August 20th 2014

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The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 227

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www.morungexpress.com

If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of

‘Tough steps against corruption in offing’ [ PAGE 8]

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Dimapur | August 19

Table tenders galore Morung Express News Dimapur | August 19

The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) today revealed that the Roads & Bridges department has issued 27 work orders through ‘table tender’, valued at over Rs. 85.6 crores, during October 2013 to April 2014. This was sourced through an RTI petition. The department had earlier maintained that the practice of ‘table tender’ was against NPWD norms.

Based on this information the NFHRCC said that “the stand taken by the department that work order was issued through table tender is not in line with the rules and regulations is totally baseless and misleading.” NFHRCC further informed the media that they presented the RTI findings to the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) today. The NFHRCC stated that the CSC expressed surprise at the disclosure, while the Chief Engineer did not offer any explanation.

Full report on page 5

BAN against hiking prices DIMAPUR, AUGUST 19 (MExN): The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) has appealed to business owners in Nagaland to refrain from escalating prices due to blockade imposed in Assam. A press note from BAN stated that business owners “must be sympathetic to the woes of the people and in times such as this...”It lamented that “some traders immediately resorted to increasing prices of essentials commodities upon declaration of indefinite bandh in Assam” and urged the district administration to curb such unscrupulous malpractices.

NLD Governor’s chopper makes emergency landing

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AGARTAlA, AUGUST 19 (IANS): Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya Tuesday had a providential escape as the helicopter he was travelling in made an emergency landing due to bad weather. “The governor was coming to Agartala from Kohima (Nagaland) by a Pawan Hans helicopter via Imphal (Manipur).

The chopper could not land at the Agartala airport in the afternoon due to extremely inclement weather and landed at a school ground in Khowai in western Tripura,” Banamali Sinha, principal secretary in-charge of the Raj Bhavan secretariat informed.

MEC conducts survey on Govt Sponsored Loans in Mkg

[ PAGE 11]

[ PAGE 9]

[ PAGE 2]

Liberia fights Ebola, W. Africa toll tops 1,200

Wednesday, August 20, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Bruce Lee

Fletcher’s wings clipped, Shastri appointed Indian Team Director [ PAGE 12]

Peoples’ initiative makes breakthrough K Filip Sumi

Artificial rates? Sir, before the Eco-blockade it was 150 Rs per kg, but in the greater interest of the Nagas we lowered the price to 100 Rs!

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Kajol’s comeback film to hit theaters in 2015

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Six organizations under the Border Coordination Committee (BCC), Uriamghat of Golaghat/Jorhat district, Assam have resolved not to impose economic blockades against Nagaland in the future. This resolution was arrived at during a joint meeting of the Naga Hoho, Naga Students’ Federation, Naga Council Dimapur and Border Coordination Committee, Uriamghat of Golaghat held at Bokajan on Tuesday.

The current economic blockade against Nagaland, enforced since August 14, was scheduled to be lifted today. However, law enforcement agencies in Assam arrested “student volunteers” on Tuesday, which prompted Assam based organizations to extend the blockade. The current blockade is expected to be lifted once the arrested student volunteers are released.During the meeting, both sides were engaged in discussions on the recent “serious land border situation” in Ralan-Uriamghat area which has led to loss of lives and property. The organizations condemned the incident and resolved to prevent occurrences of such “unfortunate situations.”

The meeting unanimously expressed the view that the Government of India and the Assam and Nagaland state governments should urgently look into the border dispute without further delay for a permanent solution. To ensure maintenance of peace along the border areas till a permanent solution is arrived at, the two sides called

• 6 Assam based bodies resolve not to impose economic blockade against Nagaland in future • Current blockade expected to be lifted after arrested student volunteers are released Situation is still fragile: Home Minister

Members of Naga Hoho, NSF, Naga Council Dimapur and Border Coordination Committee, Uriamghat after a joint meeting at Bokajan, Assam on Tuesday. (Morung Photo)

Mokokchung public advised not to panic Our Correspondent Mokokchung | August 19

Authorities in Mokokchung have advised the public not to panic after several Assam-based organizations imposed an indefinite economic blockade on Nagaland.

Both arterial highways connecting Mokokchung district with Assam, via Mariani and Amguri, remained blocked as various organizations imposed total bandh on movement of Nagaland-bound vehicles.

Administrator of the Mokokchung Municipal Council and ADC, Chubawati Chang has directed all business establishments under MMC not to hike prices of commodities, while also informing the public not to resort to panic buying.

According to a report in the for reviewing the earlier tripartite agreement made, involving representatives of the Government of India and the two state governments. Further, both sides

vernacular Ao Milen, the Mokokchung DC, Muroho Chotso is reported to have had a telephonic conversation with his Sivasagar and Jorhat counterparts in Assam with regard to the economic blockade. However, according to the report, no positive response was forthcoming from the administrators in the neighboring Assam districts and the Mokokchung DC was doubtful if the blockade would be lifted any time soon. He was also reported to have said that the current border row was not likely to be settled unless the CM’s of both states met on the issue.

Meanwhile, Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) President, Moasangba Jamir has said that MCCI is making necessary arrangements

agreed to pursue for immediate release of two boys allegedly kidnapped, which had triggered the recent unrest in the border area.

The joint meeting urged

to ensure that the public does not face shortage of essential commodities and that normal life is not affected. He is in constant contact with his counterparts in Jorhat, he said. He also said that essential commodities would be brought from Dimapur if the situation so demands. On being asked what would happen if Dimapur also faced shortage of supplies in the market, he clarified that the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries is making necessary arrangements for any eventuality.

The MCCI President further clarified that Mokokchung would not face shortage of fuel (petrol and diesel oil) supply. Jamir informed that there were enough stocks in the market which should sustain for at least a week.

both state governments to rehabilitate displaced persons by extending all possible humanitarian help. It also jointly resolved to continue meeting of the repre-

KOHIMA, AUGUST 19 (MExN): Nagaland Home Minister, Y Patton today assured that the Nagaland state government has been “exploring all possible means to peacefully resolve the ongoing tension” in the Assam Nagaland border.

A press note from the Home Minister urged citizens of both Assam and Nagaland to “recognize the futility of resorting to violent means.” He cautioned that “there are many people in the border areas and elsewhere trying to take undue advantage of the present situation to meet their selfish ends.” It appealed for citizens of Nagaland to be “more responsible while making statements on the present crisis, as the situation is still fragile...” Patton further urged the Assamese people living in Nagaland “not to panic” and assured that “Nagas will never stoop down to the level of harassing the innocent Assamese by taking advantage of the present crisis.”

Nagaland Cabinet appeals for restraint

Meanwhile, the Nagaland state cabinet has urged the public, “underground factions” and other organizations to be “restrained” in their movement and activities in and around the affected areas bordering Assam. A press note from Cabinet Secretary, Banuo Z Jamir appealed for all concerned to maintain peace and abstain from indulging in any action that may lead to creating discord and tensions amongst the people.

ENSF calls for peace

The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has urged the Central government to bring an early solution to the border issue between the two states. ENSF, in a press note, appealed for peace and called upon the people of Nagaland and Assam to treat the issue as “essentially a human problem and that it has to be solved in the spirit of mutual good will and understanding...” “It is necessary for both sides to sincerely maintain status quo and honour the spirit of the 1972 Agreement along the Border until the matter is amicably solved,” it added. ENSF further acknowledged all involved in the “successful completion of the rescue operation” of the security personnel attached to Nagaland Parliamentary Secretary, Paiwang Konyak, who were detained in Assam for the last few days.

sentatives of the concerned organizations from both the states and agreed in principle to set up a Border Peace Committee at the earliest.

The joint resolution was

signed by Naga Hoho President, P Chuba Ozukum; Chief Coordinator BCC, Dil Bahadur Limbu and member organizations of BCC including AASA District Com-

mittee Golaghat, ATTSA Golaghat, ABSU Golaghat district, Ex-BLT Welfare Society Golaghat, Golaghat District Committee AAGSU and UBPO.

nDA will not allow ‘this is nothing worse than corruption’ policy paralysis: BJP Sit in protest Nagaland government DIMAPUR, AUGUST 19 (MExN): The Nagaland state unit of the BJP today stated that the NDA government will not allow policy paralysis with regard to the Naga political issue.

In a state executive meeting on Tuesday, Nagaland BJP President, M Chuba Ao expressed confidence that the centre would approach the Naga Political Issue with sincerity and seriousness. “No piece-meal solution will bring permanent peace in Nagaland. In fact, it will rather compound the problem and complicate the issue,” he asserted.

He further stated that the BJP Nagaland will work towards a “holistic solution” and called upon Nagas to “speak in one voice for a common solution.”

He added that an acceptable solution will come only when all the stake-holders are involved. “BJP Nagaland can carry the messages of the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) to the centre. But they must first spell-out their agenda,” he added.

Asserting that the BJP is “not anti-Christian,” Ao clarified that the BJP is “only opposed to force conversion through appeasement or inducement.” He further added that the RSS is a “social organization based on Indian culture and civilization,” and stated that it “upholds that all Indians, irrespective of religious background, not-

withstanding their mode and place of worship, are equal.”

On the state’s economy and taxations, the Nagaland BJP President stated that Nagaland needs to shed away the “deficit culture.” He urged the state government to “come out of the stereo-typical plan budget preparation and presentation that has limited the size of the State plan.” “We should work on that line with the objective of creating more jobs and productivity. We have to improve our revenue generation from new ventures and not only from widening the tax net or over-taxing the people,” he added.

Lamenting that the development process in Nagaland state has been “derailed by multiple taxation,” Ao stated that “constitutionally, the State government is the only legitimate government to tax the people because it is the only government which is using the tax payers’s money to give back service to the people.” He added that the people need to decide “whether to pay tax to multiple parallel governments other than the State government.” He further cautioned that no economic development can take place in the present atmosphere,” and stressed on the need to “create an investment-friendly atmosphere.”

demands justice for aggrieved student

‘re-nominates’ Watinaro

Morung Express News Kohima | August 19

Labeled as the new pin up girl for justice, a modern day Rosa Parks, soft spoken 18-year-old Watinaro A. Imsong has set a wave for the struggle for justice in Nagaland. From a low income family of three siblings, with a mother who is a housewife and a father employed in the Nagaland Police, Watinaro studied for six to seven hours every day for her exam.

Watinaro is not against the other student but feels disheartened that the incident has demoralized the students’ community. Joining her at the sit-in protest on August 19 at Secretariat Junction, Kohima were a number of mothers, fathers, students and supporters from different organizations.

“Concerned citizens have come not just to fight for my right but every Naga’s right,” says Watinaro.

“This is nothing worse than corruption. This incident has set a bad trend.

Selections always have to be by merit. No amount of nepotism should get into the way of this selection.

We need to encourage our younger generation to be

Students at the sit-in protest for justice in the Nagaland reserved seat controversy at Secretariat Junction, Kohima, on August 19. (Morung Photo)

competitive,” asserts Rosemary Dzüvichü who commends Watinaro for showing courage and stated that the support of the people at the protest indicates that ‘as people we do have a conscience.’

Wekhrope Marhu, President Kohima Law College Students Union said, “This is purely nepotism and corruption. We have come here to extend our solidarity to Watinaro and the rest of the students.”

Speaking at the protest, Kekhrie Yhome from NPMHR, stated that the incident is a clear case of nepotism, of privilege of information and the use and abuse of this privilege.

Yisanbeni Ezung from ACAUT, who joined the

protest from Dimapur, said the protest is not just about seat allocation but for the future of young Nagas.

“The bigger issue is corruption. If we indulge in accommodation we are indulging in corruption,” adds Kevitho Kera, ACAUT. “In every institution or system, there is always a right process to achieve a position, and merit students deserve it. We are here to protest against the system of the government.

It is not the seat vacation which is going to change the future but the system of the government which will change the future. We are here so that no such incidents happen again in the future,” says Asong (23), a graduate.

KOHIMA, AUGUST 19 (MExN): The Nagaland Department of Horticulture (DoH) has withdrawn the candidate nominated by it for B.Sc. Horticulture at the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture, and awarded it to Watinaro A Imsong.

Following much controversy, Nagaland’s Commissioner & Secretary, Horticulture, L Kire wrote to the Commissioner & Secretary, Technical Education Department that the former has received a letter from the DoH informing of the “vacation of the seat for BSc (Horti) in Dr YS Parmar Univ of Horticulture, Solan, HP in respect of Imnatemsu Imchen who was nominated by NEC on recommendation of Horticulture Depart.”

Kire also wrote to the Assistant Registrar, Academic of the University that the University “may cancel seat of Imnatemsu Imchen and allow Watinaro A Imsong,” to join the BSc (Horti) course “in his place without any further loss of time.”

Commissioner and Secretary (Department of Higher & Technical Education), FP Solo, has in turn requested the same University official that Watinaro has been “renominated” and that she be admitted to the institute for the said course in place of the other student, against the seat allocated

to the State of Nagaland by NEC. Watinaro has been requested by the same to report to the University immediately for admission.

The Naga Students’ Federation on August 18 had a joined meeting with Imnatemsu Imchen’s family members and requested them to withdraw the candidate nominated by the Horticulture Department for the seat reserved under NEC quota and to which they agreed.

The NSF, in a press note, has assured to take up the matter with the government to ensure that “such misunderstandings and confusion does not arise between the Department and the Government agencies, whereby innocent students are being made to bear the grunt for the negligence and lapses in the government policies and machineries.”

Candidate vacates BSc Horti seat “In the larger interest of the Naga People at large, the undersigned, father of Imnatemsu Imchen, state that the NEC quota for B.Sc (Horticulture) at the Dr. Y.S Pramar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP against which seat my son was nominated by the North Eastern Council is being vacated with immediate effect.”

Aoyanger Ao, Kohima

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The Morung Express 2 LocaL NCSU demands to hand over BRTF Recruits attested at ARTC&S Shokhuvi jurisdiction works on NH-29 Dimapur

Wednesday

20 August 2014

Kohima, august 19 (mExN): In a representation, “re-submitted” to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, the Nagaland Contractors' & Suppliers' Union (NCSU) has demanded handing over of BRTF jurisdiction works to the State Government of NPWD National Highway.

The representation jointly appended by NCSU president Pele Khezhie and general secretary John Kath highlighted that “in the past, the Border Road Task Force (BRIE) has done commendable services in constructing and maintaining National High Way in Nagaland. However, of late, the BRTF have not been performing well as expected and their good reputation is at stake.”

The Union stated that today, the Border Road Organisation (SRO) have not been able to maintain the National High Way in Nagaland particularly the NH-29 on Dimapur to Imphal Road which is now in a pitiable condition indeed rendering unfit for vehicular movement thereby causing untold inconveniences to the travelling public.

It also pointed out that the technical laying out of the road surface by MO is not suitable to hilly terrain like Nagaland for the fact that the roads are tapered in the middle portion inviting water logging and thereby shortening the very life span of the road creating potholes. It also mentioned here that

CAKU Executive Council meeting on Aug 23 Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): The Chakhro Angami Kuda Union (CAKU) has convened an Executive Council meeting on August 23 at 10:00 am at its office at Phevima Kacharigaon Dimapur. CAKU general secretary Thejangulie Angami in a press release has requested all village, colonies and wards under CAKU jurisdiction i.e from Green Park and central jail junction to west point of Dimapur to send representatives without fail. Further all Advisory of CAKU, Youth, mothers, students, village and colonies Angami chairman and members as well as Angami GBs under CAKU are requested to attend the said meeting positively. It also request all finance committee to present its latest report to the house.

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ETC calls for Peace Jorhat, august 19 (mExN): The Eastern Theological College, Jorhat, Assam has expressed deep concern of the killings of innocent people and burning down of villages in the on-going Assam-Nagaland disputes. The Principal of ETC in a press note stated that the institution stands in solidarity with the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones and empathise with the sufferings of those who have lost lives, house and property.

The College urges both the governments of the two states concerned to resolve this border issue and provide immediate relief and compensation to those that have been affected. The institution upholds “peace” and “respect to human lives” in the highest possible way. Therefore, ETC calls upon the governments and the people to look for solutions through peaceful and legal means since the use of force and violence is not the way to settle disputes. “We also appeal to the goodness in the hearts of all people to be compassionate and work together to bring peace and harmony,’ added the press note.

the Seidzü Bridge located between Kikruma and Chakhabama while under construction by BRTF collapsed on May 2, 2007 due to poor workmanship.

“National Highway 29 is the most important lifeline for both the States of Nagaland and Manipur. Moreover, this NH-49 passes through the heart of the State Capital Kohima and as such, its poor maintenance is an insult to the State government and its citizens,” states the NCSU in the representation.

The NSCU also highlighted that the students and public took out a protest procession on August 12, 2014 against BRO for deplorable road from Teenpati to DBS Kohima on NH-29. The Youth Or-

ganizations of Kohima Village stand by their ultimatum dated August 16, 2014 served to the BRO protesting bad road condition from Teenpati to BSF Camp Kohima on NH-49.

“However, it appears that all their pleas turned on a deaf ear,” said the Union while adding that the NCSU reiterate their demand to hand over BRTF jurisdiction works on NH-29 to the State Government of Nagaland NPWD National Highway in the larger interest of the people of Nagaland. The local contractors and the NPWD (R&R) are capable and equipped with the latest technology and machineries at par with the best Construction Companies.

N Hushili Sema, IAS awarding the winners during the Special Attestation Parade held at ARTC&S.

N Hushili Sema complimented the parade for its high standards. She recollected her childhood days and remembered Assam Rifles as “Friends of the Hill People”. The DC also urged

moN, august 19 (mExN): The Konyak Baptist Bumeinok Bangjum (KBBB) has urged upon the State Government to reaffirm strict implementation of the NLTP Act 1989 without blaming one another.

“The Konyak Christian grounded on the Biblical teachings and in consideration with the moral, ethical and cultural ethos of the Nagas, reaffirms not to yield to any move towards lifting of NLTP Act,” said M. Chemyuh Konyak, Executive Secretary KBBB, Mon in a press release. The KBBB Executive Committee was held on August 13 where they discussed on the issue of NLTP Act 1989 from different perspective and concluded to reaffirm its strict implementation.

The KBBB said, “The question of total failure may be true in the context of urban areas, but in the rural Nagaland, the NLTP Act is a great success and positive impact on individuals and On August 18, the duty party at Chumukedima Excise Check gate under the command of society as a whole. Voices Allen Jami AIE seized 203 bottles of assorted liquor from a Kohima bound NST bus. In this from the rural Nagaland connection, Paukiele, Kenny and Rovi were arrested and charged under NLTP Act '89 and need to be considered by the all the seized articles kept in the District Excise Malkhana.

State Government, because

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The Institute of Communication and Information Technology (ICIT) Mokokchung conducted training on Professional skills development on August 7-9 at the Institute. The resource persons were from YouthNet, Kohima. Separate training was conducted for the Students and teaching faculties and they were trained on Communication skills, personality development, etiquettes, SWOT analysis, Body languages, conflict management etc. From YouthNet, Nune Chase, Ebibeni Humtsoe, Atalu Puro, Khelivi Muru and Rokuo Vizotha were the trainers for this 3 days training.

Kohima, august 19 (mExN): The Zunheboto Range Students' Union (ZRSU) is convening its 2nd Union Assembly on August 23 at SKK Conference Hall at 9:00 am. Union Assembly Speaker, Ananu S. Zhimo in a press release has, therefore, informed all subordinating units to attend the meeting positively, at least by two representatives along with president.

Failure to attend the meeting shall be dealt with as per the circulation passed, it added.

ATMA-Dimapur organises mega exhibition The exhibition was inaugurated by Minister of Social welfare Kiyanilie Peseyie. The event emphasized on the use of scientific method of cultivation.

Modern agricultural machineries tools and implements were on display, various product displayed are Cereals crops, different varieties of pineapple, Handicraft, Silk cloths, Ornamental fishes, Kroiler birds, Piglets, Rabbits and items made by innovative SHG free Vaccination was also conducted by the KVK during the exhibition.

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the young soldiers to continue the good work to uphold the image of the Force. She also presented medals to the recruits who excelled in various spheres of training.

The haunting strains

of Auld Lang Syne and the Adjutant on her charger accompanied the passing out recruits to the ‘Final Steps’.

This was followed by tea for the newly attested soldiers and the spectators.

KBBB for strict implementation of NLTP Act

ZRSU 2nd Union Assembly on Aug 23

Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Dimapur organized a Mega exhibition on August 15 with an effort to create awareness among the farmers and public about latest technological advancement and technique. The exhibition saw participant from Department of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fishery, Sericulture, Land Resource, Co-operation, Soil and Water Conservation, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, KVK (Jharnapani).

Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): On the culmination of a successful training, 189 recruits were attested at the Assam Rifles Training Centre and School, Shokhuvi on August 19.

