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SunDAY • JAnuArY 22 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 20 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
Dignity consists not in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them
Pakistan releases Indian soldier, handed over to India PAGE 08
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Nagaland Govt cautions against unlawful acts during any public demonstrations
Dimapur, January 21 (mExn): The Joint Co-ordination Committee (JCC) Dimapur has resolved to oppose the decision of the Nagaland State Government to distribute voter’s identification slip on January 23, 2017. It has termed the decision as undemocratic and a direct confrontation with the voice of the people. The JCC claimed that it had been opposing the proposed ULB election scheduled on February 1, 2017 through democratic means and the government should not test the patience and maturity exercised by the civil societies. As resolved in a joint meeting on Saturday, the JCC has directed the GBs, all colony chairpersons, DUCCF and the general public not to accept the voter’s slip.
Corrigendum Apropos to the news item published on January 13 under the headline ‘Abortion cases rising in Nagaland,’ it is clarified that the data should be read as ‘abortion services’ and not the number of abortions, which include counselling, tests etc. The error is regretted.
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Further, the communiqué stated that instances have come to the notice of Gaon Buras (GBs) having taken part in agitation/demonstration called by various organizations, bodies and groups to oppose the conduct of elections to the Urban Local Bodies in the state. “The Gaon Buras, having been appointed by the District Administration to aid and assist the Government, are not expected to campaign or participate in any agitation/demonstration/ rally which is against the Government programme or policies,” it stated. Similarly, the communiqué also reminded Government servants that they are bound by conduct rules. Therefore, any Gaon Bura or Government servant found to be indulging in activities inimical to the smooth and peaceful conduct of elections to the ULB polls will be liable to be prosecuted by the District Administration for which, instructions have been issued accordingly by the Government, the press communiqué informed.
Nagaland State Government has instructed the District Administration and Police to make it clear to the organizers/groups/bodies giving the calls for demonstration/agitation/bandh that the responsibility of ensuring that their agitation/demonstration is peaceful and within the four walls of the law rests on them. Home Commissioner Nagaland in a press communiqué dispatched via CMO on Saturday cautioned that in the event of unlawful acts or violence on the part of the agitators/mob leading CNTC reiterates appeal to injury or death or damage to prop- to postpone ULB election erty, both private and public, the orgaThe Central Nagaland Tribes Counnizers/leaders shall also be held crimi- cil (CNTC) has once again appealed nally and civilly liable for such acts/ to the Nagaland State Government to violence. postpone the ULB elections and take
heed to the voice of the people. It also appealed the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) to withdraw their case, which is still pending in the Supreme Court and to trash out whatever differences confronting the different parties on the reservation issue. Media cell, CNTC in a press statement said it was not against the ULB elections but against the 33% reservation issue, which need serious deliberation for all stakeholders so that it become acceptable for all. It also asked all the candidates to abstain from contesting the coming elections and renounce their candidature, which it claimed, would speak volumes of their integrity and solidarity, which would be remembered for all the coming generations on upholding the traditional rights and customs of the Nagas. Taking the instance of the state capital Kohima and some other districts where there was nil nomination to the upcoming ULB elections, the press statement appealed to the state government to consider their continuous appeal made by the various civil societies. The CNTC also appealed to all to maintain restraint amongst the conflicting parties and to sort out the mat-
ter peacefully for the betterment of our people, which will be beneficial for all. It also lauded the effort of all the Naga tribes that came together on the crucial issue.
Shutter down in Wokha Town on Jan 23 All candidates from Wokha Town Council forfeits candidature
All intending candidates to the Wokha Town Council elections have forfeited their candidature, according to the Lotha Hoho Joint Action Committee. While a few candidates had already backed out from the contest during the last few days, the rest of the candidates resolved to forfeit their candidature on Saturday, the Committee has claimed. Among these, include four candidates belonging to Longsa village who decided to forfeit their candidature heeding to the directive from the village authority. The Longsa village council had called a meeting with the candidates on January 21, whereby it was demanded that no person from the village should contest in the ULB elections. On Friday, candidates hailing from Wokha village had forfeited their candidatures on pressure from the village
council. Altogether, there were 24 valid candidates to the Wokha Town Council to contest from 12 wards. Meanwhile, the Lotha Hoho Joint Action Committee has called for a shutter down in Wokha Town on January 23 (Monday) from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm in protest against the ensuing urban local bodies’ elections. Traffic and public movement will not be restricted, informed the Joint Action Committee. The Committee also warned election duty officials not to collect postal ballots. Mention may also be made that the Joint Co-ordination Committee (JCC) Dimapur has also called for a public rally to protest against the conduct of polls scheduled on February 1.
