8th December 2013

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Dimapur VOL. VIII ISSUE 334

The Morung Express “

www.morungexpress.com

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give

High windwave alert for Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

Zoe Explains Marriage Secrecy

Hornbill Festival 2013 [ PAGE 02]

Making careers out of music

[ PAGE 11]

By Sandemo Ngullie

Sunday, December 8, 2013 12 pages Rs. 4 –Winston Churchill

Johnson torments English batsmen [ PAGE 10]

[ PAGE 05]

[ PAGE 08]

reflections

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50 years down the orange path The Orange patriarch of Phuvkiu

Ashikho Pfuzhe Tuensang | December 7

I don’t know who to serve and obey anymore.

Hornbill pulls nearly 1 lakh visitors so far KIsAMA, DECEMBER 7 (MExN): Nearly one lakh visitors have witnessed the ongoing Hornbill Festival 2013, informed Minister for Tourism, EE Pangteang.

He said a total of 93, 649 tourists, (1072 foreign, 9577 domestic, 83,000 local) visited the festival during the first five days, and expressed hope that the number would increase.

Parliamentary Secretary for CAWD, R. Tohanba said the main object of Hornbill festival is to protect and revive the age old tradition of forefathers.

One found murdered

DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 7 (MExN): Police today recovered the dead body of a twenty-two year-old man in the outskirts of Dimapur, at a secluded spot near Suhoyi village. The deceased was later identified as Aron Pochury, who worked as an attendant at a guest house in Dimapur. According to the police, the victim bore grievous trauma on the head and face, which is suspected to have been inflicted by blunt objects. Blocks of broken bricks and a broken wooden pole, bearing blood stains were found near the body.

Further, two unfired rounds of .22mm shells along with an empty case of the same calibre were recovered from the spot, police said.

The deceased did not bear any bullet wound on the body however, police said.

FGN clarifies on Tuensang shooting

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DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 7 (MExN): With regard to the shootout in Tuensang on December 6, the Federal Government of Nagaland has clarified that “in the midst of commotion between the NNC/FGN (Brig Retd S Singnya) and Shillong accordist/Peace Campers, the IR personnel along with SDPO and OC, PS Tuengsang town rushed to the scene and instead of displaying neutrality to initiate peace, shot dead Sgt Maj Changsipong, Naga Army, Eastern Command.”

A press note from the Ministry of Rali Wali stated that the bullet which killed the deceased “provides strong evidence which/that belongs to the IR personnels.”

As such, it questioned, “Who ordered the hit to IR personnel to carry out such audacious actions? How can the guarders of law become the killers? Did the state government approved to kill national workers who defend Naga sovereignty?”

In the year 1963 while hectic preparations were on in Kohima to celebrate declaration of Nagaland statehood, a man in the eastern frontier of then undivided Tuensang was on his knees busy planting orange saplings in his backyard.

As Nagaland State celebrates 50 years of statehood, the ten orange saplings that Turekiu Yimchunger, a GB of Phuvkiu village (formerly Chomi village and now under Kiphire district), planted have witnessed the winds of change and still bear fruit.

In 1963, Turekiu, then a Dobashi, undertook a “long, long walk” to Longjang village in Mokokchung district in search of a teacher for his village Lower Primary School. On his way back home, he also took ten orange saplings from Longjang to plant them in his backyard.

Once the trees started bearing fruit, his fellow villagers took note of the strange but delicious fruit, which Turekiu said was called ‘Naring’ (from the Ao language for orange). He distributed saplings from the seeds of the ten orange trees to the villagers and over the years as the trees and fruits multiplied, Phuvkiu village became popular for its oranges.

Seeing the prospects of orange farming in the village, the State Horticulture Department stepped in and

Turekiu Yimchunger, the man who introduced orange in Phuvkiu village in 1963.

from 2005 onwards, gave the much needed impetus. Former Kiphire assistant horticulture officer, Senka Jamir, in his report ‘Orange in Chomi: An epigrammatic report’ (2011) stated that every household in the village has an average 70 orange trees in their backyards and the department distributed 1,00,000 saplings for 104 hectares of land under orange cultivation.

With the Horticulture Department’s intervention, the village council also resolved that every household would plant 2000 saplings and on total implementation of the resolution, Phuvkiu village to be named as ‘Orange Village’ in Kiphire district. Capping off the joint venture, the village organised the first ‘Orange Festival’ in November 2011, which was sponsored by then parliamentary secretary for CAWD, T Torechu.

Coming back to the man who introduced orange in Phuvkiu village, Turekiu is also popular among his old friends for altogether another reason. Back in the 1950s Turekiu was also an enterprising contractor and he supplied CGI sheets, cement and firewood to Assam Rifles and the latter dropped these supplies by choppers to their far-flung outposts.

After seeing the “machine with wings,” Turekiu had a burning desire to buy a helicopter - perhaps the first man in eastern Nagaland or entire state to harbour such a thought those days.

Decades later, sitting on his porch on a summer afternoon with his orange trees in the background, the nonagenarian says with a twinkle in his eyes, “I gave up the thought as there was no landing space and it would be hard to find a driver (pilot).”

Incredulous as it may sound, Turekiu’s desire to buy a chopper was not just a flight of fancy as back then he had enough money. One of his old friends recounted that on some weekends, Turekiu used to dry his sacks of money in the sun to keep them in crisp condition. In his heydays, he donned a cowboy hat and rode on one of the eight horses he owned to oversee his contract works.

Conferred the Governor’s Award on August 15, 1969, Turekiu also took part in Republic Day celebration in 1956 in New Delhi.

As Nagaland state grapples with mounting political, economic and social unrest, this patriarch, who outlived two wives and now being looked after by a third, deserves a well-earned rest for his contribution A Naga man in traditional attire holding a musket at the Hornbill Festival 2013 in to the economic growth of his village. Kisama. Photo by Manen Aier

NPCC defers December 9 Kohima bandh Of Ancient Naga Morungs

DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 7 (MExN): The proposed 12 hour Kohima bandh called by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on December 9 has been deferred. NPCC General Secretary, Medokhul Sophie, while speaking to The Morung Express informed that the bandh has been deferred in view of students undergoing examinations and in view of the various appeals made by various organizations like the Angami Students Union, Angami Youth organization and the Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He, however, asserted that the bandh will be held at a later date and that NPCC will continue their agitation until the Nagaland State government removes charge sheeted Health and Family Welfare Minister, Imkong L Imchen from

the cabinet of Ministers.

The NPCC in a press statement asserted that there “will be no respite from agitations once the festive season is over, if the NPF government fails to remove tainted Minister.” It stated that despite several representations and agitations staged by NPCC, “the defiance of the tainted minister to resign on moral grounds when charge sheeted and the inability of the NPF government to remove the tainted minister goes to prove that the NPF government has lost political wisdom and morality to govern.” “The continued support and reward extended to the tainted minister will embolden other criminal minded people to openly carry out illegal activities which will be detrimental to the interest of the people and the state,” NPCC added.

Benjongmenla Jamir is Miss Nagaland 2013

Miss Nagaland 2013, Benjongmenla Jamir flanked by the first and second runners up.

Keren R Koza Kohima | December 7

Benjongmenla Jamir is the new Miss Nagaland 2013.

With vital statistics of 3325½-35½, she aims to be an entrepreneur, feels strongly about social crimes and likes reading. While interacting with the media, she said her mother, who she cites as her inspiration, was the first person that came to her mind, when the results were declared.

Jamir was declared winner amongst 18 participants from all the districts in Nagaland state.

Surhozenuo Yano won the Second Runners up title while Apeni Khuvung won the first Runners up title. Benjongmenla Jamir also won the Miss Perfect 10 while Miss Photogenic went to Angap Konyak, Miss Beautiful Skin to Judith and Miss Congeniality to Abeni Khuvung.

The glittering programme was organized by the Beauty and Aesthetics Society and co sponsored

by NRHM, Nagaland. Parvez Dewan IAS, Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Tourism was the Special Guest and Imlibenla

Jamir, Miss Nagaland 2012 was the Guest of Honor.

The show was hosted

by Toshizen Longkumer and Tokatoli Sohe (Miss Nagaland 1998), while judges for the event included Imlibenla (Miss Nagaland 2013), Alun Hansing WCS, Temjenyabang IFS, Dr. Vibeituonuo and Sanghamitra. Ethiel Konyak and Esther Jamir graced the occasion as special guests.

Flow Clef, Rebecca Ezung, Imtisenla (1st Runners up Naga Orpheus Hunt 2011), Ayim, Mohawk and Jumpstart Collaboration performed during the evening.

Miss Nagaland 2013 featured a Preliminary round/ Designers round and Semi final round/Ethnic Fashion.

Atu M Jamir, Tokatoli Yepthomi, Amongla Longkumer and Peter Twiss were the featured designers. Miss Nagaland 2013 walked away with a cash prize of one lakh, a Reliance Tablet and various gift hampers from Juvalia NU, Semi Direct and Issa Saloon. All the contestants were given dongles from Reliance and the three finalists were given Reliance Tablets.

and 3G Mobile Technology

Abokali Jimomi Kohima | December 7

Like something out of a plot visualized by HG Wells, traveling back in time to 1820 or perhaps forward to the year 802,701; the Hornbill Festival is a time warp experience of pleasure, patriotic emotions, fantasy and contradictions.

First, you enter the time warp zone with your machine classed into 1, 2, or 3; further super-classified into A, B or C. That decides your fate on how to approach the arena - walking or car-borne, below or above, ‘entry’ or ‘no-entry;’ depending on the type of identification code your life possesses. As a first-timer time-traveling to this famed festival, despite being a local, it is perplexing to try and make sense of what exactly is going on.

A medley of sounds greet you: thunderous, eerie log drums summoning a place somewhere hidden deep in our collective memory; images of heads of slain enemies bleeding inside log-drums; jingling of bangles, bells and shells on women’s skirts, breasts and necks; distinct Naga melodies for sowing, weeding, harvesting.

In the midst of it all are cell phones emanating songs from Adele, One Direction and John Mayer. Victory chants, horns and ferocious battle calls from warriors are mixed with singers on the 50th Anniversary Stage singing Michael Jackson and Spice Girls.

and songs… nothing out of normal about that. Performers play their part and spectators are satisfied. A theatre! A win-win deal! We’ve come a long way from 1G. While our ancient counterparts did it because it was their way of life, we hope we do it now to not let go of our roots and our identity, that somehow seems to be stomped over by ideas and invasion of mass-manufactured things. Our sensitivities have evolved over the passage of time, our dancing floor of dust and stones now needs watering and polish; our once barefooted dancers now need Chapals.

At the festival, dancers and warriors go back to their respective “Aki” presenting their best display of ancient culture and traditions to the visitors, dancing and posing for visitors, and as modern people do: take a quick break for ‘Jumpin’ Mango.’

On the 50th year of statehood and standing between nostalgic images and sounds of what we probably were mashed with the stamps and signs of modernity, the Hornbill Festival seems like an amphitheatre where ‘sense-making of who we are’ is the Act being staged, more so for the performers than the visitors.

Cruising between the traditional and the new and in search of the lever to balance our moving, evolving cultural conscience on a Time-Machine… we are on an adventure invoking the past and embracing the present flowing with the rhythm of the current world. But we hope we are equipped with the deep-rooted knowledge of what makes us the people we are – the consciousness of the true value we contribute, as a people with our unique way of life, our experiences, stories, thoughts and ideas in this specific, geographic settlement, to the diversity of cultures and ideas of the world; the diversity that fuels the vibrancy of human existence.

Poetry and songs in more than 20 Naga languages simultaneously soar with deafening gunshots. Your default reflex is to run for cover, like Pavlov’s dog, but then you remember it’s an enactment by warriors with gunpowder from the Phom and Konyak Morungs!

You smile and jump a little in festive joy and relief. A realization befalls that the sounds of the old and new are searching for a meeting point of harmony.

Zombie-like, wandering around old Naga village scenes – a house for every tribe welcomes you with images and sounds of forefathers and foremothers, recreating experiences of a bygone era --like a journey to the forgotten. But then, you wake up to the stark, undeniable reality of confusion around you.

The festival at Kisama offers a visual panorama of thought-provoking contradictions; the mind detects something out of place and time; anachronistic arrangement of objects and ideas. A Morung with people in traditional ceremonial costumes, almost naked and as original as it gets, chanting in archaic tongues alongside the newly introduced and aggressively promoted Airtel 3G, its branded umbrellas waiting for people to log on to their latest gadgets.

You think hard, look closely and make peace with your inner conflicts This piece is the third in a series of ar… third generation literates and third ticles on the discourse around and on the generation mobile telephony, recon- Hornbill Festival, with the view to initiate structed houses and enacted dances reflection and dialogue.

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HORNBILL 2013

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NIAPA ‘Culture in motion’ 2013

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The second edition of the North East India Academy of Performing Arts “Culture in Motion” 2013 was held on December 6 at Bamboo Hall, Nagaland Heritage village Kisama. The first part of the show was based on Naga traditional plays with scenes from the Quest for the Hornbill feather, the art of Tattooing and the war. The second part was confined to ramp show, showcasing modern designs of our traditional as well as modern attires indigenously designed by local designers. The Chief Organiser Akuonuo Khezhie and models from outside the State enthralled the audience through ramp walk. The Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, legislators and dignitaries were present at the show.

DIPR Photo Exhibition

Photo Exhibition displayed by DIPR at Ura Hotel Conference Hall, near Red Cross building depicting chronology of Statehood has impressed a number of visitors both domestic and foreign tourists, students and public in general. Some of the remarks written in the visitors comments books are “The photo exhibition is a treasure chest of the State of Nagaland. It unveils every element of the hospitality and good nature of the people of the State, its culture and tradition which is exquisite. The political history is no doubt the best archive the State can have through the various photographers. This exhibition is very apt as it is part of the Hornbill Festival 2013, held during the 50th year of the State of Nagaland – Shine Nagaland, written by P.S. Nongkynrich Producer DDK Shillong. Murayama K. (tourist from Japan) “I have studied a lot”. Manubu (tourist Japan) “Too much to learn from history – I was so impressed.

Mukulda Talukdar – ADN, Shillong – The photo exhibition conducted by DIPR on the eve of Hornbill Festi-

Culturally yours...

val is fascinating. I personally was so delighted to know many information that it carries through photos. The collection of photos right from primitive era to present time is unbelievable. My all hearted wishes to all those who have conceived such a brilliant idea and perfumed accordingly.

Onen (tourist) “The exhibition of these photos are great. We enjoyed and also came to know some unknown knowledge about the past”. C.J. Ponraj, Additional Chief Secretary, P&AR “A value added feature to the commemoration of 50 years Statehood. Colourful depiction of colourful people”. Okenjeet Editor NEPS- “The Department has been doing excellent service to the people of Nagaland and they can do more and the Government should pay more attention to this department as it is the most important area in the Government establishment”.

The ongoing photo exhibition is being displayed to recapitulate the history, growth, development and progress of the State. The photo exhibition will go on till December 10.

Cultural performances on day 7

The 7th day of the ongoing Hornbill festival, 2013 at Naga Heritage village, Kisama was marked by colourful cultural performance by various cultural troupe representing different tribes of Nagaland.

The cultural event was graced by Parvez Dewan, Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Tourism, as the special guest. Highlights of the morning session include Meyong Atkaba by the Longsolong cultural club, Mokokchung, Khong Shongbu Chia by Noksen village, Hangma by Mech Kachari, Maihem by Angphang dancing group, Mon, Shanpok by N/Longidang youth cultural troupe, Ritual by Raja and Elders by Lephori village, Thsiiza Tsuh by Samgsomong village, Folk dance by Western Angami cultural troupe and Medun Khi by Kiutanso cultural club, Huker village.

In the afternoon session was marked by cultural performance of Folk dance by Surumi cultural troupe, The Sue – Goa by Garo cultural society, Dimapur, Folk song

by New Jalukie cultural club, Kangchong Kap by Kuki cultural troupe, Bungsang, Monyu – Asha by Nanglang cultural troupe society, Amuhon Kedal by Tesophenyu cultural group, Niehimozho by Phusachodu village cultural troupe, Pathso village cultural club The cultural event was also graced by E.E Pangteang, Minister Tourism, Alemtemshi, Chief Secretary, Nagaland etc.

Ayang Imchen wins day 7 Hornbill Masterchef competition

The first edition of the Hornbill Masterchef competition was held at the Naga Heritage village, Kisama on the ongoing 7th day Hornbill festival 2013. The Masterchef cooking contestants are Kigomchube Herang, he prepared Honoso, Limala Sangtam prepared Tokhu Emong Ongoham, Yennrothung prepared Mangsu-so, Ayang Imchen prepared Mangsu-so, Nzano Tungoe prepared Vokoso and Temjen Imsong prepared Ongahan.

The cooking hour is given maximum for 3 hours to prepare while Ayang Imchen was declared the winner of the dish of the day (Mangsu-so) and walked away with Rs. 5000.

The competition programme is organized by the Synergy group enterprise supported by the Government of Nagaland, with Sourcing partners ‘Organic Nagaland, Strengthening the Grassroots’, Hospitability partner of the Global Open university, Hotel Management department and with Print Partner ‘Innovations’ and Media partners of the Morung Express and Eastern Mirror.

Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Tourism, Parvez Dewan, also visited the site where the Hornbill first edition of Masterchef cooking competition was held.

