February 17th, 2015

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. X ISSUE 45

“

www.morungexpress.com

Tuesday, February 17, 2015 12 pages Rs. 4

”

Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck—but, most of all, endurance India and Sri Lanka ink civil nuclear agreement

Twinkle’s Fierce Column Regarding The AIB Roast Deserves A Standing Ovation!

[ PAGE 8]

C M Y K

HepCoN completes statewide campaign

–James Baldwin

Ireland continue giant-killing spree, defeat [ PAGE 2] West Indies Westerners join Christian militia to fight Islamic State by 4 wickets [ PAGE 9]

[ PAGE 11]

[ PAGE 12]

CuLTuRE. IDENTITy. POLITICS. Lui-Ngai-Ni: A unifying Spirit Vibi Yhokha

Senapati | February 16

“Worship God, The blue sky is my father (It will be so) Worship God, the flat earth is my mother (It will be so)…..

Worship God, the cereals of the Nagas of the South sow in their fields will grow rich with bunches dark with grains. (It will be so)” The leader chants these during the blessing of the seed at the Lui-Ngai-Ni (Seed sowing festival). The blessing ends with the words, “Worship God. The Nagas of the South, in whatever they endeavour, will excel above others and live in prosperity. Worship God. All will fare well.” The invocation is then followed by a loud yelling from the people in agreement to the blessings.

Lui-Ngai-Ni, celebrated every year on February 15 is the only common festival of the Nagas in Manipur. This year, it was held at Tahamzam (Senapati) Headquarters under the theme “Sowing good will, reaping understanding.”

Lui-Ngai-Ni strengthens the relationship among the various Naga tribes, says LM Tabitha, President of Naga Women’s Union Manipur, who cites that the festival not only brings all the Naga tribes together, but also provides a platform for the varied tribes to exchange each other’s cultures and strengthen the ties that binds their identity as Nagas.

The festival is celebrated during the onset of spring with each tribe having a different name for the fest. Perhaps, find-

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Inpui tribe demonstrating an indigenous game during the Lui-Ngai-Ni celebrated in Senapati on February 15.

ing a common thread of the tribes that binds them as Nagas, Lui-Ngai-Ni was initiated in the 80s, with the name christened in 1987. During the fest, each tribe brings their own special seeds and exchanges it with other tribes.

The ceremony begins with the lighting of the sacred fire and blowing of horns after which the blessing of the seed is pronounced by the gathering of leaders, one from each tribe. This year, the blessings were invoked by 90-yearold Pfo Nepuni Salew, Chief of Makhel village.

“Among the other festivals, the seed sowing fest comes first. Although comparatively low profile, it holds great significance in the village,” says activist Joyson Mazamo, who asserts that the blessing of the seed for good nursery holds great importance in the Naga way of life because cultivation was the sole source of livelihood back then.

The issue of biodiversity also comes in, views Mazamo, pointing out the danger of the indigenous seeds and food items getting extinct when many seeds are no longer culti-

NPF crisis: All eyes turn to ECI

C M Y K

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 16 (MExN): The NPF (Shurhozelie Group) on Monday filed its reply to the Election Commission of India (ECI) with regard to the issue of ownership of NPF party symbol between the two NPF groups.

Sources from the Shurhozelie camp said the reply was filed within the February 16 deadline given by the ECI. Meanwhile, the press and media cell of the NPF (Noke group) in a press statement informed that the ECI has “sagaciously granted seven days to Noke President NPF to reply along with a copy of Shurhozelie’s rejoinder.”

“Since the issue is prejudice in the court of the Commission, we would like to request the public to remain calm and to exercise some patience,” it added.

Morung Express News Diphu | February 16

In 1973, a group of Karbi youth were jailed for opposing the imposition of the Assamese script all over Assam, including Karbi Anglong. In jail, the youth conceived the idea of the Karbi Youth Festival (KYF)—a ‘national festival’ of the Karbi that has become a ‘common cultural platform’ for the peoples of the district.

For 41 years, since 1974, the KYF has become a platform for cultural and political assertion. The Festival is organised by the Karbi Cultural Society (KCS), a non government civil body, at the nearly 200-acre spread of Taralangso, near Diphu, in Karbi Anglong district every February. This year it is being held from February 15-19.

Open air auditoriums, exhibitions by local craftspersons, ethnic morungs (with respective food), traditional machans, exhibitions by departments of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (as a part of the people’s enterprise, not the whole of it) and much more dot the hillock space hosting the Festival. It is facilitated through the contribution of a day’s salary of every government employee in the district.

“All walks of life and stages of development are backed by culture—our livelihood is supported by culture,” said general secretary of KCS, Sanjay Killing. “This Karbi national festival is organised to understand ourselves as well

NSCN (K) accuse contractors for misusing 22 crores under DuDA

MoN, FEBRUARY 16 (MExN): The NSCN (K) of Konyak Region has accused two contractors of misusing an amount of Rs. 22 crore in the construction of MonTizit road under Development of Under Developed Area (DUDA).

In a press statement, the NSCN (K) said that the two contractors had claimed that they constructed more than 15 culverts and retaining walls in addition to widening of road. However, it alleged, no single culvert or retaining wall has been constructed on the said road of Can`t go with you. Last nite 44 ½ km. “These two contractors some low life thief stole my stolen bike.

vated in the fields. Seed can only be preserved through repeated cultivation and since most of the seeds yield lesser than rice, the danger of seeds getting extinct is higher.

Deepening the commonality of the Naga culture is a crucial aspect of Lui-Ngai-Ni, according to PA Thekho, former Convenor, NPMHR (South sector). He views that the LuiNgai-Ni’s unifying spirit has grown over the years; and other communities have also been invited in the celebration.

“It is the festival of festivals,” asserts Thekho, who explains that it is not only about seed sowing, but celebrates all aspects of Naga life. He further highlights the need for more concentration on the deeper aspect of Naga culture while the elders are still alive because in the later years, there will be no people to answer the questions of the younger generation.

Bringing in a broader aspect, the activist affirms that the political empowerment and courage of the people come with cultural empowerment. Thekho notes, “The cultural background you are born with can never be easily taken away from you.

Even if you change your dress, there are some intrinsic values that never leave you. There is a saying, a boy leaves his village but his village never leaves him.”

The 16 Naga tribes in Manipur are Tangkhul, Tarao, Maram, Anal, Poumai, Inpui, Kharam, Zeliangrong, Chiru, Moyon, Mao, Lamkang, Chothe, Thangal, Maring, Monsang.

Karbi Youth Festival to ‘understand ourselves & communities around us’

only filled the pot-holes with available mud/earth, probably with the amount of few lacs,” it added.

As a sign of dissatisfaction over the contractors’ “corruption” and calling the two contractors for negotiation aimed at proper use of funds meant for the said road, the NSCN(K) said, it had stopped three vehicles belonging to the contractors, which were about to be taken to Kohima.

In this regard, the NSCN (K) said it has no intention to take or seize the vehicles belonging to the contractors and that it has decid-

ed to return the vehicles directly to the contractors on the advice of Konyak Union (KU). Therefore, the contractors have been asked to contact KU and claim the seized vehicles in the presence of NSCN (K) Konyak Region.

Further, the statement urged all agencies, be it central or state, to verify the road condition before accusing the NSCN (K). It further added that the NSCN (K) Konyak Region did not collect a single penny from the two contractors, but only supported them to execute the work satisfactorily.

Tribute to WW II Japanese soldiers Our Correspondent Jotsoma | February 16

Delegation from Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) today visited memorial stone pillar here and laid wreaths in honour of Japanese soldiers who laid down their lives during the World War II in Kohima. JICA survey team is currently in Nagaland to discover agriculture development here.

Talking to media persons after laying wreath, JICA co-team leader Tomoki Nakamura expressed wish to see better relationship between the Nagas and Japanese.

It may be recalled that the memorial stone pillar at Kiherü, Jotsoma village was constructed and inaugurated on December 23, 1999 by Vizosielhou Nagi, general secretary, NNC. The land was donated by Jotsoma village.

NNC general secretary Vizosielhou Nagi said the memorial stone pillar was constructed in

JICA delegation with NNC general secretary Vizosielhou Nagi and others at memorial stone pillar in Jotsoma on February 16. (Morung Photo/Chizokho Vero)

honour and memory of the Japanese soldiers who laid down their lives for their Great Nation Nippon during the World War II in Kohima.

Pointing out that there is no separate cemetery as such for Japanese soldiers who laid down their lives during World War II here, Nagi said there is a plan to honour them in a bigger way by dedicating a suitable monument in future.

Pukoho Viro, who studied in a school opened by Japanese during the World War II at Jakhama, sang National Anthem of Japan at the function. 88-year-old Viro still speaks Japanese language well and conversed with the Japanese delegates.

Meanwhile, women belonging to Sumi and Lotha tribes presented folk songs.

Little Karbi girls in traditional attire are the inheritors of culture that they have access to through participation at the Karbi Youth Festival, currently in its 41st edition. (Morung Photo)

as communities around us, which is why we invite all non political, political and social organisations to participate as one,” he informed. Despite the ethnic complexity and political turmoil in the region, the KCS has pushed ahead with the KYF year after year.

“Even when certain groups threatened us to not include communities they are at odds with, we made sure they were included nonetheless, which has helped a lot in unifying cultural groups here.”

Traditional huts and morungs at the Festival have been put up by the Di-

masa, Karbi, Tiwa, Bodo, Rengma, Kuki and Mantai.

This year, a bandh called by a Karbi armed group has made it difficult for people from the villages to travel easy but the Festival was inaugurated with vigour on February 16. Another formerly armed group, now at peace with the government, provided 250 volunteers for the Festival.

“If we all come together as one force, we can move forward culturally, economically and socially, contributing to the development of the society as a whole,” said Killing.

As for the minorities

living in the district, this is an opportunity to “restore and revive fellowship and reconciliation for the benefit of the new generation,” according to a Rengma Naga elder, Chento H. Rengma. “It is our hope and aspiration that peace and harmony are restored in the region through a fellowship like this, and if the major tribe of the district lives like a family with the minorities, then our aspirations can be achieved,” he noted. For the Mantai people (who are participating here for the first time), with a dwindling population, such showcase and acknowledgement of their cultural identity and heritage is the need of the hour, said Bilathong Thowmung, president of the Mantai Cultural Society of Karbi Anglong.

It is also a time to pass on traditional knowledge from one generation to the next, often unavailable in schools.

The traditional all-bamboo morungs and huts at the venue were made from scratch, and many youth learnt traditional architecture, stories behind various techniques, crafts, uses of local material, food preparations etc. from their elders for the first time.

As per Bandita Teronpi, a PhD scholar from Assam University, Diphu campus, the KYF is “an agent of socialisation” of culture for new generations. For the Karbis, she observed, it signifies the “particularity of the Karbis, its clan and kinsfolk and reinforces the Karbi identity as a unique tribe in India’s federal union.”

Tuensang: government machinery questioned DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 16 (MExN): The Chang Sao Thangjam Setshang (CTS), Confederation of Chang Students’ Union (CCSU), and Chang Students’ Union Tuensang Town (CSUTT), have questioned the district administration and law enforcing agencies on the murder of two innocent students in broad daylight despite heavy presence of security personnel.

A joint press statement issued by CCSU speaker, N Somba Chang, CTS president, Anti Chang, and CSUTT vice president, Tochu Chang, stated that “looking into the happenings,” the unions “wondered how far the law enforcing agencies are up to the concern in the ongoing situations” and also “how far it has been justified?”

The unions also pointed out that, both the crimes were committed by “assassins” in an IRB uniform with sophisticated weapons as indicated by INSAS rifle cartridges found at the crime scenes. The unions appealed to the public to be aware of any suspicious armed personnel in IRB uniform and to immediately report such cases to authorities concerned.

They also urged the district authorities to check the same and act immediately.

The unions further condemned the “cold blooded murder” of the two students, Chongma Chang and Lamchi Chingmak Chang on February 6 and February 14 respectively, and the “torture and inhumane murder” of one Chaang Hotong Chang, a driver of a mini truck at Kuthur village.

The statement also demanded the authority concerned to publish the names and details of the nine accused arrested in connection with the February 14 incident. It also condemned the ransacking of DC office by some “vested interests” to escalate the current situation and urged the public to refrain from vandalizing public properties.

Adjudge confronting issues in all fairness: YAA to ENSF The apex student body of Yimchunger tribe, Yimchunger Akheru Arih-ako (YAA), has drawn the attention of Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF) to the plight of hundreds of Yimchunger students displaced due to the prevailing tension in Tuensang town.

In an open letter to the president ENSF, YAA general secretary, Shikiula, and vice president, John, urged upon ENSF to take cognizance of the needs of Yimchunger students who fled Tuensang town due to the tribal conflict and were “running hither and thither” seeking admissions in schools across the State.

YAA said sporadic incidents of attack, arson and ransacking of Yimchungers’ houses at Tuensang town and C/Saddle and recent murder of Yimchunger police personnel leading to mass exodus of Yimchungers from Tuensang town, have jeopardized the career of hundreds of students.

Pointing out that students who are still on the run are facing extreme difficulty in get-

ting admission even in government schools, YAA urged ENSF to make a “mass appeal” to all concerned to accommodate the Yimchunger students wherever they seek admission.

YAA also said with arrangement of temporary NBSE Exam Centre, hundreds of Yimchunger students had to shift to Shamator haphazardly for their Board Exams without getting proper time to study. In addition, many students had to sacrifice their current academic year exams, YAA said.

Further, YAA urged ENSF to “adjudge the confronting issues in all fairness” and to look into the grievances of Yimchunger students by raising the issues with the competent authority for necessary relief and consideration.

YAA stated that being a constituent unit of ENSF, it anticipates timely intervention from the latter for the interest of Eastern Nagaland students’ community.

No fresh incidents of violence No fresh incident of violence was reported from Tuensang following the February 14 killing of a young boy and the subsequent mob violence. The Tuensang police today said that the situation remained calm on February 16, while stating that curfew remains in force. It was further informed that two persons have been arrested in connection with the mob incident during which the Deputy Commissioner’s office was gheraoed and vandalised.

C M Y K

C M Y K

2

Dimapur

Tuesday 17 February 2015

HepCoN completes statewide campaign Mon, February 16 (Mexn): The Hepatitis Coalition of Nagaland (HepCoN), with an aim to address the issue of Hepatitis C in the state conducted an awareness programme on February 13 at the Leprosy hall of Mon district Hospital.

Hepatitis Coalition of Nagaland stated in a press note that with the completion of Mon District Awareness Programme, HepCoN has completed its statewide campaign of creating grass root awareness on viral Hepatitis among risk populations.

The programme was jointly organized by Mon Users Network (MUN), NUN and HepCoN and was chaired by Anyang, MUN. Total 79 participants from various sections including NGOs, Mon Town Students Union, Konyak Students Union, and staffs of the district hospital, OST, ICTC, DAPCU and Drug Users attended the event.

Resource person Abou Mere and Ketho Angami

spoke on issues about HCV, its effects on the liver, diagnostics and treatment aspects etc.

HepCoN and NUN during its visit to Mon for Hepatitis awareness programme made a visit to the

the OST Clients facilitated

by Mon Users Network.

During the meeting, discussion on more OST enrolment, Take away dose, vocational Trainings for Drug users etc were shared with MUN and NUN Members by the OST clients.

NUN also held another meeting with its Board and Advisory members at the ADC Guest House, which was chaired by Rokozo, President NUN. The meeting highlights include review of Last meeting minutes, Review and finalisation of NUN constitution. The NUN Team lauded MUN for hosting the meeting in Mon. A press note mentioned that HepCoN, since its formation in August 19, 2013, has conducted similar programs across the other 10 districts of Nagaland recently, which are mostly spearheaded by NUN. HepCoN works towards creating awareness, easy accessibility and affordable Treatment of viral Hepatitis.

Creates grass root awareness on viral Hepatitis among risk populations OST centre located at the district hospital, Mon on the February 13 and interacted with the staff, doctor and the clients of the centre. NUN lauded the drug using community of Mon for availing the OST programme in high number. NUN also appreciated the initiative of NSACS/ NACO and the OST staff for undertaking this harm reduction programme which ultimately benefit the drug users.

Later, NUN team had a consultation meeting with

The Morung Express LocaL Tangkhul community celebrates ‘Luira Phanit’

DiMapur, February 16 (Mexn): Tangkhul community living in Dimapur under the aegis of Tangkhul Union Dimapur, celebrated ‘Luira Phanit’, the seed sowing festival of the Tangkhul tribe at Darogajan Tangkhul Baptist Church premises on Monday.

The festival attended by young and old in colourful traditional attires was marked by various competition including traditional folk song, tug of war and javelin throw.

President of Tangkhul Hoho Nagaland and retired Registrar of Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, Shai Raleng, who was the chief guest of the celebration in his address stressed on the importance of education in the present world.

Raleng said to encourage education and instill a sense of competition among the younger generation, the Tangkhul Hoho Nagaland has already constituted a committee to award meritorious students.

In earlier times, Luira is celebrated over a period of twelve days and one of the main focuses of the seed

C M Y K

Tangkhul men and women taking part in a cultural song competition at the ‘Luira Phanit’, the seed sowing festival of the Tangkhul Nagas in Dimapur, Monday. (Morung Photo)

sowing festival is the special invitation extended by the brothers to their married sisters to a partake of a special feast, to renew the bond between brothers and sisters.

Another unique feature during celebration is performance of “virgin dance” by young maidens of the village adorned in traditional finery. According to Tangkhul folklore, if

any young girl fails to participate in the dance, then her “chastity or purity is put into serious question.”

President, Tangkhul Union Dimapur, Lungmi Kasar, delivered the wel-

come address and elder Kathing Kashung spoke on the significance of Luira Phanit.

Earlier, the celebration started with invocation by Rev. Judson Rungsung.

Entrepreneurs urged to be Seminar on land management practices held World Day of the ‘enterprising & resourceful’ Sick observed C M Y K

Managing Director NHHDC, Temsuwati speaking in Dimapur on Monday. (Morung Photo)

C M Y K

DiMapur, February 16 (Mexn): A one-day awareness programme on Hathkarga Prashikshan on Handloom Weaving for Tribal Artisan of North Eastern States was held at the conference hall of Alaphra Group Dimapur on Monday.

Chief guest, Temsuwati Managing Director NHHDC Dimapur urged entrepreneurs to put in sincere efforts to see that their units flourish. He pointed out that the Department of Industries & Commerce was providing various trainings but rued that many of those who undertook trainings were unable to exhibit what they have learned.

He encouraged the weavers to fulfill the needs of the market in terms of design, price etc so that their venture meets success. “Entrepreneurs should be enterprising and resourceful,” he added.

Guest of honour, Takuyapang Jamir Managing Director NIDC Dimapur spoke about the schemes provided under National Schedule Tribes Finance & Development Corporation (NSTFDC).

Sponsored by Indian Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IFCL) & NSTFDC, the programme was conducted by Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship state office Dimapur.

1st DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF

Lt. Er KHOTO YHOKHA Asst. COMMANDANT ITBPF (1984 – 2014)

C M Y K

Your life was made so short to be with us Yet we faithfully embrace the plans of God for you For in Him we are being abundantly blessed With your life and works which we will never forget And as you rest in sleep with a smile On the other side of silence Continue to inspire us till we meet again Dearly loved and missed by all Mum, Dad, Brothers, Sisters & Family Members

Mokokchung, February 16 (Mexn): In commemoration of National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) 2014-15, Humane Touch organized a seminar on ‘adopting sustainable land management practices’ on February 14 at Lirmen Village, Mokokchung.

Anik Langu, Assistant Horticulture Officer, who was the resource person, spoke on the adverse and uneconomical effects of Jhum cultivation, which needs to be followed by some land management practices such as contour bonding, bench terracing, afforestation etc for reclaiming the soil as well as sustaining the productivity of the land.

Meren Imchen, Scientist ‘B’, Nagaland Pollution Control Board sensitised the villagers on the topic ‘cleanliness and etiquettes.’

In a community, maintaining a clean environment is very much important both in rural and urban areas.

Littering of waste is not

Participants and resource persons during the seminar on ‘adopting sustainable land management practices’ held on February 14 at Lirmen Village, Mokokchung.

only an eyesore to the passerby but it also degrades environment and pollutes water bodies, which can also spread various water borne diseases, he added.

Imcha Longkumer, Treasurer HT & Social Activist also spoke on the occasion where he mentioned about the pioneers from Lirmen Village who have brought laurels and

honour to the village in different fields. He opined the need for retrospection and learnt from the life of past leaders for the advance and betterment of the society.

Lima Longchar chaired the programme, invocation

by Rev. Mar. Pastor, Lirmen Baptist Church. Vote of thanks was proposed by Peter Longkumer, Joint

Secretary, Humane Touch.

A joint meeting of Lirmen Village Council and Humane Touch was held where issue pertaining to the village was discussed.

The society acknowledges the Regional Resource Agency (RRA) i.e.

Nagaland Pollution Control Board for the technical, logistic as well as financial support.

DiMapur, February 16 (Mexn): The Peace Channel, Dimapur in collaboration with Shalom Rehabilitation Centre and the BSW and MSW students, who are doing block placement under Peace Channel, commemorated the world day of the sick by conducting awareness class on healthy life style in Lotha Colony Dimapur.

A press release from the peace channel stated that the World Day of the Sick is a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church, which was instituted on May 13, 1992 by Pope John Paul II. Beginning on February 11, 1993, it is celebrated every year on the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, for all believers seeks to be "a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering" The occasion graced

by Fr. Mathew Thuniambral the Director of Shalom Rehabilitation Centre

Dimapur. The Peace Club president of Lotha Colony, Vanjamo Murry felicitated the programme. Weche Mebou staff of Peace Channel extended the knowledge about the importance of the day. Sani Murry staff of the Peace Channel introduced the yearly schedule of Quality Peace Club in the Lotha Colony. Sr. Maria from Holy Cross Hospital and Meren, Councilor of Shalom Rehabilitation Centre shared the lessons to the public on healthy life style.

