23th January 2014

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Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 21

The Morung Express “

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To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts

Pressure for action against Somnath Bharti [ PAGE 8]

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Co-Convenor and Asom Gana Parishad Working President Atul Bora, Manipur People’s Party (MPP) President, N. Sovakiran,

A team of the Wokha police confiscated a liquor consignment on the morning of January 22 which is being pitted to cost Rs. 25 lakh in the market.

Following specific inputs from the excise department in Wokha, the Wokha police team intercepted a full body truck at around 10.30am Wednesday at Tsungiki Bazar II under Wokha district, on the outskirts of Wokha town, on the highway to Mokokchung. The consignment of liquor was found concealed under bags of cement inside the truck. The number of bottles could not be as-

certained at the time of filing this report, but its net worth in the market is being pitched at Rs. 25 lakh.

The truck, NL07A 4312, was coming from Dimapur and was on its way to Mokokchung via Wokha. Two men who were manning the truck have been arrested by the Wokha police and a regular criminal case under the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act has been registered against them.

Sources informed that such “inter district movement” of liquor through Wokha is regular. Large consignments, like the one that was confiscated Wednesday, move through Wokha at least two to three times in a month, said sources, who

also informed that many a times such movement of liquor is supported by “local undergrounds,” making it difficult for the police to intercept and freeze their movement. In many districts, note sources, liquor syndicates find powerful backing and liquor is often transported under heavy surveillance and even with the help of escorts.

Last year, during election, some major seizures were made by both the Wokha police and the Assam Rifles in Wokha, which included the arrest of Nagaland minister for health and family welfare, Imkong L Imchen. The case is being heard at a court in Wokha currently.

KOhIMA, JANUARY 22 (MExN): In a shocking revelation, the Chiechama Women Society (CWS) has laid bare the case of a woman being picked up from her residence and tortured by another woman and three men.

In a press release, the CWS alleged today that “On 17th January, 2014, around 3:00pm, Ms. Nganuo Kelhoukreinuo Pienyü D/O Tshurilie Pienyü of Kohima Village accompanied by 3 boys from Nerhema village, namely; Ruokuokhozo Kiewhuo s/o Chüpfuo Kiewhuo, Neikielhoulie Chatsu s/o Lt. Rukherielie Chatsu, Ruokuotuo Vimerha s/o Neirhituolie Vimerha came to Kenuozou Colony and abducted Ms. Kevilenuo from her residence. She was taken towards Secretariat area and was tortured in the most barbaric act.”

The CWS further explained that as soon as Kevilenuo was put inside the car, “Nganuo, with the help of the three boys, began to randomly cut the long hair of Kevilenuo, cut off all her clothes, scratched her face and smeared her face with King Chilly (raja mircha) paste which they had with

them.”

“When they learnt that Kevilenuo was already carrying the child of Asa Metha, the former husband of Nganuo, Nganuo stabbed Kevilenuo with the scissor and began to kick her stomach. As if these brutal acts could not quench their savagery, two of the boys spread the arms of Kevilenuo and with one of them spreading her legs, Nganuo was helped to insert the powered king chilly (raja mircha) in to the private parts of Kevilenuo making Kevilenuo become unconscious,” narrated the CWS. Having done this, “Nganuo and the three boys then brought Kevilenuo back to Kenuozou colony and pulled her out of the car full naked.

Nganuo then shouted in Nagamese to all the colony to come and witness a thief and a prostitute. Before leaving, Nganuo warned Kevilenuo of dire consequences if she tells anyone of the physical assault except cutting her hair.”

According to the Women Society, these acts were committed because “Kevileno Rio is now living with Asa Metha who was the former husband of Nganuo Kelhoukreinuo Pienyü.

Asa Metha and Nganuo Kelhoukreinuo Pienyü are divorced and have even distributed all their properties between themselves.”

The Chiechama Women Society has stated that it is “saddened by the inhuman treatment of a woman member of our society by another woman. We are at pain to see young men who hitherto, in our society, are looked upon as brothers who protect women folks commit such sadistic act.”

To register their protest against the “heinous and barbaric act of Nganuo and her cronies from Nerhema village,” and in demand for the law enforcing agency to deliver immediate justice, the CWS will stage a silent protest march on January 23 in Kohima and later submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner Kohima.

“We request every right thinking citizen to pray that the brutality meted to Kevilenuo is never inflicted on another woman. We also urge upon Nagas to extend their support to us in our demand to the immediate punishment of the guilty.

We urge our man folks to show their manhood in protecting women,” stated the CWS.

Wokha police seize liquor worth Rs.25 lakh Wokha | January 22

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DIMAPUR, JANUARY 22 (MExN): A student of class 10 was molested by her tutor, Subhash Mukherjee, during her tuition class, alleged the Diphupar Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) in a press release today. Mukherjee is said to be a permanent resident of Bankura, West Bengal, presently residing in 4th mile, Diphupar.

On a complaint lodged by the parents of the student, the DNSU subsequently claimed to have examined the case thoroughly. “Upon the charges leveled against Mr Subash Mukherjee was found guilty for molesting the student. The DNSU with the collective judgment of the seniors, advisors and parents of the student, expels and further deport Mr. Subash Mukherjee from Nagaland with immediate effect dated 21/01/2014.”

The DNSU has condemned the molestation and “forbid such occurrences in near future” that it says it will “not tolerate at any point of time.” The DNSU further called upon all the heads of institutions in and around Diphupar to “do background checks and the moral conduct of all the intending candidature before they induct/ appoint as their teaching staff.” Simultaneously, the DNSU appealed for a conscious effort from the teachers’ fraternity to be more sincere and provide quality education to their students.

–Henry David Thoreau

360 species of orchids found in Nagaland [ PAGE 2]

Syria peace conference opens with rifts over Assad

Radwanska knocks out Azarenka [ PAGE 12]

[ PAGE 9]

The nERPF delegation with the President of India in Rashtrapati Bhavan, new Delhi.

The delegation was led by NERPF Convenor and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. Other members of the delegation included Chief Advisor

Morung Express news

Subhash Mukherjee

[ PAGE 11]

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Thursday, January 23, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4

nerPf submits 17-point resolution to Goi

NEw DElhI, JANUARY 22 (MExN): A delegation of the North East Regional Parties Front (NERPF) met and submitted a memorandum with 17 points of resolution to the President of India, the Union Home Minister and the BJP President in New Delhi on January 21. This was informed in a press release from secretary of the NERPF, Abu Metha.

Convenor of the NERPF, Neiphiu Rio, highlighted the contents of the resoluSir if we won why are the tions and urged upon the Cong people celeberating. Government of India to seriously address the issues The Morung Express in the greater interest of POLL QUESTIOn the country and the people of the north eastern region Vote on www.morungexpress.com in particular. The NERPF’s SMS your answer to 9862574165 stated objective is to work Do you think that “to safeguard territorial, social media is being cultural, social, political and misused in Nagaland? economic rights of the people of the Region and will Yes no Others continuously strive to protect the distinctive identities of the ethnic tribes, and all the people of the region.”

Class 10 girl molested by tutor: DNSU

The ‘Ellen Show’ Becomes First US Talk Show to Air in China

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Woman tortured in Kohima; protest march on Jan 23

United Democratic Party, Meghalaya, MLAS, Dr. Jemino Mawthoh and T. Chyne, General Secretary of the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), J.K. Riba, Adviser of

the Mizo National Front (MNF), H. V. Lalringa, General Secretary of the Indigeneous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) Agore Deb Barma and Press Secretary

of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and NERPF Secretary Abu Metha.

Some of the key issues that were brought to the notice of the Central Government included the continuous influx of illegal immigrants into the region and lamented the lack of effective steps on the part of the Government of India. The NERPF also called for the immediate cancellation of the land swap deal by the Central Government with Bangladesh and called for the repeal of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. The front expressed concern on Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh and objected to the random manner in which massive dams are being constructed in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra in China which has the potential to adversely impact the entire region in multiple ways including possibility of natural disasters.

It also called upon the

Government of India to implement the “Look East” policy in “letter and spirit, rebuild the Indian portion of the Stillwell Road and open an immigration office at the border, helping cross border trade and commerce.”

Serious concern on the safety and security of the north eastern people especially students, professionals and working women in the urban cities especially in the national capital region were brought to the notice of the Centre.

The NERPF urged upon the Government of India to address the political problems of the region and bring about permanent solution to the decades old political problems that have resulted in insurgencies. The front called upon the Centre to take the people of the region into confidence and offered all cooperation to play the role of facilitators to bring about peace in the region.

17-point resolution on page 5

Leading people with a little help from god: Langkhanpau Guite Morung Express Feature Churachandpur | January 22

Langkhanpau Guite is probably the most honest, and most honestly devout, person you will meet. More than the law, he has used prayer and friendship to mitigate tension—whether in political or social situations. A combination of hard work, positive attitude and faith gives the Churachandpur Autonomous District Council in Manipur its most valued leader, its Chairman, Langkhanpau Guite.

One of 11 siblings, Guite was born in 1977 in Songtal village of Churachandpur district, Manipur. After class 2, he was expected to be a cultivator—not only was his family poor, the government school in his village hosted more cows than students and teachers.

“I insisted to my parents to send me to some relatives in Lamka (Churachandpur town) to study further.

There I used to cook, clean and cultivate small things like corn for my relatives; and study while doing each of these activities,” explains Guite with a gesture of how to mop a room and study at the same time. But he would do all this “secretly” lest someone saw him work “too hard.”

“Luckily for me, my wife’s mother was our neighbour and used to see me wake up before anyone to work. They have wanted me to be a part of their family ever since,” says short and smiling Guite who now has four daughters and a son with his wife, Shinghoihching.

The humble start to Guite’s life led to more humble steps that he consciously took, combining them with hard work.

At the age of 13, when he wanted to join a unit of the Paite student organization, Siamsinpawlpi, to train as a leader, his parents objected. Guite tried a mantra he applied at many points of his life henceforth. “I prayed—God, you

Langkhanpau Guite (Morung Photo)

have given me 24 hours. If you give me the strength to wake up before others and sleep after others, I can find more time to achieve a lot.” Since then, Guite not only remained a class topper but also attached to the student organization for many years later. Through policies he made and applied, students from unfortunate backgrounds were able to access better education even through outside coaching.

Guite grew up at a time when Churachandpur was ill at ease with ethnic politics. The Nagas and Kukis clashed, following which the Zomis and Kukis clashed, in the 1990s. The JN Model School in which he used to teach to support his siblings’ education was burned down in 1998.

Blessing, he says, had it that he was offered a teaching position in another school.

Busy as he was, he preferred to be a student by night and a teacher by day.

Whatever he took up, they say, turned to gold. The young principal of Rayburn High School in New Lamka from 2001 to 2006, Guite turned around the institute’s dwindling number of students. He would himself go from village to village, offer scholarships to eligible students who could not afford the private school’s fees and took charge of the administration. He kept things transparent and efficient, himself setting the example first, waking up to

make tea for the students at 3 am everyday. Alongside, he did his B. Ed in correspondence as well as an MA in political science.

Guite remained disturbed by how politics was being played out by his people, especially during elections. “Neighbours who share so much during other times would not look at each other during elections. There was so much quarrelling and misunderstanding between supporters and contestants,” reminisces Guite of the time he decided to contest.

“Though my wife was worried, I prayed and came to the conclusion that if you can play with a clean heart, then nothing is dirty about politics.”

He stood in contest against the powerful and erstwhile Phungzathang Tonsing of the Indian National Congress for the (Manipur) Assembly Constituency seat of Churachandpur in 2007. “Pu Pu,” said Guite to Tonsing, who is from the same clan as Guite’s mother and wife, “If you are elected, no problem. But if I am, I want to get benefits for the people that they deserve.

I want to change the way we work politics through fights.”

Guite did things no one expected. He would land up at Tonsing’s place, all jovial, asking him to put in his best or he might be defeated. He hugged Tonsing and wished him luck; he shook hands with Tonsing’s angry sup-

porters and campaigned with whatever money was donated by his well wishers in Churachandpur.

Langkhanpau Guite lost by a close margin in 2007 but in 2010, he won the Autonomous District Council election from a Congress (I) ticket, uncontested. He asked for Demmang Haokip to be his vice chairman despite warnings of past enmity between the Zomi and Kuki people—“we are brothers and sisters, we should work together for the people.”

Ever since he has worked with the meager funds available to get clean drinking water facilities for villages, make community halls, get solar energy for them. His village, Songtal, no more has a cow shed parading as a school. It has a school and teachers. Guite himself goes every morning to sit with vegetable vendors of Churachandpur town to chat with them about current problems.

But there is little, he admits, that he can do for his people without funds. A miniscule percentage of the funds given by the Centre to Manipur trickles down to the hill areas of the State.

For 20 long years, the Autonomous District Council elections were boycotted by the people; they wanted the application of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to the hill areas inhabited by an amalgamation of tribes—a solid, constitutional, right to their land and identity. Left with no means to develop themselves, the people of the hills of Manipur have had their aspirations to preserve their culture and identity crushed giving rise to a plethora of unarmed and armed uprisings.

“I want to serve my people more. Those who get elected currently raise no issues in the Parliament for the tribes of Manipur,” hints Guite, who thinks that he will be able to provide valuable leadership for his people, with a little help from god.

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Dimapur

LocaL

Thursday 23 January 2014

MEx File

Khuza Town, January 22 (mExn): Minister for School Education, CM Chang today graced the Chakhesang Students’ Union 67th annual session cultural competition programme as the chief guest.

A press release issued by the PS to the Minister, addressing the students, Chang said that 16 Naga tribes have their distinct culture, which should be preserved. “If the Naga tribes cannot keep their culture, they will lose their identity.” Chang mentioned the tag of

AAUD handing and taking over

backward tribe, which the present generation requires to debate.

The Minister emphasized that the Nagas are one and should not use two citizenship on line of backward and forward. He encouraged the students saying, “When you can do much better than any advanced tribe, why this tag. Individually no one is backward.”

Speaking on the occasion Sovenyi, President of Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) also spoke on ‘Naga culture.’ He said Nagas have borrowed other cul-

ture, but now its time we give our good culture to others as we have treasures of good culture. “It is in Khuza town the Students from the land of tradition were in stiff Cultural Competition,” he added.

Zaveyi Nyekha, Director School Education, Pollem Tep, Addl. Director School Education, MP Nokshang, Vice President NPF Nagaland, Ongbou PS to Minister School Education and Lhoutsolo Koza, PS to Parliamentary Secretary Horticulture, accompanied the Minister.

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Co-ordination meeting held at SDO(C) Jalukie

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JaluKiE, January 22 (Dipr): The administrative staff of Jalukie had a co-ordination meeting with new SDO(C) Rhosietho Nguori at his office on January 20 here. Rhosietho Nguori urged the staff to co-operate and asked them to work sincerely with dedication. He also said that administrative staffs are the backbone of the public. Head DB, Namtsi delivered welcome address, which was followed by self introduction and interaction.

Mount View Colony meeting postponed

Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): The general meeting of the Mount View Colony scheduled on the January 25 has been postponed to February 1, 2014(Saturday). The meeting will be at 3:00pm at the residence of the Colony Chairman.

Nagaland VDB Association meeting

Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): All the district presidents and the executives of Nagaland State VDB Association are informed that annual meeting will be held on February 6 at residence of Tali Pongener, President NSVDBA Industrial Village Razhupe at 10:00 am. NSVDBA Press Secretary Manthungo Kikon in a notice informed that the meeting had been called to discuss about the Nagaland State VDB Association workmanship in the state, as well as to discuss about matters related to ACAUT. Hence, all the officials concerned are requested to attained the meeting positively. Al l concern are requested to treat this Press release as official as no official letter shall be served to individual concern. For further necessary information, one may contact in the following numbers: 9436606377, 9612867255.

NSWON general assembly

Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): The Nationalist Socialist Women’s Organization of Nagalim (NSWON) is conducting its 11th general assembly on February 6 from 9:00 am at Council Headquarters, Hebron. Therefore, Secretary NSWON, NG Pamshangphi has informed all NSWON members to attend the session positively. Membres have also been requested to submit agenda(s) with written explanation to the NSWON office on or before January 28.

NVFAA general meeting held

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Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): Nagaland Veterinary Field Assistants’ Association (NVFAA) held its 17th general meeting on January 17 at the DVO conference hall, Dimapur. A press release issued by NVFAA general secretary, Yanthungo Lotha informed that Dr. Temsumeren Ao, DVO during the meeting encouraged the field staff to promote unity while striving for their goals and urged them to discharge their duties with sincerity as they represent the backbone of the department. New office bearers for the tenure 2014-16 were also elected during the meeting. The new team will be headed by S Tokiho Swu as president, Nosel Angami as vice president, Yanthungo Lotha as general secretary, Tsudi Ao as joint secretary, Echung Zeliang as finance secretary, Aphien Zeliang as information secretary, and Lizamo Lotha as treasurer. Subunukshi Ao and Takatemjen Ao were elected to represent the Advisory Board.

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found in Nagaland

NEAC 2014 spreading awareness and action components on ‘Biodiversity Conservation’

Cattleya, one of the most beautiful orchid know is commonly found in many home gardens in Nagaland.

ANATU13 request to conduct Suitability Test

Kohima, January 22 (mExn): As per earlier notification, the Adhoc Employees under the Department of School Education who have completed three years and above of continuous service as on 31-122012 have already submitted their documents to the Department to conduct Suitability Test for service regularization. ANATU13 President Neipetso Lomi and Secretary Neivotsonuo Yaotsu in a press release stated that so far no notice has been issued or any information received/issued to us for the conduct of Suitability Test for regularization of service despite of the notified date of January 2013 and further proposal date of the second week of May 2013. Therefore, the Union prays to the authority concerned to consider their grievances and approve an early date for the conduct of the Suitability Test for Adhoc employees who have submitted their documents as per the stated notification for the regularization of service.

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Temsuwati receive two awards

Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): Akuluto Area Union Dimapur (AAUD) convened a handing and taking-over of its office bearers (old and new teams) on January 25, 2:00 pm at the residence of Kazheto Kinimi (Treasurer cum Banker AAUD) Ikishe Village.

All concerned are requested to attend the meeting.

Following are the AAUD office bearers-2014-2016: President-Dr. Hesheto Y.Chishi; Vice President-Apeto Assumi; General Secretary-Lhokuto Kiho; Finance Secretary-Hezheto Kinimi; Treasurer cum BankerKashiho Chishi; Advisors- Kazheto Kinimi, Hotolu Chishi, Ahoto Chishi, Viheshe Achumi, Akato Kinimi.

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No one is backward: CM Chang 360 species of orchids

CM Chang. (File Photo)

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The Morung Express

Temsuwati, Additional Development Commissioner, Planning and Coordination receives award.

Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): Temsuwati, Additional Development Commissioner, Planning and Coordination Department, Government of Nagaland was awarded Glory of India Gold Metal from the International Institute of Success Awareness for his individual Excellence in recognition of sterling merit excellent performance

and outstanding contribution for progress of the Nation. Justice OP Verma, former Governor of Punjab at New Delhi presented the award on December 23, 2013.

He also received Bharat Gaurav Award from the India International Friendship Society in recognition of contribution and dedication to worthy causes and

achievements in keeping the flag of India high by Tariq Anwar, Minister of State, Food Processing Industries, GOI at New Delhi on January 9, 2014.

Nagaland Planning Machinery Service Association while congratulating Temsuwati also wishes him good health and grand more success in his future endeavors.

Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): According to a survey conducted by the Forest Department of Nagaland, there are more than 360 species of orchids belonging to 87 genera and that is about 27.76 percent of the total India’s orchid species of 1300.

This was disclosed by Rusovil John, Member Secretary (NPCB) and State Coordinator (NEAC) while addressing the orientation programme organized by Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) –Regional Resource Agency (RRA) of National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) for the selected participating organizations on January 22 at the Conference hall, NPCB office.

This year, altogether 190 organizations representing NGOs, multipurpose cooperative societies, schools

Financial outreach prog at Kikruma held

KiKruma, January 22 (Dipr): A Financial outreach programme was held at Kikrüma village, Pfütsero Sub-division on January 22, 2014 with Executive Director, RBI Mumbai, S. Karuppasamy as the main speaker.

The Speaker in his speech said that the main motive of the programme being organised in the village was to educate the rural people about the importance and necessity of banking system in

rural areas. This programme was the fifth of its kind in the Northeastern region of India, he added.

Each family should at least have one bank account in order to avail different facilities extended to the people and one should not be swayed away by false promises which we frequently come across in the form of SMSs, he warned.

Other dignitaries who attended the programme included GM NABARD, Regional Director of RBI,

DGM outreach RBI, OSD Finance, Nagaland, V. Kezo. Items like water filter, sound system, water purifier and sports goods were donated to schools and youth organization.

Chairman KVC, Vezohu Tunyi delivered the welcome speech while welcome song and cultural dance were presented by Village volunteers and Kikrüma cultural troupe respectively. Vote of thanks was proposed by GM RPCD, RBI Guwahati.

