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www.morungexpress.com
The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. X ISSUE 25
www.morungexpress.com
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Japan special envoy hopeful about release of hostages [ PAGE 9]
Documentary says Tom Cruise had Nicole Kidman’s phone tapped [ PAGE 11]
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Public Information
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WAsHINgtoN, JANUARY 27 (IANs): More than half the people in some developing countries could be at the risk of malnutrition if crop-pollinating animals like bees continue to decline, a study shows. Scientists at the University of Vermont and Harvard University have connected what people actually eat in four developing countries to the pollination requirements of the crops that provide their food and nutrients. The team gathered survey data about people’s daily diets in parts of Zambia, Mozambique, Uganda and Bangladesh. “The take-home is: pollinator declines can really matter to human health with quite scary numbers for vitamin A deficiencies, for example,” said scientist Taylor Ricketts from University of Vermont . It can lead to blindness and increase death rates for some diseases, including malaria. It is not just plummeting populations of bees. Scientists around the world have observed a worrisome decline of many pollinator species, threatening the world’s food supply. Recent studies have shown that these pollinators are responsible for up to 40 percent of the world’s supply of nutrients. “Ecosystem damage can damage human health so conservation can be thought of as an investment in public health,” Ricketts said. “Continued declines of pollinator populations could have drastic consequences for global public health,” the team wrote. For parts of the developing world, the future could include “an increase in neural tube defects from folate deficiency or an increase in blindness and infectious diseases from vitamin A deficiency because we have transformed our landscapes in ways that don’t support animal pollinators anymore.” The study appeared in the journal PLOS ONE.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 12 pages Rs. 4 – Elon Musk
Maytas-Gayatri (JV) employees allegedly abducted from Suthozu [ PAGE 2]
Cartoonist R K Laxman to get a memorial [ PAGE 8]
Sharapova, Murray cruises; Nadal crashes out [ PAGE 12]
obama urges india to uphold ‘dignity of the individual’
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 27 (AP): President Barack Obama gently nudged India Tuesday to fulfill its constitution’s pledge to uphold the “dignity of the individual,” drawing on his own experience as a minority in the United States as he closed out a three-day visit to New Delhi. Obama said that while he has had extraordinary opportunities, “there were moments in my life where I’ve been treated differently because of the color of my We must fly to Delhi and ap- skin.” As he touted the imprise him of what is happen- portance of religious tolering here. His support is our ance, he noted the persissilver bullet! tent false rumors that he is a Muslim, not a Christian. “There have been times where my faith has at times All press statements, been questioned by peomemorandums, arti- ple who don’t know me, or cles, reports and news they’ve said that I adhere related documents to a different religion, as if that were somehow a bad should be sent to the thing,” Obama said. official email address: Equality is enshrined morung@gmail.com in India’s constitution, but Press releases will be religious minorities and accepted only till 8:00 pm women have experienced harassment and violence. A Editor, horrific gang rape on a movThe Morung Express ing bus in the heart of New Delhi in 2012 sparked public protests, which prompted more stringent laws. But critics say more progress is needed and Obama gave
Dwindling bee population poses malnutrition risk
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Patience is a virtue, and I’m learning patience. It’s a tough lesson
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voice to their cause. “Every woman should be able to go about her day — to walk the street or ride the bus — and be safe and be treated with the respect and dignity that she deserves,” Obama said to applause from the audience of 1,500 at the Siri Fort Auditorium, a governmentrun event center. Since taking office in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often talked about women’s rights, urging Indians to treat sons and daughters equally. He recently launched an “educate thedaughter,savethedaughter,” program to stem sex selective abortions that skews the gender ratio toward boys and to encourage parents to educate girls, who are often considered a burden. Obama nodded to his wife as he noted that he’s married to a strong woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. “Our nations are strongest when we uphold the equality of all our people and that includes our women,” he said. India is largely Hindu, with almost 80 percent following the faith. At over 12 percent Muslims are India’s largest minority, with Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists making up the rest.
