February 20th, 2017

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

MonDAY • FebruArY 20 • 2017

DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 48 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand Uttar Pradesh Election: Over 61 percent turnout in phase 3 polling

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 19 (MExN): The 5 Assam Rifles today apprehended Inaque Chopy, Vice Chairman, Sumi Region of the NSCN (K) from Old Akuba village. A press note from the IGAR (N) informed that the Vice Chairman was apprehended from the house of “an over ground worker” with one 5.56 mm A-1 Rifle, one Pt 22 mm Pistol and “other war like stores.”

The AR alleged that Inaque Chopy was involved “in collection of illegal taxes, extortion money from general public,” and “was also involved in planning and conduct of subversive activities against the security forces in the area.” The apprehended persons along with the recovered items were handed over to Zunheboto Police Station.

Suicide bomb in market in Somalia capital kills 39 MOGADISHU, FEBRUARY 19 (REUtERS): A car bomb ripped through a market in Mogadishu on Sunday, killing 39 people and injuring around 50, a local official said, days after Somalia elected a new president. The car was driven by a suicide bomber, said Ahmed Abdulle Afrax, the mayor of Wadajir district where the bombing happened. “We carried 39 dead bodies and there were many others injured,” Dr Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of the Aamin Ambulance Service, told Reuters. Madina hospital took in 47 injured people, Dr Mohamed Yusuf, the manager, said. Witness Abdulle Omar said the market was destroyed. “I was staying in my shop when a car came in into the market and exploded. I saw more than 20 people lying on the ground. Most of them were dead,” he said.

South Asian nations vow to meet the challenges of climate change

C M Y K

INDORE, FEBRUARY 19 (IANS): The joint declaration of the South Asian Speakers’ Summit on Sunday asserted that the Paris Agreement must continue to be guided by the principles of UN Framework Convention and called for greater cooperation among the member countries to meet the challenges of climate change and related disasters. The South Asian Speakers’ Summit on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is attended by South Asian countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The declaration stressed that the Paris Agreement should continue to be guided by the principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate change, especially the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. The joint declaration of the seven countries also agreed to consider setting up of a joint parliamentary groups under the forum to deliberate upon and deepen cooperation on relevant issues.

o F

T R u T H

— Guinean proverb

Is the Centre using the women quota row to influence Nagaland’s political future?

PAGe 08

AR apprehends NSCN (K) Sumi region Vice Chairman

P o W e R

Bale back with a bang as Real tighten grip

PAGe 05

PAGE 12

Nagaland CM tenders resignation Governor accepts resignation, asks CM and cabinet to continue till alternative arrangements are made Morung Express News Dimapur/Kohima| February 19

Nagaland State Governor, PB Acharya today accepted the resignation of the Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang. Zeliang the 16th Chief Minister of the state was sworn in on May 24, 2014.

The CM tendered his resignation, after he had three days ago appealed for the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) and the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) to give him “2-3” days to ensure smooth transition of power.

The CM submitted his resignation to the Governor on Sunday night, which the Governor promptly accepted. A press note from the Governor’s office informed that the latter however asked Zeliang and his council of Ministers to continue “till alternative arrangements are made.”

Earlier in the afternoon, the CM had issued a statement informing his intent to step down from the post of Chief Minister. Zeliang had said: “I have decided to step down from office.”

Emergency Meeting Today The CM also called for an emergency meeting of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) Legislature Party at 10:00am on Monday, February 20. The meeting is scheduled to be held at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima, and has been convened in order to select a new consensus leader to succeed the present Chief Minister.

This meeting, it was informed, would be followed by another meeting of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Legislature Party at 11:00am on Monday in the same venue.

The Chief Minister has requested all members to attend the meeting so as to “select a consensus leader to ensure smooth transition of office and to provide the best governance to the people of Nagaland.”

Little chance of PR, Zeliang assures Earlier in the evening, while briefing legislators at the State Banquet Hall about his trip to Delhi, the CM said that “he had learned in the course of his interactions

Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang with Nagaland Governor, PB Acharya after tendering his resignation on Sunday, February 19.

with various central leaders that there were various reports submitted to the Government of India asking for imposition of President’s Rule in Nagaland.”

“Besides normal and regular reports passed on to the Central Government from the Governor, the Intelligence Bureau, the Assam Rifles and the CRPF, there were reports submitted by the NPCC and a learned retired Supreme Court Judge recommending immediate imposition of central rule by the President of India owing to what they said was a breakdown in the Government machinery. But I pointed out that Naga people cannot afford to have PR when

Lok Sabha Speaker for unanimous passage of women’s reservation bill

INDORE, FEBRUARY 19 (IANS): Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Sunday said the much awaited women’s reservation bill should be passed unanimously and respectfully by Parliament.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the South Asian Speakers’ Summit here, Mahajan said: “Women’s reservation is needed definitely but that does not mean they are weak. They are as able as men... think like any men.” “But the demand for women’s reservation is only asserting their basic human, civil and political rights. They need equal opportunities,” she added. She also hit out at those opposing women’s reservation in Parliament.

“Some one tears up the pages while someone raises slogans. Such behaviour should not take place. All should unanimously and respectfully pass the bill,” she

said in an apparent reference to members who even attempted to physically attack Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari to disrupt its tabling.

The bill seeks to reserve one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies.

Introduced by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance-I government in May 2008, it also envisages one-third of the total number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to be earmarked for women.

Similar bills have been introduced thrice earlier in the late 1990s but lapsed with the dissolution of the respective Lok Sabhas.

Last time, the bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 but could not be passed in the Lok Sabha.

the political talks are going ahead to solve the Naga political issue,” he said. He however assured that “there is little chance of PR being imposed in Nagaland.”

“To arrive at a consensus decision requires time, and so I have accordingly asked for a short period of time to be given,” he stated.

The CM further added, “Central leaders and some groups I met in Delhi told me they have received suggestions that Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio should come back to the State and take over the helms of affairs, but I made it clear to them I cannot decide by myself in Delhi and that I have to consult the NPF legislators, and the alliance partners. However,

I have told them that I shall take the suggestion back to Nagaland and let the legislators and the party decide.”

Leadership crisis continues, new names pop up While the Governor formally accepted the Nagaland Chief Minister’s resignation, the question as to who would succeed him continues to intrigue.

A meeting of legislators to deliberate on the same was scheduled to be held at Hotel Japfu, Kohima on Sunday afternoon. All legislators, including those who had camped in Kaziranga on Saturday were expected to attend. The

venue was however moved to the CM’s residence, due to a confrontation between supporters of different camps within the party.

MP to the Lok Sabha, Neiphiu Rio and NPF President, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu were the frontrunners to succeed Zeliang, with legislators split into two camps. However, several legislators who had joined Rio in Kaziranga on Saturday have reportedly gotten cold feet, and are insisting that Rio’s suspension from the NPF be revoked before they pledge support to him.

Sources meanwhile informed that there are several options being discussed within the party in order to resolve the leadership crisis.

One option suggested is that Rio’s suspension order would be revoked, enabling him to take over as CM, provided that the present cabinet is maintained with the same portfolios. Another option on the table is for neither the Lok Sabha MP nor the NPF President to take over, enabling some other leader to become the CM. To this end, the names of Ministers Nicky Kire and Kiyanelie Pseyie have popped up within party ranks.

some legislators are of the opinion that any leader who takes over as Chief Minister should be a sitting MLA. This would discount both the MP as well as the NPF President.

One legislator, who preferred to remain anonymous, informed that during the NPF and DAN legislature party meetings on Monday, if only one name is suggested for the CM’s post, the proposed leader would approach the Governor for formation of government.

However, if more than one name is suggested for the CM’s post, the Governor will most likely call for a floor test. This, it was informed, would prompt the party to issue a whip to its members. While sources informed the NPF President’s name would be nominated, it is reported that the Lok Sabha MP’s supporters could propose the names of either Noke Wangnao or G Kaito, both former Ministers.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the Governor held a meeting with the Chief Minister, TR Zeliang; Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio; NPF President, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu and Advisor to Urban Development, SI Jamir on late CM should be Sunday night. Details of the a sitting MLA meeting however could not It was also learnt that be ascertained.

JCC bandh in Dimapur partially lifted

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 19 (MExN): In light of the official confirmation of the Chief Minister’s resignation, the JCC has called for partial lifting of the bandh in Dimapur. A press note informed that all businesses, central offices, schools and colleges, banks etc will be exempted from the bandh. However the bandh will continue for state government offices and state government vehicles.

The JCC has meanwhile requested 100 volunteers from each tribe to assemble at DC’s office at 8:00am on February 20.

It further cautioned the Nagaland state govern-

ment “against any action on any of the government employees who have responded to the clarion call by their respective tribal bodies, JCC and NTAC to support the people’s movement.”

The JCC also rejected the one man Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) set up by the government to look into the January 31 incident in Dimapur. It rather demanded that the judicial inquiry commission should be head by 3 persons, with one person from an NGO selected by JCC. It meanwhile also reiterated the demand for the

suspension of the former The NTAC further inCommissioner of Police, formed that the bandh on Dimapur, till the investiga- government offices and tion is complete. movement of government vehicles will continue till Bandh on govt vehicles further information. In this and offices remain connection, it asked tribe The NTAC meanwhile hohos in their respective met the Governor on Sun- districts to employ their day and reminded him of volunteers in ensuring the the CM’s earlier appeal enforcement of bandh on seeking 2-3 days for him to movement of government step down. In this connec- vehicles and closure of tion, the NTAC submitted a government offices. representation to the GovNTAC also appealed to ernor, which stated: “Your private hospitals and medintervention is therefore ical establishments “to be solicited immediately and on standby for any casufailing which your good alty or emergency cases self, as the Constitutional should situation as apprehead of the state shall be hended aggravate and go solely held responsible.” out of hand.”

Handicrafts exports from North Commotion outside as legislators meet East poised for quantum jump NEw DElHI, FEBRUARY 19 (IANS): India’s north-eastern states, one of the richest in terms of ecofriendly crafts, exported handicrafts and handloom products to the tune of Rs 1,121.75 crore during the year 2015-16.

The eight north-eastern states - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura - are home to a large number of tribes and sub-tribes who bring into this region’s export basket, natural and handmade products from about 450 different communities.

“Handicraft exports from north-eastern states are poised to make quantum jump. During 201516, the handicrafts exports were to the tune of Rs 1,121.75 crore over the previous year from that region,” Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), Executive Direc-

tor, Rakesh Kumar, told IANS. The north eastern states have abundant natural material such as cane, bamboo, timber, silk, clay, natural fibre, etc.

As many as 26 crafts exporters from the northeastern states are showcasing their products at the 43rd Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF)Delhi Fair Spring 2017 in the India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida Expressway.

“I am sure the participation of handicraft and handloom exporters from north-eastern states in the mart would further increase with the help of focused export promotion programmes by providing a platform to the artisans, crafts persons and manufacturers of north eastern state in the fairs and trade shows being organized by EPCH as well as in international fairs abroad where

EPCH participates,” Kumar said.

For the first time, Kumar said EPCH also set up a thematic display of north-east products in the renowned Asia’s Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair at Hong Kong under the North Eastern Region Trade Promotion Scheme of Ministry of Textiles.

The handicraft and handloom exporters from the region showcased their cane and bamboo based basketry, lamp shades, gift items, decoratives and utility products as well as furniture; cushion covers and stoles; water hyacinth products, and silk based traditional artistic textiles; products made of kauna grass; jute based bags and accessories; hand loomed artistic textiles; and handicrafts using other local materials.

“We have also provided handholding to five entrepreneurs towards this

participation. This international participation will definitely boost the morale of the small and upcoming entrepreneurs of this region and motivate others to step-up their efforts in product design and innovation, so that they can also get connected to the international buying community,” he said.

Over 6,500 foreign buyers from more than 80 countries, buying agents based in India and domestic retail volume buyers visited the mega fair to source their requirements.

Apart from exporters from the north-eastern states, more than 3,000 exhibitors, including 900 permanent marts from all over the country, are also showcasing products in 14 different categories, at “the world’s largest congregation of handicrafts exhibitors under one roof” which will culminate on February 20.

One of the groups who were involved in a commotion while legislators met on February 19 in Kohima.

KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 19 (MExN): Tensions rose in Kohima today as two groups of people confronted each other prior to the meeting of legislators scheduled to be held at Hotel Japfu. The commotion started at around 12:20pm, as a group of people tried to stop the meeting from taking place.

It was reported that legislators from the Kaziranga

camp had booked rooms for 90 people at Hotel Japfü for a meeting on February 19. The meeting was later shifted to the CM’s official residence.

“20 legislators were planning to meet Dr. Shürhozelie. So we came here (Hotel Japfü), not to confront but to give them a free passage,” informed one of the people involved in the incident.

Although there was no violence, the stand-off continued for almost 4 hours, as one group gathered outside the NPF office while the other gathered at the taxi stand below the NPF office. At around 6:00pm, both groups began to gather near the BSNL office below the CM’s residence.

However, the crowd dispersed after the meeting ended.

2

MOnDAY 20•02•2017

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Nagaland, where men are on strike until women go back to the kitchen

Volunteers keep vigil in Kohima Town during the statewide bandh called to protest the urban local bodies’ polls on February 13. (Morung Photo) Amrit Dhillon Kohima | February 19

(Source: The Age) Nothing ever happens in Nagaland, a predominantly Christian state tucked away amid hilly forests in India's north-east, on the border with Myanmar. But for a fortnight, it has hogged the headlines because angry tribesmen – Nagas belong to 17 main tribes –want to halt the march of history: they want women to stay at home and not enter public life.

"Naga women work at home and in the fields. Men go to war. Men make the decisions. That's Naga culture for centuries and we won't allow anyone to destroy our culture," says Vekhosayi Nyekha, co-convener of the Joint Co-ordination Committee (JCC) which represents all the tribes.

The violent protests that have paralysed Nagaland are over whether women can stand for election, hold office, and make decisions.

The all-male tribal bodies are responsible for the social unrest which has seen strikes, the torching of government buildings and two deaths. They have vowed not to let the government function until women are sent back to the kitchen.

One woman in particular has got them howling for her blood. Feminist and academic Rosemary Dzuvichu is head of the English department at Nagaland University in Kohima, the capital.

"I divorced my husband after 13 years of marriage. I

raised my three children on my own. My experiences have taught me that, while I am proud of my Naga identity, society here has to change," she says.

Dzuvichu is in her 50s and is wrapped up under layers of woollens against the cold. The house where we met is not her home.

She is in hiding.

"They threatened me and my children. They said they would burn my house down. Other women, too, have been intimidated," she says.

In the living room, over tea and cake, she and members of the Naga Mothers' Association, the state's leading women's rights group to which Dzuvichu is an adviser, are finalising a press statement in what has become a battle to define the role of women in Naga society in future.

"Men are scared of us.

They think we should be happy with the scraps they throw us," chuckles Sano Vamuzo, the 83-year-old former president of the association.

The crux of the matter is whether Naga women can be given a leg-up to help them start participating in public life. India has a national affirmative action policy for women aimed at chipping away at centuries of powerlessness. Every locally elected body has to reserve 33 per cent of seats exclusively for women candidates. It is one of India's rare success stories. Women have risen to participate in making decisions and play a role in public life, giv-

ing them a new confidence.

But Nagaland has never brought in this policy because of opposition by tribal bodies. Yet if any state needs affirmative action for women, it is Nagaland. The state assembly has never had a single woman legislator.

Nagaland has only elected one woman to the national Parliament – in the 1970s.

In January, Chief Minister TR Zeliang announced that elections to urban municipal bodies would be held on February 1, this time with 33 per cent reservation. Tribal bodies erupted in anger, warning women candidates that they would be excommunicated from their tribes.

Instead of upholding the law in the face of street violence, Zeliang postponed the poll on January 30.

The war cry of the tribal bodies is "Naga culture in danger".

"In Naga society, a woman is not equal to a man. We give women all respect but they cannot make decisions. Even in our village councils, women speak only if they are invited to give their opinion to the men. Giving women equality will destabilise our society and our ancient customs," says the president of the Central Nagaland Tribes Council.

In their defence, the tribesmen cite an article of the Indian constitution which permits the Nagas, as a proud and independent ethnic group, to preserve their distinctive identity and frame their own laws accordingly.

Even the British handled the warrior Nagas with care. True, the missionaries converted them to Christianity. Baptist churches – plain buildings with huge wooden crosses – dot the skyline of this bustling town, sprawled out on the hillside.

But the British took care not to subjugate the Nagas totally, letting them live their own life, perhaps unnerved by the Naga tradition of headhunting and preserving the heads of their enemies as trophies.

Even today, tribesmen wear skulls in their headgear, albeit those of animals rather than humans.

On the streets, youths from the Angami tribe stand at traffic intersections. Dressed in jeans, black leather jackets and daffodil-yellow necklaces, they stop government vehicles from passing. "We won't let the government function till this rule has been withdrawn," says one youth.

Another young man, Matthew Yhome, a stocky and rubicund 28-year-old, is a government employee in the rural development department and a father of two young children. He needs a lift to another part of Kohima. During the journey, he explains his opposition to equality.

"For us, affirmative action is actually an insult given the high standing and respect that Naga women already enjoy. They don't need special policies. Nagaland is not like other parts of India. We have no custom of

Women in Kohima pray for peace Kohima, February 19 (mexN): Sensing the need for fervent and collective prayer for the present situation in Nagaland, several women gathered at various points here this afternoon and prayed for peace and normalcy.

Called by Kohima Town Baptist Women Union (KTBWU), the women gathered at Lerie Junction, BOC, Old MLA Hostel Junction and High School Junction and conducted prayer meetings.

The women praying for peace and normalcy in Nagaland.

ZCNEI on the prevailing issue in Nagaland

Dimapur, February 19 (mexN): Zeme Council North East India (ZCNEI) today expressed its observation on the “twist and turn of social unrest” over the Urban Local Bodies’ (ULB) polls in Nagaland and the demand for resignation of the Chief Minister TR Zeliang.

Stating that the Municipal Act was adopted through collective cabinet decision along with the previous Chief Minister of Nagaland without much hassle, a press statement from ZCNEI President, Raitu Elu wondered “how come we just woke up from our deep slumber on opening up the very book.” If the Act had been implemented during the previous Chief Minister’s tenure, the outcome, it maintained, “would be or likely to be another story which shows that heartburn of certain advanced tribe

upon minor tribe Chief Minister and his efficiency in governing.”

The Council further pointed out that upon declaration of ULB elections, there were several opinions over infringement of Article 371A thereby customs and traditions of the Nagas by the ordinance of Article 243T. However, ZCNEI stated, the ULB polls has nothing much to do with the Naga traditions and customs as has been reiterated by many Naga tribal organisations.

The ULB elections, the statement said, was declared in compliance with the statutory rules and regulation and according to the directive of the centre.

“No doubt, the loss of the three souls was highly regretted by the Chief Minister himself who had promptly extended condolence message. Nevertheless, the incident was in such an

abnormal circumstance beyond the control of the Chief Minister and invariably on moral ground he did everything within his capacity to normalise the situation,” ZCNEI added.

The Council further said that whether TR Zeliang steps down or not, “the Naga public should realize that his resigning can never bring back the dead to live again but it will be prudent on our part to balance our sentiment in such a situation by prevailing good sense of judgement.”

The ZCNEI President clarified that the above observation “should not be projected as an ideology of certain community or personalizing in any manner, patronizing a particular person(s),” while adding it will be prudent to ponder upon the present issue within the ambit of Indian constitution and the state of Nagaland.

dowry, no female foeticide.

Boys and girls are equally loved," he says.

Warming to this theme, he goes on: "The only women demanding change are spinsters and divorced women. Other women accept our system in which decision making is done by men.

"Women can only take kitchen decisions. We take the big ones," Yhome adds, in all seriousness.

The fact is, as Dzuvichu points out, Nagaland's special status has allowed unfettered discrimination in the name of "culture".

Naga women have no power: village councils are dominated by men. Naga women have no resources; Naga women cannot own land. "With no access to resources, how can women function as full citizens?" she asks.

Dzuvichu's father was different. He educated her and her four sisters. "He gave us all property and a large paddy field, which we share. I was only able to raise my children because of my family's support. But other women don't have such support. Naga society has demarcated roles for men and women in which women are at the mercy of men. It was only after my divorce and everything I went through that I realised how everything is stacked against them," she says.

The editor of the Nagaland Page, Monalisa Changkija, says Naga men fear that allowing women to participate in the urban civic bodies will destabi-

lise the social dynamic between men and women.

"Men feel this could percolate to the villages, which in turn could upset how Naga society has functioned for centuries, with men being in control," she says.

In the congested and polluted city centre, some young women are enjoying chicken fried rice at Dream Cafe. Like most young Naga women, they are made up, fashionably dressed and immaculately groomed.

Women elsewhere in India admire women from this region for their effortless chic. In Kohima, all the young women look distinctly Westernised.

Dream Cafe's TV is showing the latest Benetton commercial. Against images of Indian women at work and play, the narrator talks of how they want "half the world, half the jobs, half the decision making".

The women exchange wry looks. "This ad should be shown to Naga men. India is behind the rest of the world on women's rights and Nagaland is behind the rest of India. It makes me hang my head in shame," says Neidonu Nuh. The JCC is pushing for Zeliang's resignation and a rollback of the reservations policy. The streets are tense. Every day, shop owners pull down their shutters early in case of trouble.

In the living room, Dzuvichu and her colleagues are also digging in their heels. She dismisses the JCC's assertion that letting women be elected will destroy Naga culture. For one, she says, culture is not static, it evolves, and it cannot be against public policy.

"For another, the two are not related. Elections to urban civic bodies are a new concept that old Naga society didn't even know about, so the customary laws can't be applied to these new practices like elections. The two issues are totally distinct," she says.

What should Chief Minister Zeliang do?

"Enforce the law. As well as being Nagas, we live under the Indian constitution, and if the constitution guarantees us certain rights, we want them," Dzuvichu says.

Eastern Nagaland region is richly endowed with mineral resources Kohima, February 19 (mexN): The Nagaland Vision 2030 has stated that the Eastern Nagaland region is richly endowed with mineral resources. “It is therefore pertinent to pay attention to exploitation of natural and mineral resources of the region,” it said. Apart from oil, all other major natural resources of Nagaland namely coal, limestone and nickel, cobalt and chromium bearing magnetite, biodiversity and hydro power are located in the Eastern Nagaland areas. The Vision observed that special policies for exploiting these resources require to be evolved early so that by 2030, the resources are optimized for productive use. The policy will have to include provision of roads and connectivity for exploitation of the resources. This will enhance the economy of the state, it stated.

