July 28th 2014

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Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 205

The Morung Express “

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In life, all good things come hard, but wisdom is the hardest to come by

Congress in crisis: Leadership challenged [ PAGE 8]

Monday, July 28, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Lucille Ball

Kanye West Wants Perfect Wife

JD(U) officials visit Ralan to defuse border tension [ PAGE 2]

Ricciardo wins thrilling Hungarian GP

[ PAGE 11]

[ PAGE 9]

[ PAGE 12]

Hamas agrees to 24-hour truce in Gaza war

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the nagaland liquor total Prohibition Act The question is: To lift or not to lift?

PART II Vibi Yhokha Kohima | July 27

T

he Nagaland state government’s recent expression of willingness to discuss the viability of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act has created an opportunity to engage in an honest and constructive dialogue. This means, listening to the different points of views and objectively analyzing the consequences of prohibition on the society. Its ultimate question will be: to lift or not to lift?

“Even if the Act is lifted, the number of alcohol related diseases is not going to decline. We are still going to treat patients whether it is lifted or not,” says Dr T Katiry, Senior Medical Specialist, NHAK. Dr Katiry affirms that many of the alcoholics come from low income groups who eke out a hand to mouth existence and have no choice but to search for cheap liquor.

On the contrary, Neingulo Krome opines that people who drink will continue to drink whether prohibition is lifted or not. He adds that too many restrictions in society reduce the Tim Means, right, punches Hernani Perpetuo during the third round of a welterweight mixed potential of its people and calls martial arts bout at a UFC event in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, July 26. Means won by unani- for the government to engage in an open discussion with all mous decision. (AP Photo)

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Yes

no

Others

Do you agree that land for national Highways in nagaland should be given free of cost without compensation?

Yes

16% 75%

no Others

09%

Details on page 7

Boko Haram seize Cameroon vice PM’s wife

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yaouNDe, July 27 (iaNS): Islamic Boko Haram militants have abducted the wife of Cameroon’s Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali in an attack Sunday, an official said.

The Islamic group attacked the vice prime minister’s home and kidnapped his wife in the northern town of Kolofata, lying along the Nigerian border, Xinhua reported citing Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Cameroon’s minister of information, as saying. The attack claimed the lives of 10 people, military sources said.

• Under the act, no person is foreign countries. allowed to sell, consume, • Landlords are also bound manufacture, import, transto inform the Magistrates if port or buy liquor. there are any cases of illegally • Liquor consumption is acmanufacturing alcohol. cepted only as medication • Penalties are imprisonment of prescribed by registered six months for first offence and medical practitioners. fine not less than five hundred.

• Special permits are allowed • Penalty for drunkenness and disorderly behavior can be for armed forces, visiting dipextended for one month. lomats from the country or stakeholders on the failures of the act and to instill a sense of accountability. “Our society is in bondage when there is too much restriction. Instead of prohibiting, punitive measures should be taken. If drinking is a sin, so is overeating,” states Krome.

“It’s high time we review the Act and lift the ban. It is destroying lives and our economy,” says Neidonuo Angami, former President of the Naga Mothers Association. Neidonuo asserts that one should not object to the stance of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) as a religious body, but that the NBCC should also not object to other people’s stances.

A former member of the Prohibition Committee views that even though the government harps on revenue loss, there are no gains directly or indirectly from the sale of tobacco and alcohol. More than revenue,

society’s well being is more important, therefore lifting the Act will be worse. The member further suggests that there should open televised debates inviting churches, civil society, NGOs so that the public are well informed on what the intelligentsia have to say. Finally, a review committee should be set up to formulate an action plan.

“The problem with Nagas is that we don’t drink alcohol, it is alcohol that drinks us. Our people are never able to control,” says Huzo Meru who feels that reviewing of the NLTP Act is a must. He suggests that the government should hold meetings with the church and civil society towards this end.

A number of observers made suggestions concerning the government’s need to evolve an action plan to regulate the sale of liquor, setting a certain age bar to the retail and

consumption of alcohol, penalties for drunken offences, regulating the time and days of sale of alcohol etc.

Dr T Katiry adds that if the NLTP act is to be implemented, the law enforcing agencies should be more stringent and that all civil society, NGOs, Churches, including the family members of drinkers, should work together to implement the act. However, when there is so much more to contribute in society than alcohol, Dr. Katiry concludes, “Are we really going to end our lives this way?”

Further ideas can be adopted from the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition and Control Bill, 2014, (MLPC) which allows the consumption, sale, retail, manufacture, storage and transport of alcohol. However, it also ensures punishment for those creating nuisance after drinking, which could amount to two years imprisonment. The Bill will rely on permits, including for buying alcohol, and also provides for fines and jail-terms for offences which range from five days to five years. Magistrates are given amnesty powers to translate both fines and offences to five-days of community service. MLPC also empower its citizen to arrest offenders provided they hand them over to police or Excise and Narcotics officials.

Border Issue: Govt inaction questioned

DiMaPuR, July 27 (MexN): The United Naga Tribes Association of Border Areas (UNTABA) today appealed to the Nagaland state government to adopt a “pragmatic approach in dealing with the vexed border issue in the interest of Naga people.”

A press note from UNTABA termed the Nagaland CM’s statement regarding the border issue between the states of Nagaland and Assam as “disowning and shifting responsibility of the government of its complete failure to safeguard the land of the Nagas and its people…”

UNTABA recalled that the border dispute case was filed by the Government of Assam against Nagaland in 1988 and the case being subjudice has become a “conFor both our sakes I hope venient tool for Assam in surreptitiously they lift the prohibition. grabbing, annexing and controlling vast stretch of rich and fertile Naga lands…”

It alleged that the Assam Government The Morung Express has “systematically established many POLL QUESTIOn townships, industrial centers, including Vote on www.morungexpress.com hundreds of tea gardens and estates along SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 the border by facilitating thousands of imIs there a pressing migrants,” in spite of periodical agreements need for a public between the two state governments. Condebate on the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act?

nltP: fActs you need to know

currently, the UNTABA lamented that the Nagaland government is trying to “justify its complete failure by citing the case as being subjudiced, instead of safeguarding the lands and people of Nagaland through implementing various clauses of Agreements entered between the two States... “ It alleged that the Nagaland government has given a “free hand to the Assam Government and its people for continuous encroachment of the lands that rightfully belongs to Naga people…” It pointed to the promulgation of 144 CrPC in Naga villages where, UNTABA alleged that “the actual encroachers are from Assam, duly supported and facilitated by well armed Assam Police…”

It further noted that the Assam Forest Department was entrusted to manage affairs of the Reserved Forests, especially for Tea Estates that were already leased out from Naga lands on the condition that no more other than the ones in existence would be leased out. It further stated that the Interim Agreement of 1972 affirmed that no more contractual works would be undertaken in the reserved areas.

Panel suggests separate law to protect NE people from attacks

New Delhi, July 27 (PTi): A separate law with specific provisions to protect people from the northeast living in different parts of the country along with amendment of sections of IPC has been suggested by a committee set up after increased attacks on citizens from the region.

According to sources, the MP Bezbaruah committee, which submitted its report to Home Ministry earlier this month, had recommended a new law based on an observation

by Delhi High Court which said one person from a state must not be discriminated in another state.

Such a law, the sources said, would help immediately address issues faced by northeast people, particularly over their safety and security, in the wake of increased instances of attacks on them especially in the capital. Moreover, amend-

ments of some sections of the IPC and strict implementation of laws have also been recommended.

When contacted, Bezbaruah, a former Union Tourism Secretary, declined to comment on the details of the committee’s recommendations. “It is with the Home Ministry and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the report,” he said.

The Bezbaruah Committee was set up after the death of Nido Tania, 20, following an altercation with shopkeepers and others at the Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi in January. Last week, another youth from Manipur, Akha Salouni (29), was killed after he was allegedly beaten by a group of five men in a suspected case of road rage in Kotla Mubarakpur in South Delhi.

The sources said that the committee, however, made no suggestion for en-

actment of an anti-racial law but strengthening and proper implementation of existing laws.

The committee was constituted in February to look into the various concerns of persons hailing from the northeastern states who are living in different parts of the country, especially the metropolitan areas, and to suggest suitable remedial measures which could be taken by the government.

The Terms of Reference of the committee were to examine the various kinds of concerns, including those regarding security of people hailing from the northeast; to examine the causes behind the attacks/ violence and discrimination against them; to suggest measures to be taken by the government to address these concerns; and to suggest legal remedies to address these concerns.

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Dimapur

Monday

LocaL

28 July 2014

CAG REPORT Nagas in the United States meet

Infrastructure created at Rs. 19.91 crore under EPIP, SEZ remain unutilized Our Correspondent Kohima | July 27

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The Morung Express

Under industries & commerce department, infrastructure created at a cost of Rs. 19.91 crores under EPIP and SEZ remain unutilized due to unrealistic assessment of users’ requirement and potential number of interested entrepreneurs for the schemes, according to CAG report tabled at the just concluded state assembly session here.

The report said Government of India (GoI), approved (May 1999) Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) scheme for providing adequate infrastructure facilities of high standard in the state of Nagaland at a project cost of Rs. 12.50 crore so as to involve the state government in export efforts.

The project was to be completed within 24 months (upto May 2001) and the project cost was to be shared by the GoI and Government of Nagaland (GoN) in the ratio of 80:20 (GoI Rs. 10 crore, GoN Rs. 2.50 crore).

The GoN provided 100 acres of land in Dimapur for setting up the project and appointed Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation Limited (Company) as the implementing agency.

The report stated that the project envisaged to build total saleable area of 2.01 lakh square meter consisting of industrial plots, factories, sheds, etc under industrial sector, and mini market, post office, banks, etc under commercial sector.

As per the project report, 100% occupancy was projected within 5 to 3 years under Industrial Sheds/Factories and Commercial and other facilities respectively with projected revenue of Rs. 86.81 lakh as lease rent etc. from fifth

year.

GOI and GoN had released an aggregate amount of Rs. 13.56 crore (GoI- Rs. 11.06 crore and GoN Rs. 2.50 crore) to the company during 1999-00 to 2005-06 for setting up of EPIP. The work commenced in September 2001 and the company had completed development of infrastructure facilities valued at Rs. 14.64 crore by the end of July 2006. The infrastructure facilities created under EPIP were, however, not availed by any of the entrepreneur till 2009.

Meanwhile, the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act, 2005 was passed by the Parliament in May 2005 with an objective to generate additional economic activity of an earmarked exporting area/zone through promotion of exports and investment from domestic and foreign sources, creation of employment opportunities and development of infrastructure facilities.

As there was no entrepreneurs to take up the projects under EPIP, the company proposed (July 2009) to GoI for conversion of EPIP into an SEZ to Agro- Food processing sector. GoN also allotted another 50 acres of land adjacent EPIP in addition to 100 acres of land earlier allotted. The proposal was approved (July 2009) by the GoI at an estimated cost of Rs. 35 crore, which included the infrastructure created for EPIP. The project besides creating employment opportunities for 3000 persons was expected to earn Rs. 2 to 3 crores from exports in the initial years and Rs. 10 to 20 crores per annum after achieving optimum capacity utilization, the report said.

Scrutiny (April 2013) of records revealed that the company received Rs. 17.50 crore (GoI - Rs. 8.50

crore + GoN- Rs. 9 crore) during 2007-08 to 2011-12 for development of additional infrastructure facilities, of which an amount of Rs. 5.27 crore was utilized.

It was, however, observed that the company could not find entrepreneurs who were interested to set up industrial units/factories in the project area developed under EPIP and SEZ scheme till date (April 2013), the report said adding, “This was indicative of the fact that the projects were initiated without assessing the user requirement or availability of interested entrepreneurs.”

Thus, the report said, due to unrealistic assessment of users’ requirement and potential number of interested entrepreneurs, the infrastructure facilities developed by the company for EPIP and SEZ schemes at a consolidated cost of Rs. 19.91 crore remained unproductive since 2001 defeating the scheme objectives.

In reply, the management stated (April 2013) that apprehensions of law and order situation, security concerns and worsening power situation in the state were the deterrent factors affecting investment decisions of the entrepreneurs, the report said.

The report stated that the reply is not acceptable as the situation on these fronts were more or less same when the proposal for setting up EPIP and conversion of EPIP to SEZ was initiated by the company. It added the reply also confirms the fact that the development works under the two schemes were initiated without conducting proper feasibility study of the project.

The report stated that the matter was reported to the Government (July 2013) but their replies had not been received (January 2014).

Tulsa, July 27 (mExN): The Naga American Foundation (NAF) held its biennial general conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from July 18 to 19. The conference themed "Nagas in America: Our Beginnings and Journey Forward" was hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Sanyo Konyak, informed Meyi Aier, President, NAF in a press release. The Naga elders who founded the organization were honored; among whom Dr. Aryo Shishak and Inavi Saghu were present.

The release informed that about 70 adults and children from eight states attended the conference.

“It was a time of fellowship, good food, and great entertainment,” it said. The highlights of the conference were family carnival featuring games and activi-

WoKha, July 27 (mExN): The JD(U) Nagaland State unit has appealed to the public of both Assam and Nagaland living under Ralan area in Wokha district to refrain from any sort of violence in order to avoid tension in the border area. The JD(U) Nagaland unit officially visited Ralan area on July 26 to “take stock of the prevailing border tension in the area,” informed the party spokesperson Sushil

Kumar.

The JD(U) officials met the border magistrates and SDPOs concerned of both Assam and Nagaland along with neutral forces of 155bn of CRPF led by Deputy Commandant K. Oaran, said the release.

The JD(U) has thanked the officials for their support and timely intervention.

The JD(U) asserted that the farmers living in the area need to respect each other's tradition and cul-

ture, adding cooperating with the administration of both the states will reduce tension in the border. It also requested the public of both sides to desist from spreading false propaganda, false report etc.

The JD(U) officials also met 155bn CRPF Bokajan Comdt Sameer Srivastava along with second in command Khan and Deputy Commandant K. Oaran and deliberated the prevailing situation in the border.

“It was a healthy discussion and hope that they will maintain complete neutrality while dealing with any situation to maintain peace in the border,” the party expressed.

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Members of Naga American Foundation during the biennial general conference held at Tulsa, Oklahoma, from July 18 to 19.

ties for children of all ages and cultural show; both were attended by members of the local community.

The cultural show featured

traditional Naga, classical and contemporary music presented by well-known Naga American talents like Kughaho Chishi, Dr. Ren

YCS conducts social work

Merry and Deborah Bell, among others. Guest performances included a Native American dancer and members of the Zo tribe re-

siding in Oklahoma.

Khati and Chris Prosonic have offered to host the 2016 NAF conference in Syracuse, NY, said the note.

MEx File

ANHTU Kohima unit executive meeting Kohima, July 27 (mExN): All the executive members of All Nagaland Hindi Teachers’ Union (ANHTU), Kohima unit have been informed that there will be an executive meeting on August 2 at the union’s office in Bayavü at 9:00 am. Therefore, all concerned have been requested to attend the meeting. “Your absence will be treated as disrespect for the Unit,” stated a press release issued by ANHTU, Kohima unit info & publicity secretary Nelson Yhokha. For Further queries, contact 9856171486.

CCSA convenes meeting

YCS members and others pose for camera during social work on July 26.

Kohima, July 27 (mExN): The Young Christian Students (YCS) of Christ King Higher Secondary School Kohima today conducted a social work in the school compound. It may be mentioned that YCS is an international student movement recognized by the Vatican and International Non-Govern-

mental Organization with consultative status at the Economic and Social Commission of the United Nations.

Called a lay movement, it has the vision of making God’s kingdom reign on this earth here and now, for all people to live with dignity. They strive to lead a life of Review with three steps of See, Judge and

Act. Altogether, 14 members along with the School Principal Fr. Deli David and the Unit Animator Ruth Vizo took part in the social work. The Principal briefed the members on the importance of rendering service to the school and the community as a whole. At the moment, the school unit is focusing on community service.

JD(U) officials visit Ralan to defuse border tension Investors’ awareness prog held

Appeals farmers to respect each other’s tradition and culture, and public to desist from spreading false propaganda, false report

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p E r E N, J u ly 2 7 (mExN): With an aim to impart basic knowledge on securities market, benefits of investors, and different options available for investment in different bonds, shares and securities, an investors’ awareness programme was held at St. Xavier Higher Secondary School, Jalukie on July 26.

The programme was organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), Peren in collaboration with National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), Kolkata and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Guwahati.

A press release from John Makhabo, DYC, NYK Dimapur informed that 128 students with members of Youth Club and NYCs at-

tended the programme sponsored by NSE, Kolkata. According to the note, the programme was held for prospective investors.

Jagannath Das, Asst. General Manger of SEBI and Biswadeep Roy, Asst. Manager of NSE, Kolkata animated the programme as resource persons.

The role and functions of SEBI and NSE were discussed. The resource persons also educated the participants on company, shares and other investment avenues for investors. They also highlighted the involvement of risk and return associated with investment options. Ponzi Schemes/Fraud schemes running in North Eastern States were also discussed.

The participants were cautioned to be careful before any investment is made.

Ponzi schemes promises high return with no risk at all, they stated. Before any investment, they advised, one should ensure to find out whether the organization is registered or has taken due permission from various regulating authorities or government for raising fund.

In case there is any doubt, one can enquire or verify the scheme through www.sebi.gov.in . One may also call toll free number 1800220051 for queries relevant to securities market.

The resource persons also shared complaint redressal system available with SEBI and NSE.

Kohima, July 27 (mExN): In view of the forthcoming golden jubilee celebration of Centre Chakhesang Sports Association (CCSA) scheduled on January 24 next year at Sakraba, a meeting will take place on August 9, 10:30 AM at Sakraba village. In this connection, CCSA general secretary Vezohu has requested all the executives, souvenir committee, jubilee organizing committee, representatives to attend the said meeting positively.

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NSCN/GPRN Southern Zone notifies Dimapur, July 27 (mExN): The NSCN/GPRN Southern Zone has informed all individuals and firms dealing with transport, either export or import under the jurisdiction of southern zone to co-operate with the Govt. of NSCN/GPRN and furnish their dues for the tenure 2014-2015. Any individual or firms failing to abide by the request and found to be evading the situation will have to pay penalty with compensation, warned Finance Secretary, Southern Zone (NSCN/GPRN) in a press release. One may contact 9862567272/ 9436111777 for further details.

YAN condoles Dimapur, July 27 (mExN): Youth Association of Nagaland (YAN) has mourned the demise of Richard Shikhu, an active member of YAN and also former social and cultural secretary of Sumi Kiphimi Kuqhaluku (SKK), on July 22 at his residence at LRC colony, Dimapur. In a condolence message, YAN described him as a passionate leader with high spirit and enthusiasm for betterment of the society. YAN has prayed for eternal solace of the departed soul.

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Population Stabilization Fortnight in Peren

Teaching culture and tradition to young Nagas

Konyak youths participate in 'Tribal Community Learning Programme'

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Dimapur, July 27 (mExN): To address the challenges posed by the advent of modernity and its resultant impact in the society, especially on the urban youth, North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) has been conducting series of ‘Tribal Community Learning Programme’. The fourth group of the series, consisting three resource persons and 25 students from the Konyak community successfully completed their training on July 27.

The training culminated in a simple function at NEZCC where the stu-

Students and resource persons from Konyak tribe with NEZCC officials during the Tribal Community Learning Programme organized by NEZCC.

dents performed a traditional folk song learnt during the training period and shared their experiences of how they have benefit-

ted from such a creative activity, informed a press release.

Talinokcha, Joint Director, NEZCC in his brief

address said, “It is high time for the Nagas to review the Naga identity and bring back the age-old values and traditions for a

progressive future of Naga society.” He thanked the resource persons and the Konyak community leaders for their support and

cooperation extended in making the training programme a success. He also gave away the certificates to the participants.