KiphirE, January 22 (mEXn): The SSA appointed teachers under Kiphire district had a general meeting today at Trinity School Kiphire town and officially formed an association under the nomenclature All Nagaland SSA Teachers’ Association (ANSSATA) Kiphire unit.

The association will be a unit under ANSSATA central unit hq Kohima. The meeting deliberated on nonpayment of salaries

for more than three months and nonpayment of arrears by the state government. The Association shall assist the central unit for nonpayment of Salaries and other issues in future.

During its meeting the house elected A Lipise Sangtam as President, Vika Sumi as Vice President, Arola as General Secretary and Xavier as Assistant General Secretary along with other secretaries and Litsaba Sangtam as its Treasurer. The

house also elected Danil Sechopi as Executive Chairman and Yangthsase as Executive Secretary along with three members. The Association has extends its acknowledgement to Trinity School authority for providing School to held meeting.

The meeting was chaired by Lipise and Arola. Meanwhile the Association informs to all the members to submit the registration fee of Rs.200 to Finance Secretary on or before March 10.

ANSSATA Kiphire unit formed

and colleges spread across Nagaland has been selected under the NEAC on the theme, ‘Biodiversity Conservation’ in spreading awareness and action components.

Rusovil John, spoke on the importance of biodiversity. He emphasized that Nagaland state is endowed with rich biodiversity and with varying physiographical features favouring the natural habitat for a large number of orchid species.

Stating that of the many species of flora, family orchidaceae represents the most distinguished and diverse flowering plants of the state adding another status to the natural beauty.

He also cited that the Government of Nagaland is making all out effort to conserve our rich bio resource and has set up a Bio Resource department, a Bio-

diversity Board besides the Department of Forests, Ecology Environment and Wildlife. Therefore, we should create awareness among our people of the natural heritage and conserve it for future generations.

He also stressed upon the conservation of Amur Falcon and appreciated the co-operation by the people in protecting and giving a safe passage for the Amur Falcon in the year 2013.

Similarly, biodiversity can be conserved in our state.

Akangmeren Imchen, Senior Scientific Assistant, NPCB, chaired the programme. He made a powerpoint presentation to the participating organization about the guidelines and effective implementation of National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) 201314 programme.

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Policlinic now at Dimapur

Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): Nagaland State Ex-Services League has notified that the present Policlinic is now at Dimapur, near Rajbari, Circuit House, functioning well with complete staff and ambulance available for going and coming from Rangapahar. A press note issued by the Nagaland State Ex-Services League general secretary stated that it has been made possible by the kind supervision of Stn HQ Rangapahar and Policlinic staff. The visiting time is 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily (excepts Sundays and holidays.)

NGOs to visit institutions on R-Day Celebration

Kohima, January 22 (Dipr): On the occasion of Republic Day celebration on January 26, 2014, following NGOs will visit various institutions as follows: Old Age Home - Indian Red Cross Society Nagaland State Branch; Naga Hospital Authority - Hindu Kalyan Samiti; Kohima Orphanage Nagaland Contractors & Suppliers Union; Leprosy Colony - Lions Club; District Jail - Kohima Chamber of Commerce & industries; State Mental Health Institute -Kohima Press Club; District Chest & TB Hospital -DEF Kohima; Eden Garden Orphanage

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Khuzama - Nagaland Association for Adventure, Mountaineering and Education (NAAME); Kripa Centre -Indian Red Cross Kohima District Branch; Spastic Society - Rotary Club; AIDS Hospice/ Mt Gilead Home - Classic Club; Cherry Blossom School of Differently Abled - Gorkha Public Panchayat; Jo Foundation Children with Special Needs (Agri colony) - Royal Club; Bright Morning Star orphanage, Para Medical - Muslim Welfare Society; Distribution of sweets at the parade ground -Nagaland Flying & Adventure Sports club.

ATMA Phek Women SHGs undergo interstate training

phEK, January 22 (mExn): With an effort to keep up-pace with the developmental activities taking place in the fields of agriculture and allied sectors across the NE states, ATMA-Phek organised and sponsored an interstate training-cum-field visit to Meghalaya in collaboration with KVK, East Khasi Hills from January 16 to 19. ATMA-Phek DPDs, Keviu Shuya and Tiajungla Longchar led the team.

The purpose of this programme was to build capacity in skill, knowledge, perception and outlook of various Women Self Help Groups established under ATMA-Phek. The training covered topics on cultivation practices of cole crops, bio-control of insect pests Officials and women SHGs under ATMA-Phek during the interstate training-cum-field visit to Meghalaya. and diseases and value addition in fruits and veg- gramma and Trichoderma keting Board to educate the such Co-operative societ- Laibeitlang Farmer’s Group farmers about the purpose, ies. The teamalso visited in Sadew village, where the etables. The team visited were being reared.

During the field trip, the organisational structure, Cauliflower Seed Produc- women farmers were for the Bio-control lab where different species of Tricho- team visited the State Mar- working and benefits of tion Unit undertaken by the first time, introduced

to cauliflower seed production.

The field visit also covered a trip to organic vegetable farm under Laitkynsew village where cabbage, broccoli, tomato, lettuce, beans, beetroot, mustard and spinach were cultivated under organic conditions. Being a first time trip for majority of the farmers, a recreational package was also arranged covering visits to Ward’s lake, Shillong peak, police bazaar, WahKba falls (Cheerapunji), Duwan Sing Syiem View point and Elephant Falls.

A press release received here stated that the farmers had a wonderful learning experience and were particularly motivated to undertake the cauliflower seed production and form farmers marketing societies in the future.

Altogether, 12 officials and women SHGs from seven different groups participated in the programme.

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Regional

The Morung express

MHA asks SSB to undertake ops in Assam against NDFB New Delhi, JaNuary 22 (PTi): In the wake of banned terror outfit NDFB(S) increasing its violent activities in Assam, the Union Home Ministry has asked paramilitary SSB to begin undertaking special counter-insurgency operations in the state and check the actions of the group.

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which is deployed in the state as part of border guarding duties along the Bhutan border, was till now largely concentrated in doing this task but officials said the force has been asked to create a Special Operations Group (SOG) in its battalions which will take on the NDFB primarily in the districts of Chirang, Udalgiri, Kokrajhar and Baksa.

The decision to deploy SSB in the interior forest areas to undertake counter-insurgency operations, sources said, is also prompted by the fact that two of the force personnel were recently abducted and killed by the NDFB (Songbijit faction) in December last year.

"The SSB troops have already begun under-

taking deterrent patrols in the area and they are venturing out more than often for counterinsurgency and jungle warfare operations. The directions have been okayed by the Ministry of Home Affairs," a senior officer said.

"There have been encounters between NDFB cadres and SSB after this decision and we expect good results," the officer said, adding the plan was to increase the power and reach of security forces in these areas.

Since January 17, eight people, mostly Hindi speaking, were killed by the anti-talk NDFB(S) faction across different locations in the state.

The Assam police has also announced a total cash reward of Rs 95 lakh on 15 top leaders of the NDFB(S), including Rs 10 lakh on its Chairman and Commander-in-Chief Songbijit Ingti Kathar alias I K Songbijit alias Sarsingh Ingti alias Sangbijoy, who is a Karbi tribal.

The SSB squads, led by Assistant Commandant rank officers, will undertake joint operations with local police and Army including independent offensives, the officer said.

Thursday

23 January 2014

Dimapur

3

Assam RS polls for 3 seats on Feb 7

GuwahaTi, JaNuary 22 (PTi): Election for three Rajya Sabha seats from Assam, which will become vacant on April 9, would be held on February 7, according to an official notification today.

Election Commission of India today announced the schedule for election of candidates to 3 Rajya Sabha seats from Assam which becomes vacant on April 9.

The last date for filing of nominations was January 28 and the scrutiny of nominations would take place the next day on January 29. The last date for withdrawal was January 31.

The entire election process shall be completed by February 10 next.

The three seats would be vacated

by Congress state unit President Bhubaneswar Kalita, a three time Rajya Sabha member, Asom Gana Parishad's Birendra Prasad Baishya and Bodoland Peoples' Front's Biswajit Daimary.

There are seven Rajya Sabha seats Artists from the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh wear traditional costumes during a press from Assam with Prime Minister Manpreview of tableaux displaying a glimpse of culture of different parts of India, in New Delhion Wednes- mohan Singh also representing the day, January 22. The tableaux will be part of the Indian Republic Day parade on Jan. 26. (AP Photo) state in the Upper House.

Mizo films to be screen MPP demands Ibobi’s resignation Militants free captives in Mizoram aiZawl/aGarTala, of Tripura aided by sus- istry officials.

JaNuary 22 Chairman about the anoma- set by them. at Mumbai film festival iMPhal, However, the process (NNN): Manipur People's lies and discrepancies comThe local newspaper JaNuary 22 (iaNS): pected Reang militants Two Mizo drivers, who abducted the three people got stalled after that.

aiZawl, JaNuary 22 (NNN): Two Mizo films have been selected to be screened at the upcoming Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), one of the most popular documentary, short and animation film festivals in the world.

MIFF is organised by Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting after every one year. The Film Festival this year will be held at NCPA, Nariman Point, Mumbai, from February 3 to 9. The two Mizo films that have been selected for the international film festival are ‘Chengrang Lanu’ (Lady Musket) and ‘MNF: The Mizo Uprising.’

‘Chengrang Lanu’, directed and produced by Malsawmkima Chhangte has been selected in the Short Film Competition (National) Category, while ‘MNF: The Mizo Uprising,’ produced and directed by Napoleon RZ Thanga, in the Prism (non competitive) Documentary Film under 40 minutes category. ’Chengrang Lanu’ has earlier bagged second position at the 1st Mizo Short Film competition 2013. As per schedule, ‘Chengrang Lanu’ will be shown on February 8 between 4-5 pm at Godrej Theatre.

CSWO opposes alleged tripartite agreement

ShillONG, JaNuary 22 (NNN): The Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO) of Meghalaya has accused the government of Meghalaya of acting like land agents selling out land illegally to companies and scheming policies to legalize the illegalities by the companies.

The statement came following the alleged proposed move by the state government to constitute a tripartite agreement with the cement companies allowing them to buy lands.

“We strongly object the plans of the government to come out with a mechanism of a ‘tripartite agreement’ with the cement plants,” CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said here.

According to her, the government should in fact, fine these companies and immediately ban them.

In a statement issued here, the CSWO alleged that these cement companies have done enough destruction to the areas in Jaintia Hills and have benefitted from the subsidies, while

Party (MPP) has demanded the resignation of Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh in connection with discrepancy in police recruitment.

A local newspaper had reported that anomalies have been detected in the police recruitment where candidates who did not attend viva voice in the selection process of Sub-Inspectors (SIs) and Jemadars were selected in 2010.

According to the reports on Wednesday in the local daily, the Police Headquarters wrote to the state government to invalidate the recruitment results after receiving written information from the Recruitment Board

mitted in the recruitment.

Earlier on December 16, 2013, according to reports, Recruitment Board chairman, IGP (Administration) C Doungel wrote to the Chief Secretary, stating that many discrepancies were seen in the recruitment process of SIs and Jemadars. He had also appealed to the state government to declare the particular recruitment results as null and void. But the government has not moved an inch even after pleas from the police headquarters. The DGP along with the recruitment board had examined the answer sheets of the written test even if questions were not

people in those areas are badly affected, even health wise.

“We demand that the state government should immediately stop violating the Meghalaya Land Transfer Regulation Act 1971,” Kharshiing said.

The CSWO also urged the government to clamp down on illegal coal mining and the dumping of Coal all along the National Highway.

The CSWO also expressed surprise at the Jaintia Hills District Council allowing the government to grab tribal lands and forests.

First cornea transplant successful in Manipur

laNGOl, JaNuary 22 (MexN): For the first time in Manipur, Shija Eye Care Foundation successfully performed cornea transplantation on a blind person on January 21, 2014.

The patient, Khangembam Ningthemjao, 68, from Keinou came with a case of corneal opacity blindness at Shija Hospital and a decision was made do corneal transplant in his right eye.

Union minister inaugurates FCI godown in Imphal

Union Minister of State (IC) for Consumer Affairs,Food & Public Distribution Prof KV Thomas during the inauguration of Regional office of Food Corporation of India, Manipur region at Old Assembly Complex, Imphal on January 22.

iMPhal, JaNuary 22 (NNN): Prof KV Thomas, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, government of India, inaugurated a regional office of FCI godown at Imphal on Wednesday at the Old Manipur Legislative Assembly building.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Thomas assured more FCI godowns will be opened in every district of Manipur if the state Government allots land space.

He said the newly opened FCI godown will provide immense help to the state Government in implementing the Food Security Act. Prof Thomas said Imphal West and Senapati districts by now have their FCI godowns, informing the same godowns for the districts of Churachandpur and Thoubal are now under construction. He also assured FCI godowns for Imphal East and Bishupur districts will be opened next followed by remaining districts.

Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi, who was also participating in the function, assured that the state Government will allot appropriate centres for setting up more FCI godowns in the state. The Chief Minister also said the national Food Security Act will be introduced in the state during the current year.

Admitting that the state often encounters scarcity of rice due to bandh and blockades, Ibobi guaranteed that the state Government will give support and help to the Centre in establishing further rice godowns in Manipur.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution minister M Okendro, Chief Secretary, FCI, Imphal Managing Director C Bishwanath were also present at the occasion.

had reported that four candidates who had not attended viva voce were included in the selected lists of candidate. Adding to the controversy, two selected candidates had submitted forged educational certificates during the selection process.

Looking into the various suspicious elements contributing to non-transparency of the state’s recruitment procedure and the chief minster not paying heed to these affairs, the MPP has demanded the resignation of the chief minister and stated that he is not fit to remain in office if his governance cannot maintain transparency.

A press release issued by Chairman cum Managing Director, Shija Hospitals and Research Institute, Dr Kh Palin informed that at Shija, the cost of cornea transplantation is approximately Rs 30,000 which is half the price of private hospitals in metros.

Right now, there is no functional eye bank in Manipur. Shija has initiated preparation for establishing eye bank in the state. Shija Eye Care Foundation has already sent one technician for training of eye banking and another counselor will also be sent shortly. Shija Eye Care Foundation has appealed the general population to pledge for eye donation and gift sight to someone who need it.

Earlier, the operation was performed by a team led by Dr. Sachindra Laishram, Consultant Eye Surgeon of Shija Eye Care Foundation, Langol. The cornea was offered by Shankaradeva Netralaya (SSN) Beltola, Guwahati. Cornea is harvested within four hours of death of the donor, the note added. In India, according to the note, more than ten thousand corneas are required for transplantation. Maximum cornea transplantation is done in South India.

SUMI HOHO

OKING: ZUNHEBOTO, NAGALAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Sumi Hoho expresses our heartfelt gratitude to all the Individuals, Groups, Villages, Towns, Churches, Business establishments, Institutions, Medical team, Press and Media etc. who contributed physically, financially, materially and morally during the Sumis’ clarion call to stand up for delivery of justice in the aftermath of the December 21, 2013 incident at Aghuito and the subsequent events that followed thereafter.

The Sumi Hoho on behalf of all the Sumi people extends special thanks to the Nagaland Tribes Council, the Konyak Union, the Khiamniungan Tribal Council and the Phom Peoples Council for expressing solidarity to the Sumi Hoho with their physical visitation after the incident and for their financial support too. The Hoho also thank the Yimchunger Tribal Council, Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur, Ao Union Zunheboto and Dzulhami Village for the financial support. You have proved to us that “A friend in need is a friend in deed”. We are so indebted to you and it shall be our endeavour to live up to your expectations as we try to build a common Naga family. Your acts have proved that Nagas desire to be one family, under one banner and an aspiration that we as one part and parcel of the Naga family, be a living example of God’s wondrous works.

The Hoho is so thankful to the Western Sumi Hoho, the Eastern Sumi Sub Hoho, the Kohima Sumi Sub Hoho, the Northern Sumi Sub Hoho, all the Sumi frontal organizations and one and all for your overall support rendered exemplifying that we are one and united now and forever.

The Hoho also thanks the Naga Mothers Association, the Nagaland Baptist Churches Council and all the public leaders who came to Mukalimi and made efforts for reconciliation.

The incident having taken place at the Aphuyemi area, the Hoho profoundly convey our thanks to all the public and villages of Aphuyemi area for the support.

Special mention of gratitude to the following Aphuyemi villages and Association for the financial and material support rendered: Ghokimi, Tsaphimi, Asukiqa, Kitami, Mishilimi, Ighanumi, Lazami, Iphonumi, Ghathashi, Hebolimi, Chishilimi, Natsumi, Mukalimi and SABAK Pughoboto Our deepest heartfelt condolence to the family members of our martyrs Late Paketo Assumi of Mishilimi village (Aphuyemi) and Late Ghukiye Zhimomi of Khekiye Village who gave their lives in defence of Sumis’ fight against the injustice inflicted upon the Sumi people. Their sacrifice for the honour of our womenfolk and for the justice shall ever be remembered by the present and the coming generation. And in their honour, December 28 shall be observed as the “Sumi Martyrs Day” every year and that “Sumi Martyrs’ Park” is being built in their graveyard in the land donated by Late Kuhozu Yepthomi progenies at Sukhalu village.

Our prayers are with those six injured, some of whom have amputated their legs and arms. Among the six injured is Mr. Nipulo Chishi, 19 years from Mudutsugho (Aphuyemi) who is in a very critical condition struggling with his life. We appeal to all God’s people to pray for his recovery.

Last but not the least, our gratitude to all the churches, prayer warriors and all believers of the Lord God Almighty who had upheld us in your prayers and we did feel and see the divine intervention of God throughout. God worked wonders among us and we are a living witness to His marvellous works.

ALHOU SHE!!!

(HOVISHE ARKHA) President, Sumi Hoho

(VIHUTO ASUMI) Secretary, Sumi Hoho

were kidnapped by militants November 23 last year, have been released easing ethnic tension in western Mizoram, officials said Wednesday.

At least 500 people including women and children belonging to the Reang tribe of Mizoram have taken shelter in Tripura in view of the ethnic troubles.

"Two private vehicle drivers - Sanglianthanga and Lalzamliana - were released (and) handed over to the Mizoram Police's CID (Special Branch) in Mamit district late Tuesday evening," a Mizoram police official told reporters.

Mizo groups called off their voluntary search operation after their release.

The search operation made the tribals leave their villages in western Mizoram Jan 15-16 and Jan 18-19 out of fear and take shelter in northern Tripura.

A third hostage, Deep Mandal, a Kolkata-based telecommunications professional and an employee of Noida-based Telecom Network Solutions, who was also abducted by the militants along with the Mizo drivers, remains in the militants' captivity.

Police suspect that the National Liberation Front

from an area along the Tripura-Mizoram-Bangladesh border.

"Most of the panic stricken tribal refugees have returned to their villages and the remaining people would go back to their homes in the next couple of days," north Tripura District Magistrate Prashant Kumar Goel had earlier told IANS on phone.

Over 36,000 tribal refugees, also called Bru, have been living in seven makeshift camps in Tripura for the past 17 years after fleeing their villages in Mizoram following ethnic trouble with the majority Mizos. The trouble began after a Mizo forest official was killed.

Around 5,000 refugees returned to their homes and villages in the past three years following continued persuasion by Mizoram, Tripura and union home min-

AFFIDAVIT

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and his predecessor P. Chidambaram in New Delhi on a number of occasions and requested their intervention to ensure the safe return of the refugees.

Sarkar, who also holds the home portfolio in Tripura, told both the prime minister and the union home minister that "continuous presence for over 17 years of refugees from Mizoram has been a matter of concern for Tripura".

The refugees have been insisting that without a formal agreement between the central government, the state governments of Mizoram and Tripura and the tribal leaders, their return to homes and subsequent rehabilitation will remain uncertain.

LOST NOTICE

Regd.No: 3708/14 My full name ROSEMARIE HAMBA PHOM and father’s name HAMBA CHONGLONG PHOM should be read out as correct and official name for all purposes.

SWORN BEFORE Notary Public, Dimapur 20/01/14

I, Akhrienuo Weo am applying for a duplicate copy of Registration Card as I have lost it.

Name: Akhrienuo Weo F/Name: Viso Angami M/Name: Asang D.O.B: 20th April 1992 Regd. No.: 12010187 of 2012

Transformation Crusade Theme: “Arise and Shine”… Isaiah 60:1 (15th – 26th January 2014)

Venue :Khuochiezie, Local Ground, Kohima Date :23rd Jan, 2014

Time: 4:30pm

Programme Leader

:

Praise & Worship Offertory prayer Speaker

: : :

Prayer and Fasting Group : (7:00am-12:00noon) Interaction Session : (1:00pm-3:00pm)

Magdeline Asst.Pastor, FHC Sinai Ministry Avi Zao Rev. Vevozo khamo Executive Secretary CCRC Zoo Colony Prayer fellowship Leader : Neibalie Kiewhuo Resource person : Phomlee Van Phom Topic : Faith and Prayer

ALL ARE CORDIALLY INVITED

Come with faith and receive healing, deliverance from satanic bondage and redemption. *** Counseling is open every day starting from 12:00 noon

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DIRECTORATE OF HORTICULTURE NAGALAND::KOHIMA

NO. HR/GEN-1/INTRV/2014/3029-33

Dated Kohima the 21stJan. 2014

Applications are invited from eligible candidates of indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland for filling up of 1 (One) Post of tractor Driver in the Scale pay of Rs. 520020200/- with Grade Pay Rs. 1800/- p.m under the Department of Horticulture, Nagaland in the manner prescribed format given below.

