February 22nd, 2017

C M Y K

DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 50 • 12 PAGes • 5

www.morungexpress.com

WednesdAY • FebruArY 22 • 2017

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

In my tradition, to be noble is to give to those who have less. It is an issue of service and leadership Trump names outspoken general as NSA PAGe 09

Prohibitory orders lifted in Kohima and Dimapur DImapur, February 21 (mexN): The prohibitory orders imposed in Kohima and Dimapur under Section 144 CrPC have been revoked with immediate effect. The Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Kohima, Rajesh Soundararajan (IAS) has lifted the prohibitory order imposed in some places of Kohima – Old Ministers’ Hill, Jail Colony and Raj Bhavan area – as law and order situation has been found to have improved and normalcy is returning. The prohibitory order was issued on February 2 in the mentioned areas. In a separate press release, Limasunep Jamir (IPS), Commissioner of Police, Dimapur informed that the prohibitory order imposed in the areas within Dimapur Town till Chumukedima since January 31 has been revoked.

CMA ‘disassociates’ from Naga Mothers Association

All of us should be proud of our mother language: Gov

o F

T R u T H

— Norbert Hill

One million bankers to strike work on February 28

PAGe 05

PAGe 08

How a hydroger saved a disappearing forest!

Imti Longchar

Kengjung | February 21

The hydroger- a simple and cheap machine developed by the Nagaland Empowerment of People through Energy Development (NEPeD) to harness power from water- is not only lighting up lives but also playing a vital role in environment conservation.

At Kengjung, a remote village in Tuensang district, before NEPeD intervened by installing the hydroger to provide electricity, the village was dependent on pine trees that carpeted their landscape for almost everything- firewood, timber, mattresses (pine leaves) and most importantly to light up homes.

With no alternative source of electricity, the villagers would use pinewood as torch in the night. The children used it as candle replica to study. The church at times used it for holding evening service. Within no time, most of the pine trees, which once adorned the village jurisdiction, had fallen to the axe.

For want of electricity, the Kengjung villagers had tried almost all options that could have been humanly possible in this remote area.

In the adjacent mountains, the effervescent glow of lights emitting from electrified settlements under the shadows of the approaching dusk mesmerized them more with a yearning to light up their village.

First, in the 80s, the villagers willingly played the labor party and carried a transformer and some electric post given by the

At Kengjung village, the simple power-harnessing machine, hydroger, not only lit up the lives of the villagers but also taught a lesson on environment conservation

(L) NEPeD engineers repair the hydroger installed at Kengjung village recently. (Morung Photo) (R) Wiring up Kengjung village after installing of hydroger in November, 2012. (Photo credit: Sentinaro Alley)

power department all the way from Chilliso village.

It took them days of back breaking trek to get it home.

There were no roads- only downhill and uphill muddy footpaths across mountains and rivers.

After reaching their village, the exhausted villagers realized in dismay that the transformer bestowed to them by the department of power was non-operational. It was actually useless. Hurt and angry beyond words, the villagers, instead of discarding the transformer in their backyards to rust, returned it back the same way they came.

In the 90s, the villagers bought solar panels- all 5 points of them. The warran-

ty was for five years. Before the end of three years, the batteries had died on them.

Then the villagers travelled all the way to Burma (Myanmar) to get electric batteries- at least so that the church could be lit up for the evening services and important programs. Then a few houses in the villages pooled some money and bought a Chinese made hydroger machine from Khamti in Burma. This machine died on them before long.

“Every day, every household in the village would bring baskets and baskets of the chopped pine wood trees back to the village. This was our only source of light, this was our solace from the darkness,” Yamto, village coun-

cil chairman of Kengjung recalled.

There was no such thing as a life after dark. “Our life ended with the setting of the sun. We led a sedentary life- wake up in the morning, cook food, go to field, return, cook and eat food and go to sleep once it becomes dark,” Yamto said.

It was only after NEPeD installed the hydroger in the village in 2012 that the villagers stopped cutting down the pine trees and are now making efforts to preserve the trees. “Though we have made no resolution, the villagers in their own volition have stopped cutting the trees unless it is a necessity,” the chairman claimed.

While the rejuvenation of the pine forest may

take time, the forest conservation effort of the village is evident as patches of young pine trees can be seen spread across the face of the mountains.

and no progression of life.

“If there is no electricity there can be no progressive mentality. Kengjung before hydroger was all about pinewood, lot of smoke inhalation which was affecting their health and there was no productivity,” Imnayanger said.

However, attitude changed with power. After the installation of the hydroger and the whole household electrified, Kengjung village, with advocacy from the NEPeD team, built sty for the pigs, constructed latrines in every house in the village, stopped cutting down the pine trees and resolved to preserve the surrounding catchment area where the machine was installed.

The village also became more productive. “Men can now weave baskets, women handloom weaving and other household chores in the evening and the children can study comfortably,” the village council chairman summed up.

After decades of appealing for electricity from the government, only recently, in the month of January 2017, the Nagaland power department installed a transformer at the village.

While the villagers are happy that finally ‘electricity’ has reached them, they declared with a sense of ownership and pride that the changes ushered in on their lives by the “simple hydroger can never be replicated by the transformer.”

KohIma, February 21 (mexN): The Chakhesang Mothers Association (CMA) No electricity, today stated that “due to the no progression of life present imbroglio on ULB Environment conservaElection, CMA disassociates tion is not the only notable from the good office of the changes ushered in by the Naga Mothers Association hydroger to the village. It also (NMA) for the time being.” improved the living stanCMA President Zaposhelu dards, hygiene, productivity Venuh and General Secretary Wechete-u Khape in a and health of the villagers by press release informed that leaps-and-bounds. this decision was arrived at Imnayanger Imchen, a an emergency office bearMechanical Engineer uners’ meeting held on Februder NEPeD who oversaw ary 20 at Pfutsero “to honour the installation of the hyand respect the directives droger recalled the living of the Chakhesang Pubcondition of the villagelic Organisation (CPO) as pigs reared in the open, being part and parcel of its open defecation, sickness apex tribal organisation.”

The CMA acknowledged and honoured the NMA for safeguarding and protecting the rights and interest of the womenfolk and said that the “dignity, labour Morung Express News Kohima Village, Dr. Shürhozelie & sacrifices of the NMA is joined politics in 1969. He is one Dimapur | February 21 placed on high record by all New DelhI, Febru- in the world, why not give of the founding members of Nagawomen an opportunity of ary 21 (aNI): With the and CM designate, Dr. ShürhozeMorung Express News womenfolk till today.” land’s first regional party, United Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu will be failure to contain the agita- participating in it? Why they lie Liezietsu, today revoked the Democratic Front (UDF) and later Dimapur | February 21 tion over offering 33 percent are not giving opportunity to sworn in as the 17th Chief Minister suspension that was promulgatreservation for women in women is unknown to me,” of Nagaland today at 11:00 am at Raj Naga National Democratic Party Speaker of the Nagaland Legis- ed on April 14, 2016, after Imchen (NNDP).

He was also crucial in the Bhavan, Kohima.

The 81-year-old the Nagaland Government, Congress leader Mani Shantendered “unconditional apolwho has been member of the Na- formation of Nagaland People’s lative Assembly, Chotisuh Sazo, ogy for his misconduct and antithe Congress on Tuesday ex- kar Aiyar told ANI. has resigned from his position.

Front in 2002. galand Legislative Assembly (NLA) “But this is an internal New DelhI, Febru- pressed displeasure, citing party activities.”

After his matriculation in 1956 While he confirmed his resignaary 21 (IaNS): Police on it was strange that the state question to them. Pan- eight times will be the oldest to take “It is imperative to push the tion today, tendered in “hope of Tuesday said they had ar- which runs the best system chayat Raj, as the consti- oath as the Chief Minister of the from Kohima Government High a better berth,” he was unable to reconciliation process in its true School, he completed his gradurested a man on charges of in the world didn’t wish to tution amendment does State. confirm which Cabinet berth he sense in the interest of the party The new Chief Minister, who ation from St. Edmund’s College, is likely to get. The duty of the NLA in particular and Nagas in general raping a woman from Na- give enough opportunity to not apply to them. And, we galand over the weekend women. “At a very personal have to be sensitive to that did not contest in the 2013 election, Shillong. He reportedly started his Speaker, in the meantime, will be so as to bring more understandnear a popular hangout in level, I am very disturbed state and its requirement is not a sitting member of the NLA. career as a clerk in the state secre- fulfilled by Deputy Speaker and ing and unity,” the order stated.

Sources suggested that Imsouth Delhi. Deputy Com- that Nagaland claims they and I am glad that the polit- He will have to get elected within six tariat, but later turned to teaching. Congress MLA Imtikumzuk.

Dr. Shürhozelie has authored kong L Imchen may be inducted missioner of Police Ish- cannot have 33 percent res- ical crisis over Chief Minis- months from taking office.

Dr. Shürhozelie had yesterday 42 books on poetry, novels, history, NPF revokes Imkong Imchen’s into the Cabinet. When conwar Singh identified the ervation and this would go ter Zeliang is over,” he addsuspension, likely to get cabinet tacted, he confirmed that he had accused by his first name, against their customs and ed. He further hoped that pledged to work towards bringing drama, translations, and several of berth alongside Kaito Aye his books are part of the syllabus in the new government will back normalcy in Nagaland and usages.

I say this particularly “heard” the news but had not reJhandal. He is 23 years old.

Nagaland University.

He was confind a way of at least makbecause, in 2007, the United hoped that good sense will prevail.

In the spirit of reconciliation, the ceived any intimation “in writThe accused, who worked a beginning in bringing While appealing to the people of Na- ferred an honorary D.Litt. by the Naga People’s Front (NPF) today re- ing” till the filing of this report. as a part-time cleaner at Nations picked on Naga- ing system of the local gov- about an assured percent- galand to initiate a healing process, Nagaland University in 2003. voked the suspension of Imkong L. Sources also suggested that some pubs and restau- land ernment as the best in the age of women representa- he acknowledged that only together Dr. Shürhozelie replaces TR Ze- Imchenfromtheprimaryandactive NPF MLA Kaito G. Aye will also be rants in Hauz Khas village, whole world. So, where you tion in local government in liang who resigned from the Chief membership of the Party. can the Nagas achieve their goal. inducted into Dr. Shürhozelie’s was identified from CCTV are running the best system Nagaland.

Minister’s post on February 19.

An order from NPF President ministry.

Born on November 20, 1936 in footage. Singh said the accused was nabbed early on Tuesday from Arjun Nagar, where he lived in a slum.

Jhandal snatched the victim’s iPhone to prevent her Morung Express News constituted immediately, they stat- NTAC demand for the suspension from calling the police and also Rs 600 after he commited that at least one of the members of the former Commissioner of Dimapur | February 21 ted the crime. The phone should be a distinguished person- Police, Dimapur, Superintendent has been recovered. Jhan- The Joint Coordination Commit- ality from a non-governmental or- of Police, Longleng, Deputy Comdal told police that he had tee (JCC) and the Nagaland Tribes ganisation. This, the JCC convenor, missioner, Longleng and other poconsumed liquor that night Action Committee (NTAC) have Supu Jamir said, is with the inten- lice officers and personnel alleged DImapur, February 1 post of Peon were filled up backdoor appointment, with and spotted the woman and reiterated their decision to press tion to ensure a “transparent and to be involvement in the January 21 (mexN): Against Corrup- from 2014-2016 “flouting ev- imprints of nepotism everyher friend waiting for an the Nagaland state 31 police action that tion and Unabated Taxation ery recruitment norms,” stat- where. These arbitrary apauto-rickshaw. Police said government to fulfil resulted in 2 deaths (ACAUT) Nagaland today al- ed a press release from Media pointments are not only illegal the 24-year-old woman had their remaining debut hinder the promotional and several injuries at leged that various vacancies Cell, ACAUT Nagaland. visited a Hauz Khas pub with mands.

It further said according avenues of in-service employLongleng and Dima- at Nagaland Industrial Develfriends on Saturday night. opment Corporation Limited to NIDC’s reply to the RTI, ees as well, in this case NIDC, pur.

At a coordination She was walking alone to her (NIDC), a Government of Na- no advertisement was giv- which is discriminatory and Crying foul over meeting in Dimapur residence when the accused galand undertaking, have been en in any of the newspapers unfair,” the release stated. perceived one-sided today, the two bodies offered her a ride home, poThe ACAUT Nagaland defilled up by flouting every re- for the vacant posts, “which news reports in the national media impartial” inquiry.

Jamir expressed reaffirmed that “The Nagaland lice said. He led her to an raises the question as to how manded that the people who isolated stretch in an adjoin- Municipal Act 2001 should be re- apprehension that without an in- on women’s reservation in Naga- cruitment norm.

As per RTI filed by ACAUT the candidates were actu- have been appointed to the dependent member, the inquiry land, NTAC spokesperson Dr. P. ing park and assaulted her amended in toto.”

They called for instituting a would be one-sided, in favour of Ngully welcomed debate on the member at the NIDC, 2 posts ally called to apply for the job posts be immediately termitwice and threatened to kill matter with national level wom- of Deputy Manager, 2 posts of when no advertisement was nated and status quo restored. her if she approached po- 3-member Judicial Inquiry Com- the state government.

“The issue of backdoor The inquiry and implementa- en’s organisations and the nation- Assistant Manager, 4 posts of issued.” ACAUT also queslice. The woman, police mission by the state government said, hit the accused with to probe the violence and deaths tion of the JIC’s findings should be al media. Meanwhile, the JCC and Junior Asst-cum-Computer tioned how the candidates appointment is not a closed a stone before escaping related to the now nullified ULB completed in a month’s time, the NTAC have called for a joint meet- Asst, 1 post of Accounts Assist- were even selected when chapter for the ACAUT Nagaland. The battle has barely ing with “apex hohos” on March 3 cum-Computer Assistant, there was no interview. two bodies demanded. from the spot. She later ap- elections fiasco.

“This is a classic case of begun,” it asserted. proached a police patrol.

1 post of Stenographer, and Furthermore, the JCC and in Dimapur.

While insisting that the JIC be

‘Strange’ Govt is not giving opportunity to women: Cong

Shürhozelie to be sworn in as Nagaland’s 17th CM today NLA Speaker Sazo resigns

Rape accused arrested

Fulfil remaining demands: JCC/NTAC

ACAUT accuses NIDC of flouting recruitment norms

Seeks employment termination of 11 people

Welcomes debate with national level women’s organisations and the national media

C M Y K

2

WednesdAY 22•02•2017

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Bishop blesses San Domiano Novitiate house

‘There is no end in mission’

Changki Mission Aki (building) dedicated Morung Express News Dimapur | February 21

Bishop of Kohima with others after the inauguration of the San Domiano Novitiate house in Medziphema on February 20.

Dimapur, February 21 (mexN): Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, the Bishop of Kohima, blessed the newly built San Domiano Novitiate house in Medziphema on February 20.

Rev. Fr. Thomas MSFS, Parish Priest Medziphema unveiled the plaque while Rev. Sr. Lilly Maria FCC, the Provincial Superior of Clare Province cut the ribbon and inaugurated the building.

Rev. Sr. Lilly Maria said that after 50 years of stay and ministry in North East, today the FCC is privileged to have a novitiate house by the divine providence and prayers and through generosity of many good persons, stated a press release issued

by Fr. Thomas Toretkiu, Bishop’s Secretary, Kohima.

She thanked Bishop, fathers, sisters, building contractor, laborers and all who contributed materially and spiritually to complete the building.

Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) is a congregation that follows the spirituality and missionary spirit of St. Francis of Assissi and St. Clare. They came to North East 51 years ago and today they serve in almost all the states in North East India, the release informed. St. Alphonsa was a member of this congregation.

Novitiate is a period of two years of intense prayer, discernment and formation after which the novices take the first profession by which they profess the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in order to dedicate themselves entirely to serve Jesus in the congregation for the Church, according to the press release.

Earlier, Provincial Sr. Lilly Maria FCC also welcomed Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Fathers Thomas MSFS, Parish Priest, George MSFS, Augustine MSFS, Rector of the Seminary, other Fathers, Sisters, Novices and others to the ceremony.

PPC lifts bandh in Longleng Dist Dimapur, February 21 (mexN): The Phom Peoples' Council (PPC) has lifted the bandh on all government offices and movement of government registered vehicles within Longleng district with effect from February 20. This was taken as as per the decision of the JCC & NTAC, PPC stated in a press note issue by its President Chingan Phom and Information Secretary Yanger Phom. The PPC further informed all government servants of Longleng district to remain in their respective posting places and perform their duties normally. It also lauded the cooperation of all the citizens of Longleng district for the bandh.

DDADU informs on lost & found Dimapur, February 21 (mexN): The Dimapur District Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union (DDADU) on February 15 found an ATM Card (SBI) belonging to one Kikato V. DDADU president I Vitoshe Sema in a press release has requested the owner to collect the ATM card with ID Proof during office hours from DDADU head office, Super Market near Hotel Saramati. Further, the Union also informs that any lost items left in Autorickshaw, the passengers will be responsible for it. Also auto drivers are asked to submit any lost items found in auto to the head office.

Tizu Angling Festival to promote angling

Dimapur, February 21 (mexN): Anglers Association Nagaland (ANN) is organizing Tizu Angling Festival on March 2 and 3 at Tizu River in association with District Administration Pungro and Moya Village Council.

The objective of the event is to promote angling as a sport and at the same time explore the rich potentials these areas have to offer for eco tourism, AAN General Secretary Ricky Ozukum informed in a press release.

In the two days, there will be workshops to educate about the indigenous fish, rivers, conservation and most importantly to spread message against the rampant use of dynamites, chemicals and other unethical ways of fishing that are destroying the rivers, lakes and other water bodies for which AAN has been campaigning, it added.

Apart from the workshops, the main highlights of the fest will be camping, bonfire, foods stalls, trekking, games, music and angling competitions, for which cash prizes of Rs. 50,000/, Rs. 30,000/ and Rs. 20,000/ will be given away to the first, second, third winners respectively. Certificates and angling gifts will be given to all the participants. The registration fee is Rs.500/.

Besides the affiliated districts, renowned anglers from the country have confirmed to participate in the fest, the release said.

Tents on hire will be given only to participants from outside the state, it added.

NEC Energy Pvt. Ltd., Maheer Trust, Mustad, Pelagic Tribe, Zerek, Agweter and Sure Catch are the official partners and sponsors for the fest. For more details and to participate, call 8014057303. The fest will be graced by S Bhattacharyya, Director, NEC Energy Pvt. Ltd as chief guest.

The Changki Mission Aki (building) located at Westward Colony (Army Supply Road) in Dimapur was dedicated on Tuesday by Rev Dr Anjo Keikung, Vice Chancellor, North East Christian College (NECU).

Giving a brief account on understanding the meaning and relationship of Christian giving and mission, the Reverend said that mission is not just about “winning souls” but it is also about how the works is done to sustain any mission. He said that the mission to “bring souls” comes with great responsibility since only humankind is given this commission.

“There are many ways of doing mission and bringing souls but it should be based on honesty and truthful-

(Left) Rev Dr Anjo Keikung, Vice Chancellor, NECU speaking during the Changki Mission Aki (building) dedication programme held on February 21. (Right) View of the Changki Mission Aki (building) located at Westward Colony (Army Supply Road) in Dimapur. (Morung Photo)

ness. We should also understand the requirement of finance for any mission and keep generating it. And therefore, stewardship of managing finance to do greater mission work is required,” the Reverend said.

Rev Dr Anjo also said that people have the wrong concept of giving to God and mission. They give with expectations or out of fear of sickness and tribula-

tions and some even offer dishonest wealth.

Bringing reference of the Macedonian churches giving model, the Reverend said that there is “paradox in Christian giving.” He said that true giving is when “there is overflow of joy even in the face of trails, extreme poverty but rich generosity, offering beyond their ability on one’s own understanding without expectations

DABA; building committee report was presented by the Convenor; vote of thanks by Imkonglemba, IAS and Rev S Emna Tzudir followed by benediction by Rev I Nochet Ponger.

The Changki Mission Aki (building) is constructed in the plot donated by Jangtsulong Changkiri, IPS (Rtd) and family through the generous contributions of Changki citizens and in-laws.

