August 18th 2014

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The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 225

UP floods hit over 1,000 villages, death toll touches 28 [ PAGE 8]

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Difference is they are fighting for free land!

The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn

Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your answer to 9862574165 Is the unresolved Assam-Nagaland border issue affecting the local market?

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no

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Do you agree that lifting of the Prohibition Act will lead to “further division and destruction” in nagaland?

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Details on page 7

ACAUT questions ‘threat’ to media house DIMAPUR, AUGUST 17 (MExN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland today termed the “timing and the threat made against Nagaland Post by Z Royim Yimchungrü, Acting President NNC in his Independence Day speech August 14, 2014 as unfortunate and highly condemnable.” A press note from the ACAUT Nagaland media cell stated that “threat to media is nothing but an attempt to suppress the voice of the people, since freedom of press has always been emphasized as an essential basis for democratic functioning of a society.” It added that the “threat” appears to be an “overreaction” and termed it “unfortunate” that it was done in an Independence Day speech, “which is supposed to lay down their government’s aims & objectives and is the vision statement of any government.” “The Acting President is answerable to the Naga people whether the threat against Nagaland Post is part of its vision?”

ACAUT stated.

Dmr: 64 offences under NLTP Act in the first half of August

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DIMAPUR, AUGUST 17 (MExN): The Dimapur District Excise Enforcement Force (DDCEF) has detected and registered sixty four offences/cases under the NLTP Act during the first half of August.

A press note from the Dimapur Assistant Commissioner of Excise informed that 2637 bottles of assorted liquor were also seized and have been deposited in the district malkhana for future destruction. In separate incidences, the duty party stationed at Chumukedima Excise Check post under the command of Jungti Jamir AIE, also detected and seized 432 bottles of assorted liquor during the last fortnight. In this connection, 11 persons were arrested and charged under relevant section of the law, informed the note.

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The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are

Monday, August 18, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Joseph Campbell

Road to connect Phuye Old village to nearest town

Jennifer Lopez Wants to Move in With Maksim

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[ PAGE 2]

Pope tells communist nations not to fear Christians

Federer, Williams through to final [ PAGE 12]

[ PAGE 9]

[ PAGE 11]

enquiry committee to probe ralan incident

KOHIMA, AUGUST 17 (MExN): The Nagaland state government has constituted an inquiry committee to probe into the recent unrest in the areas bordering Wokha district of Nagaland and Golaghat district of Assam. The committee has been formed in view of the “incidents of arson and killing” that took place in the Ralan area of Wokha District on August 12 and 13 and the escalation of tension thereafter, prompting various Assam based organizations to impose an economic blockade against Nagaland state.

A notification from the Nagaland state Chief Secretary today informed that the enquiry committee will probe into the causes and circumstances which have led to the current situation.

The committee will include Imkonglemba Ao, APC & Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture as Convener, with PF Zeliang, IGP Range; Kesonyü Yhome, Joint Secretary and Principal Director, School Education and Namjok Konyak, Joint Secretary, Justice & Law as members and Vikishe Sema, DC HQ, O/o Commissioner, Nagaland as Member Secretary The notification informed that the committee will identify the “circumstances leading to the situation, resulting in burning of villages, damage to properties and loss of lives.” It will further investigate to figure out the motives and reasons for such actions, leading to the commission of such crimes/offences.

The Committee will

Committee given 15-days to submit findings and recommendations two more bodies recovered along Assam-nagaland border

nagaland state security personnel are seen at Ralan area, under Wokha district bordering the state of Assam on August 13. Recent unrest in the Ralan area has compelled various Assam based organizations to enforce an economic blockade on nagaland. The nagaland state government today announced the formation of an enquiry committee to probe the incident and provide recommendations. (Morung File Photo)

investigate whether the crime is the handiwork of individuals, groups of people or organizations; and identify the persons responsible. It will further suggest remedial measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future. The Committee has been asked to submit its findings and recommendations within fifteen days from the date of its constitution.

NPCC urges Nagaland government to ‘wake up’ The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has urged the Nagaland state gov-

ernment to “wake up” in face of the present unrest in the Assam Nagaland border areas.

A press note from the NPCC stated that people in the area “are faced with a grave situation posed by illegal immigrants deliberately settled along the disputed border areas by the Assam government to create a ‘buffer zone.’” It further censured the “indiscriminate attempt of various organizations in Assam to enforce blockade even at the slightest provocation.”

Cautioning that “illegal immigrants settled along the disputed border areas

are getting emboldened day by day…” the NPCC asserted that the Nagaland government needs to provide enough security along the border areas to safeguard the rights and lives of its citizens “who should not be left to fend for themselves…”

It further termed the response of the DAN government to the August 12 incident as “timid” and contrasted it with the July 21 incident, when the NPCC alleged that the state government had used “strong arm tactics against its own people in silencing the protest of the Kyong Students Union Volunteers

GUWAHATI, AUGUST 17 (PTI): Two more bodies have been recovered from violence-hit Assam-Nagaland border today with the toll rising to nine in the violence.

“Two more bodies were recovered today taking the toll to nine and all were victims of the first day violence of August 12 in Uriamghat area,” Additional Director General of Police (Lawand Order) AP Rout told PTI. “Earlier, it was reported that eleven bodies were recovered from the spot till August 15 but later it was found to be seven,” he said. “It happened due to dual calculation at the village and again by their relatives.

The two bodies were recovered from Chainpur village in Golaghat district today,” Rout said.

Assam Home and Political Commissioner and Secretary

against the inauguration of Oil exploration at Changpang…” Referring to the Dimapur bandh called by the NFHRCC on June 30 and the July 21 protest by the KSU, the NPCC lamented that the state government “can only indulge in using state police forces against its own people rather than protect them.”

It further termed the Nagaland Home Minister’s statement on the border issue as portraying “cluelessness.” It cautioned that the “callous attitude of the DAN government in confronting issues of public importance” would have “far reaching consequenc-

Gyanendra Dev Tripathi said, “After police reached the spot, it was found that seven and not eleven bodies were found till August 15.

The number of injured has also increased to seven from three.”

“The situation is currently stable. People in relief camps have visited their homes and are expected to move to their houses in a day or two. Moreover, the number of inmates in relief camps has come down to 9,300 from around 10,000,” Tripathi said.

He, however, said the night curfew from 6 pm to 6 am in the area along the inter-state border will continue in order to avoid any untoward development. “Assam Police along with CRPF have set up 18 pickets in the area. They facilitate return of the people, whose houses have not burnt,” he said.

es for generations to come.”

The NPCC further stated that it is “baffled by the appalling silence of NGOs and civil societies barring few in extending solidarity to the people of Ralan area.”

“While most of our NGOs and Civil Societies tend to overreact on outside issues that are beyond their domain, the plight of our own people within the state especially along the border areas has been reduced to a non issue leaving only the affected people to fight their own battle,” it stated.

Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has urged the Nagaland state government to expedite the “release” of the personal secretary and security of Parliamentary Secretary, Paiwang Konyak, who were “detained” near Golaghat junction on August 15. A press note from the ENPO informed the Parliamentary Secretary’s entourage was on government duty on their way to Jorhat Airport to pick up the latter.

While expressing concern over incidents that have taken place in the Ralan ENPO demands early release area, the ENPO urged that of ‘detained’ personnel the situation needs to be Meanwhile, the Eastern tackled “immediately.”

KGPO demands appointment of teachers at GHS Kuhuboto Extreme medicine: The

DIMAPUR, AUGUST 17 (MExN): The Kuhuboto Ghakhu Public Organization (KGPO) has written to the Principal Director for the Directorate of School Education, demanding immediate appointment/ posting of more teachers at Government High School (GHS) Kuhuboto.

A press note from the KGPO President, K Kakiye Zhimomihascalleduponthe concerned official to address several “immediate concerns” currently faced by the school. It revealed that there has been “no science teachers since 2011 because of no

replacement” after one science teacher retired in 2009 and another was promoted to AHM in 2011. The KGPO further informed that there is only one Math teacher.

In addition, it lamented that no Hindi teacher has been appointed in the school ever since one passed away and another retired.

The KGPO further stated that “there is not a single graduate teacher with a BEd Degree and all together there are only five graduate teachers for the entire School.” At present, according to the KGPO, the total teaching staff includes five graduate

teachers, six under graduate teachers, one MIL (Sumi) teacher, one drawing teacher, one Hindi teacher and three IEDSS teachers.

Under the circumstances, the KGPO stated: “it is no surprise that the school’s academic result in HSLC 2013-14 was nil.”

“The School management and other public leaders of the area have been continuously running around the authorities for appointment or postings of the required teaching staff for all these years without any positive actions from the authority concerned,” it lamented. It

further informed that due to the shortage of teachers, the school had to “restrict admission in Class IX and X in the current academic year.”

As such, the KHPO urged upon the concerned official to work for the appointment or posting of two science teachers, at least one Math teacher and four graduate teachers immediately in the interest of all concerned. It cautioned that if this demand is not met, the school management “may have to extend the restriction even to lower classes in the next academic year.”

UN hopeful of resolving standoff with Iran

DUbAI, AUGUST 17 (REUTERS): UN nuclear agency chief Yukiya Amano said that he was very glad to hear a firm commitment from Iran to resolve outstanding issues through cooperation during a visit to Tehran on Sunday that he described as “useful”.

Amano made the trip ahead of an August 25 deadline for Iran to provide information relevant to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) inquiry into what it calls the possible military dimensions of the country’s nuclear programme.

The issue is closely tied to Iran’s nuclear negotiations with six world powers aimed at ending a decadeold standoff over Tehran’s atomic activities. Iran denies its programme has any military objectives.

“This has been a short visit, but a useful one,” Amano said in Iran after talks with President Hassan Rouhani and other senior Iranian officials, according to a statement issued by the IAEA in Vienna. Referring to a cooperation pact agreed between Iran

and the IAEA in November, Amano added: “I was very glad to hear from the highest levels a firm commitment to the implementation of the Framework for Cooperation, and to resolve all present and past issues through dialogue and cooperation with the IAEA.” Amano arrived late on Saturday on his second visit to Iran since Rouhani was elected in mid-2013.

Since Rouhani became president, Tehran has promised to work with the IAEA to dispel the West’s suspicions about its nuclear programme.

However, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the visiting head of the UN nuclear watchdog on Sunday that Tehran will not discuss its long-range missile program as part of talks aimed at resolving a decade-long nuclear dispute, official media reported. “Iran’s missile power is not negotiable at any level under any pretext,” Rouhani told Yukiya Amano, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the official IRNA newsservice reported.

The president added, however,

that Iran is prepared to cooperate with the IAEA’s probe into whether its civilian nuclear program has a military component, “since there is no room for using a weapon of mass destruction in Iran’s defense doctrine.”

Western nations have long suspected Iran of covertly seeking a nuclear weapons capability, accusations denied by Tehran, which insists its nuclear program is only for civilian purposes like power generation and the production of medical isotopes.

Iran’s long-range missile program is of major concern for Israel, which fears it may one day mount nuclear warheads on the projectiles and has not ruled out military action to prevent that from happening. Iran insists the missile program is a vital deterrent to a possible Israeli attack. “We only accept those legal inspections by the agency that are in the framework of the NonProliferation Treaty and safeguards,” Rouhani was quoted as saying. “Any inspection beyond the legal framework will harm entire developing countries.”

search for new antibiotics

NORWICH, AUGUST 17 (REUTERS): Pampering leafcutter ants with fragrant rose petals and fresh oranges may seem an unlikely way to rescue modern medicine, but scientists at a lab in eastern England think it’s well worth trying.

As the world cries out for new antibiotics, researchers at the John Innes Centre (JIC) in Norwich are taking a bet on bacteria extracted from the stomachs of giant stick insects and cinnabar caterpillars with a taste for highly toxic plants. Their work is part of a new way of thinking in the search for superbug-killing drugs - turning back to nature in the hope that places as extreme as insects’ insides, depths of oceans, or the driest of deserts may throw up chemical novelties and lead to new drugs.

“Natural products fell out of favor in the pharmaceutical sphere, but now is the time to look again,” says Mervyn Bibb, professor of molecular microbiology at JIC. “We need to think ecologically, which traditionally people haven’t been doing.”

The quest is urgent. Africa provides a glimpse of what the world looks like when the drugs we rely on to fight disease and prevent infections after operations stop working. In South Africa, patients with tuberculosis that has developed resistance to all known antibiotics are already simply sent home to die, while West Africa’s Ebola

outbreak shows what can happen when there are no medicines to fight a deadly infection.

Scant financial rewards and lack of progress with conventional drug discovery have prompted many Big Pharma companies to abandon search for new bacteriafighting medicines. Yet for academic microbiologists these are exciting times in antibiotic research. “It’s a good time to be researching antibiotics because there are a lot of new avenues to explore,” said Christophe Corre, a Royal Society research fellow.

Marcel Jaspars, a professor of organic chemistry at Britain’s University of Aberdeen, is leading a dive deep into the unknown to search for bacteria that have, quite literally, never before seen the light of day.

With 9.5 million euros of EU funding, Jaspars launched a project called PharmaSea in which researchers will haul samples of mud and sediment from deep sea trenches in the Pacific Ocean, the Arctic waters around Norway, and then the Antarctic.

Like the guts of stick insects or protective coats of leafcutter ants, such places house endemic populations of microbes that have developed unique ways to deal with the stresses of life, including attacks from rival bugs. “Essentially, we’re looking for isolated populations of organisms. They will have evolved differently and therefore hopefully

produce new chemistry,” Jaspars explains.

Nature has historically served humankind well when it comes to new medicines. Even Hippocrates, known as the father of Western medicine, left historical records describing the use of powder made from willow bark to help relieve pain and fever. Modern gene-sequencing machines make it possible to read microbial DNA quickly and cheaply, opening up a new era of “genome mining”, which has reignited interest in seeking drug leads in the natural world.

It marks a significant change. In recent decades drug developers have focused on screening vast libraries of synthetic chemical compounds. Such synthetic analogues are easier to make and control than chemicals from the wild, but they have yielded few effective new drugs.

The problem is they just don’t have the natural diversity of compounds that have evolved over billions of years as defense mechanisms for wild bacteria and fungi.

In the chase for new compounds generated by microbes to fight off their foes, scientists have no shortage of targets. Humans share the Earth with an awful lot of bacteria around 5 million trillion trillion of them, according to an estimate in 1998 by scientists at the University of Georgia. That’s a 5 followed by 30 zeroes.

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Dimapur

Monday

LocaL

18 August 2014

DEO Phek informs phEK, august 17 (mExN): District Education Officer (DEO), Phek has informed all concerned that the District Level Science Seminar 2014 will be held on August 29 at DEO Office Phek. The topic for the seminar will be ‘Innovation in Agriculture for sustainable future: Prospects and challenges’. Any government and private schools willing to participate have been asked to contact the following mobile numbers for confirmation of participation and detailed information on or before Local apples displayed at the stall of Department of Land Resources, Kiphire during the InAugust 25: 9436009532 and dependence Day celebration in Kiphire on August 15. This year, the “Apple Festival” held at 9436804766.

Thanamir village is scheduled to be held in the month of September. (Morung Photo)

YTUK condemns Saddle ‘C’ village incident

Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): Yimchungru Tribals’ Union Kiphire (YTUK) has condemned the incident between Tsundang (Chendang) and Saddle ‘C’ villages on August 7 night. In a press release, the union alleged that mob of Tsundang village “assaulted and brutally tortured” the three “watchmen” of Saddle ‘C’, who were guard-

ing the field to prevent mithun from entering at midnight. It further claimed that while the three were fleeing from the mob, Assam Rifles fired upon them, “who was later hospitalised at referral Hospital at ICU.” Y TUK President Mathre, Vice President S Akum Lims, and General Secretary L Samuel in the release stated the mob of

Tsundang village could have settled the issue with a dialogue if there was any dispute, however “taking the advantage of Mediumnio Festival is not a friendly approach.”

Further, terming the incident as intentional, and damaging the standing crops as an attempt to murder the owners of the land as per Yimchungrü

tradition, YTUK called the act of Assam Rifles as “an alien act and not expected from the so called ‘Friends of the Hills People’ firing on the innocent civilian.”

The union has urged the authorities concerned to book the persons responsible for the incident, both the mob of Tsundang Village and the Assam Rifles at the earliest.

The Morung Express C

Road to connect Phuye Old village to nearest town

ZuNhEboto, august 17 (mExN): Though surrounded by beautiful mountains and nestled in a picturesque hill district of Zunheboto, Phuye Old village longs for further development of its inhabitants, a press release received here has informed. The village is one of the many villages of Suruhoto sub- division and is located 18 kms east from district headquarters. It is in the border of Zunheboto and Tuensang districts.

“Those who are a little educated get jobs, so they leave the village and go, but what about the others?” the release quoted the Head Goan Bura (GB) of the village, Tokiho Awomi. He said that almost all youth have left the village for better education and job opportunities.

According to the release, agriculture is the mainstay of the villagers and the people of Phuye Old also sell fruits for their livelihood. Grazing cattle and fishing are also part of their lives. The villagers are very hard-working but lack infrastructure, it added.

Therefore, the village

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Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): Youngs’ Club (YC) Dimapur, under its project ‘Discover Positive’ organized a workshop on Self Help Group and its functioning on August 16 at main office of Prodigals Home here for both urban and rural youth who had enrolled in the project.

The workshop was mentored by Prodigals Home led by Losa.

A press release informed that project ‘Discover Positive’ is supported by PRAVAH and Unniti Foundation. Initiated by Jenpu Rongmei, the project aims to work

for youth development and enable school dropouts and underprivileged youths to “transcend from dependency to independency by facilitating them to face challenges whilst enhancing their talents/ abilities for a productive life,” it added.

Youngs’ Club has invited youth, especially school/college dropouts to enroll themselves in project ‘Discover Positive’ in order to avail facilities for different skills trainings.

One may call 09856767224 or mail at youngsclubnagaland@ gmail.com to register.

Head GB decided to cut a pass through the hill to connect the village to the nearest town of Suruhoto for the convenience of the villagers. For this, the release said, Awomi requested Shetoyi Yepthomi, the MLA of Suruhoto assembly constituency, and he provided technical and financial help. The village falls under this constituency.

Taking the gesture of the MLA as positive sign, according to the release,

The delegation with Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya on August 16.

bring investments in Nagaland and help the State collaborate with private players. The visiting Dean was accompanied by BJP National executive member

& Advisor SEED Dr. Vivek Iyer, Dr. Yan Murry, CEO & Secretary of SEED, Kumar Iyer, Advisor of SEED, Pele Khezhie, President NCSU and Thangrongbi Singh.

Book on 'righteous ruling and nation building' released Our Correspondent Kohima | August 17

A book entitled “Breakfast with the King” (The 100Day Devotional on Righteous Ruling and Nation Building) written by Mazie Nakhro was released here this afternoon by Atsi Dolie, Executive Director, Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC).

The author said that the book has a lot to do with politics and national issues, while adding it is dedicated to the Lord.

Earlier, Rev. L. Suohie pronounced dedicatory prayer while Zakie led the service. “A unique devotional written in a very engaging style from a biblical perspective for social transformation, this book

by Rev. Dr. Mazie Nakhro is historically enlightening,

Author Mazie Nakhro (4th from left) with others during the release of the book entitled “Breakfast with the King” in Kohima on Sunday. (Morung Photo)

politically challenging, and theologically stimulating,” penned Rümatho Nyusou, vice principal, Shalom Bible Seminary, Sechü-Zubza.

“A timely spiritual

awakening devotional… a must read for every Naga Christian,” wrote Rev. Dr. Tseibu Rutsa, president, Leaders for Christ International. Meanwhile, Dr. Sen-

ka Yaden, the first Naga scientist and America’s Who’s Who in Bio-Science wrote, “This book provides a crash course on the Word of God as it relates to the political

problems of struggling nations like Nagaland. In addition to personal reading for godly stimulation, the units covered are perfect for group discussion.”

Rev. Dr. V.K. Nuh, General Secretary, Fellowship of Naga Baptist Associations (FNBA) also noted, “I believe this book will prove to be invaluable especially for the present generation of our Nagas.”

Printed at NV Press Kohima, the book is priced Rs. 100.

Mazie Nakhro is an ordained minister of the ABCC. He holds Ph.D in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary, Texas. Some of his achievements include starting a few mission organizations and church partnerships that have led to planting over 100 churches, training hundred of leaders and empowering thousands of people both in India and USA. Since July 2007, he has been calling for sociopolitico-economic transformation in Nagaland.

