February 2nd, 2017

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

ThursDAY • FebruArY 02 • 2017

DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 30 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

P o W e R

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness

— Lucius Annaeus Seneca

ESTD. 2005

Government slashes anonymous political funding, opposition calls it hogwash PAGe 08

Cosplayers in Nagaland ready to take it to the next level

o F

T R u T H

Lucky to be alive, says Hull City’s Mason after horror injury

PAGe 02

PAGE 12

The Aftermath: Nagaland still on edge

JCC bandh and CrPC 144 still in force in Dimapur Morung Express News Dimapur | February 1

Dimapur remained tense today in the aftermath of the January 31 unrest that resulted in two deaths and five wounded in police firing. Two parallel restrictions remained in force – the indefinite bandh called by the JCC and the prohibitory order promulgated under Cr.PC 144 by the district administration.

The day passed off without any untoward incidents, while a condolence service for the two youths, who fell to police firing, was conducted at the entrance to the Agri Expo, 4th Mile. It witnessed attendance of roughly 3000-4000 people.

While the Dimapur municipal area witnessed relatively moderate police presence, a heightened sense of nervousness prevailed beyond Purana Bazaar in the lead up to the condolence service.

Police deployment backed up by para military and army personnel was mostly concentrated between the Purana Bazaar-5th Mile stretch with a sizeable number of police personnel manning the 3rd Mile junction of the approach road leading to the Chief Minister’s Dimapur residence.

Beginning with the Diphupar village junction at 4th Mile, bandh volunteers and barricades dotted the highway even upto Chumukedima with no presence of police personnel except a few para military personnel.

The stretch from 6th Mile till 7th Mile became virtually impassable for vehicles as road blocks were set up every few metres by bandh volunteers. The materials used for barricading the highway ranged from boulders, rolls of woven bamboo strips, concrete rings to fallen trees and even a rundown autorickshaw.

Ambulance shot at DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The General Practitioners Association Dimapur has condemned the incident wherein an ambulance of Nikos Hospital was shot at on the night of January 31. A press note from the association informed that the ambulance was returning from Chumukedima after delivering a dead body. “Inspite of Safe Passage given to Medical Services during bandhs this violent act was committed. Whether by security forces or by some irresponsible elements we condemn such acts. We request that such barbaric acts against medical services are not repeated,” it demanded.

JACWR dissolved; civil appeal & writ petition withdrawn from SC

C M Y K

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Joint Action Committee on Women’s Reservation (JACWR) today informed that the committee has been dissolved as of February 1. A press note from the JACWR informed that this has been done with the withdrawal of the Civil Appeal and the Writ Petition from the Supreme Court of India. “All respective Organisations will from now on, function independently on the issue of Women reservation, after the withdrawal of the SLP,” it stated.

The JACWR further appreciated the committed support for the last six years from all the apex women organisations in the state. Meanwhile, the JACWR submitted applications for withdrawal of a writ petition no.242 of 2014 and civil appeal no.3607 of 2016 from the Supreme Court of India, both pertaining to the holding of ULB polls with 33% reservation in Nagaland State.“Now due to circumstances beyond our control we regret to inform this Court that we are unable to proceed with the above mentioned civil appeal and the above mentioned writ petition, both filed in the public interest and hereby withdraw the civil appeal: 3607 of 2016 and the writ petition no: 242 of 2014 from this Court,” read the application.

‘Public Demand’

• Nagaland state government asked to step down • Suspension of Commissioner of Police, Dimapur and the police personnel involved in the January 31 firing • Nullify the polling held on February 1.

• JCC informs bandh in Dimapur will continue till the demands are fulfilled.

A military convoy reportedly conducting flag march to restore public confidence was made to turn back towards town at 6th Mile as the road became impassable. One volunteer said that an officer alighted from one of the vehicles and trekked pass the barricades to get into another. The rest of the convoy turned back.

The stretch of the road became off limits to most vehicles taking the route, Nagaland government vehicles in particular.

The barricades were briefly set aside in the afternoon to make way for the funeral procession carrying the mortal remains of the two youths to Kohima.

Meanwhile, it was informed that one of the injured identified as Nokuzo and who was under intensive care, underwent surgery this morning. His condition was stated to be stable.

Sporadic incidents of violence in Kohima and Mokokchung Kohima and Mokokchung experienced sporadic incidents of violence during the day. In Kohima, two vehicles were torched as the town observed the 8:00 am-3:00 pm bandh called by the Angami Youth Organisation and waited to receive the funeral procession of the two youths, who fell to police firing in Dimapur.

The incidents occurred at the High School junction and at PR Hill.

The 8:00am-4:00 pm bandh called by the Ao Senden in Mokokchung was marred by sporadic incidence of violence as youth volunteers

vandalised the district Deputy Commissioner’s office, NPF Mokokchung Division office and the district Election office. The bandh culminated with burning of effigies of Chief Minister TR Zeliang and NPF president Dr. Shurhozelie.

It was around 4:30 pm when the vandalism occurred. An improvised explosive device reportedly exploded inside the NPF office. There was no report of any casualty.

Standing together in solidarity Public mourning held for two killed in police firing

Mokokchung bandh on Feb 2 Meanwhile, the Ao Senden declared that Mokokchung will observe a ‘mass mourning day’ on February 2 as a mark of respect to the two deceased youths. All shops, offices and institutions will remain closed and vehicular movements will be restricted, which will start from 9:00 AM and will continue till the burial service at Kohima.

Ao Senden further informed citizens of Mokokchung to assemble at the main town to join in the mass mourning. Further, Ao Senden informed that it will initiate “befitting course of action” against Kangtsung and Merangkong villages for going The bodies of the two deceased who were killed during police firing in January 31 in Diagainst the former’s resolution on the mapur, during a public mourning service in Kohima on Tuesday. (Morung Photo) ULB elections.

Morung Express News wards the right direction. for others is truly the way Pastor Metha further of life and our two heroes Kohima | February 1 Watsü Mungdang to prayed for understanding have truly shown us how withdraw from JACWR and wisdom for the Nagas to live our life.”

The bodies of Thejavizo The Watsü Mungdang also held “We stand together in an emergency meeting today and re- Metha (also known as to go ahead.

Remarking their solidarity, and we stand Khriesavizo) and Bensolved to withdraw from the Joint Action Committee on Women Reserva- dangnungsang, who deaths as “a refining mo- together for a common were killed during po- ment for the Naga family cause for the betterment of tion (JACWR). lice firing in Dimapur on and a defining moment for our society,” Dr. Vinito ChJanuary 31, were brought democracy,” Dr. P Ngully ishi from Sumi Hoho said, Longleng and Phek calm Longleng town was stated to be to Kohima at around 5:00 from the Lotha Hoho said, and expressed regret over calm following the unrest of January pm on February 1. Brav- “Our two sons have given the two lives lost. “This 31. It was informed that all 33 candi- ing the chilly weather, the supreme sacrifice and should never happen in dates for the Longleng Town Council people from various sec- I am sure that this will take future. We need to fight tions gathered outside the Nagas forward. They together to fight for the Polls “withdrew” today.

The bandh, called by the Chakhe- the MLA junction to pay have truly shown the way common cause. We need sang Youth Front (CYF) in the respect to the two. A short for the Nagas on how to to hold on to the truth, the absolute truth. Today we Chakhesang region of Phek district, ceremony was held at the live.” passed off with no report of untow- MLA junction.

Dr. Ngully further stat- must resolve together that ard incidents. CYF president Welete Pastor S. Metha prayed ed, “They say that the tree we will all stand together, Kapfo said the bandh was observed that through their death does not eat its own fruit, encourage one another so peacefully at Phek town, Pfutsero, the Nagas will move to- the sun does not require its that we can move forward Chozuba, Chetheba and Sekruzu. own heat. The way to live for the progress of Naga-

land,” he added.

Paying tribute, Dievi Yano, President of the Angami Students’ Union condemned the “horrific act of the Nagaland police who under the supervision of the so called leaders of the state have caused bloodshed and killing of our Naga brothers.”

Solidarity messages and tributes were delivered by the Kohima Sümi Students Union, and Ao Senden. “The time has come that we must ask to each and every one of us whether we are loyal to ourselves, whether we are loyal to the land, and whether we are loyal to our sons and daughters. And now is the time that we should be united with one voice and one action. Let us go forward and protect our land, our culture, our tradition,” stated a message from the Ao Senden.

Meanwhile, despite the appeals made by APO, the public refused to leave after the ceremony ended.

Till the filing of this report, the bodies were being kept outside the MLA junction.

Around 400 volunteers stood guard over them.

Slogans were shouted by the gathering, including calls for the resignation of the Chief Ministers, MLAs and Parliamentary Secretaries.

Funeral service is scheduled to be held on February 2.

Govt should own moral responsibility: Ao Senden State Cabinet sets up JIC, SEC

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Ao Senden has expressed shock at the killing of two people in the January 31 incident in Dimapur and condemned “in the highest terms the barbaric actions of the government.”

“With profound sadness the Ao Senden mourns the martyrdom and share the sorrow with the bereaved families

of those who laid down their precious lives for the cause of the Nagas. It is our prayer that the Almighty God rest their souls in peace and grant solace to the bereaved families,” the Ao Senden said in a press note.

The Ao Senden said that the loss of lives and unwanted situation in Nagaland is the result of the evil designs of the state

Governor appeals for calm DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): Nagaland State Governor, PB Acharya today appealed to all to remain calm for the larger interest of the public and express their demand by peaceful democratic methods. A press note from the Governor expressed shock over the January 31 incident in Dimapur and Longleng and urged everyone to ensure peace and tranquillity. He appealed to the public, civil society, tribal hohos, etc to “take care that there would not be violence and take precaution that no one carries weapons in public place.” He further stated that difference in opinion should be resolved in a democratic way i.e. through dialogue and negotiation. Violence is not democratic method, he said.

People’s voice must prevail: NNC DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Naga National Council (NNC), while stating that it has “nothing to do with Indian Constitution or State elections,” however said that it cannot remain silent at the situation getting worse in Nagaland state. A press note from the NNC President, Thinoselie M Keyho questioned: “Who is Mr. T R Zeliang to defy and challenge the Naga peoples’ voice and their peaceful movement? … He has set Nagaland on fire, and so he and his Government will have to bear all the consequences.” “The Peoples’ Voice must be prevailed,” the NNC affirmed, while conveying its sympathy and blessings to the people.

ABCC urges state govt to wake up DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) has expressed its “utter disappointment” at the Nagaland State Government “for giving a deaf ear to the voices of the people pertaining to ULB election in Nagaland, resulting in loss of lives, including one of its members, and several injuries.” A press note from the ABCC stated that Nagaland “has just witnessed what can happen when leaders do not listen. The people have raised their voice in series of protest earlier, and yesterday with their very own lives.” It urged the government to “wake up and address the issues which every Naga holds so dearly in his or her being.” It meanwhile conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.

government. It further stated that “state government should be held solely responsible for any kind of consequences…” It questioned whether the state government “value innocent lives more or ULB elections, was it so necessary to conduct elections when Nagas are mourning the loss of innocent lives killed at the behest of the

state government?”

It stated that the government should “own moral responsibility for ugly turn of events in the entire state relating to ULB election,” and affirmed that the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 will be rejected unless amendments are made to the satisfaction of the Naga people.

Neiphiu Rio says govt ‘betrayed’ the people

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): Nagaland State MP to the Lok Sabha, Neiphiu Rio, while expressing pain at the violence in the state, today said that the “reluctance of the State to listen to the voice of the masses has resulted in total breakdown of a peaceful atmosphere culminating in the loss of two precious lives and injury to many.”

Rio, in a press statement, lamented that the state government “confronted every section of society” despite the appeals of the apex tribe bodies and civil society organisations.

“I had also clearly stated in my statement dated 19th November 2016 that the issue of conduct of ULB elections needs to be implemented only after dialogue with all stakeholders and the tribal hohos. Sufficient warning was issued by the hohos and mass based organizations, yet the State Government continued to pursue conduct of the ULB elections,” he reminded.

The Nagaland MP said that blunders committed in the lead up to the violence, “could have been avoided if only the State had taken the people into confidence.” “It goes without saying that in a democratic society,

the elected government must listen to the masses whose mandate is the very reason why the government exists,” he said.

The intervention and concern of the Church, he added is “appreciated and most welcome.” The MP, however, lamented that the government “went back on its word and betrayed the confidence of the people, especially the Church.”

He appealed to all sections for restraint and once again urged the State to listen to the voice of the people in the greater interest of the Nagas. Rio asserted that, “the only way forward to overcome this serious crisis is understanding, dialogue along with genuine concern for the welfare and future of the Nagas.”

Rio also expressed his condolences to the bereaved families, while stating that the two who were killed in police firing “have made the supreme sacrifice by giving their lives while responding to the call of the Naga people.” “Their sacrifice will be recorded in the annals of our history for all times to come. I also wish speedy recovery to the injured persons and once again appeal for calm, restrain and understanding,” he added.

withholds ongoing poll process

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Nagaland State Cabinet today decided to set up a Judicial Inquiry Commission to inquire into the incidents of January 31 in Dimapur and Longleng, and payment of ex-gratia to the victims.

It also asked the State Election Commission “to withhold the ongoing process of elections to the ULBs and take up with the remaining postponed process of the elections to the ULBs as notified by the SEC on 31.1.2017.” The SEC meanwhile in a separate notification directed that the “ongoing process of elections to the ULBs is withheld in all remaining ULBs and will be taken up as notified on 31/01/2017.” (Full text in Box) A press note from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) expressed anguish over the violent events in Dimapur and Longleng and sadness over the death of two persons and injury to other persons.

The CMO meanwhile informed that Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh today called up the Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang and enquired about the law and order situation in the State. The CMO further reported the Union Minister as stating that the “decision taken by the State Government to fulfil the constitutional obligation of holding elections to the civic bodies was not wrong at all, and advised him to patiently convince the people of the State to accept the reality.” Nagaland Governor, PB Acharya also called up the CM and called for adequate security measures to maintain normalcy.

State Election Commission Notification

In continuation of Commission Notification of even number, dated 31/01/2017, taking cognizance of the abnormal situation prevailing in the State and as desired by the State Cabinet communicated vide letter NO. MA65/2016, dated 01/02/2017, the Commission directs that the ongoing process of elections to ULBs is withheld in all remaining ULBs and will be taken up as notified on 31/01/2017.

This is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 30 of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001, read with Rule 20 (7) of the Nagaland Municipal Election Rules, 2003.

Sentiyanger Imchen State Election Commissioner

CM expresses anguish Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang expressed anguish at the events in Dimapur and Longleng and said: “As a father myself, I understand the immense grief and sorrow the parents and family members of the deceased Khriesavizo and Bendangnungsang must be going through at this moment and I sincerely sympathise with them. It is most lamentable that two precious lives have been lost in such an unfortunate incident last night.” He conveyed condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to the Almighty to let the departed souls rest in eternal peace.

2

ThursDAY 02•02•2017

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Volunteers help clear the road to allow an ambulance to pass during the ongoing indefinite bandh in Dimapur on February 1. The ambulance was returning from Guwahati, bound for Imphal. (Morung Photo) A section of the gathering attending the funeral held at Kohima Town on February 1. More than 5000 people gathered to mourn the demise of the two people killed during the violent Image of the government bike burned down by volunteers in protests that erupted aftermath announcement by the State Government to go ahead with the ULBs election in Nagaland on January 31. (Morung Photo) High School Junction, Kohima on February 1.

Police personnel deployed at 3rd Mile in Dimapur on February 1. (Photo by Manen Aier)

A group of women casually sit on a fallen tree kept to block the NH-29 to restrict vehicular movements at 6th Mile, Dimapur. (Morung Photo)

Volunteers vandalize NPF Mokokchung Division office during the bandh in Mokokchung on February 1. The bandh witnessed sporadic violence as volunteers went on a rampage vandalizing some offices including that of the Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner’s office, NPF Mokokchung Division office and the Election Office Mokokchung. (Morung Photo)

Women and onlookers in Chumukedima mourn as the convoy carrying the mortal remains of the two Naga youth who were killed are taken to Kohima. Hundreds line-up in several places from Dimapur to Kohima to pay respect as the convoy made its journey to the state capital. (Morung Photo)

Streets in Kohima wear a deserted look as normal life came to a standstill in the state capital following a bandh called by Angami Youth Organization (AYO) on February 1.

A private vehicle belonging to an advisor to the Chief Minister was damaged at PR Hill junction by Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) volunteers. The volunteers stated that the advisor along with his driver was travelling to and fro near P.R hill junction despite the restrictions on government officials. The car was reportedly burned around 4:00 pm. (Morung Photo)

COSPLAY: MOre thAn juSt COStuMe PLAY

Cosplayers in Nagaland ready to take it to the next level Myingthungo Shitio

Dimapur | February 1

The charred remains of a Nagaland Government vehicle lies on the middle of the highway adjacent to the Diphupar village gate on February 1. It was informed that the vehicle was reportedly burnt during the wee hours of February 1. (Morung Photo)

Concrete rings block the National Highway during the ongoing indefinite bandh to protest against the State Government’s decision to go ahead with the ULBs election in Nagaland on February 1. (Morung Photo)

For those who are unfamiliar to the much happening subculture called ‘Cosplay’, it is the “practice of dressing up as a character from a film, book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga or anime.”

The word ‘Cosplay’ comes from the trend of contracting words and in this case, those words would be 'costume' and 'play'. Cosplay in simple words is dressing up as a fictional character and role-playing as that Character.

In Nagaland, Cosplay is now taking baby steps and it is not surprising that many are unaware and foreign to one of the best in custom play episodes in the globe. Nevertheless, the number of Cosplay fans is on the rise and Nagaland has its own Cosplayers.

A Cosplayer is an artist. It takes a lot of effort and skills to get the details of one's costume to make it look like the original character. Cosplayers in Nagaland make it happen with the limited resources they have.

Props are built with common materials like wood, paper, cardboard, glue, paint etc. Despite this cosplayers show real creativity while making their costumes.

An etiquette that people should inculcate while attending a Cosplay event is, respecting a cosplayer’s costume.

Discouraging them by passing comments on the inaccuracy of a costume is highly inappropriate.

Cosplay involves sewing, prop making, sculpting, modeling, photography, hair and makeup.

Cosplay is an art and is a sort of escapism that takes people engaged to a place of fantasy that as kids we always dreamed about. Whole communities are building around this hobby.

There are grand conventions that are held all around the world to celebrate and showcase this art form. It is a great

way to socialize with people of the similar interest. There are accounts of people on the internet who say that they are introverts and cosplay seems to be their preferred method of socializing.

Yim-Ya Lkr, an avid cosplayer said, “I have been into anime since I was a child and dressing up like one of them was one of my desires since childhood.

Given the platform of cosplay events in Nagaland, cosplaying has become one of my major hobbies.”

When asked about his thoughts were on the people who were skeptical about this sub culture, Yim responded on a positive note saying, “I haven't come across many people who are really skeptical about cosplay and the trending anime wave in Nagaland. Maybe it is because everyone in my friend circle pretty much watches anime, but in the end, people are people. They have the right to chose and live the way they want, so, if people were being skeptical about cosplay I would respect their opinion, because at the end of the day I too, hate watching Korean movies.”

Another Cosplayer known for his ‘Captain Mayuri’ cosplay from the anime ‘Bleach’ Diplikhum L Thonger said, “I cosplay because I love the art and culture in it.” He also said that he was passionate about Cosplay and when asked if it held any special meaning to him said, “Yes, it does hold a very special place. The smile on a person's face when he/she happens to meet the (anime/ marvel/games) characters that they love is the sweetest thing you get to see.”

Amanda Verma, another cosplayer when asked if cosplay had helped her in any way said, “It helped me meet wonderful people, make good friends and gain confidence in myself.” She also added that before she got into cosplay, she had low selfesteem. It is indeed wonderful to see how one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, especially n cases like this.

Hotaro Juno is a cosplayer from Arunachal Pradesh. She is representing India in the ‘World Cosplay Summit 2017’.

She said, “I cosplay because I love cosplaying!” then, she explained what she meant by ‘cosplay’ saying, “By ‘cosplay’, I mean crafting, making costumes, make up and performing.”

Juno said, “Cosplay might be just a hobby to some but it helped me a lot”. Then she related to us her story of how cosplay helped her saying that, back before she started cosplaying she was an anti social person. People bullied her in hostel, which led her to become an anti social person. She could not communicate with anyone because she was shy and was short tempered. “I literally had people, scared of me during my school days. Most of my relatives treated me like a useless person because I couldn't socialize with them,” she said. She started cosplaying in 2012 with the help of her supportive mom.

Juno said that cosplay could help improve one’s skill in designing, sewing, crafting and much more. “Through cosplay, we can make friends like I did!

I will always be thankful to cosplay,” says Juno.

The Nagaland Anime Junkies is the organization that organizes the “Annual NAJ Cosfest' in Nagaland, held during summer in Kohima. Another organization that provides a similar platform is “Basement Empire” who organizes events based on ‘Pop-Culture’, which also includes cosplay events. Basement Empire confirmed that they would be hosting several entertaining events related to Cosplay and Pop-Culture very soon. There are many cosplay enthusiasts in Nagaland and these events provide a great platform for them.

Hopefully this sub culture will be met with positivity and when it fully blooms, will be a colourful addition to our great cultural bouquet.

The writer is currently an intern at The Morung Express.

Amanda Verma as Asui Tsuyu from 'My Hero Yim ya Lkr as Kabuto from 'Nauto'.

