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tuesDAY • JAnuArY 12 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 10 • 12 PAGes • 5
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Eating veggies doesn’t equal to avoiding junk food NEw YoRK, JANUARY 11 (IANS): Children who eat more carrots and apples are no less likely to eat candies and fries, warns a new study, suggesting that emphasising on avoiding “bad” food is as important as adding “good” food in children’s diet. The researchers found that kids who ate fruits and vegetables and drank milk every day were as likely to eat foods high in sugar and salt as those who rarely ate healthy foods. “There has been a kind of assumption that if you encourage people to adopt healthy eating it naturally leads to a decline in unhealthy eating,” said study co-author Phyllis Pirie from the Ohio State University in the US. Efforts to lower childhood obesity rates often focus on adding “good” foods, rather than on avoiding “bad foods,” she said. Trained interviewers met with parents or guardians of 357 children two to five years old and asked them to recall how often the children ate certain foods in the past week. The research team asked them about the children’s diets and categorised foods and drinks into healthy and unhealthy categories. About half the children in the study ate fruit two or more times a day. Some rarely ate vegetables, but more than a third had them multiple times a day. Regardless of age, there was no evidence kids who frequently ate fruits and vegetables and drank milk were any less likely to partake in the unhealthy foods. The study appeared in the journal of the Maternal and Child Health Journal.
PAGe 12
‘Consult, Understand, Unite’
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KohIMA, JANUARY 11 (MExN): Sensing that the Naga political issue has reached a crucial stage, the Angami Public Organisation (APO) today held a consultative meet with Angami members of the GPRN/NSCN, NSCN (IM), NSCN (R), NNC (Chosel), and NNC (Zhavilhou). The NSCN (K) and NNC could not attend the meet. The meeting was held with the vision to unite the Angamis, and serve the purpose of rendering service to the Naga people as a whole through reconciliation, unity and mutual understanding. The APO also issued certain recommendations to the groups present in order to facilitate peace and unity. They asked all national workers within Angami jurisdiction to maintain peace, tranquility and uphold the interest of the people. It advised that no Naga political group should involve in confrontation, conflict and bloodshed in Angami jurisdiction, and that if any solution for the interest of the Angamis and Nagas is ushered in, the Angamis with thoughtful understanding would pave the way for the Angamis and Nagas. The APO further recommended that all national workers must work together with understanding in order to bring about peace. “We ask you to help us understand your plans and visions for the Naga people. We want to hear your concerns and thoughts,” said Dr Vilhousa Seleyi, President, APO to the various Naga political groups present. He informed that today’s meeting is the beginning of more consultative dialogues in the future. Stating that frustrations and anger need to be vented out before coming to an understanding, Dr. Seleyi hoped that the meeting has given the chance for the various groups to express their anger and disappointments. The APO he stated would continue to hold
more consultative meets in the future to ‘consult, understand and unite.’ Peace activist and APO Advisory Board member, Niketu Iralu meanwhile reminded how outsiders have recognized the legal historical foundation of the Naga national movement. “We need to respect and acknowledge the sacrifices made for the Naga nation,” affirmed Iralu, and stressed on the need to pass on Naga history to the younger generation. Today the younger generations know only about killings and extortions, lamented Iralu. “We need to tell them what the elders and leaders achieved, sacrificed and fought for. Through the achievements of the past, the
Forgive one another. We need to start believing each other and trust one another. We have reached fifty to sixty years in anger and hurt, now we must build peace,” he stated. A representative from each of the groups was also given time to express their concerns, activities and plans. General Thinoselie Keyho who spoke on behalf of the NNC (Chosel) cautioned that all the sacrifices made will come to nothing if there is no understanding and reconciliation. “We need to analyze where we have gone wrong and what mistakes we have committed,” he said. The representative of the NNC (Zhavilhou) meanwhile expressed disappointment over how the Nagas have failed to unite. He however affirmed their aspiration for the unity of all groups. NSCN (IM) representative Zeneituo tried to assuage the concerns over the Framework Agreement and reminded that the Agreement is based on the negotiation of two entities (the Nagas and the Indian Government) and shared sovereignty based on Naga aspirations. Representing the GPRN/ NSCN, Neimhalie affirmed the group’s stand on unification. He expressed concern over the exclusion of Nagas from other areas and stated that Nagas in Nagaland must take the lead to build unity again. “Our concern is for our children. What do we leave behind for our children?” questioned Neimhalie while asserting the importance of strengthening the economy for the future. Major MK Angami from the NSCN (R) also briefed the meeting on its newly formed government. He stated that the NSCN (R) was formed on the basis of peace and non-violence, while affirming commitment towards Naga unity.
APO holds consultative meet with Angami National workers
Two women stop at a mural of David Bowie in Brixton, south london, January 11. David Bowie, a music legend who used daringly androgynous displays of sexuality and glittering costumes to frame legendary rock hits “Ziggy stardust” and “space oddity”, has died at age 69 of cancer. (REUTERS) Story on page 11
Nagaland Govt to set up human rights commission DIMAPUR, JANUARY 11 (MExN): Nagaland Government will be setting up the Nagaland State Human Rights Commission (NSHRC), a notification from the Home Department stated in a DIPR release. The State Human Rights Commission shall be headed by a chairperson who has been a Chief Justice of a High Court, one member who has been a Judge of a High Court and another member from amongst persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in matters relating to human rights. There shall also be a secretary who shall be the Chief
Executive Officer of the State Commission (in the rank of Joint Secretary), the notification stated. The chairperson and members of the State Human Rights Commission shall be appointed by a Committee headed by the Chief Minister and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the State Home Minister and Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly as members. Salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the chairperson and members shall be as prescribed by the State Government.
