December 15th, 2016

C M Y K

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

ThursDAY • December 15 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 344 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

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T R u T H

‘Freedom from fear’ could be said to sum up the whole philosophy of human rights — Dag Hammarskjold Rahul alleges he has info about ‘personal corruption’

by PM, BJP rejects charge PAGE 08

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

India inspired by Iceland in soccer development

‘Education must address the need of the hour’ PAGE 02

PAGE 12

naga political groups Public rally today 6form a ‘Working Group’

ACAUT Nagaland firm on unconditional release of leaders

Good God! Cough... His snore is louder...unbelievable.

The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion

Vote on www.morungexpress.com sMs your answer to 9862574165 Do you think that reservation for women in local urban bodies will affect Naga customary practices?

Yes

no

others

Foothill Road facing ‘financial hiccups’ DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) today informed that the Foothill Road project has been “passing through financial hiccups” for the last two years. A press note from the NFHRCC informed that it held a meeting to discuss the situation and “unanimously resolved to initiate extraordinary measure to medicate the historic project.” However, it informed that the Nagaland Chief Minister has assured that by the end of December 2016 necessary arrangement will be made to execute the remaining 8 Km earth cutting (5 Km at Niuland and 3 Km Naginimora” and in view of which the committee has kept in abeyance the proposed measure. The NFHRCC made it clear that it would resort to the proposed measure in the event of failure on the part of the government to act upon as assured. “Therefore, on the strength of the assurance given by the CM, the committee directed the contractors to sign agreement with the committee to maintain workmanship and to avoid any misunderstanding in the project,” it informed. The NFHRCC urged upon the contractors to get ready for construction by the month of January.

NHM employees postpone agitation DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): The National Health Mission (NHM) employees’ proposed total cessation of work has been postponed by three days in lieu of the Government of Nagaland’s assurances for total release of pending salaries by December 17. In a press note, the NHM employees cautioned the government of future consequences if the salaries are not released as assured. They further urged the government work out and put in place a system for timely release of funds to the State Health Society, NHM, Nagaland.

Business establishments downed their shutters on Wednesday heeding to the business closure called by DuCCF. (Morung Photo)

Morung Express news Dimapur | December 14

The 24-hour business closure called by the Dimapur Urban Councils Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) in support of ACAUT Nagaland’s demand for unconditional release of their three leaders who are in judicial custody on Wednesday passed off without any untoward incident.

In main Dimapur, heeding to the call, all business establishments downed their shutters till 4pm in the late afternoon. The members of ACAUT Nagaland also continued to stage their protest with the signatory campaign at the NRL fuel station adjacent to the Clock Tower.

A slight improvement from Tuesday’s negligible presence of people attending the protest, on Wednesday, public, particularly the youths trickled in to make a pit stop

and append their signatures at the poster kept outside the NRL station. According to ACAUT, approximately 15,000 signatures were appended.

Earlier, in the morning, there was a minor a scuffle when the police tried to prevent the ACAUT members from displaying the banners in front of the NRL fuel station facing the road. However, a group of women in traditional attire gathered at the site to lend support, intervened and shooed the police away.

A co-ordination meeting was also convened by the DeputyCommissioner,Dimapurwith the DUCCF, Joint Action Committee of the 13 colonies, GBs Union, Police, Food and Civil Supplies Department, public leaders and officials from the district administration.

DUCCF president, Tsenthungo Lotha briefing the outcome of the meeting at a sitting with ACAUT members

informed that the DC mooted for establishing a Forum to address clarifications, grievances from different quarters.

Though not going into details, Lotha said there were exchanges of clarifications and responses from the different parties at the meeting on the issue at hand. The DC is learnt to have told that all parties at the meeting should be in constant touch and try to help each other in any area where clarification was sought.

While the day passed uneventfully, there was no response forthcoming to the demand for the release of the three ACAUT leaders. The police had maintained that since the three were in judicial custody, it was up to the law to take own course of action.

ACAUT members also revealed that they went to meet RZ Lotha who had filed an FIR against ACAUT on “criminal trespass” to urge him to with-

draw the FIR filed by him.

However, the said person was not around and only his son was home.

Meanwhile, ACAUT Nagaland said it stood by their demand for the unconditional release of the ACAUT leaders.

It has also called for a public rally at NRL petro pump near Clock Tower on Thursday.

According to a press statement issued by its media cell, ACAUT along with frontal organizations of Dimapur have decided to have a peaceful public awareness and rally at NRL petrol pump premises, near Clock Tower, Dimapur at 1pm on against the “gross management and corruption in the state.”

“It is extremely unfortunate that the Government of Nagaland would not listen to the appeals of the general public and still detain three innocent public on flimsy and baseless accusation,” the ACAUT press statement read.

Stating that the Government of Nagaland is hell bent on sabotaging any initiative against corruption, ACAUT Nagaland has called all organizations, colony councils, GB’s, women organizations, mother’s, churches, student bodies and people from every walk of life to come together and say no to corruption.

DUCCF, CCN appeals

The DUCCF and the Concerned Citizens of Nagaland has appealed to all churches, organizations and general public from all walks of life, irrespective of community and tribes to come and support the massbasedpeacefulpublicrally against corruption at NRL petrol pump near city tower tomorrow at 1pm on December 15, 2016.

Representatives of the six naga political groups that resolved to form a Working Group during a meeting in Dimapur on December 13.

DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): Six Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) met on December 13 and signed a joint statement saying that they have on their “own volition,” agreed to come together in the interest of the Naga people as a whole and formed an interim platform by the name ‘Working Group.’

The six Naga political groups include the GPRN/NSCN, FGN, NNC (Parent Body), NPGN/NNC (NA), NSCN (R) and the NNC/GDRN (NA).

This new development was informed by the Convenor of the Mediation Committee, Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) in a statement issued to the media.

The meeting of the six Naga National Political Groups was held in response to the appeal of the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC).

The groups resolved to “acknowledge God Jehovah as the Lord of all

Nations including the Nagas in particular and whatever we do hereafter will be with this faith in Him alone.”

It also agreed on the formation of the working committee, under which Naga political groups “shall chalk out the roadmap towards fulfillment of Naga political aspiration.”

The meeting further resolved “not to betray each other in the manner of instability and untrustworthiness,” and pledged to “stand united under the interim platform as long as required by the given responsibilities.”

It also agreed “not to consider each group remaining in respective organizations to be the hindrance to our coordination for furtherance of the common interest.”

The six groups “resolved to remain open hearted and do welcome the rest of other NNPGs to come around and be part of the Working Group.”

The Working Group consists of: 1. Eno. N. Kitovi Zhimomi, Ato Kilonser (GPRN/NSCN) 2. Eno. Zhopra Vero, Kedallo, FGN 3. Eno. V. Nagi, Secretary, NNC (Parent Body) 4. Eno. Hozheto, Ato Kilonser (NPGN/NNC,NA) 5. Eno. Wangtin Naga, President (NSCN(R) 6. Eno. Hetoi Chophi, Ato Kilonser (NNC/GDRN, NA) 7. 4 representatives from each NNPGs (4X6)

: : : : : : :

Convenor Co-convenor Co-convenor Co-convenor Co-convenor Co-convenor Members

86% employees at Nagaland Secretariat YTC accuses AR of falsely implicating member feel they are placed in the wrong calling Morung Express news Kohima | December 14

According to a survey conducted by the Commissioned to the World of Work Network (CWWN) in the nerve center of Nagaland government, 86 percent of employees feel they were not placed according to their calling.

Almost 80 percent of the employees further agreed that they are discouraged by the way things function in the workplace. The survey was revealed on December 14 during an event called Connect 16 held at de Oriental Grande, Kohima, organised by the CWWN, with an aim to foster conversation and forge relationships towards successful purpose of living and work.

In a brief outline of the survey report, Lilly T Metha stated that due to the liberal and humanistic philosophies rule in today’s world, many people cannot accept spiritual morality especially at workplaces and “that there is a pervasive liberality in the way people think and function and many have forgotten to adhere to ethics in their workplaces.”

This has created a great divide between the secular and the religious terms of the morality that determines the way things function and work in many workplaces, claimed Metha.

“Even within our own Naga society, we see such wanton abandon as people in many workplaces do away with their Christian consciences. The problem may be that we have developed a spirituality that is based on an experience of God elsewhere-we feel close to God in our quiet time at home, in corporate worship or during retreat, but not at work,” she reasoned.

Metha believed that time has come when one must consider the dangers of indiscriminately separating the sacred from the secular and to find means to bridge the gap.

A discussion and interactive session on the survey was held with panelists Rajesh Soundararajan (IAS), Joint Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, and Dr. Hovithal Sothu, Deputy Director, Administrative Training Institute Kohima.

Placing a high regard on the maxim ‘Service to men is service to God,’ Hovithal Sothu asserted that one’s workplace as it is, should be one’s church, temple, or mosque.

“As long as we are able to turn the good

virtues of our religion or faith to the good work of what we do, then we have done justice to both our work and our religion,” said Rajesh Soundararajan Reacting to the report where 86 percent of employees believe that they are not placed in the right workplace, Rajesh viewed that irrespective of one’s career option, employees always have the opportunity whether to continue the job or to switch over to another job; however the employees should also uphold their current workplace and take it as one’s calling.

In the survey, almost 80 percent of the employees agreed that they are often discouraged by the way things function in the workplace to which Hovithal agreed, maintaining that the ones who follow the rules are often sidelined in the current system of governance. “The people that are trained, when they go and face the realities of the government department are just like small drops of water in the desert,” said Sothu, lamenting that many of the employees get drowned into the ‘wrong’ system or in a ‘compromising’ system.

Sample Survey report by CWWN

• I usually identify myself with my designation: 47% agreed • Where I am placed right now is my calling.: 86% disagreed • It does not matter whether I make a difference in my workplace: 86% disagreed • There should be separation of faith and work: 59% disagreed • I’m uncomfortable about praying or spiritual activities in the workplace: 44% agreed • Spirituality should be strictly private: 42% disagree, 34% agree • Faith should not interfere in the workplace: 62% disagreed, 28% agreed • It is easy to be a disciple of Jesus in the workplace: 35% agreed, 35% disagreed • I am often discouraged by the way things function in the workplace: 41% agreed, 41% agreed to some extent • My faith drives me to be faithful and sincere in my work: 76% agreed • There is no connection between my faith and my dedication to my work: 83% disagreed • I don’t think there is much I can do to make a difference: 70% disagreed

DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): The Yimchungru Tribal Council (YTC) on Wednesday condemned what it alleged as a fabricated act committed by the 40th Assam Rifles on one of its bona fide member, Y Kiumuhean on December 12, 2016.

YTC in a condemnation note alleged that six armed personnel of the 40th AR entered the house of the person in question at around 6:30pm and blindfolded his friend and detained him inside a vehicle outside the house without any reason.

At the time, some of the AR trespassed inside the rooms and frisked every nook and corner in the presence of the victim’s wife and his son.

When nothing indiscriminate was found, one of the AR personnel allegedly took a plastic package from his pocket and took it to their vehicle where the victim was detained and claimed that the package was found in one of the room, the YTC alleged.

Consequently, the victim was the transported to the AR camp and latter shifted to Tuensang Police Station

on the pretext of possession of illegal weapons. He was then evacuated to Mokokchung Police Station and later forwarded to the District Jail, the YTC said.

In this connection, the YTC has condemned the act of the AR personnel for allegedly carrying illegal weapons, placing them inside the house of an innocent Naga with intention to “maliciously implicate” with criminal offences. It further urged the competent authority to release the victim immediately.

‘Purely Naga’— Dimapur Night Carnival opens to packed house Morung Express news Dimapur | December 14

The Jamirs have been planning their first stall at the Dimapur Night Carnival for a couple of months now. On the night of December 14, the Carnival, to be held till December 18 at Supermarket area here, was inaugurated to an already packed house raising hopes for the Jamirs and their stall titled ‘Purely Naga.’

“We are making purely Naga food and beverages, with everything in the stall sourced locally,” said Lima Jamir who is leading the pack. Their family has already invested about Rs. 15,000 into the stall and hopes to make some profits through the Night Carnival that should last them the Christmas season. With a lack of capital to pep up the act, the whole family came together to put up the show.

The story is no different for other stalls. Making the whole Night Carnival a Purely Naga enterprise, many stalls saw siblings and neighbourhood friends put efforts together to set

The Dimapur night Carnival kicked off to a full house start at the supermarket area in Dimapur on December 14 and is set to continue up to December 18, 2016.

(Morung Photo; more photos on page 11)

up shop. A stall titled ‘Carnival’ saw two siblings who live in Dimapur collaborate with their siblings in Kolkata and Pune to put up an accessories stall. A ‘Circle of Friends’ came up with a fast food stall, while ‘OSP Costumes’ saw friends and family sell funky wigs, masks and glasses. Tambola games and local handicrafts peeked out of a number of spaces.

Fundraising opportunities were galore. The ‘Special Olympics Naga-

land’ has installed a food stall here for the first time in order to raise funds for their tireless volunteers. The ‘Inner Wheel Club 324 Dimapur’, women’s wing of the Rotary Club here, has put up a games and food stall to raise funds for the schools it has adopted around Dimapur to improve their infrastructure. The Muslim Council Dimapur, always ready with a regular and popular stall, is warmly in place with its beef biryani and liver. Mithun meat roll

and soup simmered not too far away in another stall.

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism C Apok Jamir, who inaugurated the Carnival, said in his address that the enthusiasm and energy witnessed at the Dimapur Night Carnival shows the growing popularity of the same.

The Parliamentary Secretary said the Carnival will not only provide entertainment during the festive season but also provide a platform to upcoming talents including musicians and local entrepreneurs.

Apok said the carnival is also an opportunity to propagate ‘Unity in Diversity’ not only in the national context but also through bringing all Naga tribes and other communities to come together and enjoy in the festive spirit.

He added that the Carnival is an extension of the Hornbill Festival which has put Nagaland on the global tourism map. He lauded the organizers for being able to set up more than 300 stalls catering to all sections and age groups.

2

thursDAY 15•12•2016

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

‘Education must address the need of the hour’

New Chumu ‘B’ Khel to repair approach road

chumukeDIma, December 14 (mexN): All the ‘B’ Khel villagers of New Chumukedima and the adjacent new villages are informed that in view of the festive season and the convenience for commuters, the whole villagers including the landowners will repair the approach road.

‘B’ Khel New Chumukedima Founder Chairman TL Angami in a press release has informed all the heavy vehicle such as truck, mini truck etc plying on the village approach road for transporting various forest products as well as for running their business are strictly prohibited to ply on the village approach road with effect from December 15 till January 10, 2017 by the ‘B’ Khel Authority.

“The violators shall strictly penalized with a fine of Rs. 5000/- or more,” said the Chairman.

Further, it also informed that hunting, fishing or collecting any forest product apart from the landowners or villagers is strictly prohibited. Any person found violating shall do at his or her own risk and the authority shall strictly deal and even seize their weapon or material etc.

All are request to cooperate as per notified.

GHS Sungro Wokha celebrates Golden Jubilee

Executive Director, Connect Ability Network, Nagaland Diethono Nakhro interacting with the Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya at Raj Bhavan, Kohima on December 14.

(Photo Courtesy/PRO Raj Bhavan)

Mock drill in Wokha Town on Dec 20 Wokha, December 14 (mexN): In view of the upcoming festive season and the fact that Nagaland is situated in Seismic Zone V, the District Administration of Wokha and the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) will be conducting a mock drill on Tuesday, December 20. An earthquake and fire scenario would be simulated during the exercise, DC Wokha Wezope Kenye informed in a press release.

Mokokchung bans crackers & fireworks

He also stated that the objective of the Mock Drill would be to review the adequacy and efficacy of the district disaster management plan and highlight roles and responsibilities of various emergency functionaries. The effective response of authorities in mobilizing resources, working of emergency communications and community response would be evaluated and gaps in participating organizations in resources

such as manpower, equipments, materials, communications and systems identified.

The selected locations are NST Junction, PWD Colony and Police Point. The mock drill would be conducted between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. The citizens of Wokha Town are requested to not panic or be alarmed by the sounds of siren and movement of personnel and ambulances and extend full co-operation to make the exercise a success.

Wo k h a , D e c e m ber 14 (DIPr): Minister for School Education & SCERT, Yitachu graced the commemoration of GHS Sungro, Wokha Golden Jubilee on December 14 as the chief guest.

Addressing the jubilee celebration the chief guest said it is a joyous moment to recall and celebrate the visions and farsightedness of our forefathers and elders who has put in so much effort in establishing the institution despite having no proper infrastructure, communication and connectivity.

He lamented that in spite of government effort in selecting the best and top teachers for the government schools, only one third of the students are studying in government schools and appealed all to do away with this kind of attitude because we are losing the talents government is giving to mould the future generation.

“We should not only introspect on our pass achievements of the school but should give more effort in developing the education

Minister for School Education & SCERT Yitachu releases the GHS Sungro, Wokha Golden Jubilee souvenir on December 14. (Morung Photo)

system and give value based and quality education so that other government institution will emulate the success and good result the school have given to the society in the past,” he said. Stating that education must address the need of the hour, Yitachu appealed to the teachers to give quality education and equip the students with knowledge where they will become an asset not only for the range people but for the state and nation. The chief guest also released the jubilee souvenir.

Guest of honour, Secre-

ICSI Study Center at Unity College inaugurated

mokokchuNg, December 14 (DIPr): Additional Deputy Commissioner & Administrator Mokokchung Municipal Council, Mokokchung, Bendanglila has informed all concern that sale of crackers and fireworks items and bursting of the same are not allowed in the town in order to make Christmas and New year celebration more decent and peaceful. In this regard parents have been requested to control their children from bursting of crackers.

Also the rate of Pork is hereby notified again as, whole sell Rs, 155 per Kg, cut meat Rs. 200 per Kg, Head/Leg/Stomach and intestine Rs. 140 per Kg. All respective ward authorities and public are requested to Cooperate in maintaining the given rates.

Moreover, all fast food permit holders who are opening Stall on the street are directed to maintain cleanliness. Further opening of such stall without proper permit is not allowed. Defaulters of the above directives will attract penal action.

DImaPur, December 14 (mexN): Unity College signed an MOU with Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) on December 14. With the signing of the MOU, ICSI Study Center was also inaugurated on the same day.

During the inauguration, faculty members of Department of Commerce and students of Commerce, Unity College were also present. The MOU was exchanged between Unity College and ICSI. Handing over of the MOU took place between Principal of the college, Dr. SK Chhabra; Chairman, NM Ovung representing the College and Chiranjeeb Sarma Roy, officer-in-charge, North Eastern Chapter of ICSI; Gautam Goswami, CS & Faculty member of NE Chapter of ICSI were the representatives of ICSI. A press release from the College informed that Unity College is the only college in Nagaland to be given the privilege of having a study center of ICSI. This study centre will be of great benefit to the student community of Nagaland and neighboring states. Earlier students of Nagaland had to go out of Nagaland to do coaching for CS exams but now the Representatives of Unity College and Institute of Company Secretaries of India facility will be available at their doorsteps with the opening of the study center at Unity College.

(ICSI) during the signing of MoU held on December 14.

(Mo), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni) and chloride (Cl).

A lack of any one of the micronutrients in the soil can limit growth, even when all other nutrients are present in adequate amounts. He directed farmers on the amount of micronutrient doses to be mixed with water before spraying it directly in fields or on standing crops. Later, the farmers were distributed micronutrients and biofertilizer packets at the programme chaired by Moakumzuk, ATM, Aghunaqa Block.

Youth parliament at Longleng held

LoNgLeNg, December 14 (mexN): Sakshi Nehru Yuva Kendra, Longleng, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Government of Indian in collaboration with Social Issue Education & Quality of Leadership organized a block level neighborhood youth parliament under the supervision of john makhabo District youth co-coordinator Nehru Yuva Kendra Longleng. More than 90 participants from 20 youth club including pastor VCC Chairman and citizen

president participated, Er- Kevingoto Kulnu.EAC Sakshi were resource person. This objective of this programme in to be develop leadership qualities among youth to enable then to realize their full potential to contribute to the nation building process, and resource person delivered lecture on three components like social issue , education and unemployment. The programme was chair by T. Thenyei Phom and B. Langmei Phom NYV Longleng.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR ELECTRICAL INSPECTORATE NAGALAND: KOHIMA

Field day on winter vegetables at Yanthamo

Wokha, December 14 (mexN): Field Day on winter vegetables was conducted at Yanthamo Village on December 14 by ATMA Chukitong Block Wokha. Importance and concept of Field Day was shared by Mhalo Tungoe SMS KVK, Wokha. Vegetables farmers of the block shared the experience and profit earned through vegetable cultivation. Through their experience the farmers felt that vegetable cultivation is profitable avenue and is an important source for income generation. Altogether 28 farm women attended the field day programme.

Meeting held for Republic Day 2017

kohIma, December 14 (DIPr): A meeting was convened under the chairmanship of the Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha on December 14 at his office chamber to chalk out the work distribution for 26th January 2017 Republic Day celebration at Kohima. Abhijit Sinha, while talking to the officers from as many as 23 various Departments said that Republic Day 2017 will be celebrated across the country including Nagaland and therefore urged the officers to share their thoughts and ideas in order to make the celebration the most befitting and also to make the occasion an impressive one ever.

