C M Y K
C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
FriDAY • julY 22 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 200 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves 2016 set to be hottest year yet, CO2 on rise: WMO
E-learning in 28 selected GHSS in Nagaland
PAGE 09
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
KCP cadres arrested in Kohima
New Delhi, July 21 (iANS): The All India Newspaper Editor’s Conference (AINEC) has condemned the “undeclared censorship” on press in the Kashmir Valley. The apex body of editors in a resolution passed on Wednesday, criticised the ruling PDP-BJP alliance in the valley, and added that the ban on publications and raids on the newspaper offices and printing presses is a direct attack on the freedom of the press. “This new method, of undeclared censorship adopted by the PDP-BJP government has set a new precedent of censorship, and it is totally unacceptable,” AINEC said here. “The newspapers, whether they are in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat or Tamil Nadu, or any other state, must be allowed to carry out their duty to the readers, freely and fairly. No government in the Centre or states can preserve democratic traditions of our great country without supporting the freedom of the press, in spirit and reality,” said Vishwa Bandhu Gupta, president, AIENC.
Russian Olympic ban upheld by CAS PAGE 12
calls on Goi to ‘recall no need to Panic! nPMHr its military from all naga areas’
I know you’re a VIP, but what can I do, the guy holding up the traffic is a VVIP.
Editors condemn ‘undeclared censorship’ on press
T R u T H
— Ernest Dimnet
PAGE 02
Restriction on fuel rationing in Kohima lifted, says ADC
KohimA, July 21 (mexN): The Kohima Police today said that two “high-ranking” cadres of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) were arrested near New Reserve, Phesama on July 20. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kohima, informed in a press release that the arrests were made in a “swift (search) operation” led by Puzoto Khatso, SDPO (North) and OC, South Police Station. One of the cadres, identified as Wangkheirakpam Suresh Meitei had as many as six aliases, namely - Athouba, Bung, Abung, Wangba, Ibungo, Gulam. He hails from Soibam Leikai, Khanglabungleirak under Porompat Police Station, Manipur. “He is an active and high ranking member of the K.C.P outfit and is wanted by the Manipur Police in several cases,” the release said of Wangkheirakpam. The other, Sougrakpam Nelson Singh aliases - Sushil, Bai Macha, Mosana – hails from Jailor Leirak, Manipur. Sougrakpam, who was stated to be an “active member” of the KCP had joined the group in 2007. Both were handed over to the Manipur Police. According to the release, both were members of the PREPAK before they were arrested by the Manipur Police in 2006. They later joined the KCP following their release.
o F
Vehicles make beeline for petrol pumps in the State Capital Kohima on Thursday following panic on shortage of oil. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21
In view of the reported limited stock of petrol in Kohima town fuel outlets, panicking citizens made a beeline with their vehicles at petrol pumps in the State Capital Kohima to buy fuel. Panic buying happens when people fear the shortage of a particular commodity or product in the market, or if prices of
the same rise. Long queues of vehicles could be seen at various petrol pumps all over Kohima since early morning of July 21. However, official sources told The Morung Express that fuel stocks should have already arrived by evening and there is no need to panic about shortage of fuel. The ADC of Kohima informed that the restriction on ration-
ing of fuel in Kohima has been lifted at around 1:00pm today by the district administration. This led to security as well as other arrangements for rationing of oil being removed from Kohima in view of oil tanks reaching the State Capital by evening of July 21. However, a formal order to the effect has not yet been passed, the ADC stated.
It may be recalled that on Wednesday, Kohima Deputy Commissioner had ordered that petrol will now be issued on a controlled basis and rationed with effect from July 21, early hours till additional stocks arrive in view of the limited stock of petrol in Kohima town outlets. That order was enforced under essential commodity statutory provisions.