On the occasion, LT Konyak, retired DC said, “The existence of NEZCC has been greatly benefited

by Nagas though the Centre is established for the entire North East India. The initiative of NEZCC to impart basic lessons of age-old traditional culture through the Community Learning Programme to the urban Naga youth who are not exposed to their traditional cultural practices handed down by their forefathers because of their urban settlement was well appreciated.”

In this series, the next group of 3 experts and 25 students from Kachari community will commence their learning programme for the next ten days beginning July 28 in the same venue. Entry to the programme is free.

Focus Group Discussion being conducted with lactating/ pregnant women during the World Population Stabilization Fortnight on July 24 at Kipeuzang Village in Peren district.

pErEN, July 27 (mExN): World Population Stabilization Fortnight was launched in Peren district on July 11 with the theme “A Planned Family - Source of Happiness”, and successfully carried out till July 24. Family planning camps were held at District Hospital, Community Health Centre, Primary Health Centre, and Sub-centres where deliveries are conducted. Banners were also placed in the Health Units to create awareness during the observance of Population Stabilization Fortnight, informed a press release issued by District Media Officer, CMO Office Peren, Pezanguno Celine Secü. In order to create intensive awareness, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and IPC sessions on Family Planning are also being conducted by the ASHA co-ordinators in the villages. A total of 34 villages are to be covered for FGD. Condoms, contraceptives pills and IEC Materials- posters, leaflets in local dialects are being distributed to the Health Units, the release added. The FGD will continue till July 30, 2014. During the Fortnight, several people also availed family planning services including: Laparoscopic Legation – 6; Cut-380 A – 18; Condoms – 137; OCP – 53.

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REgional

The Morung Express

Monday

28 July 2014

Dimapur

3

meets UNC’s 48 hour bandh passes off peacefully Kokrajhar MP fears Gogoi senior Cong

Tahamzam, July 27 (mexN): The 48 hour UNC sponsored bandh has passed off peacefully, a statement from the United Naga Council’s Publicity Wing informed.

Calling the bandh a ‘success’, UNC acknowledged the cooperation and solidarity of the public towards the successful observation of 48 hour bandh on all vehicular movement on National Highways in Naga areas with effect from the midnight of July 24.

Earlier, a peaceful 24 hour total bandh was observed in Naga areas with effect from the midnight of July 15 in protest against, what UNC called ‘highly vitiated situation’ brought about by the Government of Manipur (GoM) in Ukhrul district headquarters by “unprecedented militari-

FFOJ calls for revocation of curfew in Ukhrul

DimaPur, July 27 (mexN): The Forum For Our Journey (FFOJ) has appealed to the Government of Manipur for the immediate revocation of Section 144 CrPC imposed in and around Ukhrul District Headquarters and the withdrawal of Police Commandos and IRBs from Ukhrul district. A statement from the forum Convenor Chonmi Raleng received here stated. While expressing displeasure over the killing of M. Ngalangzar, former Vice Chairman of Ukhrul ADC and member of Ukhrul ADC by unidentified gunmen at Finch Corner, Ukhrul on July 12, the forum stated, “Continued deployment of Police Commandos and IRBs in the Town only create fear psychosis and panic among the students, men and women.” The forum cautioned that continued militarisation of Ukhrul Headquarters by the presence of huge number of Manipur State security forces does not help in keeping the people in peace, calm and normal environment for which Ukhrul DC should take immediate steps in revoking the Section 144 CrPC as a matter of serious concern. zation and promulgation of Section 144 of CrPC” in the wake of the unfortunate incident of the July 12 Ukhrul ADC member killing.

The council’s publicity wing further stated that with no response to the protest, a memorandum was dispatched to the Prime Minister of India on July 18, reiter-

ating that the Government of India should expedite the process of intervention with an alternative arrangement outside the GoM, pending settlement of the IndoNaga issue and demanding the Government of India’s intervention for revocation of the vitiating 144 CrPC, removal of the Police Com-

mandos and Manipur IRB personnel from Naga areas and for ensuring that the GoM observes the ground rules of the ceasefire in letter and spirit.

“Along with the above demonstration of our sentiments, poster campaign, protest dharnas, public curfew and lightning

strikes have been observed under the aegis of the Naga frontal organizations in Ukhrul,” UNC stated.

“The safety and security of our people however continue to be exposed to the Manipur Police commandos and IRBs whose notoriety for violence and fake encounters have been established. There can be no reason for their non withdrawal other than to sabotage the ongoing IndoNaga peace process and the people’s democratic movement by disrupting civil life,” the council further stated.

The council further informed the Tribe Hohos, Naga frontal and regional organisations, tribe students’ unions and youth organizations, to be prepared for the next phase of civil action which will be notified in a short period.

more BTAD violence leaders

GuwahaTi, July 27 (TNN): Kokrajhar MP Naba Kumar Sarania predicted that the volatile situation in Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD), which is witnessing unabated violence, might get worse.

Taking part in a protest rally in Guwahati on Saturday, Sarania, also known as Heera, expressed his apprehension that the public might take the law into its own hands to provide vigilante justice. "If 30 lakh people take the law into their own hands to seek justice, the situation will go out of control. The state government has completely failed to contain violence and maintain peace. We are extremely concerned. We have made several appeals to the government in this regard,"

Sarania said in the city on Saturday. He joined Sonmilito Jonogosthiyo Oikyo Mancho (SJOM), an umbrella organization of non-Bodo groups, in a protest to seek justice for the family members of Manoj Das, a student leader killed on Wednesday evening.

Rumour has it that Das was killed by militants for supporting Sarania in the Lok Sabha elections. Sarania, a former Ulfa militant, said more non-Bodos might be targeted ahead of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election in 2015. "We are scared that more non-Bodo leaders might be targeted by militants in future. It's unfortunate that, in spite of informing police after he received threat calls, Das could not be saved," Sarania added.

Lorho urges Prez to help solve Naga peace process Mizoram LPG crisis to be over soon New Delhi, July 27 (mexN): Former Minister and NPF MP Candidate in the outer Manipur parliamentary constituency during the 16th Lok Sabha elections 2014, Soso Lorho called on India’s President Pranab Mukharjee at Rajtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on July 24 evening. A release from the NPF Manipur General Secretary Athuan Abonmai informed.

In the meeting that lasted an hour, among other things, Lorho, who considers Mukherjee an old friend, philosopher and guide, apprised the Indian President on the present Naga political situation arising out of the long drawn Naga peace process with the Government of India and urged upon him to help solved the imbroglio, the release informed.

Lorho ‘emphatically stressed’ on the desire and yearning of the Naga people for an early honourable and

In this image released to the media, senior leader from NPF Manipur, Soso Lorho, greets India’s President Pranab Mukharjee at Rajtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on July 24 evening.

peaceful solution acceptable to both parties, the release informed. He also dwelled on the urgency to find ways and explore means towards this end so that the solution will see the light of day dur-

ing their time and the legacy they leave behind shall be cherished by posterity, the release stated.

The Indian President on his side equally shared his concern on the issue and

UTLA Commander-in-Chief arrested

imPhal, July 27 (NNN): Commander-in-Chief of United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) Seipu has been arrested by the troops of Red Shield Division on July 25.

The UTLA leader along with his body guard were arrested from general area Chiengkongpang, Churachandpur district on July 25, according to PIB-Defence Wing.

It said, based on the specific input regarding the presence of UTLA cadres in general area Chiengkongpang, the troops of Red Shield Division immediately launched an operation at 7:30 pm to apprehend the UTLA leader with a cadre.

The Commander-in-Chief of UTLA Seipu alias Ishael along with his bodyguard were arrested in general area Chiengkongpang.

Both the apprehended are residents of Churachandpur district.

One 5.56 mm rifle, one Heckler and Koch-33, one .22 mm pistol (Regd No. 060/ PIS/JOD) of Star Becheverria Eibar Espana (gun company), one magazine Heckler & Koch, one magazine .22 mm of pistol make Star Becheverria Eibar Espana, 30 live rds Hechler & Koch-33, 31 live rds 7.62mm AK-47, four live rds .22mm pistol of Star Becheverria Eibar Espana, and one night vision binocular Bushnell (Regd No. 004827141) were recovered from their possession at the time of apprehension.

Both individuals were later handed over to Imphal West Police Station, the PIB-Defence Wing added.

BJP delegation to visit Tripura today aGarTala, July 27 (PTi): A BJP delegation led by its Vice- President, S S Ahluwalia will visit some places in the state tomorrow where 'terror' was allegedly let loose by the ruling CPI-M activists after the recent panchayat poll, party said today.

President of the state unit of BJP Sudhindra Dasgupta said the delegation would arrive here tomorrow and

visit some parts of Rajnagar rural block in South Tripura district, Matabari block of Gomati district and Dakshin Maheshpur village of Sipahijala district. The delegation would also meet officiating Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya.

BJP state president Sudhindra Dasgupta had alleged that he along with state party secretary Tapas Bhattacharya and two other party

members were attacked by ruling CPI(M) activists at Dakshin Maheshpur in Sipahijala district on July 22 last and police allegedly remained as silent spectator. Sipahijala Superintendent of Police Smriti Ranjan Das said on the basis of Dasgupta's complaint, Assistant Sub-Inspector Swapan Kar who was incharge of the police escort, was suspended and investigation was in progress.

assured Lorho that he will take the matter up with the concerned authorities and offered his support to help solved the problem as early as possible, Abonmai’s statement informed.

aizawl, July 27 (NNN): The current crisis in cooking gas supply in Mizoram is likely to be over in a short time from now as per the information received by the State Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister John Rotluangliana who yesterday visited Silchar for a night stay to meet IOC officials there.

The Mizoram minister also visited Borkhola LPG Bottling Plant on the same day.

The Mizoram Supply minister met Senior Area Manager (SAM) JK Brahma and had a detailed discussion with him on the current LPG crisis in Mizoram. He apprised the latter of the poor supply of LPG for Mizoram since some time ago and how it has created a big problem for the general public.

He also gave the Senior Area Manager copy of the petition he has sent to Union Minister for Petroleum & Gas Darmendra Pradhan regarding the LPG crisis and also the copy of letter from the Union Minister in reply

to the request made to him which has asked the IOC officials to address the problem in Mizoram.

Senior Area Manager JK Brahma on his part explained before John Rotluangliana about the current situation regarding LPG supply, saying, “We know that Mizoram has been reeling under shortage of LPG supply for some time now, and we have also been directed by the Petroleum & Gas Ministry to take steps to solve the crisis in Mizoram following your letter to the Union Minister. Accordingly, the LPG supply for Mizoram has started improving since July, and now we are doing our best to further improve the supply. So it will go on improving hereafter.”

The Mizoram Supply minister also visited Borkhola LPG Bottling Plant where he asked the IOC officials for more LPG supply to Mizoram. The latter informed the minister that during July they have specially supplied 142 truck trips for

Mizoram. They also told the minister that the LPG agents/ distributors in Mizoram need to do more bank deposits for LPG supply without only purchasing from Mualkhang Gas Bottling Plant.

“Now that we get all information through SMS, right after the deposit is made in the banks for purchase of LPG from Borkhola. Meantime, there is no point of giving favour with poor deposit”, the IOC leaders stated.

Borkhola LPG Bottling Plant at present can stock 500 metric tonnes of gas and can fill 44 truck trips per day.

Now, 3 bullets are being installed in order to stock 130 metric tonnes and the same is expected to be opened up in November. Once this is opened, Mizoram LPG quota is also expected to increase by 15-20%, the Mizoram minister said.

Borkhola Bottling Plant feeds Assam (Barak Valley), North Tripura and Mizoram, and one Gas Distributor of Manipur.

Tarun Gogoi

New Delhi, July 27 (PTi): Facing revolt, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday met senior Congress leaders here to discuss the situation in the state where a senior minister has quit the government expressing no confidence in his leadership.

Gogoi met senior party leaders A K Antony and Ahmed Patel to discuss the situation in the state Congress. "We discussed the Assam issue. They will give their report to (Congress President) Sonia Gandhi.

Whatever decision the high commands takes on the issue, I will abide to it," Gogoi told reporters after the meeting.

Earlier this week, leader of dissident Congress MLAs in Assam and state Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had resigned opposing Chief Minister Gogoi's leadership. "I have submitted my resignation as minister to the Governor (J B Patnaik) as I have protested Gogoi's leadership," he had said.

He had claimed that about 38 MLAs went with him to the Raj Bhavan. "I have no confidence in Tarun Gogoi's leadership.

We are fighting for our party and under Gogoi's leadership Congress will come down to single digit in 2016 (assembly polls)," Sarma had said.

ILP bill unlikely to be passed despite protests imPhal, July 27 (NNN): Manipur assembly session ends on July 28 but there is unlikely that a visible spade work in connection with the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state will be seen although the state capital Imphal and other adjoining valley districts have witnessed a turbulent week as the demand for the ILP implementation climaxed to a new level.

Expressing its concern on the grim situation in the state as the tempo of agitation rises, Senior Citizens for Society, Manipur (SCSM) has said that all the 60 Manipur legislators should resign en masse in case the Central government continues to ignore the sentiment of the people of Manipur.

Addressing a press conference here today, SCSM secretary and noted advocate Khaidem Mani said that anyone who is willing to file a case against the 60 legislators

of Manipur, they are ready to extend their service.

Mani who is also the president of All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) said that on two occasions resolutions were taken in the Manipur legislative assembly for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit in the state but no concrete move has come forth so far towards this end. Mani said the act of taking resolutions in the assembly but not working to implement is akin to cheating the general public. "A case is fit against the 60 MLAs in this connection," stated Mani.

Also apeaking on the occasion, SCSM general secretary L Sadananda said the state government should carry out task to implement the ILP in the state before the public uprise in demand of it. He further urged the state government to release the 28 women who were arrested by the police for the alleged violation of the Section 144

BJP lashes out at police atrocities on students imPhal, July 27 (aNi): Strongly condemning the police action of thrashing and kicking of students, who tried to storm the State Legislative Assembly, BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Choaba termed the incident as an instance of human rights violation and break down of law and order.

Speaking to reporters at their Nityaipat Chuthek office, Chaoba said that the State Government can always implement Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) if it is passed by the State Legislative Assembly and the State Cabinet.

Informing that ILPS is being enforced in other North Eastern States like Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pra-desh, Chaoba said there would be nothing wrong in implementing ILPS in Manipur. On taking nod from the Centre, Chaoba opined that it would take time if the matter is put forward in the Parliament.

CrPC in the state capital when they took out a rally a few days ago. Sadananda demanded that the police personnel involved in the acts of brutality against the students in the ILP demand protest be booked by the

Instead of taking the longer route, the State Government can always implement ILPS after passing it by the State Legislative Assembly and State Cabinet. Saying that the students' movement in pursuit of their demand for implementation of ILPS has completed five days, Chaoba urged the Government to bring an end to the current imbroglio by announcing a positive concrete stand on the issue.

Reminding the Government that no people's uprising could ever be suppressed by police force/action, Chaoba condemned the police excesses meted out to the students, who tried to march towards State Assembly on July 24. He also decried announcement of closure of educational institutes.

Meanwhile, Chaoba urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to revive Manipur Human Rights Commission and Manipur State Information Commission.

state government.

Meanwhile, sit-in protests were seen in various parts in the state capital today demanding the immediate implementation of the ILP in the state.

There are apprehen-

sions that in the event of the state government not carrying out any work that can convince people, on the last day of the assembly session on Monday, the ongoing agitation may escalate to new heights.

Drug addiction among Arunachal Interaction on upcoming Sports University held government tribals: Threat to national security? NDA had ear-marked

New Delhi, July 27 (PTi): Security agencies have alerted government of an increasing and alarming trend of opium addiction amongst the tribal border population of Arunachal Pradesh which stands to threaten "national security" in this area, already prone to insurgency and incursion attempts from neighbouring countries.

Narcotics enforcement and intelligence agencies keeping a tab on the activities of illegal drugs in the eastern border areas of the country have recently shared a detailed report in this regard with the Union Home Ministry underlining the fact that the menace may put under threat "the very existence" of the tribal population of the state.

A report by the Central Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), accessed

by PTI, states that "large tracts in this state are now being cultivated commercially by the rich and influential people for extraction of opium gum

and trafficking of the same."

It cautioned that if the worrying trend is not checked promptly, "the situation may take a serious turn not only affecting national security" but also having an adverse impact on the health and existence of the various tribes inhabiting the remote and inaccessible areas of Arunachal Pradesh.

The report adds that during a recent visit of security and anti-narcotic sleuths to the border areas of this state, it was noticed "that such (opium) cultivation has led to opium addiction among the tribal population."

Security agencies reported that such a development in the border districts was alarming as their location was "quite sensitive" owing to their geographical closeness to India's borders with Myanmar and China.

Sources privy to the development said that while there was a widespread illegal cultivation of poppy

since many years in districts like Tirap, Changlang, Lohit and Upper Siang of the border state for usage in medicine and for religious purposes, the last five years have seen this menace spreading to other untouched areas giving rise to drug addiction amongst the locals especially the tribal folk who do not have access to education and welfare policies of the government.

The agencies told the Home Ministry in their latest report that opium and heroin addiction has spread to areas like Roing in the Lower D ibang valley and this trend was now threatening the existence and healthy lifestyle of the local tribals.

The report seeks a quick intervention of the central and the state government as there are "no government treatment and de-addiction centres" in these areas to treat the addicts, thereby, further aggravating the situation.

Rs 100 crores for a Sports University in Manipur

imPhal, July 27 (NNN): An interaction programme on the upcoming Sports University in Manipur was held today at Hotel Imphal organised

by BJP, Manipur unit.

The NDA government had ear-marked Rs 100 crore for a Sports University in Manipur during the budget. The project is likely to start from next month.

BJP, Manipur president Th. Chaoba, former Manipur assembly speaker S Dhananjoy, former BJP, Manipur unit president M

Bhorot, noted academic L Lokendro, former minister M Hemanta, former Trinamool Congress leader RK Shivachandra, former Manipur University Registrar and BJP leader RK Ranjan and veteran sports persons participated on the occasion.

Some of the suggestions were that the upcoming Sports University in Manipur should be a platform

for training, physical education, sports journalism.

There were also some people who suggested that the Sports University should have community sports department, foreign language learning department. Still others said the upcoming varsity should have the state-of-the-art facilities.

BJP, Manipur unit president Chaoba said in the

16th Lok Sabha election, the Manipur unit of BJP in consultation with the Central BJP had included in its election manifesto to set up a sports university in Manipur. "Knowing the contribution in the field of sports by Manipur the BJP led NDA government has decided to establish the sports university here," Chaoba stated.

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public discoursE About 12 million Indians are anti-HCV positive & 5 million of them are viraemic

Dimapur

Monday

The Morung Express

28 July 2014

W

orld Hepatitis Day was launched by the World Hepatitis Alliance in 2008 in response to the concern that chronic viral hepatitis did not have the level of awareness, nor the political momentum, seen with other communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. This is despite the fact that the number of people chronically infected with, and the number of deaths caused by hepatitis B and C is on the same scale as these conditions.

World Hepatitis Day has generated massive public and media interest, as well as support from governments, high-profile Non-Governmental Organizations and supranational bodies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO). To date, more than 1,000 events have taken place around the world, from rock concerts and press briefings to ministerial meetings and fundraising events. 2011 will be the first year that World Hepatitis Day was recognised as an official world disease awareness day as endorsed by WHO and its 193 member states.

In May 2010, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution on viral hepatitis which, together with vital commitments on prevention, treatment and patient care, made World Hepatitis Day an official WHO awareness day. WHO is now working with the Alliance as a collaborating partner on WHD 2011. In recognition of the birthday of Professor Baruch Blumberg, who won the Nobel Prize for discovering the hepatitis B virus, WHO decided that World Hepatitis Day will be on 28 July.

