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www.morungexpress.com
The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. VIII ISSUE 321
Who killed AarushiHemraj? Verdict today
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www.morungexpress.com
Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future
Shruti Haasan’s molester arrested
Monday, november 25, 2013 12 pages Rs. 4 –Robert H. Schuller
Massive preparations for Pacquiao Hornbill Festival 2013 back with [ PAGE 02] emotional Six powers clinch breakthrough deal win [ PAGE 12] curbing Iran’s nuclear activity
[ PAGE 11]
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[ PAGE 09]
Itching all the way to Shillong
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Bed bug nuisance in public transport Y Merina Chishi Dimapur| November 24
People travelling on Shillong bound buses are encountering a rather “itchy” problem. You`re lucky the hole was A number of people traveltoo small. In other words, ling in the private buses that Pork saved your life. ply at night between Shillong and Dimapur have become victims of bed bug bites. Several of them have been bitDear Subscribers, ten during every travel. With Please inform us if The no safety health standards Morung Express is not in place or department to being delivered to you keep check, this problem on a regular basis by has been prevalent for a very your paper hawker. long time and it is only getContact us directly at: ting worse. 9856230555. A group of students We are open to sugstudying in Shillong were gestions, constructive all bitten by bed bugs while criticism and feedback they were coming down to about how The Morung Dimapur on a private bus on Express can improve its October 12 this year. One of reporting and raise sothe students, Besenelu, said cially conscious issues. Kiuphula Yimchunger, an old woman from Kephor village in Tuensang district peeps out from her one-room wooden shack that three of her friends, into watch the activities of the golden jubilee celebration of Kephor Baptist Church held at the village ground on november This will increase the newspaper’s relevancy 9-10, 2013. Kiuphula who is too old to work in the field earns her daily bread by selling chickens, which she rears in her cluding her, were bitten by the bug. “We thought it was and responsiveness to shack. The village church and fellow villagers occasionally give her rice and other eatables. (Photo by Ashikho Pfuzhe) our readers. The Morung Express
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The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your answer to 9862574165 Are you satisfied with the progress Nagaland State has made in the last 50 years? Yes
no
Others
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GPRN/NSCN Sumi Region informs Dimapur, November 24 (mexN): All offices and business establishments within the GPRN/NSCN Sumi regional administrative jurisdiction have been informed “not to entertain any form of donation during Christmas and New Year in the name of GPRN/NSCN.” This was informed in a press release from Huvito Yepthomi, GPRN/NSCN Dy. Kilonser & Supervisor, Sumi Region. It also notified all business owners concerned “not to make any advance payment of any taxes till the order of collection is issued from the Govt. Any national worker both civil and army set up found indulging in unauthorized taxation/donation shall be dealt with stern action.”
Another cyclone to hit AP
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CHeNNai, November 24 (pTi): Just days after being hit by cyclone Helen, Andhra Pradesh is bracing itself to face another cyclone, which would cross the state coast on November 28, the Met office said on Sunday. Cyclonic storm ‘Lehar’ will cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machillipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on November 28, the Indian Meterological Department said. Under its influence, rain or thundershowers would occur at many places over Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and coastal and south interior Karnataka, IMD said in its weather outlook for four days from November 27 to December 1.
Manmohan singh for community policing
New DelHi, November 24 (DNa): Raising issues related to women’s safety, prime minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday asked the police chiefs of all states to put in place institutional mechanisms to ensure the safety and security of women and children. Asking the police chiefs to show leadership in this area, Singh said, “We have recently enacted several laws providing stringent punishment for such crimes and more sensitive treatment of victims during investigation and trial. We also need to put in place other institutional mechanisms to ensure the safety and security of women and children.” He was addressing the concluding session of the three-day annual conference of DGPs from all the
states, organised by the Intelligence Bureau. Dwelling on the growing challenges of policing because of rapid pace of urbanisation and increasing anonymity due to individualistic lifestyles and floating populations making detection of metropolitan crimes difficult, Singh asked them to devise special techniques to tackle this growing menace. “There is also a need to place greater emphasis on the concept of community policing which not only helps in the prevention and detection of crimes but also encourages citizens to associate themselves voluntarily with the local police in solving neighbourhood problems, thus generating greater public confidence in our police forces,” Singh said.
the middle of the night. In some cases they don’t feel the itch and notice the rashes only in the morning. Regular passengers mentioned that most of the buses are dirty and unhygienic for passengers to travel. “Since the buses are private we can’t even complain but the Health Department must keep a check on this otherwise it is not safe, especially for children,” Assumi said. Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed exclusively on blood. They live in the cracks of furniture or in any type of textile including upholstered furniture. Bed bugs are mostly active at night. They bite in exposed areas of the skin. They usually feed on the host without being noticed. A number of adverse effects may result from bed bug bites including skin rashes, psychological effects and allergic symptoms.
touched with bare hands, except with food handling devices etc., serve cold foods cold and hot foods hot, serve food in clean and intact utensils or disposal plates, cups etc. Referring to personal hygiene, it stated that employees should be medically fit, any employees suffering from wounds or any infectious or contagious disease should not be allowed to work or employed, nails and hair should be well trimmed and wear clean cloths like apron, hand gloves, head wear, face mask etc., smoking, chewing of tobacco, pan masala or spiting etc in food preparation/serving area should be prohibited, ensure hand washing before and after handling of food, provide toilets, sepa-
rately with wash basins, avoid foul smell in toilets and surrounding area and clean toilets regularly with proper disinfectants. It also directed the concerned to use separate waste bins for bio degradable and non-degradable wastes, use leak proof waste bins and kept it clean; empty waste bins and keep them clean. Dr. Neiphi Kire, principal director & additional food safety commissioner, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare stated that the notification has been issued in the interest of public health. Dr. Kire warned that non-compliance to this notification would be an offence punishable under section 56 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Hotels, restaurants directed to ensure food safety measures Our Correspondent Kohima | November 24
In pursuance of Schedule 4 part-V of Food Safety & Standards Regulations, 2011, the Food Business Operators of Hotels, Restaurants, canteens (office, college, school, institution etc), tea stalls, catering street food vendors and temporary stalls in the State have been directed to comply with various guidelines to ensure hygienic and food safety measures This was notified by Directorate of Health & Family Welfare (Food Safety), Nagaland, Kohima. Referring to premises and hygiene, it directed that walls, floor and ceiling should be free from dust, dirt etc. and should be
clean and well maintained. There should be adequate provisions for ventilation, exhaust and light, separate toilets with soap and towel should be maintained, arrangements for equipment washing, adequate draining and proper sanitation, drainage should be well covered with regular cleaning, garbage disposal should be properly segregated from food processing area and should be leak proof, water proof and have tight fitting lid and should dispose promptly, arrangement should be made to prevent, entry of insects, rodents etc. and dining tables/chair etc should be kept clean and sanitized regularly. In the area of equipments and utensils, it directed that machinery
Aketoli Zhimomi wins Naga Chef Our Correspondent Kohima | November 24
Aketoli Zhimomi was declared winner of the first ever Naga Chef and won a prize money of Rs 5 lakh, a stall to run during the Hornbill Festival and a spa package worth Rs 8000 sponsored by Salon Blue. Moments away from the announcement of the results, the room was alive with expectation; the crowds hesitant to chance a guess at who the winner could be. Naga Chef Season 1 came to a close with the Grand Finale held at Hotel Vivor, Kohima on November 23. The four final contenders had to give their best to prepare a grand feast for a large number of guests; including starters, main courses, desserts and a number of side dishes. The cooking time allotted was four hours. With the help of two assistants which included family members, friends and colleagues; the cooking began in earnest, filled with a flurry of activity and never a dull moment. Once the presentations were ready, the judging began. The judging panel comprising of Sentila T Yanger, Rovi Chasie, Himato Zhimomi and Chef Joel Basumatary had, without a doubt, a difficult time rating the dishes in the impressive spread. The evening programme was graced by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is also the Chief Patron of the show. Ministers, MLAs, dignitaries, patrons, well wishers including a
some kind of allergy but then we noticed the same kind of marks when we went back to Shillong. Some of our friends back in the hostel told us that they too got the same rashes and that they were bed bug bites,” she informed. Janice Chopy, another student who travelled on a bus from Shillong to Dimapur on November 21 received multiple bed bug bites on the journey. This is not the first time that she has been bitten by these bugs, she said. Her aunty, whose children also study in a boarding school in Shillong, said that they too keep getting bed bug bites while travelling in the buses. “These bugs are in all the buses,” Janice’s aunty, Nilo Assumi, said, suggesting that “They should sanitize the bus after each trip.” According to the victims, the itching starts in
(Top) Judges during the presentation; (Bottom) Creative and innovative dishes by the contestants.
delegation of VIPs from Myanmar on a visit to the state led by Saw Myint Oo, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Hamlet attended the event. A number of foreign nationals, probably here for the upcoming Hornbill Festival, were also in attendance. Rio, while appreciating the turnout, lauded the contestants who had stepped in to take part in this momentous, path breaking competition. He added that this is exactly how Naga cuisine should be promoted and fur-
ther commended the Naga Chef organising team on a great job. The panel of judges expressed their sincere appreciation at the success of the month long event, which exceeded their expectations on this maiden venture. Participants from earlier rounds joined in the celebrations, where Hahao Chongloi shared his experience at Naga Chef and Asi Kera enthralled the gathering with a beautiful song. Each participant received a certificate of participation and the chance to compete in the upcoming Hornbill Masterchef competition to be held at Heritage Village, Kisama during the Hornbill Festival. The “Dish of the Day” was won by Imnanungsang Ndr for his innovative chicken dish. The three runners up, along with securing a stall each at Kisama, also received Rs. 25,000 each to aid them in the running of their stalls. The evening closed with light hearted interactions, music, and above all, great food. Naga Chef Season 1 was conceptualized and organized by the Synergy Group Enterprise and supported by the Government of Nagaland. The event partners were Organic Nagaland, who managed the Naga chef Pantry, Salon Blue for make-up and hairstyling, Precious Me Love (PML) for wardrobe styling, bamboo shelves and baskets from Uniqraft products (Zynorique Initiatives) and commercial gas cylinders from Eastern Gas.
and equipments such as freezers, display cabinets, containers vessels, karahi, plates, ladles, chopping/ cutting board, knives, mixer, grinder etc should be kept cleaned and equipments and food handling devices should be free from rust, dust breakage etc. In the area of cooking/processing/serving, it directed the concerned to use potable water for cooking tea making and for drinking, provide filtered water for drinking, use separate cooking equipments for vegetable and non –vegetable products, ensure thorough cooking, do not reuse frying oil/ fat once is used, prepared foods should be kept covered, protected from dirt, dust, insects etc, ready- to –eat food items should not
GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND INTRODUCING
HORNBILL AIR CONNECT SERVICE STARTING ON 24TH NOVEMBER
TIMINGS GUWHATI - DIMAPUR 10:30 AM DIMAPUR - GUWHATI 12:30 PM FARE RS. 4500 /PERSONAL & MEDICAL CHARTER SERVICES ALSO AVAILABLE AIRCRAFT DETAILS DORNEIR 228 (NORTHEAST SHUTTLES PVT LTD) A STAR IN THE SKY FOR RESERVATIONS AND ANY OTHER DETAILS CONTACT: DELHI: 09871390839 (Naga International Veganza) Nagaland House, 29 Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi KOLKATA: 033-25676277, 03325676284 (Northeast Shuttle Office Airport, Kolkata) GUWAHATI: 09435562149 - PK (Guwahati Airport), 08731887887 - Capt. Lungping AIZAWL: 09856759237- Batista (Aizawl Airport) Humtsoe (Dimapur Airport),PKPK DIMAPUR: 9436425903 - Ababe Ezung, 09774875731 - Mhonjan Mhonchan (Dimapur Airport), Travel - 03862-231619 / 231623, Alpha Travel Agency - 9615104517 (Noor) IMPHAL: 09862207568 - Roshni (Imphal Airport) E-MAIL:
hornbillairconnect@gmail.com
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The Morung Express C
sCert focusing on guiding students
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Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 24
The State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) Nagaland was established in 1979 with guidance and counseling as one of the major organs of the department. SCERT is expected to be a resource centre for guidance and counseling services in the state, career information centre and a state bureau of guidance and counseling, a training centre for guidance and counseling providing various training programmes. It is also a research centre for academic courses in the field of guidance and counseling in collaboration with universities, a centre for offering a hands-on training programme on vocational courses and state level centre for sponsoring educated unemployed youth for various vocational job oriented courses. It further acts as a nodal agency for coordinating with consultancy services to the students and educated unemployed youth; offering psychological testing, aptitude testing facilities for students in the choice of a career, deCapsicum cultivation at ‘Chendang vegetable village’ in Tuensang. Chendang produces more than velop a curriculum and syllabus on guidance and counseling to be 20 tons of vegetables annually. Photo by Imojen I. Jamir
introduced as an integral part of school daily routing particularly at the secondary stage and coordinating with departments and agencies related to guidance and counseling services. Further, a district level institute for vocational guidance and counseling services in the state is visualized. At the school level, a counseling centre and a career club can be created in every school in the state, SCERT sources informed that guidance and counseling services can be decentralized to local community by setting up guidance and counseling centres, career information centres, displaying bulletin boards at the village/town locality level, formation of village/town community career guidance committee and district level career guidance committee. Guidance and counseling services for school students is of recent origin in Nagaland; started only during 1984-85. During the initial years, guidance and counseling programmes were confined to secondary students and more attention was given to vocational career guidance due to limitation of trained personnel, according to SCERT director Vipralhou Kesiezie in the fore-
word of a booklet made available to The Morung Express. “With the increasing complexities and stresses in the present world, students are experiencing various psychological and emotional stresses and anxieties due to increased workload on the students, examination anxiety, academic compulsion, personal weaknesses like lack of concentration in studies, poor memory, insincerity, laziness, family problems like domestic violence, parental divorce, child abuse in the family (Verbal or physical abuse) and social factors like peer pressures towards undesirable and risky behaviors, exposure to social media, degradation of moral values and practice of immoral activities in the society,” the SCERT director stated. He added that parents and teachers are aware of many other problems that students are experiencing in the school. “However, they do not have the professional competence to deal with such problems.” The director stated that the Right to Education Act 2009 ensures every child to receive education free of mental and emotional anxiety, free from stresses and without corporal punishment.
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In this context, he added that normal school routine exercise alone is not sufficient to cater to the needs of psychological and emotional health of a student. “Guidance is not a onetime service or receiving certain information or help. Guidance is a continuous process of enabling an individual to grow and to develop and maximize the potentialities for a balanced personality development. Therefore, guidance and counseling needs to be made an integral part of a regular school education programme so that students receive guidance and counseling services in the school on regular basis like any other school subject from well trained professional counselors,” stated Kesiezie. He expressed happiness to observe that the trend of professional school councilors is also increasing in the state and a few of them are already practicing in private schools as regular school counselors in Dimapur and Kohima. He thanked Zavise Rume, research associate, the nodal officer of Guidance and Counseling Cell, SCERT Nagaland for developing the publication “History of Guidance and Counseling services in Nagaland; Past and present.”
Massive preparations for Hornbill Festival 2013 PCC Annual Christmas Concert
Our Correspondent Kohima | November 24
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With just six days to go for the much awaited Hornbill Festival of Nagaland 2013, massive preparations are going on at the picturesque Naga Heritage Village Kisama. With the festival gaining popularity since 2007, Hornbill festival is now a ten day affair, from this year. Hornbill festival, an annual tourism promotional event to showcase the rich traditional and cultural heritage in all its ethnicity, diversity and grandeur will commemorate the 50th celebration of the statehood of Nagaland. President of India Pranab
Mukherjee will grace the occasion on December 1. This Hornbill Festival is a cultural extravaganza to revive, protect and preserve the richness and uniqueness of the Naga heritage, while for the visitors to this event, its is a means for comprehensive understanding of the Naga people, their land and culture. Tourism department stated that the Hornbill festival is the coming together of all the elements that make up the total Nagaland. The Hornbill festival is a collaborative celebration of all Naga tribes at one venue and has been coined as “Festival of Festivals”. The
Festival is a tribute to the great “Hornbill” which is the most admired and revered bird for the Nagas, for its qualities of alertness and grandeur. The majestic bird is closely identified with the
ing the festival and is indicative of the commonness of the Nagas. The tourism department stated that over the years, this event has gained in stature and vision. It has now become a unique platform for the tourists to witness the cultural diversity not only for the Nagas but the seven other sister states of North East India in all its wonder and glory. Since 2007, International cultural troupes have been taking part in it and it is slowly turning out to be an international event. Major attraction of the Hornbill festival this year
Press conference in Kohima today social and cultural life of the Nagas, as reflected in various tribal folklores, dances and songs. The awe and admiration for the bird is symbolically displayed on almost all tribal traditional headgears worn dur-
include; northeast cultural expo, Hornbill marathon/ half marathon, international Hornbill rock contest, Kids carnival, motor rally, cycle rally, Hornbill music festival, Naga king chilli eating competition, Hornbill master chef, hornbill dance competition, Hornbill choral, Miss Nagaland, fashion show, Naga wrestling, literature festival, artists’ corner, snooker championship, zip lining adventure, World War II vintage car rally, Kohima night carnival and many more. Meanwhile, a press conference will take place on November 25 at the Directorate of Tourism, Kohima at 1:00 PM.
New box cutting road to ease traffic jam
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Kohima, November 24 (mexN): With just six days left, Nagaland will be celebrating 50 years of statehood on December 1, which will coincide with the ten-day long Nagaland Hornbill Festival without having much solved the road, traffic, water and electricity problems. Every year the state capital faces heavy traffic jam, as people gather in Kohima at this time of the year. However, to avoid traffic congestion in the state capital Kohima, the concerned department is heavily engaged in constructing a box cutting road near Kohima war cemetery, which will be open for the commuter soon. There is hope that the new box cutting road will bring much relief to the
The new box cutting road in Kohima which is expected to be opened to commuters soon.
Where have all the roses gone?
commuter and ease traffic jams tremendously, as all vehicles coming from Manipur side via Kohima to Dimapur will be diverted to this route. Sub-divisional Officer, PWD (R&B), Er. Wapanginba, who is overseeing the construction works informed that the new box cutting road near Mezhür School over bridge will be inaugurated on November 27 by Minister for roads and bridges Kuzholuzo (Azo) Neinu. Azo Neinu had recently disclosed that the new box cutting road near war cemetery kohima will ease traffic jams tremendously, as all the down coming vehicles heading towards Dimapur and New secretariat will be diverted.
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heralds the festival of Carols
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Patkai Higher Secondary Choir presenting a song during the 32nd Annual Christmas Concert at Bundrock Chapel on November 24. (Morung Photo) Morung Experess News Dimapur | November 24
No sanctified presentations or unnecessary props, but just modest and gifted elucidations of music. Students and faculty of the Music Department, Patkai Christian College today displayed why they are known to be the top-notch and unrivalled in quality music. The 32nd Annual Christmas Concert was held this evening in Bundrock Memorial Chapel. The performances were mainly aimed at bringing out the significance of ‘Merry Christmas.’ And the College and Higher Secondary Choirs, put up excellent renditions of “We Adore You”, “Ring Christmas Bells”-“Carol of the Drum”. Guitar Ensemble of Concerto in D for Lute & Basso RV 93 (Vivaldi), and various Violin Ensembles
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Guitarist Ren Merry and Soloist Ajeen Longchari performing as guest musicians at the 32nd Annual Christmas Concert. (Morung Photos)
delighted the audience. Piano duet of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” was also presented by Vekutalu Swuro & Abigail Odyuo. The Choral was directed by Vivee Peseye (Dean of music), with choir directors Azeena Kahmei & Nohonu Savi, Guitar Ensemble
Director Cufuyi Epao, Violin Ensemble Director Louise Shishak, Pianist Zingrin Shishak and Organist Margaret Shishak. The highlight of the evening was guest performances by Ajeen Longchari (Soprano) and Guitarist Ren Merry (Guitar).