Academy'.

(Photo Courtesy/Hopong Chang)

Chuimei Lungleng as Sengoku Musou by Goose Perspective.

(Left) Akhum Thonger as CaptainMayuri from 'Bleach'. (Right) Hotaru Juno as Noel Vermillion from blazblue. (Photo Courtesy/Hopong Chang)

Thursday 02•02•2017

NORTH-EAST 3

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Manipur CEO ups drive to check poll expenditure

Imphal, February 1 (aNI): In connection with the ensuing Assembly election, the chief electoral officer of Manipur and his expenditure monitoring team have taken steps to up the drive to check pollrelated costs.

Chief Electoral Officer Vivek Kumar Dewangan informed the media here that the expenditure monitoring team has seized GI sheets.

He said that some individuals were attempting to distribute GI sheets

at Kshetrigao AC as part of the election campaign and were pulled up by the election expenditure monitoring team.

So far, the team has seized items worth Rs 6.95 lakh. A huge quantity of gold has also been seized from Guwahati airport.

The CEO informed, "Briefing of 18 representatives of 11 political parties in the state was organised yesterday at the conference hall of Old Secretariat wherein qualification and disqualifications for con-

Manipur govt, UNC to leave for tripartite talks in Delhi Imphal, February 1 (pTI): Representatives of the Manipur government and agitating United Naga Council (UNC) are leaving for New Delhi tomorrow to take part in tripartite talks called by the Centre on February 3 for a solution to the three-month indefinite economic blockade

by UNC in the state.

Highly placed sources in the state government said today the tripartite meeting has been convened by the union ministry of home affairs considering the untold miseries being faced by the people of Manipur due to the blockade which began on Novmeber 1 last year.

UNC president Gaidon Kamei, who is lodged in Imphal central jail will leave for Delhi by air to lead his team as the court permitted him to take part in the talks in New Delhi, said a jail official.

Kamei along with UNC 'information secretary' Sangkhel Stephen are in judicial custody in Imphal Central jail since January after Manipur police arrested them on November 25 last for leading the indefinite blockade.

The economic blockade has led to extreme shortage of essential commodities including food items, lifesaving drugs and motor fuel. Indian Oil Corporation had airlifted diesel to Manipur to mitigate the impact of the fuel crisis triggered by the blockade.

testing election, nomination process, model code of conduct and other related topics were presented."

He further said that to make the nomination valid, photograph should be submitted along with other requirements to allow voters identify their respective representative.

Security deposit of Rs.10,000 for general candidates and Rs. 5000 for SC/ ST candidates should be made before the RO/ARO or in RBI/ Treasury-no deposit acceptable by cheque

or bank draft.

Under the election expenditure monitoring team, there will be 118 flying squads, 111 static surveillance team, 59 assistant expenditure observers, 59 video surveillance team, 55 video viewing team and 59 accounting team, Dewangan informed.

He further stated that apart from these, an income tax surveillance team will be deployed in every district while air intelligence team will be deployed in Imphal, Agarta-

la, Guwahati, Silchar and Aizawl airport.

He said general public can lodge complaint through Public Grievance Redressal System which can be reached via Whatsapp number - 9436021798, toll free number- 1950, email-samadhan.manipur@gmail.com, Twitter account - The CEO Manipur or @ceomanipur, mobile app- e-Manipur Election. The dedicated email address of Income Tax is manipur.elections@incometax.gov.

North-East gets Rs 2,682 cr, substantial hike across ministries

New DelhI, February 1 (IaNS): Even though Finance Minister Arun Jaitley did not announce any new initiative for the North-East Region (NER), the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) saw a hike of about Rs 158 crore.

According to allocations for important ministries, Rs 2,682 has been allocated for 2017-18 for the DoNER Ministry against Rs 2,524 for 2016-17. The government's budget also suggests an increase of nearly 35 per cent in allocation for the north-eastern region across all ministries. Allocation for the NER across all ministries in the Union Budget 2017-18 was Rs 43,250 against Rs 32,180 for 2016-17, reads the budget copy.

Special attention has been paid to the economic development of the region from the Eighth Plan period onwards.

In October 1996, the central government's announcement of "New Initiatives for the NER" included a number of measures for the development of the region, which covered policy changes, special area development and development projects in key sectors. In order to mobilise financial resources, a policy decision was taken to earmark at least 10 per cent of the plan budgets of the central ministries/departments for development of the northeastern states. Ten per cent of the annual plan budget of 52 ministries of the union government is earmarked every year for spending in the NER since 1998-99. The region has 7.9 per cent (2,62,179 sq.km out of 32,87,263 sq.km) of India's land mass and 3.76 per cent (4.55 crore out of 121 crore) of population, according to the Census 2011.

Manipur Polls: Congress to release list of candidate on February 3 Mizoram CM expresses hope Newmai News Network Imphal | February 1

The Congress is expected to release its candidate list in one go on February 3 for the two-phased Manipur assembly election which is scheduled to be held on March 4 and 8.

Sources from the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) informed that the party has already prepared a list of prospective candidates for the crucial state assembly election, and that it would be finalized and announced on February 3.

The PCC has already announced to field candidates in all the 60 constituencies in the ensuing polls in the Congressruled state. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh left Imphal for New Delhi to meet All India Congress Committee (AICC) Chief Sonia Gandhi and other top leaders of the party. It is learnt that MPCC president TN Haokip is currently

in New Delhi in connection with the candidate list. The party’s Central Screening Committee is expected to meet tomorrow, February 2, in the national capital and that will be followed by a meeting of the Election Committee of the party headed by Sonia Gandhi on February 3 to finalise the candidate list for the Manipur election.

Manipur has two regions—hills and valley—and in the 60-member House, only 20 come from the hill districts and 40 from the valley. The campaigning for the polls is expected to pick up in the coming days as several prominent leaders, particularly from the BJP and Congress, are going to hit the campaign trail in Manipur.

The BJP has already finalized and announced 31 candidates for the Manipur polls while the Congress ministers and MLAs, who are sure of a ticket, have started to hit the campaign trail in prominent constituencies though it has been moving at a slow pace.

for reunification of Mizos

KolaSIb, February 1 (pTI): Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today expressed hope that ethnic Mizos living in different states in the country and in contiguous parts of Myanmar and Bangladesh would one day "reunite under a single administrative unit". Lal Thanhawla said that cultural and emotional integration of all 'Zo' ethnic groups would help in the "reunification process".

He was addressing a function to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Chin-Lushai Conference on the Mizoram-

Assam border in Kolasib town. Former chief minister and Mizo National Front chief Zoramthanga urged the 'Zo' people to accept each other.

The function, conducted by the Zo Reunification Organisation (ZoRO), an organisation spearheading the reunification of the Zos living in India, Myanmar and Bangladesh, was to commemorate the ChinLushai Conference held at Fort William in Kolkata on January 29, 1892.

The leaders of the organisation said the conference, held 125 years ago,

was the first and only effort made by the British to unify the ethnic Mizos into a single administrative unit.

"The conference was held after British India realised that the ethnic groups living in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Chin hills and Assam were one ethnic group," President of the ZoRO general headquarters R Sangkawia said.

Sangkawia said that the British gave freedom to India, Bangladesh (East Pakistan) and Burma without reuniting the 'Zo' ethnic groups and left them in the three countries against their will.

Action sought against Manipur CM, Speaker Mizoram to punish Building Assam groups seek revival of buffalo and bulbul fights for allegedly violating model code of conduct Regulation defaulters Newmai News Network Imphal | February 1

The Manipur unit of BJP has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission as well as the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur seeking action against Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Speaker Th Lokeswar Singh for allegedly violating the model code of conduct in the poll-bound state.

BJP Manipur Pradesh General Secretary (Administration) and party’s lone MLA Thongam Bishwajit Singh said CM Ibobi had violated the model code of conduct while delivering a speech during a function to celebrate the Statehood Day of Manipur on January 21.

At a press meet at the party office here, Bishwajit stated that Ibobi had hailed his government during the speech by claiming that the state was doing better in the field of health and power sectors. This, the party’s lone MLA argued, was a clear violation of the election code of conduct.

He also condemned Th Lokeswar Singh for allegedly blemishing the Speaker’s office where the latter held a press conference of the ruling Congress party recently.

“Both the Chief Minister and Speaker have violated the election code of conduct and hence action has been sought from the Election Commission against the two leaders,” Bishwajit Singh said.

Meanwhile, CEO Vivek Kumar Dewangan informed the media that appropriate action will be taken against Ibobi and Lokeswar if substantial evidence is found over the alleged violation of election code of conduct.

“A report will be sent to the EC regarding the complaint by the state BJP,” Dewangan said.

He said illegal cash amounting Rs 7 lakh has been seized and that there are also cases of seizing GI sheets which were being distributed in Imphal East violating the model code of conduct. He also said seizure of gold had also taken place at Guwahati Airport.

The flying squads had reported seizure of GI sheets from four locations in Imphal East, he said. Dewangan said the District Election Officer has been directed to take action as per the provisions of the model code of conduct against violators of the model code of conduct.

Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Newmai News Network Aizawl | February 1

Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) Commissioner Dr H Lalthangliana on Monday said that the corporation would take action against those who failed to abide by Building Regulation, according to the Mizoram Post newspaper.

The Commissioner on Monday invited news reporters over a cup of tea at his office chamber and interacted with them over the activities of the corporation.

It reported that Dr Lalthangliana said that the AMC has a soft corner and patiently dealt with those failing to abide by building regulation. He however, said that if a person goes ahead with disobeying the regulation, the AMC would pull down his building. “We are reluctant to go with knocking down the building of defaulters that is why we patiently dealt with them and gave them a chance to follow the regulation while constructing a house and told them how it is wrong to go against the regulation,” he said further viewing that Mizo people sincerely obey laws.

No one from among those who constructed their buildings against regula-

Mnp High Court issues stern warning government officials over blockade

Imphal, February 1 (IaNS): The Manipur High Court on Wednesday issued a stern warning to secretaries of the central government to comply with the court directives or face action.

A full bench, comprising Chief Justice Rakesh Ranjan Prasad, Justices N. Koteswor and K. Nobin, said that from time to time directives have been issued on remedial measures to handle the economic blockade. These should be complied with or the court will "fix responsibility".

The United Naga Coun-

cil (UNC)-imposed blockade in Manipur to protest against the creation of new districts has been in force since November 1.

The bench directed: "There should be at least 100 oil tankers in each trip of highway convoys. While 50 tankers should bring petrol, the rest should be carrying kerosene and diesel.

These should be transported four times a week."

Besides, the high court also instructed to bring consumer goods and to rein in prices. The highways should also be repaired and maintained well by the au-

thorities and action-taken report should be submitted to the court on February 7.

"The Secretaries of the Surface Transport, Defence and Home ministries should be notified and in case of failure to comply with the instructions, responsibility will be fixed," it ruled.

The high court further directed the Advocate General of Manipur to ensure that the office-bearers of the UNC make a personal appearance in the court on February 7.

Gaidon Kamei and S. Stephen, President and

Publicity Secretary, respectively, of the UNC were arrested on November 25 and have been in custody.

However, A. Noutuneswori, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East, has permitted both of them to take part in the tripartite talks slated to be held in Delhi on February 3.

Sources said that the state intelligence agencies has made the list of the office-bearers of the UNC available to the Advocate General. Manipur has been facing acute scarcity of all items on account of the blockade.

Budget pro-poor, pro-farmer: Sonowal GuwahaTI, February 1 (pTI): Hailing the 2017-2018 Union Budget as "pro-poor, pro-farmer, welfare and growth-oriented", Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said it had something for every section of the society.

In a statement, he praised the budgetary provision of Rs 10 lakh crore as credit to farmers with a 60-day period for interest waiver and stated that the increase of funds to NABARD and the dedicated micro-irrigation fund for it will greatly help the farm sector.

Lauding the move to create a dairy processing infrastructure fund, Sonowal, who heads a BJPled government in the state, said the mini-labs in krishi vigyan kendras for soil-testing will give a further boost to the process of issuance of soil cards.

The government's target to pull one crore households out of poverty by 2019, take up five lakh farm ponds under MGNREGA during 2017-18, of over Rs 3 lakh crore for rural India and using space technology in a big way to plan MGNREGA works would

help double the income of farmers, he claimed.

Referring to the allocation of Rs 19,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in 2017-18 to complete one crore houses for the homeless, the chief minister said it will immensely boost the government's 'Housing for All' dream.

Further appreciating the government's flagship programmes, Sonowal lauded the Union Finance Minister's statements in the Budget Session that the 'Swachh Bharat' mission had made tremendous

progress and sanitation coverage had gone up from 42 per cent in October, 2014 to 60 per cent now.

Sonowal also praised the introduction of a system of measuring annual learning outcome, innovation fund for secondary education, the budgetary proposal to focus on 3,479 educationally-backward blocks, setting up of 100 India international skill centres across the country to maximise the Skill India mission, introduction of courses on foreign languages and steps to create 5,000 PG seats per annum.

tions objected to their houses being pulled down. “It is a matter of happiness that those who construct a building against the regulation did not hesitate to demolish their building when suggested to do so,” he said, adding that if a person refused to obey the law the corporation will knock down his building. According to the commissioner, the AMC has conducted mass inspection on violation of building regulation in last year accordingly which some people were ordered not to go ahead with their construction, Mizoram Post further reported. He said that the corporation would check on those who were given stay order. If they go ahead with construction, strong action will be taken, he warned.

He further informed of some people being levied fines not because of disobeying the regulation but owing to faulty plans by their architects. Speaking over property tax, Dr Lalthangliana said that it was paid by all localities except two and the property tax was collected through each local council. He added that there is 10 per cent rebate if a person pay the tax within a stipulated time. He said that the government has received revenue amounting to Rs 189.06 lakh through property tax.

The Indian Express

Organisers of buffalo and bulbul fights in Assam have asked the state government to revive the traditional sports citing the ordinance in Tamil Nadu that lifted restrictions on bull-taming festival — Jallikattu. “We have petitioned Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to do the needful so that we too can resume and preserve our traditional buffalo fight and bulbul fight,” Hayagriva-Madhav Mandir Parichalana Samiti President Shiva Sarma said. Ahatguri Anchalik Moh-jooj aru Bhogali Utsav Udjapan Samiti Secretary Pranabjyoti Das, who is a signatory to the petition, echoed Sarma. “Since Tamil Nadu has withdrawn all restrictions on Jallikattu, the ban on buffalo fight in Assam can also be lifted.’’ Buffalo and bulbul fights have remained prohibited in Assam since January 2015 in compliance with a Supreme Court order banning such fights.

4

ThursDAY 02•02•2017

Business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Budget broadly focussed on 10 themes source: The Hindu

The 2017 Union Budget, presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday, was broadly focused on 10 themes — the farming sector, the rural population, the youth, the poor and underprivileged health care, infrastructure, the financial sector for stronger institutions, speedy accountability, public services, prudent fiscal management and tax administration for the honest.

Following are the highlights of Mr. Jaitley’s Budget speech: Demonetisation 1. Demonetisation is expected to have a transient impact on the economy.

2. It will have a great impact on the economy and lives of people .

3. Demonetisation is a bold and decisive measure that will lead to higher GDP growth.

4. The effects of demonetisation will not spillover to the next fiscal.

Agriculture sector 1. Sowing farmers should feel secure against natural calamities.

2. A sum of Rs. 10 lakh crore is allocated as credit to farmers, with 60 days interest waiver.

3. NABARD fund will be increased to Rs. 40,000 crore.

4. Government will set up mini labs in Krishi Vigyan Kendras for soil testing.

5. A dedicated micro irrigation fund will be set up for NABARD with Rs 5,000 crore initial corpus.

6. Irrigation corpus increased from Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore.

7. Dairy processing infrastructure fund wlll be initially created with a corpus of Rs. 2000 crore.

8. Issuance of soil cards has gained momentum.

9. A model law on contract farming will be prepared and shared with the States.

RuRal PoPulation 1. The government targets to bring 1 crore households out of poverty by 2019.

2. During 2017-18, five lakh farm ponds will be be taken up under the MGNREGA. 3. Over Rs 3 lakh crore will be spent for rural India. MGNREGA to double farmers’ income.

4. Will take steps to ensure participation of women in MGNREGA up to 55%.

5. Space technology will be used in a big way to ensure MGNREGA works.

6. The government proposes to complete 1 crore houses for those without homes.

7. Will allocate Rs. 19,000 crore for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in 2017-18.

8. The country well on way to achieve 100% rural electrification by March 2018.

9. Swachh Bharat mission has made tremendous progress; sanitation coverage has gone up from 42% in Oct 13 to 60% now.

FoR youth 1. Will introduce a system of measuring annual learning outcomes and come out with an innovation fund for secondary education.

2. Focus will be on 3,479 educationally-

backward blocks.

3. Colleges will be identified based on accreditation.

4. Skill India mission was launched to maximise potential. Will set up 100 India International centres across the country.

5. Courses on foreign languages will be introduced.

6. Will take steps to create 5000 PG seats per annum.

FoR the PooR anD unDeRPRiVilege health caRe 1. Rs. 500 crore allocated for Mahila Shakthi Kendras.

2. Under a nationwide scheme for pregnant women, Rs. 6000 will be transferred to each person.

3. A sum of Rs. 1,84,632 crore allocated for women and children.

4. Affordable housing will be given infrastructure status.

5. Owing to surplus liquidity, banks have started reducing lending rates for housing.

6. Elimination of tuberculosis by 2025 targeted.

7. Health sub centres, numbering 1.5 lakh, willl be transformed into health wellness centres.

8. Two AIIMS will be set up in Jharkhand and Gujarat.

9. Will undertake structural transformation of the regulator framework for medical education.

10. Allocation for Scheduled Castes is Rs. 52,393 crore 11. Aadhaar-based smartcards will be issued to senior citizens to monitor health. inFRastRuctuRe anD RailWays 1. A total allocation of Rs. 39,61,354 crore has been made for infrastructure.

2. Total allocation for Railways is Rs. 1,31,000 crore.

3. No service charge on tickets booked through IRCTC. 4. Raksha coach with a corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore for five years (for passenger safety).

5. Unmanned level crossings will be eliminated by 2020.

6. 3,500 km of railway lines to be commissioned this year up from 2,800 km last year.

7. SMS-based ‘’clean my coach service’’ is put in place.

8. Coach mitra facility will be introduced to register all coach related complaints.

9. By 2019 all trains will have bio-toilets.

10. Five-hundred stations will be made differently-abled friendly.

11. Railways to partner with logistics players for front-end and back-end solutions for select commodities.

12. Railways will offer competitive ticket booking facility.

13. Rs. 64,000 crore allocated for highways.

14. High speed Internet to be allocated to 1,50,000 gram panchayats.

15. New Metro rail policy will be announced with new modes of financing. eneRgy sectoR 1. A strategic policy for crude reserves will be set up.

leisure

CROSSWORD # 3845

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2. Rs. 1.26,000 crore received as energy production based investments.

3. Trade infra export scheme will be launched 2017-18.

Financial sectoR 1. FDI policy reforms - more than 90% of FDI inflows are now automated.

2. Shares of Railway PSE like IRCTC will be listed on stock exchanges.

3. Bill on resolution of financial firms will be introduced in this session of Parliament.

4. Foreign Investment Promotion Board will be abolished.

5. Revised mechanism to ensure timebound listing of CPSEs. 6. Computer emergency response team for financial sector will be formed.

7. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana lending target fixed at Rs 2.44 lakh crore for 2017-18.

8. Digital India - BHIM app will unleash mobile phone revolution. The government will introduce two schemes to promote BHIM App - referral bonus for the users and cash back for the traders.

9. Negotiable Instruments Act might be amended.

10. DBT to LPG consumers , Chandigarh is kerosene-free, 84 government schemes are on the DBT platform.

11. Head post office as the central office for rendering passport service.

12. Easy online booking system for Army and other defence personnel.

13. For big-time offences - including economic offenders fleeing India, the government will introduce legislative change or introduce law to confiscate the assets of these people within the country.

Fiscal situation 1. Total expenditure is Rs. 21, 47,000 crore.

2. Plan, non-plan expenditure to be abolished; focus will be on capital expenditure, which will be 25.4 %.

3. Rs. 3,000 crore under the Department of Economic Affairs for implementing the Budget announcements.

4. Expenditure for science and technology is Rs. 37,435 crore.

5. Total resources transferred to States and Union Territories is Rs 4.11 lakh crore.

6. Recommended 3% fiscal deficit for three years with a deviation of 0.5% of the GDP. 7. Revenue deficit is 1.9 % 8. Fiscal deficit of 2017-18 pegged at 3.2% of the GDP. Will remain committed to achieving 3% in the next year.

Funding of political parties 1. The maximum amount of cash donation for a political party will be Rs. 2,000 from any one source.

2. Political parties will be entitled to receive donations by cheque or digital mode from donors.

3. An amendment is being proposed to the RBI Act to enable issuance of electoral bonds .A donor can purchase these bonds from banks or post offices through cheque or digital transactions.

They can be redeemed only by registered political parties.

DeFence sectoR The defence sector gets an allocation

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ABsorB APed AroUnd BeGIn Boot BoUnCe BrAVo CAPsIZe CHArt CoMMIssIon Crown deVeLoPMent dIGest drAIn drIVe eMAIL Green GrooVe Lewd

of Rs. 2.74,114 crore. taX PRoPosals 1. India’s tax to GDP ratio is not favourable.

