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www.morungexpress.com
The Morung Express
Dimapur Vol. X issuE 37
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www.morungexpress.com
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Monday, February 9, 2015 12 pages Rs. 4
Hope is not prognostication. It is an orientation of the spirit, an orientation of the heart
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–Vaclav Havel
Modi asks states to work in tandem with Centre
Angelina Jolie firmly opposed to child marriage
Peace Channel voice against female genital mutilation [ PAGE 2]
ICC approves Mohit as Ishant’s replacement
[ PAGE 8]
[ PAGE 11]
[ PAGE 9]
[ PAGE 12]
Leaders aim to hold Ukraine summit on Wednesday
Moi kon ase jane?
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
The Morung Express poll explores the VIP monster and its effect on leadership Moa Jamir
Dimapur | February 8
When you become the CM of Delhi please stage dharnas everyday and improve our living conditions.
The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Do you agree with NSF that the Non-Detention Policy does not suit the Nagas at this very juncture?
Yes
no
others
Is the ‘VIP Culture’ impacting the quality of leadership in Nagaland state? Yes no
81% 04%
others
15%
Details on page 7
Man succumbs to injuries DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 8 (MExN): Dimapur Police, on Sunday discovered an injured man (47) in an unconscious state, lying at the road side opposite to Vishal Complex, Dimapur. Injury marks were visible on the victim’s eyebrow and he was bleeding from his nose and ears. A press note from the PRO, Dimapur Police informed that the man succumbed to injuries after he was admitted to the Dimapur Civil Hospital. Police informed that an inquiry has been committed into the matter and the body has been shifted to the civil hospital morgue for identification. The deceased was wearing a white t shirt, blue sleeveless sweater and grey long pants.
Diabetes treatment should be localised, says study
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WASHINGToN, FEBRUARY 8 (IANS): The factors behind the prevalence of diabetes may be affected by the geography and hence the prevention and treatment should be based on the local factors, said a study. “In one region of the US, poverty and lower education outcomes are more predictive of higher diabetes prevalence, and in other regions, physical inactivity and obesity are more predictive,” said lead author J. Aaron Hipp, assistant professor from Washington University’s Brown School. The study suggests that approaches to combating the disease should be localised. The study discovered poverty levels and inactivity were associated with diabetes, but only in some areas. The percentage of the population cycling or walking to work correlated with lower prevalence of diabetes in most counties. “Given this clustering of predictors of diabetes prevalence, and knowing the effect of the predictors we used in our study, counties, states and regions should be able to better target the most common predictors of diabetes in their more local area.
A lone fisherman casts his net into a fishing spot along the banks of a river in Dimapur. Photo by Caisii Mao
curfew re-imposed in tuensang
TUENSANG, FEBRUARY 8 (MExN): The Deputy Commissioner for Tuensang has re-imposed curfew under Section 144 CrPC in and around Tuensang town with immediate effect until further orders. The DC, in a press note on Sunday, informed that students in uniform appearing the HSLC/HSSLC and degree course certification examinations are exempt from the purview of the curfew. All such students have been directed to carry their admit cards for the same. Essential services such as medical, power, PHED and milkmen have also been exempt from the curfew. The DC informed that movement of public transport and zonal taxis will be permitted from 6:00am to 7:00am in the morning and 3:00pm to 4:00pm in the evening. Goods vehicles carrying essential commodities will be permitted to travel
from 5:00am to 7:00 am Government servants in “bonafide” government duty will also be exempt from the purview of the curfew, “on showing official government identity cards.” The movement of public individuals for “urgent or emergency purposes” including funeral processions will be permitted after acquiring permit from the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tuensang Headquarter. Meanwhile, a case of arson was reported from the NST sector late on Saturday night. According to the Tuensang police, a wooden residential structure was gutted in the incident, which occurred around 12:30 midnight. There was no loss of life, the Tuensang police said, while no arrests could be made.
appealed for efforts to amicably resolve the present “conflict” in Tuensang district. A press note from the Home Minister called upon all citizens of Tuensang district “not to make the present crisis as a clash between the communities/ tribes and at the same time appeal the civil societies and all like-minded people to intervene so as to restore normalcy.” Patton expressed concern that “misunderstanding between the villages in Tuensang district have sparked like wild fire.” The Home Minister termed the recent turn of events as “unfortunate and which was actually avoidable.” The Nagas by tradition, he stated, are peace loving people and “we are known for resolving our differences through negotiations and peaceful means.” “It Home Minister is also a fact that we come calls for peace from a generation where Nagaland state Home dominance of one village Minister, Y Patton today by another village is prom-
inent throughout the ages as we take pride of dominating each other because of the fact that we live in a world where no external forces conquered us in the past. As a matter of fact, we take pride in upholding the village republic which is an independent nation in our context,” the Home Minister said. However, he stated that “with the change of time the world has become a global village and we also need to move along with the advancement of the world community.” He assured that the Nagaland state government would do “whatever it can within its disposal to protect the life and properties of all its citizens affected by the recent conflict.” He further informed that the district administration has been directed to take every necessary measure to curtail attempts by anti social elements to flare up the situation.
