August 22nd 2014

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The Morung Express

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ESS” S” UCC T E S S E E C ET SUC ITYMEM TUNITY TURN P“WPHEOREROPPO l. 1 O Dimapur E Issue 2 Vo R “WHE -27,2014

Editorial

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VOL. IX ISSUE 229

February 21

anothe hi India committed Gand ― Mahatma to boosting ties with Arab world: Sushma

Brad Pitt doesn’t love Angelina...; says Pitt’s psychic

mous G.I JO hts with my the turbu there is no typisaying is, al day for a ing sword fig ys.” rm neighbour bo admits that cal or no w. In fact there She also ofession is cabin cre I can promise ng pr thi nt e rre on cu is ever r n he two days are accident tha more of an “I've never you - no e. There is no 1 to tional. ming a the sam rking a birthen never ma int , r u’ dle yo co can be ng and e start est, all fires a small burni planned on until I bumped 10 here, re how your day Whether it is wildfire consuming a forbe a blessing or a cabin crew, rtisement on- quite su out! In short this r ing n ve tur day, or a rag spark. And it can eithe man-made. Either a ad into an ht, submitted will ssion that will from a little fire, big fire, it is still gligence. line one nig and then one is a profe allenge you and curse. Small of man’s wit or his ne t Japfü, considered as resume d always ch toes. on one's toe my ng led to the other an keep you on your is the manifestati t forest fire at Moun t history, is also susery ev ep a will ke d one who is thi am today in Doha e unpredictability The recen y’s worst in recen elessness of trekas ha Do ntr eck. An l”, she d in car w”, Th here I one of the couve been caused by the ep themselves warm. Base w with the Qatar on ch taneous ought to love rking as a cabin cre soul of this job, I fee o the mpses int pected to ha ght have lit a fire to ke d much further, be- cabin cre Ajung Jamir has spon bit of it”, she says. wo e says. it, throws gli kers, who mi had eventually sprealunteers and commu- Airways, travelled the every scribing her two sh Before she got into life of a cabin crew. deat That little fire trol of hundreds of vo ir best to douse off extensivelyt has firmly re- De journey with Qatar e further recalls th s Ajung Jamir would ople world, bu ded to her years’ quite remark- sh ofession to her wa ibe herself as a pe yond the con who were trying the ers suming mained groun is extreme- Airways as es on to share this pr t a pretty face, scr n even as she elabo nity memb a week, con or, it abou perso e go the fire. fire had raged on for . According to reports, roots. For he to know one’s able, sh had the privilege all g good, smiling to es by saying, “I love pe m, est na The for of flora and fau y of India that the ly important and she that, “I've me amazing lookin ngers and doing rat working with the so ,a lot sse ntity tor along with it, first time in the his other than the newly- roots and ide awn valu- of meeting m around the the pa demo before take- ple king with them, helpthe this is also rce helicopters, none r, a military utility- has clearly dr m travel- people fro rn about life, a bit of t that opinion has tal them- I just love being pte

By Sandemo bat the able lessons fro be even globe, lea d growth, off. Bu ged a lot since ing people. This being Indian Air Fo ssian Mi-17 V5 helicoNgullie used to com y chan the glo hip an around se, there are inducted Ru aerial machine are beingand. ling across t, “Trav- friends ubt I would clearl ned, even as she of cour t and-comba o first tested in Nagal raging fire contained as she shares tha me about which I do I been home she joi add, “who knew said, when I require my d t forest fire, alss good news to have the does not end here. elling has taugh pect- it have had, ha gst people goes on to professionally times t space" (I’ll be inWhile it’ the issue of forest fire we stand in terms humility and res pect and just amon le with.” about being st aid, or se- "quie ut it), and this is y, fir res tho ere tab on the 7th daould make us think wh ich, technically speak- taught me how to board I am comfor e also re- trained on rtificate and a sane wi e I read, write and aner on end, sh r pro- curing a ce e is given the tim Rather, it sh g our environment, wh my To this equally a cle recent I would the CEO of members one of he llege, license before on fly? This think.” e is not flying, the of protectin . in ity to as co vers ck from eing the green card of brain When sh ieve the baing, is our life aginable loss of biodi le of this generation company.” y fessors ba ‘b The unim mething the peop best we can con- Working in a compan m who told them that, dis- job needs a lot Brain to she tries to ach as catch on r. so fro lp us such how forest fire is er upon and think of incidents from hap- of almost 7000 crew goes around people he tter and and will powe ember, the sics first, do her laundry, e nd ate es sh po , should rt such unfortun k years and decad all over the world first cover ourselves be re with study and rem take in ev- her sleep, for her famous tribute to ave near future. What too area had been wildly on to say, “when the s is I couldn’t agree mo real- will power to thrown at cook and sit d aloo fry dinpening in the ity conservation in the Imagine, how much estion a stranger ask it him because I now ved as erything that is rice, dal an . Once these of biodivers just a matter of days. the loss, caused by a qu here are you from?", ize how I have evol ofes- you.” ner or lunch complished, ow , there are "w pr ac consumed in it take us to rebuild portant to kn ty, a person and this d me Apparently for a cabin goals are d about Doha, im ry ve uld is longer wo of fire. rmal days is un- she is out an vie spree, to call upon e's roots and identi or sion has also helpe no d ha no t en small spark that the state governm reflection of the lack on remain grounded, hone my PR skills.’ s a crew. “Each flight n way, be it on a mo g a book in she wa predictable in its ow ers. shopping, readin catchThe fact tain the fire is also ch calamity. That to will be just one of rking as cab Yet, when con ng ve we just th su They are wo vel and to save the Centre to mechanism to deal wi w prepared we are else es that serve them , nobody would ha r thanks to the passe pas- in her room or ends. tra he kid the r fri on not only of our own us to the question of ho nment mechanisms the facen with rice.” her to be in as It won’t matter to had the ing up with he also abso- This professi s of meeting crew to ough money to go d ine ag s ver im also bring ers strike. Putting go also the duty and re- chick e would think the oes today. Because, s sengers if you just the She would e more open avenue erse back- -save en ir own home the when disast ething else but it is y a part in saving the On flight attendant is sh says, “as a child, I wa biggest heart break of had lutely encourag join a people from div o help in back to d start up their an t life of a th glamour she , mischievous and in place is somof every citizen to pla or you jus at- Naga youths to rs even grounds but alss own per- country n private law firm, ughty wh filled wi e' he ve century sponsibility active role in , one le, and while that na venturous. I don’t ha a your period because "have profession like ross that achieving on . I had the very ow for higher studies/ pro a y nt. pla sty y g me ity ms u ad ac d environ ople can especiall tem, our biodivers an true to a certain of ownin ever it may be, yo s- while putting vel and sonal drea ing with a finance ion or open up a s rie mo me pe Young heritage, our ecosys ness, by first of may be ofession is any a dress, I was out your pa s job pays to tra r privilege of fly micro- specializat pr attend to a thi aware our extent, the t without chal- Barbie or t exploring the fa- to" ers. Period. You will t only that, she furtheon lawyer from Cairo, n and clinic. ntd. on page 2 preserving way in creating more themselves. hra no d ou ng Co and lead the tious, careful and aware an entire forest. And certainly no hen I get ready and ab lak river near our se babies crying non- adds, “you get to spen and biologist from Te m South ve rn Mi fro ay re y cau r “W ha bu us nl lid he s. kt ing to cto tai ho mo ge be ou ko all, ion can cer len ty, I am clueless of rd/colony in Mo , stop, hyper active ill of yourself, help and then also a Do name a few). a little spark It takes only step in the right direct a ref for du ct out of that wa th my brothers uired n- Africa (to ng req nti if wa le re rs litt the therefore, a rld. what to expe The unpre- chung wimarbles, climbing make and wines, first tim- t to save in your perso ge save the wo day or flight.of this job is playing aling plum (fruit), beerstrying all the buttons bank account too. al dictability challenging trees, ste g school glasses, ers handset, and then d what I fin same time. breakin scare to the little on the the and Fun at ofession that giving a This is a pr

ark of fire That little sp

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eek te of the Wis a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot o u Q ir m Life the e forests of w, Ajung Ja r cabin croetease my sister we haversthewhdifo refficusultespatos-sit “What we arbuetdoa minirrg toorthreflection oftowonhate fo it m li e d boys wh one of the fa- senge d buckle up plus world is Sky is th ourselves an or just being ES and fight- down an lence. What am we are doing to TOUCH DIMAPUR: r.”

neurs ls & Entrepre Professiona r Students, fo rm fo at g Pl ation Sharin The Inform

[ PAGE 8]

Towards social change [ PAGE 2]

Steep obstacles to any Gaza deal [ PAGE 9]

[ PAGE 11]

reflections

East, West, north, South - Assam, Assam, Assam.

Where is nagaland huh?

The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn

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

Yes

no

Others

DMC warns against ‘artificial scarcity’ of essentials Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): Informing that there have been reports of “artificial scarcity” and “undue rise” in price of essential commodities due to the economic blockade, Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), has warned that action will be initiated against those indulging in such practice as per the provision of law. Administrator of DMC, K Tarep Imchen in a press release also informed that the DMC has deputed officials to conduct checking to curb the practice. Public have been asked to contact DMC grievance cell at 03862-232610 or 9856901584 for redressal of their grievances.

Ebola toll rises to 1,350: WHO

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gENEva, august 21 (iaNs/EFE): The death toll due to the Ebola virus continues to rise in West Africa and currently stands at 1,350, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. Of that number, 576 have died in Liberia where the outbreak is most severe and efforts to contain the virus are deemed most critical, WHO said in a statement Wednesday.

The toll in Guinea and Sierra Leone stands at 396 and 374, respectively, while four people have died from the disease in Nigeria. The updated figures, based on information the WHO has gathered from health officials in the affected countries, show that the number of reported Ebola cases has climbed to 2,473, with Liberia (972) and Sierra Leone (907) accounting for the most cases. In Guinea, where 579 people are said to be infected with the deadly virus, the rate of transmission has slowed thanks to an awareness campaign and other solutions which the WHO described as “innovative”. The situation in Nigeria is stable with 15 reported cases.

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Friday, August 22, 2014 12+4 pages Rs. 4 –Charlie Chaplin

Fletcher has not been sidelined: Ravi Shastri [ PAGE 10]

‘Assam, nagaland agree to resolve border crisis’

guwahati, august 21 (iaNs): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju Thursday said a joint mechanism would be worked out soon to defuse prevailing tension along the border between Assam and Nagaland.

Rijiju, who held a meeting here with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang, told media that entre aland Job Ccentral government Nagthe in Nagaland extend all possible would Job Opening (1 post) support to both the state 1. Cook rden 10+2 (1 post) governments.

2. Hostel Wa te ua ad Or Gr “We want early restoral) t (non-Loca post) 3. Receptionisod in accounts (1 tion 12 pass go of peace and tranquile/ and Job Centr ityForin ase call Nagal violence-affected plethe more detail ice o our off int ke Wa nd, areas. The Bank Midlacentral governr-Opp. ICICI ld NST hima-O ume mentDimapu PleKowould extend all res ur ase bring yo possible help towards this L end,” he said.

E TUeeTnwOooRdIASchool ThePAnRIMiniAssam chief mintiative of Gr on se Admissi g Crash Cour Advance 2014) ister and chief ENT OF NAGALAND MERCE + Announcin JEENagaland ain (M nts de / stu For AIPMT appearing + passed GOVERNM INDUSTRIES & COM minister for Class XII saidys and both the th bo stel for bo Ho ORATE OF AND: KOHIMAthFebuary 2014 es: states have agreed to Special featur DIRECTreials ter ma NAGA20L14 Dated Kohima, the 14 stop activists of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Guwahati as they protest against the ongoing viody Girls Stu ility solve the - long pending - Library fac ulty /ADV/35/ Police fac NO.IND/EST st of EMENT - First rate ck-Test 4 (Four) po town in Assam on August 21. Army troops enforced a curfew in border districts of Assam state ThursADVERTIS in Golaghat y Mo border issues- Weeklby setting up lence and to fill up & Commerce. nts of Nagal 1st March with us inhabita ectorate of Industries universityviolence day over a long-running dispute over poorly defined state borders. Placard in center in Assamese indigenofollowing conducted ond above will al ed Dir be loc niz ll the ga og wi of t Na a joint mechanism.

They d from the establishment cipline from any rec ite rmance tes who secure 70% an inv rfo y pe A reb r • s are he t) unde duate from any dis“Down dents of age as rswith Congress government”. (AP Photo) Application uter Assistant (Districreads, 2014 and stu fee discount. be gra re than 35 yea government all mo . sh t 14 mp % no on said both the states would 20 d Co 50 ati an rs state be given nces on 3rd March LDA cum minimum qualific s than 21 yea policy of the me 1424 1. The puter application. didate should not be les governed by existing • Class com be com 85 / 943509 by the head both aton”Cethe and understanding,” he said. cautioned everyone to re- sure the security of the peoa can continue with the 744254efforts y signedpolitical age of on e limit will diploma into rtificate dul contact: 89 e minimum tion of the upper ag ts. on Th ati cti 2. e orm j tiFor inf 89 Sd/applican to furnish “No Ob The relaxa administrative ed 4. pp 01 2 ica 1. nment as no 0 nd 35 . ed Rijiju said the commain vigil so that no anti- ple of both the neighbourresolve the/9612border issues 97 on 31 state Gover level. “We ysically Ha employees are requir ph the d of an s licy ng po employee ng Government l seal. the Dipr the existi 3. Servi th namewill and officia ard Tricontinue s shall be as addressed to our dia- ing together of both the social elements could take ing states from threat and dwith from the chief secretaryt wi ckw be applicant an the by d of departmenservation of seats of ba ne duly sig nts:ent.

4. Re Delogue plain paper lowing documelevels to resolve states has sent out a clear advantage of the situation intimidation. Gogoi and level down to the deputy AR partm submitted in atfolall fied by the P&e Applications may be d accompanied by the eet.

5. Th the th mark sh pending border mmerce, an radlong wi Co te & ua es signal that they want to re- and add fuel to fire.

Zeliang appealed to the procommissioner-level. tri us /G rector of Ind mit Cards of HSLC/P.U y. rit etent Autho Certificate rtificate issued by Compand to contain the solve the problems across Meanwhile, Zeliang testors to calm down and to Gogoi said the first pri-• • AdBirthissues s Ce /Indigenou ficate. the office of exchange. received in h 2014 INCOME • • STCosituation, mputer Certi rd of the employment the table.

“The decision to ” he pointed that his governhelp the administration in ority was to restore ions shall be e last date for receiving plicatsaid. ap For batcpeace Ca e n uld Th Th tio . s. d.

M sho ph tra • Regis t password photogra be summarily rejecte from 10:A.M to 2: P. date. The applications d.

N AGE RS.5000/- TO urs d all QUALIFICATIO BELsend OW 26 form a joint mechanism to ment has already consti- restoring peace and tranand tranquility and • 2 recen plete apUnderscoring arily rejecte need VACANCY to plications sh erce, during office ho eived after the specifie will be summthe 20500/- PER om 10 TO mm rec it Inc Co be ich ll & RS wh es sha 6.

YEA 59 of Industri 14.No applications the applicant without MONTH DUATE OR GRApeople Directorate ll bepeople-to-people con- resolve the border issues tuted an inquiry commit- quility in the affected areas. back the displaced -04-20 and Address of thefor MALE / FEMALE EQU IVALENT e) s sha 24 application ls of Contact Number krunietuoKir Sd/-(Er.The ustries & Commerce tain detai con tact at the local Ri- is a step in the right direc- tee to go into the entire They said they are one in to their respective homes. of Ind televel, CT ora TA ect N Dir CO R DETAILS ef-IMA jiju said such efforts would tion,” he said. He appreci- incident to arrive at the their opinion that the CRPF “We have built up FOour L K OH OFFICER’S HIL 98626671remove misgivings and ated the stand of both the truth. He said his govern- must be vested with more forts to instill confidence 178 / 59 98 49 97 8 help to build bridges of governments to provide ment has apprehended 15 powers to deal with any exiPhone No.: among the affected people and to restore normalcy understanding between adequate compensation people, who were allegedly gency effectively.

Violence erupted along in the trouble-torn areas the people living along the to the displaced people. involved in the incident. along the inter-state bor- inter-state border. “People- Rijiju appealed to the agi- Zeliang appreciated the the Sector B of Assam-Nato-people contact would tators not to resort to eco- efforts taken by his Assam galand border last week der,” he added.

Zeliang said both the remove the lack of confi- nomic blockade causing counterpart to bring the sit- that killed nine persons and left over 10,000 people sides are in constant touch dence at the ground level. inconvenience and hard- uation under control.

Both the chief ministers homeless on the Assam with each after the Aug 12 Frequent meetings would ship to the people of neighincident and talks are going help to bring about better bouring state. Besides, he assured that they would en- side of the border.

Job vacancy TH

nrHM employees begin agitation Morung Express news Dimapur | August 21

National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Nagaland staff from over the State remained absent from work today as they protested the non-payment of their salaries by the Department of Health & Family Welfare (DoH&FW) since April 2014. If the issue remains unresolved, many of the approximate 1000 employees under the Mission might decide to take the agitation to Kohima.

An NRHM doctor posted in the depths of Wokha district says that his patients suffer anyway due to the severe shortage of nurses and doctors at his Community Health Centre—a general physician, he has to deliver babies and extract teeth. This time, even he cannot go on without a pay for 4 months and piling debts. But as in Wokha, patients in Health Centres all over Nagaland are ill at ease to access basic healthcare as the DoH&FW awaits clearance of funds received from the Centre.

“We have now received Rs. 20 crore from the Government of India for this, which has gone to the planning department, from where it will go to the finance department and then be released,” informed Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Health & Family Welfare, Sentiyanger Imchen. This funding pattern for Centrally Sponsored Schemes was introduced in 2014 leading to the delay, he said. However, NRHM employees allege that irregular salaries are regular fare.

In other irregularities, the DoH&FW staff at the Directorate in Kohima was paid their dues till a current date, leaving out the rest.

“That is unfair and needs to be

looked into,” stated the Commissioner & Secretary.

Meanwhile, the DoH&FW has been applying pressure on the agitating NRHM employees to refrain from it. Those “organizing” the agitation are allegedly being “sought after.” An ‘Office Memorandum’ from the Nagaland State Health Society: National Health Mission, signed by the Mission Director on July 17, 2014, acknowledges that the staff has not been paid since April 2014. Despite this, NRHM workers are reprimanded, stating that patients “will not wait for the release of funds to get sick.” The workers are asked to “bear together” the weight of not being paid till they are paid.

Disregarding worker rights, the ‘memorandum’ then states that any staff “taking the matter in their own hand without apprehending and appreciating the common problem may be doing so in his or her own risk which may result into undesirable termination of service from the date of their joining such movement or absenting from duties.”

The Commissioner & Secretary to the DoH&FW, who also received a copy of the ‘memorandum,’ recognized that “applying pressure tactics is not good.” He clarified, however, that NRHM workers are “contract employees.”

The NRHM, he stated, depends on the flow of funds from the Centre, depending on which “services will be extended, or not.”

The NRHM was launched nationwide in 2005 and implemented in Nagaland since 2008. Health workers are directly recruited and their contracts renewed every year. Most Health Centres in Nagaland are dependent on the services of the dedicated NRHM staff to meet even basic health needs.

IS dubbed as biggest threat to journalists Cairo, august 21 (iaNs): As condemnation of the beheading of American scribe James Foley by the Islamic State (IS) Sunni extremist organisation continued to pour in, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Thursday warned that the terror outfit operating in Syria and Iraq is one of the biggest threats to journalists.

In a statement, the CPJ stressed that the members of the IS who murdered freelance US journalist Foley “use violence and intimidation to silence all independent reporting in the areas they control”, Efe news agency reported. The organisation expressed concern over the fate of journalists abducted by the jihadi organisation, including seven Syrians captured in the second half of 2013 in different areas of northern Syria. The CPJ and Reporters Without Borders have issued warnings that Syria has become the most dangerous country for journalists.

Joint mechanism to be created to defuse border tension: Kiren Rijiju

guwahati, august 21 (pti): Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju today held a meeting with Assam and Nagaland chief ministers, where it was decided to work out a joint mechanism to defuse recurring tension along the border between the two states.

Addressing the media jointly with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his Nagaland counterpart TR Zeliang after the meeting here, Rijiju said: “A joint mechanism will be worked out at a senior level.” “Senior officials from both states will meet frequently at a designated place so that no lapses occur in future. The mechanism will be worked out as soon as possible. It is very heartening that both chief ministers came together and discussed the matter,” he said.

On the deployment of the neutral CRPF forces along the disputed border, the Minister said, “We are looking to reinforce the central forces. We need to deploy more CRPF men there”. He assured of help whenever the chief ministers want it. On allegations about the role of the CRPF during the recent trouble at Uriamghat border, he said, “We will take action if any from our forces does not work as per the standard procedure”. To queries on why there was recurring border tension, the Union minister said, “It is because of lack of understanding at the local level. There are some misunderstandings that flare up the issue. Rumour and counter rumours also work towards it.” The two chief ministers on their part promised to work closely to defuse tension and avoid any untoward incidents along the interstate border in future.

tripura cM for dialogue to end border violence

guwahati, august 21 (pti): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Thursday said the only way to end the ongoing ‘disturbances’ along the Assam-Nagaland border was to find an amicable solution through dialogue between the chief ministers of the two states. “I believe the only solution can be provided by amicable discussions by chief ministers of both the states with the help and cooperation of the union home ministry,” Sarkar told reporters.

The Assam and Nagaland chief ministers should persuade their people to think in a proper manner and sort out the differences, he said at the sidelines of North Eastern Chief Minister’s conference, organised here by the Union Ministry of DoNER and Assam government. “It (the violence on the Assam-Nagaland border) is not a very happy development. It is matter of concern for all of us. Why should the people of the two states quarrel.” Sarkar said “The presence of central force may be helpful in this regard.

So presence of central force and effective intervention and management is needed from their (Centre’s) side.”

Lack of ‘infrastructure facilities’ a problem to tackle boundary dispute guwahati, august 21 (pti): Calling for settling on priority the problem of ongoing interstate boundary disputes in the Northeast, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today cited lack of infrastructure facilities as one of its main problems.

“The problem of ongoing interstate boundary disputes is something that we have not been able to sort out. These need to be settled on priority,” said Gogoi at the Conference of Chief Ministers of North Eastern states organised here by the Ministry of Development of North

Eastern Region (DoNER).

“One of the main problems is that most of the interstate borders are lacking infrastructure facilities such as adequate roads, schools, health facilities, power supply, etc,” Gogoi said at the meeting attended by DoNER minister Gen(retd) V K Singh and N-E Chief Ministers.

“We, therefore, request that a ‘Special Package for Development of All the Interstate Border Areas’ should be announced by the Government of India,” he said, adding, the Ministry of DoNER should also pay

greater attention to funding inter-state and regional projects that develop adequate infrastructure in the border areas.

Pointing out that militancy was also a major issue affecting the NE region, the Chief minister wanted the central government to assist the states in tackling it. “We have also not controlled the tendency for militancy that afflicts this region; indeed, militancy appears to be controlled in one area and in one community,onlytoresurface in another area and in another community,” Gogoi said.

PMGSY: Village council alleges ‘poor workmanship’ in Kiphire Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): The Yangzitong ‘A’ & ‘B’ Village Council has alleged poor standard in the construction of road from L022 to Thsingar in Kiphire district under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

A representation submitted to the Chief Engineer, Roads & Bridges, Nagaland, by the village council chairman, Lithrichum Thongtrar and secretary, Sukhato K Yeptho claimed that the road construction was not done according to the norms and standards prescribed by the department/ government.

Moreover, alignment/ survey of the road carried out by the department concerned were not “exceptional”, it said, fur-

ther alleging that “the metaling and blacktopping work is very much below department norms and standard” and the drainage “has been maintained temporarily.”

The letter pointed out that the public of the area had donated their land, forest, and field for the construction of the road - about 10 km from BRO road junction, Seyochung town to Thsingar village boundary - without taking “even a single paisa” expecting that “all weather and good road will be constructed for benefit and interest of general public of the area.” Initially, it said, the villagers also “enthusiastically” took part and gave logistic support and coopera-

tion towards the project.

