2nd March 2014

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The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 58

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Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies

AAP declares Russia third list of wresting Lok Sabha control of candidates Crimea from [ PAGE 8] Ukraine

State College of Teacher Education starts M.Ed prog [ PAGE 2]

‘Youth are the most important & Dynamic segment of population’ [ PAGE 5]

[ PAGE 9]

By Sandemo Ngullie

Morung Express News Dimapur | March 1

Stop yelling, Our Lord can hear you just fine.

President nod to Telangana bill, PR in Andhra An under privileged Indian woman who seeks alms from people at a traffic intersection walks carrying a sleeping child on her shoulders as another child accompanies her in New Delhi on March 1. (AP Photo)

nfHrcc on allegations of favouritism

DIMaPur, MarcH 1 (MExN): The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has termed the allegation levelled against it by the Kyong Lower Range Students Union (KLRSU) as unfounded. Reacting to the KLRSU press statement, wherein the NFHRCC was accused of favouritism, NFHRCC convenor, Supu Jamir, co-convenor Hokiye Yepthomi and assistant general secretary, Dr. PS Lorin on Saturday debunked the KLRSU statement as “baseless and concocted.”

The NFHRCC convened a meeting on March 1 in

Dimapur to deliberate on the charge of favouritism.

In a press conference, the NFHRCC stated that contractors, Yashitsungba Aier and P. Imty Ao were approached by the committee to take up the foothill road connectivity project “as no one from other tribes came forward” to take up the task. “Rather on the request made by the Committee, the two contractors sacrificed and took up the contract work” even though the government was yet to sanction fund for the project, it was stated.

Responding to the substandard work allegation

levelled against P. Imty Ao of Trident Enterprise, the NFHRCC maintained “the PWD (R&B) will be the competent authority to comment on this.” According to the NFHRCC, it will in no way compromise on the quality of work. While stating that the Foothill Road Connectivity project was initiated solely for the interest of Nagaland, the NFHRCC asked the KLRSU “not to confuse the Naga public” without understanding the true intent and history of the foothill road movement. Stating that the NFHRCC is open to constructive criticism, it appealed against criti-

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–Mother Teresa

Afghanistan register stunning 32run win over Bangladesh [ PAGE 12]

cising “just for the sake of criticism.”

Hinting at behind the scene lobbying, the NFHRCC stated that members representing the Lotha sector in the NFHRCC were entrusted with the responsibility to “clarify as to who is behind the press statement... and the same be clarified... within three days so as to clear the confusion from the minds of the Naga people.”

The NFHRCC further acknowledged the road widening works executed by the Diphupar Village Council and Naga United Village to make way for the foothill road.

Enrolment of elementary school children in rural Nagaland continues to be very high with 98.8% of all children in the age group 6-14 enrolled in schools in 2013 as against the national average of 96%.

This is the fifth consecutive year that enrolment levels of elementary school children in rural Nagaland have touched 96% or more, according to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) facilitated

by Pratham, an NGO working exclusively for promotion of elementary education in the country.

ASER 2013 Nagaland (Rural) which was released Saturday at Pratham/ASER Dimapur centre, showed that enrolment in private schools in the State increased from 36.1% in 2010 to 39.4% in 2013.

ASER 2013 Nagaland survey covered 10 districts (excluding Longleng), 262 villages, 5972 households, 11869 children and 255 government schools with primary sections.

The report showed that though attendance in government schools is above the national average, attendance of both students and teachers has decreased

over the years. In Nagaland, teachers’ attendance in primary schools (Standard I to V) decreased from 87.2 % in 2010 to 82.9% in 2013 while students’ attendance declined from 81.9% in 2010 to 78.4 % in 2013.

As per the report, 92.3% and 59.8% government schools in the State are following the Right to education (RTE) mandates on Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) and Classroom-Teacher Ratio (CTR)

text increased from 52.6% in 2010 to 56.4% in 2013.

However, the report presented a bleak picture on the arithmetic front as the ability of the children to solve basic arithmetic presented a negative graph. According to the report, percentage of Class III children (all schools) who can do subtraction decreased from 85.6% in 2011 to 72.2% in 2013. Similarly, percentage of Class V students who can do basic division decreased from 40.5% in 2011 to 24.6 % in 2013.

Interestingly, the reported also stated that only 28 % of the government schools served midday meals of the day of visit of the ASER team.

In conclusion, the report stated that although enrolment at the elementary levels is very high, 9.1% of age group students, from 1516 years, are dropping out.

The report also stated that facilities in government schools need a lot of improvement as compared to other states. The report also put forth challenges ahead for states to guarantee elementary education.

The report was released in New Delhi in January this year, and is now being released in the various states of India. It is an all India report with statewise sub sections.

ASER’s story of government schools in Nagaland respectively.

However, only 63.2 % schools have useable toilet facilities and more than 60% schools do not have a separate toilet provision for girls.

The reading ability among Class III and Class V students has shown slight improvement over the past years. According to the survey, the proportion of Class III students able to read at least Class I level text rose from 52.9% in 2010 to 62.4% in 2013, while those of Class V students who can read at least Class II level

Racial attacks continues in Delhi Uneasy calm on Dimapur-Karbi-Anglong border

Kohima Lotha Hoho not to allow MOGPL NE women molested by four men; student in Wokha district protestors attacked by Delhi police: NEFIS KOHIMa, MarcH 1 (MExN): The Kohima Lotha Hoho has decided not to allow the Metropolitan Oil and Gas Pvt. Ltd. (MOGPL) to operate in Wokha District as it “utterly falls short of credibility.” Also reiterating its earlier stand, which has been placed before the Government of Nagaland, the Hoho stated that “License must be issued for a contiguous area and not on pattern as reported,” and that a Licensee for Wokha District must “abide by the traditional and customary practices of the Lotha people.”

This was decided following an emergency meeting of the Kohima Lotha Hoho held on March 1 to discuss the reported decision of the State Government to issue “licenses to Oil Companies.”

This was informed through a press release from the Hoho’s vice chairman, Jonas Yanthan, and general secretary, Thunglamo Ovung. In addition, the Kohima Lotha Hoho extended its appreciation to the Nagaland Post for its “positive and investigative journalism which enables and empowers the people to arrive at a beneficial and honourable decision.” It appreciated the “action and voice of the Lower Lotha Oil & Mineral Bearing Zone Association for making the State Government and the people to know the mind and position of the affected people.” The House also discussed the consequences in the event of Wokha Oil Fields being given to companies of ill repute which lie exposed and are entangled in court litigations.

Sunday, March 2, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4

enrolment High, Performance low

reflections

NEW DELHI, MarcH 1 (PTI): The bill to carve out Telangana on Saturday received the assent of President Pranab Mukherjee who also signed the proclamation to impose central rule in Andhra Pradesh.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2014, which got Parliament’s approval on February 20 despite strong opposition from Seemandhra leaders, got the Presidential assent, paving the way for creation of the country’s 29th state by splitting Andhra Pradesh. The President also signed the proclamation to impose President’s rule in Andhra Pradesh following the Union Cabinet’s recommendation yesterday. The decision to impose the President’s Rule in Andhra Pradesh was necessitated by N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s resignation as the chief minister on February 19 as he was opposed to division of the state to carve out Telangana.

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NEW DELHI, MarcH 1 (MExN): As the dust on Nido Tania’s death continues to raise a storm, more allegations of racial attacks in India on the people of the North East have emerged. The North East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) has notified of another attack in Delhi on women from the North East, leading to a subsequent attack on students by the Delhi police who protested the same.

In a note circulated today, the NEFIS detailed the incident. It stated that two women from the North East community were sitting in a park opposite their paying guest accommodation in Vijay Nagar (close to Delhi University’s North Campus) around 10:30 when four “drunk and anti-social elements” started urinating in close vicinity to them and started indulging in obscene and lewd gestures such as displaying their private parts towards the woman. When the woman objected, the rowdy elements started beating both of them. Then they molested the girl and attempted to rape the woman, the note alleged.

Further, the NEFIS informed that when she raised an alarm, students from various North East communities living in the surrounding area gathered to show support. Police arrived shortly after the incident but instead of taking this grave matter seriously they tried to “hush up the matter in connivance with the local land lords.” Moreover they tried to make fun of the issue, thus showing the “insensitive and racial bias of the police.” This “irresponsible behavior” by the police, the NEFIS said, led to more students assembling at the location. When the students started pressurizing the police to file an FIR promptly, the police, instead of having a dialogue and taking the incident seriously started to misbehave with the female students and one of the North East women was allegedly slapped.

This led to slogan shouting from the students and to disperse the agitated crowd police resorted to “lathi charge,

manhandling and molestation.” In this, the NEFIS alleged, many students were seriously injured and one student was taken into police custody where he was beaten so harshly that he cannot move now. When more students assembled, the police indulged in stone pelting. The NEFIS noted that neither did the police have any female personnel nor any senior police officer was there to handle the matter. Furthermore the police inaction led to three of the four accused escaping police custody and only in the early morning was the FIR filed. The students who suffered grievous injuries, many with stitches and bleeding profusely were not given MLC facility, the note stated.

“This clearly shows that lawlessness, racism and crime against women was promoted by the police itself and instead of providing confidence to the aggrieved parties they harassed and intimidated the public,” stated the NEFIS. “When the SHO was questioned on this issue he replied that this was a ‘security issue’. Whose security-we want to ask? What else can explain the detention of students in police station? Whose security are the police responsible for? Don’t North East people have any access to law? Where were the police when the incident happened? Why didn’t they provide justice promptly? Is the duty of police to be hand in glove with hooligans and rowdy elements?”

The NEFIS has asserted that the North East community will meet the senior police officers of Delhi police and concerned officers in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) so that justice is provided to the aggrieved parties. The issue is not over after the filing of FIR; “we also demand that the police personnel involved are suspended for their pathetic and illegal behavior. We also demand that all the four accused get arrested immediately or else we will resort to all the democratic means available to us to ensure so,” stated the NEFIS.

DMaPur, MarcH 1 (MExN): Eight persons were arrested by the Dimapur police today along the disputed Dimapur-Karbi Anglong border. Reported to be encroachers, all the arrested were released after signing ‘good behaviour bonds,’ police said.

According to Newmai News Network, the incident happened on the Nagaland side of the border adjacent to Shankar Tila border outpost of Assam police around

8.30am today. NAP (IR) personnel patrolling the disputed border area also had to resort to firing shots in the air, it was added. The IRB personnel, while chasing away the encroachers, also apprehended eight (8) persons from the spot who were later formally arrested and taken to Dimapur. After the incident, Nagaland IRB personnel have intensified patrolling near the Shankar Tila sector to avoid any further incident.

The day’s incident on the

Assam-Nagaland border has come a day after the indefinite economic blockade against Nagaland was lifted following assurances from the district administration of both Assam’s Karbi Anglong district and Nagaland’s Dimapur district administration that they will look into the border impasse. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Tuli Ram Ronghang, and local MLA of Diphu, Bidya Sing Engleng, visited the troubled area

today and confirmed that an all weather road will be constructed along the border as a first step to improve the border situation.

Further, according to information received from sources, one person was arrested by the Assam police on the Karbi-Anglong side of the border on February 28. The person is said to have intruded into the disputed area, after which he was detained. The Dimapur police said it received no information in this regard.

chef Aketoli showcasing naga food

Winner of Naga Chef in Café Thulp, Bangalore Morung Express News Dimapur | March 1

Leading culinary expert Chef Aketoli Zhimomi is all set to showcase Naga food to the people of Bangalore from March 1 to March 7 at Café Thulp in Indiranagar. Aketoli is winner of the first edition of The Naga Chef, held in December 2013, and has been taken to Bangalore by The India Trail and Café Thulp.

“Naga Chef 2013 opened up a new opportunity for me to take our food outside Nagaland, as it should be—our food is so good!” said Aketoli, speaking to The Morung Express between her hectic schedule at the kitchen in Bangalore today as people came pouring in to try her food out.

The India Trail that was doing the round of the Hornbill Festival last year loved her food at her stall, and immediately asked her to consider this offer.

“One of the missions of The India Trail is to promote entrepreneurship in India. When we met Master Naga Chef Aketoli in Kohima in December 2013, she mentioned she was looking to start a restaurant in Dimapur. We thought this would be a great opportunity for us to promote Naga food in the rest of India while also providing her a good platform of experience to launch her upcoming restaurant next

Chef Aketoli Zhimomi hard at work at Café Thulp in Bangalore where she is showcasing Naga food, in collaboration with The India Trail, from March 1-7, 2014

month,” stated The India Trail in a press release. The India Trail is an experience focused travel company helping people discover India - responsibly. Its initial focus is in the North East of India. They take their guests to experience different trails across the region while also identifying skills and resources famous in these regions and bringing them to the rest of the country.

With a restaurant coming up near Faith Hospital in Dimapur, named ‘Ethnic Table’, Aketoli was waiting for just this to

come along. “I’m not particularly trained in this sector, so there are many things for me to learn through this, especially in the service sector which is very poor in Nagaland,” noted Aketoli, looking to answer the question “how does a professional kitchen work?” through this experience.

While she went alone from Nagaland, she was joined in the kitchen by other chefs from Café Thulp, and others, who will assist her this week.

“There is a little language problem but we’re bonded by our foodieness, so everything works out fine at the end of the day,” laughed Aketoli. Her prime motive is to innovate, create and revive Naga dishes using ingredients that are dropping out of the Naga food plate quickly.

For this, she will use bamboo shoot, anishi and axone, of course, but also a smattering of black sesame, perilla seed, tenga powder (black), mustard seeds etc. in ways only her grandmother knew. And in ways that she will create. “Many indigenous ingredients are no more in demand, so they are not produced. I want to bring these back to the table and create the demand so that Naga farmers find meaning in cultivating them,” asserted Aketoli.

She will also take a 2-hour cooking class in the afternoon of March 4 and 5 to teach the basics of Naga cooking at Café Thulp. It won’t be a surprise if the class is packed considering a crowd of non Naga people are already gulping down her popular Raja mircha chutneys at the Café!

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2 State College of Teacher Education starts M.Ed prog Dimapur

LocaL

Sunday

2 March 2014

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Kohima, march 1 (Dipr): Minister of Higher Education & SCERT, Nagaland, Deo Nukhu inaugurated the Master of Education (M.Ed) programme at the State College of Teacher Education (SCTE) on February 28.

Speaking on the occasion, Deo Nukhu said that we are in need of people who can teach the teachers and emphasized on the importance of the M.Ed programme. He said that more than fifty percent of the teachers in the State are untrained and stated

they have to be trained in the next three years in order to have quality education. He asserted that the task ahead is great and urged upon all concerned to give importance to trainings and research oriented projects.

Commissioner & Secretary, Higher Education, F.P. Solo in his speech lauded the officials concerned for making the M.Ed programme a reality and called it is a milestone achievement in the history of education in the state.

He said that teachers’ edu-

cation has come to play an important role in the State and added there cannot be quality education without trained teachers.

Asst. Prof. SCTE- Kohima, Khriezonuo chaired the inaugural function.

Welcome address was given by Dr. (Mrs) R.K. Iralu, Principal, SCTE-Kohima.

Special song was presented

by B.Ed trainees. Speeches were also delivered by M.Ed. students and Neizekhonuo, Asst. Prof. SCTEKohima. Vote of thanks was given by Runi Nakro, Asst. In this image, six year-old Dariina a student of class 1 shows a victory sign as she helps her mother selling vegetables and fruits after school and during Prof. SCTE-Kohima. holiday. She lives at Lower Jail Colony, Kohima.

Kohima, march 1 (Dipr): The Department of Science & Technology and the District Education Officer, Kohima, Government of Nagaland organized National Science Day 2014 under the theme ‘Fostering Scientific Temper’ at Little Flower Higher Secondary School (LFHSS), Kohima with Secretary, Science & Technology, Nagaland C. Nehekhu as chief guest on February 28.

C. Nehekhu said that the purpose of observing National Science Day was to popularize and to draw attention of the students.

Nehekhu stressing on the day of national science said it means to be understood and practiced including quality in decision making in science. The Secretary also read out the different themes of National Science Day for refreshing minds of

the students.

In the results of the quiz competition, first position went to Dziesevi from Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School, Tanupreet from Corragio School, Kelesetonü from Mezhür Hr. Sec. School, Monikho Simon from St. Mary’s Cathedral Hr. Sec. School.

The second position winners were Shijang from Cherry Blossom School, Pangmong from Grace Hr.

National Science Day: ‘Fostering Scientific Temper’ Sec. School, Robert from Holy Family School, Prewe Kronu from Mt. Sinai Hr. Sec. School.

The third position was bagged by Bendangkokba from Fernwood School, Meyikumla Imsong from Mt. Hermon Hr. Sec. School, Riya from Ministers’ Hill Baptist Hr. Sec. School, Lengu-ü from Dainty Buds School.

Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Physic, Kohima Sci-

ence College, Jotsoa gave a brief sketch of the life of C.V. Raman. Dr. K. Ruckmani, Director, Centre for Excellence in Nanobio Translational Research (Centre), Professor & Head, Department of Pharmaceeutical Technology, Anna University delivered lecture on Nanotechnology.

Welcome address was delivered by Dr Zavie Hiese, Senior Scientific Officer, Directorate of Science & Tech-

National Youth Policy 2014 reaches Dimapur

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Dimapur, march 1 (mExN): Initiated by Youngs Club Dimapur (YCD), Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) Dimapur today launched the National Youth Policy (NYP) 2014 & Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) under Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India (GOI) at Lornas School, Walford Dimapur.

Secretary, Education & Statistics, Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) I. James Pame Zeliang was the special guest.

President, YCD Jenpu Rongmei in the keynote address said that with the progression of contemporaries, youths are going off track engaging in dishonest activities with a means for survival or easy living. However, with NYP youths will be empowered in all youth related programs enabling youths of the country to realize their dreams. Further he said that NYP is for the youths specifically so he called upon the youths ‘to move ahead and maintain one’s balance without looking back’.

Applauding the policy implement by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports GOI, James Pame appealed the youths to make use of this opportunity and apply for

DNSU Secretary, Education & Statistics I. James Pame Zeliang (1st from left) with Principal Lornas School, Walford GB and YCD President launching the NYP 2014 & RGKA at Lornas School premises.

the scheme which will benefit every individual positively. Acknowledging youths to be ‘pillar of the nation’ he believed this policy to be basic for the growth of the youth and ask for changes in the society from youths making use of this available scheme which will empower youth of the country to achieve their full potential and through them enable India to find a rightful place.

Speaking on RGKA whose

main objective is to promote sports as a way of life among the youth and increase access to sports facilities across the country by encouraging achievement of excellence in sports, he encouraged the students to grab the opportunity and excel in the field of sports which is the most respected field among all professions.