The health awareness class focused on infant mortality, environment pollution and substance abuse etc. This initiative could motivate people to bring drastic changes and taking serious decisions for promoting healthy life style in their locality, as a result the peace club members took the decision to find solution for proper waste management in the colony.

C M Y K

C M Y K

Annual conference on Communitisation conducted

kohiMa, February 16 (Mexn): Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Kohima along with District Health Society, Department of Health & Family Welfare, NHM organized the district level annual conference on Communitisation at the conference hall on February 13.

The programme was chaired by CMO, Dr. Avino Metha. Citing on the subject, she said Communitisation literally means a prop-

erty of community where all types of facilities is imparted. She also mentioned that, health institution which is made the property of the community, including their proper maintenance and management, as also owning up health and its promotion in all respect.

Brief presentation on Communitisation was delivered by ZLO, Dr. Aseno Rhetso. The programme had a massive components and the outcome of partici-

pants had positive impact as the officials from DoH & FW attended the programme.

Importance of Communitisation was deliberated

by Dr. Aseno Rhetso, ZLO where community involvement having knowledge and creating awareness towards the public as to reach the under privileged. She also spoke about reaching grass root level by community involvement. In regard to the awards, that is to be given in the financial year

its and community action.

Dr. Aseno also informed the congregation that Communitisation is to get into partnership with the people through responsibility – sharing in matters of health. To let the villagers own the health institutions and service for the promotion of their health and disease prevention. Interactive session was held with the officials and the village health committee.

The session was made

one to one interaction as to look for better objectives under the district. Presentation of awards was followed up where 1st prize was bagged by Ehunnu SC and 2nd prize bagged

by Seithogei SC and 3rd prize to Pfuchama SC. The awardees were also given time to share their experience while vote of thanks was delivered by Khriehuno (Stat. Asst). Altogether 57 VHCs attended the conference.

QM Hr Sec School gets new block

WSBAK revival hour programme concludes

Mokokchung, February 16 (Mexn): Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima blessed and inaugurated the new block of Queen Mary Hr. Sec. School, Mokokchung on February 16. The new school block is a four storey building with a total built up area of 26000 square feet costing about two crores.

The bishop in his speech thanked the school management, Fr. James M.D., the Chairman, Fr. Philip Mag, the Principal, Sr. Mary SABS, the Vice Principal, the staff members and the parents for the wonderful edifice built for the education of the children. According to him today Queen Mary School has one of the best infrastructure and best facility among the Catholic Schools in Nagaland. The Catholic Church endeavors to bring the best education at the doorstep of the people at the lowest cost.

2014-15, the output is totally based on community participation, whereas the next parameter awards for the year 2015-16 under Communitisation will be mainly based on service delivery meaning Institutional delivery. She also mentioned the concept of Communitisation, as a way of jointpartnership between the community and the government, citing that Communitisation is to revitalize and utilize community spir-

View of the four-storey building of Queen Mary Hr. Sec. School, Mokokchung, inaugurated on February 16.

Therefore, the Church puts in all effort to provide the best facility for the students.

Speaking about culture, since the school was observing the year of culture, he said that culture defines and given identity to every-

one. At the same time one must not be mono cultural centric but rather accept others cultures, value, and appreciate them. Education is growing in one’s culture with a broad mindedness and openness to others cultures. When we

have such attitude, the incidents of inter-tribal conflicts can be avoided. He, therefore, prayed for and requested for peaceful settlement of the problems in Tuensang district. He also pointed out that the students are now enjoying the

best fruit of the hard work of the Catholic Church and hoped that they would begin to appreciate and accept that tree that produces such best fruits.

The blessing of the new building was done with the assistance of other priests – Fr. James MD, Fr. Philip Magh, Fr. Jose Sebastian, Fr. Thomas Toretkiu and Fr. Benjamin Chang.

Sushil Kumar IAS DC, Mokokchung, declared “the year of culture” opened by cutting the ribbon. He applauded the school management of the high quality of education imparted and urged parents to co-operate with the school management and staff. He hopes that many service minded and good public servants will emerge from the school.

The students also presented a beautiful traditional folk dance and sang prayerful songs during the blessing service.

DiMapur, February 16 (Mexn): The WSBAK concluded its three-days revival hour programme which was convened at Zutovi Baptist Church from February13-15, 2015 under the theme, New Identity in Christ ( Eph 4:24).

The crusade speakers Rev. Dr. Hevukhu Achumi, Executive Secretary, WSBAK and Rev. S. Vitoshe blessed the congregation of more than 5000 delegates from 139 churches. WSBAK Executive Secretary, Rev. Dr. Hevukhu Achumi in a press release has acknowledged the Programme Director, Camp Directors, Counselor Directors and Counselors’, Volunteers, programme participants, and all the Churches under WSBAK and the host Church, Zutovi Baptist Church for their hospitality and taking care of all preparations and arrangements.

C M Y K

REgional

The Morung Express

SC to hear centre's plea on spectrum allocation in NE

New Delhi, February 16 (iaNS): The Supreme Court will hear Tuesday the central government's plea challenging the Tripura High Court order permitting Reliance Telecom Ltd and Bharti Hexacon Ltd to make two bids for 2G spectrum for the northeastern states by modifying the tender condition.

A bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice A.K.Sikri said that they would hear the matter Tuesday after Additional Solicitor General P.S. Narasimha mentioned the matter and urged the court to hear it as the high court order could upset the process for bidding for 2G spectrum.

The Tripura High Court by its February 12 order said: "Both the petitioners are permitted to submit two applications instead of one.

One application may be for 4.4 MHz and other application will be for a minimum of 5 MHz and may be extended to 8.8 MHz, if the petitioners so desired."

Noting one application may be online and the other offline in a hard copy to the telecommunications secretary, the high court said that the central government may proceed with the assessment of the applications but no final decision would be taken without its permission.

Any preliminary decision that the government

may take would be subject the final outcome of the plea by two telecom service providers before it, it added in its order modifying the tender condition which said that a bidder will have to make a bid for a minimum of 5MHz. It was contended before the high court that if one could only bid for a minimum of 5 MHz spectrum, then it would leave only one operator in the field, leading to the remaining 3.8 MHz going useless and the government losing revenue on it. Another contention was that the telecom regulator had recommended that in northeast and West Bengal, the minimum spectrum for

which bids are to be invited should be less than 5MHz. The two companies contended that while in West Bengal, the minimum spectrum for which a service provider could bid was kept at 4.4 MHz, in case of northeast, it was kept at 5 MHz and sought that it should be made 4.4 MHz in the latter area.

Assailing the high court order, the central government in its plea today said that it was not permissible for the court to "rewrite the conditions of a tender documents" that was issued "pursuanrt to a wellconsidered policy".

Contending that the interim order was passed without affording it an op-

AMWJU lifts boycott of AR related news

imphal, February 16 (mexN): The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) has resolved to lift its boycott of all Assam Rifles related news with immediate effect. The decision was taken following a high-level meeting held at the Manipur Press Club, Imphal with Brig. Rajeev Chibber, Commander, 26 Sector Assam Rifles, Pallel on February 16, informed a press release issued by AMWJU general secretary GN Naocha Sharma.

According to the release, Brig Rajeev Chibber, informed that an internal inquiry is underway to probe into the incident of the 9th Battalion AR personnel led by Col Anandi Antare assaulting Impact TV's Bureau Chief Noren Ningombam and video journalist K Bipin Sharma while the journalists were covering a mob attack at SDPO, Moreh on February 12.

The Commander assured that all those found guilty in the incident will be awarded befitting punishment and the proceeding of the inquiry will be communicated to AMWJU, the release said. Further, it was informed that the 26 Sector AR Commander also gave his assurance that such incident will not happen in future and if it does, the involved AR personnel will be punished instantly.

The Commander also propagated better relations between the force and the media and assured to prioritize media personnel on duty while crossing all its check points. He further agreed to compensate for the medical expenses and damages caused during the incident, the release added.

Dimapur

3

Meghalaya shutdown against injustices on Delhi Christians ShilloNg, February 16 (iaNS): Normal life came to a standstill in Meghalaya Monday following a dawn-to-dusk shutdown called by an outlawed insurgent outfit against alleged "injustice" meted to the Christians in New Delhi. There have been six incidents of ransacking or vandalism at Christian institutions in Delhi.

The shutdown call was also given by Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), an insurgent outfit, also to protest alleged harassment of truckers on the National Highways of the state and delay

in submitting the Mookhep firing incident report.

The HNLC, which organises hit-and-run operations from its hideout in Bangladesh, has been demanding a sovereign Khasi state. The Khasi-Jaintia dominated areas were paralysed during the shutdown. Shops, businesses and educational institutions remained shut while there was little movement of public and private transport.

There was skeleton presence of staff at the state secretariat and central government offices, and attendance in courts

was also low. Two national highways - 40 and 44 - considered the lifelines for Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur and southern Assam, were also affected by the shutdown.

However, government and financial institutions functioned normally.

"Attendance of staffs at the state government offices was about 80 percent throughout Khasi-Jaintia Hills. There were some offices which recorded poor attendance," chief secretary P.B.O. Warjri told IANS. Warjri said there were no reports of any untoward incident.

Seven KPLT leaders arrested Village Tapat, the security forces immediately launched a well coordinated massive combing operation in the area, they said.

Traversing for over 16 hours through the thickly forested Karbi Anglong, the joint team of army and police managed to cordon the hideouts by early morning today.

In subsequent operation, after a fierce gunfight that lasted for approximately 45 minutes, the security forces managed to apprehend all seven terrorists.

The arrested included top seven leaders like Sunder Dera (Commander in Chief), Danger Ingti (Deputy Commander in Chief) and the Area Commanders

of Socheng and Amring areas, Army officials said.

A large cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered including 4 AK series Rifles, 2 pistols, 1 grenade launcher, 14 magazines of AK Rifles, 6 magazines of pistols, 2343 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition and 14 rounds of 9 mm caliber ammunition.

Dummy rifles for training of new recruits and various documents like extortion notes of KPLT and demand money receipts were also seized.

The hideout was well stocked with ration, clothing and medicines to sustain the terrorists for prolonged periods.

CONGRATULATION The Mhainamtsi Youth Club extends heartiest Congratulations to our honorable Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri. T.R. Zeliang on winning the historic trust vote. The youth club also wish him a great success in his future endeavor PAUKHUANLUNG Secretary MNYC

POUTHOULUNG President, MNYC

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

teZpur, February 16 (pti): Two people were killed and a woman injured in a firing allegedly by Assam Rifles personnel at Mission Chariali area of Tezpur in lower Assam's Sonitpur district tonight, a senior police officer said. The incident took place at Patia Chuburi under Tezpur Sadar police station and the cause of the firing was not yet ascertained, Sonitpur superintendent of police Sanjukta Parasar said. Police has rushed to the site and investigation is on, Parasar said, adding that the injured woman, Jinu Das, was admitted at Tezpur Kanaklata Civil hospital. The local people alleged that the jawans opened The 16 Naga tribes in Manipur celebrated annual Lui-Ngai-Ni (Seed sowing festival) at Tahafire when a family refused to serve them liquor. The de- mzam (Senapati) on February 15. During the festival, each tribe brings its special seeds and exchanges them with the other tribes. ceased were identified as Gautam Das and Babu Das.

British MPs delegation to visit Bengal, Assam of meetings in Delhi Monday, according to release from the British Deputy High Commission here.

The delegation will call on the chief ministers of West Bengal and Assam during their visit.

In Kolkata and Guwahati, the British delegation will have interactive sessions with elected representatives from the West Bengal (Feb 17-18) and Assam (Feb 19-20) legislative assemblies.

"The visiting parliamentarians are keen to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by their Indian colleagues on various fronts including the relationship between business, civil soci-

ety and elected representatives; the representation of women in political life and progress towards achieving gender equality in politics and relationship between the union and state legislatures," the release said.

This apart, the visiting delegation will also have meetings with trade and industry leaders, see first-hand civil society at work and interact with social activists, and engage in joint work on environment issues.

"A priority for the visiting delegation is to learn how India is dealing with issues of international concern including tackling

climate change and developing climate smart cities and promoting renewable energy, advancing women and girl's rights and the work towards ensuring food security," the statement said.

The visitors are keen to explore pro-growth and sustainable initiatives being taken to achieve these objectives.

"While in Guwahati, the delegation will also attend a UK-supported seminar on India Burma Young Leaders Dialogue and pay their tribute to those who had sacrificed their lives in the World Wars at the CWGC Gauhati War Cemetery," the release said.

Tripura legislator is dead Kukis threaten economic blockade agartala, February 16 (iaNS): Veteran communist leader of Tripura and sitting CPI-M legislator Sudhir Das died at a hospital in New Delhi Sunday following a heart attack, a party leader said here Monday. He was 64. A two-day state mourning has been announced in the state from Monday. A former minister, Das is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

"Das died after a two-week battle in the AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in New Delhi and Agartala hospitals. His body was brought back here Monday and would be kept at the party office in Kamalpur" to enable people to pay their last respects, CPI-M Tripura state secretary Bijan Dhar told reporters. An official release said: "...the state government declared a half-day holiday Monday in Kamalpur and Ambasa. Two-day state mourning has been announced from Monday".

Monday's session of the ongoing budget session of the Tripura assembly was suspended as mark of respect to the veteran legislator, who was elected to the house from Surma in northern Tripura's Kamalpur subdivision scheduled caste reserved seat for five times.

Das, also a renowned music composer and footballer, became member of the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) in 1971. His body would be cremated with full state honours Tuesday in Kamalpur, 140 km north of here.

17 February 2015

portunity to present its case, the government said that both firms had the remedy of approaching the telecom disputes tribunal.

Holding that the scope of the judicial review was limited in the matter of policy decisions, it said: "The High Court could not have examined the relative merit of a policy and strike down the same merely on the grounds that another policy would have been fairer and better."

It further said that after considering the TRAI recommendations, it was decided that the requirement of a minimum bid of 5 MHz would be the most efficient system of allocat- guwahati, Februing spectrum. ary 16 (pti): Seven top leaders of the dreaded Karbi Peoples' Liberation Tiger (KPLT) were arrested on Monday in a joint operation by the army and the police in the Amring forest area in Hamren sub division.

The arrest came on the second day of the massive crackdown launched by the joint team in the treacherous terrain of West Karbi Anglong, according to army officials.

Army's Red Horn Division had yesterday apprehended the self-styled "finance secretary" and "auditor" along with one cadre of KPLT from village Karbirongsope in Hamren Sub Division.

One AK Rifle, two pistols along with assorted ammunition including other "War Like Stores" were also recovered from these hardcore terrorists near Tapat hamlet, the officials said.

Based on leads received from the apprehended terrorist leaders about presence of hideout inside the Amring forest area near

'Denied liquor', Assam Rifles men kill two

KolKata, February 16 (iaNS): A 10-member delegation of British parliamentarians will be meeting lawmakers in West Bengal and Assam beginning Tuesday to strengthen bilateral co-operation and ties, a statement said Monday.

The delegation comprising members from the British parliament's two houses - House of Lords and the House of Commons -will be led by Baroness D'Souza, the lord speaker of the upper house.

They will visit Kolkata and Guwahati to strengthen links and co-operation between Indian and British lawmakers after a series

Tuesday

imphal, February is a signatory to the suspen- They would have declared 16 (the hiNDu): The sion of operations with the a general strike. But they Kuki activists have an- union government were took into consideration the nounced an economic killed and three others examinations which began which began from Monblockade for five days with wounded.

There were protests day. effect from Wednesday in Due to the blockade protest against the failure as the activists said that it there are fears of of the Manipur government to The Kuki National Front is fuel shortage and price rise of essendisclose the report of the magisterial protesting against the report- tial commodities.

Since both the inquiry into the ed "encounter" by the Assam highways will be killing of two perRifles on January 28 blocked and nothsons on January ing can be brought 28 by personnel of 8 Assam Rifles at Kadan- was not an encounter. The to Manipur prices will soar government announced a and fuel and other congband.

Five Kukis were travel- magisterial inquiry and the sumer items will not be ling in a jeep which was activists set a deadline of available.

Police said that one intercepted by the person- 15 days. A statement issued nel. In the "encounter" one by the activists on Sunday hand gun was recovered person Khupnelilal Kip- said that since the govern- from one of those killed.

Three others who were gen, the driver and Robert ment failed to disclose Hesei Kigpen, a rebel of the the report it was imposing wounded are now in hosKuki National Front which the economic blockade. pital.

DIECTORATE OF HORTICULTURE NAGALAND :: KOHIMA

NO.HR/Gen-1/INTRV/2013-14:: In inviting a reference to the Directorate of Horticulture Nagaland, Kohima Advertisement No.HR/Gen-1/ INTRV/2013-14/2277=79 Dated Kohima the 2nd Dec 2014 published by the undersigned through local dailies, it is hereby notified to all the candidates that the Viva-Voce interview for the post of Horticulture Extension Assistant (HEA) will be conducted as follows.

1. Date of Viva-Voce Interview : 20-02-1015 and 21-02-2015.

2. Time : 10.00 A.M. onwards 3. Venue : Directorate of Horticulture, Nagaland, Kohima.

Note:1. No separate calling letter will be issued to the individuals and the applicants should come to the interview with original certificates/documents.

2. The interview for candidates from SI. No. 1 to 54 will be held on 20th Feb. 2015 and SI. No. 55 to 108 will be held on 21st Feb. 2015, which is already put up in the notice board of the Directorate.

3. The Department will observe the Government standing notification Vide letter No.RCBT-5/87(pt-11) Dated Kohima the 14th April 2011 for reservation policy.

4. The result of the selected candidates on merit as well as reservation policy as per the Government standing order will be put up in the notice Board of the Directorate of Horticulture or can be confirmed through the Superintendent of the Department.

5. No Objection Certificate from the department's concerned is to be produced by the candidates who are already in Government service.

Sd/(WATIENLA JAMIR) Director of Horticulture Nagaland, Kohima.

4

Dimapur

businEss

Tuesday 17 February 2015

The Morung Express

18 interesting facts about India Railways

New Delhi, February 16 (ageNcies): Despite its perpetually impoverished status, Asia’s largest railway network has a number of credits to its name.

1) Indian Railways started its service 161 years ago on 16 April 1853 when the first passenger train was run over a stretch of 33 kilometres from Mumbai to Thane. The train with 14 railway carriages, carrying around 400 guests, left Bori Bunder at 3:30 p.m. that day. It was declared a public holiday then.

2) Nationalised in 1951, Indian Railways is today the largest rail network in Asia and the world’s second largest network operated under a single management. It has 115,000 km of track length. It runs 12,617 trains to carry over 23 million passengers daily – equivalent to moving the entire population of Australia – connecting more than 7,172 stations.

3) Railways runs more than 7,421 freight trains carrying 3 million tonnes (MT) of freight every day. It has entered a select club of railways that includes China, Russia and USA in carrying more than one billion tons of freight annually. Indian Railways has over 239,281 freight

wagons, 59,713 passenger coaches and 9,549 locomotives.

4) A separate budget for the Railways has its genesis in the recommendations of the 10-member Acworth Committee in 1920-21, headed by British railway economist William Acworth. Following his report, the railway finances of India were separated from the general government finances in 1924.

5) In the post-Independence era, railways accounted for 75% of public transport and 90% of freight. Hence, the need for a separate budget. Today, in contrast, the share has reduced to 15% and 30%.

6) The first live telecast of railway budget took place on 24 March 1994. Lalu Prasad Yadav, who remained Railway Minister from 2004 to May 2009 presented the railway budget six times in a row.

7) In 2000, Mamata Banerjee, who is the current Chief Minister of West Bengal, became the first woman Railway Minister. In 2002, she also became the first female railway minister to present the railway budget. Additionally, she holds the record of being the only woman who presented the

railway budget for two differDepartment of Defence, the Express. Running between Dient governments in the centre Chinese Army, Wal-Mart, brugarh and Kanyakumari, it (NDA and UPA).

China National Petroleum, covers 4,286 km in around 82 8) India’s fastest train has sucState Grid of China and British hours and 30 minutes. cessfully completed a trial run Health Service, according to 15) Toilets were introduced on Inat 160 km per hour. In a few The Economist. dian Railways in 1909, more months, with the rollout of the 12) The renovated platform at than half a century after the start first semi-high speed train, Gorakhpur Railway Station of operations. Indian Railways passengers will be able to travin Uttar Pradesh has become started computerized reservael between Delhi and Agra in the world’s longest, measurtion in New Delhi in 1986. just 90 minutes, cutting the ing 1,366 meter. Until recently, 16) Station with the shortest name journey time by 30 minutes.

Kharagpur in West Bengal was is Ib in Odisha. Venkatanara9) The New Delhi-Bhopal the longest platform at 1,072 simharajuvariipeta is the staShatabdi is currently the fastmeter, followed by State Street tion with the longest name est train on the Indian RailCenter subway station in Chi(29 letters). This is sometimes ways network. It reaches a cago at 1,067meter. spelled with ‘Sri’ prefixed. maximum speed of 150 kmph 13) Indian Railways is building 17) Four sites of Indian Railways on the Faridabad-Agra secthe world’s highest railway have been declared as “World tion. The Metupalayam-Ooty bridge-five times the height Heritage sites” by the UNESNilgiri Passenger train, which of Qutub Minar and 35 meters CO. These are Darjeeling, Hiruns at an average speed of 10 taller than Eiffel Tower. It will malayan Railway inscribed in kmph, is the slowest train. come up over the Chenab riv1999, Mumbai CST Building 10) The New Delhi Railway Staer on the under construction inscribed in 2004, Neelgiri tion has secured a place in rail link to the Kashmir Valley.

Mountain Railways inscribed the Guinness Book of Records The bridge will rise 359 meters in 2005 and Kalka-Shimla for having the world’s largest over the Chenab on the UdRailways inscribed in 2008.