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Our Correspondent Mokokchung | November 24
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he State Agriculture Research Station (SARS) at Yisemyong, located some 20 kilometers away from Mokokchung, has always been known for one item, ‘Roses.’ Be it weddings or any functions, the rose gardens at Yimseyong provided the best and freshest flowers. Not anymore. A visit to the SARS Rose garden would break any lovers of flowers, as the pictures say it all.
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1. One of the three gigantic green houses for cultivating roses at SARS, Yisemyong. It could cultivate hundreds of roses when it was properly maintained. The roses cultivated here were also exported to places outside the Nagaland. It is learnt that the roses produced here has even won an award in the international level. 2. Ten feet from the entrance: The torn plastic covering says it all. 3. Parched, dry and withered. Inside, weeds have overtaken the rose plants, and there are hundreds of roses withering away for want of care and, of course, water. 4. Wild flower: A lonely rose trying to bloom amidst the engulfing weeds and grasses. 5. A defunct water pump, and the overgrown weeds, that once was filled with beautiful roses. A visitor commented, “It’s very, very sad. I am heartbroken to see this!” A visit today, and all one can see is wastage of a ‘blooming’ industry. (Morung Photos)
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Regional
The Morung express
Monday
25 November 2013
MizoraM set for asseMbly polls
AizAwl, November 24 (iANS): The northeastern state of Mizoram elects its new assembly Monday, after a period of campaigns that were organised and peaceful. The ruling Congress will be challenged by the Mizo National Front (MNF)led three-party alliance. Counting of votes will be taken up Dec 9. Though there is no major threat from separatist outfits and Mizoram remained peaceful during the month-long electioneering, around 5,000 para-military, state and other security personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls in the state which borders Myanmar and Bangladesh. Christian-and tribal-dominated Mizoram witnessed peaceful campaigning under a close watch of the powerful Church-con-
trolled Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), a non-government election watchdog. Like in previous elections, the MPF had set some dos and don’ts for political parties. Mizoram Police chief Amulya Patnaik said that during the campaigning, not a single untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the state. “The violence-free campaign might be due to the strict observance and guidelines of the MPF,” he said. Unlike in other parts of the country, the campaign mostly centered on joint platforms organised by the MPF, where all candidates of a particular assembly segment debated poll issues, development work and other matters. These poll debates, at a fixed place, were moder-
ated by an MPF member. The people assembled at these debate centers and straightway asked questions to the candidates from various political parties and independents. “Mizo society doesn’t support any kind of violence and misconduct. The MPF platform at state, district and local levels kept a close observance over the situations, any kind of unlawful activity and any attempt to instigate violence,” MPF president the Rev. Lalramlian Pachuau told reporters. Of the state’s population of 10.91 lakh, around 6.91 lakh, of them 3.5 lakh women, are eligible to vote and decide the fate of the 142 candidates in the fray. Of the 40 seats, 39 are reserved for tribals. One seat is for general category. “All preparations are almost complete for the polls.
AizAwl, November 24 (NNN): Assistance from the commercial sex workers helped Mizoram police to nab a criminal. “With the help of some commercial sex workers here police are said to have arrested a murder suspect, whose search had been on”, the news report said, adding, “A heavy criminal case has been registered”, quoting Joseph Lalchhuana, SP, CID (Crime). Consequence upon the help rendered by the women on the street, Aizawl Police Station is now known to keep proper record of the details of taxis on service at night in the city, which is done to prevent any untoward incident upon the commercial sex workers, locally known as KS, the report quoted the police officer as saying.
The story of the prostitutes helping the police in tracking the criminal was reported few days ago in the programme of “One Day Workshop for creating Awareness to prevent and combat Trafficking of Women and Children for Commercial Sex Exploitation”, which was held at I&PR Auditorium. One of the presenters of papers in the said programme, Joseph Lalchhuana, SP, CID (Crime) mentioned that recent study shows that the commercial sex workers are becoming more concern over their personal security these days. The SP, CID (Crime) shared that the police had received a complaint over a death of one woman, following which vigorous effort was made to nab the criminal, in
the midst of which one commercial sex worker, her face and neck left with marks over painful hits, came to Aizawl Police Station one morning. It was learnt, he continued, that the prostitute who came to the police station that morning had encountered an unfortunate incident in a jungle when her customer, unwilling to pay money, strangled her in order to kill her. The mischievous man left her, thinking she was dead. But the woman regained consciousness at dawn, and came to the Police Station for help. The marks of bite left on the neck of the murdered woman and the dental casting of the arrested man matched well, thus the criminal identified and thereby a heavy criminal case registered against him, the SP narrated.
Newmai News Network
Even as the Bru refugees who are now camped in Tripura have been allowed to cast their votes outside Mizoram in the ensuing assembly elections, Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the largest students’ body in the State, has reiterated their fervent wishes afresh that the process of Bru repatriation be completed before the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, so that the former exercise their franchise inside Mizoram. In a press conference, MZP president Lalhmachhuana said, “Regarding the Bru refugees who have been for the last 15 years creating problems from outside Mizoram to the Mizos here, we find it utmost necessary to tie the last knot (indicating com-
pletion of repatriation process), and so we want conclusion.” “It is apparent that as long as the Bru refugees are included in the Mizoram electoral roll, the Election Commission of India would like to arrange so as to ensure they exercise their franchise conveniently and fully, because of which we want immediate and complete repatriation of genuine residents of Mizoram, and this simultaneously do away with vote casting outside the State”, MZP president said. Adding that MZP plans to make a move as the situation demands Lalhmachhuana said, “Mizoram government is not in a debt of allotting voting right to those people who do not want to be a good citizen and moreover who resist to come back despite re-
UKHrUl, November 24 (THe HiNDU): A powerful foreign made bomb was detonated at the main town of Ukhrul, a border district on Saturday night. There was no casualty. However one passenger bus parked there was extensiveiTANAgAr, November 24 (ANi): Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki announced the construction of a war memorial in the Arunachal capital complex in honour of the martyrs of the 1962 India China war here today. He was addressing the valedictory function of the three day ‘Sarhad ko Swaranjali’ function organized by the Sanskar Bharati Poorvottar. “We would try to find a proper place for the construction of the memorial to pay a tribute the martyrs for their supreme sacrifice for the country and territorial integrity of Arunachal Pradesh,” said Tuki. Appreciating Sanskar Bharati for organizing the programme in the state, the Chief Minister said that such programme was nec-
Polling officials accompanied by security forces have reached their polling stations,” Mizoram Chief Electoral officer Ashwini Kumar told reporters Sunday. Among the 142 aspirants, six are women and hardly any new faces. The main political parties in the poll arena are the ruling Congress, led by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, and the three-party opposition Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA), dominated by the MNF, which is headed by former chief minister Zoramthanga. The other two constituents of the MDA are Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) and Maraland Democratic Front. The Bharatiya Janata Party, Zoram Nationalist Party and the Nationalist Congress Party are also separately contesting the state elections, fielding can-
didates in some cosntituencies. The Congress-led Mizoram government’s flagship programme New Land Use Policy (NLUP) and the proposed Special Economic Development Programme of the MDA figured prominently during their campaigns. The NLUP was a special farming-cum-poverty alleviation project, launched in 2010 to support 125,000 “Jhumia” (shifting cultivator) families in four phases and the centre provided Rs.2,873 crore for it. The scheme aimed to benefit the farmers to solve food scarcity by moving away from “jhum cultivation” (slash and burn method of cultivation) to stable farming. The opposition parties also brought up the issue of Mizo nationalism as one of its main planks for the first
time in this polls. Unemployment and backwardness prevailing in the state were also major concerns raised by political parties. The MDA has been trying to woo the electorates on the issue of reported corruption in the state government and its alleged misrule. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi campaigned for the ruling party in the state. During the last assembly elections in December 2008, the Congress won 32 seats, the MNF three and the MDF one. The MPC and ZNP got two seats each. The MNF, which ruled the state for 10 years till 2008, is the principal opposition party.
Newmai News Network
The 10th Edition of state level Orange Festival will be celebrated at Longmai (Noney), Nungba sub- division, Tamenglong district on December 14 with Nagaland and Manipur governor Ashwani Kumar as the chief guest. Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh will be the function president and deputy chief minister Gaikhangam as the chief host. Features of the celebration include Orange Competition, Cultural items (Cultural troupes from the following have been invited- Imphal West, Ukhrul,
Senapati, Churachandpur and Chandel, Rongmei Cultural Dance troupe). Craft exhibition and sale will be organized by the Directorate of Commerce and Industries and DIC Tamenglong; Orange Queen Contest will be held on December 14 evening. No contestant who had contested earlier would be allowed to contest again. Screening of contestants will be held in Imphal, dates and venue for which will be announced later. Seminar on Orange Plantation will be conducted for villagers of Longmai area on December 14. Orange Eating Competition will also be organized on December 14
and Music and rock bands from different parts of the state and outside will perform on December 13 and 14 evenings, according to Ramkung Pamei. Preparation works is going on in war- footing by the concerned sub- committees formed for this festival. The committee invites all to participate in the celebration. We also further requested all concerned organizations not to call bandh, strike or any form of agitation which may jeopardize the organization and participation of public in the festival,» Ramkung Pamei appeals.
peated calls.” “MZP shall take every possible step in a vigorous way so that those not complying with arrangement made for them get deleted from the Electoral Roll”, he added. Also talking about the demand of Gorkhalis in Mizoram for the constitutional status of Other Backward Class (OBC), MZP said that they will not in any way agree with the same. ‘We shall not in any way allow the same to be materialized”, MZP president said, adding, “What the Indian constitution referred to as OBC are those economically and educationally backward but the Gorkhalis in Mizoram are, being indigenous people, quite high in educational rate as well as well to do economically and in fact, some of them are even bet-
ter off than the Mizos.” It is pertinent to note that hundreds of Brus left Mizoram in 1997 and 2009. The first case was triggered when Bru militants murdered two Mizos who were forest guards on October 21, 1997. The second case happened after a 17-yearold Mizo boy was killed by the Brus near Bungthuam village on November 13, 2009. When the Bru left Mizoram they had driven out some Mizos in villages of Sakhan Hill Range in Tripura like Sakhan Serhmun, Sakhan Tlangsang, Sakhan Tualsen and Upper Dosda which had kicked up much ruckus in Mizoram then. Meanwhile, a couple of years ago, head count conducted by the MBDPF found that there had been 31,703 Brus in the relief camps belonging to 5,448
families who were bona fide residents of Mizoram. The repatriation of the 1997 batch of Bru refugees was underway until it stalled by the November 13 killing. In the year 2011, conglomeration of major NGOs in Mizoram had submitted a joint memorandum to the then Union Home minister P Chidambaram to rehabilitate the displaced Mizos in Tripura and stall the ongoing repatriation of Brus from Tripura to Mizoram. The memorandum was signed by representatives of four large NGOs in the state--the Young Mizo Association (YMA), the MZP, the Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP) or elders association and the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) or the women›s federation and four political parties.
ly damaged. There has been no claim for the blast which occurred around 8.45 p.m. Ukhrul, dominated by the Tangkhul tribe, was regarded as an island of peace in turbulent Manipur which is afflicted by the armed movement. This is
the home district of Thuingaleng Muivah, the general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) which has been engaged in peace process with the Indian government after signing a ceasefire 16 years ago.
However, there has been no discernible progress. The demand for redrawing the map of Manipur by merging the “Naga inhabited” areas with Nagaland is contested by the people of Manipur. However the people in the district who long for
peace are disheartened by the recent recrudescence of violence. Even a candidate for college elections was gunned down. Apart from bomb blasts here and there in the district there were some attacks against the security forces.
essary to awake the people and infuse in them the spirit of patriotism and to contribute in nation building. “The need of the hour is to awake patriotism in us and reiterate our duties to our motherland,” he said. Felicitating 94 year old Leela Devi, mother of Jaswant Singh who came all the way from Dehradun to attend the function, Tuki expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of the state and said, “your son was a true son of the soil who fought for the glory of it, and will always remain grateful as he laid down his life fighting the enemy.” Lauding the defence personnel guarding the frontier in the state, Tuki said that such programme would boost the morale of the soldiers. At least 100 veterans
and families of martyrs of the 1962 Chinese aggression from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam participated in the programme. The families of Tagam Taki of Beging village in East Siang district who served as SSB constable and died on March 30, 2002, during the attack on Raghunath Mandir in Jammu, Krirti Chakra awardee Lance Naik Tape Yajo from Aalo and Jawan Pate Tasuk from Kurung Kumey , both of whom died in action along the Jammu and Kashmir border were honoured on the occasion. Exhorting the children to follow the footsteps of the martyrs, the veteran actor Mukesh Khanna popularly known as Shaktimaan said, “Work hard for the development of the country
and the state.” Later he administered a pledge to the children to remember with reverence the great souls, ancestors, pay homage to the brave martyrs and to do everything to defend the culture and the borders of the country with all might. Also present during the programme were 1962 warveteran Lt Gen (Retd) V M Patil, Dabang-2 writer renowned artistes from across the country and others. The programme was marked by colourful cultural programmes by the participants from the North Eastern states and around 1000 school children from the capital complex gave a touching performance of ‘Ay Mere Watan Ke Logon’ by Lata Mangeshkar. Earlier in the day, mother of martyr Jaswant singh
and other family members were received at the Raj Bhawan along with other family members of martyrs from Arunachal Pradesh who died at service in Jammu and Kahmir. They were felicitated by the Governor Nirbhay Sharma. “The nation will never forget the sacrifice made by the soldiers and the martyrs of the 1962” he said adding that ‘Jaswant Garh in Tawang speaks for the brave deeds itself’. “He is a legend and people in Arunachal still tell the story of his bravery to their children,” he added Sharing his experience, the governor said, “Having been a soldier and worn the military uniform for 40 years, I know that a soldier fights for his country irrespective of his religion, caste and community.”
Mizoram police nab murder suspect
Orange Festival to be held at Longmai IMPHAL | November 24
Dimapur
3
Women voters to play key role in Mizoram polls
AizAwl, November 24 (iANS): Women voters will play a key role in the Nov 25 assembly elections in Mizoram, the only state in India where women voters outnumber men. Of the 686,305 voters eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections to the 40-member assembly, 349,506 are women and 336,799 men. In the last assembly polls in 2008, women voters outnumbered men voters by 6,644, and in the 2003 elections by 3,816. Mizo women contribute enormously to the economy of the mountainous state - the state’s name literally means ‘land of the hill people’ - its domestic affairs, church and social activities but when it comes to politics, assembly and Lok Sabha elections in particular, they have remained in the background in getting due importance. Of the 142 candidates, only six (four percent) are women this time. The Women Welfare Front (WWF), constituted by women members of village councils across the state, has been actively spearheading the campaign for women candidates in the assembly polls. “We are making allout efforts so that we see as many women candidates as possible in the coming assembly elections. We have requested political parties to nominate as many women candidates as possible and we will appeal to the female voters to vote for the women contestants,” WWF secretary Darhmingthangi told IANS. “No home is complete without a woman; so is the case with the state assembly. As much as we need women in our domestic affairs, we need them in the legislative system too.” Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), the state’s biggest women’s body, has given full moral support to the WWF’s initiatives. “Despite the women working hard in all sectors, they are deprived of getting their due share in the control of power,” said MHIP leader Rozami, who was also chairperson of the Mizoram State Commission for Women. Congress leader Lalsawta said: “We have no problems in nominating women candidates if there are qualified and efficient women contenders.” “The Mizo society in pre-modern times was strictly based on what is known as an extreme patriarchal society. This created ‘private’ and ‘public’ domain, where women were stigmatised to the private sphere that relegated their status in the social and religious life,” sociologist Subhankar Goswami told IANS. “Women therefore had no opportunities to go beyond the scope of the ‘domestic sphere’ and it was only men who controlled and dominated the entire ‘public sphere’. They were not supposed to have any independent religious loyalty, but were required to follow the religion of their husbands.” “Christianity of course is the harbinger of ‘modernity’ as well as women’s liberation in Mizoram. The Christian missionaries are regarded as a symbol of ‘modernisation’ that led to gradual changes in the conservative attitudes of men towards women,” he said.
MZP demands completion of Bru repatriation 3 abducted in Mizoram AIZAWL | November 24
Bomb detonated in Ukhrul
AizAwl, November 24 (PTi): At least three persons have been abducted by suspected National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants from a place in Mamit district of Mizoram, police said today. They were picked up yesterday near Damparengpui village in the district which is located near the Mizoram-Bangladesh-Tripura border. Mamit Superintendent of Police, Rodingliana Chawngthu told PTI over phone that the persons were identified as Deep Mondal, surveyor of a Delhibased company, Sanglianthanga, a resident of Mamit who was driving the taxi and driver of another vehicle. A combing operation was launched in the border areas. No ransom demand had been made till this afternoon, he said. The abductors and the captives were suspected to have crossed the border to Bangladesh, the SP said.
राष्टर् ीय प्रौद्योगिकी संसथ ् ान नागालैड ं
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Ref.No. NIT-N/ADVT/Research/0001/2013, dated 25-11-2013 Ph.D. PROGRAMME
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Arunachal to construct war memorial Job Vacancy The Morung Express seeks applications for the following posts: 1. Sub-Editor (Master Degree, 2 years work experience) 2. Field Reporter (With work experience) Interested applicants may send their CV to opinion2mex@gmail.com Interviews for the said posts will be conducted on November 27, 2013 (Wednesday) at 11:00 am at The Morung Express Office. Address The Morung Express H/No 04, Duncan Basti Dimapur Contact: (O) 03862 236871 (M) 9856230966
C M Y K
4
Dimapur
public discoursE
Monday 25 November 2013
Article 371(A) is equally supreme
A
couple of weeks back some members of (I should say) intellectual authority, had pricked our subconscious mind by unlocking a hitherto unconsidered, un-debated subject matter of whether the Constitution of India or Article 371(A) is supreme. Whether or not, one agrees with their points of interpretation or formulations of their argument in favour of the Constitution, at least their lucid write-up have provoked the subliminal contemplation of the curious and the critic alike. This way, it has also prompted me to analyse and interpret my reading of the subject although from a differing angle. That the Constitution is supreme is unquestionably and indisputably true. The supremacy of our constitution is characterized by the (i) predetermined pledge of The Preamble to the Constitution; (ii) the fundamental right, fundamental law, federal structure etc enshrined from Article
I
’m constrained to issue this clarification to remove all misinterpretations and misgivings in connection with the site permit for up-gradation of Royal Foundation School (RFS), Phek town to higher secondary level. RFS was started in 1999 on public desire and demand for good school in the district headquarters. Over the years, we have given service to the public and in particular, the students to the best of our ability. Whether we have lived up to that expectation or not, it is for the public to judge. Even after completing 40 years of its existence, Phek district H.Q. town has only one Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) and one Government College to take in Class 11 and 12 students. Needless to say, every year, both students and parents have had harrowing times for admission into Class 11. The Government of Nagaland (GoN) had made several attempts till the year 2013 to detach Class 11 and 12 from Phek Government College (PGC) because of its standing policy.
1 to Article 394(A) and also the supplementary scheduled provisions from First to Twelfth Scheduled. The supremacy of the Constitution is also characterized by the fact that the basic structures of the constitution cannot be amended or overridden. It can be taken for granted that Art 371(A) is no less a basic structure of the constitution for reason that first, it is the offshoot of the 16 Point Agreement and secondly the Naga problem remains, even as the GOI has taken full cognizance of it. Political parties like BJP at one point of time demanded that Art 370 should be withdrawn or amended for alleged reason that Kashmir problem had deteriorated because of such extra constitutional provision. The consequent situation in the event of withdrawing or amending such provision, be it Kashmir or Nagaland could be much worse than the present day realty. And the GOI is fully aware of such potential eventuality.
