December 7th, 2015

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www.morungexpress.com

MonDAY • DeceMber 07 • 2015

DIMAPUR • Vol. X • Issue 333 • 12 PAGes • 4

T H e

ESTD. 2005

The sad duty of politics is to establish justice in a sinful world Air, train services resume, but Chennai is angry PAGe 8

P o W e R

SA stonewall at Kotla after Rahane ton

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PAGE 12

naga sovereignty remains central stand

By Sandemo Ngullie

NNC joint statement calls for neighbours India & Burma to ‘normalise relationships’ with Nagas

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For now they’re giving us attentions, food, blankets and medicines...but what happens when things get back to normal?

The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion

Vote on www.morungexpress.com sMs your answer to 9862574165 Is the annual Hornbill Festival benefiting the ordinary people of Nagaland?

Yes

no

others

If you consider Nagaland to be a Christian State, is it upholding secular and inclusive values?

Yes

30% 44%

no others

26%

Details on page 7

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Men’s brains decline faster than women’s: Study

T R u T H

— Reinhold Niebuhr

PHED Minister assures to provide clean water in rural areas

reflections

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A naga man watches the performance on the fourth day of the annual Hornbill Festival at Kisama, some 15 kms away from Kohima, nagaland. Photo by Caisii Mao

Judiciary will protect india’s core values: chief justice

New Delhi, December 6 (iaNS): A strong and independent judiciary was capable of protecting people from attacks on the inclusive values of Indian society, Chief Justice T.S. Thakur said on Sunday.

“As the head of the institution that upholds the rule of law and protects the constitution, the right of all sections of people will be protected,” Chief Justice Thakur said in his first media meet after assuming charge of the Supreme

Court. “Our existence is itself based on tolerance,” he said, wondering how some political people can twist it to their advantage.

Assuring that judiciary was there to protect and safeguard their rights, the chief justice said: “We are capable of protecting the rights of all sections of the people. It is our responsibility. Rule of law and constitutional guarantees are enshrined (in the constitution).

“What to talk of citizens, rights of all the people will

be protected. There is nothing to fear.” He added: “The rule of law is even for noncitizens.”

Chief Justice Thakur said: “Itna badha desh hai, kuchh awaaj to uththi hai” (It is such a big country.

Some discordant notes will be there.)

So long there was rule of law, constitutional guarantees and an independent judiciary, “tab tak kisi baat ka dar nahin hona chaiye” (till then one should not fear anything).

loNDoN, December 6 (aNi): A team of scientists at the University of Szeged has found that men’s brains age faster than women.

The researchers drew their conclusions from scanning the brains of 53 men and 50 women, with an average age of 32. The study found that men lose more matter than women in the caudate nucleus and the putamen volume, the part of the brain that deals with movement and emotional processing.

They added that changes of sub cortical structures have been consistently related to several neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, etc.). Understanding these changes might yield further insight in the course and prognosis of these disorders. Researchers noted their work may be able to inform treatment of other neurological disorders like ADHD. The study is pub- Helloween at a press conference held in Kohima on December 6. They will perform in Kolished in the journal Brain hima on December 7. (Morung Photo) Imaging and Behaviour.

Morung Express news We have never been in In- lots of new subjects when dia, never before,” said the the band comes back from Kohima | December 6 band, for which India is one a world tour, the band One of the world’s power of their “biggest places” to members asserted that the main focus of their songs metal trailblazers, Hellow- visit on their list.

“It’s kinda cute and are on everyday lives, eveen, from Germany, is all set to perform their first show funny coming here. We eryday politics, one’s opinNew Delhi, Decem- in India on December 7 at had no idea what it will be ions and fantasies.

Despite new sounds ber 6 (PTi): Opposition is the Hornbill International like here,” noted the band a key component of democ- Music Festival of Nagaland. members, adding that the around, the band has reThe show which will idea of a place that one tained its originality and racy without which it cannot survive, Home Minister be held at IG Stadium, receives from the main- now has two generations Rajnath Singh said today. Hockey ground, Kohima stream media of what peo- in the audience. The band “In a healthy democracy, is expected to draw one of ple are supposed to be like is also critical of computwhere there is a role and rel- the biggest crowds in the are not often true. It is dif- erized music which in toevance of the government, music scene in Nagaland. ferent when one actually day’s time has forced metal there is also an important Addressing a press confer- visits the place. The band music to produce more role for the opposition. Op- ence at De Oriental Grand also admitted their sur- straight and tight music position is important for at Kohima on December 6 prise because India was which then restricts the a healthy democracy. De- with the six member band, not in their list of metal mu- artist to play music that can mocracy cannot survive Michael Weikanth, (Gui- sic. It makes our lives much bring life to the listener.

With a positive aspect without opposition,” Singh tarist and backing vocals), more interesting when we said at an event to mark the Markus Grosskopf (Bass get to visit new places. “It to their songs, the band death anniversary of BR Guitarist), Andi Deris will be a dream come true hopes to give their fans Ambedkar. “Babasaheb (Lead vocals), Sascha Ger- if we get to play four or five something positive to take Ambedkar understood that stner (lead guitarist, back- shows in the future all over back in their lives.

The band members the economic system need- ing vocals), Daniel Loble India,” said the members.

Interacting with media thanked fans for having ed both capital and labour. (drummer), the band inHe established many insti- formed that they will per- persons, the band shared them in Nagaland.

Tickets are available at tutions for distribution of form a ‘nice mixture of 30 their views on their songs, capital and worked a lot to years of Helloween’. Hel- lyrics, the new generation the price of Rs.1000, 3000 address the issue of the la- loween was formed in 1984 and new music in today’s and 10,000. There will be bourers,” he said, adding it and comes under the genre era. On their journey from lucky winners for each catwas because of Dr. Ambed- of Power metal, speed met- Dimapur to Kohima, the egory where the winner band found it ‘quite an expe- will get the chance to take kar’s efforts that issues relat- al and heavy metal.

“It is an adventure for us rience’ and also hard travel. picture and autographs ing to the working class have Stating that there are with the band. to finally say hello to India. gained importance.

Pointing to the long, rich and all-inclusive traditions of India, he said: “This country has been a home for all religions of the world.

People who were persecuted in other places have come here and flourished.”

Describing it as “our heritage”, Chief Justice Thakur gave the example of Parsis who came from Persia saying they gave India the best industrialists and “finest legal minds” -referring to Nani Palkiwala and Fali Nariman.

Kohima, December 6 (mexN): The Naga National Council (NNC) today has called for its neighbours, India and Burma/Myanmar, to “normalise their relationships” with the Nagas as the latter have spent seven decades of an “extremely costly struggle” to “get our legally indisputable political status and history understood” by the two Asian nations.

This was stated today in a joint statement by various leaders of the NNC in the backdrop of the Framework Agreement signed between the NSCN (IM) and the Interlocutor for the Government of India (GoI) in New Delhi on August 3, 2015.

“The issue of Naga sovereignty remains NNC’s central stand,” asserted the NNC. “We expect them (India and Burma) to act in a manner that will be worthy of them who understand from their own history what freedom and human dignity mean,” they said.

While recognising GoI’s “extreme difficulties” with recognising Naga sovereignty, the NNC leaders reminded that Nagas are “not asking India or Myanmar to grant them sovereignty as the Nagas had never given it away to them. They are only waiting to be recognized as their honourable neighbour.”

However, the 16-Point Agreement, the first Ceasefire of 1964 ending in the abrogation of the Rounds of Talks, the Revolutionary Government, the Shillong Accord, and now the next awaited settlement from the Framework Agreement, have “revealed India’s inability to discuss sovereignty with the Nagas.”

The joint statement reiterated that the present and future generation of Naga people will continue to “uphold the cherished dream” of “sovereignty given to them by their history” with “clarity and

persistence without resorting to violence.”

“If India is not in a position to discuss Naga sovereignty, it is India’s problem inherited from the British. It is not a problem for the Nagas. It is not the Nagas, but India that has not been able to discuss sovereignty. If the Government and its thinking people will understand this reality negotiation for a settlement honourable to both sides will become possible. The Nagas are waiting for India to understand and respond,” the NNC leaders noted.

The leaders found it “sufficiently clear” that the Framework Agreement will “essentially be another Accord signed by the GoI and some Nagas that also will not be recognition of sovereignty” as the negotiation terms are known only to the two parties.

“Whatever the outcome may turn out to be,” they maintained, “it should not weaken but strengthen and consolidate whatever Nagas have achieved so far.” “It should meet the immediate needs of the Naga People and India as well, for healing and growth preparing them better for a final settlement which will be honourable and acceptable to the Naga people and India.”

The NNC, the leaders reminded, believes in the “unity of the Nagas to be the paramount responsibility of all Nagas regardless of the tragic differences that have divided the Nagas.”

“The gradual coming together of the Naga tribes to become a people and a nation grew out of a deep need felt by them for survival and security as changes in the world started to impact them in their isolated mountain homeland,” noted the joint statement. It reminded of the memorandum submitted by the Naga people to the Simon Commission in 1929. The declared position as a “sovereign people and nation” revealed the “amount of thinking the Nagas had given for their future.”

NNC’s declaration of Naga sovereignty on August 14, 1947 reaffirmed the position stated 18 years earlier to the Simon Commission followed by the Naga Plebiscite on 16 May, 1951.

Full text on page 10

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Get set for Helloween on Dec 7 Naga timber traders face the saw

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Opposition key component of democracy: HM

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Former ministers, MLAs, high ranking State and non State officials in timber bandwagon Morung Express news Dimapur | December 6

In a startling revelation, the list of names allotted to railway wagons for transportation of teak and moulding beats for the quarter December 2015 - February 2016 contains former ministers and MLAs, top functionary of a Naga political group, high-ranking Forest Department officials and non-Naga timber dealers and businessmen.

Once again, genuine Naga timber traders and tree farmers faced the saw as their names did not figure in the list of 40 individuals and moulding units allotted wagons for the present quarter.

The list of allottees was disclosed to the media by members of Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) and other timber unions who submitted a representation to the Chief Minister through the office of the DFO Dimapur on Friday.

NTTU in the memorandum to the Chief Minister demanded immediate re-allocation of wagons for the present quarter and alleged that the allocation was “made by one man” and preference given to non-Naga timber traders as well as Naga persons who are not involved in timber business, thereby depriving many genuine Naga timber traders.

Terming the present allocation as “gross injustice” and “not acceptable” under any circumstanc-

Members of nTTu and other timber communities holding a meeting in the DFo Dimapur office complex on Friday, December 4. NTTU submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through DFo demanding re-allocation of wagons for teak and moulded beats. (Morung Photo)

es, NTTU appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter and to reallocate wagons based on the recommendation of the Committee set up by the Government for allocation of wagons.

Prior to submission of the memorandum, members of the timber community under the aegis of NTTU also held a meeting in the DFO office complex and reiterated the demand for re-allocation of wagons.

NTTU President, Kevise Sogotsu, said NTTU had earlier on numerous occasions, submitted representations to the State Governor, chief minister and others demanding for setting up of a committee to oversee allocation of wagons for “fair play and justice to genuine timber traders and framer.” “Now the government has set up the committee but why is it non-functional so far? The present system of allocation is total manipulation by some vested individuals and against the interest of genuine local timber traders and farmers,” the NTTU President said.

President of Western Chakhesang Hoho (WCH),

Vekhosayi Nyekha, who also attended the meeting, shared his experiences as a timber trader in the past and how he gave up timber business after incurring heavy losses. Sympathizing with the genuine Naga timber traders and farmers, the WCH President said it is high time to correct the present system of allocation of wagons and to give opportunity to genuine Naga timber traders and farmers to avail the wagon scheme.

Nyekha also pointed out that though Phek district has the maximum number of timber traders and farmers, yet none from Phek district was included in the present list of allottees of wagons.

President of Peren District Timber Traders’ Union, N John Zeliang, also said that allocation of wagons is meant for all districts and insisted on districtwise allocation.

President, Dimapur Timber Traders’ Union, Husca Zhimomi, said instead of the committee, a few vested individuals are allotting wagons to nonNagas. “They are taking away our plate of food. It is

high time for genuine local timber traders to rise and fight for our rights,” Zhimomi said.

President, Phek District Timber Association, Sanyi Dukru, the present system of allocation was “pure daylight robbery” of the genuine timber traders trying to eke out a living through the sweat of their brow. He added the manipulative action of some vested individuals and corrupt government officials who are “blinded by money” cannot be tolerated anymore.

President, Chumukedima Timber Traders’ Association, H Khutovi Awomi, also expressed resentment over manipulation in allotment of wagons and demanded fair play and justice. He appealed to all genuine local timber traders to come under the umbrella of NTTU to jointly fight for their rights.

NTTU secretary, Vedayi Nyekha, who chaired the meeting, said the meeting was held in the DFO office complex to show resentment against the inaction of the State Government in delivering justice to “genuine local timbers traders.”

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PHED Minister assures to provide clean water in rural areas

Kohima, December 6 (mexN): Minister for Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Tokheho Yepthomi has assured that his department is committed to providing clean water to people living in rural areas despite paucity of fund. He said this while touring Mon district on December 4 and 5 to review the ongoing projects.

Informing that Mon district received highest amount of money for water projects during 2015-16, he assured to complete all projects within stipulated time so people’s dream can come true at the earliest.

However, Yepthomi cau-

tioned he will not compromise with quality of work and corruption.

According to a press release, the Minister said several projects could not be completed in time or delayed due to non-cooperation from the people and corruption. He promised that all projects in Mon will be completed, but sought cooperation from the people. Maintaining that only through unity, development can take place, he urged people to maintain peace so that the progress of the works is not hampered.

Addressing public at Mon village, Mission Compound, Mon Town, Wakch-

ing Town and Naginimora Town, the Minister asked people to support the department to complete the projects in time.

The project at Naginimora is expected to complete by early next year, while the ones in Wakching and five villages around Mon Town will take some months as the source of water is on IndoMyanmar border, some 40 km away, it was pointed out.

Yepthomi also asked department officials and staff to be more sincere and committed to duties so that projects can be completed in time. He also inspected the ongoing project at Naginimora and interacted with

the staff for quality of work.

Chief Engineer, PHED, Kevisekho Kruse also asked people to extend support to the department for early completion of projects.

Parliamentary Secretary for CAWD, YM Yollow Konyak, who accompanied the Minister, also sought cooperation from people so that projects are not delayed.

Senior department officials, including Joint Secretary of PHED, Akumla Ao also accompanied the Minister.

Yepthomi along with officials of the department is also expected to inspect the projects in other parts of the State.

Director General Assam Rifles visits Nagaland

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Kohima, December 6 (mexN): Lt Gen HJS Sachdev, AVSM, SM, Director General Assam Rifles (DGAR) accompanied by Vadana Sachdev, President, Assam Rifles Wives Welfare Association (ARWWA) were in Nagaland to visit IGAR (N) from December 1 to 4.

During their visit, DGAR along with the ARWWA President called on PB Acharya, Governor of Nagaland and TR Zeliang, Chief Minister of Nagaland. He briefed the Governor and the Chief Minister on the prevailing security situation in the State, various development projects being undertaken and the role of Assam Rifles in providing a safe and stable environment for development and growth, a press release from PRO, DGAR informed.

DGAR also thanked the

Day 6 of Hornbill festival 2015

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Unity is the only key for permanent solution: CM

Kohima, December 6 (DiPr): Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang today stated that unity is the only key for permanent solution and peace in the State. Speaking on the sixth day of the Hornbill Festival as chief guest at Kisama, the CM stated celebrating Hornbill Festival together with different cultures and traditions of all the tribes of Nagaland shows unity among the Nagas and spreads Nagas identity to the entire world.

He congratulated the performers of all the cultural troupes for showing the uniqueness of Naga culture and unity in the Hornbill Festival. He also informed that citizens can log in to Nagaland Tourism website and give their remarks.

Consulate General of France in Kolkata, Damien Syed was the guest speaker, who expressed delight to grace such an occasion in Nagaland.

Appreciating the unique culture and traditions of Nagaland, he congratulated the performers and thanked the Government of Nagaland for inviting him to the festival. He also mentioned that France is teaming up with Nagaland in sections like the urban development, hydro energy, and agriculture, specifically with teak farming to build an economic bridge.

In his concluding remarks, Minister for School Education & SCERT, Yitachu mentioned that coming of the 16 tribes together for the festival portrayed the unity and strength among the Nagas. The festival also acts as a platform not only for the Nagas to showcase their culture and traditions, but also to educate the visitors the rich culture of the State, he added. The Minister thanked all tourists on behalf of the cultural troupes and also thanked the troupes for their

wonderful performance.

The Chief Minister also released balloons to mark the celebration of the Hornbill Festival and released the catalogue of exportable bamboo products of Nagaland by Industries & Commerce Department.

Go Green Cycle rally held The 4th Hornbill Annual Cycle Rally ‘Go Green’ was flagged off at Kisama on December 6 by Assistant Director, Tourism, Veyielo Doulo.

Around 50 cyclists took part in Go Green rally, which started from Kuochiezhie, Kohima covering a distance of around 13 km. The rally is held to create awareness and promote the benefits of cycling, which is a healthy exercise and eco friendly. Doulo also encouraged the participants to continue cycling and promote the Green theme.

Drawing & coloring contest marks Kids Carnival Our Correspondent

Kisama | December 6

DGAR Lt Gen HJS Sachdev and ARWWA President Vadana Sachdev during their meeting with the Governor and his wife.

Governor and CM for the assistance provided by the State government to Assam Rifles in maintaining peace and tranquillity in the State. He also assured that Assam Rifles will continue its efforts to improve the prevailing peace environment and will work in synergy with the State government to ensure lasting peace in the State, the re-

lease added.

DGAR also visited forward posts in Mon, Tuensang, Zunheboto, Kiphre, Mokokchung and Phek districts. He interacted with troops deployed in forward posts and ex-servicemen and emphasised the need of people friendly conduct and work towards providing a secure environment.

DGAR and ARWWA

President also attended the inaugural function of Hornbill Festival at Kisama, Naga Heritage Village and various other functions organised by the State government at other places in Kohima. The DGAR was appreciative of the vibrant and lively spirit of the local populace and also the high standards visible during Hornbill Festival.

As part of the Hornbill Festival, a drawing and coloring competition was held today at Kids Carnival arena, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.

In coloring competition (Class A to 3), Züthomi Phesa stood first, while the second place was bagged

by Kelese Kar and the winners were presented with surprise gift hampers.

In drawing competition (Classes 4 to 6) on the theme “Your favorite cartoon/animation character,” Parmita Sharma emerged winner and was awarded with a cash prize of Rs. 3000. Donna Zinyü came second and pocketed Rs. 2000.

In another series of drawing competition on

Winners of the drawing and coloring competition.

the theme “Pride of Nagaland,” Sangita Laishram bagged first position and won a cash prize of Rs. 5000. Nükmen secured sec-

ond position and walked away with a cash prize of Rs. 3000.

All the winners and participants were given a

gift voucher sponsored by Gravity Showroom, Kohima Exotic School of Cooking, BEITS Enterprise, eCentral and Seasons Café.

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CD&HG observes annual Raising Day Any agreement should usher ‘The vanguard in peace in Nagaland: KV Pusa of disaster management’ Morung Express News Dimapur | December 6

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Nagaland Civil Defence & Home Guards observed its annual Raising Day at the Central Training Institute, Toluvi, Dimapur on December 6. The occasion also coincided with the passing out ceremony of the 20th batch of Home Guards volunteers & Jail Warders.

Parliamentary Secretary, Civil Defence & Home Guards (CD&HG), EE Pangteang graced the occasion as the chief guest, which saw 110 Home Guards volunteers and 60 Jail warders taking the oath of allegiance. The recruits had undergone a 60-day training course.

“Keep the oath sacred and carry out your work vigorously so that you can be the vanguard of our state,” Pangteang said in his address.

A section of the CD&HG recruits, who passed out from the CTI, Toluvi, Dimapur on December 6.

