February 20th, 2015

C M Y K

OP

P

O

RT

XPRESS

www.morungexpress.com

UN TY E

The Morung Express 1

ess r p x E y t i n u t r o YouthNet Opp

SS” SUCCE MTESUECCTESS” Y IT EE M N Y OEROPTPOURTUNIT E OP“WPHER 1 “WHER Issue 2 Vol.

Dimapur VOL. X ISSUE 48

27,2014 February 21-

“

s & Entrepreneur

or just bei and fight- down and buc at am to ourselves an mous G.I JOES with my the turbulence. Wh typi- we are doing ts is no another.” ing sword figh ” saying is, there day for a s. ndhi boy l ma our nor neighb ― Mahatma Ga re its that cal or She also adm ion is cabin crew. In fact the e mis fess pro her current pro ident than is one thing I can ever hmore of an acc e never you - no two days areno 1 to dle, marking a birtstart s small burning can intentional. “I'v oming a the same. There is never Whether it is a fire consuming a forest, all fire or a e sing wild planned on bec I bumped 10 here, and you’r r day day, or a raging rk. And it can either be a bles . Either a il cabin crew, unt ent on- quite sure how you rt this from a little spa , big fire, it is still man-made sem into an adverti submitted will turn out! In sho t will curse. Small fire man’s wit or his negligence. sidered as of line one night, then one is a profession tha and manifestation st fire at Mount Japfü, con is also susllenge you ume and The recent fore ’s worst in recent history, of trekne's toe my res to the other and always cha on your toes. s l keep everyo g led one of the countrybeen caused by the carelessneslves warm. Based in Doha as a wil check. And one who is thin am today in Doha keep you ictability is the I pected to have have lit a fire to keep themse her, be- cabin crew with the Qatar on ntaneous ought to love here g as a cabin crew”, The unpred job, I feel”, she furt soul of this s into the kers, who might eventually spread much commu- ways, Ajung Jamir has spo bit of it”, she says. workin pse Air s. had ry That little fire of hundreds of volunteers and douse off ensively travelled the eve cribing her two she say she got into it, throws glim crew. ext Before a cabin re- Des yond the control o were trying their best to but has firmly her years’ journey with Qatar further recalls that life of ng Jamir would derld, wh wo ers mb she nity me te remark- profession to her was Aju self as a people ing mained grounded to qui sum as s con k, way e- Air a wee be her the fire. her, it is extrem s on to share this elabohad raged on for reports, pretty face, scri The forest fire flora and fauna. According to t the roots. For nt to know one’s able, she goe the privilege all about a smiling to person even as she peoorta d, ia tha “I love e had lot of along with it, a first time in the history of Ind the newly- ly imp and identity and she that, “I'v g some amazing looking goo s and doing rates by saying, h them, this is also the helicopters, none other than y utility- roots rly drawn valu- of meetin around the the passenger before take- ple,- working wit m, helpIndian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopter, a militarcombat the has clea ons from travel- people from about life, a bit of demo nion has talking with the being By Sandemo d to able lessNgullie n globe, learn growth, off. But that opi lot since ing them- I just love ng inducted Russianial mac hine are being use and s bei oss the globe eve da and-combat aer t tested in Nagaland. contained ling acr res that, “Trav- friendship bt I would clearly change n as she around people. Thi re are firs forest fire, also d news to have the raging fire end here. as she sha taught me about which I dou I been home she joined, eve o knew said, of course, the my While it’s goo issue of forest fire does not terms elling has respect- it have had, had people goes on to add, “wh ally times when I require st inion d in the and on the 7th day, make us think where we stan lly speak- humility to respect and just among le with.” about being profess , or se- "quiet space" (I’ll be is taught me how on board I am comfortab re- trained on first aid a sane without it), and this Rather, it should environment, which, technica ate and te and , she also y a cleaner of protecting our nt equall the CEO of my To this end of her pro- curing a certific is given the time I read, wri rece the in life. ity uld one one ers wo our v ore I ing, is members think.” ege, license bef ble loss of biodi eration as back from coll g the green card to fly? This When she is not flying, The unimagina ing the people of this gen con- company.” eth can in a company fessors t, ‘bein forest fire is somupon and think of how best wefrom hap- Working in crew from who told them tha us dis- job needs a lot of bra to she tries to achieve the bashould ponder such unfortunate incidents decades of almost 7000 she goes around people help and and will power. Brain sics first, such as catch on tribute to avert r future. What took years and n wildly all over the world, the first cover ourselves better with study and remember, the her sleep, do her laundry, bee pening in the nea servation in the area had how much on to say, “when r asks is I couldn’t agree more l- will power to take in ev- cook and sit for her famous con , of biodiversity a matter of days. Imagine sed by a question a strange ?", it him because I now rea as erything that is thrown at , dal and aloo fry dinrice cau from lved consumed in justtake us to rebuild the loss, "where are you nt to know ize how I have evo fes- you.” ch. Once these it re are ner or lun accomplished, this pro importa longer would .

Apparently, the call upon is very ls are ntity, a person and fire small spark of t the state government had to of the lack one's roots and ide or sion has also helped me no normal days for a cabin goa is out and about Doha, ls.’

The fact tha the fire is also reflection y. That to remain grounded, ht is un- she a movie spree, of hone my PR skil tain mit crew. “Each flig it on the Centre to conhanism to deal with such cala ed we are else we will be just one m Yet, when she was a dictable in its own way, be ng, reading a book of our own mec the question of how prepar hanisms the faces that serve the kid, nobody would have pre nks to the passengers. shoppi room or just catchas cabin to mec tha t us her gs - in her ” . men in y are working also brin strike. Putting govern re- chicken with rice k the imagined her to be as It won’t matter to the pas up with her friends. and not only The to travel and to save y s dut ster the ause, o- s profession w uld thin had the ing it is also when disa saving the One wo attendant is shoes today. Bec d, I was sengers if you just of the She would also abs re Thi n avenues of meeting cre e enough money to go ething else but ht in place is som ry citizen to play a part in ope chil -sav ak mo a flig kbre a “as rt age of s, bac hea our n home life say eve h glamour she y, mischievous and biggest or you just had lutely enc to join a people from diversehelp in back to their ow up their sponsibility of ths y ve role in one filled wit ght t environment. can especially play a proacti diversity, and style, and while that nau enturous. I don’t have centur iod because what- Naga you like hers even grounds but alsos own per- country and star law firm, ate v pri own Young people e, our ecosystem, our bio first of y be true to a certain adv ries of owning a your per y be, you "have profession across that achieving one' y mo had the ver studies/ , by ma heritag fession is any me or a dress, I was out ever it ma to your pas- while putting to travel and sonal dreams. I ng with a finance for higher open up a preserving our in creating more awareness ves. nd s l extent, the pro and lead the way s, careful and aware themse forest. And tainly not without chal- Barbie ut exploring the fa- to" atte Period. You will this job pay she further privilege of flyi o, a micro- specialization or t, all, being cautioua little spark to burn an entire certainly cer ges. “When I get ready and abo ak river near our sengers. ies crying non- not only tha to spend on lawyer from Cair ran and clinic.

2 Teh Mil len get Contd. on page It takes only in the right direction can kok- have bab biologist from clueless of mous iday adds, “you e step for duty, I am out of that ward/colony in Mothers, stop, hyper active hol of yourself, help out here and also a Doctor from South therefore, a littl ll what to expect unpre- chung with my bro bing makers wanting a refi - there if required and then Africa (to name a few). save the world. tim The day or flight. job is playing marbles, clim(fruit), beers and wines, first s get to save in your personthis ton dictability of llenging trees, stealing plum sses, ers trying all the but n al bank account too. what I find chasame time. breaking school gla little on the handset, and the the the to at re and Fun t giving a sca tha ion fess This is a pro

k of fire That little spar

www.morungexpress.com

Friday, February 20, 2015 12+4 pages Rs. 4

”

– German proverb k Begin to weave and God will give you the thread uote of the Wee Q ir m Ja g n ju ,A for cabin crewtease my sister we have the difficulsest pasto sit- “What we are doing to thelecfortioestnsofofwhtheat o Sky is the limit boys whTo s who refu s rror ref Khrielasier Efforts to check poaching Williams a miextremism, sengerfight kle up plu world is but ng one of the fad to one

ofessionals for Students, Pr Sharing Platform The Information

Editorial

C M Y K

reflections

Obama calls on the US to embrace its Muslims

Liezietsu all set for ‘The Petal Tales’

[ PAGE 9]

[ PAGE 11]

and subsequent transit

guides Zimbabwe to [ PAGE 2] nervous win 93 farmers committed suicide over UAE in 45 days in Marathwada region [ PAGE 8]

[ PAGE 12]

Myanmar: Aid workers call for ceasefire

LASHIO, FebruAry 19 (AFP): Aid workers called Thursday for a ceasefire to allow the evacuation of people trapped around a town at the centre of fierce fighting between Myanmar’s army and ethnic rebels, after the deaths of two more civilians in an area cloaked by a state of emergency.

Tens of thousands of cire nt agaland Job Ce vilians have already fled the N Quit my job and join poliland Opening in Naga remote and rugged Kokang tics? But I don’t have aJobcrim(1 post) area of northeastern Shan inal background... 1. Cook 2 n 10+ (1 post) 2. Hostel Warde State over the last 10 days, Or Graduate (non-Local) 3. Receptionist in accounts (1 post)with at least 30,000 crossd goo 12 pass ing the border into China. aland Job Centre/ please call Nag For more detail ce Local aid groups have ofoffi Wake into our k Midland, ICICI Banficially suspended rescue Dimapur-Opp. -Old NST Kohima r resume you g brin se Plea convoys to and around the town of Laukkai, Myanmar soldiers patrol in Laukkai, the main city in the Kokang region of northern Myanmar Shan state. Growing fightDIMAPur, FebruAryIME TUflashpoint TORIALool PRinitiative ofwhere a series of surprise ing between Myanmar’s Army and ethnic Kokang fighters has killed dozens and sent tens of thousands fleeing across Greenwood Sch 19 (MexN): The Against An the frontier. (AFP Photo) ission sh Course Adm e 2014) by ethnic Kokang Corruption and UnabatedAnnForAIPounMTcin/gJEECraattacks (Main + Advanc students LAND GA NA yANGON, FebruAry 19 (reuterS): China F + passed O ing T ear app EN rebels last week sparked GOVERNM USTRIES & COMMERCE of Laukkai - after the town action and two civilians,” Red Cross worker wound- culturally distinct outpost, should cooperate with Myanmar to prevent “terrorTaxation (ACAUT) Na-forClassXII tel for both boys and D IN s: - Hos F O of violence. was effectively emptied by renowned for drug prothe report said, adding afed on Tuesday described TE Special feature the flare up EC RA galand has termed it “ex-Girls - Studymaterials DIR TO GALAND: KOHIMAthFebuary 2014 NA 14 Datedfollows decision the outbreak of conflict last filiated rebel groups in- the moment their six-vehi- duction and a cross-border ist attacks” being launched from Chinese territory, a Kohima, the 14 tremely disturbing” that “as - -LibFirsrarytratefacifaculityThe lty Myanmar official said on Thursday after 10 days of fightT/ADV/35/20 NO.IND/ESa ck-Test NT an on convoy led week, which saw nearly 50 cluding the Ta’ang Nation- cle convoy evacuating civil- trade with China.

ME - Weekly Moattack ADVERTISE per the reports published in 4 (Four) post of ing between the Myanmar military and insurgents. aland to fill up Commerce. ted on 1st March Nag duc of s con be ant will inhabit ousCross above will Red Officials have blamed Fighting broke out on Feb. 9 between the army and a al Liberation Army and the ians came under fire. “We Industries & Myanmar soldiers killed in andMyanmar formance testthe Naga local indigenhment of the Directorate of gnized university with who secure 70% local dailies one Nurjahan • A201perby reco blis eby invited from 4 and students ount. lications are her istant (District) under the estate from any discipline from any disc App fee 50% 4. en v as gi wounded two aid powerful Kachin Indepen- were in the first car when the Kokang rebel leader rebel force in the Kokang region of northeast Myanmar, er Ass ch 201 gradua rs of age rebel assault. The army 35 yeaa ces on 3rd Mar LDA cum Comput m qualification shall be Hussein was caught with a • bethat not more than e government Class commen 1424 1. The minimuer application. the stat than 21 years and 5485 / 943509 on a inTuesday. uld not be less erned by existing policy of regained the town after heput dence Army had also car- the firing started from our Phone Kya Shin for the on the border with China, called the Myanmar National tact: 897442 diplom com imum age of a candidate sho limit will be gov“We d hea silencer pistol and working Forworkers information con the age min by er ed The upp 2.

Sd/on of the ate duly sign nts. / 9612973589 ection” Certific 2014.The relaxatiHandicapped applicaexactly still do not licopter and jet air strikes ried out attacks. left... as soon as we heard sudden flaring of violence Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). on 31.01.know furnish “No Obj y to ll d isica not uire as phy t req under Johar Ali and Hashim Governmen employees and Government employees are icy of the state 3. Serving name and official seal.are the existing pol were followed by bloody Rebels have said they shooting, I got hit by a bul- - after six years of relative es shall be as prstill with China has called for peace and said it supported efforts ed to the Diress add of NSCN (IM)…” A press note how many people of department ation of seats of backward Trib and applicant y signed by the s:4. Reserv artment. n paper dulreplai Dep ent trapped in the Laukkai street gun battles, which are braced for a major army let,” Moe Kyaw Than, 48, calm - and called on Bei- to resolve the conflict so refugees could go home. The forin R um ted P&A doc mit the ng fied by s may be sub ompanied by the followi from ACAUT Nagaland furtion lica App 5. The & Commerce, and acc mark sheet. ies state media said killed doz- assault, after Myanmar im- told AFP from his hospital jing to rein in any local of- eign ministers of both countries met on Tuesday to discuss /Graduate with rector of Industr Carevacuated ds of HSLC/P.U ther termed it “totally unac- gion... but we • Admit ate hority. tific Competent Aut • Birth Cer ous Certificate issued by from around 30 people ens of rebels. posed a state of emergency bed after having an opera- ficials who might be help- the crisis, Hmuu Zaw, an official from the office of MyanIndigen ST/ ceptable” for Naga Political 14 • 20 of batch INCOME • Computer CertificCardate.of the employment exchange.

Foron ed in the office shall be receiv e for receiving there a handing a local military tion on a bullet wound to ing the group on its side mar President Thein Sein said. “It is necessary to cooperate n s AGE Wednesday,” atio tion istr lica N Reg hs. app ATIO dat LIFIC • 5000/- TO Groups to “use and recruit ily rejected. The sword photograp uld 2: P.M. The last VACANCY QUA BELOW 26 RS. /- PER • 2 recent pas applications shall be summar office hours from 10:A.M to d date. The applications sho 10 TO 20500 cifie 59 Cross memcommander sweeping the stomach. “I’m sad this of the border. Myanmar’s ... on the understanding that terrorist attacks on Myanmar Incomplete ies & Com ily rejected. Ambushes merce, during ll be received after the speRebel TE OR YEARS Red 6. mar DUA TH sum GRA be MON LE ustr will FEMA illegal Bangladeshi mi- Myanmar it sha s ch of Ind MALE / the Directorate ll be 24-04-2014.No application of the applicant without whi EQUIVALENT ress Add and ber told AFP in the Shan Rebels have continued powers. While the major- happened while we were President Thein Sein has are not allowed from Chinese territory,” Hmuu Zaw said. ber applications sha of Contact Num grants as tax collectors or to ietuoKire) Sd/-(Er.Thekrun ies & Commerce Led by ethnic Chinese commander Peng Jiasheng, CONTACT contain details around to ILSLashio, TA Industr DE town of out sporadic amity of the civilians to flee evacuating people. They vowed “not to lose an inch R FO ctorate ofcarry Dire discharge responsibilities MA of Laukkai. bushes with “small and have crossed into south- shouldn’t have shot the of Myanmar’s territory” to MNDAA struck a truce with the government which lasted HI KO L L HI S ’ ER C 140km south OFFI to them in any form.” It de7159 until 2009, when government troops took over their re8974998178 / 986266 both sides heavy weapons” on army west China, tens of thou- Red Cross,” the father-of- the rebels.

Phone No.:asking manded that the authorities “We are gion in a conflict that pushed thousands of refugees into But the violence has China. Peng’s recent return is seen at the root of the new “leave no stone unturned” to keep a ceasefire for a convoys and camps but sands more are believed five added.

It is unclear who was undercut his well-trailed fighting. “In 2009, Peng was driven out of Kokang, and now in their investigation and few days, so we can help have withdrawn “when to have been displaced on to evacuate people.

Curresponsible for the attack, attempts to secure a na- he’s back,” said Bertil Lintner, an author and expert on the counterattacks were the Myanmar side of the that the “case should be registered under NSA.” Laud- rently, even our Red Cross launched”, state-led news- border. Several thousand which was swiftly con- tionwide ceasefire to end region. Hmuu Zaw suggested that China could do more. ing the efforts of Survival logo cannot help to protect paper Global New Light of have streamed into Lashio demned by aid groups several festering insur- “The border stability and security that China is worried Myanmar reported Thurs- where they are seeking and the United Nations. gencies before break- about would be restored immediately if Pen Jiasheng and Nagaland for having raised people. It’s really sad.”

Over recent days fight- day. “Three tatmadaw sanctuary in monasteries. Experts say Kokang area through elections are held accomplices were detained and transferred to the Myanawareness, it also cautioned mar government if they happened to be China,” he said.

At the town’s hospital a is viewed in Myanmar as a later this year. the people to be “vigilant of ing has clustered just south (army) personnel died in such practices by NPG’s and to support SN movement in its fight against the menace of illegal activities conducted by IBIs.” Our Correspondent phone, SMS and mobile banking. facilities are yet to make its pres- Rs. 1000 must be deposited in the Customers can operate their ac- ence. Pangernungsang then financial year.

Kohima | February 19 counts and avail banking services informed that three additional Interest @ 9.10% will be calKOHIMA, FebruAry 19 ping of water in the bituminous Core Banking Solutions (CBS) at from any post office on the CBS ATMs would come up in Kohi- culated on yearly compounded (MexN): The Additional Chief course causing stripping of pre- the Head Post Office in Kohima network, regardless of where they ma, Mokokchung and Tuensang basis and credited to the account. wASHINGtON, Feb- Engineer, PWD (R&B) today mix carpeting works at many was formally inaugurated here maintain their accounts. by the end of this financial year. A maximum Rs. 1,50,000 can be ruAry 19 (IANS): In a stated that allegations of “mis- locations. The completed WMB today, followed by launching of Pangernungsang informed The other package inaugu- deposited in a financial year. major step against HIV, use of funds without execut- works were also washed out at the Sukanya Samriddhi Account that CBS in Kohima is the first rated - the SSA, is a scheme under To meet the requirement of the virus that causes AIDS, ing works” regarding the Mon many locations, he added, lead- (SSA). I Pangernungsang, Post- of its kind in the North East re- which an account can be opened higher education expenses, parscientists have announced – Namtola road are “not true.” A ing to deterioration of the road master General NE Circle, Shil- gion and stressed on the need to in the name of a girl child till she tial withdrawal of 50 per cent of the creation of a novel drug press note from the Additional conditions.

He further went on to explain long inaugurated the two pack- look ahead. He also emphasized attains the age of 10. Under SSA, the balance would be allowed afcandidate that is so potent Chief Engineer said that allegathe reasons behind the delay in ages in the presence of several on the need to develop a cul- accounts can be opened in post ter the girl attains 18 years of age. tions were the result of a “misand universally effective ture of savings and on the need offices and notified branches of The account will mature on comcompletion of the project, which dignitaries. it might work as part of an understanding.” to bring more customers to the commercial banks with a mini- pletion of 21 years from the date of CBS is expected to improve is already four to five years old.

Explaining the “technical unconventional vaccine.

“Unlike antibodies, which history” of the project, he in- The Additional Chief Engineer customer services by providing post offices. He further stated mum of Rs. 1000 and thereafter opening of account. The scheme fail to neutralise a large formed that the Mon-Namtola informed that during Phase 1 services through alternate chan- that core banking requires focus any amount in multiple of Rs. 100 was launched to improve gender fraction of HIV-1 strains, road is 44.25 Kms and that its construction, works were sus- nelson24x7basis—ATM,internet, in remote areas, where banking can be deposited. A minimum of equality and uplift the girl child. our protein has been effec- upgradation was taken up “with pended for a long period due to tive against all strains test- no formal sanction.” “Although complaints regarding “quality ed, raising the possibility it there was no budget provision of aggregates.” On verifying the could offer an effective HIV for the same, it was anticipated quality of the construction matevaccine alternative,” said that funds would be made avail- rials by the department officers,” lead researcher Michael able from any possible source he revealed that work resumed Farzan. Tested in mon- and therefore, works got under- after a considerable loss of time.

New DeLHI, FebruAry 19 time or screening was not done in time. keys, the new drug blocks way from the second week of The flow of funds was also not The health officials of various every strain of HIV-1, HIV- February 2010,” he said. maintained according to the vol- DIMAPur, FebruAry 19 (MexN): The Nagaland (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi 2 and SIV (simian immuThe Additional Chief Engi- ume and scope of the work. He Baptist Church Council (NBCC) today appealed for all Thursday has asked health officials to states informed the cabinet secretary nodeficiency virus) that neer informed that the project added that there was no clear in- parties to refrain from violence in the Tuensang area. ensure necessary treatment and ade- through video-conferencing about the has been isolated from hu- includes two phases, which dication of the chargeable head A press note from the NBCC, while expressing concern quate medicines for swine flu patients availability of drugs, testing kits, diagmans or rhesus macaques, were given to two contractors of the work and no funds were at the “humanitarian situation in Tuensang district,” while affected states have been offered nostic labs, personal protective equipincluding the hardest-to- in 2010 and 2013. The cost of the earmarked under any scheme. condemned the loss of lives, properties and injuries central assistance even as the death toll ment (PPE) and masks. Maharashtra stop variants, the find- project amounted to Rs 64.95 As such, the department “could caused so far. The NBCC informed that a peace team due to the disease reached 703. and Haryana have requested for some ings showed. It also pro- crores, of which Rs 15.07 Crores not force the contractors to com- of the council had met the leaders of both the comA high-level meeting, chaired by medicines to augment their emergentects against much-higher was provided by the Depart- plete the works.” However, dur- munities and appealed for cessations of any form of Cabinet Secrecy stock which are doses of virus than occur ment of Under Developed Ar- ing 2014-15, the Nagaland state violence and allow space for dialogue. being supplied to tary Ajit Seth, was in most human transmis- eas (DDUDA).

The leaders had expressed their mutual aspira- convened here to government included the work them by the union sion and does so for at least As per the report of the Ex- under the Special Plan Assis- tion for peace, informed the NBCC. Accordingly, it review the situahealth ministry, eight months after injec- ecutive Engineer, PWD (R&B) tance, for which funds are still informed that the NBCC had offered the readiness of an official release tion and address tion. “Our compound is the Mon Division, work was carried awaited. its offices to facilitate the peace process. This was acsaid here. issues like shortbroadest and most potent out with the funds released. The “On confirmation of the centuated with the appeal to the Churches to extend The cabinet entry inhibitor described works carried out included wid- possibility of fund provision,” relief for the people who are homeless. The NBCC ex- age of drugs. The secretary stressed meeting of the so far,” Farzan added. ening of road, unlined surface the Additional Chief Engineer pressed its appreciation to the four neighbouring Asthat the states should ensure that the National Crisis Management Comdrains, earthen shoulder, H/P informed that the contractors sociations, namely – the Phom Baptist Associations outbreak monitoring cells and necesmittee (NCMC) was attended by chief culverts, WMB works with Gr-1 resumed their works on Janu- (PBCA), the United Sangtam Baptist Association (USsary helplines function round-the-clock. secretaries and medical heads of Rajunder Phase 1 and WMB works ary 2015. In view of the NBCC BLA), the Khiamniungan Baptist Association (KBCA) Apropos to the news item with Gr-11, 111 & bituminous Triennial Convention, he said and the Konyak Baptist Association (KBBB) for their asthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya The drug controllers should ensure availPradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, ability of necessary medicines such as with the headline ‘Naga- work for a length of 13 Kms un- that the contractors had “vol- efforts towards restoration of peace. tablets, capsules and vaccines along with land: Over 12 Crores for der Phase 2. untarily carried out the repair In addition, a core committee has been formed by Haryana and Delhi.

