December 14th, 2015

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www.morungexpress.com

MonDAY • DeceMber 14 • 2015

DIMAPUR • Vol. X • Issue 340 • 12 PAGes • 4

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The world is governed by opinion — William Ellery Channing Neglected and sidelined, citizens of Saptiqa area cry for attention

Syria in 2016 will be like the Balkans in 1914 PAGe 09

Conor McGregor knocks out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds

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climate deal: the world’s carbon diet starts now

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Three enterprising siblings help their mother (not seen) sell Guavas at a foot path at PR Hill junction Kohima. (Morung Photo)

PIL against HPC filed for alleged misappropriation of NPPC funds Morung Express news Dimapur | December 13

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Alleging misappropriation of money sanctioned for the revival of Nagaland Pulp & Paper Company Limited (NPPC) at Tuli under Mokokchung district, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed against Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited (HPC) by a social activist at the Guahati High Court.

HPC falls under the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Department of Heavy Industries, Government of India (GoI).

In the PIL, the petitioner, one I Chubatangit Jamir, has appealed for investigation /enquiry by the Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) or by a sitting/ retired Judge of the High Court over alleged ‘embezzlement and misappropriation’ of Rs 154.60 crore sanctioned by the Ministry on two different dates to HPC. According to the contents of the PIL, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises has been releasing / sanctioning adequate amount for NPPC. Drawing the attention of the Court, the petitioner stated that in September 17, 2007, an amount of Rs 54.60 crore was released to HPC as per the letter of lease addressed to the Pay & Accounts Officer, Pay & Accounts Office, Department of Heavy In-

By Sandemo Ngullie

What a night carnival..i wanna go to the other night carnival over there?

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websites gets massive support

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 13 (IANS): An online campaign to ban on 5,000-odd websites that carry Santa-Banta jokes at the cost of the Sikh community has received massive support, the initiators of the campaign have said.

A global online petition started by Delhi Sikh community on change.org website demanding ban on Sikh jokes ridiculing the community has gone viral and gained momentum worldwide. This petition

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Despite these pre-conditions, the petitioner said the HPC is not complying with the Ministry’s directives and alleged that it had misused and diverted the funds released.

It may be mentioned that only recently; Tuli Area Joint Council Forum (TAJCF), an NGO had made similar allegation that HPC had diverted Rs 60 crore sanctioned by the Centre without the knowledge of NPPC and Nagaland State government.

It also mentioned that there were serious lapses on the utilization of the funds by HPC for revival of the said paper mill.

Further, on September, 2015, Workers Union of NPPC had written to the Commissioner & Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Nagaland expressing disappointment over the slow process of the rehabilitation of NPPC. It stated that the NPPC/HPC has not even completed the job of tendering.

The workers union further alleged that out of the Rs 100 crore released by the GoI in September 2013, the Finance & Accounts Department, NPCC had in its record only the expenditure of Rs 40 crore.

It had therefore sought answer as to where the remaining Rs 60 crore might have disappeared.

reflections campaign to ban santa-Banta jokes

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dustries, New Delhi.

The purpose of the amount released, according to the Ministry, was for expenditure of township; expenditure for plant & machinery, payment to pressing creditors and for cash loss during financial year of 20072008.

The petitioner also informed that in 2013, an amount of Rs 1311.88 crores was awarded and accorded approval for revival of NPPC at Tuli, Nagaland as equity; term loan, grant-in-aid in view of CAPEX subsidy and for regularization of inter-diversion of fund.

From the sum total amount approved for the revival, an advance of Rs 100 crore was released on September 19, 2013 (as per the Pay & Accounts Officer & Accounts Office, Department of Heavy Industries, New Delhi) for initiating the implementation of revival package of NPPC as decided in a meeting of Board of Industrial and Financial Restructuring (BIFR) held on July 18, 2013.

The advance was released with specific conditions- that the company will furnish a prereceipt bill to the Ministry; no fund will be diverted under any circumstances, that the Chairman & Managing Director of HPC would be personally responsible for utilization of the fund and for compliance of provisions of the Company Act.

Key points of Paris Climate Change Conference 2015 The measures in the agreement included: • To peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieve a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century • To keep global temperature increase "well below" 2C (3.6F) and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C • To review progress every five years • $100bn a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2020, with a commitment to further finance in the future.

Most likely the best the world can hope for is overshooting that temperature by a few tenths of a degree and then somehow slowly — over decades if not centuries — come back to the target temperature.

That may involve something called negative emissions. That's when the world — technology and nature combined — takes out more carbon dioxide from the air than humanity puts in. Nearly 90 percent of scenarios of how to establish a safer temperature in the world involves going backward on emissions, but it is also so far not very realistic, said Kevin Anderson, deputy director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in Britain.

Negative emissions involve more forests, maybe seeding the oceans, and possibly technology that sucks carbon out of the air and stores it underground somehow. More biomass or forests require enormous land areas and direct capture of carbon from air is expensive, but with a serious sustained research effort costs can probably be brought below $100 per metric ton, said engineering and policy professor Granger Morgan of Carnegie Mel-

lon University.

Leading up to the Paris Agreement, nearly every nation formed an individual action plan to cut or at least slow the growth of carbon pollution over the next decade or so. Richer nations that have already developed, like the United States, Europe and Japan, pledged to cut now.

Developing nations that say they need fossil fuels to pull themselves out poverty pledged to slow the rate of growth for now, and to cut later.

"The EU and US are all on Slim-Fast," said Paul Bledsoe, a former Clinton administration climate official. "China's still hitting fast food, but will have to stop soon."

China, the world's top carbon polluter, will eventually have to make the biggest cuts. Overall, for the world to hit its new target, global carbon dioxide emissions will have to peak by 2030, maybe earlier, and then fall to near-zero, experts said.

Those levels have been generally rising since the industrial revolution.

Without any efforts to limit global warming, the world would have warmed by 3.5 degrees Celsius (6.3 degrees Fahrenheit) from now by 2100, according to Climate Interactive. But China's submitted plan alone would cut that projected warming by 1.3 degrees, according to Climate Interactive. The US plan trims about six tenths of a degree of the projected warming without a global deal.

That all sounds good, but the goals the nations have set aren't enough. Taken together, they would still allow temperatures to rise 2.5 degrees Celsius (4.5 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century from now, so to reach the goals agreed on this weekend countries will need to do more, Climate Interactive found.

Countries agreed Saturday to take another look at their goals every five years.

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Geography and history meet at Old Jaboka lipichem Mon (Old Jaboka) | December 13

Old Jaboka is an ancient historical Konyak village, 18km away from Tizit town. A strategic village in olden days, Old Jaboka shares a geographical boundary with both Assam and Aruncahal Pradesh. Overlooking a valley, there are many gifts here for nature lovers and rural tourism if its resources can be tapped by providing basic development.

A hundreds-of-households village once upon a time gave birth to four villages in the course of its growth. Reduced to around 55 households today, Old Jaboka has many historic spots, living legends and folk stories associated with it.

Situated on a hill top with habitation stretching for almost a kilometre, people of Old Jaboka live a quiet life. Without electricity, water connections and a seasonal road, people here live under houses constructed by ‘Toku Patta’ leaves (leaves of a palm tree used for

A view of old Jaboka village in Tizit, Mon district. (Photo by Lipichem)

roofing instead of GCI sheet).

The village was recognised in the year 2014 by the Government of Nagaland.

To travel to this ancient village, one has to risk a narrow uphill, bumpy road good only for off road vehicles. Here, the church roof is made out of ‘Toku Patta’ and the village welcomes you with the chirping of birds in a serene environment.

Lauding the Department of Land Resources, residents of Old Jaboka said, this is the

first department amongst Agri and allied sector that has been implementing works even before the government had recognised the village.

Residents also said that sensing the need of the people, the Land Resources Department adopted the village under SPEED (Special Program on Environment and Economic Development) letting the village feel the taste of development.

Abio, VDB secretary, mentioned the initiative of the De-

partment’s staffs in trekking to the village many a times as there is no all-season road that goes to the village. The staffs trained Self Help Groups in making dish washing gel and other economic and livelihood activities apart from implementing the watershed works which has helped the village residents in many ways.

One will not only enjoy the freshness of Old Jaboka, its vegetation and cool breeze overlooking the Assam valley but also its pre independence era history. The village has historic sites like a British-time well, monolith of a British outpost, remains of a stone named as ‘Longaoanu’ (making sound) which supposedly consumed human in the days of yore, and the graveyard of an Angh who had played an active role in establishing Mon town but was assassinated in the year 1985.

An ideal place for rural as well as for eco tourism, Old Joboka has ample right to enjoy basic facility of civilization.

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Address grievances of local contractors: Naga civil society

DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 13 (MExN): Naga civil society organizations on Sunday urged the Ministry of Road Transport, HighVote on www.morungexpress.com ways (MORTH), Government of SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 India to address the grievances of the Nagaland Contractors’ & SupIs Nagaland government providing the space for pliers’ Union (NCSU) in relaxing protection of freedom of the norms and procedures of local the press and freedom of contractors for the construction speech and expression? of the Dimapur-Kohima four lane road project.

Yes no others The appeal comes in the backdrop of the NCSU calling Is the annual Hornbill Festival benefiting for a 12-hour total bandh (6amthe ordinary people of 6pm) of NH-29 Dimapur-KohiNagaland? Why? ma road on December 15.

The NCSU had earlier apYes 14% pealed the concerned Minis71% no try to break up the road project 15% others into job wise packages with pre Details on page 7 qualification model in order to

The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion

has more than 27,000 signatures online and around 45,000 signatures offline. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was among those who supported the cause as he signed the petition during his visit to Gurdwara Rakabganj during Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 28. The petition seeks ban on such joke sites which portray Sikhs as "unintelligent", "foolish" and "naive", making them an easy target for ridicule and racial abuse, said Manjit Singh.

PARIS, DECEMBER 13 (AP): The world is about to go on a carbon diet. It won't be easy — or cheap.

Nearly 200 nations across the world on Saturday approved a first-of-its-kind universal agreement to wean Earth off fossil fuels and slow global warming, patting themselves on the back for showing such resolve.

On Sunday morning, like for many first day dieters, the reality sets in. The numbers — like calorie limits and hours needed in the gym — are daunting.

How daunting? Try more than 7.04 billion. That's how much carbon dioxide needs to stay in the ground instead of being spewed into the atmosphere for those reductions to happen, even if you take the easier of two goals mentioned in Saturday's deal. To get to the harder goal, it's even larger numbers.

In the pact, the countries pledged to limit global warming to about another degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) from now — and if they can, only half that.

Another, more vague, goal is that by sometime in the second half of the century, man-made greenhouse gas emissions — which includes methane and other heat-trapping gases as well as carbon dioxide — won't exceed the amount that nature absorbs. Earth's carbon cycle, which is complex and ever-changing, would have to get back to balance.

In practice, that means the world has to emit close to zero greenhouse gases by 2070 to reach the easier goal, or by 2050 to reach the harder one, said John Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany.

The harder goal — limit warming by another half a degree Celsius (0.9 Fahrenheit)— is probably already impossible, said Joeri Rogelj at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria.

accommodate local contractors- which is the same practice existing under SARDP-NE of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

In a memorandum addressed to Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways, Nitin Gadkari, Naga Hoho reminded of the Union Minister’s assurance that norms would be relaxed so as to enable the local contractors to participate without compromising quality. “We understand that development would be inclusive if the locals participate as this would generate employment and other avenues,” it said.

Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) felt that with Nagaland being in its 52nd year of statehood, no matter how capable or incapable the local contractors

NCSU on December 15 bandh

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agaland Contractors’ and Suppliers’ Union (NCSU) has appealed to the general public to bear the inconvenience created by the December 15 bandh which is imposed in the midst of festive season. Police, paramilitary, magistrate on duty, ambulance and media would be exempted from the purview of the bandh, a press statement from the contractors union informed. For wedding parties, NCSU volunteers will escort the Dimapur entourage from Patkai College junction and for Kohima, escort would be from below Naga Hospital Kohima junction respectively, it added. Kohima music lovers going down to Dimapur for the MLTR concert have been asked to use the 10 mile road (Zhadima village) to Niuland. may be, they deserve exposure and rational treatment from the concern authorities.

In light of this, earmarking certain amount of work for the local contractors without com-

promising the standard quality control norms and guidelines to participate and get acclimatized with such standard of work is fair and advisable in the given situation,” it maintained.

The NTC also termed it as disheartening to observe that the construction of two lane Longlem-Changtongya road, Tamlu-Merangkong road, PhekPfutsero road and ZunhebotoChakhabama road under SARDP Phase-I which was awarded to Maytas-Gayatri (JV) in the year 2010 directly under the supervision of MORTH has come to a complete halt due to technical flaws and lack of knowledge to handle local situation for smooth execution of the project.

It has therefore urged the Ministry concern to review the situation and appreciate the concern raised by the NCSU to get good will and cooperation from all.

Meanwhile, Angami Students’ Union (ASU) said it was

unable to understand the intention of the National Highway & Infrastructure Development Cooperation Limited (NHIDCL) under the Ministry of MORTH, GoI for backtracking from the gentlemen agreement after giving assurance that local Naga contractors would be accommodated by breaking up the project into smaller packages.

It pointed out that the proposed December 15 bandh on NH 29 is bound to victimize Nagaland and Manipur States and even worst the Angami community, since the busiest stretch along the Highway is the ancestral land of the Angami tribe. It also reiterated support to the Naga local contractors on the proposed bandh.

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MonDAY 14•12•2015

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

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Neglected and sidelined, citizens Build relationships based on forgiveness this Christmas: CM of Saptiqa area cry for attention Dimapur, December 13 (mexN): Stating that the Saptiqa area has long been neglected and sidelined socially and economically due to “political administrative displacement,” its citizens under the banner of Saptiqa Area Progressive Youth Forum (SAPYF) have submitted a plea to Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang seeking his “favourable” and necessary action.

A memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister through Parliamentary Secretary Er. Picto Shohe was released to the media

by SAPYF President, Ahito Achumi and General Secretary, Joshua Swu. The Saptiqa area encompasses four villages - Shena Old, Shena New, Usutomi, Zhevishe and Saptiqa Town- and despite the celebration of Golden Jubilee of Saptiqa Town in

1998, the area is still deprived in various fields and aspects of development, the memo noted.

The political-administrative displacement, it further informed, was due to the fact that though the Saptiqa area falls politically under Atoizu constituency, the administrative jurisdiction falls under Satakha sub-division.

The memo further pointed out to the CM that while the Office of Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) Hq. at Saptiqa Town was inaugurated in 2012 by the then R&B Minister, G Kaito Aye with much “pomp and splendor,” the celebration was short lived for the public.

“Despite of the lapse of more two and half (2½) years since the inauguration, there have been no posting of EAC or the establishments staffs till date.”

Further highlighting the hardship faced by the citizens, the SAPYF cited that the people of Saptiqa area have to travel to Satakha in order to perform even a simple administrative task undergoing “untold hardships and great inconvenience” in the present arrangement.

“It is high time for the long neglected public of Saptiqa area to have easy access to administrative indulgence and it is the obligation of the Government to look in to the need of its subjects,” it further argued.

In this context, the Forum in its memorandum “fervently” urged the Chief Minister to expedite process of posting an EAC in the area and appoint requisite staffs as well as start construction of necessary infrastructures for proper functioning of the establishment.

Dimapur, December 13 (mexN): Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang today stated that this Christmas, “we” should all try and build new or better relationships based on forgiveness and good will towards one another. Zeliang said this during the pre-Christmas celebration of legislators at State Banquet Hall.

Delivering his greetings, the Chief Minister said Christmas is the season to exchange gifts, have community or church Christmas feasts together. Maintaining that such customary practices are very good, he said the age old tradition should be continued.

A press release from Media Cell, Chief Minister’s Office informed that the CM also said that Christ Jesus came to this world on Christmas day to forgive and wipe out all the sins of mankind, so that a new relationship is built between God and man.

Chief Minister TR Zeliang with his wife and legislators during the pre-Christmas celebration at State Banquet Hall on December 13.

“Let us also relay and radiate that love and good will towards all our fellow human beings, not only during this Christmas season, but throughout the coming year,” he said.

He also urged all to start exchanging mutual good will amongst ourselves and continue it throughout the

year. Concluding his message, he wished all merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.

The program was chaired by Amenba Yaden and special songs were presented by Rengma Baptist Church Choir Kohima, male voice i/c Toyang Chang and James

Basnet band. A short Christmas greeting was delivered by Pankaj Kumar, Chief Secretary, Nagaland and bible reading and prayer was done by Mhalo TM. Bible narration on the theme Emmanuel (Mathew 1:23) was delivered by the speaker Rev Zhabu Terhuja.

18 Assam Rifles recover arms, ammunition

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pereN, December 13 (mexN): 18 Assam Rifles recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition and “other war like stores” from the outskirts of Khelma village in the early hours of November 30. The cache included “five sophisticated weapons along with their ammunition of various calibers, rifle grenades and other war like stores which were concealed in three dug out, wrapped in polythene and tarpaulin,” according to a press release from PRO, IGAR (N).

The hideout from where the huge cache was recovered is suspected to be the remnants of the arms cache which might have been shifted from Assam following the operations conducted by 18 Assam Rifles on September 29-30, the release added.

Ever After: One stop shop for wedding opens in Kohima Northern Angami Colony celebrates pre-Christmas

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Dr. Nicky Kire, L. Khumo, Seyiekuolie, Vilelie Khamo and others at the newly inaugurated wedding boutique ‘Ever After’ at VK Complex, Jail Colony, Kohima on December 12.

Our Correspondent Kohima | December 13

A complete wedding solution store called ‘Ever After’ was formally inaugurated

by Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Neikiesalie (Nicky) Kire in Kohima Saturday.

The new store, owned

by Zaserieno Khamo, is housed at VK Complex, Jail C M Y K

Colony, Kohima.

The wedding boutique offers all kinds of wedding necessity, including gowns for both brides and bridesmaids, cakes and other accessories. The store also offers home décor items.

The products are mostly imported from Bangkok and China with reasonable prices. The price ranges from Rs. 8,000 to Rs, 80,000, while customers

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GPRN/NSCN issues ultimatum Dimapur, December 13 (mexN): GPRN/NSCN has issued an ultimatum to its former member, Khekhaho (Newell), who had defected to NSCN (R) after being accused of misappropriating government (GPRN/ NSCN) fund, to repay the government fund amounting to Rs. 15 lakh (considered amount) within 15 days of issuing this order. Failing to comply with the order, the GPRN/NSCN will confiscate his residential plot and building at Padumpukhuri, Dimapur, cautioned a press release issued by MIP, GPRN/NSCN.

BAN BUZZ closing ceremony today Dimapur, December 13 (mexN): Business Association of Nagas (BAN) will organize the closing ceremony of BAN BUZZ on December 14, 7:00 pm at Holy Cross junction here. The ceremony will be graced by the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, Liremo Lotha with short Christmas message from Pastor Yambemo and word of exhortation by Dr. Aotoshi, Advisor, BAN. It will be followed by carol singing from various groups and artists. BAN has invited all to be part of the ceremony, have fun, and be blessed.

Vision Mokokchung 2040 panel discussion

can also place their orders for products costing above Rs 80,000. For this, one may contact + 91 7085962849/ + 91 9856742291.

