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FriDAY • April 21 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 107 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
Diplomacy is the art of knowing what not to say
pAGE 08
By Sandemo Ngullie
He is saying our next general election will be untainted by politics.
Nagaland state’s work participation rate is 49.24% 68, 504 unemployed youth in Nagaland Our Correspondent Kohima | April 20
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Nagaland has a work participation rate of 49.24% which translates to about 9.74 lakh workers against a population of 19.78 lakhs as per 2011 population census. “These workers are spread across the various sectors. During the 5th employment and unemployment survey the unemployment rate of Nagaland was at 8.5 % which is higher than the all India average of 5.0 %,” according to Nagaland Economic Survey 2016-17 tabled in the recent state assembly session here by parliamentary secretary for economics & statistics Tovihoto Ayemi. The survey report stated that unemployment rate estimated on the basis of UPS is also considered as chronic unemployment rate, which implies persons were available for work but the economy could not engage them in any productive activity. Simultaneously the provisional figures of the 6th Economic Census conducted during 2013 reflect that there are a total of 1.16 lakhs person engaged in different enterprises in the state. The survey report stated that from a total of 66,604 in August 2014 unemployed youth remaining in the live register of Employment Exchanges of Nagaland in December 2016 it increased to 68, 504 indicating an increase by 2.85 %. The report stated that the registration in employment exchange however, do not depict the exact employment status. While there are many unemployed youth who do not register in the employment exchange, there are also quite a number of youth who are already in employment but have registered their names in the exchange anticipating better and more suitable jobs, the survey report stated. The state government declared 2016-17 as the year of Construction Workers given the young demographic profile of the state and the presence of abled manpower to take advantage of booming construction sector in the state.
o F
T R u T H
— Matthew Trump
Awareness for conservation of Blyth’s Tragopan
Don’t be ‘Yes masters’, Rajnath tells bureaucrats
reflections
P o W e R
Juventus shut down Barca
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focus on human resource Nagaland tops in internet readiness among NE States development: nagaland cM DIMAPuR, APRIL 20 (MExN): Nagaland has been ranked top among states in the North East region when it comes to internet readiness. In a report titled ‘Index of Internet Readiness of Indian States’ published by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Nielsen, Nagaland topped the list among the North East states. It was followed by Manipur and Tripura. However the overall ranks of the North East states were significantly low in terms of overall internet readiness. Internet readiness index is a composite benchmark of four components, i.e., e-infrastructure, e-participation, IT-environment and government e-services. All four components have been given equal weightage in the model, according to the report. Nagaland also leads in terms of IT environment and performs moderately well in other categories to get to the top. “Significantly, even within smaller states, the northeastern states ranked low in terms of overall Internet readiness. Therefore, much more needs to be done in the form of investment and infrastructure development in the region,” the report advised. It may be noted that Nagaland was also recently awarded the CSI- Nihilent e-Governance Award by the Computer Society of India (CSI) for the year 201516 for outstanding performance in e-Governance. Out of seven States (Gujarat, Nagaland, Karna-
taka, Chandigarh, Kerala, Pondicherry and Uttarakhand) which have taken up the National Information Infrastructure (NII) pilot project, Nagaland was the first state in the country to commission the pilot project for National Information Infrastructure (NII) on January 6, 2017 by the Chief Minister in presence of Joint Secretary, MeitY, Government of India. Nagaland also has the largest BPO (Call Centre) in the North Eastern Region with 400 seats and the first phase was commissioned on January 27, 2017. These are some of the major achievement of the state after getting the award. It was also the first state to take over State Portal and State Services Delivery Gateway (SP&SSDG) core infrastructure project; where the State IT Department is running the State Data Centre without engaging private Data Centre Operator (DCO); where the State is acting as Service Centre Agency (SCA) without engaging private companies for running Common Service Centre (CSC); and the first state in NE to implement Aadhar based Biometric Attendance System in Nagaland Civil Secretariat. Delhi meanwhile emerged as the top state in terms of Internet readiness with a strong position in areas like e-infrastructure, e-participation, IT environment, government e-services. Second came Karnataka, followed by Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Chandigarh is ranked second in both e-infra-
structure and e-participation. Puducherry ranks after Chandigarh on the einfrastructure index. “We are hopeful that India will leapfrog from the present 155th position to world’s top 5th in connectivity, within the next 5-6 years,” Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said, while releasing the report. “The combination of various indigenous digital platforms along with innovative and disruptive startups holds the greatest scope for digital transformation in India. Post demonetisation, the country today has 3 million point of sale (POS) as compared to 1.5 lakhs POS earlier which is clearly a transformation,” added Sundararajan. Sundararajan, further stated that “Niti Aayog and other ministries of the government are increasingly trying to see that which states are leading in best practices. The report found that Karnataka, Delhi and Maharashtra are the top three states with the highest number of digital startups. It noted that of the total 242 startup incubators in the country, 61 startup incubators are in Tamil Nadu. About 83 percent of these incubators are in 10 states Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Telangana, Gujarat, West Bengal, Delhi and Rajasthan. In the North East, except for Manipur where a single startup incubator is present, none of the other states have one. With agency inputs
Zunheboto Police Climate crisis helps foster terrorism: Report arrest 4 burglars
Gov urges civil servants to be agents of change
DIMAPuR , APRIL 20 (MExN): Nagaland State Chief Minister, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu today said that though there are many areas which need to be developed, the first and foremost priority for the Nagas should be focused on human resource development. Speaking as chief guest at the 15th Annual Literary Day of the Nagaland University Students Union Kohima Campus here at RCEMPA Jotsoma this morning, the Chief Minister emphasized that human resource development is the only asset through which the Nagas can progress. This was informed in a press note from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). While stressing on the need to work towards human development in the field of education, he said while imparting education some sort of skill too, should be imparted so that students can earn their livelihood and not be so dependent on the government to provide employment. Calling upon the students, parents, teachers as well as the public to come together to coordinate properly and go forward to achieve quality education, the Chief Minister said that right kind of education is an asset and a gainful investment for the society. He added that unless the education policy is framed properly, students may become a liability to society. Dr. Shürhozelie also called upon the students
Nagaland State Chief Minister, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu at the 15th Annual Literary Day of the Nagaland University Students Union, Kohima Campus at RCEMPA Jotsoma on Thursday.
not to pursue mere degrees to get white collar jobs in the government sector, since employment in the government sector has reached a saturation point. The Chief Minister said that the Nagaland Government has about 1.40 lakhs government employees including contract and workcharge employees, while Manipur has only about 65,000 and asked the students to strive for the best and pursue their education to be independent. He also opined that classroom teaching should have the corresponding effect with the prevailing situation and to transfer the classroom teaching into practical realities. He advocated a specific strategy in the education system to impart quality and job-oriented education.
DIMAPuR, APRIL 20 (MExN): Zunheboto Police, in a span of two days, arrested four people, on charges of theft and burglary from several locations in Zunheboto. A press note from the PRO, Zunheboto Police informed that two persons, identified as Akaito Assumi and Pito Murru of Zunheboto Town were arrested on April 2. Following the arrest, a total of 85 items were recovered ranging from a motor bike to computer sets, electronic items, gas cylinders, utensils etc, which police said was stolen from different location of the town on different occasions spanning over a period of several months. Police informed that the modus operandi of the duo was to conduct surveillance during the day time on the targeted houses/offices and thereafter commit the act during the night, mostly taking advantage of the inclement weather. In the second arrest, two persons identified as Atoi Sumi and Kikaho Aya, were held on April 1 for committing burglary at the Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu (KPA) campus. Following the arrest, mobile phones and blankets stolen from the campus area were recovered.
The CM said that in the past, to cater the needs of the public, the government had opened many schools and colleges, but that now the government would have to “concentrate more on giving quality education to students.” Prof. Buno Liegise, Pro Vice Chancellor i/c NU Kohima Campus, in her speech said that to move forward in life “we need to think seriously not to remain complacent or be in a comfort zone but to be dynamic, work hard and do our best in life.” “Success comes to doers, not fence sitters/observers,” she said. The Pro Vice Chancellor also exhorted the students to have a positive attitude towards their studies and said that it is their attitude and not their aptitude that determines their altitude and how far they can
reach in life. She also told the students that they are not in the university only to obtain knowledge and information of the subject/ discipline they are studying, but to make sure they learn to communicate the knowledge they gained. She stressed on the need to learn how to articulate their thoughts/ideas to others. Liegise also spoke about the need to pick up skills and become computer-savvy in this information technology age. She observed that it has become almost impossible to survive without knowing the use of internet and social media. The Pro Vice Chancellor meanwhile informed that admissions to the University for the year 2017 will be conducted exclusively through online system.
NEw DELhI, APRIL 20 (IANS): Climate change helps to create an environment in which terrorists can thrive, a report commissioned by the German government warned on Thursday. It has corroborated evidence of terrorism, insurgency and organised crime thriving in climatevulnerable Lake Chad, Guatemala, Syria and Afghanistan. The complex risks arising from climate change, fragility and conflict can contribute to the emergence and growth of terrorist groups, like the Boko Haram and Islamic State (IS), said the report titled “Insurgency, Terrorism and Organised Crime in a Warming World” by Berlin think-tank Adelphi. The report commissioned by the German Foreign Office has found climate change multiples and
interacts with existing threats, risks and pressures, like resource scarcity, population growth and urbanisation. Report author Lukas Rattinger said these factors together could lead to fragility and violent conflict in which these groups could thrive. “Already vulnerable areas could get pulled into a vicious cycle, leading to the rise of terrorist groups who will find it easier to operate, with consequences for us all,” Rattinger said. Terrorist groups are increasingly using natural resources such as water as a weapon of war, controlling access to it, further compounding and exacerbating resource scarcities. The scarcer resources become, the more power is given to those who control them, especially in regions where people are particularly reliant on natu-
ral resources for their livelihoods. For example, around Lake Chad in Africa, climate change contributes to resource scarcities that increase local competition for land and water. This competition in turn often fuels social tensions and even violent conflict. At the same time, this resource scarcity erodes the livelihoods of many people, aggravates poverty and unemployment, and leads to population displacement. Terrorist groups such as Boko Haram gain power in this fragile environment. As climate change affects food security and the availability of water, and land, affected people will become more vulnerable not only to negative climate impacts but also to recruitment by terrorist groups offering alternative livelihoods and economic incentives, the report cautioned.
Accused in Aug 22, 2015 rape spate of robberies and case sentenced to ten years vandalism at Medziphema
KohIMA, APRIL 20 (MExN): The accused in the August 22, 2015 rape case, Thanwalo Magh was found guilty of rape by the Principal District and Sessions court, Kohima, under Judge Y. Maongkaba Imchen. The judgement, which was pronounced on April 11, 2017, convicted Magh and sentenced him to ten years imprisonment along with Rs. 10,000 plus Rs. 4000 as fine. The 28 year old accused was convicted of two offences—rape (10 years imprisonment and Rs 10,000 fine), and causing hurt to the victim (four years imprisonment and Rs.4000 fine). The years of imprisonment for the two offences will run concurrently, informed Kathu Rengma, Public Prosecutor. This is the minimum punishment for this case. The court felt that the accused is still young and has a chance to reform, so he was given minimum punishment. In case the accused is not able to pay the fine, he will undergo another six months of prison. At present, the accused is imprisoned at the District Jail and will soon be deported to the Central jail.
On August 22, 2015, Magh was accused of raping a 61 year old widow who was working at a paddy field in Kohima. After the case was registered, the police took up the investigation and having found evidence, submitted the charge sheet on November 23, 2015. The Public Prosecutor informed that no one had come forward to defend the accused, as a result of which the court had to arrange a defence counsel for the accused. Meanwhile appreciating the cooperation of the public and witnesses in the case, the Public Prosecutor stated: “In criminal cases, unless the public, witnesses comes for help, the police alone cannot do anything. In this case, the witnesses also came forward and because of that they could present a good case. During the trial, unless the witnesses come forward, even if the accused person is accused of so many heinous crimes, we (the court) cannot do anything.” With the increase in sexual violence against women in recent years in Nagaland, Kathu appealed to the public to continue to cooperate with the courts and the police so that justice can be duly served.
DIMAPuR, APRIL 20 (MExN): The Medziphema Town Youth Organisation (MTYO) today cautioned individuals involved in the “rampant vandalism” and robberies at Medziphema Town area. A press note from the MTYO informed there has recently been a spate of vandalism where unknown miscreants have, in a number of cases, forcibly entered certain schools, offices, etc and destroyed properties without rhyme or reason. A joint emergency coordination meet was held between MTYO, Medziphema Town Students’ Union (MTSU), and both the Principal and Headmistress of Government Higher Secondary School, Medziphema. During the meeting, the MTYO asked that the responsible chowkidars and night-guards to remain regular, vigilant but most importantly, reside in the premises of their concerned school or office without excuses. “That done, it is more or less the youths who should protect public properties or check anti-social elements”, remarked Nito Krose, Adviser, MTYO. The MTYO further assured of all coop-
eration to nab and punish such miscreants without any leniency while requesting the student community as well as the general populace to take utmost care of public properties which are provided by government agencies. Asazo Kuotsu, President, MTYO, later addressed students during the common chapel session and warned everyone to be “wary of unscrupulous elements in our town” and to pass information accordingly whenever necessary. Also speaking at the chapel session, Kevisese Krose, President, MTSU, challenged the students to consider “public or school properties as our very own and not otherwise”. Meanwhile the MTYO declared that it would take stern disciplinary actions against any perpetrator(s) who initiate criminal offences, intimidate, vandalize, loot or even attempt arson on instances. It was also notified that any miscreant apprehended in the process is liable to be blamed for all other circumstances, especially in robbery and vandalism, “as is considered in our Naga tradition.”
DIMAPuR, APRIL 20 (DIPR): Nagaland State Governor, PB Acharya today exhorted civil servants to become “agents of change” in their respective organizations and departments. In his message on the occasion of National Civil Servants Day, the Governor said the day should be used to rededicate oneself to the cause of citizens and renew commitment to public service and excellence in work. Stating that efficiency and effectiveness in developmental administration is the major need of the hour, he reminded the civil servants to remember that they are not just doing a job but a service to the common man individually and collectively. People look upon the civil servants for resolution of their issues, he added. The Governor held that civil servants are the pillars of development and the backbone of the government and encouraged them to be proactive and work for the cause without any discrimination. Wishing civil servants the best in service of the people and nation, the Governor pointed out that civil servants have to be loyal to the Constitution of India. “This also means that our civil service has to take the ownership of the public action they are doing and the public assets they are creating” he said.
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NPF central team visits Kiphire dist Morung Express News Kiphire | April 20
The NPF Youth Wing Central, Women Wing Central and Achumbemo Kikon, Spokesperson, NPF Nagaland on April 19 visited 60 AC Kiphire-Pungro and held a meeting with office bearers and party men at the Kiphire treasurer. Addressing the meeting Achumbemo Kikon called upon the party men to give more effort and work together for the betterment of the party and the constituency. Kikon asked the party men to restrengthen and prepare for the next general election which is coming very soon and also touched on the past 15 years development activities of the party. Kikon also assured that the “NPF will form next government” and asked the party men to be part of the
government by sending a representative. The party men and the office bearers who spoke on the occasion assure the central team that the party will restrengthen and work for the growth of the party and the constituency. The party and office bearers also expressed hope that more development will come to the district under chief minister Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu and expressed full support and co-operation. Thritongse, President, 60 AC while chairing the programme extended gratitude to the visiting team for encouraging the party men. He also assured that the party will give more effort for the growth of the constituency. CEC members, Women Wing office bearers and other executives also addressed the meeting.
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Awareness for conservation of Blyth’s Tragopan
Kohima, april 20 (mExN): An awareness programme for conservation of Blyth’s Tragopan was organized by the Nagaland Forest Department, with financial support of the Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India at Khonoma Village on April 20 with active participation of the officers of the Forest Department, Village Councils of Tragopan bearing areas in the state, officials from Wildlife Trust of India, scientists and researchers. Rajat S. Pal, PCCF, Nagaland addressing as the chief guest highlighted about the problem faced by the Department specially in terms of funding. Despite this problem, he urged the communities to continue the conservation efforts for our future generation. The programme was chaired by Satya Prakash Tripathi, Chief Wildlife
Participants of the awareness programme for conservation of Blyth’s Tragopan held at Khonoma Village on April 20.
Warden, Nagaland. He also made a power point presentation on Blyth’s Tragopan breeding works at Tragopan Breeding and Conservation Centre, Kohima. He highlighted the problem faced by the Department in the breeding of the bird. RK Aima, APCCF (Territorial), welcomed the participants and urged the communities to pro-
tect this threatened species since it has limited distribution around the world. Welcome song was presented by Vipielhu and party. Dr. Sapu Changkija, Associate Professor, Nagaland University highlighted the distribution pattern, food habit and vulnerability of Blyth’s Tragopan in the state of Nagaland. Rahul Kaul, Chief Ecologist, Wildlife Trust of In-
dia, in his speech stated that conservation efforts should go along with the help of the community since most of the areas in Nagaland are under the control of the community. He stated that an action plan has been prepared for the conservation of the Blyth’s Tragopan after consultation with the stakeholders. He highlighted the challenges faced dur-
ing the captive breeding programme in other parts of the country. Inato Sema from Tsuruhu village, Zunheboto districts spoke about the status of Blyth’s Tragopan in Satoi area. He urged the Forest Department to provide assistance for the conservation efforts. Tselie Sakhrie, Advisor, Khonoma Nature Conservation & Tragopan Sanctuary presented the
history of the conservation efforts in relation to Blyth’s Tragopan in Khonoma area. Tsikiu, member of Bhutan Glory Eco-club spoke about the status of Blyth’s Tragopan in Saramati area and about the activities of Bhutan Glory Eco-club, Fakim. DFO, Phek Rongsenlemla Imchen (IFS) presented the status of Blyth’s Tragopan in Phek districts. She also stressed about the role of village councils in the conservation efforts and urged the villagers not to have an incentive-driven mindset so that conservation efforts will succeed in a sustainable way. Imtienla Ao (IFS), Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in her speech highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between nature and development so that future generation can also reap the harvest of our efforts.
Tzürangkong readies for Inter-Ministerial Central Team visits Peren 27th NSF general conference
pErEN, april 20 (Dipr): The Inter-Ministerial Central Team visited Peren on April 20 to take stock of the various disasters in the district. The team along with the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) and the District Administration along with the officials of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) visited disaster hit areas in the district including the landslide areas below the new Police Reserve Peren, the road leading to the New District Hq, the landslide area near Samziuram Bridge etc. Earlier, the team also interacted with the villagers of Lamhai/Dungki villagers over the lost of cattle during the last epidemics and the cyclones that uprooted the horticulture farms etc. At Peren, the town dwellMeeting hall of the 27th NSF general conference under construction at Chungtiayimsen vil- ers and the leaders of the lage of Tzürangkong under Mokokchung district. (Morung Photo) Morung Express News Mokokchung | April 20
Hectic preparations are on for the 27th General Conference of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) to be held at Tzürangkong under Mokokchung district of Nagaland, to be hosted by the Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM). The conference is slated to be held in the last week of May. Led by the newly inducted president of AKM, Imkongwati and his colleagues, the hosts are making all out effort to successfully host the con-
ference. AKM Organizing Committee convener and former NSF president Imchatuba Imchen and his team are in constant contact with the local organizing committee of Tzürangkong and have visited the site on April 15 to take stock of the developments. Tzürangkong is a range in the foothills of Mokokchung district bordering Assam and is comprised of at least eight Ao Naga villages and the meeting hall of the ensuing conference is being constructed at Chungtiayimsen village. It may
be mentioned here that the last general conference of the apex Naga students’ body hosted by AKM was the 23rd NSF general conference 2009 at Mopungchuket village. As the conference draw nearer, AKM president Imkongwati and AKM Organizing Committee convener Imchatuba has requested all well wishers and stakeholders to extend support and cooperation for success of the event. More than 2000 delegates from the various federating units are expected to attend the general conference.
