January 19th, 2017

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

ThursDAY • JAnuArY 19 • 2017

DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 17 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance

PAGE 08

By Sandemo Ngullie

PAGE 12

ensuring a Gender just society in nagaland Morung Express News Kohima | January 18

Govt depts in Nagaland funded groups: NIA

KohIMa, January 18 (agencIeS): The National Investigation Agency conducted several searches in Nagaland government departments and found numerous documents which showed fund transfers from departments to outfits such as the NSCN (K) and other groups. On July 31 2016 a senior cadre of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Khaplang, S Khetoshe Sumi, was apprehended by the Assam Rifles in Dimapur, Nagaland.

Sumi was handed over to the Nagaland Police on August 1. Based on the preliminary revelations of Sumi, it was found that he was in charge of the financial wing for the Kohima and Dimapur regions. His main responsibility was the collection of funds for the outfit by way of illegal taxation of various government departments. The probe also showed that huge amounts of money were being collected through illegal taxation in Kohima and Dimapur by various underground groups including the NSCN (K).

Based on the revelations of the accused, incriminating documents showing the transfer of funds from some government departments to the NSCN (K) by way of illegal taxation were recovered and seized during October, 2016.

Building further on the leads, searches were conducted by NIA teams in various other government offices in Kohima on 18 January, 2017. During these searches, a large volume of incriminating documents, showing the transfer of funds from various government departments to several underground organisations, including the NSCN (K) were recovered and seized. These seizures prima-facie indicate the connivance of these government organisations in funding the various underground outfits operating in Nagaland.

An advocacy meeting titled ‘Working towards ensuring Nagaland State Diversity policy and a Gender just society’ was held on January 18 at Japfii Hotel, Kohima, jointly organized by the Control Arms Foundation of India, and Manipur Women Guns Survivor Network in collaboration with English Department, Nagaland University.

The speakers for the meeting were Alemtemshi Jamir, former Nagaland Chief Secretary and member of Bezbuarah Committee; Dr. Temsula Ao, Chairperson, Nagaland State Women Commission, and Dr. Rosemary Dzuvichu, Asst. Professor, Nagaland University, Advisor to NMA. Binalakshmi Nepram, Founder of Manipur Women Guns Survivor Network moderated the meeting.

Discussing the current disagreements on the issue of the Urban Local Body elections, Alemtemshi Jamir said, this is not a fight between men and women but a “fight for resolution of certain issues.” “The present imbroglio should be

looked at from that point of view. And here I don’t think it is a matter of discrimination,” the former Chief Secretary said.

He viewed that women in Nagaland have an equal footing and said there are many who have a liberal outlook towards a gender just society. “I feel that it is not really an issue of discrimination against women but it is more an issue of defining of our customs and tradition. An attempt of defining customs and traditions has become much more vital because of the fear of being swarmed by a larger society,” Jamir said. A small group such as the Nagas which became modern in the last 150 years struggling to gain its identity, has the fear of being swarmed by a globalization culture, or an Indian culture, which is at the root of clinging on to one’s customs and traditions, he reasoned.

He therefore advised that the present imbroglio could perhaps be settled through more negotiation and dialogue processes.

On gender issues, Jamir affirmed that nobody was stopping women in Nagaland from entering the elec-

The panelists at the advocacy meeting on ‘Working towards ensuring Nagaland State Diversity policy and a Gender just society’ held in Kohima on January 18. (Morung Photo)

tions but the problem lies in the absence of free and fair elections where force, clanism, money is used, making it difficult for women to penetrate in the political arena. “It’s not a matter of women but a matter of free and fair elections and therefore most of the roots of discriminations could be at the system and perhaps it is the system that we should target,” he stated.

Jamir further stated that gender issues are largely related to economics and therefore urged the gathering to focus on economic growth of the State and the people while discussing on gender em-

NBCC breaks its silence DIMaPur, January 18 (Mexn): The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) today expressed concern at the turn of events in Nagaland state with regard to the upcoming Urban Local Body polls in Nagaland.

A press note from the NBCC General Secretary, Zelhou Keyho called upon leaders, both in the state political arena and tribe bodies, to come together in humility to the negotiating table to resolve the differences that exist without becoming stubborn and vindictive.

“Leaders like any other be it political or organization are not perfect.

Lack of trust and confidence in the system in general and lack of political vision for the people in particular has spiraled to an uncontrollable degree of anger and frustration,” the NBCC lamented.

This, it stated must be addressed so that the “treatment is not just a mere symptomatic treatment but holistic in nature and in approach.”

It appealed to “leaders of conviction to those who are where they are

because they believe they have a responsibility in their positions.” “We appeal to honorable leaders who do not desire to remain on the sands of misunderstanding, nor feed on the fears of the misinformed. We believe those in positions of leadership in the State political arena and the “tribal” folds have a particular responsibility to resolve conflict for the common good of our people.

In such a time as this, when our people are going through divisive moment, NBCC appeals to our leaders to exercise God given wisdom,” the NBCC urged.

Viewing that in every power struggle it is the common people that are sandwiched, the NBCC cautioned that if the present conflict is not resolved and contained, “our society will further fragment and we will all be the loser.” It asked all leaders to strive and find an amicable solution to the present impasse. “As Christians, we dare not encourage what is wrong or entertain what is contrary to the purposes of Christ,” it added.

Urges Naga leaders to resolve differences with humility for common good of our people

powerment. “Equity and justice is largely related to the tangible, the material.

The material, the economics, and the wealth lie at the root of justice and equity.

For total empowerment of women, women have to look much more beyond the livelihood and incomes. You have to look in terms of entrepreneurship, of becoming industrialist of having more wealth in your hands,” he stated.

Dr Temsula Ao meanwhile said that unless grassroots problems are tackled with more sympathy through reaching out programs, mere passing of laws will not be enough. While

progressive moves are gradually taking place in urban areas, women in the rural set ups are often deprived of their identity in the absence of a male. Citing examples in certain Naga customs on discrimination against women, Ao said, “It is not only criminal, its dehumanizing.” She also shared activities of the Nagaland State Women Commission for Women (NSWC) where they have consulted village heads and tribal bodies especially for the inheritance rights of women.

Critiquing the electoral system in Nagaland, Ao opined that the “electoral system of government

Sovereignty, the basis of Naga struggle: NSCN (K)

DIMaPur, January 18 (Mexn): The NSCN (K) today reasserted its position that “sovereignty is the basis of the Naga struggle and no dialogue or political process could ever be contemplated without sovereignty being the sole basis.”

A press note from Lt General Niki Sumi, Western Millitary Supervisor, NSCN (K) acknowledged the “unceasing encouragement from cross section of the Nagas,” while also noting that “on the other hand few section with vested or misguided interests view our stand as unrealistic and an impediment to Indo-Naga political solution.”

“Fickle minded people have for some time being theorizing the concept that GPRN’s abrogation of cease fire with India has deferred the prospective solutions between GOI and various Naga groups engaged in the talks,” it stated.

It however assured that NSCN (K) would “neither be a party to any of the group’s solutions nor shall we create any obstructions. It is purely the prerogative of the GOI and the negotiating groups to hatch out any settlement as may be agreed upon.”

It however stated that the “NSCN/GPRN commitment to Naga Sovereign struggle should not be made a scapegoat for the elusive solution or in other words, the NSCN/GPRN cannot be blamed for their failure to arrive to a solution.”

The only concern of the NSCN/GPRN, it maintained “is that the sacrifices of the thousands Nagas may not go in vain and that the spirit of the Naga martyrs may not haunt and taunt them as consequent to any solution they conceive.”

------------------- NagalaNd UlB polls ---------------------------

We are not protestor, but protector of naga rights: Jcc Morung Express News Dimapur | January 18

C M Y K

T R u T H

Aus Open: Federer roars back to reach 3rd round

PAGE 02

ULB polls dominate discussion at advocacy meeting on Nagaland State Diversity Policy

Go home, boy, I won’t be needing your service anymore.

o F

— Socrates

Current political & social landscape in Nagaland disturbing: MLA Azo

Salman Khan acquitted in Arms Act case

reflections

P o W e R

The Joint Co-ordination Committee (JCC) Dimapur comprising of Ao, Lotha, Sumi, Angami and Chakhesang tribes has called for a consultative meeting on January 20 with the Dimapur District GBs Association, church leaders/ pastors, apex tribal body leaders, Dimapur Urban Councils Chairmen Federation, Angami Public Organization and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization.

The meeting, which is scheduled to be held at Loth Hoho ki at 10AM, has been called to chalk out the next course of action on matters pertaining to the February 1, 2017 ULB election which the Nagaland State Government is bent on conducting despite still opposition from

Consultative meeting called in Dimapur on January 20 to deliberate on the next course of action on the ULB election the men dominated Naga civil societies and tribal hohos.

JCC General Secretary Rainbow Lotha told The Morung Express that the JCC had already made its stand clear to the State Government to postpone the municipal election and sit on the table to talk so that an understanding is reached between the civil society and the government.

In the backdrop of resentment from sections of the Nagas including political parties and candidates over the stricture imposed by the civil societies and tribal hohos against the ULB election, JCC general secretary asserted that the JCC

is “not the protestor but the protector of the rights and interest of the Nagas in general.”

The JCC meanwhile congratulated all the candidates who have withdrawn from the race to the municipal polls.

Situation calm in Phek town; CrPC 144 still in place

No disturbance was reported from Phek town on Wednesday, a day after volunteers of Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF) vandalized the houses of three NPF candidates for not adhering to the directives of the Chakhesang Public Organization to

withdraw their nominations.

Since Tuesday evening after police resorted to blank firing to disperse the mobs, the Phek district administration had clamped 144 Cr PC in the town area.

Speaking to The Morung Express, SP, Phek said situation was under control.

The SP said the CrPC was still in place and would remain in place as of now.

However, there will be relaxation of two hours from 3-5PM on the Thursday afternoon for public to do marketing.

Meanwhile, a source from the district administration said the State Government has awarded a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to the candidates whose houses were vandalized by a mob on Tuesday. However, this report could not be confirmed as no written documents on this were received by the administration, the source said.

came to us too soon. Election is nothing but money.

Before the bundle, your ideology flies out of the window. It’s the notes that sway your decision.” She viewed that people do not vote for the ideology but for the clan or the tribe. This, according to Ao does not encourage the growth of democratic principles and therefore Naga society is yet to imbibe and absorb the principles of democracy. She added that these frames of mind are being manifested in the current imbroglio.

Meanwhile, Rosemary Dzuvichu viewed that Naga society has a deep-rooted gender based discrimination and violence towards women.

“We are teaching all these to our younger generation. What the elders believe in, percolates down to the younger generation.

The danger of Naga society is that we are not looking and building a society that is going to change. We are actually percolating a lot of discriminatory ideas to the younger generation which is very scary,” she lamented.

Clarifying that the Joint Action Committee for Women Reservation (JAWCR) had conducted a series of consultations with the tribe organizations, Dzuvichu said that the present controversy basically comes down to the “question of insecuri-

ty, of being unable to change our mindsets.” “There have been a lot of vested interests that have stepped in, and finally we are realizing that women have become the ball in the game of patriarchy. The women reservation has been used as a tool to fight electoral politics and actually fight the internal politics,” she lamented.

“Democracy is- of the people, inclusive of women, but the democracy that we Nagas talk about is actually a democracy devoid of women, it is actually a democracy devoid of the 48 percent population which exist within the state, and this is the reality of Naga democracy today,” added Dzuvichu.

Responding to allegations that the JAWCR was being aggressive, or that it has been “bought by the Ministers,” Dzuvichu retorted: “Check your candidates- in towns that they are coming in. You will find that they are not rich women. The question of whether women really need the money to contest is not the question. They are coming in because they are being backed by strong political parties. They have been chosen as bonafide political candidates and that’s where the political party is backing them, protecting them and they are going to step into the fray and this is the reality of Naga politics.”

Diamonds in Nagaland?

Very likely, say scientists

Bengaluru, January 18 (IanS): The northeastern border state of Nagaland, recently projected by a geologist as a promising place to prospect for gold, may be springing another glittering surprise.

The “ophiolite” rocks of the state, that is a part of the IndoMyanmar ranges, may potentially hold “microdiamonds” -- diamonds of small size, less than one millimetre -- according to an Indo-German study published in a recent issue of the journal Current Science.

The authors -- Bibhuranjan Nayak of the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology in Bhubaneswar, and Franz Michael Meyer of Aachen University in Germany -- say that indications for occurrence of “microdiamonds” has come from their discovery of the presence of a manganese-bearing mineral called “manganilmenite” in the ophiolite rocks they studied in the Pokphur area of Nagaland.

“Ophiolites” are slices of what were once the ocean floor but were thrust on to the continental crust more than 65 million years ago by the action of what geologists call plate tectonics, a mechanism that gave rise to the Himalayas.

“Manganilmenite is a rare mineral and it is considered as a diamond indicator,” Nayak told this correspondent, adding that presence of this mineral has proved the occurrence of diamonds in the host rocks in many localities in the world.

“We are perhaps the first to report its presence in the Indian subcontinent,” Nayak said.

“Hence we expect that the ophiolite rocks of northeast India could host diamonds, especially microdiamonds.”

“In the Pokphur study area, the host rock of ‘manganilmenite’ is a magnetite body that is a part of the ophiolite and occurs as discon-

tinuous thin sheets extending about a kilometre with thickness varying from 5 to 12 metres with an average outcrop width of about 300 metres,” Nayak said. “However, ophiolitic rocks are widespread in the Indo-Myanmar ranges.”

Historically, diamonds in India were found only in alluvial deposits in Guntur and Krishna district of the Krishna River delta in Southern India.

Currently, one of the most prominent Indian mines is located at Panna in Madya Pradesh state.

According to Nayak, “ophiolites” are a newly documented host of diamonds on the Earth, and abundant diamonds have been separated from these rocks in China and Russia, and diamond grains have been recently discovered in ophiolites of Luobusa in Tibet and Myitkyina in Myanmar.

“Since the NagalandManipur ophiolite rocks are a part of the Indo-Myanmar ranges and the geologic conditions of their formation are similar to those of the ophiolites of Tibet and Myanmar, the possibility of occurrence of microdiamonds in these rocks cannot be ruled out,” Nayak said.

How about finding bigger diamond crystals? According to Nayak, large-size diamonds have not been reported from ophiolites so far, “but one cannot deny the possibility because all mysteries of the Earth have not yet been unravelled”.

Naresh Ghose, a retired geologist of Patna University who two years ago had predicted the possible occurrence of gold in Nagaland, is optimistic. Asked to comment on the study, Ghose told this correspondent: “I confirm the findings about (microdiamonds) and congratulate the authors.”

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thursDAY 19•01•2017

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Current political & social landscape Youth sensitized on Constitution in Nagaland disturbing: MLA Azo Morung Express News Dimapur | January 18

Morung Express News Dimapur | January 18

Former minister, Kuzholuzo Nienu (Azo), MLA, today said the current political and social landscape in Nagaland is at its worse and that it is truly disturbing and regrettable.

“Nothing can be worse than this - Nagas are divided, Hohos divided, men and women divided and, government and NGOs are divided – the division has reached saturation point,” the MLA said.

Azo said all these differences and divisions have come up because Nagas have not trained themselves to live in the path of “righteousness.” He said only if Naga people embrace righteousness and act accordingly, then they can expect to have a better future.

Referring to the incident of vandalism in Phek

Former minister, Kuzholuzo Nienu (Azo), MLA, along with elders and others at inauguration of Chakhesang Colony, Walford in Dimapur held on Wednesday. (Morung Photo)

town on Tuesday evening, Azo who also represents 19 Phek Assembly seat, said it was regrettable and bought shame to the Chakhesang community as a whole.

“It has also sent out a wrong message to all Nagas.

Chakhesang people who

are peace loving and known for upholding justice, respect for law….I hope and earnestly pray that God will forgive us and allow better sense to prevail in the days to come,” he said.

The MLA was speaking at the inauguration pro-

gramme of the Chakhesang Colony Council, Walford.

“Let us be law-abiding citizens, God-fearing and respect the government of the day for the government is also installed by God”, Azo added.

On recent recognition

granted by State Government to the colony, the former minister said the recognition was a milestone for the Chakhesang people, in particular the Western Chakhesangs. Azo paid tributes to the pioneers of the colony including former MP, M Vero, for their struggle and sacrifices.

President, Western Chakhesang Hoho, Vekhosayi Nyekha, and president, Tenyimia Union Dimapur, Khalo Kapfo, in their speeches appealed to Chakhesang Colony residents for unity and also peaceful co-existence with neighbouring colonies and communities.

Earlier, convenor, organizing committee, Vetsosa Nyekha, delivered welcome address.

The newly recognized colony has some ninety households including 54 Chakhesang households.

Young people from different educational institutions in Dimapur were sensitized on the “Role of youth participation in understanding and making our Constitution come alive,” on Wednesday at DBDL Hall, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Dimapur.

The programme was organized by Community Avenue Network (CAN) Youth under the Samvidhan LIVE – The Jagrik Project, Common Action Day culmination event.

Panelist on the topic, Joel Nillo Kath, Convenor of ACAUT said that besides knowing the fundamental rights, it was also important to perform fundamental duties and urged upon young people to lead by examples.

He was of the view that many good citizens do not exercise their franchise thereby creating political

space for unprincipled people during elections.

The ACAUT leader also said that it was difficult to fight corruption since it becomes a personal issue.

“What we “(ACAUT) are doing is a matter of duty and responsibility and not finger-pointing,” he added.

Joel pointed out that Naga people were too complacent in complaining to appropriate authorities even when wrong doings take place in front of them and encouraged young people to take the lead.

Another panellist, Imliben Lemtur, President of Nagaland Law Students’ Federation said that people were aware of their fundamental rights but do not perform fundamental duties. She said fundamental rights and fundamental duties are two sides of the same coin and that people needed to give importance to both aspects equally.

Speaking about the Constitution of India, she posed a question on whether the “Constitution in true terms expresses the will of the people or just a tool in the hands of some hungry politicians.”

He encouraged students not to merely study Constitution in their syllabus for the sake of qualification but to utilize it effectively and appropriately.

The Jagrik Campaign is an initiative of ComMutiny – The Youth Collective Delhi and its forum members, Samvidhan LIVE. The Jagrik Project is a journey to engage young Jagriks between the ages of 16-30 years in different parts of the country to experience the Constitution.

CAN Youth is a partner for the two-month long campaign engaging 24 young people to involve in different activity and task on Fundamental Duty and Fundamental Right by conducting survey with the community.

PAWF debuts fitness center in Nagaland

A performance at the opening ceremony of the triennial conference of Ao Students’ Conference at Changtongya on January 18.

BJP kicks off ULP poll campaign Morung Express News Dimapur | January 18

Ahead of other political parties including the regional NPF, BJP Nagaland State today officially kicked off its campaign trail for the forthcoming urban local bodies (ULBs) elections including Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and East Dimapur Town Committee.

The kick off programme held here at Hotel Saramati premise, was attended by State BJP leaders including 13 BJP candidates (10 from DMC and 3 from East Dimapur TC). In tune with the 33% quota for women, the party is fielding three women candidates for DMC and another for East Dimapur.

State BJP president, Visazolie Lhoungu, in his presidential address informed that altogether 74 BJP candidates will be contesting in the municipal and town councils in various districts.

The state BJP president

iterated that the BJP is not against any hoho or NGOs but the party was fielding the candidates solely to “empower our people to for development of our towns and cities.”

Lhoungu alos appealed to both the party candidates and supporters for a clean and peaceful election to the ULBs. BJP leader HK Khullu read out the manifesto of the BJP for the forthcoming ULB elections. According to the manifesto, the BJP if elected to power, would maintain price control of essential commodities; ensure sanitation; effective drainage; clean drinking water; streamline PDS, urinal sheds; tribal student hostels for both boys and girls; market sheds and parking lots, and to ensure transparent and corruptfree governance.

Other state BJP leaders including James Vizo and I Kheto Kinimi also addressed the rally. Hokivi Chishi spoke on the behalf of the BJP candidates.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dimapur, January 18 (mExn): Nagaland got another fitness center with the opening of the first PAWF (Performing Arts With Fitness) GX Studio offering Zumba Fitness and Les Mills Body Combat launched on January 14 by Talien Pongen, Talitemjen and Kvulo Lorin at Tetso Arena located in Tetso College Campus, Sovima Village Dimapur.