2. Out of 13.14 lakh registered companies, only 5.97 lakh firms have filed returns for 2016-17.

3. Proportion of direct tax to indirect tax is not optimal.

4. Individuals numbering 1.95 crore showed an income between Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh.

5. Out of 76 lakh individual assessees declaring income more than Rs. 5 lakh, 56 lakh are salaried.

6. Only 1.72 lakh people showed income of more than Rs. 50 lakh a year.

7. Between November 8 to December 30, deposits ranging from Rs. 2 lakh and Rs. 80 lakh were made in 1.09 crore accounts.

8. Net tax revenue of 2013-14 was Rs. 11.38 lakh crore.

9. Out of 76 lakh individual assessees declaring income more than Rs 5 lakh, 56 lakh are salaried.

10. 1.95 crore individuals showed income between Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh.

11. Rate of growth of advance tax in Personal I-T is 34.8% in the last three quarters of this financial year.

12. Holding period for long term capital gain lowered to two years 13. Proposal to have a carry-forward of MAT for 15 years.

14. Capital gains tax to be exempted for persons holding land from which land was pooled for creation of the state capital of Andhra Pradesh.

15. Under the corporate tax, in order to make MSME companies more viable, there is a proposal to reduce tax for small companies with a turnover of up to Rs 50 crore to 25%. About 67 lakh companies fall in this category. Ninetysix % of companies to get this benefit.

16. The government proposes to reduce basic customs duty for LNG to 2.5% from 5%.

17. The Income Tax Act to be amended to ensure that no transaction above Rs 3 lakh is permitted in cash.

18. The limit of cash donation by charitable trusts is reduced to Rs 2,000 from Rs 10,000.

19. Net revenue loss in direct tax could be Rs. 20,000 crore.

PeRsonal income taX 1. Existing rate of tax for individuals between Rs. 2.5- Rs 5 lakh is reduced to 5% from 10%.

2. All other categories of tax payers in subsequent brackets will get a benefit of Rs 12,500.

3. Simple one page return for people with an annual income of Rs. 5 lakh other than business income.

4. People filing I-T returns for the first time will not come under any government scrutiny.

5. Ten % surcharge on individual income above Rs. 50 lakh and up to Rs 1 crore to make up for Rs 15,000 crore loss due to cut in personal I-T rate. 15 surcharge on individual income above Rs. 1 crore to remain.

DiMaPUR

ACROSS 5. Lariat 1. Christmas song 6. Without mirth 6. Slip 7. Modern sing-along 10. Hens make them 8. Computer symbol 14. Small terrestrial lizard 9. Relating to the teeth 15. A ceremonial staff 10. Having a job 16. Stubborn beast 11. Internment camp 17. Mentors 12. Clearing 18. Weightlifters pump this 13. Feel 19. Scheme 21. The common people 20. Transfer 25. Long ago 22. Boys 26. Circle fragments 23. Margarine 27. Defeat decisively 24. Orbital high point 28. Adorable 26. Coy 29. Sunflower 30. Antlered animal 34. Tropical evergreen trees 31. Nonclerical 36. Dwarf buffalo 32. Debauchee 37. Trim 33. Red vegetable 38. Rabbit 35. Demolish 40. Pot 39. Short heavy curved sword 42. A nine-piece musical group 41. Aerial 45. Ill-defined 43. Mug 48. Comestible 44. Japanese wrestling 51. Patter 46. French for “Black” 52. Anxious 47. Consumed food 53. Killer whales 49. Indian bread 55. Welts 50. Adhesive strip 58. Lascivious look 51. Under the influence of 59. Wreckage narcotics 60. District 54. Team 61. Armored vehicle 56. Flippant 62. If not 57. Unable to read Answer to Crossword 3844 63. 1/12th of a foot 64. Existed 65. Hearing-related 66. Brother of Jacob 67. Its symbol is Pb 68. Property claims 69. Not more 70. Makes a mistake 71. Serpent DOWN 1. Actors in a show 2. Food thickener 3. Indian music 4. Portent

MAnGLe MeCHAnIC MoIst MoUtH MUsIC oUtrAGe ProBLeM reAdY reAP rUFFIAn seed stAr stYLe teACH teMPer tIrAde wAter weAr wHACK

Maruti WagonR gets a VXi+ variant

std code: 03862

new Delhi, February 1 (agencies): Maruti Suzuki India Limited, India’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced the launch of an all-new VXi+ variant for India’s most loved car, WagonR. The latest addition to the WagonR family, the best-selling car, is available in both automatic and manual transmission trims.

Introducing the WagonR VXi+ variant, R. S. Kalsi, Executive Director Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “WagonR has had a phenomenal journey since its launch. Maruti Suzuki has delivered over 19 lakh WagonR. The WagonR VXi+ has been introduced to meet customer demands, who have desired for more style, along-with comfort, convenience and advanced safety features. The WagonR VXi+ defines unique design interventions both on the interiorsaswellasexteriors.ItwouldstrengthentheWagonRbrand and help to enhance Maruti Suzuki’s market share.”

WagonR VXi+ offers a wide array of new features including Projector headlamps, stylish front grill, alloy wheels and side skirts. The piano black finish adds style to the dual tone interior colour scheme. The WagonR Vxi+ comes with Dual Airbags, Anti-Lock braking System with Electronic brake - force distribution system, as optional.

WagonR has been one of the most popular choices among car buyers. It continues to be amongst the India’s top 5 selling cars. In 2016-17 WagonR has sold 131,756 (till Dec 2016). In 2015, WagonR was introduced with the convenience of Auto Gear Shift (AGS) technology that met with instant success, especially with metro cities that are faced with bumper to bumper traffic with the addition of Midnight Blue the WagonR is now available in seven exciting colours.

Prices of WagonR VXi+ are as under: Variant transmission ex-showroom delhi Price WagonR VXi+ Manual 4,69,840 WagonR VXi+ (O) Manual 4,89,072 WagonR VXi+ AGS Auto Gear Shift 5,17,253 WagonR VXi+ AGS (O) Auto Gear Shift 5,36,486

Vicco Laboratories to receive title of ‘CULT Brand’ MuMbai, February 1 (agencies): The Vicco Laboratories will be receiving the ‘CULT Brand – Vicco Laboratories’ at the Greatest Marketing Influencers 2016 presented by BBC Knowledge and endorsed by CMO Asia.

The award ceremony is scheduled on February 15 at Taj Lands End, Mumbai.

Sanjeev Pendharkar, Director, Vicco Laboratories in a press release said that the CULT Brand is a product or service with a committed customer base. The attainment of such true believers; or customers is made possible because CULT Brand sell more than a product. A CULT Brand is a brand with an extreme loyal customer base in which the consumers visualize the brand as something more than just a product, where the brand becomes a piece of their everyday lives.

People for a loyal following to these brands are drawn to such an idea through the desire of wanting to belong.

A brand is a name, symbol, logo, etc. all that is identifiable to a single product or an organization. Whereas, Vicco Laboratories, CULT Brand fall into the category of benign cults which can be defined as a following where members are truly attached or intensely devoted to the product/service the brand provides. In benign cults, human desires are fulfilled in a positive and unharmful way.

Vicco Laboratories is identified as a CULT Brand due to the superior level of customer loyalty is achieved; Brand loyalists perceive no true competitors to the brand as there are no substitutes for the “True” brand; Customers receive a sense of ownership with the brand; Loyalty is sustained over time (as opposed to fads which are unsustainable and short lived); and Customers receive more than a product, they experience a life style.

TaHaMZaM

Police station Fire Brigade

222246 222491

Civil Hospital emer

232224

MH Hospital

227930 231081

Fire Brigade

2222952

Faith Hospital

228846

naga Hospital

2222916

shamrock Hospital

228254

oking Hospital

2243339

Zion Hospital

231864 224117 227337

Bethel nursing Home

2224202

northeast shuttles

08974997923

Police Control room

228400

KoHIMA Ps/oCs Contact numbers

Police Traffic Control

232106

north Ps

229529 229474

KOHiMa

east Police station

227607

west Police station

232181

south Ps

CIHsr (referral Hospital)

242555 242533

Zubza Ps

dimapur Hospital

224041 248011

Apollo Hospital Info Centre 230695/ 9402435652 railway

131/228404

Airport Indian Airlines

229366 242441 225212

Chumukedima Fire Brigade 282777 nikos Hospital and research Centre

232032, 231031

nagaland Multispecialty Health & research Centre

248302, 09856006026

eden Medical Centre

248288

std code: 0370

8575045501

Officer-in-Charge 8575045510 8575045502

Officer-in-Charge 8575045520 8575045508

Officer-in-Charge 8575045518 Chiephobozou Ps 8575045506 Officer-in-Charge 8575045516 tseminyu Ps

8575045507

Officer-in-Charge 8575045517 Khuzama Ps

8575045505

Officer-in-Charge 8575045515 Kezocha Ps

8575045549

Officer-in-Charge 8575045538 women Cell

8575045509

Officer-in-Charge 8575045519 Control room

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

Game Number # 3840

std code: 03871

(formerly senapati)

Answer Number # 3839

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

66.13 83.06 8.25 49.91 46.73 50.46 58.19 71.33 1.82 0.0554 17.42 9.37

69.11 87.06 9.19 52.35 49.01 52.93 61.47 74.77 2.03 0.0618 19.41 10.43

Thursday 02•02•2017

NAGALAND

Organisations react to January 31 firing in Dimapur CPO demands ACAUT says present govt should step down Catholic Association of Nagaland appeals to DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 stated in a press note. The ACAUT (MExN): The ACAUT Nagaland further extended condolences to resignation recognize legitimacy of different opinions today condemned the manner in the bereaved families of the two victhe Nagaland State Govern- tims and also prayed for the speedy KohIMA, FEBRUARY amongst the ruling Govern- strive together to positively It must prove that the leadof CM and his which ment has handled the ULB issue, and complete recovery of those who 1 (MExN): Against the ment of the day and the civil impact on society. “We are ership is accountable, dewhich it stated “can only be summed have been injured. It added that the backdrop of the crisis over societies to arrive at a pro- called to behave ethically pendable and does what is cabinet up as anti-Naga.” “The ACAUT Naga- government has lost all credibility the ULB polls, the Catho- found peaceful solution,” and with sensitivity towards right for the common good.”

P h E K , F E B R UA RY 1 (MExN): Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) today condemned what it termed as “worst ever treacherous act committed by the Chief Minister…calculatedly betraying JCC of the trust reposed on his government in good faith and making mockery of even apex church body- NBCC, under whose initiative tripartite agreement was signed on 30/01/2017.”

It has demanded immediate resignation of the Chief Minister TR Zeliang and his cabinet colleagues.

“Two precious lives are lost, several injured without certainty of survival, many displaced and fate of Nagaland uncertain because of your untamed ambition, senselessness, visionless and arrogance, and you have lost all moral and political right to lead the people now that you stand condemned by the people,” stated a press release from Mutsivoyi Kotso, General Secretary and Kekhwengulo Lea, President of CPO. Pointing out that while almost all civil societies/tribal hohos in Nagaland are resolutely protesting against ULB elections in the present form, some tribal hohos have openly supported the election, CPO viewed that “unified tribal bodies/hohos should henceforth withdraw solidarity and cooperation to those tribal hohos.”

land condemns such anti-Naga activities, by going against the voice of the Nagas and further risk jeopardizing the sanctity of Article 371(A),” it

and should step down both on moral grounds and for the complete breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state.

Let reason precede emotions: NTC

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has mourned the death of two people in Dimapur and rued that “had tact, care and statesman been exercised in the perusal of ULB scheduled election, the lost of precious lives would have been avoided.”

“When so much acrimony was built up between the agitators and the state Government, it was anticipated that lest Govt. cautiously and maturely handles the situation, the end result would obviously be ugly as it is now. The immaturity and incapacity of the present Govt. is how it allowed to keep the citizens of Nagaland divided sharply on the is-

sue in question,” the NTC stated in a press note.

It condemned the mishandling of the situation, while expressing condolence to the bereaved family members, and further expressed its sympathy with those injured persons at different places.

It meanwhile urged that the people of Nagaland need to have a “meeting point under any circumstances as we cannot imagine destroying Nagaland just because of a discord on an issue.” It appealed to all concerned to let “just and reason precede emotions and exercise restrain so as to avoid further damage beyond what has happened already.”

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) today told the Chief Minister Vice President, K Ghokheto Cho- TR Zeliang and his cabinet phy stated that the Council has legislators that rights of the been apprehensive of the poten- Naga people cannot be suptial confrontation and imminent pressed all the time through bloodshed “due to the adamant at- use of brute tactics of impostitude of the State government and ing “repressive laws” like hence has been advocating peace 144 CrPC and killing Naga and harmony and also to maintain civilians.

In a press release issued maximum restraint from all conby its Media Cell, CNTC concerned.”

It expressed sadness over the turn demned the January 31 poof events and at the same time con- lice action, where two Naga demned the act of the IRB personnel. youths were shot dead. It NCD conveyed condolences to the demanded a judicial probe and immediate suspension families of the two people killed.

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) today endorsed the public demands for Chief Minister TR Zeliang and NPF President Shürhozelie Liezietsu to step down from their respective positions with immediate effect, to declare the ULB elections held in some town councils null and void, and suspend the entire IRB platoon responsible for the “indiscriminate firing” upon public on January 31 leading to death of two people.

A statement from NCD General Secretary, Thsapongkyu and

Says Angamimiapfu Mechu Krotho's withdrawal unfortunate Government to protect voters and candidates with adequate security, when elections are held.”

It further informed that the petition does not bear the name of the NMA in any manner whatsoever.

“Therefore, the withdrawal of the Angamimiapfu Mechu Krotho from the NMA, despite proper explanation given, is considered most unfortunate and disappointing in this tough and long struggle for women's rights and gender justice,” the NMA said.

It meanwhile conveyed deep condolences to the bereaved families of the people killed during the violent upheaval in Dimapur and “prayed for the peace and rest of the departed souls.” “We appeal for peace and understanding and place on record that we, along with the other constituents of the JACWR, have kept our word of withdrawing the SLP in the Supreme Court in the interest of peace in the society,” the NMA added.

stated a press release from President, CAN. It called upon the present Government to understand and govern prudently to foster common good of the human society keeping in mind that “all power comes from God, not immediately but through the consent of human wills.”

CAN maintained that every member of the society is divinely duty-bound to “promote the dignity and rights of the human person and the common good of society.”

All the members of the Naga society including the leaders, it added, must

social, cultural, economic and environmental issues.

Every member of our society must act with sensitivity guided by ethical and above all Christian principles in a way that is beneficial to society and will strengthen the common good.”

Stating that “rulers must govern with the consent of the governed,” the Association further asserted that any responsible government must listen and be governed by the conscience of the people. “At this juncture, the State government is duty-bound to act ethically and with utmost sensitivity to the wishes of the people.

Meanwhile, CAN expressed pain at the loss of two lives in the crisis and appealed for better sense to prevail for love of life and the good of every person. It also wished speedy recovery of the injured and prayed that physical and spiritual healing will dawn upon all.

CAN requested “God’s people”, particularly the priests, clergies and nuns working in the Diocese of Kohima to offer prayers during the Holy Eucharistic celebration for peace in the State of Nagaland and wisdom of God to dawn upon the temporal leaders of Nagaland.

Naga people’s rights cannot be suppressed: CNTC

NCD endorse public demands

Naga Mothers' Association issues clarification DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Naga Mothers' Association (NMA) today clarified that the Public Interest Litigation filed in the Gauhati High Court is not filed by the NMA, but by a “well known social activist Vilanuo Angela Yhome, who has also been a Public Litigant.”

A press note from the NMA stated that the petition “is in her individual capacity as a concerned citizen seeking the direction of the Court on the

lic Association of Nagaland (CAN) today asked both the Government and the civil societies to recognize the legitimacy of different opinions and respect citizens, who, even as a group, “defend their points of view by honest methods.”

“We must act in solidarity in spite of our differences recognizing the legitimate variety of possible options to the present crisis that is posing a great threat to social breakdown in Nagaland. Catholic Laities ask for an effort at mutual understanding of the other’s position and motives, a loyal examination of one’s behavior

of those police officers who gave the firing orders. The CNTC office bearers and all the executives also expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

The CNTC asserted it has viewed the incident very seriously “as these acts of always shooting down people while trying to quell some public disorder has become the hallmark of the Dimapur Police Commissionerate.” The police, it said, always have various other means to stop or control an unruly mob like the use of lathi-charge, teargas, rubber-pellets etc.

ENPO condemns police action

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), while condemning the police shootings in Longleng and Dimapur, has conveyed condolences to the bereaved families of those who were killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

A press note from the ENPO reminded that the public both at Longleng and Dimapur were protesting the sudden u-turn taken by the government in regard to the agreement signed between JCC and the government in presence of the highest Baptist church platform in the state, i.e. NBCC.

“The supreme sacrifices made by the brave hearts should go down in the history of the Nagas and should not go in vain,” the ENPO stated and further urged all right thinking citizens of the state to condemn such action of high handedness of the security personnel.

Naga Hoho condemns police high handedness DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Naga Hoho has condemned the “high handedness” of Nagaland Police over the killing of the two youth on January 31 and stated that the State Government should take full responsibility.

Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, the Naga Hoho in a press statement joined other tribe and civil society organizations in its earlier cautions regarding further amendments to the Nagaland Municipal Act. It further slammed that

the state cabinet had taken a decision “the other way round” despite the January 30 agreement brokered by the NBCC. It meanwhile hoped that “better understanding and oneness among the Nagas will grow out of this sad and tragic situation”.

It further accused the present government of bringing the State into “such a condition of confusion, lawlessness and instability by their greed of some hundred crores which became more important than our hard-fought gotten and God- given rights through the wisdom of our fore-fathers.”

While lauding the NBCC for taking a “bold step” and playing the role of the mediator to break the impasse, the CNTC accused the Chief Minister of “betraying not only the people but even

God which signifies their act of selling away God in their lust for power and money.”

The present legislators were cautioned that “it is just a matter of time before they are ousted and hurled into political and social wilderness after some few months never to return…”

It asserted that the voice of the people is greater than any legislation or legislators.

The CNTC also directed its apex constituent units to recall their women bodies from the Naga Mothers’ Association and JACWR immediately.

NPCC: State govt has created irretrievable division in society DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today stated that the state government has “created irretrievable division in society,” with its handling of the ULB polls issue.

It expressed sadness that the government has “brought a long split order betraying the JCC, NBCC and the people.

The order is the highest act of treachery after statehood.”

“It has divided the minds of women and men. It has divided Tribe Organizations and Government. The Government’s split order is not maintainable. It cannot be enforced.

The order is without vision and is a provoking order. Democracy is not a machine to be driven by fuel alone, rather, democracy is a sense of collective response. The People cannot be governed out of anger of vengeance. ULB election should be cancelled for now,” said a press note from the NPCC President, K Therie. It further held the government responsible for the loss of lives and properties and failure to conduct peaceful ULB elections.” The Government must own moral responsibility in humility and resign in favour of fresh mandate,” it added. The NPCC further expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

NSA organises panel talk on 33% women reservation

NEw DElhI, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Naga Scholars Association (NSA) organised a panel talk and discussion on ‘33% Women Reservation in Urban Local Bodies of Nagaland’ on January 29 at Nagaland House, New Delhi.

Dr. Zuchamo Yanthan, President, NSA in his welcome note stressed on NSA’s continued engagement on issues that concerns Nagas.

The recent issue on 33% women reservation in Urban Local Bodies in Nagaland, he said, calls for scholarly attention in terms of open and free scholarly debate and discussion, informed a press release received here.

The panelists - Moaniken, Kekhrie Yhome, Avitoli G Zhimo, Sangke Konyak, Nzanmongi Jasmine Patton, Walunir and James Pochury came from diverse background, expertise, experience and perspective.

Lovitoli Jimo, the Chair-moderator of the panel talk and Vice President of NSA grounded the talk within the current debate in Nagaland on the question of 33% women reservation visà-vis Naga customary laws and Article 371A of the constitution.

She emphasized on the need to engage with the popular opinion that “reservation for women in ‘egalitarian’ Naga society is unjustified and the archaic notion that women reservation is a step towards ‘gender equity’ in a predominantly patriarchal Naga society,” the release said. Another point of consideration, she said, is the argument of the Government of Nagaland on making decision “aimed at protecting and preserving the sanctity of Article 371A and thereby avoiding any interpretation of Article 371A by the Court for wrong reasons.”

Jimo opined that feminism is not just a movement but a philosophy and analysis of society by using ‘gender’ as a category within the praxis of ‘difference’ and ‘experience’ to recognise inequality between gender, class, race, age etc. She added that this gender difference and inequality should be recognised in order to respect, co-exist and strive together for a just society. She drew the attention of the panel towards Naga feminism often labeled as ‘the problem’ and the need to understand Naga feminism in the context of Naga women’s experiential reality of inherently unequal society. Jimo also called the critical attention in the context of colonial patriarchy where “Naga patriarchy is valorised as ‘egalitarian’ as compared to Hindu patriar-

chy, which is otherwise ridden with hierarchy and inequality based on the caste system.” This, she maintained, enables Naga patriarchy to disregard the inequalities of Naga society. She thus said that there is an urgent need to look at the issues not as it appears to be but to look deeper at the complexities of the issues and have a critically engaged discussion.