The cabinet secretary offered them guidelines for vaccination and treatment disabled children misapThe continuation of Phase II works and thereafter contin- the NBCC and different constituent associations have propriated,’ it is clarified works for the remaining stretch ued to carry out the remaining been assigned to “visit the two communities with the necessary central assistance. Seth told protocol. “Medicines are there to treat that the notification was is- of road, which requires Rs 42.24 works.” He further expressed message of forgiveness and reconciliation.” Selected media after the meeting that the prime swine flu, there is no need to panic,” Seth sued by the Chief Secretary Crores, could not be completed confidence that the work would churches have also been asked to extend further relief minister has given instructions to en- said. Meanwhile, the number of deaths and Vigilance Commis- due to “financial constraints be completed and requested all for the “suffering people.” The NBCC appealed to all sure that medicines are available and due to the disease reached 703 and the sioner, CJ Ponraj and not as and the work came to a halt.” For concerned citizens and the var- stakeholders to consider any appropriate action that patients get necessary treatment. He said total number of cases across the country published. The inadvertent two seasons, he informed, ex- ious organizations to co operate will lead to a solution that is “credible, peaceful and that quite a few of the deaths happened climbed up to 11,071. Thirty-two deaths posure to monsoon led to trap- with the department. because the treatment was not taken in were reported Thursday. timely for the sake of posterity.” error is regretted.

ACAUT concerned over ‘use of IBIs’ by Naga political groups

China urged to prevent rebel attacks from across the border

Job vacancy TH

New compound raises hope for HIV vaccine

PWD (R&B) denies misuse of Core Banking Solutions in Kohima Head Post Office funds on Mon-Namtola road

tuensang crisis: nBcc Swine flu claims 703 lives; Indian PM calls for reconciliation directs proper treatment for patients

Corrigendum C M Y K

Stated told to ensure outbreak monitoring cells and helplines function round-the-clock

C M Y K

C M Y K

2

Dimapur

Friday

LocaL

20 February 2015

The Morung Express C

Efforts to check poaching Second Round of IPPI 2015 on Feb 22 and subsequent transit

Dimapur, February 19 (mexN): An inter-agency coordination meeting of enforcement agencies of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland was organized today in Dimapur jointly by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Eastern Region, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, Kolkata and the Department of Forest, Environment, Ecology and Wildlife, Nagaland to combat wildlife offences.

Guwahaty to Moreh in Manipur via Dimapur is identified as a major transit route for trade of illegal wildlife products. With an attempt to put a check on poaching and subsequent transit, coordinated efforts form the all enforcement agencies with constitution of exclusive Wildlife Crime Control Unit in the state is a need of hour, emphasized

by Satya Praksh Tripathi, Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland and Chairman of the meeting. He highlighted the

cases of Star Tortoise and Ivory seizure made by the Forest Department while giving an overview of wildlife crime in the state of Nagaland. Tripathi reminded the gathering about problems of limited resources coupled with armed insurgency in the region to counter poaching effectively.

A significant mandate

dressed the representatives to join hands with a common notion to conserve the rich biodiversity of the nation. Behera further enlightened the participants about the ongoing trend of illegal wildlife trade across the country and the prevalent modus operandi was also discussed upon. Suggestions were invited to fa-

Assam, Manipur and Nagaland meet to combat wildlife offences of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is to facilitate inter-agency cooperative work in combating wildlife offences across the country. With a view to serve this purpose, the WCCB (ER) brought representatives of various law enforcement agencies under the same roof on this day.

Chaturbhuja Behera, the Regional Deputy Director, WCCB (ER) ad-

cilitate inter-agency intelligence sharing and on-field co-operation amongst the agencies not only at intra, but also at inter-state level to prevent illegal wildlife trade.

All representatives from enforcement agencies of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland participated enthusiastically in discussion.

M Sonowal, DIG (BSF), CI (Opr), Manipur led the discussion about role and

powers of enforcement agencies in detection and proceedings of wildlife offence cases. He expressed the concern about lack of intelligence sharing among the agencies. Representatives shared their personal experiences about dealing with Rhino, Pangolin, Amur Falcon, Sea Cucumber, Agarwood poaching and trade in the region.

Delegates identified wildlife crime sensitive areas in their area of jurisdiction; agreed for intelligence sharing, interstate co-ordinated enforcement action on real time basis, need of capacity building to deal wildlife cases and constitution of Wildlife Crime Control Unit.

House promised to give the best to safeguard the precious wildlife of the country.

A press note stated that the programme concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Kocha Meyase, IFS, Conservator of Forests (STC), Nagaland.

Kohima, February 19 (mexN): The second round of Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) in Nagaland for the year 2015 will be held on February 22. This is a followup to the 1st round of IPPI 2015 which was conducted on January 18, where a total of 2,23,608 eligible children below 5 years were successfully administered Polio drops throughout the state.

As in the first round, the Department of Health & Family Welfare is making preparations to administer Polio drops to a target of over 2.46 lakh eligible children from 0-5 years in all the 11 districts during the 2nd round. A total of 2,317 Polio Booths will be set up and manned by 9,268 vaccinators and 463 supervisors along with vaccines and other logistics. Special focus will be given to the migrant population with an aim to prevent importation of Polio cases.

The Department has

appealed to all sections of the people, agencies- Government and Non- Government, including the security forces and police, organizations, especially

community leaders and parents of children below 5 years to come forward and ensure that all eligible children receive the “two drops of life” on February 22.

For any further information, contact the nearest Health Centre or the Chief Medical Officer or District Programme Officer (RCHUIP) of the district concerned, informed a press release issued by Dr. Chu-

Dimapur, February 19 (mexN): The Gorkha Elders’ Forum, Dimapur is holding a general meeting on February 21, 1:00 pm at Hotel Alvin’s conference hall here. Therefore, all the registered members have been requested to attend the meeting.

C M Y K

NFHRCC emergency meeting today Dimapur, February 19 (mexN): There will be emergency meeting of NFHRCC at 3:00 pm on February 20 at Treasurer's Residence. NFHRCC General Secretary WY Kithan in a press release has requested the members to attend it positively. Mon Sector Contractors of A. Neangba Konyak and A.Pongshi Phom are also requested to attend it without fail.

ANPSA Central Body appeals

C M Y K

Kohima, February 19 (mexN): The All Nagaland Private Schools Association (ANPSA) Central Body has made a fervent appeal to the Chang and Yimchungrü brothers to give peace a chance and arrive at an amicable settlement. The Association, in view of the ensuing examinations of HSLC and HSSLC 2015, urged them to shun violence in the true Christian spirit of forgiveness for the sake of the students. ANPSA president and press secretary in a press release stated that the security and safety of the students must be ensured, adding the ongoing violence is causing them mental, psychological and physical stress.

DC Mkg informs arms license holders moKoKchuNg, February 19 (Dipr): In order to complete the National Database of Arms License (NDAL), all arms holders whose licence was issued by the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, have been informed to report to the Arms Branch of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and furnish details like date of birth, House Number, occupation etc. on or before March 31, 2015, failing which, their arms licence will be liable for cancellation.

Free dental screening camp Dimapur, February 19 (mexN): Leo Club of Dimapur will organise a free dental screening camp for public at Lions Health Centre located at Midland, Dimapur on February 21 and 22 from 10:00 am till 3:00 pm. Spot registration can be done at the venue on the day of the screening. Besides, forms are also available at following places: Lions Health Centre, Midland; Eurokids International School, Midland; Mahavir stationers, G.S. Road; Kamakhya Automobiles, Near Reliance petrol Pump, City tower; Dimapur Stationers, Near NIIT, Jain temple Road; Front Door Dry Clean, Near Durga Mandir, Kalibari Road, Dimapur.

For more information contact the programme chairman @ 9436066677.

Home dept on Flag Code of India Kohima, February 19 (Dipr): The Home Department while referring to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Public Section letter No. 15/3/2015-Public dated 16th January 2015 has directed to strictly comply with the provision contained in the Flag Code of India, 2002 and prevention of insults to National Honour Act 1971. The Home Department (Political Branch) has further drawn the attention of its Department’s circular of even number dated August 22, 2012, in connection with direction for use of National Flag made of paper on important national, cultural and sports events instead of National Flag made of non-biodegradable plastic. It also requested for strict compliance of the provisions contained in the Flag Code of India, 2002, Prevention of insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and adherence to the directive issued by the Government of India on the matter.

C M Y K

NSEFSA mourns Dimapur, February 19 (mexN): The officers and members of the Nagaland State Excise Field Staff Association (NSEFSA) have expressed condolences on the demise of Athriba Sangtam, head constable under Superintendent of Excise, Dimapur, on February 17.

The Association further mourned the death with the bereaved family members and prayed to God to grant the family strength and courage to overcome the loss.

Y K

batoshi, State Immuniza- Dimapur: The Chief tion Officer, Dept. of Health Medical Officer, Dimapur & FW, Kohima, Nagaland Dr MA Wati has requested all parents to bring their Zunheboto: The CMO children aged 0-5 to the Office, Zunheboto District nearest polio booth in their locality for oral polio vaccine (OPV) starting from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm on February 22. He has appealed to all concerned to mobilise children to avail the polio drops.

has informed the health workers assigned for IPPI duty to be in their respective place of posting during the 2nd round IPPI. In addition, the BPMs, BAMs, ASHA Co-ordinators and staffs of RNTCP, DVBO, NLEP, DAPCU and other vertical programme staffs have been asked to cooperate and participate during IPPI campaign in the district.

Kohima: Dr. Avino Metha, Chief Medical Officer, Kohima has also informed that that 2nd Round of IPPI(Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization) for all Children 0 to 5 Years will be held on February 22 and followed by house to house on February 23 and 24. Therefore, all parents, community leaders, women representative, youth representative and church leaders of all villages and colonies under Kohima District are requested to mobilize children to avail Polio Vaccine at the nearest Polio Booth.

LFHSS shines at ICWESSAR competition

MEx File Gorkha Elders’ Forum Dimapur meeting

M

Dimapur, February 19 (mexN): Bishesh Paul, a Class-6 student of Livingstone Foundation Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur secured the 1st position at the National Level of the Paryavaran and Vanyajeeva Ratna Award Competition organized by the Indian Centre for Wildlife and Environmental Science in South Asia Region (ICWESSAR), Jaipur in Rajasthan.

The competition was organized in the form of an Examination on Wildlife and Environment for students from Classes 1 to 12 in the month of November last year, in which 282 students Ketoukhrie Peli No-11, T. Khel, Kohima village during ‘Sekrenyi Kratsii’, which concluded on February 19 at Tsiituonuomia participated along with stuZie, T. Khel Ground, Kohima village. (Morung Photo) dents from the rest of the

country. The results were declared by ICWESSAR in the last week of January 2015.

Bishesh Paul had secured the first position at the National Level in the CategoryB of the Award and was presented with a Gold Medal and Certificate. He secured a high 85% mark.

The meritorious students from all the three categories who had secured the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position were presented with the Awards.

The Chairman of LFHSS Andrew Ahoto and Asst. Teacher Sanjeev Momin were also awarded with the Paryavaran and Vanyajeeva Dronacharya Awards for excellence.

C M Y K

Fire safety advisory measures Naga youth aspiring to join

Kohima, February 19 (Dipr): The Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services Nagaland in a press release has requested the Public to comply with the following Fire exigencies for public safety measures.

1. Call and inform Fire Services immediately as and when Fire breaks out. Don't panic.

2. Don't misuse Fire Service Telephone numbers, it is a punishable offence.

3. Give right and precise information.

4. Use Fire Extinguishers at the initial stage to contain Fire.

5. Don't pour Water on Oil and Electrical Fire. Use appropriate Fire Extinguishers.

6. Inform Power Department to cut off power line in the locality to avoid further Disasters.

7. Give way to Fire Tenders to pass unobstructed.

8. Fire Sirens are not to be used by any other individuals or Organizations.

VIPs and other Utility Services may

kindly use their respective Sirens.

9. Locate the Fire Incident Spot, guide and show Fire Personnel the shortest possible route.

10. Locate source and supply Water at the vicinity of the Fire Incident.

11. Don't disturb or drag the Delivery Hose while Fire Personnel are combating Fire.

12. Install Fire Extinguishers, Fire Alarms, Smoke Detectors, Fire Hydrants and Sprinkler systems at Homes.

13. Every household should maintain a small water tank to meet any Fire Hazards before Fire Personnel arrive.

14. Kitchen Fire/Gas, Candles, Lamps, etc., should be properly extinguished when not in use.

15. Use Certified and Standard Electrical appliances viz. Wires, Plugs, Fuse, Switches, Sockets, etc.

16. Prepare Family Fire Evacuation Plans and have regular Mock Drills.

Army attends coaching class

Kohima, February 19 (Dipr): Hundreds of Naga youth aspiring to join the Army turned up for the three-day free coaching and guidance class on February 19 at the Directorate of Rajya Sainik Kohima.

Speaking to DIPR, Directorate of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement Brig.

K.K. Roy Choudhury, SM, VSM informed that a major recruitment rally is scheduled to be held from February 24 to March 8 at the IG Stadium Kohima meant for Nagaland and Manipur. In view of this the Rajya Sainik Board and the Directorate of Sainik Welfare has de-

cided to offer free coaching and guidance classes beginning today, to the Naga youths aspiring to join the Army to facilitate them and to give them an advantage so that they may be able to take the various levels of examination in the correct perspectives, and quality for the exam, he maintained.

Candidates has to go through the physical and medical test and only after a candidate qualifies in the above mentioned tests, would be eligible for the written examination which will be conducted all over India, he mentioned.

Choudhury informed that crash course will be given from 2nd to 4th March to those candidates who qualifies to give the written exam. The written exam will be simple General Knowledge, English and Arithmetic of class VIII standard, he said.

The response of the Naga youth to join the Army has been very positive as large crowd was seen queuing up in the Directorate of Rajya Sainik office to get themselves registered for attending the free coaching and guidance class, which got underway on February 19.

KDCC emphasises on enrolment ‘Combating Desertification, Kohima, February authority and responsibili- Land Degradation & Drought’ 19 (mexN): The Kohima ty lies on ACCC to strength-

Crime Branch caution on preactivated SIM cards

District Congress Committee (KDCC) held a meeting on February 18 to welcome the NPCC membership drive committee. Informing this in a press release, KDCC general secretary (admin) Viseyienuo Keretsü said that the meeting was chaired by Prasielie Pienyü, who briefed the house about the enrolment drive undertaken till date.

Meanwhile, NPCC vice president, Tingyeih Konyak encouraged the house to emphasise on enrolment stating that full

en the party and this is the best opportunity to strike when other political parties are in divided house.

He also said that the party activity taken up by KDCC will be an encouragement to other parties of Nagaland. He also condemned the atrocities committed to the minorities by BJP, the release stated.

Further, Medokul, general secretary, NPCC (admin) encouraged the party workers to work hard to regain and strengthen the party.

Dimapur, February 19 (mexN): Mascotte Development Society, Dimapur organised a programme with a theme “Combating Desertification, Land Degradation & Drought” at Bade Village on February 14, which was attended by 95 students from 4 schools. The programme, held under “National Environment Awareness Campaign 2014-15”, was sponsored by Nagaland Pollution Control Board and Ministry of Environment & Forests, GoI, New Delhi.

A press release from Wekhape Letro, president, Mascotte Development Society informed that, spinach (palak) being the first yield of the season, the students shared their success story.

Meanwhile, V. Letro, retired DSP of Kohima attended the programme as resource person. He spoke on the theme of the programme and explained on management of soil acidity to increase crop production. He also emphasised on the basics of biodiversity and importance of conserving diverse biologi-

cal lives with specific reference to local scenario such as livelihood, education, health, social life, economy, ecological, cultural, etc, the release added.

According to the release, the main objective and aim of the Society is to help farmers and conserve land through sustainable development. The Society, it said, first started with adopting village, where it helped farmers with improved techniques. The practice was then used in school and other villages, it was informed.

Tseminyu SDPDB discusses frequent power line destruction

TsemiNyu, February 19 (Dipr): Tseminyu SDPDB meeting for the month of February was held on February 18 at ADC’s Conference Hall with Vice Chairman & ADC Tseminyu Vikhweno M. Meratsu presiding over the meeting where she welcomed Samon Khelen IFS incharge Tseminyu Range as a new board member.

Agenda discussed during the meeting were

frequent power line destruction in the Tseminyu sub-division where member expressed displeasure that power destruction in the sub-division is not a recent development but continue habits for the past several years due to different reason. The board discussed that while alternative are being explore to solve the electricity problem villagers on whose land areas the light pass through are cau-

tion against reckless cutting down of trees to avoid damage of line, which is also contributing to power failure.

The house also discussed on protection and preservation of government allotted site for office building and departmental quarters in the sub-divisional headquarter. The house also deliberated on LADP and verification committee was formed from among the board members to verify

project under the LADP for proper execution of work In regard to recognition of Hindi institute at Tseminyu old town the house deliberated at length and the committee headed

by EAC Tseminyu Shelly Katiry as convener was instituted to study the criteria laid down for recognizing and institute through proper channel. The board also decided to cash award to the toppers students in HSLC

examination starting in government school within the Tseminyu sub division The vice chairman while encouraging the members to be proactive and initiate follow up action on agendas discussed and approved by the SDPDB under Tseminyu sub division and gave directive to the officers concern to present their department success story in a form of departmental profile presentation.

Kohima, February 19 (Dipr): The Crime Branch Nagaland Police PHQ, Kohima has stated in a press release that it is illegal to sell or purchase pre-activated SIM cards.

The Crime Branch informs all the Sellers (Mobile Operators, Franchisees, Authorized Dealers and Retailers) not to sell preactivated SIM Cards but to insist that the Customers fill up the Customers Acquisition Form (CAF), submit photograph, identity and address proofs while obtaining a new SIM Card.

It is also informed to the public not to purchase pre-activated SIM Cards but to take the trouble of going through the required procedures for obtaining a new SIM Card.

The Crime Branch has cautioned that these pre-activated SIM Cards are used by those Unscrupulous Elements/ Criminals to commit crimes against our Society and Humanity and in such cases it is difficult for the Police to trace the real users. Their appeal is ‘HELP US TO KEEP OUR SOCIETY SAFE AND SECURE!’

C M Y K

C M Y K

REgional

The Morung Express

Friday

20 February 2015

Dimapur

3

Arunachal Pradesh prepares for Modi's visit 'Centre rejected ILP in Tripura' Unprecedented security arrangements across the state ITaNagar, February 19 (pTI) Unprecedented security arrangements have been made in Arunachal Pradesh capital in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit tomorrow to attend the 29th Statehood Day here at Indira Gandhi Park.

Capital Superintendent of Police Seiju P Kuruvilla said besides state police forces, CRPF, IRBn have been engaged for security while barricades have been established in all vulnerable points.

Round the clock patrolling has been launched in the state capital while all the vehicles were being thoroughly checked at entry points and several pockets of state capital,he added.

The capital police also

till February 22. The Prime Minister will also flag-off the Naharlagun to New Delhi AC Express Train on the same day besides, inauNew DelhI, February 19 (IaNS): Prime gurating the Itanagar Water Minister Narendra Modi will Friday visit Arunachal Supply Scheme.

Pradesh where he will flag off two trains -- one conHe will also lay the necting the state with the national capital and an- foundation for Strengthenother with Guwahati in Assam. Modi will also visit ing of Power Transmission Jharkhand later in the day to inaugurate a new railway and Distribution System in line, a government statement said.

Arunachal Pradesh. Mean"In Arunachal Pradesh, the prime minister will while, all preparations for dedicate to the nation, the Harmuti-Naharlagun rail the Statehood Day celebraline, flag off the AC express between Naharlagun and tions have been completed.

New Delhi, and an inter-city express between NaharChief Minister Nabam lagun and Guwahati," said the statement.

Tuki accompanied by cabiModi will also inaugurate a water supply scheme for net ministers, President, Itanagar, and lay the foundation stone for a 132 KV trans- APCC, Padi Richo and high mission line. At a function in Hazaribagh in Jharkhand in level government officials the afternoon, he will inaugurate a new railway line from on Wednesday inspected Hazaribagh to Kodarma, the statement said. the preparations at the venue, an official communiqué informed. issued traffic advisory for been banned.

A Food village with 107 commuters while carrying Modi will inaugurate of lethal weapons, tobacco the three day ‘Festival of food stalls and another 120 products in the venue has Arunachal’ which will be on stalls of exhibition has also

Narendra Modi to flag off Arunachal-Delhi train Friday

been put up.

Rendition of local rituals, Sufi and Bhakti music will be the main attraction of this year’s celebration which will be complemented by performances of Tetseo Sisters, Yesterdrive, Immortals, Alobo Naga & The Band, and several others.

To mark the celebration, a marathon race, ‘Run for Vision 2030' with the motto ‘Together we will do it’, is also being scheduled on February 21next.

The race will start from Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Naharlagun and will finish here at IG Park, Itanagar.

The final match for Chief Minister’s Trophy Men’s Football will be kicked off at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Naharlagun on the first day of the ‘Festival of Arunachal’.

agarTala, February 19 (IaNS): The central government rejected the introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Tripura arguing that the current act is sufficient to protect tribals and their lands, a minister said in the state assembly Thursday.

"The union home ministry in their several replies to Tripura government's proposals said that there is no need to introduce ILP in Tripura as the Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 has sufficient scope to protect tribals and their lands," Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma told the assembly.

"If the ILP is introduced in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), people residing outside the autonomous council areas would face trouble entering the areas and the economic development

would be affected," he said quoting the union home ministry's replies.

People from other states or areas, especially those who are non-tribals, have to obtain an ILP before entering the ILP enforced areas.

Debbarma, a veteran tribal leader, said: "Once the situation had forced (us) to demand introduction of ILP in TTAADC areas. Now the infiltration (from Bangladesh) has been restricted and the situation is not in favour to introduce the ILP in Tripura."

"The TTAADC has also given enough authority to protect the land rights of the tribals," he added.

The issue rocked the state assembly Thursday and a heated debate was witnessed between the treasury and opposition benches.

The ILP system, which is still in force in Nagaland,

Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, derives from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations 1873 and entails the issuance of official travel documents by the central government or the state government to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected or restricted area for a limited period.

The ILP, a British era regulation designed to preserve the ethnicity and culture of the northeastern tribals, required all Indian citizens not usually residents of the area to secure a special permit for entering the border states and regions of the northeast.

Several parties and NGOs have often organised rallies to have the ILP promulgated in Manipur and Meghalaya also.

Reintroduction of the ILP in Manipur is a serious issue in the state from where it was lifted November 18, 1950.

M'laya cuts subsidy in chemical NE SwINE FLu uPdATE: Assam ready for any outbreak A Mizoram woman was The State health de- of swine flu so far in TriFebru- Around 9,000 people have fertilizer to discourage its usages guwahaTI, ary 19 (TNN): With one been afflicted with 300 re- detected with swine flu, the partment had already initi- pura, but the state is on full

guwahaTI, February 19 (The ecoNomIc TImeS): To discourage the use of chemical fertilizer, Meghalaya government has cut the subsidy on the chemical fertilizer.

After Sikkim, Meghalaya now plans to become fully organic state. However state government's move has irked farmers. Farmers from different parts of the state protested in Shillong recently demanding continuation of subsidy.

Principal Secretary,

7 injured in Manipur blast Imphal, February 19 (pTI): Seven persons, including 4 police personnel, were injured when a bomb exploded at main market complex here last evening,policesaid.Ateam of police went to the market complex after receiving reports that a bomb had been planted. They found a bag containing a bomb-like object there and when a constable tried to hurl it in the adjoining Nambul river it exploded injuring 4 police and 3 civilians, the police said. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

Agriculture Department of Meghalaya told ET, "We have decided not to provide subsidy for chemical fertilizer. We want to promote organic cultivation in a big way as organic food has tremendous health benefit."

He added if farmers want they can procure chemical fertilizer from open market. Farmers are complaining that that they should have got time for migrating from chemical to bio fertilizer.

" If government wants to promote organic cultivation than it should have subsidized bio fertilizers which would have worked as an incentive and motivating factor," farmers added.

Mission Organic was launched by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma this year. "The new policy of the State government aims to build the 'Organic Meghalaya' brand producing organic certified food and products."

