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www.morungexpress.com
The Morung Express
Dimapur Vol. iX issuE 352
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www.morungexpress.com
Selena ‘obsessed’ with Bieber
[ PAGE 08]
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VHP patron says: ‘We want an invincible Hindu society which works for the world's welfare according to these values’
no, no toys. Can you give me some 1234 Cr?
Vote on www.morungexpress.com sMs your answer to 9862574165 Are Nagas losing the spirit of Christmas to commercialization?
no
others
should naga women be given the right to inherit land? Yes
61% 23%
no others
16%
Details on page 7
Mild earthquake hits NE, Myanmar sHILLoNg, DECEMBER 21 (IANs): An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale Sunday jolted northeastern states and parts of Myanmar Sunday, authorities said. The earthquake occurred at 11.08 a.m. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property. According to the regional seismological centre in Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya, the epicentre lay on the IndiaMyanmar border in Manipur. The tremor was also felt in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The northeast region is considered the world’s sixth most earthquake-prone belt.
A bullet that changes direction in ‘mid-air’
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NEW YoRk, DECEMBER 21 (IANs): The US Department of Defense is testing a bullet that could change direction in midair. The Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO), currently being tested by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is a .50 calibre round that can change direction as it flies towards its target. The details of how it will work are completely secret, Popular Science reported. It is designed specifically for use by snipers, for whom slight improvements such as these could make the difference between life and death. “The system combines a manoeuvrable bullet and a realtime guidance system to track and deliver the projectile to the target, allowing the bullet to change path during flight to compensate for any unexpected factors that may drive it off course,” said the description on the DARPA website. The EXACTO technology is now being tested in live firing situations to enhance and improve performance.
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‘Hindu values will be restored in country’
By Sandemo Ngullie
The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion
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– Dale Evans
Kohima district jail inmates Real crowned educated on legal rights world champ at [ PAGE 2] Club World Cup Two NYC cops killed in shooting
reflections
Yes
Monday, December 22, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4
Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas J&K await results with bated breath
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NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 21 (PTI): Asserting that Hindu values will be restored in the country, Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Sunday said they have never wanted to convert the world but only to "win over its heart". Speaking at a book launch, VHP patron Ashok Singhalsaiditwasduetotheir "struggle" in the last 50 years that Hindus have "regained" thelost"empire"ofDelhiafter 800 years. "Our culture and religion were subjugated and we struggled. In 800 years, a day has now come in which we can say we have a government which is committed to protecting Hindutva. Our values will be gradually established in the country. "We want an invincible Hindu society which works for the world's welfare according to these values... We have never gone out to convert the world but to win over their heart," SingA baby orangutan plays with a Christmas costume at the zoo in Dvur Kralove nad labem, hal said, apparently refer146 kilometers east of Prague, Czech Republic, sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. Christmas Day ring to the recent row over came early for some animals in the zoo, where the employees prepared presents for them conversion. Referring to the BJP filled with dried fruit, nuts, clothes or dishes. (AP Photo)
Challenging Modi, RSS to go ahead with conversions NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 21 (REuTERs): The head of India's most powerful Hindu group vowed to press ahead with a campaign to convert Muslims and Christians to Hinduism, stoking a sensitive debate that has stalled parliament and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic reform agenda. Mohan Bhagwat of the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, which is also the ideological wing of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said India was a "Hindu nation" where many Hindus had been forcibly converted to other religions. "We will bring back those who have lost their way. They did not go on their own," Bhagwat said in a speech late on Saturday. "They were lured into leaving." Bhagwat's comments came after BJP said it did not support forced religious conversions and called for an anti-conversion law. India's 1.2 billion people are predominantly Hindus but there are also about 160 million Muslims and a small proportion of Christians. Modi is under fire for being slow to rein in hardline affiliate groups that have been accused of promoting a Hindu-dominant agenda that includes luring Muslims and Chrisgovernment, he said Hindus have come back to power in Delhi after Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan lost it in the 12th century. He claimed that various powers in their attempts to capture the world have brought it close to a world war. "You can see that in Australia and in Central
tians to convert to Hinduism. This month, a group of Muslims complained that they had been tricked into attending a conversion ceremony by Hindu groups, while a Hindu priest-turned-lawmaker of the ruling party planned a conversion ceremony on Christmas Day, although it was cancelled after the prime minister intervened. Supporters define such events as a "homecoming", saying that families signing up for the ceremonies were originally Hindus. "We don't want to convert anybody ... but then Hindus should also not be converted," Bhagwat said, adding that those who do not support religious conversions should bring in a law against it. Bhagwat's comments are likely to further irk opposition parties that have disrupted parliament over the conversion issue, demanding that the prime minister himself make a statement on the issue in the upper house. Although Modi has privately warned lawmakers in his party to back off from controversial issues such as the conversion campaign, he has so far not made any official statement on the subject, leaving it to colleagues to fend off criticism.
Asia. The danger of 'Islamic terrorism' we can see in Europe. This war could have been stopped but the way different powers are in a race to establish their reign in the world, it seems this world war is inevitable," he said. However, he said Hindus will not be a "player" in such a war as they have always
sought to win the world by love and believed in spiritual and not material victory. "They (others) are showcasing their strength on the basis of hate... World will have to think that if we have to live together then we can do so only on the basis of mutual love that India has been propagating," he said.
Three killed in Manipur blast ‘Customs’ cast a shadow IMPHAL, DECEMBER 21 (IANs): Three people were killed and four others injured when a powerful blast rocked Manipur’s capital city Imphal Sunday, police said. “An IED (improvised explosive device) that was planted by the roadside near Khuyathong area, close to Imphal market, exploded at 6 a.m., killing three migrant labourers on the spot and injuring four others,” a police official said. He said the labourers, all non-Manipuris, gathered for tea in Khuyathong, which is about one km from
Imphal city police station, when the blast took place. Labourers - identified as Shiv Yadav, 35, Lalan, 35, and Kusum Pandit, 60 were working as load men in the area, he said. The official said the injured have been rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Science and Hospital here. Their medical condition is stated to be critical. Senior police officials along with additional security forces have rushed to the spot and launched a combing operation to arrest those responsible for
the explosion. No militant group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei, who holds the home portfolio, visited the injured at the hospital. Condemning the incident, the chief minister said adequate compensation would be paid to the families of those killed and the government would bear the expenditure for treatment of those injured in the blast. Gangmei said: “It was a
cowardice to attack the unarmed innocent people, to disturb the peace and harmony.” With Sunday’s incident, the number of non-Manipuris killed in the state this year has gone up to nine. This is the third such incident within less than a month in Manipur. Two youths were killed and four others injured when militants triggered a bomb blast in a market in Imphal Dec 15. A 10-yearold boy was killed in a blast Nov 29, a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state.
Earth cutting for Foothill road in ‘final stages’ Morung Express news Dimapur | December 21
Preliminary works for laying the Foothill Road is in the final stage, with only around 40 kilometres more of earth-cutting remaining. The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) informed on December 21 that the third phase of earth-cutting for the Foothill road project will begin soon. The NFHRCC informed that it has resolved to formally launch the third phase in the New Year by the second week of January. The decision was arrived at a meeting held on Sunday in Dimapur. Around 24 kms of fresh earth cutting is required in the Mon sector whileintheMokokchungsector,around 19 kms of earth cutting is required. It has been a year since work on the highly anticipated Nagaland Foothill Road began. It was on December 21, 2013 that the NFHRCC formally launched the first phase of earth-cutting at Longtho (Mokokchung sector), followed by the launch of the second phase a week later in
the Wokha sector. During the initial stages of the foothill road movement, the Nagaland state government had assured in writing to at least make the NiulandTizit stretch motorable by the end of the 2013-14 financial year, while the government moots over the futuristic Tizit-Khelma four-lane super highway. The assurance was given in June 2013. It was in August, 2013 that the NFHRCC and the PWD (Roads & Bridges) agreed on the final route alignment stretching some 339 kms starting from Tizit till Niuland enroute Dimapur. Work was supposed to begin by October but it was pushed back to December, 2013. The delay was attributed to “unfinished technical formalities” and the PWD (R&B) dilly-dallying on the route agreed upon. The cost of the project, estimated to be Rs. 221.5 crores that time, had apparently given the department the jitters. Work finally began in December before differences over award of works contract and choice of con-
tractors affected progress in February, 2014. Another row over award of works ensued later in May between the PWD (R&B) and the NFHRCC, which eventually landed in court as the contractors contracted for the project filed legal petitions against the department. Work was temporarily suspended. In the meantime, the contractors were slapped with libel suits by the Roads & Bridges Minister over allegations of monetary demands placed by the Minister on the contractors. The defamation case is still pending in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kohima. If the third phase of earth-cutting progresses smoothly without any hiccups, it is expected that the stretch of the Foothill Road falling between Doyang river and Tizit will become motorable by March 2015. Further, the NHRCC, while appreciating the support rendered to the construction of the Foothill Road project, thanked the Chumukedima Ao Union for donating Rs. 1,01,330 towards the committee.
on rights of Naga women Morung Express news Dimapur | December 21
“Are we Nagas moving backward while others are moving forward? Let us wake up from our deep slumber,” asserts one commentator while voting on the question ‘Should Naga women be given the right to inherit land.’ In a weekly poll conducted by The Morung Express 61 percent of the participants voted ‘yes’ for Naga women to be given the right to inherit land, 23 percent voted ‘no’ while the remaining 16 percent voting as ‘other.’ A majority of the participants who voted yes advocated the need for Naga society to do away with the patriarchal mindset. One participant commented, “Daughters are not less than sons and therefore not less worthy. Bringing their share of inheritance with them into their marriage would empower them with more voice in the marital relationship.” Another voter stated, “Yes, women have every right to inherit their parent’s/ husband’s or brother’s movable and immovable properties. If someone thinks otherwise, then that’s his/her problem.” Calling for the need to question and rectify “patriarchal foundations” in Naga society, a participant in the poll said, “Yes, as women, daughters should have equal right in parental property. Of course it means shaking the patriarchal foundation, but with changing times such reforms are needed in customary law.” Even among those who voted ‘yes’, there were a number of participants who emphasized the need to distinguish between private property and ancestral/ clan/community property. While vouching his support for women to inherit privately owned property, one participant however stated that “clan or ancestral property is not private land but it belongs to a community so it is up to the community.” Another added “A lot of people feel that such liberty will allow the mainlanders (in case of inter marriages) to come in possession of our lands but this can be easily rec-
tified by allowing only the female line to inherit the lands that their female parents have inherited from their parents.” This, the participant states is a “sensitive issue” for most and needs to be viewed “objectively without prejudice.” Among those who voted no, one vociferously stated “Never to those who married IBIs or to the non-Nagas.” “We the Nagas,” he said “should not become like Tripura by changing the system.” However, he conceded by stating, “We may consider to give to those who are married to the Nagas.” Another participant who voted no opined that the right for Naga women to inherit land would “become the root of all disputes,” and cautioned that “land disputes are the greatest in the entire world.” ‘Tradition’ makes its appearance here as well, with one commentator stating “if given the right it will dilute our customary practices.” One participant who chose to remain on the fence during the poll stated, “I fail to understand why a law has to interfere with the personal wealth of a person. If it isn't ancestral property, then a daughter should have the right to inherit what her parents had achieved and earned during their life time. Why should somebody else have it?” One offered a compromise by tabling, “at least some percentage should be given to the women.” Another participant asserted that “we should stick to the customary laws as Nagas are a group of tribes with different practices, at the same time, refinement and provision of the tribal laws should be adopted for women's inheritance.” While the poll indicated that the majority of the participants favoured the right for Naga women to inherit land, there still remains indecision, and in some cases an unwillingness to compromise, when it comes to the issue of ‘customary’ practices. The pertinent question is whether Naga society is ready to collectively treat women on an equal footing with men, even if it means holding ‘tradition,’ ‘custom’ and ‘culture’ to the crucible of debate and reform.
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'Naga Night' iN texas
The Texas Naga Fellowship held its first 'Naga Night' at Northlake Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, on December 13, 2014. The event was organized to share the rich cultural and ethnic heritage of Nagas with other ethnicities, as well as to educate the younger Naga generation, who have been born and brought up in America, a press release informed. Dr. Mazie Nakhro spoke about who the Nagas are and their contribution to India and to the world. Friends and guests from Madagascar, US, Nepal, Taiwan, Pakistan, South Korea, Ecuador and Myanmar attended the event and enjoyed the folksongs, display of traditional attire, food, and learning about Naga culture.
Kohima district jail inmates educated on legal rights
Kohima, December 21 (mexN): Inmates of the Kohima District Jail on December 20 participated in a Jail Lok Adalat cum Legal Awareness Programme in the jail premises, which had Tucuno Vamuzo, Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kohima as the Presiding Officer and Medohuno Kharutso and Temsu Walling, panel lawyers, as conciliators. Later, in the day, resource persons Joshua Sheqi and Kekhriengulie, panel lawyers, spoke on the topics ‘Right of a prisoner’ and ‘Plea Bar-
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gaining’ respectively. Akumla Longchari, panel lawyer,ledtheprogrammeof the day. Highlighting the importance of the Rights of the Prisoners, Joshua Sheqi stated that the government is under an obligation to protect the human rights of its citizens as well as to protect the society at large. Even in the jail, prisoner has the right not to be tortured or treated inhumanly which is propagated under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. He further stated that in the recent
past, the Court has been very vigilant about violation of human rights of the prisoners. He mentioned that the prison authorities need to treat the prisoners with human dignity while exercising their discretionary powers. He also stressed upon the right to healthy environment, right to bail, speedy trial, free legal services, interviews with one’s lawyer arbitrary handcuffs, right to visit and access by family members of the prisoners, right to rehabilitation and reformative programmes and right to information
about prison rules. Meanwhile, Kekhriengulie spoke on the importance of plea bargaining under section 265 A of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He explained to the inmates on the application of the Plea Bargain and stated that if they have committed an offence for the first time where the punishment does not exceed 7 years and also that if it is not an offence affecting the economic condition of the country or against women or against children below 14 years of age, then he or she can ap-
ply to the Court for showing leniency. He encouraged the inmates to repent if they have actually committed an offence and mend their ways so that In view of the festive season, concerned residents of Dzuvuru the Courts can extend par- colony (Portlane) in Kohima organized a social work on Saturdon under such provisions day, December 20. as in plea bargaining. There was an interactive session where the inmates raised various issues and questions on Apropos to the news item on Nagaland Chief Secretary’s rigorous imprisonment farewell, which appeared in local dailies on December and simple imprisonment, 21, it is corrected that the years served by the CS in the compoundable and non- State should be read as 36 years and 5 months and not as compoundable offences, rendered. The error is deeply regretted. (DIPR) bailable and non-bailable offences and right to speedy trial.
CORRigeNDUM
AFFIDAVIT
Regd.No: 3267/2014 Date:19/12/2014
By this deed I, the undersigned Jenle Meren Pongen (New name) previously called J. Meren Ponger (Old name) R/o H.No.470 Electrical Colony, Kuda Village Nagarjan, do solemnly declare that from this date I shall be known and distinguished not by my former name/surname, but assumed name/surname of Jenle Meren Pongen
Work Charged Association AR display weapons for NCC cadets formed in Baghty
WoKha, December 21 (mexN): The work charged employees of Baghty division in Wokha district has formed an association. The association named Work Charged Association (WCA) held a general meeting on December 20. A press release received here informed that the meeting deliberated upon the hardship and grievances faced by the work charged employees in Baghty division. According to the chairman of WCA, the employees were compelled to form the association as “there was an untold hardship and challenges faced by the work charged workers of Baghty division.” He called upon all the members to work in unity for the welfare of the work charged. The chairman of WCA is Nchenthung Humtsoe, general secretary - Rakomo Lotha, and treasurer - Anithung Lotha.
'Walking Tall': Music album reminiscing ‘Grouping’, bygone days Our Correspondent Kohima | December 21
Rev. Dr. Toshi Langu’s music album entitled 'Walking Tall' was released here this evening by Rev. M. Asangba Longkumer, pastor, Kohima Ao Baptist Church amidst huge applause from music fans and well wishers. The album consists of three songs in Ao and six in English. The purpose of the album is to raise funds for “The Frontline Prayer Ministries” which is pastor Toshi’s vision to be launched in 2015. 'Walking Tall,' one of the songs in the album is set in Lakhuni village of Mokokchung district, where the singer was born and spent early childhood. The time was early nineteen fifties "when the Indian Army came burning down our villages, killing and committing all kinds of cruel atrocities against our people and imposing the infamous ‘Grouping.’ This was done by herding 2-3 villages and its people together into one village and confining us there for years while the other villages rotted away.” “I remember fleeing to the jungles with our parents and spending countless nights in starvation, fear and sickness, chewing half decayed and uncooked rice. I can still remember the soldiers sometimes shouting “Goli Maro!” I will leave the song to tell its own story,” Langu was quoted as saying. The song 'Land of a Thousand Rainbows' is based on the reality of Nagaland of decades gone by, when as a young boy, “we would watch all types of Hornbills fly across the villages and feeds and roost in the pristine virgin forests free from all kinds of fear and exploitation of natural resources.” 'Terutu Ken' means a mid-summer day song. The song is set in a village in the Ao region. Mid-summer is a time when all adults go to their rice fields and only the elderly and baby sitters are left behind in the villages. The song 'Narola’s Lullaby' is about a Naga army soldier who was abducted and torn away from his dear wife and baby daughter on a dark and rainy summer night. Thereafter, he was tortured to death in a very gruesome and inhuman way thus sacrificing his life for the Naga freedom struggle. The song is a sorrowful lullaby that Narola’s mother sang to her daughter as she painfully longed and desperately yearned to see her beloved husband return to her and her little daughter. Other songs in this album include 'Wasted Years,' 'The Pilgrims’ Song,' 'No Sad Songs For Me,' 'Kii Lanuwa,' 'Old Timer’s song.' All songs were written and composed by Rev. Dr. Toshi Langu except the tune of 'The pilgrim’s song.' Toshi is an associate pastor of Kohima Ao Baptist Church, Lerie Fellowship. Other artists who made the album possible include Dr. Tiatoshi Jamir, Er.Tali Jamir, Toshinaro Imchen, Jamiyinla Jamir, Metet Jamir, Aosenla Jamir, Bikramjit Singh, Lanutoshi Lemtur, Meren, Seniip, Apong, Dziivihol Kweho, John and Dr. Bendangla. Audio recording of the album was done at Clef Ensemble, Kohima; mixed and mastered by Alfred Besü. Meanwhile, the video was directed by Tainla Jamir and Sophy Lasuh Kesiezie and cover design by Moanochet Amer. The album is priced at Rs. 300.
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ADMISSION OPEN NCC cadets learn about weapons from 37 Assam Rifles personnel.
Dimapur, December 21 (mexN): With an aim of motivating NCC cadets and encouraging them to join armed forces, 37 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters 6 Sector Assam Rifles organised a weapon display for NCC cadets attending Annual Training Camp at Punglwa and Medziphema. On December 16,
106 NCC cadets of Sainik School Punglwa visited the 37 AR, while on December 17, 396 cadets – which included 191 female cadets and 105 male cadets – attended the weapon display, a defence release informed. Apart from showcasing weapons and equipments being used by AR, the cadets were also given an
exposure to the functioning of a unit. The cadets also got an opportunity to visit the Weapon Simulator Room of the unit which is a modern training aid for improvement of combat shooting skills. During the visit, the cadets were apprised about the opportunities available for young men and women in the armed forces.
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.
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Organisations mourn KTCN president’s death
Dimapur, December 21 (mexN): The president of Kachari Tribal Council Nagaland (KTCN), Minist Jidung, passed away on December 17, 2014 at his residence at Amaluma village under Dhansiripar Sub-division. The Dimasa Students’ Union Nagaland (DSUN) has expressed deep pain over the “untimely” demise. In a condolence message, DSUN president, Ditush Naben acknowledged that Jidung was a good social leader and cultural activist who had done so much for the society. “His contributions to our so-
ciety will be remembered in the days to come, the DSUN president added. Further, stating that in his death, “we lost a good leader,” the union prayed that the almighty grant peace to the departed soul and also extended its deepest sympathy to the bereaved family members. Meanwhile, the Dimasa Women Welfare Society of Nagaland (DWWSN) has also expressed grief at the demise of the president of Kachari Tribal Council, Nagaland. A condolence message issued by DWWSN president,
Moromi Hojai recognised Late Minist Jidung as a sincere and dedicated leader who had served in various NGOs. “He was an active social worker throughout his life. His death caused Dimasa Kachari community a great loss of such an energetic leader,” it added. The Dimasa Women Welfare Society further prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace and also conveyed condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to the Almighty God to comfort them in time of grief and sorrow.