The first panelist Moaniken opined that urban local bodies in Nagaland is a creation of the Nagaland State Legislature by enacting the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 (Amendment 2006). Thus, the provision nowhere touches the traditional set up of the society concerning Naga women. “Our Naga society is in a juncture where we need to preserve and protect our traditional values and practices on one hand and on the other bring in development by embracing modern methods of governance where we see women contributions at par with men,” he stated. However, he cautioned that “while we are open to modernity, we should be very careful not to infringe upon the Naga traditional values and rights protected under Article 371A of the Indian Constitution.” If enactments/laws (including the Nagaland Municipal Act) infringes upon the rights protected under Article 371A, then such law should be amended/modified appropriately before implementing them, he stressed.

Kekhrie Yhome surmised that the “role” and “identity” of man and woman is a social and cultural construct and is not natural. Pointing out how patriarchal authority always nostalgically invokes customs to assert a losing continuity and an eroding tradition, he said the same is not true for promoting radical changes. Customary laws, Yhome asserted, have no basis if it fails to progress with the very culture it seeks to address. While debunking the claim that Naga society is traditionally egalitarian and women exist in perfect-equal harmony with men as “a delusional utopian thought infected by pettybourgeosie morality,” Yhome highlighted that there is no communism of the sexes, which are visible in male-exclusive rituals (Sekrenyi), labor, nomenclatures, care-giving, lores and narratives, etc. He further noted that ideas are important; they are values and they define personal, social, and cultural values, including political practices. “Ideas determine how public discourse is shaped or how the political elites

define themselves and the objectives they pursue and how they choose to act. The abuse of the idea that Article 371A is a sacrosanct and monolithic legal possibility is seen as the core of public confusion and unrest today. While there is an attempt to interpret Article 371A as a safeguard of customary rights, there is also the parallel politics of Kohima Smart City and the need for urban developmental funds that is directing the interpretation of what is customary law,” Yhome stated. He substantiated by narrating how central projects under Kohima Mission City Development Fund and BSUP (JNNURM) between 2006-07 have chiefly precipitated the course of the present conflicts over reservation issue. Interpretation, he maintained, is not a legal instrument. Likewise, Municipal Act and Article 371A cannot, in the first place, co-exist since it contradicts each other, for example, on land-ownership, he added.

Meanwhile, Avitoli G Zhimo spoke on customary laws, its characteristics and workings in the society. She said that customary laws evolved out of customs, and became part of moral and social values. It was not formulated by any organized law making body through a formal procedure nor are they codified in the form of written document. “Thus, by its very nature, customary laws favour men and marginalise women; the guardians of customary laws being men, and conflict resolutions being confined to the male domain,” she maintained. Drawing attention to the fact that customary laws are not free from outside forces, Avitoli stated that customary law has never been “pristine” but it has always changed with time. She elaborated on this by stressing on the changes that customary laws went through as society encountered Christianity, colonialism and globalisation. Zhimo particularly referred to the office of the Dobashis and Gaonburas, whose responsibility changed from being interpreters and village chief/ headmen to that of rural police. The workings of village council also takes on works which are not traditional in nature such as development works, sanitation etc, she added. “Unless women are able to take part in policy making processes, women development is incomplete and in keeping pace with the changing times, there is a need to internalize women’s participation within the ambit of customary laws,” she asserted.

Sangke Konyak put forth that “the problem is in the concept”, meaning the Nagas need to change their established mindset. She talked of how change comes with a price and how people have to compromise, bringing in the example of how Nagas have moved away from wearing mekhalas and loin clothes to the kind of dresses they wear today. “However, wearing western clothes alone doesn't define modernism. We are transitioning and we must be able to accept the evolution of change in our society. Until now, there has been no issue with 25% reservation in the rural area where women share their rights but why is the label '33% reservation' in the Urban Local Bodies suddenly a topic of discussion?” she asked. “Why is there no voice for greater issues in our land? But, a voice against the fundamental rights of women?” She opined that Nagas must “take the risk of being open to change.”

Nzanmongi Jasmine Patton took on the chauvinistic attitude of the Hohos and the rationale behind the need for reservation. She pointed to the “weak argument” of the Hohos against the 33% women reservation, and their “lack to provide a direct link between 33% reservation and the supposed sacrilege that it unleashes on the integrity of article 371A.” She also drew attention to the condescending and patronising attitude of the various Hoho leaders with regard to place of a woman – particularly with the statements of Hoho leaders asking women why they want to get involved in ‘dirty politics’ when they are already excelling in everything else. She asked why Hohos have a problem with women in urban local bodies.

Patton asserted that customary law system denies the place and participation of women. As a result women have no voice. She added that the fight for 33% women reservation is about bridging the gap between men and women, and not about privilege. 33% women reservation, she stated, was needed to uplift the position of women just like ST/SC reservation is needed in order to uplift the disadvantaged and marginalised classes.

Walunir espoused 33% women reservation within the understanding that “men and women are similar but different physiologically and mentally but yet the structure of human society and discourses are built upon the constitution of male.” He said that human society has almost equal demographic distribution of both sexes

and it requires equal contribution from both sexes for betterment of humanity and “man alone is inadequate to run the affairs of society in modern contexts”. In his opinion, Nagas have evolved out of many customary practices and there is a continued need for evolution of Naga customary laws and procedures without necessarily attempting to ‘dismantle’ the same. Talking about ‘Naga Feminism’, he stressed upon the need for the “unified centralized voice of Naga women” to move towards multiplicity of perspectives by allowing diverging standpoints to constructively seep into the ‘movement’.

James Pochury talked on the premise of participatory democracy so that power is shared between elected representatives and the electors. This can be ensured with a “bottom up process from the level of Clan in villages, with women representatives on board, through amendment to our customary laws, that otherwise restrict women in decision making spaces.” James held that “reservations should not be viewed as sympathetic act of service but as an affirmative action for social justice, gender equity and equality”. He further said the way forward is to “push for a legislation that will ensure participatory democracy in the true letter and spirit of Naga democratic socialism” followed by “facilitation of processes in the respective villages and upwards to the tribal councils/Hohos to amend the customary social practices to have one woman and one man represent their own clans in the Village Councils”. This can be pushed upwards with a resolution to legislate an Act that spells out clear mechanisms for the village traditional body to extend its powers to the Town and Municipal Councils and thereby build an organic and structural link between traditional village bodies and ULB representatives, he added.

According to the release, there was a unanimous agreement on women reservation on different grounds of arguments. The house also discussed on how politics at different levels in Nagaland dilute the question of women reservation and participation. The talk and discussion gave out that there is scope for consultation and dialogue in relation to archaic procedures within traditional as well as democratic systems to accommodate newer processes for a better inclusive society.

6

thursday 02•02•2017

IN FOCUS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express volume XII Issue 30

By Aheli moitra

Who is the leader here?

A

s men in Dimapur came out in drones on the night of Tuesday, January 31, 2017, they collected at multiple points within the city. The Government of Nagaland had announced polls to 12 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) around the State out of 32 ULBs in all. On January 30, the Government of Nagaland had signed a joint pact with the Joint Coordination Committee in the presence of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) to defer the polls ‘in principle’.

Even before people could fully absorb the meaning of the pact, the Government had spun a googly on them. The pressure had been let off a steaming cooker. The difference was the steam had no direction it was to follow.

As men of all age groups poured out despite the 144 Cr.Pc in place, complete chaos ensued. Leaders who had fueled the ‘anger’ were not to be seen. Rumours spread within fraction of seconds throughout the state. When a bomb went off at one of the locations, it created panic throughout town; it later turned out to be an ‘aloo bomb’.

At one junction, as the youth piled up, someone shouted, “Who is the leader here? What is our command?” With no answer on the horizon, someone else shouted, “Chalo!”

There is no one and everyone to be blamed in this tragedy of epic proportions. The leaders of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly are all men that the people have brought to power through elections. The JCC consists of similar men who represent the people based on a tribe based mandate.

Yet few people today fully comprehend either affirmative action on one side or resistance to it on the other.

Most men on the streets remained unable to articulate on the issues involved, or even core concepts, instead repeating rhetorics they had heard over the past few weeks. Without the core in place, a lack of moral conduct, barring rare instances, on the part of ‘volunteers’ who were meant to help the public during a bandh became widespread. The whole meaning of resistance towards perceived unjust laws was lost.

What of the Government’s role to educate the people on the merits and demerits of reservation? The issue has been in the public domain for a decade. Every dispensation in power has not just played politics over the issue but left the education of the public on affirmative action for the women instead of taking an active part in it.

During the 1960s civil rights movement in North America, leaders embarked upon an important exercise before taking up acts of civil disobedience of specific unjust laws. People, both men and women, who were part of the resistance, were thoroughly trained in nonviolent techniques—cleaning up the act as well as the soul, and responding in a manner so derived when faced with violence of oppressive structures. People understood the full meaning of injustice not only as a word to be used often but their impact on daily life. They similarly understood how their methods were shaped, and what they entailed.

There is no dearth of capable leaders among the Naga people—it is time these leaders, of all genders, become more active in public on an urgent basis. Without them, the difference between justice and injustice will increasingly become a googly, and social reform an unfathomable exercise.

Suggestions & ideas may be sent to moitramail@yahoo.com

lEfT WING |

Lisa Rapaport Reuters Health

Skipping breakfast may be bad for your heart

P

lanning meals and snacks in advance and eating breakfast every day may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, new guidelines from U.S. doctors say.

Eating more calories earlier in the day and consuming less food at night may also reduce the odds of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiac or blood vessel diseases, according to the scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

"When we eat may be important to consider, in addition to what we eat," said Marie-Pierre St-Onge, chair of the group that wrote the guidelines and a nutrition researcher at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

As many as 30 percent of U.S. adults may routinely skip breakfast, a habit that has become more common in recent years as more people snack throughout the day instead of sitting down for three traditional meals, St-Onge and colleagues note in the journal Circulation.

When people do eat breakfast daily, they're less likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease like high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure. And people who skip this morning meal are more likely to have risk factors like obesity, poor nutrition and diabetes or high blood sugar.

That's because meal timing may affect health by impacting the body's internal clock. We may not process sugars as well at night as we do during the day, and studies of shift workers have linked this schedule with a greater risk of obesity and heart disease than a typical day job, St-Onge said by email.

"We know from population studies that eating breakfast is related to lower weight and healthier diet, along with lower risk of cardiovascular disease," St-Onge said.

"However, interventions to increase breakfast consumption in those who typically skip breakfast do not support a strong causal role of this meal for weight management, in particular," St-Onge cautioned. "Adding breakfast, for some, leads to an additional meal and weight gain."

It's possible that some people who add breakfast aren't eating the right things or cutting back on what they eat later in the day, resulting in more calories but not necessarily good nutrition.

A healthy diet is heavy on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, poultry and fish, according to the guidelines. Eating well also means limiting red meat, salt and foods high in added sugars.

Plotting out what to eat ahead of time, especially for busy people who eat on the go, can help create a diet that's better for heart health, St-Onge said.

"Planning ahead and making healthy, carry-on foods is important," St-Onge suggested. "This could be a homemade smoothie or whole grain muffin or cereal bar for breakfast; packing a sandwich or leftovers for those times when time is tight."

Advance thought can also help people eat the right amount of food throughout the day and eat at the right time, said Samantha Heller, a nutritionist at New York University Langone Medical Center who wasn’t involved in the guidelines.

"The 'eating several small meals' during the day advice that we commonly hear is unrealistic for most people because the 'small' meals often turn into meal-sized meals and weight gain is inevitable," Heller said by email.

"Another booby trap for overeating is after dinner," Heller added. "Night time eating is quite common and an easy way to add unnecessary calories and pack on the pounds over time because people snack when in front of TV, computer and tablet screens."

Heller’s advice: "Once dinner is finished, the kitchen should

C O M M E N T A R Y

Conn Hallinan Foreign Policy In Focus

How Trump Could Blunder Into War with China

China may bully its neighbors, but turning foreign territorial disputes into a superpower conflict between nuclear-armed rivals would be a huge mistake

I

n his Jan. 13 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson made an extraordinary comment concerning China’s activities in the hotly disputed South China Sea. The United States, he said, must “send a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops,” adding that Beijing’s “access to the those islands is not going to be allowed.”

Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, repeated the threat on Jan. 24.

Sometimes it’s hard to sift the real from the magical in the Trump administration, and bombast appears to be the default strategy of the day. But people should be clear about what would happen if the U.S. actually tries to blockade China from supplying its forces constructing airfields and radar facilities on the Spratly and Paracel islands.

It would be an act of war.

While Beijing’s Foreign Ministry initially reacted cautiously to the comment, Chinese newspapers have been far less diplomatic. The nationalist Global Times warned of a “large-scale war” if the U.S. followed through on its threat, and the China Daily cautioned that a blockade could lead to a “devastating confrontation between China and the U.S.” Independent observers agree. “It is very difficult to imagine the means by which the United States could prevent China from accessing these artificial islands without provoking some kind of confrontation,” says Rory Medcalf, head of Australia’s National Security College. And such a confrontation, says Carlyle Thayer of the University of New South Wales, “could quickly develop into an armed conflict.”

Last summer, China’s commander of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, Wu Shengli, told U.S. Admiral John Richardson that “we will never stop our construction on the Nansha Islands halfway.”

Nansha is China’s name for the Spratlys.

Two weeks later, Chang Wanquan, China’s Defense Minister, said Beijing is preparing for a “people’s war at sea.”

The Roots of China’s Anxiety A certain amount of this is posturing by two powerful countries in competition for markets and influence, but Tillerson’s statement didn’t come out of the blue.

In fact, the U.S. is in the middle of a major military buildup — the Obama administration’s “Asia Pivot” in the Pacific. American bases in Okinawa, Japan, and Guam have been beefed up, and for the first time since World War II, U.S. Marines have been deployed in Australia. Last March, the U.S. sent B-2 nuclear-capable strategic stealth bombers to join them.

There is no question that China has been aggressive about claiming sovereignty over small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, even after the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague rejected Beijing’s claims. But if a military confrontation is to be avoided, it’s important to try to understand what’s behind China’s behavior.

The current crisis has its roots in a tense standoff between Beijing and Tai-

Brototi Roy New Internationalist

W

atching villagers standing waist deep in the brackish water of the Sundarbans – also home to crocodiles, Bengal tigers and poisonous snakes – armed with just hand nets is terrifying.

Dayapur is an island village located in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India. Residents catch shrimp seeds from the riverbeds, which they sell for starvation wages to nearby shrimp farm owners. From there, slave labour turns them into the cheap frozen shrimp which many people eat during the festive season.

‘Shrimp farming is making more money for the rich, who invest in the big shrimp ponds and processing industries,’ says Jagdish Chandra Mridha who has grown up catching shrimp seeds and works on the boats. ‘Poor people like us can’t even afford a boat and have to stand in water for hours.

We are paid ten times less than what we were even five to six years ago.’ Mridha adds that this job is usually carried out by children, women and old people.

In the Sundarbans, the extremely disproportionate risks and returns of the shrimp industry became visible through the muddiest of all waters. Most shrimp from coastal countries in the Global South comes at prices which do not ac-

wan in late 1996. China was angered that Washington had granted a visa to Taiwan’s president, Lee Teng-hui, calling it a violation of the 1979 U.S. “oneChina” policy that recognized Beijing and downgraded relations with Taiwan to “unofficial.”

Beijing responded to the visa uproar by firing missiles near a small Taiwancontrolled island and moving some military forces up to the mainland coast facing the island. However, there was never any danger that China would actually attack Taiwan. Even if it wanted to, it didn’t have the means to do so.

Instead of letting things cool off, however, the Clinton administration escalated the conflict and sent two aircraft carrier battle groups to the region, the USS Nimitz and USS Independence. The Nimitz and its escorts sailed through the Taiwan Straits between the island and the mainland, and there was nothing that China could do about it.

The carriers deeply alarmed Beijing, because the regions just north of Taiwan in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea were the jumping off points for 19th and 20th century invasions by western colonialists and the Japanese.

The Straits crisis led to a radical remaking of China’s military, which had long relied on massive land forces. Instead, China adopted a strategy called “Area Denial” that would allow Beijing to control the waters surrounding its coast, in particular the East and South China seas. That not only required retooling of its armed forces — from land armies to naval and air power — it required a ring of bases that would keep potential enemies at arm’s length and also allow Chinese submarines to enter the Pacific and Indian oceans undetected.

Reaching from Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the north to the Malay Peninsula in the south, this so-called “first island chain” is Beijing’s primary defense line.

China is particularly vulnerable to a naval blockade. Some 80 percent of its energy supplies traverse the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, moving through narrow choke points like the Malacca Straits between Indonesia and Malaysia, the Bab al Mandab Straits controlling the Red Sea, and the Straits of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf.

All of those passages are controlled by the U.S. or countries like India and Indonesia with close ties to Washington.

In 2013, China claimed it had historic rights to the region and issued its now famous “nine-dash line” map that embraced the Paracels and Spratly island chains — and 85 percent of the South China Sea. It was this nine-dash line that the Hague tribunal rejected, because it found no historical basis for China’s claim, and because there were overlapping assertions by Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines.

There are, of course, economic considerations as well. The region is rich in oil, gas and fish, but the primary con-

cern for China is security. The Chinese haven’t interfered with commercial ship traffic in the territory they claim, although they’ve applied on-again, offagain restrictions on fishing and energy explorations. China initially prevented Filipino fishermen from exploiting some reefs, and then allowed it. It’s been more aggressive with Vietnam in the Paracels.

Stirring the Pot Rather than trying to assuage China’s paranoia, the U.S. made things worse by adopting a military strategy to checkmate “Area Denial.”

Called “Air/Sea Battle” — later renamed “Joint Concept for Access and Maneuver in the Global Commons” — Air/Sea Battle envisions attacking China’s navy, air force, radar facilities, and command centers with air and naval power. Missiles would be used to take out targets deep into Chinese territory.

China’s recent seizure of a U.S. underwater drone off the Philippines is part of an ongoing chess game in the region. The drone was almost certainly mapping sea floor bottoms and collecting data that would allow the U.S. to track Chinese submarines, including those armed with nuclear missiles. While the heist was a provocative thing to do — it was seized right under the nose of an unarmed U.S. Navy ship — it’s a reflection of how nervous the Chinese are about their vulnerability to Air/Sea Battle.

China’s leaders “have good reason to worry about this emerging U.S. naval strategy [use of undersea drones] against China in East Asia,” Li Mingjiang, a China expert at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told the Financial Times. “If this strategy becomes reality, it could be quite detrimental to China’s national security.”

Washington charges that the Chinese are playing the bully with small countries like Vietnam and the Philippines, and there is some truth to that charge. China has been throwing its weight around with several nations in Southeast Asia. But it also true that the Chinese have a lot of evidence that the Americans are gunning for them.

The U.S. has some 400 military bases surrounding China and is deploying anti-ballistic missiles in South Korea and Japan, ostensibly to guard against North Korean nuclear weapons. But the interceptors could also down Chinese missiles, posing a threat to Beijing’s nuclear deterrence.

While Air/Sea Battle does not envision using nuclear weapons, it could still lead to a nuclear war. It would be very difficult to figure out whether missiles were targeting command centers or China’s nukes. Under the stricture “use them or lose them” the Chinese might fear their missiles were endangered and launch them.

The last thing one wants to do with a nuclear-armed power is make it guess.

Superpower Conflict The Trump administration has opened a broad front on China, ques-

The true cost of shrimp count for the hidden socio-ecological the locals don’t eat shrimp, space for costs, ranging from destroying fragile food production in the Global South is ecosystems to promoting slave labor. sacrificed for food production for the Global North. In most other cases, the Value for whom? mangrove forests upon which the poor The story of shrimp is a relatively also depend for their survival are derecent one. Commercial shrimp aqua- stroyed to build shrimp ponds. culture, primarily for exports, has been promoted across the Global South More than shrimp since the mid-1970s by governments Shrimp is just one part of the broader and international institutions such as conflict between global free trade and the World Bank and International Mon- environmental protection. This trend of etary Fund. According to the UN’s Food neglecting the true value of commodiand Agriculture Organization, shrimp ties is known as Ecologically Unequal now has the second highest value in Exchange (EUE). To explain it simply this seafood trade , after is the act of exporting salmon, and its progoods from poorer duction is projected countries to rich nato continue growing tions at prices which in the next decade. do not take into acIn 2015, the US and the European count local externalities such as ecosysUnion were the two largest importers tem costs, depletion of natural resources of shrimp. The lucrative profits in the or violation of human rights generated form of foreign exchange are concen- by these exports. As new insights show, trated in the hands of a few, who are EUE is an underlying source of most ecoruthless in cutting costs and creating logical distribution conflicts today. legal loopholes. An investigative study Numerous cases of ecological disby the Environmental Justice Founda- tribution conflicts, stemming from retion revealed how the rural poor and source exploitation in the Global South the environment bear the real brunt of for the purpose of trade, such as disposal of e-waste, fossil fuel extraction commercial shrimp aquaculture.

In countries like India and Ban- and mining are mapped in the Envigladesh, agricultural lands are con- ronmental Justice Atlas. verted into shrimp ponds, often forcInequalities and injustices give rise ibly. This renders them forever unfit for to environmental justice movements by cropping, due to the high salinity. As local people protecting their land and

WRITE-WING

tioning the “one China” policy, accusing Beijing of being in cahoots with Islamic terrorists, and threatening a trade war.

The first would upend more than 30 years of diplomacy, the second is bizarre — if anything, China is overly aggressive in suppressing terrorism in its western Xinjiang Province — and the third makes no sense.

