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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. X ISSUE 43
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1,700 obsolete laws to be repealed, says PM
PC makes India proud, speaks among world leaders at Boston
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reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
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What shall we do, we who are at war but are asked to pretend we are not? ‘Education First’ - Phom Students’ Conference
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street vendors: Where do they go? Morung Express News Kohima | February 14
Kejriwal not to hold any portfolio New Delhi, February 14 (iaNS): In a surprise decision, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal won’t hold any portfolio but oversee the work of all the ministers, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced Saturday. The largest number of departments will be with Sisodia, including those of finance and power which were to have been held by Kejriwal. The Kejriwal-led new Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will focus on curbing corruption, controlling price rise, and providing uninterrupted power and water, Sisodia told the media. “Our top priority will be to serve the people in the best possible manner,” he said, shortly after Kejriwal and his ministers drove to the Delhi Secretariat after taking oath at the Ramlila Maidan. “Kejriwal will not hold any portfolio,” Sisodia said. “Kejriwal will oversee all ministries through modern technology. He will try to bring systemic changes,” Sisodia said. Kejriwal will connect with the people, Sisodia said. “He will meet people to know what their problems are. He will also oversee the MLAs.” Related news on page 8
Give Dimapur hotspots to unemployed Naga youths
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Dimapur, February 14 (mexN): Survival Nagaland has stated today that Dimapur’s prime locations and hot-spots like New Market and Hazi Park, especially fish-stalls, second-hand clothes line and other DMC owned buildings, “should be given to genuine educated unemployed Naga youths and our poor local Naga women vegetable vendors.” The SN claimed that this category of people are not being allotted “even a tiniest spaces to do their business in their own land as all these sites have been occupied by IBIs who come through Assam with documents from Karimganj, Hailakndi, Hojai, Lumding, Lanka etc.” “Our poor Naga mothers are made to sell their vegetables and other products in the congested by-lanes of the New Markets and have a hard time during the rainy season, windy season or in the Dimapur summer heat while most of these places are being occupied by the IBIs who comfortably do business,” a press release from SN noted today. The economic domination of the illegal immigrant, maintained SN, could lead them to “crave for political authority tomorrow.”
–Marvin Bell
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• KMC determined to clear streets up • Women sellers suggest ‘vending zone’
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For years, citizens of Kohima have expressed concern at street vendors selling goods on footpath and pavements, which, according to some, cause traffic congestion and litter the surroundings. After personally approaching the vendors to refrain from setting up shop on footpaths, the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) is now conducting raids to address the issue. “We are determined to make our streets cleaner and ease traffic congestion in the littlest way possible,” says Kovi Meyase, Administrator of the KMC. While some vendors are being accommodated at AMK building near the DC office, the rest are left without any space to run their business. “We also face the dilemma of keeping the town and city clean and at the same time provide space for the vendors. KMC do not have the land, finance and resources as much as we want
to provide them,” adds the Administrator, who also says that the KMC is planning to reconstruct the market in Kezieke to provide spaces for the vendors. The KMC has been running at a loss regarding the Keziekie market due to lack of funds and land problems. “We also want to put immediate basic requirements to meet their needs. We know that they should be given the facility but where is the space, fund or resources,” questions the Administrator. “Most prominent markets are dominated by non-locals whose buildings are owned by locals. Our own people are left on the streets due to the poor economy,” views Meyase. He affirms that there has to be an awakening among people and that sensitization is key to bring about corrective measures. A meeting is to be convened on February 20 to work out modalities that could give way to measures to accommodate the vendors.
In this file photo, women vendors are seen selling their goods at the AMK building near the DC’s office in Kohima. The KMC has recently started evicting vendors from the streets in order to address issues of traffic congestion and littering.
