9th August 2013

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The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. VIII ISSUE 217

www.morungexpress.com

Nominees for the 5th Music Awards of Nagaland 2013 [ PAGE 11]

[ PAGE 08]

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Dimapur | August 8

Now, we are separate .... from the rest of the country.

August 7 blast victim in critical condition Dimapur, august 8 (mExN): The condition of one of the victims injured in the August 7 bomb attack at a jeweller’s workshop near Ram Janaki Higher Secondary School, Dimapur was reported to be still serious. The injured, Subhash Sonar, who sustained grievous shrapnel wounds to the stomach and burns, according to sources, was yet to regain consciousness till Thursday evening. It has delayed surgery to remove shrapnel lodged in the stomach. Contrary to reports, a third person was also injured in the blast. The unidentified third person was released from hospital after first aid. The condition of the second injured, identified as Rajesh Sonar was said to be stable responding to treatment in hospital. Police suspect that the explosive was a grenade. An arming pin, suspected to be Chinese in origin, was found at the blast site. It was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination. Unrequited monetary demand is suspected to be behind the attack. Police on Thursday evening said that no credible leads could be acquired to identify the attackers.

Church pastors support ACAUT

Dimapur, august 8 (mExN): The Dimapur Area Ao Baptist Church Pastors’ Fellowship (DAABAPF) has expressed anguish at pains inflicted upon the public of Dimapur in particular and Nagaland state in general because of the perpetration of unabated taxation. “Such thoughtless and forceful actions are highly deplorable and have no place in a Christian environment. It is always the less privilege section of the Naga society who ultimately bears the burnt for whom it is pertinent to chart out a path of liberation from the existing condition of enslavement,” DAABAPF, Secretary, Dr Temjen Ozukum stated in a press release. The Fellowship strongly felt that the recent conscious initiative by ACAUT in bringing out to the public domain the issues of unabated taxation are highly commendable and therefore, support the initiative with prayer. “We will continue to pray that better sense will prevail on all concerned and seek the guidance of the Almighty in eliminating the cancer that is fast spreading and affecting a cross section of Naga society,” said the DAABAPF. In this respect, the Fellowship is convening a prayer for its members on August 16 at 9:00 am at DABA Town Fellowship, Conference Hall.

National Commission for ST meets AHODs and HODs

[ PAGE 02]

25 yrs after 8888 unrest; Myanmar learning to cope [ PAGE 09]

–Mahatma Gandhi

Sports Ministry approves more funds for Kom Boxing Foundation [ PAGE 12]

the four lane Highway bypasses consent? Morung Express News

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Friday, August 9, 2013 12 pages Rs. 4

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ India accuses Pak army of killing soldiers

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Sometime mid-June this year, landowners from Patkai Bridge till Chumukedima and Seithekima boundary stretch in Dimapur noticed movement of people from outside in their area. On enquiry, the landowners were told that “a survey” was being conducted. Internal sources and guesswork told them that this stretch, alongside others, has fallen on the historical lap of the proposal to “four-lane” part of the National Highway-29 (previously NH-39) between Dimapur and Kohima. On August 2, five people landed up in T. Zubeni Patton’s land to instate “a pillar” to “align” the proposed highway. They claimed to be from the Public Works Department (PWD) of Nagaland. A few engineers arrived to check the pillars on August 3. Zubeni was shocked, as were 19 other landowners who live around her. They had no information on any project and, naturally, panicked. The central govern-

ment approved the implementation of the “fourlaning” of parts of NH-29 in May this year. The project is under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP-NE) of the North Eastern Region, and was announced by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in December 2003. Land acquisition has been quoted as a hurdle to implementation of this project. Going by the deliberation of these landowners though, the government seemed not to even have tried. A representation, signed by Zubeni and Khrietuonuo Angami, was dispatched to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dimapur by the 20 landowners on August 5. They termed the installation of the pillars, without the consent of the landowners, an act of illegal encroachment of their land, and strongly objected. The DC of Dimapur, N. Hushili Sema, responded, stating that “preliminary survey for right of way” was done by private consultants as per technical specifica-

Seen here is a pillar instated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), through the Nagaland PWD, on the land of an owner in Chumukedima without their prior information or consent, to mark the proposed four lane highway. (Morung Photo)

tions of the NHAI, necessitating the fixing of pillars on private land to “identify landowners and assess compensation.” In another statement, the DC said the “proposed survey” will be carried out tentatively in the “latter part of August.” Either way, the landowners are being approached only after it has been decided where the four lane highway will pass through, instead of

prior consultations with landowners of the region earmarked for the project. Though the work is said not to start till compensations have been duly paid, there is no way for landowners to refuse as the actual alignment of the four lane highway has already been done without the consent of the landowners. Re-alignment will not be possible, admitted the DC today at a meeting with

the said landowners, also attended by chairman of the Chumukedima Village Council and an Officer on Special Duty of the Patkai Christian College. When asked what will happen if the landowners refused to give up land, the official stated that “Assam land laws” could be resorted to. But the DC apologized for consultants entering private lands without prior information. The DC’s

