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www.morungexpress.com
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 346
The Morung Express “
www.morungexpress.com
Wisdom is the power to put our time and our knowledge to the proper use
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reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Aree, Our star is smaller than our neighbor`s, Aren`t you ashamed?
NLA winter session today
Our Correspondent Kohima | December 15
A one-day winter session of the Sixth Session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) will take place here on December 16. The session will be marked by obituary references, Questions, Laying of Reports, Introduction of Government Bills, Presentation of Assembly Committee Reports, Introduction of Government Resolutions, Consideration and Passing of Government Bills, Adoption of Government Resolutions and Unfinished Businesses, if any, followed by adjournment of the Session sine-die.
YAA questions TUENSANG, DE CEMBER 15 (MExN): The Yimchungrü Akherü Arihako(YAA) today expressed concern at recent violence in Tuensang district and asked the Chang Association, Tuensang to clarify on how the incidents “are not a tribal issue.” A press note from the YAA General Secretary, Shikiula Yim and Press & information secretary, Z Mukamchim then listed out incidents including the burning down of cornfield and barns; “kidnapping” of a mother and daughter; “razing down” of seventeen houses; “kidnapping” of Yimchunger males at ‘C’ Saddle Village; “beating” of Yimchungru youths and the “arson attack and ransacking” of Yimchunger public houses at Tuensang town.
One killed, five injured in Imphal blast
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IMphAl, DECEMBER 15 (IANS): A 28-year-old youth was killed and five others were injured when unidentified militants triggered a bomb blast here Monday. “Naresh Sahani, a betel leaf seller, died on the spot and five others were seriously wounded when militants exploded a bomb in the heart of Imphal city’s Mahatma Gandhi avenue,” a police official said. The injured were taken to the Regional Institute of Medical Science and hospital. The condition of three of them is stated to be critical. Security forces led by inspector general of police Clay Khongsai and deputy inspector general of police I.K. Muivah have launched a combing operation to nab the militants behind the blasts. “We are yet to identify the group which triggered the blast,” Khongsai told reporters adding that an improvised explosive device was used in the explosion. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the blast yet.
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Dimapur Railway Station gets health unit
Pro-Islamic Miss South State tweeter Africa Is did not Crowned recruit for IS: Rajnath Miss World
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At UN climate talks, a crack in rich-poor barrier
Tuesday, December 16, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Thomas J. Watson
Marta leads Brazil to victory over US
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Sydney hostage siege ends SYDNEY, DECEMBER 15 (Ap): A swarm of heavily armed police stormed a cafe in the heart of Sydney early Tuesday, ending a siege by an Iranian-born gunman who had held an unknown number of hostages for more than 16 hours. A police spokesman confirmed "the operation is over," but would not release any other details about the fate of the gunman, identified as Man Haron Monis. A female hostage was shot in the leg, a hospital official said, and earlier at least two people were wheeled out of the cafe on stretchers. A weeping woman was helped out by police. The standoff ended when a loud bang was heard from the Lindt Chocolat Cafe and five people ran out. Shortly after, police swooped into the building, amid a flurry of more loud bangs, shouts and flashes. Local media said the 50-year-old Monis was the gunman, and a police official confirmed his identity. Under department rules, officials do not identify themselves unless speaking at a formal news
conference. Monis has long been on officials' radar. Last year, he was sentenced to 300 hours of community service for using the postal service to send what a judge called "grossly offensive" letters to families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009. At the time, Monis said his letters were "flowers of advice," adding: "Always, I stand behind my beliefs." He was later charged with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife. Earlier this year, he was charged with the sexual assault of a woman in 2002. He has been out on bail on the charges. "This is a oneoff random individual. It's not a concerted terrorism event or act. It's a damaged goods individual who's done something outrageous," his former lawyer, Manny Conditsis, told Australian Broadcasting Corp. "His ideology is just so strong and so powerful that it clouds his vision for common sense and objectiveness," Conditsis said. The wounded hostage, a woman in her 40s, was in serious but stable condition at Royal North Shore
A hostage runs to armed tactical response police officers for safety after she escaped from a café in Sydney, Australia by an Iranian born gunman. The hostage crisis ended with teams of heavily armed police storming the café. (AP Photo)
Hospital, spokeswoman Jenny Dennis said. She was admitted shortly after police stormed the cafe. The siege began around 9:45 a.m. in Martin Place, a plaza in Sydney's finan-
Concerned employees demand salaries KOhIMA, DECEMBER 15 (MExN): Concerned employees from the Nagaland state Health and Family Welfare Department today stated that the Central Government’s new policy of routing fund for all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) through the State treasury “is proving to be disastrous.” A press note from the employees informed that under the Department of Health & Family Welfare, there are various programmes such as the NHM, NSACS, RNTCP, IDSP, NVBDCP, NPCB etc who have received the 1st Installment from the Government of India, sanctioned for the year 2014-15
sometime in the first week of October this year. However, it lamented that the fund is “yet to be released by the state Government.” The note informed that according to the directives issued by the Central Ministry, the fund “should be disbursed to the respective Programmes/CSS from the State Treasury within 15 days of fund receipt.” “However, this directive has not been honoured and fund has not been released till date,” it alleged. It added that the various categories of staff working under these programmes at the state and district levels who solely depend on their monthly salary “have
not received the same for the last 4-8 months now.” The note lamented that nonpayment of salaries has caused “untold hardships for the employees, especially the ones working in the interiors.” The employees have questioned the state government as to “why these funds are being held up when these funds are sanctioned specifically for health care delivery as clearly mentioned in the respective sanction letters.” They have expressed hope that their pending salaries would be released in a day or two and called upon the state government to release the sanctioned funds.
Parliamentary Secretary, Tovihoto Ayemi inaugurating the Dimapur Night Carnival on Monday. (Morung photo)
the people, the Parliamentary Secretary said many better initiatives could be taken up if the people continue to cooperate with the government. “The Government of Nagaland is always committed to the welfare of the people and I appeal the citizens to continue giving your unstinted support to enable the government to carry on unfinished works and also take up new initia-
tives for the people,” Tovihoto appealed. He said that the 6-day night carnival has provided the right ambience and place for families, friends and relatives to share some decent time together outside their homes. He urged the district administration and law enforcing agencies to step up their vigilance so that no untoward incidents take place during the festive season. Tovihoto also
hostages forced up against the windows. "The gunman seems to be sort of rotating these people through these positions on the windows with their hands and faces up against the glass," Reason said in a report from the vantage point. "One woman we've counted was there for at least two hours — an extraordinary, agonizing time for her surely having to stand on her feet for that long." "When we saw that rush of escapees, we could see from up here in this vantage point the gunman got extremely agitated as he realized those five had got out. He started screaming orders at the people, the hostages who remain behind," he added. "This is a very disturbing incident," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said. "It is profoundly shocking that innocent people should be held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation." One terrorism expert said the situation appeared to be that of a "lone wolf" making his own demands, rather than an attack orchestrated by a foreign jihadist group.
cial and shopping district that is packed with holiday shoppers this time of year. Many of those inside the cafe would have been taken captive as they stopped in for their morning coffees.
Throughout the day, several people were seen with their arms in the air and hands pressed against the window of the cafe, with two people holding up a black flag with the Shaha-
Petrol, diesel prices slashed by Rs 2 each
Butterflies are a ‘health indicator’ of our environment
NEw DElhI, DECEMBER 15 (pTI): Petrol and diesel prices were on Monday cut by Rs 2 per litre each as international oil prices slumped to five-year low. This is the eighth straight reduction in petrol prices since August, and fourth in diesel since October. New rates will be effective midnight tonight, Indian Oil Corp, the nation’s largest fuel retailer, announced. Rates differ from state to state because of varied rates of local sales tax or VAT.
6 day Dimapur Night Carnival begins DIMApUR, DECEMBER 15 (MExN): Parliamentary Secretary for IT&C, Science & Technology, Technical Education and Taxes, Tovihoto Ayemi has lauded the Dimapur district administration, police and the various civil societies for coming together and organizing the Dimapur Night Carnival which he inaugurated at Super Market on Monday evening. Noting that last year’s carnival was a success, Tovihoto said that the organizers were doing it on a larger scale this year with more than 300 stalls. “This carnival clearly demonstrates how initiatives can see success and come to fruition when the government and the civil societies representing the mass come and work together on any issue,” he added. He said the carnival was a splendid example of public-government cooperation and coordination towards each other for doing something good for the people. Stating that the Government existed for
da, or Islamic declaration of faith, written on it. The Shahada translates as "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his messenger." It is considered the first of Islam's five pillars of faith, and is similar to the Lord's Prayer in Christianity. Channel 10 news said it received a video in which a hostage in the cafe had relayed the gunman's demands. The station said police requested they not broadcast it, and New South Wales state police Commissioner Andrew Scipione separately asked all media that might be contacted by the gunman to urge him instead to talk to police. Seven Network television news staff watched the gunman and hostages for hours from a fourth floor window of their Sydney offices, opposite the cafe. The gunman could be seen pacing back and forth past the cafe's windows. Reporter Chris Reason said the man carried what appeared to be a pump-action shotgun, was unshaven and wore a white shirt and a black cap. Earlier Monday, network staff counted about 15 different faces among
appealed the people to respond positively to the carnival and pass off the season responsibly and in a peaceful manner. DC Dimapur Wezope Kenye delivered the welcome address and urged the people to remain peaceful during the carnival. He said that the main objective of organizing the carnival was to give platform for the local entrepreneurs. Later, Tovihoto along with Wezope inaugurated the carnival by releasing lanterns in the air. The night carnival is being organised jointly by the district administration, police, DMC, Development Authority of Nagaland, DCCI, BAN, Youth Association of Nagaland, Dimapur Press Club, Nagaland Printing Solutions, Crescendo, Pheto Music Association and others. The carnival starts from 5 pm to 9 pm daily and will continue till December 20. Throughout the carnival, there will be musical entertainments every evening.
(LEFT): Tshetsholo (Alo) Naro (RIGHT): Pallas Sailer, the first butterfly identified by Alo in 2010.
International journal publishes butterflies identified by Naga youth Morung Express News Dimapur | December 15 The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) has published a list of butterflies identified in Nagaland, some a 100 years after they were first identified by British documenters. The list recorded 212 species of butterflies, of which 34 are legally protected under various schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The paper, titled ‘Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Chizami, Phek District, Nagaland, India’ was published in the December issue of the Journal, and is authored by Tshetsholo (Alo) Naro (25) and Sanjay Sondhi (51). The JoTT is an open access and print, peer-reviewed, monthly (not including supplementary and special issues and monographs), rapid, international journal on conservation and taxonomy. The 212 species were identified by Alo, and confirmed by Sondhi. Amongst the significant records during the survey, two species, the Tawny Emperor Chitoria ulupi ulupi and the Comic Oakblue Arhopala comica have been recorded from India after 100 years. A young conservationist, Alo has published papers in the JoTT on butterflies identified (one species each) for the first time in North East India in 2012 and 2013. In 2010, with only a camera and a reference book on butterflies, Alo identified his first species in Chizami, the Pallas Sailer. When butterfly expert Sanjay Sondhi (Titli Trust) went to the North East Network (NEN) in
Chizami to train young minds on professional identification of such species, Alo caught on quickly. That was in 2011. “From 2011 to 2014, I could identify 212 butterfly species. We are both attracted to each other,” says soft-spoken Alo of his work with butterflies, which has not been attempted in nearly 100 years in the Naga hills. All the identified species have been published with pictures of the same. Amongst the earliest publications on butterflies from the Naga Hills is the collection of butterflies by W. Doherty during two expeditions in 1889 and 1890. Subsequent to that, Major H.C. Tytler spent between 1911 and 1914 collecting and reporting on the butterflies of the Naga Hills. Many of the identifications from the publication were made while Alo trained young students through NEN’s Nature Conservation Education Programme. The tools and methods for scientific identification of species in the hills that the Naga people inhabit were previously absent. “It is important for the young Naga generation to document the species we live with in order to conserve wildlife, and enjoy a life with them,” reflects Alo. Butterflies, he says, are a ‘health indicator’ of our environment. They need healthy vegetation to breed in, and dwindling butterflies mean that their habitat, or flora, is endangered. Besides, without butterflies there would be fewer flowers as they are one of nature’s great pollinators. Alo’s interest in butterflies came out of his close relationship with the forests, and nature in general, while growing up. He now encourages more youth to hone this relationship and take it down a healthy path. Publication of his work in an international journal of taxonomy (JoTT) goes a long way in providing this encouragement.
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Dimapur
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16 December 2014
Dimapur Railway Station gets health unit Dimapur, December 15 (mexN): The Railway Health Unit Dimapur was inaugurated by general manager, Northeast Frontier Railway, RS Virdi, at Dimapur Railway Station on Monday (December 15). Senior NFR officials including divisional railway manager (Lumding), Niraj Kumar; senior Den Co-ordination, SP Yadav, and officials of Dimapur Railway Station attended the inauguration programme. The health unit will benefit both railway passengers and staff of Dimapur Railway Station, especially in terms of providing
emergency medical treatment and health care services. The construction of the health unit building undertaken by local firm M/s Ace Builders Concord was completed on record 4-months time. Meanwhile, proprietor of M/s Ace Builders Concord, Abel T Shohe, thanked the GM NFR for taking initiative in setting up of the health unit and officials and staff of Dimapur Railway Station for their co-operation and support for successful completion of the building in record time.
General manager, NFR, RS Virdi (3rd from left) along with senior NFR officials at the inauguration of Railway Health Unit Dimapur at Dimapur Railway Station, Monday. (Morung Photo)
Republic day
meeting postponed
Kohima, December 15 (Dipr): The Home Department has stated in a circular NO.GAB/GEN/12/2013 (pt) that, in continuation to the Department’s Circular of even number dated 5/12/2014 and 10/12/2014 the meeting relating to Republic day 2015 is being postponed to 18/12/2014 at 11:00 Am in the Home Commissioner’s Conference Hall. The circular was issued by Principal Secretary & Home Commissioner, Pankaj Kumar on December 15. C M Y K
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NST to celebrate 50th anniversary Dimapur, December 15 (Dipr): The Nagaland State Transport Department is celebrating the 50th Anniversary on December 18 at the General Manager office premises, Dimapur from 12 noon. The Chief Minister of Nagaland, T.R. Zeliang and Parliamentary Secretary for Transport & IPR, P. Paiwang Konyak will
grace the occasion as chief guest and guest of honour respectively. The programme will be chaired by Commissioner & Secretary TPT, ATI, Neihu C. Thur, IAS while the keynote address will be presented by General Manager, NST, Senti Pongener. Other highlights of the programme included invocation by
Rev. Dr. Shiwoto Assumi, Reminiscence by Er. W. Kithan, Rtd Addl. Chief Engineer & Ex-Parliamentary Secretary, short speech by P. Angami, Rtd. General Manager NST, special number by Naga Orpheus 2014. Vote of thanks by Additional CE, NST, Er. N. Lotha and benediction by Pastor DABA.
St. Paul Catholic Church Pughoboto turns 25
pughoboto, December 15 (mexN): St. Paul Catholic Church celebrated its silver Jubilee on December 14. The Jubilee celebration began on the previous day with the Holy Mass Celebrated by Rev. Fr. Isaac Shikaho Swü and the reflection shared by Rev. Fr. Vinoto Justin Cap OFM. Fr. Thomas Toretkiu in a press release stated that the representative leaders from the community lighted Twenty-five candles. Hokuto and Jutoli, the first Catholics to embraced faith shared their Testimony. On Sunday, December 14 the celebration was solemnized with the blessing of Jubilee stone by Most. Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima and Rev.
Fr. Mathias Dias Cap OFM, Provincial Delegate unveiled the monolith. Rev. Fr. Yesudas Cap, OFM, Parish priest of the St. Francis Parish, Lazami, accorded the words of welcome to Bishop James, fathers, sisters and the invited guest. The culminating point of the Jubilee was the Holy Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the Bishop James Thoppil with eight other priests concelebrating. The Bishop in his homily stressed the fact that we are not celebrating the silver jubilee of the material or physical Church, but that of the living Church. We are celebrating the continuous blessing and fidelity of God. He urged the community to know the creed and its ori-
Traffic regulations for NLA session
Kohima, December 15 (mexN): In view of the sixth session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on December 16, the following traffic regulations will be enforced as part of the security arrangement. 1. Only vehicles with appropriate car pass will be allowed entry to the Assembly Secretariat. 2. No vehicle will be allowed to be parked by the roadside from 0600 hrs. onwards till completion of the Assembly Session, along the following route on December 16. (a) From BSNL Telephone Exchange till Classic Island. (b) From Raj Bhavan till Classic Island. (c) From Classic Island till Assembly Secretariat. While anticipating positive cooperation from the public, the police will tow away any defaulting vehicles parked on the mentioned stretch of road and the towing charge will be realized from the defaulters/ Vehicle owners. This was informed in a press release issued by Joseph Hesso, NPS, Sr. Superintendent of Police, Kohima.
gin, where in we are able to discern and decipher the true Church as one, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, the true mark of the Church, officially promulgated by the first Council in the Church, the council of Nicaea, the very council that make the Holy Trinity as the most basic and fundamental Christian doctrine accepted by all Christians. At the end of the Holy Mass the bishop also explained about the meaning and significance of the regalia used by the bishop such as the Staff, Miter, Pectoral Cross, Ring, Sash and Skull cap. During the felicitation programme, Bishop James Thoppil released the Jubilee souvenir. Gifts were presented to the invited guest.
The Morung Express C
Free medical camp at Pfütsero successfully conducted
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Large number of people availing the multi-specialty free medical camp on December 13 at Pfütsero local ground.
pfütsero, December 15 (mexN): The Kalos organized a multi-specialty free medical camp on December 13 at Pfütsero local ground. The Kalos Media Secretary Wezote Kreo in a press release stated that this camp was believed to be one of the biggest events among the health camps in the district. Total 861 people registered from more than 20 villages and from the town. Besides the general checkup and consultation there were Ultrasound and ECG test being done for the needy patients where 82 patients took the test for Ultrasound and 36 for ECG, a facility unavailable in the town. From among the test available (Malaria, HIV, Hepatitis, and Sugar), 150 patients took the test for sugar. A team of eight doctors, Dr. Watsutho Nyuthe (Medicine Specialist), Dr. Joel Ngullie (General Surgeon), Dr. Rosemary Thurr (Gynaecologist), Dr. Wepetso
Marhu (Radiologist), Dr. Niephrezo Mepfou (Diabetologist), Dr. Tewekhro Losou (Clinical Cardiologist), Dr. Niekhrielie (Medical Officer), three Pharmacists Khrietseituo Tungoe, Neipre Kapfo and Akho were there to conduct the camp and gave away free medicines besides Dr. Cütalü Hiese, SMO Pfutsero CHC and her team. Ikram and Sachin from the IPCA pharmaceuticals from Guwahati conducted the tests for diabetes. The team bought all of the medicines themselves. A testimony worth mentioning is about a couple of women, who came from a village of 14 Km by foot. They said, they were much in need of Ultrasound test, but never had enough to go for the test even to the extent of not having enough to fare their journey to the town. Some of the needy patients were also invited for free treatment at Kohima.
GVHN promotional concert held Dimapur, December 15 (mexN): Gospel voice hunt Nagaland promotional concert was held at UBC Midland with top 7 finalist. Akholie Nienu (member DMC), addressing as the chief guest said that the contestant are very talented and God gifted. He said, “We need to sing for the glory
of God, that someone will touch by the Spirit through the songs.” He also spoke on how naga people got victory through Christ Jesus and now is the time to declare through music and songs as the theme. Grand finale will be on December 18 at Jumping Bean Café, Dimapur.