The meeting further deliberated in detail about the issues relating to the Republic Day 2017 celebration.

NPF Central Office to remain close till Jan 18

Pongching Baptist Church 75 yr celebration from Dec 16-18

LoNgLeNg, December 14 (mexN): The Pongching Baptist Church will celebrate its 75th year of embracing Christianity by its people from December 16 to 18 under the theme ‘We are His witnesses.’ Rev. Dr. Anjo Keikung, Chancellor North East Christian University (NECU) will unveil the jubilee monolith on December 18. The main speakers of the programme includes Y. Nuklu Phom, Executive Secretary PBCA, Rev. Dr. Anjo Keikung, Chancellor, NECU, Rev. Phomlee Van, Pastor Kohima Phom Baptist Church, T. Repa Former pastor PBC and Y. Atang Phom Pastor PBC. Pongching Baptist Church invites two delegates each of the entire churches under Phom Baptist Christian Association and also delegates from well wisher Churches outside of Longleng district. The church also Children look on from behind the bamboo fence as VIP convoy (not seen in the picture) request Christian brethrens around the world to uphold in prayer for the grand success of the programme. passes Pangti village under Wokha district. (Morung Photo)

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DEPARTMENT OF POWER

OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER ELECTRICAL DIVISION CHUMUKEDIMA : NAGALAND

Sub: Observance of “National Energy Conservation Day” 2016 The Electrical Inspectorate as the Nagaland State Designated Agency (NSDA) for Energy Conservation in the State observed the “ National Energy conservation Day” on 14th Dec. 2016 by visiting Govt. Hospitals and donating LED Bulbs to the Authority concerned namely Mental Hospital Kohima, Leprosy Colony, Kohima and culminated at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima.

A brief function was held at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima with Smti. Meyimenla chairing the programme.

Chief Electrical Inspector Er. I. V. Chishi delivered the Keynote Address followed by a short speech from the Hospital Authority.

Wonthungo Tsopoe while delivering special greeting said, Sungro GHS is one of the best government schools in the district and urged the teaching faculty to put more effort in order to bring out better result as the school has produced in the past.

Asstt. Development Commissioner, Wokha Mhonsao Ezung also spoke during the celebration.

Headmistress GHS Sungro delivered the welcome address while vote of thanks was given by AHM GHS, Sungro.

kohIma, December 14 (mexN): NPF Central Office will remain closed from December 21 till January 18, 2017.

The Office will re-open on January 9, 2017. NPF General Secretary (Admn) Kruzakie Kelio in a press release also informed that the office has assigned people for Roster Duty during Christmas and New Year Holidays from December 21 to January 9. All the concerned Roster Duty Officials are informed to report daily with important dak and messages to the Secretary General and General Secretary (Administration) during their days of Roster duty.

ATMA Aghunaqa block conducts Kisan Ghosthi DImaPur, December 14 (mexN): Kisan Ghosthi programme was conducted at Integrated Farm school in Zutoi village on December 12 where Demalu Hasnusa, BTM, Aghunaqa Block spoke on the topic of ‘Application methods of Micronutrients and Biofertilizers.’ He said that micronutrients are essential for plant growth and play an important role in balanced crop nutrition. They include boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum

tary to the Government of Nagaland for Food & Civil Supplies, Legal & Metrology and Consumer Protection, Ramongo Lotha (IAS) who also spoke during the occasion shared his experiences as to how GHS Sungo came to being and the responsible citizens the school has produced since its inception.

He also urged the employees to have job contentment and serve with sincerity and dedication wherever they are posted.

Additional Director (HOD) School Education,

ONLINE PAYMENT OF ELECTRICITY BILLS

Electricity consumers of Chumukedima are informed that the Department has introduced online payment of Electricity bills. Consumers can log in to www.dopn.gov.in and pay their bills by clicking the ‘View & Pay Bill’ option.

Executive Engineer Electrical Division, Chumukedima

KVK NU Zunheboto conducts technology week

ZuNheboto, December 14 (mexN): KVK Nagaland University, Zunheboto conducted technology week from December 6 to 10 with Dr. Sajay Paswan, former minister of state MHRD Government of India as the chief guest.

Dur ing the programme, trainings and method demonstrations were imparted to the farmers. Farmers were also distributed with winter crop seeds, bio fertilizers, bio pesticides.

A total of 226 farmers have attended the programme. As part of the technology week, KVK staff also visited Littami old and Littami new village where trainings and method demonstration for propagating horticultural crops were given to the farmers.

Video show on how or-

Dr. Sajay Paswan, former minister of state MHRD Government of India during the technology week conducted by KVK Nagaland University, Zunheboto.

ganic tea can be prepared locally was also screened during the Technology week. This was stated in

a press release issued by KVK Nagaland University I/c, Sr. Scientist & Head Dr. Visakho Shunyu.

Thursday 15•12•2016

NORTH-EAST 3

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

making false promises on Mass rallies across ‘four Naga Stop statehood: Bodos tell Centre district headquarters’ today Newmai News Network Senapati | December 14

Mass rallies will be organised in all the "four Naga district headquarters" on December 15 under the banner of the United Naga Council (UNC) in protest against the creation of 7 new districts "without consulting all stakeholders".

The rallies will also to demand the imposition of President's Rule in the "present" State of Manipur and to expedite Indo-Naga peace process at the earliest to its logical conclusion.

The rallies will begin simultaneously from 11 am. The rallies will conclude with the submission of memorandums to the Governor of Manipur through their respective deputy commissioners.

The United Naga Council (UNC) said today that it came into being to defend and protect "ancestral homeland, identity, history, culture, tradition, custom and time honored in-

LNC-M rejects district creation

ImPHaL, December 14 (nnn): Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur (LNC-M) has outrightly rejected the Manipur Government order of creating 7 new districts.

In a memorandum submitted to Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, the LNC-M expressed its strong resentment that "by carving out these districts, the state government has sounded the harshest judgement particularly on the Liangmai Nagas, who in fact should have been given the priority."

It further stated in the memorandum that by further bifurcating the lands of the Liangmai Nagas, they have been made to scatter in the "so called" five districts of Manipur---Tamenglong, Senapati, Imphal West, Kangpokpi and Noney.

"With much resentment and humiliation, we have to say that the state government has committed the harshest injustice to the rights and sentiments of the stitution of the Nagas". The UNC also said that it is a civil organization based on the democratic principles that honours all the communities and nationalities living elsewhere. "We expect respect and honours

concerned community by its decision to forcibly divide our territories without our mandate and much against our will, thus posing an outright challenge to our identity and very existence. This is very unfortunate for the government to go against the wishes of its citizens," the LNC-M further expressed its resentment.

"The Liangmai Naga Council (M) therefore, after having convened an emergency consultative meeting on December 11, 2016 in respect to the declaration of seven new districts in Manipur by the government, has unanimously resolved that, we outrightly reject the government order and will not accede any part of our territory to create new districts under any circumstance, as it was done without consulting the stakeholders, especially the Liangmai Nagas whose ancestral land has been fragmented into different districts without consent", it asserted.

as we respect others," the Naga body added.

The UNC then reiterated that the ongoing Indefinite economic blockade including banning the construction of Trans Asian Railways was being

Cong MLA in Manipur quits party, assembly ImPHaL, December 14 (IanS): Congress MLA Z. Khikhonbou Newmai, representing Tamei constituency in Manipur, resigned from the assembly and party on Wednesday.

He is the fifth Congress MLA to resign ahead of the January 2017 Assembly elections.

"The Congress government has taken some contentious steps, the most recent being the formation of seven districts on Thursday midnight (last week). In violation of the constitutional provisions, the government did not seek approval of the Hill Areas Committee on the proposal of the creation of the new districts," Newmai said, However, Khaidem Mani, a senior advocate told IANS that only those bills intro-

duced in the assembly should be referred to the Hill Areas Committee. "Since the creation of a district is an executive exercise there is no need to seek approval," he said.

Referring to the resignation from the Congress party membership, Newmai said: "My workers have been pressurising me to resign. Since they are the ones who will re-elect me, I cannot ignore their pressure." "I have not decided as yet which party I shall join ahead of elections. This will be decided in consultation with my workers," he added.

He said he had personally submitted his resignation letter to the Deputy Secretary of Manipur assembly and through WhatsApp to T.N. Haokip, Manipur Congress president.

imposed as the Government of Manipur had utterly failed to honour and uphold the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between the Government of Manipur and Naga people and also, the

written assurance given by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on the issue.

"The Naga people will uphold the established position on land and peoples’ right at all cost," it asserted.

The UNC then stated that it is a civil organization pursuing its rightful cause democratically, and "it is very unfortunate to accuse UNC volunteers of using fire arms is nothing but a stage manage and just to tarnish the image of the UNC".

The UNC then appealed "one and all" not to blame such baseless and unfounded allegation in future.

Meanwhile, the UNC strongly condemned the volunteers of counter economic blockade "who had beaten the driver of Tata Sumo Mr. PG. Kagungai black and blue and burning down of the vehicle" between Khumbong and Ngairangbam in the evening of December 13, 2016.

By-poll to seven tribal seats peaceful

SHILLOng, December 14 (PtI):Voting ended peacefully in the by-poll to seven tribal autonomous district council seats in Meghalaya on Tuesday, with about 60 per cent of the over 1.5 lakh voters exercising their franchise. “Voting ended peacefully and there was no untoward incident during the voting which started at 7 am,” a senior district council affairs department official told PTI. The fate of the 33 candidates in the fray will be decided on December 16. The main Opposition party, the regional United Democratic Party, and the BJP contested in all the seven seats while the ruling Congress contested in only six seats. The seats fell vacant after seven out of eight legislators resigned from the membership into the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, following the passing of a legislation preventing them from holding two elected posts. The Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) (Amendment) Act, 2015, seeks to end holding of dual posts by the MLAs.

new DeLHI, December 14 (IanS): The Bodo community members of Assam on Wednesday urged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments at the Centre and in the state to stop making false promises on the separate statehood demand.

Over 5,000 Bodo community members here on Wednesday ended their threeday-long agitation demanding separate statehood. "The political demand would remain unresolved even if the armed struggle is resolved from the point of law and order situation and recurrence of armed struggle will resume one day or other. Therefore, the attitude of the central government in regards to objective of the genesis of the armed struggle should change," said All Assam Student's Union (ABSU) President Pramod Bodo.

The agitation was organised under the banner of ABSU, National Democratic Front of Bodo (Progressive) and People Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement (PJACBM).

The three organisations -- which are the main force behind the Bodoland demand -- also said they would intensify their agitation through indefinite rail and road blockades in several parts of Assam and mass hunger strikes.

"The armed struggle germinated and flared up on the political issue. It is the political problem and should be resolved politically," Pramod Bodo said.

"There will be no permanent solution if the central government makes an attempt

to resolve it as mere a law and order problem," he added. On Tuesday, the protestors, who held a rally from Ramlila Maidan to Parliament Street in the national capital, also submitted a memorandum of demands to the Prime Minister's Office.

"The government created Telangana but now it has started rejecting all those reasons for creating new states just to deny many aspirants for new state," said a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Office.

"The present NDA government is seen to be trying to befool the people by offering economic development as an option to solve political problem," the memorandum said. The Bodo community also demanded the Prime Minister should ensure political rights of the Bodos living outside the proposed Bodoland area.

The Bodos -- Assam's largest tribal community -- currently have Bodo Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) comprising of Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang in Assam.

Currently, two factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland -- NDFB(P) led by Gobinda Basumatary, and NDFB led by Ranjan Daimary -- are holding peace talks with the central government, while NDFB(S) led by Songibijit I.K. is opposed to holding talks with the government under the constitutional framework.

The Songibijit faction was responsible for the recent killing of 14 civilians in an attack in Assam's Kokrajhar in August this year, which also left 20 people injured.

ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun (NRCM) NO. NRCM (F) 9/2012

Medziphema — 797 106, Nagaland, India

MITHUN AUCTION- NOTICE

Date: 14.12.2016

The Director, ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland invites sealed bids from individuals/public for disposal of six (06) female mithun from the mithun farm of Medziphema as it is where condition basis. Non-transferable bidding documents along with terms and conditions can be downloaded from institute's website www.nrcmithun.res.in and submit the required bidding fee Rs 200/- per animal (non-refundable) by cashless payment through electronic devises or by DD favouring Director, ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland payable at SBI Medziphema Branch (Code- 06759) The schedule of submission of sealed Bids and date/time of opening are as follows: 1. Submission of sealed bid - to be submitted before 20.12.2016, 11:00 AM 2. Opening of the sealed bids - 20.12.2016, 11:30 AM 3. Declaration of the name of successful Bidder (s) - 20.12.2016, 12:30 PM 4. Deposit of the bid amount by the successful bidder (s) in the Bank account of the Institute -20.12.2016 upto.3:30 PM 5. Submission of the deposit slip/UTR No. of the bid value to the Office/Farm I/C - 20.12.2016 upto 4:00 pm Administrative Officer ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema

Controversy involving Kiren Mizoram, Hmars ZION HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTRE Rijiju stalls Rajya Sabha to hold peace talks FREE FIBROSCAN new DeLHI, Decem- sari pressed for taking up aIZawL, December ber 14 (PtI): Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice today following protests over the controversy involving Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju.

Opposition members shouted slogans and indulged in heated exchanges with BJP members over the alleged misuse of office

by Rijiju with regard to a power project in Arunachal Pradesh, besides also raising anti-government slogans on the demonetisation issue.

During the Question Hour at noon, some members were heard raising slogans over allegations against the Minister.

Chairman Hamid An-

the Question Hour and was heard saying that there cannot be "Jekyll and Hyde character."

However as the protests continued, Ansari adjourned the House till 1400 hours.

When the House reassembled, rare unanimity was witnessed as the members passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014. After the Bill was passed, Anand Sharma (Cong) raised the issue of allegations against Rijiju, which led protests from the members from the Treasury benches.

Amidst constant din, Kurien adjourned the House for the day.

14 (PtI): The Mizoram government and Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) will hold a third round of peace talks on Friday. The HPC(D) delegation, for the first time since August 10 last, would be led by the Working Chairman of the outfit, Lalthangliana Hmar, Hmar sources said on Tuesday.

Lalthalien, a church leader in Imphal, who led the HPC(D) delegation in the first and second rounds of talks, told PTI that Hmar would lead the delegation this time, while ‘Deputy Army Chief’ Lalbiaknunga, earlier tipped to be included in the delegation will not be present.

Orange Festival of Adventure & Music returns to Arunachal

Itanagar, December 14 (IanS): Touted as India's first outdoor adventure and music festival, the Orange Festival of Adventure & Music is returning to the northeastern state Arunachal Pradesh.

Starting from Thursday, the third edition of the fest, supported by Arunachal Pradesh Tourism department, will be headlined by Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen.

The four-day event will be hosted by Dambuk in Lower Dibang Valley, which is said to be the tenth least populous district in the country. So why Dambuk?

"The main aim of initiating the festival was to bring Dambuk into the world's notice. Even most people in the state didn't know about the place. What better medium than music, which has a worldwide acceptance, and adventure because getting to Dambuk itself is an adventure.

"The area offers ample opportunities for adventure in its rawest form," Abu Tayeng, Director, Orange Festival of Adventure & Music, Dambuk, told IANS in an email interaction.

One interesting fact behind the festival's name is that the first orange plantation started about Dambuk 30 years ago.

"Dambuk produces some of the best oranges and has now become principal cash crop of the area. It has brought about an economic and social change for the people. Hence, we chose the fruit orange as the brand of the festival," he said.

He said Dambuk is also known as 'Kala Paani' as it remains cut off from the rest of the world during monsoon and since time immemorial has been facing the brunt of mother nature's fury.

"But citizens of the area have overcome these natural hurdles and carved out life in Dambuk. I want to celebrate and pay trib-

ute to the fighting spirit of my forefathers and our people by popularising the area through this festival. I also want to create self-employment and business opportunities to my people," said Tayeng.

How will the fest help the state?

"Firstly, by increase in the tourist inflow. Secondly, by providing self-employment avenues to local people. All the stalls, homestays, most production crew, even some camping partners are from the state.

Now, we have a trained pool of human resource. Orange fest has become a training ground for the state's off-roading enthusiast," he said.

Last year, the fest introduced the natural off-roading event JK Tyre Orange 4x4 Fury. Its second edition will see participation by stars like The Rainforest Challenge India champion Kirpal Singh Tung and Kabir Waraich, winner of JK Tyre Orange 4x4 Fury 2015.

What are the other adventure-based activities planned for this year?

"I added Maruti Suzuki National Superleague TSD Rally Championship to this edition," he said.

A number of high adrenaline adventure sports like river rafting, dirt cycling, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rides in the forest are also lined up. And of course, the fest is high on music too.

The line-up also includes Antoine (France), Skylevel (Shillong), Menwhopause (New Delhi), Baby Boomers (Bhutan), Gingerfeet (Darjeeling), Arogya (Sikkim), Shubhangi Joshi Collective (Mumbai), Frisky Pints (Mizoram), Tani (Arunachal Pradesh) and The Ganesh Talkies (Kolkata).

Date : 16.12.2016 Time : 11:00 Am- 3:00 Pm Place: Zion Hospital & Research Centre

For further information, kindly contact the reception: 03862-227337, 224117

LOST NOTICE

I, Mr. INAVITO K TUCCU S/o KHUKIHO TUCCU (Father) & TOKHULI TUCCU (Mother) am applying for duplicate copies of Class 10 Admit Card and Marksheet, Class 12 Admit Card Marksheet, Registration Card of Higher Secondary, NBSE, (ICE) AIT Guwahati Admit Card and Marksheet as I have lost it.

Particulars of Class 10 Admit Card and Marksheet 1. Roll No : 582113 2. D.O.B : 30th June, 1989 3. ID mark : A mole near the nose.

Particulars of Class 12 Admit Card and Marksheet 1. Roll No : 1011168 Particulars of Higher Secondary (NBSE) 1. Registration No : 512481 Particulars of (ICE) AIT Guwahati Admit Card and Marksheet 1. Roll No : 292087 2. Membership No : 91509

Regd. No : 4152/16

AFFIDAVIT

Date : 16/11/16

MHAINAMTSI VILLAGE JALUKIE – 797110, PEREN: NAGALAND

Golden Jubilee Celebration DATE: 16TH DECEMBER, 2016 VENUE: LOCAL GROUND TIME: 10:00 AM

I, Helena Yepthomi, Wife of Hokiye Yepthomi, Resident of H/No571, Agasa Chekiye Village, Dimapur. Nagaland, do hereby solemnly affirm and declare on oath as follows:1.That, my name is recorded as Neilelhounuo Yepthomi in my Pension documents, whereas in my Aadhar Card my name is recorded as Helena Yepthomi due to inadvertent clerical mistakes.

However both names Neilelhounuo Yepthomi and Helena Yepthomi refers to the same person. 2. That Neilelhounuo Yepthomi and Helena Yepthomi refers to the same person. 3. That this affidavit is sworn for the purpose of stating that the above names refers to me for all purposes and intent. Hence seeking for kind acceptance by any competent authority. 4. That, the statements made at Para 1 to 3 are true arid correct to the best of my knowledge and I have signed this affidavit on this the 16th Nov. 2016 at Dimapur. Nagaland.

Deponent Sworn before me by the deponent.

Magistrate/ Notary Public, Nagaland

Regd. No: 475

AFFIDAVIT

Date: 6-12-2016

I, Shri. KHEHOSHE V. AWOMI S/o Shri. VINITO AWOMI permanent resident of Mukhami village and presently residing at V.K. Town in the District of Zunheboto Nagaland do hereby solemnly swear an oath and declare as under:1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India belonging to Sumi Naga tribe and resident of above mentioned address. 2. That my name is officially recorded and entered as KHEHOSHE V. AWOMI in all legal document. 3. That due to clerical error/ mistake in my Pan card bearing Account No: EIRPK9420F my name is written and entered as KHEHOSHE which I would like to rectify my name as KHEHOSHE V. AWOMI. 4. That the above mentioned name refers to one and the same person. 5.

That through this declaration in my same Pan card I would use my name as KHEHOSHE V. AWOMI. Deponent

Solemnly affirm and declared before me by the deponent.

Magistrate/Notary Public, Zunheboto: Nagaland

CHIEF GUEST: Shri. T.R. Zeliang Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland CHAIRMAN Chamdin Newmai SECRETARY Gaisinglung Gonmei

4

ThursDAY 15•12•2016

business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Retail inflation hits multi-year low of 3.63% in Nov New Delhi, December 14 (PTi): Retail inflation eased to multi-year low of 3.63 per cent in November on account of sharp drop in prices of food items, reflecting weak demand as consumers grappled with cash crunch following demonetisation.

This is the lowest level at least since January 2014 and the consumer inflation was seen near this level at 3.66 per cent in August 2015.

The Consumer Price Index-based inflation stood at 4.20 per cent in previous month October, the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed.

Retail inflation was at 5.41 per cent in November 2015.