REM Chairman & MD receives int'l award

Chairman & MD of REM Group, Temjen Imna Along Longkumer after receiving the award in London on February 17.

Dimapur, February 19 (mexN): Temjen Imna Along Longkumer, Chairman & MD of REM Group, Nagaland was conferred the International Award in Leadership Excellence in Social Entrepreneurship at the 7th edition of Middle East Business Leadership Awards (2016) on February 17, 2017 at the Inter Continental London Park Lane, London.

A press release issued

by Azungla from REM Group informed that the award, initiated by the American Leadership Development Association

(ALDA), is conceptualized and judged by a team of global professionals to recognize the contributions towards achieving superb decree in global socio-economic development.

Altogether, 30 prime awards were given out to individual visionary leaders and companies who had extensively contributed to the growth of their regions respectively, according to the release. The recipients of the awards included people from more than 10 countries of Asia, Europe and the GCC regions.

Nagaland crisis a diabolic Cong-Church Conspiracy: Swarajya magazine claims Morung Express News Dimapur | February 19

Nagas, who claim to be egalitarian and progressive, should have had no reason to oppose the 33 percent reservation for women in local bodies, but the current unrest was stoked by the opposition Congress and the Church to dislodge the present government, Swarajya, a right-wing weekly magazine maintained in a report last week.

Titled, “Nagaland Unrest: It’s A Diabolic Congress-Church Conspiracy,” filed on February 7, Jaideep Mazumdar, whom the magazine said writes on “politics, society and many other subjects from North, East and North East India as well as Nepal and Bangladesh,” cited reports by central intelligence agencies that “the protests against women’s reservation have been orchestrated by the Congress, which is still smarting from the mass desertion of all its eight MLAs from the party in November 2015.”

Swarajya, which was started as ‘conservative’ voice in 1956 under the patronage of C Rajagoplachari “Rajaji,” folded in 1980s but was revived in 2015 and claims to be “an authoritative voice of reason representing the liberal centre-right point of view.”

“We are trying to build a new young, liberal, Right-of-Centre voice,” Sandipan Deb, an Editorial Director of the magazine had told The Hindu in 2015.

“The Congress has, traditionally, been close to the Church, and the intelligence agencies believe that the Church co-opted itself into this plot by the Congress to create a crisis in the state and force the Zeliang government to step down,” it further maintained.

The crisis was created to jeopardise the alliance between the NPF and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, who are part of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), it implied.

Narrating the chain of events that

preceded the current imbroglio in Nagaland, the report augmented its assertion by adding that, “It doesn’t take loads of intelligence to fathom that reservation of seats for women in urban local bodies (like municipalities and town councils) does not encroach upon Naga customary law or the religious and social practices of the Nagas.”

Accordingly, it alleged that the newly-formed Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) leadership was made up “almost entirely of Church elders.” “The Church has never been happy with the NPF joining hands with the BJP and forming an alliance with a party it considers to be a Hindu party.”

The Church is extremely powerful in Nagaland and openly dictates terms to the government, it further stated adding the even the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM), currently engaged in protracted peace talks with the Government of India, “also fished in troubled waters and took the side of the Church.”

The NSCN has also been displeased with the NPF for allying with the BJP, it said.

Faced with the continuing belligerence of the NTAC, the state government bent over backwards once again by resolving to approach the Union Government with a request to take Nagaland out of the purview of Part IX A of the Constitution dealing with municipalities and their composition and Article 243 T that makes 33 per cent reservation for women mandatory, it pointed out.

Unsatisfied, the NTAC has resolved to get the Hohos of different tribes to apply pressure on the MLAs of the respective tribes to resign from the ruling DAN Government, it said.

Consequently, the report argued that women’s reservation issue was just “a cover for the conspiracy hatched by the Congress in league with the Church” was evident from the fact that the NTAC has been “proclaiming that nothing short of

the resignation of the council of ministers would do.”

The Congress revealed its hand by demanding that not only the government resign, but the assembly also be dissolved and fresh polls held in the state and the Church has “given enough indication, both in private and publicly, that the government ought to meet the NTAC’s demands,” it added.

The report also quoted anonymous minister that trouble last month-end “was cleverly planned.” “Enough evidence of the Congress and the Church guiding the agitators has emerged. Chief Minister Zeliang and other leaders of the NPF have been meeting powerful clergymen and leaders of the tribal bodies to resolve the issue,” the report further maintained.

“Some Church leaders have obliquely hinted that the demand for the resignation of the Council of Ministers would be dropped if the NPF snaps links with the BJP and withdraws from the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), a nonCongress political group formed by the BJP last year,” it added.

Thus, the report concluded that it exposes the “Church’s vicious anti-BJP stance” and the "ugly truth" about the Church involving itself in politics in Nagaland.”

The Congress reduced to an “utter political irrelevance in Nagaland,” has found in the Church a “natural ally to get back into political reckoning,” it added.

With the event aftermath the report turning into several twist and turns, with the handprint of the Centre quite visible, the magazine’s assertion stands negated.

However, the position it took seems to be solely based on its ideological inclination.

As a media watchdog The Hoot wrote in its analysis that though the magazine claims to be ‘a fiercely independent, big tent of right liberal ideas’ and not ‘politically partisan,’ Swarajya’s tagline of “Read India Right” is an open declaration of its ideological moorings.

Monday 20•02•2017

NORTH-EAST 3

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

sex scandal: After video 168 candidates in fray for first phase Manipur polls goesAssam viral, MLA denies involvement

Imphal, February 19 (IaNS): A total of 168 candidates are left in the fray for the first phase of polls in Manipur in 38 Assembly constituencies.

The 38 hill and valley constituencies out of 60 will go to polls on March 4 in the state. There are 11 independents in the first phase.

The BJP is the only party which is contesting all seats.

There is no Congress candidate in the Churachandpur and the Kangpokpi constituencies.

Most of the constituencies will see straight fights.

However 11 candidates are in the fray in the Saikul constituency. Manipur's political heavyweight Phungzathang Tonsing, who was given a Congress ticket for the Churachandpur constituency, had resigned from the primary membership of the party.

There is pressure on some tribal politicians not to contest on the Congress ticket.

The lone tribal woman MLA Nemcha Kipgen also resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP. She is contesting as BJP candidate from the Kangpokpi constituency.

On Saturday, there were protests as candidates of the Manipur People's Party were given two different election symbols -- of petrol pump and cycle.

Protests went on till late on Saturday night.

Some candidates of the Manipur People's Party were allotted the petrol pump symbol. They hung around the office of the Chief Election Officer till late on Saturday night demanding the bicycle symbol of the party for decades.

However poll officials said, "The symbol cannot be changed now. Following court cases the Manipur People's Party was derecognised. Later the group led by N. Sovakiran was recognised as the MPP office bearers."

Some of the candidates will now contest in the symbol of petrol pump.

However, officials later said, "N. Sovakiran and some others will be allowed to contest in the bicycle symbol in the second phase on March 8."

The officials explained, "There was no time for official processing of the documents while the court case was pending, with the result that the first batch of candidates was given the petrol pump symbol. But there will be time for allotting the bicycle symbol for the rest of the candidates."

Electioneering is in full swing in these constituencies. There are reports of minor clashes among the workers and vandalising of cars and houses in some constituencies.

No force can disintegrate Manipur: Rajnath Singh

Imphal, February 19 (IaNS): Swearing by the territorial integrity of Manipur, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said no force in the world can disintegrate the territory and

that the BJP is the only alternative to save the people.

Speaking at an election meeting here, Singh deplored that the Congress has been harping on the threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur as a result of the framework agreement between the Indian government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Issac-Muivah (NSCN-IM).

"There is no such provision in the agreement. Even the name of Manipur is not mentioned in it," he said.

The ruling Congress, for a long time has been making an election issue of it.

Besides, the All Manipur Students' Union has been launching agitation and demanding disclosure of

the framework agreement.

The Home Minister said, "The Manipur government did not send any representative for the first round of tripartite talks to end the economic blockade."

Disclosing that the Centre had provided the paramilitary forces as sought by the Manipur government, he said, "I do not understand why the Centre is blamed for the blockade.

India has the federal system of government and the Constitution clearly says that the Centre cannot intervene on a state subject like law and order."

Singh described the Congress as a "sinking ship" and exhorted the people to vote for the BJP

for speedy development in the northeastern region.

He claimed that insurgency in other parts of the country was contained. "But it is increasing by over 50 per cent in the state and it shows lack of effective governance," Singh said.

"India has become stronger after the formation of the NDA government. We have been giving befitting replies to Pakistan," he said, adding that it was possible since there is a decisive government at the Centre.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said, "During his visit to Imphal on February 25 the Prime Minister should disclose the details of the agreement". aIzawl, February 19 (pTI): Mizoram Finance minister Lalsawta today said he was making preparations to present the state budget for 2017-18 during the budget session of the state legislature commencing from March 14. Lalsawta told PTI he would present the to everyone to support her," he had budget as real autonomy had been given to the states tweeted while urging people to doto a great extent. nate generously to her.

"Our sources of funds are more or less certain as well PRJA is the first regional party in as our need for expenditure," he said. After becoming Manipur which has taken to crowdthe finance minister, Lalsawta sought to seek a vote-onfunding to finance the poll expenses account in 2014 and later presented a regular budget on in the state.

November 11 that year.

According to PRJA sources, onIn 2015, the minister against sought vote-on-account line crowdfunding with a slogan on two occasions before presenting the annual budget.

"Ten For a Change" is an idea in orPresentation of a full budget was hindered by unavailder to involve more people, bring ability of state annual plan outlay after scrapping of the in transparency in election funding Planning Commission and uncertainty over the funding and reach out to the masses. pattern of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) "The online crowdfunding is in line with the party's call for accountable governance. When we started the party there was a lot of need for funds," a PRJA source said.

Mizo Fin Min ready to present full state budget for 2017-18

After Kejriwal, Bagwant Mann donates salary to Irom Sharmila’s party ChaNdIgrah, February 19 (pTI): A day after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal donated Rs 50,000 to rights activist Irom Sharila's party which is fighting Manipur elections, Aam Aadmi Party Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann followed the suit and donated his one month salary.

"As a member of parliament m donating my one month salary to Irom Sharmila who is fighting against corrupt system n justice in Manipur (sic)," Mann, tweeted on Sunday.

In response, Sharmila's PRJA party tweeted "Thanks a lot Mann sir for supporting our campaign and believeing in us. We will change Manipur for good."

Maan himself is fighting Punjab Assembly elections as AAP candidate from Jalalabad seat against deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

With shortage of funds and manpower, Sharmila's People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) party has taken to online crowdfunding to raise funds and campaigning on cycle to reach out to the masses.

Kejriwal had on Saturday said he is donating Rs 50,000 to Irom Sharmila and also made an appeal to people on Twitter to help her.

"I am donating Rs 50,000 as my small contribution to her and appeal

Short film ‘Aaba' wins int'l jury award at Berlinale

BJP vision document Tribal territories not the most congenial for elections: JAC-AATB The JAC-AATB then statment that passed the three the Joint Action Committurns focus on Highway anti-tribal bills under the in- tee Against Anti-Tribal Bills ed that in a clear indication struction of Co-ordination (JAC) submitted its Charter to his Government’s utter Protection Force The Joint Action Commit- Committee (CorCom), a of Demands on November 9, disregard for anything tribNewmai News Network Imphal | February 19

Imphal, February 19 (pTI): With the state facing economic blockade for three months, the Manipur BJP today stressed on raising a Highway Protection Force for ensuring a blockade free Manipur" in days to come, in its vision document.

The 24-page vision document 2017, was today released by Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh and BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav in a programme attended by several intellectuals of Manipur.

The party also promised that it is firmly committed to protect Manipurs territorial integrity, culture and its people.

BJPs promise of Highway Protection force comes in the wake of indefinite economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) since November 1, 2016 against the state governments decision to carv off seven new districts in the land-locked state by bifurcating the existing ones.

Supply of essentials, including fuel, to Manipur has been severely hit since November last year after the council declared indefinite economic blockade on NH2 (via Dimapur) and NH 37 (via Jiribam) - the two lifelines to the state.

Apart from raising a Highway protection force for ensuring blockade-free Manipur, the BJP also promised to investigate fake encounter and corruption cases and punish the guilty.

Taking note of the problem of drinking water in the state, BJP promised to provide piped drinking water to every household.

"We will provide one job opportunity to every household of the state. We will give free education to woman till graduation. We will provide housing to all homeless citizens. We will construct all weather four lane roads in every district. We will provide health insurance to all BPL citizens," a BJP leader read out the vision document at the programme.

tee Against Anti Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) said today that the prevailing situation in the "tribal territories of present Manipur" may not be the "most congenial" for elections at this point of time.

The JAC-AATB in a statement said that "while welcoming the conduct of timely assembly elections, the cries of the tribal people in the hills of present Manipur are not for elections, but rather for constitutional protection".

The JAC-AATB statement said that "with the communal Manipur Government repeatedly ignoring" the cries of the tribal people for an acceptable and sustainable solution, coupled with the continuing economic blockade and the unsolved issue of the three anti-tribal bills, the disquiet in the hills is palpable.

The JAC-AATB then strongly reacted to a reported accusation of Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who allegedly said the nine "tribal martyrs" that included an 11-year old were “hired by rebel groups.” The JAC-AATB said that the Deputy Chief Minister's comment came while remaining "unmindful of the fact that it was his very own Govern-

conglomerate of proscribed Meitei militant groups, exposes the Ibobi-led Congress Government’s sheer disinterest to bring about any solution to the current tribal impasse".

According to the JACAATB statement, it has been 538 days since the "communal" Manipur Government "resorted to using live bullets on unarmed indigenous tribal youths" to quell the spontaneous tribal reactions following the passing of the three "infamous anti-tribal bills" by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31, 2015, namely the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015; the Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015; and the Manipur Shops & Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015.

According to the JACAATB statement, the Manipur Government "admitted to having murdered the nine tribal martyrs" by performing Hiamkhaam on November 2, 2015 – a tribal customary practice performed by the guilty party acknowledging their crime.

Subsequently, on the State Government’s invitation,

2015, and met with the State Government again on December 29, 2015. However, the Ibobi Singh-led Government is yet to address the JAC’s Charter of Demands till today, the JAC-AATB said. "In fact, it was during the meeting on December 29, 2015 at his chamber that Chief Minister Ibobi Singh confessed that the three anti-tribal bills were passed due to pressure from CorCom," the tribal JAC added.

It then said that instead of making any genuine attempts to bring about a sustainable and acceptable solution for the tribal people, the communal Manipur Government has resorted to spreading lies and playing divide-and-rule among the tribal people, an art it has so skilfully perfected over the years. "The State Government has even resorted to stealing the mortal remains of one of the nine "tribal martyrs" through one of its many ‘agencies’ on December 22, 2016, with the Chief Minister Ibobi Singh himself visiting Bijang in Southern Manipur on the very same day to personally verify the success of the mission," stated the JACAATB.

al, the Chief Minister of 15 years has repeatedly tried to deceive the public by proclaiming that “land belongs to the Government, and not to any tribe. "For a tribal, his ancestral land is very much the core of his identity, and his existence; and the Chief Minister’s words simply showcases his ignorance of the un-concocted Manipur History and tribal land rights, and also exposes his antitribal mind-set and stand," it added.

The JAC-AATB then said that it is time the tribal people in present Manipur realize that despite their sugarcoated ‘communal harmony’ speeches, the actions of the "communal Manipur Government and their cohorts indicate otherwise, thereby blatantly showing their lack of commitment towards bringing about any kind of solution". "Instead, the Government’s actions including the creation of seven new districts merely indicate that they are hell-bent on creating problems and divisions among the tribal people with the sole aim of securing the maximum seats in the upcoming State Assembly elections," it stated.

Pema Khandu for probe into Kalikho Pul diaries by agency ‘deemed fit’ by MHA guwahaTI, February 19 (Ie): One day after former Arunachal chief minister Kalikho Pul’s wife Dangwimsai appealed to the Chief Justice of India for a CBI inquiry into the allegations mentioned in her late husband’s diaries, the Pema Khandu government has asked the union home minister to conduct an investigation by any agency it deemed fit. A meeting of the Khandu cabinet that was held in Itanagar on Saturday evening, which discussed in detail the contents of Pul’s diary that has been in circulation in a section of the media, also dismissed the allegations against some senior government functionaries contained there as “totally baseless, false and without any evidence/basis.”

“The Cabinet further resolved, without any prejudice to the matter being sub-judice in the Court of the CJM, ICC, the said note ‘Mere Vichar’ –

guwahaTI, February 19 (INdIa Today): The BJP leader Ramakanta Dewri has denied his involvement in a video purportedly showing the MLA from the Morigaon Assembly seat in sexual act. The video has gone viral on social media leaving the ruling BJP red-faced. The video apparently shows Ramakanta Dewri in a compromising position with a woman in a hotel.

However, speaking to local TV channels, Ramakanta Dewri said that the video was a conspiracy to defame him. "It is purely a conspiracy hatched against me by my political adversaries to malign my image as I am a contender for a berth in the ministry, which will be expanded soon," Ramakanta Dewri said.

The Morigaon legislator has demanded an inquiry including a forensic test of the video. Dewri said, "Let there be a forensic test of the video. If it establishes that I am the man featuring in it, I will quit politics." The BJP has not yet reacted to the sex scandal.

Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu. (PTI Photo)

which is in circulation in the media, to be forwarded to Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for investigation by any agency as deemed fit,” a press release issued by the

CMO in Itanagar quoting the cabinet resolutions on Sunday said.

The Cabinet also noted that the names of senior leaders and politicians in general have been

referred to in the copy of ‘Mere Vichar’ downloaded from the news portal that had carried it last week. “The Cabinet, after detailed deliberations on the observations made by Late Kalikho Pul in his note ‘Mere Vichar’ against all the aforementioned Government functionaries resolved that they are totally baseless, false and without any evidence/basis,” it said.

Pul, who had lost his chief minister’s post in July last year following a Supreme Court verdict, was found hanging in a room in the chief minister’s official bungalow in Itanagar, which he was still occupying, on August 9. The post-mortem examination report said ‘the cause of death was due to asphyxia resulting from hanging by a ligature and suicidal in nature.’

The Magistrate had seized various documents including five copies of “Mere Vichar” and other articles from the

room in which Pul was found hanging, which were handed along with his report to the police on August 10, 2016, the press release said.

“The sealed cover of notes ‘Mere Vichar’ was opened by the police during investigation and resealed after perusal of its contents. In the notes there was no mention of Pul’s intention to end his life and there was also no accusation against anyone for being responsible for the same,” the press release said.

The final report of the case, which was submitted to the CJM’s Court in Itanagar on October 24, 2016 said that “as per investigations, Late Kalikho Pul committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan in the Pranayam Room of the CM’s official bungalow between 5 AM and 9 AM on August 9, 2016 and there was no foul play behind his death,” the press release quoting the cabinet meeting said.

berlIN, February 19 (IaNS): Amar Kaushiks "Aaba", the sole Indian film in competition at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival, won the Special Prize of Generation Kplus International Jury for Best Short Film, an official announcement read.

The festival concluded on Sunday.

The 22-minute film, shot entirely against Arunachal Pradesh background, revolves around a girl and her grandfather reaching the terminal stages of lung cancer.

Producer Guneet Monga posted on Facebook on Sunday: "And then, this one makes us specially proud!

Congratulations Amar Kaushik on winning the Special Prize for the Best Short Film for 'Aaba' in the Generation section at Berlin International Film Festival! Congrats also to Raj Kumar Gupta and Onir for producing this gem. Big big hug everyone."

Starring Sunku Dani, Randa Dani and Chuniya Dani, the film's story has been written by Amar's mother Shashi.

The film marks his directorial debut. He had previously worked as an associate director on the 2011 thriller "No One Killed Jessica".

Woman complains of assault, verbal abuse during train journey ThIruvaNaNThapuram, February 19 (pTI): A 30-year-old woman from Meghalaya has filed a complaint with the railway police alleging that she was assaulted and verbally abused by a co-passenger during her journey to this city.

Railway police at Thampanoor have registered a case under section 354, 354 A(1)(iv) of IPC against the passenger, who was in an inebriated state and is suspected to have alighted at Ernakulam.

The incident is said to have occurred in the wee hours of February 17 when Guwahati-Thiruvananthapuram express had not reached Kerala, police sources said.

The train had reached the state capital on February 17 night.

The woman, travelling in the second AC compartment, works as a domestic help here, and was returning after a visit home when the incident occurred.

Railway police said they were going through the chart list of passengers who had travelled in the seats near the complainant.

3 killed, 2 injured in mishap morIgaoN, February 19 (pTI): Three persons were killed and two others injured when a truck rammed into a van at Baghara on Jagiroad-Morigaon Road today.

Police said the fish-laden van coming from Morigaon collided head on with the truck at around 5 am, killing three persons on the spot.

Two more were injured in the mishap and shifted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Jiabur Rahman, Mahibur Rahman and Rafique Ali, police said.

EXCELLENT INSTITUTE KOHIMA PR HILL, Near PHQ Ph: 0370-2241518, 9863143390, 9436830040

Admission Started for:

NPSC/UPSC Prelims (2017)

 Crash Course: NPSC Mains (2017)  NEET/AIPMT, JEE, NERIST (I/II/III)  Computer Courses: CCA, DCA, DTP, PGDCA, Tally  SSC, Banking, Railways, NDA & CDS  Spoken English & Hindi, Soft skill  Coaching For CBSE/ NBSE Course (Class 5 to 12)  Stenography, Typewriting & Music Hostel Available for Both Boys and Girls

4

MonDAY 20•02•2017

Business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Jio competitors see washout in Q3, losses likely in Q4 too New Delhi, February19 (iaNS): The balance-sheet of major telecom operators in India -- Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Reliance Communications -- came under major pressure in the third quarter (OctoberDecember) of the current fiscal and the trend is likely to continue in the fourth quarter, say the experts.

“Margin pressure on telcos will continue as long the free data offer from Reliance Jio continues. As and when Reliance Jio decides to withdraw its offer and start charging for its data services, then it will be a different matter,” Arpita Pal Agrawal, partner and leader, Telecom Industry Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers India, told IANS. “Customers will then compare telco offerings on parameters such as price points, throughput speed, tariff bundles, service experience to decide about their preferred operator option,” she added.

As announced earlier, Reliance Jio plans to offer free data to its customers till March 2017.

try, pressure on margins and a serious impact on the financial health of the sector,” Gopal Vittal, Airtel’s MD and CEO, India & South Asia, had said in a statement earlier.

Idea Cellular too gave a similar reason for the sharp drop in earnings. “The Indian mobile industry witnessed an unprecedented disruption in the quarter of October to December 2016, primarily due to free voice and mobile data promotions by the new entrant in the sector,” the company statement said.