The NYP 2014 & RGKA organized by NYK Dimapur initiated by YCD was launched in

LAYING OF FOUNDATION STONE OF

THE NAGALAND MEDICAL COLLEGE KOHIMA, NAGALAND

PROGRAMME Date Place Time

: 3rd March 2014 : Phriebagie, Kohima : 12:00 Noon

Chief Guest

Shri Neiphiu Rio,

Hon’ble Chief Minister, Nagaland Chairperson

: Smti. Banuo Z. Jamir (IAS), Chief Secretary, Nagaland

Invocation

: Dr. L. Anjo Keikung

Unveiling of the Foundation Stone : Chief Guest

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Welcome Song

: Üsou Musical School, Kohima

Felicitation

: Chairman, Kohima Village Council

Brief introduction of the Medical College

: Shri Sentiyanger Imchen (IAS) Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare.

Address

: Chief Guest

Vote of thanks

: Shri Imkong L. Imchen Hon’ble Minister, Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland

Note: The Department of Health &Family Welfare Government of Nagaland, invites Public Frontal Organisations, NGOs, Church leaders and well wishers to come and witness the Laying of Foundation Stone of the long awaited Nagaland Medical College, Kohima on this day Sd/(DR. NEIPHI KIRE) Principal Director, DoH&FW

the presence of Lornas School and Bethesda Higher Secondary School students, teachers, principal, Walford Gaon Bura’s (GB), Youth for change members, YCD and DNSU officials. Earlier the programme was chaired by James Tungoe, YCD member, invocation was pronounced by Pastor Calvary Baptist Church Neikhole Wetsah and vote of thanks was rendered by YCD member Azo Wetsah.

nology, Nagaland who also chaired the programme.

Special number was presented by LFHSS, Kohima.

The prizes to the winners were given away by Chief Guest. Vote of thanks was proposed by District Education Officer, Kohima, Senthang. Students from various schools located in Kohima took part in the daylong celebration of National Science Day.

ANIDFSJF emergency meeting Dimapur, march 1 (mExN): All Nagaland InterDepartmental Field Staff Joint Forum (ANIDFSJF) has convened an emergency meeting of all departmental central office bearers on March 5, 10:00 am at Raj Bhawan Kohima to discuss various important issues regarding different memorandum and petitions submitted to the government for W/C service regularization and ROP, but no positive response given by the government. Therefore, all the presidents, secretaries of all departmental central officer bearers have been requested to attend the said meeting positively. “The responsibilities of the defaulting department will not be entertained,” stated a press release issued by president ANPHEFSA, N Zhekugha Assumi and general secretary ANPWDFWA, K Atovi Awomi.

Skill grooming project ANSTA meeting on March 6 to be launched Kohima, march 1 (mExN): The All Nagaland

Kohima, march 1 (pTi): To commemorate 50 years of statehood, Nagaland Government's Department of Youth Resources and Sports ( DYRS) will soon launch a 'Skill Grooming Project' for the educated unemployed youths of the state. With over 60000 educated unemployed youths registered in the Employment Exchange, YRS Director, Kelei Zeliang said the department has set up Skill Grooming Academy in the Directorate and is equipped with computers and internet facility.

He said the objective is to harness the readily available resource, that is, educated unemployed and help them avail employment avenues and assist them in building a long-term career in the outsourcing industry. Under this project, he said there will be two batches while the training for the first batch will begin next week, the next batch will resume sometime in September.

He said the short term goal is to set up the academy for training and placement the candidates in reputed organizations and the long term is to establish training and hiring/ call front centre in our state in partnership with reputed off-shoring industries.

Iodine Deficiency Disorders awareness training in Tsg held

TuENsaNg, march 1 (mExN): In order to disseminate awareness on Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) its consequences, control and preventive measures, District Health Society Tuensang conducted awareness training on February 26 at CMO conference hall Tuensang.

A press release issued

by Solomon Khiam District Media Officer, DPMUNRHM, Tuensang said that representative from civil administration Tuensang,

MEx File

District Education Officer Tuensang, Chambers of Commerce Tuensang, ENWOTD and public leaders attended the training. Dy. CMO Dr. Pangjung Sangtam brief on the important of iodine, which is a micronutrient essential for the normal growth and functioning of both the brain and body. Iodine deficiency is the diet forms a group of abnormalities known as Iodine deficiency disorder.

These disorders are caused by lack of iodine

in diet, which ranges from simple goiter, mental retardation, and stunted growth of cretinism. He pointed out that it is the responsibility of every citizen to disseminate the information on Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD).

Dr. I. Temsu Longchar DPO (UIP&RCH) conducted the practical session were he demonstrated about contain of iodine in salt by using testing kit. Salt testing kits were distributed to the participant.

School Teachers Association is convening an emergency meeting on March 6 at CANSSEA Conference Hall (Sepfuzou Colony) Kohima at 11:00 am. ANSTA President Ponchulo Wanth in a press release has informed that it is mandatory for all the units and sub units office bearers to attend the meeting as many crucial/ burning issues are to be discussed and resolved in the proposed meeting. The units and sub units concerned have been directed to bring constructive suggestions for early settlement of confronting issues being encountered by the Association. Any unit/sub unit failing to attend the meeting shall be held the sole responsibility for any unresolved issues of the Association.

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CAJC requests government employees

Dimapur, march 1 (mExN): Coco Area Joint Council (CAJC) has asked all government employees under Akuhaito under Atoizu sub division to be stationed at the earliest to facilitate better functioning and working of the various departments in the interest of the public. CAJC Chairman Hokiye GB in a press relesae said that this was decided during a meeting held at Akuhaito on March 1 organised by the CAJC with all the head of departments and GBs. The meeting also decided not to allow any transfer along with post in any of the departments. It was further decided to further strengthen the working of all the departments in Akuhaito.

Core committee for SVEEP constituted

Kohima, march 1 (Dipr): A core committee for SVEEP (Systematic Voter education & Electoral Participation) for Kohima district has been constituted with the following officials: Additional Deputy Commissioner & Electoral Registration Officer, Kohima Nodal officer; District Youth Resource Officer, Kohima – Member; District Public Relation Officer, Kohima – Member; District Education Officer, Kohima – Member, Asst Election Officer, Kohima – Member Secretary.

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District education officer Peren informs

pErEN, march 1 (mExN): Deputy District Education Officer, Peren has asked all the schools and students concerned, who are yet to collect the pre-matric scholarship to come and collect it before March 7, 2014 along with supporting documents. The office will not entertain anyone after the stipulated time, the officer said in a press release.

Intellectual property rights workshop

Kohima, march 1 (mExN): The National Institute of Electronics Information Technology (NIELIT) Kohima is organizing a one day national awareness workshop on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) on March 3 at NIELIT Kohima from 11:00 AM onwards.

K. D. Vizo, ITS, commissioner and secretary IT&C will grace the workshop as the chief guest.

Fernwood School wins statehood painting competition

Kohima, march 1 (mExN): The Directorate of Art & Culture organized a painting competition on the theme ‘Nagaland-Past and Present’ at the office premises on February 27.

Students from 14 different schools participated. Altogether five paintings have been awarded Rs. 5000 each and 27 paintings have been awarded certificates of appreciation. The selected works from this painting competition will be exhibited at various places in the state to mark the 50th anniversary year of Nagaland Statehood.

Award winners of the competition are: Neikehienuo Shunyű, Class X of Fernwood School, Kohima; Lhounyűtsu Suokhrie, The winners and participants of the painting competition on the theme ‘Nagaland-Past and Class XI of Mount Hermon Present’ at Directorate of Art & Culture office premises on February 27.

Higher Secondary School, Kohima; Thangsoi, Class X of G. Rio School, Kohima; Neirűkrűnuo Mepfhűo, Class IX of North Field School, Kohima; Kezhaselie, ClassXI of Chandmari Higher Secondary School, Kohima.

Delivering the introductory note on the competition, Vilalhou Noudi, the Art Executive announced that the competition is being organized to facilitate visual rendering of different views on the state and to build up a collection of paintings to commemorate the 50th Year of Nagaland Statehood. Vevo Chakhesang Director of Art & Culture inaugurated the competition and Lepden Jamir, (Governor’s Awardee in Art) was the judge of the competition.

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REgional

The Morung Express

Sunday

2 March 2014

Dimapur

Woman 'burnt' for returning late from Rahul Gandhi meeting; probe underway Guwahati, March 1 (hindustan tiMes): A woman panchayat leader was allegedly burnt to death for returning late from an interaction with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Assam on Wednesday.

The police are yet to confirm if the death of Bonti Chutiya, a Congress ward member of Bekajan gaon panchayat in eastern Assam's Jorhat district, was murder or accident. Her husband Someswar Chutiya, a farmer, also suffered 60

per cent burns.

Both were rushed to Dibrugarh Medical College Hospital 130km east of Jorhat town soon after the incident was reported on Wednesday night. While Bonti died on Thursday, her husband was in a critical condition. "We can get to the bottom of the case only after Someswar is able to speak," a senior district police officer said.

Bonti was rumoured to have been set ablaze as a punishment for kissing Rahul Gandhi. But members of a local women's

Police deny woman killed was one who kissed Rahul Gandhi

self-help group – 600 of them interacted with the Congress vice-president – she took along said she was not among those who showered kisses on his cheeks.

"There were some domestic issues in her family, and she could have been set ablaze for returning home very late, which is not considered proper for a 'bowari' (daughter-in-law) in these parts. But then, we don't know the reasons yet," a Bekajan panchayat Women work in a paddy field in Saniadi village, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Guwamember said, declining to hati, Assam on Thursday, February 27. Agriculture is the source of livelihood for a majority of India's population with a number of festivals related to it. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) be quoted.

Guwahati, March 1 (aGencies): The police have denied that the woman, who died of burn injuries in Assam, was the one who had kissed Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi during his recent two-day state visit, news reports claimed on Saturday. A news channel quoted Superintendent of Police Amanjeet Kaur as saying that the woman who died was a Congress member, but was not present during Rahul's meet. The SP said the investigations are on.

In yet another conflicting report, a leading newspaper quoted Sub-Divisional Police officer Kulendra Deka as saying that the police have checked the video of Rahul's interaction session, but the lady in question was nowhere close to the Congress vice president during the entire event. The police officer also said that no complaint has been filed, which says the husband set her wife on fire.

Northeast govt taking Rly tracks damaged on fourth day of Dima Hasao bandh steps to promote tourism

Guwahati, March 1 (ani): The northeastern region has tremendous potential to become a tourism hub, be it through its natural beauty, rich biodiversity or diverse cultures, the region has a lot to offer.

With the gradual return of peace and normalcy, the government is now taking steps to promote tourism in the area.

Recently, a three-daylong Travel and Tourism Mart was organized in Guwahati to promote the tourism sector of the northeast.Twenty five participants from the country and foreign countries like China and Thailand set up information centre stalls at the fair.

The event gave a chance to the tourism departments and tour operators from the northeastern states to project the region as a potential tourist destination, as well as interact with participants from other parts of the country.

"The northeast is high on the priority list of the tourism ministry under the Government of India.

That is why every year we are organizing International Tourism Mart in the northeastern states," said Sanjay Shreevats, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism.

"We have organized it in Guwahati and Tawang, the next one will be in Shillong. The main purpose is

to facilitate the growth of the tourism sector in the Northeast. We have invited the media and tour operators from different countries so that they can see the Northeast and tell the entire world about the potential that the region has because of its diversity - in terms of music, food and culture," he added.

"Guwahati is growing.

Guwahati is a big potential tourism city it covers the whole 7-8 northeast states so when we do tourism activity here then we get lots of opportunity to promote tourism," said Vikash, an ornaniser.

"Our main reason to participate here is to give awareness to the people that Mizoram is a tourist destination. By interacting or by participating with the people of other country or other state of the country will give more awareness to the people," added Tluangi, Tourism official, Mizoram.

As tourism grows, the region will reap multiple benefits - infrastructure will improve, better ties will be forged with the rest of the country, more investments will flow in, and new job opportunities will be created that will reduce the unemployment in the region.

The growth of the tourism sector will pave way for greater socio-economic development of the region.

haFLOnG (assaM), March 1 (Pti): Railway tracks and bridges were today damaged in Haflong in Assam on the fourth day of a 100-hour bandh, affecting the supply of essential commodities to neighbouring states. Railway communication was completely disrupted between Lumding and Badarpur with the bandh supporters damaging the tracks near Bageter station, the police said.

Supporters of NC Hills

AMUCO demands white paper on meetings between MHA and UNC

iMPhaL, March 1 (nnn): Warning the Central Government and the Manipur Government of strong protest, the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) has demanded that a white paper on the ongoing meetings between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the United Naga Council (UNC) be brought out before the people of Manipur. AMUCO Advisor, KT Rahman, President, Y Mani Khuman, and, Vice President, W Gunindro, talking to media persons at their offices in Imphal this afternoon said AMUCO will never allowed the SupraState for Nagas, Alternative

Arrangement, or the Sixth Schedule in Manipur.

"The Government should reveal to the people on the talks between the UNC and the MHA or else the people will resort to intense agitation," warned KT Rahman.

He demanded that the State Government of Manipur take a firm stand in the ongoing legislative assembly session on the Alternative Arrangement issue. The ongoing Manipur assembly session ends on Monday. "If not the people of Manipur will start a strong agitation bigger than the June, 2001 uprising," stated the AMUCO advisor.

According to the AMUCO leader, the February 6

talk on Alternative Arrangement at Senapati involving ministers from the Manipur Government and officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs with the UNC was done much to the objection of the people. He said till date the outcome of that talk has not been revealed to the people by the state government. The AMUCO advisor further stated that the people of Manipur are in the dark on the outcome of the Indo-Myanmar border dispute talk between the Prime Minister and the all political parties of Manipur. "We demand a white paper in this regard too," stated the AMUCO leader.

PM urged to talk to Myanmar over freedom movement sites

Guwahati, March 1 (ians): With Manmohan Singh visiting Myanmar next week, the Assam branch of the All India Patriotic Forum has urged the prime minister to talk with authorities there regarding proper preservation of sites related to India's freedom movement. Manmohan Singh will be in Myanmar March 3-4.

The AIPF is taking special interest in the visit, and has urged him to take the initiative with the concerned authorities in Myanmar, where a good number of places still bear memories of the heroes and events of India's freedom movement.

"India's exiled emperor Bahadur Shah Jafar, one of the prominent leaders of the first war of independence in 1857, was buried in Rangoon (now Yangon) after his death there. Firebrand leaders Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Netaji Subhas Chan-

Indigenous Student Forum (NCHISF), which has given the Dima Hasao bandh call, also set ablaze a railway bridge near Migrendisa station under Haflong police station in Dima Hasao district.

Essential supply of goods to Barak Valley and neighbouring states of Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram were affected.

All passenger and goods trains had been cancelled as a precautionary measure since the beginning of the bandh on February 26 last, official

Improve living conditions of Assam clash victims, centre urged

new deLhi, March 1 (ians): A fact-finding team Saturday urged the central government to take cognizance of the victims of an ethnic clash who are staying in camps in Assam's Karbi Anglong and ensure accountability for the violence.

Submitting a report on the poor living conditions of survivors in rehabilitation camps after the 2012 ethnic clash, the team demanded the government to provide adequate compensation to the victims.

The group consists of journalists and academicians from the northeastern states.

"Cadres of the Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT) are creating differences among the people staying in rehabilitation camps," said Rosemary Dzuvichu, professor of Nagaland University and

dra Bose were also sent to the Mandalay prison by the British," Rupam Baruah, the forum's secretary for Assam, said in a statement.

"During World War II, the Azad Hind Fauj fought gallant battles against the British in and around Myanmar under Netaji's leadership. So, the hills and plains of Myanmar witnessed a glorious chapter of the INA's freedom struggle," he said.

The forum said India's freedom struggle also got support from the people of Myanmar. "Naturally, the sites in Myanmar related to our freedom struggle are considered pilgrimage spots by the patriotic Indians.

"Considering the importance of the fact, the prime minister should request the Myanmar authorities to do the needful in preserving the memorial sites as archives for which India should also extend necessary support."

3

a member of the fact-finding team.

The team also submitted the report to the Assam government and sought a judicial inquiry against the autonomous councils in the district, who were given money by the state government to stablise the situation.

"The sequence of happenings in the rehabilitation camps clearly states that instability in the area is something done by militants who want a separate state," Sukumar Muralidharan, another member of the team, told IANS. "Despite assurances given by the Assam government to stabilise the situation, ministers have only visited the area and made promises. So we want the central government to take concrete steps to bring peace in the camps," he added.

sources said. The bandh was called by NCHISF, demanding bifurcation of Dima Hasao into two districts and protesting over renaming of NC Hills to Dima Hasao. The bandh has almost paralysed normal life with almost all establishments remaining shut for the fourth consecutive day in the district today.

Since February 26, banks, post offices, markets, other commercial establishments and government offices were closed and vehiail Ret

cles off the roads. The bandh was marred by violence yesterday with at least 15 persons, including a lady police officer, seriously injured in a clash between police and bandh supporters at Mahur Railway station.

Yesterday's clash took place when the police tried to lift a rail blockade by agitators. The district administration has been trying to convince the NCHISF to withdraw the bandh and maintain peace.

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Date : 03rd -15th March 2014 Time : 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Venue : Om Book Dimapur, City Tower Junction STOCK CLEARANCE OFFER FOR MORE INFORMATION: 9862008081, 03860-229370

NAGALAND MULTISPECIALTY

HEALTH & RESEARCH CENTRE (NMHRC) MIDLAND DIMAPUR DOCTORS FROM INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL & EXCEL CENTRE GUWAHATI AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION ON 8TH MARCH 2014

DR.NEIL BORDOLOI MD DM Consultant Cardiologist DR.PRAKRITISH BORA MD Senior Consultant Pediatrics, Neonatology & critical care specialist For Registration Contact: 9856006026/9856006023/248302

available for hire for

Weddings and Events located at Burma Camp, Dimapur with

Ample Parking Space for 200+ vehicles.

Contact no: 09862489008.

OFFICE OF THE

SOUTHERN ANGAMI PUBLIC ORGANISATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Classes 10 & 10+2 Admission for Oct.2014. Exam is extended upto 15th March 2014. Desirous students can contact this study centre in due time.

St. Peter’s School,

(NIOS Study & Exam Centre Affiliation No.140017, Govt.of India) Near Zion Hospital, Model Colony Purana Bazar.Ph.9436808044.

St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama Extension: Community College Course

The SAPO is obligated to acknowledge all those who ensured success in the hosting of the Angami Sekrenyi 2014 on the 25th February 2014.

SAPO is grateful to the DAN Govt, Govt. Deptts, SAPO’s Frontal Organisations and Villages, Organising Committee, Programme Committee, Publicity Committee and Feast Committee.

The Angami Sekrenyi 2014 was a grand success due to the collective contribution, financially and physically by all involved.

