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Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 93
The Morung Express “
www.morungexpress.com
‘US cop’s arrest has nothing to do with Khobragade case’ [ PAGE 8]
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Oh. I thought they were shouting, Defeat defeat Modi, Defeat defeat Modi.
National Revival Crusade cum fasting April 10-13 DIMAPUR, APRIL 5 (MExN): The Yaruiwo (President), Isak Chishi Swu, has declared 3 days National Revival Crusade cum fasting program from 8 am to 12 noon from April 10-13, 2014 at CHQ, Hebron, under the banner of Council of Nagalim Churches. This was declared through an Azha today in view of “National necessities and in response to the call of the Almighty God,” and decided in consultation with the Collective Leadership. All National workers have been asked to attend the program positively.
District admin directed to keep check on election-related advts
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KOHIMA, ARPIL 5 (MExN): The Additional Secretary (BA) & ARO, Nagaland Parliamentary election 2014, Nagaland, L. Imsong, has informed that as per Section 77(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, expenditure involved in advertisements in connection with the election of any candidate has to be added to the account of election expenses of the candidate, required to be maintained under that section. This was intimated through a notification Vide no. CN/LS- 2014/ PRINT-PAMP/325 dated April 3, 2014, directing all DCs, ADCs and DEOs in regard to advertisement in the local newspapers under the name of some organisation(s) or Village Councils, informed the media cell of the CEO office, Nagaland. It was observed by the concerned authority that “advertisements for and against particular political parties and candidates are appearing in local newspapers, and in many cases such advertisements are for the prospect of election of particular candidates.” In this, it was also informed that Section 171H of IPC prohibits incurring of expenditure, on interalia, advertisement, circular or publication, for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of a candidate, without authority from the candidates. In order to “sub-serve the requirement of the provision of law,” all DCs, ADCs and DEOs have been requested to bring the above provision of law to the notice of all concerned for strict compliances.
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The people who influence you are the people who believe in you
Private schools society in Kiphire strengthen teachers [ PAGE 2]
[ PAGE 11]
Deadline looms in MH370 ‘black box’ search [ PAGE 9]
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Sunday, April 6, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Henry Drummond
Form, history give India edge over Lanka [ PAGE 12]
PHAse i: AcAUt gets nagaland to Lok Sabha battle begins affirm ‘One Government One Tax’ from the NE on April 7
DIMAPUR, APRIL 5 (MExN): The Against Corruption And Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland continues to draw support and strength for its campaign on ‘One Government One Tax’. This was clear after the ACAUT Nagaland’s first phase of an all-Nagaland State tour from March 2429, 2014, covering the districts of Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Wokha and the subdivision of Tseminyu. While civil society, and the people, from these districts showed their “full support” to the ACAUT and its objectives, informed a press release from its media cell, every district brought some unique perspectives to the ACAUT team to discuss and deliberate on for the future. In Mon, president of KSU, Loung-ai Wangnao, raised the pertinent issue of NGOs in Nagaland going on numerous “donation drives,” to which the ACAUT Nagaland responded by passing a resolution that “no NGOs, including student bodies, should undertake any sort of donation drives in the market.” In Longleng, the Phom people promised to take up the slogan ‘One Government One Tax’ with all 37 villages in Longleng district. Importantly, the Phom leaders suggested that no village councils and tribal Hohos should give “Recommendation letter” to any individual seeking to join the Naga armed factions as it “contradicts the principle of One Government One Tax.” While leaders in Mokokchung, stated the press release, promised to take up the issue of ‘One Government One Tax’ at an “appropriate time,” the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industries expressed concern that government agencies
Seen here is a fish salesperson from Tuensang. The business community in Tuensang, the ACAUT learnt, has to pay five taxes to five different Naga armed groups. (ACAUT Photo)
like the police, veterinary, Forest and Excise department collect tax at the gates and other locations. A serious allegation of misconduct was shared where Excise personnel harass truck drivers by making them declare every consignment in the truck item wise if traders refuse to pay up. It was also learnt by the ACAUT that “Forest personnel collect money from shops which is clearly illegal.” Tuensang town, as per the people of the town, is plagued by syndicate system, termed Agencies. A respected citizen of Tuensang Town informed that the “police tax even the plying taxis and checking is more for Tuensang vehicles.” The ACAUT Nagaland expressed that “this is one reason why Eastern Nagaland people feel alienated.” One of the unions from the region stated that “tax deducted by Nagaland government is more than