IMCT member visits landslides area at Peren to take stock of the various disasters in the district. (DIPR Photo)
Sardar areas thronged the informal discussion, which was arranged by the District Administration. EAC, Yanthungbemo gave a brief
Kohima, april 20 (mExN): Athong Makury, a Naga Scholar and also the President of the Council for Naga Affairs from Myanmar called on Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya on April 20 at Raj Bhavan. During his meeting with Governor, Athong thanked Government of India for taking constructive and positive initiatives for the welfare of International Border Area people. He requested the Governor to extend all help and assis-
tance to develop infrastructure, road connectivity, schools/colleges, hospitals etc. for the benefit of people living in the border areas. Athong also apprised the Governor about the need to develop trade route via Avankhu under Meluri sub-division which will facilitate more activities between Nagas living in Myanmar and Nagaland. A press note stated that the Governor informed him that he has already taken initiative to establish
for the construction of the link road. Village functionaries and elders who spoke during the function thanked the Advisor for taking up the initiative. They assured to extend co-operation so that more of such developmental works can be brought about in the near future. The link road covering about 5 Km was constructed under MGNEREGA convergence fund (DRDA) and Land Resources department. He was accompanied by DC, Wokha Wezope Kenye, EAC Athrong, Project Officer DRDA and host of other officials and party Dr. TM Lotha inaugurates the Link Road from Elumyo to Pongitong on April 19. (DIPR Photo) workers.
Government employees urged to be loyal, sincere
Dimapur, april 20 (Dipr): Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur Kesonyu Yhome, IAS urged the newly recruited trainees of group B&C state government employees of Dimapur District to be loyal, sincere and committed to the service that sustains their livelihoods. Giving a motivational talk at Circuit House, Dimapur on April 20, he said that government employees depends their entire livelihood on the service as such no one can say that they have bigger priorities than the service that sustains their livelihoods. “If you are loyal to other co-curricular activities other than the service that sustains your livelihood then something is seriously wrong,” he added. Yhome observed that to carry out the work every day as expect-
ed and to keep going every day is a challenge for everyone. In Nagaland, works normally starts at 11 and ends at 3 o'clock so the productivity and contributions of the government employees may not be where we are supposed to be, he said. Stressing on the principles of a government servant, he pointed out that self- discipline is an important principle where each and every employee should strictly maintain. He said that no one or the superior officers need not inform us when to come or when to leave the office or nobody should be begging them to do their assigned duties. He also expressed concern over food habits and maintaining decorum in the office. While urging the trainees, he challenged them to keep their ap-
mitigate the same. Various leaders pointed out their grievances ranging from landslide, mud-blockage of roads during monsoon,
Gov meets president of CAN from Myanmar
Link road from Elumyo to Pongitong inaugurated WoKha, april 20 (Dipr): Advisor for Treasuries and Accounts, Labour and Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Dr. TM Lotha has inaugurated the link road from Elumyo to Pongitong on April 19. Addressing the public during the inaugural function, he said road connectivity is important and necessary since it is the road that gives framework to all economic development. He also said that road is the lifeline of all activities and serves as the channel of all trade. While expressing his hope and scope of the road, he also thanked the department of RD and Land Resources for allotting funds
power-point presentation about the various disasters in the district and what the District Disaster Management Authority has done to
animal epidemic, uprooting of dwelling houses by strong winds and some floods and fire etc. The IMCT team also interacted with HODs of different allied departments on what programmes and activities each department has taken up to mitigate the disasters. Meanwhile, the team assured the people of the district that necessary action would be taken up by the Centre apart from the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority’s programme. The team includes Dr. Manoharan, Director Dept. of Agriculture, S.C. Meena, Ministry of Finance, Mohit Verma, Addl. Director RD, Er. Sachin Kumar, EE Ministry of Surface Transport, Johnny Rongmei, OSD, NSDMA (Home), Kevimelie Linyü, Engineer-in-Charge, NSDMA. The overall programme was chaired by Zarenthung Ezung, DC Peren.
titude with time. He said that if an employee is not acquainted with the desktops and computers they become a liability. He therefore, asked the employees to keep their skills and aptitude in line with the system. He also mentioned that regularity, endurance and mindset are the most important principles for an employee to maintain in order to become successful in life. He challenged the trainees to bring changes in the system and reminded that no one can say that they are mere a clerk or point out what changes could they bring about in the system. Instead, he asked the trainees to take problems and obstacles as challenges saying that many government officers failed because they took challenges as problems. Problem crops up if
hospital and schools under Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis in the border areas for the benefit of people living on both sides. “This will strengthen emotional and national integration at large. Governor also enquired about the well being of the Nagas living across the border,” the note added. Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya welcomes Athong Makury, President of the Council for Naga Affairs from Myanmar on April 20 at Raj Bhavan.
IPPI SundAy: dimapur district achieves set target
Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): The 1st and 2nd round of Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) Sunday in Dimapur District concluded with a total coverage of 53530 in 1st Round and 54185 in 2nd Round. The target population was 53167 (0-5 years) children, the department has been able to achieve above the set target during this round of IPPI 2017. Dr. K. Vikato Kinimi, Chief Medical Officer in a press release has acknowledged the co-operation extended by Deputy Commissioner and chairman (IPPI Task Force), and the Administrative Officers, DPO (ICDS), DEO, DWO, DPRO, Lions
Club, Rotary Club, Helpers’ Club, Assam Rifles, Railway officials, Defense Officials, Dimapur Muslim Council and other NGOs, Chief Medical Officer would further like to extend his appreciation to Dr. Visasieü Kire SPO Universal Immunization Program (UIP) and her State Monitoring Team Dr. Tiasunep, Dr. Ahu from Directorate of Health & Family welfare, Dr. Shiela Longkumer, WHO Consultant, Dy. CMO, Dr. Lanuakum, DPO (UIP/RCH) Dimapur and all the program officers and staffs under CMO and MS establishment for achieving more than the target set by the State.
one gives up saying that he is incapable to bring changes at this point of time. Hence, challenges are there for winners to overcome, he said. Expressing concern over the work culture, he observed that Nagas have no work culture citing habitual absentee or a late comer to the office as an instance. He said Nagas are so connected in one way or the other way thereby facing difficulties in moving forward. Yhome also asked the trainees to be true to themselves irrespective of circumstances around them. Terming the participants as frontline personnel, he urged them to be polite and diligent in their approach while interacting with people as it brings great changes into the system.DC also stressed on importance of keeping Rev. Dr. Hevukhu, Executive Secretary, WSBAK along with Pastor, Hitovi Baptist church and files and timely disposing. Golden Jubilee Committee members after unveiling of the jubilee monolith on April 20. (DIPR Photo)
Friday 21•04•2017
NORTH-EAST 3
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Manipur’s ‘Tribal movement’ Northeast Frontier Railway tops NEFIS condemns decision to enters 600th day on Saturday in passenger traffic growth make hindi compulsory in schools Newmai News Network Imphal | April 20
The Joint Action Committee Against Anti Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) is all set to observe the 600th day of 'tribal movement' in Manipur on April 22. "Our struggle for tribal self-determination that was triggered by the passing of the three anti-tribal bills by the previous Congress Government in Manipur will cross its 600th day on April 22, 2017," said the JAC-AATB in a press statement. With the mortal remains of eight of our 'tribal martyrs' still awaiting an 'honourable' burial and an amicable solution, "our struggle is far from over", said the JAC-AATB statement. The JAC 'earnestly' appealed the general public to refrain from creating 'unnecessary commotions' that could lead to undesirable unrest and public nuisance on the occasion of the 600th day of the movement. "To mark the 600th day of our unflinching protest, the Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JAC)
LKK gets new office bearers ChANDel, April 20 (MexN): The Oath Taking cum Blessing programme of the Lamkaang Kurchuknao Kunpun (LKK) was held at Angkhel Chayang Community Hall on April 20. The oath of affirmation and blessings of the new executive council and assembly affairs was administered by Lv. Robert, Speaker, Assembly Affairs, LKK and Rev. R. Khullar, President, Lamkang Chris-
tian Forum respectively. The new team of office bearers for the tenure 2017-2020 will be led by Lv Thomas as President and Ss Bungshel as General Secretary. The other executives: Sk Simon – Vice President, Sk Shetlengam – J/Secretary, Sn Kopem – Game & Sports Secretary, Ss Khalningam – Arts and Culture Secretary, D. Johny – Information and Publicity Secretary, and Lv Bungshel - Finance Secretary.
Huge cache of explosives recovered in Assam guwAhAti, April 20 (pti): A joint team of the Army and Assam police seized a huge cache of explosives, including gelatin sticks and detonators, from two persons in the state's Kamrup District, a defence spokesman said today. The joint operation took place at Boko late last night and it is suspected that the explosives were to be used for subversive activities, the spokesman said. The explosives seized include 600 gelatin sticks and 400 detonators, he said adding the two men have been identified and detained. Troops of the Red Horn
AgArtAlA, April 20 (iANS): The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) topped among 19 railway zones by registering a record growth in passenger traffic in 2016-17, an official said on Thursday. "NFR recorded a 6.22 per cent growth in passenger traffic which is the highest growth rate among all zones," NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said. He said the main source of earnings for railways is from freight traffic and the Railway Board fixes yearly target of freight as well as passenger traffic revenue for each zone. In 2016-17 fiscal, the earning of NFR from goods traffic stood at Rs 1,706.85 crore, which is 9.50 per cent more than the Railway Board target of Rs 1,558.73 crore.
shall organize a Mass Mourning and Fasting Prayer starting from 11 am this Saturday at Salpha Pumbuk in the heart of Lamka town, the epicentre of the ongoing Movement," stated the press note. "The JAC humbly requests the general public to come forward and join hands in offering our thanks to the Almighty for leading us thus far and for His continued guidance, companionship and pray for an early solution to the prolonged impasse while we reaffirm our commitment towards our struggle for tribal selfdetermination," it appealed. As a mark of respect to the "supreme sacrifices made by our Tribal Martyrs", all shops, business establishments and institutions are humbly requested by the JAC-AATB to down their shutters on this day from daybreak till sundown, and no vehicles ply on the roads in and around the town. However, media, electricity, medical (including medical emergencies), airport pick up and drop, pre-planned programs and exams will be exempted "with the sincere hope of cooperation and support from the general public".
division of Gajraj Corps and Assam police had launched the operation following specific information from Military Intelligence about movement of a large cache of explosives on Bongaigaon Guwahati national highway. The security forces continuously tracked the vehicle's movement and it was stopped near Boko. A search of the vehicle revealed 600 gelatin sticks and 400 detonators. The operation was a part of relentless and coordinated operations by the Army along with the police to negate the nefarious disruptive designs of terrorists, the defence spokesman added.
Regd. No: 149/2017
Earnings from passenger traffic totalled Rs 1,043.17 crore, which is 3.79 per cent more than the targeted Rs 1,005.07 crore. The NFR, set up in 1958, serves seven districts in West Bengal and five districts in north Bihar besides the eight northeastern states. The NFR recorded the highest ever scrap sale of Rs 115.35 crore in the last fiscal. Of the 505 stations under NFR's jurisdiction, 15 have been provided with mechanised cleaning. CCTV monitoring is done at eight stations: Guwahati, Dimapur, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Alipurduar, New Jalpaiguri, Katihar and Jogbani. In 2016-17, the NFR introduced 26 new train services while services of eight were extended.
New Delhi, April 20 (MexN): The North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) has condemned the recent decision to make hindi compulsory in CBSE schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas. “The recent President’s approval to the recommendation of a Parliamentary Panel to make Hindi compulsory in CBSE schools, including the staterun Kendriya Vidyalayas is condemnable,” NEFIS stated in a statement on Thursday. “Following this approval, the HRD Ministry has been instructed to form a policy in consultation with the state governments to make the language compulsory,” it added. Arguing that the deci-
sion brings out the “discriminatory nature” of the present BJP government which seeks to impose hindi on people coming from non-Hindi linguistic backgrounds, the Forum maintained that it gives “undue importance” to Hindi vis-à-
against people from other linguistic backgrounds by allowing the present government to renege on its commitment towards preserving and promoting the culture and language of people in different regions of India. “It also nullifies the spirit of diversity upheld by the government of India, wherein preservation of cultural and linguistic diversity of nonHindi speaking regions is guaranteed,” it added. Further claiming that it has consistently been at the forefront of struggles against “such imposition”, NEFIS made it known that it would be building a “big movement” to counter the “discriminatory policies” in the coming days.
‘Will build a movement to counter BJP-govt’s discriminatory policies’ vis other languages of nonHindi speaking regions by selectively promoting Hindi in CBSE board schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas, which are present in all the parts of the country. The Forum also argued that the decision would further the discrimination
goVernMenT oF nagaland
oFFice oF THe direcTor general oF Police NO.IGP/R/CB-18/17-18/
nagaland : KoHiMa
REWaRD FoR InFoRMaTIon
PARTICULARS: (First Image)
(Second Image)
NAME : KIUTSANGLA SEX : FEMALE AGE : 50 years (approx.) HUSBAND’S NAME : CHEMKIUMONG ADDRESS : CHENDANG SADDLE VILLAGE, TUENSANG, NAGALAND
REMARKS:
Dated April 2017
NAME : CHILULA SEX : FEMALE AGE : 15 years (approx.) FATHER’S NAME: CHEMKIUMONG ADDRESS : CHENDANG SADDLE VILLAGE, TUENSANG, NAGALAND
THE PERSONS SHOWN IN THE IMAGE AND THE PARTICULARS GIVEN BELOW THE IMAGE ARE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, WHO HAVE BEEN MISSING SINCE 09.12.2014 FROM THE AREA AROUND GOVERNMENT HORTICULTURE FARM NEAR CHENDANG SADDLE VILLAGE, TUENSANG, NAGALAND. NAGALAND POLICE SEEKS CREDIBLE AND SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY LEAD TO THE ACTUAL RECOVERY OF THE MISSING PERSONS OR ANY MATERIAL AND CONCLUSIVE PROOF ABOUT THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE MISSING PERSONS. NAGALAND POLICE ANNOUNCES A CASH REWARD OF Rs. 1,50,000/- (One Lakh Fifty Thousand) FOR ANY CREDIBLE OR SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ACTUAL RECOVERY OR ANY MATERIAL AND CONCLUSIVE PROOF ABOUT THE PRESENT STATUS OF MRS. KIUTSANGLA, W/O CHEMKIUMONG OF CHENDANG SADDLE VILLAGE, TUENSANG. THE NAGALAND POLICE FURTHER ANNOUNCES A SEPARATE CASH REWARD OF Rs. 1,50,000/- (One Lakh Fifty Thousand) FOR ANY CREDIBLE OR SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ACTUAL RECOVERY OR ANY MATERIAL AND CONCLUSIVE PROOF ABOUT THE PRESENT STATUS OF OF MISS. CHILULA, D/O CHEMKIUMONG OF CHENDANG SADDLE VILLAGE, TUENSANG. IN CASE OF COMPETING CLAIMS TO THE REWARD FOR INFORMATION BY THE INFORMANT/INFORMANTS LEADING TO ACTUAL RECOVERY OF THE MISSING PERSONS, POLICE HEADQUARTERS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AWARD THE CASH BASED SOLELY ON THE CREDIBILITY AND MERIT OF THE INFORMATION. THE DECISION OF THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS SHALL BE FINAL IN THIS REGARD. THE IDENTITY OF THE INFORMERS WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.
CONTACT: +91 7005028855 +91 8014918663 +91 9436018226
aFFIDaVIT
Dated: 27/03/2017
I, Shri. L. Aolepsa Jamir, aged about 60 yrs, S/o. Late Likaba Ao, R/o. Mid Land Colony, H. No: 28, Dimapur, Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:1. That I am a resident in the above referred address, hails from Ao Community and a retired Govt. Service from the Dept. of P.H.E. by profession. 2. That, I am known, used and addressed by my name as – L. Aolepsa Jamir, for all my official purpose and the same has been recorded in my entire academic documents. 3. That, in my Service Regularization Order No. PHE-1/ EST/39/2011, dated 1st July’ 2015 and so also, in my service G.P.F Statements, my name, surname and clan was inadvertently entered and appearing as Aolepsa Jamir and L. Aolepsa respectively. 4. That, all the names – L. Aolepsa Jamir, L. Aolepsa and Aolepsa Jamir pertains to one and same person i.e. me. Henceforth, I shall be known and used by my name – L. Aolepsa Jamir. 5. That the statement sworn by me in para 1 to 4 are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, belief and information and nothing materials is concealed therein. Deponent
Solemnly affirmed and declared before me by the deponent.
Sd/- SIT Convenor, PHQ Nagaland, Kohima
noTIcE
Dt. Dimapur the 20th April ’17 No.M-125/17/324: Notice is hereby given that Shri/ Smti. Villy Zhimomi & 3 others – Vrs – Atoshili Zhimomi R/o Kohima, Nagaland under rule 50 & 51 of Assam land revenue regulation 1886 have applied for mutation of land described in the schedule below:The undersigned under rule 52 of the said rules do hereby invites claims/objections concerning to the said land, if any and should be submitted to this court in writing on or before 20-05-17 SCHEDULE OF LAND AND BOUNDARY:Name of patta holder: Villy Zhimomi Village/Block No: 04 Patta No: 519, Dag No: 717 Area: 00-03-08
Model HigHer Secondary ScHool A.G Colony, Kohima Job Vacancy
Sl. No. 1.
Post
Qualification M.Sc-B.Ed/ M.Com-B.Ed/ MA-B.Ed with Principal minimum 10 years experience
Interested candidates may kindly furnish your resume and submit in the school office on or before 28th April, 2017. For further information contact: 9886483794/ 9436005925.
Managing Director
JaPFÜ cHRISTIan coLLEGE Jbcc MISSIon cEnTRE, KIPFÜZHa, KIGWEMa KoHIMa-797001, naGaLanD www.japfuchristiancollege.org NAAC Accredited: B Grade principal@japfuchristiancollege.org Covered under 2(f) and 12 (B) of the UGC Act since 2011
aDVERTISEMEnT Applications are invited for the post of Assistant Professor (Economics) a) Qualification : Master’s Degree (minimum 55% marks) with Honours. b) Preference : NET/M. Phil/ Ph. D preferably with UESI background. c) Starting Pay : Rs. 26,450/- with simple accommodation. d) NOC for working employees. e) Recommendations are treated as lack of candidate’s credibility. f) Candidates who had applied earlier need not apply. g) Original documents will be verified on interview date. h) Date of Interview: 29th April, 2017 at 10.00 A.M onwards i) Applicants may submit their application to the office or through email address: principal@japfuchristian.org Principal
naGaLanD boaRD oF ScHooL EDucaTIon KOHIMA
Sd/- Deputy Commissioner Dimapur: Nagaland
Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dimapur: Nagaland
NOTIFICATION
Dated Kohima the 20th April 2017
No.NBE-21/Ad-RMSA/2017-18/:: In reference to letter No.NBE-21/AdRMSA/2017-18/607-611 dated Kohima the 18th April 2017, it is hereby notified that due to certain unavoidable circumstances, the Induction Training Programme scheduled to be held from 25th April 2017 at Mayangnokcha GHSS, Mokokchung for Secondary Teachers freshly recruited under RMSA 2016-17 and posted in the districts Mokokchung, Longleng, Tuensang and Zunheboto, is hereby postponed till further notice. The new date shall be notified later.