Day-to-day activities not to be affected on January 23: NCD
The Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) has informed that normal day-to-day activities will not be affected and all business, private, government establishment would run as usual on the day of the proposed public rally on January 23, 20167. Informing this, NCD president T Bangerloba in a press note appealed to all the public to attend the rally so as to come to a consensus solution to the present crisis.
‘Play the role of fatherly figure in promoting peace & harmony’ De-reserve post for BT; make
Dimapur, January 21 (mExn): The Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation (NGBF) has now asked all GBs in Nagaland State not to participate in any rally, bandh or boycott of the ongoing process of election to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), as notified by the Government of Nagaland. As the “custodian of customary law,” the NGBF also requested the State Election Commission to defer, if possible, the ULBs’ election till the situation gets “normal” and an “understanding” takes place between Government of Nagaland and “pressure groups.” A press from NGBF President Shaleem Konyak and General Secretary Shikuto Zalipu informed all District GBs Associations to “maintain and follow the customs and traditions which were carried on and practiced by our forefathers and also play the role of fatherly figure in promoting peace and harmony and to avoid breach
• NGBF asks GBs not to participate in rally, bandh or boycott of ULB elections • Requests State Election Commission to defer, if possible, the ULBs’ election till situation gets normal
of conduct.” The NGBF reminded that the many tribes of Nagaland follow unique customs and traditions, but most aspects being similar gave birth to ‘Naga Customary Law.’ As the “custodian of the customary law,” the NGBF appealed to all “not to dilute our unique customary practice by imposing unusual practices which are not in practice from time immemorial till date.”
No ‘paramount power’ beyond village
Explaining the context, the NGBF brought to fore that “each village was the state by itself,” and there was no “paramount power” beyond this. Each village has its own land and forest; every village
had its own system of government; some were democratic setup and some hereditary setup. This system of governance was run by the village chiefs known as Angh in Konyak, Kukami in Sumi, Ekhung in Lotha, Pehumia in Angami, Putumenden in Ao, Kilongtsur in Yimchunger, Mewoh/Runakreta in Chakhasang, Abotonger in Sangtam, Monyu in Phom, Sangponyu in Chang, Chinkhu/Pai in Zeliang etc. The system of governance was for the “welfare and protection” of citizens based on their respective customs and traditions, extrapolated the NGBF. Further, there was division of work in terms of administration, rituals etc. “Every individual in the village
had his rightful place in the society. The village chieftains and elders do not exercise any kind of autocratic power. All important matters were discussed in the open court where views were exchanged, evidences were examined and only after thorough deliberation, final decisions were taken (A kind of Direct Democracy),” the NGBF statement noted. Thus, it maintained, “Diluting and twisting our customs and traditions for self benefit or to mislead would surely tarnish our identity which was acknowledged by the British India Sarkar and recognized by the Government of India.” In this light, the NGBF reiterated that “No power/strength can separate the customs and traditions from Naga people” and asked all GBs to be wary of this at this juncture and not participate in any rally, bandh or boycott of the “ongoing process of ULBs election as notified by the government of the day.”
Naga Photojournalist wins TFA-Tasveer Emerging Photographer Award 2017 Kekhriezhazo Miachieo’s ‘Cycle of Street Life’ series shows heart-rending photos of children abusing drugs Morung Express News Dimapur | January 21
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Aus Open: Nadal holds off Zverev, Serena cruises
‘Youth Interface for Peace Building’
nagaland UlB Polls: the tussle continues Dimapur | January 21
JCC to oppose distribution of voter’s identification slip
T R u T H
— Aristotle
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Morung Express News
My leg is broken, but..Yes .. yes!!! No election duty for me.
