13th May 2014

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Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 129

The Morung Express

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Boko Haram offers to swap kidnapped girls for prisoners

Alleged exflame lodges complaint against Aishwarya

[ PAGE 9]

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

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It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them

CRP Rounds begin in SRLM Nagaland [ PAGE 2]

‘Should minorities be deprived of quality education?’

[ PAGE 11]

[ PAGE 8]

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Confucius

Nadal, Maria win Madrid Open titles [ PAGE 12]

official: Noke withdraws BJP on course to inIt’sinterest of unity, stability victory: exit Polls Morung Express news Dimapur | May 12

Please transfer him to some rural area. He gets beaten up by drivers...everyday!

The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn

Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Has the Church and civil society organizations been silent over poll malpractices in Nagaland?

Yes

no

Others

Kohima DEO informs on scholarship, stipend KOHIMA, MAY 12 (MExN): The Kohima District Education Officer (DEO) has informed all concerned beneficiaries and authorities of respective educational institutions under the DEO Kohima, that Scholarship/Nagaland Stipends and Special Stipends under Children Education Assistance Fund (CEAF) for the academic session 2013 is being disbursed beginning Thursday, May 15. A notification stated that the scholarships/stipends are being distributed from the office of the Kohima DEO during office hours.

Corrigendum Apropos to the news item under the headline ‘NSCN (IM) leaders to leave for Delhi on May 13,’ it is hereby clarified that the ‘Naga Concordant’ and the ‘Lenten Agreement’ was signed between the NSCN (IM), GPRN/NSCN and NNC/ FGN. The inadvertent error is regretted.

Defence ministry recommends Lt. Gen. Suhag as next army chief

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NEw DElHI, MAY 12 (IANS): The defence ministry Monday recommended the name of Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag to the cabinet committee on appointments as the next Indian Army chief, sources said. The move comes as the Election Commission gave the government the goahead for appointing the new army chief before it demits office. The cabinet committee is expected to clear Lt. Gen. Suhag’s name in a day or two. The new army chief is generally named two months before the incumbent retires. Indian Army Chief Gen. Bikram Singh retires July 31. The BJP had opposed appointment of the new army chief by the outgoing government.

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People wait in a queue to cast their votes at a polling station in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh on May 12. Millions of voters wrapped up a mammoth national election Monday, braving the searing sun on the final day of polling with the BJP candidate seen as the front-runner for prime minister. India has been voting in phases over six weeks, with results expected on Friday. (AP Photo)

NEw DElHI, MAY 12 (IANS): The BJP-led NDA coalition is poised to return to power by winning a majority in the Lok Sabha, ending a decade of Congress-led UPA rule, exit polls said Monday after the general election ended.

Three exit polls projected the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance between 272 and 289 seats in the 545-member Lok Sabha where two members are nominated by the government. The India TodayCICERO exit poll and the ABP-Nielsen survey predicted 272 or more seats for the NDA, in which the BJP is the dominant partner.

While the India TodayCICERO gave the Congressled United Progressive Alliance (UPA) 115 seats and other parties 156, the ABPNielsen tally for the Congress grouping was 110. Projections by India TV-CVoter put the NDA on top with 289 seats and the UPA far behind

2014 election sees highest ever voter turnout at 66.38% NEw DElHI, MAY 12 (IANS): The national voter turnout of 66.38 percent in the 2014 general election was the highest ever in Indian polls, the Election Commission said Monday. “The voting percentage for the whole nation this time was 66.38 percent, which is the highest ever in history,” Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi said at a press conference here. He added that the national voting percentage was likely to increase marginally later.

The previous highest voter turnout was recorded in 1984 which was 64 percent. The turnout this time is considerably higher than 2009, which saw a 58.19 percent turnout. Zutshi said that 15 states and union territories have recorded their highest ever turnout while 32 states and union territories recorded a turnout which was higher than 2009. with 101. Other groups were projected to get 148 seats and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) five seats nationally.

Going by the projections, the Congress - India’s oldest political party could end up with its lowest tally ever in the Lok Sabha, perhaps in just two figures.

The BJP, led by its prime

ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, said the exit polls were on expected lines. Its leaders insisted that the party was sure to get a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha.

“Wherever we went during campaigning, it was clear that people wanted a change (in government),”

Diesel price hiked by Rs.1.09 a litre

NEw DElHI, MAY 12 (IANS): State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) Monday hiked diesel price by Rs.1.09 a litre excluding taxes, effective from midnight Monday. The raise in price was in line with the policy of reducing under-recoveries or losses. The OMCs had skipped two monthly price revisions earlier due to the election process which ended after last the phase

of polling Monday.

“As the proposed (price) change has not been accepted by the Election Commission, the OMCs are required to effect both the price increases together. Further, as a result of non-increase of prices since 1.4.14, there is a small impact which is also required to be passed on in the price of Diesel,” Indian Oil said in a statement.

party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said. “They also wanted Modi to lead the country.”

A dispirited Congress did not accept defeat, but a party leader, Rashid Alvi, said rising food prices certainly worked against the Congress all across the country. The exit polls gave the BJP and its allies far more seats than the Congress-led UPA in northern, western and central India. Only some parts of the country’s south held hope for the Congress.

ABP News-Nielsen said the BJP would make huge gains in the populous states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra which together account for 168 crucial Lok Sabha seats. According to it, the NDA would get 46 of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, from where Modi is fighting one of his two Lok Sabha elections. A fourth exit poll, on CNN-IBN, said the BJP was expected to do unusually well in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu where traditionally it has been weak.

The suspense over the successor of Neiphiu Rio as the next Chief Minister has been laid to rest with senior most NPF legislator and Minister for PHED, Noke Wangnao, officially withdrawing his candidature.

“The ongoing political impasse over the post of Chief Minister has been of deep concern for me, and my sympathizers,” stated Wangnao in a letter to NPF president, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, and Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio. He informed that the decision was taken after a series of consultations with Konyak Legislators, Members of the ENLU and other Members of the NPF “who are in station,” as well as in “the greater interest of the unity of the party, the stability of the government and the larger interest of the people of the State.”

“As requested by them, (I) have decided to withdraw my candidature for the post of the Chief Minister after Neiphiu Rio relinquishes office of the Chief Minister. I hope that my gesture will pave way or a smooth transition of power which the need arises,” he wrote.

With Wangnao’s withdrawal, the path has been paved for Minister for Planning & Co-ordination, TR Zeliang, to take over as Chief Minister of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN-III) comprising of the NPF, BJP and JD (U), if Rio goes to New Delhi.

Reliable sources from Kohima said NLA Speaker, Chotisuh Sazo, left Monday afternoon from Kohima to hand over Wangnao’s withdrawal letter to TR Zeliang’s camp, presently camping at Iora Retreat, Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

In recent weeks, NPF witnessed internal crisis after Neiphiu Rio decided to forfeit the CM’s post and contested the just concluded LS election. NPF sources disclosed that initially there were three senior NPF legislators in the race for the next CM including Home minister Kaito Sema besides Wangnao and Zeliang.

After Sema’s reported withdrawal from the race, the heat was upped with rumors of “horse trading” and “portfolio allocation” doing the rounds to bag the CM’s seat, even before Rio has abandoned it.

“The turn of events must have hurt Rio as it was like delivering a coffin to a person before his actual demise. After providing stability to NPF-led DAN for 11 years, the present tussle among some NPF legislators and partymen in the race to choose the next CM is what Rio would least ex-

Kohima | May 12

The first all women post office in Nagaland was inaugurated here today at PR Hill Sub Post office, Belho Complex by the Chief Postmaster General NE Circle, Shillong, PK Swain. The newly inaugurated PR Hill branch is the first all women post office in the state and the fourth in the northeast region after Agartala, Shillong and Aizawl, and is manned by sub post master Neikuo Angami along with 3 women staffers.

PK Swain said that India Post provides the biggest form of connectivity with 1.55 lakh POs across the length and breadth of the country. Maintaining that post offices touch everybody’s lives in some way or the other, he said that the department will be modernizing their services soon in a big way in terms of technology. He also an-

nounced that core banking solutions will be introduced very soon.

He added that the all women post office is dedicated to the women folk, as a tribute to the women of Nagaland who he said are “very educated and talented”. Director of postal services, Nagaland, Som Kamei, in his welcome address, informed that women make up to 40 to 50% of the work staff in PO’s. He assured to provide all services to the newly inaugurated PO and expressed optimism that postal service in the state will improve. The inaugural program was chaired by Sungjemlila while vote of thanks was pronounced by ASPOs, Kohima sub-division K.I. Singh.

The second all women post office in Nagaland will be inaugurated by Nagaland Chief Secretary, Banuo Z Jamir. P.K. Swain, Chief Postmaster General, N.E. Circle, Shillong will be the Guest of Honour.

Rio welcomes Noke’s decision Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, has welcomed the decision of Noke Wangnao to “withdraw his candidature” for the post of CM “if I am elected as an MP and I relinquish the post.”

“The mature decision taken by him will now pave the way for a smooth transition, and ensure the togetherness of the party and the government,” Rio stated in a press note. He remained hopeful that Wangnao’s withdrawal from the “leadership race” will further strengthen the party “as we all strive collectively to provide a stable government that will continue to work towards economic development and achievement of permanent peace.”

Appreciating Wangnao’s “noble gesture” that has shown “his maturity in leadership and his deep concern and care of the regional party and the people of the State,” Rio remained confident that the new leadership “will be able to provide good governance to all sections of the people.” He assured all rank and file of the party and all legislators of the DAN his “fullest cooperation” as they “strive together to deliver the goods to the people and continue to work towards achievement of an honorable political solution that will usher in permanent peace.”

nurses: the Heart of Health care International Nurses’ Day observed in Kohima

First all women post office in Nagaland Our Correspondent

pect,” said an NPF loyalist.

Wangnao’s withdrawal comes against the backdrop of the “latest headcount” among the 38 NPF legislators, out of which 27 had reportedly appended their signatures in favour of Zeliang. In addition, at least three MLAs from NCP and all eight Independent MLAs joined the TR Zeliang camp. When contacted, convenor of Independent MLAs Forum, Thomas Lotha, who is also camping at the Kaziranga resort, informed over phone that all 8 Independent MLAs had decided to support Zeliang for the sake of “political stability.”

“We were all with Rio but since he is expected to go to Delhi, we Independent MLAs also have to think about our survival here. The main issue is not with us but among the NPF legislators. Since TR Zeliang has the command of 27 NPF legislators, we have to back the majority group for political stability. After all, I think none of us legislators are ready to face another election,” Lotha added.

With the odds stacked against Wangnao, it was reported that some senior NPF cabinet ministers including Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio held a series of meetings today in Kohima. With the decks now cleared, sources informed that the Kaziranga campers would be returning Tuesday.

nurses at the commemoration of International nurses’ Day in Kohima on Monday.

Vibi Yhokha Kohima | May 12

“Nurses are not just a force for change but a force to reckon with. Without them, we are disabled,” said Dr Vikeyie Losou, Managing Director of Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), during the International Nurses’ Day held on May 12.

Under the theme, ‘Nurses: A Force for Change- a vital resource for health,’ the International Nurses Day was commemorated in Kohima at the DBT Conference Hall, NHAK. Tiamenla Jamir, Secretary, Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), local branch Kohima, who chaired the event, said that

nurses have come a long way in a few short decades. She stated that in the past, the focus of Nurses was on physical, mental and emotional healing and now the focus is on healing lives, the environment and the planet.

“Nurses are the largest health professionals and only available health workers to the population. They are at the heart of our health care,” said Watimongla, Vice Principal, School of Nursing, NHAK; who gave an introduction to the theme. She focused on redefining nursing workforce planning, nursing workload measurement, improving learning and outcomes and importance of environment.

Dr Vikeyie reminded the

nurses present at the event about Florence Nightingale, whose personality brought historical recognition to the nursing profession. Nightingale had once stated, ‘I have simply done my Master’s work.’ Referring to this quote, Dr Vikeyie asserted that Nursing is a calling from God and added, “As you step into the profession, you will touch the hearts and lives of the sick. Words we utter can have a great impact on a person lying on the sick bed.

We can either boost a sick person or defeat his spirit through our words.”

Dr Vikeyie also exhorted the nurses to embrace technology in every step of the way and develop a progressive attitude. “We take back what we give. If you see someone or your patient without a smile, why don’t you give him a smile of yours,” added Dr. Vikeyie.

Each year, the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale is celebrated as International Nurses’ Day and events are initiated to engage the public by organizing events such as sports and talks in schools and colleges.

This year the TNAI Kohima branch decided to visit the patients at NHAK and contribute monetary donations.

Tiamenla Jamir expressed hope that Nurses’ Day gets embedded in public conscience and that it becomes an annual celebration.

‘Why we do what we do’

Ketusieü Zao, one of the oldest surviving nurses in nagaland.

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t a young age, when Ketusieü Zao (now 87 years old) was being treated in the hospital for Malaria, she saw the nurses dressed in their white uniform taking care of the sick. “I really loved how the nurses cared for the sick, and there and then I decided to become a nurse,” she says.

Born in 1927, Ketusieü is perhaps one of the oldest surviving nurses in Nagaland who joined the nursing profession in 1952. She worked as a nurse from 1955 till she retired as the State Nursing Superintendant in 1989. “We enjoyed working together. There was a lot of understanding among the nurses too,” says Ketusieü, who asserts that ‘empathy’ is essential to being a nurse. Ketusieü is also of the view that with the improvement of Science, nurses in Nagaland have also improved and adds, “Today’s nurses are much better than what we were then.” Ask her what her main concerns are in being a nurse she says, “You need to be healthy to nurse the sick and you also need to treat each patient equally. And lastly a smile- it is a big encouragement to the sick.”

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Dimapur

Tuesday

LocaL

13 May 2014

MEx File

Info to collect library books Dimapur, may 12 (mExN): The Registering Officer, Department of Art & Culture, Dimapur has informed all registered Rural Libraries (registered up to 2012-2013) under Dimapur district to collect library books from the new office complex of Registering Office, department of Art & Culture, Tenyiphe-1, near St. Joseph School Chumukedima, Dimapur within May 15 to August 15, 2014. A press note from the department informed that each recipient library is requested to bring their library round seal and president/ secretary/librarian seal. Books will not be issued to unauthorized person or without official seals.

LFA-Nagaland advocacy prog Dimapur, may 12 (mExN): Legislators’ Forum on AIDS (LFA-Nagaland) will be organizing an advocacy programme on HIV/AIDS at VK Town, Zunheboto and Lotsu Village, Wokha on May 14. Guest speaker at VK Town will be MLA Khekaho Assumi while MLA and Chairman NSMDC Thomas Ngullie will b ethe guest speaker at Lostu village.

NUV Council elects Dimapur, may 12 (mExN): The Naga United Village Council (NUVC) held meeting on May 3 at the Council Hall. The house elected Kuthokü Shijoh as chairman, K Lokho as secretary and 11 VCM.

PLCC request for cooperation Kohima, may 12 (mExN): The Panchayat Lower Chandmari Colony has requested to give full cooperation to SIPMIU house mapping and data collection under KMC. The officials have been authorized to collect detail report of households and to provide necessary facilities.

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DDOs directed on NPS documents Kohima, may 12 (mExN): All the subordinate DDOs are informed that due to inaccurate and incomplete submission of New Pension Scheme (NPS) documents particularly with regards to the Treasury Challan, which is being submitted in incomplete form either with the seal and signature of the Treasury Officer or the TV No. missing, the Department is not in a position to submit the NPS documents to Directorate of Treasuries and Accounts within the stipulated time.

Therefore, all subordinate DDOs are directed to submit the New Pension Scheme (NPS) in accordance with the provisions of the said scheme on or before May 31, failing which salary for the next month will be withheld for the defaulting DDO. It is to be noted that the loss of interests to the subscriber will be the sole responsibility of the DDO concerned and therefore will be recovered from the defaulting DDO. This was informed in a press release issued by Kesonyu Yhome, IAS, principal director, Directorate of School Education.

School Eco clubs requested to observe WED 2014

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Dimapur, may 12 (mExN): All school Eco clubs under the National Green Corps Programme are requested to observe the forthcoming World Environment Day on June 5.

The theme for this year’s WED is “Small Islands and Climate Change” and the official slogan for the year 2014 is “Raise your voice, not the sea level”.

A press release issued

by Rusovil John, Member Secretary (NPCB) & State Nodal Officer (NGCP) Nagaland has stated that activities that can be taken up on World Environment Day are cleanliness drive in the school campus; plant a few tree saplings and see to it that it grows into a tree; and organize seminar/drawing/painting programmes.

All school Eco Clubs under the National Green Corps Programme are directed to contact the respective Divisional Forests Officers (DFOs) and Deputy Commissioner Longleng

for Longleng district and Wild Life Warden Kiphire for Kiphire district and take the seed money of Rs 2500 only per Eco Club.

National Green Corps Programme (Eco Club) is a National Programme to create environmental awareness among school children. Schools can show their concern for the environment by taking part in this national program.

Schools not included in the list, should write to the DFO (DC and Wild Life Warden for Longleng and Kiphire respectively) for inclusion.

For government-upgraded schools- E.g. When a Government Primary School is upgraded to Government Middle School, GMS will be included and not both.

The list can be checked from the DFO’s office (DC and WLW for Longleng and Kiphire respectively) or from the NPCB office. Eco Clubs can also contact the office at ngc.nagaland@yahoo.com

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CRP Rounds begin in SRLM Nagaland

Kohima, may 12 (mExN): As part of the Resource Block Strategy under NRLM, implementation of the CRP rounds for Social Mobilization and Institution Building began on May 12 in all the 9 Intensive Blocks of Nagaland.

A press note informed that altogether, 12 Professional Resource Persons (PRPs), 24 Community Resource Persons (CRPs) from OMPLIS, Orvakal Block Federation, Kurnool District, AP, along with 36 Women Activists (potential Internal CRPs) from Nagaland will be engaged for roll out of the CRP Strategy.

The CRP Teams will be completing 180 days of Village Stay during the FY 2014-15 in each resource block. It is expected that the CRP Teams will cover 7785 poor HH into 865 SHGs by mobilizing Poorest of the Poor (PoP) women through Participatory Identification

Orientation programme on CRP strategy held at AIDA, Dimapur on May 9. In the picture are Smita Jacob, State Anchor, NRLM & Consultant UNDP; Poulomi, State Anchor, NRLM; M. Lotha, Addl. Secretary & Mission Director, NSRLM and M. Rollan Lotha, Dy. CEO, NSRLM with PRPs and CRPs and BPMs, NSRLM.

of Poor (PIP).

In this regard, an orientation programme was held on May 9 at AIDA, Dimapur where M Rollan Lotha Dy. CEO (Programs) briefed the

CRP Teams on Implementation Strategy and roll out plans. As per the plan each round will comprise of 45 days and 4 rounds will be completed by March 2015

(180 Days). Each round will cover 3-4 villages with 1015 days of Village Stay. After completion of each round, a State Level Review Meeting will be held, where all Tri-

partite MoU Parties will be participating. Smt. Smita Jacob, State Anchor, NMMU/ MoRD and Consultant for UNDP, who is on official visit to the State, encour-

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aged the State Mission and the CRP Teams on the need for commitment to achieve program quality standards while implementing the CRP Strategy. She also expressed full confidence on the NSRLM Team in achieving the proposed targeted outcomes and hoped that NSRLM becomes a Resource State providing support to NE Region and elsewhere. Motsuthung Lotha, Addl. Secretary and Mission Director, NSRLM briefed the gathering and solicited for coordination among the PRPs, CRPs, Block Mission Management Units and Women Activists for smooth implementation of the CRP strategy. He further requested for sincerity and dedication at all levels.

During the program, Block Program Managers along with the PRPs gave block-wise PowerPoint presentations on District details.

JOK felicitates NPSC successful candidates NERC amend regulations

ATM booth installed at SBI Tseminyu branch TsEmiNyu, may 12 (Dipr): SBI Tseminyu Branch inaugurated the recently installed first ATM booth of the sub-division on May 10 at its premises.

Inaugurating the long awaited and much needed ATM booth ADC Tseminyu, Vikhweno Meratsu congratulated the SBI officials for taking the sub-division a step further towards development by introducing the ATM to the one of the oldest sub-division of the State. She urged the citizens to make use of the machine not only for withdrawing cash but also to explore other important facilities, which it provides.

Branch Manager, Gwanile Khing in her welcome speech emphasized on the importance of the ATM as modern necessity both in urban and rural areas and expressed optimism that it would solve the banking needs of the people to a great extend. She also expressed gratitude to the higher authority for responding to the needs of the people in installing the machine.