4 killed in Assam road accident barpeTa, February 19 (pTI): Four passengers died and two others travelling in a van were injured in a road accident today at Bhella in lower Assam's Barpeta district, the police said.

The passengers were on their way to Doulashal from Barpeta town when at about 2 PM their speeding vehicle lost control and fell into a roadside ditch while approaching a bridge, police officers said.

As soon as the accident took place, local residents of Bhella came to rescue of the passengers, taking the vehicle out from the ditch along with four bodies even as its

WANTED IMMEDIATELY An Accountant Cum ME At FITA Office , Jalukie, (Under TI Project NSACS) B.Com, M.Com, Accountancy etc.

Application with Bio-can be submitted On or before 24th Feb 2015.

driver fled away, they said.

Two of the injured passengers were rushed to Barpeta Medical College Hospital.

One of the dead was identified as Ratneswar Das hailing from Barbila, while the injured were Dasiya Choudhury of Simlaguri and Akan Das of Barbila, the officers added.

Barpeta district Superintendent of Police Siladitya Chetia has rushed to the spot.

confirmed case of H1N1 influenza A virus (swine flu) reported from neighbouring Nagaland, health officials on Wednesday urged people in the state not to panic as the department is prepared to handle any possible outbreak.

Health officials, however, said screening of passengers at airports and railway stations is not required now as Assam hasn't reported a single case so far. On Tuesday, a review meeting of principal secretary (health) and officials from the department of health services and others was held to assess the situation and chalk out plans.

Officials said in the absence of people complaining of any swine flu symptoms, there was no urgency of setting up screening or quarantine facilities at airports, railway stations and bus stations in the city and elsewhere.

Thousands of people from different parts of the country arrive in the city every day.

The city is considered the gateway to the northeast.

The disease is in a pandemic stage across India with over 620 deaths reported so far.

ported deaths in February alone. "We haven't thought of setting up screening facilities as there hasn't been any swine flu case so far. We are ready. We have labs to test samples. At the meeting, an assessment was done on preparedness and all district hospitals have been alerted," said Sanjeev Kumar, principal secretary (health).

A new consignment of the life-saving Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is expected to arrive here in the next few days.

Special swine flu facilities have been set up at Guwahati Medical College Hospital, Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh and Silchar Medical College. Kumar said he will ask the state drug controller to allow pharmacies and drug dealers to make Tamiflu available over the counter if there is any outbreak in the state. "All logistics are in place if cases surface. The importance should be on supportive treatment and awareness. People should be sensitized about the dos and don'ts," said Bhavesh Bhagawati, chief of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme.

1st case in Mizoram

TheTa TuTorials (Estd. 2006)

Lower P.R. Hill, Kohima, Nagaland

Admission Notice 1. Coaching for JEE (MAINS) – 2015 [for Engineering Courses] 2. Coaching for NSEE (Nagaland State Entrance Examination)/AIPMT-2015 [for MBBS, BDS & Allied Courses] Issue of Forms & Prospectus : In progress Admission : In progress Commencement of Classes : 02-03-2015 Contact No. (0370) 2226005

INVITATION

Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KVYO)

cordially invites you to the

SEKRENYI FESTIVAL -cumCULTURAL COMPETITION being organised with the support of Music Task Force (MTF), Govt. of Nagaland, on 21st Feb. 2015 at Kohima Village Ground, Ziekezou at 10:00am.

Sd/Organizing Committee

first case in the State.

Pachuau Lalmalsawma, Nodal Officer of the State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), today told PTI that the woman was in New Delhi for a brief period and it is suspected that she contracted the H1N1 virus there.

“We sent samples of four people to National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) in Kolkata where one sample was found to be positive of H1N1,” he said, adding that the woman was now completely cured.

ated preventive measures against the swine flu as the Rapid Response Teams in all the districts were alerted and instructed to maintain strict vigil. Screening of passengers arriving at the Lengpui Airport would soon be conducted, he said.

Mizoram government has been sending the situation report to the Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare since the last part of 2014, he added.

alert to deal with the disease, a minister said Thursday. A girl in another northeastern state, Nagaland, tested positive for the virus.

"We are fully alert to deal with swine flu in the state.

The health department has procured medicines from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra," Tripura Health Minister Badal Choudhury said in the state assembly.

"There is no case of swine flu so far in Tripura," said the minister, who held a review meeting with health departNo swine flu in Tripura ment officials and doctors to There has been no case deal with any situation.

WE ARE HIRING!!!

Entrepreneurs Associates (EA) is looking for a young, dynamic, creative and hardworking person to fill in the position of Assistant Editor for its newsletter, "Katalyst". The position based out of Kohima comes with attractive pay package and corporate benefits. Candidates with prior editorial experience will be given preference.

Interested candidates may submit their CVs/Resumes to the Kohima Office (preferably in person) on or before 23rd February 2015. Selected candidates will be contacted for interviews. | Entrepreneurs Associates, Kohima (Head Office) | PWD Junction, Next to Traffic Point NH-29 Kohima -797001 | Tel- 91-3702242665/+918131091105 | e-mail-eanagaland.hr@gmail.com |

OPTIONS FOR RECONCILAT1ON FOR NPF PARTY Date 19/02/15 Lately we have heard and seen enough of the political drama and of course many are enlightened with new dimensions of politics. To my understanding it is very important and high time our Naga society takes things positively. I am confident that there are many matured mind and well experienced people in the NPF party to bring out a solution to the present political problem faced by the NPF party and the state as well. After all efforts put in by every individual of NPF party leaders and followers alike bought the party to power and fought with the main rival Congress party in the 2013 General election, inviting political rival like Congress and Independent MLA's in the formation of Government by some group of NPF party, when they have 38 MLA's out of 60 MLA's is purely an act of desperation to secure their chair.

Why should the party be victimized by some individual or group for their self interest, by allowing Congress and Independent MLA's to enjoy all the plum portfolios and gear up to fight the NPF party in the next general election: .

To my understanding this is truly God's calling to the NPF party to reconcile and unite again in order to fulfill their Election Manifesto which the general public of Nagaland voted for.

Many leader have said many things about many leaders both positive and negatives, this I believe is an opportunity for Dr. Shurhozelie to capitalize on this very unique situation and bring all the NPF party together under one umbrella. Like it or not, under Neiphiu Rio and Dr. Shurhozelie leadership, NPF party created a remarkable history by winning 38 seat in the last general election in our state.

As a citizen, non affiliated to any political party, who ever become party president or the Chief Minister is not a concern, the desire and need of the hour is good governance and government that look into the interest of its citizens. In order to achieve this, it's my humble suggestion that our leaders may repose their confidence to each other and reconcile again in a true Christian spirit "Forgive and Forget".

Taking views of political Pundits or so called political Gurus whom we look forward to, suggested these few option may be applied to solve the present crisis within the party and to strengthen it. The option for reconciliation is as below:Option No. 1. In Democracy as we all know, majority should prevail, so Shri Kaito may be given the opportunity to lead the house without disturbing the party set up and allow Dr. Shurhozelie to lead the party in regardless of majority or minority.

Option No. 2. Since it is a give and take situation, if Shri T.R Zeliang is to continue as Chief Minister, then Shri Noke may be given the chance to lead the NPF party as he has the support of the larger number of MLA's and the two MP's.

Option No, 3. If the two options mentioned above are not workable/ agreeable, than ceasing this opportunity all the 38 NPF legislatures should reconcile and a compromising leader may be chosen within the NPF legislature which is acceptable by both the camps. This should be done in order to save the party and Government.

These are few option, suggestion and common view of the general public, it's a take it or leave it option without any ultra motive intention, Concern citizen (TOLOVI SUMI) 8974882511

4

Dimapur

businEss

Friday 20 February 2015

The Morung Express

Beijing’s glare deepens crisis in Macau

MaCau/ZHuHaI, FEbruary 19 (rEutErS): China’s crackdown on corruption and conspicuous consumption is ever more visible in its impact on Macau, the world’s biggest gambling hub, which makes most of its money from the high rollers who are staying away to avoid Beijing’s scrutiny.

During a recent visit to four of the city’s glitziest casinos, VIP rooms were mostly desolate, with some shuttered and one boarded up, their tables covered with wood and white cloth.

At nearby pawn shops and jewellers, used by many gamblers to evade China’s strict currency controls, and at money remittance agents in the Chinese border city of Zhuhai, there are fewer customers about.

In February last year, operators of the Chinese-controlled enclave’s 35 casinos were riding high, their revenues for the month up 40 percent year on year. This year, February revenues are expected to fall 40 percent, having fallen in each of the previous eight months, too.

The trend is set to continue despite increasing numbers of Chinese tourists crossing the border during the Lunar New

based in the local liaison office, according to a regulatory official and junket operators.

Fok’s business has slumped 70 percent in the past two months compared with a year earlier. Three of the top 10 junket companies have closed some of their VIP rooms in the last three months as Beijing’s anti-graft campaign bites.

More closures are expected.

“For the next three months China will continue to crack down on Macau,” said Lei Kuok Keong, a leader of Macau union Forefront of Macau Gaming, which represents junket workers and casino dealers. “For VIP, it is more serious. Many more VIP rooms will shut.”

Phone betting, where a gambler in China calls a junket in Macau, and side betting, where gamblers bet several In this photo taken Nov. 23, 2014, a Chinese visitor waits for the shuttle bus in front of the Venetian Ma- times the table stakes, has also cao casino resorts in Macau. The game has changed in Macau. The Asian gambling capital’s winning tumbled due to increased scrustreak is cooling after a decade of red hot growth that transformed the city from a neglected former tiny from Beijing, said Lei. Portuguese colonial outpost into the world’s No. 1 casino market. (AP File Photo)

Year holidays.

“This is a very dangerous time,” said Johnny Fok, one of over 100 junket operators in Macau that extend credit to wealthy punters and arrange transport and accommodation.

“It seems President Xi really doesn’t want people to come and gamble any more ... Maybe we have to wait seven more years, then, after Xi has left, and only then, we might have a chance for things to go back to

the old days.”

China has beefed up its anti-corruption monitoring network in Macau with staff from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and other agencies now permanently

MASS-MARKET HOPES In an underground mall in Zhuhai, remittance agents, who help punters transfer money in and out of Macau, say banks are imposing tighter monitoring on large transactions, includ-

ing on China’s state-backed debit and credit card UnionPay, with amounts of HK$100,000 ($12,892) now requiring identity checks and verification.

That deters those wanting to remain anonymous. Four shops had their shutters down around the old Lisboa casino, though most pawn and watch shops still offer ille punters swipe their cards for fake jewellery purchases to get hard cash.

At the Blessing Watches and Jewellery outlet in the Venetian casino, a store manager said amounts well above permissible limits could still be swiped using UnionPay cards, though some transactions might be split into smaller amounts to reduce the risk of detection.

“We had a client who swiped HK$1 million three days ago,” he said. Just across the casino floor, an electronic notice states that credit or debit cards issued by mainland China banks are not accepted at the counters where customers buy their chips.

Mass-market gamblers are still travelling to Macau, and casino executives hope they will make up for the fall in high rollers, but since VIP business typically makes up 60-70 percent of

revenue, it is a big hole to fill.

There will also be a lot of extra space to fill, with two new casinos from Galaxy Entertainment (0027.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) and Melco Crown (6883.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) opening this year in Cotai, a strip of reclaimed land joining two of Macau’s islands.

The strip has more under construction, planned long before the slowdown struck; the base of a half-size Eiffel Tower replica sprouts from the ground of U.S. gambling kingpin Sheldon Adelson’s upcoming Parisian resort, and the emerging bronze facade of Steve Wynn’s new multibillion-dollar casino will be fronted by a gondola and lake.

Credit Suisse analyst Kenneth Fong says the downside risks, which could include a full smoking ban, are more apparent than the upside.

Junket operator Fok scoffs at the idea that mass market gamblers could make up for the absent VIPs. “These small punters,” he said, gesturing towards the sparsely filled gaming hall, “what they spend is not even enough to pay the electricity bills.”

Coal Auction: Aggressive bids suggest SpiceJet offers Modi’s monogrammed people of India scammed for years discount scheme suit auctioned for charity NEW DELHI, FEbruary 19 (agENCIES): Indian metal and cement companies have bid aggressively for coal blocks in the country’s first auction to sell mines - of the 19 blocks currently on offer, 14 have already sold for nearly Rs. 80,000 crores.

In 2012, in a body blow for the Congress-led government of Dr Manmohan Singh, the national auditor (CAG) said that the lack of a transparent bidding process in mining rights had cost the country a swindle worth Rs. 1.86 lakh crores. The bids so far suggest the sales proceeds will zip well past that estimate.

“Certainly the CAG’s position has been vindicated. Institutions of the country are doing their best,” said Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The auction comes after the Supreme Court last year ordered the cancellation of nearly 200 mining licenses issued by successive governments since 1993. The government had said it expects to raise Rs. 15 lakh crore from the new bidding process. The second round of auctions will include 43 blocks from

February 25 to March 5.

Companies who are bidding for the licenses want to cut imports and slash their dependence on inefficient government monopoly, Coal India Ltd. The companies are allowed to bid for enough coal to fuel a 50 per cent expansion of their current metal or cement capacity.

The companies have declined to comment on the auctions until the whole process is complete.

Most of the winning bids so far have been higher than analysts’ expectations, based on the benchmark price of state-run Coal India.

Coal India’s prices are set according to cost rather than based on supply and demand in the market and its costs are high at Rs. 1,118 per tonne, more than half of which comes from employee and social costs.

For the private companies, mining costs are likely to be between Rs. 400 and 600 per tonne, according to some analysts.

The entire sum raised from the auction will be collected by the government over a period of 30 years.

Five per cent of the proceeds will be accrued to the government in this fiscal year.

NEW DELHI, FEbruary 19 (IaNS): Budget passenger carrier SpiceJet Thursday launched its new ‘One Stop Sale’ discount offer starting from Rs.2,999 all inclusive.

“Our ‘One Stop Sale’ offers customers the opportunity to get tickets at very attractive discounted fares for connecting and via flights which offer greater connectivity to non-metros and also provide lower priced alternatives to direct flights,” said SpiceJet chief commercial officer Kaneswaran Avili.

The latest discount scheme by the company is one of the many such offers that it has come out with in the recent past to shore up bookings in the lean travel period. Other airlines are also expected to follow suite and offer attractive prices for passengers to book tickets in advance.

According to the airline, the offer is applicable on all domestic connecting and via flights (flights with an intermediate stop). The company said that passengers can make bookings for the latest offer starting from Feb 19 to Feb 22, 2015 for travel period from Feb 26 to April 15, 2015. The company had recently announced a new enhanced schedule effective from March 29.

_

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 # 3143

a “damage-control exerAuction scheduled to conclude on Friday cise” after Modi was critiNEW DELHI, FEbruary 19 (aP): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dark suit with its unique monogram pinstripes went up for auction Wednesday in his home state of Gujarat, officials said. The money raised in the three-day auction of the suit and hundreds of other gifts received by Modi will be used to clean up the heavily polluted Ganges River.

Modi wore the suit when President Barack Obama visited India last month. Photographs of the suit showing Modi’s name monogrammed in dull gold stripes went viral on social media. Opposition leaders attacked Modi for his extravagance in wearing a suit that was estimated to cost more than 1 mn rupees .

Ajay Maken, a leader from the opposition Congress Party, said the decision to auction the suit was

cized for wearing such expensive clothing.

During the recent campaign for elections in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party, or Common Man’s Party, highlighted Modi’s exorbitant tastes to campaign against his Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing the prime minister of having lost touch with millions of poor people in India. The Common Man’s Party won with an overwhelming majority.

By Wednesday afternoon, the highest bid received for the suit was more than 12 million rupees ($193,000), officials said.

The auction is scheduled to conclude on Friday.

Gujarat official Milind Toravane said the suit and other items were gifts received by Modi after he became prime minister in May. The gifts include decorative pieces in silver and brass, among other items.

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 3153

Answer Number # 3142

In this Jan.25, 2015 photo, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wears a dark pinstriped suit with his name monogrammed in dull gold stripes during a reception to US President Barack Obama in New Delhi. (AP Photo)

During Modi’s 20012014 stint as chief minister of Gujarat, the gifts he received were regularly auctioned off and the money DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

collected used to fund programs for the education of girls in the state. No base price had been set for the suit, Toravane said.

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

Bullying and Consequences BULLYING ABUSE VERBAL PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL DOMINATE CYBER ATTACK BEHAVIOUR COWARD NAMECALLING HARASS INTIMIDATE PUNCH KICK SLAPPING SCARED DISRESPECT TEASE RUMOURS VICTIM OFFENDER EXCLUSION DETENTION INTERNAL JAILED SENTENCED POLICE

D

I I N T E R N A L H A R A S S

R U M O U R S D O M I N A T E

S

G J K E D T E T V N R E B Y C

L A I T E C N E G O N E U N H

E

P I C A R E T A N I A B U S E

P L K D A P E S O T M P C D C

A

H E B I C S N E I N E O O K R

Y D U M S E C V S E C L W C O

R

S V L I L R E I U T A I A A F

I E L T A S D C L E L C R T F

C

C R Y N P I O T C D L E D T E

A B I I P D G I X J I A R A N

H

L A N O I T O M E L N A V Z D

Y L G K N H C N U P G W W I E

R Z I T G K B E H A V I O U R

ACROSS

1. Vitality 5. African antelope 10. Humid 14. Beers 15. An small olive-grey bird 16. Egg-shaped 17. Enticement 19. Start over 20. Make a low continuous sound 21. Something to shoot for 22. Employed 23. Ore refinery 25. Notions 27. A late time of life 28. Forever 31. Gladden 34. Doorkeeper 35. Mineral rock 36. Sodas 37. Orbital point 38. Again 39. Frozen water 40. A pinnacle of ice 41. Ascends 42. Ribbed fabric 44. Disencumber 45. Forbidden 46. After dinner treat 50. Friends 52. Make fun of

54. Japanese apricot 55. Emanation 56. Belonging to the past 58. Remnant 59. Not outer 60. Past tense of Leap 61. If not 62. Excrete 63. Not more

DOWN

1. Slats 2. A part of the small intestine 3. French of “Woman” 4. Clairvoyant’s gift 5. Avoided 6. About a US quart 7. Operatic solo 8. New Stone Age 9. Put clothing on 10. A dialect of ancient Greek 11. Dislikes 12. Fabricated 13. Trudge 18. Name of a book 22. German for “Mister” 24. Permits 26. D D D D 28. An analytic literary composition 29. Tall woody plant

30. Evergreens 31. Sweeping story 32. Mentally irregular (slang) 33. Openings 34. Displacing 37. Relating to aircraft 38. Helps 40. U-boats 41. Part of a stair 43. Harm 44. Vacation destination 46. Days of the month 47. Master of ceremonies 48. Harvests 49. Leans 50. An abandoned calf 51. Throw 53. Feudal worker 56. Hasten 57. Sick Ans to CrossWord 3152

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)

60.78 93.44 7.58 47.11 44.48 48.63 50.47

63.90 99.03 8.50 50.21 47.20 51.63 54.40

Euro

68.8

73.05

Thai Baht

1.81

2.02

0.053

0.0595

New Zealand Dollar

45.4

48.40

Chinese Yuan

9.37

10.50

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

Korean Won

LOCAL 5 Forest Minister inspects NZP Lotha Hoho writes memorandum to DC Friday

The Morung Express

DiMapur, February 19 (Mexn): Minister of Forests, Environment & Wildlife, Dr. Nicky Kire visited Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar on February 18 and inspected various locations proposed for development and improvement of the Park. A press release from Obed Bohovi Swu, Officer in Charge, NZP, informed.

The minister was accompanied by Secretary Forest, Addl. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Chief Wildlife Warden along with Director, Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar. During the visit, Dr. Kire interacted with the officers and inspected the activities in the park and suggested a number of measures to be pursued on priority for the improvement of the Park.

The minister also interacted with NAP personnel posted for the security of the park and assured to

20 February 2015

Wokha, February 19 (Mexn): The Lotha Hoho, during the Wokha District Planning & Development Board meeting on February 9 submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Wokha on various matters for early attention from the government.

Lotha Hoho Chairman, Mhao Humtsoe, and General Secretary, Er. Mhondamo Ovung, in a press release stated that the memorandum urged the government employees to be regular in office. The Hoho said the excuse that there is no work and hence unnecessary for regular office attendance

is unjustified. The Hoho in particular, seriously viewed the practice of some Heads of offices and DDOs for signing and passing the bills. The Hoho reminded the state government of its principle of ‘No work, no pay.’

“The Hoho is raising the voice of the people of Wokha district, which it represents. The credibility of the Wokha Town Council is to be ensured and activities carried out,” the Hoho maintained.

The Hoho urged the Roads & Bridges and National Highways Departments to carry out O&M of roads and to prepare project reports for

government’s approval and sanction for improvement of roads within the district.

The Hoho also wanted to know as to why the NH 61, Wokha sector is not widened or O&M are not done unlike other sectors, which have been widened.

The Hoho noted with dismay that the concerned officials were absent in the DPDB meeting and no deliberation on the matter could be carried out. Saying that it was aware that the work was earlier delayed due to a court case between tendering contractors, the Hoho stated that the court case is now cleared and

Dimapur

therefore, urged the concerned department to take up the work immediately.

The Hoho further urged the Power and PHE departments to be regular in distribution of Power and Water bills to the consumers.

The memorandum to the DC also included the restoration of High Mast Streetlights, streamlining LPG distribution and early commissioning of the Radio Transmission Station, at Vankhosung.

The Hoho assured that it would do its best to ensure the safety and security of government employees within Wokha.

Candidate alleges anomaly in Morakjo VDB election Minister of Forests, Environment & Wildlife, Dr. Nicky Kire along with other officials Wokha, February 19 election of the village was inspecting the Nagaland Zooligical Park in Dimapur.

(Mexn): The recent VDB held against VDB norms.

help improve living conditions in the camp.

Dr. Kire stressed on the need and urgency to protect and preserve wildlife.

He brought along a pair of Slow Loris donated by Kochajang Imchen, a Class - IV student of Vineyard School, Kohima. While

handing over the pair of Slow Loris, the Minister urged everyone especially young children to love and protect our wildlife.

election at Morakjo Village under Wokha District has courted controversy as one of the intending candidates has alleged that the VDB

The intending candidate Chumben Odyuo in a press release stated, “The recent election of Elvis Odyuo as the VDB Secre-

tary of Morakjo village for another term as published in some esteemed dailies on the 18th of February 2015 has not been done as per the guidelines or the VDB norms laid down by

the government.”

Beseeching the competent authority to intervene, Odyuo called for conducting the VDB Secretary election as per Government rules.

KVYO cultural competition on Feb 21 More condemn firing at MLA’s residence NPF (Noke) condemns firing

kohiMa, February 19 (Mexn): As part of Kohima Village Sekrenyi festival, the Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KVYO) is all set to organize a cultural competition on February 21 at Kohima Village Ground, Ziekezou from 10:00 AM onwards.

Aimed at promoting indigenous music and songs, the programme is being organized with the support of Khriehu Liezietsu, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Resources & Sports, New & Renewable Energy and Music Task Force.

The competition is open for all khel peli’s (age groups), combined groups (from different khels) and all individuals belonging to Kohima Village.

KVYO has informed all its members, residing in

CULTURAL COMPETITION EVENTS

Junior Category (20 years and below) Licie/Lizha (Large Group) Tati Pfhe (Limited Group) Weü O (Limited Group) Senior Category (Above 20 years) Licie/Lizha (Large Group) Tati Pfhe (Limited Group) Weü O (Limited Group) Open Category (No age bar) Lida (Limited Group) – Minimum 4 members Tsanu Ü – Individual Thupfhe Ü – Individual Mepfü (War chant) – individual Demonstration Kezonuo (Nhicumia kehou), Houtho (Phichümia kehou), Thebanu Ü, Rülou/Phita, Teu tu, etc.

Kohima Village and elsewhere, to compulsorily attend the “very important” programme and “actively take part in this joint effort to preserve and promote our rich cultural heritage.”

MEx FILE Consumers under Changtongya electrical division urged to clear bills Mokokchung, February 19 (Mexn): The Executive Engineer for Changtongya Electrical Division, Mhonlumo Kikon has appealed to all electricity consumers under Changtongya Electrical Division, under Mokokchung District and Longleng District to pay their electricity bills on time in order to avoid disconnection.