In light of the above grievances, the Yangzitong ‘A’ & ‘B’ Village Council has sought direct supervision and verification of the work from the Chief Engineer’s Office. It also demanded that the work be done as per the norms and standards of the scheme and completed within scheduled period of time. It also demanded that payments be stopped until the work is found satisfactory by the department and village council concerned, adding, “Quality and standard of workmanship will not be compromised by and under any circumstances.” It further questioned the authority concerned whether the amount

sanctioned for this particular road was less than other similar works under the same scheme.

Meanwhile, the letter cautioned that if the authority “neglects and ignores” this public appeal and fails to take corrective measures at the earliest, the affected villagers will have no other option, but seek justice by asking intervention of Nagaland chief minister or central government department concerned and “demand our compensation for damage, destroy caused to our field/forest etc due to this unused PMGSY road in our land.” The government, it also affirmed, will be held responsible if any “unwanted situation” arises between the contractor and affected villagers.

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Dimapur

Friday

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22 August 2014

The Morung Express

TOUCH DIMAPUR: Towards social change

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Manifestation of social concern of the church in action Morung Express News

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Dimapur | August 21

he church is concerned with the social state of affairs and the welfare of the people. It is time to come out of the box and see the things happening around us,” said Toshi Longkumer, youth director, DABA Youth Ministry, adding that the church is stepping out to “touch Dimapur” for the welfare and good of the people.

“The church is ready to go to places, meet the people and help the community wherever there is need. The social concern of the church must be made manifest, not only in words but in action,” the youth director said while sharing about the “Touch Dimapur” project, which is being spear headed by the senior youths of the ministry.

Becoming a part of “Touch Dimapur”, more than hundred youth volunteers gathered on Monday, August 18 to initiate white washing Dimapur fly over, cleaning the traffic points, distributing traffic cones and signs, putting up banners with anti-corruption messages, keeping dustbins in certain areas, etc. Starting from August 14 last, more 150 youth volunteers have participated in the project.

The youth director informed that this initiative will touch streets, hospitals and beyond. He also said that “Touch Dimapur” is not just about a particular church or tribe but it is a contextual ministry and it is the responsibility of every individual. “If people can join this little effort, we got nothing to stop us,” said the youth director.

Underlining the importance of social concern of the church, associate youth director of DABA Youth Ministry, Jongshimanen added that a strong sense of caring for one another should spread through the church and even beyond its boundaries. “Dimapur belongs to us. We all have equal responsibility to take care of it. If government and the department concerned cannot, then let us not play the blame game but take the initiative ourselves in every possible way to take care. This is our first step towards social change,” said Jongshimanen.

He also made an appeal to all the fellow Nagas to be responsible enough to take good care of all the properties that are donates by various organisations and those provided by the government as well.

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(Photo Courtesy: Tiya Jamir 3D Photography)

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Suggestions made for school CWW Nagaland visits Amur Zunheboto DPDB approves inspection and supervision Falcon roosting site in Dimapur safe passage for Amur Falcon Our Correspondent Kohima | August 21

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The school inspection and supervision is a tool to boost an improvement for teaching ability to a teacher. Through inspection teachers are being trained in such a way that it enhanced efficiency to teach more effectively.

This was suggested by N. Thungchio Shitire AHM & Advisor ANSTA Nagaland as informed by R. Angami joint director school education to be presented on August 20 during interaction programme here.

The progress depends upon the appreciation and encouragement of good work to someone. “Therefore instead of finding faults of defects or to criticize, they should be encouraged to put their best possible effort with competency. In this connection, BRILLY has rightly remarked that the motto of inspection should not be to “check your teachers, frightens your teachers, weaken your teachers and examine them but train your teachers: inspire your teachers and trust them.”

Shitire said an inspecting officer is supposed to act as a liaison officer, mediator and a good experimenter who understands the view points of others.

According to the suggestion, the DEO shall inspect and supervise all the GHS under its jurisdiction once in a year. He/she shall submit an inspection report to the principal director with a copy to the commissioner & secretary school education.

The SDEO shall inspect and supervise all the GMS

under its jurisdiction at least twice in a year. He/she shall submit an inspection report to the director of school education with a copy to the principal director.

The JEO shall inspect and supervise all the GPS in its jurisdiction quarterly i.e, January-April, May-August and September-December in a calendar year. The primary education should be given more weightage because the child’s career and foundation is built at this stage therefore a concrete policy is needed to evolve to address the main drawbacks of government schools in the state.

The number of GPS with different village/ward/colony of its jurisdiction can be worked out by respective DEOs& SDEOs and equally distributed to the JEOs for timely inspection. No doubt, those JEOs can be attached in offices but their major role of assignments may be given for inspection and supervision of GPS. The school inspection and supervision has been completely stopped for quite sometime and it is time for restoration with immediate effect. As one of the main factors of increasing HSLC nil results in Government schools is due to lack of such measures in terms of academic motivation etc.

Shitire also stated that the major role of the department is to present a tangible form of education through evaluation and monitoring at the right time. And to pursue this prospect a separate academic cell in the directorate is urgently needed to find ways to improve the continuous nil results of HSLC and other examinations.

The Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland, Divisional Forest Officer Dimapur along with Forest Officials and members of Hokhezhe Village, Niuland Dimapur during the visit to Amur falcon roosting site.

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): The Department of Forest, Environment, Wildlife & Ecology, led by SP Tripathi, IFS, Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland and YM Jami, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer Dimapur with the forest official staffs visited Hokhezhe Village under Niuland Forest Range.

According to a press release, the team had a detail

interaction with the villagers with regard to the importance of Amur Falcon, which roost in this village.

Nagaland has been declared as the “Falcon capital of the world” and in Dimapur district, Hokhezhe village is one of the few villages where Amur Falcon roosts for few months during its annual migration on the way to South Africa.

In this regard, Chief

Wildlife Warden, Nagaland emphasized the importance of community involvement in protecting the Falcon which was highly acclaimed by international community.

He further appealed to Niuland Sub-Division communities to render their effort in protecting and safe passage of birds during its migratory journey in the days to come.

ZuNhEboto, august 21 (Dipr): The Zunheboto District Planning and Development Board meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, L. Akato Sema NCS on August 20.

During the meeting, Deputy Project Officer, Inavi gave a power point presentation in regard to the sponsored scheme and programmes which is being carried out by DRDA Zunheboto. DPO highlighted the rigorous achievement datas attained by 6 (six) blocks under Zunheboto i.e. Tokiye, Satoi, Satakha, Akuluto, Ghathashi and Zunheboto.

The DPO stated that both the state’s sponsor scheme GIA and Micro Finance and centrally sponsored programmes such as MGNREGA, IAY, NSRLM are implemented by the DRDA and executed by VDBs through active participation and involvement of people at the grass root level. “Presently, DRDA Zunheboto comprises of 167 recognized VDBs with a total household of 18,900 as per 2001 census”, DPO said. DC Zunheboto requested the department to give achievement reports of the blocks i.e. Akuluto and Suruhuto in the next DPDB. While discussing on the importance of conservation of wildlife, the members agreed to provide safe passage for the migratory birds Amur Falcon which is about to arrive in the state shortly. The

members also decided to keep the public informed to do away from harming the birds.

Concerning the agenda, apprised

by NST Department for cutting down of trees and shifting of electric pole from the premises of Helipad, the members felt the importance for security and safety measures and therefore, requested the NST and Electrical Department Zunheboto to tie up and implement the work at the earliest possible.

Augmentation of road which is under progress from Chakhabama to Zunheboto Town was discussed and the members felt that the expansion of road to full span seemed to be in practicable within the town and therefore the members agreed to recommend to the concerned authority for making considerable expansion of the two roads in the town i.e. the present road (AOC to Daily Bazar) via NST and Laghilato road to facilitate convenience of the public and the travelers.

Deliberating in regard to the Government HODs who remain habitually absent from their duties in the station (Zunheboto), the members discussed and felt that every HODs should be sincere and loyal in discharging their duties in order to upgrade the image of the respective department. The meeting concluded with vote of thanks from the chair.

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Public rally in Dimapur on August 23; orgs appeal to participate

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): The Rally Committee of the public rally scheduled to be held on August 23, 8:00 am at Clock Tower, Dimapur, has urged all “who are concerned regarding the declining social and moral values in our society” to attend the rally. The rally is jointly organized by The Watchman, Naga Council Dimapur, Naga Woman Hoho Dimapur, local churches, Bible colleges, civil societies and Chris-

tian organizations of Dimapur, the Committee informed in a press release. “Your renewed mind and commitment to fight against the various social ills will bring about moral freedom to this generation,” it stated. Further, it appealed to the youths and schools to participate in the rally “to stand as repairers of our broken homes and cities.”

Meanwhile, the Christian Forum Dimapur in a separate release informed that the forum in

its Executive Committee meeting held on August 19 resolved to participate in the public rally on August 23. The rally, it said, is being organized by all religious groups in and around Dimapur to appeal to the Government of Nagaland not to revoke Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, but to continue to implement the Act. The Forum also suggested amending the Act with “stringent rules for the offenders.” It has urged all religious

groups, irrespective of church denominations to come forward, cooperate and participate in the rally. “The Forum strongly stands against consumption of alcohol and liquor which leads to various social evil effects on individual and society,” it added.

Meanwhile, Naga Council has also informed all the Naga Councillors, Naga Women Hoho, DNSU, tribal presidents, GBs Union, Colony Council Chairmen Federation, and all

concerned public to attend the rally to “fight against social evils like alcohol, drugs, night clubs, prostitution etc.”

Naga Women Hoho Dimapur in a release issued by its Information & Publicity Secretary Thethem Hangsingh has also requested all the womenfolk to attend the rally on August 23 “to join hands and fight against social evils which have hampered peaceful living and distort unity among brethren and home.”

Hovukhu Village discouraged by abandoned RKVY project

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Minister for Rural Development & REPA, Shri. C.L. John inspecting parade contingents during 68th Independence Day celebration at Mon on August 15, 2014.

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): Making allegations that departments have “abandoned RKVY Project at Hovukhu Village half-way,” Hovukhu Village Head GB, H Viniho Shikhu stated that “Hovukhu Village under Niuland Sub-division has been at the receiving end in the last few years when it comes to developmental activity of the Government.”

“As if the shifting of NIT from Hovukhu to Chumukedima is not enough to hurt the people of the village, many departments under Dimapur district have abandoned the RKVY Project halfway at Hovukhu village. This further has trounced the high hopes and expectations of the people on the

government and has deeply and extremely hurt the sentiment of the villagers. The people are utterly frustrated with no option but to appeal the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur to intervene as the project is nearing its projected period,” said the Village Head GB. In connection to this, Hovukhu Village Head GB, H Viniho Shikhu has written an appeal to the Deputy Commissioner and Chairman RKVY Governing Board Dimapur seeking intervention in the working of RKVY Project at Hovukhu Village.

The appeal note stated that in 2011-12 under the DC’s Chairmanship, the District Planning Board selected Hovukhu village

for the RKVY project for a period of two years. For the implementation of the RKVY project, the village readily and generously donated 100 Acres of land as required. The RKVY Project included various departments such as Soil, Veterinary, Horticulture, Cooperation, Land Resources, Fishery, Irrigation, and Sericulture. On May 20, 2013, the Project commenced. Initially, all the departments were doing well and the public were all impressed and contended. However, gradually and before the completion of works and end of two years, i.e., May 2015, the works have been halted and most of the departments have been absenting.

The head GB also added that

in this regard, earlier a letter had been “dispatched to the office concerned but no response nor any actions or remedial measures have been taken or initiated.”

“In simple words, the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of the public of Hovukhu Village have been shattered. In future too, the RKVY project to be implemented anywhere would supposedly be the same treacherous and betraying in nature. In the event of such arrogance, treachery, betrayal, and defiance by departments the intervention of your office would have a tremendous impact and bring about changes in the working system,” the appeal note added further.

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REgional

The Morung Express

Friday

22 August 2014

Sharmila won't stop 14-yr hunger strike NEW DELHI, August 21 (AP): India's most famous prisoner of conscience has walked free after nearly 14 years in jail but vowed to continue the hunger strike that landed her in prison for attempted suicide, her brother said Thursday.

Irom Sharmila, 42, has not eaten a single morsel of food voluntarily since November 2000, when she began her protest against an Indian law that suspends many human rights protections in areas of conflict.

She was arrested three days later on charges of attempting suicide — a crime in India — and prison officials have force fed her through a tube in her nose.

On Wednesday evening, Sharmila, looking frail and holding back tears, walked out of prison after a court order threw out the charges against her.

"She says that she will continue her fast until her demands are met," her brother, Singhjit Irom, said in a telephone interview from Imphal, the capital of the tiny northeastern state of Manipur.

"She is emotional," her brother said, describing her reaction to the court order, "but her willpower is still strong. She says she will continue to fight."

The court order is a huge moral victory for the activist, said Babloo Loitongbam, the head of Human Rights

Irom Sharmila decides to stay away from home and mother

Manipur Government to protect Sharmila but non-committal on AFSPA

KOLKAtA, August 21 (PtI): Even after her release from detention,Irom Chanu Sharmila has decided to keep her vow of neither entering her house nor meeting her mother till the government repeals AFSPA. Sharmila, 42, is now continuing her 14-year-old fast from a small makeshift shelter outside the government-run Jawahar Lal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital in Imphal where she was forced fed through nose under police detention.

Her house where her mother and brother stay is only a few metres away from the hospital.

"But Sharmila has decided not to go to the house nor meet her mother till her demands of repealing the 'draconian' Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is met by the government," Sharmila's brother Irom Singhajit told PTI from Imphal.

After Sharmila began her fast on November 5, 2000, she had declared that she would not see her mother during the fasting period to avoid any emotional outbursts.

Since then, the duo had seen each other only once when her mother Shakhi Devi, in his eighties, was also admitted to the same hospital in 2009.

"I don't want her to be weak in this fight. She needs continuous courage to go on," Shakhi had told PTI earlier.

Alert, a local rights group that has been involved with Sharmila's campaign.

In its order, the court said that Sharmila was not fasting to kill herself but to protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. During her years in incarceration, Sharmila was kept in a government hospital in Imphal and by law was released once a year to see if she would start eating. When she did not, she was taken back into custody and force fed.

MoU signed to ferry patients in NE States

guWAHAtI, August 21 (AgENcIEs): A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between GNRC Ltd and Pawan Hans Ltd for facilitating medi-chopper service to remote areas of North East India.

The MoU was signed on Monday by Dr. Nomal Chandra Borah, Chairman & Managing Director, GNRC Hospitals Ltd, in the presence of Anil Srivastava, IAS, Chairman-Cum-Managing Director, Pawan Hans Ltd and Joint Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.

The service built on the concept of “Medireach buses-Hospital on wells” which will regularly ferry doctors from GNRC to remote location across the region and provide doorstep medical support to the population across the across the North-eastern states.

It will also bring critical patients from remote locations to GNRC for speedy treatment. The medi-chopper will have ventilator and other necessary medical equipments to support patient on its way and will be taken care by doctors, trained physician and Para-medics, and emergency medical technician.

UNC to observe Martyrs’ Day on Aug 27

tAHAZAm (sENAPAtI), August 21 (mExN): Under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC), the Mao Council will be organising the 66th Anniversary of Martyrs’ Day at Mao Gate on August 27. In a press release, the Publicity Wing of UNC stated that, the function will be attended by Naga Tribe Councils, Naga Frontal and Regional Organisation as well as the general public.

The “Martyrs’ Day” is held every year honouring the memories of those who were either killed or grievously wounded when a contingent of 4th Assam Rifles and Manipur State police opened fire on crowd of Naga Public gathered at Mao Gate to protest against the oppose the arrest of the leaders of the “No Tax Campaign”, the released added.

In this connection, since the vehicular traffic along the Mao Gate will not be possible between 11am to 1pm due to the function, the UNC appeal the general public to make their travel plans accordingly.

"The state still has a responsibility to ensure that her condition does not worsen and the court has said that if she continues to fast she can be fed through a nasal tube but she cannot be charged as a criminal for her hunger strike," said Loitongbam.

Sharmila "has never resisted being fed by the nasal tube and has never said she wants to die," Pradip Phanjoubam, a local journalist said.

The Armed Forces Spe-

ImPHAL, August 21 (PtI): Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam on Thursday said the government was all prepared to protect and look after the health of social activist Irom Chanu Sharmila but did not comment on the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers (Assam and Manipur) Act 1958 from the state. Gaikhangam said the demand of Sharmila, who has been on fast for the past 14 years demanding withdrawal of the act and was recently absolved of the charge of trying to commit suicide, was not a personal one.

Official sources said the state government was considering under which sections of laws or acts Sharmila would be rearrested after her release by a local court which acquitted her of the charge of attempt to commit suicide, saying there was no evidence of it.

After her release from a make-shift prison in Imphal, Sharmila supported by hundreds of womenfolk and so-

cial Powers Act is in effect in Indian-ruled Kashmir and in northeastern areas wracked by separatist insurgencies. The law says troops have the right to shoot to kill suspected rebels without fear of possible prosecution and to arrest suspected militants without a warrant. It also gives police wide-ranging powers of search and seizure.

The law prohibits soldiers from being prosecuted for alleged rights violations unless granted express per-

cial organisations had walked free on Wednesday from the make-shift prison at JN Government Hospital where a room has been converted into a jail for her. Soon afterwards she began her fast at a place near the hospital.

"I will continue to fast till my demand (withdrawl of AFSPA) is met.

The order of the sessions court that I am not attempting to commit suicide (by launching fast to remove the controversial Act) is welcome," she had said.

Sharmila, a former journalist and social activist, had launched her fast unto death on November 2000 after Assam Rifles killed 10 innocent persons at Malom area here in an alleged encounter with insurgents.

Official sources said she has been in jail for the past many years and was released from time to time and rearrested again and again under the provisions Indian Penal Code for attempting to commit suicide.

mission from the federal government. Such prosecutions are rare. According to official documents, the state government in Kashmir has sought permission to try soldiers in 50 cases in the last two decades. The federal government has refused every one.

Sharmila has also vowed to not visit her home and village until the law is repealed so for now she is staying in a hut erected outside the hospital where she was watched by police guards.

In India, hunger strikes are part of a respected protest tradition made famous by independence leader Mohandas K. Gandhi, who coined the term "Satyagraha," or nonviolent resistance, and fasted repeatedly against British rule.

Since then the "fast unto death" — which almost never ends in the protester's death — has become an established route to getting any point of view heard in the chaotic din of Indian politics.

Manipur, Tripura get separate IAS, IPS cadres

AgArtALA, August 21 (IANs): With the creation of separate Manipur and Tripura cadres for All India Cadre Services (AICS) officers, the administration in both states would be considerably smoothened, an official said here Thursday.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions issued a notification earlier this week creating separate Manipur and Tripura cadres for IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service) and IFS (Indian Forest Service) officers.

"To assign posting, provide promotion, transfer on central deputation or within cadre, it was a cumbersome administrative process to deal

with the AICS officers," a senior Tripura government official told IANS. He said: "With the separation of cadre of AICS officers, it would be very smooth for both Tripura and Manipur to deal with the IAS, IPS and IFS officers."

Since creation of full-fledged states in January 1972, both Tripura and Manipur were treated as a joint cadre for AICS officers. The DoPT in its notification has made public a draft list of allocation of separate AICS cadres of Manipur and Tripura.

According to the draft allocation list, 91 IAS, 60 IPS, 44 IFS officers (including promotees) are to be allocated to Manipur and 73 IAS, 50 IPS and 57 IFS officers (including promotees) are to be allocated to Tripura.

The move comes following a series of demands for years by the two northeastern states and a recommendation by an official level committee headed by secretary of the DoPT. The Committee, which was formed after the passing of the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Amendment Act, 2012, had as members chief secretaries of Manipur, Tripura, Special Secretary (Internal Security) of the home ministry, Inspector General (Forest-cum-Special Secretary) under the environment and forest ministry and joint secretary in the DoPT. The DoPT notification asked the people concerned to bring to the notice of the department by August 25 about factual error in the distribution or any representation of AICS officers.

Kidnapped SBI official Arunachal seeks special freed in Meghalaya funds for roads restoration

sHILLONg, August 21 (IANs): A State Bank of India (SBI) official, kidnapped

by Garo militants in Meghalaya 16 days ago, was released unharmed Thursday after his family paid a ransom, officials said.

Subodh Kumar Mishra, a bank assistant of the SBI's Gasuapara branch in South Garo Hills district, was abducted by A'chik Songna An'pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK) militants August 5 from Barengapara road, about 400 km from here.

"He (Mishra) has been released unharmed by his captors in Dalu-Gasuapara road.

He is in Dalu police station," Lakador Syiem, the district police chief, told IANS. "We don't know yet the exact ransom that was paid to the militants by Mishra's family but a substantial amount was paid to them," the intelligence official said on the condition of anonymity.

The ASAK, which means "vanguards of Garoland", is one of nine Garo rebel groups operating in western Meghalaya, had demanded a ransom of Rs.one crore for the safe release of Mishra. The Garo militant outfit is fighting for a separate Garoland out of Meghalaya.

ItANAgAr, August 21 (tNN): With disrupted road communication plaguing parts of Arunachal Pradesh, including the Capital Complex, PWD minister Gojen Gadi sought special funds from the Centre to repair the damage.

In a memorandum to Union road transport, highways and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari, Gadi sought Rs 20 crore to restore communication along the NH-52A (from Banderdewa to Itanagar).

He sought another Rs 20 crore under the flood damage restoration (FDR) package for 2014-15 to repair damaged roads in the state's eastern sector.

The rains have damaged surface communication in Arunachal, with the Itanagar-Banderdewa road remaining inaccessible for the sixth day on Wednesday. In a statement on Wednesday, Gadi said he has urged Union MoS (home) Kiren Rijiju to apprise Gadkari of the problems being faced by the state.

Learning from Meghalaya village to keep India clean mAWLYNNONg, August 21 (IANs): If Indians want to make their country a clean and healthy place, then they should learn from the Khasi tribesmen of Meghalaya's Mawlynnong village, says tourist Michael Dough.

"I thought I was in another countryside in a different continent and not in India," Dough told IANS of his visit to the village, referred to as "God's own garden" and also cited as "Asia's cleanest village".

Like the visitor from Canada, Indian tourist Meenakshi Datta strongly felt that all Indians should visit Mawlynnong village and learn the habit of keeping the surroundings clean.

"On Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken much about making India a clean and healthy place. I strongly feel that the prime minister should take his team to this remote village and learn something about cleanliness," Datta said.

Children in the village are taught about hygiene in school at an early age and about how to

keep their surroundings clean and green.

Mawlynnong, which means "a cluster of stones" in the local Khasi dialect, is located on the southern slopes of East Khasi Hills. It is about 90 kilometres from Meghalaya capital Shillong and four km from the Bangladesh border.

Mawlynnong presents itself as a pretty queen amongst a cluster of rural areas located on a critical micro-watershed of the Wah Khuri (Khuri river). Unlike other tribal villages, where one is greeted with barking dogs and strange looks, Mawlynnong warmly receives tourists with open arms.

Villagers are polite and friendly.

The Khasi tribesmen residing in the southern slopes of Khasi Hills are locally known as War people and are experts in horticulture. Villagers traditionally raised betel vines, arecanut, oranges and other horticultural crops and spices on the foothills and traded these products across the plains in erstwhile Eastern Bengal and East Pakistan, at present Bangladesh.

Unfortunately, their traditional market links got snapped after India's partition in 1947, causing great economic hardship to the people of the bordering villages. Nonetheless, they still maintain the same kind of plantation activities on the foothills.

Most of the houses are built with traditional material like stone, tin, bamboo and wood.

There are a few cemented houses too. Each house is decorated with exotic and ornamental plants, while the courtyards are covered with a green carpet of grass.

The footpaths and lanes within the village have been carefully built with stones and boulders.

In each walkway, there are coneshaped bamboo dustbins. Nobody is allowed to litter any plastic or any waste material on the footpath or in the village premises.

It looks so clean that one would hesitate to throw anything on the ground - and even if there is some litter, it would be cleaned up in no time.

Mawlynnong village was discovered by missionaries of the An-

glican church who came in contact with the village to spread the gospel way back in 1902. They later built a church there with the help of the highly-skilled local masons.

The natural beauty and simplicity of the local folk attracted foreign tourists well before the domestic and city visitors began to flow in. The foreigners marvelled at the simple, self-sustained village with its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. The villagers too were inspired by the adulation of the visitors. They realised that if they could conserve the forest and biodiversity of the area, it could fetch them not only praise but also income from the tourist inflow.

The Dorbar Shnong (village council) makes sure the tourists are comfortable and safe there.

