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Dimapur VOL. VIII ISSUE 294
The Morung Express “
www.morungexpress.com
We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life
Nitish Kumar vows to bring culprits to book [ PAGE 08]
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Kohima | October 27
“In order to create an inclusive society, inclusive schools are a must,” says Purnima Kayina, headmistress of Cherry Blossoms School who asserts that in mainland India differently-abled children who grew up in specific special schools are not able to integrate well into society. “In the classroom and playground, they are all equals. Lord have mercy, life is When they are treated such a bottle-field. equally their confidence also comes up. They The Morung Express level have to fight and do their POLL QUESTIOn homework like the rest of Vote on www.morungexpress.com the children.” Purnima furSMS your answer to 9862574165 ther adds. “For the society to acIs the Nagaland cept them, it has to start State government from the school first. The interested in solving problems of bad kids they meet will be their roads and irregular peers tomorrow,” says Neielectricity supply? kule Mero whose daughter was diagnosed with autism (corneal opacity) when she Yes no Others was 3 years old. It was in Is nagaland government serious about restructuring 2007 when Mero and nine its system of bureaucracy? other members formed Yes Enable, a registered NGO 14% 79%
Others
07%
[ PAGE 11]
Vettel reigns supreme in India, grabs [ PAGE 02] Bangladesh politics focused historic 4th world title on 2 moms and 2 sons [ PAGE 09]
to create awareness programs, conduct research on disability and focus on inclusive schools. The formation of Enable spearheaded and amplified the initiatives for inclusive schools. “When differentlyabled children are included, children are able to understand and develop empathy at a very young age.” says Daniel Thong, founder of Jo’s Foundation. Daniel Thong and Dr. Asiinii’s eldest son Tejopi has autism. Subsequently after his diagnosis, they started Jo’s Foundation in 2009 which is an inclusive school that has 33 students including 7 with special needs. According to the 2001 census, Nagaland has a total population of 26,499 differently-abled people including: 9,968 persons with visual needs, 4,398 with speech impairments 5,245, with hearing needs, 4,258 with locomotor-needs and, 2,630 with mental challenges. In an April 4, 2013, report by The Indian Express
GrowinG need for inclusive schools in naGaland
Seen here are students of Jo’s Foundation, an inclusive school which started in 2009. (This image is published with permission from the Foundation)
stated that Nagaland is one among the six states whose school enrollment of girls with various disabilities has been under 40%. Joyance Pre-School which opened in 2003 is perhaps one of the first in-
ancient culture, modern heartache
AntA demand independent inquiry
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DiMApUr, OctOber 27 (Mexn): The All Nagaland Taxi Association (ANTA), Kohima Unit today demanded the formation of an Independent Inquiry Committee to probe the October 23 murder of taxi driver, Joynul Hussain in Kohima. “We demand that an Independent Inquiry Committee should be setup with ANTA Kohima Unit as a member,” stated the ANTA in a press release. The ANTA, further appealed to the Government of Nagaland to consider providing compensation to the bereaved family of late Hussain. While terming the incident as “dastardly”, the ANTA stated that the culprits do not deserve a place in society. “The victim driving Zonal Taxi (NL0T8254) was forcefully hired by four drunken persons from Lerie to go up to Khuzama village.” However, the “four instead of honestly paying for the service” murdered the driver and escaped with the vehicle, the ANTA stated. Demanding that the culprits should not be granted bail and be awarded exemplary punishment, the ANTA stated, “Such gory act, which has been occurring time and again, has created fear psychosis amongst the taxi drivers, who are earning their daily bread by providing humble service to the people even at odd hours.” The ANTA appreciated the prompt action of the Kohima police, led by the Superintendent of Police, Deputy SP and the officerin-charge of South Police Station, which resulted in the nabbing of the perpetrators and recovery of the stolen taxi. It further acknowledged the cooperation rendered by Jakhama village to the police.
–William Osler
Ist National level Hornbill Dance Competition
clusive schools in Kohima. Chanda Sahi, founder of Joyance says, “When we started, kids with special needs came. Most schools were not willing to take them. Since we did not have trained teachers, all we told
them was that we can only give them love and compassion. But we found out that the kids blossomed, did quite well and were ready for formal schooling.” Bumblebee Inclusive Pre School is another in-
women urged to tAXi DriVer attend oct 31 rally Aboriginal festival focuses on sharing stories MUrDer: DiMApUr, OctOber 27 Details on page 7
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Monday, October 28, 2013 12 pages Rs. 4
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inclusive values begin at schools Vibi Yhokha
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Miley Cyrus calls herself a ‘punk rock underdog’
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Participants from one of the indigenous dance groups from across Australia’s Central Desert and Top End perform at the Mbantua Aboriginal cultural festival in Alice Springs. (AFP Photo)
Alice SpringS, OctOber 27 (AFp): As the young girl’s voice rings out into the desert night, singing a soft lullaby to the restless baby she holds, the audience is spellbound. For Australia’s “stolen generation” of Aboriginal children taken from their families and placed in institutions, the scene evokes what happened when babies cried for their lost mothers and were comforted by older girls. “It was hard,” one man says as he recalls his childhood for the open-air performance of “Bungalow Song” on the outskirts of Alice Springs, a remote town near the geographical centre of Australia. “I believe every single one of us kids who was raised in institutions such as this had our language and our culture beaten out of us. That’s the way it was.” The centrepiece of October’s Mbantua Festival celebrating indigenous culture, “Bungalow Song” tells the stories of those who were taken to the often harsh home known as The Bungalow from 1932 to 1942. Not only did the performances take place on the site of the long-gone corrugated iron sheds that made up The Bungalow, but the children involved in the Opera Australia collaboration were mostly the
grandchildren of its former charges. “A lot of the kids here had one of their relatives taken away or brought here so I think it’s great that we’re able to tell those stories,” said 15-year-old performer Kaya Jarrett. “I feel like... we are still at the surface of knowing how everything was back then and... as much as it is talked about, I feel like it should probably be talked about a lot more because it has had a big impact on a lot of people lives.” It took until 2008 for Australia to apologise for the forcible removal of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children of so-called mixed parentage from their families between 1910 and 1970, many in the name of assimilation. Many like Harold Furber, who tells part of his story in “Bungalow Song”, were separated not only from their parents and grandparents, but their siblings, their land, their language and their culture. Furber was taken from Alice Springs when he was four along with his twoyear-old sister and sent hundreds of kilometres away to Croker Island off Darwin. He never saw his mother again. “Makes no sense whatsoever, none of it,” he told AFP. “My
little sister was gone (to Queensland) within a year, and I didn’t know. I didn’t know how it was done.” He says his story was “not unique one little bit, it’s the norm” and his experience made him withdrawn as a teenager. “I could hardly talk. The social worker from the methodist church used to come and see me and asked if there’s something he can do. I said ‘There’s something you can do -- you can locate my sister’. And if he hadn’t done that, well I wouldn’t have spoken to him again. What’s the point? “Over the years I suppose you deal with it, you get the confidence to do other things and talk up.” Mbantua Festival’s coartistic director Rachel Perkins said “Bungalow Song” is very much a story about the history of central Australia, and the clash of the ancient culture of the Aboriginal desert peoples and the European settlers, including the children that they produced together. “Of course, this show is part of feeling proud about that, feeling proud that we have this mixed heritage ... because the people who we are, I am, is part of the story of the country,” she said. “People used to not want to talk about it, now we want to talk about it.”
(Mexn): The Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD) today made an appeal to all women to attend the Public Awareness Rally to be held on October 31, 2013, in Dimapur, which is being organized by ACAUT. The NWHD through its president, Hukheli T. Wotsa, pointed out that woman, being the homemakers, were the “most affected lot, subject to unimaginable stress on account of price rise on almost all the commodities.” It further stated that low income families were even more affected. In light of these circumstances, NWHD appealed to “womenfolk irrespective of caste and tribe, local or non-locals to attend the rally.” It also urged “women vendors, businesswomen, women holding office and professional jobs and even women farmers are requested to lend their voice against unabated taxation and illegal collections.” All tribal women hohos, NGOs have been requested to “co-ordinate with their own tribes and members and send a strong contingent of women for the rally.”
stitution that specializes in iotherapists who are providing individualized willing to work with chileducational plans to cadren with disabilities ter to the particular needs • The need for multiple of each child. Here, each types of treatments. Chilchild’s needs and skills are dren with disabilities identified and assessed need different types of through listening, receptreatment; for example, tiveness and working skills. the treatment for Down Kopele Mero, founder of syndrome is different Bumblebee Centre for Phofrom treating autism, nics and Remedial Center hearing loss, etc. says, “We want to see the • The increasing need for government helping out in trained teachers the area of disability.” • Lack of awareness by the media and medical orgaDifferently-abled kids nizations face numerous challeng- • The need for sensitizaes in Nagaland, some of tion among government which includes: officials • The lack of societal • Public support - Giving awareness and the stigthem assurance that they ma which is attached to are not alone disability • Limited access for adIt is very touching to see equate diagnosis and as- the children’s generous atsessment. Most parents titude towards disability take their children out- according to Chandi Sahi side Nagaland for diag- who further adds, “Chilnosis and assessment. dren are very accepting, • Limited qualified prac- it’s the adults who puts bad ticing speech therapists thoughts in their minds. and occupational thera- We are all born with good pists nature. It’s the society that • Limited number of phys- spoils us.”
Patna blasts claim five lives
pAtnA, OctOber 27 (Ap): A series of small bomb blasts killed five people and injured dozens Sunday in an east Indian city just before a massive campaign rally by the country’s main opposition prime ministerial candidate in a nearby park. After the six homemade bombs went off in the Bihar state capital of Patna, panic and confusion erupted briefly among the hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the park to hear Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party speak. Local reporters at the scene said authorities did not inform them of the blasts until the rally was over, and many people thought the explosions were from firecrackers or from cars misfiring. Authorities quickly restored order and the rally went ahead as scheduled. Modi made no mention of the blasts during his hourlong speech, but offered condolences later to the victims in a Twitter message. The longtime chief minister of western Gujarat state has been waging a fierce national campaign to unseat the Congress-led government in next year’s elections. Police detained four men for questioning after the explosions, but did not say whether they were suspects. The first blast came from a crude
bomb that exploded in a public toilet building on an isolated railway platform, Patna district police chief Manu Maharaj said. Another bomb went off near a movie theater, and four more exploded just outside the park, sending plumes of gray smoke swirling above the crowd. “All the bombs produced low-intensity blasts,” Maharaj said. “An anti-sabotage team is investigating what happened.” Five people died from the blasts and 73 were being treated for injuries, according to the head of Patna Medical College hospital, Vimal Karak. Bomb disposal and forensic teams found two unexploded bombs around the railway station and were defusing them, railway police superintendent Upendra Kumar Sinha said. Modi ignored the blasts during his speech and instead focused on criticizing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government for India’s high inflation. He also accused Bihar’s highest elected leader, Nitish Kumar, of betraying the BJP after using its support to win his seat in the state. After the rally, Modi said the blasts were “deeply saddening” and offered condolences and prayers to the victims, according to a message posted from his official Twitter account. Related stories on page 8
‘Never give up the fight against HIV and AIDS’ Morung Express news Dimapur | October 27
The grand finale of the month-long multi media campaign of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) ‘Music for Zero’ will be held on Monday afternoon at DDSC Stadium. Twelve rock bands from all 11 districts including two from Dimapur will compete in the final and the ultimate winning band will be given the title “Red Ribbon Superstar” besides Rs. 1 lakh cash prize. At a get together of all the bands, NSACS officials and organizers here at Jumping Bean Café Sunday evening, NSACS director, Dr. Nandira Changkija, challenged the local bands to use their musical talents to reach out to the youth who are in danger of falling prey to the dreaded HIV/ AIDs trap. Reminding them
Actor-musician from Mumbai, Luke Kenny, writes a message on the nSACS awareness campaign banner aimed towards creating “Zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths” at the Jumping Bean Café, Dimapur on Sunday evening. (Morung Photo)
of the status of HIV/AIDS in the state, Dr. Changkija added, “There’s a reason why you become winners.” Actor-musician from Mumbai, Luke Kenny, who will be the chief judge of the rock contest, praised the local talents and said Nagaland is known to the outside world not only as land of festivals but also of music.
Kenny said ‘Geography’ is perhaps the only hurdle preventing Naga musicians from spreading their melodious music to the outside world. “But never give up, whether as a musician or in the fight against HIV and AIDS”, he added. Neisazo of Nagaland Users’ Network also shared a moving testimony of his
past dark days as a drug and alcohol addict. Earlier, Theja Meru, coordinator for the ‘Music for Zero’ NSACS campaign said the month-long campaign covering all 11 districts witnessed participation of 165 local bands. He also said the campaign was able to reach out to more than 10,000 youths. Clueless Attention, the brand ambassador band of the campaign, entertained the gettogether with two special numbers. The competing twelve bands are RASP (Mon), Rebirth (Longleng), The Purpose (Mokokchung), Naga Incarnate (Tuensang), Souls Rhapsody (Zunheboto), Headgearz (Wokha), Paper Sky (Dimapur), Four Fields (Dimapur), Soul Alliance (Peren), Making Merry (Kohima), Crush and Burn (Kiphire) and Hardcore Addition (Phek).
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Kohima | October 27
The Nagaland Fitness & Dance Academy (NAFDA) in collaboration with the Government of Nagaland will be presenting the first National level Hornbill Dance Competition coinciding with the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland. This will be the first National Level Dance Competition in Nagaland, which will be held for three days from December 7 to 9 at The Heritage, Old DC’s Bungalow, Kohima. Online registration has begun from September 10 and would continue till the 2nd week of November. Participants have been asked to send their video CD or upload their video (October 28) for audition where the panel of experts will do the selection. Total prize money for the competition has been
VHND held at PHC Longkhum
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Ist National level Hornbill Dance Competition Our Correspondent
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The Morung Express
Organizers of the first National Hornbill Dance Competition addressing media persons in Kohima. (Morung Photo)
set at 2.90 lakh. The winners in solo event will get Rs. 70,000 while runners up will pocket Rs. 50,000. In group category, the winner will be awarded with a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh and runners-up
Rs. 70,000. The competition will witness two preliminary rounds and one semi final (elimination round) before the grand finale. NAFDA member Kevino Savino informed the media
persons on October 25th at Juice Lounge, Tinpati that 10% of ticket sold from this event will go for charity work. She also informed that participants from Manipur, Mizoram, Mumbai
and Bangalore have been confirmed so far. More teams are expected from other parts of the country. For the convenience of the participants for audition, another member of NAFDA
Cecilia Liezietsu said one can also upload their footage at nafdakohima@hotmail. com. The audition result will be declared in the early part of November. Renowned artists along with choreographer from film industry, Mumbai will be an additional attraction of the event. Meanwhile, the organizer informed that accommodation for out station participants will be provided. Travel allowance will be given to participants. Local transportation will be provided during the competition till grand finale. The show will be judged by a panel of eminent dance personalities. For more information log into www.nafda. in or contact 9089562821, 8731681075 The competition aims to promote the talented Naga dancers and give them platform to do better even in the international level.
6 selected from Kohima for Youth Parliamentary Competition and Quiz
Dimapur, OctO ber 27 (mexN): Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) was held at PHC Longkhum on October 25 under the theme “Care of elderly people in Iodine deficiency disorder”. Health check-up, Maternal and immunization were done by providing free medicines. Lab investigation and family planning services were also provided. In addition, special packages were provided to all ANC, PNC patients and vaccinated children. Monitoring team from CMO Office, Ongpangkong block, ASHA Coordinator, BPM, BAM , HCMC Longkhum chairman and members also attended the programme . VHND is held every last Friday of the month and is led by MO and staff of PHC Longkhum.
KOhima, OctOber 27 (mexN): The Kohima District Level Youth Parliamentary Competition and Parliamentary Quiz was conducted on October 25, 2013 at 11:00 am at the auditorium of Alder College, Kohima by the authority of the District Education Office, Kohima in collaboration with the Department of Parliamentary Affairs, Nagaland. A press note issued by Senthang, District Education Officer, Kohima, stated that in fulfilling the provision made available for a district, a total of six students were selected to represent Kohima District at the State Level Competition to be held on November 8, 2013 at Kohima. The students are Takatemjen Pongen, Class-12, Mezhür Higher Secondary School, Kohima; Mego Khawakhrie, Class-12, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School,
Dimapur, OctOber 27 (mexN): Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force, M. Lokeswara Rao has visited the Amur Falcon migration site and roosting area around Doyang and Pangti Area. Doyang is one of the biggest roosting site in Nagaland. A press note received here stated that the PCCF and HOFF was amazed to see the lakhs of Amur falcon birds roosting on the tress near Pangti. He met the village elders, students, fisherman communities, NGOS and forest staff. Also, meeting the Forest Protection Force who are patrolling the roosting areas round the clock, he appreciated their
sincere and dedication work in protection of Amur Falcons. He also appreciated the people of Pangti and other surrounded villages for their sincere efforts in protecting Amur Falcons sacrificing the livelihood. Many NGOs like Natural Nagas and wildlife trust of India and friends of Amur Falcon, Green foundation, all other NGOS, students of Pangti village, village councils are helping in this conservation movement of Amur Falcon. “This is one of the biggest conservation efforts taken up by the forest Department with the help of local community in the village community lands,” he said. The PCCF and HOFF
College; and Wabang, Lecturer, Alder College. Earlier, delivering an introductory speech on behalf of the organizers, Kaitunchap Newmai, JEO, District Education Office, Kohima encouraged the student competitors while reminding the authorities of educational institutions not to fail in availing opportunities such as this giving maximum privilege
to their students in getting an exposure. Citing on the various activities the department involves, he added beneficial programmes for the students are conducted by the department but if institutions fail to reciprocate unless forced upon, the ultimate losers are our students whose future we all aspire to make whole. But in not responding, the good intent of organizing any such event will be waste of resources. For the overwhelming sacrifices in ensuring the successful conduct of the programme, Kaitunchap Newmai also conveyed the sincerest appreciation and gratitude of the authority of the District Education Office, Kohima; the Department to School Education and the Department of Parliamentary Affairs, Nagaland to the Management of Alder College, Kohima and its faculty..
one of the “unique conservation movement” in the world where church is involved in conservation. The PCCF and HOFF has informed that Forest department has taken all measure for protection of Amur Falcon, to spread the conservation of Amur Falcon. It was stated that because of whole hearted support of every one not as single bird is killed this time. Because of the advance action of the chief wildlife warden of the wildlife wing of the Forest department we are seeing the success. This year Amur falcon was sighted in Nuland area, Longleng, Changtongya of Mokokchung. The PCCF and HOFF in-
formed that to have permanent solution of livelihood issues, the ecotourism can be developed, tourists will come during migration to see the spectacular roosting area and local people can earn their livelihood from ecotourism. It was also informed that the area also can be declared as community reserve for protection of biodiversity including Amur Falcon. Since Nagaland has caught in the world map because of Amur falcon, there should be integrated development of the area involving, forest, fisheries, Rural Development and Tourism department so that local people can do away from hunting of birds.