FELICITATION Financial Literacy Camp conducted in Kiphire

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We the Officers and Staff of PWD (R&B), Phek Division would like to extend our heartiest congratulation to Er. ABIJA KHING, Executive Engineer PWD(R&B) Phek Division, on being honored with prestige’s Governor’s Gold Medal award on the occasion of 68th Independence Day Celebration,2014 held at Kohima.

Sir, we profoundly acknowledge and salute you for your sincere, hard work, selfless commitment and dedication and for bringing laurels to PWD(R&B), Phek division in particular and PWD(R&B) Department, Nagaland as a whole.

We pray to Almighty God to grant you wisdom and good health and wish you success in future endeavors.

Officers and Staff of PWD (R&B), Phek Division.

KiphirE, august 17 (mExN): SBI Kiphire in collaboration with NSRLM Kiphire organised Financial Literacy Camp at Kisetong and Old Risethsi, Kiphire on August 13.

Nozonu Savi, District Program Coordinator (FI), NSRLM, Kiphire, chaired the programme. Satyajeet Mazumdar from SBI and an official from NStCB were the resource persons with Risipe, Area co-ordinator, NSRLM as interpreter.

The DPC (FI) shared the importance of FLC for all the participants in general and SHGs in particular. The resource persons shared the importance and benefits of opening saving bank account, different types of deposits, types of loan, advantages and disadvantages of availing loan. Besides, the bankers also stressed on

the head GB said such initiative of the MLA would not only benefit the rural and hilly people of Phuye Old, but also set an example for the other elected representatives of the State to carry out necessary welfare works for the people of their respective constituencies. Further, terming Yeptho as visionary, he lauded him for his welfare activities for the public.

He has also requested the elected representatives

of the State to carry out developmental activities in their respective areas to make Nagaland a developed State. He also added that the State government must ensure development of roads, setting up of industries, skill development of youth, provide subsidized loans for local entrepreneurs, and formulate ways to develop village economy to prevent migration of villagers to other towns of the state, for livelihood.

MEx File

CM greets on Janmashtami

Kohima, august 17 (mExN): Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang has extended greetings and best wishes on Janmashtami. In a release issued by Media Cell, Chief Minister’s Office, the Chief Minister expressed hope that, the festival will spread the message of love, faith and goodwill not only among the people of the State, but throughout humanity.

Education dept’s interactive session with Yitachu

teracted with the faculty and students.

The visit was an initiative of the Society of Education, Empowerment & Development (SEED) to

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Head GB of Phuye Old Village, Tokiho Awomi (left) along with village elder inspects the village road that connects to nearest town of Suruhoto.

Youngs’ Club invites Sastra University dean meets Governor, Chief Minister school/college dropouts Kohima, august 17 (mExN): A delegation led

by Dr. Vaidhya Subramanian, Dean, Sastra University met Nagaland Governor PB Acharya and Chief Minister TR Zeliang on August 16.

Dr. Vaidhya, a Ph.D in Management from Harvard offered his services to the State in higher education sector, a press release informed. He also expressed his desire to assist and collaborate with the State in initiatives, which would lead to employment generation and self-reliance of the people.

The Dean also visited National Institute of Technology Dimapur and SETAM, Nagaland University campuses and in-

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Kohima, august 17 (mExN): The Directorate of School Education has informed all the field officers, DEOs/ DDEOs/ SDEOs/ JEOs that the department of school education is organizing a one-day interaction with parliamentary secretary for school education Yitachu on August 20 at Zonal Council Hall, Kohima. In this connection, Kesonyu Yhome, principal director, school education has directed all the field officers to attend the said interactive session positively with valuable suggestions to improve the systems of inspection and supervision and administration of schools.

Meeting on August 19 for Teachers’ Day prog

Kohima, august 17 (mExN): Principal Director for School Education, Kesonyu Yhome has requested the officers and head of institutions concerned to attend a meeting on August 19, 11:00 am at his office to chalk out the Teachers’ Day programme. He informed this in pursuance of the State Level Selection Committee meeting held on August 13 at the office of the Commissioner & Secretary for School Education for the state level Teachers’ Day celebration in Kohima on September 5. The following officers/ representatives have been requested to attend the said meeting: Kohima deputy commissioner or representative, Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) chief executive officer or representative, SCERT director or representative, NBSE director of representative, DEO Kohima, SDEO Kohima, all principals/headmasters of both government and private schools in Kohima town, ANSTA president, ANPSA president, KCCI president or representative, all assistant directors and above in the directorate of school education, Kohima, and chief commissioner Bharat Scouts & Guides or representative.

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SBAK mourns missionary’s death

Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): The Sumi Baptist Akukuhou Kuqhakulu (SBAK) has deeply mourned the demise of Rev. Joy Akhevi of Homeland village, Dimapur on August 13. A condolence message issued

by Media & Communication, Literature in-charge of SBAK informed that the deceased was born on October 25, 1946 at Asukhomi village. The late reverend was a SBAK missionary to Burma since 2012 till date. He did his diploma at Bible Training School Aizuto from 1976 to 1978, and bachelor degree at BBBC & Seminary Bangalore from 1979 to 1982. After graduation, he took training in Children Ministry from Pune and started Independent Children Ministry (Child Evangelist) in Dimapur (till 2009). He married Kughali of Homeland village in 1994. He leaves behind wife, two sons and two daughters, the note said. Further, acknowledging that the death of “selfless and dedicated servant of God” was not only loss to his family, but to the Association/ Sumi in particular and believers in general, SBAK conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

Sumi Bible Editorial Board members informed

Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): All members of Sumi Bible Editorial Board have been informed that a meeting has been scheduled from September 9 to 11 at Sumi Baptist Church, Purana Bazar. Rev. Khehovi Shohe, convener of the Board has informed all concerned to reach the venue on September 9 at 4:00 pm.

INTACH informs Participants with the resource persons during the Financial Literacy Camp held on August 13.

improvement and healthy practice of repayment on time as defined in 5 principles for SHGs by NSRLM with constant supervision by the staffs.

The camp concluded with positive response from the village stakeholders and SHGs from both

the villages. The councils of both the villages expressed gratitude and thanked the organizing team for putting a tireless effort to make the community understand and aware of the bank benefits.

Meanwhile, DPC (FI) in a press release acknowl-

edged the villages and the bankers for the success of the FLC and appealed to both the parties to extend such co-operation in future to strengthen and improve ties between institutions and build better relation to carry out the mission in joint venture.

Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): The proposed ‘INTACH Heritage Quiz Competition’ organized by the Nagaland State Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage, will be conducted on August 18, at 9:30 am with Maple Tree School, Kashiram, Dimapur as the venue. A press release from INTACH has asked that all participating teams be accompanied by a school teacher of respective schools and reminded them to reach the venue on time. The winners in the state round will participate at the Zonal Round in Guwahati and if selected, will pass through to the National Round in New Delhi, the release informed.

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REgional

The Morung Express

NPF debunks Manipur Deputy CM’s ‘hollow claims’ Newmai News Network Imphal, August 17 The Naga Peoples' Front (NPF), Nungba unit has dismissed the claims made by Manipur deputy chief minister Gaikhangam on the various developmental works implemented in Nungba assembly constituency of Tamenglong district.

The NPF Nungba said it would like to respond and put into public domain the claims made by the Manipur deputy chief minister during the inauguration of Bailey bridge over Leimatak river at Taosang Khunou on August 8 as “bogus” and “hollow”.

"He had stated that the Congress government had done several development programmes including mini secretariat, 50 bedded and 200 bedded hospitals etc. The tall claims of several development programmes of the deputy chief minister is a hollow claim," the NPF, Nungba unit said.

"Why those mini secre-

tariats inaugurated in 2001 has not been functioning till date at Tamenglong and elsewhere? Why the Old Cachar Road is not motorable? Why the BDO office Khoupum has been functioning at Babupara near his bungalow in Imphal for the last about ten years?

Why no PDS items are available for genuine BPL card holders in Nungba assembly constituency? Why public of Nungba assembly constituency is buying kerosene oil at exorbitant price at Rs 80 to Rs 100 per litre?

Where have all those BPL/ APL/AAY rice quotas disappeared? Where are those sugar meant for Nungba assembly constituency has gone? Why the farmers of Khoupum valley suffer due to failure of the supply of water to their wet cultivation? Forget about the hill districts the deputy chief minister has utterly failed to meet the development needs of the people and all benefits have been denied to the poor people of Nung-

ba. There is no adequate doctors, nurses, medical equipments for treating patients at all Community Health Centres (CHC); PHSC including Khoupum Nungba, Longmai etc. and health facilities are very poor in Nungba assembly constituency.

Why you have been failing to function the Khangsinlung Higher Secondary School at your native village Gaidimjang?" the NPF, Nungba unit posed series of questions to the deputy chief minister.

It further alleged that even though the Food Security Act was passed by the government, noncongress workers were denied benefits and only the Congress supporters were selected as beneficiaries in Nungba assembly constituency. It also said that there are reports of corruption being institutionalised through the office of the deputy chief minister.

"Why many youth from Nungba assembly constitu-

ency and elsewhere who had applied in different IRB and Manipur police have been mortgaging their homestead lands, landed property at Khoupum, Longmai etc. for payment through his coteries?," it asked.

"It is learnt from reliable sources that most of the lands and paddy fields in Khoupum valley have been owned by the deputy chief minister and his families through mortgaged for appointment in police, IRB and teacher posts in ADC Tamenglong. It is also learnt that he has been collecting lakhs and crores of rupees in transfer and postings in the department of home for which he had been sending out his coteries for negotiation. Many poor candidates who applied for a post in police and IRB have been facing a huge financial hardship since their landed property have been mortgaged and exorbitant rate of interest over the capital they have borrowed from

money lenders," the NPF, Nungba unit alleged.

The NPF, Nungba unit then likened the claims of the deputy chief minister to a proverb where a hen after laying an egg, cackles as if she has laid an asteroid.

"Where is a good health institute of the standard of RIMS and JNIMS in the hill districts? How many university and colleges are there in the hill districts? How many stadium of Khuman Lampak standard are being built in any of the hill districts for promoting games and sports?," the NPF, Nungba unit further questioned.

"Therefore, NPF Nungba unit would like to apprise the deputy chief minister to clear his house before he goes of those tall and hollow claims. Further, this party urges the Government of India to constitute an independent agency to investigate into those scam to save the poor people from further victimization in the near future," the NPF, Nungba unit stated.

Monday

18 August 2014

Dimapur

3

ACCC PUGHOBOTO MASS RESIGNATION The 13th ACCC Pughoboto held general meeting on 13/8/2014 at R.D Hall Pughoboto consist of ACCC office bearers and executive members, all frontal Chiefs, booth level Party chairmen, secretary well wishers BG’s and VCC. After deliberation and discussion the house resolve following resolution that – we the undersigned Congress Party Workers led by Shri. Kuputo Shohe, General Secretary PCC Nagaland and Shri. Vixepu Swu, President 13 ACCC Pughoboto to resign from the INC active membership and the party post with immediate effect and has joined BJP under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister, Shri. Narender Modi and State BJP President Dr. M.Chuba Ao and Zunheboto District President Shri. K.L Khuvishe Zhimomi in order to strengthen the hand of the BJP party in the State and to bring more development and also to uplift the down trodden people in our constituency.

Northeast Briefs UN to assist Mizoram's New Land Use Policy Death Anniversary of Chunthuigai Kamei observed IMPHAL, August 17 (MExN): The second death anniversary Chunthuigai Kamei, a former state secretary of Zeliangrong Students’ Union Manipur (ZSUM) was observed today at the union’s office in Imphal. In a press note received here, the All Zeliangrong Student’s Union (ALSU), Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, stated that, the function started by observing a two minute silent prayer remembering his immense contributions to the Zeliangrong community as well as his ‘selfless work’ towards cause of the Naga issue as an active “students leader”. People from different walk of life including social workers and students leaders from the Zeliangrong community and others attended the memorial service and firmly resolved to carry forward his selfless legacy, the release added.

Brahmaputra floods Kaziranga guWAHAtI, August 17 (IANs): Flood waters from the Brahmaputra have entered Assam's Kaziranga national park, inundating almost 80 percent of its 858 sq km area. "As of now, almost all the low-lying areas of the park are under water," said park director M.K. Yadav. "The water levels are stable as of now and it is expected to recede after three to four days," he said. The park authorities have strengthened security as poachers take advantage of the flood to kill animals, particularly one-horned rhinos. "During the floods, the animals, particularly one-horned rhinos, stray outside the park. The rhinos and other animals normally go towards the Karbi Anglong Hills looking for higher grounds. "It is very difficult to track these animals and it becomes easy for the poachers to kill the rhinos," said another official. "We have intensified patrolling and put everyone on high alert. Deployment of forest guards have also increased inside the park," he said. The authorities had earlier repaired the natural highlands and created artificial highlands in the park for the animals to take shelter during floods. Restrictions have also been put on the speed of vehicles plying on National Highway 37 that bifurcates the park. This is more important at at night when the animals in distress which try to cross the highway are hit by speeding vehicles. "Those violating the speed limit are fined," the official said.

AIZAWL, August 17 (NNN): The United Nations (UN) is extending financial assistance to New Land Use Policy (NLUP), said NLUP Implementing Board (NIB) Chairman JH Rothuama during an interaction with leaders of Mizoram Journalists Association (MJA).

He stated that NLUP project has been implemented successfully in two districts of Mizoram – Kolasib and Mamit.

NIB Vice Chairman PL Thanga also told media that, the present central government instead of disrupting project has found it feasible and good and thus, the state government has encountered no problem in getting money from the Central government.

Incessant rains effects normal life in AP ItANAgAR, August 17 (PtI): Incessant rains in the past couple of days have triggered floods and landslides in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh, disrupting road communication and throwing normal life out of gear.

PWD (Highway) chief engineer Hage Appa on Sunday said, landslides triggered by heavy rains had disrupted surface communication between Itanagar and Naharlagun and washed away road and culverts at sinking zone near Karsingsa.

Landslides occurred in several places of the capital, and two children of a family were killed and another injured when a re-

tention wall fell over their however, re-opened yesdwelling on August 15. terday for small and light Supply of drinking water vehicles. in Itanagar and Naharlagun, including Nirjuli has been disrupted because of damage to water supply I, MBANGHIENG HIEKHA pipelines, Appa said. am applying for duplicate In the worst affected copy of Registration Card of Lohit district, an official HSSLC Class – 12, as I have lost it. report said that, the water Name : MBANGHIENG level of Lohit and Digaru HIEKHA rivers was above the danFather’s Name : HAUNEU ger mark. The Tezu-ParaHIEKHA Mother’s Name : ATALE suramkund road blocked Roll No: 1417916 for past few days due Registration No: 1117032 to landslips and floods, Date of Birth: 16/01/1995

BSF aims to plant 180,000 saplings along India's frontiers AgARtALA, August 17 (IANs): The paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) aims to enter the "Limca Book of Records" by planting 180,000 trees along India's frontiers, an official said.

"Over 10,500 BSF troopers would plant 180,000 trees in 30 minutes (10 a.m. to 10.30 am) August 19 all along India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh," BSF deputy inspector general Bhaskar Rawat told IANS. "By concluding this gigantic task in record time, we are trying to enter the Limca Book of Records," he added.

India has 15,106 km of land border, including that with China.

He said that considering the environmental affect due to climate change and other ecological degradation, this mission was undertaken at the instance of BSF chief Devendra Kumar Pathak, an IPS officer of the 1979 batch of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

"Instead of sweets, Indian and Bangladeshi border guards would also exchange saplings to green the areas that they guard, and mark India's Independence Day celebrations,"

Rawat said. Usually, BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) exchange sweets on the national days of the two countries.

"BSF and BGB aim to make troopers and people on both sides aware of climate change and global warming," Rawat added.

Concerned with global warming and climate change, the BSF had launched a "My Earth, My Duty" plantation programme Aug 15, 2011. "More than 10 million plantations have been planted along India's border with Bangladesh. But this time it would be done along the border with both Bangladesh and Pakistan," the officer said.

Saplings of various trees would be exchanged between the border guards of Bangladesh and Pakistan. "The plantation programme would also bring together the border guards and people of different religions and customs from both sides of the border and is expected to further improve relations between them," Rawat said.

A BGB official told IANS at the India-Bangladesh check post at Akhaurah, near Agartala: "Such a joint

He added that, the UN team which visited Mizoram recently had earmarked Rs 25 crore for NLUP fund as a result of which new steps will be taken this year in respect of NLUP. Talking about the NLUP project, he said any beneficiary whose performance is below expectation of the government will be disqualified after from receiving their due share.

The government of Mizoram on June 19, 2009 had submitted an estimate of over Rs. 2,526.98 crore for NLUP project to the Planning Commission. Subsequently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in August, 2010 had approved Rs.2, 873.13 crore for 5 years.

Lost Notice

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initiative would bring the border guards of the two neighbours closer and would help in improving working relations between them." The BSF official said that after creating the record on August 19, the green mission would continue till August 21 to cross 200,000."

Consultative meeting on

Clean Electoral Roll for Clean Election & SVEEP Organized by Election Department, Nagaland

Time : 11:00 Hours Date : 19th August, 2014 Place : Hotel Japfu, Kohima.

1. Chairman 2.

3.

4.

5.

Programme

Shri. Sentiyanger Imchen, IAS Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland.

Speech Shri. Vikheho Swu Hon'ble Parliamentary Secretary, Election, Irrigation & Flood Control.

Brief introduction of the issues/subjects followed by discussion.

Adoption of resolution, if any.

Vote of thanks Shri. N. Moa Aier, Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland.

Participating Agencies:I. Political Parties:(a) BJP (b) INC (c) JD(U) (d) NCP (e) NPF

II. NG0s:(i) Naga Hoho (iv) NPMHR (vii) NCRC (x) ENSF (xii) The Naga Blog.

(ii) NMA (iii) NSF (v) NBCC (vi) CAN (viii) ENPO (ix) ENWO (xi) Youth Net Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, Kohima

(Vixepu Swu) President 13 ACCC Pughoboto

(Kuhovi) General Secretary 13 ACCC pughoboto.

4

Dimapur

public discoursE

Monday 18 August 2014

M

iss Watinaro A. Imsong ranked at 62nd position in All India PreMedical Test, a mandatory selection test for all technical studies, as published in local papers. She might have indicated her preference for Horticulture studies in her application thereby she got the seat of B.Sc. Horticulture at Dr. YS Parmar(DYSP) University in Himachal Pradesh(HP). In Nagaland, the kind of treatment meted out to poor girl Watinaro should not surprise anybody.

Most probably she hails from common man’s background without strong political or vibrant bureaucratic back up.

Being a Chakhesang I could only presume her to have such gullible background as per her treatment.

The single seat of B.Sc. (Horti) at DYSP University, HP is the quota allotted to Nagaland State. Whereas, Miss. Watinaro is the legitimate candidate for the said seat by merit.

Her right to get the seat is legitimate and strong by Govt. rules,

A strongly weak case by practice and by precedence.

Nevertheless, by today’s Nagaland style of governance, Watinaro’s technical seat was seized as per paper reports by the Director of Horticulture Department through coercion.

The stealing of the seat of a very innocent and ignorant girl by damaging the lock of existing rules and practices by the Director has crossed the limit of corruption. This aristocratic action has not only hurt the sentiment of the helpless girl but it is hurtful to all right thinking Naga citizens. It has now placed the Department of Horticulture as a whole to be a platform of guillotine of career. I hope this Deptt. will be rebuilt after the retirement of the present Director.

Secondly, the issue was brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary of Nagaland hoping that she would call a spade a spade. To her, whether Watinaro deserves or the candidate of Horti. Director deserves the seat in question? Had the norms not been changed by now, no Institute will entertain any State Govt’s

request for exigency requirement of additional seat beside what is allocated already for each State as per my personal experience. More so, it is harder to get such seat from prestigious Institutes. In the guise of helping Watinaro, the CS has reportedly written letter to NEC for additional seat in the same University. It implies that whether Horti Director’s candidate has legitimacy to claim that single seat or not, once taken is taken, and the CS is helpless except that she could write a letter to NEC for additional seat. The seat seizure might not have been done with the knowledge or tacit approval of the CS, but such act of brazen nepotism being condoned by the neutrality of the chief bureaucrat has thrown the laid down rules to dogs.

Thirdly, the same questions I am posing to NSF. Whether Watinaro deserves or the other candidate who has already availed the seat is legal? Definitely both the contending parties are not equally right or wrong. One is right and

the other is wrong. NSF has to give its opinion if it still claims to be the apex body of students.