U.S. President Barack Obama interacts with the audience after delivering a speech at the Siri Fort Auditorium, a government-run event center, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. Obama gently nudged India Tuesday to fulfill its constitution’s pledge to uphold the “dignity of the individual,” drawing on his own experience as a minority in the United States as he closed out a three-day visit to New Delhi. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)
While religious groups largely coexist peacefully, the country has seen several flare ups of violence, primarily between Hindus and Muslims. Obama said no society is immune from man’s darkest impulses, as he raised the 2012 shooting
‘Insurgency-related fatalities’ declined by 53.12 percent in Nagaland state: Report DIMAPUR, JANUARY 27 (MExN): The South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), in a recent report, stated that 2014 saw a decline in “insurgency-related fatalities” by 53.12 percent in comparison with 2013 in Nagaland state. The partial data compiled by the SATP revealed that Nagaland state recorded a total of 15 fatalities, including 11 civilians and four cadres in 2014; as compared to 32 fatalities in 2013 including 11 civilians and 21 cadres respectively. The data was published at Eurasia Review, a Journal of Analysis and News website on January 26 by SATP, a product of The Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi committed to “continuous evaluation and resolution of problems of internal security in South Asia.” According to the same report, as of 2013, there were no fatalities among the Security Forces in Nagaland. The report further highlighted that the last fatality in this category was recorded in 2008, when police recovered the body of an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) trooper between the Keyive and Heningkunglwa villages under Peren District. Again, the killing of 11 civilians in 2014 includes the incident when on January 3, 9 highly decomposed bodies of Karbi labourers were recovered in Pachaspura, 7th Mile Dimapur on January 3 2014. The Rengma Naga Hills Protection Force (RNHPF), claimed responsibility for the killings and it was linked to the turmoil in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District of Assam state. Other casualties of civilians occurred in two separate incidents- one at Mukalimi village in Zunheboto district and the other in Phek Town on January 23 and June 3 respectively.
According to the report, by comparison, 11 civilian fatalities in 2013 were recorded in nine separate incidents. However, the report depicted that the fatalities among the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) witnessed a steep decline with just 4 reported killings in 2014 as against 21 in 2013. “Clearly, a marked improvement has been witnessed through 2014 in terms of fratricidal clashes as well, which had undermined the State’s security environment for several years,” the report observed. It further informed that a total of 426 cadres have been killed in such clashes since 2001 and the highest number was recorded in 2008, when a total of 101 cadres were killed in “internecine fighting.” Again, six incidents of explosion, resulting in injuries to five persons, were reported in 2014; as against eight such incidents, resulting in two civilian deaths, recorded in 2013. The SATP database also recorded 6 incidents of abductions involving 8 abductees in 2014 as against 12 persons in 10 such incidents in 2013. However, the report remarked that, “The numbers relating to both abduction and extortion are gross underestimates as most such incidents go unreported, as victims comply without reporting to the Police.” The SATP maintained that the decline in “factional clashes” was primarily due to the “Lenten Agreement” on March 28, 2014, where a two-day reconciliation meeting of the NSCN (IM), GPRN/ NSCN and Naga National Council/ Federal Government of Nagaland (NNC/ FGN) – was held at Dimapur, under the banner of the Forum for Naga Rec-
onciliation (FNR). In this meeting, six top leaders of the three groups signed the agreement and in accordance with the Naga Concordant signed on August 26, 2011, agreed “in principle to form the NNG [Naga National Government.” A joint statement to this end read: “While this task is being carried out, we call for maintenance of the status quo, by vigilantly refraining from any unwarranted activities by the Nagas.” Commenting further on the geo-political scenario of the region, the report maintained that despite positive development, “areas of concern persist” and that border clashes along the Nagaland-Assam border remains a huge “challenge.” Another area of concerns, according to SATP, includes the issue of multiple taxation. Regarding the ongoing ceasefire between NPGS and the central government, the report concluded that, though a “policy of drift” appeared to dominate the GoI approach to NPGS in Nagaland, the new dispensation in New Delhi has articulated a time bound strategy of negotiations. The new National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on October 18, 2014 noted that, “The (peace) process is the means to an end and if there is an end, which is a desired end, it must be found in real time… peace process must be completed as early as possible.” It remains to be seen how these declarations are translated into policy and process, the SATP noted. For detail analysis, visit, Nagaland Assessment for 2015 – Analysis, at http:// www.eurasiareview. com/26012015-indianagaland-assessment2015-analysis.
at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin that killed six people. “In that moment of shared grief, our two countries reaffirmed a basic truth, as we must again today, that every person has the right to practice their faith how they choose, or to practice no
ECI directs Shurhozelie to file reply by Feb 16 DIMAPUR, JANUARY 27 (MExN):TheElectionCommission of India has directed Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu to file his reply to the petition filed by the Noke led NPF seeking declaration that the group under Noke Wangnao is the “original Naga Peoples’ Front.” This was informed through notification from ECI Secretary Varinder Kumar, dated January 27, 2014. The ECI has through this notification directed Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu to file his reply, if any, latest by February 16, 2015. Addressing Dr Shurhozelie, the ECI notification stated: “If you do not file the reply by the aforesaid date it will be presumed that you have nothing to submit in this behalf and the Commission will pass appropriate orders without any further reference to you.” The ECI further stated that on receipt of the reply filed by Dr Shurhozelie, if any, Noke Wangnao may file a rejoinder within a week. Copy of the same should be served to Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu, under information to the commission, it added.