NTAC says ‘focus on pursuing to achieve desire of people’

Kohima, February 21 (mexN): Following the resignation of the Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang on February 19, the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) announced the termination of the ongoing bandh on February 20.

The almost two weeks bandh imposed across the entire State had paralyzed the government as well as disrupted normalcy for the public too. “The decision to cease the ongoing bandh all over Nagaland forthwith ending, Monday February 20, 2017 and focus on pursuing to achieve the desire of the people and re-estab-

lish a harmonious life in the Naga society endowed with the expectation that the new government will usher in, the willingness of meeting the wishes of the people as well as listening to their voices,” stated the NTAC. On February 19, the NTAC met PB Acharya, Governor of Nagaland, and had reminded of the needed action on the prevailing volatile crisis. Following which, the next day, the NTAC, Kohima was given an audience at 10:00 am Monday February 20, 2017 by the Governor who announced the action formally taken upon the resignation tendered by TR

Zeliang along with his Council of Ministers of Nagaland at 8:00pm Sunday February 19. The Governor had further apprised that the formation of government under a new leadership is immediately being worked upon.

Acknowledging the support of the public, individuals and organizations, Joshua N, representative NTAC Kohima stated, “It is an eye opener for politicians as well as bureaucracy. Everyone should come back to their senses and move forward to a progressive society. The CAN Youth (Community Avenue Network) organised skill up-gradation training programme at goal that was laid has been Darogajan Village, East Dimapur on February 20. The training program supported by Nehru Yuva achieved.”

Kendra Dimapur and training given to 25 girls from Darogajan and Bamunphukhuri villages.

KROS College host 2nd Inter-Collegiate Gospel Beat Contest

Kohima, February 21 (mexN): A bi-annual intercollegiate Gospel Beat Contest has distinguished KROS College as one of the largest event of its kind wherein students from Kohima and Dimapur participate. The 2nd Edition of Inter-Collegiate Gospel Beat Contest was on February 20 and 21 under the theme, ‘Punctuate it with Hallelujah.’

Gugs Chishi, Project Director, music task force department of youth resources and sports graced the occasion as the chief guest. Alobo Naga graced the closing ceremony as guest of honour.

With the objective to bring all colleges under Nagaland University within Kohima and Dimapur to come closer and foster better Christian relationship among colleges while imparting education in its spirit. The two day witness competitions in various categories i.e., Solo, Quartet and Band.

In the solo category, Thoidambo Nring, KROS College emerged as winner, Nyumei Ong, Sazolie College and Menoseii Mary Sorhie, Don Bosco College was

and giving their lives first to the Lord and then to the missionaries.”

In conclusion he said, “Whatever you give should be out of love for the Lord because there is no end in mission.”

Earlier, the programme was chaired by Teplok Amri, president, Changki Mission with scripture reading and prayer by Rev Dr N Tzudir, senior pastor,

Chümoukedima Village celebrates foundation day Dimapur, February 21 (mexN): Chümoukedima Village celebrated its foundation day at the council hall on February 21. It was stated in a press release that the programme was chaired by CVC chairman, Razouvotuo Chatsu and CVBC Assistant Pastor Pukrosül Kin invoked God's blessing.

Kengulie Shüya, VEC Chairman reminisced the history of one of the oldest village of Chakhro Angami and reminded the people to foster unity and understanding in the community by inculcating sense of responsibility for the village welfare. Kelenguzo Kuotsu, Head GB, Chümoukedima Town exhorted the congregation to strive for

moral values and build the community on the strength of the integrity of its people. Zakievisie Kruse, general secretary, CPO acknowledged the sacrifices and paid rich tribute to the pioneers and ancestors of Chümoukedima. He stressed on socializing and partaking beyond one's comfort to strengthen the community.

Special award for outstanding community service were awarded to Dietholezo Shüya, Kuobeizo Medoze, Vikhwe Yhoshü and Viechübeizo Sokra while folk songs were presented by Chümoukedima Village Women folks and Zeno Kire Head GB pronounced the vote of gratitude.

BBPEPS observes International Mother Language Day

Winners of the second edition of bi-annual inter-collegiate Gospel Beat Contest held at KROS College on February 20 and 21.

declared second and third respectively. NU SASRD and Don Bosco College secured first and second respectively in the quartet category.

St. Joseph’s College and NU SASRD were adjudged as the first and second in the Band category.

The following individual awards were given as well; best vocalist – Vallery D. Kharmawlong from NU

SASRD, best guitarist-Jeffry from NU SASRD, best drummer- AJang from St. Joseph’s College, Kohima, and the best bassist- Anguka Achumi from NU SASRD. A press note on the event informed that Nagaland State Cooperative Bank (NStCB) Ltd, UCO Bank, Federal Bank, Higher Education, Government of Nagaland, Bazari Steel Pvt Ltd, Dima-

pur and Ms Bombay Dyeing, Dimapur sponsored the inter-Collegiate Gospel Beat Contest, 2017.

The judges for the contest were Mele Pucho, Director, Symphony Academy of Music/Symphony School of Music Kohima, Bendang Kichu, drummer of Divine Connection and Kosapong, musician, guitar teacher, Symphony Academy of Music.

Dimapur, February 21 (mexN): Bangla Bhasha Prachar Ebong Prashar Samiti (BBPEPS) under the aegis of Bharat Sevashram Sangha today observed the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) along with the rest of the world here in the premise of Pranab Vidhyapith Higher Secondary School, Dimapur.

Speaking on the occasion, principal of PVHSS Manoj Bhattacharjee urged the students to protect their mother language as their identity, culture and tradition is determined by their mother tongue and lamented that though there is opportunity in the state of Nagaland to learn Bengali

and students opting for Bengali are less. Headmaster, LK Das also encouraged the students to protect their own mother languages.

Gurupada Maharaj of BSS (Kolkata) in his address expressed that it is a saddening situation that people are neglecting their own languages and adopting the foreign ones and it is more sorrowful a situation when parents boast about their children’s inability to communicate in their own languages. It further mentioned in a press release that Bengali is the fifth most spoken language in the world with an estimated population of around 25 crores.

Water resource in Nagaland: Emerging concerns and challenges

able factors including climate change • Development of water resources are the main source of drinking water demand in the villages for drinking Dimapur, February 21 (mexN): through multi-disciplinary approach supply are however protected by traimpacts resulting in incidences of and sanitation purposes. Additional According to the Nagaland Water Poliinvolving all stakeholders through ditional institutional regime at the vilwater related disasters such as loss sources of water supply in the villages cy (2016) under Department of Soil their local customary institutions lage level, which needs to be further of soil fertility, flash floods and river therefore need to be augmented. and Water Conservation, Government for optimum utilization of available strengthened with scientific inputs. of Nagaland, submitted by Indian En- • The existing system of community meandering, the water crisis in the water resources, ensuring integrity • However, communities value water state is likely to deepen. water storage structure in the villagvironment Law Offices the present as per customs and sanctions, cones aimed at meeting domestic wa- • Access to water for drinking and of ecosystems and leading to the descenario of water resources and their velopment of progressive regime on sciousness pertaining to existing waother domestic needs is an emergter requirements of the inhabitants fragmented management through a ecosystem services has not received ter stress that is likely to result in waing challenge in many urban arneed improvement for ensuring wavariety of institutions at the state level adequate policy consideration in the ter scarcity needs to be created at the eas, towns and villages in the state. ter quality, whereas quantity of water with overlapping mandates has given past. The development of water reVillage Council level.

The potential for inter-village water needs to be seen in the context of inrise to several water related concerns sources projects in Nagaland needs • Scientific capacity building of institutransfer with the payment for ecocreasing potable water use in the viland challenges that need immediate to be done within the framework of tions for the integrated water resource system services mechanism needs lages. attention. community participation by involvmanagement in the state needs to be exploration.

• After the formation of state of Nagaing village level institutions. undertaken on an urgent basis. land, water resource development • The scenario of groundwater in NaSome of the most significant congaland is rather oblique. Groundwa- • Development of irrigation infrastruc- • Spring and stream mapping and has not received required attention cerns and challenges are as follows: ter being part of hydrological cycle ture is critical to ensuring food suscharacteristic of catchment areas, • Villages in Nagaland are located at and priority resulting in fragmented is sufficiently not addressed in the tainability in the state. recharge zones and flood plains institutional framework and skewed the hilltops and their population has water resource planning in the state • Natural water bodies, streams and needs to be better understood towater governance. been increasing since their estabsprings that form core of natural wawards planning for any likely change lishment. Once sufficient, the exist- • Due to a wide temporal and spatial whereas instances of groundwater exploitation are increasing with an ter infrastructure in the state are becaused due to climatic variations and variation in availability of water, likely ing locally available water resources alarming rate. ing increasingly polluted. Springs that incidents of natural disasters. to exacerbate due to a number of variare unable to meet existing water

WEDNESDAY 22•02•2017

NORTH-EAST 3

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Manipur Deputy CM escapes convoy attack

IMPHAL, FEBRUARY 21 (IANS): Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam on Tuesday escaped an attack on his life by a tribal militant outfit in Tamenglong district.

The ambush was reported at 10.30 a.m. at Namkalong in Tamenglong district when Gaikhangam was going there to address an election meeting. The police commandos were going as advance party to clear the mountain road of militants.

Police said a militant group opened fire at the Minister's cavalcade at two places.

In the firing one police commando identified as Y. Dinesh of Thangmeiband in Imphal, the state capital, was hit in the right thigh.

Police said after the attacks the cavalcade of Gaikhangam, also the state Home Minister, was stranded for several minutes. However, the Minister and his entourage proceeded towards the meeting venue once reinforcements arrived there.

With elaborate security arrangements, Gaikhangam addressed an election meeting at Khoupum within his constituency. Police said that some cadres of

a militant group had warned the villagers on Monday night against attending the election meeting.

Some years back Gaikhangam was one of the elected tribal representatives who were allegedly arms-twisted to sign a memorandum demanding Naga unification.

Gaikhangam later said that he had to sign it "under duress".

He has been a vociferous opponent of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland(NSCN-IM) all these years. Some months back Gaikhangam was one of the Ministers attacked by armed militants in Ukhrul district. The Ministerial team led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had gone there to inaugurate a power sub-station.

In a separate incident, Karam Shyam, an MLA in Manipur, told reporters on Tuesday that his security guards had opened fire in the air to scare away the supporters of Okram Joy, a BJP candidate in the upcoming elections.

He said that Joy has been threatening the people to vote for him in the Langthabal constituency. He also disclosed that he had sent a detailed report on the incident to the Election Commission of India.

Ready for tripartite talks with UNC: Manipur CM

IMPHAL, FEBRUARY 21 (PTI): Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said today that he was ready for tripartite talks with the United Naga Council (UNC) to end the crippling threemonth-long economic blockade.

He also accused the BJP of having a "tacit understanding with the UNC" and said the saffron party's "gameplan" will fail in the March elections.

The land-locked state is witnessing an indefinite economic blockade by UNC since November 1, 2016 against the

creation of new posts, purchase of vehicles and equipment for police,” Singh said, addressing the 31st Arunachal Pradesh statehood day programme here. He said necessary funds would be given at the earliest for construction of over 20 police stations and asked the State government to expedite the work. Singh said his Ministry was actively con-

IMPHAL, FEBRUARY 21 (PTI): Congress on Monday said it would urge the Centre to provide constitutional safeguards for the territorial integrity of state and strive for removal of AFSPA from remaining part of the state, if voted back to power.

The manifesto, having a 19-point agenda for develop-

sidering the proposals submitted by the government for strengthening the security system in the State. The State government had sent a proposal for setting up an ITBP battalion here, Singh said, adding he had asked his Ministry’s officials to immediately examine it. He also promised to sanction a forensic science laboratory in the State.

Assam govt to probe class X paper leak GUWAHATI, FEBRUARY 21 (PTI): A retired High Court judge will conduct an inquiry into the alleged leak of question papers in two subjects during the ongoing class X Assam board examination. State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We will conduct a probe into the entire matter by a former High Court Judge

once the examinations are over.” He also said he would request Chief Minister to relieve him from the education portfolio.

Question papers of social studies and modern indian languages (Assamese) subjects, examinations for which are due on February 24 and March 7 respectively, were wrongly distributed among stu-

dents in a couple of examination centres yesterday, in place of mathematics.

The Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) today announced that new question papers would be set for the social studies and MIL (Assamese) examinations. SEBA also rescheduled the social studies examination to March 11 next.

School students donate money, labour to build road and toilets GUWAHATI, FEBRUARY 21 (HT): Students of an elite school in Assam’s Sonitpur district have undertaken an initiative to build a road, which is washed away every year during monsoons, as well as toilets for girls by raising money from their allowance.

Last week, 850 students of Assam Valley School (AVS) at Balipara, about 200 km northeast of Guwahati, contributed Rs 3.5 lakh to pave a 90-metre road to Khelmati weekly market near Balipara and build toilets for girls from underprivileged families.

A good monsoon in Assam means six months of rain, sometimes more, making rural roads slushy and almost unusable.

The school’s Social Service League comprising 60 students of middle-level and senior classes, allocated Rs 2 lakh for the roadpaving project involving the laying of cement blocks.

They engaged masons but decided to do the bulk of the work themselves.

“Members of the league and other students completed laying a 42-metre stretch of the road by Saturday. The students will

resume work from Monday to complete the rest of the road,” Debjani Sarma Bora, a teacher in charge of the league, told Hindustan Times. She said the students plan to construct all the other roads leading to the market in phases so that it becomes convenient for the local people to visit it even during the rainy season.

The school administration said four higher secondary students averaging 16 years – Sukanya Hazarika, Rohit Agarwal, Ayushi Jain and Shreyansh Agarwal – had pushed for the

not respond when we invited them (for talks)".

The chief minister refuted Home Minister Rajnath Singh's charge that the blockade was a result of a "political conspiracy" hatched by the Congress government to divert attention from its "failures".

On the Home Minister's statement that Congress government did not use central forces, Ibobi Singh said, "If you go there you will see that womenfolk threatened by the NSCN (IM) are sitting on the highway. We can-

Cong promises to strive for removal of AFSPA if voted back

Arunachal gets a security package ITANAGAR, FEBRUARY 21 (PTI): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the Centre has sanctioned a special package for strengthening security in 3 eastern districts of Arunachal Pradesh to tackle the insurgency problem there. “The special package for Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts will also include

state government's decision to create seven new districts by bifurcating the existing ones and upgradation of Sadar Hills to a full-fledged district.

Asked whether the state government is ready for tripartite talks with the UNC to resolve the ongoing crisis, Singh told PTI, "Yes, we are ready."

Asked as to why the matter was not discussed with the UNC before bifurcating the districts, Singh said, "We tried to discuss, but they were not listening. We had to sit together but they did

road-paving project.

Established in 1995 by the Williamson Magor Education Trust, AVS is spread across 95 acres amid tea estates and is the only coeducational boarding school in the northeast.

Social service is a key component of the school’s curriculum. It requires each student to teach at least one illiterate person, visit orphanages and patients in local hospitals. They are also required to teach in schools run by surrounding tea estates for children of plantation workers.

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

ment, was released by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Congress General Secretary in charge of Manipur C P Joshi.

"The Congress party will urge the Centre to provide constitutional safeguards for the territorial integrity of Manipur," the manifesto stated.

The party also underscored

further improvement of law and order situation will be a priority plank.

"With the law and order situation having significantly improved, the Congress government will strive for removal of AFSPA from the remaining parts of the state as had been done in case of seven assembly segments," it stated.

Family concerned over misuse of note penned by Kalikho Pul ITANAGAR, FEBRUARY 21 (PTI): The family members of Kalikho Pul today expressed concern over the "misuse" of the 60 page note Mere Vichar, penned by the former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister days before his suicide, for vested interest.

Five relatives of Pul in an appeal said, "It is very unfortunate and distressing for the family that the note is being used by some individuals for vested political interest."

"We strongly oppose any misuse of the note for political purpose as it is a very emotional issue concerning the whole family and we believe that no person or individual has the right to exploit or play with their emotions," they said.

"The entire family is struggling hard to come to terms with the loss of a dear and senior member of the family and we are still living in immense mental and psychological trauma," the

family said.

Pul had committed suicide on August 9 last year at his official residence.

"Gradually, we have been learning to move ahead by coming to terms with the sorrow, pain and grief but the latest development has yet again jolted, shaken and disturbed the whole family," the appeal said.

"Since the issue is emotive, sentimental and soulful for the family, it should not be used for vested political purpose," the family said.

The members comprised Puls brother Bajaj Pul, nephews Muhilum Pul, Batong Pul, Ahoso Pul and Goneso Pul. Welcoming the state governments decision to refer the case to the Union Home Ministry for probe by any agency as deemed fit, the members said the family wants a "free and impartial investigation into the whole matter".

not fire left and right to lift the blockade. The Centre needs to take steps," he said.

The Centre wanted to create such a situation, he charged and added that, "If something goes wrong and if someone dies, they (Centre and BJP) will blame us and say that law and order has broken down in the state. They would take ad-

vantage of that situation".

Supply of essential commodities including fuel in Manipur has been severely hit leading to exorbitant price hike of essential commodities after UNC declared indefinite economic blockade on NH2 (via Dimapur) and NH 37 (via Jiribam) -- the two lifelines of the state. .

ADVERTISEMENT

Police Baptist Church, DEF Peren is looking for dedicated servants of God for the following post:1. Women Leader 2. Christian Education Director/S.S. Superintendent.

3. Church Driver Last Date for submission of application is 4th April’2017.

Interested persons may kindly contact: 9436406889/ 9485238943.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER NAGALAND STATE TRANSPORT DRIVERS’ TRAINING INSTITUTE VIRAZOUMA (7th MILE) DIMAPUR : NAGALAND

NO.NST/DTI/TRG-5/2016-17/2094-96

Dated: 21/02/17

INFORMATION

The office of the NST Drivers’ Training Institute, Dimapur, Nagaland hereby informs that due to the bandh the Driving Training scheduled from 1.02.17 which was advertised vide No. NST/DTI/TRG-5/2016-17/2176-78 Dated 3.01.17 is postponed to 1.03.17. Therefore, the trainees of both LMV and NMV who have taken admission for training from 1.02.17 are requested to report to the institution on 1.03.17 Sd/- (Z. Vikheto Achumi), Dy. General Manager NST Drivers’ Training Institute, Virazouma (7th Mile) Dimapur : Nagaland

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DIRECTORATE OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE NAGALAND: KOHIMA

No. DHFW-5/1/19G/TRG/2001/11460

Dated, Kohima the 27th Jan' 2017

ADVERTISEMENT

This is for information of all intending Medical Graduates who are seeking admission to MD/MS/Diploma courses at RIMS, Imphal under 'Sponsored' & 'Open Category that PG seats will be allotted to eligible candidates from the state-wise Merit list all India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination (AIPGMEE)2017 through physical counseling which will be held at RIMS, Imphal. The tentative date of counseling is 11/04/2017. The last date of receiving application is 28th February 2017. For detailed information, login to website www.rims.edu.in (Dr. JOHN SWEYIEVISA) Director Health Directorate of Health & family Welfare Nagaland, Kohima Issued by: DIPR

NAGALAND TRIBES ACTION COMMITTEE, KOHIMA

Camp: APO Hall, Kohima 21st February, 2017

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC), Kohima wishes to express a sincere “Thank You” to the entire Naga populace of Nagaland for the exercise of wisdom to safeguard the rights of the Naga people. Such enormity, such overwhelming outpouring of humanity for a common cause in the Naga family has never been seen as yet. Everyone from all walks of life, men and women, young and old through the length and breadth of Nagaland have been seen participating graciously in the historic movement of the people upholding the value of life.

In the course of struggle to achieve the wish of the people of Nagaland the NTAC, Kohima have been sustained by invaluable assistance from the men and women who have genuine love for the Naga people of Nagaland and had volunteered to share with their lives in writing a new chapter of Naga history by their physical involvement. Without them, achievement thus far would not have been possible. The NTAC, Kohima thoroughly took the pleasure in seeing each and every member of the Naga Tribal Organisations having the longing of seeing the Naga family united and bonded beyond comprehension through this people’s movement against the ill-timed announcement of ULB election in the state and have learned so much from their involvement that could be shared with all of you in the years that will follow.