China is the U.S.’s major trading partner and holds $1.24 trillion in U.S. treasury bonds. While Trump charges that the Chinese have hollowed out the American economy by undermining its industrial base with cheap labor and goods, China didn’t force Apple or General Motors to pull up stakes and decamp elsewhere. Capital goes where wages are low and unions are weak.

A trade war would hurt China, but it would also hurt the U.S. and the global economy as well.

When Trump says he wants to make America great again, what he really means is that he wants to go back to that post-World War II period when the U.S. dominated much of the globe with a combination of economic strength and military power. But that era is gone, and dreams of a unipolar world run by Washington are a hallucination.

According to the CIA, “by 2030 Asia will have surpassed North America and Europe combined in terms of global power based on GDP, population size, military spending and technological investments.” By 2025, two-thirds of the world will live in Asia, 7 percent in Europe and 5 percent in the U.S. Those are the demographics of eclipse.

If Trump starts a trade war, he will find little support among America’s allies. China is the number one trading partner for Japan, Australia, South Korea, Vietnam, and India, and the third largest for Indonesia and the Philippines. Over the past year, a number of countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines have also distanced themselves from Washington and moved closer to China. When President Obama tried to get U.S. allies not to sign on to China’s new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, they ignored him.

But the decline of U.S. influence has a dangerous side. Washington may not be able to dictate the world’s economy, but it has immense military power. Chinese military expert Yang Chengjun says “China does not stir up troubles, but we are not afraid of them when they come.”

They should be. For all its modernization, China is no match for the U.S. However, defeating China is far beyond Washington’s capacity. The only wars the U.S. has “won” since 1945 are Grenada and Panama.

Nonetheless, such a clash would be catastrophic. It would torpedo global trade, inflict trillions of dollars of damage on each side, and the odds are distressingly high that the war could go nuclear.

U.S. allies in the region should demand that the Trump administration back off any consideration of a blockade.

Australia has already told Washington it will not take part in any such action. The U.S. should also do more than rename Air/Sea Battle — it should junk the entire strategy. The East and South China seas are not national security issues for the U.S., but they are for China.

And China should realize that, while it has the right to security, trotting out ancient dynastic maps to lay claim to vast areas bordering scores of countries does nothing but alienate its neighbors and give the U.S. an excuse to interfere in affairs thousands of miles from its own territory.

livelihoods. In Santa Rita, Brazil, a large shrimp company called PRJC has been severely harming the mangrove forests through its production practices. In 2007, the company broke a dike contaminating mangroves killing several species of marine animals. In 2011 it dumped 14 tons of virus infested shrimps into mangroves putting the entire ecosystem at risk. The fishermen and the local communities took collective action, launching campaigns and legal action. However, PRJC is still operational.

In South East Asian countries, especially Thailand, the situation is even grimmer. In 2014, after a six-month long investigation, the Guardian reported how slavery is connected to leading producers and traders of shrimp, including the top four global retailers: Walmart, Carrefour, Costco and Tesco. This was followed by another report in 2015 about the trafficking of Rohingya migrants who were sold as slave labour for the export-oriented seafood industry in Thailand, with shrimp as the most highly valued commodity. These enslaved workers are locked up under horrific conditions, including regular beatings, 20 hour shifts and execution style killing.

So, before reaching for frozen shrimp in your nearest supermarket, do give a thought to its journey from the coastal South and what it entails.

Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The morung express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: morung@gmail.com

thursday 02•02•2017

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

7

The Knights of Malta-Vatican feud: A tale of chivalry and sovereignty Who are the Knights of Malta?

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Sovereign Order of Malta

he Knights of Malta, an ancient Catholic order which operates as global charity, has its headquarters on one of Rome's most exclusive streets, the cobble-stoned Via Condotti where red-and-white flags bearing the Maltese Cross fly above the entrance.

The leadership of the order -- formally, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta -- has been locked in a battle with the Vatican for the past two months.

Members of the Order of the Knights of Malta arrive in St. Peter Basilica for their 900th anniversary at the Vatican. (Reuters File Photo) Philip Pullella

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Reuters

n the afternoon of Jan. 24, a black BMW pulled out of a 16th century palace in Rome, crossed the Tiber River and headed for the Vatican, a short trip to end a brazen challenge to the authority of Pope Francis.

Inside the car was 67-year-old Englishman Matthew Festing, the head of an ancient Catholic order of knights which is now a worldwide charity with a unique diplomatic status.

Festing was about to resign, the first leader in several centuries of the Order of Malta, which was founded in 1048 to provide medical aid for pilgrims in the Holy Land, to step down instead of ruling for life.

The move was aimed at ending a highly-public spat between Festing and the reformist pope over the running of the chivalric institution. The weeks-long conflict had become one of the biggest internal challenges yet to Francis' efforts to modernize the 1.2 billion member Roman Catholic Church.

At issue was the Order's reaction to the discovery that condoms had been distributed by one of its aid projects in Myanmar. The Order had fired its Grand Chancellor, Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager, whom it held responsible for the condom distribution. Von Boeselager declined to comment for this article.

Though condom use goes against Catholic teaching, the Vatican had ordered an investigation into the firing of von Boeselager. It subsequently publicly castigated Festing, who had refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Backing down, Festing -- a former Sotheby's art auctioneer -- gave a handwritten resignation letter to Francis in the pope's private residence, according to a senior Vatican source. Festing, who has the title of prince, declined an interview request.

Instead of quelling the conflict, however, Festing's resignation was followed by yet another challenge to Francis' authority -- led by vocal pope critic American Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, according to Vatican and Knights sources.

In particular: Burke tried to convince Festing to withdraw his resignation and keep fighting the pope, these sources say. On Saturday, the Knight's Sovereign Council accepted Festing's resignation and re-instated von Boselager, a clear defeat for Burke.

Burke declined to comment for this article.

The tussle suggested Francis is still battling to consolidate his power over the Church almost four years into his tenure, Vatican insiders say.

Beyond a fight over condoms, the clash pointed to lingering divisions between the Church's conservatives and more progressive factions who support the pope's reformist agenda, they add.

Francis is trying to make the Church less dogmatic and more welcoming to whose who have felt excluded, such as homosexuals and the divorced.

"While this whole saga was an internal matter that probably should have stayed that way, it metamorphosed into a clash that showed the divide between conservatives and progressives," said Andrea Tornielli, author of several books on Pope Francis.

The Vatican declined to comment on the clash and on Pope Francis' efforts to consolidate his power.

It directed Reuters to two public statements. One, on Dec. 22, relates to the Vatican order to investigate the firing of von Boeselager. The second, on Jan. 17, followed a pledge by Festing on the Knights' web page not to cooperate with the Vatican. It decried his resistance and ordered members of the order to cooperate.

GERMAN ARISTOCRAT The all-male top leaders of the Knights of Malta are not clerics, but they take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to the pope.

A German aristocrat whose father participated in a failed plot to kill Hitler in World War Two, von Boeselager was fired

by Festing in December, and accused of having allowed the use of condoms while he was head of the Knights' global humanitarian projects.

Festing fired him in Burke's presence, arguing that the German had hidden the condom use from the order's leaders when he was named Grand Chancellor, according to Knights and Vatican sources.

Immediately, the firing set off the conflict between the Knights' hierarchy and the Vatican.

Von Boeselager , a devout Catholic, said in a statement on Dec. 23 that he was fully behind Church teachings. He closed two projects in the developing world when he discovered condoms were being distributed but kept a third running in Myanmar for a while because closing it would have abruptly ended all basic medical services to poor people.

The Church does not allow condoms as a means of birth control and says abstinence and monogamy in heterosexual marriage is the best way to stop the

Here are some facts about the order: • The Knights of Malta started in 1048 as the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, a monastic community which ran a hospital for pilgrims in the Holy Land. In 1113, it became a lay religious order, with all knights bound by the three monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. It later became a military order to defend its centres and access roads.

• In 1291, after the loss of the Holy Land, it moved to the island of Cyprus. In 1310, it moved to Rhodes and became a major naval force in the Mediterraspread of AIDS. In the same statement, von Boeselager said Festing and Burke told him the Vatican wanted him to resign and that there would be "severe consequences" for the Order if he did not.

The Vatican denied, in a letter from its secretary of state to the Order and seen by Reuters, that it had mandated the resignation, saying it had told the Knights the pope wanted a solution through dialogue.

The German said his sacking was against the Knights' constitution and appealed to the pope, who ordered the investigation.

Festing refused to cooperate, issuing a series of increasingly strident public statements. In one, he called the papal commission that was investigating the firing "legally irrelevant".

In a Jan. 14 confidential letter to the top echelons of the order and seen by Reuters, Festing wrote: "In refusing to acknowledge this group of people's jurisdiction, I am trying to protect the order's sovereignty".

The institution has the status of a sovereign entity, maintaining diplomatic relations with over 100 states and the European Union and permanent observer status at the United Nations.

The pope was irritated by Festing's defiant stand, a senior Vatican source said, and the Vatican shot back with a public statement ordering the Knights to obey.

After that public order, Festing changed his tune and resigned in the pope's residence a week later.

Festing's resignation came as a shock for many inside the Knights: some of them told Reuters it was akin to the resignation of Pope Benedict in 2013.

Four sources said that for many others in the order, it came as a relief. They feared the clash was damaging the image of the institution whose 13,000 members, 80,000 volunteers and 20,000 paid medical staff help the neediest around the world.

The day after Festing handed his resignation to the pope, Cardinal Burke drove to the order's headquarters from his apartment near the Vatican and sought to persuade Festing to withdraw his resigna-

nean. The Knights were defeated by the forces of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1523 and moved to Malta, where they stayed until 1798, when they were forced to leave by Napoleon.

• The order settled definitively in Rome in 1834 and since then it has concentrated on its original mission, mostly through its humanitarian aid arm, Maltaser International.

• Today the institution is a worldwide charity that counts 13,000 members, 80,000 volunteers and some 25,000 paid employees, most of them medical staff.

• The top leadership consists of the Grand Master, the Grand Commander, the Grand Chancellor, the Grand Hospitaller and the Receiver of the Common Treasure (finance minister).

They sit above a Sovereign Council, made up of six members.

• The all-male top leaders are not clerics, but they take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to the pope.

• The institution has the status of a sovereign entity, maintaining diplomatic ties with more than 100 states and the European Union. It also has permanent observer status at the United Nations. tion, a source from the Vatican and one from the Knights said.

Burke declined to comment on his meeting with Festing.

Burke has long been leading challenges against the pope. Pope Francis demoted him from a top Vatican job in 2014 with no official explanation and assigned him to be the "patron" of the Order of Malta.

Such "patron" positions are usually given to older cardinals after they retire at 75. Burke was only 66 then and the demotion was widely seen as a sign of the pope's irritation with the cardinal's constant sniping over Francis’ reforms.

In particular, Burke has contested moves by the pope that would allow Catholics who have divorced and re-married outside the Church without an annulment to return to the sacrament of communion. Burke declined to comment on his demotion.

Since the demotion, Burke has become even more of a rallying point for conservatives, flying around the world to give lectures to conservative groups and often giving interviews criticising the pope's decisions.

In November, he led a rare public challenge to the pope with three other cardinals who accused the pontiff of sowing confusion on important moral issues such as that of communion for the divorced.

Burke later said in an interview that if the pope did not respond to their letter, the cardinals might need to "correct" the pope themselves for the good of the Church.

The Vatican did not comment on the uprising at the time but many of the pope's supporters publicly criticised the four cardinals.

The pope will now appoint a "pontifical delegate" to help run the order, at least until elections can be held for a new Grand Master.

In a personal letter to the Sovereign Council on Jan. 27 and seen by Reuters, Francis made clear that the Vatican did not want to interfere with the Order's sovereignty but said his delegate would seek to "renew the spirituality of the Order, specifically of those members who take vows."

The UN sustainable development goals miss the point

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Nick Dearden

ot many people enjoy the existence of poverty. Some think it’s inevitable, others that tackling it is politically impossible. But for those with ambition, an end to poverty is a worthy enough goal. Naturally, the self-congratulation will be in full flow this weekend, as celebrities and world leaders gather in New York to launch their latest effort to do just that, in the form of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

But something will be missing in between the speeches and performances by the likes of Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, Bill Gates and Meryl Streep. That thing is power. Because unless you understand that the poverty of some flows from the wealth and power of others, efforts to fight poverty will not truly work.

The SDGs consist of 17 objectives which aim to build a better planet – from eradicating hunger to building more sustainable cities. Each objective contains a number of targets which cover everything from having better public transport to helping artisanal fisherfolk get better access to markets.

The goals do represent the many dimensions of poverty – it isn’t simply about a certain number of dollars a day.

While some targets are limited or problematic (‘preventing trade restrictions in agriculture’ could cover a multitude of

and ‘improving the incomes of small farmers’).

The real problem is that this wish-list comes with no historical background of how we got here, and no political strategy for how we get out. As such, it relies on a mixture of more market and more technically competent governments. There’s no sign that the economic model itself is broken – just that it needs some tuning.

Take one obvious gap: transnational corporations. They aren’t mentioned in the SDGs, yet the power of corporations is fundamental to the staggering levels of inequality which afflict the world, and are at the centre of an economic model quite prepared to burn the planet in its drive for ever more profit. It is impossible to realize the targets of the SDGs without tackling corporate power.

Nor is there any acknowledgment of colonial history, of slavery, of racism, of desperately unfair terms of trade, of structural adjustment policies which flushed dozens of countries’ economies down the drain only 30 years ago. Far from critiquing the control of the market, the SDGs exhort world leaders to ‘remove market distortions’ and ‘ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets’.

The SDGs’ answer to ‘hunger’ is growing more food – despite the fact that we have more than enough food in the world to feed everyone. Technology plays a key role in the targets – for instance in the

ments will improve the flow of knowledge around the world without breaking the ever more ferocious intellectual property regime that allows corporate giants to monopolize that knowledge. More foreign investment is encouraged, but without a framework for controlling that investment, how is it supposed to benefit the majority?

In short, power doesn’t exist in the SDGs. The chapter on inequality nowhere mentions that the problem of poverty is inseparable from the problem of superwealth; that exploitation and the monopolization of resources by the few is the cause of poverty.

Of course, this lack of analysis isn’t accidental. In the world of fighting poverty, of ‘development’, corporations and the super-rich are no longer problems, but partners. How on earth will the SDGs be financed, especially since a global tax body has already been vetoed by rich countries 3 months ago? By big business, of course.

With a captured public sector unable to fund the SDG promises, big business will happily come in, with state backing, to run healthcare and education, communications and transport, food and water. The market is the answer.

Perhaps it’s unfeasible to think that the UN could advocate such seemingly radical proposals as democratic control of the world’s resources? Actually, that doubt shows how far backwards we’ve gone. Be-

fully, it fits on a few pages), laid out a far better analysis of the world’s problems, with a clearer set of solutions for moving forward.

It seems incredible now that the New International Economic Order (NIEO) was really UN policy, but it passed the General Assembly in May 1974 and was regarded as much too moderate by many campaigners of the time. The NIEO declared that ‘the remaining vestiges of alien and colonial domination, foreign occupation, racial discrimination, apartheid and neo-colonialism in all its forms continue to be among the greatest obstacles to… full emancipation and progress’. In an era when few people knew what a transnational corporation was, its recommendations included the ‘regulation and supervision of the activities of transnational corporations’, as well as radical reform of the global trade regime.

The world has changed and the NIEO is not a blueprint for a perfect planet. But it highlights the poverty of ‘development’ thinking, the pinnacle of which is represented by the SDGs. The answer to world poverty can’t be found among the development professional and celebrities in New York this weekend. Rather it will be found among the many thousands of activists, community organizations and social movements who are really confronting power in the world. Let’s join them.

Making our Municipal System Less Partisan & More Autonomous

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s per the Census of India, the urban population of Nagaland in 1981 was 1.2 lakhs, which increased to 3.5 lakhs in 2001. After that, our State has registered a decadal growth rate of 69%, as opposed to the average national rate of 21% (Census, 2011). This shows that our present generation Nagas are migrating from their villages to towns and cities at an all-time high.

In light of this population movement, what could be the most appropriate form of government in our rapidly growing towns and cities?

Should it be the current form of partisan municipal system or something along the lines of our Sovereign Village Republic system as in the past? Seeing from this perspective, the tussle going on in Nagaland right now is not just a gender issue. It’s also about the structural system for governance.

One thing is for certain: More Nagas will continue to move to urban centers and adjust themselves to their new environment, which is often very different in terms of socio-economic needs and demographic realities. And for reasons such as these, municipal systems of government are formed in every emerging society that is transitioning from rural to urban.

So, again, the question is this: What form of a municipal system of government would be most appropriate for the Naga people in the 21st century?

Obviously, there are many different forms of municipal systems. Municipalities in most advanced countries are characterized by a high degree of local self-government in one form or another. But in the case of India, municipalities have less autonomy and have to deal with the state governments through the Directorate of Municipalities. To put it another way, municipalities in India are subject to detailed supervisory control of the state governments and are easily influenced by the state politicians. This, in my opinion, is a real danger to the Naga customary practice of local self-government, especially when corrupt politicians become too eager to interfere in the affairs of the municipalities so as to extend their own support base.

If we Nagas are really concerned about our customary practices, the one good thing we need to do is to defend our ancient system of local self-government, which is allowable under Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution. And who knows, now is the best time to bring about some modifications to our current form of the partisan municipal system in Nagaland, instead of turning it into a fight between the two sexes.

For example, virtually every city in Texas, USA, elects its council members in nonpartisan elections. Claiming that there was no Democratic or Republican way to pave a street, city reformers who were part of the nonpartisan movement (1920s to 1950s) expressed a strong aversion to political parties and particularly to the urban political machines. To this day, to enforce separation of city elections from party politics, most municipal elections are held at times other than the party primary election or the general election. Another notable feature of municipal politics in Texas is the general use of citywide or at-large elections. For example, all of a city’s voters participate in the selection of all members of the city council. In a pure at-large system, every candidate runs against every other candidate. If there are eight candidates running for five positions on the city council, the candidates with the five highest vote totals are the winners. A variation of the at-large system is the position system in which candidates run for specific positions (e.g., City Mayor) and campaign city-wide, rather than just representing a section of the community.

Municipalities using this system may require that the winning candidate receive a simple majority of votes.

These Texas’ election features, in my view, may be worth emulating. That is, we may do well to make our municipal elections to be nonpartisan and autonomous, so that the needs and issues of our municipalities will not get unnecessarily politicized or be easily usurped by the State politicians. After all, to be nonpartisan in our selection of leaders and autonomous in our local government are completely congruent to our Naga customary practices, which we would want to protect.

On a more personal note, I have been advocating local self-government even in my Jotsoma village since 2012. My word to them was that they could certainly see our village transformed into a revenue-generating and employment-creating community within a decade or so, so that we won’t need to depend on our State government for almost everything. In my 25 years of stay in the United States, I have come to believe that such a thing is quite possible. For example, the City of Allen, where my family lives, is able to offer exceptional housing, award-winning schools, steady job growth, and a dynamic business climate. As such, our unemployment rate has been 3% and our average median family income at a little over $1,13,000 per year (U.S. Census Bureau, 2015). Now, someone may ask, how could they make all this possible for their community members? Well, the answer is, because they have the right leaders with the right municipal system of government to work with.

Just as any son who remains dependent on his rich parents will never learn to stand on his own two feet, so also any community or town that only depends on external help for their own survival.

Conversely, the way to be self-sufficient and prosperous is to take responsibility of our own com-

8

thursDAY 02•02•2017

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Govt slashes anonymous political funding, opposition calls it hogwash New Delhi, February 1 (iaNS): To ensure greater transparency in political funding, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday sharply cut the cash donation a political party can accept and announced "electoral bonds" to promote legitimate funding of parties.

Not impressed with the move, the opposition called it mere hogwash and instantly questioned the source of funding of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "hugely expensive" election rallies.

Presenting the Union Budget for 2017-18, Jaitley said any anonymous cash donation to a political party will now be limited to Rs 2,000 -- a sharp drop from the Rs 20,000 limit earlier -- and that political parties would now have to take donations above Rs 2,000 through cheque and digital payments.

Further, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would issue bearer bonds that a donor may buy through cheques and digital payments. He or she can then give the bond to a political party which must deposit it within a month in a pre-determined account.

While this gives the donor the option of remaining anonymous both ends of the transaction will happen through the banking system.

The government's decision to reduce cash donations will require political parties receiving a donation above Rs 2,000 to disclose the identity of the donor.

Earlier, most of the political parties had been declaring that a majority of their donations

List of products turning costlier/cheaper COSTLIER:

* Cigarettes, pan masala, cigar, cheroots, bidis, chewing tobacco * LED lamp components * Cashew nuts (roasted and salted) * Aluminum ores and concentrates * Polymer coated MS tapes used in manufacturing of optical fibres * Silver coins and medallions * Printed circuit board used in making mobile phones

Cheaper:

* Booking railway tickets online * RO membrane elements for household usage * LNG * Solar tempered glass used in solar panels * Fuel cell based power generating systems * Wind operated energy generator * Vegetable tanning extracts used in making leather products * POS machines card and fingerprint readers * Group insurance for Defence services were below Rs 20,000 and thus anonymous.

Jaitley said the government proposes to amend the RBI Act for issuing the electoral bonds under the new scheme.

"This will bring greater reform in political funding while preventing future generation of black money," the Finance Minister said.

