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tuesDAY • februArY 23 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 51 • 12 PAGes • 5
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ESTD. 2005
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In the end, we decide if we’re remembered for what happened to us or for what we did with it — Randy K. Milholland Infant refugee becomes face of Australia’s tough asylum seeker policies PAGE 09
All stakeholders must be united for peaceful, fruitful negotiations: APO DImApUR, FEBRUARy 22 (mExN): The Angami Public Organisation (APO) today stated that peaceful and fruitful negotiations can only be possible if all the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and stakeholders are united. “All NPGs should be at the negotiating table united on one side and then decide the fate of the Naga people,” APO maintained in a press statement issued by its President Dr. Vilhousa Seleyi and Secretary Info & Publicity Neisakholie Ziephrü. It further stated that “APO strongly believes that until and unless there is a united Nagaland there will be no fruitful negotiations and one or the other stakeholder will suffer in such a peace agreement.” In this context, APO requested the PWC to analyze the present situation and find out ways to bring all the NPGs to the negotiating table and present a united Naga stand. Meanwhile, the APO extended its appreciation and support to the initiative done ‘Parliamentary Working Committee (PWC) of the Nagaland Joint Legislator’s Forum (JLF) on Naga Political Issue’ led by NLA Speaker Chotisuh Sazo and Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang who has been meeting with various important and key personalities regarding the Naga political issue. The delegation so far has meet NSCN (I-M) General Secretary Th. Muivah, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders regarding the Naga political issue. Referring to these meetings of the PWC, the APO pointed out that it “believes and hope that these steps will be constructive in solving the Naga political issue and also smoothen the transition of peace initiatives talks between the Government of India and NSCN(I-M) into reality.”
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Dimapur Traffic regulations The Old Dhansiri Bridge will be open to two way traffic w.e.f February 22, 2016, as per the following timings:
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• 06:00 AM to 02:00 PM for UP vehicles (exiting Town area). • 02:00 PM to 08:00 PM for DOWN vehicles (entering Town area). • These arrangements will not apply on Wednesdays. Only UP vehicles will be allowed to take the route on Wednesdays. • These arrangements are only for the Light Vehicles on both ways. Heavy Vehicles are restricted in the route at all times. Addl. Dy Commissioner of Police/PRO, Dimapur
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals office inaugurated PAGE 02
PAGe 12
‘We debate :: We dissent :: We Argue’
Nagaland expresses solidarity with the rest of the sub-continent Morung Express News Dimapur | February 22
“What saddens me more is the silence of our intellectuals, thinkers, writers and poets, who should have analyzed what is happening to JNU as a microcosm of what is happening across the country, particularly what is happening.” This thought was projected by the Editor of Nagaland Page, Monalisa Changkija today, wishing that “our intellectuals, thinkers, writers and poets” had led the alumni and students community from Nagaland to direct Naga society and State to write a “new civil literature,” a phrase she borrowed from Kekhrie Yhome. But with or without this leading, alumni of various central universities—particularly Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Hyderabad Central University (HCU)—in Nagaland today came out in a show of solidarity, along with other likeminded people, through a walk and a sit-in program here for the students/faculty of various central universities currently being hounded by the State. With lettering on placards reading ‘Justice for Rohit Vemula’, standing by the right to ‘debate, dissent, argue,’ or against oppression of free and critical thinking and arbitrary attacks on the media, Nagaland’s community of alumni exemplified how Nagas today are ready to show solidarity, and walk with, the rest of the world on issues affecting all of
Alumni, students and other concerned persons from Nagaland held a solidarity walk and sit-in program on Monday, February 22, against the shrinking space for debate and dissent in the Indian sub-continent. (Morung Photo)
us—Against curtailment of Freedom of Speech and Expression, Against growing intolerance in the country, Against attack on Media Freedom. The event was organised in the backdrop of the events that transpired at JNU and HCU recently. The sit-in program, held at a parking lot next to SETAM’s campus (Nagaland University), was attended by the alumni as well as other well wishers, old and young. Dimapur Police and administrative officers also attended the program in fair numbers, including women police officers. “The sight of Kalashnikovs frightens me but we must talk about freedom in this country,” said alumni of JNU, Obee Rose. There
are revolutions today in technology, media, fashion etc but people have forgotten about social revolutions, he said. “We believe in an India where protests can happen without guns,” he reiterated. Reading out a few lines from a book touted to be the “RSS bible,” he called for the gathering to stand for “equality and fraternity”—a society without discrimination along primordial lines. Alumni of HCU, Chingmai Konyak, reminded that discrimination starts “within us and among us.” “Let us do away with the culture of negative nationalism at least in Nagaland,” he said, enumerating how this culture, propagated by the BJP at the centre, will spread to Nagaland State
NSCN-R Leaders meet Gen. Khole
DImApUR, FEBRUARy 22 (mExN): The Collective Leadership of the NSCN – Reformation led by President Y. Wangtin Naga and Ato Kilonser, P. Tikhak, met Gen. Khole Konyak, president of the GPRN/NSCN, the NSCN-R MIP informed through a press statement. While informing of the meeting that took place on February 17 at Tobu, the release described it as “more of an emotional and family meeting rather than political.” According to the release, the two lead-
McCullum ends career on high
ers took the opportunity to pay their respects to Gen. Khole and how the veteran has been a “guiding force and mentor” to them. “We are just following (in) your footstep according to the foundation you have laid down. It is from you we learnt inspiration and dedication for the Naga political cause,” they were quoted in the statement. It further stated that Gen. Khole adviced the two leaders to work vigorously for the unity of the Naga people and quoted the vet-
eran as stating, “Without unity there will be no actual peace. Unity alone can salvage the people from any given situation.” Khole further asserted his wish for Naga unity and strongly gave his endorsement for Naga peace and reconciliation, the release said. Gen. Khole also advised Wangtin and asserted that the “Konyaks should stand united against all odds and destructive forces and to stand firmly under one able leadership.”