Reliance Communications attributed the loss to three factors. “The industry witnessed unprecedented competitive intensity. This was the first full quarter after company’s complete shutdown of its profitable CDMA operations. And there was an increase in amortisation and interest expense aggregating Rs 278 crore on account of capitalisation of 850 MHz spectrum liberalisation fee,” it said in a statement.

Reliance Communications is owned by industrialist Anil Ambani and Reliance Jio’s owner is

A reliance employee demonstrates Jio LYF phone at their headquarters on the outskirts of Mumbai. (REUTERS File Photo)

Bharti Airtel’s net profit for the third quarter of 2016-17 dropped by 55 per cent while Idea Cellular reported a loss of Rs 478.9 crore for the same quarter.

Reliance Communications too posted a net loss of Rs 531 crore in the quarter. Vodafone India, the other big telecom operator is not listed on any Indian bourse.

“The quarter has seen turbulence due to the continued predatory pricing by a new operator. The present termination costs at 14 paise which are well below cost has resulted in a tsunami of minutes terminating into our network. This has led to an unprecedented year-on-year revenue decline for the indus-

Havells India to buy Lloyd Electric’s consumer business for $231 million

his elder brother Mukesh Ambani.

Mahesh Uppal, director, Com First, a telecom consultancy firm, also said there is no doubt that the revenue drop in the third quarter was a direct consequence of Reliance Jio’s aggressive free data offers.

“Incumbent companies, like Airtel and Idea, are being forced to match the prices to remain competitive. The cut-throat pricing is likely to continue since Reliance Jio would want to use it to acquire a decent market share,” Uppal told IANS. “India is a very price sensitive market; any such offering tends to be disruptive. Incumbent operators need to implement strategies to retain their high-value customers,” Rishi Tejpal, Principal Research Analyst for Telecom Business Strategy at Gartner, told IANS. “Operators need to implement data-oriented pricing strategies. Jio’s free voice service with free national roaming is a compelling offering and incumbents need to match their offerings to remain competitive,” he added.

Online EPF withdrawal, pension Capgemini India chief says 65% fixation to be a reality by May of IT employees not retrainable

New Delhi, February 19 (PTi): Retirement fund body EPFO is expected to launch online facility for settlement of claims, including EPF withdrawal and pension fixation, by May this year to put an end to tedious paper work by its members. At present, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) receives close to 1 crore applications manually for settlement of EPF withdrawal claim, pension fixation or getting group insurance benefit by deceased persons.

“The process of connecting all field offices with a central server is going on. We may introduce the facility for online submission of all types of applications and claims like EPF withdrawal and pension settlement by May this year,” EPFO’s Central Provident Fund Commissioner V P Joy told PTI. Joy said that all EPFO offices would be connected to central server in couple of months following which the facility of online submission of all sort of applications can be introduced.

EPFO has an ambitious plan to settle the claims within few hours after filing of application. For instance, it has plans to settle the EPF withdrawal claim within three hours of

filing an online application. As per the scheme, EPFO is required to settle all claims within 20 days from filing of the application for settlement of pension or EPF withdrawal.

Under the pilot, the EPFO has already connected its around 50 field offices with the central server.

In a recent review meeting on digitisation in the EPFO, the field formations and Information Services wing has been asked to link all 123 offices with the central server so that subscribers can be provided services online.

EPFO has made it mandatory for all subscribers as well as pensioners to submit their Aadhaar number. This will help linking EPF account, pension account, bank account and Aadhaar number which would eventually facilitate providing a host of online facilities to subscribers like online withdrawal and fixation of pension.

The body has recently extended the deadline for submitting Aadhaar for its subscribers and pensioners till March 31, 2017. Seeding of Aadhaar number with the EPF, pension and bank accounts is required for settling claims online to reduce public interface for bringing in more transparency.

MuMbai, February 19 (PTi): With the domestic IT industry staring at a shift in nature of work due to increasing use of digital technologies, a leading firm has said a majority of the workforce cannot imbibe the required emerging skill-sets, and warned of high job losses at the middle and senior levels.

“I am not very pessimistic, but it is a challenging task and I tend to believe that 60-65 per cent of them are just not trainable,” Capgemini Indias chief executive Srinivas Kandula said here over the weekend.

The domestic arm of the French IT major employs nearly one lakh engineers in the country.

“A large number of them cannot be trained. Probably, India will witness the largest unemployment in the middle level to senior level,” he said at the annual Nasscom leadership summit here over the weekend.

He also flagged concerns surrounding the quality of IT

leisure

CROSSWORD # 3863

SUDOKU

Answer Number # 3857

crease in real wages from an inflation-adjusted perspective.

“For some unknown reasons, we call it a knowledgedriven industry. If you have that kind of talent, and then making them learn the existing technology itself is such a huge challenge,” he said.

The quality of the students who are coming in is so bad that many of them are not able to answer, when asked about the subjects taught to them when they were in the final semester of their engineering degrees, he said.

The critical remarks come months after a study found out that as much as 80 per cent of engineering graduates are unemployable.

Kandula had last week told PTI that his company would shift focus to hiring freshers from the laterals earlier due to the newer skill-sets which are required and the ease of training which the freshers offer.

He, however, had maintained that the company will continue to hire. std code: 03862

DiMaPUR ACROSS 1. Leer at 5. There’s 52 in a deck 10. Violent disturbance 14. Rind 15. S-shaped moldings 16. Sea eagle 17. Deficient 19. Central point 20. Religious sister 21. Soft leather 22. Midsection 23. Demesnes 25. Young salmon 27. Wager 28. Blanched 31. Mammary gland of bovids 34. Showers 35. Children’s game 36. Bobbin 37. Charred 38. Chancel 39. Woman 40. Adhere 41. Surged 42. Exclusions 44. Neither ___ 45. Panorama 46. A large galleon 50. Mixture of rain and snow 52. Gloats 54. Bleat 55. Alert 56. Skill 58. So be it 59. Bring upon oneself 60. Bright thought 61. Zero 62. Slack-jawed 63. Benefit DOWN 1. Express a thought 2. Taxonomic group 3. Inclined 4. A late time of life 5. Flirt 6. Chills and fever

Simple Rules - Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

Game Number # 3858

workforce, saying much of the 3.9 million IT employees come from low-grade engineering colleges which do not follow rigorous grading patterns for students in their zeal to maintain good records.

The remarks come days after the industry lobby Nasscom said there is a need to re-train up to 1.5 million, or nearly half of its sectoral workforce. This is primarily on the back of a change in nature of work in newer, digital technologies.

Kandula said the industry, driven by yield-seeking investors, has not invested enough to upgrade the skill-sets of its employees.

He also said more number of students are now being hired from lower grade engineering colleges, which has ensured that the rise in wages has been negative by a huge margin.

Kandula said as against offers of Rs 2.25 lakh per annum that used to go out for freshers two decades ago, they have risen only to Rs 3.5 lakh now, which suggests a massive de-

Fabindia removing ‘Khadi’ brand name from its products New Delhi, February 19 (PTi): Fabindia has started removing the brand name ‘Khadi’ it uses to promote its cotton products after a legal notice by Khadi India that the use of the word amounted to “unfair trade practice” and misusing its trade name.

Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) had sent a legal notice to Fabindia Overseas Pvt Ltd, a chain of ethnic wear retail outlet, asking it to immediately stop using the word Khadi from all its cotton products and remove display banners from its showrooms.

Sources said Fabindia CEO Viney Singh has responded to KVIC’s notice, saying it was complying with all the directions of the KVIC. Fabindia has stated that “as per the direction issued” by KVIC, it has complied with them, they said.

Fabindia, in its reply, has also sought a meeting with KVIC officials to explain its position in order to resolve the matter to the satisfaction of Khadi India.

KVIC Chairman V K Saxena, who justified serving the legal notice, referred to the earlier communications with Fabindia by which the private firm’s application for Khadi mark was treated as closed.

He cited a September 29, 2016 letter which stated that “upon the request of Fabindia, several meetings were held with KVIC and the last meeting was held on August 2, 2016, with Chairman of KVIC at New Delhi. During the meeting, it was assured that Fabindia will communicate their consent shortly.

“Since two months have passed and KVIC has not yet received any response from your end, it is presumed that you are not interested to obtain ‘Khadi’ mark certificate for sales and promotion of Khadi products.

“Hence in the present circumstances, your application for Khadi mark certificate may please be treated as closed. Henceforth, no correspondence on this subject will be entertained,” the communication said.

Saxena also drew attention to a February 16 letter of KVIC in which it was decided to issue Khadi mark certificate in favour of Fabindia to carry out trading/selling of genuine Khadi and Khadi products attaching Khadi mark tags/labels, subject to several conditions which were also mentioned.

TaHaMZaM

std code: 03871

(formerly senapati)

Police station Fire Brigade

222246 222491

7. Absorb written material 8. Hating 9. South southeast 10. Summon to return 11. Annoyed 12. Burden 13. Words 18. Banana oil, e.g.

22. Romances 24. Cain’s brother 26. Pepper____ 28. Deservedly receives 29. Docile 30. Quaint outburst 31. Desire 32. Trade 33. Handed over 34. Causing to fall 37. Smudge 38. Ethiopian monetary unit 40. A box or chest 41. Body 43. Reddish brown 44. Creation 46. Prankster 47. Put up with 48. Provide food for 49. Canoe 50. An aquatic bird 51. Tibetan monk 53. Killer whale 56. By means of 57. Take in slowly

Civil Hospital emer

232224

MH Hospital

227930 231081

Fire Brigade

2222952

Faith Hospital

228846

naga Hospital

2222916

shamrock Hospital

228254

oking Hospital

2243339

Zion Hospital

231864 224117 227337

Bethel nursing Home

2224202

northeast shuttles

08974997923

railway

131/228404

Answer to Crossword 3862

Airport Indian Airlines

229366 242441 225212

229529 229474

KOHiMa

W

O

R

nIGHt norMAL otHer PACt PInCH PLACe rAsH reALLY sCene seVerAnCe sHIFt store stress tHInG treAt trIM worrY worst woUnd

D

std code: 0370

Police Control room

228400

KoHIMA Ps/oCs Contact numbers

Police Traffic Control

232106

north Ps

east Police station

227607

west Police station

232181

south Ps

CIHsr (referral Hospital)

242555 242533

Zubza Ps

dimapur Hospital

224041 248011

tseminyu Ps

8575045507

Officer-in-Charge 8575045517 8575045505

Kezocha Ps

248302, 09856006026

eden Medical Centre

248288

C

Officer-in-Charge 8575045516

Officer-in-Charge 8575045515

nagaland Multispecialty Health & research Centre

R

Chiephobozou Ps 8575045506

Khuzama Ps

232032, 231031

A

8575045508

Officer-in-Charge 8575045518

nikos Hospital and research Centre

E

8575045502

Officer-in-Charge 8575045520

Apollo Hospital Info Centre 230695/ 9402435652

S

8575045501

Officer-in-Charge 8575045510

Chumukedima Fire Brigade 282777

ACtIon AnGrY BeCoMe CHIeF CLerK CUstoMer enoUGH FILe FoUnd Grown HAVen HUMAn HUnter IMPortAnt LIQUIdAtIon MAIn MeMBer MornInG neVer

MuMbai, February 19 (reuTerS): Havells India Ltd, a leading maker of lights and fans, has agreed to buy a unit of Lloyd Electric and Engineering Ltd that sells air conditioners and televisions in a 15.5 billion-rupee deal ($231.14 million), the companies said.

The deal, expected to close in eight weeks subject to final due diligence, will help Havells expand its reach into the $15 billion consumer durables market in India which, according to the company, is growing in the double digits.

While consumer spending in the country has suffered a setback after India in November scrapped high-value banknotes that accounted for more than 80 percent of cash in circulation, analysts expect the growth to revive slowly in the fiscal year starting in April as the currency crunch eases.

Lloyd will use the proceeds from the sale to reduce its debt, the company said in a statement on Sunday. It will also continue its industrial air conditioner business and supply room air-conditioners to Havells as a third-party vendor, it added.

Havells plans to fund the acquisition through a mix of debt and internal accruals, it said in a statement.

Standard Chartered advised Havells on the deal, while Ernst & Young advised Lloyd.

8575045549

Officer-in-Charge 8575045538

H

women Cell

8575045509

Officer-in-Charge 8575045519 Control room

8575045500 (Emergency No. – 100)

FiRE STaTiONS

KoHIMA soUtH: 0370-2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC) KoHIMA nortH: 7085924114 (O) dIMAPUr: 03862-232201/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC) CHUMUKedIMA: 7085982102 (O) 8732810051 (OC) woKHA: 03860-242215/101 (O) 8974322879 (OC) MoKoKCHUnG: 0369-2226225/ 101 (O) 8415830232 (OC) PHeK: 8414853765 (O) 8413822476(OC) ZUnHeBoto: 03867-280304/ 101 (O) 9436422730 (OC) tUensAnG: 8414853766 (O) 9856163601 (OC) Mon: 03869-251222/ 101 (O) 9862130954 (OC) Kiphire: 8414853767 (O) 9436261577 (OC) Peren: 7085189932 (O) 9856311205 (OC) LonGLenG: 7085924113 (O) 9862414264 (OC) we4 woMen HeLPLIne 08822911011 WOMEN HeLPLIne 181 CHiLD weLFAre CoMMIttee Toll free No. 1098 childline

MOKOKCHUNG

std code: 0369

Police station 1 Police station 2 Police station Kobulong Police station tuli Police station Changtongya Police station Mangkolemba Civil Hospital

9485232688 9485232689 9485232690 9485232693 9485232694 9485232695 2226216

woodland nursing Home

2226263

Hotel Metsüpen (tourist Lodge) 2226373/ 2229343

CURRENCY NOTES BUY (rs) seLL (rs)

Us dollars sterling Pound Hong Kong dollar Australian dollar singapore dollar Canadian dollar Japanese Yen euro thai Baht Korean won UAe dirham (Aed) Chinese Yuan

65.48 81.92 8.17 50.16 45.99 50.04 57.27 69.33 1.81 0.0552 17.25 9.22

68.43 85.88 9.09 52.60 48.24 52.48 60.49 72.69 2.01 0.0615 19.21 10.27

monday 20•02•2017

NAGALAND

is the centre using the women quota row to influence Nagaland's political future?

The controversy has raised some very difficult legal and political issues that need to be understood in all their complexity Nandita Haksar Scroll.in

I do not know whether the crisis in Nagaland is a reflection of petty political squabbles between power-hungry politicians or has its roots in more sinister designs to undermine the Naga political process. Elections to the 32 municipal and town councils have been stalled after the state government’s attempts to implement 33% reservation for women in the civil bodies met with widespread resistance by the Naga women led by the Naga Women’s Association, leading to violence, protests and deaths, which have paralysed administration in the state. The opposing tribal councils in Nagaland contend that enforcing women’s reservation is an infringement upon their customary laws and traditions.

This controversy has raised some very difficult legal and political issues that need to be understood in all their complexity.

Multiple perspectives To begin with, yes, Naga society is patriarchal. However, Nagas themselves often do not recognise this fact and there are several reasons for this.

In their eyes, the tribal society is more equal than the Hindu caste-based societies. While it is true that Naga society, except for a small section, is not based on caste, every aspect of

it is dominated by man. The patriarchy in traditional Naga society is re-enforced by the patriarchy of the church. There is no aspect of the public or private domain that is not based on principles of patriarchy: domination of men over women, the old over the young.

However, in this, Nagas are no way unique. Almost all societies on earth today are based on patriarchy – only that this patriarchy manifests itself in cultural, social, political ways in each society differently. For instance, patriarchy is also entrenched in Hindu society and India as a whole has a reputation of being one of the most dangerous places for women.

Second, the rest of the country’s criticism of Naga society based on the ongoing turmoil smacks of majoritarianism.

When members of the dominant group attack minorities for being “patriarchical” and “misogynist”, it results in the double oppression of women of these communities and it is seen as an attack on the minority community as a whole.

Third, the criticism of customary laws of indigenous people is also lopsided, as it implies that India’s enacted legislation are not patriarchal. The Indian Constitution as well as the Indian legal process is patriarchal, as is customary law.

Fourth, Nagas’ defence of customary laws and practices is also based on the false premise

that these laws have been upheld since time immemorial, have been handed over to them, and thus cannot change, evolve and become more relevant to society. Why can’t Naga leaders decide to give women 50% seats in the municipal elections to show how truly democratic their society can be? Many of us who have defended the continued existence of customary law or tribal jurisprudence have simultaneously advocated for a mechanism for these practices to evolve. Without such a mechanism, customary laws and practices will be fossilised and irrelevant to the society.

Fifth, under international human rights law, indigenous peoples’ customs and practices must be respected, but they must also be in consonance with international human rights standards. International human rights law does not recognise patriarchy as such as a human rights violation, but it does recognise the right to gender justice and gender equality.

However, often, women’s rights have been used as a weapon to defeat other rights – especially indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination. This has been seen in many countries including Canada, Australia and now in India.

In the process of advocating the right of Naga women to reservation in municipal elections, the Indian state will weaken the right of Naga people to self-de-

termination which is enshrined in Article 371(A) of the Constitution. The Article states that the Indian parliament cannot make any laws without the permission of the Nagaland legislature with regard to: • Religious and social practices of the Nagas • Naga customary law and procedure • Administration of civil and criminal justice involving decision according to Naga customary law • Ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

the land, minerals and forest resources of the people.

Another possible solution is that the State could accept that the 33% reservation is a violation of Article 371(A). In this scenario, Naga women will continue to suffer under inequality and denied gender justice and the patriarchal basis of Naga society will be strengthened.

Finally, a fourth possibility is that women, especially those in position of power, will organise to demand justice and claim their right to take part in political processes. If this happens, the State and multinational corposolutions and rations will likely use that opportunity to once again attack the their probleMs There are a few possible special provisions for the Nagas resolutions to the ongoing row in the Indian Constitution. in Nagaland, two of which are: the dilution of Article 371(A) or broader raMifications a recognition of Naga women’s Some people have argued right to equality in the public that since the municipal bodies are outside the ambit of the trasphere.

The latter will give some ditional Naga society they need women access to political not be governed by the peoples’ power as well as the right to customary laws. That is a daneconomic assets and social gerous argument because by prestige, but will do little to un- this logic, so are transnational dermine the institutionalised corporations who are eyeing patriarchy in Naga society. the rich natural resources of Moreover, the dilution of Nagaland and the rest of the Article 371(A) could have sev- Northeast.

None of these arguments eral adverse effects. If the special provisions are no longer in are meant to justify patriarchy place, Naga land and resourc- in Naga or in any other socies will no longer be protected ety. I believe the resolution of and will be available for sale in this controversy requires much global markets. Both Naga men deeper thought and political and women stand to lose if large imagination.

First of all, Nagas – both corporations move in to grab

men and women – need to understand what patriarchy is and how it is different from gender inequality. They also need to have open discussions on the feminist understanding of patriarchy. Feminism is an ideology that seeks to understand and change the patriarchal basis of society. Feminists believe this change will benefit men, women as well as children. There are many women who have internalised these patriarchal attitudes and there are increasing number of men who are committed to feminist ideology.

I believe the Naga nationalists leading the movement for self-determination too need to urgently understand this. Do they want the future Naga society to be based on inequality of men and women?

Further, there is a need to have a committed and creative body of Naga men and women who will dedicate themselves to evolving Naga jurisprudence so that it is in consonance with international human rights standards. In other words, they must expand the scope of Article 371(A) so it becomes meaningful for the Naga people today. This is a very challenging task, but I believe if it is done, Nagas will also have a solid basis for their demand for self-determination.

After all, Naga tribal groups as a cohesive unit emerged only during the colonial rule, they are not ancient institutions. Nagas

Fifth priest from Yimchungrü tribe ordained AR apprehend 5 allegedly involved in collection of tax

have evolved and established new political institutions such as the Naga Hoho or the Naga Students’ Federation. Why not establish a body that will ensure that Naga women have their rightful place in society?

The Naga national movement must understand that the right to self-determination has to include the idea of gender justice, otherwise the dominant law and society will use women’s rights to undermine the movement for self-determination.

If they are able to evolve their customary laws and change them so that women get equal access to political power, Naga nationalists would have also evolved the legal foundation for the peace process; they would have laid the basis for the resolution of the conflict by evolving a truly democratic mechanism for law making.

If the Naga people do not do this and leave the matter for Centre and Indian courts to settle, they will lose even the limited right to self-determination.

Those Naga women who think that the patriarchal Indian laws and courts can be their saviours need to read the history of how women’s rights have been used throughout history to undermine the right to self-determination of indigenous peoples.

Nandita Haksar is a human rights lawyer, teacher, activist and writer

ensf postpones consultative meet TueNsaNg, February 19 (mexN): The Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF) has informed that the third consultative meet of the Eastern frontal organisations with the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU), Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), Eastern Nagaland Gazetted Officers’ Association (ENGOA), Eastern Nagaland Women’s Organisation (ENWO), ENPO tribal organisations and ENSF federating units scheduled for February 21, 2017 has been postponed till further notice. This was informed in a press release issued by Z. Throngshe Yimchunger, Vice President, ENSF.

Kohima, February 19 (mexN): NSCN (K) faction to innocent civilians 3 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Head- from whom money was subsequently quarters Inspector General Assam Rifles collected by the same individual.”

After apprehension of the persons, (North) apprehended five civilians, including NSCN (K) tax collectors, “over a series of raids were also carried out at ground workers” and a printing press places in Kohima where the extortion operator involved in printing of extortion notes were served and duly signed extorslips, in Kohima on February 17, according tion slips of NSCN (K) were recovered, the Assam Rifles alleged. to a press release from Assam Rifles.

The “racket” was working under a seWith this, the NSCN (K)'s "design to attain a foothold in Kohima received a heavy nior NSCN (K) cadre located in Dimapur, the release added. blow," the Assam Rifles claimed. npa informs members The manager of the printing press, 3 Assam Rifles was tracking the group over a protracted period of time and the release said, confirmed that extortion Dimapur, February 19 (mexN): All members launched a special operation based on slips and demand slips of all Naga politi- of the Nagaland Press Association (NPA) have been specific intelligence on February 17, it cal groups were printed in the press. “The once again informed that the NPA general meeting confiscated computers also revealed the scheduled for February 20, 11:00 am at Hotel Saramastated.

The modus operandi followed by the same,” it added. ti, Dimapur has been postponed owing to the present The apprehended persons along with disturbing situation in the state. The rescheduled date, “racketeers”, the release said, included printing of extortion slips at a printing all recoveries were handed over to OC, Po- time and venue will be announced later, stated a press Rev. Fr. Obed Yimchungrü with Bishop of Kohima, Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil and press “which were distributed by tax col- lice Station (South), Kohima on February release from NPA President. others at his ordination on February 18. lectors and over ground workers of the 18, 2017.