He said the government has accepted the Election Commission's recommendation to bring transparency in political funding. The commission had asked the government, among other things, to bring down the limit of anonymous donations

100% penalty on cash transaction above Rs 3 lakh New Delhi, February 1 (iaNS): Anyone transacting in cash above the newly imposed limit of Rs 3 lakh will have to pay a penalty of a similar amount, according to a top government official. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced in his budget speech that on the recommendation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Black Money, the government had decided not to allow cash transactions above Rs 3 lakh. Any individual or firm which pays anyone over this amount will have to pay a 100 per cent penalty of the amount which exceeds this limit, according to Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia.

Adhia told CNBC TV18 that apart from the penalty, the expenditure would not be permitted under the Income Tax for companies making such a transaction above the limit.

Punjab blast toll rises to 5 Chandigarh, February 1 (IANS): Punjab Police on Wednesday hinted that the powerful blast in Maur Mandi town in Bathinda district on Tuesday evening which left five persons dead was due to twin high-intensity IEDs. The death toll in the car blast went up to five on Wednesday with two more children succumbing to their injuries in a hospital in Ludhiana. Two men and a child were killed in the explosion on Tuesday evening just as a rally of Congress candidate Harminder Singh Jassi ended at Maur Mandi town, 200 km from here. Ten other injured persons were under treatment in hospitals in Bathinda. Police officials said, based on preliminary investigations, that the twin IED blasts took place in an abandoned Maruti 800 car and a scooter near Jassi's rally venue. Jassi, who is a Congress candidate had passed the blast site just coupler of minutes before the explosion took place."We have been asking the EC to take note of the manner in which AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal is consorting with extremist forces. The bomb blast proves that our apprehensions were correct and that radical elements have infiltrated into Punjab in league with AAP," Badal said in a statement. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh termed the blast as a "conspiracy against the Congress, which was set for a landslide victory in the assembly polls". Blaming Sukhbir Badal for the blast, the AAP on Wednesday urged the Election Commission to intervene and get him (Sukhbir) arrested.

Allocation for SC, ST, minorities gets boost in budget New Delhi, February 1 (iaNS): Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday that the government will give special importance to implementation of schemes for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities. Presenting the General Budget 2017-18, Jaitley said the allocation for welfare of Scheduled Castes has been raised from Rs 38,833 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 52,393 crore in 2017-18 -- an increase of about 35 per cent. "The allocation for Scheduled Tribes has been increased to Rs 31,920 crore and for minority affairs to Rs 4,195 crore," he added. Jaitley added that Aadhar-based smart cards will be introduced for senior citizens, which will contain their health details. The scheme will kick off with a pilot in 15 districts during 2017-18, Jaitley said. He added that the Life Insurance Corporation of India will also implement a scheme for senior citizens to provide assured pension, with a guaranteed return of 8 per cent per annum for 10 years.

4 jawans killed in landmine blast bhubaNeSwar, February 1 (iaNS): At least four jawans of Odisha State Armed Police (OSAP) were reportedly killed and nine injured in a landmine blast triggered by suspected Maoists in Odisha's Koraput district on Wednesday. Police said the incident took place near Mungarbhumi area on Sunki hill, when the personnel were travelling in a van to Cuttack for training. At least 13 personnel of the district police were in the van, said a police official. He, however, could not confirm the number of casualties. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his condolence to the deceased families and described the incident as 'an act of cowardice'.

to Rs 2,000.

"Even after 70 years of independence, there is no transparency in political funding.

Most donations are received in cash and the donors too hesitate to disclose their identity," Jaitley said. However, the opposition was not impressed with the move.

"This is a meaningless move in a directionless budget. If they actually want to bring transparency in political funding, they should have created a national electoral corpus in consultation with Election Commission and all major parties," Congress leader Anand Sharma said.

He explained the unified fund should be used to fund all recognised national and state political parties.

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury too said as much, adding that corporate funding of political parties should immediately stop.

"The corporates should instead donate to this national electoral corpus instead of directly donating to parties," Yechury said.

He also demanded a cap on spending by political parties during election campaigns.

"Currently there is a cap on spending by candidates but not

on parties. Parties can spend as much as they like. For example, you can see the hugely expensive election rallies of Prime Minister," the CPI-M leader said.

He said people can now not donate in cash but they can provide free services such as free buses for a rally or food packets for 10 lakh people.

"Where is the accountability for that?" he asked.

Anand Sharma also echoed similar sentiments. "They are talking of transparency. Will they tell where is all the money for helicopters, chartered planes and cars for BJP leaders during election rallies coming

from?" Sharma wondered.

Regional bigwigs such as Samajwadi Party (SP) and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) too failed to see any merit in the move.

SP Rajya Sabha member Naresh Agrawal termed the move as "jumla" (hogwash), saying nothing would change on the ground.

"The parties which earlier showed one lakh rupees by five donors, will now show through 50 donors. Nothing is going to change and no transparency can be brought in this way," Agrawal told IANS. BSP's Rajya Sabha MP Veer

Singh said the move is meaningless for them as most of his party's donations come in small amounts, which are much below Rs 2,000.

As per the report by Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) on sources of funding of national and regional parties, BSP is the only party to consistently declare receiving no donations above Rs 20,000 between 2004-05 and 2014-15.

An ADR report on sources of political funding had last month revealed that over twothirds of the funds of national and regional parties were from 'unknown' sources.

Breakfast is the New agency for conducting entrance tests; HRD allocation up by over Rs 6,000 crore unhealthiest meal in New Delhi, February 1 (iaNS): Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday announced the setting up of an autonomous National Testing Agency for conducting entrance exams to higher education institutions and that the government will undertake UGC reforms.

Presenting the Union Budget 2017-18 in the Lok Sabha, Jaitley said nearly Rs 79,686 crore had been allocated to the Human Resource Development Ministry as against last year's Rs 73,599 crore, an increase of around Rs 6,087 crore.

Jaitley also assured of greater administrative and academic autonomy to educational institutions subject to their performance.

"We propose to set up a National Testing Agency as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing agency to conduct all entrance exams to higher education courses," Jaitley said.

The minister said the aim was to free the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) from administrative responsibility and allow them

to focus more on academics.

"In higher education, we will undertake reforms in the UGC (University Grants Commission).

Good quality institutions would be enabled to have greater administrative and academic autonomy.

Colleges will be identified, based on accreditation and ranking, and given autonomous status," he said.

He also said an 'Innovation Fund for Secondary Education' will be created to encourage local innovation for ensuring universal access, gender parity and quality improvement.

"This will include ICT (information and communication technology)-enabled learning transformation. The focus will be on 3,479 educationally backward blocks," said Jaitley.

The minister also announced widening the access of SWAYAM or the "Study Webs of ActiveLearning for Young Aspiring Minds", a web portal of the HRD Ministry, where Massive Open On-line Courses (MOOCs) are available.

"We propose to leverage information technology and launch SWAYAM platform with at least

350 online courses. This would enable students to virtually attend the courses taught by the best faculty, access high-quality reading resources, participate in discussion forums, take tests and earn academic grades.

"Access to SWAYAM would be widened by linkage with DTH (direct to home) channels, dedicated to education," he said.

Jaitley also proposed to introduce a system of measuring annual learning outcome in schools.

He said that emphasis will be put on science education and flexibility in curriculum to promote creativity through local innovative content.

Of the nearly Rs 79,686 proposed to be allocated for the coming fiscal, Rs 46,356.25 is for the Department of School Education and Literacy while the remaining Rs 33,329.70 crore is for the Department of Higher Education.

While the Department of School Education and Literacy will get Rs 38,375.67 crore under the centrally sponsored schemes, the Department of Higher Education's share under the head stands at Rs 1,300 crore.

India: new study

New Delhi, February 1 (PTi): Dismissing the old adage of breakfast being the healthiest meal of the day, a new study noted that it is in fact the unhealthiest meal in India.

According to the study conducted by HealthifyMe, a mobile health and fitness company, snacks consumed during evening and morning hours make for the most unhealthy eating habits of Indians.

"Breakfast has the highest amount of carbohydrates and fat across all the meals in a day," the study, which factored in 43 million food records of 1 million urban Indians across 200,000 locations, said.

The survey revealed that lunch and dinner have the highest intake of vegetables, making them the healthiest meals.

"Dinner is the most protein-heavy food of the day," it noted.

Data also suggested that snacks are major contributors to ailments like diabetes, hypertension and obesity in the country.

Over 70 per cent people of the sample group of the study were found either to be overweight or obese, and one-third of them were diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension or both.

"One interesting trend we found is that the smallest foods are the biggest culprits! It is not so much of what we eat during lunch and dinner but what we snack on in between and after, that is causing Indian waistlines, diabetes and hypertension to skyrocket," Tushar Vashisht, CEO and co-founder of the application said.

'Lower cash limit won't make political funding transparent' New Delhi, February 1 (iaNS): Lowering the limit for anonymous cash donations from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,000 will not help bring about transparency in political funding, experts said here on Wednesday.

The reactions came as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday announced new rules for greater transparency in political funding in the country during presentation of the Budget for 2017-18.

Founding member of the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) Professor Jagdeep Chhokar and psephologist and Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav felt that lowering the cash limit will not help bring about transparency but only divert attention from the problem.

However, sociologist Dipankar Gupta hailed the government's decision.

Chhokar said that parties that do not want to declare the source of their money will now convert their incoming donations into even smaller amounts.

"Earlier, those who did not want to declare donations used to issue receipts for Rs 19,999. Now they will do the same for Rs 1,999. The business will run as usual," Chhokar told IANS. An ADR report on sources of political funding had last month revealed that over two-thirds of the funds received by

national and regional parties were from 'unknown' sources.

Chhokar, a retired IIM Ahmedabad professor, said the law never barred political parties from declaring donations below Rs 20,000.

"The law was that the political parties were bound to declare donations over Rs 20,000. It did not mean that they could not declare donations below that amount," he said.

"So those who want to hide the source of their donations, still have a way out."

In his budget speech on Wednesday, Jaitley announced that political parties receiving donations of or above Rs 2,000 will now have to disclose the identity of the donor.

Earlier, political parties were allowed to receive anonymous donations of upto Rs 20,000 in cash.

Chhokar said if the government was sincere, it should have completely done away with cash donations which, he said, was the only way to bring transparency into political funding.

"Like they say that rickshaw drivers and small shopkeepers should also take money through digital means.

Then what is the need for political parties to take up to Rs 1,999 in cash? Why can't they take it through digital media,"

Chhokar asked.

What if those donating small amounts do not want to disclose their identity fearing political wrath, as Jaitley mentioned in his Budget speech?

Chhokar said: "Political parties should not take donations from those sources who do not wish to declare their identity. They have a choice not to accept such donations."

Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav also said that lowering the cash limit for anonymous donations will only divert attention from the problem instead of solving it.

"Earlier, if political parties showed a given donation coming from 10,000 people, they will now show the same donation coming from 1 lakh people," he said.

Yadav added that the move will not affect the actual amount of unaccounted cash but only the way it is channelled.

Dipankar Gupta, however, hailed the government's decision and said that Rs 2,000 limit will make it very difficult for political parties to accept large sums of unaccounted cash donations.

"Just like if you have small denomination notes, it becomes very difficult to keep all the money in cash. Likewise, to give Rs 1,999 time and time again will be very difficult and troublesome," Gupta

told IANS. However, he added that parties should still keep records of all the donations.

"The move will definitely make political funding more transparent, but the more important thing is the symbolic goal we have scored."

"Since political funding has been accepted by all parties as a relevant issue in curbing black money and stopping corrupt politicians, no one can deny that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done something which should have been done long back," he added.

Political analyst Amulya Ganguli said that lowering the cash limit may make political funding even less transparent than before.

"This is a very unrealistic attempt to curb black money in political funding. I think that larger sums will now remain unannounced," Ganguli told IANS. Ganguli said that parties, which earlier disclosed a larger part of their funding on the record, will not even do so now.

"They will take more money but will show only Rs 2,000 on paper leaving out the larger sums. This will, in turn, create more black money," he added.

"It shows that the government is not very serious on the issue of black money finding way into funding of political parties."

ThursdAY 02•02•2017

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

Philippines police behave like criminal underworld in war on drugs: Amnesty MaNILa, FEbrUary 1 (rEUtErS): Police prosecuting the war on drugs in the Philippines have behaved like the criminal underworld they are supposed to be suppressing, taking payments for killings and delivering bodies to funeral homes, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Amnesty International’s report said the wave of drugs-related killings since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in mid-2016 appeared to be “systematic, planned and organised” by authorities and could constitute crimes against humanity.

Responding to the findings, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella defended the Philippine National Police (PNP), saying no extra-judicial killings were state-sponsored and investigations by Senate committees had proved that.

“There is no statesponsored policy of extrajudicial deaths and that there is relentless effort on the part of the PNP to carry out the campaign properly and within legal processes,” he said.

In a series of reports last year, Reuters showed that the police had a 97-percent kill rate in their drug operations, the strongest proof yet that police were summarily shooting drug suspects.

The Reuters reports also found that low-level officials in poor neigh-

Philippines Maoist rebel group ends ceasefire but still support peace talks

Maria Isabelita Espinosa, mother of teenager Sonny Espinosa, who according to the police is one of the seven people shot dead by suspected vigilantes at a house storing illegal narcotics, cries during her son’s funeral in Caloocan city, Metro Manila, Philippines January 8, 2017.

(REUTERS File Photo)

bourhoods helped police assemble “watch lists” of alleged drug users and pushers that were effectively hit lists, with many of the people named ending up dead.

Duterte used exaggerated and flawed data, including the number of drug users in the Philippines, to justify his anti-narcotics crackdown, according to a Reuters investigation.

The release of Amnesty’s investigation, which was based on 59 killings in 20 cities and towns, comes amid uncertainty over the crackdown after the government suspended all anti-drug operations by

police on Monday due to rampant corruption. The Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has now been given the lead role in the campaign.

Duterte made the decision after a security meeting on Sunday triggered by the kidnap and killing of a South Korean businessmen by drugs squad police.

He said the incident, which took place at the national police headquarters, had embarrassed the country and tarnished the image of the police.

majority of the killings it investigated “appear to have been extra-judicial killings - unlawful and deliberate killings carried out by government order or with its complicity or acquiescence”.

“The Duterte administration’s relentless pressure on the police to deliver results in anti-drug operations has helped encourage these abusive practices,” the report said.

A senior police officer told Amnesty that police are “paid by the encounter”, receiving the equivalent of ‘RELENTLESS at least $160 per killing and PRESSURE’ received nothing for makAmnesty said the vast ing arrests.

Poverty may up death rate more than obesity and alcohol: Lancet LONdON, FEbrUary 1 (IaNS): People living in poverty may be 1.5 times or 46% more at risk of an early death than individuals who are obese and heavily consume alcohol, a study has found. The findings showed that low socio-economic status - determined in a big way by factors such as education, income and work - is linked to significant reductions in life expectancy and also likely to increase death rate in such people.

However, socio-economic status, which is one of the strongest predictors of illness and early death worldwide, is often overlooked in health policies, the researchers said. “Given the huge impact of socioeconomic status on health, it’s vital that governments accept it as a major risk factor and stop excluding it from health policy,” said lead author Silvia Stringhini from the Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland.

For the study, the team included data from 48 studies comprising more than 1.7 million people from the UK, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy, US and Australia and used a person’s job title to estimate their socio-economic status and looked at whether they died early. The results revealed that when compared with their wealthier counterparts, people with low socio-economic status were almost 1.5 times (46%) more likely to die before they were 85 years old.

The greatest reductions in life expectancy were found in people who smoked tobacco and had diabetes (4.8 and 3.9 years respectively). Comparatively, high blood pressure, obesity and high alcohol consumption were associated with smaller reductions in life expectancy (1.6, 0.7 and 0.5 years respectively) than low socio-economic status.

Having low social rank means limited opportunities which can shape both the lifestyle as well as life chances, the researchers noted. Thus, “reducing poverty, improving education and creating safe home, school and work environments are central to overcoming the impact of socio-economic deprivation. “By doing this, socio-economic status could be targeted and improved, leading to better wealth and health for many,” Stringhini said.

Travel ban unlawful, could lead to torture of refugees: UN says GENEVa, FEbrUary 1 (rEUtErS): U.N. human rights experts said on Wednesday U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban on nationals from 7 Muslim-majority states contravenes international law and could lead to people denied asylum being sent home to face torture. Trump’s executive order curbing immigration has aroused an international outcry, even among U.S. allies, and sown chaos and bewilderment among travelers. Legal challenges have spread with three U.S. states suing to overturn the order, saying it flouts constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.

In a statement, the U.N. experts urged the Trump administration to protect people fleeing war and persecution and uphold the principle of non-discrimination based on race, nationality and religion.

The United States should not force back refugees, a practice known as refoulement, they said. “Such an order is clearly discriminatory. based on one’s nationality. and leads to increased stigmatization of Muslim communities,” said the experts.

“Recent U.S. policy on immigration also risks people being returned, without proper individual assessments and asylum procedures, to places in which they risk being subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, in direct contravention of international humanitarian and human rights laws which uphold the principle of non-refoulement.”

The independent experts included the U.N. special rapporteurs on migrants, François Crépeau; on racism, Mutuma Ruteere; on human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson; on torture, Nils Melzer; and on freedom of religion, Ahmed Shaheed.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said on Monday that discriminating against people on the basis of their nationality is illegal. The U.N. experts voiced concern that people travelling to the United States could be subject to detention for indefinite periods and ultimately deported. They called on Washington to live up to internationally agreed obligations to offer refuge to those fleeing persecution and conflicts.

Melzer also urged Trump not to consider returning to waterboarding and other methods of torture as interrogation techniques used during George W. Bush’s administration but banned by his Democratic successor Barack Obama. Trump has said he believes waterboarding works but his top defence and security appointees have said they would oppose any use of it.

MaNILa, FEbrUary 1 (rEUtErS): The Maoistled rebel group in the Philippines said on Wednesday it was terminating a unilateral ceasefire it declared five months ago and resuming a protracted guerrilla warfare that has killed tens of thousands of people. The New People’s Army said in a statement that the ceasefire agreed to last August would expire on Feb. 10, but added the rebels would still support peace talks with the government of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“In our experience and in the experience of other peoples, it is possible to negotiate while fighting until the substantive agreements are forged to address the roots of the armed conflict and lay the basis for a just and lasting peace,” the group said. It said the decision was made because the government failed to comply with its “obligation” to pardon and release all political prisoners and “has treacherously taken advantage” of the ceasefire to encroach on its territory.

Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, said he was “dismayed” with the move, which came after peace negotiators agreed to further

Amnesty reported that some police are rewarded by undertakers for sending dead bodies their way, police steal from victims’ homes, and paid killers are on the police payroll.

“The police are behaving like the criminal underworld that they are supposed to be enforcing the law against, by carrying out extrajudicial executions disguised as unknown killers and ‘contracting out’ killings,” it said.

The government has denied sponsoring extrajudicial killings, or police collaboration with assassins.

Amnesty’s report in-

cluded numerous references to the series of Reuters stories and investigations into the war on drugs in the Philippines.

In the series, Reuters found that officers often gave remarkably similar accounts of drug operations each time a suspect was shot dead. Eyewitnesses also provided starkly different accounts of drug operations, with some saying suspects were shot dead as they pleaded for their lives.

Amnesty reported similar findings. The report said that police accounts of shootouts and deaths during operations were

discuss a bilateral ceasefire. But he said he would recommend to Duterte that the government’s unilateral ceasefire be maintained to provide an “enabling and conducive environment” to peace talks.

“The road to peace is not easy to traverse. What is important is that we all stay the course,” Dureza said. The communists accused the military of occupying 500 barrios, or town districts, that are supposedly within their control and that government forces were allegedly engaged in “hostile actions” and other “offensive operations”. Military spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said the NPA was still involved in extortion, recruitment and attacks on plantations, mines and other businesses.

He cited 9 incidents showing rebel violations of their own truce, including abducting a soldier in the south and killing 2 others in a northern province.

From September to November last year, the military reported zero armed encounters with communist guerrillas but it has observed an increase in rebel attacks in the last two months.

“startlingly similar”, and often far different to witness testimony and witness accounts of victims being shot dead despite having shouted that they would surrender.

The investigation by Amnesty, a London-based advocacy group, was carried out mainly in November and December and was based on interviews with 110 people.

Latest police data shows 7,669 people have been killed since Duterte unleashed his war on drugs seven months ago, 2,555 in police operations, which the police says were all in self-defence.

The other deaths are classified as investigated, or under investigation. Human rights groups believe most of those are drugsrelated, carried out by vigilantes or hit men.

The PNP said in a statement it took “strong exception to the opinions raised” in the Amnesty report, adding the force had “always observed and upheld respect for human rights as a fundamental principle in policing”.

“The police cannot help being typecast as alleged violators of human rights partly because of the basic nature of its law enforcement function,” it said.

Israel ‘sorry for the hurt’ with Mexico over wall tweet JErUSaLEM, FEbrUary 1 (rEUtErS): Israel’s president told his Mexican counterpart on Tuesday that he was “sorry for the hurt” over a tweet in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to praise U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to build a wall on the Mexican border.

In a tweet on Saturday that drew a rebuke from Mexico, the right-wing Netanyahu wrote: “President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel’s southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea.”

Netanyahu had earlier sidestepped Mexico’s demand for an apology and echoed previous Israeli explanations - rejected as insufficient

by Mexico’s foreign minister on Monday - of his remarks on Twitter. He said his comments did not refer to ties between the United States and its southern neighbour.

The office of President Reuven Rivlin, whose post is largely ceremonial, issued a statement taking a more conciliatory line.

