January 7th, 2015

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The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. X ISSUE 5

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Wednesday, January 7, 2015 12 pages Rs. 4

Cameron Diaz & Benji Madden Wed In Los Angeles

[ PAGE 8]

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

No development without peace and unity: L Khumo [ PAGE 2]

Aussie batsmen dominate Indian bowlers

[ PAGE 9]

[ PAGE 12]

Israeli military divided over Gaza war probes

[ PAGE 11]

Don`t worry. Aree... Mein hoon na!

Public Information This is a reminder to all concerned that The Morung Express has only one official and valid email address. All press statements, memorandums, articles, reports and news related documents should be sent to:

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Editor, The Morung Express

January 5 blast: injured suspect linked to PREPAK Morung Express News Dimapur | January 6

The man injured in the January 5 IED blast in Dimapur is suspected of being a member of an Imphal valley-based insurgent organisation. According to the police, the man, identified as Longjam Ojit Meitei, is suspected of having close links to the Manipur-based PREPAK. The police said that the man has a criminal case registered against his name at Lamlai Police Station in Imphal East district.

He was arrested in connection with an arms case in October 2011 and the case was registered at Lamlai Police Station. The police further said that alongwith the driving licence it found an identity card issued by a Manipur based organisation called Universal Friendship Organisation. The organisation, according to the police, is reported to have close links with Imphal valley-based insurgent groups. Meanwhile, the two IEDs found in the car were disposed today. Bomb disposal personnel from the army neutralized the explosives at around 4:30 am at the State Stadium. The explosives, described as “crude” was composed of compressed gelatine and shrapnel.

– Steven Spielberg

i will not bow down: tr Zeliang • Asserts that leadership ‘cannot be imposed nor should be purchased’ • Rues that there is ‘no permanent friend and no permanent foe in politics’ Dimapur, January 6 (mExn): In the midst of dissidence and turmoil within the Naga People’s Front (NPF), Nagaland state Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today stated that he would “not bow down.” In a press release, Zeliang asserted that he would “not allow the NPF party to succumb to the pressure tactics and psychological game plan of some members who are all out to betray the people’s trust… for their own selfish interest.”

The Nagaland CM termed it “unfortunate” that “some disgruntled elements within the NPF legislators have taken their self- interest above the people’s welfare and have been brazenly trying to victimize the people by attempting to disrupt the smooth sailing of the duly elected Government.”Elected members should know that the ultimate victim of the fallout of the unstable government is the common man and woman, he stated.

As leader of the DAN-III legislatures’ party, the CM reiterated that his “prime objective is to provide stable Government in the state so that the people of Nagaland progress and prosper without any disturbance.” Leadership, he asserted, “cannot be imposed upon the people nor should be purchased.”

A change of leadership, he further maintained, needs to be done with “sound reason and with the consensus decision of the NPF party, but not at the whims and fancy of some elected members who desperately want to grasp the power.” He also stated that frequent change in leadership “without any valid reason” would leave no time to “work for our people.”

While conceding that no Chief Minister can “fully satisfy” all members with plump portfolios or cabinet berths, Zeliang however

Nagaland CM TR Zeliang (File Photo by Caisii Mao)

claimed that he has tried his best to contain the needs of every legislator during the change of guard.

This, he stated was done with the hope that the legislators would “keep the welfare of the people above their self interest and good sense will prevail.” However, he lamented that “some responsible leaders have failed to understand their sworn responsibility.”

Zeliang further stated that as Chief Minister, his “foremost priority” has been to facilitate early settlement of the Naga Political Issue. In pursuance of this, he informed of his reminders to the Government of India “on many occasions” that “time come has for Government of India to act without further procrastination” on the Naga Political Issue. He further pointed out that the Naga Political Issue has been protracted for 6 decades and added that “it cannot be hammered out in a midnight.” “My predecessor, Neiphiu Rio had led the state as Chief Minister for more than a decade but even he could

do little or nothing on this issue, how then can people expect me to do miracle in seven months?” questioned the CM. He termed this as an “absurd allegation” to level, while calling for a change in leadership.

The CM further stated that he has “always maintained good rapport with the central government.”

Zeliang assured that he had apprised the central leaders of the state’s fragile financial conditions.

However, he informed that the decision to provide any special package/grant is the prerogative of the central government. “Therefore, it is illogical to put the whole blame on me for not able to improve the state’s financial position within a short span of time,” he asserted.

Reminding that the “huge deficit burden” had been “inherited” from the “past leadership,” Zeliang stated that “the onus of cleaning all the financial mess viz-a-viz redeeming the state’s financial position has befallen on me.”

While calling for patience, the

Kohima | January 6

Abei Tepa, Advisor, Angami Students’ Union, Chakhroma range was allegedly assaulted by a non-local taxi driver late Monday evening on January 5. Tepa was travelling from Dimapur to Medziphema in a taxi along with other passengers. Suspecting that the passengers may be illegal immigrants, Tepa requested the driver to stop at Chumukedima Check Gate for the regular police verification, to which the driver reportedly refused. After awhile he told the driver to stop the car

CM informed that the Centre has taken time to release money to all states due to replacement of the Planning Commission with a new institution called NITI Aayog. “But now with the replacement process being completed, hopefully the Centre will release the money at the right time and allow the state to regain its normal fiscal conditions,” he hoped.

The Nagaland CM further stated that former CM and present MP, Neiphiu Rio “was and is” his “best friend.” Zeliang informed that he had “sacrificed all and faithfully stood by him to keep his leadership intact for the last one decade of DAN regime” and had supported Rio’s venture into national politics. However, he lamented: “I never expected that he will come back to state politics and play the role of ungrateful friend, instead of concentrating in his assigned task at Delhi.” In politics, the Nagaland CM finally rued “there is no permanent friend and no permanent foe.”

he central office of the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) today termed the meeting held by NPF legislators on Monday, January 5 as “unconstitutional.”

A press note from KG Kenye, General Secretary of the NPF informed that “the leader of the legislature party, TR Zeliang alone can convene a meeting of the legislature.” It further stated that a “parallel meeting of the legislature party of the political party can take place only when a split is caused in the party.”

The NPF added that “any MLA who becomes part of the splitaway group will be squarely disqualified under the 10th schedule for voluntarily giving up membership since the split is no more recognized in the tenth schedule.”

It further stated that both the MPs who “patronized such an illegal and illegitimate meeting also comes under disciplinary scanner of the party and may be liable for disqualification from the respective houses of parliament for the said reason.”

Questioning whether G Kaito Aye, who has been suspended from the NPF “can stake claim to form a rebellious government,” the party has also issued a

show cause notice to the concerned MLAs.

Reaffirms faith in Zeliang Meanwhile, the NPF, in a press note appended by Apong Pongener, Working President; Huska Yepthomi, Working President; Zaku Tsukru, Vice President; Pinyimthung Lotha, Chairman Life Membership Cell; Pusazo Luruo, VP; S Shingyu, VP; BP Hanghuh, General Secretary and Blaise Iheilung, General Secretary endorsed the suspension order issued by the party President issued on January 5 to seven members of the party and expressed support to the leadership of CM TR Zeliang. The same was echoed in a statement by NPF central youth wing president, N Vihishe Swu. It may be noted that President of the NPF, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu had suspended G Kaito Aye, Kuzholuzo Nienu, Zhalieo Rio, Pukhayi, Pohwang Konyak, Shetoyi and Tovihoto Ayemi from the party.

Meanwhile, Nagaland state Chief Minister, TR Zeliang had also terminated 5 Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries from appointment.

They included Phowang Konyak, Pukhayi, Shetoyi, Zhaleo Rio, N Thomas Ngulie and Tovihoto Ayemi.

Born in nagaland? no Tatkal passport Kaito proposed as next nagaland cM

Kohima, January 6 (agEnciEs): The Northeastern community is already feeling out of place in India.

And adding to the woes of the natives or anyone associated with the state is the central government itself. In a recent update, according to the Times of India, anyone born in Nagaland won’t be able to apply for passport under the ‘Tatkal’ category. And even if a passport was received, the recipient may be called by the Nagaland Police to come to the state and sign some documents.

This was a rude shock to 40 year old Keshawv Agarwal, an army man’s son born in Nagaland and studied there upto class X but had shifted to Delhi in 1992. While he received a passport without any hassle in Delhi, for renewal he had to

Morung Express News

nPf terms January 5 meeting ‘unconstitutional’

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run from pillar to post.

“I was told that I can’t apply for a Tatkal passport because I was born in Nagaland.

So I applied under the normal category and was called to the Passport Seva Kendra at Herald House, ITO, for an interview.

They included it in the ‘complex case’ category. And I wondered why now,” said Agarwal.

However, he got his Passport within 15 days, but his woes were yet to come to an end. After 20 days, he is asked to visit the special branch of Nagaland Police personally and sign documents.

Agarwal said, “It’s ridiculous! I’ve been a Delhi resident for over 20 years and I’ve all documents like Aadhar and voter ID cards from here. why has my Nagaland connection suddenly become a problem?”

Meanwhile, Chief Passport officer Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi said, “It must have been there for years. In these cases we go by the perspective of the ministry of home affairs.

They know the internal security ramifications. I can’t say anything off hand. Give me a day to find out more about this.”

However, why Nagaland only has been receiving the ‘special’ services is a question that no one has an answer too.

On verifying with the government site www.passportindia. gov.in, it mentioned “”Mandatory pre-police verification cases such as Indian citizens of J&K and Nagaland would also need additional processing time”. Interestingly, the idea behind the mandate could not be cleared even by the officials.

AsU advisor assaulted by non local taxi driver

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All of us every single year, we’re a different person. I don’t think we’re the same person all our lives Sunanda was poisoned, murder case filed: police

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over which they had an argument and the driver allegedly pulled him by his shirt, shoved him and assaulted him. A co-passenger (only local apart from Abei Tepa in the taxi) rushed to the Check Gate and informed the police. Sources informed that when Tepa asked the police to file an FIR, police personnel on duty refused to acknowledge his complaint.

Furthermore, the culprit and the other passengers (non-locals) are said to have fled from the spot.

Meanwhile student volunteers of the Chakroma Students’ Union (CSU) “gheraoed” the Chumukedima

Police Check Gate on January 6 at 5 pm to “place their demands and express their anger.” The CSU stated that the incident “ascertained that the taxi was being used to ferry illegal immigrants.”

While condemning non action of police personnel, it cautioned that “it will not be held responsible for any ensuing consequences if the perpetrator is not apprehended within 8 hours from the time of the incident.”

The Angami Students’ Union (ASU) has also demanded the arrest of the culprit within 48 hours, failure to do which would “compel us to initiate neces-

sary measures.” It asserted that “democratic measures would include detailing volunteers all across the National Highway to search and demand for valid documents of all immigrants. In the event if any illegal immigrants found without proper and valid documents shall be dealt with, and for which any consequences whatsoever, the State shall be held entirely responsible.” The ASU also demanded the initiation of “necessary disciplinary action against the police on duty for failing to acknowledge the complainant’s request to file an FIR.”

hima. They appealed to the Dimapur, January 6 (mExn): The group of Na- • Group of legislators call for NPF president to “release the MLAs and allow them to galand legislators calling TR Zeliang to step down take their independent defor a change in leadership cision in a democratic manclaiming “absolute major- • All from group decide to ner.” While clarifying that all ity of NPF Legislators” has resign from respective of them have come together “unanimously elected” “out of our own indepenKaito Aye as the leader of the assignments dent conscience and any NPF and DAN legislature parties. Aye has also been • Governor to meet them today person or leader from any section is free and to come “elected to be appointed as and interact with us at any the next Chief Minister of given time,” they expressed the Government of Nagagratefulness to the “numerland,” stated a press release ous numbers of party leadfrom spokesperson of this ers, NPF office bearers from ‘NPF Legislature Party,’ Imall ranks and file and civil kong L. Imchen. society leaders for coming Moreover, it stated that forward and expressing sol“the house,” reportedly idarity and support to the holed up in Dimapur for the leadership of Kaito Aye.” most part, has “lost its conFinally, the camp asfidence in the leadership of sured the people that “a TR Zeliang.” It appealed for stable, effective and transhim to “gracefully step down parent government will be so as to avoid disunity withformed which will tirelessly in the party.” It will be in the work for the welfare of the “people’s interest,” they notpeople in every nook and ed, for Zeliang to step down, corner of the state with the allowing for, what was early resolution of the Naga termed, a “majority view” to political problem as our topprevail. most agenda.”

The legislators welKaito Aye The Kohima and Zuncomed “unanimous supheboto divisions of the NPF press release, they expressed report” extended by BJP MLAs and the State BJP unit to them, sentment over the “autocratic have supported the call by this also to Kaito Aye’s proposed lead- manner” in which seven of them “majority” NPF legislators for a ership. A press note from BJP Na- were dropped from the cabinet change of leadership. The two digaland President informed that by the CM. “In protest against the visions further maintained that “the other group has not extended suspensions and droppings,” all the suspended MLAs “have not any invitation to the party so far,” legislators involved in this group indulged in any anti party activiadding that the BJP will go with have decided to “resign from our ties or against the NPF party in the “majority group” to “ensure respective assignments and re- any manner.”

Meanwhile, Abu Metha, stability to the NPF led DAN gov- sponsibilities as Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, Advisers Press secretary to Neiphiu Rio, ernment in the State.” informed that the Governor of The group also called for the and Chairmen.”

The Dimapur camp also al- Nagaland has invited the band “immediate revocation” of the suspension of “some of our col- leged that the present govern- of legislators to his office on leagues” by the NPF President, ment is keeping MLAs under Wednesday where, according terming the move “totally against “forced confinement” using the to Metha, “the obvious” will constitutional norms.” In the security forces of the State in Ko- take place.

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First Rongmei priest from Kohima diocese ordained

The Morung Express C M Y

‘Maati Ke Rang’ cultural festival in Dimapur

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Rev. Fr. Gaikhang Gabriel being ordained by Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima at St. Joseph’s Parish’s Church, Chumukedima on January 6.

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Kohima, January 6 (mExn): Rev. Fr. Gaikhang Gabriel, the first priest from Rongmei community at Kohima diocese, was ordained by Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, the Bishop of Kohima at St. Joseph’s Parish’s Church, Chumukedima on January 6, 2015.

A press release from Fr. Thomas Toretkiu, Bishop’s Secretary, Kohima informed that the Bishop in his homily highlighted the role of a priest as one of lifting Jesus to the people so that Jesus may draw them to Himself and be saved. “Every priest does this through his pastoral, prophetic and leadership roles. Once ordained a person remains a priest for ever because of the indelible character imprinted with the ordination,” the Bishop stated. He further exhorted the community

to support their priests through prayers, correction, appreciation and encouragement.

Reverend Deacon Gabriel was brought to the Church by the parents and relatives accompanied by Rongmei traditional songs and dances.

The deacon was presented by the parents for ordination after praying over him and removing the traditional dress, symbolizing that he is being set apart for God’s work, the release added. After the ordination ceremony, the newly ordained priest continued the Holy Mass; he gave his first priestly blessing to the people at the end.

Rev. Fr. Gabriel is the second child of G. Jacob and Christina from Diphupar village in Dimapur.

He has a brother and a sister who serve in the Army and IRB respectively. He

studied at Christian Unity Higher Secondary and Carmel Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur. He joined the Seminary in Jalukie and finished his Class XII from St. Xavier Hr. Sec. School, Jalukie. He did one year of orientation course at Chabua, Assam and did his Philosophy studies and graduation from Salesian College, Dimapur. He also completed his Theological studies at Oriens Theological, College, Shillong, the release informed.

Ashuli Joseph anchored the felicitation programme, where special item from CMC Novitiate, Parish, Women Association, CYA, Diphupar ‘A’ were presented. A cassette titled “Saviour: salvatoriam songs” for which Fr. Gabriel Gaikhang provided the music, was released by the Bishop during the felicitation program.

No development without peace and unity: L Khumo

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TuEnsang, January 6 (DiPr): Parliamentary Secretary for Land Revenue, DBs, GBs and VGs L Khumo inaugurated the newly constructed building of Village Guards (VGs) barrack at Thsoiphu village in Tuensang district on December 30, 2014. He also inaugurated the newly constructed building of VG Barrack at Pang village and new village named Panguing village on the day.

During the programme at Thsoiphu village, L. Khumo stated that development cannot take place in any society without peace and unity among the people.

Emphasising on the need

for quality road, he also asserted that without proper transport and communication, economic development cannot be achieved and assured that he is ready to take up any project for the development of the community. He also urged the VGs to perform their duties with sincerity and dedication and render security services to the public like any other armed forces. He also asked the public to live peacefully with the neighbouring villages for more development.

The programme was chaired by VCC SP Buchung while short speeches were delivered by Deputy

Commandant VG Kiphire, Liang; Area Commander VG Thonoknyu, M. Tuming; and Hd. GB Khuchip. Highlights of the programme included folk dance by men and women from Thsoiphu village, Longshingking village and Pang village. After the programme, a consultative meeting was held with the Thsoiphu village council.

Earlier on December 28, 2014, L. Khumo also attended the Golden Jubilee celebration at Wui Village Baptist Church, which is one of the most remote villages located near Burma boundary under 57 Thonoknyu A/C.

Nagaland Catholic Youth Movement and Mary Help of Christians Cathedral Parish, Kohima, welcome you to the celebration of the

Silver Jubilee

of

NAGALAND CATHOLIC YOUTH MOVEMENT

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1. Ramesh Barman (38) is an artist seen behind her for the ‘Maati 4. Madhubani painter Sunita Jha showcase and propagate her art. from Guwahati who specialises Ke Rang’ cultural festival. Ear(55) is seen here with her hus- 5. Gangubai (42) is a Bhil adivain making murals out of thermolier, oral traditions in central and band, Mithila painter, Prabha si from Madhya Pradesh. She col sheets. He is one of the 600 southern parts of India were Shankar (65). Jha learnt this trahas collected some grass from artists who are participating in channelized through various ditional art form from her mother around, and put together mud the ‘Maati Ke Rang’ cultural fesforms of Chithrakathi art. Culturin Madhubani district of Bihar. from the nearby pond to make tival to be held at the North East al festivals give impetus to such Madhubani and Mithila are more birds out of them, which she will Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), art forms that face the consistent or less similar technique-based paint later. She will exhibit her art Dimapur, from January 13-17, danger of extinction. art forms done in free hand with and cultural tradition at the ‘Maa2014. Barman, and his friend 3. Manuj Brahmapaad (42) will draw paint and brush, expressing stoti Ke Rang’ cultural festival.

Surin Das (40), is entrusted with from Kerala’s mural tradition. He ries. The couple will make one 6. Subhash Amaliyar (38) is a Bhil making a replica of a part of the and his team mates will share the drawing each on two boards for adivasi from Jhabua, Madhya Konark temple in Odisha as part work with Shanmuga Priya (38) the ‘Maati Ke Rang’ cultural festiPradesh. Subhash has had the of the background set for the and her team mates to produce val. “While traditional artists are unique opportunity to have his national-level cultural extravaart in collaboration at the ‘Maati given honour and recognition, work published internationally ganza.

Ke Rang’ cultural festival. He repwe are still dependent on art for through an interactive book of 2. Shanmuga Priya (38) is a resented the South Zone Culturbasic wages—too little money his art form by Tara Books PriChithrakathi painter from Chenal Centre at the ‘Maati Ke Rang’ for backbreaking work,” says vate Limited. He will showcase nai, Tamil Nadu, who will paint held in Panchkula, Chandigarh, Sunita Jha, grateful for spaces his painting at the ‘Maati Ke from her tradition on the wall in 2012. like ‘Maati Ke Rang’ that help Rang’ cultural festival.

RYO golden jubilee from January 9

Kohima, January 6 (mExn): The Rachü Yo u t h O r g a n i s a t i o n (RYO),Viswema will be celebrating its golden jubilee from January 9 to 10 at R. Khel, Viswema under the theme “Honour our Roots; Prepare our Future.”

Prelude programme has been scheduled at 3:00 pm on January 9. The function will be chaired by planning-cum-organizing committee member secretary Tebiil Neikha. Er. Mezakrol Rhiitso, chief engineer (retd) I&FC will act as patron. The function will

be marked by folk song, folk and western tunes competition, secretary report and prize distribution.