The NTAC, Kohima is extremely grateful to the people for being the source of energy in the accomplishment of its objective. We are aggrieved by our impracticability to reach out and acknowledge each outstanding individual for the encouragement, patience, sacrifice, tolerance and contribution.

Through it all, for the continuous support and physical involvement NTAC, Kohima extends tremendous thankfulness and appreciation to all Tribal Organisations and their volunteers both in Kohima and in their respective districts for the support and active participation; all dedicated participants of the two nights’ vigil over the mortal remains of the slain two Naga youths kept at the Old MLA Hostel Junction, Kohima from February 1 to 3, 2017; the NBCC, Kohima Baptist Pastors’ Fellowship and Churches of all denominations and their members in Kohima for the continuous prayer support; the dedicated AYO members who exclusively and directly got involved in the arrangement of the graves; APO and its frontal Organisations for the logistic support throughout; functionaries of the Kohima district administration and personnel of police stations for ensuring the safety of the citizens; and members of the media fraternity for constant coverage and fairness in reporting.

We solicit the cooperation of one and all even in the days to come with the desire that our Naga people of Nagaland progress cohesively. May the Naga people abide by the love of the Almighty God and in His grace, walk righteously.

(K.T. VILIE) Convenor, NTAC, Kohima

(C.T. JAMIR) Secretary, NTAC, Kohima

4

WednesdAY 22•02•2017

Business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Reliance Jio crosses 100 mn customer mark: Ambani MuMbai, February 21 (iaNS): Reliance Industries (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani on Tuesday said Reliance Jio has crossed the 100 million customer mark since its launch on September 5.

"Jio was launched on September 5 last year. In only 170 days we have crossed the 100 million customer mark. This achievement is of India and Indians," Ambani told the media.

He said that on an average Jio added seven customers on its network every second.

"This is an unprecedented level of acceptance of any technology company anywhere in the world."

Ambani said that prior to the launch of Reliance Jio, India was ranked 150th in terms of data penetration. It was now at number one.

"Last month Jio users have consumed 100 crore gigabytes of data. India is number one today in terms of mobile data usage."

Ambani said by the end of 2017, 99 per cent of the country's population will be covered by the network with its presence in nearly all cities, towns and villages.

He pointed out that the company has doubled its 4G stations as compared to its competitors.

Announcing free user benefits for another 12 months under a cost-effective membership plan, Jio's latest offerings are expected to stiffen the competition further in the telecom sector.

"Under Jio prime membership plan, the users can become members for a full year for a nominal one-time fee of Rs 99.

Enrolment will start from March 1 and will remain open till March 31. They would continue enjoying the unlimited benefits for another 12 months," he said.

Post-March 2018, Jio

New york, February 21 (iaNS): Popular messaging platform WhatsApp has updated to "Status" feature that allows users to share images and videos with their contacts on WhatsApp in a secure way.

WhatsApp's Status feature lets users share photos, GIFs or videos overlaid with drawings, emojis and a caption that will be visible to selected friends for 24 hours, before disappearing.

"As a utility, we're focused on building features

that will be used around the world by our 1.2 billion users," a WhatsApp spokesperson was quoted as saying in media reports.

According to a WhatsApp blog, status updates are now end-to-end encrypted. "This new and improved status feature will let you keep your friends who use WhatsApp easily updated in a fun and simple way," the blog said.

WhatsApp has been rolling out updates and features to make the app more

secure for its users. The social networking app recently rolled out a two-step verification process for all devices to enhance the security of users' accounts.

WhatsApp was recently surrounded by controversy when a Guardian report alleged that the WhatsApp messages can be read or intercepted.

However, WhatsApp claimed that the messages and calls on its platform are end-to-end encrypted by default.

‘India aims to bring broadband to every village by 2018’

A general view of reliance Jio headquarters is seen on the outskirts of Mumbai. (Reuters File Photo)

Here are the most important announcements that Mukesh Ambani made in his Reliance Jio speech:

1. Jio Prime membership programme at a one-time fee of Rs 99. Jio Prime Members can continue enjoying the unlimited benefits of JIO NEW YEAR OFFER until 31st March 2018.

2. Jio Prime Members can get the benefits at an introductory price of only Rs 303 per month, effectively just Rs 10 per day.

3. Jio will match the highest selling tariff of other operators and provide 20% more data than what other operators provide.

4. In just 170 days since its launch, Jio has crossed the 100 million customer mark on its 4G LTE network!

5. Jio has added, on average, nearly 7 customers on its network every second of every day.

6. Jio users consumed more than 100 Crore GB of data per month on the Jio network. That’s more than 3.3 Crore GB a day.

7. Jio carries nearly 5.5 crore hours of video daily on its network.

8. Jio has more than double the number of 4G base stations when compared to all the other Indian operators put together. In the coming months, Jio will more than double its data capacity which means better quality for customers.

9. With the Aadhaar-based process, initiating Mobile Number Portability has become a simple and fast process. Our network will soon cover 90 per cent of India.

10. On all of Jio’s tariff plans, all domestic voice calls to any network will always remain ‘free‘.

prime members would be able to avail the same benefits for another year at Rs 303 per month tariff plan, he added.

Apart from that, he said the company will start offering tariff plans starting April 1 for people who do not opt for the prime mem-

leisure

CROSSWORD # 3865

SUDOKU

Share photos, videos, GIFs via WhatsApp ‘Status’ now

ACROSS 1. Lance 6. Whip 10. T T T T 14. San Antonio fort 15. Within 16. Corridor 17. Magazine 19. Brother of Jacob 20. Highly seasoned fatty sausage 21. Make a low continuous sound 22. Distribute 23. Not a fork 25. Small islands 26. Frosts 30. Loggia 32. Female 35. Peak 39. Ancient ascetic 40. Idolize 41. Germless 43. Gist 44. Move unsteadily 46. Celebrity 47. Claw 50. Rabbits 53. Arab chieftain 54. Not near 55. Sound quality 60. Alone 61. Contagious 63. Hawaiian feast 64. Person, place or thing 65. Open, as a jacket 66. Circle fragments 67. Ailments 68. Showy flower DOWN 1. Exhausts 2. Urgent request 3. Nobleman 4. Dogfish 5. Suite 6. 52 in Roman numerals 7. Affix

Answer Number # 3859

Bhilai Steel Plant (SAIL) has released an employment notification inviting interested, eligible candidates to apply for the positions of Medical Officer and Junior Staff Nurse (Trainee) for JLN Hospital and Research Centre.

Vacancy details Name of the posts: Total posts: 15 Medical Officer: 4 Junior Staff Nurse (Trainee): 11

eligibility criteria Educational qualification: Medical Officer: The candidates interested April 1," he added. in applying for this post Ambani also vowed to should have pursued match the tariff data plans MBBS from a university/ of its competitors with 20 institute recognised by MCI with post qualificaper cent more data. std code: 03862

upscaled and don't have to be thrown away". Pointing out that Indian products are "robust", designed for tough climatic and dusty conditions, Deepak said that telecom manufacturing in India was characterised by the synergy between hardware and software. "Lastly, we have a fast-growing startup eco system, the second largest in the world," he added. In his Union Budget presented on February 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government would allocate Rs 10,000 crore to expand the Bharat Net project in 2017-18 for high-speed broadband.

tion experience of at least one year.

Junior Staff Nurse: The candidates interested in applying for this post should have pursued BSc (nursing) from an institution recognised by Nursing Council of India or class 12/ intermediate in science, with diploma of minimum three-year duration in general nursing and midwifery, from a government recognised institution with valid registration in Nursing Council of India/state with minimum one year post qualification clinical experience.

Pay scale Medical Officer: The selected candidates will be getting a monthly salary of Rs 20,600 to Rs 46,500.

Junior Staff Nurse (Trainee): The selected candidates will be getting a monthly salary of Rs 16,800 to Rs 24,110. selection procedure The candidates will be selected on the basis of a written test and skill test/ trade test.

How to apply The candidates interested in these posts are required to apply at the official website www.sail.co

Age limit: The age of the candidates applying for these Important dates posts must not exceed 28 The last date for subyears and must be mini- mission of online applicamum 18 years. tion is March 16.

TaHaMZaM

std code: 03871

(formerly senapati)

Police station Fire Brigade

222246 222491

8. Unswerving 9. Low, flat land 10. Reflexive form of “them” 11. Artist’s workstand 12. Gladden 13. Slips 18. Downturn 24. Buffoon 25. Runs in neutral 26. Midmonth date 27. A box or chest 28. Being 29. Resembling snoring 31. Haughtiness 33. Negatively charged particle 34. Sensed 36. Canvas dwelling 37. Killer whale 38. Equal 42. C2H5OH 43. Mistake 45. A severe scolding 47. Electrical pioneer 48. French for “Love” 49. Light purple 51. And so forth 52. A stomach exercise 54. French for Finished 56. Not yours 57. Clown 58. Wreckage 59. Catch a glimpse of 62. N N N N

Civil Hospital emer

232224

MH Hospital

227930 231081

Fire Brigade

2222952

Faith Hospital

228846

naga Hospital

2222916

shamrock Hospital

228254

oking Hospital

2243339

231864 224117 227337

Bethel nursing Home

2224202

northeast shuttles

08974997923

railway

131/228404

Answer to Crossword 3864

Airport Indian Airlines

229366 242441 225212

229529 229474

Zion Hospital

KOHiMa

W

O

R

MInUte PerMAnent PoetrY rAIn reLIeVe resort reVeAL rIot rIVers rUnt rUse stAte storM swAMP toILet trUCK UsHer wAGer YeArn

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

8575045507

Officer-in-Charge 8575045517 8575045505

Kezocha Ps

248302, 09856006026

eden Medical Centre

248288

C

Officer-in-Charge 8575045516 tseminyu Ps

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

AVert AwAKe BeFore CHoCoLAte CHoICe ConVentIon CoUnCIL enGIne FeAr FIGHt FInest FrIend FrUIt GAte HUsBAnds JUdGe LAIr MArCH MAster

government is working to bring the game-changing impact of technology to all our six lakh villages and the optical fibre network to all rural areas," he added.

Noting that the Indian telecom was currently the "most happening infrastructural sector in the country", Deepak dwelt on the unique advantage of Indian products. "Indian products offer the unique advantage of impeccable quality at affordable prices," he said, adding these are based on the "state-of-the-art technology" and are "future proof, in that, they can be upgraded and

SAIL is looking for Junior Officers and Staff Nurses

DiMaPUR

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

Game Number # 3860

bership plan.

"We will start offering tariff plans starting April 1.

Calls to all networks, roaming will remain free after

New Delhi, February 21 (iaNS): India aims to bring high-speed digital connectivity to every village by 2018 and is keen to share expertise in the area with other nations, the government said on Tuesday.

"India's Department of Telecom, under the Universal Services Obligation (USO) fund, is working to bringhigh-speedbroadband to every village in the country by 2018," Telecom Secretary J.S. Deepak said at the global conference here organised by the Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC). "The

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

WEDNESDAY 22•02•2017

NAGALAND

REM Group MD dedicates All of us should be proud of our mother language: Gov award to Naga people KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 21 (MExN): On International Mother Language Day, Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya today stressed on promoting and preserving mother language in order to keep one’s tradition and heritage alive.

In his message released to the media, Acharya maintained that mother language plays a very important role not only in developing initial understanding of a child but also

Morung Express News Dimapur | February 21

REM Group, an upcoming local construction and entrepreneur company, organized a felicitation programme in honour of the groups’ chairman and managing director, Temjen Imna Along Longkumer, here at Niathu Resort on Tuesday evening.

Along Longkumer was conferred the International Award Recipient on ‘Leadership Excellence in Social Entrepreneurship’ at the 7th edition of Middle East Business Leadership Award 2016 on February 17 last at the Inter Continental London Park Lane, London.

A host of tribal bodies and NGOs including the Japu Village Council and East Dimapur Business Organization felicitated Longkumer for bagging the award. DC Kohima, Rajesh Sundaram, Moatoshi Lkr and K Longri Imchem in their speeches also testified on the dedication and humanitarian services ren-

Chairman and MD, REM Group, TIA Longkumer, speaking at the being felicitation programme organized in his honour at Niathu Resort, Tuesday.

dered by REM Group and Longkumer.

Longkumer in his address said the award he received is dedicated to the REM Group and to all the Naga people. He said the REM Group is a company dedicated to serving the grassroot people and giving wings to the dreams of the poor and needy for a better future.

He said REM is a company that has come out

from the children of the poor, the farmer and people who dared to dream.

The objective of REM is to exhibit integrity and quality workmanship in all its activities and business.

Longkumer also said REM’s vision is that through sheer dedication and hard work, Nagas would one day come out from the shell of poverty and backwardness and stand tall among other peoples and nations.

as her/his first identity.

“Mother Tongue is the first and foremost identity of each person. Our ancestors have given to us their valuable research and knowledge in our own mother tongue. No matter how many different languages one may master, his individuality will remain as a member of his mother tongue society…,” the Governor said. Asserting that “all of us should be proud of our mother language,”

Acharya stated, “It is our destiny, we cannot change it.” It is through the mother language, he pointed out, scientists have observed that we learn easily and correctly the basic things and attain the wisdom.

“All our folklore and proverbs are in our mother tongue. Hence, we should promote and preserve our mother language in order to keep our tradition and heritage alive,” the message added.

Assam Rifles conduct medical camps at Razhaphe, Maova DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 21 (MExN): The Assam Rifles on Tuesday conducted medical camps at Razaphe and Maova villages under Dimapur District.

At Razhaphe village, the medical camp was organised by 32 AR during which the team of doctors and medical staff attended to more than 589 patients.

At Maova village, doctors and medical staff of 41 AR attended to 210 patients during the camp which included 76 men, 85 women and 49 children.

The patients were given free consultation and medicines and also made aware

MEx FILE

AYO lifts bandh on govt offices, vehicles KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 21 (MExN): Following the directives of the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee and the Angami Public Organisation, the Angami Youth Organisation has lifted the ongoing bandh on all government offices and vehicles with effect February 21, 2017, a press release from the AYO informed today.

MEETINGS & APPOINTMENTS

NNC/FGN joint meeting A Joint Meeting of the Naga National Council and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) will be held on February 27 at TPC, Kohima. A press release informing this has requested all central and regional authorities and other eligible Naga Army officers to positively attend the meeting.

RSU 4th Union Assembly Rengma Students’ Union will be holding its 4th Union Assembly for the tenure 2015-17 on February 25, 11:00 am at Rengma Students’ Union Office, Tseminyu New Town. All the constituent units, sub-ordinate bodies and senior members are requested to attend the meeting positively.

Mokokchung DPDB meeting Patients avail of the medical facilities provided during the camp at Razaphe Village.

of hygienic practices and preventive measures, a defense release informed.

The Monthly meeting of Mokokchung District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) for the month of February, 2017 will be held on February 24 in the Conference Hall of ADC (Planning) from 11:00 am onwards. Therefore all the DPDB members have been informed to attend the meeting without fail.

Darogapathar Village Council condemns firing Alisopur Suro Amüjang Dimapur DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 21 (MExN): A residence at Darogapathar village was fired upon on the night of February 20, according to a press statement from Darogapathar Village Council (DVC). The council expressed shock at the incident which happened at the residence of its “bonafide resident” Zaremo Kikon. Condemning it, DVC Chairman, Nungtokmeren Jamir and Secretary, K Ado Bizo stated such act perpetuated upon the village residents creates fear psychosis and uncertainty particularly among the villagers. “Such acts are detrimental to the village council’s aspirations for peaceful and Nagaland Secretariat office Kohima was functional today after the NTAC bandh was lifted. harmonious co-existence,” the statement read. Meanwhile, the council appealed to all not to create any problem within its jurisdiction, but rather resolve dispute(s), if any, through goodwill and understanding towards which the council said it is always willing to play a proactive role for the betterment of the society.

State AIFFSO condoles

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 21 (MExN): The All India Freedom Fighters and Successors Organization, Nagaland State Unit (AIFFSONSU) has expressed deep pain and grief to hear of the sudden demise of late Guolhoulie Rio, General Secretary of Northeast Region Freedom Fighters and Successors Organisa-

tion (NERFFSO) and also one of the founding members of NERFFSO, who passed away on February 19 at Calcutta.

A condolence message from the AIFFSONSU President Zeliezhu Angami and General Secretary K Limei Phom termed Late Guolhoulie Rio “a benevolent teacher” and “a very spiri-

tual and dedicated person” whose passing away has caused a vacuum which would be difficult to fill.

Members of the organization share the loss with the bereaved family, the message stated while conveying deepest condolences. The AIFFSONSU further prayed for the departed soul to rest in eternal peace.

Lotha body condemns firing DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 21 (MExN): The Lotha Union Purana Bazaar Area has strongly condemned the alleged gun-firing by miscreants at the residence of its former Chairman Zaremo Kikon at Da-

rogapathar on February 20 at around 11:30 pm.

The bullet from the gunshot pierced the irongate, the union informed in a press release. Viewing the incident seriously, the union opined that the

shooting amounted to “attempt to murder”.

In this regard, the union charged the law enforcing agency to act on the incident with all seriousness and arrest the culprit(s).

The Kang 25 Muzen Mung of the Alisopur Suro Amüjang Dimapur (ASAD) has been rescheduled to Friday, February 24. A press release stating this informed that the venue, timing and all other programme shall remain the same. The jubilee date has been postponed in view of the inconveniences and difficulties due to the recent state-wide bandh, the ASAD informed and requested all its members to bear with the inconveniences.

Dimapur Tsungiki Ekhung A General Meeting of the Dimapur Tsungiki Ekhung will be held on February 25, 10:00 am at Lotha Hoho Ki, DC Court Junction, Dimapur. A press release in this regard has requested all concerned members to attend the meeting positively along with annual membership fee for the year 2016 and 2017.

Lozaphuhu Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting of the Village Council and public of Lozaphuhu village will be held on February 24 at 9:00 am. A press release in this regard has requested all members/citizens to attend the meeting positively.

PUBLIC SPACE

“Contested Traditions: Nagaland, Rights, Women” Appeal to NBSE

S

James Pochury

ometimes, during passionate and heart rending TV debates by animal rights activists, in the backdrop of Jalikattu, I used to momentarily feel a sense of indignity...reflecting how some sections might be considering Naga people’s ways of fulfilling their culinary tastes and habits. Just then, I would breathe a sigh of relief recalling how some of these well intentioned but blinkered activists could very well be part of a hegemonic brahminical upper class mindset, and deeply Casteiest and looking down upon the poor in their own spaces and relationships. This irony is manifested in the way Dalits and adivasis continue to be treated as untouchables and primitive committing and unmoved by heinous atrocities on them, dispossessing and alienating them from their ancestral domains and habitats, despite far reaching legislations and fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution. One shudders at such glaring double standard and hypocrisy of differential treatment.

Article 371 A (which states that the Indian parliament cannot make laws without the permission of Nagaland legislature), whatever be its flaws and constraints, indeed is the only legal link that binds India and the Nagas in the Indian “puppet” state of Nagaland in a position of power. The Article is itself on a shaky ground and not sacrosanct because Clause b of 371A gives the Governor of Nagaland exceptional and unquestionable powers, thereby declaring at his whims any areas of Nagaland as Disturbed Area, followed by AFSPA. There are also forces at play to bring in a Uniform Civil Code across India. Such an environment cannot be conducive for Nagas to express and exercise their right to self determination and democratic freedom. More than 80 years of forced occupation of Naga areas coupled with utter failure of governance on all fronts, continue to take a toll on the Nagas.

But the emerging hope is that political consciousness around resource politics seems to be growing. As is evident in sporadic but violent resistance episodes; ACAUT resistance could be one such and the latest being the opposition to ULB elections that is perceived to be infringing on 371A or has the potential to open the floodgates for other Constitutional provisions and Acts to apply to Nagaland.