A press note from the Executive Engineer further urged all mobile towers, commercial, bulk consumers and government offices under this division to clear their outstanding electricity bills on or before March 5 to “avoid disconnection which will start on March 9. Consumers who have not received their electricity bills may contact the office of their respective electrical sub-divisions and collect their bills for payment.

AR apprehends arms peddler DiMapur, February 19 (Mexn): Troops of 37 Assam Rifles based on specific information about the movement of an arms peddler, apprehended one Tomika Zimomi in Ward No. 1, Chumukedima. A defence release informed that two .22 Pistols, two Air Pistols and ammunitions were recovered from the individual. The apprehended individual along with the recovered items were handed over to Diphupar Police Station.

One arrested for possession of drugs DiMapur, February 19 (Mexn): The Excise Narcotic personnel manning the Newfield Check Gate on February 18 arrested one for possession of 645 capsules/tablets of Spasmo Proxyvon and Nitrosun. Excise Dy Commissioner Lanuwati Jamir informed in a press release. The individual was identified as Sanjay Paul. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody and booked under relevant section of the Drug & Cosmetic Act, 1940.

3 held for possessing contraband ganja kohiMa, February 19 (Mexn): Kohima Police personnel on Thursday arrested three persons for possessing 148 kilograms of contraband ganja. A press release from Atu Zumvü, NPS, SDPO & PRO, informed that the arrest took place during routine frisking by police personnel manning Phesama check-gate on Thursday morning at about 0230 hrs. The three were travelling in two Maruti Gypsys bearing Regd. No. NL-03/1562 and Engine No. F10AIN249663; and MN-01A/7661 with Engine No. F10AIN236478. The Chassis in both vehicles were tampered with. The three were identified as Solomon Khaleng (64yrs) S/o Lt. Saidul Khaleng; Asing Khaleng (27yrs) S/o Nyathingthot Khaleng; and Somishang Shangjang (26yrs), S/o Lt. Mathangsei; all three belong to Paovi Village under Chingai Police Station in Ukhrul. The three were taken into police custody for illegal possession and transportation of contraband ganja. A regular case under the NDPS Act has been registered against them and they are remanded into police custody for further investigation.

All attendees have been further instructed to wear full traditional attire. It also stated that except guns, firecrackers will be strictly prohibited throughout Sekrenyi Festival.

Mokokchung, February 19 (Mexn): Organisations have come forward to condemn the firing and hurling of grenade at the residence of State Member of Legislative Assembly Dr. Benjongliba Aier.

spiteful hearts amongst us who would commit such condemnable acts,” a press release from Moasangba Jamir, President, NPF Mokokchung Division stated.

The NPF Mokokchung Division expressed gratefulness to God for His providence without which “innocent and precious blood would have been shed.”

While praying that God would continue to protect and guide the leader, it appealed to all right thinking citizens to condemn the perpetrators of the “craven act”.

It further stated that it expects the competent authority to bring to book the criminals responsible immediately.

NPF Mokokchung The Naga People’s Front (NPF) Mokokchung Division has vehemently condemned the “dastardly act of those unidentified miscreants who fired gunshots and hurled hand grenades at the Dimapur residence of Dr. Benjongliba Aier, MLA Nagaland on February 18.”

“At a time when every Naga is yearning for peace, and at a time when crucial talks are going on for resolving the vexed Indo- JKM The Japukong StuNaga political issue, it is incredibly unfortunate that dents’ Conference (JKM) there are people with such has strongly condemned

National Festival of Folk Music, Dance & Theatre held kohiMa, February 19 (Mexn): Bharat Lok Parv – Purvottar Yatra, a National Festival of folk Music, Dance and Theatre was held at the State Academy Hall on February 18.

The programme, sponsored by Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata, and organized by the Department of Art & Culture, Nagaland, a press release from Art & Culture Director Vevo Sapuh informed.

Vezuhu Keyho, Execu-

tive Board Member, NEZCC, was the chief guest on the occasion. Cultural items were presented by the Pochury Cultural Troupe, Kohima, Khiamniungan Cultural Club, Kohima, and Shena (Old) Cultural Club, Kohima.

Troupes from Kerala and Orissa also enthralled the audience with their performance, the release informed.

The yatra began on February 17 at Guwahati and

will cover various places till February 28. The main thrust of the festival is to present the rich diversity and uniqueness of Indian culture and to promote the cultural inter-linkages amongst the states to strengthen national integration. It is also intended to ensure that artists get a platform not only to explore their forms of art, but also to explore their talents beyond their respective geographical boundaries.

the act of unknown miscreants who fired shots and hurled a bomb inside the compound of Dr. Benjongliba Aier’s private residence. A press release from JKM urged and requested the concerned authority to look into the matter and apprehend the miscreants and take necessary action.

CNTC The Central Nagaland Tribal Council has also condemned the firing and hurling of grenade at the residence of MLA Dr. Benjongliba. A press release from the CNTC stated that the incident creates unhealthy atmosphere in the minds of the public. CNTC further appealed to the authority to book the culprits at the earliest and punish those involved. It added that it will not tolerate such acts.

DiMapur, February 19 (Mexn): The Noke-led NPF has categorically condemned the firing incident at the residence of Dr. N. Benjongliba Aier, in Dimapur on February 18 by mischievous elements.

A press release from the NPF Press and Media Cell strongly urged upon the law enforcing agencies to study and investigate the incident in a time bound and systematic manner. Calling for the arrest of those involved at the earliest, it asked the authorities to bring the culprits to book, to face the law of the land. It also stated that it was taken aback by the discovery of a

PCNI appeals for peace

DiMapur, February 19 (Mexn): The Peace Coalition of North East India (PCNI) has appealed for peace amongst the conflicting parties in Tuensang.

“PCNI would like to reiterate that violence begets only violence and there are no victors in violent conflicts. Peacefully resolving through mutual dialogue and fostering the Christian spirit of peace is the way to resolving any dispute in sus-

tainable manner,” a press release from Adahe Neli, Coordinator, PCNI stated.

PCNI appealed to the District administration and concern departments, civil societies, and churches to do all they can to prevent recurrence of such conflicts and mediate on the issues to restore normalcy and better understanding among the different conflicting communities.

PCNI also appealed for calm in the ongoing

village council members were present on the occasion and appreciated the organisers for encouraging the youngsters to participate in such events.

Speaking on the Sub Theme: “The Nature of our Future depends on the Future of our Nature”, the resource person, Adrian Mahung, stressed that environment control was in everyone’s hand. No matter how young they are,

small gestures of cleanliness can encourage others too, he stated.

The best participants were awarded with gifts & Certificates, and later refreshments were provided to all.

Meren Imchen (Scientist B, NPCB) who visited the program said that it was important to sensitize the students at an early age on Environment kohiMa, Feb 19 awareness.

(Mexn): A medical camp will be organized by 154 General Hospital of Zakhama military station under the aegis of HQ 3 taken up by NYKS in pro- corps (medical) at Phesamoting Youth activities in ma village near Kohima on community development. February 21 from 9:00 AM Hibo also inaugurated onwards. the exhibition stalls for handloom and handicrafts and food items produced locally by youth clubs.

Jackie Ruivah, Zonal Director, NYKS, delivering Zunheboto, Febthe keynote address high- ruary 19 (Mexn): lighted the vision and mis- A National Integration sion of Yuva Kriti & Folk Tour, organised by 5 AsCultural Festival 2013. The sam Rifles as part of “Op programme is targeted to Sadbhawna” initiatives, provide large audience to was flagged off by Temsu the youth where new vis- Longkumer, DC Zunhetas of opportunities could boto. A defence release be unfurled for further im- received here informed.

The group comprising provement in growth and development. The cultural of 20 village elders from programme is organized Zunheboto and Kiphire with the view to promote, districts will visit Guwapreserve and enrich cul- hati and the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hydertural heritage of the state.

Yuva Kriti & Folk Cultural Festival underway kohiMa, February 19 (Mexn): State Nehru Yuva Kendra Sagathan under the Union Ministry of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports, is conducting a 3-day state level Yuva Kriti, Youth Convention & Folk Cultural Festival 2015 at Bamboo Hall, Kisama. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Visakhonu Hibo, Principal, Japfii Christian College.

A press release from John Makhabo, DYC, NYK, Kohima, informed.

Addressing the young participants from different districts of the state, Hibo said that there is an urgent need for regenerating economic activities for optimal use as demanded by the

people. She also shared her experiences working with UNDP, SHGs, Women’s health, economic issues and women empowerment.

“Nagaland has lot of potentials and raw materials,” Hibo says. “There is huge demand for local organic products from other states.

The Act East of the Govt. of India will definitely boost the morale of the youth and it will enhance skill development in all fronts,” she adds.

Hibo gave away State level Outstanding Youth Club Awards 2014 to Fountain Club of Kohima district. The award consists of cash amounting to Rs. 1 lakh and a citation. While accepting the award, President of Fountain Club appreciated the initiative

Assam-Nagaland border impasse. PCNI appealed to both the state Governments of Assam and Nagaland to seriously look into the matter and bring about an amicable solution without further delay.

“It is as such that at this juncture of time and situation, the Government can best look into the wellbeing of the people by taking up an extra mile of concern and love for those affected,” PCNI stated.

District Tobacco Control Cell, Dimapur organised a poster and slogan writing competition on tobacco and health at Maple Tree School, Dimapur on February 16. The school’s students of Class VI and above participated in the competition. Akumienla of Class VI, Raphane of class VII and Imcharenla of class VIII were adjudged first, second and third respectively.

Juvenile Club organizes drawing competition DiMapur, February 19 (Mexn): A drawing competition was organized by the Juvenile Social Club at Kevija-u Village Primary School, Dimapur, in commemoration of National Environment Awareness Campaign 2014-15 on the theme “Combating desertification, land Regeneration & Drought”.

Chairman of the Kevijau Village Council, Er. M Tia Jamir, along with the

Chinese made grenade inside the compound “with safety pin intact”.

Meanwhile, the release dismissed claims that big money was paid to legislators on the eve of the floor test.

“The startling revelation of Dr. Shurhozelie that they paid big money to our Legislators on the eve of 5th February Floor Test is nothing but blatant degeneration of democracy.”

“Shurhozelie, should spell out the amount paid by T.R. Zeliang to each of our Legislators and he should specify the name of the recipient and the place where the transaction took place,” the release stated.

Medical camp at Phesama A defence release informed that a team of 7 doctors including medical and surgical specialist, lady medical officer and dental officer will be present to provide free medical and dental checkups and treatment for the village population.

A laboratory and mi-

nor Operation Theater will be setup during the camp.

Health education will also be provided to the civil population with the help of health exhibit and a lecture to be organized for the civil population highlighting the preventive aspects of various diseases.

AR’s National Integration Tour abad and various defence and private industrial establishments in Hyderabad. The 14 day tour will see the group visit places of historical, religious and industrial importance such as Charminar, Salar Jung Museum, Golkonda Fort, St Joseph’s Cathedral, Indian School of Business, Google, PepsiCo and DRDL apart from visiting Air Force Academy in Dindigul.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest said

that the tour aims to provide the elders an opportunity to see the vast diaspora of culture in the rest of the country which will widen their horizons and also have an impact on the socio-economic development of the State. The village elders were visibly excited.

The tour is being funded by the Assam Rifles and Indian Army with an aim to facilitate people to people interaction.

6

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express FrIDAy 20 FEbruAry 2015 volumE X IssuE 48

Along Longkumer Consulting Editor

Cricket or Battle Field

T

he mere mention of India-Pakistan stirs up images of past wars, continuing conflict, violence and the intense, equally bitter, rivalry in the sporting arena of cricket. In the wake of the latest cricket match that was played during the ongoing world cup in Australia and the frenzy that was created in the run up to the match and following it by die-hard fans on both sides, one is left wondering whether a cricket match between the two country is good for peace and amity in the region. By building up the big-ticket rivalry over a cricket match, does the media, advertisers, cricket boards (the BCCI/ICC), the political establishment and even fans contribute to the larger enmity that persists between India-Pakistan? To put it differently, is India-Pakistan’s historic sour relationship being used to sell the game of cricket for billions of dollars at the cost of peace? Some may argue that cricket diplomacy has been used in the past to calm relations between the two neighbors. Even if this was the case, at the end of the day however, it was more of theatrics and at most a confidence building measure. The fact of the matter therefore is that cricket diplomacy has not contributed towards enduring peace between the two countries.

The way that everyone looks at the game of cricket between India and Pakistan as though it is about settling some scores, revengeful and bitterness, is therefore worrying. Be it the Prime Minister, President, famous personalities and even ordinary people, all are caught up in nationalistic fervor and emotion, which in the end only goes to abet enmity between the two. There is nothing wrong in celebrating a win. But perhaps we overdo it if we defeat Pakistan in a cricket match. The Prime Minister led a wave of congratulations for the Indian cricket team. Even a non political figure like the President joins in the victory lap. The usually publicity shy personalities can’t seem to hide their emotions either as they join scores of fans wearing patriotism on their sleeves and zip through the city streets waving the tri-colour with gusto. As the media put it quite nicely, “from drawing rooms to the country's frontiers, celebrations erupted across the nation as India defeated Pakistan”. We read about cricket fans distributing sweets and bursting firecrackers with even the jawans of the Border Security Force (BSF) deployed along the International Border in Jammu celebrating the victory of team India by distributing sweets among themselves. Do we celebrate this way when we beat other teams other than Pakistan? Do we as a nation really abhor Pakistan despite all the propaganda of resuming peace talks or cultivating people to people contact?

It is not for nothing that India vs Pakistan in cricket has been listed at number two in the top ten greatest rivalries in the history of sport. According to an article in The Observer (Sunday, November 3, 2002) written by Matt Tench and Jamie Jackson “cricket on the subcontinent has been riven by tensions and an awesome rivalry, albeit one continually overshadowed by politics”. Other media commentators describe it as a “matter of life and death for some fans” and that India vs Pakistan in cricket “evokes a level of hysteria that is hard for many to comprehend”. If the equally historic rivalry between Australia and England (Ashes series) can be matched with good relations between the two countries, despite the pride and passion to win against each other in the cricket field, why can’t people in India and Pakistan do likewise, to be respectful of each other off the field. People should not act in a manner that will promote more enmity leading to social and political tensions. Yes just like the famous sporting rivalries such as Australia vs England (Ashes) or Argentina vs Brazil (football), India and Pakistan can also continue with their rivalry in the sporting arena of cricket but not beyond that into the battlefield.

(Feedback can be sent to consultingeditormex@gmail.com)

lEfT WING |

Mazie Nakhro, Ph.D

Day 32: Prophetic Voice for Political Leaders Thought-Provoking Question: The Bible says, "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plans to his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). Does this imply that our Naga politicians would do well to be guided by prophetic voices?

What does God say? Read Isaiah 1:1-4 Isaiah was a prophet at the royal court in Judah, the southern kingdom of the divided nation of Israel. He came from a royal stock and exhibited deep knowledge of Israel's political life.

As a holy King, the Lord was angry about the evils in Judah. The nation's rulers and her government officials put on religion on the outside, but they were corrupt on the inside (Isa. 1:4, 10-16). In their mad pursuit of self-indulgence and wealth, they walked all over others. They withheld justice, made unjust laws, and deprived the poor (1:17: 10:1-2). Full of greed, these leaders used their power to "add house to house and join field to field till no space is left... in the land" (5:8). So, the Lord sent Isaiah to preach against their greed and corruption. But, as for those who would do what is just and right, He promised to bless them (33:15-16).

Although the prophet Isaiah possibly preached to King Uzziah and King Ahaz, they obviously did not repent from their wicked ways. But both King Jotham and King Hezekiah turned out to be good. For example, when the Assyrian army threatened Judah. Hezekiah sought advice from Isaiah who told what the king should do. And because the king humbled himself before the Lord and obeyed Isaiah's advice, the Lord spared his life and saved his kingdom from the Assyrians (Isa. 36--37). In other words, Isaiah was a behind-the-scene instrument in saving Jerusalem from the Assyrian invasion.

Okay, so now what?

In the affairs of government, the rich and the powerful too often use politics to advance their own selfish purposes. They pursue political measures by which they may profit and then profit by those measures. That's why it is healthy to have opposition parties. civil society watchdogs, and the Press to provide checks and balances to the executive branch of government.

Similarly, the Church exists in the world not only to save souls but also to serve as God's prophetic voice to those in responsible positions in the society. But in the case of the Church's failure, God may raise up preachers and pastors and use them to speak the truth as He did with his servant Isaiah or John the Baptist who spoke against Herod living an adulterous life (Matt. 14:3-4).

When you see rulers and leaders doing wrong, what do you think God wants you to do?

Prayers: Lord, Your prophecies always come true. Forgive me when I don't believe Your predictions. I will take comfort in Your sovereignty, that You rule in the affairs of men. Amen.

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

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Hannah Gais

What we get wrong about religious violence

Ignoring religion’s role in radicalization means we’re not attending to the needs of those most at risk of joining extremist groups

S

hortly before masked gunmen blasted their way into the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo last January, they reportedly shouted “Allahu akbar, we’ll avenge the prophet!” If the paper wasn’t notorious before for its provocatively blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, it surely is now.

Almost immediately, a familiar argument broke out over whether the attackers’ religion was to blame.

“Because the ideology is the product of a major world religion, a lot of painstaking pretzel logic goes into trying to explain what the violence does, or doesn’t, have to do with Islam,” George Packer wrote in The New Yorker in the days after the attacks.

From the 9/11 attacks to the Charlie Hebdo shooting and the subsequent arrests of suspected terrorists in France, Belgium, and Germany, Western commentators have far too often framed religion’s role in instigating violence in unabashedly dualistic terms.

Pretzel Logic On one hand, there are those who decry the totality of Islamic theology as inherently violent. Islam, we’re told, is categorically distinct from the two other Abrahamic faiths, and it’s caught in irrevocable conflict with Western civilizations. Its borders, Samuel Huntington famously insisted, are bloody.

“Islam is a difficult religion, because it confuses civil and religious law. It doesn’t recognize the French principle of secular government,” Wallerand de Saint-Just, national treasurer for France’s far-right National Front party told Al Jazeera. “Islam has a tendency to create fanatics more than any other religion.

The facts on the ground prove this.”

Failure to acknowledge Islam’s propensity to violence, argued Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and a former scholar at the neoconservative American Enterprise Institute, has had dire consequences.

Muslim leaders “ask us not to link acts of violence to the religion of Islam because they tell us that theirs is a religion of peace, and we oblige,” she opined in the The Wall Street Journal. “What do we get in return? Kalashnikovs in the heart of Paris.”

On the other hand are those who shy away from pinning any religious motivations on these violent acts. AlAzhar, an ancient Sunni learning institution in Egypt, condemned the attacks, saying, “Islam denounces any violence.” President Obama, in a recent speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, noted that violence “is not unique to one group or one religion.” Obama and others see extremists’ motives as tied to alienation and disillusionment, where religion just provides a mask for other sinister motives.

This “pretzel logic” is unnecessary.

Framing violent acts committed in the name of God as either exclusively motivated by religion or not at all misrepresents and oversimplifies our relationship with faith. Such a polarity feeds both Islamist and right-wing extremist narratives as well.

An individual’s relationship with and experience of faith communities is complex. The West has long grappled with the relationship between an individual’s beliefs and those shared among individuals within a broader religious or societal context. Most agree that faith is personal, and the freedom to practice (or not practice) a faith of one’s choosing is a basic human right.

However, “protected” and “personal” can have a variety of interpretations. For France, a history of heavy clerical involvement in state affairs led to the relegation of religious observance to the private sphere, separate from public life and affairs of state.

Secularism, known in its French form as laïcité, is the norm, and a somewhat new one at that.

Although its ideological roots lie in the French revolution, today’s understanding of laïcité can be tied to a 1905 law on the separation of church and state. The law prohibited the state from funding, recognizing, and endorsing religious groups. It has often been interpreted as the rough legal equivalent of Mendelssohn’s old adage that one should be “a cosmopolitan man in the street and a Jew at home.”

These days, laïcité has undergirded a number of laws governing public displays of religion. In 2004, for instance, lawmakers introduced a prohibition on wearing conspicuous religious symbols, such as the hijab or a kippah, in schools. In 2011, a similarly controversial law banning the wearing of niqabs and burqas in public went into effect.

Charlie Hebdo has deep roots in the French anti-clericalism movement and fancies itself a protector of this secular order. Through sacrilegious imagery that spares no one, its message becomes clear: nothing is, nor should be, sacrosanct. “We’re a newspaper against religions as soon as they enter into the political and public realm,” Gérard Biard, the paper’s editor in chief, told The New York Times in 2012.

“You’re not meant to identify yourself through a religion, in any case not in a secular state.”

Following last month’s attacks, a

new government edict has sought to reinforce the teaching of laïcité in public schools. Parents and students will soon be required to sign a charter asserting they will respect laïcité, and the government has proclaimed December 9 to be the Day of Laïcité. Unsurprisingly, these developments have faced resistance from Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Immigrant communities in particular often regard restrictions on public expressions of faith as forcing them to reject their heritage. “Some see intégration not as a formal process — that is, the process of becoming full-fledged French citizens, attaining a certain level of prosperity, and engaging in political activities — so much as a cultural requirement that really means something like ‘check your identity at the door,’” wrote Jonathan Laurence and Justin Vaisse of the Brookings Institution in a 2006 report. “To them, integration sounds more like ‘disintegration.’”

It’s this perceived tension between private religiosity and public secularism that’s at the heart of the debate over Islam’s role in attacks like the recent ones in Paris, arguably even at the heart of a debate over the role of religion in violence in general. It’s a tension, too, that can be easily resolved by acknowledging religion as an inseparable part of an individual’s identity. Even if the Kouachi brothers were nothing more than criminals, if they did believe they were acting on a religious impulse, that can’t be easily dismissed from their motive to kill.

Within this framework, religion is a means, not an end. Extremists of any creed may use and abuse religion to justify and legitimize their own violent political interests. Religion happens to be an easy vehicle — it’s personal, lends itself to a variety of interpretations, and frames struggles in new, grander meanings.

It’s also accessible. As Said Ferjani, an official in Tunisia’s moderate Islamist Ennahda party, told The New York Times, “Some people who feel crushed or ignored will go toward extremism, and they use religion because that is what they have at hand. If you are attacked and you have a fork in your hand, you will fight back with a fork.”

The Case for Listening What’s frightening is that tapping into this narrative of disintegration isn’t just in the interests of Islamist ex-

tremists — it can also be of significant benefit the far right. So much so that “the real threat in France, and in Europe more broadly, is not the fantasy of a thousand jihadist sleeper cells poised to wreak havoc on society,” Walden Bello wrote recently in Foreign Policy In Focus. “The real threat is the repression of migrant communities by national security states.”

Far-right politicians like National Front leader Marine Le Pen use the fringes to their benefit, weaving a narrative that turns frustrations associated with being an underprivileged minority into an outright rejection of the system as a whole. Feelings of alienation, otherness, and the resulting anger among French Muslims and other religious or ethnic minorities who have become scapegoats for Le Pen and the National Front is likely a far stronger tool for the far-right than they will admit. Indeed, the Kouachi brothers probably did more for Le Pen than thousands of dollars spent on campaigning could ever do.

That may be what the attackers want. Juan Cole, a professor at the University of Michigan, wrote on his blog, Informed Comment, that one higherorder goal of the attacks could have been “sharpening the contradictions” between Muslim and non-Muslim groups in France. Turning the discussion of these specific attacks — or even a discussion about Islamic extremism at large — into one of whether or not the Islamic faith is responsible for violence more generally can risk doing that as well. Asserting that Islam is unique in its ability to radicalize risks claiming the totality of the world’s Muslims are represented by an ideology that they have nothing to do with.

In placing the blame for fringe beliefs on some inherent vulnerability within the entire faith, it risks overlooking the root causes of terrorism while providing rationale for discrimination.

On the flip side, claiming that Islam or any other creed has nothing to do with terrorism risks ignoring why religion is used as a justification for violence. Seemingly religiously motivated conflicts can be found worldwide, from sectarian violence in Iraq and Syria, to Christian militias in the Central Africa Republic, and to “sword-wielding Buddhist mobs” in Burma.

In many ways, treating religion as a separate sphere of human activity is a predominantly Western — not to mention relatively modern — ideal.