Before inaugurating the new store, Minister Dr. Nicky Kire also inaugurated VK Complex. The new building, meant for commercial purposes, is owned by 1st Class Contractor, Vilelie Khamo.

Speaking at the inau-

guration programme, Dr. Nicky thanked the proprietor Zaserieno Khamo for coming up with the store, which he said will immensely help the people during wedding occasions.

“It’s high time we have a big shop in Kohima. This will immensely help the common man who can’t afford to go outside and buy their wedding dresses,” Nicky said.

The new building and store was dedicated by Kevi Khana, Pastor, Christian Revival Church, Bayavü Hill, Kohima, while Kho-u Pfükha chaired the function.

Parliamentary Secretary for Land Resources, Village Guards, and Women Resources Development, L. Khumo, former legislator Seyiekuolie, 1st Class Contractor Krosal Neikha and advisor Angamimiapfü Mechü Krotho, Salhoutuonuo Kruse also attended the programme, among others.

Morung Express News Dimapur | December 13

The Northern Angami Colony (Walford) celebrated pre-Christmas at the colony ground on Sunday.

Council advisor, Northern Angami Colony (NAC), Kevise Sogotsu; director of Christ for the City International, Rev. Amos Humtsoe and Kahuto Kiho, the host of the pre-Christmas celebration, exhorted the gathering on the occasion.

Kevise said in the past, the Northern Angami Colony was associated with petty crimes and vices and people usually avoided the colony.

However, over the years the colony has transformed for the better and now it is one of the safest colonies in Dimapur. He said the transformation was made possible because of the blessings of God and the cooperation and unity of different tribes and communities residing in the colony.

He encouraged that in

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Members of Angami Baptist Church, Northern Angami Colony, presenting a special number at the pre-Christmas celebration held at the colony ground, Sunday.

this festive season, every citizen should undergo a change of mind and heart by forgiving each other and leaving the bitter past behind them. He also dwelled on the curse of money laundering business and said Christians should never indulge in the business.

Rev. Amos Humtsoe said peace and love should

reign in everyone’s heart while celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace. He also urged the gathering on the need to practice the biblical teaching of “love your neighbor as thyself.”

The celebration was marked by special numbers and “messages through songs” presented by various groups and

church members. A mass prayer for the host’s family was also held, followed by a grand feast.

Earlier, chairman of Tuolazouma village and former resident of NAC, N Soukhrie, delivered the welcome address. Associate Pastor, Angami Baptist Church, NAC, Aning chaired the celebratory programme.

Book titled ‘Narendra Modi and WYSU & YTC condemn attack on YAA building Naga Peace Accord’ released Our Correspondent Kohima | December 13

Minister for National Highway & Mechanical Engineering Nuklutoshi today released a book titled ‘Narendra Modi and Naga Peace Accord’ written by senior journalist Oken Jeet Sandham here today.

The book is mostly focused on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative for resolving the more than half a century old Naga political issue through the historic ‘Framework Agreement’, signed between the Government of India and NSCN (IM).

The book also highlights the “inclusive approach” initiated by interlocutor R.N Ravi and also views and opinions of various sections of people across the region.

Speaking on the oc-

mokokchuNg, December 13 (mexN): As part of the 125 years celebration of Mokokchung Town, a panel discussion on Vision Mokokchung 2040 will be held on December 14 and 15 at Cosmos Hall, Mokokchung. The programme has been scheduled as follows: December 14 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm; December 15 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (Session I), 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm (Break), and 12:30 to 2:30 pm (Session II). A press release from the Mayangnokcha Award Trust informed that invitations have been sent out from the Organising Committee through the District Administration. Therefore, all the invitees have been requested to attend the Our Correspondent programme to make it fruitful and meaningful. There Phek | December 13 will be oral presentations on selected topics by seven key resource persons pertaining to the future plan, de- The Kuzhami community velopment and Vision for Mokokchung. Each presenta- of Phek Town under the aetion will be followed by discussions, the release added. gis of Kuzhami Welfare Organization Phek (KWOP) celebrated Rünye festival Fire at plywood factory with much pomp and traDimapur, December 13 (mexN): A fire broke ditional gaiety here on Satout in the seasoning chamber of Aakash Wood Products urday.

Ltd., a plywood factory at 7th Mile, Tenyiphe village in Gracing the celebrathe early hours of December 13. The whole of the season- tion as the chief guest, Paring chamber and wood within it was damaged causing a liamentary Secretary for loss of Rs.40-50 lakh, according to a press release received Planning & Co-ordination, here. Had the fire spread outside the chamber, it could Evaluation & Monitoring have spread quickly to the timbers lying outside, it added. Cell Neiba Kronu called Dimapur Administration, Fire Brigades at Chumukedi- upon the gathering to ma and Dimapur town, 173 Battalion CRPF Dimapur & maintain work culture and Transit Camp, DC junction took timely action in send- take it as their pride.

He said out of 365 days ing water tankers and their personnel to douse the fire within two hours, the release said, adding villagers and in a year, 52 days fall as Sunday, 52 days as Saturday well-wishers assisted in containing the fire. and there some national

Minister Nuklutoshi with author Oken Jeet Sandham and others during the release of ‘Narendra Modi and Naga Peace Accord’ at Hotel Japfü, Kohima on Sunday, December 13. (Morung Photo)

casion, Nuklutoshi congratulated Oken Jeet Sandham for coming up with such book. He said Nagas have to come together “if we want final solution.”

Unless Nagas come together, Naga political problem will never end and “we are going to face tough generation,” he asserted.

The minister stated that all the 60 legislators of Na-

galand Legislative Assembly are working hard on Naga political issue and had also passed resolution earlier.

Earlier, the author gave a brief background of the book. Kohima Press Club president Xavier Rutsa also delivered short speech.

Vishu Rita Krocha chaired the function, while Rev. Dr. L. Tsanso prayed for the function.

TueNsaNg, December 13 (mexN): Western Yimchungru Students’ Union (WYSU) today stated that it has taken serious note of the recent bomb blast at the Golden Jubilee Memorial Hall of Yimchungru Akheru Arih-Ako (YAA) on December 11 around 12:40 am.

Condemning the incident caused by unknown person(s), where one bomb out of two exploded damaging some portion of the building's foundation, WYSU said “the miscreants’ intention was not only to damage the jubilee building but also to take innocent human lives, which is quite evident from the several round of bullets fired from their sophisticated weapons to homes located within the building's vicinity.”

A statement from WYSU President, Amos and General Secretary, Tsukhumong asserted that the incident is not to be taken lightly by the competent authority and the security agencies

stationed at Shamator SubDivision. The Union urged that the matter be taken with seriousness and dedication to book the persons responsible for the act at the earliest to sustain peace in the region and build the confidence among the general public and the YAA golden jubilee organising committee.

It added that the District Administration should be at its best for the peaceful and grand success of the YAA programme scheduled for second week of January 2016 with YTC, YAA, Shamator elders and security agencies stationed at Shamator.

The union further requested the investigating agency to speed up the case of FIR lodged by YAA on December 11 in order to build the trust of the local population upon the department.

The Yimchungrü Tribal Council (YTC) has also seriously viewed the incident and maintained that the miscreants had also fired

several rounds of bullets from sophisticated weapons; some of the stray bullets pierced through the houses located within the vicinity.

An FIR in this connection was lodged the same day at Shamator PS, stated YTC Vice President, Kiumuhean.

“The Administration and the law enforcing agencies are directly responsible for maintaining the law and order situations therefore they should waste no time in investigating the case and penalize the culprits and collaborators as per the provisions of law,” TYC demanded. Stating that under no circumstance, the culprits should be allowed to escape unpunished for “committing such kind of extremely serious crime in total contravention to maintenance of peace and tranquility proclaimed by the YTC in harmony with the ENPO, the Administration and the Police,” YTC assured that it is willing to assist the Administration and the Police in the effort when called for.

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Kuzhami community celebrates Rünye festival in Phek

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holidays as well as attending family matters, which shows that people have hardly 200 days to work in a year. In this, he urged the people to make the best use of the working days to secure a progressive society.

Meanwhile, he pointed out that a festival will not be there without labour, while maintaining that festival is also a time to give thanks to Almighty for a bountiful harvest. He called upon the gathering to celebrate the festival in a meaningful way and also build peace and cordial relationship with others.

Stressing on the need to minimize the volume of merry making and social gatherings in different lev-

Parliamentary Secretary Neiba Kronu and others during Rünye festival in Phek Town on December 12. (Morung Photo)

els, he said the need of the hour today is to focus on economic sustainability so as to march with the advanced society.

“We cannot keep on dreaming. We have to catch with the fast moving technology,” he said.

Kronu also challenged the youth to venture into multinational companies as job opportunities in the government sector has reached saturation point.

Further, he encouraged the Kuzhami people in Phek Town to apply their

best mind and wisdom and contribute immensely towards society’s development.

Sharing greetings, Phek SP Rukewelo T. Mero called upon the Kuzha community in Phek Town to take the right decision and make

a difference in their approach for the welfare and betterment of the society.

Also, stating that language is an important factor which binds people together, he encouraged the community to uphold their dialect.

Earlier, KWOP president Tshulhi Khape delivered welcome address, while KWOP general secretary chaired the function.

The celebration also witnessed special presentation from Mesehiwe Mekrisuh and Kuzha Cultural Club, Zapami. Tug of war and Rünye feast also marked the occasion.

KWOP women co-ordinator Neichulo-u Tsüzü proposed vote of thanks.

C M Y K

MondAY 14•12•2015

NAGALAND/NORTH-EAST

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

3

2016 South Asian Games Regulate air fares in NE, Centre urged mascot 'Tikhor', logo unveiled Guwahati, December 13 (iaNS): "Tikhor", a one-horned rhino, was unveiled as the mascot of the 12th South Asian Games, along with its logo here on Sunday in the presence of Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Meghalaya Sports Minister Zenith Sangma.

Guwahati and Shillong will jointly host the Games from February 6 to 16, next year. Kolhapur’s Anand Khasbardar and Abhijeet Krishna of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Patna, won the respective contests for designing the mascot and the logo.

The logo and the mascot of the Games were selected from around 450 entries each, according to the sports ministry.

The mascot "Tikhor", with traditional and sporty costumes, is shown in various panels as playing all games and welcoming every new idea in sports. He

Mascot of the 12th South Asian Games, Tikhor the rhino calf, with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal. (PTI Photo)

is a motivator, friend and familiar to sports lovers of the region.

Rhinos represent the fauna of Assam. The Kaziranga National Park, spread over two Assamese districts, is a refuge for the fast-disappearing Indian one-horned rhino.

Tikhor carries the message and aspiration of peace, stability, amity and

progress in the South Asian region.

After the unveiling ceremony, "Tikhor" travelled around the city with bikers from the Assam Bikers Group.

The logo has eight petals representing the countries participating in the 12th South Asian Games.

The petals are seen to be moving in a clockwise di-

rection showing the positive spirit of the games.

The look also resembles a headgear that was given to the winners of games during the ancient times in Europe. The Orchid represents the flavour of the region and a welcome stem to all participants of the Games.

The traditional Gamosa (flowered cotton scarf) has

been introduced in the logo to promote the tradition of the region and to connect the Games with the local people.

The logo has been designed to capture the essence of the games which is Peace, Prosperity and Progress. Peace is symbolised with the similarity given to all petals in terms of shape and size.

Prosperity is continuation amongst petals representing the various countries and the unity within.

The Orchid symbolizes the blooming of the synergy between these eight great nations. Progress is the clockwise movement of the petals.

At the launch ceremony, the SAG's organising committee kicked off its volunteer programme which is open to the general public.

About 4,500 sport persons and officials from eight countries are expected to participate in 23 disciplines at the Games.

Guwahati, December 13 (tNN): The Federation of Industry and Commerce of North East Region (FINER), one of the largest trade bodies in the northeast, has asked the Centre to come out with a regulatory mechanism for stopping airlines from charging exorbitant airfare in the region.

FINER said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his concern over steep airfares during festival seasons and asked the ministry of civil aviation to suggest ways to end this menace.

FINER strongly suggests that some sort of regulatory mechanism should be in place to dissuade airlines from indulging in exorbitant pricing, FINER chairman R S Joshi said.

Joshi said that the North Eastern Council has demanded that cess be levied on passengers travelling on domestic routes to mobilize resources for a regional connectivity fund. He added that the resourc-

es can be utilized to subsidize air transport services in the NE region.

Almost all the states in the region have raised concerns about high airfares. Road connectivity is poor in the region. They want fares to be regulated and some kind of assistance provided to operators so that air connectivity improves in the region, said FINER. FINER also pointed out that subsidizing airfare in the northeast has to be made necessary because airlines have to charge high fares to make aircraft operations within the region viable.

FINER has also asked the centre to revive the North East Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007, for the sake of promoting industrial growth in the region. Last December, the Centre has suspended new registration under NEIPP, 2007, triggering worry among prospective investors in the region.

APCC lodges complaint against rebel leader itaNaGar, December 13 (tNN): The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has lodged a complaint against dissident leader Kalikho Pul at Itanagar police station.

APCC's legal cell coconvenor Tadar Nanang, who lodged the complaint against the former finance minister on Friday, accused

Pul of committing several serious offences. Nanang also accused Pul of hatching a conspiracy to malign the present government, led by chief minister Nabam Tuki.

"Pul and his team have been conspiring with BJP against Congress. The sole motive of the conspiracy is to dislodge the present chief minister by creating law and order problem in the state," Nanang

wrote in the complaint.

Nanang claimed that he had evidence of Pul talking to businessman Romeo Neog from Assam, seeking money for bribing MLAs to revolt against Tuki and join BJP so that he can become the next chief minister. "He has also admitted having bribed some of the Congress MLAs using his resources," the complaint added.

Will quit if BJP proves Satra land encroachment: Gogoi Assam Govt harassing Muslim body for Bihar-like minorities: AAMSU alliance in Assam polls

Guwahati, December 13 (iaNS): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday offered to resign if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could prove that any illegal foreigner is encroaching upon the lands of Vaishnavite Satras (monasteries) in the state.

"I'll resign if they (BJP leaders) can prove that a single illegal foreigner is encroaching upon lands of Satras in Assam or they should resign. There is no encroachment on Satra lands and no Satra (monastery) has so far approached is complaining that their lands have been encroached by foreigners," Gogoi said during a press conference at Dispur.

The Assam unit of the BJP recently criticised the Tarun Gogoi-led government for alleged large-scale encroachment on

Satra lands by illegal foreigners from Bangladesh.

The chief minister said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has infiltrated into the state's Satras and accused the BJP of playing politics on Satras.

The Assam chief minister referred to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's visit to the Barpeta Satra during his road show on Saturday and said that the BJP and RSS had incited a section of the people in the ancient Vaishnavite Satra to oppose Rahul Gandhi's visit.

"We came to know about this. The BJP and the RSS encouraged a section of the women to sit near Barpeta Satra on Saturday to oppose Rahul Gandhi's visit. That is why Rahul Gandhi did not enter the Satra yesterday (Saturday) in the beginning of his road show.

However, he later came and entered," said Gogoi.

A section of the people, particularly women had protested near the Barpeta Satra on Saturday as the Congress leader did not enter the historical Satra and started the road show even without bowing before the Satra.

They later alleged that Rahul Gandhi had insulted the people of Assam by not entering the over 500-year-old monastery.

Gogoi also slammed the BJP for resorting to false propaganda against the Congress ahead of the 2016 assembly polls.

"The BJP has no issues; so they are spreading false propaganda against us to win the elections. Whatever they do, we are going to win as the people of Assam are politically very mature," he said.

Guwahati, December 13 (tNN): The All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) has blamed the state government for harassing people of the minority communities on suspicion of being illegal migrants. This comes at a time when the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is being updated in the state, following the apex court guidelines.

AAMSU took out a mammoth rally on Saturday at Biswanath Chariali in north Assam where they talked about launching highway and railway blockades if minority people continue to get notices from foreigners' tribunals. "This is just a conspiracy to harass minority people of the state at a time when the NRC is being updated in the state. Once the register is updated, all illegal migrants residing in Assam can be easily identified. But at such a crucial juncture, some government officials are hatching this conspiracy and they are behind sending notices from the foreigners' tribunals," alleged AAMSU president Abdur Rahim Ahmed.

He alleged that people, whose ancestors' names are there in the NRC of 1951, are also being harassed on the suspicion of being illegal immigrants.

Guwahati, December 13 (tNN): With barely five months left for Assam's assembly polls, Muslim intellectuals and organisations on Sunday have appealed to non-BJP political parties to emulate Bihar-like Maha Gathbandhan in Assam to ensure secular votes are not divided.

At a meeting organized here by Justice and Equality Demand Committee (JEDC), an organization working on promoting secular polity, the message was loud and clear that issues like livelihoods and unemployment should not be taken over by communal politics.

Participants discussed and analyzed the Bihar election outcome and unanimously advocated that non-BJP political parties in Assam should also seriously explore for coming under single platform. The meeting also decided to mobilize people at the grass-

roots for espousing secular politics in the run-up to the assembly polls.

"Issues like livelihoods and unemployment have no religion. These are problems affecting common people.

So, our stand is very clear. Communalism in any form or by any community should be discouraged. Today's politics is about coalition. All secular forces, like it happened in Bihar, should join hands," JEDC secretary and former professor of Gauhati University, Abdul Mannan said.

Writer and president of Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad (CCSP), Hafiz Ahmed said it is high time electorates in Assam takes cue from Delhi and Bihar elections where parties espousing secular causes could rout BJP's brand of politics.

CCSP is the literary body representing the Muslims living on chars (sand islands on Brahmaputra).

Three MTFA Agartala to become India’s 3rd internet gateway NCP criticizes Arunachal guv for ‘unconstitutional acts’ cadres held Guwahati, December 13 (tNN): Three cadres of Muslim Tiger Force of Assam (MTFA) were arrested in Chirang district of BTAD in a joint operation by the Army and state police.

Following intel reports regarding movement of suspected MTFA cadres travelling towards Manikpur from Salbari, a joint mobile check-post was set up early on Saturday.

Three 7.65mm pistols, two magazines, a crude bomb and some incriminating documents were seized from them.

KolKata, December 13 (aGeNcieS): Agartala, the capital of the northeastern state of Tripura, is to become India’s third internet gateway, after Mumbai and Chennai.

The announcement comes as Bangladesh’s submarine cable operator, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL), has already connected 10GBPS bandwidth with BSNL cable at the Akhaura integrated check post at the Indo-Bangladesh international border.

“With signal tests from the submarine cable of Cox Bazar in Bangladesh giving expected results, the system is ready and will be launched shortly,” said Rabi Chanda, general manager of state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) Tripura circle.

Officials say all technical preparations have been completed and they are awaiting green signals of both governments to formally launch the service. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Shaikh Hasina are expected to be present during the launch in the second week of January.

“This project will resolve telecom and inter-

net connectivity issue to a great extent in the entire North Eastern states. At present we provide connectivity from Chennai via Kolkata to North East. This will be now a short route cable between Cox Bazar cables landing station in Bangladesh to Agartala through Akhaura,” India’s Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told Gulf News.

Built at a cost of Rs191 million (Dh10.44 million) with an annual operational expenditure is around Rs72 million, the project is expected to enhance digital footprint to the nooks and corners of the region thereby enabling the government delivery mechanism to provide to the needy.

The project also will enable for IT related investments into the area.