Sd/- (Mrs. Asano Sekhose), Chairman
goVernMenT oF nagaland
direcToraTe oF WoMen reSoUrce deVeloPMenT NO.DWRD/TCPC/GEN-1/2007
Mountain View christian college, Kohima AFFILIATED TO NAGALAND UNIVERSITY Near BSF Camp. Below ATI Office: Kohima Contact No : 0370-2280071/9856974717
aRTS anD coMMERcE
Classes Admission fee Installment 11&12 5500 3000 quarterly B.A (Gen) 6500 3100 quarterly B.A(Hons) 6800 3200 quarterly Hostel Monthly fee - 3500
aDVERTISEMEnT
Dated Kohima, the 18th April, 2017
The Department of Women Resource Development invites applications from school dropout female candidates who are willing to undergo a ten-month training programme at the Training-cum-Production Centre (TCPC), Bayavü, Kohima in the trades of TAILORING, KNITTING, and WEAVING. Eligibility Edu. Qual. : (a). Class VI Passed for Knitting & Weaving (b). Class VIII Passed for Tailoring Age : 18 to 35 years as on 1st Jan. 2017 Applications addressed to the Director, Women Resource Development, stating their Bio-Data along with 2 passport photographs, self-attested copies of relevant Mark Sheet and Birth Certificate are to be submitted to the Superintendent, TCPC, Bayavü latest by 27th April, 2017 Interview will be held on 29th April, 2017 at the Training-cum-Production Centre at 10:30 a.m. All intending candidates are directed to be present by 10:00 a.m. The training programme is purely for promotion of self-employment and is not a certificate/ diploma course. Sd/- Director Issued by: DIPR
4
fridAY 21•04•2017
business
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Global investment banks beef up transaction business in Asia HONG KONG, April 20 (reuters): With deal making in Asia sluggish and Chinese investment banks taking market share from global rivals, some foreign banks are ploughing resources into transaction banking, the workaday business of financing trade, managing cash and facilitating payments. At a time of growing intraregional trade in Asia, the largest trading region in the world, and expansion of supply-chain networks beyond China, transaction banking promises to offset slowing revenues elsewhere. While existing transaction banking powerhouses including Citigroup and HSBC are expanding sales and reach, firms who have traditionally focussed more on investment banking, such as JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank, are also bulking up. In its inaugural transaction
Birthday Greeting My sweet little sister Kiki… Hope you had a great birthday. I missed eating your cake on your birthday, so I plan to eat at least two desserts today to make up for it. I know I’m a bit late, but although let me wish you a Very Happy Belated Birthday To You...Hugs and Kisses. From Your Sister Atsula, Who is Always by Your Side
banking league table, industry analytics firm Coalition this week ranked HSBC and JPMorgan as the two strongest performers in 2016 in Asia, based on revenue, versus a year earlier. “Across the board, we do see most of the traditional investment banks are investing in transaction banking,” Eric Li, London-based research and analytics director at Coalition, told Reuters. “They realise the investment banking pool is more volatile, and secondly there is very limited room to further improve,” he said, adding the top 12 foreign banks’ revenue concentration in investment banking was already above 60 percent. In contrast, these banks account for just 15 percent of the market for cash management in the region, Li said. As a result, the banks are gearing up to tap a likely pick-up in trade and using their investment banking platforms as a lever to pick up more
transaction business, which consumes less capital and delivers more stable returns. “We contribute in terms of relationship, we contribute in terms of funding, and we contribute in terms of a steady source of business,” said Lisa Robins, Asia Pacific head of global transaction banking at Deutsche Bank. “I won’t say (it) doesn’t use capital, because we do use capital, but it’s a relatively efficient business.” Robins declined to give a business forecast, but the bank said in May last year that within transaction banking, the share of revenue coming from Asia could rise to a quarter in the coming years from 18 percent. BOOSTING HEADCOUNT While 2016 saw many foreign banks cutting investment banking headcount in Asia to cope with sluggish deals activity, staff additions for the transaction banking business was
trade and forget about it till we meet again in a year and a half’s time.” They will nevertheless face stiff competition to win market share from global rivals such as Citigroup and HSBC that have much bigger balance sheets and banking networks in the region. HSBC, for example, is looking to add around 500 new staff in commercial banking, which includes transaction banking, in Asia Pacific this year, to capitalise on initiatives such as China’s “One Belt, One Road” project, which aims to develop trade and connectivity with the rest of Eurasia. “Economic weight is shifting to Asian and Middle Eastern economies which are expected to grow their GDP threefold between now and 2050,” said Ajay Sharma, HSBC’s regional head of global trade and receivables finance in Asia Pacific. “That’s the sweet spot for our customers and our global footprint.”
MAliGAON, April 20 (MexN): In an endeavour to provide smooth travel experience to the railway travellers, Indian Railways have taken various initiatives for improved passenger experience. Considering the peak season during summers, Indian Railways is poised to offer convenient travel to the passengers without upsetting their plans. To ensureoptimalutilizationofavailable accommodation, following initiatives have been undertaken by Indian Railways: 1. Finalization of first reservation chart at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train. 2. After preparation of first reservation chart, current ticket booking facility provided through any reserved ticket booking window as well as on internet till preparation of second reservation chart. 3. Transfer of vacant available accommodation after preparation of second reservation chart to next remote location. 4. Following facilities are also provided online through IRCTC website:
I. Waitlisted passengers given the option of accommodation in any other train without payment of any difference of fare or grant of refund thereon under VIKALP scheme. This facility can also be availed for e tickets booked prior to 01.04.2017 II. Tickets booked across reserved ticket booking window can be cancelled through IRCTC website or through 139. III. In case of e tickets, boarding points can be changed through IRCTC website at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train. IV. The facility of online booking of wheel chair provided free of cost to passengers. V. The facility of online booking of retiring rooms through IRCTC website has been introduced. VI. Disposable bedrolls can be purchased through IRCTC website. VII. E Catering introduced to increase food options available with passengers. This was stated in a press release issued by Pranav Jyoti Sharma, CPRO/N.F.Railway.
India, RBI have not agreed on bad Hyundai launches Xcent 2017 debt cleanup plan: central bank deputy MuMBAi, April 20 (reuters): The Indian government and the Reserve Bank of India had not yet reached an agreement on a new plan to clean up the record troubled debt accumulated at the country’s lenders, S.S. Mundra, a deputy governor at the central bank, said on Thursday. Mundra, in an interview with
CNBC TV18, added it would be “difficult to put a timeline” on when consensus could be reached, but said it “could be very near”. Investors have been waiting for India to come up with a new plan on how to deal with almost $150 billion stressed assets at banks after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said last month
it would soon announce new action. Mundra said among the considerations would be how to provide more capital for the banks, making it important to get consensus from the government, which owns majority stakes in nearly two dozen lenders that together dominate India’s banking system.
Facebook will soon let you type with your brain New YOrK, April 20 (iANs): Giving a glimpse of what is going on at its secret “Building 8” research group, Facebook has said it is working on a way to let people type with their brains -- at speeds faster than physical typing -- via a brain-computer interface. “We are working on a system that will let people type with their brains. Specifically, we have a goal of creating a silent speech system capable of typing 100 words per minute straight from your brain
-- that’s five times faster than you can type on a smartphone today,” Regina Dugan, Vice President of Engineering and “Building 8,” told the audience at the annual F8 developers conference in San Jose on Wednesday. Facebook announced two projects from “Building 8” that are focused on silent speech communications. “Building 8” is the product development and research team at Facebook focused on creating and
leisure
CROSSWORD # 3920
SUDOKU
strong, headhunters and some bankers said. This year, global banks’ headcount for transaction banking in Asia could rise 5 percent, while investment banking is likely to be flat or fall 5 percent, said John Mullally, director of financial services at headhunter Robert Walters. JPMorgan, for instance, has added more people both on the sales side and the product side in transaction banking in Asia, helping it expand its share, said Muhammad Aurangzeb, head of its Asia Pacific corporate banking. Banks such as Deutsche and JPMorgan are also increasingly using their investment banking clout to win more bread-and-butter trade finance and cash management services to develop their client relationships. “We are saying (to investment banking clients) we want to go wider and deeper with you,” said Aurangzeb. “We don’t want to just do an M&A trade, or your IPO or your block
Indian Railways takes initiatives to facilitate travel this summer
Answer Number # 3916
ing them to the speech centre of the brain. “It’s a way to communicate with the speed and flexibility of your voice and the privacy of text. We want to do this with noninvasive, wearable sensors that can be manufactured at scale,” Facebook added. The company also unveiled a project directed at allowing people to hear with their skin and it is building the hardware and software necessary to deliver language through the skin.
New delHi, April 20 (pti): Hyundai Motor India on Thursday launched all new version of its compact sedan Xcent priced between Rs 5.38 lakh and Rs 8.41 lakh. The six petrol variants are priced between Rs 5.38 lakh and Rs 7.51 lakh while the five diesel trims are tagged between Rs 6.28 lakh and Rs 8.41 lakh. “The fast changing trends and rising customer aspirations have always std code: 03862
DiMaPUR ACROSS 1. Persists 6. Booty 10. Questions 14. Dole 15. Piece of glass 16. Match 17. Nigerian monetary unit 18. Dash 19. Countercurrent 20. A young unmarried woman (archaic) 22. Demolish 23. Guy 24. Against 26. Ends a prayer 30. Do it yourself 31. American Dental Association 32. Connecting point 33. Sow 35. List components 39. Lengthwise 41. Relating to sight 43. Barks 44. Fee 46. Buckeye State 47. Be unwell 49. Charge 50. Not a single one 51. Anagram of “Plains” 54. Make secure by lashing 56. Ping-___ 57. Go between 63. Genuine 64. Protective ditch 65. Insect stage 66. Feudal worker 67. Church alcove 68. Dog-___ 69. Gave the once-over 70. Views 71. Footwear
Simple Rules - Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
Game Number # 3917
shipping new, categorydefining consumer products that are social first. Products from “Building 8” will be powered by a breakthrough innovation engine modeled after US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and shipped at scale, the company said. Just like people take many photos and choose to share only some of them, Facebook’s new project will decode words that people have already decided to share by send-
DOWN 1. Territory 2. Wings 3. Slender 4. Lawn mower brand 5. Sedate 6. Fastest 7. Pike (fish) 8. A Freudian stage 9. Swiss city 10. Distortion 11. Soft drinks 12. Fast-growing vine 13. Infections of the eye 21. Like dishwater 25. Modify 26. Again 27. Not stereo 28. Cocoyam 29. Original 34. Dark-colored, igneous rocks 36. Reflected sound 37. Principal 38. Blackthorn 40. Largest continent 42. Skirt fold 45. On leave (military) 48. Andean animals 51. Binge 52. Verse 53. Absurd
Answer to Crossword 3919
ABoUt ALwAYs BLoB Boon Bore CArPet CondItIons Cross dAILY dAnGer deserVe dewY drIVe edItor eVent FIBer FLoor GUILtY HUrt IMPoUnd
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sedan comes with various new features like LED daytime running lights, wheel air curtains for better aerodynamic stability, shark fin antenna, among others. Koo said that the company sold a total of 6.62 lakh units last year. In the domestic market, the company sold around 5 lakh units, thereby registering a market share of 17% in the passenger vehicle segment.
std code: 03871
(formerly senapati)
Police station Fire Brigade
222246 222491
Civil Hospital
232224
emergency
229529 229474
MH Hospital
227930 231081
Fire Brigade
2222952
Faith Hospital
228846
naga Hospital
2222916
shamrock Hospital
228254
oking Hospital
2243339
Zion Hospital
231864 224117 227337
Bethel nursing Home
2224202
northeast shuttles
08974997923
Police Control room
228400
Police Traffic Control
232106
east Police station
227607
west Police station
232181
CIHsr (referral Hospital)
242555 242533
dimapur Hospital
KOHiMa
Officer-in-Charge 8575045510 8575045502
Officer-in-Charge 8575045520 Zubza Ps
8575045508
Officer-in-Charge 8575045518
Apollo Hospital Info Centre 230695/ 9402435652 131/228404
Airport Indian Airlines
8575045501
south Ps
224041 248011
railway
std code: 0370
KoHIMA Ps/oCs Contact numbers north Ps
Chiephobozou Ps 8575045506 Officer-in-Charge 8575045516 tseminyu Ps
8575045507
Officer-in-Charge 8575045517
229366 242441 225212
Khuzama Ps
8575045505
Officer-in-Charge 8575045515
Chumukedima Fire Brigade 282777
W
been the key driving force at Hyundai,” the company’s MD & CEO Y K Koo told reporters here. Considering the evolving market dynamics and customer voice, the company keeps enhancing its products, he added. “With over 2.5 lakh cars sold in domestic and international markets since 2014, we are confident that the all new Xcent will create a new benchmark in its segment,” Koo said. The
Kezocha Ps
8575045549
nikos Hospital and research Centre
232032, 231031
nagaland Multispecialty Health & research Centre
women Cell 8575045509 248302, 09856006026 Officer-in-Charge 8575045519
eden Medical Centre
248722 /248288
S
E
A
R
C
Officer-in-Charge 8575045538
Control room
H
8575045500 (Emergency No. – 100)
FiRE STaTiONS
KoHIMA soUtH: 0370-2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC) KoHIMA nortH: 7085924114 (O) dIMAPUr: 03862-232201/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC) CHUMUKedIMA: 7085982102 (O) 8732810051 (OC) woKHA: 03860-242215/101 (O) 8974322879 (OC) MoKoKCHUnG: 0369-2226225/ 101 (O) 8415830232 (OC) PHeK: 8414853765 (O) 8413822476(OC) ZUnHeBoto: 03867-280304/ 101 (O) 9436422730 (OC) tUensAnG: 8414853766 (O) 9856163601 (OC) Mon: 03869-251222/ 101 (O) 9862130954 (OC) Kiphire: 8414853767 (O) 9436261577 (OC) Peren: 7085189932 (O) 9856311205 (OC) LonGLenG: 7085924113 (O) 9862414264 (OC) we4 woMen HeLPLIne 08822911011 WOMEN HeLPLIne 181 CHiLD weLFAre CoMMIttee Toll free No. 1098 childline
MOKOKCHUNG
std code: 0369
Police station 1 Police station 2 Police station Kobulong Police station tuli Police station Changtongya Police station Mangkolemba Civil Hospital
9485232688 9485232689 9485232690 9485232693 9485232694 9485232695 2226216
woodland nursing Home
2226263
Hotel Metsüpen (tourist Lodge) 2226373/ 2229343
CURRENCY NOTES BUY (rs) seLL (rs)
Us dollars sterling Pound Hong Kong dollar Australian dollar singapore dollar Canadian dollar Japanese Yen euro thai Baht Korean won UAe dirham (Aed) Chinese Yuan
63.18 78.61 7.87 47.66 45.01 46.96 56.66 67.3 1.77 0.054 16.64 8.87
66.05 82.42 8.77 50.00 47.23 49.28 59.88 70.56 1.97 0.0601 18.55 9.87
friday 21•04•2017
NAGALAND
NRMSATA stir gathers momentum
IDA Nagaland conducts Dental & Oral Health camp
Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): The ongoing ‘phase-wise stir’ by the Nagaland RMSA Teachers Association (NRMSATA) gathered more momentum today as districts units, School Management and Development Committee (SMDC), schools and others extended their full support to the stir. Assuring its support, 38 members of RMSA Teachers Association, Mon Unit today said that they "‘are’ and ‘will’ fully support and co-operate" with whatever decision the Central Forum undertakes. Expressing its sadness over the silent and thoughtless inaction of the Government on the issue, the Unit President Yangang Konyak and General Secretary, Yonglong Konyak in a press note said that the academic pursuit of many innocent students is at stake because of the negligence of the state government in general and the department in particular. “We ask the government to deliver justice to RMSA Teachers who had been deprived of their rights and daily wage,” it added. The Nagaland RSMA Teachers’ Association 2016, Wokha Unit also extended its “all out support towards the decision taken” by the Central Forum
Dental doctors attending to patients during the Oral Health Camp in Patsho village Tuensang.
The Nagaland RMSA Teachers Association (NRMSATA) begins its phase II agitation in the form of Poster campaign at targeted location in Kohima on April 20. (Photo Courtesy: Social Media)
of the NRMSATA 2016 and expressed its dismay regarding the unpleasant treatment of the teachers. In a press note issued by its Convenor, Janbemo Ngullie and General Secretary Ashamo Ezung, the unit further called upon the authority to deliver justice to the teaching fraternity by disbursing the salary on time and also affirmed its support and adherence to the decisions taken by the Central Forum until the demands are met.
MEx FILE
Meanwhile, the School Management and Development Committee (SMDC) of GHS Kamaleah (Lephori) also appealed the Department of School Educational to release the pending salary of RMSA Aggrieved Teachers, as the normal routine of school is completely paralyzed by the ongoing. “The Government teacher should not solely blame the poor performance of students in Government Schools, when Teachers are forced to boycott class every
now and then to fight for their rights ignored by the Government,” stated the SMDC Chairman in a press note. The SMDC Mesulumi village also expressed its anguish to learn about the non-payment of salaries of the RMSA cadres for the last five months. Maintaining that the recently upgraded Mesulumi high school are blessed with dynamic and dedicated RMSA cadres, the Chairman in a press note said that students are the receiving end and said that the concern department, authority and the present day government must kindly put their heads together release the salaries at the earliest. The Assistant Headmistress GHS Japan Riba, Chozuba also informed that the boycotts by RMSA Teachers are adversely affecting the school and the students. Stating that the futures of students are at stake, the Headmistress appealed the concerned department to release the pending salaries at the earliest. Expressing solidarity with the RMSA Teachers, the Assistant Headmaster of GHS K Basa also said that the RMSA Teachers who have been serving with outmost dedication, have been placed in a very stressful situation, especially those serving in far flung areas,
who cannot even meet their daily needs because of the delay in payment of their salaries. Maintaining that the boycotting classes by the RMSATA are adversely effecting the schools, he fervently appealed to the concern department to immediately “address the issue in the interest of the future welfare of the students who ultimately bear the brunt for no fault of theirs.” The Assistant Headmaster GHS Phek in a statement has also requested the concern department to release the pending salaries at the earliest as the smooth functioning of the school was adversely effecting due to ongoing stir. The Assistant Headmaster of Akhegwo also expressed his anguish over the denial of rights to the teachers by the government and the concerned department despite their sincere services towards the school. Fully supporting the aggrieved teachers, he said that the School functioning is paralyzed due to the boycott. The only High School in and around Apoksha is affected and the life of many students are at stake with this system,' the Headmaster said appealling the concern authority to seriously ponder over the issues for the common welfare of the people and students in particular.
