March 16th, 2017 by The Morung Express

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

ThursDAY • MArch 16 • 2017

DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 72 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

The way is the beginning of all beings and the measure of right and wrong

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Leicester stun Sevilla to reach Champions League quarters

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‘Women in all spheres of development a must’

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Morung Express News Kohima | March 15

Ah! So, how much do you gain per one centrally sponsored scheme?

NFASA extends support to CANSSEA DImapUr, march 15 (mExN): The Nagaland Finance & Accounts Service Association (NFASA) in its executive committee meeting held on March 15 unanimously decided to support the demands spearheaded by CANSSEA for implementation of 7th ROP wef 1st March 2017. The executive also decided to participate in any form of agitation as decided by CANSSEA with regard to 7th ROP if the Government fails to fulfill the demand. The association therefore requested all members of the Nagaland Finance & Accounts Service Association to cooperate and participate in any form of agitation as decided by CANSSEA. This was stated in a release by President, Nagaland Finance & Accounts Service Association, RN Yanthan.

Young hunters armed with guns make their way to the jungle outskirt of Wokha town. With the hunting season open and the burning of forest for the jhum cultivation underway, it is considered a good time for hunters to track and hunt wildlife taking refuge in nearby forest away from the burning fields. (Photo by Imti Longchar)

Augmentation of water supply to Kohima ready for commission Our Correspondent Kohima | March 15

expected to be commissioned by next month. He said the entire Northern Angami side faces water problems for which this project has been sanctioned by the DoNER ministry. This project intends to provide drinking water supply to one of the most water scare blocks in Nagaland. The physical achievement so far is 95%. Sanctioned cost for this project is Rs. 2626.41 lakh and expenditure upto February 2017 is Rs. 2527.49 lakh. Er. Kruse also informed that the physical achievement for augmentation of water supply to Wokha town is 85%. The sanctioned cost for this project is Rs. 1959.60 lakh and expenditure upto February 2017 is 1760.60 lakh. Further, the physical achievement of the project for providing water supply to New Peren district HQ stands at 75%. Sanctioned cost for this project is

The augmentation of water supply to Kohima town (Zarü project) under Urban Ministry is almost ready to be commissioned. Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Chief Engineer Kevisekho Kruse today said that the physical achievement of the project up to now is 85%. The sanctioned cost for this urban water supply project stands at Rs. 4673.09 lakh and expenditure up to February 2017 is Rs. 3037.41 lakh. He said the delay in commissioning of this project targeted this month was due to delay in release of fund. The Chief Engineer also stated that a project under DoNER Ministry, NLNEW DElhI, march CPR for providing water supply to 24 vil15 (mExN): Minister of lages under Chiephobozou RD Block is State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju today stated that the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) is a relevant document. “Details of Our Correspondent net contents, date of manuthe final settlement are befacture, packing, name of Kohima | March 15 ing worked out within the manufacturer/packer and parameters of the Frame- Giving some useful hints to the retail sale price. When work Agreement. Hence consumers in the state, the such declarations are not it would be premature to Directorate of Legal Metrol- marked/labeled on the make public the Frame- ogy & Consumer Protection body of the container or work Agreement,” Rijiju (DLM&CP) Nagaland to- carton etc, it is an offence said in a written reply to a day asked them to demand under the packaged comquestion by DP Tripathi in accurate weights and mea- modities Rules, 2011. “When buying land or the Rajya Sabha today. sures in their purchase just as they demand accurate a plot for house building, always buy in terms of hectchange from the cashier. Marking the World Con- ares or square metres. Acres sumer Rights Day here to- and yards are no longer day, it stated that giving short recognized under the law,” weight or measure is an of- the directorate informed. fence under the Nagaland Meanwhile it said that while buying cooking gas, the net W a S h I N G T o N , Legal Metrology Act, 2009. “All weights, measures content should be marked march 15 (rEUTErS): on the gas cylinder and the Fossils unearthed in In- and weighing and mea- seal should be intact. dia that are 1.6 billion years suring instruments are The Consumer Protecrequired to be verified peold and look like red algae riodically and stamped by tion Act 1986 provides for may represent the earliest- the Inspector of Legal Me- a separate three tier quasiknown plants, a discovery trology & Consumer Pro- judicial consumer disputthat could force scientists to tection, under the law,” it ed redressal machinery at reassess the timing of when stated. the national, state and dismajor lineages in the tree of While buying milk, see trict levels and is intended life first appeared on Earth. that you get the right quan- to provide simple, speedy Researchers on Tuesday tity you have paid for. Short and in expensive redressal described the tiny, multi- delivery of milk due to for consumer grievances. Stating that the govcellular fossils as two types foam etc. is violation of the of red algae, one thread-like law, the directorate added. ernment is taking all steps Petrol pumps, being including the basic infraand the other bulbous, that lived in a shallow marine en- measuring instruments, structure in protecting vironment alongside mats are periodically checked consumer’s interests, the of bacteria. Until now, the by the Inspector of Legal directorate asked consumoldest-known plants were Metrology & Consumer ers to come forward and 1.2-billion-year-old red al- Protection for accurate de- find their own solution to gae fossils from the Cana- livery of Petroleum prod- their problems. “This will build confidian Arctic. The fossils were ucts, it stated adding that in dence in them. Real succase of suspected short defound in phosphate-rich livery, the matter should be cess of consumer movesedimentary rocks from Chi- reported to the Inspector ment depends upon the trakoot. They also represent of Legal Metrology & Con- active participation of the the oldest-known advanced sumer Protection. consumers because it is a multicellular organisms in It advised that while people’s movement. Thus, the broad category called buying a pre-packed com- every consumer is a must eukaryotes that includes modity, ensure that it bears to become a volunteer on plants, fungi and animals. the name of the commodity, Consumerism,” it stated.

Premature to make Framework Agreement public, says Rijiju

T R u T H

— Han Fei

Serious water supply shortage in Kohima

Mufti pitches for withdrawal of AFSPA from some areas

o F

Rs. 930.94 lakh and expenditure upto February 2017 is 553.89 lakh. Both the projects are under DoNER Ministry, NLCPR. Other ongoing major projects in this area includes providing water supply to Mon and 4 surrounding villages (under DoNER Ministry, NLCPR), providing water supply to Akuk old in Wokha district (under NEC), augmentation of water supply to Japukong range in Mokokchung district (under NEC), environmental improvement & sustainable conservation of twin lakes at Mokokchung town (under NLCP, under Ministry of Forest & Environment) and Pollution Abatement of Rivers Diphu & Dhansiri at Dimapur (NRCP projects under Ministry of Forest & Environment and Ministry of Urban Development).

A national seminar on ‘Gender, Social Justice and Human Rights with special reference to North East’ was held on March 15 at SIRD Conference Hall, Kohima. Jointly organized by National Human Rights Commission, India and Nagaland University, Kohima campus, Meriema, the seminar focused on two topics ‘Gender Equality is a shared vision of social justice and human rights’ (Academic Session I) and ‘Role of media in Development and Social justice: Special Reference to North East’ (Academic Session II). The speakers for the first session were Dr. Anuja S, Associate Prof. NLU Bangalore who spoke on ‘Women Empowerment, Focus on North East,’ and Dr. Rosemary Dzüvichii, Head, Department of English & Advisor to NMA who spoke on ‘Gender equality, Role of Women in good governance and development.’ “Why is it that men and women share the same geographical space but women are given a lower status in that same space?” questioned Dr. Anuja while stressing on the essence of women empowerment. Asserting that there can be no success in the world when more than half of the population is not empowered, Dr. Anuja also mentioned that empowerment is not just about economic empowerment but includes sharing of power within the home as well as society. While the NE women workforce statistics are higher compared to the rest of the country, the question also lies on the type of work, remunerations and whether the economic empowerment leads to women empowerment. “The women are the primary guardians through which the quality and quantity of human resources which promotes sustainable development within society, the social norms or the family norms is transmitted from one generation to another generation and this is where women play a critical role,” stated Dr. Anuja. Questioning the position of women in governance, Dr. Rosemary Dzuvichu meanwhile posited that good governance must include women in all spheres of development. Unless women come into the decision-making, negotiation table, viewed Rosemary, the “pursuit for peace or development is not possible.” “History teaches us that if we don’t take forward women into the negotiation table, there is a dismal future for us,” she stated, while

also emphasizing on the need for women to make a differences in the community without getting diluted in the vicious cycle of corruption and violence. Reservation, as an international mandate, to bring equity, and gender differences particularly in representation in governance and political structure in relation to societal structures was also stressed. “Most Naga bureaucrats, all of them have come through reserved quotas. These are all reservation, and yet when we talk about a small quota of reservation we literally wage a full-fledged war. When we talk of good governance, it’s about democracy,” said Dr. Rosemary. The way forward, according to Dr. Rosemary is the fusion of tradition and modernity. In the second session, journalist Bano Haralu spoke on reflections of ‘North East in Media: A dialogue,’ while Dr. Rajiv Ranjan Giri, University of Delhi spoke on good governance, justice and the dream of Gandhi. Speaking on how media in NE interpret itself within the region and outside, Bano Haralu stated that the issues of the NE region, its aspirations, strives, and sentiments never get reflected. This sense of alienation is not only seen in media space but also in the political, development sphere and other engagements of the region as a whole with the rest of India. However Haralu mentioned that it is essential for media houses in the NE today “to bring to the foreground the issues that affect people through good research, good writing, having the courage to reflect the true situation.” Haralu believed that with the progress in information technology there is no limit to the exchange of information that can be had. “There is chance and opportunities today to put across all those views. If the challenges of yesteryears was technology, the challenges today as I see it is the willingness to contribute, to make a change; the challenge is of good training grounds, good mass communication schools which provide you with the foundation of looking at journalism not just as an adventure, but to keep the discipline and guidelines and ethics of journalism,” she stated. Haralu also expressed the need for more media professionals today to engage with the future and to produce journalism which is not just confined to mere reporting but to engage with the community, to communicate the voice of the voiceless, bring justice where justice is denied and provide a sense of history.

nagaland govt asks Rengma Hoho condemns delay in road works new Manipur cM assures The roads in these ar- department that “we have naga blockade will be lifted march consumers to be vigilant DImapUr, 15 (mExN): The Rengma eas, it stated, have been been fighting for this and Imphal, march 15 have substantial presence.

1.6 bn year old fossils found in India may be oldest-known plant

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Hoho today expressed concern at the attitude of State National Highway department considering that “even after receiving fund from the centre since October 2016 for the sector, Tseminyu and Wokha NH62, the department is deliberately delaying to start the work.” A press note from the Rengma Hoho questioned “how a department can take people into ransom when the people of Rengma and Lotha areas have suffered enough spending its resources, time and the physical participation of people demanding the construction of the road within its jurisdiction.”

abandoned for decades thereby inflicting suffering on the people. “...if not a fault played by the department there is no question as to why the work should not start as time frame is given to complete the work or is it the department want to make blatant lie that they are yet to receive fund from the centre,” it questioned. The Rengma Hoho said that the “people have suffered enough and we will not tolerate anymore the autocratic attitude of any authority playing with the rights of the people.” To have the good road is the right of the citizen, it added, while reminding the

suffered for too long.” It further called for “any officials involved or responsible for not taking up the work in time” to be punished. The Rengma Hoho also made it clear that the centre “has sanctioned money not to build confusion nor for any individual or group interest but for the welfare of the people.” It therefore cautioned that if the work does not start within March 2017 and completed within the stipulated time, “the people will go to the street with the issue and will not talk or listen to any reason and for anything that happens, the department and government will held fully responsible.”

(IaNS): Manipur’s new Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Wednesday said his first priority is to get lifted the indefinite economic blockade of the state imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC). He was speaking to reporters shortly after his swearing-in at Raj Bhavan here. The indefinite economic blockade imposed in the state from November 1, 2016, has caused immense hardships to the common people. The United Naga Council imposed it to protest the incumbent Congress government’s move to create two new districts of Sadar Hills and Jiribam, where the Nagas

During campaigning ahead of the state assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party national leaders promised that the blockade would be lifted within 48 hours if the party formed the government in Manipur. The task has been made easier since the Naga People’s Front is a coalition partner in the BJP-led government in Manipur now. However, informed sources here said the UNC is unlikely to call off the blockade. The Congress government had maintained that the new districts were created for administrative convenience.

css Hindi teachers’ to intensify agitation KohIma, march 15 (mExN): Protesting outside the Directorate of School Education, the All Nagaland Hindi Teachers’ Union (ANHTU) today reiterated their nine months long demand for release of salaries to CSS Hindi teachers. Teachers from the 11 districts travelled all the way to Kohima to seek their basic entitlement to their salaries from the government. “Around 1300 of us from all districts are gathered today to protest. The officials only said that fund has not been released, therefore they cannot do anything,” said Nelson Y, General Secretary of ANHTU.

However, failure of a positive outcome today has compelled the Hindi teachers to intensify their agitation which will continue tomorrow at 9:00am at Secretariat Complex. The ANHTU in a press note meanwhile informed that it held an emergency meeting on March 15 and resolved that agitation will be continue till the department fulfils the teacher’s demands. It was further agreed upon that the protest would now be held at Nagaland Civil Secretariats outside the gate. The ANHTU informed all CSS Hindi teachers to reach the Secretariat by 9:00am.

CSS Hindi teachers protesting in Kohima on March 15.

ThursDAY 16•03•2017

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Op Sadbhavna Scholarship candidates complete courses

Candidates under ‘Op Sadbhavna Scholarship’ scheme of meritorious students of Nagaland along with 21C S Rajendran, Second-in-Command, 32 AR and teaching staff at Excel Coaching Centre, Dimapur at the farewell programme held on March 15.

Dimapur, march 15 (mExN): The candidates under ‘Op Sadbhavna Scholarship’ scheme of meritorious students of Nagaland sponsored by 32 Assam Rifles/6 Sector under GOC, 3 Corps IGAR (North) for undergoing various courses, such as National Defence Academy (NDA), Combine Defence Service (CDS), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railways and Banking finished their courses at Excel Coaching Centre (ECC), Near City Tower, Dimapur on March 15. The students representing all the district of Nagaland were sponsored by 32 Assam Rifles/6 Sector under GOC, 3 Corps IGAR (North). Speaking at the farewell programme, 21C S Rajendran, Secondin-Command, 32 AR said that this is for

the first time that Assam Rifles sponsored coaching to needful local students. He further pointed that in future AR will give more coaching the students from Nagaland for different competitive exams. He thanked the selected students and teaching faculties of Excel Coaching Centre for making ‘Op Sadbhavna Scholarship’ a successful. Delivering words of appreciation on behalf outgoing students, Rongsenti Jamir welcomed the good gesture shown by Assam Rifles and financial assistance for overall coaching and hostel fees. A press release stated here that the programme was chaired by Suraj Pokharel while vote of thanks was pronounced by Rajan Co-ordinator and Vice Principal of ECC respectively.

Serious water supply shortage in Kohima Our Correspondent Kohima | March 15

Expressing pain to know that against the requirement of 14 million litres per day the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) could provide only 1.5 million litres per day in Kohima town, PHED Minister Chotisuh Sazo today urged that a great task lies a head of the department to provide sufficient safe drinking water to the public all over Nagaland. “We may not be able to change overnight. But we have to manage properly what is available with us. I have confidence on our officers and staff that we will be able to do it,” Sazo told the PHED officers and staff during the introductory meeting held here at PHED Directorate Conference Hall. He said PHED is involved in every day activity of our life be it the food we take, the drinks and beverage we drink or washing ourselves, our clothes, our dishes, our cars and everything else around us. He said the department has become a full fledged department in 1974 and

thereafter is responsible for providing safe and portable drinking water supply, safe disposal of solid and liquid waste and environmental hygiene. He said the department is visible in almost all villages/towns of Nagaland and the impact it is making on the lives of the people is truly praise worthy. Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi professes to make India a defecation free country, he said the PHED along with other allied departments has to been entrusted to carry out the work in Nagaland. “We must take this responsibility ‘toilet for all’ with utmost seriousness whereby our Naga people would benefit from this goal. Construction of toilet alone is not enough, but we have to change the mindset of our people to live a hygienic life,” he said. He informed that the PHED has earned laurels from the Chief Secretary and the government for its efficient staff managements. Stressing on the need to improve the functioning of our government offices and

government officers as well, he said, “Beautiful office chambers do not imply that the functioning of the office is good. The improvement of the functioning of the office will depend on the improvement of the mind-set of our public servants working in that office. We have to change our attitudes and behavior towards the common people.” Also stating that there are many schemes of the government, he said the speedy and effective implementation depends on the officers and staff. Strict compliance for implementation of the schemes has to be enforced. Stating that RTI has become an important tool for the public to get information, the minister stated that any information sought by the public should be responded swiftly and in a timely manner. Maintaining that discipline is a must for smooth functioning of the department, he requested all the officers and staff to maintain discipline in discharging their duties. “Government servants must be punctual, sincere

PHED Minister Chotisuh Sazo addresses the PHED officers and staff in Kohima on March 15. (Morung Photo)

and loyal to his duties. There are many government servants who have private businesses and hence their loyalty to their duty is at doubt at times. But there are many government servants who go out of their way to help the common man. People respect them and salute them. If we wish to bring about a speedy development of our society then there is need for sincere, upright and selfless government and public servants which I understand is available in

abundant measures in the department,” Sazo said. The function was chaired by Maongwati Aier, IAS, secretary to Government of Nagaland, PHED. PHED chief engineer Er. Kevisekho Kruse and WSSO (PHED) director Er. K. Ghushito Sumi highlighted the activities of PHED and Swachh Bharat Mission respectively. Vote of thanks was proposed by Er. Yhusinlo Tep, additional chief engineer PHED. The function was followed by technical session.