Revenue Officer claimed that landowners had been skipped being given this crucial information because of a “communication gap.” Unfortunately, the landowners were not informed even when they asked the people coming to their lands to put up pillars or for a survey. Meanwhile, the Patkai Christian College has been in the know of the alignment all along. An official from the College, who assisted the “preliminary survey” engineers, acknowledged that “the survey” of the fourlane highway had been completed by “people from Delhi.” As usual, people are being treated like collateral damage of development projects which seek only to compensate people once all decisions have been made elsewhere. “Most of us are fully dependent on the land,” said Khrietuonuo. Located next to Patkai Christian College, some of these landowners have set up private hostels for students. 11 private hostels in this area house nearly 300 students. There

are paddy fields, fisheries, piggeries, shops, handlooms, gardens, kaccha and pakka houses that people have created and tended to over the years. With the help of these lands, their children have gone to school and college. One family that has been here since 1969 started with a Litchi orchard. Another family runs a school for blind children and a girls’ hostel. When compensation comes, if it does at all, only fisheries, fruit trees and concrete buildings will be compensated for, acknowledged officials at the meeting today. Not providing data to individual landowners prior to alignment has made them question the intent of the government. A vague newspaper notification does not qualify as prior information. “The lands belong to us (the people) as per Naga customary law, and whether the state or the centre plans a project through these lands, it cannot be done without our prior consent,” asserted an elder from the group of 20 landowners of Chu-

Foothill Road draft map gets the Go two decomposed

Dimapur, august 8 (mExN): The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) and the Roads & Bridges wing of the PWD finally arrived at a meeting point on the course that the ‘Foothill Road Connectivity Project’ will take. Engineers from the Roads & Bridges, led by Chief Engineer, D. Mero, met the NFHRCC in Dimapur on August 8. Eight options (probable routes) were presented before the NFHRCC. One got the thumbs up, which according to the NFRCC tallies with the route favoured by them. An earlier route proposed by the R & B was rejected by the NFHRCC citing it breached the very concept of the Foothill Road. The one agreed upon on Thursday, stretches 339 kilometers long as envisaged by the NFHRCC. It snakes along the foothills starting from Tizit-Naginimora-Tuli-Tzudikong-Yajang

C-Longtho (Moayimnti)-Sumito-Wozhu-Changpang-Yimpang-Bhandari-Governor’s Camp (Liphiyang)-Ralan (Old)Rengmapani-Niuland enroute Dimapur. The challenge has however just begun. Fresh cutting is required in two sectors while improvement is required in a number of sectors. In the Yimpang-Bhandari-Merapani Road junction-Doyang Bridge point (totalling 59 kilometers) sector, a stretch of around 16 kilometers is uncut, while drastic improvement is required in the remaining stretch. This stretch alone requires four bridges, including the Doyang Bridge, which is projected to span 122 meters besides construction of culverts. Constructing the Doyang Bridge will require around Rs. 26 crores, one of the R & B engineers said. Around 8 kilometers remain uncut in the Sumito-Wozhu-

Mao Council declare 24 hour total bandh

taDubi, august 8 (thE horNbill ExprEss): The Mao Council has declared a 24 hour lightning total bandh in all Mao inhabitated areas from 4:00 am of August 9 till 4:00 am of August 10. The bandh comes after the lapse of the 24 hour deadline demanding clarification from those responsible for the killing of Lt Col Pfokreho James at Senapati district headquarters on August 6. However, as endorsed by the Naga People’s Organizations to fully support the investigation and movement of the Mao council to trace those responsible in the killing, the total bandh will now cover all areas of Senapati District. The total bandh will shut down all educational institutions, vehicular movement, business establishments, government offices and others, stated NPO officials. It may be recalled that, GPRN/NSCN Southern Commander, Lt Col

Pfokreho James from Robunamai Village was found shot dead near a stream between Ankailongdi village and Veiwland colony in Senapati. The deceased had come to Senapati to participate in the crucial public meeting organized by Naga People’s Organization. While returning home, he was intercepted by three unidentified gunman and whisked away in full public view at Senapati town old road. The village Chairman of Robunamai had protested over the act of the gunmen, but was threatened at gun point. At around 5:00pm, two gun shots were heard and the dead body was found lying near a stream. Senapati police had rushed to the spot and recovered the body. A public condolence programme was held on August 7 in Senapati, before the body was taken to his native village Robunamai, where he was laid to rest on August 8.