IMFL godown busted in Kohima, claims AR
Neiba Ndang resigns from NCP
Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): The 3 Assam Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): Neiba Ndang, the Rifles under the aegis of National Secretary of The Nationalist Congress Party HQ IGAR (North) today (NCP) has tendered his resignation from the post as claimed that it busted an well as from the active and primary membership of the IMFL godown near New party. The former Speaker and Minister of Nagaland Minister Hill area Kohima Legislative Assembly attributed his resignation to “un- on April 18. It was busted during avoidable circumstances” in a letter addressed to NCP National President on April 17. a search operation of the area after specific input were recieved regarding Schools informed to collect the movement of consignPre-Matric Scholarship (ST) form ment of illegal weapons and IMFL from Dimapur Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): All the head of the to Kohima, informed Lt institutions of both Government and Private school Col Amitabh Sharma PRO, locations in Kohima town are informed to collect the Pre-Matric Scholarship HQ IGAR (North) in a press and its surrounding areas (ST) form for class 9 & 10 before April 29 from the Dis- note. and current seizure will trict Education Office, Half-Nagarjan, Dimapur. While A search in the resident create a huge dent on the collecting the form, the schools are also requested to of one Atisu Keditsu Anga- illegal trade in the area. come with the total number of ST students enrolled in mi led to recovery of 1202 the school during 2017-18 academic years, a press note cases of IMFL worth ap- 28 AR seizes Illegal Liquor from the Dy. District Education Officer R.Amongla proximately around Rs 45 The 28 Assam Rifles Jamir said. lakhs in the market, it said. under the aegis of HQ It further maintained IGAR (North), on April that the illegal liquors were 18, also seized Illegal InDUCCF Informs being supplied to various dian Made Foreign Liquor Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): The Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) has informed all the beneficiaries / applicants of ‘Housing for All’ schemes of Ward No. 3 Colonies to report at DMÇ Office on April 21, between 10AM to 3 PM for verification. Colonies' chairmen are also requested to inform the beneficiaries, said a DUCCF press note. Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): Four NSCN (R) cadres were arrested by troops of 41 Assam Rifles alongwith poOpen hearing on human rights lice representative from the general area of Patkai Bridge, Kohima, april 20 (Dipr): The Home Depart- Dimapur, an AR official informed today. They were arrested when a Mobile Vehicle Check Post ment in a correspondence informed that the National (MVCP) was established by the security forces based on Human Rights Commission will be organizing a ‘One Day Open Hearing’ on various issues relating to atroci- a specific information regarding movement of armed ties and problems faced by Scheduled Castes & Sched- cadres on NH-29, Lt Col Amitabh Sharma PRO, HQ IGAR uled Tribes on April 24, at Administrative Training (North) said in a press release. The cadres were arrested when two vehicles were goCentre, Kohima. ing towards Kohima were separately intercepted during the search operation, it said adding that the first arrest NBSE postpones teacher was the occupant of a Bolero, carrying one Pt 32 mm Pistol with magazine. Induction Training Another vehicle, following the Bolero was also intercepted and one AK-56 Rifle, one 9 mm Pistol, one Pt 32 Kohima, april 20 (Dipr): The Nagaland Board of mm Pistol and eight live rounds of assorted ammunition School Education in a notification informed that due were recovered from the three occupants who were also to certain unavoidable circumstances, the Induction apprehended, it added. Training Programme scheduled to be held from 25th The AR identified the apprehendees as identified Lt. April 2017 at Mayangnokcha GHSS, Mokokchung for Col. Kuhoto V Anche; Lt. Atoka Awomi, Maj. Ato Yeputho; Secondary Teachers freshly recruited under RMSA and Major Samuel. 2016-17 and posted in the districts of Mokokchung, The apprehendees along with the recovered arms and Longleng, Tuensang and Zunheboto, has been post- ammunition were handed over to Diphupar Police Staponed till further notice. The new date shall be noti- tion, Dimapur for further investigation, the release said. fied later.
Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): The Indian Dental Association, Nagaland State Branch conducted a Dental and Oral Health Camp in Patsho Village under Tuensang District from April 17-19. The Camp was held commemoration of the 10th North East Regional Dental Conference which is slated to be held in Kohima from November 29-30, informed a press note from the Branch President Dr. Pfukrolo Koza A total of 152 patients, from Pathso village and surrounding villages, registered and availed the free services during the camp, it said. While free Oral Hygiene’s Kit and medicines were also given to the patients, the camp also undertook 67 tooth extractions as well 42 restorations, it added. The camp was conducted by IDA members under Tuensang district, Dr.Temsüwapang, Dr.Pfukrolo Koza; and assisted by Er. Khaoshai and Niamkio.
Meetings & AppointMents Tangkhul Hoho meeting The annual sitting of the Tangkhul Hoho Nagaland (THN) will be held on April 22, 11 AM on the premises of the Tangkhul Baptist Church, Diphupar. Any members who wish to submit agenda for discussion may do so before the meeting. Election for new office bearers will also be held on the day. All members are requested to positively attend the meeting.
ASUD Presidential Meeting
(IMFL) worth Rs 3 Lakhs in the Market. According to an AR press note, the items which were being smuggled into Nagaland inside a Bolero were recovered during a search operation at Foot Hill Road Junction in Wokha District. The consignment included 996 bottles of Rum,
The Ao Students' Union Dimapur has convened presidential meeting on April 22, 1 PM onwards at its treasurer’s residence. In this connection, all the concern village unit Presidents and sub unit Presidents have been directed to attend the meeting without fail as various 96 bottles, Whisky and 308 “issues pertaining to the welfare of the union will be decans of beer, it said. liberated and resolved.” It allegedly belonged to one Khom (34 years), a KCSU union assembly resident of Humtsoe village and Vanremo (35 yrs), The Kohima Chakhesang Students’ Union (KCSU) will a resident of Rhyphim vil- hold its 2nd union assembly for the tenure 2016-17 on lage, it added. April 22, 1 PM at Capital College of Higher Education, They were handed over Kohima. All the village units and affiliated units have to Bhandari Police Station been requested to send atleast two representatives to and an FIR was lodged the union assembly without fail. against them.
Assam Rifles arrest Ursuline Franciscan Sisters induct new members a relational encounter with , april four NSCN (R) cadres Dimapur persons, do we have joy. 20(mExN): With the
NNC GDRN (N/A) termniates one Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): The NNC GDRN (N/A) has terminated one Inaho Chophy of Yehemi Village, Zunheboto District, a Kilonser, from active “national service for indulging in anti-national activities and misappropriation of funds.” “Hence, Offices and business establishments entertaining Inaho Chophy would be doing so at their own risk,” MIP NNC GDRN (N/A) informed in a press note.
FONSESA elects new team Kohima, april 20 (mExN): The Confederation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Association (FONSESA) has announced its new team of office bearers with Er. Yhusinlu Tep (APHEN) as president. This was announced during the annual general conference of FONSESA here at Capital Convention Centre on April 19 last. Other office bearers include; vice president- Er. Limanaro (AOE- PWD) and Er. Thepfusalie Angami (IDEA), secretary general-Er. Mhonlumo Kikon (APEN), joint secretaries- Er. Neilabeizo (AOE-PWD), Er. Kitoshe Aye (APHEN), Er. Alem Imsong (AOME), Er. Myinthungo Ngullie (APEN), Er. Hutoi Sumi (IDEA), Er. Toshi Akum (AOE-DGM), secretary finance- Er. Olemchila (AOE-PWD), PROEr. Mezivil Kikhi (APHEN) and Er. R. Temsutemjen as advisor.
perpetual profession of Sr. Flora Ashila (Pungro) Sr. Christina Tamut (Arunachal Pradesh) Sr. Geeta Lakra, (Assam) and temporary profession of Sr. Lily Horo (Assam) and Sr. Sushmita Horo, the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation added five more members to it fold. Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Nagaland, solemnized the occasion which was held at Assisi Convent, Khermahal, Dimapur, on April 19. Rev. Sr. C .J. Mary, UFS, Provincial Superior, warmly welcomed the celebrant, concelebrants, all the Sisters and in particular Sr. Shanti D’Souza, the Provincial Superior of North Province, all the invited guests, particularly the parents
Litsami village gate inaugurated Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): Litsami village gate was inaugurated on April 20 with T. Setsathong Sangtam, Project Director/ DPC gracing the occasion as chief guest. The programmed was chaired by Tovishe Aye, VDB secretary Litsa, welcome address and vote of thanks was spoken by Khetovi GB & Hotoi GB respectively. Kanito Chishi, Convenor, Gate Construction gave a brief report and thank all the rank and files of Zunheboto, DRDA and Director, He also acknowledged Er Picto Shohe, Parliamentary Secretary, Justice & Law & Pihoto Khala Director, Vety & Animal Husbandary for helping out during the process of files & construction.
and relatives of the Sisters and Novices and thanked them for offering their daughters to the service of the Church. Bishop James in his introduction said that all the faithful are called by God and invited to return to God some measure what they have received from God. These Sisters who are
making the profession are offering themselves totally to God and to His service in full freedom. In his homily the Bishop applauded the Sisters for their readiness to offer themselves to God and to the Church in the religious Franciscan family. The real joy comes from self-donation, self gift which is relational. Only in
The religious commitment that the Sisters make is the best and highest form of self donation, self gift first to God and for others. The newly professed sisters expressed gratitude to God and to all those present through their songs and words of gratitude. Sr. Alphonsa Matevei and Rene Rita anchored the program. Mr. Jacob Taggu, brother-in law of Sr. Christina Tamut spoke on behalf of the parents and relations. Sr. Ashila Flora, perpetually profession proposed vote of thanks. The programme ended with a felicitation and the community meal was served to all. This was stated in a press release issued by Fr. Thomas Toretkiu Bishops Secretary, Kohima.
Mon DPDB meeting held moN, april 19 (Dipr): The Mon District Planning & Development Board meeting was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Mon, W. HonjeKonyak on April 17 at DC's conference hall. The meeting began with a welcome note by the Deputy Commissioner followed by self-introduction by the new DPDB members and review of last
meeting minutes. SDO Civil Mon, Ilika Zhimomi briefed the members about the 2nd phase of Induction Training Programme to be conducted by the ATI Kohima for the newly government employees of the District from April 18. It also recommended for change of nomenclature of Chingkhao Compound School to Chingkhao Lampong School.
‘Shaala Siddhi’ Workshop held in Kohima
T. Setsathong Sangtam, Project Director/DPC inaugurates the Litsami village gate on April 20.
The meeting was attended by Khehovi, DPO, Chichero BDO, Khukiye BDO, Asato, Kainato, John and Phong Pen, Earlier
Amento Chishi, Pastor LBC pronounced the Invocation. The programme ended with Hokheli W/Leader doing the benediction.
Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): Principals and Headmasters from all over the state attended a one day workshop on ‘Shaala Siddhi,’ organized by RMSA, Nagaland at Administrative Training Institute, Kohima on April 20. Shaala Siddhi, a programme under India's Ministry of Human Resource Development, is a self evaluation framework aimed at improving school performance and to provide quality education to all children. Er. Limawabang Aier, State Mission Director, RMSA who graced the inaugural programme exhorted the participants to honestly and sincerely fill-up the school evaluation dash board so that the
Government can assist the problems faced by schools and find solutions. During the same, Pipi Gloria Chishi, Principal GHSS Jalukie dwelt on the first four domains of the School Standards Evaluation Framework while YP Singh, Principal GHSS Phek took up domains 5 to 7. A PowerPoint presentation on School Evaluation Dashboard was also given by B Nellayapan, Principal GHSS Bhandari. It concluded with the presentation on how to upload data from the dashboard to the National Web Portal by Timothy Thong, Deputy Mission Director, RMSA and Nodal Officer, Shaala Siddhi, Nagaland.
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friday 21•04•2017
IN FOCUS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
The Power of Truth
The Morung Express volume XII Issue 107 By Witoubou Newmai
We need long term policies
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f one looks at the manner in which issues in the State are being attended to by the ‘concerned authorities,’ cosmetic or theatrics are the best terms that can be attached to it. The ‘concerned authorities’ are found with surfeit of energy and enthusiasm only to the ‘now-happenings’ of our times. The tendency to respond only to the immediate or urgent and not willing to step farther exposes their attitude of aversion to planning and long term policy making. This is the reason why we are trapped in a vicious circle of grim situations. There is no hint/sign as to when the ‘concerned authorities’ are going to begin to prove that they are the inhibitors of this stench that convulses the growth trajectory of our society. For instance, during the post monsoon period the ‘concerned authorities’ will become loud and shrill adorned with combat gears against the spread of dengue. But in want of long term policies, everything becomes melodramatic. We often see 'plans' spread over the planners’ table when landslides and floods occur or any other calamities befall us, only to be stashed in the shelves moments later where they remain until the next calamity. Our message is this—be it on the issue of education, corruption, drug, child abuse, rape, environment, violence, child trafficking and many others, let there be continuity. Why these ‘concerned authorities’ cannot go beyond their engagement with knee-jerk reactions is also an arguable point. Adoption of adhocism holds good in times of a sudden crises but investing resources to find measures to mitigate or prevent such happenings altogether is much more necessary. We have seen how Gulf countries have reversed the condition they could have been in, due to their hostile environments, to their convenience and comfort. However, we have not been able to prove our worth by being unable to nurture the abundance around us. Golf courses or greens and springs in the deserts of the Gulf region are testimonies today that ‘willingness’ perhaps is the language of development. Here, we are not embracing absurdity by expecting our own ‘authorities’ to perform the kind of task the oil rich societies do. Take for instance, we are only complaining why buzzing of few dengue-causing mosquitoes around us often throw life to the realms of danger without tackling the issue of rotting infrastructure where these mosquitoes breed. It is extremely discouraging that our ‘concerned authorities’ continue to hobble to mitigate the fear of containable ‘bads’ and also in the same time become inefficient to nurture the ‘goods’ to progression. Their continued failure to absorb traumas despite proclamation of progress and development proves their hypocrisy. Our only demand is that they should allow themselves the fertility of innovation and start facing these onerous challenges. On the other hand, it is very important for the public to understand the events that unfold around them. Progress is also an index of what kind of people a society has. It is imperative to realize that progress often fails to escape from any conscious society.
lEfT wiNg |
Tsering Namgyal ATimes
On the trail of the momo Everyone knows the Chinese invented soccer, gunpowder, the stirrup, navigation and dumplings, right? Right? Not everyone can swallow the latter
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omos, or Himalayan steamed dumplings, must have a long history, but tracing their origin is akin to solving a culinary mystery of Da Vinci Code complexity. In a very short span, momos have become one of the most sought-after types of street food in India. At the present rate, they may well become to Indians what chicken tikka masala is to Britons: a national dish of thoroughly alien origin. Authorities on the subject fight shy of discussing the true origin of the momo because of what one leading authority calls the “sensitive nature” of the matter. The expert says Tibetans are reticent about the history of the momo, except when they are stressing that the Chinese have nothing to do with it. Their assertion must be taken at face value. But the similarity of the momo to Chinese baozi or jiaozi is striking. So the notion that the momo originated in China – like gunpowder – is beguiling. For political reasons, the last thing Tibetans wish to hear about a national cultural treasure such as the momo is that it is just another variation of some Chinese invention. Some Tibetans have gone so far as to acknowledge that the momo is related most closely to the Mongolian buuz and that it is, perhaps, inspired by the buuz. Given the power of the Mongols in the era we are talking about, the idea that food in Tibet was influenced by food in neighboring Mongolia is not entirely implausible. There are other theories about the origin of the momo that are less palatable to Tibetans. One is that toward the end of the Qing dynasty in China, the Manchu army that marched on Tibet introduced the momo. When the troops retreated in 1911, some stayed behind, having taken Tibetan wives, and their momo recipes remained with them and were passed on to their offspring. The Nepalese also lay claim the momo, with some justification. They argue that the momo was introduced to Nepal by the Newari merchants of the Kathmandu Valley, who shuttled back and forth between Lhasa and Kathmandu with their merchandise, and in some cases had Tibetan wives. Go to any Nepalese restaurant around the world, be it in Hong Kong or Paris, and you will see momos proudly listed on the menu. The momo is now a global phenomenon, owing to the migration of Tibetans and Nepalese to the West over the past two decades. Some food trucks in the Jackson Heights immigrant enclave in New York, for instance, serve some of the world’s juiciest and most succulent momos. Their customers include the city mayor, Bill de Blasio, who, after savoring some momos last fall, tweeted a picture of the momo truck where he got them, along with a reminder to the public to register to vote. The origin of the momo is a touchy subject, and specious arguments are often used in support of the various theories. What is clear is that the popularity of momos in India is due largely to their introduction by Tibetan immigrants who settled in Delhi and Dharamsala. Whatever their true origins, over the years Tibetans have adapted the humble dumpling and refashioned it so many times that they can justly claim to be the inventors – at least of the momo in the form we recog-
C O M M E N T A R Y
George Lakey Waging Nonviolence
Preparing for the next ‘movement moment’
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s alumni of the 2011 Occupy Wall Street phenomenon might tell you, more preparation might have expanded Occupy’s impact. Such a “movement moment” is inevitably marked by improvisation, but bringing lessons learned from previous uprisings is bound to help. More such moments are on their way — particularly in countries like the United States, which are experiencing increasing polarization and longer-term decline of the legitimacy of both political and economic establishments. We can’t predict where and when the next movement moment will start. Fortunately, help has shown up to steer us away from predictable mistakes when the moment comes. Jonathan Matthew Smucker’s new book is right in time, revealing deep learning from the important role he played in the Occupy movement. He also draws on years of other organizing work and his research on social movements. The book starts with a deliberately provocative title: “Hegemony How-To: A Road Map for Radicals.” Hegemony, Smucker says, is acceptance by the mainstream of a particular worldview as common sense. He expects we free-thinkers might be reluctant to foist upon society a new orthodoxy. He challenges us nevertheless: At heart, don’t we want ours to be the leading values in mainstream society? An example from my own research would be the revolutionary movement in Norway. A century ago, capitalism and the patriarchy were hegemonic — the “common sense” of the mainstream. The values of equality, democracy, and cooperation were held by a small counter-cultural movement of workers, farmers and their middle-class allies. The movement practiced its values in small coops, unions and student associations. Their plan was to nonviolently force a power shift, putting their values into practice on a policy level and eroding the mainstream’s previous faith in inequality. In other words, a small movement intended to make their values the new Norwegian common sense. The small movement grew and made their revolution. In January, the Guardian reported on a recent study by behavioral economists comparing American and Norwegian workers’ attitudes toward inequality. The results from three different experiments were the same: The Norwegians were far less accepting of inequality and much more willing than the Americans to try to redress it. Clearly, the revolution worked. In Occupy, however, Smucker observed a reluctance to be as bold as the Norwegians had been a century ago, a refusal to make specific policy demands, much less project a vision of what we want. He began to wonder if self-identified activists are content in their proud marginality, having a monopoly on truth. If our worldview became common sense, do we fear that would mean we’re less special, less ourselves? Do we believe our identity depends on differentiating ourselves from most people? In some unconscious way, that would help account for Occupy’s inability — even unwillingness — to reach out “beyond the choir,” or even to accept and act on many of the requests that came from outside to join in and support the movement. The response of elites to Occupy In the early days of Occupy I suspect that the economic and political elites’ worry was shown by the extraordinary attention given by mass media. Even though not all that many people participated in the Occupy sites, their rapid growth and accuracy in naming class struggle revealed the movement’s potential force, which was scary to the privileged. I believe that the scariness in those initial weeks was partly in response to the fact that the occupations were sustained over time. That feature contrasts with one-off demonstrations like the Women’s March
on January 21, which received little media attention considering it was the largest protest in U.S. history. Elites know that the people attending one-off rallies and marches will go home promptly. One-off actions have little power potential because they announce in advance that they won’t be disrupting anything for long. Occupy’s early days, though, left everyone wondering: Would Occupy’s sticking around mean it will grow, involving masses of people who don’t have a previous identity as “activists?” Smucker helpfully distinguishes between potential and kinetic force. Kinetic force actually shifts power and makes structural change possible. “Occupy Wall Street,” he writes, “signaled the potential for a broad alignment focused on economic inequality and a rigged political system that serves the ‘1 percent.’ After a few weeks … the amorphous mobilization was recognized by a substantial cross-section of the progressive left ‘establishment’ (e.g. institutions including labor unions, community organizations, national organizations, and other membership organizations) as having de facto provided the potential for such an alignment.” Smucker believes Occupy was unable to realize that potential partly because of its unwillingness to give up its specialness, its identity, as different from not only the 1 percent but most of the 99 percent as well. Instead of seeing its values as a gift offered to the majority, it resisted sharing with those who didn’t pass an ever-higher litmus test of purity and commitment. In effect, it chose against growing large enough to force a power shift in U.S. society. How ‘activists’ limit a movement’s potential I admire the compassion with which Smucker explores why we sometimes undermine our own intention. He acknowledges that in our society individuals really are being atomized. Many feel lonely. It’s a relief to find a clubhouse where people can hang out with others like themselves, to join “the cool kids.” Individuals do indeed deserve community. The problem, Smucker says, comes when we make the need for community more important than our mission. We then settle for having been influential (Occupy did, after all, bring inequality into U.S. political discourse), not having changed any policies that
make inequality grow ever larger. He suspects another fear might be lurking beneath the surface: fear of being powerful. I’ve noticed that not enough of us operate with author and organizer Starhawk’s distinction of power-over (domination), power-with (cooperation) and power-fromwithin (spiritual assertion). Unconsciously we may accept the patriarchal view that “getting things done” requires power-over. In order to resist power-over in our movements we distrust each other, make a fetish of consensus and disavow open leadership. We falsely believe that building effective organizations to foster mass revolutionary movements requires becoming bureaucracies willing to sell out. To avoid this danger, we sacrifice our mission, choosing behaviors that limit our organizational effectiveness. Smucker also reports another group life dynamic that shows up, inside Occupy and elsewhere, by quoting author Bill Bishop: “In like-minded groups over time ‘people are constantly comparing their beliefs and actions to those of the group. When a person learns that others in the group share his or her general beliefs, he or she finds it socially advantageous to adopt a position slightly more extreme than the group average. It’s a safe way to stand out from the crowd … It’s counter-intuitive, but people grow more extreme within homogeneous groups as a way to conform.’” That evolution toward the ever-more-extreme position traps the group in its bubble, disconnecting it from the diversity of people who are open to change. We see this among groups on college campuses as well as in urban neighborhoods. For Smucker, this dynamic is one more reason why we can’t expect to make the most of movement moments unless we pay attention to the self-limiting aspects of internal movement life. His book heightens our awareness and points to potential solutions. I would add two solutions, however, to the ones he includes. Even fairly homogeneous groups can transcend the dynamics he names by centering on campaigns and cooperative businesses. A campaign creates a specific demand and constantly evaluates its progress toward that goal. If the group gets caught in self-limiting dynamics, it fails. Similarly, a cooperative business has a bottom line. If group dynamics seriously sabotages worker productivity, the group either wakes up or the business fails. Inspiration from the past In a brilliant and nuanced section on organizational culture and leadership, Smucker compares the trajectory of two high-profile ‘60s organizations: the Students for a Democratic Society, or SDS, and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, or SNCC. A familiar dynamic occurred in both: Members gave leadership status to individuals who best represented the culture of the group, who were most “hardcore.” At a certain point in each group’s life the leaders led their groups in opposite directions. In SDS, the group imploded in 1969 and some leaders used hardcore status to start the doomed Weather Underground. In SNCC, “very astute leaders defined hardcore to mean efforts such as going into the most segregated areas in the South and organizing.” SNCC’s choice led to exercising its greatest power on the national scene. In each group both members and leaders can take responsibility for the dramatically different outcomes. What Smucker shows is how the largely-unconscious group culture influences direction. That awareness can free us to take charge. When we take charge of our own group culture, we are at the same time showing that we can be trusted to pursue the larger revolutionary project. Smucker’s book offers a kind of chart for diagnosing the condition of our own group’s culture — a gift to us all.