The jubilee function will take place on January 10 at 10:00 am with Kiyanilie Peseyie, minister for social welfare and parliamentary affairs as the chief guest and Er. Kropol Vitsu, parliamentary secretary for printing & stationery and art & culture as the guest of honour.

Chief host K.V. Pusa, former minister will share greetings. Welcome address will be delivered by planning-cum-organizing

committee convenor Khriipi Sothu. Vihosiinii Lcho, Vi-eyol Kweho & party and Mejokhriile Noswe & party will perform solo, special number and folk tune respectively. The function will be compered by Abei Theyo and Puvito Neikha and Vil Pusa will be the pianist. Vote of thanks will be proposed by Kropo Neikha, president RYO. The organizing committee has informed that transportation would be arranged by RYO for Kohima and Dimapur residents on January 10.

For details contact: Kohima – 09856789290/ 09402993542, Dimapur – 09856373530/ 09862030560. Kohima pick up points and departure time: Razhü Point8:30 am and Phoolbari8:40 am; PWD Junction – 8:00 am, AG Office – 8:15 am and CRPF Camp, Lerie – 8:30 am; B.O.C. South Point – 8:30 am.

Every Rachü woman married to other Khel/ village/ tribe has been invited to the main Jubilee function on January 10 with family member(s).

The 7th Nagaland Catholic Youth Convention

Cathedral, Kohima, Nagaland 8 - 12 January 2015

NAGALAND POLICE BAPTIST CHURCHES ASSOCIATION

Highlights Holy Eucharist Sacrament of Reconciliation Adoration Way of the Cross Rosary Sessions with International Speakers Cultural Programme Quartet Competition Variety Evening : : : :

3:00 pm, 8 Jan. 2015 8:30 am, 9 Jan. 2015 11:30 am, 10 Jan. 2015 10:00 am, 11 Jan. 2015 Main Celebrant

Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil

Bishop of Kohima, Nagaland

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Chief Guest

Shri Francis Ngajokpa

Minister, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Economics & Statitics, Govt. of Manipur.

Date: 9 th – 11 th January, 2015 Venue: NPBCA Mission Centre, Chumukedima.

Theme: “In step with the Spirit”.

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Photo electoral rolls 2015 published

Kohima, January 6 (mExn): The final publication of Photo Electoral Rolls 2015 for all 60 assembly constituencies in Nagaland was done on January 5. A press release from Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, Sentiyange Imchen informed that the total electorate stands at 11,74,470 with 5,92,968 males and 5,81,502 females. The total number of new electors enrolled was 26,556 and total deletion including multiple entries was 26,749. The electorate as per Final Published Photo Electoral Roll 2014 was 11,74,663, it added.

Electoral roll available for inspection in Tsg

26TH GENERAL ANNUAL COUNCIL PROGRAM

Arrival of Delegates Inaugural Mass Thanksgiving Mass Jubilee Mass

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A little drizzle on January 4, 2015 turned the roads in Peren muddy and slippery. Seen here is one of the main roads in Peren which connects with Police Reserve (SP Office), Old Peren, Mpai, Tening town and many other villages. The road condition in Peren district is generally pathetic. (Citizen Journalist: Heutinggumbe)

TuEnsang, January 6 (DiPr): ADC & Electoral Registration Officer, Tuensang, Robert Longchari has notified that the list of amendment to the draft electoral roll for 51-Noksen, 52-Longkhim-Chare, 53-Tuensang Sadar-I, 54-Tuensang Sadar-II, 56-Noklak, 57-Thonoknyu, 58-Shamator-Chessore assembly constituencies has been prepared with reference to January 1, 2015 as the qualifying date and in accordance with the Registration of Electors 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 the office of the ADC & ERO Tuensang during office hours.

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REgional

The Morung Express

Wednesday

7 January 2015

Dimapur

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Liquor Prohibition and Control Assam Police sound terror alert Mizoram Act 2014 to be implemented soon

GUWAHATI, JAnUAry 6 (Tnn): Assam Police have sounded a statewide high alert after an intelligence input warned of possible terror strike in the state ahead of Republic Day. According to the input, 'foreign forces' are urging militant groups of the region to carry out subversive activities in Assam.

Assam DGP Khagen Sarma said, "We are keeping a sharp eye for any such

activity. A red alert has sounded already."

Intelligence sources said the Paresh Baruah-led Ulfa (Independent) faction, aided by Islamic militant groups from across the international border, is trying to sabotage Republic Day celebrations in the state.

"After intercepting several radio and satellite calls, it has become clear that the militant group Ulfa (I) is being pressed by several

Niti Ayog a think tank based on RSS ideology: Assam CM GUWAHATI, JAnUAry 6 (PTI): Niti Ayog is going to be a think tank based on the ideology of RSS, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi alleged on Tuesday. "The Niti Ayog has been filled with ministers and proBJP individuals. It is going to be a think tank based on the ideology of RSS," Gogoi tweeted today. He had earlier said the renaming of the Planning Commission as Niti Ayog was an attempt to belittle the contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India.

People are "not con-

cerned with the name, but with the substance and just changing the name of the Planning Commission was just a cheap gimmick," Gogoi had tweeted earlier following the replacement of Planning Commission with Niti Aayog or National Institution for Transforming India. The BJP-led government at the Centre had replaced the Planning Commission by Niti Ayog to serve as a policy think-tank for central as well as state governments and will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chairperson.

Tripathi sworn in as Meghalaya Guv

SHILLOnG, JAnUAry 6 (PTI): West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was sworn in as Meghalaya Governor at the Raj Bhavan here today.

Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice Uma Nath Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to Tripathi at the century-old Raj Bhavan which was attended by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, his cabinet colleagues and senior civil and police officials.

According to Intelligence inputs, 'foreign forces' are urging militant groups in the region to sabotage Republic Day celebrations.

The sources added that, besides Ulfa (I), National Democratic Front of Boroland's Songbijit faction (NDFB-S) and Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), are also believed to have subversive intentions.

"A call from Pakistan to an Assam-based outfit was intercepted recently.

Besides Guwahati, several fundamentalist groups to districts in upper Assam, strike against security forc- near the state's border with es ahead of Republic Day," Arunachal Pradesh, are vulnerable to militant atsources said.

tacks," they said.

Guwahati police commissioner J Chakraborty said, "Besides the challenges of everyday policing, Assam Police are dealing with insurgency by regional and international forces. It's a challenge. There are international groups which are backing rebel groups." Being the state capital, Guwahati has been targeted by several militant groups over the years.

According to Assam police, commander-inchief of anti-talk NDFB B Bidai had orchestrated the massacre. "The attacks did not have the consent of the Songbijit," Singh said.

Former CM and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta alleged that either Gogoi or Singh was trying to cover up.

Opposition parties were quick to pick holes in the contradiction. "Gogoi, being the head of the state home department, and Singh, being a top state police official, shouldn't have issued such contradictory statements. Such statements usually imply there's something fishy, like a politician-police-militant nexus, etc," Mahanta added.

There is another theory

Assam trouble has put cross country orange trade into trouble SILIGUrI/ PHUEnTSHOLLInG, JAnUAry 6 (ET): Recent violence and subsequent sociopolitical turmoil along foothills in Bhutan adjoining western Assam as well as Northern West Bengal have put orange trade of the Himalayan Country with Bangladesh into trouble. Not only Bhutanese traders but huge numbers of Indian stakeholders have also become victims of the situation.

According to Bhutan Agricultural Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA), annually, Bhutan exports around 20Thousand Metric ton of Orange to Bangladesh and near 2 Thousand MT to India. The 2007-08 season recorded a height in pricing at the rate of USD 18 per box (28 Kg) for Meel(Large) variety against average price of USD 8 to 10 per box. Price realization of 08-09 also remained above long time average. But, "The trend took a downward turn in subsequent years," said BAFRA officials.

Landlocked Bhutan gets its trade passage to Bangladesh through Indian states of Assam or Northern West Bengal only. But, "Recent massacre in Kokrajhar in lower Assam started unpredicted bandhs and causing after effect in adjoining North Bengal. The security has also been beefed up manifold. Orange being highly

perishable does not allow long time to pass these unpredictable bandhs or all the security measures.

Single rotten piece sometime causes rejection of entire box by the buyers," said Tsering Drukpa, an orchard buyer. Most of the exporters and orchard buyers have already paid the orchard owners in advance even before harvesting.

A huge makeshift orange market with over two hundred exporters and wholesale traders gets set for around two months on Torsha River bed in Phuentsholling every year.

Another similar market gets set on Raidak River bed in Indian side.

To negotiate the present situation, these markets have become highly dependent on Indian towns like Raidak, Alipurduar or Siliguri. But, "Usual Indian price is much lower than Bangladesh. Now heavy inflow in this market has further brought it down to a very uncomfortable level," said Drukpa. Understandably, over 5000 Indian traders, directly involved into these markets and huge number of Indian clearing and handling workers have become victims of the situation.

However, retail fruit markets in Alipurduar or Siliguri are not showing any reflection of this wholesale level lowering of price.

license to state PSUs like the Mizoram Food and Allied Industries Corporation ( MIFCO) which would help revamp the sick public undertaking unit. There would be two or more Bonded Warehouse in the state, he said adding there was a proposal to open four retail wine shops in Aizawl city, two shops in south Mizoram's Lunglei town and one each in the other six district headquarters.

The MLPC Act-2014, to replace the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995 in force in the state for the past 17 years, was enacted by the state Assembly in July last year and the MLPC Rules, 2014 was also laid in the state Assembly in November last year. People who wanted to drink could now apply for permits to drink, buy and possess alcohol in all the district offices of the Excise and Narcotics Department.

2 killed, 1 arrested in Manipur Ukhrul ADC member resigns

ImPHAL/KOLKATA, JAnUAry 6 (PTI): Two militants were today killed in an encounter with police personnel in Bishenpur district and another militant of ZUF arrested in Tamenglong district of Manipur.

Following a tip-off, a house was raided when the militants opened fire at the police forces and two militants were killed in the ensuing encounter, police said. Three other militants escaped from the spot.

Two 9 mm pistols with some ammunition were recovered from the spot, they said, adding that the bodies have been sent to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital in Imphal for post-mortem.

The identities of the militants were not yet known, police said.

In a separate incident, Army troops caught an armed cadre of ZUF and seized arms from him, defence officials said in

Kolkata. Based on specific information about the presence of a militant in Dolang of Tamenglong district, troops of Red Shield Division launched a swift operation in the midnight of Sunday, resulting in apprehension of the militant, Defence PRO Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma said.

He said the militant has been identified as self-

styled major (under secretary finance) Fungneilu Sekho Chiru alias Aloor aged 39 years. One 7.62 mm pistol with magazine along with four live rounds, 200 gm of TNT and one mobile phone was recovered from his possession. The militant along with recoveries have been handed over to the local police station, the officer said.

WanTED TEacHERS

1) M. Sc (Zoology /Botany) 2) M.A / B.A English 3) B. Sc. 4) Graduate with experience 5) Hostel Wardens (with experience) Date of interview – January 10, 2015 at 10:00 am.

Great Commission Higher Secondary School Naga United Village, 4th Mile, Dimapur Contact No. 8118970397, 9862124263

Assam killings: CM blames NDFB(S) chief, IGP differs GUWAHATI, JAnUAry 6 (ET): Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sharad Kumar is likely to visit Assam on Tuesday to begin the agency's probe into the recent massacre of 81 people in four districts of this state.

The killing of the Adivasis on December 23 by the outlawed Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland's (NDFB) has stoked a fresh controversy as a senior police official, IGP law and order of state police, SN Singh admitted that the massacre didn't have the consent of the chairman of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB, Songbijit Ingti Kathar. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi, however, struck a different note, saying Songbijit knew about the killings.

AIZAWL, JAnUAry 6 (PTI): Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Minister R Lalzirliana on Monday reiterated the newly-legislated Mizoram Liquor Prohibition and Control (MLPC) Act 2014 will be implemented during the current fiscal and the notification will soon be issued.

Addressing a New Year tea party, Lalzirliana said there was a proposal to award wine shop vendor

floating in Assam - that the whole thing is a ploy to engineer another split in NDFB, which had seen two such splits in the past. Mahanta even suggested that the government is trying to keep one faction of the NDFB alive.

PARLIAMENT OF INDIA RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES, LAW AND JUSTICE INVITES SUGGESTIONS ON

THE LOKPAL AND LOKAYUKTAS AND OTHER RELATED LAW (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2014 The Lokpal and Lokayuktas and Other Related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 introduced in Lok Sabha on the 8th December, 2014 and pending therein, has been referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, headed by Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, Member, Rajya Sabha for examination and report by 25th March, 2015.

2. The Bill inter-alia seeks – (a) To make enabling provision for inclusion of the Leader of the 'single largest Opposition Party in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) as a, member of the Selection Committee to make recommendations to the President of India for appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the Lokpal; . (b) To lay down the tenure of the eminent jurist nominated as Member of the Lokpal; and (c) To provide for appropriate eligibility conditions for appointment to the post of the Director of Prosecution for the sake of functional independence of that institution; and (d) To provide for a scheme wherein the filing of information by the public servants is brought in harmony with the provisions of the respective Acts, Rules or Regulations as applicable to different categories of public Servants.

3. The Committee has decided to invite memoranda containing Views/suggestions from the individuals/organizations interested in the subject matter of the Bill and also to hear select oral evidence on the subject matter of the Bill.

4. Those desirous of submitting memoranda to the Committee may send two copies thereof, neatly typed in double space (either in English or Hindi) to Shri Ashok K. Sabo, Joint Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, 222, Second Floor, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-110001 (Tel: 23035365, Fax: .

23016784, E-mail: rs-cpers@sansad.nic.in) within one month of publication of this advertisement. Those who are willing to appear before the Committee for oral evidence besides submitting the memorandum may so indicate. However, the Committee's decision in this regard shall be final.

5. The memoranda submitted to the Committee, would forth part of the records of the Committee and be treated as confidential. Any violation in this regard would constitute a breach of privilege of the Committee.

6. The Bill has been published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary Part II, Section 2, dated the 16th December, 2014. Copies of the Bill can be obtained on written request to the above-mentioned Officer or can be downloaded from the official web-site of the Rajya Sabha (http://rajyasabha.nic.in), under the: link Committees, sub-link “Bills with the Committees” Davp: 31202/11/0017/1415

UKHrUL, JAnUAry 6 (mExn): A member of the Ukhrul Autonomous District Council resigned from his position on Monday.

KS Joseph a member of the Autonomous District Council from 21-Shikap in Ukhrul tendering his resignation faulted the Government of Manipur

of unfulfilled promises even as the five-year tenure was about to end.

The state government had promised more powers including “adequate allowances” to elected members after the elections, he stated in his resignation. People of the hill areas have been fooled, he added.

Job Vacancy

North East Network (NEN), an NGO working on women’s issues in north east India invite applications from eligible candidates for the following posts at NEN Nagaland office.

POsT 1

QuALIFIcATION & DEsIRED skILLs

Programme Associate A Master’s degree in social sciences/humanities or (2 Post) related field. Preferably an MSW. Good conceptualization, documentation and communication skills in Nagamese and English. Prior working experience on women’s and development issues will be an added advantage Programme Assistant A graduate in social sciences/humanities or related (1 Post) field.

Good communication skills in Nagamese and English. Prior working experience on women’s and development issues will be an added advantage Interested candidates may send in your resume (with 2 references) to the Programme Manager at nagaland@northeastnetwork.org before 15th January 2015.

4

Dimapur

public discoursE

Wednesday 7 January 2015

The Morung Express

Upgrading our Educational System in Keeping with the Times

D

uring my childhood years in Elementary and Primary Schools, most of our teachers gave us spoonfed education. We weren’t encouraged to ask questions. We were expected to sit quietly and listen to our teachers’ monologues or carefully copy what they wrote on the black board. Rot-memory was everything if we wanted to pass exams. Despite our academic under-achievements and failed grades, some of our parents would also beg our school authorities to move us to the next class, not realizing that they were only putting us into a more challenging level where we would possibly end up facing more frustration and eventually drop out for good. Obviously, not all teachers and parents, past or present, are to be blamed for all our academic problems. Anyway, my point is this: We must evaluate our education system in Nagaland to ensure effective learning.

Real learning often engages all our senses. Suppose an assignment or project is given, students should do research which may often involve observing something, feeling and smelling it, analyzing its parts, organizing them again, and then writing them for presentation. This is how students can be encouraged to ask lots of questions at every stage so they candevelop critical thinking which can result in real learning. In other words, learning is a process, not a spoon-fed classroomevent orrot-memorization.

Today our children, who live in a

digital world, areacquiring information from their Smart Phones and Tablets more naturally than from white boards in their classrooms. Indeed, modern technology is rapidly changing the dynamics in the classroom and the role of teachers. In a way, the days of teachers doing all the lecturing in classrooms are over.

Hence, we must adapt our teaching methods in keeping with the times--that is, we need to make intelligent use of technology to assist our teaching and improve our children’s learning. Incorporating technology, of course,is much more than just turning on a video in the classroom or making computers available for students to use inschools. It is more about making school-related information and students’ academic reports available for all students and their parents alike on school websites (we’ll be making this facility available for schools in Kohima next year). It’s about teachers serving as managers of information and guiding students to acquire knowledge.

It’s also about encouraging students to have their own computers so they can do their home-work or research and submit their assignments electronically.

With the advent of Internet, this is now possible anywhere in the world, including Nagaland. As in all advanced countries, our students must be provided facilities to do their assignments or research using school computers. They also must be encouraged to have their own computers. Sometimes some

students may find their teachers’ explanation too difficult to understand, butthey could turn to Khan Academy’s online educational tutorials and learn thingsin the comfort of their own homes. Or, sometimes they can learn from some of the world’s best teachers/professors explaining the same subjects more clearly via online videos using YouTube.With information readily available online,today’s students can even use their Smart Phones to studywhile waiting for their buses or friends outside of classrooms.

Another weakness in our educational system is applying a one-sizefit-all, uniform system of education.

We pour in the same contents into every student’s head and expect similar outcomes from every one of them.We are into mass production of students much like factories manufacture mass products. We fail to take into consideration that each student is unique. We don’t recognize that different kids learn best with different styles. Our system of education has no place for the academically gifted children or the born geniuses. Somehow they have to just go along with the slow pace of the average students.

But imagine if these extra-bright and creative kids---say, the top 5% to 10% of our student population--were nurtured to the level of their full mental capabilities. Who knows, they could someday birth the next breakthroughs in biotechnology, micro-electronicsor other high-tech fields.

A considerable number of our children exhibit natural abilities in sports. But our schools and colleges lack properathletic courses, training programs or sports facilities for them. Also, there are no special schools and facilities for autistic children or those with disabilities.

Ideally, education should be tailor-designed according to the needs andinterests of each student.And the content delivery (communication) should be made according to the pace of each student’s capability or level of comprehension. As for the role of teachers, they should act more like guides and mentors rather than mere lecturers and also have face-to-face interaction with their students as much as possible.

Although this could be expensive to set up and run, this is how effective learning occurs. For example, the Montessori Schools and the School of Tomorrow follow this educational system. For us Nagas, the first big institution of such a kind is coming up very soon in Kuda, Dimapur.

The goal of education is not to merely complete an academic program or obtaina degree certificate.

It is about developing students to be better citizensor become skilled workers. This implies holistic growth and knowledge/skills acquisition resulting in productive employment. The question, however, is this: Are our schools and colleges really producing better citizens and/orskilled workers?

The fact that many of our “educated youths” today are not employable

reveals that our current education system is seriously flawed.

Here is an example of how schools and colleges in America educate and prepare their students.

From Grade 9 onward, students are provided to sit with special academic advisors or career guides. In addition, students as young as sixteen are exposed and introduced into their selected career fields. For example, those who want to go into a medical profession are made to dress in appropriate hospital outfits and go to hospitals to assists doctors/nurses as part of their academic requirements; those who want to specialize in culinary arts must participate in local cooking competitions; those who pursue a business line are given opportunity to involve in school-affiliated businesses; those who want to go into investing are handed fake currency to play in money trades such as stock investing. And the list goes on.

