his side as they too have La Liga and Champions League honours to fight for in the coming weeks.

"You are never happy to lose or go out of a competition, much less in this manner losing 5-0. "Last year we managed to win this competition, this year we got to the semi-finals.

You can always do better as a team, but now we will continue with the same desire as before and we want to remain competitive." Ancelotti named a strong side and was rewarded with the away goal that killed the tie off when Ronaldo converted from the spot after tumbling under Manquillo's clumsy challenge inside the area.

Atletico briefly threatened a revival when Raul Garcia struck the post moments later. However, it was 2-0 after just 16 minutes as this time Bale went down under a challenge by Insua and Ronaldo again struck the resulting spot-kick low into the right-hand corner of Daniel Aranzubia's net.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, right, works the ball in against Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. on Tuesday. Durant scored 36 points as they beat the Trail Blazers 98-95.(AP Photo)

POrtLaND, February 12 (aP): Kevin Durant said the mutual admiration between the Thunder and the Trail Blazers only goes so far. "We respect this team and they respect us, but we don't like them and they don't like us," Durant said after Oklahoma City's hard-fought 98-95 victory over Portland on Tuesday night. "Point blank."

Durant had 36 points and 10 rebounds as the Thunder evened the series against the Blazers 2-2 in their final regular-season meeting this year. Jeremy Lamb had 19 points, including a key 3-pointer with 1:38 left for the Western Conference-leading Thunder, who have won 14 of their last 16 games.

Nicolas Batum had 18 points for slumping Portland, which has lost five of seven but still ranks third in the conference behind San Antonio. Robin Lopez finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season. LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed a mid-range jumper in the final seconds that could have salvaged the win for Portland, was asked what he thought of

Durant's comment. "We're not trying to make friends out there," he said. "We're trying to win games."

Portland led by as many as 13 points in the first half and held a 55-45 advantage at the break, but the Thunder kept chipping away and the teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 80.

Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer and Lamb made a layup to put the Thunder up 85-84.

Portland reclaimed the lead on rookie CJ McCollum's running shot, but Durant re-tied it at 91 with a long hook. The teams wrestled for the lead until Lamb's 3-pointer gave the Thunder a 96-95 advantage. Damian Lillard missed a 3-pointer for Portland with 45.9 seconds left.

Portland got the ball with 12.3 seconds left after officials reviewed an outof-bounds call, but LaMarcus Aldridge's mid-range jumper with 2 seconds left was off and Reggie Jackson hit free throws for the final margin. "We fought hard," Durant said. "We're a resilient team. We've kept our heads up through adversity and tough times. I'm proud of our team." Portland won two of the first three meetings between the

two teams, but the Thunder won the last 105-97 in Oklahoma City last month.

Durant paced the Thunder with 42 points in that one.

Aldridge was a gametime decision because of soreness, but he started and finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Blazers are the only team that has started the same five players in all of their games this season. Aldridge was disappointed with the loss — and especially his final missed shot. "I couldn't throw a rock in a lake tonight," Aldridge said.

Portland jumped out to a quick 18-6 lead, but the Blazers were hurt late in the opening quarter when reserve forward Joel Freeland's right knee buckled underneath him and he had to be helped off the court.

The extent of the injury was not immediately known, but the Blazers depend on the 6-foot-11 Brit to spell starting center Lopez. The Thunder closed to 25-21 on Lamb's 12-foot jumper early in the second quarter.

Portland held them off, but Lamb's dunk narrowed it to 34-32 and the Thunder finally pulled ahead 41-39 on Lamb's 3-pointer.

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Kate Middleton Nizam of Hyderabad diamonds

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ctress Kristen Stewart didn't immerse herself in work after breaking up with Robert Pattinson, but she does realizes her mistakes.

Eonline.com reports that the 23-year-old, who spent 2013 taking road trips with her friends to New Orleans and Nashville, working on her poetry, playing guitar and reconnecting with middle school friends from Woodland Hills, California, doesn't explicitly discuss her 2012 fling with director Rupert Sanders, but she responded to those who've criticized her per-

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Nicole reveals Keith leaves her a love letter every night they are apart

rince William's wife Catherine dazzled onlookers at a dinner for London's National Portrait Gallery on Tuesday with a diamond necklace borrowed from the queen. The Duchess of Cambridge was wearing a dark Jenny Packham dress, but it was the Cartier diamond known as the Nizam of Hyderabad, given to Queen Elizabeth II in 1947 for her wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh, that had tongues wagging.