During the inaugural function Keny Tep, Kelesha Kath, President RMA and Thilo Tsela of Tseminyu Union also delivered short speeches. Athon Khing, Pastor Tseminyu Town Baptist Church pronounced invocation prayer.

The Morung Express

Successful candidates of NPSC along with Deputy Secretary NPSC Kelhouseto Kakhro during the 10th annual meeting-cum-felicitation programme on May 10. (DIPR Photo)

JoTsoma, may 12 (Dipr): The Jotsoma Officers’ Krotho (JOK) held its 10th annual meeting-cumfelicitation program for NPSC successful candidates at Centenary compound Jotsoma on May 10 with Deputy Secretary NPSC, Kelhouseto Nakhro as the speaker.

Speaking at the function, Kelhouseto expressed his happiness on the exemplary performances exhibited by the successful candidates and bringing laurels to

the village. He encouraged the upcoming aspirants of competitive exams to focus on SSC exams besides state services. He also asked the JOK members to contribute to the village particularly intellectual input whenever necessary.

Altogether, 7 (Seven) NPSC successful candidates were felicitated. Thejavizo Nakhro EAC (P) and Rorheu Peseyie EAC (P) shared their experiences on how they accomplished

their goals. Both of them were given a memento along with cash reward of Rs. 50,000 each.

Lily Angami and Dr. Kuokehiebei Gwirie and friends presented special numbers. Pastor CRC Jotsoma, Pekruyabi Rino invoked God’s blessing.

President JOK, Er. Kevide Nakhro chaired the programme while Vice President JOK, Kenilhusa Senotsu, proposed vote of thanks.

Kohima, may 12 (Dipr): The Nagaland Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Nagaland has notified on the amended NERC (Renewable Purchase Obligation and its Compliance) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the Principal Regulations), namely: 1. Short title and commencement: (1) These Regulations may be called the Nagaland Electricity Regulatory Commission (Renewable Purchase Obligation and its Compliance) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2014.

(2) These Regulations shall come into force from the date of its notification in the Nagaland Gazette.

2. Amendment to regulation 2 of the principal regulations: In Regulation 2 of the Principal Regulations, the existing Clause (2.1) shall remain as Clause (2.1) only but it shall be Replaced/Amended as under: At the request of the Licensee and after several discussions on the prevailing technical and other conditions of the LHE project which is in reality the only Renewable sourc of energy at present, the Commission herein specifies that for subsequent years the RPO targets are as per schedule below:

RENEwABLE PURChASE OBLIgAtION Of LICENSE

Year 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

RPO for Nagaland 6% 7% 8% 5% 5%

At the end of 2014-15, the Commission may, by order passed, re-fix the percentage for subsequent years depending on the acceptable justification. Provided that, if no such order is passed, the percentage specified for 2014-15 shall continue until it is revised.

Provided that 0.25% percentage point out of the total consumption shall be procured from generation based on solar as renewable energy source only; Provided further, that such obligation to purchase renewable energy shall be inclusive of the purchases, if any, from renewable energy sources already being made by concerned obligated entity; Also provided that the power purchases/produces by the Licensee from its own renewable energy sources shall be included in the obligation as specified hereinabove.

The Commission directs all Licensees to fulfill their RPO targets for both solar and non-solar for all six years i.e. 2010-11, 201112, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015- 16 cumulatively before March 31, 2016. Thus, the Commission hereby relaxes/waives the provisions of Regulation 2 of the NERC/ REGN/2013 Regulations, 2011 for any year during 2010-16 as a very special case considering the real technical realities prevailing in the State. The Commission also decides that no regulatory charges shall be applicable on Licensees for non fulfillment of RPO targets during 2010-16 provided that the same shall be fulfilled on a cumulative basis before March 31, 2016 based on the RPO percentage fixed/to be fixed by the Commission.

All other Regulations of the NERC (Renewable Purchase Obligation and its Compliance) Regulations, 2011 shall remain unchanged.

HSLC toppers honoured with Ashikho Daili Trust Award

Kohima, may 12 (mExN): The Ashikho Daili Trust for Academic Excellence Award under the aegis of the Mao Union Kohima held a felicitation programme on May 11 at the auditorium of the Modern College Kohima in honour of the toppers and successful candidates of HSSLC/HSLC Exam 2014 conducted by the NBSE. MUK General Secretary D. Neli Koso informed in a press release that the Ashikho Daili Trust for Academic Excellence Award carries a cash award and a citation. The four HSLC topper recipients were Echeni Arche 31st position;

Ariini Victoria Lajio 44th position; Saziini H. Chorosho 46th position and Athili Anthony 50th position.

Besides cash awards and citations by ADTAEA, the Mao Union Kohima feted all other HSSLC/HSLC successful candidates who were present on the occasion and a small token of appreciation was given for their success.

The programme started with a prayer by Rev. K. Losii Mao, Pastor Mao Baptist Church Kohima followed by self-introductions of the successful HSLC candidates. In his welcome note, L. Athikho Lirite president MUK congratulated the

successful candidates. In his address, the president stated, “In honour of their dedication and sincerity we are celebrating today.

The success that you bring is a laurel for us and to the community at large. The road to success is bitter and hard but the fruit it bears is sweet and soothing. Set a goal with a strong determination that will ultimately lead to success in life.”

Daziini presented a special number representing the Mao Students’ Union Kohima. Before giving away the awards, the founder of the Trust, A. Daili congratulated the successful candidates and

in his short speech stated, “This day is a memorable day. It is a proud moment for all of us. Let us remember and thank God for His kindness” A. Daili later gave away the cash awards of Rs.10,000/- and a citation to each of the four HSLC toppers.

Speech on behalf of the parents of the successful candidates was delivered by A. Kaikho Arche Senior Accountant, Office of the Accountant General (AG) Kohima, who stated “I thank the organizers for this opportunity, especially the family of A. Daili and his lady wife Mrs. Apele for being so generous in encour-

aging the students to excel”.

An exhortation was delivered by Nishini Hekha, Consultant, Department of Radiology Zion hospital Dimapur. Dr. Nishini in his address said, “As the trend in the world today is going global we should also think in terms of globalization and set a higher standard of goals for ourselves. We must excel in our studies because only with it comes good career opportunities” A. Kaihrii Chisiite, president, Mao students’ Union Kohima, conducted interviews of the toppers. S. Thohrii of Modern college Kohima presented a special song.

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In her speech, Apele, the chairperson of Ashikho Daili Trust for Academic Excellence Award stated that “We must commit ourselves to the Lord. We may be able to achieve certain thing through our own efforts but God’s wisdom is a must if one is to achieve better results. We should set our priorities in order and know our goals” Apele congratulated all the successful candidates.

James Athikho, Secretary Ashikho Daili Trust for Academic Excellence Award, delivered vote of thanks. H. Lokho, former president Mao Union Kohima, offered benediction.

International Nursing Day observed in Tsg “My Living Icon” winner felicitated in Jaipur

2nd year class presenting special song during the International Nursing Day held at tuensang on May 12. (DIPR Photo)

TuENsaNg, may 12 (Dipr): International Nursing Day was observed at Chapel Hall Tuensang organised by trained Nurses Association of India Tuensang Branch (TNAI) under the theme “Nurses: A force for Change, A vital Resource for the Health” on May 12. Doctors, Pastors Union, NGOs, representation from Chongpu Khel Union, Senior

Nurses and the Students nurses, attended the programme.

President Tuensang Branch, Chubala TNAI, chaired the programme while the Nursing Superintend Tuensang, Hisule Keppen Khing, initiated the introduction to the theme. Medical Superintend in-charge of Tuensang Hospital, Dr. Hatlhing Hangsing gave an exhortation where she encouraged the stu-

dents Nurses by stating a phrase “enjoyment is not a goal oriented activity but it is a feeling in the ongoing activity”. She also stated that enthusiasm and devotions should be the base in the work without which one will not find enjoyment in the work. Speakers from different NGOs also conveyed Happy International Nursing Day and best wishes in their service endeavours.

Dimapur, may 12 (mExN): Imtinunchet Aier, a class 8 student of The Maple Tree school, Dimapur was the only national winner from the North East in the essay and painting competition held at NEZCC Dimapur on February 13 on the theme “My Living Icon” organised by INTACH ( Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) on a national level.

Director of Maple Tree School said in a press release that Imtinunchet painted Alobo Naga on the theme ‘My Living Icon’ where participants had to select a living person from his region. He was one of the 11 national winners selected from around 6000 entries, which is quite an achievement. The national winners were felicitated in Jaipur, Rajasthan from May 4 to 6.

His Art teacher Aten Nokdir of The Maple Tree School accompanied Imti on his free trip. During the stay, the awardees visited Amber Fort, The City Palace Museum, Rangotri block printing factory, Jaigarh water walk, Anokhi block printing museum, Jan-

Imtinunchet Aier

tar Mantar, Hawa Mahal and other cultural and natural landmarks of Jaipur. Eminent socialist D.R. Mehta (Founder and Chief Patron of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) presented the award.

He is also an Awardee of one of the highest Indian civilian awards for his contribution to social cause.

C M Y K

REgional

The Morung Express

Tuesday

13 May 2014

Dimapur

3

India seeks to forge closer connectivity with ASEAN

India looking at bus service between Imphal and Mandalay; Mizoram and Myanmar cities

New Delhi, May 12 (iaNS): Seeking to forge closer connectivity with the Asean grouping, India is looking at a bus service between Imphal in Manipur and Mandalay in Myanmar, and another road connection linking Mizoram with Myanmar, a top official said Monday.

Addressing an international conference on cross-border connectivity here, Anil Wadhwa, secretary (East) in the ex-

ternal affairs ministry, said a free trade agreement (FTA) with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on services and investments would be ready for inking during the meeting of their economic ministers later this year. An FTA with the Asean on trade and goods was inked in 2009.

"Under the East Asia Summit, negotiations are progressing towards the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Trade volumes between Asean and India, Asean and Japan, Japan and India, and India and the US have been seeing incremental increase," he said. Listing the connectivity projects with the Asean,

Northeast Briefs NE student attacked in Delhi New Delhi, May 12 (iaNS): A 19-year-old Manipuri student was beaten up by four-five unidentified people here when he resisted their robbery attempt, police said Monday. The incident took place Sunday night in Mukherjee Nagar area when Cham Pamei had gone there to meet some friends. Pamei received injuries on his head in the attack but is said to be out of danger.

The attackers fled the spot upon seeing a motorcyclist passing by. The motorcycle rider rushed the victim to the Bara Hindu Rao hospital and called police. Pamei stays in Kotla Mubarakpur area of south Delhi and studies at NIIT. This year, around 10 cases of attacks, rape and robbery have been reported against people from the northeast in the national capital.

Rivers in spate threaten Tezu in Arunachal iTaNaGaR, May 12 (TNN): Incessant rain in the last couple of days has flooded several rivers in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh threatening Tezu, the district headquarters, and its adjoining villages. The Tezu Nallah, Shukha Nallah and Dening Nallah rivers in the district are in spate because of downpour in the last six days. The water resources department (WRD) is monitoring the flood situation in the district, recording and updating the water level and intensity of the rainfall. According to WRD sources, 363.6mm rainfall was recorded during the last deluge, which is a sign of alarming flood situation. Dharanpur, Deorigaon and other villages in Namsai sub-division are already flooded by the NoaDihing river and if the rain continues at the same rate, other villages will also be inundated. "Shukha Nallah is posing the greatest threat as it is eroding the newly built security wall of the Airports Authority of India's (AAI) advance landing ground (ALG) as well as other parts of the airport," WRD assistant engineer S K Srivastav said.

EC orders repolling in two booths in Arunachal iTaNaGaR, May 12 (PTi): The Election Commission (EC) has ordered repolling on 14 May at Richik and Chulla polling stations in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh. Repolling was ordered following rigging in the two polling stations, chief electoral officer Chandra Bhusan Kumar said in a statement on Monday. People would cast their votes for both assembly and Lok Sabha elections for the Arunachal West parliamentary constituency, he said.

Wadhwa said completion of the trilateral highway linking Moreh in India to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar was an "immediate priority".

Acceleration of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project that seeks to connect Kolkata port with Sittwe port in Myanmar by sea, as well as a river and road link, are also immediate priority, according to a press statement. Wadhwa said that in addition to the initial commitment of 160 km on the Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemiyo (TKK) road, India is committed to another 120 km on the Kalewa-Yargyi sector and upgradation of 71 bridges on the TKK section of the trilateral highway. "The feasibility

Aizawl | May 12

Visiting UN Mission Technical experts said today that Mizoram has a big potential in Eco-Tourism and Adventure Tourism.

The UN Team continues to visit different parts of Mizoram while carrying out ground study work for the proposed joint UN Mission to bring about progress and development to Mizoram in varied fields.

The UN Team today visited Zohanco Emporium at Chaltlang, Factory and Showroom of Hnamchhantu Pawl at Upper Republic Veng and Squash garden at Sihphir. Besides, they also held interaction with placement officials of Mizoram University at State Guest House. The UN Team members divided themselves into 3 groups to visit different places. Sandeep Tandon and Manjula Bhuyan, both from UNIDO, visited the work sites of ZohanCo and Hnamchhantu Pawl and studied their initiatives and their problems as well.

Sanjeev Kumar Gupta and Kalpana Tawakley, who are from UNDP, on the other visited squash gardens of Sihphir. The farmers acquainted them of their system of marketing their produce and of their several initiatives and problems.

Meanwhile, Antonio Palewal, from FAO, held interaction with Placement officials of Mizoram University at State Guest House, whereat they discussed over ways of joint venture between Mizoram University and UNO. The UN Mission Technical Team members, namely, Sandeep Tandon (UNIDO), Ms Manjula Bhyan (UNIDO), Ms Antonia Paliwal (FAO), Ms Kalpana Tawakley (UNDP), and Sanjeev Kumar Gupta (UNDP) had also yesterday visited Fodder Farm at Thenzawl run by AH & Vety Department.

The UN Mission Technical Team, after they visited the Fodder Farm in a wide 690 acre area along roadside, spoke of their wishes to the department officials that the location of the farm be shifted to other place, given that the present area, which is a good one, could be utilized for tourist attraction and for other purposeful things.

They also suggested that a proper record of the production of fodder and its profit per square metre be maintained.

They also stressed that any new step may be taken after proper study and even the would-be workers may be giv-

Asean and East Asia (ERIA) has already done a study projecting the potential for the sea-link between Dawei, in southeastern Myanmar, and Chennai".

"Maritime connectivity can be strengthened further between India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and production chains established from the Mekong region to the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the Mumbai-Bangaluru-Chennai Industrial Corridor, in addition to linking up with ports on the eastern seaboard of India such as Ennore, Vizag, Sagar etc. "Backend linkages through coastal shipping networks and riverine navigation will be important in this context so

as to generate sustainable volumes of trade related traffic," he said.

Wadhwa said the joint working committee on maritime connectivity would seek to establish a maritime link between India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. India has also proposed an "open sky policy" on cargo on a quid pro quo basis to the Asean. "This would help increase trade, especially in perishable commodities," he said. Wadhwa said Japan was "already partnering in someoftheimportantconnectivityinfrastructure projects in India, including the North East. "We should be able to define further specific steps for increasing this collaboration with our partners."

Congress leaders in Assam urge to snap ties with BPF GaUhaTi, May 12 (PTi): A section of Congress leaders in Assam today held coalition partner Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF) responsible for the recent violence in BTAD and urged the party leadership to snap ties with it. "The recent violence was the outcome of provocative statements made

by BPF leaders following the Lok Sabha elections and may be the NDFB(S) was used by political parties to carry out the attacks," senior Congress legislator and former Minister Anjan Dutta told reporters at Sibsagar.

Violence broke out in Baksa and Kokrajhar districts after BPF leader

and former Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma's alleged statement that the minorities had not voted for their candidate. "We demand the party leadership consider snapping ties with the BPF and recommend a CBI inquiry into the recent violence," said Dutta, who was flanked by two other party MLAs Debabrata Saikia and Sushanta Buragohain. He also demanded immediate amendment of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Accord.

The Congress leader also came down heavily on alleged dissidence by a section of state ministers and legisla-

tors demanding the removal of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. "Those ministers and Parliamentary secretaries opposing the Chief Minister should immediately resign. We will not allow the removal of the Chief Minister even if Congress gets less seats in the Lok Sabha polls," he added. He also demanded the immediate dismissal of Border Development Minister Siddeque Ahmed for allegedly supporting the AIUDF openly. He said a delegation of 27 Congress legislators would go to Delhi on May 22 and apprise the high command of the alleged dissident activities in the party's state unit.

For Direct Admission to

Relief from power cuts in Meghalaya ShillONG, May 12 (TNN): The streetlights in Shillong are once again beaming with the authorities having restored power to not only the capital town but others parts of the state too by ensuring reasonable generation from the Leishkha-Myntdu Hydel station and, more importantly making "part payment" to the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco), which has since resumed supply of uninterrupted power to the state.

"It was horrifying when the power was off and we had to deal with more than nine hours of power outages out of every 24 hours over the past couple of months," said Iqbal Hashmi, a high school student, who, like many others, had difficulty preparing for exams. "Thieves and other criminals had been on the prowl taking advantage of the

Mizoram has big EcoTourism potential: UN Newmai News Network

study for the Kalewa-Yargyi sector is currently under way. We are looking at an Imphal-Mandalay bus service and technical discussions are to begin.

"We also have an MoU with Myanmar for a project on the Rhi Tiddim Road. The Kaladan Multimodal Project in Myanmar includes road and inland waterway links to Sittwe port, as also the potential for collaboration in developing an industrial zone or SEZ in Sittwe."

Wadhwa said India was seeking to strengthen the rail network in the northeast and added that funding from the Asian Development Bank and World Bank would be welcome in this. He said the "Economic Research Institute for

en proper training.

Members of the UN Mission Team also visited Handloom owners and weavers at Thenzawl. The weavers apprised them of their several problems including their problem in procurement of raw materials, especially in procuring the colour they like.

On learning that their finished products are marketed to different parts of India and even abroad, the UN team members felt much encouraged, and expressed their will to help think for their progress, and also spoke of their plan to approach the government authority on their several needs.

Meanwhile, due to inclement weather, the UN Mission Technical Team could not visit PIGFED at Thenzawl and YMA Reserved Forest at Sailam village. Instead, they visited Tourist Resort at Hmuifang Tlang. The UN Team expressed their joy to see the vast expanse of green forest owned

by Mizoram, adding their perception that Mizoram has a bright future in Eco-Tourism and Adventure Tourism. It is necessary to take step in this regard, they said.

The UN Mission technical Team also on Saturday visited Lunglei District where they met with government officials besides NGOs and Society leaders.

Explaining the main purpose of their visit, the UN Team Leader Sandeep Tandon (UNIDO) said that UNO is planning to carry out development mission in 3 Indian States, which included Mizoram, and that they will begin their work in Mizoram.

They are now coming for ground study before starting the mission, he said.

Tandon further said that as the needs of the states are all different, they are to chalk out plans which shall help the Mizo people to develop and progress.

Besides, Sandeep Tandon, Manjula Bhuyan (UNIDO), Antonia Paliwal (FAO), Kalpana Tawakley (UNDP) and Sanjeev Kumar Gupta (UNDP) also spoke and said that they shall look widely into various fields considering the climate of Mizoram, its natural resources, bamboo and forest, electricity, handicraft, tourism societal administration.

Saying that they will also study the practice of shifting cultivation by the Mizo people while considering climatic change, the UN Team said that the main objective of UN Programme is ”food, livelihood, environmental security”.

long hours of load-shedding.

Thankgodpowerhasbeenrestored," said a domestic help.

The Meghalaya government recently sanctioned Rs 90 crore to the cash-strapped Meghalaya Electricity Corporation Limited (MeECL) to help pay its debts to Neepco, which stands at a whopping Rs 379.16 crore. "Rs 20 crore each will be paid in three monthly installments to cover both current dues and service outstanding dues," an official said.

In light of the first installment received, Neepco de-regulated power supply to Meghalaya, allowing the state to draw power of 30 MW during off-peak hours and up to 78 MW during peak hours in addition to approximately 12 MW of power being supplied from Kopili Hydro Electric Plant.

"In view of availability of additional power on account

of withdrawal of power regulation by Neepco, there is practically no load shedding in the state now," an MeECL official said. Reprieve for the citizens also came with the Myntdu-Leishka Hydel Project generating its optimum 126 MW capacity following heavy rain which fed the Myntdu and Leishka rivers, the two sources for the plant.