Kohima, February (cf. Jn. 20: 19-23). In virtue priest and joined the semi19 (mexN): Rev. Fr. Obed of the Holy Order, a priest nary at Jalukie in the year Yimchungrü, the fifth Yim- dedicates his whole self to 2000, informed the press chungrü priest from St. the community and loves release. He did the SpiriPaul Parish, Pungro in Kip- it with his whole heart, re- tual orientation course at hire district was ordained flecting Christ’s love for the Chabua, Assam, Philosoon Saturday, February 18 Church,” he was quoted. phy and B.A at Salesian

by Most Rev. Dr. James The love, he said, is mani- College, Dimapur, Regency Thoppil, Bishop of Kohi- fested in service as St. Peter at Meluri and Seyochung, ma. His motto is “To Make exhorts, “tend the flock of Masters of Philosophy and socially and spiritually to some her son in discipline and digny Naga fellow who disucation empowers both genDisciples of Christ” (cf. Mt. God in your charge, not by Theology at Jnana Deepa length. Nevertheless, their nity but the grown son because suades 33% reservation to ders equally but only men folk 28:19), informed a press re- constraint but willingly, not Vidyapath, Pune, and Diaare seen as fit to hold political roles and jobs after education is of the special Naga male chauthe women in the politilease from Fr. Thomas To- for shameful gain but ea- conate at Lakhuti. vinistic attitude inherited from cal domain shall be sent power. Why don’t men omit Porestricted as family obligations Earlier, Fr. Carolus Nei- back to the days of headhunting. retkiu, Bishop’s Secretary, gerly, not as domineering is enforced to come first. the society has gone astray and litical Science for girl students? over those in your charge, salhou, the Vicar General, Take pride in the past, don’t live Kohima. is blinded by greed provided by Why not provide 50% seats • The feeling and experience of Over 40 priests concel- but being example to the presented the candidate in the past. The customs and trafor women in political spaces subordination destroy self-rethe Indian State. Today the parebrated with the Bishop in flock” (1 Peter 5:1-4). “A for ordination while Rev. Fr. ditions hindering developmental ticipation of women in the polito support equality based on spect, self-esteem and self-conthe solemn ceremony held priest needs to be imbued Sajimon, the Parish Priest, activities in the modern day socifidence and sets limits on aspiratics would equal to bringing the population figures? Why can’t with Christ through the called out the candidate ety desirably demand revokement. in Pungro. same mother to bring back the we see women in the highest tion. Traditional and customary Deacon Obed dressed sacraments he celebrates, and accorded the words • Nagaland has always been a leadership positions even in practices have accustomed the lost son in the right direction. in traditional attire was led without which his ministry of welcome to the Bishop patriarchal society where men, Students’ bodies except for beNaga women to the obviously It is inappropriate for one to to the ordination hall by becomes shallow. Root- of Kohima, John Tselise, submissive position as noble say gender equality is ensured in self-assigned by customs and ing part of the decorations and the parents and relatives. edness in sacramental life ADC, Meluri, government Praise and Worship or other subordinates; today they deny Nagaland because discriminatraditions, dominantly exercise Before the ordination cer- of the church brings forth officials, village leaders, odd jobs? empowerment believing that tions exist in subtlety and often decision making power and emony, after the homily passionate love for Christ dignitaries, priests and sisdrafted policies governing so- • There is no reservation policy holding power would jeopar- are shielded by traditions and cusof the Bishop, the parents and the Church.” The bish- ters from different parishciety and life. By default, Naga in the traditions and customs dize their loyalty and duty. Over toms. Differences and discriminaprayed over him and re- op also stressed that voca- es, leaders of CAN, NCYM, among the Nagas but the roles time women have excelled in tion that manifests daily regardless men believe that political instimoved the traditional at- tion of priesthood is not a NCWA, catechists, the incertain fields and their compe- of the class we might belong aptutions are meant for men folk of a Naga Woman in the society tire symbolizing him being ticket sold and bought but vited guests, and other paronly. Thereby, denying women has always been reserved. In tence has achieved great regard pears in forms of disregard, insult, ticipants from far and near. set apart for God’s work, the the fruit of Lord’s call. space in traditional as well as the older days she was reserved to the extent of making us real- control, exploitation, oppression, Rev. Fr. John Lichoi, a Rev. Dr. James further release said. to, “wake up early in the mornize the importance of women’s violence- within the family, at the modern political spaces. CusBishop in his hom- urged Deacon Obed to priest from the same parinvolvement and assistance in place of work and in the society. toms change and traditions ing, fetch water and cook for ily shared few thoughts of share with all people the ish and David Deshelen the family, assist the husband/ political domain.

If we are to ensure equality in our evolve; in today’s Naga society Pope Francis given at vari- word of God, sanctify them anchored the program. where we define human rights father in the field during day • There is an echo of FEAR society, both genders must have a ous priestly ordinations. through the celebration of Congratulation song and amongst Naga men that they role in every field of developmendifferently from the period of time, cook and feed the family The Pope said that the Holy the sacraments, following choreography were pre‘times immemorial’, women in the evening, entertain guests themselves might end up in a tal and governmental activities Order along with marriage the example of Christ who sented during the short sometimes with the home brew position to seek reservation from without prevention. The level of should be granted their right correspond to the two voca- came not be served but to felicitation programme. to be on-par even in politics. It or engage in traditional weavwomen folk if the latter is en- bad governance and corruption tions through which Chris- serve and seek out the lost There were short speeches abled to gain political power. Are under the male dominance has is hilarious when a Naga man ing.” In the present days she is from the Bishop of Kohima; tians can make their life and the least. reserved to, “wake up and cook they being cowards to fear the had its effect on the Naga welfare. challenges the women to come Rev. Fr. Obed Yimchun- James Tsathrongli, Vice a gift of love. “Holy Order, for the family, go to school/ future? Such competent women It is high time we give women the forward as equal and fight for marked in three degrees grü is the second of the five President of CAN; and Shapower, when political parties work/stay home, cook in the personalities would indeed cre- chance to hold political power and of episcopate, presbyterate sons of Shahoto Abraham hoto, father of the newly evening and watch TV; excepate a future of justice and pros- fight corruption where the Naga and general Naga mentality and diaconate, is the sacra- and Lt. Youngtsachi Anne. ordained priest. The newly tional number participate in perity rather than cowardice and men have failed and also ensure considers only male as rightful ment which enables the ex- Born on June 27, 1985 in ordained priest expressed good governance. being to hold the power. social and spiritual gatherings, corruption that we see. ercise of ministry from the Pungro, he did his school- the words of gratitude after • Naga men claim adherence in entertain husband/family • The Naga women have proved, #Believeinwomenpower Lord Jesus to the Apostles, ing at Little Flower School, which many friends and over the years, to be passiongender equality and both genfriends with tea.” Not much of as reflected in the gospel Pungro. At the age of 15, well wishers congratulated ders are encouraged for equal a difference right? At least they ate and dedicated in their duChumben B Yanthan passage chosen for the day he had a desire to become him with gifts. ties. The Naga mother raised TISS, Guwahati campus. educational opportunities. Edare free to educate themselves,

Public SPace

in support of 33% women reservation

A

The Morung Express “Public Space” is to provide space for diverse opinions to be expressed and heard. The opinions in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper nor the editor.

6

MONDAY 20•02•2017

IN FOCUS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express VOLUME XII ISSUE 48

By Moa Jamir

The games people play

I

n the classic book, “Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships” published in 1964, Dr. Eric Berne dissects the “secret ploys and unconscious maneuvers that rule our intimate lives.” He, thus, developed the “transactional analysis,” which a 1965 Life Magazine review described as “a brilliant, amusing, and clear catalogue of the psychological theatricals that human beings play over and over again. When someone creates a commonplace social disturbance in order to gain some secret relief or satisfaction, Dr. Berne calls it a game.”

He defined a game as “an ongoing series of complementary ulterior transactions progressing to a well-defined, predictable outcome.” It involves a hidden motivation and results in a 'payoff' explaining why “people do not readily rid themselves of the games they play.”

Perhaps, its popularity influenced the Grammy Award winning protest song, “Games People Play" by Joe South in 1968, whose lyrics “speak against various forms of irresponsibility, hatred, hypocrisy, inhumanity, and intolerance in both interpersonal and social interactions between people.”

“Oh the games people play now Every night and every day now Never meaning what they say now Never saying what they mean” Likewise, Karl Marx famously wrote in “The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte” that History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce, explaining that, “The class struggle in France created circumstances and relationships that made it possible for a grotesque and mediocre personality to play a hero's part.” The unique circumstances whereby human beings refuse to learn from past errors and repeat the same over and over again.

“Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past,” he wrote, adding that “The tradition of all dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living.” As a result, when they seem to be occupied with “revolutionizing themselves and things…precisely in such epochs of revolutionary crisis, they anxiously conjure up the spirits of the past to their service, borrowing from them names, battle slogans, and costumes in order to present this new scene in world history in time-honored disguise and borrowed language.”

As one observes the unfolding political drama in Nagaland, one is shockingly aware of how aforesaid narratives continue to influences our societal interaction and polity.

Schadenfreude, as the German would say, denoting pleasure “derived by someone from another person’s (often considered deserved) misfortune.”

Everyone seems to be playing two persons ‘zero-sum game’ in which what one gains is equivalent to the loss of the other – a situation contrary to a ‘win-win’ that is based on agreement (or dialogue) but a stand-off thwarting the progress of society. Consequently, it is creating a paradoxical state of affairs, where a society which proudly asserts itself as ‘egalitarian and communitarian,’ is gradually gladly embracing the maxim of the “Survival of the fittest." As the society continues to grapple with these contradictions, “tradition of all dead generations” is weighing like a “nightmare on the brains of the living.” History, not only repeats itself, but pulls us further downhill.

For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com

LEFT WING |

Jayant K. Singh IANS

Taiwan Lantern Festival

C

elebrated on the first full-moon night of the Lunar Year, the Lantern Festival is regarded as one of Taiwan's biggest festivals. Much like the biggest Hindu festival of lights -- Diwali -- people from all religions in Taiwan illuminate their homes using different types of lanterns and colourful bulbs to observe the biggest show of lights and fireworks on the island.

The origin of the Lantern Festival in this part of the world goes back thousands of years. It is believed to have been started by an emperor of the mighty Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.). The emperor, an ardent follower of Lord Buddha, had asked people to exhibit lights on the 15th night of the first month of every Lunar year to pay their respects to the Lord.

This wonderful festival was almost forgotten in the late 1980s. Later, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau resumed it in a new way and from there on, it started gaining huge popularity. The first modern Lantern Festival was held in Taipei's Chiang Kaishek Memorial Hall in 1990. For over a decade, it continued it's charm at Taipei and in 2001, was shifted to the southern port city of Kaohsiung.

"The main lantern festival is held in different counties and this year, Yunlin county, which is located in the central part of Taiwan", said Noel Saxena, Country Head, Taiwan Tourism, Representative Office in India.

The Lantern Festival was inaugurated on February 11 and will continue till February 19. Since this year's theme is "Friendly Earth, Diverse Cultures", the focus is on an ecofriendly approach and the varied traditions, cultures, and beliefs of Taiwan.

"This year's festival showcased the cultures of new immigrants as well as traditional Taiwanese glove puppetry which originated in this southern Taiwan county," Esther Chen of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau told IANS. President Tsai Ing-wen, Premier Lin Chuan and Yunlin Magistrate Lee Chin-yung lit the central theme lantern, a 23-meter high phoenix, symbolising the ushering in of a new era. Tsai said she was happy to see that despite the recent cold spell, people were eager to attend the festival. She was glad that people from all across the world were there to witness the charm of this festive gala.

The main festival took place at the 50-hectare lantern area in Huwei township.

"With more than 3,000 lanterns in a combined area of 50 hectares, it is the largest lantern festival in Yunlin's history and the largest in Taiwan for many years. The Tourism Bureau began in 1990 in Taipei and has rotated through counties since 2001. And it's gaining popularity worldwide very fast'', said Saxena.

While Yunlin featured light-themes and decorated areas, Yanshui grabbed everyone's attention with its cacophony of fireworks, which lasted almost five hours. The Lantern Festival in Yanshui is called the "Beehive Fireworks Festival.

It is part of the main Lantern Festival, but is completely out of the world thing for those who witness it for first time. It is more of tradition rather than celebration. Traditionally, the idea of being hit by fireworks is referred to as an act that brings one good luck for the new year. For those who follow religious rituals, it is an activity that helps them endure the pain to exhibit their spiritual determination.

"If you wish to be part of it, you have to cover yourself with a fire-proof jacket and helmet to face rockets and crackers on your body coming towards you from all directions. It's a completely different experience for the first timer's but it is a ritual for the locals. This adds to the charm of the Lantern Festival,'' Chen explained.

C O M M E N T A R Y

Yoo Jin Na

Colombia - Why People Vote against Themselves The outcome of the referendum on the peace agreement in Colombia was as surprising as Brexit. Why do people around the world vote against choices that obviously make sense?

O

n February 6th, the National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia’s second largest rebel group, released Odín Sánchez, a former congressman they had been holding hostage for the previous nine months. The following day, just outside Quito, Ecuador, the Colombian government began official talks with the ELN. Such momentous steps towards progress have been possible due to the successful peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). However, back in October when I was about to travel there, a resolution of this ongoing conflict seemed unlikely. A nationwide referendum had just voted against the peace deal.

The “No” had taken the day by the stupendously narrow margin of 0.2%. This result was as surprising and unpopular as Brexit and the current US president.

So, why do people around the world vote against peace, unity, and progress, against choices that obviously make sense? This question has been plaguing me for many months. And though there isn’t one straightforward answer, learning about the political situation in Colombia gave me a frame of reference to grasp what is going on elsewhere. But first, to understand Colombian politics, we must examine why and how these rebel groups were formed.

Looking at Colombian history as a whole, one can consider the FARC and the ELN as byproducts of colonialism and the political divide it subsequently produced. Haves have a lot to lose; have-nots have nothing to lose.

The large economic gap created a twoparty system, with each party at each end and not much middle ground. And through Colombia’s history, the fierce competition between the Liberals and the Conservatives often became bloody, resulting in a succession of civil wars. But it was a single event, the assassination of charismatic Liberal Party leader and presidential candidate Jorge Eliécer Gaitán in 1948, that set into motion FARC’s conception.

Ten years of rioting aptly called La Violencia followed, after which the Conservatives and the Liberals agreed to alternate in power regardless of the popular vote. And while the popular vote did not count for anything, the political elites united and began working against the people. In the name of Accelerated Economic Development (AED), the government kicked out small-scale farmers from their land and gave it to those who were willing to mass produce for the purposes of exportation. It was in the backlash of these tragedies that the disenfranchised poor gathered to form the FARC and the ELN. Just based on its origin, these rebel groups do not seem like the classic villains. They were created specifically to protect the people. But the problem lies in the mismatch of ideology and

March for peace in Bogotá, Colombia.

practice. Their activities - terrorism, kidnapping, distributing drugs, recruiting children as soldiers - have run havoc on many lives. Thus, their dissolution has been something the Colombian government has been trying to achieve since the 1960s. So, I wondered: why would people vote against something that they have been wishing for so long? What I didn’t realize then was that there was another, more pressing question: where would the FARC go after it disbands?

It is a human instinct to protect ourselves from “the others” and whatever danger “the others” may pose, whether real or imagined. But true peril lies in fears based on irrational logic: “Since you are different from me, you must want to harm me”; “Since you come from elsewhere, you must want to take what rightfully belongs to me”.

When I looked at Brexit in a similar frame of mind, I began to understand the motives that led to this confounding decision. Despite the negative effects it would have on the economy and foreign relations, many Brits wanted to leave the European Union in order to keep to themselves - more specifically, to halt immigration and reclaim their country from those they perceive as “the others.” In the same vein, earlier this month, British ministers announced the end of the Dubs amendment, a legislation put in place

by Lord Dubs to aid migrant children across Europe. This means that, as of March, Britain’s doors will be closed to child refugees. All the while, in the US, an executive order has left many refugee families stranded in airports and without any other choice but to return to the very war zones they managed to escape from. Such harsh measure is hardly surprising coming from a president whose campaign platform has

consisted of blaming immigrants and building a wall.

Back in October, I too had a wall of my own to deal with. I was out in California, visiting a friend. My plan had been to head to Colombia from San Francisco. Then, just two days before my flight, the referendum fell through.

Concerned friends inquired whether I still meant to go. The fear of the unknown overtook me. But with Hurricane Matthew quickly approaching the east coast, it proved difficult to get back home. I reluctantly got on the plane to Cartagena as planned. But the next day, when I stepped onto the old city’s esplanade, I felt I had made the right decision. Across the street from me was the Bay of the Animals, where twilight dyed the sky and the sea pinkpurple. A cool breeze rolled through the walkway. I was enjoying the view, one that I had traveled so far to find.

My rapture, however, did not last long.

Near the clock tower gate, through which Simon Bolivar the Liberator once triumphantly entered the city, people were gathering. In a short time, the plaza was filled with white - white shirts, white flags, white signs written in bold letters. One thing I had promised my friends before I left was that I would stay away from protests. And here I was, just a street away from it.

Soon, the police arrived as well as a few news reporters and their crews.

The practical voice in my head told me to turn around and go home. But then, when have I listened to that voice? If I had, I wouldn’t have come to Colombia by myself in the first place. Partly, it was curiosity. But it was also more than curiosity. I felt forces greater than myself at work. Here it was: a chance to face my fears head-on. I crossed the street.

The protestors were not at all what I had imagined. Instead of dangerous

rioters, I was surrounded by university students. And their message was not one of anger but a call for reconciliation: “IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE IN EVERYONE’S MIND: HATRED FOR LOVE”; “FOR THE VICTIMS, FOR YOU, FOR ME, FOR OUR FUTURE: AGREE TO PEACE”, the signs read. A young man who looked no older than twenty came to the center and began calling out both the FARC leaders and the government to work together.

Though I could not understand more than every third or fourth word, I understood the conviction, the urgency in his voice.

Following the speech, everyone began sitting down, from the center to periphery. And holding up their candles, they prayed. I was dumbstruck and humbled by the way that they demonstrated their hope. Afterwards, they stood up once more to chant together. By then, without my realizing, I had made my way to the center. And, on verge of tears, I found myself chanting with them: Long live Colombia!

Long live peace!

Such was my first day in Colombia.

I remember thinking: “If this is what the future of Colombia looks like, she has nothing to fear”. And I was right.

Though there had been many challenges and frustrations along the way, hope eventually won out and peace achieved. And now, as I encounter similar scenes of protests and public outcry closer to home, the glimmer from the northern edge of South America feels ever closer and much needed.

If it can happen in Colombia, perhaps it can happen here too.

Yoo Jin Na is an ER doctor and writer. She studied fiction at Columbia University and is currently working on a travel memoir.

Tiger trumps man in tribal villages

Manipadma Jena

Thomson Reuters Foundation

T

he tigers that roam the dense forests of eastern India have more clout than the people they live alongside, tribal activists say, as a drive to boost lucrative wildlife tourism trumps the rights of poor indigenous villagers.

Tiger and man both exist in dwindling numbers in Similipal forests, with a race now on to see which mammal will win priority in the place both call home.

"Why are indigenous people being asked outright to leave without even attempting to explore reasonable options of co-existence with wildlife?" asked Sanghamitra Dubey who works with an informal Indian advocacy group for forestry rights.

Dubey said families had been stripped of their ancestral lands to protect the shrinking tiger stock and traditional ways of life - such as ancient rope plaiting - had been decimated.

India has about half the world's estimated 3,200 tigers in dozens of reserves established since the 1970s, with some of the designated land shared with ancient tribal villagers.

Wildlife tourism is a growing money maker for India though conservationists are divided as to whether travellers help protect threatened species or encroach on their habitat.

NOTICE TO QUIT Last November, hundreds of families from 44 tribal villages were asked to leave their homes to ensure the security of a local tiger habitat.

The villages, spread over hills and valleys around Odisha's Similipal Tiger reserve, had secured rights to the area - nearly 25,000 hectares of woodlands just months before.

Under India's Forest Rights Act of 2006, tribal households can harvest and use forest resources to maintain their ancestral livelihoods.

Anup Kumar Nayak, a senior forest officer in Bhubaneswar, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that wildlife protection laws forbid humans from living within critical wildlife habitat or what is deemed the 'core zone' of a national park.

He said relocations are voluntary but a number of villages around Similipal were in the 'core' habitat zone or so close they were "as good as inside it" and would need to move. "(Only) the buffer zone is for human-animal co-existence" Nayak said. activists say Indian wildlife protection laws stipulate there must be scientific evidence that human activity is irretrievably destroying tiger habitat before any relocations.

"(They told us) take one million rupees ($14,960) keep it in the bank and live better with the bank interest," Barja told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Dubey, of advocacy group CFR, said 50 families in the neighbouring village of Kiajhari were also targeted for re-location. "It is not even close to the core zone," Dubey said.

Official figures show the tiger reserve covers about 2,750 square kilometers (1,062 square miles) of dense forest and rich, bio-diverse land and adjoining forest that is used by other wildlife as a corridor.

Authorities estimate that 10,000 people live within the park and in buffer-zone areas, while half a million people in 1,200 villages live in a 10-km radius around the park.

Odisha's 10-year tiger conservation plan suggests that a population of 80 to 100 tigers need an inviolate space of between 800 and 1,000 sq km.

Nayak said the relocation programme follows this plan.

However after 43 years as a protected area, the official Odisha governONE-OFF PAYMENT ment tiger count last year found just Villagers reported a visit in Novem- 26 Royal Bengal tigers in the Similipal ber by parks officials who offered them reserve. a one-off payment to leave their homes and lands under a plan to clear forest END OF THE ROPE In the village of Jamunagarh, in lands of human activity.

Tribandha Barja, a member of a the park's 'core', just three families 144-tribal household in Khejuri village of more than 35 families have deon the outskirts of the reserve, said cided to stay on and continue to use the land they won in 2015. The others most people refused the payment.

WRITE-WING

chose to take the compensation and move away.

Telenga Hasa, one of the holdouts, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that neighbouring families had been paid one million rupees ($14,960) via bank deposit in September 2015 - of which 30,000 rupees ($449) was paid in cash.

All are still waiting to be allocated the two acres of farmland they were promised.

"Now they have no forests, no farm land and no livelihood …how can they live with dignity?" Hasa said, adding that another 25 families who live in the hillside village of Bakua have decided to stay on, too.

