C M Y K
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 169• 12 PAGes • 5
www.morungexpress.com
ThursDAY • June 22 • 2017
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
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Decency is the least of all laws, but yet it is the law which is most strictly observed— Francois de la Rochefoucauld Govt moots digitizing road map in Nagaland PAGE 05
International Day of Yoga in Nagaland PAGE 02
Manipur & nagaland can ‘rise together as one ship’ Morung Express News Kohima | June 21
The Regional Business Meet 2017, a first of its kind to bring business partnerships and inter-state trade between First Generation Entrepreneurs (FGEs) from Manipur and Nagaland was held on June 21. With the theme ‘Interstate trade and land-linked opportunities’, the meet was organised by the Entrepreneurs Associates (EA), and attended by Entrepreneurs from Manipur and Nagaland at Jubilee Memorial Centre, Kohima. Speaking on the theme ‘Manipur and Nagaland – The land-linked states: opportunities and realities’, Editor of the Imphal Free Press, Pradip Phanjoubam classified the successful businesses in Manipur and Nagaland into three groups. The first category includes successful contractors, bureaucrats and politicians; the second include successful business persons who have achieved and amassed wealth with their own talents and hardwork; and the third are who “transcend the idea of business by building commu-
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
nities through business.” EA, he said is one such example. “Success has to be looked in terms of what I contribute and not how I expand my business. We are thinking of one ship, rising together against the tide,” he said and pointed out the main strength of business between Nagaland and Manipur is the commonalities in terms of culture as well as problems. Phajoubam maintained that empathy can be applied in the trade between the two states which can identify with similar tragedies. “Empathy network is essential for us in building strong trade relations. Empathy is built by common awareness and common tragedy. Business deals are struck through empathy,” he said, while citing the example of women vendors in Manipur who come from different backgrounds and communities, where problems are shared and trades are built up through empathy. To create inter-state trade and ensure vibrant highways, Dr. Akum Longchari, Editor, The Mo-
rung Express suggested the need to understand interstate trade through the lens of inter-cultural and cross cultural relations with its shared humanity. The policies of such trades, he stated, will require the promotion of mutual interdependence where both sides benefit and further raise the stakes on achieving peace. He therefore maintained that cross-border trade has a vital role in recovery and reconciliation efforts; however crucial changes to policy and practice are needed to harness its peace-building potential and avoid intensifying conflict. To build vibrant highways, the basic fundamental needs of the people in the Imphal Valley and the surrounding “peoples of the hills” in Manipur are at the center of the process. He called for addressing the hill peoples’ sense of deliberate denial and systematic marginalization and also the constant economic blockades which have drastically impacted the people’s stability and well-being in the valley. He suggested mapping
out the root-causes of the issues that divides the two states and explore solutions together, while also working towards establishing inclusive mechanisms where local communities, civil society and governments can introduce confidence building measures and are empowered to handle incidents before they escalate. He also stressed on the moral responsibility of the media (particularly print media) towards this, and pointed out the essence of disallowing the state to tell “our stories for us and to define the problems for us and to offer solutions that do not meet the basic needs of our circumstances.” Neichute Doulo, CEO, EA, meanwhile said that for a long time, Nagas and Manipuris have allowed others to define them, and being labelled as conflict-torn, insurgent, landlocked states. “We are actually land-linked,” he said. Doulo asserted that opportunities lie in our own lands. Despite decades of armed conflict, the two states have produced Olympians and great musicians, and it is in these
DAN will support NDA candidate, says CM on Presidential election
DIMAPUR, JUNE 21 (MExN): Nagaland State Chief Minister, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu today informed that the NPF led DAN government will vote “without any hesitation” in favour of the candidate proposed by the NDA to be the next President of India. “NPF is a permanent ally of the BJP and NDA, and considering that the NPF is also a principal component of the NEDA,” the CM stated that “the alliance forged with the BJP Awww, let him be, a peg or two after yoga is good for is based on Principles, and not for petty gains or power, the bones and muscle!
and is to ensure maximum benefit, development and good governance to the people of the region.” “The NPF has always been an ally of the nonCongress national party since the late 1970s and this alliance was renewed and strengthened in the early part of 2003 when the non-Congress political parties came together and formed the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland,” he reminded. The alliance has continued to grow from strength to strength with presently the NPF and the BJP, with
the support of the 7 Independent MLAs, maintaining the spirit of healthy alliance, especially after the formation of the North East Democratic Alliance in May last year with the BJP and the NPF being the principal parties in NEDA, the CM noted. He further said that the NEDA saw the relationship extend to the neighbouring state of Manipur where the four NPF legislators are part of the BJP-led Government. “The alliance has come thus far and it shall continue in the years to come,” he added.
New NSCN (K) Chairman Khango Konyak pledges to defend Naga ‘sovereign rights’
C M Y K
DIMAPUR, JUNE 21 (MExN): Lt Gen (Rtd) Khango Konyak was elected as the Chairman/President of the NSCN (K) on June 20. A press note from the MIP of the NSCN (K) informed that Lt Gen (Rtd) Khango Konyak has “served the nation for the last 54 years under various capacities.” The new Chairman/President of the NSCN (K), after being elected, recalled “many of his comrades getting slain before him, behind him and besides him by the enemy forces on many countless encounters,” the press note stated. It added that despite this, Lt Gen (Rtd) Khango Konyak “managed to survive by hair breadth without any harm and therefore praised the almighty for preserving his life to this day. He also expressed that he never imagined to reach this highest position and attributed all his success to God’s providence.”