“wE haVE hoPE. wE haVE NEED to BE PoSitiVE”

hope academy observes 8th Graduation cum annual Day

‘FirSt Day FirSt Show’

he Hall was decorated with movie reels, popcorn and the iconic Hollywood sign over the Los Angeles hills. With this backdrop, the students of Hope Academy presented an array of songs and dances from movies like Superman vs. Batman, Kung Fu Panda, Despicable Me, Hotel Transylvania, Pirates of the Caribbean, Zootopia, Madagascar, Lilo and Stitch, Avengers.

Graduating students of Hope Academy during its 8th Kindergarten Graduation cum Annual Day held at IMC Hall on March 15. Morung Express News Dimapur | March 15

Hope Academy celebrated its 8th Kindergarten Graduation cum Annual Day at IMC Hall, Dimapur today. Inspired by Hollywood, the event was celebrated under the theme ‘First Day First Show’. It was also a joyous moment for the parents to see their little ones in graduation gowns. Altogether 95 Kindergarten students were awarded the graduation. Reading awards were also given to the Kindergarten students and hand-

ed out by Administrator Sashila Ozukum, while Primary section students also received awards from Wapang Meren. The Administrator in her speech expressed, “We have hope. We have need to be positive that every cloud has a silver lining and that we parents have a big role to play in all this we have our children, our hope with us. But parenting is this time and age is very challenging, in a time when things change in the blink of an eye.” Being a mother herself, she added, “Our chil-

dren need our guidance more than ever, through the years of experience we have noticed that students despite to their background continue to do well. Students whose parents are illiterate excel too. We must take confidence that learning is happening and we must continue with the same spirit.” Thank you all for your dedication and hard work and for Sharing the vision of striving for the highest. I believe that when mission and passion are combined together we can achieve the best

Speaking on behalf of the teachers, Naro stated that just like every year, the students with the help of the teachers have put up a spectacular show. She acknowledged that it was an important day for the graduating students of Hope Academy and expressed gratitude to all the parents and teachers for taking the collective responsibility and efforts to build the lives of the children. To this, she added, “While we are focused on moulding and guiding future leaders, Let us not forget to celebrate them today.” To

Students of Hope Academy during its 8th Kindergarten Graduation cum Annual Day held at IMC Hall on March 15.

the children, she said, “We want you to know how very proud we are of you today. You are all incredibly special to us. Enjoy life today with all your heart and soul

and worry less about growing up. Dream not only of the seven wonders of the world but seven thousand more.” She also read out a poem she had written for

the children. Earlier, invocation was pronounced by Dr. Bendangjungshi, Founder Director, Friends of the Poor Society. The programme

culminated with vote of thanks and Administrators speech by Sashila Ozukum. The programme was attended by parents and invitees.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Through this column, we would like to express our profound heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual who stood by us and supported us morally, physically, Materially, financially and through unceasing prayers during the Sudden demise of our beloved father Late. Ahukiu on 9th March 2017 at Pungro Town.

We convey our special thanks to; 1. Shri. T. Torechu, Parl. Secy. Election & Evaluation, GON 2. Shri. Wennyei Konyak, ADC Pungro 3. Shri. S.K James. NPCC Member 4. Shri. Musumong Hd. GB Pungro Town 5. Shri. Thsekiulo Hd. DB Pungro HQ 6. Shri. Luthong Hd. DB. Kongsa HQ 7. Officers & Staff ADC Office Pungro HQ 8. Officers & Staff DC Office Kiphire HQ 9. Yimchunger Tribal Council 10. Yimchunger Beru Arihako (YBA) Pungro Unit 11. Public Forum Pungro Sub-Division 12. Tsuthu Village Baptist Borü 13. Tsuthu Village Council Born on 12th March 1946 14. Pungro Town Baptist Church(PTBC) Died on 9th March 2017 15. Women Dept. PTBC 16. Youth Dept. PTBC 17. Pungro Village Baptist Borü 18. All Wards of Pungro Town 19. GBs’ Union, Pungro Sub-Division DEEDS: 20. DBs Pungro HQ 1. Government Teacher 1969 to 2000 21. Coolies Union, Pungro Town 2. Acting pastor, 22. NEIDA (NGO) Staffs Kohima & Pungro Pungrunger Baptist Church 1987 to 1988 23. Phuvkiu Village Council 3. GB Kiphire Town 2002 to 2005 24. Pungrungrü Village Council 4. DB Kiphire Town 2006 till death 5. 2nd Hd. GB Tsuthu Village 2014 till death 25. Yimchunger Union Kohima Town 26. Yimchunger Kiphire Displaced Union 27. Doctor, nurses and staffs, CHC Pungro 28. Jail Ward Kiphire Town 29. Kiphire Town Baptist Lithro 30. Tikenvong Baptist Borü 31. GPS Staff Longkhimvong 32. GPS Staff Tikenvong

LATE. AHUKIU

We deeply regret our inability to mention each and every individual, but it is our humble prayer that may Our Almighty God Bless you all abundantly.

Loving wife, childre n, Grandchildre n & Relatives

Tetso College in Sovima, Dimapur has been declared as Tobacco Free in a function held in the college auditorium on March 14. Dr C Tetseo talked on the importance of taking informed decision as ignorance can never be an excuse for picking up Tobacco habit. He challenged the students to use their knowledge as a defence against the campaign of Tobacco industries which target the youth with glamorisation of their products.

transformation Crusade 2017 gets underway Our Correspondent Kohima | March 15

A 12 day long Transformation Crusade 2017 got underway here today at Kohima Local Ground under the theme ‘Arise and Shine.’ Speaking on day one, Rev. Zotuo Kiewhuo, Sr. Pastor, Koinonia Baptist Church & principal Kohima Bible College said the darkness that covers the world are the signs of the end days (2 timothy 3:5, 2 thesolonian 2:3,) but giving your life to Jesus and walking in His obedience, we will be the light in the darkness. “Our life becomes the light in the darkness once we give our life to Jesus,” Rev. Kiewhuo said. He said if you are bonded with any darkness, this crusade and this message is for you be-

Section of congregation attends the first worship service of the 12 day long Transformation Crusade 2017 which got underway at Kohima Local Ground on March 15.

cause you need the light and become the light. He said Satan does not fear anything in you except the light in you which shows His glory is in you through the Holy Spirit. 21 persons ailing from various sicknesses re-

sponded for physical healing and testified of healing. And hearing the testimony many were blessed. Earlier, praise and worship was led by James Basnet and Team. The service was led by Pastor Jacob, Maram Baptist Church

while Vezokho Vero, pastor Shisha Hoho Pruzie invoked God blessing. Zeu Ennieo and Neibano V. Swuro rendered as pianist and cantor respectively for day one service. The Crusade will go on till March 26.

THURSDAY 16•03•2017

NORTH-EAST 3

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

BJP-led Government debuts in Manipur

From BSF barracks to CM: A profile NPP's threat looms large

Newmai News Network Imphal | March 15

For the first time in Manipur, a BJP led government headed by Nongthombam Biren Singh was sworn in by Governor Dr Najma Heptulla at the Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday. Goveror Najma Heptullah administered the oath of office and secrecy to 56 years old Nongthombam Biren Singh and eight others (Cabinet ministers). Former DGP of Manipur Yumnam Joykumar was sworn-in as the Deputy Chief Minister. The other Cabinet ministers who were sworn-in today are Th. Biswajit of BJP, Losii Dikho of NPF, L. Jayanta Kumar, N. Kayisii of NPP, Karam Shyam of LJP, Letpao Haokip of NPP and Th. Shyamkumar. The last legislator won from the Congress ticket but he had defected to BJP recently. Governor Najma Heptulla had earlier on Tuesday invited the BJP party legislature leader Biren Singh to form a coalition government in Manipur where the Congress had been in power for three straight terms. The saffron party finished second in the just concluded Manipur assembly polls, but the party managed to rope in other parties like National People’s Party (NPP) and Naga

N Biren Singh take oath as Chief Minister as Manipur gets its first BJP-led Government. He was sworn in by Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla at the Raj Bhavan, Imphal on March 15. (NNN Photo)

People’s Front (NPF) to get the majority mark in the 60-member House and form the government. The party got 21 seats while Congress managed to secure 28 seats in the polls emerging as the single largest party. BJP’s first government was installed in Manipur after the party had claimed majority by showing 32 MLAs—four MLAs each from NPP and NPF, and one MLA each from Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) part of the coalition government. Among others, DoNER minister Jitendra Prasad, BJP National General Sec-

retary Ram Madhav and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the swearing-in. Manipur’s former Congress CM Okram Ibobi Singh was also present on the occasion. 56 years old Nongthombam Biren Singh was a national football player when he was in the BSF. After resigning from the BSF, he launched a weekly newspaper called Naharolgi Thoudang which later became a daily newspaper in the 1990s. In the year 2002, he resigned as the editor of Naharolg Thoudang to contest in the Manipur Assembly election. Riding on

the anti-ceasefire (NSCNIM and Government of India's Bangkok agreement to extend ceasefire without territorial limit) agitation wave of 2001 in the valley of Manipur Biren Singh of Heingang assembly constituency and one other won the assembly election of 2002 on the Democratic Revolutionary People's Party (DRPP) ticket. Later, Biren Singh joined the Ibobi Singh government. He became a minister of state. After winning the 2007 assembly election from the Congress ticket N Biren Singh became a cabinet minister. In October 2016, Biren Singh joined the BJP.

'New industrial policy for NER soon' Not afraid of 'fatwa,' will sing GUWAHATI, MARCH mentioned that the new till last breath: Assamese Singer 15 (PTI): NITI Aayog today said a new industrial policy for the North Eastern region will be introduced soon keeping in mind the potential of South East Asian markets. NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer, Amitabh Kant said this during a discussion on a new industrial policy here, an official release said. Kant said the new policy will be forward-looking and progressive, which would enhance power, connectivity, infrastructure facilities to capture the South East Asian markets. He further

policy will also focus on long-term sustainable development with thrust on local entrepreneurship. "Every state has their core competencies and it should excel in that area," Kant said. DIPP Joint Secretary Ravneet Kaur said since the North East Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) is expiring on March 31, the Central government is actively considering formulation of a new industrial policy, which will be multi-sectoral and will address the states concerns.

Hunger strike for Bodoland called off KOKRAJHAR MARCH 15 (PTI): The All-Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and other groups today called off their indefinite hunger strike demanding a separate Bodoland after the Assam Home and Political Department assured them of holding tripartite talks on the issue. On March 10, ABSU members, accompanied by NDFB(P) and the Peoples Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement (PJACBM), started an indefinite hunger strike at the Kokrajhar Government High School premises demanding Bodoland. They broke their hunger strike on the sixth day in the presence of Kokrajhar district Deputy Commission-

AFFIDAVIT

Regd. No. 66(8) I, Smt. Alam Lotha W/o Y. Khomeshio Lotha of Jalukie Town, PO & PS Jalukie, Peren Dist. Nagaland hereby declare that the name Alam Lotha and Alam is of same person. I hereby declare that my correct name is ALAM LOTHA and shall be used for all official purposes in the future. Deponent 1st Class Magistrate

LOST

Bajaj Pulsar lost from outside ABC Restaurant, Razhu Point, Kohima on March 12, 2017 (Sunday) at around 6 – 7 p.m. Registration No: NL01E 3313 Chassis No: MD2DHDHZZVCB79221 Engine No: DHGBVB41362 Manufacturer : Bajaj Model : Bajaj Pulsar Colour : Red Vehicle Class : MCY Mfg. Date : 05/2012 Finder may kindly Contact at : 8794458518/ 7005117234/9077175221

er (DC), Superintendent of Police and Vice-Chancellor of Bodoland University. A letter from the state Home and Political Department was sent to the agitators through the Kokrajhar DC with an assurance of initiating tripartite talks at the political level before April 14 next, sources said. The letter said the state government had taken up the issue with the union government of tripartite talks at the political level with the central and Assam governments, and the ABSU and PJACBM.

GUWAHATI, MARCH 15 (IANS): Young singer Nahid Afrin, against whom some Islamic clerics in the state have issued a 'fatwa', says she is not afraid and would not stop singing or performing till her death. Over 40 clerics from Muslim organisations issued the 'fatwa' against the 16-year-old, restricting her to perform on stage, saying that the performance by a girl on stage was against the "Sharia laws". The clerics organisation had also distributed some leaflets in and around Udali area near Hojai in central Assam, asking the singer not to perform in a function scheduled for March 25. Talking about it, Afrin told the media: "I was broken completely after hearing about the 'fatwa'. But I am not going to stop singing. I have received hundreds of calls and messages from the people of Assam and different organisations supporting me." Afrin had brought laurels for the state by becoming the runner up in popular television show "Indian Idol Junior" in 2015. The young singer shot to fame after she made her debut in Bollywood with 2016 Sonakshi Sinha starrer "Akira".

SUCCESSION

Whereas application under Succession Act 1925 for grant of Succession Certificate for the estate of Late Peyelhoulie Savino(deceased) has been filed by Smti Apokla Savino (Wife) R/o Vilhoume Colony, Dimapur to draw his landed property etc, who expired on 28/7/15 , covered by Patta No. 301, Dag No. 424,426, 464,839, 423,840, Mouza No. 1, Block No. 6. Notice is hereby given that any person having interest in the administration of the estate of the said deceased, may if he/she so desire may appear in this court within 30 days, on the said day of 16.4.17. Given under the hand and seal of the court this 15 day of March, 2017. Addl. Deputy Commissioner Dimapur : Nagaland

NAGALAND LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT KOHIMA

NO: AS/EST174/2014/Pt/1350

Dt: Kohima the 15th March, 2017

With reference to the Advertisement NO: AS/ ESTT/4/2014Pt/1204, Dated 28th February, 2017, the candidates who have applied for the post of Assistant Legal Officer, Legal Assistant, Assistant Transport Officer & Sound Assistant are hereby informed to collect their call letter on 16th & 17th March, 2017 during office hours and interview will be held on 18th & 19th March, 2017 from 9:00 A.M onwards. Sd/- N. BENJAMIN NEWMAI COMMISSIONER & SECRETARY

"Assam Chief Minister spoke to me and told me not to be afraid. He also assured me of security during the scheduled programme at Udali on March 25. "I am a singer and music is my life. I don't think I can survive without music. Allah has blessed me with this voice for singing, and I'll die if I am not allowed to sing," said Afrin. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday tweeted: "Freedom of artists are essence of democracy. Spoke to Nahid and reiterated our government's commitment to provide safety and security to artists." Meanwhile, several organisations and individuals in Assam have come out to support the young singer and against the 'fatwa' issued against the singer and said that people of Assam will give security to her.

IMPHAL, MARCH 15 (IANS): Manipur's new Chief Minister N. Biren Singh's first love was football, which took him to the BSF. After resignation, he embraced journalism. Finally, he chose politics as a career. As a young boy in Heingang, about 15 km from Imphal, he proved his mettle as a footballer and got recruited in the Border Security Force. He resigned from the BSF to start a vernacular newspaper "Naharol gi Thoudang" although he had no formal training and experience in journalism. The newspaper was a hit. In April 2000, Biren Singh's press was raided by police and he was charged with sedition for publishing -- what authorities alleged -news supportive of extremists. He was arrested. That's when he decided he needed to change tracks.

He contested the assembly election in 2002 on a Democratic Revolutionary People's Party ticket and was elected comfortably. Since then, there has been no looking back. He joined the Congress in May 2003 and became a minister. He retained his assembly seat in subsequent elections. Apart from holding important portfolios, he was also the Manipur government spokesperson. He came to be seen as a troubleshooter for Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. However, he soon revolted against Ibobi Singh and was seen as one of the dissidents who engineered a campaign for his ouster. Ibobi Singh sacked Biren Singh last year. Biren Singh then quit the assembly and the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on October 17, 2016.