While describing the CD&HG as a noble profession, he said that its role, with the additional task of assisting law enforcement, has assumed great significance in the present day.

The responsibility is such that it requires and demands the highest level of preparedness at all times as the personnel will be called upon whenever calamity strike, both manmade and natural. Keeping this in mind, he reminded that

the Ministry of Home Affairs is taking measures to enhance the capability and technique of the personnel through the National Disaster Response Force programme. At the state level, the government is in the process of raising a well trained and prepared force

dedicated to disaster management, which would be stationed in all the districts.

Nagaland is yet to witness a disaster of the magnitude of the floods in northern India and the Nepal quake, however it does not mean the State is immune, he said.

Kohima, December 6 (mexN): AICC member and former minister, KV Pusa has maintained that people should be briefed about the August 3 Framework Agreement to enable them to draw conclusion before the final agreement.

Stating that any agreement should usher in peaceful environment in the State for progress and development, he cautioned that any agreement made should not create more problems. The senior Congress leader said before the final agreement is signed, the Union Government should create a congenial atmosphere for all groups, adding that the Centre should display sincerity and commitment to resolve the vexed Naga political issue. For this, he asked the Centre to with-

draw from the State laws like Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Prevention of Unlawful Acts, release all political prisoners, and work towards removing all misgivings and suspicion among Naga groups.

A press release said that Pusa further insisted for thorough deliberation and discussion with all other Naga groups to reach a common point before signing the final agreement. He, however, flayed the Centre for declaring the NSCN (Khaplang) unlawful outfit and trying to liquidate it.

“I think that is not in a true spirit of peace,” he said.

The Congress leader also stated that people have been expecting change of mind and attitude from all sides, therefore, the Centre should work on that line.

Meanwhile, Pusa as-

serted imposing Disturbed Area Act (DAA) in the whole of Nagaland has reflected the way the Union Government was tackling the Naga issue. Before taking any decision, the Centre should have consulted the Naga people at this crucial juncture, he said, cautioning that unilateral and dictatorial style of functioning could sabotage the hard earned Naga peace process. He added that without taking all sections of people into account, there would be no honourable and acceptable solution.

He also accused the Union Government of trying to curtail the democratic rights of the people in the name of AFSPA. Declaring that AFSPA is a draconian law, Pusa said the Centre was misusing it by dictating the media in Nagaland,

raiding civilian houses, killing students and other human rights violation. Also, announcement to invade the privacy of mobile users would be tantamount to dictatorial government, he added.

“All these must be stopped if the Government of India is working for a permanent peace,” Pusa said.

He asked the Centre not to view Nagaland from the perspective of insurgency only, but opt for progress and development as it is done in other states.

Pusa also asked the BJP led NDA government not to only deliver lip services to the people, but release funds for speedy development of the State. He added Nagaland was created out of special agreement and it should not be at par with other states.

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2nd DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF AKAHOTO JAKHALU

(7/12/2013)

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You never said you’re leaving You never said goodbye You were gone before we knew it And only God knows, why?

In life we loved you dearly In death we love you still In our hearts we hold a place that only you can fill.

It broke our hearts to lose you But you didn’t go alone As part of us went with you The day God took you home.

Love you always Mon, Dad, Ali, Avi, Hinato, Thonz, Aron & Adora

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MondAY 07•12•2015

NORTH-EAST

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

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TNL for complete withdrawal Sunny days beckon ailing Irom Sharmila of three ‘Anti-Tribal Bills’

ukhrul, December 6 (mexn): To further its stand for the complete withdrawal of the three "anti-tribal Bills" and to extend solidarity to the families of the nine tribal "martyrs" killed in the aftermath of the bills, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) along with other civil societies under the aegis of Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (CAATB) will observe a public rally in Ukhrul Town followed by public gathering at TNL Ground on December 9. Former Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh WA Shishak will be one of the main speakers at the event.

This was decided at a joint meeting organised by the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) along with various other apex civil bodies

in Ukhrul district, including Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), four Longphang and a representative of Manipur Tribals’ Forum, Delhi (MTFD) on December 5, informed a TNL press note from its President’s Office.

The meeting was held to deliberate on the three controversial Bills passed by the Manipur State Assembly on August 31 and to decide on a “collective response” towards various developments taking place in the State that concern the Nagas and other tribal communities, it added.

The House unanimously welcomed and expressed gratitude to several State and Union legislators who had highlighted the issue in different platforms and ex-

Special college for children with hearing loss in Guwahati guwahaTi, December 6 (ani): A special college in Guwahati is providing education to children with permanent hearing loss. Run by an NGO, the college is a hope for those who need special care and assistance.

The North East College for the Hearing Impaired is one of its kinds in the entire north-east region offering special care to children with hearing impairment.

Established in 2009, the college is funded by the Assam Government and sponsored by Assam Association of the Deaf. The college also gives a platform to financially deprived students to complete their studies. Some 200 students have passed their higher secondary examinations so far.

"We provide courses in Assamese and English language and in the subjects of Computer, and Arts & Culture. Our students be-

long to poor families and the institution is trying to help them," said Priyanka Newar, interpreter/teacher.

Last year, 100 percent of the students passed their higher secondary under the Assam Higher Secondary Educational Board out of which 75 percent secured first division.

The authorities plan to expand and require funds to develop infrastructure.

"We have been communicating with the Guwahati University since early this year and recently we submitted a fee of rupees two lakh and one thousand for the further procedure of seeking permission. We have received all the documents along with college code for degree level and we will start our session from August 2016," said Shanky Roy Chaudhury, Principal of North East College for the Hearing Impaired.

Modi's Way to India's East is via North East new Delhi, December 6 (nie): On November 23, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was highlighting India’s ‘Act East Policy’ in Singapore, his government back here was crafting the action plan that would transform the subcontinent’s relations with its immediate and extended neighbours.

The renewed emphasis on India’s engagement in East Asia is intended to cultivate trade, find common cultural ground and create strategic rebalance beyond the symbolic. Top officials in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) said the north-eastern states hold the key to economic and cultural integration with neighbours and a

five-point action plan has been prepared to realise the PM’s commitment. The importance of the region is further increased since it provides the critical link for the Asian Highway project that will connect Asia with Europe.

The ministry, headed

by Jitendra Singh, who is also Minister of State of for Prime Minister Office, has decided to develop Border Haats along IndiaBangladesh, India-Myanmar and India-China borders besides upgrading the Land Custom Stations and Integrated Check Posts. The Modi government is also planning to develop banking services, including ATMs, crucial to promote trades.

tended support to the plight of the tribal communities in Manipur.

Arguing that though 43 % of the State population resides in the Hill Districts, their representation in the Assembly roughly comes around 33 % - a deficit of 10% representation or 6 MLA constituencies, the meeting reaffirmed the current crisis as nothing but manifestations of a much deeper political structural problem and a breakdown of the Constitutional mandated provisions in the State.

Looking at Constitutional provision of Article 332, the tribal are supposed to have proportionate representation as per their population in any given State under the Union

of India, TNL maintained, adding it is completely neglected in the State of Manipur.

For the tribal in Manipur, there is Hill Areas Committee (HAC), comprising MLAs from all the Hill areas, which was set up under Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972 and Article 371C of the Constitution to protect tribal interests and rights, and whose concurrence is mandatory for all legislation affecting tribal areas. However, the meeting alleged that there is a complete violation of the constitutionally mandated provisions in Manipur and constant attempt by the State Governments to undermine the democratic

fabric that binds all States within the Union of India.

Unless the roots to the current problems are addressed, peace will continue to evade from the State of Manipur, it added.

In this context, to ensure justice to all sections of population in Manipur, the house unanimously endorsed Central Government's intervention and appealed to address the genuine aspiration of the tribal population that seeks total separation from the State of Manipur, the press note informed.

The Committee expressed appreciation to the Manipur Tribals’ Forum, Delhi (MTFD) for tirelessly fighting for the justice of all the tribal of Manipur in the Capital city of India.

"The programme has been evolved following long-drawn consultations with front ranking educationists for the last oneand-a-half years. The first step has been to adopt schools under its pilot project and the focus will be on improving its infrastructure," says Programme Coordinator N I Laskar.

A dozen schools have been already selected in the most backward areas of the state and "we will support them in their infrastructure building under the pilot project of the movement," he adds.

Preference will be given to private schools which do not receive any support from the government or any other agencies.

According to the Socio-Economic Survey Report of the Assam Di-

been deteriorated owing to protracted confinement in the prison cell.

"Having heard the submission, the chief judicial magistrate (Imphal West) on Friday asked the authorities concerned to allow Sharmila to get exposed to sunshine for 30 minutes before 11 am daily by taking her out of the prison cell," he said.

The order was also passed to the superintendent of Manipur Central Jail and officials concerned. "I am so happy to learn about the court's verdict. During her childhood days, she used to sit and study on the mat at the lawn of our house in the morning," said Irom Singhajit, elder brother of Sharmila.

Wrapping a cloth on her head, Sharmila wrote some

of her poems while basking under the sun before being arrested. "I still remember her quietness and concentration during that time," added Singhajit.

The Iron Lady of Manipur entered her 16th year of fast against the military act on November 5. Police charged Sharmila (43) with Section 309 of the IPC (attempt to commit suicide).

Besides Imphal, a case against her on the same charge is also pending in a metropolitan court in New Delhi as she undertook a fast at Jantar Mantar in October, 2006.

Fondly called Memngoubi by her family, Sharmila began her epic agitation after Assam Rifles mowed down ten civilians near a bus stand in Imphal West on November 2, 2000.

M'laya scheme envisions turning farmers into entrepreneurs Shillong, December 6 (PTi): Setting an example for other states that social welfare schemes can be implemented within limited funds, the Meghalaya government has started a flagship scheme which focuses on motivating farmers to earn their livelihood within a restricted amount of monetary resources.

The Meghalaya government, led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, has succeeded in accentuating the income of farmers through the scheme 'Jal Kund' that focuses on motivating farmers to come out of slumber and earn their livelihood within a limited funding from the government, the northeastern state's Development Commissioner Ram Mohan Mishra said.

"With the CM's initiative we have started a flagship Meghalaya State Livelihood Programme, under which we focus on motivating farmers to uplift them-

selves. Since we do not have enough funds, we do not want grants to be misused by fake beneficiaries," Mishra told PTI. "We believe that people will not be able to make a living until they become self-sufficient. Thus, we as a government are trying to instill confidence among them that the government will help them financially if they are willing to work hard," the IAS officer said.

To implement their flagship scheme, the government has hired retired government officials and around 1,000 fresh graduates, on a yearly contract basis, to reach out to the villagers and motivate them to start their own agro-based businesses, he said. "Meghalaya is blessed with a bountiful nature. The flora and fauna can be used to the optimum by farmers to generate their livelihood," Mishra said.

"For instance, initially, the state government allots Rs 60,000

to every person willing to construct a 'Jal Kund' (water pond) in their farms. This Jal Kund helps a farmer get more than one source of income, like breeding of fishes, using the water for horticulture purposes," he said.

Around 26,000 such ponds have been created in the last one-and-a-half year, the official informed. "We are also encouraging farmers to produce honey using honeybees. Having multiple sources of income ensures that if one business fails, losses will be covered from elsewhere," he said.

Mishra, however, clarified that money is alloted only to those who are serious about doing a business and said the government expects them to return the money once their establishments are settled.

Citing an example, he said while branded honey is sold at a certain rate in the market,

the farmers cultivating honey through this programme are selling it at thrice the rate. "These farmers have created their own brands and we are being approached by several international market players to collaborate with them for this business," he said.

The Meghalaya government has also produced a short 10-minute film that is screened before probable entrepreneurs which showcases the successes of the 'Jal Kund' scheme.

"We screen the film on a one-on-one basis and not in a group. About 35,000 people have joined the scheme till date after watching our film and realising that a person known to the one watching the film has benefited immensely from the scheme," Mishra said.

He attributed the state's eight per cent agricultural growth to the 'Jal Kund' scheme.

Rajkhowa urges Centre to explore MSME sec iTanagar, December 6 (PTi): Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa has urged the Centre to explore possibilities to provide job opportunities to the unemployed youth of the state by setting up micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The Governor, who is on an official tour to the national capital, called on Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Kalraj Mishra yesterday and impressed

him for harnessing the tribal expertise of the state in handloom, handicrafts and textiles sector and the vast potential in horticulture sector through micro, small and medium enterprises, an official release said here today.

Highlighting the potentials of the sectors in the state, Rajkhowa said the MSME sector would emerge as a highly vibrant and dynamic sector in the state, if proper guidance and assistance both through fi-

nance and technology was provided by the Centre.

Sharing his experiences of his tours to the industrial outlets in different parts of the state, the Governor requested the Union Minister to depute experts to prepare a road map for the industrial potential of the state to provide training and opportunities of employment as well as selfemployment by setting up micro and small industries.

The Minister agreed to depute the managing deputy

director and other officials of NSIC to visit Itanagar and prepare the road map on starting 'Incubation Centres' for hands on vocational training at district headquarters, the release said. The Minister also agreed to visit Arunachal Pradesh soon and assured all assistance towards industrial development of the state.

The Union Minister assured to extend necessary support under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), the release added.

Assam man held for suspected terrorist links Siliguri, December 6 (PTi): A small time trader hailing from Assam, has been arrested from here on the suspicion of having alleged links with Assam militants and possibly Islamic State, top police officials said today.

A large police contingent headed

by Additional Deputy Police Commissioner Mrinal Majumder and Assistant Police Commissioner Pinaki Majumder raided the house of Lalit Das (50) at Kabitirtha Sarani in the city last midnight, the officials said.

The raid lasted for two hours and Das was taken to Siliguri police station for further interrogation, the officials said. No arms or documents were recovered, the officials said.

However, officials said police had information that ULFA and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants used to regularly visit the house. Residents of the area said often unknown people used to come and stay in the three storied house at night and work in candle

light in the upper floors. Das himslef has acknowledged that people from Assam were regular visitors to his house, the official said.

The detective department had prior information that militants, including those linked to the dreaded Islamic State, wanted to create terror in Siliguri, a business hub and adjoining areas and plans were being drawn up to this effect. The officials were however, tight-lipped as to whether Das was an IS linkman.

Ray of hope for education in Assam's 'char' areas guwahaTi, December 6 (PTi): An ambitious rural education programme aims at bringing a ray of hope for those residing in Assam's seasonal islands of the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries where poverty and illiteracy are common.

The Ajmal National Rural Education Programme (ANREM) will focus on the 'char' (seasonal islands) villages as these account for one of the largest concentration of illiterate population in the state with 68 per cent of the dwellers being below the poverty line.

Launched by NGO Ajmal Foundation, it aims to improve the prevailing dismal educational scenario in the backward 'char' and tribal areas of 17 districts in the state.

imPhal, December 6 (Tnn): An Imphal court has allowed civil activist Irom Sharmila Chanu to come out of her hospital room and bask in the sun for 30 minutes in the morning every day.

Demanding repeal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Sharmila has been on a fast since November, 2000. At present, she is being force-fed through her nose in the security ward of the state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), close to her Kongal Kongkham Leikai residence in Imphal East.

According to Sharmila's lawyer, the doctors advised her to get exposed to sunshine for a certain period everyday as her health had

rectorate of Char Areas Development, the literacy rate in these areas increased marginally from 15.45 per cent to 19.31 per cent between 1992-93 and 2003-04.

During this period, a surprising trend was that there was a fall in literacy rate in char villages of the four districts of Bongaigaon, Kamrup, Dhubri and Tinsukia.

Schools adopted under the project will be also provided with scientific and educational kits which include laboratory equipment and tools for use in their classrooms, says Laskar.

As a part of its launch programme, 17 teachers from backward and remote areas of Assam have been honoured with memento and Rs 50,000 in cash each

for 'Lifetime Contribution to the cause of Education'.

In due course, a separate plan will be prepared for each school to improve their infrastructure including furniture, equipment, educational aid, toilet and sanitation facilities, teachers training, special coaching sessions, student exchange programme, sports facilities, e-learning etc.

"As implementation of the project progresses, we expect various problems to come to the fore and we shall evolve our programme accordingly," says Ajmal Foundation's Deputy Manager M R H Azad.

The districts identified for the project are Dhubri, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Sibsagar, Nalbari, Kamrup (Rural),

Sonitpur, Morigaon, Darrang, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh and also in some tribal areas of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD).

Meanwhile, a support body 'Friends of ANREM' comprising teachers, professionals, youth activists and students from institutions of higher studies has been formed for extending voluntary services to this movement, he says.

Further, aid will be sought from corporate houses which can act as facilitators for ANREM under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, Laskar adds.

Innumerable chars dot the 720 km stretch of Brahmaputra in the state and are distributed across 17 districts of the state.

When asked whether the scheme has also contributed to the state's per capita income, he said the government would rather wait for results after consistent efforts than announce numbers in a hurry.

Naphisha Kharkongor, one of the state government's recruits, who left a well paying job in a Bengaluru company, said she decided to leave her company as she wanted to work for the development of 'Khasi' and 'Jayantia' communities.

"Initially we had a tepid response to the government scheme, but gradually people are starting to realise that only financial assistance will not take them anywhere and that they themselves have to work hard to become financially independent," said Naphisha, who has done her doctorate in 'Changing Land in Tenure system in Khasi and Jayantia' from Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University.

APPRECIATION The Citizen of Thangthor Village express gratitude to Rev. C. Lima Sangtam, Executive Secretary for inaugurating and dedicating the newly constructed church building on 29th Nov. 2015.

The citizens also express gratitude to Ahokha, former President 59 A/C NPF for side side leveling the church compound.

OFFICE OF THE BENREULUI BAUDI NAGALAND HQ.BENREU, DIST.PEREN

50TH ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME OF THE BENREU MARTYRS A commemorative programme of the 50th years of the slaughter of 5 (Five) NNC workers of Benreu

by Gaidinlius Kampai Army in 1965 while they were on a peace unarmed, will be held on 9th December 2015, 10:00 AM at Benreu Village, jointly organized

by Benreu Village Council and Benreului Baudi Nagaland.

All Benreumes are requested to attend this memorial programme.

(HEIKIM MERU) President, Benreului Baudi Nagaland

INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN MINISTRY Sponsored by Toluvi Baptist Church Toluvi Village, Dimapur – 797112, Nagaland Registered under the Government of Nagaland: NO. HOME/SCR - 6826 Motto: Every Child, Every Church

ICM is dedicated to help children ministry. It is a six months intensive diploma course (residential) especially designed for child care givers, Sunday school teachers and others interested in children ministry.

• Issue of application forms available till 4th January 2016.

• Last date of submission of application forms – 6th January, 2016.

• Date of entrance exam and interview – 8th January, 2016, 10 AM. • Office hours timings, 10 AM – 01 PM (office will be closed on Dec., 22-26, 2015 & January 1, 2016).

Interested candidates may contact: Programmee Co-Ordinator, ICM Mobile: 8259973539 or E-mail: icmtoluvi@gmail.com

4

MonDAY 07 •12•2015

Business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

‘Progress on GST to set the trend for equity markets’ mUmbAi, December 6 (iANs): Domestic macro-economic data, coupled with progress on getting the goods and services tax (GST) bill through parliament will determine the trajectory of the equity markets in the week ahead, market observers say.

What will also impact sentiments will be the position taken by foreign investors ahead of an imminent US interest rate hike, reforms and the pace of recovery in the industrial clusters near Chennai after incessant rains.

“We expect markets to remain volatile with a negative bias ahead of the US Federal Reserves (US Fed) meeting midmonth,” Vaibhav Agarwal, vice president and research head with Angel Broking, told IANS. The chances of a US interest rate hike were heightened after the US Fed Chairperson Janet Yellen made hawkish comments, indicating a certain hike in interest rates during the midDecember policy review.

On Wednesday, Yallen had said that she is looking forward to a US interest rate hike which will be seen as a testament to the country’s economic recovery.

A US rate hike could poten-

tially lead to a massive pullback of foreign funds from emerging economies like India.