Inflation in vegetables category slipped further in the negative territory at (-)10.29 per cent indicating

An employee collects wheat from a sack inside a grocery store at a residential area in Mumbai. (REUTERS File Photo)

deflation, as against (-) 5.74 per cent in October.

However, inflation in fruits came in at 4.60 per cent, slightly up from Oc-

tober’s 4.42 per cent. Cereals and products at 4.86 per cent too showed a rise in inflation print during the month against 4.40 per

cent.

Protein rich meat and fish had inflation print of 5.83 per cent in November as against 6.16 per cent in

October. Egg prices witnessed 8.55 per cent rise as against 9.42 per cent in the previous month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise announcement on November 8 to scrap Rs 500 and 1,000 notes, nearly 86 per cent of the total cash in circulation, has resulted in lower consumer demand.

Overall, the Consumer Food Price Index was down at 2.11 per cent compared with 3.32 per cent in October.

The CPI-based inflation in fuel and light segment was at 2.80 per cent in November as against 2.81 per cent a month ago.

Rural retail inflation stood at 4.13 per cent in November compared with 4.78 per cent in October.

For urban sector, it was recorded at 3.05 per cent as against 3.54 per cent in the previous month.

Old Rs 500 notes not acceptable from December 15 midnight: Govt New Delhi, December 14 (PTi): Exemptions for use of old Rs 500 notes will end on December 15 midnight, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said on Twitter. People can use old Rs 500 notes for paying utility bills or buying medicines till tomorrow mid-night as the government has decided not to extend exemptions beyond December 15.

At the same time, mobile recharge facility with old Rs 500 notes will not be available.

However, people can deposit invalid Rs 500 currency in their bank accounts.

“Exemptions for use of old Rs 500 notes will end on December 15 midnight,” Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das tweeted.

That means old 500 currency notes will not be acceptable at medicine shops and for paying public utility services such as payment of electricity and water bill etc.

The government had already withdrawn some of the relaxations like booking railway or plane tickets and payment at petrol pump and toll plaza by using the old Rs 500 notes.

While cancelling legal tender of 500 and 1,000 notes on November 8, the government had allowed them to be used for utility bill payments for the first 72 hours. This deadline was extended repeatedly and the last extension was granted till December 15.

In between, the government withdrew use of 1,000 rupee notes for utility bill payments and discontinued use of even 500 ones for services like purchase of petrol and diesel at petrol pumps as well as buying air tickets at airport counters.

Since the demonetisation announcement, the government has been pushing towards promoting digital transactions and has come out with a package to incentivise cashless payments.

Now petrol, railway tickets and insurance policies of PSU companies will cost less if bought through debit/credit cards or other digital modes. The government also waived service tax for payments up to Rs 2,000 made through cards and decided to do away with transaction fee for payment to the central government departments and PSUs.

Mercedes-AMG C43 launched Banks get Rs 12.44 lakh crore India tops Asia in innovation chart Decem- Capgemini Consulting’s 140, with a bulk 66 per cent in India at Rs. 74.35 lakh in old notes till December 10: RBI mumbAi, ber 14 (PTi): India has Digital Transformation of them in tier-II and tier-III New Delehi, December 14 (NDTV AuTo): Mercedes-Benz India has launched the Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic in India in a move to expand its performance oriented automobile portfolio. The C43 is the 13th launch of the year for Mercedes-Benz India and comes as a bonus after the manufacturer originally intended to launch just 12 cars in 2016. The Mercedes-AMG C43 is priced at ₹ 74.35 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and bridges the gap between the entry level Mercedes-Benz C200 petrol and the beastly Mercedes-AMG C63.

The Mercedes-AMG C43 is powered by a twin turbo 3.0-litre V6 that makes 357bhp and 520Nm of torque mated to the 9G-TRONIC gearbox. It can go from 0-100kmph in 4.7 seconds. Unlike the C200 or the C63, the C43 comes with an all-wheel-drive setup in order to compete against the likes of the Audi S4. The C43 also gets features like AMG ride control which is a sports suspensions setup with AMG developed springs and a 3 stage variable damper. The C43 also gets a performance exhaust as standard with a raspy exhaust note similar to the one found on the GLE450 and the SLC43.

mumbAi, December 14 (PTi): RBI today said banks have garnered Rs 12.44 trillion (Rs 12.44 lakh crore) in banned notes till December 10, while they have issued Rs 4.61 trillion to them since the demonetisation drive began 35 days ago.

“The old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, which have been returned to the Reserve Bank and the currency chest, amounted Rs to 12.44 trillion as of December 10,” RBI Deputy Governor R Gandhi told reporters here.

The money that various banks have issued through their counters and ATMs since November 10 and up to December 10 stood at Rs 4.61 trillion, he added. In volume terms the number stood at 21.8 billion pieces of notes of various denominations, of which 20.1 billion pieces were of Rs 10, Rs

FB introduces Parent’s Portal to let kids’ navigate safely

New Delhi, December 14 (iANS): In a bid to empower parents help their child navigate safely on Facebook, the social networking giant on Tuesday launched Parent’s Portal in collaboration with parents, teenagers and safety experts around the world.

Facebook recently updated its Safety Centre and Bullying Prevention Hub and has now introduced Mercedes-AMG C 43 Profile Parent’s Portal, which proAlthough the Mercedes-AMG C43 does not have any vides parent specific advice real competition in India yet as Audi India no longer sells as part of the Safety Centre. the S4, it will go up against the likes of the S5 Sportback Parent’s Portal includes and the upcoming Volvo S60 Polestar too. guides for parents about Mercedes-AMG C 43 Rear The interior on the Mercedes-AMG C43 is also slightly sportier as compared to the normal car with optional red accents on the door panels and aluminium accents on the dashboard. The instrument cluster also sports the typical AMG style with the sporty “chequered flag” design.

On the exterior design front, the C43 gets larger air intakes on the front bumpers and a more aggressive stance due to larger AMG-spec wheels. The rear bumper gets an inbuilt diffuser and the C43 also gets a subtle lip spoiler on the bootlid. The rear bumper also gets a quad exhaust setup that is typically expected from all AMG cars.

FiRe StatiOnS

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20, Rs 50 and Rs 100. The number of higher denomination of new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes stood at 1.7 billion, he said.

Hence, while the notes surrendered have risen by almost Rs 1 trillion, cash disbursal has risen only a little since December 7, when RBI had said that banks had issued Rs 4.27 trillion of new notes post demonetisation through ATMs and bank counters, the banned notes collected stood at Rs 11.55 trillion. “The entire system is continuously gearing up for supporting the circulation of notes in the hands of the public. Daily, we are issuing more and more notes, getting it printed and issuing it and this will be a continuous affair. The public are requested to freely use the notes that they have in their hands rather than hoard it,” Gandhi said.

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how Facebook works, tips for talking with kids about staying safe online and resources from experts around the world. It is available in over 55 languages, including 11 in India, is mobile friendly and includes step-by-step videos.

“Parent’s Portal responds to feedback we have received about a knowledge gap among parents about our safety policies, tools and resources.

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op content that resonates with our community,” said Ankhi Das, the social media site’s Public Policy Director, India, South and Central Asia.

“Facebook’s Parent’s Portal is a great resource for parents who are looking to learn and work with their children to help keep them safe online. We’re pleased to partner with Facebook on these resources and offer help to parents in India through our Social Surfing initiative,” added Dr Ranjana Kumari from Center for Social Research India.

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Institute in collaboration with Fahrenheit 212 and in partnership with Brian Solis of Altimeter, said efforts taken by the government are the prime moving factor for emergence of the country in the list.

“This is due in part to the government and other public sector initiatives that seek to establish India as a digitally empowered society and nurture innovation,” it said. Jaipur, Pune and Hyderabad each welcomed two new centres involving partnerships with government during the MarchOctober period, it said.

The number of active incubators in the country increased 40 per cent to

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Global names, including Cisco, Qualcomm Technologies, general Electric 3M and Londonbased Internet of things consortium Hypercat have presence in the country today, the report said.

The footprint in smaller cities was attributed to the IoT policy for 2016-2020 and the government’s startup India initiative launched early this year.

With presence in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Pune, the country accounts for 27 per cent of Asia’s new innovation centres and is home to a tenth of new global innovation centres.

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emerged as the most preferred destination for innovation in Asia and third biggest globally, with ‘Silicon Valley’ of East Bengaluru leading the charge, says a research by global consulting major Capgemini.

“India has been ranked as the No. 1 innovation destination in Asia and No. 2 in the world for new innovation centres,” the report said.

Bengaluru, which saw the opening of three new centres between March and October this year and an announcement by Apple to establish a startup accelerator, leads the Indian challenge on innovation and is ranked 5th hub at global level.

Nine new innovation centres were opened in the country during the period, taking total number of innovation centres to 25. The US leads the list 1ith 146 centres, followed by Britain with 29 and India is at third palce with 24 centres.

The report said there has been noticeable activity in tier-II cities when it comes to innovation, and added that apart from Pune, which already existed on the global map, Jaipur has also entered the list with two new centres.

The research, done by

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SUDOKU

Simple Rules - Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

Game Number # 3789

Answer Number # 3788

ACROSS 1. Type of hat 6. Competent 10. 500 sheets 14. Practical 15. Aspersion 16. Therefore 17. A financial examination 18. Palm starch 19. A female domestic 20. Demoralized 22. Small island 23. Fizzy drink 24. High regard 26. Unwakable state 30. Small rounded bread 31. Drunkard 32. Dry 33. Greek letter 35. Expire 39. Nouveau-riche 41. Strong and proud 43. Slumber 44. Whirl 46. Cover with plaster 47. Mesh 49. Directed 50. Catch a glimpse of 51. Hits 54. Again 56. South American country 57. Squadron 63. Winglike 64. Nipple 65. “Bye” 66. French for “Head” 67. Arid 68. Schemes 69. Clairvoyant 70. Terminates 71. Twilled fabric DOWN 1. Group of two 2. Decorative case 3. Purges

4. Radar signal 5. Abominable snowmen 6. Diligent 7. Conspicuous 8. Olympic sled 9. Wears away 10. A payment of money 11. Delete 12. Lissome 13. Modulator/ demodulator 21. Batman’s sidekick 25. Alone 26. Hats 27. By mouth 28. Bog 29. Gambler 34. Disaffects 36. Desserts 37. Trim 38. Evasive 40. Type of sword 42. Ceased 45. Poster 48. Sleeping sickness carrier 51. Arguments 52. Donnybrook 53. Angry 55. Cloaks 58. Observed 59. Doing nothing 60. Teller of untruths 61. Not short 62. Being Answer to Crossword 3803

Thursday 15•12•2016

NAGALAND

Allegation of PDS scam gets mixed reactions

MTLT & ACAUT Wokha Over Rs. 4,000 crore have exchanged Legal procedure is mandatory: NPF tribution to other districts, DECEM- warranted.” unit caution state govt hands in PDS corruption, alleges NPCC DIMAPUR, It also expressed con- and not meant for Dimapur BER 14 (MExN): The Naga

DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): The Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) and the Wokha unit of ACAUT today showed support to the ACAUT and condemned the state government for arresting the ACAUT leaders.

A press note from the MTLT, while expressing support to the ACAUT and the CCN, condemned the government’s actions and cautioned it “not to meddle with the public unless the government wants to dig its own pit to rest in peace.”

“Moreover, underestimating the public will backfire. Whitewashing is no more tenable in an informed world. It must be noted that the public will have the last bite not the government at the end of the day,” it stated.

The MTLT said that “reality must not be siphoned off by the government like it siphons off PDS rice” and advised the government to “give up the multi-crore lies for truth triumphs.”

Meanwhile, the Wokha Unit of the ACAUT expressed solidarity with people who look forward to “working day and night with the desire to live in a ‘Corruption Free Nagaland’.”

It condemned the arrest of the ACAUT members and demanded that they be immediately released without any condition. “When the State Government machinery itself is stained with so much of corruption, isn’t it itself a mockery? Should the Government delay justice and the situation go out of hand the same shall be responsible,” it cautioned.

It warned that if the State Government machinery thinks that arresting and jailing the right thinking citizens will make them rule over the innocent people calmly, then the ACAUT Wokha Unit will also join Jail Bharo. It also called upon the Central Government to intervene and “deliver justice to the people.”

KohIMA, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): Against the backdrop of the recent allegation of PDS scam, NPCC today maintained that people are entitled to be unhappy over corruption and the failures to deliver when the Central government is allotting every month “13,300 MT of rice, 6,000MT of wheat, 1,196 MT of sugar and 14,25,000 litres of S.K. Oil for every household in Nagaland” and they do not get their due monthly rations.

NPCC President, K Therie alleged that in PDS corruption, over Rs. 4,000 crores have exchanged hands in Nagaland since NPF rule. “Corruption cases were raised by Congress before the 2013 general election. However, people have elected the corrupt Government with even more of a thumping majority,” it lamented.

Therie added, “Bribery has changed Nagaland suddenly. There are many people, still worshiping

money and they don’t trust ‘Clean Election’. I don’t know what percentage of Nagaland is ready to practice Clean Election. One thing I am clear about is that only corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors have money,” Stating that it is every citizen’s duty and right to demand what is due to them, NPCC further said “the NPF-BJP Government has absolute power, to corrupt absolutely and they will continue to corrupt.”

DCCI appeals for normalcy DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has expressed dismay at the bandh called in Dimapur on December 14 and stated that closure of shop now is a “great spirit dampener to festive revellers and paints a bad image of our city.”

A press note from the

DCCI President appealed to all organizations to take note of such issues before calling for closure no matter what the issue may be. It also asked the State government to break the deadlock between the civil society organizations and the law enforcing agencies with regard to the alleged PDS scam.

It asked that the arrested

ACAUT members be released and that normalcy prevails during the festive season.

The DCCI expressed hope that “goodwill and mutual cooperation prevails between the civil societies and the state government so that a proper and impartial investigation can be carried out at the earliest to establish the facts.”

Peoples’ Front (NPF) today chimed in on the allegation of PDS rice scam and the subsequent events leading to the arrest of ACAUT members. The party in a press note stated that while dealing with any “suspected mishandlings, mismanagement or malfunctioning that may arise in case of individuals, groups or companies, as the case may be, who are authorized operators on contract; going by the established legal procedure is mandatory.”

It said the recent raids conducted by ACAUT and CCN “has racked up more of clumsy rhetoric devoid of anything worth logical or ethical.” “The style or method that was adopted to carry out the entire exercise itself has manifested volumes of lawless acts of hatred, frustration, threat and trespassing by the very perpetrators, which are simply unacceptable in the eye of the law,” the NPF said.

It further stated the proprietor’s action in filing an FIR against those who raided the godowns was “mandatorily

KG Kenye supports women reservation TUENsANg, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), KG Kenye has asserted that the 33% reservation for women in municipal/town council elections has nothing to do with Article 371(A) and asked the ENPO members to support and participate in the election. He was speaking at the 25th anniversary of the Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) in Noklak on December 12.

Kenye pointed out that in the olden days Naga society did not let women folks participate in any Minister for School Education and SCERT Yitachu inspects newly constructed basket- decision making body. ball court at Losami village in Phek district recently. (Morung Photo) “But with the advancement of time we see the sincerity and dedication of women folk are much better than us men folks.

It is time we give chance to our women folk to serve the society. It is time we open up ourselves to em-

ulate each other for development and progress,” he stated, according to a press release.

The MP also spoke about preserving and honouring the culture and tradition while keeping pace with the present day world. “This practice (preserving culture and tradition) needs to be cultivated by all generations to come as this is our identity and this identity will bring us together in near future,” Kenye added. It was highlighted that there are presently 196 Khiamniungan villages with only 36 of them located in Nagaland, India and the rest in Myanmar.

Kenye further noted that late in 1947, Christianity came in the land of Khiamniungan with Khaming as the first Christian convert. And today, 99% of the

Khiamniungan population has converted to Christianity. “Being Christians, we emulate ourselves and live with Christian ethics which is akin to righteousness, uprightness, honesty and hardwork,” the MP said.

The MP while acknowledging the Khiamniungans for supporting the NPF led DAN government since 2003, also hoped to further strengthen the trust and friendship to support the Government for progressive development in the area. He called the gathering to come together to co-operate with the Government to see that a political solution is found, which is inclusive and may come early.

Kenye concluded with an announcement that he will be adopting Pansha Village (ITC) under MP Village Adoption 2017.

State BJP president revokes Vethisa Lohe’s suspension order DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): Nagaland State BJP President, Visasolie Lhoungu has revoked the suspension order issued earlier against Vethisa Lohe, State Executive Member with immediate effect in exMinister for School Education and SCERT Yitachu inspects ongoing construction of extension room of Government High School Losami in Phek district recently. (Morung Photo) ercise of his authority under Articles XXV, Disciplinary Action, Sub rule 4&5 and in compliance with the State Disciplinary Committee's advice.

In a separate notification, the State President in line with the State Disciplinary Committee’s advice has also notified to all

BJP party workers in the state that “noting the irresponsible issue of press statements of the party’s internal matters time and again, viewed as violation of the Party’s Constitution, henceforth, the party’s constitutional Provisions under Clause D “Breach of Discipline” cited “Taking a party dispute to any other agency outside the party including print and electronic media” shall be seriously enforced whenever there is such volitions by any party members or unit.” A press release from

Jaangsillung Gonmei, General Secretary (Media) & Spokesperson, BJP Nagaland noted that the parameters of this provision is not confined to only print and electronic media but has wide interpretation including leakage of the party’s confidentiality to other parties or alliance partners.

Unit presidents and office bearers have been asked to note, circulate and adhere to this notification for the further betterment and smooth running of the party. The order comes into effect immediately.

cern at the shutting down of business establishments in Dimapur “at a time when people from all over the state are thronging in Dimapur for Christmas shopping.” It lamented that “some individuals have chosen to take law into their own hands which has compelled the district administration to take cognizance of such activities.” The NPF said the district administration’s actions “should not be construed as high handedness as it is the bounden duty of the district administration to maintain law and order within the jurisdiction.”

It further claimed that after enactment of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), “every district has been receiving their due quota as per the new NFSA.” “There is hardly any complaint from any district after the NFSA was implemented as it has been distributed fairly well,” it added. People in remote areas of the state will suffer, the NPF stated, “as it appears that the godown raided by some individuals are meant for dis-

citizens.” It asked people to refrain from taking law into their own hands and instead approach the appropriate forum.

No group is above law: ZPON

The Zeliang People Organisation Nagaland has meanwhile claimed the rice in question was “to be distributed to Peren and other interior districts” and said that it has now been held up due to “illegal raid and commotion caused by the ACAUT and the concerned citizens of Dimapur after they have fulfilled their quota.” It claimed that “the general masses of people living below poverty line are quite happy and contended with the passing of the NFSA and since its inception the godowns in rural areas are packed with supply of rice above its capacity.” The ZPON said that no group is above the law and urged the organisations concerned in this case “not to play politics with our rice to gain cheap popularity or any other benefits.”

Night Carnival in Medziphema Town MEDzIPhEMA, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): Medziphema Town Youth Organisation (MTYO) is currently organising a Night Carnival at Weekly Bazaar site, Medziphema Town from 5:00 pm onwards every evening. The carnival, which began on December 10, aims to promote entrepreneurs and at the same time foster 'oneness' in the traditional festive spirit, according to a press release from MTYO president, Asazo Kuotsu and general secretary, Mhasilevi Kuotsu. The Night Carnival will culminate on December 15 with a free, open air, Karaoke Musical Nite by local artists and a free Lucky Bumper Gift draw to pick the most fortunate visitor of the final night. The organisers have welcomed everyone to “come and be a part of our event.”

KGPO urges govt to release salary of NHM employees DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): Kuhuboto Ghakhu Public Organisation (KGPO) has extended solidarity to the “aggrieved” employees of National Health Mission (NHM) in their fight against non-payment of salaries. A press statement from KGPO president, Ghoshito and general secretary, Z. Ato has urged the Government of Nagaland to look into the matter and release the fund immediately as the health care is one of the basic needs of the people in general. The KGPO further appealed to the Government of Nagaland to “forecast the situation before it goes out of hand.”

Vihepu Yepthomi appointed NPCC general secretary DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): The President of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), K. Therie has appointed Vihepu Yepthomi as General Secretary, NPCC with immediate effect.

AR apprehend alleged arms dealer DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): Troops of 32 Assam Rifles alongwith police representative apprehended a person from a shop near 4th Mile road junction here with one .22 mm pistol (country made) with magazine, one knife, and one mobile phone. The apprehended person identified as Tokaho Zhimomi (26) along with the recovered items was handed over to Diphupar Police Station, Dimapur for further investigation, informed a press release from Assam Rifles.

Rengma Hoho consultative meet TsEMINyU, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): Rengma Hoho has convened an emergency consultative meeting on December 17, 10:00 am at Rengma Hoho office to discuss on important issues. All the frontal organizations office bearers, advisors, Hoho executive members have been requested to attend the meeting without fail.

Agri department celebrates advance Christmas The District Education Officer’s Office, Dimapur celebrated pre-Christmas on December 12 with Renemla Ozukum delivering the Christmas message.