Talien Pongen is a certified Master Trainer and Zin member of Zumba Fitness Florida, USA while Talitemjen aka CRT is a certified Les Mills Body Combat instructor, New Zealand. The facilities at

the studio include changing rooms, shower facilities and fitness consultation apart from other fitness options.

For more information, people may call 8258981322 to schedule a free demo class or check out PAWF’s facebook page.

Zumba Fitness is a Latin-inspired cardio-dance workout that uses music and choreographed steps to form a fitness party atmosphere. While many of the types of dance and music featured in the program are Latin American inspired, classes can also contain everything from jazz to African beats to

country to hip-hop and pop. Zumba is perfect for everybody and Each Zumba class is designed to bring people together to sweat it on.

Les Mils Body combat is a high-energy martialarts inspired workout.

BODYCOMBAT works your legs, tones your arms, back and shoulders and provides phenomenal core training. The classes are a total workout, combining all elements of fitness – cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility, boosted energy and a serious dose of awesome each time you leave (Front) Talien Pongen and Talitemjen with others at GX Studio offering Zumba Fitness and class.

Les Mills Body Combat which was launched on January 14.

CUNRDF celebrates Sükrünye festival Our Correspondent Kohima | January 18

The Chakhesang Union New Reserve/Dairy Farm (CUNRDF) today celebrated Chakhesang Sükrünye festival at New Police Reserve Ground, Phesama under the theme ‘Defining Identity.’ Attired in traditional fineries, both young and old in jubilant mood greeted one another and celebrated the festival with much pomp and traditional gaiety.

Gracing the festival as Sükrünye father, Kewetso Mero (IPS), IGP (Training & Border) maintained that festival is a good occasion for the people to come together and develop friendship and unity. It also enables the community to stay connected with its traditional practices and moral values of the forefathers, thereby upholding its identity. He called upon the Chakhesang community of New Reserve/Dairy Farm to be more truthful, smarter and apply the best mind

Kewetso Mero, Theja Therieh and others during Sükrünye festival at New Police Reserve Ground, Phesama on January 18. (Morung Photo)

in their respective fields and move forward.

Chakhesang Hoho Kohima (CHK) president Theja Therieh in his greeting called upon the gathering to always take unity as the prime ingredient to project Chakhesang in positive way. He told the gathering that CHK is all out

to strengthen unity of the Chakhesang community in all colony of Kohima, and also to frame a comprehensive road map to figure Chakhesang as a good and progressive citizen.

Further, Therieh challenged the Chakhesang community to have a feeling of oneness and project unity

in true sense. Earlier, CUNRDF chairman Vire Nukhu delivered welcome address.

The formal function was led

by Pukhwüpra Vasa while vote of thanks was proposed

by CUNRDF general secretary Vekusü Cürha Folk song, indigenous games and Sükrünye feast marked the celebration.

Yimchungrü Akherü Arihako conference culminates

We, the bereaved family members of Late. Mr. Hotokhu Chishi would like to express our profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to each and every individual, relatives, friends, neighbours and Churches who stood by us during the prolonged illness and sad demise of our beloved father and loving husband on 12/01/2017.

Wewould especially like to convey our special thanks to: 1) Doctors, Nurses & Staff, Eden Medical Centre, Dimapur 2) Neighbours and friends, Upper Agri Colony, Kohima 3) AFE Youth and elders Kohima 4) Akuluto/ VK Area Union, Kohima 5) Longmisa Union, Kohima 6) Sumi Baptist Church, Kohima 7) Ao Baptist Church, Ministers Hill Fellowship, Kohima 8) Sutemi Baptist Church We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every individual but it is our humble prayer that our Lord Almighty bless you abundantly.

Loving Wife, Childre n & Relatives

Shamator, January 18 (mExn): The 51st general conference of Yimchungrü Akherü Arihako culminated on January 13 at Y/Awünrü Village under Shamator sub-division.

The valedictory programme was graced by Pukhuyi, Parliamentary Secretary, Soil and Water Conservation as the chief guest. He urged the students to be responsible in building a better society and that they should initiate a vital role in maintaining congenial atmosphere in the locality through which development can be feasible. He also stressed on conserving the natural resources that are available in Yimchungrü jurisdiction for economic prosperity and sustainability.

The chief guest appealed

to the students to be a role model for social transformation and maintain their identity.

The conference also witnessed the 2nd edition of Miss Yimchungrü 2017, informed a press release from YAA 51st General Conference Media Cell.

A total of 15 contestants vied for the coveted crown.

Lomithula of Chessore Town won the crown and Hanluchi of Pungro Town and Kumkila of Chessore Village bagged the 1st and 2nd runners up respectively.

The office bearers for the tenure 2017-2020 were also elected. The new team will be headed by Yansomong as President, Achung Jangleh and Yaksokiu as General Secretary and Speaker respectively.

thursday 19•01•2017

NORTH-EAST 3

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Ibobi to meet Rajnath over Manipur crisis United Naga Council invited for tripartite talk on January 23 in Imphal Newmai News Network Imphal | January 18

In an effort to reach some kind of settlement with the agitating United Naga Council (UNC), Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today afternoon left Imphal for New Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

The Manipur Chief Minister left the state capi-

tal around 1:30 pm after Rajnath Singh asked him to come to the national capital to discuss the blockade issue and try to find a way out of the crisis, official sources said.

UNC’s indefinite blockade which started on November 1, 2016 covers the two National Highways linking the landlocked state with the rest of the country and all ongoing national

projects in Naga areas.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam also left Imphal for New Delhi in the morning and he is likely to join the state Chief Minister there.Last Sunday, Rajnath reviewed the Manipur situation in a meeting attended

by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Finace Minister Arun Jaitley and other top officials.

Meanwhile, the Manipur state government has invited United Naga Council to take part in a tripartite talk on January 23 in Imphal.

In a letter to the protesting Naga body, Manipur Chief Secretary Oinam Nabakishore said the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 13 wrote to the Manipur government asking it for initiating a tripartite talk

between the State, Centre and UNC. The talk is being arranged at 11 am of January 23 will be held in the Old Secretariat (South Block) conference hall, Imphal.

Oinam Nabakishore in the letter claimed that the Manipur government has been relentlessly making efforts to hold tripartite talk involving the State, Centre and UNC over the current issue.

Manipur Impasse: HM asks NSCN (IM) accuses Manipur Nagaland CM to intervene commandos of killing student DIMAPUR, JANUARY 18 (MExN): In an effort to ease up the ongoing imbroglio in Manipur between the people of the Hill districts headed by the United Naga Council and the Government of Manipur, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today called Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang to the National Capital to talk to the Naga leaders in Manipur to solve the matter amicably and at the earliest.

A press note from the Nagaland CMO informed that the Union Minister appealed to Zeliang to try to convince the Naga leaders in Manipur to call of their blockade and come to some sort of understanding with the Government of Manipur. The Nagaland CM meanwhile reiterated the demand of the UNC that the proposed tripartite meeting among the UNC, the Government of Manipur and the Government of India should either be held at Senapati, Manipur or the national capital New Delhi, which, it may be recalled, was re-

jected by the Government of Manipur which insisted that the meeting be held at Imphal, the State Capital of Manipur.

Nagaland Chief Minister conveyed the sentiments of the Naga people of Manipur to the Union Home Minister who gave him a patient hearing.

Manipur Chief Minister O.Ibobi Singh and his Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who were also present in the meeting, agreed that a tripartite meeting should be held preferably at Imphal, but were agreeable to the idea of having such a meeting at New Delhi.

The Union Home Minister also echoed this idea, but insisted that the meeting should take place at the earliest so as to break the paralyzing impasse.

Zeliang agreed to convey the sentiments of the parties present today at the meeting to the Naga leaders of Manipur after it was decided that the meeting should be held on January 23, either at Imphal or New Delhi.

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 18 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) today alleged that Manipur commandos were responsible for the killing of a student and injury to three others on January 12 at Khumji (Lukhambi) village.

A press note from the MIP of the NSCN (IM) denied that it was involved in the incident, and rather alleged that “the commandos came in camouflage uniform speaking indistinct accent of Nagamese and indiscriminately fired upon the ill-fated innocent travellers to make believe as it was done by the NSCN cadres.”

It informed that the stretch of the length of National Highway from Imphal to Jiribam was already sanitized and strictly guarded by both the state and Indian armed forces where penetration of other forces is impossible. “To

whitewash their come after the shooting, operation was carried out by the commandos themselves thereby projecting others of the incident,” it added.

The NSCN (IM) alleged that a “similar incident happened on January 8, 2017 at Tengnoupal area where a Kuki village chief and a church leader were kidnapped at the behest of Ibobi Singh by Manipur valley based militant identifying themselves as Meitei underground. But when dead bodies were brought nearby a Naga village, they spoke in Nagamese whereby simply blame the NSCN in various social media to create enmity and misunderstanding among the hill people.”

The NSCN (IM) condemned the Manipur state government led by Chief Minister Ibobi Singh for

allegedly “giving free hand to his henchmen commandos to commit heinous crime which has no place in a society.” “Playing games at the cost of innocent Naga civilian life like slaughtering animals is an unpardonable crime,” it stated and cautioned that the NSCN “shall no longer tolerate but will defend our people and lard with all available resources at our disposal.”

AFFIDAVIT Regd. No:09

I take oath before the first class magistrate that My official name is ILIAWANGLE PAME D/O, Lt. SAMKE PAME has been inadvertently enter in my bank account as ILIAWANGLE D/O, Lt. SAMKE PAME which is also correct. Both the name mentioned above are the same person. I hereby declare before the court that from today onward my official name shall be ILIAWANGLE PAME, D/O, Lt. SAMKE PAME for any correspondence.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DIRECTORATE OF INDUSTRIES & COMMERCE Email: industrynaga@gmail.com , e-fax:08468825666 www.industry.nagaland.gov.in

ADVERTISEMENT

Dated Kohima, the th January 2017

Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (Referral Hospital) Dimapur, Nagaland

CIHSR SMILE TRAIN Camp

A surgical camp for children with cleft lip and cleft palate will be conducted from Jan 30th – Feb 3rd 2017. Dr. Bona Lotha, smile train surgeon will perform surgery.

Kindly register with Front desk / Reception: 03862-242555, Mobile: 9856052350

TETRUBE

There shall be General Meeting of Tetrube Villages on 21st January 2017 at Tetrube. All the share holders are requested to attend the meeting without fail.

Time : 12:00 Noon Chairman : Mr. S. K. Kenye Invocation : Rev. Dr. Coppe Mero Progress report : Mr. Welhipe Khape Discussion of Agendas Departure : 2:00 PM Sd/Mr. Welhipe Khape Secretary

Sd/S. K. Kenye Chairman

NOTICE OF INTENDED MARRIAGE I hereby give notice Under Section 15 of the Special Marriage Act, 1954, that a petition of intended marriage has been filed by Mr. Himanshu Nigam, aged about 30 years, S/o Shri J.S. Nigam, resident of 128/559 Balaji Apartment, X Block Kidwai Nagar, Kanpur(U.P) AND Miss. Mharoni Ngullie, aged about 29 years, D/o Shri. James Ngullie, resident of H/No. 44, Near Sarbura School, Kashiram Village, Dimapur: Nagaland, before this court on 18th day of January, 2017 and whereas 17th February 2017 has been fixed for solemnizing their marriage. Objections if any are to be furnished on or before the aforementioned fixed date.

MARRIAGE OFFICER, Family Court, Dimapur: Nagaland

JOB OPENING

The Entrepreneurs Associates (EA) Group of Social Ventures is looking for smart and competent professionals to fill the positions of Accountant(s) at its head office in Kohima.

Eligibility criteria: 1. Candidates with minimum B.Com degree can apply.

2. Working experience in accounting for a minimum of 2 years 3. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with their experience.

Interested candidates who qualify the following criteria can sent your CV’s to eanagaland.hr@gmail. com or visit the head office, at PWD Junction, next to traffic point, Kohima, Nagaland. Or contact us at 8131091105 on or before 25th of January 2017.

NO.IND/TRG/20/88-89 (Vol-I) : Applications are hereby invited from interested unemployed youth of Nagaland for undergoing 1(one) year Residential Training Programme on (1)"Hospitality Operations and (ii) Retail Services" at World Class Skill Centre (WCSC),Vivek Vihar, New Delhi.

The programme will start from the month of February 2017.

The training programme is fully sponsored by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER), North Eastern Council Secretariat, Shillong.

The minimum qualification is 10 + 2 (passed) with English as a subject, age limit is 22 years and relaxed by 5 years in case of SC/ST/PH/Girls candidates. Selected candidates will be assisted for placement after completion of the Training through World Class Skill Centre (WCSC).

Application forms may be collected from the Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Kohima (Room no 73, Top floor).

Last date of submission is on or before 27th January 2017.

No separate calling letters will be issued.

Sd/- (I. Bendangliba) Director of Industries & Commerce

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DIRECTORATE OF MUNIIPAL AFFAIRS NAGALAND : KOHIMA

NO. DMA/HFA/2016

Dated 18/01/2017

INFORMATION REGARDING INTERVIEW FOR SLTC & CLTC Interview for selection of SLTC & CLTC scheduled for 20/01/2017 for the post of Urban Planner/Municipal/Civil Engineer and MIS specialist (Degree/Diploma) has been postponed due to technical problem and now the re-scheduled date is 24/01/2017 from 10:00 am onwards in the office of the Directorate of Municipal Affairs, Nagaland, Kohima (Below AG Office Kohima).

The shortlisted candidates name(s) shall be placed in the office notice board and also in the notice board of all the Deputy Commissioner’s Offices in the Districts and also in all the Municipal Councils/Town Councils. Candidates should check the name and come for interview.

Sd/- (A. ZANBEMO NGULLIE) Joint Director & HOD, Cum Mission Director (HFA), Nagaland, Kohima

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS IPR CITADEL, NEW CAPITAL COMPLEX KOHIMA:: NAGALAND

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given to all the applicants who have applied already for 1(one) post of LDA, under Directorate of Information & Public Relations, against the resultant vacancy caused due to retirement of S. Chongloi, Registrar, that a screening test will be conducted on 23rd Jan 2017 at 11.00 AM in the Conference Hall, DIPR. Candidates are requested to bring original academic documents and any other credentials/documents for verification.

This notice should be treated as calling letter as no separate letter will be issued in this regard.

(LIMAWATI AO), Director Information & Public Relations, Nagaland, Kohima

PATKAI CHRISTIAN COLLEGE (Autonomous) Chümoukedima Seithekema B.P.O. Patkai - 797 103, Dimapur, Nagaland (Affiliated to the Nagaland University)

Recognised by UGC under 2(f) & 12B of UGC Act A College with Potential for Excellence by the UGC NAAC Re-accreditation: 'A'

WALK-IN INTERVIEW

Applications are invited for a post of Assistant Professor for Physics at Patkai Christian College (Autonomous). Interview will be held on January 24 (Tuesday) commencing at 10:00 A.M. Requirements: i) Honours in the subject ii) Minimum 55% of Marks at the Master's Preference: i) Ph. D. ii) NET iii) Teaching Experience Applicants must come with photo copies of all academic documents from matriculation onwards and originals for the purpose of verification.

Contact Nos: 03862 240601/ 9436832259 (Principal), Patkai Christian College

4

ThursDAY 19•01•2017

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Your power bill may shoot up as firms plan Rs 2.5 lakh cr upgrade

Brief

RBI pumped in 9.2 trillion rupees worth of new notes so far MuMbai, January 18 (reuters): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has injected 9.2 trillion rupees ($135.21 billion) worth of new currency notes into the banking system to help replace the notes banned in November, a parliamentary source quoted central bank governor Urjit Patel as saying on Wednesday. Patel met a parliamentary panel on finance on Wednesday to answer questions about the country's recent move to abolish 500 and 1,000 rupees notes, or 86 percent of the currency then in circulation, in a bid to unearth billions of dollars of unaccounted money. About 15.4 trillion rupees worth 500 and 1,000 rupees notes were removed from circulation after the Nov. 8 announcement from the government.

Microsoft acquires Simplygon to boost 3D innovation new york, January 18 (ians): Microsoft has acquired Sweden-based company Simplygon to accelerate innovation in enabling 3D for everyone. Developer of automatic 3D data-optimisation solutions, Simplygon was developed by Donya Labs AB, a privately-held company based in Sweden. “This acquisition accelerates our 3D For Everyone vision and strategy, which we introduced with the Windows 10 Creators Update,” said Kudo Tsunoda, Corporate Vice President, Next Gen Experiences, Windows and Devices Group, in a Microsoft blog post on Tuesday. Simplygon is a leader in 3D game optimisation, dedicated to helping creators and users of 3D data across industries optimise content pipelines and streamline workflows. Simplygon’s technology and talent will strengthen Microsoft’s position in 3D creation, making it easier to capture, create and share in 3D, Microsoft said.

Panasonic launches waterproof Bluetooth earphones new Delhi, January 18 (ians): Panasonic India on Wednesday launched new Bluetooth sports earphones -- RP-BTS50 -- which are designed to experience clear sound while working out at the gym, cycling or running. Priced at Rs 8,999, the RP-BTS50 is waterproof, comes with a 12mm driver which is compatible with aptX, AAC and has blue LED lights on the edges of the earphones. “Owing to the growing demand for headphones while exercising, Panasonic has introduced the latest RP-BTS50 which comes with waterproof technology and safety lighting customised for fitness enthusiasts,” said Gaurav Ghavri, Product Head, Panasonic India, in a statement. The earphones feature a round-the-ear 3Dflex hanger which can be bent, providing a comfortable and optimal fit.

Vine app officially shut down new york, January 18 (ians): Twitter has finally shut down the Vine app service, revamping it into Vine Camera that will let users shoot 6.5 seconds looping videos which can be later uploaded. According to a DailyMail report on Tuesday, it has not yet been revealed when the app will make the transition. Twitter acquired Vine in October 2012, and as of 2016, the app had over 200 million active monthly users and more than 1.5 billion loops have been viewed since its inception. It was earlier reported that Vine was also rolling out a way to make it easy for Twitter users to migrate their Vine followers to the social networking site. “Users can upload their creations to Twitter right from the new app, if the accounts are linked, or by going through the social media site,” the report noted. With the emergence of new platforms like Snapchat and video on Instagram, Vine has lost its popularity.

kolkata, January 18 (Dna): Brace for some power tariff hikes this year as companies generating electricity from coal might start raising a whooping Rs 2.5 lakh crore from consumers beginning this year to compensate for the investments they are required to make to meet pollution emission norms.

Power plants are required to invest this amount, calculated at a conservative estimate, for not generating any new capacity but to fulfill the global Cop 21 (2015 Paris Climate Conference) norms.

As per the provisions of power purchase agreements, such investments can be recovered from consumers using the 'Change in Law' provisions', documents submitted by the power sector to the government showed.

The current deadline is the end of 2017, which may get extended as the power sector feels that meeting the deadline impossible.

new Delhi, January 18 (Financial express): To survive in todays competitive’s economic landscape it is very important to change, not just the people the cities also need to keep innovating themselves along with the changing circumstances in order to adjust with the present scenario. Bengaluru has moved to the top slot in the list of some of the world’s fastestchanging cities along with other 6 Indian cities that have also been featured in the top 30. This is the first time when an Indian city has been chosen as the most dynamic city and has also left behind the SiliconValley (USA) and Shanghai (China) that are usually considered the fastest. Not just Bengaluru, Hyderabad has also been listed in the top 10.

The announcement was made by WEF through twitter.

The rankings have been released by real estate consultancy firm James Lang Laselle (JLL) at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Before releasing the list the firm rightly said, “They are not what you’d expect”.

Parameters such as technology and R&D, population, connectivity, education, real estate investment, output and corporate activities have been taken as the basis of the formulation of the list.

The release of the list has brought

CROSSWORD # 3833

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Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in December 2015 had issued new guidelines for emission levels covering sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, mercury, particulate matter and water consumption, applicable to coal-based power plants.

These norms are to be implemented within two years of noti-

fication -- by December 2017.

At present, the country has about 173 gigawatt of installed coal-based capacity and another 75 gw under construction which would be impacted by the new norms, Khurana said.

Apart from the challenges in implementing this mammoth scale of operations across the

industry, the power sector fears there could be scarcity of equipment, pushing up prices.

"If all this goes without any planning we could face grid problem. As a way out the sector can go for region-wise upgradation so that the grid is not impacted. The equipment is also needed to be available in such quantity.

