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FriDAY • AUGUST 05 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 214 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
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Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself As Sunday referendum looms, Thai’s powerful army aims to preserve role
Concern over alarming rise of HIV prevalence in Kiphire
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T R u T H
— Henry Ward Beecher
Nita among eight new International Olympic Committee members
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Rising Mercury hits normal life Undiagnosed disease in
Dimapur blazing; Kohima too feels the heat Morung Express News
Dimapur/Kohima | August 4
Balmy is how one would describe the summer in Kohima without the rains an ideal place to escape the heat of the plains. August 3 in the state capital was however far from idyllic as the mercury shot up to touch a maximum temperature of 29-degree Celsius. At an elevation of 1,444 m above sea level, the town experienced unusually warm weather the past 3 days unsettling the residents accustomed to summer temperatures that seldom go pass the 25-degree mark. The daytime temperature peaked at 29 degrees on August 3 forcing many to remain indoors while those who did could not do so without umbrellas, an appliance normally associated with rain in Kohima. “Because of the heat wave, I could not sleep till 12:00 last night,” was how a resident described the day. August 4 however proved to be a respite as the mercury dropped to the mid-20s. The heat wave, according to some residents, was unprecedented. The ‘record’ high temperature
A Rickshaw-puller takes rest under the shade by a roadside in the blistering heat of the midday sun in Dimapur on Thursday. (Photo: Moa Jamir)
gave rise to quite a many humorous internet meme with some sharing images in social media on how to beat the heat. The unusually high temperature and unpredictable weather pattern has further raised concerns about a warming planet affecting Nagaland too. According to meteorologists, erratic weather behaviour is an indicator of climate change worldwide. From unseasonal rain to warmer winters and hotter summers, the state has been experiencing unpredictable weather conditions the past few years. Down in Dimapur, a place used to summer temperatures hovering between the mid to the high
NPCC questions PHED Minister DIMAPUR, AUGUST 4 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today alleged that PHED Minister, Tokheho Yepthomi has “misused the official letter pad of the CLP Leader while writing to the Director of Food & Civil Supplies on 30/07/2016.” A press note from the NPCC questioned the PHED Minister in the present NPF led DAN government for allegedly “using the letter pad of the CLP Leader even after betraying and abandoning the Congress party...” The NPCC termed this as “not acceptable and he must therefore apologize to all congress men and women.” It further stated that “asking the Director of Food & Civil Supplies to allot 150 bags of rice to a particular individual for public distribution on cash payment is an abuse of power that deprives the intended beneficiaries getting their due share.” The NPCC stated that the Nagaland State Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Food & Civil Supplies, is answerable for the conduct of his Ministers.
Release post matric scholarship by August 14, demands ANCSU KOHIMA, AUGUST 4 (MExN): The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) today issued an ultimatum to the Director of Higher Education demanding that the Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) for the year 2015-2016 be released by August 14. The ANCSU referred to its reminder letter vide NO 15/7/2016, regarding the “delay in disbursement of Scholarship, which is of great concern to the student’s career.” “Despite of our endless effort, our demands remained fruitless and unnoticed. As a matter of fact, the delay of scholarship has adversely affected the student community, which is unjust on the part of the State Government and the concerned department. The cold delay in disbursement of scholarship has created further discouragement to the Students as a whole,” the ANCSU stated. It further cautioned that failure to take steps towards releasing the PMS by August 14 would compel the ANCSU to intervene.
30s. Weather portals indicated a maximum day temperature of 36 degrees on August 3 with the ‘Realfeel’ tipped at 45 degrees. The ‘Realfeel’ was made even more discomforting by an unpredictable power situation with many localities experiencing frequent supply interruptions throughout the day and through the evening. The terminology is used to describe a cumulative atmospheric experience brought on by the effects of temperature, humidity, sunshine etc or phenomena that affects how warm or cold a person feels. August 4 was no different with the mercury well above 35 during the day while the night temperature
hovered in the mid-20s. Nature came to the rescue toward afternoon as a thick cloud blanketed sky bringing the mercury down a little. The forecast for August 5 tipped the maximum day temperature at 35-degree Celsius. The heat affected normal day-to-day activities with people limiting outdoor activities and chores for the early hours and evening. A shopkeeper observed that business in the markets of Dimapur slowed during daytime the past 2-3 days. The worst affected appear to be the students, vegetable vendors and rickshaw pullers. “For the last 3-4 days, it has been like torture for us
sitting whole day in the hot sun waiting for customers. Due to the extreme temperature, our sales have dipped down as we don’t get much customers these days,” said a woman vegetable vendor from Peren district, who runs a stall at Naga Shopping Arcade. “My son complained that the fan in his classroom doesn’t function properly and that many of the students cannot pay heed to what the teacher said due to the intense heat. Also, I heard from parents of other schools that even the teachers themselves are performing perfunctory duty these days,” disclosed a parent of a student studying in a private school. Another parent said the summer break for schools started and ended too early, especially for Dimapur district, and was of the view that the Nagaland School Education Board should fix separate holiday breaks for schools in Dimapur and other districts including Kohima. “For the past three days, it has been impossible to paddle a rickshaw. Till this morning (Thursday), the weather was too hot but after the temperature dipped in the afternoon, I have pedalled for a few customers,” said a rickshaw puller stationed at Town Hall in Dimapur.