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver caused by many illnesses and conditions such as drugs, heavy alcohol intake, chemicals, and autoimmune diseases.

Many viruses, for example, the virus of mononucleosis and the cytomegalovirus can inflame the liver. Most viruses, however, do not primarily attack the liver; the liver is just one of several organs that the viruses affect. When we speak of viral hepatitis that is caused by a few specific viruses that primarily attack the liver. There are several hepatitis viruses; they have been named types A, B, C, D and E. The most common hepatitis viruses are types A, B, and C. Viral Hepatitis is now a major health concern for our country. Globally 1 in 12 people is infected either by Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. India has intermediate HBV endemicity, with a carrier frequency of 2%-4% and HCV is around 1%.

People who are most at risk for developing viral hepatitis are workers in the health care professions, people with multiple sexual partners, intravenous drug users, and hemophiliacs who receive blood clotting factors. Blood transfusion, once a common means of spreading viral hepatitis, now is a rare cause of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is generally thought to be as much as ten times more common among lower socioeconomic and poorly edu-

On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, Zion Hospital & Research Centre, Dimapur cated individuals. About one third of all cases of hepatitis come from an unknown or unidentifiable source. This means that you don’t have to be in a high risk group in order to be infected with a hepatitis virus.

The period of time between exposure to hepatitis and the onset of the illness is called the incubation period. The incubation period varies depending on the specific hepatitis virus. Hepatitis A has an incubation period of about 15-45 days; hepatitis B from 45-160 days, and hepatitis C from 2 weeks to 6 months.

Many patients infected with hepatitis A, B, and C have few or no symptoms of illness. For those who do develop symptoms of viral hepatitis, the most common are flu- like symptoms including: • loss of appetite • nausea • vomiting • fever • weakness • tiredness • aching in the abdomen Less common symptoms include: • dark urine • light-colored stools • fever • jaundice (a yellow appearance to the skin and white portion of the eyes) Patients infected with hepatitis B and hepatitis C can develop chronic hepatitis. Doctors define chronic hepatitis as hepatitis that lasts longer than 6 months.

In chronic hepatitis, the viruses live and multiply in the liver for years or decades.

For unknown reasons, these patients’ immune systems are unable to eradicate the viruses. The viruses cause chronic inflammation of the liver. Chronic hepatitis can lead to the development over time of extensive liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver failure, and liver cancer. Liver failure from chronic hepatitis C infection is the most common reason for liver transplantation in our country. Patients with chronic viral hepatitis can transmit the infection to others.

Diagnosis of viral hepatitis is based on symptoms, physical findings as well as blood tests for liver enzymes, viral antibodies, and viral genetic materials.

Diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis often is easy, but diagnosis of chronic hepatitis can be difficult. When a patient reports symptoms of fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, darkening of urine, and then develops jaundice, the diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis is likely and can be confirmed by blood tests. On the other hand, patients with chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis B and hepatitis C often have no symptoms or only mild nonspecific symptoms such as chronic fatigue. Typically, these patients do not have jaundice

until the liver damage is far advanced.

Therefore, these patients can remain undiagnosed for years to decades.

There are three types of blood tests for evaluating patients with hepatitis: liver enzymes, antibodies to the hepatitis viruses, and viral proteins or genetic material (viral DNA or RNA).

Examples of tests for viral antibodies are: • anti-HAV (hepatitis A antibody) • antibody to hepatitis B core, an antibody directed against the inner core (nucleus) of the virus (core antigen) • antibody to hepatitis B surface, an antibody directed against the outer surface envelope of the virus (surface antigen) • antibody to hepatitis B e, an antibody directed against the genetic material of the virus (e antigen) • hepatitis C antibody-antibody against the C virus Examples of tests for viral proteins and genetic material are: • hepatitis B surface antigen • hepatitis B DNA • hepatitis B e antigen • hepatitis C RNA Treatment of acute viral hepatitis and chronic viral hepatitis are different. In patients with acute viral hepatitis, the initial treatment consists of relieving the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Careful attention should be given to medications which can have adverse effects in patients with abnormal liver function. Only those medications that are considered necessary should be administered since the impaired liver is not able to eliminate drugs normally, and drugs may accumulate in the blood and reach toxic levels.

In addition, sedatives and “tranquilizers” are avoided because they may accentuate the effects of liver failure on the brain and cause lethargy and coma. The patient must abstain from drinking alcohol since alcohol is toxic to the liver. It occasionally is necessary to provide intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration caused by vomiting.

Patients with severe nausea and/or vomiting may need to be hospitalized for treatment and intravenous fluids.

Treatment of chronic infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C usually involves medication or combinations of medications to eradicate the virus. Doctors believe that in properly selected patients, successful eradication of the viruses can stop progressive damage to the liver and prevent the development of cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.

Alcohol aggravates liver damage in chronic hepatitis, and can cause more rapid progression to cirrhosis. Therefore, patients with chronic hepatitis should stop drinking alcohol. Smoking ciga-

rettes also can aggravate liver disease and should be stopped.

Prevention of hepatitis involves measures to avoid exposure to the viruses, using immunoglobulin in the event of exposure, and vaccines. Administration of immunoglobulin is called passive protection because antibodies from patients who have had viral hepatitis are given to the patient.

Vaccination is called active protection because killed viruses or noninfective components of viruses are given to stimulate the body to produce its own antibodies.

Prevention of viral hepatitis, like any other illness, is preferable to reliance upon treatment. Taking precautions to prevent exposure to another individual’s blood (exposure to dirty needles), semen (unprotected sex), and other bodily waste (stool) will help prevent the spread of these viruses.

Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for: • All infants • Adolescents under 18 years of age who did not receive hepatitis B vaccine as infants • People occupationally exposed to blood or body fluids • Residents and staff of institutions for the developmentally disabled • Patients receiving kidney hemodialysis • Hemophiliacs and other patients receiving clotting factor concentrates • Household contacts and sexual partners of patients infected with hepatitis B chronically • Travelers who will spend more than 6 months in regions with high rates of hepatitis B infection • Injection drug users and their sexual partners • Men who have sex with men, men or women with multiple sex partners, or recent infection with a sexually transmitted infection • Inmates of long-term correctional facilities All pregnant women should have a blood test for the antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. Women who test positive for hepatitis B risk transmitting the virus to their infants during labor, and, therefore, infants born to mothers with hepatitis B infection should receive HBIG in addition to hepatitis B vaccine at birth. The reason for giving both immunoglobulin and vaccine is that even though hepatitis B vaccine can offer long lasting, active immunity, immunity takes weeks or months to develop. Until active immunity develops, the short-lived, passive antibodies from the HBIG protect the infant.

Unvaccinated individuals exposed to materials infected with hepatitis B (such as healthcare workers stuck by a contaminated needle) will need HBIG in addition to hepatitis B vaccine for the same reason as infants born to mothers with hepatitis B infection. There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C.

Safe-guarding Children in Armed Conflicts Areas

T

he reach to an International Organization or Convention by anybody: be it State actor or Non-state actor through signing of important International drafts and Declarations signify a sense of Political will to resolve deep seeded political issues confronting a society. For this reason any positive steps undertaken needs to be accorded appreciation in the highest form at any available standards of measuring human considerations and dealings.

So then it now remains an irrefutable fact that both NSCN(IM) and GPRN/ NSCN have ventured as signatories to the Geneva Call’s of the Three Deeds of Commitment, indeed, an International agreement that calls in for commitment and pledging of conforming to broad restorative, rehabilitation and integrative measures of protecting children in an armed conflict zone. Therefore, the hope of our people will now hinge on such agreements being signed not only in the form of letter but also one that points towards a sincere commitment to adopt such measures by action - a step that would help create a protective, peaceful viable environment and maybe even an upgraded social capital as well.

Whereas, State actors and State Government-run agencies managing Child Development Services and schemes can take the signing of the Geneva Call by the two Naga armed groups as an opportunity to help build better networking with the two groups in carrying out humanitarian services for children and also make efforts to effectively implement programmes and policies outlined for armed conflict affected children irrespective of boundaries and communities that falls within the ambit of the Naga fold.

On the whole, once these steps are undertaken then maybe one can warrant that Nagas have made a big leap in their struggle for reconstructing their nationhood. It would also mean Nagas abiding with the International norms of the Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989, a document that has been laid in the best interest of children and that forms a set of moral framework for children’s Rights today.

Kevi Yalie

businEss

Maruti hikes Celerio AMT output, looks to cut waiting period

New Delhi, July 27 (PTi): Country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is looking to increase the supply of auto gear shift version of its latest compact hatchback Celerio to reduce the waiting period that currently stands at about four months. Since its launch in February, the company has so far received bookings for over 57,800 units of Celerio, out of which 43 per cent (25,000) are units with automated manual transmission (AMT) technology. “We continue to try and increase the supply of the auto gear shift (Celerio) cars,” a spokesperson of MSI told PTI. MSI had increased monthly production of Celerio with AMT option to 6,500 units now from about 4,500 units when it was launched. Almost 7,000 units of Celerio AMT have been retailed so far, while for the manual transmission variant the sales stood at 22,000 units, the spokesperson said. On the waiting period, he said it would be around four months for the Celerio AMT but none for the manual transmission version, except for some variants which could be around eight weeks.

Thecompanyhasbeenhamperedbysupplyconstraintsofthe AMTsourcedfromItaly’sautocomponentmajorMagnetiMarelli, which plans to shift its AMT production to MSI’s supplier’s park at Manesar in India in about a year’s time. The Celerio with AMT is currently priced at Rs 4.14 lakh and Rs 4.43 lakh, while the manual transmission models (four) are priced between Rs 3.76 lakh and Rs 4.78 lakh. In May, the company expanded the range with the launch of a CNG variant, priced at Rs 4.68 lakh.

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 # 2949

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2955

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

STD CODE: 03862

Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital: Shamrock Hospital Zion Hospital: Police Control Room Police Traffic Control East Police Station West Police Station CIHSR (Referral Hospital) Dimapur hospital Apollo Hospital Info Centre: Railway: Indian Airlines Chumukedima Fire Brigade Nikos Hospital and Research Centre Nagaland Multispecialty Health & Research Centre

Answer Number # 2948

KOHIMA

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

232224; Emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 228846 228254 231864, 224117, 227337 228400 232106 227607 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026

STD CODE: 0370

Northeast Shuttles

100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

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ACROSS 1.. Sheds 6. Black, in poetry 10. Barely 14. A low-mass chargeless particle 15. Connecting point 16. A single time 17. Style 18. Fortitude 19. Atop 20. Element 22. Fully developed 23. South African monetary unit 24. Small Old World finch 26. Aquatic plant 30. Chief Executive Officer 31. Estimated time of arrival 32. Misled 33. Rope fiber 35. Avoid 39. Shaped like a ring 41. Not excessive 43. Grave marker 44. Any day now 46. An exchange involving money 47. Pair 49. Faster than light

50. Not now 51. A movement upward 54. Took flight 56. Impoverished 57. Dwelling 63. Dwarf buffalo 64. Distinctive flair 65. Push 66. Awestruck 67. Thorny flower 68. Anagram of “Paste” 69. Backside 70. Views 71. Begin

DOWN 1. Wise men 2. Beasts of burden 3. Water chestnut 4. Unit of pressure 5. Contemptuous look 6. Train operators 7. Tedium 8. Norse god 9. Urticate 10. Reporter 11. Remove the pins from 12. Range 13. Basic belief 21. Russian country house 25. Bit of gossip 26. “Oh my!”

27. Fluff 28. Heredity unit 29. Mixed with impurities 34. Storylines 36. Salt Lake state 37. Expunge 38. Biblical garden 40. A field of grass 42. Arm of the sea 45. On leave (military) 48. Not these or those 51. 3-banded armadillo 52. Submarine detector 53. Cages 55. Narrow-waisted stingers 58. Found in some lotions 59. Not this 60. Greek letter 61. Not under 62. Where a bird lives Ans to CrossWord 2954

DIMAPUR: 03862 232201/101 (O) 9436017479 (OC) CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862 282777/101 (O) 9856158740 (OC) WOKHA: 03860 242215/101 (O) 9862039399 (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)

08974997923

KIPHIRE: 8414853767 (O) 8974304572 (OC)

Toll free No. 1098 childline

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

TUENSANG: 8414853766 (O) 8414853519

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE

MOKOKCHUNG:

FIRE STATIONS

STD CODE: 0369

Police Station 1: Police Station 2 :

2226241 2226214

Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home: Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):

2226216 2226263 2226373/2229343

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

222246 222491

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LOCAL

The Morung Express

Monday 28 July 2014

Indo-Myanmar meeting asserts DC visits RKVY sites in Peren district on maintaining good ties

Kohima, July 27 (mExN): The 5th Indo-Myanmar Regional Border Committee meeting was held on July 25 last in Imphal. The purpose of the meeting was to further enhance the understanding and cooperation between India and Myanmar, informed Lt Col Emron Musavi, PRO (Defence) in a press release.

The Indian delegation was led by Lt Gen SL Narasimhan, AVSM, VSM, GOC 3 Corps & comprised of members from Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs and External Affairs. The Myanmar delegation was headed by Maj Gen Min Naung, Commander North West Command. “It is matter of great pride and delight to host the 5th RBC meeting,” said Lt Gen Narasimhan while addressing the delegates.

The Indian delegation leader added that, “India and Myanmar with their rich historical and cultural ties have developed a unique close relationship over the years.

The MoU signed between both the Governments on Border Cooperation Agreement on May 8, 2014 amplifies the close relationship and resolves to carry forward bilateral relations. Therefore, such meet-

ings contribute immensely in strengthening our friendly bonds, mutual trust and cooperation.”

In his address, Maj Gen Min Naung thanked Indian delegation as well as friendly people of Manipur state for a warm welcome and wished for continued progress and prosperity in years to come. He stated, “We share a long common border and have close affinity with historical, cultural and religious background. We always think of India as a true friend.”

During the meeting, numbers of issues of common interest were discussed.

The forthright and frank discussions reflected a high degree of commitment by delegates of both the sides which is bound to further cement the friendly ties, stated the release.

“I am confident that together we will be able to bring peace, prosperity and also a better future to this region,” said Lt Gen SL Narasimhan, AVSM, VSM in his closing remarks. He added that, “these fruitful discussions will further synergize our efforts of achieving higher cooperation and understanding in time to come.”

Deputy Commissioner of Peren Peter Lichamo along with the team of Agri & Allied Departments.

pErEN, July 26 (mExN): Deputy Commissioner of Peren & Chairman, RKVY, Peter Lichamo along with the team members of Agri & Allied Departments visited RKVY sites in Tening, Peren and Jalukie on July 25 and 26. During the two days visit, Dr. Zieleigai Ndang, SDAO, Tening and R Santsu Kithan, SDAO, Jalukie chaired the programs.

The purpose of the gathering was briefly explained with proper guidelines about the Rash-

triya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) under ATMA (a convergent programme) by Henry Zeliang, District Agricultural Officer & PD ATMA, informed a press release.

Short briefing of the department activities was also highlighted by the HODs of the Agri & Allied Departments. Deputy Commissioner Peter Lichamo in his short speech encouraged the village farmers to make the best use of the opportunity given to them by

following the guidelines and work as a team with full co-operation, dedication, hard work and to be sincere in order to bring justice to work. Some of the feedbacks given by the representatives were, to organize training and demonstration so as to be well versed with the scheme provided. Also, the village farmers lauded the respective departments for all their efforts in bringing development in agri & allied sectors.

Nagaland Catholic youths participate in retreat Legal rights awareness from the Retreat Centre, campaign conducted Most Rev. Fr. John Moola-

Catholic youth from Nagaland during the annual North East Catholic Youth Retreat held in Assam from July 17 to 20.

Dimapur, July 27 (mExN): The annual North East Catholic Youth Retreat was held from July 17 to 20 at Divine Retreat Centre,

Khetri, Assam. Nagaland Catholic Youth Movement Member Megophilie Noel in a press release said that 141 youths from Nagaland,

representing different parishes led by Stephen Meyase and Lily Meyase, attended the said retreat.

Besides the preachers

chira, Archbishop of Guwahati Diocese and Fr. Dr. Augustine Padinjarekuttu from Divine Retreat Centre, Potta, enlightened the youths.

The Archbishop, speaking on prayer, said that there is no prayer book that can help a man become a man of prayer; if he wants to be a man of prayer then he has to pray.

A number of sessions on prayer, faith, Holy Bible, Youth and family, Youth and marriage, Holy Rosary and the seven Sacraments of the Church were shared to the youths. Inner healing sessions were conducted, and the youths also shared testimonies. The retreat culminated with Thanksgiving Holy Mass.

Government urged to implement NFSA effectively Kohima, July 27 (mExN): Kohima Law College (KLC), Nagaland State Legal Services Authority and NVCO conducted legal rights awareness campaign at Teacher Education of Sazolie College, Jotsoma on July 25. Kezhokhoto Savi, Lino I. Sumi, Thsarise, Medophre-u Kire, Thomas, Temsuwapangla and Medongol were the speakers.

Kezhokhoto Savi, Convenor ACAUT Nagaland (Legal Cell) & President NVCO highlighted that the chief minister made announcement on the importance to implement the National Food Security Act (NFSA) during the 5th session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on July 22. Food Security simply means availability of adequate food grains

at affordable price. This Act aims at providing food and nutritional security in human life cycle by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality foods with dignity, Savi stated. It also amounts to basic human rights, which is the right to food, he added.

“This Act aims at covering and providing food grains for 80% of the population in the rural areas and 60% in the urban areas that matter. The authority concerned, i.e. the state government is to update the list and identify the genuine beneficiaries to access the ration cards.”

The Principal of the college expressed happiness for conducting such a beneficial program in the college, a press release informed. He stated that with the learning, the 70 B.Ed students would further create more awareness to all sections of the people in the State as they are from different places of the State.

Dimapur

5

MEx FILE ANGPTA general meeting on Aug 2

Dimapur, July 27 (mExN): The All Nagaland Graduate Primary Teachers’ Association (ANGPTA) will be holding a general meeting on August 2, 10:00 am at Diphupar local ground. The association has urged the district representatives to attend without fail.

The teachers of Dimapur district have also been asked to attend the said meeting. For further details, contact: 9862817481, 9436210708, and 9856768625.

ANCSU’s 35th foundation day

Kohima, July 27 (mExN): The 35th Foundation Day of All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) will take place on August 2 at the Zonal Council Hall, Kohima at11:00 AM. Lalthara, advisor to Chief Minister of Nagaland will grace the occasion as the chief guest. ANCSU former speaker Kezhazer Angami will take time for elucidation of ANCSU while greetings will be shared by NSF speaker R.S. Jollyson and ANCSU tribunal general Kariba Chawang. ANCSU president Tsukjem Lkr will deliver presidential address. The function will be chaired by ANCSU former magazine secretary Emilo Engo Konyak while vote of thanks will be proposed by ANCSU general secretary Katho P. Awomi.

KMC directs

Kohima, July 27 (mExN): In view of the forthcoming Independence Day on August 15, the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) has directed all the shopkeepers, institutions, establishments, agencies and public within the jurisdiction of Kohima municipality to white wash the front side of their buildings and shops facing the road side on or before August 10 to facelift the capital city of Nagaland. Further, the KMC directed all the shops/business establishments to hoist National Flag on top of their shops and building by 6:00 AM on August 15.

KLRSU condemns ‘autocratic action’ of state govt Junior Red Cross Summer Camp in Mokokchung

Dimapur, July 27 (mExN): The Kyong Lower Range Students' Union (KLRSU) has expressed resentment over what it termed as the “autocratic action of the state government and the inhumane barbaric behaviour on the innocent student’s community” on July 21 at Champang. A press note from

the KLRSU stated that “no adequate Police outpost or unit can be sacrificed for the people of the area leaving us at the mer cy of Assam Police on the daily basis whereas for greedy extraction of the fruit of the soil, it can sent battalion of arm forces to suppress the peaceful and right action of the student’s community.”