As per NSF’s statement dated 15.8.14 in local papers, Watinaro was selected by Technical Education Deptt. to get that seat in question. As of now, she is not getting because the other candidate has already been admitted against it. What NSF is going to do now? If in the wisdom of NSF, Watinaro is the legal candidate, better fight it out for her. With the kind of posture you have maintained may force someone else to intervene. In the event of justice being restored to the girl by such intervention and not at NSF’s instance, NSF has to wear the prominent earrings of stigma for a longer time than thought.

The kind of pressure you are putting on the authority will not help Watinaro to get the seat back.

Fourthly, this issue should not be taken casually by the elected representatives. What about the Minister and Parliamentary Secretary in-charges of Technical Education and

Horticulture Departments?

Once the precedence of this nature is created, then the existing system of having Technical Education Deptt. as the nodal authority for selection of candidates will become obsolete. The pandora’s box is opened hence.

By merit Watinaro A. Imsong is entitled to get her desired seat in DYSP University, HP, but by brute power the other has stolen it. She is made further helpless since the concerned authorities including NSF find it very inconvenient to spell out who has committed the injustice. It appears forces are ganged up against her and she is now left in the lurch to face uncertainty. Supposing Watinaro gets additional seat as per the letter of the CS in DYSP University, well, we are all happy that her career is finally protected. But here at home, how the Govt will contain authoritarianism, bad precedence, nepotism, etc.

Z. Lohe Former President, NSF: 1980-82

Infamous decisions of the new state government 1. Oil exploration nspite of deep concerns and opposition from the public, especially the Lotha Community, the Government went ahead and awarded the Oil exploration to a very questionable company without any past Oil exploration, namely Metropolitan Oil and Gas Pvt. Ltd whose stakes are held by Companies with very dubious track record. Imposing 144 CRPC on the day of the launch is in itself an indication of the resentment of the people except a few individuals in cahoots with some politicians who I believe stand to make hugh monetary gain. After almost 20 years the present Government has cleverly managed to divide the Lotha tribe and with the support of a small section of the community the Government has tried to portray some semblance of legitimacy to its decision. This, I believe, will not be the end of this controversy, and it is left to be seen how the Government and Metropolitan Oil and Gas Pvt.Ltd will go about undertaking exploration when they have already alienated the very people whom they should have taken into confidence. This raises serious questions on why the Chief Minister is hell bend on awarding exploration to this company and forcefully launching it when serious allegations have been levelled against the company.

2. NSDZ With the adoption of the resolution of Nagaland Special Development Zone (NSDZ) on 24th March

I

2014 by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, A war of words erupted between the Government and Various individuals and Hohos. A number of Hohos have already expressed its outright opposition to this proposal.

The proposal threatens to dilute the special rights and privileges that the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland enjoy under article 371(A). It entails relaxation of inner line permit and the right for any outsider to purchase and own land for economic investment within this defined zones. This directly infringes on the rights guaranteed under Article 371(A). If Art.371 (A) is to be changed to accommodate this proposal, it sets a very dangerous precedence and there is every possibility that GOI will use this case in future to scrap the Article all together. The Chief Minister above anyone else in the state I am sure is aware of all this dangers. So the question is inspite of knowing all these, why is he still lobbying and literally forcing this proposal down peoples throat. The opinion of the people is clear and it is for the government to either incorporate these views and make changes or scrap the whole idea altogether.

3. Border disputes There have been a number of incidences along the borders with Assam resulting in loss of precious lives. Vast tracks of land have been lost to Assam due to the lackadalistic attitude of the government of Nagaland. What is even more astonishing is the inaction and

complete silence of the Government of Nagaland when it’s Assam counterpart blatantly encroached and even killed villagers inside Nagaland Government Villages The Government should answer and come out with a statement if it has de-recognised this villages. Ladigarh is another case in point where along the years, the Government has failed to insure it’s authority and legitimacy over what rightfully belongs to Nagaland. Various Hoho’s and Associations have given many practical suggestions, both long term and short term solutions which the Government need to seriously deliberate on.

4. ACAUT Action Committee Against Unauthorised Taxation (ACAUT) was formed by the Naga civil societies. It is a mass based movement, and as the name suggests, was formed as the people have had enough with endless taxations by NPGs, Unions, Associations etc. making the life of each and every citizen unbearable. Unfortunately it has faced steep opposition from various quarters culminating in the detention of it’s Secretary Solomon L Awomi . The Government again remained a mute spectator expecting the NGOs and Hohos to do it’s job of negotiating his release. Isn’t this a case of Law and Order?? Isn’t it the duty of the Government to protect it’s citizens?? Or are the police only for the protection of Politicians and the rich and powerful.

The Government should instead take

_

LEISURE

Simple Rules - There is just one simple rule: “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.”

SUDOKU Game Number # 2968

advantage of this people’s movement and rid the State of all illegal and unauthorised taxations once and for all.

All new policies and major decisions that the New Government under the leadership of Shri.T.R Zeliang has taken, seem to land in huge controversies and is further dividing the Nagas. This Government is clearly in a confused state, invoking article 371(A) to frame laws and award Oil and Natural Gas exploration to its handpicked companies and on the other hand proposing to pass NSDZ which totally dilutes and seeks to make changes to Article 371(A). These actions or inaction of the Government threatens the social, cultural, economic and political existence of the Nagas. When has the government decided that the economic agenda of the state takes precedence over all socio-cultural, political aspects of the people. And when has border disputes with neighbouring state become a local problem which the Government represented by the Home Minister saw fit not to intervene. It confounds any rational Naga with the ability to reason that such confused self-defeating policies of the Government will in future have serious consequences even leading to the total decimation of the indigenous inhabitants of the present state of Nagaland.

Lanu Jamir Chumukedima Dimapur

The Morung Express

NSDZ: Nagaland Special Development Zone

I

cannot do other things at night secretly? Nagas today must be very conscious of the Rights and question even supposedly suspicious heavenly proposals of the Government even.

It is true the Government does not intend to acquire the whole of the State and sell it to Ambanis or Mittals, but if there is a legislative loophole that enables Land to be acquired and allotted to people from outside the State under legal government Patta, then that is highly disturbing to many a conscientious Minds of this tiny State of Nagaland. Then, within a few generations the land may be alienated from the Nagas of Nagaland.

It is because of such dangers that NTC fights for the territorial Rights of its Member Tribes.

Rongmeis are Naga Brothers, they are Minorities in Nagaland, they and other Minorities in Nagaland should never be mistreated in the State and should be given due share given to others.

But one thing is very clear: RONGMEI IS NOT A TRIBE IN THE INDIAN STATE OF NAGALAND: it has never been a Tribe in Nagaland BEFORE. Every Tribe of Nagaland has a separate Territory of its own: Rongmei does not have.

NTC have nothing against any Rongmei becoming Citizen of Nagaland for normal due political Right, but Rongmei unfortunately, was not a TRIBE of Nagaland State in Article 371A. I do not like to be like a verbose litigant who wanting to appraise and impress the Judge presented the whole detail of his case but that only managed to confuse the Judge to the great disadvantage of the Litigant himself.

This is the reason why I tell the less educated and simple people of the State that it is better to continue to keep the land with the Land Owners themselves and not with Government as Patta Land. We would want our grand Children to be Landowners, not Landless people in their own State. Unlike in any other State in the vast Union of India, we have the singular privilege to keep our land to ourselves under Article 371A of the Constitution. Let us preserve it.

I have not an iota of doubt that the overwhelming conscientious majority of the educated in the State is decidedly against the Government NSDZ in its present form.

It is surprising; how the Government erred this time.

wanted to assess the percentage of Nagas who support the NSDZ program of the Government of Nagaland. I did not enquire from the top Government Officials because they are supposed to support the Government programs whether they like it or not: I enquired from the Uneducated Villagers less than from the educated population, because the NSDZ is a complicated Program supposedly for the prosperity of the State but the uneducated Villagers would not be able to clearly understand the attendant complicacies.

Nagas ritually desire for Development but when any human activity, even Prayer and Worship of the almighty God, becomes a Ritual, automation takes over and the core Issue is devalued.

The language of the Concept Paper of Government NSDZ program, on closely scrutiny appears loose, hurried, impatient, often ‘beating about the bush’, than precise, meticulous, clear or solidly thrusting. On a quick reading of the paper, one gets the impression that it lacks Accuracy, Brevity and Clarity; it lacks overall carefulness in such a very important program.

The NSDZ is supposed to be a prosperity program for the State, but some of the Clauses are highly unsettling. One Clause says that the land will be acquired for allotment to people from outside the State. This is not permissible in the Land Regulation of the State where Land can not be sold to any outside the State.

After the surrender of the Revolution Government, high dignitaries in the State Power colluded with the high Powered in the Government of India and settled their Naga friends in the foothills of Nagaland; today quite a few Nagas fear high Officials of some Naga Armed Group may collude with Government of India for similar Land Settlement under the pretext of NSDZ. If it were to be true, it would be highly devious and serious betrayal of public Trust on the Freedom Fighters. It would then become very difficult for the simple, common Naga to trust the Sovereignty fighters.

The other day, we read in the Papers how a highly unethical Director of a Department in the Government of Nagaland flouted the established Norm of the Government and stole the Seat of a meritorious Student shamelessly for his/her own Son. If a high Naga Officer can behave like this under the open Sun, what can other Naga

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2975

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

Thepfulhouvi Solo

STD CODE: 03862

Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital: Shamrock Hospital Zion Hospital: Police Control Room Police Traffic Control East Police Station West Police Station CIHSR (Referral Hospital) Dimapur hospital Apollo Hospital Info Centre: Railway: Indian Airlines Chumukedima Fire Brigade Nikos Hospital and Research Centre Nagaland Multispecialty Health & Research Centre

Answer Number # 2967

KOHIMA

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

232224; Emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 228846 228254 231864, 224117, 227337 228400 232106 227607 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026

STD CODE: 0370

Northeast Shuttles

100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

RABBIT DOE BUCK KIT BURROW EARS HEAT LIFESPAN HERBIVORES CARROTS PETS BREED LEGS BACKBONE HIND ZIGZAG PREY CHEST NEST FUR WHISKERS EYEBROWS TEETH RECEPTORS GNAW

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V R G R Z O V K L H B B J N L

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A

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D O A E C E I D E E R B U P A

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P S T O R R A C S H R V U W S

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Y V U H R E F P B U C K Y F A

D N I H O F C N B A T U D N J

ACROSS 1. Rates 6. Beige 10. Risqué 14. Eskimo 15. Fastens 16. Fit 17. Expression of sympathy 19. Historical periods 20. Bother 21. A late time of life 22. Anagram of “Note” 23. Swelling under the skin 25. Chimes 26. Website addresses 30. Emperor 32. Cassock 35. Nickname 39. Ancient ascetic 40. Choose 41. Withdraw 43. Demesnes 44. Enlist 46. Gave temporarily 47. Monastery head 50. Bundles 53. Violent disturbance 54. Buff 55. Breakdown 60. Optimistic

61. Irregular 63. At the peak of 64. Chilled 65. Moves briskly 66. Identical 67. Plenty 68. Feel

DOWN 1. Wealthy 2. Dwarf buffalo 3. Religious sisters 4. Children 5. Filched 6. French for “Summer” 7. Movie house 8. Repossess 9. Utilized 10. Bombastic 11. Moses’ brother 12. A loud resonant noise 13. Affirmatives 18. Directed 24.

Barely manage 25. Agile Old World viverrine 26. End ___ 27. Thorny flower 28. Craving 29. Mental representation 31. Mats of grass

33. Concerning (archaic) 34. Close 36. Go fly a ____!

37. Biblical garden 38. A musical pause 42. Found in cigarettes 43. L 45. A surgical knife 47. Tapestry 48. Flora and fauna 49. Breast 51. Dawn goddess 52. Jackets and trousers 54. Hard work 56. Ripped 57. Nameless 58. Handguns 59. If not 62. Commercials Ans to CrossWord 2974

CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862 282777/101 (O) 9856158740 (OC) WOKHA: 03860 242215/101 (O) 9862039399 (OC) MOKOKCHUNG: 0369 2226225/101 (O) 9436012949 (OC) PHEK: 8414853765 (O) 9862130954(OC) ZUNHEBOTO: 03867 280304/101 (O) 9856156876 (OC)

KIPHIRE: 8414853767 (O) 8974304572 (OC)

Toll free No. 1098 childline

O

DIMAPUR: 03862 232201/101 (O) 9436017479 (OC)

MON: 03869 251222/101 (O) 9436208480 (OC)

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE

W

KOHIMA: 0370 2222952/101 (O) 9402003086 (OC)

TUENSANG: 8414853766 (O) 8414853519

08974997923

MOKOKCHUNG:

FIRE STATIONS

STD CODE: 0369

Police Station 1: Police Station 2 :

2226241 2226214

Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home: Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):

2226216 2226263 2226373/2229343

TAHAMzAM (formerly Senapati) STD CODE: 03871 Police Station: Fire Brigade

222246 222491

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61.55 103.7 7.95 57.39 49.35 56.25 60.25

81.34

82.24

LOCAL

The Morung Express

Monday 18 August 2014

CYF decries ‘heinous’ assault

Kohima, august 17 (mExN): Chakhesang Youth Front has decried the ‘heinous, despicable and atrocious’ violence perpetrated on Pelo Letro, son of Weprelhi Letro from Mesulumi village, and Neizeko Mekrisuh son of Kewezu Mekrisuh from Chizami village by Neingumelie Dzuvichu of L. Khel Kohima Village, Ruokuovituo Sote of P. Khel Kohima Village and Mhalelhoulie of L. Khel Kohima Village on August 14 at around 7:50 pm on the Kohima-Dimapur Highway below Paramedical Colony Kohima.

A press release from the CYF Organising Secretary Nezosa Tetseo and President Zhopayi Nakro informed that the victims were coming from Dimapur to Kohima in a Mahindra Bolero pickup with materials for a shop. “While reaching the highway below Paramedical area, a Mahindra Bolero with registration no NL01H0036 signalled to overtake the victim’s vehi-

SAYO condemns assault

Kohima, august 17 (mExN): The Southern Angami Youth Organisation has condemned the “dastardly act” of assault on two Chakhesang youths by four youths from Kohima Village on August 14 below Para Medical Colony (NH-29) without any rhyme or reason. A press statement from SAYO President Kekruhol Mekro and General Secretary Neiba Bio questioned the four youths on what ground they had used the name of Southern Angami community and to which Southern Angami NPG they belong to. SAYO further requested law enforcing agencies and the administration to award the culprits with the highest punishment as per the law. cle in a narrow path and on finding that there was no adequate space, he drove for a while and gave side to the Bolero to overtake in a bigger space. No sooner has the Bolero overtaken them, they halted their vehicle in the middle of the road and confiscated the vehicle key of the Mahindra pick up which Neizeko Mekrisuh was driving. Thereafter, Neizeko Mekrisuh was abused and punched,” CYF stated.

CYF informed that on

seeing the plight of Neizeko Mekrisuh, Pelo Letro intervened and asked them to stop the manhandling.

At this intervention, their identity was questioned to which Pelo Letro told them that they are Chakhesangs.

Upon hearing that they started attacking Pelo Letro and he was overpowered and dragged to their Bolero and after which his hands were tied and eyes blind folded, it informed. “They continued to attack helpless Pelo Letro in the moving vehicle

Legal awareness campaign at Kohima Science College

Kohima, august 17 (mExN): Continuing its legal awareness campaign in colleges , ACAUT visited Kohima Science College and has called for nepotism to be done away with, saying, there was no point conducting selection examinations if nepotism continues. A press release from Kezhokhoto Savi, Convener, ACAUT Nagaland (Legal Cell) informed that the legal awareness campaign was organized by Kohima Science College Teachers Association (KSCLTA) on August 16.

Savi, in his address, appealed to the students and teachers to support and join Watinaro A. Imsong in her crusade against corruption, particularly the practice of nepotism.

The release informed that Savi highlighted the importance of constituting ‘Lokayuktas’ in the state mainly to check the ministers and public servants/ bureaucrats/directors in the

practice and indulgence of corruption such as abusing or misusing their powers in executing public duty by way of practicing ‘nepotism’ which, it stated, “is very common in our society.”

Giving an example of nepotism, it cited the case of the Director of Horticulture (Govt. of Nagaland) who is alleged to have nominated her own son to the seat of B. Sc Horticulture in Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, “without going through any selection or examination.”

The release added that it has “totally deprived the meritorious candidate.” “This is a clear case of nepotism,” it stated, adding, “and nepotism is corruption.”

Further, saying the time has come for ACAUT Nagaland as people/students’ movement to go further and make sure that nepotism does not affect careers, it appealed to all college students to extend their full support and join Watinaro.

and reached below Nagaland Civil Secretariat Road via Meriama High Court link road. On reaching there they continued their assault and on the belief that Pelo Letro was dead, they left him.

“As providence would have it, Pelo Letro had a narrow escape of his life and was picked up by a Good Samaritan on the road and was driven to the Naga Hospital for which we are grateful,” the CYF expressing thanks stated. CYF also lauded the Kohima Police for taking swift action in nabbing the culprits.

Further stating that the assaulters of Pelo Letro admitted saying that they belonged to ‘Naga National group,’ the Chakhesang Youth Front asked the group or groups to own responsibility. CYF while urging all right thinking citizens to condemn such abominable and abhorrent act perpetrated to innocent citizens also requested law enforcement agencies to award befitting punishment to the culprits.

DGU appeals to AAGSU on indefinite blockade Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): The Dimapur Gorkha Union (DGU) has drawn the attention of All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) with regard to the 3 day ultimatum where AAGSU has demanded the culprits responsible for the indiscriminate firing from across the border be arrested or it would, along with other communities, impose indefinite

ment of Social Welfare, Nagaland, stated that Kamei was selected on a falsely claimed Zeliang identity. but ultimately made to bite the dust when his result was nullified and all his false documents were deemed cancelled for the foul played on the intervention of the Zeliang Students’ Union, Kohima and the indigenous Zeliang people of Nagaland.

The ZSUK also identified another as Pausuipeule Gangmei bearing Roll No. 3314 who had been declared selected for the post of Junior Engineer (Civil) (Cl-II Gazetted) under PHED through Zeliang Backward Tribe Quota in the recent CTE-2013 result declared by NPSC, even though the candidate was not from the Zeliang Tribe. “Gangmei is a surname of only a Rongmei tribe,” the ZSUK clairified.

Besides these, there are a couple more cases contained in

Nagaland BJP expands party

Empowering SHGs in Wokha income, improve nutritional content and save labour all of which are of special concern to women of the district.

Need based trainings cum demonstration were provided to rural women groups which offered self employment opportunities for improving their standard of living. Enterprises which are commercially and ecologically viable, sustainable and profitable were chosen and implemented, it stated.

The release recognized the Khonzan Women Self Help Group of Longsa village, Wokha as one of the successful Self Help Groups, which started in 2007 with the activities taken up by KVK, Wokha of that time.

The group registered as a SHG bearing the name Khonzan Women SHG in 2008 with support and assistance of KVK, Wokha, ICAR, Nagaland Centre.

The group involves in gardening and sell the sur-

economic blockade against Nagaland. While stating that it appreciates the appeal made by AAGSU to the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju to visit the Assam-Nagaland border areas and resolve all outstanding disputes under his ministry’s guidelines once and for all and also for having the concern regarding the border disputes between Assam and Naga-

the same notification doubtful to be Non-indigenous Zeliang candidates being recommended under the Zeliang Backward Tribe Quota reservation’s provision, the ZSUK stated and added that a preliminary complaint has already been registered in the avenue concerned.

The ZSUK has also thanked the NPSC for the ever ready and accommodative outlook in allowing space and time to the indigenous Zeliang People’s Organisation for an intensive investigation on the individual cases through independent scrutiny of personal documents to substantiate grounds of establishing the authenticity of indigenous Zeliang identity of the candidates and has further asked that the recommendations under scan be held up until such time admissible conclusions are arrived.

land, DGU stated, “The fact of the matter is any kind of bandhs/economic blockade will not solve the decades old border disputes but, the innocent public will suffer the most.”

A statement from the union chairman Kumar Subba stating that the DGU is a social organization for Gorkhas in Nagaland like the AAGSU in the state of Assam, it stated

that Gorkhas are peace loving people and must try to build a bridge between any conflicting Tribes or communities.

“In the interest of the people living in Assam and Nagaland, the DGU appeals to the AAGSU to take other means of democratic protest rather than the indefinite economic blockade given to Nagaland,” the DGU appealed.

Aggrieved student deprived of her constitutional rights: YSU

Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): The Yaongyimsen Student Union (YSU), while standing by aggrieved student Watinaro A. Imsong, has reiterated that she should be admitted to the seat being recommended by Directorate of Technical Education through seat allotment letter (No.UHF/ Regr.(Acad)4-29/2014/1389) dated July 8, 2014, and “not as the recommended proxy seat, as she is not a candidate under waiting list but rather a merit list through open competition conducted by a nodal department.