Many of the required technologies have limited suppliers or only available with international vendors. This may led to further cost inflation due to the supplydemand mismatch," he said.

The beneficiaries would be equipment makers.

"In order to comply with the Cop 21 norms, the country will need to renovate, modernise or replace its existing coal-fired plants. This is critical since many of the existing plants are already reaching end of their life cycle," Siemens had said while identifying opportunities in 2017.

Bengaluru is the most dynamic city in the world: WEF

leisure

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The process of adhering to the norms, however, would create windfall gains to the power and pollution control equipment makers.

The figure of Rs 2.5 lakh crore is conservative as the industry fears that the demand would be so much that it would create scarcity and push up equipment prices, further escalating the burden on the thermal power industry.

"Our members are committed to adhere to norms as we all are conscious of adverse implications on the environment. However, looking at costs of around Rs 1.25 crore for every megawatt and its impact on operational costs, we have requested the government and CERC for regulatory guidance. That is awaited, many members have already filled petition before the regulator," Ashok Khurana, director general, Association Of Power Producers told DNA Money.

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APron CIVIL CLIMAX CLIMB CLoset CoAL CoKe ConFLICt CrUIse dIsAster dots FACtIon FLoAt GreAse HAPPY HoArse HUstLe IdIot LUMMoX

Vodafone India takes walk to the street of Kohima to promote the launch of Vodafone supernet 4G service in Kohima on January 18. (Morung Photo)

BIRTHDAY GREETING Dear Longkoi Lam,

M

ay your coming year surprise you with the happiness of smiles, the feelings of love and so on. Let God decorate each Golden ray of the sun reaching you with wishes of success, let your all dreams comes true at this very special day.

Happy Birthday to the sweetest girl ever!

From- Families & Friends

Dear Angpen,

a pleasant surprise for the government of Karnataka who has been battling for brand Bengaluru for a long time now. Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Pune are the other Indian cities that have made to the top 30 of the list along with New York,

San Francisco, Melbourne, Los Angeles and Stockholm. The position of Delhi (No. 23) and Beijing (No.15) has been hindered in the list because of their poor environment since liveability was also considered a major basis for the list DiMaPUR

7. Pertaining to the moon ACROSS 8. Greek god of darkness 1. Not in danger 9. Diplomacy 5. Competent 10. Assist in crime 9. Destiny 11. Layer 13. 2 2 2 2 12. Countercurrent 14. Impolite dinner sound 15. Publish 16. Footnote note 21. Liturgy 17. Ailments 23. Half-moon tide 18. Hermit 25. Neat 19. Require 27. Guy 20. Glacial ridge 28. Habituate 22. Craft of making furniture 29. Chief Executive Officer 24. Hissy fit 31. Burn 26. Graphic symbols 32. Steam bath 27. Proving by direct argument 34. Clunker 30. Stoppage 36. Lower limbs 33. Unnecessary 39. Apprehend 35. Prison-related 40. Chew 37. Excavated 43. Skull 38. Youthful 44. Armored vehicle 41. Prompt 46. Annoying insect 42. Construct 47. Ointment ingredient 45. Hanging 49. Daughter of a sibling 48. A task requiring a trip 50. Fond 51. Elongated yellow fruit 53. Not a single time 52. Negatively charged particle 55. Decay from overripening 54. Diminish 56. Lake (Scottish) 55. Covered 57. Unit of land 59. Synagogue scroll 58. Audition tape 62. Hubs 60. Again 63. Cat-like mammal 61. Skirt lines 65. Alley 64. Children’s game 66. Beige Answer to Crossword 3832 67. Colonic 68. Bit of gossip 69. Not us 70. Hot rum drink 71. Recent events DOWN 1. Anagram of “Ties” 2. Hole-making tools 3. Minstrel 4. Gist 5. American Sign Language 6. Coalition

SUDOKU

H LUrId MAJor MeAGer MIssIonArY onIon oVoId rAIsIn sAtIn seeM sIMPLe stICK strIFe tAre teMPts toAst trIPe UnIon VIXen ZenItH

std code: 03862

T

o other people this day may seem ordinary, but to us it's not! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, buddy! We hope you have an amazing day today! May your smile never leave your face! Hope you have oceans of fun.

With love from Uncle Meshu & Aunty Toli

TaHaMZaM Police station Fire Brigade

222246 222491

Civil Hospital emergency-

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

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Officer-in-Charge 8575045510 8575045502

Officer-in-Charge 8575045520 8575045508

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

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

Game Number # 3828

std code: 03871

(formerly senapati)

Answer Number # 3827

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

66.4 81.84 8.28 50.03 46.74 50.73 58.43 70.93 1.82 0.0552 17.49 9.43

69.39 85.80 9.23 52.50 49.01 53.21 61.72 74.35 2.03 0.0615 19.48 10.5

Thursday 19•01•2017

NAGALAND

Biggest problem of the Nagas is corruption: SI Jamir Morung Express News

Changtongya | January 18

The biggest problem of the Nagas today is corruption, SI Jamir, Advisor, Urban Development, Nagaland and a former President of AKM said here today.

He was speaking as the opening guest of Ao Kaketshir Mundang (AKM)’s 67th general conference being held at Changtongya Village.

In this regard, he said the current state of affairs is inflicted with this ill from which “we find no cure.”

Citing the example of contractual work in Nagaland, he said, for a contract work in the State, 10% is taken by the Ministers; 5%

by Secretaries, 5% by directors and so on. The percentages trickle down even to the peons and everyone has a share. As a result, for an estimated work of 1 crores, nearly 50 percent is spent on percentages and the rest for the actual work, Jamir maintained.

“I don’t find fault with the contractors. They are not social worker,” he added.

Jamir in a candid admittance said that all those in government working are working in such system, led by the Ministers. “Without a revolution, Nagas cannot fight corruption and change the system,” he stated.

AKM opens with pomp and solemnity at Changtongya Morung Express News Changtongya | January 18

With around 2000 students delegates, the 67th general conference of the Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM), the apex students’ body of Ao Nagas, started on a high note here today at Changtongya village with pomp and gaiety.

The event started with the unfurling of

the ranges’ flags in the evening, where the AKM President led the six ranges comprising the Ao Union in hoisting the flags.

Later the conference was officially opened by SI Jamir, Advisor, Urban Development, Nagaland by cutting the ribbon to the conference hall. A powerful opening act

by Changtongya Stu-

He further said challenge for the Naga youth today is ‘electoral malpractice’, adding it results in no progress and lead us to nowhere. “Fight electoral malpractice with peace,” Jamir urged.

In this context, Jamir exhorted the gathering to fight against the system and make this current conference a stepping stone to fight against these menaces.

Earlier, he said that the AKM was started by the pioneers under difficult circumstances and obstacles and encouraged the gathering to take lesson from them and incorporate their stories in their lives.

Meanwhile, Deputy Com-

dents’ Union consisting dance, dramatic performances as well as songs followed drawing much appreciation from the crowd.

The message of the act was a call for unity in a society (Ao) inflicted with vices like jealousy, selfishness, corruption, one-upmanship, and unforgiving character.

AKM President Jemti Longchar later wel-

missioner of Mokokchung, Sushil Kumar Patel (IAS) said that he felt really happy for this “collectiveness existing in our society, especially among the youth.”

“This collectiveness of youth is of upmost importance,” he said, adding that the world today is turning into an “individualistic and introvert” society. Maybe it’s because of the proliferation of social media, he reasoned.

He also lauded the AKM as a most professional organization engaged in various activities for the welfare of the students, besides being involved in many works for the benefit of the district. The DC later maintained

employed, and why are we rich in natural resources but most remain untapped,” he further questioned.

In this regard, he expressed his strong belief that “the citizens must have right to know the logic and rational behind any decision.”

At the end of the day, it is the upto the people to decide what future should be, and it is best if their decisions are informed based on logic and rationality, he pointed out.

comed the gathering while the Changtongya Village Council Chairman Inmakumzuk Longkumer welcomed the gathering on behalf of the host village.

The three-day conference, which concludes on January 11, will have deliberation on many students’ is- Don’t’ go empty handed sues, besides workshop This is not a Hornbill Festival and presentation by var- but a gathering of the best in the ious resource persons. society, therefore make strong resolution for its benefits, Rev. I that students going for strikes or Wati Jamir, Pastor, Changtongagitations, which is quite preva- ya Baptist Arogo challenged the lent in recent times, is not a good gathering. sign for the society.

When such gathering ocIf youth are not able to engage curred last time in the form of themselves in productive work, Christian Endeavor Convention then they may become a liability in 1958, the slogan “Nagaland for to the states, he reasoned. “We Christ” was adopted which later need comprehensive planning spread to whole Naga area, he to optimize the skills of youth in further informed. the development of our society.”

In this context, Rev. Jamir He also questioned whether asked the gathering not to go the perception of Nagaland out- empty handed but make a resoside has changed for good, though lution in Christ for the benefit of the State has made tremendous the society. progress in law and order situaA resolution for ‘Clean Election in 53 years of statehood. tion’ which the Langpangkong cit“Why do we have one of high- izens have adopted, the AKM must est literacy rate but most are un- carry forward, he concluded.

MEx FILE Disease outbreak among cattle KOHIMA, JANUARY 18 (MExN): The Zeliang Kuki Public Organisation (ZKPO) today informed that more than 30 cows & buffaloes have died within 2 weeks due to the outbreak of a sickness in the plain sector (Kabai-Khelma Area). A press note from the ZKPO stated that burying of the deceased animals has become very difficult and as such an excavator was used. “Moreover, it has become a threat to human lives since the decompose animals produce health hazards,” it added. The ZPKO asked the concerned authority to look into the issue and do the needful towards halting the epidemic at the earliest.

AR apprehend 13 NSCN (IM) cadres MON, JANUARY 18 (MExN): 35 Assam Rifles apprehended 13 NSCN (IM) cadres who were travelling in two gypsies near Mon Village on January 18. According to a press release from Assam Rifles, four AK-56 rifles, two HK-32 rifles, one MA-MK 4 rifles, four pistols and a large quantity of live ammunition apart from “other warlike stores” were recovered from the cadres. They were handed over to Mon Police Station. The operation was carried out based on specific input about movement of underground cadres on the Mon-Tizit road.

Community sensitization in Mokokchung starts today MOKOKcHUNg, JANUARY 18 (DIPR): Organized by the Department of Social Welfare, Nagaland, a programme on Community Sensitization for Ongpangkong (North), Ongpangkong (South), and Kobulong ICDS Projects will be held at Town Hall, Mokokchung on January 20 from 10:00 am onwards. Resource persons in the programme will be Director, Social Welfare, T. Merangtsungba, Joint Director, Social Welfare, Tulula Pongen and State Programme Officer, E. Yarenthung. The same programme will be held at Tuli for Changtongya ICDS Project on January 19 at 11:00 am and also at Mangkolemba Town Hall for Mangkolemba and Longchem ICDS Project on January 21 at 11:00 am. All village council chairmen, VDB Secretaries, one Mahila/Watsu representative, and one GB from each village and ward have been invited to attend the programme.

Latest pension and GPF final Assam Rifles seize huge quantity of liquor payment cases updated

ADC Dimapur informs to collect voter slips

KOHIMA, JANUARY 18 (MExN): All retired State Government officials have been informed that pension and GPF final payment cases settled upto the month of December 2016 have been uploaded on the AG Nagaland website.

Pensioners may log on to the office website at www.agnagaland.gov. in, click on Felicitation and Pension or GPF Felicitation or directly click on the Sticky Note written “Click here to view list of settled Pension/ GPF final payment cases.”

The list has also been put up for display at the Public Relation Cell of the AG office and can be viewed on any working days during office hours.

Aggrieved pensioners or government officials with genuine problems have been requested once again to write directly to the Deputy Accountant General (A&E) Kahoto J Yepthomi via e-mail at kahotoj@ yahoo.co.in or agaenagaland@cag. gov.in or through a handwritten letter on the address given below for immediate clarification and re-

EAC Chumukedima asks business establishments to renew trade license

dressal of their grievances. They can also submit suggestions to strengthen the delivery system addressed to Kahoto J Yepthomi, IAAS; Deputy Accountant General (A&E); Office of the Accountant General (A&E) Kohima.

Meanwhile, all Heads of Department in the state government have been requested once again to ensure timely submission of all retirement related documents (that is, six months before the date of retirement) to avoid harassment to retired officials at various processing stages.

A press release from the AG office informed that cases of many officials received before the date of retirement have been settled by the AG Nagaland office on their retirement date and day as a demonstration of seriousness the office accords to sensitivities of retired officials and their retirement benefits. “Departments may seriously take up the matter of timely submission of retirement documents, so as to enable the pensioners to receive their retirement benefits in time,” it urged.

Meetings & AppointMents Training for polling officials in Dmp Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome has informed all the polling officials of Dimapur for the forthcoming Urban Local Bodies’ election that the second round of training will be held on January 20 at Dimapur Government College at the time given below: 11:00 am onwards – Presiding Officer and 1st polling officials; 1:30 pm onwards – 2nd and 3rd polling officials. Further, it was informed that the third phase of training is tentatively scheduled to be held on January 28. Strict disciplinary action will be taken against those who fail to attend the second phase of training, the DC warned.

NACF convenes meeting The Niuland Area Citizen's Forum (NACF) has convened an emergency meeting on January 21, 11:00 am at the residence of its treasurer, Mughavi at Naharbari, Dimapur. The meeting will discuss various issues on development related to Niuland, informed a release from NACF. All the ex-president, general secretary, vice president of Niuland Area Students' Union and NACF members have been requested to attend the meeting.

SAPO emergency general meeting An emergency general meeting of Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO) will take place on January 21, 11:00 am at SAPO Hall (SABT), Mohonkhola, Kohima. All the VCC/ head GBs/presidents of the frontal organizations, namely SAYO/ SAWO/ SASU/ Chairman, SABT, president SASA/SAGOK have been requested to attend the said meeting.

SUD prayer service Sastami Union Dimapur (SUD) will hold its prayer service (Sukusho Kighini) on January 21, 6:00 am at NCRC Sumi, near SBI, Purana Bazar branch, Dimapur. All Sastami villagers and their in-laws living in and around Dimapur have been informed to attend the service and receive blessings.

National Voters’ Day in Phek Deputy Commissioner of Phek, Muruho Chotso has informed that the 7th National Voters’ Day will be observed on January 25 in Phek with the theme ‘Empowering young and future voters’. He has requested all the newly enrolled electors (Phek Sadar), head of offices, political parties, NGOs, BLOs, Ward Chairmen or GBs under Phek headquarters to attend the function.

AR troops and police representative with the apprehended person and seized liquor.

WOKHA, JANUARY 18 (MExN): 28 Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (North) seized huge quantity of illicit liquor from Tsungiki village in Wokha district on January 18. A press release from PRO, Assam

Rifles informed that on receiving specific information, AR troops along with police apprehended one person named Ranthungo Humtsoe from a godown of a sawmill in Tsungiki village market alongwith large quantity of liquor

costing more than Rs 18 lakhs.

The liquor included rum, whiskey and beer. A case has been registered in the Wokha Police station and the individual along with the liquor handed over to the police, the release added.

MBC reiterates demand for action against 28th AR troops WOKHA, JANUARY 18 (MExN): Mekokla Baptist Church (MBC) today expressed sadness that the government authority concerned has not taken any action against those Assam Rifles troops who occupied the church on October 22, 2016. Despite condemnations by many organizations and memorandum submitted by the Mekokla Students’ Union (MSU) on behalf of the Mekokla people, the government has not taken any action, it lamented in a press release.

Stating that the issue is

very serious and needs to be tackled seriously, MBC hoped that the Governor of Nagaland will deliver justice as per the memorandum submitted by the MSU “by using his good office in the interest of his people so that no unworthy circumstances like this is committed again by the armed forces in the near future and also to make sure that peaceful environment coexist between the Nagas and the security forces.” The Church also fully backed the memorandum submitted by the MSU to the Governor.

Meanwhile, the lead-

ers of MBC in the release once again clarified that the church was “forcefully occupied” by the troops of 28th Assam Rifles without any permission on October 22, 2016 around 8:30 pm.

“The 28th AR has violated the verdicts of Supreme Court of India and protocols of the UN in regard to places of worship and educational institutions, where everyone knows that there are punishments to be given and actions to be taken against those defaulters who violate the verdicts and protocols,” MBC stated.

“This message is to all the Naga people that, from wherever it may be, occupying our Church forcefully on our soil is against our rights.

Today it's in our village but tomorrow the same might happen in your village, therefore we all should stand together and fight for our right so that nothing of this is being committed again in any Naga soil,” it added.

The church further appealed to all the right thinking Naga people to stand with them today and “tomorrow we will be there in your needs.”

KG Kenye expresses concern over border fence Pochury Students’ Union general conference concludes MElURI, JANUARY 18 (MExN): The 57th general conference of Pochury Students’ Union (PSU) concluded on January 13 at Reguriunder in Meluri sub-division of Phek district, the last village in the southeastern Nagaland bordering Myanmar. KG Kenye, MP (Rajya Sabha) from Nagaland graced the function as the valedictory guest.

The MP raised concern over the construction of fencing along the “manmade international boundary that divides the two brothers in India and Myanmar,” informed a press release from S. Akho Leyri, General Secretary, NPF Central office, Kohima. He reminded the students that history of division started in 1953 when the Prime Ministers of India and Burma came to Kohima.

Kenye further said that the South East Asia will be a hub for trade – becoming the most lucrative trade zone next door. “The doorway is Phek, Kiphire and Tuensang districts of Naga-

land and it is viable in this decade,” he stated, according to the release.

However, the MP lamented over the ground reality that “we dream big dreams but face difficulties to translate it into reality. Nagas have to go with begging bowl as our economy is weak and politically enslaved and has a slow growth.”

While highlighting that Avakhung, now connected with Myanmar by road, is developing, the MP informed that the road was initiated by him some 27 years ago when he was Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board and Chairman, District Planning Board, Phek. He informed the students that he with a large contingent of officials visited Phoyisha and Shilloi area and recommended the road construction to the NEC then. He reminded the people that it takes time to materialize a project and asked the people to patiently wait for the schemes and projects initiated by the government. In-

forming that out of four streams, Tizu has been selected as Class 1 for Inland Waterway, he expressed hope that someday steamers will go till Tamanthi in Myanmar. He also said that Reguri is the shortest route to go to Myanmar.

He further reminded the people that everything starts and ends with electricity. Stages I, II and III, he said, have been prepared for tapping Arachu River for power generation and 100 megawatts of power can be produced from this.

“We cannot go on importing power from other States,” he said. He assured the people that blacktopped road till Reguri and beyond will be accomplished soon.

Dode Nakro, President, Chakhesang Students’ Union and Machü Joshou, President, Pochury Mothers’ Association also exhorted the students. Word of greeting was brought

by Johnny, President of Kamaleah Area Public Organisation.

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 18 (MExN): Elizabeth Ngully, Additional Deputy Commissioner & Returning Officer, Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) has informed all the voters of DMC election to collect their voter slips from their respective polling stations on January 23 and 24 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. In case a voter is unable to come personally, the same can be collected by any of the adult family members or the head of the household, the ADC said in a press release. Any of the following documents may be used for authentication: Aadhaar card, ST/Indigenous certificate with photographs issued by the government, driving license, EPIC, government issued identity cards, bank Passbook with photos, and PAN card.

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 18 (MExN): EAC-cum-Administrator of Chumukedima Town Council, Thungbemo Patton has informed all the business establishments under Chumukedima Town Council that the renewal of trade license and fresh registration of firms will be done from January 23 – March 31. Therefore, all the business establishments have been directed to renew their trade license as per Nagaland Municipal Act 2001.

ADC Zunheboto informs ZUNHEbOtO, JANUARY 18 (DIPR): Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and ADC, Zunheboto, Nungsangmenla Imchen has informed that the list of amendment to the draft electoral roll for 31-Akuluto, 32-Atoizu, 33-Suruhuto, 34-Aghunato, 35-Zunheboto and 36-Satakha Assembly Constituencies has been prepared with reference to January 1, 2017 as qualifying date and in accordance with the Registration of Electoral Rules, 1960. A copy of the said roll together with the said list of amendments has been published and will be available for inspection at her office.

