C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
thursDAY • December 03 • 2015
DIMAPUR • Vol. X • Issue 329 • 12 PAGes • 4
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
o F
C M Y K
T R u T H
I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts — Will Rogers Rains, floods devastate Chennai, army rescues people PAGe 8
USSC total bandh held peacefully
ISL: NE United keep hopes of playoffs alive
PAGe 2
Abba New Generation sets Hornbill Music Fest on fire
PAGE 12
nscn (r) & GPrn/nscn standoff at Padumphukri over Cease Fire office Morung Express News Dimapur | December 2
C M Y K
Citizens of Kohima, both young and old were enthralled with the power-packed live performance of the New Generation Abba- The Tribute Band from Sweden. The concert was held at Hockey Ground, IG stadium on December 2. Performing with the New Generation Abba was Mike Watson, the original Bassist for Abba. The band performed some of their top chart songs such as Money Money, SOS, Chiquitita, Take a Chance on me etc. The band concluded the show with the songs Thank You for the music and Dancing Queen. (Morung Photo)
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
C M Y K
Its so cold out here. He should have drunk 3-4 mugs of local brew....idiot. Oi, Doc’, One badly frozen warrior need your attention!
Tikhir Tribal Council asks citizens to vacate YTC areas
C M Y K
C M Y K
KIphIre, December 2 (mexN): The Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC), the apex tribal body of the Tikhir tribe, has ordered all Tikhir citizens residing permanently or temporarily in villages or towns affiliated to Yimchunger Tribal Council to vacate and return to their respective villages at the earliest. The ‘advisory’ was issued by the TTC President, K. Topan, and General Secretary, W. Philip Tothong, to Tikhir citizens “in view of the impending law and order problem that is likely to happen in Shamator HQ in view of the proposed YAA Golden Jubilee to be held in January 2016,” stated a press release from the Tikhir leaders. All villages under Tikhir jurisdiction have also been directed to “be prepared” and be in a “state of alert and vigil” for “any eventuality” that may unfold in the coming days, it notified. “Sticking on the Government of Nagaland, Office of the Commissioner Office Memorandum No.CN/ CON(SMTR)07, Dated 4 January 2007, where Shamator town is tagged under controversial town, Yimchunger Students’ Union (YAA) proposed golden jubilee at Shamator town has gone against the government notification and the will of the land owner (Tikhir tribe),” maintained the two leaders in the press release. Therefore, they asked the Tikhir citizens to “strictly adhere” to the notice in order to “avoid inconveniences at the eleventh hour.”
Nagaland govt issue advisories on HINI Flu
DImapur, December 2 (mexN): With the 10 days Hornbill Festival in full swing there will be constant mingling of domestic and out-state tourists. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, Health & Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland today issued a general advisory on how to protect from H1N1 Flu (or Swine Flu). The flu is not ‘transmitted by pigs,’ but from human-to-human by infected particles in the air, the advisory informed adding that symptoms of Swine Flu include fever, cough, sore
throat, running nose and breathing difficulty. The department has also placed a First Aid Stall at Kisama/IG Stadium to address any medical needs. Visitors may also contact any Government Health Unit for issues related to H1N1 Flu, it added.
Measures to avoid HINI Flu infection:
Do’s: • Cover mouth and nose with handkerchief or cloth while coughing or sneezing. • Wash hand frequently with soap before and after touching one’s nose,
eyes or mouth. • Stay away from public places if one has fever, coughing and sneezing. • Sleep well and stay physically active. • Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious food. • Visit a Doctor after covering face with a cloth or mask, if one has any Flu like symptoms. Don’t: • Avoid shaking hands, hugging and kissing socially or any other form of contact greetings. • Don’t take medicines without consulting physicians. • Don’t spit in public places.
Fear of an imminent showdown between two Naga political groups gripped the populace of Padumphukri village in Dimapur after a standoff arose between NSCN (R) and GPRN/NSCN on Tuesday. The tense situation developed over the establishment of a Cease Fire Supervisory Board (CFSB) office in the area. On Monday evening, NSCN (R) members reportedly arrived at the residence of one of its member at Padumphukri to establish its CFSB suboffice which was strongly opposed by the GPRN/NSCN. The latter stated that they will not let any office be set up in the village. The Padumpukhri Village Council was caught in the middle after they learnt of the development on Tuesday only after the GPRN/NSCN informed them to intercede with the NSCN (R) to vacate the place. Situation of a confrontation surfaced after the NSCN (R) refused to vacate while asserting that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (GoI) has approved for setting up a ceasefire supervisory office at the said location. The GPRN/NSCN warned they would use other means to drive them out. Against this backdrop, Padumphukri Village Council members, district administration and the police, since Tuesday, camped outside the purportedly CFSB office in an effort to diverge any unwanted situation that might ensue between the two groups. Paramilitary forces were also seen deployed for duty in the area. Padumphukri Village Council Chairman, Vitoka Katty told The Morung Express on Wednesday that they have been keeping vigil and negotiating with both the parties so that no situation that may threaten the safety and security of the village and its populace take place. Fearing confrontation, Katty said the Village Council had asked the NSCN (R) to vacate the place but to no avail. The Village Council has also been asking the GPRN/NSCN to practice utmost restraint, he said.
