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DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 42 • 12 PAGes • 5
www.morungexpress.com
sunDAY • februArY 14 • 2016
T H e
ESTD. 2005
Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish
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By Sandemo Ngullie
PAGe 12
5.5 million people die from air pollution world-wide annually • Air pollution is the fourth highest risk factor for death globally • 1.6 million in China and 1.4 million in India died of air pollution in 2013 • In China, burning coal is the biggest contributor to poor air quality • In India, practice of burning wood, dung etc are the major contributors
Public Reminder
According to research findings India ranks second - behind China - for number of premature deaths due to air pollution.
biomass for cooking and heating. Millions of families, among the poorest in India, are regularly exposed to high levels of particulate matter in their own homes. “India needs a three-pronged mitigation approach to address industrial coal burning, open burning for agriculture, and household air pollution sources,” Chandra Venkataraman, professor at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, in
States can use curfew powers to block mobile internet access: Supreme Court
NNagaDAO protest is kept in abeyance
gives full credence to the Gujarat High Court’s view that blocking of Internet mobile facility is an “appropriate action” in situations “prone to aggression.” The High Court had opined that the State should be left to figure out an “effective approach” like blocking Internet on mobiles in order to maintain law and order. The Division Bench had reasoned that rioting had taken place in several parts of the State and it was only natural that the government would be “zealous” to control a violent situation. Further, the High Court had reasoned that only mobile Internet service was blocked and not Wi-Fi and broadband facilities. “Had there been a complete ban on Internet access, may be through mobiles or may be through Wi-Fi, the matter might stand on a different footing and different considerations,” the High Court order said.
Mumbai, India, said. In China, burning coal is the biggest contributor to poor air quality. Outdoor air pollution from coal alone caused an estimated 366,000 deaths in China in 2013, Qiao Ma, a doctoral student at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, noted. Ma also calculated the expected number of premature deaths in China in the future if the country meets its current targets to restrict coal
Essential commodities placed under strict supervision: F&CS dept DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 13 (MExN): After the expose of the PDS rice scam in Mokokchung, the Food & Civil Supplies Department on Saturday said all essential commodities under the department have been placed under the strict supervision of the DCs in all respective districts. The department, through a press statement from Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, T Kiheto Sema maintained that it was taking all precautionary measures to check any pilferage or diversion of any PDS items in any part of the state. It also said DC Mokokchung has constituted an Enquiry Committee and investigation is still going on and the final report is being awaited. Requesting the public and NGOs to cooperate with the investigation for early outcome of the case, and avoid allegation on the matter, the press statement said the department will take appropriate action if any official(s) or staff or PFS (s) is found guilty.
cnA to work for a shared future fragile nature of Indo-Burma-Naga conflict from the eastern sector, the Council is rendered with the responsibility by the public to safeguard, guide and represent the people in peaceful and non-vio-
body of the Naga people, that came into being with the unanimous voice of the Nagas from all walks of life during the Conference, mandated to represent wishes and desires of the Naga people, within and outside of Myanmarmade Naga Self-Administered Zone, in the matters of social, cultural, economic, political and religious affairs of the Naga people in Eastern Nagaland, Myanmar,” it noted in its press statement. On sovereignty, the Council reiterated that “the issue of Naga sovereignty would not be decided by the Nagas in Myanmar alone since the Council is convinced that it is to be decided by all the Nagas from all the Naga inhabited areas.” The Council further stated that it is committed to “transparency and accountability” in any matter that involves the Council on behalf of the Naga people in Myanmar.
