July 4th, 2016

C M Y K

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

MonDAY • julY 04 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 182 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

o F

The chief internal enemies of any state are those public officials who betray the trust imposed upon them by the people Nearly 120 killed in Baghdad bombings claimed by IS

— Dalton Trumbo

Hamilton wins Austrian GP after last lap drama

NVCO intensifies awareness on NFSA

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T R u T H

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Logging ban and Timber mills: The permit conundrum Morung Express news Dimapur | July 3

students of the nEn summer farm school documenting the biodiversity. nEn summer Farm school, organized by north East network (nEn) nagaland concluded at Chizami on July 2. Altogether 21 students, between 14-16 years participated in 6-day workshop held between June 27 to July 2. (Photo by NEN)

Public Information

All press statements, memorandums, articles, reports and news related documents should be sent to the official email address:

Fuel adulteration racket a conspiracy, alleges ACAUT

Dimapur, July 3 (mExN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland today morung@gmail.com termed the alleged fuel adulteration Press releases will be racket in the state as a “conspiracy accepted only till 8:00 pm which has been going on for the last 15 to 20 years.”

Editor, A press note from the ACAUT alThe Morung Express leged that the “conspirators - fuel adulterators, landlords, NPGs, administrative officials, F&CS department, police The Morung Express and the politicians have all gained Poll QuEsTion enormous wealth at the cost of the common man.”

Vote on www.morungexpress.com It reminded that the “public is not sMs your answer to 9862574165 only depending on the courts for full Is Naga unity the only jail term for the suspects but attachway forward to achieving ment of their properties as well and it our political rights? shall be truly unfortunate if the public loses faith in the judiciary.”

The ACAUT further listed out fuel Yes no others Do you agree that the outlets “of some of the fuel adulterators North East region for action to be taken by the concerned should have its own public and authorities especially in the time zone? Why? districts since these outlets sell adul82% Yes terated fuel.”

15% no It alleged that “most of these out03% others lets are ‘benami’ properties of the Details on page 7 named adulterators, that is, registered

in Naga names.”

“The fuel mafia unfairly avail the license underST/educated unemployed/Widow category as per the criteria for entitlement and misuse it.

Most of the namesake Naga owners get commissions ranging from 40,000 to 1Lakh per month,” the ACAUT added.

Alleging that the outlets have been misused and misappropriated for “criminal activities,” it asked the Nagaland State Government and the district administrations to “immediately seal and cancel the permits of these outlets.” For starters, it asked the Dimapur administration and police to lead by example if the other districts are to follow suit.

The ACAUT, in its press statement listed out 4 names who it alleged were involved in fuel adulteration and also listed out the fuel outlets allegedly selling adulterated fuel.

“The ACAUT has also in its possession list of properties of all the fuel adulterators which it will hand over to the State Government if and when it decides to attach the properties of all the adulterators,” it informed.

In December 1996, the Supreme Court of India made a landmark ruling that fundamentally changed the face of the timber industry. The fallout of a civil writ petition (TN Godavarman vs. the Union of India and others) with regard to tree felling, the SC verdict on the case included an interim order prohibiting logging without government permission.

The order, regarded as a move to safeguard the forests and its resources from rampant exploitation, included curbing any forests related commercial activity – logging, timber mills and timber transportation. While it put a gag on unregulated logging, it stipulated measures for state governments to introduce sustainable timber-harvesting policy under strict supervision coupled with afforestation programmes.

In the North East, a region that was estimated to be contributing half of the country’s total timber production during that time, the impact was instantaneous. The once thriving and unregulated timber trade was reined in; simultaneously affecting the shutdown of an unspecified number of timber mills across the region and, to some extent, the economy of communities dependent on forests.

The respective state governments introduced statespecific regulations with Nagaland also implementing the Nagaland Tree Felling Regulation Rules (NTFR), 2002 concurrent to the existing ‘Working Schemes/ Plans’ (timber harvesting programmes) enforced immediately after the SC order.

The noose was officially tightened on the erstwhile unbridled ‘log business’.

Circumventing the rules as Mechanised Furniture units

A

situation, one that rather contradicts the rules than absurd, has played out in Nagaland in the years since, which has in turn unassumingly pitted two government departments against each other over the issue of permit.

As per the standing directive, no authority of a state can permit the operation of any timber mill without the HPC’s approval.

With this as the legal basis, the State Forest department was bound not to allow the operation of any timber-related industry other than the ones already in operation with license from the HPC. Meanwhile, several later entrants, including those timber mills which could not avail HPC clearance following the SC directive, circumvented the rules to operate as legitimate businesses. This was done by obtaining permits as small furniture making establishments from the department of Industries & Commerce.

The resultant paradox has given rise to a phenomenon of ‘Mechanised Furniture units’.

How this works was explained by officials from both the departments interviewed on separate occasions. “They register as ‘Mechanised Furniture Units’ but go on to operate WorkingSchemes,theNTFR andtimberoperations Subsequent to the SC directive, a High Power Committee (HPC) was instituted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests as the regulatory body. The move resulted in the HPC instituting a monitoring mechanism in 1998 for regulating timber operations from source till the point of sale or identified depots beyond the North East.

The guideline included allotment of Working Plans/ Schemes for timber harvesting. Under the Plans/ Schemes, licence for timber extraction was issued in select community owned natural forests (in Nagaland’s case). Restriction was also stipulated on the volume of extraction for a set period or

as full-fledged saw mills once the paperworks and inspection are done away with.”

According to a government instituted study, timber mills in operation today in Nagaland without clearance from the HPC outnumber the ones with HPC clearance by over three-folds. As per the last count, there were over 160 timber mills across Nagaland as against the 49 operating with HPC clearance. Dimapur alone has 62 such units without HPC clearance, the study stated.

Timber from such mills is mostly used within the state as it cannot be exported.

While the operation of such units is in contravention of the SC directive, Forest department officials admitted to being helpless when it comes to clamping down. The officials admitted they are well aware of the situation but certain local factors - livelihood and the involvement of people connected to the Naga Political Groups - are acting as barriers for sweeping action to ensue. Action, if any, has been limited to asking the department of Power to disconnect supply to the defaulting units. The last time any significant move was initiated dated to 2005-06, when some 70 odd mills without HPC clearance were shut down. “Power supply was cut. But it all started back again.”

years depending on the area of operation with conditions for scheme renewal.

It came with the condition that timber harvested from such licensed operations could only be processed in mills with exclusive clearance or license to operate from the HPC. Rail wagons were then allotted for exporting the sawn timber subject to the quantum of availability, a norm in effect to date.

The NTFR, later introduced in 2002, regulated the cutting of trees from homestead and private plantations, including scattered trees, in Nagaland state.

the number of wood-related industries in the region, including Nagaland. While there is no conclusive record on the number of timber mills in operation leading upto the SC order, sources familiar with the timber trade note that not a single woodrelated industry has been given clearance to run in the North East since 1999.

In Nagaland - as per the state Forests Department data, in the post-SC directive period, only a total of 45 timber mills have been given the clearance or licence by the HPC to operate from industrial zones. The actual number of HPC-cleared mills though is reported to exHPC clearance and dwinceed the official figure. The dling of timber mills existing figure of HPC-cleared The enforcement wit- mills to date, as per a survey, is nessed a drastic reduction in stated to stand at 49.

NPRAAF finds anomalies in Dept. of Social Welfare One in every nine men faces

Dimapur, July 3 (mExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has warned the Department of Social Welfare (DoSW), Government of Nagaland, of “necessary steps to ensure justice” if it does not account for anomalies in the Department.

Following an RTI response from the DoSW, the NPRAAF alleged that there were “various anomalies” detected in the distribution of Grant-in-Aid (GIA) to various organizations for the year 2015-16 in Dimapur under four schemes namely: (a) Voluntary organizations dealing with Children Homes under Non-Plan, (b) Voluntary organizations dealing with Children Homes under Plan, (c) Voluntary organizations dealing with Old Age Homes, and (d) Voluntary Organizations dealing with Drug Abuse.

Children Homes

A press release from the Information and Publicity cell of the NPRAAF, as per the RTI response furnished to NPRAAF by the DoSW and “on physical verification” by NPRAAF of the beneficiaries, it was found that “two bodies in the government were deducting Rs 5000/- each from most of the beneficiaries while the amounts were not deducted in the case of some beneficiaries.”

“Surprisingly, the deducted amounts were also added into the amount of GIA and shown as given to the beneficiaries.

This means that the beneficiaries got Rs 10, 000/- lesser than what has been actually shown in the RTI document,” stated the NPRAAF, which found this “anomaly” during “physical verification of children homes and societies.”

It further stated that one ‘children home’ expressed “surprise that it was also shown as a beneficiary of Rs 80, 000/- in the RTI document.”

“Thereafter, the particular children home went and claimed the amount from the Department. However, a representative of that children home was initially threatened of withholding the amount if the children home was connected with filing of RTI in the department,” the NPRAAF stated.

Despite efforts by NPRAAF to locate some of the children homes and societies which were shown as recipients of GIA, “it could not be located thus giving rise to doubt the existence such organizations,” the Forum maintained.

Drug Abuse

Under the Drug Abuse scheme of 2013-14, an individual was shown as a recipient. However, the NPRAAF found that the RTI reply clearly mentioned that GIAs were given to “Voluntary Organizations” and nothing was mentioned about “eligibility for individuals to avail such benefits even though eligibility criteria was asked in the RTI application for availing such schemes.”

“The only eligibility criteria it mentioned was that the organization has to be registered with the Government.”

Till date, there has not been any inOld Age Homes stance where an individual got registered This doubt gained weight when, ac- with the Government. cording to NPRAAF, it found that a particular organization was shown as a recipi- Accountability ent of two different GIAs under Children In the light of the above, the Homes and Old Age Homes.

NPRAAF has demanded that the “While the existence of the children DoSW distribute GIA to all those orgahome was verified, the Old Age Home nizations which have been mentioned under the name of the same organiza- as beneficiaries but in reality have not tion was non-existent. It was learnt that received such funds. NPRAAF also dethe organization occasionally invites manded that the Department “strike aged persons and distributes blankets out the names of non-existent orgaand other materials to them. There is no nizations shown as beneficiaries and physical home for Old Age people under utilize the resultant funds in an approthe name of that organization shown as a priate manner.” beneficiary,” claimed the NPRAAF. “Preferential treatments to individuThe Forum was further “astounded” als be immediately stopped and the reto see that an “Office Expenses” of Rs 50, leased amount to the particular individ000/- was shown under the list of GIA for ual be recalled for proper utilization,” the Children Homes under Non-Plan during NPRAAF reiterated.

2015-16. “Such office expenses was never Further, the Forum demanded that known and shown under any scheme or all officers and staff responsible for such financial year, Plan or Non-Plan,” it stated. anomalies and irregularities be “made The organisation informed that be- accountable and appropriate action be sides physically verifying in Dimapur for taken against them.” the year 2015-16, NPRAAF also made tel“Failing to meet its demand within a ephonic calls to beneficiaries in other dis- month from the date of issue of this press tricts regarding GIA during different years. release, NPRAAF will take necessary “Several more homes denied receiving any steps to ensure justice to the deprived orGIA as shown in RTI document.” ganizations,” it maintained.

risk of sudden cardiac death

NEW york, July 3 (iaNS): Nearly one in every nine men and about one in 30 women are at risk of experiencing sudden cardiac death, most before the age 70, finds a study. Sudden cardiac death claims thousands of lives each year. It mostly occurs in people with no prior symptoms of cardiovascular disease. “Sudden cardiac death has been very hard to study because most patients had no history of heart problems and were not being monitored at the time of their death,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones from Northwestern University in the US. The findings showed that

sudden cardiac death risk was greater for men than women -with an overall 10.9 per cent lifetime risk among all men at age 45 (roughly one in nine men) and a 2.8 per cent lifetime risk of among all women at age 45 (or about one in 30 women). Men with two or more major risk factors at all ages had even higher lifetime risks for of at least 12 per cent (or more than one in eight men). High blood pressure levels helped identify lifetime risk more accurately in both men and women than any other single risk factor.

“Our paper sets the stage for thinking about how we can

screen the population effectively to find out who’s at risk,” LloydJones said. For the study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the team examined long-term data on more than 5,200 men and women aged 28-62.

Focusing on four major risk factors -- blood pressure, total cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes - the researchers calculated overall cumulative lifetime risk estimates for sudden cardiac death, and estimates according to risk factor burden. During follow up, 375 people died of sudden cardiac arrest.

NGOs not furnishing annual returns to be penalised: Home Ministry

NEW DElHi, July 3 (pTi): NGOs not furnishing annual income and expenditure statement for two consecutive years will face a penalty totalling 10% of foreign contributions received by them or Rs 10 lakh, whichever is less, the Home Ministry has said in a gazette notification.

A penalty equivalent to 5% of total foreign funds received in a year or Rs five lakh will be imposed for non-furnishing of annual return after one year, up to two years after December 31 every year. According to an official estimate, less than 10% of nearly

30 lakh registered NGOs across the country file their annual income and expenditure statements or annual returns.

Registration under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act of around 15,000 NGOs were cancelled by the government in last two years for not furnishing annual returns.

A penalty of 4% of the total foreign contribution received during the financial year or Rs two lakh will be imposed for failure to furnish returns after six months up to one year after December 31 every year.

Penalty of 3% of the amount

of foreign contribution received during the financial year or Rs 50,000 will be levied for not filing the annual returns after three months up to six months after December 31 every year, the notification said.

Two per cent penalty on total foreign funds received during the financial year or Rs 10,000 will be imposed for not furnishing returns for three months after December 31 every year. “There have been many erring NGOs which often flout the rules. The guidelines are for them.

No genuine NGO will be harassed,” a Home Ministry official said.

2

monDAY 04•07•2016

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

NVCO intensifies awareness on NFSA

A panoramic view of Chendang village in Tuensang district. It is situated 57km away from sub-district headquarter Sangsangnyu and 24km away from district headquarter Tuensang. (Morung Photo)

NRMSATA 2015-16 emergency meeting held

Kohima, July 3 (mExN): In its emergency meeting held on July 1 in Kohima, Nagaland RMSA Teachers’ Association (NRMSATA) 2015-16 inducted two new office bearers - Nyambemo Patton and Temsulila - from among the RMSA teachers selected under phase II and III in the central executives.

The Association stated that the RMSA teachers appointed under phase II and III had taken the right decision to work under one umbrella with the already existing NRMSATA (2015-16) despite the government’s policy of ‘’Di-

NRMSATA officials during the emergency meeting held on July 1 in Kohima.

vide and Rule’’ by issuing separate appointment orders to phase I under Nagaland Education Mission Society (RMSA) and phase II, III under Directorate of School Education. All the

teachers had undertaken the same examination conducted by the Nagaland Education Mission Society (RMSA).

The Association was optimistic that coming to-

gether as one body will automatically have a greater impact to thwart all the negative implications that come on the way, so as to achieve the desired common goal.

Kohima, JuNE 3 (mExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has begun an intensive awareness campaign on National Food Security Act (NFSA) after the Act was launched in Nagaland on June 27 by the Chief Minister, TR Zeliang to be implemented in Kohima and Dimapur.

On July 3, the organization conducted an awareness session at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Kohima right after the morning worship service. Addressing the congregation, NVCO President, Kezhokhoto Savi termed NFSA as a historic step taken by the Government of India to eradicate hunger. The Act came into effect on September 10, 2013 and extended to the whole of India to ensure access to adequate quantity and quality of food at affordable prices, he mentioned.

As per the provisions of the National Food Security Act 2013, it is the State government’s bounden duty to implement the Act and monitor it in accordance with guidelines issued by the Central government so that the scheme reaches to the targeted beneficiaries in the State.

Under the Act, Savi said, the scheme of Antyo-

daya Anna Yojana (AAY) meant for the poorest sections will continue, but the BPL & APL categories have been converted into Priority Household (PHH). Each category, i.e., both AAY & PHH will be getting a kg of rice at the rate of Rs.3/and wheat at Rs.2/- per kg, it was informed, according to a press release from Press & Media Cell, NVCO. The eldest woman in the family not below 18 years will be the head of the family in holding ‘Card’. As per the Act, it is mandatory for every beneficiary to have Aadhaar card followed with fingerprint.

The NVCO President pointed out that following the system may not be easy, but asserted every beneficiary must follow as it is the only way to ensure transparency and avoid misappropriation and corruption. “We are all aware that there was misappropriation and corrupt practices in MGNREGA Schemes just because beneficiary failed to stick to ‘job card’ and in the same manner if we don’t follow the system then we are inviting corruption by ourselves,” he added.

Savi appealed to the congregation, especially the beneficiaries, to extend their co-operation to the

Department of Food & Civil Supplies, District Administration, village authorities, and colony panchayats in urban areas while carrying out the Act. Meanwhile, the NVCO President asserted the top priority should be given to the genuine candidates to avail the benefits under the Act and that none of the genuine candidates should be left out. He also maintained that the Act is not for the rich as the same is intended to fight against hunger. “Death arising out of hunger is one greatest Human Rights violation and therefore, this Act is also to ensure and protect one’s human rights,” he stated.

The team of ‘Citizens Right Awareness Campaign’ led by its Professor-in-Charge Kezhokhoto Savi will be conducting more of this kind of awareness programme giving more priority to churches considering church as a good platform to highlight about the fight against hunger and corruption.

For further information, contact: e-mail- kezhokhotosavi@yahoo.com or through Toll Free No. 1800345-3701 of Nagaland State Consumer Helpline whose office is situated at Old Assembly Secretariat building, Kohima.

Rotary Club Kohima marks De-worming Day Our Correspondent Kohima | July 3

A healthy Mithun, the state animal of Nagaland, is seen feeding her calf near Shamator town, Tuensang district. Mithun rearing is very popular in eastern Nagaland areas. Traditionally, Mithun animal holds a high place in the Naga society as a mark of prestige for the owner or for those who could give a feast by killing this bovine animal. (Morung Photo)

In pursuance of the Rotary International District 3240 De-worming Day, the Rotary Club of Kohima today administered de-worming medicines to the children of Kohima Orphanage & Destitute Home and Naga Mothers’ Association’s AIDS Hospice here.

Rotary Club, Kohima president Richard Dzuvichu said that Rotary International De-worming Day is actually held annually on July 1, but due to certain circumstance the Rotary Club of Kohima could not observe the same on the specific day.

Apart from administering de-worming medicines, the Rotary Club Kohima also distributed footwear, soaps, umbrellas, sweets and snacks etc to the children of the orphanage and AIDS hospice.

It may be mentioned that worm infections can cause anemia, malnourishment, and impair mental and physical development, and may cause a serious threat to children's health, education, and productivity.

According to a study, the infected children cannot concentrate on their studies and they find it very hard to do their daily activities.

Rotary Club Kohima officials with inmates of Kohima Orphanage & Destitute Home during the observance of De-worming Day on July 3. (Morung Photo)

The WHO said India has the highest burden of Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) in the world, with 220 million children aged 1-14 estimated to be at risk of worm infections. Almost

7 in 10 children between 6 month and 5 years are anaemic, with even higher rates of anaemia in rural areas, the 2006 National Family Health Survey reported.

Meetings & Appointments Phonetic training for govt school teachers The Directorate of School Education in collaboration with Jolly Phonics U.K will organize a three-day long phonetic training for government school teachers in Kohima from July 4 to 6.The inaugural function will take place on July 4 at Zonal Council Hall at 9:30 am.

Mangkolemba SDPDB The monthly meeting of the Mangkolemba Sub Divisional Planning and Development Board (SDPDB) will be held on June 5 at the Additional Commissioner’s office. An official notification issued by the ADC office has informed all the Board members to attend the meeting without fail.

BJP Peren The district executive meeting of BJP Peren will be held on July 5, 10:00 am at rest house, Jalukie. Therefore, all the party district office bearers, district frontal chiefs, district executive members, mandal presidents, and state council members have been asked to attend the meeting without fail with activity reports.

Anti-rabies vaccination camp The veterinary department’s office under Tseminyu sub-division has informed that the department will organize free anti rabies vaccination camp on July 7 at the veterinary dispensary in Tseminyu Town. Therefore, the dog owners in and around Tseminyu may come and get their dog vaccinated between 9am to 2pm, informed a press release from Dr. Gwazenlo Tep, VAS, Tseminyu. Vaccine will be free of cost; however, a nominal fee of Rs. 50/shall be realized from those who take vaccination card. It was further informed that all livestock (cattle/ sheep/ goat/ pig) and poultry vaccines are available in the dispensary. The farmers may immediately contact their respective block in-charges (detailed information on block in-charge is available in the office notice board).