Army Day observed in Jalukie JAlUKIE, JANUARY 18 (MExN): On the occasion of Army Day, 36 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters Inspector General, Assam Rifles (North) conducted weapon display at St Xavier’s College, Jalukie, Peren district. The aim of the event was to familiarize as well as motivate students/ youths of the region to the join the armed forces, informed a press release from Assam Rifles. Major attraction of the event was automatic weapons and rocket launchers, it added. The event was witnessed by around 250 students and locals.

CMA mourns PHEK, JANUARY 18 (MExN): The Chakhesang Mothers’ Association (CMA) has mourned the demise of Vekrotsu Swuro, OSD, Directorate of Higher Education, who breathed his last on January 11 in Kohima.

A condolence note appended by CMA President, Zaposhelu Venuh and General Secretary, Wechete-u Khape said late Swuro was a dedicated and sincere officer. Expressing loss and pain over the death, the Association stated that the big vacuum left will take long period to be filled. The CMA further prayed that God grant comfort and solace to the bereaved family members.

Mass social work in Pfutsero Town on Jan 23 PfUtsERO, JANUARY 18 (DIPR): Additional Deputy Commissioner of Pfutsero, Sangmai C. Imlong held a meeting on January 17 with all heads of offices, institutions, presidents of political parties, ward chairmen and Head GBs of Pfutsero Town at the conference hall of ADC office to chalk out the programme for the forthcoming Republic Day celebration. The meeting discussed work distribution to various departments of Pfutsero Town. ADC also informed that there will be a mass social work on January 23 in Pfutsero Town starting 7:00 am and urged upon all citizens and town dwellers to participate in the mass social work positively and make it a successful one. He further directed all government departments to clean the office premises on the same day without fail.

6

thursday 19•01•2017

IN FOCUS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express volume XII Issue 17

By Aheli moitra

status to humanity

I

f one wants to make sense of the current imbroglio unfolding before the slated elections to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Nagaland State, the best place to go would be the editorials of the Nagaland Page (www.nagalandpage.com), a daily newspaper published from Dimapur. The newspaper has set the issue in its proper context, particularly with regards to the rights of Naga women and equality, or the lack thereof, in Naga society. It has also constructively laid out what has gone wrong with the Naga polity, particularly the unholy alliance of the “tribal non governmental bodies” and the Nagaland State Government, and the pitfalls therein, from a feminist lens.

Very few women, like the Editor of Nagaland Page, have chosen to be part of the discussion on the ULB polls. When they have, though, they have constructed their arguments through research and analysis of information and knowledge drawn from the ground—not only from the past ‘time immemorial’ but also from our location in the present as well as the future.

The counter argument to such well informed analysis has, however, mostly been ‘men are men and women are women’ (as a Morung colleague summarized quite well). It will be unfruitful to comment on these without a proper study into the Naga male psyche and the continued equation of politics to warfare, or even a hunting exercise.

In any case, two important perspectives have stood out that could help synthesize a way forward. One is from a Senior Additional Advocate General of Nagaland and another from a retired bureaucrat turned anti-corruption activist. The former has brought the pertinent constitutional observation that Article 371-A, and anything guaranteed therein, does not supersede basic constitutional guarantees, like fundamental rights (Equality, for instance, is both a fundamental and universal human right and should not/cannot be superseded by customary law whether the Nagas are part of the Indian Union or an otherwise sovereign nationstate). The latter has made the case of women’s ‘status’ and rights to be first amended in the customary laws of the Nagas through a ‘Supreme Customary Law Court.’

It is possible to critically examine these arguments, and design a way forward, before drawing a personal position on the matter because they are well informed and reflective opinions. On the other hand, neither the civil bodies nor the State Government have been able to go beyond stubborn upholding of positions by framing, and giving body to, the issues involved in the debate.

We have seen a glimpse of the civil society worry: that the current Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001 has a taxation component that seeks to colonise the Naga people further through extensive governance. We have also understood a little of why it is important to hold elections to draw funds necessary to develop Nagaland’s rotting urban sector. But neither of these positions has been articulated well nor an informed public debate initiated. Instead, the women’s reservation issue has been made the “battleground, not the battle prize,” as an editorial in the Nagaland Page noted, and arm twisting methods have been used to force candidates to adhere.

Use of force does not bode well for an already fractured civil society (one reason why the issue has reached such proportion), nor does it work for the political parties that are leaving candidates with the ‘option’ of choosing between their community and a political party. The whole affair has now boiled down to a clash between allies and the people, and it can only result in disaster. No matter who wins this battle, the war will be lost.

One thing is clear, Naga leaders need to include women as an entrenched part of intra and inter community meetings who will equally contribute to the debate—the male dominated institutions have to make a deliberate shift from their ‘status’ preoccupied positions to one of humanity. If Naga apex bodies are serious about their future as an evolving people, they cannot shed their responsibility towards creating a well informed equal society.

Other suggestions may be forwarded to moitramail@yahoo.com

lEfT wiNg |

IANS

In his 'very isolating job,' Barack Obama found comfort in books

C

onsidered to be the most powerful position in the world, the US presidency, says outgoing incumbent Barack Obama, is "very isolating," adding that during the eight years of his tenure, he found comfort in books.

"At a time when events move so quickly and so much information is transmitted," he told The New York Times, in one of his final interviews before he leaves office on Friday, reading helped him "slow down and get a perspective".

Books provided him "the ability to get in somebody else's shoes," he said. He also noted that it was almost impossible to say whether this had made him a "better president".

"But what I can say is that they have allowed me to sort of maintain my balance during the course of eight years, because this is a place that comes at you hard and fast and doesn't let up," Obama said.

"And so I think that I found myself better able to imagine what's going on in the lives of people throughout my presidency because of not just a specific novel but the act of reading fiction.

It exercises those muscles, and I think that has been helpful.

"And then there's been the occasion where I just want to get out of my own head. Sometimes you read fiction just because you want to be someplace else," he said.

Obama further noted that the job of a president can be "very isolating."

"So sometimes you have to sort of hop across history to find folks who have been similarly feeling isolated, and that's been useful," he said.

Asked to name a few books that have touched him during his presidency, Obama said that Shakespeare continues to be a "touchstone".

"I would say Shakespeare continues to be a touchstone.

Like most teenagers in high school, when we were assigned, I don't know, 'The Tempest' or something, I thought, 'My God, this is boring.' And I took this wonderful Shakespeare class in college where I just started to read the tragedies and dig into them. And that, I think, is foundational for me in understanding how certain patterns repeat themselves and play themselves out between human beings," he said.

Obama also said that he spent "little" time on writing during his tenure and that he now plans to work on his memoir.

This will rely heavily on a journal he has kept -- though "not with the sort of discipline that I would have hoped for".

Obama named Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela among writers and leaders who had given him "a sense of solidarity".

On reading the biographies of former presidents, Obama said: "The biographies have been useful, because I do think that there's a tendency, understandable, to think that whatever's going on right now is uniquely disastrous or amazing or difficult."

C O M M E N T A R Y

Neeta Lal The Diplomat

India's International Child Abduction Dilemma New Delhi faces pressure to ratify a convention that activists fear would ultimately harm Indian women and children

I

ndia has found itself in the eye of an international storm by refusing to ratify the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980). The convention, which has 90 member countries, protects children under the age of 16 from “wrongful removal or retention” by a parent and ensures “their prompt return to the state of their habitual residence.”

India’s non-compliance is garnering increasing attention from the global community as more and more Indians go abroad to study or seek better employment opportunities. This migration has also created a surge in children’s abductions by divorced or estranged Indian parents who bring their offspring back to India with them.

Caught in the maelstrom of feuding parents, the children are forced to return by one of their parents, usually the mother, in the interest of their safety and security.

Part of the reason for these spiraling abductions has also been a surge in divorces among Indian couples, say sociologists. Though no official census has been done on divorce rates in India, lawyers and marriage counselors say divorce petitions have gone up “manifold” across the country over the last 10 years. “More than 100 divorce applications are being filed in Delhi’s courts alone every day,” elaborates Parthav Banerjee, a Delhi-based relationship counselor.

The growing psychological and financial independence of Indian women and late marriages are cited as the common reasons for breakup of marriages. “Very often, within months or weeks of their marriage couples seek separation. Some couples head directly to their respective lawyers after returning from [their] honeymoon!” says Banerjee.

Experts add that with better education, Indian women are becoming increasingly self-assertive and confident, which eliminates the need for them to depend on their spouses for sustenance. “This is mainly why they are also able to stand up to mental or physical abuse and seek separation if required,” says a member of Delhi Police’s Special Police Unit for Women and Children.

The Indian government’s refusal to ratify the Hague convention centers on the argument that in most cases, it is the mother — often a victim of domestic abuse — who returns to India with the child (considered an act of “abduction” under the convention).

And so adhering to the treaty would be tantamount to victimizing women who are trying to escape a bad marriage.

A report by India’s Law Commission shows that 68 percent of the parents who took their child away were mothers, where 85 percent of these mothers are the primary caregivers of their children across the globe.

In the United States and Europe, pa-

India has not ratified the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980) till date producing new dilemmas.

rental child abduction is a serious offense, punishable with jail time. 2014 legislation authorizes the State Department to take forceful measures against any country that fails to help return an American child illegally taken abroad.

But India currently has no guidelines to deter such abductions. Mostly, judges who determine such cases on an ad-hoc basis, without consistency in determining custody issues and visitation rights.

According to the U.S. State Department, India leads the tally for international parental child abductions in America. From 2010 to 2014, 173 such cases were registered, but only 22 cases were resolved with the kids returning home to the United States. Roughly over 1,000 Indian kids have been moved from their homes across international borders, of which barely half return home, says a U.S. State Department report. This assumes significance considering the United States hosts the world’s largest Indian diaspora at over two million.

With rights activists and governments highlighting an increasing number of abduction cases from India, the country is under pressure to ratify the Hague treaty. Members of Congress, led by Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey and author of the Goldman Act – also known as the International Child Abduction and Prevention Act – stated, “International child abduction rips children from their homes and lives, taking them to a foreign land and alienating them from a left-behind parent who loves them and who they have a right to know.”

The Indian-American organization Bring Our Kids Home has urged the State Department to liaise with the Indian government to help bring home children who have been abducted to

India by their parents. New Delhi’s refusal to toe the American line may even lead to a future bilateral diplomatic kerfuffle, say experts.

The American case to get India to be a signatory to the treaty is rooted in tenets of gender equality and the idea that both parents should have equal rights to nurture the child. There is a belief that because India is a modern country, and the Indian diaspora has increased quantitatively over the years, the country needs to be in sync with international norms. Be that as it may, Indian activists opine that given the reality of Indian marriages — where women play a subservient role to their husbands and in-laws under patriarchal family set-ups — defies this logic.

“Parental child abduction is not recognized as a crime in India,” explains High Court lawyer Aditi Parekh.

“If we ratify the convention, we will have to send the woman and the child back immediately as the act of escaping with the child would be treated as abduction.”

“This makes women and their kids vulnerable to abuse and deprives them of the chance to seek succor from potentially life-threatening consequences,” adds the lawyer. “In some cases, husbands have even procured orders from U.S. courts to arrest the mother the minute she goes back to the foreign country.”

According to activist Pratibha Kakkar, India becoming a signatory to the Hague Convention would never benefit Indian women and children, because there are very few instances of Indian children being taken away from India to a foreign country by either one of the child’s parents. Besides, adds Kakkar, in India, “a child who is in the

custody of either one of its parents, is not considered ‘abducted’ either according to existing Indian laws or as per Indian culture and value systems.”

However, with mounting international pressure, India is being forced to re-examine its stance.

India’s Law Commission had also advised that the Union government should be a signatory to the treaty in its report titled “Need to accede to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 2009.”

Last week, India agreed to reconsider its refusal to join the Hague convention, with Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi calling for a meeting of all stakeholders, including officials from the Home and External Affairs Ministries, on February 3. The meeting will discuss the civil aspects of international child abduction.

But, as legal eagles point out, for India to be part of the convention, the country will first need to frame a law at home that makes such abductions a criminal offense. Toward this end, last year, the WCD Ministry had drafted the civil aspects of international child abduction bill, which makes the offense punishable by a one-year jail term. But the bill is yet to get the cabinet nod.

Once approved, the law will allow the “abducted” child to be sent back to the country from which he or she was forcibly taken away from a parent.

However, given the complexities of the issue, and the sensitivities of the various stakeholders involved, it might be some time before any conclusion is reached on this matter, which has found great global resonance.

Neeta Lal is a Delhi-based editor and senior journalist

The seeds of the next Arab Spring Kareem Chehayeb

A new report suggests that Arab youth continue to be neglected – and that demographic shifts are incubating another political crisis

T

he 2016 Arab Human Development Report (AHDR) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was focused on the region’s youth – those aged between 15 and 29 – a significant group that keeps on growing. This is the first report of its kind to be released after the Arab Spring, and details how young people are more politically aware and motivated to achieve their civil and human rights. Yet they face considerable challenges, primarily economic and security-related. The poor economic planning by the existing regimes is only prolonging and worsening these problems, as a more politically-conscious population grows.

The unemployment plague Youth unemployment among those aged between 15 and 24 was at its highest in 2014, at almost 30%, more than double the global average. By 2019, an even greater disparity will emerge, as estimates project the global average to decline, with the Arab world’s rate increasing steadily. Considering that the region’s population growth is the largest worldwide, over 60 million jobs will need to be created by 2020 simply to stabilize youth unemployment.

What is the root cause of this un-

employment? According to the report, it goes back to poor policy, specifically policy that “matches demographic growth and needs of the market.” A limited number of jobs with a growing population means that nepotism, rather than merit, is key when finding a job.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that unemployment and the economy is the top priority for Arab youth, according to 75.77% of those polled. On the other hand, internal security and stability is only top priority for 2.99%.

Arab youth want to be more politically involved This comes as no surprise, given the series of protests that took place across the region from 2009, commonly referred to as the Arab Spring or Arab Awakening. Indeed, the report does recognize a growing educated and politically active generation, who are more knowledgeable of the problems and injustices they face.

Youth participation in protests across the Arab region was over 18% in 2013 – almost double that of middle income countries. However, Arab youth have the lowest voting rate worldwide at 68.4%, whereas youth from middle income countries make up a hefty 87.4%.

Despite their eagerness to be part of the political process, and the lack of formal barriers to at least some participation (in all except eight countries), young people remain excluded.

For instance, the average age at the councils of ministers in the region is

58 years old.

Future generations will pay a high price for today’s conflicts Syria. Iraq. Yemen. Palestine. Libya.

Somalia. The devastation and destruction of those countries over the past few years will take years to turn around.

According to the report, 68.5% of the world’s battle-related deaths took place in the region between 1989 and 2014, which accounts for 27.7% globally.

But of course that doesn’t factor in other countries that aren’t in a formal state of war and have endured terrorist attacks. Indeed, in 2014 alone the region endured 45% of the world’s terrorist attacks.

While the region hosts 57.5% of the world’s refugees, and 47% of the world’s internally displaced, the longterm consequences as a result of the region’s conflicts are well beyond that.

While the welldocumented wave of Syrian refugees have played a huge role in drastic demographic transformations in the region, the report claims that the plight of the Palestinians should not be cast aside, stating that “Israel’s occupation of Palestine is the longest occupation in the modern era … during which a people has been deprived of the right to self- determination.”

The report projects more people to be living in high conflict risk areas. By 2050, they project that three out of four people will be living in such regions.

Fiscal trends also indicate that this projection will be true. Between 1988

wRiTE-wiNg

and 2014, the Arab region’s per capita military expenditure exceeded the cumulative global average by 65%, which is about US$2 trillion. Signs don’t point to a slowdown.

Such heavy spending on the military only prolongs and worsens existing security crises. The researchers concluded that this type of excessive spending has a negative effect on spending on education, healthcare, infrastructure, among other sectors that, if well taken care of, can diminish various security risks.

Is Another Arab Spring Imminent?

It is clear that regimes across the region cannot sweep these critical issues under the rug. The 100 million 15-29 year-olds make up two-thirds of the region’s population – many are intelligent and capable of leading. While the Arab uprisings did not succeed, the report concludes that the popular uprisings indicated their ability to recognize challenges to development, express their dissatisfaction, and politically organize to fight for their demands and achieve them in a peaceful and sustainable way.

The report also recognizes the brutal security-oriented state response to these protests and mobilizations. The researchers conclude that while this approach achieves some stability and repels protesters for an indefinite period of time, not taking action on the root causes of these mobilizations will come back to haunt them. In fact, it appears that we can see the buildup of these issues, coupled with violent state response, as the catalyst for not only larger mobilizations, but also more violent ones.

Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The morung express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: morung@gmail.com All letters (including those via email) should have the full name and Postal address of the sender.

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

thursday 19•01•2017

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

7

The Phenomenon of Migration

M

igration is a world-wide phenomenon. Animals and birds migrate in search of food, habitat and in accordance with season. Men migrate in search of food, shelter, work and better life. At times, men are forced to migrate against their will due to political compulsions, civil wars, ethnic conflicts and other unsavory reasons. Throughout mankind’s long history, migration in one form or the other manifested itself time and again.

Every continent of the world has been a witness to this phenomenon umpteen numbers of times. In fact, it may not be wrong to say that this phenomenon is an ongoing process in one form or the other at one place or the other whether we recognize it or not.

When people are forced to migrate due to political turmoil and imminent persecution in one’s country, the misery and plight that befall on them is indeed pitiful and pathetic. Even in good times, it is not easy to leave one’s home and everything that one has and migrate to a totally new environment where one has to make numerous new adjustments and face many unforeseen challenges. So when people are forced to move out of their homes due to political compulsions, ethnic conflicts or civil wars, the troubles and the hardships that befall on the people are indeed manifold and unimaginable. The most recent instance which we can think of in this regard is the mass migration of people from countries like Syria to Europe and even America due to the unrest in that country. The plight and the turmoil that these people had to undergo was indeed heart-wrenching as they were literally forced to move out of their beloved country with their family including children and even toddlers leaving everything they had behind and move to unseen and unknown territory where an uncertain future awaits them. These people were forced to take such an extreme step because the very land which they called as their home had become a battleground where their very lives and future were on the brink of extinction and annihilation due to the extreme and radical political beliefs, ideas and propagandas of some people. When migration of such magnitude takes place due to political compulsions and civil unrest, it becomes a big battle for survival not only for the migrating people but even for those people upon whose land these migrating people would set their feet. This is so because in such a scenario, the hosting people are also caught off-guarded and put in a very vulnerable situation where challenges like sharing of basic resources, being

hospitable and putting up a good friendly image before the world naturally crop up.

The Nagas also experienced a sort of this migration in the 1950s and 1960s when the whole Naga populace was out on the run due to the reign of terror unleashed by the Indian army. However, the Nagas did not migrate to any neighboring or foreign area even during this difficult times. Rather they left their villages and everything they had and moved to their paddy-fields and nearby jungles where they thought they would find safety. Many perished in these wild environments due to want of food, clothing and shelter. And even in these wild habitations the Indian army came after them hunting them like wild animals. So we Nagas especially the preceding generation are all too familiar with the challenges and hardships that one has to encounter when one is forced to run away from one’s domestic environment. God forbid such a fate befall on our people again.

Furthermore, it is alleged that the Nagas migrated through a long route from Central Asia over a long period of time spanning centuries and entered the present Naga lands through the Burmese corridor and settled here permanently where we took up agriculture to sustain ourselves. In the process the Nagas came to organize themselves into village systems where there was no caste, class or creed system and where everybody had a share and voice thereby displaying a pure democratic society. As of now, we may lack any concrete scientific evidence about this migration history of our forefathers but for an avid observer, the circumstantial evi-

dences may be all too overwhelming.

Apart from the migration due to political reasons, there is another migration which happens due to economic reasons which is all the more pervasive, common and constant whether one notices it or not. This can be called migration due to the “search for a better life”. Yes, people are forced to migrate to greener pastures when they cannot find enough work to sustain themselves in one place. Similarly people also migrate when they think that they can accomplish bigger things or realize their dreams elsewhere.

While some people simply migrate chasing the ‘glamour of the city life’. These types of migration may be permanent or temporary depending on many varied factors.

In present day Nagaland, it is the migration (or rather influx) of outsiders into our lands due to economic opportunities available here that has become a matter of concern. We Nagas suffer from a false sense of pride. We do not want to stretch out our hands and do the things that we consider small, dirty, humiliating and embarrassing.