Furthermore, both the equity markets and the rupee are expected to open Monday’s trade weaker as a key US data - the non-farm payroll figures showed healthy growth in November.

The data showed that the US economy created 211,000 jobs last month against expectations of 200,000.

“Going into the US Fed policy meet, an EM (emerging market) currency like the rupee will remain under pressure against the US dollar, as foreign funds keep exiting the equity markets,” Anindya Banerjee, associate vice president for currency derivatives with Kotak Securities, told IANS. “The FPIs (foreign portfolio investors) have been consistently selling since March this year.

They are reallocating funds invested in Indian equities which are increasingly being viewed as over-valued,” hr added.

Selling pressure by the FPIs has dragged the rupee’s value lower.

However, on a week-to-week basis, the rupee gained six paise at 66.70 to a US dollar (Decem-

ber 4) from its previous close of 66.76 (November 27). Nevertheless, the rupee had dipped to a 27-month low of 67.01 on Friday.

The value of the Indian rupee has been dented due to selling spree in the Indian debt and equity markets by foreign funds.

Figures from the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) showed that the FPIs sold Rs.3,362.77 crore or $503.32 million in the equity and debt markets from November 30 to December 4.

Data with stock exchanges showed that the FPIs sold stocks worth Rs.3,447.17 crore in the period under review ended December 4.

The FPIs have taken out Rs.23,352 crore in August-September. In November, the foreign investors offloaded stocks worth around Rs.9,000 crore.

On the other hand, the domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth Rs.2,308.29 crore during the just-concluded weekly trade.

Besides global factors, upcoming macro-economic data points like the index of industrial production (IIP) and consumer price index (CPI) will affected investors’ appetite to chase prices.

“Investors will keenly follow the CPI and the IIP data, which are crucial indicators of macro economic trends. The data points assume further significance especially after a below-expected eight core industries (ECI) and purchasing mangers index (PMIs) data,” Anand James, cohead, technical research desk with Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, told IANS. The monthly industrial production and retail inflation figures are expected to be released on December 11.

In addition to the macroeconomic data, progress or lack of it towards getting the GST bill passed in parliament will be a key trigger going forward, elaborated Pankaj Sharma, head of equities for Equirus Securities.

“Next week, we think the markets would strongly focus more on what stand the opposition parties take on the GST bill and how the winter session progresses,” Sharma told IANS. “If both the government and the (principal opposition party) Congress reach a resolution on GST, it will be positive for the markets. Otherwise, we expect the markets to remain range bound next week.”

The government needs to

pass the GST bill in this session to meet the April 1, 2016, rollout deadline, as just parliamentary approval is not sufficient for implementing the pan-India indirect tax regime.

The bill has cleared the Lok Sabha and is now with the Rajya Sabha, where the Congress and other parties have demanded a series of amendments.

The amended bill will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha and if passed, will again have to clear the Lok Sabha. Thereafter, it has to clear half of the 29 state assemblies before it is sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for his assent.

During the previous week, both the bellwether indices of the Indian equity markets ended in the red.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (S&P Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) declined by 490.09 points or 1.87 percent to 25,638.11 points from its previous weekly close at 26,128.20 points.

Similarly, the wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) receded during the weekly trade ended December 4. It ended lower by 160.8 points or 2.02 percent to 7,781.90 points.

‘Every 5th food sample is adulterated, misbranded’ New Delhi, December 6 (PTi): One out of every five samples of food items tested by public food safety labs in the country has been found “adulterated and misbranded”, with maximum in Uttar Pradesh followed by Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.

Over Rs 10.93 crore penalty has been imposed in 2,795 cases, while culprits have been convicted in 1,402 cases so far this year, according to the testing report of public laboratories released by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

As per the report compiled by the state governments, food safety labs received 83,265 samples, of which 74,010 were tested till November 24 of 2015.

Out of the tested samples, the labs found 14,599 samples were “adulterated and misbranded”, the data showed.

A maximum 4,119 samples were found adulterated and misbranded in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Punjab (1,458), Madhya Pradesh (1,412), Gujarat (1,243), Maharashtra (1,162) and Tamil Nadu (1,047).

The penalty of Rs 10.93 crore has been imposed in 2,795 cases, and maximum fine of Rs 5.98 crore was imposed for cases reported in Uttar Pradesh.

As many as 2,676 criminal cases and 7,860 civil suits were registered, of which convictions were reported in 1,402 cases, the report added.

Issues related to quality of food and FSSAI came into the limelight after it imposed the ban on Maggi in June this year, which was later lifted by the Bombay High Court.

In August this year, the Supreme Court junked the FSSAI’s advisory that asked manufacturers to get clearance for products even if the ingredients were already approved or deemed safe.

The government is also mulling Rs 1,750-crore proposal to strengthen central food regulator FSSAI as well as state bodies.

Govt “inflating” growth Tata Trusts ties-up with Khan Academy for free online education ‘India could ban imports December 6 (PTi): founder of Khan Academy, Salman video tutorials has already started, rate by ‘dubious’ data mUmbAi, of 24-carat gold jewellery’ Tata Trusts today announced it will Khan, said that Indian students al- Khan said.

New Delhi, December 6 (PTi): Accusing the government of “inflating” growth rate by using “dubious” data, the CPI(M) today said such moves to project that the Indian economy was doing well may help in grabbing global headlines but would not help the economic fundamentals.

“We have once again heard the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister speak about how well the economy is doing and its shining prospects. But nothing will move till public investment is increased in the economy. Changing data-series may help manage global headlines for a while, but won’t help fundamentals,” CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said. “On the basis of highly dubious data-series, our GDP growth rate has been inflated. Many commentators and economists continue to point out the deeply flawed statistical basis of such data projections,” he said in a Facebook post. Yechury argued that the government’s 7.4% growth rate came down to 5.2% when calculated on the basis of the older basis points.

He said the decline in the fundamental economic indicator - Gross Domestic Capital Formation - meant waning investments in economy. Plunging industrial production index and manufacturing growth rate between October and November also indicate declining employment generation, the CPI(M) leader said. He also charged the government with extending tax concessions to corporate sector while common people and farmers suffered due to price rise and agrarian crisis. Expressing concern over “deepening” agrarian distress resulting in farmers’ suicide, Yechury accused BJP of “betraying peasants by not keeping its electoral promise of offering minimum support prices at least 150% of the costs of production.

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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 # 3427

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K R R V E N O E P Y T W A U U I O A Q O

He added that it will play a complementary role to the existing education system.

Khan said content will also be produced in regional languages soon but it will stick to Math and Science.

When asked about the potential difficulties for operating in a low and expensive bandwidth country like India, Tata said the demand for connectivity will make the exponential connectivity possible, while Khan said that the trends of broadband adoption are positive.

He said the two were introduced to each other by a Italy-based friend, while Khan said once the talks started, it was very easy connecting up with the Tatas.

The tie-up with Tata Trusts comes days after the Khan Academy announced an entry into India and a partnership with Central Square Foundation.

Khan said the not-for-profits are needed where markets have failed and education and healthcare among the sectors where a room has been made for play by the nonprofits.

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 3439

Answer Number # 3426

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I E S O C U L G V U D N S S J O P I Q N

ready use Academy’s content but it is now in the process of creating specialised content in English and Hindi for the benefit of India, one of the youngest nations in the world.

He said the Tata Trusts has been supporting education for over a century now, which involves giving grants, providing scholarships for students going abroad for studies etc.

The concept brought in by Khan Academy is “refreshingly different” and will make a “tremendous difference” in India by turning illiterates into literates.

Stating that his ideas were called “delusional” when he first spoke of having top quality content and giving it for free and without subjecting the children to advertisements, Khan, who was present on the occasion, said times have changed now and there is a sense of appreciation.

The Indian content will be mapped to the standards set by the National Council of Education Research and Training, and work around subtitling and translation of

be supporting US-based non-profit Khan Academy to provide free online education to Indians through one of the biggest open-access online platforms.

Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata did not specify the aggregate value of resources which will be granted to Khan Academy during the five year partnership by Tata Trusts, which control 66 per cent of the shares of Tata Sons, the holding company of the over USD 100 billion group.

Tata said the promise of free access to quality education is a “new era” and a “compelling opportunity” with a potential to multiply literacy rates which attracted the Trusts towards making the commitment.

“What the Khan Academy has created is a concept which provides free education and knowledge to anybody, anywhere. Therefore, for me, as an Indian and as a citizen on this planet, it’s a great privilege.

I look at this as a great opportunity where we will do something to create a difference for generations,” Tata told reporters.

The hedge fund analyst-turned-

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W Y G P H R I P D I E T T H E R A P Y K

U R E G N U H Q Z O R A I N S U L I N O

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

R I M P L G T P A N C R E A S G I J P J

STD CODE: 03862 232224; Emergency229529, 229474

Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital:

227930, 231081 228846

Shamrock Hospital

228254

Zion Hospital:

231864, 224117, 227337

Police Control Room

228400

Police Traffic Control

232106

East Police Station West Police Station

227607 232181

CIHSR (Referral Hospital)

242555/ 242533

Dimapur hospital

224041, 248011

Apollo Hospital Info Centre:

230695/ 9402435652

Railway:

131/228404

Indian Airlines

229366

ACROSS

1. Accumulate 6. Historical periods 10. Overtake 14. Midday meal 15. Hard work 16. Chills and fever 17. Possible 19. Shower 20. Record player 21. What we sleep on 22. Cans 23. Clothesline alternative 25. Slight color 26. Audition tape 30. Arousing 32. Supercilium 35. Instinctive 39. Not greater 40. Spite 41. Gist 43. Roman household gods 44. Position 46. A musical pause 47. Awry 50. Cut wood 53. Sandwich shop 54. Completely 55. Large indefinite amount 60. Hodgepodge

DOWN

1. “Oh my!”

2. Mongrel 3. Initial wager 4. Stigma 5. Startled 6. Estimated time of arrival 7. Thief 8. Control surface on a plane 9. Toboggan 10. Exacting 11. Another time 12. Seeking damages 13. Feel 18. Neither ___ 24. A type of evergreen tree 25. Moon of Saturn 26. Expunge 27. Visual organs 28. Untidyness 29. Fixations

31. Docile 33. Leases 34. Killer whale 36. Liturgy 37. Cards with 1 symbol 38. “___ we forget” 42. Subjugate 43. Church bench 45. Some who phones 47. Love intensely 48. Cantaloupe for example 49. Homeric epic 51. Many millennia 52. Avoid 54. Mimics 56. Sketched 57. Solitary 58. Arab chieftain 59. Views 62. Fury Ans to CrossWord 3438

KOHIMA: 0370 2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC) DIMAPUR: 03862 232201/ 101 (O) 9436017479 (OC)

CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862 282777/101 (O) 9856158740 (OC) WOKHA: 03860 242215/101 (O) 9862039399 (OC)

MOKOKCHUNG: 0369 2226225/ 101 (O) 9436012949 (OC)

Nagaland Multispe- 248302, cialty Health & 09856006026 Research Centre

PHEK: 8414853765 (O) 9862130954(OC)

KOHIMA

ZUNHEBOTO: 03867 280304/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC)

STD CODE: 0370 100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202 08974997923

TUENSANG: 8414853766 (O) 8414853519 MON: 03869 251222/ 101 (O) 9436208480 (OC)

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE 61. The same backward as forward 63. A soft sheepskin leather 64. Always 65. Wish granter 66. Terminates 67. Arid 68. Decorative jugs

FIRE STATIONS

Chumukedima Fire 282777 Brigade Nikos Hospital and 232032, 231031 Research Centre

Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home: Northeast Shuttles

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A T Y N Y H R E F T S S O L T H G I E W

mUmbAi, December 6 (reUTers): India is planning to ban imports of 24-carat gold jewellery in an attempt to curb the misuse of free trade agreements (FTAs) with Asian countries, the DNA newspaper reported on Friday.

The world’s second biggest gold consumer raised the import duty on the metal to 10 percent in 2013 to curb demand but that has boosted smuggling and prompted some importers to use India’s FTAs with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to import 24-carat gold jewellery at just two percent import duty.

The imported jewellery is then melted to make coins and bars and sold in the local market, industry officials said. The government is now planning to change existing rules to allow imports of only lowerquality 18 and 22-carat jewellery, the newspaper said, citing unnamed government officials.

Finance ministry officials were not immediately available for comment on the report.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told parliament on Friday that authorities at Indian airports seized 8.32 billion rupees ($124 million) of smuggled gold in the year that ended in March. Seizures came to 4.3 billion rupees from April 1 to the middle of November.

India’s gold buying in the key December quarter is likely to fall to the lowest level in eight years, hurt by poor investment demand and back-to-back droughts that have slashed earnings for the country’s millions of farmers.

Toll free No. 1098 childline

KipHire: 8414853767 (O) 8974304572 (OC)

WE4WOMEN HELPLINE 08822911011

MOKOKCHUNG:

STD CODE: 0369

Police Station 1:

2226241

Police Station 2 :

2226214

Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home:

2226216 2226263

Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):

2226373/2229343

TAHAMZAM (formerly Senapati) STD CODE: 03871 Police Station: Fire Brigade

CURRENCY NOTES

222246 222491

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MondAY 07•12•2015

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

5

NU students urge early settlement to student exodus LUMAMI, DeceMber 6 (MexN): Nagaland University Students’ Union has expressed disturbance at the ongoing feud between the State Government and student bodies with regard to the exodus of Naga students leaving their institutions owing to the nonpayment of fees and in this regard has appealed to the two parties to set aside differences and instead, put their heads together in resolving the issue.

Stating that most of the affected students are

from economically disadvantaged families relying solely on the scholarships, NUSU called for “immediate intervention” of the state government and the student organisations. It maintained that the future of the innocent students is bound to be jeopardized if delayed.

On the issue of scholarship, while acknowledging the efforts of the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education in releasing the merit scholarship, NUSU appealed to the Directorate

MEx FILE GPRN/NSCN informs DIMApUr, DeceMber 6 (MexN): The MIP Secretary of GPRN/NSCN, Moa Walling has informed all the business establishments and offices in Nagaland that the GPRN/NSCN through its volunteers will be distributing the 2016 table calendar as a “token of appreciation and gratitude for being cooperative and support in every initiative GPRN/NSCN has taken.”

Anyone selling or asking donation for the calendar will be penalized as it is purely complimentary, Walling warned.

NSCN (IM) winter session held DIMApUr, DeceMber 6 (MexN): A one day winter session of NSCN (IM) was held on December 4 at Council Headquarters, Hebron. Nearly 1000 members, including Collective Leadership members, Council of Kilonsers, Steering Executive/ Committee members, Tatars, Head of Departments, Naga Army Authorities, CNC, NSWON Executives members and CAOs/EOs attended the session. The session started with an invocation by Rev. Seksim Kasar, General Secretary, Council of Nagalim Churches (CNC). A silent prayer was also observed in memory of the martyrs.

The session concluded with a benediction by Rev. Vitovi Yeptho, Pastor CFMC. This was informed in a release issued by MIP, NSCN (IM).

Free HSLC coaching in Wokha WoKhA, DeceMber 6 (MexN): The 2nd Late.

Azao Ezung Memorial Free Coaching for HSLC 2016 will commence from December 9 at Mount Sinai School, Wokha. The free coaching will continue till February 4. Coaching forms are available at Uniform House, Nongo’s Publication (IACT Institute Opp SBI), C. Lotha Grocery Shop Forest Colony and M/s. Lan Computer below DC Office Wokha. For more information, one may contact Mhabemo Charlie Ezung at 9856650727/9863754982.

Wokha DCC upholds support for Therie WoKhA, DeceMber 6 (MexN): The Wokha District Congress Committee has upheld support for Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee President K. Therie. A press release from Wokha DCC informed that a coordination meeting chaired by DCC Wokha President Rabomo Ngullie was held on December 5 with its members, ACCC presidents and general secretaries at the DCC office in Wokha during which the house resolved to unanimously support the Congress party in Nagaland under the leadership of Therie.

St Francis Xavier's Feast held KohIMA, DeceMber 6 (MexN): St. Xavier's Parish Kidima observed St Francis Xavier feast with Parish Priest Reverend Father Thomas Muttathil as main celebrant on December 3 at the church premises. Reverend Muttathil in the introductory speech invoked the spirit of God and briefed the history of Francis Xavier – the first Society of Jesus missionary who landed in India.

The Parish Priest highlighted the achievements of Francis in India and stated that generations have benefitted in human resource development through educational institutions.

to release scholarships on time and at the same time, discontinue the tradition of releasing scholarships only after the department is reminded by the student bodies.

Lamenting that most of the students receive their scholarships only when the academic year draws to an end, NUSU maintained that scholarships are meant for the underprivileged students to aid the students in admission, procuring books and study materials.

Chakhesang Baptist Church Ministers’ Hill Kohima youth choir won the 3rd Hornbill Choral Competition held on December 5 at RCEMPA Jotsoma.

1 lakh visitors to Hornbill Fest till day 5 Garo bodies condemn kidnapping Our Correspondent Kisama | December 6

December 7 highlights

Altogether, 1,04, 944 visitors were recorded during the last five days (till December 5) of the ongoing Hornbill Festival at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, according to tourism department source.

Out of 1,04, 944 visitors,656 were foreign, 9788 domestic and 94,500 local visitors.

Day 5 (December 5) had the highest visitors with 29,112 visitors, followed by 22,750 on December 4, 22,740 on inaugural day (December 1), 16,438 on December 2 while December 3 recorded the least visitors with 13,904.

Day 6 (December 6) is expected to record the highest number of visitors however the figures were yet to be ascertained at the time of filling this report.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Praven Bakshi, AVSM, VSM, GOC-in-C- Eastern Command will grace the day 7 celebration on December 7. Painting and drawing competition on the topic “Kohima Smart City” will take place at Kids Carnival arena at 12 noon while Helloween will perform at IG stadium at 5:30 PM.

* 3rd Friendship Rally (Morocycle Rally) flags off at Dimapur and culminates at Kiasma @ 12:00 noon. * Cultural performances by various Naga tribes @ 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon * Exhibition cum sale of handloom & handicrafts products continues… @ 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM * Naga Hipfest Photo Competition 2015 continues… @ 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM * Naga Chef- The Entrepreneurial Round continues… @ 10:00AM to 5:00 PM * Craftscape 2015 continues…. @ 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM * Artist’s Corner continues…. @ 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM * Ziplines continues…@ 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM * NAAME’s Adventure activities continues…. @ 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM * Cultural performances by various Naga tribes @1:00 PM to 2:30 PM * Floral galleria and farmer’s mela continues…@10:00 AM to 5:00 PM * Hornbill Night Carnival continues…@ 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM * Helloween performs at Indira Gandhi Stadium @ 5:30 PM

DIMApUr, DeceMber 6 (MexN): The Nagaland Garo Tribal Council, Garo Mothers' Association, Nagaland, and Garo Students' Union, Nagaland Zone, have in a joint statement condemned the kidnapping of a 60-year old woman.

The woman – mother of the Pastor, Garo Baptist Church Eralibill, Dimapur – was kidnapped on December 3 from her residence over a land dispute between Kiusomong Tikhir alias Among Tikhir, allegedly a Major in the NSCN (IM), and his wife.

Condemning the kidnapping, the three Garo bodies stated that Among Tikhir does not have any right to threaten innocent people. “It is a clear act of cowardice and frustration on the part of Among Tikhir,” it maintained.

Meanwhile, the Garo bodies have expressed appreciation to the Eralibill Village Council and the Joint Village Council of Dubagaon, Ekiranipathar, Eralibill, Hollohon Colony and Aoyimti (DEEHA) for their role in getting the victim released. The Garo bodies further thanked the District Administration and the Dimapur Police for their cooperation and also the higher authority of the NSCN (IM) for their prompt action in releasing the victim safe and sound.

Dimapur DPDB meeting held DIMApUr, DeceMber 6 (DIpr): The monthly District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) meeting of Dimapur was held on December 5 in the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur.

The meeting was chaired

by Parliamentary Secretary, Flood Control & Irrigation and Chairman DPDB, Jacob Zhimomi.