Other guests at the gala dinner -- the duchess's first official engagement of the year -- included Elizabeth Hurley, rocker Bryan Adams and artist Grayson Perry.

The duchess said she was "delighted" to be able to support the gallery. "The gallery's achievements are exceptional," she told guests. "They hold the most extensive collection of portraits in the world, and their unique and brilliant exhibitions never fail to inspire us all."

Kristen stewart:

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'It keeps us Close!'

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sonal life in an interview to Marie Claire.

"I stand by every mistake I've ever made, so judge away," the Twilight star told Marie Claire. The interview will appear in the March 2014 issue of the magazine.

The actress has one regret that she did not pursue a college education.

"The biggest struggle I've ever had has been about not going to school and working instead. I was worried about turning down specific individual experiences. Like each movie was, 'F**k, I have to do that movie.'"

ith their hugely successful care e r s t a k i n g them around the world, it is inevitable that Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman must sometimes spend the night apart. And now the actress has revealed how her husband keeps the love alive when they are apart - he leaves her a love letter for every night he is away. 'For every single night he's away he leaves me a love letter,' she tells the March issue of InStyle.

'Every single night of our relationship.'

Nicole revealed her husband's love notes as she opened up about their seven-year marriage. 'We always say to each other, "If you ever need me, I' m there."' she explained.

And while Keith and their daughters Faith and Sunday will join Nicole on the film sets, she will also join him on his tour bus. 'That's basically how I've seen most of America, on the bus,' she explains.

'Keith and I are both gypsies at heart. We can make our home wherever we are. The girls are like that too now, so we take them everywhere.' The 46-year-old also talked

about her daughters. Of her oldest, five-year-old Sunday, she says: 'Sunday will come with me [to the film set] and just hang - she'll draw and write and play and do her own thing. She's very bright, so I'm able to tell her about the performances and be quite open with her.

'It sparks her imagination.' Meanwhile threeyear-old Faith idolises her father. 'Faith will stand side-stage at Keith's shows wearing her big pink headphones to protect her ears and watch, riveted, and play an imaginary guitar.

'Whereas if I say to Sunday "Do you want to go out and hear Daddy play?" She'll be like, "Noooo".' The Oscarwinning actress has always had a strong focus on family and community.

Though she now lives in Nashville, Nicole regularly comes back to Australia to visit her parents in their northern Sydney home. Kidman was raised in northern Sydney, after being born in Hawaii. Kidman is famed for making brave career choices and accepting non-traditional roles, from donning a prosthetic nose to play Viriginia Woolf in The Hours, to the

victimised Grace in Lars von Trier’s Dogville, and the photographer Diane Arbus in Fur. She says these courageous artistic choices terrify her but it is worth it in order to become a great ac-

tress. ‘I always try to push through fear,” the famous beauty tells InStyle. ‘People always say, “Oh, you take such risks,” or “You’re brave.” And I’m like, “Well, if you only knew—inside I’m really frightened!”’

Women should have an identity beyond their looks

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Indian Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor rides a bicycle during a promotional event of soft drink major PepsiCo in Bangalore, February 12 (AP Photo)

e it her flawless skin or well worked-out body, Katrina Kaif has always been known for her beauty. But the actress feels "there is more to beauty than just the physical appearance".

"I feel it is important not to get overly obsessed and overly carried away with just the physical aspect.

There is more to beauty than just the physical appearance. You are also a complete person and a woman should have an identity beyond just the way she looks," Katrina told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

Media appearances and film shoots are regular in the actress' life, which require her to look perfect at all times. This can be "tough", said Katrina.

"It is tough in a way. You are a human being at the end of the day and everyone has his or her good days and bad days," she said.

Hair and make-up can be challenging for the actress, but the people who she works with often make the "time consuming" job fun. "I think the hardest thing is the hours spent in hair and make-up every day. It is time-consuming, but it can be fun when you are working with a new team," said the 30-year-old.

She also says that keeping skin healthy and hair shiny is a tough job. You have to "keep at it", says the actress, even doling out tips for this purpose.