“I am sorry for any hurt caused as a result of this misunderstanding, but we must remember that we are talking about a misunderstanding, and I am sure that we can put the issue behind

us,” Rivlin was quoted as telling Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Mexico’s foreign ministry acknowledged Rivlin’s apology.

The ministry said Pena Nieto told Rivlin the tweet had upset Mexico and its Jewish community, before adding that Mexico wanted to maintain its friendship and cooperation with Israel.

On Monday, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said he thought an apology would be “appropriate” for Netanyahu’s tweet while noting that Israel was a close friend of Mexico.

Trump’s planned border wall, which he says will keep out illegal immigrants, along with his threat to impose punitive taxes against Mexico to rebalance trade, has brought about the worst crisis in U.S.-Mexican relations for decades. Trump signed an executive order last week ordering construction of the wall.

Netanyahu, in public remarks on Monday, said that in his tweet he had been referring to Trump’s praise for the barrier Israel constructed along the Egyptian frontier, a fence with electronic sensors that has largely halted the influx of African migrants.

“I did point out the remarkable suc-

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to students involved in hightech related programmes during the Cyber Security Conference in Tel Aviv, Israel on January 31. (REUTERS Photo)

cess of Israel’s security fence. But I did not comment about U.S.-Mexico relations. We’ve had, and will continue to have, good relations with Mexico,” Netanyahu said in English at a cybersecurity conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

Political commentators and oppo-

sition politicians in Israel said Netanyahu’s tweet had needlessly thrust Israel into the U.S.-Mexican feud.

At the Tel Aviv conference, Netanyahu said that Israeli-Mexican ties “are much stronger than any passing disagreement or misunderstanding”.

Former UN chief Ban states not running for president of SKorea

Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks during his news conference in Seoul, South Korea on January 31.

(REUTERS Photo)

SEOUL, FEbrUary 1 (rEUtErS): Former U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, once considered front-runner to be the next South Korean president, ruled out a run for the job on Wednesday, saying he was “disappointed at the selfish ways” of some politicians and complaining of “fake news”.

Ban told reporters at parlia-

ment, after meeting conservative party leaders, that he had been subject to “malign slander akin to character assassination” in the media and had given up his “patriotic” plan to lead political change.

“With all kinds of fake news, my intention for political change was nowhere to be seen and all that was left was

grave scars to my family and myself, and to the honour of the U.N., where I spent the past 10 years,” he said.

South Korea has been gripped by political crisis for months amid a corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. If the impeachment vote is upheld by the Constitutional Court, she will have to quit and an election would be held two months later.

A ruling is expected as soon as late this month.

Ban, 72, returned to South Korea on Jan. 12 after serving 10 years as U.N. secretary-general. He was unable to capitalise on his much-anticipated homecoming, cutting a sometimes-irritable figure in public and mired in a series of perceived PR gaffes and a scandal involving family members.

The media leapt on a series of minor blunders, for instance when he took the airport express train instead of a limo on his return to South Korea, but didn’t know how to buy a ticket.

Two days later, Ban visited a care home where he fed porridge to an old woman. He was

criticized for wearing a bib when the old woman was not and for feeding someone lying flat on their back.

Even without announcing his intention to run, his support ratings in opinion polls had slipped to second place behind the presidential candidate for the main opposition Democratic Party, Moon Jaein, after peaking at nearly 30 percent last year.

Ban had been expected to run as a conservative but was unable to secure any party affiliation.

“STILL HAS A ROLE TO PLAY” Ban’s clean image and his international profile were dealt a blow with the indictment of his brother, Ban Ki-sang, and a nephew in the United States in a bribery scheme involving a Vietnamese development project.

Ban’s announcement appeared to take the four main political parties aiming to field candidates by surprise, including Moon’s Democratic Party.

“I was looking forward to a good race, so it is disappointing,” he told reporters.

A poll or 1,147 people

by R&Search released on Wednesday showed Ban’s support continuing to slip to 16.5 percent from 18 percent a week ago, compared to 35.2 percent for Moon, up from 34.8 percent a week ago.

Ban’s decision could boost the chances of minor candidates such as Ahn Cheol-soo of the progressive People’s Party, said Kim Jun-seok, a political science professor at Dongguk University in Seoul.

There had been little to propel Ban’s chances for the presidency in the absence of a political base and the lack of a clear message after his return from New York, Kim said.

“He has hit a wall with nothing but his high profile as the U.N. Secretary-General,” Kim said.

“While his support ratings did not rise ... he kept making mistakes. And people felt that Ban should not be a president.”

Ban was South Korea’s foreign minister from 2004 to 2006, helping to implement a policy of engagement with North Korea, before taking the top job at the United Nations.

10

thursDAY 02•02•2017

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Hot Wizards stretch NbA home win streak to 15 games Aubameyang hints at Dortmund exit Washington, February 1 (aFP): Bradley Beal scored 28 points and the surging Washington Wizards defeated New York 117-101, stretching their NBA-longest home win streak to 15 games.

Beal, who on Tuesday made 12-of18 shots, said this season's edition of the Wizards is the best ever for a team that has not won more than 46 games in a season or advanced past the second playoff round since winning the NBA crown in 1979 when nicknamed the Bullets.

"For sure," Beal said. "Just the joy that we have and the fun we're having is amazing. It's always positive in here and we want nothing but the best for one another. It's great camaraderie."

Markieff Morris added 24 points and 10 rebounds while John Wall had 15 points and 13 assists for the Wizards, who have won five in a row and 12 of their past 14 starts, improving to 28-20, fourth in the Eastern Conference.

"We play for each other, don't care who scores, who gets the most points," Beal said. "We don't care who has a good night, who has a bad night just as long as it's a win at the end of the night."

The Knicks, playing without ill Kristaps Porzingis and injured Derrick Rose, were led by Carmelo Anthony's 26 points and 21 more from Brandon Jennings, but fell to 21-29, 11th in the East and three games out of the last

Joakim Noah of the New York Knicks and Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards battle for a rebound during the first half, at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (AFP Photo)

playoff spot.

"You got to find it every night.

Find energy every night," Anthony said. "You got to dig deep and find it.

Even when you don't have it, you got to find it."

Toronto's Kyle Lowry sank a stepback jumper with 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime to give the host Raptors a 108-106 victory over New Orleans. Lowry finished with 33 points and 10 assists as Toronto took a second victory in eight games.

Jrue Holiday, who missed a fourfoot jumper as regulation time expired, led the Pelicans with 30 points while Anthony Davis had 18 points and 17 rebounds.

- Spurs silence Thunder At San Antonio, Kawhi Leonard scored 36 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 25 as the host Spurs downed Oklahoma City 108-94.

The Spurs improved to 37-11, the NBA's second-best record behind Golden State (41-7), while the Thunder fell to 28-21, seventh in the Western Conference. The two teams would meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs if they hold those positions at season's end.

Russell Westbrook sparked the Thunder with 27 points and 14 rebounds, while New Zealand big man Steven Adams added 16 points and 12 rebounds.

At Houston, Ryan Anderson delivered his second double-double of the season with a team-high 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Houston Rockets routed Sacramento 105-83.

The Rockets improved to 36-16 but had an injury scare involving James Harden, who added 10 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

Harden made an awkward landing after a pass to Clint Capela in the opening minutes. Harden lay along the baseline but stayed in the game and played 32 minutes.

Damian Lillard scored 27 points as the host Portland Trail Blazers ripped Charlotte 115-98. Allen Crabbe came off the bench to score 21 points and C.J. McCollum contributed 18 as the Trail Blazers improved to 22-28.

Kemba Walker scored 22 points and Nicolas Batum had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Hornets, who fell to 23-26 with a fifth consecutive loss.

At Los Angeles, the Lakers edged visiting Denver 120-116 with Nick Young scoring 23 points and D'Angelo Russell adding 22 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts.

Russell's jumper gave the Lakers a 116-113 edge with 43 seconds to play. Denver's Kenneth Faried made a free throw but missed the second and Russell rebounded then sank four free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory.

berlin, February 1 (aFP): Star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has again talked about leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season -- with the Spanish league his most likely destination.

Last month Aubameyang, the Bundesliga's top scorer this season with 16 goals in 16 games, told sports daily Fussball Bild he could leave Dortmund in June, but insisted he would never join German rivals Bayern Munich.

The Gabon hot-shot has repeatedly said he wants to eventually join Real Madrid to fulfil a promise he made to his grandfather shortly before he died.

Aubameyang has a Dortmund contract until 2020, but the 27-yearold is pondering joining a new club in June "to reach the next level".

"A transfer? That is the question I am asking myself at the moment and I have no answer," Aubameyang told French radio station RMC. "I am thinking intensively about a transfer in the coming summer. But I always ask myself the question: if I want to reach the next level, do I have to go? Is it worth it or not?

"Everyone tells me about England, but that is not the league which excites me the most. I prefer the Spanish league.

"Real Madrid has been a big deal lately, but there is not only Real there."

Having been born in Laval, France, and joined Dortmund from Saint-Etienne, Aubameyang said returning to the French league would not be his "first option" and is also "unimaginable".

Dortmund boss Hans-Joachim Watzke told magazine Sport Bild that they expect to eventually lose Aubameyang.

"It would be best if he would play here for a few more years," said Watzke.

"There is no evidence that he is planning a farewell."

Meanwhile, Premier League side Arsenal are reportedly willing to pay 60 million euros ($65m) for Dortmund's Germany winger Marco Reus, according to Bild.

The 27-year-old has a Dortmund contract until 2019, but a move to London could see him earn up to 13 million euros, while he currently pockets nine million, claims the German daily.

public discourse

Panel Discussion On 33% Reservation For Women in Urban Local Body Elections, Nagaland James Pochury

WHAT IS THE PRIORITY Participatory Democracy should be the basis of Representative Democracy. Deeper and stronger the participatory democracy, the better would be representative democracy.

Sans which, there would be nothing left to fight for. Because, vested interests across genders would still facilitate usurping our existence as a distinct peoples, our sovereignty over tangible and intangible spaces.

Much of it has been appropriated since Nagaland attained Statehood in 1963. And the resource politics continues unabated. This needs to be arrested before it is too late. Most of the laws focus on power to elected representatives and representative democracy ignoring participatory democracy and weakening where they exist traditionally.

WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT Ensuring Participatory Democracy ought to be the priority, from the Clan upwards, with women representatives on board, through amendment to our customary laws that today restrict women in decision making spaces,. This is so because a watershed moment throws up before us in the given conflicting state of affairs all over Nagaland between the State and pro-ULB elections with 33% reservation to women versus the leaders supposedly representing unelected Naga traditional bodies.

Reservations are not acts of service on sympathetic grounds but should be viewed as an affirmative action for social justice, gender equity and equality. Nagas are a nation in the making vying for world atten-

tion to be at par with the comity of Nations and these values and principles are the pillars of Nation state building processes. But I would like to make a serious case for participatory democracy because reservations per se will not emancipate us as a distinct people.

Granted, that had Jaipal Singh Munda, a London educated adivasi leader, not been part of the Constituent Assembly, where he actively campaigned and laid the foundation for the rights of scheduled tribes, the revolutionary Panchayat Extension to Schedule Areas Act, 1996 (PESA) would not have come into being – albeit, with a lot of struggles and sacrifices. PESA ensures self governance (self rule) through traditional Gram Sabhas ("unelected" but supreme peoples’ assemblies) for people living in the Fifth Scheduled Areas of India. The structures above the Gram Sabhas are not to encroach into the powers of the Gram Sabhas giving them autonomous power over certain essential subjects. PESA stipulates that the pattern of the Sixth Schedule should be followed but nowhere this is even legally developed; instead the general panchayat structure of the states are imposed on the Fifth Schedule undermining the powers of the Gram Sabhas . On the other hand, the Sixth Schedule areas in the Northeast have powers vested in the elected representatives, certain legislative, judicial and administrative power without any linkage or relationship with the traditional structures or traditional peoples’ assemblies in effect undermining the powers of the village assemblies The tragic reality is that, the elect-

ed members of the respective bodies in the fifth and sixth schedule areas wield unjust and unequal powers.

The Fifth and Sixth Schedule provisions are failing the people. The special constitutional provisions for Nagaland under Article 371-A stipulates that any law enacted by the Indian Parliament with respect to the religious, social practices, customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal Justice involving decision according to Naga customary law, and ownership and transfer of land and its resources shall apply to the state of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution decides. However there are no laws, structures and systems for the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland to determine the will of the people through the village assembles, the Naga Hoho, the youth organizations and civil society organizations. As a result the Naga elected representatives want to have their way, much against the purported or real wishes of the people represented by the Hohos and Youth organisations. The vicious cycle then continues, of the wide disconnect between the electors and the elected resulting in pervasive abuse, accumulation and entrenchment of power and resources.

There is no meeting point in the two verticals that mark the way our societies are governed. And this is a damn serious problem that needs to be addressed head on before taking the most deserving affirmative action for women’s access to and control over decision making spaces, at all levels, not just Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). There is no organic and structural link between the “elected”

and the “electors” (the masses) that bind both in an inseparable loop of accountability. The masses have almost no say and control over the legislators for the next five years post election. This is now being extended to the urban bodies with no linkage to the people in the Wards except in voting to power their representatives.

This is antithetical to the very ethos of Naga governance traditions.

Allocating 33% reservation to women at this juncture in our Naga society, therefore, is akin to putting the cart before the horse. The cart being the elected and the horse being the traditional unelected people’s institutions.

CONSEQUENCES IF PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY IS NOT ACCORDED A PRIORITY The SMART Cities project, for instance, will have a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which will be registered as a Company. The SPV will have two conditionalities: 1. The SPV will have 50% of the seats represented by members of Multinational Companies and, 2. That the state has to give it in writing and sign on the dotted lines saying that the democratically elected Municipal and Town Council members would have to abide by the decisions of the Special Purpose Vehicle. Here lies the crux of the problem. The alien system of governance controlled by the Corporate would control not just the elected representatives (by paying their way out) but, by extension, the traditional Naga institutions would be rendered practically powerless and useless.

As it is, the authority and credibility of our traditional institutions are increasingly being eroded, thanks to

Government of India’s doles, handouts and packages that benefit a few giving rise to fragmentation and continued divide and rule policy.

Special Economic Zones (SEZ) is another area where land alienation and erosion of powers of traditional institutions have been evident and is inevitable in the future.

The bigger picture being that Smart Cities and SEZ (giving massive tax holidays and sops to multinational companies) are part of the neoliberal agenda of the Washington Consensus model of globalization.

A model that promotes free market economy with free movement of capital, goods and services across international borders but highly restricted movement of peoples. Strict visa rules and trade regimes render a skewed level playing field in favour of the "advanced nations".

In such a scenario, where elected Urban Local Bodies that are not linked structurally and organically to the traditional bodies, it is but highly important and urgent to ensure we leave no stone unturned to protect and promote the long term interests of the Nagas.

One long term interest would include transition from a predominantly subsistence-based agrarian economy to a manufacturing one.

And this transition has to be rigorously planned so that a level playing field tilted in favour of Naga entrepreneurs is available to a cross-section of Nagas, especially the marginalized Naga tribes. A robust 30 or more year long term Industrial Policy needs to be thought through and planned, sooner than later, through possible Foreign Direct In-

vestment (FDI). But we need to be wary of the FDI myths. Rick Rowden cautions Myanmar in his article “Free Market Myths”. He says, “One myth is that any FDI is good FDI, which is wrong. There are at least three main types of FDI: greenfield, brownfield (extractive industries) and short-term speculative investment (stocks and shares market).

Greenfield is the best type because it usually involves creating new businesses, building new factories and creating new jobs, and tends to be longer-term in nature”.

THE WAY FORWARD Push for a legislation that will ensure participatory democracy in the true letter and spirit of Naga democratic socialism. Having done that, facilitate processes in the respective villages and upwards to the tribal councils/Hohos to amend the customary social practices to have one woman and one man represent their own clans (one clan has one woman and one man) in the Village Councils. After that, bring about a resolution to legislate an Act to have clear mechanisms for the Village Traditional Body extend its powers to the Town and Municipal Councils. The nomenclature could be “So and So Town Council” or “So and So Municipal Council” but the most important thing is for the traditional village bodies to have an organic and structural link to the elected ULB representatives. Without establishing this organic link, no cause would be worth fighting for.

Organised by Naga Scholars Association, Delhi January 29, 2017 (Nagaland House)

Politics of Women Reservation in Nagaland: Between Customary Law and Constitutional Provision

E

Dr. Kamei Aphun

lection to the urban local bodies in Nagaland, including the Kohima Municipal Council, scheduled for February 1st, 2017 has seen many collisions with State and the peoples’ organizations, particularly with the tribal hohos. This requires a very careful analysis. The bone of contention lies between Naga customary laws and the Indian Constitutional provisions which many argued are infringing to the former. Interestingly both customary laws and constitutional provisions are meant to work for the welfare of the people and this reservation definitely is aimed at empowering the much needed women of the State where there is not a single political representation in the present State Assembly from the category. Therefore, it is pertinent to understand Naga customary laws and practices and in which way Constitutional provisions can/may hamper the Nagaland State which enjoys special status in the form of article 371 (A) granted by the Constitution of India. Following are the points that may be considered: 1. Nagas have the rights and authority to decide their own laws as per customs and traditions which is safeguarded by Article 371 (A) of

the Indian Constitution which says, “Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, (a) no Act of Parliament in respect of (1) religious or social practices of Nagas, (2) Naga customary law and procedure,(3) and administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law,(4) ownership and transfer of land and its resources, shall apply to the state of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides.”

2. This means that any law(s) passed by the Parliament of India or directive(s) given by the Supreme Court of India is not binding to the State and there lies the bone of contention on the current upcoming election where various organizations, tribal hohos tribal bodies in the state including the Naga Hoho have called for a boycott to oppose 33 per cent reservation for women arguing that reservation (for women) would infringe on Naga customary laws and tradition as protected under Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India.

3. It can be noted that the election to the urban local bodies including the Kohima Municipal Council has not been held since Article 243(T) of the Constitution came into force in 1993, with constant opposition and threat from the Naga Hoho and other

tribal bodies. The Hoho and other bodies have recalled a resolution of the Nagaland State Assembly of September 22, 2012, which too had opposed reservation for women in civic bodies. It argued that the Nagaland Municipality Act (NMA) of 2001 is a copycat from other States which cannot be replicated by the Naga society.

4. In this regard, a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) - a conglomerate of Naga tribal Organisations was formed to oppose the women's reservation for being against 'local culture and traditions' and has been imposing bandths in the State districts to disrupt the proposed elections by the State Government.

5. The present State Government under T.R. Zeliang however has reiterated that 33 per cent reservation for women did not amount to infringing upon Naga customary law and tradition, because the very concept of urban bodies is new and were never a part of the customary practices of the Nagas. He said, “Towns and municipalities are new concepts and have nothing to do with tradition and customary practices of the Nagas”. The decision is taken long back during a Cabinet meeting in August 2000 and enjoys peoples’ support today, he augmented.

5. On the other hand, the Naga

Mothers’ Association (NMA), which has been spearheading the movement for granting reservation to women argued that 33% reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies elections “only aims to translate to full fruition the very idea of gender equity under the Naga Customary Law. The Constitution of India does not infringe upon the social practices of the Nagas,” it said.

6. Furthermore, it can be argued that the reservation issue of women in local bodies in the State of Nagaland is a direct confrontation between articles 243 (D) which gives 33% reservation for women and 371A which gives special status to the Nagaland State based on distinct political and cultural structure.

It must be noted that article 243 (M) of Part IX of the Constitution gives exception to the reservation policy which is spelt out under article 243 (D). Accordingly, reservation will not apply to many North Eastern States such as Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Hill Areas of Manipur.

However, the decision of giving reservation to empower women by the present State government is otherwise faced with strong oppositions, on the grounds of infringing Naga customary laws and practices.

8. Having known both sides of

the story, and realizing a need for correct interpretation, it is therefore proposed to observe the following points. That: (i) It is tantamount to protect and preserve Article 371 (A).

If Nagaland State continues to follow any Act of Parliament or any judgment of the Supreme Court in Toto, then, it is setting a negative precedent which is neither beneficial nor constructive for the future of Nagas. Such precedent may be misquoted (in the near future) to give different meaning and in the long run, the State may even lose its special status of Article 371A granted by the Constitution of India. (ii) It is only because Nagas have distinctive customary laws and practices that GOI has granted this special protection in the form of Article 371(A) in the Constitution to preserve and promote the rich culture and traditions of the Nagas. Otherwise, India will continue to pressurize to follow “one country, one law” system which will be detrimental for the Nagas in the long run. (iii) Therefore it is proposed that the Nagaland Municipality Act of 2001 (which is amended in 2006) may be further modified or amended to suit the cultural and customary practices of the Naga people. And, for that, the Government of Nagaland should

constitute a committee to discuss and dialogue with various tribe hohos and various organizations (including Churches) of the tribe. In this way, this rich traditional institutions and organizations of the Nagas can be kept alive democratically. (iv) Meanwhile, more efforts should be initiated by the State Government to include more women in the political institution/s though they had already provided 25 per cent for women quota in the Village Development Boards. This is in conjunction with the Christian principle of “all men and women are equal”. Therefore, giving women reservation is a big step towards achieving that goal. (v) However, the crux of the issue is to defend its aged old customs and practices and at the same time reciprocating to the changes that are fast occurring. For, no society is static and no customary laws and cultural practices are permanent. Therefore, Nagas should codify its rich customs, oral history, faiths and cultural practices (by Naga CSOs, Academics, Church leaders etc.) so that it can counter balance the Constitutional provisions of India which comes with attractive packages.