There is a tourism management committee in the village that supervises the itinerary of the tourists and their comfort that includes providing tourist guides, accommodation and food.

"The Dorbar Shnong imposed a fine for anybody found

to be throwing litter around or plucking flowers. I am happy that tourists visiting Mawlynnong follow the rules but you will still find some domestic tourists lacking respect," village headman Thomlin Khongthohrem told IANS. "We have learnt about cleanliness from our childhood and, therefore, I am sure the people of Mawlynnong will continue to keep this benchmark alive," he added.

"I am sure people who have visited us will go back home and speak about our clean village, but what is important for them is to follow us in maintaining their surroundings and homes clean since cleanliness begins at home," Khongthohrem said.

In fact, the adjoining villages of Mawlynnong - Riwai and Nohweta - too have become litterconscious and put up conical waste baskets on the pavement.

Riwai village has also managed to wean some tourists to view its Live Roots Bridge, a natural bridge across a stream made of the inter-twining roots of two trees.

Dimapur

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Manik Sarkar for restarting Tripura-Bangladesh rail link guWAHAtI, August 21 (PtI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today requested the Centre to talk to Bangladesh government for restarting railway services from Agartala to the neighbouring country.

"Government of Bangladesh may be pursued to take all necessary actions and Railway Ministry may take up this (restoration of rail link) construction work with highest priority," Sarkar said at the conference of Chief Ministers of all North Eastern states.

Sarkar said for rapid economic development of Tripura, movement of people and goods through Bangladesh to North East and Eastern India is necessary.

"Prior to partition, Tripura was seamlessly connected to (rest of) India through Bangladesh by road, rail and waterways, which needs to be restored and made operational," he said. There is an urgent need to establish connectivity with Chittagong Port in Bangladesh, he added.

"Government of India may persuade Bangladesh government for allowing multi-modal transportation of goods through Bangladesh with Ashuganj as the port of call, including related infrastructure development," Sarkar insisted.

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

HEARTFELT GRATITUDE "Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."- Marcel Proust. I Watinaro A Imsong thank Almighty God and each and everyone who optimistically stood by my side to pave way for a better tomorrow of our future Naga students. I express my deepest gratitude to the media, various organization, civil societies, apex student bodies, elders and all the concern citizens from near and far for responding to the appeal on Gandhian Protest on 19th August 2014. I am speechless and I have nothing to repay for your support and presences when I needed you and for your valuable wisdom. I pray to our Almighty God that He will bless righteously to all our leaders, elders, concerned citizens, Yaongyimsen in general and our efficient ACAUT movement for their sleepless effort made to bring justice to my candidature and for a better tomorrow. Psalms 91:2 "I will say to the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I Trust."

AFFIDAVIT Regd.No: 935/14 Dated: 03/01/14 I SHRI. THEJAVIZO KEHIE, S/o Smti. Vitseizoü Kehie, R/o Middle P.W.D Colony, in the district of Kohima, Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as follows:1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India.

2. That VITSEIZOÜ KEHIE is my natural mother and has been entered the same in some of my official documents.

3. That my mother’s name is also entered as VITSEIZOÜ SOLO in my other documents.

1. That both the names VITSEIZOÜ KEHIE and VITSEIZOÜ SOLO are my mother's name and belongs to one and the same.

2. That this affidavit is sworn to declare that my mother's name VITSEIZOÜ KEHIE and VITSEIZOÜ SOLO belongs to one and the same person.

3. That the statements made from Para 1 to 5 are true to the best of my knowledge and belief and nothing herein has been concealed.

Deponent Solemnly affirmed and declared by the deponent on this 03rd day of Jan 2014.

Notary Public, Dimapur: Nagaland

AFFIDAVIT

Regd.No: 934/14 Dated: 03/01/14 I SHRI. THEJAVIZO KEHIE, S/o NEIKEDOSIE KEHIE, R/o Middle P.W.D Colony, in the district of Kohima, Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as follows:1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India.

2. That NEIKEDOSIE KEYHIE is my natural father and has been entered the same in some of my official documents.

3. That my father’s name is also entered as NEIKEDOSIE KEHIE in my other documents.

1. That both the names NEIKEDOSIE KEYHIE and NEIKEDOSIE KEHIE are my Father's name and belongs to one and the same.

2. That this affidavit is sworn to declare that my father's name NEIKEDOSIE KEYHIE and NEIKEDOSIE KEHIE belongs to one and the same person.

3. That the statements made from Para 1 to 5 are true to the best of my knowledge and belief and nothing herein has been concealed.

Deponent Solemnly affirmed and declared by the deponent on this 03rd day of Jan 2014.

Notary Public, Dimapur: Nagaland

ANNEXURE (E)

AFFIDAVIT

Regd.No: 506/14 Date: 18/8/14 By this deed I, the undersigned NEIKEDOSIE KEHIE previously called NEIKEDOSIE KEYHIE doing Govt. Servant and resident of middle P.W.D Colony, post Box 97, Kohima, Nagaland solemnly declare: 1. That for and on behalf of myself and wife, children and remitter issue, I wholly renounce/ relinquish and abandon the use of my former surname of KEYHIE and in place thereof, I do hereby assume from this date the surname KEHIE so that I and my wife, children and remitter issue may hereafter be called, known and distinguished not by my former surname, but assumed surname of KEHIE. 2. That for the purpose of evidencing such my determination declare that I shall at all times hereafter in all records, deeds and writings and in all proceedings, dealings and transactions, private as well as upon all occasions whatsoever, use and sign the name of KEHIE as my surname in place and in substitution of my former surname.

3. That I expressly authorize and request all persons in general and relatives and friends in tar, at all times hereafter to designate and address me, my children, and remitter issue by assumed surname of KEHIE. 4. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my former and adopted surname of KEHIE and affix my signature and seal, if any, this 18th day of August 2014.

Signed sealed and delivered by the above name.

Date: 18/8/14 Former name: NEIKEDOSIE KEYHIE In the presence of Name: Kevirhükho Kehie Name: Neikedosie Kehie Address: Medziphema Town Address: Middle PWD Colony Post Box-97 Kohima-797001 Notary Public, Nagaland

EXAMINATION NOTICE THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT KOHIMA BENCH

Written Examination Objective type (multiple choice) for Direct Recruitment of 2(two) Judicial Assistant in the Kohima Bench is scheduled to be held on 21st September, 2014 (Sunday). Admit cards will be sent to the candidates in due course. Time and Venue will be indicated in the Admit Card itself. Any candidate who do not receive the admit card before 18 th September, 2014 may contact Registrar, Kohima Bench on or after 18th September, 2014.The provisional list of candidates and the syllabus can be seen in the official website of Kohima Bench. www.kohimahighcourt.gov.in

4

public discoursE

Friday

Dimapur

22 August 2014

The Morung Express

Epidemic of Stigma

2

00 are a very row and un-researched figure. It may be not much more or much less than 200 most powerful Nagas who are managing Nagaland State. It’s a combination of politicians, bureaucrats, factional leaders and few businessmen. The State finances are controlled by them, the recruitment of employees is mostly at their behest and most major governmental decisions are manipulated by them. I therefore called Nagaland Govt. to be aristocratic set up which is no more democratic practically in the midst of anarchy. The recent manipulation of BSc(Horti) seat is a clue enough of how the rich and the powerful few have developed that kind of habit of abusing official power for selfish gains at the expense of public welfare.

That was just a tip of the iceberg. In this episode the following few were inflicted.

Firstly, the Director of Horticulture Department, Govt. of Nagaland has abused the power conferred upon her.

Had it been not so, her son should never have vacated the seat despite the amount of burning coal being heaped upon her.

Had her claim been right as backed up by her Village students’ body, she should

have stood by her ground and even gone to court for defence. Finally, when she gave in, it should have been herself, and not her husband, tendering public apology which would be welcomed by the aggrieved party and supporters. Because of her silence, one question remains to be answered. What the State Govt. is going to do with her abuse of power as per disciplinary rules? I feel for her son who, at no fault of his, had to face a sense of defeat due to misguidance from mother.

Secondly, the Chief Secretary might have forgotten the story of former lady IPS officer Kiran Bedi when posted as Traffic Police Commissioner, Delhi city, managed to make niche because of her rationality and impartiality. Reportedly known that at her order, her cousin’s car was towed away for wrong parking and accordingly penalised. Also, many years ago, the wife of Nagaland Chief Secretary sought for a seat for lodging at Nagaland House, 29-Aurangzed Rd., New Delhi.

Seat not available. Being the better half of the Chief Secretary she fired the staff, and called up her husband at home. The reply from Nagaland, the erstwhile Nagaland and its Chief Secretary was that she, his

wife, is not the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary of Nagaland should not have allowed so much write ups to take place and the sit-in protest rally at Kohima. In her court, the matter could have been corrected timely. If so, this issue would not have made much dent on her image at the fake end of her service. Good to see the tendered apology in paper, yet the milk was spilled.

Thirdly, as warned by me through an article dated 17.8.14, NSF’s credibility is decimated due to two reasons. a). NSF failed to rise up to the occasion like Kiran Bedi but adopted the mediatory role which is not meant for NSF. What is expected of NSF is the proactive role after all the issue had adversely affected one of its members. b) The rally at New Secretariat junction on 19.8.14 should have been under the banner of NSF and not of ACAUT. I believe ACAUT would be happier to give subordinate support in such order.

Fourthly, is this going to be the new system of governance that the individual citizens will no longer enjoy justice automatically and spontaneously if not through protest, agitation, rally, etc.?

What the public expect is what is due to

one as individual or to them as community should be given and not otherwise.

The case of Watinaro was obvious and no confusion involved. In lieu of waiting for the protesters to smoke out the seat from Govt., the concerned politicians should have stepped in and rectify it on time so that stigmas to individual officers and embarrassment to Govt. as defeat would have been averted.

Fifthly, I wish the readers do not take my comment to be of communal noise as this is my frank observation. The episode had unfortunately implicated Ao community which is looked upon as the most advance and civilised one of all by other Nagas. I also know for sure that it was never the community decision but of individuals in private. Nevertheless, the epidemic onslaught could not spare the community because of the fact that the Horti. Director happened to be an Ao lady and the Chief Secretary too is an Ao. When these Ao officers did not hesitate to deny right to a girl from their community, will they do justice to others especially the gullible backward people?

Z. Lohe

The NLTP Act 1989 : Tragedy or Comedy

businEss

T

he daily news reports the Oscar winning actor and comedian Robin Williams, aged 63, hanged himself in his California home. He had checked into a rehab for his struggle on substance abuse. A man of unparalled talents, he gave countless moments of joy and laughter to millions and spent so much of his life helping others.

But 10 days of depression brought him to his final decision to die. He was short-lived.

Plenty are the negative aspects of liquor – permanent damage of brain cells and other body systems, impoverished life, deprived family peace and tranquility, pathetic living, social unrest, destruction, accidents, disorder, death etc and most of all, one is robbed of living out of his fullest God-gifted potentials embedded in him. Every abuser and addict knows it is wrong to indulge, yet, they seek for temporary relief and relaxation to wear off his personal conflict and frustration allowing the dangerous poisonous sting effect to remain permanent.

It was to express this serious concern that the churches went on protest for liquor prohibition 1989.

Initially the then government did not seem too serious. To a deligation, the Chief Minister said: “Well, in history and by our experience Liquor Prohibition in many places has not been successful but it does not mean Nagaland should not try and

‘Diesel prices will soon be market linked’

be successful as well.” Efforts were intensified. As a result of an attempt to side-tract our attention, we went through hunger strike to demonstrate seriousness of our hearts. Several hundred believers sat on Hunger Strike with some members even being hospitalized. Finally, the Government agreed to pass the Prohibition Act 1989.

In the olden times, rice beer was the regular normal drink, yet drunkeness was condemned as it demonstrates poverty. The culture of honesty, truthfulness and trustworthiness, hardwork, tolerance, love and respect for elders, compassion with healthy ethical values and fear of God was deeply planted in personal life and social relations.

Today, the standard of literacy, expressions and journalistic ability and talent of our people are much higher and better than some 25-30 years ago. Without tempting power of liquor, our Naga intelligence will graphically rise much higher. Successive thinkers and writers will think better, faster, deeper, clearer, and live up to the fullest potential of God’s gift including longevity destined for them – we could create a ‘fullness of life’ on earth and for the life to come. Change may start at the echelon of government and society in a liquor free society. Without rhetoric and free flow of liquor everywhere including even in official meeting places, change and devel-

opment, peace and prosperity, social harmony and unity could be anticipated. Quality visionary decision will take place in our Legislative Assembly. Nagas will march forward.

This was at the heart of the Church protest in 1989, 25 years ago where saving the upcoming generation was the paramount cause.

Let sober thinking prevail to consider whether our Naga life should be enriched or impoverished, protected or damaged and destroyed.

Whether liquor prohibition should be lifted and allow its negative influnce control our personal lives and society as well. Tragedy or Comedy.

Whom do you want: Barabbas or the Savior?

May the Spirit and wisdom of God prevail our human wisdom and voices in the forthcoming debate being planned at the special NLA! In implementing mechanism, it is suggested that selected church leaders are included to deliberate about the educative and spiritual role of the Church to that effect.

In support of NCSU’s demand

F

ew decades ago, while travelling with an honest Naga Contractor from Kohima to Dimapur, I was told by that man that it was one of the wisest decision that the then NH-39, Now NH-29 ,execution of works was exclusively reserved for (GREEF/BRO/BRIT) and for which according to that gentleman quantity and serviceable road was maintained smoothly at that point of time, true to a layman’s view it was difficult to deny or raised pertinent question to dispute his claim, but I was taken aback to notice the defeatism in the mind set of such a humble gentleman whose vision was limited within a bounded horizon , I only could tell him that the roads in other parts of the country are much better.

However, gone were the days we have limited choices with workable machinery, now with varieties of machineries in abundance with our own contractors whose workmanship in comparison with BRO/BRTF maintenance of NH-29 is much in Superior quality and workmanship without dispute.

The demand of Nagaland Contractors & Suppliers Union (NCSU) is out rightly justified. The Government of Nagaland cannot disown responsibilities and continue to allow the citizen of its state to suffer untold miseries and hardship. The Govt. of Nagaland should take up the matter with MORT (Ministry of Road and Transport) Govt. of India to immediately handover, NH-29 to NPWD (National Highways) and save and secure our vehicles to run on road again and not on the river bed or worst as of today.

However, it befit to streamline a workable basis of execution of work preferably awarding 10 Km packages to all qualified registered Contractors with mileage and bill boards displayed so that every citizen travelling that road shall have the benefit to credit or discredit one’s workmanship and evolve a healthy creditable mechanism and give the people of Nagaland a better road and save multiple loss of time and resources without any further delay.

Asu Keyho NEW DElhi, August 21 (Pti): The Finance Ex-MLA, Kohima Ministry today expressed hope that domestic diesel prices will soon become market linked in the backdrop of softening global crude oil rates.

“The decision of the government which stands f late some organisations and people have come out today is reduction in diesel subsidy by 50 paise (per criticising the BRTF for its performance and i do agree month) which means increase in prices by 50 paise. So, that the BRTF has failed to discharge its duty upto the logical conclusion is that as and when that is over, it will expectation of the people. But i also would like to state that become market driven,” Economic Affairs Secretary the state government, people and the BRTF are equally to be Arvind Mayaram told reporters here. blamed for the condition of the roads.

He further said that with the softening of crude prices I appreciate the voices of youth organisations of Kohiin the international market, it would be possible for the ma village and Nagaland Contractors and Suppliers’ Union government to move to market-driven prices of diesel, (NCSU) on poor maintenance of the roads but at the same sooner than later. “We have been lucky on oil and if you time they also should understand the ground reality unsee the oil prices which have been softening, I think that der what circumstance the BRTF has been carrying out its we will be able to exit the diesel subsidy soon enough and bounden duty. diesel is going to become market priced,” he said.

Random cutting and construction of roads, buildBrent crude oil prices declined to 14-month low of ings and stone currying frequently damages National $102 a barrel today. Mayaram said there is an emphaHighway-29 between Kohima and Dimapur as drains are sis on the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and hoped choked, but so far no organistion or the state government that in the next 2-3 years, the subsidy burden on the has come out against such activities on national highway. government will come down significantly.

The state government has absolutely failed to discharge its Currently, the retail selling price of diesel is below duty and shifting the blame on BRTF. international market price. Government compensates Even in Kohima town there is a random construction of retailers for the losses some three to six months later. buildings, roads and dumping of materials on roadsides, The losses of retailers on sale of diesel stood at Rs 1.78 Rev. L. Bizo, vehicle servicing centres, have choked drains in several per litre as on August 19. Diesel prices are raised evSenior Citizen places, but government has just remained a mute spectator ery month by up to 50 paise per litre to trim the losses.

Rates have cumulatively risen by Rs 11.24 per litre in Rev. R. P. Murry, and the NGOs have remained voiceless.

On NCSU asking for handing over of NH-29 to state gov18 instalments since January 2013 when the previous Chairman, Dimapur UPA government had decided on small monthly hikes.

Christian Forum ernment is unrealistic as we can see how state government is maintaining roads. The NCSU’s performance itself is not Government had in January 2013 decided to raise diesel prices in small doses of 40-50 paise per litre Rev. Dr. P. Dozo, satisfactory at all. every month till the losses -- which are made good Dimapur Christian Forum Sashimeren Jamir, Chandmari Kohima through government subsidy -- are completely eliminated. Petrol price was deregulated in June 2010 and Readers may please note the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form. has moved more or less in tandem withthat the cost.

_

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 # 2972

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2979

On BRTF and highways

O

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 # 2971

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

BLESSED PEACEMAKERS MEEK MOURN MERCIFUL PURE REJOICE REWARD SALTINESS LIGHT SHINE JUDGMENT ADULTERY OATHS ENEMY PERFECT FATHER ADVERSARY HYPOCRITES RIGHTEOUSNESS FASTING TREASURES HEAVEN WORRY LILIES CLOTHES KNOCK NARROW FOOLISH

R

L L I D J R J E W B S A J I Z A L P I Y

D

P E S F E H X W N Y G U I D J O H H S U

Y A H H H R O V L H S I L O O F Q A X Y

S

R A C C T R F X Y F S X J J K Y O Z J X

Z R R F R A Z P P A D P Z K O Q R S T N

E

R E W A R D O K E N B T R E A S U R E S

I J N S G C L V R A I Z Q D J K Y O O N

K O O T R G U U U J C D V L N R Q I F W

A

T I O I S V O P P A S E M E E K B G U F

K C T N E M G D U J R A M T F A T H E R

O E G G H X O M O S V H L A W N C K B T

R

S W M K T T Y E A P T U Q T K G E R W Y

H U K N O C K R O H D A N E I E F X I X

I R F P L B Y C G A D D B Z J N R Q R R

C

N V F N C D R I G H T E O U S N E S S O

E W V P R P L F F I P I S P R A P S X X

H

G N P P K Q G U F G E Y K S F B Z A S P

V N E N F D Y L S O N E V A E H U Y I T

G D Z M A V D R A L S E I L I L A E M O

J Z G L Y U N N A U I J G N I I B Q Y Y

ACROSS 1. A kind of macaw 6. Backside 10. Among 14. Part of the large intestine 15. Laugh 16. Unwakable state 17. Browned bread 18. Burden 19. Replicate 20. Contour 22. Website addresses 23. Rechewed food 24. Untidy 26. Pale 30. All tuckered out 32. Homeric epic 33. Patronized 37. Ripped 38. Fortuneteller’s card 39. Infiltrator 40. Performer 42. Rental agreement 43. Big 44. Livestock food 45. Run away to wed 47. A tree fruit 48. Ear-related 49. Authorized

56. Twilight 57. Makes a mistake 58. Artificial waterway 59. Doing nothing 60. Hissy fit 61. Ancient Greek marketplace 62. Require 63. Collections 64. Flax fabric

DOWN 1. Does something 2. Part of a plant 3. Winglike 4. Thorny flower 5. Alkalizer 6. A grasp of something 7. Hindu princess 8. Cold-shoulder 9. Right of way 10. Habituated 11. Berths 12. Suggest 13. Not nights 21. Muck 25. N N N N 26. Gist 27. Found in some lotions 28. Former Italian currency 29. Surrounded by land

30. Binge 31. Impoverished 33. Warbled 34. Street 35. If not 36. Bambi was one 38. Indefatigable 41. One time around 42. Rational 44. Hale 45. Chopin composition 46. Fine thread 47. Clenched hands 48. Norse god 50. Sea eagle 51. Fortitude 52. Wise men 53. Nameless 54. Container weight 55. Dash Ans to CrossWord 2978

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

KIPHIRE: 8414853767 (O) 8974304572 (OC)

Toll free No. 1098 childline

O

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

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

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE

W

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

TUENSANG: 8414853766 (O) 8414853519

08974997923

MOKOKCHUNG:

FIRE STATIONS

STD CODE: 0369

Police Station 1: Police Station 2 :

2226241 2226214

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

2226216 2226263 2226373/2229343

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

222246 222491

CHEVROLET CARS PRICE AUGUST ‘2014 CAR MODELS

STARTING PRICE

SPARK 1.0 MCE

3,38,705/-

BEAT 1.2 (PETROL)

3,91,493/-

BEAT 1.0 (DIESEL)

4,77,441/-

SAIL U-VA 1.2 (PETROL)

4,23,265/-

SAIL U-VA 1.3 (DIESEL)

5,33,999/-

SAIL 1.2 (PETROL)

5,03,799/-

SAIL 1.3 (DIESEL)

6,34,665/-

ENJOY 1.4 (PETROL)

5,53,163/-

ENJOY 1.3 (DIESEL)

6,73,963/-

CRUZE 2.0 LT

13,96,498/-

CAPTIVA 2.2 LT

22,66,213/-

* CONDITION APPLY *3 YEARS / 100,000 KMS WARRANTY * FOR PETROL *CASHLESS OWNERSHIP MAINTENANCE OFFER

For details & Test drive Contact: Urban Station, Near NSC Petrol Pump, 6th Mile Dimapur. Ph No : 240994 CURRENCY EXCHANGE CURRENCY NOTES BUY(Rs) SELL(Rs) US Dollars Sterling Pound Hong Kong Dollar Australian Dollar Singapore Dollar Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Euro

60.47 100.37 7.78 56.15 48.45 55.34 58.73

60.9 101.5 7.87 56.96 49.03 56.01 59.44

80.48

81.37

Friday

LOCAL

The Morung Express

22 August 2014

nagaland BJP dares nPcc: Public informed to avoid

Ready to defend any allegations travelling through Assam

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): In a detailed rejoinder issued to the press against the allegations made by the NPCC, Dr. M Chuba Ao, State BJP President today said, “it is a pity that NPCC still refuses to learn that its booklet on corruption had bounced on itself in the last elections” Refuting the charges of discrepancies in the utilization of money of money for Revision of Payment (RoP), the Party said that, the DAN government had already clarified both in the State assembly and outside regarding the utilization of Rs. 712 crore and the “NPCC should advise its CLP to do better in the house” if they are still unsatisfied with the clarifications.

Admitting that the burden of salary on the State’s exchequer is an “undeniable fact”, the BJP Nagaland stated that, since the government sector is the only available avenue for employment in the state, “there’s little that any party government could do” and instead, the NPCC should accept it as a “part of human resource development” and ponder upon the consequences if the educated youth were not employed by the State government.

On the allegations in

MGNREGS, the BJP Nagaland asserts that it can defend itself in the court of law with evidence if the NPCC were to file a case for the same. Regarding the accusation that the DAN government is using all its resources to stonewall investigation process to the cases filed by NPCC against various leaders of DAN Government, it added that, since the High Court is outside ambit of the state and the State Vigilance Commission is also an autonomous body, NPCC should not ‘worry” as the law will take own course of action if at all they had filed the cases.

The State BJP also denied the charge that its objective was “not to defeat but to finish the Congress” and added that, the NPCC should realized that the people of India rejected Congress because of its “unclear and unfriendly policies”.

Further, the BJP President stated that, the NPCC should be able to differentiate between “special category status” granted to Nagaland and other states, and since it was granted to the state through a political agreement, the NPCC is only belittling the agreement by comparing it with other states.