(DIPR News)

Morung Photos

A fat mania- pork-eating contest as part of Hornbill festival took place here this afternoon at The Naga Heritage Village, Kisama. Sashim Poumai after having one and half kg of fat within the duration of one minute was declared as the winner. He broke the previous year record of 1kg and 25 grams. Tongyei and Chuba Jamir stood second and third position positively. The event attracted a large number of visitors. Visitor’s round was also arranged by the organizer where some tourists joined the same. The event was managed by XL Nagaland and supported by the Nagaland tourism department. (Morung Photo)

EATING OUT... A snail dish served in the Chakhesang Morung at Kisama. This indigenous dish is very popular during this time of the year where the weather is getting cold. (Morung Photo)

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The Morung express

Sunday

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Meghalaya government proposes 22 border 'haats' with Bangladesh Shillong, December 7 (iAnS): Meghalaya is keen to set up 22 more border 'haats' (markets) along the India-Bangladesh border to create economic opportunities for the people living along it. The haats, once thriving centres of trade and commerce, were shut down after the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told IANS: "We have sought for the establishment of 22 new border haats along the international border. "These haats would not only create eco-

nomic opportunities, but would also cement bonds between the people living along the borders," he said.

Meghalaya already has two border haats - one at Kalaichar in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district and Baliamari of Bangladesh's Kurigram district, and another in Balat (in East Khasi Hills district) and Lauwaghar (Dalora) in Bangladesh's Sunamganj district.

These haats are aimed at uplifting the economic status of people by establishing the traditional system of marketing of local

produce, and would be operating at different timings in summer and winter.

While the timings from March to September would be 9.30 a.m.- 3.30 p.m., the timings from October to February would be 9.30 a.m.- 2.30 p.m. Moreover, Meghalaya was also looking at opening waterways with Bangladesh to facilitate the movement of goods between the two countries.

"Three rivers have already been identified for developing trade links with Bangladesh through inland waterways, and we have

asked the the World Bank to provide a consultant to study the proposal," Sangma told IANS. The three rivers include the Kynshi in West Khasi Hills district, Simsang in South Garo Hills and Jingiram in West Garo Hills. In its report, State-owned RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Services) said that opening of inland waterways between Meghalaya and Bangladesh will boost the trade ties in transportation of coal, lime stone and boulder found along the river banks of Simsang and

Kynshi/ Jadukota river.

Currently, Indian and Bangladeshi waterways connect West Bengal and Assam, and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) are operating vessels on these routes. The Tripura government had submitted a proposal to the central government for declaring Gomti river as a national waterway keeping in view the potential of linkage with the inland waterways of Bangladesh.

outside the Government of Manipur pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue, the address placed that “it is the way of the democratic world that when rights are recognised, the negotiation and dialogue that follows must lead to settlement sooner or later, and that the people must continue to engage themselves in strengthening their unity and institutions and proactively uphold their aspirations.”

The 3rd Council Assembly amended the UNC constitution after examining the recommendations of the amendment drafting committee which was set up in the 2nd Council Assembly in

March 2013. The 2 day programme also deliberated upon the non receipt of communication from the Government of India on the next round of tripartite talk, construction of UNC secretariat complex, organising of LuiNgai-Ni, 2014 among others and resolutions were accordingly adopted by the house.

The Council Assembly sessions were followed by celebration of advent Christmas and entertainment programme conducted by the Leibi Maring Village youth.

The programme concluded with a joint visit to the IndoMyanmar border fencing areas on December 4.

UNC for building of civil society institutions

SenAPATi, December 7 (mexn): The 3rd Council Assembly of the United Naga Council (UNC) was held at Leibi Maring village, Tegnoupal sub-Division, Chamdil from December 2 to 4 and was hosted by the Maring Upa Rup. A press note from the UNC informed that the Assembly was attended by the constituents tribe Hohos of the UNC, Naga frontal organisations, former UNC Presidents & General Secretaries and senior leaders of the Naga Community. The Assembly commenced for the first time with the hoisting of the UNC flag by the President, UNC.

Participants of the third UNC Council Assembly.

In the key note address, thePresidentUNCdweltupon the resolution of the General Session of the Naga Hoho held at Wokha on November 25 and 26 to uphold Naga Unity and moved for reiterating the same in the Council Assembly.

The address also dwelt upon

the need for inspired leadership and for building up the civil society institutions in terms of capabilities and resources. Touching upon the dialogue process on the IndoNaga issue and the tripartite talk process on the demand for alternative arrangement

Assam police to launch operation against NDFB guwAhATi, December 7 (iAnS): Assam Police will soon launch an operation against the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) insurgent outfit, a top official said Saturday.

The decision was taken by police after reports of rampant extortion and abduction by the I.K. Songbijit-led militant outfit in all the four districts of the Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts (BTAD) Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri.

On Friday, the faction

abducted five troopers of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) from Chirang district.

Although the militants later released three of the abducted personnel, two are still missing. "Five jawans of the civil wing of the SSB, who were engaged in some field work in Chirang district, were abducted by cadres of the NDFB anti-talk faction yesterday (Friday).

"The militants later released three of them after police and security forces started a search operation," Assam Police Inspector General (Law

BJP Ukhrul district conference held

uKhrul, December 7 (mexn): The BJP Ukhrul District conference was held on December 5 at Town Hall, Ukhrul, Manipur which was organized by BJP Ukhrul under the presidentship of M.Worthington. A press note informed that around 650 people attended the meeting.

BJP Nagaland State president Dr M Chuba Ao was the Chief Guest of the occasion and was accompanied by Th. Chaoba Singh, Manipur BJP President.

The guest of honours were S. Shantikumar Sharma, former State President of Manipur, Prof. Gangmumei Kamei National Vice President of ST Morcha, Danny Shaiza Guardian of Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, A Sarda Devi Manipur Spokesperson and Vihoshe James General Secy (Adm) of BJP Nagaland.

Special items were displayed to the crowd by the Hakhui Yar, Tangkhul pop star and Aso Shhinglai, while vote of thanks was pronounce by Soso Shaiza and the benediction was proposed by Wangayung Pete, Headman Hungpung.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr M.Chuba Ao said that the people of the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency must send a leader who will serve the people of this region with commitment and stated that this would be possible only through BJP leadership, as the BJP is confident to regain power at the Centre in 2014. He also stated that BJP Nagaland is part of the DAN Govt, compromising the NPF, BJP and JD (U) under the leadership of the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu. When consulted with the State NPF president

with regard to the parliamentary election 2014 at outer Manipur, BJP was given the green signal to go ahead if there is a wider scope for BJP, he informed.

Other speakers on the meeting emphasized that BJP party is the only national party with a difference with its Development agendas on top priority and that it is a party which take decisions collectively and not individually. In the past, North East regions were assured with tall promises before the election but fail to implement after gaining power but Narendra Modi, the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate has assured that peace will prevail in the NE region if BJP comes to power in 2014, the press note informed.

The Nagaland State BJP team who accompanied the Chief guest Dr M. Chuba Ao were Yanghose Sangtam VP, Vishoshe James GS (Adm), K.James Vizo GS & Spokesman, Venizo Angami Secy, Imsu Yaden Secy and Hotrose Sangtam member.

Meanwhile, with regard to Kohima bandh called by NPCC on Dec 9th 2013, the party expressed that the Dimapur bandh on December 3, “created inconveniences to all sections of the people.” “ Expressing that organizing peaceful bandhs or Dharnas in a democratic country is a healthy gesture, but the timing during this festive season is unwise as the common man has to bear all the inconvenience,” it added.

It added that since the matter is already in court, “the Party feels that we should allow the law to take its own course of action.”

Therefore, it appealed to the NPCC to reconsider the decision of the Kohima bandh in the general interest of the common people.

and Order) S.N. Singh said Saturday. "We are planning to launch an operation against the anti-talk faction of the NDFB in a day or two," he said.

Singh also said police have received information from some top leaders of the anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) led by Paresh Baruah expressing their willingness to shun the path of violence. "Some of the top leaders of the antitalk ULFA and their cadres are also likely to surrender soon," Singh said.

Meghalaya and other northeastern states are surrounded by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and China on three sides and the only land route access to these states from within India is through Assam and West Bengal. The lengthy route through Assam passes through hilly terrain with steep roads and multiple hairpin bends. Four northeastern states - Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam - share a 1,880 km border with Bangladesh, while Meghalaya shares a 443 km border with the nation.

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FroM 4TH To 18TH deceMBer, 2013 Participants from:- various States of india. enJoY THe HAndLooM coLoUrS oF indiA

Tender noTice No:- FCI/DO-DMV/Gunny-obsol/Disposal/2012-13 Date 02.12.2013 Date & Time of receipt Tender: - 20.12.2013 up to 1pm Time of opening: - 2Pm on 20.12.2013 Terms and conditions for Tender of unserviceable gunnies lying at FSD Dimapur Under FCI, District Office, Dimapur.

1. The stocks/gunnies can be inspected by the prospective tenderer at godown from the delivery of stocks /gunnies will be given.

2. Rate should be quoted per 100 pcs. gunny bags.

3. The FCI should not give any guarantee to make any definite quantity of particulars quality of unserviceable gunny available to the buyer.

4. The FCI reserves the right to accept or reject without assigning any reason the highest or any offer. Acceptance or rejection of rate will be announced within one month from the date of auction. If being understood that the tender is being permitted to offer value in consideration of this agreement to the stipulation.

5. Each Tenderer shall accompany earnest money Rs.5000/- in the form of DD/pay order of any Nationalized bank in favour of FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA payable at Dimapur. Outstation draft will not be accepted.

6. Tender will be opened at 2.00pm on 20.12.2013.

7. Successful tenderer will have to deposit the full value of the lots allotted to them within one week of acceptance of rate also with S/T and other taxes if any liable by the state Govt.

8. In the event of failure to complete the payment within the specified time, the same relating to such lots shall be cancelled and the earnest money in full shall be forfeited. FCI shall be entitle the goods or party thereof to the another party at the risk & cost of the original buyer and also to recover any loss suffered by as a result of such failure, any gain on, any resale as aforesaid shall occur to the FCI and the Buyer shall not have any claimed over it.

9. After completion of delivery of stocks/gunnies, if the stocks/gunnies will not be lifted within the validity period, the party will have to pays Rs.5.00 (Rupees five) only per bundle gunny bags per day as storage charge in favour of Area Manager, FCI, DO, Dimapur.

10. Delivery of such excess stores on payment of value therefore is compulsory.

11. Failing which the same shall be re-auctioned at the cost and responsibility of the Buyer concerned.

12. The rates shall be offered against each lot. All taxes and any other charge of any nature liable by any authority shall have to be paid extra along with the value of the total prie referred to.

13. The goods sold shall be removed by the buyer from the site of accumulation within 7 (Seven) days from the date of issue of the release/delivery order. Delivery will be given only during the working days on the presentation of the same release/ delivery order to be issued by the Area Manager, FCI, Dimapur. Agreement for transportation will be done by the buyer and he will not be entitled to claim any facility or assistance for transportation of any cost on this A/c from FCI. 14. Delivery of tender(s), the tenderer shall be submitted in doubled sealed cover the inner envelope Super scribed “ Tender No:- FCI/DO-DMV/GUNNY-OBSOL/Disposal/2012-13 dated 02.12.2013 for tender sale of unserviceable empty gunny bags” the other cover shall be addressed to the Area Manager, FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA, Dimapur. Out station tenderers are advised to send their tenderes by Registered Post.

15. Opening of Tender :- the tenders will be opened in the office of the Area Manager, FCI,DO,Dimapur at the time and on the date indicated above. The tenderers will be at liberty to be presence either in person or through authorized representative at the time of opening tenders.

16. Corrupt Practices :- Any bridge, commission or advantage offer promise by on behalf of any officer or servant of the corporation shall (in addition to any original liability which the tenderers may incur) debar his tender from being consider canvassing on the part or on behalf of the tenderers will also make his tender liable to rejection.

AREA MANAGER, FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA, DISTRICT OFFICE, DIMAPUR, NAGALAND-797112

Sponsored by: Office of the Development Commissioner for Handloom, Ministry of Textiles,Govt. of India,New Delhi.

C M Y K

4

public discoursE

Sunday

Dimapur

8 December 2013

The Morung Express

Outlooks For A Merry Christmas Magical Nagaland in the wake of Hornbill Festival

C

hristmas is expeditiously nearing and the jovial feeling is even more charming our hearts all over again. The streets are much busy again with crowds jamming the marketplaces to make the best and most memorable Christmas. It is the time of year for houses to get new facelifts with every adornment to indicate the joy and peace of the season. Stars are lit up to proclaim that Christ is born, the Lord, the King and the Savior in the Family. Churches are strengthening every member and building every necessary bridge to celebrate and worship with the body of Christ. Similarly, People are excessively busy speeding up with works, making every effort to find this season in serenity. Likewise, it is the season to witness the Diasporas migrating toward their nativities as well. In a way, these speak volumes about what Christmas means to us.

Couple of years back, The Lord honored me to come across some Bible students who have ducked their comfort zones to celebrate Christmas with the clients in a rehabilitation center at a remote place.

Even this year, The Lord immeasurably blessed my heart when I came to know that a Church is assigning her members to spend Christmas in their mission field with their missionary.

What are your plans for this Christmas?

How many Christmas have you come across?

How many have you sincerely spent with Christ?

L

Have you wasted those joyous moments in pride, in arrogance, in the bad companies or with the wrong attitudes and lifestyles?

Are you tired of the same Old Christmas you had? Are you in pursuit of a resting place this Christmas?

Let us return to the cross. Remember, ‘In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son (Gal 4:4)’ because he loves you and me.

“Jesus Christ is God’s gift of Hope for you and me” (Jn 3:16). Wonder whether you have received your gift (Christ)! Had you been celebrating Christmas without embracing the Gift of God (the Hope in Christ)?

Christ came to this world ‘.…to preach good news to the poor….to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19).” Have you ever reasoned that to validate this HOPE, Christ died on the Cross (Romans 5:8)? This Christmas, neither by-pass this Gift again in ignorance, in sinfulness nor restrain it in bitterness but soak and saturate in the Father’s love (gift) for you.

Embrace the Father’s gift and allow Christ to draw you to his arms, make you strong and fill your heart.

What next! Make your Christmas gifts special.

How? Not your gifts but then this time it will be God’s gift. Release the supernatural gifts of God you have been given to your near and dear ones, neighbors, friends and strangers. Just as you have gained

et it be made clear that as a concerned citizen we voiced out our concern in the newspapers out of our deepest regret for the harassment caused to the tourists and nothing else. It has caused a great damage to the reputation of the state in the eyes of the foreigners who will carry such stories and images to the outer world at a time when our state is trying to promote tourism.

It sure will have a long lasting negative impact to the future of

from God, be willing to release forgiveness, peace, love and joy to all. Eph 4:32 reads ‘Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.’ The word ‘forgiving’ has the element of Grace meaning, “releasing unconditional favor that others do not deserve from us.” Be there to go the extra mile this Christmas with these gifts of God that you yourself unconditionally received from Him. Above all the foodstuffs, gifts, the warm fellowships and the exchange of season’s greetings, commit to:  release your debtors from the yoke  release every bitterness, grudges and animosity reserved against others  release forgiveness to those who caused hurts and wounds in your life, family They do not deserve it from you but release these God’s unconditional gift of healings, restorations and forgiveness in you. Touch, heal and lift the spirits of the downtrodden too.

Finally, enlarge your Christmas tent. Take this Christmas beyond your circle. Forgive me if I sound allegorical but be the joy of Christmas just as the Star of Bethlehem was to the true seekers from the East.

Bring forth much fruit as the light of the world fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ. Be the light and savor in leading others to Christ. In addition, do not forget to show your gratitude to the milkman,

your barber, the cobbler, the newspaper hawker, the shopkeeper, Rickshaw Puller/driver, that Deshwali etc. Do not hesitate to reach out to them.

It will be overwhelming if some Churches come forward to perform a Christmas Cantata/Carol as a gift to the jawans at their military base/to our jawans outside our State, to the inmates or to a remote village.

What a sense of affection will it bring if some Churches/any can host a special Christmas service and feast to some non-Christian communities in their locality?

“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” ― Stephen Grellet Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.” - C.T Studd May you have a good time this Christmas with Him, in Him and for Him. Bring into being the consciousness and the fear of the Lord in all lifestyles and celebrate this Christmas with Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace (Nu 6:24-26).”

Pete Z Krose Kohima Bible College

J

Vishü Rita Krocha

ust a couple of months back, we had to go through the ordeal of travelling on bumpy, potholed roads, not sparing even the supposedly best roads in town, taking Kohima for instance, which we also say is the mirror of Nagaland. But most of these condemning thoughts were silenced just a few weeks before the stretched ten day long Hornbill Festival ensued.

I would definitely say, the drainage construction somewhere along the route in the state capital (although a lone sight) was quite an admirable thing to start with. But my hopes for more lasting highways began to vanish when the more prominent lanes obviously took the VIP seating and we are left to be content with the unforgivable roads, not quite surprisingly.

Take for instance, the poor Don Bosco School road that would take you through Kenouzou and Tinpati. This particular stretch of road continues to suffer stepmotherly treatment (Blame it on my memory, I can’t remember the last time it was repaired or blacktopped).

Some may even say winter’s a consolation to traverse in this route because monsoon sure does poses a bigger challenge. I feel even more for the students who have to conquer it every working day, consuming dust in winter and battling dirty splashes during the rainy season. But then again, I am sure this lane is just one of those many roads which are barely paid attention to.

Anyway, so, all is still

Response To NPCC Media Cell

tourism in Nagaland. We don’t have any party affiliations nor are we Nagaland Govt. employees and, do seemingly think that we act like the mouthpiece of NPF is such an insult to our academic and intellectual credibility. What is more insulting is the way the condemnation was seen as an act of shedding crocodile tears and a gimmick to gain cheap publicity. What

is more intriguing was the re- struggle. Lamenting the dearth sponse we got. There is no sub- of political ideology, let better stance either and just false ac- political diplomacy prevail.