Changpang-LiolongidangYimpang (51 kilometers in total) stretch; while a stretch of around 33 kilometers requires improvement. ‘Maintenance assessment report’ is said to have been submitted for the stretch starting from Tizit till Yajancg ‘C’, which runs 166 kilometers. ‘Formation cutting’ is said to be underway in the road connecting Yajang ‘C’ with Longtho and Moayimti (unofficially called the NABARD Road). Currently, it is said to be a fair-weather-road and requires more funding. Construction is in progress under PMGSY in the 15-kilometer stretch of road connecting Longtho and Sumito via Moayimti. Between Governor’s Camp (Liphiyang) and Dimapur (47 kilometers), around 17 kilometers needs improvement. Now that the two parties have agreed in principle on the route, the R & B said that engi-

neers will take up the day’s decision with the government. The NFHRCC stated that the door is open if any technical modifications are required. Further, the dateline for commencement of work on the road has been pushed back by atleast three months. The government had assured that work will start by October. August was supposed to be the month when the final ‘concept note’ on the project was to be submitted followed by issuing of tender notice and work orders in September. On this, the NFHRCC appealed the government to consult the committee before work orders are issued. The ambitious 4-lane Foothill highway proposal recently announced by the government is also likely to follow this route, if at all it ever takes off. “At the moment the four-lane road is to be forgotten,” remarked one NFHRCC member at the meeting.

bodies recovered

mokokchuNg, July 8 (mExN): Mokokchung police personnel recovered two highly decomposed bodies from a spot between Ungma to Kupza village road (near a small stream) on August 7. According to police sources, the two deceased persons have been identified as one late Robin Shankar (60 years) and his twenty year old daughter late Chitu Mani. They both hailed from Assam and were residing under Ungma village jurisdiction. Police refused to divulge any further details as to the circumstances leading to the death; however the source added that investigation is on. The bodies were handed over to the family members after completing all formalities, said police sources. Meanwhile, the Ungma Im-

lang Yimten, through a statement advertised in a local vernacular daily, disclosed that the two deceased persons were working in a farm at the Ungma village jurisdiction for the past nearly 10 years. The two disappeared without any information a few days back. The ‘relatives’ residing at Ungma village started a search for the missing persons and ultimately the decomposed bodies were found near a stream. Mokokchung Police Station II was informed about the recovery. The Ungma Imlang Yimten, in the press statement, disclosed that the two deceased persons were buried in the Ungma Imlang cemetery. The Ungma Imlang Yimten further asserted that it would search for the perpetuators of the crime till the end.

national Highway gets a healing touch

Rengma community engages in mass social to mend deplorable highway Chizokho Vero Tseminyu | August 8

The deplorable road condition of National Highway-2 (previously NH-61) within Tseminyu sub-division today got a healing touch from the Rengma community, as they undertook a mass social work along this route. Organized by the Rengma Hoho and Tseminyu administration, under the initiative of the elected representative of 12th Tseminyu A/C, Levi Rengma, a large number of the people came forward and engaged in clearing the drainage and filling up potholes. Talking to media persons, Levi said, “We don’t blame government, because it is not in the hand of state government for any fund provision, it is purely in the hand of Ministry of

Members of the Rengma community engage in filling up potholes in NH–2 (previously NH-61) during a social work within Tseminyu Sub-Division. (Morung Photo)

Transport, Government of India”, he said. He also stated that due to certain court cases, the government could not give any fund for development or maintenance. Public are suffering just because of some few contractors not able to come into terms, he said. If government does not come forward, Rengma public especially in our jurisdiction, we will do something for the betterment of Naga travelers plying this stretch of route, Levi added.

He also acknowledged the NGOs, Rengma Hoho, student’s bodies, political parties and the Rengma public in general for their tremendous response in the social work. Rengma Hoho president Sawathang Kez Seb said the Rengma community conducted a mass social work, financed by Levi within the Rengma jurisdiction (around 32 km). Traditionally, he said, Rengmas have boundaries with Angami, Sema, Kyong and Assam. The Rengma Nagas are

situated in the heart of Nagaland state, where hundreds and thousands of vehicles pass by everyday from Dimapur via Kohima to Rengma land and then proceed to Wokha, Zunheboto, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Mon etc, he added. Seb appealed to the state government for construction of the road within Kyong and Rengma area for improvement of Naga economy. He also expressed gratitude to Levi Rengma, ADC Tseminyu, SDO (C)

Tseminyu, all administrative officers, public leaders, church leaders and volunteers for their cooperation towards the social work. Rengma Students’ Union (RSU) tribunal general Keneth said that the Rengma community has been initiating social work for the past 3 years for maintenance of NH-2 within its jurisdiction. He informed that the community has been investing not less that Rs. 10-15 lakhs to maintain the road. Stating that they are doing voluntary service for the past 3 years, he lamented that the concerned department was not extending periodical maintenance. He added that if the department continues to neglect this road, the RSU would be compelled to take up another course of action which could lead to taxing of travelers plying on NH-2 under Tseminyu SubDivision. Hence, the Union said that the government should take action as soon as possible.

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9th August 2013 by The Morung Express - Issuu