“Our boys and girls only work in call-centres centres in Gurgaon, Bengaluru and Pune. After implementation of this project, many companies can open officers here which will certainly give a boost to employment in the region,” said Tom Maclian, an entrepreneur who runs a computer education institute in Shillong, capital of Meghalaya.

Officers’ Hill Colony celebrates pre-Christmas Our Correspondent Kohima | December 13

The Officers’ Hill Colony, Kohima celebrated its pre-Christmas here this evening at 2K Hotel through songs, Christmas message and prayer.

Officers’ Hill Colony Council (OHCC) chairman Khrielakuo in his greetings said Christmas takes place in our hearts. “It is not just an annual tribute to the great event of God becoming man but a time of joyful thanksgiving for the gift of God’s unconditional love, peace and everlasting joy,” he said.

Whenever and wherever we love, care and share with our fellow beings, the mystery and miracle of Christmas is repeated all over again, he said adding “We uphold the spirit of Christmas with love, joy, peace and hope.”

Stating that 2015 has been a good year for the colony, he said “I feel very proud of what has been achieved and very appreciative of all the hard

itaNaGar, December 13 (tNN): The Arunachal Pradesh unit of NCP has criticized governor J P Rajkhowa for his decision to advance the winter session of the Assembly to December 16 and demanded his immediate recall from the state.

NCP spokesperson Nima Sange, while calling Rajkhowa a hardcore BJP worker, in a statement on Saturday said, "The governor is using the Raj Bhawan as the BJP and RSS headquarters where political conspiracies are being weaved to topple the democratically elected state government. He is supposed to safeguard the Constitution as a guardian of the state and maintain neutrality, while knowing his Constitutional limitation."

"The governor summons as-

sembly sessions only on the recommendation of the council of ministers and he cannot fix the agenda of the house without consulting the council of ministers and the legislative assembly secretariat. We are worried that if the governor acts as a BJP worker instead of exercising his power and function, it will be a mockery of the Constitution," he added.

Showing the party's concern over the governor's letter to the Prime Minister asking him to stall various important projects and funds for the state, on the pretext of unfounded complaints, NCP stated that Rajkhowa's interference in the functioning of various department of the state was 'ill intended'.

"Calling secretaries and commissioners to Raj Bhawan and asking them to report directly to

Peace pre-requisite for all round development: Tohanba

him without the knowledge of the chief minister and chief secretary is an unethical action on his (governor) part," said Sange.

"The state NCP said the speaker cannot be impeached while the case is still sub-judice and a verdict over the disqualification of the two MLAs does not come out. The governor and opposition party's political strategy is to remove the speaker so that the dissident group of Congress can defect to BJP in toppling the elected government," he said.

Urging the governor to refrain from demeaning the Constitution, NCP stated that it would soon be submitting a memorandum to the President and Prime Minister to avoid any sort of political turmoil and law and order problems in the state.

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DECLARATION

Regd.No: 1965/2015

Officers’ Hill colony officials and others during pre-Christmas cel- Parliamentary secretary R.Tohanba and others after unveiling platinum jubilee ebration on December 13. (Morung Photo) memorial stone of Leangkongrii village on December 11.

work put in by the OHCC executive team and community leaders.”

He also looks forward to 2016 in anticipation of continued success and development of the colony community.

Christmas message was shared by Toshi Imchen, pastor NCRC Kohima.

Chaired by Vikheto, treasurer OHCP, the celebration

commenced with invocation prayer by Nozochono, advisor OHWU while Metevizo Sophie, president OHYO pronounced Bible reading Neise Chale &Co. presented a special number while vote of thanks was proposed

by OHCC general secretary Ruokolhouvou.

The celebration concluded with a grand feast.

Kohima, December 13 (mexN): Parliamentary Secretary for Municipal Affairs and Economics & Statistics, R. Tohanba, on Friday said that peace is pre-requisite for all round development and asserted that without peace nothing can be possible.

He was addressing the 75th anniversary of Leangkongrii village, under Shamator sub-division. Tohanba lauded the founder/pioneer in establishing the village in the year

1940, and urged upon the people of the village to extend their cooperation to the state government headed

by Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang for all round development in the area.

Tohanba also urged upon the villagers to maintain a cordial relationship with neighboring villages to secure a congenial atmosphere.

Earlier, the parliamentary secretary dedicated the platinum jubilee memorial stone.

Dated: 11/12/2015

I, Mr. Bendangchuba, S/o. Shri. Marnungsang Lkr, permanent resident of H.No- 76,Thahekhu Village, Dimapur, Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare under:1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India and a resident of the above address.

2. That, my parents official names are "Marnungsang Lkr" and “Lolenlila Pongen", however in my Educational documents their name inadvertently recorded as "Biru Mili" and "Imlinaro".

3. That "Biru Mili" and "Marnungsang" are the names of same and one person only that is my father and "Imlinaro" and "Lolenlila Pongen" are the names of same and one person only that is my mother.

4. That this affidavit is made to rectify my parents name as "Marnungsang Lkr” and "Lolenlila Pongen" before the competent office/authority.

Deponent

Solemnly sworn and declared before me on this 11th day of Dec 2015.

Notary Public, Nagaland

4

MonDAY 14 •12•2015

Business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Govt eyes more NIPERs, pacts with pvt cos for drug research neW Delhi, December 13 (Pti): The government plans to step up partnership with private players through NIPERs for drug discovery as it looks to set up more such institutions in the next five years.

“We should innovate, we should produce new molecules. We should have very good drug discovery system to make sure we are activating all our NIPERs. Very shortly, over the next 4-5 years, I think we will have around a dozen NIPERs”, Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) Secretary V K Subburaj said.

“We are working towards that. Even with the existing NIPERs, we are tying up with the private industry to enable right at-

mosphere for research.”

There are currently seven National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)in the country.

Commenting on other policy initiatives, Subburaj said the government is looking at implementing the Katoch Committee report as well as working to solve issues plaguing the medical device manufacturers.

“We want to see the medical devices sector grow in India. Like bulk drugs, in medical devices also, we want to reduce the dependency on other countries. We have to create our own local manufacturing capacities,” Subburaj said.

“We need to see that conducive atmosphere is

created for medical device manufacturers in India for instance the inverted duty structure, today we can import any medical equipment with zero tax but if we have to import raw material we have to pay tax. We have worked out and given it to department of revenue,” he added.

Once inverted duty structure is sorted and infrastructure is in place and the Drug and Cosmetics Act is through then right atmosphere will be created for the medical devices segment in the country, Subburaj said.

He also exhorted the pharma industry to develop expertise in other verticals apart from generics to fuel further growth in the future.

“Generic sector growth alone is not sufficient.

Today we need to go beyond that. You have got ayurveda, veterinary sector, monoclonal antibodies, specialty generics, blood products. All these are huge potential growth sectors but our presence is almost nil”, Subburaj said.

He added that if the pharma sector has to grow, it needs to diversify into other sectors as well.

“I think pharma industry should strive to move away from generics, they should be there but there should be expansion diversification in these new sectors as well so that India takes care of these other sectors also all around the world,” Subburaj said.

Elaborating on India’s place globally in terms of

generic drug production, he added: “More than 25 per cent of the generic drugs used in the world are produced in India, that is why India is called the silent champion of global healthcare. That has been India’s role, but the growth is only in the generic sector.”

There is a huge potential for growth as currently Indian pharma industry is just around 3 per cent of the global market, Subburaj said. yilpyio “There is a big margin if we want to go to 30 per cent, then we can say we have grown in the pharma sector and that day is very close because potential is there and we are working towards it. We are creating right policies for this to happen,” he added.

TAPI pipeline will integrate South, Central Asia, says Hamid Ansari mary (turkmenistan), December 13 (ians): The much awaited TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-PakistanIndia) gas pipeline will help integrate the economies of South and Central Asia, Vice President Hamid Ansari said on Sunday.

“The idea of an economically integrated South and Central Asia is an idea whose time has come,” Ansari said at the ground-breaking ceremony of the ambitious project in this Turkmen city. Describing TAPI as much more than a gas pipeline project for the four countries, he said that it was a reflection of the common desire of the four member countries to re-connect themselves.

“We are seeking to reclaim our shared geography and revitalise an age-old legacy of our mutually enriching interactions. The launch of TAPI also marks the first step towards fulfilling the vision of an economically integrated region stretching from the Bay of Bengal to the Caspian Sea,” Ansari said. Besides Ansari, Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were present at the ceremony.

Ansari said the fact that the groundbreaking ceremony was being conducted in the historic Silk Road city of Mary - ear-

lier known as Merv - was entirely appropriate. “It was here, centuries ago, that caravans carrying goods paused to refresh themselves and thereby bestow on generations to come a colourful tapestry of mutually beneficial exchanges. It was here that our ideas and imaginations, spirituality and song, art and architecture met and mingled, and a shared history was written,” he said.

“In committing ourselves to a shared future and to a vision of common prosperity, we are moving beyond an alien script written in the ink of imperialism that has prevented us from realising the fullest potential of our people and the region so far. TAPI reflects our strong desire to put this chapter behind us and stride confidently into the future.” He thanked President Berdimuhamedow for his “untiring leadership and the strength of your commitment towards TAPI”.

He also thanked Ghani and Sharif for their active involvement in the project.

“Your strong support for TAPI reflects your interest in securing the economic future of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan respectively. Your personal commitment to the success of our common venture augurs well for the entire region and for the people of all our countries,” the vice president said.

More hiring, better hikes: IMF chief Lagarde hails new climate accord ‘Packaged food market to be worth Job market eyes e-push Ready to help countries

neW Delhi, December 13 (Pti): High on hope street, the job market promises pay hikes in the range of 10-30 per cent and aggressive hiring by the private sector in 2016, but a push will need to come from e-commerce and ‘Make in India’.

Another boost can come from the Seventh Pay Commission, which will trigger a big hike in salaries of the government employees, and a domino’s effect can be seen on pay packets of many in the private sector as well.

As 2015 draws to a close, HR experts and headhunters feel green shoots of ‘achche din’ were visible in the job market as hiring activities grew by nearly 10 per cent this year and broadly an upward trend was witnessed as the months passed by, barring a few blips around May-June.

Data compiled by various agencies show that the companies have doled out average pay hikes of 10-12 per cent this year while the average increment has been higher at about 25 per cent for the top talent.

For the coming year, HR experts forecast pay hikes of 12-15 per cent across various sectors, while top talent can look forward to up to 30 per cent increase in pay packets.

Some surveys have already pegged Indian companies as the most optimistic globally in terms of their hiring outlook for the new year, while the most of the hiring activities are expected in the ecommerce and Internet-related sectors,

Washington, December 13 (ians): Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde has hailed the Paris climate agreement adopted on Saturday, saying “it is a critical step forward for addressing the challenge of global climate change in the 21st century”.

She also urged the different governments to honour their commitments, Xinhua news agency reported.

Governments must now put words into actions, in particular by implementing policies that make effective progress on the mitigation pledges they have made, according to the statement.

“That is why my key message is to price carbon right and to do it now. Charging for the emissions of fossil fuels puts in place the needed incentives for low-carbon investments,” she said.

It also provides revenues to safeguard the poor, reduce debt, and lower the burden of other taxes on households and businesses, she noted.

“We look forward to dialogue on carbon pricing and helping governments put this vital policy into practice,” she added.

as also in the manufacturing space as the companies wait for the ‘Make in India’ projects to hit the ground.

Experts said the job market remained a mixed bag in 2015 but it was definitely better than the previous year as many companies pumped up hiring activities on expectations that the promises of a better investment climate and the government push to manufacturing industry will soon start bearing fruit.

“Yes, it’s really starting of ‘Achche Din’ in job market.

Manufacturing and engineering sector is heading to create more jobs compare to last few years. Coming year outlook is very optimistic and more positive compared than earlier,” recruitment platform MyHiringClub.com CEO Rajesh Kumar said.

Summing up the year in terms of hiring, executive search firm GlobalHunt MD Sunil Goel said, “Though there is lot of back-end work happening to bring the ‘good days’, it is still reflected at sentiment level only. It may start reflecting on ground level in year 2016.”

Leading quarterly hiring surveys also predict a bullish start for the year 2016.

According to Antal Global Snapshot, nearly 88 per cent of companies in the country have hiring plans for 2016, while the quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook Survey puts India as the most optimistic among 42 countries in terms of hiring plans for the first three months of 2016.

_

LEISURE

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SUDOKU Game Number # 3434

implement climate pact: WB

Washington, December 13 (ians): World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on Saturday welcomed the historic global climate agreement reached in Paris, saying the World Bank was ready to help countries deal with climate change.

“We welcome the historic agreement that has just been reached in Paris. The world has come together to forge a deal that finally reflects the aspiration, and the seriousness, to preserve our planet for future generations,” the World Bank president said in a statement.

The deal protects the poorest people and the most vulnerable countries, and sends the signal to trigger public and private sectors investments to drive economies toward a carbon neutral world, Xinhua quoted Kim as saying.

He said the World Bank is ready to help and will do its utmost to help countries implement the climate deal and address climate change.

The historic Paris agreement on climate change is finally adopted with no objection Saturday by the 196 Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) during the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) hosted

by France.

The agreement has 31 pages with 29 articles, including objective, mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, finance, technology development and

transfer, capacity building, and transparency of action and support.

On the basis of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, the Paris agreement calls for aiming to hold global average temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and strives for limiting the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 3446

Answer Number # 3433

$50 bn by 2017’

neW Delhi, December 13 (ians): India’s packaged food business has grown manifold, and it is estimated to grow to $50 billion by 2017 from $32 billion at present, a survey said on Sunday.

“There has been a major shift in food habits in metropolitan cities. About 79 percent of households prefer to have instant food due to steep rise in double incomes, standard of living and convenience,” said an Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) survey.

It found that 76 percent of parents in big cities, mostly both working and with children under the age of five, are serving easy-to-make meals at least 10-12 times every month in some form or the other.

“The consumption of packaged food is much higher in the urban areas, especially metros, where life is fastpaced, attracting a lot more companies to launch new types of products and variants,” Assocham secretary general D.S. Rawat said in a statement.

India’s packaged food market is characterised by a large divide between urban, semi-urban and rural consumers.

Urban areas account for 80 percent of the demand for all packaged food, the report said. The main packaged food include bakery and dairy products, canned and frozen processed food, ready-to-eat meals, diet snacks, processed meat, health products and drinks.

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I M N Z G P T N L S Z O N V A L L E Y S

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O I I F F V C L I F F S K N K Z Q Y R D

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

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C A N Y O N S M R O T S U D N S I X B F

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ACROSS

1. . Expectorates 6. Vagrants 10. Taxis 14. Unit of weight for gems 15. Leave out 16. Monster 17. A cosmic cataclysm 19. Natural satellite 20. Slogan 21. Belief 22. Not amateurs 23. Put forth, as effort 25. Slow down 26. Close violently 30. A Native American tent 32. Madman 35. Spackle 39. Incongruous 40. Give confidence to 41. Roman household gods 43. Aerial 44. A ring that seals 46. Consider 47. One more than 6 50. A part of the small intestine 53. Snip 54. Ribonucleic acid 55. Emanating from the center

DOWN

1. Fraud 2. Dad 3. Press 4. Diplomacy 5. Look at with fixed eyes 6. Lad 7. Referee 8. Error 9. Flower stalk 10. Compacted 11. Ancient Greek marketplace 12. Creek 13. Feel 18. Lenient 24. And so forth 25. Monster 26. Faux pas 27. Attraction 28. Nameless 29. Administration 31. Scheme

33. Moon of Saturn 34. Frosts 36. Melody 37. Sea eagle 38. 500 sheets 42. Peeled 43. Consumed food 45. Jubilant 47. Not fresh 48. Mistake 49. Entry permits 51. A large vase 52. Wizardry 54. Go on horseback 56. Opera star 57. Nile bird 58. Away from the wind 59. Not more 62. Big fuss Ans to CrossWord 3445

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MonDAY 14•12•2015

IN FOCUS

6

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express X issue 340X issue 185 Thursday 9volume July 2015 volume By moa Jamir

C O M M E N T A R Y

Ken Sehested prayerandpolitiks.org

ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE

Paris Agreement: A better Introduction to "We Are the Socks," Dan Buttry's book deal for tomorrow?

O

n December 12, when the Paris Agreement on Climate Change was announced, it was hailed among others as a “monumental triumph” and "the best chance we have to save the one planet we have." After two weeks of intense negotiations, 195 Parties to the UNFCCC had - pledged to curb emissions, strengthen resilience and joined to take common climate action.

The road to Paris has frayed with extreme turbulence.

While the international “political response” to climate change began at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, with the adoption of the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and adoption of “Rio Convention” which has now membership of 195 parties and hold annual Conference of Parties (COP) to review the Convention’s implementation; huge disagreement persist over monitoring, financing, imposition of emissions targets as well as other stipulations under legally binding accords, most notably signed under the Kyoto Protocol (1997).

The 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21) was, therefore, seen as a critical following several failed COPs. In its final adoption, the key agreement includes - peaking greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible; to keep global temperature increase "well below" 2C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C; to review progress every five years; and $100bn a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2020, with a commitment to further finance in the future.

Partly binding legally and partly voluntary, the Paris Agreement will be opened for one year for signature on 22 April 2016 and enter into force after 55 countries that account for at least 55% of global emissions gives their ratification. Considered a better deal than many expected, the agreement is further seen as a huge steps towards limiting the global warming and mitigating impact of climate change.

However, critics had argued that, “ambitious temperature goal is not matched by an equally ambitious mitigation goal.”

Renowned climate scientist James Hansen of Columbia University was severe in his criticism when he called the agreement a ‘fraud’. “It’s just worthless words. There is no action, just promises,” Hansen told The Guardian. “As long as fossil fuels appear to be the cheapest fuels out there, they will be continued to be burned.” 2020 is considered “too late” by others when the emission level is already considered too high. An clause in the agreement also allow a 'Party' (country) to withdraw from the ‘Agreement’ by giving written notification to the Depositary (The UN), which in a way is self-defeating.

Lack of an ‘ambitious target’ or absolute commitment by the participating countries either for reduction in carbon consumption or failure to address financing for towards cleaner energy also makes the agreement somewhat redundant. Such agreement would have made the indigenous communities to cope more with the climate change, whose contribution to the same is minimal but suffers its worst impact.

Notwithstanding the criticism, the agreement is a huge step towards making a cohesive and collective global response to tackle an impending tragedy.

Closer home, an agreement of such magnitude and the discourse on climate change also is a cautionary tale for the policy makers to make necessary adaptation towards cleaner energy as well as incorporate environmental concern in policy matters.

Unchecked prospecting, especially coal and oil, have potentially hazardous environmental implication and requires not only a comprehensive policy but also collective and cohesive community response. The depleting forest cover in Nagaland over the years and loss of traditional farming and preservation techniques by giving precedence to cash cropping and other commercial plantation is another major concern. An enhanced and robust public services and utilities is another step towards mitigating the impact. Public transport remains the primary mode of transport for most of the State’s citizen.

An sturdy system will offer an viable alternative to our excessive dependence private entities to fill the gap and thereby saving the carbon footprint in the process.