Constitution cannot be truly a constitution without the composite embodiment of constitutional features and provisions. Actually it is the salient features which determine the magnanimity and spirit of the constitution. Likewise a constitution cannot be upheld as supreme unless there are definite inalienable and un-amendable basic structures. Similarly Art 371(A) is not just an integral part but it is an extraordinary part of the composite body called constitution. The Constitution places the Article in a special position with the introductory words: “Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution...” This clearly indicates that the Article falls outside the normal purview of the Constitution or the Parliament. Therefore, the question whether the Constitution is supreme and the Article is subordinate cannot be concluded as it is without argument. Indeed Parliament may have
all the numerical strength to amend any amendable constitutional provision but (i) Parliament may not have the political strength to amend some special provisions and (ii) Parliament cannot amend what the Constitution do not allow. In layman’s term or for the Nagas at least of Nagaland State, Art 371(A) itself symbolizes the Constitution or a mini-Constitution for no other reason than the fact that without this specific Article the Constitution of India is meaningless to them. Also for reasons guaranteed in the Constitution, without our prior approval Parliament cannot impose its will nor can the ordinary constitutional process prevail upon our protected rights. The fact that Parliament or Constitution cannot infringe our protected rights without our prior consent sufficiently confirms equal supremacy of Art 371(A) visà-vis the Constitution. Nevertheless, it is true if, on the pretext of asserting
our constitutional rights and our constitutional status we intentionally or inadvertently overstep beyond the permissible line drawn by the Constitution or provided in the given Article, our irrational behaviour or act can be challenged as unconstitutional and nonconstitutional as well. And certainly we cannot apply unconstitutional or non-constitutional measure to assert the constitutional rights and constitutional status on the pretext whatsoever, that they are being disputed or denied. In other words, for constitution related matter the same matter should be handled constitutionally. Given this fact, the supremacy of Art 371(A) has to be interpreted in the context of the constitution; its supremacy is only in relation to the constitution and it cannot possibly have any legitimacy outside the paradigm of the constitution. Vaprumu Demo Kohima
The Morung Express
Lotha frontal orgs clarify on statement
W
e hereby jointly clarify that Achumbemo Kikon who is well the statement made on 19th aware of the impasse within Kyong Nov. 2013 at Kohima jointly Hoho suddenly turning a blind eye signed by Nchumbemo Tungoe and to it and saying that everything is alPius Lotha is not just the view of few right is not an honest representation individuals or groups from Kohima of his Tribe. and Dimapur as alleged. It is affirmed Over and above, the Naga Hoho that it is the collective decision of the despite an appeal made to them still Lotha Frontal Organizations. imposing its will instead of showSecondly the statement of Vi- ing its concern will only tarnish its popal Kintso instead of appreciat- own image. Isn’t the Naga Hoho’s ing our internal genuine issue like decision to go ahead with the sesa gentleman but rather warning sion in Wokha despite the impasse the owner of the house with conse- at Wokha against its very theme of quences while trying to barge into the session, “Commitments and Reis not a correct reasoning. We hope sponsibilities”? To our honest and that this is not the rationality of Naga humble understanding of it it is a Hoho. But then it is not surprising disgrace to the very theme. Neverthat even the Organizing Commit- theless you may go ahead but the tee convener of NH, Inaka denying only thing is that any resolution or that he was not aware of our prob- decision that may be arrived at will lem but then coming into the picture not have Lotha Tribe’s consent nor of the impasse is also strange. Then will it bind on Lothas. Thungjano Tsanglao Phyochamo Ngullie President, Lotha Eloe Hoho, President, Youth Hoho, Wokha Wokha Likao Lotha Chairman, Kyong Hungjantaren Okho
A.T Lotha President, Wokha District Village Council Chairmen Association
Public clarification on Higher Secondary School, Phek district Hq
It has been only due to lack of other higher secondary school(s) in the town that the government had to retain Class 11 and 12 in PGC, year after years, on public demand. In the backdrop of these problems, over the decade, there has been a great desire and demand for another higher secondary school in the town; a higher secondary school that can produce quality students. Feeling this urgent need, some of the concerned parents have time and again requested me to upgrade RFS to higher secondary level. Considering all aspects of parents and students problems as well as the longterm benefits that will accrue, we took a decision in this giant leap to meet the aspirations of the public. However, the present school site has space problem for any new development. Taking into consideration the distance from all sides, I decided that the proposed higher secondary school should be in a place easily accessible by
both students and parents. Having found no undeveloped space in other parts of the town, I selected our traditionally owned land that was left undeveloped till today. Therefore in the interest of the public, I applied for a site permit from the Deputy Commissioner (D.C), Phek. But my application was turned down. In his reply to my application, the D.C. Phek had claimed that the site applied for, falls within the GHSS boundary and no more land within GHSS campus will be allotted to any individual/organization. I protested against the decision because it was detrimental to the students and their futures. The decision was very discriminatory because, despite the Govt.’s blanket ban on issuing new site allotment, his predecessors had given over 30 (thirty) allotments in the same campus. These included Govt. departments not directly under the Principal GHSS; public organizations; private individuals;
other landowners and two private schools. The GHSS authority had consented to all these. Though they are not the allotting authority, recently, the GHSS has also permitted one new Govt. M.E. school to be established. The GHSS students had never staged any public protest against any of these in the past. After so many years of slumber, they staged a public protest when I sought for the site permit in my own land which they had left undeveloped since the inception of GHSS. As one of the landowners, I have made my stand very clear to all that; provided the incumbent D.C. and GHSS can undo the actions of their predecessors and restore the original boundary of GHSS, I’m more than willing to comply. However if that is not possible, justice cannot be brought about by stopping further allotment to a school which is for the service of the people. It must be remembered that the GoN has been using our land in two loca-
tions within the so-called GHSS campus and its adjacent areas including the larger part of the public ground without proper documentation with us. These two areas of inherited land belong to the direct descendants of Late Rahuo Hoshi and not to the Hoshi Clan as many believed. Our prime land on which we cultivated for livelihood was left wasted for over 30 years. Till such time it is fairly compensated, no one has the right to call us encroachers. The term is applicable to non-landowner occupants only. We wanted to use this vacant land for educational cause only. As per the standing policy of the GoN, the landowners are entitled Grade IV post (regular). But excepting one ad-hoc Grade IV in GHSS and one contingency Grade IV on fixed pay in SIRD, the GoN has not given us any regular Grade IV post. The vacancy created on account of the demise of one Grade IV (regular) from our family was also not given to us.
The district administration had demarcated the GHSS campus exclusively for the development of education in GHSS to which, none of the landowners had opposed. But the problem started only after the district administration and GHSS had used the lands randomly for purposes not intended. Such short-sighted actions had not only defeated the very objective of education development in GHSS but also desecrated the sanctity of the institution and destroyed the natural beauty of the campus. It was unfortunate that, when things had gone out of hands, the responsibility was thrust upon the innocent students of GHSS to cover-up the dirty tracks of authorities concerned. The GHSS students must not forget that they are expected to show some signs of gratitude to us and not the way they had protested. We demand that, RFS should also be issued temporary site permit by applying the universal law of equality. When temporary
site permits could be issued within the so-called GHSS campus to two other private schools who are not landowners, we, as the landowners deserve more. RFS is also giving service to the people as much as these two schools do. There should not be any favoritism towards some and discrimination against one. When justice was denied to me, we had every right to do what we want with our own land that has been left undeveloped and without being compensated in any way. But as law abiding citizens, we have honored the restraining order of D.C for the sake of peace. I appeal to the public not to politicize the education of our children. It is true that we have an issue with the GoN in regard to fair compensation and rehabilitation for our lands used by the GoN. We will seek redressal as per the relevant provisions of the law in our own time. Therefore, we request the public to focus on the issue of upgrading RFS to higher sec-
ondary level which will be in the best interest of the students. As of now, site development can be re-started only when the D.C withdraws his “Restraining order” and issue to us a temporary site permit. We have done everything on our part at his level. We are left with legal option that may take many years to settle the issue as it will not be for the site applied only but for the entire areas of our land used by GoN in three, out of five different locations in Phek. H.Q. Given the fact that landowners have constitutional safeguards; we are confident that justice will be delivered to us sooner or later. The people of Phek town have the right to demand for “right to higher secondary education in our own home town”. This is your call. You can help us to help you and your children. We hope better sense will prevail with everyone. After all, education is for the future of the new generation. Dr. K. Hoshi Phek Town
Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.
_
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 # 2716
DAILY CROSS WORD
CROSSWORD # 2728
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 # 2715
KOHIMA
Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home:
232224; emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 228846 228254 231864, 224117, 227337 228400 232106 227607 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026
STD CODE: 0370
Northeast Shuttles
100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202
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Mrs. Flowers 7th Period ClAss
Bashful
levitiCus
Breanna
stanton
Walters
love
Celeste
mrs. floWers
floWers
mrs. riChmonD
Courageous
oBnoxious
Creative
passion
Diane Kersh
patient
Domineering
patriCK
evan hutto
riCharDson
faith
sly as a fox
hope
sylvia strong
irritating
vivaCious
JessiCa Berry
Wanna Be
Kentroyous
rapper
hall
D I Q N A Y R I R R I T A T I N G T G L S
E C A A A A G E T C U A S P G B E S E G
S W A N N A B E R A P P E R A A R U L V D
A A A L S H I A P Q O T E T A E S Y I O
E E E I L O O V L S L D R W R A A M A T E
Y E H A B P I A T I O P O I M N R S I V
I D S H N E V U G S M G L C V N S A C W
A I N R S O T A A Q B I L F K C A . F U J
H O E U X E C E A T N R E R R W F O S E
X M K O I Z I T O A E A T I E A L X S S
R L H E Y O L O Y L P E F S C A L O E T S
B C N O U O U X P A R B E H T T W Y A I
A I A R S V S O A T I A L A I E E O N C
C S R I T R E O F S I N Y E R V R R N T A
H . D N V U E A S E G R C D E S S E O B
F S D E O P Q I I N L V E S L B L P N E
H U R Y K E F S T O T E M K O D S E W A R
L M H T I U I H N C E V A N H U T T O R
D C O U R A G E O U S M A E B L N E E Y
ACROSS
N U N T J R S Y L V I A S T R O N G L I
1. Provide with a permanent fund 6. Picnic insects 10. Tibetan monk 14. Hack 15. Horn sound 16. Garments of goat hair 17. Juliet’s love 18. Bluefin 19. Pepper____ 20. Nonreligious person 22. Border 23. Sea eagle 24. Superficiality 26. French Sudan 30. Dentists group 31. Consume 32. Black, in poetry 33. Tight 35. Jewish scholar 39. A therapy plan 41. A pike with an ax head 43. Lacquer ingredient 44. Mountain pool 46. Loyal (archaic) 47. Sick 49. Dowel 50. Feudal worker 51. A grinding tool 54. A musical pause
56. Dwarf buffalo 57. Blue blood 63. Counterfoil 64. A style of design 65. Blackbeetle 66. Satan’s territory 67. Biblical kingdom 68. Loosen, as laces 69. Backside 70. Memo 71. Squalid
DOWN 1. Beige 2. Midday 3. Lacking intellectual acuity 4. Curved molding 5. Complete 6. Assistant 7. French for “New” 8. Anagram of “Note” 9. Go without food 10. Deplorable 11. Put up with 12. A skin disease 13. Daisylike bloom 21. Angry 25. Nobleman 26. No more than 27. Cain’s brother 28. Balcony section
29. Matchless 34. Trio 36. Honey insects 37. Fiber source 38. Doing nothing 40. Foundry 42. Anxiety 45. Mei 48. Heavy 51. Ottoman title 52. Go in 53. Spirits 55. A ring-shaped surface 58. Start over 59. Ice cream holder 60. Be worthy of 61. Corrosive 62. Not we
Ans to CrossWord 2727
CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862-282777/101 (O) WOKHA: 03860-242215 (O) 9402643782 MOKOKCHUNG: 0369-2226225/101 (O) 9856872011 (OC) PHEK: 03865-223838/101 (O) 9436012949 (OC)
MON: 03869-290629/101 (O) 9856248962/ 9612805461 (OC)
Toll free No. 1098 childline
O
DIMAPUR: 03862-232201/101 (O) 9436601225 (OC)
TUENSANG: 03861-220256/101 (O) 8974322879
CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE
W
KOHIMA: 0370-2222952/101 (O) 9436062098 (OC)
ZUNHEBOTO: 03867-220444/101 (O) 9856158740 (OC)
08974997923
MOKOKCHUNG:
FIRE STATIONS
STD CODE: 0369
Police Station 1: Police Station 2 :
2226241 2226214
Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home: Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):
2226216 2226263 2226373/2229343
TAHAMzAM (formerly Senapati) STD CODE: 03871 Police Station: Fire Brigade
222246 222491
CHEVROLET CARS PRICE FOR nOVEmbER ‘2013 CAR MODELS
STARTING PRICE
sparK 1.0 mCe
3,38,705/-
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* ConDition apply *3 years / 100,000 Kms Warranty * for petrol *Cashless oWnership maintenanCe offer
For details & Test drive Contact: Urban Station, Near NSC Petrol Pump, 6th Mile Dimapur. Ph No : 240994 CURRENCY EXCHANGE CURRENCY NOTES BUY(Rs) SELL(Rs) US Dollars Sterling Pound Hong Kong Dollar
62.59 100.38 8.05
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57.88
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LOCAL
The Morung Express
Monday 25 November 2013
Dimapur
MEx FILE Young leaders of Northeast connect NPYC meeting Nov 26
Guwahati, November 24 (mexN): Veteran filmmaker Prakash Jha who graced the third edition of Young Leaders Connect caused quite a flutter among the audience after he admitted he was hunting for "a good and authentic story based in the Northeast which the nation can connect to." It may, he said, be based on the story of Irom Sharmila or any other icon from the region. "Also, I will ensure that there is a NE face in my next film," he declared, sending the audience into ruptures of joy. The third chapter of the Young Leaders Connect, themed on “Branding Northeast: Speaking for ourselves”, presented by YouthNet in association with Eclectic Publications at the Guwahati Medical College Auditorium on November 22, 2013, witnessed the coming together of a host of dynamic young leaders from the region and country as they shared space to discuss and brainstorm over issues that are localized to the Northeast. Opening the conclave, Gaurav Gogoi, Co-Chair of Young Leaders Connect-3 and the Co-founder of Youth Forum on Foreign Poilicy stressed on the need to remove the stereotyped negativity, focused on the importance of branding northeast and discussed ways to project a real, collective face of the “fast- transforming” region, said a press release. Chair of Young
Hekani Jakhalu, Director ,YouthNet (extreme left) poses with Mary Kom, Baichung Bhutia and others at the Young Leaders Connect held in Guwahati on November 22.
Leaders Connect and internationally acclaimed footballer Bhaichung Bhutia highlighted the need of such platforms where young leaders from all across northeast can come together and discuss issues to carve a roadmap for the future. Co-Chair Merentoshi Jamir, Minister, Youth Resources & Sports, Govt of Nagaland, in his concluding remarks stressed that polices of the Govt.of India need to be more sensitive to the local needs of the Northeastern region. Binalakshmi Nepram, founder of
the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and Dr. Ampareen Lyngdoh, Urban development, Housing and Labour Minister, Meghalaya graced the inaugural session. This was followed by a highly-interactive session on entrepreneurship eco-system in the Northeast with Bhairavi Jani, Director, SCA Group, Larsing Ming, MD Centre Point Group enterprise, Tanushree Hazarika, MD of Eclectic Publications, and Naresh Mehta, Director, Royal Plaza,
Sikkim in the panel with Rajeev Agarwal, Director, SM Group and CEO of Bitchem Asphalt Technologies, Assam chairing the session. Mary Kom and Bhaichung Bhutia graced the floor and informed the audience through their astute observations on the sporting scene in the NE. Hasina Kharbih, MD, Impulse, chaired the session. Mary Kom, the five time world champion and Olympic medal winner and a proud mother spoke about her inspiring journey through various so-
cial challenges to the top. Prakash Jha also shared stage with regional film director Rajni Basumatary and analyzed the role of films in the country and how it can affect and change a region. They later fielded questions from the audience. Karma Paljor, Business Editor of CNN IBN, Bidyut Kotoky, film director, Ghukhato Sema, Director of Nagaland Music Task Force, Bjorn Denise, Director Mayfair Group, Sikkim, and Teresa Rahman, senior journalist conducted the next session which focused on the need of rebranding the NE region. The session on ‘One Northeast’ was chaired by Jarpum Gamlin, CEO, Eastern Sentinel and featured Mmhonlumo Kikon, member Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Armstrong Pame, IAS, Manipur, Lalnghinglova Hmar, Secy, Mizoram Football Association and musician Rudy Wallang. Borkung Hrangkhawl, rapper from Tripura thrilled the audience with an on-the-spot composition with Victor Vanlalhruia, Musician and CEO of Scavenger Management, Mizoram. Hekani Jakhalu, Director of YouthNet closed the event and thanked the gathering for their support, and hoped the discussions result in action. The conclave ended with performances by the popular Shillong based band Soulmate and Alobo Naga and the band.
No ground to disqualify ‘Time for youth to lead people to peace’ November 24 tion and peacebuilding.” It stated that be part of any communities, religion Imchen, reiterates NPF Dimapur, (mexN): While addressing one an inclusive approach in peace build- and organizations, he said. Fr Anto
Kohima, November 24 (mexN): Responding to the NPCC’s demand for Imkong Imchen’s resignation from the council of ministers, NPF Central has stated that Imchen resigned as home minister on his own volition and owning moral responsibility right after the Wokha incident on February 18, 2013. In a press statement, NPF Central Working Presidents Apong Pongener and Huskha Yeptho responded that "the election commission have cleared and stated that there is no ground to disqualify Imchen as a candidate arising out of the Wokha incident.” With this clearance at hand, “Imchen went to the poll where the people reposed their faith upon his leadership and he was voted back with an overwhelming mandate for the third time.” The statement asserted that Imchen’s Wokha incident “relates to the 11th house and not this 12th house and we also underscore that one cannot resign two times for the same case”. Stating the matter is “sub judice” now, NPF declared it “allow the law of the land to take its own course and reach to its logical end.” Further, it hoped that as a responsible national party, “the NPCC will not mix up the statehood golden jubilee celebration with Imchen’s Wokha incident.”
day seminar on ‘Role of Youth in Peace Building’ at Don Bosco College, Maram, Manipur, Fr. C.P.Anto, director Peace Channel said time has come for the youth to lead the people to lasting peace in the region. While exhorting the youth leaders, he said the youth need to learn about reconciliation, fundamentals of peace building, conflict resolution strategies, informed a press note from the Peace Channel. Peace Channel aims to capacitate local leaders and youth in the institutions and communities to build peace, heal the wounds and prevent future conflicts. “In every small or big conflict, it is the local leaders who have to play vital role in bringing lasting solutions,” asserted the note. “What is now needed is systemic thinking and systems planning to replace the current factionalism, tribalism and fragmentation in the fields of conflict preven-
ing can bring lasting peace in the region. In this regard, Fr Anto stressed on the need for all nodal and apex organizations of the state and region to play a vital role in coming together as often as possible to discuss and plan together for an amicable solution. Demonstrating through various group activities, he said peace cannot be achieved through coercion or by use of force. Pointing out that peace building is basically relationship building, he urged the participants to be pro – active rather than reactive. “Pro-activeness will make a person go forward and do more than what is required or expected of him or her,” he stated. He called upon the young peace club members to take proactive measures to build up the right kind of relationships with people belonging to different tribes and communities. Being part of Quality Peace Club (QPC) is itself is a passport to intervene and
Kiphire District Administration led by DC Kesonyu Yhome (IAS) distribute cash and kind to the victims of fire, which broke out on Saturday night in the heart of Kiphire Town. The fire reportedly burnt down three buildings.