BIG BOOK SALE BIBLES BOOKS MUSIC GIFTS 6-18 March 2017, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Sunday Closed) VENUE

OM Books

City Tower Junction, Circular Road, Dimapur, Nagaland Ph: 03862-229370 All major Debit/Credit cards are accepted

THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT

(THE HIGH COURT OF ASSAM: NAGALAND: MIZORAM & ARUNACHAL PRADESH) KOHIMA BENCH

NOTICE

Dated Kohima, the 15th March, 2017

NO.HC (K) 3/2014/Estt/316:::It is hereby notified that the last date for submission of applications for 1 (one) Post of Private Secretary and 2 (two) Posts of Judicial Assistant in the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench is extended to 28.03.17. Application fee in the form of Bank Draft/ Demand Draft / Indian Postal Order (IPO) will be accepted. SD/- (MRS. Y. LONGKUMER) Registrar, Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Ward-2 Council has celebrated the 4th Raising Day on 12th March, 2017 at Zakiesato Memorial Higher Sec. School, Dimapur. Various dignitaries were present to witness and celebrate this auspicious occasion with the council. With the support of all the invitees present and by the grace of Almighty the program has become successful. Ward-2 Council extends its heartiest thanks to all the respectable invitees, senior citizens, GB's, Chairmen from different Colonies/ Wards, who has spare their precious time and extend their support to make our program successful. The Council also express gratitude to the Group "Ishor Laga Morom", " St. Apostalic Church" and "Mr. Tali Ao" for entertaining the guests and general public with their melodious songs. We are again very much thankful to Media for covering our program.

TRANSFORMATION CRUSADE 2017 Theme “Arise and Shine” Venue: Kohima Local Ground: Time: 4:30 PM

MARCH 16 PROGRAMME

Praise & Worship: James Basnet and Team

Leader: Pastor Vilakiezo Yano, ACRCC Mission & Prayer centre Pianist: Mrs. Ako-ü Kiewhuo Cantor: Mrs. Neibano V. Swuro Invocation & Offertory Prayer: Pastor Ruokuowhelie Pienyü Speaker: Rev. Neivotso Neikha, Mission Director, North East India Christian Rivival Church.

IMPHAL, MARCH 15 (IANS): Even as N. Biren Singh was sworn in as Manipur's new Chief Minister on Wednesday, the threat of BJP ally National People's Party (NPP) to pull out in case portfolios of its choice are not given loomed large. The NPP is an ally of the BJP-led coalition government in Manipur and has four members in the 60-member assembly. NPP President Thangmilien Kipgen wrote to the BJP national leadership on Tuesday that the party will pull out if the agreement between the two parties is not honoured. A meeting between NPP and BJP leaders was held in Imphal on March 12, wherein it was agreed that all four NPP MLAs will be made cabinet ministers. The NPP is demanding the Home

Department for Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar, Health and Family Welfare Department, Public Works Department and Rural Development and Panchayats Department. All four were sworn in on Wednesday. The Chief Minister has been unable to decide on portfolios since many other ministers too are demanding the same. BJP leaders in charge of Manipur had reportedly assured the allocation of these portfolios to the Naga People's Front, which too has four MLAs. Informed sources said the lone independent MLA Asabuddin was now in the company of Congress leaders in Assam. Though the BJP-led government claims his support, he was absent at Wednesday's swearingin ceremony.

ThursDAY 16•03•2017

nagaland

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Nagaland observes World Consumer Rights Day

Digital banking awareness

An alert consumer is an asset to the nation: Savi our Correspondent Kohima | March 15

Nagaland along with the rest of the world today observed World Consumer Rights Day under theme “Consumer Rights in the Digital Age.” In the state capital Kohima, the day was observed under the aegis of Department of Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection, Govt of Nagaland and Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization (NVCO) at State College of Teacher Education (SCTE). Addressing the gathering, NVCO president Kezhokhoto Savi, (National Award recipient) said an alert consumer is an asset to the nation. He said World Consumers Rights Day is an opportunity to promote basic rights of all consumers, demanding that their rights are respected and protected against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights. Savi also added that Consumer Rights Day should be a reminder that there is a right for everyone and in this digital world one should be aware of ones right as a consumer. He emphasized on the right to safety against such goods and

nVCo president Kezhokhoto savi addressing world consumer rights day in Kohima on March 15. (Morung Photo)

services which are hazardous to health, life and property. Also encouraging the teachers on the consumer rights day, he said that teachers can play a major role in disseminating information on consumer awareness rights and built a more informed society. He also appealed to all the participants to be aware of one’s own rights as a consumer. ‘When we do our duty then we are serving ourselves, he said. He also deliberated on six basic

Birthday Greetings

rights which are right to safety, right to information, right to choose, right to redressal, right to representation and right to consumer education. The World Consumer Rights Day 2017 is to remind all citizens that Consumer Protection Act 1986 protects the consumers from unscrupulous traders even in digital mode of business activities and transactions. Earlier, keynote address was delivered by SCTE principal Hekishe Sema while welcome ad-

Yolu Vero As steeping into five years from today (16 March), we bless and wish you to stay connected to a cheerful and successful endeavour. -Loving Mom & Dad

Birthday boy, Akherio Wishing you lotsa love and happiness on this auspicious day. May you continue to be a blessing to all that you meet. Don’t think you can escape without treating me ... Azo Wetsah

Kohima, march 15 (Dipr): The Kohima District Planning and Development Board meeting was held in the DPDB Conference Hall, Kohima on March 15. The meeting was conducted under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner and Vice Chairman DPDB, Rajesh Soundararajan, IAS. The DC highlighted on the recapitulation of DPDB yearlong Activities 2016 and appreciated on the activities carried out during the year. He stressed on the importance of DPDB meeting attendance and appreciated the members present in the meeting and further requested the members to convey the importance of attending the DPDB meeting to the absentees, stating that one should give due courtesy and respect the forum. He asked the members to give reason in written if unable to attend the meeting from the next DPDB meeting onwards. The DC also thanked the Heads of Departments for sparing space to accommodate some of the affected offices to function for a time being.

leisure

CROSSWORD # 3887

Answer Number # 3882

Kohima dC and Vice Chairman dPdB, rajesh soundararajan, IAs addresses the Kohima dPdB meeting held on March 15. (DIPR Photo)

On registration/renewal societies, ADC Lithrongla Tonpi informed that the applicant, Japfuphiki Pfutsana Keseko (Indigenous Society Organisation) JPKK School Viswema Village, Kohima was verified by SDO (Dev.) for approval of the House, where the House agreed to approve for onward submission to the Government. Besides the agenda, ADC Planning, Ketoho Luho informed some important issues on LADP Compilation where he requested the depart-

ments to submit its departmental profiles and activities at the earliest in order to incorporate in the Compilation of LADP booklet. He also informed on the implementation of Adoption program for the coming year where 6 villages/wards have been selected with ten officers in each committees headed by one team leader as the Convener. The departmental activities presentation were entrusted to Kohima Municipal and PHED in the next DPDB meeting. std code: 03862

DiMaPUR ACROSS 1. About a US quart 6. Units of resistance 10. Contributes 14. Give a speech 15. 3 in a yard 16. Fuss 17. Italian for “Mouth” 18. Casino game 19. Docile 20. Charmed 22. Arab chieftain 23. Smudge 24. Whirl 26. Hairless 30. Derisive laugh 31. Consume 32. Double-reed woodwind 33. Bucolic 35. Garbage 39. Die down 41. Slicker 43. Unemotional 44. Daybreak 46. Care for 47. Mouth (British slang) 49. Sick 50. Female sheep (plural) 51. Crevice 54. Untruths 56. Emanation 57. Loud 63. Fortitude 64. Achy 65. Tortilla chip 66. Alleviate 67. Flying saucers 68. Requested 69. Sleigh 70. Stars 71. Verse DOWN 1. Part of the outer ear 2. Press 3. Diplomacy 4. Carve in stone

Simple Rules - Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

Game Number # 3884

WokhA: Wokha District Voluntary Consumer Association and Department of Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection jointly organised the World Consumer Rights Day on March 15 at Don Bosco Youth Center, with SDO (C) Asalie Lese as the resource person. The programme was held on the theme Consumer Rights in Digital Age. Speaking on the occasion Asalie said we should be aware of our basic rights as a consumer to ensure that our rights are not denied. He also dwelled on digital management techniques and how to get our rights redressed, he also dwelt on security tips while doing online transaction and shopping. Short speech was also delivered by Chairman Wokha District Voluntary Consumer Association. The function was chaired by Asstt. Controller Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection (LM&CP) Shiloh Kath, while vote of thanks was proposed by Inspector LM&CP Er. Mharhoni Z. Murry.

Kohima Dist Planning and Development Board meet held

Happy Birthday

SUDOKU

Phek: Consumer Rights Day was held at Phek District headquarter with the theme “Consumer Right in the Digital Age” on 15th March 2017 at Christian Home High School, Phek Town with Shepalu Venuh Asst. Professor, Phek Govt. College & Former member, Consumer Dispute Redresal Forum Phek Town as guest speaker. Speaking on the occasion she stated that all of us are living in a civilized society and we consume in one way or the other. Everyone depends on one another for our sustenance. She stated that celebrating consumer rights day is a celebration for everyone. She said that it covers a wide range of areas which deals with control of policies, public distribution system, sales, quality control, maintenance of standards etc. so the main purpose of observing World Consumer Rights Day is the basic rights of all the consumers. She stated that it serves as a common platform to protect against market abuse and social injustice. The function was chaired by Shekhozo, Inspector LM&CP, Phek. Welcome address was delivered by Kudukhoto Asst. Teacher CHHS. (With inputs from DIPR)

dress was delivered by Haikambe Zeliang, assistant controller, Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection. Vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Bendangyapangla.

5. Backsides 6. Transferred 7. Wellness 8. No more than 9. Heavy and filling food 10. A delayed flavor sensation 11. Literary genre 12. To yield or submit 13. Cubic meter 21. Orchard pest 25. Wail 26. Head honcho 27. Border 28. Gray wolf 29. Assigned 34. State of being humble 36. Distort 37. Prong 38. Terminates 40. Computer symbol 42. Arm of the sea 45. Control surface on a plane 48. Tuft of strong filaments 51. Enclosures 52. Not urban 53. Crop up 55. Submarine detector 58. Curdled soybean milk 59. Impetuous 60. Yucky 61. Throat-clearing sound 62. Connecting point

Answer to Crossword 3886

Adore AGree AMUse BACon BAIL BArren BonUs BrAnCH CHICK CoPe dALe deserVe drIBBLe drooL eternAL FAMILY FArAd ForeVer

HAPPY JUdGes MInGLe nAtIon ProPose PUrPLe reALM reeL sHoVeL stArt teLeVIsIon tHreAt tItLe toGetHer toKen tUtor VerIFICAtIon VIdeo

National Handloom Expo at Kma Kohima, march 15 (mExN): The Nagaland Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd. Dimapur, is organizing National Handloom Expo at Gurkha panchayat public Ground, Chandmari colony,Opposite Nagaland Govt. Printing Press, Kohima Nagaland from March 22 to April 4, Sponsored by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handloom), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Interested Co-operative Societies, NGO’s, Apex Societies, SHG’s, etc. may apply to the Project Cell, NHHDC Ltd, Half Nagarjan, Dimapur, along with the Copy of passport seize photographs of the participants alongwith the application on or before March 18 during the office hour. The application of the participants from the same family/ relatives shall not be entertained. The stall shall be provided free of cost with Lumpsum Daily Allowances to each stall shall be provided.

Departmental activities highlighted at Phek DPDB meeting phEK, march 15 (Dipr): The monthly Phek DPDB meeting was held on March 14 at DC’s conference hall under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner & Vice Chairman Phek DPDB, Murohu Chotso. The Deputy Commissioner Murohu Chotso welcomed all new officers recently posted to Phek and apprised the board that Lephori EAC office site has been finalized. He reiterated on the incident of Government High School Zuketsa where the school was locked up by landowners. He informed that if such incident happen again in any village the government will downgrade the school of the erring village. The board reviewed the last meeting minutes where the Department of Taxes and NST Phek presented their departmental activities. Station Superintendent Phek, Metsiviko Meyase highlighted the activities of NST Phek where he mentioned that despite of the Department’s best effort to maximize utilization of its work force the decreasing fleet strength of its aging buses have severely affected public service delivery. He cited genuine transportation needs of Centre Chakhesang region, Tizu area, Phor and Phong Khungri region and the need for new buses to ply in those area with deplorable road condition. The board resolved to put the matter to the authority concerned to approve procurement of six new buses to enable replacement of old fleets and resume the suspended services in the district. Superintendent of Taxes Phek, Y. Chingtuk Phom highlighted the activities of Taxes Department where he stated that the Department of Taxes is one of the major state revenue earning departments contributing nearly 60 percent of total internal State revenue. The revenue collected during the year 2016 to 2017 so far has been the highest figure during the last five years. He also gave brief overview on GST. TaHaMZaM

std code: 03871

(formerly senapati)

Police station Fire Brigade

222246 222491

Civil Hospital

232224

emergency

229529 229474

MH Hospital

227930 231081

Fire Brigade

2222952

Faith Hospital

228846

naga Hospital

2222916

shamrock Hospital

228254

oking Hospital

2243339

Zion Hospital

231864 224117 227337

Bethel nursing Home

2224202

northeast shuttles

08974997923

KOHiMa

std code: 0370

Police Control room

228400

KoHIMA Ps/oCs Contact numbers

Police Traffic Control

232106

north Ps

east Police station

227607

west Police station

232181

south Ps

CIHsr (referral Hospital)

242555 242533

Zubza Ps

dimapur Hospital

224041 248011

131/228404

Airport Indian Airlines

229366 242441 225212

8575045507

Officer-in-Charge 8575045517 8575045505

Officer-in-Charge 8575045515

nagaland Multispecialty Health & research Centre

248302, 09856006026

eden Medical Centre

248288

Officer-in-Charge 8575045516 tseminyu Ps

Kezocha Ps

232032, 231031

Chiephobozou Ps 8575045506

Khuzama Ps

nikos Hospital and research Centre

8575045508

Officer-in-Charge 8575045518

railway

8575045502

Officer-in-Charge 8575045520

Apollo Hospital Info Centre 230695/ 9402435652

8575045501

Officer-in-Charge 8575045510

Chumukedima Fire Brigade 282777

Dimapur, march 15 (mExN): Digital banking awareness programme was held at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Dimapur on March 15. Speaking at the programme, SDO (C) Dimapur James Swu said that digital banking awareness campaign was launched on January 7, 2017. He highlighted the importance and convenience of using digital banking and encouraged the departments as public serving agencies to opt for digital banking and help the public. Welcome address was delivered by Chief Manager, Dimapur Bosco, while the programme was chaired by AGM L. Thangboi. PowerPoint presentation was done by L. Singsit. Different departments, school, colleges, and business establishments attended the programme.

8575045549

Officer-in-Charge 8575045538

women Cell

8575045509

Officer-in-Charge 8575045519 Control room

8575045500 (Emergency No. – 100)

FiRE STaTiONS

KoHIMA soUtH: 0370-2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC) KoHIMA nortH: 7085924114 (O) dIMAPUr: 03862-232201/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC) CHUMUKedIMA: 7085982102 (O) 8732810051 (OC) woKHA: 03860-242215/101 (O) 8974322879 (OC) MoKoKCHUnG: 0369-2226225/ 101 (O) 8415830232 (OC) PHeK: 8414853765 (O) 8413822476(OC) ZUnHeBoto: 03867-280304/ 101 (O) 9436422730 (OC) tUensAnG: 8414853766 (O) 9856163601 (OC) Mon: 03869-251222/ 101 (O) 9862130954 (OC) Kiphire: 8414853767 (O) 9436261577 (OC) Peren: 7085189932 (O) 9856311205 (OC) LonGLenG: 7085924113 (O) 9862414264 (OC) we4 woMen HeLPLIne 08822911011 WOMEN HeLPLIne 181 CHiLD weLFAre CoMMIttee Toll free No. 1098 childline

MOKOKCHUNG

std code: 0369

Police station 1 Police station 2 Police station Kobulong Police station tuli Police station Changtongya Police station Mangkolemba Civil Hospital

9485232688 9485232689 9485232690 9485232693 9485232694 9485232695 2226216

woodland nursing Home

2226263

Hotel Metsüpen (tourist Lodge) 2226373/ 2229343

CURRENCY NOTES BUY (rs) seLL (rs)

Us dollars sterling Pound Hong Kong dollar Australian dollar singapore dollar Canadian dollar Japanese Yen euro thai Baht Korean won UAe dirham (Aed) Chinese Yuan

65.21 80.9 8.13 50.03 46.34 49.68 57.81 68.8 1.81 0.0558 17.18 9.2

68.15 84.81 9.06 52.50 48.63 52.11 61.07 72.14 2.02 0.0622 19.14 10.24

Thursday 16•03•2017

NAGALAND

‘Consumer rights in the digital age’ World Consumer Rights Day observed in Dimapur Morung Express News Dimapur | March 15

The Department of Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection (LM&CP) in association with Consumers Society Dimapur observed World Consumer Rights Day here at Lotha Hoho Ki, with Deputy Commissioner, Kesonyu Yhome as chief guest and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dr. KPA Ilyas as resource person. Speaking on the topic ‘Consumer rights in the digital age’, the resource person said reports suggest that people from North East are specifically targeted by people sitting afar extracting bank details, offering delivery of items after online payment to name a few instances. “The innate trust we have in our fellow human being and our massive use of technology can be a dangerous combination that

Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome and DCP Dr. KPA Ilyas speaking on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day at Lotha Hoho Ki, Dimapur on March 15.

can result in massive financial losses unless discretion and caution is employed,” the DCP said. Dr. Ilyas shared the major concerns for consumers in a digital era including data and payment services and also e-commerce and e-products. “There is a need for using e-commerce with discretion as the nature of e-commerce with a wide

Meetings Purana Bazar ‘B’ Village youth meeting The Purana Bazar ‘B’ Youth Organization has convened a general meeting on March 18, 11:00 am at Government Middle School, Purana Bazar ‘B’ Village campus. A press release from the organization’s president, Asher Kath has requested all the youths (15 years and above) residing in the village to attend the meeting without fail. Important issues related to the functioning of the organization and selection of new executive members will be the main agenda, it said. Members are also welcome to come with their “valuable suggestion” on any issue concerning the welfare of the youth organization, it added. Informing that attendance will be strictly taken based on household, the organization requested the parents to encourage their children to attend the meeting.