Let us also add…Why should NPCC call the bandh during this time of the year and not during some other time or right after the then home minister was caught? The bandh at this cusations which doesn’t help auspicious time can only see as a party in any way towards a political gimmick in trying to upholding their manifesto or disrupt the states 50 years cel-

Let Better Sense Prevail

well with Hornbill Festival, as we still manage to make Nagaland shine her best, year after year, during this time of the year. If you noticed the box cutting road area in Kohima, I am sure you’ll agree with me, it’s Magical! I missed the sight of flowers being planted but the next thing I knew, they were already blooming in colours. So vibrantly!

And so efficient were those responsible for it, that I began to think if we all did things with such competency and urgency, then our already beautiful Nagaland could be paradise on earth.

I am pretty sure people who come visiting Nagaland in increasing number, leave with the feeling that “all is well” with our state.

That, we have much better roads than most parts of the country perhaps, because somehow, we cover them all up with new toppings, that only goodness knows the length of time these roads are going to last us.

And while the talk about roads is just one issue, there are several other things and developments that magically take place as a prelude to the festival of festivals. You see a lot of welcome changes. Overnight. Our society wears a totally new look! Perhaps, even our lifestyles begin to change during this period. And I wonder what they think. I wonder if the tourists think we are better off than so many people around the world.

Why can’t we be just us?

Simply us! Why do we have to put on a show. A show that does not quite portray

ebration of statehood. We too strongly support the cause and struggle launched by NPCC because it’s for reasons very legitimate and genuine but is it not coming at a wrong time? And most concerning of all, harassing the tourists is such an uncivilized act and it does not in any way promote tourism, goodwill and humanity. That’s what we are concerned about and nothing else. dr. lanusangla tzudir dr. Asangba tzudir (dimapur)

the real us, and one that deceives visitors into developing an opinion that isn’t quite true. I’d rather wish they find us the way we have always lived, traverse the deplorable roads that we endure throughout the year, enjoy our culture and our way of life just the way we live our normal daily life….but of course, for festivity’s sake, we ought to add more colours to it by way of exhibiting our cultural songs, dances, indigenous games, our local cuisines and specialties etc.

But that certainly does not include the things and basic facilities we can’t do without throughout the year.

On the other hand, it is true that the Hornbill Festival is a great platform for exhibiting one’s talents. Agreed that some of them get to showcase their songs, their dances, their art works, their entrepreneurial skills, etc, but how many young people really get this opportunity is altogether a different question.

Another known fact is the increasing number of accidents during this period of time, which is the saddest of them all. Rash and drunken driving automatically seem to accelerate when the festival begins. How do we explain such a thing? Even ironically so, when we have, all along, labeled Nagaland as a dry state.

Also, if the festival is so much about preservation and promotion of Naga art, culture and tradition, then the literature section got the worst share. So much has already been written about the poorly organized hornbill literature fest, and only God knows how much heed has been paid to these invaluable thoughts, but if we continue to go at this rate and pace as far as Hornbill Festival is concerned, then the future of literature in Nagaland is hardly promising.

I would like to think the “Hornbill Literature Fest” is a prestigious title, but after my own share of experience, I don’t think it’s all that impressive or important anymore. Because

really, you can’t expect a group of government employees, compelled to do their duties in organizing the literature fest without much or absolutely no interest in the word “literature” itself. (Or if they did have the interest, it really didn’t show, quite to the disappointment of those who had a little part to play.) I am pretty certain the fraternity of writers in Nagaland wish for a thriving literature scenario in the state, notwithstanding the fact that writing is such a thankless job! And we are underpaid or not paid at all, most of the time. However still, if we are to promote the Art, Culture and Tradition of Nagaland, we cannot take literature for granted because they all go hand in hand together.

I know for a fact that it takes a lot of hard-work, and involves a lot more people to organize a big festival such as the Hornbill, and that it’s also easier to criticize than to actually do it, but it always helps to stop and reflect, to weigh the pros and cons, to look back and see where we are going wrong, and perhaps, in the next, we’ll be on our way to taking bigger steps.

Steps that are more part and parcel of our very way of life, and not magically made-up overnight.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

H appy Birthday, Riyon

frOM MAMA, PAPA, sis sANGeetA, BrO risHi, fUPU sHArdA ANd dAdis dilMAYA & NirMAlA & BHAWANi, GOMA, BAsANti & KAMAl

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 # 2729

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2741

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 # 2728

KOHIMA

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

232224; emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 228846 228254 231864, 224117, 227337 228400 232106 227607 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026

STD CODE: 0370

Northeast Shuttles

100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

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ACROSS

T N S N E A T N F X N O C R V S

1. Swift 6. Unit of pressure 10. Not this 14. Vernacular 15. Chocolate cookie 16. Graphic symbol 17. Extra 19. Colored part of an eye 20. Directed 21. L 22. Plunder 23. New Zealand native 25. Backside 26. A song for 2 30. A young swan 32. Beguile 35. A short novel 39. Cling 40. Periodical 41. Gatekeeper 43. A porch 44. Sullen 46. Dregs 47. Adult male singing voice 50. Sacred song 53. Allies’ foe 54. What we breathe 55. Refund 60. Kick 61. Intruder

63. Bright thought 64. Letters, etc.

65. Optical maser 66. A musical pause 67. Sleigh 68. Originates in

DOWN 1. Flaccid body fat 2. Adriatic resort 3. Terminates 4. Auspices 5. Clan emblem 6. Also 7. Cantankerous 8. Adjust 9. Somersault 10. Involving three parties 11. A Great Lake 12. Negatively charged particle 13. Cantankerous 18. Actress Lupino 24. ___ober 25. A rise in body temperature 26. Deceased 27. Annul 28. Reflected sound 29. Thermoregulator 31. Schnozzola 33. Knight’s “suit”

34. Close 36. Connects two points 37. Stow, as cargo 38. “Oh my!”

42. Insignificantly small 43. Animal doctor 45. Incursion 47. Snouted animal 48. Give off 49. 9 9 9 9 51. Mistake 52. Informs 54. Goals 56. Ship 57. Church alcove 58. Abound 59. Makes a mistake 62. A late time of life

Ans to CrossWord 2740

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

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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

CHEVROLET CARS PRICE FOR dECEmbER ‘2013 CAR MODELS

STARTING PRICE

spark 1.0 mCe

3,38,705/-

Beat 1.2 (petrol)

3,91,493/-

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4,77,441/-

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sail u-Va 1.3 (diesel)

5,33,999/-

sail 1.2 (petrol)

5,03,799/-

sail 1.3 (diesel)

6,34,665/-

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22,66,213/-

* Condition apply *3 years / 100,000 kms warranty * for petrol *Cashless ownership maintenanCe offer

For details & Test drive Contact: Urban Station, Near NSC Petrol Pump, 6th Mile Dimapur. Ph No : 240994 CURRENCY EXCHANGE CURRENCY NOTES BUY(Rs) SELL(Rs) US Dollars Sterling Pound Hong Kong Dollar

61.33 99.84 7.89

61.76 100.96 7.98

Australian Dollar

55.26

56.04

Singapore Dollar Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen

48.78 57.33 59.86

49.36 58.03 60.58

Euro

83.52

84.44

LOCAL

The Morung Express

Sunday 8 December 2013

Dimapur

5

Free tattoo carnival Making careers out of music Added incentives for winners of at Hornbill festival

Mo Naga tattoos on a tourist outside his still at the Hornbill Festival.

KOHima, December 7 (mexN): To preserve, revive and promote the dying indigenous tattoos of Naga headhunters, and to present it to the world as a globally recognized benchmark of beauty and achievement, Headhunters’ Ink kick-started tattoo carnival today at Hornbill Festival. Four renowned tattoo artists have begun free inking of Naga art on tattoo enthusiasts on first come first serve basis. It will continue tomorrow as well from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The team of 4 professional artists - Mo Naga (Founder, Headhunters’ Ink), Taka Jamir (Founder, Skin Canvas- Dimapur), Lemsentong (Founder, I L Tattoo, Kohima) and fine arts tattooist Nokrenmatang Soyah were overwhelmed by the enormous response they received from tattoo enthusiasts around the world.

Mo Naga said since the beginning of the festival he has been tattooing at least three foreigners daily, who showed great excitement and enthusiasm in the Naga tattoo and cultural movement. “After hearing the interesting and untold stories about the art and history of Nagaland, they

were extremely excited to embrace these Naga tattoos and thereby become cultural ambassadors of Naga art for the world,” he added. “It is inspiring to see the local people to come forward and proudly represent the beautiful culture that our Nagaland is known for. Their valuable support is imperative for the success of this culture preservation movement.” Mo's international client list, so far, consists of people from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Norway and Ireland.

The Naga art revival program initiated by the Headhunters’ ink at the Hornbill Festival is on full swing with massive support pouring in from all sections of the local and travelling society, the release stated. Interestingly, it said, notable amount of encouragement have been received from the religious sectors representing various churches in the region.

Besides, overwhelming response is flooding in from the foreigners who are enthusiastically getting inked the Naga tribal designs to take the beautiful art and the message from the Naga Hills across the globe, it added.

KOHima, December 7 (mexN): Winners of the ongoing Hornbill International Rock Contest have an extra incentive to fight for this year. In addition to the Rs 10 lakhs prize money; True School of Music, Mumbai and Blue Frog, India’s premier live performance space will offer the winning bands and musicians coaching modules, a headlining gig at Blue Frog and more.

TSM and Blue Frog have tied up with the Hornbill Festival 2013, to provide all-round support to young musicians. TSM will not only offer winning bands and musicians course scholarships for modules at the school, but also provide travel to and stay in Mumbai, for a three month

Hornbill International Rock Contest

period to a select few.

In the individual musicians’ category, the first and runner-up prizes will be given to a guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, bassist and vocalist each, consisting of scholarships for coaching modules. In the band category, the most promising band will receive a coaching module at TSM, a headlining gig at Blue Frog, a tour of Mumbai and Pune with paid gigs and an audio-video recording. The runner-up band will receive a coaching module at TSM as well as an audio-video recording. The total value of the incentives provided comes up to Rs 30 lakhs.

Bobby Talwar, from the band Zero, who is involved in this initiative states, “The talent here is ridiculous. We are surprised with the talent and how young some of these bands are. The kind of crowd you see here is so different from the rest of the country. The quality and kind of crowd that appreciates music over here cannot be compared to other places.”

He asserts that in addition to cash rewards, musicians require direction to further their careers. “They don’t realize the possibility of getting a career. We are strong advocators of promoting ca-

reers through music, to make a living out of music and not just a hobby,” he adds.

Co-founder of TSM and Blue Frog, Ashutosh Phatak is on the panel of judges for the Hornbill International Rock Contest. Of the two organisations involvement with the Hornbill Festival, he says, “Since Hornbill is the biggest music contest in India; we felt it was really important to contribute to the welfare of the next generation of musicians by offering scholarships, gigs and tours to the winning bands. Rs. 30 lakhs worth of prizes is just a start in our commitment to create a robust independent music scene that India deserves and is more than ready for.”

55th WSBAK annual conference underway CNTC commemorate foundation day

Sumi Baptist Church, Diphupar leading in praise and worship during the service.

Dimapur, December 7 (mexN): The 55th annual conference of Western Sumi Baptist Churches Association (WSBAK), under the theme “Alhou sasu kulashi luvelo” got underway this afternoon at Toluvi village. Delegates from about 150 Baptist churches under WSBAK are attending the two-day event hosted by Toluvi Baptist Church.

In the inaugural ser-

vice, Rev. S. Vithose Swu delivered a message based on the theme of the conference. He also pronounced the opening of the conference quoting a Bible scripture from the book of 2nd Corinthians.

Hokiye Yeputhomi, president, Western Sumi Hoho, exhorted the congregation. Akheto Zhimomi, chairman, Deacon Board, Toluvi Baptist Church welcomed the participants to

the conference.

Members of host Church, Khaghaboto Area Pastors’ Fellowship, Nitozu Baptist Church and Sumi Baptist Church, Diphupar presented songs to celebrate the gracefulness of the Almighty. WSBAK also presented a report on its yearly activities.

Sumi Baptist Church, Diphupar leading in praise and worship during the service.

Dimapur, December 7 (mexN): Central Nagaland Tribal Council (CNTC) has reaffirmed its commitment to work for the common interest of Nagas. It further committed to shape the CNTC into a close-knit organisation during the CNTC’s first foundation anniversary in Dimapur on Saturday, December 7.

CNTC president, Ntsemo Ngullie, in his address, stated that the CNTC’s aspiration will be not to isolate any tribe but foster unity among the different tribes of Nagaland. “With this objective we will strive to form a united Naga family to protect our rights and aspirations,” said Ngullie in his address.

Reflecting on the reasons behind the formation of the CNTC, Ngullie said that it is an assembly of the “three brother tribes of Nagaland” for a common front,

6th UBCA-NEI annual conference held Peducha Village celebrates 50 years

Dimapur, December 7 (mexN): The sixth annual conference of United Baptist Churches Association, North East India (UBCA-NEI) was held today at UBC Midland, Dimapur.

Delegates from United Baptist Churches across the region participated in the one-day event which was organized under the theme “embracing the world with the gospel”.

Three service sessions were held on the day and Rev. Dr. N. Khashito Aye, president, UBCA-NEI; Alongla Wati Aier; and Rev. L. Hevuto Awomi, executive secretary, UBCA-NEI were the speakers.

New executive members of the association were also installed during the conference. Rev. Puduhu Khuso was elevated to the post of vice president, UBCA-NEI.

FPO shares produces with Homes around Dimapur

Dimapur, December 7 (mexN): Farmer’s Producer Organization (FPO) Dimapur led by its chairman Chozukhwu Nyekha visited orphanage/destitute homes and distributed fruits and vegetables on December 5.

A press release issued by FPO secretary informed that FPO have been receiving seeds/tools and equipments for farming of horticultural crops from the Department of Horticulture, Government of Nagaland. And as a gesture of gratitude to the department and in celebration of 50 years Golden Jubilee of Nagaland Statehood cum Hornbill Festival, FPO carried out the charity work.

FPO comprises 54 Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) with a total of 569 members.

The team visited Ebenezer Home, Love Care Home, Mother Teresa, Sharon Home of Hope, Prodigals’ short stay Home, Wondangki, Mother’s Hope, St. Joseph Home, Rev Longsa Memorial Home and Nagaland Children’s Home.

Rev. L. Hevuto Awomi releases the UBCA-NEI magazine on the occasion.

During the conference, a magazine of the association was also released by the executive secretary along with president and women secretary.

The conference saw

special presentations from UBC Thahekhu village, UBC Balijan (Assam), Tsukhiamla Yim, youth Pastor, UBC Gautam Basti and Grace Bible Fellowship, Zoological Park, Dimapur.

KOHima, December 7 (mexN): Peducha village council celebrated 50 years of village establishment under the theme ‘To grow and prosper’ at Peducha (Kiruphema local ground) on December 6, 2013. The village falls under Kohima district and Western Angami area, and is 22 Kms away from Kohima.

Minister for Social Welfare Kiyanilie Peseyie graced the event as the chief guest.

He termed the occasion a memorable one and urged, “Let the dark days and conflict be left far behind.” He also said that Golden Jubilee is an occasion for all to celebrate and feel the joy and happiness of peace progress and all round development.

Brief history of the village was delivered by GB Thepfülhouca Kinyü. He stated that during the early days of Naga Independence struggle with the Indian government, national workers from Kiruphema village and

Addl. Director further informed the members on the upcoming Urban Health Mission which will be implemented in the districts of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung, which will mainly focus on the slums and neglected marginal population.

During the discussion hour, issues pertaining to the smooth functioning of Communitized SC were raised and discussed for remedial measures. Dr. Sukhato informed the participants that the department was trying to streamline the appointment of Medical Attendants by appointing only the native of the villages where Health Centres are located. The Department is also projecting the construction of SC buildings in their action plan and also prioritizing the regularization of employment for the trained staff, he added.

The members also resolved that Staff, especially Grade-IV, appointment should be prioritized on the basis of native or local resident of the village where Health Center is located; When Government grants are received and if found inadequate, the community will contribute for implementation of the various activities in Communitized SC.

Minister for Social Welfare Kiyanilie Peseyie (left) releases the Peducha Golden Jubilee souvenir.

neighboring villages stayed in the village for shelter. The Indian army on duty, while searching for the suspects forced all the villagers to stay near National Highway 39 (29) at concentration camp in Peduju, but after the confrontation between the Nagas and Indian government, some of the villagers went back to Kiruphema Bawe/ Basa and some of the villagers stayed to live at Peduju (Peducha) since 1963, which is now called peducha village and is part of Kiruphema

General Council (KGC).

Earlier, the programme was chaired by Thepfülhouto Zenyüu, Convenor Organizing Committee of the Jubilee, invocation by Pecüvilie Kruneilie, pastor Peducha Baptist church and welcome address was pronounced by Thepfüyiengu Vielie, chairman Peducha village council. Special number was presented by Peducha village youths and words of gratitude by Neimehel Neikha, vice chairman of Peducha village council.

Minister for Industries & Commerce, Pangnyu Phom and the team during their visit to Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre (NTTC), Dimapur on December 7.

Dimapur, December 7 (mexN): Minister for Industries & Commerce, Pangnyu Phom, made a maiden visit to Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre (NTTC), Dimapur on December 7. LH Thangi Mannen, Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Er Thekruneituo Kire, Director of Industries & Commerce and other officials from the Department accompanied the minister.

A press release received here stated that the team inspected the various facilities provided at NTTC and lauded the state-of-the-art facilities and the practical works of the students.

They also interacted with the faculty.

who according to him felt isolated, as the rest of the tribes of Nagaland formed blocs. He however maintained that it was not a spur of the moment rather a result of much contemplation

CNTC reaffirms commitment to work for the common interest of Nagas and discussion.

On the Naga political movement, he appealed, “all right thinking Naga political groups to shed their differences and unite for a common goal.” He added that Naga leaders should shed off personal interests and think about common interest for bringing about a “harmonious, united and vibrant Naga society.”