1. Name: 2. Fathers Name: 3. Correspondence Address: 4. Date of Birth: 5. Application in plain paper address to undersigned supported by necessary documents duly attested.

6. Age proof certificate, Indigenous and Schedule Tribe certificate, Educational qualification certificates and driving license (Heavy) issued by competent authority.

7. Reservation policy issued by the Government from time to time shall be applied for the backward Tribe. For departmental candidates P & AR OM. NO.AR-3/GEN-76/2001 (Pt) dated 22- 09-2004 shall be applied.

8. Preference will be given to the candidates having driving experience of Tractor.

9. Last date of submission of application is 3rd Feb 2014.

10. No application shall be entertained after the expiry of last date.

11. Incomplete documents and unsigned application shall be summarily rejected and in car of any dispute the decision of the interview board shall be final and binding.

12. Date of interview and driving test will be notified through local daily newspaper in the later stage.

(WATIENLA JAMIR) Director of Horticulture Nagaland, Kohima.

C M Y K

4 businEss LPG number portability launched countrywide Thursday

Dimapur

The Morung Express

23 January 2014

nEW DELHi, January 22 (Tnn): Petroleum minister M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday launched number portability for LPG connections across oil marketing companies/distributors covering 480 districts in the country. These districts cover all possible LPG markets which have multiple LPG distributors of various ratings.

With this, an LPG consumer in these markets can now switch to the distributor of his/her choice within a cluster of LPG distributors in the vicinity under the LPG Connection Portability Scheme. This measure will bring great relief to those LPG consumers who are unhappy with the services of their current distributor or want to move to an LPG distributor closer to their home.

SpiceJet, Air India, IndiGo & GoAir offer cut-price tickets as airline fare war rages

same deposit as earlier. sible markets that are hav- * The consumer will receive an email confirm- * No Transfer fee or ading distributors of multiple ditional security de- Book tickets before ing the registration and companies coupled with posit will be charged for advising details of furthe scope for formation of transfer of connection Jan 23 midnight to ther procedure clusters. under the portability avail discounts The Procedure to opt * In case of intra-company scheme. portability request, i.e., for portability is very simThe success of this nEW DELHi, January within the same comple. To register for Portapany, the LPG consumer scheme lies in conferring 22 (FE): Consumers flying bility, the LPG Consumers has to visit only the new the power with the con- between now and April 15 need to do the following: distributor with a copy sumer to be able to change — typically a lean period Visit the website of the of the email and get en- the distributor and the oil for airlines — can save on Oil Marketing company company, which forces the bookings made till midrolled. they are presently with: www.indane.co.in for * In case of inter-company distributor and oil compa- night on January 23. Hours transfer, i.e., between two ny to perform.

IOCL; www.hpgas.com for after SpiceJet announced a This initiative is expect- three-day super sale of air different oil companies, HPCL, and www.ebharatsince the LPG equipment ed to usher in improve- tickets on Tuesday, offergas.com for BPCL is not compatible across ment in customer service ing a 50% discount to spot * Register themselves in companies, the consum- by fostering healthy com- fares, Air India, IndiGo, the site, if not registered er will have to visit the petition among each clus- GoAir followed suit, with already current distributor and ter of distributors. Proac- Jet Airways expected to do * See the distributors in surrender the cylinder tive electronic tracking of the same. the cluster and their star and pressure regulator, every portability request rating in terms of refill The rush for tickets had collect the refund/trans- is in place right up to its begun, Sharat Dhall, presidelivery performance fer documents and then closure to ensure that LPG dent of Yatra.com, said. “We * Select the distributor approach the distributor consumers do not face any are already seeing a 250% of their choice from the of his/her choice for re- difficulty in moving to the rise in bookings within cluster and submit reconnection by paying the distributor of their choice. hours of the prices being quest

As a pilot project, the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) together launched LPG connection portability scheme in 24 districts covering 13 States in October 2013. Today, this scheme is being launched on a full-fledged all-India basis by expanding its coverage to over 480 districts and a population of over 8.2 crore LPG consumers across the country.

In order to facilitate LPG consumers to benefit from the portability scheme, the OMCs have made more than 1,400 clusters distributors in over 480 districts with an average of almost 4 distributors per cluster to choose from. The details about these clusters are available on the OMC websites. It has also been ensured that the portability scheme now covers all pos-

reduced. We expect this to go up even further as word about the offer spreads,” Dhall told FE. adding that airfares were going for as little as Rs 3,355 for the Delhi-Mumbai route where the spot fares can be as high as Rs 10,098.

Amber Dubey, partner and head for aerospace and defence at KPMG, said the offer would help stimulate demand in a lean quarter. “The seats on offer are chosen carefully without compromising flights that have high demand. Since this helps widen the narrow flyer-base, it’s a good move. The only losers are other airlines who have to match fares.”

Among the offers, SpiceJet has offered 50% off on limited seats on all

direct flights when booked at least 30 days prior to travel. Meanwhile, GoAir has also slashed prices by 40-50% with the discount depending on whether bookings are made 30 days or 60 days prior to travel. Seats on Air India are also available at a 50% discount with the bookings to start on Wednesday — base fares start at Rs 1,357, a release from the carrier said.

“This tactical offer will encourage corporates and leisure travellers to plan short-term travel. We have already seen response picking up from those wanting to take a quick break before the onset of summer,” said John Nair, head for business travel at Cox & Kings.

Currency notes Polaris launches ‘Indian’ motorcycle range Intel to invest $120 mn nEW DELHi, January 22 (bL): Polaris Inissued before 2005 dia, in research centre a 100 per cent subsidiary of the US-based Polaris Industries, on Wednesday launched the banGaLOrE, January 22 (bL): Chip giant Intel to be withdrawn: RBI iconic ‘Indian’ motorcycle brand in India. has announced a $120-million investment in its India

MuMbai, January 22 (PTi): The Reserve Bank today decided to withdraw all currency notes issued prior to 2005, including Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 denominations, after March 31 in a move apparently aimed at curbing black money and fake currencies.

“After March 31, 2014, it (RBI) will completely withdraw from circulation all bank notes issued prior to 2005. From April 1, 2014, the public will be required to approach banks for exchanging these notes,” the RBI said in a statement.

The public can easily distinguish the currency notes issued before 2005 as they do not have the year of printing on reverse side. The year of printing in a small font is visible at the middle of the bottom row in notes issued after 2005.

Asking people not to panic and cooperate in the withdrawal process, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said old notes will continue to be legal and can be exchanged in any bank after April 1.

“From April 1, 2014, the public will be required to approach banks for exchanging these notes. Banks will provide exchange facility for these notes until further communication,” the RBI said.

From July 1, 2014, persons seeking exchange of more than 10 pieces of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes will have to furnish proof of identity and residence to the bank.

Although the RBI did not give any reason for withdrawal of pre-2005 currency notes, the move is expected to unearth black money held in cash.

As the new currency notes have added security features, they would help in curbing the menace of fake currency.

At present, currency notes in denominations of Rs. 5, Rs. 10, Rs. 20, Rs. 50,Rs. 100, Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 are issued.

The company launched three models — Indian Chief Classic, Chief Vintage and Chieftain — priced between Rs 26.5 lakh and Rs 33 lakh.

“Reviving the legend with a new heart but its same soul, Polaris India has ended the long wait for Indian motorcycle enthusiasts with this launch. We are now giving enthusiasts a chance to own a piece of history in a modern package,” Pankaj Dubey, Managing Director, Polaris India, said here.

The company that sells off-the-road vehicles including all-terrain vehicles in India, will start selling these motorcycles from Delhi and a second showroom in Bangalore, Dubey said.

‘India’s GDP growth may hit potential only next year’

MuMbai, January 22 (PTi): The worst is over for India’s economy but the growth may reach its potential only next year, Moody’s Analystics said.

It said that the GDP expansion is likely to touch 5 to 5.5 per cent this year and more than 6 per cent in 2015.

Prospects about the forthcoming general elections may lift the business confidence and will be the trigger for the economy, which has stabilised after downside risks eased with the rupee and current account issues under control.

“The economy has stabilised in recent quarters, though GDP growth remains well below potential. Downside risks have receded.

The rupee is less vulnerable to the US Fed tapering than it was in 2013.

The economy will slowly improve across 2014 but not hit potential until well into 2015,” the agency said in a report titled ‘India Outlook: Steady Growth, Lower Risk’.

Moody’s Analytics is a division of Moody’s Corporation that is engaged in economic research and analysis. The report is independent and does not reflect the opinions of its credit-rating wing, Moody’s Investors Service.

“GDP growth will be in the 5 to 5.5 per cent range through 2014, before heading north of 6 per cent in 2015...the upturn will be led initially by exports, which started to lift from mid-2013, and then later in 2014, by an upturn in the investment cycle,” analyst Glenn Levine said in the report.

Levine said: “There is a grow-

_

LEISURE

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

SUDOKU Game Number # 2770

ing list of reasons to believe that the economy has started to turn the corner, albeit slowly, after 30 months of sub-par growth. Economic growth has stabilised and downside risks have fallen.”

Stating that the worst may be over for the economy, Levine said the stream of bad news emanating from the economy has finally begun to slow. Externally, the global economy is stabilising, with better growth expected this year.

Exports have already started to pick up, helping to narrow the CAD, it said, adding that “on the home front, fewer downside risks, a more competent central bank governor, and the prospect of better government after the May elections have boosted business and investor confidence.”

R&D centre.

The new facility, inaugurated by S.R. Patil, Karnataka Minister of IT and BT, is to commence operations next year, according to company officials. This investment reiterates India’s contribution in areas such as chip design for PCs, servers, phones and tablets, said Kumud Srinivasan, President of Intel India.

Further, this new facility will help in ‘consolidating’ the company’s workforce, which is estimated to be around 4,500. The company has been talking about reducing its workforce by 5% but Srinivasan said that workforce is being shifted from ‘low priority’ to ‘high priority’ areas. The India centre will also work on high growth areas such as tablets, mobile phones.

India seeks investment opportunities in Indonesian province JakarTa, January 22 (ianS): India is looking for more investment opportunities in the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan. India’s ambassador to Indonesia Gurjit Singh, who is leading a 28-member India Business Forum (IBF) delegation and a cultural troupe to Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan, met the province’s vice governor Mukmin Faisyal, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Indian embassy in Jakarta.

During his meeting, the ambassador emphasised that his mission to East Kalimantan was

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2781

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 # 2769

KOHIMA

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

to enhance economic engagement with the region by encouraging more investment by Indian companies in the mineral-rich province and high-level B2B engagement.

He said that although a number of Indian companies have already made investments to the tune of about $4-$5 billion in the coal mining sector in East Kalimantan, Indian businessmen were looking for more investment opportunities.

Faisyal welcomed the ambassador’s proposals and said a delegation of the government and industry of East Kalimantan would be sent to India.

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D O T A I I E V S M T E N D R E N F P G O A E

E E L E C R A Y O N U K D C H S L O E L I R

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G L V D R S R T O M N D O A G D I R I I T E

R E Y U E T O R K S R E N N L R Q E D N O W

H G R S O R E E H E E R L F Q A A U H F E B I

V E N D R E D L T L E O W T I M E C Z S N U

L E F R A N Ç A I S D V V A S E R D N O F I

ACROSS

U U L E S T Y L O R O I V L R E G N T S U I

1. Plateaux 6. Collections 10. Does something 14. Not below 15. Snare 16. Murres 17. Hermit 18. Eyebrow shape 19. Sailors 20. Gain favor 22. 1 1 1 1 23. 1/100th of a dollar 24. Curative 26. Walk in water 30. Former boxing champ 31. Conceit 32. Computer symbol 33. Religious offshoot 35. Humiliate 39. Places for books 41. Revolutionary 43. Lofty nest 44. Generous slice of the pie 46. City in Peru 47. Seat oneself 49. Gorilla 50. Biblical garden 51. Spunk 54. Extent 56. Astringent

57. Appraisal 63. Not a single one 64. Not fat 65. Wild dog of Australia 66. Not closed 67. Suspend 68. Annoyed 69. A musical pause 70. Hens make them 71. Thorny flowers

DOWN 1. French Sudan 2. Black, in poetry 3. A short musical composition 4. Affirm 5. A pinnacle of ice 6. Untarnished 7. Fickle 8. Diplomacy 9. Orb 10. Car 11. Large long-necked wading bird 12. Exhausted 13. Impudent 21. Make fun of 25. Quaint outburst 26. Sage 27. Sore 28. One who accomplishes

29. Tour of duty 34. Accoutrement 36. Corrosive 37. Identical 38. Distinctive flair 40. Head covering 42. Perpendicular to the keel 45. Enduring 48. Grow teeth 51. Country estate 52. Run away to wed 53. Melodies 55. Point of greatest despair 58. A type of carpet 59. Novice 60. Writing fluids 61. Curved molding 62. Gestures of assent

Ans to CrossWord 2780

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LOCAL

The Morung Express

Thursday 23 January 2014

NSSA suspends agitation sine dine Demand to nab culprit(s)

Kohima, January 22 (mExn): Nagaland Secretariat Service Association (NSSA) has suspended its agitation sine dine. This was resolved during the NSSA General Body Meeting held on January 21 in the Secretariat Conference Hall here.

A press release issued

by NSSA assistant secretary Kitto Swu and its president Imti Longchari informed that the meeting reviewed the partial fulfillment of its charter of demands by the Government and deliber-

ated on the further course of action required with respect to the remaining unfulfilled demands.

The House, according to the note, unanimously appreciated and thanked the Government for its sincerity in fulfilling the core demands of the Association – Issuance of promotion order, and creation/restoration of NSSA cadre posts phase-wise within the stipulated dateline.

The House also took note of the sincerity and active process the Gov-

VIPs to take salute on Republic Day

Kohima, January 22 (Dipr): According to notification issued by the Home department, Government of Nagaland, vide order NO.GAB/GEN/7/2008, the following VIPs will unfurl the National Flag and take the Rashtriya salute on the Republic Day, January 26, 2014 at the place mentioned against their names below: Name of VIP

Name of Dist/ Sub-Division HQs

Dr. Ashwani Kumar Hon'ble Governor, Nagaland

Kohima

S.Pangnyu Minister, Industries & Commerce

Mokokchung

Kuzholuzo Neinu Minister, Road & Bridges

Dimapur

E.E.Pangteang, Minister, Tourism, Art & Culture & Election

Zunheboto

Chotisuh Sazo Speaker, NLA

Phek

G.Kaito Aye Minister, Home

Peren

C.M. Chang Minister, Education

Longleng

T.R.Zeliang Minister, Planning, Evaluation

Mon

Y.Patton Minister, Forest and Border Affairs.

Kiphire

Naiba Konyak Advisor, DUDA

Tuensang

Kiyaneilie Peseyi, Minister, Social Welfare C.L John Parliamentary Secretary, RD, Rural Employment and Poverty Alleviation

Wokha

Tovihoto Ayemi Parliamentary Secretary, IT & Communication

Tseminyu

Yitachu, Parliamentary Secretary, V&AH

Meluri

Pughoboto

Zhaleo Rio Parliamentary Secretary, Urban Development

Mangkolemba

Dr. Benjongliba, Parliamentary Secretary, Agriculture

Tobu

C. Kipili Sangtam Parliamentary Secretary, Power

Noklak

A meeting of regional political parties of the north eastern region was held at Guwahati, Assam on 20th October, 2013. The following are the resolutions that have been unanimously adopted by the meeting.

1. The representatives of the Regional Parties of the North East India, meeting at Guwahati on 20th October, 2013, have unanimously resolved to form the North East Regional Political Front (NERPF) with head quarters at Guwahati and with representation of all Regional Parties of the NE India. The Front will work to safeguard territorial, cultural, social, political and economic rights of the people of the Region and will continuously strive to 'protect the distinctive identities of the ethnic tribes, and all the people of the region. The Front will be expanded in future with inclusion of representatives of more Regional Parties of the NE India. There will be at least

one meeting of the Front in a quarter and the, meetings will be hosted by member parties of the Forum in their respective states. The initial formation of the Forum will be with four representatives of each party attending this meeting. The first meeting of this forum will be held in Nagaland.

2. The NERPF vouches serious concern that the Govt. of India has not taken effective steps to stop infiltration of migrants from across the border and has not taken steps to detect and deport illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators from the Region. The Front call upon the centre to immediately enter into a treaty with the Govt. of Bangladesh to deport all the infiltrators from the Region.

3. The meeting further resolves that the Govt. of India should immediately cancel the agreement with Bangladesh to hand over a large chunk of area of NE Region to that country.

The Front express serious

ernment is undertaking to resolve the remaining two issues – Framing of guidelines for deputationists, and streamlining of Planning Department and Law Department. In this regard, the Association noted that the remaining issues are matters that involve other sister Associations of the Nagaland Secretariat: the IAS and the NCS. And hence the matter needs to be pursued jointly with the two sister Associations, the release said.

WASA 52nd wrestling meet 2014 from today Our Correspondent Kohima | January 22

of Jan 20 Kohima shooting

Kohima, January 22 (mExn): Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industries (KCCI) has expressed deep shock over the killing of Helal Uddin, “a petty businessman”, on the evening of January 20 around 6.30 pm at Nagabazar area by unknown miscreant(s). KCCI vehemently condemned the shooting calling it “gruesome and dastardly act.” The organization also expressed dismay at the law enforcing

agencies that “such incident can occur right in public places by gun-toting antisocial elements, especially when the place of incident is located just some few meters away from the North Police Station.” It further appealed to the District Administration and Police to investigate and nab the perpetrator(s) at the earliest and deliver justice.

Muslim Welfare Society Kohima

Muslim Welfare Society Kohima has also condemned the killing of Helal Uddin, son of Sayabour Rahman of Lama Bahadurpur, Karimganj district, Assam. The Society’s president Nazrul Hoque in a press release said that the victim, who runs a grocery shop at Nagabazar, Kohima Town, was shot dead inside his shop. It urged the law enforcement agencies to bring the culprit to book.

Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): RK Nair, coordinator of Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy (KSNA) Dimapur Chapter and an active functionary of Kerala Samajam Dimapur has been awarded with the prestigious Pravasi Kalashree Award by the Kerala government for his contributions in the promotion of Kerala art and culture in northeast, especially in Nagaland.

The award was an-

nounced by Soorya Krishnamurthy, Chairman of Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy yesterday during a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram. The award consists of a citation, certificate and Rs.15,000. It will be presented to RK Nair on the occasion of World Drama Day on March 27 by the chief minister of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram.

It is for the first-time that such an award is given

to anybody in the northeast region by the government of Kerala. A businessman by profession, RK Nair has been a prominent personality in the cultural and social circles of Dimapur for many years. He was instrumental in the revival of Kerala Samajam Dimapur and played a key role in the formation of KSNA Dimapur Chapter. He is married to Sindhu R. Nair and has two children, Parvathy and Rahul.

KSNA Dimapur coordinator gets award

Dimapur

5

MEx FILE AR apprehends arms peddler Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): Troops of 37 Assam Rifles has apprehended one arms peddler identified as H Hukato Laboh (34) of Agiqami village. During the search, one .22 pistol, one .32 pistol alongwith magazines were recovered on him, stated a press release.

The apprehended individual has been handed over to Nagaland Police at Diphupar Police Station, it added.

Livestock vaccination underway in Pughoboto

pughoboto, January 22 (mExn): The department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Pughoboto sub-division has started its annual vaccination programme for livestock and poultry. The programme started on January 7 in Pughoboto town and Mishilimi village led by team leader Dr. Tekasangba VAS (G) with field staff. Therefore, animals owners/farmers have been requested to co-operate and avail the opportunity. However, a press release stated that due to shortage of man power and certain difficult factors, immediate coverage of the whole villages of the sub-division might take little longer period of time. Hence, at instances of suspected sickness or outbreak, if detected, farmers/ owners have been requested to immediately inform the nearest VOP in charge/authority concerned.

The 52nd wrestling meet 2014 of the Western Angami Sports Association (WASA) will take place at WAPO Ground, Sechü Zubza from January 23 to 24.

Minister for social welfare Kiyanilie Peseyie will grace the occasion as the chief guest while Kovi Meyase, ADC Naginimora will be the guest of honour. The prize sponsors included; Khrielesie Nagi, class- I contractor Nagaland, Zasevizo Lhousa, section officer, NEZCC Dimapur, Kevisekho Chücha, secretary Khonoma Village Council and Thepfükuolie Viya, executive engineer PWD (R&B) Peren Division.

The inaugural function will start from 9:00 AM onwards. The programme will be chaired by WASA president Kevilesie Senotsu while WASA wrestling secretary Nikerütuo Rino will administer oath to the wrestlers.