Teachers and students at the Kohima District Level Youth Parliamentary Competition and Parliamentary Quiz, which was conducted on October 25.
Kohima; Vitozonu Natso, Class-12, Chandmari Higher Secondary School, Kohima; Kittynaro Jamir, Class-12, Chandmari Higher Secondary School, Kohima; Kayisoni Lerena, Class-12, Ministers’ Hill Baptist Higher Secondary School, Kohima; and Elishan Yahthan, Class-12, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Kohima. The note also stated
that conduct of the entire event of the Kohima District Level Youth Parliamentary Competition and Parliamentary Quiz 2013 was managed by a set of efficient officials comprising Kholi Dikho, Head of Department, Political Science, Alder College; Adono, Lecturer, Alder College; Jennifer, Lecturer, Alder College; Amos, Lecturer, Alder College, Lohrü, Lecturer, Alder
The Amur Falcon campaign- ‘one of the biggest & unique conservation efforts’
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Flocks of Amur Falcon converge at a roosting site.
thanked all the church pastors for their support and also said that church has played an important role and requested all churches
in Nagaland to spread conservation movement during by devoting time during devotional service. The note mentioned that this is
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Azo to grace 22nd PGSU session KOhima, OctOber 27 (mexN): Minister for roads & bridges and parliamentary affairs Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu will grace the 22nd annual freshers meet 2013 of the Post Graduate Students’ Union (PGSU), Kohima Campus, Meriema on October 29 at the State Academy Hall, Kohima from 10:00 AM onwards. T.L. Merry, vice president NPF (Central) and Chairman Lotha Hoho Dimapur will be the guest of honour. The union president Selezo Tsukru will deliver presidential address. The session will also witness Mr. & Miss PGSU contest 2013.
Farmers award cum mid intervention for FIG’s & CIG’s
KOhima, OctOber 27 (mexN): The farmers award cum mid intervention for FIG’s & CIG’s for effective way forward will take place on October 29 at 11:00 am at DC Conference Hall, Kohima. W.C. Honje Konyak, deputy commission &GB, chairman ATMA Kohima will grace the occasion as the chief guest. Keynote address will be given by Nosezole, DAO & PD (ATMA) Kohima. Powerpoint presentation on profile and activities done by the awardees will be given by Mhasikhotuo, BTT Convener, AO. Mid intervention for FIG’s and CIG’s for effective way forward will be briefed by Dr. Amen, LTO, Directorate of agriculture. The function will be chaired by Rosalane, Dy,PD (ATMA) Kohima while vote of thanks will be proposed by Kethoneilhou, BTT Convenor AO.
NSF foundation day on Oct 29
KOhima, OctOber 27 (mexN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) will be observing its foundation day on October 29 at Hotel Vivor, Kohima at 11:00 AM. Minister for health and family welfare Imkong L. Imchen, former general secretary NSF will grace the occasion as the chief guest. Y. Vikheho Swu, parliamentary secretary for irrigation and flood control (former president NSF 1993-95) and Neiba Kronu, parliamentary secretary for horticulture (former president NSF 1995-97) will deliver short speech. Brief history of NSF will be delivered by Zaku Tsukru, foremer NSF 1973- 74. NSF president Tongpang Ozukum will deliver keynote address. NSF tribunal general Kelhouneizo Yhome will chair the function while vote of thanks will be proposed by NSF general secretary Esther Rhakho. NSF social & culture secretary Gioden Chishi on behalf of the Federation extended cordial invitation to all the seniors, federating units/ subordinate bodies, invites to the occasion.
Orientation prog for NLEP staff
mOKOKchuNg, OctOber 27 (mexN): Orientation programme for Non-Medical Supervisors (NMS), Paramedical Workers (PMWs) and senior PMS of Longleng and Mokokchung district was held at IDSP hall, Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital, Mokokchung on October 25. The orientation was conducted for National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) staff to enable them to conduct “Contact Survey Of Multi Bacillary Cases Of Leprosy”. Dr. Ayangla (ZLO) chaired the function. Dr. Kibang Dy CMO Mokokchung exhorted the trainees to be sincere and dedicated in their duties. “The Leprosy department has been sleeping for quite some time and it is high time to wake up and perform our assigned duties,” he said. He further called all to join hands and work together to cure the disease, to prevent the deformities and prevent the spread. NLEP staff from Longleng and Mokokchung attended the training.
Training on integrated cropping system held
WOKha, OctOber 27 (mexN): Department of agriculture, Wokha and KVK (ICAR), Wokha, conducted training on integrated cropping system at Hayili Integrated Agriculture and Allied Department Project, Pangti village under Wokha district on October 21. A press release informed that C. Peter Yanthan DAO, Wokha spoke on general layouts for different varieties of vegetable crops. Sanjay Kumar Ray, SMS (Soil science), KVK (ICAR), Wokha spoke on soil amendments and fertilizer management for various crops and Chichanbeni Yanthan (AFA), spoke on Agronomic practices and crop protection measures on vegetable crops along with demonstrations. The department also provided inputs such as 15 tonnes of potato, 6 quintals of mustard, 2 quintals of linseed and varieties of vegetable - cabbage, knolkhol, radish, carrot, tomato along with watering cans and knapsack sprayers. Altogether 47 farmers representing different groups attended the training programme.
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Annual Deepawali Mela held with pomp
Morung Express News Dimapur | October 27
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Children dressed in their best attires ran around the two mascots, shaking hands and teasing them at the annual Deepawali Mela organized by Lions Club of Dimapur at its Centre here. Music at the backdrop, the Mela was swarming with grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren visiting the different food courts, playing various games, and just chitchatting. Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Chotisuh Sazo graced the occasion as the chief guest. Congratulating the Lions Club for their charity works, the chief guest requested them to continue their noble job and expand it beyond Dimapur. Stating the plight of the rural people, who live without basic infrastructure, he encouraged the Lions Club of Dimapur to reach out to those people. Meanwhile, speaking of Deepawali and its significance, Sazo pointed out similarities between Hindu philosophy and Christian doctrines. Deepawali,
Children swarm the two mascots to shake hands during the mela at Lions Centre, Dimapur on October 27. (Morung Photo)
the festival of light, he said is “the awareness of inner light”, the light being joy, happiness and peace. Quoting from the Bible, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life," the Speaker asserted, without Jesus, we cannot have peace and happiness. Similarly, he said, Hindu philosophy teaches to follow basic principles. According to the NLA Speaker, India is diverse,
with different religions, but religion is also one of the factors that bind India together. Hence, he stated if everyone followed basic principles of religion, there would be no fight and “our place” will be a better place to live in. To the non-Nagas who have been in Nagaland for a very long time, Sazo told them to “feel like Nagas and build up Nagaland into a better place.” At the same time, he said, the people living here should also trans-
mit good cultures of India. Winners of the Lions International annual peace poster contest held earlier, under the theme, “Our world, Our Future” were also awarded during the Mela. The proceeds from the mela will fund the several charitable works of the Club next year. Some common works of Lions Club of Dimapur include medical camps, free eye screening camps, relief works, educational sponsorships etc.
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Regional
The Morung express
Bangladesh violence hits bus service, trade with India AgArtAlA, OctOber 27 (IANS): Trade ties and bus services between Bangladesh and India took a hit as violence rocked the neighbouring country as the opposition-sponsored 60-hour countrywide shutdown began Sunday, officials said here. The country's main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led the 18-party alliance that called the nationwide shutdown beginning 6 a.m. Sunday, and it is set to continue until 6 p.m. of Oct 29. The opposition is demanding that a caretaker government be installed during the general elections, and that the elections be held early 2014. According to bdnews24. com, an online news portal in Bangladesh, violence in the country since Saturday has claimed at least 12 lives, and many vehicles, shops and government assets have been damaged. "Trade between Bangladesh and India's northeastern states was badly affected as hundreds of
IMPHAl, OctOber 27 (MexN): Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) has stated that the visit of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to Manipur is a “partial victory” of all efforts to repeal AFSPA. In a statement appended by its core member, Devika Mittal, SSSC welcomed the visit and said, “Visit of NHRC must be seen as taking cognizance of people of Manipur who are affected by AFSPA.” Though it is too late and “we doubt that this visit will hardly bring any concrete result,” it said, the visit must be seen positively and a step that took place after lots of efforts by groups, campaigns, organizations and individuals. SSSC, according to the note believes that even a small step from any side towards addressing the human rights violations in Manipur, must be seen as a step ahead in the continuous struggle for establishing democratic values and maintaining peace. With the demand to repeal AFSPA, visit of NHRC to Manipur and to meet with people of Manipur and Irom Sharmila, was one of the demands of SSSC. It further noted that SSSC RTI, filed by Ravi Nitesh, a core member of SSSC revealed that NHRC
had not conducted any official visit to Manipur in last 11 years (from the 2000 to 2011) regarding human rights violations or to meet Irom Sharmila. SSSC delegation met with NHRC chairperson regarding AFSPA, Irom Sharmila and submitted a memorandum to him with the demand to investigate cases of human rights violations and to visit Manipur to meet Irom Sharmila and people of Manipur. During this meet, NHRC chairperson took cognizance of the memorandum and promised to address the issue. SSSC team had followed up with NHRC through meetings and letters. First time in its history, NHRC had discussed the SSSC memorandum before its full bench where various opinions including visit of Manipur, reviewing and studying AFSPA etc were discussed. SSSC in the statement assured that it will take more steps in coming future to put pressure for the demand to repeal AFSPA through protest, sit-in, letters, newspapers articles, delegation meetings etc. SSSC is actively engaged in spreading awareness about Irom Sharmila's fast and cases of human rights violations in AFSPA imposed areas now.
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JCB driver murdered, Manipur bandh called
Mizoram students slam Bru registration drive
IMPHAl, OctOber 27 (NNN): Manipur will witness yet another bandh on Monday as the Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the alleged kidnapping and killing the JCB driver has announced today to impose 36 hours statewide bandh starting from 5:00 am. According to the JAC, the bandh is to be imposed as a mark of expressing the people's resentment over the police inability to save the life of the driver. The dead body of JCB driver Debraj alias Ton, a residents of Khurai, Imphal East district was found buried near Seijang village in Senapati district along the National Highway-37 on Saturday after he went missing since October 14 along with the JCB. In connection with the incident five persons have been arrested by the police including a woman and a father-son duo. Talking to the media this morning, Imphal West district superintendent of police Jayenta said the arrested persons have been identified as Namoijam Gojen (50), s/o (L) N. Chaoba of Ningombam Makha Leikai and his sons Namoijam Chalamba alias Rakhesh (25) and Namoijam Jimikanta
(24), his daughter-in-law Namoijam ongbi Tombi alias Jiteswori (24) w/o N. Chalamba and Tongbram Babu alias Shyamchand (27), s/o T. Biren Singh of Thanga Khunjao who is presently staying at Langol Lai Manai. According to the police officer, two persons were arrested first. After the intense inerrogation was conducted on them, the accused had revealed that the JCB driver was killed and buried near Seijang village. A police team along with the accused rushed to the spot yesterday and dug out the dead body. Later, the corpse was deposited at the mortuaryofRegionalInstitute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). The accused had reportedly taken the JCB on the pretext of hiring but allegedly killed the driver after reportedly selling the JCB to other. The JCB was recovered from Tupul area of Tamenglong district. Meanwhile, soon after the news was spread this morning that the missing driver dead body was found, the people had imposed lightning bandh in Khurai area blocking roads, burning tyres. Police had a tough time dealing the protestors in Khurai area today.
import business has been crippled. Akhaurah is one of the most important international trading land ports in northeast India adjacent to Agartala city. On average, about 200 Bangladeshi trucks loaded with goods come to Tripura every day. Biswas said that business worth Rs.15 million, on average, takes place daily through Akhaurah, the second-most important international trading land port along the India-Bangladesh border, after the Petrapol-Banepole checkpost in West Bengal. Trade between In-
dia and Bangladesh has been taking place through Akhaurah and five other LCSs in Tripura, which shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh. The situation in Bangladesh also led to the suspension of the Dhaka-Agartala bus service. "For security reasons, buses between Dhaka and Agartala are not plying. The bus service is expected to resume after the situation in Bangladesh returns to normal," an official of the Tripura Road Transport Corporation, one of the operators of the Dhaka-Agartala bus service, said.
SHIllONg, OctOber 27 (MexN): Over a thousand people landed in the heart of Shillong last night to participate at the “candle-lighting-ceremony” to express solidarity with the family of the victim, late Vikash Nandwal who succumbed to his burn injuries on Saturday morning after battling for his life for more than sixteen days in a hospital at the national capital. Vikash Nandwal was the second victim of Inner Line Permit (ILP) related violent incident. The first victim was one Vidya Devi Chokhani (74), owner of
M/s Satyanarayan Textile. Devi died two days after the arson incident due to suffocation caused by the smoke in her room above the shop, which had come under petrol bomb attack on September 26 at Police Bazar here. It was an emotional evening for the Shillong people when women, men, youth, and children cutting across section of societies were seen lighting thousands of candles even as they demanded that justice be delivered to the departed soul. The candle light ceremony also witnessed Meghalaya Home Minister Roshan
Warjri, who with tears rolling down her cheeks lighted a candle in front of the portrait of late Vikash Nandwal. Urban Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and Health Minister AL Hek also accompanied her, besides officials from the district administration of East Khasi hills district. The family members of Nandwal were also present in the ceremony. Speaking to NNN last night, the uncle of the victim, P Varma while expressing grief over the loss of a loved and dear one said, “We have lost him, but I don’t want that anybody to face the
same experience.” 34-yearold Nandwal left behind his parents, two sisters and wife. “It is very much painful to describe the annex from our very own,” Home Minister Roshan Warjri told reporters. Strongly condemning the inhumane act against an innocent person, Warjri said, “On behalf of the government, I reiterated my strong condemnation against all acts of violence perpetrated in all parts of the city and the state.” “I appeal for cooperation from one and all and perpetrators of such heinous act of violence will be
brought to book under the provision of the law,” she said adding, “We will deal with a very firm hand as per the law.” She informed that all logistic support had been extended to the victim and family. “Right from the time the incident took place, the government has been extending all possible steps for his treatment and we had contacted other super specialist in burn injuries in New Delhi and he was flown from Guwahati to Delhi.” It may be mentioned that Nandwal, son of JS Nandwal was attacked by arsonists on October 9.
NeW DelHI, OctOber 27 (bS): After facing a scarcity of funds and a challenging law and order situation for about two decades, Indian Railways’ expansion in the Northeast is finally gaining momentum. Three of the five key railway projects identified by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as “critical” for the region are nearing completion. Projects about to be completed include the first rail connectivity projects in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, along with crucial gauge conversion between Rangpara and North Lakh-
impur, which would connect Arunachal Pradesh to the rest of the country. The three projects entail a cost of about Rs 3,000 crore. “Our deadlines for the first rail connectivity to Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh are set at March 2014, and we will achieve it this time,” said a Railway Board official. For India, the Northeast region bordering China is strategically important, but lack of funds and the adverse law and order situation there have kept the region infrastructurestarved. Officials in the Ministry of Development
of North Eastern Region, however, said development of the Northeast had found a special mention in the 11th and 12th five-year Plans. “This has helped fast-track projects in the region,” the officials said. Dudhnoi-Mendipathar, a 20-km line in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, involving an investment of about Rs 180 crore, has been in works for about two decades. Announced in Budget 1992-93, the line faced several hurdles. “There was a severe law-and-order problem. Railway officials had been kidnapped in the
past. Locals resisted, fearing with rail connectivity, illegal immigrants would settle here. Things have improved, but we have to be careful,” said a senior North East Frontier Railway official. Officials said on the ground, work was underway in full swing. Land acquisition for the line was complete and three major bridges on the line had also been completed, along with 50 minor bridges needed on the hilly terrain. “It’s a tough terrain we are working on,” said an official involved with the project.
Harmati-Naharlagun, a 20-km line in Arunachal Pradesh announced in 1996-97, would cost the railways about Rs 407 crore. The line is set to record its first run in March 2014. The line was identified as crucial to national security in the last Railway Budget, owing to the presence of Chinese railway infrastructure on the state’s borders. “China is investing heavily in domestic and trans-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian nations) network and India has failed to catch up. The importance of connectiv-
ity in the Northeast is selfevident; it’s our link to the ASEAN. The post-1962 war psychosis — if we build roads into the Northeast, it might be a potential security threat — is one that has to go away,” says C Uday Bhaskar, fellow at the Society for Policy Studies, a Delhi-based think tank. “There are some high power lines crossing the railway alignment; we have asked the Power Grid Corporation to realign these soon,” said a senior North East Frontier Railway official. He added this time, the railways would complete the work on time.
Candlelight farewell to second ILP protest victim
Arunachal, Meghalaya to be on railways map soon
Assam's little known Nobel link 4 Assam schools show
SIlcHAr, OctOber 27 (Ht): Malswama Mizo, 68, from Katlicherra village in Hailakandi district of Assam, travelled to the neighbouring district of Cachar to get his enlarged prostrate removed because all the hospitals in his district turned him away saying it was a high-risk surgery. "They prescribed medicines, which I took for years but they did not help. Finally, I got fed up and went to private hospitals in Silchar, who again turned me away," said Mizo, who runs a little fishery in his village. Then someone suggested he go to B P Kedia Central Hospital in Labac Tea Estate outside Silchar, set up in 1890, to look after the health needs of tea-estate workers. Over the past 124 years, the hospital has grown into a 70-bedded facility that caters to the medical needs of not just the Tea Estate but also the villages around it. "The surgeon not only removed my prostate but also removed a stone in my urinary bladder, which was detected when they screened me for the surgery," said Mizo, who gets his name from his tribe. "Malswama had an extremely enlarged prostrate, which had grown from its normal 4-5 gm to 81gm. When he came to us, the enlarged gland had created a protrusion in his abdomen," says said Dr Shyamal Dutta, medical officer at the hospital. "Private nursing homes turned him away because they feared complications." Like him, many villagers get simple surgeries done at the B P Kedia Central Hospital - popularly referred to as the Labac Central Hospital - which functions on a fantastically minimal staff of two doctors and 14 nurses. Till Silchar Medical College was set up in 1968, B P Kedia Central Hospital would cater to everyone in the Barak Valley, comprising of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karim-
Dimapur
He added that a group of tourists from Tripura who went to Bangladesh recently cut short their trip in that country and returned Saturday. Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) has further tightened security all along the India-Bangladesh border. "We have deployed additional troopers along the entire Indo-Bangla border. Senior officials of the BSF are closely supervising the situation. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (banning ny assembly of five or more people) have been promulgated along the international borders," a BSF spokesman told IANS. India shares a 4,096km border with Bangladesh, of which 2,216 km is with West Bengal, 856 km with Tripura, 443 km with Meghalaya, 318 km with Mizoram and 262 km with Assam. A large portion of the International Border is unfenced and porous.
