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Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 102
The Morung Express “
www.morungexpress.com
I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past
Modi, Rahul are ‘rakshasas’ of corruption: Kejriwal
By Sandemo Ngullie
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Ukraine Prez threatens military operation [ PAGE 9]
The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Are you satisfied with the way Nagaland State Government is addressing the AssamNagaland border issues? Yes
no
Others
AYO, CYF condemn April 9 Kohima attack KOHIMA, APRIL 14 (MExN): The Angami Youth Organization (AYO) and the Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF) have condemned the April 9 attack on two persons in Kohima. A press note from the two organizations termed the act as “illicit and a disgrace.” It called upon the NSCN (K) leadership to “own up to and respond in principle to the demands made on behalf of the victims by the ACAUT without fail and without the faction’s justification.” It further demanded that the concerned authority book the culprit at the earliest, “as the identity of the culprit is well established.” The organizations further cautioned of action against any organization/ bodies/ individual bailing out the culprit. “Failing to react appropriately within ten days of this publication, AYO and CYF will be constrained to react in manners deemed fit,” it added.
PDCA condemns shooting incidents
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DIMAPUR , APRIL 14 (MExN): The Peace Committee Dispute Area (Assam-Nagaland) has condemned the incident where two Naga youths were shot on April 11 at Nitozu village gate and another incident on April 9, when one truck driver was shot at Luhezhe village by unidentified persons. A press note from the PCDA stated that such incidents “often occur in the border belt,” where “innocent travelers are harassed and robbed of their belongings at gun point.” While condemning the incidents, the PCDA has urged the law enforcing bodies to nab the culprits responsible and to ensure the safety of people living in the border areas.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Thomas Jefferson
Oscar Pistorius: ‘I Did Not Fire at Reeva!’ [ PAGE 12]
“crusader or conspirator?” AHrc concerned by status Deals new blow to the PM of free media in north east
Retired Coal Secretary says Manmohan Singh’s inability to take on vested interests led to the socalled Coalgate” scandal You locals can do what you like with your cars, lands and latest phones but don’t you ever, ever forget I paid for them.
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WVC demands changes in Dikhu project DPR
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reflections
Rowan Atkinson Splits From Wife
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NEW DELHI, APRIL 14 (REUtERs): A new book accuses Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of being weak and unable to stamp out corruption on his watch, the second recent attack by an insider that undermines the Congress party as it seeks re-election despite trailing in opinion polls. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has cast the world’s largest ever election as a battle between its dynamic and assertive leader Narendra Modi and the relatively ineffective incumbent premier Manmohan Singh. That impression was underlined in a book, published on Monday, called “Crusader or Conspirator? Coalgate and Other Truths” by P.C. Parakh, who retired as coal secretary in 2005. It said Singh’s inability to take on vested interests led to the so-called “Coalgate” scandal, which rocked his premiership. It was the second book in the last week to portray 81-year-old Singh, prime minister since 2004, as a well-intentioned man of high personal integrity but one often unable to assert his authority. The other, by a former media adviser to Singh, was greeted with glee by the BJP, and the party is expected to seize on the Coalgate book to try to land another blow at a crucial time.
Nothing to hide in coal • Calls for safe and better working environment for journalists • Urges media houses to honor and implement the recomallocation, asserts PMO mendations of Majithia Wage Board for journalists and
A detail of a portrait of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which is part of the exhibit “The Art of Leadership: A President’s Diplomacy,” is on display at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas. The exhibit of portraits of world leaders painted by former President George W. Bush runs through June 3, 2014. (AP Photo)
tioned the government’s awarding of mining concessions without competitive bidding, which it said unduly benefited chosen private and state companies and potentially cost the treasury billions of dollars in lost revenues. Parakh said that Singh, though keen to introduce open bidding, could not tackle resistance from coal ministers in his administration. Parakh said he himself came under pressure from people interested in acquiring coal blocks. “Pressures come in the form of “SOME RESIST, OTHERS SUCCUMB” enticements such as post-retirement The Coalgate scandal erupted in assignments, partnership in busi2012 after the public auditor ques- ness, bribery, blackmail or pure in-
NEW DELHI, APRIL 14 (IANs): The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Monday said the matter relating to exploitation of coal reserves was under judicial scrutiny and the UPA government has nothing to hide in the matter. “This matter is under judicial scrutiny and the government is assisting the investigating agency on the same. Several statements have been made on the subject in the past including in the parliament also which are in public domain. The law is taking its course. The government has nothing to hide,” the PMO said in a statement. Earlier in the day, former coal secretary P. C. Parakh has alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did little to rein in ministers responsible for coal allocations while launching his book “Crusader or Conspirator? Coalgate and other Truths”.