He further lamented how “many educated and intellectual Naga leaders for selfish, vested interests had led the Nagas astray causing divisions and factions among the Nagas.” He however pledged to carry forward the “unfulfilled task” envisioned by late SS Khaplang. Lt Gen (Rtd) Khango Konyak assured that he would serve as the NSCN (K) Chairman “solely in the interest of the Naga people and to defend and uphold the sovereign rights, identity, dignity and honour of our people.” He appealed to the younger generation Nagas in particular and the Nagas in general for “cooperation and support from all the Nagas from every walk of life.” He further reiterated that the “sacrifices of thousands of Nagas for many decades shall never be allowed to go in vain but would steadfastly pursue the just cause and aspiration of the Nagas till his last
breath under the banner of NSCN/GPRN with the sacred pledge ‘Nagaland for Christ’.” The MIP meanwhile noted that the new NSCN (K) Chairman/President “refrained from involving in any of the political crisis of 1988, 2011 and 2015 and with clear conscience.” Born on July 17, 1943 at Yangkhao village, the new NSCN (K) Chairman/ President was christened Bechung Khango, and at the age of 20 and joined the Naga national struggle in the year 1963. After completion of basic military training, he enrolled in the Naga Army. Lt. Gen (rtd.) Khango went to East Pakistan on Alee (Foreign) Command in the 1966; in 1976 he was promoted to 2nd Lt and commanded 50 cadres to China under the leadership of Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah. They reached China in 1977. “On both the mission, it was an arduous foot
journey that took them several months trekking hills, mountains, crossing dangerous rivers and lakes evading enemy forces, on many occasion, sometimes for several weeks altogether they had to march day and night without food and water,” the MIP stated. During his long military career from private to Lt General, Khango held many positions both at home and abroad. He also served as commander of various units, battalions, brigades etc, and not only witnessed many crucial battles but “achieved many victories against the enemies and brought laurels to the Naga Army on many occasions,” the MIP press note stated. In 1989, he also served as the Chairman Konyak region and on April 30, 2011 he was appointed as the Home (Kilo) Kilonser (Minister), GPRN and later elevated to the Vice-Chairman/VicePresident, NSCN/GPRN on May 25, 2011.
regions that outsiders have successfully thrived in the field of business and trade, he added. The first step in the process of interstate trade and land-opportunities, according to Doulo, is to identify the bottlenecks of both states. “We think about law and order problem but it is with us for the last twenty years and it might go for another fifty years. We cannot change these external factors. What we can change today is perspective building,” said Doulo. Citing the example of the 2200 truckloads of potatoes that go to Imphal, Doulo suggested if Nagaland can export its organic potatoes to Imphal. Further, instead of importing fish from Andhra Pradesh, Doulo pointed out the possibilities of importing fish from Loktak Lake, Imphal. While some realities and external factors such as AFSPA and negligence of the National Highways are beyond the control of entrepreneurs, Doulo expressed positive outcomes from the entrepreneurs present at the meet who have thrived in spite of such realities.
World Music Day celebrated in Nagaland PAGe 11
Mon firing incident – Contradicting claims • PRO, IGAR (North) claims security forces fired upon by armed cadres • Police say security forces fired after hearing gun shot by a hunter Morung Express News Mon | June 21
A reported exchange of gun fire between the security forces and ‘militants’ in Mon district on Tuesday evening, which was widely reported in the national media, has emerged to be reportedly a case of firing in “confusion and panic.” According to an IANS report, the exchange of fire took place in Choknyu village near Tapi bridge, when suspected NSCN (K) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I) militants fired at the para commandos. "The gunfight lasted for an hour and suspected NSCN-K and ULFA-I militants retreated back to the jungles after intensive firing from the para commandos," IANS quoted a Nagaland police official as stating. The IANS report while quoting intelligence officials claimed that the “militants had sneaked into Nagaland from Myanmar to create terror.” However police officials from Mon district said the security forces (12-para unit), who were patrolling the MonAboi road near the Tapi bridge fired after hearing a gun shot from a hunter. The incident occurred between 9:30 to 10:00pm on Tuesday night at Tapi Bridge area between Totok Chingnyu and Totok Chingkho village. The Mon police team who went to the spot where the reported firing took
place verified that a construction worker engaged in the Tapi bridge construction had gone hunting in the night and had fired his gun, a 12 bore, at a wild cat. Just after he fired the gun, the security forces patrolling in the nearby area started firing, it is learnt. Just around the time, a gypsy with five civilians who were on their way to Totok Chingnyu village and crossing the Tapi Bridge were also caught in the firing. The five civilians, who hail from Totok Chingnyu village, scrambled out of the vehicle and ran for shelter, Mon police who interviewed the villagers reported. Fortunately, the construction worker and the villagers were not injured during the firing, the police informed. Police clarifies social media reports Also contradicting the report on social media, that the construction worker was assaulted by the security forces, the police said he was not beaten up nor assaulted as was being claimed. The Additional Superintendent of Police, Mon told The Morung Express that “as far as our report on the incident, the involvement of the Naga underground have been ruled out.” Meanwhile, the PRO, IGAR (North) Assam Rifles, Kohima in a press note also claimed that security forces were fired upon by a few armed cadres approaching Totok Chingnyu around 9:30 pm on June 20. It did not specify which group the armed cadres belonged to. The press note from the PRO said the security forces retaliated whereupon which the Naga undergrounds fled towards the jungle. Search operations were conducted and called off in the morning on June 21, 2017, it added.