The present situation to the issue is that Ms. Watinaro A Imsong is deprived from her constitutional rights of India.”

In that, the YSU has requested people to support the sit-in protest at Secretariat Junction, Kohima, on August 19, from 9:30am.

The YSU has also stressed again that since January 20, 2011, the Government of Naga-

land “has made the Directorate of Technical Education as nodal department for initiating as Common Selection Board of various course for Nagaland.

The meeting minutes of Technical Education to be the nodal department was issued to all the governmental authorities, HODs of Government of Nagaland and also to the press. Since then, Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Nagaland, had been sending candidates under state NEC quota.”

Meanwhile, the Yaongyimsentsür Telongjem Dimapur (YTD), after reviewing all the documents, has come out in support of Watinaro’s “right to the admission in BSc Horticulture under Dr. YSP University.” It has stated that it will “stand firm on her support and will be with her till she attains justice.” The YTD has urged all right thinking leaders and citizens to support the sit-in protest.

Public Forum Shamator seeks justice in Tsundang (Chendang) Saddle issue

Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): The State BJP President Dr. M. Chuba Ao, in compliance with the party constitution Article XVII, has expanded the party further and nominated the following as State Executive Members with immediate effect: Wobansao Tungoe, J. M. Makhi, Hotongse Sangtam, C.Kikon, IPS (Retd.), Kuputo Shohe, Former President NPYC and GS NPCC. Also, the State BJP President has appointed Sebastian Ezung as a member of the BJP Media Cell with immediate effect. A release from the party General Secretary and Spokesman, K. James Vizo, informed.

Meanwhile, expressing serious concern on the border issue between Assam and Nagaland expressed dismay over the detaining of a convoy belonging to parliamentary secretary for Transport P. Paiwang Konyak, BJP MLA from 41 Tizit, by a mob near Golaghat. It appealed to the Assam Government to make timely intervention in normalizing the situation as further delay may compli- Praise and worship in progress during the NBCC 'Catch them young crusade' held at Thilixu Baptist Church on Sunday evening. (Morung photo) cate situation.

WoKha, august 17 (mExN): To empower women in agriculture, Krishi vigyan Kendra Wokha had started imparting training cum demonstration on post harvest technologies, home scale processing, food preservation, and other income generation activities.

A release from Jessica Dohtdong, Prog Asstt., Home Science, KVK, Wokha informed that studies of the status of rural women in Wokha district found that women are mostly involved in agricultural work and food processing using indigenous technologies/ knowledge for income generation.

They spend higher percentage of their income on feeding and educating their children and aim at the well being of their families.

Thus, she said, improvement in technologies of post harvest, processing and preservation can reduce food losses, increase

5

A woman stands outside a shop located along the deplorable road at Anangba between Mokokchung and Tuensang recently. (Morung Photo/Chizokho Vero)

ZSUK alleges ‘identity fraud’ in Government job applicants

Kohima, august 17 (mExN): The Zeliang Students’ Union, Kohima, has alleged recurrence of ‘identity fraud’ being blatantly practiced, “particularly by the Rongmei and the Non-indigenous Zeliang candidates” in trying to secure jobs under the Government of Nagaland. It has also alleged the ‘unscrupulous folks’ of availing the Backward Tribe Quota reservation provision entitled only for indigenous Zeliang tribe of Nagaland by “deliberately furnishing documents deceitfully obtained.” A press release from the union President Suirang Iralu and General Secretary Heidieding stated.

The ZSUK identifying one of the ‘unscrupulous folks’ as Sachui Kamei, a Rongmei candidate bearing Roll No. 1831 in the recruitment of LDACum-Computer Assistant (District) under the depart-

Dimapur

plus vegetables like leafy vegetables, chow chow, calocasia, ginger, etc. in Wokha town, Kohima, and Dimapur markets. The group had acquired trainings in home scale food preservation from KVK Wokha and started a small enterprise in 2009 by making and selling homemade pine apple and pomelo squashes and pineapple jams. In 2010, it started selling homemade pickle, particularly chillies, dried fish, prawn and mixed gooseberry pickles, etc.

In 2011, the groups requested for trainings in other income generations like flower making, drafting and stitching of aprons, pot holder rags, and embroidery, etc. The group takes up such income generation activities during less work load, the release added. Further, the release informed that in 2012, the group was part of trials like OFT’s programmes of KVK, Wokha under Home Sci-

ence particularly on green ginger preservation and low cost packaging materials for pickles. In 2013, the SHG was also part of the OFT’s on ginger candy making and Chow Chow tutti fruity making and FLD’s on green ginger preservation and low cost packaging materials for pickles.

According to the release, when ask about the economic benefits of the different activities, the group revealed it’s a wonderful experience to indulge themselves in such income generation activities. The activities are quite profitable, it added.

The release further stated that they earn a considerable amount by indulging in activities like wholesale of vegetables, home scale processing/ preservation, rural crafts like floral brooch, flower making and soft toys making. Their products are sold in local market as well as in exhibition and sale programmes.

Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): The Public Forum Shamator has condemned the “savage act meted out by Tsundang (Chendang) villagers in destroying the standing crops of Tsundang Saddle villagers on the night of August 7.” A condemnation note from the forum Press and Information Secretary Juno Chuba stated, “During the destruction at late night the mob caught Thsanshimong and Yungphu (who were sleeping in the field guarding mithuns), and charged them to be undergrounds.”

Stating that Thsanshimong had a miraculous escape, the note stated, “Yungphu was severely beaten till

the reaching of Chendang village and tortured inhumanly.” Thsanshimong, after escaping from the mob, informed village elders about the incident through phone, which was then reported immediately to the IRB 2nd i/c at 1:30 am of August 8. Alleging lackadaisical attitude, it claimed that the ‘security commander’ irresponsibly ignored the issue. “The 2nd i/c didn’t even wakeup but slept boastfully. The village elders pleaded the 2nd i/c to intervene and rescue the abducted persons or else public would go ahead. To the surprise of the village elders, the 2nd i/c told them to go ahead with the public and

rescue themselves,” the forum claimed.

Given the above episode, the Public Forum Shamator has sought immediate action against the ‘irresponsible’ police officers and personnel posted at Saddle. The forum also demands the immediate arrest of the gang led by Lachumong and Yanchu of Chendang village.

Expressing confidence on the administration, the forum stated that it waits patiently for justice. “But if our patience is misconstrued as weakness, then the public would be compelled to respond befittingly, for which the administration would be solely held responsible,” the forum warned.

St. Joseph’s College students meet Kipili Sangtam

Kohima, august 17 (mExN): Department of Political Science students of St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama met State Power Minister, C Kipili Sangtam on August 11 at his residence. The five students led by General Secretary K Chumseli Anar interacted with the minister on eradication of poverty, women empowerment, and vision for the future of Naga generation.

A press release informed that the minister underlined there was 'yawning gap' between the rich and the poor in the Naga society. Stating that no citizen of the State is denied basic

economic condition of life with the resources within it, he asserted that hard work and dignity of labour have not been properly indoctrinated in “our” society, the release added.

To brighten future of the Nagas, he stressed on the importance of “simple living and high thinking.”

The minister, according to the release, said parents have great role in forming children’s vision. He also stated students’ contributions to development, transforming “our” society to higher grounds are of immense value and help.

The most important consider-

ation that calls the attention of every Naga is the absence of Nationhood, the sense of Fraternity,” the release mentioned Kipili as saying.

“The harsh reality of our society is that of selfishness, greed, enmity, and suspicion among ourselves the evil has to be erased to replace with value based mutual understanding, adjustment, accommodating differences enabling greater, better future Naga generation.” He further asserted that the present trend of Naga society amidst economic and vision clash demands self-reconciliation, which is nothing, but a healing potion.

HIV/AIDS sensitization prog at Wokha sub-jail conducted

WoKha, august 17 (mExN): District AIDS Prevention & Control Unit (DAPCU) Wokha organized HIV/AIDS sensitization programme for jail administration and inmates at sub-jail Wokha on August 12, sponsored by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS).

A press release informed that Jailor Thungdemo Kikon stated it was first of

a kind to have sensitization programme inside the jail premises. He informed that the inmates share non-sterile needles while making tattoos and “contaminated blades” while shaving their head. He also requested DAPCU to revisit and organize such program in near future, the release said.

Lichumo Odyuo, District Program Officer, DAPCU Wokha spoke on

HIV/AIDS, mode of transmission, prevention, ART and HIV/AIDS scenario of Wokha district. Apeni Lotha of Wokha Network of Positive People (WNP+) said that people living with HIV/AIDS should be taken good care, rather than facing discrimination.

The release further informed that Elhibamo Patton from Nagaland Users Network (NUN) Wokha

spoke on Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), services available and condom use.

Robin Ezung, counselor of MICTC spoke on impact of stigma and discrimination. He spoke against discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS. He encouraged the participants to let the PLHIV live freely and treat them equally as general people rather than discriminating them.

6

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express MonDAy 18 AuGusT 2014 voluME IX IssuE 226

Along Longkumer Consulting Editor

Naga Collective Leadership?

W

hat does Naga Independence Day (August 14) mean to the people? Every August 14 is a time of both sadness and hope. Sad because we are unable to tear down the walls of separation that divide the Nagas both politically and collectively as a people. Yet every August 14 is also a reminder of the hope and prospect for a better future if Nagas can unite and speak in one voice. Nagas talk about our rights and unique history yet with all the infighting and divisions taking place we are only embarrassing ourselves and our cause before India, our friends and the global community. It is disheartening to witness the growing factionalism from within. Add to the three NSCN groups are the five NNC groups totaling eight in all. Each group uses the opportunity to affirm public support. But then, what does it mean to the Naga people? Are they free? Happy? Hopeful? Rather a sense of apathy, despair and discontentment is perceptible. Perhaps nowhere in the present world or human history there was so much disunity for a single cause. How long will we continue to defeat ourselves? Where are we heading?

Over the decades, every Naga Independence Day has become a mere ritual to advertise our factional politics. Is there any real basis for the existence of eight different groups? What is fueling factionalism? Is it to compete for resources, leadership? Whatever it is, the truth is that factionalism has brought discredit to the Naga movement and has had a detrimental effect. And rather than seeing progress in our political mission, Nagas are faced with a paralysis. Holding closed door meetings, having peace summits in foreign shores or issuing well draftedfeel good joint statements alone will not be enough. We need to start ‘walking the talk’. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) was supposed to be working on modalities for a Naga National Government but there is nothing to show for it. Why? Is it that our Naga Political Groups find it impossible to work on a common approach? If so, should the FNR continue to mediate when the conflicting groups are not willing to listen?

Speaking of national unity, Germany’s spectacular showing in the just concluded FIFA World Cup, is as much a sporting glory as it is a great success story about national unity.

While this was the fourth FIFA World Cup title for Germany, the 2014 title is the first for the reunified German team. If we can recall our history lessons, following the end of the Second World War in 1945, the German nation was divided into West and East Germany and the era of partition began as a result of cold war politics. More than forty years later, the symbol of division, the Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989 and thereby scripting an inspirational story—the triumph over division and oppression and the German people’s yearning to be united.Nagas must learn from other people’s history so that we can be careful not to repeat mistakes that are detrimental to national unity. Are we willing to be responsible and to respond to the opportunities that God has placed in front of us?

As mentioned numerous times in these columns, Nagas are faced with a range of challenges that needs collective wisdom and a unity of purpose. We need to identity what our national agenda ought to be and then evolve a broad based approach to come out with the best decisions that is in our common interest. The idea of having a Naga Collective Leadership summit involving all groups can be perhaps another way to help strengthen the present reconciliation process under the FNR and to make it inclusive. Possibilities must be explored in the search for peace and reconciliation.

(Feedback can be sent to consultingeditormex@gmail.com)

lEfT WING |

Rev Suohie Mhasi Kohima

The Voice Of Human Ethics Of Relationship

M

uch has been said about justice in the world. If the right thing is done, it is justice ; if the right thing is not done, it is injustice. So justice is needed in human societies and in all human affairs. But are human beings concerned about justice towards the Lord too ? How is justice neglected towards the Creator ? How can there be peace and order in the world without doing justice towards the Lord ?

The greatest human blunder is unknowing who the Creator is. It can be compared to as if the children do not know the father. The foolishness of the people is that they do not know that the heavens and the earth are existing by the life, wisdom and power of God and human beings are living, breathing and moving by His life, wisdom and power alone. We breathe in the air but grumble against strong wind ; we enjoy the sun shine and warmth and murmur against the scorching heat ; we enjoy the shower of rain but grumble against flood. He created all these things for the good of the world. Let alone the universe, how wonderful His creation of our body, soul and spirit and even a hair is ! Our God is so great, so good and so wonderful that human beings are difficult to know Him. The people who actually know the Creator cannot fully express the greatness, wonderfulness, praises, goodness, joyfulness, gratitude to Him and His glories to the satisfaction of the heart. But the people who do not know God dwarf their heart and worship many different creations, handicrafts and imaginary super beings and give their loyalty to them seeking help and protection. It is called superstitious belief which traps the people into the state of confusion.

Knowing God enlarges the heart and is in the light but unknowing God dwarfs the heart and is in darkness and timidity.

The Creator is all perfect and His characteristic is all perfect. So coming to the Creator is the whole thing for mankind. All of the people in the world should rise above superstitious beliefs and together seek to know the Creator and to imbibe in His characteristics. This is the true way of human beings to have relationship with God and with one another.

All human beings want goodness and the only one who is good is the Creator. All want others being good to them and by the one who is good only human beings can be good to one another. Goodness cannot be found by worshipping thousands of any others than the Creator because He only is good.

There is nothing good except the Creator. He is the eternal life, wise, power and light. Human beings cannot know Him but He Himself says, “ It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.”( Is.45 : 12 ). It is “I”, not “We”. So all human beings should know “He” who is the Creator.

All human beings are created equal and He loves all and He is no respecter of persons. The greatest mistake, loss and missing for human beings is unknowing God. The greatest imprisonment of humankind is superstitious belief. Delivery of the people from slavery is to let them know the Creator of the heavens and the earth. That is all human beings should give up superstitious belief and all together seek the Creator and Lord to know Him and to conform to His perfect characteristics and live together as the children of the perfect God and Lord in peace and harmony without discrimination. Let us all praise our God and pray to Him to give us wisdom and power to know the truth. How many days are set aside every year to commemorate the important achievements of different leaders in the world ? A day be set aside as a thanksgiving day for the creations of God every year so that all of the inhabitants of the world may observe it with great pomp under the U.N.

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Angela Robson Le Monde diplomatique

Syria’s exiled artists

T

he Syrian illustrator Diala Brisly became famous when a drawing she had done to support women hunger strikers in the prison of Adra went viral online. “People made it their profile picture on Facebook,” she says. “It helped raise awareness of their protest ... I care about women. I believe there’s a role for women in the revolution but people don’t talk about that.” In the early days of the Syrian uprising, she had designed and distributed posters, getting caught and beaten at a protest, but managing to escape. “As artists and musicians, we expressed our solidarity with the demonstrators very early. But we were quickly targeted.”

She mentions Ibrahim Qashoush, a poet and musician from Hama, who wrote the stand-out song of the uprising, It’s time to leave, Bashar. In July 2011 he was found murdered; his vocal chords had been cut out. “There are only a few artists left there,” she says. “It is so dangerous now, and art is not a priority in Syria, it is a luxury.”

She turned to art at 19 because of personal turmoil that became political. Her mother eloped to Kuwait with the man she loved; her father, a wealthy businessman, left to set up home with another woman; Brisly was left as the principal carer for three younger siblings, and “it was very hard for us. My brother was only nine. It was not easy to express the feelings I had.

I found the best thing I could do was to draw.”

Brisly left Syria as the revolution roiled into civil war, going first to Istanbul and then Beirut. Once in exile, she discovered that her mother, an Assad supporter, had reported her brother because he refused to enlist for military service. “He was arrested and we had no idea what had happened to him. In the end he managed to escape. I found someone from the Free Syrian Army to take him over the border into Turkey. But I was too late.” He had been killed by a landmine as he attempted to flee the country.

Brisly pulls out her wallet and shows me a photo of her brother as a six-year-old, next to a picture of her as a small child. Both have the same, large expressive eyes. “My sister and I, we both try and make sense of his death but we can’t. He was my responsibility.” She brushes back her tears furiously. “I will never have children after experiencing this. My mother didn’t even come to his funeral. She said that he died because he had defied the government.”

Syrian forces have planted landmines near its borders with Turkey and Lebanon, along routes use by refugees to escape the violence. Both anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines of Soviet/Russian origin have been cleared by deminers. Brisly recently drew Be My Leg, I Will be Your Arm — two children walking together after being injured in the war.

Outside Syria, art is flourishing The largest concentration of exiled Syrian painters, singers, filmmakers and artists is in Lebanon. Many artists dare not return because of the risk of arrest, torture or attack. Some use art as catharsis, making sense out of chaos; others are continuing the revolution with art as a weapon against the regime, and an antidote to the terror that groups like ISIL (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) are spreading across the region.

Wasem Marziky’s films were often censored in Syria; he arrived at the screening of his last film in Damascus to find it had been cancelled for no stated reason. We meet at Zico House, which rises elegantly from the chaotic streets of Beirut. It is the former home of Moustapha Yamouth who, after the civil war in Lebanon, decided to transform it into a space to promote artists. It offers many refugee Syrian artists support and a place to sleep when they first arrive in Beirut. Its beautiful rooms host contemporary art; most works now on display are by Syrian painters.

“Art may have stagnated at home, but abroad it is flourishing,” says Marziky who, alongside Brisly, is a member of an arts collective of Syrian writers, painters, illustrators and filmmakers that meets regularly at Zico House. “Before I came to Lebanon, I didn’t realise there were so many artists in Syria. There was no network, no freedom. Now we meet up and work freely, no longer afraid to speak. But sometimes we are just paralysed by what is happening back home.

One of us hears something terrible from Syria at least once a week — the death of a friend, or a family member, or news of another massacre. It is unbearable.”

P

erhaps the most important part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech from the ramparts of New Delhi's Red Fort was his call for a 10year moratorium on caste-based and communal violence.

As it follows President Pranab Mukherjee's condemnation of the "poison-drips" of bigotry in his broadcast on the eve of Independence Day, it is evident that the government is focussing on the rising communal temperature, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, which has been discussed in parliament.

The emphasis is understandable because no development, which is Modi's primary objective, can take place unless there is social peace. However, the point to ponder is how far the government can go to check this disquieting trend, especially because elements associated with the saffron brotherhood are involved in fomenting tension.

The government may crack down on its opponents who whip up communal feelings, but will the saffronites heed Modi's counsel of restraint?

And, what will be the government's response if they don't?

Among those who has long been an offender in this respect is the saffronrobed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, Yogi Adityanath, who said during the debate on communal violence that Hindus who feel threatened must "fight back".

Considering that the RSS and its affiliated organizations used the recent occasion of rakhi, or the custom of a sister tying a thread on a brother's wrist, to mobilize Hindus to prevent

Syria once had a thriving artistic life, but many who were part of it have had to flee, ending up next door in Lebanon, trying to express what has happened to them and their country He believes that artists should play a key role in the future of Syria. “The regime has turned violence into a cult, and this kind of barbarism unleashes the worst in humanity. Art can help to transcend that.”

For the award-winning painter, Abdul Kerim Majdal Al-Beik, Beirut has been a place to try and re-establish himself after fleeing the war in Syria.

His greatest longing, he says, is to find a quiet place where he can paint without interruption. “The pain in every Syrian has pushed the talent in artists to the surface. You can see them working day and night to get the message of pain out.”

Majdal Al-Beik was born in a small village on the outskirts of al-Hasakah in the northeast of Syria, and graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus.

Before the Syrian conflict, his paintings portrayed the passage of time and, using materials such as starch, ash, hessian, charcoal and plaster, and a palette of white, grey and black, his themes revolved around the multitude of graffiti, etchings, marks and cracks of the walls of Damascus’s Old City. He is presently working on a new series of paintings about democracy in the Middle East, different from Against the Wall, his last, bleak collection. He says the conflict has profoundly changed his style; the Against the Wall works were made with soldier’s uniforms, knives, traps and bullets, to reflect the “immense trauma” in Syria.

Majdal Al-Beik’s paintings are housed in public and private collections throughout the Middle East and Europe, and a collection of his work is currently on display in Dubai and Beirut. Syria’s Apex Generation, hosted by the Ayyam Gallery in both countries, showcases the work of five contemporary Syrian artists. The exhibition explores the myriad ways artists are responding to the crisis in Syria and focuses on painters who launched their careers in the early part of the new millennium, when the Damascus art scene was going through a period of huge growth.

