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www.morungexpress.com
SunDAY • April 09 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 96 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
o F
T R u T H
Before we set our hearts too much on anything, let us examine how happy are those who already possess it — Francois de la Rochefoucauld Renault launches all new ‘Kwid Climber’ in Nagaland
India, B’desh sign 22 agreements pAGE 08
Maxwell’s fireworks help Punjab beat Pune by 6 wkts
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reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
chessore village in panic as three ATMs dry as cash crunch children die of undiagnosed disease hits banks in Nagaland
Mom and dad were very sociable and went to Church regularly, but after buying cell phones they don’t even bathe.
FIR filed for sepoy’s death
DIMAPUR, APRIL 8 (MExN): An FIR has been filed at Jalukie Police station regarding the death of one Merenyanger Ao, a sepoy of the 164 infantry battalion (TA) (H&H) NAGA, who was attached with the 36 Assam Rifles since January 4, 2017. He was found dead, hanging from the ceiling of his barrack at the platoon outpost on March 24 at around 8:00am. The FIR filed by the deceased’s family informed that his body was received from Civil Hospital, Dimapur on the same day at around 1:00pm, upon which it was taken to his village in Mokokchung for last rites. The FIR alleged: “we noticed several marks and wounds on his face and body, which does not seem to be self inflicted.” The FIR urged the Office in Charge to look into the matter and take necessary action at the earliest.
TASU to blockade Mon-Namtola road from April 11 DIMAPUR, APRIL 8 (MExN): The Tizit Area Students’ Union (TASU) today informed that it has decided to go ahead with a blockade of the MonNamtola road from April 11, if the state government does not address its demands regarding road works in the concerned stretch. A press note from the TASU informed that this decision was taken despite calls from the Executive Engineer (PWD), Mon requesting the union not to undertake the blockade. The TASU said that the response from the PWD “contains no assurance from the state government or the department concerned.” The TASU has served an ultimatum till April 10 for the government to fulfill its demands. In case of blockade, the TASU informed that school going students, administration, military and police personnel on duty and medical services would be exempted. It meanwhile stated that ISC road (Tizit-Nokzang) is also on the demand list. “The already sanctioned amount of Rs. 36,28,730 to the concerned contractor for the ISC road has not executed the works as per the DPR norms and the completion period has expired with very less work progress,” it said.
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Corrigendum With reference to the news item “Atu Zumvu is first Naga cop to receive ‘Shaurya Chakra’ award” on April 8 issue (Page-1) of The Morung Express, the Home Minister should be read as Y. Patton and not as published. The error is regretted.
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LKG students of St Christopher School, Chessore Village pays final tribute to their friend. Three children have succumbed to the undiagnosed disease within a week at Chessore village under Tuensang district.
No doctor at PHC since last two years Morung Express News Tuensang | April 8
An undiagnosed disease has killed three children in a matter of a week at Chessore, a remote village under Tuensang district, prompting villagers to panic this may be the start of an outbreak as more children were reported to be affected with similar symptoms. The illness, with symptoms of vomiting, fever and diarrhea struck the children coinciding with the sudden change of weather, inhabitants of Chessore village which has around 580 families said. The three chil-
dren who succumbed to the undiagnosed disease include a four-year old studying at a mission school-St Christopher School. The other two including a girl were below two-year old. Chessore town, which adjoins the village, has a Primary Health Centre (PHC) with two staff nurses, a vaccinator besides others. However, without a qualified doctor and proper infrastructure, it would be impossible to detect the disease that is affecting the children. Toki Allen, pastor of Chessore Baptist Church said the deceased children barely survived a day with the illness before they succumbed. “The children started vomiting with bouts of fever and they were dead the next day,” Pastor Allen informed. Father Francis of St Christopher School, Chessore said there are still a couple of chil-
dren suffering with similar symptoms. According to Father Francis, children and adults alike had experienced similar symptoms last year during June and July, the onset of monsoon. Though there had been a number of casualties, the exact number of death last year could not be ascertained. The outbreak of the disease last year (2016) at Chessore also coincided with the near epidemic from an unknown disease at Naga inhabited villages in Myanmar which killed more than 30 children. During that time, a medical team had attended to at least 150 affected villagers. While the nature of the disease can only be confirmed by a medical professional, Father Francis observed that this year’s incidences may not be an outbreak but an outcome of general deficiency or because the immune systems of the children were weak because they did not receive any immunization. The lack of awareness or a casual approach to illness stalking people in the rural is one considered reason why there are more casualties. However, this is further compounded by the absence of doctors and the lack of proper medical facility to treat the patients. Pastor Allen revealed that the PHC at Chessore town has been running without a doctor for the last two years. “The doctor who was posted here has gone on study leave and there has been no temporary replacement in his place,” the pastor informed. Road communication is another predicament. The nearest subdivision from where Chessore inhabitants get their provisions is Aghunato under Zunheboto district. Though only a distance of around 24 kilometers, the road becomes unmotorable during monsoon, Pastor Allen lamented. According to the 2011 census, Chessore village had 680 number children aged between 0-6 which made up 23.60% of total population of village.
