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Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 114
The Morung Express “
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‘Not 56inch chest, need a big heart to run country’
George Clooney and British girlfriend Amal Alamuddin ARE engaged
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reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
KOHIMA, APRIL 27 (MExN): The Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) will convene an emergency cum presidential meeting at 9:00 am on Monday, April 28, regarding the April 9 shootout at Kohima and expired deadline to NSCN (K) failing to fulfill the demands of ACAUT Nagaland. All presidents have been requested to attend the meeting without fail, which will be held at the AYO office, informed AYO president Medo Yhokha.
HIV slowly adapting to human beings
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TORONTO, APRIL 27 (PTI): Scientists studying the evolution of HIV in North America have found evidence that the virus is slowly adapting over time to its human hosts. “Much research has focused on how HIV adapts to antiviral drugs – we wanted to investigate how HIV adapts to us, its human hosts, over time,” said lead author Zabrina Brumme. “HIV adapts to the immune response in reproducible ways. In theory, this could be bad news for host immunity – and vaccines – if such mutations were to spread in the population,” said Brumme. “Just like transmitted drug resistance can compromise treatment success, transmitted immune escape mutations could erode our ability to naturally fight HIV,” said Brumme. “Overall, our results show that the virus is adapting very slowly in North America. In parts of the world harder hit by HIV though, rates of adaptation could be higher,” said Brumme. “We already have the tools to curb HIV in the form of treatment – and we continue to advance towards a vaccine and a cure. Together, we can stop HIV/AIDS before the virus subverts host immunity through population-level adaptation,” Brumme added.
Monday, April 28, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Bernard Baruch
Four days of Tsükhenyi Festival celebrated [ PAGE 2]
Maria seals hattrick of Stuttgart crowns
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South Korean prime minister resigns over ferry sinking
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eVerest: Big business over noble pursuit
KATHMANDU, APRIL 27 (REUTERs): Blogging from Everest base camp after 16 sherpas were killed by an avalanche, American climber Ed Marzec lamented, “I am shamed by our greed and embarrassed by our lack of compassion.” Expressions of sympathy were not enough, however, for the Nepali guides who take breathtaking risks to help Western clients scale the slopes of Everest. There was fury among the roughly 400 sherpas at no...no tax. Just sell him base camp after the April 250 calendars! 18 accident on the perilous Khumbu icefall, the single The Morung Express deadliest disaster on the POLL QUESTIOn world’s highest mountain. Chanting, pumping Vote on www.morungexpress.com their fists and threatening SMS your answer to 9862574165 violence, a group of young Is the Nagaland government sherpas forced an expeditaking adequate measures tion boycott that now looks to tackle the rising crime in almost certain, for the first our society? time, to write off a whole season for hundreds of Yes no Others would-be summiteers. Do present naga leaders The sherpa backlash, have the ability and which had simmered for capacity to lead the people years as a cut-throat busitowards a shared future? ness expanded, could deal Yes 18% a blow to the commercial 54% no expedition industry that 28% Others took off in the mid-1990s Details on page 7 pushing costs for climbers even higher. At the top of the Everest
AYO meeting on April 28
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Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why
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supply chain are “clients” from around the globe who pay tens of thousands of dollars to Western mountaineering firms. Then there are Nepali middlemen and the government who take a cut, shoestring local agents, and finally the guides, who can earn as little as $1,000 a season. Much of the sherpas’ anger was directed at the Himalayan nation’s government, which receives a $10,000 “royalty” from every Everest climber in a group of seven. The sherpa resentment is not aimed at the government alone. Three European climbers abandoned their ascent to the 8,850-metre summit last year after a brawl with a group of sherpas during which their tents were pelted and stones and punches were thrown. The big business that is now Everest stands in stark contrast to the simplicity of Edmund Hillary’s expedition in 1953, when he and sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reached the highest point on earth. No one would argue that following in their footsteps along the same South
Father and sons of nepalese mountaineer Ang Kaji Sherpa, killed in an avalanche on Mount Everest, wait for his body to arrive at Sherpa Monastery in Katmandu, nepal, Saturday, April 19, 2014. The recent disaster in Everest has shed light on big business and has transformed mountain climbing in the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo)
Col route 61 years later is easy. But climbers today can count on bigger teams of sherpas, accurate weather forecasts, sophisticated gear, rescue helicopters, satellite phones and steroids to avert high-altitude disorders. That has attracted recreational climbers to sign up for expeditions with major Everest guide companies, known as “wholesalers”, which charge cli-
ents between $40,000 and $90,000. Arnette said the most expensive companies provide Western guides - who can command $10,000$35,000 a climb - and some offer gourmet food, with one promoting its sushi and another a five-star chef. Jon Krakauer wrote last week that the statistics give Western novices a false sense of security about “a