For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com

lEfT WING |

Nury Vittachi IANS

The Funny Side: A car just called police and had its driver arrested

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hild: "Face it, Dad, you're a dinosaur." Me: "Could a dinosaur do THIS?" (My fingers flicker over the computer keyboard and I accidentally delete Photoshop and emptied the trash.) Child: "Yes." Me: "Ah. That was meant to be a page of HTML5 code." Technology is trouble. You have no idea. A bad driver was just arrested after her car phoned the police. The motorist was bumping into things when her Ford car computer tipped off the cops and then turned into a two-way radio so they could speak to her. "Your car called to say you'd been involved in an accident," a police officer said.

Everything's fine, the woman lied, but the cops preferred the car's version of events. It told them their location and they arrested her on hit-and-run charges. As they dragged her away, the car computer could be heard saying quietly to itself: "One down, seven billion to go." Okay, so I made up the last bit, but the rest is true. It happened recently in the US state of Florida and the report was sent to me by reader Daniel Platt, who said: "If gadgets are going to start reporting users' misbehavior, we're all screwed." True.

Platt's friend has a paranoid smartphone app called Bugle that calls for help if it feels abandoned. Last week she went for a onehour swim but stopped at a donut shop on the way home. Her phone, waiting at home, sent out texts and emails saying she'd disappeared. "All she was doing was giving herself a little 600-calorie reward for burning 280 calories," he said. "As one does."

I told him that one of my friends has a Samsung Galaxy phone which sends an emergency alert if he presses the home button three times in a row. He's clumsy and it regularly calls for help when he most needs to be alone, frequently summoning emergency help to the toilet. A colleague from Australia said the police in the west of her country set up roadside computer cops to automatically spot motorists driving without having paid road tax.

The lists were unexpectedly long. It became obvious that when human police had been doing the job, they let most offenders off, because they were repentant and tearful: "I'm so sorry, I'm six months behind because of the trauma caused by the recent death of my pet flea." In contrast, the computer cop wouldn't let anyone off even if they were one day late and all 20 of their children had died that morning. Police, ordered to immediately arrest virtually everyone in Western Australia, instead disabled the computer cops.

But that's rare. Mostly, technology is getting the upper hand.

The most worrying thing was that Platt said that all new cars contain computers. In your next car, remote voices will give you live advice while you are actually driving along the road. Police: "The data stream shows that your driving is shockingly bad, sir.

We suggest you make more use of the on-board car computer."

My kids: "Fat chance. The man's a dinosaur."

Nury Vittachi is an Asia-based frequent traveller.

Send comments and ideas via his Facebook page

W

hat Dan Buttry does in We Are the Socks is what he does better than anyone I know: Write vivid, easy-to-read narratives that are hopeful but not sentimental, honest but not cynical, revealing without being voyeuristic, personal without being self-serving, sometimes humorous but never silly. And the people he writes about, in these few selected episodes out of literally dozens of others from his global work, are not drawn from self-selected elites—the morally heroic or intelligent or ingenious. Mostly they are commonplace folk, drawn from every sort of circumstance, typical admixtures of hope and doubt, compassion and malice, vision and blind sightedness.

Not your stereotypical candidates for sainthood. In other words, folk like us, like the ones in our churches and neighborhoods and families.

What distinguishes the characters in this book is, first, they have experienced the blunt force of repression of one sort or another; and, second, they hold out hope for miracles, for the things that make for peace.

Not miracles in the manner of Cecil B. DeMille movie-marvels or Stephen Spielberg special effects. And not miracles in the sense of abrogating the laws of nature. Miracles in the sense of utter surprise, of the completely unexpected, the hardly imaginable, coming to pass—joyously so, for those of low estate; horrifyingly so, for the high riders.

The awe required for miracle-minders is the expectation that one day, in one form or another, the sum of our work will be greater than the parts. It will arrive, seemingly, out of nowhere. As the Prophets often noted, a way will emerge from no-way.

“Peacemaking is not a matter of social engineering,” Dan writes, nor is it “ a technique to be practiced,” but is “an art in which turning points come through some action and words spoken that are completely unplanned.”

This reminds me of an experience my wife had in her work as a maximum-security prison chaplain. One of her weekly duties was to accompany the Native American group outside for their prayer circle and passing the sacred pipe. (In a tobacco-free institution, this particular religious affiliation had become a popular choice.) On one occasion two of the men had sat outside the circle, talking, as the ceremony progressed. Afterward, Nancy pulled them aside as the group returned to their cell blocks, quietly reminding them that, first, their behavior was disrespectful and, two, that it was against prison policy (aimed at reducing coordinated gang activity).

Juan went off, enraged, yelling and threatening. Some of the inmates heard and came back, making counter threats.

The escalating rage stopped just short of a riot. (It doesn’t take much to reach a boiling point in prison, full as it is of daily humiliations that accumulate like metal shavings to a magnet.)

Afterward, Nancy called Juan to her office. He arrived face still flushed with vindictiveness, ready for a confrontation. Without pause, Nancy asked him, “Juan, what is your favorite song?”

“Huh?” he asked, not from lack of hearing but from surprise. So Nancy simply repeated the question. “What’s your favorite song?”

The look on his face was incredulous, but he managed to say, “’Imagine” by John Lennon.”

Now it was Nancy’s turn to be surprised, but that didn’t slow her. She immediately got on her computer and called up a YouTube recording of the song and hit “play.”

What happened next was a 3-minute transformation of biblical proportions, all because of the improvisational skills of a conflict transformer (of diminutive size) who took a surprising initiative to counter “the realism of resignation to violence” (as Dan describes the work of one of his co-trainers, Boaz Keibarak, during a workshop in a conflicted area of Kenya).

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot

be unlived,” the poet Maya Angelou wrote, “but if faced with courage [and imagination!], need not be lived again.”

In my decades of work starting and sustaining faith-based peace and justice organizations I was occasionally approached by students wanting advice on how to take on this sort of career. I learned over the years to be blunt, saying that three-fourths of the work I did was not unlike what any small nonprofit administrator has to do: manage volunteers, craft and implement appropriate financial development strategies and project planning, maintain accountability structures, sustain communication tools.

In other words, much peacemaking work is thoroughly unglamorous. And measureable success is hard to come by. The successes are often fragile and subject to cracks, even collapse. For instance, the mediation work among the Nagas of Northeast India, which Dan mentions in this work, is in its 20th year and still far short of the hoped-for transformation.

Luckily, in that region are people who practice what

German theologian Dorothee Sölle called “revolutionary patience,” a kind of patience that is not passive, that remains expectant amid the lulls of productive activity, that knows the engines of change can also run in reverse, that is not overly wrought when hopeful breakthroughs stall not far out of the gate, that is not so distracted by the lack of progress that they keep their eyes and ears alert to some moment of leverage easily overlooked amid the routine headlines and day-to-day tedium.

Or, to switch metaphors, what is needed to sustain effective social change is what the Brazilian theological movement of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, in the context of a brutal military dictatorship, articulated as permanente firmeza, roughly translated as “relentless firmness (or resolve).” Whether referencing an explicit religious orientation or not, this characteristic can only be sustained by a vision of the future that does not sit waiting for us to arrive but is actively pushing its way through the crowded onslaught of history in our

direction. Only those touched by this beatific vision know the truth of what Walter Brueggemann notes: “The empire always wants to limit what is possible to what is available.” Peacemakers are those forged in the fiery vision that “what is promised is more than what is possessed” (Brueggemann).

Effective peacemakers are by necessity a durable lot, with scars—emotional and sometimes physical—as verifiable evidence of having counted the cost. Those on the Way of Jesus know the secret of success pulses in this line from the writer of Hebrews who wrote that Jesus, “for the sake of the joy that was set before him, endured the cross” (12:2). There is a saying in the Philippines, “Those who would give light must endure burning.” Being soaked in this joy is the only way to endure the flames of defeat, desertion, betrayal, and despair.

To create an effective movement for redemptive engagement, reflective work must be integrated with affective learning in the context of a community of conviction. Mind and imagination must be addressed, and these must be tethered to disciplines of concrete and communal commitments.

But, of course, the peace that must be made is not always way over yonder.

(Dan deals with this in the “Where’s Our Chicken?” chapter.) The bloodless violence we commit in much more pedestrian and familiar relations is different in scale but not in substance from the enmity that sparks war. My vote for the most blistering text in the Newer Testament comes from James: “How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed, but no once can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (vv. 5b-8).

The most intimidating piece of peacemaking work I’ve undertaken wasn’t in a war zone. It was in my own home.

It was late. I was tired. I’d not come near finishing urgent work prior to leaving town. I didn’t start packing a suitcase until midnight preparing for a pre-dawn flight. Nancy was up late, too, and similarly preoccupied and stressed. Something came up. I honestly don’t remember what. In a few short words we found ourselves pinching each other’s emotional sciatic nerves. We went to bed with our backs to each other.

A few hours later I was in a state of deep unrest sitting in the airport waiting to board—knowing what I needed to do but dreading it more than a root canal.

But finally I did. I went to a nearby pay phone [see Wikipedia for definition], dropped in a quarter, dialed our number and heard Nancy’s voice.

“I’m sorry for last night,” I said.

“Me, too,” came the response.

We didn’t talk long. We didn’t analyze the conflict. We just raised affection-laced truce flags, implicitly admitting that the channel connecting our lives needed dredging. Acknowledging the murky water was the key to repairing the flow.

I’m not suggesting that strategies for maintaining a good marriage are similar to negotiating a nuclear arms treaty with Iran. And there are a host of conflicts between these spectral poles needing attention, all of them requiring customized analyses and creative engagements.

What each shares with the others is the requirement of risk, a risk powered by a realism admitting the possibility of miracle, plus the kind of fidelity that sustains patience in the face of seemingly impossible odds. John Paul Lederach, considered the pioneer of conflict transformation theory and practice, urges us to mobilize “moral imagination as the capacity to imagine something rooted in the challenges of the real world yet capable of giving birth to that which does not yet exist.”

The future is not fated. Another world is possible.

Mass Shootings and the Point of Prayer Joe Kay

T

Sojourners

he oh-so-familiar reaction started before we knew what had happened in the latest massacre at a conference center. Posts on social media encouraged us to pray for San Bernardino. Tweets went out bearing hashtag prayers.

It’s so damn familiar.

We see the heart-breaking images that are so much like the other heartbreaking images from the other day – different people, different place, different massacre, same sick feeling. We dust off our “Pray for the people of (fill in the blank)” and hashtag a prayer their way.

And then we do nothing to change it. Which means we’re really not praying at all.

It's not enough if all we do is feel sad and sorry for the victims of violence, say a prayer, and leave it at that.

That’s not how prayer works. Prayer always involves an openness to be God’s answer, God’s agents of change.

This is on us. It’s on you and me.

What are we going to do about it?

The words of a prayer are only a starting point. Those words can be empty and have no real effect, or they can become the most powerful thing in the world. It depends upon whether we’re willing to become the answer.

Prayer always involves an answer. It always involves some type of change. It always involves risk – which is why prayer is such radical stuff at its core. It's more than a request; it's a commitment. If we’re not willing to engage our world and challenge it to do better, then we’re the ones falling down on the job – let's leave God out of it.

Saying a little prayer and moving on is not enough. Prayer is powerful and personal and involves taking action.

We pray for the person who is hungry, and then we feed them. We pray for the person who is bleeding by the

side of the road, and then we stop to help them. And it doesn’t end there.

We work to change our systems so that we have fewer people hungry and fewer people bleeding in our streets and in our schools and in our churches and in our conference centers.

It’s up to you and me.

Look, we have a pretty good idea of what God would like here. What parent would want their children murdering each other on a daily basis? It’s up to us to try to stop it.

And we don’t do that by accepting violence and clinging to our weapons.

Nor do we do it by defending the status quo. Or by being indifferent. Or by throwing up our hands and saying the problem is too big.

And it sure doesn’t mean looking up and expecting God to wave some magic wand to make it all go away.

That’s not the way it works. We created

WRITE-WING

the problem; God has already given us all that we need to fix it.

You’ve prayed for peace? Good!

Now start working for it.

This is on you and me.

Yes, advocating for peace is exasperating and makes us vulnerable, but that’s how it works. We have to be patient and persistent. Love is patient and persistent. We have to have the audacity to respond to hatred and fear not with more hatred and fear, but with an unflinching love. We need to respond to violence not with more violence, but with a firm commitment to find ways to live together more peacefully.

All of those prayers and calls for peace in the past 24 hours? We’ve already received our answer: God wants to use us to change it.

We make the guns. We glorify the violence. We accept the status quo. It’s on you and me to fix this. God has given us all that we need to do it. The rest is up to us. Time to get off our butts and do it. Time to get off our knees and start praying for real.

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.

MonDAY 14•12•2015

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

7

Renminbi and the SDR Basket If FIFA were a country

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he Chinese renminbi (RMB) will now be included in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket of currencies from 1 October,2016 with a currency weight of 10.92%. The SDR is a reserve asset that the International Monetary Fund had created in 1969.The reserve assets serve the role similar to the reserve currencies that individual central banks hold as foreign exchange reserves.

They also impact the interest rate that the IMF would charge its borrowers. The decision to include the renminbi in the basket of currencies was taken by the Executive Committee of the IMF in its meeting held on 30th November 2015.

Below we look at how the international monetary system has evolved and significance of the IMF’s move to both India and the world economy.

International Monetary System In the era of the gold standard (1872-1913) currencies could be exchanged for gold at a pre-determined rate. This was the beginning of the modern monetary system as we know it today. The convertibility provision of currencies ensured that individuals could exchange pieces of paper for equivalent amounts of gold. This increased the confidence of users of paper currency and aided in the creation of the modern monetary system in the world. The gold standard however collapsed in 1913 due to a variety of reasons and gave way the Bretton Woods system.

While the former was a fixed exchange rate regime the latter was a partial fixed exchange rate regime with devaluations occurring once in a while. Moreover in the latter era central banks could exchange the dollars they held at the rate of $35 to an ounce of gold. The early 1970s saw a peculiar form of macro crises in the United States termed stagflation with inflation and stagnation happening simultaneously.

This led to the US suspending converting the dollar into gold and in 1972 was born the present international monetary system.

In the post-Bretton Woods world where currencies are not typically convertible into anything other than similar currencies central banks hold reserve currencies to intervene in the foreign exchange market to ensure that their respective domestic currencies attain exchange levels that are in line with the national policies. India’s central bank, the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) holds 93% of its US$350 bn foreign exchange reserves in foreign currency assets and 1.1% in SDRs. About 65% of the above foreign currency reserves are held in dollars and the rest in other currencies like the Japanese yen, the euro, the pound sterling a variety of other assets like bonds etc.

These interventions in the forex market determine the exchange rate of individual currencies much as supply and demand for goods and services determine its price. The ‘price’ set by the forex market is the exchange rate. In terms of the above discussion we pay roughly 66 Indian rupees to get one dollar.

policy

Alina Mungiu-Pippidi

If the majority can be bought, intimidated or pushed around, then no country, any more than an international organization, can establish control over corruption

papers S

By Vyasan R

cannot be exchanged directly and neither do they constitute claims on the IMF. The SDRs currently are tied to a basket that includes 4 currencies namely the US dollar, euro, the pound sterling and the Japanese yen.However, SDRsmay be exchanged for one of the 4 freely usable currencies of the IMF. The renminbi is being added to the existing list of freely usable currencies. Beginning October 2016 the renminbi will also be included in the reserve list of currencies. In other words, if any country finds itself in a weak foreign exchange position then it can exchange its SDRs for renminbi (apart from the existing list of 4 currencies) from countries that are designated by the IMF as having excess SDRs.

Indian Rupee and the SDR basket For the Indian rupee to be included in the SDR basket it has to fulfil two major criteria. The first one being that it should be a major exporter during the 5 years preceding the meeting of the review committee of SDRs. The review committee meets every 5 years to assess the attractiveness of the SDRs as a reserve currency. The export criterion ensures that the domestic currency of the said country or monetary union is a major player in the global trade market thereby increasing the attractiveness of the SDRs indirectly. Chinahas been the third largest exporter in the past 5 years and the highest the past couple of years. India has to show robust export growth over a sustained period of time if the rupee has to qualify to be part of the basket of currencies. India is currently only the 19th top exporter in the world and a 2014 HSBC study speculates that we will reach the 5th spot not earlier than 2030.

The second criterion which began to be applied since 2000 measures the use of the currency in financial transactions. Currencies aspiring to be in the SDR basket should be used widely to make payments for international transactions and be widely traded in the global exchange markets. If a currency satisfies these two criteria then it is characterised by the IMF as a freely usable currency. The concept of freely usable currency is different from full convertibility and SDR capital account convertibility. In the past even when The Special Drawing Rights (SDR) are allocated the pound sterling and the Japanese yen had restricto individual countries by the IMF based on the in- tions on the capital account they were ‘freely usable’ dividual country’s quota at the Fund. These SDRs as these currencies were widely used for conducting

The Morung Express

transactions in the global economy.The RMB is the world’s second choice after the dollar to make trade payments. Within Asia the RMB accounts for a third of the trade payments to China and Hong Kong.

The Indian rupee is still a long way from being used in major financial transactions. The rupee is still vulnerable to speculative attacks. In fact during the calendar year 2015 the rupee depreciated by more than 5% and there are capital market restrictions in the country preventing full access of India’s security markets to the rest of the world. This implies that there is a long way for India to go before the rupee can qualify to be in the reserve basket for SDRs. Significance The IMF SDR Review board in its meeting concluded on 30th November noted that the Chinese RMB was being used increasingly for making international financial transactions, that there were fewer impediments for investments in China’s capital markets and that there are welcome steps to improve data disclosure by the Chinese authorities. These steps for improving transparency in China’s financial markets have been recognised as steps in the right direction. The actual inclusion of the RMB in the basket is being delayed to ensure the full preparedness of the IMF staff and for allowing smoother transition.

As Christine Lagarde, the MD of the IMF mentioned in the press conference the inclusion of the RMB is a reflection of the steps taken by China ‘to move towards a market driven macroeconomic framework.’

Going by the low percentages of SDRs held as forex reserves the inclusion or exclusion of the Chinese renminbi may not affect the day to day operations of the Indian Central Bank or most other central banks in the world. However the significance of the inclusion of the renminbi cannot be overlooked. It is the first emerging market currency to be included in the SDR basket and has also got a higher weightage in the basket than both the yen and the pound sterling. The IMF by including the RMB has accepted the changing reality of the world economy but only time will tell how an economy ruled by a communist party, with a currency that is not convertible and with many controls on the capital account will evolve.

(The author is an IAS officer of Nagaland cadre.

The views expressed in his column, featured every Monday, are personal. Feedback can be emailed to vyasan_r@yahoo.com)

POLL RESULTS

Is the annual Hornbill Festival benefiting the ordinary people of Nagaland? Why? Some of those who voted YES had this to say: • Yes, Due to influx of people from other parts of India, the local business including tourism get a boost.

• Of course. At least somebody like me gets the opportunity to travel on a better road condition within the town for one month ie from15th nov. - 15th dec. That is why i love Hornbill festival:-) • Yes, it definitely can. But must is desired. The Hornbill Festival is a wasted opportunity. It could have soared like the Hornbill, but must is to be done. We don’t learn from our mistakes. We keep repeating the same mistakes year after year. Why don’t the Government hire Naga professionals to run the Hornbill Festival?

• Yes of course, some activities like night bazaars in Dimapur, Wokha, Kohima, etc are held with Hornbill mood, Hotels are booming but the taxi area needs to be taped by allowing entry only for local taxis from certain point or collecting extra tax from outstation taxies. Only 2-3 days will be too short Mr. CM, 7 days shall be fine.