NSCN (IM) re-urges GoI to call back CFMG Chairman
DImApUR, FEBRUARy 22 (mExN): The NSCN (IM) today has once again urged the Government of India (GoI) to call back Lt. Gen. (Retd.) NK Singh, the Chairman of the Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG), immediately “in the interest of both the parties for smooth sailing of honorable solution.” “His claim of having a mandate from the Ceasefire agreement has virtually let him vitiate healthy atmosphere that has been prevailing on the ground,” read a press statement from K. Chawang, Convenor of the Cease Fire Monitoring Cell (CFMC), NSCN (IM). Maintaining that the “primary responsibility” of the CFMG is to “create conducive atmosphere on the ground and pave the way for successful political negotiation,” the Convenor alleged that the CFMG Chairman “undermines political issue and deals everything from the Indian law and order perspective.” Being bilateral in nature, the CFMC found unacceptable the imposition of any unilateral decision taken on account of the ceasefire. “The Agreed Ground Rules are framed considering the principle of
two Entities, acceptance of uniqueness of Naga history and situation, existence of GPRN as de facto government,” stated the Convenor of the CFMC. Yet, for the current Chairman of the CFMG, “the Conduct of Affairs of the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) are all illegal,” noted Chawang. Holding NK Singh responsible for any “untoward incident affecting the fate of the ceasefire,” the CFMC affirmed that there are ten designated camps of NSCN “duly approved” in the CFMG meeting. “If there is any problem relating to the designated camp, it should be discussed and resolved by CFMG. The NSCN is not in a position to accept the dictatorial decision of denotification of the designated camps,” the CFMC stated. Informing that NSCN (IM) has repeatedly requested the officials of the GoI to “honour and apply” the Agreed Ceasefire Ground Rules, the CFMC Convenor noted that “the Ground Rules are extraordinary laws from Indian Law and Naga Law” and that the NSCN (IM) “never dishonors the mutually Agreed Ground Rules.” Full text on page 10
too, through universities, colleges and the media. Which is why, this event should be used as a “reflection” on the threat to the “democratic and secular systems” of the country through attacks on the “powerhouses of the society,” its universities, said alumni of JNU, Dr. Lanusangla Tzüdir. Our solidarity, she said, should not be in just words but also in action. Having studied at Delhi University, Monalisa Changkija observed, “What we have been witness to across the country, in the form of biases, prejudices, intolerance, racism, communalism, corruption, nepotism, injustice, discriminations, etc., are things that have no place in a democracy but nobody thinks of them as unpa-
triotic, anti-national and against humanity. Today, these have become our culture, eclipsing the essence, the ethos and the values of democracy.” Without a doubt, these “dark forces” are also “alive, alert and active” in Nagaland, she maintained. Asserting that it is now time to “speak up” against these, she also stated that “if today our political and economic life stands stagnate, it is because of the not-so-subtle subversion of democracy and democratic values, to which we have all contributed to by our silence.” (Full speech on page 10) “JNU has taught us the culture of tolerance and debate, which is why we are here today,” noted alumni of JNU, AG Samuel. Articulating on larger debates of the region, Samuel put to perspective how the Naga people fit into (or not) the “processes of homogenisation” (imposition of Hindi, beef ban etc.) that have gripped the sub-continent. Reiterating that “solidarity with JNU” is equivalent to “solidarity with democracy,” Samuel stated that the current “either you are with us or against us” attitude of the State will lead to an untoward pushing of the Hindutva and intolerance agenda over the next three years. Meanwhile, Naga civil society bodies remained conspicuously absent from the event, perhaps in a telling marker that the revolution of, and through, solidarities has gone by them. Times, though, are achanging.