A thirsty argument before water runs out The subcontinent’s water crisis stems from a mix of economic, geographic and political factors, but climate change could force a lasting solution moin Qazi
W
ATimes
ith climate change leading to searing heatwaves across the country, India’s weather pundits are starting to sweat over this year’s monsoon prospects and the country’s water equation. According to international water safety organization Water Aid, India has the most rural people living without access to clean water – 63.4 million. The rural poor were highly vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather and climate change, the group said in a report. India supports 15% of the world’s population but possesses only 4% of the world’s water resources. World Bank data shows that only 35% of India’s agricultural land is irrigated – defined as the artificial application of water to land or soil. This means that 65% of farming depends on rainfall. Successive Indian governments have done little to conserve water for offseason use. Despite constructing 4,525 large and small dams, the country has managed to create per capita storage of only 213 cubic meters, a relatively small achievement when compared to Russia’s 6,103 cubic meters, Australia’s 4,733, and China’s 1,111.
The country still breaks out in a cold sweat every time the southwest monsoon (the subcontinent’s tenuous lifeline that arrives anytime between June and September) is delayed. India’s water crisis stems from a complex mix of economic, geographic and political factors. While climate change has caused rains to become more erratic, most parts of the country receive a more than adequate amount of rainfall. Water harvesting and management, though required, remains little more than a fad. Many of the areas that are prone to flooding are the same ones that face drought months later. A staggering US$52.7 billion has been allocated to so-called Major and Medium Irrigation projects from the first five-year plan (1951-56) to the 11th (2007-12), but irrigation has reached only 45% of India’s net sown area. Today, India’s agricultural sector accounts for more than 90% of total water drawn but contributes only 15% to the country’s GDP. Scientists and activists have consistently warned that relentless groundwater extraction will lead to a steep drop in water tables across the country. Some farmers in these parched states
now need to drill down 100 meters or more for water, compared to the 1.5 meters that was the norm in the 1960s, according to research by a local government scientist. India will need to rein in the systemic corruption that has dogged irrigation projects across the country. In some states these projects have sparked social unrest and political turmoil as seen in Maharashtra and Karnataka, where tenders were awarded at grossly inflated prices. Perhaps the best hope comes from the judiciary. Last week, soft drinks multinationals PepsiCo and Coca-Cola were restrained from drawing water from Tamirabharani River in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district until April 30 for their bottling plants in view of the acute water shortage. The suspension was ordered even as a public-interest litigation seeking a stay on drawing of water by the two companies from the river was filed last year in the High Court. The proliferation of power plants is another area that requires serious re-examination. Government policies that make water and land cheap in the area seem to be the reason for the location of thermal plants.
wRiTE-wiNg
Without government intervention to reset the revenue balance in favor of less water-intensive crops, experts warn the sustained production of thirsty crops will further deplete scarce water resources. The government has asked farmers to shift to less water-consuming crops, but it does little to support such a change. Erratic prices for vegetables, oil seeds and pulses limit the incentives for farmers to plant them. Israel has been a role model for the world in matters of water management and India is now actively seeking the country’s help. Israel’s successes were in large part due to the major innovation of drip irrigation. The country has also set the template for reusing wastewater in irrigation. It treats 80% of its domestic wastewater, which is recycled and constitutes nearly 50% of the total water used for agriculture. Realizing its dire predicament decades ago, Israel studied the “water equation” and made itself all but independent from Mother Nature. Israel took 70 years to solve its water problem; India won’t need that long, as it can emulate Israeli advances. But New Delhi must summon the political will to act before the water runs out. Changing governance, raising money, and installing technologies all take time and the climatic stresses are mounting fast.
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Friday 21•04•2017
PERSPECTIVE
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
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What Does Kim Jong Un Want? It's not too late to make a deal with North Korea. Ultimately, it's what Pyongyang wants too John Feffer Foreign Policy In Focus
V
irtually every week, politicians and journalists and policy e xp er ts atte mpt the impossible: mind reading. Specifically, they want to know what’s going on inside one man’s mind. They want to know what Kim Jong Un is thinking and, more importantly, what he wants. It’s impossible to know for sure what another person is thinking. And yet figuring out what the current North Korean leader wants – in the absence of any substantial engagement with him – is the basis of all policy options for how to address the country. These policy options fall into three main categories: military force, nonmilitary force, and diplomacy. According to one interpretation, Kim Jong Un is fundamentally irrational, so there is no point in trying to negotiate with him. He only understands force. Unfortunately, this is a rather popular misconception. Even some hardliners who oppose negotiations with North Korea acknowledge that Kim Jong Un has some rational goals. For instance, they believe that the North Korean leader is interested in his own political survival and that of his regime. They believe that he wants to accumulate hard currency, maintain not just the survival of the regime but its ideological and international legitimacy, and defend the sovereignty of the country at all costs including with the use of nuclear weapons. These hardliners who believe that Kim Jong Un operates according to a certain narrow rationality also favor
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un observes a target-striking contest by the Korean People's Army (KPA) in this undated photo, released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), April 13. (REUTERS Photo)
an approach to North Korea that emphasizes sticks. But they tend to support economic sanctions, in addition to conventional military containment, to force Kim Jong Un to make a rational assessment that maintenance of an aggressive nuclear program will make it difficult to achieve these other goals. Those who believe that diplomatic engagement is the most effective approach to North Korea must also come up with some understanding of what Kim Jong Un wants. After all, you can’t just say that
the North Korean leader wants peace. Or that diplomacy is always a better option than war or economic sanctions. Neither of these positions can persuade governments to sit down with North Korean representatives. So, here is my attempt to read Kim Jong Un’s mind in an effort to come up with an effective diplomatic alternative. I also believe that the North Korean leader is focused on his own political survival. He has spent his first years in power consolidating his position by eliminating potential rivals.
In this way, he is his grandfather’s grandson: Kim Il Sung also eliminated all potential sources of opposition to his authority. Like his grandfather, Kim Jong Un connects regime stability directly to his own security as leader. I also think that Kim Jong Un, like his father and grandfather, believes that the key to the future longevity of North Korea lies in negotiating a deal with the United States. North Korea has always been uncomfortable about becoming too dependent on China, going all the way back
to the Korean War and even earlier. The entire North Korean ideology of juche is essentially a repudiation of an ageold dependency – the tributary relationship of sadaejuui of the Korean peninsula to the Chinese emperor. Moreover, Kim Il Sung built the North Korean state as a fundamentally antiJapanese country – a repudiation of Japanese colonial occupation – so any relationship with Tokyo can only go so far (and not very far at all during the Shinzo Abe era). Finally, although Pyongyang seeks occasional economic advantage
from Seoul, the fundamental competition for control of the peninsula makes any grand deal with South Korea – at least now when the two sides have such wildly divergent economic success – very unlikely. That leaves the United States. According to Pyongyang’s worldview, the United States holds the key to North Korea’s future. Only Washington can provide North Korea with the kind of diplomatic recognition it wants at the international level. Only Washington can decrease the military containment of North Korea. And only Washington can make the decision, ultimately, to end North Korea’s economic isolation. Kim Jong Un wants to lessen his country’s dependency on countries in the region. He wants to push through an economic reform – greater reliance on market mechanisms, more investments in technology, even shifting resources from the military to the nonmilitary sectors – that can strengthen the country’s independence and give it greater leverage in dealing with the outside world. To date, North Koreans have created their own version of a market economy from the ground up, while the state has entered the global economy on its own terms through black market trade (in various contraband goods) and connecting with international banks (by hacking into them). Any deal with North Korea must provide the things that the regime wants: capital to rebuild the economy and make the reforms work plus a legitimate relationship with the global economy that can substitute for the largely illegiti-
mate set of ties it currently has. Of course, North Korea doesn’t just want capital in exchange for its nukes. It wants security guarantees as well. One step in this direction is, of course, a peace treaty that can replace the armistice of the Korean War. But honestly, I don’t think that the North Korea leadership will see a piece of paper as the ultimate substitute for nuclear weapons. To provide North Korea with that kind of guarantee, any deal must accept a gradual period that phases out the country’s nuclear program. As it whittles down its program, North Korea will have the chance to see if its negotiating partners keep to the agreement (lifting sanctions, providing North Korean banks with training to meet international standards, signing a peace agreement, and so on). Perhaps North Korea will retain a “recessed deterrence” of some nuclear material that can, if necessary, be weaponized in the case of an emergency (much like Japan’s capability). Such is the basis of a hardnosed engagement deal. It’s not an easy moral issue. Frankly, I’d love to see both Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump put in jail some day, just like former South Korean president Park Geun Hye. But sometimes you have to choose peace over justice. And the threat of war on the Korean peninsula demands that two otherwise despicable leaders from Pyongyang and Washington talk to each other and figure out a way to give each other what the other one wants. John Feffer is the director of Foreign Policy In Focus and the author of the dystopian novel Splinterlands.
Mind the treatMent Gap 'The Tamil Nadu factor': demanding justice for ‘war crimes’ in Sri Lanka Vani S. Kulkarni and Raghav Gaiha
Implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act will require a restructuring of health-care services he Mental Healthcare Bill, 2016, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on March 27, 2017, has been hailed as a momentous reform. According to the Bill, every person will have the right to access mental health care operated or funded by the government; good quality and affordable health care; equality of treatment and protection from inhuman practices; access to legal services; and right to complain against coercion and cruelty. The Bill also empowers a mentally ill person to choose a treatment and her/his nominated representative, decriminalises attempted suicide, prohibits the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to mentally ill adults without the use of muscle relaxants and anaesthesia, and contains provisions for care, treatment and rehabilitation for those who have experienced severe stress and attempted suicide. While these are laudable and ambitious objectives as they address major concerns of mental health care, there have been some critiques drawing attention to the lack of funds, trained personnel, and insufficient emphasis on community care. The ground reality, however, suggests that these objectives are not just overambitious but an overkill.
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Poor infrastructure, low funds The Global Burden of Disease Study shows that in 2013, 50% of all disease burden in India was caused by non-communicable diseases, while mental disorders accounted for about 6% of the total disease burden. A third of this is due to depression, which also significantly contributes to suicide and ischaemic heart disease. Worse, suicide is a leading cause of death in people in
India aged 15-29. There are only 43 government-run mental hospitals across all of India to provide services to more than 70 million people living with mental disorders. There are 0.30 psychiatrists, 0.17 nurses, and 0.05 psychologists per 1,00,000 mentally ill patients in the country. The case of the Bareilly mental hospital — one of three major mental hospitals in Uttar Pradesh — is stunning. In this hospital, 350 patients can be admitted and around 200 patients can attend the out-patient department every day. But all these patients would be at the mercy of only one psychiatrist! At the macro level, the proposed health expenditure of 1.2% of GDP in the Budget for 2017-18 is among the lowest in the world. In real terms, public health expenditure has consistently declined since 2013-14. Of the total health budget, a mere 1-2% is spent on mental health. But this is a small part of the explanation of the inadequacy and abysmal quality of mental health services in India. Underlying this deplorable state of affairs is a pervasive perception that those with mental illnesses are pathological or even criminal; hence they do not deserve the type of rehabilitation given to those with physical ailments. Besides, the treatment gap (the difference between those suffering from mental illnesses and those seeking medical/psychiatric care) is widened because of the social stigma attached to such illnesses. In fact, many poor people hide their illnesses and endanger their lives. Others argue that it is not so much stigma but ignorance and lack of knowledge, myths, and supernatural beliefs that impede treatment. Women typically face larger treatment gaps as they are vulnerable to violence, sexual abuse and inhuman treatment. Ethnographic evidence from the Human Rights Watch Report 2014 relat-
ing to women inpatients is gruesome. Deepali, a woman with a perceived psychosocial disability, said: “The nurse would sometimes forcefully put the pills in my mouth and stroke my throat to send them down, the way I feed my dogs… I woke up one night and I couldn’t move; my body was in intense physical pain. A nurse came and jabbed an injection into my body, without even taking off my clothes. You are treated worse than animals.” Often, all women and girls were admitted without their consent and, as the team left, they cried out in despair, “send me home” or “take me home”. Unable to cope with mentally ill relatives, families often abandon them in mental hospitals and elsewhere. In one case, a woman who was declared “fit for discharge” in the 1990s was still in the institution as of August 2013 because of lack of alternative resettlement options for her. Some women were not even informed that ECT was being administered. Psychiatric nurses admitted that ECT was administered not just on violent and suicidal patients but also on new admissions who tend to be unmanageable. Women and girls with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities in institutions are often subject to not just physical and verbal abuse but also sexual violence. Some women went to a hospital for three months and returned one month pregnant. Not a single FIR was filed. Government hospitals refuse to admit “mentally ill” persons in the ICU on the grounds that this facility could be put to better use. A woman suffering from breast cancer for two-three years was denied treatment and subsequently died. Shift to communitybased care An emphatic case could be made for shifting from institutional care to community-based care
for people suffering from mental disorders. A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry, 2017 offers corroborative evidence from VISHRAM (the Vidharbha Stress and Health Programme), which is a community-based mental health initiative. The reduction in the treatment gap was due to increased supply of mental health services through front-line workers and their collaborative linkage with the physicians and psychiatrists in the facilities, as well as increased demand for mental health services due to improved mental health literacy. The substantial reduction in the median cost of care resulted from availability of general as well as specialist services in the village itself. Whether legislation such as the Mental Healthcare Bill help overcome supply and demand barriers seems highly unlikely, as the root causes lie in pervasive negative attitudes, massive neglect of mental health care, rampant abuse and unchecked inhuman practices, and weak redressal and enforcement mechanisms. The Bill seeks to address major lacunae in mental health care and is thus an important step forward. However, its implementation will require substantially larger public resources and, more importantly, restructuring of mental healthcare services with a key role for the community in their provision, rapid expansion of mental health literacy, effective monitoring and enforcement of the objectives envisioned in it. With limited awareness of these challenges, and with a slight risk of exaggeration, the Bill is an overkill. This opinion editorial was first published in The Hindu Vani S. Kulkarni teaches Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, and Raghav Gaiha is (Hon.) Professorial Fellow, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester.