LFHSS student participates at Nagas in Mumbai pay respects to Isak Chishi Swu NSC Summer Science Camp

Dimapur, July 3 (mExN): Bishal Paul, a Grade-XI Science student from Livingstone Foundation Hr. Sec. School (LFHSS), Dimapur became the first student from Nagaland to participate in the 3rd National Science Concours Summer Science Camp 2016, which was held at Templeton International Academy, Bhimtal in Nainital, Uttarakhand from June 21 to 24.

According to a press release from LFHSS, the National Science Concours (NSC) is a unique science contest undertaken by Pivotal India Creation which was founded with an aim to change the way of learning.

Pivotal India Creation is focused on using technology to impart learning and promote educational success.

Bishal Paul was one of the top-scoring 83 students selected by Pivotal India Creation through an online contest from among 3 lakh students across some prestigious schools across the country like Scindia School, Gwalior, Gopi Birla School, Mumbai and Ryan International School, Delhi.

During the four-day Summer Science Camp, the students had the rare opportunity of becoming junior scientists and embarking on a series of science adventures. Some of the highlights of the Summer Science Camp were robotics workshop conducted by Neo Robos; testing of Archimedes Principle through experiments; and

Bishal Paul being felicitated at LFHSS.

horticulture sessions conducted by the Indo-Dutch Horticulture Tech. Ltd. Apart from these, the young scientists also had a thrilling and educating experience during a special forensics session where they were given hands-on experience in fingerprint examining, various methods of collecting and decoding evidences, techniques of examining crime-scenes and DNA extraction, the release said.

The camp was further enhanced through a unique physics lab workshop where they had the experience of making various electrical circuits.

There was also a geological session where the students were imparted with knowledge regarding the formation of Nainital region and also about various types of

rock formations. The students also visited some of the most breathtaking places in and around Nainital like the famous nine-cornered Nauchukia Tal whose nine corners are surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains.

Upon arrival in Dimapur, Bishal Paul was felicitated at Livingstone Foundation Hr. Sec. School in the presence of the school management, teachers and students on July 2. He was awarded with the Best Personality Award of the Pivotal India Creation’s NSC 2016 in the form of a trophy and certificate. He also became a proud winner of a one-year free subscription of EduBeans which is a regular online assessment test package for creating learning profiles of students of Grades-VI to XII.

mumbai, July 3 (mExN): Nagas living in Mumbai came together to pay their respects to the late Isak Chishi Swu, NSCN (IM) Chairman on July 2.

The condolence service, attended by about 120 Nagas ranging from students and researchers to working professionals, was organised by the Naga Students' Union, Mumbai (NSUM) at the Air India Ideal School, Kalina, Santacruz East at 5:00 pm.

The service was the least they could come up with as a mark of paying homage to Isak Swu’s sacrifice and charting Naga aspirations, stated a press release issued by NSUM President, Roderick Wijunamai.

Elijah Chara, a research scholar from Tata Institute of Social Sciences gave a

Naga community in Mumbai organized a condolence service for NSCN (IM) Chairman, Isak Chishi Swu on July 2.

brief biography of Isak. He reminded about how Isak followed a trait uncommon amongst Naga leaders, and also how he publicly spoke of the moral and material degradation that had crept into the NSCN during the period of ceasefire, according to the release.

Keren Sumi, an Image Consultant, mourned that the Nagas stand fatherless like an orphan in her eulogy. She however maintained that the soul of their departed leader will always guide them, and continue to be a beacon for younger and upcoming generation

of Nagas.

Dr Johnson Chithung, founder of Life Resource Ministry, Kalina exhorted the crowd to look at the life of Isak and be blessed. He narrated how Isak lived a Christ-centered life and preached the famous line “Nagaland for Christ” even

if he was not in a full-time Christian ministry.

The programme began with hymns by the Life Resource Ministry Choir from Kalina, while Arep Tzudir, Pastor of Naga Christian Fellowship, Mumbai said the invocation prayer. Candles were lit by the attendees to pay tribute to Isak’s legacy and “as a gesture to signify that the memory still lives on and burns bright.”

A one minute silence was also observed.

The President of NSUM, Roderick Wijunamai delivered the vote of thanks showing gratitude to all who turned up to the event in short notice. The event came to a close with a benediction by Pastor Wungmathing Zimik of Life Resource Ministry.

Blossoms Summer School concludes Morung Express News Mokokchung | July 3

The Blossoms Summer School, which began on June 23 at Blossoms Pre-School Mokokchung, concluded on July 2 with a graduation programme for the children aged 8 to 15 years. The summer school was organized

by Sashinungla Nathan, proprietor, Blossoms Pre-School, Mokokchung.

“In Blossoms Summer School we aim to create a special type of community where kids come together to have fun.

Within this setting, children develop a sense of independence as they try new adventures away from home. We aim to provide a safe environment where children gain self-confidence as they learn

new skills,” said Sashinungla.

She stated that the school is also a place where children develop a variety of social skills like communication, conflict resolution ability. “Instead of spending their vacation dong nothing substantial, we aim to make the child have fun and learn some lessons that can enable them to cope up with life's various challenges,” she added.

The trainers at the Summer School were Afang for dance track, Asen A. Jamir for Fine Arts and Along and Tali for Bible classes.

Children of Blossoms Summer School celebrate on their graduation day on July 2 at Blossoms Pre-School, Aongza Ward, Mokokchung.

MonDAY 04•07•2016 18

NORTH-EAST

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Tripura to get food, fuel via Bangladesh through IWttP AgArtAlA, July 3 (PtI): With formal inauguration of the revised Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol (IWTTP) having provision of third-country access with Bangladesh, steps have been taken to ship essential commodities including foodgrains and fuel to Tripura via the neighbouring country, a minister said on July 3.

“Initiatives have been taken to bring the essential commodities, including fuel and foodgrains, by using the waterways of Bangladesh through Ashuganj port on the river Meghna,” Tripura Revenue and PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury told reporters in Agartala.

Chowdhury said the Assam-Agartala National Highway (NH-8) is almost closed due to damage along a 20-km stretch at Lowepoia in Karimganj district of bordering Assam due to rainfall and waterlogging.

Hundreds of trucks

Vehicles stranded at Nh 44 which got damaged due to incessant rains at Tripura and Assam border in Churaibari, North Tripura on Friday. (pTi photo)

have been stranded for almost a month, making it difficult to transport supplies to Tripura.

The consignments will be shipped from Kolkata port to Bangladesh’s Ashuganj port, which is just 50 kms from Agartala.

He said IOC and FCI have taken initiatives following Tripura government’s repeated request to the Centre to transport the commodities through Ban-

gladesh.

The revised Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol (IWTTP) with the provision of third-country access was formally inaugurated on June 16 by Bangladesh Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan.

He inaugurated the transit facility at Ashuganj port.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, in a meeting with PWD Minister Chow-

dhury, officials of IOC, FCI, Railways, PWD and transport departments on Friday last, asked them to take initiative to transport the essential goods through the neighbouring country.

Bangladesh allowed FCI to transport 35,000 tonnes of rice in 2015.

Now with formal inauguration, Indian goods are entering Tripura through Bangladesh by using the Ashuganj port

on River Meghna.

“A shipment of 1,005 tonnes of iron rods arrived here on Sunday through Ashuganj river port in Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh. This was possible because of the revised IWTTP with the provision of third country,” Manager of the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) and In-charge of AgartalaAkhaura Integrated check post, Debasish Nandy, told PTI. “Now many more consignments of goods will enter Tripura by using the waterways of Bangladesh through Ashuganj port. A consignment of pulses will reach here soon. For transshipment of iron rods, the rural development department of Tripura government had to pay tax at the rate of Rs 192 per tonne,” Nandy said.

The protocol was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka in June last year.

Austrian, German engineers help shore up rail links in NE AgArtAlA, July 3 (IANS): The broad gauge lifeline of northeastern states is in danger and it's because of the loose soil beneath the railway track. So engineers from Austria and Germany are now working hard to find a solution even as the Northeast Frontier Railway has decided to divert parts of the track in Dima Hasao district of southern Assam.

The track that traverses southern Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura was converted from metre gauge to broad gauge last year.

However, within weeks train services had to be suspended -- first because of rain and landslides, and then due to loose soil beneath the railway track.

"The railway track in Migrendisa in southern Assam was badly damaged due to incessant rain and landslides. After the debris was cleared train services resumed, but because of the loose soil the track got curved," Northeast Frontier Railways' Chief Public Relations

Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma told IANS. "Before laying the new railway track, profiling of the area, soil testing and other technical matters were checked by various agencies, including the Research Development and Standard Organisation under the Railway Ministry," Sharma reasoned.

So what is the way forward?

"Northeast Frontier Railways has decided to divert about 200 metres of the track near Migrendisa. Work is expected to get completed, subject to favourable weather condition," Sharma said.

NFR Chief Administrative Officer Ajit Pandit said: "We have roped in several engineers from Austria, Germany as well as India to use their expertise at the affected spots. Our workers and engineers are working round-the-clock to restore rail service."

However, voices of discontent are rising in the area.

All-Barak Youth Students Asso-

ciation (ABYSA) has demanded a CBI probe alleging irregularities in the laying of the railway track.

"After spending Rs 5,000 crore and waiting for two decades, train service on the broad gauge was inaugurated in November. But within weeks a major fault developed," ABYSA Chief Convener Baharul Islam Barbhuiya said, adding that the soil testing report should be made public. He also alleged that poor construction materials were used while laying the railway track.

The outfit has written to the railway ministry's vigilance adviser Sunil Mathur, explaining the alleged irregularities in laying of the railway track.

Recently a high-level NFR team led by General Manager H.K. Jaggi visited the site where tracks have developed fault to assess the restoration work and diversion of the route.

The lone railway line from Guwahati passes through Lumding in Nagaon district in central Assam

and southern Assam, connecting Agartala and parts of Manipur and Mizoram with the rest of India.

The Guwahati-Silchar railway route is the lifeline for southern Assam comprising Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Dima Hasao districts, and the mountainous states of Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram.

The region is dependent on this railway route for supply of food grain, fertiliser, petroleum products, construction materials and other commodities.

Gauge conversion for Lumding-Silchar and Badarpur-Agartala route was sanctioned in 1996.

It was declared a national project in 2004, thereby ensuring uninterrupted funding from the central government. However, the project was hit by insurgency between 2006 and 2009, and work resumed after that.

The Silchar-Jiribam (52 km) in Manipur and Silchar-Bhairabi (120 km) in Mizoram gauge conversion projects are part of the LumdingSilchar line.

erty here. They were sending their daughters to Gujarat in search of jobs in beauty parlours. However, the parents could not give corroborative facts and other details.

We are investigating the matter," the police official added.

The girls were aged between 15 and 25 years while the two men are aged between 35 and 40.

About 31,300 Reang tribals, who call themselves 'Bru', have been living in seven makeshift camps for the past 19 years in Kanchanpur area adjoining Mizoram.

They had fled ethnic violence in western Mizoram following the killing of a Mizo forest official at the Dampa Tiger Reserve.

Despite several initiatives by the Mizoram government to bring them back, the refugees have been reluctant to go back to their villages unless their demands for food and security are met.

Assam to have new legislation which will assess property of government officials guWAhAtI, July 3 (Et): Assam chief minister, Sarbananda Sonowal asks the chief secretary to prepare modalities for a legislation which will assess property of the Ministers, MLAs, Government officers, former Ministers and MLAs and retired officers.

Sonowal said, "The new legislation is a move to weed out corrupt practices and will recommend stringent action like confiscation of property if property is disproportionate to the known sources of income."

Sonowal also directed that a system should be put in place where in all grade-I and grade-II officers of the State Government will have to submit their property return (immovable) within December 31. Officers of the Public Sector Undertakings and autonomous bodies will also come within the ambit of the new system.

All grade-I and grade-

II officers have to submit their property return up to June 30 by August 31, 2016.

According to government statement officers failed to comply with the new rules will invite stringent action like denial of timely promotion, bank loan, pass port etc.

Sonowal on Sunday took stock of the progress of construction work of the country's longest bridge between Dhola and Sadiya in Upper Assam and expressed hope that the bridge can be commissioned by April 2017.

Sonowal who is on a two day tour to Upper Assam had a meeting with the senior officials of the Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd which is constructing the 9.15 km bridge and asked them to give final touches to the bridge construction.

Sonowal said that once the bridge is completed, road connectivity between

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh would scale a new height. It will bring socioeconomic development besides improving people-to-people connect between the two states.

BSF on high alert along Indo-Bangla border in M'laya

ShIlloNg, July 3 (PtI): BSF has been put on "very high alert" along the 443-km long Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya following the killing of 20 hostages in a terror attack at a restaurant in Dhaka, an official said today.

"The force has been put on very high alert along the Indo-Bangladesh border following the armed attack in Dhaka. Security has been

tightened," BSF Inspector General (Meghalaya Frontier) P K Dubey said.

Dubey said he had spoken to officials of Meghalaya Police for coordination and sharing of information as soon as news of the killings came in.

Meghalaya has over 100 "gaps" consisting of streams, rivers and drains apart from the unfenced 90-km stretch along the

443 km border with Bangladesh. Accordingly, the BSF has sought cooperation of all state and central intelligence units to ensure that no illegal cross-border movement takes place, he said.

Police personnel posted close to the border has been alerted and asked to keep strict vigil in close coordination with the BSF, a senior police officer said.

ICFAI UnIvERSIty nAGAlAnd Sovima: Dimapur

PG Results of End Semester Examination -May 2016 I. MAStER OF ARtS in English (2014 -16) GOLD MEDALIST: University Reg. No 171400300038 171400300041

Name of the Student Sentilemla Lemtur Soyimla akum

CGPA 7.89 7.89

Division I I

CGPA 7.89 7.77 7.69 7.66 7.54 7.43 7.43 7.43 7.09 7.09 7.09 7.09 7.03 6.86 6.86 6.86 6.86 6.80 6.74 6.63 6.63 6.63 6.63 6.40 6.40 6.34 6.29 6.17 6.17 6.11 5.94 5.89 5.83 5.77 5.66 5.60 5.60

Division i i i i i i i i i i i i i ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii ii

RESULT IN MERIT ORDER: University Reg. No 171400300025 171400300020 171400300035 171400300032 171400300023 171400300018 171400300027 171400300030 171400300008 171400300009 171400300019 171400300040 171400300013 171400300031 171400300045 171400300046 171400300047 171400300037 171400300007 171400300028 171400300036 171400300039 171400300044 171400300015 171400300043 171400300003 171400300034 171400300017 171400300029 171400300022 171400300024 171400300026 171400300014 171400300005 171400300012 171400300001 171400300006

Name of the Student Ks mariam inakali assumi Nungshinongla Neizovo-Ü Kikrusenuo Flora imtienla imsong Liyingbeni r Kithan mhasinuo rio Betina vashi C Tsase annar imtisangla Sentizungla Enyuh phom muilila Sangtam akishe L Jakha Y imtijungla Y Shamloi phom S Katine mariya Bendangrenla a Jamir Longpozem Jamir S imlinungla Sentimenla Jamir Tughukali a Sumi Honchonphy Khodang Thungbeni Kithan arensongla Nganlen phom imlimenla meilen phom Kielieto angami Kingpila L imnajungla H Lijang phom azatoli K Chishi Elika Y a Sorila Yimchunger B ayuminlem Konyak

WIThhELD & NC: University Reg. No 171400300010 171400300021 171400300042 171400300048

Name of the Student Chubonthung S Ezung K Zubeni Ezung Thsariliba C Sangtam Lungzeuheile

II. MAStER OF ARtS in Political Science (2014 -16) GOLD MEDALIST: University Reg. No 171400400042

Name of the Student ratna Begum

CGPA 7.03

Division I

CGPA 6.63 6.51 6.51 6.51 6.51 6.51 6.40 6.40 6.40 6.40 6.40 6.34 6.34 6.23 6.17 6.17 6.11 6.11 6.11 6.06 6.06 6.00 5.94 5.94 5.94 5.94 5.89 5.89 5.89 5.83 5.83 5.77 5.77 5.77 5.71 5.60 5.54

Division II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II

RESULT IN MERIT ORDER:

Eight Bru girls rescued while being trafficked to Gujarat

AgArtAlA, July 3 (IANS): At least eight Reang girls from Mizoram were rescued from a car while being trafficked to Gujarat, police said on Sunday. As many as two Reang youths were also arrested in this connection, the police said. "They were rescued from a small vehicle on Saturday night while being trafficked to Gujarat via Guwahati," police inspector Ratanmani Debbarma told the media.

"During interrogation the girls gave different versions about their journey.

Seven of them are the inmates of refugee camps in Kanchanpur (in north Tripura) where tribals from Mizoram live. Another teen aged girl is a class nine student from Mizoram," he said. Debbarma said that to know the details the police have called the refugee leaders who said they were unaware of the girls' journey.

"Their parents said they face acute pov-

3

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University Reg. No 171400400050 171400400004 171400400006 171400400033 171400400039 171400400045 171400400015 171400400021 171400400032 171400400034 171400400036 171400400001 171400400023 171400400055 171400400037 171400400044 171400400010 171400400013 171400400022 171400400016 171400400038 171400400030 171400400005 171400400035 171400400053 171400400057 171400400011 171400400054 171400400059 171400400020 171400400041 171400400025 171400400026 171400400051 171400400014 171400400031 171400400008

Name of the Student Tongpang phom anatoli Y Hesso asen Newmai Nchumthung C Ngullie presilla Jungi S Chongsen imsenkala pongener Khenokali Yepthomi Nchumbemo Erui Neibuno mor Nighakali i Labos achangpila Sangtam Khuni Tuchelu Daisy p Noklem rozila S Sangtam Chulam L phom Hitoka aye Khropelo-Ü Ladu Julee S Sumi pelevino Thsabilila Sangtam arhoni N odyuo Neihulie rÜpre-o Toshinungla Longchar vevozolu Khusoh Chumlanthung N Ngullie Toyi Kiba Wanmei Walim Kezhalie-Ü pielie r Tsukhumcha Yimchunger Konshon Tongtoklum Lampivah Chongmun Tonishi ayemi i aviho Chishi manbo H Wangshu Konyak Chubanaro K Jamir

WIThhELD & NC: University Reg. No 171400400009 171400400019

Name of the Student Chubasenla Konyak Ketousenuo peseyie

III. Certificate in Computer Hardware & Networking (2015-16 RESULT University ID 171510199001 171510199002 171510199003 171510199004 171510199005 171510199006 171510199007 171510199008 171510199009 171510199010 171510199012 171510199013 171510199014 171510199015 171510199016 171510199017 171510199018 171510199019 171510199020 171510199021

Name of the Student aash Gurung achio W Kikon akivi G Jimo atilo Khing Bhopen Singh Th Bikram Singh Bishal Jaiswal imkongyapang Jamir inakali assumi inreutube Keviletuo menangsosang pongen rajet Sutradhar ritu pandey Sandip Das Sinok Chishi Soyimla akum Tato v Swu Thungchibemo Kithan Yerkivi T Chishi

CGPA 7.67 6.93 6.60 5.33 8.07 8.07 7.33 7.00 6.07 6.33 6.40 5.53 7.33 6.20 8.47 5.73 7.20 6.47 6.00 5.93

Overall Grade B B B C A A B B B B B C B B A C B B B C

Note: Withheld & NC students are asked to approach exam department for clarification on or before 8th July. Transcripts will be issued from July 18, 2016 onwards.

04/07/2016 Sovima

Sd/Coordinator of Examination

4

MonDAY 04•07•2016

business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

biggest oil refinery to cost $30 bn: IOC Pulses imports may rise to 5 mn India’s The 60 million tonnes a year refinery and a mega tonnes in April-December: Industry petrochemical complex will be set up in 2 phases India, the world’s largest producer, had imported about 4.5 million tonne in the corresponding period of the previous year

New Delhi ,July 3 (PTi): India is likely to import about 5 million tonnes of pulses during April-December period of this fiscal, largely by private traders, to boost domestic supply and cool retail prices that have reached up to Rs 200 per kg.

India, the world’s largest producer, had imported about 4.5 million tonne in the corresponding period of the previous year. The country had imported 5.78 million tonnes in the entire 2015-16 fiscal to meet do-

mestic demand.

“Imports are happening. About 1.2-1.3 million tonnes of pulses have already been imported.

Moreover, private traders have contracted for 3 million tonnes of pulses to be shipped between September and December,” India

Importers are selling it to millers and wholesellers at a very less margins, he said. On overall imports for this fiscal, Dongre said it would depend on monsoon.