Since education is meant to impart work-skills, certain young students may be encouraged to work in the daytime and attend college classes at night or during weekends.

Again, this is exactly what advanced countries do: provide both work opportunities and flexible classroom hours to their students. Therefore, improved education is an area we Nagas must explore in order to best meet the needs of our young people today.

Mazie Nakhro, Ph.D. Education and Professional Development Coordinator Overseas Nagas Association

businEss

birThday grEETings Dear Vera Rhakho!!!

On this Day the 7th January 2015, we really felt glad that you have taken one more mature step in your journey. You have been keeping yourself like a blooming Rose even in the midst of the thorns in all your life that we have been together till date. May this very special day brought Love, Peace, Oneness, Trustworthy into our friendship.

May you continue to live like a blooming flower that generously feeds insects with its enlightened fragrance at all free.

Google CEO named as Fortune’s biz person of the year for 2014

“A Very Happy Birth Day Vera Rhakho”.

Lots of Love from Atshu Soho & Huve Soho Dearest of all Okharo Thungbe....

Many many Happy Returns’ of your BIG Day......Happy Born Day.....my Okharo. On this day I pray to God our Almighty to bless you with all Happiness, good health, long life..and all the good wishes just for you...in your future endeavor. Thank you for your friendship....and may we continue to love one another more.... I hope this doesn’t came as a surprise....!!!!!!!

Lots of love, hugs & kisses......Okharo kaka

New York, JaNuarY 6 (PTI): Google’s Larry Page has emerged as the ‘business person of the year’ for 2014, edging past the likes of Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, according to Fortune magazine.

Larry Page, who is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder of

Google, came on top in the 20 global corporate leaders’ list compiled on the basis of various factors including company’s performance, leadership style and total shareholder returns, the magazine said while bringing out its list.

Apart from Jack Ma and Zuckerberg, others in the race included Apple’s Tim Cook and fast food chain Chipotle co-CEOs — Montgomery Moran and Steve Ells– and Fedex chairman & CEO Fred Smith.

Besides, five women have made the cut to the top 20 list.

Interestingly, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, who led Fortune list in 2012, failed to make in to the top 20 list.

As Google’s core business continues to thrive, Page, who topped the list, is making “huge bets on new technology -ingestible nanoparticles, balloons that beam down

broadband- that could define the future,” the magazine noted.

Page and his company have packed a lot of evolution into just over 15 years of existence, it added.

The women contenders were Ultra Beauty CEO Mary Dillon, ITT CEO and President Denise Ramos, TJX Cos CEO Carol Meyrotwiz, Theranos Founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes and Williams-Sonoma President and CEO Laura Alber.

The list is based on various parameters like financial results of the company including 12-month and three year growth in profits and revenues, company’s stock performance and total shareholder returns over the same periods.

Besides, several non-financial elements like business influence, leadership style, strategic initiatives played a part in evaluation.

NPF President’s Order of suspension W

HEREAS the members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly named herein are the members of the Naga Peoples’ Front which is the dominant partner of the DAN-III (Democratic Alliance of Nagaland) Government currently in saddle in the State of Nagaland: WHEREAS the Naga Peoples’ Front has the unique distinction of being in Government for the third time in the State of Nagaland since 2003: WHEREAS this feat was possible because of the commitment and labour of all those who subscribed to the values, ideals and the Constitution of the Naga Peoples’ Front and tirelessly worked for it: WHEREAS, after the election of the then Chief Minister Shri Neiphiu Rio to the Lok Sabha in the May, 2014 polls, the current Chief Minister Shri T.R. Zeliang was unanimously chosen to lead the State and all members of the Party, as per the provisions of the Constitution of the NPF, ought to repose utmost trust in him for the continued success of the Party and the Government: WHEREAS the members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly named herein have by their actions of associating themselves with detractors and deviators of the party’s goals and objectives of providing good and stable governance to the people of Nagaland, committed serious breach of discipline of the NPF as enshrined in the Constitution of the Party: WHEREAS the members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly named herein have been sabotaging the leadership of Shri T.R. Zeliang, in whom the NPF party has placed utmost confidence and trust to lead the Government in the State and also have been conspiring to overawe and overthrow the legitimate Government in the State: WHEREAS they have violated various provisions of the Constitution of the NPF and thereby brought disrepute to the Party and the Government in the public eye as evidenced from the news report in this regard that appeared in “The Nagaland Post” dated 5th January, 2015: AND THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred upon the President of the Naga Peoples’ Front under Article V Rule 9 read with provisions in Article XIV, the following members of the NPF who are also members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly are hereby suspended from the primary and active membership of the Naga Peoples’ Front with immediate effect until further orders, with no participatory or voting rights in all political/ legislature party forums, except voting rights on the floor of the Legislative Assembly in accordance with party whip: (i) G. Kaito Aye (ii) Kuzholuzo Nienu (iii) Zhalieo Rio (iv) Pukhayi (v) Powang Konyak (vi) Shetoyi (vii) Tovihoto Ayemi Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu President, NPF

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.

_

LEISURE

Simple Rules - There is just one simple rule: “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.”

SUDOKU Game Number # 3101

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 3110

Answer Number # 3100

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

STD CODE: 03862 232224; Emergency229529, 229474

Metro Hospital:

227930, 231081

Faith Hospital:

228846

Shamrock Hospital

228254

Zion Hospital:

231864, 224117, 227337

Police Control Room

228400

Police Traffic Control

232106

East Police Station West Police Station

227607 232181

CIHSR (Referral Hospital)

242555/ 242533

Dimapur hospital

224041, 248011

Apollo Hospital Info Centre:

230695/ 9402435652

Railway:

131/228404

Indian Airlines

229366

Nagaland Multispe- 248302, cialty Health & 09856006026 Research Centre

W

O

The Fertile Crescent PYRAMID ZIGGURATS ARTISAN HIEROGLYPHICS POLYTHEISM MONOTHEISM THEOCRACY HAMMURABISCODE PHAROAH DELTA PAPYRUS FERTILECRESCENT SCRIBES CUNEIFORM DYNASTY

R

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F C K R V J B G N J I J B K N P I P O N

K V O V P E D Y L A V J K O G H S Y X K

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N I Y W Z H P D P P P S G J A A X R P Y

K A T N G G Q N O I E C I N B Z J A T L

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U C A I F K V V F O A I J J L O F I O A

B V N M T F U X F Y U B K R H I E D Y P

D E Y Z M R J K C U N E I F O R M Y L Y

A

M D D I M U A A S L X S L F O G P U L R

L I G H A O R A H P P I E G Q O U Y H U

R

S G V H C C N A A U Z J L I L K B X F S

D L G C O A X O B S D Y Z Y O R W N R T

P P J E K R F V T I P S T A R U G G I Z

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Q T L O F E R T I L E C R E S C E N T J

P R E O N R L C B I H I O O B Q R F L R

H

S Z A G P G S R S G A Z S D Z A X T E F

U I A M P V U M Y S D Q N M E Y I Y D I

R K W F N X O N F D I Q Z Q U E M X B O

Y T U F L T Y W A B Y N J K A Q Y R H S

ACROSS 1. Muse of love poetry 6. Travelled through water 10. Silence 14. Tightwad 15. Container weight 16. Savvy about 17. Homeric epic 18. Bright thought 19. Maguey 20. 100th anniversary 22. Cleave 23. 18-wheeler 24. Cantankerous 26. Happen 30. Unsophisticated 32. Severe pain 33. Teaser 37. Fluff 38. Wish granter 39. Overhang 40. Guessed 42. Small islands 43. Hushed 44. Enclose 45. Unrefined 47. Weep 48. Parasitic insect 49. Expert 56. Boor

57. Doing nothing 58. Hello or goodbye 59. Lack of difficulty 60. Quaint outburst 61. King 62. Barely managed 63. Stitches 64. Considers

DOWN 1. Sweeping story 2. Anger 3. Analogous 4. Nipple 5. Hospital attendant 6. What a bee might do 7. Dry riverbed 8. Component of urine 9. Dinnertime 10. Huskiness 11. Not rented 12. Obdurate 13. Tilled 21. Zero 25. Night before 26. Cotton bundle 27. Auspices 28. Typeface 29. Outdated 30. A nine-piece musical group

31. Dry 33. French for “Head” 34. Story 35. Not under 36. A musical pause 38. Merrymaking 41. Muck 42. Not outboard 44. Charged particle 45. A loose outer garment 46. Utilize again 47. Outbuildings 48. Run away 50. Border 51. Talon 52. Hint 53. Part in a play 54. Throat-clearing sound 55. Sailors Ans to CrossWord 3109

Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home: Northeast Shuttles

STD CODE: 0370 100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202 08974997923

CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862 282777/101 (O) 9856158740 (OC)

MOKOKCHUNG: 0369 2226225/ 101 (O) 9436012949 (OC) PHEK: 8414853765 (O) 9862130954(OC) ZUNHEBOTO: 03867 280304/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC)

MON: 03869 251222/ 101 (O) 9436208480 (OC) KipHire: 8414853767 (O) 8974304572 (OC)

Toll free No. 1098 childline

Police Station 1:

DIMAPUR: 03862 232201/ 101 (O) 9436017479 (OC)

TUENSANG: 8414853766 (O) 8414853519

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE

MOKOKCHUNG:

KOHIMA: 0370 2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC)

WOKHA: 03860 242215/101 (O) 9862039399 (OC)

Chumukedima Fire 282777 Brigade Nikos Hospital and 232032, 231031 Research Centre

KOHIMA

FIRE STATIONS

STD CODE: 0369

2226241

Police Station 2 :

2226214

Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home:

2226216 2226263

Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):

2226373/2229343

TAHAMZAM (formerly Senapati) STD CODE: 03871 Police Station: Fire Brigade

CURRENCY EXCHANGE CURRENCY NOTES US Dollars Sterling Pound Hong Kong Dollar Australian Dollar Singapore Dollar Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen

222246 222491

BUY(Rs)

SELL(Rs)

63.25 95.82 8.14 51.12 47.25 53.59 53.10

63.69 96.91 8.23 51.85 47.82 54.24 53.74

Euro

75.08

75.91

Danish Krone

10.08

10.22

8.17

8.26

48.61

49.36

7.95

8.03

Norwegian Krone New Zealand Dollar Swedish Krona

local/Public SPace

The Morung Express

GBUD (S) questions NSCN (K) threat to ACAUT DimaPur, January 6 (mExn): Expressing resentment and questioning the NSCN (K) threat to ACAUT, the GBs Union Dimapur (Sadar), GBUD(S) stated that the NSCN (K), as a ‘responsible government”, should rather take punitive measure against the black sheep of its family because of whom its legitimacy is at stake.

In a press note, the president of GBUD(S), Y Zhimoni maintained that ACAUT is a movement of Naga people which is

against any form of taxation by anti-social elements through “intimidation, coercion and unabated taxation” either by “state government or underground” and not against any NPGs. “Every citizen is an ACAUT member… [and] always have the heart for nationalism and profound emotion for Naga political solution. However, the question is... whether the national workers are truly for the Naga people?” the press note posed.

Maintaining that the

Two held for extortion DimaPur, January 6 (mExn): The Anti-Extortion Team of DEF Dimapur arrested two persons while they were were trying to extort money from shopkeepers at Supply Colony area, Dimapur on January 5.

A press note from Addl.

Superintendent of Police/ PRO, Dimapur informed that the accused has been identified as SS Capt.

NNC(NA) Hekato Achumi (22 yrs) from Vishepu Village, Zunheboto Chulen Chang (36 yrs), Chingbulen Village, Tuensang. Both are presently residing at Niu Colony, Burma Camp Dimapur, the police added.

Accordingly, the Officer-in-Charge, West P.S has registered a regular case and carrying out further investigation.

Dimapur DPDB meeting held DimaPur, January 6 (DiPr): The monthly District Planning & Development Board meeting of Dimapur district for the month of January was held on January 5 in the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur.

The meeting was chaired

by Deputy Commissioner & Vice Chairman, DPDB, Dimapur, Wezope Kenye.

Initiating the meeting,

the Chairman welcomed all the members present and wished them a very Happy New Year. In the next DPDB meeting, the Deputy Commissioner asked the Legal Technology Department, Youth Resources & Sports and BDO Medzhiphema to present their Departmental presentation. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks from the chair.

Nagas has time and again demonstrated loud and clear where its aspiration are, the GBUD further asked whether the NSCN(K) is against such aspiration.

Further stressing that patriotism is to work for the cause and wish of the people and not self-interest ideology, the press note added that, “No amount of justification can make a wrong as right thereby making itself mockery which can no longer fool the Naga people.”

ary 13, exclusively for 40th A/C Bhandari. A press note form Convener, District Primary Membership Drive & General Secretary (Admn.), BJP Wokha

Morung Express News Dimapur | January 6

The Foothill Road project is headed for another controversy as the Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) disclaimed the recent launching of work at the Mon sector. The NFHRCC stated on January 6 that works, which was started on December 22 at Mon sector, was done without the Committee’s knowledge. Work at the Mon sector was started subsequent to the NFHRCC announcing on December 21, 2014 that it would launch the third phase of earth-cutting for the Foothill road project in the second week of January 2015.

In this regard, the DimaPur, January 6 (mExn): The Kiphire Dis- NFHRCC stated that it contrict Sumi Students’ Union (KDSSU) and Yimchungru Akheru Arihako (YAA) had a coordination meeting at Pungro Village, January 5 where the two students’ DimaPur, January bodies deliberated and re- 6 (mExn): The Bharatiya solved to pursue certain is- Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) sue on common consensus. Nagaland State Unit has A joint press note, KDSSU strongly condemned the president, Yashika Achumi bomb blast which took place and YAA president, Akiuba at Blue Hill station lane at TS stated that the two bodies around 8:00 to 9:00 pm on decided among other things January 5 in Dimapur.

- to strengthen the cordial relationship between the two tribes in the district and uphold the mutual understanding in different areas of concerns; and to preserve and maintain the age old ethnic identity, historical facts and democratically resist interference which may thwart the prevalence of congenial atmosphere in the district.

KDSSU and YAA holds joint meeting

vened a meeting on January 6 in Dimapur to deliberate on the matter. The contractor in concern, Pongshi Phom, was invited to the meeting, the NFHRCC said.

The NFHRCC added that it had invited the two contractors responsible for the Mon sector, A. Neangba Konyak and Pongshi Phom to the January 6 meeting. However, only Neangba attended.

“Despite of our invitation, contractor Pongshi Phom failed to attend the meeting without assigning any valid reasons. Therefore, the Committee resolved to summon Pongshi Phom on 10th January, 2015 at 10:00 am at the treasurer’s residence,” stated the NFHRCC. The NFHRCC added that the other contractors linked

to the Foothill Road project - Yashitsungba Aier, A. Neangba Konyak and Tarep Ao - have also been invited to attend the January 10 meeting.

It further requested the department in concern (PWD Roads & Bridges) to attend the meeting on January 10 “inorder to facilitate proper coordination with the Committee as well as with the contractors.”

Informing all the NFHRCC members to attend the meeting without fail, the NFHRCC said that it “also invites all the officials of Dimapur-based tribal organisations (associated with the NFHRCC) to the meeting to ascertain the correct status of the Committee as well as the progress of the project.”

BJYM condemns IED blast in Dimapur

BJP Wokha to conduct membership drive WoKha, January 6 (mExn): The Bharatiya Janata Party Wokha Unit will hold its “Primary Membership Drive Workshop” at Bhandari on Janu-

NFHRCC disclaim launching of work in Mon sector

A press note from BJYM president, K. Kahato Chishi and General secretary, Mathew K Janger maintained that this not a first time such blast has occurred in an around Dimapur and appealed all enforcing agencies to be further aware of

such incident in the region.

The State BJP youth wing also reminded the security personal to tighten security and keep vigil of every passenger entering the state in order to avoid such incident in near future.

Wednesday 7 January 2015

Dimapur

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MEx FILE IGNOU admission date extended Kohima, January 6 (mExn): The last date for submission of filled in application forms for all the programmes offered under Common Prospectus (Masters, Bachelors, Diploma and Certificate programmes) at IGNOU has been extended to January 15, 2015 (with late fee Rs.300/-). The Student Handbook & Prospectus can be obtained from Study Centres or from IGNOU Regional Centre, Kohima. Interested candidates may send their filled in application forms to IGNOU Regional Centre, Kohima.

NPBCA 26th Annual Council DimaPur, January 6 (mExn): The 26th General Council of Nagaland Police Baptist Churches Association (NPBCA) will be held from January 9 to 11 at NPBCA Mission Compound, Chumukedima.In press note, the woman secretary, NPBCA women department, Pusuinla Longkumer requested all the afflaited churches to send 5 delegates each for the annual council. Arrival and registration will begin from January 9 from 2 pm.

The Executive Secretary of NPBCA, Rev. Dr. N Mong Lotha and the staff also extended New Year greetings to all the police personals, families and churches in Nagaland through the press note.

Computer course at KITE Education DimaPur, January 6 (mExn): SNK Foundation in collaboration with KITE Education will be providing Diploma in Computer Application for students with financial weaker background at KITE Education, Dimapur. The coordinator of KITE Education, Aro Kikon in a press note informed that students can join the Diploma course by paying Rs. 300/- (monthly). The course curriculum has also been updated by including topics on “Introduction to cyber security and computer hacking”, the press note added. Last date to fill up the registration form is January’ 10 and interested individuals can contact 9774069075 for more information.

UNTABA Executive meeting DimaPur, January 6 (mExn): The United Naga Tribes Association of Border Areas (UNTABA) will be holding its Executive Council Meeting on January 9, from 1 PM at Unity Hall, Naga Council Dimapur, Nyamo Lotha Road. UNTABA, Vice Chairman, Imsumongba Pongen and Joint Secretary , Yanger Sangtam, in a press note, informed all the concerned Executive Council Members, Advisory Board Members, Co-ordination Committee Members and Group leaders to attend the scheduled meeting positively.

NSNA Emergency Meeting Kohima, January 6 (mExn): Nagaland Staff Nurse Association (NSNA) will be convening for an emergency meeting on January 14 from 10am at the Naga Hospital Authority (NHAK) Kohima. A press release issued by Catherine, President, NSNA has requested two representatives from each district to attend Kidima youth perform cultural item during the inaugural function of the golden jubilee the meeting without fail.

Unit, N. Nchumbemo Jami asked all the Mandals Office Bearers, Frontals and all Unit Presidents and Secretary attend the workshop without fail. sports week of Kidima Youth Organization at Kidima on January 5. (Morung Photo)

In His lane, dear What would we have done had….?

Watchman? I T

he conspicuous headlines in our local dailies that a certain Watchman Team of one religious denomination had demanded for a number of amendments in that infamous NLTP Act instantly drew flak everywhere from many a laymen, encompassing nominal Christians of my kind, even on social media. The said team, in its memorandum of 'Demands' to the CM, had asked for "a more 'stringent' NLTP Act" including setting up of special courts (super ones!), confiscation and freezing of bank accounts, properties, etc. and, the icing on their list of specialised demands, "death penalty for certain offences."

Time and again, media houses have been forced, as always, to bear the brunt whenever people lash out resentments (never of joy!), particularly on this dubious NLTP Act which was pushed into our political arena by the church way back in the late eighties.

To speak the mind out, the simplest yet the most neglected and compromised truth is that consumption of alcohol is genuinely personal. Nothing more, nothing less. It is only one's conscientious moral obligation in rapport with one's physical and spiritual health that decisions are and will always be taken by an individual.

To cut short, there are questions still in need of precise answers ever since the church's first foray into the murky 'Prohibition' world, bullying and driving a political government to enact and implement a law with debatable strategy when it indeed, was a deemed religious office. It is awkwardly amusing that the church could become the cynosure of all eyes and wanton gossip because of its otherwise myopic conduct with Prohibition Act which was entirely political in nature. The church could have, instead, gone for a spiritual war-footing to arrest

alcoholism as empowered biblically rather than waylay the general affairs of the people or the government altogether. It would definitely be much wiser for the church to present innovative ideas and suggestions hand-garnered from her spiritually-fit flock to the government as and when requested by the latter, but not otherwise with unsolicited impressions.

