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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 335
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Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one Business Promotion and Tourism Summit held
Modi Divas— strongly celebrating disapproves women minister’s talent in remark..., song [ PAGE 09]
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NTTU ‘sticks’ to its stand on timber trade
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Friday, December 5, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Albert Einstein
WCup-winning quintet dropped from probable squad
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LOVE BURMA PROJECT: Beyond Borders
‘Instead of constructing palatial office buildings and doling out lakhs of rupees on Christmas feast, wouldn’t it be prudent of the church to invest in improving livelihood of our brethrens in dire need?’ Imti Longchar Longpang | December 4
An alliance of churches from Nagaland is on a joint mission to reach out to Naga brethrens in Burma; perhaps a first in breaching the barriers of divisive nationalism created by being ‘Burma Naga’ and ‘India Naga.’ Called ‘Love Burma Project,’ the mission was conceptualised in 2011 during the Platinum Jubilee celebration of Chang Baptist Churches Association at Yaongyimti village. The mission was launched in 2013 with Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS), an NGO as the facilitator. Churches committed to this noble project include Chang Baptist Churches Association, City Church Kohima, Union Baptist Church (UBC) Kohima, Khiamniungan Town Baptist Church, Tuensang, Khiamniungan Baptist Association, Tuensang Town Baptist Church and Phom Baptist Association. Nagas living in Burma are one of the most isolated and deprived ethnic people in the world. They live
Boost for Naga entrepreneurs Our Correspondent Kohima | December 4
In a major boost for Naga entrepreneurs, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industries & Agriculture (MCCIA) and Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industries was signed today with Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang as witness and in the presence of Governor, P.B. Acharya and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio. The MoU was an outcome of the “Business Promotion & Tourism Summit” between the two parties wherein they pledged to enhance the liaison and cooperation while wishing to establish and develop trade, economic, and cultural relation between the two states. The MoU among other things, agreed to establish a resource for access to information and research and growth; organisation and support of cultural events; educational symposiums and humanitarian causes; promotion of Nagaland Food Process Industry in Maharashtra; tourism; and entrepreneurship development. Meanwhile, the Nagaland state government has agreed to provide necessary support and cooperation for the successful implementation of the MoU through its departments. Related story on page 2
Passport Camp at Kohima from today
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DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 4 (MExN): The Regional Passport Officer (RPO), Guwahati, Ajungla Jamir (IFS) has informed that people from Nagaland, who wish to apply for reissue of passport, may also visit the Passport Camp at PHQ, Kohima on December 5 and 6 along with the required documents with valid appointment. For further details, visit www. passportindia.gov.in.
in the most pitiable condition with few roads, fewer schools and non-existent health care facilities. In October 2014, a team from the Love Burma Project went on a church mission tour to seven Naga villages in Burma. The team comprising mostly pastors was led by Rev. Dr. Chingmak Kejong, founder of ECS and staff. And this is their report. In Langting, there are scarcely any men. Majority of the 18 household inhabitants of this small hamlet are old women and widowed mothers. Their men have died early – either as a consequence of opium addiction or victim of physical harassment meted by Burma military juntas before the ceasefire in 2012. New Tui village has 45 households; most of the inhabitants are old and the few men and young girls are addicted to opium. In Shipluo village, which has 46 households, all of the inhabitants have been converted to Buddhism. Buddhism has rapidly gained decisive foothold in the hundreds of Naga villages,
Nagas in Burma live a difficult life with virtually no roads or access to education and health care. Taking note of the sad reality, some churches in Nagaland have started ‘Love Burma Project’ which aims to improve the living standard through trainings on livelihood, cleanliness, education, health and sanitation. Seen here are (left) old woman carrying firewood from the field and (right) children fetching water in Naga villages of Burma.
except for few Christian villages on the fringes of IndoBurma border. The most basic of development – road, health care or education is yet to be seen. Lack of sanitation is the root cause of most diseases. And clearly, ignorance is not bliss. In a church, the congregation observe Sunday on a different date because of lack of a calendar. For most of the villages, the closest health centre is seven-day walk away. History is
effervescent with the culture of tattooing still prevalent, even among young girls. These are the living conditions in Naga villages of Burma, close to the India side of the border of Tuensang district. It isn’t hard to imagine the living conditions of the rest of 200 villages belonging to the 23 Naga tribes deep in the interior of Burma.
the way of living among the Nagas in Burma by imparting training on livelihood, cleanliness, education, health and sanitation. The mission is to pursue what American Missionary Rev BI Anderson had set out to do but could attain during his life time – to reach out to the people of Shan region of Burma with health and education. Unlike the customary LOVE BURMA PROJECT church missions where The focus of the Love ‘winning souls’ is the foreBurma Project is to improve most goal; Rev Chingmak
says the primary focus of mission should not dwell on religious conversion, but on improving livelihood. “Church should not look at them from a religious perspective but as humans in need. If we touch their lives, how can they not respond to us?” And, it was with this vision the team of pastors during the Love Burma church mission tour in October set out to construct water pipe lines and put up solar pump in a village.