During the meeting, the Chairman thanked the Chief Minister for his effort in implementing the four lane highway from Dimapur to Kohima and also for Students of Eden Academy perform a drama during the 2nd Annual Parent's Day cel- taking up major road reebration "The Communion 2015" at the School premises. The school had its inception pairing in Dimapur district.

District Horticulture in 2014 with 16 students. Now the school has 96 students including, two students from Nepal, who are victims of the recent earthquake that occurred in Nepal.

Officer, Dimapur while

giving a brief profile of the department stated that in the district, various developmental activities are taken up by selection of focus crops on basis of soil type and agro-climatic conditions. He also said that projects under various crops are mainly implemented through Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan states and vegetables production projects are being undertaken under National Initiative Urban Cluster.

He also pointed out that the main activity of the department is area expansion under Mission for Integrated Development for Horticulture.

Recognition of Spring

Field School, Ruzaphema Block III, shifting of Grace Foundation School from Padumpukhri to Duncan Bosti, opening of new school- Apostle Mission Residential School, Zakiesatuo colony were the agendas during the meeting, which will be decided after detailed examination.

Recognition of Dimapur Urban Council Chairman Federation was also kept in abeyance PowerPoint presentation on HIV awareness was given by District Aids Protection Control Unit. Department of Tourism and Forest Department were entrusted to give their PowerPoint presentation in the next DPDB meeting.

CM greets armed forces Condolence KohIMA, DeceMber 6 (MexN): Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang has extended greetings and best wishes to all ranks of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Ex-servicemen, widows and their families on the occasion of Armed Forces Flag Day which is being observed on December 7.

Nagaland, along with the rest of the Country, will observe the Armed Forces Flag Day which is held to commemorate the supreme sacrifices made by the gallant Armed Forces personnel in defence of the country's land, sea, and air frontier and also to

renew solidarity with the serving Armed Forces personnel.

On the occasion, token flags and car flags will be distributed to the citizens in return for voluntary contribution, for which the State Government has already issued token flags and car flags to all departments and offices, Zeliang stated. The fund so collected is meant for the noble cause of rehabilitation of war widows, disabled soldiers, Ex-servicemen and their families, the CM informed and further appealed to all citizens for generous contributions toward the noble cause.

SUK: The Sangtam Union Kohima has deeply mourned the demise of Late Tongthan Khiamniungan, former ENPO & ENPUK President on December 3 at Kohima. In a condolence message, SUK stated that the loss of Late Tongthan is a great loss for the community and society and further extended deepest condolences to the bereaved family. It also prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.

The Mission Department of Association of Gorkha Baptist Churches Nagaland (AGBCN) held a mission seminar at Mission Centre, Singrijan, Dimapur on December 2-3 with the theme ‘Living God’s Mission’. 120 delegates under AGBCN attended the seminar. The speakers were Rev. Andrew Semp, Director, NMM; Rev. Shikhuho Zhimo, Mission Director, WSBAK; and Lipok Pongen, Coordinator, ABAM International Ministry.

MTBA Youth Department welcomes Phek town pre-Christmas celebration Christmas season through carol MoKoKchUNg, DeceMber 6 (MexN): Welcoming the Christmas season and also spreading the good news about the birth of Christ, the Youth Department of Mokokchung Town Baptist Church took out a carol all over the town on Sunday evening from 3:00 PM. Thousands of CYE members in more than a hundred vehicles including a bus traversed the important routes in the town with short stopovers at important points where MTBA-Youth Leaders shared the gospel from a decorated open truck fitted with a stage, loud speakers, percussion instruments etc.

This year’s carol by the MTBA was special keeping

Mokokchung Town Baptist Arogo – Youth Department taking out a carol to welcome the Christmas season and also heralding the good news about the birth of Christ to the people of Mokokchung town on Sunday, December 6.

(Photo/James B)

in mind the grand celebration of the 125 year anniversary of Mokokchung town, and also the annual Christmas season in

the town.

Using all their creativity at the best, the MTBAYouth Department leaders, decided to have a live

band on an open truck with a Christmas choir who sang popular Christmas songs, much to the delight of the citizens from different wards who came out of their houses and cheered the carol party.

With this successful caroling, the MTBA-Youth Department has literally heralded the festive Christmas season in Mokokchung town and it will continue till next year.

Meanwhile, the caroling contingent was dedicated by MTBA pastor Rev. Ponen Longchar. The carol culminated at Town Square (in front of theMokokchung Town Baptist Church) where a special thanksgiving programe was held.

KohIMA, DeceMber 6 (MexN): A two day long Phek town pre-Christmas celebration 2015, hosted by Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu & family at Phek Town Local Ground concluded on December 5 under the theme “Good News of Great Joy” (Luke 2:10).

Rev. Dr. Vevo Phesao, pastor CBCMH Kohima and Rev. O. Alem Jamir, chairman Baptist Churches Pastor’s Fellowship, Phek Town acted as guest speakers.

Phek Deputy Commissioner Murohu Chotso formally inaugurated the competition events while cake race was flagged off by Rukewelo T. Mero, Superintendent of Police Phek.

Launching of balloon brawls and lighting of fireworks was done by Mangko Yanchu Chang, commandant 5th NAP Phek and commandant 46th Assam Rifles respectively.

The celebration also witnessed entertainment in the form of song, drama, mono act, dance, choral, folk song, choreography etc. from Catholic Church, Konyak Baptist Church, Angami Baptist Church, Kuki Bap-

Organizing committee with volunteers during the celebration of Pre-Christmas at Phek Town. Morung Photo

tist Church, Ao Baptist Church, Bible Hill Baptist Church, Sema Baptist Church, Sangtam Baptist Church, 5th NAP Baptist Church, Phek Town Baptist Church, Nepali Baptist Church, Pentecostal Church, Pochury Baptist Church, DEF Baptist Church, Revival Church, Lotha Baptist Church, Rengma Baptist Church, PTCB praise & worship band, Thujoi Rhakho, Elite Music Academy, Mesehiwe Mekrisuh, Momentum Crew, Vedeto Keyho etc.

Earlier, lighting of bone fire was

done by MLA Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, who later shared greetings. Welcome address was delivered by organizing committee convenor Salie Khesoh.

On Carnival Day, there was balloon blowing competition for senior citizens and balloon fight for 6-12 years of children. The 2 day celebration was marked by competition events like; carol singing, sack race, 3 legs race, greased bamboo pole climbing, balloon hug, back ward race, skit, pork fat eating competition etc.

6

MonDAY 07•12•2015

IN FOCUS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express

C O M M E N T A R Y

Shashwat Dhar fairobserver.com

Academic Freedom in Of higher education and students' exodus India is Nonexistent Universities are meant A to promote public X issue 333X issue 185 Thursday 9volume July 2015 volume

By moa Jamir

t a recent Nagaland University’s Convocation, the Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang said the exodus of students from a technical higher education was “pathetic" but a serious matter and bring into focus important issues for the University itself and the need to expedite the process of establishing various technical institutions sadly lacking in the state.

In a welcome move, he said the state government would set up a committee to suggest measures to ensure that the career of students was not put into further jeopardy and such incidents does not recur. As rightly pointed out, the University has made significant contributions in shaping the contours and quality of higher education in the state despite many constraints. However, higher education in Nagaland still faces several challenges - academic as well as infrastructure.

Infrastructurally, the inductive capacity of the higher education in Nagaland is grossly inadequate to accommodate the growing hordes of the students. For instance, as per the Nagaland Board of School Education Data, the number of people passing out matriculation in the state increased from 4269 in 1990 to 14905 in 2014-15. Likewise, 1507 students got their Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2000-01 while 6175 got the same degree in 2013-14.

Most importantly, the existing institution fails gravely to cater to the diverse needs of the students. The annual fight and scramble for some 120 coveted ‘seat’ under Medical and Allied Degree courses outside the state painfully illustrate the circumstances.

Devoid of better alternative at home, students look elsewhere and falls prey to unscrupulous elements - both from inside and outside - often jeopardizing their career and future in the process. Often, myriad agencies act as the facilitators to fill the gap leading to disastrous outcome. The ongoing controversy regarding the ‘exodus’ of some students from a technical college in Uttar Pradesh as well as alleged embroilment of Nagaland Students’ Federation in similar cases points the acute deficiency citied above.

In this context, the Chief Minister contention must be pursued with earnest urgency in letter and spirit by his government.

Academically, Zeliang suggestion for the University to review its courses and syllabi to make them more relevant to the needs of the 21st century also raised another pertinent issue.

It is imperative for the University to ensure that it does not remain rooted in its archaic configuration and its course structure and curricula reflects the changing time.

As the core agency of imparting knowledge in the state, the University must anticipate foreseeable changes in future; not just updating. Such changes must be reflected in its curricula accordingly.

While the outflow of the students seeking outside the state is an individual prerogative, one need to ponder whether the existing institutions and choices of course available within satisfies their requirement. Does it engender confidence among the students? If a student simply decides to remain in the State due to exhaustion of other avenue outside or resources constraints, we need to introspect and make necessary rectification.

Are the course structures –taught and choices offered – laden with traditional subjects at both science and art stream with no avenues for other specificity studies? Are we allowing inter-disciplinary studies at degree and masters level giving the students a freedom of choices as well sensitizing them to other area other than its core subjects matter? Does it reflect the local sensibilities, histories and its political-economy? Is our pursuit of education limited by employment constraint?

These are some of the pertinent question we need to answer to formulate a comprehensive policy for higher education. If it does not go beyond the usual fare we offering a decade ago, our stride in the academic field has had remains stagnant and need instant revamping.

For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com.

lEfT wiNg |

Julie Steenhuysen Reuters

Opposition mounts to genetic modification of human embryos

A

group of U.S. scientists and activists on November 30 called for a global ban on the use of new tools to edit the genes of human embryos, in a report issued a day before a major international meeting in Washington to discuss the ethical and policy issues surrounding the technology.

A technological innovation that can strategically edit out specific stretches of DNA could ultimately lead to the genetic modification of children, and should be halted before it starts being used, scientists at the Center for Genetics and Society and the activist group Friends of the Earth argued in their report. "Once the process begins, there will be no going back. This is a line we must not cross,” said Pete Shanks, a consulting researcher with the Center for Genetics and Society and author of the report.

Advocates say the technology can speed the day that scientists can prevent heritable diseases. Opponents worry about unknown effects on future generations and the temptation for future parents to pay for genetic enhancements such as greater intelligence or athletic ability. CRISPR/Cas9 allows scientists to manipulate genes like the "find and replace" function in word processing changes text. Scientists introduce enzymes that bind to a mutated gene, such as one associated with disease, and then replace or repair it.

The technique, if used to alter the DNA of human sperm, eggs, or embryos, holds the promise of eliminating a host of inherited diseases. But many scientists worry that this could produce unknown effects on future generations, since the changes are passed on to offspring. Scientists note that the gene-editing techniques can also be used to alter the DNA of non-reproductive cells to repair diseased genes. The objections come to so-called "germline editing" in which reproductive cells are modified.

In May, the White House endorsed a ban on germline editing pending further study of the ethical issues. The latest report was released on the eve of a summit convened by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and its counterparts from China and the United Kingdom, following a series of events this year that have brought new urgency to the debate.

In March, a group of scientists led by one key developer of the CRISPR technique called for a voluntary research ban on the use of the technology for germline editing, reflecting fears about safety and eugenics. Shortly after that, a team of Chinese scientists reported carrying out the first experiment to alter the DNA of human embryos. That news ignited an outcry from some scientists, though others defended the Chinese research as careful and safe since it used only non-viable human embryos.

Friends of the Earth, an environmental group, has also been a leading opponent of genetically modified foods, including a recently approved salmon that grows faster than its wild cousins. The Center for Genetics and Society, founded in 2001, advocates for close oversight of human biotechnology.

good through teaching and research—they must be protected from party politics

E

ver since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rode to power in 2014, there has been growing unease within India’s academic community, where the last vestiges of the Nehru dynasty are alive and kicking. The sense of frustration with the new government has only heightened with a series of controversial appointments to some of India’s finest universities and academic institutions. If one scrutinizes the political and ideological backgrounds of these men, they cannot help but notice that the new government has started to refashion the country’s intellectual discourse—discourse that has marginalized those who find themselves on wrong side of the ruling establishment.

These appointees are men whose only merit lies in their ideological proximity to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some of them even publicly declared their allegiance to Modi or the BJP well before the 2014 general election, praising him in their writings and speeches. So, it should come as no surprise that these very people were generously rewarded for their loyalties once the BJP took over the reins.

Past Assaults on India’s Academia This isn’t the first time that the autonomy of India’s academic institutions has been compromised.

One only needs to be reminded of the days when the Indian National Congress (INC) ruled India and when the Communist Party of India ran the states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.

Ramachandra Guha, a distinguished historian, claims that the Indian left has consistently interfered in university appointments in both Kerala and West Bengal. In fact, in West Bengal, the left-wing government of Jyoti Basu had acquired such an astonishing degree of control over higher education that no critic of Marxism stood a chance of becoming the vicechancellor of Calcutta University, let alone holding a senior faculty position.

Congress, which ruled independent India for over four decades—only briefly interrupted in the late 1970s—had a history of meddling with university appointments. It is no less guilty than the incumbent BJP-led government of violating academic autonomy and of attempting to turn India’s universities into vehicles of indoctrination. If the Nehruvians, the left-liberals and the doctrinaire Marxists had a field day when governments favorable to them were in power, it is the right-leaning academics and reactionaries who are now basking in the patronage of the ruling party.

This is the sad state of affairs in India, one that that does not augur well for higher education and research in the country.

The state of university education in India The debate over academic autonomy is this: What purpose should a university serve? Is a university merely meant to manufacture graduates and

T

he record-breaking success of “Spectre” may reinforce James Bond’s status as the most glamorous of all secret agents, but he’s still not as glamorous as his creator. An old Etonian from a merchant-banking family, Ian Fleming was a globe-trotting journalist and a naval intelligence officer before he turned to fiction, and, according to a new volume of his letters, even the tools of his trade were luxurious. “The Man with the Golden Typewriter” may have a fancifully Bondish title, but Fleming did indeed order himself a gold-plated typewriter as a reward for finishing his first 007 book, “Casino Royale”, in 1952.

That said, the Fleming we get to know in his letters isn’t just the playboy who dashes off novels in between cocktails and scuba-diving in Jamaica, but the tireless professional who scrutinises every aspect of their publication and promotion. He even writes to his publishers, Jonathan Cape, to apprise them of printing errors, in his typically courteous, elegant yet steely manner: “In the course of the innumerable editions of ‘Casino Royale’ which will now, I presume, flow from your presses, would you please correct a rather attractive misprint on page 96, line 13, and make the ‘Ace of Spaces’ into the ‘Ace of Spades’?”

The wry reference to “innumerable editions” was only half-joking. Fleming never describes his books as being anything other than lowbrow entertainment, but he doesn’t see why they shouldn’t be bestsellers. “The field of thriller writers is extremely bare,” he insists to his editor. “There is a vacuum to be filled and I really do not see why

professionals for the job market?

Sadly, that is what India’s best institutes and universities have degenerated into: Factories producing hundreds of thousands of graduates year after year with scarcely any concern for promoting cutting-edge research or stimulating innovation. This is testified by the country’s abysmally poor showing in the leading world university rankings for 2015, with not a single Indian university featuring in the top 100. If that isn’t disappointing enough, another recent study states that India lags behind Kenya in research, a country whose per capita income is almost half of India’s. If these studies aren’t a wakeup call, what will be?

The world has heard numerous success stories of Indians going abroad and making a name for themselves—the likes of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google CEO Sundar Pichai are all too familiar. But if there is anything to blame for this so-called brain drain, it is the appalling state of Indian universities and the higher education policy that have turned them into islands of mediocrity, when they should have been cultivated as oases of excellence where new ideas are incubated and bold experiments undertaken. The situation is made even worse with most Indian universities becoming victims of identity politics and bureaucratic interference.

However, these are not the only ills that cripple the country’s university system. Funding is another major issue. Many universities receive the bulk of their cash from the University Grants Commission (UGC), an agency that is vested with the twin responsibilities of providing funds and maintaining standards in institutions of higher education in India. Avenues for alternative sources of funding do exist, but few Indian universities have taken the initiative to exploit them to the fullest.

Perhaps they could learn a few lessons in fundraising from some of America’s finest universities like Harvard and Princeton, both of which receive generous donations from their alumni. These donations can be a vital source of capital for any university.

These funds can be used to meet the growing infrastructural requirements of colleges and for organizing academic seminars and workshops.

It is high time India’s universities figured out ways to get their alumni to contribute to their alma mater in a meaningful way.

Universities also need to reform their fee structures and bring them in sync with the times, so they have a substantial pool of resources dedicated to creating world-class research facilities for young scholars. India still has universities where annual tuition fees barely reflect the rate of inflation.

Some of these measures may prove to be unpopular in a country like India, where protests erupt at the slightest mention of reform. But when have reforms ever been supported by everyone in society?

Going to the Dogs The purpose of a university is to promote public good through teaching and research. To achieve these objectives, it is imperative that they are insulated from the vicissitudes of electoral politics.

Many attempts have been made to rob Indian academic institutions of autonomy and freedom. The Modi government is only carrying forward the legacy bequeathed to it by past administrations. Seen in that context, it is unsurprising that some of the government’s cronies have been rewarded with plum posts as vice-chancellors and directors of India’s premier universities and academic institutions.

The left-liberal intelligentsia, groomed in the classic Nehru tradition of secularism, socialism and democracy, is now getting a taste of its own medicine. And at the same time, universities are going to the dogs.

Shashwat Dhar is a Research Associate working on a project that aims to study domestic migration and issues of electoral participation in India. His primary fields of interest are Comparative Politics and Political Theory, with an emphasis on electoral politics and issues of citizenship. He has worked as a Research Intern with Lokniti, Center for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), New Delhi. He holds a Master’s in Development Studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Hindu College, University of Delhi. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own

The man who made Bond Ian Fleming’s letters – to editors, experts and fans – reveal his tongue-in-cheek wit and tireless professionalism Nicholas Barber we should not fill it... So you will see that I am a very willing horse and I am only hoping that my stable will show an equal zest!”

A frequent complaint of 21st-century authors is that they are expected to spend as much time promoting their books as writing them, but they could hardly do more than Fleming was doing 60 years ago. In letter after letter he butters up American journalists in the hope of a review, chivvies Jonathan Cape to make sure that his books are in the shops, and outlines advertising campaigns which were partly self-funded (“Would it really be fair for me to pay 50% of the cost?”). He also helped pay for his books’ cover artwork, as well as unearthing photographs of knives and diamonds for the illustrators to copy.

And all for what, initially, was an insubstantial return. “My profits from ‘Casino [Royale]’”, he notes, “will just about keep [my wife] Ann in asparagus over Coronation week.”

What has changed since Fleming’s

day is that an author can now check almost any incidental detail online, whereas he wrote regularly to experts on coins and cars, asking them politely for technical specifications and romantic-sounding names. Not that he didn’t slip up occasionally. Fleming’s correspondents loved to spot inaccuracies and inconsistencies in his books, and he is at his most endearing in his good-humoured replies to their critiques. Why had M’s office moved from the ninth floor to the eighth, asks one fan. Fleming’s gracious response is a short story in itself: “The floors were re-numbered when two floors were concertinaed into one to accommodate very large and bulky equipment for a new communications centre. The top floor is now the eighth.”

And if that doesn’t suffice, he resorts to a tongue-in-cheek mea culpa: “You will realise, of course, that in writing James Bond’s biography I am entirely dependent on what he tells me, and if he is occasionally equivocal,

wRiTE-wiNg

particularly in the matter of dates, I assume that he has some sound security reasons for confusing me.”