Deepak Pani, a spokesman for the activist group Gram Swaraj, says the Mankidia and Khadia - two nomadic forager groups - are the worst affected.

He said the Forest Rights Act is supposed to protect their ancient cultural and livelihood traditions, but had not been enforced.

Arun Mankidia, whose family live in Dengam village on the outskirts of the tiger reserve, said his people have been forced to abandon their ancient rope-making traditions.

The rope, plaited from a sacred grove creeper known as 'siali', which grows in abundance in the park, is very strong and in high demand among farmers in rural areas.

Now, local families have been forced to buy plastic potato sacks at three rupees ($0.04) each so they can painstakingly unravel the strands and re-plait them into ropes, which are sold for little more than their cost.

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.

MONDAY 20•02•2017

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

‘Corruption Brings Down an Empire’ Mario Osava

Inter Press Service

P

eople in Brazil have been overwhelmed by the flood of news stories about the huge web of corruption woven by the country’s biggest construction company, Odebrecht, which is active in dozens of fields and countries.

The business empire built by three generations of the Odebrecht family is falling apart after three years of investigation by the Lava Jato (car wash) operation launched by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s office in Brazil, which is investigating the corruption that diverted millions of dollars in bribes in exchange for major public works contracts from the state-run oil giant Petrobras.

Marcelo Odebrecht, who headed the company from 2008 to 2015, was arrested in June 2015 and was initially sentenced to 19 years in prison.

In October he and the company reached plea bargain deals to cooperate with the investigation. A total of 77 former and present Odebrecht executives provided over 900 sworn statements to Lava Jato prosecutors, causing a political earthquake in Brazil and throughout Latin America.

In December, the U.S. Justice Department revealed that Odebrecht allegedly spent 1.04 billion dollars in bribes to politicians and government officials in ten Latin American and two African countries, including Brazil, which accounted for 57.7 per cent of the total.

The United States is carrying out its own investigation, which could end in criminal convictions, since several Odebrecht subsidiaries, such as the petrochemical company Braskem, operate there, and their shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

That is also happening in the case of Petrobras, implicated in the corruption scandal and under investigation at the initiative of shareholders in the U.S. The U.S. and Switzerland, where banks were allegedly used to funnel bribes or launder money, signed cooperation agreements with legal authorities in Brazil, as part of the ongoing offensive against corruption in Latin America’s giant.

The impacts are overwhelming. In Brazil, the revelations about Odebrecht are expected to provoke a tsunami in the political system. Two hundred parliamentarians and government officials may have received bribes, including senior members of the current administration and legislature.

The business group had created a specialised bribe department. According to U.S. justice authorities, every dollar “invested” in bribes produced 12 dollars in contracts.

That estimate is based on more than 100 projects carried out or in progress in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, plus Angola and Mozambique in Africa.

The arrest warrant issued by a court in Peru against former Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), who has

been living in the United States, and allegations implicating current Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela, are just the tip of the iceberg.

What was revealed by Odebrecht executives and former executives, as well as former directors of different departments, such as external affairs, infrastructure, industrial engineering or logistics, has not yet been made public.

New figures involving alleged bribes are expected to come out over the next few months, added to those already disclosed in the United States, including 599 million dollars distributed in Brazil, 98 million in Venezuela, 92 million in the Dominican Republic, 59 million in Panama and 50 million in Angola.

In Peru the total revealed so far is “only” 29 million dollars since 2005. The sum is small, considering that for the Southern Peru pipeline – still under construction – alone, the projected investments amount to seven billion dollars. The Peruvian government has decided to terminate the contract with Odebrecht for the project.

Besides Odebrecht, the Inter-Oceanic Highway, which runs across southern Peru from the Brazilian border to Pacific Ocean ports, is being built by three other Brazilian construction firms – Camargo Correa, Andrade Gutierrez and Queiroz Galvão – which are also under investigation for suspicion of corruption.

During the presidency of Alan Garcia (2006-2011), Peru and Brazil signed an agreement for the construction of five large hydropower plants in Peru, which was cancelled by his successor, Ollanta Humala (2011-2016), who, however, is suspected of receiving three million dollars from Brazil for his election campaign.

Odebrecht, which has a concession to

manage Chaglla, the third biggest hydroelectric plant in Peru, with a capacity of 462 MW, was to be the main construction company in charge of building the new plants.

The growing wave of local and industry scandals sheds light on the reach of Odrebrecht’s tentacles. Braskem is accused of distributing 250 million dollars in bribes to sustain its leadership position in the Americas in the production of thermoplastic resins, with 36 plants spread across Brazil, Mexico, the United States, as well as Germany.

The empire, born in 1944 as a simple construction company, started diversifying in the last half century into activities as diverse as the sugarcane business, the development of military technologies or oil services, logistics or shipbuilding companies.

In the early 1970s the group built the Petrobras headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, sealing a connection that led to the current disaster which destroyed the reputation of the company that was so proud of its “Entrepreneurial Technology”, a set of ethical and operational business principles to which its fast expansion was attributed.

But Odebrecht’s success could actually be attributed to a strategic vision and a modus operandi that proved successful until the Lava Jato operation. Part of its methods included being “friends with the king”.

Angola is the best example. The current chairman of the company’s board of directors, Emilio Odebrecht, son of founder Norberto Odebrecht, meets every year with Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos in Luanda, to discuss projects for the country.

Officially, what they do is assess the projects carried out by the company and define new goals.

The explanation given for the special treatment received by Odebrecht is that it has such a strong presence in vital infrastructure works in the country in ar-

eas such as reconstruction, energy, water, highways and urbanisation.

Odebrecht has great prestige in Angola, since it built the Capanda hydroelectric plant on the Kwanza River between 1984 and 2007, facing delays and risks due to the 1975-2002 civil war. Now it is building the biggest plant in Angola, Lauca, also on the Kwanza River, with a capacity to produce 2,067 MW. The conglomerate is ubiquitous in the country, managing the Belas Mall – an upscale shopping centre in the south of Luanda, Angola’s capital – implementing the water plan to supply the capital, developing the first part of the industrial district in the outskirts of Luanda, building housing developments and playing a key role in saving the national sugarcane industry.

In Cuba it also led the strategic project of expanding the Mariel Port and managing a sugar plant, to help boost the recovery of this ailing sector of the Caribbean nation’s economy.

In other countries, such as Panama, Peru and Venezuela, the number of works and projects in the hands of the Brazilian conglomerate is impressive, in fields as diverse as urban transport, roads and bridges, ports, power plants, fossil fuels, and even agriculture.

But that cycle of expansion came to an end. Heavily indebted, with a plummeting turnover and no access to loans, not even from Brazilian development banks, and carrying the stigma of corruption, the conglomerate is trying to cooperate with justice authorities in the involved countries, seeking agreements to allow it to keep operating and eventually recover.

Now it remains to be discovered whether Odebrecht is “too big to go bankrupt,” as was said of some banks at the start of the global crisis that broke out in 2008.

10 years at war: rethinking drug trafficking

If Mexico is to be a less violent country, it has to rethink the concepts that have led it to adopt strategies which have produced unacceptable results. It needs to think of criminal groups as organizations, beyond the narco tales Cecilia Farfán Méndez

M

openDemocracy

exico is facing a deep legitimacy crisis, before which critical voices are emerging.

Trump's arrival across the border should prompt awareness of the urgent need to face the necessary changes in the country, which will be holding presidential elections in 2018, amid great uncertainty.

The figures left by a decade of war against organized crime in Mexico are well known: one hundred thousand dead and thirty thousand disappeared. Despite the dark history these figures tell us, even though the names and surnames behind the numbers are unknown, we still understand very little about the criminal groups which are largely responsible for causing the different types of violence that the country is enduring. So, in Mexico we have adopted a fairly Manichean perspective, according to which organized crime is thought of as "cartels", led by one or a few bosses, who are deemed capable of supervising all operational aspects of the business and who belong to a generic category: el narco.

Some will say that Mexico is not actually the most violent country in the world, or in Latin America, and that there are crimes and deaths everywhere – which, with some nuances, is quite true. But although they are all criminal acts, they are not the same.

Leaving aside comparisons with other violent societies, the important thing is that Mexico in 2017 is a fundamentally different country from the one which harboured democratic yearnings in 2000. True, not everything has been negative. But in security matters, the relevant question is: what have we learned after ten years of open struggle against crime? Evidence suggests very little.

One of the clearest examples is the strategy which focuses on catching and extraditing those believed to be the leaders of criminal organizations, in order to weaken or halt their activities. During the presidency of Felipe Calderón (2006-2012), Mexico arrested

Bringing solar out of the shadows Sarah Best International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

F

The American Airlines Arena, a stadium and entertainment complex in Miami, Florida, is one of the many projects carried out by Odebrecht in the United States, where prosecutors have begun to produce figures reflecting the scope of the company’s corruption. Credit: Odebrecht

the administration of Peña Nieto the most famous case, albeit not the only one, has been that of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, El Chapo. But despite extraditing these alleged leaders of criminal groups to the neighboring country, and the new executive order signed by the President of the United States to fight transnational criminal organizations, the incentives to keep on supplying the world’s largest market for illicit drugs remain.

According to the Annual Report on Drugs (2014) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in 2013 the use of illicit drugs by 12-year-olds or older in the US reached its highest level in a decade, together with equally high retail prices - the highest in the world -, thereby proving that the buoyancy of a drug market is unaltered by the alleged capture of the leaders of criminal organizations.

What to do, then, if capturing and extraditing capos is not the solution? Assuming that there can be a univocal answer to this would be tantamount to ignoring the complexity of the problem we are facing. Some solutions (beyond the scope of this article) will show results only in the long term; others imply that we must take a step back and rethink drug trafficking. In order to do this,

stop attributing to organized crime all the violent acts that occur in this country – thus exempting the State from all responsibility.

Rethinking drug trafficking is thus an invitation to reflect on the fact that criminal organizations are not homogenous and unitary actors, involved exclusively in trafficking illicit drugs. That is, not all individuals within a criminal organization work with the same energy and follow orders with the same interest. Similarly to what happens in other organizations, criminal groups show significant sophistication in some areas, as well as ordinary elements which are similar to those present in legal organizations. It is thus necessary to understand what their areas of sophistication are, as well as their simple characteristics, in order to design policies capable of weakening crime in the long run.

For example, despite the reports describing the fragmentation of criminal groups, it is hard to understand why some organizations are more prone to splitting than others. That is, why the Knights Templars separated from the Michoacana Family, and the latter from the Zetas, who in turn left the Gulf. So, in this sense, beyond the alleged conflicts between individuals, both the policy of capturing and

the groups are structured, are certainly variables to be considered.

To the extent that public policies aimed at limiting criminal activity have focused on arresting or eliminating the bosses, they have acted as an incentive for the criminal groups to decentralize decision-making. That is, decentralization can protect the viability of the operations by distributing risk across a network which is flexible, but whose intelligence is limited. So, when a cell is dismantled, the information it can share does not imperil the survival of the entire criminal group.

However, even though a cellular structure favours flexibility, it is also more unstable. Because cells have little communication between them - for security reasons -, they also lack the opportunity to learn "good practices" which could help them avoid being captured. Likewise, they generate greater risk tolerance, encouraging the diversification of criminal activities. This combination of instability and incentives to diversify leads groups to fragment and seek income through extortion and kidnapping - and violence thus becomes an essential component of the business model of cellular organizations. The violence that Michoacán is undergoing, for example, is a phenomenon that goes well beyond the stories of former teachers turned bosses.

In short, if we want a less violent country, then it is time to rethink the concepts that have led us to adopt strategies which have produced suboptimal results. We need to go beyond the narco tales and think about the groups as organizations, and approach them seriously, seeking to understand their functioning - all of them are criminal groups, but they are also different from one another.

Cecilia Farfán-Méndez received her Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Her research examines the structure and behavioral patterns of organized crime.

Prior to attending UCSB, Cecilia received a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University and has a bachelor's degree in international

7

or Tanzania to meet its energy needs - and in a way that is sustainable huge levels of finance are required to boost its decentralised energy sector. But the latest research shows that current funding flows are way off target.

Providing sustainable energy for everyone, in line with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, will need a massive shift to decentralised supply through such technology as solar home systems or clean cook stoves. Getting energy to remote areas using decentralised solutions is often quicker and cheaper than expanding the central grid.

But to make this possible, public finance - money needed to grow nascent markets needs to be able to reach this sector. Global climate finance continues to favour ‘big grid’ technologies, but it is also important to see what is happening within countries.

In a big country like Tanzania, where in 2012 just 20 percent of people had access to the grid, decentralised energy is crucial if the government is to achieve its target of 75 percent electrification by 2033.

Our new research, Money is Power, found that investments in the grid far outstrip financing for decentralised technologies.

Just 2 percent of the $40 million that the government allocated to energy access between 2009/10 and 2016/17 went to decentralised energy projects. And only 11 percent of the $1.6 billion that development partners have committed to energy between 2008 and 2021 was earmarked for decentralised energy.

The sector’s biggest supporters are the EU, UK (DfID) and France (AfD), while countries such as Japan and Korea focus exclusively on the grid.

It is a huge split. But what really matters is how commitments meet people’s needs on the ground. The World Bank and International Energy Agency (IEA) estimate that delivering energy access for all Tanzania’s citizens would cost between $65 million and $2.1 billion each year depending on the level of service provided.

Making it possible for everyone to be provided with a fairly basic level of power supply, enough to light the home and charge mobile phones, would cost $425 million each year. Under the World Bank/IEA model, decentralised systems such as a 100 watt solar panel, would meet these needs.

But as we found, funding commitments fall far short. Taking average annual spending, development partners provide 6 percent of the $425 million, while the government’s contribution accounts for just 1 percent.

Generally, foreign-owned small and medium-sized businesses and NGOs get a bigger slice of the pie than domestic players, although some Tanzanian organisations, such as solar company Ensol and NGO TaTEDO, have attracted significant finance. The funding being so heavily skewed towards foreign players is disappointing though not surprising: foreign entities know how donors work, can access other funds to build their models and put together convincing business plans.

Of the solar providers that are receiving funding, we found that there were big geographic divides. Off-grid solar is concentrated in just a few regions in eastern and northern Tanzania, such as in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Arusha, while areas in the west and south are poorly served.

Furthermore, the poorest people are missing out on good quality solar home systems as they are not affordable. People in Kigoma and Geita regions, for example, with less than $17 a month to spend on all their basic needs are living below the poverty line.

But a basic system comprising a 12 watts panel, three lanterns, a radio and a charger, would cost 40 percent of their monthly spending for three years.

This is not to judge solar providers – they cannot sell products for less than it costs to distribute them. But it does suggest that more ambition, innovation and collaboration are needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals’ commitment to leave noone behind.

Tanzania has taken steps to encourage decentralised energy, including introducing rules, grants and advice to support minigrid developers. But the industry says extra incentives, and a level playing field with the centralised grid, are key to getting more money flowing to this vital sector.

The government, development partners and local financial institutions need to take a number of steps to make this possible. This includes protecting off-grid providers from being undercut when a subsidised grid service arrives in their area, providing local banks and other lenders with low-interest loans and other incentives to start financing decentralised energy and investing in technologies that matter to the poorest, especially clean cooking fuels and supporting innovations to make services more affordable.

There is significant cause for hope. Currently, Tanzania’s draft action plan on Sustainable Energy for All, is under consultation and echoes many of these promising ideas.

Plus the renewable sector got a boost at last year’s U.N. Climate Change conference in Marrakech when Tanzania joined other members of the Climate Vulnerable Forum to support a shift to 100 percent domestic renewable production.

The challenge is to match political statements and policy initiatives with hard cash.

But as we found, there’s still a long way to go.

Sarah Best is senior researcher at the International Institute for Environment and

8

MonDAY 20•02•2017

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Uttar Pradesh election Over 61 percent turnout in phase 3 polling

Lucknow, February 19 (IanS): Polling for 69 seats in the crucial third phase of Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, which will decide the fate of 826 candidates, concluded on Sunday evening with a provisional voting figure of 61.16 per cent.

The Election Commission (EC) officials, however, said the voting percentage may have topped 63 per cent by the end.

This phase of polling was most crucial for the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP), which has a challenge of retaining its supremacy in the area, as it had won 55 of the 69 seats in 2012.

By the end of the day, voting was 58.72 per cent in Mainpuri, 63 per cent in Etawah, 59.32 per cent in Auraiyya, 63.5 per cent in Hardoi, 61 per cent in Unnao and 60.70 per cent in Kanpur Rural.

Barabanki with 68.13 per cent polling was on top of the chart, followed by Sitapur with 68 per cent votes. Farukkhabad polled 61 per cent. Kanpur City witnessed a somewhat poor turnout with 56.4 per cent votes and the state capital Lucknow bettered its 2012 showing by one per cent to log 60 per cent voting.

Kannauj, the parliamentary constituency of Dimple Yadav, wife of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, polled 65.63 per cent, which is a little higher than its previous showings.

No major violence was reported from anywhere in the third phase, barring stone pelting on the motorcade of former PWD Minister and state SP chief Shivpal Singh Yadav and firing at Gan-

holds, the Chief Minister also ruled out "bheetarghat" against the ruling party candidates.

Voters queue up to cast their votes during the third phase of the UP assembly elections in Lucknow on Sunday. (PTI Photo)

ga Sahay College in Mainpuri.

In all, 2.12 lakh security personnel, including central forces, state police and homeguards, were deployed for the election duty in this round. There were 837 companies of central forces, an EC official told IANS. Prominent political leaders, including union ministers Rajnath Singh, Kalraj Mishra former Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati, and incumbent Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav cast their votes in this round.

Four more phases of polling is yet to take place in the staggered seven-phased state elections that began on February 11.

Counting of votes will take place on March 11.

Former Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir dead

koLkata, February 19 (IanS): Former Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir died at a private hospital here on Sunday due to renal complications. He was 68, and leaves behind his wife Minna, son Deep and daughter Anamika, family sources said. Kabir breathed his last at 2.52 p.m. at Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, where he was admitted on February 8, with multiple problems, including the end stage of renal failure. Kabir served as the 39th Chief Justice of India from September 29, 2012, till his retirement on July 19, 2013. Kabir was born on July 19, 1948, in a famed Bengali Muslim family in Faridpur district (now in Bangladesh). His father Jehangir Kabir was a noted politician, who served in the cabinets of three Chief Ministers of Bengal. He enrolled as an advocate in 1973, taking up both civil and criminal cases in the district courts and the Calcutta High Court.m He was appointed a permanent Judge in the Calcutta High Court on August 6, 1990, and played a key role in the computerisation of the high court and lower judiciaries. He became the Acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court on January 3, 2005, and the position was made permanent on March 1, 2005.He was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on September 9, 2005, and his tenure at the apex court lasted for 2,870 days.As the Chief Justice of India, Kabir held office for 292 days.

India will not fire first but will not count its bullet if Pakistan provokes: Rajnath

deLhI, February 19 (agencIeS): In a stern statement, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that India will not fire first, but if the bullet is fired from Pakistan's side then India will not count its bullet. "India has conveyed to the world that it is a strong country and the forces that disturb her peace will not be spared," Singh added, as per ANI. On the other hand, Indian envoy to Islamabad had said on February 10 in Karachi that India wanted Pakistan to renounce violence and take "strong preventive action" against terrorists and extremists without discrimination. "India wishes Pakistan well in its nation building process. India wishes to see a stable, moderate and prosperous Pakistan which is at peace with itself, at peace with its neighbours and at peace with the world," India High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale had said at the inauguration of the 8th Karachi Literature Festival. "India wishes to see a Pakistan which abjures violence and takes strong preventive action against terrorists and extremists.

India wishes to see a Pakistan which does not distinguish between good and bad terrorists but instead moves against all such elements irrespective of whom their hatred is directed against," he had further said in a statement, as per PTI. Tensions have been running high between India and Pakistan since an attack on an Indian army base in Uri on September 18 last year by Pakistan-based terrorists.

Mumbai-London Jet flight 'lost' contact over Germany

MuMbaI, February 19 (IanS): In a major scare, a Jet Airways Mumbai-London flight went "missing" over German air space after it briefly lost communication with the ground, an official said here on Sunday. Jet Airways flight 9W-118, which departed from Mumbai on Friday around 1.20 p.m. for London with 330 passengers and 15 crew members and was scheduled to land at London's Heathrow Airport the same day at around 5.20 p.m. (local time), briefly lost contact with the local ATC, an official said. "Contact between the flight and the local air traffic control (ATC) was briefly lost while flying over German airspace," said an official spokesperson, but he did not specify for how long communication was severed and in which flying zone. As a precautionary measure for the safety of the Boeing B777 aircraft and its passengers, the German Air Force deployed two of its fighter jets to escort the flight safely to its onward destination. The flight subsequently landed at London's Heathrow Airport without any incident or casualty after the flight lasting over nine hours. As part of the standard operating procedures, the Jet Airways has de-rostered the entire crew of flight 9W-118 pending an enquiry into the incident. It has reported the matter to all concerned authorities, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the spokesperson added.

Akhilesh ducks questions on Mulayam-Shivpal Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav here on Sunday cast his vote in the third phase of the state assembly election.

Accompanied by cousin and Budayun MP Dharmendra Yadav, the Chief Minister, at the Abhinav Vidyalaya polling booth in his native village of Etawah, told the media that he voted for the Samajwadi Party so that development could further be expedited in the state. Sporting the red-colour party cap, the SP national president however looked a little shaky and snapped back at certain journalists who asked some uncomfortable questions.

When asked why he has de-

clared his vote, Yadav said because "you were asking".

He also got angry when the mediapersons asked about his father Mulayam Singh Yadav not accompanying him for vote, like he always does.

Ducking the question, he expressed hope that the people of the state will vote in large numbers in the favour of the SP-Congress alliance.

Replying to a question whether he would like to wish his estranged uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, who is contesting from Jaswantnagar, the Chief Minister wished that all SP candidates won the polls.

Amid reports of a not good faring in the erstwhile strong-

Mayawati casts vote in Lucknow, claims victory Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati here on Sunday cast her vote in the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly election. Clad in a fawn coloured salwar suit and a matching floral shawl, Mayawati at around 9 a.m. walked in the polling booth number 251 at the Mall Avenue polling station.

She smiled at the polling officials as they checked her voting ID card and inked her finger.

Later interacting with the media, the four-time Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadavs wife and SP MP Dimple Yadav displays the Chief Minister claimed a wave indelible ink mark on her finger after casting vote in the 3rd in favour of the BSP and said her phase of the UP Assembly elections in Saifai, Etawah. party was number one in the two rounds of balloting so far.