Public awareness on child rights and ICPS
Kohima, November 24 (mexN): District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Wokha held sensitization training on Child Rights and Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) at Wokha Town on November 21 at DC Conference hall. The participants were district administration, police, village council chairmen, Anganwadi workers, gaonburas, dobashis and leaders of NGOs. The guest of honour for the training was Vysan (IAS), Deputy Commissioner, Wokha and resource persons were Phuleto Sema, Chief Judicial Magistrate and Neinguvotuo Krose, Legal Cum Probation Officer. The resource persons said the training was organized to raise public aware-
ness about child rights and protection in India, where ICPS is contributing to the improvement and well being of children in difficult circumstances, as well as reducing vulnerabilities, situations and actions that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from parents. The target groups of ICPS is children in conflict with law; missing and found children; orphaned, abandoned, destitute children; differently abled children; children from families at risk; engaged in substance abuse, HIV/AIDS infected/ affected children; affected by conflict and disaster; street children; working children; trafficked children and abused children. The training also highlighted about the crucial role of Juvenile Justice
Board (JJB) and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in the entire rehabilitation process of children. Vysan (IAS) advised the DCPU officials to have proper co-ordination and promote networking with other Government departments and NGOs for successful implementation of the scheme and to take part in the monthly DPDB meeting and sensitize others in the form of presenting the activities and achievements of ICPS. Renchumi Imti, Programme Manager of State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) highlighted about the functions of SARA which has been set up to streamline and check illegal adoptions as well as child trafficking and other forms of child forced labour.
also highlighted the importance and advantages of functional conflict. It is good and brings positive changes and development in the individual life and communities, however, nonfunctional conflict is negative and needs to be avoided, he stated. Liangamang Robert, Coordinator, Peace Channel presented the role of youth in building peace in the region. He encouraged the youth to capacitate themselves and called upon them to become active peace builders in their respective educational institutions and communities. “The youth have the power to change and they are open to new ideas that bring peace and happiness to their lives,” said Robert. Myoi, one of the participants, the note said, commented at the end of the seminar that she had learned lots of practical tips in building peace in her own life and the lives of her family members.
Kohima, November 24 (mexN): All office bearers of Nagaland Pradesh Youth Congress (NPYC) are informed that there will be a meeting on November 26 at Congress Bhavan, Kohima at 11 am. Therefore, NPYC general secretary (Admin) Yanchamo has requested all to attend the said meeting positively.
FONSESA Federal Council meet
Kohima, November 24 (mexN): There will be a Federal Council meeting of the Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Services Associations (FONSESA) on November 27, 1:00 pm at the conference hall of Engineer-in-chief, NPWD, Kohima. Therefore, all the office bearers, executive and federal council members from the federating units have been requested to attend the meeting positively.
AYO informs Kma shopkeepers
Kohima, November 24 (mexN): Angami Youth Organization (AYO) has informed all shops, business establishments and residents of Kohima to remove/clean up all trashes, unused materials and debris clogging up the drainage, surroundings and the public road on or before November 27. A press note from Medo Yhokha informed that a cleanliness drive will be organized on November 27 by the District Administration and Angami Civil Organisation, where all materials blocking the National Highway will be removed.
Observation on elimination of violence against women
Kohima, November 24 (mexN): A fortnight observation on elimination of violence against women under the aegis of Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) will be formally launched on November 25 here at Red Cross conference hall at 10:00 AM. Parliamentary secretary for women development Pukhayi will grace the occasion as the chief guest. Abei-ü Meru, president Naga Mother’s Association, K. Elias, IPS, DIG Nodal officer of Human Rights & Anti- Human Trafficking, Nagaland Police and C.J. Aier, advocate will also deliver short speech. Introduction will be made by NSCW chairperson Dr. Temsula Ao. The programme will be chaired by Neilavoü Keditsu, director women development while vote of thanks will be proposed by Kakheli Jakhalu, member NSCW.
DC Zbto assigns work for Statehood celebration
ZuNheboto, November 24 (Dipr): In view of the forthcoming 50th Statehood anniversary celebration, a meeting was held at DC’s conference hall Zunheboto on November 19. DC Zunheboto conducted the meeting where work distribution and program for the celebration were discussed. The meeting decided to set up exhibition stalls by all departments for which departments have been asked to approach District Transport Officer, Zunheboto for detail information. Departments have also been informed to complete their stalls before November 30 and further asked to take initiative in organising some events in commemoration of the Statehood. The meeting also entrusted DPRO Zunheboto for news coverage of all the activities. The DC Zunheboto further requested all HODs to contribute their best for the successful celebration of the 50th Statehood anniversary.
Eviction drive at NH-61 underway Diocese of Kohima Kohima, November 24 (Dipr): In continuation the activities of the Task Force constituted in Kohima concludes Year of Faith ofdistrict to remove/evict the encroachments and illegal
Kohima, November 24 (mexN): Diocese of Kohima joined the Catholics all over the world, in celebrating the closing of the “Year of Faith” on November 24. In Nagaland, the main celebration was presided over by Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of the Diocese of Kohima, who presided over the Eucharistic celebration, held at Mary Help of Christian Cathedral, Kohima. Bishop James in his homily, said the ‘Year of Faith’ has been an inspiring opportunity for us (Catholics) all to reflect on faith, and how necessary it was for every moment of our lives – not just one hour on Sunday. “To live and share one’s faith, one must first of all know one’s faith,” he said. “Therefore, one must be serious about studying our faith, by reading the word of God daily, either individually or in our families; reading catholic literature, attending seminars and retreats, etc.” If one is not rooted in knowledge, he asserted, one will be tossed about with ev-
ery wind doctrines. Faith, he said, is not merely an intellectual knowledge. It must animate and direct our lives. The life of a committed Catholic is different from the rest, he said. “Concretely speaking, he will be honest, hard working, sincere, service minded, respectful, content with what he has, moderate, happy.” A press release issued by Fr. Sojan Xavier, Diocese of Kohima mentioned that Year of Faith was called by Pope Benedict XVI in October 2012, and sustained by Pope Francis. It was called to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Second Vatican Council, the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of Catechism of Catholic Church, and beginning of the Synod of Bishops on The Evangelization. The Holy Father, it said, had called the Catholic Church all over the world to a year of intentional reflection designed to rediscover and strengthen the faith that unites them with Christ and one another.
activities along the public roads that causes blockage/ clogging of drains/culverts, mudslides and damage to roads, the team surveyed the Northern Angami Areas Sector- NH-61 starting from Meriema, November 20 onwards. The team led by its Convenor, ADC, Chiephobozou, Bodeno S. Colo cleared the blocked drains and removed the stacks of firewood kept along the national highway till the High Court Junction. The clearing work will continue till Botsa area. President, Northern Angami Public Organization, EE (NH), OC, Police Station Chiephobozou, concerned Village Council Chairmen and President, Northern Angami Youth Organization actively participated in the eviction works. In this connection, ADC, Chiephobozou, Bodeno S. Colo has appreciated the participation of the Task Force members in sensitizing the public on the matter and also expressed gratitude to the public for their cooperation while also appealing for further support from their end till the clearing works are over.
Launch of PenThrill publication
Kohima, November 24 (mexN): The PenThrill Publication House will be launching its first imprint “Four Shades” to mark the formal opening of the publication house on November 27 at Conclave Hall, LCS Building, Kohima at 10:00 AM. Chief Secretary Alemtemshi Jamir, IAS will grace the occasion as the chief guest. PenThrill Publication House is a newly established venture in the publishing world, set up for the love of literature apart from its richer goal to promote gifted writers. “Although starting very small on a home scale basic, PenThrill hopes to make a difference in the lives of many undiscovered poets, writers, and novelists, as much as it does to avoid readers even while we endeavour to revive and strengthen the reading culture of our generation,” a press release stated. Stating there is no dearth of writers, nor lack of rich stories that need to be told, it said that it is the aspiration of the publicaed that the forecast says tion house to get writers down to writing and readers ISON might still be vis- back to reading. ible to the eye in January 2014. On January 8, 2014, the cornet will lie only 2o from Polaris — the North Star. Meanwhile, on January 14-15, 2014, after the Kohima, November 24 (mexN): All the alumni comet itself has passed, of Pfutsero College have been informed that there will but when Earth is sweep- be alumni get together on December 12 at 11:00 AM in ing near the comet's orbit, the college auditorium. On that day, the Pfutsero Colit might produce a meteor lege Alumni Association will be formed. “As this kind shower, or at least some of Association is not only to encourage our social fabric beautiful night-shining network but it is also plus point to the college in reor noctilucent clouds. For gard to National Assessment & Accreditation Council more details, log on to eye- (NAAC) visit to our college in the near future,” a release received here invited everyone to attend the meet. soncometison.in
Science teachers attend workshop on Astronomy & Comet ISON
Kohima, November 24 (mexN) Department of Science & Technology in association with Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi & Paschimbanga Vigyan Mancha conducted a two-day state level workshop on Astronomy & Comet ISON on November 21 and 22 in Kohima. The workshop was attended by science teachers from all over the State. A press release issued by Science Officer, Department of Science & Technology, Kohima informed that ex-
pert resource persons led by Dr Arvind Ranade, Scientist from Vigyan Prasar addressed the workshop. Manash Sharma, resource person from Guwahati Planetarium imparted a night sky view experience to the participants, where one could see the moons of the planet Jupiter, the constellations, the craters of the moon etc through a telescope. Braving the cold winter night the participants and even children came to watch the
telescope viewing session, the release stated. At the inaugural function on November 21, C.K. Nihekhu, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology in his welcome address asked the participants to take the workshop seriously and go back and disseminate to their students in a big way. Resource materials in the form of booklets & CDs were given to all the participants. Comet ISON is a large sun-grazing comet which
was first discovered in September 2012 by Russian astronomers. According to the release, Comet ISON will continue to brighten throughout November as it nears its late November perihelion (closest point to our sun). Comet expert John Hurtle wrote on June 13 that he expects the comet to reach visibility to the unaided eye about three weeks before the November 28 perihelion date. If all goes well, and the cornet doesn't fragment, the
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note said, the terrific heating Comet ISON, when it's closest to our parent star might turn the comet into a very bright object. It may also form a long cornet tail around this time. December 2013 is likely to be the best month to see Comet ISON, assuming it has survived its close pass near the sun intact. The comet will be visible both in the evening sky after sunset and in the morning sky before sunrise. The note further add-
Pfutsero college alumni get-together on Dec 12
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IN-FOCUS
The Power of Truth
The Morung Express MonDAy 25 novEMbEr 2013 vol. vIII IssuE 321
Along Longkumer Consulting Editor
Good Practice To Reform Decision Making
T
he Supreme Court of India in a recent landmark judgement chose to “unshackle the bureaucracy from political control”. Among others, the Centre and State governments have been directed to set up ‘independent’ Civil Servants Boards (CSBs) within the next three months to deal with the transfers and promotion of and enquiries or disciplinary actions against bureaucrats. Against this backdrop is the current discourse going on in Nagaland with regard to the Rules of Executive Business and the proposal of the present State government to bring an amendment to the section dealing with the final authority to approve cases relating to appointment, transfer and posting of Government officers. The present dispensation in Nagaland is of the view that cases relating to appointment, transfer and posting of Government officers need not be put up to the Governor for his approval. It argues that even in other North-Eastern States, such cases, including the appointment of Chief Secretary and DGP, are never put up to the Governor. Hence, the present state government has termed this rule (of putting up the file to the Governor) as outdated and it decided to amend this section of the rule “to be in line with other states of the Indian Union”. While the present government has raised some legitimate question as to whether the highest constitutional office i.e. the Governor should be involved in the transfer and posting of officers when a democratically elected government is in place, yet by all indication, as is also stated in the Supreme Court ruling, it appears to be that the present system is bereft of proper checks and balances and therefore the need for limiting political interference and thereby discretionary powers. In fact, the SC has also asked Parliament to enact a law to regulate postings, transfers and disciplinary action against bureaucrats while pointing out that much of the “deterioration in bureaucracy is due to political interference”. The Nagaland government may be right when it argues that transfer and posting is the prerogative of the ruling executive. Nevertheless, if the present Rules of Executive Business, as is practiced in Nagaland allows for checks and balances, there is no reason why this should not be allowed to continue. Rather than making comparison with other States, Nagaland can be proud of its good practice, even though described as ‘outdated’ and can be a role model contributing towards governance and its reforms. Coming to the setting up of ‘independent’ Civil Servants Boards (CSBs) within the next three months as mentioned in the SC ruling, many States including Nagaland already adhere to such a guideline of having their respective CSBs. The question however remains as to how ‘independent’ they are on all service matters, especially on transfers, postings and disciplinary action. Of course, the political executive in all probability will use its discretionary powers to change or overrule such independent recommendation/s. And that brings us to the other part of the Supreme Court ruling that says that “officials should not act on verbal instructions from political bosses”, observing that this encourages corruption. “If civil servants act on oral instructions they must record it in writing, otherwise the purpose of the RTI will be defeated,” said the court. The need to record oral orders received from political bosses by the bureaucrats is a welcome ruling as it will go a long way towards transparency and fixing accountability. Implementing the SC ruling will not be an easy task given how entrenched the present bureaucracy is. Still then, we should see all such reform measures as gradual steps towards improving the quality of governance.
lEfT wiNg |
Sheikh Qayoom IANS
Kashmiri separatists caught in webs of their own making
A
re the separatist leaders of the moderate Hurriyat group headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq already talking to the central government on the Track-II level while publicly refusing any engagement at the formal level? After hectic discussions earlier this week, Mirwaiz Umer told reporters there are only two solutions to the Kashmir problem: implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir or a trilateral dialogue "between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir". The Mirwaiz, however, added the moderate Hurriyat group is willing to associate with any mechanism devised by New Delhi and Islamabad as long as it is aimed at a resolution of the Kashmir problem. He also said the separatist conglomerate had already spelt out its conditions for a dialogue with the Indian government, which included revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Public Safety Act (PSA) and removal of bunkers and watch towers from various parts of the Valley, besides release of separatist leaders from jails. The Mirwaiz also warned that house arrest restrictions on separatist leaders could result in consequences for which the government alone would be responsible. Before the Hurriyat executive met Monday at its uptown Rahbagh headquarters in Srinagar, the local media had run front-page stories that fuelled intense speculation that the separatist conglomerate would announce a dialogue with Delhi. An earlier meeting of the separatist leaders with the Pakistani prime minister's security advisor, Sartaj Aziz, in New Delhi made many Kashmiris believe the Hurriyat leaders had been asked to start speaking to New Delhi so that the halted peace process between the two countries would get the impetus to move forward. Immediately after meeting Aziz, Hurriyat spokesman and former chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said it was ready to resolve the Kashmir problem at any cost. Senior hardline separatist leader and chairman of his own Hurriyat group, Syed Ali Geelani, is standing his ground that there can be no dialogue with the federal government as past experiences of separatists had proved these lead nowhere. Interestingly, when asked whether the moderate leaders including himself had met former RAW chief A.S. Daulat and some other important people who are votaries of a Track-II dialogue, Mirwaiz Umer said: "So many people come and meet us. What is the harm in that?" In the past too, perceived emissaries of the central government have been meeting the separatist leaders during their visits to Kashmir although both the moderate and the hardline Hurriyat groups had declined to meet the three central interlocutors, Dileep Padgoankar, Radha Kumar and M.M. Ansari, after their appointment following the 2008 Amarnath Shrine land row agitation. The separatist leaders are caught in straitjackets of their own making as they seem to believe both New Delhi and Islamabad have little to offer them - at least till there is a new government in power at the centre next May. To talk or not to talk remains the dilemma that will continue to fox the separatist camp in Kashmir as the mainstream political parties are readying their gloves for the Lok Sabha elections.
THE EDIT PAGE
C O M M E N T A R Y
Gerry Hassan
History in the Making: The Battle for Scotland’s Future
As the Scottish government launches its White Paper on Scottish independence, and the Radical Independence Conference prepares to gather, it's easy to get caught up in the debate and miss the fact that, whatever the result, these events are changing Scotland
T
he campaign on Scottish independence has reached new levels - a battle of competing specialist documents – firstly, there has been an Institute for Fiscal Studies report, matched by a Scottish Government paper on the economic independence, and next week the much anticipated White Paper on Scottish independence. The latter is a milestone in the pro-independence debate. Whatever its content, style and persuasiveness things will never quite be the same again. A devolved administration in part of the UK lays out the case for independence and for formally ending the 300 year old union which has bound Scotland and England together. Yet beneath these is a contest between two competing technocratic versions of the world, shaped by faith in conventional economic growth models which are globally growing more threadbare and discredited by the day. This is the rationalist mindset, illustrating by the actions of both campaigns the limits of such an approach and politics. Then there is the mainstream media. The IFS report was greeted by what can only be called near-hysteria by some of the pro-union newspapers. The Scottish edition of ‘the Daily Mail’ shouted ‘BLACK HOLE: Report exposes SNP economic gap: They’ll have to raise income tax or slash spending’ on its front page; the ‘Daily Telegraph’ that ‘Separation would deal £6bn blow, impartial study finds’. We have had two and a half years of this one-sided Pathe News style propaganda and clearly it is only going in one direction: towards a date with Armageddon on September 18th 2014. All of this: the managerialist politics, the trading of documents, the mix of a partisan hectoring press and hollowed out broadcasters, mean that we tend to forget that all of this is history in the making on a number of levels which need to be understood and contextualised. For one, independence, once the preserve of the eccentric and a lunatic fringe, has become the mainstream. Whatever the qualifications and shortcomings some have with the SNP version of independence, as an idea it has become normalised. All sorts of Westminster politicians of every persuasion have to pay lip service to it being possible and feasible that Scotland as an independent nation would be viable. It doesn’t matter that this might be a
tactical accommodation on the part of some; by constantly saying it the reality on the ground and popular perceptions change. Another is the way that the British state and government is seen in Scotland. Think of the phrase ‘the British state’. In the past even mentioning it marked you as a dangerous left-wing nationalist imbued with the writings of Tom Nairn, Neal Ascherson and others. Now it has entered wider popular usage and behind this lies a shift in how it is understood. The British state has come to be seen increasingly as a problem for Scotland: in how it governs for a small elite and an unrepresentative corner of the UK in a way which harms Scotland’s national interests (along with a majority of the people of the UK). That is a dramatic shift and one that looks irreversible. It has been aided by the cumulative effect of UK Governments and their close alliance with the forces of finance capital. The Cameron-led government has accelerated all of this, but it is about more this or the shortcomings of New Labour and Thatcherism. There is the long term disequilibriums of the UK economy, the continual failure from Macmillan onwards to build a developmental state, and the track record of four periods of post-war Labour Government over 30 years which have not managed to shift the forces of power and privilege of ‘the conservative nation’. We cannot be sure how much of Scotland is listening to the above but there are differing layers of engagement and non-engagement. To many, much of what has passed so far is like mood music coming from another room. They can hear the occasional oft-repeated word or phrase: ‘independence’, ‘Trident’, ‘currency’, ‘role of the Treasury’, ‘North Sea Oil Fund’ but miss any of the nuance and detail. In this, independence is being normalised to differing degrees to different voters. This is mostly inevitable. Scotland has been on a fast track since the SNP’s election victory of 2011 seeing independence move centre stage and doing so in a public realm and political culture which is constrained, heavily managed and historically institutionally defined. There is an element of incomprehension amongst some swing voters about this debate; people who are neither pro-union or pro-independence, but struggling to catch up with the scale of this change. Many are conventionally progressive, normally Labour voters (at least at Westminster elections). Then there is the ‘missing Scotland’: the part of society which has become disconnected from politics and what passes for democratic participation: younger, poorer, more living in social housing and while more prevalent in the West of Scotland situated in every street, village and community of Scotland. This debate isn’t a zero-sum game; it isn’t even just about a binary Yes/ No set of choices. Some of the most siren voices in both camps want to deny this but we should celebrate that this isn’t a Scottish political version of the
Cold War Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). Patrick Harvie, leader of the Scottish Greens, recently made this point in the ‘Daily Record’, talking about the differing visions and possibilities under Yes/No. One is that the pro-independence Greens do not buy into the economic determinist, technocratic version of independence. The debate of shifting perceptions on Scotland, the union and independence, is being supported by a range of books, resources and initiatives. Next week, ‘After Independence’, edited by myself and Prof. James Mitchell of Edinburgh University will be officially published, which addresses in a nonpartisan way all the possibilities of independence. This includes what it can mean in an age of interdependence, the economic, fiscal and cultural contexts, the British dimensions, defence and foreign affairs, and how it could impact geo-politically. It is a predominantly Scottish based set of contributors, but it also draws on English voices (Danny Dorling, Anthony Barnett), Irish (Niamh Hardiman) and Nordic perspectives (Sara Dybris McQuaid). David Torrance recently published ‘The Battle for Britain’ gives a neutral, informed account of the independence debate, how Scotland and the UK got here, possible consequences, and potential future directions. Torrance ends with two futures in the Scotland of 2024: one where Scotland has voted for independence, and another where it remains in the union and continues on its road of self-government within the UK. What both illustrate is that beyond the partisan voices the idea of independence as a fact and possibility is beginning to be seriously explored. This is a watershed moment: a kind of ‘Yes We Can’ or maybe more accurately, ‘Yes We Might’. It opens debate and voters to considering positively imagining what kind of future Scotland they want to live in post-September 18th 2014. This shift can be seen in the point made by Alex Massie that ‘Alex Salmond has already won’. Massie means in this context that whatever the result the entire debate has become framed around Scotland’s ‘journey’ to greater self-government, irrespective of the referendum result. This then leads to the issue of greater self-government for what ends: for what vision, values and idea of a society, rather than being seen as an end in itself? This is where the IFS report and Scottish Government's competing technocratic worlds do not reach out into the emotions and instincts of the debate. Filling this void is the panoply of a range of alternative and radical voices of ‘the third Scotland’: National Collective, Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) (holding their second huge gathering this coming weekend in Glasgow), Jimmy Reid Foundation’s Common Weal project, and a host of others. These two approaches in terms of how they frame independence and political change are dramatically different forks in the road. One is about ‘economic levers’, economic growth, ‘the full powers of a Parliament’ and of-
fering a reassuring certainty. The other is about often vague but emboldening ideas of fundamental and far-reaching political and cultural change, rejecting ‘the Westminster consensus’ and developing an ecology of self-determination. A simple observation. Perhaps each could learn from the other a bit. Maybe the ‘official’ independence offer could learn to adopt a more radical tone and not just offer a future which looks rather like present day Scotland. And maybe the alternative voices could understand some of the complexities and intricacies that independence will entail: tradeoffs, painful choices and understanding distributional consequences. In this Scottish self-government could do with an understanding of timescales, a point made nearly thirty years ago by Bernard Crick. Scotland for example cannot overnight become a Nordic nation; yet we could collectively become more Nordic, and part of this debate is informed by how Scotland wishes to see and place itself geopolitically: as a mainstream, progressive, European nation (and while that doesn’t sound revolutionary, the UK clearly has no interest in any of these three characteristics). Therefore if the independence offer is to transcend the safety first versus radical impatience divide, Crick’s understanding of timescales is crucial. Building a different kind of society and moving a nation geo-politically is a long-term generational project. This requires understanding that there will be many bumpy roads, but developing a three stage approach, of in Crick’s words, ‘(i) short-term tactical reforms within the system to build a basis of popular confidence for advance; (ii) middle-term strategies to change the system; and (iii) long-term persuasion to work a new system in a new spirit’. Much has already changed in this debate which is only just beginning to be understood. Scotland increasingly thinks and acts as a nation which is independent in how it sees itself. The British political elite no longer have an emotional, gut story of Britain which binds the people of these isles together. The Labour and progressive story of Britain for all Ed Miliband’s good intentions does not look likely to be rehabilitated and renewed in the near-future. And then there is the slow semi-detachment of the UK with Scotland going one way and the Westminster village increasingly self-obsessed, insular and fixated on the coming European Union referendum. Maybe the British establishment could do with understanding or showing a small degree of comprehension that Scotland and the nature of the union are altering dramatically and in far-reaching ways at unprecedented speed. This debate is maturing part of Scotland: bringing ideas of taking responsibility for your collective choices centre stage, whereas before there was a universal gripe, blame and evasion culture. Surely and quietly, Scotland is creating a culture of self-government which will continue irrespective of next September’s vote.