Reborn Confession to perform at Hotel Orchid
Celebrate
CHRISTMAS with
HOMEBAKED TREATS
Band members of Reborn Confession. The band is performing on December 23 at Hotel Orchid in Kohima.
Kohima, December 21 (mexN): Reborn Confession, a Hindi band from Nagaland will perform at Hotel Orchid in Kohima on December 23. A new name in the field of music in Nagaland, Reborn Confession was formed in 2014 with renowned artists coming together, informed the band
manager, Rupak in a press release. The band will perform some of the most popular Hindi/ English numbers as well as their own songs, it was informed. According to the release, the band has played gigs in some of the major parties in the town as well as outside the State. The band is on a promotional
tour this December. Limited tickets are available at Big Bite, Jail colony Kohima for the Dec 23 event. The members of Reborn Confession are Nikato (Vocal), Prem (Vocal), Piketo (Vocal), Raj (Acoustic/ Lead Guitar), Sanjay (Guitar), Rajesh (Bassist), Sandeep (Drum / Percussion).
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+91 9436063099
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Assam: Of Cong dissidence,
BJP emergence, jihadi activities Guwahati, December 21 ((Pti)): Dissidence in ruling Congress, BJP winning maximum seats in the Lok Sabha polls, rise in jihadi activities, interrogation of two former Congress ministers in the Saradha scam and violence in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) were some major highlights in Assam in 2014. The state’s political scenario was dominated
by continued dissidence in Congress, led by former Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who subsequently resigned from the ministry in July. Sarma, along with at least 30 MLAs, revolted against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s style of functioning. BJP capitalised on the situation and helped by a massive campaign exercise in the state led by
Four workers suffocate to death in Assam plant
Narendra Modi himself, came out with its best performance winning seven seats. Congress managed to win only three seats. Principal Opposition party in the state assembly AIUDF also made considerable inroads increasing its tally from one to three whereas former ULFA ‘commander’ Hira Sarania, contesting as an Independent, wrested the Kokrajhar (ST) seat from the influential Bodoland
DarJeeliNG, December 21 (Pti): Toy train will resume its service from Siliguri to Darjeeling from the Christmas Day, after a gap of four years. “It gives us pleasure to announce that the toy train will resume its journey from Siliguri Junction station and move uphill till Darjeeling (the terminal station) from December 25,” A K Sharma, Divisional Railway Manager of Katihar division of the NF Railways said today. “Restoration work on all the damaged stretches has finished. We also ran the toy train on trial basis after completion of the work and have found things to be satisfactory,” Sharma said. Toy train services between Siliguri and Kurseong were stopped in June 2010 following a landslide on the NH 55 at Paglajhora, between Gayabari and Kurseong. The landslide had swept away around 500 meters of the road and the toy train tracks running parallel to it. Although trains used to run from Siliguri till Gayabari - around 34 km from here - another landslide on the highway at Tindharia, between Chunabhatti and Paglajhora, on September 2011 cut short the train service till Chunabhatti - around 27 km from here.
the state. Chief Minister Gogoi claimed jihadi activities are mainly confined to Barpeta district with some people from there and Nalbari being trained by JMB. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating into the jihadi issue. According to state police, some top JMB leaders had visited a madrasa in Larkuchi village in Nalbari and organised motivational training to induct boys
in order to create modules in Assam the way they did in West Bengal. The tentacles of the Saradha scam was also traced to Assam with two former Congress ministers Anjan Dutta and Sarma quizzed by CBI in Kolkata while former DGP Sankar Barua allegedly took his life in September after the investigating agency searched his house along with that of 12 others in the state.
Heroin users on the rise in Aizawl
aizawl, December 21 (uNi): A spurt in the seiDibruGarh, December 21 (tNN): Four conzure of heroin has brought tractual workers of the Indian Oil Tanking Limited (IOTL) renewed attention to the died due to lack of oxygen while working inside a storage drug’s increasing populartank at the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited ity in Aizawl. Fueled by the (BCPL) at Lepetkata, 15 km from here, on Saturday. decline in supply of abused The victims — Hiren Gogoi, Hari Cheleng, Gajen Gogoi pharmaceutical drugs like and Hemanta Das — had entered a propylene spherical spasmo-proxyvon and partank at around 9:15 a.m. when the accident occurred. The von-spas, more and more workers had stepped inside the tank with a capacity of 800 drug users have turned to cubic metres without wearing any personal protective gear. heroin, which is cheaper After about half an hour, other workers raised an and easier to get. alarm after finding them lying in an unconscious state. Majority of drug abusThey were immediately pulled out and taken to a private ers in Mizoram had prenursing home. Two of them — Hiren Gogoi and Hari ferred spasmo-proxyvon, Cheleng — were declared brought dead, while the other parvon spas and other pretwo were admitted to the ICU. They died a few hours scribed drugs, as they used later. Their bodies were sent to Assam Medical College to be cheaper. “Now it is and Hospital (AMCH) for post-mortem. the reverse. Now heroin is As the news spread, hundreds of enraged workers three times cheaper than gathered at the site and set fire to a temporary office spasmo-proxyvon or parof the IOTL. The mob pelted stones at the CISF team von-spas. Besides there is posted there as they tried to bring the situation under great shortage of supply of control. Police, who arrived soon after, resorted to lathi- these abused prescribed charge to disperse the mob. drugs after the Indian gov“The workers may have died due to lack of oxygen. Evernment banned them in erything will be clear once the biopsy report comes out,” a 2013,” a social worker said. doctor at AMCH said. BCPL managing director P N Prasad said there was negligence on the part of IOTL. “We’re inquiring into the matter and strict action will be taken,” he said.
Toy train to resume service from Siliguri to Darj from December 25
Peoples’ Front (BPF). The Lok Sabha polls gave a fillip to the state BJP which launched a massive membership drive with an eye on the 2016 assembly polls in the state. Assam also witnessed rise of jihadi activities with a key accused of the Burdwan blast and senior Jammatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operative Sahanur Alom, his wife and brother along with several others arrested in
Heroin is smuggled into Mizoram from Myanmar with which the state shares unfenced 404-kilometre border. In a span of two decades - from 1984 till August 7, 2013, Mizoram recorded 1,241 deaths because of drugs
ing this drug and only 88 people died because of heroin. The first drug-related death was recorded in Mizoram in 1984 when a person died of heroin overdose. An END official said a spurt in the smuggling of
In a span of two decades from 1984 till August 7, 2013, Mizoram has recorded 1,241 deaths because of drugs abuse. abuse. Out of the total number of deaths, 1114 were men and 127 women. As per the Mizoram excise & narcotics department (END) data, the drugs which caused the maximum number of deaths are spasmo-proxyvon and parvon-spas. Altogether 1,131 people died abus-
heroin from Myanmar calls for concerted efforts of the government, NGOs and the churches. “Since recently, we have seized heroin almost every day. END alone cannot fight this menace, we need collective efforts,” he said. In the most recent seizure, the END officials
seized a total of 94.5 grams of heroin from three persons, including two women, on Friday. While 34.5 grams of heroin were seized allegedly from Lalngaihawmi, 48, from Thuampui locality, 32 grams allegedly from Lalbiakmawii, 40, from Chanmari West Friday, END spokesman Peter Zohmingthanga said. The contraband was believed to have smuggled from Myanmar via Champhai district, the spokesman said, adding that the two women were booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Later in the night, the END officials seized another 28 grams of heroin from G Thangkhuma, 28, a resident of Vaivakawn locality. He was also booked under the NDPS Act 1985.
Mizoram will draw additional power from Tripura
aizawl, December 21 (Pti): Mizoram would draw additional power from neighbouring Tripura from today which would continue till January 2, 2015, Superintending Engineer of the
Mizoram State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) Vanlalrema said. Vanlalrema told PTI that while Mizoram used to share its power quota with Tripura during Durga Puja, Tripura shared its power
quota with Mizoram during Christmas and New Year festivities. He said that the additional power from Tripura would be drawn from 3 PM and 12 midnight everyday for 13 days at an
average of 14 MW per day. He expressed the hope that with the additional power supply from Tripura, the Christian-dominated state would have sufficient power during its most important festival.
Dimapur
3
2 Bodo insurgents killed, 10 crude bombs found
Guwahati, December 21 (iaNs): Two Bodo insurgents were killed and a huge cache of arms was recovered from them Sunday, while information revealed by a man arrested over his links to jihadi ooperatives led to the discovery of 10 crude bombs in Assam, police said. The two cadres of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) faction opposed to peace talks were killed in Chirang district - a part of the troubled Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD). A joint team of police and army commandos Sunday morning launched an operation in Selekaguri area in Chirang along the Bhutan border, Inspector General of Police (BTAD) L.R. Bishnoi said. Security forces killed the two insurgents and also rescued a man named Sushil Dey, from Bongaigaon district, who was abducted by the outfit. An AK-56 rifle, an M-16 rifle, an Insas rifle,
two pistols, three grenades and 600 rounds of ammunition were recovered in the operation. The NDFB, meanwhile, triggered a low intensity blast Sunday evening in neighbouring Bongaigaon district, but no one was injured, Bishnoi said. In a separate incident in Barpeta district, police found 10 crude bombs, hidden in Nampara village in Patacharkuchi, based on information provided by a man arrested for his links with jihadi operatives. Nurjamal Haque, who was arrested from Salbari in Baksa district Saturday for his alleged links with jihadi operatives, provided information about the bombs, police said. The bombs were later destroyed. Police had Saturday announced that specially trained commandos will be deployed in the four districts of BTAD - Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Chirang and Baksa - to flush out Bodo militants.
Tripura to get Passport centre in New Year aGartala, December 21 (uNi): In persuasion to the demand of Left Front government in Tripura, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has decided to open up a Passport facilitation centre at Agartala in New Year, said senior official of MEA here today. According to the officials, except Guwahati there is no passport office in Northeast region but Tripura Passport Seva has been under Kolkata Regional Passport office because of better communication with Kolkata and the state government’s choice. However, Tripura government has recently demanded to start a fullfledge Passport facilitation centre in Agartala following growing demand of passport and high frequency of abroad travel by the people of the state, which MEA has
accepted. “After withdrawn of Indo-Bangladesh passport service, pressure for international passport has increased in many folds in Tripura and it has become inconvenient for the citizen to pursue for passport after submission of online applications. Moreover, Passport issuing authority is also facing trouble to get in touch with the applicants for immediate query but delay in communication in both side has ultimately interrupt the process,” the officials stated. According to report, as many as 1200 applications seeking passport have been held up for past few months with Regional Passport office in Kolkata because the authority wanted personal appearance of the applicants besides, supplementing the papers.
Manipur: The place where polo was born?
Arunachal orders SIT probe in APPSC exam paper leak itaNaGar, December 21 (Pti): The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet has ordered a special investigation team (SIT) probe in connection with the leakage of question paper of Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) examination. The cabinet in its sitting chaired by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on December 18 has decided to issue a directive to Director General of Police to conduct a SIT probe to unravel the truth and submit the report to the state government for further action, government spokesman Bamang Felix said here today. The cabinet further said the APPSC may initiate appropriate action based on the magisterial inquiry report, which has already been submitted. The cabinet also approved the constitution of a Civil Service Board and implementation of the Supreme Court’ s order regarding fixation of minimum tenure for civil service officers, Felix said in a statement. In a bid to improve the education scenario, specially at the block levels, the cabinet gave its nod for implementing block level reforms in the education administration of the Director of Elementary education. The cabinet decided to amend Section-130, SubSection 6 of the Arunachal Pradesh (Land Settlement and Records) Act, 2000 and Arunachal Pradesh (Land Settlement and Records) Rule, 2012. Under the amended clause, the lease period for allotted government land was extended from the previous 30 years to 99 years for Defence (Army, Air Force), central/state Para-military forces, all central government establishments and PSUs. The cabinet approved amendment of Section 133, sub-section 1 of the same Act and rules and other miscellaneous points relating to land matters. In a step to strengthen the traffic management and to check and control increasing cases of traffic violations, the state cabinet approved enhancement of penalties and delegation of power to head constables and above to compound the offences punishable under various sections of the Motor Vehicles Acts. The cabinet also approved to confer powers to District Tourism Officers to issue inner line permits only for tourists visiting the state, the statement added.
22 December 2014
Seven international teams participated in the 8th Manipur International Polo event in Imphal. (HT Photo/ CK Sharma)
New Delhi, December 21 (hiNDustaN times): The Mapal Kangjeibung, one of the oldest polo grounds of the world, in the heart of Imphal, Manipur, looked unusually crowded for a polo match. The stadium was almost packed. Curious faces peered through the fences separating the main road and the grounds. Here was a crowd clearly interested in a game which hardly attracts visitors in north India. The 8th Manipur International Polo festival had begun well. “Everyone here knows polo,” says Salam Girimohan Singh, a national champion in tent pegging, who was to be my guide for the duration of the tournament. “Nowhere in the country will you find a crowd that’ll cheer when you strike well and sigh
with you when you miss a goal.” Girimohan was true to his word. Standing in the dug-out of the United States team, he cheered for the US polo players playing against the Indian side. I asked him why. Pointing towards a magnificent white Manipuri pony ridden by one of the US players, he says: “That’s my pony, Lamdaba! He won the best pony award in the last tournament.” The polo tournament was organised at the same time as the Manipur’s annual Sangai Festival, a 10-day tourism festival organised by the state government. Interestingly, both the events highlight two animals endemic to Manipur that are nearing extinction. The Sangai Festival is named after the state animal, the Sangai, a critically endangered brow-
antlered deer found in the marshy wetland of Keibul Lamjao National Park, about 45 km from Imphal. The festival, apart from being a cultural event that pitches the state as a world class tourism spot, aims to save the Sangai. The Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association (MHRPA) was set up in 1977 to revive polo so as to aid the pony’s survival. “We started organising statelevel matches while starting a census of the ponies,” says Prof. C Priyoranjan, one of the five vice-presidents of the association. In 1991, the first international polo tournament was organised in which four international teams participated. The first two editions were a huge success, says Priyoranjan, but after the third, they went bankrupt. “The Manipuri pony
doesn’t have any market value but it shouldn’t be seen in those terms. It is culturally and traditionally associated with Manipuris and we need to save it,” says MHRPA president S Buddhachandra Singh. After almost a decade trying to streamline the process, the association members now take pride that the tournament has become an annual sport event. This year alone, they have been able to host seven international polo teams - Mongolia, Thailand, France, Poland, South Africa, the US and the UK. “Tell me if there is any other polo event in the country where seven international teams participate?” S Buddhachandra Singh asked. The first polo club - now defunct - in the country was established in Silchar,
Assam, by a few British officers in 1859. In 1862, the second polo club was established in Calcutta. This year, Manipuri Polo celebrates the 150th year of Manipur polo team’s first visit to the Calcutta Polo Club in 1864. What makes this tournament a challenge and equally exciting for many is that all the players have to ride a Manipuri pony. “None of us is used to playing on these ponies. These are their horses, their kind of polo, so they have the advantage,” says Akhil Sirohi, captain of the India A team, sent by the Indian Polo Association. John Eustace, captain of the South African team, says of his experience: “It took us a few games to get used to the polo played here. Internationally, polo horses are thoroughbreds and easy to manoeuvre. The fields are bigger and the game is much faster.” On the last day, the players from different countries dressed up in traditional attire - short kurta, dhoti and turban on the head for an exhibition match of traditional Manipuri polo or Sagol Kangjei. The traditional polo is slightly more complicated game, and a delight to watch. The players ride the ponies barefooted without modern leather saddles or reins. There are no goal posts; a player scores simply by hitting the ball out of either end of the field. Each side has seven players, as opposed to four in the international version. And interestingly, when a ball is thrown by the referee one can catch it and ride to the other side. Manipur believes it is the place from where polo originated. And so do Iran, Mongolia and China. Traditional records mention Sagol Kangjei, a Manipuri
game which gave birth to modern polo. It was the Britishers who first took interest in the local game, played by the ethnic majority Meiteis. English officers who were stationed in the region formalised the game and took it to other countries. The popularity of the game is credited to one Lt. Joseph Ford Sherer, also called the ‘father of modern polo’. “The Manipuri version of the game is quite similar to what we have in Mongolia, but with much stricter rules,” says Ich Tenger Giercke, captain of the visiting Genghis Khan Polo & Riding Club from Mongolia. “The sport died out during the communist era. It is now catching up again.” The tournament had 23 local clubs pitching in and sharing resources or ponies. Around 150 Manipuri boys volunteered as groom-boys to look after the 90 selected ponies in a makeshift stable set up in the adjacent park. Unlike other places such as Jaipur or Delhi, where polo is for the elites, for Manipuris, it is the commoner’s game. “Anyone can be a part of polo here. Defence officers who play in north India start playing the game only after they get into the service. But we have been riding these ponies since childhood,” says S Bimol Singh, captain of the Manipuri, India B team. Both Manipur Polo International and Sangai Festival attract a large number of visitors from all over the world. The cultural events and polo matches have grown in stature overshadowing the cause started in the name of the two animals. Both the events have been around for over a decade but the speed with which the number of Sangai and Manipuri ponies are declining should shake the government out of its slumber.
4
Dimapur
businEss/public discoursE
Monday 22 December 2014
The Morung Express
How reliable are warranties Zeliang opens his mind for online sales in India? Oken Jeet Sandham
KolKaTa, December 21 (iaNS): Even as online retail sales continue to shoot up with the ecommerce industry expected to touch Rs.216 billion ($3.5 billion) in the current fiscal, the sector has recently come under fire with both manufacturers and consumers questioning the reliability of warranties for online purchases and the consequences of this. Indian e-commerce retail has a fantastic story to narrate. The nascent sector, according to research firm PwC, grew at almost 55 percent CAGR over 2009-2013 and the growth continues to be as impressive this fiscal too. With the formation of the new government at the centre, investor confidence has increased, and the e-tailers have received aggressive funding. "High value product categories have also received acceptance on online channel and will contribute significantly in shaping the size of the online market", Sandeep Ladda, India Technology leader at PwC, told IANS. In this all-rosy picture, India retains its tag of price sensitivity. Ladda opined that a marginal difference for even a high-value item can change consumer preference. But the problem is only marginal in case of low-value goods. When it comes to low valued goods, the story could be much different and the "attachment" towards warranty may not necessarily be there. "In fact it could be that the only "warranty" that the consumers could likely think of at the time of booking the order for these low
value goods is whether he would be able to return the goods in case the piece delivered is damaged/ doesn't work and probably not beyond this point," said Ladda. But for high priced items, a substantial section of consumers are warranty-sensitive. "Some consumers are indeed cognizant of the fact that warranty on such high valued goods could be an issue and unless the price difference is very high, they would like to act cautiously," Ladda said. International brands have time and again declared that some of the products, if purchased online, are not eligible for a warranty. However, the third party online seller issues a warranty in some instances. For instnce, while Tissot issues a two-year international warranty in the name of Tissot S.A, some of the sellers on popular e-commerce websites post it as "one-year Tissot India warranty". Thus the warranty is not honoured by the manufacturer and the buyer has to be satisfied with only a sellers' warranty instead of an original manufacturer's warranty. This is not the case with Nikon, Dell, HP, Lenovo and several others. "Customers are aware of the price and warranty issues. Nothing is hidden when one buys online. Now, if customers are still unaware, it is their problem," partner and head of management consulting at KPMG in India Ambarish Dasgupta told IANS. Despite a plethora of complaints post-purchases online on warranty issues, India's laws fail to provide any respite. Declaration of warranty online is not mandatory and most of the
e-commerce sites are mere facilitators between the buyer and the actual online seller which is difficult to address with legalities. "There have been no concrete steps by the government to address warranty issues. Laws regulating ecommerce - globally as well as in India - are still evolving and lack clarity," Ladda stated. Dasgupta differed. "With the industry maturing in India, more and more procedural issues are coming up. I don't think Indian laws are incompetent to address e-commerce cases of fraud, taxation, consumer protection and the like," he said. Under the present regulations, e-commerce platforms have to comply with various Indian regulations but mandatory warranty policy declarations are still not in place. "Presently there is no proposal for a separate regulatory framework for e-commerce under consideration. The Directorate of Enforcement conducts investigations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)," Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha recently informed the Lok Sabha. Although PMLA can address cases of e-commerce fraud if registered by a proper law enforcement agency, the bane of non-warranty remains still ultra-vires. According to consultancy firm Gartner, India's e-commerce market will reach Rs.371 billion in 2015, a 70 percent increase over the projected 2014 revenue of Rs. 216 billion. However, primordial laws will continue to be in place.