"Start with a good diet and healthy food. This is important for the body. You need to see that the products that you use are of the best quality, you have to

make sure you are protecting your skin with a sun screen, using good shampoo and conditioner on your hair because that is something that we don't take seriously," said Katrina, who recently launched the hair care range "6 Oil Nourish Hair care" by beauty brand L'Oréal Paris.

The five must-haves in her daily routine are also equally practical and easy to follow. "Sun block, lip balm, a good shampoo and conditioner and a leave-in serum after you wash your hair, to apply," she said.

For someone, who is often seen in formal gowns and extravagant saris at public events, Katrina's personal

style statement is simple.

"It is very casual, simple, basic jeans and t-shirt, maybe summer dresses.

I am very simple outside of my work," she said and added that her public appearance is an "extension" of how she really is.

"I think that is an extension of me. I don't think I go overboard when I go out or dress up," she said. On the movie front, the actress was last seen in Dhoom: 3, which did extremely well at the box office. Katrina played a gymnast in the action drama.

"For me every film is special. In Dhoom: 3, whether it was the acrobats or songs, they interested me at that time," she said.

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Preity Zinta plays spoilsport

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anbir Kapoor was supposed to fly out to South Africa in March to shoot his cameo for Roy, along with Arjun Rampal. The film's director was to leave for a recce with his Director of Photography (DOP) S Nataraja on February 8. But the plans have gone awry after Preity Zinta filed an FIR at the Khar police station against Nataraja. Her contention is that Natarajan, who was also the DOP of her home production Ishq

in Paris, took an advance of Rs 20 lakh from her and is yet to return the amount despite not dropping out of the film.

Following the complaint, Nataraja, who has worked on films like Love Aaj Kal and Raanjhanaa, has taken off to Chennai and is trying to get anticipatory bail. He has told Vikramjit to wait till the dispute is settled. According to a source close to the development Nataraja was dropped for another DOP because Pre-

ity wanted to cut corners. "She had signed Nataraja for Rs 85 lakh and had given him Rs 20 lakh as the signing amount.

He had worked on the film for eight months before he was dropped. He thinks he was entitled to the advance," reasons the source. "Preity's sudden move took him by surprise."

Nataraja has now approached Anil Mehta, the industry's senior cinematographer, to play the mediator and last weekend he met the actress.

Vikramajit confirmed the news saying, "Nataraja has my full support. I will wait for him, I hope the crisis will be over by this month's end."

When contacted, Nataraja said, "I will come to Mumbai soon to sort out the matter. I had done a lot of work on Preity's film. I don't know what has been conveyed to her by her production team. There is definitely some misunderstanding but we should be able to sort things out."

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Yuvraj, Karthik big winners at IPL 7 auction

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BANGALORE, FEBRuARy 12 (PTI): Flamboyant all-rounder Yuvraj Singh was the surprise recipient of a windfall at the IPL players' auction, fetching a record bid of Rs 14 crore from the Royal Challengers Bangalore while Dinesh Karthik also clinched a mind-boggling Rs 12.5 crore purse from Delhi Daredevils on Wednesday.

Both Yuvraj and Karthik, who are not even regular members of the Indian team, triggered stunning bidding wars among the franchises to set a new record in earnings in the cash-rich league. They surpassed the Rs 11.04 crore that was bid on Gautam Gambhir in 2011, the highest till now. Controversial batsman Kevin Pietersen, whose England career came to an abrupt end after a disastrous Ashes campaign earlier this month, fetched a huge Rs 9 crore purse, bought by Delhi Daredevils, the franchise he played for last season.

Upcoming New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson, who scored the fastest ODI century smashing a 36-ball ton to breach the record set by Shahid Afridi in 1996, expectedly got a decent package of Rs 4.5 crore with the Mumbai Indians though there was strong buzz of him emerging as the highest paid from this auction.

Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson (Rs 6.5 crore, Kings XI Punjab), allrounder Glenn Maxwell (Rs 6 crore, Kings XI Punjab), Indian opener Murali Vijay (Rs 5 crore, Delhi Daredevils), South African allrounder Jacques Kallis (Rs 5.5 crore, Kolkata Knight Riders), Robin Uthappa (Rs 5 crore, KKR), West Indian batsman Dwayne Smith (Rs 4.5 crore, Chennai Super Kings), Amit Mishra (Rs 4.25 crore, Sunrisers Hyderabad) and Aaron Finch (Rs 4 crore, SRH) were some of the players who triggered intense bidding in the auction.