AgArtAlA, OctOber 27 (PtI): Border Security Force has intensified its patrolling along the 856 km long Indo- Bangladesh border in Tripura to check infiltration into the Indian territory in view of the tense political situation there. "We have strengthened our force in the border and are keeping a watch on the situation in the neighbouring country so that no one could infiltrate here. Not a single case of infiltration has taken place so far," BSF DIG, B S Rawat said. A 60-hour long hartal (shutdown), sponsored by the combined opposition parties, is being observed in Bangladesh from today to press for formation of an independent care taker government before the national elections due early next year. Sources in the state administration said they also alerted the BSF regarding the current situation in Bangladesh.
NHRC’s visit a partial victory to repeal the AFSPA: SSSC
28 October 2013
AIZAWl, OctOber 27 (tNN): Two students' organizations in Mizoram - the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and the Mizo Students Union (MSU) - have protested against a special registration drive being conducted exclusively at Bru relief camps in Tripura to enlist those left out from the Mizoram voters' lists. In a letter to chief election commissioner V S Sampath and state chief electoral officer Ashwani Kumar, the MZP said the EC's instruction to order a special registration drive exclusively for the Brus was discriminatory. "If a special registration drive is conducted, it should be for all young people in the state who are eligible to vote but left out in the summary revision of the voters' lists. It should not be restricted to just the Brus lodged in Tripura relief camps," a member of MZP said, adding that all Indian citizens should enjoy equal opportunities. The student organization also expressed the fear that those Brus who had migrated to Tripura from Bangladesh and Assam and also some permanent residents of Tripura might be included in the electoral rolls. The MZP said the 1995 voters' list alone should be the basis for determination of bona fide residents of Mizoram as the Brus had migrated en masse to Tripura in 1997."Itislamentablethatthe EC is giving special treatment to the Bru community at the relief camps, who refused to return to Mizoram despite several attempts by the Centre, the state government and the civil societies to bring them back," the MZP said. The MSU also slammed Ashish Srivastava, directorgeneral of the EC, for ordering the special registration drive for the Brus. The MSU also said Bru voters should not exercise their franchise through postal ballots from the relief camps but from their respective polling stations in Mizoram.
BSF beefs up patrolling in B'desh border
goods-laden trucks and other vehicles were stranded on either side of the borders adjoining Tripura and Meghalaya because of the shutdown in that country," a customs official told IANS in Agartala. Agartala Exporters-Importers Association general secretary Habul Biswas told reporters that over 700 workers are involved in the trading at the Akhaurah checkpost and other LCSs (Land Customs Stations) in Tripura, but as labourers of Bangladesh were not available, and truck operators feared for the security of their vehicles, the export-
Monday
ganj, and also to the neighbouring states of Assam like Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. "Ours is oldest operation theatre in the region and the only tea garden to have an OT in entire Barak Valley," says Dr Dutta. India-born British doctor, Dr Ronald Ross, who won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1902 for identifying the malaria parasite, spent one year studying the life-cycle of the anopheles mosquito that helped lay the foundation for the treatment of this lifethreatening disease that infected 219 million and killed 660,000 in 2010, say World Health Organisation estimates. "Ronald Ross came here to work at the invitation of the then chief medical officer Dr G G V Ramsay to study the lifecycle of P.vivax in the gut of anopheles mosquito. We have preserved his sketches and the microscope he used for his work but, unfortunately, written documents with his signature have been lost over time," says Dr RR Tarat, chief medical officer at the hospital. A century ago, malaria was the leading illness, but now it has been replaced by other infections, such as tuberculosis and seasonal influenza. "Since the hospital still has a running operation room, cholecsystectomy (surgical removal of gall bladder), appendectomy (removal of appendix), hysterectomy (removal of uterus), surgeries for hernia and hydrocele, ovarian and breast tumour, urinary bladder stone removal and PFR (pelvic floor repair) are routinely done free for tea-garden workers and for a nominal charge for outsiders," says Dr Dutta. Mizo nods in agreement. He paid around 30,000 for his prostate and gallbladder surgeries including medicine costs, which would have cost him 1 to 1.25 lakh and 80,000 to 1 lakh respectively at private hospitals in Delhi or Mumbai.
way to protect nature
gUWAHAtI OctOber 27 (tNN): Respect for nature and environment cannot be inculcated in a day. But if ingrained from childhood, an individual can grow up to become a responsible citizen. With this idea in mind, some schools in Assam have started green drives and environment-friendly activities. The Kuthuri Higher Secondary School near Kaziranga National Park has now become a plastic-free zone. Students and teachers there promote eco-friendly, biodegradable materials for everyday use on the school premises and also take part in bird-watching trips. Similarly, the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi High School near Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Salbari Higher Secondary School near Manas National Park and Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan ME School near Deepor Beel have become model schools in the state where community-linked education for sustainable development (ESD) is being inculcated among
teachers and students. WWF-India, in association with the education department, has started a pilot project to propagate consciousness regarding conservation of nature and sustainable use of resources through ecofriendly means in these schools. While the four schools have showed the way how ESD can be promoted, WWF-India and the education department are now eyeing other schools in the state so that they also become model schools under this initiative. WWF-India said the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) have already identified 15 model schools in different districts where EDS campaign will be taken up based on the locally relevant themes (LORET) model developed by Sweden's Uppsala University and the Institute for Research in Education and Sustainable Development. WWF-India's environment education director Mita Nangia Goswami said the LORET model integrates issues of sus-
tainable development into school curriculum and teaching. It identifies key issues for sustainable development in the local community, discusses these in groups and prioritizes one issue at a time. Then, groups of teachers willing to work on developing a LORET and help in its implementation are put together. On Thursday, DIET representatives from various districts, officials of State Council Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and teachers from several schools took part in a workshop where the LORET model was demonstrated.
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Walmart resumes US lobbying on FDI in India New Delhi, OctOber 27 (Pti): Global retail giant Walmart has resumed its lobbying with the US lawmakers on matters related to FDI in India and it spent USD 1.5 million on about 50 specific issues, including those related to Indian market during the last quarter. “Discussions regarding Foreign Direct Investment in India” is one of the ten-odd specific issues in the area of trade that were carried out by registered lobbyists on behalf of Walmart during third quarter of 2013, according to its latest Lobbying Disclosure Form submitted to the US Senate. Overall, Walmart lobbyists discussed nearly 50 ‘specific issues’ with the US lawmakers during the quarter, resulting into total expenses of USD 1.5 million relating to lobbying activities for the reporting period, shows the 19-page disclosure report. Walmart’s lobbying activities covered the Senate, House of Representatives, Department of State, US Trade Representatives, US Agency for International Development and the Department of Labour, among others. As per Congressional records, Walmart had halted its lobbying with
the US lawmakers and federal agencies on India- specific issues in the preceding quarter, after seeking their support for about five years to facilitate its entry into the high-growth Indian retail market. However, such lobbying activities resumed during the last quarter -- a period which also saw hectic parleys in India with regard to Wa l m a r t ’ s business activities in the country. After months of discussions, Walmart earlier this month announced buyout of Bharti group’s 50 per cent stake in their wholesale retail business in India. Walmart has also been requesting the Indian government to further relax norms for FDI in multi-brand retail business, where 51 per cent foreign equity was allowed last year despite opposition by various political parties. Incidentally, a probe report on Walmart’s lobbying for entering India may soon be discussed by the Union Cabinet. The probe is said to have remained incon-
Jet Airways gets lion’s share of increased seat allocations to Abu Dhabi
New Delhi, OctOber 27 (ie): Air India has got about 27 per cent of the total allocation of seats from the increased bilateral entitlements signed between India and Abu Dhabi. Jet Airways has got 44.8 per cent of the total increased allocation while SpiceJet has secured 28.2 per cent of the total increased allocation. The 10,507 seats allocated among the three airlines are for the winter schedule of 2013 and will run upto the summer schedule of 2014, said a senior civil aviation ministry official. “The increase in bilateral seats entitlements between India and Abu Dhabi is to come in three phases and the current allocation are from the first phase of increase”, he added. Under the air services pact between India and Abu Dhabi, the increase in entitlements is to be implemented over three years — 11,000 seats per week in 2013, 12,800 seats per week up to the winter schedule of 2014 and 12,870 seats per week up to the winter schedule of 2015. On April 24, India and Abu Dhabi had increased their weekly seat entitlements from 13,600 seats to 50,270 seats. The increase had attracted controversy, as it was signed just hours before Jet Airways decided to sell a 24 per cent stake to Abu Dhabi based Etihad. The increase in seats was consequently sent to the Union Cabinet for a post-facto approval. Usually such issues do not need a Cabinet approval. In the allocation, Jet Airways has got 4 destinations to operate its flights from. These are Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mangalore. Air India and SpiceJet have two got destinations each — Air India from Delhi and Mumbai and SpiceJet from Calicut and Mangalore.
clusive as Walmart and others did not provide required information. The Indian government had ordered the probe on Walmart’s lobbying late last year after a huge political outcry over the American retail giant having spent millions of dollars on its lobbying activities in the US for years on various issues, including on access to the Indian market and the relevant FDI norms. Lobbying is legally permitted in the US, but the companies and their registered lobbyists are required to make detailed disclosures about their activities every quarter. Walmart, on its part, has been maintaining that it has disclosed all its lobbying activities as per the US rules and it did not violate any Indian regulations in this regard. There are no clear regulations on lobbying in India, although companies here also indulge in activities promoting their cause with the government and other agencies, either directly or through
indians shop for gold bangles on Ravi Pushya nakshatra, considered auspicious by hindus to buy gold and silver in Ahmadabad on Sunday, October 27. (AP Photo)
HRD Ministry gives go ahead to Aakash 4 project New Delhi, OctOber 27 (Pti): After much deliberation, the Union HRD ministry has given the go ahead to its ambitious Aakash 4 project, and a cabinet note seeking permission for the production of the low-cost tablet is expected soon. Under this proposal, HRD plans to procure over 22 lakh tablets at a cost of Rs 330 crore
through Directorate General of Supplies (DGS&D), ministry sources said. In the first phase of the scheme, Aakash 4 tablets will be given to engineering institutes which will be directly bought from vendors empanelled by the DGS&D. The tablet, estimated at USD 35 per piece, will be provided to students at a
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industry bodies and other groups. As per the Congressional records, Walmart began lobbying in the US on India-specific issues way back in 2008. Since then, the company has spent a total amount of USD 39.42 million (about Rs 242 crore) on numerous lobbying issues, including those related to India. Out of this, over USD five million have been spent so far in 2013. Walmart’s lobbying issues did not include India in the second quarter of this year, while the first quarter of 2012, as also all four quarters of 2009 also did not have any single lobbying issue related to India. Walmart and many other overseas supermarket chains have been wanting to set shop for many years in India, which opened up this business for foreign players only last year. Still, there are many restrictions, such as those on sourcing of products, that are keeping foreign multi-brand retailers away from the country. Separately, Walmart was also facing a probe by the Enforcement Directorate here for alleged violation of FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) norms, but is said to have been given clean chit on that front.
subsidised rate. Sources at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have said the new tablet will be out by January next year. The new version of the tablet will allow students to read and compose in Hindi, Kannad, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, Malayalam, Manipur etc along with audio-video chat facility.
public discoursE Will the Right-Wrong Factions Learn Something from ACAUT’s Campaign?
I
f we feel pain by seeing a sick person, that sickness is a severe one. I’m not a businessman. But when I hear the cries of the disgruntled businesswomen and men against excessive taxations, I feel pain. So, those who have been affected by unabated taxations must be truly in pain. The furore and discontentment of the victims is accentuated as they come out to the streets supporting the campaign. However, it is not only the business women and men who are affected, but the entire society is affected. It will not be wrong to say that all the consumers pay tax. If there are groups of people who are not at all affected by the knowledge of illegal tax and the campaign spearheaded by ACAUT, I would assume that, they don’t bother and complain about high prices of commodities in the market. I’m very deeply affected by it and hence very much concerned. If not, I should not have written this article. It can be argued by UG’s that they have the right to tax and they are doing the right thing. In fact, total rejection of it is not propagated. But, what we talk about is illegal and excessive taxations. And what we are concerned is paying tax to different factions, which all claim to work for the interest of the people, though the people do not actually like what they are doing. The practice of illegal and excessive taxations cannot be denied by them. The expensive vehicles they drive, magnificent buildings they own and the extravagant life they live are few tangible evidences that they do. Once, a man said, UG’s do not ask money only from Church tithe. He said he was afraid that they may even start collecting tax from the Church. And I remember one very interesting event. One day, as I was standing somewhere in the market, two pastors came by and asked a woman the price of something for curry. After the price was made known to them, one pastor smiled and said to his friend, ‘come let’s go, we cannot buy, we are not underground’. Even the seller burst-out laughing and said that the pastor was true. In one way, it was an amusing scene, and pathetic too, as it seemed the pastors really wanted to have. But, do you think that it was an insulting and exasperating intimation? I don’t think so. I don’t consider that pastor to be ar-
rogant and unfaithful. It is a known fact that voices are not simply aired publicly on any matter. As ACAUT initiate in protesting against illegal and excessive taxations, thousands of people are giving their solidarity by participating in the signature revolution, and for that matter, even by saying that it’s a good movement. The campaign, I believe, will have far-reaching effect on 31st October when many people go for rally. Indeed it is a good notion to send a message to the factions that people will not be silent always when they are perturbed and burdened. However, I strongly feel that it should not be limited to Dimapur alone. For, all the people in the whole State are affected. When all the people from all the Districts, young and old, rich and poor, small and big, join in the rally, the message to the factions will be more powerful and effective. It can also, in a way remind them that, unless they unite together as one, their interest and efforts to bring solution to the vexed Naga Political Problem will be a far cry. Through this campaign, the healthy proposal, One Government, One Tax, can be raised more intensely. But, my question is, will the rightwrong factions learn something worthwhile from the campaign organized by ACAUT? Or, will they continue to assert their rights and try to silence the cries of the people? I use the terms ‘right-wrong factions’, because they claim that they are right in what they are doing, though they are actually wrong. For if they are right, we might not be voicing against them. And if they listen to the cries of the people, they should not continue collecting excessive tax. That is the reason we are not keeping silent. So, I feel, it is not the time for the factions to add fuel to the fire and try to quell the movement of the masses. But, it is the time to think seriously, realize their mistakes, humble down and learn. It is not the time to think or say, what they are trying to teach us. But, it is the time to accept the cries of the burdened people. Will they learn from this campaign? I believe, if they have conscience, they will. Money cannot be plucked in the trees like leaves. And we cannot use Xeroxed money. Liba Hopeson, BTC, Pfutsero
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.
DAILY CROSS WORD
CROSSWORD # 2701
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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 Northeast Shuttles Chumukedima Fire Brigade Nikos Hospital and Research Centre Nagaland Multispecialty Health & Research Centre
KOhiMA
Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home:
232224; Emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 233044, 228846 228254 231864, 230889 228400 232106 227607, 228400 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 285117, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 22232 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026
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56. Close violently 57. You jump up and down on this 63. Cover with asphalt 64. Sharpen 65. Beauty parlor 66. Biblical garden 67. norse god 68. Make improvements 69. Where a bird lives 70. Religious offshoot 71. genders
DOWN 1. Fashionable 2. Adriatic resort 3. not under 4. Char 5. S S S S 6. A copy of a paper 7. not excessive 8. Chocolate cookie 9. Wimbledon sport 10. habituated 11. Clamor 12. Cowboy movie 13. Watchful 21. Pursue 25. Agreeable 26. throw away as refuse 27. Largest continent
28. Exam 29. task 34. Concord 36. Participate in games 37. hazard 38. initial wager 40. tailless amphibian 42. Summary 45. Not artificial 48. Compassion 51. type of poplar tree 52. Clearing 53. Roof overhangs 55. Thorny flowers 58. Was a passenger 59. Disabled 60. holly 61. not a single one 62. terminates
Ans to CrossWord 2700
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The Morung Express
State of the art sports store in Kma Our Correspondent Kohima | October 27
Youth ResouRces & sports director Kelei Zeliang today inaugurated a sports equipment outlet here christened as “equipment & sports Kohima” at Razhu Point, opposite ozone café. the shop is located at Khami- Makhu community Building, Kohima Local Ground Road. speaking on the occasion, the director subscribed the establishment as unique in itself as the shop is different from other shops with certain aims and objectives. congratulating the proprietor Ruokuovikho chale for setting up such centre, he described him as a man of integrity, sincere and efficient. Ruokuovikho focuses on adventure and eco-tourism. Zeliang said the state capital Kohima still has few sports equipment outlets. he appreciated that Ruokuo will be bringing world class sports equipment in his store and hoped that it would benefit the sports persons of the state and the department as well.
Monday 28 October 2013
Dimapur
5
NSCN (IM) warns illegal businesses DiMapur, OcTOber 27 (Mexn): NscN (IM) today asserted that it will not halt its mission to ban illegal sale of alcohol and banned drugs in and around Dimapur until it is completely controlled. A press statement issued by Khekuto Jakhalu, secretary, ut GPRN stated that the information that sale of alcohol and other ille-
gal items will be opened within some days is a rumour. According to the statement, Lt col. Ape Venuh (cAo) union territory cautioned that no one will be considered if found guilty. If anybody is caught possessing any illegal items, both vehicle and the item shall be seized and there will be no question
of consideration, it stated. In this regard, more staff, both Naga Army and civil set up will be deployed from today onwards, “as it affects most of the families in our society”. the statement further warned all illegal businesspersons not to “spread poison in our society, failing to abide this public information, he/she shall be at her own risk”.
Career-Counselling Seminar held at FAC
Kelei Zeliang and others during the inauguration of ‘Equipment & Sports’ in Kohima. (Morung Photo)
stressing on the need to have latest and world class sports equipment, he maintained that the use of quality products will ensure quality performance and at the same time it would go a long way in producing good sportspersons. he stated that Manipur is advancing far ahead of Nagaland in sports as they use the best equipments. “We should emulate them to do better.” Meanwhile, chale said that items internationally
approved by international quality control board, irrespective of country’s brand will be made available in the centre to meet the requirements of the youth at reasonable prices. “Adventure and sports is in the blood of our people and we are talented too by nature but we are not exploring to its fullest,” he said. “our sports community needs to have the best equipments in fair price to compete with others.”
“We love nature, we love trekking to nature and eco-tourism related activities,” chale asserted. But we are failing to protect our heritage of rich biodiversity, we are polluting all our beautiful places; this is purely due to lack of sustainable equipments and awareness.” this establishment, he said, will aim to contribute something to our society in this line. to channelize eco-tourism and adventure activi-
ties into more systematic way with a motive to create employment for our youth, he said, Dzukou entry tickets, equipments and guidelines for trekking to various places of interest like Mt. saramati, Mt. Japfu and Mt. Pauna etc will be incorporated, chale said. earlier, Rev. Mekhale Yhoshu pronounced a dedicatory prayer and invoked God’s blessing for the newly established sports equipment outlet.