Regarding the stagnation of political dialogue

Chumukedima reaffirms Feb 13 resolution

NSCN (IM) cadre apprehended, two rescued

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): In view of the reported onset of levying of taxation in Chumukedima area by various Naga Political Groups (NPGs), public leaders representing various civil societies have once again issued a public notice stating that they will stand firm on the resolution taken in the general public rally at Chumukedima Weekly market wherein it unanimously resolved to support the resolutions of ACAUT’s public rally of October 31, 2013 which includes - one government one tax, support the Naga political movement, and demand for setting up High Power Committee. Apart from the above resolutions, the public had also resolved to excommunicate or cancel trade licence against defaulters. The statement made available to the media was signed by Chakhroma Public Organisation President, Chumukedima Village Council General Secretary, Chumukedima ‘A’ Village Council Chairman, Chumukedima Town Head GB, Chumukedima Chamber of Commerce and Trade Association Vice-President, Chumukedima Students’ Union, Chumukedima Mothers’ Association, and Tribal Union Chumukedima Town.

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): 37 Assam Rifles along with Diphupar Police on August 12 apprehended a Lieutenant of NSCN (IM) and rescued two abducted victims during an operation in Sukhovi Road based on

with Naga Political Group (NPG), the Party maintained that it was only on the acknowledgement of the “uniqueness of Naga history” by the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vaipayee on his visit to Nagaland in 2003 that the “talk made a new leap forward”. However, the process stagnated during two previous UPA governments and the NPCC should not expect NDA “to do in 90 days” what the UPA has government failed to do in last ten years.

Again, the Party alleged that, the Congress and not BJP which is practicing communalizing politics by spreading false propaganda that the BLP is “communal or anti-Christian”.

Advising the NPCC to keep religion out of politics, the BJP Nagaland maintained, it had never made comparisons between “RSS and Naga Hoho on ideological line” but merely said both the organisation were working for the interest of the general public.

“BJP is aware that the problem in Eastern Nagaland is primarily development deficit” the release added, therefore, the Party finds curious as to why the NPCC has a problem if the “NDA government has the political will to address the problem and bridge this gap.”

information regarding hijacking of a loaded truck from 7th Mile area on August 11, a defence release received here stated.

During the operation, the AR team apprehended the abductor identified as Lieutenant Ali Jamir

tuENsaNg, august 21 (mExN): Tuensang District Health Society in collaboration with NVBDCP conducted anti-malarial fogging and extensive entomologist survey in the town due to detection of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) case in the district on August 20.

The team from the Directorate of H&FW was led by Atu

Longkumer (Senior Entomologist), and Dr. Sao Tunyi (Consultant NVBDCP).

The department requested the public to take preventive measures against mosquito bites by using bed nets and insect repellents and also to clear stagnant water collection and clogged drains to prevent further breeding of mosquitoes.

phEK, august 21 (mExN): Naga People’s Front (NPF), 19th Phek Assembly Constituency (A/C) has called the demand of Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) for removal of R&B Minister “very preposterous and even nefarious and sinister in design” and questioned the committee’s motive.

“It is very disheartening to note that an unregistered, unrecognized committee is trying to run the affairs of the State which is the prerogative of the Government and not some self styled committee,” stated a press statement issued by

against life is against God.” “The obvious nature of alcoholism in wrecking homes and society cannot be encouraged. Whether NLTP has been a success or a failure, any sane person knows the ill effects of alcoholism on lives, how it breaks families and toys with our morality,” the executive secretary added.

Further stating that, “Prophet Hosea was right in saying that whoredom, wine, and new wine take away the understanding,” the executive secretary questioned who would take the responsibility for the lost lives when the NLTP Act is lifted and “liquor is at our doorstep.” “We cannot be mere spectators when lives are at stake,” he maintained and added, “WSBAK

the party president Api Vadeo and general secretary Nuchicho Keyho.

Stating that the foothill road will indeed be of great benefit to the Nagas of Nagaland, “our duty”, the party said, should be to demand for speedy delivery and quality work and not hamper it or fall prey “to the designs of some rich greedy contractors who still wants to get richer.”

The party further stated that the committee questioning the role of the Minister in the June 30 bandh is also “very ridiculous”.

Saying that the Government, prior to the date, had declared the bandh called

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): The ACCC, AMCC, AYC office bearers and NPCC, NPMC, NPYC, DCC, DMCC, DYC, Seva Dal, NSUI, executive committees and polling booth presidents and secretaries of 2-Dimapur-II A/C will have a re-organisation meeting on August 22 at 10 am at Congress Bhawan. A press release from the general secretary (Admin) Limawati has requested all the members to attend the meeting.

ANCSU warns liquor outlets

Kohima, august 21 (mExN): The inauguration of the forest office complex at Old Ministers’ Hill Kohima will take place on August 22 at 11 am. Minister for forests Dr. Neikiesalie (Nicky) Kire will grace the occasion as the chief guest. Welcome address will be delivered by M. Lokeswara Rao, IFS, PCCF & HOFF Nagaland while vote of thanks will be proposed by Dr. K. Kire, CF (STC).

Adivasi Tea Tribes worship places - a temple at the vicinity of Ronsuyan and a Church at Roman Basti - still standing intact in spite of the situation. Photo Courtesy/ Thungdemo Kyong.

Dr. T. Pangjung Sangtam, Dy. Chief Medical Officer Tuensang in a press note has acknowledged public leaders and people for their co-operation and T. Mhabemo Yanthan (NCS), Deputy Commissioner and Chairman District Health Society for donating fuel for running the fogging machines and vehicles during the drive.

Parliamentary Secretary, Tovihoto Ayemi inaugurating a departmental store at Thahekhu on Thursday. (Morung photo)

therefore strongly oppose lifting of NLTP Act.” The WSBAK executive secretary also asserted that the common mass should not bear the consequences for the sake of revenue. “It is sad that the present scenario of Nagaland battling for alcohol prohibition has brought to light the failure and the indifferent attitude of the law enforcing agencies to prevent the free flow of liquor albeit the NLTP Act,” the executive secretary stated. He further appealed to the State Government to strictly implement the Act and to the churches to never grow weary in the ministry of care and counseling. “Let us all be involved in making Nagaland truly a Christian state,” the WSBAK executive secretary stated.

2-Dimapur-II A/C re-organisation meeting

Forest office complex inauguration today

aims to provide comfort and convenience to shoppers as they can expect to avail a host of essential items.

The Chizami Range Public Organisation (CRPO) has strongly condemned the “inhuman torture and attempted murder” on Pelo Letro of Mesulumi village and physical assault on Neizeko Mekrisuh of Chizami village on August 14 at Kohima by “its own fellow Tenyimia brothers from Kohima village.”

A press release from the organisation president Kekhro Tsuha and general secretary Israel Lasuh stating that Pelo Letro had been “forcibly kidnapped, blindfolded, hands and legs tied up and tortured mercilessly like an animal and left in the jungle,” articulated that such kind of “barbaric act meted out to its own fellow brothers is unimaginable” and added

Kohima, august 21 (mExN): The Department of Fisheries will be selling Fresh Doyang Fishes at PR Hill Junction, Kohima on August 22 from 6:30 am onwards.

Additional Director of Fisheries Zenohol Angami in a press release informed and requested the public to avail of the opportunity.

Kohima, august 21 (mExN): The general body meeting of the Kohima Hotel and Restaurant Union will be held on August 23 at 11 am in Hotel Japfu, Kohima.

A press release from the union president, N. Theyo, informed that the meeting will discuss various pressing issues pertaining to the union and has requested all members to attend the same.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), SBI donated a computer with peripherals to Khedi Baptist School on August 21. Khriehu Liezietsu, Parliamentary Secretary for Sports and Youth Resources in the presence of David Kire, Chief Manager, SBI Lead Bank, handed over the computer to the School authorities.

Kohima, august 21 (mExN): Based on information regarding presence of a suspected individual at TCP Gate, Kohima, 19 Assam Rifles along with a police representative conducted an operation and apprehended one individual, Vikuosielie, resident of

Chiechama Village, for illegal possession of weapons on August 20. The team recovered one .22 Rifle along with one magazine and 19 live rounds of .22 Hornet.

The individual was handed over to Kohima Police Station (North). A defence release informed.

condemnations CRPO

Fresh Doyang fishes sale today

Kohima Hotel & Restaurant Union meeting

19 AR apprehends one

area in general. He further urged educated youths to venture into business sector, be self reliant and contribute to society. The proprietor said that the store

MEx FILE

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has issued a warning to wine shops, bars, pubs, and lounges against entertaining students in uniform and underage people in order to prevent anti social activities and unwanted circumstances. A press release from the union Education Secretary Benjongakum Longchar and Magazine Secretary Hikavi H. Kinimi warned that it would take strong action against the defaulters. ANCSU also warned student found in the above mentioned places and involving in unwanted activities would be dealt with strictly and disciplinby NFHRCC illegal, NPF ary actions initiated. ANCSU further appealed to the 19th Phek defended that district administration and its unit to keep a check on as a Cabinet Minister, “he such activities taking place. has every right to be present there to see the smooth Thsotokur Union functioning of the Govern- Tuensang Town condemns ment machineries.”

The party also ex- tuENsaNg,, august 21 (mExN): The Thsopressed confidence that tokur Union Tuensang Town has accused the 23rd the popular government Assam Rifle Tuensang of keeping three .22 pistols will not be “cowed down by (hand-made) with five live round of ammunition inthe dictates of a commit- side the farm hut of Z. Tsanso, Chairman, Organic tee” and demanded that Farming Association after breaking into the hut and NFHRCC be declared ille- condemned the same. “This kind of conscious atgal. It further requested the tempt to maim an innocent citizen totally negates R&B Minister not to with- their famous Motto: Friends of the Hill People,” the draw the defamation cases, union stated in a release. The Union further appealed but to “make a lesson that to the law enforcing agency to probe into the case and no one with self-centered book all those responsible for the “heinous crime” motives can take the gov- with deterrent and exemplary action to “save the ernment for a ride and get hard earned tarnished image of our Leader and also away with it.” to save all from becoming the victim of such unbecoming and unfriendly situation.”

Ao of NSCN (IM). One .32 pistol, one .22 rifle along with assorted ammunitions were recovered. The apprehended cadre along with the recovered items has been handed over to Diphupar Police Station, the release informed.

Tovihoto inaugurates departmental store Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology & Communication, Science & Technology, Technical Education and Taxes, Tovihoto Ayemi, on Thursday inaugurated Daily D'lite, a departmental store at Thahekhu village.

The store was dedicated by Pastor TBC Rev Dr. Yehevi Zhimomi.

Tovihoto lauded the proprietor, Kuhozu V Yeptho for taking the bold step in opening the departmental store which would carter to the daily needs of the village in particular and the

August 20 at the DC’s conference hall.

The DC thanked the members, Government officials, NGOs and the citizens of Mon for the mass social work conducted in the town and for successful celebration of Independence Day 2014 with highest number of contingents.

The board recommended upgradation of GPS Mon town sector ‘D’ to GMS and widening of its Football Ground and, Improvement of road, Aboi to Longleng via Sowa Changle, 13 KM from Apao to Sheangphang Bridge. The CMO Mon presented his departmental activities through power point presentation.

The Deputy Commissioner informed that the next DPDB meeting would be held on September 15.

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NPF 19 Phek A/C questions NFHRCC’s demands

Anti-malarial fogging conducted in Tuensang

WSBAK reasserts ‘strong support’ for NLTP Act Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): The Western Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Küqhakulu (WSBAK) has come out expressing support for the NLTP Act, 1989.

A press release from the association’s Executive Secretary Rev. S. Vitoshe Swu claimed that the act came into existence after a long struggle which included appeals of ‘Fast unto death’ from churches. “The NLTP Act is hence not an overnight invention but the result of a deep struggle,” the executive secretary WSBAK stated and added, “This is a people’s movement and it is a church movement.”

Asserting that WSBAK stood for ‘Pro-Life’, Swu stated that the free flow of liquor in Nagaland is against life, and added, “Anything

moN, august 21 (Dipr): Addressing the Mon District Planning & Development Board meeting Deputy Commissioner, Mon Angau I Thou IAS informed that blockade in Namtola was lifted after her meeting with DC Sivasagar on August 19. However, she said the situation beyond Sonari is very tense in Assam and advised the members to inform the public to avoid travelling through Assam.

Briefing on the current situation in Assam Nagaland border, the DC said that in order to strengthen the relationship between the two neighbours, the age-old cordial relationship between Ahoms and Nagas should be nurtured and respected.

The Mon DPDB meeting was held on

Dimapur

that the incident should be condemned by all.

Pointing out that as human beings there are occasional altercations, the CRPO asserted that one “should not behave in such a primitive way” and added, “Brothers need to be treated as brothers and humans as humans.”

Meanwhile, the CRPO has appealed to the administration and law enforcing agencies to punish the culprits with exemplary punishment so as to avoid future recurrence of such incidences.

RSUD

The Rongmei Students’ Union Dimapur (RSUD) has condemned the “shameful act” of Rongmei candidate who had been selected as Junior Engineer (Class II Gazetted) un-

der PHE through Zeliang Backward Tribe quota. The union, in a statement issued by its general secretary, Gainempu Gonmei and president, Jenpu Rongmei stated that “any person selling out the Tribe identity for the sake of individual benefit is intolerable in any capacity.” It further expressed that “many talented and deserving Rongmei candidates who have not got any privilege as to protect the own identity where some are taking for the self vested interest through illegal means.” Therefore, RSUD has warned that it will not tolerate such illegal ways and urged the other Rongmei organizations based in Nagaland and student bodies of respective districts to condemn and take the issue seriously.

Peren NPF Youth Wing emergency meeting pErEN, august 21 (mExN): NPF Youth Wing Peren division has informed all executive member under Peren that an emergency meeting will be held on August 25. Vice President Namdurang and general secretary Hulinbo Nringin a press release has requested all concerned to attend the same.

NLA secretariat informs Kohima, august 21 (mExN): The Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Kohima informed that the first introductory meeting and adoption of the 85th Action Taken Report of the Committee on Government Assurances (2014-2015) has been fixed on September 2 at 11 am in the Assembly Committee Room. All the members of the committee on Government Assurances have been requested to make it convenient to attend the meeting positively. This was stated in a release issued by Pangamla, additional secretary NLA.

Assembly Library Committee meeting Kohima, august 21 (mExN): Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker, Er. Levi Rengma, who is also the chairman of the Assembly Library Committee has convened its first meeting for the tenure 2014-15 on August 25 at 11 am in the Assembly Committee Hall. A press release from Pangamla, Additional Secretary, has requested all concerned to attend the meeting.

DSSU informs on membership fee Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): The Dimapur Sumi Students’ Union (DSSU) has informed that the Union will be collecting its annual membership fee from the Sumi students. Therefore, DSSU president Hutoshe Kits and general Secretary N Kavito Ayemi in a press release has requested all the schools and colleges authority to cooperate with the Union while collecting the membership fee. The Union also urged the students and parents, that the membership is mandatory to every Sumi students within its jurisdiction. Further, those Sumi students without bearing this card will not be counted as a member of the Union and will not be held responsible in any case. For further information contact @ 9612198282 and 8575918911.

The Morung Express is introducing “Public Space” as part of our intention to provide deliberate space for the opinions of the people to be expressed and heard through this newspaper.

Nonetheless, The Morung Express points out that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.

6

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express FrIDAy 22 AuGusT 2014 volumE IX IssuE 230

Along Longkumer Consulting Editor

Modi’s New Federalism?

W

hether it is the correct or best decision for the country’s development, which only time will tell, the BJP led NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the bold step to abolish the Planning Commission, a 64-year-old apex policy making body.

As per the speech made by Modi during Independence Day, the plan is to replace it with a new institution to address the “emerging economic needs and strengthen federal structure”.

There was always the expectation that Modi as PM would be imaginative, bold and decisive when it comes to policy matters.

No PM, Congress or otherwise would have had the guts to take such a decision as to abolish a time and tested institution like the Planning Commission. To go against the status-quo is often very difficult especially when one is in power but nevertheless it is sometimes necessary to change and overhaul.

As someone who was Chief Minister for many years, Modi was known to favour giving more powers and autonomy to the States and in the process strengthening federalism. Many of the non-Congress Chief Ministers in the States have also spoken out against too much power being vested in Delhi. The Planning Commission was seen as a tool for exercising central powers over the States. Interestingly it will be worthwhile to note that in the United States since the 1970s, political leaders and scholars of the ‘New Federalism’ school have argued that the national government has grown too powerful and that power should be given back to the states. What Modi is doing in India at present is therefore similar but not surprising given that federalism itself is one of the basic feature of the constitution although there has always been a unitary bias in the working of the federal system i.e. too much power being vested with the Centre.

The first major policy document of the Modi government, the Union Budget has also given priority to fiscal federalism besides allowing flexibility in central schemes so that they are in tune with State’s requirement and needs. In the US as well, the 1996 welfare reforms gave states the ability to spend federal dollars as they saw fit. Here in Nagaland too, the State government has been over the years arguing the case for flexibility in central schemes so that it can use its discretion in implementing some of the development programmes. The point really is that a change in policy is taking place under Modi’s initiative with the objective of making a paradigm shift from the old way of doing things. This will hopefully reinvigorate the development process.

Also with this new focus on federalism, devolution of power and autonomy, it will be of interest to watch how Modi tackles the Naga issue, specifically the ongoing peace talks between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) with the latter projecting a Special Federal Relationship between two ‘entities’ India and the Nagas. As already mentioned in these columns before, the demand of the NSCN (IM) for a separate constitution or flag for the Nagas within this Special Federation should not be seen as out of sync with the concept and practice of Indian Federalism. Modi has so far shown creativity in matters of governance and is not afraid to infuse fresh ideas into policy matters. Besides his track record of being decisive, forward-looking and his keen interest to solve problems is good news for the long drawn Naga peace process. Hopefully, Indian Federalism under the new political dispensation will be able to demonstrate both ingenuity and innovation in addressing the special unique case of the Nagas.

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

lEfT wiNg |

Andrea Rodriguez Associated Press

A Castro breaks tradition with 'NO' vote in Cuba

Y

et another revolutionary tradition has been broken in Cuba: A lawmaker voted "no" in parliament.

And it wasn't just any lawmaker. Mariela Castro, the daughter of President Raul Castro and niece of Fidel Castro, gave the thumbs-down to a workers' rights bill that she felt didn't go far enough to prevent discrimination against people with HIV or with unconventional gender identities.

None of the experts contacted by The Associated Press could recall another "no" vote in the 612-seat National Assembly, which meets briefly twice a year and approves laws by unanimous show of hands. "This is the first time, without a doubt," said Carlos Alzugaray, a historian and former Cuban diplomat. He said even measures that were widely criticized in grass-roots public meetings, such as a law raising the retirement age, had passed unanimously in the Assembly.

Few in Cuba were even aware of the vote until after the measure was enacted into law this summer, at which point gay activists publicized the vote by Castro, who is the island's most prominent advocate for gay rights. Arturo Lopez-Levy, a Cuban analyst who lectures at the University of Denver, suggested it might "open doors for other important initiatives."

Mariela Castro herself seemed to hint there could be more debate in the assembly. "There have been advances in the way things are discussed, above all the way things are discussed at the grass-roots level, in workplaces, unions and party groupings," she said in an interview posted in late July on the blog of Francisco Rodriguez, a pro-government gay rights activist. "I think we still need to perfect the democratic participation of the representatives within the Assembly."

Others are skeptical it will set a precedent. "I would say that this is more a sign of what Mariela can get away with than a sign of what your everyday parliamentarian can get away with," said Ted Henken, a professor of Latin American studies at Baruch College in New York. In her crusade for gay rights, Castro has often taken stands that challenge the social status quo, while firmly supporting the Communist government. The new labor code bans workplace discrimination based on gender, race and sexual orientation. But it has no mention of HIV status or gender identity. "I could not vote in favor without the certainty that the labor rights of people with different gender identity would be explicitly recognized," Castro said in the blog interview. Raul Castro himself has been slowly shaking up Cuba's system by allowing some limited private-sector activity and scrapping a much-loathed exit visa requirement. He's made it clear, though, that the Communist Party will continue to be the only one permitted.

The vast majority of Assembly members keep their regular jobs and are not professional lawmakers. Laws are generally drafted by a handful of legislators and discussed with Cubans before being presented to parliament. There was no response to requests for an interview with Mariela Castro, who heads Cuba's National Center for Sex Education, an entity under the umbrella of the Health Ministry. She has spoken in the past about wanting to legalize same-sex unions, though concrete legislation to that effect has not materialized. That LGBT rights is even a matter of debate is a sign that much has changed since the 1960s and '70s, when gay islanders were routinely harassed and sent to labor camps along with others considered socially suspect. In recent years, Fidel Castro expressed regret about past treatment of gays, and today Cuba's free and universal health care system covers gender reassignment surgery. But activists say old attitudes and prejudices die hard so the LGBT community needs more legal protections.

Rodriguez and about 20 others from Project Rainbow, a group that advocates for sexual diversity, recently sent a public letter urging Mariela Castro to introduce legislation to amend the labor code. "These are not minor details," Rodriguez said.

"They are social problems we have in contemporary Cuba."

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Isabel Hilton

IN DEEP WATER: China tests its neighbors’ patience

China’s rapid growth is placing increasing demands on natural resources in the region but Beijing’s political rise is encouraging the dictatorship to flex its muscles as associated tensions rise

C

ontrol of water, including navigation rights, resource extraction and the exploitation of shared watercourses is at the heart of today’s geopolitical tensions in Asia. China’s recent actions in the South China Sea and Himalayas have given rise to further—and at times violent— conflict over the region’s natural resources.

So will water insecurity lead to greater partnership in Asia? Or will it lead to a revival of China’s traditional sense of regional dominance and undercut efforts to build a rules-based approach to growing resource conflicts?

Little by little On 15 July, a month earlier than scheduled, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) announced that it was removing its Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig—40 storeys high and worth an estimated $1 billion—from waters close to the Paracel Islands which Vietnam claims fall inside its exclusive economic zone.

There were four possible explanations. The first was the one the CNPC offered: the rig had completed its work early. The second was the approach of Typhoon Rammasun, signalling an early start to the region’s storm season. A third was that the US-China Strategic Dialogue the previous week had put pressure on China to lower the temperature in the South China Sea and China had taken the opportunity to demonstrate that it was a responsible international player.

The fourth interpretation was that the rig had accomplished its purpose—not prospecting for hydrocarbons but promoting a steady advance of Chinese claims on the South China Sea through a series of assertive steps, none so provocative as to bring in outside players. With each little step, this story goes, China is building its case for singular rights to navigation and resource extraction there.

The other players on the regional chessboard—the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia—have grown increasingly agitated. With the memory of violent clashes between Vietnam and China over the Paracel Islands in 1974 and 1988, the installation of the oil rig in May provoked outbreaks of violence in Vietnam against Chinese citizens and businesses. Vietnamese fishing boats and Chinese ships harassed each other throughout the drilling.

It is a dangerous ploy, but China calculates that the dangers are containable. If ethnic Chinese or Chinese citizens suffer harm in the backlash, the host country is to blame. If two ships collide in the course of the hazardous games of “chicken” that have become routine in this contest, Chinese citizens can be mobilised to shout their indignation against the “aggressor”.

Overlapping claims The waters to which China lays claim are divided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) into exclusive economic zones for Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Taiwan, each of which argues it has been adversely affected by China’s oil rig and claims of sovereignty. The zones, running 200 nautical miles into the South China Sea, allow these states special rights of exploration and

exploitation of marine resources in specific areas.

The sea is a major shipping route and fishing area, accounting for around one-tenth of the global fish catch and believed to have substantial untapped natural resources. Notably, China’s claims (outlined in a map in 1947) overlap a large portion of these zones.

Malaysia also lays claim to a small number of islands in the Spratlys archipelago. With such a concentration of multifaceted and overlapping claims, China’s oil-rig foray heightened tensions and raised fears.

In an attempt to settle its resource conflict with China peacefully , the Philippines has filed a case before the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on its own exclusive economic zone. However, even if, , as Manila expects, the court rules in its favour, China will ignore this—preferring to use its superior weight in bilateral negotiations rather than submit to third-party or multilateral processes where it is the rules that count. Diplomatic efforts by the Philippines to co-ordinate other claimants to take a common position vis-à-vis China have so far met little success.

China’s behaviour has made its smaller neighbours, including Vietnam, reach out to the US for reassurance. But what can it really offer?

For the US, the fading Pacific power, the disputes in the South and East China Sea pose a particular dilemma. In the East China Sea, China and Japan have overlapping territorial claims, including to the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands which Japan controls and does not recognise as contested. The US has maintained neutrality on the islands but has a treaty commitment to defend Japan as the quid pro quo for its post-war pacifism.