Neivikuolie Khatsü will act as match commissioner. Judges include Pfükolie Vikhrie, Akrulie Chüsi, Megosekho Punyü, Kekolhukho Meyase, Sedesielie Nagi, Zhasalie Rino, Zhabu Mor and Teiso Sechü. Referees (Naga style)- Mhiesilhoukho Kitshü, Megosezo Khate, Neingulie Nagi and Visakuolie Rhatsu. Referees (National free style): Rokosielie Khawakhrie, Rovingulie Vakha, Khrietuo Neisa and Desielie Miasalhou.

National free style will be conducted in the following category: (Men) –55kg and below, 55-60kg, 60-66 kg, 66-74 kg, 74-84 kg, 84-96 kg, 96-120 kg. Women 48kg and below, 48-51 kg, 51-55 kg, 55-59 kg, 59-69 kg, 6367 kg and 67-72 kg. There will also be cadet event for both boys and girls.

The meet will witness participants from Mezoma, Khonoma, Jotsoma, Sechüma, Sechü Zubza, Kiruphema, Mengujuma and Thekrejuma.

WoKha, January 22 (mExn): The 68th Witter Theological College (WTC) Annual Sports’ Week from January 22 to 25 kicked off at the new campus building here with Aremo Ezung, SDEO, Wokha as the chief guest.

A press release received here stated that the chief guest in his speech emphasized that education is not complete without games and sports as the body also needs physical exercise. He challenged the people pres-

ent and the participants to utilize their God given gifts and talents wisely. Further, he encouraged Alpha and Omega houses that all of them may not get the championship title; however, participation is more important if they know how to apply discipline in Sports rules and regulation. He further encouraged the theological community to show more commitment and conviction in their lives and profession as they have been chosen to be a light of

the world.

Earlier, the programme was chaired by Roziiveinii John H while invocation was pronounced by Thosano Ngullie. Dr. Moanungsang, Principal, WTC gave the welcome address, Rev. M.C. Kithan, Executive Secy., KBES, exhorted the crowd while Zanboni Ngullie & co presented special number. Vote of thanks was pronounced by Rosalin and benediction by S. Ekonthung Ezung, Academic Dean, WTC.

WoKha, January 22 (mExn): Midan Peyu, Lotha Regional Council (NNC) Shanremo Tsopoe has clarified that the Council’s president election, which was held on January 21, 2014 at LTC Hall here was conducted in a clean procedure by the following election committee - Shanremo (Midan Peyu), Thungchamo (Khapor), Zanrao (SRC President), Chumdemo (Razu Peyu), Khocherao (Chaplain) Tsenchamo and Nzeo (General Secretary).

Altogether 53 members were present during the election in addition to 11 ballot papers. Out of the 53 votes, Fuchamo Tsopoe got 23 votes, and Yilow Humtsoe got 30 votes plus all the 11 ballot papers securing 41 votes in total, informed

the Midan Peyu in a press release. According to the result of the votes cast and norms of the election, the election committee elected Yilow Humtsoe (Vice President) as the new president for Lotha Regional Council (NNC), the release declared.

Further, the Lotha Regional Council (NNC) Midan Peyu stated that Yilow Humtsoe will be recognized as the new president for the Lotha Regional Council (NNC) for the next 5 years term. No other person/complaint will be endorsed by the LRC (NNC) for the presidentship, he added. He also felicitated the new president and prayed that the almighty God bless him and guide him in his presidentship for the betterment of the people of Lotha region.

Kohima, January 22 (mExn): “God made all things, if we don’t stand in the word of God; we can never be stable and if we do not believe in God even families cannot stand. The Bible should become a firm foundation in the family,” Rev. Zotuo reminded the people present during the eighth day of the ongoing Transformation Crusade at local Ground, Kohima today. Stressing on how one should worship God, he said worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth, by praying, listening to the word of God. Giving and getting together are an act of worship where one gets the power of the Holy Spirit, he added.

“Our state is Nagaland

for Christ, not Nagaland for Antichrist but the falling of the church is leading to the rise of satanic worshippers and therefore the Transformation Crusade main concern is to revive everyone, so that the Antichrist will not rule and more churches should come up,” Rev Zotuo said adding the Transformation crusade is going to revive the church and deliver the satanic worshippers.

Referring to the scripture, he expressed people started worshipping Satan because they had not accepted the truth and they had not listened to God’s word. Anyone can receive the anointing power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God is the spirit of liberty, he added.

Rev. Zotuo who was the main speaker reminded the crowd that in the last days, the power of the Holy Spirit will increase so will Satan’s works, hence he urged that every church needs the power of God which will restrain the satanic worshippers from advancing further.

Earlier, Medotseilie-u Kiewhuo led the service while Rev. Lhusuohie Mhasi said the offertory prayer. Sinai Ministry led the praise and worship in the evening.

About 80 people having suicidal tendencies and depressions were called and prayed for and they received their deliverance, informed a press release.

Many sicknesses were also healed, it added.

concern that in agreeing to hand over land to Bangladesh, the Government of India has violated the rights of the states and acted arbitrarily against the principle of sovereign Government.

4. The meeting of the NERPF unanimously calls for immediate scrapping of the draconian "Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA)" and stop its use in all forms in the NE Region. The meeting calls upon the centre to declare immediately the scrapping of the Act. 5. The Front express concern at the continued incursion by China in to Arunachal Pradesh and calls upon Government of India to take up the matter immediately with China and prevent any future incursion.

6. The Front express serious concern at the actions of the Government of China to build massive dams in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra (called Tsangpo in China) and attempts to divert the river.

The Brahmaputra is the lifeline of the NE Region and any attempt to interfere with the natural flow of the River should be considered as an act of aggression. The Front condemns the lack of seriousness on the part of Government of India and asks the Government of India to take strongest possible steps to stop the designs of the Chinese Government against the NE Region.

7. The NERPF is concerned at the lack of security of students of the NE Region pursuing higher education at Delhi and other places and the parties call upon the Government of India to take up stringent measures to protect students particularly girl students of the region.

The parties further express concern that working ladies from the Region are being subjected to physical attacks, indecent behavior and insults outside the Region. Such activities must be stopped forthwith.

8. The NERPF calls for constitutional safeguards to all indigenous people of the region and protect their political, economic, social and traditional rights.

9. The front demand 80 percent reservation for sons of the soil in all central, semi-central, public sector arid private sector jobs in the region.

10. The NERPF calls upon the Govt. of India to implement the "Look East" policy in letter .and spirit, rebuild the Indian portion of the Stillwell Road and open an immigration office at the border, helping cross border trade and commerce. The NERPF also urges the Government of India to extend fourlane National Highway to Imphal in Manipur.

11. The NERPF Strongly expresses its resentment against the destruction of ecological balance in the region, through erection of large number of huge dams in the region without properly addressing the envi-

ronmental issues, causing immediate and future suffering to the people in the downstream areas.

I2. The meeting resolves to organize a mass rally to raise the burning issues of the region and representatives of all the regional parties will attend and address the rally.

13. The NERPF opines that the polling by EVM is not fool-proof and there are instances of tampering With the EVMs. The meeting demands that either the EVMs be abolished or they should be supported with paper slips in all election, as was used in some bye-elections recently (VVPAT). If this is not possible the system of universal adult franchise should be reverted back to the ballot paper.

14. The NERPF calls for a fresh look into the whole issue of Centre-State relations in the true spirit of federalism and a thorough review of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitu-

tion of India. The Front demands a comprehensive amendment of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution with devolution of powers to the States in all matters, excepting to those pertaining to Defence, External Relations, Currency and External Trade. In particular, the Front asks for scrapping of the Concurrent List and to transfer all the subjects in this List to the State List.

15. The Front is very critical of the piecemeal way in which the .Government of India deals with the problems of insurgency in the region. Instead of taking a total approach to find a permanent solution to the problems, the Government has handled the problems in an adhoc, half-hearted manner by dealing with one outfit at a time and has created a situation for other outfits to assume prominence and aggressively pursue their demands. In none of the situations, the Government of

India has taken the people of the respective State into confidence or has pursued a policy of wider consultation.

16. The Front express its deep concern that the Government of India has started fencing in part of Manipur- Myamnar international border without taking the people of Manipur into confidence and in the process, has given away large chunks of land to Myanmar. The Front calls upon the Center to immediately make its plans public and to desist from giving Manipur land to Myanmar.

17. The Front resolves to act as an active facilitator to resolve the decades old political insurgencies and political issues of the region immediately so as to usher in an era of peace for sustainable development in the entire region.

WTC annual sports’ meet underway

Rengma Hoho mourns

Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): Rengma Hoho has mourned the sudden death of Gwashani Tep, class-I contractor, on January 15, 2014. In a condolence message, Rengma Hoho president Sawathung Kez Seb remembered the deceased as a man of principle, strong determination and dedicated leader in the society.

Expressing sadness over the death, the Rengma Hoho further expressed condolences to the bereaved family members.

TSUD clarifies on rape victim’s age

Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): Tikhir Students’ Union Dimapur (TSUD) has clarified that the age of the January 12 gang rape victim is 15, according to her official documents, and not 18 as reported in local newspapers. In a press release appended by its president Apollo and general secretary Peter Limti, TSUD also strongly urged the authority concerned to publish photos of the three accused in local newspapers. Further, it appealed the law enforcing agency not to grant bail to the accused at any cost, while expressing gratitude to the law agency for booking the accused at the right time.

Lotha Regional Council Worship your God with all your (NNC) on president election body, mind and soul: Rev. Zotuo

Public SPace 17-point resolution of the NERPF

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.

Atul Bora Co-Convenor NERPF Working President NPF

(NEIPHIU RIO) Convenor NERPF Chief Minister, Nagaland

6

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express THursDAy 23 JAnuAry 2014 vol. IX IssuE 21

By Aheli Moitra

Anarchy, are you here yet?

A

famous phrase in a graphic representation used on an anarchy site tells us to forget yoga and smash the system. A girl, her hair tied back with a big bow holding it in, and a long gown, its arms puffed up, looks down at the lettering of the same on her dress that she holds up from two sides forming an inverted umbrella. The lettering is impolite and makes a specific reference to The State.

The drawing is part of Montreal’s street art by an artist named Harpy.

The idea behind it is to get out of your comfortable nonquestioning zone and start nibbling at the present unfair system/s in which we operate. Without the crashing of the existing system, a new system cannot be devised merely through gate-crashing it.

Anarchy in general literature is often referred to as chaos.

While what it really means is “no government” it would do well to think how much chaos governments, political parties and mega ideologies have caused all over the world. The easiest instance of this existing chaos is war. Social customs, law, trade, religion—everything comes with a set of rules. So does war. Systems are designed around rules as these are felt necessary to human cooperation, which, in turn, is sought considering human beings will move ahead (in genetic makeup and time) much better than if they do so individually. Inherent in this idea of systems is violence—even deathly force is permitted by states to make people/s fall in line.

Democracy, wherever practiced, also comes with a (large) set of rules. India’s constitution lays out how the country must practice its democracy. It tells us how people, their body and property, need be respected in the correct manner if we are to live under this umbrella. And now, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under Arvind Kejriwal has set out to follow the Constitution of India right down to its logical end. Strangely enough, Kejriwal likes to think that he has taken up the path of an anarchist—one that rejects the rule—to apply the rule.

Has he though?

What the AAP would like to see most is the application of Indian democracy in its pure form. Rules, instead of not working, should work and in the format that the script prescribes.

Applying these rules to today’s world with its complex inter mixing of corporate and governments, leading to the further mixing of rules of the moral kind, inadvertently seems like it leads down the path of most resistance. It causes chaos, no doubt. It threatens, slightly, to bring down a part of the existing system. But it definitely is not anarchy.

For, anarchy, as an anarchist writes, could entail the moving of boundaries as rivers change course, or languages change, or if most people vote for a different state, of living or being. While AAP’s gusto to take on a part of the system is commendable and needs support to achieve, is AAP willing to make the move to anarchism?

Thoughts may be mailed to moitramail@yahoo.com

lEfT wiNg |

Shilpa Raina IANS

‘Crime writing should address social issues’

S

candinavian crime novels are no alien to the world. If the simple language and local settings are their powerful tools, addressing social issues through their narratives is an art crime writers of the region have mastered to mirror their society, says a noted Norwegian crime writer.

"Our crime writings are not just to entertain audience or make money, but are concerned about social issues and bring them to the readers through their novels," Norwegian John Lier Horst told IANS in an interview on the sidelines of the Jaipur Literary Festival.

"This turns these novels into stories about changes that are unfair and recognise the evils of the society," he added, saying this ideology has filled the deep chasm between more elite genres and crime writing. "Crime writing was supposed to be at the lowest," said Lier with a smile, "but simple language, imagination and concern for social issues are quickly bridging the gap." Lier, a former investigating officer, candidly admitted his "crime solving abilities" and "real interaction with criminals and victims" have shaped many of his writings.

"My background has given me a good viewpoint of the society," pointed out Lier who made his debut as an author in 2004 with "Key Witness" that was based on a true murder story. To be present at the murder site, or meet criminals and victims was a part of his job and this has innately become subject of many of his novels.

The author mentioned how "crime and punishment" is the subject of his upcoming novel. "Does punishment help? Is evil forced on to people by the government? In Norway, we have a programme that is supposed to help prisoners become better people. But what happens is when they get out they become more criminal. So, does punishment help? My novel will try to seek an answer," he said.

Surprisingly, while the crime rate in Norway is among the lowest in the world, yet writers are able to juxtapose peaceful settings into brutal tales of murder. The credit for such seemingly simple, yet complex, writings should go to Swedish writers Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell, whose crime fiction works are now a global phenomenon. Larsson is best known for his "Millennium" trilogy and Mankell for "Faceless Killers".

Lier admitted it was a beautiful contradiction to imagine people from the most peaceful countries writing about brutal murders and conspiracies. "It is somehow a paradox that writers from these countries can write so well about brutality and crime and marry the peace environment and brutal accounts extremely well in their stories," he said, adding there are around five million people in Norway and they only have 45-50 murders in the country every year.

Apart from settings that usually are of a dark, cold winter night, or the setting of the sun, simple language is an essential ingredient of Scandinavian crime writing. "This genre needs simple language because you are going fast forward and then suspense comes in. Our writers also let their readers somehow sink into their verse, and it is literature," Lier said. There might be an explosion of crime writing in India, but authors are still struggling to get their settings and characters right.

Though Lier had no suggestions for the Indian writers, he emphasised on "finding a voice of your own". "To be successful, you have to find your own voice. There is actually no our way of doing it...everything varies from novel to novel," he added. This was Lier's first visit to India and he wished to return and travel, but there is no Indian plot brewing in his mind for a future novel.

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Feurat Alani Le Monde diplomatique

Violence & Power Struggles

H

ow do you stop a suicide bomber? More than 10 years after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, the Iraqi government has been asking itself this question. So the Iraqi security forces, who face deadly attacks on a daily basis, held a seminar for café owners and shopkeepers on 30 November last year. A hundred Baghdad traders listened to unconvincing advice — hire a private security guard, reduce the number of entrances — from the seemingly powerless police. The entire country is affected by bombings and attacks, which claimed more than 6,000 lives last year.

Having failed to eradicate the violence, the government is trying to live with it. “It’s always the same. When a bomb goes off at a market, the police and the army impose a curfew in the area, but they always arrive after the bombing. The government are playing at firemen putting out fires: they need to arrest the arsonists,” said Mokhlas alJuraisy, a journalist living in Baghdad.

In the capital, every family has its own tragedy, its bitterness and its dead. “Nothing changed when the US occupation ended. We had bombings before, and we still have them now. It’s the same for unemployment and other problems facing Iraq. The Americans left us a legacy of death. At least the British built bridges and schools,” one Baghdadi said, referring to the British occupation in 1918.

There are many reasons for the violence. To understand them, we must go back to 2003, shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist regime.

Paul Bremer, the US administrator, took the decision to dismantle Iraq’s security apparatus and de-Ba’athify the political system. This arbitrary and damaging policy excluded nearly a million qualified and experienced men from Iraqi society and, in the space of a few days, turned Iraq into an administrative desert. This political purge targeting anyone who had collaborated to any extent with the previous regime goes some way to explaining the country’s vulnerability.

A declaration of war The weakening of the state almost inevitably exacerbated sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shias. These reached a peak after the bombing of the al-Askari mosque in Samarra, a Shia holy site, on 21 February 2006.

Shias saw the incident as a declaration of war. Despite appeals for calm from all religious authorities, Shia militants took their revenge by bombing Sunni mosques. “It was our 9/11,” said a Samarra resident whose brother had been killed by a militia fighter during the reprisals.

For more than two years, Shia militias — especially the two best known, the Sadrist movement’s Mahdi Army and the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq’s Badr Corps (1) — kidnapped Sunnis, whom they usually tortured and executed. Sunni militias retaliated with car bombs in Shia areas of Baghdad. Every day, there would be

Violence in Iraq is now at its highest since the 2006-08 militia wars. And Nouri alMaliki’s sectarian, regionalist policy has received an ominous new lease of life from the crisis in neighbouring Syria finance minister Rafi al-Issawi, also accused of terrorism.

In December 2012, a year after the US withdrawal, a huge demonstration began in Fallujah’s “Dignity Square” and spread throughout Sunni territory.

An alliance between al-Maliki and the tribes was no longer possible.

During the demonstrations, the leaders of important Sunni tribes, including the Dulaim, Jumaila and Mahamda, demanded al-Maliki’s resignation. Some called him a puppet of Iran or a “Safavid”, a pejorative term for Iranian conservatives. From the start, this popular movement expressed its solidarity with the Syrian rebellion, comparing al-Maliki with Bashar alAssad. Amidst the crowds brandishing Iraqi flags, the emblem of the Free Syrian Army was clearly visible. The Iraqi Sunni struggle has gone beyond national borders: the enemy is no longer just al-Maliki, but the Shia axis of Damascus, Baghdad and Tehran.

The connections between the Sunnis of Anbar Province and the Syrian rebels on the other side of the border partly explain the rise in violence in Iraq. The struggle for power has an increasingly sectarian dimension, and, according to Sheikh Rafeh al-Jumaily, many Iraqis want a Syrian-type scenario, “to rebalance the power relationship in the region.”He believes Tehran will lose an important ally if the Assad regime falls. “If the Sunnis take power in Syria, we will be in a stronger position Soft partition Iraq has changed. Baghdad is no against the rise of Shiism in Baghdad.” longer the heterogeneous city where all the provinces were represented. A new fighting force The Iraqi equivalent of the Free With rare exceptions, Sunnis live in Sunni areas, Shias in Shia areas. Else- Syrian Army was created six months where, Joe Biden’s “soft partition” (3) before the Sunni demonstrations, of Iraq into a Kurdish north, Sunni cen- though it is rarely mentioned in the tre and Shia south is already a reality. media. In an official statement issued The fall of Iraq could still have been on 19 July 2012, it set out three objecprevented if al-Maliki had made good tives: “to counter the Iranian invasion on his electoral promise of national of Iraq, support the people of Syria and reconciliation, especially as many Sun- the Free Syrian Army, and unite Sunni ni tribal councils had offered him their fighters in Iraq under a single banner.”

Who is behind this new organisaallegiance after he came to power. But he continued to feed the standoffs be- tion, and has it had a real influence? It’s tween Sunni and Shia and between Ar- too early to tell. It posted videos of its abs and Kurds, and sidelined anyone attacks on the regular Iraqi army on who disagreed with his policies. Al- the Internet, then gradually vanished Maliki’s isolation started in 2011 with from the radar until the arrest of its the removal of the Sunni vice president leader — whose identity is unknown Tariq al-Hashemi, accused of terror- — last February, near Kirkuk.

The alliance between Al-Qaida in ism. The following year, it was another Sunni, the deputy prime minister and Iraq and Al-Qaida in Syria is more proof

of the “natural” links between Syrian and Iraqi Sunnis. United under the banner of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), their fighters can move freely across the Iraqi-Syrian border, held by the Syrian rebels. Formed in Iraq in 2006, as a platform for a number of jihadist groups, ISIS has become a powerful force in the war in Syria. It enjoys freedom of movement and has no problems in supplying itself. In this border region, tribal alliances are old, and inhabitants of Fallujah or al-Qaim are always welcome in Abu Kamal in Syria.

The Syrian conflict really did spill over into Iraq in March last year. Forty Syrian soldiers and civil servants were killed in Iraq’s Anbar Province, to which they had fled after a rebel attack.

Seven Iraqi soldiers also died.

The crises in Iraq and Syria may have different causes, but they share a sectarian aspect. The Syrian civil war is between mainly Sunni rebels and a coalition of ethnic and religious minorities supporting the Assad government.

In Iraq, a mainly Shia government faces sometimes political and sometimes armed opposition from Sunnis.