From politicians to protestors, the people of Tamil Nadu are making waves in Indian politics, rallying around the need for justice for the war crimes committed against Sri Lanka’s Tamils
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Ana Pararajasingham
ust prior to the United Nations Humans Rights Council’s (UNHCR) March 2017 hearings on war crimes committed during Sri Lanka’s civil war, the main political party of Sri Lanka’s Tamils, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), had urged the UN to pressure the Sri Lankan government to expedite its investigations. Instead, the consensus resolution passed on 23 March provided the Sri Lankan government with a further two years to investigate the war crimes. This comes as no surprise because the March 2017 resolution, like all previous resolutions on war crimes committed during Sri Lanka’s civil war, was initiated and backed by the US. Between 2012 and 2014, the US-backed resolutions in the UN were designed to pressure Sri Lanka, which, under the presidency of Rajapaksa, had become a close ally of Beijing. However, following the regime change that saw Rajapaksa ousted and Wickramasinghe, from the right-leaning United National Party (UNP), appointed Prime Minister, the US changed tack. Thereafter, the resolutions were intended to maintain US influence by placating Sri Lanka’s Sinhala political establishment, which was opposed to the very notion of war crimes. New Delhi, which had worked in tandem with the US in ousting the pro-Beijing Rajapaksa, had gone along with the consensus resolution of March 2017, but found it necessary to explain its stance. India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, justifying her government’s role in supporting the March 2017 resolution, told the Indian upper house, the Rajya Sabha, that India’s approach in the UN Human Rights Council was guided by the premise that the protection of human rights can be best pursued through constructive and collaborative engagement, and that its aim is to “protect the interests of Tamils in Sri Lanka”. New Delhi’s compulsion to explain its position is directly attributable to what can be best described as the “Tamil Nadu Factor”. Two days prior to the passing of the resolution which allowed Sri Lanka a further two years to investigate the alleged war crimes, a demand was made in the Rajya Sabha by Vasudevan Maitreyan from Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, the All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhkam (AIADMK), that
India should oppose the resolution. Vaiyapuri “Vaiko” Gopalsamy, an Indian politician from Tamil Nadu, described a clause in the resolution, which required foreign jurists, lawyers and rapporteurs investigating alleged war crimes to obtain Colombo’s consent, as the ‘unkindest cut’. The ruling party in New Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has reasons to be concerned with Tamil Nadu’s sentiments, given that Tamil Nadu is on the cusp of change following the untimely demise of its charismatic chief minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa. Ever since Tamil Nadu became aware of New Delhi’s assistance to Colombo during the final days of Sri Lanka’s civil war, under a congress-led coalition, it has been on the boil. The initial protests in January 2009 involved self-immolations, galvanizing over a hundred thousand people to take to the streets. The protests were led by students from colleges across the state. Although the state government was able to eventually quell the unrest, much of the anger remained. The first political casualty of the suppressed anger was the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the ruling party in the state, which was in alliance with the Congress party in the central government during New Delhi’s assistance to Colombo. At the state elections in May 2011, two years after the decimation of the LTTE, DMK was comprehensively defeated by its rival the AIADMK, which had taken advantage of the suppressed anger. In June 2011, the Tamil Nadu Assembly, now dominated by the AIADMK, adopted a unanimous resolution seeking imposition of economic sanctions against Sri Lanka. In March 2013, following another state-wide protest by students focusing on war crimes committed against Sri Lanka’s Tamils, the state assembly passed another resolution calling for the establishment of a separate state for the Tamils of Sri Lanka. The AIADMK’s stance paid off at the 2014 general elections, helping it secure 37 of the 39 seats. Although the BJP had swept the polls in most other states, it could secure just one seat in Tamil Nadu. In 2015, faced with the prospect of a UN resolution against Sri Lanka’s war crimes being confined to a domestic investigation instead of the international investigation that had been demanded by Sri Lanka’s Tamils, the AIADMK-led Tamil Nadu As-
sembly passed yet another resolution calling on New Delhi to support an international probe against those who had committed war crimes. The 2016 state elections vindicated AIADMK’s stance, helping it beat its rival and defying the trend in Tamil Nadu since 1984 of the voting out of the incumbent party. Beginning mid-January this year, the state of Tamil Nadu was the scene of a seven-day-long nonviolent protest which ended in violence when police intervened on the eighth day. The protests began, innocuously enough, as a demonstration against the banning of jallikattu, an ancient sport involving the taming of a raging bull. It soon morphed, however, into a statewide movement attracting tens of thousands voicing concerns over a range of issues. Seemingly over multiple issues, the protest was in fact the product of Tamil Nadu’s suppressed anger at the Indian political establishment for its support to what is largely perceived by Tamils the world over as an act of genocide. This perception was not groundless. In December 2008, the New Yorkbased Genocide Prevention Project had identified Sri Lanka as one of the eight "red alert" countries where genocide and other mass atrocities were underway, and in February 2009, the Boston Globe compared the atrocities taking place to the Bosnian Srebrenica genocide. Then there was the finding by former BBC Correspondent in Sri Lanka, Francis Harrison, that the government had declared safe zones during the latter stages of the war only to gather civilians in one place to kill as many as possible. Since 2009, all protests—including the last protest in January 2017— were led by students. Should the next leader emerge from the generation that had spear-headed protests forcing the AIADMK to pass resolutions in support of the Tamils of Sri Lanka, the Tamil Nadu Factor may prove to be decisive in shaping New Delhi’s Sri Lanka policy. Ana Pararajasingham is an independent researcher focusing on political developments in the South Asian region. He was Director-Programmes with the Switzerlandbased Centre for Just Peace and Democracy (CJPD); the author Sri Lanka’s Endangered Peace Process and the Way Forward (2007) and editor of Sri Lanka: 60 Years of ‘Independence’ and Beyond (2009).
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FriDAY 21•04•2017
INDIA
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Terrorist module busted in pan-India operation
MuMbAi, April 20 (iANS): A terrorist module was busted with the arrest of one and detention of two men from Mumbra in the neighbouring Thane district in a multi-state anti-terrorism operation, an official said here on Thursday. The operation was carried out in the early hours by a team of Maharashtra Anti-Terorism Squad along with the Uttar Pradesh ATS, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, and the Crime Investigation Cell of Andhra Pradesh Police. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Nazim Shamshad Ahmed, 26, of Bijnor, while the Maharashtra ATS detained the two others in Mumbra an was interrogating them. These three accused men were living in a single-room apartment in a building in Devripada area of the
Muslim-dominated Mumbra town since the past few months. The investigators have seized cash, mobile phones and other things from them, the official said. "The arrested person, along with other co-accused from different parts of the country, proposed to cause harm to national integrity and social harmony," an ATS official said in Mumbai. "An offence in Lucknow vice CR No.8/2017 under various sections is registered and is being investigated by the Uttar Pradesh ATS," the official added. According to him, the Uttar Pradesh ATS also arrested Nazim Shaikh and Akram Ansari from other parts of India. Uttar Pradesh ATS chief Asim Arun told IANS earlier on Thursday that
Centre opposes curbs on free expression of politicians New Delhi, April 20 (iANS): The central government on Thursday opposed any restrictions on public comments by politicians holding public offices, including ministers, other than those prescribed under the Constitution as the Supreme Court indicated that it may refer the issue to the larger Constitution bench. "We don't want to open new avenues of restrictions," said lawyer Madhvi Divan as the bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar asked amicus curiae Fali S. Nariman and Harish Salve to frame the questions that could be referred to the Constitution bench to decide. The position taken by the central government on Thursday is continuation of the stand taken earlier by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who had told the court that restraining politicians and public figures from commenting on crimes being investigated would be an infringement of the freedom of speech and expression. "If an offence of rape is committed and someone says it's a political conspiracy, then there can be no restriction on such expressions. He is not trivialising the incident," the Attorney General told the court during the last hearing on March 29. The Centre reiterated its position in the course of the hearing wherein the court is examining the freedom of expression of a person in power vis-avis a rape victim's fundamental right of protection of life, personal liberty and right to fair investigation and trial. The issue is rooted in Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan's remarks about the 2016 gang-rape case in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. He had described it as a "political conspiracy". Khan has already regretted his statement.
You have no sense of responsibility, NGT tells Sri Sri
New Delhi, April 20 (iANS): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday slammed Art of Living (AoL) founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for blaming the central government and the green panel for the Yamuna plains damage. "Just because you have filed an application, who gives you the liberty to say what you want. You have no sense of responsibility," NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar said. The comments came after advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for petitioner Manoj Misra, told the bench about Ravi Shankar's statement blaming the government and the NGT for permitting the AoL to hold the World Culture Festival on the Yamuna floodplains last year. In his statement on Wednesday, Ravi Shankar said the authorities should have never given permission to hold the Festival if the Yamuna was "so fragile and pure". He said the fine should be levied on the NGT as well as the central and Delhi governments for giving permission to hold the event.
Online portal launched for medical tests at home
New Delhi, April 20 (iANS): Aimed at avoiding long queues at diagnostic centres in major metros, a new digital diagnostic portal was launched here on Thursday through which several medical tests can be performed at home. The 3HCare.in has collaborated with over 300 laboratories and helps the patient choose the best one and desired time for the test. "Health needs to be taken care of at its best. With such an objective, we aim to help the public by assisting them to get the best quality healthcare service and facilities by providing nearby centre information, recommended doctors," Ruchi Gupta, co-founder and
"The Uttar Pradesh ATS conducted joint anti-terror raids in Maharashtra, Punjab, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in coordination with police of the five states," Uttar Pradesh ATS chief Asim Arun told IANS earlier on Thursday. Arun said in Lucknow that the UP ATS has arrested the other two from Jalandhar and Bijnor for conspiring to carry out terror activities. "The police are interrogating four more people in other parts apart from these two, who were detained in Mumbra. Legal action will be taken on the basis of evidence," Arun told IANS. The police had received information that some hyperactive members of a terror group were trying to recruit new members. The operation also involved police forces of Punjab and Bihar, he said.
CEO, 3hcare.in, said. "Through our service, the customer can also get the test done at their own chosen location at any time." According to co-founder Ravinder Pal Singh, the elderly patients will benefit the most through 3HCare.in, considering the difficulties they face standing in queues or wait for hours to get the tests done. "This eradicates the need to go to laboratories for appointments and wait for the turn or report collection, as even the report is mailed to you through 3HCare.in. The website also provides facilities to keep complete data stored at one point for easy access and future consultations," Singh added.
Taking exception to his statements, the bench gave two weeks' time to the AoL to file objections and posted the matter for further hearing on May 9. Ravi Shankar on Thursday reiterated that the AoL caused no damage to the Yamuna floodplains. "Those who say the Art of Living is irresponsible simply don't know us or have gained a sense of humour," he tweeted. "The truth is we have caused no damage to the Yamuna. When lies are exposed, it is shocking." Ravi Shankar added that the NGT-appointed committee had been "irresponsible and inconsistent" in its reports. "From Rs 120 crore for wetlands to Rs 13 crore for flood plains. From permanent damage to 10 years," he said. A seven-member expert committee, headed by former Secretary of Water Resources Ministry Shashi Shekhar, had said it would take Rs 42.02 crore and a decade for the ecological rehabilitation of the Yamuna floodplains from adverse damages caused by the mega festival.
Don't be 'Yes masters', Rajnath tells bureaucrats New Delhi, April 20 (iANS): Dubbing civil servants as the "steel frame" of India, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asked them not to follow "wrong orders" of a political executive or become "Yes masters", but take decisions in the interest of the nation. "Civil services have power. Decisions should be taken on the basis of national interest and in the interest of the people. If a political executive gives wrong orders, do not be scared to show them rules. Tell him that you are legally wrong and do not sign the file," the Minister said, addressing the inaugural session of 11th Civil Services Day function here. Rajnath Singh advised bureaucrats not to become "Yes masters" and betray their conscience. "Haan mein haan naa milaiye (Do not become yes masters). Do not betray your conscience," he said at the function attended by officers belonging All India Services. He also lightly hit out at officers who "avoid" taking decisions, saying such hesitations may harm the country's interests. "If necessary, discuss and deliberate with your seniors but there should be no hesitation in taking decisions," he said. The Home Minister lauded the role of bureaucrats dubbing them the "steel frame of India" and advised them to follow the guiding principles for civil servants as enunciated by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on April 21, 1948. "Sardar Patel said that if civil services was called the steel frame of India, it
he said. Another senior JD(U) leader said Kumar's visit to Gandhi's residence was a courtesy call as the Congress is the party's ally in Bihar and also because Gandhi had been ill for some time. "He did speak about the need for unity among opposition parties," he added. Kumar has been calling for forging an alliance of secular parties at the national level on the lines of the 2015 electoral grand alliance or 'Mahagathband-
would not be an exaggeration. Guiding principles for civil servants as enunciated by Sardar Patel in 1948 are extremely important in present day context as well. The steel frame of our civil services has not weakened even after 70 years of Independence," he said. The politician also asked civil servants to be always responsible, accountable and impartial. "We should always remember responsibility, accompanied by accountability. Along with this, impartiality is also a most important aspect of civil services. Lack of impartiality may affect your decision-making capabilities," the Minister said. Rajnath Singh said Indian polity has never faced a vacuum and witnessed continuity in seventy years of Independence as the civil servants have contributed largely in maintaining
continuity. He praised the administrative continuity in the country, saying it has been one of the important reasons for the success of Indian democracy. Singh said the Narendra Modi government through its ‘Jan Dhan, Aadhar and mobile connectivity (JAM) convergence is transforming good governance into smart governance. The Home Minister said the central government is committed to successfully implementing ‘Antyodaya', a scheme for providing subsidised food to millions of poorest families, and the civil servants have to play a more active and effective role in its implementation. "Our government is known for its commitment and conviction. The Prime Minister has a dream of ensuring ‘Roti, Kapda, Makan, Siksha and Swasthya' (food, house, edu-
cation and health service) for everyone by 2022. Civil servants must ensure that the dream becomes a reality," he said. Rajnath Singh also stressed on the need for punctuality to a group of bureaucrats when the event began 12 minutes late. "I was a little bit worried today. The programme was supposed to start at 9.45 (a.m.). We reached five minutes before the scheduled time. But it started at 9.57 (a.m.)," the Minister said. He said that while there could be some legitimate reasons for running the event late, but there should be an introspection over the issue. "It would have been good that we would not have deviated (from the scheduled time). Has there been any laxity in our commitment?" the Minister wondered.
Mining dust eats into lives at Goa's Sonshi village
SoNShi (GoA), April 20 (iANS): Although annual school exams are around the corner, homework or preparing for the series of tests is the last thing on the mind of 10-yearold Vasudev Gawde of Sonshi village, literally a speck in North Goa's dusty mining belt. Gawde as well as more than a dozen other minors are awaiting the release of their parents from incarceration. They were among the 45 people arrested on April 11 for protesting against dust pollution caused by the transportation of iron ore in trucks, the paucity of water due to mining in the village's vicinity, and an ore transportation jetty several kilometres away. "There is too much dust in the area. Coming and going to school is very difficult due to the movement of trucks. We want
clean air and water... I am not afraid because my parents are in jail. They have done it for me," Gawde told IANS. Last Sunday, Gawde was among 25 children who led a protest to the Valpoi police station demanding the release of their parents. The incarcerated, including 23 women and one senior citizen, were arrested by personnel attached to the Valpoi police station and booked under various sections of the IPC. "We have to act as per the law. The company has a high court order which clearly states that nobody can stop them from carrying out mining activities in the area. This order was issued by the court after the company had complained against the villagers in 2014 when they tried to stop the trucks," Valpoi Po-
lice Station in-charge Inspectpr Deepak Pednekar said. While those arrested continue to languish at the Colvale Central Jail in North Goa, due to their collective inability to obtain bail by posting bonds of Rs 10,000 each, the Bombay High Court bench in Panaji has suo moto taken up the issue of their incarceration and ore dust pollution. The court has now directed the police to update it on the action taken against the villagers, while the Goa State Pollution Control Board has been asked to submit a report on pollution in the Sattari sub-district. City lawyer and activist Aires Rodrigues has also filed a petition with the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) seeking access to drinking water and clean air for the residents of
Nitish meets Sonia, calls for opposition unity
New Delhi, April 20 (AGeNCieS): Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar today met Congress President Sonia Gandhi here and is learnt to have advocated unity among opposition parties to take on the BJP-led NDA. JD(U) also used the meeting to call for a joint opposition candidate for the election to the President's post and urged Gandhi to take the lead in the matter. Its spokesperson K C Tyagi, however, insisted that the issue of presidential election was not discussed in the meeting and added it was his party's view that a strong joint opposition candidate will be in national interest. "There should a joint opposition candidate for the top Constitutional post and Sonia Gandhi being the leader of the largest opposition party should take the lead," he said. Kumar has already taken up the matter with leaders of the Left parties and received a good response,
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at a press conference in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI Photo )
han' in Bihar to take on the BJP-led NDA under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress is a partner in the Bihar government with Kumar's JD-U and Lalu Prasad's RJD, after the three parties contested and won the assembly elections as part of the grand alliance. Regional parties enough to tackle BJP: Mamata West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee meanwhile said regional
parties were enough to check the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Banerjee, however, said it was too early to form a federal front to counter the BJP nationally. "It is our continuous process to unite the regional parties. We want all regional parties to unite to strengthen the federal structure in the country," said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) President. She slammed the BJP for dividing the country
over religion, caste and creed. "They divide Hindus and Muslims, they divide Hindus and Sikhs and even Hindus. We have to counter this," she said. Banerjee said she and her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik did not discuss politics during their meeting here. "Today I paid my homage to late (former Chief Minister) Biju Patnaik. I knew him very well. He was very fond of me. We did not discuss politics. Politics is a 365 days affair... I wished Naveen Patnaik good health and wished his party to do better," she said. Patnaik said: "It was a courtesy call. We did not discuss politics." Banerjee, on a threeday visit to Odisha, visited Jagannath Temple at Puri on Wednesday. She also visited Apollo hospital here to inquire about the condition of TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, arrested for alleged involvement in a chit fund scam.
Sonshi. "I have drawn the attention of the GHRC that the Supreme Court has held that the right of access to drinking water is fundamental to life and that there is a duty on the state under Article 21 of the Constitution to provide clean drinking water to its citizens," Rodrigues told IANS. But, amid the petitions, more urgent existential issues continue to plague the inhabitants of the village, mostly women and senior citizens of Sonshi. "There is no food in the house. My children keep on asking about their father. What should I do? First they took our land, then polluted our place. There has to be an end to this," rued Geeta Nile, a housewife. Iron ore mining has been one of the mainstays of the Goan economy, especially in the hin-
terland. The multi-billion rupee industry was banned for two years from 2012-2014 following a mammoth Rs 35,000 crore ($5.5 billion) illegal mining scam. No major mining industry player has been arrested by the police, despite the Justice M.B. Shah Commission appointed -to probe the illegal mining scam -- by the Union Mines Ministry indicting nearly every mining company operating in Goa, as well as top bureaucrats and politicians in the state's largest scam ever. While the industry was at its peak, Goa exported nearly 55 million tonnes of iron ore. Following the ban, however, the Supreme Court, which is hearing the illegal mining case, has imposed an annual ceiling of 20 tonnes on the extraction of iron ore.
Car driven by DPS student kills homeless
New Delhi, April 20 (iANS): A man was crushed to death and three men were critically injured when a speeding car driven by a Class 12 student of Delhi Public School (DPS) ran over a group of homeless people sleeping on a pavement here, police said. Samarath Chugh, 18, who lives in Model Town in north Delhi, reportedly dragged two of the four men under the Hyundai i20 car he was driving for an early morning joyride with his friends Ujwal Goel and Bhayva. The incident took place near Kashmere Gate InterState Bus Terminus at 5.45 a.m. as he lost control of the car due to its speed while negotiating a right turn near the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium. The car then mounted a pavement near the Hanuman Mandir where at least six people were sleeping, police said. The pavement
is always full of homeless people including children. As the driver realized he had ran over a group of people, he moved the car back and forth several times in a bid to escape, crushing one of the victims to death, police said, citing witnesses. The identity of the deceased was not known. The three critically injured and warded at the Sushruta Trauma Centre were identified as Asif, Karan and Sanjay. All four appeared to be labourers, police said. A senior police officer, sharing preliminary investigation details with IANS, said it appeared that Chugh, who comes from a business family, was driving at over 100 kmph and did not carry a driving licence. His blood sample has been sent to know if he was drunk at the time of the accident. The officer said he was overpowered by onlook-
ers after the early morning tragedy but two others in the car, allegedly owned by Ujwal's father, also a businessman, escaped. Police have charged the teen driver with culpable homicide and causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others. According to his school certificate, Chugh turned 18 on March 15. "We have registered a case against him under Section 304 of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder)," Deputy Commissioner of Police Jatin Narwal told IANS. Narwal said Chugh has told police that he and his friends were going to their school. But since they were in track suits, it appears they were on a joyride to celebrate the end of Class 12 exams. No charges have been registered against Ujwal and Bhavya. Chugh was later sent into 14 day judicial custody.
fridAY 21•04•2017
WORLD
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Don’t mess with us: North Korea
SEOUL, ApriL 20 (rEUtErS): Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States was looking at ways to pressure North Korea over its nuclear programme as North Korean state media warned the Americans of a “super-mighty preemptive strike” and said don’t “mess with us”. U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a hard line with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has rebuffed admonitions from sole major ally China and proceeded with nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions. Reclusive North Korea regularly threatens to destroy Japan, South Korea and the United States and has shown no let-up in its belligerence after a failed missile test on Sunday, a day after putting on a huge display of missiles at a parade in Pyongyang. “We’re reviewing all the status of North Korea, both in terms of state sponsorship of terrorism as well as the other ways in which we can bring pressure on the regime in Pyongyang to re-engage with us, but re-engage with us on a different footing than past talks have been held,” Tillerson told reporters in Washington on Wednesday. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, on a tour of Asian allies, has said repeatedly the “era of strategic patience” with North Korea is over. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, on a visit to London, said the military option must be part of the pressure brought to bear. “Allowing this dictator to have that kind of power is not something that civilised nations can allow to happen,” he said in reference to Kim. Ryan said he was encouraged by the results of efforts to work with China to reduce tensions, but that it was unacceptable North Korea might be able to strike allies with nuclear weapons. North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 195053 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM South Korea’s acting president, Hwang Kyo-ahn, at a meeting with top officials on Thursday, repeatedly called for the military and security ministries to maintain vigilance. The defence ministry said U.S. and South Korean air forces were conducting an annual training exercise, codenamed Max Thunder, until April 28. North Korea routinely labels such exercises
A man walks in front of portraits of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung and late leader Kim Jong Il in central Pyongyang, North Korea April 16. (REUTERS Photo)
preparations for invasion. South Korean presidential candidates clashed on Wednesday night in a TV debate over the planned U.S.supplied Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system, which has angered China. Frontrunner Moon Jae-in was criticised for leaving his options open before the May 9 election. On Monday, Hwang and Pence reaffirmed their plans to go ahead with the THAAD, but the decision will be up to the next Korean president. For its part, China says the system’s powerful radar is a threat to its security. The North has warned of a nuclear strike against the United States if provoked. It has said it has developed a missile that can strike the mainland United States, but officials and experts believe it is some time away from mastering the necessary technology, including miniaturising a nuclear warhead. RUSSIA, U.S. AT ODDS The United States and Russia clashed at the United Nations on Wednesday over a U.S.-drafted Security Council statement to condemn North Korea’s latest failed ballistic missile test. Diplomats said China had agreed to the statement. Such statements by the 15-member council have to be agreed by consensus. Previous statements denouncing earlier missile launches “welcomed efforts by council members, as well as other states, to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue”. The latest draft statement dropped “through dialogue” and Russia requested it be included again.
