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friDAY • December 11 • 2015
DIMAPUR • Vol. X • Issue 337 • 12 PAGes • 4
T H e
ESTD. 2005
The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance
P o W e R
PAGe 11
Giroud hat-trick inspires Arsenal’s ‘great escape’
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HornBill festiVAl 2015 conclUDes
T R u T H
— Socrates
‘Clean Chumukedima Town’ awareness programme held
Salman Khan acquitted in 2002 accident case
o F
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‘OUR RIGHTS. OUR FREEDOM. ALWAYS’ International Human Rights Day observed in Nagaland
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Hornbill feathers worn by Naga men in their head gears make for a striking image under the December sunlight as seen during the last day of the Hornbill Festival at Kisama on Thursday. Photo by Caisii Mao
Chizokho Vero Kisama | December 10
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The Hornbill Festival 2015 concluded here this evening, registering a remarkable increase in the number of visitors to 2, 43, 113 against 1,72, 404 during 2014. This year saw an increase of 70,709 visitors to the Hornbill Festival. The inflow of foreign tourists has however gone down as the 2014 edition registered 1144 while in the 2015 edition it registered 1360. The number of domestic tourists registered an increase with 19, 969 against 17,044 in 2014 while the local visitors also registered an increase with 2, 13,000 against, 1, 54,000 in 2014. This was disclosed by Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, C Apok Jamir during a closing function here at Kisama. Miss Nagaland 2015 Nenghoilhing Hangsing along with 1st runnerup, Alica Zhimomi and 2nd runner up, Yangerjungla Pongen lighted the
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
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annual bonfire which was followed by the unity dance. Jamir was appreciative that this year’s Hornbill Festival was peaceful with no untoward incidents reported. He said the main purpose of the festival is to showcase the rich Naga culture in all its wonder and diversity. He said that the Hornbill festival was planned in such a way that it was held at one particular venue at Kisama from December 1 to 10 every year for the convenience of the tourists from all over the world, domestic tourists and for local visitors, so that everyone can plan and come to enjoy the festivities. The other purpose of the Hornbill Festival is to earn revenue through tourism and also foster camaraderie and better understanding between peoples. The Hornbill Festival also envisaged to encourage the survival of the Hornbill birds and also to protect other endangered, threatened and rare birds and animals in the state, thereby bringing ecological
balance in the long run. “This festival is not only about celebration and showcasing the rich culture but through this we would like to campaign for a greener planet, to create awareness on climate change and environment protection,” he said. He further noted that the Hornbill Festival venue at Kisama was declared a “No Plastic Zone” this year. “This Hornbill festival has been a great success because of the overwhelming visit of tourists, domestic and foreign without which Hornbill festival would have been meaningless,” Jamir said. He thanked all the departments, hohos, neighboring villages, villagers of Phesama and Kigwema, all entrepreneurs and artists who put up stalls. The Parliamentary Secretary also thanked the various cultural troupes who entertained the visitors throughout 10 days and made the festival a success. Concluding remarks were given by Nagaland state’s Tourism Secretary, Angau I Thou.
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lems, social disharmony, psychological problems and family discord. Dr Lhishelo Tsuhah, Medical Officer, PHC Chizami further presented on the physical impacts of substance abuse. He recommended “regulation rather than prohibition,” and proposed the need for reduction of social stigma, while enhancing community support through inclusive approach and not isolation. He also stressed on the need to strengthen the Church’s role in motivational and counselling support. Budhiswatya, Psychiatric Social Worker, Assam Medical College underlined the basics to understanding substance abuse as an illness which is cyclic in nature. In approaches towards substance abuse, she stated that both communities and families have an important role in dealing with the issue. Citing the lack of acceptance as a major hindrance towards the rehabilitative process, she mentioned “inclusiveness and acceptance” as vital approaches, along with conducive/ favourable support systems both at family and community level. She shared on group therapy and network therapy which can be attended by individuals, family, friends through discussions, experience sharing and develop solutions themselves. Meanwhile, the Peace Channel in collaboration
with North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research, NEDSF and NACWR also commemorated the day at NEISSR’s conference hall. Rev Dr Fr CP Anto, Founder-Director Peace Channel and Principal NEISSR highlighted the concept and importance of human rights in today’s world with special emphasis on Nagaland. He stressed on the need to respect the dignity of human life, and said that human rights are inherent to all human beings, whatever nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language or any other status. “We are all equally entitled to our human rights,” he stated. Affirming the need for peace, he however lamented that there are certain people who interpret religion, law, customs according to their personal agenda thus depriving people of their basic human rights and peace. Human rights education thus, should begin in our own homes, he said. Subhrangshu Dhar, Assistant Professor, NEISSR in his speech stressed on the historical development of Human Rights as a concept and focused on the different kinds of human rights violation existing in society. He further mentioned that many of the basic rights are violated as part of culture, tradition, religion and soci-
etal norms and for which structural reform is needed. NK Keny focused on the violation of rights of people with disability, children and destitutes. She also stressed on collective effort to correct the existing situation in Nagaland. Azungla Imsong, Sisterhood Network, also addressed the gathering pertaining to Girls Forward and VAW. The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation also marked the day by freely distributing a book released by the organisation, while making an appeal to citizens, especially the citizens who are in power to respect human rights. President of NVCO Kezhokhoto Savi, in a press note stated that no true democracy can be said to exist unless rights are available to the individual. “Human Rights is not only about physical or atrocity meted out to human body but it covers whole lot of human life. They are the rights to life, liberty including all the political civil, social, economic and cultural rights necessary for people to live dignified lives,” he stated. He further lamented that Nagaland state does not have a State Human Rights Commission and termed this as a “very serious issue” which needs to be addressed by the state government.