Village Day at Khriezephe The Village Day of Khriezephe in Chumukedima will be observed on March 21. Therefore, Khriezephe Village Council chairman, Aku Kapfo has invited all landowners and members of the village to attend the Village Day celebration programme which starts at 10:00 am.

SBC Council meeting The Sumi Baptist Convention (SBC) Council members will be meeting on March 22 at 2:00 pm to deliberate important issues related to SBC and college matters. Therefore, SBC Director, Rev. Khehovi Shohe has requested the members to attend the meeting without fail. Meanwhile, the SBC Ordination Council members representing three Sumi Baptist Associations were informed that there will be Ordination Council meeting on March 22, 12 noon at SBC office ahead of the Council meeting. Members were informed to attend the said meeting.

NSCN (IM) budget session The Speaker of Tatar Hoho, NSCN (IM) has summoned the Tatar Hoho budget session 2017-18 on March 23 and 24, 10:00 am at the Council Headquarters, Hebron. Therefore, all the Steering Committee Members, Council of Kilonsers, Tatars, CNC, Head of Departments, Naga Army authorities (Brigadier & above and Brigades/Battalion’s Commanders), NSWON Executive Members, CAOs/EOs along with two senior Leacys have been informed to attend the session positively. A press release from A Ashiho, Secretary, Tatar Hoho further informed that “all members in the position of Status irrespective Steering, Kilonser, Dy. Kilonser and Tatars are to attend the session.”

range of choice increases daily and the quality through ecommerce is difficult to ascertain especially for non branded products which makes it difficult for consumer redressal with jurisdiction and accessibility as the setback,” he said. “With increase in ecommerce frauds it is difficult in identifying reliable firms and in identifying fake websites as well. With

every individual as consumer of multiple agencies, these can pose complexities in Right to Dispute Redressal on the face of lack of awareness and lacunae in law,” Dr. Ilyas added. Defining trends of digital era that impinges on the Rights of the Customer, Dr. Ilyas underlined difficulty in protecting digital identity of the consumer. The individuals, he stated, are

Car and official gallery passes for NLA session Kohima, march 15 (Dipr): The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) has informed that in view of the Fifteenth Session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly to be held from March 21 to 30, car passes and official gallery passes will be issued from March 17 onwards as under: • Ministers/Adviser (Cabinet Status)/Parliamentary Secretaries and AHODs are to collect car passes and gallery passes from the Special Secretary (Home Department), Civil Secretariat, Nagaland, Kohima. • HODs/Media are to collect car passes from Reception Counter Gate No-I, Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat. • MLAs/P.S./P.A. and other departments are directed to collect Car Passes from Reception Counter Gate No-II, Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat. Car passes and gallery passes may be collected in advance to avoid eleventh hour rush.

burdened with intricate, super sized terms & agreements and accelerating pace of technology, which challenges the customers’ Right to Information and put them in a serious disadvantage. DC Dimapur in his address said as per the United Nations survey in 2012, India alone recorded 14 billion US dollars in terms of e-commerce (digital trading) trans-

action. This, he remarked, is a vital aspect to discuss and know the “right to education” of consumers. “As consumers, we fail to check on prices and impulsively overlook our rights as a consumer. Consumerism and protection on consumer will have to intermediate and not only depend on laws,” Yhome said. Lack of education on consumer is also one of the major problems, including for consumerism, the DC said. Earlier, Principal District & Session Judge and President Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum Dimapur, GH Ramlia, also spoke on the occasion. Assistant Commissioner of LM & CP Limatoshi Jamir delivered the welcome address and President of Consumers Society Dimapur, Vinoka Aye, proposed vote of thanks.

BJP units celebrate victory LoNgLENg, march 15 (mExN): The Longleng and Kohima units of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have celebrated the victory of the party in the recently held assembly elections of various states at their respective district head offices. The BJP Longleng unit on March 14 celebrated the victory of BJP in the state assembly elections of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. The unit in a press release congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National BJP President, Amit Shah for their “efficient and dynamic leadership that brought laurels to the party” and hoped that “the wave may be effective in the whole country.” Meanwhile, BJP Kohima district commemorated the party’s

victory in the States of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. During the celebration, the BJP Kohima district President, Dr. Khriezovolie Kesiyie on behalf of the unit congratulated BJP Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh and BJP National for their achievement. Dr. Khriezovolie further urged the National party to concentrate on Nagaland State BJP as well as the upcoming State general election 2018. He also stated that the BJP has already mobilized and is prepared for the upcoming general election in all the districts of Nagaland under the leadership of Visasolie Lhoungu, President, BJP Nagaland State, according to a press release from the BJP Kohima district.

Food Security Group formed in Mon Village moN, march 15 (mExN): Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Mon block has organized a 2-day programme in Mon Village. On March 14, the ATMA Mon block organized Kisan Ghosti on sustainable practices in shifting cultivation, while mobilization of Farmers Group on mushroom production technology was held on March 15. An introduction on the concept of Food Security Group (FSG), guidelines of formation and activities was shared by Nemchaba Jamir, ATM, chairperson, informed a press release. A 10-member women FSG was formed and oyster mushroom spawns were provided to the group

to start their venture. Moikam T Phom, who was the resource person, dwelled on making of bunds to prevent water and nutrients run off or soil erosion and percolation of water. He also emphasized on the fishing practices and management for a sustainable fishery. The procedure of mushroom cultivation was discussed at length and demonstration was also done on the said topic. The programme on March 14 was attended by 20 farmers and the next day’s programme was attended by 23 farmers.

ATMA officials and farmers during the Kisan Ghosti programme held in Mon Village on March 14.

ing the harvested Colocasia which can extend the shelf life for late consumption as well as for the next planting season. The programme chaired by M. Onen, ATM, was attended by 25 farmers.

‘Towards a clean Kohima’

Indian Red Cross Society, Dimapur District Branch donated kitchen utensils, buckets & mugs besides mosquito nets to the fire victims of Chumukedima on March 14. The fire incident occurred on March 11 affecting 50 families. Chairman of the Branch Chandu Agarwal & Vice-Chairman Ajay Sethi were present with the Honorary Secretary KK Paul on the occasion besides other executives & members. The relief materials were handed over in the presence of the GB and the landlord.

No medical camps without permission Dimapur, march 15 (mExN): With various types of medical camps being conducted throughout the district “without following any uniform procedures and system,” the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur has issued a directive that henceforth no organization/ society or any other groups will be permitted to conduct any medical camps without the permission of the District Inspection team. Any organization interested to conduct medical camps has been directed to seek the permission through Deputy Commissioner & Chairman, District Inspection team. Permission will be granted only after ascertaining the credibility of the medical professionals conducting the camp, stated the DC, Kesonyu Yhome in a press release. “Failure to comply with the above directive and leading to any unfortunate event, the organizing group shall be wholly responsible,” it added.

Bikes recovered Dimapur, march 15 (mExN): The NSCN (IM) UT-I has recovered a Pulsar-135 with engine numberJEGBVB05921, chassis number- MD2JDJD224CB44791 and a Bajaj Discover-135 bearing engine number- JNGBSD75297, chassis number- MD2DSJN22SCD29756. A press release from the NSCN (IM) UT-I has asked the rightful owners to claim the vehicles by producing original documents within seven days of this publication. For further details, contact CAO of UT-I at 8731906020.

NSSATA-Z reminds to submit documents ZuNhEboto, march 15 (mExN): Nagaland SSA Teachers’ Association Zunheboto (NSSATA-Z) has reminded all the SSA Graduate Teachers under Zunheboto district appointed in 2010 and 2013 to submit the necessary documents - two photocopies of appointment order, one copy of mark sheet/admit card each till highest qualification, signature specimen - to the executives incharge. The teachers under Aghunato SDEO office are to submit the documents to Shikaje (9612829025) and Tovito (8132870335); those under Zunheboto SDEO will have to submit at KK Market, shop No. 04 opposite SBI main branch or Kanato Chophi (8974496591). Alternatively, the teachers may contact any of the NSSATA-Z executives on or before March 25. The teachers were also requested to pass the information to friends and colleagues for the welfare of all.

Naga National Council mourns Kohima, march 15 (mExN): The Naga National Council (NNC) today extended condolence to the bereaved family members and relatives of Beisüno, who passed away on March 13. “Her untimely death is a great shock and grief for Naga people and the Nation. To find a dedicated national worker like her is difficult at this juncture and to this her death brought a great loss to the Nation as well as for the Naga Women Federation, NNC and it is irreplaceable,” stated a condolence note from L. Kaiso, Vice President, NNC. The NNC hoped that “her service rendered to the Nation and Nagaland will not go in vain, but will bear fruits and remain alive in the annals of the Nation.” Further, it prayed that God will grant guidance and solace to the bereaved family members and all her relatives at this hour of grief.

Nagaland BJP mourns Mandal president’s death Dimapur, march 15 (mExN): The Nagaland State BJP today mourned the demise of its Northern Angami II Mandal President, Kevileso Metsieo Angami on March 15. The party remembers his “selfless contributions” to the party during his tenure, particularly in the mandal of Northern Angami II, said a condolence note from Jaangsillung Gonmei, General Secretary (Media) & Spokesperson, BJP Nagaland. The BJP prayed for strength and comfort of the bereaved family members.

of ATMA Mon also organized a Kisan Ghosti on post harvest management of Colocasia on March 15 at Yuching village. RePost harvest manage- source person Nunghothung Odyuo, BTM, shared ment of Colocasia The Phomching block on different ways of stor-

Kohima, march 15 (mExN): The NSS unit of Don Bosco College, Kohima organized an awareness drive on cleanliness with the theme ‘Towards a clean Kohima’ on March 15. The purpose of the awareness drive, according to a press release, was to create awareness on the growing need

MEx FILE

to tackle waste and also to make Kohima a smart and clean city. A total of 60 students, under the guidance of Assistant Programme Officer Thungjano Ovung, carried out the awareness drive from DBS junction to Kohima College. The NSS volunteers through plac-

ards and banners created awareness. The cleanliness drive started with a prayer by Pelhouneinuo of BA 4th Semester. Manikho, president, NSS unit of DBCK delivered a short speech after which the volunteers picked up the litters and cleaned the surroundings.

Wednesday Bazaar opens in Pughoboto Town

pughoboto, march 15 (Dipr): Wednesday Bazaar was inaugurated in Pughoboto Town by the Director of Agriculture, Heilie Rupreo on March 15. Rupreo dwelt on the importance of understanding the rates of the commodities in the market and also urged the villagers to exploit the agricultural potential of the area. He further assured that the Department will try its best to provide assistance towards construction of marketing shed in Pughoboto. The project was launched through the initiative of the district administrators headed by ADC Avelu Ruho to improve the local economy and empower womenfolk in the sub-division. Department of Agriculture, Wokha distributed ginger rhizome under Mission Organic The function was attended by the SDO Value Chain Development (MOVCD) on March 15 at DAO office, Wokha. Highlights of Civil Er. Namang Chang, EAC Ghathashi the programme were delivered by C. Peter Yanthan, DAO, Wokha. Altogether, 49 farmSulanthung, EAC Selemla, members of ers attended the programme.

Libraries asked to collect books Kohima, march 15 (mExN): All the libraries enlisted with the Department of Art and Culture have been informed that books for 2015-16 may be collected from the Directorate of Art and Culture from March 20 to April 28 during office hours. A press release from Joint Director & HoD, Art and Culture department further informed that all the libraries must come with library round seal and designation seal (President, Librarian or General Secretary), without which, books will not be issued. On expiry of the last date, books will be taken by the DCOs/ RO to their respective District Headquarters except for Peren, Longleng, and Kiphire which will be issued in the Directorate office, the release added.

KVYO appeals not to shelter ‘ex-communicated’ persons Kohima, march 15 (mExN): Kohima Village Youth Organization (KVYO) today informed that Besüsa Vesüh has been “ex-communicated” from Kohima on account of theft. The KVYO in a release issued by its president, Medozhatuo Rutsa and general secretary, Kezhalelie Keretsü notified all colonies/wards under Kohima not to give space to Besüsa Vesüh. KVYO further appealed to all colonies/wards in Kohima Town not to shelter those who have been ex-communicated from their own districts and villages “on account of their blameworthy behaviour.” Meanwhile, it assured support to the colonies/wards in “driving out such unscrupulous persons from residing in Kohima.”

KCCI condemns armed robbery

Director of Agriculture, Heilie Rupreo inaugurating the Wednesday Bazaar in Pughoboto Town on March 15.

the Pughoboto Adhoc Town Council, Sumi Totimi Hoho, DBs, GBs and other officials.

Kohima, march 15 (mExN): Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has condemned the daylight robbery and threat perpetrated by some armed miscreants at M/s. Theja Agency (petrol pump) located at Secretariat road in Kohima on March 10. “Such dastardly act not only traumatized the employees but has created fear psychosis to the public,” stated KCCI in a statement. It further maintained that “the business community cannot operate in an atmosphere of threats to our life and property.” As such, KCCI appealed to the law enforcing agencies to immediately apprehend the perpetrators and deliver justice at the earliest. Meanwhile, it reiterated its stand that any form of threat, intimidation, use of force and coercion or summons to the business community/ traders by any organizations in the name of taxation will invite non co-operation from the community/ traders.