Some of those who voted NO had this to say: • NO NO NO a Big NO...... when the naga students studying outside are ousted from college due to nonpayment of their fees (just imagine how hopeless and cheated they might be feeling rite now), when the students are begging for their scholarships, when the teachers are deprived of their salary (some even upto 17 month's... (my God, I wonder how they are surviving), what's the point of this showoffs (Hornbill) which Nagaland is really not. I personally dont feel its benefiting the public at all but making it worst with the unnecessary price rise..

• Not at all! Its benefiting only a handful who are minting money as if they are making wealth for a lifetime. All are aware of the exorbitant rates at which everything is done. And these goes on while general populace is made to cope with immeasurable inconveniences for 10 days! I would suggest that the Festival be spread out into all the districts, this way other districts will also benefit (come one Nagaland is more than Kohima) and some development will accompany, and the CM’s idea of cutting it down to a 3 days affair is the best.

• No, In the last 13 years of Hornbill, who has gained?

It is not the public who have gained. The Hornbill Festival is being used by politicians and bureaucrats as their personal festival to make commercial agreements and business deals for their own purpose.

• Only certain people in Kohima. For the rest of the ordinary Nagas, they gain nothing. In fact, public money that could be spent for them goes into shows....

• No. It’s the same societies, event management groups and so on that keep getting the same old Hornbill contracts year after year. So only a few people are actually profiting from it.

• No, Ordinary people cannot attend its too expensive to go there.

• No. Is there any poor villagers able to be self-reliance or depend financially for daily bread from the beginning of Hi-Fi Extravagant HornBill Festival till date.

• No, never, not......hornbill festival(bird puja) only for the rich, by the rich and of the rich-100% • No. I am an ordinary person and in no way benefits me.

• Its a big NO. Yeah, it is true that people gets a chance to participate, it is a platform where our traditional and cultural practises and unique styles are exposed to rest of the world but in no way it benefits the general people of Nagaland. Without cleaning up the mess our ministers and MLA's are on a rush to tell the world that Nagas are unique. The state is on deficit, and it is the general public that'll suffer for it.

• No.. Attracting tourists for a few days alone cannot justify the enormity of failures the govt in particular and the public in general.. We nagas are just showing off to others how much importance we give to our outward appearance without having nothing. We are going downward every year.

• A big no....this festival is "festival of privileged and VIPs".

Comon..instead of this at least give a try to develop the under developed areas of Nagaland.

71%

don't sale any things/items whether materials eddibles or so on to anybody on our festival period, instead we share freely to our fellows. KISAMA has now turned to a business heritage. A place where no one fears to indulge in illegal activities. All office workers leave their assignment and rushed up with their fellow friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, admirers etc.

I don't want this Hornbill festival at Kisama, Street/Road side concerts and so on within the state of Nagaland. Its a waste of Money, time and energy for our people.

• No,as for our place,only the participants and those who resides in and around Kohima witness the so called festival. Around 80% doesn't know anything about horn-bill except the name. Its only for the rich and the VIPs. • No never. its a festival where immorality grows. Of course we cant totally be negative but if we weight both the positives n negatives, we can find that negatives out-weights the positives. so this MUST stop n invest all those bucks somewhere else where the common man benefits • Its a Big NO, laymen like me are heavily taxed coz all the Rich men got Car Pass and they go through easily up and down whereas poor guy like me have to shell out Rs 50 Parking Tax Rs 10 Entry Fee every time I enter.....DAY LIGHT ROBBERY. • No, crores of rupees are spent. People from all over come to enjoy the party, win fabulous prizes, get paid for their performances and leave our people poorer annually. Nagas have absolutely no COMMON SENSE. • No. Hornbill festival itself is designed for the big shots to loot money meant for the common man. So it does not benefit the common man.

• It has too many negatives. It has spoilt the working system and made people to only have fun, spend.

The people who participate loss time for going to their fields.

Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say: • Actually, the Hornbill Festival is a wonderful opportunity to show case the Naga culture and tradition.

Unfortunately, it is not doing done in good taste. The festival should be left to the Tourism Department and the Government of Nagaland. They are messing it up and reducing our culture to the morung, few people jumping and dancing around, eating exotic food and drinking rice beer.

• Until those grand old fathers, mothers, or handicapped person benefitted through this festivals means its not benefit or prosperous festival and only wasting state's money only for enjoying among fit and well beings people.. development must be first before enjoying.. lets remember together, our kitchen' s utensils may be cleaner than those advance peoples' but still were using vegetables/ rice were dirtiest of those backwards people means its better not to use cleaner utensils.

• don’t know how much is spent for hornbill fest and the income generated but incomes doesn't benefits common man, it only benefits some few individuals.... the amount spent for organizing can be diverted to other developmental projects which can benefits YES NO OTHER common man.

• To a certain extent, the Hornbill Festival may be ben• NO No No. Rich, poor, VIP or the bread earners just spend eficial to a handful of Nagas, but to a large extent it has betheir money lavishly to visit the blooming sucking hornbill fes- come a show for the govt. It will be better if the govt can be a tival without hornbill place Kisama. Everyone has a culture of little low profile and allow the tribes to show case themselves. their own tribe, area/range, villages etc.. At their respective Too much of VIP, car pass A, B, C etc hampers the ordinary scheduled each year and while viewing this hornbill festival, people. Is the Hornbill Festival for the people or the govt? In it seems peoples from different grounds comes for compe- Nagaland there is too much govt interference where it should tition with the best clothes, food, wine and so on. Why not not be. Give the people space. Govt show be involved where serve for free? If its a festival of Nagas. As far as I know, We required, eg: Roads, sewages, etc (which will benefit people)

15%

14%

peaking on Thursday, December 3, on the corruption indictments of additional FIFA officials (bringing the total number of individuals and entities charged to date to 41) American Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said “The Department of Justice is committed to ending the rampant corruption we have alleged amidst the leadership of international soccer – not only because of the scale of the schemes, or the brazenness and breadth of the operation required to sustain such corruption, but also because of the affront to international principles that this behavior represents”. In other words, it has simply become impossible in the present world to defy public integrity so openly and so outrageously as FIFA has done for many years. Having just celebrated International Anticorruption Day (December 9) - it is worth pondering what this means for the world.

For instance, if FIFA officials systematically gave broadcast rights or picked tournament locations on the basis of favouritism, in exchange for kickbacks or other favours this means that corruption was the rule, not the exception in the way FIFA operated.

American officials claim that for decades, FIFA officials “used their power as the leaders of soccer federations throughout the world to create a web of corruption and greed that compromises the integrity of the beautiful game”.

Everybody knew. Opponents were systematically silenced, eliminated or remained a tiny minority. Should this be a surprise? After all, the average public integrity in the 209 countries whose soccer associations are the FIFA constituents is just 5, on a scale where New Zealand has ten and Somalia 1 (incidentally, it is Somalia who has nominated Mr. Blatter in 2011 for the FIFA presidency).

More concerning still, the number of countries where integrity clearly prevails (above the grade of seven, say) is only 44, with those above 5 at 94. Were FIFA a country, it would clearly not be in the upper half, but somewhere near Brazil, whose officials seem to have been waist deep in its corruption, and which ranks around 121, with a 4.2.

And this is only a perception ranking, the most objective one to date, as it aggregates everybody’s rating of a country. But what if we build a corruption indicator looking only at procurement practices, as we already did for the EU- 28, showing that EU institutions might come after Portugal (who is ranked 15 in the EU top and is the very last country with 7 in the global top)? After all, Brazil has been known for some years to struggle against corruption, which seems not to have been the case with FIFA. Finally, do not ask where the UN would be if you would rank it as country - an organization where after a major cleanup top leaders can still be arrested on corruption charges. It seems that to arrive at the enviable situation where corruption is a deviation from the norm there is still some way to go and what anticorruption fighters around the world battle with is a rather vicious social order where you have to know whom somebody is in order to predict what share of public resources one will get.

At least this is what I argued in my last book, A Quest for Good Governance, that we must wage a war to establish the norm of public integrity before punishing the defectors from it. It is simply a matter of understanding what the majority practice is.

The resemblance between FIFA and one of the countries below the average in the global corruption tops does not stop there. Corruption is all about unchecked power and lack of public oversight which allows officials to convert influence into material assets. Where this exists, power monopolies take hold even if the institution of formal competitive elections exists. The combination of unlimited terms and himself as the only candidate on the ballot that Mr. Blatter enjoyed for some years is familiar practice in sub-Saharan Africa or Central Asia, the most corrupt regions in the world. And where discretionary power is so high as to prevent any opposition (no federation in the world had the courage to endorse the mock candidature of an American sports journalist to the FIFA presidency for fear of reprisals from the FIFA leadership), then internal control agencies or committees are also subdued.

They were regularly petitioned, and found “lack of evidence”. This is why I find in my book that countries which have adopted anticorruption agencies or adopted more anticorruption legislation have not progressed more than countries which did not.

Actually it seems to be the reverse - presently the most corrupt countries have the most laws and agencies, which occasionally are used - against the opponents of corrupt leaders who control these agencies. Their best anticorruption move would be, however, to replace entirely those leaders, cliques and elites which have been in power all these years when corruption flourished, and after they are gone they would finally be able to limit terms in office, liberalize access to being elected and do all the other common sense reforms that many soccer fans around the globe expected for many years from FIFA. But this is difficult, because the whole political economy of a corrupt country is built in a corrupt way, which is not easy to undo. For instance, in Brazil, a country where at least a fight is being fought between integrity and corruption, the poorest regions of the country are used by corrupt politicians to get re-elected in exchange for funds allocations - very much as in FIFA it was stadiums or other favours for the poorer countries, thus turned into clients of the ruling clique, when not directly bought by cash handouts on election day.

Richer and more politically active regions demand integrity eventually, even before or during a World tournament, as in Brazil, but at the end of the day it is an average which results. Corruption does not depend on nationality - Mr Blatter, was, after all, a Swiss national, whose country has a staggering 9.8 and is number 4 globally - but on the majority of your constituents. If the majority can be bought, intimidated or pushed around, then no country, any more than an international organization, can establish control over corruption.

At the end of the day, FIFA is however slightly better than a country, because, as it seems, some jurisdictions external to its own home-grown impunity system seem to apply - at least Swiss and American, as the defendants luckily used American banks and in doing so infringed American laws. Hence the conditions have been created for what is for once a very welcome American intervention.

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

8

MondAY 14•12•2015

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Demolition triggers fresh fight between Delhi govt & Centre New Delhi, December 13 (PTi): A fresh confrontation between Delhi government and the Centre erupted today after railways demolished a slum cluster here to clear "encroachments" and a baby died there, evoking angry protests from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who wanted murder case to be registered.

The demolition was carried out yesterday at Shakur Basti in West Delhi in which 1200 slum units were removed, with the railways insisting that the action was necessary to clear the "encroachments" for expanding the infrastructure.

The railways said the demolition was carried out after three notices, the first one with the March 14, 2015 deadline.

A six-month-old baby died in one of the slum units, which the railways insisted occurred two hours before the demolition started at 12 pm yesterday.

Police said prima facie the baby died after a heap of clothes fell on the child while his parents were preparing to move out of the jhuggi and hence no case is made out.

'My child would have been alive had officials shown some time'

The ruling party termed the drive as "sudden" action and said earlier too similar activities were planned by the railways.

Kejriwal, while slamming the railways, suspended two Sub-Divisional Magistrates and another senior official for "failing to arrange" food and shelter for those evicted.

As the controversy broke out, Delhi Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Arun Arora told a press

conference here that the child's death has no connection with the removal of encroachments which had become a "risk" for train operations as the slums were within the 15-metre of safety zone.

He said the National Green Tribunal had also ordered that the tracks

should be cleared of solid waste and to ensure this the railways had to "remove the source".

Arora said the slum dwellers were given first notice for vacating the land by March 14, 2015.

However, the demolition could not be undertaken then because police could

not provide assistance then, Arora said.

Subsequently, two more notices were given to them -- one with the deadline of September 30,2015 and the last one with the deadline of December 12,2015 (yesterday), he said.

"There is a need for

New Delhi, December 13 (PTi): After the railways razed their shanties, residents of the Shakur Basti slum today picked up pieces of their lives from debris strewn all over, even as father of the toddler in the midst of a row said his child would have been alive had officials shown generosity and given some time.

Throughout the day, people rummaged through the remains of the shanties, predominantly inhabited by families of workers of the nearby cement siding, in hope of recovering their bare essentials.

Mohammad Anwar sat by his wife, who had entered a state of stupor since the couple lost their six-month-old child, whom they had lovingly named Rukaiya.

"As the officials came knocking, we started quickly packing our belongings.

In the ensuing melee we did not realise when a heap of clothes fell on her which turned out to be fatal," Anwar said, staring blankly.Anwar was not oblivious of the fact that the death of his child had triggered a fresh round of confrontation constructing additional platforms, repairing yard, washing line, maintenance facility and office space for store and engineering division so that more long distance and local trains can be handled at the Shakur Basti station," another railway official said.

Kejriwal, who visit-

between the Delhi government and the Centre, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanding a murder case to be registered in the case.

"My child, who had just started seeing the world, would have been by my side today if the officials had shown generosity and given us little time and a prior notice," Anwar said. The couple has two more children, one girl aged five and a boy aged three.

Delhi Urban Shelter Development Board (DUSIB) has put up makeshift tents, that dotted parts of the cement siding, where few hundred families have been accommodated.

As evening descended people sat huddled around fires to shield themselves from the chill, which only intensified as the night fell.People, in large numbers, also queued up to submit photocopies of their identity cards such as voter cards, Aadhar cards, arguably their most prized possession to Delhi government officials camping in the area.

ed the site late last night, slammed the railways for undertaking the demolition drive at a time when the temperature saw a sharp drop. He ordered officials to immediately provide blankets and food to those who were rendered homeless following the drive.

Talking to reporters, he said, "A child has died here. It is a very sad thing and I think that a murder case should be registered against the officers. Compensation will be taken from them. It should be deducted from the salaries of the officers who have conducted these raids." .

SC nod to laws of Bihar, Orissa to confiscate assets of babus New Delhi, December 13 (PTi): The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of two laws of Bihar and Odisha which allow confiscation of properties of the accused in corruption cases, including those occupying high public or political office, saying a "social calamity" like graft has become a "national economic terror".

A bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and A R Dave upheld the validity of Orissa Special Courts

Act, 2006 and Bihar Special Courts Act, 2009, passed by the two state assemblies, which allow setting up of special courts and confiscation of properties, saying the laws do not violate constitutional provisions.

"In a way, corruption becomes a national economic terror. This social calamity warrants a different control and hence, the legislature comes up with special legislation with stringent provisions," the bench said.

It said that establish-

ment of Special Courts under these Acts were "not violative of Article 247 of the Constitution". The bench observed this in its verdict passed on a bunch of pleas, challenging the provisions of confiscation of properties even before conviction on the ground that these violated constitutional provisions.

"The Chapter III of the both the Acts providing for confiscation of property or money or both, neither violates Article 14 nor Article 20(1) nor Article 21 of the

Constitution," the bench said. It also rejected the submission of petitioners that confiscation of properties before conviction was a pre-trial punishment.

"It is basically a confiscation which is interim in nature. Therefore, it is not a punishment as envisaged in law and hence, it is difficult to accept the submission that it is a pre-trial punishment and, accordingly, we repel the said submission," the bench said.

It further said the pro-

visions target the persons who have assets disproportionate to their known sources of income, which is conceptually a period offence and not incident specific where proof of corruption is required.

"This conceptually is a period offence, for it is not incident specific as such.

It does not require proof of corruption in specific acts, but has reference to assets accumulated and known sources of income in a par- A gentleman cadet is greeted by his grandmother after the graduation ceremony at IMA ticular period," it said.

Dehradun. (PTI Photo)

Acceptance of pluralism core of our unity in diversity: President Don't blame us for floods: Tamil Nadu govt 'Disruption not part of parliamentary democracy'

KolKaTa, December 13 (iaNs): Averring that acceptance and belief in pluralism underlines the inherent chemistry of India's unity amidst diversity, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said the mosaic of being multi-religious makes the nation an oasis of peaceful co-existence and communal harmony.

"India prides itself in is pluralistic ideas. In India several major religions have thrived due to its assimilative capacity that has come to define our civilisation over the centuries," Mukherjee said

KolKaTa, December 13 (iaNs): Virtually expressing his annoyance over stalling of parliament because of disruptions, President Pranab Mukherjee said debate, dissent and decision are the essentials of democracy.

"My teacher told me in my childhood that three Ds are essential in democracy - debate, dissension and finally decision.

I never heard there is another D - disruption, which means stalling parliament by creating a pandemonium.

"There are lot of other places where one can have recourse to disruption", Mukherjee said while delivering the keynote address at the closing function of the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

The president expressed his happiness over India entering into an agreement with Japan on civil nuclear cooperation and recalled that he had in 2008 initiated the process of civil nuclear cooperation with countries like US and Russia during his stint as external affairs minister. addressing the concluding ceremony of the bicentenary celebration of the Diocese of Calcutta here.

The president said every religion preaches the funda-

Kolkata pride walk shows support for social movements KolKaTa, December 13 (iaNs): The 14th edition of Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk here on Sunday saw participants cutting across social and gender barriers raise a toast to diversity and express solidarity with inter-connected social movements in India.

"There were at least 1,000 people in the march and we had terrific participation from the student community.

Students from Jadavpur University and IIT-Kharagpur lent their support. The march this year explores the linkages between various social movements such as Dalit rights," sexual rights activist Pawan Dhall told IANS. Broadening its agenda this year, the walk also focused on issues of intolerance in the country.

Holding aloft rainbow-hued posters and banners and shouting slogans, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) came out in hundreds at the Shyambazar crossing in a mark of protest against "curbs on personal liberty and freedom of speech and expression". They were joined by activists from the domain of child rights, disability rights and gender equity. People with disabilities also marched with the queer community that had turned up from various Indian states.

Several flashed banners that said: "I am Dalit and I am gay" while senior citizens sported posters with messages such as "My hair is not my gender". Some first-timers at the walk added an additional layer of enthusiasm. Their message to all: "Because Earth isn't 'Straight' and 'Queer' is as normal as our existence!"

mental value of humanity.

"Forebearance, respect and acceptance of different view form some of the core principles of every faith, belief and religion of the world.�

Pointing out that in India people professing different faith have for long lived in harmony, he said: "It is an unique experience to have under one system, one administration, one constitution, 130 crore people, 100 languages used in every day practice, 1,600 dialects used in every day practice."

"The inherent chemistry of this unity amidst diversity is the acceptance and belief in pluralism.

"It is this mosaic of being multi religious, that makes our nation an oasis of peaceful coexistence and communal harmony."

Elaborating on the ethnological variety, the president said three major ethnic groups - Mongolites, Caucasians and Dravidians - have substantial presence in the country, with all of them living under one system; one flag; one constitution; one administration; and one jurisprudence.

cheNNai, December 13 (iaNs): The Tamil Nadu government said on Sunday that it can't be blamed for the massive flooding of Chennai following the heaviest rains in a century.

Chief Secretary K. Gnanadesikan denied that official indecision or mismanagement vis-a-vis the release of water from the Chembarambakkam lake into the Adyar river caused the all-round destruction.