And because of this we are providing ample opportunities of earning to outsiders to come and earn decent incomes. This is the scenario which is inviting scores of people from all over India and even countries like Nepal and Bangladesh to come to our land and earn and sustain not only themselves here but also send a fortune back to their native homes. This is the reason why a good portion of our money does not circulate amongst ourselves but go out of our lands never to return again. I guess the economic status of many Nagas can be much better if

we simply learn to do our own works and let our money circulate amongst ourselves rather than throwing it out of the window through this Non-Naga workforce. As of now, this Non-Naga workforce has become an unwanted but indispensable part of the Naga society. But unless we wake up and regulate, streamline and rationalize this workforce effectively, their numbers, confidence and ego will only increase with each passing day and one day it may reach a stage where they are in a position to manipulate, blackmail and drive our whole economy and society for their sole advantage.

One of our leaders rightly said, “when a sea or river over-floods, it is the people living on the banks of the river or seashores that is put on the brink of extinction”. This is so because when a sea or river becomes full and over-floods, the first areas where the overflowing water will go are the banks of the rivers and the seashores. Here let us recall that the Nagas are a small nation surrounded by some of the most populous nations in the world like China, India and Bangladesh. As of now, China being a rather developed nation, we do not face any imminent threat from China for its people to come to our land in search of work and for survival. But as far as India and Bangladesh are concerned, the danger and threat loom large in our horizon. India and Bangladesh are populous nations where the population density is also extremely tight and dense. And what is more, the efforts of these countries to slow down the growth of its population have also not been very successful in the recent past. And so when the population sea of India and Bangladesh explodes and overflows and the people there cannot find work to sustain and survive, they will naturally move towards the banks and shores to find work and survive.

And who are the people living on the seashore and banks of the India-Bangladesh Population Sea? It is we the Nagas numbering hardly two millions. Therefore, when the population sea of India and Bangladesh explodes and overflows, it can easily wipe out the people living in its banks and shores from the map and surface of South East Asia. Yes of course, this may not happen at least in our lifetime. But considering the rate at which populations in these countries are exploding where survival is becoming harder and harder, where there is no more enough resources and work for all and considering the Nagas’ false sense of pride and our apathy and lackadaisical attitude towards these issues which are slowly but constantly assuming epic proportions…… such an eventuality may happen sooner than we think……..

How can women, children and the elderly be protected from Delhi?

I

Garga Chatterjee

n the great “cosmopolitan” NCR, certain kinds of people find total freedom to be themselves. The result is quite sad. In the first week of September, an 11 month old baby was raped for two hours in Delhi and then abandoned in bushes by one such freedom seeker. Then in the third week, two women were stabbed to death by their stalkers in two separate incidents. Delhi has long been the rape capital. There cannot be a rape capital without it being the pervert capital. There is something about the NCR that makes it very attractive for perverts and sexual criminals from all over the Indian Union to consider it their ideal place. They feel at home here like nowhere else. Should we be concerned about Delhi? Not really. What we should be concerned about is protecting children and women from Delhi.

In a subcontinent where some rapes are more equal than others in terms of outraged evoked, numbers are always helpful. Whether a rape evokes outrage, social media concerns, poignant solidarity messages, police action, judicial concern and candle light vigils is based on caste, class, ethnicity and much more, of the victim and the perpetrator(s). Rape brings in the question of individual criminality as well as systemic reasons. What goes largely undiscussed are factors of intersection – intersection of location, power and collective mentalities. This is why the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data is important for every citizen of the Indian Union who want to live in an area safe for women, children and older people to make informed choices about where to live and thrive. The NCRB data can be misused if one uses total number of crimes, since places will have larger number of crimes just due to bigger population. What matters is the crime rate, which is, total number of crimes in comparison to its population.

And all the data points to one fact – don’t choose Delhi. There is something very, very wrong about Delhi.

The incidents mentioned above are not cherry picked to “defame” Delhi with regards to crimes against women. On this count, Delhi is already infamous enough.

In a recent FirstPost piece (http://www. firstpost.com/india/nyt-writer-leavespolluted-delhi-to-save-his-children-itstime-for-a-new-capital-of-india-2272914. html), Sandipan Sharma wrote about the writer who had left Delhi to save his children from pollution. This most polluted city of the world gives impaired lung functions to half of its children. Pollution is not only danger due to which many parents with little children have left Delhi. Many caring parents I have met have chosen other cities over Delhi when their girl child was born or are looking to move out. After all, for many people, earning and jet-setting in “cosmo-

when compared to the safety of their near and dear one, especially the girl child. The recently published NCRB data shows that in 2015, there were 927 incidents of child rapes reported in Delhi. That is about 3 children being raped per day! NCRB data shows that in 20% of the cases of reported child rape in Delhi, children themselves were perpetrators in 20% of the cases. Delhi’s children are hardly safe around Delhi’s children! Such is the effect of Delhi on children, turning them into perpetrators and making them victims at rates unheard of elsewhere.

Rapes of children in Delhi don’t happen from strangers but in 97% of cases, it is people known to them, according to Delhi police data. 22% of the victims are aged below seven years. 38% of the victims are aged between 7 and 12 years. Thus a child in Delhi isn’t safe at home or anywhere. If this was not sick enough, police and child rights activists claim that the actual number is much, much higher. There is no reason to think that the NCR-Delhi region under-reports rapes against children more than any other state. Thus, these numbers are a good estimate of Delhi’s shameful place at the top. If this was not bad enough, Delhi is on the top among all 29 states and seven Union Territories with 37 kidnapping and abduction cases per 100,000 population in 2015. That’s about 29 kidnappings per day. In many of these abductions, the targets are children. Delhi has more abductions than each of large states like West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. How many of these abductions in Delhi involve children are victims? About 60% of Delhi’s total of 7730 cases of abductions in 2015 were of children.

Delhi for some is apparently the place for “opportunities”. Among the “opportunities” Delhi provides is also the “opportunity” for sexual criminals to commit their crimes at unbelievable rates. In short, parents who care about their children not being raped or abducted might want to think of the child’s interest when choosing where to live and make their career in this huge

dren are much, much safer rather than selfishly exposing minors to constant threat from surroundings. A parent who left Delhi to ensure his children’s wellbeing wrote (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/ opinion/sunday/holding-your-breath-inindia.html?_r=1) “some feel it is unethical for those who have a choice to willingly raise children here”. He quoted another parent Sarath Guttikunda, who said, “If you have the option to live elsewhere, you should not raise children in Delhi”. And they were just talking about the pollution and not the chart-topping rates of rape and abduction of children.

On the other end of the spectrum from children are the old. When the young fly high, it’s the older people who often care for the children. But in Delhi, even the old are not spared. Senior citizens are defined as those over the age of 60 years. 2015 NCRB data shows that Delhi is the most unsafe place for senior citizens. It had “won” this infamy in 2014 and has repeated the feat in 2015. Its crime rate against the elderly of 108.8 crimes per 1 lakh elderly population is about 5 times more than the rest of the Indian Union. Delhi’s 2015 crime rate against senior citizens is more than the 2014 rate.

Things are getting from very bad to worse.

When the girl children in Delhi grow up to be women, how is it for them? In total numbers, there were 1893 rapes in Delhi in 2015. That is more than 5 per day. Its reported rape rate per 1 lakh population was a whopping 11.6 in 2015. For comparison with another large city, the same rate for Kolkata in 2015 was 0.2. This means in Delhi, a woman is 58 times more likely to be rapes compared to Kolkata! And this is a disease that afflicts the NCR region as a whole. For example, the 2015 rape rate in Faridabad is 9.1, that is, 46 times more than Kolkata. Delhi also has the highest number of attempted rapes among megacities. If this were not enough, it is also the stalking capital, with 18% of all stalking cases in the Indian Union! This expands to

est number of crimes among all states in the Indian Union. There is not a single category of crime where Delhi’s crime rate is not more than that of Kolkata and most often it’s many times greater.

Since 1990 and especially so in the previous decade, the central government has built up Delhi, showering it with goods, subsidies and helping make it an employment destination for the rest of the Indian Union.

Other cities haven’t received this help — cities where women are less likely to be raped.

Delhi is peppered with infrastructure that India’s provinces have toiled hard to pay for.

The elite of Delhi and the regional elites who wish to see their children in Delhi in perpetuity have, by dint of their grip on the central government, made a ‘world-class city’ for themselves. By choosing to do this at a location where power, impunity and rape-rates are the highest among cities, they have conspired against their children, parents and women. The inordinate subsidization of the rape capital by the central government has to stop. Subsidizing the rape capital is like creating the best-equipped school in the street with the highest number of child molesters.

This shocking state of affairs is confirmed by no other than the chief of the Delhi Commission for Women who says, “the truth is that Delhi now is not only the rape capital of the world but has also become the stalking capital of the world”.

Four years after the “Nirbhaya” case, the number of rapes in Delhi has tripled. Delhi has maintained its top rank in rape rates before, during and after “Nirbhaya”. Delhi is no place to be “Nirbhaya”. Such nomenclatures are good for self-congratulatory posturing. No wonder that the mother of “Nirbhaya” refused this false name and publicly stated her daughter’s real name Jyoti Singh Pandey, for that’s who she really was. It is the place which makes its girl children full of bhay (fright), its seniors abused and its women stalked and raped at rates which other cities cannot even be-

Opposition Parties and Dissenting Voices as Growth Essentials for Society

“R

ulers always have and always will find it dangerous to their security to permit people to think, believe, talk, write, assemble, and particularly to criticize the government as they please,” said William J. Brennan, a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Therefore, the framers of the U.S. Constitution established a limited government that would not threaten individual freedoms, such as the freedom of conscience, religion, and expression.

Constitutional democracy cherishes the free exchange of ideas, including dissension and opposition from its citizenry.

Only when freedom of public discussion is available, and where almost any policy is subject to perpetual questioning and challenge, can there be the assurance that both majority and minority rights will be served. Conversely, to be afraid of public debate is to be afraid of a society from becoming a vibrant democracy.

The right to oppose the government, or to form opposition parties, is a defining characteristic of a democracy. Hence, it is important to not only recognize the need for the free flow of opposing views but also to encourage this free expression.

But in India, unfortunately, there’s a strong aversion to opposition parties and dissenting views. Ruling parties typically dig deep into the national treasury and use government resources to suppress opposition parties. As a result, opposition parties continue to be victims of legal and political restrictions designed by the incumbent regimes. On the other hand, most opposition parties are also equally wrong in thinking that their role is to oppose everything or anything a ruling government proposes or suggests. Or, sometimes they would just stoop down to screaming at each other without carefully thinking or taking things personally when others disagree with them. As for the populace, they seem to believe that democracy is simply about the casting of ballots every five years or so. In the meantime, the government is left to do whatever it pleases until the next election time comes around again.

Faced with these challenges, what role does an opposition party play in an emerging democracy? What function does it serve? What can it do to promote the democratic process?

If politics is to be taken seriously, those who lose in an election have a duty to continue speaking out for the issues they ran for during the campaign. They shouldn’t just pack up their bags and go home.

The real work of the opposition begins the day after a General Election. As such, the opposition is in a privileged position to promote responsible debate and call media attention on key issues. Through healthy debates, the opposition can push democratic process to a higher level of political development and maturity. In emerging democracies around the world, opposition parties are increasingly playing an important role in shaping policy agendas and fighting corruption, singly or in alliance with other entities.

Of course, the opposition’s main role is to question the government of the day: hold the officers-in-charge accountable, check if real service delivery is happening on ground, and ensure transparency in handling all public matters. It serves as a watchdog, making sure that the government acts within the scope of the law, pointing out cases of corruption, nepotism and the like. In other words, the opposition’s role is very crucial because it keeps the sitting government on its toes and prevents it from becoming complacent, arbitrary, despotic, or corrupt.

To be in the opposition can be a real blessing in disguise. Especially for firsttimers, it can be a great training ground.

In some countries opposition parties form “shadow cabinets” where members of the party are assigned “cabinet portfolios” reflecting the ruling government.

This is to give “shadow cabinet members” the opportunity to start developing strategies within their specific portfolios.

After all, the opposition should always present itself as a viable alternative (“a government-in-waiting”) to the ruling government. For example, if the ruling government were to let the public down, citizens need to know that they would be in ‘safe hands’ if the opposition were to take control of the helm of affairs.

For all these above-mentioned reasons, opposition parties should see themselves as indispensable for the growth and progress of a society. Their goal should be to deepen democracy within the political institutions before they can become champions of national democracy and good governance. Indeed, democracy cannot thrive without a viable and vibrant opposition.

8

thursDAY 19•01•2017

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Salman Khan acquitted in Arms Act case

Jodhpur/MuMbai, January 18 (ianS): Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was on Wednesday acquitted by a Jodhpur court in an Arms Act case involving the killing of blackbucks. Even as the jubilant actor thanked his fans for support and some colleagues hailed the decision, Twitterati trolled him. The court, in its 102page order, did not find him accused under Sections 3/25 and 3/27 of the Arms Act. Chief Judicial Magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit announced the ruling after having completed the hearing on January 9.

"The prosecution could not prove any offence against Salman. It took a long time but ultimately the truth has won," Salman's lawyer Hastimal Saraswat told IANS. Salman and his sister Alvira were present in the court -- the actor looking crisp in a blue t-shirt with the 'Being Human' tagline -- when the judge held he was not guilty of keeping an unlicensed weapon and using it during an alleged blackbuck hunt in 1998.

The verdict brought visible respite on Salman's face.

Police had a hard time controlling the actor's supporters in the court premises, many of whom carried the Salman's pictures. The actor even gave autographs

Bollywood actor Salman Khan sits in a car as he leaves a court in Mumbai, May 6, 2015.

(REUTERS FILE PHOTO)

to his fans later.

"Thank you for all the support and good wishes," Salman tweeted minutes later.

Salman and a few other Bollywood actors were accused of poaching blackbucks on the night of October 1, 1998 during the shooting of Hindi movie "Hum Saath Saath Hain" in Rajasthan.

Salman, son of veteran writer Salim Khan, has earlier been acquitted in two other cases related to the incident.

But Salman's acquittal didn't make everyone

happy.

"Salman Khan teaches us that you can pass the buck when it comes to killing blackbucks if you have lots of bucks," wrote one user.

"Salman Khan, the 'Tees Maar Khan' of laws and court cases. Shame," posted another.

One more read: "There are millions who know that Salman Khan is guilty in both cases. Your voice has no value if it is against power and money. How sad!"

Hailing the court decision, actor Alok Nath, who played Salman's onscreen father in "Hum Saath Saa-

th Hain", told IANS: "It is a happy ending to a long, stretched out case. He and his family must be really relieved."

He added: "Salman is a great guy... He has a brilliant career. Now, it is time for him to get married and have children."

Actor Ronit Roy said he was happy for Salman, actor Rahul Dev -- a former contestant of "Bigg Boss 10" which Salman hosts -told IANS: "I have faith in the judicial system and an acquittal signifies he is innocent. It puts to rest any sense of doubt in the eyes

of the public."

Mumbai-based eatery Bhaijaanz Restaurant, named after the "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" actor, announced a 50 per cent discount on its offerings on the receipt of the news from Jodhpur.

The actor's run-ins with the judiciary aren't new.

The Rajasthan High Court in July last year had acquitted Salman in another case, also related to the chinkara poaching.

Salman had moved the Jodhpur bench of the high court, challenging a lower court verdict handing him a one year and a five-year term in two separate cases of poaching. He was held guilty by the lower court and sentenced in 2006.

Salman and the Rajasthan government challenged the lower court verdict on different grounds.

In July 2016, the high court, while allowing Salman's appeal, acquitted him of all the charges and also dismissed the appeal filed by the state government to enhance the sentence.

The state government filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the actor's acquittal.

In 2015, Salman was also acquitted in a 2002 hitand-run case by the Bombay High Court. His vehicle had run over a group of people sleeping on a pavement, killing one of them.

Rs 9.2 lakh crore new notes in system: Patel tells MPs' panel

new deLhi, January 18 (ianS): Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel on Wednesday told a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance that Rs 9.2 lakh crore of new currency notes have been put in circulation since the high-value currency notes were demonetised on November 8.

"When asked how much had been remonetised, he (Patel) replied that more than nine lakh crore has been remonetised," Trinamool MP and Standing Committee on Finance member Saugata Roy said after panel met with the RBI Governor.

"The Governor explained that the

government had advised the RBI to consider demonetising high currency notes. The board had a discussion and took the decision," Roy said.

"When asked how much of the total demonetised currency returned to the bank, he said he could not give the figure right now as the process was still on," he added.

According to the opposition member of Parliament, Governor Patel was also "unable to tell us when the system will be normal... the RBI officials were defensive."

Secretaries of all departments in the Union Finance Ministry as well as bank associations' representatives were present at the

meeting of the committee headed

by Congress MP Veerappa Moily.

On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of high-value currency notes, saying the move was aimed against black money, counterfeit currency and terror funding.

The RBI has still not declared how much of the Rs 15.44 lakh crore in banned notes has been returned to the banks.

Prior to this, an estimate of new notes could only be gleaned from the RBI's weekly figures on "currency in circulation".

The first time the RBI spoke of a break-up of new notes was on De-

cember 7 during the monetary policy press conference. Deputy Governor R. Gandhi said that a total of Rs 4 lakh crore in new notes had been circulated till December 6, of which 19.1 billion notes (which amounts to Rs 1.06 lakh crore) were in small denominations of up to Rs 100 and the rest (Rs 2.94 lakh crore) were in high denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000.

On December 19, the RBI again gave a figure of new notes circulated. It said 20.4 billion small denominations (up to Rs 100) and 2.2 billion of high denominations (Rs 500 and Rs 2,000) had been circulated. This was equivalent to a total of Rs 5.93 lakh crore.

2 killed in clashes over land for power station in West Bengal

KoLKaTa, January 18 (ThoMSon reuTerS FoundaTion): Two people were killed and about a dozen wounded in West Bengal when villagers protesting the takeover of their land for a power station clashed with police and government officials in the latest instance of violence over land use in the country.

Hundreds of villagers blocked roads and burned tyres on Tuesday in Bhangar to protest the construction of a substation by state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.

Police fired tear gas and beat back crowds with batons. Two people died of gunshot wounds, although the police denied they had fired upon the protesters.

"The police showed restraint," said Sunil Chowdhury, the district police superintendent. Several policemen were injured and their vehicles damaged by protesters, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. An investigation into the shootings is underway, he said.

A protester, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, said shots

were fired by the police and officials who supported the project. Local media reported political factions opposed to the state chief minister may have been to blame.

Work on the substation, being built on about 6 hectares (16 acres) of land, was suspended last week after days of protests by villagers who objected to the transmission towers over their farmland and demanded more compensation. Government and company officials had said they would hold talks with the villagers

Respect territorial sovereignty, India to China

new deLhi, January 18 (pTi): In the midst of growing unease in their ties, India on Wednesday asked China to respect its territorial sovereignty and said its ascent should not be seen as a threat to China's rise.

Foreign secretary S Jaishankar also criticized Pakistan for "blocking" Saarc+ , saying the regional grouping has become "ineffective" due to insecurity of one-member nation.

Calling terrorism the most "pervasive and serious" threat to international security, he rued lack of coherence in dealing with the menace globally, adding pressures to reform the UN so that it can deal with major challenges effectively will only grow with each passing day.

Talking about the China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor ( CPEC+ ) which passes through Pakistanoccupied Kashmir, Jaishankar, addressing the Raisina Dialogue, envisioned as the country's flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, said China should respect In-

dia's territorial sovereignty as Beijing was "very sensitive" to matters relating to its own sovereignty.

"China is a country which is very sensitive on matters concerning its sovereignty. So we would expect that they would have some understanding of other people's sensitivity on their sovereignty," he said, noting there was no sign of any reflection on India's concerns over CPEC project.

The foreign secretary's comments came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a clear message to China, said both sides should show sensitivity and respect+ for each other's core concerns and interests.

PM Modi had on Tuesday said only by respecting the sovereignty of countries involved can regional connectivity corridors fulfil their promise and avoid "differences and discord".

"What we are trying to do is to convince China that our rise is not harmful to China's rise just as China's rise need not be to India's rise," Jaishankar told the

gathering.

Referring to Donald Trump's election, the foreign secretary said relations between the US and Russia+ could undergo a major transformation not seen since 1945 and that its impact was hard to predict.

In this context, he said India's relations with both the US and Russia were on an upswing and an improvement in US-Russia ties was not against Indian interests.

On overall ties with China, Jaishankar said there has been broadening of cooperation, especially in areas of business and people-to-people contacts, but these have been "overshadowed" by differences on certain political issues.