So it is probably no coincidence that, as the Syrian civil war has intensified, sectarian conflicts have been revived in Iraq. Even the US government attributes an important role to Iraq in the Syrian crisis. During al-Maliki’s visit to Washington in October, Barack Obama apparently asked the Iraqi premier to use his good relations with Iran to persuade al-Assad to go quietly. Iraq is also under increasing pressure from Iran, the major Shia power in the region, as well as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, two major Sunni countries, which are the chief backers of the anti-Assad rebellion.

After a decade of unprecedented violence, Iraq is caught in a maelstrom of power struggles between Sunnis and Shias, feeding off the Syrian conflict. The Maliki government is trying to ignore the new regional alliances.

The new electoral law, which sets the date for the next legislative elections at 30 April this year, is seen as a joke. Voters laugh at Iraq’s MPs —at the ease with which they pass laws favourable to their personal interests and the difficulty they have in agreeing on major issues. Iraqi sociologist Amir Ahmed likens the elections to absurdist theatre, and Iraqi politics to Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot: “Every time there’s an election, the politicians announce the arrival of a man who promises change. But he never comes. They keep us busy and distract us, while we wait. The Iraqi people are waiting for Godot.”

“The existing Iranian presence in Iraq has increased mistrust and fear in the Arab region,” said Ahmed. “It is the sudden change in regional politics that has provoked all these tensions. And we must not forget that Iraq is an oilrich country and this arouses the greed of international forces, which try to fuel the violence rather than stabilise the situation, since it’s easier to make a profit from a weak, unstable country than a strong and stable one.” Oil may be Iraq’s real problem.

an indication that future objectives should apply to all states, including members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

These international discussions demonstrate a will to ensure a better quality of healthcare for the most marginalised and to reduce inequality.

UHC — universal by definition — is very much a concrete manifestation of such ambitions. It is based on everyone’s right to enjoy the best possible state of health, a right embodied in the WHO constitution (1948) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966). It also accords with the right to enjoy a quality of life that ensures health and well-being set out in article 25 of the International Declaration of Human Rights. It emphasises physical and financial equality of access to basic care in a context in which disparities are still growing. Every year 100 million people fall into poverty as a result of unexpected medical expenses (calculated at 40% of their income). UHC also has the advantage of enabling an all-encompassing approach; the “silo” approach to health as defined by the MDGs was piecemeal and didn’t encourage a global vision of health systems.

But there are other threats that will have to be taken into account for 2015 and beyond: non-infectious diseases; the increased risk of pandemics as a re-

sult of globalisation; the re-emergence of infectious diseases; increasing resistance to antibiotics; health risks associated with environmental degradation; and obesity, now a bigger killer than hunger. The objective of UHC will make it possible to develop a continuum of integrated, lifelong care (rehabilitation, prevention, improvement, treatment) adaptable to future challenges.

UHC is a transformational objective in that it encourages improvements in health provision, since it relates to the equitable distribution of national social protection mechanisms. It responds to the challenge of sustainability as it aims to achieve viable long-term health funding. Prepayment mechanisms and collective solidarity should enable the use of national resources to reduce payments at the point of delivery and therefore to reduce the number of individuals facing catastrophic bills. According to the African Development Bank, by 2060, most African nations will be able to guarantee basic health insurance, even if not complete coverage (6). The bank emphasises however that, in the startup phase, public development aid remains essential in the LDCs. Finally, the WHO and the World Bank are proposing a new assessment framework to make it possible to measure UHC in a way that will satisfy the most sceptical states. Two targets are of particular interest: access to quality healthcare and financial protection for those who use the services.

100 or so bodies on the streets or in the Tigris. Although tardily, and clearly motivated in part by political rivalry, the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, launched a major offensive in Sadr City in March 2008, aiming to disarm the Mahdi Army led by Muqtada alSadr. The violence on the ground has gradually diminished, but it has fuelled rivalries among the political class. Violence remains the focus of al-Maliki’s rhetoric. He uses a simplistic vocabulary, in which the words “terrorist” and “Ba’athist” both refer to the Sunnis.

Another factor in the security crisis since the US withdrawal is the Sahwa (“awakening”) militia, made up of members of Sunni tribes who allied themselves with the US to fight Al-Qaida in Iraq. Under the strategy set out by General Petraeus, the “surge” (2)relied on the collaboration of Sunni tribes, symbolised by the charismatic Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, killed in September 2007 by an Al-Qaida commando.

The 100,000-strong Sahwa militia achieved significant successes by expelling the Iraq branch of Al-Qaida from the cities. The members of Sahwawere supposed to become part of the regular army, but al-Maliki failed to deliver on this undertaking and only 20% were integrated. The rest have been left to their own devices and alMaliki has been publicly voicing his suspicion of them.

Crucial negotiations at the United Nations Mathilde Bouyé & Jean-Michel severino

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Le Monde diplomatique

he Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed by the United Nations in 2000 (1) have made an unprecedented contribution to the fight against poverty. But with the 2015 deadline approaching, and in spite of significant progress, the MDGs are a long way from being achieved. Worldwide, 1.2 billion people still live on less than $1.25 a day.

The MDGs that remain furthest from being reached include the targets on child and maternal health (MDGs 4 and 5) and transmissible diseases (MDG 6).

Every year, throughout the world, 6.9 million children die before their fifth birthday and 50 million women give birth without any professional medical assistance. There has been significant progress in the fight against major pandemics, but 2.5 million people still become infected with HIV each year and additional efforts are needed to consolidate the advances made against malaria and tuberculosis (2). So, as international discussion of the post-2015 period intensifies, attention is focusing on these three MDGs in particular.

Universal health coverage (UHC) is often mentioned as a future global objective, but it is not uncontentious: some governments take the view that it is ill defined and hard to measure. Yet a growing number of emerging and developing countries — including Indonesia, India, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam,

Rwanda, Ghana, Mali and Senegal (see “Senegal, women first”) — have set it as one of their national priorities. In December 2012 a resolution supporting UHC worldwide, put forward by France and the organisation Diplomatie et Santé (Foreign Policy and Global Health Initiative) (3), obtained the backing of over 90 countries and overwhelming support from the UN General Assembly (4). This document defines UHC as access to good quality basic healthcare and medicines at a price the patient can afford. The World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank and numerous other organisations such as Global Health Advocates France support UHC and believe it should be one of the UN’s future development goals. At a special event this September chaired by John W Ashe, president of the UN General Assembly, to assess the progress and future of the MDGs, national delegations defined the principles that should govern the post-2015 agenda (5).

Participant states decided to build on the UN Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000 and the Rio+20 Declaration, produced at the 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development, in order to set out common objectives that take into account the three dimensions of development: economic, social and environmental. The document emphasises the need for solidarity with the least developed countries (LDCs),

wRiTE-wiNg

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PERSPECTIVE

7 Making Our Deeds Count

Thursday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

23 January 2014

A

NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

Khrietuonyü Noudi

ccording to a story written by Leo Tolstoy, there was once a king who was rich and well-respected by the people of his kingdom.

The king was always on the lookout for more wisdom so that he could be of more use to his people. One day he summoned all the wise-men in his kingdom to his courtroom because he wanted to know three things. The three things were: 1) Who is the most important person for me?

2) When is the most important time?

3) What is the most important thing for me to do?

All the wise men who came to the meeting gave their own answers but the king was not satisfied and happy with any of the answers given. So the meeting concluded without the king finding any satisfactory answers to these three questions. But even after the meeting, the king was still on the lookout for satisfactory answers from anyone as he really wanted to know these three things.

At this time, a servant in the king’s palace mentioned to the king about a very wise old man living in the deep forest and that he may be able to answer these three questions. So the king decided to go to the forest to meet this old wise man. The king traveled for many days before he finally came to the hut of this old man.

The king told the hermit (the old man) that he had come to meet him because none of the wise-men in his kingdom was able to answer three things he wanted to know. After hearing the three questions of the king, the hermit narrated a story to the king and said that the most important persons for him are the persons with whom he is living or with whom he comes into contact, the most important time is now (the present time) and the most important thing to do is to do good to the people with whom he is living or comes into contact with. At last, the king was satisfied with all the answers and he went away happily.

Yes, how important it is to be in the

people’s business and to be a ‘now’ person. Jesus himself said that when we give water to a thirsty man, food to a hungry man or clothes to a naked one, it is just like giving water, food or clothe to God himself because all men have been made in the image of God and that even such small deeds will never go unrewarded. When we do such small and trivial deeds, our actions may not be recorded by anyone in a register or record-book. But the Bible says that even such trivial deeds are precious and blessed in the sight of God and will bring forth its own reward in one way or the other sooner or later.

I feel that even through common sense, we can somehow say that God may not necessarily judge us for how we use our money, but God will cer-

future. And of course, there is nothing wrong in investing our money in this kind of things. But Joel Osteen says that the best investment is ‘investing in people’. The yields of all other types of investment are limited only to life in this earth. The profits of these earthly investments will not go beyond life on earth. And once we die, all these investments will have no meaning and bearing on us.

But when we invest in people, we will reap the benefits, profits and blessings not only in this earthly life……but even after our life on this earth. At least, this is what we, as believers in Christ, can say and proclaim.

And the good news is that investing in people is something which anybody and everybody can do because we do not need to be rich to invest in people.

Khrietuonyü Noudi

Straight From The Heart History, Politics, Culture… tainly judge us for how we treat people and how we use the time and opportunities given to us. God’s patience for us is so great that even after we fail and dishonor Him time and time again, he is always ready to give us another chance.

One of my all-time favorite speakers is Joel Osteen. Mr. Osteen says that since human life and the future are unpredictable, we need to make investments in certain things so that we may be able to withstand and survive hard times that may come our way. But when we talk about investment, many people think only in terms of saving money in the bank or investing money in some projects or undertakings that are likely to yield huge dividends in the

But how do we invest in people? Investing in people basically would mean being good, loving, helpful and thoughtful towards our fellow beings. Or in other words, it means loving others with the love of God. Here in this investment, God is the record-keeper and He will reward all the doers in His own way and in His right time.

Joel Osteen also says that many people believe in leaving their children with a good inheritance. And thus many sons and daughters inherit huge sums of money, plump bank-accounts, lands, estates and properties from their rich fathers. All these show the love that a father has for his children.

However, Osteen says that instead of leaving something “for” our chil-

dren, we can do even better by leaving something “in” them. And we can leave something ‘in’ our children by properly rearing them up in the ways of the Lord especially during their formative years.

Some of the ways through which we can do this is by setting an example for them with our lives, by nurturing them with the word of God, by letting them have the true wisdom and faith that is intended by God for mankind etc….

It is said that learning starts from cradle and continues till grave. Nobody is perfect and we are all in the learning process. And since we are all in the learning process, we are bound to fail and displease God and also hurt our fellow-beings. God knew very well that human beings would need a new beginning every now and then. I believe this is the reason why a year is divided into 12 months, a month into 4 weeks and a week into 7 days.

Every New Year is an opportunity to start afresh and anew. Likewise every new week and every new day is also an opportunity to discard our old wicked ways and walk afresh in the path of God. As the saying goes, ‘morning by morning new mercies I see’.

And in order for our deeds to be in right with men, first our relationship with God has to be in the right. We cannot treat people in the desired ways of God unless our relationship with God is in the right path in the first place. We might have failed people, disappointed many or even hurt people in the past, but another opportunity has come our way with this New Year to start afresh our journey by renewing our faith and commitment in God. It is important to be in favor with both God and man. But we cannot be in favor with man unless we are first in favor with God. If our relationship with God is in the right, our dealings with our fellow-beings will automatically flow in the right path as desired by God. And in accordance with the saying that “a bird in hand is better than two in the jungle”, the good news is that we don’t have to go to a foreign land or select some person or time to start mending our ways, we can begin right here, right now with the people around…………

What’s so special about storytelling for social change? simon hodges

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hile working in the belly of corporate communications some years ago, I stumbled across a storytelling night at Amsterdam’s Mezrab cultural centre. Nude model drawing classes and the Mahabharata in Dutch were also on the menu, but it was the storytelling that caught my eye, hosted on an open stage by an Iranian storyteller by the name of Sahand Sahbedivani.

Even through the candlelight and the smoke, the rapt attention on the faces of the audience made it clear that they loved the stories of human drama they were hearing, which was the opposite of my experience in my work.

Despite the fact that I was working extremely hard to get the company’s stories more attention, they rarely ignited anything like this response in the public’s imagination. The difference between a profit-making organisation and an alternative arts event was obvious but intriguing. Why did storytelling at Mezrab succeed while corporate communications generally fell flat?

The answers are relevant to anyone who has a story to tell, and nowhere is that more important than in the field of social change.

Today, storytelling is wildly popular. It’s seen as the key to succeeding in business, strengthening organizational culture, and drumming up support for advocacy and campaigns. But why is that? The first reason is obvious: climate change, inequality, violence and other challenges can’t be solved by doing more of the same. We need new narratives that connect with peoples’ deepest motivations and promote more radical action. Stories engage people at every level - not just in their minds but in their emotions, values and imaginations, which are the drivers of real change. So if we want to transform society, we must learn to tell - and listen to - a new set of stories about the world we want to create.

So far so good, but what actually makes for a good story in this sense?

That’s where my visits to Mezrab were so instructive. For one thing, the storytellers that got the most attention were not necessarily the funniest or wittiest.

Instead, they were the ones that were most prepared to put their skin in the

A new world requires new stories, but people will only listen to them when they themselves are included in the storyline. This requires a ‘gear-shift’ in conversations about radical action game, to state something that was uncomfortably close to how they saw the world. This radical subjectivity – perhaps the basis of all great art – is a crucial lesson for anyone who wants to communicate a complex topic. When we allow our own insights to organise the telling of a story, we give a more compelling account of events. Why? Because our deepest values are closest to what we share with others.

Business is only now learning that telling a good story requires authenticity, as if bewildered by the discovery of truth. Storytelling in social movements is more advanced. In fact for those who work for social justice, the problem has not been making up good stories, but getting people to listen to the ones they have already. This can be especially hard when movements are very broad, and when the issues they deal with are so large in scope. But my storytelling sessions taught me another lesson that’s useful in this context: even when the issues are large and complex, we feel compelled to listen when we ourselves are included in the storyline.

The danger of much current rhetoric is that justified frustration at injustice comes across in torrents of abuse.

The parlous state of the economy, for example, is not just the fault of the bankers and politicians who have overspent, it’s also something that involves all of us on a daily basis in our roles as consumers and producers, employers and employees, shareholders and borrowers. When anyone is marginalized or demonized in this context, they are less likely to be part of the solution, even if they have the power to make change.

The Mezrab storytellers were successful because they and their audience felt united with each other at

some level, even if they might disagree on the surface. In myth, drastic opposites are often reconciled through elaborate plots and casts of characters. We can do the same in our own stories by not alienating the people we need to talk to or persuade. Michael Margolis, a San Francisco-based ‘story architect,’ makes this point elegantly by asking that our stories of social change become love stories. His argument is that undermining belief systems – a necessary step in social change – requires an emphasis on shared values and commonality. These shared values can then be used to show when, why and how some people aren’t living up to them in practice.

Stressing unity between divergent interests has often been the basis of effective change - look no further than the genesis of the European Union after World War Two. A more local example came in the wake of the killing of British soldier Lee Rigby by two self-proclaimed Muslims in Woolwich, southeast London, in 2013. This event outraged the far-right English Defence League (EDL) who organised a protest outside a mosque in York. Knowing of this plan and anticipating violence, members of the mosque invited the protestors in for tea and biscuits. In the discussion that followed, both parties realised that they had a common interest in ending extremist violence.

The protestors’ anger was successfully defused, and the day ended in an impromptu game of football.

The leader of the mosque, Mohamed El-Gomati, initiated a dialogue to identify elements of a shared culture among members of both the EDL and the Mosque. We can do the same with our own stories. Whenever there’s a

situation in which we tempted to label one group as ‘the other’, telling a story that reveals shared values aids in the creation of new communities. The narrative ceases to be the property of one side’s rightness over another side’s error. Instead it becomes a story of cocreation and mutual responsibility.

Identifying common value is attractive, not just to those with whom we want to communicate directly, but also to other listeners who have to be part of the conversation. Focusing on commonality puts everyone in a stronger position to undermine belief systems and lay out new possibilities for social change. That, at least, is something I learned from corporate communications.

Where the business community excels is in its story of possibilities. After all, branding is simply an exercise in creating the idea that something is valuable, so that others will buy into it in this case literally. Where these ideas about value are already present - as in social movements - much of the job is done, but not all. In addition to telling stories that inspire people’s imagination, movements can also activate their energies for action by including a greater sense of concrete possibilities in the stories they want to tell. And that requires something of a ‘gear-shift’ in conversations about the nature of radical action.

Myth, says Martin Shaw, is not just about awakening a past that is forgotten; it’s also about describing the possibilities of the present. Values - as the core of all good stories - can lay the foundations for social transformation by simultaneously undermining beliefs and retaining some continuity, so that people are not immobilized by the changes taking place around them.

When stories are deeply grounded in values, they can communicate a vision and not merely a picture of the realities we face.

These visions - as enablers of action - are necessary to the path of social and political change. Those on the Left are often criticised for pointing out the problems rather than presenting some solutions. By identifying the values that underpin our activities and weaving them into a story of how the world might look, we will become more effective at opening hearts and minds to accommodate a positive future.

Egypt: return of the deep state Eckart Woertz

With the referendum the military secures its privileges, but its main challenge is the economic crisis

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f someone fell into a coma in 2011 before the Egyptian “revolution” and woke up today he or she would not notice many changes. Then as now a general ruled, the opposition was illegal or curtailed, elections were managed, the turnout was low, but results were stellar.

With the 98 per cent approval of the new constitution by only 39 per cent of voters the deep state is back in Egypt. In a way it was never gone. When Mubarak became untenable the army let him fall in order to preserve its vested interests. During their short rein the Muslim Brotherhood and President Mohamed Morsi never managed to penetrate the pillars of the ancient regime, the Ministry of Interior, the judiciary and the military.

With the new constitution the latter has solidified its position. It appoints the Minister of Defense for the next eight years and retains extensive rights to charge critics in military courts. In the upcoming presidential elections next summer this process will likely come full circle; General Abdul Fatah al-Sisi has already said that he would stand ready if the people called him.

The new constitution cements the privileges of the military, which presides over an array of economic interests ranging from bakeries to car factories and bowling alleys.

The military is not only a state within a state it is also an economy within an economy, characterized by stasis and unfair advantages. Its shadowy networks of enterprise control between 8 and 30 percent of Egypt’s GDP according to various estimates. It enjoys tax privileges and supply monopolies. Cheap labour in the form of recruits helps, too. Who would have thought that such benefits would be given up easily?

The blunders of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood played into the hands of the military. They showed autocratic aspirations and failed to build a broad-based reform coalition after winning low turnout elections by a narrow margin. Their conservative and discriminatory agenda alienated women, secularist Egyptians and Christians who constitute about 10 percent of the population.

Morsi also proved incapable of easing Egypt’s economic malaise. The resulting tamarrod movement and the protests of millions against his rule were not staged by the military, but genuine expressions of widespread discontent.

When Morsi was toppled, the same people who brought down Mubarak applauded helicopter gunships that showed the army’s support for the manifestations. Many aspects in the new constitution like minority rights, formal gender equality and the outlawing of parties that are based on "religion, race, gender or geography" undoubtedly come as a relief to many Egyptians. After three years of turmoil and neighbouring countries like Syria and Libya in freefall, wishes for calm and a strong man are widespread.

Given the dismal track record of Morsi’s short reign and his reactionary agenda one is hard-pressed to feel sympathy with Egypt’s first democratically elected president.

Yet his removal through a coup d’état rather than democratic due process and the subsequent ban of the Muslim Brotherhood may prove costly in the future. It excludes a large part of Egypt’s divided society from participation and will encourage the fringes to revert to violence as already evidenced by attacks on politicians, police stations and churches.

Meanwhile Egypt’s economic crisis continues unabated. Before the downfall of Mubarak the country was a darling of the World Bank, whose Ease of Doing Business Index (EDBI) called Egypt the world’s leading reformer in 2008. In 2010, the country had been among the top ten reformers of the EDBI for four years in a row.

This tells us more about the construction of such indices than about reality. Real GDP growth rates of 5-7 per cent were appealing, but they did not trickle down to the general population. Household incomes did not improve in the 2000s. Now, even the growth rates are gone. Tourism is down and unlikely to recover unless the security situation improves. Egypt has turned into a net oil importer at the end of the 2000’s and its natural gas production has declined instead of increasing. It has received emergency deliveries of Liquefied Natural Gas from Qatar in 2013 and might have to turn to Israel for imports of gas from newly discovered fields in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Its manufacturing industry struggles to compete with Asian producers in mass markets like textiles, while countries in southern Europe have gained competitiveness after internal devaluations. Power cuts, unrest and haphazard policies have negatively affected business and some multinationals like GM or Electrolux have suspended operations citing security concerns.

The Egyptian economy is now on life support and dependent on financial transfers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE. They have partly replaced funds from Qatar, which placed its bets on Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood. Gulf funds have allowed Egypt to refuse financial emergency aid from the IMF, which would have come with stipulations of economic reform. However, UAE's Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour Bin-Zayed said in October that such aid would not last forever. Egypt may soon face tough choices.