Deadline to exchange pre-2005 currency notes ends on January 1
New Delhi, December 21 (PTi): People have only 11-days left to exchange currency notes of various denominations, including 500 and 1,000, which were printed before 2005. The deadline for exchanging the pre-2005 notes is January 1, 2015. The Reserve Bank has so far shredded 144.66 crore such notes valued at Rs 52,855 crore since the launch of the drive to take out the pre-2005 notes from the circulation. Post-2005 notes have added security features and help in curbing the menace of fake currency. The central bank had also said
these notes will retain their legal tender status and the public can continue to use these for any transaction/payment. On January 22, RBI had announced it would withdraw from circulation all such notes from April 1 and the public was advised to approach banks to exchange such notes. Currency notes issued before 2005 do not have the year of printing on the reverse side. In notes issued after 2005, the year of printing is visible at the bottom on the reverse. The Finance Ministry recently said the withdrawal exercise was in conformity with the standard international practice of not having
multiple series of notes in circulation at the same time. As per the latest data, 73.2 crore pieces notes of Rs 100 (Rs 7,320 crore), 51.85 crore pieces of Rs 500 (Rs 25,925 crore) and 19.61 crore notes of Rs 1,000 (Rs 19,610 crore) have been shredded in the regional offices of RBI from January to October this year. The banks have already been asked by the RBI not issue pre-2005 series notes over the counter or through ATMs. As per RBI, the volume of the banknotes printed prior to 2005 today, still in circulation, is not significant enough to impact the general public in a large way.
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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 # 3090
It may be remembered that when the DAN came to power in 2003, the state’s accumulated deficit amounting to Rs 365 crore was wiped out through a One Time Grant (OTG) given by Atal Behari Vajpayee’s NDA government at the Center and that was how the state could start with a clean slate. Neiphiu Rio ruled Nagaland the DAN-I, DAN-II and one year of DANIII. His decision to go to Delhi as an MP before completing his tenure as chief minister (CM) of the DAN-III made TR Zeliang as his successor. But he (Zeliang) had to run the state with the huge deficit of over Rs 1000 crore inherited when he took over from his predecessor. So when Zeliang presented the state budget in July for the year of 2014-15, the deficit stood at Rs 1252.45 crore. The state’s financial position has since been fast worsening. Yet, many had hopes that the new Prime Minister (PM) of the BJP-led NDA Government, Narenda Modi, would have some soft corner for NPF-led DAN government in Nagaland. The CM had put his best effort to convince the new PM to give an OTG to wipe out the state’s deficit but in vain. Soon, the people could sense the would-be outcome and fate of the state economy. Tokheho Yepthomi, leader of Congress Legislature Party has already warned that the state’s deficit may rise to over Rs 2000 crore by the end of the current financial year. The people of Nagaland still have fond memories of former PM Vajpayee because of his generosity and declaring as “unique” the Naga history. He readily gave an OTG of Rs 365 crore to then Rio Ministry in 2003 to wipe out accumulated deficit of the state, so that they could start with a clean slate. While visiting Nagaland in the same year, he again gave an unprecedented economic package of Rs 1053 crore to the state. His coming to Nagaland in 2003 as NDA PM had also added more ingredients to the otherwise fragile Center-NSCN(IM) talks by declaring that the “Naga history is unique.” Why Vajpayee Govern-
ment was so generous to the first DAN government headed by Neiphiu Rio in 2003? The answer is very simple. The BJP’s wining of seven seats in 2003 general elections in a predominantly Christian Nagaland could be one factor that drew huge attention of Vajpayee government at the Center. Almost all the BJP MLAs except Dr Hokishe Sema were in council of ministers. Yet Dr Sema was appointed as Chairman of DAN with a Cabinet status. The key home portfolio went to BJP legislator Dr TM Lotha. In fact BJP with its seven legislators became second largest ally in the first DAN in 2003 after NPF with nineteen legislators. Rio had to exercise one of the toughest downsizing juggleries when the Constitution (91stAmendment) Act, which limits the size of all ministries in India, came into force on July 2004. He retained two BJP ministers while most of them were accommodated as Parliamentary Secretaries. In 2008 state general elections, the NPF could win 26 seats while its major ally BJP could manage to win only two seats. Yet, all were surprised when the NPF could muster as much as 38 seats in 2013 state general elections while BJP reduced to one. This landslide victory made regional NPF ever powerful, needing no support from any parties for forming government. Yet, it maintained the spirit of DAN by accommodating the single BJP legislator and others including Independents in the government. Unfortunately, Vajpayee government failed to retain power in 2004 general elections. The Congress-led UPA Government came to power in 2004 with Dr Manmohan Singh as PM. Again Congress-led UPA retained power in 2009 general elections. During these ten years of UPA-I and II regimes, the NPF-led DAN continued to remain in power. But on some occasions, ruling DAN governments did not act as part of NDA which was main opposition in Parliament then. To cite an example, then Nagaland lone MP from NPF, CM Chang, gave support to Congress-led UPA Government and not remaining as part of main opposition, BJPled NDA then. Such strange behavior made difficult for
the central BJP leaders to think succinctly on the style of leadership of NPF in Nagaland. Nevertheless, it is understandable that a small state like Nagaland is too dependent on the Center for its survival, no matter which party comes to power. So, former CM Rio had to keep then ruling UPA-I and II in good humor. Yet, DAN-I and DANII governments under him continued to plunge into rising deficits. Many have agreed that corruption has become a phenomenon everywhere and Nagaland is no exception. Many have also disagreed with state Governor PB Acharya’s sweeping allegation that state politicians were indulging in “rampant corruptions.” His further allegation that Naga people’s greediness for money had emboldened state politicians to indulge in rampant corruption has not been well either in many circles. I came across some Naga officers who did not entertain political pressures on many occasions and this group of officers would certainly disagree with the kind of sweeping allegation of the governor that “Naga people’s greedy for money” remark. In fact, many a time, some honest officers became victims of politicians because of their refusal to obey dictates from them. We also came across some good politicians who were against the corrupt practices by certain politicians. In today’s environment, it will not be wrong to say that politicians who do not want to spend money at the time of elections in Nagaland have slim chances to win elections. Today, we have reached to such a situation that makes everyone one of us believing that “no candidate can win election without money.” In fact, politicians who do not have any money for spending in elections have become “mockery”. Sometimes, rich people keep flaunting that they can contest elections any time as they are wealthy enough to face electorates as well other unseen elements. The common opinion formed among the electorates is also such that whoever gives them more money, their votes will be given to
them. This way, corruption has been directly encouraged and winners in the elections after spending crores of rupees will work out their first roadmaps to morrow money by hook or by crook. One of the best ways to stop corruption in the society, in my opinion, is we need to educate our electorates that they should not ask any money from the contesting candidates at the time of elections in the state. At the same time, there should be continuous awareness campaigns from village to village as to how the people should choose the right candidates as these are the people who are going to represent them in deciding the fate of their future. Bottom Line: For the first time Zeliang has opened his mind with regard to shaping of future of the people of Nagaland by standing on their own feet. In one of his recent public address, he disclosed that Nagaland was the only state in the country begging all the time from the Center while other states did not and further asserted that “We cannot always beg from the Center.” His remark is one such positive move that will draw supports from the people of Nagaland who have been critical of the manner in which state leaders were standing at the doors knocking almost all Central Ministers for grants and funds. Although he knows very well the kind of suffering the state is likely to experience if they do not get any grants and funds from the Center, the chief minister explained that the state and its people should not continue to expect Delhi to help them “forever” and emphatically asking them to change their mindsets and move forward making them self-sufficient and economically sustainable. In fact, PM Modi had opened the minds of the people of Nagaland that their destiny should be decided by them only and not the Center. Zeliang might have realized after Modi’s recent visit to Nagaland and cautiously asked the people of Nagaland - “We should start earning.” A positive and meaningful move, indeed, and the people of Nagaland should support it.
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.
DAILY CROSS WORD
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ACROSS 1. Mongrels 6. It ebbs and flows 10. Insulation 14. Hello or goodbye 15. Corrosive 16. Food thickener 17. Internal disputes 19. Hubs 20. Queasiness 21. C 22. Trickle 23. Young salmon 25. Anagram of “Paste” 26. Quash 30. Located below or beneath 32. Raise 35. Tympanum 39. Ancient ascetic 40. Be a go-between 41. Withdraw 43. Support 44. Assert without proof 46. Not there 47. Seasoning 50. Award 53. Canvas dwelling 54. Operative 55. Debacle 60. Against
61. Vacillation 63. Tale 64. Mining finds 65. French for “Our” 66. Plod along 67. Not cool 68. Church recesses
DOWN 1. Principal 2. Forearm bone 3. Curdled soybean milk 4. Not that 5. Mentors 6. Make lace 7. “Stick” of frozen water 8. Kitchen set 9. Border 10. Nonsense 11. Ancient Greek marketplace 12. Implied 13. Journeys 18. An unskilled actor 24. Half of a pair 25. Risk 26. Swerve 27. If not 28. Exam 29. Overplaying 31. Angel’s headwear 33. Anoint (archaic)
34. Blue-green 36. Liturgy 37. End ___ 38. No more than 42. Poster color 43. What we sleep on 45. A hot spring 47. Remains 48. Prison-related 49. Foreword 51. Astern 52. Tropical vine 54. Display 56. At the peak of 57. Seats oneself 58. Center 59. 1 1 1 1 62. Belief Ans to CrossWord 3098
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local/Public SPace 5 BJP Phek District responds to Upgrading our Educational System in Keeping with the Times allegations of ‘hired’ protesters Monday
The Morung Express
22 December 2014
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uring my childhood years in Elementary and Primary Schools, most of our teachers gave us spoon-fed education. We weren’t encouraged to ask questions. We were expected to sit quietly and listen to our teachers’ monologues or carefully copy what they wrote on the black board. Rot-memory was everything if we wanted to pass exams. Despite our academic under-achievements and failed grades, some of our parents would also beg our school authorities to move us to the next class, not realizing that they were only putting us into a more challenging level where we would possibly end up facing more frustration and eventually drop out for good. Obviously, not all teachers and parents, past or present, are to be blamed for all our academic problems. Anyway, my point is this: We must evaluate our education system in Nagaland to ensure effective learning. Real learning often engages all our senses. Suppose an assignment or project is given, students should do research which may often involve observing something, feeling and smelling it, analyzing its parts, organizing them again, and then writing them for presentation. This is how students can be encouraged to ask lots of questions at every stage so they candevelop critical thinking which can result in real learning. In other words, learning is a process, not a spoon-fed classroomevent orrot-memorization. Today our children, who live
in a digital world, areacquiring information from their Smart Phones and Tablets more naturally than from white boards in their classrooms. Indeed, modern technology is rapidly changing the dynamics in the classroom and the role of teachers. In a way, the days of teachers doing all the lecturing in classrooms are over. Hence, we must adapt our teaching methods in keeping with the times--that is, we need to make intelligent use of technology to assist our teaching and improve our children’s learning. Incorporating technology, of course,is much more than just turning on a video in the classroom or making computers available for students to use inschools. It is more about making school-related information and students’ academic reports available for all students and their parents alike on school websites (we’ll be making this facility available for schools in Kohima next year). It’s about teachers serving as managers of information and guiding students to acquire knowledge. It’s also about encouraging students to have their own computers so they can do their home-work or research and submit their assignments electronically. With the advent of Internet, this is now possible anywhere in the world, including Nagaland. As in all advanced countries, our students must be provided facilities to do their assignments or research using school computers. They also must be encouraged to have their own computers. Some-
Naga Church Foundation Day G
reetings from the Molungkimong Baptist Church to all the believers in Nagaland. 142 years ago, it was on this day, that is the 22nd December 1872, the first Baptist church was established at Molungkimong (Dekhaimong) in Naga hills by an American Baptist Missionary E.W. Clark and his Associates Godhula, his wife Lucy and supongmeren amidst headhunters. It was on this day, 15 converts were baptized at Molungkimong soil and the first Lord’s Supper was administered in Naga soil. Thus the first Baptist church in Naga soil was born. All the Naga Christians should be thankful to God for sending the Gospel of Jesus Christ which has liberated us from the bondage of sin and made us his dear children. As we observe this historic day, let us pause for few minutes wherever we may be and say “Thank You, Jesus for the Salvation you have given us. Thank you Jesus for your church in our land”. Amen Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a blessed Happy New year Pastor R. Ali Molungkimong B. Church
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times some students may find their teachers’ explanation too difficult to understand, butthey could turn to Khan Academy’s online educational tutorials and learn thingsin the comfort of their own homes. Or, sometimes they can learn from some of the world’s best teachers/ professors explaining the same subjects more clearly via online videos using YouTube.With information readily available online,today’s students can even use their Smart Phones to studywhile waiting for their buses or friends outside of classrooms. Another weakness in our educational system is applying a one-size-fit-all, uniform system of education. We pour in the same contents into every student’s head and expect similar outcomes from every one of them.We are into mass production of students much like factories manufacture mass products. We fail to take into consideration that each student is unique. We don’t recognize that different kids learn best with different styles. Our system of education has no place for the academically gifted children or the born geniuses. Somehow they have to just go along with the slow pace of the average students. But imagine if these extrabright and creative kids---say, the top 5% to 10% of our student population---were nurtured to the level of their full mental capabilities. Who knows, they could someday birth the next breakthroughs in biotechnology, micro-electronicsor other high-tech fields.
A considerable number of our children exhibit natural abilities in sports. But our schools and colleges lack properathletic courses, training programs or sports facilities for them. Also, there are no special schools and facilities for autistic children or those with disabilities. Ideally, education should be tailor-designed according to the needs andinterests of each student.And the content delivery (communication) should be made according to the pace of each student’s capability or level of comprehension. As for the role of teachers, they should act more like guides and mentors rather than mere lecturers and also have face-to-face interaction with their students as much as possible. Although this could be expensive to set up and run, this is how effective learning occurs. For example, the Montessori Schools and the School of Tomorrow follow this educational system.For us Nagas, the first big institution of such a kind is coming up very soon in Kuda, Dimapur. The goal of education is not to merely complete an academic program or obtaina degree certificate. It is about developing students to be better citizensor become skilled workers. This implies holistic growth and knowledge/ skills acquisition resulting in productive employment. The question, however, is this: Are our schools and colleges really producing better citizens and/orskilled workers? The fact that many of our “educated youths” today are not
employable reveals that our current education system is seriously flawed. Here is an example of how schools and colleges in America educate and prepare their students. From Grade 9 onward, students are provided to sit with special academic advisors or career guides. In addition, students as young as sixteen are exposed and introduced into their selected career fields. For example, those who want to go into a medical profession are made to dress in appropriate hospital outfits and go to hospitals to assists doctors/nurses as part of their academic requirements; those who want to specialize in culinary arts must participate in local cooking competitions; those who pursue a business line are given opportunity to involve in school-affiliated businesses; those who want to go into investing are handed fake currency to play in money trades such as stock investing. And the list goes on. Since education is meant to impart work-skills, certain young students may be encouraged to work in the daytime and attend college classes at night or during weekends. Again, this is exactly what advanced countries do: provide both work opportunities and flexible classroom hours to their students. Therefore, improved education is an areaweNagas must explore in order to best meet the needs of our young people today.
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n respond to the media publication in the Morung Express dated 20th Dec 2014, M.Chuba alleged that the people who staged protest rally at the Nagaland State BJP Headquarter in Super Market, Dimapur, are not the BJP Phek District workers, but hired people of some vested interested people. This allegation is rubbish and nonsense. What could be more blunder for him to assert such a conclusion? The people of BJP Phek District are not a lump of morsel that could be bought or hired! The District Office bearers, Mandal Presidents, boot level workers and its members are the genuine BJP workers from the five constituencies of Phek District with proof at all circumstances, further this evidences is undeniable that he himself was acquainted to with us and work with us. It is surprising to acknowledge that he did not act rationally in compliance to the framework of Democratic Principles- we the people live, grow and developed through. Befuddlement created among the people is the results of the blunder a narcissistic M Chuba perpetrated among the BJP Stalwarts of Phek District. He necessarily should provide evidence and proved that Phek BJP workers are hired by some people without which, this false allegations is null and void. He scapegoated our BJP leaders of Phek District, through undemocratic means that had compels we the BJP Phek workers to hit the rift. He should not mislead the people anymore rather he should step down immediately on moral ground for no confidence he holds among the people anymore, without which we the BJP Phek will continue to surge demonstration against such a despotic leader further to the higher ups. Mean while what Eduzu Thuluo, an unrecognised person not only in his own constituency but at large in the district, state or national level, reiterated on 21 Dec 2014 press release, Morung Express, responding the 19th Dec 2014 tries to steal the popular protest rally of the BJP Phek stalwarts, is a mockery with no valid credo. He tries to steal the popular democratic rights of the people by addressing them as: "were not bonafide BJP members" and considered them impostors. How can he sideline the students, self employed or any Indian citizen from the domain of the political arena, where the voice of the public welfare is addressed? Can any right thinking countryman resolved the code "there are party norms and mechanisms to address any grievances internally and not in public", by inducting himself backdoor trough illicit conspire with the maverick politician like M. Chuba? Therefore, it is the unanimous voice of the BJP Phek people that Eduzu Thuluo in the office of profit is sternly unacceptable, his time is over and should not hold on anymore.
Mazie Nakhro, Ph.D. Education and Professional Development Coordinator Overseas Nagas Association
BJP Phek District General Secretary (Spokesman)
CHRISTIAN ESCAPISM
illions of Christians are busy, burying their heads in the sand pretending that the devastating events of our times are not really happening. They are desperately trying to escape the realities of the pressures of modern living and their obligation. Escapism is not in itself a condition of mental sickness, but a subconscious mechanism trying to escape the realities and the shame they have. They disappear into worlds of their own creation in their attempt to escape the real world. The frightening fact about mental and emotional illness is that it is making alarming inroads into the present generation of young people. A recent magazine article calls the youth of today “the tormented generation “saying that twenty percent of students of university
of Pennsylvania require help from the mental health service during their college years with the help of Psychiatrist or a social worker. The intellectual climate in which modern man lives is a paradox. It put wheels under our feet, but fears and apprehensions in our hearts. We are able to live longer, but not better. In the United States, over fifty percent of the nation’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from some form of mental or psychological problems. Volumes could be written on the problem of dope addiction. Millions of barbiturates are swallowed every night to help the nation sleep. Millions of pep pills wake us up in the morning after the hangovers of the night before. The Bible warns that those flights from reality bring no lasting satisfaction,
“whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things” (Phil. 3:19). One of the most conspicuous modes of escape as alcoholism, which is now a national catastrophe. One out of every ten babies born today will be confined to a hospital with some form of mental illness at some time during their lifetime. Many of the mentally ill are literally sick at heart and soul. We see it in the cocktail lounges where the bored and restless while away the tedious hours of leisure. We see it in the night clubs where jaded and frustrated politicians and businessmen watch sensual performers go through their frenzied routines, leaving their audiences empty, frustrated and satiated. Most of us are motivated by the wish
of greater material, comfort , security and prestige. Throughout the Old Testament it is recorded over and over again that God required the life of a perfect animal, with its blood poured out upon the altar, as a sacrifice for sin “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins”(Heb. 9:22). Those sacrifices were made in anticipation of the day when a permanent sacrifice would be made. God made perfect provision for the cure of man’s sins, without the blood of Jesus Christ; it is indeed a fatal disease. Believers in Christ are nothing to God in payment for Salvation which is bestowed as a gift. There is no doubt that naturalistic religion has invaded the church today. Many of our concepts of the church are secular. Even the mission of the church is often changed from Biblical basis
Dimapur
By: Keduovilie Linyü
to secularized one. This will probably constitute a period of conflict, the type of conflict depends largely upon the environment, temperament and the faith of the believers. Faith is described in the Bible as the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1) Faith is laying hold of Christ, for Christ is the object of our faith as He paid the full penalty of our sins on the cross “delivered for our offences” (Rom 4:25). Christians of intellectual, disillusioned with the shallow goals of a materialistic society, began to examine their souls. Many turned to the ancient book called the Bible. Thousands flocked to various messiahs, and still others turned to the escapist drugs and drinks. Others went into strange cults. Everywhere people are searching for something
that works. We would like to save ourselves, for this would feed our egos and our pride. Never has a generation been called upon to experience more instant sufferings, troubles, heartache and despair than ours. To satisfy man’s inner hunger he must have God; but when religious sanctions decaythe average sensual man tends to cheat. The words of Apostle Paul in the first chapter of Romans, addressed to the decadent Roman society might well apply to us. “Because that, never they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful”. (Rom 1:21) Today, our churches are filled, but how many are actually practicing Christianity in their daily life. You may study theology and religion, but then comes a time when you must experience Christ for yourself.
