June 26th, 2016

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www.morungexpress.com

SunDAY • june 26 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 174 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

o F

T R u T H

If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die — Maya Angelou Poland beat ‘My Country is changing – Switzerland on penalties Marching forward’ to reach quarters

Pope Francis says ‘never again’ to tragedies like Armenian genocide PAGE 09

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

PAGE 02

PAGe 12

naga women in peace making Neidonuo Angami & Khesheli Chishi join hands in sharing stories at The Morung Lecture

Morung Express News Dimapur | June 25

Chasing or arresting criminals is such a waste of time. Settling criminals cases ‘amicably’ by village councils ought to be banned, ho na?

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Assault on BJP leader not by our cadres, says NSCN (IM) DIMAPUR, JUNE 25 (MExN): In connection to the assault on vice president of BJP (ST) Morcha, Johny G Rengma allegedly by NSCN (IM) cadres, who are under custody of Kohima police, Secretary to the Ministry of Kilo Affairs, NSCN (IM) on Saturday clarified that the two accused are just villagers and not its cadres as mentioned. The NSCN (IM) said this was ascertained after investigation carried out by CAO, Rengma Region and Commander of Tseminyu town command. In this relation, the NSCN (IM) condemned such acts of harassing innocent people, which was carried out by imposters and at the same time, through an order declared the “duo identified as Kunri Tep and Shayhenlo Magh as wanted.”

Eight CRPF men, two militants die in Kashmir highway ambush SRINAGAR, JUNE 25 (REUtERS): Militants killed eight police officials and injured 20 when they attacked a security convoy in Jammu & Kashmir on Saturday, a police spokesman said, in an attack claimed by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Two men attacked a convoy of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on a highway near the Pampore town, 15 kilometres (9 miles) from the state capital Srinagar. The militants were killed by CRPF officials who were guarding the highway, police spokesman Bhavesh Kumar Choudhary said. Dr. Abdullah Gaznavi, a spokesman for LeT, told Reuters by phone that the attack was carried out by members of the group’s suicide squad. Gaznavi claimed 13 CRPF police officials were killed in the fighting that lasted for an hour. Mehbooba Mufti, state chief minister, condemned Saturday’s attack. “The only purpose of such blood-spattered acts of violence is to add to the tragedies and miseries of the people,” she said in a statement.

Any peace process begins at home. Busting the myth that a ‘peace process’ is a one-time-act between armed actors (state and non state), veteran rights activists, Neidonuo Angami and Khesheli Chishi together clarified today that peace is a continuous process that begins from home winding its way into neighbourhoods and other larger communities. Angami and Chishi were speaking at the 4th edition of The Morung Lectures at the Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo’s Elim Hall on June 25, building on ‘Stories of Women in Peace.’ Many years ago, each of their journeys began as mothers, later recognising their role as peace makers.

From drug addition to armed feuds

Naga history has been dotted with narratives of men producing violence and women undoing them through nonviolent means. Its colours have merely transformed today from the political to the legal. The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) began in 1984, thus, as a response to the rise of drug addiction in Naga society. Neidonuo

Angami, a founding head of the NMA (she led the NMA in various capacities from 1984-2007), while speaking at The Morung Lecture today, charted their role as mothers in working with state institutions as well as civil bodies to control drug trafficking. At the time, they neither knew the meaning of the term “peace makers” nor “de-addiction” but took up the journey anyway, slowly creating their own path towards peace. With the help of other organisations and individuals, the NMA conducted extensive research and set up a rehabilitation centre. Eventually finding the need to “nurture our human resources,” the mothers were faced with a new challenge: the production of “unidentified dead bodies” in the early 90s resulting from extensive factional feuds—how can dignity be restored? At this stage, Angami shared, the NMA wrapped these unidentified bodies of young men in Naga shawls to give them a dignified end—the mothers did not know who they were, and neither factions nor families came forward to claim them. A day of mourning (August 5, 1994) was set aside for the unidentified dead. From this, emerged the NMA’s

Khesheli Chishi (L) speaks at the 4th Morung Lectures on Saturday as Neidonuo Angami (R) looks on—they shared the experiences of Naga women in peace building at various vulnerable points of Naga history. (Morung Photo)

nonviolent campaign on ‘Shed no more Blood’ that actively pursued unity and reconciliation among Naga political groups, with the aim to “bridge the gap” between them.