The three constituent

tribes also extended messages of solidarity to the CNTC. Pius Lotha, speaking on behalf of the Lotha Hoho, Dimapur, stated that the CNTC should and must walk the path of truth, while adding that in its one year of existence, the CNTC has been able to realize and achieve some of its founding agenda.

Dr. Sangyu Yaden, Ao Senden president, said that the CNTC must not fail to live up to its commitments at a time when Nagas are in the midst of a crucial phase of political and social division, and moral bankruptcy. “We should never ever forget the larger interest of the Nagas,” Yaden said.

President of the Western Sumi Village Chiefs’ Union, Isahoto Zhimomi, while extending its support to the CNTC said, “Let this organization be, all for one and one for all.”

MEx FILE

Inauguration of water project for Mkg village

Capacity building training Minister Pangnyu Phom visits NTTC on communitization Dimapur, December 7 (mexN): Department of Health & family Welfare, Dimapur organized a capacity building training for Health centers’ stakeholders, Health Committees and community leaders on Communitization at Chapel Hall, District Hospital Dimapur on December 6.

According to a press release, Dr. P. Tia Jamir, Chief Medical Officer informed the participants that the government had initiated the communitization concept in the State to revive the olden ways of community ownership and welfare oriented village and clan leaders. Dr. Jamir, as resource person oriented the participants on the aims and objectives of communitization and the procedures to constitute a Health Committee in the villages.

Dy. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Imchameren Jamir highlighted the power & functions of the Health Committees while Dr. Lanuakum, DPO (RCH-UIP) also emphasized the importance of full immunization and full ANC. He urged the Health Committee members to mobilize the public for immunization and avail the services provided by the department.

Dr. Sukhato A. Sema,

(Left) Fr. Sebastian HoD, English Department, Nagaland University releases “The Log Drummer Boy” authored

by Easterine Kire on December 2 at Fernwood School auditorium, Kohima.

The Minister encouraged the officers and staff and urged them to work harder by bringing forth innovative ideas incorporated with the hi-tech machines to benefit youngsters.

Appreciating the way NTTC functions, he expressed optimism that NTTC under the Department of Industries & Commerce will provide the much needed skill development training even in automotive sectors and play vital role providing placement assistance to get rid of the menace of unemployment. He promised to take up with the Ministry concerned the proposal for up-gradation of its machinery and equipment.

The NTTC expressed

necessity to modernize and upgrade its infrastructure and introduce diploma courses on automobile engineering and mechanical engineering in addition to the existing diploma in Tool & Die Making course.

NTTC, Dimapur was established by the Government of Nagaland with the assistance of Government of India, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in 2006. The press note added that NTTC has become the backbone of the Department of Industries & Commerce through the proven records of accomplishment conducting regular training activities and providing job placement to about 170 diploma and certificate students.

mOKOKcHuNg, December 7 (mexN): A gravity water supply project with an approved cost of Rs 18.11 crores meant for Mokokchung village with tapping point from Litsami village in Zunheboto district will be inaugurated by Minister for PHE Noke Wangnao on December 9, 11:00 AM. As per departmental sources, this is considered to be the biggest rural water supply scheme with longest main pipeline ever implemented by PHE Department and expected to bring much relief to the people of Mokokchung village and beyond.

Much awaited transformer installed

Dimapur, December 7 (mexN): Superintending Engineer, Dimapur Electrical Circle, G Chishi has informed that the new 100 MVA, 132/66 KV transformer has been successfully commissioned. It was commissioned on November 23, 2013 at the 132/66/33/11 KV Grid Sub-station at Nagarjan, Dimapur. The transformer has now been put in service, he added.

NPF Minority Cell condoles

Dimapur, December 7 (mexN): NPF Minority Cell has expressed deepest pain at the sudden demise of Justice Ketulhou Meruno. A condolence message issued by president, NPF Minority Cell Dimapur stated that Justice Meruno was well-liked in minority community for his love and concern shown towards minority citizens. Members of NPF Minority cell further extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.

Seminar on elimination of VAW in Kohima

KOHima, December 7 (mexN): Seminar on International Fortnight Observation of Elimination of Violence against Women will be held at Zonal Council Hall, Kohima on December 10 at 10:00 AM. As directed by the Nagaland State Women Commission, the seminar is being organized by the Angamimiapfu Mechu Krotho (AMK) for all tribal women bodies of Kohima district. Kakheli Jakhalu, member NSWC will deliver the keynote address, and K. Elias Lotha (IPS), DIG (Human rights & Social Justice) Nodal Officer, Nagaland Police and Ayo Jojo, Advocate will be the main speakers. Hence, in addition to delegates from the AMK, all women bodies of Kohima town / Kohima district have been requested to send at least five members and participate in the important program.

SPEED to be launched on Dec 11

KOHima, December 7 (mexN): The launching of Special Programme on Environmental & Economic Development (SPEED) in commemoration of 50th anniversary of Nagaland statehood will take place on December 11 at 2:30 PM at the Directorate of Land Resources, Kohima. Parliamentary secretary for land resources Nganlang Phom will grace the occasion as the chief guest.

Tohanba expresses grief

KOHima, December 7 (mexN): Parliamentary Secretary (CAWD) R Tohanba has expressed grief and shock at the sudden demise of Y Keozih, assistant teacher of Shiponger village on December 3. In a condolence message, Tohanba stated, “His demise has caused much pain and loss to the Yimchunger tribe and the people of Mangko EAC hq in particular.” He was one of the initiators for the creation of Mangko EAC Hq in the area. Tohanba further acknowledged that Keozih was a man of virtue and visionary with selfless nature who made outstanding contribution towards the society. He shall always be remembered with great love and respect, he added. He further prayed for God’s solace upon the bereaved family.

Sunday 8 december 2013

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THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The African National Congress: Lessons for the Nagas

T

Chingya Luithui

he aftermath of the Boer Wars between the British and Dutch colonialists resulted in a situation where the African kingdoms and their native people, the original owners of the land, became more disenfranchised.

Peace between the colonialists was negotiated at the expense of the rights of the black people. Sweeping changes in property and land laws led to the original owners being forced out of their own lands. The Native National Congress, which later became the African National Congress (in 1923), was formed in this backdrop on January 8, 1912.

The nascent stage of ANC was chequered with many challenges faced in terms of leadership as well as in the actual functioning of the ANC. It saw ideological clashes, functional chaos, and even sections of its members and supporters breaking away and forming effective rival groups.

It would take the ANC about 40 years after its formation to take on its mass-based shape and the vision of working for an inclusive, politically and economically egalitarian system. It was also around this time that it aligned with the South African Communist Party and its language and action for liberation and against apartheid became one largely borrowed from the Marxist socialist ideology.

In 1952, the ANC initiated the Defiance Campaign, a non-violent civil disobedience movement based on Gandhi’s principles to overturn apartheid laws. Volunteers peacefully but deliberately broke apartheid laws. Although the campaign did not achieve its goal, it was one of the first efforts where Black Africans, Indians, and a few whites began to engage in joint political action against apartheid. It paved the way for the South African National Conference in 1955 which adopted the famous Freedom Charter which affirmed that South Africa “belongs to all who live in it…and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people; …that our country will never be prosperous or free until all our people live in brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities…”

On 21 March 1960, the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), a breakaway group of the ANC organised a nonviolent protest march courting arrest. As they gathered outside the police station at Sharpeville, they were mercilessly fired upon resulting in 69 killed and 180 wounded. It sparked massive national and international outcry and was a benchmark in the anti-apartheid movement. The ANC decided to take up armed resistance and formed a military wing. Very soon, countries, including the US and UK, declared the ANC as a “terrorist” organisation. However, this has to be seen in the context of the Cold War where the ANC was considered an ally of communist Russia. The interstices of ANC and the apartheid regime actually became a proxy battleground for the Cold War. The ANC and PAC were banned; the 60s also saw the arrest or detention of most of ANC’s leaders, including Nelson Mandela. The targeting of its leadership forced many leaders to flee the country. Interestingly, the situation also provided new opportunities to campaign internationally resulting in increased international support for the ANC’s anti-apartheid movement. However, in its home base it was pushed to conduct its political activities largely underground with increasing and harsher police crackdowns.

Meanwhile students took on increasingly bigger roles against apartheid. The Black Consciousness Movement led by Steve Biko which emphasised the pride in being black and the ending of dependency on whites by blacks became quite popular.

In 1975 the regime ordered that African schools must teach half of the subjects in certain standards in Afrikaans, a language largely seen as representing the apartheid regime. On 16 June 1976, around 20000 students marched through Soweto protesting this language policy. It was to be a peaceful march but some students started throwing stones at a police patrol who then fired upon the students. Violence escalated and spread quickly. Estimated fatalities ranged from 200 to 700 and wounded crossed over a thousand.

The Soweto uprising was a turning point for South Africa’s history. It represented the single biggest challenge to apartheid. It became a catalyst for the manifestation of decades of latent anger and sense of injustice; the membership in ANC swelled with thousands joining the ANC’s armed resistance. By the following month, protests and strikes in solidarity with the Soweto students had spread all across the country. Significantly, international pressure for the end of apartheid became more pronounced; increasing sanctions were imposed on the regime.

By the 80s the situation in South Africa had come to a head with protests happening every other day. Support for negotiation with the ANC grew, even among some in the apartheid regime. Then in 1991, with the breakup of Soviet Russia and the end of the Cold War, global political dynamics changed. Western governments who supported the apartheid regime as an ally against communism suddenly no longer saw it as useful or the ANC as a threat. As a result they began to put pressure on the regime to negotiate with ANC. From there things moved very quickly with the ANC coming to power in 1994. President Mandela’s inaugural speech reflected the optimism and hope for the new South Africa and its “newborn liberty”.

Reflecting on the ordeals faced by the people and the future that lay ahead, he exhorted: “…the daily deeds as ordinary South Africans must produce an actual South African reality that will reinforce humanity's belief in justice, strengthen its confidence in the nobility of the human soul and sustain all our hopes for a glorious life for all…We commit ourselves to the construction of a complete, just and lasting peace…”

Fast-forward almost 2 decades later: the South African government led by ANC is riddled with widespread corruption and infighting among its leadership; its administration and governance has been criticised with cronyism and favouring of a privileged few. The country is also seeing record numbers of unemployment, and with the economy floundering social services including

In this July 7, 1991, file photo, newly-elected African National Congress President Nelson Mandela greet the crowd after arriving at a rally and a week-long national ANC conference held inside South Africa for the first time in 30 years. (AP Photo/John Parkin/File)

healthcare and education in some parts of the country has become worse than during apartheid. Crime rates continue at an alarming high. Violent protests and civil unrests have raised its head on and off; just months following the ANC’s ostentatious and widely criticised celebration of its centenary in January 2012, in August the same year, 44 striking mineworkers were killed and about 78 injured in a brutal crackdown in what came to be known as the Marikanna Massacre.

In December 2012, clerics representing 4 important church organisations including the South African Council of Churches (SACC) wrote to President Jacob Zuma that: “…the dream of a just, non-racial and prospering democracy is temporarily in eclipse – being throttled by the actions (or lack of it) of a generation of leaders that seems to have largely lost its moral compass…Some political leaders are working hard and doing their best to serve the people, and for this we are grateful. But we believe too many are self-serving and arrogant…We are alarmed at the growing tendency of putting the interests of the party above those of the nation…we ask why, after 18 years of democracy and several years of economic growth, do we have a higher unemployment rate now than when we started our democracy? Why is inequality deepening, so that we are the planet’s most unequal society?” They added: "During apartheid, some Church leaders wrote to political leaders but they often failed to listen to these voices. Unfortunately we find a similar trend today…”

The fact that organisations like the SACC, an important organisation and key ally of ANC was compelled to write such a strong letter is telling enough about the descend of ANC into a moral abyss. However, ANC officials dismissed it blithely accusing the clerics of being “mischievous” and indulging in “mudslinging”. This was not the first, though, instance in which church leaders had spoken out against ANC leaders. They had previously reacted to President Zuma’s public statement in which he said: “God expects us to rule this country because we are the only organisation which was blessed by pastors when it was formed. It is even blessed in Heaven, that is why we will rule until Jesus comes back.”

What happened within the last two decades that the ANC turned state forces upon the very people on whose support it had come to power? What changed (or did not change) that its own supporters turned against their leaders and the organisation they had loyally supported for so long? What made organisations like the SACC, once ardent collaborators of ANC, accuse it of losing its moral compass? Despite the overwhelming support and expectation on which the ANC took over the mantle of governing South Africa, why has its governance not been able to address the concerns of its people?

With the eminent retirement of Nelson Mandela, ANC began to see fissures and tussles within the leadership for power. Unfortunately, the motivation for the leadership battle was not informed by the desire to address the concerns of the people but for personal economic gains. Black empowerment schemes and

economic policies to redress apartheid’s injustice were widely misused and abused to enrich ANC officials and people linked to them. Corporations were quick to seize the opportunity to feign coming on board to gain political protection which opened doors for corruption on a massive scale. Many senior ANC officials became millionaires overnight. Even lower rung workers and officials used their connection to win government tenders and contracts, then spending the money on themselves. It gave rise to a new word—tenderpreneurs—to describe those who use political connections to get rich from government contracts or from dispensing them for kickbacks. It turned the serious business of governance into an economic enterprise.

Notably, the ANC was quite successful in the 70s and 80s, despite being forced to be mostly underground. It functioned through autonomous cells in which independent leadership was cultivated. Therefore, whenever a vacuum within the leadership developed, there was always somebody to fill the gap. These strengths, instead of developing further were discarded or ignored by its leaders in favour of hoarding the power themselves once they came to power.

Despite the ANC’s overwhelming underachievement in office, and the growing disenchantment with it, it has actually been quite successful electorally. It enjoys two-thirds majority. How does the ANC manage to win elections? As Alex Perry writing in Time magazine noted: “By invoking its legend”. Using the image of individuals like Mandela the ANC has been able to whitewash its failing. And the ANC has been quite adept at reminding South Africans how they owe the party for reclaiming their dignity, turning attention away from how much the ANC has not delivered and is now actually hampering the realisation of social justice for many.

The ANC has also been masters of blaming their failings on apartheid. The overwhelming electoral majority means that there is no effective opposition. It has resulted in complacency. Zuma himself once commented: “We are too strong. We take things for granted.”

Amidst all the internal squabbling and fight for power, ANC has also not been able to come up with a coherent policy that would address its glaring inequalities and divisions. In the end, the demise of apartheid increased disparity in economic distribution. The equal rights and opportunities toward achieving social justice that the ANC had reaffirmed to work for in the Freedom Charter of 1955 had all but become a hazy memory.

There are lessons for Nagas in the story of the ANC. The signing of the ceasefire in 1997 was met with much hope; 16 years down the line, the Naga people are confused, angry and a deep sense of betrayal has set in. There is a pervasive sense of frustration and disillusionment with “national workers” for having lost sight of the goal.

Lay Nagas perceive cadres and officials of the various Naga political groups as using the flag of Naga nationalism for their own personal gains. As in the case of South Africa, while there are some of-

ficials working honestly, there are many who are “self-serving and arrogant”.

And of course, it is an open secret that there are tendrepreneurs within these organisations too.

Unfortunately, because of the power they wield (and their guns) Nagas have come to accept that this is natural. The tragedy in this is that there are many “over-ground” individuals who actively encourage corruption among the “revolutionists” for their own gains.

A persistent criticism against the ANC and its leaders was their propensity to form cliques within the party itself. In a classic case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing, party workers owing allegiance to one leader did not know what other leaders were doing. This led to many incoherent and inconsistent policy decisions that were taken without any transparency and accountability resulting in poor governance and further corruption. Again, developments within the different Naga political groups show signs of the same phenomenon.

Nagas have our own versions of President Zuma who think that the right to govern is a god given right; that they are the only ones anointed to handle the reins of government irrespective of their capacity and competency. Anybody who questions this, including those who give sincere criticisms, are easily dismissed as out to create mischief like ANC officials did those clerics. In the throes of the absolute majority power they enjoyed, ANC officials forgot the fact that the “God-given” right to rule came with the God-given responsibility to ensure the rights and welfare of the people. In the Naga context, phrases like “people’s mandate” have been thrown up time and again to either defend actions (or inactions). It would do well for everyone to remember that a political mandate, in nationalistic politics, is a temporary privilege earned as long as an individual or organisation reflects the aspiration of the people.

Perhaps the greatest failing of Naga political groups, like the ANC, is their inability to frame a coherent nation-building policy based on the vision of a self-determined Naga nation (that they can share to the people and not just for themselves. The Naga public is prudent enough to realise that in a revolutionary movement like ours, not everything can be shared with everyone every time everywhere; at the same time the success of ANC when it was pushed underground was greatly because of its ability to share crucial information at the right time with their base). For instance such a policy would perhaps touch upon issues such as building human and social capital (education), environmental sustainability and utilisation of natural resources (oil and mineral extraction, timber logging etc), and resource distribution and collection (tax!) etc. These are some examples but such policy should address the immediate concerns of the people as well as the long-term needs for a stable society. This would go a long way in addressing the confusion and frustration of the people. At least there will be clarity among the public as to the direction in which the Naga movement is heading.

Meanwhile, as the Indo-Naga ceasefire drags on, more protests and voices highlighting the frustrations of the people will surface. And while not everyone may agree with ACAUT, more such kinds of organisations and alignments will emerge if things continue the way they are. It may be easy for the Naga political groups to dismiss such actions as being designed by India’s intelligence or forces against Naga national interests, but they should be prudent enough to realise that the Naga people are not stupid; if the Naga public did not believe that there was something blatantly wrong, such huge numbers would not come out. And in the first place, do not give opportunity to the enemies to incite the people. There is also the need to be aware of shifting blame to others (like ANCs’ convenient excuse of apartheid), in this case the Indian state apparatuses, for one’s own failings.