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.
Fun filled Pre-Christmas Lerie Panchayat elects office bearers celebration at LFhss
Kohima, December 21 (mexN): Lerie Panchayat in Kohima has elected its new team of office bearers for tenure of three years (October 17, 2014 to October 17, 2017). The office bearers and executive members also held a meeting and deliberated various agendas
for the welfare and progress of the colony, a press release received here informed. The officials are: Chairman- James Liezietsu; Vice-ChairmanDr. Ilang Zeliang; Secretary- Tongcheo Ngullie, Joint Secretary- Shikato Jimomi; Treasurer- L. Luchamba Yimchungrü;
Finance Secretary- Odimeren; Information Secretary- Newa Konyak; Advisors- Nozo Mekro, Imkongneken Ao, Tometh Konyak, Tsievilie Macheo; Judiciary Board- Zekuovi Khatso (Convenor), Tiesovile Tunyi (Co-Convenor), all tribal representative members.
Birthday GreetinGs
Dear,
Akapu K. Yepthomi As you complete 5 years today, may you be blessed with all the joy and happiness and a source of peace. From beloved Grandparents & Uncles
Poultry farmers attend training Makro Cultural Society to celebrate 25 years Livingstone Foundation hr. sec school celebrates advance Christmas on december 18.
Dimapur, December 21 (mexN): Livingstone Foundation Hr. Sec School (LFHSS) in Dimapur celebrated Pre-Christmas with much fervour albeit the misty cold air on December 18. The much awaited celebration kicked off at 5:30 pm with the enchanting and melodious Christmas Carols sung by the Stonites Choir, a press release from the school said. It was all entertainment throughout as the gathering swayed to the various musical and choreography shows put up by the students as well as the teachers. One of the chief highlights of the Celebration was the appearance of Santa Claus,
who was welcomed with loud cheers and applauses. Santa Claus presented the students and mentors with various interesting gifts, the release added. Andrew Ahoto, Chairman of the school in his speech greeted the gathering and spoke on the essence of Christmas spirit. He thanked everyone for making the occasion worthwhile and beautiful and urged the students to remember everyone behind their well-being this Christmas. He also reminded them that the members of the Livingstone Fraternity including the students and mentors belonged to the proud and ever growing
family of the Stonites and affirmed his faith that wherever they might be, they will remain proud Stonites forever and it is a legacy that the Stonites stood up to every challenge and helped each other during good as well as rough times. The programme was led by the MC, Vernon Fernandez. The invocation prayer was said by Nisheli Edwards, the Co-Administrator of the school, while the bonfire was lit by Ani Yepthomi, Coordinator of Pre-Primary Section. Meanwhile, Arthur Edwards, Administrator of the school presented special awards to the Prefects and Sub-Prefects of different dormitories.
Participants of the poultry training held at iCar from december 16 to 18.
meDziphema, December 21 (mexN): To sensitize farmers on importance of improved varieties of poultries developed by ICAR and scientific package of practices for poultry farming, ICAR RC NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani and Society of Aborigines, Zunheboto jointly organized a residential training program under Tribal Sub Plan Component of Poultry Seed Project from December 16-18 at Jharnapani.
ICAR has been promoting backyard poultry farming with improved Vanaraja and Gramapriya varieties with an aim to generate additional family income and nutritional security for farmers in Nagaland, a press release informed. Ten participants from different villages of Zunheboto and Dimapur districts participated in the program, which had deliberation on different aspects of scientific poultry production and management by a team of
experts, Dr. MK Patra, Scientist (Animal Reproduction), Dr. Rakesh Kumar Scientist (Agronomy), Dr. Ebibeni Ngullie, SMS (Animal Science), Dr. RK Das, and Dr. Pule Addison. The participants were trained on housing management, feeding, vaccination and medication technique, and hatchery management. Further, 500 chicks were distributed to the participants for initiating small scale poultry unit in their respective places.
Kohima, December 21 (Dipr): The Makro Cultural Society (MCS), formed in 1989, is scheduled to celebrate its Silver Jubilee on December 23, 2014 at Makromi Khel, Kidima with the theme “The Time of Change.” Nizal Tepa, retired Executive Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control will be the special guest. The programme will have invocation prayer by Senior Pastor, Baptist Church Kidima, Keholeshü Tepa and Touring Catechist, Neizoho Mathew, who were the first Reverend and Touring Catechist respectively amongst Kidima villagers. Presentation of folksongs and folktales and competitions like Tati, traditional couple show, and release of Jubilee souvenir will mark the pro-
gramme. The best students in standard wise, first class in HSLC and best farmer for men and women will be awarded too. Makro Cultural Society, also recipient of Best Society Award of Kohima district in the year 2005-06 bestowed by Nehru Yuva Kendra, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, will be showcasing its cultural activities, enrichment for the welfare of the people in unity and prosperity. The President of MCS, Medoseto Kiso has informed all the members serving in different parts to be present on the occasion. The office bearers and organising committee have invited the well-wishers to participate in the “joyous” celebration.
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IN-FOCUS
The Power of Truth
The Morung Express
THE EDIT PAGE
C O M M E N T A R Y
Steve Rushton
Hope vs. Fear: scotland’s referendum Guest editorial and the global democracy movements Peace on earth MonDAy 22 DEcEMbEr 2014 voluME IX IssuE 352
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Arkotong Longkumer
hristmas means so many things to us. It symbolises the birth of a saviour, the promise of new life. It is also an occasion for us to find solace and comfort with our family, and share a common humanity with the world. I remember my own Christmases growing up as a child in Kohima and Dimapur; the excitement of sleeping on Christmas Eve, the glee on our faces as we unwrapped presents the next morning; the bourne fire that lit up the night, sending fiery signals to the cold midnight sky. Suddenly, a warm purr would fill us as we sang songs and ate over-sweetened raisin cakes with Plaza or Breeze icing. It seemed that our innocence would burn eternally. During our adolescence, the shield of parental security eventually peeled off, as we learnt about the harsh reality of the world. Suddenly, Christmas was only a lull from the incessant violence that would eventually gather storm after all the compliments were distributed. Fiery sermons, feel-good columns about the sharing of common ‘brotherhood’ and ‘sisterhood’ would pillage the newspaper pages like soldiers lined up before the priest as he blesses them to fight with honour and God, promising eternal life to those who die for God and country. I often questioned with intense sadness: when, God, when? Many Christmases have come and gone; I have changed and so has the world. These days we are all so unsure of what the world will become. The high-speed demand for everything to be smaller, faster, and cheaper has heralded a new breed of consumerism. The global markets have infected many with the need for more goods, fuelled by the brazen imposition on cheap labour, with the poorest of the poor feeling the brunt of this global entourage. AIDS/HIV and the recent Ebola scare has dominated world economic and social debate; the need to bridge the gap between rich and poorer countries and the need for Fair Trade; the Global War on Terror, Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Hurricanes and closer home Corruption, Extortion—all have shook our world with a resounding boom! We fear what the world will be like next year. But every year, as if these calamities never happened, we gather around our table and gloss over the profound events of the world, with the utmost urgency in finding the best meat and preparing for the yearly ritual. Every year we say the same prayer, gather with the same people and pray to the same God. The newspaper columns will be filled with the same words of the conditioned security we are supposed to feel after we have had our Christmas lunch. After that, all hell’s gonna break loose, yet again! This year I thought maybe it would be good to make a wish. Not one that is entangled with personal gain, nor something that would glamorise a utilitarian goal. But one that is simple, honest. One that I know everyone wants. So I speak for ‘us’. Peace. Let’s embrace the cliché and get on with it. We all know that corruption, extortion, violence, factionalism or division in any sense is against the message of Christmas and the life of Jesus Christ. To find justice, we must find purpose in a unifying voice. That today is not about us, but about a man who wanted to share his message of love and peace, so that we may do the same with others. (Dr Arkotong Longkumer is a Lecturer of Religious Studies, School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK and can be reached via email: arkotong@gmail.com)
lEfT wiNg |
Amit Dasgupta
Is Vatican playing into Beijing's hands?
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obel laureates gathered in Rome last week were dismayed that Pope Francis had surprisingly refused to grant an audience to the Dalai Lama so as to not incur Beijing's inevitable wrath. Earlier the meeting was to be held in Cape Town to commemorate the first death anniversary of Nelson Mandela. The South African government, which is facing a serious economic downturn and is heavily reliant on trade and investment from China, however, refused to grant the 79-year old Dalai Lama a visa. The decision outraged South African Noble laureate Desmond Tutu, who denounced the government as having played into Beijing's hands. The Vatican's decision, similarly, to turn down a meeting between two spiritual leaders is reflective of the enormous clout Beijing enjoys and the forceful manner in which it can convey its displeasure. While the Vatican did not specifically mention Beijing as the reason behind not meeting with the Dalai Lama, Mark Woods, writing in the Christian Today newsletter, justified the decision as being "simple diplomacy". Woods explained that if a meeting took place, it would "antagonize China" and "serve no purpose". Pope Francis understandably wants better relations with China, which is estimated to have several million practising Catholics, including a large underground following. Furthermore, the Vatican is locked in a bitter dispute with China as to who controls the Catholic church. Beijing refuses to accept papal authority on the appointment of bishops. There are also reports of churches and crosses being burnt, including the persecution of Catholics. Pope Francis is clearly aware that the Catholic community would, most certainly, face the repercussions of his action if he were to meet with the Dalai Lama, and that Beijing has never been persuaded by human rights arguments. It is understandable that Pope Francis faced a genuine dilemma. Vatican officials would have briefed him about the increasing manner in which heads of state/government have been distancing themselves from the Dalai Lama, whom Beijing regularly refers to as "a pervert", "a splittist" and "a criminal". He would have been informed that in 2010, US President Barack Obama met the Dalai Lama in the White House Map Room and that after the meeting ended, the Dalai Lama was made to exit the White House through a back entrance. Beijing was, nevertheless, infuriated and made its disapproval known to Washington in blunt terms. In 2012, similarly, British Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Nick Clegg, met the spiritual leader in the crypt of the St. Paul's Cathedral, assuming that it was the discreet thing to do as it would not attract unnecessary media publicity and speculation. Beijing strongly condemned the meeting as "interference in China's internal affairs" and a clear indication of support for Tibet's independence. It, simultaneously, said that such meetings would seriously jeopardize Britain-China relations. A worried British prime minister and the Foreign Office had to make considerable efforts to assuage Beijing and furthermore agreed not to meet with the Dalai Lama again. All this must have weighed heavily on Pope Francis' mind when he took the decision not to meet with the Dalai Lama. The Vatican diplomatically announced that the Pope would not be meeting with any of the Nobel laureates who had gathered in Rome. Notwithstanding the Pope's pastoral dilemma, his decision has shocked many, who question whether it can legitimately be justified as the right thing to do, especially by a spiritual leader who enjoys considerable moral authority. If anything, the decision by the Pope is an unambiguous snub but, more tellingly, it is also an implicit endorsement of continued human rights violations by Beijing and, furthermore, an acknowledgement that threats and arm-twisting works. Chinese leaders will, most certainly, gloat at what they have achieved.
D
uring the Scottish referendum, I witnessed a clear battle of hope verses fear. Within the independence campaign, the Radical Yes promoted a progressive greener, fairer and egalitarian future. The No side stressed independence would herald imminent doom: “There is no alternative” the Labour-led establishment side repeated – dogma that has reverberated since the neoliberal era of capitalism began. The No campaign coined itself ’Project Fear’, painting a dour picture of independence, not least economically. Scotland would lose the pound then be forced to join the Euro and oil revenues would be volatile. Both pensions and house prices would collapse, and it would haemorrhage jobs, with corporations heading to London. Panic was created around a possible run on the banks and soaring food costs, if independence was the outcome. In contrast, Yes envisioned re-distributing wealth and ending austerity, realised by measures such as progressive taxes, a citizen’s income, land reform, nationalising oil revenue and positively investing it into schemes like community wind farm projects. Money would also be available by scrapping pointless weapons of mass destruction, transforming Scotland’s global relations and lifting the threat from nuclear incidents to Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow. Other innovations included transforming democracy: with a people-led constitution, local and participatory democracy. Again, the No’s rang alarm bells; internationally Scotland would forced out from Europe, facing threats from Russia and terrorism. But even with project fear on full force, hope was abundant on the streets in the lead-up to the referendum. Yes stalls buzzed with optimism. Yes choirs went from the schemes (council estates) to town centres. On referendum-eve, I witnessed thousands gathered in Edinburgh’s Meadows for #YesHope Global Solidarity, a candle lit gathering with flags of different nations that wandered its way down to Holyrood Parliament. Accounts from George Square report it was packed with Yes campaigners too. The internationalism and positivity of this campaign was routinely ignored or misrepresented in the mainstream media; researcher Dr David Patrick documents a large No bias. Of all national newspapers only the Sunday Herald (a weekly) supported independence. Doubling its readership during the campaign, it recently started publishing a daily newspaper, The National. Accusations of BBC bias provoked protests outside its Glasgow Headquarters four days before the vote. Bias is apparent in an overview article about the referendum’s key issues’. It stresses fears about currency and oil running out, but neglects any progressive possibilities. Equally, BBC News editor Nick Robinson has been accused of doing the No campaign’s dirty work. He leaked Treasury claims that RBS will leave Scotland and edited a report that falsely suggests Alex Salmond refused to answer questions on the subject. The No establishment seemed bereft of fresh ideas, pumping fear on maximum. During this last week, it struck me how these fear taps are used on an everyday basis to maintain the system. Business as Usual: Project Fear Scaremongering is all over the austerity project, with minority and vulnerable groups demonised as “skivers”, “scroungers” or “fraudsters”. The cuts – the establishment tell us – are all the poor’s fault for being “too lazy”. Any moves to regulate or rein in the excessively rich, on the other hand, are rejected by the establishment with echoes of the threats exclaimed within their No campaign. Regulation – they tells us – will mean job losses, drops in pensions, companies to exodus and so on. This anti-regulatory line is the one Cameron is using to push the free trade agreement TTIP, which will increase the power of corporations further. The establishment diverts attention from the billions of pounds society loses lost through pro-elite activities including speculation, tax evasion, bank bailouts and systemic fraud like LIBOR; the narrative is instead that society owes everything to the rich getting richer. This mimics Stockholm syndrome, those held at ransom feeling indebted and allegiance to their captors. Project Fear is also used to maintain the military
I
woke up finding my back a freezing and forcing me out of bed one December morn. After breakfast an idea struck my mind and I told my wife that we would do our Christmas shopping in the morning hours, following it up, we rushed out, acting as if we were about to receive some fine gifts and not going to be at the receiving end of the shop keepers. We reached the east side of the highway, 4th mile at 9.A.M and found that there was traffic jam already, so I signalled right turn to cross over to the left side of the road, smiling and making polite gestures as few cars passed me by, they kept passing on and on until my smiling brows and lips dropped to be replaced by that sullen look as I begin to see the vehicles shooting forward like bats in the air. Yeah, they sure made me understand that they should pass before I could make my cross (to bear), how long I wait does not matter to anyone except, of course me. I keep forgetting that “I first” is the glaring signal before “you first” or ‘safety first’ in our land, in fact those who stand for “you first” or ‘safety first’ are considered either as ‘not smart’ or ‘sissy’. Realising so, I signaled, left side of the lane track making many vehicles screech to a halt . “At last”,I said, and taking a deep breath of relief drove down the road when I was
A review of the ongoing global struggle between progressive participatory politics and neoliberalism
industrial complex and fossil fuel industries. David Cameron showed his true blue colours saying he will “cut the green crap”. The message is energy bills will rise unless we let the oil and fracking industry get their way. Threats about the cost of heating, when there is spiraling fuel poverty, serve as distraction from both the oil elites central within the government and viable green alternatives. Britain has been in a state of perpetual war for 100 years, justified by supposed threats like how Iraq could hit British territory within 45 minutes with nuclear weapons in 2002. Imminent catastrophe is constantly forewarned if we diverge at all from the business as usual and ‘military invasions as usual’ course. This mindset reflects in the ’Paranoid Style’ written by Richard Hofstadter half a century ago in the midst of the Cold War. “The paranoid spokesman sees the fate of conspiracy in apocalyptic terms—he traffics in the birth and death of whole worlds, whole political orders, whole systems of human values. He is always manning the barricades of civilization. He constantly lives at a turning point. Like religious millennialists he expresses the anxiety of those who are living through the last days and he is sometimes disposed to set a date for the apocalypse.” Hofstadter explains writing about McCarthyism, a practice used by the Right attacking alternative thinkers with wild political accusations, but no evidence. 50 years on, what differs is that there is no discernible Left within establishment politics; New Labour is a party of austerity, big oil and foreign wars. It opposed Scotland’s opportunity to break free from Westminster’s neoliberalism. The establishment discourse could be said to promote paranoia. Labelling peaceful protesters as terrorists is one manifestation. A City of London memo that defines Occupy London supporters as “domestic extremists”, on a watch-list alongside alQaida, is one example. The memo warns: “City of London Police has received a number of hostile reconnaissance reports concerning individuals that fit the anti-capitalist profile.” Occupy is one of the global democracy movements emerging since the 2008 financial crash, all of which distinctive but with similar threads in their ideas – many parallels can also be drawn between these movements and the Radical Yes campaign. Global Democracy Movements Iceland’s Pot and Pans Revolution was one of the first post-crash social upheavals in 2009. Icelanders ousted their government under the banner of “Unfit government: unfit bank management”. Similar* anti-neoliberal* revolution fervour swept through the Arab Spring in 2011 followed by Spain’s 15M movement, “Real democracy now” it demanded. Occu-
py expanded this squares movement, attacking inequality: “We are the 99%”. Other mass mobilisations followed, in Turkey growing from Gezi Park, in Canada focused against tar sands and fracking with Idle No More, south of the border the US mobilisation against Keystone XL – the tar sands pipeline. More recently, there have been mass protests in Brazil and Hong Kong. In common, these movements call for systemic change from neoliberal failure, both for people and the planet. They also frequently sought to reclaim public space and the commons and re-imagine democracy, a vision based on full participation and rights no longer dominated by the corporate elite. In a nutshell these movements aimed at a progressive future just like the Yes. Another similarity between these post-2008 global justice movements and radical independence is how the media frequently ignores the issues and the movements.