Route Relay Interlocking Syshampur-Srinagar-Baramulla 18) The Fairy Queen, plying betem. This system is put to use Rail Link Project. Currently, tween New Delhi and Alwar where multiple tracks are inthe world’s tallest rail bridge in Rajasthan, is the oldest terlocked. It helps divert train runs over France’s Tarn river. functioning steam engine in movements during periods of 14) Indian Railways’ longest the world. It has been listed in high traffic volumes. tunnel is Pir Panjal that links the Guinness Book of World 11) With over 1.4 million employKashmir Valley with Banihal Records and has also received ees on its rolls, Indian Railin Jammu. It runs for a disthe Heritage Award from the ways is the world’s seventh tance of over 11.2 km. The train International Tourist Bureau, largest employer after the US with the longest route is Vivek Berlin.

293 firms commit to generate Samsung launches 3 affordable 4G Galaxy 266 GW renewable energy in 5 yrs smartphones; prices start at Rs 9,900 New Delhi, February 16 (ageNices): As many as 293 companies have committed to generate 266 GW of renewable energy in the next five years under the government’s ambitious REInvest programme unveiled

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

These companies have shown interest to set up renewable power plants in the country and some have assured to manufacture equipment as well.

At the first Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet (REInvest), Modi said there should be thrust on equipment manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ plan as it will go a long way in job creation.

While unveiling the threeday conference, the Prime Minister said, “Solar, wind and biomass sources of energy are the way forward and the government is working towards making solar power more viable.”

He added that there is a need to develop hybrid plants as well for optimum utilisation

of available land.

It was announced at the REInvest meet that 293 firms expressed their desire to join this ambitious programme of the government and help in meeting renewable energy generation target.

Renewable energy companies including Suzlon and Gamesa have committed to manufacture equipment to help generate 11,000 mw and 7,500 mw of power respectively to be used in the non conventional energy side.

Country’s largest power producer NTPC has also said it would generate 10,000 mw of power through green sources in the next five years.

Among others are Welspun Energy with a target to generate 11,000 mw renewable energy, followed by ReNew Power 11,500 mw capacity, Reliance Power 6,000 mw, Hindustan Powerprojects 10,000 mw and Sun Edison 15,000 mw.

Country’s biggest lender SBI has said it will finance 15,000 mw renewable energy over the next five years.

New Delhi, February 16 (Fe): Samsung today launched four 4G smartphones at Samsung Forum 2015 in Bangkok. The new 4G smartphone range includes Galaxy Grand Prime 4G, Galaxy Core Prime 4G, Galaxy J1 4G and Galaxy A7. The devices will start at a price of Rs 9,900 and will be available from second week of March, while the Galaxy A7 is priced at Rs 30,499 and will be available from February 16 in India.

“4G is becoming the most valuable commodity known to man. Samsung will have 4G products starting with Galaxy J1 and going up to the flagship devices,” says Warsi. The prices of the other new phones will be announced soon,” said Asim Warsi Vice president of Samsung India.

The Samsung Galaxy J1 4G smartphone sports a 4.3-inch WVGA (480 x 800 pixels) PLS TFT display along with a 5MP A/F rear camera with LED flash and

_

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 # 3140

a 2MP front camera. Running on Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, it runs on 1.2GHz quad-core processor with 768MB RAM and 4GB internal memory which can be expanded up to 128GB. The device supports 4G, 3G and 2G connectivity and is powered by a 1,850 mAh battery.

The Galaxy

Grand Prime 4G features a 5-inch TFT display with a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels along with an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and a 5MP front camera. Running Android 4.4.4 KitKat OS, the device runs on a 1.2GHz quad-core processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory which can be expanded up to 64GB. It is powered

by a 2600mAh battery.

The Galaxy Core Prime 4G sports a 4.5-inch WVGA (480 x 800) PLS TFT display along with a 5MP A/F rear camera with LED flash and a 2MP front camera. Running on Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, it runs on 1.2GHz quadcore processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory which can be expanded up to 64GB. Powered by a 2000mAh battery, it offers dualSIM connectivity.

On the other hand, the Galaxy A7 priced at Rs 30,499 offers a 5.5-inch Full-HD (1080x1920p) Super AMOLED display. The device sports a metal frame and runs on a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage which can be expandable up to 64GB. Running Android 4.4 KitKat OS, it comes with a 13MP rear camera with LED flash and a 5MP front-facing camera. Powered by a 2,600mAh battery, it offers 4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth and GPS.

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 3150

Answer Number # 3139

Toyota launches world’s 1st car that ‘giggles’ when you tickle it loNDoN, February 16 (aNi): Engineers have created the world’s very first ticklish car which “giggles” when touched at sensitive areas.

The new Toyota Yaris with a “TICK LME” number plate, which was unveiled for Red Nose Day, reacts to touch by lighting up and flashing its headlights and indicators, spraying water from the windscreen washer fluid spouts and moving as if it was chuckling, in addition to a laugh recorded by Red Nose Day legend Lenny Henry, the Daily Star reported.

Mr Tickle from the Mr Men series, who unveiled the red hatchback and is the celebrity consultant on the project, said that he was “tickled pink” to be part of the innovative project.

He added “thanks to my long arms and tickly fingers, I was able to help the designers add tickle-points to all those hard-to-reach places.”

Matt Harrison, Toyota GB President, said that this was the first of its kind car from Toyota and they hope it helps to raise money for Red Nose Day. The story behind the creation of the tickly car has been captured in a fly-on-the-wall documentary being distributed on Toyota’s social media channels.

World Bank bars Indian firm for fraudulent practices New Delhi, February 16 (PTi): The World Bank has barred an Indian firm from participating in its projects for indulging in fraudulent activities, taking the total number of banned India-based entities to 13.

The latest Indian entity to face debarment is Puducherry-based KRG Associates as it was found to have provided “forged” certificates with respect to a Tsunami reconstruction project funded by the World Bank. Such acts are sanctionable under the global lender’s fraud and corruption policy.

Currently, as many as 13 Indian entities, including individuals, are barred from participating in any World Bank-financed projects and debarment of some are ending this year, according to the latest data from the World Bank.

KRG Associates has been banned for a period three years, starting February 10, 2015, for submitting forged documents while bidding for World Bank-financed contracts. “... the respondent engaged in a fraudulent practice by submitting two bids for Bank-financed works contracts that each contained two forged completion certificates,” according to the “specific accusation” made by the bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency (INT).

INT is responsible for the investigation of internal and external allegations of misconduct and fraud.

While KRG Associates is the first firm from India to be debarred by the bank this year, three Indian entities were slapped with a ban in 2014.

In the case of KRG Associates, no response was submitted by it within the specified period to the notice send by the World Bank.

“INT’s (Integrity Vice Presidency) accusation in the SAE (Statements of Accusations and Evidence) and the sanction recommended by the SDO (Suspension and Debarment Officer) in the notice are deemed uncontested...,” the lender said in a communication dated February 10.

The restrictions are imposed after an extensive process that also provides an opportunity for the concerned entities to respond to the allegations, in accordance with Sanctions Procedures of the World Bank Group Sanctions Board.

Among the 13 entities, two - GAP International and one Surendra Singh - have been barred permanently by the World Bank.

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

STD CODE: 03862 232224; Emergency229529, 229474

Metro Hospital:

227930, 231081

Faith Hospital:

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

Nagaland Multispe- 248302, cialty Health & 09856006026 Research Centre

W

O

R

Influential Black African Americans ROSAPARK DRMARTINLUTHERKING OPRAHWINFREY MAYAANGELOU LANGSTONHUGHES WEBDUBOIS BARRACKOBAMA MALCOLMX EMMETTTILL WILLSMITH MORGAN FREEMAN DENZELWASHINGTON MICHAELJORDAN JESSEJACKSON THURGOODMARSHALL HARRIETTTUBMAN MUHAMMADALI BILLCOSBY COLINPOWELL CHARLESBARKLEY

D

J E S S E J A C K S O N R O S A P A R K

D Y W O W U Z H F E P N V V O F S A N L

S

P C E G D R I A V H Q S X P P F G D O L

M V B V R V H R P G D E K R R S S I T A

U I D B M M C R Z R V H Y N A A D Y G H

E

H M U I A A R I G K U G E W H A B J N S

A A B L R Y O E D F J U L C W B I J I R

M L O L T A H T F A X H K O I Y V I H A

A

M C I C I A T T C R F N R L N F P J S M

A O S O N N I T K H Z O A I F A E Z A D

D L L S L G M U P R L T B N R J I L W O

R

A M P B U E S B N G U S S P E A A L L O

L X Y Y T L L M P V O G E O Y P U I E G

C

I C R G H O L A P X Y N L W N I X T Z R

X V Z J E U I N N T G A R E L G P T N U

Q E I L R W W M L B Y L A L P O Z T E H

H

P D K E K N O F J D D E H L O L D E D T

S I T A I D G B A R R A C K O B A M A N

U G K A N A D R O J L E A H C I M M Q B

R M O R G A N F R E E M A N O U H E Q K

ACROSS

1. “Oh my!”

5. Level 9. Branchlet 13. Light bulb unit 14. Prickles 16. Backside 17. Against 18. Of a pelvic bone 19. Tab 20. 10 in a decade 22. Honorees 24. Colored part of an eye 26. Fungal diseases of plants 27. Inorganic 30. Calculator 33. University 35. 1000 kilograms 37. Toss 38. One more than seven 41. Mayday 42. Arm of the sea 45. Earpieces 48. Hush-hush 51. Listlessness 52. Hollowed out 54. Flippant 55. Pauses 59. Another time

62. Chilled 63. Path 65. River of Spain 66. Not now 67. Not late 68. Killed 69. Fizzy drink 70. Dam 71. Exam

DOWN

1. On the road 2. Alley 3. Possible 4. Roiled 5. A law enforcement agency 6. Quiet time 7. Operatic solos 8. Wound 9. Hot sauce 10. Court order 11. Small island 12. Mousses 15. Scour 21. “Your majesty” 23. French for “State” 25. Identical 27. French Sudan 28. Graphic symbols 29. 52 in Roman numerals

31. Unfit 32. Kisses 34. How old you are 36. Being 39. An unskilled actor 40. Snare 43. Spiny anteater 44. Gait faster than a walk 46. Urgent request 47. Biggest 49. Gladden 50. Foursome 53. A special loved one 55. Strikes 56. Reflected sound 57. Sow 58. A lustrous fabric 60. Angers 61. Nothing (British) 64. Alkaline liquid Ans to CrossWord 3149

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

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

CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862 282777/101 (O) 9856158740 (OC)

MOKOKCHUNG: 0369 2226225/ 101 (O) 9436012949 (OC) PHEK: 8414853765 (O) 9862130954(OC) ZUNHEBOTO: 03867 280304/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC)

MON: 03869 251222/ 101 (O) 9436208480 (OC) KipHire: 8414853767 (O) 8974304572 (OC)

Toll free No. 1098 childline

Police Station 1:

DIMAPUR: 03862 232201/ 101 (O) 9436017479 (OC)

TUENSANG: 8414853766 (O) 8414853519

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE

MOKOKCHUNG:

KOHIMA: 0370 2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC)

WOKHA: 03860 242215/101 (O) 9862039399 (OC)

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

KOHIMA

FIRE STATIONS

STD CODE: 0369

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 EXCHANGE CURRENCY NOTES

222246 222491

BUY(Rs)

SELL(Rs)

US Dollars Sterling Pound Hong Kong Dollar Australian Dollar Singapore Dollar Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen

60.61 92.89 7.56 46.86 44.48 48.47 50.6

63.72 98.45 8.47 49.95 47.20 51.46 54.54

Euro

68.88

73.14

Danish Krone

9.00

10.08

Norwegian Krone

7.75

8.69

New Zealand Dollar

45.3

48.30

Swedish Krona

6.99

7.83

LOCAL

The Morung Express

17 February 2015

Kohima police nabs Assam Rifles busts ‘illegal arrests three absconding fugitive detention’ centre, 29 AR arrest NSCN (IM) cadre

Kohima, February 16 (mexN): The Kohima Police, on Sunday, arrested one person wanted in connection with an attempt murder and “inflicting grievous injuries” on a 16 years old girl at Kohima on October 19 last year.

The accused was identified as Md. Mostokin Ali @ Mamu (26 years), a resident of Jugicherra village under Bazaricherra PS/ PO of Karimganj district, Assam.

According to a press note from Kohima Sub – Divisional Police Officer & PRO, Atu Zumvü NPS, the incident occurred on October 19 evening when victim was returning home after visiting a friend New colony (A.G colony), Ko-

hima. The accused caught hold of the victim and dragged her below the footpath and assaulted her with a “blunt weapon without any reason.”

An immediate neighbor intervened by shouting upon hearing the scream of the victim and prevented the accused from assaulting the vic-

tim further, the police added.

Afterwards, the victim was medically examined from Naga Hospital Kohima and as per the medical report; she sustained “multiple grievous injuries” on the scalp (three cut injuries) measuring 3 cm, 2 cm and 3 cm caused by a blunt weapon.

While the accused had fled under the cover of darkness, a case was registered against him at the South P.S Kohima. He was absconding till his arrest on February 15.

Accordingly, the police the accused was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kohima today and he was remanded into police custody for conducting further investigation.

NCD last annual meeting for current tenure DimaPur, February 16 (mexN): the last annual meeting of current tenure (2010-15) of Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) was held on February 15 which among other things launched its official website and “announced and endorsed” new councillors or representatives list for 2015-2020 tenure.

According to a press note from NCD general secretary, Ntsemo Ngullie, the meeting also resolved to “stand by & remain firm” on its previous stance of appreciating District Administration, headed

by D.C Dimapur for reducing Auto Fares done in the general public interest.

The NCD further appealed to the concerned authority not to yield to pressures of “self-serving unions operating under selfish interest.” Stating that the auto drivers/owners cannot hold Dimapur

Launches official website district to ransom, it added that the licenses of those autos not complying with the orders should be cancelled.

Earlier, the website of the NCD was also officially launched by its president T Bangerloba. The website www.nagacouncildimapur.org is being introduced with the intention to update everyone about NCD activities, composition, background, aims & objectives, the press note added.

“The website aims to serve a common platform for projecting constructive initiatives for general public welfare, justice & harmony. It also aims to preserve important past events for future generations.”

It further informed that the idea of introducing NCD website was con-

ceived by Savi Liegise, its former President and finally brought to reality by the present president with the help of website in-charge, Dietho Rhakho, Treasurer NCD and urged the general public to visit the site. Positive suggestion & corrections are welcome and can be mailed to nagacouncildmr@gmail.com.

The meeting also felicitated the selfless service of Chingko Phom, T Pongo, Daipao and Supong Chang who have served as councillors continuously for more than 20 years.

All councillors expressed their desire for NCD to maintain unity, equality, justice under NCD Moto “All in One." The new team of Office Bearers (2015-2020) will be constituted through selection instead of election since it sometimes leads to undesirable situations, it added.

DimaPur, February 16 (mexN): The Assam Rifles (AR) today claimed that it has busted the third “illegal detention centre” of NSCN (I-M) at Sitikipasha, Dimapur on February 15 and rescued two “abducted” individuals from the centre.

The other two centres were at Half Nagarjan, Dimapur and Jalukie Town last year.

According to an AR press note, on receipt of complaints from locals regarding some ongoing “illegal activities” at a certain house in Sitikipasha village, Dimapur, 29 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters 6 Sector Assam carried out search operation in the said premises.

During the search, it was revealed that the premises was being run as the “illegal Detention Centre” of NSCN (IM) and two abducted individuals were found at this centre, the press note added. They were identified as Tino Konyak (28), a resident of Mon and Imti Sunep Ao (43), a resident of Dimapur.

Meanwhile, three NSCN

DimaPur, February 16 (mexN): A NSCN (IM) cadre identified as Nurjahan Hussein was apprehended from general areas of DC court, Dimapur by the troops of 29 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters 6 Sector Assam Rifles.

According to an AR press note, a search operation was launched after specific input were received about the presence of unauthorised weapon in the same locality. A one 9 MM pistol, ammunitions and silencer were also recovered from his possession. The apprehended individual alongwith the recovered items were handed over to West Police Station, Dimapur.

(IM) cadres identified as Rengamo Patton (35), Shulemong (33), and Zato Zhimo (30), who were running the Detention Centre were taken into custody. The AR further claimed that many “incriminating documents” related to kidnapping/extortion along with one Maruti Alto car with fake number plate were also recovered from their possession.

The AR also maintained the incident has “once again” brought to fore the high handedness and utter disregard to human values

by NSCN (IM) and running of a parallel judicial

system in the garb of moral policing. “The detainees in these detention centers are chained, physically beaten up and kept under deplorable conditions” it added further accusing the NSCN (IM) of violating the Ceasefire Ground Rules with “impunity” and “vitiating” the peaceful environment.

The apprehended cadres were handed over to Diphupar Police Station, Dimapur and a case has been registered. The detainees were also handed over to the police for releasing them to their relatives, the press note informed.

ANSTA & CNSA appeals for peaceful resolution DimaPur, February 16 (mexN): The All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) and Central Nagaland Students’ Association (CNSA) have urged for peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between the Chang and Yimchunger communities.

ANSTA president, Ponchulo Wanth, and general secretary, Vashum, in a press not appealed the “two warring tribes” to maintain maximum restraint taking into consideration the “precious career” of thousands of innocent students appearing HSLC

& HSLC Examinations in the district. “The Association therefore, would like to appeal to both the tribes to reconcile and co-exist with one another through Christian principles of forgiveness and tolerance and ensure a peaceful conduct of ongoing HSLC & HSSLC exams," ANSTA stated.

The association also condemned the “barbaric” abduction and killing of two innocent students and requested the law enforcing agencies to nab the culprit(s) and award them exemplary punishment.

In a separate statement,

5 Auto drivers protest Tuesday

CNSA president, Charles Lotha, and general secretary, Yimlanger Jamir, appealed all the right thinking citizens to ponder on Naga way of brotherhood, love and forgiveness; and pray for an amicable solution.

“We therefore, urge the Two Naga Tribe brothers to come to the negotiation table at the earliest for the wellbeing of all the citizens of Tuensang.

It is our hope and prayer that through forgiveness we never losses but gain to rise again with continuing love and respect as we have been from our fathers for generations,” CNSA stated.

Dimapur

District Administration says revised fare will remain in force Morung Express News Dimapur | February 16

The Dimapur district administration today maintained that the recent cut in autorickshaw fare will not be revoked. Terming the demand for revoking the fare cut as an excuse to take advantage of a dispute within the autorickshaw drivers union, the administration said that the revised rate by the transport authority will remain in force.

The administration’s assertion came in the backdrop of a joint meeting held on February 16 between the district administration, the Dimapur District Autorickshaw Drivers Union and the protesting drivers.

SDO, Dimapur, Moa Sangtam said that the meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office was the result of an incident today at the GS Road intersection. Drivers unhappy over the February 4 fare revision staged a protest rally at the busy intersection stating that they will not move from the place if the

“issue of fare is not settled.”

The district administration intervened and called for a joint seating of the DDADU officer bearers and the protesting drivers at the DDADU office. In the meeting, the protesting drivers insisted with their demand for revoking of the fare revision, the SDO said. Subsequently, a second meeting was convened later in the afternoon at the DC’s office.

In the second meeting however, the protesting drivers deviated from their earlier demand while stating that the issue was not over fare, but rather it was over the chair of the DDADU president, the SDO added. Basing on what the protesting drivers contention, it was inferred to be a “domestic problem” of the autorickshaw drivers union.

As it was an internal problem of the union, the drivers were asked to sort it out on their own, said the SDO. “While doing so, the drivers were cautioned to refrain from creating any law and order situation.”

MEx FILE SDO (C) Wokha informs on aadhar card WoKha, February 16 (DiPr): Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Wokha, Mhomo Tungoe, has informed that capturing of biometric for AADHAR Card for Wokha Town (Hq), Wokha Sadar and Wozhuro have started since February 10. All those from Wokha Town, Sadar and Wozhuro who have missed out the earlier biometric exercise have been asked to report at the Deputy Commissioner Office, Wokha and EAC Office Wozhuro respectively.

Music album project of Sumi Singing Star underway

DimaPur, February 16 (mexN): The music album project of Sumi Singing Star is presently going on.

It is sponsored by Pheto Music Association, Dimapur and mentored by Kashito Kiba, Managing Director of PMA and Abel T. Asumi, Managing Director of Sumi Singing Star and Musician's Academy. The Sumi Singing Star, a singing contest of the Sumi singers organised

by Immanuel Music Academy, Zunheboto, completed its first season successfully last year. This was informed referred to the SD Jain Char- in a press release received here. itable dispensary at Jain Queensberry Foundation Temple Road, Dimapur.

The school author- investors in Jalukie informed ity expressed gratitude to DimaPur, February 16 (mexN): All the clients/ inDr. Deepika Jain, Dental vestors of Queensberry Foundation under Jalukie Branch Surgeon from Rajiv Gandhi in Peren district have been informed that an urgent genDental College, Bangalore eral meeting has been scheduled for February 20, 10:30 and Dr. Shweta Jain, Dental am at Town Hall Jalukie. Therefore, every investor has been Surgeon from MR Ambed- informed to attend the said meeting without fail. kar Dental College, Bangalore and their team for Royal Club Kohima mourns conducting the Camp. Continuing the same, a free den- Kohima, February 16 (mexN): Royal Club tal screening camp will held Kohima has expressed shock and grief at the demise for public in association with of Sazolie Khezhie on February 13. Sazolie Khezhie, the Leo Club on February an active member of Royal Club Kohima contributed 21- 22 from 10 am the Lions enormously towards the yeomen services rendered by Club at Midland, Dimapur. the Club, stated a condolence message issued by Kenny Peseyie, Press Secretary, Royal Club Kohima. The note further acknowledged that his death has created a deep vacuum. The Royal Club also extended heartfelt condolences to the family members of the deceased and prayed for peace and eternal rest of the departed soul. to ensure that fund for HIV/ AIDS are release for effec- SAPO 2015 Angami Sekrenyi at Kezol tive implementation of HIV/ Kohima, February 16 (mexN): The Southern AnAIDS program and prevent gami Public Organisation (SAPO), in commemoration of devastating setback and the Annual Angami Sekrenyi, will be celebrating the 2015 help reversing the HIV epi- Angami Sekrenyi at Kezol on February 25. Vilelie Khamo, demic, facilitating the prog- Class I Contractor will grace the occasion as the Chief ress to zero new infections, Host. All the Frontal Organisations of SAPO, all GBs, all zero discrimination and the village Chairmen and Secretaries, all VDB secretaries zero AIDS-related deaths in and well wishers are cordially invited to join the festival, Nagaland. informed Khrievisa Chale, Press Secretary, SAPO.