Bridging the gap, from India to Burma

This attempt led the Naga mothers to traverse the treacherous terrain between India and Burma, in other words the divided Naga territories, to bridge gaps. Khesheli Chishi, whose work towards peace and reconciliation continues

with such bodies as the Indigenous Women’s Forum of North East India and the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, was also one of the leaders of the NMA from 1997-2010. After the signing of the ceasefire between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India in 1997, the mothers decided to expand their work, but challenges like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act curtailed their free movement. “Men folk were unable to take (peace) messages from one group to the oth-

er, so we stepped in to do the task,” said Chishi while sharing her experiences at The Morung Lecture today. In 1999 after a consultative meeting called by the NSCN (IM), a 4-member NMA team trekked all the way to Burma from India to convey the message of peace and reconciliation to the NSCN (K) chairman, SS Khaplang. She recounted the ordeals faced by the NMA members while undertaking the 3-day trek from Arunachal Pradesh to the NSCN (K) headquarters in

the deep jungles of Myanmar at a time of limited communication technology and rugged recording mechanisms. She also disclosed the initial scepticism, followed by listening, shown by Khaplang to the peace effort initiated by the Naga Mothers. In 2002, NMA members undertook a second trek to the NSCN (K) headquarters. “This time (second trek) the NSCN (K) chairman was happy and was anxiously waiting for us,” Chishi said. Their efforts led to the NSCN (K) coming close to reconciliation with the other groups, creating the space for dialogue. Chishi also expounded on the role of Naga women in bridging divides between neighbouring communities, with particular focus on neighbours in Mizoram, Manipur, Assam and Meghalaya to spread the message of peaceful coexistence.

Peace is a process

In the question hour and interactive session, participants at the Lecture, comprising mostly women, sought answers and advice on the role of women in peace building. For many young women, this was the first time they had heard any of these

stories, or had any human interaction with the Naga Mothers’ Association. In a society run predominantly by men, women’s narratives, a large part of it affiliated to peace building efforts, almost never break the surface. But this should not discourage women to actively partake in peace building. “Peace making is a process and now there are many more political groups than before which means more efforts towards peace should be made than before,” noted Neidonuo Angami while responding to a young participant’s questions. “You are all part of the NMA,” she reminded the audience. “We have started the process and it must continue. First we must find our role as peace makers and then make them understand this role,” she reiterated. Khesheli Chishi highlighted the role of women’s Hohos in their respective regions that became the shield for men in the most violent of times. “It is up to us,” she noted, if the peaceful space created as a result of these efforts continues to remain or turns violent once again. Building trust and a culture of sharing between the old and young, she reminded, is key to nurturing the space for peace.

More than 1.5 million sign UK petition for new EU referendum Oil Issue: Political leaders urge

LONDON, JUNE 25 (REUtERS): Just days after voting to leave the European Union, more than 1.5 million Britons and UK residents had signed a petition calling for a second vote, forcing lawmakers to at least consider a debate on the issue. The petition on the British parliament website was posted before the June 23 referen-

dum, saying the government should hold another plebiscite on EU membership if the support for Leave or Remain in a referendum is less than 60 percent based on a turnout of under 75 percent of electors. The result on Thursday saw 52 percent of voters back a British exit on a turnout of 72 percent of eligible voters. Since then, the petition --

which only British citizens or UK residents have the right to sign -- was proving so popular that by 1417 GMT on Saturday, 1,580,220 people had signed it with the number rising quickly. It appeared to be rising at a rate of around 1,000 signatures a minute at one point. Most of those who signed were based in areas where support for staying in the EU

was strongest such as London, the website indicated. Parliament has to consider a debate on any petition which attracts more than 100,000 signatures. Prime Minister David Cameron, who said on Friday he would resign after leading the failed campaign to keep Britain in the EU, has previously said there would be no second referendum.

‘Using the law to ensure sexual reproductive health and rights’ Morung Express News Dimapur | June 25

Litigation can prove to be a powerful tool to ensure health rights, asserts the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) Nagaland. With this objective in mind, the HRLN, supported by CAN Youth conducted a daylong consultative session in Dimapur on June 25 to formulate strategy and advance the rights of women and adolescents, in particular - reproductive and sexual health rights. Held at the DBIDL, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, HRLN member, Advocate ID Gil, in his introductory remarks and objective of the consultation maintained that building strong partnership between lawyers, activists, health workers, NGOs and government officials will go a long way in addressing the core issues surrounding Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). The consultation further sought to identify incidences of violation of sexual reproductive rights, discussing and understanding SRHR law(s) and the latest amendments; and working out action plan for legal intervention. According to Gil, HRLN has scaled up its work on an array of issues across the country. Of the activities in Nagaland, it challenged and petitioned in Court the widespread failure to implement Public Health Standard. In 2015, it found that health establishments across the state lacked adequate medical personnel, including specialists, while Anganwadi centres were not providing the basic essential services to pregnant women. Terming the Integrated Child Devel-