“If monsoon is good as projected, domestic production will increase. Then imports will be less in the last quarter of this fiscal,” IPGA Vice Chairman Bimal Kothari said.

IPGA said the pulses prices have gone up in domestic market due to fall in production on account of poor and unseasonal rains in two consecutive crop years.

Pulses production fell to 17.06 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year (JulyJune) from 17.15 million tonnes in the previous year.

In 2013-14, output was over

Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) Chairman Pravin Dongre said.

Asked about the landed cost of imported pulses, he said it is Rs 32-33 per kg for yellow peas, Rs 92-93 for tur dal, Rs 105-106 for urad, Rs 65 for masoor and Rs 58-60 for moong.

19 million tonnes.

As a result, retail prices of pulses have shot up with Tur and urad dals selling at as high as Rs 180 per kg and Rs 198 per kg, respectively, in the retail markets.

Chana dal is being sold at Rs 105 per kg, while moong and masoor at Rs 130 and Rs 110 per kg respectively.

The government recently decided to enhance the buffer stock limit of pulses to 8 lakh tonnes for making market intervention when prices firm up in retail markets. It is also importing pulses to boost domestic supply.

So far, 1.19 lakh tonnes of pulses has been procured from farmers for creating buffer stock and 46,000 tonnes have been contracted for imports.

New Delhi, July 3 (PTi): India’s biggest oil refinery that state-run IOC, BPCL, HPCL and EIL plan to set up on the west coast will cost $30 billion or Rs 2 lakh crore, a senior official said.

“The 60 million tonnes a year refinery and a mega petrochemical complex will be set up in two phases.

“Phase-1 will be 40 million tons together with an aromatic complex, naphtha cracker and polymer complex,” Sanjiv Singh, Director (Refineries), IOC, told PTI in an interview.

Phase-1 will cost Rs 1.2-1.5 lakh crore and will come up in 5-6 years from the date of land acquisition, he said.” The entire refinery will include three crude units of 20 million tonnes each - first of these

India slips to 75th Govt allows state-run GIs to sell crop insurance place on money in Swiss banks New Delhi, July 3 (PTi): India has slipped to 75th place in terms of money held by its citizens with banks in Switzerland, while the UK remains on top.

India was placed at 61st place last year, while it used to among top-50 countries in terms of holdings in Swiss banks till 2007. The country was ranked highest at 37th place in the year 2004.

As per the latest annual update on Swiss banks, released by Switzerland’s central bank SNB (Swiss National Bank), the total money held there by foreign clients from across the world fell by nearly 4 per cent to Swiss franc (CHF) 1.42 trillion (about Rs 98 lakh crore) at the end of 2015.

In terms of individual countries, the UK accounted for the largest chunk at about CHF 350 billion or almost 25 per cent of the total foreign money with Swiss banks.

The US came second with nearly CHF 196 billion or about 14 per cent. No other country accounted for a double-digit percentage share, while others in the top-ten included West Indies, Germany, Bahamas, France, Guernsey, Luxembourg, Hong Kong and Panama.

India was ranked 75th with CHF 1.2 billion (about Rs 8,392 crore), which is not even 0.1 per cent of the total foreign money in Swiss banks and is the lowest for the country in at least two decades or since 1996 -- the first year for which full comparable data is available.

Pakistan was placed higher at 69th place with CHF 1.5 billion -- a shade better than 0.1 per cent of total foreign money parked with Swiss banks.

India was also lowest ranked among the BRICS nations -- Russia was ranked 17th (CHF 17.6 billion), China 28th (CHF 7.4 billion), Brazil 37th (CHF 4.8 billion) and South Africa 60th (CHF 2.2 billion).

Others ranked higher than India included Mauritius, Kazakhstan, Iran, Chile, Angola, Philippines, Indonesia and Mexico, while a number of so-called tax havens were also placed above, including Jersey, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Marshall Islands, Bermuda, Belize, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Seychelles and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

All offshore financial centres together held CHF 378 billion in Swiss banks. The total for developing countries stood at CHF 207 billion, while the same for the developed countries was much higher at CHF 833 million.

India was ranked in top-50 continuously between 1996 and 2007, but started declining after that -- 55th in 2008, 59th in 2009 and 2010 each, 55th again in 2011, 71st in 2012 and then 58th in 2013.

Portals make filing tax returns easier New Delhi, July 3 (PTi): With the deadline for submitting annual IT returns round the corner, taxpayers have wider choices to save time on the online filing process with many portals offering services at the click of the mouse.

The websites are betting on “user friendly” and evolving opportunities in the financial technology space to help individual taxpayers make their income tax filings without consuming much time.

Apart from facilitating filings, some portals also suggest possible investment opportunities for the users to save on their tax liabilities.

Among others, users of many such platforms are greeted by videos, blogs and algorithm-backed calculators.

“Platforms like Quicko.com offer a seamless e-filling facility to the individual taxpayers principally in the salaried category by merely uploading their Form-16 anywhere and anytime around the clock,” its founder Vishvajit Sonagara, said.

One such portal ClearTax.com’s CEO and Founder Archit Gupta said it is very bullish on the financial technology space and seek to place the right bets in terms of people and products to help the taxpayers.

The website claims to have helped more than a million users in financial year 2014-15.

BigDecisions.com, part of News Corp group, assists users in identifying opportunities to save on their taxes.

Manish Shah, Co-founder and CEO of BigDecisions. com, said it aims to “empower users with relevant tools such as a combination of algorithm backed calculators, video content and blogs to help them take better decisions on matters related to personal finance”.

Sonagara said Quicko encourages the users to build an investment portfolio that can help them save taxes.

The last date for filing annual IT returns is July 31.

MuMbai, July 3 (PTi): Government has now allowed all the four public sector general insurers to participate in its ambitious farm insurance schemes -- the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Unified Package Insurance Scheme -- with potential of over USD 2.5 billion in premium collection.

The government had kicked off the scheme on June 1 without involving any of the four public sector general insurers, who control almost 50% of the market. Only 11 private sector players were allowed to participate as they have better experience in crop insurance schemes, an area which state-run companies were almost eschewing so far.

The PMFBY has replaced the existing two crop insurance schemes -- the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and the Modified NAIS. For Kharif crops, the premium charged would be up to 2%t of the sum insured, while for Rabi crops, the premium will be up to 1.5%.

“We have been allowed to participate in these schemes. Now that Kharif crop season has already begun, we will participate in the Rabi season,” the country’s largest general insurer New India Assurance’s Chairman G Srinivasan told PTI. Its peer

National Insurance Company is also gearing up for the scheme.

“We are getting ready to participate in the scheme. We are working with Agricultural Insurance Company (AIC) as they are providing us technical knowhow on the subject,” its Chairman and Managing Director Sanath Kumar said. “I do believe that it will be a profitable venture as it has been priced on the basis of actuarial calculation which will ensure the insurers get the right price for providing cover,” he said.

According to Kumar, the states have already floated tenders for the scheme for Kharif season. “Still, I do believe that we will be able to participate in the forthcoming Rabi crops,” he said. However, a central government official said even for Kharif crops, the state-owned general insurers can provide cover in association with AIC. The state-run non-life insurers have a massive presence in rural and semi-urban areas compared to their private sector counterparts, which will help increase the reach of PMFBY, he said. As of now, AIC is the sole state-run company which has been providing the coverage.

Now, all the four state-owned companies will associate with AIC to provide cover under the schemes.

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SUDOKU

Their participation will also ensure that the scheme benefits both loanee and non-loanee farmers as the premium is quite low.

“We have already crossed the mark of 24-25 per cent of coverage of crop loan and now we are aiming at achieving 40 per cent by the fiscal end,” he said. SBI General Insurance is looking at doubling its crop insurance cover during the current fiscal.

“We have underwritten premium to the tune of Rs 100 crore in the crop insurance segment in the last fiscal and we are looking at doubling our crop insurance cover during the current fiscal thanks to PMFBY,” SBI General Insurance Managing Director Pushan Mahapatra said.

Talking about state-run general insurers joining the bandwagon, he said, “More number of players will bring better competition and better risk management practices.”

State-run reinsurer GIC Re plans to become the world’s second largest agriculture reinsurer due to its participation in PMFBY. “Our share as reinsurer in PMFBY is already at 30-40 per cent. But we want to make it to above 50 per cent

by March so as to become the world’s second largest reinsurer,” GIC Re Chairperson Alice G Vaidyan said.

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.”

Game Number # 3628

Answer Number # 3627

Head & Neck

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BRAIN

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will be part of phase-1.

“The mega complex will require 12,000-15,000 acres of land and two-three sites on coast of Maharashtra are being explored,” he said. The second phase will cost Rs 50,000-60,000 crore, he added.

IOC has been looking at west coast for a refinery as catering to customers in West and South was difficult with its refineries mostly in the North.

HPCL and BPCL have also been looking at a bigger refinery because of constraints they face at their Mumbai units.

“The refinery will produce petrol, diesel, LPG, ATF and feedstock for petrochemical plants in plastic, chemical and textile in-

dustries in Maharashtra,” he said.

Fifteen million tonnes a year is the biggest refinery any public sector unit has set up in one stage.

IOC recently started its 15 million tonnes unit at Paradip in Odisha.

Reliance Industries holds the distinction of building the biggest refinery in India till now.

It built its first refinery at Jamnagar in Gujarat with a capacity of 27 million tonnes, which was subsequently expanded to 33 million tonnes. It has built another unit adjacent to it for exports, with a capacity of 29 million tonnes. The refinery being planned by the state-owned firms will be bigger than that.

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Police Station 1:

2226241

Police Station 2 :

2226214

Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home:

2226216 2226263

Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):

2226373/2229343

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

CURRENCY NOTES

222246 222491

BUY(Rs)

SELL(Rs)

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

66.09 88.74 8.24 49.06 48.94 50.77 64.05

69.24 93.25 9.20 51.61 51.48 53.40 67.84

Euro

73.17

76.89

1.82

2.03

0.0553

0.0618

17.41

19.45

9.61

10.73

EYES

TASTE BUdS

FOREhEAd

TEETh

gUmS

TEmPLES

hAIR

ThROAT

JAw

TONgUE

LARYNX

TONSILS

Korean Won

LIPS

TRAChEA

mOUTh

UVULA

UAE Dirham (AED) Chinese Yuan

Thai Baht

MOndAY 04•07•2016

NAGALAND

Kaba’s initiative for cleaner, greener Kohima Missing naga youth found Morung express news Dimapur | July 3

A Naga youth who had gone missing in Delhi for the past two days has been found and is undergoing medical checkup at DDU hospital, a Delhi Police official informed on Sunday.

The youth came to Delhi a few days ago but went missing two days back, informed IGP Robin Hibu IPS, Nodal Officer for North East People, Delhi on its social media page.

“He is inside ICU for total check up,” Hibu wrote on Facebook while also informing that he had spoken to a friend of the youth and police personnel at the hospital.

Earlier, the Delhi Police informing that the youth had gone out without a phone had sought help in locating him.

TM conducts cleanliness drive in Wokha Kohima ao Baptist arogo (KaBa) members clean garbage and drainages as part of the KaBa CaRe (Creating awareness for Restoration of environment) initiative. our Correspondent Kohima | July 3

In a noble venture, the Kohima Ao Baptist Arogo (KABA) on Saturday organized a cleanliness drive in the state capital Kohima.

The cleanliness drive was a part of KABA’s initiative towards ‘Creating Awareness for Restoration of Environment’ (CARE) known as "KABA CARE" to raise consciousness and awareness towards

a greener and cleaner Kohima.

KABA members cleaned garbage and drainage, which was received well by many.

KABA’s youth director, Tiatoshi Longkümer

CondolenCe Messages SVBC Phek The Sümi Village Baptist Church under Phek District has extended its condolences at the demise of Isak Chishi Swu. In a condolence message, the SVBC stated, “In Isak Chishi Swu’s death, Nagas have lost a great leader who had selflessly sacrificed his whole life in the Service of the Nation.” The Church prayed to Almighty God to grant eternal peace to the soul of “our beloved father, Isak”.

SVC Phek The Sümi Village Council under Phek District in a condolence message remembered Swu for his selfless sacrifice and contributions throughout his life towards the Naga Political issue. “The good deeds of Swu would forever be etched in the annals of the Naga History and his name would be forever remembered,” a condolence message from the village council stated.

BJP Peren: The BJP Peren District referred to Swu as “one of the greatest undisputed Naga Leader” and stated that he was “a true son of Naga soil who had fought for the rights and identity of the Nagas and strived for peace and unity among the Naga brethrens”.

Mentioning that Swu’s sacrifices will long be remembered, the BJP Peren in a message, extended deep condolences to the wife, children, brothers Yeshito and Jacob, relatives and Chishilimi villagers. “May we all unite in his death and work towards permanent peace and progress,” it added.

Nihokhu Village GB & Chairman: Nihokhu Village Head GB Ghoshito Zhimomi and Nihokhu Village Council Chairman Ghosuho Zhimomi mourned the passing away of Swu, a “beloved leader of Nagas”.

In a statement, the GB & Chairman recollected Swu with deep sadness and said that late Swu had sacrificed everything he had for the rights and aspiration of the Naga people. “Nagas have lost respectable friend and God fearing leaders,” the two elders of the village added.

said the main purpose of KABA CARE was to create awareness among the citizens of Kohima to protect and restore the environment from further destruction and make Kohima a cleaner and green-

er place to live in.

KABA CARE convenor, Lipoksungkum Imsong expressed hope that the KABA CARE initiative will take Kohima a step forward towards achieving the Smart City tag as

members of KABA are doing their best to beautify Kohima.

Presently, KABA CARE is undertaking renovation and beautification works of 4 pedestrian footbridges in Kohima.

Wokha, July 3 (MExN): In support of the ongoing project ‘Love Earth Love Life - Operation Clean Wokha’, Team Metamorphosis conducted a cleanliness drive in the heart of Wokha Town on July 2. According to a press release from Team Metamorphosis, ‘Operation Clean Wokha’ is a long term project that aims not only to make Wokha Town clean but also create awareness, sensitize and educate citizens in making cleanliness a lifestyle; not just the cleaning of the surroundings but also the state of one’s mind. “It starts with the individual’s state of mind in developing and making progress by a society,” the release added.

BJP Wokha district meeting Wokha, July 3 (MExN): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Wokha district members along with all frontal presidents and general secretaries have convened an executive meeting on July 5, 10:00 am at NRC Hall,

DHEP, Doyang. A press release issued by Mhonchan Tungoe, general secretary cum spokesperson BJP, has requested all the BJP Wokha district executive and frontal members to attend the meeting without fail.

St Thomas’ feast observed kidiMa, July 3 (MExN): St Francis Xavier's Catholic Church Kidima observed the feast of St Thomas the Apostle with Reverend Father Benny, Administrator of St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama as the Main Celebrant on July 3 in the church premises.

Father Benny said St Thomas the Apostle of Jesus the martyr came to In-

dia in 52 A.D. from Jerusalem and established churches. In his homily, he described the Apostle Thomas as courageous, sincere and who professed the Catholic faith to other people.

The administration and police along with ngos destroyed seized liquor (IMFl) and The Eucharist celebration was fol- local brew at Mangkolemba town on June 2. seen in the picture is Mangkolemba sdo lowed by offertory for the gift of God. (C) (3rd from left) and sdPo (3rd from right), with the ngos.

Special invocation was also offered for the Parish Priest of Kidima.

L Yanthung village gate inaugurated Wokha, July 3 (MExN): The gate of L. Yanthung village in Wokha district was inaugurated by Y. Chimoklemba, BDO Wozhuro on May 28. Constructed under BRGF 2014-15, the gate was dedicated by Yizanbemo, pastor, L. Yanthung Baptist Church.

According to a press release, the chief guest exhorted the villagers to preserve the rich heritage of Naga customs and traditions. He further stressed on judicious use of development fund so that areas of potential like L. Yanthung

can became a model village.

Block HA Nyamo Ezung highlighted on the various schemes taken up by the Rural Development department and appreciated the VDB activity of the village. The RD has recommended the village VDB as the best VDB in the district, the release said.

Wozhuro Block VDB union treasurer Tsanthungo thanked the VDB of L. Yanthung village and hoped that the welcome gate will be made as a Children performing a skit at Tuensang Town ao Baptist arogo to celebrate aBaM sign of peace and unity.

Youth sunday on July 3. (Photo Courtesy: Satemmenla)

Public SPace

a nePhew’S eulogy for hiS uncle

Condolence message delivered at Chishilimi Village by Y. Vikheho Swu, nephew of Isak Chishi Swu and Minister P.W.D (Roads and Bridges) Nagaland

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hairpersons of the Funeral program, Rev. G. Kiyeto Sumi, and Khehoshe, Vice president Sumi Hoho.

Respected, Ato Kilonser, GPRN Th. Muivah and his lady wife, respected Vice President GPRN Gen. (Rtd.) Khole, all the rank and file of the GPRN, Parliamentary Secretary Pukhai Sumi, my friend Achumbemo Kikon, my friends from the NPMHR, FNR, NSF, Government Officials, and each and every one whom I cannot mention individually, I want to thank you all for being with us at this time of sorrow.

Today, we bid farewell to a man who gave his all to the cause of the Naga Nation. We bid farewell to a man who has been the rock upon whom many held on to, in this long struggle for the Naga cause.

My uncle Isak Chishi Swu joined the Naga National Movement much before I was born.

I first met him in 1971 when he had come to Ghathashi to attend the Diamond jubilee celebration of the Chishilimi Baptist church. I remember accompanying him on foot to attend the celebration at Chishilimi Village.

I also recall the first time I met him as an adult in Kathmandu. We shook hands and words did not come easy for both of us. Years of separation and lack of communication left a vacuum that could not be filled with easy flow of words. The first meeting, I recall was of uneasy silence and just some polite conversation.

As President of Naga Student’s Federation and subsequently, Convenor of Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Right (NPMHR) I started having more interactions with him as I came to know him more personally. I saw that he was indeed a remarkable man. Our meetings always started with a prayer and ended with a prayer. Whenever I met him he never failed to mention that without God nothing was possible and that we are all created for a

purpose and we all need to seek that purpose with God’s constant guidance. I still continue to pass this on to my children.

Another thing about my uncle was that he was a very caring man. He was always concerned about other people. While going out, he would always be the one to open car doors for us. Even when entering a room he opened the door for us. While eating too, he always gave us the best portions. He was a perfect gentleman, humble and selfless. He did not think of accumulating worldly things. He was generous to the core. Always giving away what he had.

I treasure the small but precious gifts that he has given me over the years, like his personal Bible, his shawl, a belt that he gave me among others.

He was a man who was disciplined and led a very God fearing and exemplary Christian life and he wanted others to do the same. Through all ups and downs he never once wavered in his walk with His Lord. Wherever he went, he did not fail to Glorify God. His two main commitments in life were to Glorify God, and another was the cause of The Naga Nation. Even during his stay in Kathmandu from what I learnt, he was instrumental in building a church there.

Through his friends in the Church circle he could also take the Naga struggle to many other platforms. I also had the privilege of accompanying him to attend church services in Bangkok and Manila.

His sacrifices can never be fully comprehended. Most of the children were born in the jungles and were sent away one by one, carried by sacrificing villagers and cadres through rough jungle terrains. They were all born during the worst time of the struggle and taking them out of jungles for safety was another heartbreaking story altogether. All the children grew up in different homes, away from each other. The family did not grow up as a unit. No doubt, it was traumatic for the children. However, through it all the Lord God was merciful and today they have all turned out to be fine young men and woman. The first time the family ever got together was around 20022004 in Manila. It was just for a few years but that was the most memorable and most cherished time that I can remember. One of my greatest worry that I shouldered all my life was for my uncles family. I always worried about

what would happen to the children. I remember, seeing them all together for the first time in Manila bought me so much happiness. I had taken care of each one of them when they were first brought to Kohima and Ghathashi. Here I want to particularly thank the following families who had helped in raising them to be what they are today. Mr. & Mrs. K.L. Chishi and family, Mr. & Mrs. Lt. Gen Zuheto Swu and family, Mr. & Mrs. late Quito Chishi and family, Mr. & Mrs. Khetovi Chishi and family, Mr. & Mrs. Nihoshe Swu Lazami and family and within the close family particularly, Rev. Luhoi Jakha and family, Mr. & Mrs. Nixezu and family, Rev. Yehoshe Chishi Swu and family. If I have not mentioned all, we do remember every single one of you who has helped along the way.

The Naga struggle would not have come this far and my uncle would not have accomplished what he has thus far, had it not been for his long time companion and colleague, Uncle Th. Muivah. Their partnership was a perfect balance, which was, I can say without doubt, pre-determined by God. The amazing relationship survived through many ups and downs and would not have survived this far if the hand of God was not present. For being his friend, his brother and his family all through the years, I thank him on behalf of all the family members.