NSCB organises Financial literacy camp moKoKchuNg, July 27 (mExN): The Nagaland State Cooperative Bank Ltd, Changtongya Branch led by Branch Manager Nchumthung Kikon, organized a Financial Literacy Consultancy & Credit Camp at Akhoya Village on July 25. NABARD and NSRLM, Mokokchung supported the camp.

Around 70 participants from in and around the village attended the camp. Officials from NSCB sensitized and highlighted the importance of Bank linkages, the various services offered and facilities extended by the Bank.

SDO (C) Changtongya, MS Thangpong called upon each and every villager to be aware of and learn to utilize the facilities provided by different government departments. In terms of banking linkages, he stressed on being responsible for the loan one has availed from the bank stating timely repayment will ensure further productive results.

He also advised the Village Council members to devise an internal mechanism to guarantee that villagers repay their loans in the given time.

This, it stated “speaks volume on the intention of the state government.”

It condemned the “physical assault and humiliating verbal abuse on the President, Kyong Student Union by the Armed Forces deployed...” and “the inappropriate blanket imposition of CrPc 144 particularly only on the Student’s

community which resulted in physical injury, mental trauma and psychological damage to the volunteers during peaceful protest.”

It further extended support to the “right cause” of the Kyong Students Union on the oil issue “for the larger interest of the Nagas younger generation in general and the Lothas in particular.”

DDCF honours toppers from Dimapur schools

Dimapur , July 27 (mExN): The Dimapur District Citizens' Forum (DDCF) held a felicitation program for the toppers of HSLC & HSSLC, 2014 from schools of Dimapur district. The programme was held at the conference hall of DDCF in Naga Shopping Arcade, OC-8, in the presence of parents, executive members of DDCF, and public leaders, informed a press release.

Leaders, parents and students spoke at the function.

Some of the main speakers were Marian Rao, Executive Secretary (Non - Official) of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and retired Prof. KP Avikasit. One

speaker each representing the parents and students spoke on the difference in education system of Nagaland and other parts of India. They appealed that the present curriculum of Nagaland needs to be changed so students will not be in shock when they face national common exams, stated the note.

Various community leaders from Lotha Hoho Dimapur, Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur, Rongmei Community Dimapur, Kachari Tribal Council Nagaland, Garo Tribal Council Nagaland, Marwari Samaj, Bengali Samaj, Punjabi Community Dimapur, Muslim Council Dimapur, Gorkha Union Dimapur attended the program.

SPHS wins Fr. Stany Coelho SJ memorial quiz Kohima, July 27 (mExN): Jesuit Schools of Nagaland (JESON) conducted quiz competition for Southern Angami High Schools in memory of late Fr. Stany Coelho SJ. All the private high schools participated in the event.

Sir Balasis M was the quiz master. St Paul High School (SPHS), Phesama emerged as the champion and Sacred Heart School Khuzama bagged the runner up title.

Late Fr Stany Coelho SJ was a famous educationist who worked tirelessly in 1970s to start many high schools in Southern Angami area. “As the fruit of his hard labour we have at present five high schools and other middle schools. The quiz competition conducted by the JESON is a tribute to this

Participants of late Fr. Stany Coelho SJ quiz competition conducted by Jesuit Schools of Nagaland.

great visionary and pioneer of Jesuit high schools in Southern Angami area,” stated a press note issued

by St. Paul Institute of Education, Phesama.

The principal of St. Paul Institute of Education, Phesama welcomed the participants and gave

a brief life sketch of Late Fr. Stany Coelho SJ. Rev. Sr. Tessin, FCC vice-Principal of St Paul Institute of Education, Phesama gave away the prizes to the winners. Rev. Fr. Victor D’ Mello SJ, coordinator of JESON and Principal of Loyola Hr. Sec.

School Jakhama thanked all the participants and especially St Paul High School staff and students for hosting the event. In his address, he stressed on the need for immediate measure to improve the general knowledge of the students.

moKoKchuNg, July 27 (mExN): Indian Red Cross Society, Mokokchung district branch organized Junior Red Cross Summer Camp 2014 at Eden Academy, Mokokchung on July 26. The event was held with the theme “Seven Pillars of Red Cross.”

A press release informed that 130 participants from Junior Red Cross units of Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School, Senayangba Government Higher Secondary School, Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School, Canaan Christian Higher Secondary School, and Government High School Mokokchung Village attended the camp.

Several competitions were held during the camp. In the school wise enactment on response to disaster and accident, Government High School, Mokokchung Village won the first prize and Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School second prize.

In the Rescue Rally, following were the winners: 1st Prize: Imtilemla - Canaan Christian Higher Secondary School, Imlitula

Students participate in painting competition during the Junior Red Cross Summer Camp 2014 at Eden Academy, Mokokchung on July 26.

- Canaan Christian Higher Secondary School, Sapna Rai - Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School, Lohwang - Government High School Mokokchung Village, Tazul Islam - Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School, and Siameu Pame - Government High School Mokokchung Village. 2nd Prize: Bandhana - Canaan Christian Higher Secondary School, Yashisangla - Canaan Christian Higher Secondary School, Renuka Pradhan - Ma-

yangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School, Akumtemsu - Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School, Songlekumba - Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School, and Chetei - Senayangba Government Higher Secondary School.

Quiz competition winners: 1st Prize: Renuka - Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School, and Akumtemsu - Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School. 2nd Prize: Samu-

el - Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School, and Meyakaba - Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School.

Essay competition winners: 1st Prize: Ghazal Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School. 2nd Prize: Sentiwala - Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School.

Meanwhile, winners in the painting competition were: 1st Prize: Leshei - Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School.

2nd Prize: Akumpong Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School.

Central Police Organizations Spiritual awakening program held debate on Human Rights

Dimapur, July 27 (mExN): The North East Zone Inter Central Police Organisation debate competition on Human Rights was organised at ARTC & S, Sukhovi on July 26. Six teams representing CPOs based in Northeast, comprising BSF, CRPF, CISF, SSB, ITBP and Assam Rifles participated.

A press note informed that DIG (Police) L. Bendang Lemtur, DIG, Medical Superintendent, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, and Chief Editor, Eastern Mirror, Bano Haralu were present at the programme. The topic of the debate was “Security forces are ineffective without respect for Human Rights.”

Chief Guest Maj Gen Pankaj Sachdeva, ADGAR Shillong enlightened the audience on the essential provisions of the law affecting Human Rights and their effective use.

He emphasized that people in uniform must constantly strive to adhere to the law of the land and operate within the directives of the

government. He gave valuable tips to the speakers about technique of debating. He also gave away the prizes to the winning teams.

A total of 24 speakers debated on the topic in Hindi and English with 12 speakers each For and Against the motion. The main aim of the debate was to sensitize the troops about Human Rights and importance of their strict observance while dealing with the public, said the release.

The team of BSF and CISF secured 1st position in Hindi and English categories respectively and Assam Rifles secured second in both the languages. The CISF and SSB teams secured third position in Hindi and English respectively. BSF (Hindi), CISF (English) and Assam Rifles (English and Hindi) would represent the North East Zone in the semi-finals and finals of the Inter CPOs Debate Competition scheduled to be held in New Delhi during September- October 2014.

JaKhama, July 27 (mExN): The Christian Fellowship Zhodi, Jakhama, organised a ‘Spiritual Awakening’ program for the students of St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama, from July 25 to 27 with the theme “Kingdom of God”. It was sponsored by the Mission Board of Jakhama Baptist Church. The speakers were Dr. Kethoser Kevichusa, Ministry Associate, Ravi Zacharia International Ministries and Rev. Dr. Mechiehol Savi, Co-ordinator for School Education, Nagaland Baptist Church Council, informed a press release.

The resource persons for the business sessions were Adv. Kezhokhoto Savi, who spoke on “Finding God’s Will in Career”; and Tosovise Tase, who spoke on “Civic Sense”. According to the note, the first day saw attendance of many students. The greeting message was brought by Ketholeho Kulnu, Church Board Chairman, JBC. The second day of the program had group song competition hostel wise.

The judges were: Keneiprazhü Tase, Vibozoto Yiene, and Kole-e Zhotso.

6

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express MonDAy 28 July 2014 voluME IX IssuE 205

Along Longkumer Consulting Editor

For the Good of the Game…

T

he FIFA World Cup in Brazil has just ended. Over a billion people are reported to have watched the finals on July 13. In spite of many limitations— geographical boundaries, political divisions, economic struggle and social concerns—nothing it seems could daunt people’s enthusiasm for the FIFA World Cup. The keen interest that was generated by this mega event would have been hopefully tapped into something positive, drawing from the goodwill that sports can create. It was however very unfortunate that many places around the world continue to see political violence and killing of innocent people whether it is Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Kenya, Congo, Ukraine, Palestine, Afghanistan etc. This is the ugly side of the world we live in where killing and bloodshed continue to influence the thinking of those who want to destroy peace and understanding. Hopefully, our children will be able to celebrate the joys of life—peace, happiness and prosperity. For this we must encourage games and sports as vehicles of goodwill and diplomacy—to make the world a better place to live in.

Coming back to soccer, since this is the most popular sports among the Nagas, it is hoped that the FIFA World Cup event would have been able to provide a new positive outlook to problems at hand. Since Nagas are a sports loving community and because soccer is something that unifies the people, let us hope that the FIFA games over the last one month would have inculcated a spirit of sportsmanship, honesty, punctuality, team spirit, leadership and obedience. Sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup is a time for both entertainment and educating on the morals of life. The game should also make us disciplined citizens and provide us a good training for playing the game of life with ‘sportsmanship’. While winning is important, at the end however it is how one has played the game. This raises the question of fairness, honesty in everyday life. This is also a time to educate ourselves about respecting authority, of our responsibilities and duties, whether as a student, administrator, teacher or a political leader.

And just as a sportsman who is expected to be always level headed, cool, tolerant and courteous, we need good citizens. When indiscipline is on the rise in our Naga society, much inspiration has to be drawn from such qualities expected of a sportsperson. Likewise soccer is as much a team game as it is made up of individual skills and talent.

As there is no substitute for hard work, similarly a game can hardly be won by depending only on individual brilliance.

It is the spirit of the team and the cooperation that goes with it, which becomes the recipe for victory. A nation and its people who cannot learn to work together can likewise be denied of victory. At the end, as the FIFA slogan: it has to be “For the good of the game”. This philosophy is as much applicable to the Nagas, especially in the present context against the many challenges that we face—to work for the common good of our people, nation and to a shared future.

(Feedback can be sent to consultingeditormex@gmail.com)

lEfT wiNg |

Nury Vittachi IANS

So, gender issues can be confusing

I

was so outraged when an American friend said that Asian males were kind of "girly" that I almost hit him with my shoulder bag. But instead I just gave him a cold stare and turned back to my Hello Kitty collection.

Westerners have bizarre ideas about gender. A recent book said that the original British plan to get rid of Hitler was to turn him into a woman. Spymasters tried to get estrogen slipped into Adolf's meals to make him "pliable and easy to handle", according to a report sent to me. Pliable and easy to handle? Had these British guys ever met a woman? Lucky they failed, or World War II could have turned seriously unpleasant.

Gender issues are on my mind because a reader sent me details of a daring recent criminal operation. A gang of villains got hold of 70 sheep penises and sewed them between the legs of 70 female sheep (the technical terms being "ewes", "girl sheep" or "sheepesses"). The gang then tried to smuggle the sheepesses out of Sudan, which only allows the export of male sheep (technically known as "rams", "boy sheep" or "sheepmen").

Border guards were about to let them through when Dripleg the Ewe, standing at the back of the flock, decided that she really, really "needed to go".

The reader told me: "She did not go to the toilet like a male, but like a female," which presumably means that she didn't stand at the far end of a wall with her eyes fixed pointedly downwards, but got together a group of girlfriends who disappeared with their handbags for 20 minutes.

The border guards were shocked. "These are girl sheep wearing sewn-on male genitalia" they exclaimed, and impounded the lot. The ewe-smugglers were incensed, which is hardly surprising. If you spent your whole weekend sewing genitalia on to live animals, you'd expect a pay off, right? (Important note: I have not actually done this.)

But you know what? Disguising "Animal A" as "Animal B" is more common than you think. Never trust zookeepers!

Last year, a zoo in the People's Park of Luohe, in the central Chinese province of Henan, displayed a suspiciously compact creature in the enclosure labelled "African Lion". When visitors approached, it started barking - it was a disguised dog. The zoo's leopard was a fox. Its wolf was a mongrel. At the Marah Land Zoo in Gaza City, the zebras were a pair of white donkeys painted with black stripes. After these cases were publicised by the crusading media, I suspect many small zoos around the world responded quickly to avoid liability - by re-labeling all their exhibits "Animal".

An Australian friend reading over my shoulder has just told me that a politician in her country had a six-pack surgically added to his torso. Ewww. I didn't know that was even possible. I told her to make sure he doesn't get any ideas from Sudanese sheepesse exporters carrying sewing kits. I don't even want to think about that, so I am going back to discussing matters of great importance with the rest of the guys in my favourite chat room. Guys: did you know that Hello Kitty collectible earrings are now $3,000 a pair?

C O M M E N T A R Y

THE EDIT PAGE

Kelvin Chan and Jack Chang Associated Press

In Chinese shadow, Hong Kong fights for its Future

A

s skyscrapers around Hong Kong harbor erupted into a reverie of laser beams and giant digital displays during their synchronized nightly light show, one innocuous 28-story building near the water's edge had stayed dark for months, clad in bamboo scaffolding for a face-lift.

Then, in June, the renovated tower came to life, flashing giant Chinese characters that some in Hong Kong saw as a warning.

"People's Liberation Army," it said.

Many in this prosperous city had already feared that Hong Kong's future as an open society as well as a semiautonomous part of China was in jeopardy in the face of perceived growing intervention from Beijing. Tens of thousands of people had turned out days earlier for an annual vigil to commemorate victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, while an unprecedented policy "white paper" declaring Beijing's irrevocable control over the territory had generated furious debate about Hong Kong's future.

Now, after the Chinese military building had kept a low profile for years, its brief debut in the city's beloved "Symphony of Lights" felt like nothing less than a show of force 17 years after the British handed the territory back to Chinese control.

"It's a logo of red Chinese colonization," said Billy Chiu Hin-chung, one of four people arrested last year after storming the army building while waving Hong Kong's colonial British-era flag.

Chiu's group was angry that, near the military building, in the heart of the harbor, a prime slice of waterfront had been fenced off for exclusive use as a dock by the Chinese navy's visiting warships.

"If Hong Kong people don't obey the Communist Party," Chiu predicted, "the army will come and fight us."

From the bustling streets of this legendary port city of 7.2 million people to its air-conditioned offices in sleek towers high above the harbor, Hong Kongers are indeed picking sides in a looming battle over what's to come.

People here have long prided themselves on providing what they consider a stable, sophisticated alternative to Communist China that despite its small population enjoys the world's 36th-biggest economy and runs the globe's sixth-richest stock exchange.

But now, Hong Kongers say the soul of their society is coming under attack as they grow wary of the Communist Party's rising sway with top officials and see the flood of cross-border Chinese shoppers (dubbed "locusts" for their voracious buying habits and supposed bad manners). Hundreds of thousands of residents have been fighting back in street protests, while others are already mobilizing to move rather than live under Beijing's influence.

All over the territory, which covers an area slightly smaller than Los Angeles, Hong Kongers see evidence pointing to historic changes to their liberal-minded way of life.

Much of the battle centers on democratic reform, with Beijing having promised to allow voters to elect their leader for the first time starting in 2017. But the lack of details about that plan has fed demands for genuine democracy rather than what many say will be a Beijing-manipulated government more worried about mainland approval than the well-being of Hong Kongers.

Last week, the city's leader, Leung Chun-ying, who was hand-picked by a committee of mostly proBeijing elites, kicked off the electoral overhaul by formally asking China's legislature for constitutional changes to allow residents to elect the next chief executive. However, his report said "mainstream opinion" wanted the elite committee to again pick candidates, setting the stage for a confrontation with democracy groups, who vow to freeze the financial district with protests if the public isn't allowed to choose candidates free of China's vetting.

Already, the pro-Beijing influence is threatening a disciplined civil service corps that had long upheld transparency and the rule of law, rather than political-minded favoritism, says Anson Chan, a democracy activist who was Hong Kong's chief secretary and No. 2 official from 1993 to 2001.

"If the government gives the community the impression that it doesn't listen," she says, "then the community feels that the only way of making this government listen is to take to the streets."

In the eyes of Chan and others, Beijing's influence has also hit the city's thriving private media.

Most newspapers no longer run stories critical of the Chinese government, and even multinational banks HSBC and Standard Chartered recently raised suspicions by pulling advertising from the city's sole pro-democracy newspaper, the Apple Daily. HSBC said in a statement that the advertising decision was purely commercial, and Standard Chartered said it came after a review of their advertising strategy.

In a report released this month, Hong Kong's journalists' association called the past 12 months "the darkest for press freedom for several decades," citing among other events a cleaver attack in February that left an outspoken former editor at the Ming Pao newspaper in critical condition. Last year, the French press watchdog group Reporters Without Borders ranked Hong Kong 61st in press freedom, a steep fall from No. 18 in 2002.

"For someone who is used to an open society, that is something really alarming and concerning," says Shirley Yam, the journalists' association's vice chairwoman. "Hong Kong is a major financial center, and the reason that Hong Kong has been able to become a major financial center is freedom of information and press freedom."

For many, the most troubling blow came last month with the white paper.

It argued that Hong Kong's autonomy was entirely at Beijing's discretion and that "loving the country is the basic political requirement for Hong Kong's

In this June 29, 2014 photo, a girl runs with a Chinese national flag and a Hong Kong flag at a military base during an open day event of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Hong Kong. Many in this prosperous city-state had already feared that Hong Kong’s future as an open society as well as a semiautonomous part of China was in jeopardy in the face of growing intervention from Beijing. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

administrators," including its judges. In the view of Chan and other critics of Beijing, that policy violated Chinese promises to respect Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, which mainland leaders famously dubbed "one country, two systems."

The expressions of outrage were immediate. Even Hong Kong's lawyers, a typically reserved group who dress for court in wigs and black robes in a system based on English common law, hit the streets by the hundreds to protest the white paper.

"We are definitely at a crossroads," Chan says.

"Hong Kong people are growing increasingly angry and frustrated, and I think something has to give."

Trying to calm the lawyers' concerns, Hong Kong Justice Secretary Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung said the white paper wouldn't require judges to make any "political or other inappropriate" considerations while deciding cases.

Pro-government Hong Kong legislators also say critics are overdramatizing the Chinese threat to the city's way of life. Instead, they warn that protesters who plan to shut down the city center are the real danger.

"Democrats should not use fighting means to achieve their own purposes," says Christopher Cheung Wah-fung, a legislator and businessman who runs a stock brokerage firm.

"Keeping the dialogue," he says, "is better than confrontation."

In the face of growing turmoil, some in the city say they're looking to use British, Canadian or American passports and move away. That evokes the chaotic scene before the 1997 handover when hundreds of thousands left in fear of the Chinese government after its troops killed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

With Chinese President Xi Jinping's hard-line approach in China and the region, those fears have returned. Domestic opponents have been arrested and silenced, and neighboring Asian countries are on the defensive over Chinese territorial claims.

"One country, two systems is collapsing," says Ray Kwan, a 23-year old engineering graduate from Hong Kong University who wants to emigrate — to the United States, he hopes.

Property prices in Hong Kong have doubled since 2009 amid an influx of wealthy mainland Chinese, raising Kwan's doubts that he can ever afford to raise a family in his native city.

