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FriDAY • june 17 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 165 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
Religion is the idol of the mob; it adores everything it does not understand Obama meets Dalai Lama in spite of China protest
T R u T H
— Frederick the Great
England come from behind to beat Wales
Pastors brainstorm on role of churches
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Culture of threat & ban against Naga democratic ideals: NTC
In a freak accident, two cars parked by the roadside and another moving car were damaged when a retaining wall collapsed in lower Dilong Ward, Mokokchung town on Thursday morning. The accident happened at 9:50 am. No casualties or injuries were reported. (Morung Photo)
NPCC terms NLF resolutions as an ‘insult’
DIMAPUR, JUNE 16 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has termed the Nagaland Legislators Forum (NLF) recent resolutions on the Naga political issue as “an insult to the intellectuals of Nagaland.” A press note from the NPCC President, K Therie said that “the so called resolutions are only programs and requests. They should stop shaming the intellectuals of Nagaland before neighbouring States and the Nation.” “What Honourable Governor has recently said did not even strike their minds. He said Honourable Members of the Legislative Assembly are
not elected just to make resolutions and not deliver,” the NPCC added. It pointed out that 60 MLAs also went to Delhi last year at the expense of public exchequer. “How many times do they have to travel without results? The trip will be another waste of time and money of public tax,” it claimed. It stated that even after over 70 negotiation meetings, GOI and the negotiating team are unable to bring out a solution acceptable by majority of stakeholders. “Naga Memorandum to Simon Commission was not secret. 9-Point Agreement was not secret, Plebiscite was open. 16-Point Agreement was
Pochury frontal orgs express resentment
DIMAPUR, JUNE 16 (MExN): Various Pochury frontal organisations issued a joint statement today expressing resentment that the Nagaland State Government “could not assign/attach stenographer and driver” for the Inquiry Commission on the Wuzu firing incident to execute their works. A press note from the Pochury Hoho, Meluri Area Public Organisation, Pochury Students Union, and the Pochury Youth Union asked why the Government failed to provide the stated requirements of the Commission. “The inability of the Government to provide the requirements shows the Government is not serious over the plaintive issue,” it said. The organisations further sought clarification regarding the June 8 press conference scheduled to be held on June 18 at GA Rest House, Meluri.
open. The Revolutionary Government Agreement was open. Shillong Accord was open. They were drafted by Nagaland’s Leaders. They took responsibility on the resolved points before GOI and the people. This why we have statehood with Art 371A. If the State Assembly is sincere and has the courage, they should outline the points considering the wishes and the aspirations of the people and negotiate with the GOI as our leaders have done in the past,” the NPCC demanded. It further stated that Nagaland MLAs “should not become so low and weak.”
DIMAPUR, JUNE 16 (MExN): Taking strong stance on the statement made by NSCN (IM) against ACAUT Nagaland on June 13, the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) on Thursday urged NSCN (IM) not to “contaminate the Naga democratic ideals with such alien cultures of threat and ban rather than its promotions.” “…Not to be intimidated and threatened by others, Nagas have been pursuing political aspiration and therefore such bullying is a borrowed culture and it misfits the nomenclature of national group,” NTC chastised NSCN (IM) in a press statement issued by its Media Cell. The NTC reminded the NSCN (IM) and all concerned that the Naga public had a single Plebiscite of 1951 to support Naga National Movement for Sovereignty, “This historical referendum was for a united movement under the aegis of NNC. Beside the Plebiscite of 1951, Nagas had not given any mandate to any political group including NSCN (IM) at any point of time.” Unfortunately, the NTC noted, “we have fragmented ourselves into tiny islands branding each island to be a nation is itself making a mockery of our aspiration and to the delight of our adversaries.” As consequence, the NTC lamented that each Naga National Political Group (NNPG) including NSCN (IM) has sidetracked the genuine path of Naga political aspiration at the cost of Naga unity and embroiled in pathetic factional and petty politics which includes coercive taxation on the common man.
Usurping the Naga National Movement, each group has forced its un-mandated tax on the Nagas of Nagaland is antithesis to Naga political aspiration, it stated. NTC envisaged that had there been a united movement led by a single organization and patronized by the Nagas as prior to the advent of fragmentation; we would not have grown weary and tired even in paying tax. Nevertheless, the NTC questioned, “how long the Nagas of Nagaland are expected to remain silent when we are unable to survive economically because of the massive illegal taxation calamity.” Being unbearable and uninhabitable under such taxation menace, the NTC recalled how a mass movement started in 2013 in the name of ACAUT against disunity amongst the Naga national workers and their taxation and the same continues on the basis
of resolutions adopted by the general public. While implementing the resolutions, the ACAUT is found intimidated by NSCN (IM) in the language “… why not befitting actions against them (ACAUT) should not be initiated,” it stated, while reminding that “the Naga National Movement is for self determination and not for self threat.” The NTC also sought to stress that NSCN (IM) is not alone to be blamed for the perpetual division, but all NNPGs are responsible for the public to come together and resolved not to pay tax to any group till they are united. It is therefore not agreeable that factions have “absolute sovereign rights to impose and collect taxation” while the contentious issue to pay tax or not to pay tax will remain so long division exists and it will disappear when they are united, it stated. Meanwhile, the NTC has urged upon the State Government to become responsible and accountable to the general public and discipline its employees to function within the prescribed parameters. “The Chief Minister who is the head of the State and the Chief Secretary, the head of bureaucracy seemed to be oblivious of their subordinate bureaucrats collecting percentage deduction from salary component as agents of NNPGs, which is a crime and punishable under the law,” it stated. The present day government lacks not only transparency but also lacks in functioning under established systems and norms, it added.