Mhashekhol Tsükrü Gen.Secy SAPO

NIOS ADMISSION

Zedeho Rikha President SAPO

ADMISSIONS OPEN Course : Certificate Course in Tourism and Service Industry Course Duration: 6 Months Intake : 25 students Place : Development Association of Nagaland 4th Mile, Dimapur

Admission Contact:

Ph: 9615616064, 9436437544; email: stjosephc@gmail.com

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, DIMAPUR

(Under the aegis of Delhi Public School Society, New Delhi)

NAGALAND: KOHIMA

No: PD/Med.College/12-13/27/257

(Shaping the future of your child everyday) 2 ½ MILE, DAROGAPATHAR DIMAPUR: NAGALAND 797115 Phone: 03862-235930 Website: www.dpsdimapur.in email: dpsdmp@yahoo.co.in

Dated: Kohima, 1 March, 2014 st

PRESS RELEASE The Department of Health & Family Welfare would like to express gratitude to all individuals / agencies/ firms from various districts in Nagaland for the overwhelming response to the invitation for designing the logo and developing the motto of the Nagaland Medical College, Kohima, which was advertised in the local dailies on 18th October, 2013 vide No: PD/Med.College/12-13/27/4469, dated, Kohima, 17th October, 2013. Altogether, a total of 122 entries were received and screened by the Selection Committee constituted by the Department of Health & FW. The winning entry for both the logo and the motto selected by the Committee has been awarded to Mr. KEVIPUTUO TUNGOE, Peraciezie Colony, High School, Kohima. The cash prize and citation will be awarded during the foundation stone laying function to be held on 3rd March 2014 at Phriebagei, Kohima.

Sd/(DR. NEIPHI KIRE) Principal Director, Health & FW Government of Nagaland.

REGISTRATION FORMS AVAILABLE FOR Std XI BRIDGE COURSE - 2014 (Science/Arts/Commerce) Eligibility : Class X-2014 appearing/appeared students. (expecting 60% and above) For details contact school office between 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on all working days.

Principal

C M Y K

4

businEss

Sunday

Dimapur

2 March 2014

The Morung Express

Japan researchers testing Microsoft to give upgraded Windows for free? tiny ear personal computer

Tokyo, March 1 (aFP): A tiny personal computer that is worn on the ear and can be controlled with the blink of an eye or the click of a tongue is being tested in Japan.

The 17-gram (0.59ounce) wireless device has bluetooth capability and is equipped with a GPS, compass, gyro-sensor, battery, barometer, speaker and microphone.

Wearable computing is thought by many commentators to be the next big thing in technology, with products such as Google Glass at the forefront.

The device, known at the moment as the “Earcliptype Wearable PC” has a microchip and data storage, enabling users to load software, said engineerKazuhiro Taniguchi of Hiroshima City University.

Its designs are based on traditional “ikebana” flower arrangements.

“We have made this with the basic idea that people will wear it in the same way they wear earrings,” Taniguchi told AFP in a recent interview as he showcased a black

prototype.

The system, which developers are hoping to have ready for Christmas 2015, can be connected to an iPod or other gadget and would allow the user to navigate through software programmes using facial expressions, such as a raised eyebrow, a stuckout tongue, a wiggle of the nose or by clenching teeth.

The device uses infrared sensors that monitor tiny movements inside the ear, which differ depending on how the eyes and mouth move.

Because the user does

not have to move either hand, its developers say it can serve as “a third hand” for everyone from caregivers to rock-climbers, motorbike riders to astronauts, as well as people with disabilities.

“Supposing I climb a mountain, look at the sky at night and see a bright star up there, it could tell me what it is,” Taniguchi said.

“As it knows what altitude I’m at, which direction I’m looking and at what angle, it could tell me, ‘The bright star you are seeing now is Sirius´.”

Using a smartphone

to connect to the Internet would mean you could be automatically put in touch with people in faraway places who are doing the same thing as you.

“This could connect you with a person who is looking at the same star at a remote place at the same time,” enabling the people to swap impressions, Taniguchi said.

A second version of the device might be pressed into use to help relatives keep an eye on elderly family in greying Japan.

The earpiece, which could also function as a hearing aid, could monitor the wearer’s health, including their pulse and body temperature, while logging how often they eat and sneeze, offering early warning of the onset of illness.

An onboard accelerometer could tell when the user falls and instruct the smartphone to pass information to relatives, or call an ambulance based on GPS data.

Tests are being carried out in Hiroshima, with the aim of commercialising the device from April 2016.

cheNNai, March 1 (TNN): India, which has seen over Rs 59,000 crore in investments from Vodafone since 2007, has grown to become the third largest market for the company globally by revenue, said Suresh Kumar, operations director, south India, Vodafone.

"In 2007, India was at No. 10 or 11. Today, it is

third largest market for us by revenue after Germany and the UK," said Kumar. India is also Vodafone's largest market by subscribers and ranks second in terms of volume of data consumed, only behind Germany, he said.

He said the focus in the coming year, apart from the efforts to increase data

consumption, will be to enhance the number of postpaid users. At present, there are 16.6 crore Vodafone subscribers in India, of which only around one crore are postpaid users, mainly in cities.

Also, Vodafone's mobile payment service M-Pesa, which is already present in 15 circles, will be launched

in the south in 30 to 45 days, said Kumar.

In Tamil Nadu, Vodafone plans to increase 3G coverage to more than 180 towns by March, said Apoorva Mehrotra, the newly-appointed business head of Vodafone Tamil Nadu. There are 4.85 lakh Vodafone 3G subscribers in the state now.

MuMbai, March 1 (iaNS): Automobile major Tata Motors Saturday reported a decline of 35.56 percent on its total sales including exports in February 2014.

The automobile manufacturer managed to sell 39,951 units last months

from an off-take of 61,998 units in the corresponding month of 2013.

The company’s domestic sales including commercial and passenger vehicles in the month under review too decline.

The off-take fell by 39.11 percent at 35,315 units

from 58,002 units sales in January 2013.

However, the company's passenger vehicles sales grew by 6.70 percent at 11,325 units from 10,613 units. The company's commercial vehicles sales fell by 49.37 percent at 23,990 units from an

off-take of 47,389 units in January 2013.

The company's exports during the month under review grew by 16.01 percent and stood at 4,636 units from 3,996 vehicles shipped-out during the corresponding month of 2013.

The device, known at the moment as the ‘Earclip-type Wearable PC’ has a microchip and data storage, enabling users to load software, said engineer Kazuhiro Taniguchi of Hiroshima City Universit. (Photo: AFP)

India is third largest market for Vodafone

Tata Motors February sales down 35.56Percent

caliForNia, March 1 (iaNS): As Microsoft plans to wind up Windows 8.1 operating system next month, the firm plans to announce a free version of Windows in a bid to persuade customers to upgrade to latest versions. A new version, called 'Windows with Bing', could be given away at a developers' conference in April, claimed media reports.

Honda Cars sales surge over two-fold

New Delhi, March 1 (PTi): Honda Cars India today reported over two-fold increase in domestic sales at 14,543 units in February.

The company had sold 6,510 units in the same month of the previous year, Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) said in a statement.

During February, the company sold 1,235 units of its small car Brio, 6,030 units of sedan Amaze and 7,213 units of the premium sedan City.

Besides, the company sold 65 units of sports utility vehicle CRV. In addition, the company exported a total of 252 units during the month.

"We are happy to see the huge demand for the all new Honda City which has gained the leadership position in its segment from the first month itself," HCIL Senior VicePresident (Marketing and Sales) Jnaneswar Sen said.

The deliveries for the Petrol City have begun from February, he added.

"With both our car manufacturing plants in operation, it will aid in quick delivery of cars and cater to the strong demand from our customers. The excise duty reduction announced in Interim Budget last month has made all our cars even more attractively priced," Sen added.

The firm is also rumoured to be considering dropping the price or even giving away its Windows Phone software. According to media reports, "Microsoft is currently experimenting with a free version of Windows 8.1 that could boost the number of people using the operating system."

Microsoft is building 'Windows 8.1 with Bing' -

a version that would have key Microsoft apps and services. The firm has already made major changes to Windows 8 in a bid to make it more appealing to consumers.

Microsoft hopes the new system would make it easier for touchscreen users and is the same across Microsoft's phones, tablets and PCs. "Let's make it easier to start applications in

the way we are used to," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was quoted as saying in The Verge.

The firm would bring back the start button which can let you boot straight to the desktop, added media reports. Ballmer also said the firm was not abandoning its start menu, adding that it was slowly beginning to attract app developers to Windows 8.

New Delhi, March 1 (PTi): Gold prices fell by Rs 200 to Rs 31,100 per ten grams in the national capital today on sustained selling by stockists and weak global cues.

However, silver recovered by Rs 740 to Rs 47,300 per kg on low level buying by industrial units after yesterday's sharp fall of Rs 1,740.

Marketmen said sustained selling by stockists in tandem with weakening global trend as gains

in equities curbed demand for the precious metal as an alternative investment kept pressure on gold prices to trade further lower.

Gold in New York, which normally sets price trend on the domestic front, fell by 0.8 per cent to USD 1,321.60 an ounce and silver by 0.5 per cent to USD 21.24 an ounce.

On the domestic front, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity fell by Rs 200 each to Rs 31,100 and Rs

30,900 per ten grams, respectively. It had lost Rs 200 yesterday.

Sovereign also shed Rs 50 to Rs 25,450 per piece of eight grams.

On the other hand, silver ready recovered by Rs 740 to Rs 47,300 per kg while weekly-based delivery plunged by Rs 1,000 to Rs 46,360 per kg on lack of speculative buying.

Silver coins maintained a steady trend at Rs 88,000 for buying and Rs 89,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

Gold prices fall Rs 200 to Rs 31,100

public discoursE

This is the only way to stop raping the opposite sex

I

t is my second time writing about this particular subject for the good of human beings. We all are children of God and members of His family.

Rape, sexual harassment, molestation against our opposite sex has become a daily routine. It is a known fact that all such crimes are not reported and registered due to lack of communication facilities or this or that. There is no safety for women because every now and then shocking stories of rape, sexual assault, child molestation, abduction and murder is taking place rampantly.

Here, may I be allowed to mention that in front of the world, we proclaimed, "Nagaland is for Christ"

And if so why Nagas are also committing such shameful crimes like other people in the world.

According to the Ten Commandments of God serial six, "Thou shall not commit adultery." According to our Bible, even if any man looks lustfully at a pretty woman or girl he is committing adultery in his heart. Crimes against women like rape, sexual abuse of children, abduction, trafficking of women and girls are encompassing a wide range of human rights violation. Therefore, the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution should make a decision to take the strictest punishment against the culprits.

Once again I am suggesting that the culprits should be brought to the public place and "HANGED" in front of the public. If the Nagaland State adopts this dreadful and fearful capital punishment against the culprits then the issue/problem of such shameful activities would be ended forthwith.

This would also be a good lesson to everyone all over the world. Without 'Hanging' the culprits (manfolk) would continue harassing the womanfolk till the end of the world.

Therefore, "Hanging the rapists is the only way to stop the evil indulgence of raping the opposite weak sex". er.s.AsIHo JoHN (Retd) s.e., PWD, Nagaland

Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

_

LEISURE

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

SUDOKU Game Number # 2807

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2818

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

STD CODE: 03862

Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital: Shamrock Hospital Zion Hospital: Police Control Room Police Traffic Control East Police Station West Police Station CIHSR (Referral Hospital) Dimapur hospital Apollo Hospital Info Centre: Railway: Indian Airlines Chumukedima Fire Brigade Nikos Hospital and Research Centre Nagaland Multispecialty Health & Research Centre

Answer Number # 2806

KOHIMA

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

232224; Emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 228846 228254 231864, 224117, 227337 228400 232106 227607 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026

STD CODE: 0370

Northeast Shuttles

100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

O

R

Cells To sysTems

ANUS

MUSCULAR

ARTERIES

ORGANS

BLADDER BONES CAPILLARIES CARTILAGE

PLAQUE REPRODUCTIVE RESPIRATORY SKELETAL

CIRCULATORY DIGESTIVE FALLOPIAN TUBES FERTILISATION GLUCOSE

TISSUE URETHRA URINARY UTERUS

KIDNEY

VEINS

LIGAMENTS

ZYGOTE

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

A A N C N O I T A S I L I T R E F

S G E R W T V C I R C U L A T O R Y

L E E F A L L O P I A N T U B E S

E U R O P G U T E R U S T R S V W R

C C E M T O K S T N E M A G I L P

A O A Q P U A N U U R I N A R Y Y O

S P Z C R S R E S P I R A T O R Y

E I A Y A O C J Y U O N E I O O L

R E L R S G R D U E E U R E T H R A

O L T B K O T U L U N R T U E E O

C E A E D O E T I C A S D T L S D A

E R R W I N L E L T R S I E S D U

N I I O X A E E O A I A I K N A A

H G E E V E R L S T A G V M T I L N

D S S O A N U S I A B E E B E B P

ACROSS

X T M H P L A Q U E L N F I V W L

1. Clearing 6. Russian emperor 10. Vipers 14. Moses’ brother 15. Employ 16. Harbor 17. Put out 18. X X X X 19. Hodgepodge 20. Thermoregulator 22. Adriatic resort 23. Wings 24. Worn away 26. Dry riverbed 30. Fitting 31. Excavated 32. Distinctive flair 33. Sea eagle 35. Lawful 39. Nouveau-riche 41. Polish remover 43. Step 44. Audible exhale 46. Weightlifters pump this 47. Downwind 49. Born as 50. 1/100th of a dollar 51. Paroxysms of chest pain 54. Streetcar

56. Comes from trees 57. Loud 63. Dogfish 64. Ripped 65. Move furtively 66. Deliver a tirade 67. Auspices 68. Originates in 69. Border 70. Adult male sheep 71. It makes dough rise

DOWN 1. Pace 2. Whip 3. Backside 4. Gloomy 5. Colonic 6. Book of synonyms 7. One more than fifteen 8. Region 9. Reposed 10. Sorry 11. Not fluid 12. A group of lions 13. Got up 21. Bygone 25. Govern 26. Cried 27. Winglike 28. Have the nerve

29. Annul 34. Avidness 36. Pierce 37. Nameless 38. Gave temporarily 40. Biblical garden 42. Swindle 45. Temporary 48. A Christian celebration 51. Cognizant 52. Bedouin 53. Coming and _____ 55. Stodgy 58. Roman robe 59. Liturgy 60. Bright thought 61. Charity 62. Where a bird lives

Ans to CrossWord 2817

DIMAPUR: 03862-232201/101 (O) 9436601225 (OC) CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862-282777/101 (O) WOKHA: 03860-242215 (O) 9402643782 MOKOKCHUNG: 0369-2226225/101 (O) 9856872011 (OC) PHEK: 03865-223838/101 (O) 9436012949 (OC)

TUENSANG: 03861-220256/101 (O) 8974322879

08974997923

MON: 03869-290629/101 (O) 9856248962/ 9612805461 (OC)

Toll free No. 1098 childline

W

KOHIMA: 0370-2222952/101 (O) 9436062098 (OC)

ZUNHEBOTO: 03867-220444/101 (O) 9856158740 (OC)

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE

MOKOKCHUNG:

FIRE STATIONS

STD CODE: 0369

Police Station 1: Police Station 2 :

2226241 2226214

Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home: Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):

2226216 2226263 2226373/2229343

TAHAMzAM (formerly Senapati) STD CODE: 03871 Police Station: Fire Brigade

222246 222491

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LOCAL

The Morung Express

SRPUD appeals on late night lounge and disco DimaPur, march 1 (mExN): The Satoi Range Public Union Dimapur (SRPUD) today issued a stern warning to its members “from entering late night lounge and disco in Dimapur Town.”

The Union president Phukato Sumi and general secretary Khevishe Zhimo in a press release said that in the event of any unwanted incident or problem SRPUD would take strong action against the members who are running lounge and disco. The Union issued this caution note following report that some of their members were “assaulted and beaten up from lounge and disco near SP Office Dimapur.”

SRPUD also appealed to the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur and Superintendent of Police, Dimapur to take necessary steps and action against the lounge and disco. The Union also appealed to Naga Women Hoho Dimapur, NBCC, NGOs and right thinking organizations and citizens to take certain steps and measures to control “all kinds of evil practices and problems” happening around Dimapur city.

2 March 2014

‘Youth are the most important & dynamic segment of population’ TuENsaNg, march 1 (DiPr): Deputy Commissioner Tuensang, T. Mhabemo Yanthan on February 27 asserted that youth are the most important and dynamic segment of the population in the country. Speaking as chief guest at the launching programme of National Youth Policy and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhivan at public ground Tuensang, Mhabemo said that India is expected to become the 4th largest economy by 2025 contributing about 5.56% to the world Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The population of the youth of the country will be 27.05% in the age group of 15-29 years and will make a significant contribution to the economic development of the country. Mhabemo also said that, the youth must

be educated and equipped with necessary skills to forge sustainable livelihood in order to create productive youth work force that contribute to economic development. The chief guest also said that youth should emphasize

more on entrepreneurship in order to enable them to have self sufficiency and ultimately contribute to the nation.

With the increase of employment problem in the state, the youth should take keen interest

Angami youth enjoy Sekrenyi feast during Sekrenyi festival held recently at the Naga Heritage Village Kisama organized by Southern Angami Public Organization.

(Morung Photo/Chizokho Vero)

2:30 PM at PR Hill, Kohima.

Toshi Aier, IAS, additional chief secretary and finance commissioner will grace the occasion as chief guest.

Imtilemba Longkumer,

on entrepreneurship skill, Mhabemo stressed. He further pointed out that sports and recreational activities are an essential component of the growth and development of a young individual which should be integrated to formal

National Youth Policy and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhivan launched in Tuensang

NSCB Ltd new branch premises inauguration Kohima, march 1 (mExN): The inaugural programme of new branch premises of the Nagaland State Cooperative Bank Ltd will take place on March 3,

Sunday

general manager, admn/ vig, NStCB will preside over the function. Keynote address will be given by B.K. Thadani, special officer, NStCB Ltd.

education. He also said that it is imperative and important on the part of the youth to take a leading role in eradicating the enormous problem that is confronting and challenging us. The chief guest also flagged off the rally, where

thousands of students from various schools attended.

In his keynote address, John Makhabo, District Youth Coordinator, Nehru Yuva Kendra Tuensang, said that the national youth policy and Rajiv Gandhi Abhivan is being introduced for all round development and empowerment of the youths with budget target of Rs. 90,000 Crore. He also highlighted the key issues and challenges faced by the youth and elaborated on how all the stakeholders can support the youth to ensure they contribute positively to the development of the society. He added that the vision of national youth policy was to empower youth of the country to achieve their full potential and find its rightful place in the nation.

Tangkhuls celebrate Luira Phanit in Kohima

Kohima, march 1 (mExN): The Tangkhuls living in Kohima Town celebrated their seed sowing festival Luira Phanit on February 22 in the premises of Tangkhul Baptist Church Kohima with great pomp and show. A note from Ngathingkhui Yangya stated that young and old participated with their colourful traditional dresses and costumes.