"It's a grand affair and every edition IPL has grown bigger. The seventh edition would be no exception, it will be grander and more entertaining for fans and franchises," IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal said before the start of the starstudded auction where Bollywood actors and business tycoons were present.

Actress Preity Zinta, co-owner of Kings XI Punjab, Juhi Chawla, co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, businessman Vijay Mallya, Nita Ambani (Mumbai Indians), cricketers Rahul Dravid (Rajasthan Royals), Anil Kumble (Mumbai Indians) were among the celebrities present at the auction which was beamed live.

Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, former New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor, Australian T20 specialist Cameron White, who captained SRH for a while last season, West Indian Marlon Samuels, pacer Daniel Christian and England batsman Ian Bell surprisingly found no buyers. Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, batsman David Hussey and retired pacer Brett Lee also suffered a similar fate but all the unsold players can come back into auction on Thursday.

Yuvraj, a cancer survivor, fetching such a huge price tag came as a massive surprise since the left-hander is no longer in the ODI team due to poor form though he was picked in the squad for the World Twenty20 Championship in Bangladesh. "The team is looking stronger with him," said RCB co-owner Vijay Mallya even though he admitted that he ended up paying Rs 4 crore more than what he had planned. Similar was the case of Karthik, who does not figure in the Indian team, but generated immense interest among the franchises.

At a base price of Rs 2 crore, there was a bidding

Yuvraj Singh gets Rs14 crore from Royal Challengers and Dinesh Karthik clinched Rs12.5 crore from Delhi Daredevils

Preity Zinta's happy with her IPL players

New Delhi (TNN): Bollywood actress Preity Zinta seems mighty thrilled with her players. The actress, who is in Bangalore for the IPL Auction, was the only one to address the media twice. After the first round of bidding, she walked across to the media and expressed her joy.

Preity said, "I'm very happy with my team. We knew exactly who we wanted and we're glad to have got a lot of them. Shawne Punjab is back and he's our boy."

The actress also said that she had to do a lot of thinking before deciding on her list of players. A change from last time is that the actress has focused on taking on a lot more Indian players on the Punjab team. She said, "Last time, a lot of people said there are hardly any Indian players in the Punjab team. So, we decided on taking on our boys." Preity, who has lost tons of weight, also said that she wouldn't give out her entire list of players as yet. war between Delhi and Hyderabad for him before KKR also jumped into the fray. But Delhi seemed persistent and in the end, outbid the other two contenders. The 33-yearold Pietersen was always expected to be a hot pick given that he would be available all through the season post his forced retirement from international cricket.

So it came as no surprise that his name triggered a three-way bidding between CSK, KXIP and Delhi. The player eventually went to Delhi, who exercised the 'Right to Match' provision to grab him being his former employers.

Kallis was taken by KKR through the same provision after initial bidding war between CSK and Delhi.

Veteran Indian opener Virender Sehwag (base price Rs 2 crore), who had been released by Delhi, went to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 3.2 crore. The India discard's name was all set to be hammered in as unsold before Punjab bought his services fending off bids from Mumbai Indians.

Australian all-rounder Steve Smith was bought

by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 4 crore while Sri Lankan Thisara Perera went to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 1.6 crore. Hard-hitting Indian all-rounder Yusuf Pathan was re-bought by KKR for Rs 3.25 crore, South Africa's Quinton de Kock was grabbed by Delhi Daredevils for Rs 3.5 crore. The name of Anderson, who had a base price of Rs 1 crore, was expected to generate the buzz and it did with Rajasthan Royals and RCB opening the bid. Mumbai Indians took little time in jumping into the fray, followed by the Delhi Daredevils. Delhi backed out when the Kiwi sensation's price crossed the Rs 4 crore mark. For a while Sunrisers Hyderabad also tried their luck but Nita Ambani's Mumbai were determined to clinch his services. Uthappa, another player who has not been in the Indian team for long, again managed to get a good deal of Rs 5 crore with KKR. He had gone for Rs 9.6 crore in the 2011 auction.

The Pathan brothers, Yusuf and Irfan, had to be content with a much lower package this time around after a combined collection of approximately Rs 18 crore in the 2011 auction. While Yusuf got Rs 3.25 crore (KKR), Irfan fetched a deal of Rs 2.4 crore (Sunrisers Hyderabad) this year.

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