NVCO Tseminyu criticizes “blunder” in RSBY list TsEMINyU, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers' Organization (NVCO), Tseminyu unit today stated it is “totally against the blunder mistake committed by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Nagaland while preparing the name list for enrollment to Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) under Tseminyu Town.”

A press release from NVCO Tseminyu unit president, John Semy highlighted that there are more than 1500 households under Tseminyu Town; however, when a team came for enrollment of RSBY on

December 14, 2016 there were hardly 20-25 household names on the list.

The citizens, according to the release, were informed that unless their names are listed in the list no other can be enrolled.

“Therefore, many citizens who were enrolled in the previous years came with their RSBY Card but that too, was of no help. The citizens of the Tseminyu Town are in chaos with much tension prevailing,” it stated.

The NVCO unit further informed that when some of the citizens cross checked the enrollment list of Tseminyu Village, it was found that the citizens

of Tseminyu Town were enlisted in Tseminyu Village.

Therefore, NVCO Tseminyu unit has asked the department concerned as to who had prepared the list for enrollment to RSBY for Tseminyu sub-division and “whether the authority knows that Tseminyu Town and Tseminyu Village are two different places.” It demanded the authority to initiate appropriate action against the officer responsible for such blunder. NVCO Tseminyu unit also stated that the authority concerned should fix another date for enrollment of Tseminyu Town with corrected list for the benefit of the citizens.

KohIMA, DECEMBER 14 (DIPR): Department of Agriculture celebrated advance Christmas on December 7 at the conference hall of Directorate of Agriculture, Kohima. Director of Agriculture, Helie Rupreo in his welcome address expressed happiness at the coming together of the full set of the Department - the policy makers, the admin-

istration and the executives - to celebrate the event. Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Dr. N. Benjongliba Aier in his Christmas greetings called upon all to be meek and humble to receive Jesus Christ into their lives.

Secretary for Agriculture, A. Chumremo Odyuo, IAS, in his message said that Christmas is a love story about God’s love for men

and urged everyone to rededicate their lives to Christ and love one another.

The main speaker I. Lithrongla Sangtam, B.D. UESI Nagaland staff called upon every one present to make this Christmas a difference by accepting Jesus Christ personally and giving more time to the family members sharing the love of Christ.

Clarification on NST service in Meluri

MElURI, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): Apropos the news item “NST Meluri office in deplorable condition” published on November 15, the Pochury Hoho and Yard Master, NST office, Meluri have jointly clarified that NST Department has been “facing acute shortage of runner buses to operate the scheduled services due to overaged fleet position.”

Against this backdrop, Meluri Sub-Station has been allotted 4 buses to operate 7 scheduled services, said a clarification note jointly appended by Pochury Hoho president, Penthü Pochury and the Yard Master, Akielie Terhüja. Of the 4 vehicles, 3 are in NST Central Workshop, Dimapur for major repair/ replacements which led to suspension of services

from Meluri Sub-Station causing transportation hardships and inconveniences to the public of the area, the note added.

Meanwhile, the Yard Master, NST, Meluri has tendered his sincere apology for absence at his posting place and assured his regular attendance in future and sought co-operation from the public (Lok Sabha), Neiphiu Rio extending seasonal greetto render best possible ser- MP ings to the Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya at Raj vices to the public.

Bhavan, Kohima on December 14, 2016.

6

thursday 15•12•2016

IN FOCUS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express volume Xi issue 344

By Aheli moitra

A critical juncture

C O M M E N T A R Y

Sarah van Gelder CommonDreams

How Standing Rock Has Changed Us As we work toward a post-fossil fuel society, we can look to these lessons from the Sioux

L

sat in her cousin’s compound stitching pieces of woolen material into large oval beads. They will come together to become part of a larger decor. Her cousin, T, is putting up a stall at the Dimapur night carnival for the first time and the only way to decorate it is through homemade art work. With the lack of opportunities for clean earning in Nagaland State, their families wait for the end of the year to set up temporary shop.

Armed with skills passed on through generations, the families will prepare food and beverage to be sold during the five days of the night carnival for a marginal profit. A large number of such temporary stalls will take care of Christmas needs of multiple families for whom adhoc earnings support important festivities. L & T have explored myriad such temporary options through the year, from mobile stores for second hand clothing to commission based deals. Income never really regularizes for them, and life, for years, has been hand to mouth. Being women, the upkeep of the little ones in addition to earning, cleaning and cooking drives their stress levels manifold. Choiceless, they find the strength to sit around in laughter, weaving more woolen beads.

This is a common Naga story today. The corrupt and powerful ride along in their Rovers while the choiceless and weak eat the dust left behind. The Against Corruption And Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland came up as a pressure group in defense of the latter. The movement started with the issue of excessive and unabated taxation on the common Naga person who has no sustainable form of earning to fit into the new economy. Firmly into its next phase, the movement has focused upon the more pressing and complicated zone that demands urgent and strong action—state corruption.

In a place where the issue of corruption can drive violence, it has been a commendable achievement on ACAUT Nagaland’s part to remain nonviolent and focused in their approach. Data has been shared with the public whenever necessary and a sense of urgency has been induced in the public. It remains a matter of mystery why more people are not already on the streets protesting, both, the exposed corrupt practices that are probably indicative of the state machinery at large, as well as the actions being taken under the cloak of legality against ACAUT Nagaland activists.

Perhaps families like those of L & T are too busy trying to make sure Christmas, as well as other regular societal functions, can be held up in place while more seasoned members of the society handle activism. This puts an added onus on the activists of ACAUT Nagaland to make sure that the movement does not fizzle out or lose focus of the larger picture. This critical juncture could lead Nagaland State towards a new direction that many Naga families must be waiting for.

Comments may be sent to moitramail@yahoo.com

lEfT WING |

Anthony Langat Thomson Reuters Foundation

Bloody conflict between farmers drives bid to improve water, fodder

M

ost days Kenyan teenager Andrew Taimoi leaves his village on the Ugandan border before dawn and takes his family's livestock in search of food and water, risking his life on the way.

More frequent and longer droughts in Kenya's dryland areas have increased competition for resources between the different tribes of West Pokot County, western Kenya, and easier access to guns is increasingly turning these battles deadly.

For with its proximity to South Sudan, which has been plagued by three years of civil war, West Pokot has seen an infiltration of illegal guns over Kenya's borders that are largely uncontrolled bar a few checkpoints.

Last year 92 people died in a single cattle raid in West Pokot, Turkana and Samburu counties, according to local media, but for Taimoi and his family there is little choice.

Much of the year their village of Chemolingot is dry with water scarce. Taimoi said his days would often start at 6 a.m. to drive the cattle to a river 5 km (3 miles) away.

"When there is no rain and the place is very dry like it is now, we have to walk longer distances to find pasture for the livestock," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

But with violence on the rise, several local projects are now underway to try to improve resource availability and stem the conflict.

The government launched two projects in Pokot at the beginning of the year to make resources more abundant: one to increase fodder production and another to sink more boreholes - narrow shafts bored in the ground to extract water.

In West Pokot, 100 hectares of fodder is being planted in four different locations.

ENDING RESOURCE CONFLICTS "We have chosen four different locations to reach the thousands of people that live around those places," said Eveline Koskey, director of agriculture for the county.

"With enough fodder, the people of Pokot will not have to move in search for pasture and therefore this will put an end to resource conflicts," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The fodder project in Pokot is part of a $54.8 million "drought resilience and sustainable livelihood" investment co-funded by the Kenyan government and African Development Bank.

The fodder planted in some villages is already nearing maturity, and Koskey said local committees would set a reasonable price for the hay to make it work in the long run.

The boreholes have also reduced the number of villagers crossing into Turkana, curbing violence levels.

"We hope that by the time we are done, the conflicts over resources will be a thing of the past as fodder and water will be readily available," said Koskey.

In West Pokot, the local government has drilled and refurbished more than 200 boreholes, said Alfred Tulel, local official in charge of water in West Pokot.

Most are hand-pumped but seven have solar-powered pumps.

"In places where we have solar-powered pumps, we have received favourable feedback. We hope to add more in the next financial year," Tulel told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Taimoi said the addition of a solar borehole in the village of Chemolingot has cut his journey to water to less than 3 kms. The borehole is also attracting herders from nearby villages.

Yet there is one snag: the weather. With no battery storage, the solar pumps come to a halt in cloudy weather.

"When the sun shines, water flows, and when it is cloudy, it stops, so we wait," said Taimoi.

A

t the Oceti Sakowin camp there were celebrations into the night when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision was announced.

Fireworks lit up the sky, which is normally dominated by police searchlights, and there were songs, prayers, and dance. And tears. The decision to halt work on the Dakota Access pipeline may be the victory that the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and thousands of water protectors were looking for.

On the heels of the announcement, Energy Transfer Partners issued a statement insisting that they will go ahead with the project. What that means is not yet clear, but whatever happens the events at Standing Rock have been transformative, and these victories are not ones that Energy Transfer Partners or even Presidentelect Trump can take away.

Here are just a few things that have shifted in our world because of the extraordinary Native-led uprising at Standing Rock.

tion after the next burned the Doctrine of Discovery, a centuries-old religious doctrine that made its way into law and condones taking the lands of non-Christians.

If it is possible to heal from the long U.S. history of genocide, these moves by clergy and veterans were powerful steps in that direction.

The work of decolonizing is much bigger though, and it is Native-led.

Within the camps, Lakota culture is at the foundation of everything, from the early morning prayers at the sacred fire to the food line, where elders are served first. Newcomers are reminded to respect these ways. Native people have led this movement from the beginning, and they are reclaiming their power. This time, non-Natives in large numbers stood with them and learned from them ways to live that are inclusive and collective.

And as people return home from the camp, the effects will ripple out into communities across North America for years to come.

Decolonizing It was a scene I didn’t think I’d ever witness. Veterans at Standing Rock, led by Wesley Clark Jr., spoke of the many ways the U.S. military had brutalized Native people, through killings, through taking their lands and even their children. And then they knelt down and apologized in front of the elders. These nonviolent warriors, sworn to uphold the Constitution, came to North Dakota to protect the water protectors, but they did something even more important by acknowledging historic harms and showing remorse.

Clergy too came with humility and apologies. At a gathering in early November, one Christian denomina-

Respect for Mother Earth and our own bodies Walk to the edge of the Cannonball River at Standing Rock, or to the banks of the Missouri River, which provides water to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and Cheyenne River tribes, and to millions of others farther downstream.

And then consider what it would mean if DAPL ruptured, spewing toxins into this precious shared water.

The core idea that “water is life” is self-evident, as our bodies are nearly two-thirds water. Yet the implications are radical. What would it mean to actually protect water and, therefore, to also protect our health? Even more radical is the idea that we would sac-

rifice the comforts of fossil fuel-based consumerism for the quality of that water, giving a gift of well-being to our children and future generations.

Water is important everywhere, but the Sioux people, by protecting the water of their place on Earth, have shown what moral authority looks like. Their commitment attracted support from around the world, and showed people everywhere what it means to protect your home.

Finding our power The American people want to switch to renewable energy—not invest more in fossil fuel infrastructure.

Many are closing accounts with big banks and moving their funds into credit unions and community banks, thus helping to rebuild the economy to support communities and life.

And at Standing Rock, people found many ways to exert power. In the face of pepper spray, rubber bullets, dogs, concussion grenades, and water cannons, the water protectors remained nonviolent. They were arrested by the hundreds, strip-searched, and placed in fenced enclosures resembling dog kennels. But their responses were prayerful and sometimes even loving. This display of courage moved the hearts of millions. As law enforcement escalated the violence, water protectors increased their presence.

And because of independent reporting and social media, the story got out in real time even when other media weren’t paying attention. Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now coverage of dogs attacking water protectors was the first reporting to alert the world to the brutality of pipeline security. The beautiful short films featuring the people at the camp, the posters and art, the

water protectors’ drones, the tweets and live feeds from Standing Rock—all have kept the story alive for months.

People power in all these forms works. Thousands came to the remote plains of North Dakota. Hundreds of thousands took action through donations and demonstrations. The sense of power and hope that goes with this decentralized movement, and the accumulating know-how, will make the next action easier to pull off, and the next one after that.

What’s next?

The work, prayers, hardship, and collaborations are not over. There may be new rounds at Standing Rock, and more water protectors may be injured and traumatized there or at other locations. There may even be loss of life.

And there are other pipelines that need to be confronted by water protectors.

Just last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave the green light to the Kinder Morgan pipeline, and the presidency of Donald Trump could threaten everything we hold dear.

Nonetheless, this is a time to celebrate. The water protectors won a huge victory with the Corps of Engineers decision—a victory that benefits not only the Sioux tribes, not only those along the Missouri River, but everyone. We all drink water and need a stable climate.

As we navigate what may be the most dangerous time in human history, the lessons from Standing Rock can guide us. As we create a post-fossil fuel society, we can take the lessons of respect and nonviolence, of valuing life over money, of learning from the indigenous peoples as cornerstones. A revolution in values and culture is rippling out across the country and the world, and it started at Standing Rock.

Food Insecurity: An Agent for Violent Conflict Dominique von Rohr

U

Inter Press Service

p to two billion people live in countries affected by violence, conflict and fragility.

Often, such political instability goes hand in hand with food insecurity. “Conflicts have pushed over 56 million people either into crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity”, Kimberly Flowers, Director of the Global Food Security Project, said at this years’ John McGovern Lecture held at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The number continues to grow with the escalation of conflicts and violence in countries like Syria, Yemen or South Sudan.

However, since the food price crisis in 2007/08 pushed the total number of hungry people to over one billion – a sixth of the worlds population – political leaders have started to pay attention to food insecurity.

Under President Obama, the United States has invested 6.6 billion dollars in “Feed the Future”, a long-term development program focusing on reducing poverty and hunger. The program aims at teaching farmers in developing countries new agricultural techniques, how to increase productivity and improve nutrition.

Kimberly Flowers underlined that in the United States, opinions on food security are not divided among party lines. The U.S Congress has enacted the Global Food Security Act this summer, a law that will ensure that global hunger and poverty remain a top U.S. foreign policy. “Food security is real

and evidence based. Congress understands the importance of addressing this issue”, Kimberly Flowers told IPS. Despite the uncertainty a Trump administration will bring with it, with the Global Food Security Act, food-security investments will continue for at least two more years.

For the first time, the U.S. intelligence community has recognized the linkage between political instability and food insecurity and has assessed that the overall risk of food insecurity in many countries will increase during the next ten years because of production, transport and market disruptions to local food availability.

“Food insecurity is both the cause and consequence of conflict”, Kimberly Flowers told the audience, linking it with political stability and calling food insecurity a “national security imperative”.

The lack of access to food can be used as a strategic instrument of war. “Hungry populations are more likely to express frustration with troubled leadership, perpetuating a cycle of political instability and further undermining longterm economic development”, Kimberly Flowers said.

In a paper released by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the authors state that food insecurity heightens the risk of democratic breakdown, civil conflict, protest, rioting, and communal conflict.

In Syria, President Bashar al-Assad as well as the Islamic State have used

food or the absence of food as war tactics, deliberately cutting off Syrians from humanitarian assistance or offering starving citizens food in return for them to join their ranks. The war has devastated Syria’s agriculture and has cost the country 35 years of development. Its food production is at a record low as farmers are unable to hold on to, let alone cultivate their land.

In Nigeria, food insecurity has risen as a result of instability and especially affects areas where Boko Haram operates. “Boko Haram’s actions are preventing food production; they have placed landmines in farmer’s fields, stolen cattle, and forced civilians to flee, leaving land unfarmed”, said Kimberly Flowers. The result is that certain areas are deprived of their harvest, and where food is available, prices have increased drastically.

In Venezuela, on the other hand, food insecurity is linked to economic mismanagement. “90 per cent of Venezuelans report that food has become too expensive to buy”, said Kimberly Flowers. Once a rich country with strong leadership, Venezuela’s dependence on oil revenues has brought the economy to the verge of collapse after a global drop in oil prices. As the population grows hungry, the government has resorted to increasingly authoritarian response tactics.

In South Sudan, conflicts between the government and oppositional groups have had such an impact on the economy that food prices

WRITE-WING

increased dramatically. The denial of food and food aid has played a central part in countering insurgencies in the country. Up to 95 per cent of the population in South Sudan depends on agriculture to survive, “yet there is no underlying state infrastructure to support the agricultural industry”, Kimberly Flowers said. “The dangerous combination of armed conflict, weak infrastructure and soaring staple food prices could result in famine conditions.”

In 2015, the international community has adopted 17 key objectives to be achieved by 2030, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The first two goals are to eradicate poverty and hunger. But can these goals really be achieved when instability and conflict are constant threats?

“The SDGs underestimate the difficulties of helping more than a billion people to regain a sustainable path of economic growth and reconstruct a torn social fabric within a short 15 years”, said Kimberly Flowers. To believe that hunger and poverty can completely be abolished within the next 14 years is unrealistic. However, the efforts to implement the SDGs will have a sustainable impact on the countries in need of help. For example on food insecurity: “The number of food insecure people is projected to fall significantly, 59 per cent, by 2026.”

Kimberly Flowers believes that the most important factors to decrease food insecurity are a strong government and keeping agriculture high up on the development agenda.

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.

Thursday 15•12•2016

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

7

Freedom of Press - Kazakhstan’s thin red line How the trial of veteran journalist Seitkazy Mataev heralds an even bleaker future for freedom of speech in Kazakhstan

T

Amirzhan Kosanov

hese days, there’s no shortage of worrying news reports on the repression of activists and independent journalists in Kazakhstan. If current trends continue, we can expect many more — a full chronicle of the destruction of freedom of speech in our country would require an article in itself. The case against Seitkazy Mataev and his son Aset sums up the contempt for freedom and legal rights which have characterised Kazakhstan’s politics since independence. As the director of the popular KazTag news agency and chairman of the country’s Union of Journalists and National Press Club, Seitkazy Mataev is a high-profile figure. In February, Seitkazy and Aset were charged with tax evasion and embezzling funds from their organisations’ budgets.

During the trial, the defence presented reams of legal documentation and materials published by KazTag as part of a state contract.

The court was provided with 30 volumes of financial records, collected by an independent auditor, attesting to the legality of the Mataevs’ business practices. Neither the police investigators, prosecutors nor the court bothered to review these materials. All the papers are there — proof of work undertaken and payments made, undersigned by officials at the Ministry of Information and KazakhTelekom.

Nevertheless, employees of these organisations are under pressure from the financial crimes unit to accuse the Mataevs of crimes they did not commit. In fact, KazTag and the National Press Club have been awarded state tenders for over five years — yet this is the first time we’ve heard of any wrongdoing.

We don’t want your pity The case against the Mataevs has, understandably caused quite a stir. Public figures, journalists, legal experts in Kazakhstan and abroad came to his defence, as did European human rights defenders and voices in international media.

The trial continued, and the verdict was given.

On 4 October, the court found Seitkazy Mataev guilty of fraud and tax evasion, sentencing him to six years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property. His son Aset was also found guilty of fraud, and was handed five years and confiscation of property. It should be stressed that Mataev senior, who is 62 years old, suffers from serious health problems. On several occasions throughout the hearings, he needed urgent medical assistance. There’s a strong likelihood that he will not survive his incarceration.

Never before in Kazakhstan have journalists been given such a long prison sentence as a result of their work. As Mataev senior put it in a remarkable speech to the court: “Don’t pity me or my son. We considered ourselves innocent, and still do. I have always said that dissent must exist in Kazakhstan. Without dissent, there is no democracy. I don’t consider myself a member of the opposition, but instead somebody who always tried to stand up for justice.”

With these words in mind, the sentencing of the Mataevs is proof that in Kazakhstan today, you don’t need to be a strident member of the opposition in order to go behind bars. It’s enough to be an honest and free-thinking individual.

On Friday, Kazakhstan’s supreme court rejected an the appeal against the verdict.

There was one silver lining: instead of the initial lifelong ban on holding leading positions in “commercial or public organisations”, the Mataevs are instead forbidden from occupying “executive or materially responsible positions” for 10 years.

litical system in Kazakhstan is one of clientelism and patronage. Against the backdrop of a deteriorating economy and the beginning of a transition to the post-Nazarbayev period, he is convinced that a struggle has broken out among the elite. As influential players weaken or strengthen their position, that has a knock-on effect to all of those who benefit from their protection.

“Whatever Seitkazy Mataev and his son are accused of, the criminal case against them primarily reflects this intra-elite struggle,” concludes Zhovtis. A good example is that of the journalist Bigeldi Gabdullin, who was detained on 15 November. After Gabdullin’s departure from the opposition and making amends with the president, he successfully worked his way into influential circles close to the government and pro-government media.

Gabdullin too is accused of fraud on a mass scale — and his approach was to address a letCheques and balances ter personally to Nazarbayev, pleading that he The court’s bias against the Mataevs was be released from detention. visible to the most impartial of observers. As such, developments were followed with in- “No news” means…

Next year, Astana will host the internaterest across Kazakhstan and abroad.