An Investigating Wing of the commission shall be headed by a Superintendent of Police, 1 (One) Inspector, 3 (Three) SubInspectors, 6 (Six) Constables, 3 (Three) Drivers and 3 (Three) Peons. The officers and staffs of the Investigative Wing shall be deployed by the Director General of Police, Nagaland. The commission shall submit annual and special reports to the State Government to be laid before the State Legislative Assembly along with memorandum of action taken or proposed to be taken and reasons for non-acceptance of the recommendations, if any.
Visasolie Lhoungu elected as Nagaland BJP President DIMAPUR, JANUARY 11 (MExN): Retired bureaucrat, Visasolie Lhoungu has been elected as the new President of the BJP Nagaland state unit. Lhoungu was elected today by an Electoral College comprising of state council members in the presence of the BJP national secretary and MP, Raman Deka, as central observer and the BJP National Secretary of Minority Morcha and in-charge of Nagaland, Farukh Khan. Lhoungu was elected unopposed following proposal by the outgoing
president, Dr. M Chuba Ao, and seconded by Parliamentary Secretary Paiwang Konyak. Lhoungu, while speaking at the occasion thanked the party leadership both in the centre and state for reposing faith in him. He affirmed to focus on strengthening and mobilizing the party at all levels by upholding the party principles. BJP National Secretary of Minority Morcha and in-charge of Nagaland, Farukh Khan, while speaking to media persons, hoped the party would
soar to higher level under the leadership of the new state party president and achieve its ultimate goal of forming a party government in the state. In another development, the State BJP party also nominated T Khonwang Konyak as member of BJP National Council to represent Nagaland. Meanwhile, the State BJP has convened a meeting on January 12 in its party office at 10:30 a.m. All the outgoing executive members have been requested to attend the meeting without fail.
Ritika Mehta Murder: Family demands justice
Seeks intervention of Nagaland government and civil society for fair trial and justice
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Sania maintains top spot, Bopanna 9th in doubles rankings
PAGe 02
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T R u T H
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Nagaland registers 45,790 births in last four years
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DIMAPUR, JANUARY 11 (MExN): The family of late Ritika Mehta, who was killed by a gunman on December 14, 2015 in Dimapur have called upon the authorities concerned to deliver fair trial and justice in the case. In a memorandum submitted by the family, they expressed concern that the “ambiguity surrounding the case and the vague answers provided by the authorities only increases our fear that my mother will never get her share of justice.” The memorandum was addressed to the Nagaland State Home Minister, DGP, Dimapur DC, Dimapur Commissioner of Police, DCP Crime, Naga Mothers Association, Naga Council Dimapur, Nagaland Alliance for Children and Women Rights, Naga Women Hoho, Nagaland Hotel and Restaurant Association, and the Women Cell East Police Station. Ritika’s family informed that the police have been provided with
Ritika Mehta
CCTV footage, previous FIRs filed by the murder victim, and the entire case history. “Though the police informed us that they have identified suspects, we are afraid that it is taking a long time to find more information from the suspected killers. This only proves that people with power and influence are involved in the case,” they however alleged. The family revealed that after she was shot, Ritika took an auto by herself to the nearest hospital. However they alleged that the hos-
pital “refused to even provide first aid or emergency attention to the victim.” “After about 15 minutes of waiting in the hospital and refused any medical care, she was taken to another hospital which took another 15 minutes in the peak traffic hours. She was declared brought dead…” they stated. They further informed that Ritika had filed several FIRs in the local East Dimapur Police station fearing safety for her life. The family added that they have been “facing lot of threat and harassments from unknown calls threatening us to leave the place and city immediately.” They further lamented that the “delay in justice” is affecting the studies of Ritika’s children. “We as a family have lost everything we had and want nothing but fair trial and justice for our mother. We have lost our mother and now are at the verge of losing our education and career opportunities because we are left clueless about the murder.”The children further expressed fear for their father’s safety and security in Dimapur. “With all that our family has gone through in the last 15 days, we at least deserve an answer from the murder-
er why he had to shoot a woman and a mother, running her own business and family and who is involved in the murder,” they demanded. While acknowledging the local community, police, and the government for “being with us during these trying times,” they however stated that “we are equally worried about our future and security.” “The murder of my mother, a proud citizen of Dimapur with a rich heritage as social worker and business woman right inside her workplace shows the vulnerability of the minority communities living and working in Dimapur, Nagaland,” the family added. They termed the killing as a “murder of the essence of women, the progressive Nagaland culture, and the pride of women-oriented NorthEast culture. Her image stood for the cosmopolitan and multicultural diversity of Dimapur town and the state as a whole. The murder of my mother is against the morals and values of any god-fearing Naga and against humanity.” Ritika’s family further urged for intervention from the civil society and organizations that “uphold human rights values, equality, and women empowerment.”
identity of the Nagas as a people and a nation is made clear.” He further termed it “unfair” that the details of the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) have not been revealed. He hoped that the Agreement would not weaken the Naga historical foundation. Iralu further urged the members present not to use violence, terror and bloodshed in any settlement, and stand firm in the true spirit of humanity. Advisory Board Member, Vipralhou Kesiezie said that the Naga people have wasted many years in conflict. He expressed concern that presently Nagas have become embroiled in conflicts and misunderstandings amongst themselves. “So much scar and hurt has been imprinted within us. The moment has come for us to rebuild relationship and understanding. We have been given another chance to settle the conflict through dialogue and understanding.