A press release received here stated that the ceremony was attended by the DC of Dimapur, N Hushili Sema, IAS as a special guest. Brig K Narayanan, Commandant, ARTC & S reviewed the parade, which was witnessed by large spectators, including parents of the recruits. The parade was conducted by the parade Adjut, Maj Julee Singh and commanded by Recruit Lalawn Puia with Maj Julee Singh as the Parade Adjutant. The young soldiers took the customary oath to serve their motherland and protect its integrity even at the cost of their lives.

Addressing the parade,

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Technology dissemination through literature on different Agri and Allied Technology were also distributed at the exhibition. It was a great success with a large number of visitors at the ATMA stall. Almost all the products reveal positive responses and were sold at minimal rates. Jute bag was also sold by ATMA-Dimapur at subsidized rate with an intention to create an awareness of eco-friendly to help the environment.

Meanwhile to motivate the farmers and groups in taking up Agricultural

activities to bring about improved living standard among the farmers and group members, ATMA Dimapur awarded 8 individual farmers and 8 SHG with cash incentives and a certificate of commendation. Kiyanilie Peyesie Minister of Social Welfare distributed the award.

DAO & PD (ATMA) S. Bendangtemsu through a press release has acknowledged all the staff of the Department for actively contributing their service in making the exhibition a grand success.

majority of the population of Nagaland live in villages.

When the sale of liquor was rampant and open, many rural youth were effected, but the prohibition Act restricted the inflow of liquor and as a result the rural mass are safeguarded from the evil effects.”

The question of losing revenue needs to be look into from different perspectives, the KBBB said while adding that there is a great difference between hard-earned money and easy money. “Both are money to legalize but need to be understood ethically, morally, culturally etc. For example, if the State revenue is going to prosper, are we willing to legalize prostitution? Can we justify such profession in the cultural context of the Nagas? Let us be reminded “Human does not live by bread alone”.

Wealth earned through unfair means will be accursed wealth,” the KBBB added.

Meanwhile, it also mentioned that the encounter between the Konyak Nagas and Liquor and Opium can be trace back to the mid 20th

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ATMA-Phek officials, DEO and district administration with the awardees

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LRD training for SHGs on bookkeeping

Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): The department of Land Resources Dimapur organized one-day training on bookkeeping and other allied activities under NABARD, Pishikhu Village on August 19. The resource persons were V. Chelladuri, General Manager, NABARD and Allaram Deuri, Manager NABARD. V. Chelladuri enlightened the participants about the concept of how SHGs came into being and how it should be mobilized for empowering the SHG groups. He highlighted different activities of NABARD in helping the groups at the apex level.

Allaram Deuri spoke on the importance of bookkeeping by the SHGs groups – how to maintain proceed-

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Resource persons and officials of LRD Dimapur along the participants of the day-long training at Pishikhu village, Tuesday

ing register, saving register, loan register and cashbook register. He also stressed on how NABARD assist in procuring loans from banks.

Vanjamo Murry, WDT member, Land Resource Dimapur, chaired the program. Botolholi, WDT member, Land Resources

Dimapur welcomed the participants while Dr. Kevi, WDT member, Land Resources Dimapur proposed vote of thanks.

Bicentenary celebration of birth of Don Bosco inaugurated

FAC bids farewell to retiring officer

ATMA-Phek farmers’ award prog held

phEK, august 19 (mExN): In an effort to identify and honour the outstanding performance of dedicated farmers and women self help groups in the field of Agriculture and allied departments in Phek district, ATMA-Phek organised a farmers’ award programme sponsored by GOI, Ministry of Agriculture, DOE, Extension Reforms Unit on August 15.

Altogether 10 individual farmers and 4 SHGs were awarded certificates with cash. In the latter part of the programme, 24 technical folders in English were released by the District Education Officer with the aim of bridging the information gap in various areas of farming. The programme was organised in collaboration with the district administration.

century. When the Konyaks revolt the opium and liquor shops which was installed at Wakching and Naginimora (Borjan) since pre-independence, led by the students’ organization the Konyak public waged war against opium and liquor and triumph.

The resurgence of liquor enmasse took place in the 1980s when the state government issued liquor sale license, which resulted in mushrooming of liquor sales in the nock and corner of Nagaland both legal and illegal.

For the Konyak Naga the mushrooming of liquor sales reminded of the past confrontation with opium and liquor in the late 1950s and early 60s. It was the Women organization (KNSK) which spearheaded the protest against rampant mushrooming of liquor shops in Mon district, and after the several rounds of talk Mon district was declared as “Dry District” during the time of the then Deputy Commissioner I.K. Changkija. Consequently, Nagaland was declared as Dry State with the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act 1989.

A musical band performs during the Bicentenary celebration of the birth of Don Bosco was organized at Dimapur on August 16.

Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): The yearlong Bicentenary celebration of the birth of Don Bosco was organized at Don Bosco Provincial House, Dimapur on August 16.

Salesian College presented welcome song and lighting the lamp by Rev. Fr. Nestor Guria SDB, the Provincial and other members of the Salesian Family officially opened the inaugural ses-

sion. It was followed by a variety of programmes presented by a host of institutions of Dimapur Province comprising Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Upper Assam.Rev. Fr. Provincial, in his welcome address, highlighted the significance of 3 years of preparation for the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco. A variety of programmes on this day portrayed Don Bosco’s life and

mission for youth. The songs, dances, band, choreography and PowerPoint presentations highlighted Don Bosco’s life journey.

According to a press note, during these three years of preparation, the Salesian Family present in 5 continents and 132 countries has returned to the roots of Don Bosco’s History, his Pedagogy and his Spirituality.

moKoKchuNg, august 19 (mExN): A farewell program was held on August 6 in honour of Dr. Mahendra Prasad, Associate Professor of Physics at Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung. Dr. Mahendra retired on July 31 on reaching superannuation. In his farewell speech, Dr. Prasad said he served at the School level as teacher for 5 years before joining Fazl Ali College as lecturer in 1985, and served for almost 30 years in the College. He encouraged the teachers to keep up the high standards of the College. Principal Chubayangla said that he was a sincere and dedicated officer and his absence would be difficult to fill. Others who spoke on the occasion were Limatula Zulu, Vice Principal, Tiarenla Aier, President, Fazl Ali College Teachers' Association, Dr A. K. Chaudhury, General Secretary, Fazl Ali College Teachers' Association, and Dr Imtiwati Jamir, Head of Dept of Physics.

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REgional

The Morung Express

Court orders release of Irom Sharmila Imphal, august 19 (IaNs): A court in Manipur Tuesday asked the state government to release human rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been on indefinite fast for 13 years demanding revoking of the anti-terror act.

"Ordering her release, a district sessions court observed that the prosecution has failed to establish Sec 309 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) (attempt to commit suicide) case on Sharmila," a defence lawyer told reporters.

Quoting the court order, he said: "The court observed that it is just a claim that she wants to commit suicide. No proof was established against the allegation of the authority.

Hence, she cannot be kept under arrest and should be freed immediately."

However, no official reaction was available following the court order.

Sharmila, 42, better known as the "Iron Lady", has been on an indefinite fast since Nov 4, 2000, demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers)

Act, 1958, (AFSPA) after killing of 10 civilians allegedly by the paramilitary Assam Rifles near Imphal airport Nov 1, 2000.

She was charged with attempting to commit suicide. Under this charge, she can be kept in custody for a year at a stretch.

In view of her ill health, Sharmila is currently lodged in a special ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal where one room, where she is confined, has been declared a sub-jail.

Sharmila is released and rearrested every year (as the law allows detention only for 364 days) and force-fed a diet of mixture of liquefied carbohydrates and proteins through the nose thrice a day.

The AFSPA, against which Sharmila has been fighting, provides unlimited powers to the security forces to shoot at sight, arrest anybody without a warrant or carry out searches without hindrances. It also insulates the security forces from legal processes for any action undertaken under the act.

It is a legal and moral victory: Amnesty International

New DelhI, aug 19 (IaNs) The release of Indian rights activist Irom Sharmila is a legal and moral victory following her 13 year-long hunger strike, Amnesty International India said Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, a Manipur court asked the state government to release Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been on indefinite fast for 13 years demanding revocation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the northeastern state.

The court ruled that the authorities had failed to establish that Irom Sharmila had intended to commit suicide, and stated that her protest was a "political demand through a lawful means".

"This welcome but long overdue judgement recognises that Irom Sharmila's hunger strike is a powerful protest for human rights and a peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression," Shailesh Rai,

programme director at Amnesty International India, said in a statement.

The human rights watchdog quoted India's National Human Rights Commission where it noted that Sharmila was a "Prisoner of Conscience" who was being detained solely for the peaceful expression of her beliefs.

Last year, Amnesty International India garnered the support of over 18,000 people from across the country calling for the unconditional release of Irom Sharmila.

Rai is of the view that all other charges against Sharmila must be dropped and instead the authorities must pay attention to the issues the activist is raising.

Sharmila, 42, better known as the "Iron Lady", has been on an indefinite fast since Nov 4, 2000, demanding repeal of the AFSPA after the killing of 10 civilians allegedly by the para-military Assam Rifles near

Imphal airport Nov 1, 2000.

"A hunger strike is a form of protest which has been accepted, both historically and legally in our constitutional jurisprudence'," Amnesty International's statement quoted the Indian Supreme Court as observing in its landmark ruling on the New Delhi incident in February 2012 in which she was charged with attempting to commit suicide.

Under this charge, she can be kept in custody for a year at a stretch.

In view of her ill health, Sharmila is currently lodged in a special ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal where the one room where she is confined has been declared a sub-jail.

Sharmila is released and rearrested every year (as the law allows detention only for 364 days) and force-fed a diet of a mixture of liquefied carbohydrates and proteins through the nose thrice a day.

Wednesday

20 August 2014

Dupura Akhtar, cooks inside her flood-affected house in Ashigarh village, about 70 kilometers (44 miles) east of Gauhati on Thursday, August 19. Heavy rainfall for the past few days has affected several districts of Assam state, flooding dozens of villages and displacing thousands. (AP Photo)

Tamei protests demanding doctors tameI, august 19 erate in Tamei area for the round the clock func(NNN): A massive rally day. After the rally, the fron- tioning. Villagers have no ROLE OF ofTOURISM Tamei means to rush to Imphal or was held at Tamei head- tal organisations quarters in Tamenglong sub division, Tamenglong the district headquarters

district demanding the posting of doctors at Tamei Primary Health Centre (PHC) today. Simultaneously, a 12-hour bandh was also imposed in the Tamei sub divisional headquarters from 3 am today sponsored by the Zeliangrong Students Union-Tamei Area (ZSU-TA), Tamei Headquarters Youth Club, Liangmai Pui Baudi, Tamei Women Front, Tamei Students' Union and Liangmai Katimai Ruangdi (LNKR).

About 2000 people participated in today's rally at Tamei. Students from all the schools in the vicinity of the headquarters also participated in the rally. Shops and offices did not open and private and public transports too did not op-

district resolved to resort to drastic form of agitation irked by the age-old apathy meted out to the sub division by the state government of Manipur.

The people in the sub division are heavily dependent on the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Tamei as the sub-health centres have been totally non-functional. Patients rushing to the PHC often go back home as doctors are not in the station, alleged Pougaibou. According to him, the frontal organisations of the sub division demanded that doctors and staff are posted at the only PHC immediately by the state government.

They also demanded that the PHC should be made

HC notice to ADB on Manipur road project Imphal, august 19 (tNN): Acting on a petition demanding government assessment of the Thoubal-Kasom Khullen road and its impact in Manipur, the Gauhati high court has issued a notice to project sponsor Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The 47-km road, which passes through Thoubal, Senapati and Ukhrul districts, is part of the Union DoNER ministry's North Eastern State Roads Investment Programme (NESRIP). Manipur PWD and other units, which are implementing the project, have begun constructing the road. Six tribal village chiefs from Senapati and Thoubal, whose land and property will be affected by the road, are the petitioners in the case.

The petitioners said the authorities have given no information regarding payment of compensation to those affected by the road or those who will be affected by it.

Advocate B R Sharma, appearing on behalf of the petitioners, said the implementing agencies have taken up the project without following the DoNER ministry's guidelines. The project guidelines require resettlement and rehabilitation of those affected before construction begins, the lawyer said.

The petitioners requested the court to direct the respondents (implementing agencies) to assess the value, size and quantities of land/property already affected and to be affected by the road. In an interim prayer, they asked the court to stop construction of the road till the assessment is complete and the petition is disposed of.

Having heard the petition, the court, headed by justice N Kotiswar Singh, had issued a notice to ADB on August 11, seeking its reply within four weeks. In the petition, the organization is represented by its country director, New Delhi.

The high court said it would decide on the interim prayer in its next sitting.

for medical attention, the organisations said.

During the rally, the people shouted slogans demanding that the state government immediately send doctors at Tamei PHC. The rallyists also expressed their anger on the state government for continuing to ignore the sentiments of the people of Tamei.

For the past three months, no doctor has been attending the Tamei PHC, according to Pougaibou, convenor of ZSU-TA. He stated that the people of Tamei locked the PHC for the past few days.

"We will take up stringent forms of agitation if the state government does not attend our cries," warned Pougaibou.

shIlloNg, august 19 (IaNs): Militants in the northeastern region continue to receive "substantial quantity" of illegal arms and ammunition from China and Myanmar, a senior Border Security Force official said Tuesday.

"There are isolated instances of arms and ammunition entering into the country across the international border with Bangladesh, but a substantial quantity was coming from the international border with Myanmar and China," Sudesh Kumar, inspector general of BSF in-charge of Meghalaya frontier, told journalists.

"Unlike in the western frontier, where manning of the border is much easier due to the topography, guarding the eastern frontier is much more difficult owing to the hilly rugged and mountainous terrain as well as poor visibility (that) adds to the woes of our troopers," he said.

Most of these illicit arms and ammunition from Myanmar and China were transhipped to Dimapur and thereafter smuggled out to other states in the country.

Stating that fencing of the India-Bangladesh border cannot be the only deterrent to check the flow of arms and ammunition and the infiltration of militants and Bangladeshi nationals from across the border, Kumar said the BSF has intensified its vigilance along the India-Bangladesh border. Also troopers are being equipped with modern electronic gadgets in the most vulnerable areas.

Quoting intelligence inputs, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma recently said a huge quantity of arms is now available across the northeast. "Where are these guns coming from? That means there is some formidable anti-national force working overtime, and that is why these guns and explosives are coming. This needs to be addressed jointly by all the state governments and the Centre," Sangma said.

The meeting identified the state-level spokesperson, district level spokespersons and a Nodal Officer besides identifying officials responsible for sample collection and transportation.

It was also decided that separate Doctors and nursing personnel for Ebola Isolation Ward will be identified by PCC cum Superintendent, STNM Hospital as and when needed.

The meeting also decided to create awareness amongst the people and has issued an advisory to avoid travel to Ebola Virus Disease affected countries and inform the nearest health centres if anyone coming from the affected countries are found to be ill.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

CHRISTIAN BOOK FAIR

l Retai Date: 11th -23rd August 2014 Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Venue: City Tower Junction Circular Road, Dimapur

OFFICE OF THE

MEZOMA WELFARE FORUM KOHIMA: NAGALAND

FELICITATES The Mezoma Welfare Forum extends our heartiest congratulations to our members for successfully qualifying and bringing laurels to the Village in the recent NPSC Examination 2014.

1. Mr.Phutheguo Khawakhrie son of Mr.Kuolelie Khawakhrie to the post of Sub-Divisional Officer under Irrigation and Flood Control Department.

2. Er.Diethoketou Kehie son of Lt.Neingulakho Kehie to the post of Junior Engineer (Civil) under Public Work Department.

The Forum further wish them all success in their future endeavour.

Sd/Vicavor Krose President

DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS (PERSONNEL 'A' BRANCH)

NOTIFICATION Dated Kohima the 12th August, 2014

NO. PAR-A/21/13-AIS : : The Government of India, 'Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions (Department of Personnel & Training) have appointed the following members of the State Civil Services to the Indian Administrative Services for the Select List 2011 & 2012 w.e.f. 22/07/2014, vide Notification No. 14015/16/2013- AIS (I) B dated 22/07/2014.

(I) Select List 2011 1. Smti. Anenla S Longchari 2. Shri. Imjung M Panger (II) Select List 2012 1. Shri. Alan Gonmei 2. Smti. Chubasangla Anar 3. Shri. Kelei Zeliang 2. The above appointment has been made under Rule 8(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1954 read with Regulation 9(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955 and Rule 3 of the Indian Administrative Service (Probation) Rules, 1954. The officers on probation has been allocated to the IAS Cadre of Nagaland, under Rule 5 of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954.

3. The officer's year of allotment/seniority will be communicated subsequently.

Sd/BANUO Z JAMIR Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Nagaland

3

NE militants getting arms from China, Myanmar: BSF

Health officials draw up plan of action to keep Ebola at bay

gaNgtok, august 19 (ptI): A meeting of senior officers of the Health Department was held in Gangtok to formulate a plan of action for prevention and treatment of Ebola Virus Disease in Sikkim.

Health Secretary Dr K Bhandari, who chaired the meeting yesterday, said no case of Ebola had been reported in the state and that the meeting was to draw up precautionary measures if there was an outbreak of the disease in the future.

State and District Rapid Response Teams (RRT) were formed and the meeting decided to set up isolation wards at STNM Hospital and the Central Referral Hospital.

Dimapur

Sd/Kedoroko Casavi Statistical Secretary

OFFICE OF THE

KHIAMNIUNGAN STUDENTS’ UNION, KOHIMA Kohima-797001, Nagaland

FELICITATION The Khiamniungan Students’ Union, Kohima would like to felicitate the following candidates who cleared the recently concluded NPSC combined Technical Examination 2014.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Tangnio Shiu, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon P.Chillia, Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) Shellem, District Evaluation Officer Aimong, Junior Engineer.

Meanwhile, the Union applauds particularly the duo candidate, Tangnio Shiu and P.Chillia, for them being presently in the office bearer designating as Vice President and General Secretary respectively.

The Union wishes all the successful candidates the very best in all their future endeavours.

(Heno Lushing) President KSUK

UNITY

COLLEGE of Arts and Commerce (Boys & Girls)

CALL FOR participation & PAPER presentation for UGC SPONSORED ONE DAY NATIONAL LEVEL SEMINAR

ROLE OF TOURISM IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NAGALAND DEPT. OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMICS, UNITY COLLEGE IN COLLABORATION WITH DEPT. OF TOURISM, GOVT. OF NAGALAND 26TH SEPTEMBER 2014 Interested participants are requested to send their abstracts (1000 words) along with short bio-data by 30TH AUGUST 2014. The acceptance of abstracts will be notified by 10TH SEPTEMBER 2014. Full papers (Latest MLA Style, 5000—8000 words) should be submitted by 20TH SEPTEMBER 2014 in soft copy. The time allowed for each participant to present her/his paper would be 20 minutes. All papers selected for presentation will be published in the Seminar Proceedings.

Email Address for sending Abstracts & Full Papers and all enquiries: unitycollegeseminar@gmail.com Address for Correspondence: Convenor National Seminar Unity College Near Nagaland University Residential Campus, Residency Colony Dimapur, Nagaland Phone: 09862020338

THIS IS TO INFORM TO ALL THE INVESTORS/ MEMBERS/FE’S/FC’S/IA’S OF QUEENSBERRY FOUNDATION (NGO) UNDER DIMAPUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE, 4TH MILE BRANCH AND CHUMUKEDIMA BRANCH THAT, THERE WILL BE A GENERAL MEETING ON 21ST AUGUST 2014 (THRUSDAY) AT ANA-KI CONFERENCE HALL, KHERMAHAL, DIMAPUR AT 11 AM. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE DATES SCHEDULED FOR THE BRANCH OFFICE’S INVESTORS/ MEMBERS/FE’S/FC’S/IA’S GENERAL MEETING WITH THE CHAIRMAN & CEO ALONG WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS. • FRIDAY, 22ND AUGUST 2014 : KOHIMA BRANCH • SATURDAY, 23RD AUGUST 2014 : PHEK BRANCH : ZUNHEBOTO BRANCH • MONDAY, 25TH AUGUST 2014 • TUESDAY, 26TH AUGUST 2014 : CHANGKI BRANCH • WEDNESDAY, 27TH AUGUST 2014 : WOKHA BRANCH

THEREFORE ALL THE INVESTORS/MEMBERS/ FE’S/FC’S/IA’S ARE REQUESTED TO KINDLY ATTEND THE RESPECTIVE BRANCHES MEETING WITHOUT FAIL AND ON TIME. HENCE THE INFORMATION PUBLISHED ON 19TH AUGUST 2014 STANDS CANCELLED.

4

Dimapur

public discoursE

Wednesday 20 August 2014

The Morung Express

NLTP Act - Heathen Act or Christian Act?