THURSDAY 16•03•2017

IN FOCUS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express VOLUME XII ISSUE 72 By Aheli Moitra

Seeds of Solidarity

farmer from Sümi Village in Phek district has an ancestral tale to tell. Her mother once narrated to her the story of millet and paddy seeds—male and female ‘siblings’ respectively as per folklore. With ‘her’ high requirement for water, paddy claimed the valleys of the land for ‘herself’. Millet, though could endure great hardship, was hurt and decided to leave the lands once and for all. But the river shrimp intervened—we are both yellow and complement each others’ tastes when eaten together, said the shrimp to the millet. Convinced, millet decided to stay on in the rugged hills where it continues to flourish alongside its many siblings, including paddy, maize, pulses and vegetables. In Naga folklore, seeds show a high degree of pluralist solidarity. In the shared community system of jhum cultivation, a variety of millets can grow alongside an equally vibrant variety of crops—pumpkin, ash pumpkin, sesame, chilly, cucumber, beans (5-6 varieties), gourd, tomatoes, yam, maize (3-4 varieties), brinjal, basil, bitter ball and the list goes on to even 60 in some fields. People follow close on the heels of harvest. The produce harvested from these fields can be so large, each family lands up sharing much of their produce with neighbours, the elderly or those unable to tend their fields. What is surplus is sold in the market when possible. In Wokha, we read this week in The Morung Express how women go from their farm to doorsteps in town to sell surplus produce that makes many women economically independent. Elsewhere, given the lack of transportation and organized marketing, women are coming together as collectives to send their agro biodiversity surplus to towns closest to their villages. More and more, people are upholding the need for communities to preserve their sturdy indigenous seeds, and seed banks are becoming the new investment into the sovereignty of communities. But there is a worldwide project to undermine such seed sovereign communities from becoming self determining nations. At the recent Biodiversity Festival held at the North East Network Resource Centre in Chizami, Phek, a speaker highlighted the dangers of capitalist control of seeds—3 to 4 companies around the world are quickly becoming owners of all of the world’s seeds. While buying seeds is not an option for many marginalized communities around the world, particularly indigenous ones, governments in these areas are pushing hybrid seeds and methods of cultivation. Male dominated village councils remain bent on cash crops—the monocropping culture brought thus has led to soil deterioration in many parts of indigenous peoples’ hills, also giving rise to capital centric social conflict. Jhum cultivation, of late, has carved a sorry figure due to excessive burning of forests and reduction in jhum cycles. A complete ban on burning to tackle the situation has led to reduction in traditional agriculture, shifting people more towards monocropping cultures. It remains unclear how this has benefitted the people, or will do in the long run. It is thus up to village councils to become aware of global changes that seek to undermine indigenous peoples’ rights to their land, seeds and sovereignty. To gear up for challenges ahead, indigenous communities need their womenfolk in village (to top) level policy making to maintain ethics of the seeds of solidarity. Ideas and comments may be shared at moitramail@yahoo.com

LEFT WING |

J.D. Capelouto Thomson Reuters Foundation

Treating droughts like hurricanes would assist vulnerable areas Scientists hope they will soon be able to predict droughts and forecast their paths as they cross continents

t's a major natural disaster that slowly grows in one place and then moves across a region, gaining intensity and size. As it spreads, it destroys land, ruins agriculture, tears apart communities, and can kill people. No, it's not a hurricane. It's a drought. Researchers are just beginning to view droughts as this type of dynamic force, and some hope that soon they will be monitored similarly to hurricanes - with scientists able to predict their development and forecast their paths, helping to protect those living in their path. Some 10 percent of droughts travel between 1,400 to 3,100 kilometres from where they begin, according to a recent study. The study, which analysed 1,420 droughts between 1979 and 2009, identified "hotspots" around the world and common directions in which droughts move. Some droughts in the southwest United States, for example, tend to move from south to north. In Argentina, they usually migrate the opposite direction. In Central Africa, droughts tend to go southeastern toward the coast. "It can start somewhere, move throughout the continent, and obviously cause harm throughout its way," Julio HerreraEstrada, a PhD candidate at Princeton University and leader of the study, said on March 9. Droughts that travel are usually the largest and most disastrous, the scientists found. They can cause a loss of agriculture, wildlife, wetlands and human life, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center, based in the United States. They are also one of the most expensive natural disasters that people face today, according to Herrera-Estrada, who collaborated on the study with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Vienna. The most recent moving drought that Herrera-Estrada studied began in 2008 in Ukraine and Russia, and moved 1,700 km northeast, ending in northwest Russia and affecting parts of Kazakhstan on the way. It lasted almost a year. "People haven't really thought of droughts in this way," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Future research, Herrera-Estrada said, can shed a light on exactly what mechanisms cause some droughts to move, and what affects their paths. This can only be done accurately, however, through collaboration between national governments, he said. "It's important to have a global or a continental understanding about how droughts are behaving," he said. Collaboration "benefits people on the ground, farmers, cities that need water, power plants that need water". "We need this cooperation at the international level," he said. The study was published last week in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

C O M M E N T A R Y

Gerry Hassan openDemocracy

NATIONALISM – Scottish or British – it is never enough. It always says: ‘We are the Good Guys’

We need to interrogate Scottish nationalism, too

ationalism is one of the defining features of Scotland and modern Scotland. Last week UK prime minister Theresa May came north to the Scottish Tory conference in Glasgow, asking the Scots to think again, lambasting the SNP and their ‘constitutional obsessions’ and ‘tunnel vision nationalism’. Apart from the ridiculousness of the first point, considering the UK government’s obsession with Brexit, the second was in the tradition known the world over of majority nationalisms (British) lecturing minority nationalisms (Scottish) about the evils of nationalism. British nationalism, being the ideology of the state, doesn’t see itself or define itself as a nationalism – a story true the world over of state nationalisms: think America, Canada, Israel, literally anywhere. The above should not be contentious. But it is to many. Some unionists blow a gasket at the thought that their ‘ism’ is a nationalism – British state nationalism, but such sentiments go with the territory. The blowback from London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s intervention on the similarities between Scottish nationalism and racism illustrated this. It brought forth charge and countercharge, and as happens a lot in contemporary Scotland the loudest voices were talking in their bunkers, reinforcing their prejudices, and not engaging with opposing views beyond caricature. In this the British nationalism of the ‘Daily Mail’ and Scottish nationalism of parts of the blogosphere have much in common. The main defence of Scottish nationalism by its supporters is that it is benign, progressive, moderate, outgoing, and above all, civic, and not ethnic in its character. Now this is broadly true about modern Scottish nationalism and the nationalism of the SNP, the two not being completely synonymous (while it is also true that not all supporters of independence are nationalists). But what the above list chooses to ignore is the obvious: that Scottish nationalism is a nationalism and what flows from that. Namely, that all nationalisms the world over and throughout history have limits, omissions, blindspots and profoundly, a good sense of conceit about themselves. In the post-Khan debate, ‘Wee Ginger Dug’ (aka Paul Kavanagh) wrote in ‘The National’: Mainstream Scottish nationalism doesn’t make the claim that the Scottish ethnicity is morally superior or better than anyone else. It doesn’t even concern itself with defining Scottishness in ethnic terms. Scottish nationalism is a civic nationalism which defines Scottishness in terms of the future, not the past. Ethnic nationalism is about the past. ‘The National’ liked this so much it quoted the above in a tweet. Many proindependence supporters will read and approve of it. They will feel attraction, attachment and a sense of the familiar – that this is who we are as a people, nation and nationalism. And therein lies part of the problem. The narrative of Scotland’s civic nationalism has become an official story: the preferred explanation of the SNP, independence supporters and progressives which supposedly tells who we are, why we are different, and which invokes a sense of exceptionalism (which again all nationalisms the world over do). The story of our civic nationalism is one so familiar now it seldom gets investigated. While it captures something historic about Scotland and its nationalism, the actual language of its ‘civic’ characteristics only began to emerge in the early 1990s as the self-government movement found its voice again after the impasse of 1979. The distinction between civic and ethnic nationalism – in this terminology was given priority and early usage by Michael Ignatieff in his 1993 ‘Blood and Belonging: Journeys into the New Nationalisms’. He wrote that ‘Civic nationalism, maintains that the nation should be composed of all those – regardless of race, colour, creed, gender, language or ethnicity’ and that it was rightly called ‘civic’ because it envisages the nation as a community of equal, rights-bearing citizens …’ Previous to this academics of nationalism such as James Kellas spoke of ‘social nationalism’ and Yeal Tamir of ‘liberal nationalism’. Nationalisms all over the world choose to create an imagined people, a political and historical community, and to emphasise the ties and bonds between past, present and future. This usually involves telling the story of ‘a

good people’ and ‘a good society’ and within that some distinction between a ‘them’ and ‘us’, insiders and outsiders, which inform who is in the nation and who isn’t. This isn’t some arcane debate. It matters in terms of pluralism, racism and identities. Several writers wrote post-Khan about the prevalence (or not) of racism, the legacy of slavery and Empire, and the degree to which Scotland has come to terms with its past, not just academically, but in popular and political attitudes. Claire Heuchan, a Stirling University PhD student (and relevant here, a black woman) wrote a challenging ‘Guardian’ piece for which she received disgraceful abuse, which took exception with the notion of ‘fairer Scotland’ and ‘Scottish exceptionalism’. She wrote: Scottish exceptionalism – the idea of Scotland as a land of tolerance – is a fairytale. It is what allows Scotland to hold England accountable for all the wrongs of imperial expansion while denying this country’s own colonial legacy. The CommonSpace writer Robert Somynne replied (also relevant here, a black man, and receiving of abuse), acknowledging that Heuchan was ‘correct that a nationalist feature is to define against as much as for an ideal or people.’ He went on to say: ‘I disagree profoundly with the article that she wrote’ without really specifying why, beyond a generalist observation that it posed ‘a critique of Scottish nationalism as simply being an oppositional defining force [that] misses the context of that defining.’ Frankly, that’s a bit evasive. Heuchan’s argument should not be dismissed just because some find it uncomfortable. However, it is also true that Scottish nationalism should not just be pulled up on its evasions with the colonial legacy. All Scotland’s political traditions have some explaining to do, and have problematic foundation stories which matter to this day. Where is, then, argument about Scottish Labour and imperialism? About how the party became a party of Empire, war and the British state, and turned away from its internationalist and anti-imperialist traditions? Or what about the Scottish Tories and Empire? This is rather germane to the present, with many Brexit debates invoking the re-emergence of the Anglosphere – which draws upon a predominantly white person’s set of histories and sense of communities. Maybe we could start to ask mainstream Scotland, whether Labour, Tory, Lib Dems, for their mea culpas. Numerous ‘us’ and ‘thems’ need airing. The writer Henry Bell said last week that anti-Englishness wasn’t racism – a respectable and understandable position, but did so as if there could be no debating of the matter, stating: ‘The English in Scotland – holding a culturally dominant, non-

racialised identity – do not experience racism’. This was because in his view ‘racism is not just discrimination but power dynamic.’ That’s one interpretation, but the racism wiki entry opens with the observation: ‘Racism is discrimination and prejudice based on their race or ethnicity. Today, the use of the term ‘racism’ does not easily fall under a single definition.’ Which at the minimum means there should be a debate about what constitutes racism. Then there was the pro-independence blogger ‘Wings over Scotland’ (aka Stuart Campbell) and his comments during the Tory conference when Oliver Mundell, son of Scottish Secretary of State David Mundell, spoke. ‘Wings’ tweeted: ‘Oliver Mundell is the sort of public speaker that makes you wish his dad had embraced his homosexuality sooner.’ No doubt ‘Wings’ thought he was being smart, funny and snide all at the same time, but it is a revolting comment. This is the world of ‘them’ and ‘us’, where any comment is fair game about opponents, and Tories in particular, and one laced with connotations of homophobia. Revealingly, ‘Wings’ defended it saying it was more ‘Toryphobic’ which underlines its ‘them and ‘us’ nature. Not one single senior SNP politician, many of who follow or retweet ‘Wings’, condemned it or pulled him up, though a number of party members did. In a country which has only in recent years come to terms with homosexuality and gay rights, when previously it was a forbidden subject and which produced a major cultural war with homophobes less than a generation ago, this isn’t good enough. To be clear, modern Scottish nationalism has been a positive force for this country, as has the SNP. But all isms – and nationalisms in particular – contain problems, omissions and are never enough of an anchor, compass or guide – on the actual future decisions of an independent nation. That’s because in the Irish writer Fintan O’Toole’s words, nationalism is a ‘rocket fuel that can get you out of an old order’ or state, but ‘burns up quickly’. If we (the various peoples who live in Scotland) are confident enough about ourselves, we cannot just insist that Scottish nationalism is about the good guys, and a virtuous story of our nation. Instead, there has to be an awareness of the sociology of nationalisms which involves more than citing Benedict Anderson’s point that all nations and peoples are ‘imagined communities’ or continually referencing how ‘civic’ our nationalism is and how tolerant we are. We should inhabit this terrain, live it, while recognising that there are other nationalisms and Scotlands out there. Some pro-independence voices will read and dismiss the above, comfortable in their belief in our civic nationalism. Well here is a warning from these isles. British nationalism

historically has been a civic nationalism – one which has articulated a multi-cultural, multi-national union of four nations. And look what it has descended into in recent years: regressive, reactionary, xenophobic and profoundly insular and nasty: something that is beginning to look like in places an ethnic nationalism. Nationalism is never enough. This matters because the next indyref – the Second Independence Referendum – will be framed by many, including its main participants, as the SNP versus the Tories. That will entail two competing versions and claims of nationalism knocking lumps out of each other. It isn’t enough, and it will be pretty ugly in places. The politics of ‘my nationalism is more virtuous than your nationalism’ versus ‘our nationalism isn’t a nationalism’ isn’t a very attractive one. Or one that offers much guide to the future choices of Scotland – independent or not independent. Fundamentally, apart from looking at ourselves in the mirror honestly, we have to have a willingness to start examining and then defining what actually are our collective values, philosophies and traditions. Whether independent or not, we have to start acting as if we are independent i.e. taking collective responsibilities for our society, not pretending everything is rosy, and beginning to sketch out a post-nationalist future. As one observer said to me when I was writing ‘Scotland the Bold’: ‘How about a country that does not use the word ‘nationalist’ in its rhetoric?’ Maybe that only comes with independence, but we have to start preparing that mentality now. Many nations before us have faced similar dilemmas – indeed, nearly every single nation which has become independent or had an independence debate. O’Toole reflected on the relevance of Ireland’s experience days before Scotland’s first independence referendum, and offered us the following advice: What has to be broken free of us is not just the big bad Them. It is also the warm, fuzzy Us of the nationalist imagination – the Us that is nicer, holier, more caring. What a free country quickly discovers is that the better Us of its imagination is not already there, fully formed, just waiting to blossom in the sun of liberation. It has to be created and in order to create it you have to genuinely decide that you want it. If we really want a Scotland of possibilities, enlightenment and advancement, which does good things, makes decent choices, and stands for values we are proud to call our own in the wider world, then we really need some signposts other than just nationalism – Scottish or British – and a mindset which dares to think beyond Them and Us. Gerry Hassan is author of Scotland the Bold: How Our Nation Changed and Why There is No Way Back published by Freight Books, £9.99.

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.

THURSDAY 16•03•2017

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Tamil Nadu: A State in Turmoil After the death of one of India’s most iconic female politicians, Tamil Nadu has been hit with crisis after crisis Surya Manivannan

Fair Observer

very week, a nail-biting story arises in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India known for its cultural richness dating back some 1.5 million years. Over three months since the death of one of India’s most powerful politicians, former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu is in turmoil. Fondly referred to as Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader) and Amma (mother), Jayalalithaa ruled the male-dominated political system in Tamil Nadu with an iron fist as the leader of AIADMK, one of two leading Dravidian parties in the state. She died on December 5, 2016, after a prolonged illness that forced her to be hospitalized for over two months. Her confidant and second in command, O. Panneerselvam, took over as chief minister, stepping into the role he had twice previously held when Jayalalithaa had to step down over corruption charges—most recently in 2014, when she was sentenced to four years imprisonment by the Special Court in Bangalore. After a 27-day jail term and acquittal by the Karnataka Court, she returned to power in May 2015. In February 2017, Panneerselvam resigned paving the way for Sasikala Natarajan, a close aide of Jayalalithaa, to become the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu. In late December, Sasikala was elected the general secretary of AIADMK. She had never contested an election in her life and was poised to become the new chief minister. Power Vacuum Tamil Nadu has faced a number of leadership crises in the past. The public have become disillusioned with politicians over a failure to stand up for the people, their aspirations and the Tamil identity. It all started with a stand-off between Tamil Nadu and the neighboring state of Karnataka over the Kaveri River water treaty. The Karnataka government disobeyed a Supreme Court order to release 6,000 cusecs of water for agricultural purposes in September 2016. Things turned ugly when outrage spread and physical altercations arose between people of both states. With Jayalalithaa in hospital, there was no strong thought process and authority shown by the Tamil Nadu government to condemn the Karnataka government. It is worthy to note that Jayalalithaa’s reputation was built on her decisive power she exercised during the water dispute with Karnataka, culminating in the famous walkout she staged during the talks of 2002. Last year, she was sorely missed and her letters couldn’t make up for her absence. Immediately after the death of Jayalalithaa, Chennai was hit by Cyclone Vardha, one of the worst storms over the last two

Bureaucrat-TurnedPolitician: Fleecing the Same Public Twice

decades. The cyclone caused damage of $1 billion to industries in the city. Again, a lot of questions were raised over the government’s role in leading the relief work, which was mainly propelled by volunteers and students mobilized through social media. Student Uprising In January, Tamil Nadu saw a mass student uprising against the ban of Jallikattu, a traditional 2,500-year-old bull embracing sport. What started as a social media buzz quickly gathered steam as students took to the streets and the iconic Marina Beach to protest against what they perceived as a threat to Tamil identity. The ban led to an uproar in Tamil Nadu, where thousands of demonstrators gathered to protest peacefully against the Supreme Court ban. Led by students and IT professionals, this was an apolitical movement that was compared to the Arab Uprisings of 2011. Schools and colleges were shut for a week, with the whole of Tamil Nadu coming to a standstill. To appease protesters, the state government announced an ordinance to allow Jallikattu to be conducted, thus circumventing the court verdict. The protests also gave rise to other resolutions against foreign brand encroachment of the consumer market. Recently, the Tamil Nadu Traders Association passed a resolution to stop the sale of aerated drinks produced by multinational brands like Pepsi and Coca Cola across the state, citing the negative impact on health and the exploitation of water resources by these firms in setting up factories in Tamil Nadu. The Madurai High Court granted an injunction to stop these companies extracting water from the Thamirabarani River for production purposes. The estimated loss of Rs1,400 crore

($210 million) is expected to hit companies like Pepsi and Coca Cola due to the ban by the traders association, which has over 15 lakh (1.5 million) members across 6,000 other organizations joining the cause. Already, top restaurants and cinemas in various parts of Tamil Nadu have stopped the sale of these products. In the last few days of the protest, things turned ugly with violence allegedly perpetrated by the police following government orders to evict demonstrators. The internet is flooded with footage of police officers setting vehicles on fire and damaging both public and private property. At the time, there was a general feeling that Tamil Nadu was missing a charismatic leader at the helm after the demise of Jayalalithaa.

on February 14. Barred from contesting elections for the next 10 years, Sasikala handpicked Edappadi K. Palaniswami, to be her replacement. With the main opposition party, the DMK, already tainted by scandals like the 2g spectrum scam, the public have started looking for alternative parties that would listen to the people and solve their problems. And with the new chief minister winning a troubled floor test amid scenes of violence in the legislative assembly, the political temperature is soaring. The public have lost faith in a political set up that has gone deaf to the voices of the people. There have been rumors that leaders of the Jallikattu protest movement are coming together to form a political party and contest elections. But many are skeptical, with doubts over the experience of student and celebrity leaders who orchestrated the successful non-violent protests. With emotions soaring, there is a sense of an impending tussle for power in a state that just last year gave the ruling party a clear mandate to govern until 2021. Tamil Nadu is on the verge of a revolution. People are furious like never before with both parties. The Dravidian ideology has changed and it is at a tipping point.