o F
Kekhriezhazo Miachieo, a Naga Photojournalist based in Delhi has been awarded the TFA-Tasveer Emerging Photographer Award 2017 – an annual photography award that recognises young talents in the country. Set up in memory of Toto ‘Angirus’ Vellani, the Thirteenth Annual Toto Funds the Arts’ (TFA) Awards for young photographers, filmmakers, writers, musicians and bands was held in Bangalore on January 7. Zhazo, as he is better known, was awarded for his heart-rending photos of children abusing drugs. The series of 12 pictures is titled “Cycle of Street Life”. Speaking to The Morung Express, Zhazo, who works with India Today as a Photojournalist, says that it took him nearly 3 years juggling between assignments to finish the project. “I tried to go and be as close to the subjects as possible,” he says revealing that he avoided using telephoto zoom lenses. But it was no easy task as it meant putting himself in vulnerable situations. Threatened more than a few times
Pictures from Kekhriezhazo Miachieo’s ‘Cycle of Street Life’ series which won the TFATasveer Emerging Photographer Award 2017. Bottom right Kekhriezhazo Miachieo
while taking photographs, Zhazo recalls that he was also nearly stabbed twice – once with a scissor and another time with a pen. “They were mostly high (on drugs),” he recollects. Describing his work, Zhazo says that there are about 1.5-2 lakh kids in the streets of the national capital indulging in substance abuse. According to a study con-
ducted by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Substance Abuse by Children, the average age of these children is 13.7 years and alarmingly, most are school dropouts. These young and restless resorts to substance abuse inevitably end up committing criminal offences – including murder. Most of the street kids take on the job of
rag picking where they collect wastes like empty water bottles and tin scraps and sell them at junk stores. This earns them about Rs 150- 200 daily and the money is then the used to procure drugs from peddlers. Apart from the imminent criminal activities, the vulnerability to diseases like AIDS, through needle sharing for instance, is hauntingly high for these young substance abusers. The Tasveer Journal, an online magazine for photography describes Zhazo’s work as a project dealing with the darker realities of society made particularly poignant through his focus on children. “Miachieo’s graphic high-contrast monochromatic images reflect the starkness of the world that his young substance abusers inhabit,” the online portal said of Zhazo’s work. The sensitivity that the photographer displays toward their subjects produces poignant, heart-rending windows into these young lives, it added. Nearly two weeks after receiving the award, Zhazo’s name finds no mention in the local media but as someone who likes to keep a low profile, he isn’t much perturbed. The 29-year old from Kohima travels every other month on assignments. Notable among the assignments he has covered so far include the Uttarakhand (2013) and Kashmir (2014) floods, the Muzzafarnagar riots (2013, Uttar Pradesh) and also the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal (2015). Having put in his heart into the project, Zhazo says that it is “very fulfilling” to have his work acknowledged by distinguished experts and pioneers. “I’m satisfied that it paid off,” he says.
it open for all candidates
Dimapur, January 21 (mExn): Seven associations have reiterated its appeal to the Nagaland Government to reconsider the corrigendum related to Nagaland Public Service Commission adv no. NPSC/ADVT-1/04 dated 26 October 2016 and to allow the post reserved for Backward Tribes (BT) to be open to all the candidates based on merit in the upcoming exam. In a joint press statement, the Graduate Electrical Engineers Association (GEEAN), Association of Mechanical Engineers Nagaland (AMEN-U), Unemployed Civil Engineers Association of Nagaland (UCEAN), Forestry Graduate Association of Nagaland (FGAN), Agriculture Engineers Graduate Association of Nagaland (AEGAN), All Nagaland Unemployed Veterinary Doctors Association (ANUVDA) and Electronics and Communication Engineers Association Nagaland (ECEAN) on Saturday urged the State Government to reconsider the decision as per the NPSC corrigendum where some posts have been reserved particularly for a BT tribe. The associations maintained that such reservations is affecting the technical graduates of branches like Mechanical Engineering, E&C, IT, CS, Agriculture Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering
and Forestry Graduates. In branches like Mechanical, E&C, CS and IT there is hardly any advertisement and when one post is advertised as in the recent NPSC (CTE), giving away that one post to one particular BT tribe cannot be considered fair and transparent enough, the associations asserted. It also pointed out that as per the reservation policy order no. RCBT-5/87(ptII) annexure B-I 125 point rooster table, the first vacancy is reserved for all indigenous inhabitants and only then comes the reservation for BT tribe. Correspondingly, taking into reference the reservation policy of the Government of Nagaland, the associations also requested all the concerned authorities to go/follow as per the rules and reconsider in making those advertised posts be made open to all in the upcoming CTE exam 2016. It also argued that the order RCBT-5/87(pt-II) nowhere mentions that in case of only one vacancy it ought to be reserved for a BT tribe. The associations also lamented that despite a representation submitted to the Nagaland Chief Secretary on the same issue on November 4, 2016 and a copy handed over to the Head of Department s of all the concerned departments, no response have been received so far.