“The issue of Naga sovereignty ... is to be decided by all the Nagas from all the Naga inhabited areas”
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lent manner,” the CNA noted. It also gave the message that the Council is the apex body of the Naga people in Myanmar as endorsed by the Naga public in the Conference of the Naga Nationals held on November 27 through December 1, 2014 at ZingkalingKhamti, the ancestral headquarter of the Naga people in Myanmar. “Council of Naga Affairs is neither an armed group nor a Myanmar government puppet but a pure and genuine civilian representative
T R u T H
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WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 13 (IANS): More than 5.5 million people world-wide die prematurely every year due to household and outdoor air pollution, and India and China together account for 55 percent of these deaths, new research has found. About 1.6 million people died of air pollution in China and 1.4 million died in India in 2013, the reBy any means, I’ve got to find government job today, I over- searchers said. The international team of reage tomorrow at 9:00 AM. searchers from India, China, Canada and the US estimated that despite efforts to limit future emisWe would like to remind sions, the number of premature you that Rejoinders to deaths linked to air pollution will those statements/news climb over the next two decades unpieces that have not less more aggressive targets are set. The findings were presented on been originally pubFriday at the 2016 annual meeting lished by the newspaper of the American Association for the will not be carried either. This is in order to main- Advancement of Science (AAAS) in tain impartiality on an Washington, DC. “Air pollution is the fourth highissue. We seek your understanding and coop- est risk factor for death globally and by far the leading environmental eration! The Morung Express risk factor for disease,” said Michael Brauer, professor at University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health in Vancouver, Canada. “Reducing air pollution is an incredibly efficient way to improve the health of a population,” Brauer noted. Power plants, industrial manuDIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 13 (MExN): A facturing, vehicle exhaust and burnDIPR report informed on ing coal and wood all release small Saturday that the State particles into the air that are dangerGovernment has consti- ous to a person’s health. In India, a major contributor to tuted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be poor air quality is the practice of burnheaded by Z. Mero, DIGP ing wood, dung and similar sources of to investigate and arrest the culprits responsible for the recent killing of the couple near Yayi Bridge while on their way to Kiphire from Shamator on February 6, 2016. NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 13 (THE HINDU): The Supreme Court agreed with a lower court decision that the State can use its curfew powers to block Internet DIMAPUR, FEBRU- access on personal mobile phones ARY 13 (MExN): On if there is apprehension that a pubthe intervention from lic agitation can turn aggressive Nagaland Chief Secre- and disturb public tranquility. A Bench led by Chief Justice tary, Pankaj Kumar, the Network of Nagaland of India T.S. Thakur on Thursday Drugs and AIDS Organi- dismissed an appeal filed by law zation (NNagaDAO) has student Gaurav Sureshbhai Vyas decided to keep in abey- against a September 2015 Gujaance their peaceful pro- rat High Court order upholding a test slated on February clampdown on mobile Internet 15 in all the district head- access under Section 144 of the quarters. NNagaDAO Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) president, Abou Mere during the Patidar agitation as only in a press note informed “minimal restriction” and not a that the chief secretary violation of free speech which exhad convened an emer- tends to Internet access. “It becomes very necessary gency meeting on Febsometimes for law and order,” ruary 12 at his official chamber to discuss the Chief Justice Thakur remarked crisis and understand while rejecting the appeal. The dismissal of this appeal the organization’s concerns and grievances. According to the press note, the chief secretary gave a patient hearing to NNagaDAO’s griev- ZINGkALINGkHAMTI, FEBances and assured to RUARY 13 (MExN): The Council take immediate steps to of Naga Affairs (CNA) today stated expedite in resolving the that it prays and hopes that “reunicrisis of HIV program in fication and national reconciliathe State. The chief sec- tion” of Naga people from India and retary assured he would Myanmar will be take the matter and file achieved soon with personally and meet the the “right approach Nagaland Chief Minister and participation TR Zeliang on February of the concerned 13 for necessary action, stakeholders.” it stated. Following the It welcomed the meeting, the NNagaDAO opportunity to work said the peaceful protest with Naga organizations based in will be kept in abeyance India for a shared future. A statefor the time being for the ment from the CNA press bureau chief secretary to act and today informed that the formation intervene. NNagaDAO of the Council is to “strengthen the however cautioned that role and participation” of Nagas if the matter is not re- from Myanmar in the larger intersolved by the State gov- est of Naga people from both the ernment within a few countries that “compel us to stand days time, it will take own as two separate peoples so that course of action for ful- reunified homeland of the Naga fillment of its democratic people will be realized at God’s apconstitution and fundapointed time.” mental rights. “Having best understood the
Nagaland State govt constitute SIT on Feb 6 killing
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— Albert Einstein
National Lok Adalat disposes 102 Cases in Nagaland
After 1,000-year of split, pope and Russian patriarch embrace in Cuba
reflections
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combustion and emissions through a combination of energy policies and pollution controls. She found that air pollution will cause anywhere from 990,000 to 1.3 million premature deaths in 2030 unless even more ambitious targets are introduced. “Our study highlights the urgent need for even more aggressive strategies to reduce emissions from coal and from other sectors,” Ma said.