Power Play in Tamil Nadu These feelings were heightened by the selection of Sasikala as the next chief minister. Along with 12 other associates of the AIADMK party, Sasikala was once expelled by Jayalalithaa over alleged nepotism and a conflict of interests that involved favoring her relatives. She was accepted back into the party after she promised to sever ties with her family members. With the imminent swearing in of SaSurya Manivannan is a business sikala, things started going downhill. The analyst at ZS Associates, a managestate of Tamil Nadu has a documented ment consulting firm in Pune, India. He electoral system and constitution dating graduated from the Indian Institute of back some 1,100 years in the village of Ut- Technology, Gandhinagar. His interests taramerur. So, it is ironic that such a state focus on data analytics and economics. had allowed a person who had never faced an election in her life to become chief minThis article was originally published in Fair Observer and is being reproduced ister through loop holes in the system. In the final set of twists and turns, Sa- with permission. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do sikala, who was co-accused in the dispronot necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s portionate assets case with Jayalalithaa, editorial policy. was convicted by the Supreme Court

Is election observing in Central Asia a lost cause?

Until Central Asia’s autocracies take their numerous commitments to democracy seriously, election observers can’t do their jobs. What can be done? Anne Rennschmid

openDemocracy

o varying degrees, the post-Soviet states of Central Asia are governed by autocrats. These ruling elites have little to no interest in democratic governance, monopolising politics helping those in power to stay in power – in some cases, for life. Last month, Turkmenistan’s president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was re-elected with 97% of the vote. In neighbouring Uzbekistan, acting president Shavkat Mirziyoyev won elections held in December 2016 with 89% of the vote. In cementing his position, Mirziyoyev slammed the door on hopes for a more pluralist approach to politics than his late predecessor, Islam Karimov who has ruled the state since it had started to exist. These political systems concentrate lawmaking and executive powers in the office of the president. From Tajikistan to Turkmenistan, political parties represented in parliaments are pro-regime and far from providing political alternatives. Any form of meaningful opposition has been extinguished by a policy of intimidation by powerful state security apparatuses. Consequently, the public mostly remains passive, and with no democratic structures, elections are a sham. This makes one wonder why the international community still sends missions to these countries to observe the implementation of democratic standards for elections. As elections are central to state sovereignty, observation missions are only allowed upon formal invitation of the host government. In cases such as Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the results of elections are more or less clear even as observers’ presence in the country is being negotiated. Can election observers keep their full independence and integrity in states with such sham elections? Promises come cheap All republics of the former Soviet Union are participating states to the OSCE/ODIHR, and are therefore politically bound to its commitments on elections, most importantly the Copenhagen Document and Charter of Paris, both signed in 1990, and repeatedly confirmed by the participating States over the following years. The states committed themselves to hold regular free and fair elections, ensuring that the will of the people serves as the basis of the government. OSCE states are also to guarantee conditions which ensure in practice

those representatives towards their voters. OSCE/ODIHR election observers come from other OSCE states and are deployed by their governments to monitor the implementation of these commitments in a country where elections are being held. They take their duties seriously and apply a rigorous methodology, releasing comprehensive reports to the public in English and in the state’s local language(s). Their reports are outspoken, too: while some states would prefer a focus on election administration as being a less politically sensitive issue , the OSCE/ODIHR election observation missions consider the broader political context including the stage of media freedom and other fundamental civil and political rights. For example, in regard to Tajikistan’s parliamentary elections in March 2015, the OSCE/ODIHR election observer mission reported that although the government stated its ambition to hold democratic elections, restrictions on opposition politicians’ right to stand, freedoms of expression and assembly, and access to media limited voters’ opportunity to make a free and informed choice. Furthermore, the appointment of election commissions lacked transparency. Following parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan in March 2016, the OSCE/ ODIHR reported that the country “still has a considerable way to go in meeting its OSCE commitments for democratic elections. The legal framework restricts fundamental civil and political rights, and comprehensive reform is required.” The report indicates that Kazakhstan’s political landscape is dominated by president Nazarbayev’s political party Nur Otan and

critics of the government either imprisoned or living in exile. The December 2016 elections in Uzbekistan were unique in the way that, for the first time beside the acting president himself, three other candidates were allowed to run for president. But this meant little, in a sham election described in the OSCE/ODIHR’s statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions as a “campaign devoid of genuine competition,” held in a “highly restrictive environment”. Central Asian states are legally bound to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), whose Article 25 mandates members to ensure freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Over 25 years of independence have shown that, with the exception of Kyrgyzstan, the Central Asian states do not take their commitments to these organisations and agreements seriously, nor to democracy in general. Their “virtual democracies” strive for all of its spectacle, with none of its substance.

to enhance public trust in the elections and thus in government and public institutions. In such elections, no real social actors are being represented. Central Asia’s autocracies happily mouth off about “democracy”, “human rights” and the “rule of law”, using them widely in the wording of political programs while at the same time in reality they are systematically suppressed and electorates are deceived. Election observers are also prevented from doing their job, and sometimes monitored by these states’ security services, hampering their ability to speak with and hear the concerns of ordinary voters. For example, OSCE/ODIHR’s final report on the 2013 parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan notes that “election observers were required to be accompanied to most meetings by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials or other local officials throughout the observation period, including on election day.” This shows how difficult it is for election observation missions not to be controlled or used by host governments, or for their presence to legitimise sham elections. Observers have to guarantee at all times their full independence and integrity. Only in this way can they be a credible instrument for monitoring whether and to what extent the will of the people serves as the basis of the authority of government. How do you oversee the implementation of democratic ideals if you know before boarding the plane that they won’t be implemented? In a time when democracy appears to be hollowing out across the world, it’s easy to cling to the hope that if we treat liberal democracy as universal, it will be universally implemented. Indeed, vibrant democracies with accountable leaders must be encouraged. OSCE/ODIHR election observers have a clearly defined remit, and the states they visit have clearly defined commitments. Until the latter will be taken seriously, the international community should refrain from sending fully fledged observer missions to sham elections in autocratic states.

Hope springs eternal This disdain for democracy is patently obvious, but the continued presence of OSCE/ODIHR observation missions reveal that the international community still cares Anne Rennschmid is a German lawyer about the implementation of commitments on democratic elections. The elec- specialising in human rights and demoction observation missions of OSCE/ODI- racy. She worked with the OSCE Office in HR are deployed on the formal invitation of Tajikistan and was a long-term observer the respective state, and one advantage of to the pesidential elections in Uzbekistan them is their use in keeping up political di- in December 2016. As policy advisor with the German Institute for Human Rights, alogue even with the region’s most closed she coordinated an independent evaluastates like Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. tion on the country's implementation of This is an important advantage, but it’s not enough. Election observation in auto- OSCE commitments on human rights and

aying negative things about others shouldn’t become a habit and must be avoided if possible. But in politics, nothing can be considered off limits, or should be, if it concerns the public. That’s why civil watchdogs and opposition parties exist to check on politicians and they must to do so by actually naming names to help the public identify the real sources of the misdeeds and omissions. Without going as far as the allowed limit, let me, however, use an example of a bureaucratturned-politician from my Angami community to make a point. This “lucky individual” started his career as a hard-working, honest government employee. He was also a well-respected church elder once. But after his retirement from bureaucracy, he joined politics. And that politics seems to have changed him into a different person or, more likely, his new-found company of corrupt politicians has changed him. In my opinion, he has fully benefited from the government as an employee for over 30 years and now as a politician for the last 15 years. Maybe he was not guilty of breaking the existing law, but the broader questions we must ask ourselves are as follows: Is our current system of government designed for all alike? Or, is it just meant for a select few like him? Is this what we call equal access to opportunities? Is this how our public wealth is supposed to be distributed? First, we need to ask whether or not our bureaucrats and government officers are delivering what they are paid to do. No doubt, we still have some good bureaucrats who deserve all our respect and appreciation for their hard work and integrity. But the majority of our officers seem to be in public service for themselves only, because their works are often characterized by inefficiency, impersonality, and unresponsiveness to the public. Although some of these officers have thousands of employees working under them, they have failed to produce any significant service for the people. Making matters worse, a number of them are known to have a routine tendency to protect turf, to build empires, to enlarge their sphere of control, to resist change, to hold onto projects and programs regardless of whether or not they are needed any longer. They are unashamed to use public resources and government vehicles for private purposes. They are also the ones who often form nexus with corrupt politicians to loot public funds and to ensure employment for their kith and kin in the form of backdoor appointments. Some secretly sponsor politicians. And once their candidates win an election, they automatically start pulling the strings to get whatever they want. In some cases, they virtually dictate terms to the government. In short, they make sure that they avail for themselves the maximum amount of benefits from the government. Even non-Nagas are well aware of these abuses of office by this sort of self-serving Naga officers. For example, as early as Jamir’s rule in Nagaland, Diwakar Prasad, IPS, DGP (Vigilance) for Nagaland, reported: “… don't be surprised if Nagaland has the richest bureaucrats and officers. Many of them live in palatial buildings which are unaffordable on their salary. Some bureaucrats have invested over Rs. 50 lakh at a time in constructing their houses. No questions are asked.” Then after reaching superannuation, they retire and are able to enjoy hefty pension benefits. Next, some of these self-serving bureaucrats go into politics to gain more from the public system. Because they are still the same individuals, they end up as parasitic, opportunistic politicians again. Thus, we have politicians who are all about self-enrichment and not much about relieving the suffering citizens. Perhaps, this sort of attitude was well-demonstrated in the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly session on July 12, 2016, which lasted only 15 minutes. Although there were many burning societal issues which were calling for their attention, the only thing these politicians had on their mind was the increment of their salaries, allowances, and family pensions. If not the other younger politicians, the then Chief Minister or the elder-Minister who I referred to earlier should have at least said, “Please, let’s stop being so self-absorbed and over greedy. It’s a shame for us to be talking about raising our salaries and pension benefits, when our economy is broke and many of our youngsters in the teaching profession are suffering without pay for many months!” If something like that were to have been said, all of us would have possibly fallen in line behind such a person without a second thought. But sadly, the crying needs of our ordinary citizens seem to be no longer on the agenda of these elected representatives anymore. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that all our politicians are bad. Nor am I saying that no retired bureaucrat should have the opportunity to run for political office. Of course, they can but, in my opinion, it would be best that they are not allowed to run for elected office until the current faulty system is corrected or until the expiry of 5 years after their retirement from the bureaucracy. In a somewhat similar vein, the current U.S. government is undertaking many reforms in the public service sector. One of the these reforms has to do with banning government officials, especially the lobbyists, to make money from public service twice, which was a central component of President Trump’s campaign pledge to “drain the swamp” in Washington, the Capital of the USA. So, let’s join other reformers around the world. Let’s reform our faulty system of government by adopting a policy of banning any government of-

ThursDAY 16•03•2017

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Pak has become world's Mufti pitches for withdrawal terrorism factory: India of AFSPA from some areas Mehbooba Mufti said PDP and BJP had come together on an Agenda of Alliance which included revocation of AFSPA

(ANI Photo)

New Delhi, March 15 (ageNcies): Calling Pakistan a terrorism factory, India on Wednesday lashed out at the neighbouring country saying its terror policies have alienated its own people through continued mistreatment of minorities. In the United Nation, India accused Pakistan of spreading terrorism and illegally occupying some territories in Kashmir. Exercising its right to reply during a UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, the Indian Representative said Pakistan must rein in its “compulsive hostility” towards India. “We ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of India and refrain from meddling in our internal affairs in any manner,” the official said. Once again Pakistan’s delegation has chosen to misuse the Council to make fallacious references about internal matters pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, the diplomat said. Emphasising that terrorism is the grossest violation of human rights and should be so acknowledged by any impartial and objective observer, the Indian side said a part of the territories of Jammu and Kashmir remain under the forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan. “We also demand that Pakistan must fulfil its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK),” the diplomat said. “It is unfortunate that in recent times the people of PoK have become victims of sectarian conflict, terrorism and extreme economic hardship because of Pakistan’s occupation and discriminatory policies,”

the Indian side said. “The Indian state of J&K is part of a pluralistic and secular democracy, where an independent judiciary, an active media and a vibrant civil society guarantee freedoms. In contrast, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is administered by a ‘deep state’ and has become a hub for the global export of terror,” the diplomat said. The Indian side asserted that India does not accept attempts by Pakistan to denigrate the democratic choice that has been regularly exercised by the people of J&K over the last six decades since our independence. “Pakistan’s continued support for terror groups operating in J&K is the main challenge to protecting the human rights of our citizens in the State. Pakistan’s selective approach in tackling terror groups operating outside Pakistan and within, despite the numerous solemn promises made underscores the continuing unwillingness to acknowledge the truth,” the Indian Representative said. The Indian side said apart from becoming “world’s terrorism factory”, Pakistan has alienated its own people through continued mistreatment of Hindus, Christians, Shias, Ahmadiyas and other minorities. “In this Council, Pakistan has referred to situation of minorities in India. Minorities in India have been Prime Ministers, Presidents, Vice-Presidents, senior Cabinet Ministers, senior civil servants, cricket team captains, Bollywood superstars-can the minorities of Pakistan claim even a shadow of this? All they have are blasphemy laws and relentless abuse and violation of their human rights,” the Indian side said. (With inputs from PTI)

India calls Pakistan 'world's terrorism factory' at UN, says they have illegally occupied Indian territories

Three militants, minor girl killed in Kupwara gunfight sriNagar, March 15 (iaNs): Three foreign militants and a six-year-old girl were killed in a gunfight between holed-up militants and security forces in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Wednesday. Security forces seized three AK-47 rifles from the possession of the slain militants. The army said the three Pakistani militants, belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba, were holed up in a house in Kalaroos area. The gunfight started early Wednesday after the militants fired at and injured a policeman during a cordon-and-search operation in the area. Police sources said the minor girl was fatally hit by a stray bullet at her house, about 100 metres from the gunfight spot.

Sukhoi aircraft crashes in Rajasthan New Delhi, March 15 (iaNs): A Sukhoi fighter jet crashed in Rajasthan on Wednesday, but both pilots are safe, the Indian Air Force said. The accident occurred around 2.30 p.m. after the Sukhoi aircraft took off from Uttarlai Air Force base in Rajasthan, an IAF spokesperson said. "Both pilots are safe. An inquiry will be held," the IAF spokesperson added. On Wednesday, a Chetak helicopter of the IAF also crash-landed near Allahabad, after taking off from Bamrauli near the city. The chopper toppled as the pilots tried to land it in an uneven field. Both pilots were safe, and a Court of Inquiry was ordered later.