"You have to compete with 1.3 billion people, with all of China," Kwan says. "So my way of helping myself is just to leave."

That pessimism is spreading even among those who barely remember the days of British rule, according to a Hong Kong University survey conducted last month.

The poll found that the share of adults who said they felt proud to be a Chinese citizen sank to only a third, while the proportion who had a negative view of the central government's policies on Hong Kong rose to its highest level since the survey started in 1999.

"The younger the respondent, the less proud one feels of becoming a Chinese national citizen, and also more negative about the central government's policies on Hong Kong," says pollster Robert Chung.

Yet amid the despair, thousands of young people as well as veterans like Chan are taking action to demand more democracy. As many as 800,000 Hong Kongers voted in an activist-sponsored online referendum last month about the future of the city's government, despite vocal displeasure from Beijing, which called the vote illegal. Massive protests filled the city days later in the biggest march in years marking the city's July 1, 1997, return to Chinese rule.

"I think I will stay in Hong Kong until the last minute," said Joshua Wong, a 17-year-old who helps lead the group Scholarism, which formed in 2011 to denounce plans to introduce pro-Beijing "moral and national" education in Hong Kong's schools. "This is the place I was born, and I love it. But if we stay silent, the situation will only get worse."

The most visible pro-democracy group — a loose coalition that calls itself Occupy Central with Love and Peace — plans to rally at least 10,000 people to blockade the Central business district in its push for

democratic reforms that meet international standards. The plan has alarmed some in Hong Kong's business community, normally a bystander when it comes to politics. Some foreign business chambers and the Big Four accounting firms have voiced their opposition with newspaper ads, but a small group of finance workers support the movement, saying that Beijing's influence is undermining the economy of this Asian financial hub.

Benny Tai, a Hong Kong University law professor and one of the architects of Occupy Central, said the protest plan is a last-ditch resort to pressure the government in case all other tactics fail.

"It's just playing a game of chicken," said Tai. "They will not send the soldiers because it's too big a statement for Beijing."

Pro-Beijing lawmakers, who dominate the legislature, say stability is more important than democracy at all costs and warn of the damage they say such protests can exact on Hong Kong. In one sign of Beijing's sensitivities to Hong Kong public opinion, the People's Liberation Army stopped flashing its name across its building after the test run in June prompted worried headlines and online outcry.

If the city doesn't get democracy, it would be a disappointment, "but life is full of disappointment," says Robert Chow, spokesman for the group Silent Majority, which produced a video in June warning that paralyzing the downtown would be like "a knife in the heart" of Hong Kong. His group has started its own petition opposing the Occupy Central rallies. "It is not the best situation, but it is an acceptable situation for Hong Kong."

"I think Beijing is doing a good job in China. And the Communist government in Beijing is doing all the right things about Hong Kong that it's supposed to be doing," Chow said. "Hong Kong is the proverbial rabbit who thinks he's going to beat the tortoise forever, but they forget that's not the tortoise. It's a super tortoise that runs fast or faster."

On the street, Hong Kongers notice the everyday signs of China's expanding influence. They talk of the growing competition for jobs from mainlanders and how Chinese tourists — an astonishing 40.1 million last year — cut in line to board buses and trains and eat on the subway, an affront to Hong Kongers used to order.

Housewife Chan Man-yin, who lives in the city's northern suburbs near the border with the mainland, said she sometimes can't find basic necessities for her 2-year-old daughter because of mainland Chinese flooding across to shop.

In particular, she's seen parents and store owners from nearby Shenzhen travel to Hong Kong several times a week to stock up on milk powder, fearful of tainted formula in China that sickened thousands of children in 2008. Much of the milk powder in Hong Kong is imported from Europe and is believed to be safer.

"I've walked to 20 stores in a day sometimes to look for milk powder," Chan said outside a shop, with her daughter watching from her stroller. "I'm just asking that they don't buy so much. Just give other people a chance."

Chan admitted that like many of her neighbors, she's watched Hong Kong change in ways she fears are irreversible.

"We're all scared," she said. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. I'm afraid for my free speech rights. My personal rights are very important to me."

For Roger Chen, who moved from the mainland to Hong Kong a year ago for a job at a hedge fund, Hong Kongers are only feeling insecure in the face of China's booming economy, which has eclipsed the territory's importance as a commercial gateway to the mainland.

Not much has changed in the territory as far as he can see, he said, and the protesters seem only to be looking for a convenient target for their frustration.

In the end, Chen said, he was confident China would become more like Hong Kong and adopt more of its liberal policies, rather than the other way around.

"Beijing has no intention to break their deal," Chen said at a Starbucks cafe as his pregnant wife nodded. "Hong Kong is more like a child of Beijing.

It's a very cherished child of China."

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 PERSPECTIVE old story, new twists in gaza war

Monday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

28 JUly 2014

T

NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

India's two Gazas: One in parliament, another at UN

dan Perry Associated Press

he third Gaza war is playing out much like the first one more than five years ago: The harrowing civilian toll in Gaza is now at the center of the discourse, eclipsing the rocket attacks

by Hamas militants that were the stated reason for the Israeli assault. Then as now, a question persists: Beyond the carnage, are Israel's airstrikes against civilian locations achieving anything at all? It ended messily for Israel in 2009. A U.N. commission investigated, Israel refused to cooperate, and the resulting report — since then partly disavowed by its own author, former South African judge Richard Goldstone — said Israel deliberately targeted civilians and might have committed war crimes, along with Hamas.

About 1,400 Palestinians, including many hundreds of civilians, were killed in the operation dubbed "Cast Lead," along with 13 Israelis. After 18 days this year, the civilian death toll of operation "Protective Edge" is at similar levels — and the proportion is higher. Israel's argument is similar as well: Hamas is to blame not only for attacking a much-stronger power with rockets, but also for operating from within heavily populated residential areas, as well as mosques, hospitals and schools.

Navi Pillay, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said Wednesday that some of the recent Israeli attacks, including those on homes and on a care center for the disabled, raise "a strong possibility that international law has been violated in a manner that could amount to war crimes."

She also condemned indiscriminate Hamas attacks — including 3,000 rockets fired since July 8 that have killed several civilians in Israel — and said storing military equipment in civilian areas or launching attacks from there is unacceptable. But "the actions of one party do not absolve the other party of the need to respect its obligations under international law," she added. International law can be a fuzzy and subjective thing, its application dependent on circumstances. The wider context also affects the degree of political pressure on Israel to stop. So it is important to note that there are also key differences between now and 2009. Here's a comparative look: THE ROCKETS HAVE MORE RANGE It is hard for outsiders to grasp the meaning, to Israelis, of Tel Aviv. The seaside metropolis of about 2 million is prosperous and fun, and an easy, generally liberal atmosphere prevails. It is a place of high tech, of electric nightlife, of diverse and highly Westernized culture, of surfing and gay pride parades. It is essential to an often unspoken but profound feeling that many Israelis cling to, which oddly aligns with what Arab critics would say: That they somehow do not belong in the Middle East.

In 2009, Hamas was firing relatively small projectiles with minimal range, mostly aimed at border communities surrounding the blockaded Gaza Strip. These are gritty places: hardscrabble towns that are relatively poor; or kibbutz farming communities whose people are often idealistic and pioneering. The people under fire there were certainly displeased, but by and large had no illusions about where they live. Now Hamas is firing at Tel Aviv, which is 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the strip, and even at some cities beyond. One landed near Tel Aviv's airport, causing U.S. and European airlines to suspend flights. Millions are living with the threat of rockets every day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can go on TV and ask Americans what they would do if New York or Chicago were under constant rocket attack. The argument resonates, the world seems to be listening, and even many in the Arab world agree.

So Israel gets more room to maneuver.

S

In this December 20, 2008, file photo, masked Palestinian militants from Islamic Jihad place homemade rockets before later firing them into Israel on the outskirts of Gaza City. In 2009, a prominent human rights group said there was "strong evidence" that Gaza's Hamas rulers committed war crimes by allowing militants to fire rockets from the territory, killing civilians in Israel. The third Gaza war is playing out very much like the first one some five years ago: We are now at the stage where the harrowing civilian toll in Gaza is at the center of the discourse, eclipsing the rocket attacks by Hamas militants which are the reason for the Israeli assault. In 2009, Hamas was firing relatively small projectiles with minimal range, mostly aimed at border communities surrounding the blockaded Gaza Strip. Now Hamas is firing at Tel Aviv, which is 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the strip, and even at some cities beyond. (AP Photo/Ashraf Amra/File)

particular way. The Islamic militant group had legitimately won Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006, was denied the share of power it wanted

by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, and in a little over a year had battled its way to full control of Gaza. It promised cleaner government than the Palestinian Authority and was relatively popular as a result. Israelis and much of the world, remembering suicide bombings and bus attacks, rejected Hamas as a terrorist group, to be blockaded and shunned. But in the Arab world at least, there was a veneer of legitimacy. Hamas had powerful supporters in Iran and the Gulf, and neighboring Egypt was not openly an enemy back then.

Much has happened since in the Arab world, and it hasn't helped Hamas. The Arab Spring brought a wave of Islamist successes, following by a widespread sense of their misrule. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, which largely spawned Hamas, is now outlawed; its leaders are on trial and the group is portrayed by media as terrorists. Jihadis cut from a similar cloth as Hamas are considered in leading Arab circles to have brought destruction and disgrace in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Egypt's own Sinai region.

There is not much love for Israel in the Arab world, and growing horror at the civilian deaths in Gaza. But many in the region seem nonetheless pleased to see Hamas get hammered, and some would be happier still to see it gone. The Obama administration seems more involved in the region than that of President George W. Bush in its final days: Secretary of State John Kerry and other international negotiators are scrambling around the Middle East, but genuine pressure seems lacking.

More maneuvering room for Israel.

NETANYAHU IS NO OLMERT There are two kinds of governments in Israel when it comes to the heart of the matter, which is peace with the Palestinians and the possibility of a Palestinian state. One kind was in power during "Cast Lead." Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was clearly committed to pulling out of the West Bank one way or another and was making rather far-reaching offers to Abbas: a state in all of Gaza and the vast IT'S NOT THE SAME HAMAS majority of the West Bank, and a share in JerusaHamas rode relatively high in 2009, in its own lem. For a variety of reasons no deal was struck, but

Olmert was perceived as serious on the Palestinian issue. This opens doors and spreads positivity, and Israel enjoyed some space as a result.

It's a very different story under Netanyahu. He dropped his lifelong opposition to a Palestinian state in recent years — but his terms are very far from those of the Palestinians. Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank is roaring ahead, and nine months of peace talks got scarcely beyond quibbles and procedure. Netanyahu's own party continues to oppose a Palestinian state, and there is a sense of a wink about his moves in this regard. And so the region and the world view him with considerable suspicion. If he were fighting anyone but Hamas, the atmosphere for Israel would be most uncomfortable by now.

A SENSE OF PREDICTABLE FUTILITY During the 2008-9 campaign, it was not exactly clear what the outcome would be. Would Hamas break under the assault? Would the people of Gaza blame Hamas for their suffering and overthrow the group? Is victory possible? It was not even clear whether Israel ruled out reoccupying the strip, from which it had withdrawn four years earlier.

The answers to those questions are clearer now. In both campaigns, as well as another one in late 2012, Hamas has shown that it will simply continue firing rockets no matter what the outcome to the people of Gaza. Hamas does not seem on the verge of being overthrown despite its heavy-handed rule. And the people actually support Hamas' stated goal of ending the Israeli-Egyptian blockade so much that there seems to be scant pressure on Hamas to give in. On the Israeli side, there is minimal desire to retake the inhospitable strip.

It's also clear that Israel's various efforts to minimize the deaths with a variety of warnings aren't working well. For the third time, the world sees images of whole families buried under rubble, of children in a morgue. And for all its claims of precision, Israel's military is having trouble producing detailed explanations of why any particular building was hit.

It lends a sense of predictable futility to the proceedings, and raises questions in Israel itself about the strategy. The answer tends to be that doing nothing in response to rocket fire on cities is not an option. That logic dominates the Israeli discourse for now. But to many, it is starting to feel uncomfortable nonetheless.

The Morung Express

Saeed naqvi IANS

ushma Swaraj's statement on Palestine in the Rajya Sabha so pleased Jerusalem that Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman thanked her that evening over the telephone. But the goodwill thus generated was fading by Wednesday when New Delhi, having changed its mind, voted with the resolution at the UN "condemning Israel for disproportionate use of force in Gaza".

Twenty-nine of UN Human Rights Council's 47 members voted in favour of creating a commission of inquiry to look at possible war crimes committed by Israel. Only the US voted against while 17 states abstained, including 10 European states. "Along with the BRICS, India reaffirmed its commitment to a two state solution with a contiguous and economically viable Palestine State," with "East Jerusalem as its capital".

The altered stand has caused the foreign ministry in Jerusalem and its missions at the UN to work overtime trying to persuade New Delhi not to veer away from the special relationship it now has with the Jewish state. The Israeli embassy in New Delhi must feel a little handicapped because it has in place only an ambassador designate.

Efforts are on to fast-forward his presentation of credentials. The US embassy too is in the hands of a stop-gap ambassador. There is a view that the discrepancy between the statement in parliament and endorsement of the UNHRC resolution could have been avoided had the external affairs minister accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the BRICS summit in Fortaleza, Brazil.

The extent to which BRICS conditions Modi's understanding of foreign affairs will become clearer during his meeting with President Barack Obama in September. The Israelis have been quick to point that of all the BRICS countries they consider India their close ally. Hence their disappointment with the UNHRC vote.

In 1990, India had lost its central pillar in foreign affairs with the collapse of the Soviet Union. A nervous New Delhi did not merely shift, it lurched towards the US and Israel. The process of opening embassies in Tel Aviv and New Delhi was speeded up by P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1991.

Even after the exchange of ambassadors, there was very little movement in bilateral ties, inviting then Foreign Minister Shimon Peres' satirical remark during his visit to India in 1992: "Indo-Israeli relations are like French perfume: they are to be smelt, not drunk."

Substance in the relationship came after the Kargil war in 1999 when Israel supplied India with ammunition for its artillery. There has been no looking back. In fact, the US-Israel duet became the most powerful influence on the conduct of Indian foreign policy.

The affair with the US reached its peak with the Civil Nuclear Deal of 2005. Then, by voting for a Western sponsored resolution at the IAEA in Vienna, meant to reprimand Iran, India signaled a final goodbye to its long-standing policy of non-alignment.

That step pleased Washington and Jerusalem quite as much as Sushma Swaraj's statement in the Rajya Sabha. Israeli newspapers like Jerusalem Post also applauded her stand that "the present conflict in Gaza could have been ended and peace restored by now if Hamas had accepted the ceasefire proposal from Egypt". Unfortunately, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi shares Saudi Arabia's visceral hatred for the Muslim Brotherhood which was once Egypt's lifeline to Hamas in Gaza. Egypt discussed the proposed ceasefire with Israel but not with Hamas. Hence Hamas' rejection of the proposal.

There are other reasons for Hamas' defiance. When war breaks out, the first casualty is the truth. Since the US (and Israel) has been involved in a near continuous chain of wars in the Arab world since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Western media has been purveying propaganda. The result of this diminishing credibility is that Israel may well be losing the propaganda war in this round.

In a recent Al Jazeera TV discussion, social media experts in Jerusalem, London and Johannesburg established that Israeli government propaganda on the social media received only 200,000 tweets as opposed to 4.5 million received by Hamas. Another study, cited by the British expert on the panel, Ben White, shows that support for Israel in the US has dwindled to 57 percent. Surely, New Delhi too must be alert to these trends. This, in addition to the fact that millions of Indians work in Arab lands must be a sobering thought. The Arabs whom Indians live with (if not the rulers) are sympathetic to the Palestinian victims of an asymmetrical war.

POLL RESuLTS

Do you agree that lanD for national highways in nagalanD shoulD be given free of cost without compensation?

Some of those who voted YES had this to say: • Big Yes! Why Nagas are so foolish and so selfish?

• Yes … I agree free of cost without compensation. The Naga road is more important than compensation.

• Yes, as its public property use for everyone's betterment.

• Yes, roads r for those that r compensated or they should not ply roads • Yes, on one condition if the Govt compensate those land owners and also there should be mutual understanding between both of them because new national highway is also mean for our state development and compensation for land owners also be given.

• Yes, for the development of our state, a few part of our land can be given for free.

• Yes. Should take the opportunity to get a National Highway. Its not for sale and its not easy to get one to be sanctioned /approved. The present declaration for four NH is in fact a great achievement. If the other projects like the four lane from Dimapur to Kohima is lying so long for implementation because of compensation, to avoid such situation we need to donate/part our land for the welfare of our state. If a good NH road passes your land its automatic that the value of your land will be increased plus you'll also enjoy the smooth ride.

Some of those who voted no had this to say: • From the standpoint of the common people it’s a NO! Our politicians and bureaucrats and a few people having links with these two groups just simply siphon away all the money which is meant for the people. A trend has been set and mind you Naga Christians are having a field day indulging in corruption wholeheartedly. Coming back to the point, it is only fair that a reasonable amount of compensation be given to landowners. When people in position can so unscrupulously take away what is not meant for them, wont it be fair to pay to a person for what rightfully belongs to him.

• Land can't be given free. Land which we have inherited from our ancestors how can we give it away

freely? However the landowner when it is for public good should demand reasonable rates and not make it look like their gravy train has arrived.

• Where in the world can one get land that is 'free'? Nothing is free. In fact there is a standing government policy that private land should be well compensated when acquired for public utility.

• No. in the case of unoccupied land there won’t be much problem giving up in the name of development.

But those land already occupied cannot be give up.

Only a fool can.

• I don't agree. But yes possibility is there in Rural areas.

• No. Reasonable compensation should be given as per law • No. Most of the land owner depend on land • No. Because That will amount to jeopardising Article 371(A) which is exclusively for our people.

However land owners must agree to minimum compensation. That will safeguard our RIGHTS without hampering the development.

• No. Adequate compensation should be provided.

And after that the land owner should also not inYES no terfere in the process.

• No, Because all the land owners are depending on it • Nothing comes for free these days, not even our own breakfast or lunch. What is reasonable should be given to the rightful owners and after taking pos-

75%

16%

session/acquiring the land, work should start immediately so that no 'land pattas' are issued illegally for roadside buildings/shops...etc etc...

• No.. How come free, if a man bought a plot of land and the government ask its free for roads can he agree for this?

• Nothing gt by free. So atleast some % should be given to land owner • No. There should FairPlay on both sides • No...Both parties should carry lesser burden...I support minimum compensation...

• No, that’s absurd.... there should be reasonability on both the sides and smooth and clear cut dealing should be done in a transparent way.

• Absolutely No....the land near the highways cost more than 20 lakh at the minimum .....Its a prized possession for many families....No body will give for free.

• What for. The state government official and MLAs will pocket the money for themselves. as the CM if he is willing to give free land, if he say yes then let him do it • There should be compensation but at the same time we also have to understand, it is for our development.

OTHERS • No. I do not see any reason to support such a policy. It would be an irresponsible act on the part of the government and the various tribal bodies, should this be enforced. Needless to say, it is absurd on our part to think of such un-

09%

just and utilitarian policies, at a time when the central government, realising the unfair nature of the existing legislation on land acquisition, has enacted the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

To put it differently, it is not fair to ask our Naga citizens to sacrifice their rights at the alter of development without any compensation. Yes development is very much needed but this is not the only way.

• NO. The land cant e give free of cost for the National Highways because for those who owned only land falls to the measure of the NH expansion, will not get any free of cost for the resettlement. It will be another story of the problem in the society if the sections of the people are forcefully displaced from the original home without compensation.