Dist Hospital, Mon project in shambles KU to seek legal action for unfinished work and inferior medical equipment mON, FEBRUARy 22 (mExN): The Konyak Union (KU) has asserted that it will be compelled to seek legal redress as regards work related to the District Hospital, Mon (DHM) upgradation project. While the KU expressing dissatisfaction at the way the DHM project has taken shape has not been the first, the Union this time asserted that it would move the Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Commission Nagaland to initiate corruption proceedings against the firms tied to the project. A visibly unhappy KU stated in a press release that the firm, which supplied equipments for the hospital, is yet to honour the “undertaking” to replace “damaged & inferior” equipments. As per the “undertaking” jointly appended by the Hospital Management Committee, the supplier (firm) and the “inspection team”, the KU stated that the firm was to complete replacement within a month. That deadline has expired on October 29, 2015 with no sign of
any equipment replacement, added the KU. According to the KU, a Dimapur based supplying firm was awarded the contract to supply hospital equipment during 2013-14. The supply order was worth Rs.149.96 lakhs. However, the KU lamented that during inspection it was discovered the hospital was supplied with inferior products while several were found damaged. An undertaking for replacement was subsequently signed. Further, the KU said that the contract to drill a tube well at the hospital is still to be executed. The work contract was awarded to a contractor during 2010-11 and a sum amounting to Rs.32,77,700 was accordingly sanctioned, the KU said, adding that it was to be completed in six months time. While stating that the contractor is still to honour the contract, the KU expressed surprise that the money for the work has been already drawn. In this regard, KU questioned the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare on what grounds the money was released. Maintaining that its repeated appeals have gone unheard, the KU asserted that it will not remain silent anymore and would approach the authorities to investigate the lapses.
Deal reached to end Jat protests Jats call off protests after winning jobs promise BAHADURGARH/NEW DELHI, FEBRUARy 22 (REUtERs): Leaders of the Jat community reached a deal late on Monday to end protests that paralysed Haryana and cut water supplies to Delhi’s 20 million residents, after winning a pledge of more government jobs. Days of rioting and looting across Haryana by the Jat community had challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise of better days for Indians who elected him in 2014 with the largest majority in three decades. A Jat leader said protesters had reached a deal with state and central government leaders to end their mobilisation, in which 16 people have been killed and more than 150 injured. “The government has promised to meet our demands and we have promised our full cooperation,” Ramesh Dalal, convener of the Jat Arakshan Andolan (Jat Reservation Movement), told Reuters. Disruption has been huge, with 850 trains cancelled, 500 factories closed and business losses estimated at as much as $5 billion by one regional lobby group. Dalal said he had appealed to the entire Jat community, which makes up a quarter of the population of Haryana, to return home. A senior officer said state police still faced a
Demonstrators from the Jat community shout slogans as they block the Delhi-Haryana national highway during a protest at Sampla village in Haryana on February 22. (REUTERS)
challenge to maintain law and order. The army earlier on Monday retook control of a canal that supplies threefifths of the capital’s water. Delhi’s chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, said the army had reopened the sluice gates of the Munak canal to the north of the city. Water was expected to reach the metropolis by early Tuesday. ORDER SLOWLY RETURNS The Haryana government put the death toll at 16 while police said earlier that there were tensions in some towns as Jats tried to prevent other communities from reopening their shops. Many Jats, who number more than 80 million across north India, are farmers whose livelihoods
have suffered as families divide farms among their children. Their demands for government jobs and student places are based on affirmative action policies that are typically reserved for deprived groups. The Supreme Court has previously struck down an attempt to classify the Jats as an Other Backward Caste, or OBC, which would formally entitle them to a quota of jobs and student places. “There is a constitutional barrier in giving Jats OBC status but we will find a way to fulfil their demands,” junior agriculture minister Sanjeev Balyan told Reuters. The Jats predominantly voted for BJP in the 2014 general election, when he won the biggest parliamentary majority in
three decades. Months later the BJP won an outright majority in Haryana for the first time. Although many of the state’s chief ministers have been Jats, the current minister is not. Commentators have faulted him and other BJP leaders for failing to read the social mood and devoting too much attention to issues like cow protection that are a core part of the party’s agenda. In a familiar pattern, Modi completely ignored the protests, instead launching a broadside on Sunday against unnamed conspirators he accused of trying to undermine his government. “They are now hatching conspiracies every day to finish and defame me,” he told farmers in a speech in Odisha.