UG tax.” He alleged that after deductions, contractors are left with only 25% of the work order amount to carry out the actual work. It was stated there that GBs in Tuensang “should not collect tax on behalf of the UGs.” It was also revealed that Tuensang Village, as well as the landowners of Tuensang town, have “not been paying tax to any of the factions in Nagaland since 1995 save for the period 200405.” Tuensang village, according to the ACAUT, is the “only village in Nagaland” to abide by the principle of ‘One Government One Tax’ for almost 20 years now. In Wokha, public leaders informed that “one of the UG factions had warned Kyong leaders not to set up local ACAUT in Wokha district.” Nonetheless, due to the untiring and bold effort of business and community leaders, the syndicate sys-
tem in essential commodities prevalent in Wokha till 2013 was “smashed.” Tseminyu sub division brought to the table that their MNREGA funds for villages in the area were not being properly sanctioned. A village chairman also complained that most of the tribal Hohos and church leaders in Nagaland have been “bought over by Bolero vehicles gifted by Ministers or are under the monetary influence of politicians and thus corrupted.” The ACAUT has expressed gratefulness to the people of these districts for welcoming it “enthusiastically into their midst.” During the course of our tour, the ACAUT Nagaland noted, “every arrangement was made for our comfortable stay and special appreciation may be made to the Chamber of Commerce of all the districts.” Full text on page 5
CS informs on violation of Model Code of Conduct of ECI
KOHIMA, APRIL 5 (MExN): The Chief Secretary, Nagaland, has issued a Public Notice on April 5, stating that “openly declaring and publicizing the support of the entire village to a particular candidate on behalf of all the voters” is “violative of the Model Code of Conduct of Election Commission of India (ECI), and should be strictly avoided till polling for the Parliamentary Elections in the State are completed.”
The Notice informed that it has come to the notice of the ECI that some village authorities are openly declaring and publicizing the support of the entire village to a particular candidate on behalf of all the voters. Such acts of declaration by village authorities are in violation of the provisions of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951. The ECI has requested the State Government to take all necessary action to ensure that all
prospective voters cast their franchise as per the existing law and instructions of the Commission vide letter No.61/NL/2014/895 dated March 28, 2014. Accordingly, “it is hereby brought to the notice of all concerned that such actions are violative of the Model Code of Conduct of Election Commission of India, and should be strictly avoided till polling for the Parliamentary Elections in the State are completed.”
AgARtALA/gUwAHAtI, APRIL 5 (IANS): The ninephase Lok Sabha election begins Monday from India’s northeast, with polling in five of the 14 seats in Assam and one of the two constituencies in Tripura. The six are part of the 543 constituencies where polling will take place from April 7 to May 12. The results will be known May 16. The Congress is the major force in Assam which it rules while the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) is the dominant force in Tripura. But the opposition is aggressive in both states. An estimated 6.4 million people are eligible to vote Monday to pick representatives to the Lok Sabha from Tezpur, Jorhat, Kaliabor, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur constituencies in Assam. According to the Election Commission, 51 candidates are in the fray Monday in Assam, which will elect the remaining nine Lok Sabha members April 12 (three) and 24 (six). Monday’s balloting will be held in 8,588 centres. Polling is expected to start at 7 a.m. and is likely to end by 5 p.m. Campaigning for the constituencies ended at 5 p.m. Saturday. Police and paramilitary forces have stepped up security, more so because April 7 coincides with the Raising Day of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). “There is no specific threat for the election but we cannot take chances,” said a senior official of Assam Police. He said a total of 240 companies of Assam Police and paramilitary forces had already been deployed in the state. Ten candidates are in the fray in Jorhat, nine in Tezpur, 13 each in Kaliabor and Lakhimpur
and six candidates in Dibrugarh. Among the prominent candidates in Assam are lottery baron Mani Kumar Subba, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s son Gourav Gogoi, outgoing Congress MP Bijoy Krishna Handique, veteran Communist Drupad Borgohain, BJP state president Sarbananda Sonowal, union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Ranee Narah, Mamud Imdadul Haque Choudhury of AIUDF, union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar, Rameswar Teli of the BJP and Anoop Phukan of the AGP. The West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency goes to the polls Monday. Election in the Tripura East constituency will be held April 12. According to officials, 1.2 million voters are eligible to vote Monday to pick one Lok Sabha member from among 13 candidates including a woman. In 2009, the CPI-M’s Khagen Das won defeating Congress’s Sudip Roy Barman by 248,549 votes. The Left has won from West Tripura 11 times since the first Lok Sabha election of 1952 and the Congress four times. The Congress For Democracy, a breakaway faction of the Congress, secured the seat in 1977. This time the main battle in the constituency will be between CPI-M’s Sankar Prasad Datta and Congress’ Arunoday Saha, a former vice chancellor of Tripura University. The CPI-M is focussing on the development work it has carried out in Tripura while attacking the Congress for poor governance and corruption in the country. The opposition is harping on poor governance, unemployment and rising crimes against women. Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal said the Border Security Force (BSF) would seal the India-Bangladesh border during the polls.