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Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM launched

Managing Director Nokia India P. Balaji displays Lumia 630 mobile phones during its launch in New Delhi, on Monday, May 12. (AP Photo)

New Delhi, May 12 (Firstpost): As expected, Nokia has finally launched the Lumia 630 in India with two models, starting at Rs 10,500.

The dual-SIM variant of the phone will be priced at Rs 11,500. The dual SIM variant will be available from May 14 while the single SIM variant will hit store shelves starting last week of May. It has been a little over two weeks since Microsoft completed Nokia device and services acquisition, and the company has now forayed into the lucrative dual-SIM market in India, while also keeping a single SIM variant in hand.

Built on the latest Windows platform, the Lumia 630 comes with support for 3G. It sports a 4.5-inch display with 480 x 854 pixels of resolution. Under the hood, it is powered by a quadcore Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 clocked at 1.2GHz and coupled with 512MB RAM. The Lumia 630 is the first Windows Phone 8.1 device, and is expected to usher in a new era of Lumia phones, under the Microsoft banner.

On the camera front, it gets a 5 megapixel auto focus camera. The 8GB onboard storage is expandable up to 128 GB via microSD card slot.

The connectivity options include Wi-Fi,3G, Bluetooth, GPS/A-GPS and GLONASS. In our hands on with the Lumia 630, we found it to be a handsome-looking phone that is available in a range of cornea-burning colours, clearly designed to appeal to the youth.

It is believed to be a launch platform for Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8.1 in the budget segment and we may see more refreshes of this handset by the end of the year.

Windows Phone has suddenly got very interesting and with features like Cortana and Universal Windows apps, we finally have a three horse race in the smartphone market.

Nokia is throwing in a bunch of free goodies with the Lumia 630. Vodafone users will get free 1GB 3G data for two months, a two month subscription to Box TV and Flipkart e-books worth Rs 2,000.

Nokia has also launched the Treasure Tag Bluetooth accessory and a Bluetooth minispeaker for the Indian market. The Treasure Tag, which can be programmed to perform various actions, and can also be used as a security device for your phone, is priced at Rs 2,099 and will be available from May 31. The Bluetooth speakers will be available for Rs 5,499 from late June onwards.

Former CS on ongoing confusion

I

am constrained to issue this rejoinder to the perplexing news item, as appeared in a Nagaland newspaper on 10th May 2014 that has attempted to attribute the entire on-going confusion in the State, concerning the choice of the Chief Minister of Nagaland, to me.

I have retired from bureaucracy just a few months ago and I am surprised that there are some people, who consider me to be so powerful and important, to be able to influence the entire political process of Nagaland and to be capable of directing the Hon’ble elected members to split the NPF Party and the DAN Government. No doubt I am an outspoken person and free in expressing my views. In some of my personal and private discussions, when asked my opinion, I have mentioned that it may be good to have a Chief Minister from the Eastern Naga areas in the better interest of the prevailing situation in the State. But that is purely a personal opinion and I have not taken it up at any political or policy platform. The story however, as brought out in the news item, is ludicrous and tantamount to demeaning the wisdom and intellect of the leaders who have been elected by the people to represent them, especially the senior, seasoned, leaders and members of the Nagaland Legislative Assem-

T

he perception has always been that if the principal knows your name, it means that you are in trouble far too often. This does not have to be the case.

The principal does not have to be the feared presence behind the closed door in the office. The principal must make an effort to get to know the student body of his or her school, and to be a face in the crowd at every given opportunity. If the principal wants to build closer relationships with students, then he or she should follow some tried and true strategies.

If a principal wants to build closer relationships with the student body, then they must make themselves known throughout the school. At every turn, the principal should make themselves visible, by walking the hallways at lunch, sashaying into classrooms from time to time and including themselves in discussions. Simply by getting out there, the principal can build closer relationships with the students. Due to

bly. Surely they are mature people, with great political acumen and wisdom, who can make political decisions of their own and do not need the directions or views of a retired bureaucrat for any of their political judgements.

Our family is grateful to the NPF party for giving a ticket to my son and the privilege to have been considered for a Cabinet berth in the Ministry. It defies logic that I would even think to try and dismantle the DAN Government or the NPF party, that too, at the behest of the Congress party. Whoever has thought up this story should at least try and input some sanity into their imagination and not concoct bazaar rumour as political stories or news scoops.

With regard to my alleged aspiration to be the advisor to the Chief Minster, let me make it amply clear that this has never been my desire, aspiration or intention. I have also not requested or suggested for such a post to anyone or even discussed such matters in the family.

The reasons are simple. In my bureaucratic career of about 37 years, my tenure as Secretary to the Chief Minister under Dr S.C. Jamir, for ten long years, was not by choice and it was the most strenuous and trying period of my entire service.

I had lived and worked under tremendous pressures, tensions and

time constraints, a principal cannot spend as much time as they would like mingling in the hallways, but a few minutes spent in the cafeteria during the lunch hour is beneficial. The principal spends the better portion of their day buried beneath piles of paperwork, peering up from files only to cast judgment on a student.

The principal rarely gets to see students other than the ne’er-do-wells and recalcitrant students that infiltrate the office on a daily basis. If a principal wishes to build a closer relationship with students, there are several key strategies that can be utilized. The principal was once a jovial teacher that was beloved by students, but is now feared due to his or her inhabitance of the office at the end of the dreaded hallway.

The student body is comprised of all sorts of people, and the principal should endeavour to meet all of them, regardless of their academic

and benefits nor involved in politics under Dr. S.C. Jamir. It was only in 2013, after a lapse of over fifteen years, that my son stood for elections with the NPF ticket, that was magnanimously given to him by Neiphiu Rio and the NPF Party, The people may judge the political reality of the press report and whether it is based on facts or conjectures.

Regarding the “Bedrock of Naga Society”, I have explained my position in detail through various press releases as also to the collective leadership of the NSCN in the presence of the Ao Senden leaders. The entire matter having been thus clarified, it is bewildering why and how the ‘Booklet’ issue has now been raised in connection with the present issue of Chief Ministership of Nagaland, which is basically an internal party matter of the NPF Party. The matter of the ‘Booklet’ being irrelevant to the present context, the mention of it is irrational and smacks of malicious and motivated politics.

I also find it quite uncharitable and unkind that the Reporter has stated that the attempts to take my views were futile. During my years in service it has been a common observation and even complaint that I was too accessible to the people and therefore, my refusal to meet or even talk to any journalist does not make any sense. I do not recollect any request from any journal-

ist for an interview. I also wonder why that was even mentioned in the news item. It does not seem professional at all and makes me question whether the Reporter is himself biased and politically motivated. The people and the media expect high degree of integrity from policy makers and it would be appropriate, if the principle of “practice what we preach” is applied to everyone.

The news item ironically acknowledges that I was a “blue eyed boy” of both Jamir and Rio. It means that I have worked with bureaucratic integrity and with sincerity, under whichever Government the people have voted to power. My actions have been in consonance with my belief in the supremacy of the will of the people in a democracy. Now that I am out of office and without any powers or any means to defend myself, it is actually pointless to kick around a person who is down and out.

Unless of course, the intention is to force me to join active politics, which is a matter for me to decide depending on whether I can contribute to the needs of the people of Nagaland. But for now, it is pointless to embroil a retired officer in news and stories that is baseless and needlessly mischievous and politically motivated.

Alemtemshi Jamir, (IAS Rtd)

stature. A principal can easily work with teachers, and find out when an appropriate time could be to come into a classroom, and to field questions. If the principal is seen as having nothing to hide, then he or she may be received in a nicer manner.

The principal can also spend some time before and after school greeting students as they enter the school or get off of the buses. The principal can take this opportunity to be seen as more friendly, since there is no need for discipline at this juncture. If the principal can get to know the names of as many students as possible, they will be seen as less of a scary figure. The principal can say hello to a small group by name, and perhaps ask the one or two students they do not know for their names. This will give the principal some street credit in terms of being a nice person.

The principal should come across as the stern disciplinarian, but they should also

strive to be seen as a friend or confidant. The principal can try and attend all sporting events, musical concerts, drama presentations, and any other extra-curricular activities that they can fit in to their lives. This will gain them the recognition factor, which will help them form some friendlier and closer relationships. The more that they get out there, the more recognizable they will become.

A principal can make every effort to seem like a regular person, doffing the persona of old fuddy-duddy.

When there are fund-raisers, or fun days within the school, the principal should make every effort to be included, and to show a playful side, a side that is willing to join in, and not to be there simply as the person in charge. Leadership dictates the feeling in and around the school, and the principal has some form of control over this. Another way that the principal can build closer relationships

with students is to be a model of consistency. In terms of disciplinary action, the principal should treat every student in exactly the same manner. When it seems, whether or not perceived or reality, that another student caught a more lenient punishment for the same offence, then it becomes a matter of negativity in which the students are under the impression that there are different rules for different students.

During the morning announcements, the principal should speak, and should be enthusiastic and cheery, and should also invite any student with a legitimate complaint or question to come forth, not hesitating to speak to the principal. This will show that the principal is approachable. If the principal ever makes a mistake, they should have the forthright integrity to come out and acknowledge the mistake. This will show their humane side.

With so many bright lights

and interesting stories scattered throughout the student body, the principal should make it a daily task to find out who these students are, and what makes them tick. Closer relationships are born when both parties are willing, so the principal needs to come across a little bit less imposing. The principal should have an open door policy, and should encourage all students to come and visit, either just to introduce themselves and say hi, or to come in and air their grievances. The principal, whether or not they are seriously entertaining any ideas, can play the ideas up as positive and possible, but can then blame the education act or school board policy for putting the kibosh on the idea.

If the student body feels as though the principal is there for their benefit, and not just for the lucrative paycheck, then closer relationships will be born in due time. After all, you cannot spell principal without the word pal.

Dr RK Behera Patkai Christian College (Autonomous)

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.

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

SUDOKU

even threats to my life trying to keep the systems going, during a most difficult period of the history of the State. At the end of the day my reward was however, only to be branded as the author of the ‘Bedrock’ and declared as ‘Anti Naga and Anti National’- a story that is still being painfully repeated in the present news item. I emerged from that office politically ostracized and without a single friend in the bureaucracy. I have no intention of repeating such an experience again. It is therefore, not clear how and from where this story has emerged. Since sources in one of the political camps has been quoted, I can only request the leaders not to be misled with such rumours and act or decide such wrong conceptions. It would be very immature to take vital political decisions that will affect the future of the people of Nagaland, based on rumours and figments of imagination.

As regards my relationship with Dr S.C. Jamir and through him, with the Congress party, it is to be clarified that everything in life is not necessarily connected to politics. There are aspects of life that are social. It is also a known fact that after the demise of my father, late N.I. Jamir in 1996 and my cousin brother, late Imtimeren Jamir in 1998, none of my family members have taken any political privilege

Principals and students

_

LEISURE

The Morung Express

Game Number # 2875

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2882

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 # 2874

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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The Solar System.

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ACROSS 1.Murres 5. Adult male sheep 9. Tumbled 13. Backside 14. Site of the Trojan War 16. Double-reed woodwind 17. Not stiff 18. Bread from Heaven 19. Debauchee 20. Sound of contempt 22. Basics 24. Calamitous 26. The general activity of selling 27. Blight 30. Ancient ascetic 33. Popular terrier 35. Listened to 37. Calypso offshoot 38. Dirty fogs 41. Compete 42. Abominable snowmen 45. Not an equinox 48. Colorful wrap 51. Dilute acetic acid 52. Work dough 54. Bluefin 55. Courier 59. Large indefinite quantity

62. Chocolate cookie 63. Communion table 65. Digestive juice 66. Verse 67. Apprehensive 68. Give temporarily 69. Feudal worker 70. Tall woody plant 71. Terminates

DOWN 1. Website addresses 2. Wreckage 3. Intemperate 4. Notify 5. Border 6. Winglike 7. Subtract 8. Topped ice cream serving 9. Anticipate 10. Black, in poetry 11. Boor 12. Dregs 15. Posts 21. Stepped 23. Netting 25. Historical periods 27. Not difficult 28. “Omigosh!”

29. Shade tree 31. Pilotage

32. Genus of heath 34. Dawn goddess 36. Bambi was one 39. Governor (abbrev.)

40. Narrow opening 43. Annoying 44. Rational 46. Give the cold shoulder 47. Reasonable 49. Prison-related 50. A young eagle 53. Discourage 55. Brood 56. God of love 57. Observed 58. Unusual 60. Attired 61. Female chickens 64. Type of whiskey Ans to CrossWord 2881

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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MON: 03869-290629/101 (O) 9856248962/ 9612805461 (OC)

Toll free No. 1098 childline

H

KOHIMA: 0370-2222952/101 (O) 9436062098 (OC)

ZUNHEBOTO: 03867-220444/101 (O) 9856158740 (OC)

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE

MOKOKCHUNG:

FIRE STATIONS

STD CODE: 0369

Police Station 1: Police Station 2 :

2226241 2226214

Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home: Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):

2226216 2226263 2226373/2229343

TAHAMzAM (formerly Senapati) STD CODE: 03871 Police Station: Fire Brigade

222246 222491

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59.85 101.01 7.7 55.75 47.83 55.12 58.7

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LOCAL

The Morung Express

ZPO (N) appeals for participation in NTC rally Dimapur, may 12 (mExN): The Zeliang People’s Organisation, Nagaland (ZPO (N)) today issued a “clarification” stating that “Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland at the most is a social organisation and at its best may have liberty to form or craft any opinion on any issue yet it is not a legitimate body to direct the native people of the state of Nagaland.” ZPO (N) stated this in response to Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland’s (ZBN) directive to its frontal organizations to refrain from participating in the May 13 NTC Rally in Dimapur.

In this regard, ZPO (N) Media Cell told all concerned that “ZPO (N) and its constituent organisations are under no obligation to comply with the far-fetched directive of Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland not to attend the proposed May 13 Public Rally organised under the aegis of Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC).”

ZPO (N) further appealed for utmost solidarity and called upon “the native people of the state of Nagaland to come and participate in the rally to support the cause of the Nagas of Nagaland.”

Tuesday 13 May 2014

chedema Village council constituted, cVYO urges villagers to maintain peace Kohima, may 12 (mExN): President of Chedema Village Youth Organization (CVYO) has appealed to all the villagers of Chedema to forgive and forget everything that had happened in the past.

CVYO president Razouvilie Zhale and his colleagues on behalf of the villagers today expressed relief that the government authorities and the district administration (Kohima) have finally solved the serious crisis with regard to the matter of Chedema village council formation with positive

democratic principles.

The villagers had differences of ideology in governance of the village which needed to have an acceptable reconciliation, stated CVYO president in a press statement. However, he added, due to pressures of some certain issues, the villagers could not solve their problems for about eight years.

On May 2, with the intervention of the district administration, the Chedema Village Council was finally constituted by electing Sabeituo Mechiilho as the chairman of Chedema Vil-

lage Council as he had secured absolute majority votes. “The positive progress of restructuring the village council would be cherished and acceptable to the community of the village,” stated CVYO president. “The dawn of modernity and true developmental attitude towards the village community has compelled us to positively accept the outcome though we have differences in ideologies and principles. As we are living in democratic country every controversial issue is to be solved through the democratic principles.”

The president further called upon all the villagers to work together to “achieve our common goal of solidarity so that transparency, equality and justice could be prevailed among the villagers.” He appealed to all the individuals of the village to open a new chapter of peace, togetherness, mutual understanding among “ourselves” for attaining “our” aspirations and endeavour to strengthen the positive forces of reforms, changes, peace and brotherhood which will enable “us” to achieve “our” common desire.

Excise dept 3G Vodafone roaming in Nagaland TNAI Phek celebrate International Nurses Day may 12 ing services will be available phEK, may 12 (mExN): appeals for Kohima, (mExN): Nagaland, along once again in the circles.

The Trained Nurses AsIn addition to offering sociation of India (TNAI) with other North East support states and Assam will get customers (both pre and post Phek unit celebrated Inter3G roaming services from paid) 3G roaming facilities,

Kohima, may 12 (mExN): Superintendent of Excise & Prohibition, Kohima Katoho Sumi has requested the public in general and NGOs in particular to “contribute positive feedback to the enforcing agency in the form of information (transaction/transportation) to curb in flow of liquor in the districts and make prohibition a reality and success in the dry state of ours for prosperity.”

In a press statement, the superintendent stated, “Despite lack of manpower and conveyance constraint faced by the department, the Unit has been vigilant, performing duty to prevent, contain free flow of liquor which have plagued the society.”

The consignment, he said are usually transported from Assam and Dimapur.

The release further informed that Superintendent of Excise, Kohima Unit performing MVCP duty at Peducha intercepted a vehicle carrying 40 cases of various brands liquor (IMFL), 36 bottles whisky, 276 bottles Mc Rum and 168 bottles beer.

ThedutypersonnelledbyAIE Lichopi arrested one Paukile, a resident of Khermahal Dimapur. The accused person was booked and penalized for violation of Sec (i) of NLTP Act ’89, it added.

Vodafone India. Pushpinder Singh Gujral, Business Head- Assam & North East, Vodafone India said that the customers of Vodafone Assam & North East can now avail faster speeds and data browsing experience. “We are confident that this move will facilitate in quicker adoption, better usage and a high speed internet experience on the go,” he added.

The services are available with immediate effect.

This announcement comes post the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal ruling last week that 3G intra-circle roam-

Vodafone Assam & North East is also offering multiple packages to suit customer requirements. The packages include daily, weekly, monthly and unlimited plans for prepaid customers and low/ medium/high usage plans for post paid customers.

Vodafone India has been engaging with customers to use mobile internet, and educating current and potential users about how internet can add significant value to them and also built content partnerships, simplified pricing, conducted retailer education programmes.

national Nurses Day 2014 on May 12 at District Hospital Phek with the theme “Nurses: a force for change - A vital resource for health”.

Rokovotuo-u, staff nurse, spoke on the theme emphasizing that the most effective use of nurses’ resources occur when nurses are able to practice to the fullest extent of their education, training and capabilities. With commitment to education and learning, she shared the need to reinforce how a skilled nurse can transform lives, families, communities and countries and urged everyone to make a difference.

UNTABA to appeal CCBP to withdraw proposed 90 days economic blockade Dimapur, may 12 (mExN): The United Naga Tribes Association (UNTA) held its Executive Council meeting on May 11 at Honeybee Mission Compound, Dimapur. The meeting was attended by members from Ao, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Sangtam, Sumi and Yimchunger communities.

A press release from the Association’s secretary, Hukavi Yepthomi informed

that the executive members resolved to rename the nomenclature UNTA to UNTABA (United Naga Tribes Association of Border Areas).

The constitution of the UNTABA was also adopted unanimously. The Search Committee will complete the selection of office bearers within fifteen days from the date of the resolution, the note said.

The meeting also re-

solved to appeal to the Coordination Committee for Border Protection, Karbi Anglong (CCBP, KA) to withdraw the proposed 90 days economic blockade of the NH-36 and NH-39. It further decided to appeal to the CCBP, KA to discuss and bring about an amicable settlement between the two communities for permanent relationship between the neighboring citizens of the two states.

Nurses present song during the International Nurses Day 2014 celebration organized by TNAI Phek unit on May 12.

Besides honoring the senior most nurse, awards for the best nurses in 3 disciplines were given to Bino, Roko and Alem which was

sponsored by the doctors.

A sweeper and two medical attendants were also awarded for their sincerity, informed a press note.

Youngs’ Club invites youth Dimapur, may 12 (mExN): Youngs’ Club under its project ‘Discover Positive’ has started skill training on bamboo furniture for drop out students and underprivileged youth.

The training started May 12 to end May 17.

According to a press from program manager, Discover Positive, Mangan Sinha, the training is sponsored by Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency and Aolemba Longkumer, a recipient of National Award and Governor’s Award is providing a unique style of bamboo

training to the boys. The ongoing training is the first batch of 10 youth. Following the training, the youth will form a Self Help Group with support of marketing techniques and for this process PRAVAH & Uanati Foundation, Delhi will support the Program, informed the note.

Youngs’ Club has invited youth, especially dropout students to come for enrollment “for which they will give a different kind of training to discover their positive thoughts and talent in order to sustain their livelihood.”

Dimapur

5

MEx FILE NPCC requests DCCs Kohima, may 12 (mExN): In view of the NPCC’s demand being partially fulfilled by election authority through ordering re-poll in some polling stations, the NPCC has requested all DCCs to submit the names of counting agents to their respective AROs at the earliest. This was stated in a release issued by NPCC general secretary Medokul Sophie.