W

e Nagas- or at least quite a few of us- are very thankful that the Gospel has reached us, which has changed many of our past pagan ways. This is not an article to itch your ears. Some have their conscience seared already. Hopefully others will sit up, read and change! And thereby save lives. Being pro or anti NLTP is not about a simple debate who is right or wrong. It is about saving the lives of people we believe are precious to Him. But are lives precious to us? Several traditions and cultural habits like head hunting, nature worshipping and the majority of superstitious beliefs are gone as the light and the truth of the Gospel of Christ flooded the land. I am also thankful that much of the rice beer joints are gone. Many had to hold up their noses passing by the ‘modhu’ shops as the stench of the rice beer can be nauseating. On our narrow roads as well as passing by the partakers of the local brew, the breaths of the drinkers were equally nauseating and appalling and distasteful to say the least. Some are now screaming and begging to have this scenario back in the streets of our towns and villages. Many Nagas- which includes heads of our Government and police- have said that drinking has been the traditions of our grandfathers and therefore we cannot stop people from drinking. Going by this reasoning cutting off heads might become our pastimes again, I fear. Even our Hornbill festivals emulate our heathen past in a greater degree every year. Should it be re-christened as the ‘heathen and drunken festival’ too?. Now let me reason with a biblical perspective which may not be the view of every believer. In Proverbs_20:1 it says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. “ Now that is quite a verse there or would you rather hear what the Lord, the Creator said to the people of Israel who had gone astray and were ready to be destroyed as a nation. Jeremiah_25:27:” Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, (vomit) and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you”-.

Israel had forgotten God and turned to heathen gods. God usually sends a warning before the destruction and I write as a prophet (one who speaks forth the word of God) and there are many prophets in our land. The Word of God has this to say, Psalm 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” As a people we have known God and His ways as Christianity touched almost every home in the bygone years. Now we are just about to turn our back to God. There is lukewarmness in our churches. Is this the stand we want to be in?. Revelation warns us! Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I

will spue thee out of my mouth.

May I say this to all of our legislators and bureaucrats? Proverbs 31:4 and 5: ‘It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.’

Woe is to the false shepherds that would speak on lifting the prohibition even Reverends and Pastors. I would caution the Catholics to remember that it was the Protestants or the Baptists with the support from other protestant denominations and not to forget the Naga Mothers Association- that literally fought men and beast to bring on the prohibition in our Nagaland. Let me add that the liberal theology of Catholicism have taken a few into their folds just because they are allowed to drink in the Catholic church. Remember what Christ said; Mat 12:36,37: “ But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

Just because Paul wrote to Timothy to ‘drink a little wine (not rum, whisky, vodka, etc) for your stomach’s sake’ does not mean Timothy got drunk or became a drunkard. If you have ever been on a mission field the first thing effected is your stomach and yes I can see missionaries’ heads nodding in agreement. Timothy was sent by Paul to different places and a little wine to help him kill the germs in the water he drank. The only time that Jesus made wine at Cana doesn’t mention the alcohol content. It could have been fermented. It could also have been an incredible health drink. He is the Creator and I am sure he knew what He was doing.

Everybody was happy with the drink. He was accused of being a drunkard by the religious leaders but it doesn’t mean He was.

In Nagaland we have had drunkards in our own families and homes bring misery and heartaches and Proverbs_23:21 rightly says so, “For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.”

Our Father and Creator has been patient with us. Mankind has been deceived very subtly by our arch enemy, Satan, and continues to do so. In this game of Life the decisions we make today, echo into eternity. Satan knows he can easily maneuver a drunkard into sin and into denying Christ. That is why Paul cautions the believers,- not unbelievers- in 1Corinthians_6:10 :”Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God”-. I do hope you saw the word drunkards. So this fight, this debate on prohibition is not just a temporal debate or issue. The ramifications are much greater. It is a fight for life.

It is a fight for salvation. It is a fight for the

next and the young generation. It is a fight to bring sense to a nation and its’ people.

Many are in hell or on their way to hell.

The torments that alcohol brings on to your body will cruelly pull you into the torments of hell. Have you never heard these verses?- ” 1Corinthians_3: 16 and17”’ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are”-. Brothers, can it be any simpler than that? Most murders, rapes, arguments, immoral sex and road accidents occur under the influence of alcohol. How about serious medical consequences, such as liver disease, hypertension, and gastrointestinal cancers and besides that alcohol wreaks havoc on the brain which increases risk of dementia, stroke and psychosocial disorders. Example in the U.K., alcohol consumption causes at least 13,000 cancer cases each year - about 9,000 cases in men and 4,000 in women. In the U.S. 200,000 die every year due to ‘killer alcohol’. In Nagaland we have no official figures but there have been quite a few funerals of young people every year who have been claimed by killer alcohol. Quite a few children have been born deformed due to consumption of alcohol.

Wouldn’t that qualify for defiling and destroying the temple of God? It is toxic and to put it more bluntly it is slow suicide. By the way I absolutely do not agree as one Catholic priest from the Cathedral church wrote that it is a golden rule not to mix politics and religion. Then why ask pastors to come to political functions for invocations and blessings? May I ask where did you study your theology? Maybe the powerful popes that led the world into the dark ages is not a good reference for the church.

Maybe the present pope should not meet with world leaders anymore to try to promote peace in war torn countries? Look at the Old Testament and the nation of Israel. They-the rulers of those countries in that day- were blessed if they listened and obeyed the words of their prophet and doomed if they did not heed them ( the prophet). I believe there are a few folks in the church -even in Nagaland- that are in touch with God and if we would be wise, we would pay attention to their voices. If it is according to the Word of God we as a nation must give regard to the Word of God. If we do not want to listen to God’s word, there is then a fearful and dreadful day of the Lord coming. How dreadful for those who will face the wrath of God! If you are caught in your sin and happen not to get raptured at the coming of Christ, the next option is to face a wrathful God (Revelation 8-16).You like to pay roulette and take a chance He will be merciful on you because you once upon a time said a salvation prayer which you thought would give you eternal security no matter what you

NNC rejoinder to ACAUT

did? No matter how people got killed because of your behavior? Rulers of the land his is in reference to ACAUT statement of 17th pay attention to hear the Word of God and Aug.2014, accusing and even condemned the DO the Word of God. Don’t be as other naActing President of NNC without enquiring tions that have partaken of the wine of her fornication and are drunk. One wrong de- or knowing the basis and facts about what Z. Royim wrote about Nagaland Post Daily who were and are cision will lead many to their eternal death playing dirty politics of favouring one group against and bring misery to scores of people, who another in this matter. could be your friend, son, daughter or parAnd the Nagaland Post used to twist and distort ent.

NNC’s press statements in the past and even they Habakuk_2:15 :’”Woe unto him that don’t print too. Even this time on 1st Aug.2014 the giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest Angami Region officials issued rejoinder to the arthy bottle to him, and makest him drunken ticle published by this newspaper were not printed also, that thou mayest look on their naked- and published even after six times and six days reness!” quests. Therefore, this issue came out in the NationIsaiah_28:7 :” But they also have erred al Day Speech to be a record as we the NNC used to through wine, and through strong drink do when certain things cross the limit. And also to are out of the way; the priest and the be honest, the NNC include this paragraph in the prophet have erred through strong drink, Speech because it will come out, otherwise Nagathey are swallowed up of wine, they are out land Post would not print it. These are the reasons of the way through strong drink; they err in known to the people and in particular the esteem Newspapers of other Dailies because the NNC used vision, they stumble in judgment.” to send to all the Newspapers dailies in the homeThink over this: * Alcohol contributes to over 200 various land for record and publication. And the NNC in particular are grateful to all those Newspaper dailies for diseases * In Nagaland there are thousands of peoples’ service.

The NNC must tell ACAUT that the Naga NaNaga teenagers -aged 14 to 17- already effected by alcohol. Students are taking tional Council (NNC) is not a Government but the Political Institution and the Parent Body liquor to school in coke bottles. * The spread of HIV/AIDS in Nagaland of the Naga people the very foundation of Hisis also attributed to drug and alcohol torical & Political Rights of the whole and all the use since most people do not have the Naga people.

And it is not surprising that ACAUT will be the sense to practice safe sex under their first to write and condemn the Naga National Politiinfluence. We heard an appalling story cal Groups immediately if they get a slightest chance of an AIDS patient who was so bitter even if there are serious burning issues confronting she had AIDS that her goal became to the Nagas, they would not uttered a word. infect 100 people with AIDS before her This is too much on the part of ACAUT to condeath- thankfully a wise mother took demn the NNC Acting President in haste. care of her and helped her make a betThe fact and figure of all the twisted and distortter decision- How many more have the ed press statements of NNC by Nagaland Post in the same aim as this girl had? How many past will come out now whereas the other Newspaof us will have the love and patience to pers printed correctly. help people turn around and stop the And the NNC will call Press Conference to show spread of HIV and AIDS? all these fact and figures about Nagaland Post to By the way it is not the fault of the publish for public interest. Also the NNC will call church that the prohibition has not been all the important NGOs to see the fact and figures of effective. It is the government that has all these for their record. And in particular, ACAUT failed to enforce the Act as well as factors must come to verify all these facts without excuse or from the side of the underground groups. bias attitude.

Nagaland Post is not above Naga politics or that Stop blaming the church. Probably the church can do a good job if given the arms of NNC’s rights.

In the name of Media house, Nagaland Post as a and the salary to do it. It can rule with a rod of iron (Rev. 20:4 ) given the chance and Newspaper cannot suppress the voice of the Political it may not be too far in the distance as we Institution NNC the very Foundation of Historical hear the rumbles of the signs of the times and Political Rights of the Naga people. of the coming of the King of kings.

Information & Publicity Wing, Rev_19:15 And out of His ( Jesus) Naga National Council mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Repent and be saved and help to save others instead of putting them or helping Good Morning Uncle Bhim Singh, them to their grave.

T

birThday grEETing

On this beautiful morning with the sunshine, God

Tepu Khieya, has blessed you adding with another day, steeping into Pastor and teacher in the body of 69th years, May our Good Lord bless you with good Christ, admirer of The Watchman health and long life along with your family.

Many many Happy Returns of the day.

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.

_

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 # 2970

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2977

From your Son in Christ, John DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

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 # 2969

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

BETRAYAL BLOOD BODY BREAD CUP DISCIPLES DRINK FEAST HYMN JESUS JUDAS PASSOVER PITCHER PREPARE REMEMBRANCE SHED SORROWFUL TABLE THANKS TWELVE WATER

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ACROSS 1. Dry 5. Swerve 9. 1 1 1 1 13. Disabled 14. Tapestry 16. Schnozzola 17. Vipers 18. Brownish gray 19. Anagram of “Note” 20. Appearance 22. Triangular headsail 24. Ripped 26. Adult male singing voice 27. A wasp has one 30. A radioactive metallic element 33. Square dance gatherings 35. Submarine detector 37. A large vase 38. Travels on water 41. African antelope 42. Tortilla chip 45. Made poor 48. Doctor 51. Explosive device 52. Summary 54. Where the sun rises 55. Elkwoods 59. Drop to one’s knees

62. Away from the wind 63. Something of value 65. Hairdo 66. Adult male sheep 67. Moon of Saturn 68. Wreckage 69. Not more 70. Where a bird lives 71. If not

DOWN 1. “Oh my!”

2. Impetuous 3. Restlessness 4. Despair 5. Big wine holder 6. Historical periods 7. Blow up 8. A straight sword 9. One of the Great Lakes 10. Cozy corner 11. Feudal worker 12. Clairvoyant 15. Ringworm cassia 21. Therefore 23. Gestures of assent 25. Recent events 27. Cold-shoulder 28. Synagogue scroll 29. Ribonucleic acid 31. Thankless 32. Anagram of “Amend”

34. Take in slowly 36. Boorish 39. Delay 40. Certain 43. Control and direct 44. Margarine 46. Pinnacle 47. Capture 49. Panache 50. Dried grape 53. Adhesive 55. A crumbling earthy deposit 56. Wings 57. Precious stones 58. Oceans 60. Anagram of “Sire” 61. Solitary 64. Explosive Ans to CrossWord 2976

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Morung Express News Dimapur | August 19

The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) today came out with a revelation that would have the PWD Roads & Bridges (R&B) department tongue-tied. According to documents sourced through the Right to Information Act, the NFHRCC disclosed that the R & B department have issued 27 work orders through ‘table tender’, valued at over Rs. 85.6 crores, during October, 2013 to April 2014.

Following the work order fiasco, resulting from the

Wednesday

LOCAL

The Morung Express

Table tenders galore ‘85 crores worth of work issued through table tender’

Notice Inviting Tender dated May 8, the NFHRCC said that it sought information through RTI on work orders issued by the department.

The department had maintained during the time that it opened up the bidding process for work in Mon and Mokokchung while stating that the practice of ‘table tender’ was against NPWD norms. Work in the Wokha sector and a portion

in the Mokokchung sector was implemented through table tender.

“Inorder to avoid unwanted eventualities, the department lucidly stated that they opted for NIT for the remaining portion of the jeepable foothill road,” the NFHRCC said of the department’s stand on the tendering process. It was initially agreed that work will be executed by contractors recom-

mended by the NFHRCC. Basing on the information, “the stand taken by the department that work order was issued through table tender is not in line with the rules and regulations is totally baseless and misleading,” the NFHRCC said.

The NFHRCC further informed that it met the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) headed by Home Minister, Y. Patton on Tuesday in

Kohima. The CSC was presented the RTI findings and the NFHRCC placed four demands. Commissioner & Secretary, R&B, TC Sangtam and the Chief Engineer, R&B, D. Meru were also in the meeting.

Asked of the CSC’s reaction to the information provided, the NFHRCC said that it expressed surprise at the disclosure, while the Chief Engineer did not of-

20 August 2014 fer any explanation.

On the demands, the NFHRCC said that it sought the removal of R&B Minister, Kuzholuzo Nienu on grounds of alleged corruption, revoking of the work orders issued against the NIT dated May 8,withdrawal of the defamation suits filed by Nienu and compensation to the people injured during the June 30 bandh.

The CSC asked for three days time to decide on the revocation of the work orders, while the other three demands called for a thorough discussion in the next Cabinet meeting, NFHRCC said of the CSC’s response.

Dimapur celebrates Janmashtami with gaiety CNTC seeks relief for displaced Naga villagers Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): Various organization and community leaders with devotees celebrated Janmashtami, birth anniversary of Lord Krishna in Dimapur on August 17, organized by Hindu Seva Samiti.

Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya with his wife Kavita Acharya graced the occasion as chief guest.

Addressing the gathering, Acharya stressed on three important keys to empower North East states - education, electricity, and employment. He also distributed Bhagawat Geeta (The Holy book of Hindus) among the children during the event.

A press release from Ashim Sarkar, Media incharge, Janmasthami Celebration Committee informed that Shree Krishna

Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): The Central Nagaland Tribal Council (CNTC), observing that there is shortage of police personnel in Ralan area has urged the State government to establish permanent police post in the whole sensitive stretch, where “frequent skirmishes with the Assamese settlers of Naga areas occur every now and then.”

CNTC officially visited Ralan Devotees participate in Janmashtami procession in Di- area on August 19 and held mapur on August 17. meeting with the Ralan Area Rath Yatra, a procession with The event ended with Lotha Hoho (RALH) and civthe idol of Sri Krishna was traditional ‘Dahi Handi carried out to commemo- Phod’ competition, in rate the holy occasion, and which boys of Hindu Yuva passed through Dimapur Sangh, Pranab Govinda’s town and culminated in Di- team, and Shibaji Govinmapur Hindu Milan Mandir, da’s team formed a human Kohima, august 19 with the message of Peace, pyramid to crack a pot full (mExN): Kohima Village Prosperity and Universal of curd placed at a consid- Youth Organisation (KVYO) has condemned four of its brotherhood. erable height. members - Neingumelie Dzuvichu, Roukuovituo Sote, Mhalelhoulie Mepfuo and Ziekro-o, for assaulting Pelo Letro on August 14 Dimapur in the recom- Blues Lounge, New Rajast- night. In a statement issued mendation letter stated han Hotel, Kwality Hotel, by its president and general that the shops, hotels, and Ws Capital Hotel, Raj Palace secretary, KVYO also conlounges were habitual of- Hotel, New Rajdhani Hotel, demned the “intimidating fenders of NLTP Act 1989. Hotel Raj Kama, M/s Shri behavior, impersonating The hotels and loung- Laxmi Hotel, Raj Laxmi Ho- of armed elements” by the es mentioned were: Sar- tel, and Hotel Shan Punjab. four accused.

From the hotels and gam Hotel, Shan E Punjab, The organization furKingfisher, Jaipur Palace, lounges stated, the letter said, Raj Deep, Hindustan Ho- 28 cases of rum and beer, 118 tel, Sher-e-Punjab Hotel, beer cases and whisky were Rajutana Hotel, Cellar Res- seized and 23 persons were taurant, H20 Restaurant & arrested under NLTP Act by Lounge, Savour Lounge, Es- the Excise enforcement per- Dimapur, august cape Lounge, Cube Lounge, sonnel on August 13.

19 (mExN): The ninemember entourage of Parliamentary Secretary Paiwang Konyak, who had been detained by Adivasi mob in Golaghat, facilities by 2016.” Based on ing, Information and Tech- Assam since August 15, the assurances provided by nology Engineering, Com- were released on August the NU committee, the SET- puter Science Engineering, 19, informed Eastern NaSU stated that it has decided Biotechnology Engineer- galand Peoples' Organito call off its agitation. ing, and a Management zation (ENPO) in a reSETSU informed that department (MBA). Later, lease. ENPO, on behalf of the NU committee had SETAM was divided into the entire public of its six comprised of Deputy Reg- the School of Engineering federating tribes, has existrar, Yanrenthung Ezung; and Technology (SET) and pressed gratefulness to Controller of examination, the School of Management the Ministry of Home AfAbemo; Professor Kohima Studies (SMS). fairs, GoI and Nagaland campus, N Venuh; ProHowever, with the in- government led by Chief fessor Medziphema cam- crease in the enrollment Minister TR Zeliang for pus, Sapu Changkija and of the number of students the timely intervention to V Sharan. It was led by NU to undergo professional safely release the entoupro vice chancellor, A La- courses, SETSU stated that nunungsang Ao. there was an urgent need The School of Engineer- for a permanent campus. ing and Technology and It may be noted that on Management (SETAM) August 7, the SETSU had under Nagaland University met the Vice Chancellor Kohima, august 19 was established in 2007 in a of NU apprising him of the (mExN): The ACAUT Natemporary campus situated need to approve a perma- galand along with Yaongyat DC court junction, Dima- nent campus. However, imsen Kaketshir Telongjem, pur, Nagaland. The school stating that the meeting Dimapur Ao Youth Organcomprises of five Engineer- “was not fruitful,” SETSU isation, Dimapur Ao Stuing departments, i.e., Agri- had resolved to boycott ad- dents’ Union, Science Colcultural Engineering and missions and an ultimatum lege students, NPMHR, Technology, Electronics & was served to the NU Vice ANCSU, All Nagaland VDB Communication Engineer- Chancellor on August 10.

Association, Naga Blog, and concerned individuals expressed solidarity with Watinaro A. Imsong and joined her in sit-in protest at Secrehave been averted had the mitted a written assurance tariat Complex junction, issue been brought to the no- to the Chief Manager of Kohima, August 19. tice of the Public and the ad- Zunheboto Branch “pledgministration”. ing for the security of the SBI Subsequently, it main- functioning at Aghunato” tained that, the concerned the release added. Howorganisations of the area ever, it alleged that, despite had made numerous rep- “fulfilling all their directions Morung Express News resentations and appeals and instructions for secuDimapur | August 19 to the SBI Zonal Office at rity cover for re-shifting of Jorhat and Local Head Of- Aghunato Branch by the A three-day Workshop fice at Guwahati since 2007, administration and the po- for ‘Community Facilitaincluding a personal mem- lice,” the SBI is yet to shift the tors on Disability, Develorandum to the General branch even after a year. opment & Rehabilitation Manager, SBI Local Head Accusing the SBI of- Therapy Service’ at AIDA, Office, Guwahati during his ficials of ‘”lackadaisical Don Bosco Institute, Divisit to Zunheboto Branch attitude” and insensitive mapur, has been organized in January 2013, where he towards the suffering com- by Prodigals’ Home, Dimagave assurance that “the mon men, the ESSU warned pur from August 19 – 21 in branch will be shifted as that, it will be their last cor- collaboration with Mobility soon as security cover is respondence on this issue, India, Kolkata and supportprovided by the DC and the and they will proceed with ed by United States Agency SP Zunheboto” the aforesaid PIL. Further, for International DevelopAccordingly, the ESSU the union appealed the ment (USAID). and elders of Aghunato Chief Secretary’s intervenThe 90 participants attown after meeting the tion on the matter by either tending the programme are Deputy Commissioner and raising it with the relevant from SSA-IED programme, Superintendent of Police, authority or by providing an ASHA Workers, Angawadi Zunheboto, High authori- alternative arrangement to Workers, People in Need ties of NPG’s and numerous end the ‘‘misery” of the citi- Foundation (Dimapur), Depublic meetings had “sub- zens of Aghunato. velopment Association Na-

Excise asks DMC to cancel trade licenses Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): Office of the Commissioner of Excise, Dimapur today forwarded recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer, Dimapur Municipal Council, for cancellation of 23 trade licenses for "misusing" the licenses by selling illegal liquor and committing offences under NLTP Act 1989.