I would also like to thank all the rank and file of NSCN (IM) and every individual who worked with him, for believing in him and in his leadership.

On behalf of the family I want to thank the Sumi community for upholding the Naga struggle thus far. Right from the beginning till now, the Sumis have been in the forefront of Naga Political Struggle. Your prayers, contributions and good wishes are immeasurable.

I want to thank the Sumi Hoho, Western Sumi Hoho, Eastern Sumi Hoho, Northern Sumi Hoho, Sumi Aphuyemi Hoho, Sumi Kukami Hoho, Sumi Gazatted Union and all other organizations that I may have failed to mention.

Your support and contribution throughout his lifetime, till he took his last breath has been so immense. We hope you will continue to extend the same unwavering support to the Cause of the Nagas. Both my Uncle and Aunty were guided by the Lord throughout, but what they could do all the way was also because

of the contribution, in cash, in kind, physical and mental help extended to them by the Sumi community. I urge the Sumi community to continue to support the Naga cause even in the days ahead.

The Sumi Aphuyemi Pughoboto has always been a source of strength to the Naga cause.

Sumi Aphuyemi has also suffered untold humiliation and pain for the cause of Naga political right, but we have stood our ground not because we had Isak Chishi Swu, but there is in us the spirit of nationalism much before Isak.

I urge the Aphuyemi’s that we should not give up, we must carry on and support the struggle in the way we have through the years till we achieve our goal.

The people of Chishilimi have suffered a lot.

From the time my uncle joined the movement till today. Today we are burying him after decades of suffering but I am confident and I want each and every one of us to believe that this burial upon the soil of Chishilimi will bring manifold blessing upon this very soil and upon the lives of every Chishilimi for generations to come.

The Naga Civil Society and the Naga Churches has been one of the most proactive and progressive pressure groups. The unflinching support and contribution of Naga Civil Society Groups towards the Naga Struggle is commendable. I want to particularly thank the Naga Hoho, NSF, NPMHR, NMA, FNR, ENPO, ENSF, ENWO, UNC, ANSAM and all other organizations for recognising the leadership of my uncle Isak Chishi Swu. l also want to thank the Naga Civil Society under the aegis of Naga Hoho for the decision you have taken to erect a memorial in his honour in the State capital Kohima.

I thank God for Iza Khulu whom God chose to be the life partner of my uncle Isak Chishi Swu. Iza Khulu herself was a cadre in the Naga movement. She has been a source of strength, proficient at juggling the responsibilities of being a mother of a family as well as a Nation.

Though her life has been a constant struggle she never wavered and stood by my uncle for which we, the family is very grateful. She made every effort to assist in the responsibility of her husband, even to the extent of taking up English Courses so that she may accompany her husband in his frequent travels around the world. Today I am proud to say that she is as capable a diplomat of the Naga Nation as any

trained person. We pray for her well-being so that she may continue to be an inspiration to the Naga People.

The decision to bury him in his Native village Chishilimi has caused a lot of inconvenience to the entire Naga people. I want to thank the Naga Hoho, the Sumi Hoho and the Western Sumi Hoho for the concern you had to bury him in the State Capital Kohima, in Zunheboto and in Western Sumi area respectively, but the family members and the Chishilimi as a whole could not do away with his last wish. He wanted his mortal remains to be brought to his village for burial. I want to thank all the members involved in the funeral organizing committee, the Naga Community Delhi, NSCN, Western Sumi Hoho, Angami Public Organization, Angami Youth organization, Rengma Hoho, Sumi Aphuyemi Hoho, Sumi Hoho. The neighbouring villages of Chisholimi, Kilomi, Khughutomi, Hebolimi, Mukalimi, Ghathashi, Lazami and Sumi Aphuyemi Hoho, Sumi Aphuyemi Kukami Hoho, SAKK and each and every individual, community and organization who have participated in various ways.

As we gather here to pay our last respect to Ino Isak Chishi Swu, let us be reminded of five greatest achievements achieved thus far for the Naga people: 1. Cease-fire between Naga Political groups and Government of India.

2. Recognition of Naga Issue in the United Nations, 3. Making the Indian Government recognize the Uniqueness of Naga History, 4. Signing of the Framework Agreement and 5. Signing of the Covenant of Reconciliation.

Let us remember that he was from the 50’s and 60’s. His leadership has led the Nagas into the 21st century. It is for posterity to record how we, the present generation go forward with the legacy that he has given us.

Who is a true Naga leader? According to me it would be a person who do not think of himself or his family or his or her tribe alone but able to think for the entire Nagas, hence my last words.

My beloved and most honoured “True Naga Leader” my Uncle Isak Chishi Swu, I bid you farewell --- Ileno Wolo!

The Morung Express “Public Space” is to provide space for diverse opinions to be expressed and heard. The opinions in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper nor the editor.

6

Monday 04•07•2016

IN FOCUS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express volume Xi issue 182 By moa Jamir

how about a little sports after music?

S

ince 2006, the Music Task Force (MTF) under the Department of Youth Resources and Sports (DYRS), despite apparent anomalies, has been successful in promoting some local talents as well as reviving folk music and making the state a ‘popular’ music destination.

Another project for youth initiated during the same period is languishing under years of neglect and dismal record due to administrative apathy and poor implementation. It is the DYRS’s ‘Nagaland Sports Policy 2006’ designed primarily to facilitate multi-dimensional and integrated approach to accelerate sports.

Take the example of Mizoram, which has become a powerhouse of talent in football in recent years. In March 2014 after it lifted National Santosh Trophy, the Mizoram Football Association Honorary Secretary Lalnghinglova Hmar told Firstpost, an online news portal, that "The best way for Mizoram to make a name in a country as big as India is football."

Mizoram has, since then, become known as ‘India's football factory’ or ‘breeding ground’ with many players from the state dotting the national arena.

Last year the Times of India reported that as many as 42 Mizo footballers featured in the line-ups of the Nine I-League teams for 2015 season - a good 20% of the player-share. Last month, India Today reported that nearly 40% of the players in the national arena were Mizos.

Mizoram is currently under FIFA's Grassroots Project and Aizawl FC became the first club from the state to qualify for the I-League. Seven boys from Mizoram were selected to train and play football in the prestigious Bundesliga, the professional association football league in Germany this year.

It has now surpassed Manipur as the state 'exporting' quality footballers to the mainland.

The ‘football revolution’ kick-started in 2012 with two notable events. The Mizoram Premier League (MPL) under Mizoram Football Association (MFA) was one. Second, Mizoram became the first Indian state to undertake the grassroots programme initiated by FIFA and implemented under AIFF to groom boys between 6-12 years for 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in India.

MFA was awarded the Best Member Association award by AIFF for running the best grassroots programme in the country. MPL has become one of the finest state leagues in terms of quality, competitiveness, and management.

Three things were crucial for this – the creation of required infrastructure with active government support, genuine grassroot talent scouting, and a well-coordinated system.

The football grounds, devoid of natural grass, in NE states, are mainly mud and clay. The creation of ‘artificial turf’ was essential. The government supported the project earnestly by investing four crores each for six such turfs, two actively operational in Aizawl alone.

Hmar also told the Firstpost that there is constant checking to ensure that grassroots coaches are actively applying what they learn in grassroots development programmes.

A well-coordinated system helps grassroot talent scouting.

Annually, there are MFA’s sub-junior and junior tournaments where nearly 110 and 200 teams participate respectively. At the top level there is MFA Cup and MPL. The best outcome, however, is that the selection is based on merit alone and not on any other criteria, Hmar told India Today News Channel in June.

Active community support, proper implementation, and providing equal opportunity and accessibility also help. “In startling egalitarianism, Luangmual stadium's (in Aizawl) artificial turf set up in 2011, belongs to simply everyone who wishes to make use of it,” Times of India noted in its report. The same criteria applies across the state.

Contrast this with the situation in Nagaland. The recent Comptroller Auditor General of India Report of DYRS is a grand indictment.

“Failure to prepare a developmental plan for sports and youth activities leads to ad-hoc promotion of sports and culture in the state,” it said adding that, there is no “survey to identify the gap in infrastructures, talents, sports equipment and sport and youth activities.” The Sports policy which was to be reviewed once in two years was absent.

Search programme for scouting talent at sub-division level was not conducted resulting in lost opportunity of tapping sports talent at the grassroot level. During 2010-15, no road show or talent search programme was conducted, the CAG noted.

As a result, during 2010-15, out of 636 medals, including 164 gold, won by Naga sportspersons in national events, only 12 gold came from the two academies run by the state, while 152 from others.

It implies that genuine talents are missed in selection process due to various reasons and talent scouting, road shows or catch-them-young programmes are only namesake.

In a football crazy state where foreign football clubs are supported with religious fervour, the Nagaland Premier League (NPL), which started in 2013, stopped after Season II. The dismal sports scenario in the state can be ascertained from the fact that in last two decades, the medal tally of Nagaland adds to a measly 12 in six national games.

Therefore, how about notching down the tone of music a bit and tuning into some sports?

Or the volume for both can be raised equally.

For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com

lEfT wiNg |

Nury Vittachi IANS

How snails and plants showed me that brains are an optional extra

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cientists discovered a snail which can make decisions using only two brain cells, a report from the University of Sussex says. Yeah yeah, so what? Male humans can make decisions after performing complete temporary lobotomies on themselves using only cans of cold beer. That report reminded me of the famous 2012 experiment when scientists tried to teach a splodge of slime mold to navigate a maze. The slime successfully completed the task despite having no brain, no eyes, no legs and no Wi-Fi access to Google Maps. That also left me unimpressed: I had a look at the maze and reckoned I could do it myself, probably, if I had a decent map and got one of my kids to do it for me.

But what scientists are basically saying is that mounting evidence shows that brain processors are not needed for most activities.

The piece of evidence that raised my eyebrows the highest was the recent discovery that plants have memories and can even count, despite having no brain of any kind. A researcher noticed that Venus fly traps know the difference between bits of tasteless dust and yummy visiting bugs by counting three footsteps before they snap shut and consume them.

Considering the astonishing inability to count the staff at my local fruit and veg shop regularly demonstrates, I am tempted to suggest to the manager that he replace the somnambulant cashiers with a selection of plants. A recent book by scientist Bob Nease explains why. Humans process 10 million bits of information a second, but only 50 bits, which is 0.0005 percent, are devoted to logical thought. In other words, hearts rule heads, and people who let this happen are more likely to survive and reproduce.

C O M M E N T A R Y

Emma Jones

Why shouldn’t the laW ignore emotion?

If the justice system becomes an assembly line devoid of feelings, reconciliation and social justice will suffer

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glance through the daily news demonstrates that the law—in contrast to the common image of dry reason and objectivity—deals with the full range of human feelings. If the legal system is to act as a force for wellbeing and social justice instead of violence and retribution, this dichotomy must be removed.

Recent events on both sides of the Atlantic illustrate the passions that roil under the surface of the law. On April 26 2016, for example, the families of 96 football fans who were crushed to death inside the UK’s Hillsborough Stadium in 1989 shed tears and shared their elation when a coroner’s inquest recorded verdicts of unlawful killing—but only after a 27-year campaign to exonerate their loved ones from blame.

Or take the anger and recriminations that followed UK retail chain BHS’s move into administration in the same month which put 11,000 jobs at risk.

In the US, similar examples include the controversy that erupted around Donald Trump’s recent comments on abortion law and the outraged response of some states to the Obama administration’s new policy on school bathrooms for transgender students.

These stories demonstrate the fact that strong feelings are involved in all legal matters, whether they are experienced by judges, lawyers, juries, defendants or police. It’s not only large-scale, newsworthy events that underline this point but also the smaller ‘bread-and-butter’ of the law. Even a straightforward dispute over payment under a contract can cause worry, sadness, frustration and anger on all sides.

Despite these observations, the law has traditionally stood in counterpoint to emotion by seeing itself as the preserve of reason and rationality. Feelings have been characterised as irrational and dangerous—things that need to be contained or suppressed. But this leads the law to be seen as little more than a series of rules designed to uphold rationality and prevent emotion from encroaching into the smooth regulation of society— which often means the status quo.

In court rooms across England and Wales, the judicial oath requires judges to hear disputes “without affection or favour.” Members of the jury in criminal trials are expected to set aside their emotions, regardless of the subject-matter of the case. ‘When emotion comes in, sense moves out’ as the old saying puts it.

There are two problems with this approach.

First, it’s completely unrealistic, since emotions are ever present under the surface of human objectivity—far better to declare and confront them if hidden biases are to be avoided. Secondly, it makes the law rigid and inflexible, something that’s applied mechanistically regardless of the context but is always embedded in certain sets of power relations and assumptions. That means that the legal system’s deeper role and purpose are less likely to be questioned. If the justice system becomes a form of judicial assembly line, then social justice may become irrelevant to the law.

In recent years however, there has been some movement away from the dominant perception of emotion as irrational and dangerous. For example, research by neurologist António Damásio for his book “Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain,” demonstrates that emotion actually has a positive role to play in reasoning. Rather than something that needs to be suppressed, emotion is intertwined with cognition in ways that mean it cannot be ignored, so attempts to suppress it are futile and, in some cases, damaging. Without emotion, decision-making can be shallow, brittle and lacking in a necessary sense of shared humanity.

By integrating these ideas into the work of judges, courts and legal decision-making, a different approach to law and emotion is gradually emerging.

Take the case of problem-solving courts in the US and Australia, for example—tribunals which specialize in dealing with criminal cases involving individuals with drug or alcohol addictions, mental health problems, or who are embroiled in family disputes

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olombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the head of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Timoleón Jiménez (aka Timochenko) have announced a definitive bilateral ceasefire to end over 50 years of conflict.

Speaking from Havana, Cuba on 23 June, the FARC guerrilla and Santos’ government sealed progress made during the past few months during the peace talks, which began in November 2012.

It marks a point of no-return. Both parties have reached a stage in which resorting to violence is no longer an option, as a bilateral ceasefire binds them both to a definitive truce. This builds on a unilateral ceasefire by the guerrilla in December 2014, and marks the culmination of a bilateral de-escalation process, which was formally entered last year. These previous truces had already successfully stopped hostilities better than any other attempts to end the conflict, which has claimed the lives of over 250,000 people.

Why has this deal succeeded where other attempts failed? One of the main reasons is that it guarantees the rights and safety of the demobilized FARC rebels, one of the most controversial items in the negotiations’ six-point agenda.

The FARC had good reason to be wary.

and domestic violence.

These cases are usually heard by a judge who works with a community support team. The focus is on rehabilitation, with the tribunal taking a holistic approach by looking at the wider circumstances leading to the crime and the position of the offender.

“Fathering courts” in the US follow similar principles—in this case by offering alternatives to imprisonment in order to encourage employment and the payment of child maintenance, with a focus on improving parent-child relationships.

The value of this approach is also being recognised in England and Wales. In Blackburn for example, young people aged between 10 and 17 and their families are supported by a range of agencies which offer a wide range of resources that are not part of the traditional sentencing process. In these environments, each person’s emotional needs can be acknowledged and addressed, but doing so requires a similar degree of emotional intelligence and empathy from the legal authorities involved.

A particularly interesting development is the therapeutic jurisprudence movement, which originated in the US as a new approach to mental health law when considering a person’s competence to stand trial, or in the process of “involuntary or civil commitments” (a legal process in which individuals are ordered to seek treatment for mental illness).

Its co-founder David Wexler describes it as the “study of law as a therapeutic agent,” a “social force” which can have therapeutic or anti-therapeutic consequences in terms of its effect on people’s psychological and emotional wellbeing.

Therapeutic jurisprudence and problem-solving courts have been described as two vectors of a wider movement in the US called “comprehensive law,” which focuses on fairness and wellbeing as goals instead of punishment alone, and on the law as more than a collection of written rules. Instead, the emphasis is on collaboration and social connectedness, aiming to strengthen whatever transformative potential the legal system has.

As part of this movement, “creative problem-solving” encourages legal professionals to draw on other disciplines and perspectives to resolve the challenges they face, an approach that acknowledges that litigation over, say, a property dispute, may not achieve the best resolution. Instead, it considers how the law can facilitate social relationships and achieve substantive justice—rather than simply imposing order.

At a practical level, this also enables a wider range of individuals to access the justice system without paying the cost of lengthy legal proceedings.

Although the comprehensive law movement hasn’t had much impact in the UK to date, other interesting work is already being done there on these issues. The Centre for Law and Emotion, for

example, is investigating the links between these two sets of forces in relation to refugee law by exploring the ways in which the emotions of decision-makers and the experiences of claimants can influence the asylum-seeking process—whether in terms of perceptions of the claimant’s credibility or through other factors.

All these experiments have one common thread: they aim to change the justice system and transform the legal culture in ways that open them up to new initiatives and innovations that recognise the role of the emotions. In the process, the law begins to acknowledge and respond much more effectively to issues of diversity, empathy, participation, collaboration, problem solving and social justice.

However, though there’s much that’s worthwhile in these experiments, the overall relationship between emotion and the law hasn’t changed much in Western societies in the last 50 years. Mainstream law still rejects the relevance and potential of people’s feelings, and much of the day to day application of the law in solicitors’ offices, legal training, mediation sessions, and negotiations between different parties remains untouched.

My own research aims to fill one part of this gap by focusing on legal education: how might acknowledging emotion improve learning, promote the development of effective legal skills, deepen people’s insights into professional ethics, and promote the wellbeing of law students and their future clients? Is it possible that developing the emotional intelligence of future lawyers would encourage them to practice their profession in a more ethical manner by promoting greater respect for people, expanding access to justice, and promoting non-custodial solutions?

To argue for an acknowledgment of emotion is not to suggest that it should supplant existing legal notions of reason and rationality, or that it should be the overriding influence in every situation. But feelings should definitely feature as a larger element of the discourse surrounding law and legal frameworks. Combining reason and emotion in new ways could prove to be transformative, both for the law itself and for society as a whole—by opening up the justice system, acknowledging the importance of power and social relationships, and fostering notions of individual and societal wellbeing.

This is extremely challenging because it questions Western conceptions of the place of emotion that have been embedded in the law and other institutions since Plato and Descartes, both of whom viewed feelings as separate from rationality and subordinate to reason. However, it could also help to produce a more holistic, effective and inclusive justice system in which the law becomes a more powerful tool in the search for social justice.

Colombia’s farewell to arms leonardo Goi New Internationalist An earlier peace process in the 1980s between the FARC and Belisario Betancur’s administration (1982-1986) led to the creation of the Unión Patriótica (UP), a political party composed largely of former FARC members and other leftist activists. Soon after its foundation, paramilitary groups and the army targeted the UP, killing thousands. By 2000, virtually all of the UP’s members had either been assassinated or forced to abandon the party.

What Thursday announcement makes clear is that things have changed dramatically: not only do the State and the military no longer embrace the anti-leftist discourse of the kind waged against the UP in the 1980s, they have now formally agreed to help the guerrilla in their de-mobilization process and their future entry into political life.

Under the detailed agreement, members of the FARC will settle tem-

porarily in specific zones. The guerrilla will be given six months to surrender its weapons, while all Colombians are being called upon to vote on the final agreement via a public referendum.

This last detail shows that the FARC, like the state, have undergone significant changes. The FARC had always opposed the idea of a referendum but has finally aligned themselves with the government’s position.

Thursday’s agreement made clear that the mechanism that will be used to ratify the treaty will be decided by Colombia’s Constitutional Court. This is yet another major breakthrough for the negotiations and for the very prospects of Colombia’s peace because by accepting the decision of the Constitutional Court, the FARC are effectively agreeing to play by the rules, recognize the legitimacy of a State they had historically opposed, and the legal process by which the final treaty will

wRiTE-wiNg

come into force.

Another factor that makes this deal likely to stick, is that the government has promised to address some of the social deficits and gaping inequality in Colombia that prompted the formation of the FARC 52 years ago, with a programme to invest and develop rural areas with high levels of poverty.

The agreement announced by Santos and Timochenko this Thursday may not bring about, by itself, an end of Colombia’s armed conflict. Another guerrilla force, the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) has only just embarked on a separate peace process with the government and there are still a number of key points in the six-item agenda of negotiations with the FARC that must be addressed before the treaty can be signed – Santos hopes this will happen in July. Santos’ closing words in Havana were telling. Addressing Timochenko, he made it clear that while he will never share the commander’s political or economic views, the day has finally come in which both are able to dissent peacefully.