After ANC came to power, civil society organisations they had so hugely relied on earlier became prickly thorns when the same organisations began to critically question ANC’s functioning. ANC quickly developed a habit of being routinely dismissive of such organisations and their concerns, or showing righteous indignation, sometimes even going as far as to accuse such organisations as traitors. This picture is all too familiar with the Nagas; civil society organisations have often been silenced forcefully.

Then, there is the bigger tragedy of civil societies being co-opted or subsumed by Naga political groups and the state government to such an extent that there are no independent expressions. These groups may have seen the co-option or subsuming as necessary, even a logical progression in the trajectory of the Naga national revolution, but it has taken away the space for critical reflection among Naga civil societies. The consequence of this is that Naga civil societies have lost their credibility (and ability) to be the conscience of the Naga national movement. It has taken away the clarity needed to strengthen the movement.

Nagas certainly owe much to the political groups, their officials and cadres, past and present, dead and living, for fostering a Naga political identity that has stopped others from completely obliterating us. But Naga political groups also need to remember that much has changed in the last 15 years; the struggle and battlefield for Naga liberation and nationalism is no longer in the jungles or with guns, it is now in the abstract confines of the collective consciousness of Nagas. In this, Naga political groups have been losing the battle.

Unlike the ANC, Naga political groups should be wise enough to understand that the Naga peoples’ loyalty and sacrifice for Naga nationalism should not be construed as loyalty to an organisation. It is loyalty to a cause, it is dedication to the Naga nation, not to an organisation. An organisation is not the nation, an individual is not the nation. Only the people is the nation.

There is still hope for ANC. There is still hope for the Nagas. But as the Arab Spring movement clearly showed, political groups or parties that fail to distinguish their interests and agenda from that of the people may also not realise or myopically refuse to acknowledge their approaching fall from grace.

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 8 December 2013

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INSPIRATIONAL STORIES, MESSAGES, POEMS & SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

Christ-mas What Psalm 23 reveals about God's character or Christ-mis G Gloria Copeland

H. Inavi Aye, lecturer

exchanging Christmas cards...

Withee bible college, Dimapur giving and receiving Christmas cakes etc. For many teenagers hank God it’s Christmas and adults... it is a time of fun and time again! But wait, parties, they long for get-togethChristmas without Christ? er with friends.

A story is told of a family who celebrated their child’s birthday. IS THIS WHAT CHRISTMAS The Parents decided to throw a big MEANS TO US??

I wonder if this continues party in a 5 star hotel, to honour their son. They then, sent out invitations, at Christmas this year. Imagine decorated the hall, and had the food Christmas without Santa Claus, catered-varieties of dishes, alcohol gifts, cakes, feasts. But most of all, drinks, the best of deserts, pastries image “Christmas without Christ”.

Furthermore, today we (Chrisand delicacies were set for the party.

Parents stood at the door to receive tians) don’t even wish to write/ expensive birthday gifts brought for pronounce CHRISTMAS but Xtheir son. A big party indeed! All those MAS. The letter X has been subinvited gathered, where to their sur- stituted for Christ. Consequently, prise, a lady enquired, ‘where is the Christ is missing in our Christchild whose birthday is being cele- mas celebration/programme. Afbrated?’ Alas! Parents forgot to bring ter all it isn’t our birthday, is it? that child in the celebration. Very pa- It is the Lord’s birthday and it’s thetic! This story, though imaginative, time to honour Him for who He reflects the scenario of what exactly is and what He had accomplished is happening among Christians in for humankind. We don’t go to a Nagaland today. We have kicked birthday party empty handed, Him out of our celebration, but we somehow manage to give something as a birthday gift. The whose birthday is it anyway?

Unfortunately Christmas is be- wise men had something to offer ing commercialized today. It’s be- (Gold, Frankincense, & Myrrh). coming international commercial Let’s question together, “What do celebration where the merchants we have for the baby Jesus whose gets the maximum profit as more birthday we have been waiting liquor are being sold, more food for the last many months?

The best gift that we human beitems, more clothes, more drugs, etc. etc. it is the busiest session of ings could ever give to God is our the year both for the sellers and very life. Our Lord Jesus Christ is not customers. Shops and stores stay interested in how much money we open longer every day. Sadly, even spent at Christmas, how many aniSunday is not spared. The so called mals we killed, the expensive clothes Christians longs for Sunday devo- we wear, etc. perhaps, He is much intional services to finish soon so terested in our personal life.

The Bible says in Romans 12:1; that they will have enough time for Christmas shopping. Hotels I beseech you therefore, brethren, and restaurants are packed with by the mercies of God, that you families and surely unmarried cou- present your bodies a living sacriples too. Regrettably, markets are fice, holy, acceptable to God, which crowded, churches remains empty. is your reasonable service.

Last but not the least; ChristFor some people...Christmas may mean displaying their mas is a celebration of LOVE. It’s all wealth, for some business indi- about God’s love towards mankind, viduals... hyper-profit, for some the love that comes from heaven to employees...a Christmas bonus or the earth. So friends! This Christmas, a little more money in their pock- let’s celebrate God’s love by loving ets, to some children...Christmas one another, and let’s invite Christ to may mean wearing new clothes... be the guest in our celebration.

T

od's goodness is on display in Psalm 23.

When I think of someone in the Bible who truly understood the goodness of God, one person that always comes to mind is David. God calls him a man after His own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22).

As a young shepherd tending his flock on the hills of Israel, David fellowshipped with God and came to know His nature. He knew He was a loving God. He knew that He was good, kind and patient. David knew that God would take care of him, provide for him and deliver him from danger.

From that revelation, David wrote Psalm 23.

My, what insight it gives us into God's goodness!

You may have quoted it religiously for years.

You may have even thought it referred to the care God gives us in heaven.

But this psalm reveals what God wants to do for us here on earth—in the "valley of the shadow of death." It tells us what God wants to do for us while we are here in this present life, where we must deal with our enemy, the devil. Praise the Lord, the devil will not be able to follow us to heaven. When God sets a table before us in that wonderful place, the devil will not be there!

With those things in mind, read Psalm 23 right now and let it speak to your heart in a fresh way about the kindness and loving care God wants to give you: "The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

"He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.

"He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.

"Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

"Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place" (AMP).

The more deeply you understand the truth of those words, the more you will be able to trust God in every circumstance of life. Your confidence in Him will make you bold when others are timid.

That is what happened to David. The revelation of Psalm 23 filled him with confidence in God. It made him bold and daring in dangerous situations. When a lion came after the sheep of his flock, David didn't run away. He single-handedly caught that lion by the mane and killed it. When

goodness. I have often wondered, What would have become of me if I had not believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living?

I might not even be alive right now. I certainly would not be enjoying the blessings I am enjoying today. Through the years, as Ken and I have continued to trust God, we have seen the evidence of His goodness continue to increase until it has totally overwhelmed us.

Gloria Copeland

the bear came, David killed it too.

Later in his life, when everybody in Israel was afraid of the giant Goliath, David was the only one courageous enough to fight him. He said, "Hey, I killed the lion and the bear, and when I finish with this giant, he'll be dead too!"

What was behind this great courage? David revealed the answer in 1 Samuel 17:37 when he said, "'The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine'" (NKJV).

David knew about the goodness of God and had seen it work in his life. He had also seen the victories God's goodness had gained for him, and just thinking of them made him bold.

You and I will be the same way. The more we understand the goodness of God and the more we see that goodness operating in our lives, the more victories we will have to remember. The more victories we remember, the harder it is for the devil to talk us into letting him run over us.

When the devil tries to convince us he's going to defeat us this time, he won't be able to do it.

We'll remember victory over the lion and the bear in our own lives and think, You know, God got me this far. He will not let me down now!

I have had that thought more times than I can remember in the last 35-plus years. My life was such a mess when I first learned about God's

God's Blessings Are for You The more I have come to know the goodness of the Lord, the more I have come to believe that God wants all of us to give our lives to Him so He can lavishly, without reserve, pour His blessings on us. He wants all of us to be so blessed that everywhere we look, we see the goodness of God. Every time we drive up to our homes we say, "Look what the Lord has done!" Every time we get in our car and turn the key we say, "Thank You, Lord, for this good car!"

God's desire is for us to feel so good when we get up in the morning that we cannot help but be grateful for a well body that functions faithfully and feels so good.

Every time we look at our children and see the peace they enjoy, we praise the Lord. God's desire is that every direction we turn, we experience His goodness.

Notice I said "we." Not just me. Not just my husband, Kenneth. God wants to bless you too— in every area of your life. He wants to bless you spiritually. He wants to bless you physically. He wants to bless you in your finances, in your relationships and in your career. He wants to give you the desires of your heart.

I know it sounds too good to be true, but if you think about it, Jesus Himself—the fact that God sent Him to pay the price for our sins, that He died so we could live by simple faith in Him—sounds too good to be true. But it's true nonetheless. And Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

If you're still somewhat skeptical, let me ask you a question. Where will you be this time next year if you don't start believing to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living?

You'll be right where you are now. Things will be no better in your life. In fact, they'll probably be worse because the devil will still be unhindered in his work to steal, kill and destroy.

But if you'll find out what the Bible says about God's goodness and dare to believe it, things will begin to change in a wonderful way.

Your life will immediately begin to improve. A year from now, you'll not only see that goodness on the pages of your Bible, but you'll also see it around you every day of your life.

That's what I call living!

Gloria Copeland is an internationally known Bible teacher and author.

Make some Christmas decorations yourself this season The Unfinished Task Of The Good Samaritan...

Y

ou already know you can save money with homemade Christmas gifts and Christmas appetizers you make yourself, but your Christmas decorations don't have to break the bank either. Use these homemade ideas for holiday decorating on the cheap.

(Luke 10:25-37)

Z.K.Pahrii Pou

Reader's Digest Magazine Christmas Trees: By folding your Reader's Digest magazine page

Place Pretty Pinecones: Dip pinecones in gold paint (either partially or all of the way) or use a

over page, you can turn it into a cute, cheap Christmas magazine craft. Trim with tinsel and ornaments left over from your holiday decorating, or spray gold or silver

Sit In Santa Chairs: These chair toppers are simple to make, washable, and charming!

Watch and learn as Make It-Love It shows you how to add some color to your dining room with these felt Santa Claus Hats.

Redo Your Wreath: Stack wreaths and give mixture of water, glue, and glitter for a spar- classic winter door decor a pick-me-up. Purkling effect. Place on side tables or use to fill baskets and bowls.

Craft A Candy Cane Vase: Put some simple odds and ends to good use for this easy craft

chase three wreaths in different sizes, hang on top of each other and add accessories, according to Sweet Little Bluebird.

Go For A Bow Wreath: Creating this simple, festive wreath from Design Improvised is easy Just Add Water: Take clear vases or bottles, and won't drain your wallet! Get this look by fill them with simply hot gluing bows of various colors to a water, and add Styrofoam wreath. It only takes about 20 min- from Living Well, Spending Less. Glue the candy holiday-colored utes to complete. canes to the can, tie with a red ribbon, and fill food coloring—a with artificial (or real) poinsettias. few drops will do.

Make Your Own Mistletoe: Felt, a fabric penThen line the botcil, pearl embellishments, red ribbon and a hot Turn Pillows Into Presents: Tie a bow around tles up in a row, glue gun are all you need for this cute decor your throw pillows with holiday-colored ribor decorate with from Stay At Home Artist! Cut out your felt mis- bons, and they'll look just like Christmas gifts! floating candles tletoe using a template provided and arrange Add a rhinestone pin for an extra decorating for a festive touch. pearls how you like. Tie with ribbon and hang. kick.

(Source: Internet)

D

bTc | Pfutsero

uring the time of Jesus, Jerusalem – Jericho Road (J-J Road) was infested with many robbers and bandits. It was notoriously known as the “Way of Blood” for its danger and bloodcurdling activity of robbers. So dangerous was the situation that people hardly took risk to travel alone. Remember there were no vehicle, no plane, and no railways for travelling purposes. People travel on foot or on horseback in group to avoid being robbed. On one occasion, however, a Jewish traveller took risk to travel alone on this road, probably due to an urgent and unavoidable engagement he had made. He fell among the robbers. He was beaten and all his things were taken away. He was left half-dead. He was not in a position to help himself. He needs someone’s help. A religious Priest and a Levite came by that way but they did not help him. A Samaritan- who was considered as ‘outcast’ by Jewish peoplecame to his rescue. The dying man was saved. The Samaritan had done a commendable job by attending the immediate need of the man.

However, our situation demands us to look beyond the role of this Samaritan. The Samaritan’s action has its own limitation as it did not provide long term solution to the problem. It falls short of solving the main problem presented in the parable. He did not try to deal with robbers. He saved a person’s life but did not try to create a condition/situation that would give security to the life of many travellers who would be travelling the same road every day. The main intention of the robbers was not hurting the traveller but to snatch and rob money. In that process of robbing the man was hurt. It was the desire of accumulating wealth/love of money that the man was hurt by the robbers. What we need to deal are the robbers in our society. Hence what the Samaritan did was taking care of the ‘effect’ (injured man) and not dealing with the ‘cause’ (the robbers). Possibly, his action of taking care of the ‘injured man’ could encourage the robbers of the J-J Road to repeated robbing and ruthless torture of many travellers expect-

ing someone (like Good Samaritan) would come and take care of them. In our context today, the main issue in this parable should be then primarily how to deal with the robbers and secondarily with the care of the injured man. If we take care of the ‘cause’ then the ‘effect’ will take its own course.

How many ‘injured persons’ should we continue to take care in our society today in the name of imitating the Good Samaritan?

When our fellow human beings are confronted by exploitation and other forms of robbery, our faith obliges us to be neighbourly. Neighbours are chosen for us by circumstances. By being neighbourly, it exposes us to the danger that we ourselves may fall victim to the robbers. When we choose to look the other way, even as the priest and Levite did, we are colluding with those who placed the victim in jeopardy. Could the Jericho road be made safer? If one takes the Jericho road as a metaphor for the journey of life, then it should be possible for children to play on this road without being fear of kidnapping by insurgent groups or by child traffickers. Women should be able to walk along it at any time of day or night without fear of robbers or sexual molestation. Every citizen gets access to basic needs needs as the sons and daughters of the soil without being exploited by politicians and bureaucrats.

In our world today, it is relatively easy for us to say we need more Samaritans. We could train a few more people to look out for victims of robbers and care for them. Even the robbers will be willing to contribute huge amount of money to charity organisations as long as the society takes care of the victims. So raising more Samaritans and establishing many charity organisations obviously does not deal with the flaws of the system. It is much easier to do this relief work than to work at systemic change. Focussing exclusively on the victims exposes more people to the dangerous consequences of the system. The challenge confronting us is to cleanse the Jericho road of robbers. It means tackling head-on a system that creates conditions that lead to robbery. Anything less will prolong the suffering of the victims. Is anybody listening?

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

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NATIONAL

Sunday 8 December 2013

HigH wind-wave alert for andHra PradesH, tamil nadu An Indian fisherman stands on an anchored fishing boat in Chennai, India on December 7. An alert was sounded to the fishermen of the coastal area as cyclone Madi is expected to intensify into a sever cylonic storm, according to local news reports. (AP Photo)

HYDERABAD, DEcEmBER 7 (TNN) : Incois, Hyderabad has issued a high wind-wave alert for Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

High wind waves between 3.0-6.5 metres are forecast from 5.30 pm of 7-12-2013 to 11.30 pm of 9-12-2013 along the Andhra coast between Kakinada to Durgarajupatnam.

The forecast wind speeds range from around 10 m/sec to 14 m/sec. The forecast currents vary in the range of 80 to 100 cm/ sec, at most of the locations close to the coast. The forecast swell heights vary in the range of 2 -3 m.

Under the influence of this system, rainfall at a few places would occur

over south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 48 hours.

Fishermen along and off south Andhra Pradesh coast are advised to be cautious while venturing into sea and should not venture into deep sea.

High wind waves in the range of 3.0- 6.5 metres are predicted during 5.3 pm on 7-12-2013 to 11.30pm

The Morung Express

War cannot sort out issues between India, Pakistan: asserts Imran Khan

NEW DELHI, DEcEmBER 7 (IANS): India and Pakistan need a strong leadership that tells people that war is not an option to sort out bilateral issues, Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan said here Saturday. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman said he has never believed in military solutions to problems.

Speaking at an interactive session at the HT Leadership Summit here, Imran Khan said Kashmir was an issue that the two countries should solve through dialogue.

He said the Taliban was not an ideological movement and those involved in the Mumbai terror attack should be brought to justice.

Khan also said the future of the Indian subcontinent lies in living as neighbours like countries in the European Union.

Imran Khan, whose party won the second largest number of votes in Pakistan’s general elections earlier this year, said the younger generation in the two countries have not seen “horrors of partition” and “want to move on”.

“What the two countries need is strong leadership that sells the idea

that war was no option and make (people) understand the dividends of peace... we need to have leadership that tells war is no option,” Imran Khan said. He said cooperation between countries raises the living standards but admitted that relations between India and Pakistan cannot improve in the absence of trust.

Imran Khan said there were lobbies interested in fanning hatred in the two countries.He said Kashmir was a problem and the two countries should solve it “as neighbours do across the table”. mIndia and Pakistan should look for what was best for people of the state.

“Kashmir is about people of Kashmir. What is best for them, India and Pakistan should look for,” he said. Imran Khan said he came to know that India and Pakistan had come “very close” to settling the Kashmir issue, but the Mumbai terror attack affected the process.

Asked about his advocating peace in India and sharing stage with Mumbai terror attack accused Hafeez Saeed in Pakistan, Khan said: “If you are in politics, a party has to engage with everyone. Engagement is part of democracy. It does not mean

I endorse their views about India.”