They also distributed solar lamps to another village. The Love Burma Project mission has kept two trained health workers in each of the village. There is also a health coordinator and a field missionary in place. For pastor of Sangsangyu village, W. Kaimang, who for the first time set foot in Burma soil, the experience was an eye opener and heart rendering. “It was a new experience for me. It made me realise that we should focus our mission towards the east, our brothers and sisters are languishing there.” Likewise, B Sangbou, pastor of Hackchang village gained new insight during the tour. He earnestly feels that churches need to change their mission approach. “We consider giving salary to a missionary or pastor of a village as a church mission. We need to do more than that. Our concern should be to see what changes we can bring in their livelihood as well,” he maintains. WHERE ART THOU CHURCH? Despite the sad plights, apex churches in Nagaland like the State government, is yet to look or act east, even aftermath the improvement of the political climate in the region. Rev. Dr. Chingmak feels
that the church as a conscience keeper should at least be concerned. “The people of Nagaland, particularly the church as an elder brother, have not played their role with our brethrens in Myanmar,” he maintains, adding Indian government seem to understand how to look east more than “us” in Nagaland. “We have a mental barrier about our Naga brethrens. It is this mental block about us being ‘India Naga’ and them being ‘Burma Naga’ that has stopped us from reaching out to them. This idea of nationalism has to change,” he says. Rev. Chingmak also questions, “Instead of constructing palatial office buildings and doling out lakhs of rupees on Christmas feast, wouldn’t it be prudent of the church to invest in improving livelihood of our brethrens in dire need?” For Burma, Nagas were never a part of their ethnic identity and culture, he says. “They were just thrown on their hands when the British left abruptly. Ever since, the Nagas of Myanmar have been squashed in between, facing the brunt from both sides – Naga national workers at one end and Burmese military juntas on the other. And they are just waiting for us to come.”
ZPO seeks Gov’s immediate intervention
Questions ‘ill-timed’ inauguration of DC office in Peren DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 4 (MExN): The Zeliang People’s Organisation (ZPO) has appealed for the Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya’s “immediate and necessary intervention” regarding the proposed “ill-timed” inauguration of New Peren DC Office on December 11. In a representation to the Governor released to the media here, ZPO president, Ramdi Meru and general secretary, Kiesamyi Iranggaung maintained that the inauguration of the office complex is not viable “at this juncture” as few pertinent points confronting the welfare of the public need to be “sorted” before the inauguration “to avoid occurrence of unprecedented complications” in future. Upon learning that the date of inauguration is tentatively fixed on December 11, the ZPO apprised the Governor that a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the organisation regarding the issue is still pending for disposal before the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench and the inauguration of the office without settling the issues “might lead to the extent of disruption of social harmony.” Basic infrastructural facilities like wa-
ter, electricity, telephone or internet connection, staff quarters, road and more than 30 departmental office facilities are yet to be established and constructed, informed ZPO, adding that, in an earlier PIL before the Kohima Bench by the organisation, the High Court had directed the Chief Secretary to Government of Nagaland, to “visit and verify” the available infrastructure to his satisfaction before shifting the District Headquarters. However, the ZPO alleged that, the then Chief Secretary never visited the spot for “ground verification.” Questioning the government’s motive behind the “forceful action,” the organisation argued that “the shifting is done to serve the interest of few self-centred politically well connected individuals and a clear violation of basic fundamental rights of the constitution.” Therefore, appealing the Governor to consider the “ground reality at hand,” the ZPO asked him to prevail upon the authorities concerned and put on hold the inauguration of office Complex of Deputy Commissioner at this juncture for the “greater interest of the general public.”
UFO’s High Flyer lands at Hornbill
Vinnie Moore at the press conference in Kohima. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News Kohima | December 4
“It’s amazing for me, to know someone so far away knows and play my music,” said Vinnie Moore about Nagas during a press conference on December 4 at De Oriental Grand, Kohima. The influential guitarist and member of British rock band, UFO, who will be one of the panel judges at the International Hornbill Rock Contest, asserted that his maiden visit to In-
dia was especially to attend the Hornbill Festival Professionally playing since the mid eighties, he has more than seven solo albums aside from the albums with his band UFO. At the Hornbill, Moore will also be performing most of his solo materials such as Day dream, From Now On, The Maze etc. Interacting with the media, Moore talked about his joining UFO being ‘ironic’, as he grew up listening UFO and ended up playing
for them. The guitarist has been with the band for over a decade now and informed that the band will be releasing a new record in January 2015. Moore, who also had a brief stint with Alice Cooper in the 1990s stated that he left because of his solo commitments. “Love what you’re doing, listen to different styles of music. Listen to it all and take it all in,” Moore advised the upcoming Naga musicians. For a guitarist who is a “little schizophrenic” as he jokingly claimed, Moore admitted that he has a tendency to get bored easily and often ventureintodifferentstyles,learn newthingsandneverfollowa specific type of music. However, he added, “It’s good to remain true to yourself, like whatyoudoandhopepeople will like it too.” “I’m looking forward to something that moves me, something genuine and heartfelt,” said the guitarist about the International Hornbill Contest. “I’ll know when I hear it,” he added mischievously when prodded.
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