This heralds a new phase in Colombia’s history. In a country that has got used to living in a state of perpetual warfare, the handshake between Santos and Timochenko shows all the signs of being a prelude to a muchneeded and longed-for peace.

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.

Monday 04•07•2016

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

How Should We Respond to ‘Evil’?

Steven Paulikas

F

NYT

or a student of evil, Stephen Colbert’s exchange with Bill O’Reilly on “The Late Show” two days after the Orlando killings was an education.

“This guy was evil,” O’Reilly said of the gunman, Omar Mateen.

Colbert immediately asked, “What is the proper response to evil?”

“Destroy it,” O’Reilly answered. “You don’t contain evil, because you can’t. You destroy evil. ISIS is evil, and Mateen is evil.”

O’Reilly’s attitude toward evil exemplifies the ethical justification for the most consequential American policy decisions of the past 15 years — and, if we consent, for those that will be made in reaction to the Orlando massacre and others like it. Recent history and philosophy have taught that violence is the surest outcome of blithely ascribing the quality of evil to another.

At best, this process may supplant the thing we brand evil for a time, but the notion that evil can be “destroyed” is an ethical version of a fool’s errand. We have an opportunity now to reassess the politics of evil and to consider responses to it that would mitigate rather than amplify human suffering.

I was drawn to thought on evil as a seminarian trying to make sense of the intractable wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that framed my formation for the priesthood. I remembered when President George W. Bush described Iraq, Iran and North Korea as an “axis of evil” in his 2002 State of the Union address. Even now, the phrase evokes an instinctual sense of supernatural dread, which was precisely its purpose. As the presidential speechwriters David Frum and Michael Gerson were preparing the address, they tweaked the line from the slightly more benign “axis of hatred” to make it sound more “theological.”

For most of Western intellectual history, the study of evil was reserved for theology. From Augustine and Aquinas to Luther and Calvin, Christian thinkers were preoccupied with the “problem of evil,” or the question of how a good God could allow bad to exist in our world. When Immanuel Kant introduced the concept of a radical evil that exists outside the limits of reason and will, the eternal problem of evil was released from the church’s exclusive grasp.

Perhaps because of its hybrid religious and secular credentials, our concept of evil exerts an almost mystical power over society’s impulse to make order out of chaos and despair. As Susan Neiman writes in her landmark study, “Evil in Modern Thought,” “The problem of evil can be expressed in theological or secular terms, but it is fundamentally a problem about the intelligibility of the world as a whole.”

Doubtless, Frum and Gerson were striving to answer the country’s need for intelligibility amid the new and frightening sense of insecurity at the time. Yet as events unfolded, the axiomatic and quasi-theological assertion of evil pervading the entire Iraqi regime became the incontrovertible ethical framework for violent action.

As it turns out, there is a difference between good theology and bad theology — at least if we consider the exponential escalation of violence to be a bad thing.

The almost 3,000 deaths in the Sept. 11 attacks were an-

swered by an estimated 460,000 deaths in Iraq alone, including more American combatant deaths than civilians who died in the World Trade Center. Despite this high cost, evil is, if we accept a point on which O’Reilly actually agrees with President Obama, as plentiful in the region as it ever was and just as threatening to the United States.

As someone entrusted with a role of moral authority, I am deeply unsettled by this path from evil in political rhetoric to violence. Our inability to answer fundamental questions about the invocation of evil in our public discourse has only increased human suffering.

It is imperative that we demand clarity in our common understanding of evil. How can we be sure something is evil and not simply opposed to our interests? Can

An Armenian Orthodox church that the Islamic State occupied and converted into a jail and place to teach terrorist activities.

evil ever fully be destroyed, and if not, is there no point at which we can cease our crusade against it? If evil is absolute, does one have an absolute right to use any means necessary to obliterate it?

These questions led me to the work of Paul Ricoeur, a prolific philosopher whose concerns grew, in part, from his contact with manifest evil in 20th-century France.

Ricoeur was orphaned when his father was killed in World War I. While serving in the French military, he was captured by the Germans in 1940 and spent five years as a prisoner of war. Like that of other European intellectual contemporaries whose lives were shaped by the unrelenting violence of their time, Ricoeur’s work strives to create channels through which strangers and enemies can observe a common humanity in one another.

Ricoeur agrees with many other thinkers that evil is not a thing per se, but rather exists in a sort of black hole of thought, an aporia. This fact alone complicates arguments for the destruction of evil: how do you obliterate some-

thing that has no substance? For Ricoeur, we conceive of evil through the realm of myth, or grand narratives that express common human experience. Myth is not false; rather, it encapsulates truth about subjects like evil that cannot be perceived fully through reason alone. In this sense, “the axis of evil” is, arguably, a kind of myth, an explanation that makes sense of calamity in a world we think of as otherwise good and in which we can all participate.

Because evil exists beyond the limits of reason, what matters for Ricoeur is not that we identify evil, but that we respond to it appropriately. He rightly observes that the tragedy of evil is not the act committed, but the experience of the victim. Separating evil perpetrated from evil suffered shifts the concern from what or who is evil to the best possible action in the face of it, which according to him is “not a solution, but a response.”

In the common conception, solutions to evil require retribution, and the most obvious way to achieve retribution is through violence. Responses, on the other hand, engender what Ricoeur calls “wisdom,” an unwavering commitment to relieve and prevent suffering. Any violence used in a response to evil would, therefore, be focused on the alleviation of suffering rather than the attempt to stamp out evil where we think we see it.

We have ample evidence that our solutions to evil after Sept. 11 were unsuccessful. If the objective of our military intervention in the Middle East was to eradicate points on the axis of evil, our assertion of the continued presence of evil in the region points to a grand failure. What greater tool is at our disposal to destroy evil than the full power, skill and bravery of the military of the United States and its allies?

If force alone were sufficient to destroy it, we already would have won the game of whack-a-mole we have been playing with evil for a decade and a half.

This knowledge is not deterring leaders from calling for more solutions rather than responses post-Orlando, even as evil is front and center in political discourse as almost never before. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced plans for destroying the Islamic State’s “parent tumor in Iraq and Syria” because the group “wants to spread its evil ideology and to plot or inspire attacks on Americans.” Two days after the massacre in Orlando, Gov. Rick Scott of Florida proposed retaliation against what he perceived to be the source of evil perpetrated against his state: “We’re fed up. We want ISIS destroyed. Radical Islam does not belong here. If you believe in evil, we’re doing to do something about it.”

President Obama’s speech in Orlando, however, offered an intriguing glimpse into what a long-term response to evil might look like. Amid the usual call for the destruction of the Islamic State and Al Qaeda as retaliation for the week’s “evil, hateful act” was a sincere focus on the experience of the victims — in other words, on evil suffered, not the evil perpetrated. He opened the speech with a long description of his meetings with families of the dead, linking their grief with that of the “American family.” Perhaps almost eight years of an exhausting cat-and-mouse struggle with evil drone targets and surge enemies has given the president a Ricoeurian sense of wisdom in his final months in office. His successor would be wise indeed to note what he has learned.

Steven Paulikas, an Episcopal priest and rector of All Saints’ Church in Brooklyn, is a doctoral student in theology and religion at the University of Oxford.

After Brexit, a time for new thinking Britain's vote to leave the European Union comes at a critical time for three major global security challenges Paul Rogers

M

openDemocracy

ost of the analysis of 'Brexit in recent days has been focused on looking at Britain's domestic political upheavals and then turning the gaze outwards. It might also make sense, however, to consider the wider global dimension before focusing on the more immediate.

This series of columns has long emphasised that global stability in the 21st century is determined by three factors: economy, environment and security.

These individual elements have also been the focus of many other openDemocracy writers, who have contributed some of the best analysis of the post-2001 global predicament.

The core argument is that the world has a little over two decades to face three immense challenges. The first is that the worldwide economic system – the neoliberal model of free-market capitalism which evolved in the late 1970s – is not delivering sufficient equity and emancipation. After forty years it has proved unfit for purpose, yet remains a deeply entrenched system that is proving very difficult to modify.

There is also strong opposition to the argument that the model is failing.

Yet recognising its failure is essential to building a much more stable and just society that can both respond to climate disruption, and avoid the escalation of violence throughout the world.

In all too many ways, neoliberalism's evolving failure is reflected in the populist anger that is affecting so many western countries, with refugees and

migrants seen as threats and sometimes targeted. Much of that anger is fuelled by ambitious politicians, mostly but not all on the right, who seek to exploit the frustrations of more marginalised groups within western states.

The second challenge is the fundamental issue of global environmental limits, especially climate disruption.

Unless countered, this will lead to huge problems of insecurity and fragility in what is now a deeply connected world (see "The global pioneers: look south", 22 June 2016). The present-day concern over migration is as nothing to what would happen in the face of systemic global climate change. A radical move towards ultra-low carbon economies is required long before the severe impacts of climate disruption have their effect. This is a formidably difficult task for political leaderships that are rarely noted for wisdom or foresight.

The third challenge is to contain an integrated culture of militarism that prescribes military solutions in almost every situation. Even after fifteen years of the “war on terror” there is little or no recognition of its manifest failures, from the terrible human costs across the Middle East and south Asia or the continuing paramilitary threats (of which the Istanbul airport attack is the latest of many). ISIS may appear to be in retreat in Iraq and Libya but it has gone much more avowedly transnational. It is certain that another “son of alQaida” is already evolving, ready to carry on the “irregular war” that is at the core of current insecurity (see Irregular War: ISIS and the New Threat from the Margins (IB Tauris, 2016).

It sounds both simple and vast: stop climate change, transform the global economy, sideline militarism – and all within a couple of decades! But the effort cannot be avoided.

reflects the centre-right norm of much of Europe. It may be mildly enlightened on financial regulation, human rights and climate change, but rhetoric tends to be far ahead of what is required in practice. For example, a few member-states are pushing towards partial decarbonising, but overall the EU's climate record is lamentably weak.

The disappointment here is less with what the EU does, but what it could do if enough member-states were prepared to arcticulate a much stronger progressive ethos. In such circumstances the potential for positive intergovernmental action, both on economic reform and climate change, would be considerable.

Many economic neoliberals have long feared moves in this direction, and this concern does much to explain their satisfaction with Brexit and their hopes for further disintegration of the EU. In Britain, the actions of David Cameron's government since the election on green issues and privatisation are reminders that in power his generation of Conservatives have been more ideological than Margaret Thatcher's ever was. If and when the likes of Michael Gove and Boris Johnson move to the centre of the power-complex, the prospect could be an even more seriously right-wing period of rule.

But whether they will succeed is hugely uncertain. The government has already been forced into spectacular backtracking on some key issues, including tax credits and trade-union reform. Once the Brexit promises prove undeliverable, as is near certain, and the prospect is of widespread disenchantment which Nigel Farage and UKIP will seek to exploit.

In this new context, much will depend on the parliamentary opposition, especially but not only the Labour Party.

If, and it’s a very big if, the party can unify and present a programme that embodies the innovative thinking that has begun A promising debate to emerge, then whichever Conservative What, then, of the EU's role in these inherits 10 Downing Street's poisoned global challenges? The context is that the chalice will soon run into trouble.

The problem here is that the curEU largely buys into neoliberalism and

rent turmoil in the Labour Party makes it less likely that it could take advantage of such a situation. That would be a pity, as some of Jeremy Corbyn’s team have been among the very few western politicians trying to grapple with core security issues.

John McDonnell’s economic team, for example, has started the process of thinking through the decay of neoliberalism and seeking rational ways forward, while Emily Thornberry has been overseeing a defence discussion that puts much more of a focus on conflict prevention, peacekeeping and the United Nations. They have also begun to consider more ways of understanding security, using the work of the Ammerdown initiative and Oxford Research Group. If these initiatives come to an end, it would block the promising debate just begun on issues neglected by political establishments both in Britain and across the European Union. That would be a huge loss.

The UK's entire future role in international peace and security is even more in question after the Brexit decision. The UK simply does not know how to deal with the multiple crises in the Middle East, north Africa and south Asia, nor the troubled relationship with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The confusion is shared by the United States and most of Europe.

It is highly unlikely that the postCameron Conservatives will be any more enlightened than before. The reverse is much more likely. This makes new thinking from opposition parties even more crucial. Even if current prospects for this are poor, especially from parliamentary circles, the scale of global insecurity makes it urgent.

The background to this judgment is in part almost fifteen years of writing a weekly column for openDemocracy, during which it has become a remarkable global platform. It is vital that such an outlet for new thinking continue to exist. If prophecy really is “suggesting the possible”, then the prophets are needed more than ever.

7

The Morung Express pOLL RESULTS

Do you agree that the North East region should have its own time zone? Why? 82%

15% 03% YES

NO

OTHER

Some of those who voted YES had this to say: • Yes. There should be a separate North East Region Time Zone. This will make things more practical and productive.

• Yes. Sun rise and sun set is earlier at NE than the rest parts of India. Secondly, living and work culture reasons, NE people love to get up by the dawn and love to work early in the morning by average time from 4:00 am or 5:00 am and people used to sleep at 8:30 pm or 9:30 pm mostly while people of the other parts of the country used to get up at 6:00 am to 7:00 am and they used to work till late; 8:pm to 10:00 pm mostly and sleep at 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm • Yes. Free time zone helps us to do our work more perfectly and with high volume • YES!! The whole northeast region (especially the political class) needs to come together and relentlessly push this agenda before the centre. Nagaland Legislators needs to be seriously enlightened and educated on this matter. Even the bureaucracy is as usual obsolete. No doubt Northeast region is conveniently ahead of IST by 1-1 ½ hour. Following one IST kills productivity and energy. Assam seems to be the only serious state so far; all other states are still entrapped in the status quo. It needs to be collectively pursued. We save energy, increase trade and economic productivity, boost tourism, improve government efficiency, improve South East Asian trade productivity etc. There is no cessation agenda as the Centre prejudicially perceives.

It’s all business, nothing personal!

• Yes because it has 1 and hours difference between NE and Mainland. supposedly our working time should start by 8:00 a.m NE IST in winter and 8:30 NEIST in summer. by changing this we NE will be 1hour ahead in time. we are wasting 2 hours time in the morning and during winter we worked 2 hours after sun set which women folk find difficult traveling in public transport after dark.

• Northeast shud have own time zone which will create convenient working hours to go ahead • Yes, it is suppose to have separate time since there is difference of time zone between mainland India and north east India. Bangladesh and Myanmar follows as per the time zone of latitude and longitude of earth; similarly north east India should follow the time based on the time zone, but government of India is not agreed to do so; may be due to inconvenience of administrative level or some other purpose.

• Yes! We are losing precious daylight and energy. If a country can have 4 time zones (US e.g.) or different summer and winter times (UK). India surely can have 2/3 times zones.

Unfortunately only Assam seems to be serious about this.

Some of those who voted NO had this to say: • No. But India should have 2 time zones.

• No. There is logic in having a time zone of our own in the North East region. My only doubt is are we ready to implement it. Our system is so disorganised and laidback that I feel it will only lead to more complication and confusion. Just because it is the right thing does not means that it is the best thing for the NE. • No. Its better not to change the time zone at this moment. Lets wait for the right time.

• Nothing will change by changing the time zone unless we change our work culture and attitude first. We Nagas need to develop a good working culture. The clock is only there to guide the passing minutes of the day. But actual work depends on the attitude of the people.

• No. That will make the region more distance from main land

Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say: • India is not prepared to make such a progressive step. Indian leaders are very insecure and look at the northeast in a very suspicious manner. They dont have the guts to make this decision.

• Nagas are not prepared to have such arrangements at this time.

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

MonDAY 04•07•2016

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

AAP leaders to meet Punjab DGP in Malerkotla desecration case

New Delhi, July 3 (iANS): Alleging conspiracy by the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said its leaders will meet Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora on Monday in connection with the desecration of the Quran in Malerkotla town.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from Mehrauli in Delhi Naresh Yadav, who has been booked by Punjab Police in the desecration case, and party leader Sanjay Singh will meet the DGP. Yadav was booked in the case after main accused Vijay claimed he was paid Rs 1 crore by Yadav to do so.

The police said they will summon Yadav for questioning.

"We will meet Punjab DGP at 10 a.m. on July 4 in connection with the Malerkotla case. The people of Punjab understand the dirty politics of the ruling Shiromani Akali DalBJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) alliance and will give a befitting reply to them,"

Kejriwal begins Punjab tour from Golden Temple

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple on Sunday. (PTI Photo)

Singh, the AAP convenor for Punjab, tweeted.

The party leaders said the ruling alliance in Punjab was hatching conspiracies ahead of the 2017 assembly polls.

Singh said: "The Badals have cooked up a false case.

If the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) worked at the behest

of Naresh Yadav, then he (Yadav) is working for (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and (BJP chief) Amit Shah."

Meanwhile, Yadav denied the charge in the desecration case and said he was ready to be "hanged" if there was any proof against him.

"It's a conspiracy. Why would I do such a thing when we know we are winning the elections in Pun-

AmritSAr, July 3 (iANS): Thronged by hundreds of people, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday started a three-day political tour of Punjab with prayers at two famous shrines in this Sikh holy city. A lone protestor threw some pamphlets towards Kejriwal as he stepped out of the Golden Temple complex, blaming the AAP leader for the razing of a 'piao' (drinking water point) outside the historical Sis Ganj Gurdwara in Delhi's Chandni Chowk area.

The man was taken away by security personnel as an unfazed Kejriwal continued with his programme.

Kejriwal offered prayers at the holiest of Sikh shrines, the Harmandar Sahib, popularly known as Golden Temple, and later went to the nearby Hindu Durgiana Temple. This is Kejriwal's second tour of a longer duration to Punjab this year. jab? Everyone knows that the SAD-BJP (alliance) always indulges in communal politics. I'm ready to be hanged if any evidence is found against me," he said.

Sangrur police have arrested Vijay Kumar, Gaurav and Nand Kishore on charge of desecration of the Quran and said they belonged to right-wing Hindu organisation VHP.

There was arson in Malerkotla on June 24 night after pages of the holy book were found dumped near a drain.

A mob attacked and set Akali Dal MLA Farzana Alam's home on fire leading to communal tension.

The mob also exchanged gunfire with the police, leaving several injured.

India's ICBM stuck due to technical snag: DRDO chief New Delhi, July 3 (iANS): India's indigenous nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Agni-V, which can reach targets as far as Beijing, has been stuck due to a technical snag with its battery and not because of any other considerations, DRDO Chief S. Christopher said.

The problem is solvable and the next testfiring of Agni-V is expected by the year-end, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief added.

Asked about the muchdelayed fourth test of AgniV, Christopher said: "It has

been delayed because of a technical snag," adding: "There is a problem with the battery."

Asked about the timeframe for the next test, the DRDO chief said: "Our colleagues have said the issue can be resolved. We will do a test before the end of this year."

The DRDO chief also dismissed reports that the test was postponed due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US. "The reasons for delay are only technical," Christopher told IANS. Earlier reports had said that the fourth test of

NATION Briefs 10-year-old girl raped, murdered; hunt on for accused hyDerAbAD, July 3 (Pti): A 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered after being kidnapped by a man suspected to be a habitual offender in Bollarum area here, police said today. Accused Anil Kumar, who was recently released from jail, took away the girl, a class III student, from near a toddy shop last evening where she was with her mother, after luring her to buy some chocolates and chips.

He then allegedly raped the minor and brutally killed her by smashing the girls head with a boulder last night, Bollarum police station Sub-Inspector M Satish Kumar said. A complaint was lodged in this regard at around midnight and a search was launched following which the girls body was found in an isolated place, the SI said.Police teams have been formed to nab the absconding accused, he further said. A case under relevant IPC sections for rape and murder and POCSO Act has been registered, he said, adding further probe is on.

Woman found living with corpse KolKAtA, July 3 (iANS): A tribal woman in West Bengal's Burdwan district was found living with the decomposed body of her father, police said on Sunday.

This came to light in Mukhtarpaar in the Burdwan district on Saturday when the stench coming out of the house caused the locals to suspect foul play and approach the police.

Police, who subsequently disposed of the body, said it was kept in keeping with a tribal practice. "Inside the house, we found the decomposed body of Panchu Soren, who must have died at least 4-5 days back," said a police officer. Earlier in June 2015, a Kolkata man was found living with the skeletons of his sister and two dogs for months

Pappu Yadav booked PAtNA, July 3 (iANS): Lok Sabha member Pappu Yadav was on Sunday booked in the Bihar capital city in a case of instigating protesting students to immolate themselves, police said."An FIR was lodged at the Buddha Colony police station by the district administration against Pappu Yadav for instigating students, demanding postponement of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) main examinations, to immolate themselves," a district police official said.The LOk Sabha member from Madhepura constituency was last year expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal for six years for anti-party activities.