had arrived more quickly after the typhoon struck, and there will doubtless be one or more inquiries later on that find various authorities at fault for responding too slowly. But these are islands, and most airports and harbours in the worst-hit areas are out of commission. There were bound to be long delays in getting aid in after a calamity of this scale. But the question that people will be asking elsewhere is: will we really all become victims of this and similar phenomena? Is this truly an early warning of storms so big and strong that they will change the way we live? The answer, of course, is maybe. As scientists always hasten to explain, you can never attribute a particular weather event to climate change with complete confidence. Normal variations in the weather include occasional extreme events as destructive as all but the very worst storms that you would see in a world that was, say, 2 degrees C (3.5 degrees F) warmer. The difference is that in a warmer world, you will see a lot more of these extreme events. But consider this. The Philippines is the most-exposed large country in the world to tropical cyclones. Their tracks most often take them across northern Luzon or the eastern Visayas, and about six to nine of them make landfall each
year. They do a lot of damage, but by and large Filipinos have learned to ride them out. However, you cannot just ride out something as big as Haiyan. What did most of the killing in Samar and Leyte last week was not the high winds (although they stripped off almost every roof in the affected areas). It was the “storm surge” that submerged coastal regions to the height of a two-story building. The pressure at the centre of the typhoon was so low that a “hump” of water 6 metres (20 ft.) high was pushed up beneath the eye and travelled with it. Shelters are not much good against that sort of thing unless (as in Bangladesh) you start building them on elevated platforms. Even then, you may decide that you want to move elsewhere if your city is going to be inundated and destroyed every ten years or so. The east coast of Luzon is very sparsely populated for precisely this reason, and this may be the future that awaits the eastern Visayas as well if storms of this scale become more frequent. The very worst typhoon that hit the Philippines since detailed records began in the 19th century was Thelma, which killed about 5,100 people in 1991. But of the next worst nine, all of which killed over a thousand people, six have happened in the past decade: 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, and
2013. So Haiyan may really be an early warning of what is to come, not just for the Philippines but for China and Japan, Burma and Bangladesh, the Windward Islands and Florida – indeed, for any coastal area that is within a thousand km. of the usual tracks of tropical storms. And at some point, people will decide that it’s just not worth living in such constant danger. They will become, for want of a better word, “climate refugees”. In some areas, it will be frequent mega-storms that drive them out. In other areas it will be drought and desertification, or heat so great that it kills the crops that people depend on. There are going to be a lot of refugees, and not many places that are willing to let them in. Lucille Sering is right: this is an early warning of how the warming will unfold, and what the impacts on human societies will be. But we are getting lots of early warnings, and so far we are managing to ignore them all. Gwynne Dyer has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years, but he was originally trained as an historian. Born in Newfoundland, he received degrees from Canadian, American and British universities. His latest book, "Climate Wars: The Fight for Survival as the World Overheats", was published in the United States by Oneworld.
Typhoon Haiyan: 'Early Warning System' Gwynne Dyer
CommonDreams.org
“W
e’ve been telling the rest of the world we don’t want what’s happening to us to happen to everyone else,” said Lucille L. Sering, the vice chair of the Philippines’ Climate Commission,, as the country struggled to cope with the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. “This is your early warning system...we will all eventually be victims of this phenomenon.” A full week after the typhoon roared through the eastern Visayas, the number of people killed is still unknown. Ten thousand dead is the number being used in the media, but the area around Tacloban city alone may have lost that many. Many other parts of Samar and Leyte islands are still inaccessible to both media and aid workers. Another reason the death toll remains unknown is that the victims are still dying in large numbers, and not all of them from infected wounds and other storm-related injuries. The chronically ill are dying because vital medicines and medical procedures like dialysis are unavailable. They will soon be joined by those who die of infectious diseases like dysentery, cholera and typhoid fever, which become epidemic about a week after sanitation services break down. Most of these later deaths could have been prevented if emergency aid
wRiTE-wiNg
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Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.
7
Monday
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
25 November 2013
PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE
aIlIng from DIstorteD Development So where has the growth gone; who is it for? Who has benefited from the ‘economic miracle’? The middle class have become rich; the rich have become super rich: the super rich stellar rich
Graham Peebles
T
o speak of growth is to allude to one thing only: economic development, GDP and GNP figures, which of course should be increasing for the world to stay on track to become a global shopping emporium. The word has been confiscated by the economically erudite and political ideologues. Monthly statistics are chanted, mantra like, by the politically aligned media, ignored by most and washed away with the residue. They are of no consequence to the majority trying to meet the basic requirements of life and are issued along with other contemporary anxiety stimulants: deficit, austerity and debt to name but three of the more popular narcotics of control. India has recorded two delightful decades of around 9% ‘growth’, which has produced umpteen rupee-resplendent billionaires who live in decadent luxury in the cities. Along with the government, which is seduced by all things corporate, they turn a comfortable blind eye to the hundreds of millions living in rural poverty and those in slums on the other side of town, where children play beside open sewage, where there are no functioning toilets or latrines: where child malnutrition is rife and where there are no health care facilities worthy of the name. The billionaires sit aloft a hierarchy of corporate wealth and power: they tower over the lesser millionaires (in 2012 there were 152,750 US $ millionaires); and see in the far distance the desperately upwardly mobile that form a gaggle called the ‘new middle class’. This group of city dwellers has benefited greatly from twenty years of market liberalization and government reforms, which have shifted support from the needy to the corporate greedy, resulting in increased levels of rural poverty and a multitude of suffering. The United Nations Human Development Index (UNHDI), which “represents a push for a broader definition of well-being and provides a composite measure of three basic dimensions of human development: health, education and income”, paints a vivid picture of Indian life after years of economic flowering. India comes in 136th out of 187 countries. Factor in inequality “in each dimension of the HDI”, plus gender inequality (considering the disadvantages facing women and girls), and India plummets even further down the table. So, following P. Sainath’s noble lead, one asks who is this growth for? Not the poor, the marginalized and dispossessed, the Dalit’s (untouchables) or Adivasi (indigenous) people, the smallholder farmers, children and certainly not women. Inequality and illness The inequities in health care provision represent the extreme levels of inequality and social injustice pervading the country, as The Lancet makes clear, “mainly because of
insufficient government funding for health.” Although the urban population continues to grow (currently thought to be around 377 million), by most estimates 75% of the population – (a staggering 900 million people) live in rural areas, where health-care is universally appalling. It is here in relation to health, disease and mortality that statistics have meaning to the people. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India as a whole accounts “for 21% of the worlds global burden of disease”: as a % this is greater than the population ratio. The 21% is concentrated in rural areas where diseases lead to huge numbers of deaths that, correctly diagnosed and given access to treatment, are preventable. It is thought e.g. that over 2 million deaths occurred in 2008 due to preventable causes, such as diarrhea, dengue, measles, typhoid and malaria. The middle and upper classes seduced as they are by multinational western exports of fast food, cigarettes and alcohol have seen stark increases in obesity-related illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular problems, records Health India. Mahatma Gandhi believed the soul and spirit of India rested in its village communities. He said: “The true India is to be found not in its few cities but in its seven hundred thousand villages. If the villages perish, India will perish too.” Neglected and ignored, rural communities are indeed perishing. Adivasi people, who have lived on the land for generations, are being displaced in their millions as mining companies move in to extract the bauxite, iron-ore and tin. Trapped into debt and crushed by the corporate take-over of the countryside, smallholder farmers, of which there are an estimated 120 million (down 9 million since 2001), are committing suicide at the unimaginable rate of two every hour. Huge infrastructure projects are underway throughout the country, the waterways are being swiftly privatized and villagers, with no access to adequate health care, are dying in their millions. One imagines the ‘Father of the Nation’ would be ashamed, as the current government should be. Within rural areas there is a dire lack of healthcare resources; human and material, including medicines as well as properly equipped Primary Health care centres (PHCs), which are the main state-run facility. Although India is said to have a universal health care system administered by the various states, who have as their “primary duty” as stated in the constitution, “raising the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health”, up to 60% of
the population do not have access to adequate health care provision. The conurbations, (with just 25%/30% of the population), have four times more doctors and three times more nurses than the PHCs in rural India; this means that of the latter almost 10% have no medical staff at all, 40% are without lab technicians and almost 20% lack a resident qualified pharmacist. The results of this dearth of medical support is (and here are some more statistics that matter) that 50% of all villagers have no access at all to allopathic healthcare providers, 10% of all babies die before their
first birthday and 50% of all rural babies are likely to be permanently stunted for want of proper nutrition, according to Health India.
Water and waste Limited access to safe drinking water coupled with non-existent sanitation in rural India (and city slums) is a major factor in the spread of parasitic and bacterial infections, causing disease and malnutrition. Over a third of people living in villages have no access to toilets, while 50% of the population defecate in the open, added to which UNICEF, finds that “44% of mothers are disposing of their children’s faeces in the open”, resulting in “a very high risk of microbial contamination (bacteria, viruses, amoeba) of water which causes diarrhoea in children”, which is the primary cause of childhood mortality. Within rural families they found that only 11% “dispose of child stools safely”, whilst “80 % are left in the open or thrown into the garbage”, and shockingly, “only 6% of rural children less than five years of age use toilets”. Drinking water is another major source of disease, and whilst UNICEF makes clear that access to safe sources of drinking water has improved, (from 68% in 1990 to 88% in 2008), with under a quarter of slums
The Morung Express
dwellers having access to this most rudimentary of needs, inequality poisons even their most basic human right. The problem is made worse, they say, by falling levels of groundwater, groundwater pollution and the widespread natural occurrence of “arsenic and fluoride in the groundwater”, which pose a major health threat. Proper sanitation methods and clean drinking water are not an issue of concern within the high-rise middle class city developments, or the gated communities in Delhi and Mumbai: they have toilets, bidets and Evian, or some such. It is the 75% that are left without health care, with restricted access to safe drinking water and no sanitation facilities. Where has the 9% growth gone? The divide between the tiny percentage that have benefited from economic development and market liberalization, and the vast majority that have been condemned to a life of extreme poverty and illness, is approaching cosmic proportions. Most people live in rural areas, but the beneficiaries of growth have primarily been city residents, where wealth is concentrated in the coffers of a handful of men. It is said that the 100 richest Indians own wealth equivalent to 25% of the national GDP (Annual GDP $1.84 trillion 2012), and, whilst Mukesh Ambani the chairman of Reliance Industries earns $18 million a year two-thirds of the population (according to the World Bank), lives on less than $2 a day. The 9% begins to rise to the divisive surface. Two decades of economic growth have granted great benefits to the Ambani’s of India, but no improvements to the lives of rural people, and in particular have effected no change to health provision. Child malnutrition for example, which at 48% (UNICEF) is the highest in the world, fell by just 1% in the years since 2001. Gender inequality compounds the economic and social divisions in the country. The treatment endured by women is universally appalling across a range of areas. Rape, (although barely reported-there is little point when cases take years to process), is endemic, female infanticide is widespread (12 million girls were aborted during the last two decades according to the United Nations UN), dowry killings commonplace: a trinity of abuse at the top of a list of mistreatment suffered by Indian women (specifically but not exclusively poor women). Add to this poor maternal health, causing 57,000 maternal deaths in 2010 (one mother dying every ten minutes, most of which occurred in rural areas), making India home “to the greatest burden of maternal, newborn and child deaths in the world”, (the
WHO report). Forced marriage, although illegal is commonplace causing almost 50% of Indian women to (reluctantly) marry before they reach 18, resulting in early pregnancies, high morbidity and mortality rates, to say nothing of the unrecorded levels of depression and anxiety. Poor health care provision for women sits within a broader, horrific picture of gender inequality and prejudice, state neglect and female suffering. Collectively, according to a recent study by TrustLaw, they make India, the worst country for a woman to live out of the G20 nations, one place below Saudi Arabia.
Private/public Health care is offered by public and private providers: with the public primary health care centers (PHCs) understaffed and underresourced with restrictive opening times, as well as long waiting times and in many cases sited miles from villages, the majority of visits (92%) are made to private centers. Around 70 % of private visits are made by city dwellers. They pay for their care by making ‘out of pocket’ payments, i.e. not covered by health insurance, which, The Guardian reports, only 11% of the population possess. The private sector has the monopoly on medical staff and materials, with, according to Government figures, 80% of all doctors, 26% of nurses, 49% of beds and 78% of ambulatory services working for the corporate boys. Care is expensive (up to nine times the cost of PHCs), and consistent with corporate irresponsibility, (sanctioned by government neglect and weakness); according to Gram Vaani it is “often unregulated and variable in quality. Besides being unreliable for the illiterate, it is also unaffordable by low income rural folks”. With 9% growth for two decades one would expect a major level of government investment into health and education, however this is far from the case. Spending on public health care according to the WHO is 1.1% of GDP, placing India below Pakistan, China and Nigeria in the spending table. Cash (or out of pocket) payments are increasing (up to 80%) amongst those who have the money, but for the majority health care is an unaffordable luxury. In a country with more people living in poverty than all Sub-Saharan African countries combined, an additional 40 million a year are estimated to be forced into destitution by medical costs. So where has the growth gone; who is it for: who has benefited from the ‘economic miracle’? The middle class have become rich; the rich have become super rich: the super rich stellar rich. This tiny group of Delhi beneficiaries have as Arundhati Roy puts it, “ascended into outer space from where they look down at the indigenous people and the poor.” And as for the poor: their numbers have grown, their land has been stolen from them, their problems increased: they have been condemned to a life of illness, exploitation and suffering. And their voices are ignored.
POLL RESULTS
Is the IncreasIng rIch-poor gap threatenIng the overall progress of the nagas? Some of those who voted YES had this to say: • Definitely Yes, for any society to progress there should be equity, accessibility and equal distribution of wealth and resources. But, today all these principles are swept under the carpet by our so called leaders. They have shamefully undo all these tenets for their own glory and wealth. Some of our politicians and contractors proudly buy cars that cost crores of rupees as present for their children’s wedding, while there are some people who earns just one thousand per month to run their family. This is the wide gap we live in. To tackle this problem, we have to first tackle our representatives, who are ironically, the richest in our society. If we allow these ‘idiots’ CN Rao’s term for politicians, to do what they want, than the gap will keep increasing. • Yes, Rich become richer day by day and poor become poorer because of some loopholes in the present society. • Yes, the rich-poor gap is very distinct and created classisms in a classless Naga society. The rich maintain their standards and accumulate, give best education to their children, get best treatment when they are sick. The moveable development funds – public property are converted into private property which is done at the expense of development. Development funds are hijacked to make the rich richer and not the poor rich as we see many sold out their lands at every given challenges. A strong system to monitor development funds and activities, change the mindset/attitude from ‘I’ to ‘WE’ is the need of the hour. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” • It has become the duel between haves n have nots in our society. whilst the rich ones try to maintain their level of luxuries, the poor are struggling to put two square meals in a day. Such is the difference that any development due is not reaching the common men as the ones in power are maintaining their luxurious lifestyles. • When will Nagas learn to built the society by bringing in developments and sharing the right-
ful dues n commitments with the common man. It is sad to say the rich are becoming richer whilst the poor are poorer by the day. • 100% yes. n nothing else.. 'religion' the ring leader. • Yes, The minister Incharge thinks its his right to cut percentages from every bills going via his table. The bureaucrats think its theirs too. Then the officials in the lower ranks think its their own money n plunder them at will. If this is whats going on now... Don't expect any bridging of the gap between these sections of the crowd. • If we can do part away the developmental works from these pack of wolves (ministers, bureaucrats, officers, common YES no thieves, undergrounds, various NGOs, societies, etc etc)....then we have a chance of seeing the gap shortening. • Yes Right now the poor n the rich are all bumping their a*** plying all these riverbed highways we call streets. So whether we bother about
72%
06%
the progress of any sorts or not, at the moment we r all sharing the same roads because the a*** are the same be it rich or poor. • Yes. It starts at the elections. People stop the vote for cash menace. Elect the right people in the right way and they will carry out the right policies for equal growth. Even those who are educated are knowingly doing the wrong things. The gap between rich-poor will keep on growing if the citizens continue to sell their rights to the corrupted. • The government keeps propagating about development, but this development they are doing is not for all the people of Nagaland. This is the problem and because of this unequal and unfair approach, majority of the people are living in poverty. So OTHERS when the development policy of the government is not inclusive, there is bound to be discrimination and unequal growth in the society. This exclusive development policy of the government will only enrich the rich and will cause more poverty to the poor people.