Media for the 1% and 99% Recently, anthropologist David Graeber pointed out how the corporate media all but ignored the recent Occupy Democracy camp in Parliament Square, London, that was ravaged by aggressive policing for 9 days. He pointed out that the excessive police reaction and media inaction could be for the same reasons – both working to maintain the status quo. In the referendum campaign, there was a similar void in corporate media covering alternatives, such as Common Weal, a comprehensive plan of ideas to redefine society as ‘all of us first’, rather than its current ‘me-first’ mindset. Alternative news media filled the vacuum, with the growth and expansion of sites including Bella Caledonia and Newsnet Scotland. A trend of growing alternative media that discusses dissent against Project Fear and nurtures a space for alternatives can be seen within the global democracy movements. The 15M movement of squares created a newspaper, Occupy.com is a news platform news platform growing from Occupy Wall Street, while Turkish protests that began in Gezi Park has the sites including Everywhere Taksim. In Iceland, they created media protections to a standard that it is the only place where Wikileaks has an official office. Worldwide, Wikileaks has perhaps reshaped the news landscape the most, going furthest to highlight the systemic corruption and criminality. In combination with Twitter, blogs and other social media, these DIY and non-corporate media are helping to both tell the story the corporations want to silence and galvanise hope. Unlike the pamphlets and print information of past people’s struggles, the digital age is allowing the leaks, dissent and innovations to go viral. Hope and alternatives are trending By its nature, participatory democracy movements draw together people with a diversity of ideas, views and tactics. But through both physical and digital connections, innovative ideas can spread like dandelion seeds in the wind. Across the world, there are discussions about digital democracy and new media protections that have emerged from Iceland’s moves towards direct democracy. There are new party political structures in action, such as Podemos in Spain that are based on ideas of participation, transparency and inclusion. In Spain, Greece and elsewhere there are movements pushing for debt audits, a way a nation can reject debt that was not created in the public interest. It is worth mentioning that a great deal of these ideas originated before 2008, not least in South America’s earlier movements against neoliberalism and austerity. Looking to the future in Scotland and beyond, it is true to say that neoliberalism still remains, but how long Project Fear can sustain seems uncertain. With expanding interest and enthusiasm behind Scottish independence it appears “Another Scotland is possible”. As hope breeds more hope, as there are alternatives, as innovations spark in public spaces and go viral, maybe it is worth predicting that not just another world is possible but another world is coming.
Christmas Gift I.T. Jimomi, Diphupar
scared out of my wits by a loud and powerful horn just behind me, expecting it to be an escort vehicle or a truck I looked back and found that it was just a small bike, “the traffic police should really do something about it,” the boy beside me said. I gave way by slowing down and continued my way down then, out of the blue, I saw an Autorikshaw right in front of me in the middle of the lane track and I braked which caused others to come to a screeching halt and their drivers shouting at me while I shouted at the autorickshaw driver. It became more like a shouting contest, frustrating and hilarious at the same time, the auto driver was the least bothered, he was so mindful of his money and the new passengers that he forgot about the safety of others and even of himself, in fact he was now seen busy giving out change and shouting for the other passengers beside the road to come into his Autorickshaw which
was but fully packed save for one seat that was on the right side of his front seat. The passenger jumped into the bandwagon sitting coolly at the brink of the seat beside the driver which now was obstructing the side mirror making it completely impossible for the driver to hear or look to the left or to the right. Resigned to my fate I drove down the road at a very slow pace making two miles an hour through this blasted pot h o l l e d ro a d . Driving farther down, another loud horn was heard and thinking that it was another small bike I gave a small side hardly looking at the side mirror and was given a rude shock by this police in the Escort Vehicle shouting and pointing at me as if I’ve punched his nose, I don’t know how some people can become so angry so fast without much reason, I guess that’s a talent too. And yes of course, the luxurious cars of the officials followed, odd, the cars were so beautiful that
wRiTE-wiNg
it looked like a diamond on the nose of a sloth (the cars on this slow, dirty and ugly road). Circling the bazar area twice I finally could park my vehicle at a spot where I was greeted with a foul smell from the garbage near by, holding close my nose we weaved our way through the crowd and into a shop. Picking up a jacket I asked for the price and it was high indeed, so I asked why the price have rocketed so high and this shopkeeper replied “sab, tax hi kisem-kisem bisi hoishe tu”, atleast he was decent enough not to blame it on the festive season. It sure was one hell of a day, though the crowd was much lesser than last year when the election money was flowing still, towards its fag end... now high and dry. Feeling weary, I finally climbed into my vehicle expecting another round of battering and traffic jam,(not to talk about the drivers who never use dippers at night). So, I slowly drove out into the main street and on to the road where I had to cross over to the left side of the road, without much hope I signaled left, and this bespectacled driver smiled and waved me through, his smile and his coolness gave me that ‘peaceful easy feeling’, it was truly a “Christmas Gift” for me, he seem to understand all my other worries too.
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PERSPECTIVE
7 22nd december 1872: revisiting the advent of Christianity in Nagaland
Monday
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
22 December 2014
A
NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE
dr. Walunir & dr. asangba Tzüdir
s Nagaland observes 142nd anniversary of Christianity in Nagaland, it is interesting to revisit the momentous day that dawned in Naga soil at Molungkimong on 22nd December 1872. We glorify the mighty works of God and also acknowledge the perilous and lofty strides of the pioneers - Supongmeren Tzüdir, Godhula Rufus Brown and Rev. Dr. Edward Winter Clark. Clark arrived at Sibsagar from Boston in 1869 and took charge of the Press and Assam Mission of the American Baptist Missionary Union at Sibsagar. During the mission work of Clark among the tea garden workers, he became associated with a zealous Assamese Evangelist, Godhula. A. Bendangyapang Ao records, “Godhula Rufus Brown was an Assamese evangelist, son of a washer man named Kolibar, one of the early converts from Assam. He had a conversion experience while at the mission school at Nowgong. Godhula married one of the Christian girls named Lucy from the Mission school. Initially they went as evangelists to work at Majuli island.…Later he returned to Sibsagar again to work with Clark. Godhula was responsible for establishing the first contact between Clark and the Aos who came to Sibsagar market for trade.” At a time when Clark’s eyes were set on the Naga hills, he incidentally got acquainted with Supongmeren (Native of Molungkimong) through Godhula. Supongmeren had set out in search of his son, who had went down to Sibsagar because of the prevailing Chicken box epidemic in his village. Within few years of acquaintance, the three developed a strong friendship with reciprocal interests. While Godhula and Dr. Clark were drawn into evangelizing the headhunters, Supongmeren was fascinated by the teachings of Christianity and school system at Sibsagar. Clark recounts the event in the following words “These men were down from the hills to trade … they stood peering in at the children who were studying and reciting.” (Bowers, A.C. Under Head-Hunters’ Eyes. Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1929, p. 197.) What ensued was Supongmeren’s act of teaching Ao language, custom and culture to Godhula and Clark and the former’s acquisition of basic English and Assamese. Clark recounts the event in the following words - “Becoming interested in these simple people, I learnt a little of their language, and as they knew some Assamese I was able to talk to them.” (Bowers, A.C. Under Head-Hunters’ Eyes. Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1929, p. 198.) Godhula explained everything about the new religion and further assured that the God of the new religion will stop head-hunting and sickness in the village and that God would deliver peace and harmony among the people. Supongmeren was fascinated to hear the good news since the natives lived with threat of enemies, deadly diseases and famine. As his interest grew in the promise of the Gospel, he was convinced that this God would liberate them from every possible problem and fear. P. T. Philip (Philip, P.T., The Growth of Baptist Churches in Nagaland. Panbazar, Gauhati, Assam: Christian Literature Centre, 1976, p. 53-54) records that Supongmeren lived with Godhula and his wife Lucy from December 1870 till October 1871 and was baptized in early 1871 by Clark at Sibsagar. Supongmeren, along with other Ao natives, persistently invited Godhula and Clark to their village to teach them the gospel and also teach the ways of knowledge to their children especially after what they saw in the classroom at Sibsagar. We see the same event in Clark’s own words - “During the next few months the number of parties coming to see the school increased. Time after time they called on me and insisted that I go with them to the hills. I refused every invitation for I knew that there was no security there. I saw that they were anxious for something better for their children…but as for me the risk was too great to be taken at that time.” (Bowers, A.C. Under Head-Hunters’ Eyes. Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1929, p. 198.) “In the great council of all the warriors, we considered carefully
the new stories in their houses, jhum fields and every possible space and they hurried back to the village in the evening from their fields and huddled at the residence of Godhula and listened to newer Biblical stories. The story telling sessions included moralizing accounts of Abraham, Elijah, Solomon, Daniel, Noah, Jesus and others to the amazement of the natives. Godhula also professed that God would free and save them from the adversaries of famine and plague and that they will be alleviated of all suffering if they accept the new religion. As the hearts and minds of the villagers were drawn in closer to the new religion, the general Village Council of Molungkimong resolved to accept the new religion. The council decided that the new religion will be accepted with collective responsibility of consequent adversity or fortune and to that end, one representative of every clan would be baptized. As the names of representatives were given out, some other zealous The Molungkimong Village (Deka Haimong) gate which was opened to welcome Rev. Dr. E. W. Clark, escorted by the 60 natives also volunteered to baptize. Godhula accomwarriors, for the first time by the Molungkimong Village Council, on 18 December 1872. In the same spot of the village gate panied by nine natives returned to Sibsagar with his first fruits of labor and were baptized by Clark on 10th stands the Rev. Dr. E.W. Clark Gate. November, 1872 and their names were registered in the Sibsagar Baptist Church. Rev. S. W. Rivenburg records, “On their return to their mountain home, a small chapel was built in the village” with the permission of the Molungkimong Kosasanger Village Council. In a short while, with the seeds of evangelism, fifteen more natives were ready to accept the new religion. The Village Council made necessary arrangements and made an appointment and invited Dr. Clark to the village. Since it was a dangerous expedition for Clark, more so it was beyond the British flag, and a very risky task on the part of the natives to protect the life of the White man, the Village Council sent sixty warriors to escort Dr. Clark. The group set out for Molungkimong from Sibsagar on 16th December through the ‘Rongsensü Lenmang’ (Ao-Ahom Trade Route that ran through Molungkimong and connected Ao villages with Assam). After the tiring day’s trip, they slept the first night in Buckingham Bunglow (Residence of Tea Garden Manager) at Amgoorie. The next day they set out into the realm of wild animals and head hunters and after the exhausting day’s journey, took rest at Tsüpendong Atangtsüng in the perilous jungle under the vigilant eyes of the warriors. The third day after the fatiguing uphill journey, they reached Angotsükong hillock from where, as part of their strategic plan, the natives sent out smoke to sigAn artist’s impression of Supongmeren, the Tutor Rev. Dr. E.W. Clark nal the arrival of the White man in their village, which prepared the eager villagers to receive the group. Clark, your fear, which my young men reported to me… safe yet exhausted, arrived at the Molungkimong viland with power and assurance, he said, we the men lage gate escorted by the sixty fierce warriors at mid-day of the town of a thousand warriors guarantee to on Wednesday, 18th December 1872. protect you.” It was then that Dr. Clark promised to Consequently, the following Sabbath on 22nd Devisit Molungkimong. To Dr. Clark’s surprise, Godcember, 1872, the fifteen converts were baptized by Dr. hula, volunteered to go with them immediately and Clark in the Jungli Tzübu (village pond) after which they thus said Godhula, “I am a christian, a servant of the all partook the Lords Supper at the chapel hall. This first Master and in his name and strength I can go with baptism in Naga Soil marked the establishment of the them. You will soon come and then we will work tofirst Church in Nagaland at Molungkimong. gether.” And thus Godhula, the young Assamese, beThis event in Naga history unfolded with a came the first to carry the Good News gospel into the lot of danger, threat and sacrifice. This part of histohills to Molungkimong. Eventually, Godhula made ry was carved out in an uncertain pretext for better a trip to Molungkimong village with Supongmeren or worse, blessing or curse upon their clan and viland some other Molungkimong natives in October lage. Amidst criticism and warning from other vil1871. However, on their arrival at Molungkimong, lages, our great Naga forefathers accepted the Gosthe village elders suspected Godhula as an agent of pel with truth and simplicity and took the call for East India Company and kept Godhula in confinebaptism that changed the fate of Nagas. ment. During the confinement he narrated stories Pilgrims make a trip through the ‘Gospel Path’ and from the Bible and sang songs. One song he sang walk through the first Village Gate which welcomed the with passionate zeal that touched the natives was Gospel. Others drink water from the baptistery and find ‘Temolung Meyipang, Temolung Meyipangma No! time to pray at the First Chapel Monument and Dr. Clark (‘Repent, Oh Change your heart!’). Later, when the Monument (The plot where Clark stayed whilst at Molelders found Godhula’s goodness, they released him ungkimong). Pilgrims also stand in the Dr. Clark gate and provided him best of hospitality. As he got acand take a panoramic visual tour of the hills around it, cess to the people, he sang, prayed and told stories the very plot where Dr. Clark stood and raised his hands from the Bible with the help of his friend and transto the hills around and pleaded to God with tears for lator, Supongmeren. In the winter of 1871, Godhula the warring villages that one day they would see the made several trips to the village and in the followLight. This village and the holy places are not meant ing year in April, Godhula was accompanied by his for pomp and show or religious tag but for those who wife, Lucy, to Molungkimong to further evangelize have a longing to meet God and revisit his miraculous work done through His servants 142 years back. the Ao Natives. The natives went on talking about Godhula Rufus Brown
The Morung Express
pOLL RESuLTS
Should Naga womeN be giveN the right to iNherit laNd? Some of those who voted YES had this to say: • Yes. Why not? It's should be the prerogative of the parents to give whatever they possess to whomever they feel deserves irrespective of the gender. Most of the tribes' customary laws prevents the same from happening but this is a kind of injustice to the daughters of parents who don't have sons to inherit the land. On the other hand a lot of people feel that such liberty will allow the mainlanders (in case of inter marriages) to come in possession of our lands but this can be easily rectify by allowing only the female line to inherit the lands that their female parent have inherited from their parents. This is a sensitive issue for most and needs to be viewed objectively without prejudice. • Yes. Bible teachers that male/female are equal in the sight of God, so why should Christian state Nagaland object to women inheriting property? Isn’t this height of hypocrisy? • Yes, the question of inheritance by women touch me, as an infidel man recently divorce his wife by alleging that she use to give him poison without any evidence whatsoever. The sole intention of the husband was to tarnish the reputation of the wife concern and take away all the property to live with his second wife. In fact most of the property are contributed and acquired by his wife. Nagaland is a Christian state still then so many so called male are living in utter darkness and had total disregard for women. Spiritually male are committing sin but the women are living in hell. Can anybody hear me? How many times must we walk out, pretending we didn’t see. You have sisters and mothers too. Let us wake up
from our deep slumber. Atleast allow women to inare women still a second class citizen for them? This herit self-acquired property if it is not possible for anmay not be the right word to use but I cannot help it. cestral property, or are we Nagas moving backward Hey come on changing of sirname or marrying to a while others are moving forward? man does not mean that she has stopped being a • Yes, women have every right to inherit their parfather/mother's daughter. ent’s/husband’s or bro’s • Yes. I will let my daughmovable and immovable ter inherit my land and properties. If someone other movable properties things otherwise, than too. Some Nagas are still that’s his/her problem. fit to be early man as their • YES Its my land and brains are still stuck at pre I wanna give it to my historic era. Some of us daughter. As for clan or that moved along with time ancestral property its will say yes. not private land but it be• Yes, women are more relongs to a community so sponsible than men these it is up to the community. days. • I am not rich but what• Am not a feminist but i say ever I have, my daughter yes..absolutely! as well as my sons will • Ridiculous! Naga Women get whatever I wish them always had the right to into own as I love them herit. equally. • Daughters are not less than • Yes, as women, as sons and therefore not less daughters should have worthy. Bringing their shareequal right in parental of inheritance with them into property. Of course it their marriage would emYES no OTHERS power them with more voice means shaking the pain the marital relationship. triarchal foundation, but with changing times such reforms are needed in Some of those who voted customary law. • I cannot stop wondering about the people who said no had this to say: or ready to say no to this question...I'm like aaaahhh • No. Never to those who married to IBI or to the non-
61%
23%
16%
Nagas. We the Nagas should not become like Tripura by changing the system. But we may consider to give to those who married to the Nagas. • No, It will become the root of all disputes. And you know land disputes are the greatest in the entire world. Only few will understand, no hatred towards the women folks. • NO, if given the right it will dilute our customary practices. Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say: • I fail to understand why a law has to interfere with the personal wealth of a person. If it isn't ancestral property, then a daughter should have the right to inherit what her parents had achieved and earned during their life time. Why should somebody else have it? • Yes....for private property and no to clan property • Omg naga women cant inherit land yet? I didnt know about this. And yes im terribly shocked!! So what happens if the parents dont have a son and just a daughter? After their death where does the land go? • A doubt of Question to all. Incase if a girl can inherit the ancestral land and if 50 percent of the naga girls are married to non nagas. Where will be half of our land? • Atleast some percentage% should be given to the women.. • if its ancestral it may have some problem but if it is own, its upto the parent. • We should stick to the customary laws as nagas are a group of tribes with different practices, at the same time, refinement and provision of the tribal laws should be adopted for women's inheritance.
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
Monday 22 December 2014
The Morung Express
J&K await results with bated breath SRINAGAR, DECEMBER 21 (PTI): More than 800 contestants in Jammu and Kashmir will spend a couple of nervous nights till December 23 when counting of votes for elections to the 12th Legislative Assembly will be held, after a record turnout in the fivephase polls in the state. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Opposition PDP's chief ministerial candidate Mufti Mohammad Sayeed are among the 821 candidates, who are seeking election from the 87 constituencies. While Omar is contesting from Beerwah seat in Budgam district and Sonawar seat in Srinagar, Sayeed is seeking re-election from Anantnag Assembly segment in the south Kashmir district. Most of the observers will keenly watch the result of Handwara Assembly constituency in north Kashmir Kupwara district where separatist-turned mainstream politician Sajjad Gani Lone is trying his luck. Most political observers and opinion polls are predicting a hung Assembly in the state with no party getting a clear majority. Rumours are afloat about various political parties trying to work out an alliance, depending on the numbers thrown up post the declaration of results on Tuesday. BJPhaslaunchedascathing attack on its rival Congress on the national scene, and both regional players -- National Conference and PDP. These parties, while hitting out at BJP, have not spared each other as well. National Conference and Congress, which were coalition partners for the past six years in the state
but decided to go alone in the Assembly polls, fought a bitter war of words during the election campaign. PDP, which ruled the state from 2002 to 2008 in coalition with Congress, also criticised its opponents. The ongoing elections will be a litmus test as much for BJP, which is making its first serious foray in Jammu and Kashmir to form a government, and Congress, which will be hoping to stay relevant in the state politics following the massive rout in Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. BJP launched an aggressive campaign as part of its 'Mission 44+' -- the magic number required for simple majority in the state Assembly -- during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several top leaders of the party addressed election rallies across the state. The results will be a reflection of BJP's assessment of its chances of making inroads into the only Muslim-majority state of the country. The party did not name a chief ministerial candidate. BJP had 11 MLAs in the 11 Legislative Assembly and any increase in the tally this year will be claimed as a Modi victory. Omar's National Conference, which was the single-largest part in 2008 polls winning 28 seats, is facing an uphill task to retain its position. While the NC is already claiming a victory, some party leaders are giving away a sense of uneasiness over the results. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, uncle of the current chief minister, said, National Conference will sit in the opposition, if it did not
Exit polls: J&K immune to Modi wave but Jharkhand offers a clean sweep
JAMMU, DECEMBER 21 (AGENCIES): According to the AXIS-APM poll projections for Jammu and Kashmir, PDP emerges as the winner with the highest number of seats ranging between 36 and 41, but falls short of majority in a state with 87 assembly seats. The exit poll predicts 16-22 seats for the BJP, 9-13 seats forOmar Abdullah's NC, 9-13 for the Congress 2-4 seats for JKNPP and 4-6 seats for other parties. The numbers come as a disappointment for team Narendra Modi and Amit Shah given their ambition for 44+ seats and also point to a clear anti-incumbency wave against the National Conference government in the state. Meanwhile, even though India Today-CSDS opinion polls don't offer numbers in terms of seat sharing in J&K, it reveals that PDP's Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is the winner when it comes to the chief ministerial candidate. While the BJP faces disappointment in Jammu and Kashmir, exit poll numbers for Jharkhand prove that Modi's honeymoon phase is not over in other parts of India. Both AXIS-APM and India Today Group-CICERO exit polls predict a clean sweep for the BJP in the state. According to the India Today Group-CICERO exit polls, the BJP is likely to get 43 -51 seats, JMM may get between 14-18 seats, the Congress is reduced to 7-11 seats and as are the other smaller parties. Meanwhile AXIS-APM gives 37-43 seats to the BJP, JVM 12-16 seats, JMM 10-14 seats, Congress 4-6 seats, RJD - 3-5 seats, Others 4-8 seats. If the numbers prove correct, this will be the first majority BJP government in Jharkhand. "Not a very big surprise if Lok Sabha is to be taken as a trend," senior academic Manisha Priyam told Headlines Today, adding, "Factionalism in Jharkhand was indeed the bane of the party. Clearly Modi and Amit Shah have put the factionalism behind them and it has been very important." BJP's Sambit Patra however confidently predicted, "Both in Jammu and Kashmir and in Jharkhand, something An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard outside a polling station during the fifth phase of voting, at Satrayan village near unexpected will happen for the first time. For the first time the India-Pakistan international border, about 32 kilometers from Jammu, India, Saturday, December 20. Contestants are wait- Jharkhand will get a taste of stability. It will be the first time a BJP government will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir." ing eagerly for results of the poll, the final phase of which was held on Saturday in this trouble torn part of India. (AP Photo) have the numbers to form the next government. Congress, which had 17 MLAs, on the other hand has softened the election rhetoric. Instead of claiming to be the single-largest party, the party leaders are maintaining that no government formation will be possible without Congress involvement. PDP, which had 21 members in the 11th Assembly, is expecting to be the single-largest party,
riding on the anti-incumbency and anger among the flood victims. However, the party leadership is silent about any post-poll alliance so far. The voter turnout in the state this year was 65 per cent which was 4 per cent more than the last Assembly elections held in 2008 -- a development which has generated hope as well as anxiety among all major political parties. While the ruling Na-
tional Conference is claiming that higher voter turnout will benefit it at the hustings, PDP and BJP are maintaining that it is a reflection of the people's desire for a change. The first phase of elections for 15 Assembly seats held on November 25 saw 72 per cent electorate exercising their franchise, while the second phase of polling for 18 seats also recorded same turnout figures. The turnout fell to 58
per cent in the third phase of polling for 16 seats but was still better by nearly nine per cent compared to 2008 polls. The fourth phase of polls for 18 seats also recorded comparatively low turnout of 49 per cent. Like thirds phase, it was four per cent higher than 2008 polls for these seats. The fifth phase of elections for 20 seats, all in Jammu region, also saw over 76 per cent voter turnout.