What is most amazing about these exchanges is that Fleming doesn’t just welcome his fans’ appraisals, he asks them to elaborate: “An author is always interested in learning these things from his readers and, if it would amuse you to put down in two or three hundred words what you like and dislike about my books, in exchange I will send an autographed copy of the latest one, ‘From Russia With Love’, which will be coming out in about three weeks’ time.” The man with the golden typewriter could have a golden heart, it seems. This revelatory collection, edited by his nephew, Fergus Fleming, may only be a slice of Fleming’s correspondence (the “James Bond letters”) but it is as much a page-turner as any of his novels, and it has a far more generous and lovable central character.

Fleming died in 1964 at the age of 56, so he didn’t live to see Bond mania reaching the heights that most of us have grown up with. But the first two 007 films were released in his lifetime, and the third was in the can.

Notwithstanding the old rumour that he wanted Cary Grant to play the lead role, he approved of the ultimate selection. “The producer, Terence Young, seems very nice and the man they have chosen for Bond, Sean Connery, is a real charmer – fairly unknown but a good actor with the right looks and physique.” The Fleming of “The Man With The Golden Typewriter” is a real charmer, too.

Nicholas Barber is a film critic, and former rock critic for the Independent on Sunday

Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The morung express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: morung@gmail.com All letters (including those via email) should have the full name and Postal address of the sender.

Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

MonDAY 07•12•2015

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID: Migrant trauma demands alternative therapies Kate Kelland

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reuters

urope's migrant crisis is forcing the advancement of new psychological therapies that go beyond existing treatments to help victims not of one traumatic event, but of multiple traumas such as rape, war and torture.

Among the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Syria, Afghanistan and other war-torn areas, significant numbers are likely to have severe psychiatric illnesses, including complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), according to studies in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

PTSD plagues sufferers with flashbacks and panic attacks, and can render them sleepless, emotionally volatile and less likely to be able to settle into a new home.

Deploying mainstream therapies designed for victims of single-event trauma in stable, well-funded settings - such as returning soldiers or car crash survivors - will not tackle this migrant mental health crisis effectively, specialists say.

So therapists in Europe are honing their skills in relatively new, refugee-focused psychological techniques such as Narrative Exposure Therapy and Intercultural Psychotherapy.

Italian psychotherapist Aurelia Barbieri is one of a handful of volunteer mental health experts on Europe's front line.

Working with charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in makeshift arrival camps in Sicily, she gives what she calls "psychological first aid" to migrants arriving after months or years making their escape through the desert, through Libya, across the sea.

"They often say they have been imprisoned, beaten all day long, shot at, or scalded with boiling water.

They've been treated like beasts," she said in a telephone interview.

TERRIFYING FLASHBACKS Almost half of 23 refugees assessed by doctors in Dresden, Germany met the diagnosis for PTSD, according to research published in the Nature journal Molecular Psychiatry in November.

In Sicily's Ragusa province, MSF says screening showed almost 40 percent of those suffering mental health effects had PTSD. "They have terrifying flashbacks. They think they're going mad," said Barbieri.

"What I hope to do is first of all is listen. When they can feel they're in a protected place, they can start talking about their trauma."

Some refugees lose the ability to trust or form positive relationships, according to experts at the Helen Bamber Foundation, a British charity that supports survivors of human rights violations.

This makes treatment more difficult, but also more critical if refugees are to have a chance of a new life and their host countries are to successfully integrate them, says Mina Fazel, a refugee mental health specialist at Oxford University.

A review published in The Lancet in 2005 of 20 studies looking at mental illness among 7,000 refugees resettled in Western countries, found they were about 10 times more likely than the general population to have PTSD. It concluded: "Tens of thousands of refugees and former refugees resettled in western countries probably have post-traumatic stress disorder."

While refugees are not a new phenomenon, it is only in about the past decade that psychologists have refined approaches specifically for them, partly because the international response has focussed on such needs as food, clothing and shelter.

NARRATIVE EXPOSURE Studies of a specifically refugee-relevant psychological therapy called Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) show it can produce swift and meaningful results.

Since time matters when treating refugees, who often do not stay in one place for very long, NET - first devised by German researchers Frank Neuner, Mag-

I

t’s too easy to reduce acts of kindness to an “aw, isn’t that nice?” sort of irrelevance. What if we thought about them, instead, as templates for foreign policy?

For one thing, if we did, there would be no such thing as “foreign” policy — no segregation of most of humanity behind borders and labels, to be controlled and, most of all, feared. There would only be getting-to-know-you policy, not in a simplistic sense but with a deep and courageous curiosity . . . because our survival depends on it.

Another way to say this is: War doesn’t work. Bombing ISIS doesn’t work. Closing our border to Syrians — or Mexicans — doesn’t work. Yet “we,” by which I mean the whole world, or at least its community of nation states and terrorists (a single entity, as far as I can tell), go back to this suicidal behavior again and again and again. “France is at war.” We greet terror with revenge. It accomplishes nothing except to make matters worse — infinitely worse — but somehow it feels right at the time, so we keep doing it.

Why are we violent but not illiterate?

I ask this question all the time. It was originally posed some years ago

by Washington Post columnist Colman McCarthy. The answer is obvious, of course. We’re taught to read; originally, we taught ourselves to read. We invented written language. The human species is now in the process of inventing something just as crucial: how to love itself, how to engage with itself nonviolently. We’ve been organized for far too long in a state of only partial connection, relying on the presence of enemies to stay in solidarity with our neighbors. We’ve expended, especially

7

The Morung Express poll results

If you consider Nagaland to be a Christian State, is it upholding secular and inclusive values?

44%

A migrant waits to disembark from a Coast Guard ship in the Sicilian harbour of Messina, Italy in this August 4, 2015 (File Photo)

gie Schauer and Thomas Elbert 10 years ago - was developed specifically for victims of multiple trauma and designed to be delivered in refugee camp settings.

The treatment, typically administered in six sessions of about an hour each, focuses on clearly documenting the atrocities endured.

One clinical trial in 43 Sudanese refugees, designed to examine the effectiveness of NET, compared results in of those who had four sessions of NET versus others who had four supportive counselling sessions, versus others who had one session of another established form of psychological therapy called psychoeducation.

A year later, only 29 percent of the NET patients still met the diagnosis for PTSD, compared with 79 of the counselling patients and 80 percent of the psychoeducation group.

Patients are encouraged to relate what has happened to them, ideally in a chronological framework.

By emotionally exposing themselves to traumatic memories in a coherent historical narrative, NET helps refugees "anchor in time and context" the trauma they experienced and overcome flashbacks, said Katy Robjant, head of therapy services at the Helen Bamber Foundation, which uses the technique.

"You learn that you don't have to be afraid of your memories," she told Reuters.

Robjant says that in the past year, around 30 to 35 patients at the foundation had been treated using NET. Her foundation is one of five specialist trauma services in London, and all use NET for many of their multiple trauma PTSD patients.

None of the organisations mentioned in this story would allow Reuters access to refugees undergoing therapy, citing concerns about patient confidentiality and welfare.

It is also difficult to gauge the costs of the treatments described, since they are often administered by therapists working for charities on a voluntary basis.

ALIENATION, ANXIETY Other specialists prefer a different approach, using their own experiences as refugees now settled and working in a new country to help others deal with their trauma.

In an old piano factory that has become the Refugee Therapy Centre in north London, a 44-year-old Syrian man wrings his hands, his desperate eyes darting and restless as he tells of being imprisoned and torture. His wife says he wakes up crying in the night, can't work, and can become angry and unpredictable when people make comments in the street.

He doesn't want to give his name, or details of what his jailers did to him, but he hopes staff at the

centre can help.

The therapists here work in 14 languages - including Arabic, Farsi, French, Spanish and Turkish - to help patients like the Syrian refugee deal with issues of cultural alienation, social isolation, anxiety and depression.

The centre's clinical director, Aida Alayarian, doesn't use NET, saying she prefers to avoid exposing her patients to painful memories and instead wants to focus on overcoming present fears and anxieties. She says she sees better results with a technique known as Intercultural Psychotherapy.

With its roots in the development of cross-cultural psychiatry of the 1970s, the treatment was refined in the past decade to focus on refugees. It aims to rebuild psychological resilience and, Alayarian says, is relevant for migrants currently coming to Europe, particularly the young.

"It's really important for us to bring in young refugees who have suffered psychologically but don't have the willingness to seek psychological help," she said.

Over the last year, the centre - funded in part by charitable donations and in part by local government grant - has been seeing about 50 patients a week. She says around 90 percent of her patients meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. There is no defined duration for the treatment.

Therapists use psychoanalytic techniques to work through past experiences, but the emphasis is on providing cultural support, including advice about schools, housing and employment, to help migrants adjust, tackle current difficulties and rebuild confidence and self-esteem, rather than documenting past trauma.

'TIP OF THE ICEBERG' Whatever the preferred approach, there is little doubt demand is high.

The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR says nearly 59.5 million people worldwide were displaced at the end of 2014, up from 51.2 million in 2013. The U.N. sees no easing of the flow into Europe and says the current 8,000 daily arrivals may turn out to be only "the tip of the iceberg".

Some health experts argue that while psychological first aid may be desirable, refugees often have more pressing needs such as food, clothing, shelter, safety and access to justice.

Robjant agrees basic emergency needs come first, but said: "We're talking here about people who have very serious mental health problems, and those kinds of people will find it much more difficult anyway to meet their own basic needs.

"Also, for those who are suicidal, addressing their mental health could be as much a life and death situation as addressing their need for food and shelter."

The Dynamics of Compassion Robert C. Koehler CommonDreams in recent millennia, far more of our intelligence and treasure on the means to fortify ourselves from — and kill — the enemy than we have, perhaps, on anything else. Think nuclear weapons.

Of this I am certain: The human transition to nonviolence will not happen from the top down. The surreally farcical 2016 GOP presidential race makes this clear. The official reaction to every conceivable threat, real and imagined, is to throw more violence at it, to pound it out of existence. And the official discussion that accompanies such action never dares to question violence itself, almost as though violence and cowardice have a nearly unbreakable link.

But change is coming up from the human roots. It’s time to begin noticing it.

Last week I wrote: “Please write and tell me about how personal acts of compassion and connection have resolved conflicts and created understanding. I’ll devote future columns to such stories. Tell me how sovereign people are changing the world — not through hate but through the courage of love.”

I plan to devote future columns to the complex phenomenon of compassionate connection. The goal is not to simplify or “nice-ify” the world, as the cynics would dismiss such a project, but to help open up our awareness of the dynamics of compassion and, most importantly, ask how we can employ

these dynamics at every level of human interaction, including geopolitically.

The point is, bitterness, hatred and violence — which always add up to dehumanization — make matters worse, whether the conflict is between individuals, tribes (street gangs) or nations. How can we address conflict at every one of these levels in a way that solidifies understanding and strengthens rather than shatters relationships?

How can we avoid killing our enemy and reaping — as we always must — the horrific consequences?

I’ve received some beautiful, stunning stories in response to last week’s column. Let me begin on a Tokyo commuter train, as a belligerent drunk guy steps into the car and scares the hell out of his fellow passengers.

The story, told by the late Terry Dobson and posted at the Eastern Healing Arts website, was referred to me by correspondent Blair Gelbond. Dobson, at the time of the event he described, was a young student of the peaceful martial art of Aikido. He himself, however, had not embraced peace. He was riding through suburban Tokyo when the obscenity-spouting drunk revved up his heroic adrenalin.

“I felt both tough and holy,” Dobson wrote. “In my heart of hearts . . . I was dying to be a hero. I wanted a chance, an absolutely legitimate opportunity whereby I might save the innocent by destroying the guilty.”

He stood up and confronted the

drunk, ready to save humanity. “I gave him a slow look of disgust and dismissal. I gave him every bit of piss-ant nastiness I could summon up. I planned to take this turkey apart, but he had to be the one to move first. And I wanted him mad, because the madder he got the more certain my victory.”

Dobson blew the drunk a sarcastic kiss and the fight was about to start for real when, suddenly, from a corner of the car, an elderly man called out a joyous “Hey!” and drew the drunk’s attention. With remarkable skill, he coaxed the troublemaker into a conversation while Dobson stood in amazement, listening. By the time the train reached Dobson’s stop, the compassionately attentive listener had calmed the drunk and learned of the death of his wife.

“Very gently, swaying with the motion of the train, the big man began to sob,” he wrote.

“What I had wanted to do with muscle and meanness had been accomplished with a few kind words,” Dobson added. It was a teaching moment that changed his life.

What pulls my attention is the old man’s enormous skill, or “peace literacy,” you might say. Compassionate self-defense, like violent self-defense, reaps consequences, but consider the differences.

When truth rather than blood flows from the encounter, all parties grow as human beings. This ought to be humanity’s starting point: the principle around which we build our global society.

What can handguns or bombs accomplish compared to this? Can we learn the skill of understanding someone who scares or threatens us? Can we invest in the teaching and implementation of such skills? Can we rethink war?

30% 26%

YES

NO

OTHER

Some of those who voted YES had this to say: • Yes. We do not attack, kill or harass anyone on ground of religion. The Hindus and Muslims here do not feel insecure because of their religion.

• Yes, you will not find any other states in India as tolerant for other religion than us.

• In our daily living, I see that we are willing to be inclusive, but this message is not coming clearly from the pulpit. If Church leaders were more stronger in pointing out inclusive values, I think there would be a positive change in our state.

• Yes, I think Nagaland has the potential to be a model state where there can be religious tolerance and inclusive values. For this to materialize, some more effort needs to be put in. Nowhere in the world do we have a place like Dimapur where the Church, Mosque, Temple, Gurdwara and a Monastery are co-inhabiting the same place peacefully.

Some of those who voted NO had this to say: • Since Christians are the majority population in our state, we will think that we are upholding secular values, but in reality we are not doing that at all. It is only name sake and we think we are, but it is only for us to feel good.

• It may be a Xtians majority state but i don't consider Nagaland to be a Christian State and nope, IMO it doesn't uphold secular and inclusive values. Naga Xtians are like, 'We aren't perfect, We're just better than the rest of you'. Their Arrogance & Self-Righteousness Overshadows Humility.

• Clearly not. When you say that Nagaland is a Christian state, but that it means that a large number of non-Christians are not included. We Nagas are very emotional and we fail to see things with reason. For goodness sake, we even have a State Chaplain. It that not proof enough. Every program - even secular programs - start with a prayer by some Reverend of Church leader. All this may seem innocent to us, but when you look at it from the letter of the law, we have no grounds to justify that Nagaland is upholding inclusive and secular values.

• Unlike other places there may not be communal tension and religious intolerance. But when we really think about the question, we must admit that we are not imbibing secular and inclusive values.

• Lets stop kidding ourselves. Just look at how we Christians, who are supposed to be tolerant and forgiving reacted to the Rani Gaidinliu issue.

Church after Church, organization after organization wrote statements against Gaidinliu and it was nothing Christian in our response. It was utterly disgraceful. Instead of trying to understand, we have isolated and excluded a section of the Naga society. But unfortunately, there was no sane voice that could correct this.

Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say: • This is a question that we often don’t think about.

We take it for granted that Nagaland is a Christian state without bothering to ask the people who are not Christians. The funny thing is that India is supposed to be a secular state, but here, Nagaland is a Christian state.

• Yes, in terms of overt violence, we can say that there is no religious violence in Nagaland. But when we talk about religious equality, we need to acknowledge that Nagaland is still very far from it. We have a long way to go.

• The state government is like a puppet in Nagaland.

It cannot even convince the church on prohibition issue. Look at Mizoram, they seem much more active.

• The fact is that though Nagaland is supposed to be a Christian State, it is only by name. In reality, we are far off from it. We don’t actually practice Christian values and though we are faithful in attending Church services, our Christianity does not go beyond it. It’s a real hotchpotch situation.

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

MondAY 07•12•2015

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Modi mocked and Jayalalithaa heckled after floods cheNNAi, December 6 (reUTerS): One of India's most powerful politicians, a former movie star called "Amma" or "Mother" by her followers, is being heckled and abused for going missing in action after floods swept the capital of Tamil Nadu, which she rules.

It's a salutary lesson for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who at first drew nods of approval when he rushed to Chennai last week, promising to stand by its people in their hour of need.

Yet, within hours, Modi became the object of mockery on social media after his press office released a doctored photo of him inspecting flood damage. For both him and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the image of strong leadership created by their publicity machines was undermined.

Until the floods that ravaged the city of 6 million, the lofty remoteness of Jayalalithaa added to the aura around a leader with an almost hysterical following. Devotees of the 1960s screen idol have immolated themselves in her defence in the past.

Now, she faces a backlash from residents fed up with the sight of her image on billboards, aid packets and her own Jaya Plus TV channel. She has been since in public only twice during the crisis - once with Modi.

Angry youths heckled a state minister and officials in Jayalalithaa's north Chennai constituency, where people were sitting on the roadside amid sludge and mountains of

Air, train services resume

Motorcycles stand in a flooded parking area in Chennai. (REUTERS Photo)

garbage, their shanties swept away by the worst rains in a century. "Forget about Amma coming here, there was no sign of the party cadres," said one of them, called Dorairaj.

About 325 people have died across Tamil Nadu since torrential rains on December 1 submerged tracts of Chennai under up to eight feet (2.5 metres) of water, trapping people on rooftops with no communication.

There was further revulsion after a party legislator put up a poster of Jayalalithaa lifting a baby above the floodwaters, in a scene from a blockbuster movie.

"Adding salt to the wounds," said one Twitter post.

Avadi Kumar, a spokes-

man of her ruling AIADMK party, said there was anger among the people but the administration was doing all it could to bring relief: "It is impossible to reach all areas immediately or be present everywhere at all times."

GOOD DAYS Modi's own promise to voters of good days to come for India is also starting to face disenchantment, 18 months into his five-year term, with key reforms stalled by bureaucratic inertia and political gridlock. Ambitious initiatives, such as a "Clean India" campaign, have made little headway - even as Modi has built up huge followings on social media and addressed

enthusiastic diaspora Indians at packed stadiums on his many trips overseas.

"If today he appears to have lost control over his own narrative, it is his own fault," commentator Tavleen Singh wrote in Sunday's Indian Express, urging Modi to hire a professional media team. Modi does not have an official spokesperson. Jayalalithaa, 67, in the past considered as a possible prime ministerial candidate backed by regional groups, faces an election in Tamil Nadu next year.

Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has little presence in Tamil Nadu, a state of 70 million. It would rather the iron-fisted Jayalalithaa stays in power,

believing she is more inclined to back his reform agenda in parliament than her rivals. But there are concerns around her health and that she may have to curtail her campaign.

Earlier this year a higher court acquitted her in a graft case for which was briefly jailed which had caused an outpouring of anger from her supporters.

Some lay down on roads and tried to persuade bus drivers to go over them.

"She is supposed to be a fantastic administrator. But this time there was no presence of government at all. Ordinary people did all the work that government and police were supposed to do," said S. Raja, one flood-hit resident.

cheNNAi, December 6 (iANS): Partial air and train services resumed here on Sunday after days of disruption but intermittent rains added to the misery of a city reeling under the impact of unprecedented rains and floods.

Chennai appeared to be split into two: one (mostly northern parts) and suburbs still under flood water and without power, and another where water levels have receded and electricity supply has been restored.

The situation appeared to be no different in the other three Tamil Nadu districts Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Cuddalore where the heaviest rains in almost 100 years and floods have claimed around 325 lives.

Adding further worries to Chennai is the prediction of more heavy rains following low pressure over the Bay of Bengal.

Much to the relief of passengers stuck here due to cancelled flights and trains, the Chennai airport began operating flights on the domestic routes in day time.

"We hope international flights will be operational from Monday," an official told IANS. Even while cancelled three incoming trains, regular services from Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore -- the two main railway stations -- resumed on Sunday. Chennai's bus services have also improved -- a bit.

Services of mobile and landline phones are patchy. But supply of oil to fuel stations has improved, officials said.

Despite the rains, the water level was receding in several areas but residents were beset with numerous problems.

Large parts of the capital are still without electricity, seriously disrupting life. In some places, greedy traders were making a kill selling water, milk and more at high prices.

"Our apartment is flooded. Yesterday, a man swam to our second floor residence and sold a milk packet for Rs.150," a woman said, adding she was grateful she at least got some milk.