The more impressive, the note said, was the displaying of different colourful dresses and costumes, different varieties of seeds, crown, spear, copper staff (especially used by women) etc on the wall of the podium in order to let the young children know the culture of the society. The events of the day were pork

eating competition and lottery. Sorei Raman, community elder and proprietor of Mount Hermon School, Kohima was the chief guest of the celebration.

The note mentioned that Luira Phanit is celebrated by Tangkhuls in the month of January/February every year to invoke blessings from God. Actual time of celebration slightly varies from zone to zone or area to area. The festival is celebrated in the beginning of the year before the seeds for different crops are sown in the field in order to get bountiful harvest.

After the festival, the village head will first sow the seeds in his field followed by the remaining villagers.

It is forbidden to sow seeds ahead of the village head,

the note added. As a result, the seeds sown by him usually sprout first.

The festival is usually celebrated for a week.

Different cultural activities/items are performed throughout the week. All villagers of all ages, young and old are mandatory to participate in the festival.

On the other hand, it said, villagers are restricted to go to their fields during the whole celebration week. If anyone is found going to his/her field within these restricted days, he/she is heavily penalised. Rules and regulations are framed by the village authority to be observed by each and every citizen of the village during the whole week celebration, the note added.

1st phase poll training Legal care & support centre launched at Longsa village march 1 portunity.

The PLVs once appoint- and Right to Information. conducted in Tuensang WoKha, (DiPr): Wokha District He also stated that ed will be given training afLimathung also in-

TuENsaNg, march 1 (DiPr): The first round of polling training for presiding officers and polling officers of Tuensang district was held at CKS hall Tuensang on February 28, 2014. Addressing the polling officers, Deputy Commissioner Tuensang, T. Mhabemo Yanthan urged upon them to perform their assigned duties with dedication, commitment and sincerity in order to conduct free, fair and peaceful election in the district.

He also said that the district has witnessed a massive

conduct of peaceful election in the last general election and expressed hope that the polling officers would be performing even better in the coming election for the betterment and benefit of the common people. He also pleaded the polling officers to carry out the 'duties and responsibilities' in a proper way in order to bring progress in every aspect. The polling training was well attended by all the presiding officers and polling officers of the district besides election officials.

Legal Services Authority organized launching of Village legal care & support centre cum seminar on legal awareness at Longsa cultural hall, Longsa Village here on February 28.

Civil Judge Wokha, Puleto while speaking at the function informed the gathering that under Wokha district, five centres have been identified for opening legal care and support centre and Longsa is the first village to have the centre. He urged the villagers to avail the op-

para legal volunteers would be appointed to assist the panel advocates in giving services. The idea is to build up a strong work force of community based Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) from among the students, members of the social organizations, NGOs, women self help groups and professionals having good character with inclinations for social services to reach out to the people who have lesser facilities for access to justice, he explained.

PErEN, march 1 (DiPr): Economics & Statistics department, Peren organised an intensive training on registration of birth and death for the ASHAs under NRHM in villages on February 25 at Peren town women welfare hall.

DSO Peren, A. Chubathung, who chaired the training, highlighted the practical difficulties faced by the department, for which he asked ASHAs to aid in the exercise as informants.

Presenting the opening remarks, Assistant Direc-

tor, Economics & Statistics, Neisatuo Puro said that a simple entry of data and paper works at the village level could have a lasting impact for planning at the centre. He further said that it is compulsory and legal as per the Act. He encouraged the ASHAs to be active and maintain records of all stillbirths etc in Nagaland.

Along with the nodal department for registration of births and deaths in the economics & Statistics department, he said that cooperation from all quarters is required for the successful implementation of the

programme. He also gave a brief background of the functioning of registration of births and deaths in the state level and district level as well.

Statistical Officer, Nyushotho Nyuthe presented an overview of registration of births and deaths. He said that the two most important events in life being birth and death, one should not ignore it. He explained in details the practical aspects of filling up of forms, maintenance of records and statistics and duties of the ASHAs to help in registration of birth.

DimaPur, march 1 (mExN): Dr. Sheila Longkumer, WHO Consultant, Dr. Lanuakum, DPO (RCH-UIP) and Dr. Obed, MO along with other medical staff continued to carry out Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) in Dimapur during Shivaratri Mela at Rangapahar on February 27. A press release informed that house to house immunization continued during the week to cover those children missed during the booth day on Sunday last.

The release stated that 109% immunization coverage has been achieved during the 2nd phase of IPPI 2014 in Dimapur district.

Dr. M.A Wati, Chief Medical Officer, has extended

his appreciation to Dr. Imchameren Jamir, Dy. CMO, Dr. Rio, state Monitoring official, all programme officers, health workers, and administrative officers for their support. He especially lauded NGOs such

as Muslim Council, Lion’s Club, Rotary Club, Helpers’ Club, Assam Rifle, Railway officials, Defense personnel etc for their constant support and co-operation in assisting the department during IPPI.

DimaPur, march 1 (mExN): Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland today asserted that “slowly but surely ACAUT movement is impacting lives and the latest declaration

by Phek Chamber of Commerce in support of 31st October declaration is very encouraging and laudable.”

A press statement issued

by Media Cell, ACAUT Nagaland said it is the business community which has boldly come forward to support the Naga declaration of One Government One Taxation and asked

the civil organizations to emulate the decisions of the business community and strengthen the ACAUT movement.

“The business community has been bearing the brunt of the taxation menace at great risk to their personal lives and businesses; the latest incident of grenade throwing by 2 unidentified miscreants at the resident of a businessman at Marwaripatti, Dimapur, is a case in point,” the release stated. “This abominable incident is not the first of its kind in Dimapur; however, we can

ensure that such intimidations do not take place provided the public support and strengthen the cry of One Government One Taxation.”

Further, the ACAUT Nagaland totally condemned the “murderous action of 1st March since it was only by sheer providence that the grenade failed to explode.” It added, “It’ll be truly unfortunate if this incident is linked to unabated taxation but it’s beyond reasonable doubt that extortion racket in Dimapur has reached epic proportions.”

Kohima, march 1 (DiPr): Directorate of Information and Public Relations organized a farewell program in honour of the retired IPR officers and staff - Serila, UDA; Vikeyielie, Assistant Director and Renthy Jamir, Assistant Director on February 28 at the IPR conference hall.

Director IPR Imokokba in his exhortation said that as the Nagaland Government order everybody would retire by either service length or age, therefore everyone should excitingly work during one’s service

tenure. He also urged the officers and staff to work sincerely to bring glory and laurel to the Department. The Director also encouraged the staff to follow good examples showed by the retired officers and staff. He also stressed that the Department is a source of their livelihood, but rather many people neglect and ignore their duties assigned by the government.

In this, he urged the staff to be sincere and regular in the office and work united.

On behalf of the establishment section and techni-

cal section, Deputy Director, Tokishe Sema and Registrar, Yeshito gave short speeches and said that the retirement of the staff is quite an achievement in their service career as they are retiring in good health which everybody cannot avail. Both the sections expressed their thankfulness to the retired staff for rendering their service tirelessly to the Department. The farewell programme was presided over

by Joint Director IPR, Limawati Ao, while invocation prayer was offered by Deputy Director, Kevizayieno.

ter which they will identify persons who require legal services and act as a bridge between such people and the legal services institutions as a medium for facilitating access to justice and for reaching out to the common people.

Resource persons for the seminar were Panel Advocate Oren Humtsoe, Limathung, Abeni Ngullie and Abemo Ngullie. The resource persons in brief spoke on topics like Motor Vehicle Act, Consumer Protection Act, Legal Aid, FIR

formed the gathering that Lok Adalat will be organised in the month of April 2014 and that all legal disputes pending in civil, criminal, revenue courts or tribunal can be taken to Lok Adalat for amicable settlement except personal cases which are non-compoundable. Legal dispute can be taken up and settled by Lok Adalats at pre-litigative stage also before the parties have entered into litigation by filing a case in the regular court.

Training on registration of birth and death Polio immunization continues in Dimapur dist

Dimapur

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MEx FILE CM to lay Medical College foundation stone on March 3 Kohima, march 1 (DiPr): Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio will lay the foundation stone of Nagaland Medical College, Kohima at 12:00 noon at Phriebagei, Kohima on March 3. The programme will be chaired by Chief Secretary Nagaland, Banuo Z. Jamir, IAS, while invocation prayer will be said by General Secretary, NBCC, Rev. Dr. L. Anjo Keikung. Welcome song will be presented by Üsou Musical School, Kohima and felicitation by Chairman, Kohima Village council. Brief introduction of the Medical College will be given by Commissioner & Secretary Health & Family Welfare, Sentiyanger Imchen, IAS. Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Imkong L. Imchen, will propose vote of thanks.

DMC fixes new pork price

DimaPur, march 1 (mExN): In view of the joint representation submitted to its office for enhancement of wholesale and retail rates of pork sale, Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) has reviewed and fixed the rates as follows: Pork (Wholesale) – Rs 130/- per kg; Pork retail (Dressed) – Rs 170 per kg; Offal (Head, hoof, intestine, liver, spleen, kidney etc) – Rs 140/- per kg. A press release issued by DMC administrator cum additional deputy commissioner, Dimapur, K Tarep Imchen informed that the above prescribed rate is the maximum amount fixed by DMC, as such, butchers have been directed to provide quality and hygienic meat to the customers. They have also been directed to hang the weighing scale at least one foot above the butchers’ table. The stall has to be dust and fly proof. No increase of price will be allowed without substantiated by genuine documents, the release stated. The additional deputy commissioner cautioned that failing to comply with the above instruction, he will be bound to take appropriate action as per provisions of Act, which may lead to imposition of heavy penalty. The rate will be enforced with immediate effect, he added.

Landowners under Purana Bazar ‘B’ Bokajan informed

DimaPur, march 1 (mExN): The Land Owners’ Union Purana Bazar ‘B’ (Bokajan) during its general meeting on March 1 at Sumi church site resolved that every landowner should take up developmental activities at their respective plot within 15 days. All the landowners and allotees under Purana Bazar ‘B’ Bokajan have been informed that failing to do so, a joint verification will be conducted on March 31, and action will be initiated upon the defaulters leading to cancellation of the plot of land concerned. It also resolved that whoever claims land under its jurisdiction with patta (Jamabandi) without NOC from the village authority would not be accepted at any cost. The Union chairman Vitoho T Yeptho and secretary Mulomo Kiho in a press release further informed that all the landowners are to attend the final verification on March 31, 2014.

PVSU condoles

WoKha, march 1 (mExN): Pongidong Village Students’ Union (PVSU) has condoled the demise of Yantangrhomo Humtsoe, the father of incumbent VDB secretary of Pongidong, Nyimbemo Humtsoe on February 25 at Pongidong Village. The Union in a condolence message expressed its sorrow and grief to the bereaved family members and prayed to the almighty to grant them comfort and solace. The union also prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.

Power department informs

DimaPur, march 1 (mExN): Executive engineer, Dimapur electrical division, Er. Moameren has informed all concerned that the department of power, office of the executive engineer, Dimapur electrical division has entrusted TATA Consultancy Services to collect data from consumer premises for Consumer Indexing.

Therefore, all the costumers have been requested to give co-operation. Further, consumers have been asked to report to the authority concerned if any person in the name of the mentioned firm collect or ask money.

Longsa Village Council meeting on March 5

WoKha, march 1 (mExN): Longsa Village Council (Wokha) has convened a general meeting on March 5 at Community Hall Longsa at 8:00 am. Therefore, all the public and members of Wokha Town Longsa Hoho, Kohima Longsa Hoho and Dimapur Longsa Ekhung have been requested to attend the meeting positively. This was informed in a press release issued by Zayio Ezung, Chairman, Longsa Village, Wokha.

RTI sensitization cum interaction in Longleng Dr. Sheila Longkumer and Dr. Lanuakum administer polio drops during Shivaratri Mela held at Rangapahar on February 27.

Civil organizations asked to strengthen ACAUT movement IPR dept bids adieu to outgoing officers & staff

LoNgLENg, march 1 (DiPr): RTI sensitization cum interaction session was held at Longleng head quarter on February 27, 2014 at Phom Baptist Christian Association Hall, Longleng. Chief Information Commissioner Nagaland, Lalhuma gave the introductory remarks and a brief PowerPoint presentation.

He pointed out that RTI Act is unlimited power of the citizen not only for individual interest, but also for the interest of common people. He also said that every citizen needs to seek information about the developmental activities through PIOs and APIOs. The programme was chaired by ADC Longleng, Wati Aier while welcome address was delivered by DC Longleng. Vote of thanks was proposed by State Information Commissioner Bukchem Phom. RTI film on ‘My Right, My Voice’ was also screened during the programme. The programme was attended by all development officials, NGOs, Phom People Council and Phomla Hoichem.

State finance commission visits Medziphema

mEDziPhEma, march 1 (DiPr): The 2nd Nagaland State Finance Commission had a meeting at ADC Dobashis’ Court Medziphema on February 28. The team led by Chairman, E.T. Sunep IAS (Retd), K. Heni, Retd. Secretary, Finance, and G.W. Lee, Retd Director, Treasuries & Accounts had an interactive meeting with the urban local bodies. The meeting was chaired by Gregory Thejawelie, ADC Medziphema. The Commission had a long session with the Administration, GBs, women leaders, town council, colony Chairmen, youth leaders and public leaders of Medziphema town. The local bodies shared their grievances and problem with the team on various issues like road connectivity, electricity, hospital services, education etc.

Sunday 2 March 2014

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Alex Owumi: I played basketball for Gaddafi When US basketball player Alex Owumi signed a contract to play for a team in Benghazi, Libya, he had no idea that his employer was the most feared man in the country. Nor did he guess the country was about to descend into war. Here he tells his story, parts of which some readers may find distressing.

I

t was a beautiful flat. Everything was state of the art and it was spacious, too. It had two big living rooms, three big bedrooms, flat screens everywhere. The couches had gold trim and were so big and heavy they were impossible to move. The door to the apartment was reinforced steel, like on a bank vault.

It was 27 December 2010 and I had just arrived in Benghazi, Libya's second biggest city, to play basketball for a team called Al-Nasr Benghazi. I had stayed in some nice places playing for teams in Europe, but this seventh-floor apartment in the middle of town was something else. It was like the Taj Mahal.

I didn't immediately notice the photographs dotted around the place - of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi and his grandchildren.

When I did, I phoned the team president - we called him Mr Ahmed - and he told me how it was. “The apartment belongs to Mutassim Gaddafi, the Colonel's son,” he said. “Al-Nasr is the Gaddafi club. You are playing for the Gaddafi family.”

Gaddafi! When I was a young kid growing up in Africa - I was born in Nigeria - Gaddafi was someone we all looked up to. He was always on the news and in the paper, helping out countries like Niger and Nigeria. I thought of him as one of the faces of Africa - him and Nelson Mandela. As a kid I wasn't really aware of any of the bad things he was doing. Maybe I was too busy playing sports.

In my first practice with my new team-mates there was a weird atmosphere. I asked the other international player on the team, Moustapha Niang from Senegal, “Why does everybody look so depressed?” And he explained it to me. “We've been losing,” he said. “They haven't been getting paid, some of them are getting physically abused. If we don't win our next game, some of these kids are going to get beat.”

A lot of the players had scratches and banged-up bruises on their arms. One had a black eye he was trying to conceal. Gaddafi's security goons would push them up against lockers, things like that - and some of these guys were not big athletes like me and Moustapha. During practice you could see some of them were just scared to make mistakes. But in any sport you're going to make mistakes, you're going to make bad plays. I can't go into a game and trust people who are scared.

The next day, we travelled to a game in Tripoli on a private jet like we were a team playing in the NBA [the National Basketball Association in the US].

That's how it was with Al-Nasr and the Gaddafi family - they got extra funding, extra millions of dollars.

But the deal was we were supposed to win - and when we lost, it was a problem.

Col Gaddafi was at that game. Before the start I saw him sitting with his military personnel up in the stands in a white dress uniform. Walking on the court was his son, Saadi Gaddafi, the man in charge of sport in Libya. We spoke and honestly, he seemed like a nice man who just loved sport.

As we were talking, I looked into the stands at his father and we locked eyes. It lasted just a moment, but my team-mates saw it and my fans saw it. We won that game by 10 points and afterwards, in the locker room, Mr Ahmed handed out envelopes, each containing about $1,000 (£600) in dinars. “From our leader,” he said.

After that game I started to get a lot of special treatment around the country because I had been personally acknowledged by the Gaddafi family. I never had to pay for food at the markets or in restaurants again. Everything from socks to a new TV and laptop - I got it all free or on a sort of open-ended loan. I never had to pay anything, not a dime. And after that game, we just kept winning and winning. I was the point guard - the captain, the conductor of the orchestra. We just kept winning and my team-mates weren't scared any more.

But we noticed that our team coach, Coach Sharif, was often sad during practice. He was Egyptian and was worried about the situation back home - by this time, the revolution there was in full swing. There were rumours that there would be an uprising in Libya, but I never really took them seriously. We're talking about a country where the leader had been in power for 42 years. Who in their right mind would cross that kind of leadership, that kind of army?

From the roof of my apartment in Benghazi I could see the whole of the city. I liked going up to the roof, especially when I was homesick and missed my family. I could really clear my mind up there.

But on 17 February 2011, at about 09:15 in the morning, I go on to the rooftop and see 200, maybe 300 protesters outside a police station across the street. A military convoy is coming closer and closer. Then, without warning, shots. People running, people falling. Dead bodies all over the ground. I'm praying, praying that this is a dream, that I will wake up sometime soon.

With these bullets flying everywhere, I'm hugging the floor of the rooftop. I am so frightened.

So many things are running through my head and I just can't think straight. After 10 minutes or so, the shooting stops and there is only wailing and screaming. I go back to my apartment and close the door. I call Coach Sharif. It takes a long time before my call is connected, but eventually he picks up. He tells me that he's on his way out of the country, back to Egypt, but that I should stay in my apartment and that somebody will come for me.

I try calling Moustapha but there is no connection.

Over and over I punch the numbers on my phone, but the networks are down. The internet is down. I sit huddled against a big metal bookcase, praying.

Every now and then I peek out the window. The crowds of men have dispersed. Instead, I see kids, kids I played soccer with on the street. They have turned into

Libyan leader Gaddafi watched Alex (right, centre) and his Al-Nasr team

The view from Alex Owumi's apartment in Benghazi

rebels now, with their own shotguns and machetes.

Regular life is over - it's every man for himself.

I watch as a little girl tries to drag her father back to their house. He's so heavy her mother has to come and help her. I can see the blood leaking from his head.

His eyes are just gone, popped out of his head. And they can't move his body. They just sit by the road, wailing.

There is a bang on my door. I open it and two soldiers ask me, “American or Libyan?” I show them my American passport and they let me go back in. I shut the door. About 15 minutes later I hear a commotion in the hallway - yelling and scuffling. When it dies down a little, I open my door to see what's going on and I see a man, my neighbour, lying in the doorway to his apartment. He's covered with blood and isn't moving. For a moment I think he's dead.