No BJP-RSS conflict on conversions: Naidu hyDERABAD, DECEMBER 21 (IANS): Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu Sunday there is no conflict between the BJP and the RSS over the issue of religious conversions. He told reporters here that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bahgwat said the people who were converted have got a right to be re-converted. Naidu said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the government and Mahatma Gandhi all stated the same. "(BJP president) Amit Shah said if you are worried about conversion, let there be an anti-conversion law. Where is the conflict," he asked. Naidu reiterated that the central government will not forcibly and unilaterally bring a law to ban conversions. He, however, said this would be done with broad consensus. He also made it clear that the government has nothing to do with conversions or re-conver-
sions. "Government is not getting involved either in conversions or reconversions. The BJP has nothing to do with it. Some individuals may take part because of their belief but one can't find fault with the government of India," he said. The BJP leader claimed that conversions and re-conversions were happening even before Independence and that there is nothing new in it. He pointed out that Arya Samaj and Hindu Maha Sabha had launched 'Shudhi' programme on a large
M. Venkaiah Naidu
scale in Uttar Pradesh way back in 1923. Naidu said thousands and lakhs of people across the country were getting converted but opposition parties are not worried about that. He quoted a newspaper report about 70 Hindus being converted to Christianity in Uttar Pradesh through inducements and allurements. "Converting to a religion is people's choice. The government has no role in this. I am only pointing out when there are allegation of allurements, you don't talk about it.
If Hindus are converted, you don't feel there is an issue. If others are converted, you feel it is a big issue," he said. "If there is inducement, allurement or force for conversions or re-conversions, then it is wrong and action has to be taken by the state government. If you feel state government laws are not effective, then thereisaneedforanall-Indialaw,"hesaid. He lamented that the opposition did not respond positively to the government's offer in parliament to bring a central legislation. He disagreed with the opposition that this will be an interference in the freedom of faith guaranteed by the constitution. Naidu argued that the freedom to profess and propagate religion does not mean it has given right to convert people. Stating that nobody would have any objection to voluntary conversions, the minister said forceful and fraudulent conversions create tensions in the society and hence the state has to intervene.
2014: A year of technological advancement for India in space ChENNAI, DECEMBER 21 (IANS): The year 2014 could be easily said as the rocking rocketing year for India - only not for the number of rockets/satellites launched - but also on the technological front. The Indian space agency showed the maturing of its expertise in different spheres of space technology - interplanetary journeys, flight testing of the critical cryogenic engine, testing its heaviest rocket for its stability during the flight and taking baby steps towards space missions by humans. "It was was an excellent year on the technological and other fronts. The year started with the successful launch of the GSLV (geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle) rocket powered by indigenously developed cryogenic engine. We also launched two navigational satellites. We also inserted the Mars Orbiter in the Martian orbit. We also flight tested India's heaviest GSLV Mark III rocket with a crew module," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Radhakrishnan told IANS. The GSLV-Mark III rocket did not have the cryogenic engine to put a satellite in orbit. As the rocket's other engines were ready, ISRO decided to test the rocket with the crew module weighing around four tonnes - the targeted carrying capacity of a full fledged GSLV-Mark III rocket. The Rs.155 crore ($24 million) space mission had twin purposes, the main being to test the rocket's atmospheric flight stability with an around
four tonne package. The second was to study the re-entry characteristics of the crew module - called Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment - its aero-braking and validation of its end-to-end parachute system. The experiment is part of India's plans for a manned mission at a future date. The module did not carry any living being. The 630-tonne rocket went up to 126 km. The crew capsule got detached and fell into the Bay of Bengal, 20 minutes after the blast-off. The descent speed of the crew module was controlled by three parachutes. The crew module looks like a giant cupcake - black on top and brown at the bottom. According to an ISRO official, it is the size of a small bedroom and can accommodate 2-3 people. Queried whether ISRO was dispersing its resources looking at a human space mission when the focus should be on developing GSLV rockets to carry heavy communication satellites Radhakrishnan said: "ISROs projects are not mutually exclusive.The cryogenic engine for the heavy rocket is under development and will take two years for the rocket to be flight ready." In terms of satellite launch numbers, India during the year launched eight from its rocket port at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh (three Indian - 2 for navigation and one for communication - and five foreign). Its heaviest communication satellite - GSAT-16 went aloft on European space agency
Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket on Dec 7. Radhakrishnan also agreed that one navigation satellite that was planned to be launched in 2014 did not happen. "It will be launched in early March (2015). On the other hand, the GSAT16 launch was advanced by several months as it was supposed to go up next March," Radhakrishnan said. On a larger perspective, the year also saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing the country's decision to launch a SAARC satellite, thereby willing to share the benefits of India's space technology with the members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Looking forward, Radhakrishnan said India will launch five foreign satellites next year including three of Britain's. He said ISRO will be completing the seven satellite constellation for India's own navigation system next year. These apart, GSAT-6 and GSAT-15 communication satellites and the Astrosat, dedicated to astronomy, will also be launched. According to him, ISRO has 188 transponders - automatic receivers and transmitters of communication signals - and GSAT-16 will add another 48. In 2015, the GSAT-15 satellite will add another 24 transponders. "We are looking at enhancing space applications for the central and state governments," he said. On infrastructure development, Radhakrishnan said the construction
of second vehicle assembly building at Sriharikota will increase the number of launches from the second launch pad. "A study on constructing a third launch pad is in progress. We have to take into consideration the kind of launch vehicles - GSLV-Mark III - and other future rockets to be developed while building the third launch pad," Radhakrishnan said. He said the health of Mars Orbiter is good and it is for the scientific community to deliberate the results of the experimental studies done by it.
Highlights * Successful launch of GSLV rocket with indigenous cryogenic engine * Two navigational satellites put into orbit * Insertion of Mars Orbiter in Martian Orbit * Flight testing of India's heaviest rocket - GSLV-Mark III (without cryogenic engine) * Flew dummy crew module to test its atmospheric re-entry characteristics * Launched earth observation satellite SPOT-7 (France) along with 4 micro-satellites - AISAT (Germany), NLS-7.1 (Canada), NLS-7.2 (Canada) and VELOX-1 (Singapore) - for a fee. * Signed agreement with NASA on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission for scientific studies on Earth.
The high voter turnout signalled an end to boycott politics in Kashmir, as even some areas considered to be separatist strongholds voted in larger numbers. Sopore constituency, hometown of hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, recorded a turnout of 30 per cent which was 10 per cent higher than 2008. The eight constituencies of Srinagar city, which had a combined turnout of
21.5 per cent in 2008, also saw the voter turnout go up by 6.5 per cent this year. Militants made desperate attempts to derail the electoral process by carrying out sensational attacks on army camps at Arnia area of Jammu and Uri in Kashmir. They also killed three sarpanches while injuring two other political workers in attacks spanning over the five phases of polling, which came to an end yesterday.
India unlikely to meet IMR of 2015 KolKATA, DECEMBER 21 (PTI): Going by the current pace of decline, India is unlikely to achieve its target of reducing the infant mortality rate to less than 39 per 1,000 live births by 2015end, said a senior UNICEF official. "The current Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of India, as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2013, is 40 per 1,000 live births while the Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) as per SRS 2012 is 52 per 1,000 live births. "At this current rate of decline it seems it will be difficult for India to reach the target of less than 39 per 1,000 live births by the end of 2015," UNICEF's Health Specialist in India, Dr Gagan Gupta told PTI. Though India accounts for the highest burden of Under-5 deaths in the world, there has been a faster decline in its reduction as compared to the global fall, he added. "Globally the U5MR reduced by 49 per cent from 90 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 46 per 1,000 live births in 2013, while India achieved a reduction of 59 per cent in the Under-5 mortality from 126 in 1990 to 52 in 2012, which is higher than the global decline," Gupta said, citing the Levels and Trends in Child Mortality Report 2014, estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. "Neo-natal deaths account for 56 per cent of Under-5 deaths in India which is much higher than the global average of 44 per cent. The progress in reduction of neonatal mortality has been slow," he noted. In fact, four states- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan account for half of the Under-5 deaths in India, Dr Gupta said. Assam with 75 per 1,000 live births tops the chart among states having Under-5 mortality above the national average of 52, followed by Madhya Pradesh (73), Odisha (68), UP (68), Rajasthan (59), Bihar (57) and Chhattisgarh (55), he said. However, as per SRS report, Andhra Pradesh has shown 17 per cent decline in the Under-5 mortality between 2009 and 2012 and Rajasthan has shown 20 per cent decline during the same period, Dr Gupta added. Quoting the above mentioned report, Gupta said that in India
every year, 1.34 million children die before completing five years, of which 7,48,000 die within the first month of their life. "This means more than 2,000 newborn die each day in India," he said. "Three common causes of neo-natal deaths are prematurity, birth asphyxia and sepsis. In the post newborn period, two major killers are pneumonia and diarrhoea and under-nutrition is an underlying factor in nearly 45 per cent of such deaths," the UNICEF health official said. Talking about the gender differences in child mortality due to preference for sons in India, Dr Gupta said the UNICEF has been working towards improving access to the care of girl child supporting national efforts. "The infant mortality rate of male in India is 39 per 1,000 while that of female is 42 per 1,000 live births. At present, UNICEF is supporting national efforts for improving access to the care for girl child through the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) scheme which has made free health care an entitlement for pregnant women and infant," he said. The UNICEF, Dr Gupta said, has also played a key role in evidence generation through Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) which showed that despite free care there are more male admissions in SNCUs as compared to females. SNCUs are effective to address problems of low-birth, pre-term deliveries simulating the environment of the womb. A baby is provided warmth, protected from infection and carefully fed to ensure for proper development of its body parts which have stopped growing on account of premature delivery. According to Dr Gupta's suggestions, India, in order to achieve a reduction in the Under-5 deaths, should focus on reducing neonatal deaths, which account for 56 per cent of total such deaths, by integrating quality maternal care with newborn care. "In addition, addressing forgotten killers like pneumonia and diarrhoea will be critical besides improving immunisation coverage to address mortality due to vaccine-preventable diseases. As under-nutrition is an underlying factor in 45 per cent of Under-5 deaths addressing adolescent and maternal nutrition will also be critical," he added.
InternatIonal
the Morung express
Monday 22 December 2014
Dimapur
9
10 years on, where did all the tsunami debris go?
In this on December 30, motorists ride through debris on a street in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia. Ten years after that gigantic wave swept into this city of 4 million on the day after Christmas, Banda Aceh has been almost totally restored. The tangled mountains of rubbish are gone, and it's hard to imagine the destruction that once choked rivers, blocked streets and ripped up trees by the roots. (AP File Photo)
BANDA ACEH, DECEmBEr 21 (AP): Cars. Fishing boats. Houses. Entire villages. The 2004 tsunami left Banda Aceh with mountains of debris up to 6 kilometers (4 miles) inland. Driving in the remade communities today, it’s easy to wonder where it all went. Some of it is still there — recycled into road materials, buildings and furniture. Some of it was burned, creating new environmental hazards. And most of it was simply washed out to sea. Ten years after that gigantic wave engulfed this city of 4 million on the day after Christmas, Banda Aceh has been almost totally restored. The tangled mountains of rubbish are gone, and it’s hard to
imagine the destruction that once choked rivers, blocked streets and ripped up trees by the roots. The endless heaps of twisted metal, splintered wood and broken concrete have all disappeared except for some scattered reminders for tourists and local residents. A drive along the coast highlights a stunning coastline with new houses perched near the beach. Lush mangroves have been planted to help withstand future tsunamis, fishermen are back at sea and farmers are again working their rice paddies. Still, authorities are concerned about the health and environmental risks posed by debris contaminated by oil, asbes-
tos and medical waste sitting on the seafloor off the coast and in 32 unregulated dump sites around the city. “Unsafe disposal of waste will cause further environmental damage in the long term,” said Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, who headed the Aceh and Nias Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency, which led the massive clean-up effort and was dissolved in 2009 after the job was judged finished. Banda Aceh, located on the northern tip of Indonesia’s Sumatra island, was the hardest hit city by the disaster, which devastated hundreds of communities in more than a dozen countries around the Indian Ocean.
The tsunami left an estimated 10 million cubic meters (13 million cubic yards) of debris here, most of it washed into the ocean, Mangkusubroto said. If all that was squeezed into a 1-hectare (2 1/2 acre) field, it would create a tower of trash 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) tall. Cleaning up the wrecked city was a mammoth, often overwhelming, task. For weeks, the streets were strewn with rubble, and rescue workers retrieved dead bodies from under houses and in ponds, said Abdul Mutalib Ahmad, who worked at Banda Aceh’s only landfill and witnessed the tsunami from atop a three-story
building. “Debris was everywhere,” he said. “We thought we were facing severe public health problem with the massive amount of waste.” At first, many survivors simply burned wood and other garbage. But authorities discouraged them from doing that because it polluted the air and could expose them to harmful toxins that might lead to respiratory problems. Some trash was covered with oil or chemicals, making it extremely flammable and hazardous, and in at least one case, a fire spread uncontrollably over a large area. As key roads were cleared, trucks began carting tons of debris to the landfill every day for at least a year, Ahmad said. But some waste inevitably got dumped at random sites around the city. They still contain leaky oil drums and asbestos-laced housing materials. Hazardous waste that was found among the rubble was buried in a separate marked area inside the city’s landfill, according to Tomi Soetjipto, the Indonesia spokesman for the U.N. Development Program, which oversaw much of the clean-up. And nearly 50 tons of expired medications — some of it donated after the tsunami — sit in a warehouse awaiting safe disposal. Three months after the tsunami, the UNDP started a $40.5 million recycling program that employed 400,000 temporary workers to pluck wood and stone from the rubble and
use the materials to rebuild roads and houses as well as to make furniture. The recycled waste was used to reconstruct 100 kilometers (62 miles) of roads and manufacture 12,000 pieces of wooden furniture, Mangkusubroto said.
1 million cubic meters (1.3 million cubic yards) of debris from the city, enough to fill 400 Olympic swimming pools. It also trained about 1,300 government workers in overseeing the program. Some 67,000 metric
diverted from landfills and sold in local markets. Indonesian authorities say the clean-up was possible only with the help of the international community. “Finally, the mounting tsunami rubbish was cleared. For such a huge
Numbers that tell story of 2004 tsunami disaster
The Associated Press
Facts and figures from the Dec. 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami. Sources include the Tsunami Evaluation Coalition and UNESCO:
9.1: Magnitude of the earthquake that set off the tsunami. Centered off the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island, it was the world’s third-largest earthquake since 1900. 20 meters (65 feet): Height of the biggest waves to hit land, in Indonesia’s Aceh region. 23,000: Number of Hiroshima-type atomic bombs it would take to equal the amount of energy released by the earthquake. About 230,000: Number of people killed. 3: Number of natural disasters in the last century that killed even more people. More than 1 million people died in flooding in China in 1931; a cyclone left more than 300,000 dead in Bangladesh in 1970; an earthquake in China killed at least 255,000 people in 1976. 14: Number of countries where people died in the tsunami. Indonesia suffered the most deaths (167,540), followed by Sri Lanka (35,322), India (16,269), Thailand (8,212), Somalia (289), Maldives (108), Malaysia (75), Myanmar (61) and Tanzania (13). Two each died in Bangladesh, Seychelles, South Africa and Yemen, and one died in Kenya.
38: Number of other countries who lost citizens. Most were from Europe, including 500 each from Germany and Sweden. 1.7 million: Number of people displaced. $9.9 billion: Damage estimate across the affected countries. $4.5 billion: Estimated damage in Aceh alone. The number represented 97 percent of the region’s GDP. $13.5 billion: The record amount raised around the world to help tsunami victims. $7,100: Amount raised per affected person. $3: Amount raised per person in another 2004 disaster: flooding in Bangladesh that killed at least 766 people and affected more than 30 million others. 16,000: Number of permanent houses built in Aceh within a year of the disaster — far less than the need. Inflation and bureaucracy complicated rebuilding. 130,000: Number of permanent houses build in Aceh within three years of the disaster. 0, 4 and 13: Numbers — respectively — of deep ocean tsunameters, coastal sea level gauges and broadband seismometers monitoring conditions in the Indian Ocean when the tsunami hit. 9, more than 100 and more than 140: Numbers of those instruments in place in 2014.
The UNDP’s Tsunami tons of other recyclable job like that, the world Recovery Waste Manage- materials such as glass, didn’t leave us alone to face ment Project cleared about plastic and cardboard were it,” Mangkusubroto said.