22%
Some of those who voted no had this to say: • NO! The problem in Nagaland does not lie in the rich-poor gap BUT due to the corrupt-honest factor. There are some hardworking people who become rich through their efforts and they contribute or become good role models for our society while we are plagued with many corrupt people who become rich by hoarding the development funds meant for the progress of our land. So I feel the survey should emphasise on CORRUPTION rather than RICH! • It should not b the cause, the first thing would be education. Education skills n patterns should b upgraded with modern technique and skills. Schools n colleges should b well equipped to impart proper knowledge down to JP schools or village primary schools, imparting good education should not b focused only in towns or cities...gaps has to be filled from grass root level, if this can b applied I believe the gap between the rich n poor wouldn't b a threat towards progress. Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say: • One aspect to do away rich-poor gap being that citizens must check and curtail monopoly of businesses & contracts by power mongers. Its sad to see the rich buying off money affordable by the poor. The result being rich becoming richer and vice versa. • Corruption maybe mentioned, yet y people have widening gap, first lets review some points... do people have proper knowledge of govt. schemes or grants like sgsy, iay, nrega, pmegp n many other for the people? An instance most people in nagaland doesn't even know what is the current wage rate for mgnrega. Now its ignorance resulting with communication gap. But y tis communication gap? • The Nagaland government should be more wary about this trend because it will only lead to more social problems and conflicts in the future. The richpoor gap cannot be ignored. All sections of the society should confront this kind of development.
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
Monday 25 November 2013
The Morung Express
Who killed Aarushi-Hemraj? Verdict today
Ghaziabad, November 24 (PTi): Nearly five-and-a-half years after the sensational killings of teenager Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj, a special CBI court will on Monday pronounce its verdict whether her parents are guilty in the case which saw several twists and turns. Special Judge S Lal, who is retiring soon, will give his decision after a 15-month-long trial of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, both out on bail at present, on charges of murder and destruction of evidence in the killing of their 14-year-old daughter and servant on the intervening night of May 15-16, 2008 at their Jalvayu Vihar residence in Noida. The probe followed a sine curve with varied theories from the investigating agencies - Uttar Pradesh Police and CBI - starting with father Rajesh Talwar being a suspect to the domestic servants of their friends and back to the dentist and his wife. The case has been under intense media glare throughout and in August 2009 the Supreme Court restrained the media from sensational or scandalous reporting of the matter even as the Talwars accused CBI of changing the course of investigation and purported leaks “damaging” their reputation. Uttar Pradesh Police
started its probe on the premise that Hemraj had killed Aarushi and escaped from the crime scene. After discovery of Hemraj’s body on the terrace of Talwars’ flat next day i.e. on May 16, 2008, under dramatic circumstances, the needle of suspicion came on Rajesh who was taken into custody by the UP Police. The sensational allegations made by UP Police that killer was none other than father of the teenager who acted in rage after finding Aarushi and Hemraj in “objectionable but not compromising” position accentuated media attention. Amid growing media scrutiny, the then UP Chief Minister Mayawati handed over the case to CBI. A CBI team under Joint Director Arun Kumar concluded that murders were allegedly committed by Krishna Thadarai - help at Talwar’s clinic, his friend Rajkumar - a domestic servant with Praful and Anita Durrani who were Talwars’ friends, and Vijay Mandal, driver of Talwars’ neighbour. These findings were trashed by the then CBI Director Ashwani Kumar who poked holes in the theory by underlining loopholes in the arguments given by Arun Kumar. In September 2009, Kumar constituted a new team under Joint Director Javeed Ahmed and the then SP Neelabh Kishore to look
into the case afresh with freedom to choose their team members for the case. After nearly an year of intense probe, the new team cleared the servants and hinted at the role of Rajesh Talwar on the basis of circumstantial evidence. The team filed a closure report in the case on December 29, 2010 citing “insufficient evidence” which was rejected by District Magistrate Priti Singh who ordered that Talwars should stand trial in the case. “In such a case where the incident has happened inside home, visible evidence cannot be ignored,” the court said. The Talwars had subsequently moved the Allahabad High Court, which dismissed their pleas to quash the trial court summons and the proceedings initiated against them. The couple then approached the apex court but were denied relief. The trial in the sensational murders started on June 11, 2012. The case went on for nearly one and a half year during which prosecution led by CBI’s Deputy Legal Advisor R K Saini presented 39 witnesses to buttress their case while defence team presented seven witnesses. On January 25, 2011, Rajesh was attacked by a youth with a meat cleaver on the Ghaziabad court premises. The action in
court at times had shades -Aarushi, Hemraj, Rajesh of a Bollywood drama and Nupur--only two were alive hence cirwhen defence cumstanlawyer
Arushi Talwar. (File Photo)
performed a demonstration of the attack of golf club on motorbike helmet and a dragging scene by putting a man in a bed sheet before the judge, claiming that dentist couple would have been unable to drag Hemraj’s body to terrace. The prosecution started its final arguments on October 10 summing up their case against Rajesh and Nupur running into nearly seven days while defence started its arguments on October 24 and completed it on November 12. CBI pressed the theory that during the night of murders there was no evidence of any forced entry and out of four people-
tial evidence pointed towards the dentist couple’s involvement. Saini strongly put forward circumstantial evidence--no outsider entry, last scene theory, dressing of crime scene, destruction of evidence, tampering with Aarushi’s body and cover up of Hemraj’s body with cooler panel on the terrace--which, he claimed, go against Talwar couple. “Sudden and grave provocation theory, as told by the defence, is not our theory,” Saini said adding that Rajesh Talwar with golf club in his hand entered Aarushi’s room in order to commit crime. “Talwars tried to mislead this court by creating sud-
Transform police system, says President
New delhi, November 24 (iaNS): President Pranab Mukherjee has called upon leaders of police and security forces to “transform the police system” to bring it in sync with the requirements of a modern democratic nation. The president was addressing delegates of the annual conference of directors and inspectors general of police from the states and union territories, and heads of central police organisations when they called on him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Saturday. The president, according to a press release issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan Sunday, said police officials must ensure that the grievances of common people are addressed, and must work in partnership with other stake holders to create a peaceful and secure atmosphere, con-
ducive to the nation’s growth and prosperity. The president also expressed disappointment that the police sometimes fail to win the confidence of all sections of society, and said the rule of law, a cardinal principle on which a modern state rests, must be strictly enforced, with promptness and fairness. He called on the leaders of the police forces to provide good and able leadership through their actions and values. Mukherjee said external and internal communication must be strengthened by the police forces, to deal with the worrying increase in communal tensions. Communication with people has to be maintained; at the same time, communication within the organisation, right down to the beat level, must be improved,
‘Maoists now contract killers’
raNChi, November 24 (iaNS): It’s not news that Maoist guerrillas have been killing people to extract levies in Jharkhand. But now, police say they have evidence that Maoists in the state are indulging in contract killing. Jharkhand’s Khuti district is one the worst Maoist-violence hit districts of the state. Here, people are killed by Maoists almost every week. The two Maoist organisations - Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) and People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) - are active in the district. Both these outfits are also engaged in warring against each other. Hundreds of people have been killed in Khuti district this year by Maoist factions. “We have now found a new trend -- Maoist guerrillas are indulging in contract killing. We have blocked levy collection at many points, and to generate resources, PLFI members are indulging in contract killing,” a police official from Khuti district told IANS. “People engaged in rivalry or enmity are hiring PLFI members at rate of Rs.10,000 to Rs.30,000 to execute contract killings,” the police official said. Police earlier considered the killings an outcome of rivalry between the CPI-Maoist and PLFI. Investigations into some cases of murder, however, revealed the new trend. Maoist guerrillas are active in 18 of Jharkhand’s 24 districts.
Facebook, Twitter to be brought under Indian law
New delhi, November 24 (PTi): A recommendation was made to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday for bringing foreign content-provider like Facebook and Twitter under Indian laws like in other countries. This was conveyed by Director Intelligence Bureau Asif Ibrahim on the concluding day of the annual conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police in his address to welcome the Prime Minister. Outling the deliberations for the last two days, Ibrahim said there was a special discussion on vulnerabilities and steps needed to be taken in order to overcome the challenges in cyber space which include constant upgradation of technology through in-house efforts. He said the recent communal incidents had brought out that social media platform was being used for instigation of crowd and it was observed that while security agencies in India were handicapped with technical and procedural constraints, foreign law enforcement agencies have unfettered access to social media. “The legal framework in India in this context is still evolving. It was recommended that foreign content providers be brought within the ambit of Indian laws supplemented with creation of our own cyber space”, he said. When contacted, Director General of Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-IN) Gulshan Rai said foreign content providers were social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and this recommendation, if accepted, will make all these websites answerable to Indian law, he said.
he said. District and local administration must notice communal tensions in their initial stages, and take measures to contain them quickly, he said. The president called on the police to do everything to prevent corruption and ensure accountability and probity in public life. He cautioned, however, that it would be inappropriate for police agencies to sit in judgement over policy formulation. The president noted that with growing urbanisation, dimensions of crime have increased, adversely affecting all segments of society. However, the worst sufferers were women and children, and violence against these vulnerable groups needed to be dealt with firmly. Effective policing of urban areas, especially metro-
politan cities, must be attended to with urgency, the president said, adding that affirmative police action was needed to ensure the safety of marginalised sections of society. The president also noted the challenges that the police face in their functioning, and the constraints of manpower and logistics. He said that the police forces in the country had acquitted themselves well, despite the challenges. He urged senior police officers to take care of the welfare of the constabulary and their families. The police in India should be a proactive service provider - a law enforcing body and a partner in growth, development and peace, the president said, complimenting the forces for their commitment, dedication and service to the nation.
den and grave provocation theory at final stage of this case,” Saini had told the court. Quoting from Talwars’ then maid Bharti’s statement, he argued when the maid reached for work on May 16, 2008 morning the outermost door was locked from “inside” which shows outsider could not be involved in the crime and it was the handiwork of someone who had been present in the house. Defence lawyer Tanveer Ahmed Mir countered it saying the latch of their iron gate was locked from “outside” and not from inside besides Hemraj’s room was next to the main entrance of the flat, with one door opening into the flat which makes it clear that anyone can access the flat through his room. During final arguments, Saini told the court that postmortem doctors of both victims in their statements had said that the injuries seen on Aarushi’s forehead and Hemraj’s head are possible with the golf club. Refuting the claims, Mir said if CBI case is believed Hemraj’s injuries by golf club would have resulted in a pool of blood which was not the case at the crime scene. “...but in this case no blood, no DNA, no biological fluid and no finger prints which belonged to Hemraj were found in
the Aarushi’s room and it suggests that Hemraj was not murdered in Aarushi’s room,” Mir had told the court. The defence also claimed injuries inflicted with a golf club would have resulted in a “depressed fracture” where as the Aarushi’s post-mortem reports show a line fracture. A major set-back for CBI was when one of its crucial witnesses Bharti, then maid for Talwars who was first to arrive at crime scene, told the court that she deposed in a way she was told. The defence also alleged that CBI mishandled evidence of 12 golf clubs and golf clubs bag. Mir claimed that these were handed over to CBI inspector Richpal Singh on October 30, 2009, but a set of these golf clubs was tied with cloth in such a way that golf clubs’ heads and handles remained naked which indicates mishandling on the part of CBI. The prosecution cited DNAs of Aarushi and Hemraj were found on Ballentine’s scotch bottle seized by the Noida policeon the morning of May 16, 2008. “This indicates the involvement of the dentist couple in the murder. Suppose, if killers were outsiders, they would not have guts to consume whisky from the bottle after murdering Aarushi and Hemraj. As per CBI’s theory, Rajesh Talwar had
consumed whisky from his Ballentine’s scotch bottle during murders with small gaps,” Saini had argued. Arguing against this piece of evidence, Mir said when Ballentine’s scotch bottle was sent for forensic examination, forensic expert AD Shah found five finger prints from the bottle, but these did not match with the dentist couple. “Besides, 24 chance prints were also taken from different places like TV remote, walls, Aarushi’s bedsheet, but no blood or DNA belonging to Hemraj was found from Talwars’ residence,” he argued. The agency also depended on the alleged dressing up of crime scene and tampering of Aarushi’s body by cleaning her private parts by Talwars. On the other hand, Talwars’ lawyer said that probe agency tutored maid Bharti to testify against the Talwars and also tampered with evidence to implicate Talwars in Aarushi-Hemraj murder case. Saini in his concluding arguments had said that charges of murder with common intention and destruction of evidence are proved against Rajesh and Nupur Talwar besides Section 203 of IPC is also proved on Rajesh Talwar for registering wrong FIR at Noida’s Sector 20 police station. On the other hand, Talwars’ lawyer Mir had said that their arguments prove that Talwars have not committed crime.
An Indian health worker administers polio vaccine to a child at a vaccination center in Kolkata, on Sunday, November 24. The polio virus, which usually infects children in unsanitary conditions, attacks the nerves and can kill or paralyze. It can spread widely and unnoticed before it starts crippling children. On average, about one in 200 cases will result in paralysis. (AP Photo)
Goa cops quiz Tehelka staff, return without meeting Tejpal
New delhi, November 24 (iaNS): A Goa Police team returned from the capital Sunday after questioning Tehelka’s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury and three witnesses but did not establish any contact with the magazine’s founder Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague. “We have not established contact with Tarun Tejpal yet,” Deputy Inspector General of Police O.P. Mishra said at a press conference at the police headquarters in Panaji. He said the police team met and examined Chaudhury and other Tehelka employees in Delhi. “They have also taken relevant documents in possession and some electronic items,” he said. Mishra also warned that media per-
sons and houses naming the victim and putting out indicative as well as salacious details of the case in the public domain could be prosecuted. A threemember Goa Police team, which arrived in the national capital Saturday, questioned Chaudhury for over nine hours from 4.30 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday at the magazine’s south Delhi office. Her other colleagues -- Shougat Dasgupta, G. Vishnu and Ishan Tankha -were questioned for around four hours Sunday at Goa Sadan, the state government’s guest house in New Delhi area. “I was questioned for about nine hours. I fully cooperated and shared every document that is relevant ... it was a good experience. I hope (for) clarity in truth and justice,” Chaudhury told reporters after
the questioning. Asked about the three colleagues, who too were quizzed, she said: “The only thing I would say to everybody involved is that they should speak the truth fearlessly and I really hope some justice and truth comes into this case finally.” The victim had mentioned the names of the three in her email to Chaudhury. According to sources, Goa Police have seized the central processing unit (CPU) of Chaudhury’s computer as well as her laptop and iPad along with the CPU of Tejpal’s computer. Some CDs and a few hard discs were also seized from the Tehelka office. “Goa Police also seized the joining and transfer letter of the victim,” said a Delhi Police source.
But Tehelka denied seizure of any documents. The Goa Police probe team returned home Sunday afternoon. The young Tehelka journalist in her complaint to Chaudhury had said Tejpal sexually assaulted her twice in the elevator in the Club House section of the Grand Hyatt five-star resort during the news magazine’s high-profile ThinkFest conference earlier this month. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) Sunday asked Mumbai police to ensure security of the woman journalist. The NCW spoke to the Mumbai police after a statement was issued by the woman, who is based in Mumbai, that she fears “intimidation and harassment” as Tejpal’s family is putting pressure on her family.
American victims’ family campaigns for forgiveness (5 yrs after 26/11)
mumbai, November 24 (iaNS): “I say, let the terror fade and let the light of love shine through all what we do on a daily basis &hellip.” That’s the measured response of an American woman, Kia Scherr, who lost her husband Alan, 58, and only daughter, 13-year old Naomi, in the Nov 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attack. Alan Scherr and Naomi were dining in a restaurant in the Hotel Oberoi Trident that fateful night when a couple of heavily armed Pakistani terrorists indiscriminately rained bullets on the people. The terrorists were part of the 10-strong group which had sneaked into Mumbai earlier that evening through the Arabian Sea route and created mayhem in the city for 60 hours, killing 166 and injuring around 300. Alan and Naomi were in India as part of a meditation group with Synchronicity Foundation for Modern Spirituality (SFMS) to in-
troduce hi-tech meditation to Mumbai. “I feel we can best honour the memory of those who lost their lives by rising from the ashes of darkness and loving like extremists. That means forgiveness, compassion, understanding, collaborating to increase the ‘Peace Index’ by strengthening the pillars of peace through partnership with education, business and government,” Scherr told IANS on her annual visit to Mumbai through the One Life Alliance (OLA) of which she is a prominent activist. Making it a point to return to India every year around the 26/11 anniversary, she campaigns to expand and bring more people together into the circle of love and peace. Scherr admits it’s going to be a long journey. “But then, all journeys are, and people, even the victims of a mindless attack or a holocaust, have to get along and
move ahead in their lives with love, tenderness and empathy,” she explains in a calm voice. With this objective, she keeps coming to India. This time, she will be here for at least six months and administer pledges to people from different walks of life, including children in schools run by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Founded by Charles Cannon, OLA is a small group of people affected by the 26/11 attack who spread the message of peace, love and compassion among people, communities and children. They had publicly forgiven the terrorists for the carnage, because, as Scherr emphasised, “life is meant to be lived in harmony”. “We ask the children to take a pledge a day which can be as simple as just smiling, being polite and showing consideration for fellow beings, or even looking at the world with wonder and amazement. The
children are the future and inculcating love and empathy is easy for them to achieve as the world and life is like a miracle for them,” Scherr said. Daily for a month, a new pledge is added and Scherr says that people who do it find their lives changed, become more sublime and and beautiful. The OLA has collaborated with nearly a dozen schools in Mumbai, Meerut and Chennai and with institutions like Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Tab Cabs, Wellness Springs Mental Health in Kalyan (Thane), in slums and in Muslim pockets. Through OLA, Scherr is also working on similar efforts with a couple of people in Pakistan through the good offices of Amineh Hoti, director, Dialogue and Action, to create the first inter-faith academic course in that country. “She (Hoti) has invited me to write a chapter for her textbook on the Dignity of Differences. I am also working
with an NGO that trains teachers of underprivileged children and runs a school for rag-picker kids,” she said. Communicating through Skype, the NGO has included peace education in their programmes using Scherr’s peace education tools that outline 30 ways to respect the dignity of life. Scherr is also working with two people from Rwanda and some businessmen in Mexico City, while a couple of schools in the US have also started using the peace programme. To a question whether the world will become a safe place in the future, Scherr says it is best to focus on what is possible in the face of what the reality is. “We can always do better. We can look at the gaps in security, look at what does not work and try a new approach as we increase technology to blend with improved relations with each other and among countries,” Scherr concludes with a smile.
International
The Morung Express
Monday 25 November 2013
Dimapur
9
Six powerS clinch breakthrough deal curbing iran’S nuclear activity
Geneva, november 24 (reuters): Iran and six world powers clinched a deal on Sunday curbing the Iranian nuclear programme in exchange for initial sanctions relief, signalling the start of a gamechanging rapprochement that could ease the risk of a wider Middle East war. Aimed at ending a long festering standoff, the interim pact between Iran and the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia won the critical endorsement of Iranian clerical Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. U.S. President Barack Obama said the deal struck after marathon, tortuous and politically charged negotiations cut off Tehran’s potential path to a nuclear weapon. But Israel, Iran’s arch-enemy, denounced the agreement as an “historic mistake”. Halting Iran’s most sensitive nuclear work, its higher-grade enrichment of uranium, it was tailored as a package of confidence-building steps towards reducing decades of tension and banish the spectre of war over Iran’s nuclear aspirations. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who has been coordinating diplomatic contacts with Iran on behalf of the major powers, said it created time and space for follow-up talks on a comprehensive solution to the dispute. “This is only a first step,” said Iranian Foreign Min-
ister and chief negotiator Mohammad Javad Zarif. “We need to start moving in the direction of restoring confidence, a direction which we have managed to move against in the past.” Hard-pressed by sanctions, many Iranians were elated by the breakthrough and prospect of economic improvement. The Iranian rial currency, decimated earlier this year due to sanctions, jumped more than 3 percent on news of the deal on Sunday. Obama said that if Iran did not meet its commitments during the sixmonth period covered by the interim deal, Washington would turn off the tap of sanctions relief and “ratchet up the pressure”. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the deal as it left the nuclear fuel-producing infrastructure of its arch-foe intact. “What was achieved last night in Geneva is not a historic agreement, it was a historic mistake,” he said. “Today the world has become a much more dangerous place because the most dangerous regime in the world took a significant step towards obtaining the world’s most dangerous weapon,” he said in public remarks to his cabinet. Nevertheless, the big power foreign ministers appeared relieved and elated after Ashton read out a statement proclaiming the deal in the middle of the night at the United Nations office in Geneva.