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Winter Course on Research Methodology Dimapur, December 15 (mexN): A Winter Course on Research Methodology will be held from December 15 to 19 in Guwahati at Tata Institute of Social Science. The objective of the Workshop is to encourage a culture of high research standards in higher education in the Northeast. Twenty-seven research scholars selected from the Northeast will take part Bishop James Thoppil releases the Jubilee souvenir of St. in th e workshop. The Workshop is the beginning of an academic collaboration Paul Catholic on December 14. Folk songs were performed munity, Pughoboto. The by Mishilimi Mother’s folk dance by Lazami youth group, St. Stephen Com- spellbound the audience. munity, Natsumi, Christ The gathering concluded the King Community, Mu- with vote of thanks prokalimi, and other special posed by Pukhato Sebasitems from St. Paul com- tian Lohe. Kohima, December 15 (Dipr): Minister for Agriculture, Government of India, Radha Mohan Singh congratulated the Agriculture Minister, Government of Nagaland Dr. Benjongliba Aier and all the officials of the Agriculture Department of
and exchange between higher education institutions such as Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Gauhati University, IIT (Guwahati), St. Joseph’s College (Jakhama), Tezpur University, OKD Institute of Social Change and Development in the Northeast, and Stanford University, Stockholm University, Edinburgh University, and University of New South Wales (Sydney). Faculty members from these institutions will help mentor research scholars.
Commendation Award under Total Foodgrains Category
Capacity building for NGOs, health institutes and disability professionals
the State for being selected for Commendation Award under total foodgrains category 2013-14. The award consists of a citation and cash amount of 1 crore. This is the second time that the State is receiving the award.
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The participants from various NGOs, health institutes and disability professionals during the capacity building programme conducted at Prodigals Home head office on December 15.
Dimapur, December 15 (mexN): Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), NE-ZCC Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India in Association with Prodigals’ Home Dimapur organized a one-day capacity building of institutions in terms of human resources/professionals in disability sector at Prodigals Home head office on December 15. The resource persons were Tokendra Ricky Laishram, Chairperson RCI NE-ZCC on the objectives and services of the Rehabilitation Council of India, L. Sushma Rajput Director
of Spastic Society Manipur on professional in rehabilitation of PWDs. Themmungla Raman, Visiting Consultant, State Mental Health Institute, Kohima, Nagaland on Mental health status in Nagaland, Maong Jamir Asst. Director Prodigals Home on Disability and Community based rehabilitation in Nagaland and Soren Kikon CDPO, Wokha on Status report of rehabilitation of PWDs in Nagaland. Total 40 participants from NGOs, health institutes and disability professionals from different parts of the state participated in the programme.
Rev. Dr. Ezamo Murry, former principal ETC Jorhat with members of Kumali Vontsso at the release of the second album on December 14 at Mt. Tiyi Government College conference hall. Kumali Vontsso is a group of music enthusiasts based in Wokha. The video album has eight popular hymns in Lotha. The album is recorded and produced at Dream Records, Audio-Visual Studio, Blue Hill Colony Wokha. The DVDs will be available at M/s Shanpan Store, police point Wokha.
BPF Kiphire Town celebrates Advent Christmas
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Kiphire, December 15 (mexN): The Baptist pastors’ fellowship Kiphire town had organized advent Christmas celebration on December 14 at Traffic Point, Kiphire. BPFKT Secretary Yangkhumse Pastor in a press release stated that believers from all Baptist Churches gathered at the celebration. Lilongla Sangtam CES Kiphire Town Baptist Lithro and Tsalichum Sangtam compered the event. Benjamin EAC, Kiphire brought Christmas greetings to the gathering. In his greetings, he quoted from Luke 3:4 by challenging the people to prepare path of our savior who is coming into the world. He mentioned that the spirit of Christmas is so powerful to bring forgiveness, grace, love and healing in one’s life. C. Longri Associate Youth Secretary USBLA was the messenger. He quoted from Luke 2:10 that the proclamation of Christ’s birth at Christmas night is the greatest announcement ever made. He pointed out in his message that Savior came to give us freedom. Many times, we cele- Tizit Sub-Davison Administration led by ADC Tizit, EAC Tizit, SDPO Tizit along with leaders A section of the gathering attends the advent Christmas celebration on December 14 at brate Christmas without Jesus Christ in us. Decision, shar- of local NGOs of various organisations destroyed a total of 300 bottles of IMFL (rum) and 150 ing and evangelism should be the purpose of Christmas. numbers of beer, which were seized from various locations at Tizit. Traffic Point, Kiphire.
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REgional
The Morung Express
Tuesday
16 December 2014
Bru repatriation took centrestage in Mizoram politics in 2014
AIZAWL, December 15 (PTI): The problem of Bru refugees lodged in relief camps in Tripura since 1997 continued to remain at the centrestage of politics and a social irritant in Mizoram during 2014. The abduction of Deep Mondal of West Bengal, working under a telecom service provider, from a relief camp on November 23, 2013 by Bru goons and his captivity inside Bangladesh jungles since then caused serious consternation in the Mizo society. Social pressure continued to mount as civil societies demanded his unconditional release and a large number of Young Mizo Association (YMA) volunteers even went to the MizoramBangladesh border as a 'search party'. Mondal was finally released on March 22 by the abductors and reunited with his family a few days later. The civil societies, angered by Election Commission's decision to allow Bru voters in the relief camps, outside Mizoram, began mounting pressures on the poll panel and the state government. In February, ma-
jor civil societies and student bodies submitted a joint memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath urging him to delete names of Brus lodged in Tripura relief camps from Mizoram's voter lists. The civil societies said that the Bru voters, despite several attempts by the centre, the Mizoram government and the Mizo people to repatriate them, refused to return to Mizoram and should be disenfranchised. State chief minister Lal Thanhawla also wrote to Sampath in March on the same issue. However, the Election Commission, on March 23 instructed the Tripura election officials to conduct polls for the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held in Mizoram on April 9 for the 11,243 Brus voters in the relief camps through postal ballots. The civil societies in Mizoram were on the warpath over the E''s decision and launched a massive protest rally in Aizawl on March 24 where the copies of the Bru voters' lists and the EC's instructions were burnt in front of the state election directorate office.
The civil societies even decided to boycott the election to the lone Lok Sabha seat and by-poll to the Hrangturzo assembly seat, vacated by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla who won from two seats in the polls to the 40-member state legislature held on November 25, 2013. NGO Coordination Committee clamped a 72-hour bandh from April 7 and obstructed all the polling parties to leave the district headquarters for election duty. On the second day of the bandh, the EC decided to defer the date of election from April nine to April 11. The civil societies also called off the bandh after reportedly receiving assurances from the state government that all the Brus in the relief camps would be repatriated within three months after the election and also that name of Bru voters who remained in Tripura would be deleted from the lists. In the election to the lone state Lok Sabha seat, sitting MP C L Ruala of ruling Congress defeated Robert Romawia Royte, combine candidate
of the eight-party opposition alliance by a margin of 6,154 votes. Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu of the Congress was elected in the Hrangturzo Assembly seat to become the first woman to enter the state assembly after a gap of 27 years and the only unmarried woman to make it to the Mizoram legislature. As promised by the state government to the civil societies, the sixth phase of Bru repatriation was conducted during June 17 to 21 when 886 people belonging to 173 families returned despite obstruction from anti-repatriation elements. The Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), the apex body of the Brus in the relief camps demanded increase of rehabilitation and resettlement package per family from Rs 85,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh and free ration for two years. Even after officially closing the repatriation process, Bru families continued to return to Mizoram, and by September, a total of 2,136 people belonging to 427 families returned since June 17.
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JMB prepared 'sleeper cell': Assam Env & Forest Minister
gUWAHATI December 15 (PTI): The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) has trained and prepared about 20 'sleeper cell' members, of which 10 are still at large, for subversive activities in Assam, the state Assembly was informed today. High-ranking leaders of JMB based in West Bengal have imparted training to some people of Assam and asked them to be prepared as "sleeper cell" for future, Environment and Forest Minister, Rockybul Hussain said in a written reply to a query by AGP MLA Phani Bhusan Choudhury. "As per information collected, around 10 members of this module are still active and absconding," the minister said. Assam police has so far arrested 10 such persons, including a woman, from different places in Barpeta and Nalbari districts, and operations are on to nab the remaining cadres, he said. He, however, said this module had not carried any subversive activities in Assam. Hussain also said a total of three Islamic fundamentalist groups were active in Assam with a total cadre strength of around 200. Besides JMB, the other two organisations are Muslim United Lib-
eration Tiger of Assam (MULTA) and Harkat-ul- Muzahedeen (HuM). While MULTA has a strength of 140 cadres, HuM is at present operating with 40 members, he said. In another question by BJP MLA Ranjit Kumar Das, Hussain said five more Islamic fundamentalist groups were present in Assam, but they are now inactive. "Since 1995 to December 10, 2014, police has arrested 626 cadres of all the eight Islamic fundamentalist groups," the minister said.
Assam trader claims his wife is a 'jihadi' gUWAHATI, December 15 (TNN): Businessman Nur Mohammad from Kampur in Nagaon district has told the police that his wife is a jihadi, who is in touch with Sahanur Alom, the key accused in the Burdwan blast. Alom is in police custody now. The Nagaon police, however, are yet to ascertain the authenticity of Nur's statement but have started investigating the matter. Nur (40) married Fatema Begum about 4 years ago.
PM wants efficient NDMA, not Tripura CM welcomes CBI probe 57 cadres of 3 groups, surrender in Imphal parking lot for politicians: Rijiju
NeW DeLHI, December 15 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to have professionals as its members and this central body should not been seen as a "parking lot" for retired politicians, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said here today. The Minister of State for Home, who is in-charge of this subject, said while making these new policy changes in the constitution of NDMA, the Modi government was very serious as one cannot "play with the lives of the people" by making wrong appointments to this body. "The NDMA which is a main institution in our national- level policy framework and which came into existence by an Act inParliament and the Prime Minister is its Chairman and there are members and there are officials. But how was it functioning? I was responding to a question in Parliament that we definitely do not want to make the members in NDMA as parking lot for the retired politicians or for political
adjustments. We cannot afford to do that. "Honourable PM (while referring to Modi) was very clear that we must make NDMA very effective and efficient. All the members should be professionals and they must respond to the Act. We cannot take it as a right for political juggernauts and understandings...So that somebody has to be adjusted so that the post (in NDMA) has been created. We cannot play with the lives of people," Rijiju said while addressing delegates of a regional SAARC workshop on the said subject. He said PM Modi is very serious when it comes to dealing with calamities, whether man-made or natural. "I am very fortunate and very happy that our PM is very very concerned and the way he has responded to disasters in the last six-and-a-half months it is there for the world to see," Rijiju said. The Minister lauded the manner in which the Prime Minister dealt with natural disasters in Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Meghalaya rivers turn blue, pollution blamed
SONAPYrDI, December 15 (PTI): Two rivers flowing towards Bangladesh in eastern Meghalaya have turned blue apparently due to "high acid" content leading to demand from environment activists to take immediate action to check pollution. The colour of Lukha River in East Jaintia Hills district and Myntdu river in West Jaintia Hills district has changed to a bright sky blue, "an annual occurence at this time of the year", according to locals. The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board in its 2012 report blamed "mine run-off" and acid effluents from coal mines as the main causes of water pollution in the area. Delhibased Central Laboratory of Central Pollution Control Board said due to its "high acid" content the water was unfit for human consump-
tion. Prominent environmentalist from the area H H Mohrmen demanded thorough and independent tests to be conducted to find out the actual reason. "In most parts of the rivers, we could find fine dust-like particles at the bottom of the rivers," he said pointing out that the fly ash released from cement factories. In the past years, scores of dead fish were seen floating in the river, but local people said said no dead fish were detected this year. The Lukha River originating from Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary area was found to have changed its colour on meeting with the Lunar river at Khatdung. The latter originates from Myndihati and Lumshnong areas known for heavy extraction of coal and limestones respectively. Local anglers who fre-
quented the rivers in eastern Meghalaya said that another river Myntdu also started to change its colour. The Meghalaya Electricity Corporation Ltd (MeECL) which has a "run-of-theriver power" base at Leshka confluence has also reported that high acidic content of the water in the river is corroding machinery parts.
AFFIDAVIT Regd.No: 3229/2014 Date: 12/12/2014
By this deed I, the undersigned Purlemba Pongen (new name) previously called Purlemba (old name) doing Software Engineer and R/o PHE Quarter No.62, Burma Camp, Dimapur,Nagaland do solemnly declare that from this date I shall be known and distinguished not by my former name/surname, but assumed name/surname of Purlemba Pongen.
NeW DeLHI, December 15 (THe ASIAN Age): In a major development, Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar has welcomed CBI’s move to register fresh cases in the ongoing multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam links of which have also been traced to this northeastern state. Investigations by the agency have revealed that the scam-hit firms collected crores of rupees by fraudulent money-multiplier schemes from the investors in Tripura also.The CBI is planning to register at least five FIRs to probe the scam in Tripura. Talking exclusively to this newspaper, Sarkar said, While refusing to make any comment on the al-
legations levelled by Trinamool leadership that the CBI is being used as a political tool to settle scores and unleash political vendetta against them, Sarkar further added that the multicrore scam spanning several states required a major investigations without any favour or prejudice. “Those who are afraid of probe are creating hue and cry,” he added. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee recently slammed the Centre and CBI for arresting state transport minister Madan Mitra in connection with Sardha scam and called it “illegal” and “unconstitutional”. “I had requested the Centre for CBI probe into the matter long back. I had even written a letter
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to the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh demanding a CBI probe into the Saradha chit fund scam. There are at least 37 cases in Tripura that need to be investigated by the CBI,” Sarkar said. Sources said, “Investigations revealed that the accused firms had opened too many bank accounts for Round Tripping Transactions for the money collected by them. They (firms) had opened 347 accounts in 15 banks in Kolkata, Orissa and Tripura to dupe investors.”
ImPHAL, December 15 (AIr): In Manipur, altogether 57 cadres of three different underground groups, surrendered to the government today at a function in Imphal. Kangleipak Communist Party (KK Nganba) Group led by Chairman Chongtham Manglemjao surrendered along with 34 other cadres before Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. The militant outfit also handed over sixteen 9mm pistols, four 7.65 pistols, five AK-47 rifles, one lethode gun and one M-16 rifle. People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (VC) Group Chairman N. Nabachandra and Finance Secretary Chinglen also surrendered to the government today. Kangleipak Communist Party (Nongdrenkhomba) Group led by its Commander-in-Chief Nongdrenkhoma along with 19 other cadres of the outfit also surrendered to the government today. They have handed over a total of 16 arms and ammunition to the government.
NatioNal iNstitute of electroNics & iNformatioN techNology
Extension Centre Chuchuyimlang, Nagaland Gandhi Ashram, Mokokchung - 798614 Contact Nos: 0369-2261355/ +919856071050/ +919612808377. Course Details Eligibility Duration nd 10+2/ITI/2 Year 1 Year NIELIT IT-O Level of Poly. Engg. (Diploma in Computer) Diploma ADMISSION O Level/Poly. 1 ½ Year NIELIT A Level Engg. Dip / TUITION Undergoing (Advanced Diploma) Graduation & Diploma in Computer Ap10 Passed 6 Months plication & Networking MONTHLY FEE Course on Computer Con- Knowledge of 2 Months IS FREE FOR cepts: Windows OS, MS Of- English Language fice, Internet SCHEDULE Basic Multimedia Course: 10+2 with 3 months Image & Graphics, 2D Ani- Knowledge of TRIBE/ CASTE mation, Sound & Video EditComputer ing, animation (ST/ SC) PC Assembly & Mainte10+2 with 3 months nance Knowledge of Installing, Assembling & ReComputer pairing of computers Last Date of Admission is 16th January 2015 and Classes will begin from 20th January 2015. Admission will be purely on first come first serve. Documents Required: 1. For O and A Level (Attested copies of the following documents are required) i. Last qualification Provisional certificate v. Birth Certificate ii. Last qualification marksheet vi. ST and Indigenous Certificate iii. Admit Card of Last qualifying examination vii. Passport Size Photo 3 Nos iv. HSLC Admit Card For Other Short term courses, documents required will be marksheet of last qualifying exam, Birth Certificate Proof, Passport size photo 3 Nos, ST/SC certificate
OFFICE OF THE
KIGWEMA YOUTH ORGANIZATION KIGWEMA, KOHIMA, NAGALAND. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
ADMISSION OPEN ages 2 to 5 years classes:
TODDLERS º NURSERY º LKG º UKG House No 74, Adjacent to Shri. Ramakhrishna Society Duncan Bosti, Dimapur, Nagaland CONTACT NO 8257907205 • 9436062930 OFFICE HOURS 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m.
The Kigwema Youth Organization sincerely acknowledge the facilitation, support and participation of different faculties and individuals in the Traditional Stone Pulling Event (Commemorating the 75th KYA Platinum Jubilee Meet) on the 2nd of December 2014. The Organization like to specially thank; 1. The Government of Nagaland 2. Shri. Lajon Ngan Seng, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kaching Myanmar. 3. Shri. Thar Aye, the Hon’ble Minister of Sagaing Myanmar. 4. Dr. Neikesalie Kire, Hon’ble Minister Nagaland. 5. Shri. C.L. John Hon’ble Minister RD Nagaland. 6. Shri. Yitachu, Hon’ble Parliamentary Secretary, Nagaland. 7. Shri. E.E. Panteang, Hon’ble Advisor Tourism 8. Er. Kropol Vitsu, Hon’ble Parliamentary Secretary, Nagaland. 9. Department of Fire and Emergencies. 10. Superintendent of Police Kohima & Staffs. 11. Angami Public Organization. 12. Angami Youth Organization. 13. Southern Angami Public Organization. 14. Southern Angami Youth Organization. 15. Southern Angami Women Organization. 16. Southern Angami Sports Association. 17. Mima Village Council. 18. Medical team of PHC Kimipfuphe & Viswema. 19. Media fraternity from KPC 20. Youth Organizations from Southern Angami Area. 21. NM Cables Network. President & Colleagues Kigwema Youth Organization.
4
Dimapur
public discoursE What Lies Beneath The Naga Jokes
Tuesday 16 December 2014
businEss Aadhaar not mandatory for LPG subsidy, bank account will do: Govt New Delhi, December 15 (PTi): Government today made it clear that Aadhaar number was not mandatory for transfer of subsidy amount of LPG cylinder and the option of providing a bank account is also available under the Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL). Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed Lok Sabha that under the DBTL, the LPG consumers joining this scheme get all domestic LPG cylinders (subsidised as well as non- subsidised cylinder) at market price and subsidy amount as applicable for each domestic subsidised cylinder is transferred to their bank account. Pradhan said during Question Hour that a one-time advance in addition to the cash subsidy admissible is also provided to each LPG consumer joining the scheme. This is to fund the first cylinder purchased at market price. Subsidy is separately admissible on every cylinder, including the first cylinder. The Minister said consumers have two options for availing subsidy under the scheme. Wherever Aadhaar number is available, it will remain the medium of cash transfer. Thus, an LPG consumer who has an Aadhaar number has to link it to the bank account number and to the LPG consumer number. “If the LPG consumer does not have an Aadhaar number, he can directly receive subsidy in his bank account without the use of Aadhaar number. This option which has now been introduced in the modified scheme ensures that LPG subsidy is not denied to an LPG consumer on account of lack of Aadhaar number,” he said.