One held with Spasmo Proxyvon Dimapur, may 12 (mExN): Dimapur West Police Station along with Mahila IR personnel on patrol duty seized 830 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon at LRC colony here on May 9. Addl. Superintendent of Police/ PRO Dimapur informed that the drug was recovered from a hand bag of a woman who was moving about suspiciously. According to the PRO, the arrested accused identified as Bimla Sarma of Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh is a habitual drug peddler. Police have registered a case for further investigation.

Kuzhalhu Zawe 16th general session held Kohima, may 12 (mExN): The Kuzhalhu Zawe held its 16th general session at Zuketsa on May 10 last under the theme “Vision 2025.” It also elected new team of office bearers for the tenure 2014-2017 with Mikha Lomi as president, vice president - Kedoutsolhi Wetsah, general secretary - Medo Chirha, assistant secretary - Wekulo Wezah, finance secretary - Neilo Koza, treasurer - Neithsulo Kapfo, publicity & information secretary - Kekhwelhilo Tara, cultural secretary- Vizakie Letro, assistant cultural secretaryDavid Lasuh, women coordinators - Seno Tsuhah, Neikolo-u Mero and Kewekolo-u Ritse. The Kuzhalhu Zawe has thanked parliamentary secretary for horticulture Neiba Kronu for the concern towards Kuzhalhu Zawe. It also thanked resource persons Lhiweshelo Mero, Kewekhape Therie, Neikhrolo Khalo and Vetetso Lasuh.

ATKK formed Dimapur, may 12 (mExN): The theological fellowship of Aotsakilimi village “Aotsakilimi Theology Kiphimi Kuposhukulu” (ATKK) was formed on May 8 in a joint meeting of its members working in different churches and those pursing theological education in different seminaries across the nation. Information secretary of ATKK informed in a press release that ATKK has 33 members and has elected the following office bearers for the term 2014-16: President- Nikhuyi Achumi, Pastor, Valley View Baptist Church; Secretary- Khezheto Achumi, Associate Pastor, Thilixu Baptist Church; TreasurerAtoli Achumi, Women Leader, NCRC Doyapur Road; Information Secretary- Akuto Achumi, Assistant Pastor, Sumi Baptist Church Kohima; Advisors- Executives of Aotsakilimi Union Dimapur, Kohima, and Zunheboto.

ATKK is inter-denominational in nature and will congregate annually for fellowship, informed the note. For any information regarding ATKK one can call the Information Secretary at 8730809864.

16th Pfutsero A/C NPF condoles pfutsEro, may 12 (mExN): The 16th Pfutsero A/C NPF has expressed profound sadness at the demise of Wepenyi Kronu, party elder and father of its Pfutsero Unit general secretary Visatso Kronu in Kohima on May 11. In his death, the party has lost a fatherly figure, stated the party in a condolence message.

All the rank and file of the party of Pfutsero NPF further paid respect to the departed soul and prayed that the Almighty God grant him eternal peace and comfort his loved ones with his grace.

Public SPace

Global Day of Action on Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights

I

n recent decades, the international development agenda has changed dramatically.

Historic United Nations conferences and summits throughout the 1990s and early 2000s have established a new vision for development as creating an equal, just and sustainable world. This shift towards a broad and people-centered approach to development is evident in watershed international agreements including the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (1992), the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo (1994), and the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women (1995).

In September 2000, world leaders came together at United Nations Headquarters in New York to adopt the United Nations Millennium Declaration, committing the international community to a new global plan to reduce extreme poverty and setting out a series of time-bound goals and targets, with a deadline of 2015 that have become known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The eight MDGs have since formed the international/global framework for development policies and funding at the country level. This agenda encompassed a range of linked issues ranging from poverty reduction to human rights and gender equality, and ensuring access to education and health. Sexual and reproductive health & rights were initially missing from the MDG framework; an omission only partially remedied in 2007 with the addition of the target of universal access to reproductive health by 2015.

Since that time, millions of lives have been saved through reproductive health services, particularly in low and middleincome countries, including India. Similarly, in many regions of the world, laws and policies are now in place to protect reproductive rights and prevent discrimination against women and girls. The UN Global Strategy on Women’s and Children’s Health and the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning, are highlevel initiatives aimed at leveraging political will and funding for programs which will significantly reduce maternal deaths and accelerate universal access to contraception.

However, in the years since the MDG Declaration, sexual and reproductive health and rights landscape has changed.

Global health funding for sexual and reproductive rights & health has declined significantly, and in every region of the world, a maturing HIV/AIDS epidemic increasingly affects women and girls. Rising conservative tides have threatened hard-won sexual and reproductive rights victories and compromised the safety and well-being of all, particularly of young women in poor communities. Despite increased political and media attention, among women of reproductive age in developing countries, 57% (867 million) are in need of contraception because they are sexually active, but do not want a child in the next two years. Of these 867 million women, 645 million (74%) are using modern methods of contraception. The remaining 222 million (26%) are using no method or traditional methods. Perhaps most significantly, today is the largest-ever

generation of young people.

Similarly, several global processes - the MDG review on the Post 2015 Development Agenda, a twenty-year review of progress towards achieving the Cairo Program of Action, and a discussion on the Sustainable Development Goals initiated at the Rio + 20 conference - are happening now and in forthcoming years, all with implications for the future of the global sexual and reproductive health & rights agenda. It is of the utmost importance that advancing sexual and reproductive rights is central to the international/global development framework that will succeed the MDGs, and will determine policies, priorities and resources allocation worldwide for the decade ahead.

In the second decade of the 21st century, the more than seven billion people sharing the planet face a number of global challenges: threats such as climate change and growing inequalities among and within countries persist alongside the unfinished agenda of poverty elimination at a time when the global financial crisis has reduced the funding available for international development. A range of demographic challenges, including increased migration in a more globalized world, and, in some countries, ageing, are increasingly significant, while the largest-ever generation of young people is in urgent need of education and employment opportunities, and poverty remains a reality for far too many.

On the other hand, at present, the international community faces a historic opportunity.

Nearly 20 years ago, in 1994, 179 nations committed to protect the

reproductive health & rights of women and girls at the landmark UN International Conference on Population and Development Cairo. Those basic rights, which include the ability to make free and informed decisions about one's body, health, relationships, marriage and childbearing, form the cornerstone of efforts to protect human dignity and promote the sustainable development of our planet.

Twenty years later, a major UN review of progress towards those progresses gives us the chance to ask, "Has life really changed for women and girls?"The answer is decidedly mixed and an urgent action is called for.

On the positive side, a number of countries have implemented new laws and policies that provide at least partial protection for reproductive health and rights. Maternal mortality has declined in some countries that have improved access to reproductive health care. Access to information and services that can prevent and treat HIV/AIDS has also increased in various countries.

For hundreds of millions of women and girls, however, and for poor and marginalized communities, the promise of Cairo is far from fulfilled. Maternal mortality remains the leading cause of death for adolescent girls in the developing world, with the poorest and most disadvantaged women most at risk. One in nine girls in developing countries such as India will be married before her 15th birthday. As many as seven in 10 women experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetimes. Women are injured and die every day at

the hands of their husbands and partners, and legal systems often protect rather than punish their assailants.

We still live in a world where more than 200 million women lack effective access to modern contraception, and comprehensive sexuality education for young people remains rare. As a result, 20 years after Cairo, only about one in three young people in developing countries knows how to prevent HIV infection, an estimated 40 percent of pregnancies worldwide are unintended, and there are at least 20 million unsafe abortions every year.

Access to sexual reproductive and maternal health services is both a fundamental human right and a critical developmental issue. Supporting sexual, reproductive health and maternal health & rights is therefore central gender equality, reducing global poverty. Thus, it is high time for all individuals to collectively respond to reverse these disturbing statistics, and time for governments to match their rhetorical commitments to sexual and reproductive health & rights with action. Apparently, building upon what has already been accomplished through the ICPD Program of Action; efforts must be strengthened to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health information, services and education, especially comprehensive sexuality education for young people and emergency services for survivors of gender-based violence, amid a vision of inclusive development that is genuinely rooted in equality, dignity and social justice demands.

Family Planning Association of India Nagaland Branch - Kohima

Villages affected by Doyang project adopt resolution

he 17 affected vilT lages of the Lothas and Semas held a gen-

eral meeting on 6th of May,2014 at Doyang Hydro Electric Project Site and adopted the following Resolutions:1. Resolved to nominate the following persons Wochamo Ngullie and Roland Tsopoe as Sessional Chairman and Secretary to conduct the general meeting.

2. On the expiry of the tenure of Office bearers with effect from 21/11/2013, the House unanimously resolved to dissolve the Executive Members and further resolved to elect the president by the general body in the general meeting.

3. The House seriously viewed the order of 2nd and 3rd Sept.2013 issued by the Ministry of Kilo Affairs NSCN/GPRN appointing un-mandated president of LOU, DHEP upto 2016 abrogating the LOU,DHEP Constitution on the expiry of the tenure of office w.e.f 21/11/2013 setting aside the ‘Fact Finding Committee’ officially constituted by the cabinet, resolved to declare as ‘null and void’.

4. The House took strong exception to the pressure meted out to R. Yanthan who has been endorsed by the majority Executive Members to act on behalf of the affected landowners as party leader to sign an undertaking by the Ministry of Kilo Af-

fairs of NSCN/GPRN. In this connection, the House resolved that R. Yanthan should not be made to bear the consequences of the undertaking and in the event of any fallout by signing the undertaking under duress, the landowners of 17 affected villages will in all earnest debar R. Yanthan to appear or sign any undertaking by the NSCN/ GPRN and the House further resolved to bear the entire responsibility on the issue of landowners and any consequence thereof.

5. The House resolved to condemn the news item that appeared in Nagaland Post dated 4/5/2013 - ‘LOU,DHEP warns Selfstyled Leaders’ taking the advantage under the shelter of the Deputy Commissioner, Wokha and the NSCN/GPRN Government in utter violation of the Human Rights. The House further resolved to demand the ‘Fact Finding Committee’s report headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Kilo Affairs which was constituted by the cabinet to probe into the two contending groups’ dispute over the LOU, DHEP presidentship.

6. Resolved to extend the general meeting and further resolved to convene the next general meeting on 14/5/2014.

Wochamo Ngullie Sesional Chairman LOU, DHEP general Meeting Roland Tsopoe Sessional Secretary LOU,DHEP general meeting

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.

6

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express TuEsDAy 13 MAy 2014 voluME IX IssuE 129

Humanizing Process

H

umanity urgently requires a culture that is both responsive and responsible for human needs.

For humanization to become possible, it is imperative that humanity directs its energies towards the “recreation of cultural alternatives informed by ancestral visions of a future that celebrates all of humanity and encourages the best of the human spirit.” Marimba Ani reminds us that true humanism is spiritual, not rational and adds that it is the recognition of the possibility of spirituality in human beings and in terms of concrete behavior.

The freeing of spirituality rests upon a cultural reaffirmation that revives the ancient qualities in forms, which deal with the exigencies of the past, present and the future.

A culture that embraces human needs should have the will-to-power demands for a world to be redefined in terms of power-relations. It is a culture that works for mode of balance and harmony where unity can be perceived even in ambiguity, contrast and inconsistency. Ani claims that such a culture itself is designed to be a humanizing force.

Cultural independence with a corresponding intellectual decolonization, therefore, is crucial for humanization.

Robert W. July notes that a vigorous culture is an “essential prerequisite to political health and economic prosperity.”

Paulo Freire views human beings as historically, culturally, and socially existing, and cannot just be simply living. Hence, he understands humans “only as beings who are makers of their ‘way,’ in the making of which they lay themselves open to or commit themselves to the ‘way’ that they make, and that, therefore, remakes them as well.” This reminds us that human beings are inherently makers of their own ‘way’ and capable of constantly remaking themselves according to their needs.

However, it is the concept of the right to self-determination alone which confers power on a people to make their own decisions, and, therefore, competent and entitled to develop a subjective response to its needs.

For this reason, Maivân Clech Lâm points out that, the praxis of self-determination straddles the realms of need and power. Whereas the concepts of “human rights and autonomy, on the other hand, represent responses to needs that emanate from an external vantage point, and confer no creative power as such on the needful party.” Self-determination is, therefore, more than just a right; it is a basic human need, required to translate the peoples’ aspirations into concrete reality.

lEfT wiNg |

Umberto Eco Source: IHT

Those Who Forget History

I

t’s a truism that young people lack general historical knowledge. But in my experience, for many young people the past has flattened out into one big undifferentiated nebula. That is why, in an open letter published in the Italian magazine L’Espresso, I recently advised my teenage grandson to exercise his memory by learning a long poem by heart.

I fear that today’s younger generations risk losing the power of both individual and collective memory. Surveys have revealed the types of misconceptions that persist among ostensibly educated young people: I’ve read, for instance, that many Italian university students believe that Aldo Moro was the leader of the militant organization the Red Brigades, when in fact he was Italy’s prime minister and the Red Brigades were responsible for his death in 1978.

I wrote the letter to my grandson in December, around the time that a certain video went viral on YouTube. It was from an episode of “L’Eredità,” an Italian TV quiz show that seems to choose contestants on the basis of good looks and natural likability, along with a modicum of general knowledge. (Presumably, this is to avoid filling the broadcast with beautiful but clueless people racking their brains just to answer multiplechoice questions like: Was Giuseppe Garibaldi a cyclist, an explorer, a military leader or the inventor of hot water?)

In one episode, the host, Carlo Conti, asked contestants to identify the year that Adolf Hitler was named chancellor of Germany. The four answer choices were: 1933, 1948, 1964 or 1979. The four contestants who had an opportunity to respond were: Ilaria, a rather pretty young woman; Matteo, a well-built man of about 30, with a shaved head and a chain around his neck; Tiziana, an attractive young woman who also appeared to be about 30; and a young woman named Caterina, who wore glasses and had the air of a know-it-all.

It should be universally known that Hitler died at the end of the Second World War, so obviously the answer could only be 1933 – the other dates are too late. But Ilaria guessed 1948, Matteo 1964 and Tiziana 1979. By the time it was Caterina’s turn, she was obliged to choose 1933, but she affected uncertainty as she did it, either out of irony or amazement.

Conti also asked the contestants what year former Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini met with Ezra Pound; again, the choices were 1933, 1948, 1964 or 1979. Now, nobody is obliged to know who Ezra Pound was (for the record, he was an American poet and critic), and if it hadn’t been a multiple-choice quiz, I couldn’t have named the exact year. But given that Mussolini was assassinated in 1945, the only possible answer was 1933. (I confess that I was astonished to learn the extent to which the dictator kept upto-date with American poetry.) Dear Ilaria, begging indulgence with her sweet little smile, guessed 1964.

Conti couldn’t hide his amazement, and neither could many of the people who watched and commented on the video on YouTube. But this moment was indicative of a larger problem: The four contestants, who were all roughly between the ages of 20 and 30, and whom we may presume to be fairly representative of their age group, saw the four dates as part of a generic past that took place before they were born. Who’s to say that they wouldn’t have fallen into the same trap even if one of the answer choices had been 1492?

Our era isn’t the first to experience such a homogenization of the past. Consider, for instance, “The Marriage of the Virgin,” which Raphael completed in 1504: The painting features people dressed in Renaissance-era garb, even though the scene it depicts obviously took place long before the Renaissance. Nowadays, it is much more difficult to justify such blurring of the lines, given how much historical information is widely available on the Internet, in films and on television.

Is it possible that our four contestants couldn’t differentiate between the period in which Hitler came on the scene and the one in which man first landed on the moon? Can it be that, to some (or even many) of today’s youth, the concept of history is now one-dimensional?

I am still holding out hope, because I learned of this YouTube video from my 13-year-old grandson and his schoolmates, who grinned and snickered as they told me about it. Perhaps some young people are learning the value of memory after all.

Originally Published in l’Espresso Magazine, Translated from the Italian by Alastair McEwen.

C O M M E N T A R Y

THE EDIT PAGE

Louise Mallinder

Dealing with Northern Ireland’s past: A guide to the Haass-O’Sullivan talks sults of a case review, except where a case is referred to the PPS. If they opted in, they would be offered the services of an advocate-counsellor unconnected with any work on their file who could provide logistical guidance and emotional support through each stage of the process. Following the conclusion of the review, if the case was not referred to the PPS, they would receive “a report outlining the extent of information known about the case as it affected them”. The review process could also produce more general reports to be shared with persons who were injured in the same event should they wish to receive them.

This section concludes by noting that “The passage of time and loss of evidence through decommissioning, decay, destruction of evidence, and other means will often mean that there is too little admissible evidence for the prosecutor to proceed with a trial”. It is due to these concerns that the draft agreement proposes a separate information recovery process.

Why now?

Fifteen years after the Good Friday Agreement, the latter half of 2013 saw a new round of political negotiations in Northern Ireland, in which local politicians grappled with the legacy of the past. These negotiations were launched following growing concerns over the security situation. For example, the Belfast City Council decision in December 2012 to fly the Union Flag at City Hall only on designated days (rather than every day) triggered repeated civil unrest by Loyalist communities across Northern Ireland. Furthermore, threats posed mostly by dissident Republicans resulted in the Army’s bomb disposal team being called to an average of more than one security alert per day during 2013. Many in Northern Irish society linked these ongoing threats to unresolved issues from the peace process.

There was also growing dissatisfaction with existing mechanisms to address the past. For example, a damning report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary on the Historical Enquiries Team (a body established by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to investigate all conflict-related deaths) had raised serious questions over whether the institution was fit for purpose.

In this context, the Northern Irish political parties tasked themselves with reaching an agreement on parades, flags and dealing with the past. This was the first time such an initiative had been led by local actors. The negotiations, known formally as the Panel of the Parties of the Northern Ireland Executive, or more colloquially as the Haass-O’Sullivan talks after the negotiation chairs (Richard Haass and Meghan O’Sullivan), lasted from July to December 2013. The parties made significant progress in several areas, but were unable to reach a consensus on all aspects by the agreed deadline of 31 December 2013. Following the deadline, the last draft of the proposed agreement was published.

Assumptions underpinning the draft agreement Throughout the draft agreement, a number of underpinning assumptions are articulated to justify the proposed recommendations. In brief, these assumptions are that Northern Irish society remains divided, fifteen years after the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and that these divisions are contributing to political instability and civil unrest.

The promises made in our peace agreements have not been fully delivered and members of society are still “struggling” with needs resulting from the conflict. Failure to act will increase levels of public disengagement with political institutions and processes. Finally, the passage of time adds urgency to these proposals, particularly since many persons with knowledge of past crimes have already died.

Parades In addressing parading, the draft agreement was careful to recognise that this is an important cultural and historical tradition for many in Northern Irish society. It also situated its proposals squarely within the framework of international human rights law. In doing so, it suggested that the guarantees for freedom of expression and assembly under the European Convention on Human Rights must be balanced against freedom from sectarian harassment and right to respect for private and family life for those who oppose a parade.

The Panel’s proposals called for new Northern Irish legislation to establish a Code of Conduct and create two new institutions. The first institution, the Office for Parades, Select Commemorations and Related Protests, would receive all event notifications for parades and would seek to streamline approval for non-contentious events. If disputes arose, the Office could facilitate dialogue between event organisers and local communities, and if necessary, refer the parties to outside mediators.

Where mediation efforts are unsuccessful, the Office would refer contentious parades to the second institution, the Authority for Public Events Adjudication. This body would be headed by a lawyer and composed of other members of the community. It would be tasked with hearing representations from interested parties and adjudicating based on human rights standards and transparent criteria. It would be able to order that events be changed or cancelled. Its decisions would be subject to judicial review.

The proposed Code of Conduct for parades would require participants to abide by decisions of the Authority and the rule of law, to refrain from wearing paramilitary clothing, to respect the rights of others, and to demonstrate sensitivity at interface areas, places of worship, war memorials, and cemeteries.

Flags and Emblems The negotiators identified two discrete issues under this theme: the flying of flags on official buildings and the unofficial display of flags and emblems in public spaces. They were unable to reach consensus on either issue. The draft agree-

ment suggests this is due to the relationship of flags and emblems to broader ideas of sovereignty and identity that were beyond the Terms of Reference of the talks.

On this basis, the draft agreement proposed the creation of a Commission on Identity, Culture, and Tradition. The goal of this body would be to increase the understanding among citizens of the appropriateness and importance of identities in Northern Irish society by holding public and televised discussions across Northern Ireland on issues related to identity, culture and tradition. The draft agreement proposed a number of issues that could be topics of discussion. This list included gender, which is the only place where gender is explicitly mentioned in the draft agreement.