Chennai is clearly angry. People

blamed the apathy of civic authorities for the flooding of their homes -- and the near destruction of everything they possessed.

"The crisis has shown the true picture of Chennai. Since 2011, the sewage lines were always brimming. The storm water drains were not cleared. When it poured sewage water started overflowing," resident V. Nitya told IANS. "Roads were laid without digging out the earlier layer, resulting in roads being on higher than ground level. As a result, rain water flooded our homes," she added.

Another resident, who gave his name as Venkatraman, told IANS that several areas near Perungalathur were still submerged under water. "It will take sometime for the water level to recede in these colonies."

Kodambakkam area residents complained about stagnant sewage water for the past several days.

"No official agency brought us any food or drinking water. Only the residents of neighbourhood gave us biscuits and water," an angry resident of MGR Nagar in Ramapuram in Thiruvallur told the media.

R. Sathya, a north Chennai resident, summed up the city's mood to IANS: "No one will again call it 'Singara Chennai' (Beautiful Chennai). It is 'Sakadai Chennai' (Sewage Chennai)."

While ministers are overseeing the relief efforts, they are not available for comments. Even Chennai Mayor Saidai Duraisamy does not talk to the media.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa made an aerial survey of the affected areas on Sunday. "Water is a great leveller," moaned Lashman, a resident of Adayar in south Chennai.

"The rich, the middle class and the poor are suffering. The rich may have lost a lot but they will manage. It is the middle class and the poor who are badly hit," he told IANS. Some two lakh acres of paddy, sugarcane and other crops have been destroyed in Cuddalore district alone. According to industry body ASSOCHAM, the loss due to floods will be around Rs.15,000 crore.

Democracy cannot survive India, Pakistan begin talking again - in Bangkok India is 2nd most ignorant without opposition: Rajnath New Delhi, December 6 of the Conference of Parties (CoP) 21 scaled down, as dramatically, leading nation of the world: Survey to the Bangkok meet. (iANS): India and Pakistan on Sun- climate summit on November 30.

New Delhi, December 6 (PTi): Opposition is a key component of democracy without which it cannot survive, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.

"In a healthy democracy, where there is a role and relevance of the government, there is also an important role for the opposition. Opposition is important for a healthy democracy. Democracy cannot survive without opposition," Singh said at an event to mark the death anniversary of B R Ambedkar which was also attended by leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

With opposition support crucial for the passage of key reform measures like GST apparently weighing on his mind, Singh complimented Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya on inviting Kharge. Singh said invitation to the Congress leader, also a former labour minister, was in accordance with the principles laid down by the architect of Indian Constitution B R Ambedkar.

According to Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, GST Bill and the Real Estate Bill are on the list of Government Business in the Rajya Sabha during the week commencing tomorrow. The government and the opposition, particularly Congress, are engaged in a cat and mouse game over Goods and Services Tax Bill for quite some time.

Lauding Ambedkar, a former labour minister, Singh said he was not only the architect of the Constitution but the architect of modern India as he laid the foundations for two other important institutions--the Reserve Bank of India and Finance Commission.

"Babasaheb Ambedkar understood quite well that the economic system needed both capital and labour. He established many institutions for distribution of capital and worked a lot to address the issue of the labourers," he said, adding it was because of Ambedkar's efforts that issues relating to the working class have gained importance.

RSS must be declared ‘terrorist’ organisation: BJP hits back rAmPUr, December 6 (PTi): UP minister Azam Khan on Sunday stoked a fresh controversy by demanding that RSS be declared a “terrorist” organisation, accusing it of planning riots and having orchestrated them.

This drew a sharp reaction from BJP. Hitting back at Mr. Khan, BJP secretary Shrikant Sharma said when Prime Ministers like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi could not harm RSS, then people like him were of little worth. “It’s just an effort to create communal tension, appease a section of people and cover up the failures of the Uttar Pradesh government.” he said.

He said Khan, Samajwadi Party and Congress suffered from “RSS-phobia” and their rants against it have made no difference to the “nationalist” organisation. RSS works to integrate country and attach people to their culture, Mr. Sharma claimed, adding that Mr. Khan and his party represented “fissiparous” forces which believed in the politics of appeasement.y On the Ram Mandir issue, Khan said, “We want to assure BJP and RSS that if Babri Masjid is built at the same place (in Ayodhya) all the Muslims of India will leave no stone unturned for the BJP to come back to power”. BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj ruled out construction of a masjid at the disputed site.

“No power in the world can build a masjid there. The entire world may raise chants of Babri, Babri. A temple was there, temple is there and a temple will be there always,” he told reporters. Khan had earlier sparked a row by accusing Jama Masjid’s Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari of being hand-in-glove with Hindu outfits which were “silent” on his son’s marriage to a Hindu though they were vociferously raising the issue of “love jihad”.

day quietly resumed their stalled dialogue in Bangkok, with their National Security Advisors discussing an array of contentious bilateral issues and promising to "carry forward the constructive engagement". A joint statement issued after the meeting said Ajit Doval of India and Naseer Khan Janjua of Pakistan held discussions "in a candid, cordial and constructive atmosphere".

Foreign secretaries S. Jaishanker of India and Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry of Pakistan took part in the meeting.

"Discussions covered peace and security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, and other issues including tranquility along the LoC (Line of Control)", the statement said.

Doval and Janjua "were guided by the vision of the two leaders for a peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia. It was agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement", it said.

Official pictures showed Doval and Janjua shaking hands in a warm atmosphere at the venue.

The Sunday meeting followed the meeting of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India and Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan in Paris on the sidelines

After a long gap, Modi and Sharif had a brief but warm chat as they bumped into each other in Paris.

This was the first meeting between them since they met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Ufa, Russia, in July this year.

After the Ufa meet, they directed their foreign secretaries to initiate the process of renewal of bilateral talks, including meetings between their national security advisers.

But talks between Doval and his then Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz scheduled in New Delhi in August were axed after the Pakistan envoy here insisted on inviting Hurriyat leaders for a reception in honour of Aziz.

The Bangkok meeting came ahead of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit this week to Pakistan for the Heart of Asia conference - a multilateral engagement on Afghanistan.

Post Ufa, firing and shelling across the LoC and the international border that split Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan dramatically increased, causing serious strains in bilateral ties.

The border incidents have since

While India considers Pakistanbacked terrorism as a key issue in the normalization of bilateral relations, Islamabad wants the focus on Jammu and Kashmir, whose ownership it contends.

After Ufa, the Pakistani military brass had stated that all further dialogue with India would have to cover the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, where a separatist campaign since 1989 has claimed thousands of lives.

The Doval-Janjua meeting received mixed reaction in India, with one Congress leader questioning the Modi government's apparent U-turn vis-a-vis Pakistan.

Manish Tewari called it a "grand betrayal" by the government "and a reflection of the flip flop on its Pakistan policy". Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said it was good to see India and Pakistan resume the dialogue process.

"Perhaps this is the way quiet progress will be made away from each other's capitals and the glare of media-driven expectations.

"Now the challenge is to make sure the Indo-Pakistan dialogue process is ring-fenced from incidents designed specifically to derail it."

loNDoN, December 6 (PTi): India has the "dubious honour" of being the second most ignorant nation in the world after Mexico, according to a survey which posed questions on issues like inequality, non-religious population, female employment and internet access. The survey conducted by Ipsos MORI, a London-based market research firm, polled 25,000 people from 33 countries and found that while people "over-estimate what we worry about", a lot of major issues are underestimated.

"Mexico and India receive the dubious honour of being the most inaccurate in their perceptions on these issues, while South Koreans are the most accurate, followed by the Irish," the survey said. The rankings of the nations were based on the "Index of Ignorance" which was determined by questions about wealth that the top 1% own, obesity, non-religious population, immigration, living with parents, female employment, rural living and internet access.

Most Indians "underestimate" how much of their country's wealth is concentrated in the hands of the top 1%, the survey said, adding that the top 1% actually own an "incredible" 70% of all wealth. The survey also found that most Indians "hugely overestimate" the proportions of non-religious people in the country to be 33% when the true figure is under 1%.

While Israel significantly underestimates the proportion of female employment (by 29 percentage points), people in countries like India, Mexico, South Africa and Chile all think of more women in work than really are, it said. India fell in the list of nations which overestimate representation by women in politics. Countries like Columbia, Russia, India and Brazil all think there is better female representation than there really is, the survey said.

Battling pollution or compromising on safety, Delhi women face tough choice New Delhi, December 6 (iANS): The Delhi government's decision to curb vehicles on the capital's roads have given hope of battling pollution, but the measure, announced on an experimental basis, has become a cause of concern for women, who fear it would compromise their safety.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Saturday, was asked about the safety aspect when people leave their cars and take public transport.

"Would you guarantee my pocket is not picked or a woman is safe in public transport," a male questioner asked.

Prefacing his reply with a "Delhi Police does not come under me" disclaimer, Kejriwal, who had announced on Friday that from January 1, 2016, odd

and even numbers would be permitted on alternate days, said: "People are as safe in public transport as they are in private vehicles."

Most women, while equally expressing concern about environment, differed with the chief minister when it came to feeling safe on Delhi roads.

"I am not happy with this decision, public transport in Delhi is not very good and you have a tough time trying to take an autorickshaw... What are the women expected to do?" asked Diksha Saxena, an operations manager with a private firm.

"Even to walk on the roads of Delhi, you need armour... The idea sounds good but is not practical," Saxena told IANS. Alka Kaushik, a freelance travel writer, said: "Its a senseless order, an imported concept which

is being implemented without seeing the ground realities. Imagine, I cam use my even-number plate car one day, and the next day, I should use the insufficient public transport on the same route...

If I can use public transport on a day, why not every day?

"But is that possible?

Look at the route from Indirapuram (in suburban Ghaziabad) to Delhi University. The kind of people you come across while travelling - does the chief minister realise that? A car is not a convenience for me but a necessity. It is a solution to the inefficiency of authorities who could not give the people a good public transport system in all these years," she added.

Kakoli, a Delhi government employee who did not want to give her surname, echoed this view.

"This should have been

the second step... the first should have been ensuring there is a public transport system that can support half of Delhi's population that drives on a single day," Kakoli said.

"I am a single working woman, my car gives me the independence of movement, and to chose my working hours... If I cannot use my vehicle half of the month, what options do I have to fall back on," she asked.

"There are couples who have two cars, and have both odd and even number plates... Should I go looking for a partner with a different number plate... It is a compromise on my independence," Kakoli maintained.

Shweta Arya, who works for a private firm, is not against using public transport but felt it was not an option if late working hours are involved.

"We cannot refuse work that spills over to late hours... If I am being asked not to use my car, what options are there? What if I need to go to hospital at a late hour? Or I have to go out of town... What are the options?... " she questioned.

Arya is however not all against the idea, and suggests that the government should provide other options.

"The government must provide some options. For example if I am not using my car, there should be certain number of autorickshaws designated for our use, or there can be car pooling, the government needs to provide an alternative," Arya told IANS. Ragini Jain, a home maker living in west Delhi, said while she is happy that it will mean reducing pollution, she also wondered how she will perform her

day-to-day chores.

"There are numerous things to be done on a given day... Picking up children from school, getting groceries, managing a medical emergency since I have old parents at home...Whom should I ask for help? Can anyone help you every day," Jain asked.

"At the same time, I know some day we have to take a decision, for the sake of our children. Perhaps there is some more homework that needs to be done by the government," she said.

A supportive voice, however, came from Divyani Garg, a doctor who found the idea good.

"It’s a good idea as per me... It's a reasonable option to decrease the toxic levels of Delhi's air pollution. I don't mind the inconvenience as I am looking at the long-term benefits," she said.

MondaY 07•12•2015

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

Shortage of trust threatens Greece’s comeback Athens, December 6 (reUters): After a tumultuous year of two elections, a referendum, a default, a bank shutdown, capital controls and a tidal wave of migrants, it’s amazing that Greece is still standing, like the Parthenon towering over Athens.

Yet the visitor’s first impression is not of a country in deep depression in the eighth year of a recession that has shrivelled economic output by more than 25 percent and put one in four people out of work.

For sure, there are more beggars in the streets, public health is declining and many Greeks have stories of hardship in their family. But the bars and restaurants are full, Christmas lights glitter and there is plenty of money being spent in the stores in central Athens.

The paradox is that the situation is worse than it looks.

After a near-death experience in mid-year, when Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ radical leftist government rejected a bailout deal with creditors, defaulted on an IMF loan, called a referendum to defy them and had to shut banks for three weeks and ration cash, Greece is in remission.

A re-elected Tsipras government is methodi-

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras looks on during a parliamentary session before a budget vote in Athens, Greece, December 5. (ReuteRs Photo)

cally enacting measures demanded by a third bailout programme eventually sealed in August, cooperating better with creditor institutions, and has successfully recapitalised the four big systemic banks.

Soft-spoken Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos is working to build a track record of delivering results, hoping for a deal to restructure and stretch out

Greece’s debt to the euro zone by the spring and an economic lift-off in the second half of 2016.

The economy is flatlining but did not suffer the deep slump economists forecast due to the capital controls. Many people had anticipated the worst and stuffed cash under the mattress or in foreign accounts accessible with credit cards, officials say.

But whether that tentative political and financial stabilisation turns into a sustained recovery hinges on trust, which remains in very short supply.

MUTUAL SUSPICION Even though Klaus Regling, head of the euro zone’s bailout fund, said last week that “some trust has been established again”, euro zone govern-

ments have little faith in Greece after this year’s turmoil, and are keeping it on a tight leash.

The feeling is mutual.

Resentment of German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, who tried to bounce Greece out of the euro in July, seethes just below the surface in ministers’ offices.

On the migration crisis, too, there is deep suspicion

between Athens and its European partners, some of whom dangled a threat of suspending Greece from the open-border Schengen zone to force it to accept EU assistance in managing its borders.

The Greeks feel they have borne the brunt of arrivals with scant EU financial or practical support.

Other governments accuse Athens of failing to control the EU’s external border or register migrants before waving them through to northern Europe.

That is by no means the only trust gap.

The business community doesn’t trust the government because of unpredictable tax rises and regulatory uncertainty, and because the state owes the private sector some 6 billion euros ($6.53 billion) in arrears.

Tsipras appealed for foreign investment at a Greek-American business conference in Athens last week. But his administration is still hesitant about privatisation, loath to cede ownership and prone to anti-capitalist rhetoric.

Moreover, Greece deters investors by depicting itself as crushed by an crippling debt mountain and a victim of predatory creditors rather than as a land of opportunity for business.

“You have to have a positive story and sell a business case,” said John Moran, a former secretary-general of Ireland’s Department of Finance who helped steer Dublin’s textbook recovery from its EU/IMF bailout programme.

On the political front, the three centre-left, centrist and centre-right opposition parties which backed the bailout deal in parliament are refusing to help the government on the sensitive issue of pension reform.

SHRINKING MAJORITY Neither side trusts the other’s motives. The former ruling groups - coresponsible for Greece’s patronage-laden system are only too happy to turn the tables on Tsipras’ leftist Syriza party, which stoked public anger over austerity and pension cuts when it was in opposition.

Analyst Nick Malkoutsis of the Macropolis economic consultancy says there is also a lack of trust between the pragmatic Tsipras and his own party, even after hard leftists were defeated and quit Syriza during the summer.

The ruling coalition’s majority has already shrunk to three seats, making Tsipras vulnerable to defections by objectors to

the impending pension reform, which is bound to entail lower benefits and higher contributions, or by lawmakers exploiting their position to seek jobs or favours.

“He risks his majority going completely when he brings pension and tax reform to parliament,” Malkoutsis said, although he noted Tsipras might be able to recruit the nine-member Union of Centrists to shore up his coalition.

A senior government official close to Tsipras said he is sure there will be a majority for “very brave choices” to unify the multiple, chronically underfunded pension funds.

There is also little trust between the Syriza government, mostly made up of academics with little government experience, and a weakened and demoralised state administration.

One civil servant, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many ministers behaved like amateurs. The Tsipras aide countered that Syriza, as outsiders, faced “all the problems of Greek bureaucracy ... but we can use our political leverage and mandate to make things happen”.

The risk is that even if ministers pull the right levers, nothing may happen in the engine room.

Red Cross talks to debate new Yemen’s Aden governor killed in car bombing claimed by IS Islamic State, in a statement ing as a forceful rival to Al Qaeda in ficer and a judge who had presided December 6 (remechanism for upholding laws of war ADen, Uters): The governor of Aden posted on a messaging service it the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the over the trial of militants suspected GeneVA, December 6 (reUters): States are divided about an attempt to improve compliance with the rules of war, a non-binding but contentious issue at the heart of an international conference next week, senior Swiss and Red Cross officials say. The Dec. 8-10 meeting will consider a resolution to hold an annual meeting of states that have ratified the Geneva Conventions to report on how they are enforcing its provisions to protect civilians, prisoners and the wounded in armed conflict.

Russia is leading an effort to defeat or dilute the proposal, diplomats said. India, Cuba and Belarus are among the countries backing Russia. “There is a glaring vacuum at the heart of the Geneva Conventions system,” said Valentin Zellweger, the head of the Directorate of International Law at the Swiss foreign ministry.

The 196 states that ratified the landmark 1949 Geneva Conventions come together every four years at an international conference but have no other dialogue on pressing humanitarian issues, he told a panel at the Graduate Institute of Geneva on Friday.

There is “serious resistance among states” to the plan to strengthen compliance, put forward by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Zellweger said.

“The proposal now on the table is frankly rather soft. It is a voluntary system,” he said.

“We will see next week if states can consent or choose to stay behind. “A Russian proposal was submitted yesterday (Thursday).

To a certain extent it is a counter-proposal,” he added, declining to elaborate.

The United States, Britain, France and to a lesser degree China support the ICRC

proposal at the conference. Resolutions at the conference are usually adopted by consensus but can be voted on, diplomats said.

The new mechanism would be the first modification in nearly 40 years, since additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions were agreed in 1977.

“We have a historic chance to build a mechanism that has been missing for 60 years. It’s not going to revolutionise everything, but it is a really important step in working towards compliance with international humanitarian law,” Dr Helen Durham, the ICRC’s Director of International Law and Policy, told Reuters.

“Most international treaties have reporting mechanisms, many of the human rights treaties and others. The Geneva Conventions have never had that. So we’re filling a missing gap,” she said.

The mechanism would pave the way for states to hold thematic discussions and exchange “best practices”, she said, while noting it was still “very controversial”.

“What’s important is that it comes from our experience in the field, in the sense of listening to what our 14,000 colleagues in some of the worst war zones tell us. It’s the issue of the lack of compliance with international humanitarian law.”

Professor Marco Sassoli, a professor of international law at the University of Geneva, regretted that a binding instrument was not even on the table.

“The Geneva Conventions were adopted in 1949 when it was already the Cold War. The Soviet Union was represented by Stalin. And we were able to adopt treaties for international armed conflicts,” he told the panel.

was killed in a car bomb attack on Sunday claimed by Islamic State in Yemen’s southern port city, where President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has returned to oversee a war against Iran-allied Houthis. A local official and residents said at least 6 members of General Jaafar Mohammed Saad’s entourage also died in the attack, which targeted the governor as he was headed to work. Several other people were wounded.

uses, said it detonated a car laden with explosives aimed at Saad’s convoy in Aden’s Tawahi district and promised more operations against “the heads of apostasy in Yemen”. A local official and residents said earlier on Sunday a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into the governor’s car.

The group’s local branch has stepped up operations since the outbreak of civil war in Yemen, emerg-

main militant group in the country in recent years. It has launched spectacular attacks on security bases and on mosques run by Houthi forces who control the capital, Sanaa.

The Houthis, who follow the Zaydi branch of Shi’ite Islam, have been fighting a coalition of mainly Gulf Arab forces, which began air strikes against them in March.

The attack came one day after assailants killed a senior army of-

in the bombing of the U.S. warship USS Cole in Aden in 2000. In October, 4 suicide bombers detonated car bombs at a temporary Yemeni government headquarters and two Arab coalition outposts, killing more than a dozen people.

