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SaturDaY • FebruarY 18 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 46 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
The heart of the wise person lies quiet like limpid water India, China to discuss Masood Azhar, NSG next week
By Sandemo Ngullie
NEw DElHI, FEBRUARY 17 (IANS): Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Friday asked the Director Generals of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to recruit women according to the reservation set by the government. The minister expressed his views in a review meeting with the chiefs of all seven CAPFs -- Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, IndoTibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal, National Security Guard and Assam Rifles -- here in the national capital. “The CAPFs should make efforts to meet the target of women reservation set by the government. The senior officers of the forces should also visit the Border Outposts and operational headquarters on regular basis to raise the morale of their personnel,” Rijiju said. Issues like raising of additional battalions, setting up of regional centres and hubs, cadre review of the forces, housing issues related to personnel, representation of women in forces, review of BSF Air Wing, training centers, filling up of vacancies, construction of roads in difficult areas and issues related to procurement of land, among others were also discussed in the meeting. The minister assured that the Home Ministry would look into the issues raised by the forces and try to do best possible in each case. He also emphasised on the due representation of women in the CAPFs. An action taken report on the previous meeting held on April 19, 2016 was also discussed. Addressing the meeting, Rijiju said the government appreciates the dedication of the forces and is making all efforts to boost their morale by taking care of them.
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Impasse continues: Governor & CM return to Nagaland awaited A ‘Goodwill’ Meeting
Governor to take immediate action as per the Constitution Nagaland State Governor, PB Acharya today met the President of India to apprise him of the prevailing situation in Nagaland. A press note informed that the President advised that the Governor should go by the letter of Constitution. “In democracy it is the right of the elected Members to choose the leader,” it added. The Governor also met Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval; Interlocutor for Naga peace talks, RN Ravi, and other leaders during his brief stay in Delhi. The PM reportedly expressed his concern on the security of the State and progress of the peace talks. The PM expressed his wish for peace and development in the state. The press note informed that the Governor “is reaching Nagaland and will take immediate
Nagaland Governor, PB Acharya meeting President, Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Febryary 17.
action as per the Constitution.” It is also learnt that the meeting between the Chief Minister and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to New Delhi could be held only late Friday evening, with the latter engaged in election campaign trail. The nature of the meeting could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report. Legislators submit resolution supporting Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu at Raj Bhavan Meanwhile, legislators in support of the leadership of Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu to be the new Chief Minister of Nagaland on Friday went to meet the Governor at Raj Bhavan to submit a resolution of its support and to stake claim of the government. With the legislators unable to meet the Governor P.B. Acharya who still had not returned from New Delhi, the
resolution was submitted at the Raj Bhavan office. Source from the NPF camp said the legislators in support of the leadership of Dr. Liezietsu also could not meet Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang today as he was still in Delhi. A meeting among the legislators and the Chief Minister was scheduled on Friday evening. Sources informed that the legislators are expected to meet the Nagaland Governor and Chief Minister when they return to Kohima from Delhi on Saturday. “We are only waiting for Zeliang’s return to Kohima from New Delhi and we are hopeful for the smooth transition of power in the interest of the people of Nagaland,” a veteran NPF legislator, who wished not to be identified, told IANS. NTAC Convener, KT Vilie was meanwhile quoted by IANS
as stating: “We have partially suspended our agitation in view of the assurance given by the Chief Minister for his stepping down and his appeal to us to give him two to three more days in order to ensure smooth transition of office and in the larger interest of the state.” “If the Chief Minister fails to return to Kohima latest by Sunday (February 19), the NTAC will have no other choice but to resort to a fast-unto-death public rally in Kohima to force him to resign,” the IANS report further quoted him as stating. The NTAC still imposed the shutdown of government offices and a ban on plying of government vehicles till Zeliang put in his papers. The government continued to shut down internet and mobile data service to stop the spread of rumours through social networking sites.
KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 17 (MExN): A ‘goodwill’ meeting of 14 legislators representing various tribes of the State and a three-member delegation led by the Angami Public Organization president, Dr Vilhousa Seleyi was held at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima on Friday. This was informed in a statement release to the media by the CMO. Furthermore, the CMO also stated that Dr. Seleyi made it “very clear that they did not attend today’s meeting representing the APO but that they came on their own behalf.” The CMO press statement stated that the Nagaland Chief Minister, who is in the national capital had conveyed his desire for his colleagues to meet with the leaders and take the process of dialogue forward. Several legislators explained the Constitutional obligation of the Government to hold elections to the ULBs, and the fact that in the absence of having elected councils in the towns and cities for nearly ten years now, funds amounting hundreds of crores for development of these townships could not be availed all these years, the CMO press statement said. Vikheho Swu, Minister for Roads and Bridges, explained how due to closure of Government offices for the last two weeks or so, work orders for developmental activities could not be issued adding that due to climatic conditions, the State gets only limited months before the rains set in. Senior legislator from Wokha district, Dr TM Lotha narrated how closure of banks had adversely affected students studying outside
the State. Senior Cabinet Minister, Tokheho Yepthomi mentioned the plight of daily wage earners, vegetable and fruit vendors and other traders who have been badly affected by the more than three weeks of bandh especially in Dimapur. Most of the speakers underscored the need to open up Government offices so that the Government employees can perform their duties and also get their salaries. According to the CMO, the tribal leaders gave a patient hearing to all the speakers and APO president Dr Seleyi, who attended the meeting on a personal capacity, spoke of the immense pressure they were placed under by the public for the last few months ever since elections to the ULBs were mooted. He said the leaders of the APO have been spending not less than eight hours every day in office and that they were interacting with not less than 600 people every day. The CMO press statement stated that, “Dr Seleyi said and went on to clarify certain misleading and what he called “emotional statements” such as the APO asking for the dead bodies to be brought to Kohima and “imposition of taxes on vegetable and farm produces, livestock and poultry” reared by the villagers once elections to the ULBs were held.” Dr Seleyi narrated the chain of events leading to the violence and arson in the Capital the other night, and assured that he and his colleagues would go back and discuss the issues and concerns raised by the legislators with their other colleagues, the CMO stated.
Jcc bandh to continue till tr resigns as cM BPcc (A-n) against creating tension
along Assam-nagaland border areas
Dimapur bandh timing changed to 9:00am-3:00pm
DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 17 (MExN): The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) today informed the bandh will continue in Dimapur till TR Zeliang resigns from the post of Chief Minister. A press note from the JCC however informed that the timing of the bandh on February 18 will be from 9:00am to 3:00pm. It further asked tribe bodies to continue with the agitation and bandh in their respective districts and jurisdiction, and appealed volunteers to remain in their designated area of duty. The JCC also informed volunteers that it has been resolved that pastors on
special duty with due authorization letter signed and sealed by respective churches will be exempted from the purview of the Bandh along with the JCC media Cell in-charges, ambulances, vehicles with school children, police on duty, press and media personnel, vehicles with patients with medical reports, vehicles ferrying food and water for volunteers, vehicles attending (wedding cards must be produced on demand) and funerals and Buses and vehicles on exam duty. It furthermore asked the government to immediately restore mobile internet services for the sake
nscn (K) concerned by disruption of normal life
C M Y K
T R u T H
Hat-tricks for Man United’s Ibrahimovic, Roma’s Dzeko
PAGE 02
DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 17 (MExN): A resolution to the current impasse between the Nagaland State Government and agitating groups is yet to arrive, as legislators continue to wait on the arrival of the Nagaland Chief Minister and Governor from New Delhi in order to move ahead with the Look we are not fighting change in leadership, as deover a woman ok in fact this fight isnt even about a wom- cided during a meeting of 38 MLAs on Thursday. an or women. Both the CM and the Governor were in Delhi till late Friday night, with sources informing that they would come back to Nagaland on Saturday.
Meet women’s reservation target: Rijiju directs CAPFs
o F
— Cameroon proverb
ANCSU appeal to exempt educational institutions
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reflections
P o W e R
DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 17 (MExN): The NSCN (K) today stated that it is “highly perturbed” over the lengthy disruption of normal lives in the state of Nagaland and called for immediate resolution “which can be possible only if the incumbent leadership heed to the call of the people.” A press note from the MIP of the NSCN (K) said that the “astonishing act of reneging on the NBCC’S mediated agreement by the state government and resorting to violent repression causing the death and injuries to many Naga citizens truly speaks in volumes the integrity and credibility of the leaders.” “In a forcefully assimilated Indian Union, the Nagaland state having structured under extraordinary historical and pernicious political situation, what discrete
and modest dispensation endowed to the Nagaland State Legislature as pledged in the Indian Constitution must not under any circumstances be breached as long as Nagas are forced to subsist under foreign rule,” it added. It meanwhile cautioned that “seeking to acquire temporal political and monetary advantages by a particular political party at the cost of many innocent lives, history, culture, heritage and identity of the Nagas should not even be contemplated.” The NSCN (K) viewed that the demands of the Naga tribe Hohos are “substantially justified and no effort should be spared to realise the same.” The present leadership, it said, “is expected to demonstrate statesmanship and gracefully pave way for the people’s will to prevail.”