According to reports, Pappu Yadav met the agitating students and extended support to their demand.

He then allegedly instigated them to issue a threat to commit self-immolation to exert pressure on the state government.After meeting Yadav, the protesting students threatened to commit self-immolation if the Nitish Kumar government failed to fulfill their demand for postponing the BPSC exams so that it did not clash with the Union Public Service Commission's preliminary examinations.

Agni-V was scheduled for December 2015, was postponed to January 2016 and then to March, but was rescheduled due to he prime minister's scheduled visit to the US. Modi was in the US from June 6 to 8. This was his fourth visit to the US after assuming office two years ago.

The missile was first tested in April 2012 and then in September 2013.

The last test was carried out on January 31, 2015, from a mobile canister, under then DRDO chief Avinash Chander, widely known as the man behind

the Agni series of missiles, on the last day of his tenure.

In the canisterised launch, a gas generator inside the canister ejects the missile up to a height of about 30 metres. A motor is then ignited to fire the missile onwards.

Soon after, DRDO sources had told IANS India planned for at least three more tests, and aimed at handing over the missile for user trials by mid-2016.

The Agni-V is the most advanced version of the indigenously built Agni, or Fire, series, part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme

(IGMDP) that started in the 1960s and was once overseen by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who later rose to become the Indian president.

Agni's earlier versions, which have been inducted in the armed forces, can reach anywhere in Pakistan and parts of western China.

Agni-V is a three-stage missile designed to carry an over one-tonne warhead. Its 5,000 km range gives it the farthest reach among all Indian missiles.

India joined the US, Russia, the UK, France and China, which boast ICBM capabilities, when it first tested the Agni-V in 2012.

Congress declares Priyanka Gandhi the party's chief campaigner for UP polls: Reports New Delhi, July 3 (AgeNcieS): Congress has finally decided to project Priyanka Gandhi, the daughter of party president Sonia Gandhi, as the leader of its campaign for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2017.

A report in The Hindu stated that Congress spokesperson in UP Satya Dev Tripathi said that Priyanka will venture out of Rae Bareli and Amethi, where she has campaigned for Congress in the past, and hold 150 rallies across UP. The party is also planning to hold a convention in Lucknow in mid-July once party vice-president Rahul Gandhi comes back to India from his vacation abroad. In that convention, Rahul will launch the campaign and present Priyanka as its leader, said the report.

“It is settled that she (Priyanka) will be seen beyond Amethi and Rae Bareli this election. With Rahul Gandhi, she will take on rival parties. Different leaders and strategists have different suggestions. Some have suggested that the mistakes made with Rahul in 2012, of over-exposing him, should not be repeated. There are others who feel that she should first be brought to the AICC. There’s still another section which wants her as the face of the election campaign,” The Indian Express quoted a source in the Congress as saying.

An earlier report in DNA had also said that Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad had met Priyanka and formally proposed to her to take charge as chief campaigner after securing a nod from Sonia Gandhi.

In May also, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had said that the party favours Priyanka getting into active politics. Digvijaya, who had said she has the potential

(REUTERS File Photo)

to emerge as a mass leader, had added, "As far as we (Congress) are concerned, we will be very happy if she comes into active politics."

Party's election strategist Prashant Kishor had earlier recommended that Priyanka plays a bigger role in the UP elections. Even the people of Amethi, Rahul Gandhi's home constituency, told Rahul to bring Priyanka into active politics.

Congress has had a dismal performance in Uttar Pradesh so far. In the last assembly polls, Congress had won just 28 of the 403 seats in the state. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the party had secured only two seats in UP with only Sonia and Rahul emerging victorious.

The Congress has been in political wilderness in Uttar Pradesh since 1989 following the emergence of divisive 'Mandal-Mandir' politics and rise of the BSP, which took away its crucial Dalit vote base. In the recent five assembly elections held in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, Congress managed to secure a victory only in Puducherry.

Bringing Priyanka into active politics could be a

whiff of fresh air for the Congress. As Sandipan Sharma wrote in this Firstpost article, "Its workers will get a sense of direction, the party a new face and voters the option of looking at a Rahul-mukt Congress.

Comparisons with leaders of other parties can wait, but in a tossup between the Gandhi siblings, Priyanka is the clear winner."

However, Priyanka will have to deal with a lot of challenges, perhaps the most difficult one being the allegations of money laundering made against her husband Robert Vadra.

Once Priyanka becomes the face of the Congress in UP, the attacks on Vadra may become more caustic.

In fact, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra reacted to reports that Priyanka will take an active part in campaigning for the UP polls and said that Congress was bringing Priyanka only because Rahul had failed.

"Congress’ attempt to bring in Priyanka shows that Rahul Gandhi has failed. If Rahul had succeeded that there would not have been called Priyanka," another report in The Indian Express quoted him as saying.

Kerala church welcomes move Religious texts to be included in Haryana curriculum July 3 Granth Sahib' (Sikhism) will and Guru Granth Sahib have towards Uniform Civil Code chANDigArh, (iANS): Texts from the holy be introduced at a programme been incorporated in the curric-

Kochi, July 3 (iANS): The Syro Malabar Catholic Church in Kerala on Sunday welcomed the Narendra Modi government's pitch for a Uniform Civil Code in the country.

Addressing reporters here, Cardinal Maran Mar George Alencherry said that he welcomes the decision of the central government to go ahead with it.

"This should take place through discussions and a consensus should emerge as ours is a hugely diverse country," said the Cardinal.

The Uniform Civil Code is intended to replace personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in India with a common set governing every citizen.

The Bharatiya Janata Party in its 2014 parliamentary election manifesto had promised the Uniform Civil Code.

But Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly and former Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told reporters on Sunday that the Uni-

form Civil Code will spell the deathknell of the nation's secular fabric.

"With the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, this is a ploy, but this is going to place people on different decks. This is an agenda of the RSS that the BJP government is trying to implement and it will cause serious repercussions," he said.

But BJP's state unit chief Kummanem Rajasekheran on Sunday said those who oppose the Uniform Civil Code are those who stand against the growth of the country.

"It's rather strange that some oppose even a discussion which is mooted on UCC. It appears that the Indian Union Muslim League is still living in the days of the Partition and it is unfortunate that the Congress party is supporting them. This is not meant to force the Hindu ideology on others," said Rajasekheran in a press release issued in the state capital.

The Union Law Ministry has asked the Law Commission to examine the issue of implementation of a Uniform Civil Code.

books of various religions will be incorporated in the curriculum of government schools in Haryana from this month, a minister said on Sunday.

The subject of moral education which includes religious texts from 'Bhagavad Gita' (Hindu religion), 'Quran' (Islam), the 'Bible' (Christianity) and 'Guru

to be held in the Kurukshetra University auditorium on July 5.Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said moral education would be introduced as a subject for students from class six to class 12.

"All religions focus on character building. Texts such as Bhagavad Gita, Quran, the Bible

ulum. Different textbooks would be prescribed for each class," Sharma said in a statement.

The Haryana government had faced criticism last year when it announced to include texts from the 'Bhagavad Gita' in school curriculum. The opposition Congress termed it an attempt to saffronise education.

'Making all efforts for release of abducted Indians' New Delhi, July 3 (Pti): India is making all efforts to secure the release of two Indians abducted from Gboko, a town in the Benue state of north-central Nigeria, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday. The Minister also thanked Indian envoy in Abuja for repatriation of 11 Indians, who were released after languishing in a Nigerian jail for two years.

"I appreciate the efforts of our High Commissioner in Nigeria Shri B N Reddy for expediting their repatriation," Swaraj tweeted.

Employees of a Merchant Navy firm, the crew's ship got stranded in Nigeria and the entire

crew was arrested for violating laws of international waters in 2014.

Meanwhile, Swaraj said all efforts were being made to secure the release of the two Indians abducted in Nigeria.

The duo -- Mangipudi Sai Srinivas (from Andhara Pradesh) and his colleague Anish Sharma (from Karnataka) -- were travelling to Dangote Cement Plc Plant in a car from their residential quarters around 7.20 pm last Wednesday when a group of armed men kidnapped them at a traffic signal. There has been no ransom demand so far, the Spokesperson had said.

Rains lash many parts of country, toll rises to 18 in U'khand New Delhi, July 3 (Pti): Heavy rains continued in many parts of the country and water level of rivers in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh started rising as monsoon advanced further into many states of north India, even as the death toll from cloudburst in Uttarakhand rose to 18 In the south Indian state of Telangana, two minors of a family were killed in rain-related incident.

Rains lashed several parts of Rajasthan, with Sikar receiving 20 cm precipitation, followed by Baran 11 cm Intermittent rains which occurred in most parts of Uttarakhand caused hindrance in the rescue operation in the cloudburst-hit villages of Pithoragarh, where the toll rose to 18 with three more

Children play as the first monsoon rain falls in Allahabad. (AP File Photo)

bodies being pulled out of the debris In Mumbai, normal life was thrown out of gear due to heavy rains in the last 24 hours even as incessant

showers continued to hit other cities of Maharashtra like Pune and Nashik. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted "very heavy" show-

ers for the megapolis in the next 24 hours The wet spell resulted in an increase in water levels of the four dams that supply water to Pune city

- Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar The Southwest Monsoon has advanced further into remaining parts of west Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, most parts of Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab and some parts of east Rajasthan The national capital on Sunday experienced pleasant weather as rains brought the maximum temperature down to 32.4 degrees, four notches below the season's average According to the MeT department, Safdarjung observatory, figures of which are considered the official for Delhi, recorded traces of rain in the last 24 hours With light to moderate rains in Uttar Pradesh in the last 24 hours, water lev-

el of important rivers has started rising at a number of places. According to the Central Water Commission, Sharda river is flowing above danger mark in Paliakalan, Lakhimpur Several parts of the north Indian states of Punjab and Haryana were being pounded by heavy rain since Saturday. Jind received 100 mm rain, while Narwana and Chhachrauli recorded 90 mm rainfall each. In Punjab, Nabha and Muktsar recorded 60 mm rainfall each Udaipur in west Indian state of Rajasthan on Sunday received 45 mm rainfall, followed by Kota 41.8 mm and Churu 18 mm.

Barmer was the hottest in the state with maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius, while Jaisalmer recorded a high of 39.7 degrees Celsius.

MonDAY 04•07•2016

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Nearly 120 killed in Baghdad bombings claimed by IS BAGHDAD, JULY 3 (REUTERS): Nearly 120 people were killed and 200 wounded in two bombings overnight in Baghdad, most of them in a busy shopping area as residents celebrated Ramadan, police and medical sources said on Sunday.

The attack on the shopping area of Karrada is the deadliest since U.S.-backed Iraqi forces last month scored a major victory when it dislodged Islamic State from their stronghold of Falluja, an hour’s drive west of the capital. It is also the deadliest so far this year.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had ordered the offensive after a series of deadly bombings in Baghdad, saying Falluja served as a launchpad for such attacks on the capital. However, bombings have continued. A convoy carrying Abadi who had come to tour the site of the bombings was pelted with stones and bottles by residents, angry at what they felt were false promises of better security.

A refrigerator truck packed with explosives blew up in the central district of Karrada, killing 115 people and injuring at least 200.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement circulated online by supporters of the ultra-hard line Sunni group. It said the blast was a suicide bombing.

Karrada was busy at the time as Iraqis eat out and shop late during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends next week with the Eid al-Fitr festival.

Videos posted on social media showed people running after the SUV convoy of Abadi as he departed Karrada after touring the scene, throwing pavement stones,

People gather at the site of a suicide car bomb in the Karrada shopping area, in Baghdad on July 3.

(REUTERS Photo)

bottles of water, empty buckets and slippers, venting their anger at the inability of the security forces to protect the area.

Another video posted on social media showed a large blaze in the main street of Karrada, a largely Shi’ite district with a small Christian community and a few Sunni mosques. Reuters TV footage taken in the morning showed at least four buildings severely damaged or partly collapsed, including a shopping mall believed to be the target, and gutted cars scattered all around.

The toll climbed during the day as rescuers pulled out more bodies

from under the rubble and people succumbed from their injuries.

Comments posted on social media accused security forces of continuing to use fake bomb detectors at checkpoints filtering traffic in Baghdad, five years after the scandal broke out about a device commonly known as the ‘magic wand’.

A police officer in Baghdad confirmed these hand-held ADE 651 detectors were still in use. They were sold to Iraq and other nations by a British businessman who was jailed for 10 years in 2013 in the United Kingdom for endangering lives for profit.

China eyes hunt for alien life with giant telescope

A 500-metre aperture spherical telescope (FAST) is seen at the final stage of construction, among the mountains in Pingtang county, Guizhou province, China on May 7, 2016. (REUTERS Photo)

BEIJING, JULY 3 (REUTERS): China on Sunday hoisted the final piece into position on what will be the world’s largest radio telescope, which it will use to explore space and help in the hunt for extraterrestrial life, state media said.

The Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Telescope, or FAST, is the size of 30 football fields and has been hewed out of a moun-

tain in the poor southwestern province of Guizhou.

Scientists will now start debugging and trials of the telescope, Zheng Xiaonian, deputy head of the National Astronomical Observation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which built the telescope, told the official Xinhua news agency.

“The project has the potential to search for more strange objects to better un-

derstand the origin of the universe and boost the global hunt for extraterrestrial life,” the report paraphrased Zheng as saying. The 1.2-billion yuan ($180 million) radio telescope would be a global leader for the next 1 to 2 decades, Zheng added.

The telescope, which has taken about five years to build, is expected to begin operations in September.

Advancing China’s space programme is a priority for Beijing, with President Xi Jinping calling for the country to establish itself as a space power. China’s ambitions include putting a man on the moon by 2036 and building a space station, work on which has already begun.

China insists its programme is for peaceful purposes, but the U.S. Defense Department has highlighted China’s increasing space capabilities, saying it is pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis.

AL SHAAB ATTACK In a second attack, a roadside explosive device also blew up around midnight in a market in al-Shaab, a Shi’ite district in the north of the capital, killing at least two people, police and medical sources said.

Iraqi forces on June 26 declared the defeat of IS militants in Falluja, a historic bastion of Sunni insurgency, following a month of fighting. Now the militants were “trying to compensate for their humiliating defeat in Falluja,” said Jasim al-Bahadli, a former army officer and security analyst in Baghdad. Falluja was the first Iraqi city to fall to IS in January 2014.

Bangladeshis behind restaurant killings, international link probed DHAKA, JULY 3 (REUTERS): Seven militants who killed 20 people at a restaurant in Dhaka were local Bangladeshis and authorities had tried before to arrest five of them, police said.

The gunmen stormed the upmarket restaurant in the diplomatic zone late on Friday, before killing mostly non-Muslim hostages, including at least nine Italians, seven Japanese and an American.

Islamic State claimed responsibility, warning citizens of “crusader countries” that their citizens would not be safe “as long as their aircraft are killing Muslims”, the group said in a statement. It also posted pictures of five fighters grinning in front of a black flag who it said were involved in the attack, according to the SITE monitoring website.

The claims have not been confirmed, but Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told Reuters late on Saturday that neither Islamic State nor al Qaeda was involved. He reiterated the government’s line that home-grown militants were responsible for a spate of killings in the country over the past 18 months.

“This was done by JMB,” Khan said, referring to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which claims to represent Islamic State in Bangladesh.

Deputy inspector general of police, Shahidur Rahman, told Reuters on Sunday authorities were investigating any connection between the attackers and trans-national groups such as Islamic State or al Qaeda.

He said the militants were mostly educated and from rich families, but declined to give any more details.

National police chief Shahidul Hoque said all the gunmen were Bangladeshi.

“Five of them were listed as militants and law enforcers made several drives to arrest them,” Hoque told reporters in Dhaka late on Saturday.

Whoever was responsible, the attack marked a major escalation in violence by militants who have demanded Islamic rule in Bangladesh, whose 160 million people are mostly Muslim.

Previous attacks have mostly singled

With Russia as an ally, Serbia edges towards NATO BELGRADE, JULY 3 (REUTERS): Serbia is performing a delicate balancing act between its European aspirations, partnership with NATO and its centuries-old religious, ethnic and political alliance with Russia.

Belgrade is being wooed by the West which has sought to bring it into the fold since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. Serbia is now a European Union membership candidate and the bloc is its top trade partner and benefactor. Belgrade is also quietly moving towards NATO despite the reservations of most Serbians but it is wary of damaging its loudly proclaimed friendship with Russia that wants to boost its influence in the region and which is hostile to the military alliance.

“Serbia cannot entirely turn to NATO, it will maintain the maximum level of cooperation with it, without changing its (membership) status,” said Genady Sysoev, Balkan correspondent for Russia’s Kommersant newspaper and an expert on Moscow’s policy in the region. “Serbia cannot turn to Russia because ... no Serbian leadership would risk losing Western investment and aid.”

Serbia is one of the few Balkan countries not in the 28-member NATO which is hugely unpopular among Serbs after its 1999 bombing campaign to drive Serbian forces out of Kosovo. Alliance peacekeepers are also still deployed in Kosovo, Ser-

9

bia’s former southern province, whose independence in 2008 has not been accepted by Belgrade.

But in 2006 Serbia, which adopted military neutrality, joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme and in 2015 Belgrade signed the Individual Partnership Action Plan - the highest rung of cooperation between the alliance and a country not aspiring to join. “Serbia has demonstrated great enthusiasm for the partnership with NATO, relations between NATO and Serbia will be developing, benefits for Serbia will increase,” Gordon Duguid, Deputy Chief of the United States mission to Serbia, was quoted by the Tanjug news agency as saying on June 28.

Serbia is however, highly emotional about non-NATO member Russia, an ally that, for example, prevented Kosovo from becoming a member of the United Nations, at Belgrade’s request.

Serbia also shares Slavic and Orthodox Christian traditions with Russia and depends on it for energy. The largest Serbian oil company, Naftna Industrija Srbije, is majority-owned by Russia’s Gazprom and its gas imports come from Russia. As a token of good relations, Belgrade in 2012 also allowed Moscow to set up a base for rapid response in emergency situations such as forest fires and floods in Serbia’s southern city of Nis.

out individuals advocating a secular or liberal lifestyle or religious minorities.

Friday night’s attack, during the final days of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, was more coordinated than the previous assaults.

Gunmen singled out foreigners as soon as they stormed through the doors of the restaurant popular with expatriates.

They ordered all Bangladeshis to stand up before the killing began, a source briefed on the investigation said. The Bangladeshis were later told to close their eyes and recite verses from the Koran and one militant cursed at a Bangladeshi for eating with non-Muslims during Ramadan, the source said.

The Islamic State-affiliated Amaq news agency claimed in a report on Saturday the militants identified and released Muslim patrons from the Dhaka restaurant.

The victims also included at least three Bangladeshis or people of Bangladeshi descent.

The militants hacked most of their victims with machetes, leaving their bodies to bleed over the floor.

A 12-hour standoff with security forces ended when around 100 commandos stormed the building, killing six of the militants and capturing a seventh after attempts at negotiations proved fruitless, authorities said. They recovered explosives and sharp weapons from the scene.

It was not clear if the attackers had made any demands.

Up until Friday’s attack, authorities had maintained no operational links exist between Bangladeshi militants and international jihadi networks. Bangladesh has blamed JMB and another home-grown outfit for the wave of grisly killings over the past year and a half.

One line of inquiry being pursued is whether the restaurant attackers received any guidance from Islamic State or al Qaeda, an official in Bangladesh’s counterterrorism wing said.

“Pictures (uploaded on Twitter) indicate they might have been encouraged by ISIS (Islamic State) activities abroad,” said Muhammad Zamir, a former senior

33 killed in flash floods in Pakistan PESHAwAR, JULY 3 (PTI): At least 33 people, including eight Pakistani security personnel, were today killed when torrential rains hit a region bordering Afghanistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, triggering flash floods, officials said.

Around 30 houses were demolished in the rainstorm caused by continuous heavy rainfall that began late yesterday and were concentrated mainly in the northwestern province of Khybher Pakthunkwa.

The worst hit district was south west Chitral district, where flood waters swept away a mosque at the time when special Ramzan prayers were being held inside, dozens of houses and army post in the remote village of Ursoon, a media report said.

At least 33 people, including eight security officials, were killed and 17 people were reportedly missing in Ursoon Village while as many were injured due to flash flooding in the area occurred due to the over flow of the Chitral river, DPO Chitral Asif Iqbal said.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) was in contact with the district administration for rescue and relief efforts, according to a statement released by the authority.

Around 82 houses were affected by the waters and efforts were underway to provide food and relief items to the villagers, the statement said.

KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the losses caused by the flooding and directed the authorities concerned to speed up the rescue and relief efforts in the affected area.

He also directed the administration to take all precautionary measures to save the lives and properties of the people.

Holocaust survivor, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel dies at 87 Bill Trott Reuters

Activist and writer Elie Wiesel, the World War Two death camp survivor who won a Nobel Peace Prize for becoming the life-long voice of millions of Holocaust victims, died on Saturday. He was 87. Wiesel was a philosopher, speaker, playwright and professor who also campaigned for the tyrannized and forgotten around the world. He died at his home in New York City, the New York Times reported. The Romanian-born Wiesel lived by the credo expressed in “Night,” his landmark story of the Holocaust - “to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.”

In awarding the Peace Prize in 1986, the Nobel Committee praised him as a “messenger to mankind” and “one of the most important spiritual leaders and guides in an age when violence, repression and racism continue to characterize the world.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Wiesel as a ray of light, and said his extraordinary personality and unforgettable books demonstrated the triumph of the human spirit over the most unimaginable evil. “Out of the darkness of the Holocaust, Elie became a powerful force for light, truth and dignity,” he said.

Wiesel did not waver in his cam-

paign never to let the world forget the Holocaust horror. While at the White House in 1985 to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, he even rebuked U.S. President Ronald Reagan for planning to lay a wreath at a German cemetery where some of Hitler’s notorious Waffen SS troops were buried. “Don’t go to Bitburg,” Wiesel said. “That place is not your place. Your place is with the victims of the SS.” Wiesel became close to U.S. President Barack Obama but the friendship did not deter him from criticizing U.S. policy on Israel. He spoke out in favor of Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and pushed the United States and other world powers to take a harder stance against Iran over its nuclear program.

Obama remembered him as “one of the great moral voices of our time, and in many ways, the conscience of the world.”

Wiesel had raised his voice, not just against anti-Semitism, but against hatred, bigotry and intolerance in all forms, Obama said in a statement.

“His life, and the power of his example, urges us to be better. In the face of evil, we must summon our capacity for good. In the face of hate, we must love,” Obama said. Wiesel attended the joint session of the U.S.

Congress in 2015 when Netanyahu spoke on the dangers of Iran’s program. Wiesel and his foundation both were victims of the wide-ranging Ponzi scheme run by New York financier Bernie Madoff, with Wiesel and his wife losing their life’s savings and the foundation losing $15.2 million. “’Psychopath’ - it’s too nice a word for him,” he said of Madoff in 2009.

Wiesel was a hollow-eyed 16-yearold when he emerged from the newly liberated Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945. He had been orphaned by the Nazis and their identification number, A-7713, was tattooed on his arm as a physical manifestation of his broken faith and the nightmares that would haunt him throughout his life.

Wiesel and his family had first been taken by the Nazis from the village of Sighetu Marmatiei in the Transylvania region of Romania to Auschwitz, where his mother and one of his sisters died. Wiesel and his father, Shlomo, ended up in Buchenwald, where Shlomo died. In “Night” Wiesel wrote of his shame at lying silently in his bunk while his father was beaten nearby. After the war Wiesel made his way to France, studied at the Sorbonne and by 19 had become a journalist. He pondered suicide and never wrote of or discussed his Holocaust experience until 10 years after the war as a part of a vow to himself.

Hungarian-born Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. (REUTERS File Photo)

He was 27 years old in 1955 when “Night” was published in Yiddish, and Wiesel would later rewrite it for a world audience. “Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed ...,” Wiesel wrote. “Never

shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live.”

Asked by an interviewer in 2000 why he did not go insane, Wiesel said, “To this day that is a mystery to me.”

By 2008, “Night” had sold an estimated 10 million copies, according to the New York Times, including 3 million after talk-show hostess Oprah Winfrey made it a spotlight selection for her book club in 2006.

In 1985 Wiesel helped break ground in Washington for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the following year was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In typical fashion, he dedicated the prize to all those who survived the Nazi horror, calling them “an example to humankind how not to succumb to despair.”

Wiesel, who became a U.S. citizen in 1963, was slight in stature but a compelling figure when he spoke.

With a chiseled profile, burning eyes and a shock of gray hair, he could silence a crowd by merely standing up.

He was often described as somber. An old friend, Chicago professor Irving Abrahamson, once said of him: “I’ve never seen Elie give a belly laugh. He’ll chuckle, he’ll smile, there’ll be a twinkle in his eye. But never a laugh from within.” A few years after winning the peace prize, he set up the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, which, in addition to Israeli and Jewish causes, campaigned for Miskito Indians in Nicaragua, Cambodian refugees, victims of South African apartheid and of famine and genocide in Africa.

10

monDAY 04•07•2016

SPORTS

Three Indians eye Rio berths in Olympic qualifiers for pro boxers nEw dElhi, July 3 (PTi): Aiming to become the first set of Indian professional boxers to compete in Olympics, WBC Asian title-holder Neeraj Goyat, Gaurav Bidhuri and Dilbag Singh will begin their campaign in the International Boxing Association's final qualifying tournament for the Rio Games in Vargas, Venezuela.

The event in Venezuela will mark a historic end to the dividing line between pros and amateurs.

Gaurav (52kg), Neeraj (69kg) and Dilbag (81kg) will all be in action tomorrow in the first round of the historic tournament, which was finalised after AIBA's Extraordinary Congress last month voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing pros into the Olympics, scheduled in Rio de Janeiro from August 5.

The tournament will feature boxers from AIBA's own professional events -- the World Series of Boxing (WSB) and AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) -- besides pro boxers from all over the world. However, none of the big names in the pro circuit have made themselves available for the tournament citing reasons ranging from fitness, lack of time for preparation and the threat of sanctions by their promoters and licensing bodies like the WBO and the IBA. As per the official entries released by AIBA, 79 boxers from 40 nations will compete for the 26 quota places on offer in Vargas. All the three Indians in fray will have to either make the final or win the box off which will take place between losing semifinalists to be assured of Rio berths. While Neeraj and Dilbag have been regulars on the WBC's pro circuit, making them eligible for this tournament, Gaurav has made the cut by virtue of his three stints in the WSB, where he won four and lost an equal number of bouts.

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

China soccer boom sparks online gambling craze icc oks rule change in lbW

hOng KOng, July 3 (rEuTErs): In China's eastern city of Hangzhou, Mr Li could barely watch as Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo lined up a penalty kick in a finely-balanced Euro 2016 group match against Austria. Li had reason to be nervous: he had bet tens of thousands of yuan on Portugal to win.

With 10 minutes to go in the game in Paris, Real Madrid star Ronaldo hit the post, the game ended in a draw, and Li lost the money he had bet using Tencent Holdings Ltd's popular messaging app WeChat.

Amid a surge of Chinese interest in global soccer, a side-effect has been a record spike in illegal gambling online, prompting multi-million dollar busts by police on betting rings, and tech giants like Tencent and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd cracking down on gambling activity on their apps.

"There are so many gamblers, groups and platforms during the European Cup, though, that I think it's really hard to find all of them," said Li, who asked

only to use his surname as most gambling online in China is illegal.

Li said he used a private chat group on WeChat, where most of the betters were friends. Winnings were distributed via bank transfer, Alibaba-linked Alipay, WeChat or 'red packets', digital versions of traditional envelopes stuffed with cash.

In the run-up to the UEFA European Football Championship final in Paris next Sunday, Chinese police say they have seen a surge in illegal gambling online. In a single bust last week, police in southern Guangdong arrested 147 people and froze funds worth nearly 100 million yuan ($15 million).

On Sunday, the Public Security Ministry said it had detained 236 people across four provinces involved in illegal online betting on the championship.

Alibaba and Tencent acknowledge the issue and have anti-gambling systems in place to spot illegal behaviour. Ant Financial, the Alibaba affiliate which operates

Alipay, has a three-tiered system to spot gambling, with computer systems analysing user behaviour and a line of human checks.

"If we find suspicious accounts, then we are going to freeze the account directly. It only takes a few hours from the first to the last step," said spokeswoman Miranda Shek, adding the firm was looking to add more anti-gambling staff.

Reiterating a previous statement, Tencent said it is doing more to stamp out gambling on its platforms like WeChat, including restricting groups suspected of gambling behaviour and punishing individual account holders. It said it has put limits on more than 8,000 WeChat groups, and has limited the payment and 'red packet' capabilities on more than 6,000 accounts.

SOCCER BOOM A soccer investment boom in China has helped propel interest in the game.

Chinese firms have invested in overseas clubs, player agencies and media rights firms, and global soccer stars have moved to China

icc wants women's cricket at 2022 commonwealth Games

Edinburgh, July 3 (rEuTErs): The International Cricket Council (ICC) will apply for the inclusion of women's cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, South Africa, the governing body has said.

Cricket has struggled to venture into new markets away from its traditional strongholds and the influential Indian board's reluctance to embrace multi-sports events as a means to increase exposure has hindered growth.

Following a presentation by the Commonwealth Games Federation, the ICC board agreed to apply for a women's competition at the Durban Games during its annual conference in Edinburgh on Saturday. "It will enhance the profile of the sport and create additional exposure and experiences for female cricketers," ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, a former head of the Indian board, said in a statement.

South Africa won the men's event when cricket took place at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, the only time the sport has been included in the programme.

The Asian Games remains the largest multi-sports event that features cricket and the last two editions included both men's and women's competitions. The ICC has also been exploring the possibility of getting cricket added to the Olympic programme.

"There will be further discussions on cricket's potential participation in the Olympic Games following further meetings with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later in the year," the governing body said. President of the Italian board Simone Gambino told ESPNcricinfo on Friday that cricket would be included in the 2024 Olympics should Rome win the bid to host the Games.

in multi-million dollar deals.

"With the European Cup everyone's betting on soccer, but also over the last couple of years China's soccer market has developed rapidly. Big investments and star names create a real lure," said Hu Naijun, an assistant professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing.

The organizer of an online gambling group, who only gave his name as Bao, said he and four other organizers had a pot of 5 million yuan ($750,706) and that dozens of people would join for each game.

"In one night there will be millions placed in bets," he said, adding it had become a lucrative business. "For the final, we'll probably go to Macau or Hong Kong and spend the whole week in the presidential suite." Li says he's still backing Portugal - who are through to the semi-finals for Euro 2016 glory.

"I often can't watch, my heart just can't take it, I feel nervous at every chance.

Especially when Ronaldo missed the penalty - I almost passed out," he said.

calls, defers Test shake up

Edinburgh, July 3 (PTi): The ICC has approved change in rules in the LBW decisions of the umpires concerning the controversial Decision Review System, which is expected to benefit the bowlers, while deferring plans for a radical shake-up of international cricket, including on the proposed creation of two divisions in Test and a new one-day league.

The global governing body's annual meeting concluded here last night with the ICC, IDI and IBC Board deliberating over several issues under the chairmanship of former BCCI chief Shashank Manohar. Few major decisions were also taken.

The ICC said progress has been made on the issue of the governance restructuring in the world body while a push has been made for women's cricket to be included in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban. Further discussions on the plan

of International Olympic Committee over cricket becoming an Olympic sport will be held following further meetings with the IOC later in the year, the governing body said.

Regarding the DRS playing conditions relating to the LBW 'umpire's call', the ICC said if the onfield lbw decisions are to be overturned, half of the ball would now need to hit a zone of the stumps that also borders the outside of off and leg stumps. Earlier, half of the ball would need to hit a zone between the centre of off and leg stumps.

"The size of the zone inside which half the ball needs to hit for a Not Out decision to be reversed to Out will increase, changing to a zone bordered by the outside of off and leg stumps, and the bottom of the bails (formerly the centre of off and leg stumps, and the bottom of the bails)," the ICC said in a statement.

This amendment will

come into effect from October 1 or from the start of any series using DRS that commences just prior to this date, the world body said.

The change will benefit bowlers and more batsmen will be given out once onfield decisions are referred as the "zone" the ball needs to hit for the decision to be overturned has increased.

In a decision concerning calling of 'no-balls', the ICC said trials allowing the third umpire to call 'noballs' instead of his on-field colleagues would take place over coming months to better understand whether the third umpire could use instant replays to call 'noballs' more accurately.

"The trial is likely to be staged during one of the upcoming ODI series, and the third umpire will judge 'no balls' within a few seconds of the ball being delivered and communicate this to the on-field umpire. Further details relating to the trial will be announced once finalised," the ICC said.

Djokovic vows to make amends for Wimbledon shocker

lOndOn, July 3 (AFP): Novak Djokovic insists he will come back stronger than ever after Sam Querrey ended the world number one's bid for tennis immortality in one of Wimbledon's greatest upsets.

Djokovic arrived at the All England Club last week hoping to win a third successive Wimbledon title and move a step closer to winning the first calendar Grand Slam since 1969.

But instead Djokovic trudged off Court One humiliated after the big-serving Querrey's 7-6 (8/6), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) third round victory condemned the Serb to his earliest Wimbledon exit for eight years.

It was an astonishing result for the 29-year-old, who had won the last four majors and reached the quarter-finals of each of the previous 28 Grand Slams.

Yet rather than conduct a depressing post-mortem of his first defeat in 31 Grand Slam matches, Djokovic did his best to accentuate the positives of his incredible run, claiming he would

be back to his best in time for the Olympics and then the US Open in August. "I believe in positive things in life. I managed to win four Grand Slams in a row. I want to try to focus on that rather than on failure," he said.

"I'm not happy to lose a match. But I'm going to move on

from this hopefully as a stronger player."

Djokovic faced a barrage of questions about his strangely lethargic effort against Querrey and he hinted he had been suffering from mental and physical fatigue following the French Open.

Having beaten Andy Murray in Paris to win the last major title missing from his trophy cabinet, Djokovic conceded the fulfilment of a long-held ambition had made it harder to motivate himself at Wimbledon.

"It's an amazing feeling to be able to hold four Grand Slams at the same time. But coming into Wimbledon, I knew that mentally it's not going to be easy to kind of remotivate myself," he said.

- Brutal Although the match played over two days due to a series of rain delays, Djokovic said the weather wasn't a factor.

However, he did admit he felt completely out of sorts making a rare appearance outside of Centre Court.

"I play 90 percent of the matches on the Centre Court, 10 percent on the other court. Obviously I'm going to feel better on the Centre Court.

"I don't want to take anything out of victory for my opponent.

He played a terrific match.

"He served very well. That part of his game was brutal. He just overpowered me."

Pressed on any hidden reasons for his tepid showing, the 12-time Grand Slam champion snapped: "I just don't want to talk about it. Please respect that."

Admitting he wanted to end his press inquisition as quickly as possible so he could escape with wife Jelena and son Stefan to take his mind off tennis for a while, Djokovic said he wouldn't play for Serbia in their forthcoming Davis Cup quarter-final against holders Great Britain.

"No, I'm not going to play Davis Cup," he said.

"Thankfully I have a family and I have a life outside of tennis. I have plenty of things to look forward to."

public discourse

Build a Sustainable Greenfield Airport in Nagaland

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or nearly two decades now, Govt. of Nagaland has been struggling to identify a suitable location for the construction of a greenfield airport in Nagaland. Attempt to expand Dimapur airport could not succeed for obvious reasons. Proposition and identification of a greenfield airport site at Chiethu followed the same path after acquisition of enormous amount of land. If we take a series of snapshots overtime, we can infer that spawning of such undesirable ends has been due to poor planning. The present proposed site at Rüzaphema will not be a different story unlessit is guided by sustainable principles and implemented following various sustainable development strategies. Airport is, without any doubt, vital in meeting the basic needs of growing population and in enhancing economic growth; however, this seemingly overwhelming priority if not sighted through social and environmental prisms, can undermine its viability resulting in a lopsided outcome. Economic progress is crucial, so also are social and environmental elements. These are interconnected, indissoluble, and interwoven in creating a sustainable future.

Sustainable development models call for a convergence of these three components. Take for instance, the three-legged stool metaphor often used to explain sustainable development rest on Social equity, Environmental protection and Economic development (other models are beyond the scope of this article). For a sustainable development, all three legs are crucial; one less leg, and the stool is sure to fall over. All legs are equally important for a stool to stand reflecting the need to take into account all these components while planning, executing, and managing developmental programs. Aproject centered on one leg alone will cripple any development resulting in astronomical losses.The proposed mega project should elevate sustainability with its feet firmly planted on these foundations so as to create social benefits at large. The notion that money has the capability to compensate for any adverse impact(s) is askew. Considering these legsas paramount and guiding principles are pertinent, and will be helpful in designing a sustainable future. It is in this context that this principle be given a political entry for a long term strategic planning. In this regard, may I suggest the Govt. to engage a neutral competent body/agency (with national and international repute) to conduct Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study in relation with Environment Impact Assessment prior to any commitment. Administrative procedures must ensure SIA is done; this is in consonance

with thelegal mandates of LARR act 2013, which requires SIA to identify affected families and calculate the social impact when land is acquired.

Whether LARR act is effective or exempted due to the presence of Article 371 (A), it is extremely important to forecast probable undesirable social, economic and environmental impacts of development before their occurrence, in order to devise strategies for their mitigation measures.

Decision makers must be accountable for consequences of their decisions;sitting on swivel chairs and giving whimsical commands alone will not suffice (no disrespect intended).Appraising the affected people with apparent social and environmental impacts is not all; the concerned affected individuals must also be given opportunity to participate in designing their future by entering into an agreement in the form of an MoU with the Govt. for safeguarding the security of their future. Though SIA reports will be impossible to catalogue all dimensions of social impacts per se, it will surely be a prerequisite for blueprinting such an MoU. SIA should be done prior to the implementation of the project and not the other way round. The SIA model will help reduce undesirable impacts, enhance benefits, avoid delays and obstruction, lower costs, better community and stakeholder relationships etc.

Failure to conduct SIA can impair the intended social benefits, and even worse, threatened its viability. The concerns of the affected individuals, local community, land owners should not be dismissed as being merely imagined or perceived or emotional. To turn a deaf ear to the concerns raised by the land owners would mean a complete dishonor to the land owners’ right and will invite tumultuous protest affecting the smooth implementation of the project.

The concerns raised are very reasonable and therefore, outmost sincerity must be given for considerations. The people of Nagaland cannot bear to witness the much needed greenfield airport being delayed for another decade due to poor planning. Once is a mistake; twice is not.

Making another mistake will otherwise reflect an ‘intentional decision’, which will be highly degrading and insulting. Make no mistake, integrateSIA into the decision making process for a better, desirable and sustainable outcome.We cannot wait to see a real sustainable greenfield airport in Nagaland.

The writer is a DST-SERB Young Scientist, and can be reached at kehie10@gmail.com Dr. Mechüselie Kehie Rüzaphema Village, Dimapur

THE NGBF’S CORRECTION TO LOTHA HOHO’S ARTICLE DATED JUNE 7TH, 2016

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agaland GBs Federation’s humble appeal to Lotha Hoho to withdraw the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the State Government on oil extraction and the request to settle amicably under Naga Customary Law for the interest of all Nagas was a “Goodwill Mission” and no other motive behind or intended. But the NGBF was not aware that a humble appeal could bring such a situation that the Lotha hoho had to define the meaning of Guanbura and their role to an institution which was recognized by the British regime way back in 1882.

Therefore to understand WHAT and WHO are the GBs of Nagaland, we must go back to the beginning of our Naga Civilization i.e., way back to the 11th Century.

Nagaland, the land of many tribes with their own unique and distinct Customs & Tradition, practices, usages etc... makes it a unique State/Country. As Lotha Hoho in its previous article pointed out that it was not the ‘assigned responsibility’ of the GBs on the matters related to the settlement of issues but directed to coordinate in the management of Khel(Colony) within the villages which they supposed to be the only responsibility of the GBs. There was no paramount power and each village was the state by itself. Each village has its own land and forest, every village had its own government, some were democratic set up and some had hereditary set up. This system of governance was run by the Village Chiefs known as Angh in Konyak, Kukami in Sumi, Ekhung in Lotha, Pehumia in Angami, Putumenden in Ao, Kilongtsur in Yimchunger, Mewoh/Runakreta in Chakhasang, Abotonger in Sangtam, Monyu in Phom, Sangponyu in Chang, Chingkhu/Pai in Zeliang etc... However the system of governance was always for the welfare and protection of its citizen based on their respective custom and tradition. There was also division of work among themselves in administration, rituals etc. Every individual in the village had his rightful place in the society. Each family had its land, and each village was more or less economically self

sufficient.

The village chieftain and elders does not exercise any kind of autocratic power. All the important matters are discussed in open court where views are exchanged, evidence are examined and only after thorough deliberation a final decision is taken (A kind of direct democracy).