Vikram Khalate, IPS, SP Mokokchung
MOKOKchung, OcTOber 27 (Mexn): A one-day seminar was organized for students of Fazl Ali college, Mokokchung on october 24, 2013 by the career Guidance cell of the college. the resource persons for the seminar were Vikram Khalate, IPs, superintendent of Po-
lice, Mokokchung and Akok Walling, Associate Professor & head of the Department of Functional english of Fazl Ali college. Khalate spoke on the topic “career track from a competitive exam Perspective” where he emphasised that “the most important aspect in choosing a career is job satisfaction and that what is more important is what you become in the process of becoming successful”. Akok Walling spoke on the topic “Personality Development”. he said that knowing one's weakness and strength is the starting point of personality development and that since each person is special in his/her own way, trying to act to be someone else rather than oneself is an act of self-denigration. the seminars were moderated by Imsunaro Puro, Assistant Professor in the Department of Functional english and Maonginla, Asst Professor in the Department of english.
Nagaland BJP Kiphire unit Bharat Scout EuroKids makes field trip to Zoological Park OcTOber 27 condemn blasts & Guide 1st foundation day DiMapur, (Mexn): euroKids International
DiMapur, OcTOber 27 (Mexn): the Nagaland BJP unit has condemned the series of bomb blasts in and around Gandhi Maidan, Patna, during the BJP rally of the party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, where five people died and 65 reportedly injured. the state BJP in a press note issued by general secretary and spokesman, K. James Vizo, questioned the credibility of the Bihar state government with regard to security lapses. “It could be a political conspiracy since the rally was planned months ahead where lakhs of people were expected to attend the said rally”, Vizo said. the state BJP appealed to the authorities concerned to speedily probe the blasts and ensure that the perpetrators are punished.
Kiphire, OcTOber 27 (Mexn): Nagaland chapter of Bahrat scout & Guides (BSG) Kiphire held its first Foundation Day with Khyomo Lotha, ex-MP & state chief commissioner BsG inducting three vice presidents and two district commissioners of the family of BsG Kiphire unit. Addressing the gathering, Lotha recalled the history of BsG Nagaland chapter and said, the effort of the pioneers has brought the organization thus far and also called upon the BsG members to carry on the same flame so that the organization is actively alive. terming BsG as voluntary organization in its functioning, Lotha said, “We should imbibe the spirit of voluntary service as BsG members so that the laws laid down in BSG are fulfilled
through us.” Disclosing BsG as the biggest uniform civilian in the world, Lotha congratulated the newly inducted vice president and district commissioner for accepting the responsibilities and also expressed hope that BsG Kiphire unit is functioning well with the initiative of its district BsG president. Proposing vote of thanks, President BsG Kesonyu Yhome IAs said, BSG’s activities should not be confined to an event, but should be a daily affair so that the movement keeps moving. Yhome also expressed gratitude to the state officials of BSG and the BSG district unit officials for making the program successful. Lankonsen tsanglao sDo (c) welcomed the gathering. BsG members presented folk song, solo, skit and traditional show.
Rickshaw & pushcart pullers sensitized on HIV/AIDS DiMapur, OcTOber 27 (Mexn): An advocacy sensitization on hIV/AIDs with Rickshaw and pushcart pullers of Dimapur was held at Ram Janaki hr. sec. school, Dimapur on october 27, 2013. the programme organized by District AIDs Prevention and control unit (DAPcu), Dimapur and thella and Rickshaw pullers union of Dimapur was an initiative of Nagaland state AIDs control society (NsAcs), Kohima. the programme was chaired by Paul chawang, consultant, Mainstreaming, NsAcs. t. Vikheho Zhimomi, ex-DMc member and Advisory of thella hand Puller Dimapur, in his welcome note thanked the NsAcs and DAPcu Dimapur for organizing the programme and in reach-
school organised a 'Field trip' last weekend where all the students of the school were taken to the Zoological Park in Dimapur. A press note issued by sandeep K Jain, Principal, eurokids International school – Dimapur stated that the field trip was a part of the school curriculum and helps to expand students' imagination, and knowledge as it builds on classroom learning. the principal in the note also stated that such field trips present a way for the teachers to approach knowledge in a completely new way and for kids to have fun while learning. Field trips give children a chance to experience hands-on learning while also being introduced to new environments. this field trip will be followed by a routine 0Students of EuroKids International School during the ‘Field Trip' to the Zoomedical camp at the school this week. logical Park in Dimapur.
Cherry Blossoms Society helps PwD
Pastor ttBL, chuba chang Director of Frontier Development society gave the vote of thanks and the benediction was pronounced by somet, Tuensang, OcTOber 27 Women Leader Konya. (Mexn): cherry Blossoms society distributed Wheelchairs and walking sticks to tuensang district under the ADIP scheme at town hall here DiMapur, OcTOber 27 on october 23, 2013, with Assistant (Mexn): 111 Bn BsF organised a commissioner, shanavas.c as the meeting of ex BsF personnel on occhief guest and Nikesono Kevichusa, tober 14 at BN hQ satakha under the chairmanship of its commandant Y M eAc as the guest of honour. the chief guest congratulated the upadhyay. A press release informed society for bringing the machines till that various points related to the welthe doorsteps of tuensang district. fare of the former BsF personnel, their he also spoke on the inclusion of dif- hardships and other problems were ferently abled people who could do discussed in details. the meeting was so many things differently. he said, “I initiated after realizing the need to overcome and here I am to conquer have frequent interaction with the ex the world and be equal to other peo- cadres to know the problems and have a peace messenger in the civil society ple.” Purnima Kayina from cherry in the name of ex-BsF men. the note stated that after a patient Blossoms emphasised on the disability certificate mandatory to get any hearing, the commandant assured to government schemes and the need to extend all possible help on priority start educating disabled children to basis and further assured that matget employed as there is 3% job res- ters will also be taken up with higher ervation. the meeting was chaired headquarters wherever needed. toby chongshen, invocation prayer by tal 16 ex BSF officers, SOs and other
Ex BSF personnel meet
Rickshaw and pushcart pullers of Dimapur during the sensitization programme on October 27.
ing out to the Rickshaw and thella Pullers of Dimapur in giving awareness on hIV/AIDs. topic on basic of hIV/ AIDs and stI was shared
by Limathung, stigma and Discrimination topic was shared by Lucy, and importance of blood testing and services available was highlighted by Prem singh,
Program Manager, NeDhIV truckers. More than 150 pullers attended the programme, out of which 29 came forward for voluntary blood testing.
CYF general conference at Phek Village
ranks attended the meeting. they, the note said were greatly touched by the gesture of the unit to organise such a platform to know and enquire about their well being.
Junior Red Cross Unit at G. Rio HSS
KOhiMa, OcTOber 26 (Mexn): A Junior Red Cross Unit was officially launched at G. Rio higher secondary school, Kohima on october 24, 2013 by Zakie Kire General secretary, IRcsN. A press note stated that in his keynote address, Kire stressed on the importance of younger generation’s active participation in the Red cross Movement. Declaration of the pledge was administered by Lucy J. tungoe, APo IRcsN. the programme was chaired by Kieno Phizo, while welcome address was delivered by P.J. samuel, correspondent upon. Khrienuo Moa, Managing Director of the school invoked God’s blessing on the students, while a short speech encouraging the students was delivered by Kevino savino, Principal.
KOhiMa, OcTOber 27 (Mexn): chakhesang Youth Front (cYF) will hold its 8th general conference at Phek Village from November 13 to 14 under the theme “Biodiversity conservation for economic goods.” Minister for roads & bridges and parliamentary affairs Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu will grace the occasion as the chief guest while Vengota Nakro, deputy team leader NePeD and joint director soil & water conservation will be the main speaker. the two-day long conference will witness adoption of resolution, approval and introduction of new office bearers, nomination committee, biodiversity award 2013. Greetings will be delivered by president chakhesang Public organization and president chakhesang students’ union. Presidential address will be delivered by cYF president Zhopayi Nakro. every unit has been asked to compulsorily send a minimum of five delegates to the conference. All the units should bring their respective flag. All the pubic leaders, village council chairmen, village develop- Resource persons, District Governor Rtn. Arjit ment board secretaries and women leaders have been invited to the conference. Endow (top) and Rtn. Sunil Saraf (bottom) ad-
Army recruitment rally in Kohima
KOhiMa, OcTOber 27 (Mexn): An Army Recruitment Rally will be held at IG stadium, Kohima from November 14 to 24 for enrolment of male candidates into the Indian Army. the candidates are advised to report at the site at 6:00 am strictly. candidates can register only once during the rally. schedule district wise is as follows: Nov 14 - Longleng, Mokokchung, Mon, tuensang, Zunheboto and Wokha; Nov 15 - Kohima, Dimapur, Peren, Phek and Kiphire districts; Nov 16 - senapati, tamenglong, ukhrul, chandel and churachandpur districts, and Nov 17 - Imphal east, Imphal West, Bishnupur and thoubal districts. on Nov 18, candidates from all Ne states can appear for soldier technical, clerk/store Keeper technical/ Inventory Manager & Nursing Assistant categories. on the same day i.e. on Nov 18, candidates only from Nagaland and Manipur in the categories of sportsNSACS officials and organizers of ‘Music for Zero’ with actor-musician Luke Kenny and Clueless Atten- man, Ncc cadets, sons of servicemen/ ex-servicemen/ war widows can appear for all categories and retired servicemen can appear for re-enrolment into Dsc. tion band members at Jumping Bean Café, Sunday evening.
dress Rotarians during a district zonal seminar on membership at Paul Harris Hall, Rotary Centre Dimapur on Sunday. (Morung Photo)
The Morung Express is introducing “Public Space” as part of our intention to provide deliberate space for the opinions of the people to be expressed and heard through this newspaper. Nonetheless, The Morung Express points out that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.
6
IN-FOCUS
The Power of Truth
The Morung Express
C O M M E N T A R Y
THE EDIT PAGE
Ellen Barry and Mansi Choksi Source: NYT
GanG Rape in india, ACAUT Campaign Routine and invisible T MonDAy 28 ocTobEr 2013 vol. vIII IssuE 294
Along Longkumer consulting Editor
he Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) after much thought has decided to undertake a public rally in the commercial hub of Dimapur on October 31, 2013. Looked at it differently, the issues being raised by the ACAUT is not just about unabated taxation alone. There are positives that can come about if we are able to eradicate unabated taxation. Many things can improve for the Nagas if we can get this campaign right. Business environment, law & order, investor’s confidence, work culture, our image will all improve. Perhaps, the chances of ushering in peace, unity & reconciliation will be much better if we can find a solution to the very important question of taxation in the Naga context. Criminalanti social activities, violence, kidnappings, killings and corruption in Naga society will also hopefully come down. In fact, the ACAUT has also called for doing away with the practise of “deduction at source by concerned departments for sanctioned works” so as to ensure “development and economic take off of Naga people”. The ACAUT campaign is therefore as much about tackling corruption as it is about doing away with the extortion culture prevailing in Naga society. The ACAUT memorandum submitted to the State government also talks about checking the inflow of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, another cause for concern for indigenous people like the Nagas. So the ACAUT campaign is not just about opposition to illegal taxation alone but should be seen in the larger context of addressing known concerns, besides of course, reforming Naga society from within. And that is why this campaign is important. There has been some suggestion to introduce the ACAUT in all districts across the State and to bring it under the wings of a more organized and prominent body. This column is however of the view that this is not necessary at this juncture. While the issues and concerns are common and affects all, yet the ACAUT has evolved out of the home grown problems specific to Dimapur in particular. It will be therefore best if the ACAUT can continue to function as a single entity under the aegis of the Naga Council and work for the overall interest of all Nagas without losing direction and purpose. Too many ACAUT’s may spoil the broth and be difficult to manage. Without doubt, the issues and concerns brought out by the ACAUT have caught the imagination of the Naga public. People can identify with the issues raised because they are real. It is therefore wrong to suspect ACAUT of any ulterior motive as some have tried to do. Rather we often talk about problemsolving as something essential for the growth and vitality of the Naga people. Unabated taxation is a cause for concern. It is one among the many ills our society is suffering from and therefore it is all the more important to address it by way of collective endeavour. While the involvement of civil society will add vigour to the campaign of the ACAUT, the participation of the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and the State government in the process should be encouraged because at the end of the day, their cooperation and support will be needed to bring about a resolution. The ACAUT rally on October 31 should therefore be about Nagas coming together to solve their problems. This is for the common good. (Feedback can be send to consultingeditormex@gmail.com)
lEfT wiNg |
Eboo Patel
Mapping Gandhi's Faith Journey
M
ARTIN LUTHER KING JR. once said that the greatest Christian of the 20th century was not a member of the church. He was referring to Mohandas Gandhi. A remarkable number of King’s fundamental beliefs—the use of active nonviolence as a tool of social reform, the commitment to loving one’s enemies—can be traced back to the influence of Gandhi, which means that one of the defining figures of 20th century American Christianity was profoundly shaped by the example of an Indian Hindu. As King said in 1958 of the civil rights movement, “Christ furnished the spirit and motivation while Gandhi furnished the method.” But what of Gandhi’s influences? How did a skinny, middle-class, mid-caste Indian, so scared of public speaking as a student that a classmate had to read his speeches aloud for him, come to lead one of the great liberation struggles of the past century? A new book by Arvind Sharma, professor of comparative religions at McGill University, makes the case that the source of Gandhi’s strength was his spirituality. And while the heart of Gandhi’s faith was Hindu, as King’s was Baptist, the influences were remarkably diverse. Pointing out that most of the biographies of Gandhi really tell the story of Mohandas Karamchand (the name he was given by his family), not Mahatma (a title that means “great soul” and is given to saints in India), Sharma’s book Gandhi: A Spiritual Biography sets out to give an account of the Mahatma. Sharma quotes Gandhi directly on the importance of highlighting the dimension of spirituality in any attempt to understand him: “What I want to achieve—what I have been striving and pining to achieve these 30 years—is self-realization, to see God face to face, to attain moksha [the Hindu term for liberation]. I live and move and have my being in pursuit of this goal.” What struck me most in Sharma’s biography was Gandhi’s interfaith journey as a student. As King first encountered Gandhi’s work at Morehouse College and later at Crozer Theological Seminary, so Gandhi’s conversations about relig-ion during his days as a law student in London shaped him for the rest of his life. In London, Gandhi read about the Prophet Muhammad and came to admire his bravery and austerity. He attended the funeral of an atheist and decided he could respect someone whose actions he appreciated, even when their belief systems were very different. Most profoundly, Gandhi got a different view of Christianity. As a child, Gandhi had developed a strong distaste for Christianity, mostly as a result of watching Christian missionaries hound Hindus in his hometown to convert. When someone finally did convert, the missionaries would make them eat beef, drink alcohol, and wear Western clothes. This might have been Gandhi’s entire experience of Christianity had he not gotten into a conversation with a Christian at a boarding house in England. The man, a fellow vegetarian and teetotaler, suggested that Gandhi read the Bible, with special attention to the Sermon on the Mount. The description of the holiness of meekness and mercy in those verses went straight to Gandhi’s heart, shaping for the rest of his life his views on the meaning of moral force. Gandhi’s reading of Tolstoy while in South Africa and his friendships with Christian theologians and ministers during the India campaigns are all predicated on the conversation with that Christian in England and the Bible study that followed. As I read those pages in Sharma’s biography, I thought to myself: This is precisely why working with young people is so important. As the interfaith journeys of King and Gandhi illustrate, formative experiences with religious diversity can create a moral and spiritual foundation upon which greatness is built. Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, writes about social justice from his perspective as a Muslim American of Indian heritage.
In Mumbai Case, a Group of Assault Suspects Had Little Fear of the Law
A
t 5:30 p.m. on that Thursday, four young men were playing cards, as usual, when Mohammed Kasim Sheikh’s cellphone rang and he announced that it was time to go hunting. Prey had been spotted, he told a friend. When the host asked what they were going to hunt, he said, “A beautiful deer.” As two men rushed out, the host smirked, figuring they did not like losing at cards.Two hours later, a 22-year-old photojournalist limped out of a ruined building. She had been raped repeatedly by five men, asked by one to re-enact pornographic acts displayed on a cellphone. After she left, the men dispersed to their wives or mothers, if they had them; it was dinnertime. None of their previous victims had gone to the police. Why should this one? The trial in the Mumbai gang-rape case has opened to a drowsy and ill-attended courtroom, without the crush of reporters who documented every twist in a similar case in New Delhi in which a woman died after being gang-raped on a private bus. The accused, barefoot, sit on a bench at the back of the courtroom, observing the arguments with blank expressions, as if they were being conducted in Mandarin. All have pleaded not guilty. They are slight men with ordinary faces, nothing imposing, the kind one might see at any bus stop or tea stall. But the Mumbai case provides an unusual glimpse into a group of bored young men who had committed the same crime often enough to develop a routine. The police say the men had committed at least five rapes in the same spot. Their casual confidence reinforces the notion that rape has been a largely invisible crime here, where convictions are infrequent and victims silently go away. Not until their arrest, at a moment when sexual violence has grabbed headlines and risen to the top of the state’s agenda, did the seriousness of the crime sink in. An editor at the photographer’s publication, who was present when a witness identified the first of the five suspects, a juvenile, said the teenager dissolved in tears as soon as he was accused. “It was exactly like watching a kid in school who has been caught doing something,” said the editor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect the identity of the victim, who cannot be identified according to Indian law. “It’s like a bunch of kids who found a dog and tied a bunch of firecrackers to its tail, just to see what would happen. Only in this case it was far more egregious. It was malevolent, what happened.” In spots Mumbai is an anarchic jumble, its highrise buildings flanked by vest-pocket slums and vacant properties that have reverted to near-wilderness. One such place is the Shakti Mills, a ruin from the prosperous days of Mumbai’s textile industry. When night falls, it is a treacherous span of darkness lined with sinkholes and debris, but still in the middle of the city, still close enough to look up and watch the lights flicker on in the Shangri-La Hotel. The photographer and her colleague, a 21-yearold man, were interns at an English-language publication and had decided to include this spot — the backdrop for any number of fashion shoots — as part of a photo essay on the city’s abandoned buildings, the editor said. On that Thursday last August, they reached the ruined mill about an hour before sunset. The five men they encountered there later came from slums near the mill complex, claustrophobic concrete warrens where electrical wires tangle at one’s head and acrid water flows in open gutters around one’s feet. None of the men worked regularly. There were jobs chicken-plucking at a neighborhood stand — a hot, stinking eight-hour shift that paid 250 rupees, or $4. The men told their families they wanted something better, something indoors, but that thing never seemed to come. They passed time playing cards and drinking. Luxury was pressed in their faces in the sinuous form of the Lodha Bellissimo, a 48-story apartment building rising from an adjacent lot. “Every boy in this neighborhood, including myself, would look at those buildings and say, ‘One day, I will own a flat in that building,’ ” said Yasin Sheikh, 22, who knew two of the accused men from the neighborhood. Because of his work helping find slum locations for film crews, he sometimes has a chance to interact with wealthy people, he said, and it fills him with yearning. “I feel really sad around them, because I want to sit at the table with them,” he said. Only Kasim Sheikh, 20, the card player who took the call, seemed to have shaken off the drag of poverty. A plump man in a neighborhood of the halfstarved, he wore flashy shirts and hooked up his friends with catering jobs at weddings. He had been convicted of theft — iron, steel and other scrap from a railroad site — and occasionally provided information to the police, according to Mumbai’s joint police commissioner, Himanshu Roy. Some people steered clear of Mr. Sheikh. The grandmother of one of the accused men, a 16-yearold whose name is being withheld because of his age, had forbidden Mr. Sheikh to cross their threshold. But her grandson craved nice things; that was his weakness, his grandmother said. Mr. Sheikh “wore good clothes, he had a nice mobile, obviously he would, because he was a thief,” said Yasin Sheikh, the neighbor. When another of their friends, a 27-year-old father of two named Salim Ansari, spotted the interns in the mill that day, the first thing he did was call Kasim Sheikh to tell him that their prey had arrived.