“The Damascus art scene reached a high point just before the war,” he says. “But it is possibly even more vibrant now in Beirut than it ever was in Damascus.”

Majdal Al-Beik shares his temporary workspace near Beirut’s waterfront with the Syrian sculptor Alice Al-Khatib. His huge canvases compete with her delicate plaster and bronze sculptures. One of these, Child of Syria, is a figure of a charred baby, representing a child killed in the Baniyas massacre of May 2013. She places it gently on the floor next to a collection of deformed, scowling monsters. She still considers Damascus her home, “but life is getting harder and harder there. You are always busy just surviving and art becomes secondary.”

Born in 1982 in Damascus, she has drawn since she was six, when she began on the walls of her bedroom; her family then allowed her to paint the walls of the courtyard of their Damascus home. She graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts sculpture department, Damascus University, in 2005. “It’s like a destiny for me. Something I can’t stop. Before the revolution my work was abstract, creatures in the sea, fish, nature. After the revolution ... it showed all the bad effects we have deep inside us, and the mental problems we have accumulated over the years.”

Her most recent work, exhibited in Beirut, is The Last Supper,a bronze table shaped like a grave with children’s handprints pushing through: “It’s a rejection of death — the hands are pushing the tomb away.”

Syria had a strong tradition of artistic and intellectual criticism of the regime, despite the dictatorship, but current conditions make it impossible for most artists to operate. Alma Salem, who is in charge of grants to Syrian artists for the British Council in Beirut, says: “Artists have been targeted by both sides, but they are the only hope for the future of Syria.” One grant has gone to Orwa Costa, whom I meet at a ref-

ugee camp in a village near al-Masnaa on the Lebanese-Syrian border. It is a new camp, set up since the civil war began — a collection of white caravans and tents spilling out of a wood-processing plant — and home to around 200 Syrian refugees. Costa is making a film in Bekaa, another new Syrian refugee camp in the east of Lebanon. He began making films after he was tortured by opposition forces in 2012. He calls his works Syrialism, because “surreal is the best adjective for the Syrian situation. I try to present questions rather than answers, and use shocking images because these are the pictures in my mind.”

A million registered refugees Lebanon, although it is such a tiny country, now hosts a million registered Syrian refugees, equal to more than 25% of its population, putting huge pressure on public services and communities. The conflict in Syria has spilled into Lebanon, and there has been violence between Syrian rebel-affiliated groups and Hizbullah near the border. Hizbullah fighters are in Syria, supporting government forces. Long-standing divisions between Tripoli’s small Alawite community, which has ties to the Syrian government, and Sunni neighbourhoods with residents sympathetic to the Syrian opposition, have been aggravated. There is now a tentative ceasefire following the deaths of hundreds of Sunni and Alawite citizens. “It all makes it even more complex to be seeking refuge here,” says Abu Ghabi, a Palestinian-Syrian composer and singer.

Abu Ghabi fled the besieged Palestinian camp of Yarmouk in southern Damascus at the end of 2012, the day his childhood friend, a doctor, was killed when the city was besieged by government forces.

Yarmouk was once a refuge for Palestinians fleeing the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and, until the Syrian conflict, was home to an estimated 700,000 people.

Since the siege was tightened in July 2013 and access to food and medical supplies cut off, more than a hundred people have starved to death in what Amnesty International describes as a “catastrophic humanitarian crisis”. Around 60% of people remaining in Yarmouk are suffering from malnutrition.

“We reached a point in Syria when guys like me would disappear,” says Abu Ghabi. “You would arrive at a checkpoint, get out of the car and disappear. I lost nine friends and family this way. We heard five died by torture.” Abu Ghabi is making a debut album in Beirut. “All this pain — we had to transfer it. It’s an energy that would kill us, but after what has happened I have an obligation to try and express this through my music.”

Abu Ghabi has been in Beirut for 18 months. His status, like that of other Palestinian Syrians who have fled, is precarious. More than 6.5 million are internally displaced inside Syria, including 270,000 Palestinians, hard-hit by the conflict. Lebanon has restricted the entry of Palestinian refugees from Syria since August 2013, and since this May it has become even more difficult for them. On 4 May the Lebanese government forcibly returned some Palestinians to Syria, and arbitrarily denied entry to other Palestinians crossing the border .

“The border is effectively closed to Palestinian refugees,” says Camilla Jelbart Mosse of Oxfam. “This means many could be stuck inside Syria or forced into trying to cross borders through insecure areas affected by shelling and mines. Almost all of the 500,000 Palestinians in Syria require humanitarian assistance.”

Mosse says that the voices of artists must be heard: “Their powerful work speaks to the suffering and hope of many. It is essential that those in positions of power with the ability to tackle this crisis do not close their ears and eyes. Without political action, the worst humanitarian emergency of our time will continue to cause immense suffering for years to come.”

Marie Hana is the director of Creative Memory, a website dedicated to preserving the creative works coming out of Syria today. “When the people of Syria broke the fear of the past and felt this moment of liberty, they were painting on the walls, singing in the street, filming themselves,” she says. Young exiled artists, immersed in the chaotic creativity of Beirut, are experimenting, aware that their generation was a crucial part of the uprising. “This is our chance to express what we really want to express. We don’t have much time — we may be arrested tomorrow.”

Will Modi's own camp accept his I-Day advice?

Amulya Ganguli IANS any of their sisters being courted by Muslim young men, it is not difficult to understand what the idea of fighting back means in the saffron lexicon.

There have also been others from the Hindutva camp whose recent comments have been deemed provocative.

Among these is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief, Mohan Bhagwat's observation that all Indians are Hindus in a cultural sense irrespective of their religion. Clearly, a moratorium cannot be effective if such poison drips continue.

This is not the only issue on which the prime minister faces a challenge to his authority. There is little doubt that his idea of turning India into a manufacturing hub for the world's industrialists will run into opposition not only from the communist parties and the Leftists in the Congress, but also from the saffron trade union and farmer's outfits such as the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS).

While the BMS has been objecting to the government's feelers on allowing foreign investment and tweaking the labour laws, the BKS is against any amend-

ment of the land acquisition law which was passed by the previous Congress-led government and which is regarded by the corporate sector as a serious obstacle to acquiring land for setting up factories.

Not surprisingly, the BKS move has been applauded by the Congress.

On the counts of foreign investment, labour laws and land acquisition, therefore, the Modi government will have to fight on two fronts - against its own saffron camp as well as the leftleaning opposition, which includes virtually all the parties, except perhaps the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Arguably, Modi can choose to ignore the nay-sayers among the opposition parties in view of the BJP's majority in the Lok Sabha, but his mettle will be tested on how he deals with the critics on his own side.

The magnitude of his task can be gauged from the fact that he will be challenging the fundamental precepts of his internal opponents - the theocratic mindset of the Hindu supremacists and the preference for an autarkic system by the economic

WRITE-WING

fundamentalists.

What is more, he doesn't have time on his hands. Having come to power on the promise of ushering in 'acchhe din' or good days, the prime minister cannot take months, let alone years, to show that he means business.

Even if there is considerable headway in the implementation of his other promises - toilets, model villages, insurance for the poor, et al - the focus will always be on the lowering of communal tension and the inflow of foreign funds. Modi's success or failure will be judged solely on these two points even if "digital India" takes shape and the skewed sex ratio is rectified.

True, the saffron camp cannot afford to be hasty or intransigent. The single-party majority which the BJP has achieved was beyond its wildest dreams. Moreover, there is little doubt that Modi was behind the upsurge of popular support even if the RSS chief has sought to downplay his importance by saying that the party and its leaders were there earlier, too, but it is the people's desire for change which is responsible for the BJP's success.

Even if this not-so-subtle hint aimed at negating Modi's role in the victory suggests that the RSS will offer stiff resistance to any attempt by the prime minister to moderate the proHindu agenda of the saffron warriors, it is unlikely that the latter will seriously endanger the government.

As is not uncommon in politics, the coming days will see a game of bluff between Modi and his home-grown critics, in which those who will be able to hold their nerves will win.

Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The Morung Express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: morung@gmail.com All letters (including those via email) should have the full name and Postal address of the sender.

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.

7

Monday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

18 August 2014

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

The Morung Express

POLL RESULTS

Do you agree that lifting of the Prohibition act will leaD to “further Division anD Destruction” in nagalanD? Some of those who voted YES had this to say: • Definitely lifting of prohibition will lead to further disintegration, more family problems, villages who stop selling wine will shout for joy but our generation will lose in every aspect. When our people become mature, when law and order rule, act can be reviewed but not now.

• Yes, lifting of NLTP will lead to division and more problem in our social life. Nagas are still semi-civilize …

• Yes! I agree that lifting of the Prohibition Act will create more problem, further division and destruction and more damaging consequences in Nagaland. Because there will be tons of alcohol related violence, crimes, accidents, health problems, family disintegrations and social disorders in Nagaland. The law makers and Naga intellectuals should not focus our debate excessively on revenue generation. Money alone is not enough to run the state, but the holistic or comprehensive well being of the state, society is to be considered in a broader perspective.

• Yes, It will definitely bring more destruction of individuals families and community life.

• Enough destruction has already been done, why add to it by lifting the Act. • Yes, very much. Moral and ethical values are more important than money. We need money but money is not everything. It will surely create more divisions, violence, accident, and broken homes.

• Lifting of Liquor Prohibition Act in Nagaland will be disastrous because most people including educated ones have very little sense of responsibility. Free flow of liquor also means freedom of consumption and freedom without responsibility leads to serious behavioral disorder.

• When my family has long time back been effected by use of alcohol so badly, why should I support for lifting this Act??? Who will want more violence and destruction again in our family and society? Let us be wise in the eyes of God, May the Lord’s will be done.

• I stand for dry Nagaland state. I am accountable before God to protect my people and land. I cant say yes for wine. Even when I say no to wine they have intruded then if I openly permit it means my hands are serving wine to my family, Church and I am stained with wine wet clothes. ‘Give wine to those who are going to perish.’ Money is not everything. Doing the will of God will is. To be disintegrated is regretful but cant say yes to evil. Moses, the man of God at times stood alone for truth.

• Should not lift the Prohibition Act. Can a govt make a law and expect church to implement it? In the act there is provisions to appoint Director of Prohibition, prohibition officers, prohibition councils and committee. Why not appoint these officials first and implement the Act? Is it fair to lift it without implementing anything mentioned in the Act? Successive government didn’t have political will to do it.

Americans, Mizo, etc failed to uphold prohibition act does not mean that Nagas can’t. That is demeaning and showing lack of confidence in ourselves. If a hardcore Hindu state of Gujurat could effectively implement it, why cant we do it? We have more reasons to prohibit.

• If we say that our present society is bad with the prohibition, I cant imagine our society without prohibition …. Prohibition should not be lifted.

• Yes! Lifting of prohibition would land Nagaland in utter chaos. Our mentality is still primitive and lifting of prohibition would lead to loss of thousand souls. Besides, its much easier to check the inflows than try to control daily drunkard hooliganism! Stop acting like enlightened society and accept the fact that we Nagas still have some 30 years to ponder about lifting the prohibition.

• Yes, it will lead to division among people on this issue and destruction of individuals and society. If revenue lost something is lost, but if moral lost, everything is lost. I do not agree lifting of NLTP Act today. It will take Nagas some centuries to have moral responsibility when any Act is not required to control one’s own life.

• Lifting liquor prohibition will be like opening Pandora box for Naga society. Therefore all the like minded people should come forward and thwart the devil which is trying to open our door.

• Yes! Naga society is still premature and certain amount of restriction is still necessary and helpful.

• To my comment, Nagaland as a Christian state Prohibition Act should not be lifted. Majority in our society are so called Christ followers but they don’t perform their duty well. There are so many church in our local area, villages, etc If we perform our duty sincerely then, this Prohibition Act will be powerful Act for better Nagaland. If our Govt lift the Act for some revenue purpose or cannot employ some more excise inspectors purposes. It depend on the situation of our govt. Naga people are more greedy than compare to plain people. We consume more than the others. If the Act is lifted, then, our Naga people may extinct.

• Lifting the prohibition act will lead to greater division as well as to destruction of our society as a thing like alcohol has nothing good to give us but only curses to heap upon individuals, families and our society for those who take and support it.

• The answer is simple! It will be a disaster if NTLP act is lifted. Failure is not a defeat but if we have ever failed, it calls upon the government to fully implement the act by way of tightening the loose ends. We should not allow Nagaland to become the paradise of hell on earth.

The government will not become richer by killing our young people and splitting families and bringing untold miseries to parents.

• Yes, instead of lifting, it should strengthen the bill has ruined the state. Loss of lives? It has lost revenue nor is it about faith only. Both these extreme points of view have already divided and • As a believer, I will vote against lifting the more lives to adulterated alcohol. Still losban on alcohol. As Christians we must uping, because prohibition is the baby of NBCC destroyed our society. hold the truth. The Bible says no drunkard which they don't care to look after. Why is • Churches are not doing anything when illecan inherit eternal life. Few may stray away NBCC so concern about alcohol?? Why not gal liquor vendors are mushrooming n when but the rest can be saved. worry about corruption? Why silent on UGs it comes to lift the prohibition they r shouting in • Yes. No law no life discipline. killing each other? Alcohol has not brought the paper......which side r tey • Yes. I am not a coward and will continue to supNagaland to its knees but narrow minded • I have little bit doubt regarding division since there are also many in numbers who have no port total prohibition. America failed, so what Christian teachings have! that has to do with Nagaland? I don't value rev- • It will unite the family on the verge of break interest in religion, so there is little chances enue above the spiritual and physical well bedown because of financial constraints due to specially for the above mention group of peoing of my people. high price of alcohol. It will also limit the law ple. And if it really happen … definitely it will • Stop blaming NBCC or NMA, they are not the breakers as when legalised people will no more bring coffin to our society. implementing agencies of the Act. do black business on alcohol and when they • Lifting the prohibition act will not lead to division • Yes. Because before prohibition is lifted we stop doing it they stop breaking the laws. It will and destruction in Nagaland but yes it is sure must hear from the govt how they will regualso be able to put a strict check on teenagers that many will lose their dear and near ones late binge drinking, under-age drinking. Govt doing drinks provided the Govt lay down strict and the wrath of God is sure to come upon the should focus on implementation of regulations. guidelines with stern punishment. It will also very individual or group of people upon those But surely, govt’s least worry should be lifting bring enough revenue which can be utilized for who take up the step of lifting it up.

NLTP Act at this time of colossal financial defdevelopment purpose. It will also enable Peo- • Nothing can be achieve under pressure, it will icit, deroded value system and naga political ple to stop drinking spurious alcohol which in be achieve when one is willing to accept without outside influence. movement shredding by craft upstatemanship. turn will extend the life span of habitual drunkGod save Nagaland, really. ards and will thereby enable the Church to do • It will not lead to division but definitely to de• No, a drinker will drink whether its banned or its part in influencing that very drunkards to struction. open likewise teetotaler will not drink because change his way of life as it will give enough time • I wont agree with division but it will definitely lead its available, i don`t smoke though its available to both the parties concerned. It will also enable to disintegration and destruction of community in all the pan shop. every willing people to enjoy good drinks unlike life, family life and individual lives. It will also • No, because the things of this world are all neucause more losses to govt than the revenue. now where only the big shots gets the best altral in itself it is the attitude and our choice that cohol and the poor gets the spurious alcohol.... • I don’t agree with the lifting of the Prohibition matters and especially as Christians Bible inmany more good things to say concerning why Act. Let the few existing ‘Bond Houses’ in Nastructs us how to use our freedom of choice. alcohol should be legalised but even if i take galand be totally closed and if it is done there the whole night it wont be possible for me, so ill will be no flow of liquor into the state of Nagaland and the purpose of dry state can be Some of those who voted no had this to say: stop here for today..... And all these are the rea• No! The fact is that there will never be 100% son why lifting of ban on alcohol is a necessary practically fulfilled. Excise department and police can also efficiently check and control. perfect prohibition in Nagaland. No one can evil. (So No) guarantee this. The NBCC should realize this. • No. Unadulterated alcohol means less health There is negligible number of CRPF in Nagaland. Let them also arrange for themselves No amount of police, excise department or any hazard which means longer longetivity , legalother law enforcing agency can enforces 100% ized means more excise revenue , cheaper in the same manner as that of army and not prohibition. This is the law of nature. People will means more saving ,more saving means more from bond houses. always find ways to sell and buy alcohol. The investment n development. Many church lead- • Nbcc is sending ten thousands missionary to all over the world but in our own home n churches Prohibition Act has only created criminalizaers drinks in parties . Time to revisit that conn in our land ten n thousand lakhs r lost in prostion of our society. Lifting the Prohibition Act will fused law. de-criminalize many things, and this will give a • I'm not like the people who works in churches titution. ...rape.... killings. .extortion. ...aids... better opportunity for the government and the but I'm a Christian i believe in Jesus christ, etc what our so called churches n nbcc is doChurch to deal with "social evils" in a better way. church should not force me to stop drinking or ings. ..I feel so pain to see nobody to take care • No, prohibition whatever, its my of our own home. act should be in life and my rela- • I have said it before and i declare it again---Its fact lifted in order tionship with God not the prohibition that divides or destroy peoto check illegal is between us, so ple. Depends on how logically we view the exflow and abuse better lift the ban, isting scenario and settle for solid deduction. of liquor. give license to se- • It reminds me of a saying--one cannot force a • N o , s o m e lected few firms, horse to drink even if you tie and take it to the river.

Church bodies keep a age limit • The government can make thousands of backdoor appointments but not create a few hunare complainfor sale, employdred more vacancies in the excise department ing that alcohol ment will generis the root of all ate in Government to effectively implement the prohibition act? kinds of evils. it wine stores and as Something is fishy here. Most probably, some is not, the Bible we known we can people in power are aiming to get into the alcohol business, knowing fully well that the desays that the generate economands will never run short. In the absence of love of money my. any worthwhile industry, definitely some high is the root of all • No. i dont like liand mighty people in power are aiming to make kinds of evils. quor but the de• The question of cision whether to it big in the alcohol business. division by liftdrink or not should • Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram our neighbours ing of prohibibe by self and not where there is no prohibition, are they all drunken society??? i want to drink let me drink, my tion does not enforced by otharise here. But ers, which doesn’t church don't interfere like the Roman Catholic days, i believe in God i know what i should do NBCC members work anyway. to go to heaven, church don't always think only must re-examine • No one is rightheir failure as a teous in this world, about the alcohol, there are many other social church body and who are we to elements taking a persons soul away. not shift blame judge others!! Let • I see the words 'further division and destruction' to on the Govt. in the holy be a holy be quoted from NBCC's recent statement on prothis regard just and sinner be a hibition. The church leaders talk as if liquor is now not freely available even at the remotest towns one question to sinner..

YES no OTHERS church leaders • No. At first we and villages, eh!.. I see no relation between prohow many times m a y o b s e r v e hibition being lifted and (something) being further do they spend their time with their lost sheep? many drinkers but by next will witness declining divided. The 'division' stated here is unclear. If the division here is intended to mean the division beWhy they only go to politicians and bureaucrats the numbers of drinkers and drugs users. to pray? Alcoholics need prayer more. Yes, they • Even though the prohibition act isn't lifted. tween the church and the state, yes church and will not be able to give money but need prayer. Drunkard will still make some excuses to get the state should be separated! ...Our is a demoNBCC must know prohibition or not, liquor will drunk, some families will still get destroyed, cratic society and not theocratic..Talk about 'morcontinue to flow. No power on earth will be able some people careers will still get messed up ally corrupted society", prohibition only breeds to check in flow of liquor. and jeopardized because alcohol will still be corruption. Fight against corruption by imposing • Lifting of NTLP Act 1989 will be more approavailable in nagaland and those who drinks will prohibition and ironically, and as a matter of fact, priate for Nagas to develop ourselves and our get from anywhere. So lifting of NLTP Act will you only foster corruption • We are still very much ruled and governed by society are our society is going bad to worse be better option for people in general. because of all this antisocial elements.