She said the BSP would get etawah, February 19 (PtI): Samajwadi Party 300 plus seats at the end of the patron Mulayam Singh Yadav today said there was no polling. rift in the party and his son Akhilesh Yadav will beExuding confidence, Maycome Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister again. "There is no awati said she was confident of rift in SP. Akhilesh will become chief minister as a lot a "government on our own" as of development work was done in his regime," Yadav people had decided to favour her told reporters after casting his vote here. Asked why party. he was not actively campaigning for his party candi"The 'hawa-hawai' claims of dates, he said, "I am campaigning. Other phases are the Congress-Samajwadi Party left, I will campaign." When asked about his brother alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Shivpal Yadav, who is contesting from Jaswant Nagar in Party will fall flat on their faces SP stronghold Etawah, Yadav said, "He will win by a big and we will romp home to powmargin". Asked about "adopted son" remark of Prime er," she said. Later she flashed a Minister, the SP patriarch said, "He can say whatever "V" sign and posed for pictures he wants. The fact remains that UP has adopted the with her voter card.

Samajwadi Party." Amid exchange of barbs on the adHer party was voted out of opted son remark, BSP supremo Mayawati has said in power in 2012 and drew a blank her own style that people of UP have decided to ensure in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections the victory of their "own daughter" rather than the "adwhere it could not win a single opted son" in the ongoing polls. seat of the 80 the BSP contested.

Akhilesh will be CM, says Mulayam

Infants need 5 times more nutrition during first 1,000 days: Doctors

new deLhI, February 19 (IanS): Infants need five times more nutrition than adults during the first 1,000 days after birth which, if lacking, may lead to impaired cognition which is irreversible in nature, doctors here said on Sunday.

They said iron is one of the critical elements, not just for production of haemoglobin but also for brain development. It is important for mothers to know that while infants are born with iron stores, their rapid growth rates may not satisfy the need and it

becomes essential to supplement through other sources.

"Undernourished children catch infections more easily and have a harder time recovering because their immune systems are impaired. Right nutrition introduced early in an infant's diet builds lifelong immunity and good health," said Satish Saluja, Neonatologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Saluja said babies need five times more nutrition than adults at this stage. Right nutrition and care during this period goes a

long way in determining their development and also their ability to learn and perform in the future. Government statistics say that as many as 34 births registered in India every minute. The number goes up to 2,062 births per hour and up to 49,481 births per day. A large chunk of the total new borns remain undernourished, largely due to poverty.

The doctors have also urged the mothers of the newborns to have well planned diet, including carbohydrates as a main source of energy.

"Proteins are essential for growth, mother's knowledge of the requirement of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) is very limited, which needs to be improved," said Saluja.

Medical Sciences say review of feeding patterns reveal that most of the mothers give less than required vitamins and minerals needed for optimum development of children.

Manjari Chandra, Consultant at Nutrition Max Multi Speciality Centre said: "Indian diets are mainly grain- and plant-based,

and while they are high in macronutrients, they are very low in micronutrients like iron, zinc and calcium."

"This is a cause for concern because the percentage of these nutrients that need to be met by complementary foods is extremely high," said Chandra.

"There are several approaches which can be taken like supplementing infant's normal diet with ready made vitamins and minerals enriched food, fortifying the standard food and improving dietary plans," added Chandra.

to go on hunger strike Centre's stinker to KVIC over Modi onDMKFebleaders 22 to protest ‘illegal’ trust vote replacing Gandhi in calendars

MuMbaI, February 19 (IanS): More than a month after the fracas over replacing Mahatma Gandhi's pictures with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in its annual diaries and calendars, the Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has been served a stern memo by the Centre for its now-infamous decision, official sources said here.

The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) has shot off a detailed memo to the KVIC management stipulating stringent guidelines to be adhered to in future.

The memo has ordered the KVIC to henceforth send any such proposal for the approval of Prime Minister's Office (PMO), routed through the Ministry of MSME, which has administrative jurisdiction over KVIC. "KVIC has to ensure that the office of ministers/Secretary is kept informed of any such major event/activities which are undertaken by KVIC as part of its promotional activity," the memo of February 14 makes clear.

It also asked the KVIC to ensure that in future, it should send any such mails to the official email ids of the PS of the ministers, secretary and officers of the ministry. A copy of the memo is available with IANS.

"The private email id should not be used for any official correspondence.

The (above) directives should be followed scrupulously," warned the memo, signed by KVIC Deputy CEO Y.K. Baramatikar. The latest communication from the Centre has effectively debunked the claims made by KVIC's top officials in recent weeks that it had reportedly sought the PMO's clearance before replacing Mahatma Gandhi's pictures with Modi's in its 2017 wall calendars and desktop diaries.

The issue was first highlighted by IANS on January 12 when KVIC officials and employees were outraged after large stocks of the 2017 New Year calendars and diaries were received at the KVIC head office in Mumbai.

It showed Modi weaving khadi on large 'charkha' in the same iconic and historic pose as Mahatma Gandhi.

While Gandhi's historic picture weaving khadi on a simple wooden charkha, wearing his trademark loin cloth, is legendary and imprinted in the minds of the masses since generations, Modi comes across in his signature attire of kurta-pyjamawaistcoat, weaving khadi on a slightly modernised charkha.

The employees even staged a symbolic "silent, soul-cleansing" protest

wearing black bands on their mouths during lunch hour that day, and were later threatened with disciplinary action by the KVIC management.

At that time, Saxena sought to defend the move by saying "the entire khadi industry is based on Gandhiji's philosophy, ideals and ideas, he is the soul of KVIC, so there was no question of ignoring him."

While plans to take action against the employees and its union leaders were quietly dropped a few days later, the Shiv Sena-led Khadi Gramodyog Karmachari Sena (KGKS) demanded the removal of Saxena and other officials responsible for the faux pas.

The KGKS also demanded that Mahatma Gandhi should figure prominently on all calendars and diaries of the KVIC henceforth and appropriate directives must be issued in this regard. Snowballing into a raging nationwide controversy, the KVIC decision was flayed by all political parties including the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally, as well as prominent Gandhians, among them Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

Many have demanded that the entire lot of calendars and diaries be withdrawn and fresh ones printed bearing the pictures of Mahatma Gandhi.

chennaI, February 19 (agencIeS): The DMK on Sunday announced it will hold a hunger strike on February 22 in all district offices of the party across Tamil Nadu to protest what it termed as the “illegal” trust vote moved by chief minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami.

The decision was taken after DMK MLAs met at their headquarters. Party leader Tiruchi Siva said the trust vote moved on Saturday was “illegal”, and the party has submitted a memorandum on the issue to Tamil Nadu governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who has promised to look into the matter. “Sans participation of the opposition in the state assembly, the trust vote moved by the chief minister was passed. It’s illegal. We’ve submitted a memorandum on the issue to the governor. He has promised to look into the matter,” Siva told the media after meeting governor Rao. Earlier on Sunday, DMK working president MK Stalin held a special meeting with party MLAs at the DMK headquarters. An FIR has been filed against Stalin, his party MLAs, MPs and cadres for holding a protest at the Marina beach in Chennai against the alleged attack on him and his MLAs during the trust vote.

Police said the FIR was filed on charges of unlawful assembly and violation of public order. “DMK held a protest without obtaining prior permission as required under law,” a police official said. Besides Stalin, 63 MLAs, three MPs and several DMK cadres, who participated in the protest, have been named in the FIR, he said. Stalin was detained on Saturday after he sat on the protest at the Marina beach. He alleged that he was manhandled in the assembly by the marshals during the vote of confidence, which the Palaniswami government won with a comfortable margin of 122-11. Several DMK workers on Saturday blocked vehicular traffic and pelted stones in different places to protest the alleged attack on Stalin.

Poverty continues to be a major challenge in South Asia: Mahajan Indore, February 19 (IanS): Expressing deep concern over poverty in South Asia, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Sunday said policymakers in the region share a collective responsibility to find a solution to the problem.

"The South Asia region, with 1.7 billion people, is the most densely populated geographical region of the world. A large number of people are still living in extreme poverty which continues to be a major challenge for the policymakers," Mahajan said in her concluding remarks at the South

Asian Speakers' Summit here.

"The countries of the region share the collective responsibility to find solutions to issues that are affecting them," she added.

Mahajan said achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be able to address most of the problems that are holding back peace and prosperity in these countries.

Mahajan also said that the adverse effects of population pressure and over-exploitation of the limited natural resources are clearly visible everywhere.

"On one hand, there is a need

for development, while on the other, we must protect environment. An imbalance between the two can trigger massive negative consequences," she said.

The Lok Sabha Speaker, who is also the MP from Indore, said gender inequality is a sensitive challenge for all of us.

"It is complex and represents inequality, discrimination, threat perception and violence. We all acknowledge that women rights are indeed human rights. Women have a right to live with dignity and equality. Women must enjoy equal access to education, eco-

nomic resources and employment.

"Women must enjoy the right to life without fear of threat or violence. How can development be even close to sustainable if women are denied equality of opportunity and accessibility, and dignity," she asked. She said there is a convergence of thought that gender parity or better gender balance can act as a critical factor for sustainable development and the need to systematically mainstream gender into development agenda.

Mahajan also called for a

strong parliamentary action in the achievement of the SDGs. "The role Parliament can play in realising the SDGs cannot be overemphasised. Parliament holds an important position in the development process. Public trust in Parliament is rooted in its openness, transparency, accessibility and responsible conduct of the representatives of people," she said.

Mahajan said the Summit has been an effort to the energy and potentialities of Parliaments and the Parliamentarians to achieve the SDGs.

mondAY 20•02•2017

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

Iraq launches offensive on last ISIS stronghold baGHDaD, FebruarY 19 (reuters): U.S.-backed Iraqi forces on Sunday launched a ground offensive to dislodge Islamic State militants from their remaining stronghold in Mosul, in the western part of the city, and put an end to their ambitions for territorial rule in Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of the offensive, asking Iraqi forces to “respect human rights” during the battle and to take care of those displaced by the fighting.

Islamic State militants are essentially under siege in western Mosul, along with an estimated 650,000 civilians, after they were forced out of the eastern part of the city in the first phase of an offensive that concluded last month, after 100 days of fighting.

Up to 400,000 civilians could be displaced by the offensive as residents of western Mosul suffer food and fuel shortages and markets are closed, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Lise Grande told Reuters on Saturday.

Iraqi federal police units are leading a northward charge on the Mosul districts that lie west of the Tigris river, aiming to capture Mosul airport, just south of the city, according to statements from the armed forces joint com-

Suicide bombings kill 5 in east Mosul

Members of the Iraqi rapid response forces fire a missile toward Islamic State militants during a battle in the south of Mosul, Iraq on February 19. (REUTERS Photo)

mand.

They captured several villages and a local power distribution station in the first hours and killed several militants including snipers, the statements said.

The police are advancing up the Tigris river valley towards the airport, whilst the Rapid Response, an elite Interior Ministry unit, cut across more open terrain to the southwest.

“Mosul would be a tough fight for any army in

Suppressing free press is how dictators get started: McCain MuNICH, FebruarY 19 (reuters): U.S. Senator John McCain, defending the media against the latest attack by President Donald Trump, warned that suppressing the free press was “how dictators get started”. The Arizona Republican, a frequent critic of Trump, was responding to a tweet in which Trump accused the media of being “the enemy of the American people”.

The international order established after World War Two was built in part on a free press, McCain said in an excerpt of an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that was released in advance of the full Sunday morning broadcast. “I hate the press. I hate you especially,” he told interviewer Chuck Todd from an international security conference in Munich. “But the fact is we need you. We need a free press. We must have it. It’s vital.”

“If you want to preserve - I’m very serious now - if you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and many times adversarial press. And without it, I am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time. That’s how dictators get started,” he continued. “They get started by suppressing free press. In other words, a consolidation of power. When you look at history, the first thing that dictators do is shut down the press. And I’m not saying that President Trump is trying to be a dictator. I’m just saying we need to learn the lessons of history,” McCain said.

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, told the conference on Sunday she was also concerned about Trump’s comments. “The real danger is the president’s criticism of the media,” Shaheen told the conference. “A free press ... is very important to maintaining democracy, and efforts on the part of a president to undermine and manipulate the press are very dangerous.”

The comments from U.S. lawmakers followed Trump’s tweet and came days after the president held a raucous news conference at which he repeatedly criticised news reports about disorder in the White House and leaks of his telephone conversations with the leaders of Mexico and Australia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasised the importance of a free press at the conference on Saturday, saying, “I have high respect for journalists.

We’ve always had good results, at least in Germany, by relying on mutual respect.”

Thai police order thousands out of scandal-hit temple baNGkok, FebruarY 19 (reuters): Thai police ordered thousands of worshippers to leave the country’s biggest Buddhist temple on Sunday so it can intensify its search for its former abbot, who is wanted on moneylaundering charges. Thailand’s ruling junta used a special emergency law on Thursday to let police explore the scandal-hit Dhammakaya Temple after months of failing to get it to hand over Phra Dhammachayo.

On Sunday, police said that all non-residents must vacate the premises to expedite the search of the 1,000 acre (400 hectare) facility because temple activities were hindering police. Monks who live within the temple grounds were ordered to congregate at an exit point and not interfere with the investigation.

“We are conducting these steps so that we can conduct the search process as quickly as possible so that we can return the temple grounds to the worshippers,” Woranan Srilam of the Department for Special Investigation told Reuters. The temple has been a rare institution in defying the military government. Opposition from political parties and activists has largely been silenced since a coup in 2014.

Phra Dhammachayo faces charges of conspiracy to launder money and receive stolen goods, as well as taking over land unlawfully to build meditation centres. His aides dismiss the accusations as politically motivated.

“This is an abuse of power by the junta who should not interfere on religious matters,” temple spokesman and senior monk Phra Pasura Dantamano told Reuters.

“We have always been willing to negotiate and accommodate the authorities but this is too much.”

the world,” the commander of the U.S.-led coalition forces, Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, said in a statement.

Islamic State has escalated its insurgency in retaliation for the military setbacks that have, over the past year, forced it out of most Iraqi cities it had captured in 2014 and 2015.

Two militants blew themselves up in eastern Mosul on Sunday, killing three soldiers and two civil-

ians, and wounding a doz- the battle to be more difen people, security sources ficult than in the east besaid. cause tanks and armoured vehicles cannot pass LEAFLETS through its narrow alleyIraqi planes dropped ways. millions of leaflets on The militants have dewestern Mosul warning veloped a network of pasresidents that the battle to sageways and tunnels to dislodge Islamic State was enable them to hide and imminent, the Iraqi De- fight among civilians, disfence Ministry said on Sat- appear after hit-and-run urday. The leaflets told the operations and track govjihadists to surrender “or ernment troop moveface a fatal end”. ments, according to resiCommanders expect dents.

erbIL, FebruarY 19 (reuters): Five people were killed, including three Iraqi soldiers, in two suicide bombings on Sunday that hit districts recently retaken from Islamic State in eastern Mosul, security sources said.

The first attack targeted an army checkpoint, killing three soldiers, and the second a gathering of civilians in the commercial district known as “My Fair Lady,” killing two.

A dozen people were also wounded in the two attacks carried out by men wearing explosive vests, the sources said, contacted from Erbil, the Kurdish region’s capital east of Mosul.

The bombers are suspected by the security sources to have crossed into eastern Mosul from the western side which is still under Islamic State control.

U.S.-backed forces dislodged Islamic State from the east side of Mosul in the first phase of an offensive that concluded last month. The second phase of the campaign, on the western side of Mosul, began on Sunday.

A restaurant in the My Fair Lady area and called by the same name was hit on Feb. 10 by a suicide bombing that killed at least 10 people.

Western Mosul contains the old city centre, with its ancient souks, Grand Mosque and most government administrative buildings.

It was from the pulpit of the Mosul Grand Mosque that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a self-styled “caliphate” over parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014.

The city, Iraq’s second biggest, is the largest urban centre captured

by Islamic State in both countries and its de facto capital in Iraq. Raqqa is its capital in Syria.

Islamic State was thought to have up to 6,000 fighters in Mosul when the government’s offensive started in mid-October.

Of those, more than 1,000 have been killed, according to Iraqi estimates.

The remainder now face a 100,000-strong force made up of Iraqi armed forces, including elite para-

troopers and police, Kurdish forces and Iraniantrained Shi’ite paramilitary groups.

The westward road that links the city to Syria was cut in November by the Shi’ite paramilitary known as Popular Mobilisation.

The militants are in charge of the road that links Mosul to Tal Afar, a town they control 60 km (40 miles) to the west.

Coalition aircraft and artillery have continued to bombard targets in the west during the break that followed the taking of eastern Mosul.

The United States, which has deployed more than 5,000 troops in the fighting, leads an international coalition providing air and ground support, including artillery fire, to the Iraqi and Kurdish forces.

Islamic State imposed a radical version of Islam in Mosul, banning cigarettes, televisions and radios, and forcing men to grow beards and women to cover from head to toe. Citizens who failed to comply risked death.

Capturing Mosul would effectively end the Sunni group’s ambitions for territorial rule in Iraq. The militants are expected to continue to wage an insurgency, however, carrying out suicide bombings and inspiring lone-wolf actions abroad.

KIm Jong nam murder: Police say US senators consider four North Korean suspects fled Malaysia sanctions against Iran kuaLa LuMPur, FebruarY 19 (reuters): Four North Korean suspects in the murder of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fled Malaysia on the day he was attacked at Kuala Lumpur airport and apparently killed by a fast-acting poison, police said on Sunday.

A North Korean man, a Vietnamese woman and an Indonesian women have been arrested already in connection with the assassination of Kim Jong Nam last Monday, which has triggered a diplomatic spat between Malaysia and Pyongyang.

South Korean and U.S. officials believe Kim Jong Nam was killed by agents from the reclusive North, whose diplomats in Kuala Lumpur sought to prevent an autopsy on the 46-year-old’s body and demanded it be handed over. “We believe the North Korean regime is behind this incident considering five suspects are North Koreans” Jeong Joon-hee, spokesman at the South Korea’s Unification Ministry that handles interKorea affairs, told a briefing on Sunday.

Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong

Il, had spoken out publicly against his family’s dynastic control of isolated, nuclear-armed North Korea.

The young, unpredictable North Korean leader had issued a “standing order” for his elder half-brother’s assassination, and that there had been a failed attempt in 2012. Deputy Inspector-General of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim told a news conference that Malaysia is coordinating with Interpol to track down the four North Koreans but would not reveal where they flew to on the day of the murder.

“The four suspects are holding normal passports, not diplomatic passports,” he said. “Next plan is to get them. We of course have international cooperation especially with Interpol, bilateral involvement with the country involved, we will go through those avenues to get the people involved.”

He named the four who escaped as Ri Ji Hyon, Hong Song Hac, O Joong Gil, and Ri Jae Nam. The police are looking for three other people who are not suspects but who they believe could help with their enquiries, one of whom is North Korean.

Police said the cause of death was still not known and that they were waiting

for pathology and toxicology tests af- MuNICH, FebruarY 19 (reuters): U.S. Republican senators plan to introduce legislation to impose furter conducting a post-mortem. ther sanction on Iran, accusing it of violating U.N. Security Council resolutions by testing ballistic missiles and TUSSLE OVER BODY Police believe the two women car- acting to “destabilise” the Middle East, a U.S. senator said ried out the attack on Kim Jong Nam, Sunday.

“I think it is now time for the Congress to take Iran on thrusting a cloth seeped in some chemical into his face in the depar- directly in terms of what they’ve done outside the nuclear ture lounge of the airport, where he programme,” Senator Lindsey Graham, a member of the had been due to take a flight to Macau. Senate Armed Services Committee, told the Munich SeThe mother of the Indonesian curity Conference.

Graham said he and other Republicans would introwomen, Siti Aishah, told Reuters on Saturday that her daughter had been duce measures to hold Iran accountable for its actions.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risduped into believing she was part of a TV show or advertisement. “She said en since a Iranian ballistic missile test which prompted she wanted to go to Malaysia for film- U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to impose ing on a show to make people sur- sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the counprised by spraying perfume on some- try’s Revolutionary Guards.

“Iran is a bad actor in the greatest sense of the word body else,” said Benah, who goes by one name. She was offered a job by when it comes to the region. To Iran, I say, if you want us someone to become an advertise- to treat you differently then stop building missiles, testfiring them in defiance of U.N. resolution and writing ment model for perfume.”

Asked about the theory that the ‘Death to Israel’ on the missile. That’s a mixed message,” women thought they were playing Graham said.

Senator Christopher Murphy, a member of the Senate a prank, Noor Rashid said: “I think there is footage being released ... and Foreign Relations Committee, told the same panel there you can interpret from the footage.” was nothing preventing Congress from imposing sancSouth Korea’s intelligence agency tions beyond those that were lifted as a result of the 2016 told lawmakers in Seoul that Kim nuclear agreement with Iran. Murphy, a Democrat, told Jong Nam had been living with his the panel that he had backed the nuclear deal in the exsecond wife in the Chinese territory plicit understanding that it would not prevent Congress of Macau, under China’s protection. from taking actions against Iran outside the nuclear issue.

75 yrs later, Japanese Americans recall pain of internment camps New York, FebruarY 19 (reuters): Joyce Nakamura Okazaki was 7 years old in 1942 when her family left their Los Angeles home and reported to a World War Two internment camp for Japanese Americans in California’s remote desert.

She recalls crowded rooms filled with cots and embarrassment that the toilets at Manzanar War Relocation Center had no privacy. “Like Nazi Germany, we Japanese Americans were put into concentration camps,” said Okazaki, now 82, while recognising that detainees were not killed or tortured.

“We were constantly under threat if we went near the barbed wire fences.”

Seventy-five years ago on Sunday, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which authorized the imprisonment of Japanese Americans.

Some 120,000 were held at 10 camps because of fears that Japanese Americans were enemy sympathizers. The United States had entered World War Two after Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor

about three months earlier.

Photos from the era show their dislocation and loss of freedom: Neatly dressed men in jackets and ties queuing on city streets next to luggage and sacks on their way to camps. A mother cradling a baby as she perches atop a bundle. Dusty and desolate barracks. A detainee driving a tractor in a prison camp field.

To commemorate the period, a year-long exhibition of photos, many by famed photographers Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange, and artifacts opened Friday at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Okazaki’s experience is captured in a photograph of her and her sister in their mother’s embrace at Manzanar, an image preserved in a Library of Congress archive.

Okazaki recalls a life of fear in the camp. “With barbed-wire fences and guard towers and sentries with rifles manning them, you become scared,” she said.

Some Japanese Americans see parallels between the internments and President Donald Trump’s ex-

ecutive order last month banning travellers from seven majority-Muslim countries.