The slum in Mumbai, India, where one of the five suspects in the gang rape of a photojournalist was arrested. (NYT Photo)
Nothing to Lose During the year since the Delhi gang rape, sexual violence has been discussed endlessly in India, but there are few clear answers to the questions of how much is it happening or why. One problem is that perpetrators may not view their actions as a grave crime, but something closer to mischief. A survey of more than 10,000 men carried out in six Asian countries — India not among them — and published in The Lancet Global Health journal in September came up with startling data. It found that, when the word “rape” was not used as part of a questionnaire, more than one in 10 men in the region admitted to forcing sex on a woman who was not their partner. Asked why, 73 percent said the reason was “entitlement.” Fifty-nine percent said their motivation was “entertainment seeking,” agreeing with the statements “I wanted to have fun” or “I was bored.” Flavia Agnes, a Mumbai women’s rights lawyer who has been working on rape cases since the 1970s, said the findings rang true to her experience. “It’s just frivolous; they just do it casually,” she said. “There is so much abject poverty. They just want to have a little fun on the side. That’s it. See, they have nothing to lose.” The photographer and her colleague reached the mill but, visually, it was not what they wanted. That is when two men approached them, the victim told the police later, offering to show them a route farther in. There the images were better, and the two had been working for half an hour when the two men returned.
‘The Prey Is Here’ This time they came back with a third, Mr. Sheikh, who told them something odd — “Our boss has seen you, and you have to come with us now” — and insisted they take a path deeper into the complex. As they walked, she called an editor, who said to leave immediately, but it was too late for that. “Come inside, the prey is here,” Mr. Sheikh called out, and two more men joined them. The men said that the woman’s colleague was a murder suspect, asked the pair to remove their belts and used them to tie the man up. After that, the woman told the police, “the third person and a person who had a mustache took me to a place that was like a broken room.” The men had done the same thing a month before, said Mr. Roy, the police commissioner, taking turns raping an 18-year-old call-center worker who, accompanied by her boyfriend, had sprained her ankle and was trying to take a shortcut through the mill. They had done the same thing with a woman who worked as a scavenger in a garbage dump, and a sex worker, and a transvestite, Mr. Roy said. Mr. Sheikh took the broken neck of a beer bottle out of his shirt pocket and thrust it at the young woman, telling her: “You don’t know what a bastard I am. You’re not the first girl I’ve raped,” she told the police later, according to the charge sheet filed in the case. On the other side of the wall, her friend heard the woman cry out. “An inquiry is going on,” the man guarding him said. They went in to her and returned, one by one. “Did you inquire properly?” Mr. Sheikh said to one as he came out. “No, she’s not talking,” he replied. So Mr. Sheikh said he would “go inquire again,” and the rest of them laughed. At last they brought her out, weeping, and told the two to leave along the railroad tracks. Before releasing her, they threatened to upload video of the attack onto the Internet if she reported the crime, a strategy that had worked with previous victims. But this one did not hesitate. The two caught a cab to the nearest hospital. There they reported the crime, and the woman’s mother arrived. “I went inside. I saw her there crying,” her mother told the police later. “She told me in English, ‘Mummy, I’m vanished.’ ” The woman did not respond to a request for an interview. Mr. Sheikh, too, saw his mother for a few moments that night. He discussed the rape with her, she said, and tried to explain why it had happened. “I asked Kasim, ‘Son, why did you do this to her? If it happened to your sister, would you come here and tell me or would you beat him?’ ” said his mother, Chandbibi Sheikh. He told her that his friends had come upon the couple embracing in the mill, and “they thought: ‘What is she doing
with this boy here? She must be loose.’ ” She related this exchange from the family’s home, a sort of shelf wedged between a gas station and a garbage dump; as she spoke, a rat the size of a kitten clambered over containers stacked in a corner. She said far too much onus was being put on the men. “Obviously, the fault is the girl’s,” she said. “Why did she have to go to that jungle? It’s her fault, too. Also, she was wearing skimpy clothes.” She did not deny that he had done it. “He must have,” she said. “He told me that they tied up the boy who was doing bad things to her and said, ‘Madam, let us also do it.’ The madam said, ‘Don’t do it to me, take my mobile, take my camera, but don’t do it to me.’ Her body was uncovered. How could he control himself? And so it happened.”
High-Level Response Though the men in the mill may not have known it, rape had become a matter of great public import in India, a gauge of a city’s identity. Mumbai’s top officials, who had told themselves that the Delhi gang rape could not have happened here, were horrified and initiated a broad, high-level response, as if an act of terrorism had taken place. The police lighted up their networks of slum informants and all five were arrested and gave confessions in quick succession. Several made pitiful attempts to escape. Mr. Sheikh went to the visitor’s room of a nearby hospital and covered himself with a blanket, trying to blend in with a crowd of relatives. He was caught with 50 rupees, or about 81 cents, in his pocket. When the police asked him to sign his confession, he told them he could not write, so he signed it with a thumbprint. “It is incredible how quickly the whole thing unraveled,” said the editor, who was present when the photographer’s colleague picked the first of the five men out of a lineup. A second victim, the call-center worker, came forward, inspired by the first, and said she was ready to testify. The suspects confessed to the other rapes under questioning, the police said. The public prosecutor selected for the case is famous for prosecuting terrorists, with a résumé of 628 life sentences, 30 death sentences and 12 men, as he put it, “sent to the gallows.” Much news coverage over the next days zeroed in on the defendants’ poverty, but Mr. Roy shrugged off that line of inquiry. After interrogating the five accused men personally, he said they were “social outcasts,” not indicative of any deeper tensions in the city. “They were deviants, sociopaths, predators,” he said in an interview. “If there was a larger socioeconomic framework, these crimes would be happening again and again. It was only these guys. I’m 100 percent sure that this kind of crime doesn’t happen in Mumbai. I’ve been here all my life and have been born and brought up here.” But in a constellation of neighborhoods around Mumbai, people are still trying to match up the crime with the ordinary men they knew. Shahjahan Ansari, the wife of the oldest accused man, Salim Ansari, looked terrified when a stranger appeared at her door, at a hulking, trash-strewn public housing complex beside a petroleum refinery on a distant edge of the city. The neighbors had started to shun the family since Salim’s arrest became public, and she dreaded the extra attention. “We can’t even walk on the street. You don’t understand,” she said. Inside the apartment, she calmed down a little. The whole story baffled her; she said she had no idea who her husband’s friends were or what he did during the day when she went to work cleaning houses. All she knew was that until his arrest, he came home for dinner every night, “He was to me like any husband is to his wife,” she said. “How do I know how he got into this mess? It must be the Devil,” murmured Salim’s mother, who was sitting on the floor, one eye blind, cloudy white. Ms. Ansari was remembering better days before her husband lost his job, at a factory that made cardboard boxes. He was so proud of the factory, with its big machines, that he brought his sons to watch him on Sunday shifts. Tonight the younger one was streaked with dust; the older one watched from a cot, glassy-eyed and much smaller than his 10 years, bony limbs folded under his chin. She would try, Ms. Ansari said, to move them somewhere else, to a place where no one knew who their father was. “I want my children to grow up to be good human beings, that’s all,” the mother said.
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7
Monday
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
28 OctOber 2013
PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE
The Morung Express
POLL RESuLTS
Is NagalaNd goverNmeNt serIous about restructurINg Its system of bureaucracy?
the way they are carrying out their responsibilities is of restructuring they are talking about, but change Some of those who voted YES had this to say: • Yes, it must be serious since its coming from the a clear indication that they do not have the qualities is required. However, I don’t think they are serious which are required for overhauling the system. enough to do something productive like this. most innovative chief secretary of the state. • Even if they are serious, they are not in a position • WHAT!! And lose all the loot coming in to the public • No. they don’t have a clue of what they are sayworks? No way corruption is deeply rooted. Not uning or doing. Just look at the state of affairs in our to restructure bureaucracy because the Indian govless we jail or kill off the members of the state govt. state, it is enough to tell us if they really care for ernment will not allow them. • It will be more helpthe people or no. We • I guess they are.... ful to the public if don’t have any lead• They must. Otherwise how they can run a Nation. the bureaucrats ers who we can really would show some trust. Each and every Some of those who voted no had this to say: one of them is looking • No, Public knows best. It has been a long journey seriousness by reout for themselves. of an open book chronicles of unjust and corruption pairing the roads rule. Are we ready for more destruction? Are we and being honest Some of those who ready for more tribalism? Are were ready for more and sincere in their voted OTHERS had killings? We Naga's should question our morals work. Right now, this to say: and ethics first. How are being a light to the world the public don’t • Seeing the ground being Christian? Why is money our weakness? Are trust them at all. reality from the broadwe living righteously? What is our goal? We need a • No, do thieves want er and deeper pernew chapter, a new beginning, a just one with good to become honest? Does the leopard spective in the current laws and a good blue print to polish our system. context of Nagaland • Sorry, its all talk. Till today, all that the bureaucrats do change its color. where the governis talk, but they don’t walk the talk. We are unable to Does salt spring give fresh water? ment, bureaucracy, trust their words. Its empty and meaningless talk. civil societies, you • Are you kidding me? When has the bureaucrats • This is more of a name it, are all, in ever cared about the well being of the people. If at wishful thinking. No one, even the politifact, part and parcel all they are serious about restructuring the present system they should invite suggestions from cians, bureaucrats, of the pathetic and messy state of affairs the public. If restructuring is left to the bureaucrats, contractors, civil society, no one will they will not bring any change. over the last five decades, it is unwise for • Bureaucrats are like ducks; no amount of water can deny the need for a change in the busoak them wet. They are also like robots; responany Naga, big or little sive only to their masters and close ones only and reaucratic system from all walks of life, of Nagaland. But not to the people. They are designed and condiwith holier-than-thou who is going to retioned to function like colonial masters and, thereattitude engaging in fore, reconditioning of the attitude and mindset structure it. No one finger pointing busishould be considered the foremost agenda in the has the courage or ness, as like it or not, the concern to truwe are all, irrespecproposed perestroika. • Serious? Is Nagaland Govt. ever serious about ly bring about the tive of everything, anything except merry-making? Can anyone name change in this sysare the products of tem. It is nothing the flawed system. any thing the govt. is serious about? My humble advice to • I dont think they are serious at all. Most of them are but wishful thinkjust serving for the sake of employment and they ing. Maybe future the powers that be of lack the vision and tenacity to be change makers. Naga leaders will the contemporary NaThe condition of the roads exemplify their concern have more courage gas is: only your fine to change it. words of great ideas for the people. without being backed • No, They are only thinking about short term ben- • Nobody is serious about restructuring. efits and own pocket money. by your concrete action or measure will • After 10 years of NPF and its allies, lets humble Everybody is seriourselves and look around. I could name a few, no ous in filling up their ever make Nagaland YES no OTHERS go round in circles. urbanization, no roads, No strategic planning, new .........u know what i mean • Restructuring the electricity and government bills due, un- employment, cultural diversity became worse instead-vari- • No, the government itself is corrupted, how can system of bureaucracy?? Even if they are serious ous tribal factions. There is high level of mistrust with they be serious in restructuring the system. "If the What good will it bring when it will be the same our neighboring states and within our communities. mother crab walks by sidewise direction then how people only that will be in power. It will be like that • No, They may be serious, but I dont think they have can she teach her babies to walk strait..?" old adage 'Old Wine in a new bottle'. the capacity to change the system of bureaucracy in • Bureaucrats are part of the problem instead of be- • I ain't gona give suggestions to these Bureaucrats. Nagaland. Their present attitude towards work and ing part of the solution. So I don’t know what kind They seem to know everything. Let them save
79%
14%
7%
themselves now • Restructuring in what sense...No country has been able to restructure this system...red tapsim still exist in the bureaucracy of developed countries inspite of so many reforms. The only way is to be less dependent on this system for progress and development... • Government, Politicians and Bureaucracy can never be separated; they must work together in a more transparent ways. • These so called Government controller are running out Off ideas. Well book knowledge is not sufficient to run a Transparent Administration, Governance and Government. • People should not be confused. The idea of taking up programmes on mission mode is not at all to overcome bureaucratic procedure, but to give short cut and free hand to bureaucrats who are posted as team leaders of such missions. There it is giving more muscles to bureaucrats. Please … all the people are not fools. • Kindly unearthed the Hidden Wealth of all the IAS Officers. They might be the poorest of the poor Government Servants really serving wholeheartedly for the Rural Naga Commoners. • Its now 50 years since Nagaland statehood and the conditions of the roads, water supply, power supply, and other basic infrastructure exposes the real governance systems that exists. The state government may not be getting a big budget like other states, but when compared to the population, the budget over the last 50 years is sufficient to atleast have decent infrastructures. No one will believe that Nagaland state is now 50 years, because the conditions are so bad, that no words are sufficient to explain. Of course a restructuring of the bureaucracy is required because the bureaucracy itself is the problem in the state. We keep blaming politicians, but its the bureaucrats who are responsible for governance, and in the case of our state, bad-governance. • The administrative system that we have now is too bulky, unpredictable and retarding. Even to get a simple order which can be issued in an hour or so is left pending for months together for various unexplainable reasons. Red tapism at the bureaucratic level is retarding the progress of the state in many ways. It creates frustration in the minds of the general public who suffer the most and usually make them turn against the government. Our policy makers are hardly aware about this paralyzing factor because cases recommended by them are done pronto! We need bureaucrats who are decisive and swift in action. We need more original IAS officers who can streamline the administrative machinery for the effective functioning of the different departments and at the same time give precise and objective advice to the policy makers.
The dark side of Burma’s Facebook boom Solomon Men Learning
S
Charlotte England
hwe Oo leaned in to whisper, disregarding the recorder on the table. “I won’t vote for the NLD,” she told me, speaking of Aung San Suu Kyi’s secular political party, the National League for Democracy. “The NLD are all Muslims.” Shwe Oo is Buddhist, like 90% of people in Burma. She lives in Mandalay, like Wirathu, the Buddhist monk inciting fear and hatred with the numbers 969. 969 is often characterised as a Buddhist nationalist movement and explicitly attacks the 4% of the population who are Muslim. In Mandalay, 969 stickers already abound and are multiplying, decorating shop windows, betel stalls, buses and the handlebars of some people’s scooters. Like many people I spoke to in Mandalay, Shwe Oo said Muslim as if it were a swear word. “I saw a video on Facebook,” she explained. “It showed that Muslims live with Aung San Suu Kyi and help her. In 2015, I don’t think Aung San Suu Kyi will win; people won’t vote for her because she would help the Muslims, not the Burmese.” Recently, racism like this and religious violence have rippled through Burma. At the end of August, an anti-Muslim mob destroyed dozens of houses and shops in Htan Gone village in Sagaing division. Before this, riots devastated Meikhtila— a town near Mandalay— in March, and caused significant damage in Lashio, in May. A crisis persists in Rakhine state, most recently spreading to Thandwe, in the south of the state, in October. As Shwe Oo’s comments attest, this has been reflected on Facebook, the use of which has grown exponentially in the last two years as censorship has been reduced and internet connection has spread and sped up across the country. This phenomenon has been ignored in Europe and the United States, where Aung San Suu Kyi— who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1991— has been criticised for her slow and weak response to radical nationalism and religious violence in Burma, which has been predominantly perpetrated by Buddhists against Muslims. ‘I can’t do everything,’ she has said in explanation, but her inaction is frequently attributed instead to self-interest (popularity among the electorate) and bias (she is Buddhist). On the ground, the situation is more complicated—and far harder to ethically traverse— than Aung San Suu Kyi’s critics acknowledge. The NLD is operating in an increasingly hostile and prejudiced local context in which their actions are often misconstrued and Facebook is helping to perpetuate this. Shwe Oo is one of more than twentyfive adult students I interviewed while conducting research at a monastic school
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, her political party the NLD and minority Muslims are being maliciously targeted through Facebook in Burma in Mandalay. In Mandalay, Aung San Suu Kyi’s actions are perceived differently. Almost everybody I spoke to believed her to be a staunch supporter of Burmese Muslims, and against 969. Hla Maung, 23, felt that Aung San Suu Kyi’s desire to please the West, and her devotion to human rights, has led her to put international interests before those of “her people” and to fail to protect Burmese culture. As a political leader, Hla Maung believes Aung San Suu Kyi is “unsuitable” for Burma. Some of Hla Maung’s peers were less certain. Lwin Thu— who is Christian— admitted to being confused. Aung San Suu Kyi has been seen as near saintly in Burma for decades, yet the press and public opinion are now largely against her. Lwin Thu suggested that this might be the result of manipulation by the government. “I don’t know what to believe,” she told me. However, among young people in Burma the press is rarely a direct source of news. My participants responded nearly invariably that their views were shaped by what they read and the interactions they had on Facebook.As a topic of discussion, Aung San Suu Kyi is “very hot right now,” said Swe Swe Mon, 23, leaning back in her chair and looking knowing. Her classmate, Kyaw, 20, recently ‘liked’ the far-right Myanmar Defense League page because he wanted to see what news this posted. So did more than 12,000 other people. Online, Aung San Suu Kyi’s comments on religious violence are met with vitriolic criticism from groups like this, and from individual supporters of 969. Much propaganda comes directly from Wirathu, who has preached sermons claiming that the inner circle of the NLD is dominated by Muslims. A video of this, shared from YouTube, is probably what Shwe Oo watched. Wirathu denies that it is his intention to alienate Aung San Suu Kyi, to victimise Muslims or that ‘nationalist movement’ is an accurate characterization of 969. When I visited Masoeyin monastery, Wirathu’s home, he told me the same thing as many of my interviewees; the numbers relate to different attributes of Buddhism, he said— “everyone knows that this is all it means, even dogs.” He then contradicted himself, explaining that many people
use 969 stickers to distinguish between Buddhist and Muslim shops. “Burmese shouldn’t go to Muslim shops,” he said. “When Muslims become rich they use the money to tempt Burmese girls into marriage. They convert and abuse these girls.” Wirathu told me that he likes Aung San Suu Kyi, “she is a good citizen,” he said, but “her information is incorrect” on incidents of religious violence, the status of the Rohingya and the threat Islam poses in Burma. Nobody can “reach her heart with the truth,” he said. He seems intent on trying, however— while we were speaking he used Facebook continuously on his tablet. He told me that he dislikes social media. “Most of the people who use Facebook are bad citizens,” he said. “They do not respect each other’s ideas.” He, however, is using it to disseminate “truth,” he claims. The precise intent of 969 towards Aung San Suu Kyi is difficult to ascertain; Reuters has traced the campaign past Wirathu, to an official of the previous government - a military junta which ruled Burma until it began to democratise in 2010. Like some of my interviewees, Reuters points to the large number of ex-junta generals who are still part of the government today, suggesting that it might be in their interests to undermine Aung San SuuKyi among the Buddhist majority; as well as leading the opposition, Aung San Suu Kyi is an emblem of democracy in Burma, and for some of these generals democratic reforms are proving far less profitable than military rule. What is easy to ascertain are the implications of the current situation for Aung San Suu Kyi: while speaking out more in defence of Muslims would please many in the West, in Burma, her words would be misconstrued and used to alienate her from those she seeks to influence. This would to do little to help Burmese Muslims. On the other hand, winning the election in 2015 would allow her to do much more. For now, in Mandalay, Aung San Suu Kyi’s popularity will probably continue to decline. Many of my interviewees were already aware that the things they saw on Facebook could be manipulative, but they considered this an unavoidable inconvenience. As a consequence of a historically censored and propagandising media, Facebook has become established as a place to share and receive unfiltered news in Burma. This may be ironic now, as Facebook has become Burma’s most convenient vessel for propaganda, but according to my participants it is unlikely to change. “In the past I admired Aung San Suu Kyi, but after the conflict in Rakhine state I changed my mind,” explained Hla Maung. “Maybe I have been influenced by a lot of people who use Facebook.” He shrugged. “But I haven’t met Aung San Suu Kyi, so I have to read news about her online.”