DC Longleng Eurokids organises free Dental screening camp February directives on DimaPur, Another camp for public on Feb 21 -22 16 (mexN): As a part of responsibility Arms License itsandsocial oral health awareness LoNgLeNg, February 16 (mexN): The Deputy Commissioner (DC), Longleng have informed all the Arms License holder under Longleng District that a unique number will be created for all existing and new Arms license holder to create a National Data Base of Arms License (NDAL).

This is in accordance with the Amendment of Rule 57 of Arms rule, 1962 and no License will be valid after October 1, 2015 without the said unique number.

In this connection, the DC of Longleng, Nikhashe Sema in a press release directed all the Arms License holders in the District to collect the Format from the DC’s office, Longleng (Arms Branch) and submit the details as per the Format at the earliest date.

Informing that two circular to this effect had been issued twice earlier, in July and November 2014, but only few people submitted the required information, the DC further informed that non-submission of details will be at the risks of the License holders and the DC office will not be held responsible for noncompliance.

campaign, Eurokids International School, Dimapur celebrated the Children's Dental Health Month by conducting a free dental screening camp at school premises on February 14.

All the school children and their parents were screened during this camp.

The common dental problems faced by students pertained to caries, bleeding gums etc. All the follow up Dental surgeons during the free dental screening camp at Eurokids International cases for dental care were School, Dimapur on February 14.

DHS Mokokchung holds Health camp at Chuchuyimlang ChuChuyimLaNg, February 16 (DiPr): A health camp was held at Chuchuyimlang PHC in Mokokchung district on February 14, which was organised by Mokokchung District Health Society.

Thirteen Doctors with specialist in different field, led by Dr. SS Akaba Longchar CMO Mokokchung and Dr. Kipang Dy. CMO Mokokchung conducted the camp. Four hundred patients with different health problems such as Eye, Ortho, Dental, Sterlisations, Coffer I, Immunization, ANC, HIV, HB-3, Urine, Blood sugar,

etc. were treated during the camp.

Patients from neighbouring villages including Unger, Pangsa, Chakma, Salulamang, Yaongyimti old, Longkong also turned up and took the opportunities for their health checked up.

Nurses and NRHM staffs along with the doctors attended the patients during the daylong health camp. Administration, Adhoc Town Committee Chuchu town, Village Council Chuchuyimlang village, and church leaders Chuchuyimlang village and town also attended and witnessed the health mela.

Kripa Foundation appeals State Govt & NSACS Kohima, February 16 (mexN): The Kripa Foundation Nagaland has appealed the Nagaland State Government and Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) to release fund for HIV/AIDS program implemented by various organisations (NGOs and CBOs).

In a press note, the director of the foundation, Abou Mere stated that the nonrelease of fund by Nagaland State Government and NSACS to the programmed implementers will result in “huge”huge negative impact in HIV programs.

“The HIV intervention/ prevention commodities are about to stock out in NGOs Targeted Intervention proj-

DC Mon directs to start LADP project’s verification moN, February 16 (DiPr): The Mon District Planning & Development Board meeting was held at DC Conference hall, Mon on February 16. The Deputy Commissioner, Mon Angau I Thou IAS chaired the meeting.

Welcoming the members present, the Deputy Commissioner thanked the Government officers for their cooperation and support in assisting the 20th Triennial Convention of NBCC and the Indian

Republic Day 2015 celebration at Mon. She also directed the LADP verification committee to start verification of the projects under LADP 2014-15 by visiting the spot to ensure proper execution of the projects. She cautioned that verification committee would be held responsible for any failure in implementing the projects under LADP. The DC also urged upon the Government employees posted under Mon district to

be in their respective place of posting and to retrospect whether they are doing justice to their service or not. As a Government servant, we have a responsible duty to perform and to retrospect ourselves whether we are doing justice to our profession or not, she added.

She informed the heads of the department to submit the list of the Class-I & II Government employees of their respective department to the DC office at the earliest.

She also informed that the next DPDB meeting would be held on March 16 and directed the Administration and the Police to give power point presentation of their respective department in the next meeting.

ADC Tizit informed the house that Cultural Exchange Program organized by the Assam Government would be held at Namtola on February 28 and invited the officers to attend the program.

ects. Stock out will create a serious setback to HIV program, a threat to the public health response” the press note maintained adding that it would undermine many years of hard work in controlling new HIV transmission.

The director also strongly urged NSACS leadership to expedite all possible actions

NICSE admission centre launched in Mokokchung Morung Express News Mokokchung | February 16

The first and only civil services and allied examination correspondence centre in Mokokchung, Nationale Institute for Civil Services Examination (NICSE) was launched today with the presence of Jemtimenba Longchar, President Ao Student’s Conference, Sentimeren, Associate Pastor MTBA, Bendangtoshi Ozukum, Regional Marketing Head NE Region, NICSE and Aonokdang Ozukum, NICSE Mokokchung Admission Centre in- charge.

NICSE is a national coaching institute for civil services examination with its main office based in Kolkata.

While it has its corporate office in Dimapur, the NICSE has admission and academic centres in Kohima and Dimapur.

Aonokdang (Left), NICSE Mokokchung Admission Centre in-charge, Jemtimenba (Centre), president AKM and Bendangtoshi Ozukum, Regional Marketing Head, NE region, NICSE at the launching programme of the correspondence centre.

‘NICSE is one among the best coaching institute in India and the launching of this correspondence and admission centre in Mokokchung is not for any personal gain but to help the youths especially those aspiring for civil services and allied services’ ad-

dressed Aonokdang in his welcome address. Jemtimenba, president AKM acknowledged the effort and interest of NICSE and its staff in launching the centre and hoped that the centre will sow fruitful seeds in the future. He further encouraged the centre to

open academic centre and not only admission centre in Mokokchung and also to organize orientation and workshops for students in high school and graduate level so that it will help them understand the basics and importance of civil services examinations.

Bendangtoshi Ozukum highlighted the vision of NICSE – to deliver national standard in training, for both national and state level civil service examinations. The institute is founded with a vision to rub out the ‘Destination Delhi’ convention from the minds of the civil servant aspirants and benefiting aspirants in all parameters, academic, length of say and total cost of preparation. The NICSE Admission Centre office was graced by Sentimeren, Associate Pastor, MTBA.

6

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express TuEsDAy 17 fEbruAry 2015 volumE X IssuE 45

Addressing Needs

W

ithin the present Naga discourse the acute need for existing policies to shift from the politics of want to the politics of need is obvious. At the moment policies both reflect and represent the greed driven desires and wants of those in power. Considering that the ruling elite have already acquired a higher standard of living and disproportionate level of affluence, it is very unlikely that the policies actually reflect people’s basic needs.

When government policies do not reflect the needs of the majority, policies are ineffective and programs are rendered irrelevant. In such acute circumstances the strong disconnect between government policies and peoples’ actual needs could not be more obvious. Implicit in these circumstances is that policies are not people-centered or focus on raising the standard of living that would improve the people’s over all well being. Perhaps, the state of Nagaland represents such a situation wherein one feels the total absence of specific policies that would directly and positively improve the lives of ordinary people. Rather, it seems like the policies are a superficial façade like a fog covering the underlying concerns, while only furthering the interests of the powers that be.

Yes, while it is true that the government has been initiating a number of activities, the direction in which they are moving towards raises serious concerns. It is also important to acknowledge that they are usually confined to the macro level and have failed to connect to people at the grassroots level.

Rather than working from bottom upwards, the projected trickledown effect has not reached the bottom as all benefits seem to be accumulating at the top.

While every government claims its own set of principles and policies, it is on their actions that people evaluate their performances. No matter how noble the principles and policies may seem, unless they translate into practical actions that positively impact people’s lives, they remain quite distant and unrelated from the people’s true needs. Quite a number of supposedly people-friendly programs have not gone any further than being high-sounding slogans and mega publicity events. Remember, at the end of the day, a government is criticized not for its principles, but for its actions.

It isn’t too late for the government to salvage some credibility. This will depend on its ability to muster moral courage and the political will to shift from its present day politics to addressing the public’s true needs, from being self-serving to serving others, and to stop co-opting and silencing the independent voices of civil society. It needs to start focusing on the business of responsible and democratic governance.

In order to positively impact people’s lives, the process towards addressing the people’s long-term and short-term needs requires a comprehensive people-driven policy in which every village will have their basic needs met. Some of the short-term needs faced by villages are having: qualified teachers, an educational center, a community health clinic, an adequate supply of medicine, regular supply of healthy drinking water, electricity, public transport, telecommunication and recreational facilities, The government needs to comprehensively address these primary needs in an objective that will directly benefit every Naga village. The growth of the Naga society will be realized not by addressing its wants, but by fulfilling its needs. This refocusing has to begin at the village level and work its way up.

Manifesting the people’s basic needs is an imperative that requires the utmost priority.

lEfT WING |

Mazie Nakhro, Ph.D

Day 29: Some Nuggets of Wisdom on Politics Thought-Provoking Question: If you were to have a breakfast appointment with a king to collect a few nuggets of wisdom on politics, what do you think he would say?

What does God say? Read the Proverbs below and meditate upon them.

For the most part, the wise sayings in the book came from King Solomon (1:1--29:27) and King Lemuel (31:1-31). So naturally, the book has a lot on politics and it shows concern for what makes a good government. Here are some examples: “By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern and all the nobles who rule on earth" (8:15-16).

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure" (11:14).

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. A king delights in a wise servant but a shameful reward incurs his wrath" (14:34-35).

“The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth should not betray justice. Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making. Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness" (16:10- 13) 'A wise king winnows out the wicked, he drives the threshing wheel over them" (20:8, 26) “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases" (21:1).

“Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence and do not claim a place among great men..." (25:5-7).

“By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down (29:4).

“If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure" (29:14).

“Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. It is not for king...to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights (31:3-5).

Prayer: O Lord, give our public leaders Your Spirit of wisdom that they may discern the truth and impartially administer the law. Let all the people pitch in to make Your way of government to work Amen.

For Further Study on Ruling: Prov. 19:12; 20:2, 28; 22:11, 29; 23:1; 24:21; 25:3; 28:2, 12, 15-16. 28:29:2, 7-12, 26; 30:21-22.

Taken from the book “Breakfast with the King: The 100Day Devotional” by Mazie Nakhro

S O U N D BITE The new section is specific to racial comments and gestures and all we are doing is ensuring what has been already provided in the Constitution is made more elaborate. This is not specific to the northeast. It is for all of India.

Minister of state for Home, Kiren Rijiju

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Tina Rosenberg NYT

A Military Manual for Nonviolent War

‘Nonviolent struggle is a war — just one fought with means other than weapons. It must be as carefully planned as a military campaign’

S

everal years ago, before their protest movement was coopted by violence, a group of young Syrians looking for a way to topple President Bashar al-Assad traveled to an isolated beach resort outside Syria to take a weeklong class in revolution.

The teachers were Srdja Popovic and Slobodan Djinovic — leaders of Otpor, a student movement in Serbia that had been instrumental in the overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. After then helping the successful democracy movements in Georgia and Ukraine, the two founded the Center for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies (Canvas), and have traveled the world, training democracy activists from 46 countries in Otpor’s methods.

These two Serbs start with the concepts of the American academic Gene Sharp, the Clausewitz of the nonviolent movement. But they have refined and added to those ideas. In a new book, “Blueprint for Revolution,” Popovic recounts Canvas’s strategies and how people use them.

“Blueprint” strains a bit too hard to be funny, but the title is no exaggeration. Otpor’s methods and signature — a stylized graphic clenched fist — have been adopted by democracy movements around the world. The Egyptian opposition used them to topple Hosni Mubarak. In Lebanon, the Serbs helped the Cedar Revolution extricate the country from Syrian control. In Maldives, their methods were the key to overthrowing a dictator who had held power for 30 years. In many other countries, people have used what Canvas teaches to accomplish other political goals, such as fighting corruption or protecting the environment.

I met Popovic and Djinovic in Belgrade five years ago, wrote about Otpor in a book and later met them in an Asian city to watch them train democracy activists from Burma. I have lived in two dictatorships and seen dozens of democracy movements in action.

But what the Serbs did was new. Popovic cheerfully blows up just about every idea most people hold about nonviolent struggle. Here are some:

struggle, Djinovic explained, is a war — just one fought with means other than weapons. It must be as carefully planned as a military campaign.

Over the next few days, the Serbs taught the young Syrians the techniques they had developed for taking power: How do you grow a movement from a vanload of people to hundreds of thousands? How do you win to your side the groups whose support is propping up the dictator? How do you wage this war safely when any kind of gathering can mean long prison terms, torture or death? How do you break through people’s fear to get them out into the street?

Myth: The most successful nonviolent movements arise and progress spontaneously No general would leave a military campaign to chance. A nonviolent war is no different.

Myth: Nonviolent struggle’s major tactic is amassing large concentrations of people This idea is widespread because the big protests are like the tip of an iceberg: the only thing visible from a distance. Did it look like the ousting of Mubarak started with a spontaneous mass gathering in Tahrir Square?

Actually, the occupation of Tahrir Square was carefully planned, and followed two years of work. The Egyptian opposition waited until it knew it had the numbers. Mass concentrations of people aren’t the beginning of a movement, Popovic writes. They’re a victory lap.

In very harsh dictatorships, concentrating people in marches, rallies or protests is dangerous; your people will get arrested or shot. It’s risky for other reasons. A sparsely attended march is a disaster. Or the protest can go perfectly, but someone — perhaps hired by the enemy — decides to throw rocks at the police. And that’s what will lead the evening news. One failed protest can destroy a movement.

So what do you do instead? You can start with tactics of dispersal, such as coordinated pot-banging, or traffic slowdowns in which everyone drives at half speed. These tactics show that you have widespread support, they grow people’s confidence, and they’re safe.

Otpor, which went from 11 people to 70,000 in two years, initially grew like this: three or four activists staged a humorous piece of anti-Milosevic street Myth: Nonviolence is synonymous theater. People watched, smiled — and with passivity then joined.

No, nonviolent struggle is a strategic campaign to force a dictator to cede Myth: Nonviolence might be moralpower by depriving him of his pillars of ly superior, but it’s useless against a support. brutal dictator In the first hours of the Syrians’ Nonviolence is not just the moral workshop, some participants an- choice; it is almost always the strategic nounced that violence was the only choice. “My biggest objection to vioway to topple Assad. Every workshop lence is the fact that it simply doesn’t begins this way, in part because some work,” Popovic writes. Violence is what people think the Serbs are going to every dictator does best. If you’re goteach them to look beatific and medi- ing to compete with David Beckham, tate. Popovic said out loud what many Popovic says, why choose the soccer were thinking: “So you just ask Assad field? Better to choose the chessboard. to go away? Please, Mr. Assad, please The Syrians who came to the workcan you not be a murderer anymore?” shop, needless to say, had little influPopovic whined. “It’s not nice.” ence over the strategies that were later Just the opposite, said Djinovic: chosen by other groups opposed to “We’re here to plan a war.” Nonviolent Assad. Violence eventually prevailed

— with devastating results.

But that is Popovic’s point: violence often brings devastating results. The scholars Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan analyzed campaigns of violent and nonviolent revolution in the last century (their book, “Why Civil Resistance Works,” uses Otpor’s fist as its cover image) and found that nonviolence has double the success rate of violence — and its gains have been more likely to last.

Only a handful of people will join a violent movement. Using violence throws away the support of millions — support you could have won through nonviolence.

Milosevic’s base of support was Serbia’s senior citizens. Otpor won them over by provoking the regime into using violence. Once Otpor’s leaders realized that its members who were arrested were usually released after being held for a few hours, it staged actions for the purpose of getting large numbers of members detained.

Grandparents didn’t like having their 16-year-old grandchildren arrested, or the regime’s hysterical accusations that these high school students were terrorists and spies. Old people switched sides, becoming a key pillar of the Otpor movement. If there had been any truth to the accusations that Otpor used violence, the grandparents would have stayed with Milosevic.

Myth: Politics is serious business According to the Pixar philosopher James P. Sullivan, laughter is 10 ten times more powerful than scream.

Nothing breaks people’s fear and punctures a dictator’s aura of invincibility like mockery — Popovic calls it “laughtivism.” Otpor’s guiding spirit was Monty Python’s Flying Circus, a television show its members had grown up watching, and its actions were usually pranks.

Popovic writes about a protest in Ankara after the Turkish government reacted with alarm to a couple kissing in the subway. Protesters could have chosen to march. Instead, they kissed – 100 people gathered in the subway station in pairs, kissing with great slobber and noise. You are a policeman.

You have training in how to deal with an anti-government protest. But what do you do now?

Myth: You motivate people by exposing human rights violations Most people don’t care about human rights. They care about having electricity that works, teachers in every school and affordable home loans.

They will support an opposition with a vision of the future that promises to make their lives better.

Focusing on these mundane, important things is not only more effective; it’s safer. In their Canvas workshop, the Burmese knew it was too risky to organize for political goals — but decided they could organize to get the Yangon city government to collect garbage. Gandhi wisely began his campaign of mass civil disobedience by focusing on Britain’s prohibition on collecting or selling salt. Harvey Milk failed in several campaigns for the San Francisco City Council. He won when he campaigned not on gay rights, but

to rid the city’s parks of dog poop. A benefit of such campaigns is that their goals are achievable. Movements grow with small victory after small victory.

Talking about the miseries of life under a dictator is also a bad strategy for mobilizing activists. People already know — and they react by becoming cynical, fearful, atomized and passive.

They might be angry, but they’re not going to act on it. Anger is not a motivator.

This was Otpor’s biggest obstacle.

Most Serbs wanted Milosevic out. But the vast majority believed that was impossible to accomplish, and too perilous to attempt.

Otpor got people into the streets by making the movement about their own identity. Young people flocked to Otpor because it made them feel cool and important. They had great music and great T-shirts, adorned with the fist. Boys competed to rack up the most arrests. Young Serbs stopped feeling like passive victims and started feeling like daring heroes.

Myth: Nonviolent movements require charismatic leaders who give inspiring speeches Otpor had no speeches, ever. And while its strategies were meticulously planned, the people who did the planning were behind the scenes.

Its spokesperson changed every two weeks, but it was usually a 17-year-old girl. (“Terrorists? Us?”) In a traditional party, even parties in opposition to the dictator, the leaders’ job is to make speeches, and their followers listen and applaud. Not Otpor. Its messages were tested in focus groups, and its strategies carefully planned. It was not at all anarchic on the strategic level. But on a tactical level, decentralization was critical. Otpor had only two rules: You had to be anti-Milosevic and absolutely nonviolent. Follow those rules, and you could do anything and call yourself Otpor. This kept activists feeling busy, useful and important.

Myth: Police, security forces and the pro-government business community are the enemy Maybe, but it’s smarter to treat them like allies-in-waiting. Otpor never taunted or threw stones at the police. Its members cheered them and brought flowers and homemade cookies to the police station. Even the interrogations after arrest were an opportunity to fraternize and demonstrate Otpor’s commitment to nonviolence.

It paid off. The police knew that if the opposition won, Otpor would make sure they were treated fairly.

During the last battle, police officers walked away from the barricades when the opposition asked them to. A dictator who can’t be sure his repressive orders will be obeyed is finished.

I lived in Chile when the opposition to Augusto Pinochet made mistake after mistake; advice from Otpor might have shortened the dictatorship by years. Had the Occupy movement in the United States adopted these tactics, it might still be a relevant force.

But nothing is more tragic than contemplating what Syria could have been now, had the nonviolent activists in the opposition movement prevailed — and followed Popovic’s blueprint.

War history is littered with civilian deaths Dan Perry

R

Associated Press

arely has the world had such a front-row seat for a concerted attack by a major air force on an urban area as it did during last summer's Gaza war. But Israel is far from the only country to have killed civilians during war. The list is long, from Dresden to Japan, from Grozny to Algeria.

The United States has killed civilians in its recent conflicts — in Iraq and Afghanistan in the last decade, and earlier in Vietnam and Korea as well.

Syria's ongoing civil war has killed an estimated 220,000 people in about four years, nearly half civilians and many of those bombed by their own government. And Israel itself has killed civilians before, including in previous Palestinian campaigns and during wars in Lebanon.

Recent years' establishment of war crimes tribunals and the International Criminal Court aims to give leaders pause, but prosecution is a politically complicated process and the carnage goes on.

Last summer, Israel and the Hamas rulers of Gaza fought for most of July and August. Israel demanded an end to rocketing of its cities, a policy that Israel says was itself a war crime. By the end, 2,205 Palestinians were dead, including at least 1,483 civilians, according to preliminary U.N. figures. Israel says about 890 militants were among those killed in Gaza. On the Israeli side, 67 soldiers and five civilians were killed. The Associated Press reviewed the 247 strikes in which residential compounds were

targeted, according to witnesses and site visits. The review found that these strikes killed at least 844 Palestinians, including 508 children, women and older men — demographics generally accepted as probably civilian. Israel says it tried to warn civilians and avoid causing their deaths.

Some examples from recent history of conflicts in which civilians were targeted:

THE U.S. AND ALLIED ATTACKS ON TOKYO AND DRESDEN The nuclear bombs dropped by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 killed about 130,000 people, secured Japan's surrender and ended World War II. Less well-known, perhaps, is Operation Meetinghouse — the firebombing of Tokyo five months earlier. It is believed to have killed about 100,000 people, which would make it the single deadliest event in that war. A month before that, about 25,000 people were killed in concerted Allied bombing of the German city of Dresden, which destroyed much of a what was a key industrial center contributing to the Nazi war effort.