Importantly, both the Mataevs and their tional EXPO-2017 forum, which is dedicatlawyers filed some 60 petitions to the Astana ed to renewable energy policies. The govcourt’s appeals panel. All of these were reject- ernment has spared no efforts in inviting ed without any basis during the course of legal high-profile guests from across the world. proceedings. Among other things, these peti- How might officials respond to their questions demand careful, forensic examination of tions about the fate of the head of the Union all physical evidence available, such as docu- of Journalists? What if they’re interested in ments pertaining to KazTag and the National meeting him? These aren’t impossible scePress Club. It also calls on the court to recognise narios — after all, Seitkazy Mataev is recthat important evidence stored by the prosecu- ognised and respected by many of his coltor remains inaccessible, and that certain fo- leagues in journalism overseas.

In its most recent report on internet rensic examinations be declared inadmissable freedoms across the world, Freedom House due to the experts’s lack of qualifications.

The Mataevs’ prosecutors stressed the (FH) ranked Kazakhstan 50 out of 65 councase against them was not political, and had tries surveyed — a drop from last year. Inno bearing on freedom of speech whatsoever. ternet freedom in the country received 63 of This is a bizarre claim to make for a man who 100 points (where zero indicates “free” and founded the National Press Club and heads 100 a “not free” status). Meanwhile, FH’s latthe country’s Union of Journalists. Under est freedom of the press report gave KazakhMataev’s leadership, the press club became stan 84 points. Both scores have dropped a space for open discussion between the au- since last year — it seems likely to me that thorities and media. He also resurrected the the case against the Mataevs played a part.

There’s another journalist in the Mataev former KazTag news agency, transforming it into one of the country’s most popular and family, too. Bayan Ramzanova, Seitkazy’s wife and Aset’s mother, is a famous Kazakhsuccessful media outlets.

Seitkazy Mataev is truly a public person, stani journalist who has worked in many who has always stood up in defence of the fun- national media outlets and in the parliadamental principle of freedom of speech. In mentary press service. She’s since become his own way, he was a bridge between society a civic activist, raising awareness of the case and the authorities, a moderator of a dialogue cooked up against her husband and son. so necessary in today’s Kazakhstan.

“How are you feeling these days?” I asked Powerful private interests may also be Bayan. Looking back, I understand that it was playing a role behind the scenes. Everybody a pointless question. “You’re asking me how in Kazakhstan is waiting with bated breath to I feel?” she responded, incredulously. “How see what will happen once 76-year old presi- else could a woman in my position possibly dent Nursultan Nazarbayev passes away. feel; a woman whose husband and son have Various clans and influential groups in the been smeared as crooks and criminals, had government are already jockeying for inter- their reputation ruined and sentenced to est, the better to seize control of the situation prison for five and six years?” once “Operation Successor” begins. They’re She describes to me the many merits of collecting administrative resources, such as her husband and son: financial assets and control of key business“My son is not a murder and not a thief; es. They’re putting their own people in influ- they sentenced him to five years simply beential positions — and they’re making sure cause Seitkazy is his father! In our country, the media is on side. Seitkazy Mataev may anybody can be accused of theft. All you have fallen victim to their intrigues. need to do is build up a successful business, “Over many years, political loyalty and and ideally expand overseas. And then, if business-as-usual became the only way for members of Kazakhstan’s elite and their that business, those offices, apartments and circles to protect themselves from persecu- cars take the fancy of those with power, you tion,” noted Evgeny Zhovtis, a well-known should hand it over to them. Otherwise, human rights defender and director of the you’ll go behind bars. But I don’t tell any Kazakhstan International Bureau for Hu- of this to my grandchildren. I love them too man Rights and the Rule of Law. “As long much, and want to protect them from the as the country continues to be ruled by per- misery and hardships of the world. Because sonal decree, then the fate of this or that hope is the thing that dies last.”

All I can do is end with these words, from businessman, public figure or high-ranking Seitkazy’s wife. I have nothing to add to them. government official depends entirely on the Amirzhan Kosanov is a journalist and politician. He decisions of somebody up above.” is a former deputy minister and press secretary of the According to Zhovtis, the current poRepublic of Kazakhstan (1994-1997). ic creativity”. Seitkazy Mataev is one of the country’s most authoritative journalists and always defended independent media and critics of the government. Dealing with him meant the authorities used not only familiar methods, but new innovations, too.

This concerned Kazakhstan’s “state tender”, by which the government doles out part of its budget to fund its information and media networks. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities for officials to creatively interpret the process of granting tenders — what the resulting funds are spent on, and whether they’ve been put to good use.

Essentially, the Mataevs have been found guilty of carrying out a state contract. At the same time, government officials publicly recognise the imperfections in the mechanisms by which state contracts are awarded, and even intend to amend legislation concerning it.

Cleaning up town To understand what’s happened to the Mataevs, we need to understand Kazakhstan’s current political realities.

They say that “every century has its middle ages”. But this dark age appears to have lasted for all of Kazakhstan’s modern history. In recent years, that history has seen a relentless struggle by the authorities to crush any form of dissent — including independent media.

Over several years, this ruthless war has been waged consistently, methodically, and on several fronts.

Firstly, legislation regulating the media sphere has taken on an utterly repressive character. Luckily for the authorities, Kazakhstan has a pliant parliament which answers to the government’s beck and call.

There are no genuine opposition politicians among its ranks.

The reality is that the current laws regulating media not only limit freedom of speech, but present a real and immediate danger to every journalist who dares to cross the thin red line. This is true if they critically report on the activities of the authorities in general, or on particular officials.

In recent months, Kazakhstan’s authorities have found another justification for intensifying their crackdown on media. They’ve often hidden behind the need to “combat extremism and terrorism”, a slogan which has come in handy given falling living standards and protests on the rise.

Similarly, a poorly thought-out land reform prompted peaceful protests in cities across the country. Last month, activists Max Bokaev and Talgat Ayan were sentenced to five years each for participating one such event in Atyrau, Kazakhstan’s “oil capital” in the west of the country. Their case shows that apart from jailing activists, the authorities haven’t any solutions to these pressing economic and social problems.

In an atmosphere ripe for protest, independent media outlets and civic organisations prove their value to society at large — to the great irritation of the authorities.

Secondly, in any authoritarian society, laws are one thing, and their implementation is quite another. Thanks to legislative loopholes, the authorities are trying to tame the media even more — either with the carrot or with the stick.

The authorities already have plenty of leverage over the media, including administrative resources. This pressure can be informal, and editors make it public at their own peril.

Meanwhile, the rewards for those who play along have become more enticing. These can be as simple as a lucrative offer to purchase a media outlet, or they can be the fruits of hidden forms of cooperation, well-hidden from

the public eye. Editors who refuse to submit to all forms of censorship find the sword of Damocles hanging above their heads.

Finally, the powers that be have also learnt from past mistakes, including political ones. Inconvenient media outlets once faced criminal cases for overtly political reasons (such as for “insulting the honour and dignity of the president”). Nowadays, these troublemakers can be shut down for entirely banal reasons: they could find some everyman, for example, who could bring a case against the publication for offending his honour and dignity. And on it goes.

Bureaucratic creativity Given that the president personally appoints judges at all levels, it doesn’t take a genius to work out whose side the court was on.

But some choose to mince their words about this, saying that the authorities are irrelevant here, and that the dispute is between, say, a media outlet and one particular individual. This attitude isn’t rare — indeed, many independent media organisations have experienced it themselves. Due to a sense of inertia or perhaps plain ignorance, these independent organisations are frequently called “oppositional”, simply because they practice robust, honest criticism of the authorities.

For example, Tribuna, a popular independent publication, was also compelled to pay immense fines after a claim raised by one government-affiliated individual who accused the newspaper of libel. Once again, the court did not take the journalists’ arguments into account. The intimidation is ongoing — this week, chief editor Zhanbolat Mamay’s car was vandalised next to his front door. Observers believe this attack was connected not simply with critical articles published in the newspaper, but with its initiative to call Bokaev and Ayan “national heroes”.

The well-known journalist Rysbek Sarsenbayuly also notes a growing tendency towards intimidation. Sarsenbayuly is editor-in-chief of Zhas Alash, an acclaimed Kazakh-language newspaper founded nearly 100 years ago. The publication was hit with a fine of 40m tenge (£95,500) for apparently insulting the honour and dignity of one citizen of Kazakhstan, a businessman trading in pharmaceuticals. It was clear to everybody that Zhas Alash had been targeted due to its independent position.

“These laws and bylaws all form part of a compliant, docile legal system. They’re tools for cracking down on troublesome publications and journalists,” notes Sarsenbayuly. “And independent media are forced to operate under these conditions! The case against the Mataevs is a continuation of this negative trend.”

In this sense, the Mataevs were faced with a quintessential case of cynical “bureaucrat-

‘We are helping the girls of tomorrow’

Gender inequality and migration have merged with women’s football in the women’s African Football Cup of Nations, where players are seeking empowerment through sport Chris Matthews

‘I

New Internationalist

lived here, just three minutes from the stadium,’ says Gaelle Enganamouit as she gestures to beyond the training pitch walls. ‘In front of the house where my mum lives we have some space and we would make goals with anything we could find. I am happy to be back here to play in my area.’

Cameroon’s star striker talks as she receives a massage on the training pitch next to the national stadium in Yaounde, where the day before, on 19 November, she helped the hosts to victory against Egypt in the opening match of the Women’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament.

The 24-year-old, who plays professionally in Sweden, is something of a poster girl for the competition and women’s football in Cameroon with her image and golden mane like hairstyle adorning billboards and receiving international success.

‘The national team is a real symbol and they now serve as a reference with their fighting spirit they show to inspire Cameroonians and young people,’ Minister of Sports and Physical Education Pierre Ismael Bidoung Mkpatt says.

The two-week competition involving the continent’s eight premier women’s teams is being seen as a landmark event for Cameroon, and many hope the tournament will help raise the profile of women’s football and its global development.

Just earlier in November, Gambian goal-

keeper Fatima Jawara died in the Mediterranean on a migrant crossing, bringing into sharp focus the inequalities between male and female players pursuing football success domestically, as well as merging football with the problems that still plague African nations and global development.

Similar to many African countries, women’s football in Cameroon is often hard to enter and it provides limited opportunities. From an early age, family members expect girls to study or work, often in informal economies.

Girls in Cameroon are 10 per cent less likely than boys to complete secondary school, while around 50 per cent of working women in the country are employed in agriculture.

The youngest of nine siblings – seven sisters and two brothers – growing up in Yaounde, Engangmouit says she started playing football aged five but seeing girls playing on the streets was rare.

‘When I was a child I always liked to play football and be with men all the time because I like football and it was not easy to see women playing football,’ she says. ‘You know it is not easy for parents to let their children play football because they want everybody to go to school.’

Her growing talents didn’t go unnoticed and by the age of 14 she was playing with one of the few women’s teams in Yaounde and had been called up to the under-16 national team.

At age 19, the chance came to play in Europe with Serbian side Spartak Subotica.

Enganamouit’s decision to leave school to pursue her dreams proved to be a difficult time for her parents.

‘I was studying at the Lycee but I was focused on football,’ she says. ‘They were not happy because they said I needed to learn something before I play football because [they thought] football was nothing.

‘In the past, this was how every parent thought. Now parents are starting to think football can be a profession.’

Since 2014, she has been playing in the

Sweden’s professional league, winning the 2015 ‘Golden Boot’ award and shortlisted for the BBC African footballer of the year award this year.

The popularity of Enganamouit has spiked an interest for the women’s game.

Together with a second-place finish at the 2014 edition and the debut appearance at the Women’s World Cup in Canada last year, her fame has put the Indomitable Lionesses on the map.

Yaounde’s Omnisports Stadium was a buzz of anticipation and excitement prior to the tournament kick-off on Saturday as thousands of supporters descended on the arena dressed in green and gold and carrying tooting horns and whistles around the arena.

‘I am really excited because I know Cameroon will win,’ 20-year-old student Cassandra Mamekem said while standing outside the stadium with a group of friends. ‘I am a fan of football and [women’s football] is really increasing, the rate of it is flying.’

The tournament, also featuring current champions Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, has been a major investment for President Paul Biya’s government, and while corruption blights his tenure, significant infrastructure developments have been made.

Redevelopments to the Yaounde stadium cost in excess of $6.5 million, while $597 million backing from Italy and Turkey will contribute to broader sporting infrastructure projects ahead of the men’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.

However, investment in women’s football domestically remains muted. Six of Cameroon’s tournament squad play locally in an amateur league, the benefits from which are nominal and in stark contrast to the acclaim for Enganamouit and others in Europe.

It is a similar situation for many across the continent. Ghana’s Black Queens called a government bonus of $2,000 ‘unacceptable’ after winning the Africa Championships in 2015 – the year before John Mahama’s gov-

ernment flew $3 million in cash to Brazil to settle disputes over World Cup appearance fees with the men’s national team.

Together with the tragic death of 19-yearold Gambian goalkeeper Jawara, the disparity of treatment between male and female players highlighted the renewed need to raise the profile of women’s football in Africa.

One of those helping push the women’s game locally is the Cameroon Football Development Programme. While it offered football coaching and workshops for boys in the southwest of Cameroon before, the nonprofit organization has recently started running sessions for girls too.

They have formed eight teams across the area and run a small informal league aimed at promoting the women’s game in the country and altering traditional community views. ’ Due to cultural barriers, parents say that football is not a game for girls, so seeing girls from other countries play in competitive games at this tournament will give these girls a different perspective and an insight into what a young woman can do,’ director of operations Collins Diony says. ‘[The tournament] will create a huge awareness in their different communities and really send a message across that it will be like a stepping stone.’

It is one of several initiatives helping to boost sporting gender equality across Africa.

In Ghana, Right to Dream opened Africa’s first residential academy for girls in 2013. In South Africa, the Girls & Football programme uses football to promote education on gender values and violence, while AFCON tournament debutants Kenya just launched the first domestic league for women in the country this year.

In coastal Limbe, the tournament’s second city, the locals are out in force as Nigeria and Ghana play out an entertaining 1-1 draw.

A Ghanaian lady dressed in her country’s colours tells me she has travelled 1,550 kilometers from Accra to support the team, while

friends Justine and Agatha have attended both games so far in the new stadium.

Justine, a 45-year-old mother of eight with three daughters from Limbe, says parental support for women’s football is growing: ‘We see females playing here and I am very happy. [My daughters] do play – they want to be footballers when they are older and if they do I will be happy.’

Sports minister Mkpatt admits more needs to be done by government to back the women’s game and he says plans are in place to raise standards in the country.

‘The professional league will be created soon. Women’s football developed only recently and we cannot expect them to have specialised facilities – it takes time,’ he says.

‘Now we are talking about the Cameroon women’s team playing the Africa Cup of Nations and not talking about men this time around. It is an indication of the importance and symbolic nature of what women are doing in Cameroon.’

Stadium volunteer and budding footballer Suzie Massing, who is 21 and whose father Benjamin played for the Cameroon men’s national team in the 1990 World Cup, says the tournament can hopefully change some of society’s views towards girls playing sport.

‘If you want to work, there are jobs that as a woman you cannot do, but the tournament is important because it can help show that women can be like men in all areas.’

And with Enganamouit leading from the front as the Indomitable Lionesses aim to reach the final on 3 December – a semi-final against Ghana awaits on Tuesday 29 November – the young striker believes success will be a spark for the women’s game in Cameroon.

‘Now there is more support – before, when the women’s team played there wasn’t 100 people in the stadium. Today we have 40,000,’ she says. ‘We are so full of pride for this and the game today can help make this for the young girls who want to play professionally tomorrow.’

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

ThursDAY 15•12•2016

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Rahul Gandhi alleges he has info about 'personal corruption' by PM, BJP rejects charge New Delhi, December 14 (PTi): Upping the ante further over cash ban, Rahul Gandhi today sensationally alleged he had information about "personal corruption" involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, days after claiming there will be an "earthquake" if he is allowed to speak on demonetisation in the Lok Sabha.

The allegation by the Congress Vice President was dismissed by the BJP as "false and baseless" and "very unfortunate" while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal dared Gandhi to "expose" the prime minister if he has documents at his disposal.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar while rejecting as "baseless" the allegation levelled against the prime minister said they were made out of "desperation" and "frustration" and asked Gandhi to apologise.

The allegation was levelled by a combative Gandhi at a joint news conference in Parliament premises with leaders from 15 other opposition parties after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day failing to break the continuing deadlock over demonetisation.

Gandhi claimed he has detailed information about alleged "personal corruption" by the prime minister and that the latter is personally terrified of

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi with TMC member Sudip Bandyopadhyay and other opposition leaders during a press conference at parliament in New Delhi on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

him being allowed to speak inside Lok Sabha.

"The Prime Minister is personally terrified of me being allowed to open my mouth inside Lok Sabha because I have information about the Prime Minister that is going to explode his balloon. And I am not being allowed to speak in the House," he said.

Asked what kind of information he has, the Congress Vice President said, "That information is personal information about Narendra Modiji which I want to

state in Lok Sabha. It is personal corruption of the Prime Minister that I have, we have detailed information about. We want to present it, which the Prime Minister is not allowing us to speak."

Gandhi said the entire opposition wants a debate in Parliament and have discussed with the Speaker to allow it while dispensing all rules.

"Pretty much unconditionally we are ready to have a discussion, but the government is not interested in having a discussion. I have already said it before,

the Prime Minister is personally terrified of me being allowed to open my mouth inside the Lok Sabha," he said.

"The Prime Minister should stop taking alibis and he should come to the House and give all of us an opportunity to speak. Then the country should take a decision on whether the opposition or the Prime Minister is speaking the truth."

Kumar led the BJP's charge against Gandhi.

"Had he(Gandhi) any information, he would have said it by

now. It is a baseless allegation.

He is saying this out of frustration. Today they are saying they are not being allowed to speak. It is wrong because everyday Congress members are coming to the well of the House. Now they are making trying to spread rumour and baseless allegations," Kumar said.

Kumar's ministerial colleague Prakash Javadekar said only Congress and not government will be exposed when Rahul Gandhi speeks as it rejected his charge that the government was not letting him speak in Parliament, saying there cannot be a bigger "lie" than this. Another Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said Gandhi's allegation was the "biggest joke" of the year.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also waded into the fresh political spat, daring Gandhi to "expose" the prime minister if he has documents at his disposal, saying Congress and BJP indulge in such "friendly match" but do not make any disclosure.

"If Rahul Gandhi actually has papers on Modiji's personal involvement in corruption, then why doesn't he expose it outside Parliament?

"Friendly match - BJP says they have AgustaWestland against Congress. Cong says they have Sahara/Birla against BJP. Both don't disclose," the AAP chief said in a series of tweets.

HC orders JNU search by sniffer dogs to find missing student New Delhi, December 14 (iaNS): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the police's Crime Branch to search every nook and cranny of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus with the help of sniffer dogs to find out missing student Najeeb Ahmed. A division bench of Justice G.S. Sistani and Justice Vinod Goel asked police to search the entire campus of the university including classrooms, hostels etc. to trace Ahmed. The court was hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by Fatima Nafees, Ahmed's mother that her son be produced by police and the Delhi government before the court. Ahmed, 27, a first year M.Sc. student, went missing from his hostel on the night of October 14-15., allegedly after a row with members of RSS student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

Police told the court that four students, suspected for beating up Ahmed, would undergo lie-detector tests in order to get clues about his disappearance. The court now posted the matter for December 22.

Bill to amend SC/ST list introduced in Lok Sabha New Delhi, December 14 (PTi): A bill seeking to transfer certain communities from the list of Scheduled Castes (SC) to Scheduled Tribes (ST) and include new communities in the ST list was introduced in the Lok Sabha today. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2016 seeks to transfer 'Bhogta' community of Jharkhand from the list of SCs to the STs list. The Bill, introduced by Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram amid din over the note ban issue, also seeks to include certain more communities in the list of STs relating to Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.

'Indian missions filed 182 mercy pleas in 12 countries'

New Delhi, December 14 (PTi): Indian diplomatic missions have filed 182 mercy petitions in 12 countries, including the UAE and Oman, on behalf of Indians in foreign jails in the last three years, Lok Sabha was informed today. Maximum number of petitions have been filed in the UAE (74), followed by Oman (57), Bahrain (14), Myanmar (12) and the US (5), Minister of State for Foreign Affairs V K Singh said in written reply to a question. To another question, he said that since inception of that it will go a long way in building a the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme in December safer environment for our children," 2005, 23,60,626 Persons of Indian Origin have been issued OCI cards till December 6, 2016. said Satyarthi in a release.

Satyarthi is founder of NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), which had filed the petition in the apex court stating that the fundamental rights of children across the country were being violated due to inaction New Delhi, December 14 (iaNS): There is no proand non-compliance of the govern- posal to make Aadhar mandatory for release of pension to ment's action plan for reduction in the central government pensioners, Parliament was told drug demand and supply. on Wednesday. "There is, at present, no proposal to make He added that it was "also a time- Aadhaar seeding mandatory for release of pension to the ly judgment, especially in the midst central government pensioners," said Minister of State for of the government's crackdown on Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh black money". told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. Noting 87% of central Meanwhile, senior advocate H.S. government pensioners of all age categories have seeded Phoolka, who appeared in this case their bank accounts with Aadhaar number, he said that on behalf of BBA, said: "This crucial the government has made efforts to seed accounts of all judgment will ensure that children central government pensioners with Aadhaar numbers so are provided with a better, more as to enable them to benefit from the additional facility of healthy childhood." submission of Digital Life Certificate.