• NO.. Nagaland is already flowing with Liquor, our beliefs and religion has privilege here. Not only brainwashing people, it kinda feels like • Total Nagaland Liquor Prohibition Bill 1989 it can not lead to further destruction than it alreligious leaders can do anything harmful as should be lifted without delay. ready is now... long as it's in the name of god, or under re• No, I do not agree. Rather it will destroy more • No I do not agree, as for me its high time evfamilies and individual lives. erybody comes together and seriously give a ligious symbols, and their followers will still • No, that might happen only with the churches second thought about our future Nagaland and held them piously blindly coz that is the only reason they boss preaching totally support NLPT instead of blaming one • I will not agree for division and will not like to see around bout their success. why don't they go another. IF we lift NLPT Nagaland will certainly any division but will definitely lead to disintegrabecome the valley of death. I just pray that God tion and destruction of community life, family life pray on every poor Naga homes instead of bewill give wisdom to all the individuals, churches, and individual lives due to rampant and open ing at the rich man's mansion. NBCC should really convert a person by wining a sinners heart government so that right decision will be made flow of all kinds of liquor. It does not mean that lifting of the act will solve the flow of illicit liquor. It instead of making the alcohol vanish, chances to save Nagaland from alcohol. are, an alcoholic is still connected to alcohol • I do not agree, not at all. It will not lead to further will also cause more losses to govt much more than the revenue it may earn. Let the people coz he has not given it up but was seized from destruction but very sadly it will encourage people of all ages to drink freely. Hopefully God will know that Church is standing for the good and him n when given chance he will go for it.

• Even in this present stage of Prohibition there is intervene urgently so as to let Nagaland free protection of previous lives of the common peofrom Alcohol. ple and raising the voice for the voiceless. already further division and destruction of Na• NLTP Act or Not, either way; There will be no galand. The problem is that neither the pro or dearth of Liquor flow in the State, Drinkers anti prohibition advocates are objective in un- Some of those who voted will continue to drink, the Church will continderstanding the situation. The real problem is OTHERS had this to say: that prohibition is failing and the failure to deal • Suppose if i sell IMFL and donate a huge amount ue to oppose abuse of alcohols. With NLTP; of money to any church ...they wont even bother spurious liquor will be flooded killing drinkwith it honestly is only causing more problems. ers, Corruption will increase in the concerned • No, not really, at first there will be a mad rush to ask from where that money is coming but into sample the delights of wine, then as thing stead they will happily accept my donation and implementing agencies ultimately more sinsettle down there will be less wine related praise me. THIS IS THE PRESENT SITUATION ners. It is our birthright to have choices IN NAGALAND. God bless Nagaland. and decide. So, let every individual decide problems compared to what is going on today. Those who want wine will get it any way • Being self-righteous will not solve this problem. whether to live a sober longer life or die early The pro-prohibition group by always taking the drunk. Alcohol related crimes are almost all by whatever means.

• No. Prohibition of Alcohol can only be solved moral stand is only isolating themselves. They accidental but there are other calculated sothrough education and creating awareness. should realize that one cannot impose faith and cial crimes which are more harmful to our somoral values on others. Those who are anticiety yet concealed. Let us fight a better fight, The more one tries to prohibit, the more peoprohibition should not keep harping only about instead of suppressing our birthright to make ple will drink.

• What destruction are we talking about? revenue. This only makes us feel cheap and a choice let us fight corruption which is the root of all evils and let democracy do away Christian values? NBCC go check your own reduces our lives and our health and our spiripoliticized administration. Economic value? It tual life only to money. Prohibition is not about the NLTP Act. of 1990 for good.

46%

40%

14%

8

Dimapur

NATIONAL

Monday 18 August 2014

The Morung Express

UP floods hit over 1,000 villages, death toll touches 28

luCKnOw, august 17 (Pti): Twenty-eight people have died so far in Uttar Pradesh in floods which have hit the state with several rivers flowing above the danger mark and posing a threat to more than 1,000 villages in the affected districts.

“Floods have so far claimed 28 lives with nine districts of the state being affected by the crisis. Relief and rescue operations have been launched (in these areas). In all, around 1,000 to 1,500 villages have been affected by the floods,” chief secretary Alok Ranjan told reporters here.

The affected districts are Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Lakhimpur, Barabanki, Sitapur, Faizabad and Azamgarh.

“A round-the-clock vigil is being maintained. Although the army has not been called in, it has been informed that its help may be required,” he added.

Ranjan said that the worst hit is Bahraich where

202 villages have been affected by floods and 14 lives lost so far. “As requested, an NDRF team is working in Bahraich. For villages in the interior, we have requested two helicopters from the army for rescue and relief work,” he said.

Ranjan said that although the water level was receding in Shravasti district, 117 villages in two tehsils, involving a total population of 60,000 people, has been affected by the floods.

There have been two deaths in the district due to the floods, according to the district magistrate.

Ranjan said that the water level has increased in Balrampur district where a close vigil is being maintained. “Here 76 villages in three tehsils have been affected and one loss of life reported,” he said.

While seven deaths were reported in Lakhimpur, including in a boat tragedy, four deaths were reported from Sitapur, Ranjan added.

In New Delhi, the ministry

Saharanpur panel report ‘politically motivated’: BJP

new delhi, august 17 (ians): A probe committee’s report Sunday questioning BJP’s role in the Saharanpur communal violence of Uttar Pradesh has evoked an outpouring of political reactions, but the BJP has rubbished the allegation as “politically motivated”.

“We do not know the veracity of this committee and its report. But the unfortunate incidents in Saharanpur could have been prevented if the administration and the state government had not shown a lackadaisical attitude,” Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Delhi unit spokesperson Sambit Patra told media.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi said the report findings were in contrast to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address in which he said communalism will not be tolerated.

“On the one hand, the prime minister says from

the Red Fort that communalism will not be tolerated and, on the other hand, we have reports about their leader’s involvement (in communal violence). Modi should talk to his party workers in strong terms over this,” Alvi told the media.

BSP supremo Mayawati said: “Our stand on the matter is that BJP and SP are both responsible for communal tensions across the state.”

The five-member committee, constituted by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, was headed by Uttar Pradesh’s Public Works Department Minister Shivpal Yadav.

The committee, in its report, blamed BJP MP Raghav Lakhanpal for inciting communal tension. Violence erupted in Kutubsher area of Saharanpur July 26 when members of two communities clashed, leaving three dead.

Andhra, Telangana CMs agree to thrash out contentious issues hyderabad, august 17 (ians): The chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Sunday agreed to solve the contentious issues between the two states through talks and mutual cooperation. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrasekhar Rao decided to entrust the issue of bifurcation of employees to the chief secretaries of the two states.

Accompanied by senior officials, they held talks for nearly two hours at Raj Bhavan to iron out their differences on various issues between the two states. E.S.L. Narasimhan, who is governor of both the states, was present for the first half an hour. Later the chief ministers had detailed discussions.

It was the first formal meeting between the two to discuss the issues arising out of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh since they formed governments in June. It was held at the initiative of the governor. The meeting between Naidu and his one time friend in Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.

Terming it as a good beginning, Rao said the talks were fruitful. “If necessary we will meet two to three times to sort out the issues,” said Rao, who

is also chief of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The Telangana chief minister told reporters that the chief secretaries would hold talks to sort out problems related to bifurcation of employees. He said bifurcation of majority of 45,000 employees was already completed and the two officials would address the problem with regard to remaining few hundred employees.

KCR, as the TRS chief is popularly known, said the meeting decided to address other issues including the one related to institutions located in Hyderabad as per the agreed guidelines. Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Kishna Rao, his Telangana counterpart Rajiv Sharma, Andhra assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, his Telangana counterpart Madhusudhan Chary and some other officials also attended the meeting, official sources said.

Before the meeting, Naidu said they would discuss issues relating to the bifurcation of employees in the secretariat and directorates in Hyderabad. The two states are locked in a bitter tussle over several issues including bifurcation of employees, sharing of electricity and water and admissions in professional colleges.

A temple submerged in flooded water of the Ganga in Varanasi.

of water resources said in a statement that the Rapti in Balrampur district of UP was flowing at 104.62m — 0.63m above danger mark. The record for water level in the river was 105.25m on September 11, 2000.

According to a Central

Water Commission report, after rising menacingly in Kakardhari and Bhinga yesterday, the Rapti has crossed the maximum level in Balrampur and is still rising. The Rapti apart, water levels have also risen in the Ghaghra and Saryu rivers.

Rising water levels has hit road and rail traffic and Shashtra Seema Bal and PAC jawans have been deployed to evacuate people affected by the floods. According to a Central Water Commission report, after rising menacingly in

Kakardhari and Bhinga yesterday, the Rapti has crossed the maximum level in Balrampur and is still rising. The Ghaghra is still flowing near danger level at Elgin Bridge in Ayodhya while the Sharda at Paliakalan and the Ghaghra

at Ayodhya were flowing above the danger mark.

According to reports in Bahraich, floods in the Bhada, Kaudiyala and Gerua rivers in Nepal led to a rise in the water levels of the Ghaghra and Saryu in Bahraich and Rapti in Shravasti yesterday.

Around 250 houses collapsed in Nanpara and Mahsi tehsils of Bahraich, where 2.5 lakh people in 546 hamlets of 103 villages have been affected by the floods.

According to a report from Balrampur, all three tehsils of the district — Tulsipur, Balrampur, Utraula — have been affected by the floods.

The Balrampur-Badni National Highway is inundated and has been closed.

Additional district magistrate Keshav Das said that SSB and PAC personnel have been deployed for relief and rescue work, for which four steamers are being used. A report from Lakhimpur says that around 60 villages in Dharaura tehsil have been marooned

with the locals having taken shelter in a school in Manjha Sumali village. Tehsildar Ashok Kumar Yadav said that an NDRF team has been deployed for relief work.

Meanwhile, expressing concern over the flood situation in UP, Bihar and Assam, BJP President Amit Shah has asked the party’s MPs, leaders and workers in these states to contribute in flood relief measures. Shah has talked to the BJP units in these states and asked them to immediately start flood relief work. He also extended condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the floods.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the Centre would extend full cooperation to UP in tackling floods. “Not only Uttar Pradesh, wherever the problem of floods is being faced, full cooperation will be extended. Directives have been issued for sending teams of NDRF (to the affected areas),” Singh told reporters.

Foreign Secretary talks: Najma puts onus on Pakistan

srinagar, august 17 (Pti): Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptullah on Sunday said Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan would be able to break the ice between the two nations only if the intention of the neighbouring country was good.

“If their intention is good, then it surely will (break the ice). Our intention is good. The intention of our leader (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is good, otherwise he would not have invited (Pakistan Prime Minister) Nawaz Sharif in his oath ceremo-

jaiPur, august 17 (ians): The Congress, which suffered one of its worst defeats in both the assembly and Lok Sabha polls, is now trying to regroup itself to fight the local bodies polls, with newlyappointed Rajasthan state party chief Sachin Pilot downplaying reports of factionalism.

“There is no factionalism. There can be differences of opinion, but there is no factionalism. There is only one faction in the party - that is of Sonia Gandhi.

I am getting full support from all the seniors of the party in the state,” Pilot, a former minister at the centre, told IANS in an inter-

ny. There has been a forward movement from our side but it takes two to tango,” Ms. Heptullah told reporters in Srinagar.

The Union Minister said the move by Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, to invite separatist leaders from Kashmir for consultations at Delhi ahead of the talks between the two countries on August 25 in Islamabad would “certainly hamper” the atmosphere built for the talks.

“Yes, certainly. The atmosphere is getting good from our side and now they have to see how good their intention is,” she said. Hep-

tullah said people should not have any apprehensions about the Modi government as they have seen the work done by the previous BJP government and how former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee offered a hand of friendship to Pakistan.

“People had suspicions that first time the BJP had come to power with such a majority and I don’t know why they had such suspicions. People had seen Vajpayee’s government -- what he did for Kashmir and for India and Pakistan relations.

“No other prime minis-

ter in the world has travelled in a bus to other country with a message of friendship. Vajpayee went to Pakistan and offered a hand of friendship. I am sure, had Vajpayee won again in 2004 elections, the situation in Kashmir would have been different,” she said.

She said Prime Minister Modi was treading the same path as Vajpayee and wants to take along the neighbouring countries.

“Mr. Modi is treading the path shown by Vajpayee. The first evidence of that was when he called Mr. Sharif for his oath ceremony. And on August 15,

he did not only talk about the development and prosperity of our own country, but called on the leaders of SAARC countries to come together and move forward,” she said.

The Minority Affairs Minister said Muslims were the most backward community among the minorities.

“Last week I met Mr. Modi. He told me that Muslims had not got the rights that a person should get for living,” she said, adding “We have to shove away hatred. Our government under Mr. Modi talks about unity and brotherhood. He

No factionalism in Congress: Sachin Pilot view.

Pilot, an amiable 36-year-old who is far removed from the stereotyped Indian politician, said that his first aim is to strengthen the party at the ground level. To this end, he is at present busy in meeting party workers, leaders and others to get their feedback.

“We are now readying for the municipal and panchayat elections and byelections in four assembly constituencies,” he said, adding that the party “will go all out” in these polls.

“We suffered defeats in both assembly and Lok Sabha polls and it is my responsibility to see that the

morale of party workers remain high and we fight the polls with full force,” he said.

The Congress lost power in the December 2013 assembly polls, suffering one of its worst defeats as it could win only 21 of the state’s 200 seats. The BJP won 163 seats. The Congress, which had 20 seats in the 15th Lok Sabha, could not win a single of the state’s 25 seats in the AprilMay general elections.

With Saturday’s announcement that the bypolls in Surajgarh, Weir, Nasirabad and KotahSouth would be held September 13, Pilot said: “After discussing with senior

leaders, we will field winnable candidates in these constituencies.”

The civic polls are likely between October and December and the panchayat polls soon after.

Pilot, while dismissing media reports that he would contest one of the by-polls said: “My aim is to see that the party fights these elections with full vigor.”

Castigating Rajasthan’s Vasundhara Raje government, Pilot said that everything is being converted to the PPP (public-private partnership) mode.

“We had a free medicine scheme, which was praised by each and every

one. Now, I have heard that people are not getting free medicines. Roads are being built in the PPP mode, the roadways is going to be run on PPP mode. It seems the state government wants to shrug off its responsibilities by giving everything to the private sector,” he said.

“The law and order situation has deteriorated, 17,000 schools are going to be closed and except for making announcements nothing concrete has been done in the state in the nine months since the BJP government came into power in the state.

“A few months back, they organised Sarkar Aapke Dwar (government

says ‘together with all, development for all’.”

She said the Kashmiri Pandits in Srinagar have suffered a lot and the Centre wants that they should return to the Valley. “They were made to leave their homes.

Many of them are living in camps in Jammu, Delhi and elsewhere in the country.

Is it not a loss for humanity? Is it not a violation of human rights? I am happy that Finance Minister allocated a separate amount for their rehabilitation in the budget, so that they return to their homes and with you together recreate the atmosphere of brotherhood,” she said.

at your doorstep) in Bikaner district; I have heard that 60,000 complaints were received from people there. I want to know how many of these complaints were resolved,” Pilot said.

Flaying the NDA government at the Centre, Pilot said it had failed to curb the price rise.

“Fruits, pulses and vegetables have all become expensive. They used to attack our government on inflation on a regular basis.

Now they are in the government. Why don’t they reduce inflation? People are troubled and shocked, but they are not getting relief from anywhere,” Pilot concluded.

Silicosis swallows mine workers in Rajasthan

Karauli (rajasthan), august 17 (ians): For 10 years, Ghanshyam underwent treatment for tuberculosis (TB) as his persistent coughing and chest pain refused to go away. But in 2011, the stone quarry worker was told that he is in the last stages of silicosis - an insidious and incurable lung disease that has claimed the lives of many mine workers across Rajasthan.

Twenty-five years of working in the sandstone mines of Karauli district in Rajasthan and inhaling the silica dust have reduced Ghanshyam, 50, to a skeleton. On a liquid diet for the past many months, the father of two cannot stand and always moans in pain.

“There is no hope for us now. We are in debt as around Rs.4 lakh has been spent on his treatment.

Had he been diagnosed with silicosin (silicosis) on time, life wouldn’t have come to this,” Dayabai, Ghanshyam’s wife, told a visiting IANS correspondent. Dayabai has come to terms with the reality that she will lose him any time.

Karauli is one of the 19 districts in Rajasthan where thousands of mine workers are battling with silicosis caused by inhaling dust containing crystalline silica.

Ghanshyam is not the only

botched-up case of misdiagnosis in Aarampur village of Karauli in the eastern belt of Rajasthan where sandstone is found in abundance and has been used in building the historical Red Fort and the palatial Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“Many silicosis-affected patients in this village, in fact in several adjoining districts, have died mistakenly thinking they had TB,” Vikas Bhardwaj, secretary at Dang Vikas Sansthan - a non-government organization - told IANS. Legal mining of stones in this backward district dates back to 1920, but the first official case of this deadly disease was detected only in 2011, said Bhardwaj.

“It was only as late as November 2011 that we realised that the people were in the grip of silicosis,” said Bhardwaj. Sribai, 50, a gaunt-looking silicosis patient, said she lost her husband to the disease a few years ago. According to locals, Balram, 60, is the eldest male of this village of 3,000 people. The disease has sapped away the lives of several men, mostly in their middle age, leaving behind their widows.

“No one survives here till 60. Despite having silicosis, Balram is still alive,” remarked Prabhu Dayal, a silicosis patient himself.

Rajasthan has no accurate

data on silicosis, thanks to the poor health infrastructure to diagnose the disease and unchecked mining and quarrying in the state.

Rajasthan has 32,000 mines where over two million labourers work and only seven Pneumoconiosis Board centres to diagnose silicosis. Located in seven state-run medical colleges, each centre has a team of three doctors who examine the cases only on weekends. At present there are 244 registered silicosis patients in Karauli, but Bhardwaj says their numbers run into thousands.

“At least 13,000 mine workers have got themselves registered with the Dang Vikas Sansthan. All have pain in their chests and want to be diagnosed for silicosis,” Bhardwaj said. The nearest Pneumoconiosis Board centre for patients in Karauli is located in Jaipur, around 200 km away. The other six are situated in far-flung areas of Rajasthan.

For patients like Mishra Lal, whose name figures last in the list of 13,000 suspected patients, their wait to get diagnosed at the Jaipur centre means that they will possibly have to wait for 27 years, according to Varun Sharma, programme coordinator at the Association for Rural Ad-

vancement through Voluntary Action and Local Involvement (ARAVALI).

“And by that time he would have died. The Pneumoconiosis board centre in Jaipur can see only 40 people in a week which works out to 480 cases in a year,” Sharma told IANS. Established by the Rajasthan government, ARAVALI is working in collaboration with the Dang Vikas Sansthan in the livelihood sector.

Rajendra Kumar Jenaw, superintendent of the TB hospital in Jaipur, says that staff at Pneumoconiosis board centres is inadequate to examine cases of silicosis. “We lack the wherewithal to screen silicosis patients all the time.

The government must set up a dedicated centre for this disease,” Jenaw told IANS. Another reason why silicosis goes undetected is the illegal operation of thousands of mines. “The number of stone mines operating in Rajasthan is much more than the official figure of 32,000. The workers in these unlicensed mines are not covered under the Mines Act 1952,” Sharma added.

The Mines Act lays down certain safety procedures for mine workers. Sharma says that since many of these mines lie

Ghanshyam with his wife, Dayabai, and son Ravi. (IANS Photo)

away from major roads and habitations, the mining officials often don’t conduct checks. Silicosis has pushed the families of mine workers into further poverty, with the breadwinners over time turning into a health burden.

To support Ghanshyam and his family, his 20-yearold son Ravi has inherited the legacy of becoming a mine worker. “I work for 12 to 13 hours every day in the nearby mine. Sometimes my chest starts paining,” Ravi told IANS.

InternatIonal

the Morung express

Monday 18 August 2014

Dimapur

9

Pope tells communist nations not to fear Christians

HAEMI, August 17 (REutERs): Pope Francis, in remarks clearly intended for communistruled countries such as China, North Korea and Vietnam, said on Sunday that Asian governments should not fear Christians as they did not want to “come as conquerors” but be integral parts of local cultures.

Francis made his comments, some of them unscripted, in an address to about 70 bishops from 35 Asian countries gathered in the town of Haeme, south of Seoul, on the next-tolast day of his trip to South Korea.

He told them the Church was committed to dialogue with everyone, saying: “In this spirit of openness to others, I earnestly hope that those countries of your continent with whom the Holy See does not yet enjoy a full relationship, may not hesitate to further a dialogue for the benefit of all.”

Francis then added, in unscripted remarks, that he was talking of “not just political dialogue but also fraternal”. He added that “Christians do not come as conquerors” who erase national and cultural identities but wanted to “walk together”.

The pope’s words were applicable to several nations in Asia where the Church is associated with colonialism, particularly China, which has had no formal relations since

Pope reaches out to China

HAEMI, August 17 (AP): Pope Francis made his strongest gesture yet to reach out to China on Sunday, saying he wants to improve relations and insisting that the Catholic Church isn’t coming in as a “conqueror” but is rather a partner in dialogue.