T
o come up with the assumption that Naga people have a unique way of socializing will be nothing but debatable. We cannot presume that our only way of socializing is by devouring non-vegetarian food, alcohol consumption and cracking jokes. At the same time we cannot rule out the fact that humour plays an important role in socializing. Over the years, the variety of mainstream jokes has grown more than double, adding to such is the dumb blonde joke, ethnic jokes, Sanda-Panda joke, the non-veg jokes which needs parental guidance and of course, the sexist jokes which are more like remarks. In Nagaland, we have tribes’ dictation jokes, political leader jokes, sexist jokes, non-veg jokes and other stale jokes. Don’t just laugh at the humour, read the underlining satire too: If we compare the Naga jokes of 1980s to that of now, do we notice the way our society has undergone a change in accepting what a joke should or should not be? Does vulgarity and condemnations bring more laughter than the jokes which make us think? It will be interesting if we observe not only the humour but also the high satirical content that Naga jokes carry. Which is an interesting phenomenon as humour and satire has been treated as two different entities. Humor ignites laughter and grants amusement,
on the other hand, satire, is considered as a genre of literature in which abuses, vices or shortcomings are ridiculed, usually through sarcasm. Satirical themes usually ranges from religion to politics to collective human behavior, which makes people to think and which often get applauds from people who appreciates its value. Anyway, we cannot ignore that Naga jokes consciously or subconsciously reflects the reality of our present society, but we get engaged more in the humour than in deciphering the satirical undertone. Your jokes, your responsibility: We are told to mind our actions, our words, so what about our jokes? Are we supposed to take responsibly for the jokes we break? Sometimes, in the name of cracking a joke, we forget there is a difference between rudeness and being sensitive. Jokes are used as a weapon to level the score resulting in bitter grudge among persons and communities. Of course, ill spirited jokes have always put someone in losing ends. I have often heard stories of how mindless banters and slanders provoked someone to file case against the person who cracked the joke pot upon him. Moreover, with the growth of social networks, often we can see how a petty joke takes 180 degree turn after ‘x’ makes a comment on it, resulting in ‘y’ blocking ‘x’ from the contact list. Sometimes mending out jokes on someone
grows so grotesque resulting in ‘cyber bullying’, but is our society even aware of that? Be careful of your jokes: Why such consideration should be taken into account? Likely, jokes do not remain within a community; it spreads over to other community as well, what started as a stupid joke (loaded with generalization, with no factual clarity) within a community of people when it reaches the third and the fourth community online then there is high probability of treating it as an existing reality, as reality is socially constructed. If with a bias attitude towards certain tribes, someone constructs jokes and those jokes become the guiding book to know the mentality and conduct of those tribes, then what a fallacy can it be! So to avoid being that person who brought the flawed belief, one should be careful of his/her jokes. The difficulty lies in the fact that a person cannot be mindful of his/her jokes all the time. As a minor solution one can begin the joke by signaling the statutory warning, “This is a pure Naga joke, don’t seek for clarification, it does not intend to offend any individual or tribe, laugh if you find it funny.” But, seriously who is going to heed this solution…only the stand-up comedian.
The Morung Express
Jesus you are more than a Picture
My eyes desires to see you, In the beauty of your holiness; Your pictures I see in the pictures Does not justify your likeness; This heart of mine says this of you “Jesus you are more than a picture”. Though I see you not, I see your face in the holiness of your truth. Every holy feelings inspired by your Spirit, Stirs the feelings of my mind to your truth; This is what I say Lord, Though I see you not, The holiness of your ways inspires my every step, It motivates my every move; Let everything which is of you be in me; For all that I desire are in you; In you are love, peace holiness and justice: The truth represents you; The holiness of your Word are your eyes. Let my eyes be always satisfied by seeing your likeness; This eyes of mine loves your eyes, Your ways and truth; Revive me in your likeness, I desire to live in your ways, For I am yours.
Scriptural references: My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” your face Lord I will seek (Psalm 27:8 ) No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known ( John 1:18 ) Though you have not seen him, you love him; even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls ( 1st Peter 1:8-9 ) Ambrose.J.Chakre Founder President Foundation of Holiness in Christ Ministries, Kohima
Ayangti Longkumer Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Being an Angami in Today’s Pluralistic Naga Society
Embracing Today’s Pluralistic Structure As a mature and responsible tribewith a fair degreeof sophistication and immense potential at our doorstep, which comprises the strategic urban areas of Kohima and Dimapur with its suburbs and outlaying areas wherein all other communities come for their settlement, education, employment, business and services etc., we the Angamis must have a broad vision and optimism for progress and development for the interest of all Naga brethren. Stepping into the divine destiny of loving our neighbor,finding our place of blessing and gaining strength through adversityis the need of the hour in this competitive pluralistic Naga society. Natural Way of Growth i n a Pluralistic Society In today’s cosmopolitan world, it is necessary to cultivate an international ecclesi-
ment of one’s weaknesses and strengths, making masterful decisions in prioritizing value over volume thereby increasing human productivity. This saturation of unemployment acts as a motivational force and catalyzes rapid economic development, industrial growth, mushrooming of companies and corporations, progress of city system in transportation, amenities and utilities, credit facilities, national and international market, medical and educational centers and other city related facilities and services as the city expandsand thrives. From Jungle Life to a Pluralistic Society In the consideration of where we are vis-a-vis where we were, we must be extremely grateful to our ancestors who worked from dawn to dusk, fought with wild animals, foesand evil spirits most of the time on an empty stomach and has bestowed our present
astical culture of brotherhood, tolerate ethnic differences in their demographic, socio – cultural and economic variants and acknowledge each ethnic group’s contribution towards the community. This is the first stage for a metropolis to effect rapid economic and industrial growth in the heartland as well as hinterland to become centers of development and progress, byseizing God - given opportunities for new seasons of increased blessing in fulfilling our respective responsibilities by the meaning of our life. It is a natural phenomenon thatthe moment the rural masses and people from corporate world flood into the metropolis for their settlement and employment, a resulting unemployment exceeds saturation, pushing for competition and specialization,and automatically leading to rapid growth in human resource development through manage-
cosmopolitan world a proud legacy.At the cost of such hardships, a history of deeply rooted integrity, patriotism, courage and utmost commitment to its people was purchased by our forefathers. In the days before the coming of the Gospel in our land,one had to fight for survival and any stranger from any other territory was their enemy. However, today as the Gospel has reached uswe cannot afford to liveprimitiveadagessuch as conservative and narrow - mindedness in narrow-mindedness witha local - centric mindset. A principle “anybody’s son is mine ; anyone’s mother also is mine”has to be adopted. The Jungle law of “might is right” shall not be the master over our home land. In some of our Angami villages of Dimapur suburbs, lands were forbidden to be sold to other Naga communitiestreating them as alien. Are we not living todayin this present cosmo-
politan societywith yesterday’s out- dated mentality of localization? These are the factors responsible for lack of development and progress in Nagaland and should be eradicated at the earliest. Ecclesiastical metropolis culture is needed today to avoid the Bad Boss tendencies as landowners; we must support our people as brothers and avoid unilateral – thinking trap which kills the health of a society, embrace adversity tensions, develop a mutual trust with alland resolve any possible conflict withhonesty. In this way our Sunday will come as expected and we will not spoil it in willfularrogance. It is the society that forms the character of the metropolis city of any particular country. The behavioral change of a society is hard anywhere - even frustrating at times and time consuming - but we must believe in our ability to change, accept difficulties and
take ownership of victory by getting the process started in us. Let us pause to consider an example of jungle life which is the exact opposite to the cosmopolitan culture. Many of our Naga brothers at LAHE, the new capital for eastern Nagas of Myanmar in Sagaing Division who hardly bathe 5 – 6 times in a year. Why? Because there is no motivational force to inculcate life’s purposeand competition for human growth amongst them.We shall have to develop the leadership brand to elevate ourselves from the pit of such slumbering life, become inspirational leaders to master the situations and fundamental roadblocks for progress in our today’s international community.We are living today in tomorrow’scosmopolitan world for our GenNext and should have broadervisions, approaches, relevant philosophies, wisdom, power, glory and a culture that is capable to respond tocri-
ses and opportunitiespositively at all costs to be a bounce – back people enjoying incredible grace and blessings. Never be misled to think that development of a pluralistic metropolis means living life in a casino resort or lavish splendor out of our means. Rather broaden the spectrum of our thoughts, be rooted in the depth of our heritage,identity, originality, integrity, hospitality, generosity, contentment, hard work, selflessness and accept and appreciate the differences among ourselves as in our neighbors. May we be the generation that serves rather than being served, give more than we receive, and loves before we choose to judge. May we grow to be a community brave enough to counter wrong with principle and may we live lives that prosper in the perfect purpose of our Creator. Kuolachalie Seyie
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.
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LEISURE
Simple Rules - There is just one simple rule: “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.”
SUDOKU Game Number # 3085
DAILY CROSS WORD
CROSSWORD # 3093
Answer Number # 3084
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ACROSS 1. Short low gruff noise 6. Central area of a church 10. Laugh 14. Fertile area in a desert 15. Death notice 16. Decorative case 17. Betel palm 18. Backside 19. Not legs 20. Leather shorts 22. Found on rotary phones 23. Indian dress 24. Crazy 26. Border 30. 54 in Roman numerals 31. Slice 32. Legume 33. Scallion 35. Vagabond 39. Used to stabilize a ship 41. To that extent 43. Escargot 44. Harvard rival 46. What a person is called 47. Mayday 49. Solemn promise 50. A neutral color 51. Arch of the foot 54. Ends a prayer
56. Weaving machine 57. Beside the point 63. Small island 64. Pace 65. Severity 66. Many millennia 67. A single time 68. Drench 69. Vesicle 70. Layer 71. Streamlined
DOWN 1. Objective 2. Unusual 3. Utilized 4. Agreeable 5. Russian emperors 6. Ill fame 7. Cruel 8. Workbench attachment 9. Cultural 10. Disobedient 11. Courtyards 12. What we are 13. Passageway 21. Corridors 25. Cashews and almonds 26. Wanes 27. University administrator 28. Big party
29. Tour of duty 34. 1000 meters 36. A long way off 37. Mother 38. Quarry 40. Found in some lotions 42. Handrail post 45. Greed 48. Faucet 51. Of a pelvic bone 52. Offensively curious 53. Flies alone 55. Geeks 58. Hindu princess 59. Six-stringed instrument 60. Chills and fever 61. Schnozzola 62. Journey Ans to CrossWord 3092
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5 local/Public SPace Gitanjali Jewels showroom launched in Dimapur AKK seeks clarification from CM Tuesday
The Morung Express
16 December 2014
Morung Express News
Alleges non-payment of wages under MGNREGA in Aghunaqa block
Dimapur | December 15
An Indian multi-branded luxury jewellery showroom, Gitanjali Jewels was inaugurated on Monday at Merryville Building, 1st Floor, Nyamo Lotha Road, Dimapur by Parliamentary Secretary for Law & Justice, Jacob Zhimomi. M/s SPACE M is the Franchise for Gitanjali Jewels Nagaland retailing high end Diamond and Gold jewellery. In Diamond, the showroom deals with brands such as Gili, Nakshatra, D’damas, Sangini etc, while in Gold, Gitanjali is the only brand. M/s SPACE M Proprietor, Z. Kasheto Yeptho said that the showroom was launched with loan from HDFC and that it has tied
Gitanjali Jewels has opened a branch in Dimapur at Merryville Building, 1st Floor, Nyamo Lotha Road.
up with the bank to facilitate loans for customers who wish to buy jewellery. “All jewelleries are hallmarked and an inaugural offer of 30% discount is being given on Diamond while Rs 101 per gram off is being offered for Gold,” he said. The showroom deals with both buying and selling of jewelleries. It also has
Karometer to authenticate the purity of jewels and any person can walk in to check the quality of their jewellery by paying a nominal fee. During the inaugural programme, Jacob thanked the Franchise and Gitanjali Jewels for bringing the showroom to Nagaland which he added was a long await-
Dimapur, December 15 (mexN): The Aghunaqa Kukami Kuqhakulu (GBs Association) has sought clarification from the Chief Minister of Nagaland regarding MGNREGA Scheme for 2014-15 under Aghunaqa block. In an open letter to the CM, AKK president, Mughavi Awomi and general secretary, Hetoi Katty highlighted that in the financial year 2013-14
ed moment for jewel lovers in the State. He said bringing in such reputed showrooms was a sign of progress in the field of business by the local entrepreneurs. Jacob urged entrepreneurs to venture more into different business sectors and contribute to the progress of Dimapur, Decemthe State. ber 15 (mexN): In its effort to encourage customers use alternate channels, the State Bank of India is launching ‘Tech Learning celebrating because of the Centre’ for its customers. beauty that surrounds us in “Our Bank (SBI) has so many of God's creation, been taking steps for miparticularly human talent gration of customers to use and this has been articulat- Alternate Channels like ed largely through the An- ATMs/ Internet Banking/ nual Miss Nagaland Show.” Mobile Banking/ CDMs/ The former Chief Secre- POS etc. to provide entary saluted all the founding hanced banking convemembers and the present nience and 24x7 services,” members of BASN for what stated a press release isshe termed as “the tenacious sued by SBI Regional Manspirit exhibited by them ager, Dimapur. through these years”. “I will The ‘Tech Learning not be wrong to say that you Centre’ will be formally truly express the Naga spirit launched on December of tenacity and resilience”. 19, 3:00 pm at SBI, Region-
Chief Guest during the programme “Divas – celebrating women talent in song” organized by the BASN on December 7, 2014 as part of the Hornbill Festival. According to the former Chief Secretary, “the concept took off and the State Government decided to hold an event to 'usher' in a new century of hope, peace and prosperity, through the Hornbill Festival which like the Miss Nagaland Show has become an annual event”. Banuo said that this initiative of the BASN
early on as a “fact” “which is less known and even less or not acknowledged”. Lauding the effort put in by the BASN for organizing the Miss Nagaland Show without fail for the last 25 years, Banuo said that at a time when the State was under very gloomy circumstances of fear and uncertainty of life, this small group of young women and a smaller number of determined young men “gave expression to the fact that life, no matter what, is worth
and in 2014-15, only nine days and two days wages respectively were released against the MGNREGA scheme out of mandatory 100 days wages under Aghunaqa block, Niuland sub-division, Dimapur. “When enquired to the concern Block officer, it is learnt that for the current financial year 2014-15, the remaining 98 days wages meant for poor rural popu-
SBI to launch ‘Tech Learning Centre’ for customers
Banuo credits BASN with sowing “seed” of Hornbill Festival Dimapur, December 15 (mexN): Former Chief Secretary of Nagaland Banuo Z. Jamir has disclosed that the “seed of the Hornbill Festival, which has become a mega event for the State of Nagaland, was first sown by the Beauty and Aesthetics Society of Nagaland (BASN) when a proposal was submitted by them to the State Government to sponsor a Winter Carnival to usher in the 21st century.” She made this disclosure while speaking as
al Business Office, Super Market Complex, Dimapur. At the centre, customers will be educated about the usage and convenience of alternate channels as also about their security aspects to prevent misuse and frauds. “Educating public about the usefulness/ convenience of alternate channels will result in reducing the number of complaints generated in the area,” the release added. SBI will arrange 2 hours slot on the 3rd working Friday of every month to interact with and educate customers about the various alternate channels of the Bank including the security aspect, it was informed.
Trio’s home for music Magnificat Fiesta- Pre-Christmas extravaganza and boarding in Dmp Morung Express News Dimapur | December 15
Trio’s Home for Music and Boarding at Diphupar was inaugurated on Monday by Maj Gen M.M. Naravane, S.M. IGAR (N). Maj Gen Naravane lauded the school of music for making impressive progress within a short span of time. He said music was a unifying factor as the notes produced were same irrespective of caste, creed, religion etc. He called for a unifying thought and to do away with divisive tendencies which he noted was so prevalent in the society. Maj Gen Naravane also urged parents to let the children follow their dreams, adding “Let them grow and pursue their passion and interest.” He encouraged the students to convert their passion into profession and contribute to the society.
Dimapur
Guest of Honour, I. Vitoshe Kinimi, Chairman, Diphupar Village Council expressed delight that a school of music has been established within the village jurisdiction. He said the council would extend its support and cooperation for the welfare of the students and the school. Proprietor of the school of music, Lopilo presented a brief introduction of the institute and said that all round development of a child was one of the main focuses of the school. She said that the authorities would train the students to work and serve others for a good cause besides being taught music. Vocal classes would also be introduced from the next academic session. Students of the school presented songs and various musical pieces during the inaugurationcum-pre-Christmas celebration programme.
The participants, organisers and chief guest of ‘Magnificat Fiesta’ held at NEZCC in Dimapur on December 13.
Dimapur, December 15 (mexN): Magnificat Fiesta, an annual advance Christmas extravaganza of The Coming Generation (TCG), held at NEZCC here on December 13, ended on a festive note with a theme “Love and Share at Christmas with those who have less.” Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology & Communication, Technical Education, Science & Technology and
Taxation, Tovihoto, who graced the occasion, lauded the objective of TCG for “setting and creating a platform to witness the change and be the change for the next generation”. He also added that, a festival such as Magnificat Fiesta which brought all the young talents together will certainly set an edge for a change. He affirmed that the Govt. of Nagaland is investing in the development of youths through
different initiatives and support. He was representing the Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang, who was unable to attend the Magnificat Fiesta as Chief Patron. Artists who participated in the event were Nagaland Chamber Choir, Nagaland Singing Ambassadors, Voices of Hope, Dreamz Unlimited, Faith in Action, Azina Pamei, Mami Varte and Henry Varte. The Magnificat Fi-
A reminder on public importance for Kohima city! Jt. Director of School Education
Nagaland, Kohima (Rtd.)
W
hether our general public is aware or not I with a little capacity have written enough in the local papers all these days about the welfare of our Kohima city on sanitation, traffic problems, urban development, office discipline/attendance, role of the church/NGO and other areas of public importance to set an example as the capital city or the first district capital city by showing the way how our people should live a decent/ civilized life. Once again I am compelled to touch some areas of concern toward the promotion and welfare of citizens of Kohima city to draw the attention of all concerned on the following points:(1) Inspite of making enough awareness on importance of sanitation, still the dirtiest spots/areas in Kohima city are: (a) Kohima Local Ground (Khuochiezie) (b) Tata parking/Mini Bus stand (near North Police Station) Kohima.
asked to sign in a blank APR (actual payment receipt) since the implementation of the scheme in the State, “which is against ethic rules of the scheme.” In light of the above grievances, AKK has sought “prompt clarification” from the Chief Minister and also urged him to intervene for the release of funds under the said scheme.
MEx FILE Shop asked to open till 8 pm in Kma Kohima, December 15 (mexN): In view of the festive season and to facilitate the public to do shopping, the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) has requested all shops and business establishments in Kohima to remain open till 8:00 pm till December 23. Necessary security arrangements for shops/ shoppers shall be provided during this period, stated a release issued by KMC administrator, Kovi Meyase.
KVSU 37th bi-annual general session Kohima, December 15 (mexN):TheKohimaVillage Students’ Union (KVSU) will hold its 37th bi-annual general session 2014 on December 18 at Dapfhiitsumia Ground, D. Khel, Kohima village at 11:00 am. Kesonyü Yhome, IAS, additional secretary, health and family welfare will grace the occasion as chief guest. Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu, president, Ura Academy will be the guest speaker. The Union has requested all the students community of Kohima village residing anywhere to attend the programme positively.
P&S phase III office building ready for inauguration Kohima, December 15 (mexN): The office building Phase III of the Directorate of Printing & Stationery, Nagaland Kohima will be inaugurated on December 17 at Lower Chandmari, Kohima at 2:00 pm. Parliamentary secretary for printing & stationery and art & culture Er. Kropol Vitsu will grace the occasion as the chief guest. The programme will be chaired by Wati L. Imchen, joint director (HoD), printing &stationery. Brief report of the new building will be given by Er. Kelhoupu Rio, EE central division, NPWD. Vote of thanks will be proposed by Neituolie, assistant director, printing & stationery.