• No, not possible. For us Nagas, our land is the only form of "wealth" that we have. For minister to suggest that it be given free, is unthinkable.

Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say: • No naga will snore, where money is concerned.

Exploitation and demands keeps some kitchen alive, why part with an inch of land.

• There is nothing free, unless one is living in a delusional world • Develop a standard remuneration per acre and pay that same to all.

• As i view this issue...the concept of making National highway is the work of three agencies.. They are national government. ..state government and the local people. Assessing the financial condition of our state is very abject. And our people need to be reasonably compensated for the acquisition of their land. Therefore we need to raise our concern to the national government or state should seek some international fund. The highway is an urgent need and must for development.

• It is a paradox. Everyone wants something free from others but when it comes to them they are the first one to oppose. So why ask for the people in rural areas to give away their lands.

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

Monday 28 July 2014

The Morung Express

To improve nation’s Cong in crisis: Leadership challenged health, first improve ours: Govt doctors

New Delhi, July 27 (iANS): It has not been an easy time for the Congress since it went down to its lowest tally in the Lok Sabha elections two months back. While the party is witnessing internecine battles in many states, it is also facing competition from some regional parties to hog the opposition space in the Lok Sabha.

What is even more worrying for the party leadership is that there appears a subliminal current against the stewardship of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, whom many hold responsible for the party’s rout in the general election.

The party appears not to have been able to assert itself in the Lok Sabha where it is seeking recognition for its leader Mallikarjun Kharge as the Leader of Opposition in the house.

The Congress has 44 members in the Lok Sabha and is closely followed by the AIADMK with 37 members and Trinamool Congress with 34.

Trinamool Congress appears to be faring better than the Congress as an opposition party. During the presentation of the rail budget, it was the Trinamool Congress which was most vocal in its protests.

The AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal (20 members) are also making their presence felt.

Trinamool Congress MP Sultan Ahmed claimed that the Congress had lost touch with the common man and that was the reason for the party not taking the lead in raising issues. “When they (Congress) were in power, they had insulated themselves from the common man. Naturally, they are failing on the floor of the house,” Ahmed, who is the MP from Uluberia in West Bengal, told IANS. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is a regular during question hour and “zero hour” in the Lok Sabha and takes her seat on the front bench. But her son Rahul Gandhi prefers to sit on the back benches and rarely participates in the debates or rises to make a point on any issue. Rahul was once caught on camera taking a nap in the house which gave the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) another opportunity to attack him and the Congress.

YSR Congress MP from Nellore M. Rajamohan Reddy was of the view that the Congress was demoralised due to the scale of its defeat and the loss of many of its articulate leaders in

India tops in South Asia’s human trafficking: UN New Delhi, July 27 (iANS): India has emerged as the top destination for human trafficking in South Asia, a top UN official has said.

South Asia representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Cristina Albertine, said that a majority of the victims are from Bangladesh and Nepal. “India is a top destination for human trafficking in South Asia. People are trafficked from Nepal, the Gulf, Bangladesh and so on.” Albertine told IANS in an interview at the UNODC office.

Albertine said that there is no exact figure on human trafficking in India as only a few studies have been done. “Even within India, there are a lot of human trafficking victims. They stay within India. Not everybody is trafficked in Gulf state and across international border,” she said.

As per the UNODC, hundreds of Bengalispeaking Muslim women are being trafficked from Bangladesh. “Usually what we use for South Asia is that every year at least 150,000 (0.15 million) people are trafficked across the international borders,” Of the 150,000, Albertine said, 75 percent are women. “Fifty percent trafficking are done for forced labour,” said Albertine.

Almost in all South Asian countries, she said, the majority of the victims are from rural areas.

Asked about the comparison of the continent with other ones, Albertine said: “It is very big region because one-sixth of the world’s population lives here. It ranks quit high.”

Talking at the UN’s India office here, Albertine informed that Nepal and Bangladesh are the source countries while India and Pakistan are source and destination for trafficking. The UN official hails the effort by Non Government Organisations working to help the victims. “There are very, very good NGO’s who are working on that issue. But, they basically provide only shelter to the victims,” she added.

There are some NGO’s in Hyderabad and Delhi, who give shelter to the victims. “They (NGOs) really take care of good number of rescued survivors.” Albertine said even after the victims are rescued many issues are to be taken care of.

“After the rescue, the victims need a safe place.

Once they get a safe place, they need medical facility and psychological support. We also need the legal testimony of the survivors to submit the details of the traffickers to the court.” “Repatriate them in their home country is another issue. There are so many NGO’s who are doing excellent work, but it is not enough. The need is much, much bigger,” she said.

She said India has made some progress in tackling the human trafficking problem. “Bangladesh has made very good progress on taking care of human trafficking,” she said. “India and Bangladesh are now working very closely on how to expedite and streamline the repatriation process of Bangladeshi survivors. For a long time nothing was happening on the issue. Now these things are slowly improving,” she said.

the election.

The party has given an informal whip that at least 22 members should be in the house at any given time but that does not appear to be the norm. The party’s seniormost member in terms of electoral wins, Kamal Nath (ninth term), has not been seen much in the house.

The Congress is also facing internal problems as rumblings have begun in some of the state units which will face assembly polls in a few months. The expected organisational revamp is also not in sight.

Sonia Gandhi had talked of drawing “appropriate lessons” from the “unprecedented setback” days after the Lok Sabha results but the party has not come up with a plan of action at the grassroot level despite the Modi government being on the defensive on the issue of price rise.

The 3-0 win in the Uttarakhand by-elections a couple of days ago brought some cheer to the beleagured party but it is the coming assembly polls in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir that are crucial for the Congress efforts for a revival.

However, the scenario in many states does not

present a rosy picture.

Senior minister Narayan Rane quit his post in Maharashtra as did Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam ostensibly because of the party’s central leadership not changing incumbent chief ministers - Prithviraj Chavan and Tarun Gogoi respectively - who failed to ensure a credible performance during the Lok Sabha polls.

The attacks on chief ministers are being seen in some sections as veiled attacks on party vice president Rahul Gandhi due to his apparent backing to the two chief ministers, though the party has denied any such link.

Apart from the resignations of Rane and Sarma from the their ministerial posts, three Congress legislators have joined the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. Two-time party MP Chowdhary Lal Singh left the party in Jammu and Kashmir and there have been constant demands from some senior leaders in Haryana to replace Bhupinder Singh Hooda as chief minister.

Mehboob Ali Kaiser, Lok Janshakti Party MP from Khagaria in Bihar who spent long years in the Congress before quitting

it two months before this year’s Lok Sabha polls, said there was a sense of “drift” in the Congress.

“Even now (there) appears no change. After the drubbing, they should wake up to the reality, put things in the right perspective,” Kaiser told IANS. He said there was a lack of confidence in the central leadership of the Congress.

“That’s why people are leaving. They are not getting a patient hearing,” he said. Recalling his own experience, Kaiser, a former chief of the Bihar Congress, said that he had found it difficult to meet and explain matters to a Congress functionary who was in charge of Bihar.

Some Congressmen, in private, also complain about the style of functioning of people in Rahul Gandhi’s team and their own sense of unease with them.

“They (Rahul’s aides) are young but inexperienced. It is easy to relate to a person who understands you and the contribution you have made,” said a Congress MP who did not want to be named. He said the party office-bearers in charge of states should be decisive and should not keep issues pending.

However, Gaurav Go-

goi, son of Assam CM Tarun Gogoi against whom Sarma has raised the banner of revolt, defended the party leadership. “People in leadership are taking everything into account,” he said. “There are by-elections and municipal polls in Assam. The assembly polls are in 2016. I am confident that we will do well as a party,” Gaurav told IANS. BJP MPs attributed the troubles of the Congress to problems related to leadership. “There is likely to be a demand in the coming months that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should play a more central role in that party,” said Arjun Meghwal, BJP MP from Bikaner.

But Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha dismissed talk of the party facing a crisis. “The party is doing a very thorough and detailed self-examination to see the kind of challenges and to go forward.”

He attributed the resignation of the two state ministers to “personal ambitions” and said these were sporadic incidents.

“We are bullish. We are more than resolved to move forward. We are very well entrenched. We will be reinvigorated and ready for the future,” he claimed.

Modi under fire for silence over religious incidents New Delhi, July 27 (reuterS): New Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing criticism for remaining silent about incidents deemed anti-Muslim in the past week, underscoring fears that his Hindu nationalist followers will upset religious relations in the multi-faith nation.

Footage emerged this week of a radical Hindu party lawmaker trying to force food into the mouth of a Muslim caterer. Separately, a BJP politician questioned the national identity of an Indian Muslim tennis star, while an ally of the prime minister said India could become a Hindu nation under Modi.

Several commentators said Modi’s failure to speak out about the incidents risked encouraging aggressive behaviour by fringe elements of his party and related organisations. “The prime minister needs to come out strongly against such comments in order to reassure the minorities that their apprehensions about the intent

of his regime are misplaced ...

Silence on his part will only encourage such elements,” The Times of India said in an editorial. India has a dark history of religious violence, especially between the Hindu majority and Muslims, who account for more than 150 million people, making India the world’s third most populous Muslim nation.

Indian Till The End On Wednesday, footage was aired of a lawmaker from the Shiv Sena, a radical Hindu political party and ally of the BJP, trying to shove chapati, an Indian flatbread, into a Muslim caterer’s mouth during the Ramadan period of fasting.

The Shiv Sena lawmaker, Rajan Vichare, a high school dropout and suspect in 13 criminal cases, later said he did not know the caterer was Muslim and that he was fasting. He said he had been making a point about the bad quality of the food being served. The incident led to chaotic scenes in parliament, with one BJP member

demanding that some opposition politicians be sent to Pakistan. He later apologised for his comments.

On Thursday, BJP politician K. Laxman denounced a move to name Indian tennis star Sania Mirza the brand ambassador of newborn Telangana state, calling Mirza, who is married to a Pakistani cricketer, the “daughter-in-law” of India’s rival nation. Mirza broke down during a television interview to a local news channel and said it was unfair that she had to keep asserting her “Indianness”.

“I am an Indian who will remain an Indian until the end of my life,” she said on Thursday in a statement posted on microblogging site Twitter. The BJP distanced itself from Laxman’s remarks. “Sania Mirza is the pride of India,” cabinet minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters, but newspaper editorials highlighted Modi’s silence.

“He could say these are non-issues, he could say these are trivial misunder-

standings being communalised by a hyperactive media. But he chooses to say absolutely nothing,” said an editorial on the Firstpost news and opinion website.

“Unfortunately his silence can get uncomfortably loud.”

Modi has long faced accusations of looking the other way when Hindu mobs went on a rampage of revenge against Muslims in Gujarat in 2002, when he was that state’s chief minister, after a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was torched. Modi has denied the allegations and an inquiry ordered by the Supreme Court absolved him of responsibility.

Also on Thursday, a local minister from Goa allied to the BJP said India could become a Hindu nation under Modi’s rule, drawing criticism from the opposition Congress party. “Please stop this - communalising the country. This is our request to the ruling coalition,” said P.C. Chacko, a Congress spokesman, according to a statement of his remarks.

ChANDigArh, July 27 (iANS): Doctors in the government health sector want the country’s health facilities to improve. To achieve this, they want their own working conditions to improve first.

For the first time, government doctors have formed an all-India federation to highlight the problems they face while treating the majority of the population that avails healthcare facilities. There are over 125,000 sanctioned posts of government doctors across the country, of which nearly 25,000 are lying vacant.

“It has been observed that issues affecting the health sector are more or less the same across India.

For the first time, government sector doctors are coming together under the umbrella of an all-India federation to highlight the country’s health issues and those of the doctors themselves,” Kuldeep Singh, president of the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association, told IANS here.

“The struggle of government doctors in various parts of country to change and improve their working conditions was felt. The contribution of health personnel in general and of the service doctors in particular in running and managing the public health system in various states deserves to be appreciated. Health conditions of citizens have improved despite the constraint and challenges faced by doctors in facilities and other conditions,” Kuldeep Singh said.

The All-India Federation of Government Doctors’ Associations will take shape this November at its national convention to be held in Vadodra, said the federation’s national convener, Ashish Rana.

One of the biggest is-

sues facing the service sector doctors, compared to their well-off colleagues in leading private hospital chains and clinics, is the lack of facilities and equipment. The doctors are demanding that this sector be paid more attention so that government healthcare can further improve.

“All government doctors in India should have uniform pay scales and conditions. Efforts should be made to attract the best doctors to the government sector,” Rana told IANS. The doctors’ associations are also seeking the formation of an all-India cadre of government doctors - the Indian Medical Service. They also want that health departments in states should be headed by professionals and not by bureaucrats.

“There is too much disparity in pay and service conditions among government doctors in states.

The entry-level pay for a government doctor in Rajasthan is just Rs.30,000 per month for the first two years. In Haryana, the same category of doctors get Rs.50,000 per month while in Delhi it is Rs.65,000,” Kuldeep Singh pointed out.

In Madhya Pradesh, senior government doctors opting for a promotion have to suffer loss in pay due to the rules there, he added.

Raising concerns about security in view of recent incidents of violence against doctors, the associations are seeking the enactment of a central law and police protection at all health institutions.

Protection must be accorded to all in-service doctors against frivolous complaints and the government must introduce the system of professional indemnity insurance, the same associations have demanded.

A man shouts slogans as a small group of Indian Sikhs burn tires to block traffic during a protest against the Uttar Pradesh (U.P) state government in Jammu, India on July 27.

The Sikhs were protesting against Saturday's violent clash between two communities in in Saharanpur district of U.P that left two people dead and a dozen injured. (AP Photo)

‘Crimes against children: Time to break conspiracy of silence’

New Delhi, July 27 (iANS): A three-year-old boy was kicked and assaulted by her tutor in Kolkata, a six-year-old girl was raped by her skating teacher in Bangalore, blind children were caned in Hyderabad while from Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, there have been many reports of child molestation, rape and murder .

Outrage against such incidents has united members of various communities and organisations, besides raising pertinent questions on child safety.

The incidents also highlight the rise in the cases of sexual abuse. According to the National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB), crimes against children went up by 52.5 percent in a year across India. A total of 58,224 cases were registered in 2013 compared to 38,172 cases in 2012.

Among India’s 53 mega-cities, Delhi is the most unsafe for children as crimes against them have reportedly gone up exponentially across the country. Among the states, Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 9,857 cases while Maharashtra was on the second with 8,247 cases.

While most crimes are against children of vulnerable communities, middle class children have also been targets in elite schools. Sociologist Saswati Ghosh said: “Children have always been vulnerable but now they are being targeted more because community bonding is not as strong today.

“We can also see political parties justifying such acts in states like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The perpetrators are taking shelter with the ruling party,” Ghosh told IANS.

She was referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav who, when asked about the incident, had snapped at a woman reporter and said: “You are safe... so why rake up the question?” And, in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has glossed over incidents where perpetrators have been from her ruling Trinamool Congress.

The horrifying spectacle of the two teenaged cousins hanging from a tree after being raped was condemned by no less than UN Secretary General Ban kiMoon. Even as the Badaun rape incident was being talked about the body of a seven-year-old girl was found hanging from a neem tree at Rajnagar village in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district July 24.

“Authorities need to do much more to protect chil-

dren,” Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW),.

She said there need not have to be public protests for the authorities to “vigorously enforce the new children protection law, and to promptly investigate and prosecute people accused of sexually abusing children.” In Bangalore, public protests forced police to catch the perpetrators of the crime.

Additional Commissioner of Police S.B.S. Tyagi said: “The main reason for such crime (against children) is that children cannot differentiate between a ‘friendly touch’ and a ‘nonfriendly touch’,” adding that parents need to be more careful who they let their children out with.

Lawyer Rebecca John said that women and especially children are victims of violence as they are most

vulnerable. “Children are easy targets as they cannot fight back and until they realise what has happened it becomes too late,” John told IANS, adding that such incidents are “reflective of the times we live in”.

“What is needed is better policing, better investigative skills and vigilant, passionate prosecuting agencies which do effective, time-bound prosecution. It is only then that we can send the right kind of a message to society,” she said.

On being asked about the rising number of child abuse cases in India, Kushal Singh, chief of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) refused to accept that such cases have gone up and rationalised by saying that “earlier the issue was hidden in a conspiracy of silence as the

people were scared that the children would be stigmatised.”

Ganguly however said many cases of sexual abuse of children remain unreported due to institutional barriers that make reporting difficult, or ill-treatment and social stigma in government and community responses.

She said state governments should draw up guidelines for schools and other educational institutions so that such acts of abuse do not happen.

“Child sexual abuse remains a serious problem... If the authorities are serious about protecting the country’s children, they should take immediate steps to implement a more effective system to rigorously monitor all government and private children’s institutions,” Ganguly added.

InternatIonal

the Morung express

Monday 28 July 2014

Dimapur

9

Hamas agrees to 24-hour truce in Gaza war

A Palestinian shows his pet bird which he managed to catch amid the rubble of houses destroyed by Israeli strikes in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip on July 27. Hamas on Sunday agreed to observe a 24-hour humanitarian truce ahead of a major Muslim holiday after initially rejecting such an offer by Israel, as the two sides wrangled over setting the terms of a lull the international community hopes can be expanded into a more sustainable truce. (AP Photo)

GAZA CITY, JulY 27 (AP): Hamas on Sunday agreed to observe a 24hour truce in Gaza after initially rejecting a similar Israeli offer, as fighting resumed and the two sides wrangled over the terms of a lull that international diplomats had hoped could be expanded into a more sustainable truce.

After Israel announced a 24-hour truce late Saturday, Palestinian militants fired rockets deep into Israel, prompting it to resume an offensive aimed at destroying rocket launchers and cross-border attack tunnels used by Hamas, the Islamic militant group rul-

ing the coastal strip.

But hours after the renewal of hostilities Hamas said it would be willing to abide by a new 24-hour humanitarian truce ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday is expected to begin Monday or Tuesday, depending on the sighting of the new moon.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the truce would go into effect at 2 p.m. (1100 GMT) Sunday.

But shortly after the truce was to have started warning sirens wailed in southern Israel and the military

Bad back?

Acetaminophen may not work, try exercise

lONDON, JulY 27 (AP): commentary. He said docAcetaminophen isn’t any tors should monitor peobetter at relieving back pain ple taking acetaminophen than a fake pill, despite al- to see if the drug actually most universal recommen- works. If not, they should dations to take the drug, ac- switch patients to stronger cording to the first big trial medication while advising them to stay active. to test it.

Lower back pain is the Acetaminophen, sold as Tylenol and leading cause of disabilParacetamol, among other ity worldwide and doctors names, is recommended usually recommend treatin numerous guidelines ments including painkillfor back pain, mainly be- ers, exercise, stretching, cause it has few side effects; physical therapy and oldpast studies have shown it fashioned remedies like works for other types of hot and cold packs. “The pain. But there is no proof mechanisms of back pain it is effective for lower back are likely to be different from other pain conditions pain in particular.

In a new study, Australian research- “We know exercise helps ers assigned more so people should stay as than 1,600 people active as possible” with acute lower back pain to either acet- and this is an area that we aminophen — to a maxi- need to study more,” said mum dose of 4,000 mg per Chris Williams of the Uniday — or a placebo. Scien- versity of Sydney in Austratists found no major dif- lia, the study’s lead author, ference in the time it took in an email.

“We know exercise people to recover: Those on acetaminophen got bet- helps so people should ter after 17 days while those stay as active as possible,” who took dummy pills re- said Chris Mercer, a physicovered after 16 days. The cal therapist specializing in study focused on the kind back pain and spokesman of back pain most people for Britain’s Chartered Sociexperience, resulting from ety of Physiotherapy. “Don’t lack of exercise, bad pos- just take to your bed.” Some doctors said it was too early ture, or a strain.