The Author teaches Sociology at the Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University.

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.

Thursday 02•02•2017

EntErtainmEnt

Hugh Jackman confesses he was ‘struggling’ before ‘X-Men’

A Pak officially ends ban on import of Indian movies

Marc Anthony expanding Media Company with Talent Agency T

he I Need to Know singer launched his media company in 2015 to help develop the careers of Latin artists and now he is adding a booking division to the company, according to Billboard.

The Magnus Talent Agency will be run by Magnus CEO Michael Vega and will include talent from the

P

akistan has allowed the screening of Indian films months after it stopped issuing letters to let distribution companies import the movies. The decision to allow import of Indian films was taken after a government committee held consultations with various stakeholders and recommended the Prime

Minister Nawaz Sharif to allow screening of Bollywood movies.

After approval by Sharif, the information ministry issued a letter late yesterday that the government is "pleased to continue the existing open policy to display all international movies (including Indian films) in Pakistani cinemas".

According to the letter, any importers inter-

ested to get an Indian movie will make a request to ministry of information which will issues a directive to the ministry of commerce to process the same. It said that the importers will be allowed to screen movies only after approval from relevant censor boards of the province where the movie will be screened.

After the government

announcement, it is expected that "Kaabil" and "Raees" will be soon available on cinema screens to local viewers. Earlier, the cinema owners said that their businesses dipped by 70 percent since the screening of Indian films was suspended in the wake of tension due to Uri attacks and 'surgical strikes' episode last year.

Source: PTI

ctor Hugh Jackman has made a shocking confession that he was "struggling" and "nervous" when he had started filming "X-Men" back in the year 2000.

Speaking at the Producers Guild Awards, the 48-yearold Australian star revealed that the studio was not going gaga over his performance as Wolverine when the first movie of the Marvel franchise began shooting about 18 years ago, reported E! News.

Jackman said, "I was kind of struggling, to be honest. It was the first movie I had ever done in America. I was pretty tight.

I was nervous. I was average, to be honest, at best."

But it was a turnaround for the Australian actor when studio executive Tom Rothman sat down with him about a month into the shooting of the film.

The "Wolverine" star admitted, "He told me that he believed in me, that from the moment he'd seen

my tape he had a gut feeling I was the guy, but watching my dailies was like watching someone put a lampshade over a light." With things turning in Jackman's favour over time, he is all set to appear for his last outing as the adamantiumclawed mutant in "Logan" which releases on March 3.

Source: PTI

Sonam Kapoor launches her digital emoji stickers Now ShowiNg revIseD TICKeT rATes (silver) : `.120 (Gold) : `. 200 (recliner) : `. 400

worlds of music, Hollywood, and sports. Bosses at the company will also work with celebrities hoping to expand into Latin markets.

The company's celebrity roster will be announced ollowing in the footin the near future, but it will steps of Kim Kardashifeature artists who are alan, fashionista Sonam ready managed by Magnus Kapoor has launched a seMedia partners. ries of emoji stickers, featurSource: Contactmusic ing herself. The actress, who

F

Johnny Depp in financial crisis due to extravagant lifestyle C M Y K

was one of the first celebrities to launch her own app, released these stickers on the platform. The emojis use her expressive pictures to display a range of emotions.

From the hit flick 'Neerja' to her photoshoots, the stickers have been picked out from her most recent work.

Fans will soon be able to use these funky elements to

interact with each other. For the uninitiated, Sonam Kapoor's app is a social media platform for her tribe, where her fans interact with each other and also with the ac-

tress herself. They get an exclusive peek to the diva's life.

Sonam shares everything from what she eats to when she goes to sleep, on her app.

Source: TNN

Lady Gaga is the new face of Tiffany and Co

T

he 30-year-old singer has been announced as the latest star to feature in the luxury designer brands Legendary Style campaign for their new jewellery collection Tiffany Hardwear, and the musician is ''honoured'' to be able to collaborate with the brand.

Alongside an image of the blonde beauty from the shoot that captures her peering into a mirror, which has been edited with a black and white filter, and has been shared on her Instagram account, she wrote: ''I am honored to be a part of the @TiffanyAndCo family, just one lady in a long line of generations of women.

We are not only proud to receive jewelry as a gift, but to know the glamour of being strong, ambitious, and creative in how we love ourselves...turning our problems into platinum. (sic).''

The 'Born This Way' hitmaker will star in a 60-sec-

ond short video in the commercial, which will air during her Super Bowl half-time set on Sunday (05.02.17), and this will mark the first time the company has created a clip and showcased it in this way.

Lady Gaga has praised the brand as being ''the best'' accessories label and has hinted it is what best represents America. She said: ''In New York, you're born knowing that Tiffany is the best, and that it is where the magic happens.

The Brand is definitive and iconic, yet continues to push and evolve with the times. To me, Tiffany represents timeless American jewellery.''

Although customers will view the short video, which was shot by David Sims, this week, they will have to wait one month to be able to purchase the highly-coveted designs on May 2 online and April 28 in store.

03862-237226 Ticket Counter (09:00 AM - 09:00 PM)

WWW.BooKMYsHoW.CoM (ID: PLAYBox DIMAPur)

Ward 5 (6) Burma Camp, Landmark - Near J.K Hospital Dimapur.

Power House.

Hillstar NOW SHOWING Kaabil

Source: Contactmusic

By:

Vikheho Swu

(Cabinet Minister, Government of Nagaland)

A

ctor Johnny Depp is in financial crisis due to his monthly expenditure of $2 million to maintain his "ultra-extravagant" lifestyle, claims a lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday by his former managers who are asking a judge to rule that the actor has no one but himself to blame for his financial troubles, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

In addition to owning multiple homes and a luxury yacht, Depp spends $30,000 a month on wine, travels by private jet and maintains 12 storage facilities housing his fine art and memorabilia collections.

The "Pirates Of The Caribbean" star filed suit

Khesheli Chishi against The Management Group (TMG) earlier this month alleging mishandling of his finances and seeking compensation of at least $25 million. But on Tuesday, those managers countersued, opening up a window into his extravagant lifestyle.

In the cross-complaint, Joel and Robert Mandel claim that they and their company did everything within their power to handle Depp's finances responsibly and repeatedly warned him that he was overspending. "Depp lived an ultra-extravagant lifestyle that often knowingly cost Depp in excess of $2 million per month to maintain, which he simply could not afford," wrote attor-

ney Michael Kump in the cross-complaint. "Depp, and Depp alone, is fully responsible for any financial turmoil he finds himself in today."

TMG claims Depp's lawsuit is an attempt to derail foreclosure proceedings the company is pursuing against the actor in an attempt to recover $4.2 million he owes them, reports hollywoodreporter. com. The company is suing Depp for breach of contract and promissory fraud, and is asking the court for a declaration that "Depp is responsible for his own financial waste". Depp's attorney Matthew Kanny has not yet commented on the cross-complaint.

Source: IANS

(osD & Principal secretary, Department of Justice & Law, Government of Nagaland)

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02:00 PM | 08:00 PM

12

THURSDAY 02•02•2017

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Chelsea held by Liverpool but rivals fail to profit

LONDON, February 1 (reuters): Diego Costa's missed second-half penalty cost Premier League leaders Chelsea a victory at Liverpool on Tuesday but a 1-1 draw did little damage to their title prospects as closest rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur dropped points.

Spain striker Costa was denied by Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet, who made amends for being caught off guard by a superb David Luiz free kick midway through the first half.

Georginio Wijnaldum's closerange header levelled the scores in the 57th minute as Liverpool avoided a fourth consecutive home defeat in all competitions, although Juergen Klopp's side remain 10 points adrift in fourth place.

"It's important to draw against a really good team and now we must focus on playing Arsenal next week," Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said ahead of Saturday's game at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal, who began the day second, must recover quickly from a shock 2-1 home loss to Watford who managed a first league win in eight games and celebrated their first top-flight victory over the Gunners since 1988.

Watford scored twice inside the

C M Y K

goal difference after a lacklustre 0-0 draw at basement club Sunderland.

Spurs also lost defender Danny Rose to injury.

Champions Leicester City's relegation worries are becoming acute after Claudio Ranieri's side went down 1-0 at Burnley for whom Sam Vokes grabbed a late winner.

Leicester's third consecutive league defeat left them two points off the relegation zone in 16th place with the battle for survival hotting up after wins for Swansea City and Crystal Palace and Sunderland's battling point at home to Spurs.

Chelsea's Diego Costa has his penalty saved by Liverpool's Simon Mignolet . (Reuters Photo)

first 13 minutes through Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney and hung on for the victory after Alex Iwobi pulled one back near the hour mark.

"It was obvious we lost duels and

were not sharp enough. It looked more mentally that we were not ready for the challenges," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who was serving a touchline ban and had

to watch gloomily from the stands.

Arsenal are nine points behind Chelsea, who have 56, along with Tottenham Hotspur who moved above their north London rivals on

ALLARDYCE WIN Third-bottom Palace won in the league for the first time under new manager Sam Allardyce as Scott Dann and Christian Benteke scored the goals in a 2-0 victory at Bournemouth.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's 70th minute effort earned Swansea a second consecutive win to keep them just above the trapdoor.

Sliding Middlesbrough eeked out a point in a 1-1 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion but remain in trouble.

On Wednesday, fifth-placed Manchester City, 13 points off the

pace, visit West Ham United while Manchester United, a further two points back, host Hull City, who are now bottom.

Chelsea have not lost a league game at Anfield since 2012, although they will probably feel a little shortchanged after failing to capitalise on Liverpool's lack of form.

Klopp's side will be glad to see the back of January having won just once in nine games -- an FA Cup replay against Plymouth Argyle -- and suffering three consecutive home defeats.

After Liverpool made a bright start at Anfield it looked like another night of woe when the crafty Luiz noticed Mignolet arranging his wall and seized his chance to plant a superb free kick into the corner left vacated by the distracted keeper.

There was plenty of spirit from Liverpool, though, and Wijnaldum levelled in the 57th minute after James Milner did well to head Jordan Henderson's cross back towards goal.

When Costa went down after a challenge by Joel Matip 14 minutes from time it looked as though Chelsea would avenge their defeat at Stamford Bridge earlier this season but Mignolet spared the hosts with a fine stop.

Life goes on for 'disappointed' Russia stripped of London relay silver 'Athletes refusing to return their medals may be banned from Olympics' Usain Bolt after losing medal MOscOw, February 1 (iaNs): The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has the right to ban athletes who refuse to return their medals after their results were annulled for doping, from participation in the Russia's (R-L) Yulia Gushchina, Antonina Krivoshapka, Tatyana Firova and next Olympics, lawyer for the Russian Olympic Committee Natalya Antyukh at the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Reuters File Photo) (ROC) Alexandra Brilliantova ZuricH, February 1 (reu- jing Olympics in an effort to detect said on Wednesday. ters): Russia was stripped of their any cheats using newer methods or women's 4 x 400m relay silver med- looking for drugs that were at the al from the London 2012 Olympics time undetectable.

More than 100 athletes have so after Antonina Krivoshapka tested positive for drugs in the re-testing of far tested positive in these re-tests, her sample, the International Olym- with Russia having the most cases LONDON, February pic Committee said on Wednesday. per nation.

1 (reuters): Premier Krivoshapka, who was part of Russia's Olympic team was par- League clubs have made a the silver medal-winning women's tially banned from last year's Rio de transfer window profit for the relay team, was disqualified after a Janeiro Olympics over a state-backed first time, despite near-record positive test for the anabolic steroid doping scandal. spending in January, thanks turinabol, the IOC said. Her relay Turkish boxer Adem Kilicci and largely to two big-money teammates will also be stripped of Russian discus thrower Vera Gane- moves to China and France their medals. eva were also disqualified from Lon- playmaker Dimitri Payet's reThe IOC is re-testing hundreds of don for testing positive for the same turn home. samples from the London and Bei- substance.

Analysis by consultants Deloitte showed the clubs in English soccer's top flight splashed out an estimated 215 million pounds ($271.09 milNew DeLHi, February 1 the country, has got a major share of lion) in the transfer window (iaNs): Finance Minister Arun the budget, with Rs 481 crore being that closed on Tuesday but Jaitley on Wednesday allocated Rs. allocated, compared to last year's Rs brought in 40 million pounds more than they paid out.

1943.21 crore to the ministry of youth 416 crore.

That took the clubs' toMeanwhile, there has been no affairs and sports for 2017-18 fiscal, an increase of Rs 351 crore from the change in the Rs. 75 crore allocation tal spending for 2016/17 to almost 1.4 billion pounds, for sports in Jammu and Kashmir. last financial year.

The National Service Scheme has breaking last season's record For the 2016-17 year, the sports ministry was earmarked Rs.1592 crore. got Rs. 144 crore in place of Rs. 137.50 of a combined one billion for the summer and January winThe Khelo India scheme is a ma- crore in 2016-2017 fiscal.

The assistance to national sports dows and confirming the Prejor beneficiary, getting Rs. 350 crore as against last fiscal year's Rs. 140 federations has been increased to Rs. mier League as Europe's biggest spenders. crore. Assistance to Promotion of 302.18 crore from Rs. 185 crore.

India will take part in the ComFrench Ligue 1 clubs Sports Excellence also got Rs 312.8 monwealth Games and the Asian spent a total of about 130 crore, a hike of Rs. 122 crore.

The Sports Authority of India Games in 2018 and that has played a million pounds in January, (SAI), the nodal agency for sports in part in the sports budget hike. ahead of the Bundesliga on

"The athletes who did not return their medals won at the previous Games can apply to participate in the Olympics as the Olympic Charter envisages no punishment for failure to hand over medals. But if these persons think about continuing their career, they should meet IOC's demands. This organisation decides on participation in the Olympic Games,"

Brilliantova said.

Those foreign athletes, whose results of the Olympic Games had been annulled in previous years, have returned their medals, she said.

The IOC stripped Russia of 13 medals won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and five medals of the 2012 London Olympics after conducting re-tests of urine samples.

Premier League posts transfer profit for first time

Sports budget hiked by Rs. 351 crore

total spending in the January window was the second highest after January 2011's 225 million.

The bottom six teams accounted for half of the total spent while none of the top six saw a need to dip into their pockets beyond Arsenal handing over 40,000 pounds for leftback Cohen Bramall from nonleague Hednesford Town.

Crystal Palace, in the drop zone under ex-England manager Sam Allardyce, had a late flurry on Tuesday with Mamadou Sakho arriving on loan from Liverpool and Serbia midfielder Luka Milivojevic joining from Olympiakos Piraeus for an undisclosed fee.

Bottom side Hull City signed three players on deadline day, including Italian defender Andrea Ranocchia and Poland winger Kamil Grosicki.

English Championship (second-tier) clubs spent a total of 80 million pounds, up more than 125 percent on last year and a January record for SURVIVAL SPENDING Premier League clubs' the division.

85 million and Italy's Serie A on 80 million.

Spanish La Liga clubs spent about 20 million pounds, although Real Madrid were banned from signing players.

Deloitte said four players accounted for much of the Premier League's net receipts.

Chelsea sold Brazil midfielder Oscar to Shanghai SIPG for a reported 60 million euros ($64.74 million) while Watford's Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo signed for Changchun Yatai for a reported 20 million pounds on Tuesday.

West Ham United also made a tidy profit on selling France forward Payet to Olympique de Marseille for 25 million pounds after signing him from the same club in 2015 for a reported 10.7 million.

Manchester United, meanwhile, sold Netherlands winger Memphis Depay to French side Olympique Lyonnais for 16 million euros.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt addresses the audience after being presented with the Sportsman of the Year 2016 award during the National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year award ceremony in Kingston, Jamaica. (Reuters File Photo)

MeLbOurNe, February 1 (reuters): Sprinting great Usain Bolt is refusing to dwell on the disappointment of losing his Beijing Olympics 4x100 metres gold medal after his Jamaican team mate Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned stimulant.

Bolt, who completed a remarkable 'treble treble' of 100m, 200m and 4x100m Olympic titles at the 2016 Rio Games, had his 2008 relay gold stripped last month after Carter's re-tested sample indicated he had taken methylhexaneamine.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ordered Carter, who has already said he would appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and team mates Bolt, Asafa Powell and Michael Frater to return their medals.

"Initially (I was) disappointed, of course," Bolt told reporters at Melbourne Airport as he arrived ahead

of the Nitro Athletics series.

"But in life, things happen.

I'm not sad... I'm just waiting to see what's going to happen.

"But I gave up my medal."

Powell, who served a six-month doping ban for a positive test in 2013, was as phlegmatic as his storied compatriot.

"It's very unfortunate and we have to look to the future," Powell said. "We've accomplished a lot and we just need to be positive about everything right now.

"I'm in no position to say what should and should not be (banned).

It is what it is. Some things aren't fair."

Bolt will lead an international team of "All Stars" in the Nitro Athletics series in Melbourne against four other teams representing England, China, New Zealand and Japan.

The first meeting is on Feb. 4, with the other two on Feb. 9 and 11.

Lucky to be alive, says Hull City's Resurgent Cameroon stand in Ghana's path at Africa Cup of Nations Mason after horror skull injury LONDON, February 1 (aFP): Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason says he is lucky to be alive after fracturing his skull in a horrific clash of heads with Chelsea's Gary Cahill.

Mason was rushed to hospital following the nasty incident in the first half of Hull's 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on January 22.

The 25-year-old feared the worst before surgery and eventually spent eight days in hospital before being released on Monday.

"It has been an emotional rollercoaster and I feel lucky to be alive, but I'm happy to say I'm now at home resting and recovering," former Tottenham star Mason said on Tuesday.

"My fiancee and family have read so many messages of support to me over the past week.

"To have had so many people send messages to me, including from fellow players, clubs (in particular the support shown to me from both Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur),

Gary Cahill of Chelsea bangs heads with Ryan Mason of Hull City during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Hull City at Stamford Bridge. (Getty Images)

so many fans as well as the support I have received from the general public around the world has been completely overwhelming.

"Each and every message of support really has given me strength and I cannot tell you how much it means to me.

"The love and support my Mum, Dad, sisters, fiancee Rachel and all of my friends and family have shown to me during what

has been an extremely traumatic time for all involved has been incredible and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for being there throughout.

"Finally I would like to say a special thank you to all the medical staff at Hull, as well as the medical team at Chelsea and of course the fantastic treatment and support I have received from all of the staff during my stay at St. Mary's hospital."

FraNceviLLe, February 1 (aFP): Ghana, the nearly men of African football in recent years, go into a sixth consecutive semifinal at the Cup of Nations when they face Cameroon in Franceville on Thursday.

The Black Stars have not won the trophy since 1982, instead gaining a reputation for coming up just short all too often over the last decade.

Avram Grant's side lost on penalties to the Ivory Coast in the final two years ago, while their current run of near misses began with a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon at home in Accra in 2008.

But in Gabon they have seemed like a side on a mission to end their long title drought and a 2-1 quarter-final win over DR Congo in Oyem on Sunday, secured thanks to a goal each from the Ayew brothers, took them through to the last four.

There a Cameroon side dismissed by most observers prior to the tournament awaits. "In the group stage they played well and against Senegal they were

Cameroon's players celebrate after winning the penalty shootout at the end of their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final match against Senegal, in Franceville. (AFP Photo)

very impressive, so the semi-final is going to be tough," Grant told Ghanaian media.

The Israeli will be eager to have skipper Asamoah Gyan -- a survivor of the 2008 squad -- back fit from the adductor injury suffered in their last group game against Egypt and that kept him out of the DR Congo win.

Meanwhile, Razak Brimah will hope to keep his place in goal despite being fined $2,500 by the

Ghanaian FA after upsetting supporters with an outburst on Facebook.

Razak said he was responding to insults directed at his mother but nevertheless issued an official apology. "I accept that as an ambassador for my country Ghana and a role model for many across the globe, I should not have reacted this way," said the 29-year-old.

- Exceeding expectations The sedate town of

Franceville, set amidst lush green rolling hills around the Mpassa river, was the venue for Cameroon's penalty shoot-out win over Senegal in the last round.

So while Ghana have had to travel to the southeast of Gabon from Oyem, Cameroon were able to stay at their base in the nearby town of Moanda, one of the biggest manganese producers in the world.

There Hugo Broos's side have been preparing contentedly in the knowledge they have already exceeded expectations in making it this far.

"Nobody was expecting us to be here but from the first day of our preparations for this tournament we had been hoping to go as far as possible," the fullback Fai Collins told several media outlets, including AFP, on Tuesday.

Cameroon progressed from their group at the expense of hosts Gabon and then edged out a muchfancied Senegal thanks to a Sadio Mane miss in a penalty shoot-out that followed a goalless draw.

They have put behind them the withdrawals of key players before the competition, including Joel Matip and Eric ChoupoMoting, and are flourishing under their Belgian coach.

"The players who didn't come have their own personal reasons why they didn't come and we are not looking back," added Collins, of Standard Liege in Belgium.

"We are focused on those who are here. It is a group, not one player or two players."

It is also a young squad, but Collins remembers well the win against Ghana at the same stage nine years ago when the Indomitable Lions side featured stars like Samuel Eto'o and Rigobert Song.

"I remember I was at home, watching the game with my parents," he said.

"It was an extraordinary feeling for us beating Ghana knowing they had a very good squad. Now I am here and I hope I can have the same feeling as I did back then."

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