The issue is much larger than “contested traditions” and gender justice. It is necessary to understand, see and address the present conflict not as merely a battle against 33%

reservation for women in the urban bodies but much bigger, between Naga patriarchy and Naga women on the one hand (which is internal to the Nagas), and between the Indian State and the Naga ethos, values, traditions and customs; manifested by the imposition of governance structure antithetical and antagonistic to Naga existence. Since we have in our Naga collective consciousness the notion that Nagas are equal, therefore our women have every right to seek to put that notion or principle into practice.

And this struggle, for a truly egalitarian Naga society, both, men and women, boys and girls have to work together as partners and not at loggerheads or as one superior over the other. The struggle has only taken an ugly turn that needs to be salvaged to mend broken bridges and breach the high walls of antagonism. The patriarchal basis of Naga society cannot be changed merely by legislations or representation.

Egyptian novelist Ms. Ahdaf Soueif in her “Culture and Meaning” (in Trans National Institute, tni) shares her experience of the Arab Spring, that “Culture” is often regarded - and may be presented by political and religious authorities - as being both homogeneous and static, yet we know that there are always fault lines and voices that don’t get a hearing or are suppressed. We also know that well-intentioned external efforts to address harmful or gender-restrictive traditional practices can have the effect of further entrenching them. How, then, can changes happen and be sustained?”

Soueif says that change happens organically within each community/culture group.

The change is for the better – in other words towards more freedom, openness, transparency, etc – when people are confident and not defensive. ‘Outside’ intervention should only ever be at the request and according to the demands and guidelines of trusted and authentic ‘inside’ groups. So a feminist group from, say, Somalia, wanting to work on feminist issues in Norway, would only do so in partnership with credible, rooted Norwegian groups and within their programme”.

It is not only a question of priorities but we need to be much more nuanced and strategic in the way women’s emancipation is sought to be achieved. Because if the issue takes a “men versus women” stance then whatever could be achieved internally and organically, however uphill a task, would get even harder, if not impossible. Therefore, a

women-led common struggle is critical to take the Naga men and boys along. To begin with, by recognising the fact that Neoliberal “Reform” agenda (benefitting crony capitalists) is sparing no one as it continues to overpower and surpass democratic institutions and elected local bodies. It is targeting resource-rich tribal lands in Central and Northeast of India and developing nations of the global South. Unprecedented land grabbing and land alienation is happening in the name of Reforms to push Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Smart Cities. Existing laws are being amended or surpassed by “Reform” policies and programmes, like Act East Policy. Smart City project will deploy a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to kill democracy.

Elected town and municipal bodies will be overpowered by 50% representatives of multinational companies mandated in the SPV. Naga entrepreneurs and companies will not have the level playing field to compete with the multinationals.

The priority and clear goal therefore for us ought to be to ensure that democracy is not hijacked by capital with elected bodies becoming the sanctifying bodies for the exploitation of our land, its resources, its people and its humanity.

The Uncontested Facts 1. There is no denial that Naga society is patriarchal in its customs vis-a-vis women in the social, political and economic structure. This itself is otherwise antithetical and against the Naga ethos and values of equality, equity, dignity and justice. This needs to be rectified in everyday life of Naga women and Naga society, including in the social, economic and political sphere, especially in the arena of political power at the village and the traditional institutions, including the tribes Hoho. The demand for equal rights to women falls very well within the Naga ethos of justice.

2. What was the reason for the 73rd Amendment to state: "243M. Part not to apply to certain areas.-(2) Nothing in this Part shall apply to - (a) the States of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram". Is it not to comply with Art.371 A of the Constitution regarding the special provisions? If so, then it implies that this is in recognition of the fact that the subject matter of governance of Nagas fall squarely within the ambit of 371A. 3. Article 371 (A) (1) (a) applies to the whole of Nagaland; the urban areas of Nagaland is not exempted from its applica-

tion. Therefore, any part of Nagaland that is deemed to be urban is not exempt from the purview of Article 371 A. It is to be noted that the Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas of Clause 1 and 2 of Article 244 are exempted from 73rd Amendment [243ZC (1)] and 74th amendments [243M (1)]. However, such is not the case for the urban areas of Nagaland in the 74th Amendment. It is being argued that the urban bodies as provided for in Nagaland Municipal Act 2016 in accordance with 74th Amendment are not Naga customary institutions which IS true and precisely the point. Ideally, 74th Amendment should have exempted Nagaland from its application; the Nagaland Assembly should have then formulated governance system and structure in the urban areas based on the Naga traditional values and principles in a similar manner as applied in governing villages. Of course, in this equal rights to women should be ensured.

4. It is also a historical and legal fact that governance and the structure of government at the State level are not evolved from the Naga traditions, customs, values and principles. There is obviously disharmony between the State government and the Naga Hohos as they are not organically evolved or structurally linked. Of late, these two are on a collision course.

5. All these above should be seen within the background of the Naga political history where the political conflict between the Nagas and Government of India has simmered for well over six decades and still awaits a complete political settlement.

6. The fundamental difference in the structures and content of governance between the modern state and Naga traditions lie precisely in the fact that the modern state is fashioned to govern a people and the material resource (land and natural wealth) of the State while for the Nagas, the people belong to the land, and the natural resources are the collective responsibility of the people.

7. The Naga governance is collective self governance based on participatory democracy (albeit it is skewed in favour of men) while the modern India state governance is based on the government governing the people through the use of representative democracy.

I

am glad that Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) brought out the Nagaland handbook to be studied by class 9 & 10 school students. I also studied it and I am glad I did. However, I wish it had mentioned the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 where 99.9 % of Nagas voted for complete sovereignty. I wish the handbook delved into the Naga Freedom movement more. So many important events and personalities have been left out. We want our Naga young people to know of our Naga history, our pasts and our historical rights.

You see, Naga young people have been brought up with the staple diet on India; its history, polity, economy and sociology. Young Nagas from a tender age have been bombarded with the word ' India '. I feel it is unfair that young Nagas are not fed properly on Naga history. A huge section of Naga History is blank in that handbook.

It is only those who are preparing for NPSC Exams, who get the chance to read on Naga history a bit. Not every Naga youth sits for NPSC Exams. Naga political struggle needs to be read by every young Naga.

My appeal to NBSE is please increase the Pages and include more on our Naga freedom struggle, our young people needs to know our history. I think at least a paragraph on the Naga Pebliscite of 1951 needs to be mentioned, if at all it is controversial to mention the other events or has NBSE received direction from the Centre not to mention important events like the Naga Pebliscite of 1951.

A generation of young people is going to rise up who knows nothing of the sacrifices made by our ancestors.

Kevitho Kera

Sincere Apology

T

his is with reference to the news item appeared in this daily on 21 February 2017 titled “Don Bosco Forum for Young at Risk govening body meeting held”.

The photo that accompanied the article showed men wearing Konyak lady’s mekhala. We would like to apologize to the entire Konyak community for hurting their sentiments. We would also like to state that it was This was a paper presented during out of ignorance and not on deliberate intena Panel Discussion by Commonwealth tion. We are grateful to KNSK, Dimapur unit Human Rights Initiative for bringing the matter to our attention.

India International Centre, New Delhi, Don Bosco, Dimapur February 20, 2017

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.

WEDNESDAY 22•02•2017

IN FOCUS

6

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express VOLUME XII ISSUE 50

By Dr. Asangba Tzüdir

Is there a way forward?

A

fter a lot of twists, turns and drama the demand of JCC and NTAC is finally fulfilled. The bandh is lifted and life seems to have returned to normalcy. Ironically, life has returned to the same ‘normal.’ And our Dear Nagaland and the people had to go through such turmoil and paralysis just to wind up in a change of leadership while the issues which were part of the larger struggle seem to have vanished in thin air. Thus, it’s back to square one with a change in guard but the same ‘normal.’ The question then is: What were Nagas fighting for and what have we achieved? As a footnote, what was clearly seen through this amorphous episode of shifts was that the struggle was based on a ground which was not only unclear but also ill-prepared and secondly, we have a group of legislators who cannot be trusted leaving aside any iota of integrity and principle as was seen from the events leading to the change in leadership.

There is so much more than this kind of resultant change in leadership and we need to seriously ponder on the ‘horizons’ of change and engage actively on the change aspects for real change to happen. The return to the same ‘normal’ is not something to cheer about because the unresolved issues which have not been given due warrant will keep haunting us.

The points of reference in seeking a solution for these unresolved issues are yet to be deliberated with due merit. One of these is the provisions under Article 371 A. Beyond the 33% reservation for women vis-à-vis Article 371A and the power struggle between the ‘people’ and the ‘state,’ it has put us in a more challenging existential reality in relation to our Religious or Social practices, Naga customary law and procedure so also its associated Civil and Criminal Justice. All these aspects provoke the question of Naga Identity and though a point of reference, it has shifted from its traditional setting in time and space and demands newer understanding within the evolved spaces. Nagas need to redefine and concretize the parameters that come under the ambit of religious, social and customary laws and practices.

A way forward therefore is to evolve from the traditional setting and work out models of value based ideals of equality, justice and fraternity in tune with the changing times. For this, every section of Naga needs to travel forward (not backward in time) and put our thinking heads together towards the formation of a new Naga social, political, religious and cultural Identity. Above all, a new model of an all inclusive system of democracy and a bottom-up approach to power needs to be adopted towards generating well informed dialogues. Often ill-informed dialogues in relation to questions of ‘rights,’ ‘legality’ and ‘constitutionality,’ give rise to a skewed power struggle between the ‘bottom’ and ‘top.’

The outgoing CM has assured that, “all issues will be smoothly solved” under the new leadership but there are challenges beyond the issues related to (mis)governance and until the emerging issues of identity are properly addressed, Nagas will continue to stay under a ‘veiled normal’ going backwards in time.

(Dr. Asangba Tzüdir contributes a weekly guest editorial to the Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)

LEFT WING |

Daniel Sullivan Fair Observer

Abuse of Rohingya Must Be Investigated There is too little access and too little known about possible ongoing abuses in Rakhine State

I

nternational humanitarian and human rights groups, including Refugees International, have long called for an independent international investigation into abuses of the Rohingya population and the blockage of life-saving aid in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The government of Myanmar’s response has been one of dismissal and denial. But with a devastating new United Nations (UN) report and growing international pressure, that call has gained new traction.

On February 3, 2017, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a report citing systematic rape and sexual violence, killing of babies and young children, and destruction of homes and food sources in attacks by Myanmar security forces against the Rohingya Muslim minority population. The report criticizes the disproportionate response by the Myanmar military to the October 2016 attacks carried out by a group of Rohingya that left 10 border officers dead. The report concludes that the systematic nature of the abuses by the government security forces “very likely amount to commission of crimes against humanity.”

Crimes Against Humanity: The report has led to a new round of international criticisms of the Myanmar government, including from the UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide and Pope Francis, who released a statement of “stinging criticism.”

Such statements add to a steadily growing chorus of condemnation that has, in recent weeks, included the government of Malaysia, the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation and a group of Nobel laureates. Perhaps most significantly, the report resulted in a call by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein for an independent international investigation and possible referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to Hussein, Aung San Suu Kyi has met the latest UN report with an expressed willingness to investigate the allegations. Prior to the UN report, the Myanmar government and a government commission set up to investigate violence in northern Rakhine State since October 2016 found no evidence of abuses or of malnutrition due to blocked aid. This directly contradicted a steady flow of reports of abuse collected by groups like Fortify Rights and Human Rights Watch (HRW), as well as reports by the UN showing spikes in malnutrition.

It is clear that the existing government commission will not be sufficient to address the abuses highlighted in the latest UN report. Whether Suu Kyi will recognize this remains to be seen, but the expressed willingness to investigate is a welcome change from the previous blanket denials of any abuses by security forces.

Progress: Some concrete progress has been made on aid access. Following her recent trip to Rakhine State, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Yanghee Lee reported that access was slowly starting to improve. And, on February 9, a long-delayed ship containing 2,300 tons of food and aid supplies for both Rakhine and Rohingya people affected by the violence arrived in Yangon. Though it was not allowed to dock in Rakhine State, plans are in the works for the Myanmar navy to ship the food to those who need it The fact remains that there is too little access and too little known about possible ongoing abuses. But the latest UN report, the international condemnation and the small pieces of progress also provide a bit of momentum that should be seized by the government of Myanmar and the international community. Access to aid must be increased to address immediate dire needs and further steps must be taken toward the longer term need for accountability. Finally, agreeing to an independent international investigation would be an important start.

The Myanmar government and international community should seize on this small momentum to address the immediate needs of the affected Rohingya and Rakhine populations, and begin the longer term need for accountability.

C O M M E N T A R Y

Sabrina Zajak openDemocracy

Trade union building in Myanmar

Basically all unions demand a stronger sanctioning capacity for the Arbitration Council

O

n June 9, 2016, more than 12,000 workers from different Yangon factories were protesting in Hlaing Tharyar township against low wages, forced and unpaid overtime, and the firing of organized workers. They were also protesting at the employers’ ignorance regarding decisions made by the Dispute Settlement Arbitration Council.

With the introduction of a new labour law as part of the democratic opening in Myanmar since 2011, workers have become increasingly vocal about the inhumane working conditions and labour disputes. Trade unions play a crucial role in helping workers formulate and articulate their complaints. Claiming rights is an important driver for democratic change in a political environment characterized by the brutal repression of trade unions and labour rights under the military regime for over 50 years.

Unions are important vehicles that combine legal institution-building and democratization through worker participation. This is important in a context where the labour law, a key pillar in Myanmar’s transition to democracy, is not coherent and the same concepts and words have different meanings to different actors. Today, a multitude of actors, including lawyers, firms, international organizations, the bureaucracy, global and local trade unions, as well as social movements are involved in shaping the law. Each contributes to the process of codification. So what are the links between the role played by trade unions in the interpretation, spread, and application of the labour law and the current model of worker organizing?

Law and trade union-building are tightly intertwined in Myanmar: labour disputes have become a key driver for trade union organizing. This takes three forms: solving disputes through workplace negotiations; supporting dispute settlements through arbitration; and more fundamentally the involvement of labour in the labour law reform process. Overall however, while trade unions are important for turning law into a social reality, considerable barriers remain, allowing employers to disregard decisions made by the arbitration council and other legal innovations.

The trade union movement in Myanmar The development of trade union structures in Myanmar is an unprecedented success story, given the repression of trade unions and all other political organizations under military rule in Myanmar since 1962 and even harsher repressions after 1988 and the violent crackdown on the 8888 student uprising against military rule. Trade unions had to operate underground or fled the country and tried to operate from Thailand. Support by global unions and the international trade union federation was crucial for the survival of the Federation of Trade Unions in Burma (FTUB) within Thailand.

In 2012 trade unions became legal, and union leaders from FTUB (later CTUM) in exile could return to the country. By 2013 there were already 670 registered factory unions. In 2015 the Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM) was officially recognized as the only trade union confederation in Myanmar. By October 2016 CTUM has 8 federations with 783 factory unions as members, representing roughly 70.000 workers.

Member federations include the Agriculture and Farmers Federation of Myanmar (AFFM), the Building and Wood Workers Federation of Myanmar (BWFM), the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM), Mining Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (MWFM), Myanmar Transport and Logistics Federation (MTLF) as well as Public Sector and Education Sector Unions. Some of them are affiliated with global unions. Not all union federations are members of CTUM. Important other federations are the Agriculture and Farmers' Federation Myanmar (AFFM/IUF) or the Myanmar Industries Craft and Services Unions Federation (MICS), which might form a second confederation in the future. In addition, there are also labour rights organizations active in Myanmar, which work independently of trade unions.

Unions are involved in a range of activities, including labour disputes.

The rise in labour disputes is linked to greater freedom of expression and association rights, with trade unions in Myanmar helping workers with their problems through legal claim-making.

CTUM and its members don’t encourage strikes. By law, the right to strike is only given after the decision of the arbitration body, not during arbitration, to pressure employer into the decision.

But there are other reasons for unions to prefer legal-institutional means.

Unions aim to establish themselves as a credible actor in the emerging industrial relations landscape in Myanmar, which is difficult if they are too confrontational. In addition, international organizations and donors put friendly pressure on them to solve disputes through dialogue and arbitration rather than through open conflict. More fundamentally, trade unionists also believe that they can achieve more through participatory channels within the emerging institutions, especially arbitration, than through strikes which are always hard for workers to sustain and risky.

Workers come to trade union centres in industrial zones and register as union members when they have a problem. They seek support from unions in solving the problem. This troubleshooting approach is also called “hot shopping”, when workers choose a trade union less for political or ideological reasons or general questions of democratic representation, but for urgent complaints including unpaid wages, forced overtime work, being dismissed, harassed or even sexually abused. There are various ways in which trade unions can help.

Worker capacity building and negotiations without collective bargaining The first approach is to try to mediate or facilitate negotiations inside factories. In order for negotiations to work, legal capacity training programs for workers are crucial. In those trainings workers not only learn about their rights (e.g. that forced overtime is illegal), but also that it is their right to make claims vis-à-vis management.

Workers could then use the Workplace Coordination Committee (WCC), consisting of workers and management, to communicate their complaints.

Whether this works also depends on the presence of union and worker leaders who are respected and able to negotiate with management.

Ideally, disputes are solved by negotiating and signing a list made up of workers’ demands. To outsiders, mainly the international community, such negotiations are framed as collective bargaining. But this doesn’t really exist in Myanmar. The Workplace Coordination Committee (WCC) is not per se an instrument for worker participation and the implementation of the law inside the factory. WCCs remain contested as their independence from management cannot be taken for granted.

Still, they are a first and important step towards realizing workers’ rights; an important source of self-empowerment for workers and a first step towards collective bargaining at the shop floor level in the future.

Management can use WCCs to govern workers and enforce their own interpretation of the law. Furthermore, global brands can use WCCs as an indicator for worker representation and freedom of association in their legal compliance and CSR programs. As WCCs can be completely decoupled from trade union structures or real worker representation, they can also become an effective means for management to bypass unions.

Complaints in front of the Arbitration Council If no agreement is reached, then the complaint can be brought forward to arbitration. As in many other cases in Myanmar, international agencies, in this case the ILO, played a crucial role in designing and establishing a

new institution based on experiences in other countries.

The arbitration council was introduced in 2012. The arbitration process works the following way: the first step is to bring forward a complaint at the township level. The so called Township Conciliation Body tries to negotiate an agreement between the conflicting partners. If no agreement is reached the conciliation body sends the case to the regional arbitration body. If no settlement is found there the case is sent to the national arbitration council, the Nay Pyi Taw council.

This structure should help to solve to dispute at the lowest level possible.

In practice, many complaints move up to the arbitration council. The Arbitration Council is also important as there is no functioning labour court and a lack of capable labour lawyers. Trade unions are important in the whole process of arbitration as they help workers by explaining the procedure, formulating complaints, filling out the paper work or searching for proof of the claim. For example, one common issue of conflicting interpretations is about the termination of work. While management argues that the worker left, the worker complains about being fired.

Trade unions also have a say in the Arbitration Council consisting of five representatives of the tripartite bodies: the Ministry of Labour, employers’ organisations and labour groups. The representatives of labour were newly nominated in mid-2016. According to the Settlement of Labour Disputes Law, representatives have to be elected by the ministry based on suggestions made by the employer organisations and worker’s organisations.

At the moment, labour is represented by CTUM members. Observers maintain that the decision-making process is not influenced by the background of the participants (state, labour, business) and that they usually agree on the verdict. One trade unionist explains why: “The ILO strongly encourages them not to decide by their affiliation but as a group.” He continues, “the workers are not favoured but the labour law is.” As the Arbitration Council aims towards becoming a law enforcement body, decisions mount up against labour rights violations. This is why workers tend to win, although this is also beginning to change. However, even if decisions are made in favour of workers, employers tend to disregard the decision. During my talks with many trade unionists, the lack of enforcement is considered a key problem: “We don’t have a functioning labour court and arbitration still has no teeth”.

This presents a crucial challenge for the whole emerging trade union and labour movement in Myanmar in multiple ways. First, it hampers trade union growth through registering workers as this is tightly connected to labour disputes and problem solution. Yet if their problem solution capacity is low, it reduces interest in trade unions.

Second, many cases in arbitration unfold around the issue of being fired.