He said China's power and its expression remain a dynamic factor in Asia.

Some chill have set in China-India ties following China's opposition to India's bid for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership as also after Beijing blocked India's move+ at the UN to designate Masood Azhar a global terrorist.

to resolve the situation.

"Work on the project will not resume if the villagers do not want it," said Mukul Roy, a member of the state's ruling Trinamool Congress party.

Conflicts related to land have risen in India as demand for land for industrial and development projects has grown.

Farmers reluctant to give up land have stalled major projects, putting billions of dollars of investment at risk, according to a recent report.

Several states have diluted laws to make land

acquisitions easier for industrial and development projects as they try to boost growth and provide jobs.

Last year, the Supreme Court said land acquired

by West Bengal for a Tata Motors factory must be returned to farmers after a decade-long battle during which the factory was moved to a different state.

Mamata Banerjee, who led protests against the Tata land deal, was elected in 2011 to become the state's chief minister and has said her government will not forcefully acquire land.

Telangana to pressurise Centre for twelve percent Muslim quota

hyderabad, January 18 (ianS): Telangana will soon bring in a legislation to provide 12 percent reservations to Muslims and bring pressure on the Union Government to include the law in Constitution's 9th schedule as was done in case of Tamil Nadu, said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday.

Reiterating his commitment to provide quota to Muslims in proportion to their population, he said that if the central government refuses, the state would fight a legal battle.

He told the state assembly that Telangana will follow Tamil Nadu model to provide 12 percent quota to Muslims. He clarified that the quota will not be on the basis on religion but will be based only on socioeconomic backwardness.

Rao said reservations to Muslims in proportion to their population in the state will take the total quota in the state to over 50 percent, the upper limit prescribed by the Supreme Court, thus requiring a constitutional amendment.

He said a bill will be passed in the budget session of the assembly and the legislation will be sent to the Centre with a request to include it in the 9th Schedule, which has laws that cannot be challenged in a court of law.

Stating that he is an optimist, Rao tried to set aside the doubts expressed by some opposition legislators on whether the government can fulfill its promise.

He said the Telangana legislation will be on the lines of a legislation formulated by Tamil Nadu in

1994, which took the overall quota in that state to 69 percent and the same was included in 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

"When Tamil Nadu can do it, why not Telangana.

We will be providing quota in our state. We need this because the social composition of Telangana is such that weaker sections constitute 85 percent of the population," he said As the inclusion of Tamil Nadu legislation in the 9th Schedule was challenged in the Supreme Court, he said Telangana will also implead in the case.

Referring to the point raised by All India Majlise-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, the Chief Minister said there would be no threat to current four percent quota to Muslims as it is within 50 percent limit.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, said Sudhir Commission constituted to study the living standards of the minorities in the state had submitted its report. He said the report was sent to the Backward Classes Commission to make recommendations for reservations based on the population figures.

KCR said the BC Commission was seeking opinions from various sections and will submit its recommendations to the government. A bill will be formulated within a month, taking into consideration the observations made by courts during the hearing on the issue in the past.

Making a statement on the minorities' welfare, the Chief Minister said after the formation of the Telangana state sincere efforts were

made to remove insecurity among the minorities, instill confidence among them and protect their identity.

He said a comprehensive plan was prepared for the welfare and development of minorities, who constitute 14.24 percent of the state's population.

He said in the first budget of Telangana, Rs 1,030 crore was allocated for the welfare and development of the minorities and the allocation was hiked to Rs.1,204 crore during the current year.

Stating that the backwardness among the minorities can be eradicated only through education, he said the government decided to set up residential schools for them at a cost of Rs 8,000 crore.

During 2016-17 academic year, 71 minority residential schools were started.

Another 129 schools will be started in the next academic year.

For those minorities' students pursuing their education abroad, the government introduced Overseas Scholarships Scheme and last year 463 students were given Rs 10 lakh scholarship each besides providing their airfare. This year the scholarship amount will be doubled.

The government is providing pre-metric and post-metric scholarship to minority students and spent Rs 219 crore on this during 2015-16.

Under Shaadi Mubarak scheme, financial assistance of Rs.51,000 being extended for the marriage of each poor girl. The government has so far extended help for marriage of 51,452.

Citizens to actively participate in policing policies

new deLhi, January 18 (ianS): Over 150,000 citizens from all across the country have joined a new initiative that will allow them a say in policing policy and various aspects of safety and security.

The Indian Police Foundation, a multidisciplinary think-tank working for transformational reforms in the Indian Police, together with citizen engagement platform LocalCircles, unveiled this initiative here on Wednesday.

Online communities under the umbrella of "Surakshit Bharat-Safe India" have been initiated and 150,000 citizens from 200 districts signed up for it during the soft roll-out phase. Indian Police Foundation will be taking structured inputs from citizen's discussions on various subjects and will share these with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the state police forces.

"In addition to the national online community, state level online communities have been initiated for over 20 states and the foundation is in the process of enabling access for state and city police forces across these states," Indian Police Foundation Chairman Prakash Singh, a former head of the paramilitary BSF, said

in a statement.

The remaining states will be brought online by January 31, he said.

The online communities will enable citizens to raise issues of concern to the community, assist police where possible as well as for the police to share alerts and information of local relevance. Citizens will be in a position to communicate to the SHO regarding accidents, traffic jams, incidents having a bearing on public order, the presence of suspicious persons and the like.

"City police can send alerts on various initiatives, updates or seek citizen assistance. If the city level police leadership shows interest in forming citizen-police communities at the station or beat level, the same can also be initiated in the future," Prakash Singh said.

"Surakshit Bharat" is now live with active discussions taking place on Women's Safety, Smart Policing, Anti-Child Labour, Vigilant Citizenry against Terrorism, Child Safety Online et al. According to Prakash Singh, "social media, if used constructively can be one of the best enablers for citizen participation in making our daily lives better and safer".

Stem cell treatment could be a proven therapy for diabetes, autism

S

Chirayu Padhiar

tem cell therapy has turned out to be a ray of hope for most patients who are trying to find a cure for incurable diseases. Researchers and experts believe India has been at the top in the development of stem cell treatment followed by several other countries like China and Japan.

However, due to lack of awareness, most people don't think of stem cell therapy as an option for treating most of the incurable diseases.

One of the major issues that India is battling is increasing incidence of diabetes and autism.

According to reports, more than 10 million children in India suffer from autism. About 1 to 1.5 per cent of such children are aged 2-9.

Autism by far is a mental condition which is present from early childhood, characterised by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts, and also characterised by weakened social interface, weakened communication and indulging in repetitive behaviour.

In the case of diabetes, it is one of the most talked-about diseases

across the world and especially in India, but awareness on this is still low. Diabetes generally occurs due to failure or damage of the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas called Beta cells. Diabetes can be classified into 2 types: Type 1 (T1DM) and Type 2 (T2DM).

Stem cells are part of the human body and have the unique ability of naturally finding and repairing the place of damage within. Over the past two decades, it has been made possible to treat T1DM by transplanting islet cells or even whole pancreas from cadaveric donors (allogenic transplantation). Transplants can enable the body to regain control of blood sugar levels so that insulin injections are no longer needed.

Islet transplantations are not very common, because whole pancreas transplants involve major surgery and carry significant risk. Transplants require the immune system to be suppressed so that the new "alien" organ is not rejected. Immuno-suppressant drugs leave the recipient vulnerable to infections and often have side-effects. One of the biggest problems faced by islet transplantation is the lack of donors.

This can be overcome by using patient's own stem cells (autologous transplantation), bypassing all the complications, rejections and side-effects. Research has shown that stem cells present in the patient's pancreas are able to make new Beta cells. Beta cell progenitors have been found in the pancreas of both rodents and humans; it may be possible to grow islet cells from patient's existing islet cells. Alternately, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) treatment is also being explored. These can be sourced from the patient's own adipose tissue (fat), umbilical cord, menstrual fluid, bone marrow and the like.

Clinical trials inserting MSCs into Type 1 diabetes patients take advantage of two properties of these cells. Firstly, they have the regenerative potential to repair Beta cells and, secondly, they can modulate the immune system by inhibiting the responses that lead to the auto-immune attack on pancreatic Beta cells. Since these stem cells come from the patient's own body, there is also no risk of rejection or side-effects. MSCs may be injected intravenously or within the pancreas itself. This approach

promotes Beta cell function, thereby reducing or eliminating the requirement for exogenous insulin.

The central government is also planning to curb the growing incidence of diabetes by stringent measures, including higher taxes and stricter advertisement norms to regulate sale of sugar-sweetened beverages and junk food.

Clinical trials are also under way for autism. Experts believe the umbilical cord stem cells are ideal for treating this because they allow doctors to administer uniform doses as they don't require collection of stem cells from the patient considering it could be a laborious process for child and the parent.

Because they are collected right after birth, umbilical cord-derived cells are much more potent than their "older" counterparts like bone marrow-derived cells.

With trials under way, stem cell therapy could be an effective solution in treating autism and Type 1 diabetes rather than harmful drugs.

Dr Chirayu Padhiar is Laboratory Director of LifeCell International Pvt. Ltd, Chennai. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at drchirayu.p@lifecell.in

ThursdAY 19•01•2017

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

Nigerian air force mistakenly bombs refugee camp MAIDuGurI, JAnuAry 18 (AP): A Nigerian air force fighter jet on a mission against Boko Haram extremists mistakenly bombed a refugee camp on Tuesday, killing more than 100 refugees and aid workers and wounding 200, a government official and doctors said.

Military commander Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor confirmed an accidental bombardment in the northeastern town of Rann, near the border with Cameroon, saying "some" civilians were killed.

It was believed to be the first time Nigeria's military has acknowledged making such a mistake in a region where villagers have in the past reported civilian casualties in the near-daily bombings targeting the Islamic militants.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari expressed deep sadness and regret at "this regrettable

People walk at the site after a bombing attack of an internally displaced persons camp in Rann, Nigeria. (Reuters Photo)

operational mistake."

A Borno state government official, who was helping to coordinate the evacuation of wounded from the remote area by

helicopters, said more than 100 refugees and aid workers were among the dead. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to

speak to reporters.

Doctors Without Borders said its team based in Rann counted at least 52 bodies and was treating 200 wounded, many

in critical condition, and the death toll was expected to rise.

"This large-scale attack on vulnerable people who have already fled from ex-

treme violence is shocking and unacceptable," said Dr. Jean-Clément Cabrol, the aid group's director of operations.

As night fell, the group's team struggled to stabilize the seriously wounded. "We hope that during the night not many more people will die," said the group's head of emergency programs, Hugues Robert, describing a complex evacuation because the area is insecure.

Photographs of the carnage showed a man carrying a wounded child, his clothing stained with blood, as well as bloodied victims being treated on the ground outside a tent clinic overflowing with the wounded. Nearby, corpses lay covered by blankets and prayer mats, alongside mounds of hastily dug graves.

After the attack, the charred remains of makeshift corrugated iron lean-

tos and mud homes filled the landscape.

The International Committee for the Red Cross said six workers with the Nigerian Red Cross were among the dead and 13 were wounded. "They were part of a team that had brought in desperately needed food for over 25,000 displaced persons," spokesman Jason Straziuso said in a statement from Nairobi, Kenya.

Two soldiers were also wounded, as well as Nigerians working for Doctors Without Borders, Irabor said, without giving a precise figure.

The general, who is the theater commander for counterinsurgency operations in northeast Nigeria, said he ordered the mission based on information that Boko Haram insurgents were gathering in the area, along with geographic coordinates.

It was too early to say if a

tactical error was made, he said, adding that the bombing would be investigated.

Doctors Without Borders spokesman Etienne l'Hermitte in Geneva urged authorities to facilitate cross-border land and air evacuations.

"Our medical and surgical teams in Cameroon and Chad are ready to treat wounded patients. We are in close contact with our teams, who are in shock following the event," he said in a statement.

Villagers have previously reported civilian casualties in airstrikes on Boko Haram positions in northeastern Nigeria.

Boko Haram's 7-yearold Islamic uprising has killed more than 20,000 people and forced 2.6 million from their homes, creating the continent's worst humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning some 5.1 million people face starvation.

Chinese newspaper makes robot write story Pakistan will not free doctor

GuAnGzHOu, JAnuAry18 (IAnS): With mechanisation slowly edging into almost every field, the scribe, too, is sought to be replaced by a robot -- in a first, a Chinese newspaper on Wednesday published its first story written by a robot.

The article, in Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolis Daily, was 300 characters long and fo-

cused on the Spring Festival travel rush, China Daily reported.

Its author, Xiao Nan, took only a second to finish writing the piece and is able to write both short stories and longer reports, according to Wan Xiaojun, a professor at Peking University who leads the team studying and developing such robots.

"When compared with

the staff reporters, Xiao Nan has a stronger data analysis capacity and is quicker at writing stories," he said.

"But it does not mean intelligent robots will soon be able to completely replace reporters."

At present, robots are unable to conduct faceto-face interviews, cannot respond intuitively with follow-up questions and don't have the ability to se-

lect the news angle from an interview or conversation, Wan said.

"But robots will be able to act as a supplement, helping newspapers and related media, as well as editors and reporters," he said, adding that he was working alongside the Southern Metropolis Daily to establish a special laboratory to study and develop media robots.

Drugmakers shift focus to chronic diseases of poor DAVOS, JAnuAry 18 (reuterS): Two decades after they were spurred into action to tackle AIDS in Africa, global drugmakers said on Wednesday they would invest $50 million over three years to fight cancer and other non-communicable diseases in poor countries.

Twenty-two companies, including Pfizer, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline, will contribute funds and expertise to the project, which is backed by the World Bank. so-called Access Accelerated initiative was

announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos and aims to improve both treatment and prevention.

In the past, the focus of healthcare in poorer parts of the world has been on fighting infectious diseases, whether through vaccinations, drug programmes or the roll-out of anti-malarial bednets.

Today, however, the healthcare burden is shifting as deaths from these conditions decline and people in increasingly urbanised populations succumb to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart and lung disorders fuelled

by Western lifestyles.

Such non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for nearly 70 percent of all deaths worldwide and almost three quarters of them occur in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization.

Severin Schwan, the chief executive of Roche, the world's largest maker of cancer drugs, said his company and others were already implementing preferential pricing for the developing world but cost was only one obstacle.

Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin Ameri-

ca also need improved healthcare systems if patients are to benefit from the latest developments in medicine.

"It has a lot to do with hospital infrastructure.

You can't administer modern cancer medicines if you don't have sophisticated lab facilities," he told Reuters. "We're going to institutionalise cooperation in this area."

Cancer is the initial focus and drug companies will work with the Union for International Cancer Control to test out new diagnostics and treatments in several cities around the world on a pilot basis.

who helped US find bin Laden

ISLAMABAD, JAnuAry 18 (reuterS): A jailed Pakistani doctor believed to have helped the CIA hunt down al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden will be neither released nor handed to the United States, Pakistan's law minister has told legislators, media reported on Wednesday.

Dr. Shakil Afridi, hailed as a hero by U.S. officials, was arrested after U.S. forces killed bin Laden in May 2011 in a secret raid in a northern Pakistani town that plunged relations between the uneasy strategic partners to a new low.

Pakistan has accused the doctor of running a fake vaccination campaign in which he collected DNA samples to help the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) confirm bin Laden's identity.

Afridi was arrested soon after the bin Laden raid and charged with having ties to militant Islamists, which he denied.

"The law is taking its course and Afridi is hav-

Newspaper headlines and clippings are posted on a wall inside a staff office at the White House in Washington May 2, 2011, the morning after U.S. President Barack Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden. (Reuters File Photo)

ing full opportunity of a fair trial," the Daily Times newspaper quoted Law Minister Zahid Hamid as telling the upper house, in response to a lawmaker's query about reports of a possible release.

"Afridi worked against the law and our national interest, and the Pakistan government has repeatedly been telling the United States that under our law

he committed a crime and was facing the law."

In 2012, Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in prison after being convicted of being a member of militant group Lashkar-e-Islam.

That conviction was overturned in 2013, but Afridi was then charged with murder, relating to the death of a patient eight years earlier. He remains in

jail awaiting trial.

Many Pakistanis were infuriated by the U.S. raid to grab bin Laden in the military garrison town of Abbottabad, just a twohour drive from Islamabad, the capital.

Pakistani officials describe bin Laden's long presence in Abbottabad as a security lapse and reject any suggestion that members of the military or intelligence services were complicit in hiding him.

Last May, Pakistan's foreign ministry angrily criticised U.S. Presidentelect Donald Trump for saying he could get Pakistan to free Afridi "within two minutes".

Pakistan joined the U.S. war on militancy after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

But U.S. officials often describe Islamabad as an unreliable partner that has sheltered the Afghan Taliban leadership and demand tougher action against militant groups based along its border with Afghanistan.

Hong Kong & its unsolved problems US to pay $24 million to settle Secret Service case HOnG KOnG, JAnuAry 18 (reuterS): Hong Kong's leader on Wednesday delivered his last annual policy statement before stepping down, addressing longstanding problems including high property prices and stalled political reform though providing no substantial new measures to tackle them.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying took office in 2012 pledging to make housing more affordable, and to bring greater democracy to the city of 7.2 million, issues that had also stymied his predecessors.

Home prices have bucked repeated cooling measures, including a hefty new sales tax in November, to rise ever higher, putting prices on a par with those in New York and London.

Political reforms have stalled amid growing worries among democracy activists about mainland interference that they see threatening the city's autonomy.

Demands for fully democratic city elections triggered Hong Kong's most tumultuous protests for decades in late 2014 but Beijing refused to make any concessions.

Leung said surging property prices posed the "gravest potential hazard" to society and he reiterated a need to increase the supply of land, including through reclamation and expanding new towns.

"If the government

and the community do not resolve to expedite the identification of land for housing production, the housing problem will remain a tough nut to crack," Leung said.

Only seven percent of city land is zoned for housing and the average price per square foot of city flats is about HK$10,700 ($1,380), spawning a boom in ever smaller "mini" flats no bigger than a car parking space.

In the next decade, 460,000 housing units are expected to be built, he said.

SMALL PROTEST Politically, Leung has been divisive. He is viewed by many democracy activists as close to the Beijing leadership.

He stressed in his address that the city remains an inalienable part of the mainland.

"There is no room for independence or any kind of separation," he said.

"It is the obligation of each and every Hong Kong citizen to safeguard our country’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity."

His administration used teargas against protesters during the 2014 "Umbrella Revolution" that blocked major roads in Hong Kong for 79 days.

Leung's push to ban lawmakers advocating self-determination or independence triggered a

highly contentious "interpretation" of Hong Kong's mini constitution by China's parliament last year, raising questions about the independence of the city's judiciary.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" arrangement granting the city a high degree of autonomy, but worries about creeping Beijing control over the city have arisen in recent years.

Before he spoke on Wednesday, a small group of protesters threw fake money at Leung, calling him a "liar" for not keeping policy promises, while a pro-democracy lawmaker held up a effigy of Leung resembling a monkey.

Leung said recurrent expenditure on social welfare would increase to HK$66.2 billion ($8.5 billion), a nearly 55 percent rise compared with four years ago. Allowances for about half a million elderly would be increased by almost a third.

He said the government would also "progressively abolish" a controversial provision concerning retirement funds that has allowed companies to offset severance and long-service payouts by dipping into individual mandatory provident funds.

Business lobby groups fiercely oppose the government's decision to abolish the provision.

WASHInGtOn, JAnuAry 18 (IAnS): The US government will pay $24 million to settle a long-running discrimination case brought by a group of African-American Secret Service agents who alleged that they were systematically denied promotion to the agency's highest ranks, the media reported on Wednesday.

The settlement, announced

on Tuesday, ends a 16-year-old legal battle which exposed early rifts in an agency that was recently plagued with security breaches and agent misconduct, the USA Today reported.

"I am pleased that we are able to finally put this chapter of Secret Service history behind us," Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said.

Johnson said the agency had "turned the corner" under the leadership of current Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy, who was appointed nearly two years ago by outgoing President Barack Obama.

"This settlement is also, simply, the right thing to do."

According to the Secret Service, the policy, which alleged that promotion process was biased against

black agents, has been "modified substantially and continues to be further modified and enhanced".

"While the Secret Service takes all allegations in this case seriously, the organisation has, and continues to be, committed to a fair and transparent promotion process. It is time to move forward rather than look back to remnants of the past," it added.