Honest, a look at the history of liquor prohibition drama by the church in Nagaland depicts a rather sorry-scene; going all out with all possible means even fasting unto death (of which i am not sure if it is biblically vindicated) just to corner the state government for installation of a somewhat religious doctrine into a political law, and in addition, to implement it in letter and spirit are some noteworthy incidents. And now, besides a number of other harsh or so-to-say unchristian indications cited earlier, the church has taken to another level of extremism with its suggestion for the government to even consider "death penalty for certain cases."

With all humility if I be allowed, the role of the church need serious contemplation and debates but with The Good Book readily available on our desks for quick references. It only speaks about Love - to love one another let alone one's enemy till eternity, never vice-versa. May the church be set to contain, nurture and feed her members spiritually thereby morally strengthening them against mortal eventualities!

Thejangukho Yalietsu Medziphema Town

(Note: The writer, a Baptist, humbly apologise for the indecent approach to this issue and accepts total responsibility if the sentiment of readers have been hurt from this personal opinion.

Reach him at thejayalietsu@ gmail.com or www.facebook. com/thejangukhoyalietsu)

ndia is an Independent, democratic, secular representative republic and thereby the freedom of her citizens to follow and profess any religion of choice and to follow any political party, and for any political party, be it the National, the Regional, the Rightist, the Leftist, the something in between, or the something today and another tomorrow, all enabled and having the right to occupy that unfathomable space that the founding fathers of the Indian Nation and her constitution has provided. And this is all with the insight and the vision that was so very well much beyond their that time. The excellence of our founding fathers lies all the more in the fact that they had been able to do so, even after having given their all in the much exhaustive and the all prolonged phase of the freedom struggle.

India should have actually done better in that longer time and period between that excellence of governing India by our founding fathers and the time today. If not for the short lived flashes of brilliant and visionary governance, it has not exactly been a good period of Indian politics for history to recount.

Today, India has a leader who is very clearly visible not for what he has done, nor for what he is doing, but for what he is seeing and saying.

Development in the western world and much of Europe has reached its plateau. And once there, it can only try to sustain what is already there, as the only other way is down. In order to sustain, energy is a must. Therein lies all the problems of the world. The over-protective concern of the Western advanced world to the political health and wellbeing of the middle east has created more problems than solving those which were there earlier, and which were there earlier were all domestic rooted. The very good intentions is not exactly the same very good motive. It is not as if the western world is being a Mother Teresa or a Florence Nightingale to this troubled part of the world. Having exploited very successfully

their limited seed resources with the very abundance that came with the spoils of imperialism as well as the legitimate booty of the winner takes all formula of World War I, and on a even much, much larger scale of World War II, the people of the advanced world is spoilt for choice and at their wits end today, as scaling down is always that much harder. The advanced world today is being fueled by its kinetic energy, and therein comes our very own Modi with his potential energy.

Modi is not just the X factor now. He is also “The Voice”, the “Indian Idol”, and wonder of wonders, even the “American Idol”, all rolled into one. He therefore has no hesitation in singing which the trio sang; “All for one and one for all”. It is all not just for nothing that Vladmir Putin, Shinzo Abe, Barack Obama, Xi Jinping, Tony Abbott, and you name it, everybody is making a beeline. Anybody would have been flattered. Anybody would have become proud. Anybody would have become arrogant.

Anybody would have become all the above said so and even more and not be faulted, because, he indeed delivered and delivers.

And yet he calls himself and allows others to call him, not a prince, not the anointed one, not the deliverer of the people of his faith. This is the ‘Age of Modi’, not because he calls it that, but because he has made it very transparent that he is not a Pradhan Mantri, but a Pradhan Sevak.

Need anybody say more?

When Narendra Modi made his “Make in India” pitch famous and fashionable, he was making a very sure visionary slogan. He knows that India was not just given to the BJP on a platter because of the incompetence and corruption of the earlier government. The BJP winning the majority on her own has convinced everybody including Modi himself that he was the factor. And this has reassured Modi to go all out for the success of his vision.

He is making that known to all the people of India through his “make in India” pitch which can only see the reality of day, not in

the first five years of his tenure but beyond. This five years of Modi rule will only be the training period. The period where the old and the prevalent training methods are replaced with those of the times. In effect Modi is uprooting the weeds, and ploughing the field before praying for the rain.

To understand it all in a better perspective, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is depending on the advantage of India having a large poll of young people to realize his dream of turning India from a country of IT professionals, security guards and low paid chauffeurs into a manufacturing and export powerhouse through his “Make in India” initiative. India has too few skilled labourers thanks to decades of neglect in training and it desperately needs electricians, bricklayers, and plumbers. The shortage means India could squander the potential demographic dividend of some twelve million Indian people joining the labour market a year, just when China’s workforce is expected to lose six million of her people over the next decade because of its ageing population.

India, so far, has been a country that celebrated knowledge and intellect. Skills had not been celebrated. In direct contrast is China becoming a manufacturing giant by steering secondary school students into formal skill training programmes. Again by contrast, in India, students who do not go on to tertiary education have few vocational options other than government run Industrial Training Institutes (ITI’s) which business executives says are poorly managed and, more often than not, outdated. For example, the ITI syllabus for car mechanics includes considerable training on carburetors, which were widely phased out of cars in the 1990’s.

The scant training available today means that India has only 3.5 million workers undergoing skills courses a year, compared with 90 million in China as according to the Indian Government data. This lack of proper

training is compounded by the prejudice against manual labor under the Hindu caste system, which has traditionally left jobs that might get your hands dirty to the lowest of the low. No wonder, only one in ten workers in India’s construction industry are skilled, as according to the government data. Adi Godrej, the boss of the Godrej group of industries has very rightly said that there is no unemployment in India. It is only unemployability. Today, most young people eschew building and manufacturing jobs in favour of less physically strenuous work, despite data showing that wages for professions with acute shortages such as plumbers and electricians are higher than even low-level IT engineers. However there is still reluctance to join this kind of trade and work. The rural youth are used to staying in their comfort zone in the villages and do not want to move out to the project sites of the private companies. Hence the biggest push needs to come from the government, which the government of Narendra Modi even within this very short period of time, has already started easing decades old labour rules, and is trying to centralize those irregular government bodies that overregulate employment.

Prime Minister Modi has vowed and we are already seeing his determination to make skill training a major plank of his “Make in India” initiative, passing through parliament a programme that will make it easier for employers to hire apprentices for two years. We notice that he is also seeing to it that India goes beyond numerical targets for skill training, by lifting the quality of it, and is working with the private sector to improve apprenticeship programmes.

As the Chief Minister of Gujarat, what made Narendra Modi different from all other Chief Ministers of India?

It was Modi’s success in making the whole of Gujarat as his constituency. The brilliance of Narendra Modi lies in the fact that although he began his interactions with other human

beings by virtue of being just another “chai wala” and cannot be credited with being that academician or a product or byproduct of those exclusive educational institutions that atleast some if not many politicians feels it compelling to be mentioned as an exclusive portfolio which remains while in power or otherwise, Narendra Modi is the one Chief Minister who was able to harness the fruit of Info-Tech to its full value by enabling himself and his officials to bring every nook and corner of Gujarat under the radar of his development schemes and programmes to his drawing room. Narendra Modi’s diplomacy and his shrewdness by knowing the pulse of the different communities in his state, and then by simply pandering to the basic desire (which does not even enter the basic framework of the thought of many political leaders) of the varied segments of the people of his state accordingly, by bypassing the displeasure of the seniors and even the very senior in the BJP, had placed himself in that enviable niche where nobody could touch him without being burned. Where the only way out was the one way road and that road only pointed up.

While it was a stark reminder to many a forces that violence can only beget violence, and that the tolerance and patience of the people cannot always be taken for granted, Narendra Modi became a champion of the majority. Judging by all that had taken place in Godhra and its aftermath, one expected the polarization of the people on the basis of faith to be complete and total. But it is surprising that Gujarati muslims today are rooting for Modi like no other. It gets all the more surprising that the per capita income of the Gujarati muslims is the highest in the whole of the country, and Modi is seen entertaining no second thoughts while breaking bread with fellow muslim citizens. It all speaks volume. Yes, it speaks volume of the institution called Modi and his stylish style.

Benito Z Swu

The Morung Express is introducing “Public Space” as part of our intention to provide deliberate space for the opinions of the people to be expressed and heard through this newspaper. Nonetheless, The Morung Express points out that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.

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IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express wEDNESDAy 7 JANuAry 2015 volumE X ISSuE 5

Imagination as Revolutionary

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Oscar Güell

Western Sahara: Africa’s last colony

J

ust as there is a need for Nagas to embrace Hope as a decision and act on it which allows us to exercise our choices based on faith and conscience, we are also called to understand the process of imagination as a response to the status quo whether they are political, economic, cultural, religious and social in nature. This makes the act of imagination a radical and revolutionary proclamation for change.

The courage to dream and imagine has played a profound role in the evolution of human history, and every culture has been inspired by narratives that have recorded the power of dreams. Today’s present day Nagas are also being called to demonstrate their courage and ability for a new imagination.

Not only does this imply the reality that humanity is constantly evolving, but it emphasises the imperative, that every generation needs new dreams and an independent, inventive and creative spirit. After all, these are what connect the generations with the past, present and future and make it possible to move toward a shared humanity of a dignified coexistence.

In the existing Naga reality that is bankrupt of ideas, and resigned to the violence of silence, the greatest casualty has been our loss of imagination, our creativity and ingenuity. The absence of imagination has made the Naga leaders and public reactive to criticisms, produced narrow thinking and shortsightedness and created a politics that is no longer based on egalitarian values of our ancestors that stood for an inclusive justice and equality. Without this creative energy generated by our imagination, we no longer seem to have the energy or will to engage in self-introspection and self-criticism.

Young Nagas have become disempowered because their generation is less connected to their past history. We are responsible to help them reclaim their power of imagination based on love, justice, compassion and equality. By working together all of our lives can secure a future where every Naga child has a dignified life and all their basic needs can be met.

This includes imagining a world where Nagas can live in freedom with dignity, mutual respect and self-worth. By working together, it is possible for Nagas to share responsibilities in the spirit of participation, coexistence, sustainability and resilience as we recover from our scarred history.

After all, imagination is about liberating human minds and bodies, and to participate in a new way of perceiving, understanding and believing in the possibilities of a different world.

Will Nagas have the courage to engage in new imaginations for 2015?

lEfT WING |

Mazie Nakhro, Ph.D

Day 2: our God-Given Inalienable rights Thought-Provoking Question: Could it be possible that God has given human beings some very important rights which we have never really experienced?

What does God say? Read Genesis 2:16-17; 3:6 God did not create different kinds of human races: He did not make some to be of a superior category and others to be of an inferior kind. Rather, God created only one race called the human race. Every human being comes from the same source and is made out of the same material. In other words, all men are created equal.

When God made Adam and Eve, He created them in His own likeness to represent Him on earth—the highest status given to a creation of God. That is, He placed on them the highest value and dignity possible. On top of it all, God also gave Adam and Eve the freedom of choice so they could decide whether or not to obey God. This free-will is an integral component of humanity. Of course, it turned out that they misused their freedom by listening to the Serpent's lie.

However, God did not take away men's freedom of choice even after the fall. For example, Cain had the freedom to do the right thing but he did not. Therefore God said, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door" (4:7). If this biblical principle is extrapolated, it would then suggest that God gives the freedom of choice to all the peoples of the world.

This being the case, God desires freedom of expression or the right to self- determination for every individual and people group. As such, no nation or group has the right to suppress another people group. Throughout the Scriptures, slavery and oppression are condemned while freedom is always praised. This implies that political freedom is an inalienable right God has given to every people group, big or small.

Okay, so now what?

We Nagas must ask ourselves if we really have freedom in our land. How do we know if we are a free society? Let's use the words of the former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky: "Can a person walk into the middle of the town square and express his or her views without fear of arrest, imprisonment, or physical harm? If he can, then that person is living in a free society, not a fear society."

If God has given us the freedom of choice, are we using it for constructive purposes? If our freedom is under suppression or oppression, are we willing to fight for freedom?

Prayer: Lord God Almighty, who has made all peoples of the earth fur Your glory: May You grant us freedom to serve You so we may &spread peace to all. Amen.

Taken from the book “Breakfast with the King: The 100-Day Devotional” by Mazie Nakhro

S O U N D BITE

"I

had a tear in my eye this morning when I walked out to warm up and I saw Greg (Phil Hughes' father) up in the stands and Megs.

It's fantastic for them to be here. The hurt and the pain that they've gone through and how much it would have hurt them to come back today … It's always going to be in the back of my mind and I'm always going to pay tribute to my little mate."

Australian batsman David Warner paying tribute to Phillip Hughes

“T

he biggest poverty that exists in the world is to lose your territory; we are not in our land and others are taking advantage of our wealth,” said Mahmoud Dellal, asked about the poverty in the refugee camps of Tindouf in Algeria, where he had spent more than 25 years of his life. He is one of the thousands of inhabitants of Western Sahara who had to leave the country 40 years ago, when it was occupied by Morocco.

Dellal lived in a refugee camp until 2000, when he moved to Spain because his wife had health problems which could not be addressed by the precarious health service there. But he doesn’t feel Spain is his home—only the Sahara. “Any person feels fine where he comes from; when you live in exile you lose your dreams,” he said. He is convinced that “Sahrawis will never stop fighting for what is theirs”.

The last colony in Africa, Western Sahara is divided by the second longest wall in the world (after the Great Wall of China). Located between the west of the desert and the Atlantic, it was assigned to Spain in the Berlin Conference of 1885, when the major European states distributed the African continent among themselves.

In 1965, with the world immersed in a decolonisation movement, the United Nations asked Spain to do likewise (it was then called Spanish Sahara).

Spain abandoned the territory but it did not let the Sahrawis express their self-determination right as the UN resolution had sought: it transferred control to Morocco and Mauritania in 1975, by means of a tripartite agreement, the Madrid Accords.

When the agreement became effective, the Polisario Front, born in 1973 to fight the Spanish coloniser, waged war against Morocco and Mauritania, proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and created refugees camps in Algeria to host Sahrawis who escaped persecution by the occupying armies. In 1979 Mauritania withdrew but Morocco (with the support of France and the United States) continued the war against Polisario (supported by Algeria).

Hostilities were prolonged until 1991, when the parties agreed a ceasefire overseen by the UN, which organised a mission (MINURSO) to monitor the situation and organise a referendum on Sahrawi self-determination. But the referendum never took place, due to irreconcilable differences between the parties as to who had the right to vote. The UN continued renewing the MINURSO mandate annually, without any progress.

Unique Nowadays, Western Sahara is the unique non-selfgoverning territory in Africa. The UN never recognised the Madrid Accords, because the arrangement “did not transfer sovereignty over the territory, nor did it confer upon any of the signatories the status of an administering Power”. Nor has the International Court of Justice recognised Moroccan sovereignty.

Therefore, according to international law, Spain remains the ‘administering power’, and decolonisation should end with the application of “the principle of self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the people of this territory”.

Nevertheless, any solution to the conflict seems remote. The parties have very distant positions and the international community does not press them to

achieve a solution. “Unless an unforeseen event will occur, this problem will not be solved because nobody wants it to be resolved,” said a Spanish expert on the Maghreb, Tomás Bárbulo. In the documentary Hijos de las Nubes the former French foreign minister Roland Dumas said that “no solution is the solution”. But what is really making this conflict irresolvable?

Polisario, recognised by the UN as the representative of the people of Western Sahara, is determined to get a referendum on self-determination. International law supports this, so the front is immovable. “We are not asking for anything strange—it is written in all UN resolutions and in the International Court of Justice,” said Mohamed Yumani, a member of Polisario and president of the Saharan Immigrant Association in Aragon (Spain).

On the other side, Morocco has always claimed—despite the UN’s contradiction—to have held sovereignty over Western Sahara before the Spanish colonisation and it attaches complete validity to the Madrid Accords, as “duly registered at the UN’s Secretariat General”. It accuses Polisario of blocking negotiations and having a “biased” understanding of self-determination, which it says need not necessarily be exercised through referendum—although this was already what the UN had called for in 1966. Morocco proposed an autonomy plan in 2007 but it is not in hurry to find a solution.

The Moroccan government feels comfortable with the status quo, which allows it to control and act as de facto administrator of most of the territory. Western Sahara is divided from north to south by a sand wall of 2,700km—further than from Madrid to Copenhagen—built by Morocco during the 80s.

Nowadays, the Alaouite kingdom controls everything west of the barrier, including all the habitable territory and the natural resources.

Reserves Phosphates and fisheries and (possibly) offshore oil and gas make Western Sahara one of the richest parts of the Maghreb. The BuCraa mine in the north contains one of the biggest reserves of phosphates in the world and, according to Western Sahara Resources Watch, generated the equivalent of $330m for Morocco last year. The EU is negotiating a fisheries agreement with Morocco for access to Western Sahara’s waters, worth €40m per year.

East of the wall, the area controlled by Polisario, there is only desert inhabited by some nomadic tribes.

In the area occupied by Morocco, 70,000 natives mix with 150,000 Moroccan settlers, while there are some 165,000 refugees in the camps in Algeria and a furtherscattered Sahrawi diaspora. Mohamed Yumani, who spent two decades in a camp, said that “life there is extremely difficult”. Sandstorms are common and the temperature reaches 50C in summer.

The camps, controlled by Polisario, are completely dependent on international aid, which has been reduced since the onset of the economic crisis. Gonzalo Moure, a Spanish aid worker who has visited several times, has seen evidence of child malnutrition. Yet Dellal envisages being back in Tindouf when his wife recovers.

Rabat has invested in Western Sahara—indeed its development and social services are superior to Morocco proper. But freedom is denied to those who favour independence or even a referendum. The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, echoed complaints

of abuses of civil and political rights in his last Western Sahara report—“particularly in the form of arrests without warrants, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in detention, confessions extracted under torture or violation of the right to a fair trial”.

Realpolitik But the international community remains inert.

“Western countries are interested in the Moroccan occupation because it provides iron control in a region that is a space of jihadist activity,” said Bárbulo.

Their governments are applying Realpolitik, prioritising geopolitical and economic interests over international law and human rights.

Stephen Zunes, Middle East expert at the University of San Francisco, said in Hijos de las Nubes that the US “is unfortunately quite willing to sacrifice fundamental principles of international law in the name of supporting a strategic ally”. In his book about Western Sahara, Zunes asserts that France and the US have not only provided Morocco with material support but have dominated the approach by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to the conflict, avoiding condemnation of the occupation.

In 2013, during the debate on the annual renewal of MINURSO, the US proposed monitoring humanrights violations in Western Sahara but, due to Moroccan pressures, this was left out of the final resolution. In November that year, the king, Mohammed VI, visited the US president, Barack Obama, and the White House declared Morocco’s autonomy plan “serious, realistic, and credible”. Morocco has also invested roughly $20m since 2007 in “lobbying policymakers and soliciting sympathetic coverage from journalists in the United States”, according to an article published in Foreign Policy last February.

Among Western countries, Spain has an added responsibility as the de jure administering power. It acts, however, like the others: it doesn’t defend Moroccan occupation openly but its inaction supports it. A report that sets the basis of Spanish foreign policy for the next years says that an independent Western Sahara would be “non-homogeneous”, with inhabitants “susceptible to radicalisation”.

Gulf remains Is any solution possible? Juan Domingo Torrejón, researcher in international relations at the University of Cadiz, points out that Chapter VII of United Nations Charter allows the Security Council to press ahead without the agreement of the parties. Yet the substantive gulf remains: “A solution based on the strict application of the self-determination right would be totally contrary to Moroccan interests, and France would veto it in the UNSC, but I neither see it possible to impose a formula favourable to Morocco without asking the population, because it would raise serious legal questions.” Torrejón also warned that “a favourable solution for any of the parties could cause instability in the Maghreb”.

This risk of instability favours the status quo, as a 2007 cable involving European diplomats published by Wikileaks indicates: “For Europe as a whole, the principal interest is that Morocco has been an island of stability in a crucial but shaky near neighbourhood; this stability must be preserved, so a solution to the Sahara problem that destabilises Morocco proper is undesirable.”