Musical soiree “unifies” a community under one roof
standoff at rilan Yan again
Assam Police alongwith Assam Forest personnel dismantling a bamboo shed at the disputed site at Rilan Yan border village, Dimapur on April 5. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News Dimapur | April 5
Another standoff between Rilan Yan villagers and the Assam Police occurred on April 5. According to villagers, the district administration of Karbi-Anglong has objected to the village’s move to cultivate a site, nestled on a slope overlooking a camp of the 6th Assam Police battalion. The April 4 standoff was replayed today after the Assam Police, along with the CRPF, moved
to the site alleging the villagers had not honoured an agreement arrived at the day before. Bamboo sheds set up by the villagers at the site were dismantled on April 4, while the villagers were asked to cease construction activity. Today, the villagers reportedly put CGI sheets for roofing a shed, which was said to have been dismantled the day before. The villagers, while maintaining that it is village land, objected to the Assam Police’s move to remove the roofing.
It was finally removed, nonetheless, after an informal understanding was reached. The Karbi-Anglong administration was led by Executive Magistrate & Assistant Commissioner, Jyotimary Daimary. From Dimapur, the SDPO, Niuland and the officer in charge of West Police Station were present. Karbi-Anglong EM & AC, Jyotimary Daimary, when queried on the status of the site, maintained that it is part of Daldali Reserve Forest, Assam; and that any kind of activity in a Reserve Forest cannot be allowed. Queried further on the status of a new settlement overlooking the disputed site, he replied that he had no knowledge of its existence till recently. “I came to know from my source that they have settled here just for cultivation.” He added that he had asked the DFO in concern to explain the status in writing. An Executive Member of the Karbi-Anglong Autonomous Council had recommended the setting up of the settlement, it was added. Meanwhile, Daimary hinted at a post-election meeting of Dimapur and Karbi-Anglong officials to discuss the dispute.
Unison Through Music: The Orchestra for ‘Handel’s Messiah’, a Worship concert celebrating ‘Oneness in Christ’ held on April 5 at DABA Church Dimapur. (Benjamin Sugathan Photo)
Morung Express News Dimapur | April 5
Simple but ambitious. That is the best way to describe the idea of the ‘Handel’s Messiah’ concert Organising Committee to bring together various Church Choirs of Nagaland, renowned musicians from Singapore and Kolkata, and professional musicians from Nagaland Music Schools—all under one roof. The Organising Committee envisioned a new path of unity: to unite people from the different tribes of Nagaland through music and also to reach all generations. The invitation was to witness the biggest Worship Concert ever held in Nagaland. This was also the first western classical music concert in Nagaland played by a full sized Orchestra. The concert was held at the Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo (DABA) under the theme
‘Oneness in Christ’. Giving the opening word, Alongla P Aier shared with the audience how the concert was initially envisioned. She said, “Last year, when the ugly conflict of tribalism reared once again in Nagaland there was a man who wanted to do something about it. He knew that somehow music was the only tool to bring unity back to society. His relentless pursuit; going from one church to another is a result of how this beautiful choir was born. The man is also the conductor for the evening, Pastor Razo Vasa.” Alongla Aier also noted that many beautiful things have already begun as a result of this gathering. “We are here tonight for two main things. One is to glorify the name of God. Second is for better unity and love among churches in Nagaland. Let us all be blessed,” she exhorted.
After months of rehearsals and exhaustive organizing, the Choir and Orchestra joined hands and raised their voices to sing: ‘Glory to God’, ‘All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray’, ‘Hallelujah’ and George Frideric Handel’s ‘Messiah’, one of the most widely performed and loved classical music oratorios to this day. The concert was conducted by Pastor Razo Vasa. The ensemble was joined by three renowned Soloists: Judy Senolos Honor (Tenor), Rubin Lukito (Bass) and Visahu Peseyie. The concert was warmly welcomed and highly praised by those who attended it. The audience awarded a standing ovation at the end of the concert. A clearly inspired attendee said: “I’m really excited to come to the concert and enjoy the music. It makes me want to join my church choir.”
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