“How you react to the Muslim ban today is how you would have reacted to the imprisonment of my grandparents and parents 75 years ago,” Representative Mark Takano, whose family was interned in the World War Two-era camps, said in Congress last month.

TRAVELLING UNDER GUARD Former detainee Kanji Sahara recalls arriving at a camp at Santa Anita Park horse racetrack, just a half hour from his Los Angeles home, when he was 8.

“We were told to report to our local Christian church. There were 10 or 15 buses waiting there for us,” Sahara, now 82, said.

“As I got off the bus, I could see rows and rows of horse stables and barracks in the parking lot. That’s where we lived.”

The track was a temporary “assembly center” for more than 18,000 people, including future “Star Trek” actor George Takei.

After six months, Sahara and his family were

Yaeko Nakamura, holding hands with her two daughters, Joyce Yuki Nakamura and Louise Tami Nakamura, walk under a pavilion in a park at the Manzanar War Relocation Center in California, 1943.

transported to their permanent camp in Jerome, Arkansas. This time, they travelled by train.

“There were guards at the end of each car and the shades were drawn,” Sahara recalled of the trip.

But life in Jerome was an improvement.

“That’s the first thing I noticed - how many people lived in a barrack in Jerome compared to Santa Anita

where we could barely move,” he said.

“I was like, ‘Hey! We’re coming up in the world.’”

Sahara and his family were allowed to leave the camp when he was 11, in 1945. Okazaki and her family left in July 1944. Their families were required to swear a loyalty oath to the United States to regain their freedom.

Okazaki objects to the

term internment and prefers incarceration or imprisonment. “I was not an internee because I am a citizen. The definition of internment refers to enemy aliens in time of war,” she said.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to grant reparations to surviving internees. They received $20,000 and an apology.

MONDAY 20•02•2017

PUBLIC DISCOURSE

10

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The present Naga crisis: whose making or fight is it?

Dr. Kedilezo Kikhi

Faculty, Department of Sociology Tezpur (Central) University, Assam

T

he present Naga conflict (crisis) could be best explained from a Weberian viewpoint. Naga society seems to have arrived into a Weberian situation. Max Weber analysed a conflict situation while he was trying to contextualise the three related concepts of stratification, conflict and change and subsequently trying to develop the important conflict principles. Most of these principles can be found in his discussion of the transition from societies based on traditional authority to those organised around rational-legal authority. And in such a process the system generates conflict conditions from within, wherein the roles of the leaders become crucial.

Most of the conflict theorists seek to find out the consequences of conflict. While George Simmel did not view social structure as a domination and subjugation (as Karl Marx did), but rather as an inseparable mingling of associative and dissociative process which are separable only in analysis. He holds an órganismic’ view of the social world. This subtle organicism led Simmel to seek out the consequences of conflict for social continuity rather than change.

Why conflict? Why there has to be a conflict? Is conflict an inevitable element in the case of Nagas? Or whose making is it? There are three conditions why conflict enters into a crisis.

And we can situate the present Naga situation using the same conditions.

One condition is a situation where there is a high degree of correlation among power, wealth and prestige, or incumbency in positions of political power (party), occupancy in advantaged economic positions (class),

and membership in high ranking social circles (status groups). That is, when economic elites, for example are also social and political elites and vice versa. This group corresponds to the Naga elites today constituting the politicians, contractors, bureaucrats, etc. who have also become the capitalists of the state. Thus, those that are excluded from power, wealth and prestige become resentful and receptive to conflict alternatives. The general Naga public constitute the second group. Another condition is dramatic discontinuity in the distribution of rewards, or the existence of divisions in social hierarchies that give privileges to some. When only a few hold or hoard power, wealth and prestige and the rest are denied these rewards, then tensions and resentments exist, leading to fight against the capitalists.

A final condition encouraging conflict is low rates of social mobility. When those of low rank have little chance to move up to social hierarchies or to enter a new class, party, or status group, then resentment starts accumulating. Those who are denied of opportunities to increase their access to resources become restive and willing to challenge the existing system. The critical force that galvanises the resentments inhering in these three conditions is leadership. Leaders thus emerge to challenge the existing system and to mobilise resentments over the hoarding of resources by elites and the lack of opportunities to gain access to wealth, power, or prestige. A structural change then gets started.

This problem is further intensified and the problem gets accumulated with the era and impact of neoliberalism. Neoliberalism is understood as involving ‘the priority of the price mechanism, the free enterprise, the system of competition and a strong

and impartial state’. It actually transits from laissez-faire (that is, without the intervention of the state) towards a market economy under the guidance and the rules of a strong state. In other words, the corporate elites or the tribal elites [as in the case of Nagas] need this ‘state’ to protect their wealth. The effect of neoliberalism is also inequality where the rich grows richer and the poor becomes poorer. But more so, in the context of the Nagas, the pertinent question arises as to whether we can trust this state? Again, who or what constitutes this state needs to be defined? How this state operates [apparatus] in Naga context when we have institutionalised a corrupted system which involves a parasitic (government) and a subsequent parasitic society [though these two statements could be hypothetical]? If the state does not generate any revenue (not self-reliant), can we sustain such a parasitic economy and for how long?

Given the situation, the present youth seems to be frustrated not with one issue but with multiple issues which have been manifested at several occasions. The youth seems to be at a loss or confused? The state needs visions for the youth and the future. One needs to also critically look at how the nexus of politicians, bureaucrats, contractors and the UG leaders operate by feeding on the Naga issue rather than solving it?

Charles Chasie in his write up “Naga Society Lies Wounded Again” in the February 5, 2017 Nagaland Post issue has rightly pointed out how Nagas fail to realise the undercurrents that have been at work in Naga society. I would like to repeat three of the four stated undercurrents by Chasie: i) ‘Nagas have become disappointed with the failure of the Indo-Naga talks not yielding results even after 19 years…’ ii) ‘Most Nagas have realised that they need to protect whatever

little protections they have under the Indian Constitution. This is where Article 371A becomes so important for them…And while the state government is composed of Naga politicians, most Nagas have lost faith in them and cynically think all of them are there only for the money and would willingly dance to Delhi’s tunes if they get money…’ iii) ‘…Taxation has always been an abhorrent issue where Nagas are concerned…

Taxation was again a large part of the reason for the rise, and sustenance of Naga nationalism although other reasons were there. ‘Ura Uvie’ encapsulated the basic idea. The new Indian law about attaching personal assets for failure to pay taxes would seem to give credence to this original fear of the Nagas. Again, the Nagas have been vehemently opposing the forcible taxations imposed by the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) although the NPGs claim they are fighting for the cause of the Naga people. The NSCN (IM)’s manifesto about nationalising private property, particularly land, only gives rise to more apprehensions about their leadership. Land, particularly village land, gives identity to Nagas and without this they would become non-entities…’

Therefore the present imbroglio is a manifestation of frustration which has to be understood beyond ULB elections or 33 % reservation for women. For that matter, the issue is not just reservation but an understanding of the 330 pages of Nagaland Municipal Act which has to be digested and thoroughly understood. The various Naga tribe organisations want a review and a revision of the Act and are not against the 33 % reservation for women in ULBs per se. These tribal organisations were looking for a space to be heard for long but the present government denied them the space for too long. It has been reflected again and

A view on present Crisis with some Biblical Reflection Atonoka Swu & Lima Lkr

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man; you may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat; for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.’ (Genesis 2:15-17) “Jacob said, sell me your birthright” Esau said,” I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me? Jacob said,” Swear to me first” so he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright” (Gen.25:31-34).

T

here are things which we are entrusted to do and things which we are forbidden to do.

The supersession or replacing Art 371A with 243T to provide backward Quota to Women nearly collapse the whole building. In Nagaland, it’s not the male counter forbidden the female counter to contest the election, but their low ego is stumbling them. The suggestions for accommodating women candidates without dismantling Art.371A were said to be put forwarded, but taking our family subject to the Court(s) by some mothers spearheaded by NMA is not appreciable exercise. Genesis 3 like incident nearly

happen to Naga family once again but thank God that JCC, NTAC and tribal hohos came to our rescue and glad to see the women who are acting like Sarojini Naidu to salvage the Naga society.

Naga people were supposed to be living as a Sovereign Nation as they were Sovereign people from the very beginning when God gave them the present Land. Nagas were not dominated by any Nations around us. We were Sovereign people until British extended their Administration to Naga areas as it was done to other Nations including India.

It’s very sad that a Sovereignty deserving Naga Nation scuffle like this for Article 371A of India. When the Naga Independence was declared a day ahead of them. The history will tell us whether the Nagas went under Indian Union as lazy frogs were gather in a man’s jute bag or someone became Iscariot Judas or Esau during or before transition. Many Naga youths have a question why the Memorandum submitted to Simon Commission in 1929 was not materialized ? The present social unrest is a light reminding to the blunder committed by Naga parents during 40s. The Nagas who are protesting to save the Art.371A at this fragile land is because they have experienced the Atrocities committed to them

by Indian Army where Nagas have lost many thousands lives, their near and dear ones. The protesting hohos are not fighting for selfish interest, but for the

safety of the people who are trying to dismantle the small shelter Indian Govt. provided to us.

Yet, if repeated blunder is committed, the violence, wars, lost of properties, lost of lives etc will continue to explain your blunder. Let not committing plunders become the culture and tradition of Nagas. Art. 371A protection Resolution should be passed in Nagaland Legislative Assembly soon. And Pilate’s replied like; “What I have written I have written,”(John 19:22) stone be erected to keep at widely visible places especially at Nagaland Legislative Assembly premises for all time practices and safety. For Nagas, Art 371A is like a Goshen in the land of Egypt until our Sovereignty is fully restored to us.

Bible says; ”He (God) reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.” (Daniel 2:22). The King said to Daniel;” Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery!”(Daniel 2:47). We pray that this Spirit of God works with Naga Leaders.

So that collective resolution for healing the wounded Naga society and protecting the Naga future will take place soon.

May God Almighty guide the people of “Nagaland For Christ”. So that Social peace, Political stability, better development and Spiritual progress will arrive soon. May God bless the Nagas.

again that this present government is too arrogant. How I wish the CM (or his Cabinet) had provided the space for these organisations early on. This crisis and casualties could have been prevented then. Whose making is the present crisis? Who has created the crisis or who has aggravated it? Till and with the intervention of NBCC and the tripartite signing, I feel the government was winning or at the least it was a win-win situation for the government. That was the best chance for the government to win – if only they could wait for the proposed two months.

Today NTAC and JCC backed by all the various tribal organisations wants the government to step down, which may be too much a demand.

But surely at the least, the CM and the home Minister should resign on moral grounds for two reasons: i) law and order failure and ii) they both are party to the tripartite signing. One wonders, if there is not even a single MLA out of the claimed 53 (or 60) members who will utter, on the change of leadership? Is there no other qualified MLA to become CM of the state? As a matter of fact, the politicians need the public when they have to go back to the polls? Or does the present MLA’s think their political career does not need the public or their political career is over? T.R. Zeliang may be thinking differently because he has already achieved everything – from MLA-to-Minister-toMP-to-CM. For that matter, Zeliang claims he has achieved his political goal of running an opposition-less government. The MLAs of the DAN government seems to not trust one another. And that could be the reason why they do not want to do anything to the present equation. They seem terribly scared of any new equation.

This public is frustrated not just with the Municipal Act but with the entire system. And unfortunately for

this present government, the problems have been accumulated from the previous and successive governments too. This public is vocal and intelligent and could be dangerously volatile too. The present generation is looking for leaders with vision. And at many instances, money power is used to buy or divide leaders and groups. But it appears, this time, it can’t buy them all. The indefinite bandh has made the government dysfunctional (and surely they are worried for the financial months in the corner) and surely the public is suffering. But this public seems to be willing to suffer than give up? The government in its wisdom has failed to convince the Nagas on the present matter. It has rather underestimated the public and the tribal organisations and lost the trust of the public and the Church by attempting to cheat. The government seems to have failed to do its homework carefully.

Press appeals and statements and radio-talks by the CM seem to have no effect anymore. It is too late.

To any outsider, it appears like Nagas are suppressing women’s rights. This has been manifested by event supports like ‘One Billion Rising’ held at Dwarka supporting Naga women reservation. To many, it appears what NMA is doing is what they are supposed to do? But in the end, it should not be a question of the majority vs the minority alone.

Or the powerful suppressing the less powerful. But what is right or wrong.

It should be for the best interest and future of the Nagas. Likewise the conflicting parties should come to its best senses and respond wisely and not in a haste. Unitedly, every Naga stakeholder has to negotiate with Delhi on the matter. We should be rather sitting together and revisiting the clauses of the 330 long pages of the Nagaland Municipal Act.

A STATE ORDERED FROM DELHI AND MANUFACTURED FROM ASSAM FOR NAGALAND?

W

Kaka. D. Iralu

hat have we Nagas come to- if, from our former un-surrendered status of independence, we have now come to a level where, even our own government has to be ordered from one foreign country and formed from another foreign country only to be finally imposed on us by outsiders? (i. e.

From Delhi to Kaziranga to Nagaland).

After sacrificing so much blood and tears for preserving that independent status, is this what Nagas are now going to end up in? Surely, our proud ancestors would be cringing from their tombs if they learned what our present state political leaders are up to. But the most disgusting thing is that, the overwhelming majority of educated Nagas no longer bother about honor, integrity or truth. Far from such noble pursuits, today, most Nagas would embrace anything- including the destruction of our own national political future- if any offer for such a transfer come coated with Indian Rupees. However, such an unprincipled, money minded stance, is totally unacceptable for the last remnants of a once proud race of Nagas who have left their footprints in the annals of world history.

In the recent past, for once, (in an otherwise stale and rotten period of our history where we have docilely allowed others to rule over us for 57 years), I for one, was excited by the sudden united public agitations. I was excited because Nagas were once again united over the issue of whether we will live under our own customary laws or be

dictated by the Indian Constitution and its laws.

This sudden development had come from a most unexpected quarter like a bolt from the blue. It came at a time when we national workers, (who do not extort or kill our own fellow Nagas), had been reduced to a small minority with almost no funds, no soldiers and no open public support. In the midst of such difficulties and indifference from the public, we were thinking that God himself had intervened and had once again awakened Naga conscience to the truths and rights of their blood sodden history. This was because suddenly, we were reunited as a nation like in the 1950’s where there was no Revolutionary Government or a State Government or an NSCN or a broken and splintered NNC. After many years of disunity, we were once again a united nation opposing a foreign nation that had invaded our country. Therefore, hope was again blowing in the winds. But as suddenly, that hope now seems to be once again left hanging in the hands of some foreigners who wants to posses our national wealth and also use our country for its defense purposes.

In such a time as this, fellow Nagas, what will your response be? Will you once again bow down to foreign rule and betray the deaths of all who have died so that we can be an independent nation with a country we can call our own? In such a time as this, will you stand up for your own rights and your own rule or once again bow down to foreign rule and foreign citizenship? May the winds of freedom that is once again blowing through our hills and mountains finally set us free from foreign oppression and foreign rule.

Women Reservation versus Naga Customary Law: Dialectical Approach Sira Kharay

constantly invalidates the assump- tomary law. tion that all is well with the status Ironically, some tribal women Advocate of women in the Naga society has units have even withdrawn their agaland for the first time is been completely sidelined. membership from NMA. NMA has debating on the subject of been thus pushed to a defensive Article 371A of the Consti- Polarising Factors corner for the fault of their own husPoliticking over the issue has re- bands. But this writer has not come tution since the history of its formation on 1st December, 1963. sulted in deep social polarisation on across any valid argument for limitThe debate is crucial. Not because institutional lines. Flip-flop mishan- ing the proposed affirmative action to “33% women reservation” in the Ur- dling of the situation thereafter by ULBs alone. Call me a feminist if you ban Local Bodies (ULBs) transgress- the State Government coupled with like – NMA must carry the legitimate es Naga customary law, but because its incompetence led to the avoid- voice down to the grass-root village it evokes a serious constitutional able impasse. Thanks to the State traditional authorities up till the State question as to the sanctity of Naga Government for finally giving way to Legislative Assembly. customary law vis-a-vis inviolability people’s voice. Bordering on the absurd, however, NATC-JCC-ACAUT Reservation Not of Article 371A. The apprehension of the tribal are now serving folk-martial diktats Dehors Article 371A To label the fallout, however, as a hohos cannot be faulted as totally on the Government and Nagaland for misplaced. Not because the con- all the wrong reasons continues to be case of gender contestation between men and women is to misread the cept of “urban municipal law” per in the headlines.

The stance of the tribal hohos whole issue. Naga Hoho has categorse threatens Naga customary law for all purposes, but because Part IXA unfortunately has been thus so di- ically declared that “no Naga man is threatens to take away the partial vergent and rife with confusion. The against participation of womenfolk” right to internal self-determination constant inability to articulate the and men are “open to any percentprotected under Article 371A. More moot point of contention without ref- age, be it 33% or even more”. NMA has so because Naga customary law and erence to “33% women reservation” equally made it clear that Naga womidentity do not exist outside the spe- in particular makes the issue even en are not challenging the sanctity of cial autonomy guaranteed under Ar- more problematic. To make it worst, Article 371A. In other words, in as ticle 371A. rhetoric often relapses into a banal much as Naga Hoho is interested in However, the apropos issue has form of “women-bashing” ending up empowering women, NMA is equally been bastardized as mere instance in gender-shaming and intimidating interested in protecting Article 371A. of “traditional men” resisting of women. Naga Mothers Association There is thus no actual conflict be“women empowerment” on a slip- (NMA) became a natural scapegoat. tween Article 371A and Article 243T shod analysis. Name-shaming of Consequently, a false dichotomy has as misconceived. More so because to Nagaland continues. Whereas, the been projected as though the narra- contend that “33% women reservacollective gender consciousness tive of women rights is in collision tion” infringes Naga customary law inherent in the Naga society which course with the practice of Naga cus- is to argue that “human rights” are

N

antithetical to Naga customary law.

Even assuming that Article 243T offends Naga customary law, “No custom or tradition, no cultural values or religious beliefs, can justify depriving a human being of his or her human rights” (United Nations).

Threat to Article 371A Every incidence of municipal taxation or mode of ownership of property cannot also be denounced as inimical to Naga customary law.

However, to contend that “urban municipal law” is altogether a different regime of law not relatable to custom is conceptually fallacious. “Urban municipal law” is not merely a “civic law” depart from social reality, but it constitutes a regime of local self-governance which necessarily originates from a social and cultural context.

Therefore, Naga municipal law must also necessarily emanate from its local customary practice and not from the general Indian municipal code.

It is thus not Article 243T or the term “Nagaland Municipal Act” per se that actually threatens Article 371A, but Part IXA and the fact that Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 originates from Part IXA and not from the plenary legislative power of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly under Article 371A. Hence, the present stalemate – Because the fate of Article 371A cannot also be compromised in

the name of extending “33% women tected under Article 371A as local reservation” unless the same origi- self-governance conceptually cannot nates without reference to Part IXA. exist outside customary law regime.

Even otherwise, Part IXA is in Applicability of Part IXA inherent conflict with Article 371A. Problem, however, arises with Part IXA makes the members of the the above construction in the event Panchayats a composite part of the Part IXA is held to be applicable to structure of the Committee for Disthe State of Nagaland. To draw a con- trict Planning and Committee for clusion, it may be seen that Part IXA Metropolitan Planning as contemdeals with “Municipalities” and Arti- plated therein. However, applicabilcle 243ZC therein exempts the hill ar- ity of Part IX being exempted, there eas of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council is no Panchayat system in the State of and the Scheduled Areas and tribal Nagaland. Thus, the Committee for areas under the Fifth Schedule and District Planning and Committee for Sixth Schedule from the applicability Metropolitan Planning as contemof the Part. plated under Part IXA are at odds Reference may also be made to with the State of Nagaland. the preceding Part IX which deals with “Panchayats”. It must be seen Conclusion To resolve the conflict, howevthat in the case of Part IX, Article 243M therein specifically exempts er, the latin legal maxim “generalia not only Nagaland, but also Megha- specialibus non derogant” must be laya, Mizoram and the hill areas of brought into full play and Part IXA beManipur from the applicability of the ing a general law and Article 371A a Part. From a comparative perusal of special law, the special law under ArPart IX and Part IXA, it appears that ticle 371A must be presumed to preNagaland is not exempted from the vail over the general law under Part IXA. Accordingly, the safest political applicability of Part IXA. recourse for the State Government for now may be to invoke its plenary Part IXA Conflicts Article 371A But municipal law being a regime legislative power under Article 371A of local self-governance, applicabil- and to revisit and extricate the existity of Part IXA to Nagaland is not in ing Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 accordance with the spirit of Article from Part IXA with a specific reserva371A. Part IXA effectively takes away tion clause for women without referthe customary law autonomy pro- ence to Article 243T.

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.

MONDAY 20•02•2017

ENTERTAINMENT

Elvis Presley's grandchildren taken into child custody The Legend of the Blue Sea season 2

R

ock n' roll legend Elvis Presleys daughter Lisa Marie is out of rehabilitation centre, and her eight-year-old twin daughters are taken into child custody, new court papers reveal. Lisa Marie admits her life is a "hunka, hunka, burnin'" awful in her own California filing, in which she counters her estranged husband's spousal-support demands by calling him a money-grabbing paedophile who should keep his hands off her inheritance, reports pagesix.com. The husband, Michael Lockwood, has hundreds of inappropriate photographs of children on his computer, she charges in the papers, filed this month in California Superior Court in Los Angeles. "I was shocked and horrified and sick to my stomach," she wrote in her papers. Lockwood, who has not been charged with any crime, is Lisa Marie's fourth spouse.

She revealed in her filing that she gets a $100,000 monthly inheritance check and has a 15 per cent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises that is held in a trust. "I cannot recall the last time I spent money on clothes and shoes of any value," she told the court.

Lisa Marie said she lives rent-free with her older daughter, Riley Keough, and pays for two full-time nannies for the twins, Harper and Finley. The lawsuit did not explain why they were in the custody of California child-protective services. She said Lockwood spent more than $1 million with her credit cards, on purchases he didn't authorise. He denies that claim, contending Lisa Marie has more money than she's letting on and that her insistence that he work only for her essentially destroyed his "music career".

Lockwood also insisted through his lawyer, Jeff Sturman, on Saturday that he is innocent of her "highly sensational" and "inaccurate" child-porn charges, reports pagesix.com. Lockwood wants the court to order her to pay him $40,000 a month in spousal support and $100,000 in attorneys' fees. His wife, he said, "has great difficulty being honest and she rarely, if ever, accepts personal responsibility for her own wrongdoing". A hearing has been scheduled on the case for February 22.