He said in a statement that the floods were caused primarily due to the very high rainfall in November, which was followed by more rains in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts on December 1.

Media reports have said flooding of the Adyar that killed many and destroyed livelihood and assets of millions of people was due to improper management of water releases from the Chembarambakkam lake.

Gnanadesikan said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on November 30 and De-

cember 1 had issued advisories of isolated heavy rainfall and not 50 cm rainfall as reported by some media groups.

He said that in meteorological terminology, 'isolated' means only in one or two places, heavy rainfall is between 6.4 cm to 12.4 cm while very heavy rain stands for 12.4 cm to 24.4 cm of rainfall.

He dismissed as "malicious" and "canards" allegations that engineers at the lake waited for instructions from the principal secretary of the Public Works Department and the chief secretary and the imputation that the officers were waiting to be ordered by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

According to Gnanadesikan, the level of water reservoirs required to be maintained at two feet below full tank level while monsoon is still active.

He said the rules balance the interests of water storage for the scarcity period, the need to control flooding in downstream

areas and the safety of the reservoir.

Gnanadesikan said adequate flood warnings were issued to people living in low lying areas on December 1, and over 47,300 people were evacuated.

He said many tanks were breached due to heavy rains and the water flowed into the Adyar river which flows through Chennai.

"The flow in Adyar reached its full capacity due to the surplus from Chembarambakkam tank, the inflow from the catchment areas of Adyar within Chennai and the surplus received from the other tanks," he said.

"In view of the heavy flow in the Adyar, the high intensity runoff of local rainfall in Chennai and adjoining urban areas could not fully drain into the Adyar and hence contributed to the inundation of the city."

The Tamil Nadu floods have killed nearly 350 people in four districts including Chennai and caused widespread destruction.

ISIS terror funding: India meets global economic powers in Paris Paris, December 13 (PTi): India along with major world economies is participating in the firstever global meeting being held here to discuss and evolve mechanisms to combat the clandestine and largely undetected terrorist financing network of the Islamic State terror group.

The dreaded terror group, in recent times, has been held responsible for perpetrating violence and killing at least 129 people here in the French capital.

The meeting at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Secretariat office is being held between December 12-14 and is being attended by a inter-ministerial team led by senior Finance Ministry officials dealing in subjects of money laundering and combating financing of terror.

The FATF Secretariat confirmed to PTI that Indian authorities will be part in the deliberations aimed to secure the economic and banking channels of the member countries from the influence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also called the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

"The Indian delegation will be led by the Ministry of Finance with participation from other relevant ministries and agencies," the FATF said. Senior officials in Delhi said authorities from the elite Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) will be leading the India delegation for the talks.

"There are some instances under the scanner of various investigative agencies that indicate there may be links to ISIS funds being routed from India, if not generated. The talks

are expected to formalise a resolution to jointly combat the menace which is increasingly affecting jurisdictions across the globe," they said.

The FATF is an intergovernmental body established in 1989 and is mandated to set global protocols and standards to combat money laundering and other financial crimes with direct ramifications to terrorist acts across the globe.

India is a full-member of this reputed global body along with 33 other nations like the US, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The three-day meeting has been called "to discuss actions jurisdictions are taking and need to take to combat the financing of the ISIL and broader opportunities to strengthen global efforts to combat the fi-

nancing of terrorism," the FATF said.

"These three days of meetings will bring together delegates representing the FATF global network, which today extends to some 200 jurisdictions, and operational experts involved in detecting, preventing and disrupting terrorism and terrorist financing."

In the wake of the increased activities of terrorist groups around the globe, including ISIS, India had recently reported to the FATF that it has frozen assets worth Euro 3 lakh (over Rs 2.12 core) of over three dozen entities on charges of terrorist financing and money laundering of illicit funds.

However, India, in this report, did not mention that the action involved ISIS operatives. An exhaus-

tive report prepared by the world body early this year had underlined the "complicated" pattern of funding being deployed to mobilise ISIS terrorists and in secretly moving their deadly weapons and ammunition.

"ISIL financing is a constantly changing picture and a very difficult and complicated area to address given the operational situation on the ground...

ISIL represents a new form of terrorist organisation where funding is central and critical to its activities," the report had said.

The report did not mention about any instance of ISIS terror financing in India. The report had said its preliminary investigations found that the group was generating terror funds by using illicit proceeds from occupation of territory, such as bank looting, extor-

tion, control of oil fields and refineries, kidnapping for ransom, donations including by or through non-profit organisations, fund raising through modern communication networks.

"Still, further consideration will have to be given to determine how best the international community can prevent ISIL from using or benefiting from the financial and commercial sectors under its control," the FATF said.

"The latest meeting is the obvious outcome for the latest round of talks being held here between member countries," the officials in Delhi said.

The FATF found "revenue streams (of ISIS) are inconsistent and shift based on the availability of economic resources and the progress of coalition military efforts against ISIL."

MondaY 14•12•2015

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

Syria in 2016 will be like the Balkans in 1914 Patrick Cockburn The Independent

T

he CIA analyst is confident about what is likely to happen in Syria.

He says that “Assad is playing his last major card to keep his regime in power”.

He believes that the Assad government will step up its efforts to prove that its enemies “are being manipulated by outsiders”.

The probable outcome is a split within Syria’s ruling elite leading to Assad being ousted, though he admits that there is no obvious replacement for him.

The reasoning in the CIA special analysis, entitled “Syria: Assad’s Prospects”, is sensible and convincing, though overconfident that Assad’s days are numbered. The extent of this overconfidence is highlighted by a glance at the date of the document, which is 17 March 1980, or 35 years ago, and the President Assad, whose imminent political demise is predicted as likely, is not Bashar al-Assad but his father, Hafez al-Assad, who died in 2000. The analysis was released by the CIA under the Freedom of Information Act in 2013.

The CIA paper is an interesting read, not least because it shows how many ingredients of the present crisis in Syria have been present for decades, but had not yet come together in the explosive mix which produced the present hor-

A girl walks over debris at a site hit by one of 3 three truck bombs, in the YPG-controlled town of Tel Tamer, Syria December 11. (REUTERS Photo)

rific war. In 1980, the writer assumed that Syrian politics revolved largely around the sectarian differences between the Alawites, the Muslim sect to which the Assads and Syria’s rulers generally belong, and the Sunni Arab majority. The analysis is written in an upbeat tone as it forecasts that splits between the two communities may bring Assad down.

The CIA certainly wanted Assad gone and had some ideas about how this might be achieved. “Army discipline may well collapse

First woman elected to Saudi local councils RIYADH, DecembeR 13 (ReuteRs): Saudi Arabia said on Sunday that Salima bint Hazab al-Otaibi had become the first woman elected to public office in the conservative Islamic kingdom after winning a seat on the municipal council in Mecca in Saturday’s election.

The election was the first in which women could vote and run as candidates, a landmark step in a country where women are barred from driving and are legally dependent on a male relative to approve almost all their major life decisions.

However, the election was for only two thirds of seats in municipal councils that have no lawmaking or national powers, and follows men-only polls in 2005 and 2011.

Otaibi won a seat in the Madrika district of Mecca, the holiest city of Islam, and where all the other successful candidates were men, the official Saudi Press Agency reported in a list of preliminary results.

Results from Northern Borders Province and the southwestern province of Asir, the only others to have been announced, had no successful women candidates.

Under King Abdullah, who died in January and who announced in 2011 that women would be able to vote in this election, steps were taken for women to have a bigger public role, sending more of them to university and encouraging female employment.

However, while women’s suffrage has in many other countries been a transformative moment in the quest for gender equality, its impact in Saudi Arabia is likely to be more limited due to a wider lack of democracy and continued social conservatism.

Before Abdullah announced women would take part in this year’s elections, the country’s Grand Mufti, its most senior religious figure, described women’s involvement in politics as “opening the door to evil”.

How violence affects children’s mental health New YoRk, DecembeR 13 (IANs): Children who live in societies witnessing violence may have high levels of behavioural and emotional problems, according to a US study based on the mental health of children in Juarez, Mexico -- once dubbed the murder capital of the world.

The finding of the study by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centre-El Paso researchers suggests that the mental health of children was negatively affected by exposure to the mass murders and acts of terror, like kidnappings, bombings and decapitations, related to the city’s drug violence in 2010.

“I am very worried about the children who lived in Juarez when the drug violence peaked a few years ago,” says Marie Leiner, a paediatric researcher at TTUHSC El Paso who led the study and gathered data about the mental health of youth living on the US-Mexico border.

For the study, Leiner compared the mental health of children living in relatively safer El Paso, Texas to that of children living in its neighbouring city Juarez.

After analysing data collected from both groups, Leiner found that the prevalence of issues like depression, aggression, anxiety, withdrawal and attention deficit disorder were three times higher in children living in Juarez.

“I’m not saying that kids in El Paso are not affected by violence, but they did not have this exposure to violence everywhere in their neighbourhoods. They did not attend their family funerals and they didn’t go to school to learn that their friends’ families were murdered,” Leiner said.

The children and their families were not directly asked about their personal experiences with drug violence and the study assumes those living in Juarez were indirectly exposed to the violence.

The study findings were published in the journal Salud Mental.

in the face of widespread riots,” it says. “This could lead to bloody war between Sunni Muslim and Alawite units. The Alawites, however, may choose to topple Assad before such turmoil develops in order to keep their position secure.”

This last sentence could have been written at any time since 2011 as a summary of what the US would have liked to happen in Syria: it has always wanted to get rid of Assad, but it does not intend to destroy or even weaken the Syrian state and thereby open the

door to Isis and al-Qaeda.

Even super-powers sometimes learn from history, so the US and its Western allies today hope to avoid a repeat of the disastrous disintegration of Iraq state institutions in 2003 after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Tragically, the unnamed CIA analyst eventually got the sectarian civil war he had half-hoped for, but Assad is still there and Syrian people have got the worst of all possible worlds.

US intelligence chiefs are far more outspoken these days than their coun-

terparts in Britain about the calamitous consequences of US-led foreign interventions over the past 12 years.

None more so than General Michael Flynn, recently retired head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon’s intelligence arm, who says bluntly in an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel that the Iraq war “was a huge error. As brutal as Saddam Hussein was, it was a mistake to just eliminate him.

The same is true for Muammar Gaddafi and for Libya, which is now a failed state.

The historic lesson is that it was a strategic failure to get into Iraq. History will not be and should not be kind to that decision.”

Big players such as the US can more easily afford to admit mistakes than those, like Britain, which are smaller and lacking in confidence about their great-power status. But there is a price to be paid for remaining mute or in denial about past political, military and diplomatic errors.

If it is admitted that anything went wrong for Britain in the Iraq, Afghan, Libyan and Syrian wars then it is only in the most general terms. A former diplomat at the Foreign Office says that it was striking how in the years following the Iraq invasion of 2003, he heard “almost nobody in the Foreign Office talk about the decision to go to war or what went wrong”. This may have been because most officials privately opposed the war from the beginning as a bad idea, but did not want to say this publicly, or even within the office.

It is a natural British personal and institutional instinct to hush things up, but after four wars marked

by British government blunders and misjudgements, it is curious that information from the intelligence services is not treated with greater scepticism.

A recent sign of this was David Cameron justifying his unlikely claim that there are 70,000 moderate antiAssad fighters in Syria by

saying that this figure came from the Joint Intelligence Committee, as if this sourcing put its accuracy beyond doubt. It may be that endless harping on British success in breaking German codes in both world wars has combined with a diet of James Bond movies to exaggerate the reputation of British intelligence.

Foreign political leaders are often more dubious about what their intelligence services really know.

Before the start of the Iraq war in 2003, President Jacques Chirac told a visitor that he did not believe that Saddam had any weapons of mass destruction.

The visitor said: “Mr President, your own intelligence people think so.” Chirac replied: “They intoxicate each other.” In other words, intelligence services often become echo chambers for obsessive beliefs that are detached from reality.

The very secrecy with which they shroud themselves is useful when denying responsibility for failure. It also makes them vulnerable when governments or their own senior officers want to suppress or doctor politically inconvenient advice.

Early last year, President Barack Obama dismissed Isis, which was beginning to make spectacular advances, as being like a junior basketball team wanting to play in the big leagues. Soon after, it captured most of northern Iraq and eastern Syria. One

of the reasons this may have happened was exposed this year when 50 intelligence analysts working for the Pentagon signed a joint letter of protest. They said that their intelligence findings that Isis was getting stronger and not weaker as the White House claimed, were being suppressed or doctored by their chiefs.

This was par for the course. The personal or institutional interests of the heads of intelligence agencies or any other government department are seldom served by bringing bad or contradictory news to those who decide on buRudgets and promotions.

Most of the time this does not matter but today it does, because the stakes are rising in the war in Syria and Iraq. Knowledge of what is happening on the ground should be at a premium.

Serious powers such as Russia and Turkey are being sucked in and have invested too much of their prestige and credibility to pull back or suffer a defeat.

Their vital interests become plugged into obscure but violent local antagonisms, such as those between Russian-backed Kurds and Turkish-backed Turkomans, through whose lands run the roads supplying Aleppo. The Syrian-Iraqi conflict has become to the 21st century what the Balkan wars were to the 20th.

In terms of explosive violence on an international scale, 2016 could be our 1914.

Fire at Russian mental health Ecuador signs deal with Sweden clinic in Voronezh region kills 23 for Julian Assange questioning moscow, DecembeR 13 (ReuteRs): A fire swept through a psychiatric clinic in a village in the Voronezh region south of Moscow late on Saturday killing 23 people, Russia’s Investigative Committee said on Sunday.

Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said it had taken more than 270 people and 50 vehicles to deal with the blaze and police investigators said the bodies of 23 people had been recovered after the fire had been put out.

Another 23 people were taken to various medical

facilities in the area, police said.

The police said they had begun an investigation into possible negligence and experts from Moscow would be brought in to help out.

“Investigators will look into every possible version of how the fire started and led to such tragic consequences,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement, saying it considered the incident a crime.

They said they did not know what had started the fire, which broke out late on Saturday at the clinic in the village of Alferovka, around

300 miles south of Moscow.

Seventy patients, some of them bed-bound or disabled, and four staff were in part of the building hit by the blaze. State TV showed pictures of fire fighters using hoses to pour water on what was left of the roof of a red brick building.

Lax fire safety standards and staff negligence have often been blamed for such episodes. In 2013, a fire killed 37 people in a psychiatric hospital in a provincial village north of Moscow, the second deadly blaze at such a facility that year alone.

20 killed, 55 hurt in Pak market blast IsLAmAbAD, DecembeR 13 (IANs): At least 20 people were killed on Sunday in a bomb blast in an army cantonment in the tribal region of Pakistan, the media reported.

Amjad Ali Khan, the political administrator of the area, said 55 people were injured in the blast, Dawn reported. The bomb blast took place at around 12.30 p.m. in the bustling Sadar market of Parachinar cantonment in Khurram Valley, an official said. A Bomb Disposal Squad official said:

“It was a timed-device bomb. Around 30 to 35 kg of explosives were used in the blast.”

Security sources said two suspects have been taken into custody from the blast site. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital from where as many as 18 people, who were in serious condition, were taken to Peshawar Lady Reading Hospital in Army helicopters. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

QuIto, DecembeR 13 (ReuteRs): Ecuador and Sweden have signed a pact that would allow WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be questioned at Ecuador’s embassy in London where he has been for more than three years, the Quito government said.

The legal agreement was signed in the Ecuadorean capital after half a year of negotiations.

“It is, without doubt, an instrument that strengthens bilateral relations and will facilitate, for example, the fulfillment of judicial matters such as the questioning of Mr. Assange,” the foreign ministry said in a weekend statement.

Assange, 44, took refuge in the embassy building in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations of sexual assault and rape against two women in 2010. The Australian denies the accusations.

Assange says he fears Sweden will extradite him

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks to the media outside the Ecuador embassy in west London on August 19, 2012. (REUTERS File Photo)

to the United States where he could be put on trial over WikiLeaks’ publication of classified military and diplomatic documents five years ago, one of the largest information leaks in U.S. history.

Britain has accused Ecuador of preventing the course of justice by allowing Assange to remain in its embassy in the upmarket central London area of Knightsbridge.

Eye on Islamic State, Western powers coax Libyans to accord ALGIeRs, DecembeR 13 (ReuteRs): After a year of U.N. talks to end Libya’s conflict, Western powers are coaxing the warring factions closer to a deal they hope can help stop the spread of Islamic State militancy in the North African country.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will co-chair a meeting of European, Middle Eastern and North African powers in Rome on Sunday to push the two camps to sign the U.N. proposal.

Delegations from Libya’s two rival governments have agreed to Dec. 16 as a date to sign, but opponents are resisting. Past deadlines have slipped while wide areas of the large oil-producing country splintered into fiefs of rival armed factions.

Four years after a rebellion toppled Muammar Gaddafi, Islamic State has established a presence there, away from their strongholds in Syria and Iraq. This prompted France

and Italy this week to urge action on Libya.

“Mobilising international support to assist Libyan authorities to take decisive measures to combat, contain and eliminate this imminent danger is a must,” U.N. envoy Martin Kobler told the Security Council on Friday.

The recognised government and elected House of Representatives have operated only in the east of Libya since last year, when the capital Tripoli was seized by a faction that set up its own government. Each side is backed by competing alliances of former antiGaddafi rebels.

Western officials and diplomats say the Rome meeting will be an effort to present a united international front, push for a final deal and show Libyans they are supported.

Kobler is working to get both parliaments to ratify a deal. But, diplomats and Western officials say, if that doesn’t happen, a “Plan B”

will be signatures from lawmakers in each camp and independents who already agree, as a way to bypass opponents who would be urged to join later.

“At the end, we will have a date for signature.

He is aiming for something before Christmas,” a Western diplomat said.

“But there is uncertainty about how wide support is on the ground, and about the security situation in Tripoli.”

The U.N. proposal calls for a presidential council with the House of Representatives as the legislature alongside a second consultative chamber, the State Council.

The presidential council could form a government in 30 days once a deal is signed and that would be ratified by parliament and backed by the U.N. Security Council resolution. Sanctions against those who opposed may come after, diplomats said.

“Either we get a vote be-

fore the end of the month, or we can move to Plan B,” one North African diplomat said.

But with Libya already fragmented, questions remain about how opponents and armed factions who reject the deal will react to what they will see as an unrepresentative Tripoli government and how they can be brought onboard after.

“Ending negotiations will strengthen hardliners; Granting recognition to a government that has insufficient backing will condemn it to irrelevance,” International Crisis Group said in a statement before the Rome meeting.

AIR STRIKES, UNITED ARMY Any government faces huge challenges with the oil industry battered by attacks and protests. Output is less than half of 1.6 million barrels per day the OPEC state had before 2011.

Security for Tripoli and assembling a military force for a new government will be key. Libya has no real national army, but two coalitions of forces whose ranks have fragmented.

Exploiting the anarchy, Islamic State set up base in Sirte. With around 3,000 fighters, it has attacked a hotel and a prison in Tripoli, oil fields and military checkpoints.

Western officials say Libyans will have to decide what foreign help they want, but more unilateral air strikes on militants are not ruled out. The United States has carried out strikes and France also conducted surveillance flights.

But with most opposing “boots on the ground”, initial efforts will likely focus on training and aiding local forces.