China might be uncertain about the depth of US enthusiasm for that commitment today but limits its provocation, nevertheless, to such moves as the declaration in November 2013, without consultation, of an “air defence identification zone” which covers territory claimed by its neighbours. International flights are now required to report their identity and flight plans to China when crossing the zone, at risk of “defensive emergency measures”.

The strengths and limitations of the US position were clear in May, at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the region’s annual multilateral “track two” security summit, where the US retains the power to mobilise a chorus of allies to uphold rules and laws and to criticise China’s behaviour. A series of speakers, including the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, and the US defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, condemned the use of muscle to enforce claims to the China seas, calling instead for freedom of navigation and overflight and a system based on international rules.

General Wang Guanzhong, leader of the Chinese delegation, accused the US and Japan of ganging up on China. He was not sufficiently moved to answer pertinent questions on the rules of engagement for Chinese patrol vessels in the East China Sea, but he did make it clear that China saw no place for the US in 21st-century Asia.

China is by far the largest trading partner of all the ASEAN members, which are caught in the smallneighbour dilemma, somewhere between the fear that China will come to rule their lives and consume their resources and the fear of giving offence to the region’s most important economic power. For them, the game is to try to stay on good terms with both sides.

teau of Tibet. China’s largest downstream neighbour is, of course, India. India-China relations are bedevilled by unsettled borders-status rivalries, the subject of relatively recent skirmishes, but their most intractable potential conflict is over the shared resource of the Himalayan watershed.

In its eagerness to promote new Asian alliances, Beijing dispatched the foreign minister, Wang Yi, to Delhi in June, to reach out early to the administration of the newly-elected Narendra Modi. Wang presented himself as the personal envoy of China’s president, Xi Jinping, and startled the Indian press by claiming that the two countries were ready to settle their long-running border dispute. The announcement was however short on detail—and, since the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh is claimed by China while China’s Aksai Chin is claimed by India, details matter.

There has been no further hint of an imminent deal but India, like all of China’s downstream neighbours, is more concerned by the impact Chinese activities are having on the quality and quantity of water that crosses its borders than the exact position of the borders themselves. The Himalayan cryosphere contains the largest store of fresh water outside the two polar regions and is a significant influence on the region’s climate, including its monsoons. As in the polar regions, rising temperatures are affecting the glaciers and snow fields that give birth to Asia’s rivers and future impacts on monsoons, though hard to predict, are highly likely.

In the shorter term, China’s expansion of development westward is affecting the Qinghai Tibet plateau and everything that flows from it. Increased mineral extraction in Tibet and a renewed frenzy of big-hydro construction on trans-boundary rivers are changing Asia’s water flows for ever. There is increasing awareness of the risk of the downstream disasters that could result from building mega-dams in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones.

There are no trans-boundary agreements between China and any lower riparian country on the shared use of Asia’s great rivers, even though 1.6 billion people depend on them and China is building dams on all their head waters. For India, dams and threatened water diversions on the Brahmaputra are a particular concern. For the countries of the Mekong, China’s dam-building upstream poses a series of potential dangers. Meanwhile, India and others are running to catch up in the dam race, fearful of allowing de facto rights to be created unchallenged.

There has been no source-to-sink assessment of the impact on river ecosystems of any single dam— let alone of the massive cascades planned or under construction—and there are no mechanisms for resolving disputes. China has refused to enter into discussions with lower riparian countries, beyond agreeing to share limited water-flow data with India.

Clear rules But, as in the South China Sea, limited bilateral discussions are not enough to ensure that the ecosystems of the watershed are protected and the legitimate interests of all those whose livelihoods depend on the rivers are recognised. From the high Himalaya to the teeming deltas, life will be affected.

If ever there was a case for clear rules and co-operation, it can be found in the South China Sea and the Himalayan watershed. Both raise the essential question of whether the region’s resource conflicts will be Himalayan watershed settled by arbitration and law or by force. China’s chalThe dilemma is also evident among a different lenge to US influence is also a challenge to an internaset of China’s neighbours—those that depend on the tional order that values arbitration as a way of defendrivers that rise in the mountains and on the high pla- ing the weak against abuse by the strong.

Rights. What are they good for?

Nivedita menon

The rights-bearing individual emancipated us from feudal absolutism in Europe. But that historical moment has passed with empire, and has the language of rights now lost its relevance?

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et us remind ourselves that the notion of ‘rights’ as we understand them today arose in a specific time/space configuration. It is from the seventeenth century that in Europe, individuals began to be seen as autonomous and separate entities. The notion of rights for individuals emerged in modernity both as a vehicle of emancipation from feudal fetters of guilds and communities, and as a means of privileging an emerging bourgeois class within a discourse of formal egalitarianism and universal citizenship. Thus, rights emerged both as a means of protection against arbitrary use and abuse by the sovereign, and as a mode of securing the newly emergent dominant social orders of class and gender.

A revealing instance of the slipperiness of the assumed progressive nature of rights is the ‘right to work’. What paves the way for the capitalist system in Marx's view, is primitive accumulation - the process of violently expropriating from the labourer the means of production and transforming it into capital, carried out in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries by individual acts of violence. By the 18th century, law itself became ‘the instrument of theft of people's land’. This process was accompanied by a disciplinary discourse on ‘work’ which criminalized and brutally punished the refusal to perform labour. Early colonial policy also used the policy of forced labour, particularly in Africa. The intervening centuries and developments in the global capitalist order have seen a radical reversal of this discourse. From the disciplinary discourse of the obligation to work, resisted by the target population, gradu-

ally there emerged the social and economic order in which ‘work’ is unavailable, and all means of self-employment have been destroyed. The resistance of the property-less to this order is manifested in struggles for the ‘right to work.’

In short, capitalism initially had to discipline populations into labour, but could never produce enough employment for the vast numbers that were dispossessed and proletarianised. The phenomenon of unemployment having been created, the conditions of possibility emerged in which the ‘right to work’ could be articulated. The emergence of this right, as of other rights, thus cannot be seen as a simple moment of historical progress.

In India the colonial intervention decisively transformed indigenous notions of justice and brought them in line with the requirements of modern legal discourse. Rights in the modern sense were produced by colonial transformation of judicial discourse and administrative institutions. The language of rights did empower many subaltern sections against indigenous elites, but it is evident that its emergence was not unambiguously and universally emancipatory. As the work of many historians shows, the new language of rights had devastating consequences for many. For instance, it was through the language of rights that an alliance between British Victorian morality and the male elite of the matrilineal Nair community started the process of legally ending matriliny - pitting the rights of the ‘wife’ against those of the ‘sister’, the subject of course, being assumed to be the Nair male.

Liberal individualism never became the uncontested core of anti-imperialist struggles for democracy. Whether Gandhi and Ambedkar in India or African socialists like Nyerere and Nkrumah, most nationalist leaders constructed national identities, not through the idea of individual citizenship but through that of communities – caste, religious, ethnic groups. Their language of poli-

tics remained non-individualistic. And yet there remained always a tension in post-colonial democracies between the community, defined in different ways, as the bearer of rights and the individual. This tension is evident in the Indian constitution, for instance, where the Fundamental Rights protect the rights of both the individual and the religious community. Sometimes this leads to contradiction between the two – as when equal rights for women as individuals comes into conflict with religious Personal Laws, all of which discriminate against women. Similarly, the demand for reservations in representative institutions on the basis of group identity – women, castes or religious communities – fundamentally reshapes the conception of political representation at the core of liberal democracy, that of the individual.

The idea of the individual citizen empowered with rights in the public sphere derived its emancipatory potential precisely from its positioning against feudal absolutism. With the passing of that historical moment in the West, and the mediated and refracted manner in which ‘modernity’ is encountered in colonial and post-colonial societies, the language of rights has lost much of its relevance. The extension of this language from rights of the individual against the state, to the rights of collectivities against one another and against individuals, as well as rights defined in such broad terms as ‘the right to be fully human’—these rights to be guaranteed by the State— has raised contradictions which have not been adequately confronted.

Take for instance the universal rights/multiculturalism dichotomy.

The rights discourse does not permit us to challenge both ends of this dichotomy - the reification of cultural boundaries by the discourse of multiculturalism as well as the unproblematic assertion of ‘universal’ rights by its opponents.

wRiTE-wiNg

We know by now that an unqualified defence of the notion of universal human rights is all too often linked, in the current world scenario, to the United States of America as the global champion. In the new unipolar world, the choice is posed as one between universal rights protected by good governance, and an anti-human rights position, supported by (Islamic) religious fundamentalists or dictators. What this polarization obscures is the fact of internal opposition to dictatorship, and that external action usually ends up strengthening the dictatorial forces, swamping democratic opposition within those countries on a tide of resurgent nationalism.

But at the same time, the alternative cannot be a defence of rights for communities assumed to be internally homogeneous. The framework of multiculturalism poses the problem for liberal democracies as one of the external relationship of different communities to other communities, to be mediated by the state, when the problem of gender or caste is internal to the very constitution of the community itself.

Thus, French feminists should hesitate to support the French government's prohibition on wearing the headscarf in schools, for this could feed into processes marginalising and demonising the Muslim community. Moreover, the critical voices internal to the community may be delegitimized within the community, not strengthened, by open support for the French government's policy from the mainstream feminist movement. In such a scenario, alliances should be between feminists outside and feminists inside the community, not between some feminists and the state.

Feminist critiques of the universalism of international human rights discourses must, in short, equally strongly attack the particularism of the nationstate and of the community. ‘Our’ space will have to be the terrain of solidarities that are simultaneously antiimperialist, counter-globalisation and post-nationalist.

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

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

Friday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

22 August 2014

7

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

On theatre and human performance Geoffrey Heptonstall

The ability to imagine is a necessary human faculty. We need metaphors in order to comprehend and absorb the actualities of life. It isn’t that we can’t bear too much reality.

We can understand reality only by way of language

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y the time I became aware of Kenneth Tynan his best work was behind him. He was writing for The New Yorker, but the glory days of his famous reviews and his controversial time at the National Theatre were behind him. It was difficult to see where the high reputation came from until I read the collected reviews. The collection began: ‘Olivier’s Richard [III] eats into the memory like acid into metal.’ Well, these days he looks more like a pantomime devil after Pacino’s and McKellen’s radical reworkings, but Tynan’s simile retains its power. Tynan was worth the adulation. He was astute in many ways. The tragedy is that he never did write the hoped-for major work that would ensure his fame. He is destined to be, not forgotten, but to be the Leigh Hunt of his day, rather than the Hazlitt his contemporaries supposed him to be.

How was he astute? When he accepted Olivier’s invitation to join the National, Tynan said that there was no question that he become part of the Establishment. It was impossible to think of himself, or to be thought of, as the dissentient outsider. That phase had passed. Except that Tynan didn’t fit in.

He made bold moves, and he really did look out for obscure new talent worth promoting. But his political instincts were truth-telling without the nuances of things understood. ‘Don’t mention the War’ was never his way.

There is a chilling scene in David Hare’s Plenty when the central character, a disillusioned former war heroine, promises a distinguished gathering that she will not mention the betrayal and the deception of the Suez War. She will not mention, she says, how governments lie. And so on. She is heard in silence. People simply don’t do that sort of thing. It’s bad behaviour. It’s a sign of breakdown, of the inability to cope with the web of corruption that society can be in times of moral crisis. She is heard in the silence of condemnation.

No-one defends himself because they all know Susan Traherne is powerless, and is going mad with the hopelessness of her situation. She believed in something worth fighting for, only to see the idea of empire masquerading as the ideals of democracy.

Plenty was first seen at the National, on the stage that Tynan’s behindthe-scenes presence had vacated a few years before. Without Tynan it is questionable whether plays like Hare’s would have found their way to the South Bank. Perhaps yes. But it took an equally determined, if more adept, operator

to keep up the momentum. Of course Peter Hall was, and is, a bold, imaginative and generous cultural force. He is also clearly and admirably skilled at not treading on toes. The Kenneth Tynans of this world are less adept. But without them the scene is the paler.

Hall’s generosity was evident in his decision to include Peter Brook in the newly created Royal Shakespeare Company in 1961. [It may have been the inspiration for Olivier’s invitation to Tynan two years later.] Hall is clearly not one of those who jealously guards his position against his rivals. Brook’s eventual decision to remain permanently in Paris was a loss of talent that our culture can ill afford. Asked why he stayed away Brook has pointed inevitably to the political climate. More to the point he has given a deeper reason: a certain kind of audience with an attitude of unthinking acceptance. He cites attitudes to Stoppard. The objection is in no way to the playwright himself, but rather to attitudes toward him.

Theatre can do many things. One thing it ought to do is present challenges. Complacent assumptions, of any kind, need to be examined. Pinter’s genius lay in his ability to present life without the surface layer. The rawness beneath the superficial civilities was revealed in that curious language so seemingly realist, yet so deeply absurdist. He is not a political writer like Brecht. Pinter is a poet of emotions rationalised in social terms. Pinter comes after the politics have done their worst and life returns to a supposed but false normality.

In that false normality an audience can laugh like automatons at a Stoppard play because they expect Stoppard to be brilliantly witty even when he is being deadly serious. They laugh at fairly amusing ironies as if they were outrageously farcical jokes. They laugh at every line, written with such care, and they go away saying, ‘My dear, you simply must see the new Stoppard.’ You can tell it’s false because they laugh from the first line. That’s not how it works. It takes time for the mood to establish itself and for the comedy to build up. At first there is expectation. Perhaps there are one or two forced titters. Then comes that

first real laugh. By the end everything is screamingly funny.

Realising the potential responses of an audience is the task of the performers. The interpretations are varied if the play has depth. Brook’s perception that there is ‘a play behind the play’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream marked for him a mid-career embarkation into the mysteries from which theatre has grown. Brook began to search for an international language of theatre, a common root of all the enactments that have become too familiar to us in our dramatized world.

In the Eighties we had an actor in the White House and a playwright in the Vatican. The breaking down of the Berlin Wall was a gigantic act of popular theatre. Another playwright was acclaimed as leader in post-Stalinist Prague. The play behind the play is one of the latent realities released by the trauma of conflict. Susan Sontag sought to heal the wounds of conflict in the Balkans by staging a play. There have been, and there remain, a number of scenarios in the political world.

We tend to confuse the actual with the inevitable. The possibilities are rehearsed before the executive producers determine the course of action.

Everything now is filmed. So much our social life is available on security cameras or social media. The distinction between reality and its performance is blurring. At the pathological extreme we have a killer on the London streets posing, weapons in hand, for the camera of a passer-by. Children who kill other children sincerely believe they are playing a version of a video game.

In the mainstream of society we may witness a milder confusion between reality and performance. This is especially so with technologies that are the theatre of everyday domesticity. Placed in people’s living space these images are an intimate part of people’s lives. Fictional locations and imaginary characters are in some sense real and reachable. People visit locations apparently half-expecting to see those imaginary characters in situ.

In part it’s a tribute to the high standards of acting we have. Perhaps we take them for granted. Seeing archive

material from Fifties television and, honestly, it’s a joke. You know they’re not nurses and postmen. But now you can be fooled into thinking they really are. And audiences that don’t have a background of going to the theatre are especially vulnerable to the confusion between the screen in the corner and the window onto the street.

The fourth wall is there for a reason.

It is the imagined distancing between audience and stage, the necessary objectifier of the experience. What is taking place succeeds by not being mistaken for actuality. Traditionally there was a curtain. But that served to mask the objective presence of the performance which became a courtly game, a masque of mannequins rather than an enactment of serious emotions. The distance required is the distance where imagination and intellect can respond to what they see.

The task now may be to regain that distance. Theatre works by its objectivity, by not being something casual. Artifice is the essence of performance. The words are written by another. The action is determined by another. The self on stage is not the true self. Every gesture is carefully prepared in advance.

What we see enacted is a distillation of reality, a metaphor of reality. We see ourselves and others through the filter of ritual performances that have the nature of sacrifice and of the sacred even in their profanity.

Voice and gesture are to some measure stylized. Stylised speech renders dignity to the performance, unless, as in clown roles, a lack of dignity is required. The great actors are those who seem most natural when they are within the constraints of style. They make the carefully rehearsed appear spontaneous. The emotions are not actually felt. The hysterical shriek, the angry laugh, the tender kiss – they are all the result of careful rehearsal. They are controlled actions mimicking feelings that performers know but do not share at the moment of performance.

The ability to imagine is a necessary human faculty. We need metaphors in order to comprehend and absorb the actualities of life. It isn’t that we can’t bear too much reality. We can understand reality only by way of language, and language is a system of symbols where a thing is represented by another thing. If I compare thee to a summer’s day it is to appreciate thee the more, my sweet. Take the imaginative faculty away and what we have is the lesser.

We have the thing itself as an isolated object without the chain of meanings which make sense of it.

If everything is a movie starring me then there is no communication. In the real world we recognise ourselves as attendant lords. Even the greatest have that humility because an area of humility (an awareness that it could be other) is a mark of greatness. The great actors can play ordinary people with lives so utterly different from their own because the great actors are communicating not their stardom but their empathy, their humanity. And that ought to encourage all of us to enact something more than ourselves.

The Wisdom of the Exile Costica Bradatan

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source: IHt

t one point in its history, the tango was popular in the world of Buenos Aires’s brothels. Toward the end of the 19th century, young immigrants — single, male, working class — who had come to Argentina to try their luck would seek comfort in the drink, entertainment and female companionship there. Argentines as distinguished as Jorge Luis Borges have insisted that the tango was born in these brothels.

Others vehemently deny it. But the fact remains that the tango has preserved something of the anguish of the young and uprooted who danced it there.

Theirs is quite a performance. These men we see panting on the dance floor are not some ordinary youths seeking to entertain themselves. They’re people who have gone through the meat-grinder of uprooting and survived it; they’ve come as close to death as one can without dying. It seems that the memory of a personal catastrophe, followed by a miraculous survival, has somehow remained inscribed in the dance’s movements. Part of what makes the tango so erotically charged is that death is always so close at hand. To this day the tango has carried with it this uncanny mix of vulnerability and strength.

There are many types of uprooting.

The brutal expulsions like those now devastating hundreds of thousands in countries like Iraq and Syria are common in the cycles of politics and war.

But it can be more subtly political, too, as was Dante’s banishment from Florence at the hands of the Black Guelphs, or economic, as it was for the immigrants dancing in the Argentine brothels. Each person who survives this uprooting and finds himself in exile experiences an existential earthquake of sorts: Everything turns upside down, all certitudes are shattered. The world around you ceases to be that solid, reliable presence in which you used to

feel comfortable, and turns into a ruin — cold and foreign. “You shall leave everything you love most: this is the arrow that the bow of exile shoots first,” wrote Dante in “Paradiso.”

From Ovid to Dante to Czeslaw Milosz, exile has been portrayed as a catastrophic event. If such an uprooting comes to the exile as a form of death, it is not just his own death, but that of the world that dies with him and in him.

To live is to sink roots. Life is possible only to the extent that you find a place hospitable enough to receive you and allow you to settle down. What follows is a sort of symbiosis: Just as you grow into the world, the world grows into you.

Not only do you occupy a certain place, but that place, in turn, occupies you.

Its culture shapes the way you see the world, its language informs the way you think, its customs structure you as a social being. Who you ultimately are is determined to an important degree by the vast web of entanglements of “home.”

Uprooting is a devastating blow because you have to separate yourself overnight from something that, for as long as you can remember, has been an important part of your identity. In a sense, you are your culture, customs, language, country, your family, your lovers. Yet exile, should you survive it, can be the greatest of philosophical gifts, a blessing in disguise. In fact, philosophers, too, should be uprooted. At least once in their lives. They should be exiled, displaced, deported — that should be part of their training.

For when your old world goes down it also takes with it all your assumptions, commonplaces, prejudices and preconceived ideas. To live is to envelop yourself in an increasingly thicker veil of familiarity that blinds you to what’s under your nose. The more comfortable you feel in the world, the blunter the instruments with which you approach it. Because everything has become so evident, you’ve stopped seeing anything. Exile gives you a chance to break free. All that heavy luggage of

old “truths,” which seemed so only because they were so familiar, is to be left behind. Exiles always travel light.

The redeeming thing about exile is that when your “old world” has vanished you are suddenly given the chance to experience another. At the very moment when you lose everything, you gain something else: new eyes. Indeed, what you eventually get is not just a “new world,” but something philosophically more consequential: the insight that the world does not simply exist, but it is something you can dismantle and piece together again, something you can play with, construct, reconstruct and deconstruct. As an exile you learn that the world is a story that can be told in many different ways. Certainly you can find that in books, but there is no deeper knowledge than the one that comes mixed with blood and tears, the knowledge that comes from uprooting.

Exiles travel light because they barely exist. And that’s another important lesson philosophers can learn from exile: Uprooting gives you the chance to create not only the world anew, but also your own self. Deprived of your old world, your old self is left existentially naked. It is not only worlds that can collapse and be rebuilt, but also selves. Selves can be re-made from scratch, reassembled and refurbished.

For they, too, are stories to be told in different ways. Often with uprooting there also comes a change of languages, which makes the refashioning all the more fascinating. You can fashion yourself in very much the same way a writer fashions her characters.

Socrates rarely left his native Athens, yet he fully understood the philosopher’s need to practice uprooting if they are do their job properly. He refashioned himself into a foreigner as a matter of philosophical method.

As a recent biographer put it, Socrates claimed “to be a foreigner in his own city, even to the extent of not speaking the Attic dialect.” Not content with just taking an “ironical distance” from the

Athenians, he deliberately uprooted himself from the city, cut off his ties and burned his bridges.

Socrates turned himself into an outsider in his own city, but didn’t move to another. He became “átopos,” which meant “out of place,” but also “disturbing” and “perplexing.” Being átopos is crucial if you are to be a straight-talking philosopher, as Socrates was. There is in every community something that has to remain unsaid, unnamed, unuttered; and you signal your belonging to that community precisely by participating in the general silence. Revealing everything, “telling all,” is a foreigner’s job. Either because foreigners do not know the local cultural codes or because they are not bound to respect them, they can afford to be outspoken. To the extent, then, that philosophy is exposure of “everything,” especially of things no one wants to hear about, foreignness is highly necessary for its practice. The philosopher, at least the straight-talking kind, is bound to remain a metaphysical gypsy.

Socrates’ case is telling. Like few others he saw the philosopher’s need to uproot himself from his own community.

Yet he refused to go into an actual exile himself, preferring instead a symbolic one. He lived in Athens as if he were a foreigner. This means that he practiced philosophy as a rather dangerous pursuit. Such a tightrope walking can never take you too far, especially when you, performing it with no safety net, make incessant fun of your audience.

An Argentine poet called the tango “un pensamiento triste que se baila”: a sad thought that is danced. I am not sure. The tango is not just something sad — it is sadness itself that is danced.

The ultimate sadness that comes from the earthquake of uprooting. If philosophers don’t manage to get them themselves exiled, at least they should take up tango for a while.

Costica Bradatan is an associate professor at Texas Tech University and the author of “Dying for Ideas: The Dangerous Lives of the Philosophers.”

Myanmar reform endangered by ‘suppression’ of the media Elliot Brennan

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Asia times Online

angling from nearly every apartment in Yangon is a thin wire, running from balcony to street level.

The line serves two purposes: as a doorbell and also to collect the day's mail and newspaper.

News is a big part of the average Myanmar citizen's daily life. Over 300 newspapers and journals feed the country's seemingly insatiable appetite for news. Yet despite recent progress in press freedoms, the country's media landscape remains delicate, with previous reforms now dangling by a thread.

In July, the jailing on national security charges of five Unity Journal journalists, including the paper's chief executive, sparked an international uproar. They each received a hefty 10-year sentence for violating the 1923 State Secrets Act for publishing a report exposing an alleged secret chemical weapons factory.

Fifty local journalists who protested their incarceration have since faced freedom of assembly-related charges. This followed the very public deportation of an Australian journalist working for the once exiled anti-government Democratic Voice of Burma.

A group of journalists at the Bi Mon Te Nay news journal are being held in pre-trial detention and face criminal charges that carry potential prison terms for publishing an activist group statement that said opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi had formed an interim government. They were initially charged with violating the more severe 1950 Emergency Act This, along with new restrictions on journalist visas for international media and recent assertions made by President Thein Sein that the media has played a role in instigating recent spasms of anti-Muslim violence, have raised concerns that the once hopeful media reforms initiated in 2012 are now steadily being reversed.

Earlier allowances for greater press freedom, including an end to pre-publication censorship and the release of journalists jailed under the previous military regime, were perhaps the most visible and impactful of Thein Sein's democratic reforms.