RS passes bill on rights Formulate plan to combat drug abuse amongst children: SC While asking the governments -Delhi, December 14 of differently-abled New (iaNS): The Supreme Court on both at the Centre and in the states --

New Delhi, December 14 (iaNS): The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed, by voice vote, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, which expands the list of disabilities from 7 to 19, makes accessibility to public buildings, transport, polling station a mandatory requirement and provides for a national fund for welfare of the disabled.

The bill, which replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, has been brought in to comply with the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which India signed in 2007.

The legislation was pending in the Rajya Sabha since February 2014 as the term of the erstwhile UPA government ended soon after it was introduced.

Moving the bill, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot said campaign is on to fulfill vacancies related to the disabled.

"The Bill would give more rights to peoples with disabilities. We have raised the reservation from three per cent to four per cent. We have announced to set up Divyyang University in Kerala. It will start functioning from next session," he said.

Supporting the bill, Congress member Karan Singh said: "By passing it we not only fulfull international obligation, we are fulfilling an obligation to citizens of our country. The bill was long overdue and would honour India's commitment to the UN treaty on the subject."

Singh said that government must ensure that their reserved seats are filled and also called for a public education campaign to teach people to treat the disabled with respect.

"This is the civic value which we must develop," he added.

Naresh Agarawal of Samajwadi Party stressed that the disabled must not be harassed and get more quota in jobs, while Satish Chandra Mishra of the Bahujan Samaj Party demanded that the measure should be known as the Rights of the Differently-Abled Bill.

Communist Party of India-Marxist's Sitaram Yechury said: "We want this bill to be strengthened. The quota should have been raised to 5 per cent instead of 4." The bill now is to be passed by the Lok Sabha.

Wednesday asked the Centre to formulate a National Action Plan to combat drug abuse amongst children.

While hearing a petition by the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which had besides other things sought setting up of district level drug addiction centres, the apex court expressed concern over the growing menace of the drug abuse amongst children.

The bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud directed the government to undertake a nation wide survey to identify the prevalence of drug abuse across the country. It gave six months time to the government to put in place the National Action Plan, and four months time to undertake the survey.

to create awareness about the serious consequences of the drug abuse, the court directed the Centre to include in the school curriculum the subject on harmful effects of using drugs.

Kailash Satyarthi hails SC direction Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi on Wednesday hailed the Supreme Court's directions to the Central government on drug abuse among children, calling it a "landmark judgment".

"Trafficking and drug abuse, inherently linked to each other, are the most prevalent forms of organised crime in the world that violate the fundamental rights of our children.

I welcome this landmark judgment by the Honourable Court, and believe

'No proposal to make Aadhar mandatory for pensioners'

Provide jobs to youth to prevent unrest: President chhiNDwara, December 14 (PTi): President Pranab Mukherjee today said that government and industry should work together to provide jobs to youth to avoid unrest and disturbances. "India's population is 130 crore. Half of this population is below 25 years of age, and in working age group of 15-59 years, this population is 62%. If you keep these numbers in mind and think for a while

what would happen if such magnitude of people do not have their vocation and opportunity of maintaining their livelihood in a decent way," Mukherjee said.

The President was speaking at annual day celebration of CII's skill training centre here. He said that the agriculture sector is over saturated now and it can support very low number of people. "These workforce is going to be an

asset to us ... but if we cannot provide job to them what will happen. There will be unrest, there will be frustration. There will be difficulties, disturbances," Mukherjee said.

He said that there are 36,000 colleges producing graduates but a large number of passouts are unemployable.

It is estimated by the World Economic Forum that 2/3 of children who

now enter a school will work in jobs that cannot be imagined right now.

Mukherjee said India will have the scope for employment generation but lacks skilled workforce.

The President said that a Skills Development Council was created in 2010 and target was fixed by 2020 to create large number of skilled workforce. "Unfortunately not much progress was made in that direction.

2 killed in J& K encounters SriNagar, December 14 (PTi): Two militants were today killed in separate encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. The encounters took place in Anantnag and Baramulla districts. Militants opened fire on a patrol party of army at Beewra in Srigufwara area of Anantnag district this morning, a police official said. He said the army personnel retaliated, triggering a gunbattle. One militant, identified as Basit Ahmad Dar, was killed in the encounter.

Dar had recently joined Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit.

In another counter-insurgency operation, a militant -- believed to be a foreigner -- was killed in Bomai area of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, the official said. He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain ultra is yet to be ascertained. However, police sources said the deceased is believed to be Abu Bakar, a top commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit.

April 2017: Earliest India will get its cash back Sahil Kini IANS/IndiaSpend

We are 17 days away from Prime Minister Narendra Modis 50-day deadline to end the worst effects of the scrapping of 86 per cent - by value - of Indias currency. In the chest-thumping, hand-wringing and controversy that has ensued since the announcement on November 8, 2016, there has been an absence of facts on the question of re-monetising India.

An extrapolation of 2016 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data on the capacity of Indian printing presses and currency distribution indicates that, at current rates, the Prime Minister's deadline will not be met.

Getting adequate money to banks and ATMs nationwide will depend on how many bank notes the government wants to put back into circulation.

If the government wants to introduce Rs 9 lakh crore ($135 billion) - or 35 per cent less money than it pulled out it will take up to May 2017, and if it wants to reintroduce the entire Rs 14 lakh crore ($210 billion) that it withdrew, that could take up to August 2017.

The crux of the problem is change, specifically the Rs 500 note, which India's presses cannot, currently, print in adequate numbers.

Here are the facts: The RBI has four presses at Dewas (Madhya Pradesh), Nashik (Maharashtra), Salboni (West Bengal) and Mysuru (Karnataka). * The printing capacity of these presses is roughly 2,670 crore (26.7 billion) notes a year, according to the RBI's 2016 annual report (page 90). Or roughly 7.4 crore (74 million) notes a day * If the presses worked three shifts a day instead of two, their daily production capacity could be raised to 11.1 crore (111 million) notes a day * However, less than half of the machines in the presses have the ability to print the security features required for high-value notes (Rs 500 and above) * This means that even if all the machines that print high-value notes in all four presses printed only Rs 500 rupee notes 24 hours a day, we would at best be able to

print 5.56 crore (55.6 million) Rs 500 notes every day * This translates to about Rs. 2,778 crore ($418 million) in value printed every day in Rs 500 notes Before the announcement of demonetisation, the government had already arranged for the printing of 200 crore (2 billion) Rs 2,000 notes, or roughly about Rs 4 lakh crore ($60 billion) in value. So, these were the first set of notes to be circulated. This is why there are so many pink notes in circulation.

Let's explore the time to disburse in the two scenarios we mentioned: * Scenario 1: Rs 9 lakh crore (or roughly two-thirds the total Rs 14 lakh crore that was demonetised) needs to be returned to the system * Scenario 2: Rs 14 lakh crore (full amount) needs to be recirculated For this amount to be liquid, a key condition needs to be met: Rs 2,000 notes can, at most, account for half the total amount to be circulated. The logic: If we do not have enough change, then the Rs 2,000 note will always be hard to "break" into smaller denominations, which is the situation nation-

wide today.

The other half needs to be available in lower-denomination notes. The total value of Rs 100, Rs 50, Rs 20, and Rs 10 notes is Rs 2.19 lakh crore ($33 billion), according to the RBI's annual report.

If we put this in a math equation where t is the total value of Rs 2,000 notes and f is the total value of Rs 500 notes, we end up with this equation: total value of 2,000s (t)=total value of 500s (f)+total value of 100s and below or t=f+Rs 2.19 lakh crore This means the requirement of Rs 500 notes is as follows: * In Scenario 1 (Rs 9 lakh crore disbursal): t+f = Rs 9 lakh crore Solving for f, the value of Rs 500 notes needed is 681 crore (6.81 billion) notes X Rs 500 = Rs 3.405 lakh crore * In Scenario 2 (Rs 14 lakh crore disbursal): t+f = Rs 14 lakh crore Solving for f, the value of Rs 500 notes needed is 1,181 crore (11.81 billion) notes X Rs 500 = Rs 5.905 lakh crore As on November 30, 2016, less than 10 crore (100 million) Rs 500 notes were printed and

ready (or two days worth of printing), according to an RBI source, quoted in Mint.

We arrive at the crux of the problem: India needs to print at least 681 crore (6.81 billion) Rs 500 notes. In Scenario 2, the Rs 500 requirement is for 1,181 crore (11.81 billion) notes. However, the peak printing capacity of the presses is 5.56 crore (55.6 million) notes a day-or 0.8% of what it should be.

At this rate, we will take anywhere between 122 days and 212 days to print enough Rs 500 notes. Given the fact that the RBI started printing Rs 500 notes in earnest after November 30, 2016, printing all the required 500s will be completed only on March 10, 2017 (Scenario 1), or July 8, 2017 (Scenario 2).

Taking into account the time taken for cash transportation and the speed at which banks can push out the money, calculations indicate that complete disbursal of Rs 9 lakh crore can happen in early April 2017.

In other words: India awaits some "April showers" but a full "monsoon" will have to wait until July.

Bengaluru: Rs 2.25 cr in new notes seized from flat guarded by 2 dogs beNgaluru, December 15 (PTi): In yet another startling catch, the Income Tax Department on Wednesday seized a total of Rs 3.57 crore cash, with Rs 2.93 crore in new notes, from Karnataka and Goa with a huge stash being recovered from a flat here which was guarded by two ferocious dogs and an old woman.

Officials said the department sleuths got a tip-off that an apartment in the Yeshwanthpur locality had some cash but they could not execute the search on Tuesday as the old lady living in the flat refused to cooperate with the taxman and tie the two canines she had.

Finally, the sleuths made an entry with the help of locals and police and found a room that was locked. It was also noticed by the I-T teams that a person visited the flat in the wee hours.

"The locked room was opened and unexplained cash to the tune of Rs 2.89 crore, which includes Rs 2.25 crore of new Rs 2,000 notes, was found.

"Entire cash has been seized and further investigation is in progress in this case," the department said in a statement.

In a separate case in Goa's capital Panaji, the department seized Rs 67.98 lakh in new notes of Rs 2,000 from a person who met the sleuths who were acting as decoy customers in desperate need of cash. "The seizure was made from a place called Banda on the Maharashtra-Goa border," they said.

The department's probe wings of Karnataka and Goa, post demonetisation, have seized a total of Rs 29.86 crore, with Rs 20.22 crore in new notes, 41.6 kg bullion and 14 kg jewellery as part of investigative action to check profiteering in the wake of currency ban. The department said it has detected unaccounted income worth Rs 1,000 crore as part of 36 operations launched till now by it in these two states.

ThursdAY 15•12•2016

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

Rohingya crisis: Cancelled meetings expose fraught Myanmar-Bangla ties YANGON, December 14 (reuters): As Myanmar’s army was stepping up an anti-insurgency operation in the country’s northwest in October, senior officers cancelled talks with their Bangladeshi counterparts, straining ties with a key potential ally in dealing with the violence on their border.

The cancelled meetings, revealed in documents seen by Reuters, are the latest on a long list of failed initiatives to improve relations between fractious neighbours who both see the largely stateless Muslim Rohingya at the heart of the crisis as the other nation’s problem.

Bangladeshi diplomats say the abrupt cancellation of the talks, planned for mid-October, reflected Myanmar’s reluctance to deepen bilateral ties and press ahead with talks on security cooperation and the establishment of border liaison officers.

“Those two documents are incredibly important, particularly given the situation we’re dealing with right now, but we’ve hit a wall,” said a senior Bangladeshi official, who did not want to be identified because of the private nature of the exchanges.

Myanmar officials did not comment on the meetings.

Defusing the deepseated mistrust between the two countries is crucial both to improving the plight of the Rohingya minority and curbing the insurgency Myanmar’s government says it is fighting in the northwest, diplomats and analysts say.

Close to 27,000 people have fled across the border

Myanmar ‘following the law’ in Rakhine, probe panel says

A Rohingya boy looks on as another boy makes a kite in Leda unregistered Rohingya Refugee Camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh on November 22, 2016. (REUTERS File Photo)

from Myanmar’s Rakhine State to Bangladesh since Nov. 1, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, with more people likely to have fled since the onset of violence in October.

The Rohingya, of whom there are around 1.1 million in Rakhine, are denied citizenship by Myanmar and Bangladesh, who both cite census documents and historical accounts to argue they have a long-established presence in the other country.

GROWING ISOLATION The cancelled meetings also point to the growing isolation of the eightmonth-old administration of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, fac-

ing criticism of her handling of the crisis from both Western nations and Asian countries such as Malaysia.

Myanmar’s military and the government have rejected allegations by residents and rights groups that soldiers have raped Rohingya women, burnt houses and killed civilians during the military operation in Rakhine.

“Regarding the Army to Army Talk between Bangladesh Armed Forces and Myanmar Defence Services...I deeply regret to inform you that our authorities would like to postpone,” said the head of the Myanmar military’s foreign relations department, Lieutenant Colonel Aung Zaw Linn, in a letter to Bangladesh officials on Oct. 13.

The military cited “un-

foreseen commitments” as a reason to cancel the nearly week-long talks scheduled in Bangladesh from Oct. 16.

The letter was sent four days after nine Myanmar police officers were killed in attacks on border posts.

Since then, security forces have flooded northern Rakhine, hunting a Rohingya insurgent group the government says was responsible.

Five days later, the head of the Myanmar police division against transnational crime also pulled out of talks with the Bangladeshi border guard force planned for Oct. 25-27 in Dhaka, citing the security situation in Rakhine.

One of the documents Bangladeshis were keen to discuss was a memoran-

YANGON, December 14 (reuters): A commission set up by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to investigate attacks on border posts and the army’s brutal response on Wednesday said security forces had abided by the law in a Muslim-majority area of northwestern Rakhine State.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate established the body amid growing international pressure to investigate allegations that Myanmar soldiers had killed and raped civilians and burned down their homes, as well as to allow aid agencies to reach the area.

In a statement, the 13-member panel said, “Government authorities have followed the law and acted legally in their response to the attackers.” The preliminary conclusion raises questions over whether the commission headed by Vice President Myint Swe, a general and an acolyte of former junta leader Than Shwe - will deliver an independent verdict in its full report, expected by Jan. 31.

On Tuesday, the body wrapped up a threeday visit to Maungdaw, where at least 86 people have been killed since the Oct. 9 attacks and where the military sweep has prompted

dum of understanding on security dialogue and cooperation. Another document, reviewed by Reuters, would set up border liaison officers (BLO) on both sides of the frontier and other collaboration measures including joint patrols.

Underscoring deterioration of the ties, Bangladeshi diplomats said last month they pulled out of bilateral foreign ministry consultations seen as a preparatory step before a meeting of heads of state.

“We went everywhere and met with everyone, but we have been met with delays and lack of interest,” said the senior Bangladeshi official.

Bangladesh is the only neighbouring country Suu Kyi, who serves as Myan-

mar’s foreign minister as well as being the de facto leader of the government, has not yet visited. The Myanmar military’s press office and presidential spokesman Zaw Htay did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

Aye Aye Soe, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said there had been an “earlier meeting” between the two militaries on the “current refugees issue but (that) also involved other border related issues - drug trafficking and other transorganized crimes”.

She said she had no other details.

Bangladesh Army spokesman Colonel Rashidul Hasan said he could not comment because he was not aware of the meeting. Gowher Rizvi,

about 27,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

Rohingya, who form the majority of residents in Maungdaw, are denied citizenship in Myanmar, face restrictions on their movements and have limited access to healthcare and education.

Najib Razak, the prime minister of neighbouring Muslim-majority Malaysia, has accused Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya.

Suu Kyi has called a special meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the issue in Myanmar’s capital of Naypyitaw on Monday.

The panel visited the sites of numerous attacks believed to have been launched by a previously unknown Rohingya armed group.

Upto 17 police and security forces were killed in the initial attacks and subsequent clashes.

The panel also visited Muslim villages, but its members did not hear allegations of rape by soldiers, the statement said. Such claims cannot be verified as authorities have blocked travel to the area by independent journalists and observers.

an external affairs advisor to claim a centuries-old linPrime Minister Sheikh Ha- eage in Rakhine, which sina, declined to comment. like the rest of Myanmar is predominantly Buddhist. Myanmar sees the DIPLOMATIC Rohingya as illegal immiREPRIMAND Tensions between the grants from Bangladesh. two countries were exac- Predominantly Muslim erbated last month, when Bangladesh disowns the Myanmar’s envoy in Dha- Rohingya and has refused ka was reprimanded over to grant them refugee stareports in state media that tus since 1992.

The United Nations’ refsome of the insurgents blamed for the Oct. 9 at- ugee agency supports more tacks had crossed the bor- than 32,000 registered Rohingya in official camps in der from Bangladesh.

The violence in Rakhine the east of Bangladesh, and is the biggest crisis faced estimates up to 500,000 unby Suu Kyi’s government, documented Rohingya live threatening her No. 1 goal in the country. The populaof ending years of ethnic tion has grown since 2012, war. Insurgencies dogged when communal clashes Myanmar through decades between ethnic Rakhine of military rule, and fight- Buddhists and Rohingya ing has also recently flared killed more than 100 peonear the border with China. ple and displaced thouRohingya activists sands.

UN environment chief concerned at climate Aleppo evacuation is stalled by clashes science sceptics among Trump nominations JAKArtA, December 14 (reuters): Some elite U.S. politicians’ denial of the science backing up climate change is worrying, the United Nations environment chief said on Wednesday, adding that the fight against global warming would continue, even without the United States.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has in the past dismissed climate change as a “hoax”, vowing during his campaign to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement, a deal among nearly 200 countries to curb global warming.

Trump, who won the November election on a range of populist promises

to deregulate and revive the energy sector, has appointed to his cabinet climate change sceptics, including oil magnates - moves that have angered green groups.

Erik Solheim, executive director of the U.N. Environment Program, said in an interview he was not concerned about oil industry stalwarts in Trump’s cabinet, because they brought experience in handling major energy projects and negotiations.

“However, I am concerned that some elite American politicians deny science. You will be in the Middle Ages if you deny science,” he told Reuters in the Indonesian capital, in response to a question about Trump’s cabinet

Low-carb diets effective for weight loss: Study New YOrK, December 14 (IANs): Researchers have found that eating food low in carbohydrates is safe for up to six months and can also help reduce more weight than following a low-fat diet. “Adhering to a shortterm low-carb diet appears to be safe and may be associated with weight reduction,” said lead researcher Heather Fields, MD, an internal medicine physician at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, US. “We encourage patient to eat real food and avoid highly processed foods, especially processed meats, such as bacon, sausage, deli meats, hot dogs, and ham when following any particular diet,” Fields noted. Depending on the diet, participants lost between twoand-a-half to almost 9 more pounds than those who followed a low-fat diet, showed the findings published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Analysing research published over more than a decade, Fields reviewed articles that addressed potential adverse effects and overall safety of low-carb diets. Diets that heavily restrict carbohydrates often lead to greater consumption of meats -- some of which have been implicated in worsened all-cause mortality and increased cancer risk.

picks.

Trump has appointed at least three cabinet members who have in the past cast doubt on the science behind climate change.

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who opposed President Barack Obama’s measures to fight climate change, has been picked to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Former Texas governor Rick Perry has been appointed to lead the Energy Department, which he once proposed scrapping altogether.

Rex Tillerson, chief executive of Exxon Mobil Corp will be secretary of state, the country’s top diplomat.

The majority of scien-

tists around the world say global warming is causing rising sea levels, drought, and an increase in storms.

Solheim said even though Trump’s environmental policies remained unclear, the battle against climate change would continue.

“If the United States, in the worst case, were to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, we will depend more on China,” he added.

“China and...many others will provide the global leadership we need.”

Since the election, however, Trump has said he will keep an “open mind” about the climate deal, and has also met former Vice President Al Gore, a leading climate change activist.

China jails former Nanjing city chief for 12 years for corruption

Yang Weize attends a meeting in Nanjing, Jiangsu province on July 19, 2012. (REUTERS File Photo)

beIJING, December 14 (reuters): A court in eastern China on Wednesday sentenced the former Communist Party chief of the major city of Nanjing to 12-1/2 years in jail, after finding him guilty of corruption.

Yang Weize, Nanjing’s top official, was put under investigation early last year by the party’s internal anti-graft watchdog. The court said Yang accepted bribes, either directly or through his wife, worth 16.4 mil-

lion yuan ($2.38 mn) between 2005 and 2014. Yang admitted his crimes, expressed repentance and cooperated in returning the dirty money, meaning he got a lighter sentence, the court added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is leading an aggressive campaign against official corruption that is tearing down once-untouchable Party, military and business leaders and rolling up their powerful networks of relatives and allies.

ALePPO, December 14 (reuters): The planned evacuation of rebel districts of Aleppo stalled on Wednesday as air strikes and heavy shelling hit the city and Iran was said to have imposed new conditions on the deal.