Wisely to Respect Women
I
Catherine Wilson Inter Press Service
n the Solomon Islands in the south-west Pacific, where two in three of the estimated female population of 252,000 have experienced physical and sexual partner abuse, recognition is growing that ending the cycle of violence cannot be achieved without the partnership of men as catalysts of change. And initiatives by men are gaining support. “It is time for men to stand up for their part to play to see that women are treated as human beings of important value to the family, the community and the nation as a whole,” Pastor Michael Ramo in the settlement of Feraladoa, home to 5,000 people in capital Honiara told IPS. “There is a need for men to rise up and walk hand in hand in supporting women and ending violence against women.” This year Ramo participated in the Men Against Violence Against Women (MAVAW) programme organised by development NGO, Live and Learn, in Honiara. The 18-month project, with donor support, engaged close to 50 men from 27 informal settlements, home to about 35 percent of the city’s population of 64,600, to become champions of social change. According to Haikiu Baiabe, country manager for Live and Learn, the initiative aimed to “break through to men and get them to take the lead in dealing with issues that are labelled as men’s problems.” Men, he said, readily acknowledged that violence against women is a serious issue, but “giving them space where they could express themselves freely” during the project encouraged constructive dialogue. The MAVAW programme was designed by men and women from the communities involved, who contributed their understanding of the key factors which led to violence. Live and Learn then worked with participants on the four main issues identified, which were managing finances, understanding family values and responsibilities, tackling violence generally in communities, and empowering individuals with intervention and counselling skills. Numerous studies, including this year’s United Nations report on why so many men use violence against women in Asia and the Pacific, indicate a strong connection with gender inequalities and prevalent stereotyped ideas of masculinity. The report revealed that 81-98 percent of the 10,000 men and 3,000 women surveyed agreed with the principle of gender equality, but not necessarily when it came to specific roles and responsibilities. More than 70 percent believed that ‘a woman should obey her husband’. Pionie Boso, policy officer for the programme End Violence Against Women (EVAW) at the ministry of women, youth and children affairs says that the equality gap between gender roles in the Solomon Islands has been entrenched over generations. The result is persistent perceptions of females as possessing a lower social
status than males, with predominant women roles confined to the domestic sphere with low participation in public decision-making. Boso agreed that there was a shared responsibility in working towards social justice, and involving men “is a critical part of the process.” She added that it was important that “when they come on board they acknowledge and understand the experiences of women as victims.” The 2008 Solomon Islands family health and safety study revealed that additional factors in family violence included the practice of bride price and punishment of women for disobeying spouses. According to Baiabe the comprehensive definition of violence which encompasses emotional abuse, controlling behaviour and economic deprivation is yet to be widely understood in communities. Men’s experiences, according to the region-wide UN report, included high levels of employment related stress and depression. Before the MAVAW initiative, Ramo had not felt sufficiently equipped to help people suffering from high levels of tension. But he said the programme “gave me a lot of skills to handle very stressed or even traumatised men and this gives me strength in my dealings with people and the community. “I wish that other friends could have joined in because, at my level, there are only a few people who know how to deal with these kinds of situations and have the counselling skills,” he said. Ramo said that men can share the burden of stopping and preventing violence against women by intervening in incidents, promoting non-violent male identities and influencing peers to rethink the way they manage relationships with women. A man needs “to be sensitive when there is a problem between him and his wife,” he said. “He needs to listen; every husband needs to listen first in order to handle the situation safely for the woman.” Given the continuity of domestic violence down generations, the government has overseen the mainstreaming of gender in secondary school curriculums. In Honiara, the Family Support Centre which provides support services to women and children who suffer violence, conducts gender sensitising workshops focussed at youths from 13 years. These address questions of what gender is, why gender violence is a crime and a social injustice, and how men carry a responsibility to help solve problems within families. Baiabe added that breaking the cycle also entailed reinforcing the responsibilities of raising children and nurturing caring values within the family. Following MAVAW’s conclusion, and with a view to sustainability, community support groups with resources were set up and registered in ten urban settlements. However Ramo and Baiabe acknowledge that men across the country need to be engaged to support wider social change as a long-term goal. “We have only touched the surface of communities in Honiara,” Baiabe said. “Violence is a huge issue and this is only the beginning of a long, long journey. We need to look at greater community involvement, greater reach and greater impact.”
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 28 October 2013
The Morung Express
Nitish Kumar vows to bring culprits to book
Patna, OctOber 27 (agencIeS): Condemning the serial blasts in Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said that the investigating agencies will get to the root of the blasts and bring the guilty to book. “I strongly condemn the serial blasts in Patna. A total of 83 people went to the Patna Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Out of them 38 were admitted. Even police personnel were injured. Blasts took place at several places apart from Gandhi Maidan,” Kumar told at a press conference in Patna. Announcing an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the dead, the Bihar chief minister ruled out any kind of “political conspiracy”. “We may have political difference but who will cause serial blasts for that. Bihar does not have such a tradition. It seems to be a preplanned attack on the day of (Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra) Modi’s rally. We should give some time to the police to finish their investigation,” he said. Denying that there has been lapses in security, the chief minister said, “I want to tell the BJP that there has been no attempt by the state government to not secure the place. All required steps for
security were taken. The blasts are an attempt to disrupt law and order situation in Bihar. The guilty should be severely punished. The conspiracy if any will come out. We have sought NIA’s help to get to the root of the blasts.” “There was no intelligence report regarding these blasts. I assure everyone that no effort will be spared to solve the case,” he said. Kumar also said that one person who was suspiciously running away from the Patna railway station has been nabbed by police and his interrogation was on. The chief minister expressed concern over the selection of the day. “Selection of today’s date is questionable. The timing of the blasts is very important and very worrying. On Friday, as suspicious suitcase was found in Gandhi Maidan and I had asked the police to step up the security.” Kumar, however, refused to make a guess on the culprits but appealed for calm. “I appeal everyone to maintain calm and peace. An appeal was also made from the dais and that is commendable,” the chief minister said. Incidentally, Modi had made this appeal at the end of his speech.
Centre seeks report on Patna blast, rushes NIA team
rect attack” on BJP’s party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, a party leader said. “There is no doubt that the blasts were an attempt to disrupt the BJP rally. In fact, it’s a direct attack on Modiji. We don’t know who are behind this attack, but both the centre and Bihar governments are answerable,” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi Patna blasts an attack on told reporters here. Narendra Modi, says BJP Addressing a party event The serial bomb blasts in here, Lekhi called the ConPatna Sunday were a “di- gress-led United Progres-
sive Alliance (UPA) central government “worthless” for the seven low-intensity blasts which killed five people. Lekhi also attacked Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence contacted Muslim youths affected by the Muzaffarnagar communal violence in Uttar Pradesh. “Who is he to be briefed by the intelligence agencies....if he is correct, what has the centre done in this regard...why does he keep raising the issue of as-
sassination of his grandmother (Indira Gandhi) and father (Rajiv Gandhi) who were killed because of their faulty politics?” she asked. Without naming the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, she accused it of communally polarising the state. “Bengal traditionally has been known for its communal harmony. But we can see attempts are now being made to communally polarise the state. The signs are not good,” added Lekhi.
Patna, OctOber 27 (PtI): The Home Ministry on Sunday sought a report from the Bihar government on the explosion of a crude bomb in Patna and is sending a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) to assist in further investigations. Concerned over the blast at the Patna Railway Station and recovery of two more crude bombs, the Ministry told the state government to send a report about the nature of the bomb, suspected persons or organisations which could be behind it and steps taken to maintain law and order, official sources said. The Centre also decided to send a team of explosive experts of the NIA to help the Bihar police in post-blast investigation, they said. A bomb exploded in a toilet at Patna railway station today injuring a person while two more bombs were recovered from the area, barely kilometers away from Gandhi Maidan where BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will be addressing a rally.
MaDuraI, OctOber 27 (PtI): The impact of the ‘revolutionary’ education loan scheme of the UPA government would be felt in another 10 years, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said. Participating in a loan mela organised by Canara Bank at nearby Tirumangalam city, he said Tamil Nadu is an advanced state in many ways due to the vision of late Chief Minister K Kamaraj, who had developed schools and introduced noon-meal schemes, encouraging children to go to school.
“Similarly the education loan scheme introduced by the UPA government is a great revolution and will have its impact in another 10 years and make India an advanced nation in the coming years,” Chidambaram said. The Finance Minister pointed out that backwardness in education was the reason for many states not being developed, despite having natural wealth and industries. The minister said one out of four education loans given in the country had been received by students
from Tamil Nadu. Its impact would also be felt after 10 years when one out four persons employed in big companies and government services would be from the state. He said the recent meeting of Bank Chairmen at Delhi had been informed that Rs 58,000 crore worth education had been sanctioned and the balance of Rs 12,000 crore would be given in another five months. Chidambaram also praised the ‘farsighted’ vision of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for na-
tionalising banks. “But for that act, it would not have been possible for the poor to avail of loans,” he said. Without mentioning the name, he said some people appear like magicians and claim to have a magic wand to develop the nation. “I don’t respect such people. There is no way to develop the nation using magic. The only way is to introduce schemes that will help the next generation.” “Congress does not think about next elections, we think about the next generation,” he said.
sixth report, the Commission said the presence of STs is grossly inadequate in group A and B categories of posts and even in Group D, it is not satisfactory. “The Commission expresses its concern.... DoPT should take up the matter with all the central ministries/departments, particularly those which are cadre controlling authorities, for
appointment to various posts and oblige them to fill up the backlog vacancies,” it said. The report was submitted by the Commission’s Chairman Rameshwar Oraon and its member BL Meena to President Pranab Mukherjee on October 25. It also expressed its disappointment over low representation of STs in banks, saying it fails to understand
their poor presence even in clerk and sub-staff cadres and asked the Ministry of Finance to take special measures to make up for the shortfall. The Commission observed that the presence of STs is negligible among the senior teaching positions like professor and reader in universities like JNU, BHU, Jamia Millia Islamia, Vishwabharti Uni-
versity and AMU. Most of them “are not having a single ST professor” despite 7.5 per cent reservation for the community. “We reiterate our recommendation contained in earlier reports that the Ministry of Human Resource Development and UGC should issue strict instructions to all the central universities to ensure that
7.5 per cent reservation is provided to ST in posts of professor and reader,” it said. The Commission has also pushed for the implementation of its earlier recommendation that suitable amendments in law should be made to make ST quota applicable in universities granted minorities status as ST students lack quality education.
new DelhI, OctOber 27 (PtI): PakistaniAmerican terrorist David Headley, who played a key role in plotting the 2008 Mumbai attacks, boasted to his former school-mates that the assault was “retaliation” for events in Kashmir and Afghanistan, according to a new book by a Danish journalist. Just a week after the attacks by Lashkar-e-Taiba cadres in
India’s financial hub killed 166 people, Headley’s posts on an email group frequented by former students of the Cadet College Hasan Abdal indicated that he had inside information about the incident, said journalist Kaare Sorensen. “In the emails he sent after the Mumbai attacks, he never ever said that he was directly involved. But he hinted that he had infor-
mation that others did not have,” Sorensen told PTI on phone. In one email sent to the ‘abdalians7479’ group exactly a week after the attacks were launched, Headley makes it clear that the incident in Mumbai was “retaliation” for alleged excesses by foreign forces in Afghanistan and Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir. “Our opinion here is that the casualties in Mumbai
should really be taken as Collateral Damage from the Daisy cutters that have been falling in Afghanistan as well as the over 70,000 dead in Kashmir over the last 20 years...,” Headley, the son of a Pakistani broadcaster and an American socialite, wrote boastfully in the email. “He was always bragging, building up his ego in the emails,” said Sorensen, who accessed all 9,000 emails on the ‘abda-
lians7479’ group, including more than 300 written by Headley. Headley also boasted about the 10 LeT cadres, including Ajmal Kasab, who were involved in the attacks, referring to them as “kids”. He wrote: “As you can see that more than 500 commandos had a hard time containing 10 kids.” He added: “Yes, they were only 10 kids, guaranteed. I
hear 3 of the kids were Hafiz (those who memorised the Quran) and 2 were married with a daughter each under 3 years old.” Such details, Sorensen said, made it clear he had a lot of information about the attackers. While a few of Headley’s posts on the group were used as evidence during his trial in Chicago, Sorensen’s book is probably the first to analyse all of them in detail.
Reddy said they were preparing for such an eventuality for sometime keeping in mind the October 1999 super cyclone which destroyed vast swathes of Odisha, cutting it off from the rest of the country for three days. The various government agencies earned kudos for the manner in which they carried out relief and rescue operations. The magnitude of the relief operation can be judged from the fact that nearly a million people were moved inland before the cyclone hit the coastline Oct 12. NDMA had deployed around 2,500 people from the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) to undertake the relief and rescue. The number of deaths stood at 60 this time compared to
the 10,000 who perished in the 1999 super cyclone. “It was the biggest deployment of NDRF for any single evacuation anytime in history,” said Reddy, who is to brief Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday
According to another official, while Phailin was a severe cyclone, they were prepared to handle even a super cyclone - whose speed and magnitude would have been much more.
on lessons learnt from the cyclone and to chalk out future plans. Reddy said what helped was that they held several mock drills, some he himself attended, to check the preparedness of district officials, paramedics and the common man - on what to do when the cyclone actually hits.
“Advance preparedness paid dividends and helped in handling the situation. Earlier, the biggest challenge we used to face post any disaster was giving relief to people as they never used to have any identity cards on them. So, we trained the people that during any disaster they should always carry their
identity proof,” the official added. “During disaster all communication channels get snapped but radio always works. So we told the people to listen to the radio and follow the instructions if they are stuck,” the official told IANS. The official added that they hoarded fuel in advance - learning from the Uttarakhand disaster of June that killed hundreds. “In Uttarakhand, the choppers could not evacuate people because there was no fuel. We had to wait for two days. So this time, we kept the fuel ready,” the official added. The official said that over the past five years they had trained thousands of people along the coastline on the do’s and don’ts dur-
ing a disaster. “People knew what to do during a cyclone. They all had a safety kit ready with them containing essentials like chlorine tablets, identity cards and others, which they carried at the time of evacuation,” the NDMA official said. In some places, the NDMA went beyond its role and coordinated among departments to ensure full preparedness. “The mandate of NDMA is preparedness for disaster, but we did handle coordination among various central government agencies, state authorities, armed forces, medical teams and rescue and relief workers,” the official added. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which had been in the eye of a storm for its role dur-
ing the Uttarakhand tragedy, also came in for praise from Reddy. “IMD gave us very categorical and clear reports about the progress of the cyclone much in advance, and that helped in evacuation,” he added. Over 500 people across India were working day and night to keep the forecast updated. For the IMD, Phailin was not an isolated case of accurate forecast. There has been a trend in the improvement of forecast since 2009. “In the last five years, the IMD has focused on improving the observation network, modernization of tools, capacity building and building collaboration among various agencies,” M. Mohapatra, who heads the cyclone forecast division at IMD, told IANS.
Indians injured in bomb blasts receive treatment at the government medical college hospital in Patna, India on October 27. A series of small bomb blasts killed some people and injured dozens Sunday just hours before a campaign rally by the country’s main opposition prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. (AP Photo)
PM Manmohan Singh condemns Patna blasts, appeals for peace new DelhI, OctOber 27 (PtI): Condemning the blasts in Patna just ahead of Narendra Modi’s rally, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday appealed for peace and asked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to urgently identify and take action against the perpetrators. The Prime Minister spoke to Kumar soon after the blasts to enquire about the situation and impress upon the need for immediate and firm action. He assured the Bihar Chief Minister of all help
from the Centre in the investigation. “The Prime Minister has condemned the blasts in Patna and called for urgent steps to identify and take action against those responsible,” a PMO statement said. “He appealed to the people to maintain peace and calm,” it added. Singh, during his telephonic call to Kumar, called for “immediate and firm action”.