Naga region of Myanmar At least 30 children reported dead in Nanyun and Lahe
YANGON, AUGUST 4 (AP/AFP): An undiagnosed disease has killed more than 30 children in a remote part of Myanmar, officials said Thursday, with health authorities struggling to treat victims. The illness, with measles-like symptoms, has hit the far corner of Myanmar’s northern Sagaing region, a remote and mountainous area which borders eastern India and is populated by people from the Naga tribes. “We have this problem since two months ago and we haven’t received any help from the government yet,” said Kay Sai, a local administrator. He said the deaths have been recorded in Nanyun and Lahe towns in the Naga region, one of the poorest in the country, about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from Yangon, adjoining India’s Nagaland state. He said most of the victims have been under the age of five. Adults and children have both been struck since the outbreak first emerged in June. “Altogether 23 children were have been killed in Lahal township and 13
killed in Nan Yon township since June because of this unknown disease,” Law Yone, a regional MP from Naga self-administrative region revealed to international news agencies. “Rashes came out on their bodies; they have a fever and difficulty breathing because of coughing. Blood also comes out while coughing,” he said. Some 200 people so far have come down with the disease, he said, adding that central authorities have been slow to react. A health ministry official in the capital Naypyidaw confirmed the outbreak, including more than 30 deaths, and said tests were being carried out. “We assume at an initial stage it’s a measles outbreak or strong influenza. But we can definitely say only when we get the result from laboratory,” the official said, requesting anonymity. Kay Sai said there has been no response from the Ministry of Health, or the Department of Prevention of Transmitted Diseases on the outbreak. He said local authorities have temporarily
banned people from traveling around to prevent contagion. The outbreak highlights how vulnerable Myanmar’s more remote populations are in a country where healthcare was never prioritised under decades of brutal and inept junta rule. The Naga area is the least developed part of Myanmar and is in utter neglect with the absence of even the most basic health care, education and infrastructure. Law Yone said that the region suffers from inadequate transportation, insufficient number of health care workers and medicine. Because of the backwardness, even curable diseases have proved to be deadly in the past he said. Healthcare is one of the many crippling legacies that the newly installed civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi is trying to tackle. Although budgets slightly increased in the last few years of outright army rule – which ended with last November’s elections – Myanmar is still one of the lowest spenders on healthcare as a share of GDP.
Criminal justice system needs overhaul: ACAUT Foothill Road: 8km of earth-cutting remains
DIMAPUR , AUGUST 4 (MExN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland today stated that the seizure of an illegal solvent consignment by Kohima Police belonging to an out-on-bail adulteration “kingpin,” is a “very serious matter which has only reinforced the public opinion that the criminal-justice system in the state is in need of a serious overhaul.” A press note from the ACAUT media cell said that the fuel adulteration racket is “being operated by highly connected people.” “This suspicion was renewed when the kingpins got anticipatory bail regardless of the very serious nature of the issue,” it added.
It alleged that the said “kingpin” has “taken advantage of his anticipatory bail and restarted his criminal operations with impunity…” This, the ACAUT said shows his “scant regard for the laws of the land, should the public finally conclude that the judiciary has long closed its eyes and ears to matters of justice?”
‘Core ACAUT member put under duress’
Meanwhile, the ACAUT expressed concern that one of its core members, who was the complainant in the July 11 FIR filed at Zunheboto Police Station against the office of the CMO for deduction of staff salary under 24% NPG ‘salary tax,’ “has been put under duress by a particu-
lar faction to withdraw the FIR.” It informed that the CMO had obtained anticipatory bail “while 4 of his colleagues are awaiting the same bail.” The ACAUT issued a “public declaration” stating that “if anything happens to the complainant,” the 5 employees of the CMO establishment “shall be solely responsible.” It further stated that “as per standing ACAUT Resolution, there is a blanket ban on ACAUT members going to the designated camps of the factions nor are summons acceptable.” It asked the Nagaland State Government to ensure that nothing untoward happens to “responsible citizens who are always on the forefront fighting for the common good.”
Morung Express News Dimapur | August 4
The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has informed that earth-cutting work on the Mokokchung sector of the Nagaland Foothill Road project has been completed. With earth-cutting completed in the Mokokchung sector, the NFHRCC on August 4 stated that only about 8 km of uncut portions remain in the Niuland and Naginimora segments. Around 5 km of earth-cutting is required in the Niuland area and 3 km in the Naginimora area. Stating that work will begin on the two segments by October-Novem-
ber after the monsoon subsides, the NFHRCC informed that the State government has sanctioned the fund required to clear the uncut portions. If all goes according to plan, earth-cutting on the entire stretch of the Foothill road will be over by the turn of 2017. With regard to the Doyang Bridge, it was informed that work is progressing without any hiccup. With a completion deadline of 33 months, work to bridge the Doyang at Liphanyan (near Governor’s Camp) had started in December 2014. Expressing hope that the bridge will be completed within the stipulated timeframe, the NFHRCC urged the construction firm to expedite work in the interest of the people.