Iran, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s main backers in the battle for Aleppo, wanted a simultaneous evacuation of wounded from the villages of Foua and Kefraya that are besieged by rebels, according to rebel and U.N. sources.

Rebel groups said that was just an excuse to hold up the evacuation, which a pro-opposition TV station said could now be delayed until Thursday.

A ceasefire brokered on Tuesday by Russia, Assad’s most powerful ally, and Turkey was intended to end years of fighting in the city, giving the Syrian leader his biggest victory in more than five years of war.

But air strikes, shelling and gunfire erupted on Wednesday morning and a monitoring group said the truce appeared to have collapsed. Syrian state television said rebel shelling of the Bustan al-Qasr district, recently recaptured by the army, had killed six people.

Russia said government forces were responding to rebel attacks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said rebel resistance was likely to end in the next two or three days.

Officials in the military alliance fighting in support of Assad could not be reached immediately for comment on why the evacuation, expected to start in the early hours of Wednesday, had been delayed.

Nobody had left by dawn, according to a Reuters witness waiting at the agreed departure point.

Twenty buses waited with engines running but showed no sign of moving into rebel districts.

People walk as they flee deeper into the remaining rebel-held areas of Aleppo, Syria on December 13. (REUTERS Photo)

People in eastern Aleppo packed their bags and burned personal belongings, fearing looting by the Syrian army and its Iranian-backed militia allies.

In what appeared to be a separate development from the planned evacuation, the Russian defence ministry said 6,000 civilians and 366 fighters had left rebel-held districts over the past 24 hours.

RAPID ADVANCES The evacuation plan was the culmination of two weeks of rapid advances by the Syrian army and its allies that drove insurgents back into an ever-smaller pocket of the city under intense air strikes and artillery fire. By taking full control of Aleppo, Assad has proved the power of his military coalition, aided by Russia’s air force and an array of Shi’ite militias from across the region.

Rebels groups have been supported by the United States, Turkey and Gulf monarchies, but the support they have enjoyed has fallen far short of the direct military backing given to Assad by Russia and Iran.

Russia’s decision to deploy its air force to Syria 18 months ago turned the war in Assad’s favour after rebel advances across western Syria. In addition to Aleppo, he has won back insurgent strongholds near Damascus this year.

The government and its allies have focused the bulk of their firepower on fighting rebels in western Syria rather than Islamic State, which this week managed to take back the ancient city of Palmyra, once again illustrating the challenge Assad faces reestablishing control over all Syria.

Russia regards the fall of Aleppo as a major victory against terrorists, as it and Assad characterise all the rebel groups, both Islamist and nationalist, fighting to oust him. But at the United Nations, the United States said the violence in the city, besieged and bombarded for months, represented “modern evil”.

The once-flourishing economic centre with its renowned ancient sites has been pulverised during the war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, created the world’s worst refugee crisis and allowed the rise of Islamic State.

As the battle for Aleppo unfolded, global concern has risen over the plight of the 250,000 civilians who were thought to remain in its rebel-held eastern sector before the sudden army advance began at the end of November.

“SHOT IN THEIR HOMES” On Tuesday, the United Nations voiced deep concern about reports it had received of Syrian soldiers and allied Iraqi fighters

summarily shooting dead 82 people in recaptured east Aleppo districts. It accused them of “slaughter”.

“The reports we had are of people being shot in the street trying to flee and shot in their homes,” said Rupert Colville, a U.N. spokesman.

“There could be many more.”

The Syrian army has denied carrying out killings or torture among those captured, and Russia said on Tuesday rebels had “kept over 100,000 people in east Aleppo as human shields”.

Fear stalked the city’s streets. Some survivors trudged in the rain past dead bodies to the government-held west or the few districts still in rebel hands.

Others stayed in their homes and awaited the Syrian army’s arrival. For all of them, fear of arrest, conscription or summary execution added to the daily terror of bombardment.

“People are saying the troops have lists of families of fighters and are asking them if they had sons with the terrorists. (They are) then either left or shot and left to die,” said Abu Malek al-Shamali in Seif al-Dawla, one of the last rebel-held districts.

Terrible conditions were described by city residents. Abu Malek al-Shamali, a resident in the rebel area, said dead bodies lay in the streets. “There are many corpses in Fardous and Bustan al-Qasr with no one to bury them,” he said.

10

THURSDAY 15•12•2016

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

WSSA annual meet concludes

Guest of honour along with other dignitaries and football champions pose for lens at the culmination of the meet at Kiyeto village on Tuesday.

DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): The annual meet of the Western Sumi Sports’ Association, which was held beside 18th M.B.E. Zhuikhu Memorial Football trophy and 9th Zukhevi Achumi volleyball trophy concluded at Kiyeto village on Tuesday.

Minister for RD & REPA, CL John graced the closing function as guest of honour and gave away prizes to the winners of respective events.

Speaking on the occasion, the guest of honor lamented the present educational system in the state and emphasized on need for vocational, practical education. He also stressed on promotion of nagamese to foster unity and encouraged the youth to take up sports as profession.

Zheshito Chishi, president, Western Sumi Hoho also exhorted the gathering.

Kakuho Yeptho, president, WSSA proposed the vote of thanks.

Basketball court inaugurated at Tseminyu

TsEMINyU, DECEMBER 14 (DIPR): DC Kohima Rovilatuo Mor IAS inaugurated newly constructed Basketball court at Town hall Tseminyu on December 12 as the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion Mor IAS said that every sincere effort is witnessed by achievements, particularly in developmental works. He therefore, expressed his gratitude towards the Administration of Tseminyu headed by ADC Vikhweno and her subordinate, EAC Shelley Katiry for successfully constructing a standard basketball court with limited funding from the District Administration Kohima. He also spoke about the potentialities of Tseminyu and called upon the people to utilize the fertility of land and its agricultural productions in proper

ways and means for the promotion of rural economy.

ADC Tseminyu, Vikhweno M. Meratsu in her words of gratitude towards DC Kohima for his generous funding said that Tseminyu having standard basketball court is first of its kind. She also urged upon the people of Tseminyu to use the basketball court in proper manner and also stressed on the importance of sports.

EAC Tseminyu, Shelley Katiry chaired the program.

Short speeches were delivered by the President Rengma Hoho, President Rengma Selo Zi and President Rengma GBs Association. Special song was presented by the GBs of Tseminyu.

Basketball exhibition match was played between Government servants and NGOs of Tseminyu. All departmental officers attended the function.

Mountain Biking Park at Ungma 19th Sohomi MoKoKChUNg, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): After Mokokchung XCE 2016, the Trail Hounds Cycling Club (THCC) are back with another race at Ungma Village, Mokokchung this Friday, December 12, 2016 to introduce cycling in Ungma village and to declare Ungma's Nature Park as a Mountain Biking Park which will help improve the socio- economic conditions of the local community through mountain biking.

This will perhaps be the first MTB Park in Nagaland with bikes available on rentals where you could ride awesome trails, improve your MTB skills and a lot more.

The race will be conducted in the following categories: Men's Cross Country Race; Women's Cross Country Race; Men's Enduro MTB (Enduro Trail is a bit extreme and it's not for amateur riders; participate at your own risk). The race will be organised by THCC and sponsored

by Asemjungba Semchir Ungma, who will be running the MTB Park.

Riders are informed that helmets, gloves are mandatory. There will be spot registration only. 3. Participants are requested to reach the event venue at 9:00am for reporting and practice runs. The race is only for Mokokchung Riders.

This was informed in a press release issued

by THCC President, Atoba Longkumer.

Sports Association tournament underway KohIMA, DECEMBER 14 (DIPR): The 19th Sohomi Sports Association tournament began on December 13 with Coy Commander Home Guard & Civil Defense, Kronyilo Mero as the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest said that games and sports play a vital role for our overall development. He said that we should exhibit our talent not only in the village level but also in the national and international level.

He said that games and sports is a good platform to develop friendship and called upon the players to maintain discipline. The function was chaired by Davi Nusory while the welcome address was delivered by its president Deto Rhakho. The closing function will be held on 16th December 2016 with Kukhati Nusory, VDB Secretary Sohomi.

public discourse

An appeal to consider amnesty to Niki Sumi and NSCN (K) Does truth and falsehood matter anymore to Nagas?

To, The Governor Nagaland Raj Bhavan, Kohima

With due respect and honour I as a laymen but a concerned citizen of Nagaland state and also having been given the privilege of serving the esteemed National Party BJP as a state president for two tenures would like to bring to your honourable notice and kind consideration the present scenario of animosity between the Government of India and the proscribed group NSCN (K).

Sir, as you are well aware that the Government of India, under the able leadership of our Elongate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, and several factions of Naga Political Groups are under ceasefire agreements including the historic 3rd August 2015 peace accord framework signed between our government and the NSCN (IM). These developments have given immense hope to the people of Nagaland who have endured decades of violence and bloodshed.

And I also believe it has bolstered the effort for a journey towards a peaceful and developed North East which is a cherished dream for both Government of India and the denizens of this beautiful region.

Unfortunately, Sir, the breakdown

of ceasefire and talks with the NSCN (K) faction has brought a pall of gloom over the whole effort.

It is pertinent to note that the people of Nagaland, especially the younger generation, are tired of the violence and the tensions in their land. They are now more focused on jobs and economic development. With the advent of Internet, cell phones and social media, and also with a high percentage of literacy, the youth are now voicing their feelings and "asking questions" like never before. I also want to make a point that it is not that the educated people of Nagaland were not aware of wrongdoings and shortcomings of the consecutive state governments, including the union government. But due to a peculiar tribal social system that exist here the methods of voicing displeasures by the people have been often misunderstood. So I feel that the policy of the government of India in dealing with the problems in Nagaland should not be according to the face value or as per the general social concept of our country. But the approach should be with sincerity and empathy. Nagaland is a very small state and a small population. It can be turned into a "Singapore" or a "Hongkong" within a few years if things can only be done in the best way.

Coming back to the issue of the NSCN (K) it is my understanding that

Revisiting Anti-Christ/ian in Nagaland

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he preconception of Christianizing imposes the Christian model of development in other religions (S. Taylor. 1997) produces what it means to be non-Christian. Commonly, any non-Christian is inevitably projected as anti-Christ or anti-Christian. In the history of Christianity and Judaism, Jews are the anti-Christ because they are primarily known for the crucifixion of Christ. This theory elucidates that anyone who stands against Christ is anti-Christ. If such is the definition of anti-Christ then who are the antiChrist among the Nagas?

To deny Christ and to assume to worship Him (Barrington. 1898) yet carries the identity of Christ follower is to plunge into darkness and call darkness in hypocrisy. A Hindu/ ism, Bhudist/ism, Muslm/Islam or any other religion out of Christ/ianity is not Anti-Christ/ian. The ethic of Christ/ianityprimarily aims to build or develop character, for Christians or follower of Christ to learn or to teach how to live righteously (Ibid).

However, the reality of Christians in the Naga society remains against Christ and His teaching in everyday life. The Christians Statehas failed to prove the meaning of anti-Christ/ ian which often accuses people from other faiths. The Gospel of Matthew 19:18 says “do not steal, do not murder, do not bear false witness.” Paul first letter to the Corinthians 6:10 says “no thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God”. The feeling of every Naga Christian is Christ follower and carries Christ identity in the form of a Christian. However, the act of every Naga Christian remains against Christ and His teaching, which inevitably no different from the theory of anti-Christ/ian. Politically and religiously, many thieves, murderers, false witnesses, verbal and non-verbal abusers are produced, who will have less possibility to inherit the kingdom of God. If this is the case, many Naga Christians are anti-Christ/ians than people of any other world religions who in reality do not stand against Christ though

they defer from Christianity. Therefore, anti-Christ/ian is not just non-Christians, it is not only the beast of Revelation 13 (Nelson.

2000), but alsoChristians who live against the will of Christ than a non-Christian who does nothing against Christ but faithfully follows his/her own religion.

Friedrich Nietzche provides a challenge that Christianity is a destroyer of sound life, developed concept of evil, brought death to higher type of men; moreover, it is the religion of pity (Nietzche. 1895).

Nietzche has true knowledge in this case about Christianity which is diluted by Christians in paradox to true Christianity. In the context of the Nagas, Christianity is as innocent as it has been but Christians have devalued and killed it in everyday act. The act that devalues Christianity itself is anti-Christ/ian. Without realizing self-anti-Christ characters, many Christian leaders and lay Christians condemn and accuse any new religious movement and religious leadership as cult and its adherents as cult worshippers. Anti-Christ/ian emerges or exists among the Naga Christians and not out of them.

The ramifications of anti-Christ/ ian within the Nagas are the dead of society in politics, religion and culture. The entire Naga Christians faced the menace of anti-Christ/ ian characters of the Christians. For Nietzche God is dead because we killed Him (Nietzche. 1882), similarly, noteworthy that, Christianity and Christ are dead and have declined in the Naga society because Nagas have killed them. Anti-Christ/ian is in the Naga Christians, not somewhere far away. If anti-Christ/ian should vanish in Nagaland, it needs a beginning within the Naga Christians. It is recommendable that Naga Christians and church leaders may revive Christians/nity and Christ through self-introspection and revive the hearts of Christlik to a larger Naga Christians. Without which, the Church itself remains the center of anti-Christ/ians.

Lemwang Chuhwanglim Researcher & Activist lemswang@gmail.com

it would be of negative consequences to engage them in hostility. The independent movement in Nagaland is an IDEA and we all know that we cannot defeat an idea with a gun. Even if all the other factions come to a settlement with the Government of India, leaving behind a small thing unresolved will again germinate into another dangerous entity because it will become the solace of all disgruntled individuals in the future. Not only that, the upcoming generation of Nagaland will still grow up under the shadow of the gun, which is the very thing we all want to avoid.

Therefore, Sir, I strongly believe that it is a rightful time to extend the olive branch to all concerned. Take for example NIKI SUMI, the commander in chief of NSCN (K) army. He is a tall leader and a citizen of Nagaland.

It would be wise to study his circumstances and engage with him in the best possible way for a positive result.

The Honourable Governor, being the head of state, has special powers under the constitution and his endeavor to bring peace and stability to the state would be highly appreciated.

The people of Nagaland can only look up to the sagacious and empathetic role of your honour.

W

O

Kaka D. Iralu

ur country was invaded by India in 1955. But in order to cover up its crime of invading another country, India projected the invasion as a case of internal law and order issue and wrote many books full of lies.

Did educated Nagas bother to refute these lies and defend the truths in the sight of the rest of the world?

In the national records from 1955 to 1990, I found only a few refutationsthe majority of which was done by A.Z. Phizo until his death in 1980.

As for the rest of the educated Nagas 99.9 % of them kept their mouth and hands shut and allowed the enemy to have a complete victory with their lies. But as if this was not enough, most of these educated Nagas asked for an Indian state and betrayed the over two thousand Naga deaths and all of Phizo’s and his colleagues’ sacrifices by signing the 16 Point Agreement. Many of them of course became millionaire out of this betrayal deal and wrote many additional lies in support of India’s already reigning lies. Therefore Nagas had been living under a shadow- or shall we say- a Dr. M Chuba Ao cloud of lies- from 1955 to the presFormer State President ent (altogether 61 years).

Then in 1980 an internal fratriBJP Nagaland

e see lots of vehicle's plying on the road, from two wheeler to latest SUV's and even the big trucks .

They ply on the road stunning someone or the other, may be the model ,the sound or the curve design of the car. The drivers who ride or drive are also great,some are young,some are old,some are male ,some female......... some dark, some beautiful !!!!!

But it's not the vehicles we all ride or drive that matters. It matters whether we are or we are not responsible riders and drivers which includes me too. Do we all really know the rules and regulations for riding and driving safely. We all have families who wait till we reach home back.

We all have the skills of riding and driving but knowingly or unknowingly sometimes we misses the basic rules and regulations while on road which leads to accidents with the loss of our loved ones.

Here in this article, I am trying to put up some points which may help all of us someday....and make us a good driver.

Knowing someone has been to driving school or seeing that they drive a manual car is a pretty good indicator they'll be a decent driver. But how can you tell who's good when you're already on the road?

Spotting a good driver on the highway can be tough. Just because they've got a nice car doesn't mean they have any clue what they're doing.

A good driver will always have a note of the following: • KEEP LEFT to allow the traffic to pass on a two-lane road coming from an opposite direction on the right side and allow the vehicles on one-lane road behind you for overtaking from the right.

• WHEN TURNING LEFT, be on the road’s left side from where you leave as well as from where you enter.

When turning towards right, move towards the road centre when you leave and when you enter, arrive near road’s left side.

• SLOW DOWN your speed at pedestrian crossings, road corners, intersections and road junctions and wait there till the passage ahead gets cleared. If you enter the main

cidal war started within the national movement. Here again the guilty ones who have killed over 3000 Nagas through their so called “Socialist Revolution” wrote so many lies to cover up their crimes with this lie and that lie and this cause and that cause. Sadly, here again with the exception of a few Nagas (whose numbers can be counted within the ten fingers of one’s hands), the rest of the Nagas kept their mouths shut so that lies can reign internally for another 41 years within Nagaland (1980 to 2016).

Unable to tolerate all these lies that have led to killings, extortion and intimidation, a few Nagas have dared to expose all these lies with chronicled dates, statements and the developments of events in sequential orders through written books.

Even then, the overwhelming majority of Nagas who can read never bothered to read these important books which have systematically exposed all these lies.

Nagas by and large, seems to want to live in ignorance under a thick cloud of lies for all their lives.

I personally do not want to name these important books because I have also authored some of them.

However, I think the present book by W. Shapwon entitled “The illegal for-

mation of the NSCN” is a very important book that every Naga must read in order to understand the present crisis within our own national movement. Shapwon who is a personal eye witness to all the events that have led to the internal fratricidal killings as well as the split up within the NNC itself and has documented all the events sequentially. These documents, supported with dates and statements that our own leaders have drafted in order to blame one another over the Naga house that is now in flames have been exposed. He has especially exposed all the facts of the infamous Shillong Accord of 1975 where our own national leaders have twisted the facts of the Accord to promote and project themselves as the real heroes of the struggle. Shapwon has meticulously exposed how the signatories who tried to save the nation from total capitulation were branded as traitors and many other innocent people were assassinated as supporters of the Shillong Accord. Shapwon has risked his own life in order to expose all these covered up lies and crimes.

But the question is: Are there still some upright Nagas still walking our streets today who wants to know the truths?

SIGNS OF A GOOD DRIVER road then give way of passage to the vehicles passing by on the right side as the traffic on the main roads is not regulated.

• HAND SIGNALS becomes necessary to give at times. Extend and pull out your right hand’s palm down when slowing the vehicles and swing the hand in the down and up direction. While stopping, your forearm should be raised outside vertically the vehicle, while changing the road lane or turning right towards left side, extend and rotate the right arm in a direction of anti-clockwise. To let the vehicle overtake behind you, swing the right arm forwards and backward in a motion of semi-circular.

• DIRECTION INDICATORS instead of giving hand signals make use of direction indications and in case of emergency, use both.

• WEARING A HELMET FOR TWO WHEELER DRIVERS is compulsory. The helmet should bear and conform to ISI mark and ISI standards. It works like a shield or a cover for the head during any mishap that occurs. It is so designed that it provides individual safety. It is not for covering any legal prosecution. Tie the helmet strap properly for the safety otherwise the strap of the helmet may get slipped from the head during any head injury in an accident.

• DO NOT PARK near or at any road crossing, on a walking footpath or on the hill top, near pedestrian crossing or traffic light, road having heavy traffic or on main road, opposite or in the front of another vehicle parked to cause any obstruction, on white line roads, near hospital entrance, school or bus stop, next to the traffic signal whereby blocking the path for others, near any fire hydrant whereby the access gets blocked, at any buildings entrance, where it is restricted to park.

• THE REGISTRATION MARK on the vehicles should be very legible, visible and clear all the times. Motor vehicles should not be loaded creating any obstruction for the marks, or the tail or other lights which are

required for the vehicles safety.

• DO NOT DRIVE on one-lane road except driving in the permitted directions. Reversing the vehicle in a wrong direction in a one-lane street is prohibited.

• DO NOT CROSS THE YELLOW LINE even while you are overtaking, that divides the road. On roads having defined lanes, appropriate signal indicators should be used before changing the lanes.

• DO NOT CROSS THE STOP LINE that is painted when you are stopping at any road intersection or junction or any pedestrian crossing. Beyond the marked line, your vehicle shall not bot move in any case.

• TOWING IS PERMITTED for only the vehicles which are disable mechanically or motor vehicles incompletely assembled, side cars and registered trailers. Other than this, vehicles can be towed to any nearest garage for delivery or at petrol pumps when they are untimely damaged.

• USE THE HORN when it is essential only and not in any silence zone area. Do not use or fit any multitoned, loud or shrill and harsh sounding alarms or horns in the vehicles that causes disturbance. It is also prohibited to have vehicles having altered silencers on road.

• DIRECTIONS GIVEN TO DRIVERS which are either through the regulating traffic police officers or through traffic signals or road signals should always be followed. It is an offense if such directions are violated.

• MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DISTANCE from any vehicle driving ahead of your vehicle in order to avoid any collusion taking place in case if the vehicle stops of slows down suddenly, it might cause accidents.