faith at all, and to do so free of persecution and fear and discrimination,”Obamasaid. Modi was denied was denied a visa to the U.S. in 2005, three years after religious riots killed more than 1,000 Muslims in the Indian state where he was the top elected official. He
has denied any wrongdoing and India’s top court says it found no evidence of Modi’s involvement in the riots, but India’s Muslims and Christians are wary of Modi’s right wing Bharatiya Janata Party. Obama’s speech was the closing to a three-day visit to celebrate India’s Republic Day, the anniversary of India’s democratic constitution taking force in 1950. He cut out Tuesday’s plans for a visit to the Taj Mahal, India’s famed white marble monument of love, to add a stop in Saudi Arabia on the way home to pay respects to the royal family following King Abdullah’s death. Earlier, the Obamas met with Nobel Peace Prize winner and anti-child labor activist Kailash Satyarthi and his wife. They were accompanied by three children — a 12-year-old rescued from a button factory, an 8-year-old who lost a finger as a farm worker and a 12-year-old girl who has advocated for clean drinking water in school and against child marriages. Satyarthi said there are still more than 5 million child slaves worldwide and thanked Obama for helping fight the scourge.
In his speech, Obama also raised his pursuit of an agreement with India to cut greenhouse gas emissions. “I know the argument made by some — that it’s unfair for countries like the United States to ask developing nations and emerging economies like India to reduce your dependence on the same fossil fuels that helped power our growth for more than a century,” Obama said. “But here’s the truth — even if countries like the United States curb our emissions, if countries that are growing rapidly like India with soaring energy needs don’t also embrace cleaner fuels, then we don’t stand a chance against climate change.” Obama’s remarks were well-received despite his criticisms of his host country. He drew laughter and applause when he referenced the hugely popular Bollywood movie Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, or “the brave heart will win the bride.” Obama quoted a line in Hindi from the movie as he joked that he wasn’t able to dance during this visit as in his last. The sentence translates to, “Senorita, these things happen sometimes in big countries.”
Respect Ceasefire Ground Rules: CFMG to NSCN (IM)
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 27 (MExN): The Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) today urged the NSCN (IM) to “respect in letter and spirit of the Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGRs) they themselves had agreed to.” A press note from the CFMG informed that its Chairman is “dismayed at the stand taken by the NSCN (IM).” “The Chairman’s opinion being labeled one sided is unfortunate because as the Chairman of the monitoring group, it is his duty to take note and point out any violation of the Ceasefire Ground Rules agreed to by both sides,” stated the note. Alleging that the NSCN (IM) has been “blatantly violating several CFGRs,” it said that the CMFG Chairman “has to highlight these and take necessary action to raise these issues.” “Obviously the NSCN (IM) or any other group does not like its violation to be pointed out. The same is true for the Assam Rifles also,” it added. According to the press note, the CMFG Chairman has “re-emphasised that he is doing his mandated job as expected and pointing out faults/violations, even in the face of any side’s resentment.” It further clarified that “all issues raised by the CMFG are directly linked to the CFGRs.” “Vide clause (e) of the CFGRs, the NSCN (IM) had agreed to act in a manner as not to cause harassment of
individuals. Kidnapping, abduction, illegal detention, extortion, ransom, issue of threatening summons, diktats etc all come under the purview of harassment and intimidation, and very much under the CFGRs,” it stated. “Illegal taxation and extortion,” it asserted “violates clause (i) of the CFGRs with NSCN (IM), who themselves had agreed that activities like forcible collection of money would be prevented.” “This clause is most highly violated, directly affecting the well being of common people of Nagaland in many adverse ways, forcing the CMFG to raise this matter very frequently with specific details,” it added. The note further clarified that the CMFG Chairman’s talk at a seminar on January 21 was “concerning the conflict/ security situation in Nagaland, and not merely on the CFGRs.” It was in this context, it stated, that “judicial aspects and some other issues were also raised, for example the NSCN obstructing procedural activities of Nagaland Police by harbouring and illegally detaining persons accused of murder etc, which has direct impact on the law and order and security situation in the state.” On the aspect of governance, it asserted that “ideally in a democracy the people govern themselves through their elected representatives without any extra constitutional interference.”
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