Morung Express News Dimapur | April 8
With ATMS running dry for the last few days, cash crunch is bothering Nagaland again with public facing a lot of inconveniences. The automatic teller machines (ATMs) in most of the districts in the state have been empty over the past few days owing to lack of cash in the banks. In Dimapur, people were seen unsuccessfully scampering from one State Bank of India (SBI) ATM to another, and even visiting those belonging to private banks to cash. By Saturday, most of the ATMs had downed its shutter while indicating no cash at hand. A bank official said there is no cash in the SBI main branch which acts as the depot for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with no money supply coming from the RBI branch, Guwahati. AGM SBI Dimapur Main Branch, Debjyoti Dutta when contacted told The Morung Express that the short supply of notes from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Dutta however informed that RBI would be disbursing the cash for Nagaland on Monday, and ATMs would likely be refilled by Tuesday onwards. Not only in Nagaland, there have been report of short supply of cash in the banks in many parts of the country with the nearest state being Manipur which also facing cash crisis at moment. Dutta also main-
tained that the shortage of cash is confined only in the ATMs. At the SBI branches, there was still cash –at-hand to manage everyday transactions. While there may be multiple factors leading to the cash shortage, bank officials also blame the present predicament to the hoarding of the new 500 and 2000 denominations. According to Dutta, since November 2016, the RBI had supplied around 2000 crore to Nagaland state alone. “It seems hoarding of currency is still going on. Most of the cash released is not coming back to the bank,” he stated. Thangboi Lunkim, Assistant General Manager of SBI Regional Office while pointing out that shortage of currency notes was not confined only in Nagaland but in many part of the country also did not rule out that hoarding of the new currency notes may be one factor for the liquidity crunch. “The shortage of the new 500 and 2000 notes indicate that hoarding is still going on,” Lunkim said. He also advocated that people need to start using digital system of banking instead. Another factor for shortage of currency is that the RBI is not supplying enough cash to the banks. A top RBI official had recently blamed the shortage due to ‘overdrawal’ of cash out of ATMs which means people are withdrawing more money than they ought to.
Top NSCN (K) leader’s wife among 5 held NSCN (IM) condemns AR raid on Kilonser’s house Newmai News Network Imphal/Senapati | April 8
Four women and a class 10 boy were held by the 34 Assam Rifles from an Imphal bound-passenger bus at Karong on the Imphal-Dimapur road in Senapati district, Manipur on April 8. Police sources today informed that one of the arrested women is reported to be the wife of the NSCN (K)’s Western Military Supervisor, Lt Gen Nikki Sumi, and the boy his son. Senapati Police said the boy had
just appeared his Class X examination. The five were held by the 34 Assam Rifles while travelling from Dimapur to Imphal in the passenger bus, the police said, adding that Rs 18.5 lakh in cash was also seized from their possession. The arrested along with the seized cash have been handed over to the Women Cell of Lamphel Police Station while the boy has been taken into custody of Lamphel Police Station. The four women have been remanded to five days police custody, the police sources said.
DIMAPUR, APRIL 8 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) today condemned the raid at the residence of Z. James Angami, Kilonser and member of the Cease-Fire Monitoring Cell (CFMC), Kohima by the 3 Assam Rifles at Kohima village on April 8 A press note from the MIP, NSCN (IM) said that the raid took place from 1:25 am till 2:45am, and that “in spite of identifying himself as a Card holder bearing No.111 and a member of CFMC, the AR alleged that he own a Chinese Rifle and insisted in surrendering the same weapon.” “Having denied that he possessed
such rifle (even if he had he is entitle being a card holder ), the AR forcefully ransacked the rooms of his building thereby causing mental trauma to his wife and children and creating fear psychosis in the minds of nearby public. They did not spare even kitchen utensils, children’s school bags and the purse of his wife,” the NSCN (IM) said. It further alleged that personnel even intruded into the room of his daughter without permission. Terming the incident as “unwarranted on the part of the AR to engage themselves in hostile activities under the pre-
text of specific information,” the NSCN (IM) said that this not only violates the Cease-fire ground rules but also “sows seeds of mistrust between the two negotiating parties.” It reminded the AR that “such provocation is not the first time and if unchecked will have a serious ramification in considering the initiative towards a lasting final solution to the ongoing political talks.” The NSCN (IM) therefore asked the Government of India to “fix responsibility upon the erring officer for such unjustifiable action.”