Dealing with the Past This is the most substantive part of the draft agreement and occupies almost half of the document. It contains a number of different issues that will each be dealt with below.

(1) Support for Victims and Survivors The section begins by highlighting the leadership role that many victims and survivors have played in the Northern Ireland transition. It then notes that many of them continue to “suffer from physical disabilities, emotional trauma, social anxiety, and other concerns stemming from the conflict”. The draft agreement endorses the recommendations of the Commission for Victims and Survivors (CVS) for improving the Victims and Survivors Service. In addition, it calls for the CVS to establish or fund a Mental Trauma Service and consider the needs of the injured. This section concludes by noting that the parties could not reach agreement on who could be considered a “victim”.

(2) Acknowledgement The draft agreement asserts that there is an enduring desire among victims and survivors for acknowledgements from individuals, paramilitary organisations and governments responsible for deaths, injuries and the loss of homes and businesses. It further contends that the absence of meaningful acknowledgement is undermining public trust in political leaders and the peace process.

The drafters of the agreement were careful to note that all parties to the conflict were not equally responsible for the harms experienced by victims and survivors. The agreement further asserts that requiring both states and paramilitary organisations to acknowledge the suffering caused by their actions does mean that the blame for past violence is equally shared between these groups.

The draft agreement then sets out some conditions for acceptable forms of acknowledgement, stating that it should be an unqualified acceptance of responsibility, express an understanding of the human consequences for individuals and society and include sincere expression of remorse. The draft agreement further encourages individuals, organisations and governments to work together on issuing acknowledgement statements “including by discussing language, timing, and other matters in private before public statements are made”.

Finally, the agreement asserts a hope that statements of acknowledgement by public officials and the leaders of paramilitary organisations will encourage members of these institutions to participate in the information retrieval process (see below).

(3) Justice In response to the challenges and criticisms faced by existing processes to investigate conflictrelated deaths and historic complaints against the police, the draft agreement proposes that the work of the Historical Enquiries Team and the historical unit of the Office of the Police Ombudsmen would be replaced by a Historical Investigations Unit (HIU). Other existing processes to deal with the past (ie coroner’s inquests and the British and Irish governments’ discretion to establish public inquiries) would be unchanged.

The HIU would be empowered to conduct thorough, Article 2-compliant reviews and investigations. These powers would enable it to be independent from the Police Service. It would initially focus its investigations on reviews that have not yet been completed by the HET or OPONI, but following this work, families could request that it reopen previously completed reviews where there are concerns that those investigations were flawed or where new evidence comes to light. In addition, the HIU will initially focus on conflict-related deaths, but once these reviews are completed and if resources permit, it may also review situations resulting in serious injury. In all cases, if sufficient evidence is found, the HIU could refer a case to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

The HIU would review all cases within its remit. Victims and survivors could decide whether to opt into this process. If they declined to opt in, they would not be notified of the progress or re-

(4) Information Recovery The draft agreement calls for the creation of an Independent Commission for Information Recovery (ICIR), led by an international person of high calibre, to create opportunities to retrieve as much information as possible. Individual cases could be initiated before this commission in two ways: Victims and survivors could opt into the process (before, during or after review of their case by HIU), which would prompt the commission to liaise with its designated intermediaries within organisations and governments, “who will seek out individuals within their networks who may have information relevant to the request”.

Individuals, current and former paramilitaries, members of political parties, NGOs, and current and former state employees with information about violent acts could approach the commission directly or through an intermediary.

Unlike the HIU, the ICIR will be entirely separate from the criminal justice system. Where individuals provide information to the Commission, they would be offered “limited immunity”. This means that any statements that they provide would be inadmissible in criminal or civil court proceedings. This would apply to the person who provided the evidence as well as to any other individual identified in the information provided. However, this would not shield individuals from legal proceedings based on evidence coming to light from other sources. Individuals who provided testimony would also be given the opportunity to do so anonymously. The commission would question all persons providing information and will cross-check their testimony against other sources of evidence before issuing any reports.

In addition to seeking information in individual cases, the ICIR would also have a Themes Unit, which would be tasked with investigating the causes and patterns of violence, and revealing institutional responsibility. This Unit would be able to select its own themes to investigate on the basis of documentary evidence and testimony gathered by the ICIR, or in response to recommendations from the Implementation and Reconciliation Group. The draft agreement suggests the following possible themes: • Collusion • “Ethnic cleansing” in borders and interface areas • “Shoot-to-kill” policy • Targeting off duty security force personnel • Ireland’s support for IRA • Intra-community violence by paramilitaries • Use of lethal force • Detention without trial • Mistreatment of detainees and prisoners • Disappeared • Financing and arms for paramilitaries The Themes Unit would publish a report addressing all themes investigated and it would also report on the degree of cooperation with this process by governments and paramilitary organisations.

(5) Narratives and Archives To document the lived experiences of the conflict for persons across Northern Irish society, the draft agreement proposes that the NI Executive establish an “archive for conflict-related oral histories, documents, and other relevant materials from individuals of all backgrounds, from Northern Ireland and beyond, who wish to share their experiences connected with the conflict”. This archive would be independent from political interference. It would collate individual narratives but would not analyse them to establish a common narrative or “fact-check” individual testimonies. It would provide an online resource for historians, genealogists, writers and members of the public.

There would be a “screening process” to make sure that inflammatory or irrelevant material is not accepted into the archive. Legislation would be adopted to protect individuals from self-incrimination or libel claims and individuals would have a choice over when their contributions became publicly available.

Conclusion The final stages of the draft agreement proposed that an Implementation and Reconciliation Group be created within six months of the parties endorsing the agreement. This group would be composed of politicians from parties in Executive, plus representatives of victims, NGOs and other parties. It would be empowered to monitor and advise the institutions set up under the agreement.

Following the failure of the parties to reach a consensus by 31 December 2013, the negotiators continued to meet on a weekly basis and asserted their commitment to reaching an agreement. However, progress stalled in February 2014 when the revelation of the administrative process to review the evidence against individuals who were suspected of being “on-the-run” from criminal proceedings for conflict-related offences provoked a political crisis. This administrative process is now the subject of a judicial inquiry which is due to report after the May 2014 European Parliament and local government elections. It seems unlikely that progress will be made on the Haass-O’Sullivan proposals before the inquiry reports. However, given the pressures outlined at the start of this article, this process cannot be shelved indefinitely. Indeed, the recent political crises over the On-the-Runs makes clear how fundamental addressing the legacy of the past is for the legitimacy and stability of Northern Ireland’s political institutions.

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 PERSPECTIVE How a democratic country can silence its citizens

TuEsday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

13 May 2014

T

NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

Jezerca Tigani

hirty-five year old Jorge is a nurse in a health centre in Madrid. During a demonstration against health cuts in March of last year he was arrested and accused of attempting to assault a politician. Television footage later showed he had been several metres away and protesting peacefully.

Four months earlier he had been convicted of taking part in an “unauthorised assembly” when protesting at an eviction. He was fined €301 for causing serious public disorder in a public place or causing damage. I’ve seen a video of the action and it shows a group of people urging bailiffs not to throw someone out of their home—it doesn’t even seem that voices were raised.

Six months before that he had received a letter saying he would be fined for “disobeying the orders of the police” when told to disperse during another demonstration. The police told the demonstrators that they had not been notified in advance of the demonstration and that that had made it unlawful.

I’ve spent time with Jorge. He is not a professional agitator: it would be hard to find a nicer and gentler man. But he is typical of many Spanish people who believe the response of their authorities to the deepest economic crisis many can remember must be questioned.

In 2012 there were fully 15,000 demonstrations throughout Spain—in 2013, 25,000. This major social mobilisation is the organised public response to high unemployment and austerity measures adopted by the central and autonomous regional governments, which have resulted in cuts to basic services including health and education. It is the resistance of groups affected by decisions they consider in violation of their human rights.

For the authorities the increasing number of demonstrations however shows that citizens enjoy their human rights, including to peaceful assembly and expression. They also claim that public order needs to be maintained and that the police need the power to do so.

Penalising protest Yet the authorities’ response to the protests has been characterised by unnecessary and excessive force. They have fined participants and organisers, harassed, stigmatised and imprisoned ordinary people on criminal charges and introduced legislation that imposes additional restrictions on the freedom of peaceful assembly.

Sadly, the organisers of protests and the participants face many challenges when trying to gather peacefully and express their views to those they voted into power. First of all, a gathering or demonstration with more than 20 people requires prior notification to the authorities, in writing and at least 10 days in advance—Spanish legislation doesn’t allow for spontaneous demonstrations.

Only in urgent cases, which must be justified on extraordinary and serious grounds, can notifications be accepted within 24 hours. It is not however clear in the law what amounts to

extraordinary or serious grounds—even if there is not enough time to apply for an authorisation and there is a specific need for an urgent political message to be delivered.

The concern is that notification has become the mechanism for authorisation. Penalties for attending demonstrations without the required notification have been reported throughout Spain. When there is a peaceful assembly the police usually carry out a collective identity check, asking each of the participants for ID and recording their details. Some might find out weeks or months later that they have been fined for participating in an un-notified demonstration or for obstructing traffic.

Participants attending a demonstration of which the police haven’t been notified can be fined between €300 and €30,050 euros, simply for their attendance. This is stretching the law where it shouldn’t go. Indeed most protests are banned or dispersed with the justification that the authorities are preserving law and order.

Whiles states have an obligation to guarantee the rule of law, some degree of tolerance for the inevitable disruption demonstrations entail is important. To exercise the right to freedom of assembly means protesters must have a real opportunity to get their message across to the right people, particularly when this relates to public representatives. Assemblies should be encouraged and not repressed.

Yet the authorities have also imposed a general restriction on all demonstrations in the vicinity of official buildings or institutions or offices or residences of key politicians. This goes beyond what is allowed under international human-rights law. Surely, if you want your messages to reach those in power, you have to go somewhere where there’s a chance they’ll hear you.

Of course, the security forces are empowered to take act to maintain order during demonstrations but there is a clear distinction between peaceful protest and violent disorder which could lead to a breach of the law. The police are entitled too to carry out identity checks on the streets as part of their duty, when such checks are necessary to ensure security. But they should not be used to intimidate or control those who are law-abiding.

Spain is restricting the rights to peaceful assembly, association and free expression in a manner inconsistent with international humanrights standards and a country’s obligations under international law. And, rather than seeking to close these gaps, the government has taken a step further—submitting legislative proposals that would increase the scope for penalising protest organisers and participants.

Austerity anger Spain is not alone. Many demonstrations have taken place in cities across the EU in response to austerity measures. As public resources and services have become more scarce, anger over cuts in jobs and incomes has grown—leading to widespread protests, sometimes violent.

In Greece, Spain and Romania the police have used force to disperse these demonstrations.

Human-rights organisations have docu-

mented incidents in several countries: use of excessive force, abuse of “less-lethal” weapons, obstructing access to medical assistance and arbitrary detention. In many cases, officers have repeatedly hit peaceful demonstrators with batons, including on the head and neck, causing serious injuries.

We must also remember how easy it is for a situation to get out of hand. In Turkey and Greece, for example, violent disturbances have issued from a disproportionate reaction by the police to those who had gathered peacefully on the streets. The police may confront demonstrators with the stated aim “to protect public order” but when they adopt an attitude of hostility towards those criticising the government—imposing excessive restrictions and force—they become the object of the protesters’ anger.

The result is a loss of trust and respect and, as we’ve seen, violence which threatens the safety of all: protesters, passers-by and the police themselves. We have also seen in recent years in Russia and, in the past year, in Ukraine how far a situation can escalate when the authorities do not give space to public protest but instead introduce measures to repress peaceful assembly.

Restoring confidence A demonstration which ends in violence represents a failure on the part of the state to secure and facilitate a peaceful protest. The Spanish authorities have said the police often intervene when extremist groups turn a demonstration violent. Yet such talk is a distraction, an excuse for behaviour that falls short of international standards. The actions of a few should not lead to the abuse of many law-abiding people. There have been more peaceful protests in Spain in the last few years than there have been violent ones.

Most cases of violence by the police themselves during demonstrations seem to be swept under the carpet. If an investigation is opened, it tends to drag on for years or to be closed because the officers were difficult to identify as they were not wearing a badge. In most cases there is no reparation for the victims.

The authorities must look at restoring the confidence of the public by protecting and facilitating the right to protest. There are plenty of positive examples in the world of measures taken to prevent violence, even in tense situations. It can be done with good co-operation and trust between protest organisers, participants and law-enforcement officials. Communication and political will are required to avoid provocations (intentional or negligent) and misunderstandings, and to allow society to find solutions to problems together.

Counterposing government to protesters can only mean human rights will continue to be violated and the freedoms for which people have fought will disappear. Restriction of freedom of assembly and peaceful demonstration may seem justifiable, even attractive, to government but it will only further alienate the public from those they have placed in authority.

Protest is a necessary check on political power. A developed society sees peaceful assembly as a vital and healthy part of its existence—not something to be suppressed.

News Review K. Filip sumi

Coming together – a must

G

overnment of India’s Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (NE), Shambu Singh said on April 25 in Dimapur that the talks with other Naga political groups will begin only after the ongoing talks with NSCN (IM) is over. He cited certain conditions of agreement with NSCN (IM) for the Government of India’s inability to hold simultaneous negotiations with other Naga groups. Irrespective of the conditions, what everyone knows is that people are tired of the endless talks and it is also known that no solution will be complete without including the rest of the Naga political groups. So what can be immediately surmised from the statement is the delay tactics adopted by the Centre on the Naga issue. The talks with NSCN (IM) has been going on for 16-17 years now without any resolve and at this rate one can picture the continuity of Naga talks for at least another 30 years if other groups such as GPRN/NSCN, NSCN (K) etc join the negotiation table one after the other. Holding simultaneous discussion by India with all Naga groups would significantly bring down the dialogue duration but India affirms to holding talks one by one unless the Naga groups come together as one. India insists on this because it knows very well that such genuine conglomeration is not easy on the part of the fragmented Naga groups. Three years back in 2011, under the able initiative of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), the Naga groups agreed to form “one Naga National Government” which resonated this year in the Lenten Agreement under the same platform. If they have resolved thus and if the Government of India says it is open to hold dialogue with Nagas as one entity rather than one by one, what better reason and urgency does the situation provides for Naga political groups to practically come together under one umbrella and solve the prolonged Naga issue. Nagas cannot afford to allow negotiations to go on for 16-17 years with each Naga group like it is happening now with NSCN (IM) without any certainty as to how many more years it would take. Other groups have time and again mentioned that any solution arrived at with NSCN (IM) will not be acceptable to them and could create more bloodshed. Government of India is also aware of this. When the Indian representative said at Chumukedima that day that the Centre would hold talks with other groups only after finishing talks with NSCN (IM), the GPRN/NSCN leaders present remained helpless in expression indicating that it would have to wait for the present talks to get over but added that the issue would not be dragged on for long.

GPRN/NSCN leader C. Singson went to the extent of describing it as a “mistake” the decision of the Centre to hold dialogue with NSCN (IM). He had said that the ongoing talks has become a stumbling block for other Naga groups. Whether any party accepts this statement or not, what is known is that final settlement can be arrived at only when all groups are invited to join the negotiation table. GPRN/NSCN has years back expressed its desire to hold talks with the Government of India which remains non-committal. What was agreed three years back on the formation of one Naga National Government in the Naga Concordant must be expedited to practical steps rather than simply reiterating. A High Level Commission comprising of the top leaders was also formed in 2011 with the purpose of expediting the process of forming the Naga National Government. The HLC was to be headed by either the Chairman/President or the General Secretary/Vice President of the Naga groups and having no less than four competent members in the ranks of Kilonser/Major General and above.

It was agreed in the Naga Concordant that the HLC would hold meetings without any delay in the presence of FNR as facilitators. Interestingly, in March this year, same agreement to form Naga National Government was signed in the Lenten Agreement. It was like transferring old wine into a new bottle where Naga Concordant became the previous bottle and Lenten Agreement became the new bottle while the contents remained the same. The only difference was that in the Naga Concordant; the HLC was formed to expedite the process with FNR as a facilitator but in the Lenten Agreement; the FNR was entrusted to work out the modalities to expedite the process. It became only a form of reiteration. If an agreement can only be reiterated after three years in the form of another agreement, it is a discouragement to think of as to when visible practical steps could be taken towards such agreement. Knowing very well that they must come together whether like it or not, the Naga groups may well take the situation seriously rather than moving at a tortoise’s pace only to reiterate an agreement after a long period. Everyone is aware that Naga people are becoming restless and frustrated. But for now, FNR is the best platform available and it must be acknowledged. There also have been times when the participating Naga groups corner the FNR for its inadequacies. However, the FNR remains corrected but un-wavered.

This column appears on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. www.fnewsreview.wordpress.com

“arena of Mind” portrays a space for idea germination, a field where ideas from multi-disciplinary viewpoints fertilize the world of intelligence. The writers aspire to envision a new future by exploring the mind, discovering new seeds of insights and unleashing them to enlightenment.

“Cultivating Burning Desire”

O

nce when Steve Jobs (Founder of Apple and Pixar) was asked during an interview, how he managed to reach the top as a successful business person, Steve Jobs replied with a single word, "Drive!"

All great success first begins with an idea, but what makes idea become reality is the fuel of human desire. An idea, by itself can give you a temporary feeling of inspiration, but burning desire is what gets you through the necessary preparation to overcome the obstacles along the way. Those with an intense burning desire to achieve their goals are often referred to as being "Driven." But, is this special quality reserved only for a privileged few? Certainly not! With the right approach, anyone can cultivate a deep burning desire within them and move to a state of total commitment, knowing with certainty that success is as inevitable as the sunrise. So how do you cultivate a burning desire? Here are some tips to inculcate a burning desire to achieve any goal you set for yourself: 1. Burn the ships: - If your goals are really important enough for you, then you can start by burning the proverbial ships, such that you have no choice but to press on. For instance, soldiers fight the most ferocious battle, when they believe they're fighting to death. A good General knows that while attacking an opposing force, it’s important to create the illusion of a potential escape route for the enemy, so they won't fight hard. What escape routes are you keeping open that are causing you not to fight hard? If you don't burn those ships, you are sending the message to your subconscious mind that it's ok to quit. When the going gets tough, as it inevitably does for any worthwhile goal, you will quit.

If you really want to achieve your goals, then you've got to burn those ships to the ground, and scatter the ashes. If you're thinking that the average person won't do this, you're right, that's why they are average.

2. Surround yourself with positive people: - Make friends with people who will encourage you on the path to your goals. Share your goals only with people who will support you, not those who will respond with cynicism or indifference. I once read that you can see your future just by looking at the six people with whom you spend the most time.

If you don't like what you see, then change those people. There's no honor in remaining loyal to people who expect you to fail.

3. Take immediate action: - Once you set a goal for yourself, act immediately. One of the secrets to success is recognizing that motivation follows action. The momentum of continuous action fuels motivation, while procrastination kills motivation. So act boldly, that it's impossible to fail.

4. Focus: - Norman Jewson, the Oscar winning film maker said “You need to focus and concentrate towards your goal”. Many people don’t focus, they dabble. That’s fine to start, but to succeed you really need to focus on your goal or else your energy and time will be scattered and wasted.

5. Push and Believe: - Richard Branson the founder of Virgin Airlines said “Whatever you are doing in life, you need to push yourself to the limit and need to believe”. You need to push through your shyness, through your self doubt and need to believe that you can achieve it. If you are not pushing and believing yourself then the world will not believe in you.

6. Persist: - You need to persist through time. There is no overnight success.

Larry Page the co-founder of Google said “It takes a long time to do things and success is equivalent to the amount of time you put into it”. You need to persist through CRAP (Criticism, Rejection, Adversity and Prejudice). You need to persist through failure, because all successful people somewhere have failed in their lives. You really have to persist because it won’t be easy and there will be failures. You need to pick yourself up, stay on course, and continue down that path. If you keep adding fuel to your desire, you will reach the point of knowing that you'll never quit, and ultimate success will be nothing more than a matter of time. If you apply these strategies, you'll add so much fuel to your desire that the fire will never burn out. You'll move towards your goal like a guided missile to its target, and find ways to enjoy the process because you'll be so focused on the positive rewards instead of the difficulty in the task. If you get enough positive energy flowing into you, you'll soon have positive results flowing out of you and eventually you’ll become the kind of person that others refer to as "Driven."