Exchange students from Kohima reach Pune
Public SPace
Ruovihulie Angami B.A ;B.Ed.
lace are kept aside for VIPs adjustment,” AKK stated in a press release. The Association alleged that since 2008-09, the MGNREGA scheme has not been utilised “judiciously” as per the guidelines and norms of the scheme, “but instead adjusted for VIPs and department fund mobilisation.” The VDB secretaries, the release stated, were
(c) Naga Bazaar/Daklane Road from the main town (100fts) (d) Kohima Village gate area (Mission road). (e) Pensioners’ office/ NNP drug office. (f) Transport officer’s office of Kohima, Phek, Wokha at old Secretariat area. (g) Nagaland Civil Secretariat premises and its gate areas opposite to Capital Convention Centre. (h) Peraciezie/High School junction. (i) Union Baptist Church, Kohima road and its adjacent areas etc. (2) This is an open RTI case filing against District administration /KMC/KCCI on what they are really doing on the following issues:(a) How many Sanitation Inspection/Workers/Sweepers and how much they are paid per month/how big their jurisdiction of cleaning and their working hours? (b) Whether the NGO (KVYO) has been granted permission by the District Administration for Winter Bazaar at the Kohima Local Ground (Khuochiezie) with the condition to check retail price/quality goods/sani-
tation and peaceful atmosphere or just collecting toll taxes from the business community? (c) Whether the District Administration /Parking tax collectors/Transport Department are really controlling the taxi fares and security of the drivers and passengers by allowing one side of the road for parking and the other side free for vehicle movement. (d) Whether the people of Kezieke/Daklane and New Market have already made a procession strike against the concerned department(s) for black- topping of the block/ approach road from Pezielietsie (Tinpati) to Naga Hospital area road lest the dust fly over the whole area of the Kohima city? ( this should be done before the windy season ). (e) Whether the KMC retail price workers/NVCO and sanitary Inspectors are checking the butchering areas at BOC, High School Junction and the Daklane/ New market area to stop bad smelling and poor sanitation lest some communicable diseases are spread or bad smelling is caused or under-weight of the measuring instruments to the customers? (f ) Whether the con-
cerned or respective department check the service fees of private schools, hostel business and private medical clinics with the support of ACAUT/ District Administration and the NVCO to enforce their respective professional ethics? (g) Whether the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary of Nagaland control the AHoD/HoD to check office discipline attendance in Kohima city lest the public don’t suffer for poor office attendance by the office - goers on all working days? (3) We are told that the NGOs in other States or areas are doing charitable works/ free service for the society/ people but in Nagaland, some NGOs are only seeking financial assistance from every corner. Congratulating the Power Department and KMC for providing high power lighting system in the Kohima city main streets but if the light bill is too high or rural areas are made to suffer for overutilization of light facility in the city, one bulb in every two posts may be controlled/ switched off to lessen the liability of public light bills.
N
esta, organized by TCG, an organisation working with young people with the motto: “Leading the Lead,” was supported by International partners from OSIRIS International, a youth based corporate in Malaysia and KPD FOUNDATION- Nurturing the Future, a New Zealand based organisation which provides services to charitable organizations to make significance in the governance of civil society.
Dimapur, December 15 (mexN): Students from Kohima participating in exchange programme initiated by Assam Rifles have reached Pune. Speaking about the journey, Lima Sunep of G Rio School said, “I had never imagined that after travelling for three days by train we could cover only part of India,” quoted a press release issued by Assam Rifles. The Workers Union welcomed the tour participants at Nagpur Railway station. Upon their arrival in Pune on December 13, a grand reception was organised by the Mayor of Pune, Dattatraya Dhankawade at the Railway Station.
The students from Nagaland are now staying in the homes of their respective hosts, informed the release. Updating about the tour, Maj (Dr) Surabhi of Assam Rifles said that the students are getting a total overview of the country as a whole having travelled through the States of Assam, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. As a part of the day’s program, the students also visited a historical monument, Shaniwarwada – The seat of the Peshwa rulers of Maratha Empire. Various visits along with career guidance lectures are being scheduled for the students in the coming days, the release added.
A hard lesson learned
o man is an island. It is a universal truth. But again when one is not trusted, one literally becomes an island. Yes, trust takes time, but again, one cannot be trusted when one is not willing to trust in the first place. And therefore, people with trust deficit, more often than not, have to begin all over again. Since I am writing this piece it is obvious I know about it. But yet again another hard lesson learned : Trust others and you will be trusted. Hey! Why is “seeing is believing” and trust really not going hand in hand? That desire in many of us to see positive changes in our society and culture is what is driving many, and it is stepping on toes but this freedom should not be compromised, even though this might turn out to be the ‘Achilles heel’ for some. Yours truly do know when he has been been boxed into a corner for crying out, but given the circumstances anybody would have cried out. Yours truly also knows that he has been outfoxed because of a very simple single word “change.” Was not change supposed to mean changes in the Naga community as a pluralistic society? Now, where from has this new meaning of change suddenly come into the picture. What has this personal “change” got to do with all this stuff? When did yours truly deny that he has lived a life which can be called anything
but ‘exemplary’. Alcohol, drugs and associated everything had been there. Now cigarettes, tamul, 120, ghutka, and even that humble kaka sada is being brought to the round table. Aren’t all these personalized affair? Is it really fair? And what do the loverboy get? Trust? How will the loverboy during the process of change ever know that his dreamgirl has not eloped with one of her many other suitors? How will the loverboy remain assured that he will not be shortchanged as was earlier? What option has the loverboy have now? Nothing. A very sincere approach to reboot will be made, and people must remain the judge. Till now it has been your way. And till then, kindly please allow me to press the refresh button of our mind computer with this Akbar Birbal story. On a cold winter day Akbar and Birbal took a walk along the lake. A thought came to Birbal that a man would do anything for money. He expressed his feelings to Akbar. Akbar then put his finger into the lake and immediately removed it because he shivered with cold. Akbar said, “I don’t think a man would spend an entire night in the cold water of this lake for money.” Birbal replied “I am sure I can find such a person.” Akbar then challenged Birbal into finding such a person and said that he would reward the person with a thousand
gold coins. Birbal searched far and wide until he found a poor man who was desperate enough to accept the challenge. The poor man entered the lake and Akbar had guards posted near him to make sure that he really did as promised. The next morning the guards took the poor man to Akbar. Akbar asked the poor man if he had indeed spent the night in the lake. The poor man replied that he had. Akbar then asked the poor man how he managed to spend the night in the lake. The poor man replied that there was a street lamp near by and he kept his attention affixed on the lamp and away from the cold. Akbar then said that there would be no reward as the poor man had survived the night in the lake by the warmth of the street lamp. The poor man went to Birbal for help. I think I need a Birbal today more than any other time in my life. Lastly, a note to myself: “What I must do is die now. I must accept the justice of death and the injustice of more “life”.I have had a good life – longer than many, better than most. A brother died when he was twentyfour. I have had fortyfive years. I couldn’t justify another day. I did not create myself, it is a gift. I am me, that is the miracle. I had no right to remain a single hour. Some remain a single minute. And yet I have had fortyfive years.
The Morung Express is introducing “Public Space” as part of our intention to provide deliberate space for the opinions of the people to be expressed and heard through this newspaper. Nonetheless, The Morung Express points out that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.
Benito.Z.Swu
6
IN-FOCUS
The Power of Truth
The Morung Express TuEsDAy 16 DEcEmbEr 2014 volumE IX IssuE 346
Green Mentality
I
t is heartening to know that the Clark Theological College, Aolichen, Mokokchung is offering students a class on ‘Green Theology.’ Recently, the class shared the findings from their field trip to the coal mining areas in Mokokchung district in a detailed report. This experience and exposure to the coal mining areas helped the students to develop their research skills and to become astute observers as reflected in their findings. The students gathered information through interviews and discussions with villagers. Although the issue of coal mining and its consequences on health, the environment, ecology and social conditions has been a cause for concern in Nagaland for many years, it has not received the much needed public attention it deserves. The report’s findings highlight the devastating consequences of coal mining and elevate the urgency for an intervention led by the Nagaland State Government, churches and communities. In a context where land is central to a people’s identity and way of life, the people endeavor to live in harmony with their natural resources. However, the current Naga mentality and understanding towards issues of natural resources are contrary to and inconsistent with their worldviews and ethos. The present exploitation of coal resources, which is taking place randomly, if not in an unscientific, haphazard and ‘primitive’ manner with little or no regard for the long term impact on the environment, animal and plant life, as well as human beings’ health and safety, reflects this mentality. Short-term financial benefits have become the priority over long term sustainability and economic profits take precedence over health concerns, all of which are having negative consequences in Nagaland coal mining areas. The ‘Green Theology’ report points out that there has been “no governmental aid or training given to the villagers with regard to coal mining,” and that “the laborers working in the mines are mostly hired from outside Nagaland.” It goes on to say that “networks for the sale of coal produced are in the hands of the contractors,” who are “often the land owners themselves and in some instances non-locals.” Under these circumstances, it is reasonable to ask whether the people are actually directly benefitting from coal mining. The report has identified a list of concerns caused by the coal mining such as: water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, its negative impact on plant growth evidenced in poor vegetation and the inability to cultivate paddy fields, deforestation, soil erosion, and increased incidence of landslides, change in landscape and damage to roads. Furthermore, the loss of animal, bird and aquatic life in these areas is also directly affected by the mining. Simultaneously, the report also goes on to point out a number of social problems arising as a direct outcome of coal mining. For instance, it states that: 1. boundaries are being lost between villages and individual land owners. As a result misunderstandings are often created leading to tension and conflict; 2. economic differences have increased among the villagers as the rich become richer and the poor remain poor; and 3. use of alcohol and other intoxicant objects have increased especially among village youth. Access to easy money has resulted in lavish and excessive spending. All these factors underline the seriousness of the problem that calls for an immediate intervention. Since coal is not a renewable resource, the Nagaland State government would be well advised to develop a policy framework on coal mining with adequate measures and safeguards that respect universally recognized environmental, health and safety standards. The process needs to include the voices and experiences of people living in the affected areas experiences. Until then, the Nagaland State government should exercise its political will by ceasing all coal mining operations in Nagaland.
lEfT wiNg |
Rajnish Singh IANS
changes for the better
Two years after December 16 gang rape
A
minor, who was among the five people convicted for brutally raping a young woman in a bus in Delhi Dec 16, 2012, has "changed" and now shows interest in "cooking and painting", according to officials who interact with the now 19-year-old on a daily basis. The teenager, who is serving a three-year term in a special reform home following an order by a juvenile court for his involvement in the gang rape, has also not shown any violent trait in the past two years. "A month after the minor shifted to the reformation home, he was rude. But since then, there has been a change in him. He has not shown any violent trait since," a welfare officer at the Delhi government-run reformatory home told IANS on condition of anonymity. "The reason behind his changed behaviour could be the repeated counselling he is getting. In the beginning, he never talked or discussed his feelings with anyone. But, after three-four months, when he was shifted from a separate room to a common room, he started talking with the other inmates," the officer said. The juvenile was lodged in the reformatory home in north Delhi's Majnu Ka Tilla Dec 22, 2012, a day after he was detained from east Delhi's Anand Vihar bus depot while he was trying to flee. A Juvenile Justice Board court Sep 1, 2013 sent him to three years in the reform home. Three years is the maximum punishment a minor gets for committing a heinous crime. The minor will be let off in December 2015. Another welfare officer told IANS that the minor helps the reformation home staff in cooking. The officer said the youth, a native of Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, also shows keen interest in painting. "He always draws two kinds of paintings. In one, he paints trees, flowers, animals and birds and in the other, he draws faces. The faces in his paintings never have any expressions," the officer said. One of his paintings was selected in the list of top 10 best paintings in an exhibition organised Aug 14 at Nirmal Chhaya, an observation home for juvenile girls in Delhi. A panel of judges, who deal with juvenile cases, and NGOs admired his painting, the officer told IANS. The juvenile, who had come to Delhi eight years ago, did odd jobs before he was apprehended for the gang rape. On Dec 16, 2012, he had gone to meet the main accused, Ram Singh, to return the money he owed him. The minor had taken along a bottle of wine to celebrate. After consuming the liquor in the bus with Ram Singh and four others, they went on a joy ride. It was at this time that they picked up the 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist and her male friend. The six people brutally gang-raped and assaulted the woman and dumped her and her male friend on the road -bloodied and without clothes after nearly an-hour-long ordeal. The woman died 13 days later due to the grievous injuries. As Indian laws consider someone less than 18 years as minor, he was tried by a juvenile court. "Three months after he came here, he was shifted with three other inmates. Initially, he was lodged separately," said another officer. The reformatory home has three types of accommodation for inmates, including a separate one for those convicted of heinous crimes. He along with other inmates is also taught everyday from 12.30 p.m. to 2 p.m. but officials said he has not shown any interest in studies. "He can now sign his name both in Hindi and English, but he is weak in mathematics," said the officer.
THE EDIT PAGE
C O M M E N T A R Y
Christian Piatt Sojourners
Considering 12 Sides of Jesus
N
ot surprising, this whole endeavor to understand what it really means to follow Jesus in today’s world is proving to be nothing short of overwhelming. Though I’d like to start my year-long effort to live this out on New Year’s Day, I’m not entirely sure I can get my hands around this Jesus we’re talking about by then. I mean, I grew up reading Scripture, have written several books about Jesus and the Bible, but somehow I’m always left with a sense that there’s more — a lot more — about Jesus and about being a follower than we generally consider. As part of my effort to approach the year, I’ve decided to break down various dimensions of Jesus, based both on my own reading of the Gospels (and Epistles to a lesser degree), as well as the interpretations of scholars, theologians and activists I respect. So for now, I’ve broken this down into twelve categories, so that I can focus on one per month as intently as possible. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t some other things I’ll decide to do all year long (like pray the Lord’s Prayer), or some things I’ll try once that may or may not fit within that month’s “Jesus dimension.” But when I consider the following twelve ways of looking at Jesus, it feels like a pretty comprehensive approach. I’m also assembling a group of mentors to help me with each of the respective Jesus Dimensions below. I figure that, rather than having a dozen disciples, I could use mentors way more than followers if I have any hope of making this work. But I’m interested in what you think. Am I missing something? Do any of these simply not ring true at all? Jesus the Jew — Contrary to some popular misconceptions, Jesus wasn’t a Christian; he was a Jewish man who largely followed Jewish law and culture. Yes, he broke rules on occasion, but like a great jazz musician, he knew the laws and culture really well before he decided which norms to challenge. I grew up with many Jewish families who introduced me to much of the Jewish faith, but I definitely need to better understand what it means to be Jewish if I’m going to begin to understand Jesus. Jesus the Prophet — Some people mistakenly think that being a prophet is primarily about telling the future. In fact, prophetic speaking and teaching is primarily about exposing truth in radical ways. It challenges systemic obfuscation and brokenness, while calling to the forefront a more clear and undeniable sense of both how things are and how they ought to be, or at least could possibly be. Given that I consider much of my work already to fall within the prophetic discipline, I’d have to say I’m especially looking forward to this one. Jesus the Teacher — I already teach a weekly class at church on Sundays, and I speak around the country from a teaching context. But the wisdom Jesus possessed, and his ability both to cut through false constructs and to connect deeply with people’s hearts was remarkable. I’m really excited to learn more from that. Jesus of the Margins — My wife, Amy, told me to change the original name for this one, which was “Jesus the Queer” — namely because of how loaded that word is in our culture. But really, “Queer Theology” is not so much about human sexuality, and rather an exploration of the Gospel of the social margins. We who benefit from so much privilege on a daily basis can easily become blind to it, or even actively guard and defend it, sometimes without knowing it. We have much to learn from the “queers” in our midst, however that is defined for us. We’re called to go out of our way to be uncomfortable, and even to be changed by those who aren’t like us. I’m sure this one will present its challenges, but it seems essential to me in really understanding Jesus’ ministry and message. Jesus the Radical — Again, this one started out being called “Jesus the Anarchist" — but as that word means so many things to people that don’t apply in this context, it seemed wise to go with something less loaded. But many people believe, as informed by
T
he release of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report detailing the CIA’s brutal post-9/11 torture program is a watershed moment for the values of our nation. The report contains some serious truth-telling. The CIA consistently lied to Congress, the DOJ, White House staff, and the public about its torture program. The torture program’s cruelty was much worse and its effectiveness far less than Congress and the general public were led to believe. The CIA violated a court order by destroying videotapes documenting torture, and used bribes to secure secret sites used for torture in a number of countries. This isn’t an example of our government at its best; it’s an example of how to carry out a cover-up. The entire rationale for the CIA’s torture program is undercut by the conclusions of this report. In the words of Committee Chair Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), as she spoke about the report on the floor of the Senate, “Even if one were to set aside all of the moral arguments, coercive interrogation techniques did not produce the vital, otherwise unavailable intelligence the CIA has claimed.” Immoral and illegal, we now know that the program was also ineffective. A broad array of faith leaders have responded to the Torture Report by condemning the CIA’s torture program. For followers of some faiths, torture violates the image of God; for others, it is an intrinsic evil. People of all faiths, though, hold human life to be sacred, and the long shadow
theologians like Walter Wink and Jacques Ellul, that at the core of Jesus’ Gospel message was a challenge to speak truth to power, and to live a life that stood in direct, yet nonviolent, defiance of the systems of Imperialism in its many forms. This one will be hard on many levels, not the least of which is because I’m a part of “the system” in so many ways. But sometimes (like heresy within the Church) the best way to challenge broken or corrupt systems is from within. Jesus the Healer — I assure you that I have to illusions about trying to become some magical healer. Neither am I going to fast-track a medical degree so I can hand out prescriptions. But I do believe that healing takes many forms, and that it is a challenges that Jesus presents us with that we often overlook because of his more miraculous approach to healing. But it’s also worth noting that when healing takes place in the Gospels, Jesus inevitably says, “Your faith has made you well” — rather than, “Hey, check out what I just did!” So I have a sense that our own healing ministries have something to do with awakening something within others that already exists, but discerning and unearthing this can be arduous, consuming work. Jesus the Ascetic — Jesus was very social most of the time, but there were points at which he actively withdrew and contemplated in solitude. Similarly, he didn’t deny himself food, drink, and other essentials in some external display of piety, but he did make a practice of fasting, it seems — at least as part of his forty days in the desert. This month will include exploring contemplative practices, physical discipline, and even a month-long fast during which I’m planning to abstain from solid food. Not looking forward to that. Jesus the Scapegoat/Martyr — This one is particularly sensitive, as I think a lot of Christians distort the role of martyrdom in our faith a lot of the time. I’m also not sure that Jesus called us to go out of our ways to find opportunities to be martyrs or scapegoats. But he did say that if we were living according to what he had in mind, the persecution would come. Not sure how this might look for me during my year, but I’m sure it will be interesting. Jesus the Feminist — It’s funny to me that one comment I got from a piece on Huffington Post about my project was that if I was going to really get into the mind and heart of Jesus, I had to work assiduously at being a “male supremacist.” I’m not sure, but I’m guessing this has something to do with the text in which Jesus calls the Canaanite woman a dog, and it’s a fair critique that this passage should not be
minimized. But by many accounts, Jesus was incredibly counter-culturally feminist in his time. Though some contend there were only twelve male disciples, it’s clear from other passages in the New Testament that Jesus had female disciples, and that it’s the authors of the Gospels who left them out, by and large. So was Jesus an early feminist? If so, how might that manifest itself in our current world, particularly since there are those who contend that women are treated as equals with men? Clearly, we have to look no further than Church to find many examples where this isn’t the case. And it’s much bigger than just that. Jesus the Miracle Worker — For the past couple of years, I think it’s fair to say that I’ve been haunted by the text in which Jesus claims we will do greater things than he did. How exciting! How terrifying! Did he mean each of us individually, or collectively? How might that look in our midst? No, I don’t want to try and become some over-glorified magician, but I do think at the very least, we have opportunities to participate in daily miracles. I want to understand that a lot better than I do now. Jesus the Evangelist — This is another one of those words that is so loaded, I almost didn’t use it. But I kept it in there, namely because it does make me uncomfortable. In contemporary terms, evangelism has come to mean trying actively to convert people to our particular brand of Christianity, to incorporate them into our tribe. But a more accurate interpretation of the word “evangelism” would simply be “sharing the Good News.” Jesus didn’t coerce, or even persuade, people to believe what he believed. He listened, shared, helped and invited. My take on this could change, but it seems to me that, at its heart, evangelism has far more to do with relationship than with belief. But spending a month being the best evangelist I can be should help bear this out more for me. Jesus the Mystic — Particularly in the Gospel of John, Jesus is portrayed as a fairly mystical character. And for centuries, mysticism was at the core of Christian practice, and still is in much of the Eastern Orthodox Church and even some western Anglican liturgies. In a lot of circles, though, we’ve replaced a more open-ended pursuit of the mystical with declarations of certitude. But with that comes lines of inclusion and exclusion that mysticism — and I’d argue, Jesus — sought to blur or eliminate. So what would a more mystical Christian experience look like today? I’m excited and intrigued to find out.