Nagas met British during 1832, when British expedition crossed the Angami country. During the British rule i.e. 115 yrs in Naga Hills, the British Sarkari had introduced two institutions in the beginning of the year 1882 i.e.. (i) Do-Bhasi (DB) (ii) Gaon Bura (GB) *The nomenclature of Village Chiefs to Gaon Bura(GB) was just changed for the administrative purposes of the British India Sarkari as Nagas consisted of many tribes and to acknowledge the chieftains of the Naga Villages as discussed above* The British Sarkari also introduce of the house tax system in some part Naga Society and had appointed Village Chiefs/Elders as GBs according to the local practice and the Custom of various communities to serve their interest and to assist their Colonial administration in carrying out their respective Village administration and thus, the Powers of Chieftains were subjugated by the British Empire.

They are continuing to be the most useful institute on both Civil & Justice administration in Naga Society. It was a form of acceptance of the administration and the authority of the government and less important fiscal point of view. The house tax was usually collected by GBs and they use to get two Anna per rupee collected (2% per rupee). The system of house tax continued up to 1955.

Gaon Bura (GB) is the institute which the British introduced in Naga Hill at the early stage of their administration. They are not government paid servant but are appointed by the government and work as village chief.

In fact they are the liaison officer between the government and the grass-root people/ villagers, the government get most of its work done in respect of the villagers through this institution. They work, on the govern-

ment authority in the village as village chiefs.

Insignia of GB’s authority and service in our society, GBs are presented with One Red Blanket annually by the Government.

Since the time immemorial, G.B/Chieftain of Village is the custodian of Naga customary Laws and practices, traditions, culture and usages. Generally, 80-85% of Nagas lives in the RURAL (Villages) areas and it is the responsible of GB/Chieftain for protection and safeguards its citizen. The role and responsibility of Naga GB/Chieftain was first acknowledged by British Government and now strengthen and enhanced by the Government of India and the state Government by entitlement as “ RURAL POLICE” as per the “Rules for Administration of Justice and Police in Nagaland”. Act. 1937.

Some of the Role and Responsibilities of GBs are as follows: 1. Guardian of customary laws and practices, traditions, culture and usages.

2. Maintenance of law and order in the villages.

3. Try cases as per customary laws and practices within their respective jurisdiction.

4. Act as the Rural Police as per the, “Rules for Administration of Justice and Police in Nagaland. Act. 1937 5. Maintain peace and tranquillity within the village and with neighbouring villages/ Colonies.

6. Liaison officer between Government and the Grass root people.

Today Nagas stands unique because of their rich culture, Traditions and costume, the legacies carried on by our for-fathers since time immemorial. Therefore Let us preserved our identity and let us not belittle our self, for whatever may be the reason.

Nevertheless, the meeting with the Lotha hoho was not intended to harm anyone’s sentiment, but to share the grievances and to appeal if possible to solve the problems within, as a family. The NGBF may be childish and unwise for appealing Lotha Hoho to withdraw the PIL, but as an elderly organization we have done our responsibility.

Media Cell NGBF

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.

Sunday 04•07•2016

EntErtainmEnt

to bring back concept What did I do, asks Paltrow Weofneed supermodels: Anusha on being ‘most hated celeb’ V

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c t re s s G w y n eth Paltrow still doesn't understand why she was once the “most hated celebrity”. Three years after Star magazine called her so in their 2013 rankings list, the actress finally responded to the title during a recent appearance on BBC News' show 'Hardtalk', reports aceshowbiz.com.

"First of all, I was like, 'I am the most hated celebrity? More than, like, Chris Brown?' What did I do," Paltrow told host Stephen Sackur, recalling the first time she found out that she came out atop the list that also included Hollywood A-listers like Anne Hathaway, Madonna, Lindsay Lohan, Kristen Stewart and Chris Brown. When told by the host that she probably made "people feel bad sometimes", Paltrow said that she never intended to hurt anyone.

"All I can do is be my authentic self, and if you know me, then you know who I

am, and that I have fun and eat and am so appreciative for my life. But I think there are things about me that make people draw conclusions," she explained. The 'Iron Man 3' star speculated that people might dislike her thinking she was "spoiled" because she was

born in a wealthy family.

However, she stressed that her own hard work was what made her who she is today.

"That inspires a lot of resentment. My parents did well, and I was able to go to a fantastic school, and we grew up in New York City,

but the minute I left my college to try to pursue acting, my father was really supportive. But he said, you know, 'You are completely on your own'," she told the host.

"So, he never gave me anything. I never had any supplementation. He nev-

Richa helps providing shelter to human trafficking victims

I

t's not just films that she is busy with, actress Richa Chadha has also associated herself with social causes and her current venture is a campaign title "A Bungalow on The Hill" that helps in giving shelter to victims of human trafficking.

Talking about the campaign, Richa told IANS: "It basically provides home and shelter to girls who are victim of trafficking. I came across

girls who were victim of rape and trafficking so I wanted to do something good for them so i got into it.” “I also did my research and I was in ground for this campaign,” she added.

The campaign is aiming to raise money for providing a shelter home for women who have been rescued from Human Trafficking. The actress further reveals her contribution towards this campaign and said: "I don't do anything

half heartedly. I met the people of NGO and then I shot a video which is basically a small documentary then I sat on edit and we composed a music." Richa has come forth to be the voice of the campaign and help raise money meant for a shelter home in suburban Mumbai where upto 15 such girls are give various forms of training including dance, vocational training and other activities.

Source: IANS

The Spice Girls Reunion Is Reportedly Off, Again

C M Y K

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he Spice Girls reunion is said to be off again, after final talks to get Mel C on board broke down this week. According to The Mirror, those already on board, Mel B, Geri Horner and Emma Bunton had even offered to wait a year for Mel C, but the former Sporty Spice is just not interested.

A source told the newspaper: “Mel C has been telling friends it’s not happening – not for the anniversary

and not next year. She’s not interested in revisiting the band, and neither is Victoria. Their decision has made it impossible for the other three to go ahead with plans to tour again.”

"They know it wouldn’t be quite the same to get on stage as a threesome. Doing it without Victoria would have been a shame but might have been a possibility, but two missing is too many.

The Spice Girls’ last reunion

Ringo Starr backs Brexit move

worked because it was all five of them and they gave their fans what they wanted.”

“This feels a bit more like it would be cheating the fans, and none of them want to do that," the source added. The girls had even been thought to be planning a TV documentary following their reunion and the recording of a new album, but now it looks like that won't be happening either.

Source: Contactmusic

Hillstar NOW SHOWING

Ticket Rates PlaTinuM - `320 Gold - `150 SilveR - `80

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ormer Beatles drummer Ringo Starr says that earlier he was a huge fan of the European Union (EU) when it started, but now he supports the Brexit move. Starr has backed Britain's decision to quit the European Union, saying Brexit will allow the country to get back on its own feet, reports mirror.co.uk.

"I think it's good. Get back on our own feet. I was a huge fan when the EU started. I've lived all over Europe so I thought 'how great'. But it never really got together, I didn't think.

Maybe in a business way,

it got together but everyone kept their own flags... it didn't really turn into a love fest,” Starr said.

Starr, who lives in Los Angeles, said he rarely returned to Liverpool but he still felt close to his home city. “I don't get back to Liverpool much at all. I get back when I play there and that's about it really,” the 75-year-old said. Asked whether he still felt a close connection to Liverpool, Starr said: "Oh yeah, are you kidding? I came from there. I'm a scouser. I know I haven't lost my accent."

Source: IANS

(English) 11:00 Am | 05:00 pm (Hindi) 02:00 Pm | 08:00 Pm

er helped me with my rent.

I never had a trust fund," she said, adding, "So the idea that I am spoiled or that I didn't work for what I have is just not accurate, but I can see how somebody might have that perception."

Source: IANS

J-actress Anusha Dandekar feels today Bollywood celebrities have taken over the space of magazine covers and showstoppers from supermodels, which must change. The actress says, while it is unfair to use the word "decline" as far the concept of supermodel goes, the generation of supermodels have changed.

"Bollywood definitely has taken over the reigns of magazine covers, show stoppers...The supermodel generation has changed and we are not going to lie about it.

But why not try and bring it back," Anusha told PTI. The VJ will be seen as a mentor on the upcoming season two of MTV's "India's Next Top Model".

She said they are trying to groom the best of the models on the show without body-shamming anyone.

"We want to bring back the cream of the crop. Supermodels have to have height, a certain look. We got a lot of people saying that we shouldn't be body shaming," she said. "Everyone has to understand that there is a prerequisite for every career in your life.

You want to be a doctor, you can't be one without a degree. As a model, it's the same thing," she added.

Apart from Anusha, the show features actress Lisa Haydon and ace photographer Daboo Ratnani as judges, while Neeraj Gaba will be seen as a mentor. The 34-year-old "Viruddh" actress says a show like this will give a huge platform to several modelling aspirants who come to Mumbai hoping

to make it big. "We have so many beautiful women in this country who are still undiscovered. It's not easy to walk in to Mumbai and say 'I want to be a model'," she said. "Earlier people didn't have an op-

portunity like this. So, it is nice for the youngsters to be groomed by the best in the industry. It's a great platform," Anusha added.

"India's Next Top Model" will premiere on July 10.

Source: PTI

12

monDAY 04•07•2016

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Germany win epic shootout to end Italy jinx No regrets for teary Buffon

Seven penalties wasted in 18kick marathon shootout

C M Y K

BORDEAUX, JUly 3 (REUtERs): Germany won an epic shootout featuring 18 penalties by 6-5 to end their jinx against Italy in major tournaments and reach the Euro 2016 semifinals after the game finished 1-1 following extra time on Saturday.

Jonas Hector was Germany's hero when he fired home the winning penalty, after Matteo Darmian missed for Italy, and they will now face either hosts France or Iceland in the last four.

The shootout featured seven misses with some near-farcical spot kicks and was a complete contrast to the tense, tactical and highly-disciplined 120 minutes of football that preceded it.

The usually clinical Germans, who had not missed in a shootout since the 1982 World Cup, failed to convert three times but still progressed thanks to even more wayward shooting by Italy who sent two kicks wide and had two saved by Manuel Neuer.

Germany, who in their semi-final on Thursday, have now won their last six shootouts at major tournaments since losing to Czechoslovakia in the 1976 European Championship final. "It's dif-

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (r) saves the penalty of Leonardo Bonucci (L) of italy during the penalty shootout of the uefa euro 2016 quarter final match between Germany and Italy at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France, 2 July. (EPA Photo)

ficult to find the words. I'm overjoyed that the ball went in," said Hector. "I can't describe the feeling. I took my heart in my hands and just wanted to knock it in."

Germany coach Joachim Loew added: "I congratulated him (Hector). It was a very special situation. I had a good feeling when he was taking his (penalty) shot."

BIZARRE HANDBALL Mesut Ozil had given

Germany the lead midway through the second half before Leonardo Bonucci replied with a penalty following a bizarre handball

by Jerome Boateng.

Germany, who reached their sixth successive semifinal in a major tournament, had never previously beaten Italy at a major finals -- a run stretching back to the 1962 World Cup. Italy's four wins included a World Cup final and

two semis and the Euro 2012 semi-final. The other four games were drawn.

For Italy, the defeat was the end of the road in a campaign which has already taken them further than expected, with impressive wins over dark horses Belgium and holders Spain. Coach Antonio Conte has been credited with overcoming the lack of natural talent in his squad through tactical discipline

and hard work but, with key midfielder Daniele De Rossi joining the injured list, Germany proved to be a bridge too far.

"The players have left a significant mark on this tournament and shown that with desire and hard work, you can achieve something," said Conte.

"Football can bring you joy and can leave a bad taste in your mouth. The players will always have a

Three hundred up and counting as Serena powers through

lONDON, JUly 3 (REUtERs): World number one Serena Williams kept her Wimbledon title defence on track on Sunday, downing Germany's Annika Beck 6-3 6-0 with a crushing display of power and booming serves to chalk up her 300th grand slam victory.

Williams looked in no mood to follow men's top seed Novak Djokovic out of tournament after his shock defeat on Saturday and treated the middle Sunday party crowd to an imperious 51-minute performance.

Warning her last-16 opponent, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, that there is more to come, she said: "I thought it was good, I still want to get out to a little bit of a faster start but I was really focused and calm today." Williams was broken by unseeded Beck in her second service game but then stepped it up and never looked back.

She thundered down the biggest women's serve of the grasscourt major so far at 123 mph (198 kph), followed by an ace, to seal

Serena Williams celebrates winning her match against Germany's Annika Beck. (REUTERS)

the first set against the 22-year-old.

The 34-year-old American, who said she had been helped by suffering a scare in round two against

Arteta joins City coaching staff lONDON, JUly 3 (REUtERs): Former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has joined Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola's coaching staff, the Premier League club said on Sunday. Spaniard Arteta, who also played for Rangers, Real Sociedad and Everton, left Arsenal at the end of last season after five years at the Emirates Stadium. "I've enjoyed an amazing five years at Arsenal and it's been an honour and a privilege to captain such a great club," the 34-year-old told the City website. "I've been lucky enough to work under some amazing coaches during my career and I am now looking forward to the challenge ahead at Manchester City," he added. "The opportunity to join Pep Guardiola and his team was an amazing opportunity for me and I am incredibly excited for the future."

compatriot Christina McHale, romped through the second set in 20 minutes as Beck's resistance crumbled. The match brought her

300th grand slam win - something that seemed to take her by surprise.

"No? Was it? Cool, oh nice. I had no idea, that's awesome, right?

I think that is a lot of matches," she said as she came off court. The statistic, just one of dizzying array for the six times Wimbledon champion, takes her past Chris Evert on 299 and leaves her behind Martina Navratilova on 306.

Williams is continuing her quest for at least one more slam to equal or better Steffi Graf's Open era record of 22 major titles, although she believes she has already etched her name in the history books, alongside Djokovic.

"I think he and I have both made extreme history. He's won four in a row. I won four in a row last year. I think that's historic in itself," she told reporters. Her next opponent, old foe Kuznetsova, reached the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time in eight years with a 6-7(1) 6-2 8-6 win over American Sloane Stephens.

TodaY’s fixTures: Men Semifinal 1: TMB 'A' vs Werewolves @9am Semi final 2: Team Amplified vs Taurus Women's final: The Unrivaled vs Team Nineteen Men's final: Winner of semi-finals 1 vs Winner of semi-finals 2

Players in action during the ongoing 1st Dr. James Naismith Open Basketball Tournament.

Organized by Team Mystic Ballers (TMB), the tournament, which commenced on June 30, is being played at Kohima Science College and Sazolie College's basketball court. The tournament will conclude on July 4.

Argentines take to streets, demand Lionel Messi return to national team

Hamilton wins Austrian GP after last lap drama

Chelsea sign Batshuayi lONDON, JUly 3 (AFP): Belgian international striker Michy Batshuayi has joined Chelsea on a fiveyear deal from French club Marseille, the Premier League club confirmed on Sunday. "Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce Michy Batshuayi has today completed his transfer from Marseille," the club announced on their website.

Reports in France suggested the transfer fee was in the region of 40 million euro although the Londoners are yet to confirm how much they paid. Chelsea described the lightening quick striker as "powerful, fast and highly coveted and with a reputation as a fine finisher". He becomes the third Belgian international from the current Euro 2016 squad at the London club and also follows in the footsteps of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba in switching Marseille for Stamford Bridge. Batshuayi scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season, and 23 times in all competitions in a rather poor Marseille outfit that finished 13th in France.

place in my heart."

Little happened in extra time but the shootout was one of the most eventful ever seen at a major tournament. Simone Zaza, who sent his kick high and wide after an unorthodox run-up, Pelle, Bonucci and Darmian missed for Italy, while Thomas Mueller, Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger fluffed their lines for Germany before Hector sealed the victory.

BORDEAUX, JUly 3 (AFP): Tears rolled down the cheeks of Gianluigi Buffon but the legendary Italy 'keeper said there were "no regrets" despite the Azzurri missing a golden chance to beat Germany to a Euro 2016 semi-final spot. "The tears are for my disappointment. It was a magical experience that revived something in all of us and our fans, but it's come to an end," an emotional Buffon told media after Germany's 6-5 penalty shoot-out win in Bordeaux.

After their quarter-final finished 1-1 in regulation time and neither team scored in extra-time, Italy's bid to put two forgettable World Cup campaigns behind only unravelled at a dramatic penalty shootout. Italy spurned the chance to clinch their last four spot when Graziano Pelle hit a pitiful effort wide of the post as the Germans misfired.

That, and other misses, proved costly for Italy later on, as the penalty shootout went to a total of 18 kicks.

"It's a shame. When a team (Germany) misses three penalties out of five and you still don't manage to win it becomes complicated," said Buffon. "Sometimes it goes your way, other times it doesn't. But that's all a big part of sport, and you have to accept it. "We wanted to leave this tournament without any regrets and that's what we will do.

We made our people proud and for this we can't be sorry."

It was also Antonio Conte's last game as coach ahead of his move to Premier League giants Chelsea.

But Juventus goalkeeper Buffon, 38, indicated the defeat would not hasten his international retirement. "Personally, I'm fine. I still get fired up by these games and I feel that I've still got something to give to this squad," said Buffon, who believes there is also a big future for Italy's young team. "I'm happy and proud to have worked alongside this squad. They (Germany) deserved victory more than us, but this game will serve the lads well."

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates his victory after the Formula One Grand Prix, at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, in Spielberg, Austria on July. 3. (AP Photo)

sPIElBERG, JUly 3 (AP): Lewis Hamilton pushed past Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg on the final lap to win the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The two touched and Formula One championship leader Rosberg ended up losing his front wing to drop back to fourth.

“He made a mistake into Turn 1, went wide, I had an opportunity and I got a run into him,” Hamilton said. “I left a lot of room, but he locked up and crashed into me. He was in my blind spot, I don't really know what happened.”

“I think he made he had a problem with his brakes

but I am here to win, that's all,” he said. Max Verstappen in a Red Bull was second and Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari was third.

Hamilton's 46th career victory cut the gap to Rosberg to 11 points. “I needed those points, I did everything not to give up and push all the way,” Hamilton said. As Hamilton took the checkered flag, Marcedes told him over the radio: “Not the race we were after, but good work.”

Mercedes had been hoping for a 1-2 finish.

Team chief Toto Wolff banged his fist when his saw a replay of the incident.

Hamilton was later booed when he climbed on to the podium.

Rosberg had won the last two Austrian GPs and started from sixth on the grid after a penalty.

Hamilton's third win of the season was also the first race he won from pole. He led early but dropped back to fourth after a messy pit stop and a slow change of his rear tire.

Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari saw his right rear tire explode as he was leading the race in the 27th lap, allowing Rosberg to hit the front after the safety car phase.

Fans of Argentine football star Lionel Messi rally asking for his return to the national team at the Obelisco in Buenos Aires on July 2. (XINHUA)

BUENOs AIREs, JUly 3 (REUtERs): Hundreds of Argentines protested in the pouring rain on Saturday, demanding that soccer star Lionel Messi return to Argentina's national team after he unexpectedly quit following a loss in the regional Copa America final.

Messi, a five-time World Player of the Year, has played in three Copa America finals, in 2007, 2015, and 2016, as well as in the 2014 World Cup final, losing every time. During the finals match with rival Chile last week, he missed Argentina's opening penalty in the shootout after the game ended 0-0 and was in tears sitting near the team dugout.

"I think this is it. It's over for me on the team," he told reporters shortly after the match.

Nevertheless, Argen-

tines, at the urging of public figures such as President Mauricio Macri and Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona, gathered Saturday evening around the Obelisco, a monument on one of Buenos Aires' central avenues where fans traditionally celebrate sporting victories.

Waving banners that lauded Messi in superlative terms, they begged the star to don the national squad's iconic blue and white stripes once again.

"There's a saying that there's a Messi every 500 million years and we're enjoying that, so we have to be grateful that we live in this time," said fan Santiago Bordero.

After Argentina's loss against Chile in the final, which took place in New Jersey, Messi returned to Argentina and spent time

in his native city of Rosario. He then went to the Bahamas on vacation, while many Argentines awaited further statements from the star.

Argentina's national squad returns to action in September when it takes on traditional rival Uruguay in a qualifying stage match for the 2018 World Cup. Ranked third among teams in South America's CONMEBOL soccer federation, Argentina is currently qualifying. However, after the team scored only five of 12 goals in its last four matches when Messi was out due to injury, Argentines had been anxious to see him return to the field.

"He has to come back - excuse the emotion - but it's what I feel," said Juan Alberto Salas. "For me, he's exceptional, a god."

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