Imran Khan said he has always opposed military settlement in his country’s tribal areas and has been advocating dialogue for the past nine years. There was a realisation now among the Pakistan leadership that the only way to peace was dialogue, he said.

He said there was “no Talibanisation in Pakistan” during the rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the militants in Pakistan were created by military operations. On a query, he hoped that a strong government will come to power in India after next year’s general elections.

One reason for problems between India and Pakistan was lack of strong leadership, he said. “If one side had it, it was not on the other side,” he said.

Imran Khan said Pakistan’s biggest problem was dealing with internal security and the situation was affecting the country’s economy.

The situation in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US-led international forces next year will have a bearing on situation in Pakistan, he said.

“If it is positive, militancy will subside,” he said.

on 9-12-2013 along Nagapattinam to Pulicat off the Tamil Nadu coast. The forecast wind speeds range from around 10 m/sec to 14 m/sec. The forecast currents vary in the range of 140 to 160 cm/sec, at most of the locations close to the coast. The forecast swell heights vary in the range of 2 -3 m.

Under the influence of this system, rainfall at a few places would occur over coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry during next 48 hours.

Fishermen along and off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts are advised to be cautious while venturing into sea and should not venture into deep sea.

NEW DELHI, DEcEmBER 7 (TNN): Indian officials will question Guido Ralph Haschke, one of the three middlemen who allegedly helped swing the VVIP helicopter deal for AgustaWestland, in an Italian court next week.

Haschke, whose statement is being recorded by the Italian court after he was extradited from Switzerland, has apparently claimed 6 million euros were paid to Indian Air Force officials and 8.4 million euros to bureaucrats, with the politicians also getting a cut.

As per reports from Italy, Haschke said there

was also a plan to give 7% commission in the case to the three cousins of former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, Dosca, Julie and Sandeep. He also claimed to have met ACM Tyagi six to seven times.

Haschke, his partner Carlos Gerosa and Londonbased consultant Christian Michel were allegedly paid kickbacks totalling 51 million euros (around Rs 400 crore) in the Rs 3,546-crore deal for 12 VVIP helicopters inked with AgustaWestland, the UK-based subsidiary of Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica, in February 2010.

The Italian court on

Thursday asked the Indian defence ministry officials present during the legal proceedings whether they wanted to question the accused. “Our officials were given an opportunity to question Haschke through their lawyer on Thursday itself. But they told the court that they would reserve the right, till the next hearing on December 13, since they wanted to ask the questions in a proper, consolidated manner,” said a source.

Italian prosecutors have alleged Haschke, who boasted of his “big connections” in India, and Gerosa acted as the intermediaries

for the bribes paid to Indian officials.

The CBI FIR here, in turn, says, “Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa managed to send 5.6 million Euros through Mohali-based IDS Infotech and Chandigarhbased Aeromatrix Info Solutions Private Ltd to India and kept the remaining amount of about 24.30 million Euros received from AgustaWestland with themselves in the account of IDS Tunisia”. As reported earlier, even as the CBI probes the criminal case, the MoD is also getting all set to scrap the contract with AgustaWestland after

earlier freezing all further payments to the company despite having inducted only three of the 12 AW-101 helicopters, with around 45% of the total contract value already been paid.

The final cancellation process was initiated after MoD received the opinion of the law ministry and the attorney general that there was “a clear violation of the integrity pact and the contractual obligations” by AgustaWestland. The provisions provide for “strict action including the cancellation of contract, recovery of payment, blacklisting and penal action”.

BALI, DEcEmBER 7 (TNN): The government on Friday claimed major gains at the World Trade Organization as members accepted its demand on food security that will protect India and other developing countries from penalties for breaching the domestic subsidy cap of 10% of value of production.

In return, India agreed to a new agreement on trade facilitation, the first since WTO was set up nearly two decades ago, that will ease controls at ports and airports and may provide a boost of up to $1 trillion to the global economy.

“It’s a great day because. It’s a historic decision. It’s a victory not only for India but for all developing countries. It’s a victory for WTO and all countries who have come to a mature decision,” said an elated commerce & industry minister Anand Sharma

while coming out of a meeting where the decision was circulated to WTO’s 159 members.

Politically, the Congress party will claim a major victory as it will help it roll out the UPA’s flagship National Food Security Act without any hurdles. In addition, it will help blunt any opposition from principal opposition BJP and the Left parties.

But the result was not easy as India shrugged off pressure and stuck to its demand. Trade ministers spent the last four days trying to bridge differences over a trade deal that has remained elusive for years. The Bali package, as it is being called, is the first success in the Doha Round of negotiations that started 12 years ago with a view to help developing and poor countries. For India, the victory was particularly sweet

as it managed to have its way despite major players China and Brazil backing out, leaving South Africa as the only major ally along with Argentina and some large African countries such as Kenya and Nigeria.

While members have virtually accepted the draft

circulated by WTO, an endorsement is seen as a formality.

As demanded by India, developing countries will now be able to continue with their public procurement programmes without fearing a possible breach in the ceiling. A ruling in its favour will help the government roll out the food

security law without any hurdles as procurement hiccups could have impacted the implementation of UPA’s flagship scheme.

Although India has still not exceeded the 10% limit, higher minimum support price and increased quantities of purchases are pushing up the domestic subsidy level as 1986-88 prices are used to calculate the level of support.

Civil society groups, however, pointed out that developing countries can still be dragged to WTO seeking penalties for violation of rules on subsidies.

The government, however, refuted the charges. Countering their other charge, Sharma later told reporters that there are no restrictions on launching new food security schemes.

To get the food subsidy benefits, the government

will have to comply with conditions such as the support offered by it and if it is nearing the 10% limit. In addition, the benefit will be available for all crops.

There were other gains for the developing countries such as Brazil, China and India more competitive in international markets. The least developed countries too got a package of sorts.

The trade facilitation agreement will, however, require changes in Indian laws, especially the Customs Act, a quicker transition to electronic payments across ports and a special set of rules to speed up courier flow at airports.

While upgradation of ports and airports will require large investments, the government has turned down any assistance saying it is already improving infrastructure and can easily finance it.

cHENNAI, DEcEmBER 7 (TNN): Thirteenyear-old Ramesh, a Class 8 student, ran away from his home in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district after his mother died. “My father used to beat me often. Unable to bear the torture, I ran away and reached Chennai at midnight and stayed on pavements for a while,” said Ramesh (name changed). Later, an activist took him to an orphanage in Chennai.

But not many are as lucky as Ramesh. In India, about 0.19% of its population is without a home,

says the Census report on the homeless released on Friday. Families that live in open areas like pavements, railway platforms, hume pipes, under flyovers and even in the open at places of worship are treated as homeless. The homeless were counted on the night of February 28, 2011 during the census.

TN with a homeless population of 0.1% is better than many bigger states and even smaller ones like Delhi or Chandigarh.

Nearly 0.39% of the population in Chandigarh and 0.28% in Delhi are home-

less. Among the big states, Rajasthan has the maximum percentage of homeless in its population at 0.26%. Of the total homeless people in the country, Uttar Pradesh accounts for the maximum (18.56%), followed by Maharashtra with 11.9%, Rajasthan with 10.24% and Madhya Pradesh with 8.26%. Tamil Nadu has 2.87% of the country’s homeless.

The good news is that the number of homeless people across the country has come down - from about 19 lakh in 2001 to 17 lakh in 2011. There are

more than 2.7 lakh children living without a roof above their heads in the country. The number has come down from 3.45 lakh in 2001.

“The decline in number of homeless households is good news but the census would not have taken into account the migrant population living in railway stations and bus stands,” said Paul Singh of Karunalaya, a home for shelterless in Chennai. Many of the migrants work as construction labourers and live mostly on the site itself, he said.

Dealing with homeless

people was one of the issues in the recent Delhi assembly election campaign with the opposition criticizing the Congress government for not doing enough.

The literacy rate among the homeless is poor compared to that of the general population. In the 2011 census, the literacy of the general population was estimated to be 73%, but among the homeless, it was only 39.2%. More than 77% of the homeless population work between three and six months and many of them are employed in non-agriculture work.

Andhra CM revolts against Cong Indian officials to question middlemen in chopper scam leadership over Telangana

HYDERABAD, DEcEmBER 7 (IANS): In an open revolt against Congress leadership for the decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Saturday said he would see how a bill defeated in the state assembly would be tabled in parliament.

With the central government sending the bill for formation of Telangana state to the President Pranab Mukherjee and the later likely to refer it soon to the state assembly, the chief minister said the bill would be defeated in the assembly.

We will see how a defeated bill will be tabled in the parliament,» the chief minister told a public meeting at Vijayawada after dedicating the Pulichintala project built across Krish-

na river to the nation.

Kiran Reddy wanted to know from the party leadership if the people committed a crime by supporting the Congress in difficult times that it is now dividing the state. He pointed out that it was people›s support which brought Congress back to power in 2004 and 2009.

Will you divide the state just because KCR (TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao) wants it,» he asked and even advised the leadership to make KCR or YSR Congress party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy or Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu the chief minister but keep the state united.

While making it clear that he would never accept the division, he said it was still not too late and the the

central government should reconsider the decision.

The chief minister alleged that the central government was ignoring a massive public movement in Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) to keep the state united.

More than 6.5 lakh employees were on strike for 70 to 80 days and three to four lakh people were on streets every day but it seems they (the central government) had closed their eyes and ears,» he said.

Though Kiran Reddy had been speaking out against the party decision for last three months, this was his first reaction after Thursday›s union cabinet meeting, which approved draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill.

the government was being extra careful in view of the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature starting in Nagpur Monday where the issue could be raised by the opposition.

In Mumbai, Maanyata’s doctor said a tumourous growth in her body was “causing concern”.

“She has complained of chest pain and sudden weight loss. During tests we detected a large tumour growth on her liver,” her cardiologist Ajay Chaughule told IANS. “Maanyata is also suffering from irregular heart beats and the tumourous growth is also causing concern,” said Chaughule who is attached with Global Hospital, Mumbai, and specialises in heart and liver problems.

Asked whether the condition was serious, he declined to comment, but expressed hope that she

would recover.

Though she had been advised to consider an angiography, Manyata opted for a second opinion with Chaughule.

Dutt, 54, had recently applied for a month’s parole saying he wanted to take care of his sick wife.

However, Maanyata reportedly attended a film premiere Thursday night and her pictures were splashed in various online media. She was seen sporting jeans and T-shirt.

This would be the third time Dutt will be granted parole in the past three months.

Dutt was granted the first parole for a fortnight due to medical reasons Oct 1, which was extended by another 15 days and he returned to the jail Oct 30.

The actor is presently serving the remaining 42 months of his five-year sentence for his involvement in the March 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

Having served 18 months in jail before his trial began, Dutt started his stint in the jail May 16. In prison, he has been assigned the task of making paper bags which are sold outside through some NGOs. Though Dutt spent Diwali in jail along with other inmates, he is likely to enjoy Christmas and New Year with his family if he gets parole now.

Question over sanjay dutt’s parole

N Ag p u R / m u m B A I , DEcEmBER 7 (IANS): Uncertainty loomed over the fresh parole granted to imprisoned Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt as the Maharashtra government Saturday sought a report on the issue while his wife Maanyata’s doctor said she was suffering from heart and liver ailments.

The month’s parole for Dutt on grounds that his wife was ill, apparently approved by the Pune divisional commissioner, has evoked strong reactions from various quarters.

A group of Republican Party of India (RPI) activists Saturday demonstrated outside the Yerawada Central Jail, protesting the actor’s likely release.

Waving black flags and banners, RPI activists led by district chief Sandeep Sasane shouted slogans demanding that Dutt should not be granted parole and treated at par with other prisoners.

State Home Minister R.R. Patil has sought a report from the concerned departments to ascertain whether Dutt was eligible for a month’s parole.

An official in Nagpur said police may also try to verify the nature of Maanyata’s illness before a final decision on the parole is taken.

Political sources said

India has its way at WTO on food plan

‘It’s a victory not only for India but for all developing countries’

Nearly 2 in 1000 is homeless in India

International

The Morung Express

Sunday 8 December 2013

Dimapur

9

World leaders to honor nelson Mandela

JOHANNESBURG, DEcEmBER 7 (AP): South Africa expects overwhelming crowds and a host of world leaders to attend services honoring late President Nelson Mandela, though with the ceremonies only days away officials acknowledged Saturday they couldn’t offer any specifics.

Across the country, South Africans already have begun honoring Mandela, who died Thursday at age 95, with hundreds flocking to the street outside his home in the Johannesburg neighborhood of Houghton.

Official services begin Tuesday with a major memorial planned at FNB Stadium on the edge of Soweto.

Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane told journalists Saturday he expects massive crowds far beyond what the stadium’s 95,000-person capacity could hold. He said there would be “overflow” areas set up. “We can’t tell people not to come,” he said.

He couldn’t offer specifics about how crowds would arrive there with all roads to the venue closed by police or who would serve as a master of ceremonies. At Mandela’s house in Houghton, hundreds of people gathered Saturday where they sang liberation songs and homages to Mandela. They walked through the streets of Houghton, past expansive, stately homes carrying bundles of flowers and images of Mandela. One young girl, held by her father, carried flowers torn from a garden, weeds included.

Precious Ncayiyana, a pharmacist, carried a painting of Mandela made from old newspaper clip-

pings about him. His left eye bore the number 4664, Mandela’s former inmate number, while his right eye said Madiba, his clan name.

Ncayiyana said she planned to drive the painting’s artist to Pretoria so he could make a painting of the leader’s body lying in state. “It’s my way of contributing to Madiba’s legacy. He’s gone, but his spirit lives on,” she said.

As the chanting and cheering behind her grew louder, she raised her voice to add: “If you see someone you can help, it doesn’t cost anything. ... That’s what he taught us.” Those planning Mandela’s funeral include the former president’s family, the federal government, the military and the African National Congress political party. Despite some prior planning by authorities as Mandela grew frail and suffered bouts of hospitalization in recent years, many of the details remain up in the air.

It’s unclear which ceremony world leaders will attend, either Tuesday’s stadium memorial or the planned funeral service Dec. 15 in Qunu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s rural hometown in Eastern Cape Province. Chabane said South African officials were briefing diplomats Saturday about the arrangements. U.S. President Barack Obama and his two predecessors, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, already have indicated they will attend services in South Africa honoring Mandela.

Mandela’s body won’t be at the stadium event Tuesday, Chabane said.

His body will rest in state Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Afri-

‘Smoking after cancer diagnosis ups death risk’

WASHiNGtON, DEcEmBER 7 (iANS): Men who continue to smoke after being diagnosed with cancer have an increased risk of death compared with those who quit smoking, US researchers said.

The new research, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, Friday showed it is not too late to stop smoking after cancer diagnosis, reported Xinhua.

They used data from a study investigating the association between lifestyle characteristics and risk of cancer among middle-aged and older men in Shanghai, China. Between 1986 and 1989, over 18,000 men aged 45 to 64 were enrolled in the study.

They determined more than 1,600 participants had developed cancer by 2010. Of these participants, 340 were non-smokers, 545 quit smoking before their cancer diagnosis, and 747 were smokers at diagnosis. Of the 747 smokers at diagnosis, 214 quit after diagnosis, 197 continued smoking consistently, and the remaining 336 smoked intermittently.

Compared with men who did not smoke after a cancer diagnosis, those who smoked after diagnosis had a 59 percent increase in risk of death from all causes, after adjusting for factors including age, cancer site, and treatment type, the researchers said. When limited to men who were smokers at diagnosis, those who continued smoking after diagnosis had a 76 percent increase in risk of death from all causes compared with

those who quit smoking after a diagnosis, they said.

When cancer patients who continued smoking after diagnosis were compared with cancer patients who quit smoking after diagnosis, the risk of death varied with different cancer organ sites: risk of death increased by 2.95-fold for bladder cancer patients who continued smoking, 2.36-fold for lung cancer patients who continued smoking, and 2.31-fold for colorectal cancer patients who continued smoking.

“Many cancer patients and their health care providers assume that it is not worth the effort to stop smoking at a time when the damage from smoking has already been done, considering these patients have been diagnosed with cancer,” study author Li Tao, an epidemiologist at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California in Fremont, said. “Our study provides evidence of the impact of post diagnosis smoking on survival after cancer, and assists in addressing the critical issue of tobacco control in cancer survivorship,” she said.

Tao said that only a fraction of cancer patients who are smokers at diagnosis receive formal smoking cessation counselling from their physicians or health care providers at the time of diagnosis and treatment, and that less than half of these patients eventually quit smoking after the diagnosis. “Therefore, there is considerable room for improvement with regard to tobacco control in the post diagnosis setting for the growing population of cancer survivors,” she added.

ca’s capital. Mandela’s body will held overnight those days at 1 Military Hospital on Pretoria’s outskirts, Chabane said. He called on residents to line the streets to serve as an honor guard as Mandela’s body passes twice each day.

ANC members will hold a ceremony on Dec. 14 at Waterkloof Air Force Base near Pretoria before Mandela’s body is flown to Qunu, Chabane said. Sunday has been declared a national day of prayer and reflection over Mandela’s death. The government has announced that a special sitting of the two houses of parliament will be held on Monday to pay tribute to Mandela, the country’s first black and democraticallyelected president.

Tributes to the for-

mer anti-apartheid activist continued to pour in from around the globe Saturday.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who has been in power since his country’s independence from Britain in 1980 and supported Mandela’s ANC during its struggle against the apartheid regime, paid his first public tribute to the deceased leader on Saturday.

Despite himself being accused by critics of increasingly authoritarian rule, Mugabe praised Mandela as a champion of democracy and “an unflinching fighter for justice.” “Mr. Nelson Mandela’s renowned and illustrious political life will forever remain a beacon of excellence,” Zimbabwe’s staterun newspaper The Herald quoted Mugabe as saying.