Torture report reveals That Truth Trumps lies ron stief
Sojourners
torture casts on the moral integrity of our nation represents a travesty of justice as well as a flagrant violation of human rights. Dr. Roy Medley, General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, makes a plea that could almost serve as a benediction to the whole sordid chapter of this history of torture: “May God give us the moral courage to never again betray the core principles that have guided our nation as a leader in the struggle for human rights.” Now the hard work in Congress begins to ensure that torture never, ever happens in the name of our nation. Attorney General Eric Holder and President Obama have already made clear that they don’t intend to prosecute anyone for acts of torture. That’s unfortunate, in that it ensures impunity for those that violated both our laws and our values, but that’s where we are. In the absence of any punishment for torture, though, it is critical that Congress pass legislation that strengthens the legal prohibition against torture. President Obama banned torture by executive order, but executive orders can be rescinded at any time. Only congressional action can permanently
prevent torture. Congress can ensure that the CIA never uses torture again by passing legislation creating one common, humane standard for all interrogations, ensuring that the CIA is permanently put out of the detention business, allowing the Red Cross access to all prisoners, and ensuring that all interrogations are conducted in accordance with the relevant laws and treaties. Among the 119 detainees studied in the report, many endured CIA torture for days or weeks at a time. Twenty-six were wrongly held in violation of the CIA’s own detention standards. Detainees in CIA custody were subjected immediately to aggression. Stress positions. Stripped naked. Deprived of sleep. One detainee was forced to remain awake for 180 hours — through prolonged standing, hands tied overhead, chained to the ceiling. Another was left cold, mostly naked, and chained to a concrete floor until he died of hypothermia. Rough take-downs, meaning getting stripped, hooded, and bound with Mylar tape and dragged out of your cell up and down hallways.
wRiTE-wiNg
Threatening that the only way out was death. One secret torture center used as a dungeon, with shackling, loud noises and darkness. The kind of thing you imagine when you think about medieval torture chambers. Except these are realities that happened mere years ago – and at the hand of U.S. officials. Waterboarding, of course, was common, and is a method most aptly described as mock execution. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), in support of the torture report’s public release, noted that the CIA’s acts of torture “not only failed their purpose – to secure actionable intelligence to prevent further attacks on the U.S. and our allies – but actually damaged our security interests, as well as our reputation as a force for good in the world.” He went on to say that the American people have a right “to know what was done in their name.” More importantly, he pointed out that “in the end, torture’s failure to serve its intended purpose isn’t the main reason to oppose its use. I have often said, and will always maintain, that this question isn’t about our enemies; it’s about us. It’s about who we were, who we are and who we aspire to be.” Sen. McCain is right — this is about us. Will we be a nation where the CIA tortures people in secret and then tries to cover it up? Or will we be a nation of values? Congress and the president can answer that question by passing legislation to permanently prevent the use of torture. Rev. Ron Stief is Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
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.
7
TuEsday
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
16 December 2014
PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE
Why No One Remembers the Peacemakers
G
o to war and every politician will thank you, and they’ll continue to do so -- with monuments and statues, war museums and military cemeteries -- long after you’re dead. But who thanks those who refused to fight, even in wars that most people later realized were tragic mistakes? Consider the 2003 invasion of Iraq, now widely recognized as igniting an ongoing disaster. America’s politicians still praise Iraq War veterans to the skies, but what senator has a kind word to say about the hundreds of thousands of protesters who marched and demonstrated before the invasion was even launched to try to stop our soldiers from risking their lives in the first place? What brings all this to mind is an apparently heartening exception to the rule of celebrating war-makers and ignoring peacemakers. A European rather than an American example, it turns out to be not quite as simple as it first appears. Let me explain. December 25th will be the 100th anniversary of the famous Christmas Truce of the First World War. You probably know the story: after five months of unparalleled industrial-scale slaughter, fighting on the Western Front came to a spontaneous halt. British and German soldiers stopped shooting at each other and emerged into the no-man’s-land between their muddy trenches in France and Belgium to exchange food and gifts. That story -- burnished in recent years by books, songs, music videos, a feature film, and an opera -- is largely true. On Christmas Day, troops did indeed trade cigarettes, helmets, canned food, coat buttons, and souvenirs. They sang carols, barbecued a pig, posed for photographs together, and exchanged German beer for British rum. In several spots, men from the rival armies played soccer together. The ground was pocked with shell craters and proper balls were scarce, so the teams made use of tin cans or sandbags stuffed with straw instead. Officers up to the rank of colonel emerged from the trenches to greet their counterparts on the other side, and they, too, were photographed together. (Refusing to join the party, however, was 25-year-old Adolf Hitler, at the front with his German army unit. He thought the truce shocking and dishonorable.) Unlike most unexpected outbreaks of peace, the anniversary of this one is being celebrated with extraordinary officially sanctioned fanfare. The British Council, funded in part by the government and invariably headed by a peer or knight, has helped distribute an “education pack” about the Truce to every primary and secondary school in the United Kingdom. It includes photos, eyewitness accounts, lesson plans, test questions, student worksheets, and vocabulary phrases in various languages, including “Meet us halfway,” “What are your trenches like?,” and “Can I take your picture?” The British post office has even issued a set of stamps commemorating the Christmas Truce. An exhibit of documents, maps, uniforms, and other Truce-related memorabilia has been on display at city hall in Armentières, France. A commemorative youth soccer tournament with teams from Britain, Belgium, France, Austria, and Germany is taking place in Belgium this month. The local mayor and the British and German ambassadors were recently on hand for a soccer game at a newly dedicated “Flanders Peace Field.” Volunteers from several countries will spend three days and two nights in freshly dug trenches reenacting the Truce. Professional actors, complete with period uniforms, carol-singing, and a soccer match, have already done the same in an elaborate video advertisement for a British supermarket chain. One of the judges for a children’s competition to design a Truce memorial is none other than Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. What Won’t Be Commemorated Given the rarity of peace celebrations of any sort, what’s made the Christmas Truce safe for royalty, mayors, and diplomats? Three things, I believe. First, this event -- remarkable, spontaneous, and genuinely moving as it was -- did not represent a challenge to the sovereignty of war. It was sanctioned by officers on the spot; it was short-lived (the full fury of shelling and machine gunning resumed within a day or two, and poison gas and flamethrowers soon added to the horror); and it was never repeated. It’s safe to celebrate because it threatened nothing. That supermarket video, for instance, advertises a commemorative chocolate bar whose sales proceeds go to the national veterans organization, the Royal British Legion. Second, commemorating anything, even peace instead of war, is good business. Belgium alone expects two million visitors to former battle sites during the war’s four-and-a-half-year centenary period, and has now added one or two peace sites as visitor destinations. The country is putting $41 million in pub-
K
irk Douglas is done with writing. The rakish screen legend with the famously dimpled chin made that abundantly clear on a recent afternoon at his Beverly Hills home, a few days before the release of his poetry collection "Life Could Be Verse: Reflections on Love, Loss, and What Really Matters." "To me, this is my best book, and my last book," said Douglas, seated next to Anne Douglas, his wife of over 60 years. It was a pronouncement that came up more than a few times. The "Spartacus" star, who just turned 98, has 87 films to his name, 11 books, and is one of the last living members of old Hollywood. By now, the world probably thinks it knows Kirk Douglas. But in some ways, "Life Could Be Verse" is his most personal work, featuring poems from throughout his life along with essays and private family photos that help paint a picture of Douglas as a man, a father and a husband. In an industry not known for domestic stability, Kirk and Anne Douglas may be one of the great Hollywood romances. Seated closely on a cozy couch in a home that is elegant, modest and lived-in, the couple recalled their first meet-
adam Hochschild
ly autumn 1918, the Berlin police chief estimated that more than 40,000 deserters were hiding in the TomDispatch.com German capital. No wonder the high command began peace negotiations. Don’t hold your breath either waiting for official celebrations of the war’s mutinies. Nothing threatened the French army more than the most stunning of these, which broke out in the spring of 1917 following a massive attack hyped as the decisive blow that would win the war. Over several days, 30,000 French soldiers were killed and 100,000 wounded, all to gain a few meaningless miles of blood-soaked ground. In the weeks that followed, hundreds of thousands of troops refused to advance further. One group even hijacked a train and tried to drive it to Paris, although most soldiers simply stayed in their camps or trenches and made clear that they would not take part in additional suicidal attacks. This “collective indiscipline,” as the generals euphemistically called it, was hushed up, but it paralyzed the army. French commanders dared launch no more major assaults that year. To this day, the subject remains so touchy that some archival lic funds into museums, exhibits, publicity, and other documents on the mutinies remain closed to retourism infrastructure, beyond private investment in searchers until the 100th anniversary in 2017. new hotel rooms, restaurants, and the like. Finally, the Christmas Truce is tailor-made to Parades for Whom? From Bavaria to New Zealand, town squares across be celebrated by professional soccer, now a huge industry. Top pro players earn $60 million or more the world are adorned with memorials to local men a year. Two Spanish teams are each worth more “fallen” in 1914-1918, and statues and plaques honthan $3 billion. The former manager of Britain’s oring the war’s leading generals can be found from Manchester United team, Sir Alex Ferguson, even Edinburgh Castle to Pershing Square in Los Angeles. teaches at the Harvard Business School. Five of But virtually nothing similar celebrates those who the world’s 10 most valuable teams, however, are served the cause of peace. The Polish-German revoin Britain, which helps account for that country’s lutionary Rosa Luxemburg, who argued against the special enthusiasm for these commemorations. suppression of free speech both in the Kaiser’s GerThe Duke of Cambridge is the official patron of the many and in Soviet Russia, spent more than two years sport’s British governing body, the Football Associ- in a German prison for her opposition to the war. The ation, the equivalent of our NFL. It has joined with eloquent British philosopher Bertrand Russell did six the continent-wide Union of European Football As- months’ time in a London jail for the same reason. The sociations in promoting the Christmas Truce soc- American labor leader Eugene V. Debs, imprisoned cer tournament and other anniversary hoopla. That for urging resistance to the draft, was still in a federal packet of material going to more than 30,000 British penitentiary in Atlanta in 1920, two years after the war ended, when he received nearly a million votes as the schools is titled “Football Remembers.” While such sponsorship represents only a tiny Socialist Party candidate for president. The French socialist Jean Jaurès spoke out paspercentage of the public relations budgets of these organizations, they have surely calculated that asso- sionately against the war he saw coming in 1914 and, ciating soccer with schoolchildren, Christmas, and due to this, was assassinated by a French militarist just a good-news historical event can’t hurt business. four days before the fighting began. (The assassin was All industries keep a close eye on their public im- found innocent because his was labeled a “crime of age, and soccer especially so at the moment, since in passion.”) Against the opposition of their own governmany parts of Europe audiences for it are declining ments, the pioneer social worker Jane Addams and as a barrage of other activities competes for people’s other women helped organize a women’s peace conference in Holland in 1915 with delegates from both leisure time and spending. For nearly four years, as we reach the centenary warring and neutral countries. And in every nation mark for one First World War milestone after anoth- that took part in that terrible war, young men of milier, there will be commemorations galore across Eu- tary age -- thousands of them -- either went to jail or rope. But here’s one thing you can bank on: the Duke were shot for refusing to fight. Jump half a century forward, and you’ll see exof Cambridge and other high dignitaries won’t be caught dead endorsing the anniversaries of far more actly the same pattern of remembrance. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first subversive peace-related events to come. For example, although soldiers from both sides official U.S. combat troops in Vietnam, and already a on the Western Front mixed on that first Christmas of duel is shaping up between the thankers and those the war, the most extensive fraternization happened who want to honor the antiwar movement that later in Russia. In early 1917, under the stress of cata- helped end that senseless tragedy. The Pentagon has already launched a $15 milstrophic war losses, creaky, top-heavy imperial Russia finally collapsed and Tsar Nicholas II and his family lion official commemorative program whose purwere placed under house arrest. More than 300 years pose (does this sound familiar?) is “to thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War... for their serof rule by the Romanov dynasty was over. The impact rippled through the Russian army. vice and sacrifice.” Meanwhile, more than 1,000 An American correspondent at the front watched people, many of us veterans of the U.S. military, the through binoculars as Russian and German enlisted anti-war movement, or both, have signed a petimen met in no-man’s-land. Lack of a common lan- tion insisting that “no commemoration of the war guage was no barrier: the Germans thrust their bay- in Vietnam can exclude the many thousands of vetonets into the earth; the Russians blew across their erans who opposed it, as well as the draft refusals of open palms to show that the Tsar had been swept many thousands of young Americans, some at the away. After November of that year, when the Bolshe- cost of imprisonment or exile.” A recent New York Times article covered the viks -- committed to ending the war -- seized power, fraternization only increased. You can find many controversy. It mentioned that the Pentagon had photographs of Russian and German soldiers posing been forced to make changes at its commemoration together or even, in one case, dancing in couples in website after Nick Turse, writing at TomDispatch. com, pointed out, among other things, how grossly the snow. Generals on both sides were appalled. And here are some people who won't be celebrat- that site understated civilian deaths in the notoried in “education packs” sent to schools, although they ous My Lai massacre. Perhaps when the next anniversary of the Iraq were crucial in helping bring the war to an end: deserters. An alarmed British military attaché in Russia War comes around, it’s time to break with a tradiestimated that at least a million Russian soldiers de- tion that makes ever less sense in our world. Next serted their ill-fed, badly equipped army, most sim- time, why not have parades to celebrate those who ply walking home to their villages. This lay behind the tried to prevent that grim, still ongoing conflict agreement that halted fighting on the Eastern Front from starting? Of course, there’s an even better way to honor and thank veterans of the struggle long before it ended in the West. In the final weeks of the war in the West, the Ger- for peace: don’t start more wars. man army began melting away, too. The desertions Adam Hochschild’s most recent book, To End All Wars: A Story came not from the front lines but from the rear, of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918, won the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. where hundreds of thousands of soldiers either dis- During the Vietnam era, he was a U.S. Army Reservist and a founder appeared or evaded orders to go to the front. By earof the Reservists Committee to Stop the War.
“Arena of mind” portrays a space for idea germination, a field where ideas from multi-disciplinary viewpoints fertilize the world of intelligence. The writers aspire to envision a new future by exploring the mind, discovering new seeds of insights and unleashing them to enlightenment.
I Care. do you? sr. salomi Lakra
W
Department of chemistry St. Joseph college. Jakhama
e live in the world of growth and progress; Science is progressing. You and I are growing, developing and progressing. Everyone likes to progress in one way or the other; the human beings, animals and nature as well but the fact is that we the supreme beings are progressing at the cost of destruction of the latter. We boast of doing things saying, we have the right to do this or that. Why can’t we think of walking the road of progress without destroying the beautiful nature around us? Why are we so deaf to the silent whisper of the nature which is crying out day and night, ‘save me, take care of me today and I will take care of you today, tomorrow and the days to come’? Nagaland, the land of beauty and plenty in nature as well as people are admired and appreciated today by the rest of the globe for our rich biodiversity and for the natural resources we possess. The beautiful nature, the trees, the mountains, the different culturesrich and rare is all the centre of attraction for the outsiders. The rich beauty that we enjoy today has been enjoyed, taken care and preserved by our ancestors in the past and will be enjoyed by our future generation too. But it only depends on how much of beauty in nature will remain in the future for the next generation to see and enjoy. The natural resources are diminishing. The flora and fauna around us are slowly disappearing. The trees and mountains are being cut down in our day today’s living. Nobody feels anything wrong about it. Sometimes I wonder, will our future generation know what a mountain is and how it looked like? In the month of December we proudly and joyfully celebrate the long awaited festival – ‘Hornbill Festival’. It’s the festival where all the people of Nagaland exhibit their culture. It is nice to witness such rich heritage which we possess. When I think of the festival’s name, the first thing that comes to my mind is – the Hornbill bird. How does it look like in reality? Is it big and beautiful as we see in the picture? How much of truth is there in the picture of Hornbill bird? Such questions arise because we do not see them in reality. What is the reason for its rare existence? The truth is that every single thing we do every day has an impact on the planet – good or bad. The good news is that as an individual you and me have the power to control most of our choices and therefore the impact we create, from where we live to what we buy, eat and use to light our home, to where and how we spend our vacation, to how we shop, we can have global impact. In protecting biodiversity and inspiring medicine, rainforests are also excellent carbon sinks. It benefits everyone on the planet to help keep our wild spaces alive and growing. But embracing a greener lifestyle isn’t just about helping to preserve equatorial rain forests, it can also mean improving our health, padding our bank account and ultimately improving our overall quality of life. So let us make a difference and go green. Some of the ways to go green are to love the earth, reduce, reuse and recycle the products that can recycled, turn off the lights while you leave the room and be conscious of energy management and wastage, don’t leave gadgets plugged in all the time, use re-usable totes for grocery shopping, wash full loads at a time. don’t leave the water running, use solar energy that can help us save electric energy, eat organic food for healthy and disease free life, avoid using bottled water as it is not healthy in the long run and always be conscious of using things that won’t harm the mother earth. There is a great need to impart ecological education in our educational institutions, instill in the minds of students the need for promoting, protecting and preserving the rich natural resources of our land. Our youth can play a vital role in enabling the environmental protection and educating the young ones, the need to keep our land protected. We need to rediscover our natural resources and keep them from destruction. I care for our mother earth and wish every one of us can be an ambassador of ecological promotion. With some of these different ways of living our life let us progress together with nature. Let us join hand in hand with the nature and move towards ‘progresses’. Be green, live green and go green.
Kirk and Anne Douglas reflect on 60-year romance ing in Paris. He was working on the film "Act of Love." She was the publicist. "I thought she was so beautiful, and I lowered my voice and said, 'Would you like to have dinner?'" he said. "I waited for an answer and she said, 'No, I think I will go home and make some eggs and go to bed.'" Anne Douglas (then Buydens) had her own thoughts about transient movie stars. A lot of her friends were going out with actors at the time. "I said to myself, I'm not going to do that. I will work and I will do my work for the movie that I was hired for, but no intimate connection with the movie stars," she said. Then she attended a charity event where actors played the parts of circus performers. Kirk Douglas, sporting a tuxedo, decided his talent would be cleaning up after the elephants. "I held on until he picked up the elephant doo," she said, laughing heartily. "That did it for me." Douglas, not missing a beat, chimed in: "Obviously she was looking for a garbage collector." Still, a cute beginning is hard-
Lindsey Bahr AP Film Writer
In this Friday, December 5, 2014 photo, Kirk Douglas, right, and wife Anne Douglas pose for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo)
ly noteworthy. Longevity is. "Ro"I'm a romantic guy. You think mance begins at 80, and I ought to I'm always shooting guns with John know," he said, referencing one of Wayne, but I can be romantic. And, his poems. listen, we're sitting here. We have
been married for 60 years. A few poems help." Romance is just one of their secrets. Over the years, they have devoted themselves to philanthropy. The shared passion has been important for the couple, who've endured tragedy and loss, including his stroke in 1996 and the death of their youngest son, Eric Douglas, in 2004. "Our goal has been, since we're able to do that, to help a little bit and to share what you have with those in need. That has been a very big bond between us," said Anne Douglas. They've sold art from their personal collection to help fund various causes, including the restoration of over 400 playgrounds in the Los Angeles area and the development of a shelter for homeless women downtown. In 2012, the couple pledged $50 million to five charitable organizations. Giving has been in Kirk Douglas' bones since childhood. "I was a boy who didn't have enough to eat. I had six sisters, no brothers. We were living by the railroad tracks and every night, hobos would come and knock on the door. And even
though we didn't have enough, my mother always saved something so when they came to the door, she had something to give them. She taught me at an early age to help other people." His career is pointedly on the back burner as he reflects on his life. A rebel on the screen and off, he counts crediting blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo on "Spartacus" as his most rebellious move. "I was much younger then, and I was much more stubborn," he said. Now, Kirk and Anne Douglas are focused on their home, family and reflecting on a life well-lived. They recently hosted Thanksgiving at their home near Santa Barbara. Among the 14 attendees were Michael Douglas, his children and Michael Douglas' mother, actress Diana Dill, whom Anne Douglas refers to as "our ex-wife." "We are living in a town of make-believe. I have done about 90 movies. That means that every time I was pretending to be someone else. There comes a time in your life when you say, well, 'who am I?'" he said. "I have found writing books a good substitute to making pictures. When you write a book, you get to determine what part you are playing."