New Delhi, March 15 (PTi): Ahead of the by-polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday raked up the issue of revocation of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas and “see the impact”. Mufti, who has taken a strong position against militants, pitched for revocation of AFSPA, saying she required a “window of peace” for ensuring good governance to “shrink the space” occupied by militants. She said PDP and BJP had come together on an Agenda of Alliance which included revocation of AFSPA. “We should not shy away from revocation of AFSPA. When things improve, why not?” she said. “We don’t shy away when situation goes bad. We don’t shy away from calling more forces…we ask army to be more proactive, but when the situation improves, we should not shy away from the fact we need to start revocation of AFSPA from some places and see what is the impact,” she said while addressing a seminar on counter terrorism here. The conference is being organised by India Foundation, a think tank run by Shaurya Doval, the son of National Security Advisor A K Doval. Four Union Ministers and BJP leaders, including party general secretary Ram Madhav, are on its board. She also said when the situation improves, there

was a need for shifting security camps “away from public”. Referring to her brother Tassaduq, who has been declared PDP candidate for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat vacated by her, Mufti said her brother “wants to see our kids chasing birds and butterflies rather than have stones in their hands”. Tassaduq is a cinematographer and has been part of Bollywood hits like ‘Omkara’. Mufti appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiating talks with “all stakeholders” for a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem. “We need to have dialogue as was done by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I am sure our present Prime Minister, who has the moral authority, will take steps at the earliest. We have a bold leadership at this point of time,” she said. “We have used pellet guns, guns, hand grenades, teargas. We can’t continue with that. They (the protesters) are part of India. Kashmir is the jewel in India’s crown,” she said. Appealing for a “window of peace”, she said, “Good governance helps in shrinking the space of terrorists. Please give me that.” By-polls for Anantnag parliamentary and Srinagar assembly seats are slated for April 12 and 9 respectively. Praise for Vajpayee and his Kashmir policy dominated the 25-minute speech of the Chief Minister at the seminar which was moderated

Mufti appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiating talks with “all stakeholders” for a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem. (PTI Photo)

by the state’s Governor N N Vohra. “Terrorism is the biggest threat that the whole world is facing but unfortunately the countries which are fighting terrorism are not fighting it together,” she said, adding “there is shadow boxing going on between the various super powers to get the hegemony over the world,” Mufti said. By way of explanation, she spoke about China blocking India’s attempts to name Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist under a UN convention. “I will come to my own country. And we have been facing terrorism and there is again this kind of shadow boxing that is going on between us, China and Pakistan and so and so. “We have been trying so hard for so many years to declare certain people, certain groups who have really inflicted a lot of pain on us as wanted terrorist but again China comes to the rescue,” she said with-

out naming Azhar, blamed for many terrorist attacks in India. Speaking about the importance of good governance, she said governance alone cannot fight terrorism because it is the first causality of terrorism. “When your whole energy which is focused on development and good governance, it gets focused on maintaining law and order, saving the life and property of people becomes your first and foremost duty. And unfortunately governance goes for a toss,” she said and advocated a multi-pronged strategy which included fighting terrorism and redressing the grievances of people. Speaking about Vajpayee’s policy, she said the former Prime Minister understood the pain of the people and tried to address both internal and external dimension. Mufti said the “enemies of peace” attempted to sabotage his efforts in various ways, including the Kargil intrusion and Parliament

Writers & innovative scholars important to us: Prez

New Delhi, March 15 (iaNs): President Pranab Mukherjee has said that writers and Innovation Scholars are special because they have innovative, sensitive and imaginative minds which transcend the boundaries of time, place and surroundings. He said that the impact of their creations is everlasting. Ten Innovation Scholars, two Writers and two Artists who are part of In-Residence Programme of Rashtrapati Bhavan called on Mukherjee on Wednesday at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee expressed his happiness that during his Presidency, the In-Residence Programme could provide an opportunity to ignite the creativity of its participants. He said that the imaginative and sensitive participants of the In-Residence Programme were making their individual contribution in keeping the soul of India intact.

He hoped that when the participants go back to their native places, they develop a new dimension in the way they look at their own country India and the manner in which they can make their contribution towards its well-being and prosperity. The innovative scholars include Surjeet Singh, well known for producing high quality aromatic basmati rice; Moa Subong, who innovated a musical instrument called BamHum and Ajay Sharma, who has developed a portable, energy efficient and

cost effective biogas compressor machine, among others. The President's Secretary, Omita Paul said that on assuming office, Mukherjee had a vision that innovation should become a movement in the country. She said that it was heartening to see that his vision was being realized. She hoped that innovation will continue to gather momentum in the future too. Writers and artists who are part of In-Residence Programme of Rashtrapati Bhavan include Ashokkumar P. Chavda, a Gujrati Poet, Critic, Translator and Editor; Prabal Kumar Basu, a poet, writing in Bengali and with 17 volumes of poetry books, a collection of verse drama, two collections of essays and two collections of short stories to his credit and Rahul Shailendra Kokaste, an artist encompassing sheer diversity of mediums, genres, materials and narratives, among others. The participants of the InResidence Programme also ex-

pressed their views and said that they were deeply thankful to the President for giving them an opportunity to be part of the two week In-Residence Programme. They appreciated the numerous initiatives taken in this Presidency such as Smart Gram Initiative, Samagam and Sparsh, among others. They said that they were infused with fresh energy and enthusiasm and were determined to contribute to the welfare of the society in their own way. The Innovation Scholars said that their innovative spirit and potential had been boosted since during the Festival of Innovations, direct linkages had been established with relevant stakeholders and new avenues had opened for them. They also said that the Programme had fostered fellowship as they got an opportunity to interact with fellow participants in the progamme coming from diverse backgrounds all from across the country.

attack. “But ultimately he once again gave a message to Pakistan from the very soil of Kashmir, in the same language that Kashmiris understood, by quoting our saints and poets like Nund Resh, Lal Ded and Mehjoor. “Vajpayee’s extending of hand of friendship was reciprocated from the other side. We had a ceasefire that lasted for many many years. We had a dialogue process,” she said. She also favoured opening of new routes between the two countries and asked India to respond to Pakistan’s offer for joining the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). “Why can’t we be partners to the CPEC? Jammu and Kashmir was a gateway to central Asia before 1947. Why should not our country benefit out of that. I heard that Pakistan has offered to us to be part of the CPEC. Why can’t we do that? Why can’t we move away from the skirmishes that we have all the time,” she said.

Irish woman found dead in Goa, one arrested

PaNaji, March 15 (iaNs): Less than 24 hours after an Irish woman was found murdered in south Goa, police on Wednesday claimed to have cracked the case with the arrest of a historysheeter, Vikas Bhagat. "We have arrested Bhagat. He has confessed to raping the victim and later killing her in order to hide his identity," Deputy Superintendent of Police Sammy Tavares told reporters here. Police has started investigating the alleged rape and murder of the Irish tourist, who had arrived at Canacona sub-district, known for its popular beaches like Palolem and Agonda, from Arambol in North Goa. According to the police, the 25-year-old deceased had come with a friend and had participated in Holi celebrations in coastal Canacona village, known for its popular beaches, before being found dead on Tuesday. Police, suspecting rape, have sent the body to the Goa Medical College near Panaji for post-mortem. "The body was lying in a pool of blood without clothes and there were injuries on the head and face," Deputy Superintendent of Police Sammy Tavares said. Bhagat has been booked for murder.

Bitter truth of Indian sweet shops: boys in bondage, burnt and beaten DiNDigUl, March 15 (ThoMsoN reUTers FoUNDaTioN): A festering wound on Vijay Kumar's thigh is a constant reminder of the four years the teenager spent behind a hot wok frying sweets and savouries. It reminds him of the day the food shop owner beat him with a metal rod and poured hot oil on his legs to punish him for adding too much food colouring to the samosas he was making. "I had put up with everything for four years," said Kumar, who is due for a surgery in a couple of weeks to try to save his leg from amputation. Kumar was 15 when he was sent to Maharashtra state in western India from his home in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, in 2012 after his mother was paid 15,000 rupees ($230). Boys in the southern state are systematically targeted and trafficked to western and northern India, trapped in terrible conditions for little pay and often abused in their workplaces, say campaigners. "I couldn't go home for both my sisters' weddings or when my grandfather died," Kumar said. "I ignored

the everyday abuse, the frequent burns from the hot oil. But that day, it became unbearable." So in September 2016 Kumar escaped from the shop in the early hours of the morning. He travelled without a ticket for three days to get home to his village in Dindigul. "WRETCHED TYPE OF LIVING" Labour agents draw in cheap labour - mainly teenage boys from poor, illiterate and low caste or "Dalit" communities - and offer lump sum payments to the family at the end of each year. School dropouts in the districts of Theni, Madurai and Dindigul have been regularly taken to north and west India to work in food shops, campaigners say. "In our random survey of just 30 villages in Dindigul, we found 122 children had gone out to work in these units," said S. Annadurai of non-profit organisation Child Voice. "In 20 percent of the cases, the parents did not know where the child was taken. They are just missing." On Monday, the Tamil Nadu gov-

anonymity as the case is still in court. "They were rescued from single room factories with partially or fully burnt fingers. They were given minimum food, no access to their families and hardly paid. It was the most wretched type of living," he said.

A worker carries sweets inside a sweets-making factory in Agartala, capital of India's northeastern state of Tripura. (REUTERS File Photo)

ernment received two petitions asking to help free three children said to be in bonded labour in the sweet and savoury making workshops. "We have formed a team to look into the cases," said K. Veera Raghava Rao, administrative head of Madurai

district. In 2011, more than 40 boys from Tamil Nadu were rescued from different states in north and west India. It was the first time the extent of abuse and bondage was known, an investigating officer said, requesting

"HOMESICK" Surya Prakash worked with Kumar. They were both taken by an agent to Maharashtra. Others, some as young as 10, are taken to Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The boys were woken up at five in the morning and worked till late into the night, deep frying snacks and making sweets before packing them. "In a day we would make 75 kg of gulab jamuns and balushahs (traditional Indian sweets) and fry sacks of appalams (crisps)," Kumar told the Thomson Reuters Foundation sitting outside his home in Soundarapuram village in Dindigul. "We used to be homesick and wanted to come back, but they didn't let us."For the four years that they were there, the boys were given no money

nor allowed to go out unescorted. Phone calls back home were through the owner's telephone. A relative of the shop owner would periodically pay their families small amounts. The boys slept in the room where the food ingredients were stored. They spent all their waking hours over a hot pan or hunched over trays of sweets, cutting and packing them. Prakash is currently missing. The shop owner has been arrested based on a complaint filed by Kumar. Two other suspects in the case are still at large, police said. Amudha Palanisamy sent her 15-year-old son to work in a snack shop in 2014. She hasn't seen him since and doesn't know where he was taken. She took an advance of 10,000 rupees ($155) and says she has been sent 70,000 rupees ($1,100) in the three years since. "They said I could either see him or take the money," Palanisamy said. In effect, the boys' monthly salary comes to just about 2,000 rupees ($30) said Annadurai of Child Voice. "For that little, they are trafficked and kept in bondage for years," he said.

ThursdAY 16•03•2017

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

After 6 years, Assad now secure but his country carved up as war thunders on

Aleppo, MArch 15 (reuters): Six years since the start of the uprising against President Bashar alAssad, he is winning on the battlefield but Syria’s civil war is far from over, with his once stable country broken into fiefdoms ruled by rebels and warlords. While few non-partisan observers think the conflict will end soon, fewer still believe Assad can retake the whole country. But since all outside players now seem to have adjusted to his staying, no one expects a peace deal either. Many foresee, at best, a ceasefire observed much of the time over much of a territory that will be effectively partitioned between competing forces. During five years of stuttering negotiations between the government and the opposition, brokered by the United Nations, the United States and Russia, and more recently by Russia and Turkey, the sticking point has been whether Assad would go. Now, the starting point is that he will stay. “We have to be realistic – he’s not leaving”, says Robert Ford, a former American ambassador to Damascus who resigned in frustration at President Barack Obama’s indecision on Syria and remains in contact with many of the conflict’s protagonists. “After Aleppo, there

A Syrian army soldier stands guard as a poster depicting Syria’s President Bashar alAssad is seen in the background in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria. (REUTERS File Photo)

is no chance” of dislodging Assad, Ford added. “That’s the result of the military victory they won.” It started six years ago with protests across Syria, mainly among the country’s majority Sunni Muslims, against Assad and his family’s 40-year rule built around the minority Alawite community, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. In March 2011, “Arab Spring” protests sweeping the region had already dislodged autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt, and would later claim the long-term rulers of Libya and Yemen, two other countries still embroiled in civil wars six years on. Assad responded

to Syria’s protests with unconstrained violence, turning the uprising into a war to the death. Western leaders including Obama predicted Assad would quickly fall. But he hung on, using the resources of the state and backing from Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah Shi’ite militia to fight rebels funded by Arab states to a stalemate. A year and a half ago, Russia joined the war on his side, tipping the balance in his favour. Today an estimated half a million people have been killed, half the population has been uprooted in the world’s biggest refugee crisis, and the war has set

new standards of savagery in its impact on civilians. Most of the world’s major powers and regional states have backed proxy forces in a complicated multisided conflict, while the Islamic State jihadist group, at war with everyone else, declared a caliphate straddling the border with Iraq. RESEMBLING LEBANON AND IRAQ Since Russia stormed into Syria 18 months ago, Assad has surged from the verge of a collapse among his depleted loyalist forces to a formidable position of military strength. His recapture in December of

the rebel enclave in Aleppo, their last urban stronghold, was a major turning point in the war and left the insurgents bottled up in rural Idlib province and battling each other. Syria now faces a situation that could resemble neighbouring Lebanon at several stages of its 1975-90 civil war, when it was carved into fiefdoms by competing militias, with long lulls in fighting punctuated by violent cataclysms. It could also share some traits with Iraq after the first Gulf War, which left its former ruler Saddam Hussein in power for more than a decade as a global pariah, with his legitimacy in question and his economy strangled by sanctions. Andrew Tabler, a Syria specialist at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy think-tank, does not see anyone, much less Assad’s allies Russia or Iran, ordering the president out, although he can still imagine a violent end for Assad. “I don’t see Russia or Iran asking him to step down, but we do have to prepare for an eventuality in this volatile environment that Assad may be targeted for assassination because of how much of a barrier he is to a settlement - him personally.” Assad himself, asked in an interview if he had thought about leaving Syria, said: “Never. After six

years, the most difficult time has passed, which was in 2012-13. Those times we never thought about (leaving), how could I think about it now?” For the former ambassador Ford, who once saw Assad’s demise as inevitable, the flip side of him now seeming impregnable is that his opponents can never accept his continued rule. Among the millions of Syrian refugees and internally displaced, many cannot return to homes in areas they see as subject to the tyranny of rule by Assad’s secret police, which the opposition blames for hundreds of thousands of deaths. CONVERGING INTERESTS Ne ve r t h e l e ss, a n emerging international consensus in practice favours pro-Assad forces, illustrated by events around the northern town of Manbij this month, when Washington sent its first openly acknowledged regular ground troops. The small U.S. force was sent to separate Kurdish fighters Washington has supported from rival Arab rebels backed by Turkey near the town. By blocking any advance of the rebels, the U.S. move was seen as a tacit endorsement of the presence of Assad’s Russianbacked forces in the area. “The Americans are co-

operating with the Russians in a way that is going to help complete the regime’s victory in Syria,” says Eugene Rogan, professor of modern Middle Eastern history at the University of Oxford, of the U.S. moves in Manbij. Syria watchers say a patchy ceasefire in place now - brokered by Russia and Turkey - could be consolidated. But they believe Assad will eventually try to annihilate the rebel forces pushed into rural Idlib, one village at a time. Yet Assad and his patrons will always face the constraint of limited manpower, which stretches his forces ever thinner the more territory he regains and makes his troops more exposed to attacks by opposition groups and jihadis of Islamic State. Recent deadly attacks inside government-held cities, on a military intelligence headquarters in Homs and on Iraqi Shi’ite pilgrims in Damascus, underline the threat, which Assad’s refusal to compromise could magnify. “If you’re Iran and Russia and you know Assad’s manpower limitations and political rigidity you have a problem,” says Tabler. “You

No. PD/NERLP/2016-17/695/989

North East Livelihood Promotion Society Ministry of DoNER, Govt. of India

Regional Project management Unit House No. 102, Dilip Huzuri Path, GS Road Guwahati – 781006 Dated: 01/03/2017

South Korea to hold presidential election on May 9

Supporters of South Korea’s ousted leader Park Geun-hye gather outside her private home in Seoul, South Korea on March 15. (REUTERS Photo)

seoul, MArch 15 (reuters): South Korea said on Wednesday it will hold an election on May 9 to choose a successor for former President Park Geunhye, who was removed from office in a historic court ruling last week over a widening corruption scandal. Prosecutors said on Wednesday Park - the first democratically elected president to be removed from office in South Korea

- would be summoned for questioning on Tuesday into the influence-peddling scandal. The Constitutional Court dismissed Park from office on Friday when it upheld a parliamentary impeachment vote in December. Park has denied any wrongdoing. The Samsung Group, South Korea’s largest conglomerate, is already embroiled in the scandal and

the Yonhap news agency said prosecutors had started investigating two other conglomerates - the Lotte Group and SK Group. Samsung denies any wrongdoing. Spokesman for both the SK Group and Lotte said they would cooperate with the investigation. The turmoil comes at a time of rising tension with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programmes, and with China over the de-

ployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea that China sees as a threat to its security. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit South Korea, as well as Japan and China, this week. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who has been acting president since the impeachment vote, said he would not run in the election. Minister of the Interior Hong Yun-sik promised the vote would be the most clean and transparent ever. “This election is unprecedented in our history,” Hong told a briefing, referring to the short campaign period. Hwang had emerged in opinion polls as a top conservative candidate even though he had not declared an intention to run. The scandal has undermined support for the ruling conservatives, and Hwang’s decision would appear to bolster the chances of a prominent liberal, Moon Jae-in, who is leading in opinion polls.