And increasingly union members get fired. If arbitration decisions are not respected, or reduced to a small compensation payment, unions have no ability to protect their members, which again reduces motivation for becoming a trade union member.

Third, trade union federations favour negotiation and arbitration over open conflict. This divides trade unions from other labour rights groups which favour a different approach to organizing work-

ers and regard strikes as the most important means for making claims. Dysfunctional institutions weaken the unions’ approach vis-à-vis such alternatives.

But how can decisions become more binding? Currently, union federations, in particular those covering the garment sector, hope that global buyers will enforce the decisions made by the AC in their supply chains.

Global brands have committed themselves to respect the labour law as part of their global framework agreements or their membership of multistakeholder initiatives. And indeed, some successes within global framework agreements have been reported. This means brands become the last staging post in the interpretation of the law. It then very much depends on the presence of participatory structures for unions if they can influence the corporate perspective on what is the right interpretation of the law.

Changing the labour law Unions participate in shaping the application of law through one additional mechanism – by proposing specific legal reforms. Basically all unions demand a stronger sanctioning capacity for the Arbitration Council. In 2014 the fine was raised to 1,000,000 kyat, roughly 1000€.

Still the penalty is too low for factory owners to respect the law. This is why CTUM demands not only monetary sanctions but a prison penalty.

In 2017, amendments to the labour law are going to be made. CTUM has established a legal working group, to identify flaws and dysfunctions in the current labour law practices and formulate a proposition for amendments. CTUM representatives also participate in the National Tripartite Dialogue Forum where they can present their suggestions for legal reform.

If they succeed at least with some of their proposals, it could be a step to further to establish trade unions as important actors in the emerging industrial landscape in Myanmar. Once established, they could also move from a rights-based approach, fighting for the application of the law through solving pressing problems, towards a more pro-active engagement and long term organising inside factories.

This text is based on interviews, discussions and participant observations conducted during the Myanmar Trade Union Conference, “Trade Union Development, Industrial Relations and International Development Initiatives” Myanmar, Yangon, 07-09 November, 2016 and during visits to worker centres in industrial zones in Yangon.

Sabrina Zajak is junior professor for “globalization conflicts, social movements and labor” at the RuhrUniversity Bochum. She works at the Institute for Social Movements on issues of transnational movements and activism; trade unions and NGOs; globalization, governance and labor standards. She is head of the research group “transnational alliances between social movements and trade unions in Europe”. Her most recent book Transnational Activism, Global Labor Governance, and China (Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, 2017) investigates how trade unions and labour rights NGOs have mobilized together along different pathways while attempting to influence labour standards in Chinese supply chains since 1989.

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.

WEDNESDAY 22•02•2017

Morung Express Learning

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

7

UNESCO bats for Multilingual Education

I

Morung Express Feature

n the occasion of the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) 2017, on February 21, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has stressed on the importance of mother languages.

IMLD has been observed since 2000 after it was proclaimed by the General Conference of the UNESCO with the objective to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

The UNESCO is celebrating this year IMLD under the theme “Towards Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education” with an objective, “To foster sustainable development, learners must have access to education in their mother tongue and in other languages. “ “It is through the mastery of the first language or mother tongue that the basic skills of reading, writing and numeracy are acquired,” UNESCO said in a message.

Local languages, especially minority and indigenous, transmit cultures, values and traditional knowledge, thus playing an important role in promoting sustainable futures, it added.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova her message for the day appealed for acknowledging multilingual education everywhere, in education and administrative systems, in cultural expressions and the media, cyberspace and trade.

February 21 is International Mother Language Day

Last year, the UNESCO said that understanding and creativity; multilingualism is especially impor- • It reinforces the cognitive aspect of learning by ensuring the direct tant for girls and women, as well as minorities, indigenous peoples, and application of learning outcomes to the learner’s life through the rural populations. mother tongue.

For the UNESCO, it is highlighting the importance of mother and • It enhances dialogue and interaclocal languages as channels for safetion between learner and teacher guarding and sharing indigenous by allowing genuine communication from the beginning. cultures and knowledge, which are vast reservoirs of wisdom.

• It facilitates participation and action in society and gives access What is to new knowledge and cultural multilingual education? expressions, thus ensuring a harAccording to UNESCO, Multilinmonious interaction between the gual education facilitates access to global and the local. education while promoting equity for populations speaking minority Towards and/or indigenous languages, espe- preserving mother tongue cially girls and women: Recognising the importance of • It emphasizes the quality of teach- mother tongue, the UNESCO, since ing and learning with a focus on 1996, has been publishing an ‘Atlas

of the World’s Languages in Danger’ intended to raise awareness about language endangerment and the need to safeguard the world’s linguistic diversity.

The last edition in 2010 listed about 2,500 languages (among which 230 languages are extinct since 1950), approaching the generally-accepted estimate of some 3,000 endangered languages worldwide.

The Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger lists 197 languages in India that are on their way to becoming endangered.

Around 25 Naga languages appear on the list under the category ‘vulnerable’ including Ao, Angami, Lotha, Konyak, Khiamnuingan, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Tangkhul, Yimchungru and so on. Kachari is listed as “definitely endangered.”

According to the UNESCO, languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. To “appropriate language education” is fundamental to enable learners to benefit from quality education, learn throughout life, and have access to information. And “if nothing is done,” half of the 6000 plus languages spoken today will disappear by the end of this century. Humanity would lose not only cultural wealth but also important ancestral knowledge embedded, in particular, in indigenous languages.

Languages with at least 50 million first-language speakers Total Countries

Speakers (millions)

Rank

Language

Primary Country

1

Chinese

China

35

1,302

2 3

Spanish English

Spain United Kingdom

31 106

427 339

4 5

Arabic Hindi

Saudi Arabia India

58 4

267 260

6 7

Portuguese Bengali

Portugal Bangladesh

12 4

202 189

8

Russian

Russian Federation

17

171

9 10

Japanese Lahnda

Japan Pakistan

2 8

128 117

11 12

Javanese Korean

Indonesia South Korea

3 7

84.3 77.3

13 14

German French

Germany France

26 53

76.9 75.9

15

Telugu

India

2

74.2

16 17

Marathi Turkish

India Turkey

1 8

71.8 71.4

18

Urdu

Pakistan

6

68.6

19 20 21

Vietnamese Tamil Italian

Viet Nam India Italy

3 7 13

68.0 67.8 63.4

22

Persian

Iran

30

60.6

23

Malay

Malaysia

16

60.6

Source: Ethnologue.com – A comprehensive reference work cataloging all of the world’s known living languages since 1951.

Interesting facts about Chemistry

Quiz #48

A

PARTICIPATE & WIN 1. Revolving around the Yimchunger Nagas, this documentary clinched three awards at the recently concluded National Science Film Festival. What is the name of the documentary film? a) Miilelam Miiyoh b) Fakim c) Point and Shoot d) Hunting versus conservation 2. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) released recently by the US-based Health Effect Institute, the estimated early deaths caused by air pollution in India is – a) 1 million b) 1.1 million c) 2.5 million d) 4.5 million 3. Who will take over as the Chairman of Indian multinational conglomerate Tata group? a) Cyrus Mistry b) Ratan Tata c) Noel Tata d) N. Chandrasekaran 4. Which cricketer fetched a staggering $2.17 million in the 10th Indian Premier League player auction to become the ‘Most Expensive Overseas Player’ in IPL history? a) Ben Stokes b) Tymal Mills c) Kevin Peterson d) Chris Woakes 5. Which Grammy-winning pop idol was recently voted “Music Icon of the Future”? a) Beyonce b) Ed Sheeran c) Lady Gaga d) Adele Send in your answers to The Morung Express Office (address given below) or email to morunglearning@gmail.com or WhatsApp/SMS @ 7085976283 Each week, one lucky winner will be given a prize of Rs. 500. The winner may collect the same from The Morung Express Office, H/No.4, Duncan Basti, Dimapur within two weeks. *Winners should bring along a valid ID to claim the prize.

fter every few days, facing a good explosion either due to mixing of the wrong chemical or not mixing the right amount is what a chemistry student looks forward to. After all it provides respite from the boring hourly lectures on matters such as how a red litmus paper can turn blue and vice-versa. Chemistry likes its brothers, biology and physics, is well known as the cause for the development of interest of many students in the field of commerce, yet it never fails to amaze us.

The proof to it here are some amazing and very interesting facts about chemistry laid down underneath.

age of a woman’s hand with a ring on it. It was of Bertha Rontgen’s hand. She believed that seeing her bones was a death omen and her time had arrived.

4) Drinking Health Fresh juice has finally found its competition in the arena of being a healthy drink. People are known to drink radioactive wa1) Learning from Others ter from a device called the Watson and Crick, the “Revigator.” as it was considgroundbreakers of the DNA ered to be a healthy. double helix never ran any experiments on themselves, 5) Misunderstood Diamond Men promise their but rather researched into the work of others and de- women the rarest things in return of their love. One duced the structure. such thing is considered 2) The Insanity Cure to be diamonds. However, A person suffering from men have got to work hardany form of mental illness er as now diamonds being can be cured with the help the rarest gems have been of lithium as it is known to replaced by jadeite which be used for the purpose of costs about $3 million per changing one’s thinking. I carat. Wedding is really would personally recom- mean business. mend it for the terrorists and 6) 28 Grams changing their outlook.

All those teenagers be3) The Death Omen lieving themselves to be the The first X-ray was an im- rarest on earth have to com-

Mansplaining ‘Mansplaining’ is a relatively new word; it is a combination of ‘man’ and ‘explaining’. The word is normally used with men.

When a man ‘mansplains’ the rules of cricket to a woman, he usually does so in a condescending manner. He is certain that the woman he is talking to knows nothing or very little about the game and that she understands very little about the technical aspects of the sport.

To ensure that the woman understands what he is saying, he simplifies or dumbs down his explanation. He mistakenly assumes that he knows more about the subject than the woman he is talking to. pete with astatine (used for Anil was trying to mansplain organic chemistry to my cousin — quite the treatment of brain tumors forgetting that she had majored in chemistry. and in radiation therapies) as only 28 grams of it is present Treat us as your equals. Don’t give us your mansplanations! on the whole wide earth.

7) Colorful Excitement The magnificent colors of the dawn are due to the excited oxygen present.

WEEKLY INTERNSHIP LIST

1. Graphic Design at TechnoMettle 5. Digital Marketing at 8) The Standard Oxygen Mavenpro Communications Location – Work from Home In 1961 a historical event Location – Kolkata Stipend – Rs. 5,000-10,000/Month took place when oxygen was Stipend – Rs. 6,000-10,000/Month Link – internshala.com/i/1696 replaced by carbon 12 to be Link – internshala.com/i/1700 Deadline – 5th March 2017 used as the atomic weight Deadline – 4th March 2017 standard for other elements. 2. Content Writing at AsepsisLife, Inc. Location – Work from Home 6. Business Development 9) The Unloved ‘J’ Stipend – Rs. 6,000/Month (Sales) at CT Group of InstituDiscrimination takes Link – internshala.com/i/1697 tions place everywhere. Be it in life Deadline – 4th March 2017 Location – Guwahati, Imphal or even in the periodic table Stipend – Rs. 6,000-12,000/Month where the letter J is the only 3. Mobile App Development Link – internshala.com/i/1701 letter that doesn’t appear. at Battasha Innovative Deadline – 2nd March 2017 Location – Work from Home 10) The Liquid Element Stipend – Rs. 4,000/Month For everything there Link – internshala.com/i/1698 Courtesy & Disclaimer: Internis an exception, including Deadline – 4th March 2017 shala (www.internshala.com) – metals. One of the very inWorld’s largest internship platteresting fact about Chemis- 4. Data Science at form. The Morung Learning will Bellboi Technologies try is that the metal Gallium be carrying content from internLocation – Work from Home (Ga, atomic no. 31) can melt shala every week. All content are Stipend – Rs. 25,000-30,000/Month those of Internshala. The Morung in your hands!

Link – internshala.com/i/1699 Express is not responsible or li(Source: http://whatthafact.com/ Deadline – 28th Feb 2017 interesting-facts-about-chemistry/) able for any content in this article.

The Strength of a ‘Leader’

The past few days in Nagaland had left people wavering between feelings of suspense, confusion, and frustration amidst hope or even lost hope for a favourable outcome to the prolonged gridlock between leaders of the Tribal bodies and the Government. Now, we canreflect on the nature of events that unfolded, with wishes that if there is anything else that can be gained from this episode it is that Nagaland and its people will become wiser and use wiser counsel to lead, to support and to do the right thing. The definition of who is a true leader is examined by PS Reishangnim of BCom 6th Semester. PS Reishangnim was awarded the Tetso College Student of the Year Award by Hon’ble Governor P B Acharya in January on Scholastic Day 2017. She is currently the General Secretary of the Student Council.

L

P S Reishangnim, BCom 6th Semester Management Honours

et us redefine the word ‘leader’. In my opinion, it means a state of serving others and connecting people. It has the title of ‘leader’ but is a profession of service. But as we look around at the situation of today’s generation in any political groups, government, or in society, being a leader means being powerful and authoritative. Let us think again to rebuild our society and nation for the future, is being powerful enoughto bea leader?Humility, empathy, patience, and a forgiving nature are much-needed attributes in a leader. But the question is do we have these kind of leaders?

First of all, a leader should not be proud, but always be thankful to the followers.If there are no followers, there can’t be a leader. Let us look at our generation, I’m not saying that all the leaders are the same, but I’m talking about the general

concept that we have. Almost everyone thinks that a leader is someone who has wealth, power, connection, etc. We generally despise the quality of a leader being humble, kind, and persuasive.

Today our society is in total chaos. A time has come for us to question our beliefs, motives, concepts, and actions. We blame our leaders.

Well of course, “a tree moves when the wind blows”. Some leaders are not honest as they should be. They practice biased living. They work for their own benefits and seem to forget that they are at their position because of who they now ignore.

Leaders should have the vision of the mission that they stand for.They should have the ability to think and capability to arrange and visualisefor the future. Those with principlescan stand up in every situation, regardless of the situation. Leaders should plan beforehand. They should have

clear ideas of the responsibilities that have to be taken up.

Leaders cannot work alone, they always need co-ordination. Goals can be achieved only when there is unity in the team. A leader should maintain a good relationship with alland respect opinions.Communication also plays a vital role in the welfare of the society. A good society can be formed only when there is a proper flow of communication.

A leader should make sure that no information is misinterpreted. A single misunderstanding can put the entire society at stake. Leaders should work selflessly for the welfare of the society. They should always be ready to help others in need and stay away from human greed. Being able to compromise, and remaining optimistic is crucial to the success of the leader.

A leader does not mean the burden has to be carriedalone. Being

a leader in the society shows the person’s capability to take up the responsibilities that havebeen assigned. It also shows the faith that people have in her/him. Leaders have been given the privilege to start the change that we want to see in the society.

We have talked about bringing change in the society many times, and every form of social media has posts about changes we long for. But are we practicingwhat we speak? Are we taking the responsibility? Everyone should be a part of the change and not the leaders alone. Yes, it is the leaders who should take the first step as they have the platform, rights, position, and opportunity to start the work.

The scope for creating an impact as a leader is tremendous. No matter what, you may be a student leader or a church leader, or you may be leading any organisation, you must

work to make things better for everyone.

Now let us ask ourselves, should we follow the footsteps of our ancestorsin bringing changes? Yes, we have to, since we have our own culture and tradition to keep. It forms our identity. But since the world is changing and our living standard is higher, we should make certain changes the way we think. We need to adapt. Those who can’t adapt, fade away! The world is just a global village, everything is interconnected. Though our mind may bemanipulated by the current situation, we youngsters should be aware of what is right and wrong. We should have our own principles and be careful enough not to endorse any corrupt activity.

As the saying goes, “students are the pillars of tomorrow”, we are the leaders of tomorrow.We are the ones who will complete the unfinished

work of our parents. As the future of tomorrow, what changes can we bring? The current scenario in Nagaland doesn’t paint a happy image.

There is violence, anger, corruption, and it definitely isn’t what we want it to be. We definitely need a revolutionary leader. We can change this situation. We need a leader who is empathetic towards the people. This could be a man or even a woman.

And let us remember - Whoever we are, how great we may be, or how intelligent we claim to be, God, the supreme leader, is always above us all.

Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editors are Dr. Hewasa Lorin, Anjan Behera, Dr. Salikyu Sangtam, Nivibo Yiki, and Kvulo Lorin. For feedback or comments please email: dot@tetsocollege.org.

Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

8

wednesdAY 22•02•2017

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Modi urges US to keep an India, UK discuss extradition hassles amid Mallya deportation talk open mind on H-1B visas NEW DELHI, FEb 21 (IaNs): Days after New Delhi's request seeking the deportation of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya, India and the United Kingdom on Tuesday concluded two-day extensive talks over legal matters related to extradition of criminals.

Mallya faces money laundering and loan default charges back home but has been hiding in the UK. According to an External Affairs Ministry statement, the two sides held "detailed and fruitful deliberations on the legal processes and pro-

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he addresses an election campaign rally in Allahabad, February 20. (REUTERS)

NEW DELHI, FEbruary 21 (rEutErs): Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the United States on Tuesday to keep an open mind on admitting skilled Indian workers, in comments that pushed back against Republican President Donald Trump's "America First" rhetoric on jobs.

Modi's comments reflected concern that India's $150 billion IT services industry would suffer if the United States curbs the visas, known as H-1B, it relies on to send its software experts to the United States on project work.

"The prime minister referred to the role of skilled Indian talent in enriching the American economy and society," Modi's office said in a statement after he met a bipartisan delegation of 26 members of the U.S. Congress. "He urged developing a reflective, balanced and far-sighted perspective on movement of skilled professionals."

Indian nationals are by far the largest group of recipients of the 65,000 H-1B

visas issued each year to new applicants under a cap mandated by Congress. Exemptions on the H-1B cap are available to up to 20,000 further applicants who have obtained a U.S. master's degree.

The actual number of Indian nationals working in the United States under the H-1B programme is significantly higher, however, because many visas are rolled over.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who was born in India, also met Modi on Tuesday. He told the Economic Times earlier that his own career had been made possible by "an enlightened immigration policy".

Initial confidence that Asia's third-largest economy would benefit from Trump's election victory has given way to concern that his isolationist rhetoric and hostility to free trade would hurt India's hi-tech and outsourcing industry.

The sector, led by Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd, employs 3.5 million people and

is lobbying against proposed U.S. visa curbs - including increases on salaries that H-1B visa holders must earn.

Part of the delegation led by Congressman Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, met Ravi Shankar Prasad, India's minister in charge of electronics and IT. Goodlatte, speaking at the meeting with Prasad, declined to answer a question on visa restrictions, saying it was up to the president to reassess his policies on immigration.

A senior Indian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said India hoped to resolve the visa issue with the United States but declined to be drawn on the details.

The government supported a move by NASSCOM, India's high-tech industry association, to lobby U.S. lawmakers and companies to urge the administration not to crack down on allowing its skilled workers into the United States, the source said.

cedures in either country and reviewed the requests for extradition and mutual legal assistance pending on either side".

The two countries, which signed their extradition treat on September 22, 1993, reiterated their determination to strengthen legal cooperation and expedite the pending requests, said the statement that, however, did not talk about Mallya.

Vijay Mallya "It was agreed that the central authorities of both the countries would review through video conference," further progress in these the statement said.

The extradition talks cases every six month

India needs to say no to nuclear power: Greenpeace

NEW DELHI, FEb 21 (PtI): India needs to "re-think" its energy policies and say no to nuclear power, Greenpeace India said today after the NGO released a report highlighting high radiation levels in Fukushima in Japan.

As Fukushima nuclear disaster nears its sixth anniversary, it continues to be a grim reminder of the destruction and loss lives that nuclear power can cause, it said, adding "At this point of time countries like India need to rethink their energy policies and say no nuclear power."

A massive undersea quake on March 11, 2011, sent a giant tsunami barrelling into Japan's northeastern coast, leaving more than 18,500 people dead or missing, and sending three reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

The Japanese government will soon lift evacuation orders for the residents of Iitate village in Fukushima prefecture where radiation levels in nearby forests are comparable to those currently within the Chernobyl 30 km exclusion zone, which, more than 30 years after the accident, is still closed for habitation, the NGO said.