preposterously dangerous undertaking”. Before he died in 2008, Hillary himself voiced disdain for the modern processions to the top of Everest. Elizabeth Hawley, a chronicler of climbing in Nepal says “Sometimes clients fake their qualifications. And some irresponsible wholesalers will take anyone.” According to one local operator, a wholesaler that
charges its clients $50,000 might typically pay him $35,000. Wongchu Sherpa, an Everest summiteer who now organises expeditions, charges about $37,000 per climber with two sherpas, making a profit of $2,0003,000 on each client. “Sometimes people think that if they pay more money that means they have a better chance of reaching the summit,” he said. He said the wholesalers “make a lot of margin”, which is justified because they have marketing skills that local firms lack, but the government has no visibility of money raised abroad that fails to find its way to Nepal. Mountaineering is a key part of Nepal’s tourism industry, which accounts for about four percent of GDP in a nation whose desperate poverty is hard to miss; even in the capital, a disheveled and polluted low-rise city with potholed roads. “We are concerned that they are taking more money there and paying less here,” Tourism Minister Bhim Acharya told Reuters. “We would like to tackle it ... but not make an issue of it now.” “There are very strong
and powerful people in the agencies,” said a senior government official. “All political parties have contacts with them for donations. If you have contacts, you can get contracts.” The government says mountaineering is free of graft, and that it sticks to a rule that 30 percent of the climbing fee is ploughed back into development of the Everest region. Many sherpas, however, believe that the government views the Everest industry as simply “a milk cow” and cares little about their welfare. Sherpas have always been the backbone of Everest expeditions, fixing ropes and ladders, carrying packs and cooking for climbers. They will often make 20-25 round trips to take kit and supplies to advanced camps, which exposes them to greater risk than their clients. Most sherpas earn between $2,000 and $8,000 per season, and a few with exceptional skills are paid as much as Western guides. However, many operators “at the bottom end of the business” pay sherpas less than $1,000 and insure them for the minimum set by Nepal’s government.
AcAUt nagaland cautions Excise revenues drastically reduced nagaland state departments Our Correspondent Kohima | April 27
DIMAPUR, APRIL 27 (MExN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has expressed concern at the “practice of Nagaland government departments deducting salaries of its employees for so called welfare of the Naga Political Groups.” ACAUT Nagaland Chairperson, L Supong Ao and Secretary, Solomon L Awomi, in a press note, termed this practice as “illegal, arbitrary, an open practice of corruption and in total violation of government service rules.” It stated that no HoD or departmental DDO is authorized to deduct the salary of its employees for payment to any individual or organization. Asserting that there is “no standing government order to such effect,” it added that any departmental official carrying out “such illegal activity is committing a serious offence” and that criminal charges are
liable to be framed against such officials. “The state government is a different entity and the Naga Political Movement is a separate issue,” said ACAUT Nagaland. As such, it cautioned that the erring HoDs and DDOs “shall be held fully responsible for such extra-constitutional acts and prosecuted.” “At a time when the cry is reconciliation and peace, the government departments are directly encouraging factionalism in the movement by doling out money to all the factions through illegal means and such action is deemed antiNaga,” asserted ACAUT Nagaland. It further called upon government employees to report unauthorized deduction of salaries to the office of the ACAUT Nagaland or call its Public Grievances Cell at 8974761098, 8974956854, 9856915353 or 9612169539.
Censures ‘unauthorized deduction’ of employee salaries
4 kidnapped persons rescued Morung Express news accomplices, met them at Nagaon Railway StaDimapur | April 27 tion, after which they proAssam Police, on April 26, ceeded towards a house. rescued four persons from It is reported that the four Nagaland, who were kid- were then locked up and napped in Nagaon on April assaulted with iron rods. 25. Two persons, identified A ransom demand of Rs. as Gulzar Hussain and Abu 4 lakhs was made to the Hanifa, were arrested in families of the kidnapped. this connection. The vic- The kidnappers then sent tims have been identified an SBI bank account numas Tohoshe Awomi (38), ber to the families, through Hokivi Yeptho (33), Mo- SMS, for the money to be hammed Bilal Hussain deposited in. The kidnap(22), and Khalil Ali (33), all pers had threatened to residents of Thilixu Village. kill the victims if the ranAccording to Tohoshe, som was not paid within he got acquainted with 2 days. All documents beGulzar over a year back. longing to the victims, inOn April 24, Gulzar had cluding PAN cards, driving made a phone call offer- licenses, mobile phones ing a car for sale. It was in- etc. were destroyed by the formed that Tohoshe and kidnappers. The families Hokivi reached Nagaon negotiated the amount to by train on April 25, along Rs. 3 Lakhs and after makwith Bilal and Khalil, who ing arrangements, deposwere taken along as guide ited Rs. 62000 as an initial installment. and driver respectively. The families, meanGulzar, along with his
while, approached the Dimapur Muslim Public Forum (DMPF) for help on April 25. DMPF suggested filing an FIR at Diphupar Police Station, and at the same time, made contacts with Assam Police and public leaders in Nagaon. Assam Police, with the assistance of the local administration, rescued the victims on April 26 from a hideout some 40 kms from Nagaon Town. DMPF General Secretary, Mukhibur Rehman has expressed gratitude to the Assam Police and Nagaland Police for their efforts in recovering the victims. It was also revealed that the bank account, where the ransom money was deposited, has been blocked and that efforts are on to recover the money. The two accused are presently in custody of Assam Police.