Envisage these familiar scenarios: Scene I: A hot day, the roads are choc-a-bloc with rush hour traffic, the narrow roads can barely hold the burgeoning traffic, and drivers are cursing their fate. Suddenly, a car with a ‘red beacon’ and escort appears, and behold, the road literally belongs to them. Scene II: A queue or a simple squabble – the most common clichés in Nagamese are belted out without qualms- Moi kon ase jane? Or Moi laka papa kon ase jane? Or Moi ki manu/bosti ase jane? Scene III: A function of any kind, the audience is for the programme to start, unapologetically the VIP arrives ‘fashionably late.’ The Morung Express last week asked its readers: Is the ‘VIP Culture’ impacting the quality of leadership in Nagaland State? 81 % of the respondents said YES while a minuscule 4 % said NO, and 15% stated OTHERS. YES The glamour for VIPs in Nagaland is inversely proportional to “decreasing stature” of the leaders, stated a reader. “It is an identity crisis for them and they are using the VIP culture to compensate what they lack in character, moral authority and intellectual ability.” “When our leaders should be walking with the common man and trying to solve the problem, most of them would rather sit in their thrones and dream about how to make a huge earning. This is partly due to the pressure imposed on them by the election process, the churches and the civil bodies,” noted Richard Belho.
According to Botovi Chishi, “Be it in the numerous social gatherings, the front rows of the church, or in the escort cars bulldozing through heavy traffic, our leaders are getting used to VIP treatment.” A false notion has been created that they are there to be served and not to serve. It is creating a social divide, he added. On the same vein, K Seyie said, “...Our VIPs escorted by large motorcades and wailing sirens alerting the public to clear out the way for vehicles even in heavy traffic jam, racing (usually rash-driving) to their destinations...is just an example of the VIP culture affecting the quality of life in Nagaland State, which is creating a difference of status at the cost of the self-esteem of the ordinary citizens.” Sadly, he added, such culture is being practiced even on higher levels of administration - the Women’s Reservation or the NSDZ wherein public debate was welcomed only after the bills of both were passed by the NLA, can be cited as examples.
NO/OTHERS The public plays a big role putting by the limelight on the politician. VIP culture becomes part and parcel of the profession leading them to prioritise it over other public duties, Lima Jamir, an advocate in Dimapur noted. We bestow “Godly Status” upon the VIPs, she said. “Even the media advertently encourages such culture by giving prominence to the VIPs in their reporting instead of highlighting the event they attended.” VIP culture is not created by politicians alone but by everyone around them. Politicians with portfolios
are like kings surrounded by leeches in Nagaland, added Richard Belho. Another respondent stated, “Good leaders will stand up for the people irrespective of the so-called VIP culture. It is a fake and pseudo leaders who will fall into the trap of the VIP culture in Nagaland. Real and genuine leaders will not be misled by this temptation.”