Egypt’s neighbours reacted to the toppling of Morsi with thinly disguised delight and unusual unity. Saudi Arabia and Syria welcomed it. Israel trusts the generals more to keep the cold peace of Camp David and rein in Hamas.

Gulf countries have developed an existential angst regarding spillover effects of the Arab spring. Fears of meddling in their internal affairs have bordered on the theatrical in the case of Dubai’s police chief Dahi Khalfan who claimed that the Muslim Brotherhood was planning to overthrow Gulf governments.

Morsi’s state visit to their arch nemesis Iran in 2012 did not help. It led to fears of Egyptian-Iranian rapprochement after decades of heartfelt enmity: Egypt granted the Shah exile who is buried in Cairo’s Al-Rifa’i mosque, the Islamic Republic retaliated by naming a street in Tehran after Khalid Islambouli, the assassin of President Anwar al Sadat.

Rather than selling products, Egypt now offers its strategic position and political favours to the Gulf to get the foreign exchange it needs to function. The question is how long this can be sustained and what will happen if it stops.

A deep state that presides over a torn civil society without shared pluralistic traditions will be ill equipped to deal with the repercussions and will likely lose cohesion.

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

Thursday 23 January 2014

The Morung Express

Pressure for action against Somnath Bharti

New Delhi, JaNuary 22 (Pti): Pressure mounted for removal of law minister Somnath Bharti after one of the African women assaulted in a midnight raid in south Delhi accused him of having led the group that barged into her house and attacked them. “We were attacked on Wednesday night by Indians who were led by Somnath Bharti ... We were harassed, we were beaten, they were having long sticks. They said we should leave their country or else they would kill us one by one,” the Ugandan national said.

The woman said she identified Bharti because “he came in the night and the next day I saw him on television. The Delhi Police came in time and saved us from the mob.”

She had recorded her statement before a magistrate on Tuesday, saying that she would be able to identify the persons who had barged into her house on the intervening night of January 15-16.

The woman recorded her statement in camera under Sec 164 CrPC which is admissible in court. The statement has been now given to police in a sealed cover and will be opened only during the trial. Bharti came under attack for the midnight raid from women activists who sought his removal from the post for “misbeaving” with the African women.

Delhi Commission for Women summoned Bharti after the women alleged that they had been assaulted by the group led by the minister. “We had asked him to appear before the Commission on Tuesday but he did not show up. We will be sending another summon through the concerned SHO to him tomorrow. If he still does not appear, we shall write to the lieutenant governor and to the Delhi Police commissioner to register an FIR,” Barkha Singh, chairperson of the commission, said.

In an open letter to the Delhi chief minister, a group of women activists including Kavita Krishnan said the conduct of the law minister was “shocking and is not acceptable”. Krishnan alleged that the “simple point is that he has endangered those African women by calling upon a mob to go chase them and catch them”.

NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma said now it is clear that Bharti was present there

Somnathi’s raid a disservice to women’s rights New Delhi, JaNuary 22 (iBN): Women groups have written to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Law Minister Somnath Bharti saying that the Khirki area incident is against the rights of all women in general.

“Such targeting goes against the sense of security and human rights of all women in general, and of single and working women in particular,” the letter says. Following is the full text of the statement:

In this January 20, 2014 photo, Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti is seen along with AAP supporters in New Delhi. (File Photo)

at the spot as it has been confirmed by the Ugandan women after identifying him in the CD. Sharma said Bharti “should have resigned or should have been asked to resign. He has no right to go to a woman’s place and do this ‘harkat’ (create a stir). He should have resigned on his own”.

The activists said, “Delhi Police must be accountable to the Constitution and not to bidding of ministers and mobs.” “These Ugandan women have alleged that they were beaten and groped sexually. On what basis do you deem these allegations to be false? Is it the government’s contention that only ‘ma, behen, beti’ are entitled to safety and dignity - and that prostitutes can be left to the mercy of moralistic mobs?

“Without any other evidence, can women be forced to undergo drug tests only because of their race and nationality? The drug tests and cavity searches to which these women were subjected, turned up negative: when do you plan to apologise to them for the false allegation and the indignity, not to mention the groping they suffered at the hands of your minister’s supporters?,” the letter said.

“According to the Africans and their Indian friends, the Malviya Nagar SHO Vijay Pal had acted to protect the African women on the night of the raid. Today, this SHO has been penalized - for failing to obey the orders of the minister who expected him to indiscriminately raid the homes of all people of African nationalities,” the letter said.

The activists further said this sends out a dangerous message to the police- that if they uphold democratic rights of vulnerable individuals as mandated by the Constitution, they will be penalised. Accusing that attempts were being made to shield Bharti, AAP rebel MLA Vinod Binny said action must be taken against those misbehaved with the women.

Meanwhile, Air Deccan founder and AAP member Capt G R Gopinath said that while AAP demanded action against police officers pending an inquiry on ground that they may interfere in the probe, the same yardstick should apply to Bharti. He had also said that Arvind Kejriwal and his Cabinet should govern from their offices and only his party workers must protest.

Right of Citizens Bill to be passed in next Parliament session: Govt

BaNgalore, JaNuary 22 (Pti): A bill providing for timebound delivery of services such as passports, pensions and birth and death certificates will be passed by Parliament during its session next month, Union Minister V Narayanasamy said on Wednesday. “The Right of Citizens for Time-Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011, will be passed in next Parliament session,” the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions told reporters here.

Parliament will meet from February 5 to 21 as continuation of the winter session to pass a ‘Vote-on-Account’ budget ahead of the Lok Sabha elec-

tions expected to be held in April-May. The proposed legislation envisages penalty of up to Rs 50,000 against an official failing to provide the service, Narayanasamy said. Such a law is already in place in 14 states including Karnataka, which is implementing “Sakala” scheme, he said. Opposition parties including BJP have flayed the bill saying that forcing states to adopt it was tantamount to attack on the federal structure of government.

The bill lays down an obligation upon every public authority to publish citizen’s charter, stating therein the time within which specified goods shall be supplied and services be rendered, and provides for a grievance redressal mechanism for non-

compliance of its provisions. The proposed legislation, spearheaded

by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, also mandates a public authority to establish a call centre, customer care centre, help desk and people’s support system to ensure time-bound delivery of services.

It also seeks establishment of public grievance redressal commission at the Centre and every state.

According to its provisions, a person aggrieved by the decision of the commission may appeal before the Lokpal at the Centre (in case of decision by the Centre’s public grievances redressal commission) or the Lokayukta in the states.

Dear Shri Arvind Kejriwal, It is with extreme dismay that we write to you regarding the horrific act of harassment and racial profiling of Ugandan and Nigerian women by a group led by Delhi Law Minister Shri Somnath Bharti, comprising amongst others members of Aam Admi Party. Such a targeting goes against the sense of security and human rights of all women in general, and of single and working women in particular. Television footage of the incident including Shri Somnath Bharti’s own detailed statements, CCTV footage from AIIMS and the complaints by the women themselves, clearly indicate that Shri Somnath Bharti endangered the women and instigated the crowd to violate their human rights, by branding them as prostitutes and asking the crowd to catch them.

We as women’s organizations who have worked amongst women for several decades in Delhi and around, have fought against the extremely insensitive anti-women behaviour of Delhi Police in cases related to crimes against women. Examples of police hostility against women abound-be it cases of “honour” crime where the police has handed over young couples to be killed by their families, or cases of rape and dowry where the survivors are victimized and harassed while the perpetrators roam scot-free. It is increasingly becoming a very unsafe city for women and girls.

We agree that it is essential to put in place measures to discipline and hold Delhi police accountable for their lapses and short comings - the latest instances including the Danish woman’s rape and the dowry murder of Neha Yadav. We once again reiterate

our long standing demand that the central government take urgent necessary steps towards bringing Delhi police under the Delhi government.

We also know how hard it is to ensure that Police act in accordance with law and Constitutional values rather than public or political sentiment, especially in matters involving women and vulnerable social groups. In this incident, the Malviya Nagar SHO became a rare exception who acted to protect the African women, whose safety was criminally compromised.’

It is therefore a great disservice to women’s rights to penalise Police officers who refuse to act in accordance with inflamed prejudices of the public or political leaders.

And it is even more dangerous to allow private individuals or even ministers to take the law into their own hands and subject already vulnerable sections like women to further harassment.

This was also a clear case of racial profiling against foreign citizens. We are therefore shocked to see you and other leaders of your party defend the actions of Shri Somnath Bharti.We urge you to immediately condemn the role of and take appropriate action against Shri Somnath Bharti and registration of cases against those responsible under relevant sections of the IPC and CrPC. We also demand that you drop the insistence on suspending the Malviya Nagar SHO. We would also like you to meet our delegation at your convenience as we have some concrete suggestions on Police reforms.

Jagmati Sangwan, All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) Annie Raja, National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) Kavita Krishnan, All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) Shabnam Hashmi, Act Now For Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD) Indu Agnihotri, Centre for Women’s Development Student (CWDS) Kavita Shrivastava, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Sunita Dhar, Jagori Jyotsana Chatterjee, Joint Women’s Programme (JWP) Leila Passah, Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA).

Amnesty welcomes SC death row decision

New Delhi, JaNuary 22 (iaNS): The Supreme Court’s decision to commute the death sentences of 15 convicts was a positive step for human rights in India, Amnesty International said Wednesday.

Amnesty in a statement termed the apex court’s decision “historic” and also welcomed the setting down of guidelines to safeguard the rights of prisoners on death row and their families.

The apex court Tuesday commuted the death sentences of 15 prisoners on the ground of delay in the disposal of their mercy petitions by the president. It also commuted the death sentences of two people on the ground that they suffer from mental illness.

“While acknowledging the need to strike a balance between the rights of the accused as well as the victims, this momen-

tous decision reaffirms the rights guaranteed to death row prisoners under the Constitution of India and international law and standards,” said G. Ananthapadmanabhan, chief executive of Amnesty International India.

“The verdict places a strong emphasis on the human rights of all people and should steer the country towards completely doing away with the death penalty.”

The Amnesty official said the imposition of death sentences in India “disproportionately affects those with little wealth or influence”.

Terming death penalty as a “cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment” and “the ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights”, he said the apex court’s decision provides an opportunity for India to rethink its use of the death penalty.

CPM decides to contest Lok Sabha seats

New Delhi, JaNuary 22 (Pti): Top CPM leadership has decided to contest a number of seats in various states in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, though a final decision would be taken in March.

The Politburo of the party, which met here for two days, “approved” the seats to be contested in a number of states and debated the pros and cons of talks being carried out in some states with Left and non-Congress secular parties to reach an electoral understanding, party sources said. Party leaders remained tightlipped about the number of seats CPM would contest

or from which states, saying the Central Committee, which would meet for two days from March one, would take the final call. The Central Committee would also finalise the party’s election manifesto then, they said.

Barring West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, among other states CPM may put up candidates could be Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and a few in the north, the sources said. They said the Politburo discussed the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections and heard reports from state units about the talks they were carrying out with non-Congress, non -BJP parties for electoral un-

derstanding in some states.

Regarding West Bengal, a CPM statement said, “Given the notorious record of the ruling party (Trinamool Congress) in rigging elections and preventing voters from casting their votes, the Election Commission should take special measures to ensure a fair and peaceful election.” It also attacked Mamata Banerjee’s party for its “callous attitude” in dealing with the recent rape and murder cases, which CPM leaders said has been “rising exponentially”.

CPM also condemned the murder of and attacks on SFI and Left activists and “rampage against demo-

cratic rights. All elected bodies and institutions are being subverted.”

On the T P Chandrasekharan murder case in Kerala, it said the acquittal of leading CPM activists by the court “shows that the charge levelled of conspiracy by the party (CPI-M) leaders has been proven to be false.” CPM also said the UPA government had decided to increase the number of LPG cylinders as the Left parties have been carrying out nationwide protests for several months. It also demanded scrapping of the Aadhar linkage and the delivery of 12 cylinders at Acid attack victim Laxmi, center, speaks as others hold placards to create awareness during a protest at the spot where subsidised rates, as earlier. she was attacked in 2005, outside the Khan Market Metro station in New Delhi,on Wednesday, January 22. (AP Photo)

In India, a high society tragedy amid decline of elite

New Delhi, JaNuary 22 (reuterS): When Shashi Tharoor’s wife was found dead in a swanky Delhi hotel last week after their marital strife had been splashed on Twitter, the colourful career of a jet-setting minister looked in doubt and another symbol of India’s elite lost its sheen. A magistrate who conducted an inquest has ordered police to investigate the death of Tharoor’s wife, Sunanda Pushkar. She died on Friday just days after she accessed his Twitter account to accuse him of adultery with a Pakistani journalist and getting into a public spat with the woman.

An autopsy has found that Pushkar likely died of an overdose of anti-depressant drugs.

Tharoor, who was once a candidate for U.N. secretary gen-

eral, has asked authorities to speedily conclude investigations, saying he was “horrified” by media speculation about him and his wife. The widely published photographs of a distraught Tharoor after his wife’s funeral are in stark contrast to years of media coverage of the well-dressed, former highflying diplomat who has been courted from India’s cocktail party circuit to U.S. television chat shows.

A prolific author and one of India’s first major tweeting politicians, the U.S.-educated lawmaker and the beautiful Kashmiri who became his third wife were regulars in the social pages. But Tharoor has also been immersed in a corruption scandal and Twitter controversies have dogged him for

years. Media accounts of Pushkar’s last days, spiced by the involvement of a journalist from the country’s old foe, Pakistan, have gripped the country over the past week.

The tale of one of the wealthiest figures in government has coincided with the growing prominence of politicians who have emphasised their lessprivileged roots. Anti-corruption leader Arvind Kejriwal, a former tax civil servant who leads the Common Man’s Party and eschews VIP privileges like official cars, and Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, touting himself as the son of a tea stall owner, are now dominating as a general election approaches.

“This is the era of the rise of the common man, the tea seller,” said Sagarika Ghose, deputy

editor of CNN-IBN and a leading political commentator. “There is a sense that Tharoor is not what India is about these days.

“There is a feeling that the elites are getting their comeuppance, that their time has gone.”

SERIES OF SCANDALS The drama around Tharoor comes after a series of scandals that have dented the idea of a rising, confident India.

The image of an economic juggernaut was undermined last year when growth fell to its lowest in a decade. Politicians have been dogged by allegations of corruption on a spectacular scale, and a grisly gang rape in Delhi at the end of 2012 that sparked huge protests has marred the “Incredible India” slogan meant to draw tourists

from around the globe.

Even a former Supreme Court judge has been probed over alleged sexual harassment and one of India’s most powerful journalists was arrested last month in another sexual assault case. Tharoor may survive politically. He has received backing from the leader of the ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, and sympathy from many politicians.

One TV channel called him the “Comeback Kid” for his ability to bounce back from reverses.

“There’s a tendency to caricature Tharoor. He’s glamorous, in gossip columns, a fashion statement,” said Ghose. “But he is also a very intelligent man and talented politician.” Tharoor left India as a student and, after nearly three decades at

the United Nations, he returned to join local politics when he lost to Ban Ki-moon in the race for Secretary-General in 2006.

He made his mark quickly, becoming one of the first Indian politicians to harness social media. His Twitter handle shows more than 2 million followers. “He became a symbolic person for a more modern India,” said Bhaskara Rao, a wellknown commentator on social and political issues and head of a New Delhi-based think tank.

Tharoor has had his share of problems. As junior foreign minister, his political career almost ended after he tweeted that he would fly “cattle class” in solidarity with “holy cows” - sparking a storm of criticism from the country’s Hindu majority, for whom the cow is sa-

cred. Tharoor was also reprimanded by his foreign minister that same year for criticising the tightening of tourist visa requirements.

In 2010, Tharoor resigned over allegations concerning a $333 million cricket league franchise bid when it was revealed - again on Twitter - that the winning consortium allotted stakes worth about $15 million for free to Pushkar, his then-girlfriend. Tharoor returned to the council of ministers two years later and is now the minister for human resource development. “He has a charming personality and is an astute commentator,” said Rao. “But the hype also has its pitfalls. And that is rather symbolic of the emergence of India.”

International

The Morung Express

Thursday 23 January 2014

Dimapur

9

Syria peace conference opens with rifts over Assad Montreux, January 22 (reuters): Syria’s government and its enemies came face to face for the first time on Wednesday at a one-day peace conference in Switzerland which world powers hope can at least start a process to end three years of civil war.

There was immediate evidence of sharp differences, as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry insisted that President Bashar alAssad must step down, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cautioned against outsiders meddling in Syria’s affairs.

Syria’s foreign minister, speaking before the opposition, exchanged sharp words with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Kimoon as he spoke well beyond a 10-minute limit that Ban had set as chairman.

Walid al-Moualem painted a graphic picture of “terrorist” rebel atrocities supported by states present in the room and insisted Assad would not be forced out by foreigners.

Ban had opened what will be a full day of speeches at Montreux on Lake Geneva from more than 40 delegations by citing human rights abuses by all the warring parties and calling for immediate access to humanitarian aid for areas under siege.

“After nearly three painful years of conflict and suffering in Syria, today is a day of fragile but real hope,” Ban said, urging both sides to reach a comprehensive settlement based on the U.N. Geneva Communique,

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, speaks next to UN Acting Director General Michael Moeller and US Secretary of State John Kerry, right, during a plenary session in Montreux, Switzerland, on January 22. US Secretary of State John Kerry says there is no way that Syrian President Bashar Assad can be part of a transitional government that’s being discussed at an international conference aimed at ending the country’s brutal conflict. (AP Photo)

under which world powers called in 2012 for a transitional government to oversee change in Syria.

“Great challenges lie ahead but they are not insurmountable,” he added.

Western powers and Russia have sought to set aside their own sharp differences over whether Assad must be forced to make way for an interim administration and have backed the conference as a way to stop the spread of communal and sectarian violence spreading across the region.

The conference, which Ban hopes will be followed by further talks in Geneva, has raised no great expec-

tations, particularly among Islamist rebels on Syria’s frontlines who have branded Western-backed opposition leaders as traitors for even agreeing to be in the same room as Assad’s delegates.

Underlining the seemingly intractable positions, Syrian Foreign Minister Moualem had said on Tuesday that Assad’s position was non-negotiable. “The subject of the president and the regime is a red line for us and the Syrian people and will not be touched,” he was quoted as saying in Syrian media.

repeated Moscow’s opposition to “outside players” meddling in Syria’s affairs.

But he also said Iran Assad’s main foreign backer - should have a say.

Kerry, in his brief speech to the floor, said negotiations would be “tough and complicated” but insisted: “We see only one option, negotiating a transition government born by mutual consent.

“That means that Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that transition government.

There is no way, no way possible, that a man who has led a brutal response to his own IRAN SCEPTICAL people can regain legitimaLavrov, co-sponsor of cy to govern.” the conference with Kerry, Assad backer Iran was

not present. A last-minute invitation from Ban to attend was revoked on Monday after the Syrian opposition threatened to boycott the talks, since Iran shares Assad’s view that he should not lose power.

Iranian President Hasan Rouhani said that made it unlikely the conference could succeed: “Because of the lack of influential players in the meeting, I doubt about the Geneva 2 meeting’s success in fighting against terrorism ... and its ability to resolve the Syria crisis,” Rouhani said.

“The Geneva 2 meeting has already failed without it even being started,” he was quoted as saying by IRNA

news agency - though he quit and face a war crimes added he would be pleased trial. The president, who if it did help bring peace. succeeded his father 14 years ago, insists he can win CLASHES re-election and wants to talk As speeches began in about fighting “terrorism.”

Montreux, the war went on Assad has been protectin Syria. ed by Russia, his main arms The Syrian Observatory supplier, which dislikes for Human Rights monitor- Western attempts to overing group reported clashes throw incumbent leaders. and air strikes around the But Washington and country. Around Damascus, Moscow share alarm at the government artillery hit spread of the violence that villages and rebels clashes has already killed more than with the army in the neigh- 130,000 Syrians. Having bourhood of Jobar on the set aside their differences northeast fringe of the cap- last year to co-sponsor the ital, it said. Activists also talks that are finally getreported clashes and in the ting under way, Russia and central city of Hama, the the United States profess an southern province of De- urgent common goal of haltraa - where the revolt be- ing the bloodshed. gan - and the northern city “It is hard to have exof Aleppo. pectations at the back of French Foreign Minis- all this,” said a source at the ter Laurent Fabius said on talks who has advised the arrival: “The real confer- opposition. “But Moscow ence begins in two days. If and Washington are genuit fails it will be a real crisis.” ine on ending the conflict.

Suhair Attassi, a member They are sincere and this of the opposition National meeting is not for show.”

Coalition, said in Montreux that Moualem’s refusal to ac- CONFERENCE AGENDA cept Assad should go meant Assad’s representatives it would be up to his Russian may highlight the threat to ally to press him to accept the West and its Arab allies the international demand from al Qaeda and other for a transition. militants fighting his forc“Now there is the re- es. But Western leaders say sponsibility on Russia to they fully back opposition put pressure on Assad,” he demands that Assad step said. “The transition for us down, something they say is the essential point. We was the conclusion of the aren’t here just to talk hu- U.N. conference in Geneva manitarian aid. We need a 18 months ago. democratic transition.”