Last April, the MINURSO mandate was extended for one year more without any relevant change. In August, the Canadian Kim Bolduc was supposed to replace Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber as head of MINURSO but at time of writing she had not been able to travel to her post—Morocco was apparently displeased that it had not been consulted about the appointment.

For Torrejón the stagnation can be also dangerous because the situation may deteriorate further: “There is not a solution on the table, the humanitarian conditions in the refugees camps are getting worse and tension between the parts in the territory controlled by Morocco has increased.” Meanwhile, said Bárbulo, young people in the camps wanted to go to war because they had seen how their parents lived “and they don’t want to live like them”.

Joining a war without prospect of victory makes no sense but the perspective is different in the camps: the emotions play a bigger role there and refugees have lost faith in the international community.

“Young people don’t want to bear more and, even if we don’t arrive until the end, at least we will teach something to Morocco,” said Yumani. And Dellal takes the long view: “Who thought that apartheid was going to end in South Africa?”

New tactic: Smugglers put ships on autopilot Frances D'Emilio

S

Associated Press

mugglers who bring migrants to Europe by sea appear to have adopted a new, more dangerous tactic: cramming hundreds of them onto a large cargo ship, setting it on an automated course to crash into the coast, and then abandoning the helm.

It happened twice this week in the span of three days, and both episodes could have ended in tragedy if the vessels had not been intercepted at sea.

In the latest such incident, the cargo ship Ezadeen was stopped with about 450 migrants aboard after smugglers sent it speeding toward the coast in rough seas with no one in command.

Italian authorities lowered engineers and electricians onto the wave-tossed ship by helicopter to secure it, and the Icelandic Coast Guard towed it to the Italian port of Corigliano late Friday.

Children and pregnant women were among the migrants, most of whom were believed to be from warravaged Syria, Italian Coast Guard Cmdr. Filippo Marini said. The Sierra Leone-flagged ship apparently set sail from Turkey, he said.

Some of the migrants, most of them young men, watched wearily from

the railings of the ship as they waited to disembark early Saturday. Several were wrapped in blankets against the freezing temperatures.

A large tent was set up at the dock so that the migrants could stop for food and water. Sky TG24 TV said that after their documents are checked, they will be sent to shelters. Their requests for asylum will be evaluated.

An Italian Coast Guard patrol plane had spotted the 66-meter (220-foot) Ezadeen on Thursday about 90 miles east of Italy's Calabria region and contacted it to see if it needed assistance.

"There was no crew, and one migrant, a woman, took the call," Marini said. "She said: 'We are alone.

Please help us. We are in danger.'"

Two days earlier, the Blue Sky M, a Moldovan-flagged cargo ship carrying about 800 migrants, was similarly abandoned by smugglers who locked the ship on automatic pilot and set it on a collision course for a stretch of Italy's southern coast, authorities said.

Despite strong winds and high waves, Coast Guard officers were lowered onto the ship's bridge and managed to regain control of the steering about a half-hour before it was due to

strike the coast, Marini said.

In the past few years, there have been increasing cases of smugglers overturning motorized dinghies or fishing boats and then speeding off in motorboats, leaving many migrants to drown. In other cases, they just fled, leaving their passengers to fend for themselves.

Marini said the latest incidents appear to represent an even more dangerous tactic.

"Certainly it's very dangerous because a ship with no one on the command bridge is like a bomb that will strike up against the reefs," he said.

It was not clear in either case if the smugglers jumped ship. Italian authorities said they were questioning passengers on the Blue Sky to see if any of the smugglers tried to pass themselves off as migrants.

More than 170,000 migrants were intercepted or needed rescue by Italian navy, coast guard and air force patrols last year.

In November, Greek authorities rescued nearly 600 migrants from a 70-meter (230-foot) cargo ship that lost engine power off the Greek island of Crete. Greek authorities arrested 19 of those on board as suspected smug-

WRITE-WING

glers. Most of the passengers were Syrians fleeing war in their homeland and were believed to have been charged $2,000 to $6,000 for passage to Italy.

There was no indication the vessel had been set on a collision course. But it illustrated what authorities said appears to be another recent development. "The use of larger cargo ships is a new trend," said Vincent Cochetel, the U.N. refugee agency's Europe bureau director.

William Spindler, a spokesman for the U.N. agency, said on BBC radio that the organization is aware of four incidents in the past two months in which cargo ships full of hundreds of migrants were abandoned by their crews off the coast of Italy.

"The money involved is huge. People are desperate and they are willing to pay huge amounts of money for the privilege of traveling in these awful conditions and reaching Europe, where they hope to find safety and a better life," Spindler said.

The International Organization for Migration's spokesman, Joel Millman, said: "We've never seen over 1,000 in two days before." He noted that this time the migrants all seemed to be from Syria, rather than the usual mix of nationalities from countries stricken by war or poverty.

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.

7

WEdnEsday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

7 January 2015

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

The Newspaper with an Opinion The Morung Express

Misunderstood Prestige: Rethinking Employment & the Dignity of Labour

O

KB Veio Pou

ur attitude towards the everyday life is shaped to a large extend by the dominant ideas of the society we live in. The society dictate the individual’s mind on what is respectable, praiseworthy, decent, honourable and what is undignified, immoral, devalued. As long as we are ‘within’ the society the chances of seeing otherwise is very thin. And in a close-knit society like ours the individual’s development is vitally hinged on the social environment. Look at the scenario in our society today, there is a ‘new’ denomination to settle things: money. You have to literally pay your way up to get things done. It doesn’t seem peculiar anymore since most people have gotten used to the system. The “everybody’s doing it, so what’s the harm” attitude has muted the possible guilt feeling in everyone’s conscience. But, is a ‘wrong’ justified because everyone’s doing it?

What most people do not realize is that this ‘new’ moral standard will seriously harm the society in the long run. In course of time, we have not only assign values to those that give better monetary return but also demeaned those that are humble yet sustainable with dignity. A phenomenon which needs urgent address in our society is the issue of ‘employment.’ Though unemployment percentage may not be alarming at the moment, there is a high risk of rise in numbers of not only ‘uneducated’ unemployed but also of ‘educated’ unemployed. It is disheartening to see that “fairness” is being demoted from the vocabulary of the people when it comes to seeking jobs. And when ‘money’ is the determinant in employment the dividing line between different kinds of jobs become wider.

One fault-line that has taken root in the mentality of the people in our society is the way ‘government’ jobs are delegated superior status as compared to ‘self-employed’ or ‘private’ jobs. And unfortunately, this ‘traditional’ thinking is even inflated by the current money value attached to those professions. We can perceive this from the way people scramble for ’government’ jobs. Sad but true, many people still thinks the term ‘job’ is applicable only to those who are employed in the government sector, while the others are all categorized ‘unemployed’! This ‘typical’ mindset is exhibited by the kind of response we receive from people when asked what they do. They just shy away from telling the truth and say, “Ah! I do nothing”, or “I’m unemployed.” In effect, what they mean is that they do not have a government job. They may be privately employed somewhere but they don’t count it significant. It may sound very casual but it is in these small talks that we understand the ‘value’ we attach to jobs.

Accidentally, this way of thinking seems to have found its way even into the minds of those who are considered to be ‘educated’. In my many years of stay here in Delhi, I’ve met many people from our community employed in different organizations and in different capacities. And year after year, I have observed an intriguing situation shared by many in the way they perceive their own profession.

Most people employed elsewhere other than the ‘government’ sector appear uneasy admitting that they work in BPOs or sales and marketing or other ‘private’ organizations. Why so? Are those jobs not paid good enough? They are. In fact, most corporate ‘jobs’ are lucrative and promises high growth prospect. And, most private organizations provide better packages and are attracting talents. Are they

“B

ehave chivalrously; do it like a big guy, not like a shyster.”

That was Henry Kissinger’s recommendation to American diplomats engaged in negotiations with Cuba in 1975. And that was what President Barack Obama did on December 17, 2014.

Seemingly out of the blue, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed to an exchange of spies involving the three remaining prisoners of the Cuban Five and a Cuban intelligence officer who worked in the service of United States. Meanwhile, Cuba pardoned USAID subcontractor Alan Gross — who had been imprisoned in Cuba for participating in a quioxtic regime change plot there — on humanitarian grounds. Upon liberation, Gross was transformed from an obstacle to a catalyst for rapprochement between the two countries.

Significantly, Obama also instructed his administration to revisit Cuba’s inclusion on the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. That means the White House is finally insisting that U.S. relations with the island be based on facts — without ideological distortions.

Having the correct perception is key to developing an effective policy towards Cuba. Rather than a threat to U.S. national security, Cuba is a country in transition. If the United States has relations with countries like China and Vietnam, also ruled by communist parties, what sense does Washington’s isolation of communist Cuba make?

In opening up its relations with Cuba, the United States has not renounced its much-advertised commitment to liberal-democratic values.

Instead, Obama decided to “cut loose the shackles of the past,” potentially making way for the liberalization of the island while ending a U.S. policy that’s long been in flagrant contradiction with the international liberal order.

For Cuba, the restoration of diplomatic relations with the United States provides an opportunity to reinvigorate the processes of economic reform

not sustainable? They are. Most ‘private’ organizations have welfare schemes which are even better and more efficient than the many ‘government’ sectors! And yet, at the back of our mind we still think ‘government’ jobs are more ‘respectable’. That is not necessarily true. What matters is how we pre-conceptualize ‘occupation’ in our mind.

While many of us have changed our outlook on this issue because of our exposure to the ‘worlds’ outside, the majority still have the ‘traditional’ opinion. This can be verified by the picture we see even in the city of Delhi. Most students who come here in pursuance of their academic future hope to take public examination to get through a ‘government’ job as first preference. Options elsewhere are sought only after. Somehow, the tag a ‘government job’ is ‘super-special’! But how and why has this concept taken root in our way of thinking? Perhaps, we need retrospection…

Once upon a time, getting a ‘government’ job was the ultimate. A steady income flowing into your account regardless of your work and backed by a pension scheme to sustain your family even after you’re gone made it very attractive. But that glory days are gone. Now the ‘old’ pension system does not apply anymore in the government sector too (for those who are not informed yet). What’s more, with the liberalization of the nation’s economy, private competitors are surging ahead in all spheres.

You can see the reality in the brands that are in the market across the cities. However, the story is not the same everywhere. The rural areas are yet to see the change, but it’s surely coming sooner than later.

We can already see this in the mobile telecommunication systems. Even in our part of the world, the private telecom services have given a tough competition to the once sole provider, BSNL. We need new perspectives on things we see around us. One of the biggest corruptions in our society is triggered by our ‘over-dependence’ on the government. Everybody is running after government job, government scheme, government subsidy, government, government, government… Why are people after them? Because they do not want to ‘work’ but want to enjoy the privileges. They do not want to go to office but want the salary. Everyone is all out to make money the easy way. And they think the government is the best bet. That’s why the government jobs are on sale! Only the highest bidder gets it. Who bothers the qualification? With money everything is in your reach, believe it or not. The way things are getting done in our state is staggering!

Is there a way out to set things right again? Yes, there are ways. First, we need to make a conscious effort to dissuade ourselves from the negative attitudes we have built up in perceiving private or self-employments vis-à-vis government jobs. The ‘money’ tag in the jobs available in our society has devalued the humble jobs out of which many people make a living. Anyone in the profession, high paying or not, needs appreciation. Our income level may not be uniform everyday or every month, yet that does not define the value of a person. The arrogant attitude to measure up a person’s worth by the amount of pay he draws has to be done away with.

The recognition of private or self-employed people in the society as respectable workers can produce sustainable growth in a positive way.

There is, however, a critical assessment required in the job condition of the privately employed. Of course, there are not much private jobs

besides teaching in private schools, but consider their plight; with no job security prospect, the pay too meager and the liability of them been ejected anytime makes the profession less attractive. Certainly, the private institutions cannot out-pay the government but they can make certain amenities so as to provide sustainable security of employment and safeguarding their rights. Though there are not much private organizations at for now, we can hope to see them coming soon. A transparent and wellstructured organization can attract talented people as employees. As for those who are self-employed there is brighter prospect. Since they take business to their own hand the growth prospect is higher.

And yet, only few options are explored by our people. There are some who are into merchandising or run small retail shops, but we need to venture into more of the small scale businesses that may not require big investments like art & craft, cobbling, health & beauty, cafeteria, etc. These enterprises may not give high return instantly but they can be steady, secure and marked with positive growth.

Secondly, we need to revive the sense in the dignity of labour. All jobs deserve respect. Any worker ought to treat his tools and fields with certain sense of reverence for it is by them that he realizes the final result. Whether you are a teacher or a carpenter or a business person or a cultivator you ought to treat the job with dignity because you earn your livelihood by it. There are so many pursuable professions in our society which most people ignore because we look at them as lowly or too ordinary. Take for example, cobblers, barbers, carpenters, etc. Why aren’t our people taking up such professions? Because those jobs are apportioned low value by the society. It’s not that they do not earn. In fact, if you observe the work of a cobbler or a barber closely, say at Senapati town, it is not laborious or taxing and for sure they would be earning 300-400 per day on an average. Ironically, the pompous attitude of our people would not allow them to merely “cut somebody’s hair” or “mend someone’s shoe”; they’d rather toil in the ‘ancestral’ field the whole day though barely manage to fill his family members’ hungry stomachs at the end of the day! It’s not that our people do not know cobbling or mending shoes, yet even least of the unemployed fellows would not take such jobs because it is looked upon as ‘inferior’ or ‘debase’ or even equated with ‘slavery’!

Coincidentally, such mindset is observable even among those who are working away from home, in cities like Delhi. What’s there to be shy or discomfited in declaring what you do? It’s not what you do but what you ‘think’ of the job that dignifies it. Whether you are a salesperson or a customer executive or a manager you should have the self-esteem of holding the position because you derive income through it.

What’s there to be deterred about working in private companies, after all, government or non-governmental, most people are employee. We all labour to make a living. The honour of the job depends a lot on who holds it.

Overall, our mental aptitude needs a paradigm shift in understanding ‘employment.’ I believe infusing the dignity in any form of work can add a new meaning to the various opportunities that are available in our society. At the same time, the forms of rampage corruption can be tackled if self-employed or private services are also appropriated the same respect as those of the government employees.

The author is an Asst. Professor at SBSC, University of Delhi

Obama Corrects a Historic Mistake on Cuba arturo Lopez-Levy

Foreign Policy In Focus

Supporters of normalizing relations with Cuba have lost many battles in Washington, but this is a clear victory and political liberalization.

Relations with the United States have historically occupied a central role in Cuba’s foreign policy agenda.

Since 1959, the revolutionary government has managed its relations with Washington from a long-term strategic perspective. Ultimately that’s strengthened the resistance of ideologues in the Cuban regime to more substantive reforms. Cuba’s government has regarded the United States as its main enemy in part because of its revolutionary internationalism, but more importantly because of Washington’s commitment to the overthrow of the Cuban government.

By dissociating itself from the regime-change agenda of Miami-based anti-normalization groups, a less belligerent Washington can bolster Cuban reformers by advancing reconciliation efforts between the Cuban government and the majority of the Cuban diaspora that favors diplomatic relations between the two countries (68 percent, according to Florida International University’s most recent poll). The more contacts with the island increase, the easier it will be to peel off Cuban-American constituencies from the reactionary core who remain attached to old animosities and conflicts. Greater contact with American society could also help to bring about more moderate leadership in Cuba after the retirement of the revo-

lutionary old guard on the island.

The economic benefits are also likely to be considerable. By allowing the export of agricultural technology, the United States could boost Cuba’s food security. And new measures such as permitting the use of U.S.based credit and debit cards in Cuba, lifting limits on remittances, and easing burdensome travel restrictions will increase consumer demand in the Cuban economy by at least an additional billion dollars.

And finally, at a strategic moment for the island’s growing private sector, reducing Cuba’s country-risk grade by taking the island off the U.S. terrorism list will promote a friendlier international environment for more economic reforms. Easing U.SCuba relations now also shows the possibility of a more constructive American attitude towards any future Cuban government.

By reestablishing diplomatic relations, the U.S. will finally recognize the Cuban government as the sovereign representative of their state.

Gone is the myth — promoted by anti-normalization exiles and the internal opposition — of a hijacked sovereignty that the United States should not respect.

Instead, the Obama administration has begun to recognize that it’s valid for the United States to denounce human rights violations inside Cuba

without violating international law by interfering in Cuba’s internal affairs.

Incremental democratization in Cuba will be more likely with a government that Washington recognizes as a legitimate interlocutor.

In the short run, Raul Castro scored a political success: Namely, he achieved the U.S. rectification of a historical error — the severance of diplomatic relations in January 1961 — without having to roll over to pro-regime change ideologues in the U.S. Congress or the Cuban-American community.

The return of the three Cuban agents, meanwhile, ratifies the narrative of revolutionary resilience, which is central to the more ideologically disciplined ranks of the Cuban Communist Party.

In the longer term, the peoples of Cuba and the United States will likely be the biggest winners. If the counterproductive embargo can at long last be dismantled, American businesses will enjoy new investment opportunities, and Cuba may be relieved of some of its poverty. This would help avoid a worst case scenario — namely the collapse of the Cuban government, which would leave a power vacuum just 90 miles south of the Florida Keys.

Cuba’s one-party system and command economy model were designed in response to the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. Normalcy will challenge the Cuban political system, including its totalitarian traits and lack of transparency. And ordinary Cubans’ expectations will grow accordingly. The greatest tool for opening Cuba is a free flow of communication, ideas, travelers and goods.

Supporters of normalizing relations with Cuba have lost many battles in Washington, but this is a clear victory.

Will Congress have the courage to follow suit and end the embargo for good?

To paraphrase Winston Churchill, “this is not the end; nor is it the beginning of the end. It is perhaps the end of the beginning.”

Arturo Lopez-Levy is a PhD Candidate at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies of the University of Denver.

Money affects our lives in many different ways. Practices such as corruption, extortion, and taxation that are prevalent in our land are all about money. The power structures dictate that the wealthy are more powerful and influential, tipping the scales in their favour,and suggesting what we prefer to deny that with money comes power.Yet, we ask ‘does money actually guarantee us true happiness’? While it may be a necessity to survive, how much money do we really need to be happy?

Happiness Doesn’t Cost a Thing namsurei Thomas Kamei

H

Head of Department of Economics

appy New Year 2015 to all the readers! It’s a common practice to make resolutions for the New Year, which we don’t keep most of the time. This New Year I have made a resolution not to make resolutions (except one which I intend to disclose later). It is also common that during Christmas and New Year, Christians all over the world become more Christian. For some of us, it is time to visit the church even if we haven’t done so for the whole year. We all do these in the hope of finding happiness.

Many of us will agree that we saved up money for these celebrations. Extrashopping makes us feel that we are ready for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Most of us feel that ifwe have shopped enough, we will be happy enough. This is distantly the feeling among many of us around this time of the year. We equate happiness with what money can buy. We frequently equate success with the amount of money we earn.

For most of us, money has become central to all important events in our lives.

Looking at the society we live in, the most respected person in a community is, almost all the time, the highest earning member and the highest contributor to, most frequently religious or church related activities. Someone who takes the final decision seems to be the person who controls the purse.

Someone who can sway things is a deep pocketed person.

Money is occupying a central position in our lives. But is money the most important? Does money merit the importance we attachwith it? Does money gain us real respect? Does money buy us happiness? Shall we limit our lives by taking decisions which are always money based?

In my opinion, there are higher human values that money can’t buy. Human beings as we are, we need love, respect, honour and security and above all we crave for happiness.

Does money buy us all these values?

Traditionally, money has been in use as a measure of development, growth and even happiness. It is commonly understood that money is a means to growth, development and happiness. So we have countries of the world classified according to their level of income. We have countries with high income, with middle-level income and low income. The progress and development of a nation is judged by the amount of income it generates during a time period, usually one fiscal year. Accordingly, we have the so called developed countries, the developing and the under developed countries. It is perceived that higher level of income ensures higher standard of living and higher level of happiness. The differences in these categories of countries are limitless. But surprisingly, there is no single parameter by which we can measure development.