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
Dimapur
NATIONAL
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Four shot dead in Bihar for refusing to share fish
Patna, December 15 (IanS): Four people were shot dead in Bihar allegedly by a group of people belonging to upper caste for refusing to share the fish caught by them, police said Monday. The shooting took place late Sunday when the four people, belonging to poorest of the poor Bind caste, were busy catching fish in a water body near Aiyara village in Patna district, a police officer said. “They were killed by a group of armed upper caste people after they refused to share fish caught by them from a water body, which is in the government land,” the police officer said. Angry over the killing, hundreds of people Monday blocked roads and demanded arrest of the accused. All those killed were supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), which enjoys support of Dalits and backward castes in its stronghold Paliganj. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said a case was lodged against seven people on the basis of statement of an injured man. Rana said police have raided several places to arrest the alleged killers and top officials of the district administration were camping at the incident site.
SC allows new CBI chief to take over probe into 2G cases
new DelhI, December 15 (IanS): The Supreme Court Monday permitted newly-appointed CBI Director Anil Sinha to take over the probe into 2G cases. A bench headed by Chief Justice H.L.Dattu passed the order on an application by the probe agency seeking clarification on its earlier order removing then Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief Ranjit Sinha from the investigation and prosecution of the 2G cases. Noting Ranjit Sinha has retired and Anil Sinha has been appointed in his place, the court said that “in view of the subsequent development we permit him to take over and continue with investigation”. The court Dec 2 asked Ranjit Sinha to stay away from investigation and prosecution of 2G cases. The court’s directive came on a plea by NGO Centre for Public Interest’s lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who sought direction that Ranjit Sinha should desist from interfering in the investigation and prosecution of the 2G cases. Bhushan claimed that Ranjit Sinha frequently met with the 2G accused or people allegedly operating on their behalf at his official residence. The court had ordered Ranjit Sinha to recuse himself from 2G investigation and prosecution as it had held “credible” the allegations of interference and scuttling of investigation and prosecution by Sinha in the 2G spectrum cases.
An Indian man pours milk into a huge pot to prepare tea at a roadside stall in old parts of New Delhi on Monday, December 15. Cold wave conditions have intensified in the capital after scattered rains occurred in some parts of the city on Sunday, according to local reports. (AP Photo)
India to boost women taxi drivers
new DelhI, December 15 (reuterS): The alleged rape of a woman passenger by an Uber taxi driver once again spotlights the risks of India’s transport system, which fails to keep women safe. One solution: Taxis driven by women for women. Last year, Kerala launched ‘She Taxis’, a fleet of 40 pink taxis run by women, and fitted with wireless tracking gear and panic buttons linked to call centres. Now the service has become a model for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to replicate nationwide, its chief executive says. “The Delhi incident shows the need for ‘She Taxis’ all over the country,” P.T.M. Sunish told Reuters. ‘She Taxis’ has ferried 24,000 people on about 10,000 trips since Nov. 2013. Demand so far exceeds supply that as many as half of callers have to be turned away, Sunish said. “I feel secure and the family is satisfied,” said Aswathy Sreekumar, 25, a technology worker who has used the service for seven months, after finishing work at midnight. “Otherwise, I keep getting calls from my parents.” Rising sex crimes have prompted Indian states and small firms to launch taxi services run by women. The trend grew after Dec. 2012 protests over the rape of a young woman on a moving bus in the capital, New Delhi, and her subsequent death. Tougher laws and promises of better policing have proved ineffectual. India’s public transport is the fourth most dangerous in the world for women, and nighttime safety ranks second worst, a recent poll showed. Women commuters face sexual harassment and public transport is seen as risky. “The Uber incident reinforces that you are safer when a taxi is driven by a woman. People would be keener now,” said social activist Susieben Shah, who started Priyadarshini Taxi Service in 2010 in Mumbai. Now it aims to expand to New Delhi and the tech hub of Bengaluru. Another company, Sakha Cabs, with 14 taxis in the capital, plans to expand in Jaipur and in eastern Kolkata. Still, expansion is slow. Reluctant investors fear the tiny number of women drivers will brake future expansion, and India’s male-dominated social structure will deter aspirant drivers. After the Uber incident India is stepping up support for such training, an official of the Ministry of Women & Child Development told Reuters. But critics say better security is the answer. “Government always resorts to knee-jerk reactions,” said Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for Social Research. “Failure in law and order implementation cannot be compensated by such measures.”
The Morung Express
Conversion row stalls Rajya Sabha, government suggests ban
new DelhI, December 15 (IanS): Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha continued to be disrupted Monday and led to the house’s adjournment for the day as opposition members kept up their protest over conversions and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak on the issue even as the government suggested a ban on the practice. Though the government agreed to a discussion, the opposition was not ready to relent unless Prime Minister Modi participated. “The opposition can take the decision... There is no difference in opinion that such incidents (forced conversions) shall stop. Is the opposition wanting ban on conversion or forced conversions?” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said as adjournments marred the proceedings of the upper house, where the opposition is in the majority. The issue is expected to echo Tuesday as well, with opposition refusing to relent without a statement by the prime minister. Government sources however said they will table the insurance bill in the upper house in any case. The opposition has have been protesting in wake of recent reports of conversion of Muslims to Hinduism, and also Bharatiya Janata Party MP Yogi Adityanath’ comment supporting a mass conversion programme. Adityanath reportedly said that there is nothing wrong if people re-convert to Hinduism if they are doing it willingly. Pro-
Scared of ‘mass conversion ceremony’, Christian community seeks additional security on Christmas eve alIGarh, December 15 (PtI): Amid the proposed mass conversion ceremony by leaders of an Aligarh-based outfit here on December 25, the Christian community has sought for additional security for their churches in the city. “Following reports that the organizers of this ‘ghar wapsi’ programme may shift their venue to different rural-based destinations in Aligarh and Hathras districts, we have stepped up intelligence operations in these areas,” DIG of Aligarh Zone Amit Agarwal said. “The members of the Christian community had sought additional security for their churches in different parts of the city on Christmas eve and we have assured them of full protection under law,” he said. Reverend Jonathan Lal of the Methodist Church, meanwhile, said that the leaders of the ruling Samajwadi government have assured full tests started Monday as soon as the house met for the day, when Congress leader Anand Sharma raised the issue and said they had given a notice for suspension of question hour. “There is a serious situation in the country. An organisation that calls itself a social organisation, has started a controversial programme on ‘ghar wapsi (homecoming)’,” he said. The house was then adjourned by Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien till 12 noon. As proceedings resumed, the entire opposition appeared united as the adjournment notice was submitted by the Congress. While the motion was not
support to the community. “Yesterday, prominent local leaders of the ruling Samajwadi Party met us and gave an assurance regarding our safety and security. We are also satisfied by the security measures taken by the district authorities,” he said. “The decision to hold this so called re-conversion programme on Christmas day is an ominous move but, we are confident that with the goodwill of all sections of the people the festival of Christmas will be marked by goodwill and peace,” he added. Taking note of the outfit’s plan to “convert a large number of people” on December 25, the district authorities had last week issued a warning to those trying to disturb communal amity and asked citizens not to get provoked. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were clamped in the city yesterday.
accepted by Chairman M. Hamid Ansari, who was in the chair, the government agreed for a discussion. Protests continued in the question hour, forcing Ansari to adjourn the house for 10 minutes and then till 2 p.m. In the post-lunch session, the uproar continued and opposition members said they wanted Modi to assure the house that such incidents will stop. On the government’s side, Jaitley, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Home Minister Rajnath Singh were present in the house, and offered to take up the discussion immediately. However, opposi-
tion parties insisted that Modi be called to speak. “The incidents that are happening are a violation of the Constitution, and people related to ruling party are doing this,” Sharma alleged. Jaitley dismissed the opposition’s stand, saying they did not want a debate, but only to disrupt the house. Communist Party of IndiaMarxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury then said mere discussion is not enough. Kurien said it is for government to decide who will answer the debate, also asking if the member was questioning the home minister’s competence.
Members from the Congress and the Samajwadi Party then trooped near the chairman’s podium, raising slogans. Other opposition members were seen raising slogans standing at their seats. In the din, the house was adjourned for half an hour, and later for the day. Talking to reporters later, Sharma slammed the government for suggesting a ban on conversions. “It is out of the purview of constitution. State does not have a religion, and it cannot tell people what religion to follow,” he said. Sources from the BJP said there is no scope for the prime minister to come to the Rajya Sabha Tuesday as well as he is engaged in campaigning for the assembly elections in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir - where the last round of the five phase polls will take place Dec 20. However, a senior BJP leader said government is confident of tabling the insurance bill in the upper house Tuesday, even if the opposition continues the disruptions. He also expressed confidence over getting the bill, which raises the Foreign Direct Investment cap in insurance sector to 49 percent, will be passed in the winter session. The government is in a minority in the upper house and is counting on the Congress’s support for the passage of the contentious bill. Congress had backed the report on the bill by a select panel of the house.
Pro-Islamic State tweeter did not recruit for IS: Rajnath new DelhI, Dec 15 (IanS): Pro-Islamic State (IS) tweeter Mehdi Masroor Biswas was not involved in recruiting for the terror group and his role seemed to be limited to putting material on social networking sites, the Indian government said Monday. Making a suo motu statement in parliament, union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said during interrogation, Biswas, who was arrested early Saturday, denied recruiting any
people for the terror group. “The interrogation of Biswas has indicated that his activities were limited to posting and reposting of pro-IS material on his Twitter account and social media sites. He has denied having recruited any person for IS,” he said in separate statements in Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. Rajnath Singh informed that during interrogation, Biswas disclosed that more than 60 percent of his Twitter account followers were non-Muslims
and a majority of his Muslim followers were from the western countries, particularly Britain. “Biswas started closely following the developments in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan through internet during his college days and has been active in the social networking sites since 2009,” he said. “Over a period of time Biswas started interacting with people in the social networking sites on matters related to ‘Jihad’,” the minister said.
Biswas was arrested early Saturday following a British news channel Dec 11 unmasking the 24-yearold executive as a supporter of IS through social media and Twitter handle @ ShamiWitness. Biswas was picked from his one-room rented house in the northeast suburbs of Bengaluru early Saturday. Karnataka Director General of Police Lal Rokhuma Pachau had told reporters that Biswas was found asleep by the police team.
Rajnath Singh said Biswas has been arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and provisions of the Indian Penal Code. He said Biswas belongs to a middle class family from Kolkata and did his electrical engineering from Guru Nanak Dev Institute of Technology in 2012. He joined ITC following a campus recruitment drive and is currently employed with the company. Biswas’ father N. Masroor Biswas, who was
employed with the West Bengal electricity board, however refused to believe that his son has any links with the terror group and claimed his account was hacked. In Bengaluru, a senior police official received a threat tweet Sunday, a day after Biswas was arrested there.The tweet from an unknown Twitter account (abouanfa16) threatened Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Abhishek Goyal of revenge for arresting Mehdi.
AI plane almost hits UAV in Leh
new DelhI, December 15 (tnn): This is possibly the closest a close shave can get. An Air India aircraft operating the ultra difficult Delhi-Leh sector recently was prevented by a disaster twice on the same day — once each time it was approaching to land in Leh on the two flights it operated that day — by the sheer presence of mind shown by its pilots. While communication failure at Leh air traffic control (ATC) tower was the common problem in both the approaches, an unmanned aerial vehicle added to the problem on the second flight. On the first approach, AI’s Airbus A-320 flying in as AI 3449 experienced communication failure with the air traffic control (ATC) tower managed by Indian Air Force at this defence air field. The aircraft landed safely and did a quick return flight to Delhi. The same pilots then flew the same aircraft back to Leh. The Leh airport
has a short window of flight operations that begins from 22 minutes after sunrise (by when shadows of nearby hills do not linger over the airfield) to just after noon from when winds become so strong that aircraft movement is not possible. “On the second approach to Leh, once again there was a communication failure at the ATC. This time no green flares were fired and the aircraft did a go around when it was just seconds away from touchdown. While climbing up after the aborted landing, the pilots were in for another shock. An UAV was in their go-around flight path. The aircraft barely missed this UAV by about 100 feet,” said sources. The aircraft then climbed to 14,500 feet before making a stable approach to land in the second attempt. The flight out of Leh — that was to be an army charter to fly out soldiers from Leh — was cancelled and grounded,” said sources.
An Indian man pulls a cycle rickshaw carrying bundles of clothes near the Jama Masjid, one of the biggest mosques situated on a busy street in the old parts of New Delhi on Monday, December 15. Old Delhi despite of being extremely crowded and dilapidated still serves as the symbolic heart of the city. (AP Photo)
Govt wants schools to observe ‘good governance day’ on Christmas naGPur, December 15 (tnn): If the Union government has its way, CBSE schools may have to remain open on this Christmas. The Union human resource development ministry wants to celebrate the birthdays of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Hindu Mahasabha leader Madan Mohan Malviya by observing ‘good governance day’ on December 25. The BJP government wants CBSE to carry out various activities, like an essay competition, so that students’ participation increases. Although CBSE has not communicated this to its affiliated schools yet, the Union government-run Navodaya Vidyalays have issued a circular to their schools. The Navodaya schools operate in rural areas on the lines of Kendriya Vidyalayas, and are affiliated to CBSE. The Navodaya circular says CBSE will be organizing an essay competition on December 24 and 25, the topics for which will be declared on December 23. The essay competition will be held separately for standards I-V, standards VI-VIII and standards IX-X. Navodaya commissioner GS Bothyal has asked schools to conduct quiz competitions,
screen documentaries on best practices in good governance and perform other related activities on Christmas. While there won’t be a Christmas holiday for Navodaya schools, the central board hasn’t given any direction to private CBSE schools yet. It is also not clear whether staying open on Christmas would be mandatory for such schools. A senior CBSE official told TOI that asking schools to remain open on Christmas Day would be tricky, especially if they are Christian schools. “I have been told about December 24 and that is still being worked out. Schools have not been informed anything yet,” the official added. Adhering to the ministry’s plan would throw the schools’ vacation schedule off-course. Almost all CBSE schools in the country start their winter vacations from either December 23 or 24. CBSE is expected to make an announcement on the matter soon. Another senior CBSE official said conducting just the essay competition might not require schools to remain open. “As the format of our ‘expression series’ gives the option of submitting essays online, this vacation issue can be resolved. But if something more, like
on-ground activities, has to be done then it is going to be a problem,” he said. A school principal from Nagpur expressed concern that the HRD ministry’s plan would be unfair to students belonging to the Christian community. “The day has religious importance which will be inconvenient for Christian staff and students,” said the principal. Some other principals said the contest was wrongly timed. “The schools will close for Christmas vacation from December 24 or earlier. The students will be busy with their plans for the vacation and participation may be very low. The government could celebrate the day on December 25 but contests for the schools should have been scheduled earlier to avoid a clash with the festival and vacation,” said a CBSE school principal, on condition of anonymity. It also discriminated against a minority community since December 25 was the most important day of the year for Christians in India and across the world, he added. Schools will be able to submit their best performances both online and offline. Best 36 entries will be awarded Rs 2,500 and a certificate.
Schools to remain closed December 25: CBSE new DelhI, December 15 (IanS): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Monday said no special directions were issued to open schools on December 25 and the regular vacation schedule would be followed to observe the day as a holiday. Accusing a section of the media of floating a distorted impression about the CBSE requiring schools to remain open on Christmas, the education board said in a statement that its proposed instructions were for a two-day online essay competition starting from Dec 24, which was “completely voluntary” for students to participate from their homes or any other place. The human resource development (HRD) ministry came under fire over a circular by the Navodya Vidyalaya Samiti asking all its schools to observe Dec 25 as “Good Governance Day” by organising various competitions for students. According to the CBSE statement, Navodaya schools are residential schools and their vacation pattern depend on climate conditions in their respective regions. However, students living in hostels on the school premises would have the opportunity to participate in the essay competition on voluntary basis, the statement said. Meanwhile, all Kendriya Vidyalayas would also remain closed during the period, and their students can participate voluntarily in the online essay competition.
InternatIonal
the Morung express
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Dimapur
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Sydney siege: Tensions surface as Muslims fear backlash SYDNeY, December 15 (reUTerS): Religious leaders and ordinary Australians sought to defuse communal tensions on Monday, after a siege at a Sydney cafe by a gunman who forced hostages to display an Islamic flag raised fears of a backlash against the country’s Muslim minority. Within hours of the attack on the Lindt cafe in the centre of the city, a Muslim group reported that women wearing the hijab had been spat on and the rightwing Australian Defence League called on followers to protest at two major mosques. The protests did not materialise and little is known about the true motives of the gunman. But in the harbourside city, home to half of Australia’s 500,000 Muslims, police moved on a man shouting anti-Islamic abuse at the scene of the ongoing siege. The man strode up to a police cordon and shouted: “Someone is going to die here because of Islam! There is no such thing as moderate Islam. Wake up and smell the coffee.” He was confronted by another man who shouted back: “Muslims are welcome here.” Police urged the first man to leave, to a mix of catcalls and claps of support. The siege coincides with growing concerns in Australia about the dangers posed by Islamist militants,
beIJING, December 15 (AFP): A Chinese teenager executed after being convicted of murder and rape 18 years ago was declared innocent by a court on Monday, in a rare overturning of a wrongful conviction. The 18-year-old, named Hugjiltu and also known as Qoysiletu, was found guilty and put to death in Inner Mongolia in 1996, but doubt was cast on the verdict when another
Aussies offer support to Muslims Jill Lawless
Associated Press
Some Australian social-media users have sent a message of solidarity to Muslims as the Sydney cafe siege stretches on, offering to accompany anyone who felt intimidated on public transit. The Twitter hashtag (Hash) IllRideWithYou had been used more than 90,000 times by early Tuesday, as tweeters tried to allay fears of anti-Islamic attacks on Australia’s streets. An unknown number of hostages were being held inside Sydney’s Lindt Chocolat Cafe by a gunman who had a flag bearing an Islamic declaration of faith that has been used in jihadi imagery. That prompted speculation that the siege could ignite retaliatory violence against Muslims. Sydney resident Rachael Jacobs wrote on Facebook that she had seen a woman on the train remove her headscarf
and offered to walk with her. That spurred a Twitter campaign in which users offered to travel on public transit with those in Islamic dress who felt insecure. Users were encouraged to supply details of their travel routes to ensure their online gestures were practical. Kristen Boschma, a social media manager in Melbourne, printed out a sticker with the hashtag and stuck it on her bag. Her photo of the sticker was retweeted hundreds of times. She said she wanted to send a message of support “not just for the Muslim community, but for anyone who feels a bit scared or insecure about taking transport or being out and about.” Boschma said she hoped the siege would prove “galvanizing rather than polarizing” for Australia. “We very much believe in looking out for our mates,” she said. “And I think this situation has widened the definition of what is a mate.”
Hostages run towards armed tactical response police as they run to freedom from a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney on Tuesday, December 16. New South Wales state police would not say what was happening inside the cafe or whether hostages were being held. But television footage shot through the cafe’s windows showed several people with their arms in the air. (AP Photo)
with the country’s security agency raising its national terrorism public alert to “high” in September. The same month, anti-terrorism police said they had thwarted an imminent threat to behead a random member of the public and days later, a teenager in the city of Melbourne was shot dead after attacking two anti-terrorism officers with a knife.
lice Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he was working closely with community groups and there would be an increased police presence in the city to “ensure that everyone is kept safe”. The Australian National Imams Council, together with the Grand Mufti of Australia, issued a statement saying it “condemns this criminal act unequivocally”. An umbrella organ“Shock and horror” New South Wales Po- isation encompassing all of
the major Muslim groups in the country called for calm and expressed “utter shock and horror”. The group stressed that the black and white flag, displayed by tense hostages in the window of the cafe and juxtaposed against the “Merry Christmas” sign stencilled beneath it, was a statement of faith, not politics. “We remind everyone that the Arabic inscription on the black flag is not rep-
resentative of a political statement, but reaffirms a testimony of faith that has been misappropriated by misguided individuals that represent nobody but themselves,” the group said in a statement. News of the hostage drama flashed around Sydney shortly after most of the city had begun the working day, shattering what should have been a quiet Monday in the sunny Australian commercial capital just
over a week before Christmas. Samier Dandan, a spokesman for the Imams Council, said the group had already received reports of women wearing the hijab, or Islamic head scarf, being spat on and harassed. “We are sending out the message to our community to be vigilant about where they are going because we don’t want any incidents to fuel the fire,” Dandan said. Those reports bore out concerns of locals like Mo-
hamad Hasan, a computer engineer who emigrated to Australia from Jordan 20 years ago, who said he was deeply worried that Muslims like his wife could be attacked simply for wearing traditional clothing. “I am worried because maybe I don’t look like a Muslim, but my wife like, (is) wearing a head scarf, so she might be affected by this,” Hasan said, speaking a few metres from the scene of the hostage crisis. “Some
Executed teen found innocent 18 years on
man confessed to the crime in 2005. “The Inner Mongolia Higher People’s Court finds Hugjiltu’s original guilty verdict... is not consistent with the facts and there is insufficient evidence,” the court in Hohhot said in a statement. The retrial comes after a pledge by leaders of the ruling Communist Party to strengthen the rule of law “with Chinese characteris-
tics”, a concept experts caution refers to greater central control over the courts rather than judicial independence. The court’s deputy president gave Hugjiltu’s parents compensation of 30,000 yuan ($4,850), according to the official Xinhua News Agency, although the money was a personal donation by the head of the court, it added, rather than an official payment by the institution.