Internal inquiry into New Puilwa village find glaring alleged custodial death anomalies in road construction Morung Express News Dimapur | August 4
The Dimapur police on Thursday stated that an ‘internal inquiry’ has been initiated to investigate the death of Ramesh Kumar Yadav on August 3 while in police custody. Maintaining that it would be premature to comment on the allegation of custodial death, the Dimapur police PRO said that the cause of death can be ascertained only after the post-mortem report comes out. In tandem with the ‘internal inquiry’ a ‘magisterial inquiry’ was also
in progress, the PRO said. The PRO though did not deny that the victim died while in police custody. Stating that the Dimapur police will be making an official statement on August 5, the PRO said that the report of the internal inquiry should not take long to come out. According to the PRO, the victim along with two others were arrested in an arms related case and brought to the police station at around 2:00 am on August 3. He was reportedly discovered to be not breathing at around 4:00 am and taken to the hospital where he was declared dead.
Naga man missing after being drugged on train DIMAPUR, AUGUST 4 (MExN): A Naga man has gone missing from the Brahmaputra Mail train from Dibrugarh, after he and a fellow traveller, another Naga man were drugged on the train. Mon Police informed that the missing person, Khoyeih Konyak and his companion Konwang Konyak went missing on August 2, while on their way aboard the Brahmaputra Mail train from Dibrugarh. They were scheduled to alight at Bhojo Station which borders Tizit at around 01:30 hrs but were
drugged by 3 persons on the train and left unconscious. Konwang was found in Alipurduar railway station in West Bengal by railway police on the night of August 3. Police informed that he is presently undergoing medical treatment at the railway hospital there and a police team with family members are on their way. However, Khoyeih Konyak still remains missing. Informing that efforts are on to trace him, police has asked anyone with information to contact 08974640018/09402842502.
PEREN, AUGUST 4 (MExN): The New Puilwa Village Council (NPVC) has revealed how a private firm was sanctioned funds by the Government for roads that were left unconstructed. The NPVC has stated this in a press release from its Chairman and VCM-cum-Chairman VEC after they received a reply to their RTI application from the PIO and Additional Chief Engineer PWD (R&B), Government of Nagaland on July 12 last. Asking for clarification from the authority concerned, the NPVC laid out the facts of the “negligence” in respect of the phase-wise construction work carried out as per the work order allotted to one M/s Jordan Construction from 2009 to 2016. The NPVC explained that the Phase-I construction of a 15km stretch of road from Kohima- Leikie Junction to Old Puilwa Village in Peren District under Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) was allotted to M/s Jordan Constriction by Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B), Nagaland, Vide order no: CE/R&B/ NIT/NLCPR1 2009-10 on December 2, 2009. The terms and conditions stated that the work should be completed within 18 months. However, the said road construction work is “still incomplete” and
out of 53 Hume Pipe New Culverts required as per the Detailed Project Report, only 28 Culverts were made, revealed the NPVC. Despite this fact, the total amount for the Phase-I work was shown to have been “withdrawn.” In the Phase-II, work was again allotted to the same firm for construction of road from Kohima-Leikie Junction to Tepuiki (Barak) 10 Km (MDR) under NLCPR, Vide order no: CE (R&B)/TEVNLCPR/THPUBarak/2010-11/189-195/391 on April 4, 2011. According to the NPVC, only 60% of this construction work has been completed by Jordan Construction, “ignoring the terms and conditions laid down by the authority” but the “entire total amount” has been withdrawn nonetheless. In the Phase-III M/C Jordan Construction was once again allotted construction of road from KohimaLeikie junction to Tepuiki (Barak) 15km under NLCPR, Vide order no: CE/(R&B)/TIINLCP/ LEG-III/ 201213/ on January 11, 2013 on the terms and conditions that the work should be completed within 24 months, informed the NPVC as per the RTI response. The technical sanction amount for the phase was Rs. 1911.48
lakh and the withdrawn amount for the phase was Rs. 1461.03 lakh. Besides these discrepancies, the New Puilwa Village Council stated that all natural resource like stone/ rock were given “free of cost” by the village council to M/s Jordan Construction “believing that they will give their best for the people but in return the Jordan construction have utterly shattered the long dreamt of the people.” Based on these facts and findings has sought an open from the authority concerned “as to who has given the work completion certificates of the Phase I & II of the road construction to the M/S Jordan Construction without physically ascertaining the project?” The Council also warned that if the project is not completed according to the specification of the work allotted, then “the concern authority/ department issuing the completion certificates shall be held responsible to any untoward incidence.” The NPVC urged the department concerned to take “necessary action and not to release any pending bill/ bills, earnest money and security deposit physically verifying construction site,” as well as clarifying the queries of the Village Council.