• DO NOT BRAKE SUDDENLY other than any safety reason is there.

• ON MOUNTAINS AND STEEP ROADS, any vehicle that is driving uphill on a road must be provided the correct way by the vehicles that are coming downhill. The road in case not wide sufficiently to give way then stop your vehicle on any road side and let the driver who is going uphill on the road to first proceed.

• WHEN ROAD REPAIR WORK is in progress, slow down the speed of the vehicle and drive at a maximum of 25 km/hours speed • DRIVERS OF TRACTORS AND GOODS VEHICLES are not allowed to carry passengers for reward or hire. The driver in tractors should not have any person and he should not have more other required person permitted to have in the cabin of the drive in a vehicle of goods.

• DO NOT CARRY GOODS on any vehicle in such a way that it causes any danger to any person, or even load it in a way that the material or the goods on the vehicle laterally extends to the front, rear side or beyond any sides of the motor vehicle. Carrying dangerous, inflammable or explosive substances are prohibited taking by any vehicle of public service.

• CARRY ONLY ONE PILLON RIDER on a two wheeler. A rider can sit only on vehicles back seat. A rider should not be allowed to stand or sit (even a children) in the front seat. It is illegal and dangerous as well as when applying sudden brakes, the person sitting in front gets thrown out hitting the front vehicle. It is law’s violation to carry any goods on a two wheeler due to imbalance caused to the rider that leads to accidents.

• DO NOT DRIVE BACKWARDS much longer than it is necessary and ensure that no inconvenience or danger is caused to any vehicle or any person while driving backwards • DO NOT DRIVE if you have any sickness or not well or taking any medications that impairs your abilities of driving including tonics containing some alcohol content.

• WHILE OVERTAKING, overtake from the right direction of the motor vehicle being passing by. If there is an indication from the front vehicle driver indicating his turning towards right then you should pass from the left side. Remember to not overtake heavy vehicles or cut their way as they need much space to stop or slow down.

With the above points keeping in mind ,we might all able to be a responsible and a good driver.

Dharmadhaj Sonowal,Dimapur.

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.

Thursday 15•12•2016

EntErtainmEnt

Oztronic: Nagaland’s only EDM fest starts FriDay Morung express News

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ztronic 2016, Nagaland's only Electronic Dance Music Festival is all set to begin on December 16 at the Khadi Nagi Resort in Jotsoma.

Oztronic was started by Sunep Oz, a versatile musician, who is also the front man of the band Making Merry.

The first edition of the festival was held on March 1, 2015. Sunep graduated from the SAE (School of Audio Engineering), Bombay. As a musician, he utilizes the art of sampling and looping while playing live, along with his analogue synths and live vocals. He has also successfully managed to impart a fresher course on music production recently in collaboration with Music Academy, Kohima.

The idea for Oztronic came up with Sunep's vision to promote electronic music in Nagaland. He has been helped by his friends and family, and Jungshi Aier, who acts as the CEO of Oztronic. The festival first began as an event which had five level shows throughout the year.

"We're really grateful that now we have decent people attending the event with the right motive. The tactic was simple, starts small and expands later. Around 60 people attended the first show and gradually went on to host bigger crowds," said Rachel Thong, a member of the organising team, in an interview with The Morung Express.

She felt that the electronic music audience in Nagaland has grown over the years, paving the way for music lovers in Nagaland to explore something new and different. "We even have many of them producing EDM tracks now, some of whom are performing at the upcoming festival.

I guess that alone is enough proof that EDM is gradually progressing in our state. Electronic music is a totally different genre itself, just like pop, rock, jazz, etc, and although the progress is slow, its making its way big even in Nagaland, with many artists having a distinct taste for electronic music pushing it forward," Rachel added.

She recalled that when Oztronic first started out, they never expected it to be what it is today and that the journey has been "amazing, challenging and inspiring as well". "Lots of lessons have been learnt and lots still yet to be learned. We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's given us the love and support and believed in Oztronic becoming what it is today,” she added.

On the challenges of holding a music festival here, she lamented that often "people don't quite understand or appreciate music at this point, especially a new, upcoming genre like EDM." "We have so freely been given music that we fail to value music.

Teaching people the art and value of electronic music and making them realize that what they're paying for is worth it is the biggest challenge. In other countries, people would pay hundreds of dollars to see the artist they love perform, but here we have the mindset that music comes free so why pay for it? This can pose a big challenge in getting more people attending the event and without contribution and support from the public, the event wouldn't happen."

On the local music scene in Nagaland, she stated that music is already seen as an integral part of many events in Nagaland but also as nothing more than temporary entertainment.

Wonder Woman loses job as UN ambassador

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"Although, I think it’s safe to say that music is still considered a mediocre occupation by many people in Nagaland. The one right step forward would be to take music as an occupation more seriously. In my opinion, the key to developing the local music scene would be to host more music events, whether by the government or by the public, that cater to a wide array of tastes and to spread awareness through music for the people to actually go to those events with a responsible mindset," she added.

Another way, she opined would be to establish more music schools.

"It would not only improve the skills of existing musicians but would also foster a musical curiosity in the young."

Rachel felt that the government meanwhile on its part can also contribute in the form of "well thought out regulations regarding hosting music events but nothing too restrictive." "After all, safety is the top priority as the success of these events rides

on its reputation. Maybe even an annual music festival that encompasses all genres by the government, other than Hornbill Rock Concert. There will be no shortage of artists willing to participate and it is bound to attract artists and attendees from all over," she added.

Compared to the previous editions of the festival, Oztronic 2016 has taken the example of outdoor music festivals breaking the concrete four cornered wall scenes. "We're hosting the upcoming event at Khadi Nagi Resort in Jotsoma with the hope that it provides better ambience for getting everyone into the groove and getting lost in the music because thats what this festival is all about. We're also providing free camping at the site for 2 days so that everyone can feel at home, and get inspired to ride the wave of peace, love, unity and respect while having one hell of a dance party," Rachel said.

Oztronic 2016 is scheduled to be held on December 16 and 17 at the Khadi Nagi Resort in Jotsoma.

he United Nations has ended its campaign with Wonder Woman to promote gender equality after less than two months, bringing to a close a venture that was loudly protested from the beginning. The UN said the character's role at the 193-member-state organisation would end on Friday, despite earlier plans for the empowerment campaign for women and girls to run into 2017, reported NBC News on Monday.

Wonder Woman is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

DC Entertainment, which publishes DC Comics, said it was pleased with the exposure the character brought to the UN's global goals to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls by 2030.

"Wonder Woman stands for peace, justice and equality, and for 75 years she has been a motivating force for many and will continue to be long after the conclusion of her UN honorary ambassadorship," DC Entertainment spokesperson Courtney

Simmons said.

The appointment of Wonder Woman was met with a lot of criticism. Almost 45,000 people objected to having a bustier-wearing superhero represent gender equality, and they feared she would be sending a wrong message about empowerment. They urged UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to reconsider the decision.

"It is alarming that the United Nations would consider using a character with an overtly sexualised image at a time when the headline news in United States and the world is the objectification of women and girls," according to the petition. "Having strong (living, breathing) female role models is a critical aspect of the goal of empowerment of women and girls," it said.

The UN did not provide further details as to why the campaign was ending, but a spokesman, Jeffrey Brez, said campaigns using fictional characters often lasted no longer than a few months.

United nations Recognises Brian May's asteroid day

Source: IANS

Now ShowiNg revIseD TICKeT rATes (silver) : `.120 (Gold) : `. 200 (recliner) : `. 400

Underworld Blood wars (english)

drew Barrymore named Crocs Brand ambassador

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C M Y K

he actress and producer will appear in the American footwear brand's upcoming spring '17 campaign, titled Come As You Are, which will "inspire everyone to be comfortable" in their own shoes.

Joining the A-lister will be WWE champion John Cena, as well as singer Yoona Lim and singer-songwriter Henry Lau, both from South Korea. In a statement, the Charlie's Angels star shared her excitement for the brand, which is known for its resin footwear and Classic Clog style.

"When Crocs first approached me, I was immediately drawn to the positivity of the campaign," said Drew. "Embracing the 'Come As You Are' spirit is about being comfortable with your true self in all that you do. As a mother of two young children, that message is important to me.

There's so much more love than there is lack of love in the world. You just have to gravitate towards it."

Meanwhile, wrestling professional John added that be-

coming a brand ambassador for Crocs was a "perfect fit".

In particular, he said that he was happy to get on board with a campaign which promotes inclusivity and individuality.

"I have a real, personal connection with 'Come As You Are,'" smiled John. "Not being afraid to be yourself is something I have lived and encouraged since I was 14 years old when I was bullied for being 'different.' I learned to not just endure the negativity, but to actually thrive on it and turn it into something positive. I applaud an iconic brand like Crocs for stepping up and building a campaign to encourage and celebrate it."

Since its inception in 2002, Crocs has sold more than 350 million pairs of shoes in over 90 countries around the world. More details of the campaign will be unveiled early next year (17).

Source: Contact Music

T

he Queen icon helped to establish Asteroid Day in 2014 in a bid to spread awareness about the potential dangers of an outer-space rock crashing to earth, and how to prepare to protect the planet.

On Monday (12Dec16), May and the cofounders of his cause announced the special day had been given the official backing of the U.N., and from now on, the date will be marked worldwide every June.

The news emerges three months after May's late bandmate, Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, was honoured with his own asteroid on what would have been his 70th birthday in September (16). He died in 1991.

(02:00 PM) (04:00 PM)

kahaani 2 (hindi)

Source: Contact Music

(11:30 AM) (06:00 PM) 03862-237226 Ticket Counter (09:00 AM - 09:00 PM)

WWW.BooKMYsHoW.CoM (ID: PLAYBox DIMAPur)

Ward 5 (6) Burma Camp, Landmark - Near J.K Hospital Dimapur.

Power House.

Hillstar NOW SHOWING Befikre

PUrelY naga—Snapshots from the Dimapur Night Carnival that began on December 14 and is set to continue till December 18, 2016 at Supermarket area, Dimapur (Morung Photos)

11:00 am | 02:00 PM 05:00 PM | 08:00 PM

12

THURSDAY 15•12•2016

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

lifts Everton as India draws inspiration Williams Arsenal blow chance from Iceland in soccer devp

C M Y K

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 14 (REUTERS): The size of the task facing Dutchman Piet Hubers when he agreed to help develop grassroots soccer in India quickly became apparent with one simple comparison.

Hubers discovered there are more full-sized pitches in his home town of Wijchen, which has a population of around 40,000, than in the whole of Mumbai, which has more than 20 million inhabitants.

"That makes it very challenging," he told Reuters in an interview held at the International Sports Convention in Geneva.

Iceland, who reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, are a good guide to what can be achieved.

"I use Iceland very much as an example," said Hubers. "They invested a lot of money in facilities, in halls, in artificial pitches but also in coaches.

"It's mandatory that every coach is qualified otherwise you can't even coach a youth team and that in my opinion is one of the basics of the success of Icelandic football."

Cricket-loving India is a sleeping giant as far as football is concerned.

The national side are 137th in the world rankings and, on the only occasion they qualified for the World Cup in 1950, pulled out without kicking a ball.

However, the country of 1.3 billion is finally waking up to the most popular sport on the planet.

The Indian Super League (ISL) is in its third season and Kushal Das, secretary general of the All India Football Federation, has said the country is aiming to qualify for the

A boy kicks a soccer ball during a practice at a stadium on a foggy morning in Agartala, India, November 17, 2016. (REUTERS)

2026 World Cup. Hubers, a former defender for Dutch top-flight club NEC Nijmegen, believes that developing the sport at grassroots level is fundamental to India's plans.

"The more players you get into the system, the better the quality will be at the top," he said.

YOUNG CHAMPS The ISL, promoted by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries and Rupert Murdoch's Star India TV, have their own grassroots programme of which Hubers is technical director.

The most talented players are selected for a residential programme, based near Mumbai, known as Young Champs. Started in 2014, the scheme's first target is to give 500,000 children between the ages of six and 14 the chance to play football and get coaching.

Hubers said finding spaces to play was one of the major challenges in India's teeming cities and that children needed to play regularly.

"One training session every week and a grassroots match every week for 20 weeks a season is the absolute minimum but that is also the biggest challenge because you need good facilities, you need a playing system, you need good coaches, you must organise teams and that is not so easy," he said.

Improvisation is often the key and the concept of pop-up pitches, where organisers bring portable goals and announce venues on social media, has become popular.

Officials have also attempted to persuade private clubs and schools to make their facilities available. "There are square metres you can use here and there, for example for playing a small game which can be four against

four, or seven against seven," Hubers said.

Coaching is another key element.

"The most important thing for the ISL clubs is to educate the coaches ... so that parents can be confident their children are improving," added Hubers.

He said it can take 10 years of investment in grassroots football to pay off at international level and believes India's goal of reaching the 2026 World Cup is achievable.

"You always must set targets ... and that's just a target, not an obligation although it is certainly high on our wish list," he explained.

"I think that qualifying for the World Cup in 2026 is a realistic objective. When you look at the national team and the national youth teams, they're progressing very well and they will progress more if the grassroots system increases."

LONDON, DECEMBER 14 (REUTERS): Ashley Williams powered home a towering header in the 86th minute as Everton fought back to claim a 2-1 win over Arsenal as the title hopefuls blew the chance to return to the Premier League summit on Tuesday.

It was the first league defeat for Arsene Wenger's men since they lost to Liverpool on the opening day of the season and their first on the road since March.

More importantly, it handed Chelsea the chance to go six points clear at the top when they visit bottom club Sunderland on Wednesday.

It looked like business as usual for the visitors, who have been scoring freely in recent weeks, when Alexis Sanchez netted his 12th league goal of the season with a deflected free kick after 20 minutes.

Everton though warmed to the task, levelling through Seamus Coleman's header a minute before halftime.

With the seconds ticking away towards the end, Williams rose high to nod Ross Barkley's corner into the net for his first Everton goal, securing the team's first win since the end of October.

It moved Everton up to seventh in the table and offered some cheer to manager Ronald Koeman.

"We showed unbelievable spirit to come back and we deserved the win," the Dutchman told BT Sport.

Everton struggled for

Everton's Ashley Williams at the end of the match (Reuters Photo)

confidence in the early stages as they retreated, inviting Arsenal to attack.

Francis Coquelin was brought down on the edge of the area and Sanchez stepped up to hit a tame free kick that looked to be covered by Maarten Stekelenburg until it deflected off Williams and beat the keeper's outstretched hand.

The goal put Sanchez joint top of the league's scoring charts with Chelsea's Diego Costa.

It also seemed to spark life into the hosts who gradually came out of their shells with Aaron Lennon slicing an effort wide be-

fore Coleman levelled with a glancing header from Leighton Baines' cross.

Mesut Ozil blasted a good chance over for Arsenal at the start of the second half but Everton were on top and pushing for the winner when Williams sent Goodison Park wild.

In a frenetic finale, Everton defender Phil Jagielka was sent off for a second booking in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Arsenal also had two efforts cleared off the line and somehow prevented the home team grabbing a third goal when keeper Petr Cech was caught upfield.

Murray, Kerber named Lively Bournemouth beat Kashima beat Atletico by three ITF players of the year Champions Leicester City goals to reach Club World Cup final

BERLIN, DECEMBER 14 (REUTERS): Briton Andy Murray and Germany's Angelique Kerber were named ITF World Champions on Tuesday, capping stellar years for the men's and women's world number ones.

Murray, whose brother Jamie was named doubles World Champion along with Brazil's Bruno Soares, won Wimbledon in July before becoming the first player to win two Olympic singles gold medals when he retained his crown in Rio de Janeiro in August.

He won nine titles in a milestone year that ended with him beating rival Novak Djokovic to win the ATP Tour Finals and seal the year-end rankings top spot.

“It means a lot to me to be named ITF World Champion. I have had such a memorable year,” Murray said in a statement.

Kerber enjoyed an equally impressive season, winning the Australian and U.S. Open titles as well as an Olympic silver medal in Rio. She becomes the first German to win the award Leicester City's Jamie Vardy in action with Bournemouth's Simon since Steffi Graf claimed the last of her seven in 1996.

Francis (Reuters Photo)

Sindhu beats Yamaguchi in Superseries Finals opener DUBaI, DECEMBER 14 (IaNS): Indian star shuttler P.V. Sindhu opened her BWF Superseries Finals campaign with a fighting win against Akane Yamaguchi of Japan here on Wednesday.

In the opening match of the Group B, 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medallist Sindhu lost the first game 12-21 but came back strongly to bag the next two games 21-8 21-15. With this win, double World Championship bronze medallist Sindhu has taken a 3-1 lead in the headto-head against the 19-year-old two-time former junior world champion Yamaguchi.

On Thursday, world No.10 Sindhu will come across sixth-ranked Chinese Sun Yu, who produced a stunning result against reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin with a 21-18, 24-22 triumph in 58 minutes.

LONDON, DECEMBER 14 (REUTERS): English champions Leicester City failed to continue their mini-revival after a clinical finish by Bournemouth's Marc Pugh condemned them to a 1-0 away defeat in a scrappy Premier League clash on Tuesday.

The outcome kept 14th-placed Leicester close to the relegation zone on 16 points, four above the bottom three who play their games in hand on Wednesday, and was a setback after Saturday's 4-2 home win over fourth-placed Manchester City.

Bournemouth, who kept the visitors on the back foot for much of the contest, grabbed a 34th-minute winner when Pugh swept in a rebound from 13 metres after Leicester keeper Ron-Robert Zieler did well to parry a close range shot by Benik Afobe.

Leicester had missed an early chance in the seventh minute when striker Jamie Vardy, who scored a hat-trick against City, rounded keeper Artur Boruc with a heavy first touch and saw his harmless shot from a tight angle blocked by a defender.

Boruc came to the hosts' rescue in the 90th minute when he blocked a close-range shot by substitute Leonardo Ulloa to help seal the points as Bournemouth moved up to eighth on 21 points.

Chelsea's Oscar set for 60 million-euro China move

RIO DE JaNEIRO, DECEMBER 14 (IaNS): Chelsea midfielder Oscar is set to be the latest Brazilian player to join the Chinese Super League, according to media reports.

Shanghai SIPG will pay Chelsea 60 million euros ($63.8 million) for the 25-year-old, who is expected to agree to personal terms this week, Brazilian portal Uol said on Tuesday, citing sources with knowledge of the negotiations, reports Xinhua.

Oscar joined Chelsea after the 2012 Olympic Games and enjoyed early success at the London club.

But his opportunities have been limited since the arrival of Italian coach Antonio Conte in July.

He has appeared in just nine of Chelsea's 15 Premier

League matches this season and has not started since their 1-2 League Cup loss to West Ham in October.

Oscar will be following a growing number of Brazil internationals to join Chinese clubs in recent years. Among them are Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Diego Tardelli (Shandong

Luneng) and Luis Fabiano (Tianjin Songjiang). Shanghai SIPG finished third in the Chinese Super League this year and last month appointed former Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Other Brazilians currently in the Shanghai SIPG squad are forwards Elkeson and Hulk.

TOKYO, DECEMBER 12 (REUTERS): Kashima Antlers became the first Japanese side to reach the Club World Cup final when they beat Colombia's South American champions Atletico Nacional 3-0 on Wednesday.

Kashima’s first goal came after 33 minutes when Shoma Doi converted a penalty given for an offthe-ball trip by Orlando Berrio on Daigo Nishi after video evidence was used to award a spot kick for the first time in a FIFA competition.

Yasushi Endo scored the Antlers' second after 83 minutes when he took advantage of an error by goalkeeper Franco Armani to backheel a loose ball into the empty net.

Atletico’s heads went down and two minutes later substitute Yuma Suzuki, who had just come on, sidefooted home a third from close range after Mu Kanazaki's ball across the face of goal.

The result means Japan's Jleague champions will face the winners of Thursday’s semi-final between Real Madrid and Mexico’s Club America. The final is scheduled for Sunday.

Atletico were the better side, especially in the first half, with 23 shots at goal to Kashima's 10.

However, they could not find a way past Kashima’s veteran goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata and they paid the price when they were caught

Kashima Antlers' Yuma Suzuki celebrates scoring their third goal.(Reuters Photo)

on the break.

"We hit the bar and we had clear chances and those would have given use the composure to play our game," Atletico coach Reinaldo Rueda said. "We're very sad."

TRAUMATIC PERIOD The loss in their 83rd match of the year capped a traumatic few weeks for Atletico.The Copa Libertadores champions were scheduled to face Chapecoense in the final of the Copa Sudamericana in November but a plane crash killed most of the Brazilian side as their flight approached Medellin and the game was cancelled.

Two weeks of mourning fol-

lowed in Colombia and Brazil, upsetting their preparations for the Club World Cup. The use of video assistance to review ‘match-changing’ decisions was allowed to be used during Wednesday's semi-final for the first time in a FIFA competition.

Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai was called to the side of the pitch after half an hour to watch an incident replayed on a computer. Kassai adjudged Berrio to have tripped Daigo as the players moved into the box to challenge for a free kick.

Although Daigo looked to be in an offside position, the penalty was awarded and Shoma made no mistake from the spot.

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