Maong Aier, IAS Commissioner Excise & Director Prohibition Nagaland,

il and police administration.

CNTC also informed that surrounding Naga villages had to vacate their houses for fear of their lives and are still taking shelter in the nearby villages.

Therefore, it has urged the State government to provide immediate relief to the displaced Naga villagers.

The Council, in a press release issued by its general secretary, Imtinochet and vice president, Khondao Ngully lauded the administration and police person-

nel for extending round the clock vigil in the affected areas. Meanwhile, it condemned the “connivance act of the Assam Government and the Adivasis Maoist (ALNA) for creating the tense situation and trying to illegally grab the land of Nagas which have been owned, cultivated and developed by the Nagas since time immemorial.” It also flayed Assam media for “reporting distorted news and thereby creating unwarranted situations in the area.”

KVYO condemns August 14 incident ther condemned the “highhandedness” of Chakhesang youths, who assaulted the four accused though they were under the custody of police. KVYO alleged that the person who led the Chakhesang youths physically manhandled a police officer on duty “who he identified him from his name tag, belonging to the Kohima Village.”

Thus, KVYO viewed the action as "one guided by a personal ill-will against Kohima Village" and summoned him to appear before KVYO

on or before August 31, “to clarify on what grounds and justification he assaulted a Police Officer on official duty after identifying him to be from Kohima Village.

Moreover from what source he learned that Pelo Letro was taken to Kohima Village Panchayat Hall.”

It also asked the law enforcing agency to take action against the accused, and also, deliver justice to the police officer at the earliest, “without which KVYO will not remain passive.”

ESSU for “re-shifting” of SBI Aghunato Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): The Eastern Sümi Students’ Union (ESSU) has demanded that, the SBI Aghunato Branch be shifted to its earlier location from Zunheboto before September 15, failing which they will file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the Bank. In an open letter addressed to Chief Secretary, Govt. of Nagaland and released to the press here, the ESSU stated that, the SBI Aghunato Branch was attached with the Zunheboto Branch since April 27, 2001 by its Branch Manager citing “extortion notice” by certain Naga Political Group (NPG).

However, it alleged that, the branch manager, surprisingly, did not even file a case with the local administration and left the place abruptly without informing his own staffs causing “extreme hardship and pain to the people of our area for more than a decade which otherwise would

5

MEx FILE Dimapur DC appeals for judicious LPG use Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): Deputy Commissioner for Dimapur, N Hushili Sema has urged the public to ensure judicious use of LPG, in view of the ongoing indefinite economic blockade imposed at Golaghat district of Assam. A press note from the Dimapur DC informed that “there is severe shortage of LPG” at the bottling plant in Dimapur. The DC further stated that eight tankers of 18 MT LPG are stranded due to “irate mobs at Golaghat not allowing the movement of LPG tankers into Dimapur.” She however assured the concerned department is “putting all efforts to resolve the issue at the earliest.”

NNC secretary clarifies Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): With regard to a notification which appeared in local dailies on August 18, which stated that NNC CEC meeting has been convened on August 23 at Council Headquarters, Secretary, Naga National Council (NNC), L Kaiso has clarified that NNC Central Office is not holding NNC Central Executive Council meeting on August 23. “Regrettably, today in Nagaland a number of groups are trying to confuse the Naga public,” the secretary stated in a press release. Further, all the CEC members, Regional Presidents and Office holders have been asked to “note it and be clear about your group identity and allegiance,” adding, “The NNC stands to save the Naga Nation.”

NSCN (IM) asks to claims vehicles Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): Union Territory, NSCN (IM) has recovered two Tata Turbo Engine LP – one bearing registration number NL-07A/7036, engine number – 400093, chassis number – 373341FWZ718221; and the other, registration number – NL-07A/8456, engine number – CG13B111152701103720, and chassis number – SPWF020WY26509. Secretary, UT, NSCN (IM), Khekuto Jakhalu in a press release informed that he and his team chased the trucks from Gurapati till 4th Mile Bridge, Dimapur, but the drivers and the co-drivers managed to flee the scene around 10:30-11:00 pm. The secretary has asked the rightful owners to claim the vehicles with valid documents within ten days. One may contact 8575659190/ 9436971965 in this regard.

State helicopter service to resume August 21 Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): The State helicopter operation will resume from August 21 positively. NST general manager Senti Pongener in a press release has requested the public and commuters to avail the service accordingly with effect from the stipulated date. The operation had remained suspended since July 28 last.

ENPO lauds release of Paiwang Konyak's entourage

Permanent campus for SET approved Dimapur, august 19 (mExN): The School of Engineering and Technology Students Union (SETSU), under Nagaland University (NU), has informed that its demands regarding approval of a permanent campus has been “approved” by a committee consisting of officials from NU. A press note from SETSU informed that the NU committee met with SETSU members on August 18 and resolved that “as per the resolution of the 17th Academic Council meeting held on November 28, 2013, the permanent campus for School Of Engineering and Technology shall be at Kohima campus, Meriema.”

SETSU informed that the committee members further assured that the SET “shall be shifted to its permanent campus with proper infrastructure and basic

Dimapur

ENSF Speaker and President, DSP, and OC with the entourage of Parliamentary Secretary Paiwang Konyak, who had been detained by Adivasi mob in Golaghat on August 15 and released on August 19. The entourage included two drivers, PA to Parl' Secy, and six personal body guards.

rage. The release issued

by ENPO vice president, Kekongchim and joint secretary, Manlang Phom further expressed hope and confidence that the MHA

and State government will continue to work for the congenial ending of the present unpleasant situations for the larger interest of all concerned.

ENPO, ENLU, and ENSF meet TR Zeliang Meanwhile, general secretary of Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU), R Tohanba in a press re-

lease informed that representatives of ENPO, ENLU, and Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF) today met Chief Minister TR Zeliang to express happiness and gratitude for the safe release of the staff and security personnel of Parliamentary Secretary Paiwang Konyak. The release further lauded the vital role initiated by Home Minister Y Patton, Chief Secretary Banuo Z Jamir, ACS & Commissioner Toshi Aier, and Home Commissioner Temjen Toy. “The concerted effort made by the various offices could successfully bring to an end unprecedented and grave situation,” it stated.

ACAUT sits in with Watinaro—asks CM to take action On this issue, the ACAUT Nagaland along with other frontal organizations and the aggrieved party met the Chief Minister along with the Chief Secretary, Home Commissioner and State Planning & Evaluation Minister, informed a press release from the ACAUT media cell.

The team submitted a 6 point resolution, demanding, among other things, that the Government “clearly notify” that the Directorate of

Technical Education is to be the sole nodal department for selection of candidates to MBBS, Undergraduate Engineering and allied courses for all reserved seats including those under NEC; that “disciplinary action” be initiated against the Director of Horticulture; that the Director of Technical Education officially clarify why this lapse was allowed to happen at the cost of a meritorious student—disciplinary action to be taken against the Director

if found wanting; and that the role of NEC should be questioned in this controversy.

The ACAUT informed that the CM agreed that the Directorate of Technical Education is the “only nodal agency” to nominate students for higher studies. He also said that flaws in the selection system will be rectified and assured that Watinaro will be re-nominated for the said course in the university. He also encouraged Watinaro to come back from her

studies and serve the Naga people. The CM also assured the team that the role of Horticulture Director nominating her son shall be enquired into. The Chief Secretary, it was informed, "apologized for the imbroglio" and said that "since re-nomination of Watinaro to the said university has been decided, the question of the Government asking for one more seat in the YSP University to accommodate Imnatemsu Imchen does not arise."

3-day workshop on Disability, Development & Rehabilitation

Group discussion underway at the Workshop for ‘Community Facilitators on Disability, Development & Rehabilitation Therapy Service’ at AIDA training centre, Don Bosco, Dimapur on August 19.

galand (Dimapur), Prodigals’ Home (Dimapur), Silver Line Academy (Dimapur), Care and Support Society (Mokokchung), Youth Action for Rural Development (Kohima), and Cherry Blossom (Kohima).

The Workshop attempts

to primarily address, ‘how do we deal with disability?’ Topics being covered include Attitude and perspectives on disability, definition of disability (Medical and Social), Rights of People with disabilities, Accessing of rehab servic-

es: Approaches – (IBR and CBR), Importance of Accessibility, Disability and Development, Impairment, Causes & types of Impairments/disability, Levels of prevention of disability, Brief introduction of the disabling conditions (especially 0 to 5 years age group), Importance of therapy services in Rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, Simple therapy technique including positioning & ADL training with local resources, Role of community facilitators.

Resource persons for the workshop are Gautam Chaudhury - Disability & development Consultant, Amit Kumar - Assistant Director, Tapas Kr. Pal - Phys-

iotherapist, Ritesh Ranjan - Physiotherapist from Mobility India.

During the sessions, interaction was made participatory that allowed for understanding different disabling conditions, group activities and participants were also shown successful case studies of Rehabilitation Services, which have resulted in inclusion of children in the mainstream of society in a participatory manner.

Participants expressed they were able to gain much information about disabilities as well as understand their vital role in preventing some of the disabilities which they come across during work or life.

6

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express wEDnEsDAy 20 AuGusT 2014 volumE IX IssuE 228

Law and Rights

I

ndigenous peoples have typically been organized primarily by kinship ties, have had decentralized political structures often linked in confederations, as well as shared or overlapping territorial ownership. Since indigenous communities did not conform to the European models of political and social organization; indigenous peoples were for a very long time in colonial history not considered as a nation, state or nation-state.

This has led to being labeled with terms such as hill tribes, aboriginal, tribals, natives and indigenous minorities.

Colonial international law was a legitimizing force for colonization and empire building rather than a liberating one for indigenous peoples. In the eyes of colonial international law, indigenous lands prior to any colonial presence were considered legally unoccupied or terra nullis (vacant lands). Under this fiction, discovery was employed to uphold colonial claims of indigenous lands in order to by-pass any claim to the possession by the natives in the ‘discovered lands.’ Treaties with indigenous peoples thus could simply be ignored for the purposes of international law.

As colonizing states and their offspring consolidated power over indigenous lands, many such states adopted trusteeship notions as grounds and parameters for the nonconsensual exercise of authority over indigenous peoples. The objective of the trusteeship was to wean native peoples from their ‘backward’ ways and to ‘civilize them.’ Unfortunately, early affirmation of indigenous peoples’ rights succumbed to a state centered Eurocentric system that could not accommodate indigenous peoples and their cultures as equals.

In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in modern International law, which one can say may be somewhat more affirmative of indigenous peoples in the light of the growing concept of human rights. This shift is in retreat from the orientations that separated law from morality and one that regarded non-Western people as necessarily inferior. Though modern international law has acquired near universality and is no longer limited to States alone; it still substantially remains Statecentric and the rhetoric revolves around state-sovereignty. As a result, indigenous peoples’ concerns and aspirations continue to be submerged by the dominant colonial societies which have controlled access to domestic and international legal fora.

Nevertheless, the concepts of group or collective rights have begun to take hold in the articulation of human rights norms and in adjudicative or quasi adjudicative procedures of international human rights organs. The modern human rights movement has helped in creating the space to revisit and redefine indigenous peoples, their land and their aspirations.

lEfT wiNg |

Steve Douglas AP Sports Writer

Dark days disappear for transformed England

D

renched in champagne and surrounded by jubilant teammates, England captain Alastair Cook held his arms aloft and savored the feeling of winning a test series again.

It had been a while. Following the humiliation of a 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia and the dejection of a last-gasp home series loss to Sri Lanka, England found itself 1-0 behind to India after two tests of a five-match series against India.

And Cook, whose own form with the bat was wretched, faced calls to resign. "I'm quite stubborn, I believe in my ability and I'm a resilient guy — that was when I needed it most," Cook said. Some straight talking from his wife also helped Cook get through his darkest days as captain. "You can bear your soul to Alice," Cook said, "and she's very good at getting you back on the straight and narrow." It clearly worked. Cook's form returned, senior teammates like Ian Bell, James Anderson and Stuart Broad also stepped up and England won three straight test victories to beat the Indians 3-1.

After a stunning transformation, England can suddenly look forward to the visit of arch-rival Australia for the 2015 Ashes with renewed optimism. "England, with so many players coming through, are a team to invest in," former England captain Nasser Hussain said in his column in The Daily Mail.

"They are on an upward curve.

"Australia, meanwhile, have got some older players who might be going in the other direction. Let us see." One of cricket's oldest adages is "catches win matches." In Cook's case, one particular catch could have ended his time as captain.

In England's first innings in the crucial third test, Cook was dropped in the slips by Ravindra Jadeja when on 15. Cook went on to make 95 — one of the most important knocks of his career — and England and its captain never looked back. For most pundits, it was a turning point in the series.

England's joy will be tempered by the knowledge that the Indians put up weak opposition. Away test series are never their forte but even by their standards, not scoring above 178 in their last five innings of the series is a poor effort.

There is also concern over some departments in England's lineup. There are still doubts about Sam Robson as Cook's opening partner, and worries about the dependence on Broad and Anderson and whether Moeen Ali can keep up his surprisingly good form as the team's part-time spinner.

But Cook will point to the resurgence of middle-order batsman Joe Root, who scored 518 runs an average of 103.50 this series, the seamless introduction to the team of wicketkeeper Jos Buttler and the blossoming of Chris Jordan as the third fast bowler. The India series also showed that in typically English conditions, England's bowling attack can be unstoppable with their tails up. The Ashes series should at least be competitive now England has some confidence back. Something many neutrals likely feared would not be the case when Cook's men were at rock bottom a month ago.

"I'm glad I stuck through the tough times," Cook said. Before the Ashes, however, England will put the whites away and slip into one-day mode for the next eight months in preparation for the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand early next year.

S O U N D BITE “We should believe in the power of our voice and we should believe that yes, it can really bring a change.”

IN-FOCUS

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Costas Douzinas

Rights: the paradoxes of liberalism

Human rights are a hybrid of liberal law, morality and politics. Their ideological power lies in their ambiguity, not in their adherence to liberal values of individual freedom

ment moral responsibility. As a result a number of paradoxes enter the heart of society by bringing together law and morality. Let me offer five theses developing some of the paradoxes.

Human rights are the last universal ideology after the proclaimed ‘end’ of ideology and history. They unite the North and the South, the Church and the State, first world liberals and third world revolutionaries. Human rights are used as a symbol for liberalism, capitalism or individualism by some and for development, social justice or peace by others.

In the South, rights are seen as primarily collective rather than individual, social and economic rather than civil, associated with equality rather than liberty.

Thesis 1. Human rights classify people on a spectrum between the fully human, the lesser human and the inhuman.

Does the victory and ubiquity of rights indicate that they transcend conflicts of interests and the clash of ideas? Have rights become a common horizon uniting Cardiff and Kabul, London and Lahore? It is a comforting idea, daily denied in news bulletins.

If there is something perpetual about our world, it is not Kant’s peace but the increasing wealth gap between North and South, between rich the poor and the mushrooming and strictly policed security walls dividing the wealthy from the ‘underclass’ of immigrants, refugees and the ‘undeserving poor’.

The protests and uprisings that broke out recently all over the world demanded social justice and equality not human rights (‘We are the 99%’, ‘stop austerity and cuts’). The absence of appeals to human rights gives us the opportunity to revisit their theoretical and political premises. ‘Human rights’ is a combined term. Legal rights have been the building block of western law since early modernity modelled on the right to property, the first and still most significant right. As human, rights introduce a type of morality in the way public and now private powers should treat people. The legitimacy of modern law was based on its claim to be ideologically neutral, beyond morality, ideology and politics. The proliferation of human rights marks the realisation that state law could be bent to the most atrocious policies. Human rights are therefore a hybrid category of liberal law and morality. But as morality is not one and the law is not a simple exercise in reasoning, moral conflict enters the legal archive and legal strictures regi-

Liberals claim that human rights are given to people on account of their “humanity” instead of membership of narrower categories such as state, nation or class. If that were the case, refugees, undocumented immigrants, the Guatanamo Bay prisoners who have no state or law to protect them should be prime beneficiaries of the consolations of humanity. They have very few.

‘Bare’ humanity offers no protection and whoever claims to represent it lies.

Humanity has no fixed or universally acceptable meaning and cannot act as the source of moral or legal rules.

Historically, the barbarians for the Greeks and Romans, the heathen for the Christians, the ‘uncivilized’ for the imperialists, the ‘irrational’ racial and sexual minorities for the privileged, the ‘illegal immigrants’ for the citizens or the economically redundant for the affluent have been divisions of ‘humanity’. Human rights help construct who and how one becomes human.

Thesis 2. Power and morality, sovereignty and rights are not fatal enemies as is often argued. Instead a historically specific amalgam of sovereignty and morality forms the structuring order of each epoch and society.

Natural rights, the early modern predecessor of human rights, were a necessary companion of the nation-state and nationalism. The French Declaration of the Rights of Man stated that ‘all men are born free and equal’ but gave its ‘universal’ rights only to French white, male and propertied citizens. The post-WWII order combined ‘non intervention’ in the domestic affairs of states, that is the strongest possible support of national sovereignty, with the claim of universal human rights. As President Reagan said of the Universal Declaration and its social and economic rights, it is akin to children’s ‘letter to Santa’. Finally, the post-1989 ‘new world order’ has pierced the national sovereignty of ‘rogue’ states nominally to protect citizens from their evil governments. But the aftermath

of the Afghanistan and Iraq invasions shows that the spread of democracy and human rights was a flimsy smokescreen.

In the past, the ‘civilizing mission’ included missionaries and gunboats today human rights, missiles and drones.

The combination of the huge structural inequalities and state repression of neoliberal globalization with a legal ideology promising dignity and equality creates a systemic instability leading the ‘new world order’ to its demise.

Thesis 3. In advanced Western societies, human rights de-politicise politics.

I do not refer here to traditional civil liberties and the limited protections the underprivileged, the oppressed and the poor still claim and rarely get. This is the core case of civil liberties. The problem lies elsewhere: human rights have lost their significance and edge by becoming the vernacular expression of every kind of individual aspiration and desire (every ‘I want X’ can potentially become ‘I have a right to X)’ and a dominant language of public policy. The right wing leads the attack by targeting ‘illegal immigrants’, prisoners, and ‘bogus refugees’ while promoting the rights of property owners, bankers and crime victims. For the defenders of free market individualism, rights are playthings of the middle class.

As Labour and the Tories move to the ideological centre, conflict was declared finished. The emphasis on the rights of property owners and consumers pursues the same agenda. It gives the impression that rich bankers and the unemployed or the privacy of the middle class and the basic dignity of the unemployed belong to the same register.

Antagonism is the reality of politics and social justice its aim. Rights as individual entitlements cannot tackle inequality nor are they synonymous with justice. Indeed liberal jurisprudence considers social and economic rights secondary because they are not ‘justiciable’, that is their nature makes them somehow inappropriate for litigation.

When individual rights become the site and stake of politics, they join the ‘choice’ agenda and a manifestation of neo-liberalism.

ing a ‘right’ to work means nothing for the millions of unemployed. Formal rights are silent as regards the preconditions for their exercise. The ‘right’ to work does not refer to an existing entitlement but to a political claim. In this sense, the politics of rights is always in potential conflict with their legal status.

Human rights statements are prescriptions: people are not free and equal but they ought to become so. Only political struggle not the law can achieve this.

Equality is a call for action not a description of a state of affairs. Again take the nominally non-controversial ‘right to life’. Its statement does not answer questions about abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia or whether the necessary prerequisites for survival such as food, shelter or health care should be protected. In most cases, a human rights claim is the beginning rather than the end of a dispute about its meaning or its standing vis-à-vis conflicting rights.

When God, the author of natural law died, international law replaced him as the source of the latest higher source of morality. The ideological power of human rights lies precisely in their rhetorical and political ambiguity, the oscillation between ideal and real, between humanity and national citizenship, between law’s order and the desire for a better world. When human rights are part of the law, the law includes a principle of self-transcendence, which pushes against the law’s settled state. A legal system with human rights is paradoxically not equal to itself, since human rights can call the whole of law to account. In this sense, rights become not the last ideology but the latest expression of the human urge to resist domination and oppression and the intolerance of public opinion. They are part of a long and honourable tradition, which started with Antigone’s defiance of unjust law and surfaces in the struggles of the despised, enslaved or exploited. In this sense, rights have a double meaning and life. They are (legal) claims to be admitted to the privileges of the law and (political) demands to have the whole of the law improved or changed.