Income or money isn’t a sufficient measure for level of development. Money can’t define development. It can’t define progress. Certainly it can’t define happiness. If we are to go, purely by the level of income, the country with the highest per capita income (PCI) must be the country where its citizens are almost in the state of perfect living conditions. Often, this is not the case. Factors like environmental conditions (pollution), law and order problems, political instability, and availability of social overheads determine the level of wellness of the people of a society. Thus, money isn’t everything.

If I am new to any place in Nagaland say, Dimapur, and ask someone to take me there; I wonder where I will be taken.

There are localities, villages and khels. But there is no single place which defines Dimapur once we reach there. Happiness, progress, growth and development are something similar to the concept above. Centralizing money as everything is incomplete. There are more things to life than money.

Economists define “money as a matter of four functions; a medium of exchange, a store of value, a unit of account and a standard of deferred payment”. Money has been serving us with these important functions. It has also solved the problem inherent in barter system. In short, it has simplified our life’s activities, but it has never served as a source for happiness.

For some of us, money, which is just a means has become the end itself. As humans, we strive for so many things. For all who are striving- let us strive for happiness.

2014 is gone, 2015 is here and 2016 is what we will be looking forward to. What is done can’t be undone. The future is uncertain. The present is all that we have. The moment at present is all that matters for us. We all want happiness certainly. We all need money. But how much money do you need? Which is a better option? To have lots of money but no happiness at all in life or to have some money and all the happiness in life.

Surprisingly, both happiness and money can be earned. It is ironic that we tried earning money to find happiness but in the process we missed little things that make us smile. How much time do we devote to find that happiness in a simple way? Do we forget those moments that lighten our lives in our mad pursuit for money? How important is happiness in your life? How important is money in your life?

This year I will give my 100% in everything I do without worrying too much about the outcome because that is my simplest way of finding happiness. This is my resolutionfor the New Year. What about yours? “degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a naaC accredited UGC recognised Commerce and arts College.

For feedback or comments please email: admin@tetsocollege.org”.

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

8

Dimapur

NATIONAL

Wednesday 7 January 2015

The Morung Express

BSF chief vows to retaliate to Pakistani firing Thousands flee homes to escape firing

Indian villagers look for their belongings from one of the houses damaged in an alleged firing by Pakistani troops at Bainglad village in Samba sector, about 52 kilometers (32 miles) from Jammu on Tuesday, January 6. Pakistani troops fired gunshots and mortar shells that killed an Indian soldier in northern Kashmir on Monday after a lull in the countries’ cross-border firing, an Indian paramilitary official said. Pakistan blamed India for the violence and said two civilians were killed by Indian shelling. (AP Photo)

SRINAGAR, JANuARy 6 (AP): Thousands of villagers in the Indiancontrolled portion of Kashmir have fled their homes because of artillery battles between Indian and Pakistani soldiers along the highly militarized border, officials said Tuesday.

Authorities have evacuated more than 6,000 people to relief camps as of Tuesday, nearly a week after the shelling broke out, said Shantmanu, a senior official in Indian-held Kashmir. About 4,000 other people have fled their homes and are staying with relatives, he said.

At least a dozen people have been killed in the border skirmishes.

While there was no shelling reported Tuesday, tensions have heightened along the 200-kilometer (125-mile) border that India and Pakistan share in Kashmir, the Himalayan region claimed by both countries and divided between them. India and Pakistan have fought two wars over control of Kashmir since they won independence from Britain in 1947.

Indian officials have set up about 20 relief camps where food and medical care is available to villagers,

Jammu, January 6 (IANS): India will not do anything to disturb peace along the border in Jammu and Kashmir but will retaliate to any aggression by Pakistan, BSF chief D.K. Pathak said Tuesday.

The BSF director general said his men foiled threefour attempts by terrorists to sneak into India since December 31.

“India will not do anything to disturb peace

ocation for the Pakistani firing, Pathak said: “There can be more than one.

Since December 31, we have foiled three to four attempts of infiltration. We have good proof of this.

“There can be multiple reasons for the escalation in firing. It is possible they are trying to divert attention from Peshawar,” Pathak said, referring to the massacre of over 140 school students and

along the border but will retaliate befittingly if the situation demands,” Pathak told the media.

“Prevalence of peace (is the) best situation. But if Pakistan does not want peace, if firing comes from their side, we will definitely respond,” he said.

“We cannot go on taking bullets,” Pathak said, after paying tribute to Border Security Force trooper Devinder Singh

who was killed in shelling by Pakistani border guards in Samba district Monday.

Pathak visited the international border in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts Tuesday to take stock of the situation following indiscriminate shelling by Pakistan Rangers in the last three days in which two BSF troopers and a woman were killed.

He said there has been no firing at the border since Monday night.

Pathak admitted Pakistan too suffered civilian deaths but said it was “collateral damage”. India has never targeted civilian areas, he said.

“The BSF never targets civilian areas, there can be collateral damage... But they always fire first and target our civilian areas.”

Asked about the prov-

many of whom fled their homes with no belongings.

Many residents said they fled their homes as mortar fire began landing in border villages.

“We were very frightened as bullets and shells were raining from all sides,” said Kamal Singh, a construction worker. “We somehow managed to flee to a safer place,” he said in a telephone interview. Singh said he and his family fled from Baniglad village and have been staying at a governmentrun relief shelter for four days.

Paramilitary officials said the shelling went on until midnight at numerous places along the border.

“About two dozen Indian forward border posts were under attack,” said D. Parekh of the Border Security Force.

While New Delhi and Islamabad each blame the other for starting the violence, border residents said both are responsible.

“The two governments want to settle their scores and we are the ones who always suffer,” said Raj Chowdhry, a resident of Bobyia village, speaking from a relief camp.

teachers.

“Maybe it is because of the Republic Day,” he added. US President Barack Obama will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi Jan 26.

He said the last communication with Pakistan was Jan 1.

“On Jan 3, we went to deliver a protest note which they refused to accept. The note was then sent to the Wagah border, they refused

Chowdhry said he was worried about his elderly parents who stayed behind. “My parents couldn’t leave as they’re too old. I don’t know if they’re all right,” he said.

Some villagers refused to move.

“What’s the point of leaving the village? This has been going on for decades. I’ve gotten used to it,” said Bishen Das, an 80-year old farmer who stayed in Baniglad, a village near an Indian border post that came under intense shelling.

“By staying here I can at least attend to the hapless cattle caught in a situation where even humans don’t know what to do,” Das said.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday that the U.S. is concerned by the border tensions and encourages dialogue between India and Pakistan.

India says Pakistani troops committed more than 550 cease-fire violations in 2014, the most since the two nations signed an accord in 2003.

While minor skirmishes are common, an October cease-fire violation left nine civilians dead in Pakistan and nine in India.

to accept it there as well. So there has been no communication,” he said.

The BSF chief said it could not be said with certainty whether the infiltration attempts were plotted

by Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

“Hafiz Saeed could be a factor, but this cannot be said conclusively,” Pathak said.

He said that intelli-

gence reports indicate that a large number of militants could be waiting to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.

More than 10,000 residents of border villages have so far abandoned their homes in Samba and Kathua districts because of the shelling by Pakistan.

They are now lodged in makeshift accommodations in safer places away from the border.

New fiscal to see more allocation for MGNREGS Sunanda was poisoned, murder case filed: police

thIRuvANANthAPuRAm, JANuARy 6 (IANS): Financial allocation for the rural job guarantee scheme MGNREGS will be increased in the new fiscal, union Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said Tuesday.

This was the second meeting on the issue and the third and final will take place in Patna later this month, he told reporters here, after a meeting with six state ministers.

“Once that (meeting) is over, we will look into all the suggestions that have been made and would

look at what needs to be done to make it better. For this fiscal year, Rs.34,000 crore was set aside for the scheme and for the next fiscal this will go up further,” he said.

He also said that more departments, including agriculture, irrigation and forestry, will be linked to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to make it more effective.

“The ministers put forward their requests. While some of them spoke about modifying the scheme to make it more flexible, oth-

ers requested to increase the present 60:40 labour to material component to create quality assets,” he said.

The rural development minister ruled out speculations that the total number of blocks that this programme cover would be reduced.

“Nothing of that sort (reduction) will happen.

About 2,500 blocks in the country, where development is suffering, will get more attention. The remaining 4,000 blocks would run this programme as it is,” he said.

Kerala Minister for Ru-

ral Development K.C. Joseph said this was for the first time since the scheme was launched that the central government had given a positive response.

“We have put forward that the scheme should have changes to include segments like animal husbandry, and traditional industries like handloom and coir. Not only can employment be generated through the scheme but also the production in these sectors,” said Joseph.

MGNREGS has seen about Rs.2,000 crore being pumped into Kerala in the past three years.

Discussion on new education policy soon: Irani New DelhI, JANuARy 6 (IANS): Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani Tuesday said the government planned to discuss the new education policy with various stakeholders within timeframe, and also visit villages to listen to people in this regard.

“In a new year, we plan to start discussion on the new education policy. How will this new education be, whether higher or school, we will discuss and decide the themes within both the departments,” Irani said at the conference of education ministers/secretaries of states and union territories on ‘Choice Based Credit System in Higher Education and

Credit Framework for Skills.

Then discussions would be initiated on those themes at the village education council and also at the block, district, state, zonal and regional level within a timeline, she added.

Irani said the policy would be thought-out keeping in mind the requirements 10 years from now in the field of education.

She also stressed that instructions would not be “dictated” by the ministry in Delhi, instead officials, and she was ready to visit states to listen the people’s concerns and plan the way ahead.

“You (states) tell us which village you want us to visit and listen to peo-

ple on the new education policy; we are ready to come at your doorstep to listen to your concerns,” she told the audience.

Irani said that the government would want to listen to those who are affected the most by the education policy, but are not consulted while framing it, adding that it was something which was never done before.

The minister added that the government was also planning to hold a workshop in February to see how a discussion can take place in this regard at the grassroot level. “And if we can help better the education policy, then it would be our biggest service to the nation,” she said.

Thailand nabs Indian convicted in 1995 bomb attack of Punjab CM

Police officers escort Gurmeet Singh, also known as Jagtar Singh Tara, from India, as they arrive at the criminal court in Bangkok January 6, 2015

BANGKOK, JANuARy 6 (AP): Thai police said Tuesday that they have arrested a fugitive convicted in India for his involvement in a 1995 bombattackthatkilledachief minister of a northern Indian state and 15 other people.

Gurmeet Singh, one of six Sikh militants convicted for the blast outside government headquarters in Punjab state, fled a high-security Indian prison in 2004 before

receiving a life sentence in 2007. The bomb, planted in then-Chief Minister Beant Singh’s bulletproof car, exploded and immediately killed the state’s highest elected official and 12 of his staff and armed guards.

The Babbar Khalsa International, a Sikh separatist group, claimed responsibility for the assassination. Singh, also known as Jagtar Singh Tara,

entered Thailand in October and was arrested Monday in the eastern province of Chonburi, Thai National police spokesman Lt. Gen. Prawut Thawornsiri said.

“It took quite some time to arrest him. We had been following him for a while, but at one point he slipped off the radar,” he said.

Prawut said Singh, 37, faces extradition to India.

An Indian government official said the government was aware of the arrest and was in touch with Thai authorities. “All those who have committed heinous crimes in India will be pursued wherever they are,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Beant Singh, the target of the bomb attack, came to power as Punjab’s chief minister in 1992 and began crushing the Sikh militancy, leaving hundreds dead in encounters with police.

New DelhI, JANuARy 6 (IANS): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s wife Sunanda Pushkar, found dead here nearly a year ago, was poisoned to death, Delhi Police said Tuesday, triggering demands for his resignation from the Lok Sabha.

Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi said a murder case had now been registered against “unknown persons” and that the final medical report was clear that Pushkar, 52, died an unnatural death.

“She died due to poisoning. Whether the poison was given orally or injected into her body is being probed,” he said, adding her viscera would be sent abroad. Ruling out suicide, Special Commissioner of Police Deepak Mishra said it was a case of “homicidal poisoning”.

Tharoor, a former central minister who is the Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram, said he was stunned by the developments and assured full cooperation with police.

Pushkar was found dead in a luxury hotel Jan 17, 2014, a day after she and Tharoor checked in because their house was allegedly getting painted. Both had been married twice earlier.

Tharoor was then the

minister of state for human resource development in the Manmohan Singh government. A day earlier, Tharoor and Pushkar had issued a joint statement saying they were “happily married and intend to remain that way” following media reports that Tharoor allegedly had an affair with a Pakistani journalist.

The Congress said it was not clear from Bassi’s comments if Pushkar killer herself or was murdered. But both the BJP and the CPI-M in Kerala demanded that Tharoor quit the Lok Sabha.

Marxist leader and former Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan said: “Now with a murder case registered, Tharoor should resign and make himself available for the probe.”

Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party president V. Muraleedharan too asked Tharoor to give up his Lok Sabha seat. “The Congress should apologize for fielding him (in the Lok Sabha polls).”

The Delhi Police got the final medical report from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Dec 29. Police sources told IANS the murder case was registered Jan 4.

A special police team has been formed to probe the murder. Asked why it took

almost a year for the final medical report to come, Bassi said the interim report spoke of poisoning but did not say it was an unnatural death.

In a statement at Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor said he and members of Pushkar’s family wanted access to all information related to his wife’s death.

“I am anxious to see that this case is investigated thoroughly, and (I) assure the police my full cooperation. “Although we never thought of any foul play in the death of my wife, we all want a comprehensive investigation and ... unvar-

nished truth.”

The first autopsy report, submitted Jan 20 last year, said Tharoor’s wife died due to drug overdose.

It reported a dozen injury marks on her body. A later autopsy report in July put the number of injury marks at 15. All the injuries were caused by blunt forces except one which was an injection mark.

Later, Sudhir Kumar Gupta, who headed the forensic team in AIIMS, alleged that he was pressured to show that Pushkar’s death was natural. The AIIMS denied the claim. Gupta was later moved out of his post.

United Nations will not get involved with Italian marines facing trial in India

uNIteD NAtIONS, JANuARy 6 (IANS): UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman refused Monday to be drawn into the controversy surrounding the two Italian marines facing trial in India over the killing of two fisherman off the Kerala coast amid reports that the Italian prime minister has asserted that a “direct channel” had been opened with New Delhi raising hopes of a settlement.

Asked by a reporter if Ban had recently taken any initiative in the issue or if he still considered it a bilateral matter between India and Italy, the spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said, tersely, “I have nothing to add to what he’s already said on the issue.”

Despite several highlevel requests by the Italians to intervene, Ban has

maintained that “it’s better for the question to be addressed bilaterally, rather than with the involvement of the UN,” according to reports in the Italian media.

Ban’s statement made in February last year was similar to comments made on his behalf by spokesmen in 2013 and last year.

Reports from Rome said Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told a year-end press conference last week that a “direct channel” had been opened with India and that it has raised the the possibility of resolving the almost three-year-old issue.

The Italian news agency, ANSA, reported that Italian Premier Matteo Renzi said, “India, a friend and ally of Italy, has in recent hours opened a direct channel of discussion, with statements that we’ve appreciated.” ANSA added

that according to Renzi India’s statements about the case may indicate a new opening for resolution.

Although he did not give further details about the statements, ANSA reported, “Diplomatic sources said that he was evidently (referring to) remarks by Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who said shortly before Christmas that New Delhi was ‘studying’ an Italian proposal for a consensual solution to the dispute.”

The agency added that Italian Ambassador to India, Daniele Mancini, was recently in Italy for two weeks of consultations.

The two marines, Chef Master Sgt. Massimiliano Latorre and Sgt. Salvatore Girone are accused of killing two fisherman off the Kerala coast in February 2012 while they were

guarding an Italian tanker, Enrica Lexie, traveling from Singapore to Egypt. The Marines said they thought the fishermen were pirates.

Italy asserts that the incident took place in international waters and, therefore, the Marines should be tried in Italy or in an international court. India, however, maintains that it can try them because it says the killings happened in coastal waters under Indian jurisdiction and the victims were Indians.

Latorre and Girone have been out on bail and allowed to stay in the Italian embassy in New Delhi while awaiting progress in their case.

ANSA also reported that Latore, who was permitted by Indian Supreme Court to visit Italy for medical treatment, “was successfully operated on to

plug a small hole in his heart, a condition that is quite common and easily fixed with non-invasive heart surgery” last week according to doctors at a Milan hospital.

At his press conference, Renzi had urged Italian media and politicians to stay calm and not prvoke a confrontation. ANSA quoted him as saying, “In order to resolve this issue it will be useful to maintain the tone appropriate to legitimate diplomatic and legal channels, without unnecessary displays or useless political initiatives - like some I have seen (undertaken) by ministers of preceding governments, which beggared belief.” Renzi of the Democratic Paty, who became prime minister last February has appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help resolve the issue.

InternatIonal

the Morung express

Wednesday 7 January 2015

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Israeli military divided over Gaza war probes

JERUSALEM, JAnUARy 6 (AP): A fierce debate is raging within Israel’s military over the extent to which soldiers should be held legally accountable for their actions during last year’s Gaza war, with commanders increasingly at odds with military lawyers.

The dispute has set off a firestorm in Israel, where many say the legal threat would shackle soldiers in any future battle, lower their morale and shatter a sacred trust on which Israel’s compulsory military service relies.

But with the Palestinians announcing their application last week to the International Criminal Court, the decision to investigate becomes all the more pressing: A robust Israeli inquiry into its military’s actions could be essential in thwarting an embarrassing and potentially incriminating outside probe.

Israel launched the operation in Gaza on July 8 in what it said was a mission to halt relentless rocket fire by Hamas militants.

During 50 days of fighting, more than 2,100 Palestinians were killed, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry and the United Nations.

On the Israeli side, 66 soldiers and 6 civilians were killed.

Israel has defended the operation as an act of self-defense and blamed Hamas for the heavy civilian death toll, saying the militant group used residential areas for cover. But critics have pointed to the heavy Palestinian civilian death toll and questioned whether Israel’s response was proportionate.

Israel has also come under fire from critics who say it fails to thoroughly investigate its military operations or prosecute soldiers for abuses.

Israel says it does investigate its actions, although those inquiries rarely lead to criminal punishment. Following a similar operation in Gaza in early 2009, the army convicted a total of four soldiers on various charges, including looting, im-

Abbas rolls statehood dice with ‘ICC move’

In this August 1, 2014 photo, Palestinians carry their belongings after salvaging them from their destroyed house in the heavily bombed town of Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip, close to the Israeli border. A fierce debate is raging within Israel’s military over the extent to which soldiers should be held legally accountable for their actions during last year’s Gaza war, with commanders increasingly at odds with military lawyers. If Israel can show the International Criminal Court that it has carried out its own investigations in good faith, it could avoid an outside probe. (AP File Photo)

proper use of a weapon and lifeendangering conduct. The most serious sentence was a threeand-a-half month prison term.

Israel’s outgoing military chief, Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, has walked a fine line in the debate, trying both to soothe the troops’ worries and explain the need for inquiries. “Soldiers and commanders know they have the full support of the command level,” Gantz said last month. “I feel very secure with our support and with the investigations, which are a necessary tool for our continued improvement.”

Israel’s military advocate general, Danny Efroni, is seen as the leader of the drive to investigate soldiers. Efroni and his legal team have received more than 100 complaints regarding incidents from last summer’s war and plan to conduct criminal investigations into at least

10, including the deaths of four boys in an explosion on a Gaza beach on July 16 and an attack on a U.N. school on July 24.

Efroni’s perspective, military analysts say, views an internal investigation as preferable to a potential probe by the International Criminal Court. The military did not answer a request seeking comment.

The Palestinians are expected to join the court within about 60 days. Once that happens, they can submit war crimes claims against Israel. However, if Israel can show the court that it has carried out its own investigation in good faith, it could avoid an outside probe.

“Some in the military say ‘let us investigate, we have nothing to hide. The moment we investigate, international law won’t intrude.

There will be no international inquiry and no trial in The Hague,’”

said Ilan Katz, a former military deputy advocate general.

Still, the threat of criminal investigations has fueled concerns that soldiers and commanders will increasingly face prosecution. Critics say that would undermine performance in the field and dissuade new recruits from joining key combat units.