NKorea denies hacking Sony Two NYC cops killed in shooting
S E O U L / WA S H I N G TON, DECEmBEr 21 (rEUTErS): North Korea has said U.S. accusations that it was involved in a cyberattack on Sony Pictures were “groundless slander,” and that it wanted a joint investigation into the incident with the United States. The United States stands by its assertion that North Korea was to blame, a White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesman said on Saturday, in response to the remarks. U.S. President Barack Obama had blamed North Korea for the devastating cyberattack on Sony, which had led to the Hollywood studio cancelling the imminent release of “The Interview,” a comedy on the fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. An unnamed spokesman of North Korea’s foreign ministry said there would be serious consequences if Washington refused to agree to a joint probe and continued to accuse Pyongyang, according to the North Korean U.N. mission and its official KCNA news agency. “We propose to conduct a joint investigation with the U.S.
in response to groundless slander being perpetrated by the U.S. by mobilizing public opinion,” the North Korean spokesman was cited as saying by KCNA. “If the U.S. refuses to accept our proposal for a joint investigation and continues to talk about some kind of response by dragging us into the case, it must remember there will be grave consequences,” the spokesman said. NSC spokesman Mark Stroh dismissed this, saying: “We are confident the North Korean government is responsible for this destructive attack. We stand by this conclusion.” “The government of North Korea has a long history of denying responsibility for destructive and provocative actions,” he added. Obama said North Korea appeared to have acted alone. Washington began consultations with Japan, China, South Korea, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK seeking their assistance in reining in North Korea. Japan and South Korea said they would cooperate. China, North Korea’s only major ally, has yet to respond, but a Beijing-run newspaper
Language of emotion is vague NEW YOrK, DECEmBEr 21 (IANS): A researcher from the University of California - Santa Barbara has found that definition of emotions such as shame and pride have remained vague as our society treats emotion as a negligible and largely destructive matter. “Emotion terms, especially in English, are wildly ambiguous,” said researcher Thomas Scheff. “This paper is a first step towards correcting the chaotic nature of the language of emotion,” Scheff pointed out, noting that emotions only make trouble when they are obstructed. Using grief as an example, he pointed out that in scientific literature other words, such as “distress” and “sadness” are used to describe grief and the absence of decisive definitions are an impediment to creating common meaning. In order to delineate first steps toward clarity, Scheff included a chart of emotional models supporting the idea that emotions are bodily preparation for action that have been delayed. “Shame is a signal that you feel rejected and not accepted just as you are. Pride is a signal that you feel accepted just as you are,” he said. Scheff examined the basic emotions of grief, fear/anxiety, anger, shame and pride as they appear in scientific literature in an attempt to take a first step in defining them. “But because emotions are hidden in modern societies, we are like actors on a stage, acting instead of doing what we think we should do,” the researcher noted. The study was published in the journal Qualitative Inquiry.
said “The Interview” was not a movie for Hollywood or U.S. society to be proud of. An Obama administration official said on Saturday: “In our cybersecurity discussions, both China and the United States have expressed the view that conducting destructive attacks in cyberspace is outside the norms of appropriate cyber behavior.” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott issued a statement on Sunday condemning the attack. “Cyberattacks such as these threaten a strong and prosperous economy and undermine our way of life,” he said. It was the first time the United States had directly accused another country of a cyberattack of such magnitude on American soil and set up a possible new confrontation between longtime foes Washington and Pyongyang. Obama said he wished that Sony had spoken to him first before yanking the movie, suggesting it could set a bad precedent.
NEW YOrK, DECEmBEr 21 (AP): A gunman who vowed online to shoot two “pigs” in retaliation for the police chokehold death of Eric Garner ambushed two New York City officers in a patrol car and fatally shot them in broad daylight Saturday before running to a subway station and killing himself, authorities said. Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, wrote on an Instagram account: “I’m putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours, let’s take 2 of theirs,” two city officials with direct knowledge of the case confirmed for The Associated Press. He used the hashtags Shootthepolice RIPErivGardner (sic) RIPMikeBrown. The officials, a senior city official and a law enforcement official, weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the topic and spoke on condition of anonymity. Police said Brinsley approached the passenger window of a marked police
car and opened fire, striking Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in the head. The officers were on special patrol doing crime reduction work in Brooklyn. “They were, quite simply, assassinated — targeted for their uniform,” said Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, who looked pale and shaken at a hospital news conference. The sudden and extraordinary violence stunned the city, prompted a response from vacationing President Barack Obama and escalated weeks of simmering ill will between police and their critics following grand jury decisions not to indict officers in the deaths of Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Missouri. Garner and Brown were black; the officers who killed them are white. Demonstrators around the country have staged die-ins and other protests following the grand jury
decisions. The New York police union head declared there’s “blood on the hands” of protesters and the city’s mayor. Brinsley took off running after the shooting. Officers chased him down to a nearby subway station, where he shot himself in the head as a subway train door full of people closed. A silver handgun was recovered at the scene, Bratton said. “This may be my final post,” Brinsley wrote in the post that included an image of a silver handgun. The post had more than 200 likes but also had many others admonishing his statements. Bratton said the suspect made very serious “anti-police” statements online but did not get into specifics of the posts. The Rev. Al Sharpton said Garner’s family has no connection to the suspect and denounced the violence. “We have stressed at every rally and march that
Police guard the scene where two NYPD officers were shot on December 20, in New York. (AP Photo)
anyone engaged in any violence is an enemy to the pursuit of justice for Eric Garner and Michael Brown,” he said. Brown’s family condemned the shooting in a statement posted online by their attorney. “We reject any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement. It cannot be tolerated. We must work together to bring peace to our communities,” the family said. Most of the protests have been peaceful, particularly in New York. Bratton said police were investigating whether Brinsley had attended any rallies or demonstrations and why he had
chosen to kill the officers. Brinsley was black; the officers were Asian and Hispanic, police said. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the killings of Ramos and Liu strike at the heart of the city. “Our city is in mourning. Our hearts are heavy,” said de Blasio, who spoke softly with moist eyes. “It is an attack on all of us.” Scores of officers in uniform lined up three rows deep at the hospital driveway. The line stretched into the street. Officers raised their hands in a silent salute as two ambulances bore away the slain officers’ bodies. The mayor ordered flags to fly at half-staff.
Obama takes foreign policy risk, but on his ‘own terms’
WASHINGTON, DECEmBEr 21 (AP): President Barack Obama has been criticized as cautious on foreign policy, but the secret negotiations on Cuba suggest a willingness for bold and risky action, if he can keep tight control and rely on a few close aides. It’s a pattern Obama followed during clandestine talks with Iran that led to an interim nuclear deal and in under-the-radar discussions with China on a climate change agreement announced last month. Such diplomatic breakthroughs have buoyed Obama and may help counter charges that his responses to other international matters, including the rise of Islamic State militants and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, are weak and ineffective. “Around the world, America is leading,” Obama said Friday in a year-end news conference. The president cited the announcement that he was normalizing diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than five decades of Cold War acrimony with the communist island nation and
“turning a new page in our relationship with the Cuban people.” The secret talks with Cuba, like the negotiations with Iran and China, were carried out by a small number of officials who slipped in and out of Washington. The Iran talks were handled by State Department officials William Burns and Jake Sullivan, who have since left the administration. The point person on China was White House counselor John Podesta. Leading the Cuba mission from the White House were deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes and senior Latin America adviser Ricardo Zuniga, who met with Cuban officials nine times in Canada and at the Vatican. In each instance, the advisers’ close proximity to the president was intended to send a message to their counterparts that they were negotiating with Obama’s full authority. The overtures to Iran and Cuba were gambles for Obama. The U.S. was negotiating with two countries with whom it had not had diplomatic relations in de-
cades. Leaks about the talks could have undermined what little trust there was on either side. In opening a direct channel with Iran, Obama also risked angering Israel, which sees the Islamic Republic and its pursuit of a nuclear weapon as an existential threat. In shifting course on Cuba, the president risked antagonizing congressional Republicans and a few Democrats, though his new position largely puts the U.S. in line with how the rest of the world deals with the small island just 90 miles (145 kilometers) off U.S. shores. There are few guarantees that Obama will achieve his goals. The president has given the negotiations over a final nuclear deal with Iran a 50 percent chance of succeeding, and he acknowledged on Friday that substantial political and social change may be slow to come to Cuba. On other foreign matters, Obama has proved less willing to gamble, especially when potential military options are up for discussion. For example, his policy on Syria’s civil
war has been seen by critics and allies as slow and indecisive. The president has faced questions, too, about whether he has acted aggressively enough in helping Ukraine counter Russia; his response so far has relied chiefly on economic penalties. They have contributed to a precipitous fall in Russia’s currency, but there is little indication that economic pain is causing Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull back from Ukraine. “It’s great when you can do something with two guys in the White House,” said Jon Alterman, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “When you get a higher level of complexity, people are baffled at what the administration is trying to do.” Beyond diplomacy, Obama also has taken risks by approving rescue attempts of hostages in Syria and Yemen, and aggressively used drones and special operations forces against terrorists, including the 2011 raid in Pakistan that led to the death of
President Barack Obama says goodbye at the close of a news conference as he and his family prepare to jet to Hawaii for the holidays on December 19, at the White House in Washington. Obama's sixth year in office was a difficult one as he faced foreign policy crises in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, lost Democratic control of the Senate and saw his approval rating plummet. In the weeks since the election, he's wielded his executive powers on immigration, climate change, and U.S. policy toward Cuba. (AP Photo)
Osama bin Laden. Yet Obama sometimes has helped perpetuate the image of a president paralyzed at the prospect of risk. When Obama was asked this year to outline his foreign policy doctrine, he described it as a strategy that “avoids errors.” “You hit singles, you
hit doubles,” Obama said, turning to a baseball analogy. “Every once in a while we may be able to hit a home run.” S ome suppor ters cringed, believing that description misconstrued an appropriately cautious approach in a complicated world.
10
Dimapur
SPORTS
Monday 22 December 2014
Man U salvage 1-1 draw at Aston Villa BIRMINGHAM, DECEMBER 21 (AP): Radamel Falcao's secondhalf header rescued a point for Manchester United as its six-match winning streak in the English Premier League ended with a fiercely contested 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Saturday. Christian Benteke fired Villa ahead after 18 minutes with a well-placed shot from the edge of the penalty area after he evaded his marker and turned, but United leveled when Falcao headed in from a cross by former Villa forward Ashley Young. With the score tied, Villa was reduced to 10 men with 25 minutes remaining after Gabriel Agbonlahor was sent off for a late tackle on Young, an incident that incensed home fans and left Villa facing a tense finale to hold onto the draw. Falcao's goal was only his second for United, but he was unable to inspire a victory to extend its winning run and close the gap on leader Chelsea and defending championManchester City at the top of the league. "Very frustrating," United manager Louis Van Gaal said. "We gave two points away. We did not start well enough, and because of that they could score a goal. "We kept the ball well in the first half, but we did nothing with it. The second half was better ... "I'm disappointed also because we were the better team, and when that's the case you have to win." Falcao was recalled to replace James Wilson, and midfielder Darren Fletcher returned for the ill Marouane Fellaini. Injury-hit Villa recalled defender Ron Vlaar and midfielder Fabian Delph to replace the suspended Kieran Richardson and Tom Cleverley.
Inter Khel football trophy held in Diphupar DIPHUPAR, DECEMBER 21 (MExN): The 19th Inter-khel Football Trophy of Diphupar organised by Diphupar Naga Youth Organization concluded on December 20. A press note informed that I Vitoshe Kinimi, Chairman of the Diphupar Village Council graced the event as the Guest of honor. In his speech, Kinimi encouraged the DNYO, as well as the participating Khel teams. As the Chairman of the village, he assured the players and Diphuparians that an annual Inter-Khel Football Trophy would be readressed in the council as in the past inter-khel football trophy were organised once in three years. The Final Match was played between L-Khel and I-Khel, with L-Khel emerging as the victors in a match that ended 1-0.
Best Striker: Nighatu of I-khel Best Defender: Banjamin of E-khel Best Goal keeper: Hito Yepthomi of L-khel Best khel: E – Khel
Winners of the 19th Inter Khel football trophy held in Diphupar, which concluded on December 20.
ISL gives Indian football a re-launch pad
Manchester United's Radamel Falcao celebrates after scoring against Aston Villa during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park, in Birmingham on Saturday, December 20. (AP Photo)
United enjoyed the most possession in the opening period but against the run of play, Delph lofted in a free kick to Benteke, who took it on his chest, evaded Jonny Evans, and curled a shot into the top corner. Villa was inspired, and United struggled to find creativity. Fletcher was replaced at halftime by Tyler Black-
ett, and United equalized in the 53rd when Falcao met Young's cross with a thumping header. An acrobatic volley by Robin Van Persie confirmed United's recovery, then United received a man advantage when Agbonlahor was sent off. It appeared to be an unavoidable collision, but referee Lee Mason pro-
FC Barcelona's Luis Suarez, from Uruguay, reacts after scoring against Cordoba during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Saturday, December 20. (AP Photo)
salvage a 1-1 draw at home with Real Sociedad. Sergio Garcia also scored two goals and set up another to lead 10-man Espanyol 3-1 at Rayo Vallecano, leaving Sociedad as the only team yet to win on the road this season. Cordoba offered little resistance to Barcelona as the strugglers remained 19th out of 20, and coach Miroslav Djukic gave a scathing review of his players' effort. "We came here to ask the Barcelona players for their shirts. I feel ashamed," Djukic said. "We were asking for autographs and shirts with photos before the game. To win here, you have to have pride." Pedro's early goal came after he used one touch of his right boot to control Ivan Rakitic's lobbed pass, before a second flick put the ball past goalkeeper Juan Carlos Martin. With Barcelona dominating with ease, the home crowd didn't come alive until Suarez poked Pedro's pass under Martin. Pique headed in Xavi Hernandez's free kick and, two minutes later, Messi was kept in check until a poorly defended corner kick fell for him to fire in. He followed that with a goal in stoppage time when he spun and slotted the ball just inside the post for his 22nd and 23rd goals
duced an unexpected red card, and Agbonlahor was dismissed for the first time in his career. Villa held on with determination. Jores Okore cleared a Michael Carrick header and, in the final minutes, Benteke was inches away from converting Leandro Bacuna's cross as Villa almost snatched an heroic victory.
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 21 (IANS): Football in India will never be the same again and Indian Super League (ISL) can take all plaudits for this monumental change in the country's sporting culture. The inaugural ISL - a tournament borrowing on cricket's incredibly popular Indian Premier League (IPL) concept has managed to recapture the imagination of football fans and effected a dramatic turnround in it, shattering old biases. Football had largely become a 'sofa sport' in India -- fans sitting at home watching and debating about European leagues rather than going out to watch Indian players. ISL, however, managed to turn these couch potatoes into stadium goers and this was clear from the average attendance of the tournament being the fourth highest of all leagues in the world.
The average match attendance for the tournament since its commencement Oct 12 is 24,357, the highest across Asia, and according to the organisers the league trailed only Germany's Bundesliga, the Barclays Premier League and Spain's La Liga. The tournament kicked off with 65,000 people attending the opening game between Atletico de Kolkata and Mumbai City FC Oct 12. Only in its nascent stage, the football league definitely has had its fair share of issues but when a country, which is ranked 170th in the world, has a league that has an attendance more than the Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1, there is little you can fault ISL with. The league also recorded over 16 million online video views through the course of the tournament. Additionally, the official ISL online channel registered 28.7 million visits.
On social media too, the ISL captured the minds of football fans, recording over 1.8 million conversations, 10 billion impressions and 275,000-plus unique authors. ISL's football semi-final clash between Chennaiyin FC and Kerala Blasters FC recorded the highest number of online video views - 1.1 million - ever witnessed in India for any single sport game. These numbers indicate that football has managed to create a huge fan following across India and is a step closer towards its ultimate goal of placing India on the global football map. Besides making football popular again, the most important thing ISL did was to make young footballers see the sport as a viable career and this in turn is expected to increase the pool of players and improve the quality of the national team. One of the many attractive features of the tournament was the constant
presence of Bollywood celebrities like Randhir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham and criceketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, backing teams and flocking to their matches. Bollywood played a similar role in the IPL and that has attracted non-football and sports fans to the stadia. Also, the presence of high-profile names like Robert Pires, Freddie Ljunberg, Nicolas Anelka, Elano, David James, Luis Garcia and Alessandro Del Piero, among others, whetted the appetite of football fans around the country and also the world. Suddenly sports media around the globe started noticing and taking interest in the football happenings in the country. The ISL has kicked the Indian football into the global limelight and given it the new goal: To become the top sport in the country.
Dortmund slumps to 10th defeat in Bundesliga
Suarez finally scores, Messi nets 2 in Barca win BARCELONA, DECEMBER 21 (AP): Luis Suarez's long wait for a goal in the Spanish league finally ended when he added to Lionel Messi's brace to give Barcelona a 5-0 win over Cordoba on Saturday. After putting Barcelona ahead two minutes in at Camp Nou, Pedro Rodriguez passed in the 53rd for Suarez to net his first goal in eight league matches following his four-month biting ban. Suarez had scored twice in the Champions League. Gerard Pique headed in Barcelona's third in the 80th before Messi struck his team-leading 14th and 15th league goals of the season. "I was able to score and that leaves me at peace," Suarez said. "I am a striker and I have to score goals, but I am helping the team win games. That's why I don't obsess about it." Barcelona pulled to within one point of Real Madrid, which won't play its game against Sevilla from this round until Feb. 4 due to its appearance in the Club World Cup final in Morocco. Madrid won the final 2-0 over Argentine side San Lorenzo. Elsewhere in Spain, Valencia climbed into provisional fourth place with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Eibar, while Levante midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz converted an injury-time penalty to
The Morung Express
through 22 games in all competitions. Valencia striker Paco Alcacer finished off a quick attack from a long ball behind Eibar's defense in the 31st. Valencia then withstood Eibar's repeated attempts to pull even before securing the victory that lifted it one point behind third-place Atletico Madrid and one point ahead of Sevilla. Eibar remained in ninth, ahead of Espanyol in 10th. Espanyol went ahead after Rayo goalie Cristian Alvarez spilled the ball in a collision with a teammate, leaving Garcia to poach his first goal in the ninth. Leo Baptistao equalized for Rayo just before halftime, but Garcia crossed for Lucas Vazquez to head home in the 76th, and added a third in injury time with Espanyol hanging on with 10 men after substitute Christian Stuani received two bookings. Sociedad was on the verge of getting its first away win of the season when Sergio Canales scored off the post in the 48th minute. But defender Carlos Martinez handled a ball in the area during Levante's last push forward, giving Ivanschitz his spot kick that he fired into the top corner. Both teams were left three points above the drop zone.
BERLIN, DECEMBER 21 (AP): Borussia Dortmund's miserable Bundesliga season was extended by a 2-1 loss at last-place Werder Bremen on Saturday in the 10th defeat for the 2011 and 2012 champions. Davie Selke scored one goal and set up another for Bremen to climb off the bottom and leave Dortmund provisionally second-to-last after 17 games. Freiburg, the new bottom side, plays on Sunday — the last day of play before the Bundesliga's sixweek winter break. Brazilian defender Naldo's 78th-minute header from a corner gave Wolfsburg a 2-1 win over Cologne in the late game on Saturday. Wolfsburg consolidated its second place behind Bayern Munich, which has set a record for points before
the winter break. Bayern has 45 points, 11 ahead of Wolfsburg on 34. Whatever happens Sunday, Dortmund will occupy a direct relegation place at the season's midway stage for the first time. "I wouldn't write us off. We made too many mistakes and now we're there like idiots in the relegation zone. But we're not as bad as that. We have time now to recharge the batteries. We'll correct what we've messed up," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp told Sky television. After being wished a happy Christmas and a better New Year, Klopp replied, "Thank you, it couldn't get much worse." The 19-year-old Selke opened the scoring with a fine finish in the third minute and easily eluded Mats Hummels before crossing
for Fin Bartels to make it 2-0 in the 62nd. Hummels partly atoned with a flying header to Ilkay Gundogan's corner in the 69th. Elsewhere, Augsburg surprised Borussia Moenchengladbach with a 2-1 win, Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 with Eintracht Frankfurt, while Stuttgart vs. Paderborn and Schalke vs. Hamburger SV finished scoreless. Dominic Maroh fired Cologne into an 11thminute lead over Wolfsburg after he controlled the ball brilliantly with his first touch, only for Bas Dost to equalize with a header five minutes later. Naldo scored the winner after salvaging a 2-2 draw at Dortmund in similar fashion on Wednesday. Dortmund got off to a terrible start when Sel-
ke finished in style after Santiago Garcia played him through. The visitors were poor in the first half, appearing unsettled by Bremen's well-organized defense and quick breaks. Dortmund had to wait 30 minutes for the side's first effort on goal, and really only threatened through Oliver Kirch just before the break. Klopp introduced Shinji Kagawa for the second half, but the Japan midfielder was unable to change the game. After setting up Bartels for Bremen's second, Selke should have made it 3-0 before Hummels pulled one back. Kagawa missed a good chance to equalize in the 79th, while Bartels struck the post and Clemens Fritz fired over at the other end in a frenetic finale. "We're
all been thinking about it: 'What's the problem? Where's the issue?' We were better at home in the last weeks, but away, not at all," Hummels said. In Augsburg, Max Kruse put Moenchengladbach ahead with a penalty in the second minute, only for Markus Feulner to equalize in off the post in the 20th. A mistake from 'Gladbach defender Tony Jantschke allowed Alexander Esswein to cross for Raul Bobadilla to claim the winner against his former club in the 51st. "It was a sensational year for Augsburg. I'm proud of the team," coach Markus Weinzierl said after the club's best ever opening half to the season. Augsburg is sixth, level on 27 points with Moenchengladbach and Schalke.