Russia endorsed that The release on the eve communique but has of the talks of thousands of disagreed with Western photographs apparently powers which say that, by showing prisoners tortured calling for a transitional and killed by the govern- government in Damasment reinforced opposition cus, the meeting known demands that Assad must as Geneva 1 made Assad’s

removal a condition for a peace settlement.

Neither side in Syria has either appeared able to complete a victory. Though much divides the rebels, who have been fighting among themselves, they are united in wanting Assad out. So reaching a settlement that satisfies both sides seems a distant prospect.

Discontent stretches back to the rule since 1970 of Assad’s father, who took power in a military coup, but it boiled over in March 2011 as Syria’s drought-hit economy struggled and the Arab Spring uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt inspired protests.

When those were crushed, the revolt became a war that has taken on an increasingly sectarian complexion, setting majority Sunnis against Assad’s Alawite community, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. It has also drawn in rival powers with Saudi Arabia and Qatar backing the rebels and Iran standing by Assad.

Al Qaeda-linked militants and other Islamists have emerged as the most powerful forces on the rebel side, dampening Western appetite for direct intervention. Iran and its Lebanese Shi’ite ally Hezbollah have helped Assad. And violence has spread, notably to neighbouring Iraq and Lebanon.

For all the low expectations on Lake Geneva, millions of Syrians in refugee camps hope something will change. “Let them please find a solution for this problem,” Mohammed from Homs said at a U.N. centre in Lebanon. “Let us go home.”

Massive Internet mishap sparks Thai protesters fight on despite state of emergency Great Firewall scrutiny in China

BeIJInG, January 22 (reuters): Human error likely caused a glitch in China’s Great Firewall that saw millions of Internet users ironically rerouted to the homepage of a USbased company which helps people evade Beijing’s web censorship, sources told Reuters.

Hundreds of millions of people attempting to visit China’s most popular websites on Tuesday afternoon found themselves redirected to Dynamic Internet Technology (DIT), a company that sells anti-censorship web services tailored for Chinese users.

The official Xinhua news agency on Tuesday quoted experts as saying that the malfunction could have been the result of a hacking attack, and domestic media was full of speculation along those lines. DIT is tied to the Falun Gong, a spiritual group banned in China which has been blamed for past hacking attacks.

During a daily news briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said he had “noted” re-

ports of Falun Gong involvement, but said he did not know who was responsible.

“I don’t know who did this or where it came from, but what I want to point out is this reminds us once again that maintaining Internet security needs strengthened international cooperation.

This again shows that China is a victim of hacking.”

However, sources familiar with the Chinese government’s web management operations told Reuters that a hacking attack was not to blame for the malfunction.

They declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

They said the incident may have been the result of an engineering mistake made while making changes to the “Great Firewall” system the Communist Party uses to block websites it deems undesirable - such as the DIT site. The state-run China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) said “the attack” on the country’s Internet is under investigation, the official CCTV broadcaster wrote on its microblog on Wednesday.

BanGkok, January 22 (aPF): Defiant Thai opposition protesters vowed to ignore a state of emergency that come into force across the tense capital on Wednesday, refusing to abandon their fight to bring down the government.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is under intense pressure to step down after more than two months of street rallies aimed at ousting her elected government and installing an unelected “people’s council”. “We’re not taking any notice of the state of emergency and are continuing our protest as usual,” rally spokesman Akanat Promphan told AFP. “It shows that the government is getting desperate because the momentum is with us.”

The backdrop to the protests is a years-long political struggle pitting the kingdom’s royalist establishment against fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s older brother who was ousted by the military seven years ago. The 60-day state of emergency enables authorities to impose a curfew, ban public gatherings of more than five people, detain suspects for 30 days without charge and censor media in Bangkok and surrounding areas.

The government has not yet used any of those measures and

City workers and anti-government protesters clean the ground at the protest camp of Lard Prao in Bangkok, on Wednesday, January 22. Gunmen shot and wounded a top leader of a major progovernment movement in northern Thailand on Wednesday, and demonstrators pushing to overthrow the prime minister defied the start of a state of emergency imposed in the capital to cope with the nation’s increasingly bloody political crisis. (AP Photo)

has said police will keep the leading security role, unlike during pro-Thaksin “Red Shirts” rallies in 2010 when the military was ordered onto the streets by the previous government. Yingluck has called an election for February 2 but the main opposition party is boycotting the vote. The Election Commission on Wednesday asked the Constitutional Court to delay the polls due to the unrest,

its Secretary-General Puchong Nutrawong told AFP, after the government rejected its call for a postponement.

Nine people have been killed and hundreds injured in grenade attacks, drive-by shootings and street clashes since the latest protests began at the end of October. In an incident likely to fan anger among his supporters, a prominent Red Shirt leader,

Kwanchai Praipana, was shot and wounded on Wednesday by an unknown gunman at his house in northeast Thailand.

The demonstrators have staged a self-styled “shutdown” of Bangkok since January 13, erecting roadblocks and rally stages at several main intersections. The number of protesters on the streets has steadily fallen in recent days, with some rally sites almost deserted during the daytime, although turnout tends to swell in the evening when people leave work. The Metropolitan Police Bureau estimated there were about 5,000 protesters spread across seven rally sites at around midday on Wednesday.

When the state of emergency was last imposed in 2010 by the previous government more than 90 people were killed and nearly 1,900 injured in a crackdown by soldiers firing live rounds and backed by armoured vehicles. The imposition of the emergency decree this time appears to be “an exercise intended most immediately to dispel the perception that the government have got their heads down in a bunker somewhere,” said Anthony Davis, a Thailand-based security analyst at IHS-Jane’s.

“This says that they are focused and serious about tak-

ing the situation in hand in the run-up to the election date,” he told AFP. “There’s not going to be a crackdown at this stage,” he added. “The police frankly don’t have what it takes unless they know the army is behind them.

And the army isn’t behind them.”

The military, traditionally a staunch supporter of the anti-Thaksin establishment, has said it wants to remain neutral during the current standoff, although the army chief has refused to rule out another coup to seize power from Yingluck.

The demonstrators accuse the premier of being a puppet for her older brother Thaksin, a controversial tycoon-turnedpolitician who was ousted as premier in a military coup in 2006 and who lives in Dubai to avoid jail for a corruption conviction. The protesters see Thaksin as a threat to the monarchy, at a time of disquiet among many Thais about what will happen when revered but ailing 86-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s more than six-decade reign comes to an end. Thaksin still has strong electoral support in northern Thailand thanks to his policies to help the rural poor, and many experts believe Yingluck will win next month’s election if it goes ahead.

Davos: Economic forum needs to crack inequality problem

Davos, January 22 (aGenCIes): Adam Smith’s invisible hand of the market is currently out of favour with thinkers.

A glance at the agenda of the World Economic Forum (WEF), being held in Davos, Switzerland, shows “inclusive growth” is one of the five key pillars of the world’s biggest meeting of elites this year.

And a cursory reading of the document suggests the world’s leading policymakers and businessmen will actively brainstorm about steps to reduce income inequality as it exists in the world today.

This is a far cry from the economics that dominated the most part of the previous decade, when global growth took off and the belief was that greater corporate profits would produce a “trickle-down” effect for economies as a whole and help alleviate poverty.

Even as the world kept steadily descending into “deregulation” where limited government intervention in business was perceived to be the catalyst for economic growth, the global financial crisis of 2008 not just laid bare the myth of its efficacy but also highlighted the growing inequality that has been increasingly confronting the hu-

man race.

The disparity between the rich and poor becomes clear from an Oxfam report that showed that 85 of the world’s richest people have about the same wealth that the bottom 50 percent of the human race does. “[People] are increasingly separated by economic and political power, inevitably heightening social tensions and increasing the risk of societal breakdown,” it warned.

In fact, even Pope Francis, in a special address at the WEF, alluded to how successes in several business areas have reduced poverty but also in many cases, led to “widespread social exclusion”.

Over the past few years, countries such as US (tea-party and the Occupy Wall Street movements), across the Arab world (Arab spring) and in many parts of Europe have witnessed social upheavals that have been attributed to the growing inequality between the rich and the poor. “The focus is now shifting to some of the societal issues,” Kris Gopalakrishnan, Infosys vice chairman and president of the Confederation of Indian Industry told CNBCTV18. Gopalakrishnan is one of the seven co-chairpersons at this year’s forum.

“There is inequality going up in many parts of the world, unemployment is very high in many parts of the world especially with youth, sustainability is a challenge with climate change,” he said, adding that Davos would look to address these issues.

Even as businesses realize that growth cannot be one-tack and focused on the short term, the trust in governments continues to erode at a rapid pace.

An Edelman survey, based on replies from 27,000 participants from 27 countries, recently revealed the public’s trust in governments has fallen to 44 percent. Trust in business was better at 58 percent with respondents saying they believe business must pursue its self interest but do good work for the society. But Richard Edelman, CEO of the firm that carried out the survey, warned that business shouldn’t interpret this as a push for deregulation, pointing out that a majority of respondents favoured greater regulation in industries such as financial services.

With pure laissez-faire economics still not proven to be practically implementable, global thinkers will have some serious thinking to do at the WEF to try and solve the inequality problem.

Failure to do so may not be pretty.

All you need to know about the World Economic Forum

Q: What’s all the fuss about?

A: The World Economic Forum at Davos is like Woodstock for anoraks. A festival of capitalism for around 2,500 global political leaders and the chief executives of the world’s biggest companies, as well as hundreds of journalists. Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan are among the Irish attending, along with Denis O’Brien, Bono and Archbishop Diarmiud Martin.

Q: So it’s a pretty eclectic mix then?

A: Not really to be honest. Most people are very rich, white and male, but it is interesting. Just 15pc of Davos members this year will be female. Still, these people really are among those who rule the world and watching them network is an experience in itself. Almost everybody who goes to Davos has a long list of people they want to meet. What makes Davos unusual is having so many powerful people from different disciplines in the same spot for nearly a week.

Q: I could do with brushing up my contacts book.

How do I bag an invite?

A:The simple answer is become rich and famous.

You need to be invited and the average cost of attending is estimated at $40,000 (€30,000). Your ticket is around $20k but then you have to include travel, lodging and the helicopter from Zurich costs about $10,000. Or you could go as a ‘strategic partner’ and pay $500,000 for the pleasure of setting the “intellectual agenda”.

Q: Perhaps I’ll just follow the coverage in the

‘Irish Independent’. What will they be talking about anyway?

A: The main theme is decided by founder Klaus Schwab and he has picked “income inequality” for this year’s meeting.

Q: That’s rich! A load of rich guys talking about income distribution.

A: Even the 1pc worry that the 99pc might revolt.

Besides, there is a lot of research that suggests that too much income inequality is bad for capitalism.

Interestingly, a poll taken before this year’s forum shows that the vast bulk of the uber rich believe capitalism is not working anymore.

Q: Any other themes?

A: Cyber security and the “lost generation” of young people coming of age in the 2010s who face either unemployment or underemployment. Business leaders are being told to do more to protect themselves and their companies against a potential cyber attack.

Q: And will anything come of all this chatter in the Alps?

A: Who knows? The forum has been most effective when it discusses ideas such as free trade – a discussion which ultimately led to the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. But who can track the influence of an idea or a chance meeting?

One thing is for sure – all these busy people don’t cram themselves into this otherwise obscure ski resort for no reason.

(Irish Independent)

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Thursday 23 January 2014

The Morung Express

Man City in League Cup final NASA C wrestling

LONDON, JaNuary 22 (aFP): Manchester City swept into the League Cup final with a ruthless 3-0 win at West Ham on Tuesday which completed a 9-0 aggregate victory in a brutally one-sided semifinal. Manuel Pellegrini's side had already effectively booked their place at Wembley after winning the first leg 6-0 at Eastlands, but they didn't take it easy in the return at Upton Park.

Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero put City two goals up before half-time in east London and Negredo struck again after the break to cap another clinical display from one of the most potent strike-forces in Europe.

City will face arch rivals Manchester United in the final on March 2 if David Moyes' side can overturn a 2-1 deficit in the second leg of their semi-final at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

With City in possession of a seemingly unassailable advantage, Pellegrini made eight changes from the side that beat Cardiff in the Premier League on Saturday.

The impressive depth of City's expensively assembled squad was on full display as the Chilean was still able to field the likes of Negredo, Aguero, Jesus Navas and Fernandinho.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce handed Andy Carroll his first start since the final game of last season after the England striker's long struggle with a foot injury. Given the inevitability of City's progress to Wembley and, with an adult ticket for the match costing £42, it was hardly surprising to see vast swathes of empty claret and blue seats around Upton Park.

to float a cross into the sixyard box, where Spanish striker Negredo rose completely unmarked to power a header past Jussi Jaaskelainen from close-range.

The muted City celebrations suggested even they were slightly embarrassed

at the ease of both the goal and their path to Wembley.

West Ham's Kevin Nolan had the ball in the net moments later but his strike was ruled out for offside and City were quickly back on the attack as Aguero fired into the side-net-

ting.

Aguero, making his first start since December after a calf injury, threatened again with a surging run and shot which Jaaskelainen pushed away for a corner.

But Aguero wasn't to be denied for long as the Argentine forward punished more woeful West Ham defending to increase City's lead in the 24th minute.

West Ham centre-backs Roger Johnson and James Tomkins stood statuesque as the impressive Lopes advanced into the penalty area, where the ball ran for Aguero to calmly sweep a low shot past Jaaskelainen for his 22nd goal of the campaign. Aguero's class is undeniable but he showed the ugly side of his game soon after when he was fortunate to escape with a yellow card for a stamp on Tomkins.

Allardyce surrendered at half-time as he took off Carroll to keep him free from injury for the more important task of saving West Ham from relegation.

West Ham held the record for the most goals scored in a League Cup semi-final, when Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore and company racked up a 10-3 aggregate win over Cardiff in 1966.

And City had that achievement in their sights when Negredo barged his way through the Hammers defence once again before stretching to clip his shot over Jaaskelainen in the 59th minute for his 23rd goal of the season. In the end, City settled for just three goals and their thoughts had already turned to Wembley long before the final whistle put West Ham out of their misery.

BarceLONa, JaNuary 22 (reuTerS): Lionel Messi will reach the milestone of 400 games for Barcelona when they face Levante in the King`s Cup on Wednesday and coach Gerardo Martino says he is back in top condition following his hamstring injury. It is over 10 years since the Argentine made his debut for the Catalan side in a friendly against Porto in 2003, and although then described as a prodigious talent his achievements have far exceeded expectations. The four-times World Player of the Year`s medal haul includes six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues and his performances have

seen him described as one of the best players of all time.

During 2013 he suffered several hamstring injuries, the latest in November which kept him sidelined until after Christmas. "He has played two full games and is playing well. He feels fine so there is no longer any reason to hold him back," Martino told reporters.

"He can play all the games until for whatever reason we think that we need to rest him." Barca will be without midfielder Andres Iniesta for the first leg quarter-final clash with Levante who claimed a draw against the La Liga leaders at the weekend thanks to a solid defensive display. Ini-

esta has a knee injury and is on the sidelines along with Neymar who will be missing for several matches with an ankle ligament tear.

Martino admitted that he is also likely to rest players for the away game. "The idea is that the players arrive at the end of the season in good condition and that is the my main concern. If we cannot beat Levante and I have decided to make changes then that is the situation. It is crucial to maintain our level of football," he said.

"We have talked about the game with Levante and looked at ways that we can break them down. The other day we didn`t have enough depth."

West Ham's Carlton Cole, left goes to head the ball with Manchester City's Joleon Lescott during the second leg of the English League Cup semifinal soccer match between West Ham United and Manchester City in London, Tuesday, Jan. 21. (AP Photo)

The 20,000 stay-away fans couldn't be blamed and their decision looked even wiser as West Ham's creaky defence was breached with less than three minutes played. City's teenage Portuguese winger Marcos Lopes had time and space

Messi in good shape as he targets 400 Barca games

Lionel Messi. (AP Photo)

Durant dominates as Thunder beat Blazers

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, center, shoots in front of Portland Trail Blazers forward Thomas Robinson (41) and teammate Nick Collison (4) in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014. (AP Photo)

OKLaHOMa cITy, JaNuary 22 (ageNcIeS): Kevin Durant topped 30 points for the eighth consecutive game to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-97 win in a battle for first place in the NBA's Northwest Division. Durant scored 12 of his 46 points in the final three and a half minutes on

Tuesday to give the Thunder a one-game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers for top spot in the standings.

The red-hot Durant shot 17-of-25 from the field and drained six-ofseven three pointers for Oklahoma City in front of a crowd of 18,203 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Durant, who is fresh of winning Western Conference player of the week honours, has been on a roll since teammate Russell Westbrook went down with an injury. The 25-yearold Durant has scored 30 or more points in eight straight National Basketball Association contests. The Thunder

have nine wins and five losses since Westbrook underwent surgery on his knee.

Oklahoma City were well rested heading into the game, having not played since a 108-90 win Sunday over Sacramento. Reggie Jackson finished with 15 points and seven rebounds for Oklahoma City, which trails San Antonio for the top spot in the Western Conference. Serge Ibaka and Derek Fisher each had 10 points.

LaMarcus Aldridge collected 29 points and 16 rebounds for the Blazers, who have dropped two straight since a five-game winning streak. Wesley Matthews scored 21 points.

Portland led 27-21 after the first quarter and took a 52-51 edge into halftime.

The Thunder outscored the Blazers by a 26-23 margin in the third to take a 77-75 lead into the fourth. This was the first time in three contests the Thunder have beat the Blazers. Portland won the other two including one on New Year's Eve in Oklahoma.

This was the second tough outing in a row for the Blazers, who were bashed 126-113 by Houston on Monday. Their threepoint specialist Damian Lillard missed all five of his attempts from beyond the arc Tuesday. Lillard has made a league leading 131 three pointers.

meet underway

Wrestlers in action at NASA C wrestling meet.

13 wrestlers to go for individual round today Our Correspondent Kohima | January 22

A two day long 23rd wrestling meet 2014 of the Northern Angami Sports Association (NASA) GroupC got underway at Ziezou Ground, Phekerkriema hosted by Phekerkriema Youth Organization.

Altogether, 50 wrestlers from Nerhe Model, Nerhema, Zhadima, Phekerkriema, Viphoma, Tsiese Basa, Tsiesema, Meriema and Chüziema are vying for the coveted champion title in this 23rd edition of the NASA C wrestling meet.

Gracing the inaugural function as the chief guest, D.P. Angami, former deputy chairman Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) stressed on the need to popularize the game of wrestling as it is the most important and the biggest traditional game of the Tenyimi community in the state.

He advocated that wrestling platform should be used as a kind of festivity and helps strengthen, peace, unity and better understanding amongst the people.

He also called upon the wrestlers to maintain discipline, punctuality and proper diet, adding that

such principles will bring them victorious in their journey of competition.

Also referring to the competitive world in this 21st century, he called upon the parents to guide well their children and at the same time called upon the youth to sail in the right track to excel in life.

The inaugural function was chaired by NASA Group C vice president Ketholetuo Chietsü while welcome address was delivered by Ziezou VCC Thinuonei-o.

Kevipusa Kezieo, president NASA C delivered presidential address while administration of oath to the wrestlers was done by wrestling secretary Zhabu Miario. Earlier, Lhouvio Khubve, pastor Ziezou Baptist Church pronounced invocation prayer while Ruokuovotuo Pfüsenuo presented special number.

Rheikralie Mere is officiating the meet as the chief guest along with other judges; Miachühie Soliezuo, Theja-o Khrodi, Neivilhoulie Pienyü, Vilazolie Miario, Seyievituo Yhor, Neinguzo Khoubve, Thepfukranyü Huozha and Nouvilie Rülho.

Referees include Roko Angami, Razounei-o Kerhü-o and Kezhalelhou Zatsu.

The champion in Naga style will pocket a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 sponsored by Kruolalie Tsürho, deputy team leader Nagaland Bio Resource Mission, 2nd

prize Rs. 10,000 sponsored

by Keduolhoulie Huozha, councelor Kohima Municipal Council, 3rd prize Rs. 7000 sponsored by TEN Society Chüziema and 4th prize Rs. 5000 sponsored

by Roko Angami, football coach Asian Football Confederation. The track suit was sponsored by Thepfulhou Theünuo & family.

Meanwhile, 13 wrestlers to vie for individual round in Naga style on January 23 included; Kekhriesilie (Zhadima), Kevizalhou (Zhadima), Mhasiletuo (Zhadima), Ruokuolie (Phekerkriema), Kevilephre (Phekerkriema), Dietholhoulie (Phekerkriema), Viphrezo (Phekerkriema), Ravokhrieo (Nerhema), Thekru Neisa (Nerhema), Dziesekhrietuo (Nerhema), Kelhousilie (Nerhema) Ruokuosalie (Nerhe Model) and Thejasetuo (Meriema).