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court stays order summoning Nagaland CM on qualification issue
Dimapur, December 10 (mexN): In a new development to the qualification issue of Nagaland state Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, the Kohima Bench of the Guwahati High Court on Thursday stayed the Judicial Magistrate’s order summoning the Chief Minister and has listed the matter for another hearing on The welcome committee members are caught in a January 20, 2016. The First Class Judicial massive traffic jam caused by our chief guest’s motorcade. Magistrate, Kohima had
earlier summoned the Chief Minister to appear before its court on January 7, 2016 after a case on the qualification issue landed in the judicial court. Providing a sequence on the qualification issue, the CMO said the Court had dismissed a petition filed before it to issue directive to the police to register an FIR petition last month. Upon dismissal of the writ petition by the Court, the
matter was taken to the Raj Bhavan on the grounds of seeking an impartial inquiry. During which, the Judicial Magistrate was approached, who then summoned the Chief Minister to appear before the Court on January 7, 2016. The Chief Minister had questioned the legality and authority of the Magistrate to issue summons when the matter was rejected by
Faced with war-like situation in North East, Kashmir: Centre to SC M
Dimapur/phek, December 10 (mexN): The International Human Rights Day (IHRD) which marks the end of the 16 days campaign against Gender based Violence was observed today, with various events held across the state. The North East Network organised an awareness event on Substance abuse and mental health at Chizami, Village Council hall, Phek district. Acknowledging the fact that Substance abuse has become a major concern in the community, affecting people of all ages and genders, the event was organised to raise awareness and sensitivity on the issue amongst diverse stakeholders. Highlighting on IHRD 2015 UN’s theme ‘Our rights. Our freedom. Always,’ Wekoweu Tsuhah, NEN shared about the different rights and freedoms that every human is entitled to. She pointed that substance abuse is one of the factors that has caused fear and violence within homes and communities, and therefore addressing this issue on IHRD becomes pertinent as every individual has a right to live a life free from fear and violence. Stephen Gangmei, NEN stated substance abuse is one of the critical factors leading to mental health concerns and other series of consequences such as physical prob-
New Delhi, December 10 (iaNS): The Centre on Wednesday defended army operations in the NE and Jammu and Kashmir, and told the Supreme Court that India was faced with a war-like situation which was not akin to inter-country conventional war. “What we are facing in the northeast or in Jammu and Kashmir, it is not a law and order situation or interval disturbance. It is an insurgency from across the border in collaboration with home-grown groups,” Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit. Pointing out that some groups engaged in armed insurgency, observe the day when Manipur became a part of India as “black day”, Rohatgi defending the army action in He said “we (security forces) don’t have a first strike
option” in engaging the insurgents. The Centre said this during a hearing of a PIL by the Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association (EJEVFA) seeking action against security personnel involved in alleged staged shootouts in Manipur. The petitioner contended that during May, 1979 to May, 2012, at least 1,528 people were killed in Manipur in extra-judicial executions. Rohatgi said: “When we deal with army, it is a different cup of tea compared to routine police. Army is a different organisation, it has its own discipline. It has its own rigour.” Pointing out that the rights of an army officer under the constitution were not the same as that of a common man, Rohatgi said: “If I (army officer) don’t do what I am supposed to do, to apprehend and shoot (the enemy), then I attract death.”
Drawing the attention of the court to the flaws in the Justice Santosh Hegde Commission report that inquired into the truth of alleged stage shootout cases in Manipur, the Attorney General said most of the queries related to normal police investigation into a crime case. He wondered how could there be questions posed by the commission as to how many bullets were fired by the army, what about collection of empty shells, if insurgent was alone and army personnel were four, then why was he not apprehended alive. “It is either him (insurgent) or me (army personnel). You are dealing with a person who is not peaceful, who wants to overthrow the government. It is a rebellion by a 25, 30 or 100 groups, some are banned and some are not banned,” Rohatgi told the court.
a higher Court and at the same time when the matter was being looked into by the police who had already instituted preliminary investigation, the press statement maintained. “Today’s Court order may lead to resting speculations that there were no false documents provided to the ECI with intention to falsify facts on the part of the incumbent Chief Minister,” it added.
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NCSU calls for 12 hour bandh on December 15 kohima, December 10 (mexN): The Nagaland Contractors’ & Suppliers’ Union (NCSU) has called for a 12-hour (6:00am to 6:00pm) total bandh of NH-29 Dimapur-Kohima road on December 15. NCSU in a press release informed that it was compelled to call for a total bandh as the Union Ministry of Transport & Highway had failed to heed its repeated requests with regard to the 4 lane project of the Dimapur-Kohima road. Police, Paramilitary, Magistrates on duty, Ambulance are exempted from the purview of the bandh. NCSU expressed regret at the inconvenience created and at the same time appealed to the public to cooperate. NCSU stated that the Union Minister had on several occasions given assurances to accommodate local contractors by breaking up huge projects into smaller packages to accommodate them. The Union further maintained that it was not being greedy to get the contract work but argued that it was “fighting for the rights of the Nagas.”
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