The report titled 'No return to normal', released by Greenpeace Japan, said seventy-five per cent of Iitate is contaminated forested mountains.

As the country nears the sixth anniversary of the nuclear disaster, the Japanese government last week confirmed that it has not yet conducted any assessments of lifetime exposure risks for citizens if they

were to return to Iitate, it said.

"Life can never go back to normal for people living near nuclear power plants.

But clearly, the world has failed to learn its lessons from nuclear accidents like those in Chernobyl and Fukushima.

"India, for instance, seems determined to add on to its nuclear power capacity despite putting the lives of millions of people at risk," said Nandikesh Sivalingam, climate and energy campaigner, Greenpeace India. Red Alert, a Greenpeace India report released last year had said nuclear power is neither safe nor economical and India is grossly ill-prepared to handle a nuclear disaster.

The NGO said it should also be noted that India is currently in a situation of 'surplus power' witnessing massive installed overcapacity in the electricity sector.

With the solar power tariffs going down to record low levels, India's energy needs for the next ten years can be fulfilled by cleaner and safer sources of energy in the form of solar and wind, it said.

Greenpeace India stands by the victims of Fukushima who are being "forced" to return to the accident site for economic reasons, the NGO said.

"India must learn from the Fukushima disaster and its long lasting impact on people's lives and livelihoods and move away permanently from highly risky and economically unviable nuclear energy to safer, greener and cheaper energy sources like solar and wind," it said.

Millions vote in Maharashtra in crucial civic polls

MuMbaI, FEbruary 21 (IaNs): Millions voted on Tuesday in Maharashtra to elect 10 major civic bodies, including the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India's largest and richest civic body.

The election, which will also pick 11 Zilla Parishads and 118 Panchayat Samitis, is widely seen as a referendum on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

By close of balloting, an estimated 50 per cent of Mumbai's 9.2 million (92 lakh) electorate had voted. Early voters included political leaders as well as Bollywood actors.

The country's commercial capital and the richest civic body has generally recorded a dismal voter turnout. But the encouraging turnout prompted Fadnavis to tweet: "Thank you Mumbai for the record voting percentage and ... for participating in festival of democracy!"

Controlled by the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for four terms, the BMC has a budget of Rs 37,052 crore for the current year (2016-17) catering to a population of around 18.30 million. In comparison, neighbour-

ing Goa's budget last year was around Rs 14,700 crore.

Voting was also conducted in other nine civic bodies (besides Mumbai) -- Thane, Ulhasnagar, Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Amravati, Akola and Nagpur.

This is the first time the fate of a state government could rest on the outcome of a municipal election, given the bitterness between the BJP and Shiv Sena in the run up to the polls.

An aggressive Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray has put the BJP government "on notice period" and said he would decide whether to continue the statelevel alliance after the results on Thursday.

Since Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar has ruled out support in such an eventuality and predicted midterm assembly polls, the Fadnavis government will be reduced to a minority.

For the BJP, the election is a virtual mid-term report-card on its much-bandied issue of transparency and clean governance.

A generous dose of glamour, glitz and power play was visible

pay Rs 10 crore and if she fails to pay the punitive amount imposed by the Supreme Court, she will have to serve 13 more months in the jail,” Prisons Superintendent Krishna Kumar said in a statement. The AIADMK General Secretary is currently serving her sentence at

the law", the statement said. The Indian delegation was led by officials from the ministries of External Affairs, Home Affairs, Law and Justice and representatives from investigating agencies, including the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate.

The British delegation was led by officials of the UK Central Authority for Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance, Home and representatives from the Crown Prosecution Service and their High Commission in New Delhi.

One million bankers to strike work on February 28

CHENNaI, FEbruary 21 (IaNs): Around one million bankers will go on strike on February 28 following the failure of conciliation talks between the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) and the management, a union leader said on Tuesday. The UFBU is an umbrella body of nine unions in the banking sector. All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam said the Chief Labour Commissioner of the Ministry of Labour had called for a conciliation meeting in Delhi on Tuesday morning.

Representatives of the Indian Banks Association (IBA) and UFBU were present. "All attempts to find solutions to the demands raised by the unions yielded no result.

So the United Forum of Bank Unions decided to proceed with the proposed strike on February 28," Venkatachalam said. He said one million employees and officers of public sector banks, private banks, foreign banks, co-operative banks and regional rural banks will strike work on that day.

'Jet Airways plane lost contact due to frequency glitch'

NEW DELHI, FEbruary 21 (PtI): The Jet Airways aircraft flying from London, which lost contact with the ATC over European airspace while on its way to Mumbai, was a training flight for the pilot-in-command at the time of the incident, sources said. The incident happened on February 16 when the Mumbai- London flight 9W-118, carrying 330 passengers and 15 crew members, lost contact with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) reportedly for almost 33 minutes.

"It was a training flight for the pilot on the commander's seat when it lost contact with the ATC due to frequency goof- up. Though, the Czech aviation authorities tried contacting the pilot of the flight 9W-118 on emergency frequency, the pilot missed it due to howling noise," airline sources said. A response from Jet Airways on the issue was awaited.

According to information, the flight remained out of touch of ATC for nearly 33 minutes when it was flying over Czech airspace. While flying from Bratislava to Prague, 9W-118 was on correct frequency (132.890MHz) as it transmitted and acknowledged the messages. However, the crew subsequently tuned frequency 132.980MHz and it did not monitor the emergency frequency. The Prague centre reportedly spotted another Jet Airways aircraft, flight 9W-122 from Delhi to London Heathrow, flying under control of Rhein Control (Germany). An Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) message was reportedly transmitted to 9W118 asking them to contact at a particular frequency and by the time the aircraft reported at that frequency, it was already in German airspace.

Palaniswami announces Rs 2,247 cr for farmers People wait in line to cast their vote outside a polling booth at Cuff Parade in Mumbai on Tuesday. (HT Photo)

in Mumbai at the 7,304 booths to elect 227 BMC corporators from among 2,275 candidates.

Early voters included Sharad Pawar, his daughter Supriya Pawar, Uddhav and wife Rashmi Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj and wife Sharmila Thackeray.

Chief Minister Fadnavis and his wife Amruta voted in Nagpur.

So did union minister Nitin Gadkari and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Among the Bollywood per-

sonalities who voted -- and asked everyone to vote too -- were Rekha, Hema Malini, Prem Chopra, Kamini Kaushal, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Shraddha Kapoor, John Abraham, Vivek Oberoi, Arshad Warsi and Shreyas Talpade, renowned poet Gulzar and filmmaker Subhash Ghai.

Several teleserial actors and Marathi film stars too exercised their franchise.

Some like BJP state spokes-

person Shania N.C. and actor Varun Dhawan could not vote as their names were missing from the voters list.

An electorate of 3.77 crore has put the seal on the fate of 17,331 candidates for 5,512 seats, including 1,268 in 10 municipal corporations, 2,956 in 11 Zilla Parishads and 1,288 seats in 118 Panchayat Samitis in the second and final phase of the polling.

The results shall be declared on Thursday.

Sasikala will serve 13 more months in Withdrawing provident jail if she doesn’t pay Rs 10-crore fine fund to become simpler

bENgaLuru, FEbruary 21 (PtI): AIADMK leader Sasikala Natarajan, serving a jail term after her conviction in a disproportionate assets case, will have to serve 13 more months in prison if she fails to pay a fine of Rs 10 crore im-

were held following a decision during Prime Minister Theresa May's India visit in November last.

May and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed officials dealing with extradition matters from both sides to meet and develop better understanding of legal processes and deportation requirements in each other's country.

They were also directed to "identify the causes of delays and expedite pending requests, so that fugitives and criminals should not be allowed to escape

in Bengaluru.

The Supreme Court had, on February 14, restored Sasikala’s conviction in the disproportionate assets case, awarding four years jail term to her and her relatives, besides imposing a fine of Rs 10 crore each.

Sasikala will be in jail for three years and about 11 months, out of the four years sentence awarded by the trial court. She had earlier spent 21 days in Parappana Agrahara jail after conviction by the trial court in September 2014.

“The convicts — Sasikala, Illavarasi and Sudhakaran — are getting (the same) treatment in the jail as others are getting and they have not been given any special treatment,” Kumar said.

For security reasons, Sasikala and Illavarasi have been lodged in the women’s block and they are living in a small cell, Kumar

NEW DELHI, FEbruary 21 (agENCIEs): Till now, employees were required to fill and submit three different forms to EPFO for withdrawing provident fund for various purposes. Banking on your provident fund savings for critical contingencies will now become far simpler with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) introducing a single page composite form for such withdrawals before retirement age.

Over eight crore Employees' Provident Fund account holders will no longer be required to submit evidential documents for withdrawing PF for availing housing loans, grant of advances in case of factory closure, marriage, higher education of children, among other things.

Till now, employees were required to fill and submit three different forms to EPFO for withdrawing provident fund for various purposes. “To add convenience, these

plified and replaced with a single page composite claim form,” the EPFO said in a press statement here on Tuesday.

The EPFO has introduced forms in two categories – one, for those whose Aadhaar number is seeded with Universal Account Number (UAN) – a common number for all PF accounts – and the other for those without an Aadhaar number.

Employees whose Aadhaar number is seeded will not be required to get employer’s attestation for withdrawing PF but employees without the seeded Aadhaar number will need the employer’s approval on their forms before submitting it to the EPFO. Further, a single form signed by the employee will be treated as ‘selfcertification’ instead of the present requirement of submitting various documents. However, in case PF is being withdrawn for medical purposes, a doctor’s certificate will still be

CHENNaI, FEbruary 21 (IaNs) :Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Tuesday announced a Rs 2,247 crore financial package for drought-hit farmers in the state. Palaniswami said in a statement that he ordered the compensation towards the cost of inputs incurred by the farmers. He said the bank accounts of the farmers will be credited with their eligible amount. Palaniswami said crop insurers have been asked to settle the crop loss claims from the farmers at the earliest.

Cook to become chef at CRPF, barber will be hairstylist

NEW DELHI, FEbruary 21 (PtI): Dhobi, safai karamchari, mali and mochi at CRPF will soon get English titles, while cook will become chef and barber will be called hairstylist as part of a 'nomenclature facelift' suggested by the government. Fitter will become automotive mechanic, mali will be gardener or horticulturist and safai karamchari - house keeper, while those working in kitchen including masalchi, kahar and water carrier will be known as assistant chefs. Other proposed changes for titles of trademen at the paramilitary force include dhobi to laundryman, chowkidar to security assistant and mochi to shoe maker. These changes were suggested to the Central Reserve Police Force by Union Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy under the skill development programme.

"Hoping to enhance the respect of the work force in CRPF the Minister wants to do away with tags such as chowkidar, mali, mochi, safai karamchari," a senior official told PTI. "Though there is no substantive change in the rank and nature of job, yet their trade title is proposed to be changed. Further there is no financial implication in this case," the official said.

The changes have also been shared with other Paramilitary Forces like CISF, ITBP, BSF, SSB and Assam Rifles. Sharing his thoughts with CRPF jawans while distributing certificates of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) earlier, Rudy had noticed that the nomenclature associated with the skill sets and work force are archaic and needed a facelift, the official said.

The minister had expressed the need to recognise and prepare a new and more aspirational vocationally skilled work force with a view to ensuring their employability, and making them more respectable

wednesdAY 22•02•2017

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

Trump names outspoken general as NSA

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA./WASHINGTON, FEBruAry 21 (rEuTErS): U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday named Lieutenant General Herbert Raymond McMaster as his new national security adviser, choosing a military officer known for speaking his mind and challenging his superiors.

McMaster is a highly regarded military tactician and strategic thinker, but his selection surprised some observers who wondered how the officer, whose Army career stalled at times for his questioning of authority, would deal with a White House that has not welcomed criticism.

“He is highly respected by everybody in the military and we’re very honored to have him,” Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach where he spent the weekend. “He’s a man of tremendous talent and tremendous experience.”

One subject on which Trump and McMaster could soon differ is Russia. McMaster shares the consensus view among the U.S. national security establishment that Russia is a threat and an antagonist to the United States, while the man whom McMaster is replacing, retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, appeared to view it more as a potential geopolitical partner.

Trump in the past has expressed a willingness to engage with Russia more than his predecessor, Barack Obama.

Flynn was fired as national security adviser

on Feb. 13 after reports emerged that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about speaking to Russia’s ambassador to the United States about U.S. sanctions before Trump’s inauguration.

The ouster, coming so early in Trump’s administration, was another upset for a White House that has been hit by miscues, including the controversial rollout of a travel ban on people from seven Muslimmajority countries, since the Republican president took office on Jan. 20.

The national security adviser is an independent aide to the president and does not require confirmation by the U.S. Senate. He has broad influence over foreign policy and attends National Security Council meetings along with the heads of the State DepartPresident Donald Trump shakes hands with his new National Security Adviser Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster ment, the Department of U.S. after making the announcement at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida U.S. February 20. (REUTERS) Defense and key security tion his boss.”

Trump said of Bolton, who partly because of his will- Republican Guard, which agencies.

McMaster, who flew served in Republican Presi- ingness to buck the system. may be harder for him to back to the Washington area dent George W. Bush’s adA combat veteran, he deal with than the Iraqis NOT AFRAID TO from Florida with Trump on ministration. gained renown in the first were.” The Iraqi Republican QUESTION THE BOSS Kellogg and Bolton Gulf War - and was award- Guard was the elite military Republican Senator Air Force One, will remain John McCain, chairman of on active military duty, the were among those in con- ed a Silver Star - after he force of ousted dictator tention as Trump spent commanded a small troop Saddam Hussein. the Senate Armed Services White House said.

Trump also said Keith the long Presidents Day of the U.S. 2nd Armored Trump relies on a tight, Committee and a frequent Trump critic, praised Mc- Kellogg, a retired U.S. Army weekend considering his Cavalry Regiment that de- insular group of advisers, Master as an “outstanding” general who has been serv- options for replacing Fly- stroyed a much larger Iraqi who at times appear to ing as the acting national nn. His first choice, retired Republican Guard force in have competing political choice.

“I give President Trump security adviser, as chief of Vice Admiral Robert Har- 1991 in a place called 73 agendas. Senior adviser great credit for this deci- staff to the National Secu- ward, turned down the job Easting, for its map coor- Steve Bannon has asserted dinates, in what many con- his influence by taking a sion,” McCain said in a rity Council. John Bolton, a last week. former U.S. ambassador to McMaster, 54, is a West sider the biggest tank battle seat on the National Secustatement. rity Council.

A former U.S. ambas- the United Nations, would Point graduate known as since World War Two. As one fellow officer McMaster’s fame grew sador to Russia under be asked to serve the ad- “H.R.,” with a Ph.D. in U.S. Obama, Michael McFaul, ministration in another ca- history from the University put it, referring to Trump’s after his 1997 book “Derof North Carolina at Chapel inner circle of aides and eliction of Duty” criticized a Democrat, praised Mc- pacity, Trump said.

“He has a good number Hill. He was listed as one of speaking on condition of the country’s military and Master on Twitter as “terrific” and said McMaster of ideas that I must tell you Time magazine’s 100 most anonymity, the Trump political leadership for “will not be afraid to ques- I agree very much with,” influential people in 2014, White House “has its own poor leadership during the

Vietnam War. Trump’s pick was praised by one of the president’s strongest backers in the U.S. Congress, Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who called McMaster “one of the finest combat leaders of our generation and also a great strategic mind.”

“CRITICISM AND FEEDBACK” In a July 14, 2014, interview with the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer in Columbus, Georgia, where Fort Benning is located, McMaster, then the base commander, said: “Some people have a misunderstanding about the Army.

“Some people think, hey, you’re in the military and everything is superhierarchical and you’re in an environment that is intolerable of criticism and people don’t want frank assessments.

“I think the opposite is the case. ... And the commanders that I’ve worked for, they want frank assessments, they want criticism and feedback.”

That attitude was not always shared by his superiors, and it led to his being passed over for promotion to brigadier general twice, in 2006 and 2007.

On McMaster’s third and last try, General David Petraeus – who at one point was also on Trump’s candidate list for national security adviser – returned from Iraq to head the promotion board that finally gave McMaster his first general’s star.

Then a colonel, McMaster was commander of the

3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment that in the spring of 2005 captured, held and began to stabilize Tal Afar on the Iraqi-Syrian border.

The city was held by Sunni extremists, a crossing point between Syria and Iraq for jihadists who started as al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and morphed into Islamic State after he was killed.

McMaster’s preparation of the regiment is legendary: He trained his soldiers in Iraqi culture, the differences among Sunnis, Shi’ites and Turkomen, and had them read books on the history of the region and counterinsurgency strategy.

It was a sharp change from the “kill and capture” tactics the United States had used in Iraq since the invasion in March 2003, and to which the Obama administration returned in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

The strategy was largely a success, although McMaster’s use of it and especially his willingness to acknowledge that Iraqis had some legitimate grievances against one another and the occupying coalition forces, did not endear him to his superiors and helped delay his promotion to brigadier general.

The strategy did not survive the departure of McMaster’s troops, with Tal Afar falling into the hands of Sunni militants. Along with the west part of Mosul, it is now a key objective in the battle to rid Iraq of Islamic State.

5 die as plane crashes into a Melbourne mall Xinjiang to track vehicles

SyDNEy, FEBruAry 21 (rEuTErS): A pilot and four American passengers were killed on Tuesday when a small plane crashed in to the roof of a shopping mall after taking off from an airfield outside Melbourne, Australia’s secondlargest city, police said.

The twin-turboprop Beechcraft King Air plane suffered an engine failure and crashed into the mall near the end of the runway at Essendon Airport, Victoria state police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane told reporters in Melbourne.

Witnesses told Australian Associated Press the plane exploded on impact. “There were five people on the aeroplane and it looks like nobody’s survived the crash,” Leane said.

The crash happened at around 9 a.m., about an hour before the mall was due to open and there were no fatalities other than those aboard the aircraft, he added.

“All five occupants were male - the pilot was Australian and the four passengers were

as an anti-terror measure

Emergency services personnel are seen at the scene of a plane crash in Essendon in Melbourne, Australia, February 21. (REUTERS)

from the United States of America,” Victoria police said in later statement. Sky News showed burning wreckage strewn across the mall’s carpark and a thick column of black smoke rising from the crash site. The plane had been bound for King

Island in Bass Strait between the mainland and the southern island state of Tasmania and Australian newspapers reported that at least two of the men were travelling to play golf on the island’s famed links. A spokeswoman for Airservices

Australia said flights in and out of Melbourne’s main airport were unaffected. Essendon Airport, which is used mainly by light aircraft, remained closed. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the crash.

BEIJING, FEBruAry 21 (rEuTErS): Chinese authorities have ordered all motor vehicles in Bayingol prefecture in farwestern Xinjiang to be installed with mandatory satellite tracking devices, the latest tough anti-terror measure targeting the ethnically divided region.

China has been stepping up already tight security in restive Xinjiang after a rise in violence in recent months.

Hundreds have been killed in Xinjiang in the past few years, mostly in unrest between the Muslim Uighur people, who call the region home, and the ethnic majority Han Chinese. Beijing blames the unrest on Islamist militants.

“Cars are the main transportation means for terrorists, and are also a frequently chosen tool to carry out terrorist attacks,” the Bayingol traffic police said in a post on its official Weibo microblog account on Feb. 4.

All vehicles will be required

by June 30 to install GPS-style tracking devices connected to China’s proprietary Beidou navigation satellite, “so they can be tracked wherever they go”, the state-run Global Times reported on Tuesday.

It would also help car owners to find their vehicles quickly if they are stolen by terrorists, the report said.

Cars not fitted with the devices will be unable to buy petrol at service stations in Bayingol, nor be resold on the secondhand market.

Remote and sparsely populated Bayingol occupies a huge part of southeast Xinjiang, although much of the violence has been concentrated further away near Kashgar and Hotan in the southern Uighur heartland.