of the students who are ap- mination of today’s bandh pearing exams and filling informed that the bandh in Mokokchung has been up online applications. partially lifted, saying that there will be free moveMokokchung bandh ment of public and private temporarily relaxed The Ao Senden mean- vehicles and opening of while informed that the shops, business establishindefinite total bandh in ments and educational inMokokchung has been stitutions. He also informed that temporarily relaxed from government offices would Saturday, February 18. It was, however, in- remain locked and governformed that movement of ment vehicles off the roads government vehicles and until further notice by Ao opening of government of- Senden. Meanwhile, Ao fices shall remain restrict- Senden elders and Ao Sened until the chief minis- den JCC representatives ter ‘officially’ steps down. would continue with the Convener of Ao Senden movement by staging a sitJCC, A. Bendangnukshi in protest at Deputy ComJamir, while addressing the missioner’s office, Mokokvolunteers during the cul- chung on Saturday.
DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 17 (MExN): The Border PeaceCoordinationCommittee (Assam-Nagaland) today appealed to all concerned to refrain from creating tension alongtheAssamNagalandinterstate borderarea. A press note from the BPCC reminded that in 2016, “an unidentified group of people attempted to create tension on some residence of Hoolungooree Tea Estate on the Assam side of the Nagaland border in Jorhat district who were either cultivating the land or collecting firewood around.” It further referred to a media report of February 16, 2017, which it stated “may also be considered as an attempt to reignite tension along the interstate
border areas.” The BPCC, it informed, “took a stock of the situation of 2016 and was desirous of a discussion involving people around the spot occurring such unfortunate situations as an attempt to evolve means for mutual benefit and avoid things of such recurrences.” However, it stated that the BPCC “could not afford to do so due to want of required logistics with it.” It further informed that a team of BPCC (A-N) took a stock of the situation from the staff of Hoolungooree Tea Estate and the Secretary of the Village Defense Party (VDP) and “came to know that there were four armed persons who warned a group of about 8-9 persons cultivating in an area of land
asking them not to do so without paying taxes and reportedly insisting on payment ranging from 10 to 30 thousand rupees.” It however added that the BPCC (A-N) could not possess any of such records so far. Further, it stated that the BPCC (A-N) “may attempt to arrest the situation provided required logistics are available to it from governments, public and all other well wishers.” “To ensure understanding of both conflicting sides through interactions towards economic and social benefits BPCC (A-N) believes to bring desired results with stopping such re-ignition of tension along the interstate border areas,” it affirmed.
skirmish mars day 5 of bandh in Dimapur Morung Express News Dimapur | February 17
In Dimapur, violence marked the 5th day of the state-wide bandh called by the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee and Joint Coordination Committee. At least 10 people, including women were reported to have sustained wounds from catapult shots during the violence. There were conflicting versions of how the violence erupted. One version stated that a few bandh volunteers stationed at the Dhobinulla junction were attacked by catapult shots, when they entered Zeliangrong village asking shops to close. The volunteers reportedly called for reinforcements and in the violence that ensued a number of youths were injured and some elder-
JCC officials trying to diffuse tensions after a scuffle broke out during the bandh in Dimapur on February 17.
ly women, who intervened to calm the situation. The other version stated that the residents of the neighbourhood were accused by the bandh volunteers of allowing shops to open. According to this version, some 4-5 volunteers were seen with catapults
in the neighbourhood and randomly shooting. One of the injured youth said that initially there were 4-5 volunteers, which soon grew in number. The youth said that he sustained multiple catapults shots on the head and body and was beaten when he along
with 2 others intervened to dissuade the volunteers. Women, who tried to calm the agitated volunteers, were forcefully shoved aside and also sustained blows, he added. As per the injured youth, at least four women were reported to have sustained catapult
shots and 5-6 youths either assaulted or sustained catapult shots. One of the women, hit on the shin by a catapult pellet, alleged that the mob even tried to torch a meshed bamboo perimeter wall, but was doused. “They claim that the bandh is democratic but the day’s incident says otherwise. Resorting to violence is not democratic at all,” said the woman. Though it could not be ascertained, at least 2 bandh volunteers were also reported to have sustained injury during the violence. The situation was brought under control only after JCC officials arrived at the scene and pacified the volunteers. The volunteers also questioned the JCC officials for stopping them from imposing the bandh call.