The research was paid to give up on acetaminofor by the Australian gov- phen and said most people ernment and GlaxoSmith- would get better within a Kline Australia. It was pub- week or two whatever treatlished online Wednesday ment they tried.

“Different strategies in the journal, The Lancet.

“Most people would have will work for different thought (acetaminophen) patients,” said Dr. Nigel would have some effect, Mathers, honorary secreso this was a surprise,” said tary of Britain’s Royal ColBart Koes of Erasmus MC lege of General PractitioUniversity Center in the ners. “If (acetaminophen) Netherlands, who co-au- works for you, then continthored an accompanying ue to take it.”

said three rockets landed in the area, without causing casualties or damage.

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesman, did not say if Israel would hold its fire during the time requested by Hamas, but said troops would continue demolishing militant tunnels — the central goal of the Israeli ground operation in Gaza.

Families in Gaza would ordinarily be busy now with preparations for the holiday, with children getting new clothes, shoes and haircuts, and families visiting each other.

In the outdoor market of the Jebaliya refugee camp,

vendors set up stands with clothes and shoes, but said business was slow. Hamed Abul Atta, 22, a shoe salesman, said he hadn’t made a single sale in the first three hours after opening.

Abul Atta said he had opened the shop Sunday to get away from the crowded apartment where he and his family were staying with relatives after fleeing an area of heavy fighting, the Shijaiyah district in Gaza City.

He said his family house in Shijaiyah was badly damaged and that a cousin and three other relatives were among dozens of people killed in heavy fighting there last week.

“We can’t feel any joy right now,” he said when asked if he would mark the holiday in some way.

Israel had offered a 24hour truce late Saturday, but Hamas -- which has demanded the lifting of the Israeli and Egyptian blockade on Gaza as well as the release of Palestinian prisoners -- rejected it.

The 20-day war has killed more than 1,060 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel has lost 43 soldiers, while two Israeli civilians and a Thai worker in Israel were killed by rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza.

The military had earlier said about a dozen rockets were fired toward Israel since midnight -- without causing casualties or damage -- and that as a result it would “resume its aerial, naval and ground activity in the Gaza Strip.” The Israeli military released a video showing a rocket being fired from what it said was a Gaza school.

“The military is aiming its fire at terror sites, but if citizens are accidently harmed Hamas is responsible for this since it once again violated an offer for a humanitarian lull that Israel accepted.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

The 12-hour lull on Saturday -- agreed to by both sides following intense U.S. and U.N. mediation efforts -- saw Palestinians return to neighborhoods reduced to rubble and allowed medics to collect close to 150 bodies, Palestinian health official Ashraf al-Kidra said.

The Israeli military says it is doing its utmost to prevent civilian casualties, including by sending evacuation warnings to residents in targeted areas, and blames Hamas for putting civilians in harm’s way.

More than 160,000 displaced Palestinians have sought shelter at dozens of U.N. schools, an eight-fold increase since the start of Israel’s ground operation more than a week ago, the U.N. said.

Hamas and other militants in Gaza have fired more than 2,400 rockets at Israel since hostilities began on July 8, many deep into the Israeli heartland and toward most of the country’s major cities.

Israeli airstrikes have destroyed hundreds of homes, including close to 500 in direct hits, according to Palestinian rights groups, Entire Gaza neighborhoods near the border have been reduced to rubble.

Before the announcement of the holiday ceasefire, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri had said

UN envoy worried over displaced Muslims YANGON, JulY 27 (AP): The new U.N. human rights envoy for Myanmar expressed serious concern about the conditions in camps for more than 100,000 mostly minority Muslims displaced by violence led by Buddhist extremists, and warned that the country’s human rights situation may be deteriorating.

Yanghee Lee spoke Saturday at the end of a 10day fact-finding mission to Myanmar, her first in the capacity of U.N. rapporteur.

She said Myanmar should be applauded for having come a long way since installing an elected government in 2011 after almost five decades of repressive military rule.

“Yet, there are worrying signs of possible backtracking, which if unchecked could undermine Myanmar’s efforts to become a responsible member of the international community that respects and protects human rights,” she said, after

talks with political and social leaders and trips to troubled areas of the country.

In recent months, the government has failed to make much progress in ending religious conflicts and ethnic tensions, and journalists have been coming under legal assault after an initial period of goodwill that saw the lifting of censorship.

Facing growing international criticism, Myanmar announced this week it was allowing international aid organizations to return to a western region they were expelled from earlier this year after Buddhist mobs disrupted their work helping displaced Rohingya Muslims.

Lee visited western Rakhine state, where since 2012, violence between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims has left at least 280 people dead and 140,000 homeless, mostly Muslims confined in squalid camps. Myanmar is overwhelmingly Buddhist, and most Rohingya are de-

nied citizenship.

“The situation is deplorable,” she said, reading to reporters from a 10-page statement. She said she believed camp residents did not have adequate access to basic services and had heard “disturbing reports” of people dying in the camps due to the lack of emergency medical care and failure to adequately treat preventable illnesses and pregnancy-related conditions.

“By virtue of their legal status (or lack of), the Muslim community has faced and continues to face systematic discrimination, which include restrictions in the freedom of movement, restrictions in access to land, food, water, education and health care, and restrictions on marriages and birth registration,” Lee said. She added she was concerned that “the government’s plan for longterm peaceful coexistence may likely result in a permanent segregation” of the Buddhist and Muslim com-

munities.

What was originally a localized conflict in Rakhine state has turned into a sometimes violent campaign led by Buddhist extremists against Muslims in other parts of the country, and Lee warned that “the recurring outbreak of intercommunal violence reveals deep divisions and a growing polarization between Muslim and Buddhist communities.”

She called for a law banning hate speech, saying she was concerned by its spread “and incitement to violence, discrimination and hostility in the media and on the Internet, which have fuelled and triggered further violence.” She also called for the withdrawal of a legislative package on the so-called protection of race and religion that would limit the civil rights of the Muslim community.

Lee said she would present her findings later this year to the U.N. General Assembly.

A Taiwanese man burns "ghost money" during the first day of Ghost Month in Taipei, Taiwan on July 27. The seventh lunar month, starting Sunday, marks the traditional Chinese Ghost Month where the gates of the underworld are opened and spirits of the deceased are set free to roam the world of the living. The month long festivities are aimed to please the roaming spirits. (AP Photo)

US fast food workers vow civil disobedience VIllA PARK, JulY 27 (AP): Fast food workers from across the U.S. voted to escalate their efforts for $15-an-hour pay and union membership by using nonviolent civil disobedience, comparing their campaign to the civil rights movement.

More than 1,300 workers gathered Saturday in suburban Chicago to discuss the future of a campaign that has spread to dozens of cities in less than two years. Wearing T-shirts that said “Fight for $15” and “We Are Worth More,”

the workers cheered loudly and said they would win if they stuck together. “People are just fed up,” said Cindy Enriquez, 20. The $8.25 an hour she makes working for McDonald’s is not enough to go to college and become a police officer and barely enough to pay her rent, Enriquez said.

The Service Employees International Union has been providing financial and organizational support to the fast-food protests.

They began in late 2012 in New York City and have included daylong strikes and

a loud but peaceful demonstration outside this year’s McDonald’s Corp. shareholder meeting, where more than 130 protesters were arrested after stepping onto company property.

Saturday’s convention included sessions on civil disobedience and leadership training. Kendall Fells, an organizing director for the campaign and a representative of SEIU, said when and what actions happen next will be up to workers in each city.

The campaign comes as

President Barack Obama and many other Democrats across the country have attempted to make a campaign issue out of their call to increase the federal and state minimum wages.

The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, translating to about $15,000 a year for someone working 40 hours a week, though many fastfood workers get far fewer hours. Obama and others have called for increasing it to $10.10. Fast food workers say even that’s not enough because most people work-

ing in the industry now are adults with children, rather than teenagers earning pocket money.

The restaurant industry has argued that a $15 hourly wage could lead to business closings and job cuts, though the Seattle City Council recently voted to raise the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, phased in over several years. The National Restaurant Association said last week that increasing wages to $15 will not solve income inequality and that the campaign was an attempt

by unions to boost dwindling membership. Scott DeFife, the association’s executive vice president of policy and government affairs, said protesters were “demonizing” an industry that employs workers of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels, when the focus should be on policies that increase education and job training.

But many people now are staying with fast-food restaurants for years, because they’re often the only jobs available, workers said.

any truce must include a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and that tens of thousands of displaced people must be allowed to return to their homes.

Israel’s acceptance of the cease-fire extension was premised on its soldiers remaining in Gaza to destroy the more than 30 tunnels the military says it has found. Hamas has said it will not halt fire until it wins guarantees that the border blockade, tightened

by Israel and Egypt after it seized the territory in 2007, will be lifted.

Any new border arrangements for Gaza would likely give a role to Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who reached a power-sharing deal earlier this year with Hamas that was harshly condemned by Israel. Egypt wants forces loyal to Abbas to be posted on the Gaza side of the border before considering opening its Rafah crossing.

Hamas officials have said they do not oppose such an arrangement, but would not surrender control over the group’s thousands-strong security forces, meaning it would remain the de facto power in Gaza.

Israeli police meanwhile said security forces prevented a major attack when they stopped a sus-

picious vehicle in the West Bank and discovered a large explosive inside. Police said the suspect was a Palestinian from the West Bank city of Ramallah in his 30s.

The West Bank remained calm in the early days of the Gaza conflict but in recent days has seen growing protests and clashes between stone-throwers and Israeli security forces.

Nine Palestinians have been killed there. In Gaza, the local Red Cross office said its building in Khan Younis was attacked by a “crowd of angry people.”

Witnesses said the crowd that stormed the building had lost family members during the fighting and were angry over what they said was a lack of support by emergency services. Nadia Dibsy, an ICRC spokeswoman in Jerusalem, said there were no immediate reports of injuries, but that the reception area and office materials sustained damage from a small fire.

“We definitely deplore this kind of incident, which we take quite seriously. It’s an obstruction of the work and efforts we’ve been doing since the beginning of this conflict,” said Dibsy.

“We are doing the best we can, we are asking people not to take their anger out on us.”

Putin stays on offense in Ukraine

MOSCOW, JulY 27 (AP): Russian President Vladimir Putin might be expected to hunker down into defense mode as he is besieged by accusations of Russian involvement in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Instead he has stayed on offense and appears to positioning for the long game.

In his televised appearances since last Thursday’s crash, Putin’s demeanor hasn’t wavered from his usual steely determination. He has allowed Russian media to propound theories blaming Ukrainian forces or suggesting a U.S hand in the crash, while refusing to deny such theories and indirectly placing responsibility on the Ukrainians.

Just hours after the crash, Putin laid the groundwork for this approach, saying at a meeting of economic officials that “the tragedy would not have happened” if Ukraine had not resumed its military actions against rebels in late June. “The state over whose territory this occurred bears responsibility for this awful tragedy,” he said.

That argument neatly eludes a key issue: that the offensive was renewed after a 10-day unilateral ceasefire that the proRussia rebels ignored.

Throughout the eastern Ukraine crisis, now in its fourth month, Putin and his officials have consistently portrayed the conflict as Ukraine’s unprincipled assault on its own citizens, rather than as a move to take back a sizeable part of the country seized by heavily armed separatists.

The aim is to discredit the Kiev authorities without openly opposing them. Putin even spoke face-to-face in June with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who had just been elected following the ouster of Viktor Yanukovych in the wake of months of mass protests. But on Tuesday, he stepped up the aspersions in a meeting with his security council.

“True, they held elections after the takeover,” Putin said. “However,

for some strange reason, power ended up again in the hands of those who either funded or carried out this takeover.”

This is where the long game appears to take shape. By aggressively suggesting that Ukraine’s instability is a prelude to Western designs on Russia, Putin not only deflects attention away from the plane crash, but strikes a chord in the Russian psyche. Russia characteristically sees itself as both a vast and mighty world power and as forever beleaguered by devious and violent forces dating back to the Mongol hordes and later including Napoleonic France, Poland, Sweden and, finally, Nazi Germany.

Even as he expresses concern about Russia’s vulnerability, Putin also declares that “the recipes used regarding weaker states fraught with internal conflict will not work with us.” Resorting to the contradictory — yet popular — message may indicate the tight spot Putin finds himself in as he faces not only international opprobrium but the prospect of even more economic sanctions.

“He appears caught, first, by the possibility of very serious limitations from the West,” analyst Fyodor Lukyanov was quoted as saying by the news website Ekspert.

“Secondly, the psychological pressure is very serious. And for Putin, I think, it’s hard just on a human basis.”

But Putin is the ultimate survivor. And barring evidence that irrefutably connects Russia with the plane’s crash Putin likely has the stamina and determination for a long haul.

Dmitry Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow think-tank, said that while many may hope that sanctions and the pressure on Putin will cause him to pull back, “those banking on this scenario will probably be disappointed.”

“Putin is unlikely to stand down, or back off,” he wrote in a commentary.

10

Dimapur

SPORTS

Monday 28 July 2014

ColoMBo, JulY 27 (AP): Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath picked up an early wicket to put South Africa under pressure as the visitor,s chasing 369 to win the second test, finished day four on 38-1 Sunday.

Opening the bowling, the left-arm spinner had opener Alviro Petersen caught by Kithruwan Vithanage without scoring with the total on four.

Quinton de Kock batting on 21 and Dean Elgar (13) took a bad light offer and left the field needing to score 331 in three sessions to win the match on Monday or bat out the day for a draw and clinch the two-match series 1-0.

After three interruptions Sunday, the match is scheduled to start 30 minutes early Monday with minumum 98 overs to be bowled.

Sri Lanka earlier declared its second innings on 229-8. Kumar San-

gakkara (72) and captain Angelo Mathews (63 not out) made hasty halfcenturies to increase Sri Lanka's lead and give them hope of levelling the two-match test series on a turning Sinhalese Sports Club pitch.

Sangakkara took 90 balls and hit three boundaries while sharing 81 runs for the fourth wicket with Mathews, who faced 83 deliveries and hit two sixes and two boundaries.

Fast bowler Morne Morkel returned 4-45 for South Africa and in the process reached his 200th test wicket. Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir picked up two wickets each.

Resuming the fourth day on 11-0 Sri Lanka reached 108-3 at lunch but heavy rain during the interval caused a 30-minute delay in starting the second session.

Resuming under cloudy

conditions, Sangakkara and Mathews showed urgency in scoring, taking quick singles and twos.

Sangakkara was dismissed trying to charge Morkel and was caught behind by de Kock. Both Vithanage (7) and Niroshan Dickwella (16) fell going for big shots. The hosts lost three wickets in the morning session while adding 97 runs.

Mahela Jayawardene, who top scored for Sri Lanka in the first innings with 165, was out without scoring. Jayawardene attempted to sweep leg spinner Imran Tahir and was caught brilliantly by Elgar who dived across the pitch from silly-midon. He reviewed the decision given by English umpire Nigel Llong unsuccessfully even though television replays were inconclusive as to whether the ball had touched the glove.

The Morung Express

Herath strikes early to give Sri Lanka the edge

Sri Lankan bowler Rangana Herath delivers a ball as South African batsman - Dean Elgar watches during the fourth day of the second test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 27. (AP Photo)

CWG is beyond the reach of smaller nations Veturi Srivatsa IANS

W

hat is the relevance of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in the 21st century?

This question pops up every four years, more so in the last two decades.

The Games are invariably held in British Isles, Australia, Canada or New Zealand. The only exceptions were Kingston, Jamaica, in 1966, Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and 2010 New Delhi. That's the imperialistic stranglehold. Now South Africa is another major player joining the big league.

The idea of the Games was valid, say, some 80 years ago for the British empire to bring together its colonies to understand each other and also have fun. But today it is asked what purpose the Games serve when the world's top athletes do not take them seriously. Most countries

hoping to host the Games shudder to think of the fall-out. The infrastructure facilities and the spin-offs from the Games are not commensurate with the bills the country has to pay for ages. After the New Delhi Games unfortunately the word corruption has been added to the CWG lexicon.

For most membercountries, ruled by corrupt despots, these Games are a way to oblige their cronies even though some of these countries produce the world's leading athletes.

In recent years the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) met the members unsuccessfully to prune the Games to a manageable limit so that some of the smaller countries can also host, thus making the bidding process more transparent and reasonable. The spiralling costs of the Games are discouraging potential bidders as the International Olympic Committee has realised while calling for bids for the

2022 Winter Games. Three bidders pulled out, leaving three in the fray.

Similarly, the 2019 Asian Games have become a drag on the economy of countries wanting to host and Vietnam found out after successfully bidding for the Games that it did not have the wherewithal to organise it. Delhi made some noise before the prohibitive costs and the public scrutiny during the CWG forced its hands. One Indian Olympic Association (IOA) official was clearly unnerved at the prospect of a media trial even before Delhi is allotted the Games.

The Games have to be affordable and enjoyable.

The CWG are frightening the potential bidders.

After the next Games in the beautiful Gold Coast in Brisbane, Australia, in 2018, Canadian city Edmonton and South Africa's Durban are the only bidders for the 2022 games. Gold Coast beat the only rival Hambantota in Sri Lanka.

Inter Milan beats Real Madrid on penalty kicks

An SON team of 8 members led by Coach Achila Tzudir & Coach Temsu Amri represented the State in the National Championship Badminton held at Andheri Sports Club, Mumbai from July 19 to 24. The team from Nagaland bagged 4 Gold Medals, 1 Silver medal and 3 Bronze medals . The 6 special athletes are Rongsen Jamir, Temsutola, Chumbeni, Tumchobeni, Assayi Nienu & Tiaba Tzudir, who are from Silver lines Academy & Prodigal Homes of Dimapur district; Care & Support Society of Mokokchung district and from Wokha & Phek district.

Gold medals were bagged by Temsutola, Tumchobeni and Assayi Nienu; Silver medal by Tiaba Tzudir and Bronze by Tiaba Tzudir, Assayi Nienu and Tumchobeni.

BerkeleY, JulY 27 (AP): Mauro Icardi drove the winner past diving goalkeeper Jesus Fdez in the fifth round of penalty kicks to lift Inter Milan past Real Madrid after they tied 1-1 on Saturday in an International Champions Cup match. Icardi also converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute to tie it. Referee Ricardo Salazar awarded the penalty kick after Inter newcomer Nemanja Vidic went down in the box on a challenge by Sobrino.

"We played well today," Inter manager Walter Mazzarri said. "We have young guys and we started a new cycle. Obviously, we're not going to be happy just participating (in the tournament). We're looking to obtain results."

Gareth Bale scored for Real Madrid in the 10th minute, unleashing a strike into the top left corner of the net from about 25 yards out. The Welsh star also bounced a header off the

crossbar less than three minutes into the match and nearly converted a direct free kick in the 30th minute "He had a really good holiday. Forty days," Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said about Bale. "He's fresh and he's working really well. ... Everyone is sure that it will be better for him this year."

A sellout crowd of 62,583 fans watched the testy match at Memorial Stadium on the University of California campus. The contest featured four bookings and a shoving match broke out after a hard challenge from Real Madrid's Raul de Tomas in the 48th minute.

The eight-club Guinness International Champions Cup will continue at various stadiums throughout North America until Aug. 4. Bale only played the first half but starred on a day when virtually all of Real Madrid's starting 11 was unavailable.

Wright-Phillips scores to give Man Utd 'not good', says van Henry victory over former club Gaal after 3-2 win over Roma

New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry heads the ball in front of Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem, left, during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Saturday, June 26 in Harrison, N.J. (AP Photo)

New York, JulY 27 (AGeNCIeS): Arsenal went down 1-0 at New York Red Bulls on Saturday in the second game of their pre-season campaign.