In most regions of the world, as well as throughout most of Western history, “There was … no coherent way to divide religious causes from social causes,” wrote religious scholar Karen Armstrong in The Guardian. “People were fighting for different visions of society, but they would not, and could not, have distinguished between religious and temporal factors in these conflicts.” Writing off religion’s roll in any given conflict would impossible.

Furthermore, ignoring religion’s role in radicalization means we’re not attending to the needs of those who are most at risk of joining extremist groups. Grasping for any compelling existential narrative that comes your way can be a cry for help — a sign that some deep-seated needs aren’t met.

Ignoring that cry means we’re simply not listening.

Nationalism is materialism

T

Kiran batni

he sages of India have produced perhaps the most humanistic philosophy in the world; it is second to none at any rate. Despite all the obvious diversity, those accomplished souls essentially saw the oneness of man wherever he is in the world.

However, the oneness they saw was spiritual, not material. When this simple fact is forgotten, diversity doesn’t get the respect it deserves, and all hell breaks loose. The Indian concept that the entire world is one’s family (vasudhaiva kutumbakam) is a spiritual one whereas the concept of nationalism isn’t. One can’t use the former to justify the latter, but that is exactly what we do in India.

Nationalism is essentially a materialistic concept. It developed in Europe which was, to say the least, uninitiated in spirituality. When a culture that had not considered all human beings as one with any seriousness had to come up with a solution to conflicts due to the admixture of diverse peoples on European soil, it naturally hit upon what we now call nationalism.

This European material culture imposed itself all over the world for several centuries in order to appropriate its resources. It spread slavery and created colonies wherever it went, and those slaves and colonies had no option but to respond on the same level as the imposing culture. That is, they had no option but to acquire the European disease of nationalism. Despite all pretense, Indian nationalism is no

exception to this.

Despite its tryst with nationalism, India hasn’t let go of its cultural roots, its idea of the spiritual oneness of all humanity in particular. However, the fact that nationalism is a materialistic concept hasn’t registered fully within India. Used to seeing everything as spiritual, Indian intellectuals with even a rudimentary exposure to Indian philosophy consider the nation, too, as something spiritual. That is why we see right from pre-independence days to today, the names of sages such as Adi Shankara being roped in to justify Indian nationalism. Exactly what they said which requires one political unit called India is never discussed.

But taking materialism out of nationalism, even for a moment, is taking everything out of it. There is nothing in nationalism except for dry material transactions with profits and losses. Adding spirituality to it, on the other hand, actually creates a great danger because nationalism, which is a materialistic method of protecting different peoples from hurting each other, as it were, requires us to attend to material differences, not spiritual oneness. In the first place, it requires us to acknowledge that different peoples exist and recognize them as separate nations. Taking language as the fundamental difference marker as in Europe, this would mean two dozen or so nations in the place of India. But this is not what we have; what we have is one nation. Plus, there’s the idea that Indians must give up their diversity to

conform. The most erudite reason stated for this idea is that Indian philosophy requires us to think of everyone as belonging to the same family. Never mind the fact that that wasn’t meant in the materialistic sense, and never mind that we ought to be applying it even in the spiritual sense to the entire vasudhaa (world), not just India.

Let us not mind these things either, for argument’s sake, and see what happens when this confusion between spiritualism and materialism enters Indian nationalism. What happens is that one-sixth of humanity is tucked under the umbrella of one nation and all diversity is forgotten in an essentially materialistic setting. The result is that the exact same dangerous situation which led to dozens of nations in Europe exists in India, too, but there is no attempt to deal with it. Instead, there’s the repeated assertion that the said situation is unreal and created by those who are unspiritual and anti-national. In reality, it is created by those who refuse to take the realistic definition of nationalism. Also, those who are called unspiritual are not even supposed to be spiritual in this context, and those who are called anti-national are actually national in the real sense of the term. It is only when one confounds spiritualism and materialism that these allegations can be made.

In India, the dangerous situation in the above paragraph has a very specific nature. It is nothing but the inequality of the Pyramid of Corruption. This is

WRITE-WING

a term I use for the caste-system and everything related to it. This Pyramid has the pure Brahmana at the apex, followed by the Kshatriya and the Vaishya and finally the Shudra at the bottom.

Hundreds of millions of Indians, including the whole of South India, are Shudra, and in the context of nationalism, it means that they are ripe for oppression by the other Varnas. In ethnic terms, the lower castes of North India and everyone elsewhere is at a risk of economic and political exploitation by high-caste North Indians, and the risk has been triggered. What makes this situation dangerous is the fact that all these material differences are neglected by the popular idea of India. It urges us to think of India on a spiritual plane whereas the problems are on the material plane.

This refusal to think of nationalism as something purely materialistic, and the mistaken belief that spiritualism can elevate the crass materialism of nations, lies at the root of India’s problems. Those who worship Bharat Mata may not have the intention to cause harm. But their refusal to come to terms with what nationalism really is, and their attempt to deify that which can’t be deified, are nothing but harm. So, the next time you hear someone uphold the oneness of humanity, I hope you ask them whether it’s physical or spiritual oneness; and the next time someone justifies Indian nationalism on spiritual grounds, I hope you tell them they have no clue what they’re talking about.

Kiran Batni is the author of ‘The Pyramid of Corruption’.

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

Friday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

20 February 2015

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

Deep in the Amazon forest, a Tiny Tribe Is Beating Big Oil

The people of Sarayaku are a leading force in 21st century indigenous resistance, engaging the western world politically, legally, and philosophically david Goodman

P

yesMagazine

atricia Gualinga stands serenely as chaos swirls about her. I find this petite woman with striking black and red face paint at the head of the People’s Climate March in New York City on September 21, 2014. She is adorned with earrings made of brilliant bird feathers and a thick necklace of yellow and blue beads. She has come here from Sarayaku, a community deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador.

Behind Gualinga, 400,000 people are in the streets calling for global action to stop climate change. Beside her, celebrities Leonardo DiCaprio, Sting, and Mark Ruffalo prepare to lead the historic march alongside a group of indigenous leaders. Gualinga stands beneath a sign, “Keep the Oil in the Ground.” She has traveled across continents and cultures to deliver this message.

“Our ancestors and our spiritual leaders have been talking about climate change for a long time,” she tells me in Spanish above the din, flashing a soft smile as photographers crush around the celebrities. She motions to the throngs around her. “We are actually speaking the same language right now.”

A year earlier, I traveled to her village in the Ecuadorian Amazon to research the improbable story of a rainforest community of 1,200 Kichwa people that has successfully fended off oil companies and a government intent on exploiting their land for profit. How, I wondered, has Sarayaku been winning?

This is not the story most people know from Ecuador. Headlines have focused on northern Ecuador, where Chevron is fighting a landmark $9.5 billion judgment for dumping millions of gallons of toxic wastewater into rivers and leaving unlined pits of contaminated sludge that poisoned thousands of people.

Sarayaku lies in southern Ecuador, where the government is selling drilling rights to a vast swath of indigenous lands— except for Sarayaku. The community has become a beacon of hope to other indigenous groups and to global climate change activists as it mobilizes to stop a new round of oil exploration.

What I found in Sarayaku was not just a community defending its territory. I encountered a people who believe that their lifestyle, deeply connected to nature, holds promise for humans to save themselves from global warming and extinction. They are fighting back by advancing a countercapitalist vision called sumak kawsay— Kichwa for “living well”—living in harmony with the natural world and insisting that nature has rights deserving of protection.

Naively romantic? Think again: In 2008, Ecuador’s constitution became the first in the world to codify the rights of nature and specifically sumak kawsay. Bolivia’s constitution has a similar provision, and rights-ofnature ordinances are now being passed in communities in the United States.

Sarayaku residents describe sumac kawsay as “choosing our responsibility to the seventh generation over quarterly earnings, regeneration over economic growth, and the pursuit of well-being and harmony over wealth and financial success.”

The people of Sarayaku are the face of 21st-century indigenous resistance. Saray-

aku may be a remote, pastoral community, but it is engaging the Western world politically, legally, and philosophically. Patricia Gualinga and other Sarayaku community members have traveled to Europe to meet with foreign leaders and warn energy company executives about their opposition to oil extraction from their lands, produced their own documentary film about their struggle, filed lawsuits, leveraged their message with international groups such as Amazon Watch and Amnesty International, marched thousands of kilometers in public protest, and testified at the United Nations.

Sarayaku’s resistance has angered the prodevelopment Ecuadorian government— which bizarrely hails sumak kawsay while selling hotly contested oil drilling leases— but has inspired other indigenous communities across the globe.

At a lunch break, Marlon Santi, Sarayaku’s president until 2008, explains the history of the struggle here.

In the early 2000s, “The government let oil businesses exploit and explore for oil in this territory. There was no consultation. Many communities sold out to the oil companies.

Sarayaku was the only pueblo that didn’t sell the right for oil companies to explore.”

Ecuador’s government ignored the community’s refusal to sell oil-drilling rights and signed a contract in 1996 with the Argentinian oil company C.G.C. to explore for oil in Sarayaku. In 2003, C.G.C. petroleros—oil workers and private security guards—and Ecuadorian soldiers came by helicopter to lay explosives and dig test wells.

Sarayaku mobilized. “We stopped the schools and our own work and dedicated ourselves to the struggle for six months,” says

ers never returned. An Ecuadorian general came later and negotiated with community leaders— five of whom had been arrested and beaten—for the return of the weapons.

I ask Santi why Sarayaku has resisted.

His tan, weathered face breaks into a gentle smile even as he recounts a difficult story.

“Our fathers told us that for future generations not to suffer, we needed to struggle for our territory and our liberty. So we wouldn’t be slaves of the new kind of colonization.

“The waterfall, the insects, the animals, the jungle gives us life,” he tells me. “Because man and the jungle have a relationship. For the Western capitalist world, the jungle is simply for exploiting resources and ending all this. The indigenous pueblos without jungle—we can’t live.”

Sarayaku now wants to help indigenous people around the world resist and defend their way of life. “Our message that we are also taking to Asia, Africa, Brazil, and other countries that are discussing climate change, we propose an alternative development—the development of life. This is our economy for living—sumak kawsay—not just for us but for the Western world. They don’t have to be afraid of global warming if they support the life of the jungle.

“It’s not a big thing,” he says understatedly. “It’s just to continue living.”

Defending life and land I climb aboard a four-seater Cessna parked at a small airstrip in the town of Shell, a rambling settlement on the edge of the Amazon rainforest in southeastern Ecuador. The town is named for Shell Oil Company, which established operations here a half century ago.

Our plane flies low over the thick green jungle. The dense growth below is broken only by rivers the color of Indigenous climate change warriors chocolate milk, the sinewy arteries of The Sarayaku story is just the latthe rainforest. est in a long-running battle over EcuaThe forest canopy parts to reveal a dor’s natural resources. Oil extraction grass airstrip and clusters of thatched began in northern Ecuador in 1964, huts. This is Sarayaku. Moist jungle air when the American oil giant Texaco envelops me as I step out of the plane. set up drilling operations in indigeThe villagers escort me and my daughnous lands (Chevron later purchased ter, Ariel, who has been living in EcTexaco). When the oil company exited uador and is translating for me, past a in 1992, it “left behind the worst oillarge communal hut where a woman related environmental disaster on the tends a small fire. Gerardo Gualinga, planet,” according to Amazon Watch, Patricia’s brother and one of the coma nonprofit organization that defends munity leaders, arrives dressed in indigenous rights. The devastated jeans, a T-shirt, and knee-high ruband poisoned region is known as the ber boots, the signature footwear of “rainforest Chernobyl.” the rainforest. He carries a tall, carved Despite pursuing Chevron for wooden staff, a symbol of his authority.

“The community is in the middle Nina Gualinga, Sarayaku resident and international activ- damages, the Ecuadorian government of a three-day meeting to plan our po- ist on indigenous rights, traveling on the Bobonaza River, of President Rafael Correa has embarked on an aggressive new round of litical and development work for the Sarayaku, Ecuador. oil development in southern Ecuador, next year. Come along—I think you will find it interesting,” he says, motioning Santi. As the oil workers cleared a large area opening thousands of acres to exploration. for us to follow him down to the edge of the of forest—which was community farmland— The government has cracked down on resistthe citizens of Sarayaku retreated deep into ers, recently ordering the closure of the Quito broad Bobonaza River.

We board a motorized canoe and head the jungle, where they established emergen- headquarters of CONAIE, Ecuador’s national indigenous organization, attempting to stop upstream, passing slender dugouts pro- cy camps and plotted their resistance.

“In the six months of struggle, there was Ecuadorian activists opposed to oil drillpelled by men pushing long poles. In 10 minutes, we clamber out on the river bank torture, rape, and strong suffering of our ing from attending a U.N. climate summit people, especially our mothers and chil- in Peru, and closing Fundación Pachamaand hike up to a sandy village square.

Inside an oval building with a thatched dren,” Santi recounts. “We returned with ma, an NGO supporting indigenous groups. roof, we find José Gualinga, another of Pa- psychological illness. All the military who Most of Sarayaku’s land has been excluded in tricia’s brothers, who was then president of came …” He pauses to compose himself. the new round of oil drilling, though nearby communities, including those of the neighSarayaku. He is holding his ceremonial staff “This was a very, very bad time.”

In their jungle camps, the Sarayaku boring Sápara people, are threatened. Sarayand wearing a black headband and a Che Guevara T-shirt. Gualinga is leading a dis- leaders hatched a plan. The women of the aku is joining the protests of its neighbors.

José Gualinga says these struggles have cussion of how the community should pres- community prepared a strong batch of chisure the Ecuadorian government to comply cha, the traditional Ecuadorian homebrew bigger implications. “We are doing this to with the judgment of the Inter-American made from fermented cassava. One night, stop carbon emissions and global warming.

Court on Human Rights, which ruled in a group of them traveled stealthily through This struggle of indigenous pueblos is a door2012 that the Ecuadorian government the jungle, shadowed by men of the village. way to saving Pachamama [Mother Earth].”

Women have been at the center of the inshould have obtained the consent of the na- The women emerged at the main encamptive people when it permitted oil drilling on ment of the petroleros. They offered their digenous resistance. Patricia Gualinga tells Sarayaku’s territory. Following hearings in chicha and watched as the oil workers hap- me, “The women have been very steadfast and strong in saying we are not negotiating Costa Rica, the court ordered the govern- pily partied.

As their drinking binge ended, the about this. We are the ones who have moment to apologize and pay Sarayaku $1.25 petroleros fell asleep. When they awoke, bilized for life.” She recounts how, in 2013, million, plus attorney’s fees.

The court decision, declared Mario what they saw sobered them: They were 100 women from seven different indigeMelo, attorney for Sarayaku from the Quito- staring into the muzzles of their own auto- nous groups marched 250 kilometers from based Fundación Pachamama, is “a signifi- matic weapons. Wielding the guns were the their jungle communities to Quito, where they addressed the National Assembly. In cant contribution to a more profound safe- women and men of Sarayaku.

The Sarayaku residents ordered the the 1990s, Patricia’s mother embarked on a guard of indigenous peoples’ rights, and it is an example of dignity that will surely inspire petroleros off their ancestral land. The ter- similar march with thousands of other inmany other nations and peoples around the rified workers called in helicopters and fled, digenous women.

Sarayaku community members travel abandoning their weapons. The oil workworld.”

widely around Ecuador and beyond, but most return to their pastoral village.

“We want to continue living a good life within the forest,” Patricia tells me. “We want to be respected, and we want to be a model that could be replicated.”

The living jungle I follow Sabino Gualinga, a 70-year-old shaman, as he walks lightly through the dense tangle of growth. He deftly flicks his machete to make a path through the jungle for me and Ariel. He stops and points up toward a tree.

“The bark of that tree helps cure grippe [flu]. This one,” he says, pointing to a weathered, gray tree trunk, “helps to break a fever.

That one,” he motions to a fern-like plant, “helps with psychological problems.”

That night, Sabino’s sons, Gerardo and José, join us in front of a flickering fire to talk about Sarayaku’s journey. They are unwinding after a long day of meetings. José wears a white soccer jersey and his long black hair hangs loosely at his shoulders.

José, president of Sarayaku from 2011 to 2014, led his community to take its fight to the Inter-American Court on Human Rights. Part of the court judgment required Ecuadorian government leaders to apologize to Sarayaku. I doubted this would occur, but José was insistent that it would.

In October 2014, Ecuador’s Minister of Justice, Ledy Zuniga, stood in Sarayaku’s sandy community square and delivered an extraordinary message: “We offer a public apology for the violation of indigenous property, cultural identity, the right to consultation, having put at serious risk their lives and personal integrity, and for the violation of the right to judicial guarantee and judicial protections,” she declared.

The court decision and official apology appear to have given Sarayaku an extra measure of protection from new oil exploration. The government must now secure at least the appearance of consent, contested though it may be, lest they get dragged back into court.

“We’ve shown that laws can change,” reflects Gerardo. “We’ve won not only for Sarayaku, we’ve won for South America.”

A key element in Sarayaku’s success is telling its story everywhere it can. Sarayaku resident Eriberto Gualinga trained in videography and made a film about his community, Children of the Jaguar, which won best documentary at the 2012 National Geographic All Roads Film Festival. Sarayaku has also embraced social media. Community members showed me to a thatched hut. Inside, young people were clustered around several computers updating Facebook pages and websites via a satellite Internet connection.

Now, says José, “When the state says, ‘Sarayaku, we are going to destroy you,’ we have international witnesses. We can tell people the truth.”

José draws a distinction between Sarayaku’s struggles and those led by leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Che Guevara.

“They wanted their freedom. We don’t need to win our freedom. Here in Sarayaku, we are free. But we take from the experience of these leaders. It strengthens us.”

A steady rain falls on the thatched roof overhead. The fat raindrops make a hard thwack on the broad leaves of the trees. A guitarist strums softly in another hut. Chickens and children run free.

“We are millionaires,” says Gerardo, motioning to the jungle that embraces us. “Everything we need we have here.” José peers into the fire. “We are a small pueblo, but we are a symbol of life. Everyone must come together to support the life of human beings and Earth.”

Cambodia’s RemaRkable JouRney

Amazingly, Cambodia's transition out of rule by the Khmer Rouge, its long civil war, and its descent into electoral authoritarianism have all been guided by one man. A new book looks at his legacy Tom Fawthrop

I

Foreign Policy in Focus

t is now 36 years since the end of the Khmer Rouge regime that all but destroyed the Cambodian nation, decimated its most educated people, and reduced the country to year zero.

Amazingly, the young foreign minister who emerged from the debris in 1979 is still in power.

Hun Sen, then a gaunt-looking 27-yearold, was drafted from the obscurity of a Vietnamese camp for Cambodian dissidents and defectors to serve in the newly installed Heng Samrin government. His parents were poor rice farmers. He entered politics without any diplomas or degrees. From the world’s youngest foreign minister in 1979, he currently ranks as the region’s longestserving prime minister.

Hun Sen’s Cambodia by Sebastian Strangio, a former journalist with the Phnom Penh Post, helps to fill a number of historical gaps in charting the rise of Hun Sen through the 1980s to the 2013 elections. The young foreign minister was a fast learner. Appointed prime minister in 1985, Hun Sen soon boldly charted an end to the civil war. In 1989 he gave the country a new name — the State of Cambodia — as well as a new flag and constitution, and shrewdly paved the way for an eventual peace settlement in Paris.

Unfortunately, Strangio’s attempt to record recent Cambodian history is marred

by an obsessive desire to view every topic through same prism: the legacy of UNTAC — the UN peacekeeping mission (1991-93).

Also pervasive is the author’s conviction that in every field Cambodia’s achievements are nothing more than a “mirage.”

Cambodian Reform Cambodia has clearly made great progress in the last 30 years. The nation was reborn in the 1980s. Peace returned in 1999.

Cambodia long ago lost its regular place on TV news as one of the world’s most dangerous war zones. The magic of the ancient temples of Angkor and the nation’s cultural revival now once again captivate visitors.

Both tourism and the garments industry have fueled economic growth.

Moreover, Cambodia is less repressive than many ASEAN governments, including Thailand and its cycle of military coups. Yet, according to Strangio, multiparty elections offer only a “mirage of democracy.”

In Cambodia’s last election, Hun Sen’s ruling party suffered a stunning loss of 22 seats, with the united opposition coming in a strong second with 55 seats in a national parliament of 123 members.

It’s too soon to dub this a “Phnom Penh Spring,” but Cambodia’s political diversity is more than just a mirage, particularly in comparison to the long-serving prime ministerial reigns ofMahathir Mohamad in Malaysia (22 years) and Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew (31 years). Malaysia and Singapore have never tolerated the strikes, protest rallies, and vociferous opposition that are all welcome features of Cambodian political life.

Cambodia, according to Strangio, was the nation where the UN and Western aid lavished billions of dollars on peacekeeping, implanting liberal democracy and human rights. The author assumes that Cambodia could make a smooth and rapid transition from the genocide and cruel deprivation of the 1980s to a shining beacon of democracy today. Of course that fantasy has not hap-

pened. The author concludes that the ruthless intransigence of Hun Sen and his ruling party, abetted by a traditional Cambodian resilience to foreign mentors of all ideologies, thwarted the allegedly benign, well-meaning Western efforts since the end of the Cold War to create a democratic success story.

In so doing, the author fails to detect a “mirage” of a different nature that did not come from any Cambodian failures, but can be squarely laid at the door of Western nations sitting in the UN Security Council.

Flaws of Peacekeeping The UNTAC peacekeeping operation has been widely hailed as a great success story that ended the Cambodia conflict and ushered in a putative new democracy.

The UN-run election in 1993 did help implant democracy in Cambodia. However, the author glosses over the failure of UN peacekeeping and Western nations to get rid of the Khmer Rouge bases sustained and supported by the Royal Thai Army in blatant violation of the 1991 Paris Peace treaty.

From 1993-1998, the Pol Pot nightmare continued to haunt the fragile new state.

The Khmer Rouge still controlled the gemrich border province of Pailin and Anlong Veng to the north. They still planted landmines and burned down remote villages that defied them.

The war continued because the United States, France, and the UK all gave a much higher priority to preserving their deep military and trading ties with Thailand than putting pressure on this important ally and its military to sever the supply lines to the outlawed Khmer Rouge.

It was an elected Cambodian government led by Hun Sen — and not the UN — that finally eliminated the Khmer Rouge insurgency. On this point the book accepts that many voters in the 2003 election felt relief the war was finally over and rewarded the government with a strong mandate.

Having secured the peace where the UN

had failed, Hun Sen reached the zenith of his popularity at home.

In 2003, I wrote that if Hun Sen had retired around this time, his achievements and his legacy would have outweighed his dark side. But since peace and stability returned to Cambodia, corruption and looting of natural resources have boomed, with the prime minister’s close associates as the main beneficiaries.

The book rightly points out that 20 years of Western aid has only spawned an aid-addicted dependency. But Hun Sen hardly invented crony capitalism, corrupt patronage, or the skimming off of foreign aid.

The World Bank’s neoliberal development model of sweeping privatization and starving the public sector of any significant aid has also encouraged or tolerated cronyism in the scramble over newly privatized assets and the mass eviction of the urban poor. The opposition has failed to offer a real alternative to Hun Sen’s adoption of the neoliberal model of development designed by the World Bank. Neither side has come up with policies that could narrow the yawning gap between rich and poor.

Hun Sen must take a lot of responsibility for the ugly side of Cambodian development.

But the book’s depiction of Western government aid as always benign and benevolent suffers from a lack of critical questioning.

Transitional Justice Strangio dismisses the landmark trial of a few surviving leaders from the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime — Asia’s first case of international justice — as just another deception.

But the complex UN-backed tribunal brought together local and international lawyers and judges based on a UN partnership with the Cambodian authorities. Many cynics predicted that the trial would never take place. Whatever the shortcomings of this legal process, millions of Cambodians belatedly experienced a very real justice.

They finally saw Pol Pot’s chief accomplices held to account, given a fair trial, and convicted of crimes against humanity.

According to UN legal expert Lars Olsen, Cambodian participation in the process exceeded that for all previous international justice courts. In addition to the 500 Cambodians who filled the public gallery day after day, they also participated as victims and litigants known as “civil parties.” Most victims have expressed some satisfaction that the tribunal brought a sense of accountability, closure, and justice.

