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SunDAY • JAnuArY 29 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 26 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of the old ones
Trump’s unpredictability troubles US allies PAGE 09
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Border Fence: ‘Repeating a historical wrong upon Nagas’
Itanagar, January 28 (IanS): Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya was on Saturday sworn in as Acting Governor of Arunachal Pradesh by Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajit Singh at the Raj Bhavan here. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and his council of ministers, members of the state assembly, Chief Secretary in-charge Satya Gopal, and senior officers were present when Acharya was administered the oath of office. Acharya was given the additional charge after V Shanmuganathan, who was holding additional charge of ArunachalPradesh,resigned on Thursday night following charges of inappropriate behaviour against him.Shanmuganathan’s resignation came after nearly 100 employees of the Raj Bhavan in Shillong on Wednesday sent a five-page letter to the Prime Minister’s Office and Rashtrapati Bhavan, demanding recall of the Governor for what they alleged was “turning the Raj Bhavan into a Young Ladies Club”.
Corrigendum Apropos the press statement of Phom Peoples’ Council (PPC) regarding bandh which was published on January 28, PPC President has issued a corrigendum stating that “the PPC empowers all youths for ensuring total compliance in implementing the resolution of PPC for imposing bandh” and not as published. The statement had mentioned PPC empowers Phom Students’ Conference (PSC) and Longleng Town Students’ Union (LTSU) to ensure implementation of the bandh.
Jan 28 bandh ends; uncertainty remains
Bandh volunteers threaten ‘free movement’ of the press
An overcast sky aptly summed up the mood in Dimapur today – gloomy and uncertain. Deserted streets, downed shutters, the occasional drone of police vehicles and cars bearing stickers of bandh supporters, passengers stranded at the airport and the railway station marked the first day of the bandh called by the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) in Dimapur. While most denizens preferred to stay indoors in the vicinity of areas manned by bandh volunteers, pedestrians walked without hassle on unmanned streets. Small shops well within colonies and far from the watchful eyes of volunteers opened. The day passed off without any major untoward incidents reported save an episode at the Dimapur Government College late morning. Volunteers alerted of a poll related training to be conducted at the college premises during the day barricaded the entrance. The incident, which occurred around 10:00 am, saw trainees prevented from entering the premises and asked to turn back. Volunteers manned the major intersections of the town, strewing their zones with boulders and burning tyres across streets. Similar cases were spotted at the NH 29 stretch from Purana Bazar till Chumukedima. Except for occasional sightings of ambulances, police and para-military vehicles and some vehicles bearing small black flags indicating funeral duties, vehicular movement was nil. Commuters taking the chance to take out vehicles were stopped and asked to turn back while some unfortunate few were forced to
Morung Express News Dimapur | January 28
Phek Dimapur
Kohima
Mokokchung
Kiphire
face unsympathetic remarks before being turned away. Media persons covering the day’s happenings were also at the receiving end of unsavoury remarks. All signs of the State and governance either disappeared or police remained in hidden corners observing the events. The Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) today lauded the conduct of “allpartiesconcern(ed)”forcompleting the bandh’s first day. The Council, in a press statement expressed optimism that there will be more “participation” from the public in the remaining days of the bandh.
without incident. Business establishments downed shutters, while pedestrian and vehicular movements restricted. The AYO, in a press release, stated that there will be no further bandh under Kohima Municipal Council, Medziphema Town Council and Chumukedima Town Council areas until further notice. It however added that bandh in Medziphema and Chumukedima “could be necessitated depending on the developments” in Dimapur.
Bandh at Phek In Phek, the bandh called by the Chakhesang Youth Front from Kohima: No more bandh 9:00 am to 4:00 am went off with no until further notice untoward incident reported with The 9:00 am to 4:00 pm bandh the town was completely shutin Kohima called by the Angami down. It was also observed in PfutYouth Organization (AYO) was sero, Chozuba and Chetheba.
Mokokchung bandh passes, to resume from January 31 onwards The ‘total bandh’ imposed by Ao Senden in Mokokchung district today passed without any untoward events. The Ao Senden informed that there will be no bandh in Mokokchung on January 30 and 31 with the bandh will resume indefinitely from January 31. Kiphire bandh In Kiphire, bandh was enforced by the Kiphire District Joint Coordination Committee (KDJCC), comprising United Sangtam Likhüm Pümji, Tikhir Tribal Council and Kiphire District GB’s Association. Bandh volunteers reportedly halted state government assigned Booth Level Officers from distributing voter slips.