The only goal came on the half-hour when Bradley Wright-Phillips - Gunners legend Ian Wright's adopted son - stabbed home a shot from Thierry Henry’s corner. When he was taken off on the hour, presumably to save his legs for a game against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, the game lost a little stardust. Constant substitutions did not help the spectacle either.

This game had sold out all 25,000 tickets in a mat-

ter of days. The atmosphere around the Red Bull Arena was expectant and electric.

Over 5,000 Arsenal fans were in attendance. Most drawn from supporters clubs across the US but 500 had come over from England. A flash storm did little to quell the atmosphere at kick-off, neither did travel congestion outside.

Arsenal’s starting XI was unusual – Tomas Rosicky as the main attacker, Nacho Monreal at centre back. However the midfield was packed with big names and quality – albeit that Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla were playing their first

game of pre-season.

After an early flurry of chances, the game settled into a lively but even-handed pace. This was a fair but highly competitive friendly. Red Bulls continued to have success down the left with the Henry’s perceptive passes stretching the Arsenal defence.

The pace of the game had just started to settle when the hosts opened the scoring in the 32nd minute.

Henry floated a corner to the far post, Ambrose Oyongo nodded it down and Wright-Phillips prodded home from close-range.

Arsenal might have been level within five min-

utes as Wilshere exchanged passes with Gedion Zelalem to drive into the area.

The Englishman dug the ball out from under his feet to get a clean shot away.

Luis Robles flew out to make a stunning save from close range.

Arsène Wenger made seven changes at the break – and as a result they quickly had the ball in the net.

Chuba Akpom fed Abou Diaby, who stroked the ball home. However he was ajudged offside. It was marginal.

Arsenal continued to search for the equaliser but time ran out and Red Bulls had their win.

DeNver, JulY 27 (AGeNCIeS): Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal described his team's display as "not good" despite a 3-2 win in the International Champions Cup over Roma in the United States. Wayne Rooney struck twice and created a goal for Juan Mata as United hit three first-half goals in Denver.

But Van Gaal suggested his best passers were offform - picking out Mata, Ander Herrera and Shinji Kagawa. "I am pleased that we have won but it was not a good performance," the Dutchman said.

"All my good passers failed today. I think it was because of the height and the air. "Mata, Herrera and Kagawa - these are the best passers (at the club), and everything went wrong."

Rooney's 36th-minute opener from 20 yards sparked a three-goal flurry at the end of the first half.

Mata lobbed home after a raking pass from England striker Rooney, who then scored a stoppage-time penalty. Miralem Pjanic netted an amazing 75thminute strike from inside his own half for Roma, before Francesco Totti's 89thminute spot-kick.

"In the second half we forgot to keep the ball," Van Gaal said. "When you are 3-0 ahead, the only thing you have to do is keep the ball in possession and the opponent has to run and run and run.

"We forgot to do that.

We brought Roma back into the match." Victory was United's second in

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, right, and AS Roma's Alessio Romagnoli fight for control of the ball during an exhibition soccer match at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Saturday, July 26, 2014. Manchester United won 3-2. (AP Photo)

succession under Van Gaal, following a 7-0 defeat of LA Galaxy.

Roma started the brighter, with Mattia Destro breaking clear in the second minute and lifting a shot over Sam Johnstone - but the ball bounced narrowly over the crossbar.

Mostly, though, it was a series of misplaced passes, poor control and general lethargy in the 30 degree heat. Rooney lifted the torpor, curling home in exactly the same manner as he had been practising at the other

end of the pitch in Friday's training session. He then created United's second with an arrowed pass from inside his own half. Mata's one-touch control was instant and his delicate finish perfect. United were on a roll and when Danny Welbeck was prevented from reaching Herrera's return pass by Mehdi Benatia, Rooney's powerful penalty sent Lukasz Skorupski the wrong way from the spot.

As promised, Van Gaal made nine changes at the break. His preferred system

of three central defenders meant an unaccustomed right wing-back role for substitute Ashley Young and he was soon booked for sliding into Leandro Castan.

In a game of excellent goals, Pjanic scored the most spectacular, lobbing Ben Amos from 60 yards.

Totti then converted a penalty following Michael Keane's handball a minute from time, but United held on and face Inter Milan next in Washington on 29 July.

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Rihanna

Monday

Entertainment

The Morung Express

Dimapur

28 July 2014

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Brad and Angelina book beach cafe Homeless man next to their film set... for three months ‘arrested for stalking and harassing Rihanna at her New York home’

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Chris Hemsworth shows off bulging biceps at Comic Con and says he wants to play Thor...as a woman!

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Musician Jailed After Bilking Investors out of Cash for Non-Existent Springsteenpearl Jam Project

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Mrs Vella said: ‘I’m not going to make as much had I remained open throughout these months, but at least I’m getting some form of compensation.’ Gozo - which has a population of 31,000 and is a 20-minute ferry ride from the island of Malta, is famous for its rugged landscapes, spectacular coastline and superb diving conditions. Oscar-winner Jolie, 39, has written the script for By The Sea, and she will also be directing and starring in the movie.

Working alongside her for the first time since 2005’s Mr & Mrs Smith will be her partner Pitt, 50. They will play husband and wife in the film, which is described by Universal Pictures as an ‘intimate character-driven drama’. Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat has estimated that the weeks of filming, followed by a boost in visitor numbers, could pump £15 million into the local economy.

Kanye West

ou might have thought a tiny beach cafe on a sparsely populated Mediterranean island would be no match for the might of a Hollywood blockbuster. But when a rustic restaurant in Gozo posed a problem for the production of a film starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the A-list couple found a diplomatic solution – by renting the place for the summer.

The pair and their production crew wanted unfettered access to the pebble beach at the picturesque bay at Mgarr ix-Xini for three months while they make By The Sea. The beach is one of the most secluded spots on the island and the cafe holds pride of place at the water’s edge. Owners Noel and Sandra Vella are reportedly being paid thouhomeless man was sands of pounds in compensation to shut up shop. arrested for stalking and harassing pop superstar Rihanna.

Kevin Mcglynn was collared on Thursday after he was allegedly caught on surveillance video three he role has made him a world famous star, times this but could Thor also win Chris Hemsworth m o n t h an Oscar? That’s what Chris Hemsworth deliverthinks - or at least joked - during the ing chillMarvel panel discussion held at San ing letters Diego Comic Con on Saturday afternoon. The to her home in 30-year-old Australian actor cut an impressive figNew York. The 53-year- ure in a simple grey shirt which he matched with old handed the sinister a black vest, but it was his bulging biceps that were material to one of the the star of the show. With his blonde hair reminissinger’s lackeys at her cent of a Nineties boy band, Hemsworth was joined SoHo apartment block on the panel by fellow Avengers actors Robaccording to court ert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evdocuments. Accord- ans and franchise newcomer Josh Broing to the New York lin. Despite the A-List talent, it was the Daily News, the crimi- news that Thor has now become a fenal complaint says he male character in the comic book se‘repeatedly called her a ries that still had fans reeling - Hemsb***h,’ and threatened worth amongst them. Not one to shy to ‘bum (rush) in her away from the controversy, it was the apartment’ in his mes- actor who breached the topic when sages. Authorities claim asked - after two solo films and two Mcglynn’s antics left the team movies - what else would he Barbadian beauty in ‘fear for her physical safety.’

Sources say he went to her posh lodgings building at 6:30 a.m. and again around midnight on July 8. He made a third visit around 12pm on July 11, but was not arrested until Thursday. Police managed to find him after after he dropped musician who conned investors into giving him his benefits card at the singer’s hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund nonresidence, which helpfully had existent music projects with the likes of Bruce his name and address on it Springsteen and Pearl Jam has been sentenced to alAs well as his hand delivered most four years behind bars. A federal notes, he also allegedly sent at judge in Washington has conleast four letters to her home in victed Kasey Anderson after he California. was found guilty of launching various At his arraignment hearing at bogus schemes that tricked inManhattan Criminal Court on Fri- vestors into giving him $600,000 day Assistant District Attorney James (&163;353,000).

The projects Vinocur said: ‘The nature of these let- included a benefit album for ters (is) confusing. They all do indicate the incarcerated members of a personal relationship, as I indicated the West Memphis Three. on Tuesday before, that simply does not exist.’ Mc- In his sentencing Ronald B. glynn, who has been arrested at least (22Jul14), judge “ Yo u let 12 times - four of which for trespassing Leighton said, people”. An- also claimed Rihanna, Jay Z and Kanye down a lot of ordered to pay West had ripped off ‘my material.’ He derson was also in restitution. He also argued with Judge Abraham Clott, almost $600,000 shouting ‘you are lying’ at the law- previously told the court that he suffers from a mental man when he was told he would illness and wrote a letter to the judge, telling him, “I not be allowed to represent him- convinced myself that it (behaviour) was normal”. self. Mcglynn was ordered held without bail. Rihanna started renting the $14.6 million duplex at the upmarket SoHo building at the end of 2013.

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want to do with Thor?

‘Turn him into a woman,’ said the father of three, without missing a beat. ‘I don’t want to jinx it, but I think it could be my Oscar.’ Despite rumours that Hemsworth could be replaced by a woman in the cinematic universe spawning from the comic book news, Marvel screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely said there is no way that he would be booted and that he was ‘safe’. ‘Maybe eventually we’ll see a female Thor in the movies - it’s not impossible - and we’d love to see it,’ McFeely told the Daily Mail Australia. ‘But Chris Hemsworth is Thor in the cinema universe.’ It was a busy Comic Con for Hemsworth, who arrived at the Marvel panel after coming straight from promoting another film: cyber thriller Blackhat.

The highly anticipated flick sees him team-up with legendary director Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral) and is due for release in a prime awards season slot in January.

Wa nt sP er fe ct W ife

Pixie Lott - ‘Lay Me Down’ Single Review

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rom the opening whistles and attitude-laced vocals of ‘Lay Me Down’, you can tell Pixie Lott is once again on to a winner with a song fit to become a summer smash. An infectious chorus where the title is repeatedly chanted will be embedded in your brain after first listen this is a standard and traditional pop hit that manages to stand out from the rest. The growth in Pixie’s voice is clear to see - she still has that recognisable inflection to her tone but it’s a lot more honed in on and crafted now, in the best ways possible. Crooning about the “hole in my heart” and the lack of “love to be found”, Pixie explores the tale of someone who’s fed up of trying to fight their way to a relationship with possible unrequited love, and a person in need of some mutual commitment. So whilst being upbeat, it does manage to maintain a ‘plot’ and sense of being something more than just another fun song.

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anye West reportedly wants to turn Kim Kardashian into the “perfect” wife. West is said to advise his spouse on every aspect of her life, and has even ordered her to stop smiling for photographers when they are out together. This was seemingly confirmed by a source who told Britain’s Grazia magazine: that Kanye can be very controlling with everything in his life, that’s his personality. He wants Kim to be perfect. The source is further quoted as saying “In the old days, you’d always see Kim smiling when she was having her photo taken. But now, more often than not, she’ll be stony-faced.” Kanye’s controlling ways are said to have left the ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ star with a crisis of confidence and she can’t even bear to make small decisions alone. The source added: “It seems even when he’s not around she can’t make decisions. Kim will call him to check she’s buying the right brand of water. “She can’t even pick her own nail varnish without checking with him.” The brunette beauty has previously admitted to changing her clothes if her husband doesn’t like her outfit. She has said: “I’ll put something on and he’s say, ‘No, that doesn’t look good,’ and I trust him.”

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Ricki-lee Coulter shares a snippet of a soulful new song as she heads back into the studio to record

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ustralian chanteuse Ricki-Lee Coulter is back in the recording studio and seems to be working on a song for her new album. The 28-year-old posted a video teaser on her Instagram page on Friday, belting out a few lines of lyrics to the new track. ‘Stay and make believe/ and I don’t care how many out there/ can’t or won’t or don’t see it/ I’ve never been safe in certainty,’ Ricki-Lee sings. Singing just four short sentences with no backing music, the video gave fans no clues as to the type or tempo of the song.

And Ricki-Lee was keeping her cards close to her chest. ‘Sneak peek at a little something I’m working on.’ she wrote coyly next to the video. The 15 second snapshot shows the singer getting to a soulful place as she dances along to the music that’s blasting through her headphones as she sings. In the video, Ricki is wearing a white jumper with a black and pink leopard print - the Roar knit from Australian designer brand Imonni - the same one worn by model and TV personality Nikki Phillips two weeks ago.

When the Melbourne based designer noticed the knit in the video, she commented on Ricki’s Instagram, to which the popstar replied gleefully: ‘JUST GOT IT today and I’m so in love!’ It appears that all the studio work has left the fashionista needing some downtime. Ricki posted a photo across social media on Saturday afternoon as the fresh-faced personality rugged up in a fluffy white robe with her hair pulled back in a top knot, sat in her chic lounge room. ‘Happy weekend everybody!!! I’ve got my robe on, ready for some serious couch time!’she told fans. Ricki-Lee’s been hard at work on the promo trail over the past couple of weeks for her new single Happy Ever After, even stirring up some controversy when she revealed she didn’t want kids so she could continue with her current lifestyle. ‘I know how crazy my life is and how all over the place it is, and you have to be selfish to do what I do.’ she told Nova breakfast duo Fitzy & Wippa earlier this month.

The single, which debuted on the ARIA charts at Number 65 earlier this month, marked her sixteenth chart entry. It’s a song that’s particularly special to the star, who wrote it over a year ago.

‘Happy Ever After is without a doubt, my favourite song I’ve ever written.’Ricki told fans on her blog.‘As a songwriter, you are always chasing your tail to write a song that is laced with that little bit of magic that gets in people’s veins when they hear it. And I feel like I found that with this song’ The former Australian Idol finalist said the pop-ditty described finding her own Prince Charming, fiance Rich Harrison. ‘I had been imagining this ‘perfect guy’ and there was this huge list of all the things he HAD to be…and every step of the way, still to this day he surprises me with how much he is everything and more than I’d ever imagined.’‘He literally is the man of my dreams!’ she gushed.

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Commonwealth Games 2014 Rank 1 2 3 4 5

CwG 2014 medal tally

Country Australia England Scotland Canada India

Gold 19 19 11 7 5

Silver 14 15 6 3 8

Bronze 21 15 8 6 6

Total 54 49 25 16 19

Shreyasi Singh bags silver, Asab bronze in double trap shooting

India's shooter Shreyasi Singh celebrates after winning the silver medal in Women's Double Trap Shooting at the Commonwealth Games in Barry Buddon Shooting Center in Glasgow on Sunday. (PTI Photo)

GLASGow, JULY 27 (IANS): Indian shooters continued their medal winning spree in the 2014 Commonwealth Games with Shreyasi Singh and Mohammed Asab winning Zoe Smith of England leaps for joy as she wins the gold medal in the women's 58 kg the double trap silver and weightlifting competition the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014, in Glasgow, Scot- the bronze, respectively, land on Saturday. (AP Photo) in the women's and men's

competitions at the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre here Sunday.

India's medal count from shooting now stood at nine -- three gold, five silver and a bronze. Shreyasi grabbed the first medal of the day by winning the silver medal in the women's dou-

ble trap event. The Delhi girl shot 92 in the final round to win the silver, the fifth for the Indians from the shooting competition at the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre.

The gold went to England's Charlotte Kerwood with a total of 94 points while her compatriot Rachel Parish got the bronze with 91 points. Another Indian in the fray, Varsha Rae Anderson of Australia jumps during the para sport long T37/38 at Hampden Park Stadium during the CommonVarman finished fifth with jump wealth Games 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland on July 27. (AP Photo) 88 points.

Shortly after, Asab grabbed the first shooting bronze from the 2014 edition after he defeated 17-year-old Nathan Xuereb of Malta in the men's double bronze medal match.

Asab had topped the qualifying round with 135 points.

The 26-year-old Asab shot 26 while Xuereb managed 24. Another Indian in the fray, Ankur Mittal missed out on a medal finishing fifth in the semifinal. Abhinav Bindra, Rahi Sarnobat and Apurvi Chandila have won the gold medals. The silver medal winners, besides Shreyasi, are Malaika Goel, Prakash Nanjappa, Ayonika Paul and Anisa Sayyed.

F1: Ricciardo wins thrilling Hungarian GP

Cook hits 95 against India at Rose Bowl SoUTHAMPToN, JULY 27 (AGENCIES): England captain Alastair Cook fell five runs short of his first Test century for 14 months on the first day of the third Test against India. After winning the toss, Cook lost opening partner Sam Robson for 26 but then added 158 with Gary Ballance.

However, with just over an hour of play remaining at Southampton, Cook edged a long-hop from spinner Ravindra Jadeja to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni. The Essex lefthander is now without a century in 28 Test innings.

Under pressure for recent poor form, Cook brought up his 50 by pulling a short delivery from Mohammed Shami for two and was cheered by the home crowd as if he had made a century. It was Cook's first half-century in 10 innings. He reached 82 not out at tea.

Gary Ballance then made his third test 50 from his 107th delivery, hitting a quick single off Ravindra

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Jadeja. He was unbeaten on 72 from 131 balls with nine fours. Ballance resumed after lunch on four, but charged against India's bowlers in the second session as the pitch continued to flatten in the sun. Cook, somewhat understandably considering his shaky batting form, was more patient, taking 188 deliveries to reach 82. Sam Robson (26) was the only England wicket to fall, edging Shami to Jadeja at second slip in the opening session.

Earlier, Cook was dropped by Jadeja on 15 when he edged debutant Pankaj Singh to Jadeja at third slip, with the ball at knee height. Jadeja should have taken the catch easily, but spilled the ball as he hit the ground. It would have been Singh's first test match wicket. But Jadeja did not repeat his error when Cook's fellow opener Robson outside edged Shami toward him for India's breakthrough.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Cook

nearly began the session in the worst possible manner.

He nicked the first ball of the day from Bhuvneshwar Kumar toward the slips, but it did not carry.

India, which leads the five-match series 1-0, made two changes from the second test at Lord's. Rohit Sharma and Singh replaced Stuart Binny and Ishant Sharma, who is injured.

England made three changes after its 95-run defeat in the second test. Jos Buttler replaced Matt Prior as wicketkeeper, while Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan replaced Liam Plunkett and Ben Stokes in England's bowling attack. Prior is out for the summer due to injury.

India's captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, right, celebrates beside Virat Kohli, left, after catching out England captain Alastair Cook, center, off a Ravindra Jadeja delivery during the first day of the third cricket test match of the series between England and India at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton on July 27. (AP Photo)

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia celebrates winning the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, July 27. (AP Photo)

BUDAPEST, JULY 27 (AFP): Australian Daniel Ricciardo charged to a thrilling Hungarian Grand Prix victory on Sunday, his second Formula One win for Red Bull, as a drenched track caused chaos among world championship leaders. Ricciardo, 25, held off Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to take first place in a race which saw several highspeed crashes after a heavy downpour just before the start changed the course of the race.

Britain's former world champion Lewis Hamilton, who started from the pit lane and span on the first lap, ignored Mercedes team orders to let Nico Rosberg pass, and held onto third place ahead of this teammate.

Ricciardo led twice before he fought back to recapture the lead with three laps remaining, following a series of daring passes, to come home clear of Alonso.

Ricciardo's win was execut-

ed with great elan and confirmed him as a driver with the potential to be a future champion. He won the Canadian Grand Prix for Red Bull in June and is the only non-Mercedes driver to have won a race this year.

The two Mercedes men had a fierce battle on the track and via the team radio as they tried to make the most of contrasting strategies in changeable conditions following a heavy rainstorm before the start.

Two Safety Car interventions played a major part in creating many unexpected moves in a race of surprises. Brazilian Felipe Massa of Williams finished fifth ahead of Finn Kimi Raikkonen, in the second Ferrari, defending four time champion German Sebastian Vettel in the second Red Bull and Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams.

Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso was ninth and Briton Jenson Button 10th for McLaren.

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