Ashton and Kerry U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hugged each other. Kerry and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov shook hands. Minutes later, as Iran’s delegation posed for photos, Zarif and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius embraced.
France had taken the hardest line on Iran in recent talks. The West has long suspected that Iran has been seeking covertly to develop a nuclear weapons capability. The Islamic Republic, a major oil producer, denies that, saying its nuclear pro-
gramme is a peaceful quest for an alternative source of electricity to serve a rapidly expanding population.
including construction of the Arak heavy-water reactor that deeply worries the West as it could yield plutonium, another atomic bomb SANCTIONS RELIEF ingredient, once operational. The United States said It would neutralise Iran’s the deal halts advances in stockpile of uranium refined Iran’s nuclear programme, to a concentration of 20 per-
new Delhi, november 24 (ians): India Sunday welcomed the deal reached between Iran and the six world powers on Tehran’s nuclear programme that seeks to curb the Islamic republic’s nuclear development programme in exchange for lifting some sanctions. “India welcomes the prospect of resolv-
ing questions related to Iran’s nuclear programme through dialogue and diplomacy,” the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said. The deal - between Iran and the US, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia - was arrived at early Sunday in Geneva after more than four days of negotiations.
According to it, Tehran is to halt progress on enrichment capacity and on the heavy water reactor at Arak. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “I hope we can start restoring the lost confidence.” “The Iranian people demand respect for their rights and dignity, it is important to restore their con-
India welcomes Iran nuclear deal
tem, would remain in place pending a final deal aimed at removing all risk of an Iranian atom bomb. “The approximately $7 billion in relief is a fraction of the costs that Iran will continue to incur during this first phase under the sanctions that will remain in place,” the White House document said. “The vast majority of Iran’s approximately $100 billion in foreign exchange holdings are inaccessible or restricted.” Relief from sanctions is to begin in two to three weeks, Iran’s Mehr news agency quoted Zarif as saying.
fidence and I hope this process can do that,” he added. US President Barack Obama said a nuclear deal with Iran is an “important first step” towards addressing the world’s concerns over the Islamic republic’s disputed nuclear programme. US Secretary of State John Kerry said the deal does not recognise Iran’s right to enrich uranium.
The deal does not recognise an Iranian right to enrich uranium, U.S. officials said. Leaders of the Islamic Republic, nevertheless, welcomed the accord and insisted it did amount to a recognition of what they say is Tehran’s right to enrich uranium. “This can be the basis for further intelligent actions. Without a doubt the grace of God and the prayers of the Iranian nation were a factor in this success,” Khamenei, who has the ultimate say on policy in Iran, wrote in a letter to President Hassan Rou-
in Farsi by Zarif announcing the deal on his Facebook page received 47,979 “likes” in two hours. There was an outpouring of gratitude and many described him as a “national hero”. “Dear Doctor Zarif ... Your efforts have filled the hearts of the whole nation with happiness,” wrote Shayrin Shamshirband. “I am writing this comment with my eyes filled with tears. Thank you for everything ... After many years, you have returned happiness to the people. You have restored hope in our hearts and pride in my country,” commented Mehrnoosh Mohebi. Kerry said the agreement would make it harder for Iran to make a dash to build a nuclear weapon and would make Israel and other U.S. allies safer. He also told a late night Geneva news conference that while Obama would not take off the table the possible use of force against Iran, he believed it was necessary first to exhaust diplomacy. He said the limited sanctions relief could be rescinded. Kerry and the foreign ministers of the five other powers piled into the negotiations early on Saturday as the two sides appeared to be edging closer to a long-elusive agreement. France’s Fabius said: “After years of blockages, the agreement in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear programme is an important IRANIANS JOYFUL For now though, many step to preserving security Iranians were joyful. A post and peace.” hani published by the state news agency IRNA. Rouhani, a moderate elected by a landslide in June promising “constructive engagement” with the world and relief from sanctions, said the “outcome of these negotiations is that the ... world powers have recognised Iran’s nuclear rights”. Rouhani’s attempts to repair diplomatic bridges broken by his bellicose predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his success in winning the backing of Khamenei reignited negotiations which had dragged on inconclusively, with the two sides talks reciting irreconcilable positions to each other, for 10 years. “Ultimately, it is the Iranian people and the American people who deserve the most credit. Both are responsible for this initial victory by rejecting defeatists who said that a brighter future was not possible (and) diplomacy could not succeed,” said Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) think-tank. But many obstacles remain, he cautioned. “Hardliners in both countries will work harder than ever to sabotage this pivot towards a diplomatic path. Those whose only currency is confrontation will search for any opportunities they can find to undermine and sabotage this interim deal.”
cent, which is a close step away from the level needed for weapons, and calls for enhanced, more frequent U.N. nuclear inspections, a senior U.S. official said. A U.S. fact sheet said Iran has also committed to suspending enrichment above a fissile purity of 5 percent - the threshold suitable for running nuclear power stations, which is Iran’s stated purpose. Refined uranium also provides the fissile core of an atomic bomb if refined to a high degree. In return, Iran could obtain access to $1.5 billion in revenue from trade
in gold and precious metals and the suspension of some sanctions on its automotive sector, and see its petrochemical exports revive. But Iranian oil exports would remain for now at their currently significantly reduced levels. “$4.2 billion from these sales will be allowed to be transferred in instalments if, and as, Iran fulfils its commitments,” a White House fact sheet said. Much of the sanctions infrastructure, anchored by a Western embargo on Iranian crude oil and a ban on Iranian use of the international banking sys-
lonDon, november 24 (Cnn): More than 11,000 children have been killed in the nearly threeyear civil war in Syria, including young boys and girls who were tortured and executed, according to a report from a Londonbased think tank. The Oxford Research Group said that most of the 11,420 children reported dead were killed in explo-
sions, and many others were shot to death. Teenage boys were most likely to be the victims of targeted killings, according to the report, entitled “Stolen Futures: The Hidden Toll of Child Casualties in Syria.” “What is most disturbing about the findings of this report is not only the sheer numbers of children killed in this conflict, but the way they are being
killed,” co-author Hana Salama said in a statement. More than 1,000 children were either summarily executed (764) or killed by snipers (389), the report found. Some 112 children, even infants, were tortured before being killed. And what’s worse, deaths of children are “mounting,” the report said. Both Syrian troops and rebel groups have been
blamed for targeting civilians. “The world needs to take a much closer interest in the effects of the conflict on Syria’s children,” Salama said. The report authors called for the warring sides to stop using explosives in places where children live and play. The Oxford Research Group said Aleppo Governorate was the site of the most child deaths, with
2,223. The statistics are taken from the casualty lists of Syrian organizations from March 2011 to August 2013 and include only named victims. In June, the United Nations said at least 6,500 children had been killed since the start of the war. “There are ... well-documented cases of individual children being tortured
and executed, and entire families, including babies, being massacred,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said at the time. The overall death toll topped 100,000 in late July, the U.N. announced. The U.N. says that more than 2.1 million people have fled Syria, which has about 22.5 million residents.
Kabul, november 24 (reuters): An assembly of Afghan elders endorsed on Sunday a security deal to enable US troops to operate in the country beyond next year, but President Hamid Karzai left the matter up in the air by refusing to say whether he would sign it into law. The gathering, known as the Loya Jirga, had been convened by the president to debate the pact. It voted in favour and advised Karzai to sign it promptly. But Karzai, in his final remarks to the four-day meeting, appeared to stand by his earlier position that he would not sign until after a presidential election due next April. Washington has insisted it must be clinched by the end of the year.
“If there is no peace, then this agreement will bring misfortune to Afghanistan,” Karzai told the gathering, “Peace is our precondition. America should bring us peace and then we will sign it.” The president did not elaborate, but has previously said that a free and fair election is needed to guarantee peace in the country. The chairman of the assembly, Sibghatullah Mojeddedi, told Karzai as the meeting was closing: “If you don’t sign it, we will be disappointed.” The president respond-
ed “Fine!” and left the stage. Karzai shocked the US administration when the meeting opened on Thursday by insisting that the document could only be signed “properly and with dignity” after the election. Having served two terms he is ineligible to run again. US officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, responded by saying the deal must be signed by year-end to begin preparations for a post-2014 military presence. Failure to clinch the deal could mean a full US pullout.
Karzai has acknowledged during the assembly that there is little trust between him and US leaders and he renewed his criticism of Washington in his closing speech. But he has also said signing the pact is in the national interest and backing from the Loya Jirga, handpicked by his administration, had been widely expected. Critics have suggested his recalcitrance on the date might reflect Karzai’s desire to distance himself from any deal with the United States. Other speakers were also muted in their criticism of the thorniest issues in the document, including a US request for immunity for its troops from Afghan law.
nairobi, november 24 (ians): At least 13 people were killed and 21 seriously injured in a road accident along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway in Kenya. The accident occurred when a passenger bus and a truck which were travelling in opposite directions collided head-on in Sultan-Hamud area along the busy highway, traffic police deputy commandant James Onyango confirmed, reports Xinhua. “We confirm 13 deaths and 21 injuries. The accident occurred Saturday night involving a bus heading to Mombasa from Mwingi and a lorry which was coming to Nairobi from Mombasa. Both the drivers lost their lives,” Onyango said. Onyango suspected that both the drivers of
the bus and truck might have slept on the way since it was night or the crash might have been caused due to poor visibility. The Nairobi-Mombasa highway is usually very busy with trailers transporting goods from the port city of Mombasa to Nairobi and later to western part of the east African nation including Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. With over 3,000 deaths recorded annually, Kenya is one of the 10 developing countries in the world that adds nearly 50 percent of the total global road traffic injury burden. Between January and October, official statistics showed that over 5,000 road accidents have been recorded resulting in over 2,000 deaths, 9,000 injuries.
banGKoK, november 24 (aP): About 100,000 anti-government demonstrators rallied in Thailand’s capital on Sunday, demanding that the prime minister step down amid claims that her government is controlled by her older brother, ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The peaceful rally, led by former opposition lawmaker Suthep Thaugsuban, appeared to be the largest staged by Thaksin’s opponents in several years. Organizers are looking for the rally to continue overnight and cause maximum disruption on Monday, when demonstrators are supposed to march all over Bangkok. The protesters say they want to topple the “Thaksin regime,” which is how they refer to the government of Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra. Thaksin’s supporters and opponents have battled for power since a 2006 military coup ousted the former prime minister, who was toppled following street protests accusing him of corruption and disrespect for the country’s constitutional monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thaksin has lived in selfimposed exile for the past five years to avoid a prison sentence on a corruption conviction. The battle for power has sometimes led to blood being spilled in the streets, and there is fear that the latest round of protests, which started last month, could lead to a renewal of serious political instability, after two years of relative calm under Yingluck’s government. Police estimated that
around 75,000 people had arrived at the main rally site by mid-afternoon Sunday, with the total appearing to surpass 100,000 by evening. “The government is part of the Thaksin regime, but the Thaksin regime has planted its roots deeply in Thailand already,” Suthep told The Associated Press. “It’s a self-centered system that does not follow the law.” Suthep accused Thaksin of abusing human rights, corruption and interfering with government officials. Protest organizers said they would march to 12 different Bangkok locations on Monday, including the headquarters of the police and the different branches of the armed forces, and the five television broadcast stations controlled by the military or the government.
Suthep promised that Monday’s march would be peaceful and law-abiding. Suthep and several fellow lawmakers from the opposition Democrat Party recently resigned their parliamentary seats in order to try to avoid their party bearing legal liability from actions taken during the street protests. “We will tell the government officials to stop serving the Thaksin regime and stand by the people’s side instead,” Suthep said. “We will also march to tell the media to report news with neutrality, without distortion and not to serve the government. They must give people the truth.” Special peace-keeping command spokesman police Maj. Gen. Piya Uthayo said earlier that intelligence reports indicated that the protesters would
move to surround key Bangkok locations, including the prime minister’s office and Parliament. Suthep had also suggested that sympathizers in public utility jobs might cut water and electricity to government offices and top officials. A smaller group of about 30,000 pro-government Red Shirt demonstrators gathered Sunday to support Yingluck’s administration. The latest round of street demonstrations was triggered in October by a government-backed bill that could have granted amnesty to Thaksin, who is seeking to return home without serving a two-year jail sentence for corruption, a conviction that he says was politically inspired. He now lives mainly in Dubai, but is seen as still being in control of his politi-
cal machine. The new protests forced the government to abandon the amnesty effort, at least temporarily. Yingluck’s administration suffered another political defeat last week when the country’s Constitutional Court ruled illegal a bill backed by her government amending the constitution to mandate that all, rather than half, the members of the Senate be directly elected. The Democrat Party is vastly outnumbered by the absolute majority held by Yingluck’s Pheu Thai Party, but it is seeking to pressure Yingluck’s government through several extra-parliamentary means, including impeaching its lawmakers. However, it will also lead a no-confidence debate in the lower house this week.
Nepali Congress More than 11,000 Syrian children killed in civil war, report says maintains lead over Maoists in polls
US-Afghanistan Bilateral Pact: Karzai uncertain, elders back deal
Supporters of the Nepali Congress party celebrate with their party flag outside a vote counting center after initial results showed their candidates winning in Katmandu, Nepal on November 21. The leader of Nepal’s Maoist party, who appears to have lost in this week’s national election, demanded Thursday that the vote counting be stopped because of what he called massive irregularities. (AP Photo)
KathmanDu, november 24 (Pti): The Nepali Congress on Sunday emerged as the leading party in polls to elect an assembly that will draft Nepal’s new Constitution, maintaining a narrow lead over CPN-UML while Prachanda-led Maoists were a distant third. As the vote counting under direct voting system drew closer to an end, the Nepali Congress bagged 104 seats out of the total 240 constituencies under the direct election followed by CPNUML which got 91 seats. UCPN-Maoist got third position, securing 25 seats and the remaining 18 seats went to Madhesi and fringe parties. CPN-UML was leading in the proportionate voting system, securing 207,000 votes followed by Nepali Congress which so far got 189,000 votes. UCPN-Maoist secured 118,000 votes. Prominent Madhesi leaders, including Mahanta Thakur, president of Terai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), Hrideysh Tripathi, general secretary of TMDP, Brishesh Chandra Lal, vice president of TMDP, Rajendra Mahato, president of Sadbhawana Party, Anil Jha, president of Federal Sadbhawana Party, Sarita Giri, president of Nepal
Sadbhawana Party and Rameshwor Ray, senior vice president of Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum (Democratic) lost the election. Sharad Singh Bhandari, president of Rastriya Madhes Party, lost election from two constituencies. Other prominent leaders, who lost the election include, Ishwor Poakharel, general secretary of CPN-UML, Shanker Pokharel, secretary of CPN-UML, Narayankaji Shrestha, Vice-chairman of UCPN-Maoist, Hisila Yami, senior leader and spouse of former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. The counting of votes will lead to the formation of a 601-member Constituent Assembly, including 240 elected through direct voting. Proportionate voting will elect 335 members and the remaining 26 will be nominated by the government. A party needs a total of 301 seats to get an absolute majority. Under the proportionate voting system, 58 per cent of the votes are required for winning the polls. Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala and senior leader of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal are expected to be the prime ministerial candidates.
“If there is no peace, then this agreement will bring misfortune to Afghanistan”
13 killed in bus-truck collision in Kenya
Thai anti-government protesters stage major rally
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Dimapur
SPORTS
Monday 25 November 2013
The Morung Express
Arsenal moves 4 Australia thrash England by 381 runs points clear at top Mitchell Johnson finishes off England as Australia take Ashes opener
Arsenal's goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, center, punches the ball away beside his teammate Per Mertesacker, third right, during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in London on Nov. 23. (AP Photo)
LONDON, NOVEMBER 24 (AP): Olivier Giroud took advantage of a huge goalkeeping blunder to score a brace as Arsenal moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Southampton. The Gunners bounced back from their defeat against Manchester United and took advantage of second-place Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Everton to increase their lead. Arsene Wenger's team had a cautious start but gradually stamped its authority on the match and opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc gifted a bizarre goal, losing the ball to Giroud in his box. The former Montpellier striker then doubled the hosts' lead from the penalty spot, sending Boruc the wrong way after Per Mertesacker had his jersey pulled in the box.
The match was delayed by 15 minutes following problems on the London metro to allow supporters sufficient time to gather at the Emirates stadium gates. England midfielder Jack Wilshere started alongside Germany defender Mertesacker, who scored the winning goal against England in a friendly at Wembley midweek. The Gunners came to life after 15 minutes to camp in their opponent's half. Wilshere almost broke the deadlock with a chipped ball over Boruc that came off the post before Aaron Ramsey hit the same post with a backheeled flick. But Boruc's lucky day was soon to end as the Saints goalkeeper lost the ball after trying to clumsily dribble past France striker Giroud in his box. Giroud pressured him and easily won the ball before scoring from close range. "We were a bit lucky
on the first goal, but I think that really helped us for the rest of the game," Giroud said. "I didn't give up on my duel with the keeper. Usually I used to go too quickly ... but this time I stand on my legs and was a bit lucky, took ball and scored. It's nice for the team." Starting the match in 3rd place, Southampton showed a more attacking side to its play after the interval but Adam Lallana saw his powerful attempt at goal stopped by Wojciech Szczesny just before the England midfielder was replaced by Dani Osvaldo. The Saints enjoyed good spells of possession as Arsenal struggled to win the ball before Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla spread confusion in Southampton's box as the match opened up. Arsenal finally sealed its win four minutes from time after Jose Fonte pulled Mertesacker's shirt.
BRISBANE, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): Mitchell Johnson took five for 42 as Australia dismissed England for 179 in the Brisbane twilight to comprehensively win the first Ashes Test by 381 runs and take a 1-0 lead in the series on Sunday. It was a first victory in 10 Tests for Australia after losing a series 4-0 in India and another in England 3-0 this year, and a first win in eight Ashes contests since the Perth Test in 2010. Only the weather, which delayed play twice for a total of more than two hours, looked like extending the contest to a fifth day but Johnson put paid to that idea when he dismissed James Anderson caught and bowled in fading light at the Gabba. England's hopes of a result at Brisbane had been slim at best when they were set 561 to win and lost two second innings wickets for only 24 runs on Saturday evening. They were shattered when the dismissal of captain Alastair Cook for 65 triggered a collapse from 142 for four to 160 for eight in the 45 minutes between the two weather disruptions. Left-arm quick Johnson, who took 4-61 as the tourists were skittled for 136 in their first innings, claimed his eighth test five-wicket haul to walk away with the man of the match award. "A fantastic start, some fantastic individual performances, no more so than Mitchell Johnson," said Australia captain Michael Clarke. It was spinner Nathan Lyon (2-46) who made the key breakthrough, though, by dismissing Cook. Cook, who
Virat Kohli missed out on a hundred by just one run before skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's fiery knock propelled India to a challenging total. Electing to bowl, unsure of how the wicket would behave after two days of incessant rains, the West Indies kept India under pressure for most of the time but the hosts scored 62 runs off
the last five overs to steal the thunder from the Caribbeans. Kohli showed calmness to soothe the nerves but only to fall victim to a rash pull as India were in danger after losing two wickets for 15 runs in the batting power-play. But once again captain cool Dhoni stood to the task with an unbeaten 51, his 50th ODI half-century, to
scored 235 not out in his second innings in the last Ashes Test at the Gabba, had played a composed and defiant innings with just three boundaries before a dramatic hailstorm forced the players off the field. Six balls after the resumption, Lyon got a little bit of extra bounce out of the surface and Cook caught a top edge with an attempted cut with Brad Haddin taking the catch behind the wickets. England were only able
ANKA members excel at Int'l Karate Championship
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The All Nagaland Karate Do Association participated as a part of the Indian team in the recently concluded 4th International Karate Championships held at Dhangadhi, Kailai, Nepal from November 9 to 11. A press note informed that Sempai L. Akhumienla Imchen (15 IRB) won gold in the Individual Kumite Senior Event; Thsasuba Sangtam (Logdrum School, Sangtamtilla) won Silver in the Sub-Junior Kumite; Thripongse Sangtam (Log-
Simmons, Sammy clinch thriller for WI
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24 (TNN): Lendl Simmons and Darren Sammy clinched a thrilling twowicket win for West Indies against India in the second ODI and leveled the threematch series 1-1 at VDCA stadium Visakhapatnam on Sunday. After being reduced to 188/5 in chase of 289 at one stage, West Indies, riding on brilliant half centuries from Simmons and Sammy, snatched victory from the hosts. While Simmons scored 62 off 74 balls, Sammy stayed unbeaten at 63. Kieran Powell and Darren Bravo also chipped in with 59 and 50 respectively that rescued the visitors from early wickets. Both batsmen shared 100-run stand for the third wicket. However, R Ashwin broke the dangerous looking partnership by getting Bravo caught behind in the 23rd over at the score of 123. Three overs later, Ashwin struck again to dismiss Powell after his fighting knock, reducing West Indies to 147/4. Earlier, Mohit Sharma scalped Marlon Samules while Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent back Johnson Charles (12) to give India a good start after the hosts posted 288/7. Kumar took a stunning return catch to end Charles's challenge in the third over. Sharma then got Samuels caught behind to reduce the visitors to 23/2.