KohimA, July 21 (mexN): The Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has called upon the Government of India to “recall its military from all Naga areas for the sake of humanity.” It has, additionally, expressed solidarity with the family of Sepoy Vezota Vasa who died while working for the Jat Regiment. On June 23 this year, the NPMHR stated that “right in the heart of India, the world’s biggest democracy, at Bareilly in India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, a young Naga boy in his 20s, in the person of Vezota Vasa, who was enlisted and serving as an Indian Sepoy of the Jat Regiment” was found dead. His family has recently asked for a fresh probe into the incident—suspicion arose around Late Vasa’s death after the Jat Regiment termed it ‘suicide’ but his family was not allowed to see the whole body of the deceased, a post-mortem was carried out in the absence of the family, and his body cleaned in the absence of the family prior to the agreed time of cleaning. “We express solidarity with the family in their
search for truth and justice,” said Neingulo Krome, Secretary General of the NPMHR, while speaking to The Morung Express. He expressed shock at how the Jat Regiment of the Indian Army has not yet ordered a separate enquiry into the case, or even court martialled the officer under whose supervision the death occurred. In a press release, the NPMHR stressed how the Indian army continues to “bulldoze and bully” the Naga population through “checking and frisking, raid houses, arrests people, even enforce liquor prohibition on highways etc.” under the protection of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, and side by side, “conduct tours, contribute computers worth measly amounts and pose for photographs, conduct medical camps, all for cheap publicity and to say that they are the ‘friends of the hill people’.” It reminded that Indian soldiers, who are supposed to be know all over the world “for their excellent behavior and discipline” (sic) were allegedly responsible for the “recent killing” of two young school chil-
dren in Phek district in July 2015, which came to be known as ‘Wuzu Firing.’ In the past too, the NPMHR stated, in the same district of Phek, “we had the 14 Assam Rifles waging war on school children at Bible Hill Phek town for speaking in English while coming from school through the main road that passes through their camp, which was established after the Reverend in Charge of the Bible Hill was buried alive.” The NPMHR stated that in the “backdrop of ongoing Ceasefire agreements and political negotiations” and the “various efforts of Reconciliation amongst the Naga political groups in particular,” as also to maintain “silent efforts to reconcile with our past history of human sufferings,” the rights body had made an effort to “stay away from provocative issues and elements.” However, the NPMHR maintained that “the constant recurrence of acts with utter disregards for human life where Nagas are concerned, at the hands of Indian military personnel, one is left with choice but to express its resentments with pain and anger.”
Kashmir unrest major setback for liquor seized from truck with peace, says NYT, slams AFSPA fci marking escorted by crPf
New Delhi, July 21 (iANS): The major cause of the uprising in Kashmir is the resentment among Kashmiri youth who have come under India’s security apparatus that acts against civilians with impunity, The New York Times said in an editorial on Thursday terming the current unrest as a “major setback for peace”. “Kashmir is subject to India’s Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which grants the military wide powers to arrest, shoot to kill, occupy or destroy property. The result is a culture of brutal disdain for the local population,” it said, in the editorial titled “Kashmir in Crisis”. “Once again, the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is convulsed in lethal violence pitting stone-throwing youths
against armed police officers and security forces.” It said “troubling questions” about the timing and the circumstances of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani’s death “remain unanswered”. “So too are questions about the apparently indiscriminate use of pellet guns. These and other questions argue for an independent investigation into the use of force by security forces, and for the reform of practices - including censorship, communications blackouts, and those allowed by AFSPA - that are unworthy of India’s democracy.” “A failure to take these steps will only push more young Kashmiris into militancy, and make impossible a political solution that alone can bring
an end to the desperation that has, once again, gripped the region,” it added. The killing of 22-year-old Wani, a poster boy of militancy, by security forces on July 8 triggered massive clashes across Kashmir Valley, leaving over 40 dead. It said the “unrest is a major setback for peace in the long-troubled region claimed by both India and Pakistan, where an insurgency movement peaked in the 1990s, then waned, but never completely disappeared,” NYT said. It termed the current situation in Kashmir as a “state of siege” where mobile internet, mobile services and basic communication is banned and said it was “profoundly troubling in democratic India”.