Francis outlined his priorities for the Catholic Church in Asia during a meeting of about 80 of the region’s bishops, urging them to engage with people of different cultures empathetically. “In this spirit of openness to others, I earnestly hope that those countries of your continent with whom the Holy See does not yet enjoy a full relationship may

not hesitate to further a dialogue for the benefit of all,” he said.

Then deviating from his text, he added: “I’m not talking here only about a political dialogue, but about a fraternal dialogue.

These Christians aren’t coming as conquerors, they aren’t trying to take away our identity.” He said the important thing was to “walk together.”

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the pope’s remarks were “obviously a sign of goodwill for dialogue” with China as well as the other countries in Asia with which the Vatican doesn’t have diplomatic relations: North Korea, Viet-

nam, Myanmar, Laos, Bhutan and Brunei. “This offer of the pope for dialogue is to all these lands and not just one, even if China is the biggest,” he said.

He acknowledged that Francis has so far refrained from making any outwardly political statement about China, which counts some 12 million Catholics, but that the speech was a clear affirmation of a desire for dialogue. It was also a message to the region’s bishops that they can sow the seeds for dialogue through charitable works and educational services even before official diplomatic relations with the Holy See are established.

shortly after the Communist Party took power in 1949.

“It’s an offer, an openness, a readiness to engage in dialogue for the well-being of the Church and the people in these different lands,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told reporters. “Good Catholics can also be good citizens. The authorities do not have to fear the Holy See as something that exercises power in their land. It is religious.”

The Catholic Church in China is divided into two communities: an “official” Church known as the “Patriotic Association”

answerable to the Communist Party, and an underground Church that swears allegiance only to the pope in Rome.

lic Association to attend a papal mass on Monday in Seoul, citing as a reason joint U.S.-South Korean military drills due to begin the same day.

The Vatican’s relations with Vietnam have improved significantly in recent years, though the two still do not have full diplomatic ties.

Francis, who on Sunday afternoon was due to celebrate a Mass closing an gathering of Asian Catholic youth, told the bishops the Church should not aim to grow by aggressive conversion efforts, but by what he called “attraction”.

When Francis travelled

Do you love gossiping?

LONdON, August 17 (IANs): Do you love to gossip and can not resist if it is related to a close colleague? You are certainly not alone. According to Scottish researchers, people spread a story if it is about a person who is familiar to them and if it is a particularly “juicy” piece of information. To reach this conclusion, researchers at Glasgow University and University of the West of Scotland asked participants to read fictional stories. Nearly 100 popular celebrities, including US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and David and Victoria Beckham, were involved in a number of false stories, such as getting pregnant, having a row in public, or being caught with drugs.

The celebrity and non-celebrity subjects were also placed in everyday scenarios such as shopping or getting coffee, the Scotsman reported. Participants were asked to read the stories and tell scientists how likely they would be to share these stories with friends. The results suggested that the preconceived view of a character and the predictability of a story regulated how likely someone was to gossip about a story. “Intuitively, it is not surprising that we are more likely to gossip about familiar people and interesting stories. However, we are much more likely to gossip when a story unites a familiar person with an interesting scenario,” explained lead researcher Bo Yao. A key function of gossip may be to maintain our reputation system by receiving updates on the recent behaviour of our acquaintances. People sometimes use gossip quite selfishly to enhance their own social status, the study noted. The findings appeared in the journal PLOS ONE.

A Turned-Down Invite They also apply to isolated North Korea, where religious freedom is constitutionally guaranteed provided it does not undermine the state, but outside of a small handful of government-controlled places of worship, no open religious activity is allowed.

North Korea turned down an invitation from the South Korean Catholic church for members of its state-run Korean Catho-

from Rome to Seoul on Thursday, his plane was allowed to cross Chinese air space. It was the first time a pope had been allowed to fly over China on Asian tours. His predecessor John Paul II had to avoid Chinese airspace.

During his flight, Francis sent an unprecedented message of goodwill to China, where the Church is keen to establish a greater presence, telling President Xi Jinping he was praying for peace and well-being for all Chinese people.

had “noted” the Pope’s position, and repeated its position that Beijing was sincere about wanting to improve relations with the Vatican.

“We are willing to keep working hard with the Vatican to carry out constructive dialogue and push for the improvement of bilateral ties,” the ministry said in a statement faxed to Reuters.

In its statement, Beijing did not address the issue of Chinese barred from attending a youth event in Korea.

China ‘Notes’ The Position About half of more China’s Foreign Min- than 100 Chinese who had istry on Thursday said it planned to attend Sunday’s

Asian Youth Day event were unable to do so due to “a complicated situation inside China”, an official with the local organiser of the pope’s visit told reporters on Thursday.

The main point of contention between Beijing and the Vatican is which side should have the final say in the appointment of bishops.

The Vatican has been sending olive branches to China for years, but a major stumbling block is the Holy See’s continued recognition of Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province.

Before leaving Seoul for

Haemi, the pope fulfilled a promise he made the day after he arrived - to baptise the father of a victim of the Sewol ferry disaster, in which more than 300 people, most of them school children, were killed in April.

Lee Ho-Jin had been preparing to convert and asked the pope to perform the rite himself. It was carried out in the chapel of the Vatican embassy in Seoul on Sunday morning, a spokesman said. Lee decided to take the name Francis as his Christian name in honour of the pope, a spokesman said.

Optimism fades as talks to resume on Gaza war

CAIRO, August 17 (AP): A Palestinian negotiator said Sunday his side is “less optimistic” about indirect talks with Israel over the Gaza war as a deadline on a temporary cease-fire looms. The Palestinian team reassembled in Cairo on Sunday after members returned from consultations in Qatar, Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East. The Israeli team also returned Sunday to resume the Egyptian-mediated talks. A current fiveday cease-fire is due to end late Monday.

The negotiations have

been going on between the sides since early last week.

They are aimed at ending the latest war between Israel and Hamas-led Islamic militants in the Gaza Strip and improving conditions for the territory’s 1.8 million people. Israel wants guarantees to end rocket fire and attacks on its citizens.

Close to 2,000 Palestinians have been killed — most civilians — and more than 10,000 people have been wounded since the war began July 8, according to United Nations figures. In Israel, 67 people have been killed, all but three soldiers.

A member of the Palestinian delegation told The Associated Press on Sunday that the gaps between the sides were still significant and that it was far from certain whether a deal could be reached before the cease-fire expires.

“We are less optimistic than we were earlier,” he said.

The negotiator said that a key sticking point remains Hamas’s insistence that Israel pledge to end its Gaza blockade before the talks conclude. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the issue

with journalists.

Under the terms of an Egyptian proposal, Israel and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority would negotiate the end to the blockade at some point in the future. The blockade has restricted the flow of goods into Gaza and blocked virtually all exports, as well as limited Palestinians’ movement in and out of the territory.

Israel says the closure is necessary to prevent arms smuggling, and officials are reluctant to make any concessions that would allow Hamas to declare vic-

tory. Israel, meanwhile, is demanding that Hamas be disarmed, or at the very least, be prevented from re-arming, something the militant group has rejected.

Speaking before Israel’s weekly Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas had suffered a huge setback in the four-week war and that would be reflected at the Cairo talks.

“If Hamas thinks its defeat on the battlefield will be papered over by a victory at the negotiating table it is mistaken,” he said.

Hamas has recovered

from previous rounds of violence with Israel, including a major three-week air and ground operation in January 2009 and another weeklong air offensive in 2012. It still has an arsenal of several thousand rockets, some with long ranges and relatively heavy payloads.

The current round of fighting began after Hamas resumed firing rockets at Israel following the arrests of suspected Hamas-affiliated militants in the West Bank. Israel said the arrests came as part of the investigation into the killing of three Israeli teens in June.

Liberia gives experimental Ebola drug to three doctors

Ukraine says rebels shot down fighter jet KIEV, August 17 (AP): Separatists have shot down a Ukrainian fighter plane amid fighting between proRussian rebels and Ukrainian government forces in the eastern part of the country, a Ukrainian military spokesman said Sunday. Oleksiy Dmitrashkovsky said that the plane was shot down over the Luhansk region after launching an attack on rebels. The pilot ejected and was taken to a secure place, he said. Further details about the incident or the condition of the pilot were not immediately available. Fighting in Ukraine has escalated since the insurgency arose in April, with government troops steadily taking back rebel-held territory in the east. The city of Luhansk is encircled

by Ukrainian forces and is reportedly suffering from severe electrical outages and shortages of food and medicine. Donetsk, the largest rebel-held city, is also suffering through fighting including frequent shelling.

The latest fighting comes as a Russian aid convoy is waiting on the Ukrainian border for clearance to bring supplies to suffering civilians in the region.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which would have responsibility for distributing the aid, on Saturday said the main holdup was a lack of security guarantees from all sides in the conflict. Although the rebels have lost significant ground to Ukrainian forces in recent weeks, the downing of the fighter jet showed they retain substantial firepower.

In a video posted online this weekend, the leader of the self-proclaimed rebel government in the Donetsk region, Alexander Zakharchenko, was seen saying new military equipment was on its way from Russia.

He said the shipment included tanks and some 1,200 fighters who have undergone training in Russia.

Russia has consistently denied allegations that it is supporting the rebels with equipment or training.

But Ukraine’s president on Friday said that Ukraine had destroyed a large number of military vehicles that had recently crossed from Russia. As fighting continued and the status of the Russian aid convoy remained uncertain, the foreign minister of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France were expected to meet in Berlin on Sunday over the crisis.

Pope Francis, right, blesses a crying child who is not wanting to separate from his mother, near a Vatican gendarmerie, center, upon the Pope's arrival for the Closing Holy Mass of the 6th Asian Youth Day in Haemi Castle in Haemi, south of Seoul, South Korea on August 17. (AP Photo)

Indonesian children play a sack race during the Independence Day celebration in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 17. Indonesia is celebrating its 69th anniversary of the Independence from the Netherlands. (AP Photo)

MONROVIA, August 17 (REutERs): Health care workers in Liberia have administered three doses of the rare, experimental drug ZMapp to three doctors suffering from Ebola, two medical workers in Monrovia told Reuters. Liberia, the West African country with the highest death toll from the tropical virus at 413, received three doses of the rare serum in a special consignment this week.

Doctors Zukunis Ireland and Abraham Borbor from Liberia and Dr. Aroh Cosmos Izchukwu from Nigeria are the first Africans to receive the treatment.

The drug has already been administered to two American healthcare workers and a Spanish priest, all previously working in Liberian hospitals.

The U.S. healthcare

workers’ health has since only around 10 to 12 doses improved but the Spanish of the drug have been made priest died. “Three doctors and this raises difficult ethare currently being admin- ical questions about who istered treatment with the should get priority access.

The apparent improveexperimental Ebola drug ZMapp. Treatment began ment in the two U.S. healthon Thursday evening,” said care workers’ condition has Dr. Billy Johnson, chief stoked popular pressure to medical officer of John make the drug available to Africans - a cause F. Kennedy ‘The apparent advocated by Medical Centre in Monroimprovement in the Twitter via where two two US healthcare hashtag group #giveustheseof the doctors served before workers’ condition rum. There is contracting has stoked popular currently no the deadly vi- pressure to make vaccine against rus. the drug available the highlycontagious disA second to Africans.’ ease and other healthcare worker at the Elwa centre forms of treatment are only which is housing the sick designed to relieve sympdoctors confirmed that toms such as fever, vomiting they were on their third and haemorrhaging.

Up to 90 percent of vicday of a six-day ZMapp treatment. Details of their tims die - a fatality rate so condition are not known. high that the U.S. Centers The U.N. health agency said for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) classifies the illness as a category A “bioterrorism agent” although the current outbreak fatality rate is near 60 percent. Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has declared a state of emergency due to the outbreak, widely seen as the country’s biggest challenge since the 1989-2003 civil war.

Health care workers fighting to stop the disease’s spread in often overcrowded and ill-equipped clinics often succumb to Ebola themselves. The World Health Organization says that more than 170 healthcare workers have been infected and at least 81 have died. U.S. President Barack Obama called Johnson-Sirleaf earlier this week to offer condolences for the country’s losses and discussed control measures, Liberia said in a statement.

Islamic State executed 700 people from a Syrian tribe

BEIRut/AMMAN, August 17 (REutERs): The Islamic State militant group has executed 700 members of a tribe it has been battling in eastern Syria during the past two weeks, the majority of them civilians, a human rights monitoring group and activists said on Saturday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has tracked violence on all sides of the three-yearold conflict, said reliable sources reported beheadings were used to execute many of the al-Sheitaat tribe, which is from Deir alZor province.

The conflict between Islamic State and the al-

Sheitaat tribe, who number about 70,000, flared after the militants took over two oil fields in July. “Those who were executed are all alSheitaat,” Observatory director Rami Abdelrahman said by telephone from Britain. “Some were arrested, judged and killed.”

Reuters cannot independently verify reports from Syria due to security conditions and reporting restrictions. Proclaiming a ‘caliphate’ straddling parts of Iraq and Syria, Islamic State has swept across northern Iraq in recent weeks, pushing back Kurdish regional forces and driving tens of thousands of Muslims, Christians and

members of the Yazidi religious minority from their homes, prompting the first U.S. air strikes in Iraq since the withdrawal of American troops in 2011.

The insurgents are also tightening their grip in Syria, of which they now control roughly a third, mostly rural areas in the north and east. An activist in Deir alZor who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters that 300 men were executed in one day in the town of Ghraneij, one of the three main towns of the alSheitaat tribal heartland, when Islamic State stormed the town earlier this week.

Another opposition activist from Deir al-Zor

said residents of al-Sheitaat towns had been given three days to leave. “Those who were executed during the storming of the alSheitaat area are around 300. The rest were killed in the course of the battles,” he told Reuters on condition of anonymity to protect his identity. Civilians fleeing al-Sheitaat towns had either taken sanctuary in other villages or travelled to Iraq, he said.

More than 170,000 people have been killed in Syria’s civil war, which pits overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim rebels against President Bashar al-Assad, a member of the Shi’itederived Alawite minority,

backed by Shi’ite militias from Iraq and Lebanon.

The insurgency is split between competing factions in Syria, with Islamic State emerging as the most powerful. Tribal powers in Syria and Iraq have had to make the choice between fighting Islamic State or pledging allegiance.

On Friday, a video posted on YouTube showed men who said they were from the al-Sheitaat towns of Kishkeih and Abu Hammam pledging full support for Islamic State. “We say that what Islamic State stands for is justice,” a tribal member sitting in a room with dozens of other men said in a statement that was read out.

The head of the alSheitaat tribe, Sheikh Rafaa Aakla al-Raju, called in a video message for other tribes to join them in the fight against the militants.

“We appeal to the other tribes to stand by us because it will be their turn next ... If (Islamic State) are done with us the other tribes will be targeted after al-Sheitaat. They are the next target,” he said in the video, posted on YouTube.

Islamic State was condemned on Friday in a U.N. Security Council resolution for “gross, systematic and widespread abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.”

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Dimapur

SPORTS

Monday 18 August 2014

The Morung Express

Ramsey ends Arsenal's 5-year wait for opening win LONDON, AUGUST 17 (AP): Aaron Ramsey gave Arsenal a winning start to the Premier League for the first time in five years on Saturday, grabbing a stoppage-time goal in a 2-1 victory over manager-less Crystal Palace. The Welshman emerged as a scoring force in midfield last season, and carried on where he left off with his late intervention.

"It was very difficult. They came out and defended really well and were very tough to break down," Ramsey said. "They lost their manager earlier in the week but you'd never have known that the way they played."

Ramsey's goal in the FA Cup final in May ended Arsenal's nineyear trophy drought, and he provided the perfect launchpad to win the league title for the first time since 2004. Performances, though, will have to improve if the trophy is to be taken off Manchester City.

The winner was only scrambled in just after Arsenal gained a man advantage, with Jason Puncheon receiving a second yellow card in the 90th minute after receiving a second yellow card for a late tackle on Nacho Monreal.

Puncheon had set up Palace's opener in the 35th, whipping in a corner that Brede Hangeland was able to glance into the net with a header. But Arsenal equalized on the stroke of halftime, also with a defender heading in from a set piece. Laurent Koscielny was unmarked when he met a free kick from offseason recruit Alexis Sanchez. Although Arsenal paid $60 million for the Chile striker, this opening-day performance highlighted the need for more cutting edge up front, with goalkeeper Julian Speroni rarely tested.

"We still lack a bit of pace in the final third," Wenger said. "Our flu-

ency will come."

In part, Arsenal's collapse last season — after spending more time at the top than any rivals before finishing fourth — was down to injuries. And the new campaign opened with left back Kieran Gibbs being forced off at the start of the second half with a potential hamstring problem. "How bad it is I don't know," Wenger said.

Wenger is now in his 19th season as Arsenal manager — currently the longest-serving across English football's four professional leagues. Pulis' departure meant the Frenchman was facing the most inexperienced manager, with Keith Millen in the Palace dugout less than 48 hours into his temporary reign. "Who needs a manager?" Palace fans chanted in the early evening summer sun.

Pulis certainly proved his value to Palace last season, though, as he

took control of a team facing relegation under Ian Holloway and won the manager of the year award as he steered them to an 11th-place finish. But his relationship with the club's board apparently broke down over a dispute over how the team should be strengthened in the transfer window.

Millen said he will speak to the Palace leadership on Sunday about whether he could stay in charge on a full-time basis — especially after his team successfully held out for so long against Arsenal. "Because of the physicality and organizational level of Crystal Palace it was very difficult for us," Wenger said.

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, left, fights for the ball with Crystal Palace's Mile Jedinak during their English Premier League soccer match at Emirates Stadium, in London on August 16. (AP Photo)

LOCAL

On Independence Day, the Dimapur Bangali Samaj provided foods and new cloth to the orphans of Wondang-ki Orphanage Home at Dimapur. DBS president K.K Paul (Advocate) on behalf of DBS assured the management that the DBS will always extend its co-operation as and when necessary.

The Dimapur Gorkha Union (DGU) visited the Sub-Jail, Dimapur on the occasion of India's Independence Day. The inmates were served with food by the DGU. The Chairman, Kumar Subba, extended greetings to the staffs and the inmates and told the inmates to realise and repent their mistakes or the crimes they have committed and also said that, they must serve the society and nation as good citizens after serving their terms.

The Gorkha Public Panchayat Kohima along with Gorkha NGOs and GBs visited Cherry Blossom School, Kohima, an inclusive school of differently abled children and distributed food, stationery and first aid materials.

PSG beats Bastia 2-0 in French league

PARIS, AUGUST 17 (AP): Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain earned its first win of the season in the French league by defeating Bastia 2-0 on Saturday, but lost star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to an injury.

Ibrahimovic had to come off after just 15 minutes with an apparent abdominal strain, but Lucas Moura and Edinson Cavani provided goals in his absence. Lucas met a cross from Gregory Van der Wiel to volley into the bottom corner from a tight angle in the 26th minute. Cavani doubled the lead by controlling a long ball from Marco Verratti before firing home in the 57th.

PSG has four points from two matches after drawing 2-2 with Reims in its opening game last week.

The game was marred by an incident after the final whistle, as Bastia striker Brandao waited for Thiago Motta in the tunnel and headbutted the PSG midfielder, leaving him with blood running down from his nose. PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi told BeIn Sport television that

Ancient sport of kabaddi gets a modern twist C. Rajshekhar Rao AP Sports Writer

Members of Kerala Club Kohima visited the District TB & Chest Diseases Hospital Khuzama.

The team members met the inmates, numbering about fifteen, of the hospital and the staff on duty. Dr. Sebu, Medical Officer of the hospital gave a briefing on the present method of treatment given to the TB patients. Temla, Matron briefed the members of the functioning of the Hospital.

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Youths of Muslim Council Dimapur seen with Children of Nagaland Orphanage Home, Diphupar after distributing sweets, snacks and juice on India's Independence Day Celebration held on August 15.

Lions and Leo Club of Dimapur celebrated Independence Day at Loins Center. The Flag was hoisted in the presence of the member of the Lions, the Blue Vanda and the Leo Club of Dimapur which was followed by National anthem and flag salutation. The member visited the Mother Teresa Charitable Home and distributed a food items and later the member also visited the Prodigals Home where they distributed food items under the chairmanship of Leo Sanjay Jaiswal.