I know this man and I like him. He has a daughter, about 16 years of age, and sometimes after practice I sit with her in the hallway and help her practise English.

I hear these noises coming from around the corner of the hallway. Strange noises - crying and heavy breathing. I creep slowly around the corner and see an AK-47 on the ground. I creep further round the corner and see one of the soldiers on the stairwell with his pants down raping that little girl.

There's so much anger in me. I reach for the gun, but then the other soldier steps out of the shadows, and pokes me with his own AK-47. I think he might just pull the trigger and blow me away.

But he doesn't. He just shoos me back to my apartment, jabbing at me with his gun. I'm yelling at him in English, calling him every name under the sun, but I don't have it in me to take him on. There's nothing I can do. He closes the steel door on me and I sink to the ground, weeping, banging my head against the door. I can still hear that poor girl on the stairwell. I can't do anything to help her.

As a Christian, it's hard for me to say this, but there were many times I questioned my faith in God. That first day I just sat on the ground, crying and praying, trying my phone again and again.

There was a group of women next door who had a baby who was crying with hunger. Libyans don't tend to keep much food in the house - they buy fresh groceries every day. So I gave them most of what I had - just a couple of slices of bread and some cheese - thinking that in two or three days this would be over.

But it carried on - the screams, the sirens, the gunshots. Non-stop, 24 hours a day. My apartment was in a war zone. It was all around me, I was just a dot in the middle of the circle of the bull's-eye. I told myself that I would be rescued, that at any moment Navy Seals would come crashing through my steel door. I kept myself ready to go at a moment's notice.

I didn't go to bed, but just took short naps throughout the day and night.

The police station on the other side of the road was set on fire. The policemen climbed on to the roof, which was the same height as my apartment building. I stared at them across the street and they stared back at me.

I had no power and no water. The food I had left over was gone in a day or two. I rationed the little water I had for four or five days, then it was gone. So I started drinking out of the toilet, using teabags to try to make it more palatable. When I needed to go to the toilet, which wasn't much, I would urinate in the bathtub and defecate into plastic bags, which I tied up and left by the door.

I realised that if I didn't do these things I wouldn't survive. Three or four days after the massacre I had seen from the roof, a building across the street collapsed. The next day, the Libyan Air Force started dropping bombs all over Benghazi as they tried to retake the city.

I thought - I have those couches with gold trim but I can't eat this gold. These flat screens are not going to feed me. Everything in this apartment is worthless. The things that we take for granted as human beings - water, a bit of cheese, a slice of bread - suddenly these things felt like luxuries, luxuries I didn't have. I was getting weaker every day, slowly starving.

When the hunger pains got really bad, I started

Alex Owumi

eating cockroaches and worms that I picked out of the flowerpots on my windowsill. I'd seen Bear Grylls survival shows on TV and seemed to recall that it was better to eat them alive, that they kept their nutrients that way. They were wriggly and salty, but I was so hungry it was like eating a steak.

I started seeing myself, versions of myself at different ages. Three-year-old Alex, eight-year-old Alex, at 12 years, 15 years, 20 years and the current, 26-year-old version. The younger ones were on one side, and the older versions on the other. I was able to touch them and I talked to them every day.

And I noticed that the younger Alexes were different, happier somehow, than the older versions, who seemed to have lost their direction. I asked the younger Alexes: “What happened? How can I get back to that happiness? How can I get my life back on track?” I asked them, “What made me make bad decisions?”

Twelve days after I shut myself away in my apartment, my mobile phone rang. It was Moustapha. “My brother, how you doin'?” he said. I told him I wasn't doing too well. He was stuck in his apartment on the other side of the city, too. And he told me that my girlfriend, Alexis, had called him from the US, frantic with worry about me.

When we spoke again the next day Moustapha told me that our team president, Mr Ahmed, had promised to get us out of the country. We had to make our way to his office - it was only two blocks from my apartment, but I wasn't sure how I would get there. “I will see you or I won't,” I told Moustapha. “I will make it or I won't.”

I was so weak that it took me about 15 minutes to climb down the seven flights of stairs in my apartment building. Out on the street I saw the empty shell cases that had been fired at the crowd two weeks earlier. I picked one up and thought, “Did this go through a human being?” They weren't like handgun bullets - they were the sort of thing that could take a limb off.

Then I saw those same kids I had watched from my window, the ones I had played football with - one had an AK-47 that was almost bigger than him. They recognised me and called out: “Okocha!” They called

me that because they thought I looked like Jay-Jay Okocha, the Nigerian footballer. These kids saw my legs start to buckle and they raced to grab my arms.

Two of them took my arms and I made them understand where I needed to get to.

They basically had to carry me for about a mile.

We went the long way, down backstreets and alleyways. Sometimes they would break into a run, and sometimes one of the kids would shout and we all stopped dead and looked around. At my team president's office, Moustapha and I hugged, and Mr Ahmed told the two of us, “I could get you out of here, but it's going to be very dangerous.” He said it would mean a six-hour drive on a long desert road to the Egyptian border. Just a few days earlier, he had hired a car to take a Cameroonian footballer to the border. But this footballer had panicked at a rebel checkpoint and made a run for it across the desert. He had been gunned down.

Moustapha didn't want to do it but I managed to convince him. And all the time we were talking it over, I was stuffing my face with cakes and drinking bottles of water. It gave me enough energy to get back to my apartment on my own two feet, accompanied by my band of miniature warriors.

I packed a small suitcase and at about 02:00 a car horn beeped outside. It was our car to Egypt - a tiny vehicle with Moustapha - all 6'10” (2.08m) of him - already jammed into the front seat.

Fifteen minutes outside Benghazi we got to our first checkpoint - rebels searching through our stuff, throwing our clothes on the floor, looking for our passports.

As black men, we were suspected of being Gaddafi mercenaries trying to escape the country.

At one point the rebels, guns in hand, kicked the legs from under Moustapha. I thought he was going to be gunned right down in front of me. The driver kept telling them, “They're just basketball players, they're just basketball players.” But there was so much turmoil, so much death around the city, that people didn't believe anything.

By the grace of God they finally let us go. But there were another seven of those checkpoints, and instead of it being a six or seven-hour journey, it was 12 hours because we had to stop so often. We were searched and kicked to our knees so many times, thrown in the dirt. It was rough - and if I ever see that driver again I will give him all the money in my pocket.

We crossed the Egyptian border and after three days in a refugee camp, I could have begun the journey home to the US. But while I was waiting at the border for the Cairo bus to leave, I got a call from Coach Sharif. He told me: “I want you to come to Alexandria, stay with me and my wife, and get yourself back together, talk to us.”

I thought about it and realised that I needed some time - I didn't want my family to see me the way I was.

So I said goodbye to Moustapha and took the bus to Alexandria.

When Coach Sharif saw me, he shook his head, saying: “This is not the guy I've come to know. This is not him.” I looked different - the pigment on my face was discoloured, I had hair all over my face. My teeth were rotten brown, my eyes were bloodshot red. But it wasn't just that. He basically saw that my soul was gone. And he said, the times I saw you happy were when you played basketball.

So while he and his wife took care of me, he got me involved with an Alexandrian team called El Olympi, coached by one of his former players. And it wasn't about the money any more, I didn't care about that. The big thing was being normal again.

I had a check-up before I started playing and I found that that fortnight without food had killed my body. Being a professional athlete, my body was used to a highcalorie diet. My liver was messed up, my lungs were bad, my blood was not right.

But I played anyway. El Olympi wanted me to help them make the playoffs, but we ended up winning 13 games in a row and taking the championship. It was amazing.

That decision to play the rest of the season in Egypt was a lot for my mum and my girlfriend to take, though.

When I went home and saw my father again I shed tears. He was in a diabetic coma. Had he gone into this coma because I didn't want to come home, his youngest son? I felt very, very guilty. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. I would shut myself at home for 15 hours with the blinds closed. I didn't shower. My girlfriend, Alexis, would come home and find me like that and it took a toll on our relationship. I got a lot of treatment, a lot of therapy. But I was raised in the Catholic church, and I found going back to church was a way back to my regular self.

As for my old team-mates in Benghazi, there was nowhere for them to go, no way for them to escape. A lot of them had to fight in the war. I am still in touch with one of them and with Moustapha, who I speak to about once a fortnight. I saw him last summer and gave him the biggest hug in the world. We're partners for life.

I have tried very hard to get in touch with that girl who lived across the hallway from me in Benghazi. I've found nothing, just nothing.

I was trying to forget about everything that had happened to me. But my family convinced me that I needed to get my story out there, so I wrote a memoir, Qaddafi's Point Guard. Doing that was hard - there were a lot of tears.

I don't regret going to Libya. In life, just like in basketball, you're going to make mistakes, you're going to make bad plays. But God has a plan for everybody - you could go left, you could go right, you're going to end up on his path at the end of the day.

My girlfriend and I are still together, and after a break from the game, I am playing again, this time in England, for the Worcester Wolves. My team-mates don't really know how to deal with me. I still get depressed just like that. In a minute, I go from happy to sad. I am liable to snap at people. They just leave me alone and I'm grateful for their understanding.

When I close my eyes I relive moments from 2011. I see faces, I see spirits. So staying awake is my best bet.

I only sleep for four hours and by 08:00 I'm excited to go to practice. Basketball is an escape for me. The only time I get to be calm is in those 40 minutes of a game.

I do get really bad anxiety attacks before games, though. My hands get sweaty and start to shake. I can't breathe, I can't function. Sometimes I can't leave the locker room. People look at me and say, “Woah, this dude is so crazy.” But that's normal for me now. That's normal life.

(Source: BBC News. Alex Owumi was speaking to the BBC World Service programme Outlook.)

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.

FAITH LEAF

SunDAY

THE MORUNG EXPRESS 2 March 2014

www.morungexpress.com

7

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES, MESSAGES, POEMS & SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

go door-to-door to find Study theology out of Nagaland: Gunmen and execute Christians in Libya DOiNG iT RiGHT OR WRONG S

T

he scope, ‘out of Nagaland’ here would mean mainland India. At first glance, this write up may seem extraneous and irrelevant in the popular populace. I would plea, linger longer, you won’t regret to know what you will read, it can save a life (spiritual), a whole heap of money, the spiritual degradation of some churches, and a sabotaging deception. This read will serve and succor you if you, a sibling, a relative, a friend, a church member is aspiring to do theology out of Nagaland. I bet you fit into one of them because the statistics of Nagas strolling across each year to do theology is overwhelming, evidently in terms of hundreds if not a thousand.

Doing it Wrong In 2011, there was this clique of young enthuse wannabe theological students roving on rail from Dimapur to Chennai, Coimbatore, and Bangalore. I could outguess their gust of delight, their exceeding excitement, their pride of progress, and their wild crazy curiosity about the new world they would blend in. Long story short, as I set in train to confab with them, my initial inquisitive query was where they were going to study. No wonder, they had superficial answers, none among them had a calling letter or a confirmed admission from a College or Seminary but they were just going hoping some Seminary will admit them. I bid my byes to them wishing them the best in their venture. But I was saddened as I saddled away from them. You may wonder now, why was I saddened? Stay tuned, the facts below will disheartened you too about such theologians.

• No Seminary worth their salt will admit them, a week before the new Academic year much less the accredited Seminaries.

• On rejection from good Seminaries, they will run hither, thither and yon desperate for any admission because they cannot handle the embarrassment of going back home to their family, church and friends who profited so much pride in them.

• Upon no choice, they run into Seminaries which welcomes them. Mind out your mind! Such Seminaries does the dog and pony show and will not hesitate to play down and dirty.

• Such Seminaries will have them to pay arms and legs to be admitted and to get through with a degree. There is nothing betwixt, between and beyond the student and the professors or Seminary; no discipleship, no devotion, no vision, no missions, what-

T

here’s a story about a little boy who was very poor and needed shoes.

He was standing in front of a shoe store, barefoot and shivering with cold.

A woman approached him and asked him why he was standing there, looking through the window. He told her, Well, maam, I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes. The woman took the boy into the store, washed his dirty, bare feet and put new socks and shoes on them. The boy was so touched by her compassion that he asked her, Maam, are you Gods wife? He assumed if she showed him that kind of love, she must be related to God. This story is one of the best examples of what it means to walk in love. And our goal as Christians is to show Gods love so people see Jesus shining through us.

It Starts with Communion Matthew 26:26 (AMP) says, Jesus took bread and, praising God, gave thanks and asked Him to bless it to their use, and when He had broken it, He gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body. Its interesting to see here that Jesus blessed the bread, broke it, and then gave it to the disciples. We usually refer to this scripture when we have communion to remind us of the sacrifice He made for us. And just as He gave His life and was broken for us, we must be broken so we can live for Him.

Mezhiisevi Mark Ziitso

My nous on Nagas and the Bible

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The writer is currently doing his Master of Theology (Th.m) majoring in Biblical Theology in Asian Christian Academy and also works with Christ in Youth Team, Kohima.

soever. Pay and pass, period.

• Their academics apparently would not be up to par. They classes are as irregular as the electricity in Nagaland as there are no proper faculty.

For worst, in addition to their irregular classes, there will be ten twenty students attending the class through the year. But lo and behold! On graduation day, the students are multiplied, there will be hundred students graduating for the same degree. The other unknown students just bought the degree. They have three rules in the Seminary and they are; money, money and money. Only money matters.

• If worst comes to worst, such Seminaries have their library, classrooms, chapel, cafeteria, dorms (both boys and girls), quarters for faculty in one single rented building. Crumbing heck!

I ran into many Nagas in such Seminaries. They are not proud of their school.

Most of them are embarrassed to even tell they are studying in such Seminaries. I get piqued on the thought that Nagas are in those theological dumps. Such Seminaries fritters their faith away. Their passion, their zeal, their visions are eventually disturb and distort in dribs and drabs finally to dump them deep down in the dumps.

Deceptive of all, their parents and church back home pays a king’s ransom thinking their child is studying in the city getting very good education. Alas!

Doing it right We know Jesus is coming soon, may be very soon, but that doesn’t necessitates or even mean the good Lord wants a person to go hustle and bustle in pursuit of a theological degree without using one’s

noodle and to go off half-cocked ending up in a seminary mention above which is not up to snuff. A person decides to do theology and that is not the end of story rather it is the beginning. A good standard accredited Seminary is the need and that is not a hop, skip, and a jump ahead rather it goes miles just to get admitted. Here are some standard procedures and insights to get admitted in a standard Seminary: • Start hitting the bricks in the streets for information about the city and the Seminaries in and around it.

• Two places that can guide or misguide are; Christian magazines and older theologians or alumnus as in a pastor or leader. Magazines have the best possible picture of the Seminary, which can be and is superficial. Can’t trust them and don’t. The alumnus or leader graduated from a certain seminary in the 1990’s when the Seminary had its glorious days suggests the aspiring ones to the same Seminary. In some case, the problem with that is, Seminaries doesn’t stay the same forever.Some of them did great in the past but are hardly running today.Many Seminaries have worn out, gone are the days when they were the best.

• To be on the safe side, try to get in touch with a theological student who is studying currently in the Seminary or city where you want to study. Get solid up to the minute facts from him/her.

• Be wise as the old owl; Take the trouble to go down to the last details on the Seminary academics. Start with the Professors, library, and campus.

You may also want to know about

The Beauty of Brokenness Joyce Meyer

We dont like to think about God breaking us, but its really a wonderful thing. See, when were born again, the seed of Gods nature all that He is is planted in our spirits. This means we have what it takes to be like Jesus and love others the way He loves us. But we all need God to do a work in our souls for us to be able to walk in love.

Each person is a tri-part being with a spirit, soul and body. When we accept Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our spirit. First Peter 1:23 (AMP) says, You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God. And 1 John 3:9 tells us that as believers, His nature abides in us, His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within us (AMP).

But we have to grow spiritually for our soul mind, will and emotions to be molded into the image of Christ. We dont need to pray for God to give us love because we already have His love in us. We need to pray for Him to show us how to walk in love for God to do whatever He

My Life before I Found Christ "When the clock strikes 10, I will chop you down and kill you," said the rebel holding the big machete. And there I was hands and feet tied, facing my executioner in a little dirty hut deep in the jungle of communist rebel territory. As tears poured down my cheeks, I reflected back on my life and how I got into this horrible situation.

I grew up in the northern region of Myanmar (formerly called Burma). As a married business man, I owned a lumber mill and my trade was dealing with teak, making wooden altars for Buddhist idols and spirits. Myanmar is a country rich in teak and the vast majority of the population is Buddhist. So it was a great match and a very profitable business.

I became rich and spoiled. My life was consumed with spending money on whatever I desired and doing whatever I enjoyed. By the time I was 27 years old, I was already a full-fledged alcoholic. I gave no thought to religion or spiritual beliefs other than that they were a bunch of stories told to scare people and keep them in place.

During that time, the political climate in my country was unstable. There were communist rebels who clashed with the government often near the borders.

There were rebel camps in the outskirts of the region where I was living, which was close to the China-Myanmar border.

It was a dangerous place but I managed

needs to do in our lives so His love can flow through us to others. When we do, He will deal with whatever is in us that is standing in the way: pride, unforgiveness, selfishness, insecurity, fear or any other ungodly attitude or behavior.

How Brokenness Works I know what its like to be broken and molded by God. I used to have so many problems, and I was hard to get along with and harsh. There were a lot of things I didnt understand because I had been mistreated, and I thought it was good to be hard and not let anyone push me around. I believed everyone else had a problem, not me.

I remember praying so diligently for God to change my husband, Dave, because if he would just be the way I wanted him to be, then I would be happy. But one day God spoke to my heart so strongly and said, Dave is not the problem. My response was, Well, who is? Its just me and him. What do you mean Dave is not the problem? It was devastating to realize I was really the problem, but it was also the beginning of a beautiful work

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your area of interest/subject. Different schools has different emphasis, you don’t want to be in a Missions emphasized school when you are interested in Biblical Studies even though they still may have Biblical Studies.

It is vital to glance through the Statement of Faith of the Seminary because at times it may be radically different from the particular denomination you are in. It can affect your study later on.

Watch out for the Seminaries where they offer all the degrees available in the world. No Seminary can afford that. The clichés applies, “jack of all, master of none.”

If homework on the above mentioned are done, time to pick and choose to apply.

Seminaries in India typically take new students in summer (May to June).

Note this, the application process starts before that, usually in spring (Jan – March). Visit their websites for the forms and more information.

One has to go through the process of applying with the application form with multiple reference forms from Pastors and leaders. When that is cleared, an entrance is inducted in the Seminary or in centres around India (depends on the Seminary). Only when a person clears the entrance then is admitted for the program.

As a side note, it is better and safer to have a Bachelor of Theology or some preliminary study first in Nagaland for context, doctrine and practise and pursue to go out after that.