The ‘Biking Queens’ ride for women empowerment Chizokho Vero Kohima | June 16
As part of the ongoing 10 nation ride for women empowerment, the ‘Biking Queens’ finally landed in Kohima Wednesday to spread the message of “Beti Bachao, Beti Badhao” to the people of Nagaland. The four women riders: Dr. Sarika Mehta, Yugma Desai, Khyati Desai & Durriya Tapia are part this campaign for the welfare of the girl child. It started from Surat, Gujarat on June 4 last. Their aim is to spread the
message of gender equality and save the girl child in every nation that they visit with this biking expedition. They will travel on bike for 10,000 kilometers in a span of 36 days covering ten countries: Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and India with a message of “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.” In Kohima, they were greeted at a function held at 3 Assam Rifles this morning in the presence of IGAR (N), Major Gen Manvendra Singh Jaswal, State Re-
The ‘Biking Queens’ with members of the press fraternity in Kohima on June 16. (NEPS Photo)
source Centre for Women, expedition was flagged off school children and bikers today by IGAR (N) Major of Nagaland. Their onward General Manvendra Singh
Clogged drain below Dimapur railway track finally cleaned Morung Express News Dimapur | June 16
After years of neglecting the drain below the railway tracks Dimapur, the Railway authorities on Thursday initiated cleaning the already clogged drain with manpower from the Nagaland State Disaster Response Force and Dimapur Municipal Council. Flooding in the vicinity is a yearly occurrence, however, this time, flooding in the residential areas was compounded by the clogged drain causing the sewage to flush back seeping into homes at Westyard, Chatteswari, Manipuri and Railway Bazaar colonies affecting around 250 households. Residents of the area complained that water and vector borne diseases were affecting mostly children reporting cases of vomiting, headaches and other related diseases. Talking to this reporter, residents blamed the apathy of the railways authorities for neglecting the drain under its jurisdiction for more than 100 years. “The drain running more than 150 feet has not been cleaned even once since its construction and this time it is fully clogged and the sewage has started seeping into our homes and locality causing various diseases to people,” one of the residents said. The locality people have been contributing funds and engaging man power since the last one month to clear clogged drain but with less result. They said that the
• Urges Nagaland State Government to be more responsible and accountable to public • Laments that each Naga National Political Group has sidetracked the genuine path of Naga political aspiration at the cost of Naga unity
Combined team of SDRF, DMC and Railways drilling a hole into the concrete drain below the railway track to pump out sewage at Railway Bazaar Colony, Dimapur on Thursday. (Morung Photo)
current cleaning exercise was slow and appealed the responsible authorities to speed up as the people were facing numerous problems. The public in the area expressed gratitude to the Department of Health & Family Welfare for taking stock of the situation affecting the neighbourhood. They also thanked all the authorities involved in the drain cleaning exercise for their efforts. On Thursday, the combined team of drain cleaning workers dug the ground and drilled holes into the concrete drain to pump out sewage and garbage. DMC Administrator, H. Atokhe Aye said four water pumps and other machineries were used besides man
power from SDRF, DMC and Railways to clear the clogged drain. Nagaland Parliamentary Secretary for Municipal Affairs and Economics & Statistics, R Tohanba also inspected the ongoing clearing works of the clogged drainage at Railway Bazaar and also interacted with residents affected and displaced by inundation. Four colonies adjoining the Dimapur Railway Station including Westyard, Railway Bazaar, Manipuri colony and Chatteswari, have been inundated since the last two weeks due to the clogged drainage underneath the railway tracks. The residents had earlier served an ultimatum to the Railway authorities to clear the drain-
age or face public ire. The parliamentary secretary accompanied by CEO, Dimapur Municipal Council, Atokhe Ayemi, SDO (C), Moa Sangtam, officials of Municipal Affairs and Police inspected the clearing of the clogged drainage, which is threatening to cause major health problems as Railway Bazaar and adjoining colonies have been inundated with stank water for the last two weeks. Tohanba appealed to the residents to have patience as the Municipal Affairs department, administration, DMC and police are trying their best to mitigate the hardships of the affected residents. At the same time, Tohanba reminded that the main cause of clogged drainage and narrowing of drains was due to land encroachment. He said the administration, DMC, police and Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority are jointly coordinating with the Railways in clearing the clogged drainage. Some of the displaced residents narrated their plight due to the inundation that has affected their routine lives including children missing their classes. On Thursday morning, officials of the Health & Family Welfare department visited the affected areas and spread DDT and undertook other measures to check outbreak of malaria and other water-borne diseases. Residents said at least 1,500 have been affected by the artificial flood.
Jaswal as they left for their onward journey to Imphal en route to Myanmar. “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” is a national drive led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for empowering the women in the country. The message is to save and educate the girl child, thereby giving them equal opportunity in society by reducing female feticide and illiteracy among women. “Under the patronage and kind blessing of Prime Minister of India, four women riders have undertaken a motorcycle road
journey of 10 Asian nations. The expedition is for spreading the message of “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” throughout 10 Asian countries,” stated Major General Jaswal during the function. The Assam Rifles was appreciative of the ‘Biking Queens’ for having taken initiative for such a cause, adding that this is the first time, in the history of Indian motorbiking, that any biker group has decided to set out on such a long expedition for the empowerment of girl child in the country.