Rotary Club of Dimapur, Rotaract club of Dimapur and Innerwheel Club of Dimapur visited CIHSR and distributed fruits and other eatables to about 80 patients and wished them Godspeed recovery. The clubs also under its pilot program Preserve Planet Earth planted saplings in the premises of the Hospital. The club members also visited St Joseph's Children Home and distributed fruits and other eatables to about 40 inmates. The clubs also donated Rice and Cereals under its project Annodan and under TEACH mission sponsored note books and stationaries for the students of the home."

Lions Club of Kohima (LCK) members are seen with the inmates of Leprosy Colony, Naga Bazaar, Kohima on occasion of India's Independence Day Celebration on August 15. LCK members handed over rice, meats, dals, potatoes, sweets to them. (NEPS Photo)

Members of Marwari Yuwa Manch Dimapur branch provided food to the inmates at Central Unique Club, Dimapur distributing food and clothes to needy people near Dimapur Railway jail, Dimapur on Independence Day. Station on the occasion of India’s Independence Day.

Thiago Motta had a broken nose and that Brandao "must be banned for life."

In his French league debut, PSG centerback David Luiz produced a solid performance. However, Ibrahimovic's injury comes just five days after Brazil defender Thiago Silva pulled his right hamstring in a friendly. Cavani started the match as a winger, but Ibrahimovic's injury allowed him to play as a center forward, his favored position. The Uruguay striker knocked down a high ball for Ezequiel Lavezzi, whose half-volley sailed over the bar in the 39th. Cavani then had a free kick saved

by Bastia goalkeeper Alphonse Areola in the 78th.

Elsewhere, Lyon suffered its first loss of the season, falling 2-1 at Toulouse.

Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro and Wissam Ben Yedder gave the hosts a 2-0 lead in the first half before Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette scored a consolation goal in the 75th. Evian was thrashed for the second straight league game, losing 6-2 at Rennes.

or centuries, shirtless and shoeless young warriors gathered and grappled on patches of muddy ground near the foot of the Himalayas, practicing the ancient contact sport of Kabaddi. For the most part it was unchanged, and uncomplicated. Like other popular sports in India, though, the modern transformation has been rapid, driven by commercial opportunities and with the intention of going global.

Now there's two professional leagues — one in India and another which recently kicked off in London. Backers of the pro leagues are marketing slick new versions of kabaddi that they hope will compete with the mushrooming franchise-based sports leagues in India — particularly cricket, the runaway success story of them all.

So far, they're following the formula. Bollywood film stars have been roped in as owners or promoters, elaborate marketing plans have been rolled out and live broadcasting deals done.

"We're only trying to capitalize on the popularity of the sport among South Asians and expatriates," World Kabaddi League chief executive Raman Raheja explains.

"We got to know of the potential of this game during the organization of World Cups in Punjab over the past few years featuring teams from around the world."

The race to franchisebased competitions was sparked by the instant success of the seemingly made-for-television Twenty20 cricket in India, when competing leagues battled for billions in potential revenue.

There's no all-embracing world governing body for the physical, tag-like game of Kabaddi, and the World Kabaddi League and

Pro Kabaddi League have slightly different formats.

The seven-a-side version that is popular in south Asia and has been a regular medal sport in the Asian Games since 1990. One team sends a raider into the rival half of the field to gain points by tackling, wrestling, grabbing or tagging opponents while chanting 'kabaddi' in a single breath. In the meantime, he tries to touch opposing players and then return to his own half to earn points. If he makes it back, the players he touched are out of the game. Teams take turns to send raiders, with the aim of the defending team to either evade the raider or tackle him in such a way that he can't return to his side before running out of breath.

It became popular, particularly in northwestern India, because it requires little more than a square piece of land about half the size of a basketball court for matches, and can be played indoors or out, on the beach, on grass, dirt or mud. But the newer versions are played on synthetic mats and chants of kabaddi have been replaced by a 30-second time limit for each raid.

While the Pro Kabaddi League is affiliated with the International Kabaddi Federation and follows the format used at the Asian Games, the World Kabaddi League allows only one person per team to wrestle with the raider.

While nobody can predict the long-term viability of the leagues, the players are certainly hoping it lasts.

"Who'd have thought a few years ago that we would be playing this game as paid professionals?" said Royal Kings USA player Balram Singh, who comes from a farming family in the Punjab. "This kabaddi is totally different from what we used to play in our villages and the players are happy to be playing in front of large crowds — and earning money from the sport."

Monday

Entertainment

The Morung Express

18 August 2014

Dimapur

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Sylvester Stallone Lady Gaga

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calls Ajay’s ‘Singham Returns’ the Indian ‘Rambo’

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ow this is a compliment which definitely must have made Ajay Devgn happy. In a recent interview to Rajeev Masand, Sylvester Stallone called Ajay Devgn’s ‘Singham Returns’ the Indian ‘Rambo’. Wishing the ‘Singham Returns’ team luck, Stallone’s compliments came as a pleasant surprise to the entire team.

Stallone, of course knows Kareena Kapoor because he had done a short cameo in one of her films- ‘Kambakht Ishq’. Finding out details

about the film, Stallone seems to have liked the action sequences in ‘Singham Returns’. High octane, adrenaline pumping stunt sequences and car chases, one that’s Stallone’s trademark signature style in most of his films especially the ‘Rambo’ series, ‘Singham Returns’ is receiving huge appreciation for the action quotient from all voer the world. And being talked about in the same lines as a ‘Rambo’ must be a huge compliment for Rohit Shetty, ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor and the entire team. Indian films are definitely pushing the boundaries way beyond their limits.

And with Stallone wishing calling ‘Singham Returns’ the Indian ‘Rambo’, it is like a cherry on the cake!

Armed Police Called in As Lady Gaga Is Mobbed in South Korea

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Frances McDormand to Be Honoured At Venice Film Festival

rmed police were called in to rescue Lady Gaga after she was mobbed by hundreds of fans at an airport in South Korea on Friday (15Aug14). The Poker Face singer flew into Gimpo International Airport, a small regional base near Seoul, on Friday ahead of her gig in the city on Saturday (16Aug14), and she was caught in a crush as hundreds of devotees descended on the terminal building. An onlooker tells WENN, “She came in on a private jet from Japan... I reckon there was 2,000plus people there and around 25 armed

police officers... The crowd was crazy, but the police were able to stop Gaga from getting caught in the crush. The situation was managed very professionally”. The singer later played down the scary situation in a post on her Twitter.com page, writing, “Thank you to the hundreds of beautiful fans that greeted me at the airport. Your love means so much to me. I will show you my love and leave my heart on the stage”. Gaga arrived in Seoul carrying a stuffed toy which resembled her pet dog Asia, who has not been allowed to travel with the singer.

Jennifer Lopez Wants to Move in With Maksim Lords of Dogtown Skater

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he ‘On The Floor’ hitmaker, who previously insisted she was just friends with the professional dancer, is reportedly ready to go public with their romance and she wants to take their relationship to the next level. A source told America’s Star magazine: “They can’t get enough of each other. Her chemistry with Maks is electric.

“She’s never felt this way about any man in the past.” The ‘American Idol’ judge - who has twins Max and Emme, six, with ex-husband Marc Anthony - was previously said to be taking her romance with Maksim slowly. A source said recently: “She does not want to get her kids involved in meeting another guy yet. “This is so new. There has been a date here and there, but really they are good friends before anything else. Maks asks her for advice and she thinks he is super-talented and very hot. Obviously that is hard to ignore.” While things may not be romantic between them yet, the 45-year-old beauty - who has been married three times - is said to be “open” to finding lasting love. The source added: “They do text and communicate and she is open to dating in general right now. “She still believes true love exists and wants to find that someday.”

Jay Adams Dead At 53

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he legendary skateboard icon who Emile Hirsch portrayed in the film Lords of Dogtown has died after suffering a heart attack. Jay Adams passed away in Mexico on Thursday (14Aug14), aged 53. The action sports hero was on vacation with his family in what was his first trip outside the U.S in 20 years. Adams was not allowed to leave the country following a series of legal wrangles. According to TMZ.com, he had been in and out of jail since the 1980s on various felony drug charges, and he was charged with murder and convicted of assault following a hate crime incident in Los Angeles. Adams was posting photos of the waves on a Mexican beach on Instagram hours before he died.

He began skating at the age of four and joined the Zephyr Competition Team, aka the Z-Boys, in 1974. He placed third in the Junior Men’s Freestyle at the Bahne-Cadillac Del Mar Nationals in 1975.

The All Saints come marching in!

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rances McDormand will be honoured for her career achievements at the Venice Film Festival in Italy in September (14). The Fargo actress will receive the Persol Tribute to Visionary Talent Award ahead of a screening of her upcoming TV mini-series Olive Kitteridge on 1 September (14). Festival director Alberto Barbera says, “Thanks to her long-standing experience in theatre, film and TV, dedicated to the search for truth, the career of Frances McDormand is not only that of an extraordinary actress but also reflects her consistent vision of art and of the world that is often in positive and aware contrast with today’s prevailing value system”. The Venice Film Festival runs from 27 August until 6 September (14). The TV series will hit U.S. screens in November (14).

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ore than a decade after going their separate ways, All Saints delighted their fans as they teamed up to give fans a taste of what they’ve been missing on Saturday.

Shaznay Lewis, Melanie Blatt and sisters Natalie and Nicole Appleton joined forces on The Arena Stage during the first day of the V Festival, and sang their way through an array of hits. The ladies performed such chart-toppers as Booty Call, Under The Bridge and Black Coffee for thousands of fans at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex. Never Ever, Pure Shores and Rock Steady also included in their ros-

Bobby Womack’s

ter of songs, as they performed hits by other stars, including Kanye West, Jay-Z and Azealia Banks.

And the singers looked slick for their performance, with black being a dominating theme in their stage attire. Wearing her blonde hair in a shoulder-length bob, Natalie rocked a black sleeveless mesh top over shiny black leggings, giving her outfit a little egde with a pocket chain and a pair of gloves. Her sister Nicole performed in a pair of shades, as she rocked a black top with black leather trousers, assessorising with a chunky gold chain. Shaznay showed off her

curves in a tight pair of combat trousers, although she was zipped in a black jacket, adding a collection of gold chains to her ensemble. Melanie opted for a black blouse, which she teamed with ripped black jeans and a gold bomber jacket. As the group’s performance wore on, Melanie tied the jacket around her waist. Also performing at V festival were Lily Allen, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Rita Ora and Pixie Lott. Celebrities turned up in their droves to see the performances, including, Amelia Lily, Vanessa White, Katherine Jenkins and Coleen Rooney.

Reformed girl group thrill fans as they perform a string of hits during first day of V Festival

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Kongos - ‘Lunatic’ Album Review

Final Album to Be Released Before the End of 2014

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obby Womack’s longtime tour manager and sidekick is hoping to release the album the soul great had just completed before his death in June (14) in time for the holidays. Don Smalls tells WENN new tracks, including collaborations with rappers Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and late R&B star Teena Marie, will feature on the untitled release, which will kick start a flurry of activity for the Womack estate.

He says, “It’s in the can and we’re hoping to drop the album in the next 60 days. We’re currently deciding what label the album will be released on”. Smalls reveals there’s a feast of riches to work with, including tracks Womack recorded recently with Van Morrison and Ronnie Wood, but there’s one planned project with Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse’s backing group The Dap Kings that won’t be realised. Smalls adds, “We were booked to hit the studio with The Dap Kings on 23 August. They wanted to record an album project with Bob. The guys came to Bob’s house to meet with him and the whole thing had been greenlighted. “Bob was really looking forward to getting into the studio with those guys”. A live album from a concert Womack performed in Georgia last year (13), an all-star tribute show, a documentary and a biopic are also in the works.

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uickly building a huge and rapturous beat, opening track ‘I’m Only Joking’ gives listeners an immediate taste of everything that’s to follow, perfectly painting a picture of the four brothers that make up Kongos, banding together to create something special. Standout tune ‘Come With Me Now’ shows off their growling and gravelly tones that have made them such a success stateside, and explores the ideas of ‘losing myself tonight’ and making something of your life, instead of being ‘caught up in this world / wasted time, wasted breath’. Reggae makes its way into ‘I Want To Know’, playing alongside riffs of electro-pop in a tune that could easily rival current MAGIC! hit ‘Rude’.

‘Kids These Days’ touches on political elements as well as popular culture, offer-

ing another educated layer to the record that some may find a little grating if in the ‘offending’ categories brushed over. Softer sides are shown with ‘As We Are’ and ‘Traveling On’ as delicate instrumentals open the gates for gentle vocals to come to the forefront. ‘Hey I Don’t Know’ feels like an old Beatles track that didn’t make the cut, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less great than any of those songs that came before it. Gritty rock combined with elements of pop and other genres that fuse their way into proceedings make for some beautiful listening, as versatility is proven by the band time and time again. Ominous yet joyful, hypnotic rhythms ensure that you’re gripped from the first moment and the collection refuses to let go until you go away from the record impressed and totally satisfied.

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England thrash India by innings Sturridge earns Liverpool win over Southampton and 244 runs, win series 3-1

The England cricket team celebrate with champagne their 3-1 series win, after defeating India on the third day of the fifth test cricket match at Oval cricket ground in London, Sunday, August 17. Captain Alastair Cook holds the trophy from the series. (AP Photo)

LONdON, AUGUST 17 (PTI): India's recent saga of spineless performances touched a new low as they crashed to a humiliating innings and 244 runs defeat well inside three days in the fifth and final cricket Test against England, who clinched the series with a 3-1 margin, here on Sunday. It was yet another abject surrender by the batsman, who were shot out for 94 in just 29.2 overs as they

continued their embarassing display succumbing to their heaviest Test defeat in 40 years.

This was after England took a gigantic 338 runs lead with a healthy first innings score of 486 riding on a brilliant 149 not out

by Joe Root. The series win enbaled Alastair Cook and his boys to retain the Pataudi Trophy for the second straight time in three years.

While statistically, it

was not a 'Whitewash' like the last time in 2011 when India lost 0-4, but once the script took a different turn in Southampton, it had only been a case of humiliation of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men, who simply were not good enough to put up a semblance of fight against a rampaging English outfit, running all over them. The likes of Gautam Gambhir (3), Cheteshwar Pujara (11), Virat Kohli (20)

whose faulty techniques in adverse conditions was cruelly exposed by the likes of Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad. While Kohli did not have a clue about how to tackle deliveries shaping away, Pujara was all at sea against the ball coming into the right-hander.

It was ironical that India lost two Test matches with a total playing time of five days -- which is the duration of a single Test match. It

Federer, Williams through to final Ana Ivanovic ousts Sharapova in three-set thriller

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MASON, AUGUST 17 (AP): Serena Williams came back to advance to the Western & Southern Open final Saturday as Roger Federer moved into position for his sixth title in the tournament.

The top-ranked Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, and the second-seeded Roger Federer turned back fifth-seeded Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-3.

Williams lost a set for the first time in the tournament and committed 41 unforced errors, 20 more than Wozniacki. Williams will face ninth-seeded Ana Ivanovic in the final. Ivanovic beat fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 in a night match. Federer will play sixth-seeded David Ferrer, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Julien Benneteau.

Williams beat the 12thseeded Wozniacki for the eighth time in nine career matches, overcoming a tight lower back. "It was definitely feeling super tight in the match," she said. "That's when I really relaxed, to be honest. By then I was able just to go for more shots and come to the net more and just kind of just not have anything to lose." She also tried to shorten points with booming serves, leading to getting just 58 percent of her serves in play.

"I just had to go for rockets because I wasn't feeling great," she said. "I thought, 'Listen, I'm going to go out and just try to hit aces and see what happens.' It started working for me. I was like, 'OK.' Hopefully my arm will be OK tomorrow. We'll see."

With the win, Williams also wrapped up the U.S. Open Series women's title.

Williams has won it three of the past four years and will attempt to set another record for the largest payout in tennis history at the U.S. Open — $4 million ($3 million for winning the U.S. Open and a $1 million bonus for winning the U.S. Open as the series champion).

The two-time defending U.S. Open champion won both the U.S. Open Series

Ana Ivanovic, from Serbia, returns to Maria Sharapova, from Russia, during a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament on August 16 in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo)

title and the U.S. Open last year. She is the only woman to win the U.S. Open Series bonus challenge three times (2011, 2013, 2014).

No other woman has won it more than once. Despite winning his first two service games at love and jumping out to a 4-1 lead, Federer wasn't trying to shorten the match because of its late start — after Ivanovic and Sharapova went 2 hours, 45 minutes.

"I play the same speed at all times," Federer said. "If

you start hurrying, then you might get broken. I'm happy with the win. I know Milos can cause difficulties with his game. It's unpredictable.

He plays on his terms." Ferrer suspected Benneteau, who upset third-seeded Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals, might've been nervous about playing in his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.

Ivanovic had to fight off nausea that prompted a visit from the trainer in the second game of the third

set. That left her even more proud of her second straight win over Sharapova and fourth in 12 meetings. "It's a very thrilling, I think, moment because it was very competitive towards the end, especially in the third set," Ivanovic said. "Even in the second, lots of turn around, lots of breaks in the third set. Just so, so thrilled and happy to stay composed and fight until the last moment. When it mattered the most, I played some really good tennis."

was near-impossible to prevent a landslide victory for England but opener Murali Vijay (2), who had a decent first half of the tour got an incutter from Anderson was adjudged leg-before.

Gautam Gambhir (3) didn't slide the bat in as he was a feet short off the crease failing to beat a direct throw from Chris Woakes.

While India went into the lunch at 9 for two, the writing was there on the wall.

LIVERPOOL, AUGUST 17 (AP): Daniel Sturridge ensured Liverpool began the post-Luis Suarez era in victorious fashion, scoring a 79th minute goal to seal a 2-1 win over Southampton in their first match of the Premier League season at Anfield on Sunday.

The home crowd had been getting restless after a slow opening but came to life in the 23rd minute when Jordan Henderson won the ball in midfield, beat Schneiderlin in a 5050 tackle and sent a glorious long ball through to Sterling.

One on one with goalkeeper Fraser Forster, the England winger slipped a low shot into the bottom corner.

Little was expected of Southampton after the summer fire-sale of its best players but in Dusan Tadic, the south-coast team looks to have a new player who can excite its fans. Impressive in the first half, the Serbia winger — signed from Dutch club FC Twente — made Nathaniel Clyne's equalizer in the 56th with an exquisite back-heel into the path of the right back, who thumped a shot into the top corner at the near post.

Liverpool fell off the pace at the start of the second half and Steven Davis sidefooted a great chance at goalkeeper Simon Mignolet on the hour mark.

The introduction of substitutes Joe Allen and Lambert pepped up Liverpool and

Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge, centre, keeps the ball from Southampton's Maya Yoshida during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Sunday August 17. (AP Photo)

when Sterling sent a header back into the danger area after a cross had been partially cleared, Sturridge pounced to begin the season as he finished the last.

Even then, the victory

was only just preserved as Morgan Schneiderlin struck the bar for Southampton in the 88th minute and substitute Shane Long headed the rebound just wide.

Marc Marquez run ends as Pedrosa wins Czech MotoGP

BRNO, AUGUST 17 (AFP): Marc Marquez's hopes of setting a record 11 straight MotoGP wins ended on Sunday as Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa of Spain won the Czech Republic MotoGP in Brno.

Pedrosa, who won at Brno in 2012, finished the 22 laps on the dry 5.4-kilometre (3.36-mile) circuit in 42min 47.800sec, ahead of Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, with Marquez finishing fourth.

Marquez was looking to become the first premier class rider ever to win the 11 opening races of a season. Italian legend Giacomo Agostini won the opening 10 races of the premier class season in 1968, 1969 and 1970 at a time when he dominated the sport.

However, no one has ever won the first eleven -- in part because Agostini's perfect season in 1968 comprised only 10 events.

Marquez, who failed to make it to the podium for the first time since Australia last year, now tops the championship with 263 points, 77 ahead of Pedrosa and 90 ahead of Rossi.

As often this season, Marquez got off to a poor start from pole position, dropping to sixth place. Lorenzo soon settled down at the front, followed by Pedrosa who overtook him on the fifth lap to nurse his lead with Lorenzo never really getting close enough to fight back. Marquez clinched the third spot but instead of narrowing the gap on the two leaders, he found himself under heavy pressure from Rossi. Shrugging off a heavy crash in Saturday's practice in which he injured the little finger on his left hand, Rossi, who has won five premier class races in Brno, breezed past Marquez midway through the race. He finished more than five seconds ahead of the championship leader in what was the 190th time he finished on the podium in all classes of motorcycling Grand Prix.

Earlier on Sunday, Spanish Moto 2 championship leader Esteve Rabat dominated the race in his category ahead of Finnish teammate Mika Kallio and Germany's Sandro Cortese.

Dani Pedrosa (AP Photo)

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