Images on social media showed the deputy president apologizing to Hugjiltu’s now elderly parents. “This is an amazing thing the court did, to admit that they were wrong,” said Wang Gongyi, deputy director of the research institute of the Ministry of Justice. “It also sends a clear message to the police and prosecutors around the country: if there’s not enough evidence, don’t
impose wrongful convictions,” he told AFP. “In the future, this case will be singled out as what not to do and will influence the entire legal system.” Police in Hohhot, where the crime took place, said they opened an investigation into the officers responsible for the original case, according to the Legal Evening News. The regional court said Hugjiltu’s confession did not match
the autopsy report as well as being inconsistent with “other evidence”, and that DNA evidence presented at the trial did not definitively connect him to the crime. China’s courts, controlled by the ruling Communist Party, have a near100 percent conviction rate in criminal cases and confessions extracted under dubious conditions are commonplace. In Hugjiltu’s case, authorities interrogat-
ed the teenager for 48 hours, after which he confessed to having raped and choked the woman in the toilet of a textile factory, the staterun China Daily newspaper reported in November. He was executed 61 days after the woman’s death. Hugjiltu’s family tried to prove his innocence for nearly a decade, according to reports, and the Higher People’s Court officially began a retrial in Novem-
stupid people ... think ‘this is a Muslim, we should get revenge (on) everyone looking like a Muslim’.” But many Australians took to social media to express their support for Muslims. The Twitter hash tag “#illridewithyou”, expressing support for Muslims who felt vulnerable on public transport in the wake of the siege, attracted tens of thousands of messages of supporters within a few hours.
ber. Several high-profile wrongful convictions have sparked public outrage in recent years. Last year, a man who served 17 years in prison for killing his wife was declared innocent by an appeals court in the eastern province of Anhui. A few months earlier two men who had been sentenced to death and life in prison in 2004 for the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl were also acquitted.
Nut Rage: Korean Air CEO’s daughter apologizes to steward Hong Kong police close last protest site, arrest protesters
SeOUL, December 15 (PTI): The daughter of Korean Air’s CEO visited a cabin crew chief on Sunday to apologize for kicking him off a plane over the way she was served some nuts, as allegations emerged that she forced him to kneel and ask forgiveness. Cho Hyun-Ah, a top executive at Korean Air, resigned on Tuesday from all her posts at the family-run flag carrier in the face of
an intense public backlash and escalating investigations by state authorities. The 40-year-old forced a New York-Seoul flight to return to the terminal and eject the head of cabin crew on December 5 after she took exception to the arrival of some macadamia nuts she had not asked for, and to the fact they were served in a packet rather than a bowl. Cho, sitting in first class, forced cabin manager Park
Chang-Jin and a female attendant to kneel in front of her, calling Park names, pushing him into the cockpit door and jabbing him with a service manual, according to his account of the incident. Cho visited the homes of both staff members this morning to offer a personal apology, but neither was home so she left notes at their doors saying sorry, a company spokeswoman told AFP. Cho has denied that
she forced the pair to kneel. “I’ve never heard such thing. I don’t know anything about it,” she said when reporters asked her to confirm claims made by Park in an interview with Seoul’s KBS television station broadcast Friday night. Another passenger who was sitting in first class on the flight confirmed most of Park’s account and said she saw the two attendants on their knees.
“I felt so sorry for the flight attendants, who looked totally terrified at her,” the passenger told KBS after meeting with Seoul prosecutors yesterday to give testimony over the incident. Park said in his interview with KBS that the incident had been deeply humiliating. “You can’t imagine the humiliation I felt unless you experience it yourself,” he said.
“She said, ‘Make contact (with air traffic control) right now to stop the plane. I’m not going to let this plane go.’ How could I disobey the daughter of the owner in a situation like that?” Park said. He has also claimed that Korean Air officials had for the past week pressed him to blame himself over the incident. The airline declined to comment on the allegation.
At UN climate talks, a crack in rich-poor barrier A canyon cuts through the Andes mountains in Peru on December 7. The momentum from a historic U.S.-China pact to resist global warming is showing signs of fading at the U.N. climate talks in Peru, as the familiar rich-poor conflict persists over who should do what to keep the planet from overheating. Time remains to work things out as environment ministers are just starting to arrive. The conference’s high-level phase begins Tuesday. (AP Photo)
LIMA, December 15 (AP): A last-minute deal that salvaged U.N. climate talks from collapse early Sunday sends a signal the rich-poor divide that long held up progress can be overcome with a year to go before a landmark pact is supposed to be adopted in Paris. Still, it remains to be seen whether governments can come up with a new formula for how countries in different stages of development should contribute in a way that keeps global warming from reaching dangerous levels. “This issue will be contentious and it will need to be worked through all the way to Paris,” U.S. climate
envoy Todd Stern said after the marathon talks in Lima finished, more than 30 hours behind schedule. The U.N. talks were still far away from reaching any agreement on reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to a level that scientists say would keep global warming in check. But the Paris agreement would be the first to call on all countries to control their emissions. The U.S. and other developed nations say that means tearing down the firewall in negotiations that compels only rich countries to rein in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Though it was agreed in
2011 that goals set in Paris would be “applicable to all,” many developing countries worry they will be required to take on emissions controls that stymie their economic growth. In Lima they angrily rejected a draft text that made no mention of different responsibilities and capabilities to fight global warming. “We are in a differentiated world. That is the reality,” Malaysian negotiator Gurdial Singh Nijar told delegates. “Many of you colonized us, so we started from a completely different point.” Despite the tough rhetoric, the conference ended Sunday with a compromise based on a groundbreaking
U.S.-China deal on emissions targets last month. The Lima decision noted the principle in the 1992 U.N. climate change convention that countries have “common but differentiated responsibilities” to tackle climate change. But like the U.S.-China deal, it added that this should be seen “in light of different national circumstances,” suggesting countries’ responsibilities change over time as they develop. “It sounds like a tiny thing, but it’s very important,” said Nathaniel Keohane, vice president of the Environmental Defense Fund. “I think we’re starting to see the plates move.” How to interpret what it means in practice is going to be critical over the next year as countries firm up their emissions targets for the Paris agreement. Asked about the implications of the Lima deal, Chinese negotiator Su Wei repeated China’s mantra that the purpose of the Paris agreement is to “reinforce and enhance” the 1992 convention, not rewrite it. “This paragraph may represent a compromise that both sides can interpret as they choose to,” said Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Yet the joint announcement with the U.S. signaled
that China is ready to assume a bigger role in the global response to climate change. For the first time, the world’s biggest carbon polluter set a fixed target to peak emissions by 2030. Showing signs that it, too, anticipates the end of a binary view of the world, Brazil put forth a proposal of “concentric circles” with different expectations for developed, emerging economies and least-developed countries. The final agreement in Lima didn’t address Brazil’s proposal, though it noted that climate action plans by least-developed countries and small island nations should reflect their “special circumstances.” All countries are supposed to present their plans to control emissions before the Paris agreement next year. In Lima, negotiators listed things that countries “may” want to include in their pledges, such as time frames, base years and methods for calculating emissions. China and other developing countries blocked a proposal for a review process that would allow the pledges to be compared against each other. Instead, the U.N. climate agency will prepare a report analyzing the “aggregate” effect of all pledges a month
before Paris. Meanwhile, rich countries resisted any firm commitments of money to help poor countries tackle climate change, though many separately announced pledges to a Green Climate Fund set up for that purpose. Environmental groups worried the outcome of the Paris talks will be a purely voluntary system where both developed and developing countries propose weak voluntary actions without regard to the deep emissions cuts scientists say are needed to avoid dangerous levels of warming. Emissions keep rising every year because cuts in rich countries aren’t enough to offset fast growth in China, India and other emerging economies. Meanwhile, climate impacts ranging from sea level rise and increasingly freakish weather are becoming more noticeable as warming continues. This year could go down as the hottest on record. “Political leaders at the U.N. talks need to be reminded that they can’t negotiate with the climate,” said Mohamed Adow, a climate change expert at Christian Aid. “Otherwise we’re in danger of sleepwalking into a failed deal in Paris.”
HONG KONG, December 15 (AP): Hong Kong police tore down barricades, folded up tents and arrested some protesters Monday at a third and final prodemocracy protest camp, ending demonstrations that blocked traffic in the southern Chinese city’s streets for 2 1/2 months. A police negotiator gave the 17 protesters one last chance to leave voluntarily from a short stretch of road in Causeway Bay before officers started taking them away one by one to a waiting bus. The protesters, including senior citizens and prodemocracy lawmaker Kenneth Chan, offered no resistance. Earlier, they had chanted “we will be back” and called on Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong’s unpopular Beijing-backed chief executive, to step down. Supporters shouted encouragement from the sidewalk. By midday the road had been returned to traffic. The police operation comes after authorities on Thursday shut down the protesters’ main camp near the heart of the city’s financial district and arrested 249 people who refused to leave for unlawful assembly. Another protest camp in Kowloon’s Mong Kok district was shut down late last month by police. The Causeway Bay protesters had managed to cling on for 79 days but, after the other two sites were cleared, had been resigned to eventually being removed as well. Many had already taken away tents, supplies and belongings before Monday’s police operation. The student-led protesters rejected Beijing’s plan to screen all candidates in the first-ever elections for Hong Kong’s top leader, but failed to win significant concessions from the government. However, many say the protest movement sparked a wider political awakening among the city’s residents, especially the young. Protest leaders vowed to keep up their campaign of civil disobedience through other methods to continue pressuring the government for genuine democracy. Pro-democracy lawmaker Fernando Cheung, who was on hand to observe the police operation and arrests, said the closing of the site did not mean the end of the civil disobedience campaign. “In the Legislative Council we will do our best to resist through an uncooperative campaign,” for example by voting down budget requests and the government’s electoral reform package. “There will be more action,” he said. He said that even though protesters had failed to get the government to bow to their demands, they succeeded in galvanizing the city’s democracy movement. “The duration and scale of the occupation signifies the determination and the force, the power behind the people who ask for democracy in Hong Kong. And secondly, it’s the awakening of the young generation, which has limitless power.” Otto Ng, an 18-year-old college student, had been camped out at the main Admiralty protest site and came to Causeway Bay to watch the last moments. “It feels a bit depressed and hopeless, but at the same time this is just the beginning, it’s not the end.... We still haven’t got what we wanted,” he said. “It’s awakened the Hong Kong people.”
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Tuesday 16 December 2014
The Morung Express
Steven Smith is Australia's 45 test captain
SYDNEY, DEcEmbEr 15 (AP): Steve Smith will begin his tenure as Australia's youngest test cricket captain in more than 30 years with the blessing of the man he is replacing and of the senior teammate at whose expense he has been appointed. Smith was named Monday to captain Australia in the remaining three tests of its four-test series against India in place of Michael Clarke, who has been forced to miss the rest of the series with back and hamstring injuries. Smith was elevated to the role ahead of wicketkeeper Brad Haddin who was Australia's vice-captain under Clarke and now becomes deputy to Smith. Smith said Clarke had warmly supported his appointment and Haddin was "proud as punch" at his achievement. At 25, Smith will become Australia's 45th test captain when he leads the team onto Brisbane's Gabba ground Wednesday and its third youngest captain ever, after Ian Clarke who was 22. Smith told reporters at a news conference Monday that he had been in touch with Clarke who was excited at his appointment. "He's really proud of me," Smith said. "He said to me this morning he's really excited for me this week to lead Australia." In essence, Clarke remains the Australian captain and Smith has taken over from Haddin as vicecaptain but will act as stand-in captain for the remainder of the India series in Clarke's absence. But the selectors and Cricket Australia high performance manager Pat Howard made it clear Monday that Smith was preferred to 37-year-old Haddin because he is seen to be a more long term prospect
in the captaincy role. "I think the panel and the board have been strong in showing their hand and looking fora a longer term solution," Howard said. "The nature of Michael's injury, and we'll get a better prognosis over the next 24 or 48 hours, was a big factor in making this call." Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said Haddin had been the first choice to replace Clarke, but the seriousness of Clarke's injuries forced a change of approach. "Brad Haddin has done an exceptional job as vicecaptain since assuming the role last year and will provide strong support to Steve, just as he has done to Michael," said Marsh. Smith said he would lean on the experience of senior players such as Haddin as he eased himself into the captaincy. "As a captain I think first and foremost I'll try and lead from the front with my performance on the field and, in regards to tactics and everything, I think we've been pretty good this year," Smith said. "I know coming out here the senior guys will all support me 100 percent and I know Brad Haddin, who I'm very close with, as the vice-captain will be right behind me." There has been speculation for some time that Smith was favored as Clarke's successor, even though the test against India starting this week will only be his 24th for Australia. "I'm only a temporary solution at the minute because Michael's out injured unfortunately. It's just about going out there and backing myself to do well which is first of all scoring runs and leading from the front and also coming up with some good tactics as well," Smith said.
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Profile of Steve Smith • Born June 2, 1989 in Sydney. • Started his career as a promising legspin bowler and middle order batsman but is now primarily a batsman. • Made his debut for Australia aged 20 in a Twenty20 match against Pakistan on Feb. 2010, taking two wickets and scoring eight runs. • He has gone to play 21 T20s for Australia, with a high score of 34 and best bowling figures of 3-20. • Made his one-day international debut for Australia in Feb. 2010, against the West Indies, taking two wickets but did not bat. • Has since played 45 ODIs, scoring 921 runs at an average of 31.75. He has scored two hundreds and three 50s. • He was picked for Australia's test team in mid 2010, aged 21, against Pakistan at Lord's. • He has played 23 tests, scoring 1,749 runs at an average of 46.02 with five hundreds, nine half-centuries and a high score of 162 not out, against India at Adelaide Oval last week. • Smith was dropped from the test team in early 2011 after making just two half-centuries from his first five tests. • He was recalled to the test team just over two years later, making 92 on return. • He scored his first test century, an unbeaten 138, in the fifth Ashes test at The Oval last year, then two more in the 2013-14 Ashes series in Australia. • He was named in Dec. 2014 as Australia's 45th test captain, taking over from Michael Clarke after he injured his hamstring in the first test with India.
'Whirlwind' blows baby-face to captaincy
mELbOUrNE, DEcEmbEr 15 (rEUtErS): Nailing down a spot in Australia's batting order took patience for Steve Smith but his elevation to captain of the test team has been virtually an overnight affair. Long marked for big things, Smith was named Australia's 45th test captain on Monday in place of injured Michael Clarke and will have scarcely two days to digest the appointment before leading the team against India in the second test in Brisbane. Though nominally a temporary replacement, the 25-yearold will lead for the remaining
three tests against India and may yet hold the reins of the one-day team when Australia hosts the World Cup, the game's biggest global showpiece. The third-youngest captain to ever lead the team, Smith will have to shoulder a huge burden of expectation as the holder of Australia's "second highest office" after the Prime Minister. Little wonder, he will take an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach to leading over the rest of the India series. "It's been a pretty whirlwind 18 months for me personally and I guess the whole team as well," Smith told reporters in Brisbane on
Monday. "As a captain, I think first and foremost I'll try to lead from the front with my performance on the field. "And in regards to tactics and everything, I think we've been pretty good this year. Pup's (Clarke's) been amazing with what he's done. "I don't feel there's any real need for a big change there." Smith's appointment means Cricket Australia have accelerated succession planning for Clarke's eventual departure, which may become clearer over the next couple of days after more scans on his troublesome hamstring. The sight of Smith and his boyish features ordering around seasoned team
mates like 37-year-old vice captain Brad Haddin and 35-year-old paceman Ryan Harris may seem curious at first. Haddin helped guide Australia to a nerve-jangling victory on day five of the Adelaide test when Clarke limped off the field injured and was fancied as a good short-term replacement by the country's high performance chief Pat Howard. But hard-bitten wicketkeeper Haddin will be an important sounding board for Smith, who has led state team New South Wales and claims the respect of senior players. Much of that respect has de-
veloped only in the past 12-18 months as Smith has cemented his place with a mountain of runs after three years of hard graft on the fringes since his 2010 debut as a raw 21-year-old at Lord's against Pakistan. "I think I'm just getting better every day," said Smith, who was unbeaten in both innings at Adelaide, scoring 162 and 52. "I am (ready). I'm extremely excited. "I think when I'm just a player on the field I try to have my brain thinking like a captain all the time. "Obviously it's a different kettle of fish (leading) Australia, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge."
Veteran Doubles Villarreal ends Atletico's unbeaten home run Badminton bArcELONA, DEcEm- at Getafe on Saturday. the 21-year-old Vietto. "They Elsewhere, Espanyol have what I think is the best 15 (AP): Villarreal C'ship held bEr ended Atletico Madrid's substitute Christian Stuani defense in Europe, but we KOhimA, DEcEmbEr 15 (DiPr): The 3rd All India mens and veteran doubles badminton championship was held at Kokrajhar on 13th and 14th December 2014 which was organised by the Kokrajhar Badminton Association. The veteran doubles Gold was bagged by Tajenkaba and Raju Chettri who represented Nagaland State. The men doubles bronze was also bagged by Tajenkaba and Raju. In another category 'The Manchester United Fan Club Nagaland organized a match screening at Hiyo Cafe on December 14 evening. Over 50 the veteran doubles silver fans attended it from various districts and states. MUFCN is an open group on Facebook where updates for future screenwas bagged by Moatemjen ings and other club related activities will be put up' and Nochet.
Pukhayi graces 3rd ESSU sports tournament
AghUNAtO, DEcEmbEr 15 (DiPr): The 3rd Football tournament organized by Eastern Sumi Students’ Union (ESSU) was started at Aghunato town on December 3. The inaugural programme was graced by Parliamentary Secretary Co-operation and Sericulture, Pukhayi
Sumi as the chief guest. Speaking at the inaugural function, the Parliamentary Secretary said that God gave talent but it is the responsibility of an individual to develop and upgrade their talents. “Nurture your talent with zeal and discipline” Pukhayi said. He also expressed deep concern to
assist the sportsperson in every way possible and called upon the upcoming players to work with strong determination accompanied by good will and discipline. The invocation was pronounced by Pastor Vikuto Shohe and special number was presented by Vikatoli Yeptho. Presidential address
was delivered by Vihepu Yeptho President (ESSU) whereas oath taking was carried out by Sports Secretary Hokito K. Kiba. The programme was chaired Nagavi V. Achumi Ex-V/P ESSU. All together 19 (nineteen) teams under Aghunato Sub-Division are participating in the tournament which is in progress.