THANK YOU. Md. Tabrej, Director Dept. of B.B.A, St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama.

INdIaN OceaN: A band that believes in 'more the merrrier'

I

Natalia Ningthoujam IaNS

ndian Ocean has completed nearly 25 years in the music business and has seen many musicians come and go. Amit Kilam, drummer and vocalist of the Indorock fusion band, says it has never felt threatened as it never wanted monopoly in the industry.

The band originally consisted of Asheem Chakravarty, Susmit Sen, Rahul Ram and Kilam when it was formed in 1990. After Chakravarty died in 2009, they were joined by Himanshu Joshi and Tuheen Chakravorty. Nikhil Rao later became a member after Sen left the band in 2013. The "Bandeh" hitmakers have come a long way and new bands or singers don't make them feel insecure.

"The more the merrier. We are not doing business. We don't want to have a monopoly. The idea of musicians is not to become rich. It is mostly to play music that they like and co-exist with a lot of people," Kilam told IANS. "I don't want that all shows come to us and two more artists while other artists get no work because that would be regressive," he added.

They are so secure in their skin that they even chose to collaborate with artists like Shankar Mahadevan, Shubha Mudgal and Vishal Dadlani, the frontman of rock band Pentagram, for their seventh album titled "Tandanu". "We enjoyed and learned from them. Vishal is a very interesting musician. He is a fantastic writer too and he is not stuck up of doing western music only," said Kilam.

The album features seven tracks, co-composed by Indian Ocean and the collaborators. Since they wanted to give weightage to each and every number, they decided to release

each song in a different way. "Each song is a gem. All seven tracks will be released per week with a short film on 'Pepsi MTV Indies' and a few portals. The short films are about the making of the songs with each collaborator," said the drummer.

Till now, "Gar ho sake" with Shubha Mudgal and "Behney do" with Karsh Kale have been released.

The entire CD will be out by June.

The band will promote the album by performing in various cities, but it will also be relying on the marketing strategies of its record label Times Music. "The music company is also doing marketing. The publicity will be done by us too. We will play live shows. That's the best way to promote," said the member of the band, who had a problem with record labels in the past.

In 2000, Indian Ocean chose to distribute its album "16/330 Khajoor Road" for free online as it didn't hit a good note with the music companies. "We couldn't understand why a company wants to take away all our rights and then sell music and still not give anything substantial back to

the artist.

"I had no hope that music companies would ever change. This time, Times Music took the right step. They approached us with a fresh thought and decided that they have to be fair to artists, so we decided to work together," said Kilam, who along with his bandmates, worked with the music label for their "Black Friday" soundtrack and "Kandisa" album.

The band is at present occupied with the promotion of its new album, but it's stage shows that take up most of its time. It has given 800 to 900 performances so far and covered many Indian cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata apart from entertaining music buffs in the US, Britain, Japan and other countries.

The band members enjoy performing in all cities, but unlike many artists they consider the capital's crowd to be good. "It's a myth that Delhi audience is not good. If there was no good audience, how could a band like us survive who have only been playing original music -- no western music, no cover, no Bollywood music," said the 40-year-old.

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.

8

Dimapur

NATIONAL

Tuesday 13 May 2014

The Morung Express

Lok Sabha election ends, India awaits verdict

New Delhi, May 12 (iaNS): India’s most bitterly fought national election ended Monday evening, with some 60 percent of the 66 million electorate in three states voting in the 10th and last leg of a contest widely tipped to end a decade of Congress rule.

The Election Commission said the balloting ended in Uttar Pradesh (18 seats), West Bengal (17) and Bihar (six), marking the culmination of over five weeks of electoral process during which more than 500 million voters came out to elect a new 545-member Lok Sabha.

Most interest nationally on the final day of polling Monday was on Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh where BJP veteran Narendra Modi, who will be the new prime minister if the BJP-led NDA coalition wins, was a candidate, his might challenged

by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and the Congress.

Barring stray clashes and allegations of voter intimidation in parts of West Bengal, Monday’s voting too passed off peacefully in a tribute to the world’s largest democracy.

As in the past, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it was confident of forming the next government.

“We will cross the halfway mark of 272” (in the Lok Sabha), party spokesman Prakash Javadekar

Buddhists miffed as prayers axed at Kolkata monastery for polling

A polling official, right, marks the finger of an elderly man with indelible ink before he casts his vote at a polling station in Kunwarpur village, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Jaunpur district, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, May 12. Millions of Indian voters wrapped up a mammoth national election Monday, braving the searing sun on the final day of polling with the Hindu nationalist opposition candidate seen as the frontrunner for prime minister. With 814 million eligible voters, India has been voting in phases over six weeks, with results expected on Friday. (AP Photo)

told IANS. “And there will be a government led by Narendra Modi.”

Exit polls are expected within an hour, while the actual counting of the millions of votes polled across the country will take place Friday.

Monday saw a key index of the Bombay Stock Exchange closing at an alltime high, just before exit polls started pouring in, gaining over 550 points or nearly 2.5 percent intraday.

Even as voting started, serpentine queues of men

and women voters were seen at most of the 71,254 polling centres in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar as well as West Bengal.

The turnout was so heavy in Varanasi that some voters complained that they had been standing in the queue for as long as four hours.

More than 50 percent of the electorate had voted within the first six hours of polling that began at 7 a.m.

Balloting continued right up to the time the polling centres closed in the evening.

In Varanasi, Aam Aadmi Party’s Kejriwal, a former Delhi chief minister, claimed he was sure to defeat Modi. “The situation has changed in the last three days, and now everyone is saying Modi is losing.”

Kejriwal insisted that the Varanasi battle was no more a triangular contest. “(Congress candidate) Ajai Rai does not feature anywhere. I feel it is a direct fight with Modi.”

The BJP is equally confident of ensuring Modi’s win by a huge margin in Varanasi, the second Lok

Sabha seat from where the Gujarat chief minister is contesting besides Vadodara in his home state.

Modi Monday urged the electorate to vote in large numbers. His appeal, telecast by television news channels, triggered an immediate protest from the AAP which called it a violation of the model code of conduct.

Ajay Rai courted controversy when he walked into a polling station with the party symbol tucked on his kurta -- a violation of electoral laws.

KolKaTa, May 12 (iaNS) Forced to cancel their daily prayer Monday for the first time in 117 years after a Kolkata monastery was turned into a polling booth, the Bengal Buddhist Association is mulling legal recourse as well as seeking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s intervention.

The Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha or the Bengal Buddhist Association claimed despite their repeated pleas, the Election Commission (EC) did not delist a school inside the monastery as a polling booth “This is the first time in 117 years that we had to

cancel our morning and evening prayers as our monastery had to house a polling booth. We had repeatedly requested state chief electoral officer Sunil Gupta to delist it but it did not happen despite his assurances,” general secretary Hemendu Bikash Chowdhury told IANS. Chowdhary said the Association was mulling approaching the Calcutta High Court to ensure the monastery is not used as polling booth again, besides seeking Banerjee’s help.

“There is definite law restraining any religious place or institution from being used for the purpose

of elections. So we are planning to seek the high court’s intervention so that such a situation does not arise in the future,” he said.

“We will also personally visit the chief minister in this regard after the results of the polls are declared, and write to the chief election commissioner so that we are saved from any such trouble in the future,” added Chowdhury.

The Dharmankur Sabha was founded in 1892 by Kripasaran Mahasthavir, for the regeneration and revival of Buddhism in India and has branches in several parts of the country.

Officials reported brisk polling in the other 17 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh too, including Azamgarh where Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is considered the frontrunner.

In Bihar, almost 55 percent of the electorate had voted by 4 p.m.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer R. Lakshmanan said voting was peaceful despite fears of violence.

The six constituencies where polling took place were Valmiki Nagar, West Champaran, East Cham-

paran, Vaishali, Gopalganj and Siwan.

The highest polling of nearly 70 percent was reported till 3 p.m. from West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool Congress is battling the Congress, the Left and a resurgent BJP in 17 Lok Sabha seats.

The opposition accused the Trinamool of unleashing violence to intimidate voters. They claimed that a number of their polling agents were driven out of booths. The Trinamool denied the allegations.

Some 20 people were

injured in clashes between CPI-M and Trinamool activists in Haroa, about 40 km from Kolkata.

Uttar Pradesh accounted for most candidates in the final round (328) followed by West Bengal (188) and Bihar (90). Uttar Pradesh has 31 million voters, West Bengal 25 million and Bihar about 9 million.

The drawn out Lok Sabha contest that began April 7 was one of the most bitterly fought in India, with political discourse repeatedly degenerating into vicious personal attacks.

Mamta shocked over media’s ‘India cheapest major economy; Australia most expensive’ Australia is overall the most exZurich was also found to be ex- and business schools, the US, UK Delhi, May 12 (PTi): alarming role in Lok Sabha polls New Notwithstanding high inflation pensive major economy, while the ceptionally expensive in many cat- and France are very expensive plac-

KolKaTa, May 12 (iaNS): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday expressed shock over the “alarming role” of a major section of the media.

“There’s hardly any room for doubt that a few major cash-loaded political parties have taken up control of media houses and engaged them to serve their narrow political interests, trampling down the ethics of democracy and voice of people,” she said on her official Facebook page.

Claiming that the run up to the current Lok Sabha election manifested an “alarming role of a major section of the media”, Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, expressed shock over the “partial and biased conduct of a segment of electronic and print media”.

She has often publicly hit out at a section of the media and even accused a certain media house of “plotting to murder her” in connivance with her rival parties.

“The brazen personal attacks, distortion of facts, character assassination and vilification in never before manner has stunned the nation,” said Banerjee, who during the day cast her vote at a polling station near her residence in Bhowanipore under the Kolkata South Lok Sabha constituency. Walking all the way from her Harish Chatterjee Street residence to the polling station at the Mitra Institution, Banerjee accompanied by Bengali actor Rudranil Ghosh flashed a victory sign to waiting media persons after exercising her franchise.

rate, India is the cheapest major economy in the world, according to a survey of global prices of products that are comparable across countries.

According to a report by German banking giant Deutsche Bank, a weaker Indian rupee has allowed India to remain the cheapest major economy in the world despite persistently suffering the highest inflation rate.

“The fact that India still runs a large current account deficit illustrates that being competitive is more than just being cheap,” the report titled The Random Walk, Mapping the World’s Prices 2014 added.

United States is the cheapest developed country. Brazil remains very expensive for a developing country, the survey said adding that China remains very cheap in some categories like car rentals, while for a number of branded goods, it is more expensive than the US. In many categories China is steadily converging on US prices. “For a number of branded goods like Levi’s jeans, Adidas shoes and iPhones, we found it to be more expensive than the United States,” the Deutsche Bank report said.

Singapore remains, by far, the most expensive place to buy a car and HK for renting office space.

egories so much so that a haircut in Zurich can cost about fifteen times that in an Indian city. Kuala Lumpur and Mumbai to be the cheapest places for a weekend holiday while Sydney is the most expensive. It is much cheaper to spend a weekend in Tokyo than in Sao Paulo or Moscow. Indian cities are the cheapest places for a movie-and-burger date, while Cape Town, Johannesburg, Manila and Mexico City are also affordable. London is the most expensive city for a date. In terms of hiring and deployment of an MBA, Johannesburg is the cheapest place while we recognise the problem of comparing quality across countries

SC notice to EC on vote count procedure

New Delhi, May 12 (iaNS): The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the Election Commission on a plea seeking direction for combined counting of votes from a constituency as a whole and not ward-wise.

Issuing the notice, a bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice N.V. Ramana said: “It may not be possible for us as it may require a change in software. We don’t have the software.” The court has fixed May 21 as next date of hearing.

Appearing for the PIL petitioner, advocate Yogesh Gupta, lawyer Vaibhav Sehgal said: “The way ward-wise counting was being carried out (these days) revealed to the political parties the number of votes cast in their favour in each of the wards.”

“The manner of declaration of result of every polling booth strikes

at the root of secrecy attached to the voting,” the petition said, adding that, as a consequence, “political parties are able to determine the (number of) votes cast in their favour in every ward”.

The fact the political parties become aware of number of votes cast in their favour from every polling booth, “raises fear in the minds of the voters and acts as tool in the hands of the political parties to intimidate the voters”, the PIL submitted.

To buttress his contention, Gupta, in his petition referred, to the video where Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar allegedly threatened the villagers of a village in Baramiti constituency that they would suffer in cut in water supply if they did not vote for his cousin and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule.

In his purported speech, Ajit Pawar said that he would know the way they have voted from the voting machine. Pointing to the fallout of the present manner of declaration of results, he said Ajit Pawar’s video shows that the remedy lies in the deceleration of the result of the constituency as a whole and not ward-wise.

The PIL said that declaration of result of the constituency as a whole would result in bringing balanced funding and growth of the constituency, thereby reducing the scope of political vendetta.

Gupta said that counting of votes in the constituency as a whole would restore the broad secrecy of the votes as political parties would not be able know the ward wise break up of votes polled in their favour which they are able to make out from the existing system.

Making efforts to ensure third front forms govt: JD(U)

Kashmiri women, relatives of disappeared youth wail as they hold photographs of the missing ones during a demonstration organized by the Association for Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) in Srinagar, on Monday, May 12. According to APDP, thousands have disappeared in the conflict-ridden Himalayan territory since an armed rebellion broke out in 1989. (AP Photo)

‘Should minorities be deprived of quality education?’

New Delhi, May 12 (iaNS): A Supreme Court judgment holding that the RTE Act guaranteeing free education to children from socially and economically-backward sections is not applicable to minorityrun institutions is not finding many takers in the legal fraternity who feel it is flawed and would deprive hundreds of thousands of children from vulnerable sections of quality education.

Though a few swear to the minorities the right to administer their institutions without any interference by the state as the law stands today, others feel that no exceptions could be made for implementing rightsbased laws like the right to free education. Another view is that the state should not interfere with education at all.

The judgment by a five-judge constitution bench has come in for critical appraisal on the grounds that the rights conferred on minorities under the Constitution’s article 30 (1) to establish and administer their institutions could not be taken recourse to restrict the application of

the progressive law that confers the right to education on all children.

Besides this, some legal experts feel that an 11-judge-bench verdict in the 2002 T.M.A. Pai Foundation case needs to be revisited as it was coming in the way of children being admitted to these schools and that article 30(1) could not be read in absolute terms, when even fundamental rights are subject to reasonable restrictions.

In this case, the apex court granted absolute immunity to private, unaided educational institutions, including those of minorities, in admissions, leaving them to decide the manner in which students should be taken in and barred any interference by the state.

Legal experts, however, said that the rights that minorities get under article 30(1) could not be elevated above the fundamental rights, noting there are regions in West Bengal and other eastern and northeastern states where bulk of the schools are run by the minorities.

“If it is an aided minority institution, then there is no reason why the

es to hire and deploy an MBA from a top school. Interestingly, it is almost as expensive to deploy a graduate from a top school in Mumbai as it is in Singapore. The survey is an overview of prices and price indices of a wide array of goods and services from around the world.

The data was culled both by directly surveying prices posted on the Internet and from secondary sources that have collated such data. “In order to ensure that prices are comparable across countries, we have tried to use products that are standard across countries or have close substitutes,” the report said.

RTE Act should not apply to it,” senior counsel Colin Gonsalves told IANS. “I think a law of this nature should be applied without exception,” he added.

Describing the judgment as “fundamentally wrong”, Gonsalves said: “The original mistake made by the Supreme Court is in the T.M.A. Pai case where it privatized education.

This was a huge mistake and children of India are suffering on account of this decision.

“It is because of T.M.A.Pai judgment that we find the Supreme Court holding today that progressive statutes like the Right to Education Act are not applicable to particular schools. It is fundamentally wrong,” Gonsalves maintained.

Senior counsel Ravindra Shrivastava said that “the judgment goes by the constitution because of constitutional provisions.”

“Personally speaking, with regard to the proliferation of commercial education institutes and their impact, I think that the RTE Act should apply across all institutions irrespective of the nature of their ownership,”

Shrivastava told IANS, agreeing that on “certain aspects, the T.M.A. Pai judgment needs to be revisited”.

Senior counsel C.A. Sundaram, however, said he did not believe that there should be any interference with education and “the principle laid down in T.M.A. Pai case respecting the autonomy of unaided private institutions should continue to be respected”.

Sundram said that once the RTE Act has been upheld, its being applicable to private institutions is a natural corollary.

However, senior counsel Jaspal Singh was of the view that granting protection to minority institutions was a laudable objective and should not be interfered with in the name of enforcing the right to education.

“The laudable object of the constitutional provision is to protect the minorities and provide avenues of education to them. This is a special provision under which minorities are opening institutions, they are open to all. Nearly 80 percent students in Sikh institutions are from other communities,” he noted.

New Delhi, May 12 (PTi): JD(U) today said it is making efforts to form a third front government amidst its hope that non-NDA and non-UPA parties will come together realising the “challenge”. JD(U) president Sharad Yadav ruled out his party’s support to NDA even if LK Advani is projected as the Prime Ministerial candidate by BJP. He said the effort is to stop both NDA and UPA from forming the government. “We are making efforts to see that neither of them (NDA or UPA) form the government but the government of third front is formed,” he said. “We will again create an alternative. All those who are fragmented, they are the first ones to come together and become one.

They will understand the challenge and come together,” he added.

Paid news case: EC slap notices on Ashok Chavan, Madhu Koda

New Delhi, May 12 (PTi): The Election Commission on Monday issued a show cause notice to former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and ex-Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda for their alleged involvement in paid news cases.

The poll panel has asked Chavan to appear before it in connection with a ongoing case of alleged expenses made by him during the 2009 polls which were categorised as ‘paid news’ asking him to attend the hearing here on May 23 “either in person or through his authorised representative or counsel”. The Supreme Court in a verdict on May 5, had dismissed Chavan’s petition questioning the Commission’s authority to inquire the allegations of paid news.

Chavan, in 2009 Assembly elections had won from Bhokar seat in Nanded. His opponent, independent candidate Madhav Kinhalkar, filed a complaint with the Election Commission, accusing him of hiding expenses on a ‘paid’ supplement titled Ashok Parva (The era of Ashok) in a leading Marathi daily.

However, the ex-chief minister and the daily’s management denied the allegation saying that the supplement was not a paid one. The Election Commission probed into Kinhalkar’s allegations. The Delhi High Court in 2010 declined Chavan’s plea seeking the stay of the Election Commission proceedings. He then moved the apex court in November 2011.

In the second case, the EC has asked Koda to appear in the hearing, either in person or through an authorised counsel, with regard to a case against him for allegedly furnishing false election expenditure records after the 2009 polls. The EC’s action comes a week after the Supreme Court gave a free hand to the Commission to inquire into complaints of paid news or incorrect expenses against a political leader.

The EC, post complaints made against the two political leaders, had initiated disqualification procedures against them under the Representation of the People Act. Both the leaders had challenged the EC’s action as they denied any wrongdoing.

Tuesday

InternatIonal

the Morung express

13 May 2014

Dimapur

9

Thai Senate to draft crisis “road map”

BANGKOK, MAy 12 (ReuteRs): Six months of political turmoil has created Thailand’s biggest ever crisis, the leader of the country’s Senate said on Monday, amid calls from anti-government protesters for a new interim prime minister after Yingluck Shinawatra was ousted last week.

Yingluck’s caretaker government has remained in office since the Constitutional Court ordered her and nine cabinet colleagues to step down over a nepotism case. It is hoping to organise a July election it would likely win. But the protesters say the entire administration has lost legitimacy and want to replace it with a “neutral” interim prime minister who would oversee electoral reforms aimed at keeping Yingluck and her brother, ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, out of power.

Former telecommunications tycoon Thaksin, who was overthrown in a coup in 2006, won huge support in the north and northeast with pro-poor policies but was he was increasingly seen as a challenge to the Bangkokbased royalist establishment. Newly elected Senate Speaker Surachai Liengboonlertchai called a special session on Monday hoping to draw up a plan to end the crisis. “At this moment, the Senate is the main institution that can solve Thailand’s political crisis. Thailand is facing its biggest crisis right now,” Surachai told reporters.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy Prime Minister in a government run by the pro-establishment Democrat Party, has called on the upper house Senate, the judiciary and Election Commission to step in and appoint a new prime minister. “We will discuss how to draw up a road map to get Thailand out of this situation,” said Senate leader Surachai. “A neutral prime minister has not yet been discussed as part of the road map.”