Impact of ‘revolutionary’ edu scheme in another 10 yrs: FM
India's Congress party Vice President Rahul Gandhi, center, interacts with supporters during a rally in New Delhi, India on October 27. The rally was organized to boost the election campaign for upcoming assembly polls. (AP Photo)
‘Modi cannot lead India effectively’ new YOrk, OctOber 27 (PtI): Narendra Modi, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, cannot hope to lead India effectively if he inspires “fear” and “antipathy” among many of its people, the New York Times has commented in an unusual move. “Mr Modi has shown no ability to work with opposition parties or tolerate dissent,” the Editorial Board of the New York Times said in a stinging editorial on the 63-year-old BJP leader. The editorial said that Modi has already “alienated” BJP’s political partners when Janata Dal (United), an important regional party broke off its 17-year alliance with the “party because it found Mr Modi unacceptable.” India was a country with multiple religions and “Mr Modi cannot hope to lead it effectively if he inspires fear and antipathy among many of its people,” it said while recalling that nearly 1,000 people died in the 2002 riots in Gujarat. The editorial, published yesterday, also questioned Modi’s economic track record in Gujarat. The “economic record in Gujarat is not entirely admirable, either,” it said. “Muslims in Gujarat, for instance, are much more likely to be poor than Muslims in India as a whole, even though the state has a lower poverty rate than the country,” the editorial said. “His rise to power is deeply troubling to many Indians, especially the country’s 138 million Muslims and its many other minorities,” said the 19-member Editorial Board, headed by India-born Andrew Rosenthal, the editorial page editor of The New York Times.
new DelhI, OctOber 27 (PtI): National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has expressed concern over “much less than prescribed” presence of Scheduled Tribes in jobs and recommended a time-bound action plan and special drive by the government to meet the constitutional quota of 7.5 per cent for them. In its
NCST for special drive to meet job quota for STs
David Headley’s emails show he had inside info on 26/11
Tackling Cyclone Phailin - preparations were on for past five years
new DelhI, OctOber 27 (IanS): The fiery Cyclone Phailin left in its wake devastation in the coastal areas of Odisha, but India managed to successfully avert much loss to human lives and destruction as meticulous preparation to meet such an eventuality was going on for the past five years. As coastal areas are prone to cyclones, tsunami and rain-induced floods, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), an apex body whose mandate is to prepare for natural and manmade disasters, got ready to tackle the problem much in advance. NDMA Vice Chairman M.S. Reddy said it was the hard work put in by various government agencies in disaster preparedness during the past five years
that paid off while tackling Phailin. “The success lies in the fact that every agency did what was expected of them. The advantage in case of a cyclone compared to other disasters is that there was an early warning, and we were put on alert much ahead. A good coordination made it a successful operation,” Reddy told IANS in an interview. He said the casualties and damage were less not only because of successful coordination among various government agencies, but also that disaster management training was given to people much in advance, helping India successfully undertake one of the largest evacuations ahead of Cyclone Phailin and subsequent floods that hit over ten million people in Odisha.
“It was the biggest deployment of NDRF for any single evacuation anytime in history”
INTERNATIONAL
The Morung Express
Monday 28 October 2013
Dimapur
9
Bangladesh politics focused on 2 moms and 2 sons
DHAKA, OctOber 27 (AP): The future of Bangladesh depends on two men who don’t live there, both heirs apparent to the South Asian nation’s most powerful political dynasties. One is a technology consultant who lives in the U.S. with his American wife and young daughter. The other is reportedly studying for a law degree in London, living in self-imposed exile because he faces corruption charges at home. The consultant has been traveling the small towns of Bangladesh in recent weeks, stumping for his mother’s re-election. The law student is meeting with powerful political aides in Saudi Arabia, helping plan his family’s return to power. But give them a few years, and political observers here say either could become prime minister of Bangladesh, which has been ruled by their two families since the country’s 1971 independence from Pakistan. Sajeeb Wazed Joy, 42, the son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Tarique Rahman, the 46-year-old son of opposition leader Khaleda Zia, have emerged as the country’s most powerful political heirs. “Their influence is
huge,” said Hassan Shahriar, a political analyst in Bangladesh. “It’s almost impossible to rise to the top coming from outside these families in the current context.” With national parliamentary elections due by early next year, Joy and Rahman are key figures in early campaigning for their mothers, and are earning serious publicity for themselves. By all indications, the men are headed for powerful roles in the country’s two major political parties Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League and Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The seeming inevitability of the sons’ rise rankles some in Bangladesh, who see it as fundamentally undemocratic. “This is not a kingdom, why would they come after their mothers?” asks college student Mazharul Islam. “Are there no other people with brains and guts to rule us? This is ridiculous.” But political dynasties are a fact of life in South Asia. Families of independence leaders, first presidents or descendants of longtime leaders often have immense influence in politics. In Bangladesh, Hasina and Zia have headed their
In this September 15, photo, Bangladesh Awami League supporters raise their hands in support of Sajeeb Wazed Joy, 42, the son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at an election campaign rally in Mymensingh, near Dhaka, Bangladesh. Political observers in Bangladesh say that given a few years Joy or Tarique Rahman, the 45-year-old son of opposition leader Khaleda Zia, could become prime minister of Bangladesh, which has been ruled by their two families since the country's 1971 independence from Pakistan. Joy and Rahman have emerged as the country's most powerful political heirs. (AP Photo)
parties for decades without any open challenges. “Look at India, Sri Lanka or Pakistan,” Shahriar said. “Bangladesh is no different. Cronies surround these families, back them and strengthen their hands to get slices of power.” In Bangladesh a nation struggling to overcome extreme poverty, vicious politics and a recent string of horrific accidents linked to the garment industry — photos of Joy and Rahman regularly feature on party
posters along with their mothers. In recent weeks, Joy has toured the country, earning a rock-star welcome in towns where supporters lined up along highways and chanted party slogans. Scrums of reporters followed his motorcade. “You are the future (of the country). You are the future leaders of this nation. I will always be with you,” Joy, who lives in the U.S. state of Virginia, told a crowd of cheering students during
the tour, aimed at boosting support for his mother. “One day he will be prime minister. Why not?” said Mahbubul Haque Shakil, an aide to Hasina. “This is a democracy. If people want, he will surely be.” Rahman, though he lives in Britain, plays a major role in deciding who will get nominations for the country’s 300 parliamentary constituencies. Rahman — whose mother was prime minister from 2001 to 2006 before becoming
an opposition leader — has campaigned for her in the past and reportedly hand-picked several Cabinet members. Rahman left the country in 2008 with permission from a court on medical ground after his mother’s five-year term expired amid chaos on the streets over elections. A caretaker government backed by the military arrested him and allegedly tortured him in custody. He holds the title of se-
plans to create a special amphibious unit to protect the southern islands and retake them in case of an invasion. “There are concerns that China is attempting to change the status quo by force, rather than by rule of law,” Abe earlier told the Wall Street Journal in an interview following a series of summits this month with regional leaders. “But if China opts to take that path, then it won’t be able to emerge peacefully,” he said in the interview published Saturday. “So it shouldn’t take that path, and many nations expect Japan to strongly express that view. And they hope that as a result, China will take responsible action in the international community,” Abe added. On Sunday Jiji Press and Kyodo News reported that Japan had deployed jets for two days running in response to four Chinese military aircraft flying over international waters near the Okinawa island chain. Two Y8 early-warning aircraft and two H6 bombers flew from the East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean and back again but did not
violate Japan’s airspace, the reports said. The Japanese defence ministry was not immediately available for confirmation. Japan’s military is on increased alert as Tokyo and Beijing pursue a war of words over the disputed islands in the East China Sea that lie between Okinawa and Taiwan. On Saturday China responded angrily after a report said Japan had drafted plans to shoot down foreign drones that encroach on its airspace if warnings to leave are ignored. Tokyo drew up the proposals after a Chinese military drone entered Japan’s air defence identification zone near the disputed islands in the East China Sea last month, Kyodo said. “We would advise relevant parties not to underestimate the Chinese military’s staunch resolve to safeguard China’s national territorial sovereignty,” China’s defence ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said in comments posted on the ministry’s website. “If Japan takes enforcement measures such as shooting
down aircraft, as it says it will, that would constitute a serious provocation, an act of war of sorts, and we would have to take firm countermeasures, and all consequences would be the responsibility of the side that caused the provocation.” Tokyo and Beijing both claim the small uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Japan administers them and calls them the Senkakus. China refers to the islands as the Diaoyus. One of Abe’s first decisions as prime minister was to increase the defence budget for the first time in 11 years. Tokyo also plans to hold a major air and sea exercise next month to bolster its ability to protect its remote islands. In the Wall Street Journal interview, Abe said Japan had become too inwardlooking over the past 15 years, but as it regains economic strength “we’d like to contribute more to making the world a better place”. The Journal said he made it clear that one way Japan would “contribute” would be countering China in Asia.
Japan warns China on use of force
This file photo shows a Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jet taking off from an air base in Miyazaki Prefecture.
tOKyO, OctOber 27 (AFP): Japan’s leader warned China on Sunday against forcibly changing the regional balance of power, as reports said Tokyo had scrambled fighter jets in response to Chinese military aircraft flying near Okinawa. Verbal skirmishing between Asia’s two biggest economies, who dispute ownership of an island chain, escalated as Beijing warned Tokyo that any
hostile action in the skies against Chinese drones would be construed as an “act of war”. “We will express our intention as a state not to tolerate a change in the status quo by force. We must conduct all sorts of activities such as surveillance and intelligence for that purpose,” Abe said in an address to the military. “The security environment surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly
JAKArtA, OctOber 27 (AFP): Fed up with spending hours stuck in the gridlocked Indonesian capital Jakarta, hundreds of thousands of social media-savvy commuters are tweeting to beat the traffic. The threadbare public transport system in the capital of Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, combined with growing spending power, has spawned vast numbers of motorists who are increasingly turning to Twitter to conquer jams. Road users in Jakarta, the world’s most active city in terms of posted tweets, are using the microblogging service to warn fellow travellers of traffic-choked roads or arrange car pooling. Resorting to the web is an act of desperation for drivers in the megacity of 10 million, branded the world’s most unpleasant place to commute in a 2011 survey by consultancy Frost and Sullivan. Hendry Soelistyo was an early pioneer of online tools to tackle traffic in Jakarta, where commuters often spend up to five hours a day in a slow-moving sea of cars and motorbikes to get to work. Four years ago the IT entrepreneur set up lewatmana.com, a website and
associated Twitter account through which commuters can share real-time information about traffic conditions. “Indonesians update their status on Facebook and Twitter all the time, so we thought, why not share information about traffic jams?” Soelistyo told AFP. Lewatmana, which means “via where” in Indonesian, mainly provides information about jams, but also flags up flooded roads or areas affected by the city’s frequent demonstrations. The platform relies on its users as well as 100 CCTV cameras installed in office windows across the city to monitor traffic and send out pictures via Twitter. The service, which fires out more than 14,000 tweets a month, has proved a hit and now has around 200,000 followers. Another attempt to solve Jakarta’s traffic woes through Twitter is a carpooling community called Nebengers, which translates as “hitchhikers” and aims to reduce the number of vehicles in the city centre. “Nebengers is like a virtual car terminal, where we can hitch a ride to go to school or the office,” said founder Andreas Aditya
severe. This is the reality,” he said. “You will have to completely rid yourselves of the conventional notion that just the existence of a defence force could act as a deterrent.” Abe presided over an inspection of the military at which a US amphibious assault vehicle was displayed for the first time, an apparent sign of Japan’s intention to strengthen its ability to protect remote islands. The defence ministry
Jakarta tweets to beat traffic chaos
In this AFP file photo motorists are seen trapped in the rush-hour gridlock in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Swasti, 27. It is rare to give lifts to strangers in Indonesia but Nebengers has still drawn around 4,000 Twitter followers, with more than 400 people using the service every day to either get or give a lift. People wishing to offer a seat in their car to others who share the same route put a message out two hours before the trip. Ratna Mayasari, who works in the city centre
and offers free lifts from her house in South Jakarta, said it helps to share her one-and-a-half hour commute with others. “Before, I used to sing or even grumble at the traffic by myself, but now I have found friends to do that with me,” she said. With a dilapidated public transport system incapable of serving the city’s population and huge volumes of new cars and mo-
torbikes hitting the streets every day, Jakarta needs all the help it can get when it comes to traffic management. Between 2000 and 2010, the number of motorbikes on the streets increased by 460 percent and the number of cars by 160 percent, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The agency, a statefunded body that gives out
Japanese government aid and advice, is helping Jakarta fix its traffic woes. Attempts by city authorities to reduce the number of vehicles, such as doubling the parking price, have largely proved ineffective. The latest initiative has seen officials deployed to let down the tyres of illegally parked cars and motorbikes. Public transport, which mostly consists of rundown buses belching toxic black smoke and overloaded trains and minibuses, has proved an unattractive option for a fast-growing middle class that can now afford cars. New mass transit projects -- which have been delayed for decades -- are slowly springing back to life, with ground-breaking ceremonies for both the city’s first subway and monorail taking place this month. But with several years before these are up and running, Jakarta’s tweeters could find themselves managing the city’s chaotic roads for some time yet. “Where else can you find citizens busying themselves with traffic management? Indonesia is probably the most active, because in other countries, it’s the government who is doing this stuff,” said Soelistyo.
nior vice president of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. His rise comes despite allegations of corruption that could lead to his arrest if he returns to Bangladesh. A special court indicted Rahman in absentia along with one of his businessman friends in 2011. Prosecutors say Rahman and his friend received $2.73 million in bribes while his mother was prime minister. Another court issued an arrest warrant against Rahman accusing him of masterminding grenade attacks on a rally of Hasina when she was the opposition leader in 2004. At least 24 people died in that attack in Dhaka and Hasina narrowly escaped unhurt. Hasina’s party says the attack was designed to eliminate political opponents. Zia’s opposition party has denied all charges against Rahman, saying they are aimed at destroying her family’s reputation. If Zia returns to power, it would pave the way for her son’s return to Bangladesh. For now, he is working closely with his mother, but from a distance. He recently addressed some party meetings in London and visited Saudi Arabia to attend another. “It’s just a matter of
time. He will return as a hero,” said Jamilur Qadir, one of his supporters. “He is the son of a former president. He is the son of a mother who did a lot for the nation as prime minister. I am sure he will come out clean and change things with good judgment.” Zia entered the political fray after her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, was killed in a coup in 1981. Hasina, the elder daughter of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, entered politics several years after her father and most of her family were assassinated in a 1975 coup. Together, the women overthrew former president and military dictator H.M. Ershad and restored democracy in 1990. Each has served as prime minister since then.Now, the two are bitter rivals with their eyes toward the future both their country’s and their sons’. Dynasties are not necessarily bad, the political analyst Shahriar said as long as good leadership emerges. In any case, other candidates for power have little hope of rising to the top. “There are talented people, they have potential,” Shahriar said. “But they don’t have family connections.”
Wave of car bombs hit Baghdad
Citizens and security forces inspect the site of a car bomb attack at a bus station in the Baghdad's eastern Mashtal neighborhood, Iraq on October 27. Insurgents on Sunday unleashed a new wave of car bombs in Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad, killing and wounding dozens of people, officials said. (AP Photo)
bAGHDAD, OctOber 27 (AP): A new wave of car bombs hit Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least 42 people and wounding dozens, officials said. It was the latest in a series of coordinated attacks targeting civilian areas that has killed hundreds in recent months. Four police officers said the bombs, placed in parked cars and detonated over a half-hour, targeted commercial areas and parking lots. The deadliest blast was in the southeastern Nahrwan district where two car bombs exploded simultaneously, killing seven and wounding 15 others. Two other explosions hit the northern Shaab and southern Abu Dshir neighborhoods, each of which killed six people. Other blasts hit the neighborhoods of Mashtal, Baladiyat and Ur in eastern Baghdad, the southwestern Bayaa and the northern Sab al-Bor and Hurriyah districts. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but such systematic attacks are a favorite tactic of al-Qaida’s local branch. It frequently targets civilians in markets, cafes and commercial streets in Shiite areas in an attempt to undermine confidence in the government, as well as members of the security forces. Six medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information. In Mashtal, police and army forces sealed off the scene as ambulances rushed to pick up the wounded where pools of blood covered the pavement. The force of the explosion damaged number of cars and shops. At one restaurant, wooden benches were overturned and broken eggs were scattered on the ground. Violence has spiked in Iraq since April, when the pace of killing reached levels unseen since 2008. Today’s attacks bring the death toll across the country this month to 531, according to an Associated Press count.
In this photo taken on October 24, a street monkey wears a baby doll mask as it performs in a slum in Jakarta, Indonesia. Security forces are fanning out across Jakarta conducting raids to rescue macaques used in popular street masked monkey performances in a move aimed at improving public order and preventing diseases carried by the monkeys. (AP Photo)
10
Dimapur
SPORTS
Monday 28 October 2013
Barca scores decisive win over real Madrid
Real Madrid's Pepe, right, duels for the ball against FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi during the Spanish La Liga soccer match against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 26. (AP Photo)
BARCELONA, OCtOBER 27 (AP): Neymar scored in his first clasico and set up Alexis Sanchez for an exquisite decider as Barcelona beat fierce rival Real Madrid 2-1 at Camp Nou in the Spanish league on Saturday. With Lionel Messi oddly quiet, Neymar opened in the 19th minute from close range after receiving Andres Iniesta's pass as the Brazil striker outshone fellow newcomer and adversary Gareth Bale. "Scoring a goal in a clasico is very special," Neymar said. "It's a game that everyone wants to play. It was like a dream come true." While Neymar has lived
up to his 57-million-euro transfer this summer, questions over the wisdom of Madrid's 100 million euros payout for Bale will continue after he failed to produce a shot on goal before being replaced by Karim Benzema with half an hour to go. Benzema went on to hit the woodwork as Madrid threatened to equalize before Alexis took Neymar's pass and sealed the victory in the 78th with a brilliant chipped shot. Substitute Jese Rodriguez got Madrid's consolation goal in injury time after a lightning counterattack. Neymar followed in the footsteps of former Brazilian standouts
Romario and Rivaldo, who scored in their first matches for the Catalan club against Madrid. And his playmaking echoed Ronaldinho's assist in his first clasico. Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino, also making his clasico debut, was careful not to overpraise Neymar, while also giving credit to Messi for his work in defense. "The transcendence of this game and the goal he scored magnified the level of his performance," Martino said about Neymar. "But I think he has had better games than tonight. As far as what (Messi) did for the team to recover the
mELBOuRNE, OCtOBER 27 (iANS): The explosive claims made by Australia's former cricket captain Ricky Ponting in his autobiography At the Close of Play is believed to have added to the immense pressure on the current Test skipper Michael Clarke. In the 699page book, Ricky Ponting has questioned Michael Clarke's ability to handle pressure. Clarke - popularly known as 'Pup' in the Australian cricketing circles - has also been accused of not being a team person and as someone who was more worried about his personal life rather than how the team was faring. "It wasn't that he was disruptive or treacherous, and publicly he said all the right things, but he had never been one to get too involved in planning sessions or debriefs at the end of a day's play, or to volunteer to take on any of the captain's workload," Ricky Ponting has claimed in his reveal-all autobiography. "...when Pup was down on form or if he had a problem away from cricket, he'd go into his shell," writes Ponting. The former skipper says he felt Clarke's aloofness when he made up his mind to give up what is considered the second most important post in Australia - captainship of the cricket Test team in "..Ahmedabad, the early hours of Friday, March 25, 2011". Had he been successful in winning the games for Australia like some of his immediate predecessors, Clarke could have easily brushed off the former captain's criticism as an exercise to sell the book. But Australia's recent drubbings at the hands of India and arch-rivals England are not helping the matters at all. The sacked Australian
coach Mickey Arthur has joined those questioning Clarke's leadership. The South African also thinks Clarke is under immense pressure ahead of this summer's Ashes series. To make the matters worse for the embattled skipper from Liverpool suburb in Sydney, his exgirlfriend has dealt him a cruel blow by saying that splitting with Michel was "the best thing I ever did". "It has been a tough week for him (Clarke) because Mickey Arthur has lined him up, even Lara Bingle was in the Sydney press saying 'I would have been barefoot with three kids if I had stayed with him'," sports journalist Kelli Underwood said in ABC Television's Offsiders program Sunday morning. The reasonably good performance of Bailey as one-day skipper in the ongoing One-Day International series against India is another factor which may be weighing heavily on the mind of the injury prone Australian captain. Though many cricket pundits see Ponting's criticism of Clarke and Cricket Australia as an exercise to sell the book, it has reignited the debate about Clarke's leadership qualities. For Clarke and the Australian cricket establishment the timing of the book release could not have been worse. Clarke is clawing his way back from a crippling back injury and is all set to lead the Australian side against the Ashes rivals. Australian cricket fans here are convinced that Ricky Ponting's voluminous autobiography would be used as a psychological weapon against Clarke, and it is believed that Ponting's book would give sledging material to the Poms.
kOhimA, OCtOBER 27 (mExN): The Kohima District Volleyball Association (KDVA) with tournament committee will have a meeting at the Kohima Local Ground on October 28 at 8:00 am. The meeting will discuss matters relating to the forthcoming 1st Kohima District Ward/Block Volleyball Tournament, commencing from October 29 till 31 at the Kohima Local Ground. The three-day long tournament will witness 15 men’s team and 6 women’s team. The champion in men’s category will pocket a cash prize of Rs. 30,000 while the runners- up will
ball, I give him a superlative mark." Also, Celta emphatically broke a four-game losing streak with a 5-0 rout at Malaga. Levante rolled to a 3-0 win at home over Espanyol, and Granada won 1-0 at Elche. Madrid had improved in its recent visits to Camp Nou, including a 3-1 win in the Copa del Rey last February, but Barcelona restored its home dominance over its traditional rival for the league crown. The victory was Barcelona's ninth to go with one lone draw in the league this season, lifting it a provisional four points clear of Atletico Madrid which hosts Real Betis on Sunday.