48-hr bandh in Wokha NBCC asks churches to dedicate from Jan 31 onwards January 29 to pray for ULB crises
Wokha, January 28 (MExn): Lotha Hoho has called a 48-hour bandh in Wokha district from January 31 (starting 6:00 am) to February 2 (6:00 am) in protest against the elections to the Urban Local Bodies (ULB). This was informed today during a meeting called by Lotha Hoho at Local Ground here. To enforce the bandh, Lotha Hoho also informed the youths of 39 and 40 Assembly Constituencies to be at Bhandari and youths of 37 and 38 A/C to be at Wokha Town by January 30. In the meeting, the Lotha Hoho Chairman asserted that Lothas are not against the ULB formation, but will oppose the polls unless necessary corrections are made to the Nagaland Municipal Act, according to a
press release from Thungdemo Kyong, Secretary (Media), Lotha Hoho Joint Action Committee. The Chairmen of Longsa Village and Wokha Village also assured the Lotha Hoho of total cooperation as per the joint village meeting’s resolution dated January 27, 2017 and sought cooperation from the general public for the same, the release added. Meanwhile, Lotha Hoho Joint Action Committee asked all the public as well candidates not to participate in the ULB elections. Leaders and representatives from Lotha Hoho Kohima and other places too spoke in the meeting. A car rally to protest the elections was also carried out today from Local Ground to Zero Point and to Longsa Village, where more than 200 cars participated.
kohIMa, January 28 (MExn): Concerned by the crises unfolding over the ULB elections, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) today called upon the churches to dedicate January 29 (Sunday) to pray for “our” land. This, the NBCC said is “a time for Christians to sincerely pray in earnest for God to intervene in the worst situation we all can imagine.” In a press statement, the Council urged to pray for the leaders in the State government “whom we hope to deliver the right decision at this crucial time in our history.” “Pray also for our tribal leaders who represent us. Let us pray that God will intervene, soften the stance, mindset of all the parties who have in their hands to save the situation. Let us
Commuters stranded at railway station & airport Morung Express News Dimapur | January 28
C M Y K
Serena wins Australian Open for 23rd grand slam crown PAGE 12
Dimapur | January 28
Nagaland Governor sworn in as Arunachal Acting Governor
T R u T H
— John Cage
PAGE 05
Morung Express News
You don’t have supporters, true, but don’t panic, you and I,we’re going to win this thing unopposed.
o F
At the Dimapur Railway Station, a man sat under the gate giving out paan (betel leaf) and tamul (betel nuts) for free. He had bought the whole load to sell at his shop but landed up giving them out to people stranded at the rail station due to the ongoing bandh in Dimapur. “It is a loss but how can I charge these people?” asked the paan-tamul shopkeeper. With bandh supporters and volunteers showing little compassion towards commuters stranded at Dimapur Railway Station and Dimapur airport, people decided to come to each other’s rescue. “We have been travelling for three days. Our children are hungry, we have no money in our pockets and we have no way to go home,” said one of the many stranded commuters who had to spread themselves out at the railway station platform, or outside it. They were traveling in a group of ten, including women and children. Long, and mostly clueless, discussions ensued among commuters who found no help even from some of the traffic cops who gathered at the railway station taxi stand. Instead, the cops skimmed off some of the ‘free’ paan and tamul being distributed to hungry passengers. “How much puri can I possibly have from the station?” wondered a sevenmonth pregnant woman who reached Dimapur in the Kamakhya Express and
Passengers stranded at the Dimapur airport due to the bandh on January 28 seen here walking with their luggage towards the highway. (Morung Photo)
was slated to reach Ghaspani today. At the Dimapur airport, similar scenes ensued. Thirsty passengers who arrived this afternoon walking with their luggage towards the highway showed how the bandh left little difference, at least momentarily, between the poor and the rich. “We have just returned from Thailand. We have no water and we are trying to walk to a friend’s house at 5th Mile,” said one woman traveling in a group of three. Not all hope was lost though. Bandh volunteers at the airport-highway junction were among the few with humanity enough to organize passing vehicles to get tired passengers home. Opportunists, on the other hand, found a way to cheat passengers and bandh enforcers alike in some way.
“Some private taxis offered to take us to Kohima for an absurd charge of Rs. 30004000,” said another woman. Meanwhile, outside the airport, a calm looking group of people walked around the airport compound. “We are bird watchers!” they said gleefully, when asked about their calm demeanor given the situation. Their group of eight bird watchers arrived today from Mumbai, Chennai and Pune to go to Khonoma as their first bird watching pit stop. Not a good time for watching birds, alas. “I dropped the first batch of bird watchers and picked this group up. Some of them also plan to go to Peren, Mon and Mokokchung,” said the organizer of the group who had to plead with several bandh enforcers to get the first batch on their flight out. This is their first visit to Nagaland.
also pray for forgiveness and humility so that God in His mercy will forgive us and show us the way to reconciliation, which will pave the way towards a viable future,” it appealed. Expressing regret that the negotiations did not result in desirable outcome, it further requested to stop blaming each other “because we are all aware that by doing that we have found ourselves in the present predicament of fear and apprehension.” The NBCC urged all stakeholders to exercise restraint, patience and understanding “for the larger interest of the people and to salvage from the situation we are in.” It stated that, “Common people were anxious and yet hopeful thinking that wisdom will prevail.”