Since the introduction of the Nagaland Liquor Prohibition Act 1989, revenue earning of the Nagaland Excise Department has been reduced drastically, according to the latest annual administrative report of the state’s Excise and Prohibition Department 2013-14. The report informed that revenue was highest in 1987-88, when the department earned Rs
584.37 Lakhs, followed by Rs 550.90 Lakhs in 198889. The revenue dropped significantly the following year, with the department earning only Rs 110.09 Lakhs. In the first two years, after the act was introduced, the average revenue was Rs 567.635. Since then, over the next twenty five years (till March 2014), the average revenue earnings of the department has been Rs 194.84. The year 1990-91 recorded the lowest revenue for the depart-
ment at Rs 82.32 Lakhs. The Excise Department implements the Nagaland Excise Act 1967, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985, and the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act and Rules 1989. After the Nagaland government introduced the Total Prohibition Act 1989, the main function of the department underwent a change from a regulatory role to enforcement. As a result of this, excise revenue collection in the
state has been drastically reduced, stated the report. The only source of the excise revenue is from sale of liquor to defense personnel through canteen store depots, to paramilitary bonded warehouses and through fine amounts realized from excise violators. Although there are only 264 enforcement personnel in the department, drastic improvement in detection duties has been reported during the reporting period, stated the report.
Popes John XXIII, John Paul II proclaimed Saints
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 27 (REUTERs): Pope Francis, on Sunday, proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday in front of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims celebrating two 20th century giants of the Roman Catholic Church. Cheers and applause rang out across St Peter’s Square after the historic double canonisation as many in the crowd fixed their gaze on huge tapestries of the two popes on the facade of the basilica behind Francis. “We declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II to be saints and we enrol them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole Church,” Francis said in his formal proclamation. The crowd was so large it stretched back along all of Via della Conciliazione, the half kilometre-long, broad boulevard that starts at the Tiber River. Even its bridges were packed with pilgrims. The Mass was also attended by former Pope Benedict, who last year became the first pontiff in six centuries to step down. John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council,
nuns hold up a poster with portraits of Pope John Paul II and John XXIII, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Sunday, April 27. (AP Photo)
and John Paul II, the Pole who reigned for nearly 27 years, played a leading role on the world stage. The overwhelming majority in the crowd were Poles who had travelled from their home country and immigrant communities as far afield as Chicago and Sydney to watch their most famous native son become a saint. Hundreds of red and white Polish flags filled the square and the streets surrounding the Vatican, which were strewn with sleeping bags, backpacks and folding chairs.
It was one of the biggest crowds since John Paul’s beatification in 2011. “For years Pope John Paul II took the Church to the ends of the earth and today the ends of the earth have come back here,” said Father Tom Rosica, head of Canada’s Salt and Light Catholic television network. Families and other pilgrims had waited for more than 12 hours along the main street leading to the Vatican before police opened up the square at 5:30 a.m. About 850 cardi-
nals and bishops were celebrating the Mass with the pope and 700 priests were on hand to distribute communion to the huge crowd. Francis’ own huge popularity has added extra appeal to the unprecedented ceremony to raise two former leaders of the church to sainthood on the same day. But while both were widely revered, there has also been criticism that John Paul II, who only died nine years ago, has been canonised too quickly. Groups representing victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests also say he did not do enough to root out a scandal that emerged towards the end of his pontificate and which has hung over the church ever since. The controversy did nothing to put off the rivers of Catholic faithful who have been arriving in Rome over the past few days. “It is a great joy, an immense joy, because there is happiness everywhere and this is not an empty happiness,” said Guillemette Chevalier, from France. “Here we have found the joy of being together in the Church around two extraordinary men ... who give meaning to our lives. It is true happiness,” she said.
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