“There won’t a Libyan army as we’d like it, but there are a number of forces, which if they worked together would have enough

strength to hit Daesh,” said one Western official using the Arabic term for Islamic State.

Uniting factions will prove tricky. Two years ago, when international community tried to rebuild an army, many programs fell apart as rival brigades descended into infighting.

Powerful Misrata brigades helped take Tripoli last year, but they now back the U.N. deal. In the capital, their forces sit uneasily alongside Tripoli brigades who oppose the accord.

Misrata is closest to Islamic State on front lines.

But Ibrahim Jathran, whose forces control nearby oil ports and is allied with the east, may also need to join in the battle.

“LNA by itself can’t defeat Daesh, it will need some of the Misrata militias and Jathran,” another diplomat said. “We don’t know who the right partner is. Until we look at their capabilities, we can’t say.”

10

MOnDAY 14•12•2015

SPORTS/Public diScOuRSe

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Bucks end Warriors' NBA record streak Bournemouth joy, more United woe

MILWAUKEE, DEcEMbEr 13 (AP): The streak is over for the Golden State Warriors.

Their NBA-record start ended after 24 wins when they lost 108-95 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.

Golden State’s 28-game winning streak, counting the final four games of last season, also came to a halt. The NBA’s longest winning streak is 33 by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1971-72 — and it was also snapped by Milwaukee.

Greg Monroe scored 28 points for the Bucks, who got the allaround effort needed to beat the defending NBA champions.

It also helped that the Warriors (24-1), perhaps fighting fatigue after needing two overtimes to win at Boston on Friday, were cold from 3-point range. They usually make 13 a night, but were just 6 of 26 from behind the arc in the final game of a seven-game road trip.

SPURS 103, HAWKS 78 In Atlanta, Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points, and San Antonio allowed only 25 first-half points in the strongest defensive effort by any NBA team this season.

The Spurs led 47-25 at halftime.

The Hawks’ total — 13 points in the first quarter, 12 in the second — was the lowest for any NBA team in any half this season, according to STATS. The previous low was Houston’s 26 second-half points on Nov. 1 at Miami.

Manu Ginobili had 17 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 13 for San Antonio, which has won 6 of 7.

Paul Millsap led Atlanta with 22 points, including 17 in the third quarter. No other Hawks player scored in double figures.

CLIPPERS 105, NETS 100 In New York, Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick each scored 21 points, and the Clippers ended a sevengame, two-state road losing streak against the Nets.

Chris Paul had 15 points and 14 assists for the Clippers, who hadn’t beaten the Nets on the road since Dec. 11, 2007, back when the Nets played in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Los Angeles never beat them during the Nets’ brief stay in Newark and had been 0-3 in Brooklyn.

Thaddeus Young scored 18 points and Jarrett Jack had 16 points and 11 assists for the Nets,

Jabari Parker of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the hoop for two points during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors on December 12 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (AFP Photo)

who were trying for their first threegame winning streak of the season.

ROCKETS 126, LAKERS 97 In Houston, James Harden scored 30 points, leading the Rockets to the runaway win.

A 3-pointer by Nick Young with about seven minutes left got the Lakers within 11, but a 13-2 run by Houston pushed the lead to 11593. Donatas Motiejunas, Harden and Patrick Beverley each made a 3-pointer to cap the key stretch.

Motiejunas had 11 points in his best game since returning from back surgery.

Kobe Bryant had 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Lakers, who have lost six in a row and 13 of 14.

BULLS 98, PELICANS 94 In Chicago, Pau Gasol had 18 points for Chicago, and Aaron Brooks scored 15 of his 17 in the fourth quarter.

Jimmy Butler added 15 points for the Bulls, who trailed for most of the game.

Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans each scored 22 points for the Pelicans, who fell to 1-11 on the road. Eric Gordon added 14.

Davis tied it at 94 with a three-

point play with 1:47 remaining, and Brooks’ layup gave the Bulls a 96-94 lead with 40 seconds to play.

PISTONS 118, PACERS 96 In Auburn Hills, Mich., Reggie Jackson had 21 points and nine assists, leading Detroit to the win.

Ersan Ilyasova added 20 points, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finished with 18 points, a career-high eight assists and seven rebounds.

Six Pistons scored in double figures, and Andre Drummond had eight points and 11 rebounds.

George Hill led the Pacers with 14 points. Paul George finished with 13 on 4-of-16 shooting, missing all four of his 3-point attempts.

Detroit has won six of eight, including five in a row at home, while the Pacers lost for the fourth time in five games.

CELTICS 98, HORNETS 93 In Charlotte, N.C., Avery Bradley scored 23 points, Isaiah Thomas added 21 points and 13 assists, and Boston snapped Charlotte’s four-game winning streak.

Jae Crowder added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Celtics (14-10), who have won seven of their last 10 games. Boston bounced back after a heartbreak-

LONDON, DEcEMbEr 13 (rEUTErS): Manchester United's calamitous week hit rock bottom as Bournemouth famously consigned them to a 2-1 defeat on Saturday and, to rub salt into the wounds, neighbours Manchester City moved back to the top of the Premier League.

After City clambered above Leicester City on goal difference with a lucky last-gasp strike in a dramatic 2-1 win over Swansea City, Bournemouth wrote another astonishing fairytale by beating United a week after taking the scalp of champions Chelsea.

United's defeat multiplies the pressure on manager Louis van Gaal, already under fire for their prosaic playing style and midweek exit from the Champions League. Yet the Dutchman, happy with his team's efforts, said he was not worried about the growing discontent with his reign. "It's always like that. It's not new," he told Sky Sports.

United's setback leaves them fourth in the table, three points behind a City side who are level on 32 with Leicester before the latter host Chelsea on Monday.

Goals from Junior Stanislas and former United player Josh King consigned United to another wounding defeat.

Stanislas scored direct from a wind-assisted corner that bamboozled keeper David de Gea in the second minute and although Marouane Fellaini levelled in the 24th, King struck with a low shot from a well-worked 54th minute corner to earn the points.

UNBRIDLED JOY It meant more unbridled joy for Bournemouth, the Premier League newcomers who have an annual turnover 40 times smaller than United's.

Last Saturday they had won 1-0 at Chelsea, a result that manager Eddie Howe felt was the greatest in the club's history. With Bournemouth now in 14th

place -- one point and one place ahead of Chelsea -- Howe was reduced to laughter on Sky Sports when asked how this win compared to last week's, saying: "That's a difficult one to answer!"

King, the Norwegian who once played for United, was ecstatic about his winner, shooting home after finding space from a well-directed, low corner. "That meant a lot to me. I spent five years there (at Old Trafford)," King said. "I'd practised it (the corner routine) a bit and missed it every time. Today, it worked."

Manchester City snatched victory amid late drama at the Etihad Stadium, a Yaya Toure shot deflecting off team mate Kelechi Iheanacho for the stoppage-time winner. Managerless Swansea, playing above themselves after the midweek sacking of Garry Monk, had equalised deservedly in the last minute through Bafetimbi Gomis after Wilfried Bony's first half headed goal against his old side had put City ahead.

Yet, when it seemed City had blown the chance to go back to the top, a 92nd-minute left-footed strike from Toure struck Iheanacho's back and ballooned into the net.

BEST START Crystal Palace continued their best start to a Premier League season with Yohan Cabaye's goal earning a 1-0 home win over Southampton and elevating them to sixth, six points off the lead.

Odion Ighalo's 10th goal of the campaign for Watford consigned Sunderland to another defeat and pushed the 1-0 winners up to seventh, still a point behind Palace. The home loss, though, leaves Sam Allardyce's north-east club languishing in penultimate place on 12 points. West Ham United, who are eighth, and Stoke City, in 11th, missed the chance to close on the leaders as they fought out a dull goalless draw at Upton Park.

ing double-overtime loss on Friday night to Stephen Curry and NBAleading Golden State.

The Hornets had a chance to tie the game late but Nicolas Batum’s 30-foot jumper off a side inbounds play with 6.6 seconds remaining missed everything. Evan Turner put away the game with a layup.

Batum led the Hornets with 21 points and eight rebounds, and Kemba Walker had 16 points.

WIZARDS 114, MAVERICKS 111 In Dallas, Otto Porter scored a career-high 28 points, John Wall had 26 points and 16 assists, and Washington ended an 11-game losing streak against Dallas.

Washington had not beaten Dallas since Oct. 27, 2009. The Wizards were playing their second straight game without Bradley Beal, who is expected to miss at least two weeks with a right leg injury.

Porter more than picked up the slack, scoring 17 points during Washington’s 39-point third quarter as the Wizards built a 21-point lead.

Wesley Matthews led the Mav- Progressive Shuttlers Club held its second club tournament on December 11 and 12. Simon ericks with 28 points, including six and Kezuwete (Ato) emerged as winners while Yanbemo and Zubon were runners-up. The 3-pointers. winners and runners-up were given cash awards along with trophies.

Naga Identity & religion- An important message from the trajectory of Rani Gaidinliu Richard Kamei

The diverse nature in Naga discourse finds less space especially in the present scenario. It is reflected in the recent fracas around memorials in honour of Rani Gaidinliu to be set up in Kohima where it faced stiff resistance from Naga bodies. The question of Naga identity arises on what defines Naga, and its historicity around Naga nationalism that shaped the present Nagas, and the role of BJP ew months ago, Rani Gaidinliu’s birth centenary function was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, and the function was also graced by the presence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma, DONER Minister Jitendra Singh, Nagaland and Assam Governor PB Acharya, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Nagaland CM TR Zeliang. During the function, the PM issued ‘commemorative coin of hundred rupees and circulation coin of five rupees on Rani Gaidinliu’. As a mark of tribute to Rani Gaidinliu, DONER Minister Jitendra Singh announced a sum of Rs 983 Lakh for the construction of Library-cum-Museum in Kohima I. To these announcements especially to library-cum-museum in Kohima, there are strong objections from Civil Societies, Christian Groups and others based out of Nagaland.

The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC)’s General Secretary Zelhou Keyho claimed that Christianity in general does not eulogise any human figure or equated human to God excepting Christ. He further stated that even before Christinaity made its presence in the region Nagas were to themselves and they were neither Hindus nor Heraraka- traditional religion of Zeliangrong. They also viewed that the projection of Rani Gaidinliu as the spiritual leader of Nagas is imposing in nature

F

on the ground that she does not represent Nagas as a whole II. To which, Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang has clarified by stating that the construction of museum-cum-library has nothing to do with their accusation of promoting Heraka or Hinduism. He went on to add that the construction of it has been sanctioned and approved in the year 2010 during the tenure of previous government III. Meanwhile followers of Heraka are not happy with the development of resistance against the honouring of Rani Gaidinliu. They accepted and acknowledged about the influence of RSS and VHP on Heraka but they defended it by emphasising on their initiatives like building of schools and hostels, and viewed it as a normal thing which is happening across the country IV. In the past when the Naga movement was at its helm, Christianity was taken up as a shared identity among various tribes that falls under the umbrella of Naga. This embracement remains a contentious issue, firstly it tells us that the work of Christian missionary is an extension of making Nagas submissive to the British as colonial subject and secondly, the slogan ‘Nagaland for Christ’ leaves no room for tribal community or people who chose to retain their beliefs or faiths practised by their ancestors.

Another underlying aspect in the latter position is that in the face of dominant culture when Nagaland was annexed with India, the need to embrace Christianity is taken up as means to resist external element especially dominant Hindu culture or to be specific India in the call for its sovereignty. As decades passed by, the movement for sovereignty has also undergone a transformation, so does the role of Christianity in shaping Naga identity among various groups of tribal whose shared values are in the form of culture, tradition, land etc. Amid these there are Naga tribal group like

Zeliangrong community who confronted the British colonisation including the spread of Christianity through Heraka movement led by Rani Gaidinliu which was originally propounded by her cousin-Haipou Jadonang. Rani Gaidinliu was a watchdog to keep her Zeliangrong and Naga people away from the influence of external elements - vis-a-vis Christianity. She demanded that their community be left to themselves so that their culture, tradition and identity remain the way as it is. It is on this that, in the time of ‘Nagaland for Christ’, she objected to the spread of Christianity through Christian missionaries. To which Naga Nationalists were not happy with her and the Heraka movement she was spearheading.

Several Naga groups held that Rani Gaidinliu is anti-Naga for her stance against Naga National Council (NNC) call for ‘Nagaland for Christ’. They then perceived her stance to be allegedly opposed to Naga national movement as NNC continued to carry forward the cause of Nagas V. Later, given the prevailing situation back then, Gaidinliu finally settled for “a separate Zeliangrong territory within the Union of India” VI. The friction was laid at that time, and now six decades later, it has emerged again propelled by the rising of right wing politics in northeast region of India. The recent fracas of the age old friction can be gauged here if one observes the pattern of the coming in of RSS cadres in Nagaland and its adjoining areas. It is well known that the emergence of right wing propaganda is being emboldened after the coming in of Narendra Modi government. It is in this that the relationship between Rani Gaidinliu and right wing groups can be brought into to give a clearer picture about the current situation in Nagaland. What holds presently in Nagaland is the declaration by Modi dur-

ing Birth Centennial celebration of Rani Gaidinliu in New Delhi for the opening of Rani Gaidinliu memorial in the form of museum cum library and its statue in Kohima. The news of this does not augur well with local people- especially among people who believe in Naga nationalism. Their resistance are in varied form- one prominent of them is that the embodiment of Rani Gaidinliu’s tribe and her religion is not representative of Naga tribes in Nagaland. Another of such is that her resistance against Christianity is seen as anti-naga and their reason is that Christianity to them means Naga identity.

All these reasons do not hold much ground when so far Zeliangrong falls under the Naga umbrella who are settled in Nagaland, Manipur and Assam, and likewise Nagaland also has multiple tribes. The argument that Rani Gaidinliu does not represent Naga identity is absurd when certain dominant Naga tribe among other Naga tribes have their say in everything. The second one is the coalescence of Naga identity and Christianity, though it formulates Naga identity in itself- this identity actually is a given element to forge inter-relationship among Nagas in formulating its identity. By relying on the linkage between Naga identity and Christianity, it excludes Naga tribe and people who do not follow Christianity or any religion.

It is here that it is important to recall the context on how Nagaland as a state came into being, - it was formed as a mechanism to quell Naga movement.

The manner in which it came into being is still debateable but in this context, the formation of Nagaland is a result of the long struggles led by various groups and people VII. So in every respect, any Naga tribe has a stake in Nagaland not limited to land and other resources. The same applies to Rani Gaidinliu and her people. At the same time, what the local community is

missing out on the step taken by the Modi government is its propaganda to perpetuate the ageold dilution of existing culture.

In other terms, it can be seen as the revivalism of the British policy in expanding its stronghold over Naga nation. The move to construct Rani Gaidinliu memorial in Kohima from the point of resurgence of right wing politics is to base its saffronisation politics in Nagaland to counter the hegemonic Christianity. The novelty of Modi Government towards Rani Gaidinliu is laudable for its recognition and contribution to uphold the legacy of Rani Gaidinliu but in complex realities of Naga society it is largely misplaced, for instance, they can also construct the said memorials in Tamenglong District of Manipur- the birthplace of Rani Gaidinliu and New Delhi in addition to Kohima and such move could set the tone right for preservation and looking into the demands made by Rani Gaidinliu.

However, there is a sense that the manner in which Rani Gaidinliu has been usurped as a Naga spiritual leader is seen as a handiwork of larger project for RSS and VHP to spread Hindutva in Nagaland. Perception like this stems from the discourse of Hindutva in making India a Hindu nation. The interface between Heraka religion and Hinduism needs to be critiqued as Heraka was never Hindu before, so are followers of Christianity. The role of government here is said to invigorate scepticism among the Nagas VIII. There is also a report which says that the construction of ‘temple’ is being planned in Christian dominated state- Nagaland IX. A move like this can bring more division among local populace and can pave way for rift among different communities. The centre if they are concerned about Rani Gaidinliu, they are expected to seek consultation from local people, civil societies, activists, academicians etc., and make a deci-

sion which gives equal measure of importance to every Naga tribes. The current step can only embolden the existing differences and create discord among Nagas. The Modi government should rethink over this and take charge of ground realities. Sticking to this for the spread of saffron can bring in consequences which may not help the community whom they are aiming to foster them.

Perhaps Nagas should also relook into why Rani Gaidinliu had objected to the slogan ‘Nagaland for Christ’. There is a bigger answer in it, and can be reflected on the ongoing ‘Naga accord’ and the shared histories of varied Nagas and non-Nagas, and contemporary situation. It is suggesting of the fact that one particular group cannot claim to represent the whole Nagas and on its interface with people from adjoining states, natural resources including land, and the future. The need for stakeholders and its equitable representation and participation can amend all the misgivings which have taken place all these decades. The outcome of such can place Nagas in better position to situate themselves by their shared history and to carve a place which is rightful of them honouring every tribe, and acknowledging the importance of everyone in the region.

(Kamei is currently pursuing a PhD from the Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai) Endnotes I Commemoration of Rani Gaidinliu’s birth centenary anniversary in New Delhi, available at http://indianexpress. com/article/india/india-others/pm-narendra-modi-honours-legendary-freedom-fighter-from-north-east/, accessed on 20 October 2015.

II Objection raised in Nagaland after the announcement of the construction of memorial-library in honour of Rani Gaidin-

liu, available at http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ india-others/pm-narendramodi-honours-legendary-freedom-fighter-from-north-east/, accessed on 20 October 2015.

III “Zeliang clears air on Gaidinliu memorial row”, available at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ Zeliang-clears-air-on-Gaidinliu-memorial-row/articleshow/49206200.cms, accessed on 19 October 2015.

IV Process of saffronisation and its influence in Zeliangrong community, available at http:// www.newindianexpress.com/ thesundaystandard/NagasDivided-over-Modis-Planto-Glorify-Spiritual-Leader/2015/08/30/article3000210. ece?service=print, accessed on 19 October 2015.

V “Some Nagas are against memorial to Rani Gaidinliu in Kohima. Why?”, available at http://www.nagalandpage. com/regional/3057-some-nagas-are-against-memorial-torani-gaidinliu-in-kohima-why, accessed on 20 October 2015 VI A brief life history of Rani Gaidinliu, available at http:// pib.nic.in/newsite/mbErel. aspx?relid=127060, accessed on 21 October 2015.

VII Clarification and contextualisation of the movement of Rani Gaidinliu in response to criticism from Nagaland http://morungexpress.com/rejoinder-to-the-misgivings-onrani-gaidinliu/, accessed on 21 October 2015.

VIII Influence of Hinduism on Heraka, and the role of the state in maintaining secular environment,, available at http:// morungexpress.com/the-driving-force-of-rani-gaidinliu-celebration/, accessed on 20 October 2015 IX Governor of Nagaland is said to have proposed for the construction of temple in Pheren, Nagaland, available at http:// morungexpress.com/ranigaidinliu-idolization-vis-a-visarticle-371-a/, accessed on 21 October 2015.

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.

Monday 14•12•2015

ENTERTAINMENT

MLTR waiting to meet Deepika Padukone reveals the fans in Nagaland! 'Real SiDe' of Ranveer Singh

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nternational Danish act, Michael Learns To Rock have already arrived in the region! They performed at Sarusajai, Guwahati, on December 13. “Let’s paint the city with loveeeee,” said Kare Wanscher, drummer of the band with a gleam in his eyes soon after he landed at the Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati alongside band mates Jascha Richter and Mikkel Lentz.