42nd Mongsen Ait Football tournament at Longjang
mOKOKchUNg, DEcEmbEr 15 (DiPr): Parliamentary Secretary for Geology & Mining, Nagaland, Dr. Longri graced the 42nd Mongsen Ait Football tournament at Longjang village, Mokokchung on December 13. Speaking on the occasion, the Parliamentary Secretary lauded the Mongsen Ait Club for their effort and initiative in organizing the football tournament which he said was a good platform for the youth to expose their talents and thereby taking a step to gain greater height. He encouraged the young people to come together by maintaining the spirit of brotherhood not
Parliamentary Secretary for Geology & Mining, Nagaland Dr Longri being introduced to the players befor the kickoff of the 42nd Mongsen Ait Football Tournarment at Longjang Village on 13th December 2014. (DPRO Mokokchung)
only in the field of sports but also in building the society so that the younger generation would have a better place to live in. The Parliamentary Secretary while maintaining
the steps taken by the Government to preserve wild animals in the State, also urged the Longjang villagers to do leading roles to preserve wild animals saying that such steps taken by
the villagers would not only protect the flora and fauna of the land but it would surely have an impact in maintaining tranquility among the people and peaceful coexistence in the society.
streak of 27 straight home games without a loss in the Spanish league after striker Luciano Vietto scored late to grab a 1-0 win on Sunday. Vietto received a pass and used a quick change of foot to shed Diego Godin before firing the winner past goalkeeper Miguel Moya with six minutes to play. The defending champions hadn't lost in the league at Vicente Calderon Stadium since May 12, 2013, a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona. Atletico's loss left it seven points adrift of leader Real Madrid and three behind Barcelona, after the Catalan club stumbled 0-0
also scored late to snatch a 2-1 win over 10-man Granada, while promoted Eibar continued its impressive debut campaign in the top flight by drawing 0-0 at fourth-place Sevilla. Real Sociedad also drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao under steady rain at Anoeta Stadium in coach David Moyes' first Basque Country derby. Villarreal resisted Atletico's constant push with saves from goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo until searching for the late goal it found through Vietto's boot. "The truth is that this was a very tough match," said
managed to pull out the win." Vietto is one of the quiet surprises of the season with eight goals in all competitions. Atletico coach Diego Simeone gave Vietto his debut at the age of 17 when they were together at Argentine club Racing in 2011. Villarreal's fourth win in a row lifted it into sixth place and a Europa League position. In San Sebastian, Carlos Vela headed Sociedad in front in the third. The hosts wasted a pair of good opportunities to score before Bilbao emerged the better side after halftime, with Oscar de Marcos leveling in the 61st.
LewiS HAmiLton wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year
LONDON, DEcEmbEr 15 (rEUtErS): Double Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, who won 11 grands prix for Mercedes in 2014, was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year against the odds on Sunday. The award is widely regarded as Britain's most prestigious cross-sports accolade. "I am so speechless," said the 29-year-old after a British public vote that overturned the betting form, with bookmakers having golfer Rory McIlroy as their clear favourite. "I really was not expecting it. Dude, you had such an amazing year," he told McIlroy at the ceremony in Glasgow. "Never in a million years did I think I would be up here standing with the greats," added Hamilton, who had walked the preevent red carpet with his bulldog Roscoe. McIlroy, who won two majors in 2014 and helped
Europe retain the Ryder Cup, was a forlorn-looking runner-up with European 10,000 metres champion Jo Pavey third. Bookmakers William Hill had listed the Northern Irishman at 2/5 earlier on Sunday with Hamilton, who was runner-up for the award in 2007 and again when he won his first title with McLaren in 2008, the 7/4 second favourite. Hamilton is the fifth racing driver to win the award in 61 years, with champions Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell winning it twice after Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart before them. The Team of the Year award went to England's World Cup- winning women's rugby players while Europe's triumphant Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley was coach of the year. Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo took the overseas personality of the year prize.
Winner of the British Sports Personality of the Year 2014 award, Lewis Hamilton poses with the trophy, during the 2014 Sports Personality of the Year Awards awards ceremony in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday December 14. The 29-yearold F1 Mercedes driver Hamilton has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year after winning his second Formula One title earlier this year. (AP Photo)
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COFFEE FOR A CAUSE
C
ome December 17th at Niathu Resort Swimming pool and witness an event where all
the best Artiste from Nagaland are coming together to share the same stage for the very first time for a beautiful cause. Coffee For a Cause is an initiative
of artiste, young entrepreneurs & scholars “Coffee for a cause” is an educational charity event with all the top established artiste from
Nagaland, with the objective of creating awareness, inculcating the culture of reading in the schools and promoting the idea of educational philanthropy in
Nagaland, so that the concept of Education for All maybe realized. The proceeds from this event will go for the education of Bright Morningstar
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Miss South Africa Is Crowned Miss World
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DJ INA C ALOBO NAGA W
TALI ANGH M
offee for a cause is by far one the best thing I ever did. I’m really excited & privileged to be able to contribute something for all these Kids. God Bless “Coffee for a cause”.
any prominent Naga artiste are coming together for a genuine cause and i bee are doing this not because we have lieve the spirit of unity will create an impact everything but because we know how upon the hearts to always respond to the call it feels to have nothing. to love by giving. I hope many will come & experience the freedom & joy of giving.
MOANUNGSANG T
his is a wonderful opportunity for all the artiste to come together and share the same platform for the first time for a wonderful cause . Yes, education is be the best gift we can give to a child.
ALO WANTH V
KEVI PUCHO I
ery proud feeling to be a part of this event. To give and help in a small, and share the gift of music, God has given to me for a noble cause like this one. I request everyone to take this opportunity and be a part of this event to be a blessing for someone.
t is indeed a blessing to do something as noble as this event with our God given talent and so it is indeed a privilege and an honor to be a part of this auspicious event. God Bless those wonderful kids and the contributors.
Ben Haenow is crowned winner of The X Factor
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unique noble cause this is a heartmelting event I will ever be participating. Every human being with heart should support this cause every day. God bless.
hat a great joy it is to be able to use our gift of music to those in need. To be able to share our blessings is most gratifying. Christmas is a time to love and care .Indeed “Coffee for a cause” will ring in the true spirit of the yuletide.
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Children Home, Kohima. Through this event, we want to make sure that it is possible for these wonderful children of God to be able to go to schools.
NISE MERUNO W
he singer from Croydon was crowned the champion after winning more public votes over fellow finalist Fleur East. The van driver, 29, was crowned the winner after surviving 10 weeks of live shows without making it to the bottom two once. After finding out he had won, an emotional Ben said: ‘Thank you so much for making my dreams come true.’ His mentor Simon Cowell enthused: ‘A fantastic runner up Fleur. I could not be happier for you, Ben, you deserve it. You’re a great guy, this is your moment.’ He was followed by
16 December 2014
OBED KATH A
usic is powerful on its own but when it’s for a cause, it can create a huge effect. We, Tetseo Sisters, are glad to be a small part of the joint effort of sharing the gift of song to make a difference in someone else’s life. It’s the season to spread some cheer, let’s do this over a warm cuppa! Hiyohey!
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Tuesday
Entertainment
The Morung Express
Fleur with her high-energy set to Uptown Funk, which ended up at the top of the iTunes chart last week following her original performance of it in Week 9. Both finalists went on to perform their version of the winner’s single, a cover of One Republic’s Something I Need. After Ben’s first performance of his future single, judge Mel B told him: ‘That song was made for you. You pulled it back, then you put it out there. You gave range to your vocals and gave it light and shade.’ His mentor Simon added: ‘This is what you’ve waited for 10 years, every bit of frustration in your life. This is what
turning into a star feels like.’ After Fleur’s rendition of the same track, Mel predicted both finalists would go on to great things regardless of who won. She said: ‘No matter what happens tonight, both of you are stars.’ In between the finalists’ songs, the audience were treated to performances from Sam Smith, One Direction with Ronnie Wood and Olly Murs and Demi Lovato. Of course both Olly and One Direction are X Factor alumni, while Demi was a judge alongside Simon on the X Factor USA. Opening Sunday’s live show were the original 16
finalists, including Lauren Platt, Chloe-Jasmine WIchello and Jake Quickenden, who sang What A Feeling. Sister duo Blonde Electra tried to cause controversy by kissing on stage as they danced round the judges’ table, causing a lot of debate on Twitter. As well as the crowning of the latest X Factor winner, it was also a triumphant return to the show from judge Mel B, who was forced to miss Saturday’s live show due to illness. Speaking to Dermot, Mel said she was thrilled to be back, although sad that her act Andrea had missed out on a place in the final two.
iss South Africa, 22-year-old Rolene Strauss, was crowned Miss World 2014 at the contest’s glitzy final in London on Sunday, with an estimated billion viewers watching on television around the globe. Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, was judged the runnerup and Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit, came third in the 64th annual competition, contested by women from 121 countries. Medical student Strauss clasped her hands together in surprise and was crowned by the outgoing Miss World, Megan Young of the Philippines, to huge cheers in the ExCeL exhibition centre. “South Africa this is for you,” Strauss said. “I think I will brace myself for what’s about to happen. It’s a huge responsibility.” She told AFP she wanted to help spread education in her homeland and thereby help other people realise their dreams. “I am what I am today because of the opportunities I have received and I would love to give others the same opportunities; educating, the opportunity to be educated, to make healthy choices and also to live their dreams,” Strauss said. And she was already getting used to the glittering crown. “I’ll definitely keep it on as long as I can but my parents are staying around here so they’ll be hugging me and I’m afraid that it might fall off,” she said. This year’s event has been rocked by the murder of Miss Honduras, 19-year-old Maria Jose Alvarado, who was shot dead along with her sister last month. Police in Honduras accuse her sister’s boyfriend of shooting them after seeing his partner dancing with another man at a party. Strauss and other contestants will travel to the crimeplagued central American nation to build a school named in the sisters’ honour. “We hope that it will really start to impress on the people in Honduras that the violence, and hurting people like those two innocent women... maybe they can think again before they take a gun,” Miss World chairwoman Julia Morley told AFP. Sunday’s show started with a spectacular choreographed dance routine, with all the beauty queens on stage in costumes inspired by their homelands -- including Miss Bolivia in a colourful feathered headdress. While beauty remains central to the event, the women taking part are chiefly judged on their talents and involvement in good causes. Miss Malaysia won the talent competition in a live sing-off with Miss Scotland. In the Beauty with a Purpose section -- the heart of Miss World -- contestants present a charitable project they have been working on in their homeland. In this section, the judges gave equal first place to Misses Brazil, Guyana, India, Indonesia and Kenya, unable to separate them. In rounds held since the contestants arrived in London, Miss Finland topped the sporting competition; Miss United States was the multimedia winner; Miss Bosnia and Hercegovina won the top model round and Miss Sweden triumphed in beach fashion. The event also featured a special 20-year award for 1994’s Miss World, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai. The 41-year-old Indian actress appeared on stage with her film star husband Abhishek Bachchan, their daughter Aaradhya and her mother. The prize was for the “Dhoom 2” star’s charitable work with children with cleft palates since being made famous by Miss World. “I stand here overwhelmed by this honour,” she said. The 10 contestants who topped the final scoreboard were, in descending order, from India, South Africa, England, Guyana, Brazil, Hungary, Kenya, United States, Mexico and Australia. They were joined by Miss Thailand, who won the people’s choice award, voted for by people around the world through a mobile phone app. The judges chose Miss Hungary, Miss Australia, Miss South Africa, Miss United States and Miss England as their top five before picking their top three. Miss World began in 1951, a year before its chief rival Miss Universe. Strauss is the third South African Miss World, the country having held the title in 1958 and 1974. Venezuela tops the all-time leader board with six titles, ahead of India and the United Kingdom on five titles each.
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Draw: Man City to face Bryant passes Jordan CL Barca, Chelsea draw PSG for 3rd on scoring list
MINNEAPOLIS, DEcEMbEr 15 (AP): Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant passed Michael Jordan for third on the NBA's career scoring list Sunday in a 10094 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bryant entered the game needing nine points to pass the icon with whom he is often compared. He got the mark with two free throws with 5:24 to play in the second quarter. "I'm just honored to be here, man, to still be playing," Bryant said. "I appreciate being able to play this long. Careers normally don't last this long. I really appreciate the opportunity to still be out there playing and performing and doing what I do." Now only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone have scored more points than Bryant. "I congratulate Kobe on reaching this milestone," Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, said in a statement released to The Associated Press. "He's obviously a great player, with a strong work ethic and has an equally strong passion for the game of basketball. I've enjoyed watching his game evolve over the years, and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next." Bryant didn't break a record Sunday night. Abdul-Jabbar is still more than 6,000 points ahead of him and in no danger of being caught. But moving past Jordan was cause for celebration.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) holds up the game ball and acknowledges the crowd during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after passing Michael Jordan on the NBA all-time scoring list in Minneapolis, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
The two players have been linked for years and Bryant often mimicked Jordan from his earliest days in the league, from the way he pumped his fist after big shots to adopting the fadeaway jumper as his career has progressed and even sprinkling in a little tonguewagging on his drives to the bucket as a youth.
Anand beats Adams to win London Classic
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LONDON, DEcEMbEr 15 (PTI): Five-time chess world champion Viswanathan Anand won his maiden London Classic title after defeating British Grandmaster Michael Adams in the fifth and final round on Monday. Having drawn the first four games of the six-player, round-robin tournament, Anand had to win to stay in contention for a podium finish. He was duly assisted by Adams who fought it out instead of going for a dull draw with white pieces. The victory confirms Anand’s presence in elite chess for some time. Just two weeks before the London Classic, Anand had suffered defeat against Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the world championship match at Sochi and the quick recovery here shows that there is more to expect from the Indian on the chequered board. Anand scored seven points in all under the soccer-like scoring system that gives three points for a win and one for a draw. With his sole victory apart from the four draws, Anand matched Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Anish Giri on points and then has the superior tie-break to clinch the title. The London scoring system favours the player with victories with black pieces and both Giri and Kramnik had won only with white earlier in the tournament. Hikaru Nakamura of United States was the only serious contender for title but he could not get the better of world number two Fabiano Caruana of Italy. Nakamura ended on six points for his sole fourth spot while Adams and Caruana ended on an identical four points each. Anand equalised comfortably with black pieces. The queen-less middle
game typical of the Berlin was on board a long time till Adams went for liquidation but an erroneous plan gave Anand the better chances. Adams was down to five minutes for nine moves and made the fatal error on the 32nd move in the knightsand-pawns endgame after which there was no looking back. Anand gobbled a queen side pawn and then the march of black pawns to glory was inevitable. The game lasted just 36 moves. Giri and Kramnik played out a draw out of a Catalan opening where the former played white. Going for one of the main lines, Giri showed enough maturity to keep his position together and Kramnik could not dent white’s position in anyway. The players finally reached a queen and minor piece endgame where the draw was a just result after 60 moves.
"He knows how much I've learned from him," Bryant said. "From the other legends, but him in particular." The Timberwolves stopped the game, and a Lakers-heavy crowd gave Bryant a standing ovation as Wolves owner Glen Taylor — the NBA's chairman of the board — presented him with the game ball.
Bryant had 32,284 points when he took the floor against a Timberwolves team that includes 19-yearold rookies Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine, two players who were barely born when Bryant made his NBA debut in 1996. He missed four of his first five field goals, but knocked down a 3-pointer midway
through the second quarter to pull within two points. He nearly passed Jordan with one of his patented fall-away jumpers from the baseline, but it rimmed out and with 5:24 to play and 24 seconds on the shot clock, No. 24 stepped to the line and calmly swished two freebies to do it. He finished the night with 26 points and 32,310 for his career. It took Bryant 1,269 games to reach the NBA's career scoring podium. Jordan amassed his 32,292 points in 1,039 regular-season games. Jordan moved into third place in 2003, and the top of the NBA's scoring mountain had remained unchanged for nearly 12 years. Ever since Bryant really started to hit his stride as an elite scorer beginning with his fourth year in the league, he was widely considered the one to the record books would have to reserve a spot for. "Just like we've never seen another player like Michael Jordan, we will never see another player like Kobe Bryant!" Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson tweeted. Jordan retired and came back twice, giving up prime years that cost him a shot at Abdul-Jabbar's record. Jordan also played three years of college while Bryant jumped straight to the pros and started racking up the points, albeit at a gradual rate.
NYON, DEcEMbEr 15 (AGENcIES): Manchester City face an intimidating Champions League last 16 tie with four-times winners Barcelona. Chelsea will face Paris St Germain - which means a reunion with David Luiz and Arsenal will take on Arsene Wenger's former club Monaco. Barcelona, who last won the competition in 2011, knocked Premier League champions City out at the same stage last year, and boast the competition's all-time record goalscorer in Lionel Messi. Manuel Pellegrini's side, who needed a 2-0 win at Roma in their final Group E game to qualify in second place, will play host to Barcelona at Etihad Stadium on February 24 before heading to the Nou Camp on March 18. Txiki Begiristain, the Manchester City director of football who spent time at Barcelona both as a player and as director of football, said: "It's unbelievable. I think we don't need to come because every tie is the same! Now we have to deal again with Barcelona as last season. "We now have plenty of confidence because of the way we got into the next round, beating Bayern Munich and then beating Roma away. We can arrive in a good moment for these games. We are more solid and stronger than last season. "I feel so emotional. There are difficult things as well but I will take time
Former German soccer player Karl-Heinz Riedle, ambassador for the UEFA Champions League final in Berlin, shows a ticket with Spain's soccer team FC Barcelona during the draw of the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League 2014/15 soccer matches in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday, December 15. (AP Photo/Keystone,Jean-Christophe Bott)
to visit family and friends. I have a lot of friends there." Chelsea, the 2012 winners, have been drawn against French champions PSG, who they overcame at the quarter-final stage in last year's tournament but who suffered just one defeat during an impressive group stage campaign this time around. Chelsea secretary David Barnard said: "PSG are known to us as we played them at the quarter-finals last year and they have David Luiz, who played for us in the final in 2012. "I know Jose (Mourinho) said before the draw he'd like to see PSG for the supporters because of the travel arrangements and the logistics and he was right, because we got them. "I think both teams have totally different teams to last season. Each match that comes along, it's a totally differ-
ent scenario. It's a one-off situation. It's a knockout competition. I think we have an advantage by being away first because at least we know what to do for the second leg." The draw has been kindest to Arsenal, who will take on Wenger's former club Monaco. Reigning champions Real Madrid have been drawn against one of four German teams in the last 16, Schalke. Bayer Leverkusen take on Atletico Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund have drawn Italian champions Juventus. Bayern Munich, the 2013 champions, face a trip to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk. Basel, who knocked Liverpool out of the competition last week, will take on Porto, whose only defeat in any competition this season has come in the Portuguese Cup.
Marta leads Brazil to victory over US
brASILIA, DEcEMbEr 15(AP): Five-time world player of the year Marta scored three goals to lead Brazil to a 3-2 come-frombehind win over the U.S. women's soccer team in the International Tournament of Brasilia on Sunday. Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe scored a goal each in the first 10 minutes to give the U.S. an early lead, but Marta netted in the 19th, 55th and 66th minutes to guarantee the hosts a spot in the final of the four-team competition. "Those early goals could have been costly, we can't let those mistakes happen again," Marta said. "I'm glad that I was able to take advantage of the chances that I had. It wasn't a good start but we fought hard until the end and got the result that we needed against a very good team." The match brought together Marta and American playmaker Abby Wambach, two of the candidates
U.S. drew China 1-1. The Americans took advantage of Brazil's defensive mistakes to take the lead at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in the nation's capital. After a corner by Rapinoe from the right side, the ball was headed toward
Brazil’s Marta Vieira, right, fights for the ball with United States' Christie Rampone, during a match of the International Women's Football Tournament at the National Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil on Sunday, December 14. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
for this year's world player of the year award. "It feels good to win a match like this, knowing that I was going against Wambach," Marta said. Brazil reached six points from two matches, while the United States remained on one. China, which routed Argentina 6-0 earlier Sunday, also has four points.
Argentina has zero. The top two teams will meet for the title on Dec. 21. The other two nations will play for third place. The U.S. needs to beat Argentina by several goals in the last round on Wednesday and hope that China loses to Brazil. Brazil opened with a 4-0 win over Argentina and the
Lloyd in front of the net and she turned for an easy goal in the sixth minute. Rapinoe then found the net with a shot from outside the penalty area in the 10th. She seemed set to make a cross but the ball went straight toward the net, with
Brazil goalkeeper Luciana unable to make the stop. Marta put Brazil back in the game after one of her trademark runs through the middle of the defense, entering the area and firing a shot past U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo.
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