DimApur, July 21 (mexN): 300 cases of assorted liquor were seized from a Food Corporation of India (FCI) truck at New Field Excise Dimapur Check Gate, an excise official informed today. The Superintendent of Excise Dimapur, C. Sangtam informed in a press note that the truck, bearing registration No. NL-02-L-7884 with the marking 22 FCI pasted on the windshield, was in a convoy escorted by the CRPF. When signaled to stop at the check gate by an excise party manning the gate lead by Bauloi Phom IE, the convoy sped away but the truck was intercepted near Tragopan Hotel junction after a short chase, it said. The liquors were placed on top of the FCI rice bags and the driver of the truck was arrested and charged under a relevant section of the law, it added.
A Food Corporation of India labelled truck was apprehended today carrying liquor into Nagaland by the Excise Department
M.O.M creating platform for aspiring Musicians Vishü Rita Krocha Kohima | July 21
Nagaland may be known as the only state in India to have officially recognized music as an industry, but many aspiring musicians continue to struggle to find a space to express themselves. A few accomplished ones have carved a niche for themselves, making a career out of music, but the majority of them are just waiting to be discovered. This is where M.O.M, an acronym for ‘Meet Over Music’ comes in as a ray of hope for many upcoming artistes. Conceptualized by Oren Mozhui, a musician himself, M.O.M takes place every first Friday of every month at 6:00 pm at Dream Café, solely with the view to give a stage for the “upcoming and unnoticed artists.” “Most organizers prefer to entertain only the renowned artists and that’s why, the upcoming artists are nowhere to be found,” he said. The past few episodes of M.O.M have shown great promise with artists and bands from all over Nagaland performing at the show. Musicians from as
far as Tuensang apart from Mokokchung, Wokha, Dimapur, Pfutsero, Jotsoma, Jakhama, Tuophema, Ghaspani, Zhadima, Merapani, Okotso, etc have performed in these episodes, comprising of 34 artists and 18 bands. Also indicative of the upcoming artists’ desire for a platform, a total of 203 musicians including 74 bands and 129 artists have already registered to perform at the M.O.M. These artists and bands are selected to perform after a round of audition through Whatsapp, wherein they are required to send their live concert videos, original mp3 songs or simply a voice recording to determine their musical talent. At M.O.M, there is no age bar and is also accommodative of all genres of music. ‘Woodland Band’ that performed in the July edition, comprises of 5 members within the age group of 35-40. Although all the band members are married and have different occupations and families to take care of, they meet and practice during weekends (or whenever they are free) to follow their greater passion, which
next round, we have to buy voting cards on our own, and we also have to sell it”, Thansawati regretfully said. However, many upcoming musicians found M.O.M to be a great platform in promoting their music. Gugu, a guitarist was of the opinion that there are many good hidden artists but they don’t get the platform to perform. He is therefore, happy that M.O.M came into existence, not only enabling them to perform for an audience of music lovers, but also connect with their fellow musicians.
A solo artist- Medo Kense, performing at the 4th edition of M.O.M at Dream Cafe.
is music. Further, as pointed out by one of the musicians, ‘music contest shows’ are of little help
for the aspiring musicians as it involves the contestant shelling out money for voting cards. “After getting selected for the
Lack of events and entertainment On the other hand, for a town that has no night life and is rarely buzzing with recreational activities, such an initiative serves as good news, especially for the younger population. The monsoon season is particularly starved for events with most of them confined to the famed Hornbill Festival. Emphasizing that young people need space to express themselves, Director of YouthNet, Lezo Putsure said this is essential for them to be able to
use their energy in the right direction. “Like in Nagaland, it’s either involved at the church or nothing to do. It’s good to see gyms come up, but we need space like movie theatres, parks, also clubs such as reading communities, outdoor games etc.” “Many young people, especially young professionals have nothing to do after work in the evenings. Many of them also get into bad habits such as drinking, or watching too much TV”, he also observed. However, with few promising initiatives like the M.O.M, Neingulie Nakhro, Managing Director of Unitex is of the opinion that something good is happening in Kohima. As far as music is concerned, “this monsoon is a boon and delight for artists and musicians”, he impressed upon. While the M.O.M is sponsored by Theja Meru, Chairman of Dream Corp by providing Dream Café for free use including refreshment, Unitex is assisting with the sound system. Neingulie felt it’s time to give back to the society. “Let us be part of the change, and make Kohima a better city,” he said.