Right to Health as Fundamental Right : KH Sema

R

etired Supreme Court judge, HK Sema, who was one of the speakers, asserted that Right to Health as Fundamental Right guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be ignored or denied. Stating that health is integral to life, he said harming or denying wellbeing to any person is by default a violation of human rights. A life free from duress, free of want and free of risk is what constitutes human rights, he added. Terming medical negligence as a violation of the Right to Health, he said that any person or victim can seek constitutional remedy through the Court. On that same principle, he added that corruption is also against human rights. Stating that the “system in our state is going from bad to worse”, he said that the situation demands institutions like a human rights commission while adding Lokayukta has become absolute necessity. Protecting the rights also demands that the people voice out and act against the wrongs “but how will it be opment Scheme as a failure in Nagaland, the Network also highlighted the failure in guaranteeing to beneficiaries the various health schemes such as the Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health, National Maternity Benefits Scheme and the National Family Benefits Scheme. Citing RTI replies, Gil stated that despite “underreporting” cases of prevent-

Retired Supreme Court judge, HK Sema speaking at the district level consultation on using law to ensure reproductive and sexual health and rights.

protected when the people cannot raise voice against the (corrupt) system prevalent?” he asked. able maternity and infant death were obvious. “This goes on to show that the negligence and apathy of the government towards reproductive health rights have severe and direct implications…” on lives. While the court has directed the state government to respond to the petitions, “The cases are still ongoing,” Gil stated. Various speakers, including legal professionals, activists and also government officials were part of the discussion.

Lotha Hoho to withdraw the PIL

• Says that, ‘Due consideration given to customary practices, rights of owner in P&NG 2012’ • Proclaims it challenges the constitutional authority of NLA under Article 371 (A) DIMAPUR, JUNE 25 (MExN): Political leaders from the Lotha community, who were legislators of the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) 2008-13 tenure, on Saturday asserted that “due consideration have been given to customary practices and the rights of landowners” in the Nagaland Petroleum & Natural Gas (P&NG) Regulations 2012 & the Nagaland P&NG Rules 2012. The politicos, namely incumbent Home Minister Y Patton, former Minister, Dr. Chumben Murry, former Deputy Speaker, Ralanthung Yanthan and former Parliamentary Secretary, Er. W. Kithan had reportedly initiated the revival for exploration and extraction of oil in Wokha district during 2008. In a press release, the political leaders cited excerpts from P&NG rules and regulation to claim how diligently it explicated Article 371 (A) and sought all possible ways to “protect Naga Customary Law and the rights of the landowners and importantly an inclusive approach involving tribal hohos.” Their response comes in the backdrop of Lotha Hoho filing a PIL in the court on the Nagaland P&NG, for which matter, the issue is sub judice and as clarification on some news items “invariably creating confusion in the minds of the public both within and outside the Lotha community.” They cited a number of points and clauses in the P&NG 2012 rules and regulations, which it maintained, are enough indicators that “all due consideration have been given for the protection of Naga customary law; delegation of authority to tribal hohos and village councils and the rights and benefits of the landowners.” It went on to state that the landowners stand to have multiple benefits viz. from the revenue share, the land access fee, employment and

from corporate social actions and also not forgetting by reversion of the land to the respective owners on completion of operations. The political leaders also maintained that, “It is high time truth goes into our minds and understand without confusion that, notwithstanding anything laid in the Constitution of India, Article 371 (A), only seek to empower the Nagaland Legislative Assembly- to resolve on whether or not to accept any acts of parliament in respect of religious and social practices of Nagas; Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, ownership and transfer of land and its resources.” With regard to P&NG, it explained that Indian Petroleum Act 1934 and the Indian Petroleum Rules 1976 should not be applicable to the State of Nagaland if Nagaland State Assembly resolves not to, adding “Otherwise, our State will continue to be bound by the same Indian Act & Rules on P&NG.” It therefore asserted that framing of Nagaland P&NG Regulations and Rules 2012 was therefore in the right direction and constitutional. In this connection, the political leaders has urged the Lotha Hoho to withdraw the PIL on P&NG while asserting that it is “tantamount to challenging the constitutional authority of Nagaland Legislative Assembly as provided under Article 371 (A) and also not to mislead people with wrong information.” Meanwhile, reacting to the statement made by Lotha Hoho in their response to the appeal made by NGBF that, “six memorandums and appeals, including that of Lotha legislators was submitted to the government in 2008 and that response was being awaited,” the political leaders clarified that it had not submitted any memorandum as implied. The press release also alleged that the present PIL is not a conscious decision of Lotha tribe but a “decision of a handful of people from the tribe.” Importantly, it (the PIL) also does not have the will of the landowners of the district at stake. Full text on Page 10


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