Flowers, posters, and messages left by mourners lie in front of Nelson Mandela's old house in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa on December 7. South Africa is readying itself for the arrival of a flood of world leaders for the memorial service and funeral of Nelson Mandela as thousands of mourners continued to flock to sites around the country Saturday to pay homage to the freedom struggle icon. (AP Photo)

Mandela memorial one of largest in generations N

elson Mandela’s memorial on Tuesday at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium promises to be one of the largest such gatherings in generations.

The White House says President Barack Obama will travel to South Africa next week to pay respects, but it didn’t say whether he will attend the memorial or the smaller funeral on Dec. 15 in Mandela’s hometown. If history is a guide, dozens of other presidents, prime ministers and royals are expected to pay their respects.

 Pope John Paul II: His Here is a look at memorials in recent decades that 2005 funeral drew Presidrew the world’s attention dent George W. Bush and French President Jacques — and its leaders: Chirac among “dignitaries  Winston Churchill: from more than 80 counHis 1965 funeral was at- tries, including the presitended by “Four kings, dents of Syria and Iran, and two queens, presidents the king of Jordan,” the AP — including France’s Gen. reported. “At least 300,000 Charles de Gaulle in uni- people filled St. Peter’s form — prime ministers Square ... but millions of and statesmen from 113 others watched on giant nations,” The Associated video screens set up across Press reported. Hundreds Rome.”  President John F. of thousands of people had paid tribute while his body Kennedy: His 1963 funeral lay in state three days, and was attended by “28 presithousands lined the route dents, prime ministers and kings.” As his horse-drawn to the funeral service.

coffin moved through Washington, “streets were lined by hundreds of thousands of people, many of them weeping.”  Yitzhak Rabin: The 1995 funeral for the assassinated Israeli prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner was attended by President Bill Clinton and more than 40 other presidents or prime ministers, including some Arab ones.

“It was a collection of heads of states that only three years ago would have been unimaginable,” the AP reported.  Princess Diana:

While her 1997 funeral drew British Prime Minister Tony Blair, then-U.S. first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and numerous foreign dignitaries, “organizers said they wanted to keep the number of politicians low to accommodate Diana’s friends and people connected with charities she supported.”  Mao Zedong: While a million people attended a memorial rally in Beijing for the Chinese leader in 1976, the government that long had largely closed itself off from the world continued the practice that

day. “No foreign dignitaries were invited to Peking for the rally,” the AP reported.  Anwar Sadat: Three former U.S. presidents attended the Egyptian president’s 1981 funeral, as well as about a dozen heads of state and Prince Charles and other royalty. Heads of state of other Arab countries largely did not come.  Nelson Mandela: After the memorial service, Mandela’s body then will lie in state in Pretoria for three days, and he will be buried during a state funeral in his rural hometown of Qunu on Dec. 15.

BANGKOK, DEcEmBER 7 (AP): Thailand’s prime minister said Saturday that she will not cling to power and that she is ready to resign and dissolve Parliament if all parties agree to hold new elections.

But Yingluck Shinawatra acknowledged that the leader of the country’s biggest anti-government demonstrations in years has rejected all of those things, and said she sees no quick end to her country’s deep political impasse. The only way forward, she said, is to talk.

“Our door is still open” to dialogue, Yingluck said in an interview with a small group of foreign journalists at her office at Bangkok’s ornate Government House, a target of protesters who briefly swept into the compound just a few days earlier.

Thailand has been hit repeatedly by bouts of political turmoil, many of them violent, since the

army overthrew thenPrime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s older brother, in a 2006 coup. At least five people have died and at least 289 have been injured in the latest unrest, which began in early November and has included repeated clashes with security forces. The violence eased last week ahead of birthday celebrations to honor King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who turned 86 on Thursday.

The protesters are led by former lawmaker Suthep Thaugsuban, who has vowed to overthrow Yingluck’s government, accusing it of widespread corruption, incompetence, and of effectively buying the votes of millions of people through a series of government assistance programs.

Suthep represents the traditional Thai elite, a loose confederation of royalists, top bureaucrats,

soundly defeated. Various incarnations of Yingluck’s party, which has massive support among poor and rural voters, have won every election the country has held since 2001.

The prime minister said that the crisis does not appear to be nearing an end, but that “it might not last long” if the parties begin serious negotiations. There is no sign, though, of that happening. On Friday, Suthep urged his followers to turn out en masse Monday for what he said would be a final showdown, raising more fears of violence after several days of calm.

Security officials said Saturday that they would re-erect multiple layers of barricades around Government House before Monday’s protests, and that rings of soldiers and police — none carrying weapons — would also be deployed.

UNitED NAtiONS, DEcEmBER 7 (iANS): A UN General Assembly committee adopted a resolution on human settlement Friday, designating Oct 31 as the World Cities Day. The General Assembly “decides to designate Oct 31 of every year, beginning in 2014, as World Cities Day,” Xinhua cited from the resolution adopted by the UNGA Economic and Financial Committee.

The General Assembly invites member states, the UN system, in particular UN-Habitat, relevant international organisations, civil society and all other relevant stakeholders to observe and raise awareness of the World Cities Day, the resolution added. On Oct 31, 2010, a declaration issued on the closing day of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai proposed that Oct 31 be designated as World Better Cities Day, in a bid to recall, renew and advance ideas and practices of the Shanghai Expo

for future development.

In the past three years, with joint efforts of the Chinese government and other parties, the International Exhibitions Bureau General Assembly, the UN-HABITAT Governing Council, and the United Nations Economic and Social Council have successively proposed designating World Cities Day. Thedesignationisexpected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanisation, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and challenges in urbanisation and contribute to urban sustainable development around the world, observers say.

The move, in line with China’s goal of promoting new-type urbanisation construction and ecological civilisation construction, is also seen as an important contribution by China in promoting urban sustainable development around the world.

Newman declined because of a direct flight to his home state of California, which he took later Saturday. Newman’s son, Jeffrey, said he spoke briefly with his father from Beijing and that he was “in excellent spirits and eager to be reunited with his family.”

“As you can imagine this has been a very difficult ordeal for us as a family, and particularly for him,” he said in a statement read outside his home in Pasadena, adding that they will say more about this unusual journey after Newman has rested. Last month, Newman read from an awkwardly worded alleged confession that apologized for, among other things, killing North Koreans during the war. They were his first words since being taken off a plane Oct. 26 by North Korean authorities while preparing to leave the country after a 10-day tour. Analysts questioned whether the statement was coerced, and former South Korean guerrillas who had worked with Newman and

fought behind enemy lines during the war disputed some of the details.

Newman’s detention highlights the extreme sensitivity with which Pyongyang views the 1950-53 war, which ended without a formal peace treaty, leaving the Korean Peninsula sill technically in a state of war.

The conflict is a regular focus of North Korean propaganda and media, which accuse Pyongyang’s wartime enemies Washington and Seoul of carrying on the fighting by continuing to push for the North’s overthrow.

“In the United States, we revealingly refer to the Korean War as the ‘forgotten war.’ Most Americans do not realize that memory of the war’s violence is at the foundation of North Korean national identity,” said Christine Hong, an Asia specialist at the University of California at Santa Cruz who has twice visited North Korea.

Tension remains on the Korean Peninsula, though Pyongyang’s angry rhetoric against the U.S. and South

Korea has toned down compared with its torrent of springtime threats to launch nuclear strikes and restart nuclear bomb fuel production. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf urged Pyongyang to pardon “as a humanitarian gesture” another American, Kenneth Bae, who has been held in the North for more than a year.

Members of the former South Korean guerrilla group said in an interview last week with The Associated Press that Newman was their adviser. Some have expressed surprise that Newman would take the risk of visiting North Korea given his association with their group, which is still remembered with keen hatred in the North. Others were amazed Pyongyang still considered Newman a threat. “Why did North Korea make such a big fuss?”

Park Chan-wu, a former guerrilla who worked with Newman during the war, said Saturday. “It’s been 60 years since he worked as our adviser.”

‘No quick end to political impasse’ businesspeople and highranking military officers.

He is demanding the creation of a non-elected “People’s Council” that would replace Yingluck’s administration, which swept into power in a landslide election two years ago. Yingluck’s brother has lived in self-imposed exile since 2008, fleeing charges of corruption and abuse of power, though he remains immensely powerful and is believed to be involved in most major government decisions.

Yingluck said Saturday that she was open to new elections. “We don’t have any resistance about resigning or dissolving Parliament,” she said. But Suthep has said that the prime minister’s resignation would not be enough to end the crisis. He has also rejected any new election because he knows the opposition would likely be

Oct 31 is World Cities Day: UN

North Korea deports US War vet

U.S. tourist Merrill Newman arrives at Beijing airport on December 7, after being released by North Korea. North Korea deported Newman who was detained for more than a month, apparently ending the saga of his return to the North six decades after he advised South Korean guerrillas still loathed by Pyongyang. North Korea made the decision because the 85-year-old Newman had apologized for his alleged crimes during the Korean War and because of his age and medical condition, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (AP Photo)

SEOUL, DEcEmBER 7 (AP): North Korea on Saturday freed an 85-year-old U.S. veteran of the Korean War after a weekslong detention, ending the saga of Merrill Newman’s attempt to visit the North as a tourist six decades after he oversaw a group of South Korean wartime guerrillas still loathed by Pyongyang.

North Korea made the decision after Newman,

who was detained since late October, apologized for his alleged crimes, which Pyongyang linked in part to his work with the South Korean partisan group. North Korea also cited his age and medical condition.

“I am very glad to be on my way home,” a smiling Newman told reporters after arriving at the airport in Beijing from Pyongyang.

“And I appreciate the toler-

ance the (North Korean) government has given to me to be on my way.” “I feel good,” Newman said, adding with a laugh that the first thing he planned to do was “go home and see my wife.”

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who is traveling in Seoul, welcomed the release and said he talked by phone with Newman in Beijing, offering him a ride home on Air Force Two. Biden said

10

Dimapur

SPORTS

Sunday 8 December 2013

The Morung Express

Brazil start quest for sixth title against Croatia Five WC draw talking points COSTA DO SAUIPE, DECEmbEr 7 (IANS): Hosts Brazil will play Croatia in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup June 12 in Sao Paulo as the draw was completed here. Five talking points from Friday's FIFA World Cup draw, according to Xinhua.

1) GROUP OF DEATH Groups B, D and G all have claims to be the tournament's most difficult. Group G has no easy matches but B and D perhaps have the strongest top three teams. Group B comprises world champions Spain as well as the Netherlands and Chile while Group D boasts three former World Cup winners in Uruguay, England and Italy. The latter two have equal claims to be dubbed the tournament's Group of Death.

2) EASIEST GROUP While Brazil and Colombia will be content with their draws, they will not be as happy as Argentina and Belgium. Argentina will be pitted against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria in Group F while the impressive Belgian outfit faces Algeria, Russia and South Korea. Perhaps more significantly, Argentina and Belgium have avoided the sapping heat of Brazil's north and northeast with all of their matches in the milder south and southeastern regions.

3) FREQUENT FLYER POINTS If any team deserves to whinge about what has been served to them, it is Croatia. If playing the tournament opener against Brazil in Sao Paulo wasn't bad enough, Niko Kovac's men will then travel more than 3000 km north to the stifling Amazonian outpost of Manaus for a clash against Cameroon.

Their last group match against Mexico will require another 4,000 km journey east to the tropical city of Recife. At least there they might be able to enjoy a sea breeze.

4) TURNING UP THE HEAT Italy will play their first match against England in the cauldron of Manaus's Arena Amazonia. Cesare Prandelli's team then have consecutive 1 p.m. kickoffs against Costa Rica and Uruguay in the northeastern cities of Recife and Natal where temperatures are likely to be close to 30 degrees Celsius with high humidity.

5) FOOT IN MOUTH Just days after England coach Roy Hodgson made public his wish to avoid Manaus it was almost inevitable that his team would be drawn there. The city's mayor Arthur Virgilio has alThe coaches of the national teams pose for a group photo with FIFA President Joseph Blatter, center, after the draw ceremony for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Costa do Sauipe near ready warned England that Hodgson's comments will ensure a pro-Italy crowd at the June 14 fixture.

Salvador, Brazil, Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. (AP Photo)

COSTA DO SAUIPE, DECEmbEr 7 (rEUTErS): Hosts Brazil will get the ball rolling against Croatia, holders Spain face 2010 runnersup Netherlands and U.S. coach Juergen Klinsmann is up against compatriots Germany after Friday's World Cup draw.

For a few hours at least the problems concerning stadium construction, infrastructure costs, and civil unrest surrounding the staging of next year's World Cup were forgotten as soccer took centre stage in the north-eastern holiday resort in Bahia.

Following a brief tribute to former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday, more than 2,000 celebrities, guests and media endured a typically cheesy stage show before the serious business started and the 32 finalists were placed in their eight first-

round groups of four.

At least two of those groups produced tough obstacles for their participants to progress to the knockout rounds. The first is Group B which features world and European champions Spain, their final opponents from four years ago the Netherlands, the dangerous Chile and the whipping boys from Australia, at 59 the lowest ranked team in the tournament.

The other gruelling-looking quartet involves three teams who have won the World Cup seven times between them South American champions Uruguay (two titles), Italy (4) and England (1) - plus the unpredictable Costa Rica in Group D. England and Italy will meet in their opening match in Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon jungle on June 14.

Among the standout first round games are three-times

world champions Germany, who won one of their titles with Klinsmann in the side in 1990, playing his United States team.

They meet in Recife in their last Group G match on June 26.

Argentina will meet African champions Nigeria in Group F, the fourth time they have met in six World Cups, while Brazil, as well as facing Croatia and Cameroon, will play their bogey team Mexico in Group A. CUP PROMISE Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who has promised his countrymen that Brazil will win the World Cup for an unprecedented sixth time next year, was not unhappy about facing Croatia in the opening game, due to be played in Sao Paulo on June 12.

"It's always good to start off against a European team because they have to go through an adaptation period in Brazil

and there are a series of things they'll need to implement," he said after the draw. "It will be a balanced first match but we live here, we work here and we know this country better than anybody."

Scolari, who steered Brazil to World Cup success in 2002, not only knows the expectations on him and his players, but also on the politicians, organisers and workers to get the Sao Paulo stadium ready on time for the finals. It fell behind schedule when a crane collapsed on to its structure killing two construction workers last week and is now not due to be ready until April, just two months before the world's greatest sporting spectacle kicks off in South America for the first time since it was held in Argentina in 1978.

Argentina, who won then and would like nothing more than to lift the trophy on the soil of their

arch-rivals next year, face debutants Bosnia and Iran as well as Nigeria in Group F. Bosnia could hardly have had a tougher first, meeting Lionel Messi and his countrymen at the Maracana on June 15. One former champion is sure to go out from Group D, with England facing Italy in the jungle city of Manaus in a mouth-watering opener for the two European sides.

"We know how good Italy are because we lost to them in the quarter-finals at the (2012) Euros," said England boss Roy Hodgson. "The game is going to be tough from a climate point of view for both teams. We're both in the same boat." Uruguay forward Diego Forlan, who helped his country reach the semi-finals in 2010, said: "In comparison with what other teams got, it's the hardest group of this World Cup. "But you have to play the matches and at the last

World Cup we were in a very them in a friendly this year and complicated group but came once you get on the pitch they through well." are the just the opponent," said Klinsmann, who also coached FINAL REPEAT Germany to the semi-finals at Spain begin their title de- home in 2006. fence with a repeat of the physiFrance, who qualified via cal 2010 final against the Neth- the playoffs, will be pleased erlands in the Maracana. "We with a Group E placing alongwill have to be prepared right side Ecuador, Switzerland and from the first day, focus our- Honduras. "It could have been selves," said coach Vicente Del more complicated," said coach Bosque, knowing the runners- Didier Deschamps. "We know up are likely to face Brazil in the Switzerland well, they were first knockout round. "I expect seeded so obviously the toughthat Brazil will be first in their est opponent. We don't know group so we will have to take Ecuador and Honduras that great pains to do the same," he well and it will have an influadded. ence on our preparation." FanGermany will come face-to- cied Belgium head up Group H face with their former striker alongside Algeria, Russia and and coach Juergen Klinsmann South Korea while Group C,, and his United States team, with containing Colombia, Greece, Portugal and Ghana completing Ivory Coast and Japan, looks the the Group G lineup. "Of course, toughest to predict. a special moment for me to play The final is at the Maracana against Germany but we beat in Rio on July 13.

Rockets go on the Johnson torments English batsmen offensive to beat Warriors

Houston Rockets' James Harden (13) keeps the ball from Golden State Warriors' Kent Bazemore, right, during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, in Houston. The Rockets won 105-83. (AP Photo)

HOUSTON, DECEmbEr 7 (AP): The Rockets' offense is one of the best in the NBA. However, against Golden State on Friday night, it was the defense that was the key. Houston leaned on its defense in the first quarter while jumping out to a double-digit lead it didn't relinquish. James Harden scored 34 points, Dwight Howard had 22 points and 18 rebounds, and the Rockets beat the Warriors 105-83.

Terrence Jones added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who had

lost two straight. Harden shot 13 for 22 from the field and 7 for 9 on free throws two nights after shooting 3 for 17 — including 0 for 10 on 3-pointers — against Phoenix. Howard was 12 for 20 on free throws as the Rockets finished 25 for 39 from the line. Houston was also 45 percent from the field. "That's the way we play," Harden said. "If we don't get after them on the defensive end, it's going to be tough for us. We were getting huge stops and getting out in transition. We did a good job early in the

game of putting pressure on their guards, and we got things going our way."

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 22 points and five assists, but was just 5 of 14 from the field while making all 11 freethrow attempts. Harrison Barnes had 14 points and seven rebounds, Kent Bazemore added 12 and David Lee 11 points as the Warriors saw their two-game win streak end.