nagaland elections: can a vicious cycle be transformed? Morung Express News Dimapur | April 8
The call for free and fair elections in Nagaland has morphed into a case of ‘who will bell the cat?’ Talk, declaration and pledges exist but have not yet evolved into decisive action. The problems are well within grasp yet the stakeholders – the electorate and the electoral candidates – have been shifting responsibility to one another. Bringing the two perspectives together to an open space for dialogue and engaging with the prevailing electoral system was at the core of the 8th Morung Lecture, titled ‘Clean Elections: Framing the Issues in Nagaland’, organised in Dimapur at the DABA’s Elim Hall here today. Election in perspective According to Y. Vikheho Swu, Nagaland State Minister for Roads & Bridges, understanding the purpose of elections “in its right perspective” will go a long way in moulding the right attitude. “Someone must take the initiative. Change should first begin in the way both you and I think and take corrective measures.” In his presentation, Swu observed that elections in Nagalandhavebeenreduced
to gaining personal favour in exchange for a vote cast. He said that voting in the rural areas is defined by “who offers first or offers more” or who makes the first approach, no less dictated by family, clan, village or range affiliations. To the urban voters, besides money, it is about securing a government job, promotion and transfer to a preferred place of posting. In addition, it has given undue advantage to government servants via “political patronage,” he said. As regards the impetus to change, he said that educated Nagas irrespective of social status must involve with all sincerity. He also underlined the importance of bringing on board the political parties along with the Hohos, student bodies and the church, irrespective of denomination. “A successful campaign plan must be worked out. Synchronising all the groups under one head, perhaps, the NBCC since it started with them.” While lauding the NBCC’s effort during the 2013 elections, he held that it started and ended at the “pulpit.” He though conceded it was not a failure altogether stating that the practice of “running messes” for voters and the use of
DistriCt wisE ExpENDiturE
2008 election No. of 2013 election No. of (Rs. in Crores) candidates (Rs. in Crores) candidates 154,80,00,00 17 Dimapur 93,15,00,000 17 Dimapur 6 Peren 21,50,00,000 4 Peren 34,50,00,000 61,61,00,000 18 Kohima 65,75,00,000 21 Kohima 43,37,00,000 20 Tuensang 18,15,00,000 33 Tuensang 11 Longleng 51,10,00,000 8 Longleng 15 ,30,00,000 14,52,50,000 6 Kiphire 6,72,00,000 10 Kiphire 38,27,00,000 28 Mon 68,06,85,000 27 Mon 166,60,15,000 17 Zunheboto 89,05,00,000 17 Zunheboto Phek 34,12,00,000 14 Phek 80,89,17,500 17 28 Wokha 31,76,00,000 19 Wokha 54,92,00,000 Mokokchung 118,17,00,000 33 Mokokchung 230,60,00,000 29 total 569,96,00,000 216 total 937,82,67,500 184 Avg per candidate 2,63,38,037 5,09,68,845
partY wisE ExpENDiturE
2008 election Number 2013 election Number (Rs. in Crores) of candidates (Rs. in Crores) of candidates NPF 1958500000 56 NPF 4860897500 60 55 INC 1828000000 60 INC 2172615000 15 NCP 85100000 8 NCP 408300000 25 RJD 38700000 2 RJD 473600000 344050000 23 BJP 119150000 11 BJP JDU 21800000 3 JD U 80700000 3 42000000 1 UNDP 18000000 1 UNDP 33 Ind 18059000 37 Ind 849050000 JDS 11700000 3 LJSP 12200000 3 1 APP 10000000 569,96,00,000 216 937,82,67,500 184 alcohol were reduced. A vicious cycle Hekani Jakhalu, founder director of YouthNet, while presenting a comparative assessment of election expenses by can-
didates during 2008 and 2013, observed that people take money from politicians on the understanding that politicians “have eaten up their money.” Politicians, on the other hand, spend their term in
Source: YouthNet office making up for the monetary loss. While stating that this provides just the right environment for corruption to take root, she said, “It is a vicious cycle which has to be broken.” Referring to the hundreds
of crores spent on electioneering, Jakhalu said that on the contrary post-election expenditure affidavits submitted by candidates state that none spent more than Rs. 20 lakhs. The issues of the involvement of Naga Political Groups (NPGs), excess employment, inflated electoral rolls, relation between election expenses and the yearly financialdeficitandselection of candidates figured during the question-answer session in which old and young participants took part. Swu, responding to a query on the assumed relation between the yearly financial deficit and election expenses of candidates, held that they cannot be related. However Jakhalu differed stating that the two are, either directly or indirectly, referring to the vicious cycle of corruption that has set in. On the question of selection of candidates, he said that people most often go for a candidate who has money and power, but rarely examine the person’s integrity. As for the involvement of NPGs, Swu commented, “No one has the answer to that question. They should not involve but we have no control over them.” For Methna Konyak, a former leader of the Konyak Students Union,
clean elections should begin with being honest about the population census and the E-roll. Setting a trend of contesting elections without using money to buy votes was strongly asserted by Arthur Edwards, Administrator of Livingstone Foundation Higher Secondary School and Dr. Panger Kechu, lecturer at Oriental Theological Seminary. In the words of Dr. Panger, “We need role models, people, who can assert that they will not buy votes, whether they win or lose.” Can Nagaland’s politicians stand up to play this role? While the imagined change may not happen overnight, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, who was also part of the audience, commented, “A process of social change comes very slowly.” With Nagaland set to go into an election year in 2018, the Morung Lectures seek to continue to facilitate discussion on some of these difficult issues. As Editor of The Morung Express, Dr. Aküm Longchari, said in his concluding remarks, true understanding entails the understanding of differences. The Morung Lectures create space to bring differing and divergent voices to listen to each other in order to break the status quo.