Conclusion I have no liking to lampoon any Seminary in my write but I have seen many many many Nagas each year coming for theology, ending in bad Seminaries as mentioned. Education in bad Seminaries is one main cause for bad theologians back home. I am talking about those theologians who have no vision, no burden, no mission, no zeal and no idea about how to do things in the church. They stammer at every prayer and stumbles at every sermon. Had they been trained in a good Seminary? It would be different. They can, actually with the same money and time they spend in that bad Seminary. Their only mistake was they chose the wrong Seminary because they didn’t care to do proper homework beforehand. My only plea here is when anybody aspires to do theology, be wise in choosing the Seminary.

All the aspirant theologians, Blessings!

God wanted to do in me.

Isaiah 64:8 (AMP) says, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay and You our Potter, and all are the work of Your hand. When I was hurting and hard to get along with, I really loved God and wanted to live for Him, but I had to give Him control so He could mold me into His image. I had to give Him me! I began to pray things like, God do whatever You need to do in my life to change me. Im the clay and You are the Potter. Romans 8:29 says you foreordained me to be molded into the image of Jesus, and I want to be everything You want me to be.

The journey hasnt been easy, but I can honestly say that the hardest times in my life became blessings because God used them to bring me close to Him so I could really know Him and make me grow spiritually. Thats His plan for all of His children.

I want to encourage you today to spend time with God and search out the promises He has for you in His Word.

Trust His wisdom and do what He shows you to do. As you put your faith in God to break you, mold you and make you what Hes created you to be, the Potter will make you an amazing work of His hand!

Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored 100 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and God Is Not Mad at You (Hachette).

even Egyptian Christians have been found horrifically murdered just outside Benghazi, Libya on Monday, according to local security officials.

Gunmen reportedly went knocking door-to-door hunting down the Christian residents, mercilessly executing any Jesus-followers they found.

"They were killed by headshots in execution style. We don't know who killed them," a police officer told Reuters. Witnesses have described that the gunmen went door-to-door, asking residents to identify themselves as Muslim or Christian, before dragging the Egyptian Christians away.

This is the second "execution-style" killing of 2014; in January, the bodies of a U.K. man and New Zealand woman, who had been shot, were found on a beach near Tripoli, the nation's capital. Benghazi is known to be a volatile location where "assassinations, kidnappings and car bombs are common and Islamist militants are active."

Ronnie Smith, an American Christian chemistry teacher was shot and killed in Benghazi in December while jogging. In March of 2013, 100 Christians in Libya were detained and some tortured by Islamist militias, who accused the group of proselytizing. A week later, Islamists burned down a Coptic Christian church. According to Christian persecution advocacy group, Open Doors, conditions were "extremely harsh" for Christians under former Libyan ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi and the "feared and omnipresent secret police made sure restrictions on church activities and distribution of literature were enforced and evangelism criminalized."

Yet since the Libyan government was overthrown, Open Doors estimates that nearly 75 percent of the Christians have fled the country. Libya is home to over 300,000 Coptic Orthodox Christians. There are approximately 160,000 Copts in Libya, many of whom have roots in Egypt.

Copts make up roughly 10 percent of Egypt's 80 million population.

Gov't persecution of Christians in China worsens significantly

C

hina Aid Association revealed in its annual Persecution report that persecution of Christians in China continues to rise, with house and urban churches being some of the main targets. According to the statistics, government persecution in the world's most populous country, where Christians make up only 3-4 percent, "worsened significantly" in 2013. Persecution rose by 38.82 percent since 2012.

"House churches in China had a difficult year in 2013, but we won't lose heart. Oppositely, only in such circumstances can churches be constantly purified, free of blemishes, mature and strong, and prepared for even greater mission," said Bob Fu, founder and president of China Aid. "When political regimes and figures, one by one, sink into the long river of history, Jesus Christ's Church stands tall and firm, and like it was 2,000 years ago; even the power of Hell cannot triumph over it."

The detailed 2013 report noted that persecution has manifested itself under the aim "destroying Christianity's accumulated social cultural capital," something which is in danger of becoming a long-term guiding principle for the Chinese government. The Texas-based nonprofit organization reported similar results in 2012, noting that there was an uptick in government persecution for the seventh consecutive year. In total, ChinaAid said that it documented 143 cases in 2013 where 7,424 people were persecuted. Of the different categories it looked at – including the total number of persecution cases, the number of people persecuted, the number of people detained, the number of people sentenced, the number of abuse cases and the number of people abused – all but one increased between 2 and 50.9 percent. Only the number of abuse (verbal, mental, and physical abuse and torture) cases fell, by 42.9 percent since 2012.

Other persecution watchdog groups like Open Doors note a moderate level of persecution in China. In the group's 2014 World Watch List, China was listed as number 37 on the list of countries where Christians are most persecuted, keeping its same rank from 2013.

"The Communist government continues to keep a close watch on Christian activities. Some churches are state-approved and controlled, some are illegal and the state fights against them, and the majority are not registered, but tolerated," Open Doors writes.

Abducted by rebels in Myanmar-how I was born again to stay out of their affairs.

That is, until the day I will never forget.

The Day I will Never Forget The most dreadful day in my life was when I was 37 years old. I was still enjoying a profitable business and drinking whenever I could. But on that morning, armed rebels stormed into my house and before I could even figure out what was going on, they abducted me. They took me to their camp deep in the jungle and put me inside a little hut where they tied all my limbs from behind. I was terrified and I couldn't move.

The rebels said that I was a government spy and that I would have to pay for it. I had done nothing they accused me of but nobody listened to me no matter how much I tried to plead my innocence.

That was when the rebel told me he was going to chop me down and kill me with his machete at 10 o'clock that night. I had never been so frightened in my life. My hands and feet hurt, I couldn't move and I was going to be executed for something I did not do.

I was struggling with all my strength but to no avail. I felt so helpless and in my despair I was wailing loudly like a madman, with tears flowing down my cheeks.

Rev Hlaing Win Aung (Myanmar) There was no witness, nowhere to appeal, no judge or jury. I was about to be executed in the middle of nowhere. The worst thing was the feeling of abandonment and helplessness. There was no help around. Nobody believed me. I was powerless and alone in the hands of the rebels, deep in the forest, just waiting to be killed. It was the saddest, loneliest and scariest time in my life. All I could do was scream and cry over and over.

At 1 pm, three rebels arrived at the camp on horseback and heard my screaming. One of them came up to the hut where I was detained and asked what was happening. After he listened to my story, he said "Ask Jesus for help.

He will set you free". I had never once prayed in my life and didn’t know how to so I asked him to pray for me, but he said that he didn't know either. However, he believes that Jesus listens to everyone and answers their prayers.

He said "Just pray, he will answer."

Then he left.

There was something strange about his words and I felt something growing inside of me. It was like I saw a dim light of hope. Then I started to pray. I muttered "Jesus." Then again I called a bit louder, "Jesus,

please help me out". My voice became louder and louder and I can’t remember how many times I prayed with all my heart.

An hour later, two rebels from another village came to me and asked my name.

They started questioning me. They started doubting that I was the right person. After asking me many questions, they found out I was not the person they were looking for.

After much back and forth, they finally set me free at 7 pm, 3 hours before my execution time. At 10 pm that night, I was lying in my own bed, instead of being chopped down in the middle of the woods by the rebels. And I thought to myself, it's a miracle.

My New found Life I had many questions in my head after that day I escaped the clutches of death.

"Did Jesus really answer my prayers or was it a coincidence?"

Five months after that frightful experience, I got a letter from my mother. This was a surprise because I hadn't talked to her in eight years. I had cut ties with her years ago but here was a letter from her. She was living in Yangon, my hometown, and so I decided to visit her.

In Yangon, I thought about the nagging question in my head again. Were my prayers

(Source: Christian Post)

heard or was it a coincidence? I wanted to know the answer. So I visited many churches, listened to sermons and heard the word of God. On the 3rd February 1982, I was baptized after believing in Jesus. Later I went to Bible College and got a Master of Ministry degree in 1987.

My life had completely changed. I was travelling throughout the country, spreading the Gospel and building many churches.

While I was travelling around, I met many suffering children most of whom were orphans. I brought them to my place and established an orphanage home. Now there are 70 children under my care. It was not an easy job but I managed with the help of some volunteers and donors. God is always with me whenever I face difficulties.

Now I am 67 years old, three of my children are missionaries and many missionaries were born from my orphanage home. I think back to that life changing day where I asked Jesus for help and what has happened since is indeed a miracle.

"His mercy endures forever-- I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. ’’ Psalm 118: 4-18.

God’s mercy does endure forever. And He offers His mercy to everyone who calls to Him. Are you in a frightening situation like Hlaing Win Aung--maybe not that drastic, but frightening never the less? I encourage you to call on Jesus with your whole heart.

He will listen and hear you.

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

Sunday 2 March 2014

The Morung Express

Centre seeks recall of Supreme Court verdict on commuting death sentence New Delhi, March 1 (iaNS): The central government Saturday moved the Supreme Court seeking recall of its verdict holding that inordinate, unexplained and unreasonable delay in deciding a mercy petition by the president was a ground for commuting a death sentence to life imprisonment.

The court had held that in deciding the mercy petition, there could no distinction whether the death row convict was sentenced under normal penal offences or under the provision of anti-terror laws.

The review petition said that the court ought to have taken into account the decision of the Constitution bench upholding

separate machinery for the trial of offences under anti-terror laws.

The centre has said the president’s decision to reject mercy petitions could not have been interfered by the court as the same was not subject to judicial review. It said the court could not have substituted life imprisonment for the death sentence while exercising its power of judicial review over the president’s decision to reject mercy petitions.

The centre in its review petition said that if the court was of the view that the mercy petitions were not properly considered, then the same could have been returned to the president for reconsideration. The petition to recall

the Jan 21 verdict said the president or the governor were not required to spell out any reason for deciding mercy petitions either way.

The centre said the scope of judicial review was extremely limited and ought not to be exercised except on the grounds of malafide, political expediency, extraneous factors, undue haste and non-applicability of mind to the material available before the president.

Contesting the jurisdiction of the three-judge bench to decide the issue, the centre’s plea said the grounds set out in the Jan 21 judgment involved the interpretation of the constitution and the same could have been done by

the five-judge bench as spelt out under article 145.

The government said if a mercy petition is pending decision with the president, the court could not have passed the order of remission and all that it could have done was ask the president to decide the mercy petition expeditiously.

“In fact, the court ought not and could not have ordered even in pending mercy petitions that the petition should be allowed or convert the death sentence to life imprisonment,” the review petition said.

Besides delay, the court had also held that insanity, mental illness and schizophrenia could be the grounds for seeking com-

muting death sentence to life imprisonment. The apex court by its Jan 21 judgment commuted the death sentence of 15 convicts to life imprisonment on the grounds of delay in deciding their mercy petitions by the president.

In the case of 13 death row convicts, it was on account of years of delay in deciding the mercy petitions and for two convicts, it was mental illness. This judgment was relied upon for commuting the death sentence of three key conspirators in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to life imprisonment and was also cited by a 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict seeking commutation of his death sentence.

cheNNai, March 1 (iaNS): The centre’s sanction to field trials for around 200 genetically modified (GM) food crops, including paddy and wheat, is equivalent to killing Indian agriculture with acid, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said Saturday.

He said the centre’s decision is an attack on fed-

eralism as agriculture and health are in the concurrent list of the Indian constitution. He also said the decision to allow field trials of GM crops has been taken without consulting the states.

In a statement issued here, Ramadoss said the earlier two union ministers for environment - Jairam

Ramesh and Jayanthi Natarajan - had opposed field trials of GM crops in India.

He said a parliamentary standing committee on agriculture too had warned that GM crops would threaten health, seed sovereignty, food security and farm livelihood and an urgent decision on this subject should not be taken.

Ramadoss said a technical committee appointed by the apex court too had said that sanction for field trial for GM crops should not be given before the setting up of a sectoral regulator.

He said 256 scientists, including some Padma awardees, had recently written to the Prime Min-

ister Manmohan Singh urging to ban GM crops.

According to Ramadoss, the union Minister for Environment and Forests M. Veerappa Moily by allowing field trials of GM crops has turned Indians into testing rats and India as the multi national seed companies testing laboratory.

New Delhi, March 1 (iaNS): Observing that the RTI Act was intended to be a “formidable tool” in the hands of responsible citizens to fight corruption and bring in transparency and accountability, the Delhi High Court has cautioned “not to misuse” the Act by impractical demands for disclosure.

Justice Manmohan said the Right to Information (RTI) was a “cherished right” and seeking answers to “meaningless and vague queries” would adversely affect the efficiency of the

administration and result in the executive getting bogged down with non-productive work of collecting and furnishing information.

The high court was hearing a plea from the external affairs ministry challenging the order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) for imposing a cost of Rs.25,000 on the ministry after it failed to supply information within the prescribed time.

A man named Praveen Gupta had sought information from the ministry

on steps taken to improve Hindi language, steps taken to make Hindi the national language, and what kind of work was being done by ministry in Hindi, among others.

Hearing the ministry’s plea, Justice Manmohan said the primary duty of the ministry officials is to maintain good diplomatic relations with countries and to promote and protect the political and economic interest of India abroad.

“If the limited manpower and resources of the ministry are devoted

to address such meaningless and vague queries, this court is of the opinion that the office of the ministry would come to a standstill,” the court said, setting aside the CIC order.

The court said it has a view that the Act “should not be allowed to be misused or abused, to become a tool to obstruct the national development and integration, or to destroy the peace, tranquillity and harmony among its citizens”.

It said the Act should not be converted into a tool

of oppression or intimidation of honest officials striving to do their duty.

“The nation does not want a scenario where 75 percent of the staff of public authorities spends 75 percent of their time collecting and furnishing information to applicants instead of discharging their regular duties.

“The threat of penalties under the RTI Act and the pressure of the authorities under the RTI Act should not lead to employees prioritising information furnishing at the cost of their

normal and regular duties,” Justice Manmohan said.

The court also said it was necessary “to clear some misconceptions about the RTI Act”.

The RTI Act provides access to all information available and existing, but where the information sought is not a part of the record of a public authority, it does not cast an obligation upon the public authority to collect or collate such non-available information and then furnish it to an applicant, the court added.

New Delhi, March 1 (PTi): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today declared their third list of candidates for 20 Lok Sabha seats with prominent names being Savita Bhatti, wife of late comedian Jaspal Bhatti’s, who has been given a ticket from Chandigarh, and Anand Kumar, a professor from JNU, from Delhi.

The party declared candidates for lone seat of Union Territory of Chandigarh, two from Delhi and Kerela, seven from Madhya Pradesh, seven from Odisha and one from Bihar. The third list has a doctor, actor, teacher, former diplomat, educationists and social activists.

In Delhi, the party has given ticket to Kumar, a JNU professor from North-east Delhi, a seat currently represented by former Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Jai Prakash Agarwal.

From North West Delhi,

the party has given candidature to social activist Mahender Singh. The seat is currently represented by Union Minister Krishna Tirath. The party is yet to declare candidates for two seats- South Delhi and New Delhi.

From Kerela, the party has fielded former IPS officer Ajit Joy from Thiruvannanthapuram, a seat currently held by Union Minister and former UN Under-Secretary General Shashi Tharoor. Incidentally, Joy quit IPS to join the United Nations’s Office on Drugs and Crime. He later quit UN to join AAP. From Thrissur, a seat held by Joint Parliamentary Committee Chairman P C Chako, the party has given ticket to Sarah Joseph, a noted Malayali novelist.

In Madhya Pradesh, the party has nominated Rachna Dheengra from Bhopal.

Dheengra has been associated with the party since its inception and has been

working for the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy victims.

From Indore, former diplomat and IIM alumni Anil Trivedi will enter the electoral fray.

From Guna, a seat currently represented by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the party has fielded social activist Shailendra Singh Kushwaha; Atul Mishra, AAP’s district convener, will contest from Sagar and Rajesh Sareram, a teacher by profession, from Betul.

Tata Institite of Social Science alumni Pankaj Singh will enter the electoral fray from Sidhi. From Hoshangabad, the party has nominated AAP worker Maya Vishwakarma From Darbhanga, a seat currently held by former cricketer and BJP MP Kirti Azad, the party has nominated Prabhat Ranjan Das, a medic by profession who worked in the US before returning to India.

chicago, March 1 (iaNS): Describing upcoming elections as “India’s defining moment”, Indian Ambassador S. Jaishankar has advised India-US interlocutors to get off public argumentation platforms and switch to a “problemsolving mode”.

“Clearly, we are approaching a defining moment where choices made would have significant implications for India of course, but for the United States and the world as well,” he said in a speech Friday at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs on India’s Defining Moment.

Saying that India’s elections, its improving economy, and India-US relations were interconnected, Jaishankar suggested that any “government coming into office after general elections will naturally put nation building as its first priority”.

“Maintaining and accelerating growth will be of great significance,” he said. “Encouraging investment, expanding manufacturing, modernizing infrastructure, enhancing skills development, upgrading technology and promoting innovation will be amongst its many facets.” “The United States can be an indispensable partner on every score,” the ambassador said but cautioned “None of this, however, is a foregone conclusion.”

“They will only be outcomes of a relationship that is assiduously tended by constant gardeners,” he said. “The sensible thing to do is to switch to a problem-solving mode” to iron out current wrinkles in the India-US relationship.”

“But to do that, we need to get off public argumentation platforms where we find ourselves more often than is good for our ties,”

Jaishankar said noting that both sides had their own concerns.

“My sense is that India greatly values its reputation as being open to international business,” the ambassador said assuring “Concerns perceived to be legitimate will be addressed and that has actually been our recent record.” “But it would be a mistake to pile on public pressure, especially through a misrepresentation of facts,” he warned.

“Indo-US ties need to be worked upon at different planes,” he said suggesting “there are pressing issues on the immediate agenda which require more give and take”. “But while doing so, we must not lose sight of the larger connect that provides an enabling environment where more ambitious visions could unfold,” Jaishankar said.

PaNaji, March 1 (iaNS): Sun, surf and seafood are not the top-of-themind thoughts for foreign tourists holidaying in Goa these days.

According to Goa’s leading tour operators and hospitality industry leaders, the fear of dealing with abrasive and over-charging taxi drivers hog the visiting tourists’ mind-space. Recent violent scuffles involving the notorious cabbies have only underlined their fears.

“The biggest concern for tourists coming to Goa right now are taxi drivers,” says Ernest Dias, vice president of Kuoni Travels India, a leading tour operator.

Over the last few weeks, operators of Goa’s 7,000odd tourist taxis have

emerged as unapologetic villains in a sustained but violent theatre of the absurd playing out in Goa’s populous tourism belt.

Taxi drivers, a powerful and politically-connected segment, have beaten up tour operators, tourists both domestic and foreign - and even each other over the last few weeks, culminating in a two-day strike called by them to protest against the starting of a privately-operated radio cab service in the state.