Vendor’s views In any urban set up, street vendors are an essential part of the economy. Street vendors in Kohima amount to over 200-300, consisting mainly womenlocal women coming from villages as well as migrants from other states, most of
whom sell fresh vegetables, poultry and prepare food. They help facilitate quick and easy access to various products. While the KMC’s initiative is a positive development in Kohima welcomed by most citizens, the dilemma lies in accommodating
NFHRCC decides to temporarily suspend Foothill road construction at Mon sector Morung Express News Dimapur | February 14
The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has stated that ongoing work for the Foothill road at Mon sector will be temporarily suspended due to unresolved differences with the Konyak Union (KU). The NFHRCC stated that the decision was arrived at a meeting held on February 14 in Dimapur. “The committee, after much deliberation and having examined all the facts and circumstances, unanimously resolved to temporarily suspend the ongoing project with effect from February 19, 2015 at
the Mon sector,” stated the NFHRCC. Citing grounds behind the “temporary suspension,” the NFHRCC said that the KU withdrew its association with the NFHRCC without assigning any valid reason. The KU also “de-recognized” its Dimapur and Chumukedima units on account of the fact that the representatives from the two KU units did not adhere to the KU directive to withdraw from the NFHRCC, it was added. “(Further) The KU without intimation to the NFHRCC launched the foothill road construction at Mon sector on December 22, 2014.” The NFHRCC further stated that efforts to recon-
& Bridges Minister, Kuzholuzo Nienu to withdraw the defamation lawsuits filed against contractors, A. Neangba Konyak and Yashitsungba Aier. While asking Nienu to honour the October 10, 2014 agreement, which was later reaffirmed on October 29, the NFHRCC said that A. Neangba had withdrawn the case filed against the PWD (R&B) as agreed in the said two meetings. Further urging Nienu to act on the agreement, the NFHRCC said that it was under the imNFHRCC urges former pression that the former R&B Minister to Minister had withdrawn withdraw defamation the lawsuits. “But the deflawsuits as agreed The NFHRCC has amation case is still pendurged the former Roads ing in court.” cile went unreciprocated as the KU turned down several appeals for dialogue to resolve differences. Finally, only on February 11, the NFHRCC “once again requested the KU to attend the meeting held on February 14.” The KU chose to “ignore” the invitation while compelling the NFHRCC to “temporarily suspend the ongoing project at Mon sector with effect from February 19 till an amicable understanding arises,” stated the NFHRCC.
launches fresh north east insurgents Myanmar airstrikes against rebels urged to shun violence Home Minister says ‘insurgency is the biggest problem facing the North Eastern region’ agartala, February 14 (pti): On a visit to Chittagong Hill tracts areas along the IndoBangladesh border, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today termed insurgency as the biggest problem facing the Northeastern region and asked militants to shun violence. “Our government is committed to the development of the Northeast. But insurgency and militancy hamper its progress. Insurgency is the biggest problem facing the Northeastern region,” he said addressing a press conference here. The Home Minister appealed to insurgent groups operating in the Northeast to shun violence and give the region a chance to progress. “I have assured Tripura government of all cooperation to deal with the issues of insurgency and other security related issues,” he said. Earlier, the Home Minister vis-
ited the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura and reviewed situation in frontier areas, particularly Chittagong Hill tracts, which is known to be frequented by militants of several insurgent groups of the Northeast. Accompanied by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, the Home Minister interacted with BSF personnel deployed at Khantlang in North Tripura district and took stock of the situation with senior officials. BSF personnel explained the Home Minister the functioning of monitoring equipments used at the Border Out Posts. Addressing the BSF jawans, the Home Minister underlined the importance of their presence in border areas and saluted their courage. “I salute these brave men who stay away from home to perform their national duty. We love our security forces,” he said. In the Chittagong Hill tracts, across the international border, several Northeast militant groups have their bases and training camps, sources said. Related news on page 3
maNDalay, February 14 (aFp): Myanmar rebels Saturday said the national army had launched fresh air strikes following the government’s rare admission that dozens of its soldiers had died in a dramatic resurgence of conflict in a remote region bordering China. Unrest in Kokang, Shan State, which erupted on February 9 after six years of relative calm, continued on Friday with severe clashes between fighters from several ethnic groups and the Myanmar army, according to Captain Tar Parn La, a spokesman for the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). “There were gunships, two jets and two helicopters yesterday,” he told AFP, adding that he had not yet received reports of fighting on Saturday. Myanmar’s information minister Ye Htut has blamed local Kokang rebel leader Phone Kya Shin for the fighting and called on Beijing to reign in any local officials who might be helping the group on their side of the border. An unknown number of people have fled the Kokang unrest, with most crossing the border into China, while some have made their way to the northern Shan city of Lashio, according to Tar Parn La. The government, the military and a handful of ethnic armed groups signed a commitment to continue talks, laying out an aim to build a union with “federal principles”, but a long hoped for nationwide ceasefire deal remains elusive.