(The Germans killed more than 28,000 in the Blitz, the bombing of London — as well as millions of others throughout World War II.)

forcing a withdrawal of Serbian security forces from the province of Kosovo, which had historical importance to Serbs but housed an ethnic Albanian majority seeking to secede. The NATO bombing campaign was in response to a brutal crackdown on Kosovo's ethnic Albanians by Serbia's leader Slobodan Milosevic who was later charged with crimes against humanity. Milosevic died while on trial.

A report issued for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia said it appeared about 500 civilians were killed and noted that targets included "some loosely defined categories such as military-industrial infrastructure and government ministries and some potential problem categories such as media and refineries."

WRITE-WING

FRANCE IN ALGERIA France's empire stretching across the globe was coming undone in the 1950s, but the country fought its most brutal battle for one precious piece of turf: Algeria, colonized beginning in 1830. The war to hold onto Paris' crown jewel lasted seven years, until 1962. The number of Algerians killed remains under debate, but the leading French historian on the war says 350,000 to 400,000 Algerian civilians died. In a brutal precursor to the war, the 1945 uprising in the town of Setif, NATO'S BOMBING OF SERBIA Algerians say some 45,000 people may For three months in 1999, NATO have died at the hands of the French waged a bombing campaign against troops putting down the revolt; French Serbia without U.N. approval, aimed at figures put the number of Algerian

dead there at 15,000 to 20,000.

RUSSIA IN CHECHNYA During Russia's wars against separatists in Chechnya, the armed forces first attacked Grozny, the capital, in late 1994 and early 1995 in what at the time was considered to be the heaviest bombing campaign in Europe since the end of World War II. Russian forces also attacked Grozny in 1999, leveling the city before driving out the rebels.

Rights activists and aid workers say many thousands of civilians died in the Russian attacks but precise numbers remain unknown.

GUATEMALAN CIVIL WAR Recent Latin American history is littered with conflicts in which governments stand accused of having targeted civilians, such as in Chile after the 1973 coup against Salvador Allende or Argentina under the 1976-83 dictatorship.

An egregious case was the Guatemalan civil war of 1960-1996, which killed up to 200,000 people, mostly indigenous Mayan civilians who were targeted specifically because of their perceived alliance with leftist guerrillas.

NIGERIAN ARMY AVENGING BOKO HARAM ATTACKS The Nigerian military has been accused of deliberately targeting civilians in revenge attacks after it was hit by the radical militia Boko Haram. In one of the worst cases, hundreds were killed and hundreds of homes set ablaze and destroyed in the town of Bama last year, after a suspected Boko Haram fighter killed one soldier.

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.

7

TuEsday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

17 February 2015

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

ISIS UnIteS the World There's no better time for Sunni and Shia to sit down together and address not just ISIS but the injustice, intolerance, and inequality that birthed it John Feffer Foreign Policy in Focus

D

uring the Cold War, science fiction writers and politicians like Ronald Reagan imagined that the threat of an invasion from outer space could break down ideological barriers and unify the world. The arrival of giant bug-eyed creatures bent on death and destruction would prompt world leaders to set aside their petty rivalries for the higher purpose of saving the planet.

As it turned out, the Cold War and the immediate risk of nuclear annihilation disappeared without alien intercession. Since that time, other divisions and rivalries have replaced the East-West schism. And other substitutes for an alien threat have appeared as well, such as climate change and global pandemics. But world unity has yet to emerge out of the fractiousness of everyday geopolitics.

The latest candidate for world unifier is the Islamic State (or ISIS). Although many commentators have described ISIS as somehow less-than-human, it doesn’t come from outer space. It is decidedly a homegrown product of the turmoil that has engulfed two states: Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003 and Syria since the aborted Arab Spring uprising that began in 2011.

ISIS has made a name for itself by killing just about everyone: American NGO workers, Japanese journalists, members of minority communities in Iraq. It doesn’t hesitate to kill Muslims either. As an organization of Sunni extremists, for instance, ISIS has specifically targeted Shiites, whom it considers apostates. But ISIS has also killed its own Sunni jihadi mercenaries if they have second thoughts about their mission and want to go home.

Cults and criminal syndicates can be similarly ruthless. But at the level of global affairs, there hasn’t been anything like ISIS since Genghis Khan left immense piles of skulls outside conquered cities and dared the world to gang up against his Mongol horde. Even Hitler and Stalin signed agreements and formed alliances of convenience, if only to ignore them later on. But Genghis Khan didn’t negotiate. The only word in his diplomatic vocabulary was capitulation. So too with ISIS and its dream of a caliphate of the oppressed.

Recently ISIS has been in the headlines again for burning alive a Jordanian air force pilot who participated in bombing raids over its territory. In response, the Jordanian government has vowed to wipe ISIS off the face of the earth.

Jordan is not the only Muslim country participating in the anti-ISIS coalition. The Gulf States, Egypt, and Turkey have all signed on. Defeating ISIS is also one of the few items on which Saudi Arabia and Iran can agree.

And despite seemingly irreconcilable differences on a broad range of other issues, the United States, Syria, and Russia are all on the same page when it comes to ISIS. In short, as an organization that targets nearly everybody, ISIS should not be surprised that it has had this unifying effect on the world. There are, of course, some individuals who continue to support ISIS. It has attracted foreign mercenaries and inspired affiliates in other countries such as Libya.

Some money and arms flowed to ISIS initially from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, particularly from private funders. But both coun-

tries appear genuinely appalled by what the group has done in the name of Sunni Islam.

The case of Saudi Arabia is illustrative.

As Patrick Cockburn writes in his excellent new book The Rise of the Islamic State, “During February and March 2014, in an abrupt reversal of previous policy, Saudi Arabia sought to stop Saudi fighters departing for Syria and called on all other foreign fighters to leave that country. King Abdullah decreed it a crime for Saudis to fight in foreign conflicts.” At roughly the same time, the Saudi government installed a new intelligence chief, Mohammed bin Nayef, who had previously established a reputation for his programs of de-radicalization and coun-

U.S. intervention from the outside and sectarian rivalries on the inside.

U.S. forces hammered away at a wide range of adversaries during the Iraq War. Those who survived, in true Darwinian fashion, were best adapted to carry on the fight. One of those survivors, ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also spent time in a U.S.-run detainment facility in Iraq where he may well have been radicalized.

Meanwhile, the government that the United States installed in Baghdad systematically tilted the playing field in favor of the Shiite majority. That bias mirrors the situation in Syria where a Shiite minority (in the form of the Alawite sect) rules the country. A Sunni

terterrorism.

The world is obviously taking ISIS very seriously. But must taking it seriously translate into a concerted military campaign to “degrade and destroy” the movement, as the Obama administration has promised?

backlash in both countries — and ultimately in a cross-border alliance — was inevitable.

The other factor in the rise of ISIS was the painful reality that the Iraqi army barely existed. This was not despite huge injections of U.S. funds but because of it.

“The army became a money-making machine for senior officers and often an extortion racket for ordinary soldiers who manned the checkpoints,” Cockburn writes.

Ten years of U.S. arms and training to the tune of $25 billion vanished into people’s pockets and overseas bank accounts. How else to explain how 1,300 ISIS fighters vanquished a government force of 60,000 to take over the city of Mosul last June?

It’s a cautionary example as the United States contemplates pouring more arms into Syria, sending lethal aid to Ukraine, and providing assistance to other hot spots around the world. “The Iraq experience underscores the fact that the United States often has little control over how its arms and training are ultimately used,” William Hartung writes. As for ISIS, Cockburn notes, it was always happy when arms flowed to anti-Assad forces because it could siphon off those munitions through “threats of force or cash payments.”

The Rise of ISIS There are a number of interesting conspiracy theories about the rise of ISIS. In the introduction to Syrian Notebooks, a diary of his time with the Syrian opposition in early 2012, the writer Jonathan Littell speculates that the Assad regime directly helped cultivate the rise of ISIS to destroy the moderate opposition. He writes that Assad ordered the release of jihadists in spring 2011 and didn’t initially bomb areas controlled by ISIS. He goes on to cite other examples of the cynical manipulation of religious extremists by Russia (in Chechnya), Israel (with Hamas), and the United States (Afghan mujahedeen) to emphasize the point.

Of course, the release of jihadists was part of several general amnesties that Assad ordered in 2011 to appease the opposition.

He may very well have hoped to sow dissension among the ranks of the opposition without necessarily expecting the extremists to forge a distinct faction of their own.

Later rumors of energy deals between Damascus and both ISIS and the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra suggest opportunism rather than an effort to prop up the jihadis.

Whatever plans Assad might have had for ISIS at the beginning, he is now determined to eliminate the group.

The unhappy truth is that ISIS is not Assad’s creation. Rather it is a product of

The Response to ISIS When it was seizing territory at a rapid rate last year, ISIS seemed unstoppable. Residents of Baghdad braced for an attack on the capital city. The Kurds worried about incursions to the north. ISIS even set its sights on claiming the holy sites of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, an essential territorial gain for any caliphate worth its salt. In response, Saudi Arabia has built a 600-mile

wall-and-ditch to protect itself from incursions from neighboring Iraq.

More recently, however, ISIS has come up against some challenges.

In Syria, it lost the besieged city of Kobane to a combination of air strikes and Kurdish peshmerga fighters. The battle resulted in the death of as many as 2,000 ISIS fighters.

Air strikes have killed as much as 30 percent of the total ISIS force of 30,000. The jihadists have fallen back from the area northeast of Baghdad, giving the capital a bit more breathing room, and Iraqi government forces appear to be gearing up for an effort to retake Mosul. In all, ISIS has lost about 700 square kilometers, which isn’t much — about 1 percent of its total territory — but at least it’s no longer expanding.

There are some voices urging the United States to team up with Syria to fight ISIS. That’s a difficult pill to swallow.

For all the cruelty of ISIS, it has killed a relatively small number of people compared to the regime in Damascus. The Syrian Network for Human Rights estimates that the Assad government is responsible for killing over 100,000 civilians since 2011. The death toll in the conflict has now reached over 200,000 people.

It’s one thing to give up on the idea of ousting Assad — which is bowing to the unpleasant reality of his political survival — but to actively cooperate with the dictator is realpolitik at its most distasteful. (Negotiating a peace settlement with him, however, is a different matter).

It’s another variety of madness to assume that a U.S.-led bombing campaign is going to eliminate ISIS. Washington presided over a much more thorough effort to change the facts on the ground in Iraq — with bombs and troops and billions of dollars in aid — and it has in the end produced only a failed state (Iraq), a barbaric state (ISIS), and a state of utter chaos (in the larger region). So why should a scaled-back version of the above have any greater success in eliminating ISIS? Alas, ISIS has proven that there is always something worse lurking out there if you don’t address the underlying reasons for the anger and resentment — a Putin behind a Yeltsin and a Zhirinovsky behind them both, an al-Sisi behind a Morsi, and probably a military dictatorship behind Kim Jong Eun. And yet, for all its horror, ISIS provides the world with the same opportunity that 9/11 did.

When virtually the entire Middle East agrees on something, it’s a planetary alignment of epochal dimensions. The United States must learn from the mistakes of 9/12 and not waste this global unanimity on something so medieval as a campaign of revenge killings. It must rise to the occasion.

The first step is to conclude a deal with Iran on its nuclear program and use that agreement as a springboard for convening a regional peace process that involves both Iran and Saudi Arabia and addresses the underlying grievances in Iraq and Syria.

There’s no better time for Sunni and Shia to sit down together and address not just ISIS but the injustice, intolerance, and inequality that birthed it. The threat of Soviet communism pushed longstanding adversaries together in Europe after World War II. Perhaps the threat of ISIS can do the same for the Middle East. Until the day when those space aliens arrive with laser guns blazing, we won’t have a better opportunity.

Keeping food security on the table denise Fontanilla & Chris Wright

F

Inter Press Service

ood security has become a key issue of the U.N. climate negotiations this week in Geneva as a number of countries and observers raised concerns that recent advances in Lima are in jeopardy.

While food security is a core objective of the U.N. climate convention, it has traditionally been discussed in relation to adaptation.

“Ask any African country what’s adaptation about – they’re going to say agriculture,” said Teresa Anderson of the international charity ActionAid. She added that 90 percent of countries who developed national adaptation plans identified agriculture as the key element.

Food security is referenced throughout the latest draft of the new climate agreement, which was released Feb. 12. One proposal for adaptation recognises the need “to build resilience of the most vulnerable linked to pockets of poverty, livelihoods and food security in developing countries.”

This language has recently been strengthened during negotiations in Lima. These discussions were seen as a minor victory for many developing nations seeking to include specific provisions for food security.

“Since Lima we have worked hard for food security to be taken into account. Food security was finally included into the adaptation section and we are currently work-

ing hard to have it also included in the mitigation negotiations as well,” said Ali Abdou Bonguéré, a negotiator for Niger.

However, this week a number of non-governmental organisations and negotiators alike have raised concerns that food security may be coming under threat.

As Teresa Anderson of ActionAid explained, there have been recent changes to the language being used within mitigation discussions that may have a long term impact on food security, especially in developing and marginalised nations.

These concerns began when “a few countries proposed submissions on a long term mitigation goal of ‘net zero’ emissions”. This was seen as a largely positive move, as negotiations developed a broader perspective and a number of countries proposed possible long-term pledges to reduce fossil fuel emissions by 2050 to ‘net’ or ‘near’ zero.

However, while the terms “near zero emissions” and “net zero emissions” may sound similar, some NGOs here believe they can have the exact opposite meaning. According to Anderson, while a goal of near zero emissions would be essential to addressing climate change, a long term “net zero” goal would mean that developed countries in particular could continue their emissions business as usual , while using alternative approaches to suck carbon out of the air instead of implementing real change.

Of the “net-zero” emissions ap-

proaches currently on the table, most are land-based, and would involve the scaling up of biofuels, biochar or BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage).

“All of these approaches would use massive amounts of land, and this could create significant competition for food production,” she adds.

“In Africa we need land to grow our crops. You cannot be solving another problem by creating another problem,” said Augustine Njamnshi, executive member of Cameroon’s Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme and part of the Panafrican Climate Justice Alliance.

“We call for zero emissions, actually reducing emissions. Net zero means continuing pollution in some countries while stocking carbon dioxide in other countries, which will not be helpful to the communities in Africa,” he added.

This then could have a multiplying effect on food security, as “land use” was this week also introduced into the negotiations on mitigation.

“As land use is now being proposed in mitigation text, there are fears from many NGOs and countries I have talked to that an overemphasis on mitigation relating to agriculture and land will become the priority over adaptation… countries will have to sequester carbon to meet their mitigation goals,” Teresa said.

This, she fears, means that developed countries could supplement their mitigation goals with

plans on purchasing land used for agriculture and turning it into biofuels or biochar. As Teresa added, if this was in fact to occur, it could affect poor and subsistence farmers, especially in developing countries.

“What we have learned from the biofuel land grab, it is always the hungriest, the poorest, the most marginalised who suffer the most.

In the end, they get pushed off their land and thrown into poverty as they can’t afford the price of food.”

However, a number of negotiators, including some from developing countries, have argued that these concerns are exaggerated, and assumes these negotiations are occurring in bad faith.

“I don’t think that’s the way [the European Union] would see it like that because there’s actually a lot of measures you can take within the agriculture sector that have benefits for food security, adaptation and mitigation,” according to Irish delegate Gemma O’Reilly.

This is in the context of a week of negotiations that many feel was among the most successful and collegial in the recent history of the U.N. climate negotiations. As such, O’Reilly still believes we can achieve a win-win situation in the long term.

“There are measures you want to take that’s win-win-win and that’s what you can encourage.

And land-grabbing – I don’t think so,” she added.

While Geneva may have closed (the talks ran Feb. 8-13), negotiations on mitigation remain open

as we move closer to a Paris deal at the end of the year. It is therefore the hope among many developing nations that the inclusion of specific safeguards within mitigation could help protect against a future climate-fuelled land grab.

“If we succeed in having food security within mitigation, we can say that one of the biggest concerns of Southern countries will have been taken into account,” Bonguéré said.

This was reiterated by Dr. Alicia Ilaga, climate director of the Philippine agriculture ministry.

“Adaptation is our priority. If there are mitigation co-benefits, okay, even better, why not? And there are co-benefits for food security. Food security is adaptation, but there are adaptation strategies with mitigation potential,“ she said.

Saying that, climate justice groups this week reminded negotiators that the greatest threat to food security remains the lack of efforts to dramatically reduce carbon emissions before 2020.

Instead of delaying what may become an inevitable climate crisis for farmers and fisherfolk in the future, they call on countries to “take up the call of local communities to transform our energy systems today”.

This approach, partnered with a rapid phase-in of renewable energies and agro-ecological farming practices, could possibly achieve the co-benefits Dr. Ilaga hopes will support food security and prevent further climate change.

“arena of Mind” portrays a space for idea germination, a field where ideas from multi-disciplinary viewpoints fertilize the world of intelligence. The writers aspire to envision a new future by exploring the mind, discovering new seeds of insights and unleashing them to enlightenment.

Mysteries and Science

“Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand”

L

– Neil Armstrong

ife is mysterious. There are amusing mysteries. There are mysteries that define generations. And then there are the grand mysteries. Some have perplexed man since he learnt to question things and analyse.

Science has put to rest many of these mysteries that had hold man in awe in the past. But the greatest of all mystery is the origin of life. Where did life on Earth come from? How did it happen? These are some of the questions raised by man time and again. Science has come up with various theories, some of which are widely accepted, while some are still in question, the rest discarded. Those who believe in the Primordial Soup model believe that a nutrient-rich early Earth eventually formed increasingly-complex molecules that gave rise to life. Different models also give variable levels of importance to the presence of lightning or volcanic activity for the spawn of life.

While DNA is the predominant basis for life on Earth now, it has been suggested that RNA could have dominated the first life forms. Some believe in Panspermia, in which microbial life was brought to Earth via meteorites or comets. Even if that is true, it doesn’t answer the question of how that life originated. In many continents, scientists have been probing the mysteries of life. In recent years, scientific instruments have become enormously more sensitive. At the same time there has been an explosion in computer capabilities. The net outcome is that scientists are seeing previously overlooked subtleties in nature. But the results so far obtained, after prolonged research, in fact create as many new mysteries as the one they seek to solve.

Science, thus, has no better solution to offer than the one dictated by laboratory examination and analyses. This bring us to think whether there is truly the intervention of a Divine Creator who with His master plan made the universe, our solar system , our very own planet Earth , the living creatures on it and man. For if we are to believe otherwise and base our facts on the theory of evolution and natural selection, there are still questions that intrigue me such as, of many thousands of years of evolution, why specifically it had to be us, Homo sapiens to become the brainiest (if I could say) of all beings ever to have lived on earth who develop through civilizations after civilizations, flourishing with time with different morals, ethics and traditions when our nearest relation in the hominid family is still the same. Would not survival of the fittest apply to them as well, thereby modify their brain cranial capacity and their capability to think, reason and analyse as time pass by or are we really special beings created in the image of God, given the ability to think, reason out and choose between what is right and wrong.

Life, indeed, is a mystery with its richness and variability. Along with its marshy stagnant pools there are clean rivers and sparkling springs. Our choice depends upon our concepts of life. Science may take a very long time still to sort out this greatest mystery of all.

However, searching into the unknown is one of science basic characteristics.

It is difficult to be a scientist if you are not comfortable with the unknown.

Thereby, science will continue to reason, analyse and search the truth. For the believers, the fact that science do not always have an answer, that some questions are out of bound for human intelligence, gives more hope and clarity of faith to the unbelievers. In the end they are not two opposite poles but two parallel lines which go hand in hand supplementing each other.

I conclude with the quotes of two famous scientists of all time, who opined their views on science and life as, “In question of science the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellectual has intended us to forgo their use” - Galileo Galilee “The human mind is not capable of grasping the universe. We are like a little child entering a huge library. The walls are covered to the ceilings with books in many different tongues. The child knows that someone must have written these books. It does not know who or how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written.

But the child notes a definite plan in the arrangement of the books- a mysterious order which it does not comprehend, but only dimly suspects.” - Albert Einstein Rüülhounuo Rita Sekhose, Asst. Professor St. Joseph College, Jakhama

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

Dimapur

NATIONAL

Tuesday 17 February 2015

The Morung Express

India & Sri Lanka ink civil nuclear agreement Industry asks govt to clarify on nuclear liability New Delhi, February 16 (iaNS): On the day India signed a civil nuclear agreement with Sri Lanka, Indian industry Monday sought clarity on the country's nuclear liability law that has been "hindering the future of nuclear commerce".

"While industry welcomes the clarifications put forward by the Ministry of External Affairs with respect to certain issues that were hindering the future of nuclear commerce due to existing nuclear liability framework, there still remain some unanswered questions on which industry would require to have a comfort level," Jyotsna Suri, president of industry chamber FICCI, said in a statement here.

"Greater clarity is required vis-àvis the definition of supplier in the context of domestic entities which are engaged in contract manufacturing for the Nuclear Power Corp (state-run), as per their design and specification, especially for the domestic nuclear programme," she added.

Through a set of frequently asked

questions (FAQs) released last week, signalling a possible breakthrough on nuclear cooperation with the US, the government sought to reassure nuclear suppliers also from other countries who have been quite sceptical about the implications of India's nuclear liability law.

One FAQ issued by the external affairs ministry explains that the law "permits but doesn't require an operator to make the supplier liable in its contract for a nuclear reactor or part".

Another answer says that a supplier can be sued for damages only "if it is expressly provided for in a contract in writing".

"The contentious issues that still remain are uncertainties arising out of interpretation of Section 17, Section 46 of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) of 2010," FICCI said.