That Cambodia was brave enough to face its tragic history should alone command international respect. Indonesia is still afraid to document and investigate the skulls in its own cupboard: the massive bloodbath in 1965-66, with an estimated 900,000 dead, and the subsequent atrocities in East Timor.

If the United States and its allies had not helped the Khmer Rouge hang on to Cambodia’s seat in the UN General Assembly and blocked the credentials of the Heng Samrin government, this genocide tribunal could have taken place more than 25 years ago, as Hun Sen proposed in 1986. As it is, the ongoing tribunal is a case of far better late than never.

Why has Hun Sen, a leader from such humble origins, subsequently turned his back on the poor majority of Cambodians and their cry for land and justice? What kind of egomania has driven him to want to remain prime minister until the age of 72?

Strangio should have put these questions to Hun Sen in an interview.

Yet despite five years of commendable research, Strangio’s book doesn’t rely on any interviews with his prime subject. So we never get any of the answers that might have truly illuminated Hun Sen’s character, or any deeper insights in why he has chosen the path of electorally sanctioned authoritarianism and feudal-style patronage — a hallmark of the 1960s under the rule of Prince Norodom Sihanouk.

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

Friday 20 February 2015

The Morung Express

India's ailing air force at risk in tough neighbourhood

BeNGALuru, FeBruAry 19 (reuterS): India's air force risks a major capability gap opening up with China and Pakistan without new western warplanes or if local defence contractors can't produce what the military needs in a timely manner. A 2012 agreement to buy 126 Rafale fighters from France's Dassault Aviation (AVMD. PA) has stalled due to a dispute over the assembly of the aircraft in India.

India's first homegrown fighter, the Tejas light combat aircraft, will finally be delivered next month, 30 years after it was conceived.

But senior air force officers privately said they were unimpressed, with one former officer, an ex-fighter pilot, saying the plane was "so late it is obsolete".

While the navy is undergoing an accelerated modernisation drive, experts said India was vulnerable in the skies because of its reliance on a disparate fleet of ageing Russianmade MiG and French Mirage fighters, along with more modern Russian Sukhoi Su-30s. Half of India's fighters are due to retire beginning this year until 2024.

"It could lead to humili-

Indigenously manufactured Indian Air Force Dhruv helicopters perform aerobatic skills on the second day of Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore on Thursday, February 19, . Aviation companies from around the world are participating in the five-day event which runs through February 22. (AP Photo)

ation at the hands of our neighbours," AK Sachdev, a retired air force officer, wrote last year in the Indian Defence Review journal.

A coordinated attack by China and arch-rival Pakistan could stretch the Indian military, he added. It's a scenario defence strategists in New Delhi have been asked to plan for, In-

Ninety-three farmers committed suicide in 45 days AurANGABAD, FeBruAry 19 (tNN): Forty-five days, 93 suicides. 2015 has started quite ominously for farmers in the perennially parched Marathwada region and activists blamed the fickle weather and the delay in release of government compensation for this.

The divisional commissionerate has reported as many as 93 farmers' suicides in Marathwada in the last 45 days since January 1. Last year, the region had reported 569 farmers' suicides as against 207 in 2013.

A committee of each taluka comprising the tehsildar, police officer, taluka agriculture officer, sarpanch and a panchayat samiti member probes a suicide case to confirm if the death was due to debt burden. A farmer committing suicide is eligible for compensation only if he possesses land and is debt-ridden. Moreover, he should have taken loan only from either nationalized or co-operative banks and registered money-lenders. There has to be follow up from the banks concerned for the repayment of the loan.

Divisional commissioner Umakant Dangat said, "Farmer suicide is one of the biggest challenges before the administration. Crop failure and debts are considered the main reasons for farmers' suicide. This is common in an area where the single crop pattern is in practice. Ensuring water security for the farmers via water management is the solution to the problem in a region like Marathwada."

He added that the farmers should be introduced to some sustainable means of farming system. Agriculture here needs to be supplement by allied activities like vegetable production, diary, so that farmer suicides are brought down to a great extent.

Of the total farmers' suicides committed this year in the region, 26 have been reported from Beed, closely followed by Nanded (20) and Osmanabad (18). Parbhani has reported one farmer suicide, while Jalna, Hingoli, Aurangabad and Latur districts have reported three, four, nine and 12 farmer suicides, respectively.

"The delay in distribution of compensation is the biggest reason for the farmers to take the extreme step. Besides, the vicious cycle of crop loan in combination with erratic monsoon in the region leaves the farmers with no option but to take the extreme step," said farmer activist Jayajirao Suryawanshi.

Of the 93 deaths, the administration has 26 cases pending for inquiry because of which compensation has not been granted. District collector Naval Kishor Ram said, "Once a farmer suicide is reported, we send it to the block level committee including tehsildar, police inspector and agriculture officer. There are two levels of inquiries conducted and they ideally take at least one month. We ensure there is no delay in the release of compensation."

dian air force sources say, although experts say such an event is highly unlikely to happen.

India's ties with China are still hamstrung by a dispute over their Himalayan border that led to war in 1962. New Delhi is also wary of China's expanding naval presence in the Indian Ocean and its close rela-

tions with Pakistan.

MULTIPLE CRASHES India's air force has 34 operational squadrons, down from 39 earlier this decade and below the government approved strength of 42, a parliamentary committee said in December. More than half of India's MiGs have crashed

in recent decades, the then defence minister said in 2012.

At the same time, China is flying locally built fourthgeneration J-10 fighters and is testing two fifth-generation stealth fighter jets.

Pakistan is upgrading its Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) F-16 fighters as well as using JF-17 warplanes devel-

oped with China. It is also in talks to buy J-10s, according to Pakistani and Chinese industry sources.

India would still win a war against Pakistan because of the sheer size of its air force, but the slow modernisation means victory would come with heavy casualties, said Richard Aboulafia, Washington D.C.-based vice president of analysis at the Teal Group, an aerospace and defence think tank.

To keep up, India is buying more Su-30s and upgrading other existing fighters.

"We do need to increase our defence preparedness," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the opening ceremony of the Aero India airshow in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Criticism of the Tejas was unfounded, said K. Tamilmani, a senior official at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), a defence ministry agency which designed and developed the plane.

"The Tejas has a safety record that is unbeaten," Tamilmani told Reuters by telephone, adding it would provide a platform to de-

velop more advanced fightIndia has successers in the years ahead. fully introduced Boeing's (BA.N) C-17 cargo plane Impasse Over Rafale Jets and P-8 Poseidon antiThe Rafale fighters are submarine aircraft and expected to replace some Lockheed Martin's C-130J of India's MiGs and Mirage transport, all bought directjets. But India is insisting ly, over the last few years.

Dassault take full responsiThat shows off-the bility for production of the shelf solutions work best, aircraft at a state-run facil- experts said. However, ity in Bengaluru, Indian under the Modi adminisdefence ministry officials tration's "Make in India" programme, there is an have said.

France has said it will emphasis on building a dohelp Hindustan Aeronautics mestic defence industrial Ltd stick to delivery sched- base to cut dependence on ules, but that it cannot give foreign supplies that have guarantees for production of made India the world's bigthe aircraft made at a facility gest arms importer. over which it has no adminThe DRDO for examistrative or expert control. ple is working on the Tejas India would decide on Mark II, a slightly larger the fate of the deal only af- plane than the original, ter March, when a defence which will feature more ministry committee deliv- powerful engines, better ers a report on the issue, radars and upgraded aviDefence Minister Manohar onics. Local trainer jets, Parrikar said at the airshow. light transport aircraft and Cancellation would helicopter programmes are be "disastrous", said Deba also under way.

"People who fly planes Mohanty, chairman at Indicia Research & Advisory, want the best value for a New Delhi-based defence money, which means offconsulting firm. the-shelf," said Aboulafia.

"It's a really tricky situa- "People who want jobs and tion in which the supplier is technology development unhappy, the bureaucrats schemes have different are unhappy and the end priorities. That's why the user is disappointed," said two groups don't like each Mohanty. other much."

Army sticks to its guns on AFSPA NeW DeLHI, FeBruAry 19 (tNN): The Army remains dead against any move to 'revoke', 'partially withdraw' or 'dilute' the iron-fisted and controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir, even as BJP and PDP negotiate a power-sharing deal for the next government in the state.

Though civil rights activists as well as political parties like People's Democratic Party and National Conference have long been demanding revocation of the "draconian" ASFPA,

the Army has reiterated to the Modi government that the Act is "an enabling legislation" that empowers its troops to conduct counter-terrorist operations effectively in the strife-torn state.

There is "absolutely no change" in the Army's long-standing view that AFSPA gives its soldiers the requisite operational flexibility and legal safeguards to operate in a "hostile" environment, where Pakistan can turn on the terror tap with full flow as and when it wants.

Brushing aside any

need for a "political gesture or initiative" on the matter, the Army says any dilution in AFSPA safeguards would be "premature" at this stage since Pakistan still has 44 terror-training camps directed against India on its soil, with at least 17-18 of them still operating roundthe-clock. "Yes, violence levels in J&K are certainly down, with the state polls being held without any major incident. But the government should adopt a wait-and-watch policy to ensure there is no major terror blowback," said an official.

The defence establishment had used this stance during the UPA regime to scuttle moves by then home minister P Chidambaram to bring in some amendments to AFSPA or withdraw it from largely violence-free districts like Srinagar, Budgam, Jammu and Sambha.

The Army's position remains the same. "Withdrawing AFSPA from a few areas in J&K could lead to a dip in the overall security situation like it happened around Imphal in Manipur. Army convoys move on NH-1A as well as later-

al links all the time... there should be no militant safe havens along the routes," said another official.

But what about the equally persistent demands for changes in Sections 4 and 7 of AFSPA, which accord far-reaching powers and legal safeguards to security forces while undertaking counter-terrorism operations, to make the Act more humane and impervious to misuse.

Section 4, for instance, gives security personnel sweeping powers to search premises and make ar-

rests without warrants, "use force, even to extent of causing death", destroy arms dumps, hideouts and to stop, search and seize any vehicle.

The Army contends that its operations against motivated, well-armed and trained militants in insurgency-hit areas cannot be compared with normal law and order duties.

If soldiers do not have the legal shield against being dragged to civilian courts, their "initiative and determination" to take on militants will take a major beating, it says

Israel: Security ties with India out of the closet NeW DeLHI, FeBruAry 19 (reuterS): Israel's security relationship with India is out in the open after years of being under wraps, the Israeli defence minister said on Thursday, vowing to play a bigger role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's drive to build an industrial base.

Israel has emerged as one of India's top three arms suppliers, delivering items such as ship defence missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, but such transactions have been unpublicised, largely because of India's fear of upsetting Arab countries and its own large Muslim population.

But Modi, whose nationalist party has long seen Israel has a natural ally against Islamist militancy, has openly cultivated warmer ties, beginning with a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York last year.

Since then, various government ministers and top officials have been exchanging visits and on Wednesday, Moshe Ya'alon arrived in India, the first visit by an Israeli defence minister since the establishment

of diplomatic ties in 1992.

"We used to have our relationship, security wise, behind the scene," he said in a speech in New Delhi after attending an airshow in Bengaluru.

The visit comes as the two sides hold talks on a major deal for the supply of two airborne early warning radars to be mounted on India's Russian-made aircraft.

Three such Phalcon AWACS that give the air force the "eyes in the sky" to detect flight movements across a wide arc were inducted in 2004, signalling the beginning of a strategic partnership.

Ya'alon said Israel was ready to share defence technology with India.

"We see India as a partner and a friend.

That is why we are ready to share technology," he said, adding that he was looking for ways to upgrade the defence relationship.

Under Modi, India has speeded up an arms modernisation drive to counter the rising weight of China, but the government wants to cut dependence on foreign supplies and instead build a domestic industrial base under a Make-in-India drive.

Kashmiri children walk on a road, as snow falls on the outskirts of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir on Thursday, February 19. Continued snowfall has affected air traffic in Srinagar and road traffic between Srinagar and Jammu, the summer and winter capitals of India's Jammu-Kashmir state, has also been disrupted. (AP Phot

Millions at risk from rapid sea rise in swampy Sundarbans

BALI ISLAND, FeBruAry 19 (AP): The tiny hut sculpted out of mud at the edge of the sea is barely large enough for Bokul Mondol and his family to lie down in. The water has taken everything else from them, and one day it almost certainly will take this, too. Saltwater long ago engulfed the 5 acres where Mondol once grew rice and tended fish ponds, as his ancestors had on Bali Island for some 200 years. His thatch-covered hut, built on public land, is the fifth he has had to build in the last five years as the sea creeps in.

Seas are rising more than twice as fast as the global average here in the Sundarbans, a low-lying delta region of about 200 islands in the Bay of Bengal where some 13 million impoverished Indians and Bangladeshis live.

Tens of thousands like Mondol have already been left homeless, and scientists predict much of the Sundarbans could be underwater in 15 to 25 years.

That could force a singularly massive exodus of millions of "climate refugees," creating enormous challenges for India and Bangladesh that neither country has prepared for.

"This big-time climate migration is looming on the horizon," said Tapas Paul, a New Delhi-based environmental specialist with the World Bank, which is spending hundreds of millions of dollars assessing and preparing a plan for the Sundarbans region.

"If all the people of the Sundarbans have to migrate, this would be the largest-ever migration in the history of mankind," Paul said. The largest to date occurred during the IndiaPakistan partition in 1947, when 10 million people or more migrated from one country to the other.

On their own, the Sundarbans' impoverished residents have little chance of moving before catastrophe hits. Facing constant threats from roving tigers and crocodiles, deadly swarms of giant honeybees and poisonous snakes, they struggle to eke out a living by farming, shrimping, fishing and collecting honey from the forests.

Each year, with crude tools and bare hands, they build mud embankments to keep saltwater and wild animals from invading their crops. And each year swollen rivers, monsoon rains and floods wash many of those

banks and mud-packed homes back into the sea.

Most struggle on far less than $1 a day. With 5 million people on the Indian side and 8 million in Bangladesh, the Sundarbans population is far greater than any of the small island nations that also face dire threats from rising sea levels.

Losing the 26,000-square-kilometer (10,000-square-mile) region — an area about the size of Haiti — would also take an environmental toll. The Sundarbans region is teeming with wildlife, including the world's only population of mangrove forest tigers. The freshwater swamps and their tangles of mangrove forests act as a natural buffer protecting India's West Bengal state and Bangladesh from cyclones.

With the warming climate melting polar ice and rising temperatures expanding oceans, seas have been rising globally at an average rate of about 3 millimeters a year — a rate scientists say is likely to speed up. The latest projections suggest seas could rise on average up to about 1 meter (3.3 feet) this century.

That would be bad enough for the

Sundarbans, where the highest point is around 3 meters (9.8 feet) and the mean elevation is less than a meter above sea level. But sea rise occurs unevenly across the globe because of factors like wind, ocean currents, tectonic shift and variations in the Earth's gravitational pull. The rate of sea rise in the Sundarbans has been measured at twice the global rate or even higher.

In addition, dams and irrigation systems upstream are trapping sediments that could have built up the river deltas that make up the Sundarbans. Other human activities such as deforestation encourage erosion.

A 2013 study by the Zoological Society of London measured the Sundarbans coastline retreating at about 200 meters (650 feet) a year. The Geological Survey of India says at least 210 square kilometers (81 square miles) of coastline on the Indian side has eroded in the last few decades. At least four islands are underwater and dozens of others have been abandoned due to sea rise and erosion.

Many scientists believe the only long-term solution is for most of the Sundarbans population to leave. That may be not only necessary but envi-

ronmentally beneficial, giving shorn mangrove forests a chance to regrow and capture river sediment in their tangled, saltwater-tolerant roots.

"The chance of a mass migration, to my mind, is actually pretty high. India is not recognizing it for whatever reason," said Anurag Danda, who leads the World Wildlife Fund's climate change adaptation program in the Sundarbans.

India, however, has no official plan either to help relocate Sundarbans residents or to protect the region from further ecological decline. "We need international help. We need national help. We need the help of the people all over the world. We are very late" in addressing the problem, said West Bengal state's minister for emergencies and disaster management, Janab Javed Ahmed Khan. He said West Bengal must work urgently with the Indian and Bangladeshi governments to take action.

Bangladesh is supporting scientists "trying to find out whether it's possible to protect the Sundarbans," said Taibur Rahman, of the Bangladesh government's planning commission. A network of concrete dykes

and barriers, like those protecting the Netherlands, offers limited protection to some of the islands in Bangladesh's portion of the Sundarbans. The World Bank is now spending some $200 million to improve those barriers.

Experts worry that politicians will ignore the problem or continue to make traditional promises to build roads, schools and hospital clinics.

This could entice more people to the region just when everyone should be moving out. Experts say India and Bangladesh should be creating jobs, offering skills training, freeing lands and making urbanization attractive so people will feel empowered to leave. Even if India musters that kind of political will, planning and funds, persuading people to move will not be easy.Most families have been living here since the early 1800s, when the British East India Company — which then governed India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for the British Empire — removed huge mangrove forests to allow people to live on and profit from the fertile agricultural land. Even those who are aware of the threat of rising seas don't want to leave.

InternatIonal

the Morung express

Friday 20 February 2015

Dimapur

9

Islamic State finds a foothold in chaotic Libya Maggie Michael

Associated Press

L

ibya, virtually a failed state in recent years, has succeeded in one way: It’s providing a perfect opportunity for the Islamic State group to expand from Syria and Iraq to establish a strategic foothold closer to European shores.

Extremists loyal to the group have taken control of two Libyan cities on the Mediterranean coast, have moved toward oil facilities and are slowly infiltrating the capital, Tripoli, and the second-largest city, Benghazi. They have siphoned off young recruits from rival militant groups linked to alQaida and in some places taken over those groups’ training camps, mosques and media networks.

Notably, there appears to be strong coordination between the Libya branch and the group’s central leadership in Syria and Iraq. One of its top clerics, Bahraini Turki al-Binali, has visited the Libyan city of Sirte to preach: in 2013 and again at the end of last year, soon before it fell into the hands of the group’s supporters, according to a rival militia official based

there. The official spoke on condition of anonymity for fear for his life.

A video released last week showing the beheading of a group of Egyptian Christians abducted from Sirte was produced by the IS media branch.

About 400 mostly Yemeni and Tunisian fighters are in Sirte, according to Libyan Interior Minister Omar al-Sinki. The militia official said Islamic State fighters have set up headquarters in the city’s convention complex, the Ouagadougou Center, built by former dictator Moammar Gadhafi as a symbol of his secular regime’s aspirations to be a pan-African leader. An Associated Press reporter who briefly visited Sirte on Wednesday saw masked militants deployed along the main road linking the convention center to downtown.

The close connection between the Libya branch and the central leadership around Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi underscores the strategic importance of the North African country to the group.

Libya boasts oil resources - something the extremists have exploited for funding in Iraq and Syria. There are

vast amounts of weapons, a legacy of the turmoil since Gadhafi’s 2011 ouster. Its borders with Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria are porous.

And the southern shore of Italy is about 400 miles (660 kilometers) away, a distance Libyans fleeing their country’s chaos regularly try to cross in rickety boats. Italy and France favor some sort of international action in Libya, while Egypt is pressing for a U.N.-backed coalition air campaign.

Besides Sirte in the center of the country, Islamic State loyalists control the city of Darna, farther east along the coast. This week, Egyptian warplanes struck IS training facilities and weapons depots in Darna in retaliation for the beheadings.

In Tripoli, which is controlled by powerful militias, IS militants have infiltrated some neighborhoods, destroying statues they consider forbidden by Islam and distributing pamphlets to spread their message.

They also claimed responsibility for a deadly attack at a luxury hotel that killed several foreigners, including an American.

Some IS extremists have entered Benghazi and are battling government troops, fighting be-

side other Islamic militias who dominate the city. IS fighters from Sirte recently were seen waving their black banners in a parade of vehicles in the town of Nofaliya, heading toward Libya’s oil ports of Sidr, Ras Lanouf and Brega.

The IS leadership in Iraq has named an “emir of Tripoli” to oversee the eastern half of Libya. He is a Tunisian known by the nom de guerre of Abu Talha, according to Interior Minister al-Sinki, removed from his post days ago. It was not possible immediately to verify his account.

In charge of the western half is a Yemeni emir based in Darna and known as Abu al-Baraa el-Azdi, according to local activists and a former militant from the city.

The Islamic State has established is presence in Libya by exploiting the country’s breakdown since Gadhafi fell. After his ouster and death, hundreds of militias took power, and some of them have militant ideologies, including Ansar al-Shariah, an alQaida-associated group. A militia coalition known as Libya Dawn, which backs Islamist political factions, has taken over Tripoli, where Islamists set up their

‘World has failed to tackle obesity epidemic’ Washington, February 19 (ians): Global progress towards tackling obesity has been “unacceptably slow,” with only one in four countries implementing a policy on healthy eating up to 2010, reveals a major six-part series on obesity by a global team of researchers.

Published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, it says that in less than a generation, rates of child obesity have risen dramatically worldwide. Although child obesity rates have started to level off in some cities and countries, no country to date has experienced declining rates of obesity across its population, the series added.

In the US, children are consuming an average of 200 kilocalorie (kcal) per day more than they were in the 1970s, and that this is $400 worth of food per child per year, or $20 billion a year for the US food industry.

“Fat children are an investment in future sales,” said series co-author Tim Lobstein from London-based World Obesity Federation. In lowand middle-income countries, stunting still affects over a fifth of children under five years of age, but obesity is rapidly rising, creating a double nutritional burden.

It can affect the same population and the same individual - for example poorly-nourished infants who do not develop their full height but do gain more than their full weight. “This highlights the importance of ensuring a supply of food that encourages healthy growth and that is not jeopardised by the aggressive marketing of cheap, less nutritious products by multinational food companies,” the series authors wrote.

“Undernutrition and overnutrition actually have many common drivers and solutions, so we now need to see an integrated nutrition

Diets of people worldwide are worsening Maria Cheng

There may be more fruit, vegetables and healthy options available than ever before, but the world is mostly hungry for junk food, according to a study of eating habits in nearly 190 countries.

International researchers combed through more than 320 self-reported diet surveys from 1990 to 2010 and looked at how often people said they ate 17 common foods, drinks and nutrients including healthy choices like fruits, vegetables and fish and unhealthier alternatives like salt, processed meat and sugary drinks.

Experts found that even though people are eating more healthy foods including whole grains and fish, there has been an even bigger jump in the amount of junk food eaten. The study was paid for by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Britain’s Medical Research Council and was published online Thursday in the journal, Lancet Global Health,

as part of an obesity series.

Some of the study’s key findings: • Older adults ate better than younger adults and women ate healthier than men.

• Some of the best nutritional improvements were seen in Mongolia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Countries needing to curb their junk food habits included Bosnia, Armenia and the Dominican Republic.

• There was a mixed picture in the U.S., with increases both in the amount of healthy and unhealthy foods eaten.

“There’s still a long way to go,” said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, of the Friedman School of Nutrition at Tufts University and one of the study authors.

He said that despite Westerners being among the biggest eaters of junk food, China and India were catching up and that governments should step in. “We can’t leave it unchecked,” he said.

Researchers found in some countries in Africa and Asia, there has been no improvement in their diet during the past 20 years.

policy that tackles both these issues together,” Lobstein added. The food industry has a special interest in targeting children.

Repeated exposure to highly processed foods and sweetened drinks during infancy builds taste preferences, brand loyalty and high profits. This year, the global market for processed infant foods is expected to be worth a staggering $19 billion, up from $13.7 billion in 2007.

Yet, few countries have taken regulatory steps to protect children from the negative health effects of obesity or implemented widely-rec-

ommended healthy food policies, the authors emphasised.

“Our understanding of obesity must be completely reframed if we are to halt and reverse the global obesity epidemic,” stressed Christina Roberto from the Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The series authors have called for food policies that change the nature of the food and consumer environment including the availability, price and nutrition standards of food products and the marketing practices that influence food choices and preferences.

AP Medical Writer

Ants build ‘toilets’ in Thailand prosecutor press corners of their nests criminal charges against ex-PM London, February 19 (ians): Ants do not go outside to do their business when nature calls and may use the corners of their nests as ‘toilets’, a study shows. “For ants, which like us live in very dense communities, sanitation is a big problem,” said lead researcher Tomer Czaczkes from the University of Regensburg, Germany.