New twist in Thailand’s battle for seat of power

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban waves to supporters as the protesters move away from a monthlong occupation of the city’s main park and march to the prime minister’s office compound in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, May 12. The battle for who holds Thailand’s seat of power took on a new twist Monday as Suthep planned to set up his office at the vacated Government House while the country’s new caretaker leader worked from a makeshift, suburban outpost. (AP Photo)

stayed out this time despite calls from some pro-establishment forces for it to oust the pro-Thaksin government.

“Military heads have never mentioned a neutral prime minister and this is not something they plan to get involved in,” Winthai Suvaree, a spokesman for the army, told Reuters, referring to the anti-government protesters’ demand.

“The military is not planning to stage a coup and it will let politicians sort the country’s problems out.”

Thailand has seen nine military coups since 1946, when King Bhumibol Adulyadej assumed the throne.

“NOT PLANNING A COUP” The latest phase of a nearly decade- The king, who is 86, has intervened to long struggle between Thaskin and the defuse previous crises but has not comestablishment has damaged South- mented directly since this one blew up. east Asia’s second-biggest economy FEARS OF VIOLENCE and has even raised fear of civil war.

Derided by his opponents as a corThe military, which has intervened frequently in politics in the past, has rupt crony capitalist who manipulates

elections with his wealth, Thaksin - the last prime minister to be deposed by the army - lives in self-exile abroad to avoid a 2008 jail sentence for graft.

Yingluck dissolved the lower house of parliament in December to call an election she hoped would end the protests. But her opponents disrupted the vote and it was later ruled void. She and the Election Commission have agreed on July 20 for a new election but it has not been formally called.

Rival supporters are staging sit-in protests at various places in and on the outskirts of Bangkok, raising fears of violence. Twenty-five people have been killed in sporadic violence since this round of protests kicked off in November.

Rallying pro-government “red shirt” activists are demanding a new election. “Appointing a so-called

neutral, un-elected prime minister is against the law and, I warn you, it will provoke a violent reaction,” red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan told Reuters. “Thai people know their rights - they are now politically savvy and will not accept a puppet premier chosen by the elite.”

Yingluck’s ruling Puea Thai Party selected Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan as caretaker prime minister last week, but government opponents reject his appointment. Anti-government protesters plan to move from a city park to a site in front of the U.N. regional headquarters on Monday to prepare for what they see as imminent victory.

“For those joining our final offensive be prepared to stay until we prevail,” Suthep told his supporters on Sunday night.

North Korea denies drone flights seOuL, MAy 12 (ReuteRs): North Korea on Monday accused U.S. and South Korean authorities of fabricating the results of a probe that concluded Pyongyang sent small surveillance drones, or unmanned aircraft, to spy on key South Korean installations in March.

A spokesman for the North’s military attacked the United States for what it said was a blindly-backed confrontational conspiracy devised by the government of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, whom it called a “political prostitute”.

“If Washington pays heed only to what its stooges trumpet, it is bound to be accused of being a senile grandfather trying to stop a child from crying,” the unnamed spokesman said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

South Korean Ministry of Defence spokesman Kim Minseok said the North’s statement was “deeply regrettable”.

“North Korea isn’t a real country is it? It doesn’t have human rights or freedom. It exists solely to prop up a single person,” Kim said at a briefing in Seoul. North and South Korea are technically still at war after

South says North “must disappear soon” seOuL, MAy 12 (AP): A rhetorical battle between the rival Koreas intensified Monday with a South Korean official saying North Korea “must disappear soon.”

The comments, which will likely draw a furious response from Pyongyang, followed a series of sexist and racist slurs by North Korea against the leaders of South Korea and the United States. Pyongyang’s state media likened South Korean President Park Geun-hye to an “old prostitute” and U.S. President Barack Obama to a “monkey” in recent dispatches.

South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters at a briefing in Seoul that North Korea isn’t a real country and exists for the benefit of only one person, a reference to dictator Kim Jong Un. He said the North has no human rights or public freedoms.

South Korea has been highly critical of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

The North Korean statement was the latest in a recent series of written attacks by the North against the South Korean president, whom it has previously likened to a “comfort woman”. In April, North Korea described Barack Obama as Park’s “pimp”, and in an article this month called the U.S. president a “wicked black monkey”.

South Korean and U.S. of-

including recent rocket and missile tests and apparent preparations for a fourth nuclear test. But the comments from Seoul on Monday are stronger than normal. South Korea tries to avoid publicly talking about anything that could be interpreted as a collapse of the North Korean government because of worries that Pyongyang would raise tensions.

Pyongyang has been ramping up its rhetoric against Seoul and Washington since Obama and Park met in Seoul last month.

During that visit, Obama said that it may be time to consider further sanctions against North Korea and that the U.S. will not hesitate to use its military might to defend its allies. South Korea has called the North’s verbal insults against Park immoral and unacceptable. The U.S. State Department described the North’s racist slurs against Obama as “disgusting.”

ficials jointly examined three drones that were recovered in three different locations near the Korean border over a two-week period starting in late March. The second was discovered soon after a three-hour artillery barrage between North and South Korea in waters near a disputed maritime border. In April, North Korea proposed a joint probe into the crashed drones with the South, but Seoul rejected the proposal.

North Korea said in the statement the joint investigation into the origin of the drones was a “charade”, designed to divert public criticism of the South Korean government’s handling of the Sewol ferry tragedy. Park’s government has faced continued criticism for its handling of the disaster from the families of the ferry victims, many of whom believe a swifter initial response could have saved many more lives.

BANGKOK, MAy 12 (AP): The battle for who holds Thailand’s seat of power took on a new twist Monday as the leader of anti-government protests planned to set up his office at the vacated Government House while the country’s new caretaker leader worked from a makeshift, suburban outpost.

The development was the latest to highlight the government’s lack of power as Thailand’s political crisis grinds into its seventh month.

One newspaper compared the political situation to a sinking ship that it called the “Thaitanic.”

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who has led the movement for six months, has called for a “final push” to install an unelected new prime minister — a goal that critics call undemocratic but supporters say is a necessary step for implementing anti-corruption reforms before a new election can take place.

Suthep planned to end a months-long occupation of the city’s main park Monday and march his followers across Bangkok to the prime minister’s office compound, called Government House, which has been vacant for months due to violent clashes between protesters and police nearby.

Suthep says he will not occupy the actual prime minister’s office inside the compound’s stately Gothic-style main building but will base himself in the adjacent Santi Maitree Building traditionally used for state visits. In more stable times, the building was used for meetings with dignitaries such as President Barack Obama and Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. There was no apparent resistance to Suthep’s plan. The military that provides security at Government House said over the weekend he would be allowed in to avoid fur-

ther clashes in a crisis that has left more than 20 dead and hundreds injured since November. Protesters achieved one of their goals last week when the Constitutional Court dismissed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for nepotism in a case that many viewed as politically motivated.

Analysts, protesters and Thai media agree that the ruling did little to resolve the country’s political turmoil. “Every so often, the stewards of the nation rearrange the deck chairs, as ‘Thaitanic’ continues to plough relentlessly further into uncharted territory, without a captain,” The Bangkok Post newspaper said in a Sunday editorial.

“The ship is still heading right for that iceberg.”

Protesters had been calling for Yingluck’s ouster but say her removal is not enough, and they want to set up an unelected “people’s council” to implement stillundefined reforms to combat corruption and money politics. They oppose elections scheduled for July, which the current ruling party would likely win. Yingluck’s Cabinet has named deputy premier Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan as acting prime minister, but protesters say he doesn’t hold the authority and status to be the head of the government.

Like Yingluck, he is forced to work out of the Office to the Permanent Secretary for Defense in the unfashionable suburb of Muang Thong Thani. Niwattumrong was to hold his first news conference with the foreign media later Monday as the crisis continues to batter the country’s image, its tourism industry and overall economy. Yingluck’s supporters have warned that any attempt to install an unelected prime minister would be a disaster for the nation that could spark “civil war.”

How your immune system can fight back cancer

WAshiNGtON, MAy 12 (iANs): In a groundbreaking treatment, researchers at the National Cancer Institute in the US have harnessed a female patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. The team sequenced the genome of her cancer and identified cells from her immune system that attacked a specific mutation in the malignant cells.

Then they grew those immune cells in the lab and infused billions of them back into her bloodstream,

a report in the journal Science said. “The tumours began melting away,” said Steven A. Rosenberg, chief of the surgery branch at the cancer institute. The 43-year-old woman was diagnosed with an advanced and deadly type of cancer that had spread from her bile duct to her liver and lungs, despite chemotherapy.

“The report is noteworthy because it describes an approach that may also be applied to common tumours - like those in the

digestive tract, ovaries, pancreas, lungs and breasts,” the report noted. Researchers said the treatment, known as adoptive cell therapy, holds promise for common cancers. But they also cautioned that the report was early and based on just one patient. According to Rosenberg, his team was working around the clock to streamline the process. Potentially, if we could reduce the complexity, it’s something that could get out into common usage eventually, he added.

Boko Haram offers to swap kidnapped girls for prisoners

ABuJA, MAy 12 (ReuteRs): The leader of the Nigerian Islamist rebel group Boko Haram has said he will release more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by his fighters last month in exchange for prisoners, according to a video seen by Agence France-Presse on Monday.

Around 100 girls wearing full veils and praying are shown in an undisclosed location in the 17-minute video in which Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau speaks, according to the French news agency. Militants fighting for an Islamist state stormed a secondary school in the northeastern village of Chibok on April 14 and seized 276 girls who were taking exams. Some managed to escape but around 200 remain missing.

The group has killed thousands since 2009 and destabilised parts of northeast Nigeria, the country with Africa’s largest population and biggest economy.

The attack has provoked global expressions of outrage, and concern about the fate of the girls deepened when Shekau threatened in a video released earlier

this month to sell the girls “in the market”.

Nigeria said on Saturday it had deployed two army divisions to the hunt for the girls while several nations including the United States, Britain, Israel and France have offered assistance or sent experts.

The Nigerian government has been sharply criticised for its response to the abductions but President Goodluck Jonathan said on Sunday that international military and intelligence assistance made him optimistic about finding the girls.

French President Francois Hollande on Sunday offered to host a summit in Paris next Saturday with Nigeria and its neighbours focused on the militant group. The leaders of Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger might also attend and Britain, the European Union and the United States would probably be represented as well, Hollande’s aides said. The mass abduction of schoolgirls has touched a chord around the world, and triggered a support campaign using the Twitter hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.

Kremlin hopes for dialogue after Ukraine vote

DONetsK, MAy 12 (AP): The Kremlin urged the Ukrainian government Monday to engage in talks with representatives of the eastern part of the country following the controversial referendums where about 90 percent of voters said they backed their regions’ sovereignty.

The statement signaled that Russia has no immediate intention to annex the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, like it did with Crimea following a similar referendum in March. The cautious stance appears to reflect Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hope to negotiate a solution to what has become the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The Kremlin also urged the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to help broker talks between the central government in Kiev and representatives of the east after Sunday’s vote.

Ukraine region opts for sovereignty following referendum

Ukraine’s central government and the West have condemned the balloting as a sham and a violation of international law, and accused Moscow of fomenting the unrest in a possible attempt to grab more land weeks after the annexation of Crimea — accusations that Russia has denied.

“The farce, which terrorists call the referendum, will have no legal consequences except the criminal responsibility for its organizers,” Ukraine’s acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said in a statement Monday.

Arriving in Brussels for a meeting with his EU counterparts Monday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters that he considered the referendum “illegal.”

“We cannot, and must not, take it seriously,” he said.

The Kremlin, in turn, criticized the Ukrainian authorities for trying to thwart the balloting by using weapons against civilians. It pointed at a “high turnout” in the vote and voiced respect for its results.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow sees no need for another fourway meeting between Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine following their talks in Geneva last month, saying that the Ukrainian authorities should now focus on dialogue with the east.

According to early returns, 89 percent of those who cast ballots Sunday in the Donetsk region and about 96 percent of those who turned out in the

neighboring Luhansk region voted for sovereignty. It remained unclear whether the vote could lead to their secession.

The pro-Russian insurgents, who organized Sunday’s balloting, said the ultimate status of the regions would be discussed later and could include the possibility of secession or annexation by Russia or remaining part of Ukraine.

Election organizers said turnout topped 70 percent by late afternoon, but with no international election monitors in place, it was all but impossible to confirm such claims.

Turnout was brisk at some polling stations visited by AP journalists. At one polling station at a school in Donetsk, all voting slips that could be seen

in the transparent ballot boxes showed that self-rule had been selected.

Most opponents of sovereignty appeared likely to stay away from the polls rather than risk attracting attention. Surveys by polling companies have indicated that a significant majority of people in Ukraine reject movements to break away parts of the country.

There were no immediate signs of any outright intimidation by pro-Russian forces Sunday, and insurgents near the polls were not wearing their usual balaclavas.

A few days before the vote, Putin had urged the organizers to postpone the balloting in an apparent attempt to distance himself from the insurgents and keep his hands free for bargain-

ing with the West.

His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, was quoted by the Kommersant daily Monday as saying that it was difficult for people in the east to heed Putin’s call because of fighting in the region.

The insurgents in the east have seized government buildings and clashed with government troops and police over the past month. More than 30 people have been reported killed since Ukrainian forces began trying to retake some eastern cities from the insurgents. Sunday’s voting in the two regions with a combined population of 6.5 million appeared mostly peaceful, but armed men opened fire on a crowd outside the town hall in Krasnoarmeisk.

The men identified themselves to a crowd as Ukrainian nation-

al guards but the Interior Ministry has denied they were part of the national guard.

An Associated Press photographer who witnessed the shooting saw two people lay motionless on the ground. The Interfax news agency later reported that one man died on the spot and another later died of wounds at a hospital.

The violence in Krasnoarmeisk, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) west from the regional capital, Donetsk, came hours after armed men put a stop to the voting and took control of the town hall. In the evening, more armed men arrived in a van, a scuffle broke out with people gathered around the building and the men fired the shots.

Turchynov and Ukraine’s caretaker government came to power in February following the ouster of Kremlin-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych after months of protests in Kiev.

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SPORTS

Tuesday 13 May 2014

The Morung Express

Clippers stun Thunder to tie series

Los Angeles Clippers forward Glen Davis, left, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, center, and center Kendrick Perkins defend in the first half of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series on Sunday, May 11 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo)

LOS ANGELES, MAy 12 (AP): After being thoroughly outplayed for over 40 minutes, the Los Angeles Clippers fought back.

Leading the way was a player not known for coming up big in the clutch.

Darren Collison scored eight of his 18 points in the final 2:58, rallying the Clippers past the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-99 on Sunday to tie the Western Conference semifinal series 2-2. "Even though we didn't play well throughout

the game, we were able to get a win," Collison said.

"That feels more impressive than anything we did."

Russell Westbrook, who scored 27 points, missed a 3-pointer and Serge Ibaka's tip attempt was too late at the buzzer, allowing the Clippers to salvage a game they trailed until the final 1:23. "It was a good look," Westbrook said. "Just didn't go in."

Blake Griffin led Los Angeles with 25 points, making 9 of 11 free throws.

Jamal Crawford added 18

Sterling apologizes, says 'not a racist'

FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2010, file photo, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling, right, sits with his wife Rochelle during the Clippers NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Los Angeles. An attorney representing the estranged wife of Clippers owner Donald Sterling said Thursday, May 8, 2014, that she will fight to retain her 50 percent ownership stake in the team. (AP Photo)

LOS ANGELES, MAy 12 (AP): Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling apologized Sunday for racist comments captured on tape, saying they were a "terrible mistake."

"I'm not a racist," Sterling told CNN's Anderson Cooper in excerpts posted from an interview taped Sunday and set to air Monday. "I made a terrible mistake. I'm here to apologize."

In his first public comments since being banned for life from the NBA, Sterling said years of good behavior as an owner should count toward his future.

"I'm a good member who made a mistake," Sterling said. "Am I entitled to one mistake, am I after 35 years? I mean, I love my league, I love my partners.

Am I entitled to one mistake? It's a terrible mistake, and I'll never do it again."

The interview came nearly two weeks after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling, fined him $2.5 million and urged the other league owners to force him to sell the team.

Sterling said he waited to make a public apology because he was "emotionally distraught." "The reason it's hard for me, very

hard for me, is that I'm wrong," Sterling said. "I caused the problem. I don't know how to correct it." He later added, "If the owners feel I have another chance, then they'll give it to me."

Sterling's comments came on the same day ABC News posted excerpts of an interview his estranged wife gave to Barbara Walters.

Shelly Sterling said she would fight to keep her 50 percent ownership stake of the team. "I will fight that decision," Shelly Sterling said.

"To be honest with you, I'm wondering if a wife of one of the owners, and there's 30 owners, did something like that, said those racial slurs, would they oust the husband? Or would they leave the husband in? "I don't know why I should be punished for what his actions were."

NBA spokesman Mike Bass released a statement Sunday night in response to Shelly Sterling's comments. "Under the NBA constitution, if a controlling owner's interest is terminated by a three-quarter vote, all other team owners' interests are automatically terminated as well," Bass said. "It doesn't matter whether the owners are related as is the case here.

points. DeAndre Jordan had 14 rebounds, helping the Clippers win the boards, 45-43 — the first time in 11 playoff games the Thunder were outrebounded. "We just willed this one. We found a way," said Chris Paul, who had 23 points and 10 assists.

Kevin Durant scored 40 points, hitting 15 of 18 free throws, for the Thunder.

"We let this one slip away," he said. "We could have took control of the series."

Game 5 is Tuesday night in

Oklahoma City.

"We were almost on the mat and we got off of it. We didn't get pinned," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "They're seething right now. They had an opportunity to go up 3-1 and now it's an even series."

It was the 14th comeback — and largest yet — by the Clippers this season after trailing by double digits.

They rallied from 12 points down in the second quarter of Game 7 to oust Golden State in the first round.

"This is one of the best ones yet," Paul said. "Darren Collison was amazing.

You just got to love a guy like that who plays with so much heart and never gives up." The Clippers had no answer for Durant and Westbrook until midway through the fourth quarter.

That dynamic duo drove the lane with abandon, drew fouls and made free throws in leading the Thunder to an early 22-point lead.

Durant's three-point play early in the fourth extended the Thunder's lead to 15 points, and they were still up by 10 with 7:44 to go.

But the comeback Clippers were not to be denied. "Everybody kept telling each other, 'Chip away, chip away,'" Griffin said. "That was kind of our mentality for the rest of the game. We just kept fighting."

The Clippers stole a page out of the Thunder's playbook, switching to a smaller lineup that included Collison and Danny Granger, who helped disrupt the Thunder's rebounding late. Paul willed his team back into it, scoring six straight points to get the Clippers within six.

Griffin, who was saddled with five fouls, made three of four free throws before Collison got hot.

"The whole time I'm thinking, 'We can't be down 3-1, we just can't be down 3-1 going to Oklahoma," Collison said. With the game tied at 97, Collison scored the Clippers' final four points on layups. Crawford passed to a streaking Collison for a fast-break conversion on the second one for a 101-97 lead with 32 seconds left.

Westbrook scored for the Thunder, but after Griffin missed, Westbrook did too to end the game.

Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) collides with Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) under the basket during the second half of Game 4 of an Eastern Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff game in Washington, Sunday, May 11. (AP Photo)

Pacers push Wizards to the margins

WASHINGTON, MAy 12 (AP): When Frank Vogel wanted to give Paul George a rest, George said no. When the coach offered to have George expend less energy by guarding someone other than sharpshooting Bradley Beal, George said no. After all, the Indiana Pacers were in a hole against the Washington Wizards, one that grew as large as 19 points early in the second half. And George was the one player who was really on his game.

George was subbed only once — for the final 1:37 of the first quarter — and finished with a career playoff-high 39 points Sunday night as the Pacers rallied past the Wizards 95-92 to a take a 3-1 series

lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "Usually Coach takes me out to get a breather, but I knew every horn that sounded wasn't for somebody coming to get me," George said. "I already had it in my head that I was pretty much going to go the whole distance."

George scored 28 points after halftime and finished 12 for 20 from the field. His seven 3-pointers tied a franchise playoff record. He also had 12 rebounds and had enough legs under him to make the final steal of the game — chasing down Trevor Ariza's errant inbounds pass when the Wizards were trying to set up a tying basket in the final 10 seconds.

"They played a terrific bas-

ketball game," Vogel said of the Wizards, "but sometimes you can be outdone by a special performance.

And Paul George, what he did tonight was special. No other way to put it."