timidation. Pressures also come from friends and relations,” Parakh wrote in the book. “Some can resist these pressures. Others succumb,” he said, adding that at no time did the prime minister’s office make recommendations or exert pressure in favour of any party. Singh has consistently denied his government did anything wrong, blaming the delay in introducing competitive bidding on resistance from coal-rich states ruled by opposition parties. He has said the findings of the state auditor in the 2012 report were “clearly disputable”.
non-journalists
DIMAPUR, APRIL 14 (MExN): The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has expressed numerous concerns regarding the status of free media in the North East. The AHRC, in a press note, stated that there are major concerns regarding the working conditions of media persons in the region and called upon the state governments to ensure a safe working atmosphere for journalists and make provisions for social benefits like health and life insurance. The AHRC stated that there have been many cases of harassment of media persons in the form of “killings, bombings, threat to life and property, assaults and arrests.” It informed that since 1991, in Assam alone, “26 journalists had been killed by militant outfits, the timber mafia, criminal gangs, and ‘unidentified killers’.” However, no single person has been brought to book for these crimes, it stated. It further said that, from 1993 till date, “seven
journalists have been shot dead in Manipur” and that “vicious attacks and bombings have become a part of their working environment.” This, according to the AHRC, has resulted in suspension of publication, blank editorials, and demands to the government for a safe working environment. It further informed that in the case of five of the seven deceased journalists, “No action and arrests has resulted.” The AHRC informed that from September 1997 to August 2013, 29 FIRs in connection with “harassment of journalists by underground groups” have been filed in Manipur, out of which 24 of the cases remain “unresolved.” In terms of “harassment of journalists in Manipur by State/ Central forces,” 18 cases have been registered and 11 of these cases remain “unresolved,” it added. The AHRC lamented that these statistics “paint a grim picture of the scenario in the North East,” and “illustrates the inability of law enforcement agen-
cies to take stringent action against the culprits.” As such, it called upon the respective state governments and the Government of India to strengthen protection for journalists and to act swiftly to investigate and prosecute those responsible for killing and assaulting journalists in the region. The AHRC further expressed concern on the salary and working conditions of media persons in the region. “In the last few years there has been a major change in the profile of media houses, with an increasing number of high profile business persons/ organizations making an entry. Yet, working conditions for media personnel remain close to the same,” it stated. Referring to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board for journalists and nonjournalists on their pay structure, the AHRC urged media houses to honor and implement the recommendations “as a matter of priority.”
‘Rhinos may be extinct by 2020’ ‘IDU is “major cause” of HIV infection in Nagaland’ LONDON, APRIL 14 (PtI): Rhinoceros in the wild may be pushed to extinction by the end of this decade if their unrelenting poaching continues at the present rate, experts have warned. The poaching of black and white rhinoceros has soared in last six years. While as 13 rhinos were slaughtered in 2007, that number spiked to 1,004 last year, experts said. “There are now just 20,000 white rhino and 5,000 black rhino left in the wild. If poaching carries on at the rate it is now for six more years it will devastate the numbers,” Will Travers, chief executive of the Born Free Foundation, said. “There will probably be no free-living rhinos as the remaining numbers will be fenced off in military-style compounds which are alarmed and heavily guarded by armed patrols,” Travers said, while
speaking after attending a summit on wildlife crime in Pretoria, South Africa, recently. Criminal gangs are making millions of pounds a year by hacking the animals to death for their horns, The ‘Daily Express’ reported. These horns are used as traditional medicine in the Far East to treat ailments such as hangovers in powder form. “Poaching is a low-penalty crime and that has to change. We need better intelligence gathering and more equipment and manpower,” Travers said after the conference. Attended by 140 experts, the conference was organized in response to plans by the South African government to legalise the trade in rhino horn so the proceeds can be used for conservation, the report said. Travers, however, said that charging a three pounds conservation tax from tourists would work far better.