In what could be termed as several bulls in a China shop, bandh volunteers today restricted the coverage of their own protest by restricting the free movement of the press. Journalists reporting on the unfolding events in Dimapur came under threat as they continued to be intimidated by unruly bandh volunteers throughout the day. Among many other incidents, a woman reporter today said that she was ‘hooted’ by the all-male volunteers at every pit stop she visited while covering the bandh in Dimapur. Local leaders justified this as boys “joking” around. “I had to make it clear that harassment of media personnel has to stop. Only then did leaders restrict volunteers and gave serious interviews,” she said. Several inebriated and ill-informed volunteers attempted to stop even paramilitary vehicles. In one location, volunteers halted an ambulance and asked the driver to turn back. Media persons going about their duties were halted and checked at different stops. At a barricade in Dimapur, when one newspaper’s vehicle with reporters in it was passing by, a volunteer threatened to ‘burn down’ the press vehicle. “ You press-w al a should be careful,” a volunteer commented as a car carrying reporters was passing by a barricade. At several other barricades, slurring volunteers questioned the free movement of the press, while absurdly asking media personnel to take their pictures to prove press credentials.
pressed “deep shock and anguish” over the “unruly behaviour” of some volunteers who used “abusive language” on media persons on duty and threatened their movement during the bandh organized by Joint Coordination Committee on January 28. While condemning the “dishonourable act against the media persons,” the NPA hoped that the “responsible leadership” of the JCC will be “able to discipline their own volunteers with sense of great responsibility and maturity.”
DPC condemns intimidation; appeals for safety of Journalists The Dimapur Press Club (DPC) has flayed the “actions of some volunteers” monitoring the imposed bandh in Dimapur town for “intimidating Journalists on duty covering the bandh occasion” and appealed for their security. The DPC condemned prevention of journalists from performing their duties even after clear announcement from the JCC exempting Press from the bandh, the DPC said in a statement issued by its President Moa Longkumer and General Secretary Henlly Phom today. It was reported that Journalists on duty, even after producing identify cards to the volunteers, were warned not to cross by the main road frequently. “Some volunteers were not willing to allow the journalists to pass by the road even threatening to burn the Press vehicle,” it informed. In this connection, the DPC appealed the organisations concerned to ensure that security of Journalists on duty in the future. Without free and safe NPA anguished over movement, the media’s ‘unruly behaviour’ The Nagaland Press ability to fulfill its duties Association (NPA) has ex- will be hampered.
KDJCC says all intending candidates agree to abstain from ULB elections
kIphIrE, January 28 (MExn): The Kiphire District Joint Coordination Committee (KDJCC), comprising United Sangtam Likhüm Pümji, Tikhir Tribal Council, and Kiphire District GB’s Association, today claimed that “all the intending candidates” in Kiphire District have “agreed in letter and spirit to abstain from ULBs elections 2017 in the interest… of Naga customs and its traditions.” Drawing attention to a ‘Deed of Agreement,’ the KDJCC in a letter to the Returning Officer, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Kiphire, Nagaland, KDJCC appealed for “prompt and necessary action” from the latter and stop “all the related activities for the conduct of ULBs election 2017.” “All the intending candidates signed an Agreement Appeals organisations to sound mind, health and body in the presence of KDallow ‘free and fair’ election in JCC,” stated the letter released to the media here by PresikohIMa, January 28 (MExn): The Joint dent USLP K. Tsilise, President TTC Topan and President Action Committee on Women Reservation KDGBA Sepitong. (JACWR) will now take up “necessary measures” to withdraw the Special Leave Petition from the Supreme Court of India before the elections to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are conducted on February 1. As decided in a meeting on January 26 at Hotel Japfu, the JACWR stated that it will honour the ‘Assurance Letter’ it received from the Government of Nagaland (Chief Minister’s Office) on January 28 to hold the ULB elections on schedule. “In the interest of peace in the society, and taking due cognisance of appeals by various Naga Organisations,” the JACWR will make the “necessary legal preparation” to withdraw the SLP before the elections, stated the Committee’s Convenor Abeiu Meru and CoConvenor Dr. Rosemary Dzuvichu in a press release today. The JACWR also appealed to all “respected Organisations” to “allow the democratic process of a free and fair election to be held, for electing the respective Town councils in the state without any hindrance.” It also appealed to the Nagaland State Government to “consider an early second phase of polls for those towns and candidates who were unable to file or had to withdraw their nominations.”
JACWR to take necessary measures to withdraw SLP