Aldridge leads Trail Blazers over Pelicans 114-88
NEW ORLEANS, DECEMBER 21 (AP): LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Portland to a 114-88 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Saturday night. While Portland was coming off a triple overtime win at San Antonio a night earlier, it was New Orleans that appeared tired. The Pelicans made just 35 percent of their shots, including just 3-of-14 shooting by Anthony Davis, who finished with seven points, six rebounds and five blocked shots. Aldridge played a large role in Portland's runaway start. His steal of Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans less than a minute in led to his 15-foot jumper and made a free throw on the other end. A fade-away 19-footer by Aldridge on the next possession was followed by a Wesley Matthews 3-pointer. Aldridge finished off the next two offensive series with
long jumpers and, less than four minutes into the game he had nine points and had staked the Trail Blazers to a near double-digit lead. Blazers point guard Damian Lillard added 17 points and seven assists while onetime New Orleans center Chris Kaman had 16 points and six rebounds in a reserve role. Austin Rivers led New Orleans with 21 points. Kyle Korver scored 22 points, including seven points late, to help the Atlanta Hawks hold on for a 104-97 win over the Houston Rockets. Dwight Howard had 19 points and 11 rebounds and James Harden added 18 points with a season-high 14 assists for the Rockets who lost their second straight game. Monta Ellis equaled his season high with 38 points, including 11 during the final four minutes, to spark a late rally as the Dallas Mavericks beat the depleted San Antonio Spurs 99-93 in Ra-
jon Rondo's debut with the Mavericks. Rondo, the fourtime All-Star who played his first eight-plus seasons with the Boston Celtics, finished with six points on 3-for-11 shooting. He had nine assists and seven rebounds. Marco Belinelli led San Antonio with 21 points. Chris Paul scored nine of his 27 points in the final 4:04 and Blake Griffin added 24, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 106-102 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 18 points and nine rebounds. Jerryd Bayless and former Clipper Jared Dudley each had 16 points as the Bucks' bench outscored the Clippers' bench 59-23. In other games Saturday, the Charlotte Hornets beat the Utah Jazz for the first time in six years, 104-86, the Phoenix Suns downed the New York Knicks 99-90 and the Denver Nuggets edged the Indiana Pacers 76-73.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, center, drives to the basket around New Orleans Pelicans forward Tyreke Evans (1) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, December 20, in New Orleans, La. (AP Photo)
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Green Day to be inducted in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
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elena Gomez is reportedly ‘’obsessed’’ with her on/off boyfriend, Justin Bieber, and is planning to try win him back with a Christmas present. The ‘Who Says’ hitmaker - who split from the 20-year-old singer earlier this year - is reportedly struggling to move on. A source shared: ‘’There are lots of guys interested in her. She’s getting a ton of attention, but she’s still so obsessed with Justin. It’s really hard for her to move on.’’ The 22-year-old singer - who had been dating the ‘Boyfriend’ hitmaker on/off for three years - is believed to have organised a gift for him this Christmas. A source added: ‘’Selena is all over the place when it comes to Justin. ‘’One minute she hates him and the next minute she’s talking about getting him a Christmas present. Her friends are telling her not
to buy him anything, though, because he has to be the one to make the move.’’ Despite coming up with Christmas gift ideas, Selena is worried the pair’s split will ruin the festive period for her after she got ‘’upset’’ about his new friendship with Hailey Baldwin. A source revealed to HollywoodLife. com: ‘’Selena is trying very hard to pretend that she isn’t upset about Justin and Hailey, but the truth is it’s killing her. She’s having a major breakdown. It’s putting such a dark cloud over the holidays. ‘’Selena’s planning to be in Texas with her family for Christmas, but she’s very worried that she won’t be able to enjoy herself because she’s so upset over Justin. She’s having a lot of anxiety. Knowing that Justin is spending all his time with Hailey is eating her up.’’
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‘Nobody wants me to cook on Christmas Day!’ Angelina Jolie admits her family won’t let her in the kitchen... and that Brad Pitt is the one in charge
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he’s a woman of many talents. But Angelina Jolie has admitted she isn’t much in the kitchen... and isn’t allowed to make Christmas dinner on the biggest eating day of the year. Speaking to Ben Shephard on Good Morning Britain, the Hollywood star said: ‘Nobody in my house wants me to do any cooking on Christmas Day.’ The Maleficent star added: ‘I have no patience! I start things and then I get distracted and l go and I’ll start reading over there, or start playing outside with the kids.’ She then let on that it’s actually her long-term partner, father of her children and new husband Brad Pitt who is the chef on Christmas Day. ‘I think you have to be very patient to cook, I’d be designated to the chopping board! Brad would be really good at the timing and organisation.’ The couple have already admitted they haven’t really thought much about what to get each other for Christmas as they have been concentrating on making sure their six children - Maddox, 13, Pax, 11, Zahara, nine, Shiloh, eight, and six-year-old twins
Knox and Vivienne - have an amazing time over the festive period. The 39-year-old added to the morning TV presenter: ‘We travel a lot so I think it’s more what to do, what’s going to be the experience, where we’re going to go, or what we’re going to do, who we’re going to see, and I think they [the children] know. ‘Mummy loves a stocking and I love a gift, we try our best not to spoil them so we try to be very balanced and calculating to not go too far.’ Although she may not be a dab hand at cooking a turkey or whipping up great roast potatoes, Angelina is currently in the midst of promoting her latest directorial effort Unbroken. The hard-hitting film, which stars former Skins actor Jack O’Connell as the lead character, tells the story of Olympian Louis Zamperini who spends a harrowing 47 days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he’s caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. It’s the third movie she has directed, and is hotly-tipped to receive an Academy Award nomination.
‘No director wanted to work with me!’ Natalie Portman reveals how her career was nearly ruined by the Star Wars prequels
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merican punk rock band Green Day will be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2015. The ‘American Idiot’ hitmakers became eligible for the Hall of Fame this year after they completed their 25 years since the release of their first album 1,000 Hours (1989), reported Rolling Stones. “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has always held something for me because my heroes were in there. I had to go for a walk. “I wound up at this cafe and I sat down and my son met up with me. I told him and he was like, ‘Oh my God. No way.’ It just took some time to sink in. We’re in incredible company and I’m still trying to make sense of this. It’s just incredible,” said Green
Day’s lead vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong. A list of 15 artistes was announced by the Rock and Roll board and out of those only six made it to the final list, who will be honoured next year. “As we mark 30 years of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions, we’re proud to honour these artists. These Inductees epitomise rock and roll’s impact over the past 50 years and continuing through today,” said the Hall of Fame’s foundation president Joel Peresman in a statement. The other five artists who are inducted in the list are Bill Withers, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Lou Reed and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
he starred as Queen Amidala in the three Star Wars prequels. And while the franchise was a blockbuster sensation, Natalie Portman says the role nearly ruined her career. In an interview with New York magazine, the 33-year-old revealed how after the performance ‘everyone thought I was a horrible actress’ making it nearly impossible to find another part since ‘no director wanted to work with me.’ Natalie made the disclosure in an article paying tribute to late director Mike Nichols, who she first collaborated with on the play Seagull in 2001 and later in the 2004 film Closer. ‘Star Wars had come out around the time of Seagull and everyone thought I was a horrible actress,’ she admitted. ‘I was in the biggest-grossing movie of the decade, and no director wanted to work with me. Mike wrote a letter to Anthony Ming-
hella and said, “Put her in Cold Mountain, I vouch for her.”’ The actress landed the supporting role in the Nicole Kidman film which she believes led to a series of other crucial performances. ‘And then Anthony passed me on to Tom Tykwer, who passed me on to the Wachowskis,’ she added of Paris, Je T’aime director Tykwer, and V For Vendetta writers Andy and Lana Wachowski. Natalie wound up winning an Oscar for Best Actress for the 2010 film Black Swan. Meanwhile, the Thor star recently made headlines for a role she didn’t take as it was announced she has dropped out of Aaron Sorkin’s Steve Jobs biopic. The mother of one was set to play the female lead opposite Michael Fassbender in the titular role.She’ll next appear in the upcoming Terrence Malick film Knight Of Cups alongside Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett.
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Rakhi Sawant: I don’t have any limitations
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penned letter to 8-year-old girl assuring her Santa Claus was safe from nuclear Russia
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akhi Sawant says she doesn’t have any limitations as an actress and doesn’t mind exposing herself. Rakhi, who shot to fame with the item song ‘Mohabbat hai mirchi’ over a decade back, is now tied up with promotions of her forthcoming film Mumbai Can Dance Saalaa. But she said that she wasn’t getting projects for some time and that she doesn’t mind exposing herself to survive in the industry. “I was not getting work for two years and it’s not easy to survive in this industry. I don’t come from a filmy background. So I don’t have any support. Whatever I am today is because of my hard work. I don’t want to restrict myself and I don’t have any limitations. I am ready to expose,” Rakhi told reporters. Directed by Sachindra Sharma, Mumbai Can Dance Saalaa has Rakhi playing a prominent role. She said: “The character I am playing in the film is very strong and meaningful. She has a negative shade. I have never tried this genre before. I loved the script.”
op star Lance Bass married his fiance in a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday night (20Dec14). The former ‹N Sync singer wed his longtime partner Michael Turchin at the Park Plaza Hotel in front of 300 guests, while actress JamieLynn Sigler officiated the ceremony with Once Upon A Time star JoAnna Garcia Swisher. Other guests included his former ‹N Sync bandmates JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick - Justin Timberlake was unable to attend as he is away on tour. The couple›s first dance was held to a rendition of Elvis Presley›s Can›t Help Falling in Love by Chasez, while R&B star Kelly Price also performed. The grooms were given away by their mothers, and members of the wedding party walked the couple›s dogs down the aisle.
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ohn F Kennedy kept the cold war out of the North Pole. That’s at least what he told Michelle, an 8-year-old girl who wrote to the president about being worried over Santa Claus being threatened by nuclear bombs from the Soviet Union. The JFK Library Foundation in Boston released a video Friday displaying the text of the letter that Kennedy signed and sent to Michelle in 1961. ‘Dear Michelle,’ the letter reads, ‘I was glad to get your letter about trying to stop the Russians from bombing the North Pole and risking the life of Santa Claus.’ ‘I share your concern about the atmospheric testing of the Soviet Union, not only for the North Pole but for countries throughout the world; not only for Santa Claus but for people throughout the world.’ ‘However, you must not worry about Santa Claus. I talked with him yesterday and he is fine. He will be making his rounds again this Christmas.’ Atmospheric testing refers to above-ground nuclear tests that the Soviet Union, the United States and other countries conducted. Two days after the letter was postmarked to Michelle, Russia tested the Tsar Bomba, at 50 megatons the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated. The bomb exploded over Novaya Zemlya, a Russian archipelago located in the Arctic Ocean, just over a thousand miles from the North Pole.
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Real crowned world champ at Club World Cup MARRAKECH, DE CEMBER 21 (AP): Real Madrid outclassed San Lorenzo of Argentina 2-0 in the Club World Cup final on Saturday to put a crown on its status as the best club in world football. The cup added to Madrid's 2014 trophy haul of Champions League, Copa del Rey, and European Super Cup, and it will carry a 22-game winning streak into 2015. Sergio Ramos made the breakthrough, leaping up and heading in Toni Kroos' sweetly stuck corner after 37 minutes. Ramos also got Madrid off the mark in its 4-0 victory over CONCACAF champion Cruz Azul in the semifinals. Loosely marked in the area, Gareth Bale doubled Madrid's lead early in the second half. The South American champion's goalkeeper, Sebastian Torrico, should have done better with Bale's left-footed shot, which bobbled under his body. This was Madrid's fourth world club championship, first in the Club World Cup format, and its last competitive match of 2014. "An unforgettable year," Ramos said. Madrid dominated the often scrappy, and at times ill-tempered final in Marrakech's Grand Stade. If San Lorenzo's most famous fan, Pope Francis, wasn't watching on television, then he didn't miss a classic. In Madrid's ongoing streak of 22 wins, a Spanish record, Madrid has scored 81 goals and let in just 10. Losing manager Edgardo Bauza rated Madrid
Real Madrid team celebrate with the cup after winning the final match of Club World Cup soccer tournament against San Lorenzo, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014. Real Madrid won the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 after defeating San Lorenzo 2-0. (AP Photo)
"one of the four or five best terpart, Carlo Ancelotti, for attack. keep on beating records. Ancelotti was emphatAlthough he didn't teams in the world." He putting together a team as That "makes it a very I don't have any doubts ic: "Real Madrid is now the score in two games in congratulated his coun- solid in defense as it is in dangerous team and it will about that." best team in the world." Marrakech — almost a
goal-drought for him — Cristiano Ronaldo nevertheless netted a total of 61 for Madrid and Portugal in 2014 — not far shy of his 69 in 2013, and 63 in 2012. Although off-target in Morocco, Ronaldo's unrelenting consistency this year could again secure him the Ballon d'Or as world's best player on Jan. 12. Against San Lorenzo, Madrid seemed set to score in the very first minute. Kroos pinched the ball off Juan Mercier, San Lorenzo's captain, and fed it to Ronaldo. He, in turn, passed it to Karim Benzema, finely positioned in the box, but his foot caught a divot on the tired-looking turf as he went to shoot, pitching him face-down. Benzema picked himself up, cussing the offending hole. The indefatigable, joyous singing of San Lorenzo's fans in the crowd of 38,345 was more uplifting than much of the team's football. San Lorenzo sat back, letting Madrid bring the game to them rather than the other way around. San Lorenzo had as many yellow cards — four — as shots on goal. Only late in the second half did San Lorenzo make Iker Casillas work hard in his 700th competitive game as Madrid goalkeeper, with Enzo Kalinski and Mercier both forcing saves. Having already beaten the champion of Africa, ES Setif from Algeria, in the quarterfinals, New Zealand side Auckland City knocked off another continental champion, Cruz Azul of Mexico, in the third-place match, 4-2 on penalties after fulltime finished on 1-1.
Muhammad Ali hospitalized with pneumonia Aussie media slate 'whingeing' India after Brisbane loss
LOUISVILLE, DECEMBER 21 (AP): Boxing great Muhammad Ali was hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia that was caught early and should result in a short hospital stay, an Ali spokesman said Saturday night. The three-time world heavyweight champion, who is battling Parkinson's disease, is being treated by his team of doctors and is in stable condition, said his spokesman, Bob Gunnell.
"He went into the hospital this morning," Gunnell said in a phone interview. "He has a mild case of pneumonia and the prognosis is good." Gunnell declined to say where the 72-year-old Ali is hospitalized. No other details are being released due to the Ali family's request for privacy, he said. Ali appeared in public in September to attend a ceremony in his hometown of Louisville for the
Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards. He did not speak. Ali retired from boxing in 1981 and devoted himself to social causes. He traveled the world on humanitarian missions, mingling with the masses and rubbing elbows with world leaders. The Muhammad Ali Center, in Louisville, is dedicated to Ali's humanitarian causes and also showcases his boxing career.
DDCA Cricket Tournament
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 21 (MExn): The Inter Club Cricket Tournament organized by the Dimapur District Cricket Association will start from January 3 at DDSC Ground in Dimapur. A press release from the DDCA received here informed that this tournament will immediately be followed by Dimapur Premier League (DPL) T20 at the same ground. All registered cricket clubs under DDCA are requested to pay
the entry fee of Rs 400 to the treasurer of the DDCA, H. Thong (9436012938) at Room No. 9, DDSC Ground on December 27 and 28, 2014. No unregistered clubs or players will be allowed to play any tournament under DDCA without registration for the Session 2014-15, it informed. The Inter-Club tournament will be of 25 overs an innings and will be played with the red cricket ball and white uniforms, the release stated.
BRISBAnE, DECEMBER 21 (AFP): Beaten India were distracted by their gripes over the state of practice wickets and food as they reached their breaking point on their Australian tour, local media said Sunday. M.S. Dhoni`s tourists fell 2-0 behind in the four-match series with a four-wicket loss to Australia in the second Gabba Test on Saturday, with the home side one win away from regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While Mitchell Johnson triggered another Indian batting collapse which left the home side the task of chasing down 128 runs for victory on the fourth day, Australia's media focused on the siege mentality that has enveloped the tourists. "Not only do the numbers not lie, they act as a self-fulfilling prophecy. This was Australia's 10th win in a row at home, and their 14th in the last 17, with only one defeat. This was India's fifth away defeat in a
row, and their 15th in the last 18, with only one win," Fairfax Media's Greg Baum wrote. "For every touring team, every summer, there is a time, a place and a breaking point. On Saturday, it was the Gabba nets, before play." Dhoni blamed the state of the Gabba's practice wickets for injuries to Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli that he said had unsettled the team before their batting collapse against Australia. "Immediately, a siege mentality settled on the Indian camp, which protested the standard of the practice pitches, also the lack of a gym, and in their paranoia refused even to divulge which bowler or bowlers had inflicted the damage," Baum said. "They trail (in the series) because of tails, failing to extract runs from their own bottom order or restrain Australia's. Perhaps in trying to match Australia's machismo, they have been
excitable, excessive and distracted." Former Australia Test captain Ian Chappell blasted India's lack of leadership. "That's the sort of thing (practice wickets) you might bitch about in the dressing room," Chappell told Channel Nine. The Board of Control for Cricket in India issued a statement during Saturday's play, attacking the state of practice wickets at the Gabba ground. "When you come out with a statement like that, particularly after you've lost a few wickets in the morning, it looks like whingeing," Chappell said. Johnson featured in the postmatch commentary for his performance with bat and ball to turn the Test for Australia. "They made hard work of the run chase, but Australia defeated India by four wickets in the Brisbane Test after a wreckingball performance by Mitchell Johnson caused the touring side to implode," Fairfax Media said.
"Having made 88 in the partnership with victorious captain Steve Smith that twisted the Test in Australia's favour on day three, Johnson ensured it would finish on day four with a vintage spell of menacing fast bowling on Saturday morning." Fairfax Media said the Indians were also dissatisfied with the Gabba catering, which led to two players, Ishant Sharma and Suresh Raina, eating their lunch outside the venue on Friday. The Australian's Gideon Haigh reserved special praise for new skipper and official man-of-the-match Smith. "Everywhere you looked in this game there was Smith. He marshalled Australia well through an inhospitable first day, repaired their innings on the second day, secured them a lead on the third. On the fourth morning, he looked astonishingly assured," Haigh said. "For the last Ashes tour he was the last man picked; for the next he will be the first."
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nAgAnO (JAPAn), DECEMBER 21 (IAnS): India's Shiva Keshavan won silver at the 17th Asian Luge Championships here Sunday, bagging the medal after a close contest between the top three contenders. Japan's Hidenari Kanayama won gold with a time of of 49.791 seconds, followed by Keshavan (49.934). South Korean Kim was not far behind with a best time of 50.178. "Hidenari was practically unstoppable today. I was really happy with my race as I gave it my best shot," said Keshavan in a statement Sunday. Coach Duncan Kennedy was happy with Shiva's progress. "We have made good progress on Shiva's comfort level on the equipment and it is showing in his consistency. We still have a lot of progress to make in aerodynamics as well as overall equipment, through materials and technology, over the next few months," he said. "There is also room for improvement at the start, so we are in a good place right now keeping our long term goals in mind." The Class B of the Asia Cup also saw India's Murlidhar Negi finish ninth. In the Ladies' Class B section, India's Yuvavanti Negi, Nikita Thakur and Jahnavi Rawat finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
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