Australia's Mitchell Johnson, left, Michael Clarke, second from left, and David Warner, third from left, celebrate the wicket of England's Stuart Broad, on the fourth day of the series-opening Ashes cricket test between England and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 24,. (AP Photo)
give India a decent total to defend. Dhoni slammed three sixes and four boundaries in his 40-ball knock in an entertaining 47-run seventh wicket partnership with R Ashwin. Earlier, Sharma had a rare off day at his mother's home town when he was taken at second slip to bring an end to a dream run, during which he scored one double ton, two 100s and an equal number of half-centuries in his last five outings. After Sharma's dismissal India crawled to 48/1 in the first powerplay. The West Indies clearly had an upperhand dismissing the other opener, Shikhar Dhawan, with an addition of another 48 runs. Included in place of Narsingh Deonarine, Veersammy Permaul made Indians sweat under the scorching sun reducing them to 69/2 after Dhawan miscued one against the turn to be caught at slip. Having remained under cover with the ground under water, the outfield and the wicket was very much unlikely of the belter that the ACA-VCA Stadium used to offer. The mighty Indian batting line-up had to fight for every run in the first 25 overs, in a phase where Permaul and Sunil Narine had put them the visitors an edge. Kohli had a stroke of luck when on 64 when skipper Bravo dropped him off his own follow through.
drum School, Sangtamtilla) won Bronze in the Junior Kumite and Sensei Dharmender, Instructor, ISKF Main Branch Dojo, won Bronze in the Senior Individual Kata. The Championship was organised by Nepal GojuRyu Karate-Do Association and attended by many South Asian countries. The State Association in a press note has extended gratitude for the hard work put in by the participants in bringing laurels to the Association in particular and the State in general.
JUNIOR GIRL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Nagaland beats AP, enters quarter finals
to add only six runs for the next three wickets with Matt Prior (4), Stuart Broad (4) and Graeme Swann, whose miserable match continued when he got a second duck, quickly following their captain back to the pavilion. As in the first innings when England lost six wickets for nine runs in one spell, Lyon was just as involved as Johnson and it was he who had Prior caught at leg slip by David Warner after just eight minutes in the middle.
A bullish Broad lasted just three deliveries and five minutes before he got the faintest of touches to a Johnson delivery which again Haddin snaffled up. Swann lasted just two balls before a meek fend at a Johnson snorter saw the ball fly into the hands of a diving Steve Smith in the slips. England regrouped sufficiently to survive until the rain starting falling again but the storm passed reasonably quickly and the players were back out with
an hour of play remaining. Chris Tremlett blocked for seven runs until a rising Ryan Harris ball came off the splint of his bat into the hands of George Bailey at short leg, leaving Joe Root (26 not out) and Anderson as England's last two batsmen. "It's only one Test match, though, I'm sure England will come back bigger and stronger. We've got a lot of work to do to achieve what we want to achieve," added Clarke.
Combat Sports Nagaland conducted a Belt Grading exam for Reginald Hughes Shaw Memorial School, Niuland and awarded Yellow Belt to 5 (five) Students and Orange Belt to 15 (fifteen) Students on November 20. The exam was conducted under the supervision of CSN Chief Instructor and Examiner P. Inavi Achumi and Niuland Center Instructor Y. Lethrethong.
Veteran Football Tourney on Nov 26
Our Correspondent Kohima | November 24
Nagaland junior girls’ team today blanked Arunachal Pradesh 6-0 and qualified for quarter finals at the ongoing Junior Girls’ National Championship (Football) at Cuttack, Odisha. The team fetched a goal through Rokoseno in the 32nd minute, Litto (37th minute), Ruth (41st minute), Abeino (73rd minute), Ruth (84th Minute) and Lam (86th minute). All players in the state team belong to Indira Gandhi Stadium Sports Academy Kohima. The team is led by Kevilebei as coach and Mezhüvonuo Chatsu as team manager. Earlier, in their first match played on November 20, they beat Punjab 14-0 and again overpowered Jharkhand 3-0 played on November 22. The Nagaland team will now face Manipur on November 26. They will also clash with the winner of Meghalaya and Odisha on November 28 and Kerala on November 30.
Members of Dimapur district veteran football association after the formal declaration of the team at the DDSC stadium on Saturday.
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The 5th Nagaland inter- district veteran football tournament 2013 will begin from November 26 to December 2 at DDSC stadium Dimapur. Organised by Nagaland veteran football association (NVFA) and hosted by Dimapur district veteran football association,(DDVFA) veterans from eight districts such as Mokokchung, Peren, Dimapur, Longleng, Kiphire, Wokha, Tuensang and Kohima will be playing for the tournament. Formal launching of the veteran football team for Dimapur district with Chungailong as coach and
Joseph as team manager was held on Saturday at DDSC stadium. DDVFA general secretary Jacob Yanthan informed that all the players were above 45 years of age and oldest among them is 69 year old veteran. One of the players C. Bendang a badminton player who represented Nagaland at world veteran badminton tournament is also a part of the football team. All the veterans include retired government officials including from police department and some already in the government service. Yanthan said, in tune with the association theme “Fraternity through
football”, the aim of organizing such tournament was not only to maintain good health but to foster unity and friendship and also to maintain cordial relationship among the players from different districts. The inaugural program will be held at DDSC stadium with parliamentary secretary for IT and communication, technical education, science, technology, taxes Tovihoto Ayemi as the chief guest on November 26, 9 a.m. Players from participating districts have been informed to report to the venue on November 25, room number 10 and also to contact DDVFA general secretary for further details.
Entertainment
The Morung Express C M Y K
Shruti Haasan’s The molester arrested
stranger who had tried attacking actress Shruti Haasan at her Mumbai home on Tuesday morning, was arrested by the Bandra police on Saturday night, reports a daily. The police said that the molester, Ashok Shankar Trimukhe, 32, works as a production assistant in Mumbai film city and will be produced at the Bandra Holiday Court on Sunday. The police had registered a case under Section 354 and 452 of the Indian Penal Code. The accused was caught from his Dharavi residence. The man, who tried attacking Shruti, defended his case by claiming that he had gone to meet her in search for a job for his brother. He had come to know via industry sources that a relative of Shruti, who is a fashion designer, is looking to hire people for his office work. He had even written his correct name in the guest diary of Shruti’s building before entering the premises. But when the actress went to answer the doorbell, she did not feel like entertaining the unknown stranger. The accused says that the fear of getting misunderstood led him to misbehave with the actress. He even informed the security guard before leaving the venue. The daily also reports that Ashok Shankar Trimukhe has worked in the film industry for 18 years and is also a member of the Film Studio Union.
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25 November 2013
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Shayne Ward gets involved with X Factor’s 10th anniversary aturday night’s episode of X Factor was arguably the biggest yet, so it was nice to see that Shayne Ward, who won the show back in 2005, was invited to be involved in the night’s proceedings. He blasted the show last year after he felt like he had been ostracised from it’s history. But not only was Shayne present in the audience, he was part of a pre-recorded segment, giving advice to one of this year’s contestants, Luke Friend. Shayne was seen praising the singer as he told him: ‘It’s about time one of Louis’s boys won again.’ The That’s My Goal star felt snubbed last year after he was left off a promo advert for the show. The ad featured appearances from success stories on the show including One Direction, Olly Murs, Little Mix and JLS, as well as ex-winners Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke. At the time, Shayne,
29, expressed his disappointed at not being included via Twitter. He wrote: ‘Just seen the new Xfactor promo video. Yet again it’s like im being erased slowly from their history. Pathetic really Would love to know why?’ [sic] After receiving supportive messages from some of his 170,000 followers, Shayne later tweeted: ‘Thank you to everyone who tweeted me nice messages. It just would’ve been nice to have been acknowledged. It
Dimapur, November 24 (mexN): With an aim to expand the dart game horizon in Nagaland, Naga Dart has introduced Dart at Upstairs, a place where music is promoted and a place where both young and old can have a time of recreation. Giving an introduction about Naga Dart and the basic rules and regulations about the game, Lima, a member of Naga Dart explained that the game of dart is for people of all ages. He also informed that Naga Dart plans to promote the game in Nagaland. An exhibition match was also played between two members of Naga Dart to demonstrate how the game is played under international rules and regulations.
was a big part of my life.’ Neither Shayne nor Steve Brookstein, Leon Jackson or Matt Cardle’s songs were covered by the performers on Saturday. But a show source told The Sun: ‘With such a massive roster of successful artists from the past ten years, not all winners could be included in the final song choices.’ But an insider added: ‘It is a slap in the face for the winners who won’t be covered. ‘Bosses have obvious-
ly chosen the former stars who they think still resonate with viewers and who have had the most success.’ Although Shayne’s first and second album charted at number one and number two respectively, his third album received a lukewarm reception and disappointing sales. Shayne went on to pursue a career in musical theatre and has appeared as Stacee Jaxx in the West End production of Rock Of Ages.
51 Soul from Boston, USA performing at Upstairs Live as a part of the MTF series on November 24.
Kids for fame finale on Nov 30 SHARON KIBA CONT- 50
ALOVIKA K ASSUMI CONT- 5
SEVI KHRUOMO CONT-21
Singer
actress Jennifer Hudson had to be asked to move along by police last week after staging an hours-long gospel celebration on her Hollywood Walk of Fame star shortly after the unveiling ceremony. The Dream girls star was presented with the pavement plaque and she reveals she took her family back to the sidewalk spot that evening to gaze at the honour. The get together quickly became a churchstyle event as family and friends joined the Oscar winner for a few hymns and spirituals. The impromptu gathering, which lasted into the early hours, attracted strange stares from cops patrolling the area - and they eventually managed to convince the group to head home. She says, It was so fun. I tried to fly my whole, entire family to the ceremony so I had everybody with me, and it’s just such an amazing honour... I ended up back at the star (afterwards)... I had to go make sure it was still there...! Like, this is really real. I took my whole family and we ended up having church (sic) on the star, singing. We stayed out there until like, two in the morning until the police removed us! We prayed and we sang... Well they (police) didn’t kick us out, but they was (sic) about to by the third time they came around! Hudson was joined by her fiance, David Otunga, their four-year-old son David Daniel Otunga, Jr., music mentor Clive Davis, R&B star Raphael Saadiq and songwriter Diane Warren at the ceremony, where she paid an emotional tribute to her late mother, Darnell Donnerson, who was murdered in 2008 by the singer’s estranged brother-in-law.
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Upstairs & Naga Dart promote darts
Jennifer Hudson Held Gospel Celebration on Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Monday
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NISHILI YEPTHOMI CONT- 32
NUNGTILONG LONGKUMER CONT - 15
AKHROLE KEYHO CONT- 11
Music task force presents
The
finale for kids for fame Season 4 will be held on November 30 at Dimapur Club. The show will start at time 5:00 pm. Zuchobeni, ultimate winner of kids for fame season 3 will make a guest appearance. Various Talented artistes will also perform during the finale show. The winner for this season will walk away with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakhs along with one year contract with PMA. Out of the six top finalists, only one will be chosen by public voting plus judge’s point. Final round of public voting line will be open till November 28 and close after 7: 00 pm. Submission of late public voting after 7:00 pm will not be accepted. The 6 finalists to appear for the final rounds are Akhrole keyho contestant No 11, sharon kiba contestant N0 50, Sevi khruomo Cont-N0 21, Nishili yepthomi ContNo 32, Alovika k. Assumi Cont- No 5, Nungtilong Lonkumer Cont- No 15.
A MusicAl by
Date: 2nD & 3rD December, 2013
time: 6:00 Pm
Venue: Centre of Excellence for Music & Performing Arts (CEMPA) Jotsoma, (Near Science College)
Featuring: Divine COnneCtiOn, akihitO (uDX), MOanungsang (naga iDOl), tali (eXiMiOus), kenei, Mengu, tOshinarO (naga iDOl) A Hornbill festival
LITTLE
FIRE
production
TickeTs available
aT venue (`500 / `300)
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PAcqUIAo bAck wIth EMotIoNAL wIN
Manny Pacquiao, from the Philippines, right, lands a right to Brandon Rios of the United States during their WBO international welterweight title Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines wears the champion's belt after defeating Brandon Rios fight Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, in Macau. Pacquiao defeated Rios by unanimous decision on Sunday to take the title and return to his accustomed of the United States in their WBO international welterweight title fight Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, winning ways after successive defeats. (AP Photo) in Macau. (AP Photo)
MACAU, NoveMber 24 (AP): Manny Pacquiao reversed the decline in his boxing career and provided some desperately needed inspiration to the disaster-stricken Philippines with an authoritative victory over Brandon Rios on Sunday. Pacquiao entered the fight coming off successive defeats, having spent a year out of the ring and with his own trainer publicly declaring he should retire unless he convincingly beat Rios. In addition, Pacquiao carried the burden of
being the favorite son of the Philippines and the man the nation looked to as a source of joy and hope in the wake of deadly Typhoon Haiyan. Thousands of fans watched the fight on screens set up in the plaza of Tacloban, the Philippine city hit worst by the Nov. 9 disaster that killed more than 5,000 people and left huge numbers of the population homeless. If Pacquiao felt pressure, he didn’t show it in the ring at The Venetian casino
in Macau, putting on a vintage display of his trademark combinations to wear down a gallant Rios and take a unanimous decision, claiming the WBO international welterweight title. The judges scored it 120108, 119-109 and 118-110. The Associated Press scored it 119109. “This is not about my comeback,” Pacquiao said in the ring. “My victory is a symbol of my people’s comeback from a natural disaster and a national tragedy. “My journey will continue. I
said we will rise again, and that’s what happened.” Pacquiao’s points loss to Timothy Bradley last year was widely regarded as a judging error, but when that was followed by a severe knockout at the hands of veteran Juan Manuel Marquez, many doubted the Filipino lawmaker could get back to the kind of form that had made him the world’s pound-forpound champion. Once again he failed to stop his opponent — he has not done so since 2009 — but ev-
‘Give Bharat Ratna to Dhyan Chand’
AgrA, NoveMber 24 (iANS): Former India cricketer Madan Lal feels it is an opportune time to award the nation's highest civilian honour -the Bharat Ratna -- to hockey legend Dhyan Chand. The government announced last week that batting great Sachin Tendulkar, who retired from all forms of cricket, will become the first sportsperson and the youngest to receive the Bharat Ratna. Since then, there has been some clamour that Dhyan Chand, who won three Olympic hockey golds, should have been given the award first among sportspersons. "I think this is the right time to give the Bharat Ratna to Dhyan Chand," Lal said while
addressing reporters here Saturday evening after the annual sports meet of the 168-year-old St. Peter's College. Switching the topic to cricket,
the former pacer said the young brigade in the Indian team comprising Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma looked promising. "It certainly looks a difficult task for Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag to return to the team as the young players are doing a great job for the country," said Lal. The 62-year-old also had a word of praise for Tendulkar, saying that the batting maestro has been a great role model for all and no one can replace him. "These days players after scoring a century or taking a wicket express their intensity or emotions on the pitch. They should take lessons from Sachin."
erything else about Pacquiao’s performance suggested he could revive his career, even with his 35th birthday looming next month. Problems still exist in setting up a much-discussed bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr., but Pacquiao remains eager for it to happen. “Anybody who wants to fight with me, I can fight,” Pacquiao said. “I am willing to fight Floyd, but it’s up to him, if he is willing also.” Pacquiao got the better of Rios over the first two rounds,
sending the American to the canvas in the opening frame, although the referee ruled it as a slip rather than a knockdown. Rios asserted himself in the third, landing some crisp blows that raised hopes of a genuine contest. But Pacquiao — spurred on by a capacity crowd at the 13,000-seat Cotai Arena dominated by Filipino fans — controlled the remainder of the contest. Rios was game, absorbing plenty of punches and continually walking forward
to challenge Pacquiao, but was unable to land any significant blows. After seven rounds, Rios was getting attention to cuts under both eyebrows, and with the scores going against him, needed something special. Pacquiao was on guard throughout the closing rounds, mindful of getting knocked out in his previous fight when he walked into a savage right by Juan Manuel Marquez. He didn’t have to worry. A tiring Rios offered little threat.
NAGALAND PREMIER LEAGUE
FINAL MATCHDAY
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he second edition of the Nagaland Premier League comes to an end on Monday after two action packed months of football. For the second consecutive season, the fight for the coveted title will go to the last day of the season. The ten Clubs will take the field for the final time on Monday and one will be crowned the Champions of Nagaland. Debutants Veda FC are in a prime position to lift the title and they should be able to handle the final day pressure and see off a struggling Dynamic FC side. Kohima Komets are breathing right down their neck with just 2 points behind but unless Veda suffer a dramatic loss on the final day, the title is out of their hands. It has been a tight affair from the start
and whoever comes out victorious at ing the off-season to compete with the end will be deservedly crowned the teams above them. as champions. Early title challengers By NPL Pundits Barak FC and Dimapur United faded away as they dropped points at cruMonday, November 25, 2013 cial junctures and they failed to find Stadium, Dimapur the consistency to compete at the top. UnitedDDSC Redskins FC vs FC Naga Tornadoes Naga Tornadoes too had a sluggish Kick-off: 9 am season as they suffered defeats regularly to compete with the top teams Dynamic FC vs Veda FC managing only 5th on the table going Kick-off: 11 am into the final day. Dimapur United FC vs Barak FC The two Mokokchung teams, ZoKick-off: 1 pm nipang and Sangpang, are the most improved teams in the League reelIG Stadium, Kohima ing off memorable victories against Doyang FC vs Kohima Komets the big teams and they will be satKick-off: 1 pm isfied with their performance this season. The bottom three teams- Imkongmeren Sports Complex, MokokcUnited Redskins, Dynamic and Doyhung ang, have a lot to do next season and Zonipang SA vs Sangpang FC Kick-off: 1 pm they must work their socks off dur-
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3rd hornbill half Marathon 2013 KohiMA, NoveMber 24 (MexN): All the runners who have registered for different race categories of the 3rd Hornbill Half Marathon 2013 have been informed that distribution of running number bibs will begin on November 25 at 3E Office, Dzevi Building, 2nd Floor, near Kohima Local Ground North Gate. The office timing is 10:00 am to 3:00 pm daily and the last date for collection of number bibs will be November 30. The campaign partner for the event is NSACS (Nagaland State AIDS Control Society) and runners are requested to read and circulate awareness campaign materials on HIV/AIDS in schools and public places. Each runner will also be given a bag which can be utilised to keep belongings at the baggage counter on race day. In this regard, personal details must be carefully entered in the baggage tag provided for the same. Runners are also advised to go through all the enclosed documents and carefully follow the instructions. For further necessary information, registered runners may log on to www.3enagaland.org or follow the event on facebook by entering 3rd Hornbill Half Marathon 2013 in the key search. PO Reg No. NE/RN-722
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