Detained bookseller Gui wins ‘free speech’ prize
Members from the pro-democracy Civic Party carry a portrait of Gui Minhai during a protest outside the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong, China. (REUTERS File Photo)
StOCKHOLM, ApriL 20 (rEUtErS): A bookseller detained in China for publishing books on the personal lives of President Xi Jinping and other Communist Party leaders has won a prize for free speech and press freedom awarded by a Swedish media organisation. Gui Minhai is one of five Hong Kong booksellers who went missing in 2015 and later appeared in mainland Chinese custody. The four others have returned to Hong Kong. Awarding him the annual Anna Politkovskaya Memorial Prize, Publicistklubben said Gui had “despite personal risk ...shown great courage as a publisher and challenged the narrow-mined political agenda of the Chinese regime”. The arrest of the five men prompted fears Beijing may be eroding the “one country, two systems” formula under which Hong Kong has been governed as a special administrative region since its return to China from British rule in 1997. Publicistklubben said Gui, a Chinese-born Swede, was abducted in Thailand while on holiday and his family did not know where he was being held. “I am glad that this prize will focus attention on my father’s situation,” the prizegivers quoted his Swedish daughter Angela Gui as saying. “Hopefully, more attention ... can lead to more information on his situation and health and that (he) will be treated better.” China has said its law enforcement officials have done nothing illegal with regard to Gui. The prize is named after Anna Politkovskaya, a Ukrainian journalist best known for reporting on human rights violations in Chechnya who was murdered in Moscow in 2006.
“When we requested to restore the agreed language that was of political importance and expressed commitment to continue to work on the draft ... the U.S. delegation without providing any explanations cancelled the work on the draft,” the Russian U.N. mission said in a statement. There has been some confusion over the whereabouts of a U.S. aircraft carrier group after Trump said last week he had sent an “armada” as a warning to North Korea, even as the ships were still far from Korean waters. The U.S. military’s Pacific Command explained that the USS Carl Vinson strike group first had to complete a shorter-thanplanned period of training with Australia. It was now heading for the Western Pacific as ordered, it said. China’s influential Global Times newspaper, which is published by the People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s official paper, wondered whether the confusion was deliberate. “The truth seems to be that the U.S. military and president jointly created fake news and it is without doubt a rare scandal in U.S. history, which will be bound to cripple Trump’s and U.S. dignity,” it said. North Korea did not refer to the mix-up but said the United States and its allies “should not mess with us”. The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, did not mince its words. “In the case of our super-mighty preemptive strike being launched, it will completely and immediately wipe out not only U.S. imperialists’ invasion forces in South Korea and its surrounding areas but the U.S. mainland and reduce them to ashes,” it said.
9
Italian mayor wins UNESCO Peace Prize rOME , ApriL 20 (iANS): The UNESCO has awarded its Peace Prize to Giuseppina (Giusi) Nicolini, the mayor of the Italian island of Lampedusa, for her commitment to saving the lives of migrants and refugees, media reported. Nicolini was bestowed with the honour on Wednesday for her effort that saved thousands who fled across the Mediterranean often on unseaworthy boats to find a better and peaceful life, Xinhua news agency reported. Lying closer to Tunisia than it does to Sicily, Lampedusa is the first European
landfall for people fleeing war and economic hardship in Africa and the Middle East. Since becoming Mayor in 2012, Nicolini has been an outspoken defender of refugee and migrant rights. The UNESCO Peace Prize jury “recognised (Nicolini) for her boundless humanity and unwavering commitment to refugee crisis management and integration in response to the arrival of thousands of refugees on the shores of Lampedusa and elsewhere in Italy.” “Refugees and migrants constitute one of the crucial issues of our day, no-
tably in the Mediterranean where nearly 13,000 men, women and children have perished in shipwrecks since 2013,” declared the acting President of the jury, Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique. A total of 8,360 migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean between April 14-16 and approximately 32,800 people have been brought to land since the beginning of 2017, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). So far this year, at least 900 migrants have died or have gone missing while
attempting to cross the Mediterranean, according to IOM’s Missing Migrants Project. Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni tweeted his praise for the island Mayor. “UNESCO assigns its Peace Prize to Giusi Nicolini, who for years has been committed to the right side on Lampedusa,” Gentiloni tweeted. “It is a very beautiful day for my community and for all who contribute to building peace,” tweeted Nicolini, who leads a population of just over 6,500 residents on the Italian island of about 20 square miles.
10
FriDAY 21•04•2017
sports
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Serena Williams confirms pregnancy Reuters
Tennis superstar Serena Williams is pregnant and taking maternity leave through the rest of 2017, expecting to give birth this fall, her spokeswoman said on Wednesday in an announcement that upended a sport the 35-year-old athlete has dominated for the past decade. The confirmation came hours after Williams, due to regain to the No. 1 world ranking next week, set off a day of frenzied speculation with a short-lived selfie posted on social media posing for a photo in a yellow one-piece swimsuit on Snapchat with the caption: "20 weeks." Williams deleted the photo shortly after it appeared and waited more than six hours to make any public comment, stoking debate among tennis fans about whether or not she was joking. "I'm happy to confirm Serena is expecting a baby this fall," Los Angeles-based publicist Kelly Bush Novak said.
Bush Novak told Reuters that Williams intended to sit out the remainder of the 2017 season and return next year. Williams, the world's highest paid female athlete, announced her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian last December. Days ago she seemed to quell speculation about impending motherhood with an Instagram post praising a newly published guidebook for new mothers by former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland, add-
ing in the caption: "One of these days I hope to apply this (but for now I'll stick to my dog Chip)." If Williams is indeed 20 weeks into her term, that would mean she was approximately two months pregnant when she captured her record 23rd Grand Slam tournament singles title at the Australian Open in January. Her victory over older sister Venus Williams broke a tie with Steffi Graf for the most Grand Slam singles championships in the sport's mod-
ern era. Serena Williams has credible news!" referring to not played since then, citing Williams with the acronym a knee injury. for "Greatest of All Time." Other women have left TECHNICALLY A the tour to have children DOUBLES MATCH? and returned at a high levFans and celebrities re- el, although none has done acted with a mixture of awe so at Williams' age. Kim and glee to Williams' Snap- Clijsters of Belgium retired chat post. and had a child before com"Serena Williams was ing back at age 26 and winpregnant when she won ning three Grand Slam titles her 23rd grand slam tour- as a mother. nament at the Australian Australians Evonne Open. And did not drop Goolagong and Margaret ONE SET. Let that sink in," Court also won Grand Slam wrote Twitter user @noelle- titles after having children. harmony. Former No. 1 Victoria "So Serena cheated," Azarenka of Belarus, 27, Trevor Noah, the host of missed most of the 2016 "The Daily Show" on Com- season to have a baby and edy Central, wrote on his is expected to return to the Twitter account. "Because tour this summer. that's technically a doubles Williams is the oldmatch." est woman to win a Grand The Women's Tennis Slam singles title and still Association congratulated dominates the tour at an Williams on Twitter before age when most players have deleting its post. Tennis' retired. U.S. governing body, the Williams, who has United States Tennis Asso- played professionally for ciation, wrote on Facebook, two decades, first gained the "Join us in congratulating No. 1 ranking in 2002 and the GOAT and her fiancé has held that spot for more Alexis Ohanian on this in- than six years in total.
Warriors cut down Blazers, Westbrook runs out of gas WAshiNgtON, April 20 (AFp): The Golden State Warriors clamped down on defense as they cruised to a 110-81 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, taking a 2-0 lead in their firstround playoff series. Playing without injured star Kevin Durant, Golden State held Portland to just 12 points in the third quarter Wednesday to post their 11th straight home win over the Trail Blazers in a rematch of last year's Western Conference semi-final series. Durant missed the game with a calf strain. "You got to be aggressive. Tonight we didn't really get it going and we had some dry spots but we won the game with our defense," said Warriors star Stephen Curry. "We asserted ourselves in first quarter that set the tone for the game." Curry had 19 points and Klay Thompson added 16 as the Warriors won easily despite scoring 11 fewer points than in their 121109 win in the opening game of the series. JaVale McGee said they miss not having Durant in the lineup
but they also know how to adjust when he is not there. "We have confidence. We have had to play without KD for a lot of games earlier so we are used to it. But we need KD. We need his scoring," said McGee, who came off the bench to score 15 points. The teams will travel to Portland for the next two meetings in the best-of-seven series, with the Warriors taking their lead into game three on Saturday. - Historic night falls short Elsewhere, Eric Gordon and Lou Williams caught fire in the fourth quarter as the Houston Rockets rallied for a 115-111 playoff win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost despite another historic 50-point night by Russell Westbrook. The Rockets erased a 15-point deficit to take a 2-0 lead after game two of their Western Conference series. Westbrook delivered a triple-double of 51 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds but couldn't get the ball to drop when it counted. He shot a dismal four of 18 in the fourth quarter. His scoring total was the high-
est for a postseason triple-double in NBA history. Despite the historic night, Westbrook failed to find his teammates with passes as he appeared to run out of steam in the final quarter. He missed 14 shots in the fourth, the most misses in any quarter in the last 20 NBA playoffs. "I wasn't tired," Westbrook said. "I don't care about the (personal stats). We lost." "It's not like it is going to be a surprise to anybody. We know what we have to do," said Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni of stopping Westbrook. Gordon gave the Rockets their first lead with his three-pointer at the 8:07 mark of the fourth quarter at 96-94. Gordon delivered another clutch basket with 1:48 remaining, drilling a 28-footer off a James Harden pass to extend the lead to eight. Harden finished with 35 points and eight assists and was a perfect 18 for 18 from the free-throw line. Game three is Friday in Oklahoma City.
scored 16 of his 31 points in the final quarter as the Washington Wizards seized a 2-0 lead in their first-round series with a 109-101 win. John Wall delivered a team high 32 points as he and Beal tallied 20 of the Wizards' final 21 points in a penalty filled contest. Game three is in Atlanta on Saturday as the Wizards have won five in a row over the Hawks. Paul Millsap had 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks. Dennis Schroder scored 23 points and Tim Hardaway had 19. Atlanta committed 18 turnovers. After game one, Millsap made a point of calling out what he considered overly aggressive play from the Wizards -- "They were playing MMA," he said. In game two, the teams were whistled for 55 fouls and took a combined 71 free throws. Atlanta was 33 of 38 and Washington finished 24 of 33. Washington's Marcin Gortat easily controlled the head-to-head matchup as Dwight Howard's struggles in the playoffs contin- Whistle happy refs ued. Hawks center Howard had In Washington, Bradley Beal just six points and seven rebounds.
Mbappe stars as Monaco enters Champions League semi-finals
Kylian Mbappé and Radamel Falcao celebrate the first goal. (EPA Photo)
MONACO, April 20 (reuters): Kylian Mbappe and Radamel Falcao struck early as Monaco reached the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-1 home win over Borussia Dortmund in an enthralling game on Wednesday that sealed a 6-3 aggregate victory. French prodigy Mbappe and Colombia striker Falcao scored in the third and 17th minutes before Marco Reus gave the visitors hope with a 48th-minute goal, only for substitute Valere Germain to wrap up the win for the French side nine minutes from time. Monaco joined Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus in the last four of Europe's premier club competition, becoming the first French team to achieve the feat since Olympique Lyonnais in 2010. "We're happy to be in the semi-finals, it's important for French football," Falcao said. Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel was philosophical after a difficult tie from the moment his team's bus was attacked before the first leg last week. "Over both games we have the feeling that everything that could go wrong went wrong," he said. The kickoff was delayed by five minutes after the German team arrived late at the Louis-II stadium due to traffic prob-
lems. Dortmund said on their Twitter feed that the bus had been held up by police at their hotel for 20 minutes. The incident occurred a week after the first leg was postponed by 24 hours after the Borussia team bus was attacked with explosives on its way to the stadium. Monaco fans unveiled a "You'll Never Walk Alone" banner, with the German team's anthem, which they share with British clubs Liverpool and Celtic. Monaco, who have now scored three goals in each of their last five Champions League games, made a fast start. Benjamin Mendy's fierce 25-metre strike was parried by Roman Burki into the path of Mbappe, who coolly slotted home to put the hosts ahead. Monaco, however, doubled their tally three minutes later as Falcao perfectly timed his header to beat Burki from Thomas Lemar's cross from the left. The German side looked transformed after the break and they were quickly rewarded as Reus reduced the arrears when he volleyed home from Ousmane Dembele's cross after a dazzling run by the Frenchman. Germain had an immediate impact after replacing Mbappe as he latched on to Lemar's cross to score seconds after coming on.
Open archery rally for boys
KOhiMA, April 20 (MexN): The Kumaon Regiment Centre will be conducting an open rally for induction of raw and proven players as sports cadets into Boys Sports Company from April 24 to 26 at Kohima Stadium, for all districts of Nagaland in
Archery discipline. According to a press release from the Defence PRO Col C Konwer, the rally is open for boys aged between 11 years to 14 years. Age relaxation for boys of 15 and 16 years old will be given for outstanding players who are medalists at
National level or are participants at International level. Candidates are required to bring the following documents in original to attend the rally: Education Certificate, Birth Certificate, Sports Certificate and two passport-sized photographs.
public discourse Subhas Bose and the battle of Kohima, 1944 Clarifications on Dr. Somingnam’s rejoinder to Thepfulhouvi
S
K. Puroh
ome months ago during a consultative meeting of the apex body of my community I cautioned the audience that in the present society unfounded arguments are presented even by people considered to be highly educated, and in suited and booted. We need to be very careful. About two years ago, a local author published a book that made mention of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose having visited and camped at Kikrüma village during the Second World War. It alarmed the whole village as its history and its people only saw the Japanese, not the Indian National Army (INA) during the war. No sooner, the Village Council convened a meeting that was attended by all frontal organizations, senior citizens, and intellectuals. In the meeting those who lived through the Second World War shared what they saw. Two points were agreed upon unanimously. First, the Japanese forces were comprised of Japanese people only whereas the British forces mostly consisted out Mainland Indians, barring a couple of officers from British origins. Secondly, the Japanese soldiers could only speak their own language and communicated with the help of a few interpreters whereas those in the British forces mostly spoke Hindi. Therefore, the Village decided to convey its decision to the said Local author that in future edition of his book, the part that deals with Subhas Bose visits to Kikrüma be deleted. It is believed that some
top Japanese army officers, including Lieutenant General Kotuku Sato, who led the 31st Japanese Division stayed at Kikrüma. The village, after all, is only 19 miles away from the southeast of Kohima, and therefore was a strategic location as far as the Kohima battle was concerned. Subhas Bose, the 'Commanderin-Chief' of roughly '30.000 INA soldiers' was not seen in Kikrüma, or for that matter in surrounding villages. However, as per the conventions of war, and him being the Commander-in-Chief, he was in any case unlikely to move around in an area very different from where his division was. If at all Subhas Bose had been to this area, Dzülha to Kikrüma, then it would have been swamped by INA soldiers. However, in ground zero it was nothing like that. At Chazouba the Japanese fought against the Britishers, hence a place there called Japan Riba, which translates as the ‘Battle of Japan'; also there is a high school named after the place, Japan Riba Govt. High School, Chazouba; and from Cheswezu to Kikrüma it was reported and witnessed that only the Japanese fought the Allied forces Going by the oral histories and the testimonies of the living witnesses of the local, the presence of the INA was never seen or felt during the war. The main entry point of the Japanese forces into the area was the village of Jessami. History tells us that it was with great difficulty that the Japanese forces fought themselves a way through Jessami, which was defended by British-led forces. The issue of Subhas Bose having come to
Nagaland emerged only after a photo (poster) of him in an INA uniform spread across Nagaland during the 1970s and 80s with his uniform being somewhat resembling the Japanese uniforms. From that moment, some impulsive individuals claimed that Subhas Bose had come to their village. But except for such rumors, there exists no record of Subhas Bose having come to this region. Besides those who fell during the battle of Kohima, many Japanese died and some were murdered during their retreat. However, in that case too, not a single case of an INA soldier was recorded or reported. Since history cannot be changed, distorted or simplified, it is expected that everyone, but especially the government, should not be carried away by baseless utterances of some uninformed individuals, like the person from my village who told the local author about his own make up story of Subhas Bose’ visit to Kikrüma. The government, while formulating policies towards documenting important historical events, should carry out proper studies through its competent agencies and only thereafter should recognition be given. One cannot go by the writings of amateur scholars whose work may lack scientific research methodology and adequate levels of objectivity. I am writing this not to malign any particular individual but to avoid confusion in the near, and not so near, future and to stop those who are misleading the historical consciousness of younger generations.