Make well-planned villages with future progress in mind: tr Zeliang suggests PEREN, FEBRUARY 13 (MExN): Stating that the rural population was burgeoning across the hamlets in Nagaland State, Chief Minister TR Zeliang on Saturday called for establishment of wellplanned villages with future progress in mind. By doing so, the issue of human congestion, as is witnessed in the towns and cities, will not be an issue in the future, the chief minister said while inaugurating Gailinamdi village under Peren District. This village has been recognized as a ‘model village.’ In a DIPR report, Zeliang said every good work is the result of a well-planned programme and this code also applies in the building of wellplanned villages. Encouraging villagers to envisage wellplanned villages and then maneuver it into a model village, Zeliang said this require the co-operation and hard work of the villagers. The government alone cannot make a village into a model-both the stakeholders, which are the villagers, and the State government has to work side by side, he added. The chief minister also apprised the villagers to evolve a system to govern the village in order to sustain onslaught against the ethos and cultures of the village life. Also maintaining that since humans have no power over the topographies of the land, Zeliang said one has to plan it to suit one’s needs. Zeliang also stressed on the need for villagers to posses the quality of good citizen and hospitality, which he pointed out, is vital while planning a model village. Home Minister Y Patton, Minister for Rural Development, CL John, Peren Deputy Commissioner Peter Lichamo and former Minister Neiba Ndang also addressed the gathering. Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated the village gate and released the Zeme Literature Handbook. The programme also witnessed cultural items by the villagers. Gailinamdi village has a household of 60, with a population of 271 members.
JnU protest against attack on the ‘democratic ethos’ There is an attempt to silence voice of students: Naga students at JNU Morung Express News Dimapur | February 13
A Solidarity Public Meeting was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus today demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the JNUSU President and the end of police raj on campus. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI Secretary D. Raja also joined the Meeting on Saturday. According to the sources at JNU, today’s was one of the biggest public meetings in JNU’s history. On February 9, a group of individuals from JNU a cultural evening on February 9, entitled ‘A Country without a Post Office’ the protesting the “judicial killing of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat.” During the event, it was alleged that “anti-national” and “divisive” slogans were raised. Since then the controversy has erupted into a full-fledged attack on JNU. The police on February 12 arrested the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) President Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of sedition and started, what many are calling, a “witch-hunt” to curtail freedom of speech at campuses as well as growing intolerance for dissent in the country. Eight other students were debarred from academic activities by JNU pending a disciplinary enquiry into the event. Home Minister Rajnath Singh and HRD Minister Smriti Irani have both asserted that strict action will be taken against the demonstrators and said that ‘anti-national’ elements will not be tolerated.
‘Attack on democratic ethos’
Attending today’s Solidarity Public Meeting were also students from Nagaland who voiced concerns. Tiamongla Imchen, an MPhil student at the Centre for South Asian Studies and a student activist said the police crackdown was an “attack on the democratic ethos and space of the university.” And the safe space created by the University has also helped Northeast students feel at home in an otherwise hostile city, pointed out former student and presently a faculty in Delhi University, Kaustabh Deka. “It is a politically strategic tactical attack on the freedom of speech and expression and a means to affirm the idea of nationalism of a few with misappropriate attention
by media,” Imchen said. For Thepfulhoukho Kuotsu, a PhD Scholar at the Centre for Philosophy, the incident is pre-meditated. “It is an attack on the University by the BJP-led Government in order to silence the voice of the students so that they can carry their national project which is a real threat to democracy,” he opined. There are around 60-70 students from Nagaland in JNU. “The whole situation has been engineered by some groups to flare up tension and assault the freedom of expression, which is otherwise the right of not just students of JNU (in this case) but every citizen of the country. The media too, which is supposed to be neutral and not take any position has fallen into cheap jingoism. Pune, Hyderabad and JNU, all of them have been attacked by the same forces,” said Honjem Konyak, an MPhil student at the Centre for Historical Studies, JNU.
Steps ahead
Earlier, the JNU Teacher’s Association (JNUTA) following its Emergency Meeting, expressing deep concern on the recent developments, asserted that “JNU has always been a University where there has been a vibrant democratic culture, where diverse political ideological and academic views have engaged with each other in a spirit of peaceful dialogue and debate.” During the solidarity meeting, the JNU community comprising of Faculties, students and karamcharis joined hand to draft three demands: • To release the JNUSU president immediately and unconditionally • To stop witch-hunting of students inside the autonomous campus • Removal of police forces from the University premises. It also strongly condemned the biased national media reporting on the issue. Meanwhile the right wing student body ABVP attempted to disturb the peace meeting by shouting slogans throughout the three hours long meeting. Following the meeting, the joint students-teachers forum decided to conduct indefinite university strike until the release of the President and also called for formation of human chain in solidarity with student movements to bring normalcy back to the University. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the JNU incident where anti-India slogans are said to have been raised, IANS reported.