The strike and the violence it generated forced the British Foreign Office to issue an adverse travel advisory asking tourists to exercise caution while holidaying in Goa. In a beach resort state,

where tourism is one of the key economic drivers, stakeholders are now beginning to get worried about the impact of such chaos on Goa’s winding coconut palm-lined roads.

“The hospitality industry is being held to ransom by such activities. We have asked the chief minister to ensure law and order or else Goa will lose its tourists over time,” president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) Francis Braganza told IANS after meeting Manohar Parrikar earlier this week.

Quoting statistics, Braganza said that the hospitality industry annually contributed Rs. 1,900 crore (Rs.19 billion/$307 million) by way of direct

and indirect taxes to the state economy annually and accounted for physical investments worth Rs.35,000 crore.

To allow a taxi driver lobby to run riot, he suggested, would be akin to frivolously killing the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg.

“Tourists must have the right to choose their mode of conveyance,” he said, reacting to a demand made by protesting taxi drivers, who want to debar tour buses from ferrying passengers and instead use only cabs.

For tourists living in Goa’s coastal resorts, getting about is not only an expensive affair but also one that is laden with has-

sles. Tour buses are often stoned by taxi drivers and tourists have to suffer the ordeal of hiring two taxis if they are travelling from north Goa to south Goa with a stopover, due to rivalries between groups of taxi-owners.

Prasad Harmalkar of Thomas Cook, Goa, claims that exorbitant prices charged by cabbies was a big put-off for tourists.

“Often the hotel room rate is Rs.2,000, but tourists have to shell out Rs.3,000 for a taxi ride,” he said. Complaints to the police by tourists and tour operators often resulted in harassment of the complainants, with the police often backing the cabbies, Braganza said.

He claimed that in the meeting with Parrikar, the TTAG had recommended a short-term and a long-term solution to the crisis.

“In the short term, the police have to ensure implementation of law and order. Whoever is guilty has to be punished. In the long term, a mechanism has to be evolved to ensure that taxi drivers come under one umbrella with a fixed fare-list,” Braganza contended, adding that Goa could have to kiss goodbye to tourism if the government’s apathy continued.

Goa, one of the leading beach tourism destinations in India, attracts three million tourists annually, half a million of whom are foreigners.

GM crops akin to killing agriculture with acid: Ramadoss

Annual plans to states deferred till LS polls

agarTala, March 1 (iaNS): The annual plans for the fiscal year 2014-15 for states earmarked by the Planning Commission will be finalised after the general elections, officials said here Saturday. “The official and chief ministerial level discussions with the Planning Commission have not been held yet. These discussions are expected to be take place after the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,” Tripura’s Additional Chief Secretary K.V. Satyanarayan, in-charge of the finance department, told IANS. He said: “Generally, during the months of March-April, the Planning Commission holds discussions with officials and chief ministers of all states to finalise the annual plan.” “In view of the general elections, the annual plan discussions have been deferred.”

The annual plan fixed by the Planning Commission has been projected in the state budget of each state.

Many states have already approved their budgets in their state assemblies or are in the process of getting an approval. The Election Commission is likely to announce the schedule of the general elections to constitute the 16th Lok Sabha within a week, an official said.

Three Maoist women arrested in Odisha

BhuBaNeSwar, March 1 (aNi): Police have arrested three Maoist women from a camp in Odisha’s Gajapati district, and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from them.

During a combing operation, police raided a Maoist camp in a forest near Mohana about 300 km away from Bhubaneswar, after which rebels belonging to a breakaway Maoist group called the Odisha Maobadi Party (OMP), which is led by Sabyasachi Panda, were detained.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Southern Range) Amitabh Thakur confirmed the arrest, and also informed mediapersons about the arms and ammunitions recovered from the Maoist camp.

Thakur also provided information absconding Maoist rebel Sabyasachi Panda.

Local media reports said that an AK-47, two INSAS, four SLRs, three 9mm and two 2mm pistols, one tiffin bomb, 13 magazines and cash worth Rs 10.5 lakh were seized from the possession of the arrested Maoists.

Thakur said: “Sabyasachi Panda had suffered an injury when a bullet pierced through his right thigh. And, our security personnel have further informed us that Panda with maximum two-three others has gone into hiding and they are on a lookout. We are hopeful that within the next two-three days, we will be able to apprehend him.”

Panda had floated the OMP in August 2012 after parting with the Communist Party Of India (Marxist), the CPI (M), following his open criticism of the parent party’s general secretary and supreme commander, Mupala Laxmana Rao alias Ganapathy as “autocratic” and “dictatorial”.

Since then, the police have made several unsuccessful attempts to arrest Panda though his strength in his area of operation, covering Rayagada, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Ganjam, has diminished to a large extent.

Maoists are rebels who try to sink deep roots and form links after decades of neglect. The rebels are rapidly expanding their insurgency and could move from remote rural areas to cities.

Equipped with automatic weapons, shoulder rocket launchers, mines and explosives, the Maoists want to cripple economic activity.

The Maoists, also known as Naxals, have killed police and politicians, and targeted government buildings and railway tracks in an insurgency that has killed thousands since the 1960s.

The Maoists, who say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and landless, control some of India’s mineral-rich areas and operate in large swathes of the eastern, central and southern countryside.

The rebels are estimated to number 7000 hardcore fighters in nearly a third of India’s 630 districts.

India’s former army chief retired Gen. V.K. Singh speaks after joining the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi, India on March 1. India's general elections are scheduled to be held later this year.(AP Photo)

RTI is cherished, don’t misuse it: Delhi HC

AAP declares third list of Stop arguing, switch to Lok Sabha candidates problem solving: India to US

‘Taxi terror’ threatens to derail Goa’s tourism

the morung express

InternatIonal / entertaInment

Sunday 2 March 2014

Dimapur

9

Russia wresting control of Crimea from Ukraine K I E V / B a L ac L aVa , March 1 (rEutErS): Russian President Vladimir Putin wrested control of the Ukrainian Black Sea region of Crimea from Kiev on Saturday citing a threat to Russian citizens and servicemen of the Russian Black Sea fleet based there.

Putin asked the upper house of parliament to approve sending armed forces to the Ukrainian territory, which has a majority ethnic Russian population.

But Crimea had already begun to slip from Kiev’s control with closure of the main airport and deployment of pro-Russian guards at key buildings.

Putin’s statement, and remarks from a pro-Russian leader installed in Crimea this week, effectively confirmed what most people in the region had assumed: that military units who had seized control in the past two days were indeed Moscow’s.

Ukraine accused Russia of sending thousands of extra troops to Crimea, largely hostile to the Kiev government which emerged from the overthrow of president Viktor Yanukovich last weekend. It placed its military in the area on high alert.

After Yanukovich’s overthrow, Crimea quickly became the focus of a crisis bearing perils for the entire

region. Ukraine teeters on the brink of economic disaster, mired in debt. Any further spread of separatist sentiment to industrial, Russian-speaking eastern territories could raise the risk of disintegration with serious implications for surrounding states including Russia, Poland and Belarus.

Putin turned to parliament after a day of events viewed with deep concern in Europe and the United States. British foreign minister William Hague said he had spoken to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and called for a ‘de-escalation’ of tensions. U.S. President Barack Obama said any Russian intervention in Ukraine would carry costs for Moscow.

“In connection with the extraordinary situation in Ukraine, the threat to the lives of citizens of the Russian Federation, our compatriots, and the personnel of the armed forces of the Russian Federation...I submit a proposal on using the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine until the normalisation of the socio-political situation in the that country,” Putin said in a statement to parliament.

Crimea’s regional premier had appealed to Putin for help ensuring “peace and tranquility”.

The armed Russian

YanGon, March 1 (aP): Doctors Without Borders said Friday it has been expelled from Myanmar and that tens of thousands of lives are at risk. The decision came after the humanitarian group reported it treated nearly two dozen Rohingya Muslim victims of communal violence in Rakhine state, which the government has denied.

The humanitarian group said it was “deeply shocked” by Myanmar’s decision to expel it after two decades of work in the country. The United States said it was very concerned and urged the government to continue to provide “unfettered” access for humanitarian agencies.

“Today for the first time in MSF’s history of operations in the country, HIV/ AIDS clinics in Rakhine, Shan and Kachin states, as well as Yangon division, were closed and patients were unable to receive the treatment they needed,” the Doctors Without Borders said in a statement, using the French acronym for its

London, March 1 (IanS): Does your kid experience frequent nightmares or bouts of night terrors? He/she may be at a greater risk of psychotic experiences in adolescence, shows research. Children reporting frequent nightmares before age 12 were three and a half times more likely to suffer from psychotic experiences in early adolescence.

Similarly, experiencing night terrors doubled the risk of such problems, including hallucinations, interrupted thoughts or delusions. “Younger children, between two and nine years old, who had persis-

A man in unmarked uniform looks from atop of a military vehicle while standing guard as troops taking control the the Coast Guard offices in Balaklava, outskirts of Sevastopol, Ukraine, Saturday, March 1, 2014. An emblem on one of the vehicles and their number plates identify them as belonging to the Russian military. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of sending new troops into Crimea, a strategic Russia-speaking region that hosts a major Russian navy base. The Kremlin hasn’t responded to the accusations, but Russian lawmakers urged Putin to act to protect Russians in Crimea. (AP Photo)

presence on the streets aroused mixed feelings.

Near the town of Balaclava in Crimea armed Russianspeaking men wearing camouflage but no markings associating them with the Russian military blockaded a Ukrainian border guard post. They were

backed by armoured cars, again unmarked.

“I want to live with Russia. I want to join Russia,” said Alla Batura, a petite 71-year-old pensioner who has lived in Sevastopol for 50 years. “They are good lads...They are protecting us, so we feel safe.”

name. As Myanmar’s main provider of HIV drugs, supplying treatment to 30,000 people, the group described the impact as devastating.

Myanmar’s presidential spokesman Ye Htut had criticized Doctors Without Borders in the Myanmar Freedom newspaper for hiring “Bengalis,” the term the government uses for the Rohingya Muslim minority, and lacked transparency in its work.

He also accused the group of misleading the world about an attack last month in the remote northern part of Rakhine.

The United Nations says more than 40 Rohingya may have been killed, but the government has vehemently denied allegations that a Buddhist mob rampaged through a village, killing women and children. It says one policeman was killed by Rohingya and no other violence occurred.

Doctors Without Borders said it treated 22 injured and traumatized Rohingya. Repeated attempts to reach Ye Htut

for comment were unsuccessful Friday. Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million, only recently emerged from a half-century of military rule. Since then, ethnic tensions have swept Rakhine state, raising concerns from the United States and others that the bloodshed could undermine democratic reforms. Up to 280 people have been killed and tens of thousands more have fled their homes, most of them Rohingya.

Since the violence erupted in June 2012, Doctors Without Borders has worked in 15 camps for the displaced people in Rakhine state. For many of the sickest patients, the organization offers the best and sometimes only care, because traveling outside the camps for treatment in local Buddhist-run hospitals can be dangerous and expensive. The aid group has worked to help smooth the referral process for emergency transport from some camps.

Due to increasing threats and intimidation

from a group of Rakhine Buddhists who have been holding near daily protests against Doctors Without Borders, the organization has said its activities have been severely hampered and that it has not received enough government support. “We urge the government to continue to work with the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to communities in need and to unsure unfettered access for humanitarian agencies,” U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington.

Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley, one of the most prominent voices in the U.S. Congress on Myanmar, also reacted to the reported expulsion. “It is the responsibility of the Burmese government to protect civilians. This is deeply troubling,” he said in a tweet.

Psaki said the U.S. understands that Myanmar’s government and Doctors Without Borders are in discussions on the group resuming operations.

tent nightmares reported by parents had up to one and a half times increased risk of developing psychotic experiences,” said lead author professor Dieter Wolke from University of Warwick in Britain.

“We certainly do not want to worry parents with this news. However, nightmares over a prolonged period or bouts of night terrors that persist into adolescence can be an early indicator of something more significant in later life,” he explained. By age 12, around one in four (24.4 percent) of children in the study reported having suffered from nightmares in

the previous six months, with fewer than one in 10 (9.3 percent) experiencing episodes of night terrors during the same period.

Nightmares are considered to be commonplace in young children with incidence reducing as they grow older. They occur in the second half of sleep during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep with the sensation of waking suddenly with a sense of fear, worry and possible palpitations.

Night terrors, a sleep disorder, differ from nightmares and occur during deep sleep (non-REM) cycles in the first half of the night.

A night terror bout is

often signified by a loud scream and the individual sitting upright in a panicked state, though unaware of any of the involuntary action. According to Helen Fisher from King’s College London: “The best advice is to try to maintain a lifestyle that promotes healthy sleep hygiene for your child, by creating an environment that allows for the best possible quality of sleep”. Avoid sugary drinks before bed. Remove any affecting stimuli from the bedroom - be it television, video games or otherwise, said the research published in the journal SLEEP.

Doctors Without Borders expelled from Myanmar

Inna, 21, a clerk in a nearby store who came out to stare at the APCs was less enthusiastic.

“I am in shock. I don’t understand what the hell this is... People say they came here to protect us.

Who knows? ... All of our (Ukrainian) military are

movements appeared to be under Russian control.

Dmitry Trenin of the Moscow Carnegie Center think tank said he did not believe Putin sought to wage war over Crimea.

“Russia wants to avoid bloodshed,” he told the German Der Spiegel online.

“That is why the military is blocking approach ways.

That prevents units of the Ukrainian army or police or Ukrainian nationalist volunteers entering Crimea.

At the same time, the region would get economic help from Russia.”

Ukraine’s new leaders, who had pressed a long street campaign against Yanukovich after he rejected a deal with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Russia, appear hard pressed to handle events in Crimea.

Interfax quoted the Ukrainian border guard as saying its vessels had been put on combat alert in the Crimea. “It is unacceptable when armoured Russian military vehicles are out in the centre of Ukrainian towns,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said at the start of a government meeting in Kiev. “We do not give in to provocative actions, we do not use force and we demand that Russia stop its provocative actions and return the troops to base.”

‘It was a fantasy come true!’

Slumdog Millionaire child actors on making the Oscar-winning film as they reunite after four years

Still a beauty: Tanvi has grown into a lovely young woman after playing the teenage Latika in the film

Childhood nightmares may lead to psychotic traits in adulthood

Moving on up: Ashutosh (left), who played middle Salim (right) is now studying at one of Mumbai’s most elite colleges, St. Xavier’s

T Sharon Osbourne, 61, and daughter Kelly, 29, look almost the same age in picture-perfect MAC make-up campaign

probably out at sea by now.”

“HERO CITY” Crimean premier Sergei Aksyonov said servicemen of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, based in Crimea under a lease, had been deployed to guard important buildings. Men in combat uniforms without mark-

ings have occupied the regional parliament building since Thursday and seized airfields on Friday.

The main civil airport at the fleet town of Simferopol announced it had closed its airspace. Russia accused Kiev-backed gunmen of attacking the Interior Ministry building and wounding personnel in “treacherous provocation”. Language emanating from Moscow was reminiscent of the Cold War when Moscow felt its allied states in eastern Europe under threat from Western intrigue - something the Kremlin has cited in recent weeks as a factor in the crisis. Putin used the justification of protecting Russian citizens in 2008 when he ordered the invasion of neighbouring Georgia, where Moscow quickly seized two breakaway regions and recognised them as independent.

For many Russians, Crimea and its Soviet-era “Hero City” of Sevastopol, besieged by Nazi invaders, has a strong emotional resonance. For Ukraine, independent of Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and already facing an economic crisis, its loss would be an enormous blow.

Trains were operating normally between Crimea and the Ukrainian hinterland and roads were open, but major sea and air

heir lives changed overnight when they were cast in the 2008 Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. And now the six children who played the younger versions of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), his brother Salim (Madhur Mittal) and the girl he loved Latika (Freida Pinto) have reminisced about that

All grown up: Rubina played the young Latika (Freida Pinto) in the Oscar-winning film, pictured now and in the 2009 movie

Mesmerising: Khedekar put in an unforgettable performance as the young Jamal

heady period, with four of the stars reuniting in India.

‘More than a dream, it was fantasy come true,’ Tanay Chheda, 17, who played a teenage Jamal, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The actors met up for the first time in more than four years for a shoot in Mumbai last week. Their lives have changed dramatically since the film cleaned up at the Oscars in 2009, winning eight statuettes, including Best Picture. Two of the stars, Ashutosh Gajiwala (adolescent Salim) and Tanvi Lonkar (teenage Latika), both currently attend prestigious colleges in Mumbai. But for two of the actors, Azharuddin Ismail and Rubina Ali, both 15, the road hasn’t been quite as golden.

They were both plucked out of Mumbai slums, and reportedly returned to the same shanty towns following their attendance at the Oscars. Director Danny Boyle was criticised for not providing for the actors, especially since the film,

which was made on a relatively small budget, went on to make more than $370 million at the box office.

‘We were aware we would have to make provisions for the children,’ Boyle told THR. So Boyle appointed the teenagers as beneficiaries of a trust contingent on them finishing school. Says Azharuddin: ‘I used to live in a slum.

Now I live in a nice apartment and go to a good school.’ The actors also shared their experience of attending the Oscars ceremony and meeting ‘all these big stars’.

Despite meeting the likes of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Tanay said meeting Miley Cyrus was the highlight of his night: ‘I was a crazy Miley fan,’ he said. Boyle said flying the young actors to Hollywood was a challenge. ‘Some of the kids don’t know their birth dates, so getting them a passport was a nightmare.’

The stars posed together in one of Mumbai’s local trains, as well as against a backdrop of

Rough time: Azharuddin allegedly lived in poverty following the film (pictured right as the younger Salim), but Boyle has now set up a trust in his and Rubin’s name

What a change: Tanay Chheda is now studying at a college in Connecticut, pictured right as the middle Jamal in the movie

the city’s new bridge Bandra-Worli Sea Link. ‘This has been an amazing day, spending all this time together after so long. It was like we were shooting the film again,’ said Rubina.

But nothing will compare to filming Slumdog and the hype that followed. ‘I think it was the best time of our lives,’ she said.

10

Dimapur

SPORTS

Sunday 2 March 2014

FIFA officials inspect Kolkata venue of under-17 Football WC KOLKATA, MArCH1 (ANI): FIFA officials visited the Salt Lake Stadium here on Friday to inspect the venue of the under-17 Football World Cup. In a press conference in Kolkata, FIFA delegation chief, Inaki Alvarez, said the purpose of the team's visit was to carefully survey the facilities to be provided to the players.

"There are eight cities, which we have visited so far to look at facilities like hotels, stadiums and training sites. That's the purpose of this visit," said Alvarez.

Expressing his satisfaction with the Salt Lake Stadium, Alvarez further said that the stadium has all the space required.