The Way Out? One cannot help but mention the trend in various social organisations and even in church, Botovi opined. “Knowing fully well that donations may stop flowing in, if preferential treatment is stopped in these organisations, I think the job will be done.” “In Civil service our duty is to serve the people for greater good. Improve standard. Do it with pride, leave a legacy. It is not about name recognition... Recognize people who work,” suggested reader David Jamir. When a person abuses a VIP status, while giving due respect to his/her office, the best measure is simply “not to react and be indifferent” and not let it affect us, stated another reader. For K Seyie, getting back to the basics of democracy, “its originality and identity” will help overcome the culture. When people change their mindset, and elect the right candidates and give them the space to perform, perhaps leadership quality can be improved. It is not right for the public to expect personal favours from a politician for supporting him/her, concluded Richard Belho. “Don’t create a monster and fear it when it is in your control to prevent it.” Poll results on page 7
CM wants tangible development in Nagaland Unpacking the diversities of the north east NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 8 (MExN): Nagaland state Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today stated that Nagaland is “yearning for peace and development,” and expressed hope that the state would experience tangible development. The Nagaland CM was speaking at the 1st NITI AAYOG governing council meeting in New Delhi on February 8, chaired by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. On the NITI, which replaced the Planning Commission as the policy think tank of India, the CM suggested that the present process of Annual Plan may be continued till the end of this 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017). He also urged transition arrangements be sensitive to special needs of resource scarce states like Nagaland. Nagaland state, the CM lamented is still far behind others in terms of infrastructure. He listed various infrastructure projects pursued by the state government. The CM dwelled on projects including the Foothill Road, the proposed airport at Ruzaphema, Dimapur-Tizit railway, construction of infrastructureforIRbattalionsandtheEasternNagaland Package. These projects, the CM asserted cannot be taken up by the state alone. Acknowledging “development deficit” in the Eastern districts of Nagaland, the CM recalled that Rs. 300 crore was proposed under SPA during 2012-13. This was approved within the approved Plan outlay of 2012-13 by the Planning Commission. He informed that the Nagaland state government had already drawn up detailed schemes, and in some cases, works have already started. However, he lamented that no such package was forthcoming and sought the centre’s intervention for early sanction. The Foothill Road, the CM said, would
transform the state’s economy through exploration of minerals, facilitate productivity of agro-based industries, create trade routes and instill a sense of security. Estimated at a cost of about Rs. 6600 crores, he requested that this be taken up as a National Project. He also urged that the central government to expedite the preparation of a Detailed Project Report for the proposed airport at Ruzaphema. The Dimapur-Tizit railway meanwhile, he stated, would cover 257.19 kms and cost Rs. 4275.95 crore. The Ministry of Railways has already taken this up with the Planning Commission of India for approval. The construction of infrastructure for 7 IR Battalions across the state, the CM informed, is already underway with the state government providing funds. The project is estimated to cost Rs 674 crores. He urged the centre to provide funds for completion of the projects which is likely to cost another Rs. 336 crores. The CM called for special schemes for the North East facilitating establishment of Smart Cities, equipped with broad-band and other IT infrastructure. The CM then asserted that Nagaland would strengthen the federal structure, which he stated would address the “shortcomings of our existing system,” where the size of representation is linked to population ratio. Lamenting that little attention has been given to state specific needs, the CM urged for a spirit of cooperative federalism and development of state specific development models. He further called for the North East Council to have adequate powers to make decisions and provide required funds for the development.
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 8 (MExN): Political, cultural and ecological asymmetries in the North East have made the region a natural resource “catchment area” for India, said noted public intellectual and author, Professor Ramachandra Guha, during a conversation at the 3-day international conference on the North East held recently. The conference, held in New Delhi from February 4 to 6, was organized by the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research at Jamia Millia Islamia. During the conversation, which also included Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika, Prof. Imtiaz Ahmad and Prof. Udayon Misra, Guha stated that the Government of India needs to “unpack the diversities” of the North East and not view asymmetry merely as “difference.” Prof. Hazarika and Prof. Misra meanwhile referred to continued male dominance even in North East societies, “where gender equality is widely viewed as being significant but often the reverse was the case.”
Prof. Hazarika said that networks of counseling for victims of conflict, especially the most vulnerable groups, and involving civil society groups and scholars were critical to enable
cial presentation on the challenging ethnic peace processes in Myanmar by a former Myanmar diplomat representing the Myanmar Institute for International Strategic
International conference attempts to re-imagine narratives, networks and negotiations of the NE
the region to move out its “seemingly unending circle of continuing violence.” The Conference saw presentations from nearly 60 scholars from different universities. The themes included topics such as migration and the Assamese Muslim, the violence in Bodoland, the politics of hydropower, questions of sub-nationalism running through literary texts as well as border fencing and how small communities as in Meghalaya design political responses based on their perceptions of ‘outsiders.’ There was also a spe-
Studies in Yangon. While, ace photographer Findlay Kemper presented his long journey across the iconic Stilwell Road. “What is truly encouraging is that many of those who participated were young researchers and teachers who are deeply rooted in specific issues and concerns and seek to address it through their field work, analysis and vision,” said Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika, Director of the North East Centre, which organized the conference. It is the third in a series which started at Gottiinghen University in Germany
in 2011, followed by one hosted at the University of Vienna in 2013. Another highlight of the conference was the resonance of cross-border narratives, traditions and concerns exploring linkages with Myanmar and South West China. More than 120 participants attended the opening session where the keynote was delivered by Prof. Willem Van Schendel of the University of Amsterdam. Speaking on the theme, ‘Why the Northeast is no longer ‘remote’: narratives of modernity’ he located the state of Mizoram as an example of connectivity to Asia and Europe over the centuries through cultures, conflict and religion. Another highlight was the Centre’s annual Cultural Evening of the North East. The event saw performance by Lou Majaw, Bihu dance and songs by the local band Footwings. Funding for the conference came from the Heinrich Boll Foundation, Indian Oil Corporation and the Sikkim Government through its Sikkim Studies Programme at the Centre.
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