Media reforms have been crucial in regaining the confidence of Western countries that have predicated the dropping of sanctions and restoration of aid and investment on proven progress on democracy and rights. But with the recent reversals, Thein Sein's wider liberal reform drive is now in doubt.

While the recent harassment of journalists is concerning, gauging the state of press freedom in Myanmar is complex.

After decades of pro-government propaganda dispensed by state-run media, strident views and unbalanced news are still the expectation of most news consumers.

Editors of Myanmar's many weekly papers and journals, now facing competition from a handful of richly financed, often military-linked daily newspapers, are all too aware of this fact. And working with young and mainly inexperienced journalists represents an uphill battle for professionalism at most of Myanmar's news publications.

To address these shortfalls, numerous nongovernmental organizations, media groups and news agencies have recently engaged in training of local journalists. Buttressing these programs has been the establishment of new journalists associations with hundreds of members. In July, the country opened its first private journalism school, the Myanmar Journalism Institute. These programs are building local reporting capacity, but not surprisingly it is a slow process.

Despite recent government backsliding, there has been unmistakable positive change. This year Myanmar's media actually ranked ahead of regional peers Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Laos and Vietnam, according to Reporters Without Borders annual press freedom index. This is particularly notable because most Southeast Asian countries championed economic reform before undertaking social and political reforms, such as allowing for more press freedoms.

Bidding to reverse decades of negative press coverage, Myanmar is under pressure both internationally and domestically to do it all at once. That has led to the media sector's current "teething problems", as one observer of the local media characterized the transition towards a freer press.

There are also deep-seated structural flaws. Rather than a strong, independent body, the government currently acts as the media's regulator, leading to instances of abuse of power. This was evident in the government's involvement in the aforementioned recent press freedom violations.

Less overtly, the Police Special Branch called on various editors and journalists for interrogations characterized as "friendly discussions" about their news coverage in June.

This has inevitably driven many editors and journalists towards more self-censorship. The Australian editor of the Myanmar Times, Ross Dunkley, requested his staff to refrain from publishing on the plight of the country's Muslims without his prior approval, according to a widely circulated leaked internal memo. The directive was made at a time the government had accused local media of inflaming deadly communal tensions.

This month's appointment of new Minister of Information Ye Htut - the former government spokesman and Deputy Minister of Information - comes at a crucial juncture in the country's stalling reform program.

While there is little love for the often tough-talking Ye Htut among much of Myanmar's press corp, he was pivotal in less-noticed preliminary media reforms launched beginning in 2007. He is also believed to have been instrumental in convincing top military leaders of the need for a more open media landscape.

His appointment, along with a recent meeting between President Thein Sein and the journalist-led Myanmar Interim Press Council (which until now has been largely impotent), indicates the potential for a return to the previous reform course. In Thein Sein's meeting with the MPC, he called upon journalists to play a bigger role in reform and regulation, including in mediating legal disputes.

While these are positive signals, they must be backed with concrete reform actions. A free, independently regulated and professional press will be crucial for reporting on the run-up to general elections in 2015, polls that could see the Suu Kyi-led opposition win power after decades of military and quasi-military rule. At the same time, the media must uphold the highest standards of professionalism at such a crucial political juncture. If either side fails, then Myanmar's wider democratic transition could as well.

Elliot Brennan is a Non-Resident Research Fellow with the Institute for Security and Development Policy's Asia Program in Sweden. He is also a Non-Resident Fellow at Pacific Forum-Center for Strategic and International Studies (USA) and the Southeast Asia Analyst for the Lowy Institute's Interpreter Blog. He is based in Southeast Asia.

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Friday 22 August 2014

India committed to boosting ties with Arab world: Sushma

neW Delhi, august 21 (ians): Emphasizing the government’s “unflinching commitment” to expand ties with the Arab world, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Thursday said there was no change in India’s policy of “extending strong support to the Palestinian cause, while maintaining good relations with Israel”.

Addressing the inaugural session of the First India-League of Arab States Media Symposium here, Sushma Swaraj told the Arab delegates that India’s ties with the Arab world “is pivotal to our national development goals as well as regional peace and stability”.

She underlined the Narendra Modi government’s “unflinching commitment to sustaining and expanding relations with the Arab world that is bound to us by centuries-old cultural and civilizational ties”.

“We see West Asia as a vital part of India’s extended neighbourhood.

The region, situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, is crucial to our national interests in myriad ways.”

She said that “continued peace and stability in the region is in India’s mutual strategic interest. India has been watching post-Arab Spring developments very closely...India remains ready to provide any support, but strongly believes that it is for the Arab countries to decide their destiny, without any external interference or diktats from outside.”

On the Modi government’s stand on the conflict in Gaza, she told the delegates: “Let me clarify India’s position on the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict that has created conflicting interpretations in sections of the media.

“On such a sensitive issue, there is no room for confusion or misunderstanding. Let me repeat, and underline, once again: There is no change

The Morung Express

23 die as bus falls into river

shimla, august 21 (ians): At least 23 people were killed and 20 injured in Himachal Pradesh Thursday when an overcrowded mini bus skidded off the road and fell into the Baspa river, some 300 feet below the road, officials said.

They said the death toll could rise as some of the passengers had received serious injuries in the accident in Kinnaur district.

The private bus, carrying over 40 passengers, was on its way from Sangla to Kalpa. It met with the accident near Sangla, some 300 km from here, Deputy Commissioner D.D. Sharma told IANS from the spot.

He said 11 injured passengers were airlifted to the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla. The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, he said over the phone. Superintendent of Police Rahul Nath said after the bus rolled down the hill it landed in the Baspa river, a tributary of the Satluj.

Witnesses said police had a tough time extricating the bodies External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj speaking at the First India-League of Arab States Media symposium in New Delhi from the mangled remains of the on Thursday.

in India’s policy of extending strong support to the Palestinian cause, while maintaining good relations with Israel. India is deeply concerned at the loss of large number of civilian lives in Gaza.

“We have called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint and work towards a comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian issue. Apart from strong political support to the Palestinian cause at international, regional and bilateral levels, India has been contributing budgetary, economic and developmental assistance to Palestine and its people.”

The Modi government’s refusal to have a parliament resolution condemning Israel for the bombardment in Gaza had attracted a lot of flak.

Emphasising India’s strong links with West Asia, she said the region accounts for over 60 percent of India’s oil and gas requirements. The over seven million-strong Indian diaspora that works there “has enriched the region

with their enterprise, untiring energy and dedication. In the Indian idiom ‘Bharat’ is their ‘Janm Bhoomi’, the Gulf is their ‘Karm bhoomi’”, she said “These seven million Indians have formed a powerful bridge-builder and economic connector, and send home more than $40 billion in remittances annually.”

The Arab world is India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade increasing to over $180 billion in 2012-13, with oil dominating India’s imports. But newer areas of economic cooperation have been identified.

Travel and tourism are booming with 700 flights a week between India and the UAE alone.

She pointed out India’s infrastructure sector as a major growth area for Arab investments. Sushma Swaraj said the Modi government has made infrastructure upgrade and the creation of smart cities major national priorities.

“In this context, the sizable Sover-

eign Wealth Funds of Gulf countries can offer significant platform for operations of Indian companies and prove to be a game-changer in India’s quest for world-class infrastructure.”

She said the media symposium was a good way to keep engaged about the developments taking place in each other’s regions.

Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, assistant secretary general head of media and communications of the League of Arab States, said the fourth Arab-India Partnership Conference slated to be held in India later this year would boost Arab-Indian economic cooperation.

“In the League of Arab States, we are keen to promote the Arab-Indian friendship, to enhance cooperation and exchanges at all levels and in all forms, and to coordinate positions of the two parties in all the issues of common interest. We should go beyond the borders of dialogue and discussion,” she said.

bus. They said the condition of the road where the accident occurred was bad owing to the recent rains.

People in the area began rescue operations even before the district authorities reached the spot. Most of thevictimswerefromKinnaurdistrict.

Policesaidthedriverandconductorof the bus were among the dead.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal expressed shock and grief over the accident.

The chief minister directed the district administration to take all possible measures to rescue the survivors and provide them adequate relief.

Kinnaur is one of the remotest places in the state. Buses plying there have poor frequency and this scarcity of means of transport often leads to overcrowding of vehicles.

This is the second major accident in the state in less than a month.

Twenty one passengers were killed and five injured July 29 when a state roadways bus fell into a gorge in Shimla district.

‘Safety of women tourists top priority’ neW Delhi, august 21 (ians): Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shripad Yesso Naik Thursday said the safety and security of all tourists, especially women, remains the top priority of the government and the ministry is framing guidelines for state governments to ensure this.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the day-long “State Tourism Ministers Conference” here, Naik said in-bound tourism has shown growth since June 2014 and foreign tourist arrivals grew by 9 percent. And looking at this growth, the ministry of tourism has prepared a road map to ensure travel conditions and services improve in India, he said.

For this, one of the key measures is to make India a safer destination for domestic and international travellers, especially women, he added. Naik stressed on the need to make “women safety” a top priority. “We are working on formulating a set of guidelines for the state governments and union territories on the ‘safety and security’ of tourists,” said Naik in a statement.

“The guidelines also include tips for travellers and also safety guidelines for adventure activities. Plans are also afoot to harness technology towards ensuring the safety and security of tourists,” he said. Naik also said that the ministry of tourism is working to set up a 24x7 “Tourist info line/ contact centre” to serve those tourists who know little about India or don’t know Indian languages, often not even English.

The contact centres would offer assistance in ten international languages besides Hindi and English. These languages are Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

SC notice over home secretary Will strive for power supply to all villages: PM seeking Governor’s resignation neW Delhi, august 21 (ians): The Supreme Court Thursday issued notice to the central government on a petition filed by Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi challenging the union home secretary’s asking him to resign in the wake of the BJP coming to power at the Centre.

A bench of Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman said the matter would be heard by a five-judge bench as it involved the interpretation of article 156 of the constitution on the point of the procedure to be followed for seeking removal of the governors in the exercise of the withdrawal of president’s pleasure.

The notice, returnable in six weeks, has also gone to Home Secretary Anil Goswami and the Uttarakhand government.

Questioning whether Goswami could ask him to resign or face removal, the Uttarakhand governor urged the court to examine: “What is the mode of communication, regarding any aspect of pleasure of the president under article 156 and can anyone, except for the president’s secretariat, make any communication to the governor of the state regarding withdrawal of pleasure.”

Qureshi has taken exception to Home Secretary Goswami asking him to either put in

his papers or face removal. The phone calls, the constitutional propriety of which has been questioned by the governor, were made on July 30 and Aug 5. Article 156 that deals with the term of office of governor says that the governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the president.

The court referred the matter to the constitution bench after senior consul Kapil Sibal said that a governor can only be removed by the president after withdrawal of the pleasure and the home secretary could not just pick up the phone and ask him to resign. At the outset of the hearing, Chief Justice Lodha said that the main grievance of the Governor Qureshi is that the home secretary conveyed to him that he should resign.

“Someone will have to convey to them (governor).

President and the prime minister will not convey. Someone will have to convey,” he said as Sibal said that it was not for the home secretary to convey the decision asking the governor to quit. Sibal said there has to be a procedure to secure the resignation of a governor, and urged the court to call for the records based on which the home secretary asked the Uttarakhand governor to resign.

Citing an earlier constitution bench judgement, Sibal said that the apex court had

held that a governor is not an employee of the central government and occupies the office at the pleasure of the president.

Qureshi in his petition has contended that the conduct of the home secretary impinged upon the well-defined hierarchies of the state and unless it was checked, it would lead to “armtwisting the governor, and may impinge upon his independence regarding discharge of important functions, ascribed by the constitution to the governor’s office”.

The four questions, raised in the petition, Qureshi has urged the court to address include whether the union home secretary has any “authority to call the governor of a state, who is his constitutional superior, and ask for his resignation”.

He further asked the court to examine whether the conduct of the central government and the union home secretary “if allowed to continue and not forthwith proscribed, will jeopardize the constitutional scheme” and eventually could result in “armtwisting the governor regarding important functions of the governor’s office”.

It also raised the question whether the action and conduct of the central government and the home secretary “has the propensity to irreparably injure the federal structure and centre-state relations”.

nagpur, august 21 (ians): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said that his government would strive to provide power to all villages in India for their progress and development.

“For any country to progress, infrastructure is of primary importance and automatically leads to development. In all infrastructure projects, power is most important. We shall ensure that 24-hour power supply reaches all villages in the country,” Modi said at a rally here.

The prime minister earlier inaugurated the NTPC’s Mouda Super Thermal Power Project-Phase I, with a capacity of 1,000 MW (2x500 MW), built at a cost of Rs.5,459 crore. It will supply power to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,

Jammu and Kashmir, Goa, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Modi said his government has given maximum importance to energy-related projects within India and in the neighbourhood, like Nepal and Bhutan. The prime minister said the government would give top priority and explore all means to produce maximum, clean power in the country.

“We shall exploit all means -- solar, thermal, hydro, wind, gas -- to generate maximum power which can be supplied to the poorest homes in the country in the next few years. Power brings progress, development and employment,” he said. Modi expressed anguish at the sufferings of the farming community in the state’s Vidarbha region where many farmers have committed suicide.

Modi recalled how farmers told him that ground water resources were available 20-25 metres deep, but without power they could not draw the water and irrigate their farms during droughts. “Even solar power, a clean source of power, has great potential in our country. It was once considered very expensive but not anymore. And it proves to be cheaper in the long run. “We must implement it to enable each family generate its power requirements from their house rooftops,” Modi urged.

The Phase II of the MSTPP - coming up at a cost of around Rs.7,920 crore - will make Mouda the NTPC’s biggest project in the state. On completion of both phases, it will have a capacity of generating 2,320 MW, with the second phase of 1,320 MW.

US eager to engage Modi govt: Congressional report Washington, august 21 (ians): The US, which had shunned Narendra Modi for nearly 10 years, is eager to engage India’s new government led by him and re-energize what some see as a flagging relationship, according to a new Congressional report. Modi “is known as a strong-willed and effective, if perhaps autocratic, administrator,” said the background report for US lawmakers.

“His reputation has been burnished by Gujarat’s impressive economic performance during his 15-year tenure,” it said noting the state accounts for more than 20 percent of all Indian exports while being home to only 5 percent of the population,” it said.

The report on “India’s New Government and Implications for US Interests” has been penned by K. Alan Kronstadt, specialist in South Asian affairs, for the bipartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS).

“Garnering an outright majority in Parliament for the first time in 30 years, Modi’s new government promises fresh US engagement with an Indian leader reputed to be more protrade and pro-business than the socialist-oriented ones of the past,” it said.

Modi, the report noted had also vowed to “implement a more assertive Indian foreign policy that could see the country shift away from its traditional ‘non-alignment’ approach to

global politics.”

President Barack Obama and other top US officials “have expressed an interest in revitalizing bilateral fora so as to further boost trade and investment flows, deepen security cooperation, and otherwise solidify the geopolitical alignment with India.”

His “BJP made history by becoming the first party to win an outright parliamentary majority in 30 years, meaning India’s federal government is no longer constrained by the vagaries of coalition politics,” the report noted.

Domestic and international proponents of Modi’s businessfriendly policies are hopeful that these circumstances will make for more effective gov-

ernance and streamlined economic reforms, it said.

But Modi “also is a controversial figure for his Hindu nationalist views” and his alleged role in 2002 Gujarat riots led the Bush Administration to deny Modi a visa in 2005, the report noted.

“Many observers warn that a BJP-majority government could have dire consequences for human and civil rights in India, especially if it chooses to implement openly Hindu majoritarian policies,” the report said.

However, it noted “Obama wasted no time in ending speculation on the visa issue by immediately inviting Prime Minister Modi to visit Washington, DC.” He is now set to visit the US capital in late September.

Goa CM apologies, but slams media over ‘Negro’ issue

panaji, august 21 (ians): Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Thursday apologised for using the word ‘Negro’ to describe an unidentified jailed African native, but lambasted the media for making a national issue out of the minor clerical error.

Parrikar told the legislative assembly that he pitied the media and expressed worry that national news channels will not survive if they pick on issues as petty as the unknown man being termed ‘Negro’, wrongly spelt as ‘Nigro’, in government documents tabled in the assembly Wednesday.

“There are 10,000 papers here, a UDC (upper divisional clerk) does not understand the meaning. It (the word ‘Negro’) is referred to an unknown person. I pity the reporters. I am worried how national news

channels will survive,” he said.

Hitting out at the media for making a national issue out of the ‘Nigro’ error, Parrikar also questioned whether former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal could be behind the flood of media coverage of the news story.

“I was shocked that national level TV channels have slipped to these levels. Goa has become famous because of Tejpal. I don’t know if Tejpal has a hand in this,” Parrikar said. Earlier in the day, the chief minister told the house during zero hour: “If someone is hurt, I apologise.”

Parrikar blamed a police clerk for the error. “These clerks in police don’t understand how serious a particular word is,” he said. An annexure was submitted along with Parrikar’s written reply to the assembly Wednesday. It re-

ferred to an African national arrested in the beach village of Calangute May 8 as an “unknown African Nigro”.

“Negro” is considered a racially offensive word once used to refer to African Americans and Africans. Parrikar Thursday said it was not even clear whether the person arrested was from an African nation or not. He said what was clear was that he was an “unknown person dark in complexion”.

The chief minister also said the word ‘Negro’ has two meanings. “Never refer to a dark person as a negro because it is a derogatory word.

Negro also means a river in Brazil which empties into the Atlantic Ocean,” he said.

The Congress Wednesday lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government for the use of the word in official

documentation, saying such unfortunate references create a bad image about Goa among the international tourist community.

“A circular needs to be sent to departments asking them to refrain from making such racist remarks. We are a tourist state and such words send negative signals to international tourists,” Congress spokesperson Durgadas Kamat said.

In November 2013, while responding to a road blockade

by Nigerians protesting the murder of a fellow national, Goa’s Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar called Nigerians a “cancer”, before apologising for his utterances. Subhash Phaldesai, a BJP legislator from Sanguem, described Nigerians as “wild animals” pumped with drugs shortly after the row.

Hindu women belonging to the Dogra community swing a child as part of a ritual as they pray for the long life of their sons during the “Bacch Dua” festival in Jammu, India, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014. (AP Photo

InternatIonal

the Morung express

Friday 22 August 2014

Dimapur

Steep obstacles to any Gaza deal

Karin Laub and Mohammed Daraghmeh

Israeli airstrike kills 3 senior Hamas leaders

Associated Press

R

enewed IsraelHamas fighting after the collapse of truce talks in Cairo highlights the steep obstacles to ending the Gaza war. Israel’s leadership is under domestic pressure not to hand achievements to Hamas after the Islamic militant group fired thousands of rockets at Israel in the past six weeks.

Hamas feels it can’t afford to settle for vague Israeli promises about an easing of the blockade of the strip after a war that killed more than 2,000 Gazans and left 100,000 homeless. With chances for diplomacy fading, there’s a risk of protracted fighting. Here’s a look at what each side wants.

What Was On The Table In Cairo?

Egypt had proposed a limited interim deal. Israel was to ease movement of goods and people at two crossings with Gaza, while bigger issues — such as the construction of a seaport and airport in Gaza — would be discussed a month from now. Hamas demanded specifics on the easing of restrictions, but Israel said details would come later.

What Happened After The Collapse Of The Talks?

With negotiations going nowhere, Gaza militants resumed rocket fire Tuesday, about eight hours before the end of a six-day truce. Since then, Hamas and other groups have fired dozens of rockets, some deep into Israel, while Israel launched scores of airstrikes at Gaza, killing at least 16 Palestinians. One of the strikes killed a wife and infant son of Mohammed Deif, the shadowy Hamas military leader who escaped several Israeli assassination

9

A Palestinian boy sits on rubble and next to destroyed buses and houses, following late night Israeli strikes in Gaza City, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014. Renewed Israel-Hamas fighting after the collapse of truce talks in Cairo on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 highlights the steep obstacles to ending the Gaza war. (AP Photo

attempts in recent years.

Can Talks In Cairo Reconvene?

The negotiations seem to have run their course, with each side unwilling to budge.

Egypt said Wednesday it will keep talking to Israelis and Palestinians separately, suggesting that it is not going to attempt to host another round anytime soon.

What Does Hamas Want?

From Hamas’ perspective, the group has less to lose by continuing to fight than by accepting a deal it fears will simply restore the closure regime that was in place before the start of the fighting July 8. “Our eyes are on our people,” Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Haya said Wednesday. “We cannot bring them a document of defeat after 2,000 victims.”

As part of the border closure, imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007, virtually all exports from Gaza are

banned and the vast majority of the territory’s 1.8 million people cannot travel.

For years, Hamas was able to manage by operating smuggling tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border. However, Egypt closed the tunnels over the past year, depriving Hamas of key revenues and supply routes. Weakened by a crippling cash crunch, Hamas agreed in the spring to a power-sharing deal with its political rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Under the deal, Abbas was to head a technocrat government in the West Bank and Gaza, while Hamas would retain control over its security forces and military arsenal in Gaza, effectively retaining control of the strip, which it seized from Abbas in 2007.

What Does Abbas Want?

Formally, the Palestinian delegation, made up of Abbas confidants and senior Hamas officials,

presented a united front.

However, the longtime Palestinian rivals had conflicting objectives. The Abbas loyalists in the team urged Hamas repeatedly to accept the Egyptian offer of an interim deal, even in a watered-down version that would leave decisions on how to ease the blockade in Israel’s hands.

The Abbas camp wants to prevent Hamas from scoring any significant achievements in the negotiations, for fear this would strengthen the militants and make it harder to deal with them after the war, said a senior Palestinian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was discussing internal deliberations.

Instead, Abbas wants a deal in which his technocrat government would oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, with his forces deployed at Gaza’s crossings to allay concerns by Israel and the West that some of the money and goods entering Gaza

would reach Hamas.

What Does Egypt Want?

Even though it assumed the role of mediator, Egypt is a party to the conflict, siding with Israel and to some extent Abbas in trying to prevent Hamas from emerging from the war with concrete achievements. Egyptian policy toward Hamas turned hostile after the military there deposed a Hamas-friendly government in Cairo more than a year ago. Egypt has tried to put off talks on easing restrictions at its border crossing with Gaza, saying the talks in Cairo should focus on trade and movement through the Israeli crossings.

What Does Israel Want?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his goal is to end the rocket fire at Israel, which the military campaign so far failed to achieve. He is under pressure from hawks in his center-right coalition to try to defeat Hamas militarily,

GAZA CITY, AuGusT 21 (AP): An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed three senior leaders of the Hamas military wing on Thursday, the militant group said, in what is likely to be a major blow to the organization’s morale and a significant scoop for Israeli intelligence.

The strike near Rafah, a town in the southern part of the coastal territory, was one of 20 the Israeli military said it carried out after midnight on Wednesday.

In a text message sent to media, Hamas said three of its senior military leaders — Mohammed Abu Shamaleh, Mohammed Barhoum and Raed al-Attar — were killed, along with three other people.

Gaza police and medical officials said scores more people remained under the rubble of a four-story structure destroyed in the airstrike. The three Hamas leaders are considered to be at the senior levels of its military leadership and were involved in a number of high profile attacks on Israeli targets. The Israeli security agency Shin Bet confirmed the deaths of Shamaleh and al-Attar in an email, but did not mention Barhoum. including by intensifying air and artillery strikes and sending ground forces back into Gaza. The previous air and ground campaign weakened Hamas’ military capabilities, but the group remains rooted in Gaza as a social and political movement and is believed to have several thousand rockets left in its arsenal.

A military escalation would drive up the Palestinian civilian death toll, leading to further international condemnation of Israel, despite general agreement in the U.S. and Europe that Israel has a right to defend itself against rocket fire.

An unofficial ceasefire, without a deal, would enable Hamas to dictate developments by deciding when it wants to provoke Israel with rocket fire. There is great public impatience in Israel with this situation.

Israeli media say Netanyahu initially leaned toward trying to reach an agreement, but ordered

The strikes followed the breakdown of Egyptian-mediated talks in Cairo aimed at producing a long-term truce and a future roadmap for Gaza after more than a month of fighting between Israel and Hamas-led Islamic militants.

The Gaza war has so far killed more than 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Israel has lost 67 people, all but three of them soldiers.