“Foot-dragging in implementing security measures paves the way for hardliners to carry out such attacks,” said Ashraf Ali Mahmoud, a local activist.

Climate funding piles up, but nations argue over how quickly PAris, December 6 (reUters): Developed nations have mobilised some $80-$90 billion per year to help the poorest survive a warmer world, delegates at Paris climate talks said, but emerging countries dispute the figures and say a goal of $100 billion by 2020 is far from reach.

The issue is central to U.N. talks in Paris, where nearly 200 nations are trying to forge a new pact on climate change.

In October, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which represents rich nations, calculated that financial

pledges from the developed world totalled $62 billion in 2014 towards an agreed U.N. goal to reach $100 billion by 2020.

Since that report, new promises of funding have been made, including from Britain, France, Germany and Japan, the delegates said.

The OECD has yet to update its figures, but delegates at the U.N. talks said they had used the OECD methodology to analyse the new money.

One national finance expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the new total was some $94 billion, while non-governmental organisation

Oxfam said the figure was more like $82 billion.

Developing nations, such as India, have accused the West of a lack of transparency and say the OECD vastly over-estimated the size of contributions.

An Indian finance ministry report said “the only hard number” was $2.2 billion that was clearly climate money.

The arguments are bitter as developing nations fight for help to deal with weather impacts they say hit the poorest hardest.

Richer nations, meanwhile, say the world has changed since the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and countries such as China no lon-

ger count as emerging nations. The European Union is among those to reject criticism it has not been transparent.

Despite its own financial crisis, it says it has been the biggest contributor of climate finance, providing 14.5 billion euros ($15.78 billion) in public money in 2014.

The EU has also promised to increase funding, but says developing nations must also help with the cost of switching to lower carbon energy and dealing with extreme weather.

“The European Union is fully prepared to play its part. We have heard some say we do not live up to our

responsibilities and this could not be further from the truth,” European Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said in Paris.

The OECD said it had sought to provide a robust methodology, but cautioned that projecting how much global climate money would be available by 2020 from a plethora of grants and loans, some public and some private, was complex.

Joe Thwaites, research analyst at the World Resources Institute (WRI), said many more details were needed on how donations were being counted, but the trend was positive.

Islamic State says California killers of 14 were their followers sAn bernArDinO, cAlifO., December 6 (reUters): Islamic State said on Saturday that the married couple who killed 14 people in a mass shooting in California which the U.S. authorities are investigating as an act of terrorism were its followers.

The militant group made the statement in an online radio broadcast three days after U.S.-born Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his wife Tashfeen Malik, 29, from Pakistan, attacked a holiday party for civil servants in San Bernardino, about 60 miles (100 km) east of Los Angeles.

The pair were killed two hours later in a shootout with police. Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is leading the probe into the shooting, said Malik and her husband appeared to have been inspired by foreign militant groups but there was no sign they had worked with any of them or that Islamic State even knew who they were.

“It is entirely possible that these two attackers were radicalized to commit this act of terror,” U.S. President Barack Obama said in a radio address on Saturday.

“If so, it would underscore a threat we’ve been focused on for years, the danger of people succumbing to violent extremist ideologies.”

If the Dec. 2 mass shooting proves to have been the work of people inspired by Islamist militants, it would mark the deadliest such attack in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001.

Islamic State also claimed responsibility for a Nov. 13 series of attacks in Paris in which gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people.

“Two followers of Islamic State attacked several days ago a center in San Bernardino in California,” the group’s daily online radio broadcast al-Bayan said on Saturday.

An English-language version of the broadcast was later released calling the attackers “soldiers” of Islamic State, rather than

“followers” as in the original Arabic version. It was unclear if the English version was claiming them as members, or why there was an inconsistency.

The broadcast came a day after Facebook confirmed that comments praising Islamic State were posted around the time of the mass shooting to an account on the social media website established by Malik under an alias.

However, it was uncertain whether the comments were posted by Malik herself or someone with access to her page.

INFLAMED DEBATE ON GUNS The couple had two assault-style rifles, two semi-automatic handguns, 6,100 rounds of ammunition and 12 pipe bombs in their home or with them when they were killed, officials said. The large arsenal could indicate they were planning further attacks.

The attack sparked a new round of the firearms

debate with Obama and the New York Times calling for new limits on gun ownership. Many pro-gun voices, including some Republican contenders for the White House, said the new laws would not have stopped the rampage.

“It’s another tragic reminder that here in America it’s way too easy for dangerous people to get their hands on a gun,” said Obama. The New York Times, in its first front-page editorial since 1920, said it was “a moral outrage and a national disgrace” that the sort of firearms used in the attack were readily available.

“These are weapons of war, barely modified and deliberately marketed as tools of macho vigilantism and even insurrection,” the newspaper said.

The newspaper’s publisher, Arthur Sulzberger Jr, said that the editorial was intended “to deliver a strong and visible statement of frustration and anguish about our country’s

Mourners gather around a makeshift memorial in honor of victims following Wednesday’s attack in San Bernardino, California December 5, 2015. (ReuteRs Photo)

inability to come to terms with the scourge of guns.”

But Republican White House frontrunner Donald Trump dismissed the New York Times’ call for action.

“People in this country and the world need protection,” Trump told reporters in Iowa before a campaign event. “If you look at Paris, they didn’t have guns and

they were slaughtered. If you look at California, they didn’t have guns and they were slaughtered.”

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, a Republican also seeking the presidential nomination, said restrictions on guns would not have stopped the California attack or other mass shootings, including recent at-

tacks on an Oregon college and a Planned Parenthood health clinic in Colorado.

REPORT OF CONTACT WITH FOREIGN FIGHTERS Citing an unnamed federal law enforcement official, the Los Angeles Times reported that Farook had “some kind” of contact with people from the Nus-

ra Front and the radical Shabab group in Somalia, though the nature of that contact was unclear.

FBI Director James Comey said on Friday that the investigation suggested the attackers had possibly been inspired by “foreign terrorist organizations” but added there was no evidence they were part of a larger group.

Farook family attorneys on Friday denied there was any evidence that either the husband or wife harbored extremist views.

She spoke broken English and her primary language was Urdu, Farook family attorney David Chesley said, adding: “She was very conservative.” They said Farook, too, largely kept to himself, had few friends and said coworkers sometimes made fun of his beard.

Pakistani intelligence officials have contacted Malik’s family in her homeland as part of the investigation, a family member said.

10

monDAY 07•12•2015

SPORTS/Public diScOuRSe

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Church and Authority Platini salary claim 'supported by UEFA memo' Vebu Khamo | Kohima Bible College.

O

ne unique feature that stands out about Jesus Christ’s personality was his Authority. People who heard him were amazed because he was not like any other Jewish teacher who only taught them the truth. Jesus spoke the truth as he lived and embodied it. The moment this God-man spoke, the lawmakers and orators of their day had to remain quiet. No one could trap him in his words.

His was the final word. He spoke red-hot words to the elite religious and political body of that day that made him very unpopular. But this was not so amongthe ordinary common folks of their day.

His was a soothing word and a balm of healing for the ailing people. He was not a man pleaser but God’s. Years later,this characteristic was very obvious in the lives of the early Church. The Church and the apostle had the authority to decide on all important matters of dispute and legal actions relating to the society. They had the authority to point faults at the corrupt kings, magistrates and administrators of different fields.

Nagaland is a state where Churches are playing a deciding role in almost every sphere of undertakings. But are the Churches losing their authority? If not, then why are we so silent? Our silence in the midst of immorality and rampant corruptionspeaks volumes that something really fishy is going on within the church itself. How do we expose the lies and secret of the evils if we are a part of the Babylon harlot? How do the Churches point fingers when they are on the wrong side? I am embarrassed, to say the least, to see that many church leaders do not have the authority to point out the faults of the society even-handedly. The fact of the matter is that the very corruption we

see in the world has invaded God’s house. How can we expect change when change hasn’t been realised in our own home? “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God,”this axiom should be sounded in the pulpits and among the Christian community. The book of Romans in addressing the Christians stated, “You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonour God by breaking the law?” As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Romans 2:21-24). In simple sentence, Paul is reprimanding the Christians whether their lives are matching up to the standard of their God-given principles!

There’sunrest among the few godly remnant among the believers praying for the churches to take its position again. Only then and then will the society witness a radical transformation in our society for his glory. It’s time that the Church resounds,“Back to the Bible.”It’s time to retreat for a second and reflect if we have walked too ahead and people are strayed behind us. They are not following us anymore. Churches are too lost in traditions, trends, tribalism, denominationalism, group-ism and self-promotion while the real church lies at stake. The generation of these thousand souls lies in our hand and we will be responsible for it.The Church can’t flow with the world now. The impending judgment may birth out right among our midst. Hence, the Church leaders of all dependent or independent Churches should open their eyes to see the danger signs ahead and make some amendments before the situation gets out of hand.

Smart City of Nagaland Dominic Yazokie

The ‘Smart City’ concept is novel. The novelty is the essence and should not be wasted in renovations of old townships. The Smart City should be futuristic and cosmopolitan. The Smart City should be free from the tribalism malaise and therefore should rightly be located under Dimapur district. The ‘Smart City’ should not be construed as ‘Smart Kohima’, ‘Smart Mokokchung’, ‘Smart Wokha’ etc. The ‘Smart City’ should be new ‘Smart City’.

The concrete obstacle will come from the Constitution Article 371:A. The Government should therefore acquire the land for posterity:

if need be invest the 1st sanction for the State into it, and let the stages of developments grow in phases with the future installments.

Many intellectuals have expressed impressions that ‘Smart City’ means ‘Smart Kohima’.

Kohima is already like an old bullock, pulling the numerous wagons of the past eras Statehood. The first wagon is the DC Hill era of the British-Assam, the second is the Old Minister’s Hill era of the NNO, the third is the New Minister’s Hill era of the UDF, the fourth is the Agri-forest-Merhulitsa era of the Congress and the fifth is the New Capital Complex era of the NPF. The poor bullock ‘Kohima’ can pull no more.

COLLECTIVE ENTERPRISE Dr. K. Hoshi | Phek Town

W

hile reading the elaborate responses of K. K. Sema IAS (Rtd.) in Attitude Magazine (November-December edition), a thought strike my mind. I feel I should share my layman’s view with the youths of Nagaland. K. K. Sema in his elaborate narration of the genesis of ACAUT pointedly stressed the monopoly market run by illegal syndicates as the greatest challenge in Dimapur, the only commercial hub of Nagaland.

Every Naga with eyes and ears wide open can see and hear clearly these things happening on daily basis. However, except people like K. K. Sema and the aspiring entrepreneurs, none seems bothered to meddle in the dangerous business. So far, ACAUT has been the only credible platform, able to give some semblance of challenge (not physical or armed but voice) to such mafia operatives where individuals could do nothing. The success story of ACAUT in this respect proves that collective force lone will be able to thwart syndicate system in Dimapur.

A team of people runs a syndicate with wide networks that includes not only private agencies but also even government agencies and their machineries. The information technology of this age augments the effective networking system. The greatest challenged posed by this syndicate is the so-called nationalists collaborating with people well-through economic invasion in Nagaland. No Naga patriot or true nationalist in his right frame of mind will employ illegal immigrants as tax collectors of Naga national government. Naga nationalists that profess working for Naga future should not kill the present upcoming Naga entrepreneurs. They should give protection to Nagas instead of giving protection to some unscrupulous non-local people. If they are true nationalists and patriots, they should chase out all people doing illegal business in Nagaland. The NPGs should not even think of collecting tax from them because it legitimizes their illegal business.

This challenge apart, the biggest problem of individual entrepreneurs in Nagaland is capital flow. Most young Nagas have no decent capital to start business and those (youths of rich parents) having no problem with capital has other problems. There is also problem in capacity building. Many Naga youths wants to start their business right after completing their degrees or after dropout from college even before learning basic business etiquettes. Most such aspiring entrepreneurs only know how to count the day’s gross sale and care little or nothing about profit and loss. Another contributory failure to Naga businesspersons is the location of their shops.

While illegal immigrants run their businesses in busy, overcrowded market places and malls, Naga entrepreneurs run their business in places where hardly anybody visits. Naga house owners either do not trust Naga youths (for dishonesty and inconsistency) or have peculiar taste for non-locals in renting out their commercial buildings.

Lack or shortage of credit facilities in Nagaland due to inherent customary laws guaranteed but also censored under Article 371A also contributes to hurdles in mobilizing capital resource. The public and semi-public as well as

private sector banks are not ready to extend credit facilities without a government patta land to mortgage and government employee(s) as the guarantors. In Nagaland, only Dimapur town and part of Kohima town are under cadastral (public registry of land) area. Large majority of Nagas have no land patta in these towns. This excuse of the lending institutions is however misleading because Clause 2 para 3 of “The Nagaland Land and Revenue Regulations (Amendment Act), 2002 (Act No.1 of 2002)” clearly stated as follow. (Quote) “Provided further that such nationalized banks, cooperative societies or other financing institution shall not transfer any land to a person other than the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland except with the previous sanction of the State government or an authority appointed in this behalf” (unquote). In other words, Nagas of Nagaland can mortgage their lands to the bank anywhere in Nagaland provided, that, in case of default to recover by loanee, the bank can dispose of that mortgage land, with/without building, to indigenous Nagas of Nagaland only. The banks in Nagaland State seem still applying the rules of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 and its first amended version, the Nagaland Land and Revenue Regulations (Amendment Act), 1978. Naga youths should collectively fight on this legal right.

In such a scenario, the most viable alternative may be joint ventures, community or collective undertakings in the form of mini corporate. This will ease the large capital demand.

Obviously, the business partners will contribute equitable capital or as per one’s capacity in the principle of shareholder. Naturally, the person investing higher capital will have greater share in the business and in profit returns. In time, the mini corporate may get financial assistance from lending institutions or even grant-in-aid from the central or state governments. When such things happen, the share of all stakeholders will proportionately rise. The collective business will also help some of them to undergo training for capacity building in the particular business. Nagas have the habit of hiring workers while the proprietors do something else or just pass their times. Naga youths need to learn a great deal that the secret of success in business is the owner guarding the cash box.

The collective business will give joint force when challenged by illegal business rivals like the syndicates. In a hostile environment of business, Naga entrepreneurs also need to be prepared in all aspects. Once the Naga youths break the monopoly market of the syndicate, the illegal traders have no reason to hang on.

It is high time Nagas learn to trust each other and be honest to each other. Under the prevailing situation, the best option at hand is for Naga youths to form legal business consortium first and then think for personal business later. Naga youths should not venture into business enterprise without proper business plan and capacity building. The economic invasion in Nagaland by illegal immigrants is by systematic planning and modus operandi. Therefore, systematic collective legal business is necessary to buffer and finally terminate such collective illegal business. Free and fair market should be the ultimate objective.

Paris, December 6 (aFP): A report issued to UEFA's executive committee in 1998 appears to support Michel Platini's claim that he was paid an annual salary "of one million Swiss francs" for work as an advisor to FIFA, according to a claim by French newspaper Journal du Dimanche. The weekly reported on Sunday that it possesses a copy of a document which it describes as "resembling an intelligence service memo".

It reports that the document was distributed during a UEFA executive committee meeting in the Swedish capital Stockholm on November 12, 1998.

The document indicates that Sepp Blatter -- who was elected FIFA president for the first time in June 1998 -- "already announced that Platini would become the future sporting director of FIFA. Platini would

therefore become part of FIFA." It added that there were rumours that the Frenchman "wishes to work from Paris" and that "there has been talk about one million Swiss francs as salary". That meeting was attended by the then UEFA president, the Swede Lennart Johansson, as well as the Germans Egidius Braun and Gerhard Aigner, the Italian Antonio Matarrese, the Turk Senes Erzik and the Norwegian Per Ravn Omdal.

Three of them -- Johansson, Matarrese and Erzik -- are also members of FIFA, according to the Journal du Dimanche.

Johansson lost out to Blatter in the 1998 election for the FIFA presidency, with Platini giving his backing to the latter.

The current UEFA president Platini, along with Blatter, was handed a provisional 90-day ban from all football activities

on October 8 while an investigation was held into a suspect payment of $2 million paid by the latter to the Frenchman in 2011 allegedly for work carried out in 2002. A source close to FIFA revealed on Friday that the FIFA ethics committee will question Platini on the affair "most likely between December 16 and 18".

Platini's lawyer Thibaud d'Ales said at the end of November that the ethics body's investigatory chamber wants the UEFA chief banned for life.

The 60-year-old former France great had previously been the favourite to become the next FIFA president when Blatter officially stands down and an election is held in February, and his lawyer is hopeful this document can help Platini clear his name.

"This document is written proof of a verbal contract. The

document not only confirms the existence of a work contract between Michel Platini and FIFA in 1998, but also the amount (of money)," D'Ales told AFP. "It demonstrates that there was nothing occult about this contract and that several members of UEFA's executive committee, and several members of FIFA's executive committee, were aware of it in 1998."

He also stated his belief that the accusations levelled against Platini are "unfounded" and that he would eventually be cleared.

Platini has appealed against his suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In the meantime, Platini cannot begin lobbying for the FIFA presidency. But if his suspension is overturned by the CAS, Platini could attend next Saturday's draw in Paris for the Euro 2016 finals.

New low for Chelsea as Bournemouth stuns Mourinho's champs

LONDON, December 6 (aP): Not long ago Chelsea losing to Bournemouth in the Premier League would have been inconceivable. Actually impossible.

For much of the 21st century Chelsea has been collecting every major trophy in European football, while Bournemouth has fought to stay in business or avoid dropping out of England's professionals leagues.

No wonder then that Bournemouth's 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday was acclaimed by manager Eddie Howe as "the best individual result in the club's history." Not since 2001 had Chelsea lost to a Premier League newcomer.

Yet on another level it was not so unexpected for the 125-yearold team from the south coast to pull off this upset. It's been that kind of a season when the pressure has mounted on Jose Mourinho as Chelsea has gone from winning the Premier League by eight points to losing

on Saturday for an eighth time in the 15-game-old title defense.

Once Chelsea and Bournemouth were three divisions apart. Now just two points split them in the topflight as they both hover above the relegation zone. Chelsea, four-time Premier League winners in the last decade, is approaching the midway point of the season an alarming 17 points behind surprise leader Leicester, which was itself fighting relegation for much of last season.

This wasn't a subdued Chelsea performance although waves of attacks were thwarted as goalkeeper Artur Boruc blocked shots from Pedro Rodriguez, Oscar, Branislav Ivanovic and Eden Hazard. And against the run of play, Bournemouth's goal came in the 82nd minute when Chelsea failed to clear a corner and Glenn Murray sent a diving header in the net less than two minutes after coming on as a substitute. The landmark

result was achieved despite nine first-team players featuring on Bournemouth's injury list.

Mourinho was left bemoaning the referee's decision not to award a penalty before Bournemouth's goal when Simon Francis handled, although he did acknowledge some of Chelsea's shortcomings. "In the first half we were a bit passive and didn't press enough," Mourinho said. "We were not intense enough with the ball, without the ball to create problems to our opponents. In the second half we did that. We created problems ... I'm really disappointed with this result. Not so disappointed with the performance because especially in the second half the performance was good."

When Mourinho first took charge of Chelsea in 2004, Bournemouth was languishing in the third tier of English soccer. When the self-styled "Special One" was winning the Italian and Champions League titles with Inter Milan was 2008 to 2010, Bournemouth

was scrapping away at the bottom of the fourth tier.

"We've got the Special One," Bournemouth's visiting fans chanted Saturday about the 38-year-old Howe, who is regarded as one of the brightest emerging managers in English football.

While Chelsea has enjoyed hundreds of millions of dollars of investment from billionaire Roman Abramovich in the last 12 years, Bournemouth has only benefited from more modest Russian investment from Maxim Demin since 2011.

Bournemouth came close to dropping out of the four professional leagues in 2009 before embarking on a remarkable rise. Chicago-based PEAK6 Investments last month bought a quarter of the team, which plays in a stadium with a capacity of less than 12,000.