National style wrestling will also take place on day two for both male and female. The valedictory function will take place on January 23 at 12:00 noon with Neiketouzo Kenguruse, president NASA as the guest of honour.

NASA C general secretary Visielie Sanchu will chair the function. Prize distribution will be led by NASA C vice president Keneilhoulie Theünuo while vote of thanks will be proposed by NASA C finance secretary Ruokuohelie Mere.

KAWA 24th meet concluded

KOHIMa, JaNuary 22 (MexN): The Khezha Area Wrestling Association 24th meet recently concluded at Pfutsero Local ground. Former Finance Minister K.Therie unfurl KAWA flag as an act of the inauguration function and Pfukrulhou Koza also graced the occasion as the guest of honour. In Naga Style Medo koza emerged as the champion, Kadalo Kapfo secured second spot, third place went to Vielhoupe Koza while kewe Mero secured the Fourth place.

England stare at another whitewash but rally round Cook

SyDNey, JaNuary 22 (aFP): England will be battling to avoid another series whitewash in the fourth one-day game against Australia on Friday, and are rallying round their beleaguered captain.

Australia triumphed by seven wickets with 10 overs to spare in the third one-dayer in Sydney on Sunday to sweep the series 3-0, with Alastair Cook admitting for the first time he will reconsider his captaincy after the weekend`s

final 50-overs match in Adelaide. But England spinner James Tredwell says the team that also lost the Ashes 5-0 still has some fight left in it and supports Cook. "We`ve spoken a lot about pushing back and giving them a bit of their medicine," Tredwell said.

"We`re trying to be really honestwithourselves.Weunderstand that we`ve not been good enough on this tour. "It`s now looking forward to how we improve that and look forward to the upcoming

games, not only in this series, but the rest of this year going in towards the World Cup next year." Tredwell said England needed to be strong and turn things around. "No-one likes losing. The Aussies have shown that. They`ve spoken about how the pain can drive you. We`ll certainly be trying to use that to our advantage."

Tredwell underlined that the team had urged Cook to remain at the helm despite his doubts.

"We were all down after the last game ... Alastair

more than most," Tredwell said. "As captain you do tend to take a lot of that on yourself. "But we`ve had a really good chat and he was at the forefront of that, and we want him to take charge going forward." England tormentor Mitchell Johnson, who won the Allan Border Medal for Australia`s player of the year on Monday, takes on the vice-captaincy in Perth and is determined to make it nine and then 10 wins in a row against the old enemy.

Nagaland Taekwondo (WTF) team won 1 gold (Salim Debbarma), 2 Silver (Kevizhapu Terhuja) and Akham Phaknyu.L ) and 3 Bronze (Shivashish Gurung, Keneilevo and A. Yopise,). The team won March Past in the sixth Swami Vivekananda National Level PYKKA Rural Group-1 Tournament, Mahabubnagar, Andhra Pradesh from January 7 to 10, 2014. Keneingulie Taekwondo Coach, Kezhale Peseyie as Team Manager and the participants with the winning trophy are seen in the image.

Entertainment

The Morung Express C M Y K

Thursday 23 January 2014

Rainbow Choir Nagaland in R

ainbow Choir from Nagaland participated in the National level reality show, India’s Got Talent. The mini auditions were held at Kolkata on September 26 and 27, 2013 and Mega auditions from November 14 to December 14, 2013. The group was selected in both the auditions. The first episode of the show telecast was on January 11, 2014 in Colors Channel. Next round of performance is likely to commence from January 21, 2014.

India’s Got Talent team visited Nagaland on December 26 and 27, 2013 along with their technical persons, cameramen and photographers.

To go farther, the Rainbow Choir has appeal all to support them in the venture. For updates/queries: contact at rainbowchoir. naga@gmail.com, or www. facebook.com/Rainbow Choir Nagaland.

Further, the Choir also wishes to guide anyone who desires to expose their talents in any of the upcom-

main headquarter office.

The group is registered under Registration of Societies Act, Home Department, Government of Nagaland with registration number as HOME/SRC-6553.

ing reality shows in Indian television. Interested individuals/group may send your details to the mail address mentioned above.

Rainbow Choir is a Christian choral group intended to sing in various parts of harmony, with or without instrumental accompaniment. The Choir said in a

press release that their performances include Naga folk tones, bollywood tracks etc.

It provides a fusion of the ancient and the modern.

The formation of Rainbow Choir is inspired by the need to tell all the world that Nagas are also a part of India with unique tradition and beautiful culture of our

own within the boundary of the Indian nation. Just as the different colours unite to form the Rainbow that beautify the sky to herald a clear day, we Indians having our own different cultures, languages and looks, too unite to form unity in diversity great country in which Nagaland is also a

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At present, the group consists of 15 members comprising of 14 singing members and 1 keyboardist, collected from 4 different tribes- Angami, Chakhesang, Mao and Lotha. The group

members were picked from six different villages of the district of Peren and Dimapur. Also, the members are from 4 different denominations namely - Catholic, Revival, Baptist and Pentecost.

part of that colour which form the beautiful Rainbow called Indian. And to let our country and the whole world know about this fact, we had formed this choir and named it as “Rainbow Choir Nagaland”.

Rainbow Choir was formed on March 16, 2013 at Tenyiphe-I village as its

The 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' 'Jersey Boys' band guitarist dies after

Becomes First US Talk Show to Air in China being hit by train while posing for photos Northern Santa Fe railroad property in Washington's King County this year. The Las Vegas music community has paid tribute to the talented musician.

'Jersey Boys' music director Keith Thompson told the Las Vegas Sun that

bizarre MTV Unplugged poster

hart act Union J have joined a long line of teen idols by being turned into dolls. The singers - who found fame in the 2012 series of The X Factor - unveiled their 12"-high figures at the 2014 London Toy Fair on Tuesday. And the quartet - Josh Cuthbert, Jaymi Hensley, JJ Hamblett and George Shelley - posed as living dolls themselves by climbing into lifesize boxes to launch the collectors' toys. Grinning away as they stood inside the boxes at London's Olympia Exhibition Centre, the boys bore an uncanny resemblance to their doll forms.

Dozens of chart acts have been immortalised as action figures over the years from The Beatles to One Direction. Union J have joined the list despite being yet to score a top five single, with their most recent single failing to make the top 100. The manufacturer said the dolls - available in stores this month for around £16.99 each - have been given replica outfits selected by the band. And each member had their facial features laser scanned to make them more accurate.

But eagle-eyed fans could be forgiven for thinking something was amiss with the new toys. JJ Hensley's full sleeve tattoo did not seem to have been added to his mini likeness when the figures were shown off,

The 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' will now be available to the Chinese population through the country's leading online video service provider, Sohu.com.

T

he 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' will obtain a huge boost in ratings as it can now be viewed by

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the Chinese population.

News first surfaced of the daytime talks-show going international, this past

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man was hit by a train as he posed for pictures taken by his female friend over the weekend. The Las Vegas Sun reports that the man was musician Jeff Ray, a member of the Jersey Boys band. The 42-year-old Las Vegas man was sitting on the rails in Auburn, Washington while his friend snapped pictures with Mount Ranier as a backdrop when he was hit by an Amtrak Cascades train on Saturday. The accident occurred at about 3:30pm near C Street Southwest and Eighth Street.

NWCN reports that Ray was unable to get off the tracks before the train, traveling at 79 miles per hour, struck him. Ray was in the area to perform with the Top 40 cover band The Jone$ at Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn. The train was heading to Seattle, having originated in Portland. There were 130 passengers on the train. No one on-board was hurt in the incident. The passengers and crew were taken by bus to Seattle.

According to the Seattle Times, this is the second train fatality on Burlington

Tuesday (Jan 21st), when the host, Ellen, made the announcement. Ellen told the audience and viewers that her show will be the first American talk show to air in China. 'Ellen Degeneres' will be broadcast on China's leading online video provider, Sohu.com, 48 hours after their original air time in the US, with subtitles.

The 11th series episodes will be available 247 for viewers until the licence terminates, according to Sohu chairman and CEO Charles Zhang and Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution,

reports The Los Angeles Times. Sohu offers Chinese Internet users a diversified portfolio of top-quality content, with a wide coverage of hot TV dramas, animation and now U.S. talk shows, said Zhang.

Adding, The Ellen DeGeneres Show is one of the most well-known talk shows in the U.S., and we believe it could also have strong appeal and relevance with the Chinese audience. Approximately there are 600 million internet users in China so breaking into that market is a mouth-watering concept for US networks, but due to China's strict censoring guidelines it is difficult to achieve.

However, the nature of 'Ellen' is fairly soft and family friendly, so Chinese officials shouldn't be against it.

Jeffrey Schlesinger added, Ellen has clearly differentiated herself and her talk show from so many of the controversial conflict-oriented talk shows as it has become an increasingly positive alternative in daytime featuring the biggest stars from worlds of film, television and music.

Ray was a particularly gifted jazz guitarist who could play any genre. 'We at "Jersey Boys" are in shock, total shock, about Jeff’s death,' Thompson said in a phone conversation today. 'He was a complete and total delight to work with and

be around and was one of the most positive, upbeat, joyous people I’ve known in the business... He loved "Jersey Boys" and being part of this show.' Ray previously lived in Harlem, New York and fronted a quintet called The Onus.

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Boyband Union J become Miley Cyrus strips off AGAIN for immortalised in doll form

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Little and large: Lady Gaga towers above designer Azzedine Alaia in gargantuan heels as she attends his Paris show for Men's Collections.

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Ruokuovotuo Pfüsenuo & friend presents special number during the 23rd wrestling meet of the Northern Angami Sports Association (NASA) Group C at Ziezou Ground on January 22. (Morung Photo)

he is following in the prestigious footsteps of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Nirvana by performing her very own MTV Unplugged show at the end of this month.

But perhaps unsurprisingly, Miley Cyrus still manages to appear in a state of undress in a new poster for the show. The controversial singer posted a snapshot of herself posing in star shaped nipple pasties, protruding false teeth, and a blonde bobbed wig on Monday. '@MTV PRESENTS MILEY CYRUS: MTV UNPLUGGED YALL check it out January 29th!' she wrote alongside the shot.

Miley completed her outfit with a bright yellow necktie, glittery black gloves and a touch of black eyeliner, while appearing to wear a feathering white skirt. The shot bore some resemblance to Lady Gaga, with the Poker Face star recently appearing on the cover of her single Dope wearing crooked false teeth and hat.

Miley seems to have become rather fond of her fake gnashers of late, recently sporting a pair in an Instagram selfie she posted where she posed with her Alaskan Klee Kai dog Floyd.

A short trailer for the Unplugged show featuring

some of Miley's recent videos and performances was also posted on Instagram, urging viewers to tune in on January 29.

MTV have promised a series of surprise guests and stripped down largely acoustic versions of some of Miley's biggest hits from her latest album Bangerz, including We Can't Stop and Wrecking Ball. The star is no stranger to disrobing, having appeared nude in her Wrecking Ball video and in various states of undress for celebrity photographer Terry Richardson.

Following the MTV show, Miley will kick off her Bangerz tour on February 14 in Vancouver. She recently dropped a few hints about the 90 minute show,

telling MTV: 'Our whole tour is literally based on animals.' Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi has designed 'imaginative animals 'for the show. She's also promised to provide her fans with some unique collectibles from the gigs.

'I'm a little bit of a hoarder, so I hope my fans become hoarders,' she told the website. 'I want to give them real things to collect.

I'll have things falling out of the sky that most people would sell at the merch table. 'This is my mom's worst nightmare, because I always hoard things from when I go to concerts ... all the kids always want to keep the confetti, but I want to give them real things to collect.'

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despite his collection of inkings being on full show as he posed alongside his miniature doll.

There's more excitement yet to come for the Union J boys this year, with JJ recently revealing they plan to release their second studio album later in

2014. Writing in a guest edit for the Daily Star newspaper, he said: 'Very exciting, we're about to start recording our second studio album, which is massive.

And then I think we're going to write on the album as well, work with some new producers.'

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Victoria Azarenka . (AP Photo)

Andy Murray. (AP Photo)

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KnocKed out radwanska knocks out Azarenka

MELBOURNE, JaNUaRy 22 (aFP): Two-time defending champion Victoria Azarenka was bundled out of the Australian Open in the quarterfinals by fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in another big tournament upset on Wednesday.

The determined Pole battled to a 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 win to send the Belarusian packing with the top three seeds now out of the Grand Slam following the defeats of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. It was a major scalp for Radwanska, who had lost all seven previous meetings with the Belarusian, and now goes into a semifinal with Slovak 20th seed Dominika Cibulkova.

The win also ensures the tournament will have a new champion with none of the semifinalists -- Radwanska, Cibulkova, Li Na and Eugenie Bouchard -- having won before.

"It is always hard against her. I have lost so many times that (I knew) I had to play aggressive and go for my every shot. That's what I tried to do and it worked today," she said.

One of Radwanska's biggest challenges was to block out Azarenka's grunting, which has frustrated her in the past. It came to head in Dubai in 2012 when the Pole said she was "angry" and had "lost a lot of respect" for the Belarusian because the noise coming out of her.

Fairfax Media said it had recorded a 90 decibel grunt in Azarenka's first round match -- louder even than renowned shrieker Sharapova. Whatever the reason, Radwanska has always struggled against her.

The pair, both 24, had met 15 times before with the Belarusian leading 12-3, winning their last seven meetings. But the dam finally broke as Radwanska battled into her first semifinal in Melbourne, having made the quarterfinals four times before without going further.

Azarenka had not dropped a set all tournament, but 47 unforced er-

rors cost her dearly to end her 18-match win streak at Melbourne. The calm and collected Pole opened her account on Rod Laver Arena with an easy service game and then shocked the world number two by breaking her when she hoisted a forehand wide.

Radwanska fought off an Azarenka break point in the third to go 3-0 ahead, having forced eight errors from her opponent in the first three games.

In a pivotal fourth game, highlighted by some exceptional rallies, Azarenka fought off four break points before falling on the fifth when she sent a lob long. The Polish number one kept the pressure on by serving to go 5-0 in front, pushing the second seed around the court.

Federer v Nadal

Federer beats Murray to set up nadal semi

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brilliant performance from Roger Federer overcame a stubborn effort from Andy Murray to set up a semi-final clash with Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open.

Federer had two match points in the third set that Murray saved before winning the tie-break, but the resurgent Swiss finally made his overall superiority count to seal a 6-3 6-4 6-7(6) 6-3 victory. Federer's work with coach Stefan Edberg appeared to be paying dividends from the off, with the Swiss taking control of rallies with an aggressive style that saw him rush the net a number of times, winning 87% of such points in the first set alone.

That first set was won in just 31 minutes, a break in the fourth game making the difference for Federer.

The second set continued in a similar style, Murray struggling to make his mark throughout and Federer almost completely untroubled on his own serve.

A break to make it 3-2 set up the set for Federer, and Murray responded by removing his white cap.

Murray contended better in the third set, but still could not make many inroads into Federer's service games. The set turned at 4-4 - a Murray drop shot was barely reached by Federer, who somehow lifted it over Murray to win the point. However, replays showed that the ball seemed to bounce a second time almost simultaneously with Federer's racquet making contact. After a short discussion between Federer and the umpire, play continued and an irritated Murray lost both subsequent points to be broken once again.

With Federer serving for the match, Murray earned two break points, his first of the match. Federer saved one but went long with a forehand to

Roger Federer. (AP Photo)

keep Murray in the match. The set went to a tie-break, and Murray saved two match points before snatching the set for himself.

The fourth set kicked off in crazy fashion. With Federer holding serve, he then took a 0-40 lead on Murray's serve. What followed was a 26-point, 19-minute game that saw Murray save six break points and eventually hold. Another break point was saved in the sixth game by Murray, and his next service game brought three more break points. Murray saved two of them, but Federer finally took advantage with a superb drop shot that Murray reached only to leave an open court.

For the second time, Federer was serving for the match. He fell 0-30 behind but set up match point at 40-30 and an ace out wide completed the victory in three hours and 20 minutes. Earlier, Nadal shook off his troublesome blistered left hand to see off Grigor Dimitrov 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 6-2 in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Nadal, a 13-time grand slam champion, struggled on Dimitrov's first serve as the Bulgarian flew out the blocks and won the opening set. But the result of the match came down to two tie-breaks. Nadal dominated the first, in the second set, but in the third Nadal wasted a 4-2 lead with his fourth double-fault of the match and a series of unforced errors to hand Dimitrov three chances to take the set. But the 22-year-old, playing his first grand slam quarter-final, conceded the first two points before missing a straightforward forehand into the corner to hand advantage back to Nadal - who won three straight points to take a 2-1 lead.

Force India unveil new New zealand beat look for 2014 F1 season India by 15 runs (d/L)

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NEW DELHI, JaNUaRy 22 (TNN): New Zealand beat India by 15 runs in the rain-curtailed second oneday international at Seddon Park in Hamilton to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Chasing a victory target of 293 runs in 42 overs, India managed 277/9 in 41.3 overs before rain stopped play and the umpires declared the match over.

India lost their last hope of victory as Corey Anderson dismissed captain MS Dhoni, who hit a 42-ball half-century before Kane Williamson took a good catch at backward point off Anderson. Dhoni hit a six and 7 fours in his knock.

Three balls later, Anderson clean bowled Ravindra Jadeja to reduce India to 259/7. Suresh Raina hit a 22-ball 35 before Kyle Mills had him caught by Tim Southee at deep mid-wicket. Raina put up a crucial 62-run stand with captain MS Dhoni for the fifth wicket before his dismissal. Virat Kohli smashed a 65-ball 78 before Tim Southee had him caught by substitute AP Devcich at mid-on.

Kohli's brilliant knock was studded with 2 sixes and 7 fours. Mitchell McClenaghan had Ajinkya

Rahane caught behind by Luke Ronchi in the over after Kohli reached his 29th ODI fifty. Rahane hit 4 fours in his 42-ball 36 before falling to McClenaghan. Tim Southee took his 100th ODI wicket when he had Rohit Sharma caught behind by Ronchi. Sharma hit a six and 2 fours in his 34-ball 20 before falling to Southee.

Southee clean bowled Shikhar Dhawan as India got off to a slow start in pursuit of a 297-run target in 42 overs. Dhawan hit two fours in his 22-ball 12 before falling to Southee. New Zealand scored 101 runs in the 8.4 overs after the rain break and because of the Duckworth/Lewis method, India need to chase 297 runs in 42 overs. Brisk half-centuries from Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor and a 17-ball 44 from Corey Anderson powered New Zealand to 271/7 in 42 overs.

Luke Ronchi smashed a six and 2 fours in his 10-ball 18. Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck in the penultimate over when he clean bowled Nathan McCullum with a yorker. Mohammed Shami dismissed New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in one over.

Shami took a good catch on

his follow-through to dismiss New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum for a first ball duck and two balls later had Taylor caught behind by Dhoni.

Taylor, who reached his 26th fifty off 49 balls, was dismissed for a 56-ball 57 that was studded with 7 fours. Anderson smashed 5 sixes and 2 fours in his 17-ball 44 before Shikhar Dhawan took a well-judged catch at long-on to dismiss the southpaw off Ishant Sharma. Mohammed Shami then took a good catch on his follow-through to dismiss New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum for a first ball duck.

Ravindra Jadeja had Kane Williamson stumped by captain MS Dhoni in the second over after resumption of play. Williamson hit a six and five fours in his 87-ball 77. Williamson and Taylor resumed New Zealand innings after the rain interruption, due to which the match was reduced to 42 overs. New Zealand were 170/2 in 33.2 overs when rain stopped play.

Williamson hit a 52-ball 50 soon after Suresh Raina had Martin Guptill caught

by Mohammed Shami at short fine-leg.

PaRIS, JaNUaRy 22 (aFP): Force India on Wednesday became the first Formula One team to reveal their new car for the 2014 season. Or at least a partial glimpse, as the team backed by Vijay Mallya released a single photograph of the VJM07 on their official website.

The new car, which will be driven by Mexico's Sergio Perez, dropped by McLaren after one season, and Nico Hulkenberg, is kitted out in traditional Indian colours of saffron, white and green on a black background.

"I've always believed our cars have been the most eye-catching, but adding black as a main colour gives us a fierce new look," said Mallya. "The VJM07 looks stunning and the new livery reflects the way Sahara Force India is evolv-

Rafael Nadal . (AP Photo)

ing," added the boss of the Kingfisher brewery.

Force India, along with their rival teams (apart from Lotus), will start testing at Spain's Jerez circuit next week. Further internet glimpses of 2014 models are expected from McLaren, Ferrari and Sauber over the coming weekend. Red Bull, Mercedes and Caterham are waiting until the start of testing on Tuesday to roll out their new models. Force India finished sixth in the constructors' championship in 2013 and the Britishbased team has their sights on bettering that performance this campaign. Mallya told the BBC: "We've got to aim higher than last year.

It's an ambitious goal, but I believe it's a realistic one because we have to look forward and take the fight to the teams ahead of us.

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