the women vendors, whose livelihood depends on selling their goods. Although the AMK building provides accommodation, it is not enough to accommodate all the vendors. The women inform that there has been hardly any sale ever since they shift-
ed to the building three months back. They further lament that the AMK market complex is located at too interior a place, thereby affecting customer flow. The vendors have also expressed concern at the manner in which they were evicted from the footpaths. “We are also guilty because we are selling in the streets, but taking away our products and raiding our godown is not right,” stated some of the women vendors near the MLA junction foot over-bridge. “We don’t dirty the streets, we make sure that at least our line is clean and pick up all the leftovers when we are about to leave,” they added. “We also want our children to become educated. Most of us are illiterate and we can hardly read a word,” says 37 years old Roni, who earns a livelihood selling dog meat. She has three children. When street vending becomes the only way to survive, the women find no other option but to sell their goods in the paths of pedestrians, which is also more accessible for buyers. The women suggest that the KMC comes up
with a vending zone easily accessible to customers during a specific time in the evening. “We are ready to follow the rules and restrictions and willing to pay tax if need be,” adds Avinuo, another street vendor. [According to the Street Vendors Act 2014, under the Parliament of India, (an act that provides the rights of urban street vendors and regulate street vending activities), the Town Vending Committee is responsible for conducting survey of all the vendors under its jurisdiction which must be conducted every five years. No street vendor will be evicted until such survey has been conducted and a certificate of vending issued. All street vendors are supposed to be accommodated in a designated vending zone, under the Act and if In case, all the vendors cannot be accommodated in the same vending zone, allocation of space has to be made by drawing of lots. If the vendors fail to get space in the same vending zone, they will be accommodated in adjoining vending zones.]
tuensang situation tense DC’s office under siege by mob following discovery of a dead body
Morung Express News Dimapur | February 14
Tension heightened in Tuensang following the discovery of the dead body of a young boy on the afternoon of February 14. The victim’s body was reportedly found in a drain. Sources from Tuensang informed that after news of the death spread, a huge mob assembled at the Tuensang town square and gheraoed the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The police had to resort to firing shots in the air to disperse the mob, which was said to have numbered around a thousand people. According to sources, the victim, identified as Ramji Chingmak (a class 9 student), went missing around 11:30 am from the Old Medical sector in Tuensang town. The victim, along with his brother and mother were mending a fence, when a group of people came and took away the two boys. One could escape while the other’s body was found later in a drain at SC colony in Tuensang town, the sources said. Sources added that the situation was tense following the day’s incident, while no information was forthcoming from the Tuensang district administration. Efforts to reach out to the Deputy Commissioner for comment went in vain, while the phones of the Tuensang Superintendent of Police and subordinates remained switched off. The only official communiqué received from the State Government was a terse DIPR report informing of a “High Level Security Coordination” meeting, which was held on Saturday. The report did not specify where the meeting was convened; only in-
ENSF shocked by violence on the student community tueNSaNg, February 14 (mexN): The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has expressed shock at the recent violence in Tuensang inflicted upon students. While extending condolences to the bereaved families, the ENSF “vehemently” condemned (whosoever it be) for “disturbing the academic career of thousands of students and above all, the killing of Chongma & Ramji Chingmak of Std-9 both the students of St. Joseph School, Tu- ‘History at time[s] should ensang.” Significant- be ignored if it hampers our ly, the ENSF, in peaceful co-existence today. a press release Too much upholding on our from the Fed- glorious past and rights will eration’s president Shahsha L lead us nowhere tomorrow’ Manhahu and general secretary Honang M Jessuhu, stated that “History at time should be ignored if it hampers our peaceful co-existence today. Too much upholding on our glorious past and rights will lead us nowhere tomorrow. Let’s learn to say let go, for it creates a space for more can be filled in tomorrow.” The ENSF has been leading the students’ community in building a “safe future and a home.” It held the “old locked rusted mind” responsible for “dismantling the dreams no matter how glorious they presume to uphold their dignity.” The present situation, it stated, has been “ignited and got inflamed over a tiny dot of land, that had polluted and shattered the minds and dreams of the thousands students that had once cradled its vision with pride to lead and to reform the society.” The Federation has appealed the State government to “thoroughly investigate and arrest” culprits responsible and involved in these issues and that justice be delivered without delay. Further, it appealed to both tribes to continue to extend their support and cooperation, “as ENSF strives in delivering peace and tranquillity in the torn region.” It called upon intellectuals and church leaders to be involved in restoring normalcy in the region “with a hearts to forgive, to live and let live.” forming that it was chaired by the Chief Secretary. “The law and order situation prevailing in Tuensang District following fresh incidents of violence was reviewed today,” the report said, while adding, “Serious view was taken of the developments occurring in spite of the visit of the Ministerial Team to the District and it has been decided that additional measures would be taken
to book the unscrupulous elements bent on disturbing the peace...” It stated that the government is determined that “the Rule of Law must prevail” and further informing that “a Joint Control Room of the Civil Administration, police and security forces” is being set up in the district to give effect to the additional measures to control the prevailing situation and to maintain peace.
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