The government has blamed much of the unrest on separatist Islamist militants, although rights groups and exiles say anger at tightening Chinese controls on the religion and culture

of Muslim Uighurs is more to blame.

China routinely denies any repression in Xinjiang.

Violence has continued to flare particularly in the more remote southern regions of Xinjiang, although accounts are difficult to verify independently and exiles and rights groups suspect incidents are underreported.

Last week, Chinese security forces in the regional capital of Urumqi and the Uighur hub of Hotan staged large-scale antiterror rallies, parading thousands of armed police and paramilitary, as well as dozens of armoured vehicles, through city streets.

Last week, three knife-wielding attackers were shot dead after killing five people in Pishan County, in Hotan prefecture.

In December, five people were killed when attackers drove a vehicle into a government building, with police shooting dead the three perpetrators.

FARC rebels to start disarmament process Japan kindergarten apologises after

BOGOTA, FEBruAry 21 (rEuTErS): Colombia’s Marxist FARC rebels can begin surrendering their weapons to the United Nations now that almost 7,000 of them have reached designated demobilization zones around the country, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Monday. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) signed a peace agreement with the government late last year to put an end Latin America’s

longest-running armed conflict, which killed more than 220,000 people.

The rebels will have turned in all their arms by June, Santos said. “This weekend the process of mobilization toward the zones was completed and the protocols of the bilateral and definitive ceasefire and the abandonment of arms has begun,” Santos said in southern Putumayo province.

Over the past weeks, FARC rebels crisscrossed Colombia

on foot and by boat from their jungle and mountain camps to 26 zones monitored by U.N. personnel. Under the terms of the peace accord, the FARC, which began as a peasant uprising 52 years ago, is to form a political movement in the South American nation.

The accord has been heavily criticized by many, and was initially rejected in a referendum, as being too lenient on the rebels who will be spared jail time.

1.4 million children at imminent risk of death in famines: UN GENEVA, FEBruAry 21 (rEuTErS): Nearly 1.4 million children are at “imminent risk” of death in famines in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF said on Tuesday.

People are already starving to death in all four countries, and the World Food Programme says more than 20 million lives are at risk in the next six months. “Time is running out for more than a million children,” UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said in statement.

“We can still save many lives. The severe malnutrition and looming famine are largely man-made. Our common humanity demands faster action. We must not repeat the tragedy of the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa.”

Famine was formally declared on Monday in parts of South Sudan, which has been mired

in civil war since 2013.

UNICEF said 270,000 children in South Sudan were severely malnourished. Save the Children, a charity, said on Monday that more than 1 million children in South Sudan were at risk of starving.

South Sudan has also been hit by the same east African drought that has pushed Somalia back to the brink of famine, six years after 260,000 people starved to death in 2011.

UNICEF said 185,000 children were expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in Somalia this year, but the figure was likely to rise to 270,000 in the next few months.

Another 462,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Yemen, where two years of war have caused economic collapse and severe restrictions on shipping.

Possible on-line hate-speech comment

TOKyO, FEBruAry 21 (rEuTErS): A Japanese kindergarten that has ties to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wife, Akie, has apologised over online comments that domestic media described as possible hate speech against Koreans and Chinese people.

The private Tsukamoto kindergarten in Osaka, western Japan, has been visited by Akie Abe and is operated by Moritomo Gakuen, an educational institution that plans to open an elementary school in April with the prime minister’s wife as honorary principal.

Kyodo news agency reported on Friday that the kindergarten had apologised after referring to “irresponsible” South Korean and Chinese parents on its home page.

“We apologise for expressions about foreigners that caused misunderstanding,” the kindergarten said on its web site.

The school, however, denounced “unjust, slanderous and defamatory Internet-based articles about this kindergarten” and it said it would keep fighting against “malicious criticism”. Criticism of Korean residents and Chinese people is a common feature of right-wing rhetoric in Japan, where ethnic homogeneity has been a source of pride for many conservatives.

Separately, the Osaka prefec-

Students line up in front of Japan’s national flag at the morning assembly at Tsukamoto kindergarten in Osaka, Japan. (REUTERS/Files)

tural government is considering whether to take action over derogatory expressions about Koreans living in Japan and Chinese used by the kindergarten in a document sent to students’ parents last year, an Osaka official said.

The Tsukamoto kindergarten aims to instil in its 3- to 5-year-old students a sense of patriotism with a curriculum focused on Japanese traditions and culture.

Abe was grilled in parliament last week about possible ties to Moritomo Gakuen, including whether he knew his

name had been used to solicit donations for the elementary school. Abe said then he had rejected a request to have the school bear his name because it was not appropriate for an incumbent lawmaker and was unaware his name had been used in seeking donations.

An official at the prime minister’s office declined comment on any specific remarks by the school because they had not seen them.

But the official, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the subject,

added: “When it comes to the issue of discrimination based on nationality, ethnicity or race, it cannot be tolerated and it is extremely important to have consideration for others and to have mutual understanding.”

Yasunori Kagoike, the principal of the kindergarten and president of Moritomo Gakuen, heads the Osaka branch of Nippon Kaigi, or Japan Conference, a nationalist lobby group with close ties to the prime minister and his cabinet. Kindergarten officials were not available for comment.

10

WednesdAY 22•02•2017

sports

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Spurs can fight on three fronts: Vertonghen Red Bull seeking gains from Renault's 'big winter'

Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur can sustain their challenge in the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup over the rest of the season, according to defender Jan Vertonghen.

Tottenham bounced back from a tough week with a 3-0 FA Cup fifthround win at Fulham on Sunday, following backto-back defeats by Liver-

pool in the Premier League and at Gent in the Europa League.

Spurs need to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Gent in the return leg at Wembley on Thursday before meeting Stoke City in the Premier League on Sunday, when they will look to improve on a run of two draws and a defeat in their last four league games.

"We want to win both (the Europa League and FA

Cup) and compete in the league as well, and I think our team is fit enough to cope with these things," Vertonghen, who was back in the side at Fulham after a month out, told British media.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino opted not to rest too many of his established players at Fulham and is likely to name strong lineups for the games against Gent and Stoke, but Ver-

tonghen said the squad was not concerned by the demanding schedule.

"I like to play as many games as possible and maybe the other guys do as well," he added.

Tottenham are third in the league behind Manchester City and 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea, and while Vertonghen admitted the club could not outspend their richer rivals, he said Spurs' playing style levelled things up out on the pitch.

"Money-wise you can't compare but, on the pitch, our team is as strong as theirs, definitely," Vertonghen said. "We understand the way (Pochettino) wants us to play. We're a lot stronger... and we have shown that in the last couple of years."

Tottenham's last trophy was the League Cup in 2008 and the club have come agonisingly close to winning another since then, finishing runners-up in the same competition in 2009 and again in 2015, when they lost to Chelsea.

Vertonghen believes those disappointments have made Tottenham stronger.

"We played a final against Chelsea at Wembley a couple of years ago and we want more of that," he said. "I think this team and the technical staff deserve a trophy with this club."

LONDON, February 21 (reuters): Red Bull are hoping Renault's revamped engine will give them the power to take on champions Mercedes in a new-look Formula One this season.

"It’s a brand new engine this year, a change of philosophy," team principal Christian Horner said in a pre-season interview conducted by the team. "They (Renault) have had a big winter.

"We’re hoping for a step up in performance and if that’s delivered then hopefully we can really be a challenger team this year and give the Mercedes and Ferraris a hard time."

Red Bull's Renault en-

gines, branded as TagHeuer, powered the team to two wins last season with Dutch teenager Max Verstappen and Australian Daniel Ricciardo.

They were the only drivers apart from Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and nowretired world champion Nico Rosberg to win races in 2016.

The rules have been rewritten this year, with cars expected to lap significantly faster on wider tyres.

As with any change to the status quo, Horner saw a development battle stretching out from the start of the season in Australia on March 26 all the way to Abu Dhabi on Nov. 26.

"What excites us most

about 2017 is the opportunities that arise from these new regulations. It's going to be fascinating to see who's got it right and who's got it wrong," said the Briton, whose team were runners-up last year.

"You'll see big increments early on because the regulations are pretty immature. I think there is going to be low-hanging fruit early on to make sizeable steps.

"That's going to push every department in the whole team to try and outwit, out-smart, out-develop and out-produce our rivals.

That's going to be a stellar challenge in F1 this year."

Red Bull will show off their new car on Sunday

with testing starting in Barcelona next Monday.

Horner said former champions Red Bull were on schedule, proceeding like a swan while paddling frantically beneath the surface.

"It's an exciting moment, to see the car break cover," he said. "People get sucked into who's doing what times, which fuel loads, who's doing race runs etcetera...It's all irrelevant in reality.

"You have to focus on your own programme, put the blinkers on, get through your programme of work and the developments you want to look at - because it's all going to change by the time you get to Melbourne anyway."

Newcastle on top again after adding to Villa pain Reuters

Newcastle United moved back to the top of the English Championship (second-tier) with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at St James' Park on Monday that heaped more pressure on the ailing former European champions.

Yoan Gouffran opened the scoring from close range just before halftime and another scramble in the area ended with Henri Lansbury giving away an own goal as the ball rebounded against him off the post he was defending

and into the net.

The result saw Rafa Benitez's side climb back to the summit on 69 points, leapfrogging Brighton & Hove Albion, who are one point adrift after winning 2-0 at Barnsley on Saturday.

The only cloud for Newcastle, now unbeaten in seven league games, was the loss of the Championship's top scorer Dwight Gayle, who had to limp off injured after just over half an hour.

For Villa, the news always seems bad these days with striker Scott Hogan carried off on a stretcher near the end

of their 10th successive match in all competitions without a win.

Steve Bruce's team are 17th, six points above the

drop zone, after failing to register a victory in 2017 and increasingly look in danger of being sucked into the relegation melee.

public discourse

T

Nukhosa Chüzho

he Secretary-General of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) once in a church service interceded for divine healing saying “our society lies fragmented”. A leader of his stature having had humbled himself before his creator while praying on behalf of his people invoking divine intervention in a society fraught with divisions is hard to be replicated. Many Nagas too have offered prayers for peace and unity to prevail in our society. But the question is has God not listened to the prayers offered by (we) Nagas?

Having laid its foundation way back in 1963, the NPF survived till date rays of outside but aggressive political onslaughts throughout its journey. The party earned public respect for its firm stance to boycott Indian sponsored general elections by paying heed to the voice of the people. What makes the party more indispensable to the people lies in its motto “fide non armis” meaning “by faith, not arms”. And why the people owe affection and allegiance to the party is all because of it being a regional party with regional outlook without political directives from external/outside factor.

“Is this the downfall of the NPF party?” questions many of the faithful adherents of the party as the current political tussle unfolds. Subscribing to a general view, the party could have developed the state into a model which it has envisaged in its manifesto as soon as they came to power.

Contrary to this belief, the party turned against its own ideologies triggering dissidence and counter-dissidence within the party-fold. From racing to the prestigious seat of Chief Minister to eying of fatherlyfigure-post of party President, the NPF has perfectly devised a step closer to an infructuous politics which its political opponents are spending sleepless nights to do the same job. Whereas the party has overcome the tricks of other political parties in earlier periods, yet the stability of the party in coming days remain in suspense which reinforces us to subscribe to a view that divisions within is more poisonous than oppositions from without.

NPF has fundamentally deviated from its conventional principle of giving special importance to the voice and struggles of the people. Had the same spirit that discouraged the party from going ahead with Indian general elections in the past years been revived in the now nullified ULB elections by paying heed to the call of the people, the ugly confrontation unfolded post January 30, 2017 would have been handled by the authority with much reverence by all and sundry. Not only the already departed three precious souls could be saved but the popularity and much revered image of this historic political party would be restored. It would have been a fair negotiation to be held in high esteemed both by the leaders and its followers alike.

The use of armed personnel to forge an intimidated environment constituted the cardinal mistake committed by the party. Its motto categorically talks of “by faith” alone. The framers of the party motto and constitution may imply “by faith” to remain steadfast to peaceful and consensual approach whatever the situation

“Fide non armis” may demand. Liquidation and inflicting injuries on its own subject contravened the core ideal of the party. It is by faith that the people draws close to the party, not by arms; it is by faith that the people elects their leaders, not by arms; and it is by faith that the government functions, not by arms.

Then, would the people begin to doubt the indigenous decision making of our leaders as there is already evidence of consultation with “outside factor” in decision that can be done by ourselves without fear or favour? Is it heralding the end of regional outlook and regional taste where we once derived our source of authority and governance from our people? Decisions from New Delhi cannot help us solve problems yet we ought to remind ourselves that even the forest dwellers know where best they can meet their livelihoods and manage environment at the same time, which is a living witness for us today.

In our path to future, we should also consider the following elements (which I never claimed to be exclusive solutions as there might be host of suggestions and visions from various quarters): Space for Debate:- Thesis, antithesis and synthesis are three necessary components of decision making and policy formulation. Unless someone proposes, the other (assumed as opposition) scrutinise for plausible loopholes and a third party (assumed as public) mediate for a middle path that serve the interest of all, the dream of carving a stable society/ state will remain a mere utopia. Judging from the present scenario where views are censured and sidelined to near suffocation, ample space or opportunity should therefore be provided for all to express one’s beliefs and apprehensions: be it in legislature, public platform or by initiating sincere consultations with stakeholders. Without communication, there can be no understanding; and without discussion, there can be no breakthrough.

Reading the signals:- Leadership is doing the right thing. When the leaders fail to read the mood of the people’s cry for help, justice and equality, what greater sin a leader could commit than to tread against the cry of his people! First mistake is innocent. However, if the mistake of crushing the genuine apprehensions of the ruled (who have the right to lodge their complaints to the rulers) persists, then it is deliberately instigated by the rulers at the cost of the ruled, who has every right to rise against the established system in the forms of movements, revolutions, or in extreme degree, civil wars.

Leaders ought to patiently read the signals that the people communicate to them intermittently.

Service to humanity:- Historic French Revolution was staged on account of the rulers’ extravagant lifestyles leaving the people to survive at the mercy of nature.

As the pendulum oscillates, with the timing unknown as to whether it was predetermined, our people’s anger got swelled beyond unmanageable proportion culminated with violence and arson. Rightful salaries withheld, funds/schemes meant for public abrogated halfway, legitimate voices of the people suppressed, illegitimate political appointments to

Continuing the discussion: “What constitutes customary law” public services increased, roads and infrastructure dwindled while, on the other hand, the leaders continue to live pompously. Never were violence and arson encouraged, yet where also lies the judgment for the leaders to defend themselves! Leaders, as they aspired to be one, aren’t leaders if they keep their personal interest above the people’s interest. Sacrifice, therefore, becomes a fundamental characteristic of a leader in an attempt to guarantee public peace and security.

Being spontaneous:- New Delhi’s developmental programs and visions were received with least appreciation and success in this restive Northeastern region, and sometimes it gets nosedived. It is because of a simple reason that such visions overlook the core values and ignore different implementation methods compatible with the region. New Delhi is expert in her own strategic planning, so also Kohima could draw its own visions, plannings, execute decisions and implement them accordingly. This would involve villages and communities in taking steps that would affect our common interest for we cannot overlook the fact that Nagaland is madeup of villages and communities. Only then will we be governed by our own values by appreciating the applications attached with our progress since time immemorial which, in a nutshell, is spontaneous decision making process.

Begin with end in mind:- Mobbism is hard to be tamed. Nevertheless, it should not be taken as an excuse for arson, destruction of public assets and hence polluting a social environment with fear and vengeance. Reducing magnificent structures to ashes in a matter of minutes without much remorse by mobs caught the attention of many right thinkers.

While peaceful agitation to convey our plights to the government is envisaged, at the same time, engaging in vandalism thereby trespassing the democratic limit of expressing our resentment need to be pondered by both leaders and private citizens. Although the leaders must have chalked out the safe passage to proceed with, yet envisioning the end product of a movement including supervisory and controlling is a must while avoiding fixing responsibility.

Now, it becomes everyone’s responsibility to stand by a principle as opposed to adhering to an ideology. A principle cannot guide us wrong as it is hedged deep inside a human core value through a process called categorical imperative whereas an ideology is forged in relation with the prevailing human interaction and conditioned by a particular exigency. Must be because of this ideological commitment that our present leaders frequently shift their allegiance from one prospective camp to another by undermining their own capabilities. However, if a leader lives by a principle, he/she will continue to stand still in his position irrespective of direction to which the political storm is heading. Is there any Naga leader who still defends his/her anointed position by placing people’s interest above his/her personal interest? Nagas are not yet ready to embrace BJP, they have already tested Congress and they are now in doubt whether NPF was cloned. God is still listening to our prayers. Our job is not by faith alone but to act with a principle.

I

Robert A. Silverstein

n an editorial in The Morung Express dated February 21, 2017, the nature of customary law is addressed: “Political and legal thinkers point out the ‘customary law’ concerns the laws, locally recognized principles, specific norms and rules of conduct, patterns of practices, beliefs and customs established over time which are applied by community institutions to internally guide and govern an indigenous political community. “’Customary law’ has been projected to encompass principles of equity, shared responsibilities, and collective interdependence. It is holistic and focuses on bringing balance and harmony to all aspects of community life, values of equilibrium, respect and restorative justice while addressing conflicts, and is also the basis of negotiation.”

The editorial goes on to say that, “… the colonial project misappropriated ‘customary law’ and effectively broke up community cohesion through negating indigenous ways of life, worldviews and their intellectual and moral framework. Subsequently, the colonial construct of ‘customary law’ became more narrowly defined and lost its flexibility under the State system on the postcolonial era and this reinforced the hierarchical and patriarchal systems.

“The colonial ‘customary law came to represent an outdated rigid parochial view of reality manipulated by people in power to support their own interests. More importantly it stopped facilitating restorative justice approaches which marginalized women, younger people and people of ‘lesser privilege’ and this did not address the issues of equity.

“Today’s form of ‘customary law’ has ceased to reflect the indigenous community’s ethical foundation and values.”

Further on in the editorial, it suggests the establishment of a “Naga Tribunal,” under Point 9b(ii) of the 1960 Sixteen Point Agreement, stating of such a tribunal that it “needs an independent body comprised of respected and capable women and men from diverse backgrounds and experiences who have demonstrated their commitment to work for equality, justice and the common good.”

My apologies for the lengthy quotes from the editorial, but they are necessary to the points I want to make. It is my contention that all of the above, although articulate and seemingly logical, make a number of presumptions which are unrealistic, and can only lead to disappointment and resentment.

Paragraph one, above, is sat-

isfactory as a general definition of “customary law” (hereinafter CL). But paragraph two starts us down the road to major misunderstandings about CL. It uses words pregnant with meaning like, “principles of equity,” “shared responsibilities,” and “collective interdependence.” It uses ambiguous terms like, “values of equilibrium,” “respect and restorative justice,” which imply in the mind of the reader some sense of present day values.

None of the words and phrases above have clear meanings.

Each is subject to debate and to a large extent are subjective. After all, I recently wrote an article that was published in The Morung Express titled, “Aretha Franklin was Wrong: All Women are really asking, “’is for a little P.O.W.E.R.’” It basically said, disagreeing with a previous article that pointed out that “Naga Men by and large love and respect women and children,” that women are not interested in respect, they are interested, like men, in power.

“Principles of equity” means nothing in and of itself. Who defines what is equitable? In another article I recently wrote, which appeared in The Morung Express and the Eastern Mirror, I quote extensively from “Thucydides: The War of the Peloponnesians and the Athenians.” Anyone who has studied ancient Greece will know that Athens had one of the first pure democracies in Western civilization. But only certain men could vote, women could not vote, nor could slaves.

The whole system was, to use the words in the present editorial, “holistic and focuses on bringing balance and harmony to all aspects of the community, values of equilibrium,….” In other words, words like “equity” and “justice” are meaningless in and of themselves. Philosophers have been debating what those words mean for over 2,000 years. (Thucydides wrote in the 430s-410s BC.) I disagree with the editorial conclusion that things were fine until the colonial powers intervened. That way of thinking presumes that all was well, in the sense that there was a constant progression in the direction of what we’d like to believe should be the case until the intervention by the British. There is no doubt that the colonial powers everywhere manipulated the system of tribal and caste beliefs for their own benefit, but that does not mean that, were it not for the colonial interference, we would have CL that is progressive and liberal as we define those terms.