The ministry release has now eased the way for foreign suppliers by doing away with the right of recourse of a victim to sue the supplier in India directly as well as in a

"class action suit" in foreign courts.

Section 46 on tort law "does not create the grounds for victims to move foreign courts," the MEA said.

The CLNDA empowers victims of any future nuclear accident to sue foreign suppliers for huge potential liability, which is holding back companies from doing business with India.

The operator, in this case the state-run Nuclear Power Corp (NPCIL), is required to take out an insurance policy covering its liability, but the law also allows the operator the right to recourse on the supplier.

"Industry would also like to understand the tenability of the clarifications provided by MEA FAQs as well as the future contracts between NPCIL and industry in a court of law in the event of a nuclear accident," FICCI said.

"The nuclear manufacturing industry would also require a clarification from NPCIL and DAE that this risk would be adequately covered through the Nuclear Insurance Fund," it added.

Nalanda University, and a MoU on cooperation in agriculture.

On the ticklish fishermen's issue, Modi said both leaders "attach the highest importance to the issue" and have agreed for a "constructive and humanitarian approach" to it.

He said that the Indian assisted projects for the Tamil displaced had made excellent progress, including more than 27,000 houses which have been constructed.

On boosting economic cooperation, Modi said in view of India enjoying a huge trade surplus with Sri Lanka, he had voiced his support "for a more balanced growth in trade in both directions" and for promoting "greater flow of Indian investments and tourists into Sri Lanka".

The commerce secretaries of both sides are to meet soon to review bilateral commercial ties.

"We are at a moment of an un-

precedented opportunity to take our bilateral relations to a new level. This visit today has set us firmly in that direction," said Modi.

Sirisena, stressing on the close civilizational links between the two countries, said that Hindu and Buddhist philosophy has influence in his country and that Hindu and Buddhist devotees are living very peacefully and represent the close ties.

He said during talks with Modi, both sides came to "several good conclusions to strengthen ties and strengthen the friendship and we were able to able strengthen that friendship".

He said the friendship between the two countries will not only help build stronger relationship between them bilaterally "but in international forums India will support us and have more understanding between the two countries; building more re-

lations and strengthening the ties, and we agreed to work on a mutual understanding, and it is very clear."

His statement indicates that Sri Lanka is keen that India support Colombo in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) council session in Geneva in March.

Sirisena also said that both sides have agreed to work closely on issues including trade, energy, defence, security, education and culture.

He said his first official visit to India has "borne very fruitful results" and helped bring the relationship to "greater height" and added he believed that both sides would strengthen ties in future in the fields of defence, economy and culture.

Earlier, he was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and later went to lay a wreath at Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave during a photo opportunity in New Delhi on Monday, February 16. Sri Lanka's new leader is underlining India's importance as a regional ally by making it his first official foreign destination as president, following years of uneasy relations with New Delhi and international pressure to speed up post-civil war reconciliation efforts at home. (AP Photo)

New Delhi, February 16 (iaNS): India and close neighbour Sri Lanka Monday sought to begin a new chapter in their ties as the island nation's newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena, on his maiden visit abroad since taking over last month, held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and the two sides inked four agreements, including one on civil nuclear cooperation.

Sirisena, who defeated long-time president Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Jan 8 presidential election, signalled the new closeness in bilateral ties, saying Modi is expected to visit his country in March and that they are "eagerly awaiting the glorious event", which he said would be "an honour and a blessing" to their country.

Modi's likely visit would be the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to the island nation in over 25 years.

Addressing the media after the delegation-level talks held at Hyderabad House, Modi said the agreement on civil nuclear cooperation was "yet another demonstration of our mutual trust".

He said it is the first such agreement that Sri Lanka has signed and it "opens new avenues for cooperation, including in areas like agriculture and healthcare".

The two sides held talks on the issue of peace and reconciliation process in the island nation over a working lunch.

Ties between the neighbours had come under strain under the Rajapaksa government, especially on the issue of arrest and incarceration of Indian fisherfolk and over Sri Lanka's increased dalliance with China.

The berthing of a Chinese submarine in Colombo port had caused consternation in India.

Congratulating Sirisena on his election, Modi said: "India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbour and friend.

The goodwill and support of the people of India will always be with you."

Modi had been one of the first leaders to congratulate Sirisena after his election victory.

He also assured Sirisena of "India's commitment to its development partnership" which would continue to cover areas, including infrastructure.

Both sides have also agreed to expand their defence and security cooperation, including in maritime security cooperation and in trilateral cooperation with the Maldives, another geo-strategically important Indian Ocean neighbor of India.

The four agreements inked are on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, on cultural cooperation, a MoU on establishment of

Airports authority 'Women, religious minorities should be protected' ‘Attitude change key to successful Clean India mission’ staff to go on New Delhi, February 16 (iaNS): Union Rural Development Minister Birender Singh Monday called for an attitudinal change towards hygiene in India as well as an institutional revamp to ensure the Clean India Mission's success, as technological change alone was insufficient.

Addressing the India WASH Summit 2015 here, Singh said the solution to the problem of poor hygiene and sanitation in rural as well as urban India was "not only to introduce new technology" but also linked with the flexibility that all states must have in implementing the mission as well as the need to "ensure leadership capacities at all levels while enhancing the role of panchayati raj that could mobilise communities to implement the Clean India mission".

"Are all the technologies that we have for the solid-waste management actually technically feasible in the rural areas?" he asked, stressing the need to provide communities with technologies that are location-specific and feasible in the rural setting.

In view of the pollution and

the receding water levels in the Ganga, Singh stressed the importance of regulating its tributaries in order to ensure a healthy water system of the ancient river.

"If you want to keep the Ganga clean, then there is a need to regulate the flow of the tributaries of Ganga. Half of the problem is resolved then. Lakhwara and Kisau dams are to be constructed on the upstream of (tributary) Yamuna which would regulate its flow," he said.

Describing sanitation as key to a healthy India, the minister stressed the need to develop a system for monitoring the progress of the mission. He noted the role of civil society is equally important and must also be promoted.

The three-day summit organised by WaterAid and the ministries of drinking water and sanitation and urban development, seeks to explore solutions to sanitation issues in India, and bring together thought leaders, the private sector, government officials and NGOs working in the field to make a clean India a reality by 2019.

strike March 11

New Delhi, February 16 (iaNS): The employees unions of state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) have called for a countrywide strike March 11 to protest against the government’s move to hand over airports to private operators.

Airports Authority Employees Union general secretary and joint forum member Balraj Singh Ahlawat conveyed the decision Monday in a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju. AAI employees will start an agitation with luncheon meetings from Feb 24 prior to going on strike on 11 March, Ahlawat added.

Alleging that privatisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports during the previous UPA government was a big “scam” and that civil aviation ministry had "closed down" old airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad without approval of the AAI board, Ahlawat said the government now wants to hand over four more airports, already modernised by AAI at a cost of Rs.5,000 crore, to private players.

The Airports Authority of India has invited the Request For Qualification (RFQ) from domestic and foreign firms to hand over the operation and development of Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports. Gajapathi Raju said here last week that the government will look at airport privatization as being in the interest of the country. “Those who want to oppose will oppose and those who want to support will support. You do what is in the interest of the country,” the minister said.

Entered politics to serve the city, not for power: Kiran Bedi New Delhi, February 16 (iaNS): Accepting full responsibility for the BJP's crushing defeat in the Delhi assembly elections, the party's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi Monday said she opted for politics "not for position or power but for serving the city".

In an open letter to the people of India, the former IPS officer said she joined politics because "I wanted to give my city all I still had". "I entered when I was given the feeling that I could be of value. I wanted to see it gets a stable government in alignment with the government of India to get all that Delhi needed."

"I also wanted to not die one day with a guilt that I was commenting only and never daring to pass the ultimate test of electoral politics," she said.

Bedi mentioned how she served the city "through thick and thin" and that she did it all not for anything but with a sense of service. "I did it all not for any glory. I did it because the service and situations demanded it." On suffering defeat in Delhi assembly elections, Bedi said she took "full responsibility for it". "I have failed the test and take full responsibility for my decision. But inside me has not failed. Because given the time I gave to myself I gave it all the energy and experience I had. Obviously, it was not enough," she wrote.

Touching upon reasons why she lost the poll, Bedi said there were many factors involved in it. "There are several factors which play a vital role. And each one did. I wish to add nothing more," she said, adding that history will keep ana-

lyzing it. She also suggested that politicians and others involved need to rework "the way we campaign".

"The whole city or state comes to a grinding halt.

Should it? Roads are in disarray, and work just stops," she observed.

Indian democracy, she says in her letter, needs a civil culture and lawabiding environment if it wants many "well-meaning people" to stake their experience for mature and good governance. "I wish to thank all those who reposed their trust in me.

And say I am sorry I could not measure up to theirs," she said in the letter, adding that she was relieved her parents were not alive to hear the foul words hurled at her. The former IPS officer also thanked those who called her "with foulest possible names".

New Delhi, February 16 (iaNS): Home Minister Rajnath Singh Monday underlined the need for women, religious minorities and people belonging to the north-eastern region of India living in Delhi to be provided with foolproof security.

He made these comments while addressing a function organised here to mark the 68th raising day of Delhi Police. "Women's safety is a major issue," Singh said, adding that modern technology should be utilised to enable quick response to those in danger.

All mobile phones, irrespective of their make, should be provided with a special button that could send message to police, thereby help could reach the distressed within minutes, he said. Work in this direction is already on and soon all mobile phones would have this facility, the minister said mentioning 'Himmat', a mobile phone-based application for safety of women in Delhi.

He said it was a step in the right direction and Delhi Police should come out with more technological solutions for modern-day problems and issues. Singh had launched Delhi Police's mobile phone app Himmat Jan 1.

Touching upon issues relating to minorities, he said security should be provided to all religious places.

He was careful not to mention the

attacks on Christian institutions in the city.

The minister, however, mentioned the 1984 Delhi riots against the Sikhs and said the Centre had already constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the riots. "I am confident that now justice would be served to those affected by the riots," he said.

In the past two months, six Christian institutions were vandalised in Delhi. This led to protests with community leaders urging the government to look after them. With

regard to the north-eastern people, he said: "The people from the northeastern region should not feel alienated in the national capital."

He also asked the police to be "considerate to the poor" and "tough on criminals". "Delhi being the national capital has people from all corners of the country. There are poor people earning their livelihood working on road-side stalls... you should be considerate to them but you should be tough on the criminals and others who create problems here," he said.

A young devotee dressed as Hindu god Shiva dances during a procession on the eve of "Shivaratri" festival, in Jammu on February 16. "Shivaratri", or the night of Shiva, is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of death and destruction. (AP Photo)

Are differences on Article 370, AFSPA delaying BJP-PDP pact?

Jammu/SriNagar, February 16 (iaNS): While the PDP and BJP's 'informal negotiations' for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir are progressing smoothly, the two sides are still dragging their feet on contentious issues like Article 370 and the AFSPA. Insiders in both parties -- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) -- in Jammu and Srinagar told IANS that the two sides have agreed on a full six-year term as chief minister for PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.

"The BJP will have the deputy chief minister and a major share in portfolios to ensure equitable development of all the three regions of the state.

"We feel to forge a development-oriented ruling alliance with the PDP in the country's only Muslim majority state would do good to the image of the BJP nationally and internationally," a senior BJP leader said in Jammu.

The leader, requesting anonymity, said at the same time the party would not make any com-

promises on its "basic principles".

The BJP's stand on contentious issues like Article 370, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the settlement of west Pakistan refugees in Jammu and Kashmir has been diagonally opposed to that of the PDP. The PDP seeks firm assurances on protection of Article 370, the BJP stands for a national debate on whether this temporary provision of the Indian constitution, granting special status to J&K, should stay or go.

According to the PDP, the west Pakistan refugees are not permanent residents of the state, as it existed before the accession of J&K to India in 1947.

Therefore, the PDP says there is no constitutional or legal justification in granting these refugees the same rights like other citizens.

Incidentally, these refugees who came here after the IndiaPakistan wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971 do not have the right to buy property or vote in the state assembly elections, though they can vote in the parliamentary elections.

While the BJP maintains that

the AFSPA can only be revoked after the security forces recommend it, the PDP wants its gradual withdrawal to be determined by the state government and not the security forces.

PDP's chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar, who spoke on these issues to IANS in Jammu, said, "Mufti Muhammad Sayeed has been in politics for too long to blink on basics.

"He wants clarity on issues like Article 370 and AFSPA and that clarity has to be in conformity with the commitments we have made to the people when we sought their vote.

"For the development of all the three regions of the state and also for the new government to deliver on political, developmental and administrative fronts, clarity on basic issues is vital.

"Mufti Sahib cannot become chief minister because you assure him a full six-year term. The chief minister has to be able to deliver and face his people and for that he needs clarity on issues."

Akhtar dismissed reports that an agreement on an alliance is likely to be announced within the next

two to three days.

"We have to agree on a CMP (common minimum programme) in a transparent, structured dialogue. The CMP would be made public before the PDP and the BJP stake claim to form the government.

"Interestingly, more than the PDP and the BJP, it is the National Conference that seems to be 'worried' about how soon we stake claim on government formation.

"Doesn't this prove that had the ball been in the NC's court they would have played it even without caring where it would land the people of the state?" Akhtar said.

In brief, the PDP and the BJP are still taxing their brains on how to meet each other half way on article 370 and AFSPA. Could the impasse on these basic issue become a stalemate that would deny Jammu and Kashmir an elected government even after the massive participation of the people in the election held in NovDec last year?

Top PDP and BJP leaders believe the hurdle is high, but they are optimistic about crossing it.

InternatIonal

the Morung express

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Dimapur

9

Westerners join Christian militia to fight Islamic State DUHOK, FebrUary 16 (reUters): Saint Michael, the archangel of battle, is tattooed across the back of a U.S. army veteran who recently returned to Iraq and joined a Christian militia fighting Islamic State in what he sees as a biblical war between good and evil. Brett, 28, carries the same thumb-worn pocket Bible he did whilst deployed to Iraq in 2006 – a picture of the Virgin Mary tucked inside its pages and his favourite verses highlighted. “It’s very different,” he said, asked how the experiences compared.

“Here I’m fighting for a people and for a faith, and the enemy is much bigger and more brutal.”

Thousands of foreigners have flocked to Iraq and Syria in the past two years, mostly to join Islamic State, but a handful of idealistic Westerners are enlisting as well, citing frustration their governments are not doing more to combat the ultraradical Islamists or prevent the suffering of innocents.

The militia they joined is called Dwekh Nawsha – meaning self-sacrifice in the ancient Aramaic language spoken by Christ and still used by Assyrian Christians, who consider themselves the indigenous people of Iraq.

A map on the wall in the office of the Assyrian political party affiliated with Dwekh Nawsha marks the Christian towns in northern Iraq, fanning out

Egypt strikes IS in Libya after video of mass killing CaIrO, FebrUary 16 (aP): Egypt said Monday it has launched airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Libya after the extremist group released a grisly video showing the beheading of several Egyptian Coptic Christians it had held hostage for weeks.

A spokesman for the Armed Forces General Command announced the strikes on state radio Monday, marking the first time Cairo has publicly acknowledged taking military action in neighboring Libya, where extremist groups seen as a threat to both countries have taken root in recent years.

The statement said the warplanes targeted weapons caches and training camps before returning safely. It said the strikes were “to avenge the bloodshed and to seek retribution from the killers.” “Let those far and near know that Egyptians have a shield that protects them,” it said.

Libya’s air force meanwhile announced it had launched strikes in the eastern city of Darna, which was taken over by an Islamic State affiliate last year. The announcement, on the Facebook page of the Air Force Chief of Staff, did not provide further details. The video purporting to show the mass beheading of Scott, (Center) a Westerner who has joined the Iraqi Christian militia Dwekh Nawsha to fight against Islamic State militants, carries his weapon at the office of the Assyrian political party in Dohuk, northern Iraq February Coptic Christian hostages was released late Sunday by militants in Libya affiliated with 13, 2015. around the city of Mosul.

The majority are now under control of Islamic State, which overran Mosul last summer and issued am ultimatum to Christians: pay a tax, convert to Islam, or die by the sword. Most fled.

Dwekh Nawsha operates alongside Kurdish peshmerga forces to protect Christian villages on the frontline in Nineveh province. “These are some of the only towns in Nineveh where church bells ring. In every other

town the bells have gone silent, and that’s unacceptable,” said Brett, who has “The King of Nineveh” written in Arabic on the front of his army vest.

Brett, who like other foreign volunteers withheld his last name out of concern for his family’s safety, is the only one to have engaged in fighting so far. The others, who arrived just last week, were turned back from the frontline on Friday by Kurdish security services

who said they needed of- Duhok, where they arrived ficial authorisation. last week. “I’m here to make a difference and hopefully “Stop Some Atrocities” put a stop to some atrociTim shut down his con- ties,” said 38-year-old Tim, struction business in Brit- who previously worked in ain last year, sold his house the prison service. “I’m just and bought two plane tick- an average guy from Engets to Iraq: one for himself land really.” and another for a 44-yearScott, the software enold American software en- gineer, served in the U.S. gineer he met through the Army in the 1990s, but lateinternet. ly spent most of his time in The men joined up front of a computer screen at Dubai airport, flew to in North Carolina. He was the Kurdish city of Sulei- mesmerised by images maniyah and took a taxi to of Islamic State militants

hounding Iraq’s Yazidi minority and became fixated on the struggle for the Syrian border town of Kobani -- the target of a relentless campaign by the jihadists, who were held off by the lightly armed Kurdish YPG militia, backed by U.S. air strikes.

Scott had planned to join the YPG, which has drawn a flurry of foreign recruits, but changed his mind four days before heading to the Middle East after growing suspicious of

the Islamic State group.

The killings raise the possibility that the extremist group — which controls about a third of Syria and Iraq in a self-declared caliphate — has established a direct affiliate less than 500 miles (800 kilometers) from the southern tip of Italy. One of the militants in the video makes direct reference to that possibility, saying the group now plans to “conquer Rome.”

The militants had been holding 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian laborers rounded up from the city of Sirte in December and January. It was not clear from the video whether all 21 hostages were killed. It was one of the first such beheading videos from an Islamic State group affiliate to come from outside the group’s core territory in Syria and Iraq.

Libya in recent months has seen the worst unrest since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadacombat the country’s many Islamic extremist groups.

The internationally recognized government has been confined to the country’s far east since Islamist-allied militias seized the capital Tripoli last year, and Islamist politicians have reconstituted a previous government and parliament.

the group’s ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

He and the other volunteers worried they would not be allowed home if they were associated with the PKK, which the United States and Europe consider a terrorist organisation.

They also said they disliked the group’s leftist ideology.

The only foreign woman in Dwekh Nawsha’s ranks said she had been inspired by the role of women in the YPG, but identified more closely

with the “traditional” values of the Christian militia. Wearing a baseball cap over her balaclava, she said radical Islam was at the root of many conflicts and had to be contained.

All the volunteers said they were prepared to stay in Iraq indefinitely. “Everyone dies,” said Brett, asked about the prospect of being killed. “One of my favourite verses in the Bible says: be faithful unto death, and I shall give you the crown of life.”

Hong Kong captain gets 8 UNSC OKs resolution against Yemen rebels years for 2012 sea collision In this Jan. 13, 2012 file photo the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia lays on its starboard side after it ran aground off the coast of the Isola del Giglio island, Italy, gashing open the hull and forcing some 4,200 people aboard to evacuate aboard lifeboats to the nearby Tuscan Isola del Giglio island. (AP File Photo)

HONG KONG, FebrUary 16 (aP): A Hong Kong ferry captain was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for the deaths of 39 people in a 2012 accident that was the southern Chinese coastal city’s biggest maritime disaster in decades.

A judge handed down the sentence to Lai Saiming after his conviction Saturday on charges of manslaughter and endangering the safety of others at sea, according to a Department of Justice spokeswoman. The captain of the other boat involved in the

collision, Chow Chi-wai, was given a nine-month sentence. He was cleared by a jury of manslaughter but convicted of endangering others at sea.

All of those killed, including eight children, and most of the nearly 100 injured were aboard Chow’s boat. The two captains had blamed each other for the Oct. 1, 2012, collision, which came as a shock to the former British colony, renowned for efficient and safe public transport networks. The verdicts came down after a 60-day trial and four

South Africa protests apartheid column in Japanese paper

tOKyO, FebrUary 16 (aP): South Africa’s ambassador to Japan has sent a letter of protest to a conservative Japanese newspaper about a recent column that seemed to advocate separate residential districts for foreign workers, based on the post-apartheid experience.

Ambassador Mohau Pheko called apartheid a crime against humanity that should not be justified in the 21st century, the Sankei newspaper said in an article published over the weekend. A Feb. 11 column in Sankei by regular columnist and well-known conservative writer Ayako Sono said Japan needs foreign workers to offset its shrinking population, but that different races should live apart.

“Ever since I learned of the situation in South Africa 20 to 30 years ago, I have come to think that living in residential areas divided into whites, Asians and blacks is better,” she wrote. People can do many things together, including business, research and sports, she concluded, “but when it comes to residences, we had better keep ourselves separate.”

Sono, who has served on an advisory panel for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on education, is quoted saying in the weekend Sankei article that her column did not call for an apartheid policy for Japan. “I only wrote, from my personal observation, that it is difficult for people with different customs to live together.”

A statement at the end of the article by senior Sankei editor Takeshi Kobayashi said Sono’s regular column reflects her opinion, and that the newspaper believes that apartheid and racial discrimination should not be permitted.

days of deliberations.

Lai’s commuter ferry was heading from Hong Kong Island to the outlying island of Lamma when the collision occurred.

The smaller boat, owned by the Hong Kong Electric Co., was taking employees of the company on a harbor excursion to watch the Chinese National Day fireworks display. Fleets of ferries form the backbone of the city’s transportation network, running frequently to outlying islands, the Chinese mainland and the gambling enclave of Macau.