Narendra Modi vows to clean up Indian politics
NEW DELHI, APRIL 14 (IANs): Vowing to clean Indian politics within five years, if voted to power, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Monday said that he would put all politicians with criminal backgrounds behind bars without any discrimination. “There is a lot of discussion these days on how to stop criminals from entering politics. I have a cure and I have vowed to clean Indian politics... all I need is people’s support,” said Modi in the second round of 3D rallies, addressing around 100 locations in 15 states. Modi said that he would set up special courts under the observation of Supreme Court and all the councillors, panchayat heads, legislators, MPs will go through a screening process and those with criminal backgrounds will be prosecuted
in a time-bound manner. “The cases will be disposed within a year and I am positive that after five years of our rule, the system will be absolutely clean and all criminals will be behind bars,” he said. “I promise there will be no discrimination and I won’t hesitate to punish culprits from my own party,” he added. Taking on the Congress, Modi accused the party of humiliating Bhim Rao Ambedkar, a key architect of India’s Constitution, and accused party vice president of taking all the credit for the work done by Ambedkar. “He (Rahul Gandhi) only talks about his own family’s history and has no knowledge about the contributions made by other people in the building of the nations. He likes to take credit for all the good things that Baba Sahib did,” he said, referring to Ambedkar.
Morung Express news Dimapur | April 14
The increasing cases of HIV/ AIDS in Nagaland are particularly based on intravenous drug use and unsafe sex, informs a study published in the International Research Journal of Medical Science. The study titled ‘Assessment of HIV/AIDS Sero Positivity in Nagaland’ states that the prevalence of infection among IDUs has been a cause of major concern. It further notes that instances of HIV cases has been gradually increasing among “vulnerable” population groups, including women, young people, high risk groups and bridge populations. It added that young
people within the age group of 20-29 are contributing the highest number of HIV/AIDS patients in Nagaland state. In this age bracket, the report informed that the highest mode of transmission is through the sexual route. It further stated that the incidence of HIV/ AIDS infection among STD clinic attendees and ante natal (transmission from mother to child) cases in “rural” Nagaland have also been increasing, thereby posing a major challenge for health managers. It said that rising numbers of pregnant women, “whose sexual behavior is not believed to be risky,” are testing to be HIV positive. While the study showed a decrease in the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among IDUs,
it however noted that this mode of transmission still remains the principle driver of the infection in Nagaland. Although inconsistent, the study informed that prevalence rates, for the most part, amongst attendees of Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres shows a declining trend. This, according to the study, indicates a slowing down of HIV transmissions. Concerning the sexual route of transmission, it stressed on incorporation of life skills in schools and colleges. “Since society is still very apprehensive of talking about sex, there is need for young people to have adequate information about going into pre-marital sex,” it added. The study further advised taking
proper steps like putting the “facts of life” in proper perspective, and “normalization” of condom use. It asserted that accurate information on how to avoid the infection and elimination of stigma against its victims can help stem the tide of the “epidemic.” The study received funding from the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and aimed to observe the positivity rate of HIV/AIDS in all eleven districts of Nagaland state. It collected data from six different sources viz Sentinel Serosurveillance among antenatal clinic attendees, Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission Centers, Blood Banks, Female Sex Workers, Injection Drug Users and Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers.
Border shooting heightens tension Morung Express news Dimapur | April 14
The Karbi-Anglong-Dimapur border continues to remain tense as the land dispute drags on. On April 14, one person suffered gunshot wounds after unidentified gunmen opened fire on a group of people, who were reportedly clearing jungle near Dikoi village. The person, a man in his thirties, sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The injured was from one of the many groups who are clearing land in the disputed border belt, to make way for farming and human settlement. The settlers at Dikoi said that the firing started at around 9:00 am and lasted for two hours. The gunmen were in ‘khaki’ and in
A portion of Dikoi village as seen on April 14. (Morung Photo)
civvies, the settlers said, while it could not be confirmed who were behind the shooting. It was report-
ed that a number of people were injured while running for cover during the shooting . After a lull, more shots
rang out in the afternoon lasting a few minutes. No casualty was reported in the second firing incident,
which occurred today. Dikoi village fall along the disputed Karbi-Anglong-Dimapur border, and is bounded by Rangapahar Military Station on the east, Aoyimkum on the north, Sangtamtilla on the south and the Assam-Nagaland interstate border on the west. The gunshots came from the south-west, it was added. The settlers at Dikoi claimed that the village was established in 1989 and is recognised by the Nagaland state government. One man, identifying himself as the secretary of the village council, said that it is receiving village development funds, ration dole-out and government-approved headman like any other village. According to the present count, the village has a population of 500.
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