Madrid was left a full six points adrift of the pacesetters and with reawakened doubts over the direction of the team under new coach Carlo Ancelotti after losses to both of its league challengers. It lost 1-0 to Atletico last month. "I think we showed good football in front of a fantastic team," Ancelotti said after his first clasico. "At this moment it was a good test. We are improving." Bale made his second start of the season since being hampered by muscle injuries, but he didn't prove to be effective in attack with Cristiano Ronaldo. A ncel otti fu rther tweaked his starting 11 with Sergio Ramos in midfield, while Martino chose Cesc Fabregas to accompany Messi and Neymar in attack. Neymar struck the ball into the arms of Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez in the game's first shot on goal in the 17th. Two minutes later, Iniesta dribbled into the area and laid off for Neymar on the left flank. Madrid appeared to have him hemmed in, but he used his right foot to slip a shot between the legs of Dani Carvajal, with the ball taking a deflection off the defender's thigh before trickling in. It was Neymar's fourth goal in 14 matches since joining from Santos this offseason. While Neymar sparkled, Bale was limited to a pair of harmless long-range attempts as Madrid failed to muster a shot on target until a minute before halftime. Madrid gained ground as the second half wore on and Barcelona appeared to tire, leaving Benzema unmarked to rip a shot off the woodwork in the 72nd. But Neymar helped Alexis secure the three points when he spotted the Chilean's run after he came on for Fabregas in the 70th. Alexis pulled up outside the area with Raphael Varane in front of him and coolly lofted the ball over the defender and the diving Lopez, who was caught just off his line.
The Morung Express
ST. Xavier College RRC Unit undertakes cleanliness drive
JALukiE, OCtOBER 27 (mExN): Volunteers of Red Ribbon Club of St. Xavier College, Jalukie, undertook a cleanliness drive in Jalukie Town October 19, 2013. In a press note issued by Fr. Jose Lukose, Principal, it was mentioned that about sixty student volunteers wearing Red Ribbon Cap participated in the drive. They cleared
the drains, collected waste papers, poly bags, etc from the road and burned them. Grass around the plantation along the road was also cleared. The note mentioned that cleanliness drive was organized in order to instill in the minds of the students and passersby, the need to keep one’s surrounding and public places clean.
The College in the note expressed gratitude to the Civil Administration and Town Dobashis for their presence and encouragement. This is one of the many activities undertaken this year by the Red Ribbon Club. Rev. Fr. Jose Lukose, the Principal of the College and N. Adakho, the Nodal Officer of the Club assisted the cleanliness drive.
Students of Government Middle School Jharnapani pose for a lens, while enjoying their mid-day meal.
Members of NCRC Sumi Women Department, Purana Bazar during the exposure trip to Kolkata from October 14 to 20.
GcYM holds combined fellowship
DimAPuR, OCtOBER 27 (mExN): For the first time, all the hostels, prayer homes, individuals, independent ministries in Dimapur had a combined fellowship on October 22 organized by Generation Count Down Youth Ministry (GCYM), Sovima at
its centre. A press release issued informed that the participants felt the need to continue the fellowship next year too. Olem Jamir and Rev Robert were elected as president and secretary for the combined fellowship.
Ponting book puts pressure Kdva meet for Kohima dist on Michael 'Pup' Clarke ward/block volleyball tourney
be awarded with Rs. 20,000. The prize in women’s category stands at Rs. 20,000 (champion) and Rs. 10,000 (Runners-up). Losing semi-finalists for both categories will get Rs. 5000 each. Besides, there will be cash prize of Rs. 2000 for best spikers and best setters in both categories. Dr. Neikiesalie (Nicky) Kire, Parliamentary Secretary Justice & Law, Land Revenue of the Winter Vegetable Seeds Distribution Programme conducted by the Disand Labour and Employment will grace Beneficiaries trict Horticulture Office, Wokha at Baghty Vegetable Village on October 25. the inaugural function as the chief guest. The inaugural function will start at 11:00 am. All the teams have been asked to attend the inaugural function.
1ST KOHIMA DISTRICT WARD / BLOCK VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT 2013 October 29 to 31, Kohima Local Ground FIXTURE FOR MEN
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.
Kezo Town Youth ‘B’ Tsiepfu-Tsiepfhe AG Colony Strivers Club Kigwema Phesama Youth Organisation Young Felcon Tsiesema Vanquishers Club Kiruphema (Peducha) Kasha Club Kiruphema Village Soyim Club Lower Bayavü Kezo Basa Youth Organisation Sechu Zubza Volleyball Club Phesama Youth Organisation Kezo Town Youth ‘B’ Tsiepfu-Tsiepfhe AG Colony Strivers Club Kigwema Soyim Club Lower Bayavü Kezo Basa Youth Organisation Sechu Zubza Volleyball Club Kezo Town Youth ‘B’ Tsiepfu-Tsiepfhe AG Colony Strivers Club Kigwema
1. 2. 3. 4.
A Winner C Winner B Winner D Winner
1. 2.
P R
Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs
Soyim Club Lower Bayavü Kezo Basa Youth Organisation Sechu Zubza Volleyball Club Kiruphema Village Khonoma Youth Organisation Northern Angami Sports Association Sparklets Mima Kezo Town Youth ‘A’ Young Felcon Tsiesema Vanquishers Club Kiruphema (Peducha) Kasha Club Kezo Town Youth ‘A’ Young Felcon Tsiesema Vanquishers Club Kiruphema (Peducha) Kasha Club Khonoma Youth Organisation Northern Angami Sports Association Sparklets Mima Khonoma Youth Organisation Northern Angami Sports Association Sparklets Mima
Quarter Final Vs B Runner – up Vs D Runner – up Vs A Runner – up Vs C Runner – up Semi Final Vs Q Vs S Final Vs
X
1st Kohima District Ward / Block Volleyball Tournament 2013 FIXTURE FOR WOMEN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Northern Angami Sports Association Elixir United Club Kezoma Northern Angami Sports Association Elixir United Club Kezoma Phesama Youth Organisation Khonoma Youth Organisation
1. 2.
A Winner B Winner N
Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs Vs
Phesama Youth Organisation Khonoma Youth Organisation Sendenyu Youth Organisation Kezo Town Youth Organisation Sendenyu Youth Organisation Kezo Town Youth Organisation
Semi Final Vs B Runner – up Vs A Runner – up Final Vs
Group A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C A B C A B C
Alumni and faculty of SASRD Medziphema and other invitees at SASRD’s 35th Foundation Day cum Alumni awards programme on October 20, 2013. A. Lanunungsang Ao, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Meriema Campus, Nagaland University (4th from left-front) graced the occasion as Guest of Honour.
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Senior officials of Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo (DABA) who participated at the DABA Youth Ministry 1 Day Penalty Showdown held at Maple Tree School, Dimapur on October 26, 2013. The penalty showdown was contested among 40 houses, from which Lengrijan ‘Mishak House’ won the showdown. (Manen Aier Photo)
Entertainment
The Morung Express C M Y K
Monday 28 October 2013
Dimapur
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Miley Cyrus
calls herself a ‘punk rock underdog’ She
attracted a slew of criticism for her risqué performance at this year’s VMA awards alongside Robin Thicke. But in a new interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, Miley Cyrus is unrepentant about her ‘haters,’ while declaring herself a ‘cool punk rock underdog.’ She tells the magazine’s December issue: ‘Everything is so chaotic and crazy right now...I’m literally what everyone is talking about. ‘I don’t want to say that I’m on top right now – I feel like I’m kind of an underdog in a cool way. It’s almost punk rock to like me because it’s not the right thing to do. Like, society wants to shut me down.’ The 20-year-old claims to be surprised at the furore she created at the awards show, which saw her perform lewd acts with a foam finger and twerk against the Blurred Lines singer. ‘When people started com-
Keith gets ‘Nicole Kidman’ inked on arm
The Joan Collins fan club gets a new member... Kate Moss!
Sun
Keith
Urban has unveiled a new tattoo of Nicole Kidman’s name on his arm. The American Idol judge showed the ultimate declaration of his love for the actress on US TV’s The Jimmy Kimmel Show where he unveiled his new inking during a performance to promote his latest album Fuse. Keith made sure no-one missed the romantic gesture by wearing a short sleeved top while he crooned away on his guitar. The 45-year-old star already had the name of the actress etched onto his right arm in script font, but now sports a re-worked version of the tattoo featuring an additional Celtic design around the original inking. The couple - who have been married for seven years - have two daughters together, five-year-old Sunday and threeyear-old Faith. Nicole also has two adopted children, 18-year-old, Connor and 20-year-old Isobella, with her ex-husband Tom Cruise.
plaining about the awards show, I was like, “Have you never seen the f***ing video?” she said. ‘And what if I hadn’t done that performance? The VMAs would have been bad. They would have been missing something. The show was kind of making fun of how serious the pop industry is.’ And she says music has been her focus since her split with hunky Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth back in September. Miley says: ‘I need to treat my music like a relationship – give it my time and all the attention it deserves – and that’s my main love right now. ‘This is the best time of my life. I’m not going to look back on it and be like, “I wish I hadn’t been dwelling over a breakup,” you know? Because that’s not what God wants my life to be about right now.’ On the front cover she dazzles in a barely there gold mini-dress decorated with sequins and jewels. In another inside shot, she shows off black Daisy Dukes paired with a sheer black blouse open to the waist to reveal her plunging gold bra and gold neck chains. Miley also changes into teeny-tiny jeans shorts and a shaggy grey jacket, shrugged off her shoulder to show a silver metallic bra and her toned tummy.
-loving Kate Moss has finally been given the invitation of her dreams – to spend a holiday at Joan Collins’s grand home in the South of France. Kate first met the Hollywood veteran in 2008 and has been hoping for an invitation to stay at her pink villa with infinity pool in the hills above St Tropez ever since. Now her wish has been granted – thanks to a bouquet of flowers. ‘Kate sent me two dozen roses and peonies,’ said Joan at the launch of her book Passion For Life. ‘I invited her to stay in St Tropez next summer.’ Boris Johnson says he has lost out on up to £1 million – by scrapping a classic 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing car left to him by his grandfather. The London Mayor was flabbergasted to learn that a carbon copy of the vehicle he let go several years ago was sold at auction last month for the vast hole somewhere,’ said Boris, Bonhams in Mayfair, Central sum. ‘I didn’t think much of 49, at the opening of a new London. ‘It seems a shame the car – I pushed it into a saleroom for auctioneers now.’ You can say that again!
A model displays a creation by designer Rebecca Taylor during the Portugal Fashion Spring/Summer 2014 week on October 26, in Porto, Portugal. (AP Photo)
Big B receives Hridayanath Mangeshkar Award The
lifetime achievement award was supposed to be presented by Lata Mangeshkar (who has contributed 71 years to the industry) to Bachchan (who is 71 years old.) However, due to health issues Lata ji couldn’t make it to event and Subhash Ghai did the honors. Amitabh Bachchan was full of praises for Lata Mangeshkar at the ceremony and even promised to speak in Mangeshkar’s mother tongue the next time around! He said, “Film Industry has completed 100 years and Lataji has contributed for 71 years. This is no small thing!” He arrived with wife Jaya Bachchan to receive the award.
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Vettel reigns supreme in India, grabs historic 4th world title
Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers, of Canada, perform in the pairs free skating event at Skate Canada figure skating competition in Saint John, New Brunswick on Oct. 26. (AP Photo)
India to open World T20 campaign against Pak
DUbAI, OcTObER 27 (PTI): The Indian will be joined by another three teams from team will open its campaign in next year's the upcoming qualifiers. As such, the two World Twenty20 Championships against groups will be finalised on November 30. arch-foes Pakistan when the event is staged The Super 10 stage will start with an evening in Bangladesh from March 16 to April 6. As match between former champions India and many as 60 tournament matches (35 men's Pakistan in Dhaka on March 21. Defending and 25 women's) will be played across Chit- champions West Indies will launch their title tagong, Dhaka and Sylhet in the 22-day defence against India in an evening match on tournament. As in the past, the women's Sunday March 23. Earlier on the same day, semifinals and final will be held on the same Pakistan will lock horns with Australia, lookday as the men's semifinals and final, and at ing for the only global title that has eluded the same venue, the ICC said in a statement. them to date. If Bangladesh reach the Super The format for the men's event in 10 stage, they will play all their matches in Dhaka, facing the next year's tournament has been Group 1 - Sri Lanka, England, West Indies on March 25, India on changed following an increase in South Africa, New Zealand, March 28, Pakistan on March 30 and teams from 12 to Group B Qualifier 1 (Q1B) Australia on April 1. 16. As the teams' seeding are based Group 2 - West Indies, India, The prize money for on the T20I Team Pakistan, Australia, Group A the men's event will be $3 million, with Rankings as on Octhe winner receivtober 8, 2012, the Qualifier 1 (Q1A) ing $1.1 million and top eight sides following the conclusion of last ICC World the losing finalist collecting $550,000. The ICC Women's World Twenty20 2014 Twenty20 will play directly in the Super has been increased from eight to 10 teams 10 stage and India is one such side. Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, which fin- after a recent Board decision. The first round ished outside the top eight, will participate matches of the women's event will take place in the first round that will be held from in Sylhet from March 23 to April 2, with the 16-21 March. The first round of the men's top two sides from each Group progressing event will include eight sides that will be to the semifinals. Defending champions Ausdivided into two groups of four teams each, tralia will kick-off their campaign on Sunwith the table-toppers progressing to the day March 23 when they will take on New Super 10 stage. In the first round, Group Zealand. This game will be followed by the A will feature host Bangladesh alongside match between South Africa and Pakistan, three teams that will qualify from the ICC who, along with Sri Lanka, qualified for the World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2013, to be Bangladesh event after having reached the final of the qualifying tournament held in staged from November 15 to 30. Group B will include Zimbabwe, which Dublin in August.
GREATER NOIDA, OcTObER 27 (PTI): Taking a giant step towards becoming a moderntime great, Sebastian Vettel cruised into the history books by winning his fourth consecutive Formula One world title as he conquered the Indian Grand Prix for the third time in a row, here on Sunday. Changing his tyres strategy after only two laps on softs from pole position, Vettel switched to mediums and drove sensationally to grab the lead after joining the race in the 17 place, yet again showing that he was uncatchable in his RB09. Red Bull looked set for a one and two but Mark Webber`s race ended due to gearbox problem in lap 40. His team ordered him to stop the car. However, Red Bull still won the constructors? title. So it was double delight for Red Bull. Vettel bowed on the Buddh International circuit after completing the victory and then jumped on his car, celebrating his historic win, which he took ahead of Mercedes Nico Rosberg, who was 29.8 seconds behind. Joining them on the podium was Lotus` Romain Grosjean, who had sensational race as he worked his way to third position after starting 17 on the grid. Vettel needed to finish only fifth to become youngest quadruple champion. With this win, he took his points tally to 322. Only Ferrai`s Fernando Alonso could have kept the championship alive but he could not get a single point by finishing a distant 11th. Ever since the Formula One world arrived in India, Vettel has dominated everything from dominating practice sessions to winning all three Poles and races. Only two drivers before Vettel have won four straight titles -- Juan Manuel Fangio from Argentina and German great Michael Schumacher. Frenchman Alain Prost is another driver who has won four titles but he did not win those in a row and Vettel is now youngest quadruple champion at the age 26. It was Vettel`s sixth win in a row and the affable German now has the record of nine consecutive wins in sight with three races to go in the season. Felipe Massa was fourth, followed by McLaren drivers Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton. Kimi Raikonnen, who was in podium contention till the last 10 laps, faded to seventh, followed by home team Sahara Force India`s Paul di Resta and Sutil. Daniel Ricciardo took the last available point from Indian Grand Prix, which is missing on the calendar in 2014. It was a great result for home team as they enjoyed their first double points finish since the British Grand prix to consolidate their sixth position. The team earned six points to take the tally to 68, which is 23 ahead of Sauber, who failed to earn a point. In lap 29, Vettel got ahead of the pack when Webber pitted and just after one lap he was comfortably ahead by 11 seconds. Vettel was uncatchable after that as he build a 25-second lead over Kimi Raikkonen. Earlier, Massa made a great start by getting past both the Mercedes cars to get behind Vettel. Fernando Alonso, who needed a strong race to keep the championship alive, clipped Jenson Button, breaking his Ferrari`s nose. Vettel too pitted early for changing tyres from soft to mediums and now Massa was leading the race, followed by Rosberg and his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. Webber soon was to his original fourth after making a move on Kimi Raikkonen in lap six. Vettel who joined 17th, worked his way up to fourthth by lap 12 as he passed Force India`s Adrian Sutil and Lotus` Romain Grosjean but the gap with the race leader Webber was more than 12 seconds. Sutil was holding on to his fifth strongly, behind Daniel Ricciardo and ahead of Massa but the German had not pitted by then. Vettel was going fast and fast and passed Sergio Perez in lap 21 to be behind Webber, who was to take his first pit stop. It was business as usual as Vettel took lead in lap 29. Behind him, Raikkenon comfortably passed Sutil to take third in lap 37 and the Force India driver was the only one who had not pitted as yet.
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany kisses his trophy after winning the Indian Formula One Grand Prix and his 4th straight F1 world championship at the Buddh International Circuit in Noida on Oct. 27. (AP Photo)
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