UNIteD NatIONs, FebrUary 16 (aP): The United Nations Security Council on Sunday unanimously adopted a resolution demanding that Shiite rebels immediately relinquish control of Yemen’s government in a crisis that has pushed the Arab world’s poorest country near collapse.

Arab countries have been pressing for the use of military force against what they call the rebel group’s “illegitimate seizure of power.” But the resolution approved by all 15 council members at an emergency meeting does not act under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which would allow it to be militarily enforced.

The resolution, cosponsored by 10 countries including the United States, demands that the Houthi rebels “immediately and unconditionally” withdraw forces from government institutions and engage “in good faith” in U.N.-led peace talks. “It was clear the world was waiting for a powerful message from the U.N. Security Council,” British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told the council. “The Houthis must take responsibility for

their actions and stop using violence and coercion as political tools.”

It was the council’s first resolution on Yemen since the current crisis with the rebels began. “This resolution is overdue,” New Zealand Ambassador Jim McLay said. He called the Houthi takeover a “coup d’etat.” The Houthis’ takeover that began with seizing the capital, Sanaa, in September has raised alarms that the world’s most dangerous branch of al-Qaida, based in Yemen, would use the chaos to its advantage. The Houthis and the militant Sunnis of the al-Qaida branch are bitter rivals.

Worried that Shiite powerhouse Iran is backing the rebels, foreign ministers of the largely Sunni sixnation Gulf Cooperation Council on Sunday urged the Security Council to intervene. They warned that if the world fails to respond they were prepared to take action on their own to maintain regional security and stability. They did not elaborate on what measures the group might take.

The Security Council resolution also demands that the Houthis release

Houthi Shiite Yemenis wearing army uniforms stand guard outside the Republican Palace in Sanaa, Yemen on Monday, February 16. The United Nations Security Council on Sunday unanimously adopted a resolution demanding that Shiite rebels immediately relinquish control of Yemen’s government in a crisis that has pushed the Arab world’s poorest country near collapse. (AP Photo)

U.S.-backed President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his Cabinet from house arrest. Hadi resigned last month after the rebels dissolved the parliament.

The GCC ministers had demanded that the resolution impose sanctions against anyone “hampering the process of peaceful transition of power.” The resolution only calls for “further

steps” if the parties in Yemen fail to implement the resolution.

Other changes from the GCC’s wishes included dropping a reference to the Houthis’ takeover as a “coup” and strongly deploring, instead of condemning, the rebels’ actions.

Jordan’s ambassador, Dina Kawar, told reporters that “we wanted the resolution

accepted by all members” of the council. The GCC includes Yemen’s neighbors Saudi Arabia and Oman as well as Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia’s U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi called the resolution “a milestone” and said, “We will be following up with the council on a daily basis.”

Battle persists for Ukraine railway hub LUHaNsKe, FebrUary 16 (aP): Intense artillery exchanges between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists persisted Monday around a strategic town in eastern Ukraine — fighting that threatens to dash a cease-fire deal brokered

by European leaders last week.

Under a cease-fire agreement negotiated by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, the warring sides to begin withdrawing heavy weapons from the front line Tuesday. That plan already looks at risk, with the rebels saying they are not satisfied that conditions are in place for the process to go ahead.

Associated Press reporters in Luhanske, a government-held town 15 kilometers (9 miles) northwest of the bitterly contested railway hub of Debaltseve, heard sustained shelling Monday. Some of the artillery appeared to be outgoing, suggesting it was being fired

by Ukrainian troops.

Debaltseve, still in government hands, remains in contention despite the cease-fire. The rebels insist the town should revert to their control because they have encircled it. A loaded Grad

An Ukrainian soldier strikes a V-Victory sign driving on his vehicle on the road between the towns of Debaltseve and Artemivsk, Ukraine on February 16. The Ukrainian government and Russia-backed rebels accused each other Monday of violating a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, a day before the parties are due to start withdrawing heavy weaponry under a recently brokered deal. (AP Photo)

rocket launcher was seen pointing in the direction of Debaltseve, but it was not fired while AP journalists were present.

Observers from the Organization from Security and Cooperation in Europe, who are supposed to monitor the cease-fire, said Sunday that separatists denied them access to Debaltseve. Despite the cease-fire that went into effect early Sunday morning, 5 Ukrainian troops were killed and

25 wounded in the past 24 hours, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said Monday.

Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of arming and supplying manpower to the separatists and have imposed a range of economic sanctions to pressure Moscow into changing its course. Russia denies all suggestions it is directly involved in the war in Ukraine but the sheer amount of heavy weapons the rebels have belies that claim.

The cease-fire had raised cautious hopes for an end to the 10-month-old conflict, which has already claimed more than 5,300 lives. But Ukraine and rebel officials have already traded multiple accusations of attacks since then.

Separatist military official Eduard Basurin said in a televised news conference Monday that the government overnight lobbed artillery at Horlivka, a town under rebel control.

Ukraine, however, blamed that attack on the rebels. The government-appointed police chief of the Donetsk region, Vyacheslav Abroskin, said the separatists shelled the town in order to derail the truce.

Both the separatists and the Ukrainian government insist they are committed to the ceasefire negotiated in marathon talks last week. But the Russian news agency Interfax quoted Basurin as saying Monday that conditions are not yet ready to pull back heavy weapons Tuesday.

“We will begin pulling back equipment from the line of contact if we receive a certain signal, which is if the Ukrainians also do the same thing,” Basurin was quoted as say-

ing. In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed for the cease-fire to be respected.

“The situation is fragile,” Merkel conceded. “(But) that was certainly to be expected with a view to Debaltseve.”

German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli mentioned the possibility of a meeting between the German, French, Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers this week to discuss “further steps” to implement the cease-fire deal.

On Monday, the European Union added 19 more people and nine organizations to its list of sanctioned Russian entities, including two Russian deputy defense ministers, the eastern Ukraine-born Russian crooner Iosif Kobzon, who sang to the rebel leaders in Donetsk last year, and several separatist commanders.

The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted angrily to the decision, calling it “clumsy” in the context of last week’s cease-fire deal. The ministry dismissed the new EU sanctions as “running against common sense” and harming chances “to resolve an internal Ukrainian conflict.”

10

Dimapur

SPORTS

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Bradford ousts Sunderland, Arsenal advances

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez, center, makes a failed attempt to score, during the English FA Cup fifth round soccer match between Arsenal and Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium in London, Sunday, February 15. (AP Photo)

LONDON, FebRuARy 16 (AP): Third-tier Bradford produced another FA Cup upset against Premier League opposition on Sunday, beating Sunderland 2-0 to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 39 years as holder Arsenal ousted Middlesbrough by the same score.

Jon Stead scored for a fifth consecutive round in the second half after an own goal from John O'Shea gifted Bradford the lead in the third minute.

Bradford, which beat Premier League leader Chelsea to reach the fifth round, is now only one win

9th open Naga wrestling c’ship prepone KOhImA, FebRuARy 16 (mexN): The 9th open Naga wrestling championship 2015 under the aegis of Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) and Chakhesang Wrestling Association (CWA) as the host, has been preponed to March 12 due to some unavoidable circumstances.

The champion will fetch a cash prize of Rs. 1.50 lakh while the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place will be awarded with Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 50,000 respectively.

The quarter finalists will receive Rs. 8000 each and Rs. 4000 each for prequarter finalists.

Forms has been made available at Sports World, old Taxi stand, Kohima, ASA president, CWA president, ZWA president, Life Centre, Pfutsero and those from Manipur state have been informed to contact NWA joint secretary at 9436422737.

Apart from Tenyimi, this open Naga wrestling championship is open to the interested wrestlers from outside Nagaland state as well. Registration fee has been fixed at Rs. 500. Last date of submission of form is March 7.

from a Wembley Stadium semifinal.

"There was always a danger that because we beat Chelsea everyone would expect us to win today," Bradford manager Phil Parkinson said. "We had to guard against that and go in there with the underdog mentality.

"Right from the first whistle we played with great desire and great spirit and we were first to every ball all over the pitch. Maybe we took Sunderland by surprise."

Bradford, which was relegated from the Premier League in 2001 and is cur-

rently ninth in League One, produced another stunning cup run in 2013 when it reached a League Cup final won by Swansea.

"We have done it again and we are obviously buzzing," Stead told BBC radio.

"It was a terrific start for us to get the goal and we just carried on from there."

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet maintained that the loss "is not humiliating." "If the top teams always beat the smaller teams, then the cup would not exist," Poyet said.

It was a routine day, though, for Arsenal. Middlesbrough, which is sec-

ond in the second tier, never looked like emulating its fourth-round victory over Premier League champion Manchester City.

Olivier Giroud scored both of Arsenal's goals in the 2-0 win to take his tally in the season to 10.

The France forward turned in Kieran Gibbs' cross in the 27th minute and netted again inside two minutes after meeting Alexis Sanchez's corner at the near post.

"Giroud is today a different player to the guy who arrived here (in 2012)," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "He has im-

proved tremendously his mobility, his technical quality."

The closest Middlesbrough came was in stoppage time when Kike headed against the post.

The day's all-Premier League encounter was closer, with Aston Villa beating Leicester 2-1.

Leandro Bacuna broke the deadlock in the 68th minute, and Scott Sinclair doubled Villa's lead in the 89th, with goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer helping the ball into the net.

Andrej Kramaric headed one back for Leicester a minute later, but Villa held on with new manager Tim Sherwood watching from the stands. The former Tottenham manager delivered an impromptu halftime team talk despite leaving coach Scott Marshall in charge for this game.

"He came in and made a couple of points to the lads," Marshall said. "I thought the boys delivered that in the second half and were very good."

The fifth round will be completed on Monday when Manchester United plays at Preston. Blackburn, Liverpool, Reading and West Bromwich Albion won on Saturday to secure a place in Monday's draw for the last eight.

Messi nets 3 more goals in Bara's win

bARCeLONA, FebRuARy 16 (AP): Lionel Messi kept up his scoring streak by netting a hat trick as Barcelona swept aside an outclassed Levante 5-0 in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Messi scored his 12th, 13th and 14th goals in Barcelona's 11-game winning run after Neymar had put the hosts ahead. Substitute Luis Suarez finished off the rout as Barcelona stayed one point behind leader Real Madrid.

"He's spectacular," Neymar said of Messi. "We have our dynamic now, things are coming easily, and we are playing our game. Messi and Suarez and I, we are understanding each other well. It's an honor to play with them."

While Barcelona stayed on Madrid's heels, Atletico Madrid stumbled to a 2-0 defeat at Celta Vigo that left the defending champions seven points adrift. Messi passed for Neymar to set the hosts on their way in the 17th minute at Camp Nou Stadium. He then struck twice from open play and added a penalty before Suarez used an acrobatic scissor kick to polish off the demolition.

Even by his high standards, Messi is having an outstanding season and getting better as it reaches

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, second right, scores against Levante's goalkeeper Diero Marina, left, during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, February 15. (AP Photo)

its critical phase. Messi' 31st career treble with Barcelona took his tally in all competitions to 37 goals in 33 games this campaign.

His latest multi-goal performance came in his 300th league match and increased his all-time record haul for the competition to 269 goals.

They were also Messi's 24th, 25th and 26th league goals this season as he closed in on Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo's tournament-leading tally of 28.

Ronaldo had led Messi 2819. Neymar is third with 17 goals through 23 rounds.

Messi and Neymar have combined for 24 goals during Barcelona's winning run to quell a club crisis

sparked by a loss at Real Sociedad in early January that was followed by the firing of its sports director and the club calling for early presidential elections this summer.

Coach Luis Enrique, however, applauded his team's attitude. "My players aren't euphoric because they know how tough it is to win a title," said Luis Enrique. "The number of games you win doesn't matter if they don't help you win titles."

Elsewhere on Sunday, Alvaro Negredo earned and converted a 71st-minute penalty to give Valencia a 1-0 win at home over Getafe to reclaim fourth place and the last Champions

League spot from Sevilla.

Rayo Vallecano got goals from Alberto Bueno and Gael Kakuta beat sixthplace Villarreal 2-0.

Barcelona completely dominated the relegationthreatened visitors who went no closer than David Barral's effort that hit Sergio Busquets in the 26th.

Besides Messi's vision to spot his run, Neymar was helped by a dose of good fortune to score Barcelona's first goal. Messi cut in from the right flank before meeting Neymar's run from the left with a lobbed pass that the Brazil striker scuffed, only for the ball to loop over goalkeeper Diego Marino and cross the goalline.

The Morung Express

ronaldo looks to break out of slump Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, February 7. (AP Photo)

PARIS, FebRuARy 16 (AP): Cristiano Ronaldo finds himself in a rare position: the goals are drying up for the Real Madrid star.

The Ballon d'Or winner has not scored in his past three games and has netted just four times in the past 10 — totally unexpected giving that he started the season with 17 in his first 11. The good news is that Schalke is the next opponent: they meet in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ronaldo scored four goals when Madrid routed the German side 9-2 on aggregate in the competition last season. Goals have been easy to come by, too, for rampant Bayern Munich, which warmed up for Tuesday's trip to play Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk with an 8-0 destruction of Hamburger SV. Paris Saint-Germain has been struck by a major injury crisis ahead of Tuesday's home game against fully-fit Chelsea — which knocked PSG out at the quarterfinal stage last season.

Swiss side Basel faces Porto on Wednesday. Here are some other things to know about the Champions League's last-16 games:

season but is still looking for his first Chelsea goal in the Champions League.

MANGLED MADRID Real Madrid seemed invincible while on a Spanish-record 22-win streak to close out a trophy-rich 2014. But since then it has proven vulnerable as it racks up losses and injuries. Carlo Ancelotti's side has seen its defense of the Copa del Rey crown ended by Atletico Madrid, which also dealt it a 4-0 thrashing in the league for Madrid's biggest loss since 2010.

The European champion's struggles come with its defense and midfield hit by injuries. James Rodriguez (broken right foot), Luka Modric (left leg), Sergio Ramos (left leg), Pepe (ribs) and Fabio Coentrao (right leg) are all out of Wednesday's match against German side Schalke 04.

Aside from Rodriguez, Madrid's starpowered attack is fully intact with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale all available.

BAYERN BACK IN BUSINESS Bayern Munich answered a recent dip in form with an 8-0 hammering of Hamburger SV for the club's biggest Bundesliga win in over 30 years on Saturday. "I'm happy that we're back to our way of playing," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said ahead of Tuesday's trip to play Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.

Germany defender Holger Badstuber showed no signs of rust on his return from five months out with a left thigh injury. He had missed 20 months before that with a knee injury. Bastian Schweinsteiger will play defensive midfield against Donetsk if Xabi Alonso doesn't recover from a thigh strain.

Franck Ribery is available again after scoring Saturday on his return from a thigh injury, while Rafinha returned from an ankle injury. Philipp Lahm, Javi Martinez and Thiago Alcantara are all out. The game is being played in Lviv due to the deadly conflict in the east of Ukraine.

DECIMATED PSG Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc is doing a head-count to see who is fit to face Chelsea. Midfielder Yohan Cabaye, Brazilian winger Lucas, center half Lucas and right back Sergie Aurier all limped off injured in Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Caen and have been ruled out. Midfielder Blaise Matuidi is rated as doubtful after taking a blow to his knee.

"We won't have a lot of options, we'll have (Thiago) Motta and maybe (Javier) Pastore," Blanc said. "We knew we were on the razor's edge in terms of tiredness but I honestly never thought this kind of thing would happen. We're very unlucky in terms of the number of injuries and it will have an impact." With Lucas out, Blanc desperately needs Pastore to be fit. The Argentine playmaker was PSG's best player when it beat Chelsea 3-1 in the home leg of ODD ONES OUT Basel vs Porto is the only one of eight their Champions League quarterfinal last season. "For the time being I can't confirm pairings without a club from the big three Champions League nations of Spain, Enghe'll be in the squad," Blanc said. land and Germany — and that suits them just fine. They have just a single quarterfiRESTED CHELSEA The contrast between injury-hit Paris nal appearance between them since Porto Saint-Germain and fully-rested Chelsea became European champion for a second time in 2004. Basel showed it must be recould not be greater.

While PSG lost four players to injury on spected at St. Jakob-Park in its only last-16 Saturday, Jose Mourinho's Chelsea play- appearance during that span, beating Bayers benefited from a rare weekend off with ern Munich 1-0 in the first leg.

Still, Basel is now without several playthe team not involved in FA Cup action.

"I welcome this little rest for the players," ers, including Switzerland center-back Fasaid Mourinho, who is bidding to win the bian Schaer, who is suspended. A strange competition with a third different club af- January transfer policy saw two international midfielders — Marcelo Diaz of Chile ter success with Porto and Inter Milan.

Even worse for PSG — which also played and Ivory Coast's Geoffroy Serey Die — sold a midweek French Cup game — is that Chel- to German clubs and forward Giovanni Sio sea's top scorer Diego Costa will be fresh loaned out. Porto was among just three after serving a three-game ban. The Spain clubs, with Real Madrid and Chelsea, to forward has 17 league goals in 19 games this advance unbeaten through its group.

public discourse

You know you are in Nagaland when…

1. You go to a govt. office at 10’clock it is too early,no one has arrived yet and if you go during the afternoon at around 1 or 2 pm it is too late,everybody has gone home.

2. None of the govt.teachers send their own children to the govt.schools.

3. Everybody criticizes anything that is ‘Government .For example,Govt. schools,Govt. hospitals,Govt.teachers Govt.order,Govt. plans etc.but everybody wants Government service, Govt.contracts & Govt. supplies,Govt. subsidies for themselves and their children.

4. The revenues generated from the public are given as loans and end up in the round pay game of employees often in many departments.

5. Even if our govt. is in a debt trap and huge deficit with pathetic roads,erratic power,water scarcity,unpaid salaries but crores of rupees for Hornbill Festival must go on,countless palatial mansions,luxurious imported cars fruitless,foreign trips and ten days Hornbill festival is a must.

6. Most of the worst roads are near the best houses and towards posh localities.

7. If you don’t address anyone by calling them ’Sir/Ma’m,be it an official ,clerk or a peon by firstly saying they show you a big frown on their faces and you may not get your job done.

8. The more the richer one gets everybody praises him/her and term it as a ‘Blessing’ no mat-

ter from what source is the wealth coming.

9. Christmas means loud music,drunk -joyrides, bursting crackers,partying whole night and one-night love affairs. While Christmas holidays stretch for the whole month of December to till February.

10. Knitting sweaters, playing ludos, cards and caroms are some of the favourite past-times of our government offices. If not, playing solitaire on office desk-tops whenever alone.

11. Government vehicles are for multi-purpose like dropping and picking school children ,shopping ,carrying you poultry and pig-feeds, garden manure, marketing and countless personal errands.

12. If you don’t tip for some work in an office either your file gathers dust or goes missing and becomes untraceable. The most common catch line for anyone who did you some favor will ask you in any office is “ Cha-sah khabole alop tu dibi” 13. Year ending season means sale of calendars ,lotteries, pens, diaries etc. for fundraise 14. Everybody on a buying spree of a new car no matter if they have a parking space or not or not worrying they can maintain or not.

15. Giving your wedding card to everyone you know by name even if you don’t know them.

16. Not having meat or a fish in your plate of rice means an incomplete dish especially pork is a must for any feast.

17. Whatever thing or issue it is, everything ends up in failure because of Tribalism.

Now Groupism has set in cunningly in the name of tribal, traditional and political unity.

18. Any government scandal or corruption case simply becomes silent and goes away into oblivion.

19.

When applying for a post-matric scholarship every students’ (including ministers ,MLAs, bureaucrats’ children) parents becomes a cultivator and their income is always lower than the amount that is the prescribed to be eligible for applying it.

20. When applying for govt. schemes and subsidies everybody’s occupation (ministers and bureaucrats wives included) is a cultivator/cultivator/agriculturist 21. Your salary can be deducted any day, any month any amount by any Tom,Dick and Harry organisations for whatever reason and purpose ,the people deducting and God knows best.

22. If your church, village, department or association doesn’t organize some study tour or exposure tours means you’re lagging behind because it is the ‘in-thing”.

23. Contractors know the paper works better than the actual ground works.

24. Any charity work or donation must be published in the newspapers.

25. Any open space outside a private boundary wall or near a main road is a garbage dumping ground.

26. Illegal immigrants and outsiders gets the most prime located shops in commercial hubs while are Naga women are made to sell their vegetables in the foot-path come rain or sun.

27. Not felicitating someone from your area or village for some achievement like passing in exams or promotion in service means the union leaders are not insincere or efficient in their duties.

28. If you do something better or sooner than someone, they will start criticizing you.

29. While the Naga world passes by as usual with divisions/clashes the outsiders and our adversaries seems to be having the last laugh.

30.

Instead of every small change not available in shop and pharmacies, you will get a chewing gum or a sweet .

31. Everyone who is tied up with some organisation from the village-level to district level has a name plate in their vehicle.

32.

The organisations that shout on roof-tops seem to be silent the most when liquor flows more than any other time –the Hornbill Festival.

33. The Holiday Season is the most busiest season with endless and multiple weddings in a single day, family shopping, countless meetings, conferences ,get-togethers, nonstop visits by every people you know or have seen them since eons ago.etc. Jubilees and Centenary celebrations also happen only during the festive season.

34. Every festival is marked by special dis-

counts and offers but Christmas time means hiking the price multiple times because someone is going to buy it even if you don’t so ultimately you buy it to the gain of the unscrupulous traders.

35. Grumble when you get a wedding card and grumble again if you don’ get it too.

Also give your wedding card to everyone you know by name and haven’t met even once.

36. Where the rich and the powerful comes late and sit in the front pews of our in churches as if it was a hereditary right for them while the poor and the lowly feels scared even to go and sit in the front.

37. When electricity goes everyone in the neighbourhood shouts in unison ‘ YEEYY….and when electricity returns everyone shouts WOWW!.

38. Owning expensive mobile phones, wearing the best dress ,buying a car becomes more of a necessity rather than able to afford it or a luxury.