OIC calls for UN intervention to avoid genocide of Rohingya KuALA LuMPur, JAnuAry 18 (reuterS): The United Nations should intervene in Myanmar's Rakhine State to stop further escalation of violence against Rohingya Muslims and avoid another genocide like in Cambodia and Rwanda, said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's special envoy to Myanmar.

The conflict which has left at least 86 dead and an estimated 66,000 people fleeing into Bangladesh since it started on Oct. 9, 2016, is no longer an internal issue but of international concern, said Syed Hamid Albar, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Special Envoy to Myanmar.

Syed Hamid said the OIC should seek U.N. intervention. His comments come ahead of a special OIC meeting called by Malaysia on Thursday to discuss measures to deal with the conflict affecting the Rohingya minority, who are predominantly Muslim.

"We don't want to see

Bangladeshi activists of an Islamic group protest against the deaths of the Rohingya people in the Rakhine state of Myanmar, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Reuters File Photo)

another genocide like in Cambodia or Rwanda," Syed Hamid told Reuters in an interview ahead of the meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

"The international community just observed, and how many people died? We have lessons from the past, for us to learn from and see what we can do," he said.

The OIC represents 57 states and acts as the collective voice of the Muslim world.

Refugees, residents

and human rights groups say Myanmar soldiers have committed summary executions, raped Rohingya women and burned homes since military operations started in the north of Rakhine State on Oct. 9.

The government of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has denied the accusations, saying many of the reports are fabricated, and it insists

the strife in Rakhine State, where many Rohingya live, is an internal matter.

The military operations were in response to attacks on security posts near Myanmar's border with Bangladesh that killed nine police officers. The Myanmar government has said that militants with overseas Islamist links were responsible.

A Myanmar government spokesman said it will not attend the OIC meet as it is not an Islamic country, but that it had already made its actions clear to ASEAN members at their last meeting in December, and that U.N. intervention would only end up facing "unwanted resistance from local people".

"So that's why the international community should have a positive approach and understand widely our country's conflict situation," said Zaw Htay, a spokesman for the office of Myanmar President Htin Kyaw.

About 56,000 Rohingya

now live in Muslim-majority Malaysia having fled previous unrest in Myanmar.

Malaysia, which is Southeast Asia's thirdlargest economy, broke the tradition of nonintervention by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by speaking out on the conflict, calling on the 10-member bloc to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against the ethnic group.

Zaw Htay criticised Malaysia for its outspoken position on the conflict, saying the countr y should manage "its own political crisis" and "avoid encouraging extremism and violence" in Myanmar.

“Our new government is working seriously and carefully on the situation in Rakhine. We are working on a very complicated and tough problem with this internal conflict, so we need time to prevent it happening again," Zaw Htay said.

THURSDAY 19•01•2017

SPORTS

10

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Himachal, Jharkhand india aim to wrap up series Bengal, boxers shine at youth nationals vs england in second tie CuttaCk, January 18 (IanS): After guiding India to a thrilling threewicket win against England in his maiden One-day International (ODI) as fulltime skipper, Virat Kohli will be aiming to clinch the three-match series by grabbing the second ODI too here on Thursday.

Kohli and wicketkeeper-batsman Kedar Jadhav smashed brilliant centuries to forge a 200-run fifthwicket stand and helped the hosts chase down the stiff 351-run target with 11 balls to spare in the first match in Pune on Sunday.

Going by the last Ranji Trophy match between Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir on the same strip at the Barabati Stadium, where Haryana scored 502 in their first innings, the India-England tie promises to be another run-feast.

The toss could also be a crucial factor in deciding the outcome of the match, given the dew factor at this time of the year and both the captains will be looking to bat second.

Though India got over the line in the first ODI despite 63 for 4 at one stage, thanks to Kohli and Jadhav's heroics, the men-in-

be aiming to pitch more short stuff to the Indian captain.

While England bowlers will be targetting at getting the back of Kohli, dark horses like Jadhav still can take the game away from their grasp if they continue to focus on individuals and not the top six Indian batsmen.

After Cuttack, both the teams will be heading to Kolkata for the final ODI, which will be played at the Eden Gardens on January 22.

blue will be hoping to get a good start from their opening duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul.

Comeback man Yuvraj Singh and former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will also need to step up and give Kohli company in the middle order while Jadhav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya are already in good nick.

In the bowling department, India will be hoping for an improved performance from premier

off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who went wicketless and leaked 63 runs from his 8 overs in the match.

Pacers Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Pandya have done a decent job while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was also amongst the wicket-takers in the first game.

On the other hand, all the English batsman managed to get starts in the first game, with opener Jason Roy (73), Joe Root

(78) and Ben Stokes (62) getting to their respective half centuries.

Barring Root, who consumed 95 deliveries, all the others scored at run-a-ball or took lesser deliveries for their scores and the No.3 batsman will now need to live up to the intensity of the format.

Their bowling department has once again been at the receiving end of Kohli's batting prowess, and as pacer Jake Ball suggested, England will

Squads: India : Virat Kohli (Captain), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Lokesh Rahul, Umesh Yadav.

England: Eoin Morgan (Captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler (wk), Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes.

nEw DELhI, January 18 (IanS): Pugilists from West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand outpunched their respective opponents to enter the quarter-finals of the Youth Men's and Women's National Boxing Championships here on Wednesday.

The light flyweight (49kg) division showcased some lop-sided contests as West Bengal's Md. Ikramul Mansuri, Sahil Shah of Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh's Ansul Punia, Chattisgarh's Pankaj Kumar, Jharkhand's Suraj Soy, Punjab's Shubham and Uttarakhand's Suraj Singh Mazila blanked their opponents 5-0 to reach the last eight.

In flyweight (52kg), Rajasthan's Shiv Dayal and Ch. Wilson Singh of Services brushed aside Telangana's B Rahul and Andhra Pradesh's K. Govind 5-0 respectively in one-sided contests to enter the quarters.

There were some thrilling contests also on display in the 52kg category as Uttar Pradesh's Sudeep K. Yadav, Punjab's Gurpreet Singh and Himachal's Ashish Kumar eked out 3-2 win over Maharashtra's Kuldeep S Kushwah, Arunachal Pradesh's Kogam Potom

and Uttarakhand's Pawan Kumar respectively.

Bihar's Ankit Ranjan and Manipur's Moirangthem R. Singh also reached the next round after their respective bouts had to be stopped by the referee.

In welter weight (69kg), Delhi's Abhilash spanked Uttar Pradesh's Dinesh Yadav 5-0, while Jammu and Kashmir's Vishal Singh and Punjab's Arshdeep Singh got walkovers to enter the quarters.

Rajasthan's Vijender Singh, Services's Parveen Kumar and Maharashtra's Rahil Siddique also reached the third round.

Haryana's Naveena Boora and Chandigarh's Ashish also emerged victories after their respective bouts against Telangana's V. Akhil Kumar and Nagaland's Vizosalie Yore respectively had to be stopped by the referee.

In middle weight (75kg), Tamil Nadu's P. Kandhaprakash, Rajasthan's Adiya Lambh, Maharashtra's Rupin, Services's Sachin, Chandigarh's Vishal, Delhi's Gaurav Dabas also advanced to the final eight.

In women's light fly weight (48kg), Anjali Sharma of Madhya Pradesh, Delhi's Tanvi Kaushal and

Mizoram's Zothanpuli reached the quarters after blanking their respective opponents 5-0.

While Anjali thrashed Assam's Manju Munda, Tanvi trounced Bihar's Lakshmi Kumari and Zothanpuli spanked Goa's Rinky D in lop-sided contests.

Andhra Pradesh's G. Joythi also dished out a 4-1 win over S. Kalaivani of Tamil Nadu and Arunachal Pradesh's Muni Leya beat Rajasthan's Pooja C. 3-2, while Manipur's H. Monika Devi and Maharashtra's Tanushree S. Bengle also reached the quarterfinals after their opponents gave walkovers.

Jyothi of Haryana also emerged victorious against Soniya of Jammu and Kashmir after the referees had to stop the contest.

In women's fly weight (51kg), Assam's Joy Kumari Lama and Telengana's P. Provalika mauled Delhi's Aditi Vasisth and Nagaland's Niamkoi 5-0 respectively.

Uttarakhand's Amita Soliyal also thrashed Lhamo Tamang of Sikkim 5-0, while Kerala's Ananya S. Das defeated Jharkhand's Suman Kumari 4-1 and Haryana's Akta edged out Manipur's H. Jamuna Chanu 3-2.

Results of 2nd Aonokpu Rifle & UK soccer abuse scandal deepens Pistol Shooting Championship 2017 LOnDOn, January be worse than in the case and swimming.

1. 10metre Air Rifle Men. 1st. Akumtemsu 2nd. Imonenba 3rd. Sosangmar

4. 10metre Air Pistol Women.

1st. Satemrenla 2nd. Kilemsungla 3rd. Anettsungla

2. 10metre Air Rifle Women.

1st. Satemrenla 2nd. Kilemsungla

5. 25metre Standard Pistol Men. 1st. Chubawati 2nd. Yangerlemba

3. 10metre Air Pistol Men. 1st. Chubawati 2nd. Yangerlemba 3rd. Sangtikaba

6. 25metre Sports Pistol Women.

1st. Satemrenla.

Results of the 2nd JYO Shooting Championship 2017 1. 10metre Air Rifle Men. 2nd. Kilemsungla (Longjemdang) 1st. Akumtemsu (Aonokpu) 2nd. Imlikokba (Longjemgang) 4. 25metre Standard Pistol Men. 1st. Chubawati (Aonokpu) 3rd. Obed (Lakhuni) 2nd. Yangerlemba (Aonokpu) 3rd. Toshi Pangrak (Japu) 2. 10metre Air Pistol Men. 1st. Toshi Pangrak (Japu) 5. 25metre Sports 2nd. Lanu Jamir (Yajang-C) Pistol Women.

3. 10metre Air Pistol Women.

1st. Satemrenla (Longjemdang) 1st. Satemrenla (Longjemdang) 2nd. Kilemsungla (Longjemdang)

18 (rEutErS): British police investigating allegations of widespread child sex abuse at soccer clubs dating back to the 1970s said on Wednesday they had now identified 184 potential suspects and 526 victims, adding other sports had also been implicated in the scandal.

Police forces across the country launched inquiries after former player Andy Woodward revealed in November he had been abused as a boy by a youth team coach, prompting other ex-professionals to come forward with allegations.

The soccer abuse revelations are the latest in a series of paedophile scandals to have hit Britain in recent years.

Victims say the scale of wrongdoing is likely to

of TV star Jimmy Savile, a cigar-chomping BBC television host who abused hundreds of youngsters over six decades until his death in 2011.

So far 1,016 referrals of sports abuse have been passed to specialist detectives from a child protection charity and police.

The number of possible victims is now 526, up from about 350 last month, with 126 suspects.

The National Police Chiefs Council said 248 soccer clubs had been impacted, from English premier league teams to amateur sides, although not all were under investigation.

Police said 22 of the referrals related to other sports including rugby, gymnastics, martial arts, tennis, wrestling, golf, sailing, athletics, cricket,

"Allegations of nonrecent child sexual abuse are complex, often require specialist skills and knowledge, and can take time to progress," said Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the national police lead on child protection.

"However, all allegations and information received by police forces across the country are being acted upon," he added.

Last month, the Premier League cleared Chelsea of breaking its rules in failing to report allegations of historical sex abuse made by their former player Gary Johnson in 2014.

Johnson, 57, said he had been abused by former Chelsea chief scout Eddie Heath in the 1970s and received a 50,000 pound ($61,550) settlement from the club in 2015.

The 2nd JYO Shooting Championship 2017, organized by the Japukong Youth Organization from January 9 to 11 was held at Japu Village and the 2nd Aonokpu Rifle & Pistol Shooting Championship 2017, organized by the Aonokpu Rifle & Pistol Shooting Club, was held at at Aonokpu Village from January 12 to 13.

Competitions were held in Small Bore Rifle & Pistol Conducted by the Nagaland Rifle Association, Dimapur, Nagaland.

Nagaland players of India Sepaktakraw Team being received at Dimapur Airport by officials of Nagaland Sepaktakraw Association. The India Team won four (4) Gold medals in Regu event and Double event both men and women in the 2nd South Asian Cup from January 14 to 16 held at Colombo, Sri Lanka.

public discourse

I

The Unsung Hero of Nagaland

Opang Jamir

n my recent observation towards the achievers in the field of Beauty, Glamour and Entertainment Industry the government do not give any due respect, credit or recognitions to our young achievers. From a tensely populated nation of 1.3 billion we are being chosen to represent the COUNTRY! Let me give you a small portion of activities and preparation before going to a pageant in an international arena.

A pageant candidate in an international contest needs to be mentally as well as physically prepared for the task which is ahead of her/

him inorder to bring laurel and more recognition to our people. Before leaving its country turf these are the preparation done by a candidate/ country representative. * Work Out- To maintain a routine in gym to have a tone body. * Diet - Good amount of nutrition, protein foods to be taken. * Wardrobe- Selecting the right clothes, shoes, accessories, bags etc as they will be staying at least 25-30 days with daily activities and works in the host country before the coronation/ grand finale. * Make-up- Learning the basic make-up training.

*

* *

*

Question/Answer- Mock training with a highly qualified professional trainer on questions and answer round portion which is the vital part of pageant.

Enhancing the communication skills/ Soft skills with a trainer.

Charitable activities- Every candidate or country representative does lots of charitable cause for the welfare of the society like visiting the orphanages, fire victims, hospitals, schools etc.

National costume/ Evening Wear/ gown– Preparing a National Costume with a recognized designer from the candidate home country. (To portray more of our

rich heritage, traditions and values to the rest of the world) A lot more of preparation is done however these are the main things that we focus before leaving for the country of the pageant. There is a lot of money involved as well as intensive care and preparation is taken for 5-6 months or even 1 year.

During the 25-30 days representing the country we speak out our minds to the press and the world Medias. We promote our culture, tradition through our clothes, music etc.

Besides that we are recognized in the world map where we come from and our state particularly.

It is a sad thing that when we

don’t get recognized or felicitated for what we deserve! Other countries like Philippines, Venezuela, Colombia, Thailand, USA etc their home country representative gets a good warm homecoming. And Government does the needful for all these arrangements on their recognition.

Today our sister returned from South Korea after representing the nation at the Miss Super talent 2016 and won the runner-up title, a lot of people and communities honoured and welcome the Miss Super Talent World Imlibenla Wati at the airport. However the state government needs to recognized and

felicitates her as well. State government should not neglect her as what you act today shall be an eye opener for many young youths to get inspired and motivated in bringing many more laurels to our state.

An achievement should be counted with success and representation. A lot of dreamers have tried only few succeed to represent the nation.

Imlibenla Wati is Miss Nagaland 2012, Miss World Beauty India 2015 and Miss Super talent World runnersup 2016.

I hope that from our smallest state of India we shall conquer the world with love, respect and right amount of equality.

To the State govt/Jacwr/NMA Leadership can be often broken or made with circumstance Lhouvi Tseikha

W

ith deference to the aspirations of women, this piece is written as a plausible tool to put the finishing touches on a roughhewn Delhi concept. Sustainable societies have a cohesive citizenry that is in tune with its environs and though circumstances and time changes this basic ingredient for endurance is constant and never changing and key to Naga resilience is this principle expressed through fraternity and consensus with land and kinship solidifying and culturing the identity.

Delhi’s mandarins have forwarded a system to elevate women in elective bodies. Bra-

vo to them. Yet much before this occurrence Nagas had instinctively and spontaneously adapted traditions to the times by fashioning women and youth wings from the smallest units of society to the apex, parallel but supplemental to the main body in order to make functional its inherent consensus governance for distinctive to this land is its concomitant existence with an elective governance.

Delhi’s concept of empowerment to women through elective measures might be ground breaking in the mainland but to the straight forward Naga mind it appears forked for though the cover-shot is fair to the weaker gender the pages tell a different

story. Favoring one sex by denying the right of the other to contest belittles the precepts of; by the people, of the people and the other, of propelling women into a calling that is undeniable corrupt from its very electoral process.

If Nagas were to resolve this discrepancy, its inborn and Christian values for justness and fairness could perhaps materialize as 1) equal seats with equal rights as consensus nominees, or 2) in a general contest of male and female, females gets an additional 33% bonus.Pursuit of power by undermining fraternity is extremely precarious and care must be given to the surreptitious arm of intelligence pundits.

(Dedicating to all the Naga leaders at this crisis situation)

L

Vebuyi Medeo

eaders are present everywhere in our society. A society without a leader will to have face chaos situation. But the question is, what makes a person a real leader or what are the qualities a person must possess to have leadership traits. At the outset, the most indispensable is, with a quality of taking “INITIATIVE”. Initiative which simply means “The energy of doing something before others could do, where a plan or program that intended to solve a problem”.

Fatigue situation may be inevitable for him (leader), yet he should be on his toes always to take initiative. Definitely, there

will be disciples to follow his decisionmaking or direction. But when that leader started to decrease or reduce the aforesaid quality, he may not gain confident of people and traits of leadership in him may shatter down into pieces.

Moreover, the charismatic quality in him may also play a predominant role. Because as human is fragile, they have high degree of tendency to believe his charismatic behaviours. The fans or whatever it may be called, they try to replicate the quality he possesses.

They believe in him as role model, as a care-taker, as a humanitarian and the like. But when believe is betrayed or denied by the leader with some immoral and unethical values, people gradually started shying away from that leader and hence the leadership quality may

be broken.

Therefore, it is all about, how the leader made himself accountable to the people around him, coordinating different views and taking the best decision out of numerous alternatives, in addition to that, the responsible given him for the success of any organisation must be henceforth taken cautiously, so the fruits may benefit one and all. In nutshell, the qualities present in leader must be used with lot of effectiveness and efficiency which will make him a real respectful leader in society without demanding of respect which is coercion (using power) but hoping the leader to have authoritative quality which is legitimate, and followed with satisfaction by citizens.

Hence, the quality of leadership may be made or broken depending upon his traits with circumstances.

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 19•01•2017

EntErtainmEnt

Bharti Singh SECRETLY gets engaged to Harsh Limbachiyaa

Shakira urges Davos L elite to nurture future leaders Brad Pitt and Kate Hudson secret rendezvous aughter queen aka Lalli, Bharti Singh got engaged to her long time boyfriend Harsh Limbachiyaa on Sunday.

Harsh is the writer for Bharti's show Comedy Nights Bachao. Reportedly, Bharti's engagement ceremony was a very closely guarded and intimate affair in the presence of family members and few close friends. Rumours about her engagement had also surface last year post which Bharti had expressed her displeasure on her personal life being discussed in public.

A source revealed the details of the roka ceremony to the Times of India. "The roka ceremony was followed by a party at a restaurant in Andheri. It was a last minute decision as everything was organised overnight.Among their industry friends, the invite was extended to only a handful, including Krushna Abhishek and Kashmera Shah, producer Vipul D Shah and a few crew members of the comedy show. Krushna was the first to hit the dance floor.

He even dragged Bharti and Harsh. The trio danced the night away,” informed the source.

Word has it that the duo plan to tie the knot sometime in November this year.

Source: DNA

M

usic star Shakira urged world and business leaders at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum on Monday to support efforts to feed, educate and care for underprivileged children. "Today's babies will drive tomorrow's business. Their capacity to contribute will shape tomorrow's societies, will solve tomorrow's problems," the Colombian recording star, who is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador devoted to early childhood development, said in an impassioned speech.

Shakira, who was given a Crystal Award in Davos for her humanitarian work, is the founder of the Pies Descalzos Foundation, which works to provide underprivileged children in Colombia with access to qual-

C M Y K

ity education.

"In this room there are some of the most powerful people in the world, and definitely I'm convinced you know what it means to be ahead of the curve," she added. "We need to apply the brains and strategies of business and the assets and human resources and talents of your companies to do social good and to solve social problems."

The World Economic Forum also gave awards to violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, who runs a foundation providing scholarships for young musicians, and actor Forest he separation of Whitaker, who has worked as a global adthe Hollywood vocate for peace, focusing on empowering power couple youth as leaders and entrepreneurs in comBrad Pitt and Anmunities touched by violence and poverty. gelina Jolie has been one Source: Reuters of the most disheartening

Sonam Kapoor to be face of luxury watch brand

A

ctress Sonam Kapoor has been roped in as the brand ambassador of Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen. Her association as the brand ambassador was announced on Tuesday via a statement. "It is an honour and a privilege to become an IWC brand ambassador and represent the brand in India and around the world. I admire IWC for its uniqueness and creative storytelling, which have characterized the brand throughout its history," Sonam said.