Thesis 5: The end of human rights is Thesis 4. The distance between ‘having’ to resist public and private domination and oppression. They lose that end a right and ‘enjoying’ it is huge. when they become the political ideolTake the ‘right to work’ or the claim ogy or idolatry of neo-liberal capitalthat we are ‘all born equal’ both main- ism or the contemporary version of the stays of international treaties. Hav- civilizing mission.

Letters to the editor necessity is the mother of Corruptions •-In the past, life could survive with meager basic needs like food, shelters and clothes etc. They might have also felt the necessity of better things for better living. This necessity motivated the mass people to study in various fields that led to discover and invent many new things. Through these new form of inventions, the world has now turned into a better place to live in. it is therefore, rightly said that the “Necessity is the mother of invention”. But sadly today in our context, necessity is more the mother invention; it is the “mother of all corruptions”.

Today, living has become too costly and keen competitive. Hence, the necessity of life has increased day by day beyond measure. Economic says that human wants are unlimited. When a particular need is solved, then another need arises and man becomes exceedingly conscious about his needs and environments. But in his tenacious efforts in getting his needs, he intentionally commits a lots of unlawful acts resulting into loss of many precious lives, life imprisonment, loss of properties and bankruptcy and even some get hanged themselves.

Laws are made to keep the unruly people to prevent from doing wrong and to punish the guilty. But necessity who knows no law is the untamable force behind all unlawful activities of man in search of his needs. Sometimes this necessity compels politicians and bureaucrats to accept bribes and misuse power for their individual gains.

In the past, bribes were given to get the wrong things done. But today, the motive behind the bribery has intensified. Bribes are given to get the right, things done at the right times depriving the rights of the right person.

People never get shocked nor questioned when politicians and bureaucrats are found indulging into corruptions openly but people simply accept silently that it is legitimate right of the so-called politicians and bureaucrats.

Politicians and bureaucrats also never feel ashamed and hesitate to commit corruption, thinking that politic is a dirty game.

Many politicians when come to power for the first time promises their determination to eradicate the corruption, but within no time they themselves become corrupt and start amazing unproportionate wealth.

Firstly, the involvement of criminals, business big shots and capitalist into politics who believe in selfinterest oriented programmes and policies rather than people oriented programmes and policies.

Secondly, the self-centred oriented economic policy of the government.

Most of the recent economic policies of the government are obviously arbitrary decision which are diametrically against the interest of the people resulting into complains, objections, boycott and bandh that are given rise to law and order problems. Under such situation, the slogan “Peace for Development and Development for peace” has become a far cry and the ideal of the government of the people, by the people and for the people is made handicapped for which Abraham Loncoln would not be happy with the Nagas for the misinterpretation and abuse of his ideal democracy.

P. Dako Phom, Dimapur

Is lifting or not lifting an important issue?

•-Write-ups that support lifting of prohibition are sure to invite criticism, even reprimand from church leaders, because as Christians, such write-ups may even be considered a rebellion.

But is it not time a spade is called a spade?

25 years on and the scenario – despite the existence of prohibition act, liquor joints exist in all nooks and corners and without prohibition, they will surely be there wherever they are. But what difference does that make?

Will it not be better if more focus is given to educating people about the ill-effects of alcoholism rather than debating on this trivial issue of lifting or not lifting while drinkers rot away and sellers build their fortune (that too with spurious stuff). Even better to save our red faces from the ‘dry state’ tag and let govt. do the licensing so that adulterated liquor can also be checked like any other foodstuff. Just an instance – witnessed this during a few day’s visit to Sikkim – liquor shops are found in abundance but not a single drunkard was encountered (Don’t know if it is abuzz with drunkards at all other times).

If statistics furnished by the Excise Department or the occasional destruction of seized consignments is any consolation, what if ten little cases of seizure reported in the media be not even half as good as one big truck load that We can broadly classify two causes of evades arrest and both the transporter corruption in our present context: and police benefit from it?

The state govt. may be contemplating on lifting the prohibition act because calling Nagaland a dry state has become a mockery and it is not within the capacity of its machinery to enforce this act as there are too many loopholes. Therefore at this point of time, NBCC blaming the govt. for failure to implement total prohibition while insisting to continue with the act without acting does not seem to solve anything.

Simply seizing a few consignments of IMFL and destroying it in public will not beat the rate at which it is being transported and sold because liquor joints running out of stock has never been heard of and moreover, we cannot turn our depleting land into a burial ground for IMFL. Kethosituo Mepfhüo Kohima Village

Is the Government ready to rumble on nlTP Act? •-Of late, many inputs both critical and analytical are being placed for public consumption by numerous writers in different forms. It is very encouraging to see the outpour of inspiring thinkers. However, it is also found that many are taking a neutral stand or just bringing partial views instead of stating precisely where they stand. Perhaps, all writers are not alcoholic but maybe some are yet, some of them also tend to remain neutral. Nevertheless, everyone has equal right to think and write their views. We find writers mentioning about how some religion takes on anti social elements in some part of the world or how our system of governance had failed the NLTP Act or even up to the extent of finding faults of NBCC for their feeble effort on a cause that they intensely stand for.

One can’t help but feel that there is not going to be any difference either in lifting the Act or continuing the prohibition Act because, 70% or even more of our people have no moral lessons about ethical values. We are yet to learn hundreds of years of lesson to come to our sense. Look at our civic sense; take a dig at how we treat Government properties; think about how we take bribe during elections in terms of cash or sometime materials; Do the church bother to figure out how some people can give Rs. 50,000 or even 10,000 as tithe money per month? Imagine their income…. logistic or not?

The Churches had failed to instill many valuable moral lessons into the mindset of the people in a correct manner. Perhaps, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that today’s some re-

ligious leaders are acting or becoming more like the Pharisees of the old testaments? Pardon my assumption but, without sense of control, determination, will-power, discipline and above all Christian ethical beliefs, no act will stop us from destroying ourselves. Let us be realistic and try to figure out what or where we should start to built our society from. Parents are failing their parts in educating their children according to the contemporary senses of life, even the children are partially to be blamed but slowly, all these factors had ultimately contribute into a society that we live in today. It’s time for the churches to cope up with the contemporary world and preach accordingly because, the truth and the right path is always found in the Bible somewhere.

As far as the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act is concern, I cannot understand why debate so much. Why can’t the government act or assure the public that this prohibition can be effective and underpinned instead of seeking opinion from the public? Or, if the ban needs to be lifted than, why is the Government shying away from explaining the complexity in dealing with the act? Is the Government saying that the act needs loopholes to be implemented? Why can’t a Government which is overwhelmingly voted to power take a decision on its own? Show the public the wisdom of the government which is with an absolute power. The noises of the people are heard and it is time for some decision to be heard. I hope the Government will act rightly.

Unless so, let me put it this way: 1. Alcohol will always be available.

2. Those who are consuming now will continue to consume whether the act is lifted or not but, not everyone will start drinking because the Act is lifted.

3. The revenue that will be generated by lifting this Act will only be pocketed by people in power (the Government) and, its (excise, police) officials, not the public who takes risks and benefits from it today.

4. Perhaps only non-Nagas will be benefitted because any sane Naga will not open a wine store even if the ban is lifted. Who (any Naga) would wants to be a wine store manager or owner and be a Christian at the same time? Is there anyone till today?

5. NPGs taxes will still be effective and syndicated dealings will even be made more effective by lifting this act because the source of inflow and income will be more easily accessible. So whats the difference?

Ri Therie Rilo Forest Colony Kohima

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.

Malala Yousafzai

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 PERSPECTIVE What would Scotland Yes mean to Northern Ireland? wEdnEsday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

20 August 2014

NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

Whether a Yes or No, the decision will cause waves across the Sea of Moyle aonghus Ó Ceallaigh

“W

e cherish the relationship that we have. Nowhere else in the UK would the bonds be more tightly drawn between any other part of the UK from Northern Ireland’s point of view than with Scotland”. So said Peter Robinson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Northern Ireland’s First Minister in 2012, as the political winds within the United Kingdom (UK) moved inexorably towards the announcement of Scotland’s independence referendum.

The links between Scotland and Ireland, and in particular the northern half of the island, go back into the mists of time. From the training of the legendary Ulster hero Cú Chulainn by Scáthach on the Western Isles, to the migration of the Gaelic tribes known to the Romans as the Scoti to Scotland and onwards through Saint Colmcille (also known as Saint Columba). The galloglasses from the Highlands and islands manned many of Ireland’s armies in the Middle Ages. Perhaps most significantly however were the Scots who formed the majority of the settlers during the Ulster Plantation in the early 17th century and whose descendants now form the vast majority of unionist voters in Northern Ireland.

The upcoming referendum on September 18th will undoubtedly affect the people of Northern Ireland in a number of ways. While a Yes vote would lead to the end of the UK as we know it, a No vote will also change the dynamic within the Union. The UK would then be faced with a Scotland moving towards even greater devolution, so called ‘devo-max’, and a possible impending referendum on the UK remaining within the European Union (EU).

An Independent Scotland The likelihood of a yes vote in the upcoming referendum seems a long odds prospect, however, it is not beyond the realms of possibility and such a result would have profound effects on Northern Ireland in several areas.

Reg Empey the former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has stated that if Scotland votes for independence he fears Northern Ireland could end up “like West Pakistan,” with “a foreign country on one side of us and a foreign country on the other side of us.” It is only 18 kilometres from the north coast of Antrim across the Sea of Moyle to Scotland, but an independent Scotland with different tax and business regulations, a new border agency and immigration laws and possible change in currency could place extra costs on businesses in Northern Ireland.

The Scottish National Party has made no secret of the fact that they intend to follow the lead of the Republic of Ireland and reduce corporation tax. Their initial target

is to set the tax rate at 3% lower than the UK rate should the independence referendum pass. This would place Scotland’s corporation tax rate at a distinct advantage in comparison to Northern Ireland and would surely aid the Scottish government in their battle to attract employers to Scotland while still lagging behind the 12.5% rate in the Republic of Ireland.

While some view such a move as the start of a race to the bottom by an independent Scotland, there can be little doubt but that such a policy has been an effective tool in luring foreign companies to the Republic of Ireland.

It would seem unlikely that the Common Travel Area (CTA) allowing the free movement of people without border restrictions that has existed between the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey would cease to exist if Scotland became independent. However, there have been suggestions that any new Scottish border and immigration agency would have a more liberal immigration policy. If this was to be the case the CTA might indeed come into question.

The financial structures of the new UK would also come into question. The Barnett Formula used by the authorities in London to allocate funds to Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland would have to be recalibrated following Scottish independence. Whilst it is quite plausible that the relative generosity of the UK Exchequer to the administrations in Belfast and Cardiff might continue, it seems equally likely that such an exercise might be used as a way to lessen the transfers to the two remaining smaller partners in the Union.

The constitutional position of Northern Ireland Carl Bildt and Lord Robertson amongst others have voiced fears that a vote for independence could lead to the “Balkanization” of the UK and indeed across Europe. Prime in the thoughts of many exponents of this theory is the position of Northern Ireland. Gerry Adams the leader of Sinn Féin believes that “the union of the United Kingdom is hanging by a thread” and others on the republican and nationalist side have sought to use the impending referendum as ballast for their argument for the need for a ‘Border Poll’ on Irish unity. Other fig-

ures both in unionism and republicanism however do not see an independent Scotland leading to a questioning of the Northern Ireland's position in the union at this time.

In Northern Ireland, the residual effects of 30 years of violence, together with a folk history of conflict over centuries and recently and perhaps most importantly increased unemployment has led to an undercurrent of discontent. The recession and public sector cuts have hit the province harder than most in the UK given the huge percentage of the work force that rely on government jobs directly and indirectly in Northern Ireland. While the recent July 12th celebrations passed with relatively minor incidents, the flag protests of 2012 and 2013 and the arrest of Gerry Adams this year outline the sensitive situation there. Lord Trimble the former leader of the UUP announced recently that “the only thing that I see on the horizon that could cause a serious problem with [that] stability is the referendum in Scotland”. Others like the former Irish ambassador to the UK Daithí Ó Ceallaigh believe that “there is always the potential for violence” and Ian Paisley Junior of the DUP has also warned of potential violence.

The doomsday scenario of course is that a close referendum result in Scotland leads to violence on the streets and underlying sectarian fault lines in particular in the west of Scotland merge with increasing dissatisfaction with the direction of events in Northern Ireland, unlikely as that may seem at this juncture.

The Disappearing Cultural Link The identification of people as British amongst the unionist and loyalist communities of Northern Ireland is very strong, perhaps stronger than anywhere else in the UK. It has been their cultural rock over centuries as they have withstood Irish nationalism. However the connection of British people in Northern Ireland, the royal family notwithstanding, with London and indeed England or Wales in general is weak. The longstanding ties of language, culture and religion are with their kith and kin across the sea in the lowlands of Scotland.

As Daniel Marriott has put it “Scottish separatism in particular undermines the Ulster Unionist identity in the sense that

it challenges the ethnic ties to the island of Great Britain by asserting Scottish difference and uniqueness from the rest of the UK - including Northern Ireland.” As Marriott and others have suggested an independent Scotland may be a factor in driving people in Northern Ireland towards a new identity as Northern Irish. The census in 2011 showed that 29% of people in Northern Ireland now consider themselves Northern Irish. Admittedly this could be in addition to being British or Irish but this may be a pointer to an identity that is crystallising and evolving from the ‘either or’ identity choice of the past.

Where this will lead is anyone’s guess, the DUP have in the past flirted with the idea of an independent Northern Ireland and they are also cognisant of the fact that they need to attract Catholic voters.

The possibility of Scottish independence leading to Irish unity however seems remote. Lord Trimble believes that Scottish independence may lead to Irish republicans “getting excited and saying it can be done”, but the current financial situation of the Republic would most likely preclude this at present, as practically speaking taking on a population almost half its’ size that is massively dependent on state employment would at the present juncture, appear to be a non-runner.

A changed UK There can be little doubt that whatever the result of the referendum, the governmental structures within the UK will have to change. All the pro-union parties have signed up now to deliver ‘devo-max’ to Scotland and moves to increase autonomy in Wales and Northern Ireland are likely to follow. The question of an English parliament of some sort rumbles on under the surface and will have to be faced at some stage in order to overcome the strange situation of parliamentarians from outside of England deciding on English only issues in Westminster.

If Scotland did become independent a radical restructuring of the UK looks necessary. While Northern Ireland’s share of the population of the new UK would increase from 2.9% to 3.2%, 510 out of 550 of the Members of Parliament (MPs) in Westminster would then be representing English constituencies. A realignment of some sort will be necessary to counteract the departure of Scotland from the UK. Carwyn Jones the Welsh First Minister has suggested that an elected upper house of parliament having some similarities to the United States Senate may be the answer with equal representation from the three remaining nations.

There can be little doubt though that whatever the result on September 18th the ripples will be felt across the Sea of Moyle in Northern Island and what effect those ripples have could change things in these islands quite dramatically. Northern Ireland’s most famous tourist attraction the Giants Causeway is according to legend the remains of a bridge to Scotland built

by Fionn Mac Cumhaill. The decision of Scotland on the political bridge that is the Union may create a ripple, a wave or a tsunami across the narrows in Northern Ireland; only time will tell.

What food is to body, prayer is to the soul Bausha Pauwung Buchem Nyengching, Longleng

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food is an edible or substance consisting of nourishing and nutritive components such a carbohydrates, fats, proteins, essential minerals and vitamins which sustain life, generates energy, and provides growth, maintenance, and health of the body.

Although the food we take partly is satisfied the sense of taste, food mainly is for production of energy required to carry out the various activities that characterize life. It is indeed the energy from food that rotates the wheel of life. Food is the chief essential materials that the body needs for its well-being, keeping in view—we try to take good food for health for satisfactory growth in all stages of life.

In order to obtain adequate amounts of each of the different nutrients, we also try to have our daily diet with appropriate quantities of a variety of different foodstuff. If it lack in any of nutrients, the condition of which people become weak and sick because of insufficient and unbalanced food. All energy needed to perform the various function is obtain from food taken by the organism.

Nevertheless, with the changing of our lifestyle and habits, our eating habits have also changed i.e. the ‘fast food’ for a fast life—instant energy for faster world. For by our pacing busyness and fast life, we cannot avoid food; fast food therefore is relevant and which comes into existence.

Right to food is made fundamental right to be free from hunger and is human right, which has derived from the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), recognizing the right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food. Right to food is essentially being kept amended under article 21 (Right to Life) of the Indian constitution keeping our body so

importance.

Think how often/even do we concern for as earthly as body; the much more important is soul to keep activate by constant prayer. As body survives by food, our soul will survive by daily prayer. Prayer is talking and listening to God, makes devout supplication, an intimate fellowship with God. Prayer includes praising, thanking, confessing, asking, committing, interceding and receiving. C.N. Peckham cited, “prayer is basic to the soul winner. Prayer is a demanding exercise but a very rewarding one as we see the hand of God at work in the salvation of souls.”

We need to pray petitioning a righteous God to redeem souls from a real Hell. Richard Newton has written: “The principal cause of my leanness and unfaithfulness is due to an unaccountable backwardness to pray… I have long since learned that if ever I was to be a minister, faith and prayer must make me one. When I can find my heart dissolved in prayer, everything else is comparatively easy.” This is what we know prayer is important.

We may ask as where are we to pray and when is the right time to pray. There is no wrong time and anywhere we can pray, however, it is clear from the Scripture and our own experience that praying first thing early in the morning is probably best. His mercies are new every morning yet some of we are simply unable to pray in the morning, and we know the difficulty it is to pray a session of prayer when the busyness of the day takes over. We can pick another time and make it a priority; God is awake twentyfour hours a day and 24x7 a week! It is important to prepare ahead of time for soul winning by praying. It is foolish for any Christian to think it possible to wage an effective battle for men’s souls without first preparing, without first pleading for God’s power. We shall pray daily for God to give us soul for His honour and glory. God can/will answer our prayers,

but it is up to us to make time to pray.

The Scriptures reveal God’s commands, conditions, and promises concerning prayer. John 15:7 specifically connects Christ’s Words remaining in us with answered prayer: “If you remain in me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.”

As we pray in the Word of God, He will transform our heart and mind, enabling us to become a person with a heart like His whose prayers are answered. There is another condition that Jesus said about faith in prayer, “And all things, whatever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matt. 21:22) The Bible also says that only the prayers of the righteous are heard, “The Lord is far from the wicked but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

(Pro. 15:29) Further John 9:31 says, “We know that God does not listen to sinners.

He listens to the godly man who does His will.” The author of Hebrews tells us what the Word does to sanctify us from sin: “For the Word of God is living and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thought s and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) We will discover the Word of God is living and active in our life, separating us from sin and enabling us to walk in righteousness.

Primarily it is important to confess personal sin—acknowledging sin and helplessness and seeking God’s mercy— seeking forgiveness in order to deliver us from sin. Confessing sin means to agree with God that one has failed to love and obey Him by faith in Jesus Christ, as we know that the genuine faith and love for Jesus Christ is obedience to God’s commandments. Personal confession includes the concepts of repentance, a genuine sorrow to God for sinning and a genuine desire not to sin again. We shall let allowing the Holy Spirit to bring to our mind of any sin that we have committed that need to confess and must confess

the specific sins taking the time. However, if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, which says in I John 1:8. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) Although God does not punish us for Christ already has punished for our sin; He does require our confession so that we might once again enjoy fellowship with God. When we receive forgiveness and complete cleansing from God, we are now then activating our soul because of our confession and prayer.

The food you eat helps you but your prayer helps you in multifold; and save the soul of others by interceding on behalf of their sins asking God to enable them to come to their own repentance. “…You can pray for your loved ones, other believers, your church, the lost, missionaries, our nation, and all the nations of the world. There is no greater ministry than prayer…. It is entirely possible that you will stand one day before the Lord, our Savior, and hear Him say, “Turn around. See what your prayers have accomplished! Well done my good and faithful servant!” And behind you will be thousands and thousands of people, perhaps millions, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation who are in the Kingdom of God because you prayed…

God wants us to pray because He knows that in Him alone is life, love, health, joy, wisdom, righteousness, power and salvation. The life that we live must be His life received through prayer and given to others through prayer!” (Reference & quoting from the book: Praying in the Word of God by Kathleen G. Grant) We may in the midst of race running for material world to meet our greediness and covetousness or casual realizes of prayer in peculiar time forgetting our soul. But remember all material possession is futile if we lost soul.

The Newspaper with an Opinion The Morung Express

Life is not always a bed of roses. Sometimes you work really hard only to find yourself sidelined. Sometimes you do not always get to choose what you want for yourself. But we do get to choose one thing, and that is, how we deal with life. As Babe Ruth put it “You just can’t beat the person who never gives up”.