39. Every NGOs, political party activists from village area to district units to wannabe somebody or anybody puts up a self-style name-plate on their vehicles. If you’re a relative of some VIPs/VVIPs then beacon lights are entitled freely by onself.

40. Where our own relative orphans and other Naga children are neglected in the orphanages but adopting other unknown people are done without any remorse Jonah Achumi, Dimapur

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.

C M Y K

Dimapur

11

Twinkle Khanna’s Fierce Column Regarding supergroup with Alice Cooper The AIB Roast Deserves A Standing Ovation!

Johnny Depp has formed a supergroup called Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, with the group set to perform at Brazil's Rock in Rio in September.

T

he 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor has created Hollywood Vampires with the 67-yearold rocker and Aerosmith guitarist, who will make their first performance at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in September. A message on Alice's website read: ''Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp have been partners for a while and now

with Joe Perry also on Hollywood Vampires, they will 'rock it out' yet once again.''

The newly formed band - whose name pays homage to a posse of musicians who used alcohol for initiation in the 1970s - will perform on the same evening as Queens of the Stone Age and System of a Down at the annual event, which takes place on various dates between

September 18 and 27. The 51-year-old actor has previously joined both stars on stage, as well as performing with The Black Keys, Marilyn Manson, Ryan Adams and Oasis.

However, the announcement comes just weeks after the 'Mortdecai' hunk - who recently wed his long-term girlfriend Amber Heard - de-

clared he thinks it is embarrassing when film stars become musicians. He said: ''I've been very lucky to play on friends' records and it's still going. Music is still part of my life, but you won't be hearing The Johnny Depp Band. That won't ever exist. ''I hate the idea, 'Come see me play the guitar because you've seen me in 12 movies'.''

MISSIon: IMpoSSIBLe 5 I

Confirmed For IMAX Release

n a joint statement, Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions, Bad Robot, and IMAX have officially announced that the blockbuster Mission: Impossible 5, which stars superstar Tom Cruise as IMF Agent Ethan Hunt, will be released worldwide on IMAX screens starting July 31.

Originally, the film was set to arrive Christmas Day, a week after Disney's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but then in a surprise announcement, Paramount revealed that the action sequel had been moved up a few months to late July.

The move was praised by many in the industry as it allowed MI5 to not only avoid the highly anticipated Star Wars sequel, would've missed out on but also allowed it to in December. take full advantage of the In the press release, 338 IMAX screens that it Cruise added: “IMAX is so

partnership on the next ‘’Mission,'” This will be Cruise's fifth impossible mission.

He'll be reunited with Jack Reacher director Christopher McQuarrie and former cast members Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, & Ving Rhames. Joining the franchise for the first time are Alec Baldwin, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Simon McBurney, and Zhang Jingchu.

winkle Khanna is one of the best columnists we have right now and if you don’t agree with this statement, you should check out her latest column on India’s rising intolerance.

She wrote about a statue being built for around Rs 1,900 crore even though only 10% of our children have access to education beyond higher secondary schooling. She mentioned how the term Bombay has become so ‘offensive‘ that it has to be beeped out of a song and how a politician can call us ‘har@#mzaade‘ and get away with it but the AIB (who ‘roasted‘ their guests WITH their consent) have to deal with numerous FIRS. Here’s an excerpt from her column originally posted on the Times Of India: If I had to be offended by a live show I would rather be offended by Arnab who invites people on his show and then doesn’t let them speak. I saw an episode where he is asking the education minister a question and then screaming over her answers. Now that’s just bad manners. At least in the AIB roast they called guests over, let them say their bit, people laughed and went home. But we still have to get outraged even though they had made it clear that the show is for adults only. Not only that, she fiercely wrote about the hypocrisy our society and our law makers encourage on a daily basis.

We now also have an

C M Y K

assortment of people up in arms about the gags made on a person’s sexuality but shouldn’t we be more offended by the fact that homosexuality is considered illegal in India and that Section 377 still exists?

The jokes about dark skin offend us because deep down, some of us idiotically think that having dark skin is a shortcoming. Would we be as offended if jokes were made about having fair skin like, ‘You are so fair that you were thrown out of the Nirma washing powder commercial for being whiter than the washed shirt.’?

Yes, I wish the AIB had made astute, layered gags and jibes but to be so offended as to lynch them over a bunch of wisecracks?

Shouldn’t we save our strength to protest against things that really matter — like gangs of men still killing and raping women as they did again in Rohtak; that we spend $38.35 billion on warfare but are slashing our health care budget by 20% despite being a country whose public spending on health is already among the lowest in the world; that a bunch of us have been called ‘haramzade’ on a political platform from a member of the party that governs us and not from a standup comedian but no FIR is filed against the politician but is filed against the AIB comedians instead.

Kate Middleton Voices Support For Children With Mental illnesses

I

n a very powerful message, the Duchess of Cambridge wants children and parents to know that it is OK to ask for help.

Kate Middleton, who is seven months pregnant with her second child, really wants to promote the importance of childhood during the U.K.'s first Children's Mental Health Week, so she is showing her support for any kids that desperately need help.

Middleton wants to promote the awareness of children with mental health issues The Duchess of Cambridge recently released a new PSA video in which she voices her support for Place2Be, an organisation

that provides mental health services within schools, because she feels every person should be cared for.

"The challenges children face in the U.K. today could often feel overwhelming. Both Prince William and I have seen that many young people are struggling to cope with the impact of bullying, domestic violence, family breakdowns and more," she shared. "Without support, the effects of these challenges can be traumatic leading to serious issues such as anxiety, depression, addiction and self-harm."

Kate's heartfelt message also urges parents, as well as children, to seek help and start talking about mental health, which will

also help eradicate the stigma of the illness. "We need to help young people and their parents understand that it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help," she continued. "A child's mental health is just as important as their physical health and deserves the same quality of support."

"The sigma about mental health means many children do not get the help they so badly need. This needs to change," the Royal Patron of Place2Be concluded.

"Together, with open conversations and greater understanding, we can ensure that attitudes towards mental health change and children receive the support they deserve."

C M Y K

Salman Khan's black buck case to be made into a film talks about friction between different Indias: Director Navdeep Singh

important in giving the audience the best experience of the film we have made. I am very happy to have this

Katrina Kaif breaKs her promise Promotes skin whitening cream

A

C M Y K

17 February 2015

Johnny Depp forms

T

C M Y K

Tuesday

Entertainment

The Morung Express

ccording to a report in Mid-Day. com, Katrina Kaif has gone back on her word and chosen to endorse a fairness cream.

Bollywood stars often sign various brand endorsements saying that they believe in it. Some even go on to promise that they will never promote a skin lightening cream and it seems that Bollywood diva, Katrina Kaif is one amongst them.

But looks like the actress has forgot her promise. According to the report, during the promotions of Dhoom 3, the actress had promised that she will never promote a fairness or skin lightening cream but her new TV commercial endorses the term whitening, along with wrinkle reduction.

D

irector Navdeep Singh, best known for his impressive debut ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’, is back with Anushka Sharma-starrer ‘NH10’ which, he says, is a dark and gripping tale about the struggle between different Indias. “It is very dark but at the same time a very gripping and compelling watch. There are many Indias in this country. There are different realities to a city and they all co-exist but they don’t know each other. When they accidentally meet, sometimes in bad circumstances, there is friction, a struggle. ‘NH10’ talks about this friction,” Navdeep told PTI. ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’, a critically acclaimed murder mystery starring Abhay Deol and Gul Panag, somehow escaped viewers’ radar when it first released seven years ago but has since acquired

a cult status. Ask him about his delayed follow up, Navdeep admits that things did not pan out well following his debut. “There were many, many false starts. I was to do ‘Basra’ but that did not take off and then I was doing another film called ‘Rock the Shaadi’.

We shot some of it but then it got stalled.

“It has been seven years but every person has a journey. It has also to do with the kind of films you want to make. If you want to make a big commercial film or have made something big then things become easier. You get only this much petrol on critical acclaim,” he says. Produced by Eros International, Phantom Films and Clean Slate Films, ‘NH10’, also starring Neil Bhoopalam and Darshan Kumar besides Anushka, is scheduled to release on March 6.

The story revolves

around a young upper middle class couple Meera and Arjun, driving to a wellearned weekend getaway.

But their road trip goes awry when they decide to step into a fight between some villagers. Navdeep says Anushka, who is making her production debut with the film, was always the first choice but the script did travel to other actresses, including Freida Pinto, before it finally came back to ‘PK’ star.

“I don’t know why I thought of Anushka. She seemed the right physical type. I wanted someone who could play vulnerable and also become strong. I needed both these qualities and she seemed the right fit,” he says. Navdeep says Anushka liked the script in one reading. She read the script in one sitting and got very excited about it. Her brother also liked the story.

A

ccording to a Mumbai Mirror report, the film on Salman Khan's black buck case, whose verdict is expected on February 25, 2015, will roll on February 16, 2015 in Filmistan Studio. Mahesh Saini, who shared a cell with Salman Khan, will make his acting debut, playing himself, in Ranjeet Sharma's film titled Quaidi No. 210.

During his 72-hour stay in prison, Salman was identified as 'Quaidi No. 210,' the report further stated. "I've signed Salman's driver, Harish Dhulani, and we will be using the same Gypsy he drove during the shikaar," Ranjeet said to Mirror.

According to the report, he has been closely following the case over the last decade and is not worried about any roadblocks.

"I'm a resident of Jodhpur, my paperwork is in order and I've taken all the necessary permissions. We will be shooting the courtroom scene on February 25, the day Salman's verdict is expected," Mirror quoted Ranjeet.

The filmmaker has no plans of roping Salman in the film and says it's not a biopic. "Usmaan Khan who looks a lot like Salman will play him. I'll be signing two newcomers to play Aish-

warya Rai and Katrina Kaif.

I love Salman. The film will not portray him in a bad light," Ranjeet quipped to Mirror.

C M Y K

Tomorrow maTch

wed, 18 Feb 2015 08:50 am IST

BAN vs AFG

manuka oval, canberra C M Y K

Ireland continue giant-killing spree, defeat West Indies by 4 wickets • West Indies posted a 300+ total thanks to a brilliant stand between Darren Sammy (89) and Lendl Simmons (102).

• Chasing West Indies' total of 304/7, Ireland saw Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce and Niall O'Brien come up with vital 50+ scores to pull of a brilliant four-wicket victory.

Ireland's not out batsmen John Mooney, left, and Niall O'Brien, right, embrace as they walk off after defeating West Indies during their Cricket World Cup pool B match at Nelson, New Zealand on February 16. Ireland wins the match with 4 wickets and 25 balls to spare. (AP Photo)

NELSON (NEW ZEaLaNd), FEbRuaRY 16 (aGENcIES): Ireland continued their spree of giant-killing in World Cups with another major scalp two-time World Champions West Indies, in World Cups. Chasing West Indies' total of 304/7, which was achieved thanks to a brilliant rearguard effort from Lendl Simmons (102) and Darren Sammy (89), Ireland saw Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce and Niall O'Brien come up with vital 50+ scores to pull of a brilliant four-wicket victory. The last two editions of cricket's global showpiece event had seen Ireland establish themselves as the game's leading giantkillers- Ireland defeated Pakistan in the Caribbean in 2007 and four year later, on the back of Kevin O'Brien's fastestever World Cup century, they beat England in a

C M Y K

memorable night in Bangalore.

Paul Stirling top-scored for the Associate country with a pacy 92, while Ed Joyce and Niall O'Brien also smashed 84 and 79 not-out respectively as Ireland ensured they stayed ahead of the asking rate from the very beginning. The European side suffered a hiccup towards the end when they lost four quick wickets, but O'Brien stood firm and helped Ireland pull off a big upset.

With the win, Ireland became the first team to chase down a total successfully in this World Cup. This, after they saw their largely-impressive bowling performance being soiled by a stupendous 154-run stand between Sammy and Simmons. The duo had to play saviour in the first innings, helping Jason Holder's team stem the rot

after top-order collapses and post a competitive total at a scenic Saxton Oval in Nelson.

With Irish supporters far exceeding West Indies', William Porterfield's men started in bright fashion and had West Indies reeling at 87/5 in the 24th over.

The men in green started the game in great fashion after winning the toss and electing to bowl. With conditions offering their pacers some swing, Ireland managed to keep a tight leash on the scoring. Ireland, operating with a longon for the openers from the beginning, were soon rewarded for their discipline as Dwayne Smith miscued Kevin O'Brien's third delivery to long-on. Ireland struck again two balls later when a Andy McBrine direct throw caught Darren Bravo short of the crease.

Chris Gayle and Marlon

Samuels held fort until George Dockrell decided to wreak havoc. Gayle was out caught in the 22nd over, having added just 36 runs to his team's cause, while Samuels (LBW for 21) joined his partner in the pavillion two balls later.

Since hitting 109 against Sri Lanka in June 2013, Gayle has now scored only 306 runs in 19 innings. Denesh Ramdin became Dockrell's third victim when he was struck plumb in front for 1 leaving Jason Holder's men at a precarious 87/5.

Sammy and Simmons, however, came to WI's rescue with a stunning 154-run stand. The first sixty balls of the stand saw boundaries accounting for just 12 runs as the duo was content in turning the strike over and setting a platform for a fiery finish.

Sammy freed his arms as the final powerplay came into effect. He smashed his third six in the 37th over before, slamming Dockrell for back-to-back fours and getting to his fifty. The onslaguht continued with Simmons getting into the act soon after - he hit 20 runs off a Kevin O'Brien over. Sammy was finally out in the 45th over, 11 short of a maiden ODI hundred.

Simmons, however, did not let the opportunity pass as he notched up his 2nd ODI hundred in the final over to help West Indies maintain the tradition of all teams batting first posting in excess of 300. They ended with what, not long ago, seemed a highly probable total of 304/7.

A total of 304/7 against a Test-playing nation may seem out of reach for an Associate nation, but Ireland had other thoughts. The openers started briskly before some tight bowling resulted in the wicket of captain William Porterfield to the part-time offspin of Chris Gayle. Stirling then combined with Ed Joyce to forge a superbly-paced 106-run stand. The runs came in a hurry while the duo was at the crease and helped Ireland set themselves a solid platform for the chase. After Stirling fell eight short of a deserving century, Joyce was joined at the crease by the experienced Niall O'Brien.

baNGaLORE, FEbRuaRY 16 (PTI): Indian allrounder Yuvraj Singh set a new record as he emerged as the costliest ever buy in the Indian Premier League by going for a whopping Rs 16 crore to Delhi Daredevils while an unheralded K C Cariappa was a surprise pick in the eighth players' auction on Monday.

In a relatively low key auction, Yuvraj triggered an unexpected bidding war with four teams vying for the 33-year-old cricketer's services before Delhi clinched the deal for a record price.

That Yuvraj, who had been bought for Rs 14 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore last year, went for such a big price came as a huge surprise given the fact that he is no longer in the Indian team.

His current form, however, has been good which could have led to the franchises showing interest in him.

"I think we learnt from last year, and that if we want a player we need to push hard for him. Hence we were prepared to go all the way with Yuvraj and it's great for the player as well," Delhi coach Gary Kirsten said justifying the record bid for Yuvraj.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik was another player, who commanded a massive price, going to RCB for Rs 10.50 crore at a glitzy auction attended by business bigwigs, Bollywood stars like Preity Zinta and former cricketers such as Anil Kumble, Ricky Ponting, Stephen Fleming and VVS Laxman -- part of various teams' support staff.

A 20-year-old Cariappa,

an off-spinner who has not even played a first-class match, was a stunning pick by the Kolkata Knight Riders. Cariappa was bought for a Rs 2.40 crore in what was perhaps the most shocking buy in an auction where veterans such as Kumar Sangakkara went unsold despite being brought back in the pool thrice.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathew (Rs 7.5 crore to DD), New Zealand pacer Trent Boult (Rs 3.80 crore to Sunrisers Hyderabad), Indian leg-spinner Amit

base price of Rs 2 crore, was sold after a fierce tug of war for his services between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore, who bought him last year for Rs 14 crore, at a city hotel here. Initially, there was four-way bidding among Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers, Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils to buy India's 2011 World Cup hero in the auction conducted by Richard Madley. But once the bidding reached Rs 7 crore, RR and KXIP quit, leaving DD and

Mishra (Rs 3.50 crore to DD) and Australian opener Aaron Finch (Rs 3.20 crore to Mumbai Indians) were among those who fetched a good price at the auction.

Sri Lankan stalwarts Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan, Indian pacer Irfan Pathan, South African batsman Hashim Amla and New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor went unsold in the initial rounds of the auction. They might still find a buyer in the final round of bidding. Indian pacer Zaheer Khan, who initially went unsold, suddenly saw a dramatic change in his fortunes when he was brought back in the pool as he went for a hefty Rs 4 crore to Delhi Daredevils.

In all, 88 players went under hammer, of which the franchises bought 67.

23 of the players sold today were overseas picks.

The franchises shelled out Rs 87.6 crore in purchasing the players today.

Yuvraj, who carried a

RCB in the fray.

Delhi Daredevils, who had the largest purse of Rs 39.75 crore among all the eight franchises taking part in the auction, also bought Mathews for Rs 7.5 crore, the third highest price in the first two rounds of auction. RCB, who lost to DD in their bid to get Yuvraj and Mathews, bought Karthik for the second highest price, even though it was Rs 1.5 crore lower than the amount he was bought for

by DD last year.

Surprisingly, former England captain Kevin Pietersen, who was bought for Rs 9 crore last year by DD, could get just Rs 2 crore as he was sold to Sunrisers Hyderabad at the base price. Other players sold in the auction were India Test opener Murali Vijay for Rs 3 crore (to KXIP), England's Eoin Morgan (Rs 1.5 crore by SRH) and New Zealand's Kane Williamson (Rs 60 lakh by SRH).

New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult also fetched

an impressive sum of Rs 3.8 crore from his base price of Rs 50 lakh as he was bought

by SRH who joined in after initial bidding between RCB and MI. There was also intense bidding for Indian pacer Praveen Kumar, who was bought by SRH for Rs 2.20 crore. SRH also strengthened their squad by buying England all-rounder Ravi Bopara for Rs one crore.

Two other all-rounders in West Indian Darren Sammy and South African David Wiese went to RCB for an identical Rs 2.80 crore. RCB also bought young Australian pacer Sean Abbott for Rs 1 crore.

Veteran Australian Michael Hussey returned to Chennai Super Kings at his base price of Rs 1.5 crore.

Indian-origin Australian pacer Gurinder Sandhu, who has played just two ODIs so far, was the surprise pick for Rs 1.7 crore by big spenders Delhi Daredevils who also bought pacer Jaydev Unadkat for Rs 1.1 crore. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha also returned to Mumbai Indians for Rs 50 lakh. Besides CSK, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals were the other franchises who did not spend much in the auction.

RR bought South African all-rounder Christopher Morris for Rs 1.4 crore.

Among the prominent Indians, Cheteshwar Pujara, Pankaj Singh and Munaf Patel could not find any takers Brad Hodge, Alex Hales, Cameron White, Luke Ronchi, and Marlon Samuels, were among the foreign players who did not have any takers.

IPL 8 AuctIoN

West edges East in NBA All-Star Game

NEW YORK, FEbRuaRY 16 (aP): Russell Westbrook scored 41 points, one short of the NBA All-Star Game record, as the Western Conference beat the East 163-158 on Sunday. The Oklahoma City speedster had a record 27 points by halftime and closed out the scoring with two free throws, falling one point behind Wilt Chamberlain's 42 points in the 1962 game. He was voted the game's MVP. The NBA's return to New York showed off everything about the Big Apple, and by the time Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" played after the game, it was clear Westbrook was king of the hill.

"It's amazing. It's a blessing to be here in New York City," Westbrook said during the MVP ceremony.

James Harden added 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the West, which built a 20-point lead in the first half and then pulled away after it was tied at 148 with a little more than 4 minutes remaining.

LeBron James finished with 30 points, but couldn't lead the East to the victory in his favorite NBA arena.

Harden's 3-pointer snapped the final tie with 4:02 to play and Chris Paul followed with

consecutive baskets. Westbrook's fifth 3-pointer put it away at 158-149 with 2:22 to go. Atlanta's Kyle Korver made seven 3-pointers and scored 21 points for the East, while Washington's John Wall had 19.

But right from the start, the players were sharing the stage. Christina Aguilera appeared from behind a giant big apple, and belted out some New Yorkinspired numbers to start the show, joined on stage by the Rockettes.

Entertainment's elite were all over the arena, with players hobnobbing with rapper Jay-Z and boxing champ Floyd Mayweather near their courtside seats at halftime. But the biggest roar came for a star from another sport — politics.

President Bill Clinton, who had a big night of his own at Madison Square Garden when he was nominated here during the 1992 Democratic National Convention, got a pair of loud ovations when he was shown during Queen Latifah's performance of the national anthem. Big brother Pau Gasol won the jump ball against Marc to begin the first All-Star game featuring two sibling starters, but for a while it looked as if that would be the East's

C M Y K

West Team's Russell Westbrook, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, dunks the ball during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, February 15, in New York. (AP Photo)

only win of the night.

The West shot out to a 20-point lead behind a record 27 first-half points from Westbrook, but the East chipped away and cut it to

83-82 before pop star Ariana Grande's halftime performance. It was 122-all after three and close throughout the fourth. It was New York's first time hosting the week-

end since 1998 and a rare journey to the north for the NBA, which has preferred to stage the festivities in the warmth of the South and West.

Published, Printed and Edited by Aküm Longchari on behalf of Morung for Indigenous Affairs and JustPeace from House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur at Themba Printers and Telecommunications, Padum Pukhuri Village, Dimapur, Nagaland.

RNI No : NAGENG /2005/15430. House No.4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur 797112, Nagaland. Phone: Dimapur -(03862) 248854, Fax: (03862) 235194, Kohima - (0370) 2291952

For news email: morung@gmail.com and for advertisements and circulation contact: (03862) 248854, Fax-235194 or email : morungad@yahoo.com

PO Reg No. NE/RN-722