The main bone of contention in the military ranks surrounds the events of Aug. 1, when a temporary cease-fire was interrupted by the suspected capture of an Israeli soldier by Hamas militants. Israel unleashed a massive barrage of airstrikes and artillery fire aimed at blocking any potential escape routes of the suspected abductors, which killed nearly 200 people in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, according to Palestinian rights groups. The Israeli army subsequently declared that the Israeli

soldier had been killed in action.

The debate over whether to investigate the soldiers follows a separate inquiry into a commander of the same brigade that fought in Rafah, who was suspected of covering up crimes alleged to have been committed by his troops, including sexual misconduct.

A group of reservists has appealed to Efroni not to investigate the Rafah incident, calling the possibility “outrageous and worrying.” Brig. Gen. Udi Simhony, a retired military commander, warned that investigating the soldiers could lead them to lose motivation and conceal evidence from the battlefield to protect themselves.

“This needs to stop before we see its implications harm us mercilessly,” he wrote on the Walla website, a popular Israeli news portal.

JERUSALEM, JAnUARy 6 (REUtERS): For someone nearing 80, President Mahmoud Abbas still knows how to shake things up. But his decision last week to join the International Criminal Court is a high-risk move that may set back the ultimate goal: an independent Palestinian state.

Frustrated by the lack of progress in negotiations with Israel and the failure of his New Year’s Eve statehood bid at the United Nations, Abbas followed through on a long-promised threat to join the ICC, filing the relevant documents on Jan. 2.

The decision, to be formalised in the next 2-3 months, opens the way for war crimes charges to be brought against Israel, whether relating to last summer’s conflict in Gaza or the impact of Israel’s 47-year-long occupation of Palestinian territory.

Israeli officials have said they plan to make such moves via courts in the United States or elsewhere. But the biggest immediate hurdle for Abbas is getting the ICC, set up in The Hague 12 years ago, to take on any case it brings. Joining the court is one thing, but convincing the chief prosecutor that you have a winnable set of evidence is another.

Since its inception, the court has formally opened just nine investigations, all of them relating to genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity committed in Africa.

A shift of focus to the Middle East would be welcomed by those who accuse the court of a post-colonial, Western bias, but it’s no guarantee of success after the failure of several high-profile cases and only two convictions.

Carsten Stahn, a professor of international criminal law and global justice at Leiden University in the Netherlands, believes the Palestinians may have a case to make on war crimes grounds, but it is far from cut-or-dried or simple to make.

“Swimming not sinking” For Abbas, who has been in power since 2005 and turns 80 in March, a decade is a long time, and in any case the expectation was always that an independent state would happen before then. As a result, joining the ICC looks designed more to rattle Israel, show the United States and others that the Palestinians will not wait forever, and to use whatever legal means available to achieve the long-desired political outcome.

It also amounts to Abbas trying to show that he is still relevant as his popularity wanes and support for Hamas rises, said Grant Rumley, an expert in Palestinian politics at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.

“Abbas understands that if he isn’t swimming, he’s sinking,” said Rumley, calling ICC membership the next-best-thing after the UN statehood bid to show Palestinians there is movement. “The question is whether the ICC works better as a threat against Israel, and whether they have a plan once they’re members. I think ‘yes’ to the former, and ‘probably not’ to the latter.”

Australia battles to contain Two men attempt most difficult climb in world at the Yosemite If all goes as planned, the duo FRAnCISCO, JAnUARy 6 worst wildfires in 30 years SAn (AP): Two men are roughly halfway could be at the top as soon as Friday or

SyDnEy, JAnUARy 6 (REUtERS): Hundreds of firefighters were battling on Tuesday to contain Australia’s worst wildfires in 30 years which have already swept across more than 12,000 hectares outside the southern city of Adelaide and destroyed at least 26 homes.

The fires, which are burning across a 240-km (150-mile) perimeter in the state of South Australia, come as the Australian Bureau of Meteorology announced on Tuesday that 2014 had been the country’s third warmest year on record.

That has raised questions about whether the blaze is the result of climate change and a possible sign of worse to come. “Unless there are rapid, substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and globally, Australia will experience more heat waves and bush fires as in 2014,” David Karoly, a professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Melbourne, said in a statement.

At least 29 people have been injured or taken to hospital but no deaths have been reported. The fires are the worst in terms of scale and intensity since the Ash Wednesday fires of 1983 which killed 75 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.

Country Fire Service state coordi-

nator Brenton Eden said the next 48 hours were critical to firefighting efforts because of higher forecast temperatures and changing winds.

“Today we will see easterly winds coming through and by mid-afternoon, 4 p.m., we’re going to be back to 36ºC (96.8ºF),” Eden said. “We’ve got to get through Tuesday and Wednesday and see no increase in the perimeter of this fire.” Hundreds of families have been evacuated and firefighters have rescued scores of koalas in the fire that is raging through the Adelaide Hills, just outside the state capital.

Wildfires are a natural annual event in Australia, but some scientists say climate change is increasing both the fire season and intensity.

The heat caused different problems in the West Australian capital of Perth where thousands of iiNet Ltd internet customers found themselves offline for hours after the company shut down some of its systems.

The temperature in Perth reached a maximum of 44.4ºC on Monday, the hottest January day since 1991 when it reached 45.8º.

“Due to record breaking temperatures, iiNet Toolbox, Email and our corporate websites are unavailable.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused,” iiNet tweeted.

through what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a half-mile (800-meter) section of exposed granite in California’s Yosemite National Park.

Tom Evans, a climber and photographer, has been chronicling Kevin Jorgeson. 30, of California, and Tommy Caldwell, 36, of Colorado, as they scale their way using only their hands and feet. El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, rises more than 3,000 feet (914 meters) above the Yosemite Valley floor.

The men eat, stretch and sleep in hanging tents suspended to El Capitan’s Dawn Wall. They don’t have the creature comforts of home, but they have kept in touch with the outside world thanks to social media --tweeting, posting on Facebook, feeding information for blogs and keeping in touch with a bevy of supporters on the ground.

“The guys are doing great,” said Josh Lowell with Big Up Productions, which has been chronicling their climbs for the last six years. “(Monday) they are resting and trying to grow skin back on their fingertips so they can continue to do battle with the hardest climbing sections, which involve grabbing tiny, razor-sharp edges of rock,” Lowell said.

Saturday, Lowell said. “But that’s bestcase scenario. It could take several more days just to get through the difficult section where they currently are. If any weather moves in, that could also delay things, but the forecast is looking good for now,” Lowell said.

Many have climbed Dawn Wall but the pair would be the first to “free climb” the section using ropes only as a safeguard against falls. The first climber reached El Capitan’s summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top.

Evans said the two have a cellphone on their ascent, but they weren’t taking calls Monday because they were resting and “want no distractions while on the cliff.” The two also weren’t answering emails from roughly 1,500 feet (457 meters) above the ground. These practices may not seem unusual, but the climbers have relied heavily on social media to document their adventure. Both update their Facebook pages regularly and tweet from the Dawn Wall, which has been called “as smooth as alabaster, as steep as the bedroom wall.”

Last Friday, Jorgeson hosted a live question-and-answer session from the wall. Caldwell’s wife’, Becca, has also been blogging about their trip daily and wrote this post last week-

This August 2011 file photo shows Half Dome and Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point at Yosemite National Park, Calif. About 6 miles away, climbers Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell are roughly halfway through an ascent of another famous Yosemite cliff: El Capitan. (AP File Photo)

end: “Being up on the wall for over a week and the hard climbing Tommy and Kevin have done up until now adds an element of difficulty on top of the hard climbing they have to do,” she wrote. “Imagine performing your very best after not walking for one week. I know Tommy has made an

effort to try and do stretching, pushups, (and) yoga in the (hanging tent) hoping this might combat the unusual circumstances of living like veal between their climbing. So let’s hope for big things today. This climb definitely won’t be over until it’s over, but I believe it’s possible. Let’s go boys!!!”

Shanghai stampede families await answers

A man cries as he prays for victims of a stampede in Shanghai on Friday, January 2. Authorities were still investigating the cause of the stampede, but street vendors, residents, taxi drivers and other witnesses say the city failed to prepare for the massive turnout. (AP Photo)

SHAnGHAI, JAnUARy 6 (REUtERS): Three days after his sister and 35 others were killed in a New Year’s Eve stampede, Wang Jianhua went to Shanghai’s waterfront to take pictures and measurements of the scene, hoping to piece to-

gether for himself how the disaster unfolded.

He and other relatives of those who died celebrating the new year on the historic Bund in China’s commercial capital say they have not been getting any answers from the authorities.

Instead, families are being kept in the dark about the circumstances of the accident and had even been pressured not to air grievances, especially to international media, Wang said. “This interview could bring me a whole lot of trouble. The pressure is im-

mense,” Wang told Reuters.

The stampede and a heavyhanded response by authorities may tarnish the image of Shanghai as China’s most cosmopolitan and best-managed city, a glitzy home to global companies with ambitions to become a world financial centre by 2020. Police investigations are usually conducted with little or no information made public, so it is not unusual for relatives to be poorly informed of progress.

Wang’s sister was 25 and had recently moved to Shanghai after graduating. She was out with a group of friends. He said he just wanted straight answers from the police, health officials and government but instead he feels hounded. “Police are checking into me and some came to my temporary residences to find me. I fear that once they’ve found me then they will threaten me and stop me talking,” he said.

Telephone calls to the Shanghai police press office went unanswered. At a mourning cer-

emony on the embankment on Tuesday, sobbing relatives laid flowers and burned ceremonial paper - accompanied by government handlers and under tight security. Police in uniform and plain clothes tried to keep reporters away from relatives who were shepherded through a labyrinth of barricades to reach a mourning area.

Even relatives who stayed away from the ceremony said they were under supervision.

“We have had people assigned to be with us the whole time and they have advised against speaking to the press,” one woman who lost a relative told Reuters by telephone. She declined to be identified.

“Shrouding the truth” Another complaint of the relatives is that their loved ones’ bodies have yet to be released for burial. “We will fight to the end for our dead,” Wang said. “We have to seek justice, understand what happened and find who is to blame. Otherwise we will

have let down this group of departed spirits who have not yet been laid to rest.” The Shanghai health authority did not respond to questions by telephone or fax.

Several dozen relatives banded together on Sunday to go to government offices to get information, three members of the group said. But they got no answers. “We just couldn’t bear this any more,” said Gu Yinjuan, the elder sister of one of the dead who joined the group. “All along they haven’t told us anything, we’ve just been waiting and waiting.”

Relatives also said attempts to tell their stories were being blocked. A microblog relatives set up to share information was shut down on Monday, one said. Another relative said domestic media outlets, many of which are state-run, were ignoring their plight while trying to put a positive spin on the accident. “Domestic media reports are very proper, shrouding the truth so it doesn’t come out,” said the relative.

People who said they were

police but did not identify themselves contacted several Reuters staff by telephone to warn against “being used” by relatives. There have been critical reports in domestic media, including questions about the number of police on duty and their apparent inability to control the crowd. “It was a lack of vigilance from the government, a sloppiness,” the official Xinhua news agency said.

Waterfront fireworks that attracted more than 300,000 people the previous year had been cancelled but huge numbers still came. One police officer who declined to be identified said they had not expected such a big crowd and had been under-staffed.

Most victims were in their twenties, with 25 of them female, according to a police list.

President Xi Jinping has urged the Shanghai government to get to the bottom of the city’s worst accident since 58 people were killed in an apartment building fire in 2010.

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Wednesday 7 January 2015

FIFA VP Prince launches bid against Sepp Blatter

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (AP File Photo)

GENEVA, JANuARy 6 (AP): FIFA vice president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan will stand for election in a bid to oust Sepp Blatter as leader of football's scandal-hit world governing body.

The 39-year-old Prince Ali declared his intention Tuesday to run as a candidate in the FIFA presidential election on May 29 in Zurich, where Blatter has pledged to seek a fifth mandate at age 79.

"This was not an easy decision," the prince said in a single-page statement in which he pledged to run a positive campaign and did not specifically mention Blatter. "It came after careful consideration and many discussions with respected FIFA colleagues over the last few months."

"The message I heard, over and over, was that it is time for a change," said Prince Ali, who has been encouraged to run by European football governing body UEFA and its President Michel Platini.

During Blatter's 17-year leadership, FIFA has been rocked by bribery allegations in presidential and World Cup hosting elections, kickbacks paid to senior officials and World Cup ticket scams.

FIFA's image sank further last month when ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia resigned with a parting shot at Blatter's leadership style and the organization's seeming unwillingness to reform itself.

Prince Ali said in his statement Tuesday that "it is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport."

"The world's game deserves a worldclass governing body — an international federation that is a service organization and a model of ethics, transparency and good governance," said Prince Ali, who joined FIFA's executive committee on the day of Blatter's most recent re-election in June 2011.

Blatter has survived by avoiding personal scandal and deft political mastery of an often secretive organization he joined in 1975. The veteran Swiss official has said his mission to lead world football is unfinished.

FIFA member federations — which elect the president in a secret ballot — have also shown little desire to remove Blatter as they receive increasing shares of billion-dollar annual income from commercial deals tied to the world's most-watched sports event.

Prince Ali did not specify which five of FIFA's 209 members will nominate him for the presidency, as required before a Jan. 29 deadline. While he is likely to get support from much of Europe,he is far from certain to get a majority of support from the Asian confederation, which is led by Sheik Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain. AFC president Sheik Salman pledged his support for Blatter at the confederation's 60th anniversary celebrations at Manila in November, confirming earlier support at the AFC congress in June.

Prince Ali has led Jordan's football federation since 1999 and the following year founded the West Asian Football Federation. At FIFA, he led the successful campaign to lift a ban on female Islamic players wearing headscarves in its competitions.

ASA meet from February 4

KOhimA, JANuARy 6 (mExN): The Angami Sports Association (ASA) games and sports meet 2015 will take place from February 4 to 6 at Kohima Local Ground.

The meet will include athletics and volleyball for both men and women, and football (men).

Four units of ASA- NASA, SASA, WASA and CSA will be taking part in the meet.

The organizer requested all the units not to make programmes that would clash with the ASA games and sports meet 2015.

Meanwhile, ASA open wrestling championship 2015 exclusively for Angami players will take place on February 6.

The meet is organized by Angami Sports Association (ASA) with ground management by Unity Club, Kohima Village.

The Morung Express

Dirk Nowitzki climbs on NBA scoring list as Mavs edge Nets

NEW yORK, JANuARy 6 (AP): Dirk Nowitzki made a clinching 3-pointer in overtime that moved him into seventh place on the NBA's career scoring list, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Brooklyn Nets 96-88 on Monday night to match their season high with a sixth straight victory.

Monta Ellis scored 19 points and made a pair of jumpers early in overtime before consecutive 3-pointers by Chandler Parsons and Nowitzki made it 96-88 with 34 seconds to play. That gave Nowitzki 15 points for the game and 27,412 in his career, moving him past Moses Malone into the No. 7 spot.

Rajon Rondo shot 1 of 13 for two points but had 14 assists and 10 rebounds for the Mavericks, who have the longest current winning streak in the NBA. Tyson Chandler finished with 14 points and 13 boards.

Brook Lopez had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Nets but faded after an 18-point first quarter. Jarrett Jack had 20 points and 10 assists. In Oakland, Harrison Barnes scored a seasonhigh 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Golden State used a smothering defensive effort to rout Oklahoma City 117-91. The Warriors' whipping denied the rejuvenated Thunder (17-18) a chance to move above .500 for the first time this season.

Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry scored 19 points each as the NBAbest Warriors (27-5) bottled up Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Thunder. Golden State held Oklahoma City to 30.6 percent shooting.

Westbrook scored 22 points, and Durant had 14

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki gestures after scoring a 3-point basket against the Brooklyn Nets in overtime of an NBA basketball game on January 5 in New York. (AP Photo)

points and 10 rebounds on a night when everything seemed to be a struggle for the Thunder. Durant shot 3 of 16, and Westbrook finished 5 for 21 from the floor. But help is on the way for Oklahoma City's All-Star tandem. In Chicago, Pau Gasol had 27 points and 14 rebounds, Jimmy Butler scored 22 and Chicago rallied for its 13th win in 15 games beating Rockets 114-105. Derrick Rose added 19 points, Nikola Mirotic had 17 and the Bulls outscored the Rockets 19-5 over the final 3:19.

Josh Smith led Houston with 21 points. James Harden scored 20, but the Rockets lost for the fourth time in six games. In Philadelphia, Tony Wroten scored 20 points and hit the go-ahead layup with

9.1 seconds left to lift Philadelphia, 0-14 at home this season, over short-handed Cleveland 95-92.

Kevin Love had 28 points and 19 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who didn't have LeBron James and Kyrie Irving because of injuries. They lost Dion Waiters and two reserves shortly before tipoff because of a three-team trade with New York and Oklahoma City.

After the Cavaliers blew all of a 17-point lead, Love made it 92-90 with a pair of free throws with 1:09 left.

Wroten made one of two free throws, then scored the go-ahead layup to help the Sixers end their home-losing streak. Michael CarterWilliams had 18 points and 13 assists for the Sixers.

In Los Angeles, Paul Millsap scored 23 points

and Jeff Teague added 20 as Atlanta pulled away from the LA Clippers in the fourth quarter to earn its seventh straight road victory for the first time in 21 years. Hawks won 107-98.

DeMarre Carroll had 17 points and eight rebounds, and Al Horford scored 16 for the East-leading Hawks, who won their fifth in a row and 19th in 21 games.

Blake Griffin had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Clippers, whose biggest lead of nine came at the start of the game.

DeAndre Jordan added 15 points and 16 rebounds, and Chris Paul had 10 points and 10 assists before fouling out with 1:50 to play as the team's three-game winning streak ended.

In Memphis, Mike Conley scored 14 of his 22 points

in the third quarter as the Grizzlies beat the Knicks 105-83 and sent the depleted New York side to its record-tying 12th straight loss. The Knicks (5-32), who have the NBA's worst winning percentage, lost for the 22nd time in 23 games.

New York played without injured starters Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. The Knicks were also missing J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, who were traded to Cleveland. Reserve forward Quincy Acy led the Knicks with 19 points, and Jose Calderon added 13.

In Portland, Damian Lillard scored 39 points and made the go-ahead basket with 36 seconds remaining as the Portland Trail Blazers rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to beat Los Angeles Lakers 98-94. LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 points, and reserve center Meyers Leonard had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Portland.

Jordan Hill led Los Angeles (11-24) with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Five Lakers scored in double figures, including Jeremy Lin with 14 points. Kobe Bryant, the Lakers' leading scorer at 23.6 points per game, stayed home for a scheduled day of rest. In Minneapolis, Arron Afflalo scored 34 points to help Denver hand Minnesota its 12th straight loss as the Nuggets beat Timberwolves 110-101.

In other games, Washington Wizards ended its longest skid of the season at three games beating New Orleans Pelicans 92-85.

Charlotte Hornets got its second win in seven games beating Boston Celtics 10495. Indiana Pacers overcame Utah Jazz 105-101 thanks to a fiery Roy Hibbert who scored 22 points.

41st KYO Sports Meet underway Veteran Club Badminton Tourney

KOhimA, JANuARy 6 (mExN): The 41st Kiruphema Youth organisation (KYO) sports meet comprising of seven different clubs began here today at the Kiruphema local ground with Kevichatha Suohumvü as the chief guest.

Addressing the inaugural function, the chief guest urged the youths to be disciplined and to be proud of their talents. Speaking on the importance of unity, Suohumvü said that unity can bring peace and understanding.

Earlier, the function was chaired by Viketoukho Yavio, President KYO, while Neiseto Hesielie, Assistant Pastor KBC pronounced the invocation. Neiriethono Kruneilie presented a special number. Neingulhoulie Zenyü-u administered the oath taking. The events of the sports meet, which include football, volleyball and athletics for both men and women, will conclude on January 8 with Pelhouvisie Hozoyie as the guest of honThe HQ 5 Sect Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) our in the final ceremony. donated sports items to Zhadima village youth and sports organization on January 3.

Atletico and Real meet in Copa del Rey

BARCELONA, JANuARy 6 (AP): Fernando Torres could make his Atletico Madrid return seven years after last wearing the red and white-striped shirt when the defending league champions host Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

The first leg of the last 16 brings together the winners of the last two cups. Madrid eliminated Atletico en route to winning last season. Atletico has already beaten Madrid in the league this season, and will be looking to build momentum to carry over to the league.