Making Lemon Juice from Limes dr. Hewasa Lorin,

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Director – student services

ctor and comedian Robin Williams’ death left the world stunned as he chose to end his life on 11th August 2014. It was shocking for many who found it surprising that for someone who made a living by making people laugh had to resort to taking his own life. It is really unfortunate and sad, and as the world continues to speculate, even ridicule and troll endlessly on the internet about his life, we may probably never know what was going on inside his mind. But what incidents like this also make us realise is that the pressure of life is immense - the pressure to perform well, the pressure to survive, the pressure not to fail and be happy or the pressure to be the best that one can be.

Life is brief, and everyone everywhere is trying to do something concrete with their lives. Some fail while some succeed. Some cope while some don’t.

The truth is that there are some things beyond our control in life too. Life has its own way of working out and sometimes we do not always get to choose what we want for ourselves. But we do get to choose how we deal with life.

Chen Zemin’s story is a reminder of this. Chen is the world’s first and only frozen-dumpling billionaire from China. But the interesting fact is that he never got to choose his profession. He was actually a ‘gadget guy’ who loved working with circuits and building radios, so he applied to study semiconductor electronics, but instead he was chosen by the state to be a surgeon. Chen became a good surgeon, but he found his day job boring. So in his free time he learnt how to cook dishes such as Sichuan pickles, kung pao chicken and, of course, dumplings. It was obvious that he was a great cook as his home-made New Year rice balls became famous amongst his friends and neighbours.

Then, Chen started to think of ways to turn his rice ball hobby into something bigger. The only problem with rice balls was that they could stay fresh for only one day. They had no shelf life. This is where Chen’s medical background came in handy.

As a surgeon, Chen had to preserve things like organs or blood in a cold environment. He decided to apply this knowledge to his rice balls. He collected old mechanical parts from the hospital junk pile (remember, Chen’s first love was gadgets) and built a two stage freezer especially meant for preserving rice balls. The freezer chilled the rice balls in such a way that large ice crystals did not form in the filling and ruin the texture, allowing it to stay fresh and yummy.

When I first read Chen’s story, it made me realise that there are probably many of us like him who may not always get to choose what we want in our lives because of the circumstances around us. Nagaland’s unemployment problems lead many to resort to applying for any kind of decent job that one can secure.

Civil service exams determine the kind of jobs we can acquire based on our performance, whether it’s IPS, IFS or IAS etc. Eventually, it boils down to how we choose to deal with the circumstances around us. Life takes us in different directions from what we sometimes want or expect. While some thrive and adapt, some also give up. But Chen did not, and this is why his story is significant. Chen’s story of success is not only about how he turns his cooking passion into a billion dollar business, but more importantly how he managed to do it with the knowledge and resources he had. Chen’s love for cooking, his medical expertise and his mechanical knowledge together led to the establishment of China’s largest frozen-food business. It is how he put the pieces of his life together, applied the knowledge that he had and directed it in the way that he wanted, to go on to do something greater than what he was already doing. Little did he know that his interests no matter how completely at odds they seemed with each other would one day help him connect the puzzles of his life together.

We cannot keep on waiting for that lucky break in life or go on blaming our circumstances for the way our lives have turned out. Yet, it is how we choose to approach our life from here that defines and differentiates our future from our past. Nagaland and India as a whole may be considered a third world country because of our colonial past, but that must not be the reason for us to keep on building excuses or attempt to justify our failures and weaknesses, rather it should motivate us to work all the more harder and push ourselves to become better. Use the education we receive, the skills and interests we have to find the right opportunities, upgrade our abilities and apply them in our lives. In this globalized world the limits are now endless, but our opportunities can only take us to how far we are willing to reach for them.

Reference: Twilley, Nicola. “What Do Chinese Dumplings Have to Do With Global Warming?”. The New York Times. 25th July 2014.

“degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a naaC accredited UGC recognised Commerce and arts College.

For feedback or comments please email: admin@tetsocollege.org”.

Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

8

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Wednesday 20 August 2014

The Morung Express

Talks off but Pak envoy meets Kashmiri separatists New Delhi, August 19 (iANs): Pakistan continued its hobnobbing with Kashmiri separatists as its envoy Tuesday met hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and then moderate leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, a day after India called off foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan over the issue.

Geelani met Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit for two-and-half hours at the Pakistan High Commission, emerging from the talks at 2.30 p.m.

Later, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Mohammad Yasin Malik and the Mirwaiz also met the Pakistani envoy.

A handful of members of a group called the Hindu Sena raised slogans outside the Pakistan High Commission when Geelani arrived. They were detained by police.

Around 25-30 members of the RSS student wing Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad arrived for a protest but they were not allowed near the high commission’s gates. They were also detained by police.

Ahead of meeting the Pakistani high commissioner, Geelani termed the Narendra Modi government’s decision to cancel the Aug 25 India-Pakistan foreign secretary level talks as unfortunate.

“We have been visiting Pakistan embassy several times to hold talks. The decision to cancel foreign secretary-level talks is undemocratic,” he said.

US terms cancellation of India Pakistan talks ‘unfortunate’

Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, leaves after talks with the Pakistani high commissioner in New Delhi on Tuesday, August 19. In a blow to efforts to improve often-hostile ties, India on Monday called off talks with Pakistan over a meeting between its ambassador and Kashmiri separatists. (AP Photo)

“The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is an international issue and it should be solved. As long as promises made to us are not fulfilled, this issue will remain unsolved,” said Geelani.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Basit, Geelani said that during talks with the Pakistani envoy, both had agreed that “Kashmir is a fundamental issue (buniyadi masla) and without participation of Kashmiris, no lasting solution can be found”.

He said he also raised the issue of “sacrifices” of

the people of Jammu and Kashmir during talks. He said the “sacrifices of the people should be taken into consideration, and cannot be ignored... houses have been razed, families destroyed, rapes... all this cannot be ignored”.

Malik Tuesday claimed that seven past Indian prime ministers had “facilitated” meetings between Kashmiri separatists and visiting Pakistani leaders in India and asked if they were all wrong and the present government of Narendra Modi which called

off talks with Pakistan was “Mr Right”.

“Does it mean those prime ministers were wrong, that the previous seven were wrong when they facilitated such meetings; and Atal Bihari (Vajpayee) did this.. Does it mean that they were all wrong, and this is Mr Right?”

Mirwaiz Umar said the Indian government has over-reacted.

“New Delhi over-reacted on the issue...There has to be a peaceful, political resolution to the Kashmir

issue,” Farooq said. “Kashmir is not an economic problem, of incentives, of a package, of change of guard. It is a political problem and can be addressed only by talks.”

Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, however, said that Pakistan should stop speaking in different voices. “We hear different voices, let clarity emerge on the level of preparation and understanding on the part of Pakistan to have dialogue at the level of (foreign) secretary,” said Prasad, a se-

wAshiNgtON, August 19 (Pti): The United States has said it was “unfortunate” that the Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary-level talks have fallen through and asked both the countries to take steps to improve bilateral ties irrespective of what happened. “It is unfortunate that planned talks between India and Pakistan have fallen through,” US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters yesterday.

“We continue to support efforts

by India and Pakistan to improve all aspects of their bilateral relations.

And that is a position we will continue making clear to both parties here,” she said in response to a question.

India yesterday called off the talks between Foreign Secretaries of the two countries scheduled to be held in Islamabad on August 25, telling Pakistan bluntly to choose between dialogue and hobnobbing with the separatists.

India cancelled the talks, raising

nior Bharatiya Janata Party leader.

Congress leader Manish Tewari said the Modi government is “bereft of a Pakistan policy and has boxed itself in a corner”.

His party colleague Anand Sharma asked the government whether any understanding had been reached with Pakistan before agreeing to hold the foreign secretaries’ meeting.

“The attitude of Pakistan when it comes to bringing to justice the perpetrators of Mumbai ter-

strong objections to consultations held with separatist Hurriyat leaders by Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit. Pakistan described the cancellation of the talks as a “setback” to Indo-Pak ties and defended its consultations with Kashmiri separatists, saying it was a “long-standing practice” to hold such meetings prior to bilateral parleys.

Harf said, “Irrespective of why either side says the talks were canceled, or why, in fact, they were canceled, what matters now is that both sides take steps to improve their bilateral relations. We’ve been very clear about that directly in conversations with both.” She asserted that the US policy on Kashmir has not changed.

“We continue to believe that the pace and the scope and character of any discussions on Kashmir are for India and Pakistan to determine between them. That hasn’t changed and that will remain our position going forward,” she said.

ror attack has not been encouraging. We want to know what assurances Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given before the talks and whether those assurances were violated? What kind of understanding was reached,” he asked.

Sharma also said the meeting between the separatists and the Pakistani envoy was uncalled for as the former were not the elected representatives of the people of Kashmir.

On Monday, the Modi government called off the

Aug 25 foreign secretarylevel talks with Pakistan terming as unacceptable “the continued efforts to interfere” in its internal affairs.

Pakistan described the decision to cancel the talks as a setback to its efforts to promote good neighbourly relations.

It maintained that it has been a “long standing practice” to meet Kashmiri separatist leaders ahead of bilateral talks in order to “facilitate meaningful discussions on the issue of Kashmir”.

Modi wants people’s ideas on replacing plan panel 31 killed in Himachal in rains, cloudbursts New Delhi, August 19 (iANs): In keeping with his philosophy of having a more participatory government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited ideas from the people on how to replace 64-year-old Planning Commission with an institution that can best serve India’s governance needs in the 21st Century.

“Inviting you to share your ideas on what shape the new institution to replace the Planning Commission can take,” Modi tweeted Tuesday on the site www.mygov.nic.in, which he intends as an interface between his government and the people, four days after he said in his Independence Day speech that the existing institution had lost relevance today.

“We envision the proposed Institution as one that caters to the aspirations of the 21st century India and strengthens participation of the states,” said his tweet, reflecting on the basic idea that he has for the new body.

“A special Open Forum has been created on MyGov for suggestions on the new Institution.

Let the ideas flow!”

Modi had promised Aug 15 to announce “a new institution with a new spirit” soon in the place of the old centralised model of Planning Commission, of which the prime minister is chairman, since he felt it had outlived its utility given the challenges India faces today.

He said the importance of federalism was growing and institutions needed to address

‘Tough steps against corruption in offing’ KAithAl, August 19 (iANs): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said his government will initiate tough steps against corruption which has entered every sphere of life in the country.

“Corruption has become such a dangerous disease in the country. It is worse than even cancer and can destroy the country. The country is not willing to tolerate evils (like corruption) for long,” Modi said.

He was addressing a rally in this Haryana town, after laying the foundation stone of a national highway linking Haryana with Rajasthan.

“Do you want a corruption-free country or not? Should strong steps not be taken to remove corruption? We will take those steps,” Modi said.

Referring to those who criticised him for not such reality. “This is a good thing (growing import of federal structure). We must strengthen it,” he said, adding: “Times have changed from the era Planning Commission was created.”

Modi’s new forum has invited ideas for a new name, logo and tagline for the institution, and says: “Attractive prizes will be awarded to the winning entry. The PM will himself recognize the winning entry on social media forums.”

The last date is Aug 25, but within hours of its launch, responses have started flowing.

“Central Bureau of Excellence”, “National Development Authority of India”, “National Commission for Development and Reforms”, “Bharat Nirman Aayog”, “Rasthriya Vikas Seva

Commission” and “National Developing Commission India” are among the suggestions.

The Planning Commission was conceived by India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru who thought India’s goals and objectives can be best addressed with a planned economy, an idea he borrowed from the then Soviet Union. Accordingly, it was formed March 15, 1950, and with it were born the Five Year Plans from 1951 onward.

The panel’s redundancy was also the conclusion of the Independent Evaluation Office set up by the commission itself under Ajay Chibber, a Stanford-educated former assistant secretary general of the United Nations.

“It is clear the Planning Commission in its current form and

Speaker rejects Cong demand for Leader of Opposition status New Delhi, August 19 (Pti): The Congress demand for being accorded the status of Leader of Opposition to its group chief in Lok Sabha was on Tuesday rejected by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. “I have gone by rules and tradition,” she told PTI on her decision not to recognise the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha as the Leader of the Opposition.

The Speaker’s decision rejecting the Congress demand has been conveyed in a letter to the Congress party. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had written to Mahajan seeking the status of the Leader of Opposition to Mallikarjun Kharge who is the party’s group leader in the House.

The Speaker had also taken the opinion of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi who had said that Congress does not have the numbers so that its floor leader can be granted the status of Leader of Opposition. The Congress is the sec-

mentioning corruption in his first Aug 15 Independence Day address at the Red Fort, Modi said: “Some people said I did not say anything about corruption in my address on Independence Day. Let me remind them, I had talked about the ‘Mera kya’ and ‘Mujhe kya’ culture of corruption which has ruined this country. This has to change now.”

Warning those indulging in corruption, the prime minister said the earlier attitude of paying bribes and getting away with poor quality work will not be tolerated.

“The culture of contractors using anything and putting up a black top on roads and the same getting washed away in the first rains will not work... Getting away after paying bribes will have to be checked,” Modi said.

ond largest group in the Lok Sabha with 44 seats after the BJP’s 282 and has been insisting that it should be given the status of Leader of Opposition.

However, citing rules, the Speaker has conveyed to the Congress that she was not in a position to give the party Leader of Opposition status because it fell short of the minimum 55 seats required for staking claim to the post. Mahajan is also believed to have cited the precedents in 1980 and 1984 when there was no recognised Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.

The Leader of the Opposition in both the Houses of Parliament enjoys the status of a Cabinet Minister. Reacting to the decision, Kharge said he would consult Congress high command and the AICC legal cell before giving his opinion.

“Being recognised as Leader of the Opposition is one thing and functioning as floor leader is another,” he said.

function is a hindrance and not a help to India’s development,” said the report which became quite controversial as some said it had exceeded its brief.

“It is not easy to reform such a large ossified body. It would be better to replace it with a new body that is needed to assist states in ideas, to provide long-term thinking and to help cross-cutting reforms,” it said.

“Since the Planning Commission has defied attempts to reform it to bring it in line with the needs of a modern economy and the trend of empowering the states, it is proposed that the Commission be abolished,” it said. Incidentally, the report was submitted to Modi May 29, 3 days after his inauguration as prime minister.

shimlA, August 19 (iANs): At least 31 people have died in Himachal Pradesh following heavy rain and cloudbursts triggered by the southwest monsoon, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said Tuesday.

“Heavy rain in various parts of the state claimed 31 human lives and there has been damage to several houses,” he said in a statement. As many as 633 heads of cattle also perished since the onset of monsoon over the state.

The chief minister said the loss to roads and bridges due to rains was assessed at around Rs.412 crore. He said Rs.22.36

crore has been allocated to the public works department for restoration of roads. The chief minister’s statement comes days after the opposition BJP attacked him for remaining out of the state when it was witnessing torrential rains, and claimed that no relief measure had been taken. Singh said the government has been taking remedial measures and providing relief to the people.

The chief minister said that out of 336 roads closed till Aug 16 as many as 187 roads have been re-opened and 132 roads are likely to be opened by Aug

19. He said 1,953 rural watersupply schemes were either fully or partially damaged and till date 1,869 schemes have been restored.

The BJP has said Hamirpur, Mandi and Shimla districts were worst affected in the recent rains. “Many people have become homeless. Houses in many villages have collapsed and the locals have had to move to safer places,” said former health minister Rajeev Bindal.

The opposition asked the chief minister to focus on relief and rehabilitation work rather than lobbying to retain his post.

An Indian artisan adds finishing touches to an idol of elephantheaded Hindu god Ganesha at a workshop on the outskirts of Chennai on Monday, August 19.

The idols are being prepared ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival that celebrates the birthday of the Hindu god. (AP Photo)

No child’s play: Online bullying a growing worry

New Delhi, August 19 (iANs): Exposure to the cyber world may have helped children expand their mental horizons but it has many downsides, the latest being cyber bullying. A concerned government and industry stakeholders are now taking steps to spread awareness and educate people to stop this turning into another modern-age malaise.

“Child bullying is becoming bigger with every passing day. Earlier such bullying was restricted to the classrooms and playgrounds only, but things have changed and the whole digital world is a playground now. Those small instances of ‘making fun’ in schools take a bigger proportion in the digital form and thus have a lot of negative impact on the child’s psychology,” Ritesh Chopra, country manager - sales, India, Norton

by Symantec told IANS.

The government has also swung into action. Telecommunications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad recently told parliament that the government has implemented the Information Security Education Awareness (ISEA) , programme including those conducted by Confederation of Indian Industry, Internet & Mobile Association of India and Data Security Council of India for security awareness and training in the area of information security.

“Specific workshops have been conducted for school children on making them aware about risks on Internet and adopting safe Internet browsing practices. In these programmes, around 710 workshops have been organised across the country covering large number of organisations, schools, students and teachers,” he said.

“A website (secureyour-

pc.in) for children, home users and elderly is available for safeguarding their computer systems and learning the risks on Internet,” Prasad told the parliamentarians in reply to a question.

The government response came following a survey done by cyber space information protection expert Symantec that about 18 percent of children have said they have been victim of bullying on the Internet. The sample size of the survey was 203 children.

Chopra said that these problems arise more often “when people cannot distinguish between the virtual and real worlds”. “They tend to spend more time on devices.

Children often tend to share personal information on social network sites that may invite bigger troubles.

“Like if they are going for vacation, they share it on their social networking sites, which

means they are letting the entire world know that the house will remain empty,” Chopra said, adding that: “Just like you lock your doors at night, one should also log out of all the social media sites when they are not in use.”

Citing examples of cyber bullying, he said there are many incidents when a child has taken photograph of a peer’s report card who failed in a few subjects and posted that on social network sites. “This eventually had a lot of negative impact on the psychology of the kid who failed,” he said.

Mentioning the measures they were taking, Chopra said the first was spreading awareness about the issue among the people.

“We have gone to various schools to spread this awareness and also attended parents-teachers meetings to make them aware of the behavioural changes of the kids.

84 percent of parents in India did not feel that their child was being bullied online,” he said.

According to a recent study by the industry body, ASSOCHAM, despite the government’s strict norms to prohibit children under 13 from joining social networking site, nearly 73 percent of children, aged 8-13, in Tier-I and II cities are using Facebook and other social networking sites, which can lead to negative outcomes such as cyber bullying and online sexual abuse.

Chopra noted that many children use their parents’ mobile phones and laptops to access Internet. According to McAfee’s Tweens & Technology Report 2013 Indian tweens (kids aged between 8 to 12 years) are using between three to four devices that can be internet enabled. Around 53 percent of online tweens are online daily between one to three hours.

InternatIonal

the Morung express

Wednesday 20 August 2014

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9

Liberia fights Ebola, W. Africa toll tops 1,200

MONROVIA/GENEVA, AuGuST 19 (REuTERS): Liberia battled on Tuesday to halt the spread of the Ebola disease in its crowded, run-down oceanside capital Monrovia, recording the most new deaths as fatalities from the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus rose above 1,200.

The epidemic of the hemorrhagic disease, which can kill up to 90 percent of those it infects, is ravaging the three small West African states of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, and also has a toehold in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy.

As the Geneva-based World Health Organization rushed to ramp up the global response to the outbreak first detected in March, including emergency food deliveries to quarantined zones, it announced that deaths from it had risen to 1,299 as of Aug. 16, out of 2,240 cases.

Between Aug. 14-16, Liberia recorded the most new deaths, 53, followed by Sierra Leone with 17, and Guinea with 14.

The WHO said it was working with the U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP) to ensure food delivery to 1 million people living in Ebola quarantine zones cordoned off by local security forces in a border zone of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“Food has been delivered to hospitalised patients and people under quarantine who are not able to leave their homes to purchase food. Providing regular food supplies is a potent means of limiting unnecessary movement,” it said in a statement.

Besides infection in border zones, Liberia is fighting to stop the spread of the virus in the poorest

the battle,” she said.

Lewis said the Liberian authorities were considering imposing even tougher restrictions on movements.

“We realise that we can’t police our way out of this. We would prefer community awareness, but we need security back-up,” he said.

While Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and No. 1 oil producer, appears to be containing its smaller outbreak, Liberia and Sierra Leone have been struggling, their weak health systems overwhelmed by the multiplying numbers of cases and deaths.

On Friday, these small two West African nations and a medical charity chided the WHO for its slow response, saying more action was needed to save victims threatened by the disease and hunger.

Health workers prepare disinfectant in containers, foreground, to spray at an Ebola treatment center in the city of Monrovia, Liberia on Monday, August 18. Liberia’s armed forces were given orders to shoot people trying to illegally cross the border from neighboring Sierra Leone, which was closed to stem the spread of Ebola, local newspaper Daily Observer reported Monday. (AP Photo)

neighbourhoods of its capital, such as the West Point slum where at the weekend a rock-throwing crowd attacked and looted a temporary holding centre for suspected Ebola cases, 17 of whom fled.