To this day, there are many modern cultures that do not treat people equitably, peoples who think democracy is a decadent form of government that leads to nothing

but capitalist inequality.

The editorial talks about setting up a Naga Tribunal with wise men and women “to work for equality, justice and the common good.” But those terms are what in the law are called “glittering generalities.” They mean nothing on their own. As I pointed out, who determines what is just? How do you define equality? There’s equality of means versus equality of ends, a topic in every political science class in the Western world, and perhaps here to. And you cannot have both.

An equality of means leads to inequality of ends, that is, if you try to give someone the same tools to move forward in life, some will be successful and some won’t. If you work for an equality of ends, you are saying that merit is not the cornerstone of your society but equality of people’s possessions and way of life is. The latter is a form of communism, in the literal sense, each according to his needs.

All these terms are in themselves meaningless. A Naga Tribunal is not going to resolve these issues. I had a tutor at Oxford, Sir Isaiah Berlin, who was famous for his view that fundamental values, like equality and freedom, are fundamentally incompatible, that they conflict. To have more equality, you will have less freedom, and vice versa. That is obviously true. The issue is, who makes the societal decisions as to where to draw the line? Who decides what the balance is going to be in relation to distributive justice? How much of my tax money is going to the poor? What guidelines are to be used?

To talk about a Naga Tribunal working these things out is to avoid the main lesson of the last few chaotic weeks. The question is not about the “common good,” it’s about POWER, it’s about who determines what the common good really means, who has the power to make those decisions.

The point of me writing this article is not to discourage Nagas from trying to work out a way to live with compromise, but to discourage not just Nagas, but all people, from expecting things to work out. They won’t. Another professor of mine once said, that the ship of state is the only ship that never reaches a port. The tensions of the last few weeks over the power of women versus men will never disappear. Human beings have been slaughtering each other over power for as long as there has been written history, and before, as far as we can tell, and it’s never going to stop. Humans are imperfect, and power is the great battleground for working out those imperfections. To expect anything better is to be disappointed and end up being bitter.

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.

Wednesday 22•02•2017

EntErtainmEnt

The Lego Batman: Everything is good, but everything is not awesome!

Review by Bryan durham

Film Review: The Lego Batman Movie Dir: Chris McKay Cast: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes, Zach Galifianakis What’s it about: 2014’s The Lego Movie is the sort of movie you remember for all the right reasons. Not going in with expectations, being pleasantly surprised by how good it was and how it takes you along for a ride that’s out of the ordinary, where everything is awesome.

Batman (Arnett) kinda ruined it for poor Emmett in that one and hijacked that film. So it would be only fair they gave him his own movie, right?

Well, some studio executive thought so… and that’s how you have this movie. Which takes all the boring-ness of the Batman myth and pokes fun at it with the eagerness of a kid high on candy hitting a pinata.

Thankfully, you’re spared the origin story.

Bruce Wayne/Batman is shown as nothing short of a cad, who’s not below sledging Iron Man just because he can. This film has him dealing with two people

who want to get into a relationship with him.

The new ‘comish’ Barbara Gordon (Dawson) is eager to be friend/partner to the Dark Knight, but the man just wants to be alone.

Well, that doesn’t stop him from ogling at her, adopting an orphan, and saving Gotham over and over again.

The Joker (Galifianakis) wants Batman to acknowledge him as his archnemesis, but loner and narcissist that the Bat is, he cuts him down. Distraught, the clown prince ‘gives up’ his life of crime and settles in Arkham.

Batman then decides to send the Joker to the Phantom Zone where he can’t return and wreak havoc anymore. But Barb won’t have any of it. And then, there’s his pesky ‘son’, Dick Grayson (Cera) to deal with, too. Do Lego Gotham’s problem’s end there, though. And with Joker and everyone else locked in Arkham Asylum of their own free will, is there a need for Batman?

What’s hot: If The Lego Movie was about an ordinary guy finding his inner superhero, Lego Batman is the complete opposite. It takes the Bat myth and makes you hate, then feel sorry for and soon, despise Batman. It

takes the super out of hero, and shows an alternative, darker take on the Dark Knight.

What’s even more hilarious is what ensues after the Joker hits up the Phantom Zone, where all the bad guys are locked away and cannot harm anyone, and sets them free.

The idea that anything can, will and should go wrong is an idea worth exploring. And the fact that WB/DC continue to poke fun at Marvel as well as their own roster of characters (look out for the eye of Sauron) as well as a few others (Whovians, do look out for the Daleks!)

India wins 'Best Country Award' at London Fashion Week

I

t was yet another benchmark for Indian fashion and design industry when India was declared the winner of "Best Country Award" for exhibit curated by IMG Reliance at the International Fashion Showcase (IFS) during London Fashion Week. The British Council, British Fashion Council (BFC) and Mercedes-Benz announced India as the winner of "International Fashion Showcase Country Award" at a prizegiving ceremony at Somerset House, London, beating 25 other nations judged by a panel of industry experts, said a statement. The top award was presented by Sarah Mower, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent;

chief critic Vogue Runway to the IMG Reliance Fashion team of Jaspreet Chandok, Gautam Vazirani, Nikhita Punja and Shruti Singh; designers Alan Alexander Kaleekal, Karishma Shahani Khan, Priyanka Ella Lorena Lama, Ragini Ahuja, Ujjawal Dubey, and exhibition designer Wasim Khan.

To celebrate India-Britain Year of Culture 2017, IMG Reliance in partnership with 6Degree and supported by Etihad Airways and British Council, presented "The Indian Pastoralists" -- a special sustainable fashion exhibition at the International Fashion Showcase (IFS) held during the London Fashion Week. The five designers were selected

based on their contemporary Indian aesthetics that offer a global appeal. Each of the five designers created special looks that represented "The Indian Pastoralists" theme conceived by IMG Reliance and aligned to the global theme of IFS this year, Local/Global. The five Indian designers' creations drew inspiration from the multifaceted ethnic lifestyles of India's nomadic pastoral communities. Their collections interpreted the deep heritage of Indian textiles and handlooms for a global audience.

For designer [KA] [SHA]

by Karishma Shahani Khan (Womenswear), the inspiration for the exhibit stands as an ode to one of India's

What’s not: The rather slow middle.

You want to fire this film’s editor. And this song’s music supervisor/director, pronto. There’s nothing as catchy here as Everything Is Awesome. The writing is not as crisp as the first film and the gags, while in good measure, seem a tad juvenile in parts. And that it feels a bit derivative, too.

most iconic pastoral nomads, the Rabaris who are predominantly based in Kutch. For Kaleekal by Alan Alexander Kaleekal (Menswear), the inspiration is from the Todas in the Nilgiri Hills, South India. Ikai

by Ragini Ahuja (Womenswear) has drawn inspiration from the Drokpa in Ladakh, in northern India, whereas PELLA by Priyanka Ella Lorena Lama (Womenswear) has drawn inspiration from Lachen and Lachung tribes of Sikkim in north-east India. And last but not the least, Antar-Agni by Ujjawal Dubey (Menswear) has taken inspiration from the Van Gujjars of the Himalayas in northern India. The exhibition feaNagaland Supermodel and Former Mister India International 2012 Opang Jamir has been nominated in two categories for the North East Style Award organized by the North East Style Magazine Guwahati and powered by GEOGEMS. The categories are North East Style News 18 Male Model of the Year (Popular Choice) 2016-2017 and North East Male Model of the Year 2016-2017 (Jury Category). The award function will be on February 26 at Shilpgram, Guwahati from 3:00 pm onward.

What to do: Watch it nevertheless.

Running time and obvious flaws notwithstanding, you’re in for a fun time. Everything is good, but everything is not awesome.

tured conceptual installation elements designed in collaboration with spatial design expert Wasim Khan and sustainable furniture designer Sandeep Sangaru.

"Through initiatives such as the International Fashion Showcase 2017, we will present India's emerging talent on prestigious international platforms for global exposure.

IMG Reliance through its lead platform Lakmé Fashion Week has always delivered compelling stories around sustainable fashion and focused on supporting young and emerging designers and this is an extension of the same," said Jaspreet Chandok, Head of Fashion, IMG Reliance.

"This victory showcases the true power of the young Indian designer mind that is breaking pre-conceived notions on Indian Fashion in the world. This puts Indian Fashion on the map like never before - I've been told that the entire London Fashion Week is buzzing about our installation and design talent," he added.

Jaspreet said, "We'd like to thank 6Degree and Etihad Airways for their support in taking the lead to promote young Indian design talent across the world."

Source: IANS

Now ShowiNg ReviSed TiCKeT RaTeS (Silver) : `.120 (Gold) : `. 200 (Recliner) : `. 400

Blissful now available on youtube Lion roars into Australia's Top 10 film list

T

C M Y K

A

fter making through to the prestigious 'Dharamshala International Film Festival' (2016) as a film fellow and being se-

lected in the 'ADDA Short Film Festival' (Guwahati 2016), Blissful a short film

by Bendang Walling is now available on youtube. Un-

der the aegis of OFFON Production Pvt. Ltd, Blissful can be viewed by clicking on the link https://youtu.be/C09HB25RV4

he film has hauled in AUD22.7 million (USD17.4 million) at the box office Down Under in just five weeks to become the eighth biggest Australianmade film, ahead of Mad Max: Fury Road and 1992's Strictly Ballroom. Experts predict it will leapfrog Crocodile Dundee II, The Great Gatsby and Kidman's Moulin Rouge! and hit the top five before the end of its cinematic run. The film, based on the true story of an adopted Tasmanian man who used Google Earth to track down his birth family in India, is up for a Best Picture Academy Award on Sunday (26Feb17), while Patel and Kidman are nominated for supporting actor and actress honours. Dev became a real Oscars contender last week after winning a BAFTA Award in London for his role as Saroo Brierley.

He is now bookmakers' second favourite to win the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award this weekend, behind Moonlight's Mahershala Ali. Director Garth Davis' film is also up for Best Cinematography, Best Music and Best Adapted Screenplay. Lion has been a big global hit, with international box office takings just shy of $100 million from a budget of an estimated $12 million. But it still has some way to go to compete with Crocodile Dundee for Australia's top film - the 1986 movie grossed almost AUD48 million (USD37 million) Down Under. The rest of the current top five is another Kidman film, Australia, at two, beloved pig tale Babe at three, animated penguin movie Happy Feet at four and Moulin Rouge! at five.

Source: Contactmusic

BTS' Not Today MV gets fierce

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

12:30 PM & 05:30 PM

Hillstar NOW SHOWING Jolly ll.B 2

Fans upset over Jin's lack of screen time

K

Selena Gomez honoured with her own paint colour

T

he Come and Get It hitmaker has had her 2015 release celebrated with a rich shade of purple thanks to Casey and Jamie Davis, the co-founders of Portola Paints & Glazes, an eco-friendly company based in Los Angeles. "Holler at my girl @selenagomez cause our new color Revival is lit," they wrote beside an Instagram photo of the paint being mixed by hand. Selena is no stranger to the Davis brothers as Jamie is married to her trainer Amy Rosoff Davis, and she returned the love with her own snap on social media. "Proud of my trainers (sic) husband cause he's goals for real @amyrosoffdavis @portolapaints," she captioned a picture of Jamie at work. The shout out will no doubt help to raise the profile of the firm as Selena currently holds the title of the most followed person on Instagram, with 110 million fans on the photo-sharing app.

Source: Contactmusic

orean boy band BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, needs no introduction. The team has now released the MV for their next single "Not Today."

Billboard opined: "The video is a dance-heavy clip propelled by the song's pounding rhythm, which is emphasized by the precise, stomping choreography."

A propulsive synth-hip hop banger, this dance-heavy song send out a strong message that the band is here to stay.

The single is a part of the four new tracks on 'WINGS' epilog, 'You Never Walk Alone'. According to AllKPop, the other tracks are title song "Spring Day", as well as "Outro: Wings", and "A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone".

Netizens are already going gaga on the MV as it is more fierce and upbeat.

However, they were also disappointed for not giving more screen time to Jin. In the entire MV, he has only one shot, which has left fans sad.

In a strange occurrence,

Big Hit uploaded Jin's shot (that was his only screen presence on the MV) as the thumbnail for both "Spring Day" and "Not Today" in the group's YouTube page. Surprisingly, this was changed

back to group image few hours after the MV release.

The seven-member boy band was formed by Big Hit Entertainment and made their debut in June 2013 with the song "No More

Dream" from their album, 2 Cool 4 Skool. Their debut album won several awards including the 2013 Melon Music Awards and Golden Disk Awards, and the 2014 Seoul Music Awards. "Most Beautiful Moment in Life trilogy" is their most popular album to date. It comprises of Rap Monster, J-Hope, Suga, Jin, Jimin, Jungkook, and V. To date, BTS's discography has sold an estimated 2.7 million albums worldwide.

They were also named as the most retweeted artist on Twitter in March 2016 by Forbes.

A report on AllKPop recently stated that BTS has topped the popularity list for singers for the month of December. "According to the Korea Institute of Corporate Reputation, BTS was at the top of the December data for all singers," it added.

Source: IBtimes

11:00 AM | 05:00 PM

The Ghazi aTTack

02:00 PM | 08:00 PM

12

WednesdAY 22•02•2017

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

100th goal for Walcott as Arsenal India keen to take down Australia end Sutton's FA Cup dream run

C M Y K

Sutton United's Bedsente Gomis and Craig Eastmond in action with Arsenal's Theo Walcott. (Reuters)

LONDON, FEbruary 21 (rEutErs): Sutton United's FA Cup fairytale ended as Arsenal forward Theo Walcott scored his 100th goal for the club in a 2-0 fifth round victory on a surreal night at Gander Green Lane on Monday.

England forward Walcott added to Lucas Perez's 26th minute effort shortly after the break as the 12-times winners avoided what would have been one of the competition's greatest shocks.

The 5,000 capacity crowd wedged into the Borough Sports Ground in south London for the biggest night in the club's humble 119-year history were even treated to a 15-minute cameo by Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez on the glistening artificial pitch.

Sutton, 17th in the fifthtier, 105 places lower down the English football ladder than Arsenal, could be proud of their effort in matching their famous visitors.

They will bank about 700,000 pounds ($872,410.00) for a fairytale Cup run that included a famous victory over former FA Cup winners Leeds United in round four.

"It was a dream to watch my team play against Arsenal. The quality of the team they put out showed what's at stake," said Sutton manager Paul Doswell, who works for nothing and loaned the club 450,000 pounds interest free for its 3G pitch.

"I'm very, very proud.

This was our cup final and these players will go down in history at the end of the day."

Arsenal will play Sutton's National League rivals Lincoln City in the quarterfinals after they became the first minor league side for 103 years to reach the last eight by beating Premier League side Burnley away on Saturday.

"They were organised and had a huge desire.

If we were not mentally

prepared we would not have gone through today," said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who made seven changes to the side that lost 5-1 at Bayern Munich in the Champions League last week.

"I didn't really enjoy tonight because we absolutely had to do the job and it is tricky."

NO CLASSIC The match was not a classic and, after a big build-up in the media, never really looked like producing a footballing miracle.

But it created memories galore. There was the streaker who interrupted play in the first half sporting a rubber giraffe's head.

There was the sight of children scaling the scaffolding housing the BBC TV cameras, straining for a view of Arsenal's superstars.

And there was Sutton's rotund reserve keeper Wayne Shaw munching on

a pie in the closing stages.

Hundreds of fans had gathered outside the Plough pub awaiting the arrival of the Arsenal team coach which rolled in little more than an hour before kickoff.

Inside, the smell of fried onions and hot dogs wafted across the plastic pitch being liberally watered.

Tony Dolbear, match announcer for 30 years, politely but firmly told some over-eager youngsters to refrain from climbing.

Sutton went about their business diligently, hustling and hurrying Arsenal's thoroughbreds in the first half.

They even ventured forward on occasion with Roarie Deacon and Craig Eastmond, who both once played for Arsenal, keen to make the most of their chance to shine.

Arsenal went ahead when Granit Xhaka fed Lucas wide on the right and he cut inside before skimming

a low left-foot shot that gathered pace off the plastic turf and beat the belated dive of Ross Worner who was distracted by Walcott.

Arsenal keeper David Ospina almost gifted Sutton an equaliser with a stray clearance just before halftime but Adam May sliced wide from a promising position.

With Alex OxladeChamberlain on as a substitute, Arsenal gave themselves some breathing space 10 minutes after the break when Walcott turned in Nacho Monreal's cross after a fine move.

However, Sutton would not be overwhelmed and deserved a goal, none more so than the livewire Deacon who rattled the crossbar with a 25 metre thunderbolt.

The only sour note was some scuffling on the Gander Green Lane pitch following the final whistle after some of Sutton's fans inexplicably tried to break the crossbar.

NEW DELHI, FEbruary 21 (rEutErs): The Indian test juggernaut, with Virat Kohli at the wheel, has crushed almost everything in its path over the last 18 months and Australia will have to conjure up something special if they are to upset the hosts in their four-match series.

With the opening test between the world's top two test teams beginning in Pune on Thursday, the odds are stacked heavily in favour of hosts India, who have gone 19 tests without defeat.

In the final phase of their bumper home season, India are sitting pretty at the top of the test rankings after six consecutive series victories.

Significantly, their last three home series victories, over New Zealand, England and Bangladesh, were underpinned by all-round excellence and came on fair surfaces, not the dustbowls on which India typically thrive.

The series against Australia marks the end of India's 13-test home season and Kohli wants his team to maintain the level they have been playing at.

"It's a big series for us," Kohli told reporters earlier this month. "I thought England was the biggest for us in the season but having won that 4-0 there is lot of expectation on us.

"The way we have played our cricket as well I think we want to continue that," added India's batting mainstay.

Earlier this month, the 28-year-old became the first cricketer to hit a double century in four consecutive test series and his team posted 600-plus totals in three consecutive tests,

India v Australia test series Factbox on the four-test series between India and Australia, which starts at Pune on Thursday: 1st test - Feb. 23-27, Pune 2nd test - March 4-8, Bengaluru 3rd test - March 16-20, Ranchi 4th test - March 25-29, Dharamsala another first.

That middle order bat Karun Nair had to be dropped in the one-off test against Bangladesh despite scoring a triple century in the previous match against England is another indication of the team's batting might.

BAG OF TRICKS When India bowl, Ravichandran Ashwin has done with the ball what Kohli has done with the bat.

The off-spinner, currently the top ranked test bowler, has been in the form of his life, becoming the quickest to the 250-wicket club after achieving the feat in just 45 tests.

The off-spinner with his bag of tricks will torment Smith and his men, often bowling relentlessly in tandem with spin partner Ravindra Jadeja, with a shoal of fielders hanging around the blade.

Smith is aware of the

challenge that awaits Australia, who have lost nine consecutive test matches in Asia.

"We know it's going to be difficult," he said. "India are a very good team, particularly in there home conditions here. We have prepared very well."

Cricket Australia recruited ex-England spinner Monty Panesar and former India left-arm spinning all-rounder Sridharan Sriram to work with their slow bowlers.

Smith will rely more on the pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who would have to generate enough reverse swing to be effective on relatively docile Indian tracks.

The visitors can also take heart from the fact that three of the four matches will be played on new venues -- Pune, Ranchi and Dharamsala -- which will negate some of India's home advantage.

Middle finger gesture costs Ancelotti bErLIN, FEbruary 21 (rEutErs): Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti will donate 5,000 euros to charity after making an obscene gesture to Hertha Berlin fans after their 1-1 draw on Saturday, the German football association (DFB) said on Tuesday.

The Italian had raised his middle finger after leaving the pitch at the end of the game and later said

he had done it because he had been spat on by the home fans.

Bayern scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time with hosts Hertha left fuming over the length of added time that was played.

The DFB said it had ended an investigation into the incident in return for the charity payment.

"The investigation has

ceased in agreement with the DFB sports court" The DFB charity is named after the late Germany coach and works on several social projects.

Case Premier League February 21 | Patkai Ground Trinity Sporting - 3 Team HHH -1

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