I
Kaka D. Iralu
beg to clarify a few misinformation that have again been fed to the Naga public by Dr. Somingam Mawon in his rejoinder to Thepfulhouvi Solo’s earlier write up. The misinformations are the following: 1. Though you (Dr. Somingnam) had claimed that you have read more than a 100 books and articles on Naga politics, you have not come across any mention of “NNC territory” in your readings. My suspicion is that you must have missed reading the Naga Yehzabo which is the most important document in Naga politics. A Yehzabo (Constitution) of a country is after all, the “Political Bible” of a nation where all the political truths of the nation are written. Now, you have written that (quote) “there is no such thing called NNC territory in the Naga vocabulary” (Morung Express April 20, 2017). Far from your assertion being true, the very first Article in the Naga Yehzabo states Naga territories in the following words: “The territory of Nagaland shall comprise of all the territories inhabited by all the Naga tribes from time immemorial” These words were stated in the first Yehzabo adopted on March 22, 1956 under the heading: THE FEDERATION AND ITS TERRITORY (Naga Yehzabo Part 1, Article 1) The NNC founders of our nation were not so stupid as to declare a Sovereign Democratic Republic without a clearly defined territory as its geographical area. Also, this territorial statement covers all Naga inhabited territories on the face of the earth which were dissected and divided by Britain, India and Burma. Nagas of course do not recognize these foreigner’s artificial boundaries which had been drawn without our information or consent. Nagas also of course, stand on the political truth, that no country can
ever enter another country and draw boundary lines over lands that their own ancestors have never inhabited in their own respective histories. 2. As for the so called Indian puppet state of Nagaland which was created by the Naga People’s Convention (NPC) and the Indian Intelligence Bureau along with the Indian Home Ministry, suffice it to say that it is a State hanging in thin air with one leg in Nagaland, the second leg in Assam, the third in Arunachal Pradesh and the fourth in Manipur! The 19 NPC members and the Indian Government officials were in too great a hurry to sabotage Phizo’s meeting with the world Press on 26th July 1960 that the NPC hurriedly submitted the 16 Points Agreement on the same day (July 26, 1960) and after getting Nehru’s approval for an Indian Nagaland State, left the issue of Naga territories to be decided on another date. Fifty seven years have already elapsed since that day, but that promise of an integrated Nagaland under one administrative umbrella still remains a chimera and a laughing matter for our immediate neighbors. 3. You had also mentioned that (quote) “Before the birth of the NSCN, there was this infamous Shillong Accord signed by the NNC” (unquote). You went on to cite section 2(i) of the accord “between the Government of India and the NNC” and then went on to elaborate that this action had made the NNC to accept the Constitution of India and buried the long cherished Naga sovereignty. Many of us from the NNC and FGN had again and again clarified that the NNC had not signed the Shillong Accord and also that none of the signatories were members of the NNC. To make it very clear, I had even mentioned the names of the signatories and their port-
folios in the FGN to prove that none of them were holding any position in the NNC (See Nagaland Post, April 2, 2017). But all these repeated clarifications have only met with counter allegations again and again that the NNC had signed the Shillong Accord. I therefore challenge you or any other members of the NSCN IM (including Th. Muivah) to state the portfolios of the NNC signatories of the Shillong Accord. At least a person like Th. Muivah will definitely be knowing the portfolios of these NNC signatories because he was the General Secretary of the NNC at that time. The Naga public needs to know the truth because they cannot just be fooled by repeated lies mentioned again and again through the impersonal name of the MIP NSCN IM. As for the facts of Naga history during the signing of the Shillong Accord, even the Vice President of the NNC-Imkongmeren, was in jail and the last un-captured remnant of the NNC members were hiding in the jungles of Nagaland with no food or communications whatsoever. Tell us then, how these last remnants of the NNC were able to gather together, draft the Shillong Accord and went to Shillong to betray the nation as purported by the NSCN IM. 4. Lastly, W. Shapwon has already clearly shown in his book “The Illegal Formation of the NSCN” that both the Nagas in the Western sector of Nagaland (Indian side), as well as the Western sector of Nagaland (Burmese side), had unanimously rejected the Shillong Accord of 1975. Shopwan had pointed out that these rejection statements were done through President Zashei Huire’s three paged post Shillong Accord statement dated Dec. 30, 1975 and Muivah’s and Isak’s statement dated 15th August 1976 from Süpao in eastern Nagaland. (The Süpao
statement was appended with other 48 NNC/FGN signatories in the Eastern sector as recorded in Shopwan’s book). The recorded facts therefore clearly show that both Eastern Nagaland and Western Nagaland had rejected the Shillong Accord out rightly between Dec 30, 1975 and August 15, 1976. But you are still alleging that some cadres of the Naga army who supported the Shillong Accord, in collaboration with “the Indian Security Forces” staged a coup d’état in Eastern Nagaland to oppose Isak and Muivah and that this action led to the fratricidal killings among Nagas. Can you mention which particular Indian Battalion or Brigade collaborated with this so called Naga army Shillong Accord group to overthrow Muivah and Isak’s in their attempt to save the nation from doom? R.h.Raising had earlier alleged that even the Burmese army too was involved in this Coup d’état! As for your “Agony Day” which you have mentioned and which occurred in Langnok on Sept. 27, 1980, I mourn for all the victims who died in that tragic “Counter Revenge Action.” I know that they became victims of the massacre because your leaders had already killed too many of our innocent Eastern Naga brothers who had nothing to do with the Shillong Accord but remained faithful to Phizo and the NNC. I will stop there because to mention their names and how their villages were burnt and how they died in their thousands would only revive bitter hatred and animosity among our own Naga family again. If someone however really wants to know the names and dates and villages that were burnt by the NSCN cadres, refer again to W. Shapwon’s 108 paged book “Nagaland and Th. Muivah’s Terrorist Activities.” The book is full of dead Naga names and the dates and villages where they were murdered.
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.
Friday 21•04•2017
EntErtainmEnt
Hindi retro music twist for 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2'
D
isney India has acquired the rights of Bappi Lahiri's popular song "Jhoom jhoom jhoom baba" to rehash it for a promotional video of forthcoming Hollywood film "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2". "Guardians of the Galaxy" brought classic songs back in style, and the second part of the 2014 film promises to live up to the expectations. The studio decided to pick the song from 1980's film "Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki" to be in sync with the film's spirit. "'Guardians of the Galaxy' are a super cool set of superheroes who believe in having a ball as they save the
galaxy. As music is a dominant aspect of the movie, we thought it would be a great idea to revive a retro hit dance for the Hindi version," Amrita Pandey, Vice President-Studios, Disney India, said in a statement. She added: "After listening to some popular songs from 1980s, the team unanimously felt 'Jhoom jhoom jhoom baba' echoes the fun spirit associated with the Guardians. The song is about making the best of the moment and enjoying it, just like these superheroes. We hope the mash-up for 'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2' will be enjoyed by existing and innumerable new fans in India." The song was released on Thurs-
day. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" is written and directed by James Gunn, and stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista. It also features the voices of actors like Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper. It is releasing on May 5 in India, in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. With the backdrop titled 'Awesome Mixtape #2',the second part of the 2014 film "Guardians of the Galaxy" will take further the team's adventures as they traverse different cosmos to protect their world. This time, the storyline will explore family values and also unravel many family truths and mysteries. Source: IANS
NCM & MSSM joins hands for a free concert Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel gets not one, but two directors
A Basic Acoustic Guitar Lesson for Beginners, compiled by Robert Longkumer was released by Manen Jamir, Chairman, Hillspraise Music Academy.
“My Land” by Upright released on Indihut
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he Nagaland Conservatory of Music (NCM) together with Patkai Christian College - Margaret Shishak School of Music (MSSM) will be organising a free concert on April 22, 4:30 PM onwards a NN Nagi School Audito-
rium, Kuda - A Village, Half Nagarjan, Dimapur Patkai Christian College is the first college in Nagaland to offer music as a subject while NCM is the first music college in Nagaland Both the pioneers decided to or-
ganise the concert as a mark of thier common love - the love for music. Students and faculties from both the institute will present assorted collection of music including 18 to 20 songs of Opera Aria, Art song as well Broadway music.
‘Ek Thi Rani...’ has a strong message for women: Hema Malini
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song titled, “My Land” by UPRIGHT band was released on Indihut on Thursdayevening. “My Land” is about love for the country and its people, and urges its people to be proud and appreciative of the beautiful inheritance of their land. The Band members comprising of Albert Kikon (Lead Vocal), Thomas Medeo (Guitar), Echungthung Ngullie (Drums), Vikuochulhou Tepa(Second
Vocals), Emilo Yanthan (Second Vocals), and Chuponi Yanthan (Second Vocals) was formed as a result of years of friendship cemented by the love and passion for music. Keeping alive their vision to make and share music, the band name “Upright” was conceptualised with the view to simply strive to live an upright life. Upright is also about appreciating life, and giving positive vibes to life through their music.
Harry Styles slept in Ben Winston’s attic for 20 months
S
inger Harry Styles slept on a mattress in producer Ben Winston's attic for 20 months. Styles, 23, was looking to move into a property in Hampstead Heath here and he asked Winston whether he could stay at his house for a short time while the finishing touches were done for his new house, reports femalefirst.co.uk. "Two weeks later and he hadn't bought his house yet. It wasn't going through. Then he said, 'I'm going to
stay until Christmas, if you don't mind.' Then Christmas came, and…," Winston told Rolling Stone magazine. Styles, who became a star during his time in One Direction, actually ended up living with Winston and his wife Meredith for 20 months, even though his fans still gathered outside his property where he didn't actually live. "Those 20 months were when they went from being on a reality show, 'The X Factor', to being the biggest-selling artists in the world," Winston said. "That period of time, he was living with us in the most mundane suburban situation. No one ever found out, really. Even when we went out for a meal, it's such a sweet family neighbourhood, no one dreamed it was actually him. But he made our house a home. And when he moved out, we were gutted," he added. Source: IANS
eteran actress-turned-politician Hema Malini is honoured to be associated with a project like "Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi", saying it sends across a very strong message for women. The actress says the film puts across the message that women can achieve anything with determination. The film is based on the life and times of Vijaya Raje Scindia, popularly known as the Rajmata of Gwalior. "There are several messages (for women in the film), for instance what all you can do being a woman. The film also puts spotlight on what all she did for women," Hema Malini said at an event here.
The actress talked about her film at a special screening held here on Tuesday night. It was hosted by Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Smriti Nyas in association with Zee Classic. The film is based on the book "Rajpath se Lokpath par" written by Goa Governor Mridula Sinha. Talking about the film, Hema Malini said: "It is a very beautiful story of Rajmata. I am really honoured to be doing this film...You rarely get a chance to do such kind of a role." Presented by Zee Classic, "Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi" -- which also features Vinod Khanna -- will release on Friday. Source: IANS
Julia Roberts named People’s ‘MoST BEauTifuL’ for record fifth time
J
ulia Roberts was named People magazine's world's most beautiful woman for a record 5th time on Wednesday, but the actress said she thought her best years were yet to come. Roberts, 49, was first given the annual honor in 1991, a year after she skyrocketed to fame in the romantic comedy "Pretty Woman." She was also named most beautiful woman in 2000, 2005 and 2010. "I'm very flattered,"
Roberts told People magazine, adding "I think I'm currently peaking." The actress, who won an Oscar in 2001 for playing against type in "Erin Brockovich," has been married for 14 years to cinematographer Danny Moder, with whom she has three children. Former "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston was last year's most beautiful woman for People magazine. Source: Reuters
T
he co-directors of the indie gambling drama Mississippi Grind are making the leap to superhero films. A source close to the project who was not authorised to speak publicly says Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck will direct Captain Marvel, which is scheduled for release in March 2019. Brie Larson is set to star as the titular character in Marvel Studios’ first female-centric superhero film. The script is being cowritten by Inside Out writer Meg LeFauve and Nicole Perlman, who co-wrote Guardians of the Galaxy. Boden and Fleck also collaborated on the Ryan Gosling drama Half Nelson. They’re the latest in a long string of indie directors signing up for studio blockbusters including the likes of Colin Trevorrow, who jumped from Safety Not Guaranteed to Jurassic
World and Star Wars: Episode IX and Jon Watts, who graduated from Cop Car to this summer’s Spider-Man reboot Spider-Man: Homecoming. Captain Marvel is a project that has been closely watched since it was added to Marvel Studios expansive slate. Due to its female lead, many on social media had hoped for a female director, like Warner Bros. did in choosing Patty Jenkins to direct Wonder Woman. When news broke Wednesday, some bristled that the directing team selected would include a man, but others celebrated the choice. Boden and Fleck’s films have been generally well-regarded by critics. Representatives for the directing team did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Source: AP
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FRIday 21•04•2017
SPORTS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Steely Juventus shut down Barcelona
BarCEloNa, april 20 (rEutErs): Barcelona's hopes of staging another sensational Champions League comeback fell flat against a hardened Juventus side who held the Catalans to a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals 3-0 on aggregate. The Italian champions barely gave Barca a glimmer of hope of repeating their historic turnaround against Paris St Germain in the last 16 and protected their healthy advantage from the first leg by starving the hosts of space and clear sights of goal. Lionel Messi came closest to giving Barca a route back into the contest with four strikes at goal but failed to hit the target with any of them and frequently came up short against Juve's intimidating centre-back pairing of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.
"Juventus are a great team and they were better than us in the tie and overall they deserved to go through. I wish them the best and I think they could win the trophy," Barca defender Gerard Pique told reporters. "It was a very difficult result to come back from although we tried until the end. They're Italian and they defended very well. They knew how they wanted to play and got their objective. We created chances but little by little we realised we had a mountain to climb." Tw i c e Eu ro p e a n champions Juve lacked the spark and power of their thrilling first-leg victory in Turin, but there was rarely any doubt they would exact revenge for their defeat by Barca in the 2015 Champions League final by reaching the semis for a 12th time.
Barcelona's Luis Suarez in action with Juventus' Alex Sandro. (Reuters)
Barca coach Luis Enrique had said before the game that if his team managed to strike early then the noise of the Nou Camp would suck the other goals in. Juventus, however, showed in the opening stages that they are made of sterner stuff than PSG, who gave up a 4-0 first-leg advantage. Massimiliano Allegri’s side pressed Barca in their own half and limited the supply to the front three. Messi almost managed to pick out Jordi Alba with a hooked pass and later played a one-two with the Spaniard before dragging
narrowly wide of the far post. Ivan Rakitic and Neymar also missed the target with hopeful efforts but Juventus' aggressive gameplan limited how much attacking Barca could do without leaving themselves exposed. G o n z a l o Hi g u a i n cracked a shot over the bar before the break while the probing Juan Cuadrado almost picked out the Argentine striker in the middle, but was thwarted by a brilliant block from Pique. Barca increased their grip on possession after the break and spent most of the remainder of the game
in their opponents' half trying to carve out chances, but Juve were always ready for them. Messi whipped a free kick on to the roof of the net and slammed another shot wide before spurning his best chance, a volley which fizzed over the bar. Barca right back Sergi Roberto attempted a repeat of his heroic strike against PSG, but also missed the target, unable to prevent his side's second successive elimination at the quarter-final stage, which will provoke much soulsearching at the five-times European champions.
DDBA to host 1st Victor North-East 1st All Nagaland Badminton Masters Badminton Championship Championship underway C M Y K
Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): The 1st Victor North-East Masters (Veteran Men’s) Badminton Championship – a mega badminton tournament – hosted by the Dimapur District Badminton Association (DDBA) under the banner of Nagaland Badminton Association will held from May 4-6 at Dimapur. The DDBA in a press release stated that the aim of the tournament is to develop friendship through the game of badminton among the North-Eastern states by coming together in a common platform. The tournament will be conducted at two venues – Dimapur District Badmin-
ton Indoor stadium, United Colony, Nagarjan and Kuda Youth Badminton Indoor stadium, Kuda village, Nagarjan. The tournament will also feature a musical extravaganza on the closing day. The event will be held under seven categories (only doubles) i.e., 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+, 55+, 60+ and open category where minimum combined age should not be less than 95 years. In this regard, the association has stated that all players will have to bring valid identity cards showing proof of age. A minimum of seven entries are required to conduct the event. A player can participate in two categories only. The entry fee will
be Rs. 1000 per pair and the last date of submission of entries is May 1. The drawing of fixture will be conducted on May 2. Sponsored by Victor, the prize money for the winners, runners-up and semifinalists will be Rs. 20,000, Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 4000 respectively. Winners will also receive gift hampers from the tournament sponsor. For Nagaland, the names of the participants have to be routed through their respective district badminton association. Interested players from Nagaland are requested to contact DDBA officials Hyunilo Anilo Khing at 9612165357 or Along at 9774006269.
Sainik School Punglwa Junior Basketball C’ship concludes
pErEN, april 20 (mExN): The annual Inter-House Junior Basketball Championship 2017-18 of Sainik School Punglwa concluded on April 19 with Saramati House finishing top. A last minute shot from Ezra Hoto Kiba sealed victory for Saramati over Doyang House in the final match which saw stiff competition as both
teams were tied at 37-37 a minute before the fourth quarter ended. Kiba was later adjudged the Best Player of the championship. The championship which began on 12 April was played on league cum knock out basis among the six mother house of the school. Japfu House finished third in the championship.
Change in timing for Inter School Cross Country Race Dimapur, april 20 (mExN): The proposed 1st Inter School Cross Country Race on April 22 will start at 6:00 am instead of 9:30 am as informed earlier. A press release in this regard has requested the invited participants to gather at Green Park junction latest by 5:30 am.
Futsal tournament in Kma Kohima, april 20 (mExN): The 1st Futsal tournament organized by Naga FC will be played from May 18 to 20 at Local Ground, Kohima. Entry forms for the tournament are priced at Rs.100 and are available at Kohima Sports World.
Kohima Village Sport Meet for Juniors, Sub Juniors Kohima, april 20 (mExN): The 1st Kohima Village Junior and Sub Junior Tournament (Football and Basketball) will be held on April 21 and 22 at DBHSS, CKHSS and Kohima Village, under the theme “Nurturing the future”. The teams participating in the tournament are P. Khel Gladiators, L. Khel Musketeers, D. Khel Samurai and T. Khel Warriors.
Our Correspondent Kohima | April 20
The 1st All Nagaland Men’s Doubles Open and Veteran Badminton Championship organized by Crescent Club Kohima under the aegis of Nagaland Badminton Association got underway here today at Indoor Badminton Stadium, Officers’ Hill. Altogether, 52 teams across the state registered for the three day long championship which will culminate on April 22. Talking to media persons, Crescent Club Kohima president M. Tungoe said that the club intends to make the championship an annual affair. The champion in open category will win a cash prize of Rs. 40,000 while the runners up will receive Rs. 20,000. Semi-finalists will also get Rs. 10,000 each. Further, the winners and runners-up in the under 30/40 and 50 plus categories will carry Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 10,000 each. The prize money in this championship is the highest of its kind in the state. Vilelie Khamo is the chief patron of this championship. The prize sponsors include Victor, NVBDCP, G.A.V Sports and individual patrons. YONEX is also part of one of the sponsors of this championship.
MYSU, KYC, Zougham, Sporting win at Frolic Cup mEDziphEma, april 20 (mExN): Molvom Youth & Students' Union (MYSU), KYC 'A', FC Zougham, Bokajan and Sporting Club, Phaipijang registered wins in their respective matches at the ongoing 5th Frolic Cup 2017. In the morning matches, MYSU trounced Frolic Jr. team 4-0 while KYC 'A' edged Lhangkichoi FC, Molvom by a solitary goal. In the other games, FC Zougham beat Sparkle United FC 2-1 while Sporting Club, Phaipijang downed Alato FC, Pherima 2-0. APRIL 21 MAtCHES
Genesis FC vs United FC @ 7:00 am Young Challengers FC vs Starlit FC @ 8:30 am Scampers United FC vs Tribal FC @ 2:00 pm Leinghai FC vs Kickers FC @ 3:30 pm
MPL: Morning FC thump Silver White
Kohima, april 20 (mExN): Morning FC delivered a crushing 5-0 defeat to Silver White FC in the ongoing Morning Premier League played at the Local Ground Kohima on Thursday. Akavi opened the scoring early on in the match netting home in the 7th minute before doubling the lead in the 35th minute. Four minutes later, Hoto made it 3-0 leaving the Silver White in disarray.
Morning FC were equally dominant in the second half. Rithrong found the back of the net in the 57th minute and Dikwa completed the rout a minute later. Vizo of Morning FC and Silver White’s Mun received yellow cards for foul play. APRIL 21 MAtCH POWERCOMM vs Amur Falcon FC @ 6:00 am
Kante, de Gea in PFA Team of the Year
loNDoN, april 20 (rEutErs): Players from Premier League title-chasers Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur dominate the Professional Football Association's Team of the Year which was announced on Thursday, occupying eight of the starting 11 spots. Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante, a league title winner with Leicester City last campaign, Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea and Tottenham trio Dele Alli, Danny Rose and Harry Kane all make it to the Team of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Spurs' Kyle Walker was also named in the side along with fellow defenders Gary Cahill and David Luiz of Chelsea. Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard, the PFA Player's Player of the Year in 2014-15, was also back in the lineup. Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, the league's top scorer, and Liverpool winger Sadio Mane also made the team. All 92 clubs in the English Football League and eight sides from the Women's Super League voted for the Team of the Year ahead of the 44th PFA Awards in London on Sunday.
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