March 14th, 2016

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C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

MonDAY • MArch 14 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 71 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

Art is born of the observation and investigation of nature Poverty, child marriage, violence decline when women own land -World Bank PAGE 09

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Public Information

morung@gmail.com

Vote on www.morungexpress.com sMs your answer to 9862574165 Should theologians and Church leaders get involved in politics in Nagaland? Why? Yes

No

others

Do you believe there is ‘tolerance’ in Naga society? Why? Yes

14%

No

73%

others

13%

Details on page 7

C M Y K

T R u T H

— Cicero

Kekobata: The story of a toilet

PSG demolish Troyes to clinch Ligue 1 title PAGE 12

With faith in ‘free nagaland’, a GPRN/NSCN reveals details of March 9 meet former warrior lives on in Mon

Press statements, memorandums, articles, reports and news related documents should be sent to

The Morung Express Poll QuEsTIoN

o F

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“Forget funds, I’ll give you full independence if you stop bringing me Nagas’ waist coats.!!”

Editor, The Morung Express

P o W e R

(lEFT) The wooden engraving depicting Cheno’s captivity by the India Army. (RIGHT) Cheno Khuzuthrupa, the veteran NNC warrior inside his hearth at Chenwetnyu village.

Ashikho Pfuzhe Mon | March 13

Four decades after coming overground, this veteran Konyak warrior from remote Chentwetnyu village in Mon district bordering Myanmar still hopes to rest his weary limbs in a ‘Free Nagaland.’ Cheno Khuzuthrupa, now in his nineties, joined the Naga National Council (NNC) in 1952, the same year NNC leader, AZ Phizo, came to Konyak country to propagate a Nagaland free from external occupation.

In 1952, Phizo reportedly passed through Chenwetnyu village enroute to Wakching where he addressed a public meeting and called upon the Konyak people to join the Naga freedom movement. “At Chenwetnyu, Phizo urged us to join the NNC for self-determination”, Cheno recalled, sitting in his hearth with a cup of black tea. Inspired by the concept of a “free Naga country”, Cheno joined the NNC and served in various capacities including as ‘Raja Peyu’ before

coming overground in 1976. In March 1960, he was caught by Indian Army and imprisoned for a month in Mon. “We were tortured by the India Army and as prisoner, I was also part of the labour force which constructed the DC Bungalow, football ground and helipad in Mon town”, he said. On a huge block of wood near the entrance to his ancient house is sculpted the images of Cheno in manacles flanked by two Indian soldiers – a grim reminder of the troubled and

tortured past. Fourteen years after Phizo set foot in Chenwetnyu, the village played host to one of the most eventful moments in the history of Naga struggle: in 1966, a band of 100-odd NNC soldiers under the command of then Naga Army Brig Thinoselie Keyho, camped in Chenwetnyu village for four months (May-September) before embarking on the long trek to China on foot. Cheno distinctly remembers the presence of NSCN (I-M) leaders Th. Muivah (then Foreign secretary) and Isak Chishi Swu in Keyho’s band. This was the first batch of Naga Army to undergo arms training in China. The aged warrior is not aware of the latest peace agreement signed between the NSCN (I-M) and Government of India and he is also least concerned about the different Naga underground factions that have come up since then. And nothing else matters for this die-hard NNC warrior. “I fought under the banner of NNC and whatever I have gone through, it was for a righteous cause and I still havefaiththatI’lldieina‘Free Nagaland’”,Cheno said.

DimApur, mArch 13 (mExN): Ato Kilonser of GPRN/NSCN, N. Kitovi Zhimomi has asked the Chief Minister of Nagaland State, TR Zeliang, to “dissolve” the Nagaland Legislative Assembly “immediately” to lay basis for a “peaceful transition” if the Government was so sure of a solution this time. This would “demonstrate the honesty and integrity” of the legislators. He noted this to also be the “best practical thing to do” as a “pre-political solution necessity.” This statement came after the meeting of the Parliamentary Working Committee (PWC) with six Naga political groups at Police Complex Chumukedima on March 9. It was informed in a press release from the MIP of the GPRN/NSCN that “an honest and fruitful deliberation on past political events, present negative political trend and future consequences in the event of a coersive policy” took place between the Nagaland State legislators and political groups based on an invitation from the

Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly and Chairman of PWC, Chotisu Sazo. During the course of the interactions, the GPRN/ NSCN stated that the Chief Minister briefed the members on the need to come together and build a future of peace and prosperity. He reportedly admitted that he had not seen the contents of the Framework Agreement signed between NSCN (IM) and the Government of India signed on August 3, 2015 yet “in faith and hope, he was hundred percent sure of achieving solution.” The GPRN/NSCN further reported that the Chief Minister asked the NPG leaders “not to miss the bus this time around.” The MIP press release implied based on the fact that Congress President did not know the contents of the Agreement that the PWC “were simply doing things hoping to win the next election giving very little thoughts to the future of Nagaland. The possible destruction of Nagaland means nothing to them.” The NPG leaders, informed the GPRN/NSCN,

“clearly conveyed” to the PWC the “very serious practical erroneous politics being played in the name of the Nagas.” According to the GPRN/ NSCN, the Framework Agreement is “not acceptable to the people of Nagaland because the destiny of the Naga people cannot be decided by few people behind closed door.” The MIP also stated that the NPG leaders questioned the PWC as to “how they could, without consulting the stakeholders and without taking the people of Nagaland into confidence, talk of inclusiveness when no positive active action towards the same was initiated anywhere.” According to the press release, Nagaland State Home Minister Y Patton was “honest enough to admit that the journey to Delhi to garner support to the 3rd August Agreement without consulting the Naga Political Groups was a mistake. He said that while improving the lives and status Nagas in other areas is not wrong, what is there for Nagas of Nagaland is very important.”

nagaland budget session from tomorrow KohimA, mArch 13 (mExN): A five-day budget session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) will begin on March 15 here. Chief Minister TR Zeliang, who also holds finance portfolio, will present a budget on March 17. According to the provisional programme of business for the eleventh session of the twelfth Nagaland assembly, among the various business, there will be address of the Governor, obituary references and moving of motion of thanks to the Governors address on the first day.


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