View of the building approved for setting up of the NSCN (R) Cease Fire Supervisory Board Office in Padumphukri village, Dimapur. (Morung Photo)
“We stand by our 2012 resolution that Padumphukri Village does not support tribalism, or clanism and we will not cooperate with any Naga political groups that vitiates the peaceful atmosphere of the village,” the village chairman reminded. According to another council member, they were not made aware of the setting up of the CFSB office in their village jurisdiction until Tuesday. In the meantime, Newell Sumi, CFSB member of NSCN (R) on whose residence the office is set up said no one should oppose the CFSB office keeping in mind that it is not a designated camp but an office of “pen and papers.” “Our main objective of establishing this office is to communicate with the Nagas public and also seek their mandate,” Newell claimed. According to him, the GoI had approved the office after undertaking joint recce of the area by authorities including CFMG chairman NK Singh among others. He also alleged that GPRN/NSCN tried to provoke them by firing blank shots on Tuesday evening. On being asked why the Nagaland State government was not notified of the ceasefire office establishment, Newell replied it is not their prerogative but that of the CFMG chairman. In a separate statement, NSCN (R) MIP appealed to the other NPGs to refrain from indulging in any violent activities so as to ensure that real peace dawn among the Nagas.
It also appealed the public of Padumpukhuri not to panic while asserting that NSCN (R) had not come to Dimapur ‘for war, but for peace.’ “Any misunderstanding with Kehoi camp brothers will be resolved peacefully because we are one in common issue and our unity is inevitable,” it added. Sources from GPRN/NSCN said it was opposing the move of the NSCN (R) establishing a ceasefire office in Dimapur because the group was Mon based. “They don’t have anything to do here. They are in Dimapur only for extortion and as a shelter point,” the GPRN/NSCN source alleged. Meanwhile, at the time of filing of this report, Padumphukri Village Council members were still negotiating with both the parties to come to a mutual understanding. “We have been talking with leaders of both the groups and telling them that we won’t tolerate any form of public harassment,” the council chairman also informed.
C M Y K
C M Y K
FNR visits spot; urges nonviolence
C M
Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) convener Rev Dr Wati Aier who went to the spot to assess the situation on Wednesday evening maintained that both group should solve the problem in an amicable manner through nonviolence. “Any form of conflict should be sort out in a rational and democratic manner.” Dr Aier is learnt to have appealed to both the NSCN (R) and the GPRN/NSCN.
Y K
‘State govt cannot be blamed Accessibility is at the heart of for plight of the 150 students’ justice & equality for disability
to do with Union Ministry of Tribal December 3 is Affairs,” Kathipri maintained adding that the department only deals International Day of with two types of scholarship -State Persons with Disabilities scholarship and Minority affairs scholarship. KohIma, December 2 (mexN): 20 years after the Disability Act was implemented in Parents seek CM’s Morung Express News India, Nagaland has failed to make its governimmediate intervention ment offices accessible for persons with disKohima | December 2 Parents of 139 Naga students abilities. This includes major players like the Parliamentary Secretary for Highwho were studying in Divya Jyoti Nagaland Civil Secretariat and the office of the er and Technical Education, Deo College of Engineering & Technol- Department of Health and Family Welfare. Nukhu said that Nagaland State ogy, Modinagar today wrote an December 3 is observed as the InternaGovernment or the concern deopen letter to Nagaland Chief Min- tional Day of Persons with Disabilities. partment cannot be blamed for the ister TR Zeliang seeking his immeOn December 22, 1995 both Houses of the 150 students leaving Divya diate intervention unto the Indian Parliament passed the Persons with Jyoti Institute of Engineering Students Exodus: Current status: matter. Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection and Technology, Modinagar, “While we initially felt of Rights and Full Participation) Act of 1995. • Out of 150 students, 6 students stayed in DiUttar Pradesh. blessed over the initiative, This laid the foundation for equal rights of Jyoti College after paying on their own. The Parliamentary Sec- • vya however the failure in re- persons with disabilities in India. Another 6 students successfully shifted to retary, addressing a press leasing the scholarship to Yet, an RTI filed by Disability Rights Advoother college. Wasted a year. Original docuconference on Wednesday students by the concern de- cate, Diethono Nakhro, to the Home Departments are still pending in Divya Jyoti College said the students were sent partment has shattered our ment seeking information on accessibility faauthority. to the institute after the East- • Around 120 students went for Mewar College children with “deep wounds,” cilities/provisions for Disabled Persons in the ern Naga Students Union the parents’ fraternity stated in Nagaland State Civil Secretariat complex, the of Engineering and Technology out of which Dimapur (ENSUD) entered the letter released to the me- administrative nerve centre of the state, got a 40 to 50 are returning back to Nagaland. into a memorandum of un- • Students who have already studied 1 year in dia here. terse reply – the information sought should be derstanding with Divya Jyoti Questioning the man- treated as ‘Nil’. Divya Jyoti will be promoted to 2nd year in the Group of Institutes (DJGI) ner in which the ParliamenUttar Pradesh Technical University Exam. A similar application to another major deand others institutes last year. • Fresher’s who have joined this year will start tary Secretary for Higher and partment, Health & Family Welfare, got the The State government or Technical Education, Deo from 1st year. department of technical eduNukhu feigned ignorance same reply – ‘Nil’. However, it added that ‘procation was not aware and never in- exodus of Naga students from the over the issue, the parents claimed posal for setting up such facilities will be made formed about it by either ENSUD Divya Jyoti Institute. that union ministry had already re- in the near future.’ Nakhro expressed shock that “It has been or DJGI, he said. Deo Nukhu also said that the leased an amount of Rs 5.47 crore “It is regretted that without the department would be initiating ac- on June 27, 2014 as 1st installment 20 years since the state has been required to knowledge of the department con- tion against the institute and EN- and Rs 17.82 crore on December implement the laws of accessibility in all its buildings and it’s still thinking about putting cerned, this arrangement were SUD after making thorough inves- 30, 2014 as the final installment. done with the help of some of the tigation into the entire issue. Asked If the student did not apply up a proposal.” The Department of Health & students’ organisation. At their own about the fate of the 150 students scholarship, how was the money Family Welfare is a multi crore construction of risk, they have got into this. They returning home in the middle of credited to the account of Nagaland only a few years ago, she informed. Similarly, the Chief Secretary’s conference cannot blame the department be- the course, Nukhu said at the pres- government, they questioned. cause they have not gone through ent moment we cannot commit In this connection, the parents room kept ‘fancy’ as its priority before ‘accesthe process of selection in the de- anything. sought the Chief Minister’s im- sibility,’ a double flight of stairs leading up to partment. This is the problem we “We were not in the picture at mediate intervention. “At least re- the room. Accessibility, stated Nakhro, is at the heart of have today for no fault of students all,” echoed Athili Kathipri, Direc- trieve back the original documents or the department,” Nukhu said. tor, Higher and Technical Educa- from the college authority and look justice and equality for people with disabilities. “Enough speeches have been made by DJGI with assistance of the EN- tion. “They went ahead with selec- for some alternate way for our chilSUD shall shoulder the responsi- tion procedure. This issue comes dren as we cannot remain as mute ministers, parliamentary secretaries and top bilities for the re-imbursement under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs spectacular anymore,” they ap- bureaucrats on equality and inclusion of disabled people, but are they aware that their and scholarship to all the eligible and the department has nothing pealed.
Higher and Technical dept to initiate action against Divya Joyti Institute and ENSUD after thorough investigation, says Deo Nukhu
students and in-case student(s) do not avail the scholarship, DJGI must make an alternative arrangement till the students complete its course, maintains a clause of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between ENSUD and DJGI on April 10, 2014. The copy of the MoU was made available to the media by the Technical Education Department during the press conference. Therefore, the Parliamentary Secretary said that the State government or the department cannot be held responsible for the
office chambers and the offices of all major administrative functions are completely inaccessible to persons with disabilities?” she wondered today. Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 under sections 44, 45 and 46 categorically provides for non-discrimination in transport, non-discrimination on the road and non-discrimination in built environment respectively. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory, under Article 9 casts obligations on the Governments for ensuring to PwDs accessibility to (a) Information, (b) Transportation, (c) Physical Environment, (d) Communication Technology and (e) Accessibility to Services as well as emergency services. According to her, the Disability Act in India is “certainly not perfect” but it begins a process for a stronger disability rights legislation based on the UNCRPD. “However, whatever its defects, the 1995 law paved the way towards an accessible and inclusive India. It has helped millions of people with disabilities across the country to come out of the shadows,” she noted. Has it helped people living with disabilities in Nagaland though? “If you take a round of govt offices and buildings you will find that not even a single one has equal access and conveniences for all citizens, even the brand new buildings – they are all designed and built to serve only able bodied citizens.. The physical environment across the state is inaccessible in all areas. The government has consistently failed the disabled community so far,” asserted the Disability Rights Advocate. Stating that this is not a matter of “discretion or special privilege” but a human rights and developmental issue, Nakhro, on behalf of the disabled community in Nagaland, asked for answers from the Government. “We don’t need speeches anymore. We don’t want to hear meaningless, empty platitudes anymore. On this day, December 3rd of 2015, we want to ask the state government when it plans to do justice for its disabled citizens.”
C M Y K
C M Y K C M Y K