IWC Regional Brand Director Luc Rochereau said Sonam "is a powerhouse performer and a thorough professional". "Her scintillating charm and elegance resonate with our brand philosophy, and we have found the perfect partner in her," Rochereau added.

To begin the partnership, Sonam will be present at the 27th Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva in 2017, alongside other prestigious guests and IWC brand ambassadors from across the world. The daughter of veteran actor Anil Kapoor, Sonam is known as much for her fashion sense as her acting skills. She is credited for films like "Aisha", "I hate Luv Stories", "Raanjhanaa" and "Neerja".

Source: IANS

T

news of 2016. Following the separation, rumours about Brad Pitt dating 'Allied' costar Kate Hudson started making the rounds.

Recently, dating ru-

mours of Kate Hudson and Brad Pitt have became stronger. It is said that the couple has been seeing each other for some time but tried to keep their romance under the wraps -no pun intended. Allegedly, that is the reason why both of them attended the 2017 Golden Globes but did not arrive together. However, in the after party Kate Hudson was seen gushing over her alleged boyfriend.

Inquisitr reported that Kate was seen leaving the after party in a car in which suspiciously Brad Pitt too was in.

According to Yahoo!

Lifestyle, "Despite not making an appearance together, the pair may have managed to squeeze in some private time, with the mag reporting that Kate, 37, was spotted having an 'intimate' conversation with Brad's agent, Bryan Lourde, before being spirited away from the party in a car that had the exact same number plate as the one that Brad left the earlier ceremony in."

According to the reports, they have been possibly seeing each other for the last couple of months.

Though it is believed that they aren't quite serious about it, apparently, Kate Hudson told his friends that she and Brad had "rendezvous" on "several occasions," Inquisitr reported.

It is not yet known whether they have any plans for the future or if they intending to introduce their kids to their new relationship, but right now they are just trying to keep it away from the public.

"Rendevous" clearly suggest that they were having secret meetings but were not ready to let the world know.

In other news, of late Pitt and Jolie have softened their blows towards each other, possibly for the sake of their children, but the court proceedings are still on. They have hired a judge and the hearings will take place in a private courtroom.

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Source: Ibtimes

Gigi Hadid getting married to Zayn Malik

M

odel Gigi Hadid has sparked speculations that she may have got engaged after being spotted with a band on her ring finger.

She reportedly turned down singer Zayn Malik's marriage proposal before Christmas over fears he was moving "too fast". But Hadid has sparked fresh speculation that she is set to wed Malik. She was seen out and about in New York on Monday wearing the ring, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Hadid rushed into a building dressed casually but the band was clear to see, and left everyone wondering why she had chosen that finger to wear the ring.

Her appearance comes suggested she "didn't feel her to marry him. just weeks after reports ready" when Malik asked Source: IANS

Lee Min Ho and Suzy Bae will not wed this year

T

he Legend of the Blue Sea star Lee Min Ho and his girlfriend Suzy Bae have no plans to tie the knot anytime soon. According to media reports, the couple are delaying the nuptials as Suzy is making her solo debut, and the actor is busy with City Hunter 2. Min Ho and Suzy have always kept their relationship private and are rarely seen together. However, the celebrity power couple announced that they were dating in

March 2015.

At that time, representatives of the Gangnam Blues star and Suzy confirmed that the two are dating. Min Ho's agency, Starhaus Entertainment said: "The two have been seeing each other for around a month. They are in a careful stage where they are seeing each other with positive feelings."

Bae's agency JYP Entertainment also said: "Suzy and Lee Minho have been seeing each other

with good feelings since a month ago. Suzy and Lee Minho headed to London and Paris respectively for a schedule and after traveled London together and had a very memorable time.

Please look on them with fondness."

Moreover, the 29-year old actor will reportedly enlist for South Korea's mandatory military service, next year. There are reports that Min Ho is planning to propose to the singer before his enlistment so that they can get engaged and the wedding ceremony can take place after he is relieved from his duties.

Meanwhile, the actress' label released teaser clips of the Suzy's title track, Yes?No?, which is set to be released on 24 January.

Since her debut as a girl group member in 2010, this will be her first solo album.

There are rumors that JYP will be disbanding Miss A after the group's contract expires this year. However, after 2PM, Suzy is the second highest earning artist from JYP. Source: Ibtimes

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12

THURSDAY 19•01•2017

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Aus Open: Federer roars back to reach 3rd round

C M Y K

MELBOURNE, JANUARY 18 (REUTERS): Roger Federer dug himself out of a late slump to fend off American qualifier Noah Rubin 7-5 6-3 7-6(3) on Wednesday and draw vital confidence for a tough third round clash against 10th seed Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open.

The 17-times grand slam champion, still finding his feet after a six-month break, had to save two set points and rally from 5-2 down in the third before closing out a galvanising win on a breezy afternoon at Rod Laver Arena.

Rubin, a 20-year-old baseline hustler with a big serve and powerful forehand, played above his 200th ranking and Federer doffed his cap to the Long Island native.

But the Swiss master said he would need to play better against big-hitting Berdych, despite winning their last five meetings, including a comfortable quarter-final victory at Melbourne Park last year.

"He's caused difficulties for me in the past on faster courts: Cincinnati, New York, Wimbledon, Olympics in Athens," said Federer, whose 17th seeding ensured a demanding path to the second week.

"I know what he's got. I

He was understandably thrilled to escape with only three sets before the Berdych battle.

"If I could have signed (a contract) to be in the third round, feeling this way, weeks or days or a month ago, I would have taken it," said Federer.

"I'm still hoping to feel better and better and better as we go along.

"I'm getting tons of information out of these last few days now, which is big hopefully for the third round."

Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after winning his Men's singles second round match against Noah Rubin of the U.S. . (Reuters Photo)

don't need to tell you where he's beaten me."

Federer needed time to unpick Rubin, who showed few nerves in his first match against the Swiss, but by the second set the Swiss master was cruising like a luxury car.

He served out the set to love, wrapping it up with a deft half-volley from the baseline that curled sumptuously away from Rubin as he darted across the court.

Yet barely 20 minutes later, Federer found himself 5-2 down, defending

set points on serve.

The usually unflappable Swiss made a rare show of frustration, berating himself loudly as his backhand went awry.

But he saved both set points and hung tough in the next game to prise two break points from his opponent.

"Come on Rog, get up!" yelled a man in the crowd.

Federer obliged him on the second break point, hammering at Rubin's weaker backhand and the American buckled with a

harried shot into the net.

Federer roared back to take Rubin into the tiebreak and raced to three match points at 6-3.

He needed only one to close it out, crushing a forehand cross-court that Rubin could only parry high and wide.

Coming back from a knee injury, Federer conceded before the tournament that he had no idea whether he was ready to withstand the long four and five-set matches of a grand slam.

Murray hands out masterclass Andy Murray looked every bit the world number one as he gave a Russian teenager Andrey Rublev a lesson in grand slam tennis to reach the third round of the Australian Open with a 6-3 6-0 6-2 win on Wednesday.

The Briton was troubled only briefly by a rolled ankle after taking a nasty tumble in the third set on Rod Laver Arena and raced on to a meeting with American Sam Querrey in one hour, 37 minutes.

Five-times a losing finalist at Melbourne Park, Murray had laboured through his opening round victory over Illya Marchenko in the full heat of the opening day of the tournament.

Wednesday's performance was of a far higher calibre and he delighted the crowd by sending Rublev chasing around the court with a series of deft shots to set up match point, which he converted when the qualifier went long.

Kerber celebrates 29th birthday with victory World No.1 woman tennis player Angelique Kerber celebrated her 29th birthday on Wednesday with a 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-2 victory against her compatriot Carina Witthoeft, securing her place in the third round of the Australian Open.

The German star battled relentlessly during the two hours and 10 minutes of the match to beat the world NO. 89, reports Efe. "I'm always playing on my birthday, and I have always (had my) birthday here in Australia," the defending champion said after the match.

"I'm really enjoying it.

It's like (I'm) at home here.

I'm 29, so I'm getting older, but I think I will have a great day today," she added, according to Tennis Magazine's official website.

Meanwhile, Canadian Eugenie Bouchard also made her way to the third round with a win over China's Shuai Peng 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Bopanna, Sania enter second round

MELBOURNE, JANUARY 18 (IANS): India's star tennis doubles players, Rohan Bopanna pairing Pable Cuevas of Peru and Sania Mirza pairing with her new partner Barbora Strycova of Czech Republic, advanced to the second round with little difficulty on the third day of the Australian Open.

Bopanna and Cuevas, who is seeded 15th, won 6-4 and 7-6, while Sania and Strycova too won in straight sets 6-3, 6-1, against Rae and Smith of Britain. Bopanna and Cuevas will now take on Australians Alex Bolt and Bradley Mousley, who defeated Robin Haase and Florian Mayer 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Bopanna's awesome backhand returns and his serve worked well while his Peruvian partner worked some magic at the net. The second set went to the tiebreak due to some rough hitting by Cuevas but with Bopanna's calm approach they got through in the tie breaker.

Their Latin American opponents Belluci of Brazil and Gonsalez of Argentina

tried to smother Bopanna's back hand shots but not with much success. Bellucci was a formidable opponent from the baseline but Cuevas met him effectively at the net after some initial hiccups.

The fourth seed IndoCzech pairing of Sania and Barbora will next play the winners of the first round match between the Australian pair of Kimberly BirrellPriscilla Hon and the Aussie-China team of Samantha Stosur and Shuai Zhang.

Sania later told IANS that she was happy with the way her partnership with Barbora was shaping up.

"We reached four finals out of six tournaments and we are working well together. Strycova is a fighter and she is in great shape" she said.

Sania also revealed that she and Barbora were committed to play this year and hoped that they would come out on top in her post-Martina Hingis career. Barbora plays singles too and so Sania said they had to adjust a lot to each other's style of play.

MDCA Tourney: Sovran, Trebuchet enter semis Egyptian football star MOKOKCHUNG, JANUARY 18 (MExN): Senior player Talikaba's half century proved to be in vain as Rainbow CC went down by 3 runs in the 3rd quarter final match of the ongoing MDCA Inter Club T20 Cricket Tournament played at Imkongmeren Sports Complex against last year’s runner-up Sovran CC here today. Chasing 132 runs, Rainbow CC narrowly missed the bus to book a place in the semis as they finished on 129/9 in reply to Sovran’s total of 132/9 in 20 overs.

Rainbow CC needed ten runs from the final over but the Wapang (2/39 in 4 overs) kept his cool to take Sovran home after a

Action from the 4th quarter final match of the MDCA tourney played between Brotherhood CC (green) and Trebuchet CC at ISC Mokokchung, January 18.

nail biting finish. Tejasol and Opang also chipped in with two wickets each for Sovran. Earlier in the match, Sovran batting first scored 132 runs losing 9 wickets in 20 overs. With this win, Sovran CC made it to the last four of the tour-

nament and will play the second semi-final match against Trebuchet CC. Trebuchet booked a place in the semi-finals after defeating Brotherhood CC by 7 wickets. Chasing 104, Trebuchet lost three wickets early on in the in-

nings, but useful knocks from Trebuchet's batsmen Vickey Ali and Kalyan Gogoi, took their team across the finish line.

Having chosen to bat first after winning the toss, three top order batsmen of Brotherhood CC made decent starts but none went on to make a big score while the rest of the batting order collapsed. Aosashi made 28 runs to top score for his team and Temsulemba hung around to make 16 runs but was dismissed in a very unfortunate run out when he was looking good for a big score as Brotherhood lost their way and finished at 103 for 9 in 20 overs. Medium-pacer Imnayanger was Trebuchet's most success-

ful bowler claiming 4 wickets conceding only 12 runs.

Both the semi-final matches will be played tomorrow, Thursday. In the first semifinal match, three-time winners and defending champions Titans CC in their quest to defend the title and lift the trophy for the fourth time in a row will face off against homeboys Züngamedem CC. The second semi-final match will be played the same day between last year’s runner-up Sovran CC and dark horse Trebuchet CC. Today’s Fixture 1st Semi-Final - Titans CC vs Züngamedem CC (8 AM) 2nd Semi-Final Sovran CC vs Trebuchet CC (11 AM

Saina Nehwal, Ajay Jayaram Recruitment for 2018 WC sets a new record win in Malaysia Masters MOSCOW, JANUARY 18 (IANS): A programme for recruiting volunteers for the 2018 football World Cup in Russia has set a new record with around 1,77,000 applications submitted, global governing body FIFA has said.

"This exceeds the previous record by almost 25,000 applications, set four years ago when 1,52,101 applications were received for the 2014 World Cup Brazil," the statement from FIFA said on Tuesday. The statement also said that over a quar-

SARAWAK, JANUARY 18 (PTI): Saina Nehwal and Ajay Jayaram reached the prequarterfinals of the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold after contrasting wins in women's and men's singles competition respectively on Wednesday.

Top seed Saina spanked Thailand's Chasinee Korepap 21-9 21-8 in a lop-sided contest. The 26-year-old will face Indonesia's Hanna Ramadini next.

Sixth seed Jayaram, who has been in good form at the Premier badminton League, eked out a 21-10 17-21 21-14 win over Malaysia's Jun Hao Leong in the opening round before mauling Indonesia's Saputra Vicky Angga 21-9 21-12 in the second match.

The World No. 19 Indian will next meet Chinese Taipei's Hsueh Hsuan Yi. Unheralded Hemanth M Gowda, meanwhile, suffered a 5-21 19-21 loss against Chun-Wei Chen of Chinese Taipei in another men's singles competition.

In mixed doubles, newlyformed pair of Manu Attri

and Jwala Gutta defeated Indonesian combo of Lukhi Apri Nugroho and Ririn Amelia 21-19 21-18, while women's doubles pair of Aparna Balan and Prajakta Sawant saw off Indonesian combo of Aghisna Fathkul Laili and Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella 21-10 21-11.

Prajakta along with Malaysian partner Yogendran Khrishnan also reached the next round of mixed doubles after defeating Hong Kong's Hee Chun Mak and Yeung Nga Ting 21-14 2220. However, B Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa suffered a 17-21 1721 loss against Tontowi Ahmad and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja of Indonesia.

KP Sruthi and Haritha Manazhiyil Harinarayanan also lost 9-21 13-21 to Malaysian pair of Mei Kuan Chow and Vivian Hoo, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Maneesha K suffered a 10-21 1421 loss to Hong Kong combo of Tam Chun Hei and Ng Tsz Yau.

ter of all submitted applications were from outside Russia, that showed great interest of foreign volunteers to become a part of the mega event.

The 2018 World Cup as well as the 2017 Confederations Cup Volunteer Recruitment campaign was launched at a ceremony in Moscow on June 1 last year

by Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Commenting on the new record of volunteers' applications, Russian

Deputy Prime Minister and LOC Chairman Vitaly Mutko said: "Immediately after the campaign got underway, we saw how much interest there was in the volunteer programme for the Confederations Cup and World Cup." A total of 5,000 volunteers were to be selected to serve at the 2017 Confederations Cup, while 15,000 volunteers were planned to be recruited for the 2018 World Cup. The deadline for submitting the applications was December 30, 2016.

placed on 'terror' list CAIRO, JANUARY 18 (AFP): An Egyptian court has added former football star Mohamed Aboutrika to the authorities' terror list, his lawyer said, based on suspicions he financed the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

In 2015 a government committee froze the assets of the former player for Cairo-based club Al-Ahly and Egypt's national team, two years after he retired.

The government accuses him of financing the Muslim Brotherhood, which was classified as a terrorist organisation at the end of 2013.

According to an antiterror law imposed in 2015

by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, anyone on the country's terror list is subject to a travel ban, with their passport and assets liable to be frozen.

Aboutrika, one of the most successful African footballers of his generation, had publicly endorsed the presidential bid of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi in 2012.

Morsi went on to become Egypt's first democratically elected president, only for the army to oust him one year later and ban the Brotherhood.

Mohamed Aboutrika (Getty Images)

Aboutrika's lawyer Mohamed Osman said that the court's decision was "contrary to the law" saying the retired player "has not been convicted or formally notified of any of the charges against him."

"We will appeal this decision," he said, adding that "if he is added to the list there will be many legal consequences, notably the travel ban."

The freeze on Aboutrika assets is still in force, despite two court orders that

it be lifted, Osman added.

In an interview with s t at e - r u n A l -A h ra m newspaper in May 2015, Aboutrika denied that his company -- or any of his partners -- had ever funded the Islamist movement.

Since Morsi's overthrow, a police crackdown against the Brotherhood has left hundreds dead and thousands jailed.

Aboutrika retired in 2013, and the 37-year-old has since avoided expressing his political views publicly.

China foreign talent curb gets mixed response from clubs LONDON, JANUARY 18 (REUTERS): China's decision to tighten rules over the number of overseas players amid concerns of over-spending on foreign talents has drawn mixed response from the clubs affected by the move.

Teams in the country's top leagues would be limited to fielding a maximum of three foreign players per game for the 2017 season, down from the current five, China's Football Association said in a statement.

Shanghai SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas has questioned the timing of the move with the Chinese Super League kicking off on March 7. "This decision should have been made after the season, or with a certain buffer," the Portuguese coach told reporters during his team's training camp in Qatar. "Such a huge change shouldn't be announced about a month before the new season.

"Most of the clubs' teambuilding plans have been in accordance with the previous rules.

That's when everyone gets caught

off guard," added the former Chelsea manager.

Brazil's Oscar and Argentine Carlos Tevez made big-money moves to China over the last month with Shanghai SIPG's deal to sign Oscar from English Premier League club Chelsea said to make him the highest-paid player in the world. The spending drive prompted fierce criticism from officials and local media, with Xinhua saying earlier this month that clubs were "burning money" on overpaid foreign talent and neglecting the development of domestic players.

Su Yuhui, president of newlypromoted Tianjin Quanjian, said the abrupt move would have a negative impact on the standard of the game.

"And it will disarray many club's pre-season arrangements, and even cause economic losses," Su told Tianjin Sports TV. Clubs would still be able to register five foreign players in their overall squad, the Chinese FA said, but the new rule would

mean not all could be used in any one game.

Teams would also have to include two younger domestic players born in or after 1994 in their match day squad, of whom one would have to start the game.

"I know that the Chinese Football Association introduced this new deal to vigorously improve the level of local young players, but it will also lead to high prices for young players," Villas-Boas warned.

"With many purchasers competing for young players, their market value will be a serious bubble. It will be very costly to train young players and it will not be beneficial for young players to play under too much pressure."

Shandong Luneng coach Felix Magath welcomed the move.

"The new policies will offer more opportunities for the Chinese local talents, as well reduce the team's dependency on star foreign players," the former Bayern Munich manager told Xinhua.

"Maybe the effects will not seen in short term, but it will abso-

lutely benefit the national team."

Modest budget amid club extravagance China's football association is set to almost double its spending in 2017 to improve the standards of the game but even the $98 million fund will look pittance compared to what the country's top clubs are splurging on overseas players.

Driven by soccer-loving President Xi Jinping, China is using its financial clout to invest in prestigious overseas clubs like Inter Milan, and its own teams are spending heavily to coax marquee players into the domestic game.

In the latest high-profile transfer, Shanghai SIPG signed Brazilian international Oscar from English club Chelsea in a deal said to make him the highest-paid player in the world.

Media reports have suggested Shanghai paid 60 million euros (about $64 million) to lure the 25-year-old to the Chinese super league club. His salary is reported to be over $600,000 a week.

China has, however, moved to tighten rules over the number of overseas players in domestic games, amid concerns that the clubs have been over-spending on foreign talent with a rapid growth in the huge fees being paid for high-profile imports.

The CFA said at a conference in central China's Wuhan that it plans to spend 670 million yuan (about $98 million), an increase of 45 percent over last year, in 2017 to support the game across the country.

Out of that fund, about $27 million will be spent on China's national teams at all levels while some $18 million will go to youth training, local media said. The projected revenue for 2017 is 780 million yuan (about $114 million).

As part of a 2020 plan, China have targeted reaching the last four of the 2019 Asian Cup, to be held in the United Arab Emirates.

The national team is currently 81st in the FIFA world rankings and reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 edition of the tournament in Australia.

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