Also, Barcelona will host Elche on Thursday after losing at Real Sociedad in the league over the weekend. Here are some things to know about this week's Copa del Rey matches:

Torres Returns Torres has returned to the boyhood club he left in 2007 to go to England, where he flourished at Liverpool before beginning a decline with Chelsea that led to his disappointing stint at AC Milan to start this season.

Now he is back at the club that was a perennial loser when he played there, now transformed into a multi-title winner.

Just how much the 30-year-old Torres can offer a consolidated Atletico squad is to be seen, but he

of their rivalry after years of Madrid dominance.

Barcelona's Bench Both of Barcelona's main sports dailies splashed photos of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Dani Alves and Gerard Pique watching from the bench as Barcelona fell behind early in a 1-0 loss at Real Sociedad on Sunday.

El Mundo Deportivo's headline read "What a Waste," while SPORT was more pointed in its criticism of the coach's decision to rest his stars with the headline "Luis Enrique Throws Away Points."

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has been criticized all season for his constant changing of his starting 11, and that was only fed by him keeping Messi and Spanish forward Fernando Torres plays with a ball during his Atletico Madrid's official pre- Neymar off the field until sentation at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, January 4. (AP Photo) the second half. Barcelona faces Elche as it prepares has already shown his abil- team," Torres said. "Last cia fought back from a goal for Atletico's visit in the ity to thrill its faithful by fill- year, the team was champi- down to wipe out Cristiano league next. ing the Vicente Calderon on because we won many Ronaldo's penalty at Mestalwith 45,000 fans who turned points here (at home). On la Stadium and win 2-1.

First Division out to greet him on Sunday. Wednesday, I'm sure we Madrid coach Carlo With no lower-division Torres arrives with At- will see a great atmosphere Ancelotti took the loss in sides surviving the round letico's supporters divided like in other derbies. Atleti- stride. "After 22 wins this of 32, the rest of the bracket in the aftermath of a violent co is above everything else could happen," Ancelotti is completed by topflight clash between one of the and our fans will help us said. "We're well positioned teams. Athletic Bilbao visclub's radical fan groups win and grow." in the league. We're alive in its Celta Vigo on Tuesday, with rival "ultras" of Deportseveral competitions. This when Malaga hosts Leivo La Coruna that left one New Year defeat won't affect us be- vante. On Wednesday, it's: man dead in November.

Madrid ended 2014 on cause we have been doing Valencia vs. Espanyol; VilThe Madrid native a 22-game winning streak things well." Madrid now larreal vs. Real Sociedad; called for unity. "The peo- across all competitions, a re- faces a second tough outing and Almeria vs. Getafe. Seple who love Atletico know cord for a Spanish club. That against an Atletico side that villa visits Granada also on that they win points for the came to a halt when Valen- has gotten the upper hand Thursday.

DimAPuR, JANuARy 6 (mExN): The 16th Veteran Club Open Badminton Championship is scheduled for January 8 and 9 and will be held at the Indoor Stadium, Eastern Christian College (Arts & Com.), Padumpukhri, Dimapur.

A press release received here informed that the categories for the tournament in-

clude: Sub-veteran doubles (35+), Veteran Mixed Doubles, Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles. Interested players may contact 9612905253/9856051569. Ahovi Sema, PAC member, and Dr. Tali Lkr, MD, Zion Hospital & Research Centre, will be the guest of honour in the opening and closing programmes respectively.

DDCA Inter Club Cricket

DimAPuR, JANuARy 6 (mExN): The last of the league matches of the ongoing DDCA Inter-Club Cricket being organized by the Dimapur District Cricket Association was played today at the DDSC stadium, Dimapur. Blue Star CC, Super Caps CC and Titan Challengers CC won their respective group matches and ensured entry into the semifinals.

In the first match, Blue Star CC beat Zenith CC by 9 wickets. Zenith winning the toss had elected to bat, but were bowled out in 10.4 overs. Micheal tormented the Zenith batsmen and returned with figures of 4 for 8. Mannan (19 of 25) and Chuba (23 of 20) helped Zenith put on a score of 72. Blue Star CC easily chased down the target in 6 overs losing just one wicket. Dipak (29 of 13) and Michael (26 of 17) led the run chase.

In the second match, Super Caps CC beat Wiskers CC by 3 wickets. Wiskers CC were put into bat and were bowled out for 95 in 17.3 overs. Tohoto (24 of 27) and Santosh

(24 of 17) were the top scorers. Imran took 3 wickets, while Shamin and Upendar picked 2 wickets each.

In a thriller of a run chase, Super Caps won with just two balls remaining. Super Caps managed 100 for 7 in 19.4 overs. Samprit (30 of 25) and Deepak (30 of 33) led the run chase. Wapang, Santosh and Anwar picked up 2 wickets each for Wiskers CC. The last of the league match saw Titan Challengers CC edge out Flamingoz SC by 5 runs. Titans winning the toss elected to bat. Birju (27), Imomenba (31), Visanyu (21) helped the Titans put on 123/6 in 20 overs.

Tejosol who picked up 3 wickets while bowling led the run chase and scored 55 of 41 balls. However the Titans were able to hold out for a win as Flamingoz could only manage 118 for 6 in their stipulated 20 overs.

Wednesday’s semifinal matches will see Super Caps CC clash with Titan Challengers and Blue Star take on Dimapur Knights CC.

All India Police Archery C’ship

The Nagaland Police archery team.

GuWAhAti, JANuARy 6 (mExN): The 3rd All India Police Archery Championship started off with a grand opening ceremony at the 4th Assam Police Battalion, in Guwahati on January 5. The competition will conclude on January 9.

The Nagaland Police team is being led by senior archer Vesuzolu Swuro as team Coach cum Manager with 13 participants including Olympian Chekrovolu Swuro. Altogether 19 teams representing states from all over the

country are participating in the championship. The first day of the tournament witnessed an impressive performance by Nagaland Police Archery team as Thupuvoyi Swuro of Nagaland Police team bagged One Gold and one Siver medal in 50-meter and 70-meter respectively. The young archer also won Silver in the individual highest scorers’ competition next to the ITBP archer. In the women’s category, Vetolu Nienu won a Bronze Medal.

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akon

Releasing First Album In Seven Years

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apper Akon is ending his seven-year hiatus from recording music by releasing a five-disc album. The Smack That hitmaker will release Stadium later this year (15)

Wednesday

Entertainment

The Morung Express

and is currently streaming one song from each album for his fans. Each record will be a different genre of music, according to Billboard.com.

In a message on Twitter.com, he

writes, "Thru out (sic) this long wait, there has (sic) been fans who stuck with me. This Album is for you! 5 Albums 5 genres equaling Stadium."

Akon's third studio album, Freedom, was released in 2008.

7 January 2015

Dimapur

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iMran khan to announce Marriage plans soon Denies news report that he has secretly married

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ricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has said he would announce plans of his marriage soon and that he has

nothing to hide about his personal relations, media reported Tuesday.

“Is it an offence to wed, is it something to hide,”

the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) chairman said while talking to reporters at London’s Heathrow airport Monday night before

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boarding a flight for home.

This came days after he had responded to reports about his second marriage terming them as rumours, Geo News reported. “In response to all the rumours about my marriage, I want to say that I have, in the presence of my supporters, publicly expressed my wish to remarry,” Khan said in a statement issued on the PTI website. He had earlier taken to his Twitter account calling reports regarding his marriage as “greatly exaggerated”.

The rumours regarding Imran Khan’s marriage had also been denied by his sister Aleema Khan. According to a Daily Mail report, Imran Khan confirmed Monday night that he has secretly married a former BBC weather girl days after his family said he had denied it -- provoking a furious reaction from his sister.

Michael Jackson's son working with Justin Bieber

Delevingne pays touching tribute to look alike grandma after she passes away at 102

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he model took to Instagram on Monday to share the sad news with her followers. Posting a collage of three pictures of Angela Margo Delevingne, to whom the 22-year-old bears a striking resemblance, Cara wrote: 'Rest in peace Angela Delevingne the kindest, most intelligent and wickedly funny human I have ever had the pleasure of knowing let alone being related to. 'An amazing mother, grandmother, great grandmother and also friend. 'You will live forever in my heart and will be missed dearly by all.

You truly had the best eyebrows in the world. I love you more than words can explain.'

Her older sister Poppy also shared her sadness on

social media, while posting another picture of the matriarch in her youth.

She wrote: 'The stars seem so much brighter now...

GAGA, I will never stop

missing you 1912-2014.'

Angela was the mother of the socialite sisters' father Charles Delevingne.

Born in 1912, she was the daughter of Canadian-

born lawyer and politician Sir Hamar Greenwood and and his wife, Margery Spencer. She married Edward Dudley Delevingne in 1937. Her death comes almost 40 years after her husband passed away in 1974.

Cara, who referred to her grandmother affectionately as 'Gaga', first introduced her followers to Angela in 2013, when she celebrated her 101st birthday. The beauty shared a snap of her reading her birthday cards, and tweeted: 'My granny is a legend, she knows exactly how to make me smile! #happybirthdaygaga #101.'

The news comes after the ing of Pop Micatwalk queen was spotchael Jackson's ted at LAX airport looking son Prince is reexhausted on Monday as portedly working on new she arrived in the US after a music with singer friend break in the Bahamas.

Justin Bieber. The proj-

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ect is being supported by professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr, reported the New York Post.

A Jackson family source said that Prince,

17, and Bieber, 20, 'really dig one another' and that their 'major recording album' was in the works. No other details regarding the project have been re-

vealed. Prince and Bieber who live in the same Calabasas, California community have reportedly been hanging out together a lot.

cameron Diaz and Benji Madden Wed in los angeles

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ameron Diaz and her rocker beau Benji Madden wed at their Los Angeles home on Monday evening (05Jan15). The actress and the Good Charlotte star tied the knot during an intimate ceremony at the Beverly Hills property, according to multiple reports.

Diaz enlisted her Charlie's Angels co-star Drew Barrymore as a bridesmaid, along with her sister Chimene, assistant Jesse Lutz, and her new sisterin-law Nicole Richie, who is

married to Madden's twin brother Joel.

Joel and Richie's son Sparrow served as ring bearer, while Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, DJ Samantha Ronson and choreographer Robin Antin were among the 100 guests who witnessed the couple's nuptials.

News of Diaz and Madden's wedding plans broke early on Monday after sources leaked details about the couple's top secret and intimate rehearsal dinner on Sun-

day (04Jan15). Barrymore even held a bridal shower at her house for her close friend over the weekend (ends04Jan15), according to Entertainment Tonight.

The newlyweds began dating early last summer (14) after they were introduced to each other by Richie, and news of their engagement started swirling in early December (14).

Neither Diaz nor Madden have confirmed their engagement or their newly married status.

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wan McGregor is back on the big screen at the end of the month as he leads the cast in new crime thriller Son of a Gun. Son of a Gun will see McGregor team up with filmmaker Julius Avery for the first time, as he make the lead from shorts to make his feature film directorial debut with this project. As well as being in the director's chair, Avery has penned the screenplay for what looks set to be an action packed ride. He has also assembled an impressive cast list, as McGregor is joined by Brenton

Thwaites and Alicia Vikander. Thwaites and Vikander are both up and coming stars with a very busy twelve months ahead of them these are two actors that you really need to keep an eye out for in 2015.

Locked up for a minor crime, 19 year old JR (Thwaites) quickly learns the harsh realities of prison life. Protection, if you can get it, is paramount. JR soon finds himself under the watchful eye of Australia's most notorious criminal, Brendan Lynch (McGregor). But protection comes at a price; Lynch and his crew have

plans for their young protégée. Upon release, JR must help secure Lynch's freedom, staging a daring prison break and joining his crew as they plan a gold heist that promises to deliver millions. However, as things start to go wrong, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. JR finds himself unsure of whom he can trust and on a collision course with his former mentor. January is a packed month for 'must see' movies and Son of a Gun is promising to be one that is not to be missed. Son of a Gun is released 30th January.

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4 Test: Aussie batsmen Gerrard double gets Liverpool out of trouble dominate Indian bowlers th

AusTrAlIA 348-2 AT sTumps on fIrsT dAy of sydney TesT

SYDNEY, JaNuarY 6 (aP): David Warner scored an emotional century and shared a 200-run opening stand with Chris Rogers as Australia blunted India's bowling attack Tuesday on the first day of the fourth test.

Warner smashed 101 and made a tribute to late teammate Phillip Hughes, and Rogers compiled an eventful 95 as the openers went on the attack after captain Steve Smith won the toss and chose to bat first at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"The thing I'm most proud of is putting up a double-century partnership with Bucky (Rogers)," said Warner. "It's our first one and we bat very well together. That's probably the highlight of the day for me."

India received no respite later in the day as Smith and Shane Watson combined for a 144-run partnership to guide Australia to 348-2.

The skipper continued his good form with an effortless 82 not out, including 10 boundaries. Smith leads the scoring this series with 663 runs, including two 50s and three centuries.

Warner was in imperious form and reached his hundred off 108 balls with a pull shot off Shami for his 16th boundary of the innings. The diminutive opener leaped in celebration of his 12th test century and third of the series, to the delight of his Sydney home crowd of more than 30,000.

"It's very special," said Warner. "I haven't scored a hundred at home or the MCG and I was sort of talking myself out of it. I said to the players I might as well not play those two Tests because I couldn't score a run there."

Earlier, on reaching 63, Warner removed his helmet and kissed the ground near the spot where former test batsman Hughes was

Australia's David Warner jumps to celebrate making 100 runs against India during their cricket test match in Sydney on January 6. (AP Photo)

fatally injured, when on 63 not out, during a domestic match at the SCG in November. Warner was playing for New South Wales

that day and immediately tried to render assistance when his close friend, playing for South Australia, collapsed to the ground.

"It's always going to be in the back of my mind and I'm always going to pay tribute to my little mate," said Warner. "It was in the back

of mind the whole time whether I was on 63 or 100, I thought it through that I wanted to pay tribute to my mate and how to do that was I how I did that today.

"Every time I play here I will definitely be doing that." Only spinner Ravi Ashwin troubled the Australian batsmen, regularly probing outside off stump, and ended the marathon opening partnership at 200, when he found the leading edge of Warner's bat and Murali Vijay took the catch at gully.

Rogers was bowled next over by Mohammad Shami for 95 — his fifth consecutive half-century — trying to flick a delivery to the leg side.

The 37-year-old opener was given a reprieve on 19 by Rahul, who dropped an easy chance at second slip off Shami, giving Virat Kohli a harsh introduction as India's new test captain.

Rogers survived again on 90 when he top edged an Ashwin delivery on to his helmet but the chance was dropped by Suresh Raina running backward from slip. Watson also benefited from some poor Indian fielding with Ashwin dropping a regulation catch off Umesh Yadav at first slip on the penultimate ball of the day "It was a very tough day (but) it's very important that we pick ourselves up tonight and try to be as fresh as possible tomorrow," Ashwin said. "It's going to be a hard day. If we can keep them down to (a reasonable score) we can get back into it."

Prior to the start of play, a short video tribute was played on big screens around the SCG followed by an on-field oration to celebrate the short career of the 25 year-old Hughes.

Australia has an unassailable 2-0 series lead, and regained the BorderGavaskar trophy, with two wins and a draw in the first three tests.

IndIA's World Cup squAd

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, centre, is challenged by AFC Wimbledon’s Sammy Moore, right, and Jon Goodman, left, during their English FA Cup third round soccer match between AFC Wimbledon and Liverpool in Kingston, London on January 5 . (AP Photo)

LONDON, JaNuarY 6 (rEutErS): Captain Steven Gerrard scored twice to rescue Liverpool from FA Cup embarrassment and lead them into the fourth round after a tricky 2-1 win at fourth tier AFC Wimbledon on Monday.

In the night's other Cup match, Premier League strugglers Burnley fought back from a goal down at Turf Moor to draw 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur and force a replay to decide who then takes on Leicester City.

Liverpool will move on to play second tier Bolton Wanderers in the next round but only after a night of living dangerously with determined League Two opponents who looked far from overawed.

"That was a very tough game," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told the BBC. "We lost our sort of shape within the game and presented them with chances by giving the ball away.

"We had to defend right the way through to the end."

Gerrard, in his first match since announcing his departure for the Unit-

ed States at the end of the season, had headed the opener in the 12th minute as Liverpool looked set for a comfortable win.

But the match at Kingsmeadow, reviving memories of 1988 when the original Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang' beat Liverpool in a hard-tackling final at Wembley, refused to follow the script.

Lifelong Liverpool fan Adebayo Akinfenwa, a stocky striker nicknamed 'The Beast', had the home fans dreaming when he poked in a 36th minute equaliser from close range after some woeful defending by the Merseysiders.

The hefty 32-year-old, who has played for 11 clubs in a journeyman career around the lower leagues, was perfectly placed to cash in after the ball bounced back off the bar following a goalmouth scramble.

With a major upset looking possible, and Wimbledon missing several clear chances, Gerrard settled nerves with a curling free kick into the top corner in the 62nd minute.

"I always enjoy the FA Cup, I grew up loving the

competition and to play in it. It's going to be my last time and I want to make the most of it and try and go all the way," the midfielder, who turns 35 on Cup final day, told the BBC. "It's the beauty of the FA Cup," added Gerrard of Wimbledon's spirited performance. "It doesn't matter where you are, in what league, form seems to go out of the window and it becomes a leveller.

"Fair play to them. I think their manager can be very proud of them. They gave us a real test."

Burnley's match against in-form Spurs brought back memories of the 1962 final, won by Tottenham, but there was little glamour in a dire first half.

Spurs took the lead through a Nacer Chadli strike from close range in the 52nd minute but Sam Vokes side-footed in an equaliser in the 73rd.

"It was a lacklustre game, with little atmosphere. We did everything to try and get a result," said Burnley manager Sean Dyche of a match watched by a crowd of only 9,348 spectators.

India has 2 left-handed allrounders for WC C. Rajshekhar Rao AP Sports Writer

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efending champion India has picked two left-handed spin allrounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Akshar Patel in its 15-man World Cup squad to be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

A shoulder injury to Jadeja drew speculation that Yuvraj Singh might be picked ahead of the less experienced Patel, despite Yuvraj not being in the preliminary squad of 30.

Indian cricket board secretary Sanjay Patel said on Tuesday the selectors did consider players from outside the preliminary squad but decided to go ahead with only those from the shortlist.

"Jadeja is undergoing rehabilitation, he is doing wonderfully well, and we're hopeful he will be fit within 10 days," Patel said. "All players were discussed (by selectors), not only Yuvraj but also others from outside the 30."

Yuvraj's chances brightened after he notched cen-

MS Dhoni

Suresh Raina

Akshar Patel

Shikhar Dhawan

Ajinkya Rahane

B. Kumar

turies in three consecutive first-class games. But he failed to make the cut along with other big names left out of the preliminary squad, including opener Virender Sehwag, left-hander Gautam Gambhir, offspinner Harbhajan Singh and pace bowler Zaheer Khan.

There are only four players from the 2011 World Cup squad - Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina

Rohit Sharma

Ambati Rayudu

Ishant Sharma

Stuart Binny

Ravindra Jadeja

Umesh Yadav

and Ravichandran Ashwin - who will go to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand starting on Feb. 14.

Offspinner Ashwin is the main spin bowler and Suresh Raina another parttime option in the slow bowling department, beside five seam bowlers: Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav and Stuart Binny.

The selectors also de-

Virat Kohli

R. Ashwin

M. Shami

cided not to pick test opener Murali Vijay despite his assured batting in the ongoing test series in Australia, and retained Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order with Ajinkya Rahane another option.

The selectors consulted Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher on a teleconference call from Sydney, where India is playing the

fourth test against Australia.

It was also announced that the same squad will play in a preceding tri-series in Australia, also featuring England, from Jan. 16-Feb. 1.

Seam bowlers Dhawal Kulkarni and Mohit Sharma were added.

IndIa World Cup squad Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akshar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Stuart Binny, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav.

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IndIa trI-serIes squad Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akshar Patel, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Stuart Binny, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohit Sharma.

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