The performers are more than eager to be a part of the poly cultural ambience in this part of the country after rocking New Delhi on December 11. As Dimapur prepared to witness their sensational pop music on Tuesday, December 15, The Morung Express caught up with MLTR on their upcoming visit.

Q) Asia has always been a huge market for your music. What would you attribute as a reason for this?

A) I think that few bands have the same impact to Asian and Indian fans due to the way our music fits into the tradition of singing along to love songs, Karaoke etc.

Also our lyrics are easy to understand which in many Asian countries helps us since English is not their first language and they can understand what we are singing about.

Another very important factor is the way the melodies are very strong catchy.

Q) Were you aware that Nagaland has such a large fan base for Michael Learns to Rock?

A) Not really – but we get a lot of messages from fans in Nagaland on social media so we are aware that we have a fan base there.

Q) What have you heard so far of Nagaland and what are your expectations of the place?

A) We have been to Shillong and Burma, but never to Nagaland. I guess it reminds of other places in North East India but hope to find something special there, something you can only find in Nagaland.

Q) How would you describe your music and the message that MLTR wants to convey?

A) Our music is classic pop music and our aim with our music is to touch people and get them emotional. We don’t have any specific messages but want to entertain and give people positive experiences by listening to our music. We feel that music is a fantastic way to communicate with people around the world and still want to explore the opportunities that comes with music.

ctress Deepika Padukone, who will be seen with her rumoured boyfriend Ranveer Singh in upcoming film Bajirao Mastani, said that the latter is very "sensitive" and "emotional" in real life unlike his onscreen image. "A lot of people say to me that you are so lucky (to have Ranveer) as 24 hour entertainment and livewire. But actually he is not the same in real life. In front of so many people, he gets a different source of energy in him. But in actual life, he is very sensitive and emotional," Deepika said.

Ranveer replied: "I don't feel like showing my inner self in public because I'm very shy of all this." Deepika and Ranveer have teamed-up again with their Ram-Leela director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Ba-

jirao Mastani, which also stars Priyanka Chopra.

When asked whether they knew the story of Peshwa Bajirao I before signing the film, Ranveer said: "I did my schooling in Mumbai at a private school where Marathi was a compulsory subject till fifth standard. But in our whole syllabus, including Marathi and history, there wasn't any mention of Peshwa Bajirao I." "The syllabus only focused until Chhatrapati Shivaji's exploits. First time I got to know about Bajirao and Mastani was through a filmy magazine.

Then while we were doing Ram-Leela, he told me about this project which he was planning to make for the past 12 years," he added.

Deepika also said: "There

was no mention of Bajirao in my syllabus too. Just because of this film I've got to know about him and Mastani. During my school days I used to hear that Mr Bhansali wants to make a film like this with Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead. In my dream I never thought that one day I'll become an actress and will get a chance to be a part of this film."

"I believe in destiny. During that time Bhansali sir was not able to make this film due to various reasons. He really wanted to make this film but may be the paring didn't work or he didn't have that much budget. Now if Ranveer and I are in this film, I think it was in our destiny," she added. Bajirao Mastani hits theatres on December 18.

Akshay Kumar feels 1990 evacuation of Indians should be in textbooks

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uperstar Akshay Kumar says that the story of massive evacuation of Indians from invaded Kuwait in 1990 on which his upcoming film ‘Airlift’ is based should be in textbooks.

"If you browse through World Guinness Book of Records, the biggest air evacuation was done by our beloved country, India.

And this is why I selected to do this subject as I wanted to bring it in front of everybody," said Akshay at the Vaayu festival of NMIMS College here.

"I've always made a request that this big chapter should be there in our textbooks; It's a very important chapter. We all know what Shah Jahan and Akbar did, but at least write what we (Indians) have done," he said.

"This is a real story of what happened to 1,70,000 Indians staying in Kuwait when (then iraqi dictator) Saddaam Hussein had attacked Kuwait in 1990 and they (Indians) didn't know where to go, what to do. These kinds of things have been hidden and there are political reasons why it was hidden," added Akshay.

The story of the film is from the point of view of Akshay's character who helped those Indians get airlifted from Kuwait. As the poster of the film suggests - 1,70,00 refugees, 488 flights, 59 days and one man. "It's a very special movie. Do go and watch the film and you'll feel proud to be an Indian," he said. The film's hard-hitting teaser has already grossed over 5 million views on Youtube.

leona lewiS exposes Bangladesh leather industry’s animal cruelty

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ritish singer and animal welfare campaigner Leona Lewis has in a video put spotlight on the cruel treatment meted out to cows transported from India to the Bangladesh leather industry.

Vision Trinity releases third song

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ision Trinity recently released their final and third original song for 2015. Titled Beautiful, the song touches on love, expressing feelings of love and care towards the ones they love. Different from their other songs, the band said the song is dedicated to

someone very special.

One can visit the band’s page on Facebook and download the songs.

Thanking everyone who had supported and helped them, the band wished merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all the people of Nagaland.

‘Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors’ wins with Fans and Critics

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olly Parton‘s most recent foray into television was a smash with both audiences and critics, winning its time slot when it aired on NBC Thursday night (Dec. 10). Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors was inspired by her classic hit, “Coat of Many Colors,” which was released in 1971. The autobiographical song draws from the country icon’s own hardscrabble childhood, when Parton was mocked by the other children at school after her mother made her a winter coat out of rags that had been given to her family.

The film chronicles a particularly tough time in Parton’s childhood after her mother — played by Sugar-

land singer Jennifer Nettles — loses her baby, a tragedy which impacts the entire family and causes 8-yearold Parton to stop singing. The family gains renewed hope when Parton’s mom uses the scraps she was sewing together for a blanket for the baby to fashion the now-famous coat.

The film drew a whopping 13 million viewers Thursday night, and also garnered critical raves. “Like Parton’s music, it manages to be somehow clear- and misty-eyed at once, a mix of the natural and the sentimental,” Robert Lloyd wrote in the Los Angeles Times, while the Washington Post weighed in with, “Leave it to Dolly Parton to bring out an innocu-

ously sweet, faith-based, prime-time Christmas movie right in the middle of a religious and political culture war,” calling the film “pure-hearted and credible.”

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors will stream for 25 days following its broadcast on NBC.com, NBC apps and Set-Top Box on Demand.

View the film online here. The movie is the first of three Parton will produce about her life for the network. “We want to create projects for NBC that are both fun and inspirational with a family audience in mind,” Parton explained in announcing the deal. The next installment is based on her hit song, “Jolene.”

As Lewis reveals in the video, made for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an estimated two million cows are transported on severely crowded trucks thousands of miles from India -- where it's illegal to slaughter them in most states -- to Bangladesh every year, read a statement.

"Bangladesh produces cheap products that are sold around the world.

Now, shocking undercover footage into the country's billion-dollar leather industry shows who is paying the highest price for leather: animals and workers, including children," Lewis said in the video. According to the PETA investigation, many cows arrive with broken tails and open wounds and are so weak and malnourished that they cannot even stand.

In abattoirs, or illegally on the streets, their throats are cut with a knife, and some still struggle to escape as their skin is peeled off. Tanneries use toxic chemicals to prevent animals' skin from decaying. Unprotected workers, including chil-

dren, stand barefoot as they soak hides in carcinogenic chemicals, cut the skins with knives, and operate dangerous machinery - some losing fingers in the process.

The toxic waste is then dumped into the river, which has become a bubbling swamp. Most workers have chronic respiratory problems because of the chemical vapours and lack of ventilation.

An estimated 90 percent of tannery workers die before reaching the age of 50.

"The production of leather hurts animals, workers and the environment. Please consider the impact that your purchases have, and buy only crueltyfree synthetic, natural fibre and other vegan clothing and accessories," Lewis said in her video appeal.

Lewis is part of a long list of celebrities -- including Amitabh Bachchan, Jude Law, Priyanka Chopra and Pamela Anderson -- who have teamed up with PETA, whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to wear", to help alleviate animal suffering in various ways.

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12

MonDAY 14•12•2015

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Conor McGregor knocks out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds

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LAS VEGAS, DEcEmbEr 13 (AGENcIES): The winner of Saturday’s featherweight title fight at UFC 194 was to join former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey on the cover of the EA Sports' "UFC 2" video game.

It will be the sport’s two biggest stars on the cover after Conor McGregor knocked out long-reigning champion Jose Aldo in a Rousey-like 13 seconds in a stunning finish before a deliriously happy crowd at the MGM Grand Garden.

The colorful, trash-talking McGregor, who taunted Aldo for months and predicted he’d walk through everyone in the division, proved to be a man of his word.

He caught Aldo with a perfectly placed counter left hook that sent the Brazilian crashing to the mat. One hammer fist later, referee John McCarthy stopped it and the large Irish contingent erupted in song, toasting the new champion.

“He’s powerful and he’s fast, but precision beats power and timing beats speed,” McGregor said.

“He deserved to go a little

(LEFT) Conor McGregor lands a punch on Jose Aldo during a featherweight championship mixed martial arts bout. (AP Photo) (RIGHT) McGregor leaves the Octagon after his first-round knockout victory over Jose Aldo in their featherweight title fight during UFC 194 on December 12, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Getty Images)

bit longer, but it was going to happen eventually.”

From the moment he arrived in the UFC in 2013, not long after getting off public assistance in his native Ireland, McGregor vowed he’d shoot to the top of the sport.

His trash talking outraged many fans, who said he hadn’t fought anyone and didn’t like his many boasts.

But as the competition level increased, the results stayed the same. He knocked out Chad Mendes

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in the second round in July at UFC 189 after Aldo pulled out because of a rib injury. It was no contest on Saturday, as McGregor was too fast and too precise for Aldo.

Aldo hadn’t lost for 10 years, since losing a lightweight fight in Brazil in 2005, and he was widely regarded as the sport’s best fighter. But there is going to be a new entrant in that discussion.

And though the fight didn’t last particularly long, McGregor showed the val-

ue of power.

“That’s all it takes, especially when you have my left hand,” the one-time apprentice plumber said. “No one can take my left hand.”

Aldo, who had been infuriated by McGregor’s antics during a summer media tour, said he hoped to meet the Irishman again.

It may come at a higher weight, since both have difficulty making the featherweight limit of 145.

“That was that,” Aldo said. “We need a rematch.

That was not a fight, so we

need to get in there again.”

It was a fight, and one that sent thousands home wildly happy. It’s just that after getting clobbered, Aldo didn’t remember it.

Rockhold claims UFC middleweight title Apparently, practicing every day with Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier does a lot for a guy.

Luke Rockhold became the third member of the powerhouse American Kickboxing Academy gym from San Jose, Calif., to hold a UFC championship

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Wrestling season begins…..

Wrestlers in action at the village level championship at Mezoma in Kohima district recently. Wrestling is one of the oldest traditional games practiced by the Nagas. Wrestling events first take place at a village level, and then at a range or area level. It further advances to a tribe level and finally the state level. The 25th anniversary tournament of Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) will take place in March 2016.

(Morung Photo/Chizokho Vero)

Bayern secure winter break top spot

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and swollen and he was quickly taken down again to start the fourth. A bit more ground-and-pound in the fourth convinced Dean to stop it.

It also made San Jose the King of the MMA world, giving it two of the UFC’s seven men’s champions, with the possibility of adding a third in February.

Rockhold, who said he battled many issues during his training camp, including a staph infection in his foot, wasn’t ready to criticize Dean’s failure to stop it in the third.

“I was hoping he would,” said Rockhold, who was limping as he returned to the locker room.

“I just sucked it up and had to go another round. All I care is that I got the belt.

And new.”

Weidman was gracious in defeat. It was the first loss of his career, and came in a brutal fashion.

He congratulated Rockhold on the win after a great deal of words were exchanged between the two during the promotion.

“It was Luke’s night,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’m going home to a beautiful family who loves me and fans who love me.”

Arsenal back on top as Villa capitulate again Beisumpuikam Village Sports concludes

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in 2015, dominating Chris Weidman throughout before stopping him in the fourth round.

Rockhold tore Weidman’s face apart with a brutal ground-and-pound.

Referee Herb Dean, who probably made a major error by not stopping it late in the third as Rockhold was whaling away on Weidman with fists and elbows, finally called it at 3:12 of the fourth to give Rockhold the middleweight title in the co-main event of UFC 194 at the MGM Grand Garden.

Arguably the best pure athlete in the UFC, Rockhold backed up his prefight claims of victory with a sensational performance.

“I can’t even believe this is real right now,” Rockhold said. He joins Cormier, the reigning light heavyweight champion, as active UFC champions.

Velasquez lost his heavyweight title in June but will rematch Fabricio Werdum for the belt in February in Las Vegas.

Weidman had a strong opening to the fight, but late in the first round, as they were grappling on the ground, Rockhold caught Weidman in a guillotine and squeezed it hard for the last minute, though Weidman survived.

The turning point came in the third when Weidman tried a wheel kick.

Rockhold caught it and grappled Weidman to the ground, the first time in his UFC career that Weidman was taken down.

Rockhold got mount and delivered vicious ground-and-pound. Dean allowed it to go on, giving Weidman every chance to survive and try to retain his title.

His face was badly cut

bErLIN, DEcEmbEr 13 (rEutErS): Bayern Munich made sure they will go into the Bundesliga winter break in top spot after beating promoted Ingolstadt 2-0 on Saturday to bounce back from their first league loss.

Second-half goals from Robert Lewandowski and Philipp Lahm lifted Bayern, who lost to Borussia Moenchengladbach last week, on to 43 points, eight ahead of Borussia Dortmund, who play Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, with one more matchday left before the one-month break.

Bayer Leverkusen scored four times in 13 minutes in an explosive second half with Javier Hernandez netting a hat-trick, to crush Borussia Moenchengladbach 5-0 and snap their 10game unbeaten run under coach Andre Schubert.

Bayern, who won the league 17 times out of the previous 20 they had finished top at the halfway mark, struggled for more than an hour against the gutsy visitors.

Without injured wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben it was captain Lahm who went close, failing to beat keeper Ramazan Oezcan in a one-on-one early in the second half as Bayern upped the tempo.

Lewandowski was also denied by Oezcan but the Poland forward latched on to a defence-splitting pass from Jerome Boateng in the 65th minute and flicked the ball past the keeper and in off the post for his 15th goal of the campaign.

Lahm made amends for his earlier miss, drilling in

Bayern's second goal from a Thomas Mueller assist 10 minutes later. "Ingolstadt played a courageous game and we played the best team we have faced this season," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola told reporters.

Mexican Hernandez scored a 13-minute hattrick and Stefan Kiessling contributed two goals as Leverkusen stormed past Gladbach, ending Schubert's unbeaten run in the league.

Hernandez took his season tally to 10 league goals and also scored twice in two minutes to steer Leverkusen to their first win in three league games and into sixth on 24 points, offering coach Roger Schmidt some respite after their Champions League exit in midweek. Gladbach dropped to fifth on 26.

Hertha Berlin continued their sparkling run with a 4-0 demolition of Darmstadt 98 including two goals from Vedad Ibisevic to climb into third place on 29 points with their fourth win in the last five games.

VfL Wolfsburg could not replicate the midweek form that saw them beat Manchester United in the Champions League, stuttering to a 1-1 draw at Hamburg but still moved up to fourth on 26.

Hoffenheim earned their first three points under coach Huub Stevens since the Dutchman took over in late October, edging past Hanover 96 1-0 to climb off the bottom and into 17th spot on 13, one point ahead of VfB Stuttgart, who drew 0-0 against Mainz on Friday.

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey in action with Aston Villa's Carlos Sanchez during a Barclays Premier League match at Villa Park on Sunday, December 13. (Reuters)

LONDON, DEcEmbEr 13 (rEutErS): Arsenal enjoyed an easy 2-0 victory at Aston Villa on Sunday to soar to the summit of the Premier League and leave their hapless opponents rooted at rock bottom.

A landmark 50th Premier League goal from Olivier Giroud, a penalty converted four days after his Champions League hat-trick against Olympiakos Piraeus, swiftly brought

more gloom to Villa Park after eight minutes.

Mesut Ozil then produced his 13th assist of the season to allow Aaron Ramsey to slot home a second goal in the 38th minute and enable Arsenal to move on to 33 points, one point clear of Manchester City and Leicester City.

Leicester have the chance to regain the leadership when they entertain Chelsea on Monday.

Villa improved in the second half as Arsenal took their foot off the gas but manager Remi Garde, who as a player was once signed by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, could only hear the grumbles of discontent as his side went a club-record 15th league game without a win.

The defeat left Villa stranded at the foot of the table on six points from 16 games, six adrift of 19thplaced Sunderland.

PErEN, DEcEmbEr 13 (mExN): The 3-day Beisumpuikam Village Sports meet played on the theme “To reach the unreached” concluded on December 12 with president, NPF Peren division, Haigam Kauring, gracing the occasion as guest of honour in the closing ceremony held at the village ground.

The guest of honour in his address said games and sports have always been at the centre of all human activities since the dawn of civilization and that in ancient Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics, games and sports formed the principle part of education. “In the Naga context too, games and sports occupy a central position in our daily lives and our forefathers had earnestly engaged themselves in primeval and outdoors sports such as hunting and fishing. Such outdoor sports and games kept them physically fit, mentally alert and socially active,” Haigam said.

He said adages like “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” and “A healthy mind resides in

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Players being introduced to guest of honour on the concluding day of the Beisumpuikam Village Sports meet.

a healthy body” serve as good reminders of the need to engage in sports and physically activities to keep a person fit and healthy.

Haigam also said games and sports has also become a multi-billion dollar industry, an employment generating machine as well as a mighty force to unite people of different colours and languages.

On benefits of playing games and sports, Haigam said games and sports relaxes the body and mind, which in turn increases the concentration of mind, improves immunity, develops personality and leadership qualities. Further, the NPF Peren division president

said the present DAN government under the “dynamic leadership of chief minister TR Zeliang” is also giving all importance in promoting games and sports in Nagaland and identifying talents to groom them further.

“Fully aware of the potential of Naga youth in music and other creative arts, the government is also doing its best to promote them,” he added.

The guest of honour also kicked off the final football match played between Block ‘C’ and Block ‘D’.

Earlier, the sports meet was inaugurated on December 10 with wildlife warden, Intanki National Park, Caroline Kaurinta, IFS, as the chief guest.

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AON to participate in Arunachal’s Fury

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DImAPur, DEcEmbEr 13 (mExN): Association of Offroaders Nagaland (AON) will be participating in Arunachal Fury 2015, a part of Orange Festival of Adventure and Music, in Dambuk, Arunachal Pradesh which is scheduled from December 15 to 18.

Arunachal Fury is an Extreme Offroading competition held in the rainforests of Arunachal Pradesh.

In a press release, AON informed that it will be fielding a team in the extreme category with Bodevi Shuya and Tokavi Holo in one car and Chanthungo Humtsoe and Senthungo Ovung in the other car of the team.

Meanwhile, Yanrenthung Jamio will be partnering up with Siddu from BODA. The duo competed together in RFC India 2015

held in Goa and finished 6th overall and 2nd Runners-up in its category.

The team will be competing in 2 Gypsys both equipped with winch, Differential lockers, Rear Disk brakes, snorkel, 1600cc engines, rollover bars, and many more upgrades.

A total of 10 teams (i.e., 20 cars) from all over India will be participating and competing for top honours.

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