Golden State shot 36 percent from the field, including 2 for 16 on 3s.

"They're a tough team," Houston coach Kevin McHale said. "They shoot a lot of 3s. They shoot them at a really high percentage.

We were trying to get them off the line and keep pressure on them and keep our bids up so they just couldn't walk into shots. For the most part, we did a very good job of that."

Golden State coach Mark Jackson said it was a bad loss. "The way we started the ball game, there have been times when our bench has been bad, and we let them know, and tonight, the starters did a poor job of setting the tone," Jackson said. "We got outworked.

They played with more force and that set the tone the rest of the way."

The Rockets led 61-37 at halftime and pushed the advantage to 28 on Harden's three-point play less than 2 minutes into the third quarter. Golden State pulled to 74-50 on Jermaine O'Neal's jumper midway through the third, and the Warriors resorted to 'Hack-a-Howard' with 5:40 remaining in the period.

ADELAIDE, DECEmbEr 7 (AP): Mitchell Johnson tormented England by taking seven wickets with some fearsome fast bowling on Saturday and Australia's batsmen compounded the pressure by extending the lead to 530 runs with two days remaining in the second Ashes test.

It was a hectic third day at the Adelaide Oval, with 12 wickets tumbling after England resumed at 35-1 and was skittled for 172 in reply to Australia's first innings of 570-9 declared. Johnson took 7-40, including a withering spell of 5-12 in 18 balls. After electing not to enforce the follow-on, Australia slipped to 4-2, with Jimmy Anderson dismissing Chris Rogers (2)

and Shane Watson (0) within two balls in the third over, before recovering to reach stumps at 132-3.

David Warner was unbeaten on 83. He shared partnerships of 61 with Michael Clarke (22), who was bowled by Monty Panesar, and 67 with Steve Smith (23 not out).

Johnson's spell starting the second over after lunch rocked England's middle and lower order and was instrumental in giving the Australians a 398-run first-innings lead. It could prove to be a series-deciding spell, as England faces an uphill task to avoid going 2-0 down.

Only Ian Bell (72 not out) and Michael Carberry (60) defied Johnson. It was the third straight innings in this series that England

has failed to reach 200, with Johnson's pace proving just as effective on the slower Adelaide Oval pitch as it was when he took nine wickets in the 381-run victory in the first test at Brisbane.

Johnson, who was not considered good enough for selection for the last Ashes tour to England, where Australia lost 3-0, rattled the touring batsmen and was twice on a hat-trick. "The rhythm has just stuck with me," the 32-year-old Johnson said. "It means a lot to me to be able to play test match cricket for Australia. "Coming back from injury and plenty of people telling me I wasn't going to play again, so it's emotional for me." He commenced work on his ninth five-wicket haul

in tests by clean bowling England skipper Alastair Cook (3) on Friday. Johnson didn't take a wicket in the morning session Saturday but was devastating in the middle session, producing a triple wicketmaiden in his second over; trapping Ben Stokes (1) lbw and then snaring Matt Prior (0) caught behind and scattering Stuart Broad's (0) stumps on the fifth and sixth deliveries. No. 9 Graeme Swann prevented the hat trick, only for Johnson to set up another tilt at that feat by claiming wickets on the last two balls of his next over: Swann slashed to second slip where Michael Clarke took a sharp catch, and Jimmy Anderson had his stumps rattled next ball as England slid to 135-9.

4th Horsepower Challenge ends on a high note RESULTS

Winners of the 4th Horsepower Challenge, which concluded on December 7.

KOHImA, DECEmbEr 7 (mExN): Peter Rutsa of Team NAC maintained supremacy over his opponents to claim top honors in the SUV category on the final day of the 4th Horsepower Challenge, organized by the Nagaland Adventure Club. It was a day of mixed luck that saw Dieze Iralu crash his ride while leading in the first lap of the Motocross novice category

semifinal rounds and Edwin Sutnga crash his Zen during the finals of the car category.

Mrinmoy Sinha of Team EGAA in his Mitsibushi CDR finished top in the car category, on a momentous day for the rider from Assam as he finished third in the SUV category too. After a disappointing day on the first day, where he failed to qualify for the semifinals in the Motocross open category,

the final day proved memorable for Daniel Metha from Nagaland, after he claimed first place in the Motocross Novice category after a narrow finish against Anthony Phawa from Meghalaya.

Suhail Ahmed proved his mettle and reputation as he claimed top honors in the Motocross Open Category.

Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony, Guest of Honor, Atuo P.

Mezhür, President Nagaland Football association (NFA) congratulated the participants; altogether 91 of them, for participating in the competition with the spirit of true sportsmanship. Atuo also congratulated the Nagaland Adventure Club for their efforts in promoting Motorsports in the State through various adventure and motorsport events.

SUV CATEGORY 1st- Peter Rutsa (Nagaland) 2nd- Kamalesh Das (Meghalaya) 3rd- Mrinmoy Sinha (Assam) CAR CATEGORY 1st- Mrinmoy Sinha (Assam) 2nd- A Unoka Assumi (Nagaland) 3rd- Lhiche Mero (Nagaland) MOTOCROSS NOVICE CATEGORY 1ST- Daniel Metha (Nagaland) 2nd- Anthony Phawa (Meghalaya) 3rd- Arup Jyoti Injal (Assam) MOTOCROSS OPEN CATEGORY 1st- Suhail Ahmed (Bangalore) 2nd- Paominthang (Meghalaya) 3rd- Anthony Lyngdoh (Meghalaya)

Entertainment

The Morung Express C M Y K

DJ Sumika, Turntablist at Alobo Naga & the Band and DJ Ina, number one electronic dance music producer in India (Reverbnation) performing at Upstairs, Dimapur.

Dylan’s electric guitar sells for nearly $1M

Like

Elvis’ no-hipsallowed appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” or the Beatles’ arrival in America, or Woodstock, it is considered one of the milestone moments in rock history: Bob Dylan going electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

On Friday, the Fender Stratocaster that Dylan plugged in at the festival sold for nearly $1 million — the highest price ever paid for a guitar at auction.

A buyer identified only as a private individual agreed to pay $965,000 at Christie’s, including the auction house’s fees, for the sunburst-finish electric guitar.

Dylan’s legendary performance at the festival in Rhode Island 48 years ago marked his rupture with the folk movement’s old guard and solidified his shift away from acoustic music, like “Blowin’ in the Wind,” to-

ward amplified rock, such as “Like a Rolling Stone.”

The raucous, three-song electric set was booed by some in the crowd, and folk purists saw Dylan as a traitor and a sellout.

But “his going electric changed the structure of folk music,” said Newport Folk Festival founder George Wein, 88. “The minute Dylan went electric, all these young people said, ‘Bobby’s going electric.

We’re going electric, too.’”

Christie’s had expected the guitar, which was sold with its original black leather strap and Fender hard-shell case, to go for far less, $300,000 to $500,000.

The previous record for a guitar sold at auction was held by Eric Clapton’s Fender,

nicknamed “Blackie,” which sold at Christie’s for $959,500 in 2004. Dylan’s guitar had been in the possession of a New Jersey family for nearly 50 years after the singer left it on a private plane.

The pilot’s daughter, Dawn Peterson of Morris

County, N.J., said her father asked Dylan’s management what to do with the instrument, and nobody ever got

tory Detectives” to have it authenticated, and rock-memorabilia experts matched its wood grain to close-up color photos of Dylan’s instrument at the 1965 festival.

Dylan’s attorney and his publicist didn’t respond to email and phone requests for comment. Dylan and

live streaming of the event on Youtube. This will be the first time any event from the NE region will be streamed live on Youtube, the largest video sharing website in the world. Viewers from anywhere in the world can watch the event live by logging on to the Music Awards of Nagaland Youtube channel during the event. Video footage of the show will later be aired on local cable TV and made available for

viewing and downloading on the Music Awards of Nagaland Youtube channel and Facebook page.

This free, open-air concert featuring nominees of the Music Awards of Nagaland and other renowned musicians is Dimapur’s signature event and draws a huge audience turnout every year. Various talented upcoming artistes as well as established musicians representing different

genres of music will perform at this concert to give the public a memorable performance experience.

The idea behind holding this event is to provide Dimapurians with wholesome entertainment during the festive season and to present a positive image of our city to visitors who flock to Dimapur during this time of the year. Visitors can join local revelers as they celebrate the advent

back to him. Last year, she took it to the PBS s h o w “His-

Peterson, who declined to be interviewed, recently settled a legal dispute over the items.

The terms weren’t disclosed. In embracing electric guitar, Dylan was credited with infusing rock with the depth and complexity of literature.

In truth, Dylan had gone electric well before the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Months earlier, he released the album “Bringing It All Back Home,” one side of which was electric. And the single “Like a Rolling Stone” came out just days before the festival. But his performance at one of folk’s biggest showcases — in front of some of the purest of folk purists — caused a sensation.

‘A Starry Christmas’ concert to be streamed live on Youtube The

Native Trax Society, institutors of the Music Awards of Nagaland are gearing up to host the annual advent Christmas concert ‘A Starry Christmas’ (formerly known as ‘Christmas with the stars’) on the evening of December 15 (Sunday) at City Clock Tower, Dimapur from 7:00 pm onwards.

This year, in order to give the concert a worldwide reach, there will be

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Zoe Explains Marriage Secrecy A

vatar star Zoe Saldana decided to keep her recent marriage secret in a bid to protect her personal life and “maintain some kind of sanity” in Hollywood.

The actress tied the knot with Italian artist Marco Perego in London over the summer (13), but she only recently confirmed the news. Saldana has now revealed she chose to keep her wedding out of the headlines and deliberately refuses to answer questions about her new husband in a bid to keep the relationship private.

She tells America’s Ocean Drive magazine, “Come on! What does that (my personal life) have to do with acting?... I love what I do so much, but I love my (personal) life more. And I realised throughout the years of being in this business that the only way to maintain some kind of sanity is to protect that which is most dear to you, which is your life and everyone that’s in it... “(Acting) provides a sanity that gives me the ability to be insane by playing other people and living in other bodies for a long period of time, and then coming back Home and knowing that my roots are so grounded that it’s easy for me to go back to being myself. The only way I can continue having that is by absolutely avoiding the questions that are asked”.

of the yuletide season giving them a chance to see the city at its best and experience an evening of wonderful music so they can take back fond memories and a positive impression of Dimapur.

NTS president Mengulhoulie Mepfüo in a press release stated that besides a host of other dignitaries, the event would be graced

by Maongwati Aier, IAS, Commissioner of Excise, Nagaland as the chief guest.

Sunday 8 December 2013

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First shows of the Hornbill International Rock Contest N Arhe

Kohima | December 7

Romeo, accompanied by his friend from Bangalore drove all day from Guwahati to make it to the first day of the Hornbill rock contest. Going by their level of enthusiasm, and that of other committed music lovers who had come from different parts of the country, one can, with a sense ofcertaintysay; Hornbill Rock Contest has visibly created a niche for itself and perhaps, even become a notable achievement of the Hornbill festival.

Seven bands took to stage, one after the other.

‘Dead Note’ from Shillong, ‘Circle’s End’ from Darjeeling, ‘We The Giants’ and Infuse’ from Nagaland, ‘Street stories’ from Shillong, ‘Sycorax’ from Darjeeling and ‘Ground Zero’ from Kalingpong.

‘Dead Note’ kicked off the night on a rather still note. Not entirely their fault, crowds were still turning up and getting warmed-up, so to say. I suppose they were good in their own right but, nothing mysterious or striking to hark back to. Dressed in mismatched costume, the lead vocalist clearly inspired by a Sadhu, covered in ashes followed. They are ‘Circle’s End’ and, by the end of their performance, all that one could remember is their theatrical stage presence. ‘We the Giants’and ‘Infuse’ from Nagaland both played softer songs comparatively. If screaming crowds are any indicator; they have huge support base for sure.

Street Stories from Shillong started off with a great number, more pop-oriented than the rest of the bands - much to the delight of their teeny-bopper fans. Next up was Sycorax - an extreme metal band from Darjeeling. The aggression and intensity of their live performance really captured everyone’s attention. Head banging, ear-splitting sound trip no less,

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but, strange as it may seem, with all the high pitched screaming and screeching, by the end,I found their music disarmingly likeable.

Ground zero from Kalingpong, the last act of the evening, stood out for singing in their native language – Nepali. Bold move for sure, especially when it comes to commercial viability, but their confidence showed they mean serious business.

At 8:30, the lights went off.

The anchor announced of more promising bands in the next few days. I asked Yimsho, a friend’s driver, what he thought of the show? “Music is nice with some nice tune, I didn’t understand much of tonight’s show, but, that long hair guy, screaming his lungs out, was interesting.” He said. I found myself head nodding in agreement. By the end, Scycorax was the most memorable band from the first day. However, time will tell if the Judges will agree with newbies like me and Yimsho’s judgment. The success of the National Rock contest in the past few years has propelled the organisers to make it an International contest this year. The prize money too doubled and what’s more, Venus Studio, Mumbai, has offered a recording deal for the winning band. To their credit, this time, things are definitely at place. Organised ticket booths, green room - even though makeshift - is spacious, first aid desk, hotel/ accommodation help desk, media desk, a dormitory for the back-up boys, adequate volunteers to assist the fans and great timings from 5 to 8:30 PM. If the first day performances are anything to go by, rock lovers are definitely in for a highly evolved rock extravaganza this year. Tickets are sold at Rs 50 (standing) and 500 for the (VIP) sitting area. “Who wants to watch a rock concert sitting?”

Romeo quipped. I seconded Romeo’s view! 50 Rs is reasonable. Tuck yourself into some warm clothes, grab a standing ticket and go watch some of the finest rock bands battle it out for the biggest prize money of one million Indian rupees, courtesy Airtel.

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Sainik School Punglwa 6th conducts annual sports meet

Students of Sainik School Punglwa, Nagaland (SSPN) displaying their acrobatic skills on the final day of the school’s sports meet, Saturday.

PUNGLWA, DECEMBER 7 (MExN): Cadets of Sainik School Punglwa, Nagaland (SSPN) displayed their acrobatic and sporting skills on the final day of school’s sixth annual sports meet held at the school ground.

The grand final day of the sports meet commenced with lighting of the sports meet flame, followed by mass PT, tableau and gymnastic display by the students, band display

by SSPN band, march past by the cadets.

Parents and well-wishers who came to witness the sports meet were also entertained with martial arts display by ‘Faith in Action’ and cultural dance by Assamese troupe. The students were divided into six houses – Saramati, Doyang, Tizu,

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Milak, Patkai and Japfu.

Director, School Education, Nagaland, Zaveyi Nyekha, who graced the valedictory programme as chief guest in his address exhorted the students (cadets) not to forget that a sporting spirit or sportsmanship is the very foundation of sports and also the most important attribute of a true sportsperson.

“In every match or sport, there is bound to be a winner and loser. Let us not forget that both winning and losing are integral parts of any game or sport and has to be taken in a sporting spirit”, he said.

To teachers and coaches of the school, Nyekha said that in the arena of games and sports, “performance is the bottom line.” “While

understanding that for every successful sportsman, there are coaches working behind the scenes, I would like to call upon the coaches to be more performanceoriented”, the School Education director said.

Nyekha also reminded that the State Chief Minister and Education Minister both have special concern for the growth of Sainik School Punglwa. He further complimented the school for the good progress made in personality development, good citizenship, social responsibility, patriotism and academic records.

SSPN principal, Lt. Col. Sumeet Sharma delivered the welcome address and headmaster Lt. Col. Jetendra Dogra proposed the vote of thanks.

Woes continue for Man United

MANCHESTER, DECEMBER 7 (AP): Manchester United slumped to back-to-back home defeats in the Premier League for the first time in 11 years by losing 1-0 to Newcastle on Saturday, deepening the troubles facing the champions in David Moyes' first season in charge.

Yohan Cabaye's 61stminute goal earned Newcastle its first win at Old Trafford since 1972 and ensured United has picked up just two points from its last four games to slip way off the pace in its title defense.

Without the suspended Wayne Rooney, United lacked inspiration and creativity in another lackluster performance that will severely test the patience of fans who are intent on Manchester United's Robin van Persie, centre right, jumps for the ball against Newcastle's Fabrizio Coloccini, centre, during giving Moyes time after their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England on Dec. 7. (AP Photo) replacing Alex Ferguson in the offseason.

After Wednesday's 1-0 home loss to Everton, United had slumped to ninth place in the standings — 12 points behind leader Arsenal — with its title defense already appearing in tatters. Moyes' side could be even further adrift come Sunday night after Arsenal hosts Everton.

Fears are even growing that a top-four spot, and therefore Champions League qualification, may be difficult to secure and this setback will hardly convince supporters that the immediate future is bright.

Dissent festered throughout Old Trafford as United labored, often resorting to long, hopeful balls forward. Robin van Persie — back after a month out with groin and toe problems — lacked sharpness, although he had a goal disallowed in the 73rd minute for offside, and Rooney's absence was keenly felt.

Newcastle came into the game off a sobering 3-0 defeat at Swansea, which ended its four-match winning run, but grew in confidence as the match wore on.

The visitors' energetic midfield saw plenty of the ball early on but the only real chance of the first half came in injury time when right back Mathieu Debuchy nipped in behind Patrice Evra and had a low shot saved by David de Gea. Tom Cleverley had spurned an early opening for United, stabbing a weak shot at Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, but the hosts looked flustered and passes were misplaced with alarming regularity.

One from Van Persie toward Adnan Januzaj went straight into touch and the groans from the crowd were audible.

Moyes stood in his technical area with his hands in his pockets for much of the first half but he was almost jumping in celebration in the 52nd when Javier Hernandez, filling in for Rooney, ran onto Van Persie's pass and brought a smart save from Krul.

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