Palestinian health official Ashraf AlKidra put the number of those missing at the site of eh Rafah airstrike in the “dozens.” Elsewhere, another Israeli airstrike killed a 27-year-old man in central Gaza identified as Jomma Anwar Mayar, police said. Israel also hit at smuggling tunnels along the Gaza border with Egypt and at agricultural lands west of Rafah in the latest airstrikes.

Israel says the airstrikes are in response to a resumption of Hamas rocket fire that on Tuesday scuttled a six-day cease-fire. The military says that only one rocket launch was registered since midnight, compared to more than 210 over the previous 30 hours.

negotiators to toughen their positions after the Egyptian proposal was leaked. Netanyahu feared he wouldn’t be able to win approval from his Cabinet for a deal offering even the slightest achievements to Hamas, the reports said.

Who Else Is Involved?

Qatar is a major player, though not directly involved in negotiations.

The small Gulf kingdom hosts the top Hamas leader in exile, Khaled Mashaal, and is seen as a regional champion of Hamas. Abbas was flying to Doha later Wednesday for talks with Mashaal and the emir of Qatar. The trip was scheduled before the collapse of the truce talks, and Abbas was meant to persuade Mashaal and Qatar’s leaders to give the Egyptian plan a chance. It’s not clear whether Abbas will still try to seek their support.

Qatar is a regional rival of Egypt. There has been

speculation in the Abbas camp, though without evidence, that Mashaal, prodded by Qatar, has urged the Hamas negotiators to toughen their stance in order to derail the Cairo talks.

The United States And Europe The European Union has offered practical help in any new border deal, including deploying inspectors at the Gaza crossings, but such arrangements could only come after Israel and Hamas reached an agreement in principle.

The United States and the United Nations were initially involved in cease-fire negotiations, but after several failed attempts appear to have let Egypt take the lead. The U.S. State Department has called for a new cease-fire and a resumption of negotiations. The U.S. and Europe shun Hamas as a terrorist group, complicating international efforts to assist in reconstruction.

Botox could help treat stomach cancers! Thai army ruler nominated as next PM

WAshINGTON, AuGusT 21 (IANs): Scientists have suggested that Botox, the popular wrinkle eraser, could also be effective in treating stomach cancers.

Through their study, the scientists have shown how the drug slows cancer growth by eliminating the signals sent by nerves that are linked to cancer stem cells.

Led by Duan Chen, professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and Timothy Wang, professor at the Columbia University, the study has been published in the US journal Science Translational Medicine, Xinhua reported.

“We believe this treatment is a good treatment because it can be used locally and it targets the cancer stem cells,” said Chen. “The Botox can be injected through gastroscopy and it only requires the patient to stay in the hospital for a few hours.”

The procedure is also less toxic than most standard cancer treatments, less ex-

pensive and has hardly any side effects, he added. Though the procedure has been tested on mice as yet, researchers will soon start testing it on humans.

According to Chen, the study shows that nerves control cancer stem cells. “We found that by removing the effect of the nerve, the stem cells in the cancer tumor are suppressed, leading to cancer treatment and prevention.”

Researchers tried four methods to cut the connection between the nerves and the tumor. “... we found that the anti-cancer effects were remarkable, especially with local vagotomy or by injecting Botox. It actually surprised us. The finding that Botox was highly effective was particularly exciting,” Chen said.

Botox, made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, is well-known as a beauty treatment. But it is also used for different medical indi-

cations. The promising results from this study have led to an initiation of a phase II clinical trial for patients with stomach cancer in Norway.

Researchers believe the Botox treatment could be an additional treatment for patients who have inoperable stomach cancer, or patients who have received chemotherapy but no longer respond to such therapy. It could also be considered in patients who, due to toxicity of chemotherapy, cannot be offered chemotherapy treatment or who, after detailed information about chemotherapy, still do not want such treatment.

The nerve-tumor growth connection could also occur in other solid tumors, such as in prostate cancer, but more research was needed to identify the precise nerves involved, which were expected to vary from organ to organ and tumor to tumor.

US special ops tried but failed to find hostages In this November 2012, file photo, posted on the website freejamesfoley.org, shows American journalist James Foley while covering the civil war in Aleppo, Syria. (AP File Photo)

WAshINGTON, AuGusT 21 (AP): President Barack Obama sent special operations troops to Syria this summer on a secret mission to rescue American hostages, including journalist James Foley, held by Islamic State extremists, but they did not find them, officials say.

The rescue mission was authorized after intelligence agencies believed they had identified the location inside Syria where the hostages were being held, administration officials said Wednesday. But the several dozen special operations forces dropped by aircraft into Syria did not find them at that location and engaged in a firefight with Islamic State militants before departing, killing several

militants. No Americans died but one sustained a minor injury when an aircraft was hit.

“The U.S. government had what we believed was sufficient intelligence, and when the opportunity presented itself, the president authorized the Department of Defense to move aggressively to recover our citizens,” said Lisa Monaco, Obama’s top counterterrorism adviser, in a statement.

“Unfortunately, that mission was ultimately not successful because the hostages were not present.” Officials revealed the rescue operation a day after the militants released a video showing the beheading of Foley and threatened to kill a second hostage, Steven Sotloff, if U.S. airstrikes against the

militants in Iraq continued.

Despite the militants’ threats, the U.S. launched a new barrage of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq Wednesday. The Obama administration did not rule out the prospect of a military operation in Syria to bring those responsible for Foley’s death to justice.

Disclosure of the rescue mission marks the first time the U.S. has revealed that American military personnel have been on the ground in Syria since a bloody civil war there broke out more than three years ago.

Obama has resisted calls to insert the U.S. military in the middle of Syria’s war, a cautious approach his critics say has allowed the Islamic State to strengthen there and make gains across the border in Iraq.

Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said the administration never intended to disclose the operation. But she said the U.S. went public Wednesday because a number of media outlets were preparing to report on the operation and the administration “would have no choice but to acknowledge it.”

In a statement Wednesday night, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said: “As we have said repeatedly,

the United States government is committed to the safety and well-being of its citizens, particularly those suffering in captivity. In this case, we put the best of the United States military in harm’s way to try and bring our citizens home.”

It’s unclear how many Americans the special forces attempted to rescue in Syria.

While the officials who described the mission would not provide an exact number, other U.S. officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly, have said Foley was one of at least four Americans held in Syria. Like Foley, two others are believed to have been kidnapped by the Islamic State.

The fourth, freelance journalist Austin Tice, disappeared in Syria in August 2012 and is believed to be in the custody of government forces in Syria.

Administration officials would not say specifically when or where the operation took place, citing the need to protect operational details in order to preserve the ability to carry out future rescue missions. They did say that nearly every branch of the military was involved and that the special forces on the ground were supported from the air by fixed wing, rotary and surveillance aircraft.

BANGKOK, AuGusT 21 (AP): Three months after overthrowing Thailand’s last elected government, this Southeast Asian nation’s junta leader is stepping out of his army uniform for good — to take up the post of prime minister in a move critics say will only extend his time at the helm and consolidate the military’s grip on power.

Thailand’s junta-appointed legislature voted unanimously Thursday to name Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to the new job during a session in Bangkok.

There was little doubt over the outcome since Prayuth was the only candidate.

The 60-year-old leader is due to retire from the army next month but until then he can hold both positions. Thursday’s appointment appears aimed in part at keeping him at the helm as the military implements sweeping political reforms that critics say are designed to purge the influence of the ousted ruling party and favor an elite minority that has failed to win national elections for more than a decade.

Prayuth has effectively served as de facto premier since staging the May 22 coup. For several years before that, he held the position of army chief — a post that many regard as one of the most powerful and influential in a country where the military has seized power 12 times since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.

“He could have refused the job, but what would be the point?” said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai professor of Southeast Asian studies at Japan’s Kyoto University whose passport was revoked after criticizing the coup and refusing to respond to a junta summons ordering home.

Prayuth’s appointment by the National Legislative Assembly must be approved by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a formality likely to occur within a week. Prayuth will then name a 35-member Cabinet.

The vote was the latest in a series of moves by the junta to consolidate power on its own terms.

In July, the military adopted a temporary 48-article constitution. Shortly afterward, the junta appointed the assembly that is dominated by active and retired

Thai new Prime Minister Prayuth Chan –Ocha, left, and his wife Naraporn Chan–ocha, right, pose with families of soldiers for photos following his visit for an establishment anniversary of the 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen’s Guard in Chonburi Province,Thailand on Thursday, August 21. (AP Photo)

duty officers.

Earlier this week, Prayuth appeared at Parliament to present next fiscal year’s budget; he was dressed for the first time in public in a business suit, an apparent signal he was readying for the new job.

Prayuth has justified the coup by saying the army had to intervene to end half a year of protests that had paralyzed the government and triggered sporadic violence that left 28 people dead and hundreds injured. While stability has been restored and life has largely returned to normal, the junta has been criticized for cracking down harshly on even the slightest dissent.

Most politicians from the ousted ruling party, including former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, were briefly detained by the army — and released only after signing agreements effectively preventing them from speaking out. Violators, the junta has warned, will face prosecution.

Critics, though, say reconciliation — and any legitimate debate on the divided nation’s fate — cannot take place in a climate of fear.

The May putsch was swiftly condemned by Western powers, but Thailand’s relations with key Asian nations remain unchanged. Concerns over human rights abuses and the restoration of democracy were not even

mentioned publicly earlier this month during a regional foreign ministers summit earlier hosted

by Myanmar.

Thailand has been deeply divided since 2006, when former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra — Yingluck’s brother — was toppled after being accused of corruption, abuse of power and disrespect for Bhumibol.

Thaksin, a former telecommunications billionaire whose political allies have won every national election since 2001, lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai but remains an intensely polarizing figure. He is highly popular among the poor in Thailand’s north and northeast, but despised by a Bangkok-based elite backed by the army and staunch royalists who view him as a corrupt demagogue who bought votes with populist promises.

Although Prayuth has promised to eventually restore democracy and hold elections as early as 2015, Pavin, the analyst, said the junta was working to remove all traces of Thaksin’s influence before then. Ultimately, “the elite want to gain control over politics.

In the last decade, their domination was taken away by Thaksin through elections,” Pavin said.

“They are trying to weaken that now ... and ensure that politicians linked to Thaksin can’t come back.”

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Dimapur

LOCAL/SPORTS

Friday 22 August 2014

The Morung Express

Fletcher has not been sidelined: Ravi Shastri LoNDoN, august 21 (iaNs): Former India captain Ravi Shastri, who has been appointed the team director for the ODI series against England, said his role would be to oversee the team but added that chief coach Duncan Fletcher has not been sidelined.

"My role is to oversee everything. All of them report to me," Shastri was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. Shastri was appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the aftermath of the team's 1-3 humiliating loss to England in the fivematch Test series.

Besides Shastri, the BCCI also roped in Sanjay Bangar (batting), Bharat Arun (bowling) and R. Sridhar (fielding) as assistant coaches and decided to drop Trevor Penney and Joe Dawes as the fielding and bowling coaches.

Asked if Fletcher has been sidelined, Shastri said: "Absolutely not. He stays as the head coach.

And these two (Bangar and

Arun) will be his assistants.

I am there to oversee." Immediately after his appointment, Shastri had a twohour chat with both skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Fletcher to formulate plans for the five-match ODI series starting Monday. "We had a chat about where things are at the moment and how things have to be addressed. And how important communication will be," he said.

Shastri was critical of the manner in which the team lost the Test series.

"On this tour I saw India's greatest ever overseas win I have seen. I know it because I have never seen a track like that and with this kind of inexperienced side, for them to pull it off... Then I also saw some spineless cricket over the last three Tests matches. People would have accepted 3-1 if there was a little more

fight," he said.

Shastri said what surprised him was that the batsmen were not learning from their mistakes during the series. "My only disappointment was players at times making the same mistake," Shastri said.

"That disappointed me. Everyone makes a mistake, but you want to try something different."

Shastri also said he was hard on Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli in his newspaper columns but hoped them to bounce back in the ODIs. "I was hard on Pujara and Kohli specifically because they came here with big reputations. And they have been brought down to earth with their techniques being found out against the moving ball. And there is nothing wrong in that, it has happened to the biggest players. Now the true test of their character will be: how they bounce back.

I have absolutely no doubt that not only will they bounce back, they will excel very, very soon," he said.

Zenit, Porto close Bolt wants roof over his in on group stage head for Polish race bErNE, august 21 (rEutErs): Zenit St Petersburg and Porto both put a foot in the Champions League group stage with 1-0 away wins in the first leg of their respective playoff ties on Wednesday. Oleg Shatov's first-half goal gave Andre Villas-Boas' Zenit a 1-0 win at Standard Liege and a second-half effort from Hector Herrera was enough for the Portuguese coach's former team Porto at Lille.

Wednesday's other three matches, Slovan Bratislava-BATE Borisov, Maribor-Celtic and Aalborg-APOEL Nicosia, all ended in 1-1 draws.

Zenit's goal in the 16th minute was a superb team effort, beginning when Domenico Criscito sent a clever pass into the path of Danny. The Portuguese player chested the ball down for Hulk and the Brazilian picked out Shatov who sidefooted home from near the penalty spot.

Danny and Jose Rondon both struck the woodwork in a dominant Zenit performance Porto, who have only missed out on the group stage four times since it started in 1992, took control of their tie when Mexico forward Herrera stabbed in from close range in the 61st minute after Vincent Enyeama had parried Jackson Martinez's header.

"We played a very serious game, against very serious and difficult opponents," said Porto coach Julen Lopetegui. "We had more than enough chances to guarantee the result and now we have to continue working to make sure of a game result in the second leg."

Slovan Bratislava gifted BATE the lead just before halftime when defender Thomas Jablonsky turned Sergei Krivets' looping cross past his own goalkeeper.

Robert Vittek grabbed a superbly taken equaliser for the Slovakian champions, who have never qualified for the group stage, with 10 minutes to play.

Cultivation of pea gaining popularity in Tuensang

tuENsaNg, august 21 (mExN): In recent years, with the intervention of KVK, Tuensang and new technology input, cultivation of pea has gained popularity with horizontal expansion as it fits well to various cropping system of the region. It alleviates the level of agricultural productivity with better crop production, which paves the path in opening an avenue for marketing outlet in the district.

Martina Shitiri, Subject Matter Specialist (GPB) KVK, Tuensang in a press release stated that in view of the prospect and potential of pea cultivation, KVK conducted OFT and FLD adopted varietal improvement and selection of suitable variety in four villages, i.e., Hakchang, Sangsangnyu, Kuthur and Chendang villages under Tuensang

district.

The varieties (Azad-1, 2 & 3, Arkel and Rachna) bear 7-8 pods per plant.

The pods are 8-9 cm long and well filled with 8-9 seeds, with a yield potential of 9-10 tonnes per hectare.

Achila, a farmer from Kuthur village, grows two varieties of peas — Rajna andAzad-1, the seeds for which were supplied and introduced by the KVK Tuensang. The seeds were sown during the last week of October and crops were harvested in the 2-3rd week of December. The vegetable pods were sold at @Rs. 25 per kg in the local market. In December alone last year, she earned a total profit of Rs. 15,000 by selling 600 kg. Approximately, she spent Rs.3,000 and earned 15,000-20,000 in less than five months from the crop and till date the small farm-

er has been able to benefit and earn approximately Rs.15, 000-20,000 by the sale of pea, both as a vegetable and as seeds.

In Chendang village, after the first pickings the farmer left the crop for seed production as suggested by the scientists, since growing a crop for seeds can be a little more beneficial for the farmers in terms of income.

For instance, around 80 kg of pea in the form of seeds were collected, which were sold at Rs. 50 per kg to 7 SHG in the village and the remaining seeds were kept for next season.

Today, many other farmers in the village and neighbouring villages, after witnessing the success and the generation of income from Achila’s field, many have started to put more interest in growing pea variety both for seed produc-

tion and for selling the produce, the release added.

Pea is an important pulse crop grown by the farmers of Tuensang district under rain fed condition. Under rain fed condition, the crop is grown in maize-pea with other kharif crops, rice-pea on rotation. It is cultivated both by marginal as well as small farmers in Jhum fields and lowland paddy field mostly for home consumption. It is an important source of income for the rural people.

The agro climatic condition is very suitable for its cultivation in Tuensang district.

However, availability of quality seeds inputs pose a problem, the release pointed out. Though maize and potato are the main crops, farmers also cultivate vegetables such as chilli, beans, brinjal and cucurbits during kharif season and pea during Rabi season, it added.

CMHSS wins INTACH Heritage Quiz Competition

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): Christina Memorial Higher Secondary School, Aoyimti won the recently concluded INTACH Heritage Quiz Competition, India’s biggest quiz competition for schools held on August 18 at The Maple Tree School,

Dimapur. The winning team will participate at the zonal level in Guwahati and thereafter, at the National Level in New Delhi if they pass through.

The INTACH Nagaland Chapter in a press release has wished the team all success to bring accolades to

the school and the State. The Chapter further thanked all the schools which participated and made the Heritage Quiz a grand success, especially mentioning Maple Tree School for the venue and Doordarshan Kohima for covering the event.

RTI training for PIO/APIOs conducted

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt poses for photographers at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, August 20. Bolt will take part in the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial athletics event Saturday August 23. (AP Photo)

WarsaW, august 21 (rEutErs): Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt is hoping the roof will be closed when he runs his firstever race in Poland at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Warsaw on Saturday. The Jamaican world record holder will have his eyes on a special mark when he competes over 100 metres on a newly laid track at Warsaw's National Stadium, which has a retractable roof.

"I've never run indoors, I was always too tall," Bolt joked at a news conference on Wednesday. "When I heard there was going to be a roof, I was looking forward to that."

If the roof is closed, the competition would count as an indoor event, a novelty itself for Bolt, but the new surface could call into question the legitimacy of any times set.

The towering Bolt, however, said, perhaps with his tongue placed firmly in his cheek, he is looking to challenge Namibian

Frankie Fredericks's unofficial indoor world record of 10.05 seconds set in 1996. "If they treat it as an indoor world record it'll be good for me," said Bolt, who holds both 100 and 200m outdoor world records.

"It's always good to have more records." Even if it is unofficial.

Bolt has recently spoken of his plans to retire from athletics after the 2017 World Championships in London, where he won three Olympic golds medals two years ago.

As an avid Manchester United fan, who frequently attends the English Premier League club's games and has even trained with the team, he has plans to try his hand at professional soccer once he leaves the track.

"I always watch football games and see a few players, and I won't say any names, but I could do much better," he said. "So I want to try and see if I really could do it. Hopefully I get a chance."

Barcelona need Messi, Neymar and Suarez to mask defensive deficiencies maDriD, august 21 (aFp): After a year of political turmoil in the board and court rooms and disappointment on the pitch, Barcelona have not taken a first trophyless season in six years lying down. Facing two transfer window signing bans, a summer of revolution in the Catalan capital saw former captain Luis Enrique installed as coach and over 150 million euros ($200 million) invested in the squad.

However, doubts remain over how wisely that money has been spent and whether Barca have truly addressed their weaknesses from last season.

The headline purchase has been the 81 million euro capture of Luis Suarez from Liverpool.

The Uruguayan won't even be able to play a minute of competitive action until late October, though, as he serves a four-month play ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. Moreover, whilst a trio of Suarez, four-time World Player of the Year Lionel

Officials of the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) during their visit to Ralan area on August 19.

Messi and Brazilian superstar Neymar is beyond the budgets of even the majority of fantasy football managers, it remains to be seen how the three dovetail.

All are coming off bitter disappointment at the World Cup in their own way. Suarez's tournament ended in disgrace, Neymar's in a very nearly crippling back injury and, despite being named player of the tournament, Messi failed to secure his place as one of the best of all time as his Argentina side lost out to Germany in the final.

Yet, it is a triumvirate Barca need to work if they are to have any chance of challenging European champions Real Madrid and La Liga title holders Atletico Madrid over the course of the season with more major concerns in other areas of the pitch.

Veterans Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol ended their playing days with the club at the end of last season, signifying the breakup of the side coached by Pep Guardiola that dominated Europe in his first few years in charge.

Chile captain Claudio Bravo and 22-year-old Marc-Andre Ter Stegen will battle it out to be Enrique's number one 'keeper after being signed for 12 million euros each with Bravo set to start the campaign after the German picked up a back injury. Of even more concern has been the recruitment of two new centre-backs in 30-yearold Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia and Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen for nearly 40 million euros.

Mathieu has spent most of his career at left-back before moving to a central position last season, whilst Vermaelen had lost his place in the Arsenal side over the last two years.

Both signings, though, give Barca some much needed depth at the heart of the defence and should allow Javier Mascherano to return to his favoured position in midfield, where he shone at the World Cup. Mascherano's own future has been secured by a new contract that will run until 2018 and his aggression is what Enrique hopes to return to a midfield that has be-

come lethargic in recent seasons. "I am very happy with the desire and ambition with which the players are training. That makes me optimistic," Enrique said of his preparation for the new season.

"We need to press in an organised and concrete manner. Obviously it is important to have the ball, but so is to recover it as quickly as possible." Enrique has already had coaching success at Barca as he succeeded Guardiola as Barca B coach and led them into the second tier of Spanish football in 2010.

However, his coaching style is a little more pragmatic than his former teammate. Gerardo Martino was criticised throughout his sole season in charge for not being loyal to the Barca style of play. But with the figurehead of "tikitaka" Xavi Hernandez also likely to play a much reduced role this season, Enrique will continue a trend towards moving the ball quicker into the final third.

A style and season that will succeed or fail by how their star attacking trio click.

Kohima, august 21 (mExN): Training on Right to Information Act 2005 for Public Information Officers, Assistant Public Information Officers and responsible officers from different departments was held from August 11 to 13 at Administrative Training Institute, Kohima. The resource persons for the programme were L. Youdang Jamir, Joint Director ATI; Er. Worhonthung Ezung, Under Secretary, Nagaland Information Commission; and Dr. Hovithal Sothu, State Coordinator, ATI.

A press release from Dr. Hovithal Sothu, Course Coordinator, informed that in the three-day programme, the participants were enlightened on different topics on RTI Act. The resource persons stressed on the fact that ‘RTI respects no hierarchy’ and there is no immunity for anyone. “This was proved from different cases in the country, where even a Governor of one state was summoned by the Information Commission of the state for hearing. In addition, a Chief Information Commission-

er of a state was suspended because of misuse of his chair,” the release said.

Altogether 24 officers from various departments attended the training, the release informed, adding that lively discussions between the resource persons and the participants on all the three days were noteworthy. Experience sharing and solving RTI problems of some departments together by the participants and the resource persons was also a new experience, it stated.

Newly constructed building SBI donates computer to of Alpha School inaugurated Zeliangrong Heraka School

chozuba, august 21 (Dipr): Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly Chotisuh Sazo on August 12, inaugurated the newly constructed building of Alpha School at Chozuba Village.

Addressing the gathering, Sazo expressed his happiness over the construction of this new school building. He lauded the contribution of the Chozubami Village citizens in getting this magnificent school building and asserted that unity and public participation has made such project possible. He called upon the teachers, managing board and the parents to work together for the students whose future in on their hand. He

also urged upon the teachers to be sincere in educating their children and added that the successfully journey of a student in the field of education depends on the contribution of the teachers.

The function was chaired by Sekha Rhakho while welcome address was delivered by Khrinyio VCC Chozuba Village, special presentation by Alpha School Students and VCM and Women Society. A brief report on the construction of school was presented by Headmaster Alpha School while short speech was delivered by Polan John ADC Chozuba and Village Vision Cell respectively and Dapu Associate Pastor pronounced the benediction.

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), the State Bank of India donated a computer with peripherals to the Zeliangrong Heraka School, Tenning. SBI Lead Bank Chief Manager David Kire said that the SBI takes up CSR every year in various form and many computers are being donated to needy schools in the region. Kedar Kulkarni, organizing secretary of the NGO JVS, which is running the school, gave a brief background of the activities taken up by the society. Dimapur DC N Hushili Sema, IAS, handed over the computer to the school authorities. While appreciating the Bank for the noble activities, the DC also requested the bankers to be responsive to the needs of the public as the level of awareness of banking is still very low.

2nd Mkg Auto-X on August 23

moKoKchuNg, august 21 (mExN): The 2nd Mokokchung Auto-X, an autocross and motocross event for both four wheelers and two wheelers, organised by the Adventure and Motor sport Association Mokokchung(AMAM) will kick-start on 23th August from 9:00am here at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex with Along, Social Entrepreneur as chief guest. Along K Ao, Press Relations Officer informed in a press release that the Autocross event will be in 3 categories of vehicles namely: Below 1000cc, Above 1000cc and SUVs, while the motocross event will be open.