Little research has been done on ant sanitary behaviour, so the authors of this study conducted an experiment to determine whether distinct brown patches they observed forming in ants’ nests were feces. They fed ants, living in white plaster nests, food dyed with either red or blue food colouring and observed the nests for the colorful feces.

The researchers found that one or two corners of each nest started to fill with feces that was the same colour as the food they were fed. The researchers found no other waste in these areas, suggesting that ants may use these areas as ‘toilets’.

They also discovered that the ants did not just put their toilets anywhere -- almost all the ants placed their toilets in the corners. “Ants normally keep a very clean nest, and usually throw out dangerous rubbish, like food remains and corpses,” Czaczkes added. The researchers are still not quite sure why the ants do this, but suggest that perhaps the piled-up waste might be useful.

bangKoK, February 19 (aP): Thailand’s attorney general on Thursday pressed criminal charges against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for negligence related to her government’s money-losing rice subsidy scheme, a move likely to prolong conflicts in a divided nation plagued by political turmoil and coups.

Prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General submitted 20 boxes of the case’s documents to the Supreme Court’s criminal division for political title holders, accusing Yingluck of dereliction in overseeing a rice subsidy scheme that lost billions of dollars and temporarily cost Thailand its crown as the world’s top rice exporter.

The move is widely seen as another attempt to cripple the political machine of Yingluck’s brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a coup in 2006, and to prevent his allies from returning to power.

Yingluck was ousted from power by a court decision shortly before the military staged a coup last May and seized power from her

elected government. Thursday’s accusations came one month after Yingluck was impeached on similar grounds by the militaryappointed legislature, which means she was also banned from politics for five years. The Supreme Court will set up a nine-judge panel, which will decide March 19 whether to accept the case and formally indict Yingluck.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday recommended that the Finance Ministry sue Yingluck for compensation for damage caused by the rice scheme and suggested the amount should be at least 600 billion baht ($18.4 billion). The rice-buying scheme, a flagship policy that helped Yingluck’s Pheu Thai Party win elections in 2011, had accumulated losses of at least $4.46 billion since it was introduced in 2011, as the Thai government stockpiled rice to avoid even bigger losses.

Under the scheme, farmers were paid about 50 percent above what they would get on the world market. The anti-graft body alleged that Yingluck failed to stop massive losses to state coffers.

own parliament and government, and Islamist militias control Benghazi.

The elected, Westernbacked government has been pushed to the remote eastern city of Tobruk, from which remnants of the military led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter and some allied militias have been battling the Islamists. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and damaged large parts of Benghazi.

The violence also appears to have radicalized some militia members, making them easy recruits for the Islamic State. The group was kicked out of al-Qaida’s network for being too extreme, and it made a bid to become the leader of jihadis worldwide last year by declaring a “caliphate” in parts of Iraq and Syria it controls. It took over Darna last year, while its move to dominate Sirte came more recently.

Once a showcase for Gadhafi’s rule, Sirte was devastated by the 2011 civil war, and little has been done to repair it. Schools operated sporadically, banks ran short of cash and bakeries were low on wheat, while garbage piled up in the streets, said Reem el-Breki, a Benghazi activist who runs a news portal that has covered Sirte. “The city was buried alive,” she said.

In 2013, it fell under the control of Ansar al-Shariah, which made alliances with local tribes and an uneasy truce with other militias and the few military troops in Sirte. Ansar militants took the Ouagadougou Center as their base, and the group boasted a TV and radio station in the city.

But the Islamic State group appears to have taken over Sirte though a slow infiltration. In 2013, al-Binali - the prominent radical cleric - made his

visit to preach in the city’s central mosque. Fighters from Mali, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and the Palestinian territories began to move in, according to the militia official from the city.

Al-Binali - now firmly established in the top echelons of the Islamic State leadership - visited again late last year, the militia official said. Soon after, the 21 Egyptian Christians in Sirte were abducted, and there was a wave of assassinations Jan. 22, with three top security and militia officials killed.

Afterward, Ansar alShariah disappeared from Sirte, replaced by the Islamic State group, according to an activist who runs a Facebook page called Sirte Steadfast Youth.

Radio stations played speeches by IS leader alBaghdadi and songs urging people to pledge allegiance to him. Gunmen forced

government workers to sign “repentance” statements.

Militia vehicles switched their markings from Ansar to the Islamic State. Local media said IS gunmen looted Sirte’s banks.

The Islamic State group posted photos purportedly from Sirte showing religious police touring shops to remove sleeveless dresses. Schools and hospitals were segregated by gender and curriculum was censored, said the activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

Sirte’s fall caused alarm in nearby Misrata, whose powerful militias make up the bulk of Libya Dawn and effectively control Tripoli.

The city called on its allies in Tripoli to take action, and a militia official told AP that some forces from the capital have moved to the outskirts of Sirte, although they have not attacked.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

NAGALAND STATE AIDS CONTROL SOCIETY NAGALAND: KOHIMA

NO.NSACS/Admn-01/Pt/2009-10/681

/Dated Kohima, the 19th February 2015

ADVERTISEMENT Applications are hereby invited from eligible local candidates to fill up the contractual post under the Establishment of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society, Kohima. The contract period will be 1(one) year with effect from 2nd April 2015.

The appointment will be renewed every year based on the performance and directives from National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).

Sl. No. 1

2.

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Category

Pay Range

No. Mode of of recruitpost ment

Joint Director (IEC) R s .1 48,500/(consolidated)

Deputy Director 36,200/1 (Mainstreaming) ( c o n s o l i dated) Monitoring & 25,000/1 Evaluation (M&E) ( c o n s o l i Officer dated)

1 Deputy Director 36,200/(TI) (consolidated) Deputy Director (Lab Service)

R s .1 36,200/(consolidated) Administration Of- 25,000/1 ficer (consolidated)

Assistant Director 25,000/2 (ICTC) (consolidated) Assistant Director 25,000/2 (TI) (consolidated) Assistant Director R s .1 (Documentation) 25,000/(consolidated)

Assistant Director R s .1 (Material Manage- 25,000/ment) (consolidated)

Assistant Director R s .1 (Mid Media) 25,000/(consolidated)

Qualification & Experience

C o n t r a c - PG Degree from a recognized university/institute. Or MBA Min tual 8 yrs experiences in the field of developmental/ health communication including planning and implementation in of IEC campaign.

Desirable : PG Degree/ PG Diploma in Mass Communication Experience in the field of advertising Experience in preparation of Audio Visual Aids and display material in a responsible position, Knowledge of AV Media & proficiency in handling audio-visual aids for training purposes. Knowledge of modern training techniques. Working knowledge of local language Experience in handling Outdoor/mid-media activities/event management etc.

C o n t r a c - Master’s degree in social sciences (Social work/sociology/ tual psychology) from a recognized University with Minimum 3 years of experience.

C o n t r a c - Essential Masters in Demography/ Statistics/ Population Scitual ences/ Computer Applications 3 years experience in monitoring, evaluation & data management in public health programmes Good knowledge of computers including MS office package and SPSS Data analysis, modeling and biostatistics Desirable Past experience of working in HIV/AIDS programme or projects under government or bilateral/ multi-lateral agencies in India C o n t r a c - Post graduate degree in Social Sciences( Sociology/ Anthropoltual ogy/ Psychology/ Social Work/ Public Admin.) from a recognized university with 5 years experience In Social development sector including 2 years working experience HIV/AIDS sector at State.

C o n t r a c - M.Sc /B.Sc (Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biotual medical Sciences, Zoology, Medical lab Technology, pharmacy ) with 5 yrs experience if B.Sc and 3 yrs experience if M.Sc.. B tech (Biotechnology , Biomedical engineering) with 3 yrs exp C o n t r a c - Masters/Bachelors Degree in any discipline; At least 3 years protual fessional work experience in providing administrative support; Knowledge of effective government procedures and practices will be an added advantage; . Knowledge and experience in using appropriate software and other computerized Microsoft office; and Ability to organize and prioritize workloads, meet deadline and targets C o n t r a c - PG degree in Psychology/Social Work/Sociology/Clinical Psytual chology or M Sc in Microbiology/Medical Microbiology with minimum 2 year experience in relevant field after PG Degree Desirable: Experience in Counseling and Human Development or Experience in Laboratory Service C o n t r a c - Post Graduate in Social Work/ Sociology / Psychology / Anthrotual pology/ Public Administration with 2 years experience In Social development / Health sector. HIV/AIDS sector at State. Candidate with experience in working with HIV/AIDS programme get preference.

C o n t r a c - Post graduate in Social sciences/Humanities or any other related tual field. Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience like working with community based development projects, especially HIV/ AIDS or health sector Experience in documentation, communication activities Excellent written and oral communication skills in Hindi and English Excellent report writing, interpersonal and communication skills Desirable Experience in editing of publications Experience of writing/ editing for magazines, newspapers, blogs Published articles or reports in reputed journals, magazines, newspapers etc.

C o n t r a c - Post graduate degree in Advertising/Mass Communication/ tual Material Management and /or MBA with relevant experience Minimum experience of 3 years in the field of advertising and communications Desirable Additional experience of designing communication aids in HIV/AIDS is preferred Excellent written and oral communication skills in Hindi and English A good understanding of folk and traditional media, BTL and other mid media vehicles Knowledge of interpersonal communication methods, content development and operationalization C o n t r a c - Post graduate degree in Social Sciences/ Humanities or any tual other related field. Minimum 3 years experience in planning, implementing and monitoring of mid-media activities at State level A good understanding of folk and traditional media, BTL and other mid media vehicles Excellent written and oral communication skills in Hindi and English Candidate is willing to undertake extensive travel Desirable Additional experience of designing communication aids on HIV AIDS

Place of posting

NSACS

NSACS

NSACS

NSACS

NSACS

NSACS

NSACS

NSACS

NSACS

General Instructions: (i) Two passport size photo. (ii) The post applied for should be clearly mentioned on top of the envelope. (iii) A candidate can apply for only 1(one) post. (iv) Applications in prescribed format with self attested photocopy of certificates & experience must be received at NSACS on or before 27th February 2015 addressed to the Project Director, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima-797001 (v) All columns are to be filled. If no information is to be given, please mention ‘NA’. Any unfilled column will be understood as ‘nothing to say’. Experience, should include ‘pay drawn’ and ‘Employer’. (vi) All application includes a ‘declaration’ which should be signed. In case you fail to do so, the application will be rejected. (vii) The originals of relevant qualifications and experiences shall be produced at the time of written test or interview. (viii) The Society reserves the right to reject any application or cancel any position advertised without assigning any reason.

Decision of the Society shall be final. (ix) Application which is not in the prescribed format will be rejected The names of the Candidates who fulfill the criteria will be put up in the NSACS Notice Board. There will be Written Test on 10th March 2015 and Oral Interview on 12th March 2015 respectively for the short listed candidates. No lobbying in any form will be entertained.

DR. L. WATIKALA Project Director

10

Dimapur

SPORTS

Friday 20 February 2015

The Morung Express

porto holds basel amid controversy The two faces of pM Modi public discourse

T

Basel's Derlis Gonzalez, center, shoots to score a goal past Porto's Alex Sandro, left, and Maicon, right, during their Champions League round of sixteen first leg soccer match at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, February 18. (AP Photo)

BASEL, FEBruAry 19 (rEutErS): Porto hit back with a late Danilo penalty to hold FC Basel to a 1-1 draw in the Champions League on Wednesday amid controversy over a goal for the Portuguese visitors which was disallowed after a long delay and consultation between match officials.

Basel, who progressed through the group stage at the expense of Liverpool, led for three quarters of the round of 16 first leg after Derlis Gonzalez gave them an 11th minute lead on a freezing night.

Two-times winners Porto kept their unbeaten record in this year's competition intact when fullback Danilo stroked home a penalty with 11 minutes to play after a handball by 36-yearold former Argentina defender Walter Samuel.

But the game's talking point was the disallowed Porto goal early in the second half. The visitors had finished celebrating and

were back on the halfway line waiting for the re-start when referee Mark Clattenburg, after a long consultation with his linesman, disallowed Casemiro's goal for offside. Television replays suggested that two Porto players were offside when Casemiro headed in the rebound after Maicon's header was parried

by Basel goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik, but it was the delay which angered the Porto players and coach Julen Lopategui.

"It was difficult for us to get going again when the decision was changed after such a long time," said Porto coach Lopategui. "We reacted very well." "We were clearly superior to a very good team and in very adverse circumstances," he added "They scored with their only shot on goal, they were 100 percent efficient which is very unusual."

Clattenburg had a busy night elsewhere as he booked nine players, five from the Swiss champions

and four from their opponents. Basel scored with the first chance of the game in the 11th minute. Fabian Frei chipped a perfectly weighted ball over the Porto defence and found Gonzalez who held of his marker and prodded the ball past Porto goalkeeper Fabiano.

But Basel lost their bite after the Paraguayan went off injured in the 25th minute and often looked like the away team as they played on the counter attack. Porto dominated possession but often appeared to be going nowhere as they passed the ball around in the first half.

Vaclik made his first difficult save in the 55th minute as Cristian Tello raced through and Colombia forward Jackson Martinez saw his only chance in a quiet performance land on the roof of the net. The game petered out after Danilo's equaliser with the two teams apparently happy to wait for the return leg on March 10 to settle matters.

Liverpool trio return to high-flying Southampton

LONDON, FEBruAry 19 (rEutErS): Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren left Southampton hoping for bigger things at Liverpool but when they return to their former club in the Premier League on Sunday they will look enviously at their former team mates.

S outhampton are fourth in table, occupying the final Champions League qualification spot, while Liverpool have endured an indifferent season and lie seventh, four points adrift of Ronald Koeman's side.

After six months and 25 games, the weekend brings the reverse fixtures of the first matches of the campaign.

When Koeman lost his first competitive game in charge of Southampton 2-1 at Anfield it looked as though the season might unfold as most pundits had predicted.

Liverpool were flying

high after finishing runnersup the previous season and the south-coast club looked destined to struggle after an exodus of leading players and the loss of manager Mauricio Pochettino. But Southampton have defied the doom-mongers, coping admirably with the loss of Lallana, Lambert and Lovren to Liverpool as well as Luke Shaw to Manchester United and Calum Chambers to Arsenal.

Serbia defender Lovren has not been missed as the Saints boast the tightest defence in the league, while Koeman's attack has outscored Liverpool's expensively-assembled forward line.

Brendan Rodgers's side have struggled to recapture their scintillating form of last season but have regained a bit of swagger recently, unbeaten in nine league games ahead of the trip to St Mary's.

Arsenal, who are one

point behind Southampton in fifth, visit London rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday, while sixth-placed Tottenham Hotspur host another capital derby when West Ham United visit White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Leaders Chelsea held on for a 1-1 draw at Paris St Germain in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie on Tuesday and will hope for an easier ride at home to second-bottom Burnley.

Champions Manchester City, trailing Jose Mourinho's team by seven points in second, host Newcastle United.

Louis Van Gaal tasted defeat in the first competitive game of his managerial reign at Manchester United and will want to avenge the Old Trafford loss when his third-placed team go to Swansea City on Saturday.

Tim Sherwood's first league game as Aston Villa manager is at home to Stoke City.

Anand tops Zurich Classical

Zurich, FEBruAry 19 (Pti): Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand played out an easy draw with Sergey Karjakin of Russia in the fifth and final round to win the Classical section of Zurich Chess Classic here.

Awarded two points for a win and one for a draw

under new rules in place here, Anand tallied seven points in all, winning two and drawing the remaining three games in the six-player round robin. This also meant a much-needed recovery in ELO points after losing heavily in the preceding Grenke Classic tournament.

Hikaru Nakamura of

United States finished a clear second, a full point behind Anand after settling for a draw with Levon Aronian of Armenia. The third game of the fifth and final round in the Classical format was also drawn between Russian Vladimir Kramnik and Fabiano Caruana of Italy.

Kramnik finished third, having drawn all his five games while Aronian, Caruana and Karjakin finished tied fourth on four points apiece. The battle now shifts to the rapid chess format where all players play once more against each other in the same day. There are five more rounds remaining to decide the overall winner but in rapid chess each win will be worth only one point and a draw will just earn half a point.

he RSS could not do what it wanted to do during the regime of BJP Govt. headed by former PM Vajpai.

I presumed that RSS found the PM Modi to be more forthcoming than the other senior BJP leaders to have tacit understanding for them to carry out its Hinduism agendas in India. The drastic dismantle of the hierarchical cadre system of leadership on the basis of seniority shook the BJP party prior to 2014 Parliamentary elections. There was much rift in BJP which led to the expulsion of a prominent senior leader.

On the strength of such tie up, the RSS and its cohorts, with the massive support of BJP ministers and MPs, have been on rampage in imposing its Hindutva agendas on Christians and Muslims since BJP formed its ministry. Reiterating the principal antinational activities of RSS are idolising the murderer of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi by RSS cadre Nathuram Godse, successive destruction of Christian churches, erasing Christmas from national calendar, massive and rampant proselytization beside hate and incendiary speeches.

Despite of the above disintegrating activities of Modi’s work force, and despite of the Opposition MPs stalling sittings in the last Parliament session in protest against coerce conversions and demanding statement from PM Modi, he decisively remained evasive and silent.

Modi had, perhaps, to fulfil his commitment to his work force RSS and its affiliated units. Modi, thus allowed his work force to have freehand for Hindunization of India.

Thus, secularism is greatly challenged. Thus, Modi became a communal PM and the PM of Hindus exclusively. This is the 1st Face of the PM Modi.

In response to PM Modi’s invitation, American President Barak Obama came to be the chief guest on Republic day. On the last leg of his visit, the President of USA made a very obvious and direct remark on the Hindu fundamentalists’ intolerance of religious minorities in his address in the Town Hall at Delhi. Obama said ‘India will succeed so long it is not splintered on religious lines.” In other word, India may not see the much publicised ‘ache din’ if PM Modi gives more importance to Hindutva than governance. He even reminded PM Modi and his Govt. on the secular principles imbibed in Art 25. Why the President of America had to remind India about a particular constitutional provision? All the way from America, President Obama came to tell BJP Govt. to uphold the principle of secularism. Not long after his return to America, Obama, in his address to a gathering of inter-religious prayer meeting, criticised India that the ongoing religious intolerance by BJP and its activists ‘would have shocked Gandhiji’ had he been alive today.

Yet, BJP tried its best to play down the kind of Obama’s warning. Mr. Swapan Dasgupta, a political columnist opined in his write up that ‘Obama parting speech won’t do Modi political harm.’

Some extremist Hindus expressed their dismay that it is none of the business of Obama to talk about religious intolerance while in Indian soil.

The Obama’s indictment did not deter PM Modi and team from furthering their Hindu rashtra agenda till BJP was routed in snap Delhi Assembly poll on 7.2.2015.

BJP was confident that it would be an easy walk over in Delhi Assembly poll repeating what it could do in few other States post Parliamentary election. BJP thought that it could play with AAP as a cat with mice. Yet, as God the Jehovah is there, the utter reverse is the mice AAP had eaten the big fat cat BJP. Secondly, the continuous persecution of Christians across India

by PM Modi’s work force is noticed by other nations. A small but very significant incident in Bothell in Washington State in which somebody spray printed the swastika with the warning ‘Get Out’ on the wall of Hindu temple. Such warning to Hindus in America is unethical and against secularism. Christians do not approve such threat to any religious group. Nonetheless, it is a good reminder to Hinduism fundamentalists in India that they are not the sole license holder to call shots. If Hindu extremists are capable of harassing the minority Christians in India, there will be retaliation against the Hindus in other places from other quarters.

What BJP has allowed its activists to sow the seed in India, the diaspora Hindus in USA are reaping.

These two events, the mice devouring the cat in Delhi and the graffiti on the temple wall in America, perhaps, compelled PM Modi to have facial plastic surgery on emergency basis. PM Modi wore the secular plastic face and mingled with Christian leaders in Delhi on 17.2.2015 in a Christian function. PM Modi then spoke

about secularism and assured that minorities will be protected. This is the 2nd face of PM Modi. Thank you PM. The AICC (All India Christian Council) has welcomed it and even hailed. Nothing wrong. Yet, the question is, whether the BJP workers will now relent in their zest to install Hindu rashtra. Whether Modi’s assurance would be double talk or will he contain the persecution of Christians is to be watched first than hailing.

Meanwhile, as apprehended, certain prominent Christian leader from Nagaland vehemently defended PM Modi and NDA from being blamed for attacks on Christians as appeared in local media on 18.2.2015. He ‘sought to give clean chit to PM Modi and NDA branding such criticisms are ‘only cheap politics’. Each citizen has the liberty to call the aforementioned persecutions of Christians by BJP workers as nothing and cheap politics. Should there be more such persecutions in the days to come under the patronage of BJP ministry, still should Modi and his NDA be immune from blame? President Obama indicted counterpart Modi twice in his face in India and also at home. PM Modi has admittedly realized his mistake on silence on those atrocities meted out to fellow Christians and thus he assured protection henceforth. Amazing! A Naga Christian leader has joined Hinduism activists as by the degree of giving clean chit to BJP leader. Who am I to tame? It is none of my business. The only botheration is playing politics at the expense of the security of minority Christians is unfortunate. NBCC may pray hard for this type of leader.

Z. Lohe

It’s About tIme We unIte

T

his short scribble of mine will irritate many in fact it may even anger some.

I don’t even know if such a message will be seen by many.

Nevertheless seeing the disturbing trend of divisions in our society I am compelled to voice out my angst. We Nagas have been constantly voicing our disgust at the inability of our National movement to act as a cohesive unit. But has each and everyone looked inwardly towards the causes? Today I won’t talk about how divided our national movement has become because people far wiser than me have written and debated about it threadbare.

I am today not worried about the dangers that come from some external source but something that comes from within. People wiser than us have always told our peoples that Nagas can never be defeated by an outside force but that

our true enemy lies within. There are so many so-called Naga leaders who for reasons best known to them are bent on dividing the Nagas on geographical lines, Tribal affiliations, Clan/Village loyalties that today we no longer see a cohesive Naga identity. Pan Naga organizations are failing due to either incompetence or deliberate selling out. They no longer command the moral authority they used to wield.

So bad has the situation become that just in Nagaland State, which is supposed to be a beacon of hope for all Nagas there are countless number of organizations.

Each with its own divisive agenda though some may profess otherwise. We can site umpteenth number of examples, but I don’t want this to be a scribble that makes one defensive but at the least makes us rethink our priorities.

The saddest part of this whole issue is that the youth who are

the hope of the future are listening to these varied voices and are getting caught up in this shifting of loyalties. We are listening to so called leaders who are past their prime and have done nothing but confuse the people for their own selfish ends. Each division within our society has these so called leaders who don’t give a second thought to what they are propagating and for their own selfish motives feed untruths to a gullible public further deepening the fractures within our society. Why can’t the youth of today stand up and say "enough is enough".

"You may be my clansman or villager or tribesman but you cannot make us paranoid about our own brethren". Why can’t we tell our so called leaders that thus far and no further. Why can’t we say "your personal agendas have done enough harm to the Nagas now it's our turn to take our peo-

ples forward". Let us the people of this beloved land that we call ours take the initiative and take our destiny in our hands and not depend on home grown charlatans who are out to destroy this family the world knows as the Nagas.

For once let us be united by our similarities and not divided by our differences. In order, to tackle the problems we Nagas face today the only solution is being united and unity only starts when we recognize our shared destiny. Just as a chain is as strong as its weakest link so are the Nagas as strong as the smallest tribe, village or clan.

As said by Dumbledore in the Goblets of fire by JK Rowlings “We are only as strong as we are united and as weak as we are divided “.

P.S Like my man Bob Marley sang: "One love one heart, Lets get together and feel all right!"

Ao Temjen Jamir, Dimapur.

the implications of the statementthy will be done on earth

A

mong Jesus’ great teachings, the declarationTHY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN- is perhaps the greatest declaration made by him. It is perhaps the greatest declaration made between heaven and earth.

For it is indeed a declaration that binds tiny earth to heaven’s awesomeness. The implications of this declaration can be seen from the following facts: If God’s will is not to be done on earth, then the tiny planet earth is left to aimlessly drift among the myriads of Galaxies that spreads across the endless expanse of the universe. Secondly, if God’s will is not to be done on earth, then you and me- mortal and finite human beings- would forever be lost in a dying universe (as found in the second law of Thermodynamics).