As fears of wider contagion increased - Ebola is spread by contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons - Liberia sent police to track down the fugitive suspected cases.

“We are glad to confirm that all of the 17 individuals have been accounted for and have now been transferred to JFK Ebola specialist treatment centre,” Liberia’s Information Minister Lewis Brown told Reuters on Tuesday.

He added that after meetings with religious and community leaders, a task force was being set up that would go door-to-door through the

West Point neighbourhood, a labyrinth of muddy alleys, to explain the risks of the disease and why anyone showing symptoms must be quickly isolated for treatment.

“I know that Monrovia is really of concern to WHO,” WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said in Geneva, underlining the importance of containment and isolation measures. “If you contain it, you’ve won

“Improvement” After Rare Drug Used The WHO this month gave the green light to use untested pharmaceuticals to treat Ebola patients.

In Monrovia, three African healthcare workers were given the rare experimental ZMapp drug, which has already been used on two American aid workers being treated in the United States after being evacuated from Liberia with Ebola.

Lewis said the three Africans treated with ZMapp were showing “remarkable signs of improvement”, quoting an assessment by the doctor overseeing their treatment.

However, the manufacturer of the drug, California-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical, has already said its scarce supplies have been exhausted. Officials have cau-

tioned the public not to place too much hope in untested and scarce treatments.

As part of the increased international response, WFP is stepping up emergency food flights to the quarantined areas, which include severely-affected cities such as Gueckedou in Guinea, Kenema and Kailahun in Sierra Leone and Foya in Liberia.

Fears of the disease and quarantine measures like military and police roadblocks have stopped farmers from reaching their fields, and as a result food output has dropped, raising fears that a famine could set in on top of the deadly illness.

“We think that even beyond the control of the outbreak there will be severe food shortage since farmers are unable to continue with cultivation,” said Gon Myers, WFP country director for Sierra Leone. The extra food deliveries would be trying to reach 400,000 people in Sierra Leone alone.

The WHO has told countries affected by the outbreak to screen people departing at airports, seaports and major land border points and stop any with signs of the virus.

It has argued against further travel restrictions, but several international and regional airlines have cancelled services to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Nigeria said on Monday its number of confirmed Ebola cases had reached 12, up from 10 last week, but five of these had almost fully recovered. Four people have died from the virus in Nigeria, where it was transferred by a U.S. citizen who arrived by plane from Liberia.

‘100,000 elephants killed in Africa’ Malala encourages young people to work for change

NAIROBI, AuGuST 19 (AP): Poachers killed an estimated 100,000 elephants across Africa between 2010 and 2012, a huge spike in the continent’s death rate of the world’s largest mammals because of an increased demand for ivory in China and other Asian nations, a new study published found.

Warnings about massive elephant slaughters have been ringing for years, but Monday’s study is the first to scientifically quantify the number of deaths across the continent by measuring deaths in one closely monitored park in Kenya and using other published data to extrapolate fatality tolls across the continent.

The study — which was carried out by the world’s leading elephant experts — found that the proportion of illegally killed elephants has climbed from 25 percent of all elephant deaths a decade ago to roughly 65 percent of all elephant deaths today, a percentage that, if continued, will lead to the extinction of the species.

China’s rising middle class and the demand for ivory in that country of 1.3 billion people is driving the black market price of ivory up, leading to more impoverished people in Africa “willing to take the criminal risk on and kill elephants. The causation in my mind is clear,” said the study’s lead author, George Wittemyer of Colorado State University.

The peer-review study was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Acad-

emy of Sciences. It was co-authored by experts from Save the Elephants, the Kenya Wildlife Service, an international group called MIKE responsible for monitoring the illegal killings of elephants, and two international universities.

“The current demand for ivory is unsustainable. That is our overarching conclusion. It must come down. Otherwise the elephants will continue to decrease,” said Iain DouglasHamilton, founder of Save the Elephants.

Elephant deaths are not happening at the same rate across Africa. The highest death rate is in central Africa, with East Africa — Tanzania and Kenya — not far behind. Botswana is a bright spot, with a population that is holding steady or growing. South Africa’s rhinos are being killed, but poachers have not yet begun attacking elephants.

Some individual elephant death numbers are shocking.

The elephant population in Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve dropped from 40,000 to 13,000 over the last three years.

China is aware of its image problem concerning the ivory trade. The embassy in Kenya this month donated anti-poaching equipment to four wildlife conservancies. Chinese Ambassador Liu Xianfa said at the handover ceremony that China is increasing publicity and education of its people to increase understanding of the illegal ivory trade.

“Wildlife crimes are a cross-

border menace,” Liu said, according to a transcript of the ceremony published by Kenya’s Capital FM. “I assure you that more action will follow as will support to fulfil our promise. We firmly believe that, through joint efforts, the drive of combating wildlife crimes will achieve success.”

Counting elephants is extremely difficult. Even Douglas-Hamilton refuses to offer an estimate as to how many live in Africa. An often-cited number is roughly 400,000, but the Save the Elephants founder would argue that no one truly knows.

Counting elephant deaths is just as hard. But a Save the Elephants project in northern Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve has counted elephant births and deaths — including if the death was natural or from poachers — for the last 16 years. Using that data, the authors examined known death numbers in other African regions compared with the rate of natural deaths and were able to determine that the continent’s deaths between 2010-2012 were about 100,000.

“This is the best work available from the best data we have using officials from the top organization, so in my mind this is the best you are going to get at the moment,” said Wittemyer.

“Because of the magnitude of the issue and the politics we’ve been very careful. The scrutiny we did internally was at a much greater level than the questions we got in the peer review process.”

uNITED NATIONS, AuGuST 19 (AP): Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ education, told more than 500 young people Monday that they should start working right now to change the world.

The 17-year-old said raising her voice helped bring a change for girls who were not allowed to go to school in Pakistan’s troubled Swat valley where she lived until she was shot. Malala spoke at an event to launch 500 days of action to achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goals to fight poverty, which include ensuring that every child has a primary school education.

“So my message to you is that you raise and highlight the issues that you are facing and you are suffering,” she said.

Malala also urged the young people to believe in themselves because “we are all the same” regardless of fame or whether you live in a rich developed country or a poorer developing country.

“We all have talents and we all are special, so just continue your hard work, continue your campaigns and you are going to be the leaders of this world, you are going to be the future of this world,” she said. “And if you want to see your future bright and if you want to see development in our future, and if you don’t want to see so

many troubles already put for us, then we should try and start work right now.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, sitting beside her, echoed Malala saying “each and every one can make a difference,” even a fifth grader who saves just one drop of drinking water or turns off a light bulb. “Be proud of yourself,” the U.N. chief said. “At the same time be responsible as a global citizen. Then we can change this world.”

The U.N. chief said there are still 1.2 billion people who don’t have access to clean drinking water and 1.4 billion who don’t have electricity and global action is crucial. World leaders agreed in 2000 on anti-

poverty goals including cutting extreme poverty by half, halting the HIV/AIDS pandemic and increasing the number of people with access to clean water and sanitation by the end of 2015.

Ban said “against the predictions of cynics” the U.N. goals have helped the world unite and cut poverty in half, increase the number of girls attending school, and reduce deaths from malaria, tuberculosis and other deadly diseases. But challenges remain including achieving equality for women, reducing maternal and child deaths, reaching universal education, and improving sanitation — and the U.N. is working on new goals for 2030.

Pope wants China dialogue, freedom for church ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, AuGuST 19 (AP): Pope Francis says he wants dialogue with China and the only thing he asks in return is for the Catholic Church to be able to operate freely. The pope told reporters the church “only asks to have freedom to do its work. No other conditions.” “The Holy See is open to all contacts,” he said. “Because it has true esteem for the Chinese people.”

In remarks to reporters returning to Rome from South Korea Monday, Francis recounted how he had a front-row seat to history when his Alitalia charter flew through Chinese airspace en route to South Korea. Traditionally, popes send telegrams of greetings to heads of state when they enter their airspace.

This flight, however, marked the first time a pope had flown over China, which

severed relations with the Holy See in 1951 when the Communists took over. Beijing refused to let St. John Paul II’s plane fly overhead when he last visited the Far East, a 1989 trip to South Korea. The Aug. 14 flight, then, gave Francis a rare opportunity to reach out to Chinese President Xi Jinping, albeit from 35,000 feet.

Francis recalled he was in the cockpit chatting with the pilots when the plane was about 10 minutes out of Chinese airspace and it was time to request permission from the air traffic control tower to continue on. “I was a witness to this,” Francis marveled. “And then the pilot said, ‘And now the telegram goes out.’”

After witnessing that, the pope returned to his seat and prayed. “I prayed so much for the beautiful and noble Chinese

people,” he said. He said he would love to visit China: “Absolutely. Tomorrow!”

Francis sent Xi a similar telegram Monday heading back to Rome: “I wish to renew to your excellency and your fellow citizens the assurance of my best wishes, as I invoke divine blessings upon your land.” He also praised Koreans, especially the South Korean women who were used as sexual slaves by the Japanese military during World War II. Francis spent a few minutes Monday greeting 7 “comfort women” who attended his final Mass in Seoul’s cathedral.

Francis recalled that they were young girls when they were taken away, “exploited and enslaved.” But he said: “Today these women were there because despite all that they suffered, they have their dignity.

They showed their faces.”

Obama struggles with role after Missouri death

A citizen peacekeeper tries to keep protesters back as police advance Monday, August 18, in Ferguson, Mo. The August 9 shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer has touched off rancorous protests in Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb where police have used riot gear and tear gas. (AP Photo)

WASHINGTON, AuGuST 19 (AP): When racial tensions erupted midway through his first presidential campaign, Barack Obama came to Philadelphia to decry the “racial stalemate we’ve

been stuck in for years.”

Over time, he said, such wounds, rooted in America’s painful history on race, can be healed.

Six years later, the stalemate suddenly seems more entrenched than ever. As

Obama pleads for calm and understanding in Ferguson, Missouri, he’s struggling to determine what role — if any — the nation’s first black president can play in defusing a crisis that has laid bare the profound sense of injus-

tice felt by African-Americans across the country.

As Obama sought to strike the appropriate tone Monday, he appeared to be trapped between the need, as president and commander in chief, to stand up for the government’s right to ensure law and order, and the inclination, as an African-American, to empathize with those whose say the killing of an unarmed black man just goes to show how blacks are treated differently by police.

“In too many communities around the country, a gulf of mistrust exists between local residents and law enforcement. In too many communities, too many young men of color are left behind and seen only as objects of fear,” Obama said at the White House, in his most expansive comments to date about the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown just outside St. Louis.

But while Obama la-

mented the disproportional apprehension of young black men, he pointedly argued that’s not solely the fault of overzealous cops.

Police officers must be honored and respected for the difficult job they perform, Obama said.

“There are young black men that commit crime,” the president said. “We can argue about why that happens — because of the poverty they were born into and the lack of opportunity or school systems that fail them or what have you — but if they commit a crime, then they need to be prosecuted, because every community has an interest in public safety.” It’s a delicate balance that’s likely to leave no one fully satisfied.

Aiming to reassure edgy Americans that the federal government is fully engaged, Obama announced that Attorney General Eric Holder would travel Wednesday to Ferguson to meet with FBI and other

officials carrying out an independent federal investigation into Brown’s death.

Obama said he also spoke to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, who has deployed National Guard units, and urged him to ensure the use of those units is limited and constructive. “I’ll be watching over the next several days,” the president said.

Obama also called for the U.S. to reassess the militarization of local police departments that have purchased military gear from the Pentagon. Federal grants for such equipment have come under intense scrutiny amid the alarming images of armored vehicles and tear gas canisters filling the streets of an American suburb.

“There is a big difference between our military and our local law enforcement,” Obama said. “We don’t want those lines blurred. That would be contrary to our traditions.”

Yet for all the talk of procurement and sentencing

disparities and police tactics, Obama has steadfastly avoided personalizing this latest bout of racial friction.

Unlike in 2013, when Obama declared that slain teen Trayvon Martin “could have been me,” Obama has been careful not to describe Brown’s death through the lens of his own experience as an African-American.

And unlike in 2009, when Obama exacerbated tensions by saying police acted “stupidly” by arresting a black Harvard University professor at his own home, this time Obama is leaving the fault-finding to investigators. Obama said Monday he has to be careful about appearing to put his thumb on the scale by weighing in while a federal probe is underway.

Witnesses have said Brown’s hands were above his head when an officer shot him repeatedly on Aug. 9 in Ferguson. But police have said the officer was physically assaulted during

a struggle over his weapon.

Meanwhile, the aggressive police response to the subsequent protests has drawn criticism from across the U.S. Obama’s impassive response to the unrest in Ferguson contrasts with a second-term approach in which he generally has been more willing to engage on issues of race. In his remarks Monday, which came during a brief break from Obama’s two-week vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, the president pointed to his signature initiative, My Brother’s Keeper, which aims to bring government, business and nonprofit groups together to empower young minorities to pursue a better future.

“We’re making some significant progress as people of good will of all races are ready to chip in,” Obama said. “But that requires that we build and not tear down, and that requires we listen and not just shout.”

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Rejuvenated Chelsea humbles Burnley Fabregas impresses and Costa scores in Chelsea debut

BURNLEY, AUgUst 19 (REUtERs): New signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas made an instant impact for Chelsea as they launched their Premier League title bid with a confident 3-1 win at promoted Burnley on Monday.

Former Arsenal midfielder Fabregas, brought in from Barcelona during the close season, was influential throughout the game, having a hand in all three Chelsea goals and striking up an impressive midfield pairing with Eden Hazard. Chelsea recovered from conceding a 14th minute goal, quickly turning on the style in an impressive half hour spell to go in 3-1 up at the break.

Jose Mourinho’s side were content to see out the game in the second half as Burnley, tipped by many for relegation, put in a creditable professional display after the Londoners had threatened to run away with the game. “I think we had a good reaction and the first part of that is that emotionally we were not affected by the goal we conceded," said Mourinho.

"We kept playing according to the way we want to play, the players were calm and never lost their composure and after that we had a fantastic 20-25 minutes with three goals, the second one a fantastic goal, and in the second half we had control of the game," he said. "I was a bit afraid because I know that my players are not still in the top physical form, ready to give the same kind of performance for 90 minutes so we lost a little bit of attacking appetite but the control of the game, of the possession was always there and I think we clearly deserved this three points against a side that is going to give a fight to everyone who comes here," added the former Real Madrid coach, In a fiery atmosphere, the home side took a surprise lead in with a superb drive from Scott Arfield after a fine run and pull back from Matt Taylor. But any hopes the capacity home crowd at Turf Moor had of witnessing an upset were quickly dashed as Chelsea showed why so many book-

makers have them as favourites to win the title this season.

Three minutes after Arfield’s strike, Brazilian-born Spain international Costa, a close season signing from Atletico Madrid, brought the Londoners level on his Premier League debut – firing in after a Branislav Ivanovic cross-shot, following a Fabregas back-heel, had come out off the post. Four minutes later, Chelsea had the lead – Fabregas providing a beautiful first time pass to German World Cup winner Andre Schurrle who confidently drove home.

Slack Defending Burnley looked shell-shocked and their manager Sean Dyche will be disappointed with the slack defending for Chelsea’s third as an unchallenged Ivanovic slotted in a Fabregas corner in the 34th minute. Mourinho had raised some eyebrows by opting for Thibaut Courtois over Petr Cech in goal and the Belgian showed his quality shortly after the break to deny Arfield a second from a curling shot which he tipped wide. Lancashire club Burnley, whose entire squad cost just a fraction of Costa’s reported 32 million pound transfer fee, will have taken some heart though from the way they applied themselves after the break, even if they rarely threatened to alter the scoreline. Chelsea brought on Didier Drogba for his first official appearance of his second spell with the club as a late substitute to the delight of their travelling supporters.

Dyche said his team could only learn from playing against a top quality opponent so early in the campaign. "There has to be a reality to what we are hoping to achieve this season. I think they are top of the market or certainly up there. "Overall I felt we kept going which was important, that mentality will be important over the course of the season, the will and demand was there. It is fair to say that they have so much quality in all areas and they can hurt you in any way," he said.

Chelsea's Diego Costa, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Burnley during their English Premier League soccer match at Turf Moor Stadium, Burnley, England, Monday August 18 (AP Photo)

Mourinho hopes Cech stays despite losing Chelsea spot

BURNLEY, AUgUst 19 (REUtERs): Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said he hoped goalkeeper Petr Cech will stay loyal to the club despite losing the starting spot to Belgian Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois, 22, who has returned to Chelsea from a successful loan spell with Atletico Madrid, was Mourinho's choice for the club's Premier League opener on Monday, a 3-1 win at Burnley.

Cech has been Chelsea's first choice keeper since joining the

club 10 years ago, part of three Premier League winning squads and the 2012 Champions League winning team. Asked whether Courtois was now the first choice for the rest of the season, Mourinho said he didn't want to look too far ahead.

"I don’t like the word ‘for the rest of the season’. He is not my first choice for the rest of the season.

He was my first choice today and I think he played a game that was good enough to be my first choice

North East United appoint Ricki Herbert manager

Chief Guest Meyisanger Lemtur (last row middle) along with the organizers of the 3rd Futsal Tournament 2014 and players of the opening match – Mighty Ducks and Sports Club, Khensa at Multisport Indoor Stadium, Mokokchung on August 19. Altogether 15 teams are participating in the tournament. Futsal, a soccer-like game played between five players from each teams, is gaining much popularity among football players in Mokokchung. The final match will be played on August 22. Photo by Sashi Jamir

No change in Arjuna Awards list

NEW DELHI, AUgUst 19 (PtI): The controversial recommendation of boxer Jai Bhagwan and squash player Anaka Alankamony for the prestigious Arjuna Awards stands after the Kapil Dev-led selection committee met again on Tuesday and decided not to make any changes in the original 15-athlete list. Jiji Thomson, Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general who was part of the Awards committee, said they discussed seven athletes in the review meeting but it was unanimously agreed that no changes were needed in the earlier

shortlist. The sports ministry is unlikely to turn down the panel recommendations before approving the names for the ceremony to be held later in the month.

Choosing Bhagwan and ignoring the 2010 CWG gold medallist boxer Manoj Kumar had led to a controversy and forced the committee to reconsider its decision. 20-yearold squash player Alankamony's inclusion in the list had also raised eyebrows while Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra went to the extent of slamming the panel for overlooking seven of its players.

NEW DELHI, AUgUst 19 (PtI): Former New Zealand men's team coach Ricki Herbert was on Tuesday appointed as the manager of the North East United Football Club for the inaugural edition of Indian Super League (ISL).

Ricki managed New Zealand for eight years from 2005-2013. He also represented the New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup. Ricki, 53, coached the New Zealand team at 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa but quit his position after the Kiwis failed to qualify for 2014 Brazil World Cup. During his tenure with the 'All Whites', New Zealand's FIFA ranking improved from 156 to 48. Ricki also coached A-League side Wellington Phoenix from 2007-2013 taking them to A-League Preliminary Finals in 2010.

During his long coaching career Ricki has also overseen the New Zealand

Olympic team preparation and was technical director of the country's technical development programme.

He was appointed by FIFA to be a part of the 14-member Technical Development Studies group led by Gerard Houlier at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil. The group was responsible for tracking and studying technical strategies and trends employed by various teams at the World Cup. NorthEast United also announced Lajong FC's head coach Thangboi Singto as Ricki's assistant.

"Ricki is the perfect fit for our plans at NorthEast United FC. His experience at the highest levels of competitive football and his youth focused philosophy matches the blue print of NorthEast United FC perfectly," said John Abraham, co-owner NorthEast United FC while announcing the appointment.

Neymar stars as Barca rout Leon

BARCELONA, AUgUst 19 (AP): Luis Suarez and Neymar played their first match since their memorable exits from the World Cup on Monday, with the Brazil star scoring two goals to help Barcelona rout Mexican champion Leon 6-0 in a preseason friendly at Camp Nou. The last time Suarez played he infamously bit an Italian opponent at the World Cup, adding a fourmonth ban from competitive matches to his growing list of punishments for misconduct. Barcelona's fans, however, appeared ready to give Suarez yet another chance. Suarez, who transferred to Barcelona from Liverpool after the World Cup, was cheered by his new fans during the team's presentation and went on as a substitute in the 75th minute to another round of applause.

The friendly was likely the last match Suarez will play before his ban runs out on Oct. 25.

Neymar hadn't played since fracturing a vertebra during the World Cup on July 4, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament.

He was deemed fit to play hours before the friendly

Barcelona's Neymar, from Brazil, left, scores against Leon's goalkeeper Wiliam Yarbrough during the Joan Gamper trophy friendly soccer match at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, August 18. (AP Photo)

and showed no signs of the injury. Neymar set up Lionel Messi's third-minute opener before adding goals in the 12th and 44th. He was substituted at halftime before Barcelona youth forwards Munir El Haddadi scored in the 54th and the 77th and Sandro Ramirez added another in the 89th.