Next generation to take centre stage

T

he Legend of the Blue Sea, a Korean series revolving around the relationship between a mermaid named Shim Cheong and conman Heo Joon-jae, completed its 20-episode run in January. But the fans are eager to find out when their favourite celebrities Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun will return with a second instalment of the show.

The Legend Of The Blue Sea season 2: Lee Min Ho to reveal new details on series renewal?

Although SBS is yet to reveal their plans to renew the period drama, speculations are rife about season 2.

Since the fictional series concluded by featuring a happy ending for the on-screen couple and teasing a baby on the way for them, rumours are doing the rounds about a time jump in the new season.

The next instalment is likely to focus on little mermaid Yoo-na and her relationship with the baby of Heo Joon-jae and Shim Cheong. It will be interesting to find out whether the kid will be a merman or human.

The second season might also feature the child of Cha Shi-ah and Tae-oh as the main antagonist. It will most probably focus on the character's involvement in the relationship between the two protagonists.

The mini-series could also feature Lee Hee-joon, Na Young-hee, Hwang Shin-hye, Sung Dong-il, Moon So-ri, Park Hae-soo, Park Ji-il, Hong Jin-kyung, Lee Jae-won and Lee Ho-jae in the new season.

So, K-drama fans across the globe can expect Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun to return with a new set of cast members in The Legend of the Blue Sea season 2.

However, the followers of the show will have to wait for an official confirmation from SBS to know more about the storyline and casting. Until then, catch up with the 20 episodes of season 1 online here.

Source: Ibtimes

Source: IANS

Nicole Kidman feels 'so lucky' Indian singer collaborates with Ricky Martin to be married to Keith Urban

I

ndian singer Akasa Singh has collaborated with Spanish singer Ricky Martin for a English-Hindi mix song titled "Vente Pa Ca". She says it was a dream to work with him. The duet with Martin for his recent hit reggaeton single "Vente Pa Ca" has been curated

by Sony Music US and India and A & R teams, read a statement.

"Ricky Martin is a legend and working with him was a dream! When I heard the song for the first time, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. The hook of the song stays with you long after you are done listening and that's what I love about

the song," Singh said in a statement.

The song has Martin singing in English, while Singh croons in Hindi. "We reached out to Ricky and his management as we knew this would be a perfect match and Akasa's mellifluous voice gave this collaboration an instant nod. We are confident the duet will place her on a global platform and this is just the beginning, we have lots in store," Rohan Jha, Head Pop Sony Music, India said. The song is available on music portal Saavn.

Source: IANS

Brooklyn Beckham discusses growing up with a famous family...

C M Y K

H

e's the eldest child of a former Spice Girl and an football legend. But Brooklyn Beckham has admitted that David and Victoria Beckham's fame went over his head until he hit his teens. The aspiring photographer, 17, posed as Wonderland's cover star in a piece titled Ain't A Boy No More, and revealed he was hoping to prove his own talent and step out of his family's shadow. Posing for the cover in a Burberry February 2017 breton stripe top and skinny jeans, the teen admitted: 'I didn't actually know that they (his parents) were big until I was about 13.' And opening up about the moment their fame dawned on him, he added: 'I went to a football game and people were shouting my dad's name and I was like, "What?! Oh my God. I don't look at them like that." Brooklyn, who boasts 9.2 million Instagram followers, is set to release

his debut photographic book release in the summer. 'It's pretty exciting to put my work out there and show people that I'm not just doing it because of who my parents are', he admitted.

Brooklyn is older brother to siblings Romeo, 14, Cruz, 11, and Harper, 5. The

cover comes as he broke his collarbone during a family skiing trip in Canada last week. The teen uploaded a video showing the moment he broke his collarbone while snowboarding, before he shared an image of his X-Ray which displayed his broken collar bone. The video, which was viewed almost 400,000 times in the first four hours, was simply uploaded with the caption 'Broke my collarbone at the end.' Brooklyn's breton top featured on the cover is one of the Burberry February 2017 Collection pieces, which is available to pre-order ahead of the show on Monday. Two looks from the collection are now available for pre-order on Burberry.com, in Burberry stores globally, as well as via the brand’s digital platforms on Facebook Messenger, Line, WeChat and Kakao, for delivery from the moment the show starts.

N

icole Kidman feels "so lucky" to be married to Keith Urban. The couple who have children Sunday, eight, and Faith, six, together - tied the knot in 2006 and Nicole says their "absolute commitment and kindness" to each other, has kept their marriage strong for so long. She told news.com. au: "Keith and I always say that we are just so lucky to have each other. In this world, to be able to come back to that Source: dailymail love and that strength is so nourishing

and powerful. "And I am coming up an 11-year wedding anniversary, 12 years together, and that's a big thing.

And that is through absolute commitment and kindness, the desire to protect and help each other, what our relationship is." Nicole will turn 50 this year but she isn't planning a huge bash and just wants to spend time with her family. She said: "I get enough attention, so I am happy to have a small thing. I want a birthday cake, please and I would just love to be able to get into bed with my kids and my husband and snuggle. We'll order takeout and watch a movie. That is what I'll do and that for me is a great birthday."

Meanwhile, Nicola is currently starring in 'Big Little Lies', alongside Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoe Kravitz and she was full of praise for her co-stars.

She said: "I've been friends with Reese for a long time, so we didn't have to rehearse that relationship. But now I'd say that Laura is also one of my best friends. Shai is just a light, and Zoe I have known since she was little." The TV series examines the friendships between the women and Nicole found it easy to relate. She said: "I am lucky. I am one of those women who was raised by women, so I feel very comfortable with women. I have a sister, I have aunts, and I have a mum who is very strong and opinionated.

I have one son and three daughters, so I have an enormous amount of female energy in my family. "I am still best friends with my next door neighbour, Annette, and I have known her since I was three-and-a-half. We are both 49-years-old now. That's incredible and I have other friends like that.

Keith is always saying, 'It's amazing that you have all these girlfriends'."

Source: femalefirst

NOW SHOWING REVISED TICKET RATES (Silver) : `.120 (Gold) : `. 200 (Recliner) : `. 400

10:00 AM, 02:50 PM 07:50 PM

12:30 PM & 05:30 PM

Hillstar NOW SHOWING

Want Alia to sing in reality shows, says Varun

A

ctor Varun Dhawan, who is impressed with his "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" co-star Alia Bhatts singing skills, wants the actress to participate in singing reality shows. Speaking at the Mirchi Music Awards on Saturday here, Varun said: "Alia sings very well and I want Alia to participate in singing reality shows like 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' and 'Indian Idol'. I feel she can be a winner too." Alia, who has sung for films like "Highway", "Humpty Sharma ki Dul-

hania" and "Udta Punjab", crooned the reprised version of "Tamma tamma again" from her forthcoming movie "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" at the event.

"Music is one of the important parts of Bollywood movies. Therefore, I feel there should be more awards on music as sometimes a movie gets a good opening based on its music. Music increases the excitement of a movie," she said. "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" will hit the screens next month.

Source: IANS

H

ugh Jackman arrived at the premiere of Logan with a small bandage on his nose after taking to Twitter to announce he had been treated for skin cancer once again.

But Jackman insisted he’s OK. “It is fine, it is all done, all fixed, all out. Thank you for asking,” he said at the Friday night debut of the film at the Berlin Film Festival.

Jackman revealed Monday that he had another basal cell carcinoma on his nose, and tweeted out a

Hugh Jackman has an update on his condition post cancer treatment picture of his bandaged nose, and urged people to wear sunscreen.

But his focus on Friday was the Logan premiere. It’s the third installment of the Wolverine spinoff series, and it may be the most ambitious.

It’s competing at the Berlin Film Festival, which was a goal for Jackman when he signed on to do it.

“I didn’t want it to be seen as a comic book movie, I wanted it to be seen as a film on its own,” he said.

Stewart said he didn’t need any convincing to get on board.

JOLLY LL.B 2

11:00 AM | 05:00 PM

THE GHAZI ATTACK

“I had no doubts whatsoever.

When I began to understand some of the content of this film, I was all for it. The film is unusual, very different and I think remarkable,” he said.

Jackman has said that this movie is the end of the road for him and Wolverine. So what does he remember of his last day playing the mutant?

“The last day was an action day and I was sore and hurt and it was great,” he laughed.

Source: AP

02:00 PM | 08:00 PM

12

MONDAY 20•02•2017

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

De Villiers leads Bale back with a bang as Real tighten grip Calm South Africa to win over NZ

C M Y K

MADRID, FEBRUARY 19 (REUTERS): Gareth Bale marked his return to action after a long injury layoff by sealing a 2-0 victory for Real Madrid over Espanyol on Saturday to provisionally stretch Zinedine Zidane's side's lead at the top of La Liga to three points.

Alvaro Morata headed home a floated cross from Isco to put Real ahead after 33 minutes against a stubborn Espanyol side and Bale steered another pass from the Spain midfielder in off the post in the 83rd minute shortly after coming off the bench.

Bale, making his first appearance since damaging ankle ligaments against Sporting Lisbon in November, netted his eighth goal of the season. Real also set a club record of scoring in 42 consecutive games in all competitions.

"I'm delighted that Gareth is back and especially for him, he was so keen to return and feel like a player again after almost three months away from the pitch," Zidane told reporters.

Real top the standings on 52 points, three clear of Sevilla, who beat Eibar 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Pablo Sarabia and Vi-

tolo in either half, and four ahead of Barcelona, who host Leganes on Sunday.

Real have two games in hand on Sevilla and one on Barcelona.

Sevilla kept the pressure on Real with the help of an inspired performance from Stevan Jovetic, a loan signing from Inter Milan in January, who laid on the passes for both their goals.

The Montenegrin for-

ward conjured up a classy piece of skill in the Eibar area before serving a cross for Sarabia to volley home from close range in the 30th minute and then pulled the ball back for Vitolo to make sure of the win in injury time.

The win gives Sevilla a timely confidence boost before their Champions League last-16 game with Leicester on Wednesday

and their local derby at Real Betis next Saturday.

"We knew what we had to do but we didn't have the best of days. We committed a lot of errors and gave the ball away a lot but these are the types of games you have to win because they determine whether you are title candidates or not," Sarabia told BeIN sports.

Earlier on Saturday, Kevin Gameiro came off the

bench to score a hat-trick in the space of five minutes to fire Atletico Madrid to a 4-1 win over struggling Sporting Gijon that kept them fourth in the standings on 45 points.

Yannick Carrasco had given Atletico the lead 12 seconds into the second half but Sergio Alvarez gave the impressive home side a deserved equaliser in the 49th minute.

For the second week in a row, however, Atletico dug deep to rescue the points from an unconvincing display.

Antoine Griezmann had a goal harshly ruled out for offside but laid on the pass for Gameiro's first strike, the former Sevilla player calmly rounding Ivan Cuellar to put Atletico ahead in the 80th minute.

Gameiro ruthlessly killed off Sporting with two quick-fire strikes, latching on to a pass from Thomas Partey to score in the 81st minute and taking advantage of another through ball from Griezmann to complete his treble.

The Frenchman is the first Atletico player to score a hat-trick in the league as a substitute while his treble was the second-fastest in the history of La Liga, behind only Bebeto's for Deportivo La Coruna against Albacete in 1995.

"We didn't imagine anything else than the difficult game we had. Atletico have always struggled to win here," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.

"The substitutes gave us an extra boost and made us stronger in midfield and then Gameiro's speed settled the game."

HAMILTON, FEBRUARY 19 (REUTERS): South Africa captain AB de Villiers calmly guided his side to a tense four-wicket victory over New Zealand with one ball to spare in a rain-affected first one-day international in Hamilton on Sunday.

De Villiers scored 37 not out and ensured number eight batsman Andile Phehlukwayo (29) kept a cool head as the pair put on 54 to reach their 208run victory target and earn a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The visitors, who had looked to be cruising to victory at 117-1 with 14 overs remaining courtesy of Quinton de Kock's 69, lost four wickets in 14 balls to slump to 126-5 before Chris Morris helped his captain in a 30-run partnership.

South Africa needed 22 runs from the final two overs and scored 10 from Trent Boult in the penultimate one which included a six from Phehlukwayo, who repeated the feat against Tim Southee in the final over. De Villiers belted Southee for four off the penultimate ball to clinch the victory.

New Zealand made

207-7 after heavy rain over the past three days had forced a delay of more than three hours and reduced the match to 34-overs-aside. "It was really tough out there," De Villiers said. "The wicket turned so much in the evening. I thought it would skid on and get a bit flatter. "From past experience this becomes a good batting track in the evening and this was far from it. "I've never seen a wicket turn so much in my life."

New Zealand struggled for much of their innings particularly up front against tight bowling from Morris, who took the first four wickets as the hosts slumped to 82-4 in the 16th over.

But Morris, who had figures of 4-24 from his first five overs, was then taken apart by Colin de Grandhomme (34 not out) and Southee (24 not out) in his final two.

De Grandhomme and Southee blasted 51 runs from 23 balls, including smashing 38 runs from Morris's final 12 deliveries to blow out his figures to 4-62 from seven overs.

The second match is in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Jalukie Pliskova wins 2nd title of the year IPL franchises to complete squad today New village 11 inter th

DOHA, FEBRUARY 19 (REUTERS): The 24-year-old Czech, seeded number two, took just under an hour and 20 minutes to end the former world number one's hopes of a first success of 2017, breaking the Dane's serve in the opening game and rarely looking back.

She took the first set comfortably after racing into a 4-1 lead, dropping her serve just once in a mid-set stumble. But the second was a far tighter affair before Pliskova ended the match as she had begun it, by breaking Wozniacki's serve.

Pliskova felt beating Serena Williams on the way to the U.S. Open final last year was a turning point in her career, which has seen her add two WTA titles already in the opening six weeks of 2017 to bring her total haul to eight.

After winning the Brisbane International in January, she rose to third in the women's rankings,

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark v Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic - Doha, Qatar. (Reuters Photo)

while Wozniacki -- a U.S. Open finalist in 2014 -- is currently 18th.

"I'm having a great start to the year, which is always important" said Pliskova before receiving her trophy in Doha.

"Last year was a breakthrough. (Reaching) the U.S. Open final was my biggest result. It gave me a lot

of confidence."

Wozniacki conceded Pliskova deserved her victory, but she said: "I've been proud of how I've been playing this week.

I'm disappointed with the loss, but Karolina has been playing well.

"She deserved this one, but I'm going to try to get my revenge next time."

BENGALURU, FEBRUARY 19 (IANS): A total of 357 cricketers, including 130 from abroad, will go under the hammer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) players' auction to be held here on Monday.

The pool comprises 62 batsmen, 117 bowlers, 148 all-rounders and 30 wicket-keepers.

As many as 227 uncapped players are waiting to make their debut this edition inclusive of five players from Afghanistan -- Asghar Stanikzai, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad, Dawlat Zadran and Rashid Khan.

Delhi Daredevils (Rs 23.1 crore balance purse), Kings XI Punjab (Rs 23.35 crore), Kolkata Knight Riders (Rs 19.75 crore), defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (Rs 20.9 crore), Royal Challengers Bangalore (Rs 17.8 crore), Rising Pune Supergiants (Rs 17.5 crore), Gujarat Lions (Rs 14.35 crore) and Mumbai Indians (Rs 11.5 crore) are expected to buy smartly to complete their squads.

Seven marquee players -- Ben Stokes, Eoin Morgan, Angelo Mathews, Patrick Cummins, Mitchell Johnson, Ishant Sharma and Chris Woakes -- have the highest reserve price of Rs 2 crore whereas 15 players fall under the reserve price of Rs 1-1.5 crore.

Stokes, Morgan and Woakes were crucial members of the English team which lost the 2016 World Twenty20 final to the West Indies.

Mathews featured in Kolkata Knight Riders, now-disbanded Pune Warriors India, and Delhi Daredevils in earlier IPL editions. While playing for Pune and Delhi, the all-rounder had been auctioned for more than Rs 5 crore.

It will be interesting to see how the franchisees react when Johnson's name comes up. The left-armer has retired from international cricket and even though he has enough IPL experience, Rs 2 crore is seen as too high a tag for him.

Ishant, who played for Rising Pune Supergiants, will also look to prove that he can be good enough in the shorter formats as well as Tests.

Among the players who are in the Rs 1.5 crore bracket, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult, English wicket-

keeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow and West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder can be interesting picks for the franchises.

New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson, English bowling allrounder Chris Joran and Irfan Pathan will also be on focus.

Among the Indians, batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, left-arm tweaker Pragyan Ojha, seamer Irfan Pathan, paceman Nathu Singh, Manoj Tiwari, Karn Sharma, Varun Aaron and Rahul Sharma will hope strong bidding for them.

Ahead of the auction, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Committee of Administrators (COA) has made it clear that board Vice Presidents C. K. Khanna, Amitabh Choudhary, Anirudh Chaudhry and any other persons who claim to be ex-officio members of the IPL Governing Council on account of being office-bearers of the BCCI shall not be entitled to attend the auction.

"In respect of other members of the IPL GC, only those persons who are not disqualified in terms of the strict understanding/ interpretation of the disqualifications in terms of the various orders issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court may attend the IPL Player Auctions," a statement read.

block tourney

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 19 (MExN): The New Jalukie village 11th inter block tournament was conducted from February 9 to 13. 32 teams participated in football and volleyball events.

D bloc emerged winners of the men’s football with runner up being B block. In the men’s volleyball tournament, A block (A team) were the winners, while A Bloc (B team) came second. In the women’s volleyball event, B block was the winner while Nkwareu came second.

Johny Ruangmei, OSD, Nagaland State Disaster Management Agency and Bangdi Chawang, General Secretary, BJP, were the chief guests during the opening and closing ceremonies respectively. Colonel NMS Thakur, Commandant, 36th Assam Rifles, Jalukie and 2nd in Commandant, Rajiv Kalita also graced the closing ceremony as guest of honour and special guest respectively.

Farah bows out indoors Cup shocks as Premier League clubs falter with European record

LONDON, FEBRUARY 19 (REUTERS): Mo Farah ended his indoor career with a new European record, winning the 5,000 metres at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday in a time of 13 minutes 09.16 seconds.

Farah, Britain's four-times Olympic champion, plans to focus on road racing after the outdoor world championships in London in August when he will say his final farewell to the track.

The 33-year-old was helped to break the indoor mark at the Birmingham Indoor Arena in what became a two-way duel with Kenyan Albert Rop, who stretched him over the final two laps.

It was a fitting way for Britain's most successful long-distance runner to end his indoor career - and a marked improvement on his only other appearance this season, when he came seventh in a cross-country event in Edinburgh last month.

"I knew from Edinburgh I needed to do some work," he told the BBC. "I had to go away and leave my family behind to do more training. It has paid off. Hard work pays off."

Farah shaved almost two seconds off the European record - and more than 12 off the previous British best - after pacemaker Adam Clarke had taken the 11-man field through a fast opening to the race.

Urging the crowd to raise the noise levels, Farah exuded his trademark calmness as he tucked in be-

Great Britain's Mo Farah celebrates winning the Men's 5000m.(Reuters Photo)

hind Rop for the final stages.

He hit the front with two laps to go before extending his lead, much to the joy of the large crowd.

Farah did not realise he had broken the record but paid tribute to the support he has received during his stellar career, in which he has won the Olympic 5,000 and 10,000-metres double twice.

"The crowds have been so good for me over the years. I will miss it," he said. "I can't quite believe it's my last race."

LONDON, FEBRUARY 19 (REUTERS): Lincoln City produced a huge FA Cup shock to beat top-flight Burnley 1-0 away and become the first minor league club to reach the quarter-finals for 103 years on Saturday.

On a day of fifth-round toil for the top-flight sides, English champions Leicester City's problems continued to mount as they went down 1-0 at third-tier Millwall, who played most of the second half with 10 men.

Chelsea, chasing a league and FA Cup double, restored some order with goals from Pedro and Diego earning them a 2-0 win at Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Manchester City were held to a 0-0 draw at Huddersfield Town.

Middlesbrough quelled a stirring comeback by third-tier Oxford United to win 3-2 at the Riverside Stadium.

The magic of the Cup will continue on Monday when Lincoln's National League (fifth-tier) rivals Sutton United host Arsenal.

Holders Manchester United face Blackburn Rovers on Sunday after Tottenham Hotspur go to London rivals Fulham.

Millwall's third win over Premier League opposition this season, secured by Shaun Cummings's 90th-minute goal

Burnley's Andre Gray has a shot at goal. (Reuters Photo)

non-league team to be in the last eight," Lincoln's young manager Danny Cowley said.

"We are realists. I will never ask the players to do something they're not capable of.

But we thought if we could get the game plan right we could compete."

Burnley had lost only three of their previous 29 home matches in all competitions but failed to make their perceived superiority show in a FOOTBALL MIRACLE scrappy game.

"It's a football miracle for a Just when it seemed Burnat the New Den, would ordinarily have topped the shocks.

But they were outdone by Lincoln.

Sean Raggett's headed goal in the 90th minute continued the dream run of the National League leaders who easily matched a side 81 places higher up the English football ladder and who held Premier League leaders Chelsea to a draw a week ago.

ley had gained the upper hand Lincoln were awarded a corner and Raggett rose above a crowd of players to head the ball over the line despite keeper Tom Heaton's attempt to claw it out.

Lincoln, only the third minor league side to beat topflight opposition in nearly 30 years, are now just one win away from a semi-final at Wembley Stadium.

Burnley, meanwhile, were the fall guys again, having been beaten by minor league Wimbledon in 1975 when

they were also a top-flight side.

"My team were nowhere near the level they can show," manager Sean Dyche said.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri made 10 changes for his side's trip to south London Millwall -- his eyes fixed on the his side's relegation battle and a looming Champions League last-16 tie against Spanish club Sevilla.

Millwall had Jake Cooper sent off in the 52nd minute for a second booking but even a numerical advantage failed to stir a Leicester side who suffered a sucker punch when Cummings was played in by Lee Gregory and fired past RonRobert Zieler.

"When it was 10 versus 11 they played better than us with more desire and heart and deserved to win," said Ranieri, whose side have lost five consecutive league games.

Chris Maguire and Toni Martinez scored within a minute of each other to haul Oxford level at Middlesbrough but their hopes of emulating Lincoln and Millwall were ended four minutes from time when Cristhian Stuani tapped in Boro's winner.

Promotion-chasing Huddersfieldenjoyedarecordcrowd of 24,000 at their John Smith's Stadium as they matched Guardiola's City. "A clean sheet against Manchester City makes our chest bigger," Huddersfield boss David Wagner said.

Published, Printed and Edited by Dr. Aküm Longchari from House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur at Themba Printers and Morung Publications , 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