And if this were to be the fate of the world, then mortal human lives would just return back to the dust from which it was formed without fulfilling any purpose. Human life which is so short would then have no eternal value.

But “thy will be done on earth” changes the implications of all these desolating facts of life and gives life a new lease that must be lived with vibrancy and purpose.

This is so, for “thy will be done on earth” connects earth’s temporal affairs with heaven’s eternal purposes. And as a result of this solemn declaration, we are no longer drifting alone on a lonely planet.

We are now instead tied to a living God who has spoken into our lives

in space and time. This declaration also gives every Christian a clarion call to duty and service on earth.

And this call to live according to God’s will is to live beyond our own small selves. It is to live our lives in God’s dimensions.

On the other hand, if “his will being done” is confined to heaven only, then earth is freed from doing his will. If this is the case, then the world is freed to be ruled by the devil.

Now, who is this devil? The scripture describes him as “a murderer and a liar from the beginning” and in whom dwells no truth. (Jn 8:44) Now if God’s will is to be done only in heaven, then the world is freed to be ruled by any servant of the devil like Hitler with his Nazism or Lenins, Stalins and Maos with their Marxist socialist ideologies. Such servants of the devil in line with their master’s character“a murderer from the beginning”have murdered millions of people on earth. Hitler for example murdered over six million Jews and also killed over 7 million of his own people in the 2nd world war.

It also led to the deaths of over 80 million people world wide. Lenin, Stalin and Mao Tsetung’s communist socialist revolutions alone left behind over 40 million deaths.

However, if God’s will is only to be done in heaven, then these earthly deaths that have been caused by earthly human philosophies are none of a Christian’s business. The Christian would then be freed from confronting these human philosophies with heaven’s

eternal truths. Christians could then remain silent even when they fully understood that Hitler’s Nazism was fueled by Nietzsche's philosophy of “the will to power” which was in turn founded on Darwin’s theory of evolution and survival of the fittest. (In the same way, Marxist communism and socialism derived its inspiration from Rousseau's philosophy of man being born free but in chains everywhere, which was again fueled by Hegel’s philosophy of dialectical materialism).

But however unrealistic and damning these philosophies may be and whatever terrible consequences it had wreaked in human lives in history,if God’s will is to be done only in heaven, then Christians can relax and let the world and its affairs go by…

But contrary to such a position, in the history of Christendom, Paul and the Apostles in their generations challenged the wrong teachings like the Greek Epicureans and the Stoicks (Acts 17:18). Then in later times, there were Christian politicians like Abraham Lincoln and Wilberforce who fought against slavery and abolished it.

The list is endless with Martin Luther and Francis Schaeffers fighting wrong and false doctrines like racism and demonic philosophies that have shattered modern societies and human lives. All these Christian saints were inspired by Jesus’ declaration that God’s will should be done on earth.

It is therefore precisely because God wants his will to be done on

earth, that Christians cannot take a pious and self righteous position of a “none interference policy” and let the devil have his own day.

Christians, of all peoples, cannot take a long holiday pursuing their own happiness on earth while waiting for heaven and God’s will to dawn when Jesus finally comes back to earth.

But sadly, in our Naga context today, our Christianity seems to be leisurely basking in this “Non interference policy.” Believers of this policy even condemn those who are trying to address God’s eternal truths to present Naga political and economic problems. They condemn these Christians of involving and meddling in earthly affairs and not doing God’s will and purposes.

For these pious Christians, God’s will seems to be confined only to John 3:16- salvation of their souls.

But on the contrary, God’s will has to do with the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

In our context, is God’s political and social will being done in Nagaland today? Are the fratricidal killings based on political ideologies, “the will of God” being done in Nagaland? Is the rampant corruption and extortion being carried out both at the state as well as the national levels,” the will of God” being done in Nagaland? When will Naga Theologians and Christians rise up to challenge the evil lies and wrong ideologies that are destroying Naga society today? Yes, when will Naga Christians rise up to do God’s will on earth in Nagaland?

Kaka D. Iralu

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

Friday

Entertainment

The Morung Express

20 February 2015

Dimapur

11

Khrielasier Liezietsu all set for l a t e The P s e l a T Brains over beauty

Michael Douglas to receive George Eastman Award

V

Kodak Company, commonly known as Kodak, reported Contactmusic.

The 7o-year-old Oscarwinning actor will be presented with the accolade at a ceremony in New York on May 14. Previous honourees include Charlie Chaplin, Gregory Peck, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep and Richard Gere.

eteran actor Michael Douglas is set to be honoured with a top prize for his contributions to the film industry. The ‘Wall Street’ star has been unveiled as the 2015 recipient of the George Eastman Award, named after the photography innovator who founded the Eastman

for Jennifer Garner I t may be hard to believe, but while Jennifer Garner was growing up she never considered herself to be attractive. In fact the 42-year-old actress recently admitted it was only in college when she was first complimented on her appearance.

During the early ’90s Garner made a huge lifestyle change and moved to New York City to try and become a successful actress. One thing that helped her through this transitional period is that she was taught from an early age that intelligence prevails over looks.

“What my mom did that I valued so much was to not place beauty high on the list of priorities,” Garner told Southern Living's March issue.

“It was a shock when I got to college to hear people say I was pretty,” the Denison University alum revealed.

“I feel so fortunate to have grown up in a place where people look out for each other,” she told the magazine.

“Community is the one thing people crave most, and it's hard to come by. Wherever I go, the first thing I do is build my group,” she said.

‘ ’

K

hrielasier Liezietsu, the sensational young fashion designer is forging ahead with another prerequisite for fashion success- a new collection. Christened as “The Petal Tales”, the new collection is about a Chinese Floral Goddess.

Launching the fresh and emblazoned new collection- “The Petal Tales” Haute Couture Collection, a show will be held on February 21 at Capital Convention Centre Kohima.

Featuring 11 of the best models, the show will be no less than awesomely glamorous with Ethel Konyak walking as the showstopper.

The show supported by Lineage will have performance by Viriezhünuo Kuotsu, David Himb and Kenei Sorhie.

Popular faces like Tetsoe Sisters, Alobo Naga, Bambi Kevichusa, Connect Studio, Keds Krome, Cynthia Kolakhe and more, will attend the show.

Sangharash Nepali Album, Chot Nepali Movie now B.K. Bros Film Production Presents

"KHEL" 2

Nepali Movie Produce from Nagaland. After the super success of nd

‘The Petal Tales’

"Chot" Nepali Movie the "KHEL"

By Khrielasier Liezietsu Makeup Artist Lomi Shikhu Photographer Lichan Humtsoe and Velukho Nakhro

Sunday 15th March 2015 at Town Hall, Dimapur Movie will releasing on

produced by Murti Films Pvt. Ltd. written and Directed by Shiva Kumar B.K.

C M Y K

Maratha Mandir John GALLiAno to appeal unfair dismissal verdict

Screens Last Show of T

he designer has filed an appeal against an earlier ruling that his dismissal from Dior and his eponymous label were not unfair John Galliano has appealed a Paris court's recent verdict that his dismissal from both Dior and his eponymous label were not unfair.

In November 2014, the court ordered the designer to pay a symbolic amount of €1 to both of his former employers, rejecting Galliano's claims that his bosses at Dior and his epony-

C M Y K

I

C M Y K

t's The End, literally.

Mumbai's Maratha Mandir cinema showed Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Bollywood's definitive romance, for the very last time this morning, 1009 weeks - almost 20 years - after it began playing on October 19, 1995. An audience of 210 watched the final show.

A statement from DDLJ makers Yash Raj Films read: "Post the 1000 week celebrations last December, the theatre had requested YRF to prepone the DDLJ morning show to 9:15 AM instead of 11:30 AM as it was becoming difficult for the cinema to accommodate multiple new releases every week with just 3 regular shows. Of course YRF obliged from Feb 13 2015. However, while the theatre management was happy to continue the film for as long as it continued to draw in the audiences, owing to logistical issues of their staff having to work inordinately long hours to accommodate an additional early morning show, it was mutually decided to end the films historic & record breaking run. After playing for 1009 uninterrupted weeks, the films unprecedented performance has come to an end at the Maratha Mandir. The film played out in the 9:15 AM show today for the last time at the theatre.

Maratha Mandir managing director Manoj Desai, however, told news agency IANS: "We have 1105 seats in one screen and out of which hardly 100 to 200 seats used to get occupied so it doesn't make sense to run it any longer."

The tickets for DDLJ

were sold at Rs 20, Rs 17 and Rs 15 - much cheaper than the prices charged by multiplexes.

DDLJ's 1009-week uninterrupted run makes it the longest running film in the history of Indian cinema, a record previously held by 1975 blockbuster Sholay which ran in Mumbai's Minerva Theatre for five years. (Also Read: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Begins 20th Year of Uninterrupted Run At Maratha Mandir) 'Maratha Mandir' and 'Evergreen DDLJ' are currently trending on Twitter.

On December 12, 2014, DDLJ completed 1000 weeks at the cinema. In October last year, reports suggested the film would be pulled from the single screen theatre after celebrating the 1000-week milestone but Mr Desai told IANS then, "We are not planning to remove DDLJ show. It was a false report.

We have a DDLJ show daily at 11.30 am and on weekdays there is 40 to 50 per cent occupancy and on the weekend it runs houseful."

(Also Read: Breathe. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Will Still Show at Maratha Mandir) He had also said, "Aditya Chopra and I will continue to show the film in Maratha Mandir as long as we want to."

Dilwale Duhania Le Jayenge was Aditya Chopra's first film as director.

It starred Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, a blockbuster screen jodi who appeared opposite each other in several subsequent films and are rumoured to be co-starring again in a Rohit Shettydirected movie.

mous brand were fully aware of his alcohol and drug addictions before the drunken anti-Semitic rant in a Paris café which saw him fired from his creative director position at both labels in 2011. Additionally, he was ordered to cover their legal fees.

"The two companies were fully aware of my state," Galliano told the court in French.

"I took Valium so I could get through fittings."

"I can't let the 17 years I spent and enjoyed at Dior be blackened like this. During these years as creative director of this

house, I did not realize that its success, multiplying its sales by four, came at a destructive and exorbitant cost: my physical and mental health," he added. "Always more work, always more obligations, always more pressure, a dangerous and pathological spiral, without control."

The Gibraltar-born designer had been seeking damages of between €2.4 million and €13 million from luxury conglomerate LVMH, which owns both Dior and the John Galliano label.

WWD report that Galliano's lawyer, Chantal Giraud-van

Gaver of Coblence & Associés, has now filed the appeal against the ruling.

"Given the deadlines for the Paris Court of Appeals, the case should be heard in 2017," she said via e-mail.

The creative control of Galliano's eponymous brand was given to his former right-hand, Bill Gaytten, in 2011. Galliano recently made a comeback to the fashion world, taking the creative director at Maison Margiela. He will show his first ready-to-wear collection for the brand during Paris Fashion Week next month.

C M Y K

Dev Patel and Maggie Smith showcase their comedic talents in entertaining scene from The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

B

ritish actors Dev Patel and Maggie Smith showcase their comedic talents in soon-tobe-released film The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. In a clip from the film, exclusive to MailOnline, 24-year-old Patel who plays young hotelier Sonny, is seen attending an investors meeting with his co-manager Muriel played by Smith, 80. Eager to expand his enterprise, the Indian resort owner enthusiastically prepares to impress potential investors for a second hotel, telling Muriel: 'My hand is powdered so the shake is firm and dry'. 'My clothes precisely walk the tightrope between casual and relaxed formality,' Patel's character continues, swiftly walking down a hallway with Smith by his side. 'Let me do the talking,' Smith's character insists, resting one hand on Patel's dark blazer providing reassurance and support.

Despite Muriel's intentions to steer the conversation of the meeting, it is not long before Sonny enthusiastically speaks business in the way he knows best. Speaking to a potential investor, he says: 'While I am aware that convention dictates that I should wait for your assessment of our proposal, please take my interruption less as rudeness than proof of our profound excitement at the opportunity to meet yourself and your fine company'. Truly getting into the spirit, he then stands up, making bold hand gestures while passionately saying

'Let me say right here and right now...', before Muriel quickly stops him. 'That's enough, that's enough,' Muriel insists, encouraging outspoken Sonny to take his seat again. 'I'm sorry madam,' he immediately apologises, before going on to explain himself to the room of suit-clad businessmen. 'We agreed that my colleague would do the speaking,' he explains, before hilariously adding: 'While her language may be salty, it has great economy'.

'I don't care about any of that,' Muriel brushes off Sonny's cheeky comments,

before delivering a captivating dialogue of her own. After having been involved with the first hotel for 'the elderly and beautiful' in India, Muriel is well acquainted with the country's customs and culture. And when a waiter serves her a cup of hot water and a tea bag in European style, she immediately critiques it, seemingly comparing it to the tea brewed in India with traditional tea leaves. 'Look, listen and learn son,' she tells the waiter. 'Tea is a herb that's been dried out. So to bring it back to life you have to infuse it

in boiling water,' she continues, holding onto the teabag and twisting its string. Increasing the volume of her voice, she yet again insists for 'boiling water'. 'Everywhere I've been in this country they slack down a cup of tepid nonsense in it with a teabag beside it,' she continues her lecture, her agitation clearly reaching its peak. 'Which means I've got to go through the ridiculous business of dunking it in the lukewarm piss waiting for the slightest change of colour to occur and at my age I haven't got the time.' Needless to

say Smith's impressive delivery of the stern speech leaves the businessmen in the room rather shocked and speechless. But Sonny on the other side is quite impressed, with Patel smiling as he points towards his comanager while saying: 'This is what I'm talking about'. In a trailer for the film, exclusive to MailOnline and released late last year, Patel's character Sonny is dealing with more than his business ventures, and Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and newcomer Richard Gere join the party.

In the sequel, the younger hotelier is also

dealing with the arrangements for his marriage to the love of his life, Sunaina (Tina Desai), though he's not the only one with romance on the cards. Evelyn (Dench) and Douglas (Nighy) still haven't made things official, which makes it all the more awkward now they've joined the Jaipur workforce, and his ex-wife Jean (Penelope Wilton) makes a dramatic return to visit the residents - or 'crumbling ruins' as she calls them. 'We're not together, well we're not NOT together!' Evelyn declares in one scene. Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are negotiating the tricky waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two eligible and very wealthy suitors.

With only one room left in the place, a predicament is felt for new arrivals Guy (Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig) though Madge could probably give the former a place to stay.

'Lordy, lord have mercy on my ovaries,' she declares as Guy walks into the room. It seems a Bollywood dance number will take place too, giving Patel the chance to show off his best Bhangra movies. John Madden is in the director's chair and the original screenplay was penned by Ol Parker.

Oscar-nominated actor David Strathairn also stars.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will open across the UK and Ireland on 26 February 2015.

C M Y K

Tomorrow maTch

C

Sat, 21 Feb—03:30 am IST Sat, 21 Feb— 08:50 am IST

PAK vs WI AUS vs BAN

hagley oval, christchurch Brisbane cricket Ground

C

M

M

Y

Y

K

K

Ronaldo scores in Real’s victory

Players of the Mokokchung girls’ football team practice at Imkongmeren Sports Complex in preparation for the upcoming friendly match to be played against Sibsagar women’s team at Geliki, Sibsagar scheduled for February 25. The match is part of the “Assam-Nagaland Festival 2015,” an outreach programme initiated by the government of Assam dedicated to the cause of peace and harmony among the people of Assam and Nagaland living along the border.

Paris racist attack victim wants Chelsea fans punished

C M Y K

C M Y K

PaRIS, FEbRuaRy 19 (aFP): A black French man pushed off a Paris metro train and racially abused by Chelsea supporters said in an interview published Thursday that the fans must be punished. "These people, these English supporters, must be found, punished and locked up," the victim of the widely condemned assault told Le Parisien newspaper.

The man, named as 33-year-old Souleymane S born in Paris but with Mauritanian parents, said he would make a complaint to police about the incident.

French and British police have launched a hunt for the self-proclaimed racist fans and French politicians have demanded "sanctions" over the incident in central Paris before Chelsea's 1-1 Champions League draw

against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. Amateur video footage showed Chelsea fans repeatedly pushing Souleymane S. back off the train as he tried to board and then chanting: "We're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it!"

"I didn't know I was being filmed. The fact that it's being talked about has given me the courage to go and file a complaint with the police," Souleymane S, said. The man recounted: "I wanted to get into the carriage but a group of English fans were blocking me and pushing me off. "They were saying to me things in English but I didn't really understand the meaning of their words.

"I realised they were targeting me because of the colour of my skin. You know I live with racism, I wasn't totally surprised at what happened

even if this was the first time it'd happened in the metro.

"I returned home without saying anything about it to anyone, not my wife, nor my children. What can I tell my kids? That papa was shoved in the metro because he's black? That wouldn't help things at all."

It was at the station that Le Parisien say they came across him on Wednesday.

According to the paper, he wasn't aware of the furore the story had stirred up. French prosecutors have opened an investigation into "deliberate racial violence on public transport". London police said they would assist the French investigation.

In a statement, Chelsea called the incident "abhorrent". The club has called on its fans to help identify the supporters involved in the abuse.

G E L S E N K I R C H E N, FEbRuaRy 19 (aP): Cristiano Ronaldo ended a brief goalscoring slump to help holder Real Madrid beat Schalke 2-0 in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ronaldo headed home in the 26th minute of the first leg match, after going three matches without a goal in the Spanish league.

He also set up Marcelo for the second goal in the 79th.

"Clearly he lives to score and it was an important goal — and a good reaction at an important stage of the season," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Real Madrid routed Schalke 6-1 last season at the same stadium with a ruthless attacking performance, advancing 9-2 on aggregate.

Madrid went on to win a record 10th title and is seeking to become the first repeat Champions League winner.

This time, Schalke defended much better but did not threaten much either.

The closest it came to scoring was in the 74th, when Felix Platte, making his Champions League debut, fired a volley from the edge of the area against the crossbar. "It's a disappointing result. Neither team had many chances but they scored," Schalke coach Roberto Di Matteo said. "If Platte had scored, the match might have gone our way."

The second leg in Spain is on March 10. In the night's other match, Danilo scored a late penalty to earn Porto a 1-1 draw at Basel. Madrid stretched its winning streak in the Champions League to 10, scoring 27 goals and conceding three. The Spanish club had won only three of 27 trips to Germany before Wednesday.

Schalke defended mostly with five men, often with eight and sometimes had 10 players behind the ball as Madrid enjoyed

C

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo tries to score during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Real Madrid in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on February 18. (AP Photo)

two-thirds of the possession. Ronaldo had a simple header for his 73rd goal in the Champions league after Dani Carvajal floated a cross behind the back of Schalke's defense.

In the second half, he shook off two defenders to lay the ball on for Marcelo, who curled a fine shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area to complete the victory. "The quality up front made the difference," Di Matteo said.

One minute before Ronal-

do's goal, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar tested Iker Casillas, who dived to his left to turn the ball away.

Schalke's 19-year-old goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther, who was making his debut in the Champions League, then made a great point-blank save from Karim Benzema. The ball slithered through his legs but he dropped behind to scoop it up. Huntelaar limped out of the match in the 33rd minute, to be replaced by Platte, a 19-year-

old debutant with 11 minutes of Bundesliga experience. "He played without fear," Di Matteo said.

Kevin-Prince Boateng was then booked for downing Ronaldo and will miss the second leg. Ronaldo took the free kick and fired a dipping shot but Wellenreuther produced a spectacular save. In the 40th, Ronaldo beat Wellenreuther to the ball but could not control it before it went out of bounds. "It was a great occasion for me, but

I wish I had kept a blank sheet," Wellenreuther said.

Madrid dominated the second half and Schalke rarely advanced beyond the halfway line until late in the match. Ancelotti's team also benefited from the return from injury of defender Pepe. "He showed his experience and his presence was very important for us," Ancelotti said. "We played a good match, it wasn't played at great pace but it was a match of patience and we controlled it."

Batsman Dhoni seeks Shastri's advice in testing times

MELbouRNE, FEbRuaRy 19 (PtI): An overwhelming win over Pakistan may have brought a lot of cheer to the Indian cricket team after an indifferent 'Australian Summer', but there are a few grey areas that are yet to be addressed by the side, including skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's poor run with the bat.

Therefore, it was not really surprising to see the captain spending some quality time with Team Director Ravi Shastri during India's training session at the St Kilda's Junction Oval ground on Wednesday.

It looked like an animated discussion between the Indian captain and Team Director on the execution

Ashwin and Kumar fit to face South Africa

SyDNEy, FEbRuaRy 19 (REutERS): India have dismissed reports questioning the fitness of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin and said both are "very much available" for their second World Cup match against South Africa in Melbourne on Sunday. Seamer Kumar was reported to be a doubt after a lacklustre training session in Melbourne on Wednesday, while other reports said off-spinner Ashwin was struck by a Umesh Yadav delivery while batting in the same nets. "We are receiving so many calls from media about R. Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar fitness," team media manager Dr. Baba said in an e-mail on Thursday. "(The) above players are very much available for selection for (the) match against South Africa."

India opened their World Cup defence with a convincing 76-run victory over Pakistan in Adelaide last Sunday. of horizontal bat shots -- namely the productive pull-shot. After a session in the nets, Dhoni came walking down to the square leg area, where Shastri was sitting in a chair. The two were seen immersed in a discussion, after which the

former India captain stood up and started doing a few shadows showing the exact body movement and balance that should be there while playing the pull-shot.

Shastri's knowledge about performing in Australian wickets can't be

questioned as he was 'Man of the Series' or 'Champions of Champion' during the Benson and Hedges series in 1985 and also scored a double century in Sydney during the 1991-92 series.

In the last 10 ODIs that Dhoni has played, he has

scored only one half-century (51 not out) against the West Indies and didn't get to bat in two other matches.

In fact, apart from the 10 official ODIs, Dhoni also failed to fire in the two warmup games against Australia and Afghanistan where he scored 0 and 10, respectively. While, he hasn't got time to build an innings on some occasions, his shot selection has left a lot to be desired. In fact, at 33, he is not getting any younger and probably the reflexes are also getting slower with time. However, the skipper is more than aware about the problems that have crept into his game and he is at least sincere in trying to work his way out of trouble.

M Y K

C M Y K

Watch this space

Williams guides Zimbabwe to nervous win over UAE

C M Y K

C M Y K

WELLINGtoN, FEbRuaRy 19 (REutERS): Sean Williams ensured Zimbabwe would not become the first top tier side to lose to United Arab Emirates when his counterattacking half century secured a four-wicket victory in their World Cup clash in Nelson on Thursday.

Williams (76 not out) and Sean Ervine (42) were required to rescue their side with an 83-run partnership after UAE's bowlers had reduced them to 167 for five in the 33rd over of their innings in the Pool B clash at Saxton Oval.

The left-handed pair had already settled any nerves by the time 29-year old Ervine was caught and bowled by Krishna Chandran with just 36 runs from seven overs required.

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura came in to see his side safely to their target of 286 with two overs to spare and he finished on 14 not out. UAE, making their first World Cup appearance since 1996, posted a com-

Sean Williams flicks the ball, United Arab Emirates v Zimbabwe, World Cup 2015, Group B, Nelson, February 19.

petitive 285 for seven and then took wickets at crucial moments with wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor's dismissal in the 28th over looking almost fatal at the time.

Taylor was well set and looking to up his scoring rate when he attempted to sweep a full delivery from Nasir Aziz and was struck low on his front pad.

He was given out for 47 but reviewed the decision only for technology to show the ball would have hit the middle stump.

Their tails up, UAE

looked on course to record their first win over a test nation in their 20th official one-day international until Williams and Ervine intervened. The victory ended Zimbabwe's losing streak of seven matches stretching back to their threewicket win over Australia in Harare last August.

UAE's innings had been well constructed with all but two of their batsmen getting past 20 and Shaiman Anwar stroking his highest score in oneday international cricket.

Anwar scored 67 and was ably supported in an 82-run partnership by wicketkeeper Swapnil Patil (32), while Khurram Khan (45) and Krishna Chandran (34) also produced an 82run third-wicket partnership. Mohammad Naveed (23) and Amjad Javed (25) combined for a quick-fire unbroken stand of 53 at the end of the innings to drive the UAE to their highest score in a one-day international. Tendai Chatara finished with figures of 3-42.

C M Y K

C M Y K

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