"The boys are gaining belief every week and I think it showed," Murray said after Bournemouth climbed a point outside the relegation zone.

The Position of the Naga National Council (NNC) Against the Backdrop of Recent Political Developments

T

them by their history and resolutely deable to give due attention to the position he NSCN(IM) and the Interlocutor fended by them at great cost. Present and the Nagas had made abundantly clear to for the Government of India (GoI) future Nagas will continue to uphold the them long before the curtain came down signed a “Framework Agreement” cherished dream with the same clarity and on their Empire in South Asia. in New Delhi on August 3, 2015. persistence without resorting to violence.

It has now become sufficiently clear the 2. Shri Jawaharlal Nehru described the status of Naga country on 16 August 5. After 7 decades of extremely costly agreement being negotiated will essentially struggle to get our legally indisputable 1946 in connection with the proposed be another Accord signed by the GoI and political status and history understood British colony of Couplan Plan as, “The some Nagas that also will not be recognition

by India and Burma/Myanmar, our imtribal areas are defined as being those of sovereignty, that is, not the sovereignty mediate neighbours, the Nagas now exlong frontiers neither of India which are to defend which all Nagas rallied together pect the two great Asian nations to boldly neither part of India nor Burma, nor of and fought as one people and nation, and so normalize their relationships with us. We Indian states nor of any foreign power”. many of them have suffered and died. expect them to act in a manner that will An NNC delegation of 8 Nagas met MaWhatever settlement the NSCN (IM) be worthy of them who understand from hatma Gandhi in Delhi on 19 July 1947 may be working out with the GoI, the netheir own history what freedom and huand said to him, “Nagas are not Indians gotiation terms are known only to the two man dignity mean. and Naga country is not Indian Terriparties and no other Nagas. NNC has nothtory.” Mahatma Gandhi said, “Nagas ing to do with the 18-year-long negotiation have every right to be independent. We process. The Nagas, NSCN (IM) and the GoI did not want to live under the dominaknow this fact. tion of the British and they are now Whatever the outcome may turn out to leaving us. I want you to feel that India be, it should not weaken but strengthen and is yours. I feel the Naga Hills are mine consolidate whatever Nagas have achieved just as much as they are yours. But if so far. It should meet the immediate needs of you say that they are not mine, and you the Naga People and India as well, for healare not Indians and your country does ing and growth preparing them better for a not belong to India, the matter ends final settlement which will be honourable there. I believe in the brotherhood of and acceptable to the Naga people and India. man. I do not believe in force or forced NNC believes the unity of the Nagas to union. If you do not wish to join the Inbe the paramount responsibility of all Nadia Union, nobody will force you to do gas regardless of the tragic differences that that. …. Why wait till August 15? Why have divided the Nagas. The gradual comnot declare today? India has no right ing together of the Naga tribes to become to attack.” Another team of 11 Nagas a people and a nation grew out of a deep met Shri Rajagopalachari the Governeed felt by them for survival and security nor General of India on 28 November as changes in the world started to impact 1949 in Shillong. The Nagas told him them in their isolated mountain homeland. the right of Nagas as they told Gandhiji The memorandum the Nagas submitted to on 19 July 1947. The Governor General the Simon Commission sent by the Britsaid “Nagas have every right to be indeish Parliament that visited Kohima in 1929 pendent outside the Indian Union”. was the first statement in writing of Naga political identity. The position declared to 3. The Naga struggle cannot be categorised and treated as secessionist and the Commission asserted the status they anti-India because it was launched long had chosen for themselves as a sovereign before the British left, reaffirmed before people and nation on the basis of the right India became independent, and sacrifitheir history had given to them. It revealed cially defended ever since. Nagas are not the amount of thinking the Nagas had given asking India or Myanmar to grant them for their future. NNC’s declaration of Naga sovereignty as the Nagas had never givsovereignty on August 14, 1947 reaffirmed en it away to them. They are only waitthe position stated 18 years earlier to the ing to be recognized as their honourable Simon Commission followed by the Naga neighbour. Hence the hackneyed talk Plebiscite on 16 May, 1951. of “getting independence from India The issue of Naga sovereignty remains or Burma/Myanmar” is irrelevant and NNC’s central stand. The 16-Point Agreemakes no sense. ment, the first Ceasefire of 1964 ending in the abrogation of the Rounds of Talks, the 4. If India is not in a position to discuss Naga sovereignty, it is India’s problem Revolutionary Government, the Shillong inherited from the British. It is not a Accord, and now the next awaited settleproblem for the Nagas. It is not the Nament from the Framework Agreement, have gas, but India that has not been able to revealed India’s inability to discuss soverdiscuss sovereignty. If the Government eignty with the Nagas. and its thinking people will understand this reality negotiation for a settlement The position of Naga National Council honourable to both sides will become on Naga sovereignty therefore is that, possible. The Nagas are waiting for India 1. NNC is aware of the GoI’s extreme difto understand and respond. The Nagas ficulties with regard to Naga sovereignty. cannot let go their sovereignty given to The British left in a hurry without being

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.

Monday 07•12•2015

ENTERTAINMENT

by Samuel Seb Rengma

Mizoram’s Reverse Tragedy is winner of HIRC 2015 tively.

The band with the ‘best song’ was given to Run Pussy Run from Pune, while Fame the Band from Meghalaya was declared as the band with the ‘best potential’. The best Nagaland band was bagged by Tune Up Channels.

The results were declared by Gugs Chishi, project director, Music Task Force, Nagaland, while the chief minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang along with the sponsors’ representatives gave away the prizes.

The judges for the grand finale were legendary guitarist Kee Marcello (Europe), George Tylor Smith, vice president of Trinity College of Music, London, Asutosh from True School of Music, Akshay, guitarist of Hardcore, Mumbai and our very own veteran guitarist Andrew Ngullie.

The bands which performed at the grand finale were Crystal and the Witches (Sikkim), October (Delhi), Reverse Tragedy (Mizoram), Grey Shack (Chennai), Tune Up Channels (Nagaland), Run Pussy Run (Pune), Rune Legacy (Nagaland), Ron & Me (Kolkata) and Avancer (Nagaland).

Altogether, 24 bands including one international, 17 national (Seven from Northeast) and six local bands competed at this year’s HIRC 2015.

Individual awards:

(From Left to Right):A section of the crowd enjoying the Hornbill International Rock Contest. Avancers performing their original Take Me Away, a favorite song of the crowd. Reverse Tragedy from Mizoram.

R

everse Tragedy from Mizoram emerged as the ultimate winner of this year’s Hornbill International

Rock Contest. The band from evening at Hockey Ground, IG Mizoram bagged the title from Stadium, Kohima. among nine bands which comThe winner of this year’s edipeted at the grand finale this tion walked home richer with a

cash award of Rs. 10 lakh. The partner for Hornbill Internawinning band will also be of- tional Rock Contest 2015. fered a free band exam by Trinity The first runners-up were College of London, the resource bagged by October from Delhi,

Best guitarist– Bishal Gurung (Res e r v e Tr a g e d y, Mizoram) Best vocalist– Sherry Mathews (October, Delhi) Best bassist– Sayar Mitra (The Buddha Therapy, Kolkata) Best drummer– Thupen Bhutia (Crystal and the Witches, Sikkim) Best Keyboardist– Pritam Boro (2 Square, Assam)

while Grey Shack from Chennai bagged the third place. They both received cash award of Rs. 5 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh respec-

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Kee Marcello along with the organisers (Dream Inspiration) after the guitar clinic at de Oriental Grand, Kohima on December 6. (Morung Photo)

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Culturally Yours...

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Tamlu Buhu Union Dimapur representing Phom Nagas performs at “Culturally Yours” at Kisama on December 6. (Morung Photo)

Soloist: Kohima inter ward solo competition

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by Association of Kohima Municipal Ward Panchayat, the competition will be judged by prominent personality like Khyochano TCK Lotha, Ame-u Usou Zao, James Basnet, and Bambi Kevichusa. The event will also see special

performance by Kokliba (Naga Orpheus), Faith in Action, Fusion Flippers, Elemenz, and Ame-u Usou Zao and the Choir.

The event is sponsored

by Nagaland Tourism Department, Kohima Municipal Council, Music Task Force, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Naga Timber Union Kohima, Vodafone and Indian Oil. The chief guest for the competition will be Kiyane-

lie Peseyie, Minister for Social & Security Welfare and Parliamentary Affairs, Guest of Honour will be Dipankar Ray, Executive Director, Indian Oil AOD, Guwahati, chief patron will be Dr. Nicky Kire, Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change.

Patrons of the event will be Khriehu Liezietsu, Parliamentary Secretary YRS, Lottery and MTF and Vikho-o Yhoshu MLA, Govt. of Nagaland. Entry to the event will be free and open to all. www.niathugroup.com

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THE MORUNG EXPRESS

SA stonewall at Kotla after Rahane ton NBA: Warriors extend winning streak to 25

NEW DELHI, DEcEmbEr 6 (rEutErs): South Africa resorted to dogged stonewalling in their pursuit of an improbable 481-run victory target after Ajinkya Rahane stroked his second century of the match to tighten India's grip on the fourth and final test on Sunday.

The hosts declared their second innings on 267-5 half an hour before the lunch break as soon as Rahane (100) became the fifth Indian to score centuries in each innings of a test match on the penultimate day at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium.

Skipper Hashim Amla led South Africa's extraordinarily dour reply, taking 46 balls to get off the mark as the visitors crawled to 72-2 at stumps after 72 overs of relentless blocking over two dot ball-littered sessions. Amla was unbeaten after making 23 painstaking runs from 207 balls while AB de Villiers managed 11 off 91 with South Africa still 409 behind the victory target.

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Police Shooting Competition underway

DIpHu, DEcEmbEr 6 (mExN): The 16th All India Police Shooting Competition (AIPDM) got underway here in Diphu on December 5. Organized by the Assam Rifles, the competition is being held at the Assam Rifle Training Centre and School at Diphu. 32 teams representing various State Police Forces and Central Police Organizations are competing in different categories which will culminate on December 9.

In a first, 14 women police personnel, including a lady officer, are also taking part in the competition. The event was declared open

by Lieutenant General Harminderjit Singh Sachdev, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal, and Director General of Assam Rifles.

India's Ajinkya Rahane raises his bat after scoring hundred runs against South Africa on day four of their fourth and final test cricket match in New Delhi on December 6. (AP Photo)

started blocking balls after balls in a desperate bid to take the match into the fifth and final day.

Even after Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Bavuma, the score moved at a funereal pace as de Villiers too curbed his natural aggression, needing 33 balls to get off the mark.

Despite the presence of contemporary cricket's most destructive batsman

in de Villiers and one of the most fluent scorers in Amla, the first 10 overs of their partnership did not yield a single run and things did not improve later either.

"We have managed to hold them back and hopefully tomorrow, we can carry on with the same," Bavuma told reporters, confident his team can bat out three sessions on Monday to eke out a draw.

"It's a tough ask to bat out the 90 overs. It will be day five, so you expect the wicket to deteriorate even more. But we have the experience, we have the skill and whatever happens, we will be going down fighting.

"Definitely we will carry on the spirit tomorrow and try our best to salvage a draw out of this game."

In a low-scoring series in which no other batsman

from either side managed a single hundred, Rahane took 206 balls to bring up his second of the match and the sixth of his test career with the help of eight boundaries and three sixes.

After India resumed on 190-4, Rahane played a couple of uppish drives before bending his knees for an upper-cut, chipping a Morne Morkel delivery over third man in an uncharacteristic show of aggression.

At the other end, captain Virat Kohli (88) added five runs to his overnight score before a low Kyle Abbott delivery trapped him leg before to end the serieshigh 154-run fifth wicket partnership. Rahane could not be denied his hundred, though.

The 27-year-old slogswept Imran Tahir over midwicket for his second six of the innings and stepped out against Elgar for his third to storm into the 90s. Rahane then took a quick single off leg-spinner Tahir to join an elite league of Indians that also included Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar (thrice), Rahul Dravid (twice) and Kohli.

Barca held, Benzema double rallies Madrid

maDrID, DEcEmbEr 6 (aFp): New Valencia coach Gary Neville watched on from the stands as Santi Mina's late equaliser handed his side a shock 1-1 draw at home to European champions Barcelona.

Luis Suarez had put the visitors into a controversial lead as he appeared to be offside before slotting in at the near post, but Valencia's work rate was rewarded when Mina fired into the top corner five minutes from time yesterday.

Real Madrid are now just four points behind Barca as they bounced back from their embarrassing elimination from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player in midweek with Karim Ben-

zema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo all on target in their 4-1 thrashing of Getafe.

However, Real remain third, two points behind Atletico Madrid, after goals from Diego Godin and Antoine Griezmann handed Diego Simeone's men a 2-0 win at Granada.

Neville doesn't officially take charge until Sunday, leaving Valencia in the hands of caretaker boss Voro and his brother Phil Neville and the depleted hosts put up a brave fight against the superior quality of the European champions.

"There is nothing to reproach the team for," said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

"We played a complete game at a very difficult place to come, we dominated the

whole game and had by far the most chances.

"We weren't rewarded for all the effort we put in, but defensively Valencia played very well."

Barcelona should have had the game wrapped up by half-time, but the star front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Suarez were uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal.

Messi spooned the first chance over from Neymar's fine cross before the latter ballooned the ball into the stands with just Jaume Domenech to beat.

More brilliance on the left wing from Neymar teed up Messi once more, but on his weaker right foot he fired straight at Domenech.

Suarez then fluffed his lines when he tried to

square for Neymar when clean through only to overhit his cross and see the ball fly to safety.

Moments later Suarez was denied a tap-in as Aderlan Santos got just enough of a deflection on Jordi Alba's cross to take the ball away from Suarez.

Valencia claimed Suarez was lucky to stay on the field at the start of the second period as he appeared to stamp on Aymen Abdennour's foot after a heated exchange between the two.

And Valencia felt even more hard done by when it was Suarez who finally opened the scoring as he squeezed the ball in at Domenech's near post despite latching onto Messi's pass from an offside position.

Greased bamboo pole climbing competition held Our Correspondent

Kisama | December 6

As part of the Hornbill Festival, a greased bamboo pole climbing competition took place here today at Kisama under the aegis of Youth Resources & Sports department. Rhonthungo Lotha emerged the winner, while Langhoi Khiamniungan and Zekotso Chakhesang bagged second and third positions respectively.

Both international and domestic tourists also joined the event after the competition.

Greased bamboo pole climbing, a traditional sports, is very common among the Naga tribes.

This competition evoked thunderous response from the spectators. Meanwhile, Tug of War competition and traditional fire making competition and “Dare to swallow fire” show will take place on December 8 and 9 respectively. Stilt bamboo walking competition has been scheduled for December 10.

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (R) dribbles past Toronto Raptors' Kyle Lowry during their game at Air Canada Centre on December 5. (AFP Photo)

Los aNgELEs, DEcEmbEr 6 (agENcIEs): The undefeated Golden State Warriors survived a late scare before stretching their winning streak to 25 consecutive games with a 112-109 victory against the Toronto Raptors.

Reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry scored 15 of his game-high 44 points in the fourth quarter for the Warriors, who are off to a 21-0 start to the season, including 11-0 on the road.

"We expect teams to fight and come back when we are on the road and that is what they did," said Curry. "We made some shots, got a few stops along the way and pulled it out."

The Warriors have won 25 straight regular season games dating back to last season. Their streak started with a 116-105 win over Portland in April.

The Raptors trailed by as many as 13 points in the first quarter and by 10 points at halftime. Toronto took the lead at 85-84 in the final quarter.

Toronto led 98-95 when their forward Luis Scola made two free throws with just over four minutes to play in the fourth, but Curry tied it with a three-pointer.

Curry made two free throws with 18 seconds remaining for a 108-105 Warriors lead. Kyle Lowry cut the margin to one point with a basket before Warriors guard Klay Thompson made a pair of free throws with seven seconds to play.

The lead was down to one when Scola made two free throws with 6.2 seconds left. Curry made both his free throws and Toronto's Cory Joseph turned over the ball with three seconds to play as it rolled out of bounds into the hands of rapper and Raptor fan Drake, who was sitting courtside.

Thompson added 26 points for the Warriors, while Draymond Green had 16 points and nine rebounds. Center Festus Ezeli scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Golden State.

Guard Lowry led the Raptors with 41 points and seven assists in front of a crowd of 20,100 at the Air Canada Centre.

"He made some tough shots. He was the catalyst for them in the second half.

We were going back and forth. Thankfully I made one more play," Curry said of Lowry.

DeMar DeRozan added 16 points for the Raptors, who have lost two straight.

Center Lucas Nogueira tallied 14 points while guard Joseph and forward DeMarre Carroll had nine each.

Curry scored 16 points to lead Golden State to a 3221 first-quarter lead.

Golden State will play the fourth game of a sevengame road trip Sunday at Brooklyn against the Nets.

- No LeBron spells trouble LeBron James took the night off and the Cleveland Cavaliers paid a heavy

price, losing 99-84 to James' former team the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena.

Cleveland decided to rest James after he played 45 minutes in New Orleans Friday night.

Heat fans jeered their ex-star player, chanting, "LeBron is tired," drawing a big smile from James.

Without James, the Heat were too much for Cleveland, who have lost their last 10 games in Miami. Dwyane Wade scored a game high 19 points for the Heat, who improved to 12-6 after winning their last two games.

Cleveland have lost three straight contests.

Miami was also led by point guard Goran Dragic, who had 17 points and eight assists.

- Spurs stay unbeaten at home San Antonio Spurs relied on experience when little else seemed to work against the Boston Celtics.

Manu Ginobili had seven of his 15 points in the final quarter and added a key rebound in the final minute, enabling San Antonio to hold off Boston 108-105 on Saturday night to stay unbeaten at home this season.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 17 points, but only three in the second half.

Boris Diaw had 16 points while Kawhi Leonard and Ginobili each got 15 as the Spurs improved to 11-0 at home. Isaiah Thomas had 23 points for the Celtics.

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Pache Khiamniungan wins Hornbill Half Marathon Our Correspondent

Kohima | December 6

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Last year’s runner-up Pache Khiamnuingan emerged champion at the 5th Hornbill Half Marathon (Men) clocking the best course record so far 1:11:46 today.

Daniel Kipkorch Langat (brother of last year's winner David Kipkorch) of Kenya bagged the second prize, the third position went to N. Puchong Khiam from Nagaland and the fourth position was bagged

by Rajendra Kumar Bind of West Bengal.

In the women category, which also covered 21 km as the men’s, Syamali Singh of West Bengal emerged the winner, Seema from Delhi was the first runner-up, Sagolsem Premila Devi of Manipur and MK Minarashi also from Manipur bagged the second runner-up and third runner-up awards.

In the Great Hornbill

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Children with special needs at 5th Hornbill Half Marathon.

Run (boys category) covering a distance of 11.9 km, Gopal Kumar Ram of West Bengal bagged the first position, Jackson Yanphar from Nagaland got the second position, Ranjeet Roy from West Bengal won the third position and the fourth position went to Bom Bahadur from Nagaland.

In the Great Hornbill

Run (girls category) which also covered 11.9 km, all the prizes were bagged by competitors from Nagaland. Chimmushe emerged as the champion, Kulotholu, Masinbui Nguanta and Tavelu Nakro got the second, third and fourth prizes respectively.

The event also witnessed a Special Lap for

persons with special needs with the theme “Championing Disabilities”. 36 differently-abled children took part in the special lap.

All the participants were given gift hampers and certificates by the 3E Nagaland team.

Cash prizes for Half Marathon were Rs. 50,000, Rs. 30,000, Rs. 20,000, and

Rs. 10,000 for first second, third and fourth winners respectively.

In Great Hornbill Run, the first, second, third and fourth winners received Rs. 20,000, Rs. 15,000, Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5000 respectively.

This event was organized by 3E Nagaland in collaboration with the Tourism Department.

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