NYC induction training underway

Dimapur, august 21 (mExN): Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Nagaland Zone is conducting 15 days induction training for the newly selected National Youth Corps from all districts of Nagaland. The training for the extended NYCs is also under going in batches.

A press release issued by John Makhabo, DYC, NYK, Kohima stated that the training programme for the NYCs was launch on August 19 with

Neitsale Zhasa, Principal Secretary to Government of Nagaland at Demori Cove, Kigwema under Jakhama block. In his address, Neitsale Zhasa stated that knowledge is available in market but experience is not available in the market, by attending training like this you are making experiential learning. He called upon the youth to build sound personality as modern competitive need right approaches and attitude in life. He also

called upon the youth to be good role model for others in society. He asked the youth to be dedicated, caring, hardworking and sincere. “Nobody is extra brilliant but hard work makes the different is one’s life,” he said.

John Makhabo, DYC, NYK, Kohima gave welcome address and keynote, while the programme was chaired by Medonuo, invocation was led by Lawrence, and vote of thanks was extended by Lanthuilu Kamei.

DAO & P.D (ATMA) S.Bendangtemsu along with Farmers and S.H.G Awardees under ATMA –Dimapur district at DSSC stadium, Dimapur during 68th Independence Day celebration 2014.

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would give a hope.

Inspired by Versatility of Changvei along with its immense toughness, substrates used are Thick denim, Leathers and Rivets. Black is used heavily in this creation which represents my angst against this chaos and my desire to fight back. In Silhouettes, upper are more structured and body hugging for both men and women, with detailing of Pleats, Rivets and Piping accentuated with Metallic chains, Studs, Rivets and Zippers. Bottoms for women are flowy and transparent with details of riveting, leather piping and appliqué. Men’s bottom has drop crotch with detailing of layering, tucks, studs and riveting.

All men’s trousers are ultra-low waist. All creations are styled using leather gloves, boots and harnesses designed by me to complete the look. Hair accessory includes carved wooden hairpins inspired by the native hair accessories.

he Lakme Fashion week T kick started on August 20 at Palladium Hotel, where Asa Ka-

There were 12 models where Former Mister International India 2012 and Naga's 1st Male zingmei, a Naga designer based Supermodel Opang Jamir Metin Mumbai did his comeback subo sashayed down the ramp collection in this LFW/Winter for Asa Collection. fall collection, The Fashion week will end

magazine focused on promoting the 8 North East states of India, is hosting the the 2nd 500px Global Photo Walk for Kohima, Nagaland on September 6. The 500px Global Photo Walk is an annual photo walk organised by 500px, an online photo sharing community based in Toronto, Canada with offices in US as well, in all major cities of the world.

With reviewNE hosting the event for Kohima, it will be one among the five

cities to host this Global event in India.

Avi Metha Sapam, Brand & Communication Head in a press release stated that 500px has more than 2.5 million+ photographers using their website to share photos and collaborate with fellow photographers from around the world. The 500px Global Photo Walk - Kohima will start at 3pm from Kohima War Cemetery and end at Razhu Point, Kohima Main Town. The event will bring

Opang Jamir Metsubo

on August 24 evening at the Palladium Hotel. Many India's Supermodels both male and female participate in this fashion week.

Today our former Mister International India 2012 meets comodels and former Femina Miss

together photography enthusiasts from the city to walk and explore Kohima.

Registration is free for the event. The theme for the photo walk is “Patterns and Symbols”. In addition, to encourage the participants, there will be lucky draw surprise gifts and prizes (applicable only to participants who are 500px users) after the photo walk. Interested participants can visit the Facebook event page at http:// bit.ly/500pxKohima. The

India World 2011 Kanishtha Dhankar and reigning Mister India World 2013 Prateek Jain, Opang quits that it is fun catching up pageant winners and to share their sweet memories while representation the nation.

photo walk will be led by Menuolhoulie Kire, an IITian and an award winning photographer. reviewNE.com has been actively promoting the North Eastern region online and have been actively involved with the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland contributing photos to the annual Hornbill Festival brochure. The site focuses on promoting the NE region and this photo walk will be a great opportunity to highlight Kohima

'I'm very ashamed, shocked and heartbroken' Admits Jackie Chan after son’s drug arrest

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ackie Chan apologized to the public Wednesday over his son's detention on drug charges in Beijing, saying he's ashamed and saddened. The Hong Kong film star wrote on his microblog that Jaycee Chan would have to face the consequences of his actions, but that they would do so together. 'Regarding this issue with my son Jaycee, I feel very angry and very shocked. As a public figure, I'm very ashamed. As a father, I'm heartbroken,' Chan wrote.

Jaycee Chan, 31, and Taiwanese movie star Kai Ko, 23, were detained last Thursday, becoming the latest high-profile celebrities to be ensnared in one of China's biggest antidrug crackdowns in two decades. Police said both actors tested positive for marijuana and admitted using the drug, and that 100 grams (3.53 ounces) of it were taken from Chan's home.

'Jaycee and I together express our deep apology to society and the public,' Chan wrote. Local media reported that the elder Chan and Ko's father traveled to Beijing to meet with their sons this week. The reports could not be immediately confirmed. Extending from his fame as an actor and singer, the elder Chan is a high-profile public figure in mainland China and was named by Beijing as an anti-drug ambassador in

2009. 'I hope all young people will learn a lesson from Jaycee and stay far from the harm of drugs,' Chan wrote. 'I say to Jaycee that you have to accept the consequences when you do something wrong. As your father, I'm going to face the road together with you.'

Ko was part of an antidrug campaign two years ago in which he appeared in a public service announcement declaring: 'I don't use drugs.' Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed him weeping and apologizing for setting a poor example and making 'a big mistake.'

The younger Chan, whose mother is former Taiwanese actress Lin

Fang-jiao, was raised in Los Angeles and has appeared in some 20 films, most of them low-budget Hong Kong and Chinese productions. Also a singer and multi-instrumentalist, he has yet to enjoy anything like the global superstardom attained by his father. Most recently, the younger Chan had been had been working with famed Chinese director Chen Kaige on The Monk due for release next summer. Ko, whose real name is Ko Chen-tung, became a sensation after his 2011 coming-of-age film You Are the Apple of My Eye. It earned him a Best New Performer award at the Golden Horse film awards

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500px Global Photo Walk for Kohima on Sept 6

reviewNE, an online

Dimapur

Series of rock contests happening soon in Nagaland

Naga designer and model rocks LFW Winter Festive 2014

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22 August 2014

Kazingmei Asa unveils ‘CHANGVEI’ collection esigner Asa Kazingmei unveils an eclectic collection themed as ‘CHANGVEI’ at Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter Festive 2014.

The theme of this collection is derived from old Naga word which means a Defender or Protector.

CHANGVEI is a shield which Naga warriors used during wars. Made of very thick hide, it is strong enough to withhold attack of any kind of sharp weapons.

Unrest, Strife, discrimination, no respect for human value, has brought this world to a precipice of collapse, man fighting for survival in this savage world without hope.

CHANGVEI inspired Asa to give this wounded man something which would invoke a fighting spirit

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Friday

Entertainment

The Morung Express

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 from the No. 1 spot in the mainland's box office last month.

Along with speculating about their entertainment careers, local media have questioned Chan's and Ko's continuing value as commercial endorsees.

Such deals can be highly lucrative, but businesses in China demand their brand ambassadors maintain squeaky-clean images.

Jaycee Chan is accused of aiding and abetting other drug users, an offense that carries a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment. Ko is accused of using drugs, a much less serious accusation, but the potential penalty wasn't immediately clear.

Chinese President Xi Jinping declared in June that illegal drugs should be wiped out and that offenders should be severely punished. The crackdown has snared more than 7,800 people in Beijing alone, according to police. Detained previously was Gao Hu, who acted in the 2011 movie The Flowers of War. And Beijing performing arts associations and theater companies have pledged to not hire any actors connected with drugs.

on a bigger online platform where 2.5 million+ 500px users and more will get a chance to see the beauty of Kohima. reviewNE believes that this will boost exposure of Kohima on an international stage and ultimately foster tourism.

illspraise Music Society in association with Zip Sound Engineering and eminent musicians from Nagaland, under the banner, “Battle of the Bands” are conducting a series of rock contests throughout Nagaland in order to provide the participants from all over the state a platform to showcase their talents and potential through music. Only the most outstanding among the best in Nagaland is likely to be adjudged as the winner.

The event is being with the objective to usher in a new era of progress on the upcoming generations of our society by providing them with incentives to explore their creativity and nurture their talents. It is also essentially a platform that will identify the most promising talents and providing them guidance through our grooming and mentorship program. For the mentorship, accomplished musicians from across the state will be actively involved, driven by the desire and commitment towards upgrading the quality and infusing professionalism in the field of music.

God willing this opportunity could be the turning point for them and maybe one day they could achieve an unprecedented record of being the best-known Naga bands to gain popularity in the international music arena, and become ambassadors of our unique Naga culture to the outside world at large.

Screening of bands will take place in three locations at Longkumer Kilem at Mokokchung, DUDA Guest House at Kohima and Symbios Conference Hall at Dimapur on September 23, 25 and 27, respectively.

Judges will decide the entry of bands

to the second elimination round scheduled on October 14 at the Symbios conference hall, Dimapur. Fans can also participate in the selection of bands for the final round through voting (voting cards will be made available).

The event will culminate on November 4 at the DDSC Stadium, where the Grand Finale will take place. The votes of the judges’ as well as the fans (50-50) will decide the winner.

Furthermore, the performances of the bands, who make it to the second round will be taped and uploaded on youtube. The band which gets the most number of views will receive a special gift hamper. Fans can further view the profiles of the competing bands on Facebook page. The band which gets the most number of ‘likes’ will also receive a special gift hamper. For more information refer to the ‘Battle of the Bands’ promo poster or visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hillspraise-music-society/554682964635885/ The main aims and objectives of the proposed contest are (1) To help the participants gain an insight into the world of professional music (2) To help them gain valuable knowledge from accomplished mentors (3) To help them derive inspiration and encouragement to develop and hone their talents (4) To consider taking up music as a fulfilling career (5) To provide them with leverage and opportunity to attend international meets, learn and benefit through international exposure

NAGA TALENTS PROMO -3

Second elimination round on August 23

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heto Music Association Promotional Event Naga Talents Promo Season-3 second elimination Rounds will be held on August 23 at Town Hall Dimapur at 4:30 PM. This time out of top12 individual contestants only 8 contestants in individual category and top 3 contestants in the group category will be selected based on public voting and judges point to go through to the next semi final round which will be

held on September 13 at Town Hall Dimapur.

The judges for the event are Kashito Kiba, Managing Director PMA, Redeemson Ralang of HeroMindMind and Bambi Kevichusa the guest judge of the show.

Imasen Jamir is the host for the whole event Naga Talents Promo 3 and the ultimate winner will walk away with cash prize money of Rs 2 Lakhs in group and Rs 1 Lakh for the Individual category

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along with the proficiency award certificate from the PMA. PMA has informed that the public voting line will be open till August 22 and closed after 1:00 pm and starts from August 25 onwards till September 12.

The show of this time second elimination round will be telecasted in major local cables to let the public chose their favorite contestant to get the ultimate winner title of Naga Talents Promo season 3 2014.

Brad Pitt doesn't love Angelina...; says Pitt's psychic

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here’s trouble in Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's paradise according to Pitt's psychic Ron Bard. This psychic, apparently, have foreseen their relationship.

Ron Bard insists the actor feels ‘boxed in’ but will not leave her for the sake of their six children – and because it would harm his image. That shouldn't be

a problem considering he had numerous flings and is already divorced.

This report comes from Daily Mail who has earlier been reprimanded in an open letter by Pitt's friend George Clooney for published false stories. Brad the psychic has many other claims. He believes Pitt has already secretly married Miss Jolie, 39, and the cou-

ple will have another three children. He also insists that the 50-year-old actor is still in love with his first wife, Jennifer Aniston 45.

By the way, Pitt was introduced to the psychic by Miss Aniston in 2004. Mr Bard, 54, claims he told the actor in 2005 he would meet someone who would ‘change your whole life’ while filming Mr & Mrs

Smith. As if the chemistry between the two was not evident to their friends and entire cast and crew.

But asked whether the couple is still in love, Mr Bard said: ‘At the end of the day, whether [Pitt is] in love or he’s not in love is not the question. The question is he’s a man who made a commitment to six children and he’s keeping his commitment to those six children. ‘Whether he loves her or not, [that’s] another story. ‘Brad’s the type of guy who finds his happiness within his own soul.

He does what he thinks right – he’s a man’s man.

‘I think [Miss Jolie is] very clever, I think she’s boxed him in, but he doesn’t care about that because I think he loves the children more than the relationship.

Pitt and Miss Jolie announced their engagement in 2012. The pair have not announced wedding plans but Mr Bard believes the ceremony may have been carried out in secret – or if not, it will be ‘pretty soon, in the next few months’.

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Chopra joins Sachin’s Kerala Blasters

MuMB AI, August 21 (ReuteRs): Former Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra was picked by the Kerala Blasters, co-owned by cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar, in an international draft for the upcoming Indian Super League on Thursday.

A total of 49 foreign players were drafted during the session for the eightfranchise league, which is slated to run from October to December. Seven players have been directly recruited by the teams.

"When the drafts came up, the first name that caught our attention was that of Chopra," former England goalkeeper David James, marquee player and manager of the Kerala team, told reporters. "We immediately decided to have him and are happy to have him in this team."

Chopra, who has also played for a host of other Premier League clubs, was the only English player in the draft, which was held at a Mumbai hotel overlooking the Arabian Sea. Former Manchester United midfielder Bojan Djordjic has joined other

'Sachin is 100% committed to Kerala Blasters' - D'Silva

New DeLhI, August 21 (AgeNcIes): The general manager of Kerala Blasters stated that Tendulkar has entrusted the technical responsibility to David James and Trevor Morgan...

Though Sachin Tendulkar wasn't present at the International Players Draft of the Indian Super League (ISL), Kerala Blasters general manager Viren D'Silva praised the committment of the Master Blaster.

"Sachin is 100% committed to this project. He has entrusted the running of the team in the hands of (Trevor) Morgan and David James. He is concerned about how we can grow the sport in India," said D'Silva. As regards to the recent confusion with a cricket match being scheduled to be played a week before the start of the ISL at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, D'Silva categorically mentioned that the Kerala franchisee will marquee names such as former Juventus striker David Trezeguet and former Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg in the first season of the football league.

Djordjic, now 32, won the young player of the year award at Manchester United in 2000, but only made

Paul Scholes ‘scared’ about United's future

LONDON, August 21 (ReuteRs): Manchester United great Paul Scholes has said he is scared about the club's future and believes they could spiral into decline in the same way rivals Liverpool did in the 1990s. Scholes, who played for United throughout his whole career and won 11 Premier League titles, says the club need to sign five top players to arrest their current slump that saw them fail to qualify for the Champions League last season.

United finished seventh in the Premier League in May, having won the trophy the previous year, and began the latest campaign under new manager Louis van Gaal with a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Swansea City on Saturday. "I am scared for United. Genuinely scared they could go into the wilderness in the same way Liverpool did in the 1990s," Scholes said in the Independent newspaper on Thursday. “What do they need? Five players. Five proper players who can hit the ground running and turn round a situation that looks desperate. Let me be clear: I am sick of having to criticise the club to which I gave my life as a footballer. But United need to arrest their decline." The defeat by Swansea shredded the close-season optimism that had been circulating since former Netherlands boss Van Gaal was chosen as the permanent replacement for David Moyes, who was sacked after just 10 months in the role.

With many pundits claiming United's squad needs a root-and-branch overhaul, the club have so far struggled to make a major splash in the transfer market this window. While some of the world's best players have been linked with United, only left back Luke Shaw, midfielder Ander Herrera and defender Marcos Rojo have been recruited to date. United will get the chance to get points on the board when they play Sunderland away on Sunday.

Bernie Ecclestone dashes hopes of Indian Grand Prix's return in 2015

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New DeLhI, August 21 (PtI): Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone on Thursday asserted that the troubled Indian Grand Prix has run out of time for a 2015 return and its organisers must settle the contractual obligations for a possible comeback in 2016. Ecclestone was hoping the race organisers, Jaypee Group, will sort out the five-year contract in time for a return next year but that has not happened yet, leaving the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) owners too little time to get the event back on track. Usually, the FIA World Motor Sport Council ratifies the next season's calendar in September and the final one in December. "It is too late for 2015.

We (Formula One Management and Jaypee) are looking at 2016 now and hopefully the tax issues in India will also be sorted out by then. The organisers also need to settle the existing contract before we get back. I am expecting to see them next week," Ecclestone told PTI from his London office. After the event was dropped for 2014, the 83-year-old had revealed that the race promoters had not complied with the contract, mainly the financial side of it. The tax and bureaucratic set-up in India has anyway made the teams and FOM uncomfortable, putting the high-profile event in further jeopardy. As it is, accommodating India on the ever-crowded calendar will not be easy.

play any where in the state of Kerala as per the organiser's instructions.

"We are working closely with the ISL. It is in their domain to see whether the stadium is ready or not. We want to play football anywhere in Kerala where the ISL will tell us. We don’t care about the confusion as we care only about football."

two appearances for the Premier League club.

The top four sides in the Indian Super League will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be played over two legs, with the winners advancing to a one-off final. Strict rules apply to player rosters, with each

team required to have one marquee player, seven foreigners and 14 Indians, four of whom must be from the city in which the franchise is based.

Chennai-based Sun Group had bagged the Bangalore team but opted out at the last minute. Re-

placing them will be a team from Southern Indian city of Chennai to be run by Play on Skills, which has a technical collaboration with Inter Milan in India, organisers said. The Chennai franchise bagged Djordjic and former Paris Saint Germain and Hull City defender Bernard Mendy, one of the highest-paid foreigners in the $80,000 bracket at Thursday's draft.

La Liga veteran Jofre Mateu was picked by the Kolkata franchise, owned by a consortium including Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and former India captain Sourav Ganguly.

The league is bankrolled by Reliance Industries, controlled by the country's richest man Mukesh Ambani, Rupert Murdoch's Star India and sports management group IMG. Styled on cricket's cash-rich Indian Premier League and backed by the country's soccer governing body (AIFF), the league also has movie industry involvement. Leading Bollywood actors Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and John Abraham are also co-own- Tennis player Maria Sharapova and Steven Kolb attend the CFDA's Fashion Targets Breast Cancer ers of franchises.

20thAnniversary event at The Sky Room at The New Museum on Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo)

Wozniacki ousted at New Haven

New hAVeN, August 21 (AFP): Camila Giorgi sprang an upset to defeat four-time champion Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday and reach the quarterfinals of the WTA Connecticut Open, a final warm-up for the US Open.

The Italian saw off the former world number one in 78 minutes to book a last-eight date with Spain's Garbine Muguruza, who eliminated Chinese qualifier Peng Shuai 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in another second-round match. The unseeded Giorgi also ousted Wozniacki in last year's US Open, but lost their only other meeting this year at Eastbourne.

Wozniacki, whose best Grand Slam showing was a 2009 US Open runner-up effort, won the title at New Haven from 2008 to 2011, but saw her record at the Yale University event dip to 24-3. The 24-year-old Dane's only prior losses since Wimbledon came in three-set battles with world number one Serena Williams in Montreal and

Cincinnati.

"I knew I was going to get limited break chances and when I did get them, I didn't convert," Wozniacki

said. "I knew I had to be aggressive out there and try to push her back, but I didn't manage to do that. She played well and I didn't."

The defeat does allow Wozniacki a few extra days to prepare for the year's final Grand Slam, which starts on Monday.

"I would have loved to have been here longer, but it wasn't to be this year," Wozniacki said. "Now I just need to take the positives out of it. I get a few extra days to rest up and practice for the US Open."

Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard also failed to make it to the quarterfinals. Australian veteran Samantha Stosur briskly ousted the thirdseeded Canadian 6-2, 6-2.

Stosur next faces Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, who beat Germany's Andrea Petkovic 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (8/6). Thursday's other two quarterfinals were already set. Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova, who ousted top-seeded Simona Halep, will take on American Alison Riske, and secondseeded Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will face fellow Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

20TH CLASSIC CUP 2014 DAY 4 (AUG 21) RESULT Invictus FC defeated Little Youngsters 2-0 Chetheba Town Students’ Union defeated Kezekevi FC 2-1 Chizami Boys FC defeated Phonix FC 1-0 Colt United Boys beat Koinonia Baptist Church 2-0 DAY 5 (AUG 22) FIXTURE 10 am: Young Creeper FC vs Junior Anchor 11:40 am: The King’s FC vs Eagles Club 1:30 pm: Epitome FCs vs Billy Graham FC (B) 3:30 pm: Boyz United Club vs Young Boys FC

Sergio Perez expects to stay at Force India

BeLgIuM, August 21 (ReuteRs): Mexican Sergio Perez says he expects to stay at the Force India Formula One team next season with an extension likely to be agreed in a matter of weeks. "Nothing is confirmed yet but we should be, in the next couple of weeks, sorted for next year," the former Sauber and McLaren driver told reporters at the Belgian Grand Prix on Thursday. "On my side it's a bit early to confirm anything but I expect things are going to move on very quickly," he added.

Mexico is returning to the grand prix calendar next season after a 23-year absence and Perez is the country`s leading driver, with a third place finish in Bahrain this year. Perez, who also brings sponsorship to Force India, is currently 11th but 40 points behind his German team mate Nico Hulkenberg. Team principal Vijay Mallya said last month that he was happy with his drivers. However Perez was clearly reluctant to take anything for granted after last year's experience with McLaren where he seemed set to stay only to be abruptly dropped to clear a space for Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen.

"As you`ve seen in the past, anything can happen," he said.

Pollard, Ramdin rescue troubled Windies against Bangladesh

st geORge`s, August 21 (AFP): Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin saved the West Indies from a humiliating defeat and engineered a three-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first one-day international at the National Stadium in Grenada. Reeling at 34 for five in reply to the tourists` total of 217 for nine, Pollard`s commanding 89 and Ramdin`s polished 74 turned the match on its head, their 145run sixth-wicket partnership transforming the improbability of victory into a leisurely canter by the time the winning runs were hit by Jason Holder in the 40th over on Wednesday.

They played positively and exposed the limitations of the Bangladeshi bowling attack as visiting captain Mushfiqur Rahim was at his wit`s end to stem the flow of runs following the early clatter of wickets.

Medium-pacer Al-Amin Hossain emerged with the bowling honours, taking three of the first five wickets to fall and finishing with four for 51.

He added the scalp of Pollard, who fell to an outstanding outfield catch by Mahmudullah as the bighitting right-hander attempted to heave another

six to take him closer to a hundred and his team nearer to victory.

"It was good to be able to put my head down together with Denesh to bring the match home," said Pollard.

"No-one needs to remind me about that. I know what I have to do and I`m glad I was able to deliver today."

Anamul Haque`s workmanlike hundred held the Bangladesh innings together as the visitors reached 217 for nine batting first.

Put in on a pitch that made free scoring difficult, the opening batsman`s 109 was essential to giving the innings some respectability with more senior players in the batting order failing to contribute significantly.

Fellow opener Tamim Iqbal and lower-order player Nasir Hossain were the next best contributors with 26 runs apiece.

"We were probably 2025 runs short of being really competitive," said Musfiqur after the match.

"Our bowlers did a good job up front but after taking those early wickets we couldn`t sustain the effort."

Dwayne Bravo was the most successful West Indies bowler, finishing with four for 32, including the wickets of Mashrafe Mor-

taza and Anamul in the final over of the innings.

"There`s a lot of room for improvement because the top order of the batting, including myself, let us down again," said Bravo in reflecting on the victory.

"The bowlers did their part definitely. We just need the batting to come up trumps." Anamul`s knock occupied 138 deliveries during which he struck 11 fours and the lone six of the innings, a top-edged hook off fast-medium bowler Ravi Rampaul.

The 21-year-old`s two ODI hundreds have both come against the West Indies, his top score remaining the 120 compiled in the series in Bangladesh at the end of 2012. He lost Tamim after an opening stand of 41, the left-hander miscuing an attempted pull off Holder for Pollard to take the catch at short midwicket. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals until Nasir joined Anamul at 141 for five in the 34th over, the pair putting on 53 for the sixth wicket and giving the innings a bit of momentum before Nasir departed, caught at the wicket off a miscued swing at Rampaul as he attempted to accelerate the scoring.

C M Y K

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