"It is quite a massive stadium. It is quite big and has all the space that we are looking for. Now, it is just a matter of studying the spaces and ways to utilise them best," said Alvarez. Salt Lake Stadium can seat around 1,11,000 spectators at the same time, making it the biggest stadium in India based on seating capacity.

The visit to the Salt Lake Stadium makes it the eighth venue in India inspected by a FIFA team so far.

The team has so far visited stadiums in the Indian cities of New Delhi, Pune, Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kochi and Guwahati. "I think now a proper analysis has to be done and some tests have to be taken. The pitch needs to be seen in context of not just the World Cup, but everything else, too. So, it's not a quick decision that we can make," Alvarez told reporters. FIFA continued its policy of taking tournaments to developing soccer frontiers when it awarded the 2017 Under-17 World Cup to India on December 5, 2013.

It will be the biggest soccer tournament staged in India, who won the nomination by beating bids from 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa and Uzbekistan.

FIFA had also awarded the Under-20 World Cup in 2017 to South Korea while the women's Under-17 World Cup in 2016 was given to Jordan and the Under-20 Womens' World Cup will be played in South Africa. India has never taken part in the World Cup finals and although soccer matches there attract sizeable crowds, cricket is the country's national sport.

The Morung Express

Warner puts controversy behind with ton

CAPE TOwN, MArCH 1 (AFP): David Warner put a week of controversy behind him and hit a sparkling century for Australia on the first day of the series-deciding third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands on Saturday. Warner made 121 not out off 132 balls as Australia reached 195 for two at tea. South Africa suffered a blow when strike bowler Dale Steyn, who took the first wicket, left the field with what appeared to be a hamstring injury midway through the afternoon after bowling one ball of the fourth over of his third spell. Warner was fined 15 percent of his match fee and criticised by his captain, Michael Clarke, after making 'inappropriate comments' suggesting ball tampering by South Africa after the second Test in Port Elizabeth.

But if the left-handed opening batsman was affected by the controversy he showed no sign of it. He was in charge from virtually the first ball he faced after Clarke won the toss and claimed first use of an easy-paced pitch. Fellow Australian David Warner, holds up his bat after making over a hundred run's during the opener Chris Rogers got opening day of the third cricket test match against South Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, the innings off to a good start by hitting two fours Saturday, March 1. (AP Photo)

in Steyn's first over but Warner quickly became the dominant partner in an opening stand of 65, scored at almost five runs an over.

Steyn conceded 18 runs in his first two overs from the southern, Kelvin Grove end and was taken off. The total reached 65 at almost five runs an over before Steyn returned from the Wynberg end and had Rogers caught at first slip for 25 off the third delivery of his new spell.

Warner continued to play attacking strokes and reached his fourth successive score of 50 or better with the help of four overthrows after facing just 50 balls. Alex Doolan made 20 in a second wicket stand of 73 with Warner before he mistimed a pull against Vernon Philander and was well caught by Steyn, running around from mid-on.

Warner, who was dropped five times in his previous three innings of 115, 70 and 66, did not offer a chance in making his seventh Test century although when he was on 95 the South Africans thought he had been caught behind down the leg side by AB de Villiers off Steyn.

He was given not out by umpire Aleem Dar. South

Africa sought a review but replays showed the ball had deflected off his thigh pad, not his bat. He reached his hundred off 104 balls with his tenth four. Clarke survived some hostile shortpitched bowling from Morne Morkel to be on 22 not out at tea. When he was on nine he was struck on the left forearm and needed treatment.

Four runs later he turned away from another bouncer and was felled by a blow to the cheek. He again needed treatment before resuming his innings.

With the series locked at 1-1, both sides made two changes following South Africa?s 231-run win in the second Test in Port Elizabeth. Australian allrounder Shane Watson, recovered from a calf injury, replaced Shaun Marsh -- a centurion in the first Test but failed to score in either innings in the second Test -- while fast bowler James Pattinson was selected ahead of Peter Siddle.

South Africa sprang a mild surprise when they named Kyle Abbott as a fourth specialist seam bowler to replace left-armer Wayne Parnell, who was injured during the second Test.

NBA: Thunder halt the Federer stuns Djokovic at Dubai Open skid to beat Grizzlies

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) goes up for a shot in front of Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Friday, Feb. 28. Oklahoma City won 113-107. (AP Photo)

OKLAHOMA CITY, MArCH 1 (AP): Kevin Durant often says he'll do whatever his team needs.

In the second half against Memphis, his mission was simply to score as often as possible. He had 30 of his 37 points after halftime to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Grizzlies 113-107 on Friday night.

Durant made 10 of 15 shots and all eight of his free throws after halftime to help the Thunder hold off a furious rally. "I just told myself to be aggressive, to score," said Durant, the NBA's scoring leader.

"That's all I said to myself at half. I was frustrated with the shots I was taking. I felt that I wasn't disciplined. I worked my fundamentals.

I just wanted to be aggressive to score. I think that's what my team needed."

Russell Westbrook had 21 points and six assists in 28 minutes, Serge Ibaka had 16 points and nine rebounds and Reggie Jackson added 14 points for the Thunder, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Oklahoma City had dropped every game since Westbrook returned from his latest knee surgery — and nearly lost again because Mike Miller scored all 19 of his points in the fourth quarter to rally Memphis.

Westbrook wasn't worried about the fact that the Thunder almost squandered the 16-point lead they had

heading into the fourth.

"We won, that's what I'm going to take from it," Westbrook said. "We lost three in a row. We just won."

Marc Gasol had 17 points and Zach Randolph added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who had won five of six. Memphis ran into a team that was tired of losing. "They're extremely talented, but they were very focused, locked in," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. "They played at a very, very high level, I thought tonight, as well as I've seen them play against us in a long, long time."

Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha left in the first half with a left calf strain and did not return. The Grizzlies made 26 of 40 shots in the second half, but couldn't stop Oklahoma City in the final minutes when the game got close. The Thunder offense broke out of a lull in the second quarter when Westbrook returned from a rest. He scored 10 points in the final 5:36 to help Oklahoma City take a 57-42 lead at the break despite getting just seven points from Durant on 2-for-9 shooting.

Randolph was held to 2-for-10 shooting in the first half, and the Grizzlies shot just 38 percent. Durant got it going in the opening minutes of the third quarter with a 3-pointer and a dunk to help Oklahoma City take a 65-47 lead. Westbrook showed some of his old

form when he froze Tayshaun Prince with a crossover dribble, then drained a mid-range jumper to give the Thunder a 70-55 edge.

Durant scored 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting in the third quarter to help the Thunder take an 87-71 lead at the end of the period.

Miller came off the bench and made three 3-pointers in the fourth to help the Grizzlies trim the deficit to 103-97 with 4:22 remaining. "In the fourth quarter, our bench was unbelievable," Prince said. "We (the starters) put them in a bad situation and they almost got us out of it."

Memphis cut the margin to three before Durant made a baseline jumper on an assist from Westbrook with 1:24 to play, then a floater with 33 seconds remaining to seize control for good.

"We can't afford to dig ourselves a hole like we did," Grizzlies guard Mike Conley said. "They're too good of a team, especially at home.

They came out and they wanted to win this game from the very beginning."

The Thunder finally resembled the team that has earned the top record in the Western Conference. They won for the first time since Feb. 13 and for the first time at home since Feb. 9 "It feels great," Durant said. "You never take it for granted. We learned a lesson after losing three in a row. It's tough to swallow, so it's good to get a W."

DUbAI, MArCH 1 (AFP): Roger Federer’s resurgence in 2014 continued with a superb win over defending champion Novak Djokovic in Dubai.

If he can maintain his level today in the final, which will also feature the big-hitting Czech Tomas Berdych - the sixth seed reaching his second consecutive Dubai Championships final with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Philipp Kohlschreiber - Federer has a good chance of landing only his second ATP title in 18 months. All through the latter stages of last year Federer kept reassuring us that he would be a new man in the new season.

He claimed only one title last year - the 250 event at Halle in Germany - and that came when none of the other members of the ’big four’ entered. It was a paltry total by his own high standards.

Since the new year, however, Federer has seemed inspired by a combination of a larger racket head and a new coach in Stefan Edberg. He dropped the first set against Djokovic yesterday, allowing himself to be pushed back by the weight of his opponent’s groundstrokes. But then Federer decided to play with more aggression, rushing the net repeatedly and seizing back the initiative.

Djokovic could find no answer to the fizzing volleys that kept wrong-footing him and went down 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Djokovic, whose own new coaching arrangement with Boris Becker has yet to bear fruit, has lacked his usual adamantine focus this year. Some feel he might have overstretched himself by playing a series of South American exhibition matches in the off-season. Yet Djokovic has still allowed his name to be put down for the International Premier Tennis League’s first auction in Dubai tomorrow, along with Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Serena Williams, and -dozens of other leading players.

If these big names are drafted in the auction, they will probably travel to Asia for a week in December and play three matches - each consisting of only a single set - before continuing their training blocks.

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after he beat Novak Djokovic of Serbia during a semifinal match of the Dubai Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Feb. 28. (AP Photo)

Federer out of Bhupathi-linked IPTL

JOHANNESbUrG, MArCH 1 (ANI): Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer has reportedly joined women stars Maria Sharapova and Li Na in opting out of the planned International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), which has been modelled on the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

However, world number one Rafael Nadal, Serb Novak Djokovic and former stars Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi have expressed their willingness to take part in the inaugural event of the tournament, which is the brainchild of Indian player Ma-

hesh Bhupathi.

According to Sport24, the 17-time Grand Slam champion, Sharapova and Australian Open champion Li Na have all declined invitations, and the Swiss had previously expressed his doubts regarding the success of the tournament and whether it would actually take off.

However, the report mentioned that Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray are listed as 'Icon Players' along with Stanislas Wawrinka, Agassi and Sampras, as well as women's world number one Serena Williams, Victoria Az-

arenka and Caroline Wozniacki.

The players, put into different categories according to their status and market values, will go up for auction, with the five venues- expected to be Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur- competing against each other to bring the players to their city. A handful of doubles players will also feature in the draft for the tournament, which is likely to be staged in the traditional off-season between late November and late December, the report added.

Windies defeat England in first ODI

NOrTH S O U N D, MArCH 1 (AP): England opener Michael Lumb hit 106 on debut but the West Indies battled back from precarious situations with bat and ball to seal a 15-run win in the opening one-day cricket international here Friday at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

When left-hander Lumb was flowing, England was favourite to chase down West Indies' total of 269-6 off 50 overs.

But spinner Sunil Narine claimed 2-36 off 10 overs and captain Dwayne Bravo (1-59) and Ravi Rampaul (1-53) were lethal at the death to limit England to 254-6 off 50 overs and give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Bravo had earlier been the savior with the bat, slamming an unbeaten 87 off 91 balls to lift the West Indies from the early peril of 45-4. The 30-year-old, later named Man of the Match, lashed eight fours and a six. Lendl Simmons and Darren Sammy added contrasting half centu-

West Indies' Dwayne Bravo plays a shot for four runs of England's Chris Jordan as Darren Sammy looks on during their first one-day international cricket match at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in St. John's, Antigua, Friday, Feb. 28. (AP Photo)

ries of their own to boost the hosts after a trio of England off-spinners had stalled the early innings.

Simmons compiled 65 off 94 balls and shared a restorative fifth wicket stand

of 108 with Bravo. Sammy went berserk in smashing five fours and four sixes in 61 off 39 as he and his skipper added 116 off 62 balls towards the end. The West Indies blasted 85 runs from

the last five overs.

Earlier, James Tredwell (10-1-23-1), Joe Root and Moeen Ali each took a wicket as the England slow men stifled the hosts. But the pair of Trinidadians, Simmons

and Bravo, rebuilt sensibly before upping the tempo once the batting powerplay was taken in the 36th over.

Simmons hit six fours before he scooped a catch to extra cover off Bresnan, who took 3-68 on his 29th birthday.

But Bravo continued to bat fluently and he and Sammy ensured a grandstand finish.

England's reply was given solidity by Lumb and fellow debutant, Moeen Ali. The pair added 96 for the first wicket in 19.3 overs.

Ali holed out off Dwayne Smith and Luke Wright (1) miscued off Darren Sammy but England was well on top at 180-2 in the 37th over.

Lumb, after hitting seven fours and two sixes off 117 balls, lofted Rampaul to extra cover. The 34-year-old was the ninth batsman to score a century on one-day international debut. Narine helped stall the visitors with the wickets of Joe Root (37) and Ben Stokes (5) and the rest of the middle order could never find the right momentum in the end.

The series continues at the same venue on Sunday.

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Afghanistan Claim Historic Victory Blade Runner Pistorius' Afghanistan register stunning 32-run win over Bangladesh

Bsngladeshi batsman Shamsur Rahman is bowled out by Afghanistan cricketer Shapoor Zadran during the fifth match of the Asia Cup one-day cricket tournament between Bangladesh and Afghanistan at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, on the outskirts of Dhaka on March 1. (AFP PHOTO)

neW DeLhI, MaRch 1 (Tnn): Brilliant batting by Asghar Stanikzai (90*) and Samiullah Shenwari (81) followed by some spirited bowling saw Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 32 runs in their Asia Cup encounter in Fatullah on Saturday.

Chasing a challenging 255run target, Bangladesh lost the plot as they kept losing regular wickets at regular intervals. The hosts suffered their first blow when Shapoor Zadran proved clinical in ripping opener Shamsur Rahman's (0) off-stump in as early as the first over.

Hamid Hassan then caught Anamul Haque (1)

plumb in the very next over to jolt the Bangladesh runchase. Mominul Haque and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim then resurrected the Bangladesh chase by putting up a gritty 68-run partnership for the third wicket before Mohammad Nabi broke that stand. Nadi, the Afghanistan skipper, gave his team that crucial break when he trapped his Bangladesh counterpart leg before wicket just when he was looking dangerous.

Mominul did try to carry on the momentum after his skipper's dismissal but his courageous 50-run innings came to an

end as spinner Samiullah Shenwari got the better of his stumps. Mominul (50) hit 6 boundaries before Shenwari was successful in breaching the Bangladesh's batsman's defence by knocking his stumps.

Nasir Hossain (41), who then put up a 50-plus run partnership with Naeem Islam, was next in line to be dismissed by Mirwais Ashraf before Naeem (35) too returned to the pavilion an over later.

Ziaur Rahman (41 off 22) then gave the home fans some reason to cheer as he blasted the Afghanistan bowlers to all parts of

the ground; however, the glory was short-lived as his fiery innings too went in vain. Earlier, Afghanistan made a dramatic recovery from a top-order collapse with a late blitzkrieg from Stanikzai and Shenwari to post a fighting total of 254 for six. Stanikzai and Shenwari shared 164 runs for the sixth wicket to propel Afghanistan to a challenging total after they were reduced to a precarious 90 for five in the 27th over after being put into bat at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium. The duo, who started cautiously, finished with a flourish as they pun-

India need to make amends against Pak

MIRPUR, MaRch 1 (PTI): Driven into a corner after their defeat to Sri Lanka, India will look to regroup quickly and plug their loopholes as they go into the make or break match against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup on Sunday. With back-to-back victories over Pakistan and India, Sri Lanka have virtually assured themselves of a berth in the final of the Asia Cup, and now it's a two-way battle between the traditional rivals to be the other finalists in the fivenation tournament. Both teams go into the match on

Match starts: 1.30pM Ist teaMs

Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Stuart Binny, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Cheteshwar Pujara, Amit Mishra, Varun Aaron and Ishwar Pandey.

an even keel, a win and one loss each, but the defending champions Pakistan have a slight edge as they have a bonus point in their kitty from their win against associate nation Afghanistan.

India registered a facile victory over hosts Bangla-

desh in their tournament opener but went down to Sri Lanka by two wickets on Friday. Pakistan were also beaten by a narrow 12-run margin by the same opponents in their opening match of the Asia Cup. For India, it was Virat Kohli's sparkling century

ished Bangladesh bowlers in the final 10 overs by collecting 107 runs.

Stanikzai was slow to get going initially as he took 81 balls to reach his fourth ODI fifty. But after reaching the milestone the 26-year-old cut loose as he carted the hosts' bowlers all around the park. Stanikzai's 90-run knock came off 103 balls and included six fours and three sixes.

Shenwari, on the other hand, maintained a brisk scoring rate throughout. He made 81 off just 69 balls, including 10 fours and a six.

The Bangladeshi bowlers did not get support from their fielders who dropped two catches in the innings.

Earlier, Afghanistan openers Mohammad Shahzad (2) and Karim Sadiq (12) departed cheaply. Shahzad was foxed by a slower one from pacer Rubel Hossain and was trapped in front of the wicket, while left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny claimed the scalp of Sadiq who handed a simple return catch to him.

Najibullah Zadran (21) was dismissed soon after as Afghanistan were reduced to 43 for three. His 36-ball knock included two fours.

Next batsman Nawroz Mangal, however, showed some purpose as he hit three fours in his 33-ball 22 before being out in the 23rd over. Afghanistan lost another wicket soon after with skipper Mohammad Nabi dismissed for just seven as the visitors were further reduced to 90 for five inside 27 overs before Stanikzai and Shenwari took them to a respectable total.

trial starts Monday

Olympic runner accused in girlfriend's death

FILE This Nov. 4, 2012 photo shows Oscar Pistorius and girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at an awards ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa. Pistorius goes on trial Monday March 3, for the shooting death of Steenkamp. (AP Photo)

SoUTh afRIca, MaRch 1 (agenIceS): The shooting death of model Reeva Steenkamp by "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius has captured global attention and led to a blot of unresolved questions, but those questions will begin to be answered Monday when Pistorius goes on trial on a charge of premeditated murder. Prosecutors in Pretoria, South Africa, say Pistorius, 27, intentionally shot Steenkamp,

29, in the bathroom of his home in a gated community on Valentine's Day in 2013 during an argument.

Pistorius also faces three firearms charges.

The athlete, known as the "Blade Runner," does not deny that he fired four shots through a locked bathroom door, hitting Steenkamp three times.

But he insists he acted in self-defense after mistaking her for an intruder during the middle of the night.

The two sides have listed more than 100 witnesses including family members, ex-girlfriends, neighbors, police, forensic psychologist, ballistic experts, even a weather forecaster. The trial could last up to six weeks, officials said. If convicted, Pistorius could spend the rest of his life in prison. Parts of the court proceedings, which has been billed as South Africa's "trial of the century," will be televised.

that did the job against Bangladesh, while for Pakistan Umar Akmal's timely ton saved them from what could have been an embarrassing loss to Afghanistan.

But the sheer importance of the contest will mean that the past records will have little relevance as the two teams look to renew their rivalry and take some brownie points. A new look middle order's lack of execution would be a concern for the Indian team and the team management might think of including Cheteshwar Pujara to bring in some solidity. With time running out fast for India in this tournament, it will be a riddle if Pujara continues to warm the bench. Test specialist Pujara might not have been in the hard-hitting mould but he would be capable of providing the much needed stability, which was lacking in the Indian batting up against Sri Lanka.

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