"We have a team with

incredible potential," said Barcelona's new coach Luis Enrique. "It isn't very difficult when players of the talent of (Messi and Neymar) work together."

Suarez and Neymar were both greeted warmly when introduced along with the rest of their teammates. The Uruguay forward even received a

smattering of "Suarez! Suarez!" from some supporters, whose enthusiasm for the new signing was only exceeded by that shown for Messi. While Neymar shone in his return, Suarez was limited to just a few touches of the ball in his 15 minutes. He had his first practice with Barcelona on Friday, a day after the Court

of Arbitration for Sport softened his ban.

Barcelona sports director Andoni Zubizarreta said Suarez would use his time away from the pitch to learn Barcelona's particular pass-happy style of play in training.

"We are going to leave him in peace so he can integrate with the group, with our team, and can get to know how we play, and how, considering his qualities, he can help," Zubizarreta said. "When he comes back, we want him at 100 percent. That's the plan." Both of Barcelona high-profile's forwards featured in two of the most remarkable moments of this summer's World Cup. Neymar was on the receiving end of a collision with Colombia defender Juan Camillo Zuniga in a 2-1 quarterfinal win that left him writhing in pain with a fractured back.

Suarez, on the other hand, was the aggressor when he sunk his teeth into Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder on June 24, earning the bad-tempered Uruguayan his third career suspension for biting an opponent.

in the next game," Mourinho told reporters. The Chelsea boss said that Courtois would have to remain on top of his game to keep his spot in the side given the competition he faces.

"When you have on your side working like a top professional somebody like Petr, if you don’t perform you are in trouble. I am not in trouble I am safe, Chelsea is not in trouble, Chelsea is safe, they are both fantastic goalkeepers," he added. Mourinho said he expected

that Cech would react in the right way to the disappointment of being left out. “I want to keep (Petr) the club wants to keep him and hopefully he stays," he said.

"I know Petr for 10 years, I know that he won’t relax, he won’t sit in a chair and say ‘I have no chance’, I think he will be exactly the opposite. "I am expecting him on Wednesday to go to the training ground and to be a top professional and to fight to be back in goal," he added.

Steve Ballmer debuts as LA Clippers owner

New Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, center, fires up the crowd as he arrives at the Clippers Fan Festival on Monday, August 18, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo)

LOs ANgELEs, AUgUst 19 (AP): Sweating, clapping and shouting until he was nearly hoarse, Steve Ballmer introduced himself to Los Angeles Clippers fans at a rally on Monday celebrating his new ownership of the NBA team.

The former Microsoft CEO made his way through the crowd inside Staples Center to Eminem's song "Lose Yourself," exchanging high-fives and chestbumping as he took the stage in front of 4,500 fans.

Ballmer paid a record $2 billion for the team in a sale that was confirmed by a judge last week. The name of disgraced former owner Donald Sterling, who controlled the team for 33 years before being banned for life by the NBA for racist remarks, was never uttered during the rally.

"We're looking forward," Ballmer proclaimed, having removed his blue Clippers hat. "Everything is about looking forward." Ballmer's fervor was in stark contrast to Sterling, who never spoke to the media and was famously frugal when it came to spending on the team during decades of losing — despite having amassed a fortune through real estate.

"Today is about this

other guy who just happened to have two billion dollars in his pocket," coach Doc Rivers joked on stage. "I asked him are you sure it went through and he said, 'I know my bank account is minus two billion so I know something went through.'" Ballmer gave out his email address during the televised rally and was quick to assure fans he won't move the team to Seattle, where he's lived for 34 years. He was nearly an NBA owner last year before league owners chose to keep the Kings in Sacramento, rather than allow them to be sold to a group that included Ballmer and moved to Seattle.

"I love Los Angeles," he said. "Yes, I live in Seattle.

We're not moving the Clippers to Seattle for a hundred reasons."

Ballmer used a microphone,buthisboomingvoice easily filled the arena without it. He prowled the stage and gestured to make his points in the enthusiastic style he was known for among Microsoft employees. "We're going to be bold. Bold means taking chances," he said. "We're going to be optimistic. We're going to be hard-core. Nothing gets in our way, boom! The hard-core Clippers, that's us."

Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and

DeAndre Jordan were among eight players on hand, along with Rivers, who guided the Clippers to 57 wins last season, his first with the team.

"When he came through the crowd, I literally had goose bumps," Griffin said afterward. "I don't know if there's one good word to describe him. I know all our guys are excited about the energy he brings. It's completely different." Ballmer took a few emailed questions from season ticketholders, including a 26-year fan who asked how the next 26 years of the franchise would be different.

"I'll boldly say the Clippers will win many, many more Larrys in the next 26 years than they did in the last 26," he said, referring to the Larry O'Brien trophy that goes to the NBA champion. Rivers clearly got a kick out of Ballmer's passionate display, cracking up at his new boss' proclamations after having previously seen him only on YouTube. "I love energy," Rivers said later. "You get caught up in that and that's good. That was great for our fans." Interim CEO Dick Parsons testified during the court battle over the team's sale that Rivers would quit if Sterling was the owner going into next season.

11 Entertainment Jackie chan's son detained ady aGa planning in Beijing drug bust to get married in space T Wednesday

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ady Gaga wants to hold a wedding ceremony in space for her and Taylor Kinney at the beginning of next year. The 28-yearold singer wants to have a commitment ceremony with Taylor Kinney, 33, outside of the Earth's atmosphere at the beginning of next year while onboard Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic flight.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper ''Gaga and Taylor want to make a pledge for life, and think the space flight is

too big an opportunity to pass up. ''It would be typical of her to have the least conventional 'wedding ever. Of course it would be a simulated-style marriage as there wouldn't be a priest or religious figure there. But they don't care about convention, it's more about making each other a life-long promise.''

Meanwhile, the 'Applause' hitmaker is set to perform during the trip into space on the special flight - which will cost $250,000 per seat - and she is looking forward to using the

opportunity to spread a ''message of love''.

She said ''Performing in space is such an honour. I want to challenge myself to come up with something that will not only bring everyone together but will also have a message of love that blasts into the beyond.''

Meanwhile, Gaga - who will reportedly get her ticket into space for free - will have to prepare a month prior to the event to make sure her body can handle the changes in the atmospheric pressure whilst singing.

Kajol’s comeback film to hit theaters in 2015

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inger Kenny Rogers has been honoured at the Country Music Hall of Fame with an exhibit about his career. The 75-year-old Grammy-winner was present with his family and friends at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, where ‘Through the Years’, a biographical look at his professional and personal life was exhibited, reported People magazine.

“I haven’t always been this old,” Rogers joked to family and friends. “When I was a member of the first edition (of Hall of Fame), I was a happening dude! I had long black hair, a black beard, shades and an earring. I was totally groovy. I woke up the other day and I was really old!,” said the country singer.

t’s been four years since Kajol graced the big screen. The B-town beauty was last seen in Toonpur Ka Super Hero which released back in 2010. But Ajay Devgn’s wifey is all set to charm the audience with her acting prowess once again. She will play the lead in filmmaker Ram Madhwani’s upcoming project which is slated to release next year and will be produced by Ajay himself.

Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh wrote on the popular social networking site Twitter, “Eros will also

co-produce and release Kajol starrer, directed by Ram Madhwani. Film will release on 1st May 2015.”

Talking about Kajol, Madhwani said in an recent interview, “To direct Kajol in a feature film is an incredible challenge. She has excelled in every conceivable part.

I’ve to make sure she goes beyond what she has already done. I’ve not directed a fulllength film for a very long time. I couldn’t have hoped for a better return to fulllength direction.” The yet-totitled flick will go on floors in October this year.

he actor son of Hong Kong action superstar Jackie Chan has been detained in Beijing on drug-related charges, the latest high-profile celebrity to be ensnared in one of China's biggest anti-drug crackdowns in two decades.

Jaycee Chan, 31, was detained last Thursday together with the 23-yearold Taiwanese movie star Kai Ko, Beijing police said late Monday on their official microblog, identifying them only by their surnames, ages and nationalities. It was unclear why the detentions were announced several days later.

Police said both actors tested positive for marijuana and admitted using the drug, and that 100 grams of it were taken from Chan's home. Jaycee Chan's management, M'Stones International, apologized to the public on his behalf for the "social impact" caused in a statement on their website.

It said they would "supervise his rehabilitation and help him return to the right path."

The detentions follow a declaration in June by President Xi Jinping that illegal drugs should be wiped out and that offenders would be severely punished. In Beijing alone, more than 7,800 people have been caught in the crackdown, police said.

A string of celebrities have been among those detained, including Gao Hu, who acted in Zhang Yimou's 2011 movie "The Flowers of War." Last week, 42 Beijing performing arts associations and theater companies signed a pledge to not hire any actors connected with drugs in an event organized by the capital's Narcotics Control Office and the Beijing Cultural Bureau.

Pi Yijun, an anti-drug adviser for the Beijing government, said authorities were targeting celebrities because "these people have a large number of fans, so their behavior tends to have a huge influence on young people."

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired footage of a police search of the younger Chan's home in Beijing in which he is depicted, his face pixelated,

showing officers where he stashed bags of marijuana.

Police said they acted on a tipoff from the public.

Chan is accused of accommodating drug users, an offense that carries a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment — a far more serious charge than that of drug consumption. Two other people detained in the same case were accused of selling drugs while Ko is accused of drug consumption.

China named the elder Chan an anti-drug ambassador in 2009. Ko, the Taiwanese star, was part of an anti-drug campaign two years ago, CCTV reported, showing footage of the campaign in which he joins other celebrities in a chorus declaring: "I don't use drugs."

On Tuesday, Ko was shown on CCTV, his face pixelated, tearfully apologizing to his fans and family. "I feel very regretful, very sorry to all the people who support me... I've been a very bad example, I've made a very big mistake," Ko said. In a statement online, his management company, Star Ritz Productions, said Ko had received a 14-day detention and also apologized to the public.

Ko, whose real name

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is Ko Chen-tung, became a sensation after his 2011 film "You Are the Apple of My Eye," a box-office hit in Taiwan. He won Best New Performer award for his role in the coming-ofage movie at the Golden Horse awards in Taiwan, considered the most prestigious in Chinese-language cinema.

He played the boyfriend of one of the protagonists in China-produced "Tiny Times 3.0," which appealed to young female audiences and knocked "Transformers 4" off the No. 1 spot as the most watched film after its release in the mainland last month.

Illegal drug use has ballooned in China in recent decades, after being virtually eradicated following the 1949 communist revolution. Narcotics began to reappear with the loosening of social controls in the late 1980s.

In more recent years, rising wealth and greater personal freedoms have been accompanied by a growing popularity of methamphetamines and the party drugs Ecstasy and ketamine. They are often bought on social media forums and consumed in nightclubs, leading to periodic police crackdowns.

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Singham Returns has also seen a strong reception

at overseas box office. According to Eros, which distributed Singham Returns in the overseas markets, the action thriller grossed nearly Rs. 15 crore in its first weekend.

Singham Returns, which was released on Independence Day, had hit the Rs.50 crore-mark in just two days. Directed by Rohit Shetty, Singham Returns also stars Kareena Kapoor and Amole Gupte.

Starring Ajay Devgn as a police inspector, the movie seems to be on its

way to becoming a blockbuster just like its prequel Singham that was released in 2011. Singham had done business over Rs. 100 crore.

Singham Returns is coproduced by Ajay Devgn Films, Rohit Shetty Productions and Reliance Entertainment. There are expectations that Singham Returns could hit the Rs. 100 crore mark in five days. Kick, which is currently the biggest grosser so far in 2014, had also hit the Rs. 100 crore milestone in five days.

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Fletcher’s wings clipped, Shastri appointed Indian Team Director

New Delhi, August 19 (Pti): Cracking the whip following India’s shambolic Test series against England, The BCCI today virtually sidelined coach Duncan Fletcher by appointing former captain Ravi Shastri as the Team Director while giving a “break” to bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penny for the upcoming one-day series. Under pressure to act after India’s disastrous performance in the Test series, the BCCI also appointed former players Sanjay Bangar and Bharat Arun as assistant coaches and R Sridhar as the fielding coach as it revamped the team management.

While Fletcher will continue as the head coach of the team, the shake-up is a clear indication that his wings will be clipped with Shastri taking over as the Director for the one-day series beginning from August 25.

This is not the first time that Shastri has been appointed as a part of ‘Damage Control’ exercise. In 2007 after the World Cup debacle in the West Indies, the former India all-rounder was appointed as a ‘Cricket Manager’ for the tour of Bangladesh after Greg Chappell was sacked. “In culmination of the discussions among all the office-bearers of the BCCI over the last couple of weeks, the BCCI has decided to avail the services of

former India captain, Ravi Shastri, to oversee and guide the Indian cricket team for the forthcoming one-day international matches against England,” a press release issued by the BCCI said. “Duncan Fletcher will continue as Head Coach while Ravi Shastri will be the overall in-charge of Cricket affairs of the Indian Team.”

The support staff will have a more Indian look with Kings XI Punjab chief coach Sanjay Bangar, India U-19 coach Bharath Arun and colts fielding coach M V Sridhar being roped in place of Dawes and Penney.

“In their continuing efforts to re-energise the support to the team, the BCCI has given a break to the bowling coach Joe Dawes and the fielding coach, Trevor Penney, for the one-day series and appointed Sanjay Bangar, former Indian all-rounder, and former India fast bowler Bharath Arun as the Asst. coaches of the team. “R Sridhar will join the support team as the fielding coach for the one-day series.”

India drop a place to 5th in Test rankings

FC Barcelona's Luis Suarez, from Uruguay, holds his new shirt during a press conference of his presentation at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Aug. 19. Barcelona unveiled Suarez on Tuesday, an event delayed for over five weeks since his transfer from Liverpool due to his latest suspension for biting an opponent at the World Cup. (AP Photo)

bARCelONA, August 19 (AP): Luis Suarez is ready to put his biting days behind him. The Barcelona striker was officially presented to fans on Tuesday at an event delayed for more than five weeks because of his suspension for biting an opponent at the World Cup. Suarez said he was ready to "erase" his history of bad behavior and start fresh with the Catalan club.

"I say to all the fans, don't worry, because I won't do that anymore," the former Liverpool striker said. Suarez sunk his teeth into the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup in June, earning him a four-month ban and further damaging his already tarnished reputation. The Court of Arbitration for Sport lessened his penalty last week, allowing him to start practice with Barcelona on Friday and play the final minutes of a friendly on Monday.

The Uruguay forward won't play a competitive match until October.

"The suspension is what it is, and I have to accept it," Suarez said. "After what happened I didn't want to do anything. I was depressed. But while I was

with my wife and children I had to accept reality. I asked for forgiveness as I had to do, and now I have to think about the present."

Suarez refused to go into details about what he considered was at the root of his violent behavior. He called it a "private" issue that he was treating with the "appropriate professionals."

But the volatile former Ajax forward did say that after his latest bite he was worried about his career.

"Of course I was worried, but not only about the transfer (to Barcelona), but also about myself, for what I had done. I try to erase it," he said. "The lesson I take from it is personal. I try to forget it."

At 27, Suarez has accumulated three multi-match suspensions for sinking his teeth into an opponent. He has also been suspended for making racist remarks.

Unfazed by Suarez's latest act of aggression and focused on rebuilding its team after a disappointing season, Barcelona spent big to acquire the Premier League's leading scorer from last season. Suarez will now form one of the most potent attacks in the world with Lionel Messi

and Neymar.

Barcelona vice president Jordi Mestre said Suarez cost the club 81 million euros ($108 million).

Media reports had said the deal was for about 97 million euros ($129 million).

Mestre added that Suarez's buyout clause has been set at 200 million euros ($267 million).

Suarez won't complete his ban from playing competitive matches for Barcelona until Oct. 25. That will rule him out of the first eight Spanish league matches and three of Barcelona's six Champions League group matches.

His first game could be a big one. On either Oct. 25 or 26, Barcelona will play Real Madrid in the first "clasico" of the season.

Suarez also remains banned for Uruguay's next eight competitive matches and will miss next year's Copa America and some World Cup qualifying matches.

"It hurts not playing for Barcelona but it hurts even more not playing for my country," Suarez said.

"I love my country. The fact that I will miss the next Copa America hurts very much. But I have to try and forget it."

DubAi, August 19 (iANs): Following their 1-3 defeat against England in the recently concluded five-match Test series, India dropped a place to fifth position in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings released Tuesday. England's landslide victory earned them four points vaulting them two places to third in the standings while India conceded six points. England, at 104 points, now lead Sri Lanka by three points while the latter are ahead of India and Pakistan by five points. India and Pakistan are equal on 96 but Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side is ranked ahead as the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point. Sri Lanka moved up a place after their 2-0 series victory at home against Pakistan, who dropped two places to sixth. With 124 points, South Africa sit on top of the table but Australia are just one point behind.

Michael Clarke's side will have one eye on the No.1 spot when they arrive in the United Arab Emirates in October.

But to regain the coveted position, they will have to win both Tests against Pakistan. The table in the middle is tight

with 11 points separating No.3 England from No.7 New Zealand.

The following is the ICC Test team rankings table: 1. South Africa 124 points 2. Australia 123 3. England 104 4. Sri Lanka 101 5. India 96 6. Pakistan 96 7. New Zealand 93 8. West Indies 74 9. Zimbabwe 39 10. Bangladesh 21

Boys will be re-energised under Shastri: BCCI secy

New Delhi, August 19 (Pti): BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel today said that the Indian team will be re-energised under Ravi Shastri, who has been appointed as the Team Director for the ODI series against England. "We are quite sure that the boys will be re-

energised under the guidance of Shastri. His on-the-field and offthe-field knowledge will be very helpful to to bring the team back into the game," the BCCI secretary Patel told reporters on Tuesday. "Since last two weeks BCCI is discussing the entire issue. As a

combination of much debate and discussion yesterday, the decision was taken to appoint Shastri," said Patel. BCCI has also given break to the bowling coach Mr Joe Dawes and the fielding coach, Trevor Penney, for the one-day series and appointed Sanjay Bangar, former In-

dian all-rounder, and former India fast bowler Bharat Arun as the Asst.

Coaches of the team.

"At the moment, two other coaches have also been replaced by three Indian coaches as you know.

This will obviously bring some fresh air into the team," he said.

Gavaskar backs Dhoni, hails move to appoint Shastri

New Delhi, August 19 (Pti): Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has not only backed under-fire skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni but also gave a thumbs up to BCCI`s new move of appointing Ravi Shastri as the Team Director. "He has led from the front. He has batted at difficult positions. He has set an example. If his example has not been followed by the rest of the team, I don`t think you can blame the captain. I don`t think there is any alternative to Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the foreseeable future and I would back him to carry on," Gavaskar told a leading news channel in a chat.

In a quick reshuffle in the coaching set-up after the team`s 3-1 Test loss against England, the Indian board today relieved bowling coach Joe Dawes

and fielding consultant Trevor Penney for the oneday series and appointed former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar and ex-India pacer Bharat Arun as assistant coaches under Shastri.

Gavaskar is happy with the change.

"I think the fact that they have appointed coaches, assistant coaches, who have a very real interest in Indian cricket as against a commercial interest of maybe somebody else, they will have an impact.

Mind you they will not have an immediate bearing. This is not instant coffee. So you just have to be a little more patient," said Gavaskar.

"But having coaches as I have said, who have real interest, who have sweated on Indian cricket fields will make a huge difference. A huge difference in communication with the players

because communication is very important. There are a lot of our players who might not be able to understand some of the language spoken by the nonIndians. So the fact that we have now Indian assistant coaches will make a huge difference," he added.

Reacting to reports,

which mention that coach Duncan Fletcher`s day`s may be numbered in India and the Englishman may lose his job before the West Indies series, Gavaskar said that he has little interest in what the veteran coach may be thinking.

"I would not put myself in Duncan Fletcher`s shoes. I wouldn`t even bother to try and go into his mind what is he thinking because I am just not interested in what he thinks.

I was interested in what he does. I had made my views very clear on his coaching abilities a long time ago.

And I won`t go further into this," said Gavaskar.

Gavaskar was once made the consultant of Team India during Sourav Ganguly`s tenure as captain and John Wright as coach in 2004. Asked to compare the present Shas-

tri call-up to his consultancy stint, Gavaskar said that the two scenario`s are totally different.

"I was a consultant in 2004. I did not want to encroach upon John Wright`s coaching. I stayed away from the team meetings.

I did not get into the strategising part. Ravi has got a larger role to play," explained the legendary batsman. Gavaskar also made a point on the many critics and fans who will always question the developments in Indian cricket.

"There is nothing that will actually satisfy a cricket lover. Whatever you do the Indian cricket lover will have a question. You appoint Shastri there will be a question. You sack the coaches there will be a question, why before the one-dayers. India does well in ODIs, so why that.

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