The Pacers can close out the series Tuesday night when they host Game 5. "We've got to win Game 5," Vogel said. "That's our only mindset. Momentum changes with every single game, no matter what. ... In the playoffs, you can't give your opponent any edge."

Roy Hibbert scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, continuing a recent surge in a playoffs of extremes for the 7-foot-2 All-Star center.

He had no points in Game 1, 28 in Game 2 and 14 in Game 3.

Mercedes ready to pump up the volume in F1 Cole quits England

BARCELONA, MAy 12 (REuTERS): Mercedes may have the answer for Formula One fans longing for more engine noise in the new V6 era and they are ready to sound off about it.

The season's dominant team, runaway winners of all five races so far, will try a new 'megaphone' type exhaust at a test in Barcelona this week as the sport seeks a solution to a problem of its own making.

"I'm sure everybody is looking forward to hearing what the 'megaphone' is going to be like," Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff told reporters at the Spanish Grand Prix won by Lewis Hamilton - his fourth successive victory - on Sunday.

"We're pretty clear - if the fans want to have more noise, and if it's making the car not only sound better but it's perceived to be in a better and more attractive

after World Cup axe

way, then we'll go for it."

The sound of the new V6 turbo hybrid engines, which have replaced the screaming old V8s this year, provided an immediate controversy when the season started in Australia in March and has divided the paddock. Some of the race promoters, who flew in from around the world to meet in Barcelona on Saturday, have called for more noise and fear ticket sales could fall off if fans are alienated by the lack

of decibels. While Formula One's 83-year-old commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone agrees with them, the quieter turbos also have their supporters in the paddock particularly among the technical boffins.

They argue that increasing the noise goes against the greener spirit of the regulation change which is to reduce wasted energy from the exhaust and brakes and harness it to make the cars go

faster. "Some of what we are experiencing with respect to the noise is that it (the new power unit) does what it says on the tin: It uses less energy, and it does so more efficiently so there’s less falling out of the back as noise," Renault F1 deputy managing director Rob White told Reuters. "I don't sign up to the opinion that they sound horrible. I feel there is a positive message that has kind of got drowned out," he added.

LONDON, MAy 12 (AFP): Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole announced Sunday he was retiring from international football after being told he'd been left out of England manager Roy Hodgson's squad for the World Cup. "I got the call from Roy and agree England team should be about the young players," the 33-year-old Cole told his Twitter followers.

"We have a great manager and team and I wish them only success. I will be supporting them like a true fan. Thanks to everyone for everything," the 107-times capped Cole added ahead of Hodgson's official squad announcement on Monday.

Cole's words indicated his failure to hold down a regular first-team spot at Chelsea this season, where he has been displaced by Spain's Cesar Azpilicueta, had cost him his

England career. His omission means that Everton's Leighton Baines is set to be confirmed as England's leading left-back when Hodgson unveils his 23-man squad for the World Cup finals, with Southampton teenager Luke Shaw providing cover for the 29-year-old. "#Baines and #shaw are great players, proved this season, and are the future of this country, it was a pleasure to get #107 caps #eng," added Cole, who earlier on Sunday started in Chelsea's final league game of the season, a 2-1 victory away to already-relegated Cardiff, on Twitter. Former Arsenal defender Cole made his international debut against Albania in 2001 and has been an England regular ever since, starting every tournament game since his finals bow against Sweden at the 2002 World Cup.

Atletico, Barca set up Spanish title decider

MADRID, MAy 12 (AP): Atletico Madrid and Barcelona set up a winner-takesall decider for the Spanish league title after both teams drew on Sunday, while Real Madrid lost to see its slim title hopes end.

Little-used defender Tobias Alderweireld headed home a corner kick for Atletico in the 74th minute to cancel out Samuel Garcia's opener.

Though Malaga finished with 10 men, Atletico failed to score a winner that would have secured a first league title in 18 years after Elche held Barcelona 0-0.

Instead, Atletico travels to the Camp Nou next weekend for a dramatic finale to decide the champion.

Atletico leads with 89 points, three better than Barcelona, which means a draw will be enough to pry the championship away from the defending champion, which must win to retain its title. "We still believe in this team. We're Atletico and we're going to go there to win," Atletico captain Gabi Fernandez said.

"We're used to playing in

Atletico's coach Diego Simeone, right, reacts during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Malaga at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 11. (AP Photo)

finals." Madrid, which has 84 points, limped out of the league race following a poor showing in Vigo, where a pair of turnovers allowed Charles to score both goals in a 2-0 win.

Madrid faces Atletico in the Champions League final and played as if it was already looking ahead to Lisbon as defensive mistakes by Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso allowed

Charles to net easily in each half. Cristiano Ronaldo was sidelined with an injury and Gareth Bale was on the bench, while Sami Khedira and Alvaro Arbeloa returned from long

injuries to play. Atletico's attack looked disjointed early on without leading scorer Diego Costa, with replacement David Villa unable to finish three good scoring opportunities —

including early on when the Spain striker found the crossbar.

Raul Garcia headed well wide with only Willy Caballero to beat, and the Malaga 'keeper made key stops from Villa and substitute Diego Ribas after the break. Thibaut Courtois rushed out to cut off Roque Santa Cruz's solo effort on the hour mark, but the Atletico goalkeeper's mix-up with defender Miranda allowed Samuel Garcia to get free to head home the opener. With nerves starting to creep in, Alderweireld — filling in for the suspended Diego Godin — leapt high to head home a corner that allowed home fans to exhale.

Marcos Angeleri's second yellow card left Malaga with 10 men from the 88th, and Atletico pushed forward as Jose Sosa's free kick narrowly missed the target before Caballero made a leaping finger-tip stop to Adrian Lopez's curling shot. "It's going to be an important game for the club," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.

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Blast from the past A

ishwar ya Rai Bachchan`s alleged past love affairs had always made the headlines.

The gossip mongers, had a field day whether the news was about Salman Khan or Vivek Oberoi. And now it seems some more skeletons in the closet have come out in the open.

In a recent turn of events, one of her alleged ex-lovers Niroshan Devapriya of Sri Lankan origin has filed a complaint against the Bollywood beauty. He insists that he had previously dated the 40-year-old actress. According to the latest buzz,

Devapriya has admitted that Ash`s marriage with Abhishek left him devastated and is the cause of his emotional imbalance.

However, one wonders if his allegations are true, then why was this mysterious lover tight-lipped about his affair with the former Miss World so far.

Shockingly, the revelation has come after 7 years after Abhi-Ash tied the knot on 21st April, 2007.

The grapevine has it that Devapriya has already hired a lawyer, to support his case. Well, how far the allegations are true, only time will tell!

We don't look down upon Bollywood music

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Bollywood. The only thing we look down upon is probably the term, the way people use Bollywood in a negative sense, Malik told. It is the Indian film industry and it is also (one of) the biggest money-making industry in the world and it employees a number of people. It is one of the greatest organisations, he added.

The band members believed that the fact that they have composed for Manjunath will give a fillip to the

film, which is the story of Manjunath Shanmugan, an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) graduate who was killed in 2005 for speaking out against corruption. Without trying to sound like we are blowing our own trumpets, we are one of the most popular bands and for the first time we are giving music to a Bollywood film which will definitely give hype to the film, he said.

Asked about what

Kelly Rowland and stars feature on new Pepsi album

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elly Rowland, Janelle Monรกe and Rita Ora feature on a new soundtrack for Pepsi to celebrate the World Cup. The stars appear on a visual album 'Pepsi MAX Beats of the Beautiful Game', a collection of 11 anthemic songs and companion short films, two of which are directed by Oscar-winning director Spike Lee and actor Idris Elba.

Talking about the album, Kelly said ''I was immediately attracted to 'The Game' because I can identify with its theme of overcoming challenges and finding your voice. ''It's a very important message and I'm honored to partner with Pepsi on a project that brings the worlds of music, sports and film together. As an artist - and a huge film and sports fan - it's been an incredible experience.''

'Beats of the Beautiful Game' also showcases a mix of rising and celebrated artists from around the world including Don Omar, Santigold and Timbaland and marks this year's World Cup, which kicks off in Brazil in June.

From May 20, Pepsi MAX will premiere songs off the album as singles on iTunes, with accompanying filmtracks free to view the same day on pepsi. comthegame, as well as artists' YouTube or Vevo channels.

prompted them to compose for the film, the band`s organist Subir Malik said It is a story which is relevant, especially in today`s times.

Nobody wants to really address the core issues of adulteration and poverty. This was a great opportunity for us to be part of something not just musically but also socially as we are citizens (of the country) as well. The movie has a social message and I am very happy that the film came along.

Dimapur

13 May 2014

11

G N I R O L P EX S TALENT FOR N O I T I N G RECO

Alleged ex-flame lodges complaint against Aishwarya Rai

n its over two decades of existence, Indian rock and roll band Parikrama has kept its distance from Bollywood music, but its lead vocalist Nitin Malik says they don`t look down upon the genre. The band composed for the recently released film Manjunath and it was the film`s realistic approach that drew them to the project.

We don`t look down upon Bollywood music... we have many idols from

Tuesday

Entertainment

The Morung Express

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Joan Rivers refuses to retire

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f actress Joan Rivers had her way, she would continue to do films always as the 80-year-old says she doesn't want to retire.

Never retire! Everyone's retiring - David Letterman, Barbara Walters. If I croak, who warns the world about Gwyneth Paltrow I have so many years left; they even let me put a new face on layaway, said Rivers.

The actress said that there's still one guest she's desperate to have on her show Fashion Police. I want Victoria Beckham on my show, so that I can make her smile. I'm convinced she has no teeth, she said.

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Eminem apologizes to mother Eminem has made a heartfelt apology to his mother, Debbie Nelson, in his new music video which was released on US Mother's Day.

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minem has apologised to his mother in his new music video. The rapper appears to hug a woman a resembling his mum, Debbie Nelson, and expresses his regret about their feud in the official clip for 'Headlights', which was released on Sunday (11.05.14) to coincide with Mother's Day in the US. The reflective video, directed by filmmaker Spike Lee, also sees the 41-year-old star - real name Marshall Mathers - flick through a photo album featuring snaps from his childhood. The lyrics even reflect on Eminem's earlier song, 'Cleanin' Out My Closet' in 2002, in which he accused his mother of making him ill due to her alleged drug habit and the song, featuring Nate Ruess, is taken from his album 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2', which was released last year.

He raps: ''I went in headfirst, never thinking about who what I said hurt / In what verse, my mum probably got it the worst,

the brunt of it / But as stubborn as we are, did I take it too far, Cleanin' Out My Closet /And all them other songs, but regardless I don't hate you / Cause ma, you're still beautiful to me, cause you're my mum.''

The 'Rap God' hitmaker has had a troubled relationship with his mother over

the years, often rapping about his troubled childhood in his autobiographical songs. Debbie sued Eminem for $10 million in 1999 for slandering her by implying she was a habitual drug user, but she was only awarded $25,000 - some $23,000 of which went towards her lawyers' fees.

Singer Justin Bieber, right, watches the Los Angeles Clippers play the Oklahoma City Thunder with his mother Pattie Mallette in the first half of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series on Sunday, May 11, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo)

One Direction mock Harry Style's 'girlie' diet

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arry Styles' One Direction bandmates find his health kick which includes green tea and sushi ''funny'' and they are placing bets on when he'll ''crack''. The 20-year-old hunk is on the 'Where We Are' tour alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne who find his health kick ''funny'' and are placA source told The Daiing bets on when he'll get ly Star newspaper ''Alongsick of green tea and sushi. side the normal menus,

Harry has put in his own special request of one sushi meal and five cups of green tea a day. ''His pal Nick Grimshaw initially got him into it. ''But the other boys are now betting money on when he'll crack. ''They want none of the sushi and green tea, and find it funny he's asking their chefs to prepare what they consider girlie food.'' 1D all eat together and to maintain some sort of routine they use

the same tablecloth and napkins.

The source added ''They all eat together at the same table - which has the same powder blue and white spotty tablecloth and napkins in every city. ''It helps give them a sense of routine and homeliness.'' One Direction ended the South American leg of their tour on May 11 in Brazil and are set to take to the stage in Dublin on May 23 as they hit Europe.

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Amir Imam, right, hits Yordenis Ugas during their super lightweight boxing match in Los Angeles. Imam won the bout. (AP Photo)

ibrahimovic savours second ligue 1 player of year award Paris, May 12 (rEUTErs): Paris St Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hailed what could be the best season of his career after being named Ligue 1 player of the season for the second year in a row. The Swede, whose career include spells at Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and AC Milan, has scored 25 goals in 32 appearances this term to help PSG clinch the Ligue 1 title with two games to spare.

It is the second consecutive year in which PSG won the title and Ibrahimovic the player of the year award. "I am very proud. It shows that PSG`s season was very good," he told sports daily L`Equipe`s website (www.lequipe.fr).

"Mine, too, maybe the best of my career." The 32-year-old has also won the Dutch league twice with Ajax (in 2002 and 2004), the Serie A title with Inter Milan three times (2007-09), La Liga with Barcelona (2010), and the Italian title again with AC Milan (2011). He also won back-to-back Serie A titles with Juventus in 2005 and 2006 but those championships were revoked because of a match-fixing scandal.

Ibrahimovic will appear for the last time this season on Saturday when PSG take on Montepllier in the final round of matches. He will not be going to Brazil as Sweden failed to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Paris Saint-Germain poses with his awards for the Best Player in the French League One Championship and the Most Beautiful Goal in the French League One Championship during the 23rd edition of the National Union of Professional Soccer (UNFP) Awards, in Paris, Sunday, May 11. (AP Photo)

Ryan Giggs uncertain over ManU future

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sOUThaMPTOn, May 12 (aFP): Ryan Giggs claims not to have thought about his Manchester United future yet, but he concedes that will have to change quickly when his club hire their new manager. Having taken charge of United as interim boss for four games, Giggs has developed a taste for management, but the 40-year-old is unlikely to secure the Old Trafford job on a permanent basis.

United's owners, the Glazer family, seem set to appoint Louis van Gaal this week, with the Netherlands coach already indicating he is prepared to work with Giggs on his staff.

However, the Welsh midfielder is also considering whether to keep playing, take a year off, or join the Old Trafford coaching staff permanently -- a decision he won't take until he knows for certain who will be in charge at United.

"It has been an experience," Giggs said after United's 1-1 draw against Southampton in their last game of the season on Sunday gave him a respectable record of two wins, one draw and a defeat.

"I've enjoyed it. I didn't want the second half to end. The fans were great, the players were great and I loved it. "We were playing attacking football and I was enjoying it. I wasn't thinking about myself. My own

Manchester United's interim manager Ryan Giggs watches his team play against Southampton during their English Premier League soccer match at St Mary's stadium, Southampton, England, Sunday, May 11, 2014. (AP Photo)

position, I'll need to think about that and decide what I'm going to do.

"I think I will decide in the next week. The managerial situation will be sorted out probably in the next week." Giggs admitted his brief spell in charge has been an invaluable expe-

rience as he considers going into management on a full-time basis. "I've learnt a lot, probably more from the defeat against Sunderland than the wins," he said.

"I've learnt that it's hard to leave players out but you've got to do it. Testing at times, but enjoyable.

"I've not really thought about my own situation, whether to play on or not, whether to stay on in the staff and what position that's going to be, whether I'll just take a year off from football.

"These are the options, these are the decisions I've got to make. "All the options are open. I'll look at everything, but I'll probably have to do it quick if a new manager is appointed."

United's failure to win at St Mary's and Tottenham's easy home victory against Aston Villa mean that the deposed champions missed out on a Europa League place, ending a 24-season unbroken run in European competition - a possible blessing in disguise, according to Giggs.

"Hopefully it will help us in our league form and we'll have good cup runs," he said.

"We're a club that wants to win things and this year has been frustrating, it's not happened. But it's like any defeat that we've had, we try to come back stronger and that's what we'll do.

"We'll have a new manager and I'm sure new players are going to be coming in and improving the team. So there's lot to look forward to." United fans will certainly hope so after watching their team struggle to a 1-1 draw, achieved with Juan Mata's equaliser after Rickie Lambert put Southampton ahead.

Madrid, May 12 (rEUTErs): Former world number one Dinara Safina, whose career was wrecked by a series of back injuries, formally announced her retirement in a ceremony at the Madrid Open on Sunday. The 28-year-old Russian, the younger sister of former men`s number one Marat Safin, won 12 singles titles including Madrid and reached three grand slams finals but has not competed since losing in the second round in the Spanish capital in 2011. "I took as much time as I could," Safina said in an interview on the WTA website (www.wtatennis. com). "I am not this kind of person that I would say no, and then I would think and maybe come back," she added. "I was having so much pain in my back, it was tough, everything was hurting me. "Also when you don`t compete your body is different, once you stop your body is in a big shock."

Nadal, Maria wiN Madrid OpeN titles

15 killed in dr Congo football match stampede

Kinshasa, May 12 (ians): At least 15 people were killed and 30 injured in a stampede that occurred during a football match in Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) capital city of Kinshasa, media reported Monday.

Fans in Kinshasa were outraged Sunday evening after their local team V.Club was getting defeated by a team from the eastern town of Lubumbashi in a playoff match, Xinhua reported.

They then started throwing stones and other objects on to the football pitch, forcing the referee to stop the game several times. By the 90th minute, the score was still 1-0 before the referee added five minutes. It is at this point that V.Club supporters threw more stones on to the pitch.

The referee was forced to blow the final whistle even before the end of normal time. Due to the rising tension, police officers resorted to lobbing tear gas canisters at the V.Club supporters to disperse them.

This led to a stampede among the V.Club supporters who tried to reach the exit gates to leave the stadium. In the confusion that ensued, a section of the stadium wall collapsed and a gate broke down, resulting in the deaths and injuries.

A source from DRC Red Cross said Sunday night that the death toll could rise. "The number of deaths will certainly rise. We believe at least 20 people died and over 100 were injured," the source said.

Rafael Nadal from Spain poses for photographers with his trophy, after winning his Madrid Open tennis tournament, men's final match against Kei Nishikori from Japan in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 11, 2014. (AP Photo)

Madrid, May 12 (aP): Rafael Nadal won his fourth Madrid Open title on Sunday after Kei Nishikori was forced to withdraw with a back injury when trailing 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 in the final.

Earlier, Maria Sharapova bounced back from a poor start to defeat Simona Halep 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to win the women's title.

Nadal became the first repeat winner in Madrid, and recovered from two recent quarterfinal losses on clay to win his second title on the surface and third overall this year. Nadal showed signs of improvement this week compared to his early exits in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, but still didn't look quite like the player who has won eight French Open titles.

"We don't deserve the victory, (Nishikori) deserves it, he played better than us the whole time," Nadal's uncle and coach Toni Nadal told Antenna 3 TV. "We had a lot of luck today. We didn't really come back, he was hurt."

After both players held serve to start, Nishikori jumped out to a 5-1 lead with powerful groundstrokes that overwhelmed Nadal, who couldn't find a

way to counter his Japanese opponent. "After the early breaks (Nadal) got tense and his opponent played at a great level," Toni Nadal said.

After being broken in his first service game in the second set, Nadal slowly clawed back into the match at the Magic Box although Nishikori was already in some discomfort when Nadal broke back for 4-4.

Nishikori needed a medical timeout to treat his sore lower back, and his energy looked sapped as he hit a shot long to concede the set. Nishikori visibly struggled in the third before eventually retiring.

"I'm very sorry for what happened today for everybody," said Nishikori, who will become the first Japanese player in the top-10 when the new rankings are released. "Unfortunately I was hurting today and I was too hurt to fight."

Nadal's victory guarantees he will stay No. 1 heading into Roland Garros. Sharapova, who lost to Serena Williams in last year's final, crumbled in the opening set when she held her serve just once.

But Halep's serve dipped in the second set, and Sharapova started hitting pinpoint ground strokes that kept the fifthranked Romanian running.

The ninth-ranked Russian converted both her break points in the set to even the match. Sharapova then pulled away in the deciding set with an early break to follow up her triumph in Stuttgart with a maiden title in Madrid. Since the 2011 French Open, Sharapova has a 47-3 record on clay — with all three defeats coming to Williams. The top-ranked American was the two-time defending champion in Madrid but withdrew with a leg injury on Friday.

"I don't know how I pulled it off," Sharapova said after winning her 32nd career title. "I came close last year, and I didn't have a great first set today, but I knew it wasn't over until the last point was played."

Sharapova planned to continue her center court celebration on the plane ride to the Rome Masters. "They better have some champagne for me," Sharapova said. "I need a drink."

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