‘FIND TRUTH’ Park was summoned to appear for questioning at 9.30 a.m. (0030 GMT) next Tuesday, the prosecutors’ office said. Her lawyers said in a statement they would cooperate. Park had declined to be questioned by prosecutors or testify at the Constitutional Court when she was in office. After she left the presidential Blue House on Sunday, she issued a statement hinting of defiance, saying: “It will take time, but I believe the truth will be revealed.” Prosecutors have not said how long they think their investigation would last. A special prosecution team had accused Park of colluding with a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure big businesses into contributing to foundations set up to support her policies and allowing Choi to influence state affairs. Choi also denied wrongdoing. Jay Y. Lee, the head of Samsung Group, is on trial on bribery, embezzlement and other charges in connection with the scandal. Lee denies all charges.

Standing Rock protests, killing of activist, unite indigenous struggles loNDoN, MArch 15 (thoMsoN reuters FouNDAtioN): Protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in the United States and the killing of prominent Honduran land rights campaigner Berta Caceres have united the struggles of indigenous peoples on the continent, a Guatemalan indigenous leader said on Tuesday. Andrea Ixchiu, a Mayan activist and campaigner for indigenous land rights, said the pipeline protests allowed the public to speak out about injustices committed against indigenous communities in the United States. “Standing Rock shows us the creativity of resistance,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in London, referring to the Indian reservation where thousands of people gathered to protest the installation of an oil pipeline last year. Indigenous Mayan groups from Guatemala traveled to the Standing Rock protest camp on the North Dakota plains as a

show of solidarity with Native Americans, she said. Ixchiu was in London to promote a documentary she appears in which she hopes will raise awareness of the struggles faced by indigenous communities in Guatemala. “500 Years” was released in January at the Sundance film festival in the United States and will be screened at the Human Rights Watch film festival on Tuesday. Pamela Yates, who directed the film as part of a trilogy about indigenous resistance in Guatemala, said the Standing Rock protests were a moment in North America which “changed everything.” The documentary highlights the links between abuses against indigenous Maya communities during Guatemala’s civil war and current land rights battles. Former Guatemala dictator Efrain Rios Montt is on trial on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the civil war. He is accused of overseeing the slaughter of

The prospect of an opposition election victory has raised questions about the future in South Korea of the U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system, which China opposes because it says its radar can penetrate its territory. Tillerson will meet Hwang and Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se in Seoul on Friday. He is not scheduled to see opposition figures, a U.S. State Department official said, raising questions about the durability of any agreements.

have to cut a deal so that Iran and Russia don’t have to surge troops into Syria, which is their dilemma.” Ford, after informal recent discussions with Russian experts familiar with Moscow’s policy, says the Russians believe the Syrian army is exhausted and that it would be difficult for Assad to recapture all of the country. Since Assad cannot hope to run Syria with the iron centralised control he once exercised, there needs to be decentralisation, Ford said, noting that Moscow had proposed a less-centralised constitution but Assad had rejected it. That leaves the likely outcome continued de facto partition of Syria, even if Assad continues to make incremental gains. “The only way to avoid partition, without a peace agreement, is for the Syrian government to recapture the whole country and that could take years,” says Ford. Boundaries are fluid, but at present Assad and his allies will probably keep control of the main population centres, from Aleppo in the north to Deraa in the south, including the coast and the capital, Damascus.

VAcANcy ANNouNcEMENT

Application are invited for one post of Coordinator (M&E) in District Project Management Unit (DPMU) at Tuensang on contractual terms for North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) Interested applicants may mail their application in prescribed format (available at www.nerlp.gov.in) with self-attested copies of certificates, mark sheet and testimonials hr.nerlp@gmail.com. The last date of receipt of application is 21-03-2017 For further details, please logon to www. nerlp.gov.in Project Director NERLP, Guwahati

NAGALAND HANDLOOM & HANDICRAFTS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD. DIMAPUR : NAGALAND (A GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND UNDERTAKING)

Tele. No. (03862) 224591, 230046 Fax No. : (03862) 224591 E-mail - nhhdcdima@yahoo.co.in

NHHDC/Project Cell – 01/2016-17

Dt. 15th March 2017

The Nagaland Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd. Dimapur, is organizing National Handloom Expo at Gurkha panchayat public Ground, Chandmari colony,Opposite Nagaland Govt. Printing Press, Kohima Nagaland from 22nd March to 4th April 2017, Sponsored by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handloom), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Interested Co-operative Societies, NGO’s, Apex Societies, SHG’s, etc. may apply to the Project Cell, NHHDC Ltd, Half Nagarjan, Dimapur, along with the Copy of passport size photographs of the participants alongwith the application on or before 18th March 2017 during the office hour. The application of the participants from the same family/relatives shall not be entertained. The stall shall be provided free of cost with Lumpsum Daily Allowances to each stall shall be provided. Sd/- (K. HOKISHE ASSUMI) Managing Director

Government of Nagaland

State Health Society; National Health Mission Health & Family Welfare Dept. Nagaland: Kohima

NHM/NL/HR/32/(PT-1)2013-14/3724

Dated Kohima, the 15th March 2017

Applications are hereby invited to fill up the following posts under National Urban Health Mission (NHM), Nagaland;

Indigenous people of the Ixil region attend a hearing against former Guatemalan president Efrain Rios Montt in Guatemala city, Guatemala. (REUTERS File Photo)

1,771 members of the Maya Ixil indigenous population in the Quiche region of Guatemala in 1982 and 1983. A U.N.-backed truth commission found that 626 indigenous villages were destroyed by the Guatemalan military during the 36-year war that ended in 1996. Villagers now face the installation of multi-na-

tional projects, from hydroelectric dams to open pit mining sites, the film says. Ten environmental activists were killed in Guatemala in 2015, the last year on record, six of them from indigenous communities. Ixchiu, from the community of Totonicapan in the country’s southwest, said as a land rights activist she had been kidnapped

and threatened with death. The killing of indigenous land rights campaigner Berta Caceres in Honduras in 2016 was a “seed for struggle”, she said, highlighting the dangers activists face across the region. Caceres was shot and killed after receiving death threats over her opposition to a hydroelectric dam project.

Sl. Place of Name of the Post Qualification No posting 1 General Duty Medi- MBBS from recognized institu- Tuensang cal Officer (GDMO) tions/ university under MCI Act 2 ANM ANM from recognized instituDimapur tions under INC Act Kohima 3 Pharmacist B. Pharm. from recognized inDimapur stitutions Mokokchung Tuensang 4 Lab. Tech. DMLT from recognized institu- Tuensang tions 5 ASHA Help Desk GNM from recognized instituDimapur tions under INC Act

No. of Monthly posts remuneration 1 Rs. 40,000/1 1 1 1 1 1

Rs. 12,000/-

Rs. 10,000/-

Rs. 12,000/Rs. 15,000/Rs. 15,000/Rs. 15,000/-

Interested applicants may submit all relevant documents along with phone no. on or before 23rd March 2017, addressed to the Mission Director, National Health Mission, Nagaland, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Ruziezou, Kohima 797001. Date of interview shall be intimidated to the shortlisted candidates through telephone. All incumbents are to bring original documents on the day of interview. No separate calling letter shall be issued for the above mentioned interview. For any queries, applicant may contact 9856353245 on working days between 10:00 am to 4:00pm. -Sd/- (DR. BENDANGYANGER JAMIR) Mission Director, NHM.

ThursDAY 16•03•2017

sports

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Laitkor lifts AR Invitational Football Cup Formula One maps out a post-Ecclestone future

Shillong, March 15 (MExn): The Assam Rifles’ Laitkor emerged as the winners of the coveted Assam Rifles Invitational Football Cup Laitkor proved too strong as they beat Lawsohtun SC by a convincing 4-0 margin in the final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday. Lawsohtun, who also finished as runners-up in last year’s tournament, had numerous moments where they shone on the pitch, but goals at regular intervals by the AR jawans ensured that they were almost always on the back foot. With this victory, AR’s Laitkor were awarded a trophy and cheque for Rs 2 lakh, but, in a magnanimous gesture, the team decided to share the prize money with the other 19 clubs that took part in the competition. A fine example of good passing early on in the game allowed Mowia to seize the lead for the Riflemen with a high shot into the net in the fourth minute, but Lawsohtun kept up the pressure in the hunt for the equaliser, with Assam Rifles’ goalkeeper Chandra Singh forced to make two sharp saves in the 16th and 21st minutes to keep his side ahead. After a fine save of his own on the half hour, Lawsoh-

tun goalie Banshanlang Sten collided with an opposition player in the box towards the end of the first half, leading to a penalty kick. Golden Boot award winner Mani Chetry (who finished with a total of nine goals) stepped up and converted and the jawans went into the half time break leading 2-0. The large crowd of spectators had an entertaining interval with a stirring perfor-

mance by 60 members of an Assam Rifles mass band. Another 45 minutes of action ensued as Lawsohtun attempted to get back into the game soon after the restart via a free-kick, though the aim was a little off. The game was finally taken away from the Lawsohtun team just before an hour’s play when Thring Bhutia scored from close range, with Mowia getting his brace in the 84th minute with a delightful left-

footer. Despite these setbacks, Lawsohtun did not stop trying and valiantly battled until the final whistle. For his fine efforts over the length of the competition, Lawsohtun’s experienced Milancy Khongstia was named Best Player. Despite four goals getting past him, Sten’s previous record in the tournament earned him the Best Goalkeeper award.

lonDon, March 15 (rEutErS): The old ringmaster has gone, pushed aside by Formula One's new American owners, and the marketing men have moved in with a mission to overhaul the circus and give spectators something more modern for their money. If an era ended in January with the exit of Bernie Ecclestone, following Liberty Media's takeover, the Formula One season starting in Australia on March 26 marks a bright new dawn. The cars are faster, wider and more aggressive-looking with fatter tyres and revised aerodynamics but, behind the scenes, more far-reaching changes are being mapped out to drive expansion. Sean Bratches and Ross Brawn have been appointed managing directors for the commercial and sporting sides respectively, under chairman Chase Carey, and sponsorship and research executives recruited. The sport is set to accelerate further away from the Ecclestone era, one in which the 86-year-old controlled everything with a famous reluctance to delegate. "There will be a point in the season...where we start to effectuate change," Bratches told Reuters. "We are going to be very aggressive. We are going to try new things, all in the spirit of better serving Formula One fans." In the short-term that means building up the race weekend, adding in entertainment and

events along the lines of SuperBowl week, exploiting digital platforms and building fan engagement through social media. Longer term, expect new races - with Las Vegas and other U.S. destination cities high on the wish list - closer ties to promoters and a push to maximise revenue. "We are not yet really even a player in the digital media landscape, so that's an opportunity for us to add some digital dimension to our traditional broadcast media," Carey said in January.

SLOW BURN Brawn, the former Honda and Mercedes boss who won titles with his own BrawnGP team and was previously Ferrari technical director, has a three and five-year plan on the sporting side. It has to be slow burn because of contracts that run to 2020 but he is looking at everything from the format of races to how the sport should look and sound. "In the five-year programme we’ve got to identify what sort of engine we want in the future, because that’s the sort of timescale it takes, and list the things that are important," he told an audience at a talk in Oxford this month. In the near term, he is putting together a group of engineers to try and come up with "a more intelligent design of car". Levelling the playing field, allowing smaller teams a chance to compete against wealthy manu-

facturers, and keeping traditional races on the calendar are high on the agenda. "I think for sure the philosophy of Liberty and the management now in FOM is to look at things in a more complete way," Brawn said. "Not just the amount of money we can get from a race but what does it offer Formula One, what opportunities? "Do we become partners in promoting the races? Because up until now most of the consideration has been how much they can pay. And we want to change that balance a bit." "Where the race is, and how it’s held are going to be vital for the future," said the Briton. Ensuring the 20 drivers were the best in the world, free of commercial considerations, is another box yet to be ticked and one linked to the thorny subject of a fairer distribution of revenues. Brawn said that only truly applied to the top half of the grid at present. "We should have a true meritocracy in Formula One. But you can’t do that because some of the teams rely on the commercial input of their drivers, else they wouldn’t survive," he said. "So you have to create a platform where the small teams can survive and then you can start to insist that they pick drivers on merit and not on what money they bring with them."

public discourse Understanding the concept of Vulnerability and Risk in Hazard area: Thoughts from an Individualand Policy Perspective Hinotoli V Sema Ph. D candidate, Centre for Geoinformatics, Jamsetji Tata School for Disaster Studies, TISS, MUMBAI

his article is an explorative review, observedwhile transcribing the data amid field work. A little real depiction between vulnerability-based and risk-based approaches to deal with considering extreme events, for instance, landslides, seismic tremor and fire events from those of an individual and policy’s perspectives."Vulnerability" is used to define inherent qualities of a framework that make the potential for harmare free of the probabilistic riskof a specific hazard or extreme events. This article is to consider independently vulnerability and risk and the ramifications of such a refinement for contemplating the arrangement and governmental issues of "risk management”. I trust that the refinement of vulnerability from risk conveys with it an arrangement of recommendations and implications for individual and policies for managing hazard and risk. How approximately we investigate the refinement, examination and open deliberation.

Risk and Prediction contradiction Risk-based approaches to deal with hazard events are centered on obtaining precise probabilistic information about the events itself. Probabilistic risk appraisal is the process of deciding the probabilities of thespecificevent also termed as a prediction.An actuarially stable riskmanagement practice is critical,however,climate differs on change over a period of time.Further, while specialists can positively give modern and thorough appraisals of instability encompassing risk evaluations, theabsence of involvement with numerous phenomena and results implies that understanding the vulnerability of the

vulnerability assessments is inconceivable. All decisions incorporate some informal evaluation of probabilities. Outside chance that one resides onlandslide susceptible areas it would likely be irrational to dedicate massive assets. Subsequently, vulnerabilitymanagement is certainly predisposed by some sense of what is sensible and what is definitely not. Sensible in a term that it isnot onlyinformed by using advanced quantitative predictions about aparticular risk but, additionally also it might be informed by past evidence, by general logical knowledge (for instance, alandslide occurs in hilly areas), by judgment procured through individual experience, or different means. Per se, an individual may have an alternate viewon the statement. The suggestions of relinquishing her/ his house is truly absurd, where the policy and decision makers in view of the probabilityassume or enact laws to evacuate theprone regions as in some cases,vulnerability management does not rely upon exact prescient measurement of particular future events or classes of events. There are various occurrences where traditional practices and knowledge additionally named as community-based risk reduction are accepted to the best-fitted model from the different given logical methodologies.The community of any affected areas needs to befully aware and engaged in the mapping process,not just as providers of the information, but as active participants in the development of maps though the participants at this level will vary locally. In some cases, there will be already formal community groups able to mobilize the rest of the community; in others, policy makers should take a much more active role in establishing suitable frameworks and methodologies to facilitate community engagement.At the heart of the issue of vulnerability lies the strain between individual activity and community outcome. Urban migrations and ur-

banization are among the most prominent statistic patterns of modernizing social orders in any parts of the world. People are moving from rural settings to urban space and urban areas, for the most part, looking for better education, monetary open door, or perhaps scenery, or even cultural opportunity. By moving to the urban spaces, one is adding to one's individual vulnerability to extraordinary events in an incrementally small ways. Risk events outline these issues all the more poignantly. After any hazard events itself was phenomenal, this is to state that risk couldn't have been precisely evaluated in advance. However, the way that many individuals made their living, and their homes, on these hilly regions could be deciphered as prima facie evidence of vulnerability to disaster, from epidemic diseases to the debris flow that actually did occur. The character of an extreme events is determined not just by some arrangement of attributes innate in the natural phenomena (e.g., earthquake, cloud bursts, floods), but by the interaction of those attributes with different issues, for example, marginalised communities dwelling on immature exposed high mountain or hills with extreme weather conditions or geo-environmental settings . Decision making might focus as effectively around distinguishing and describing vulnerabilities as on recognizing and concentrating on risk. For landslidemanagement policy, an evacuation does nothing to change the danger of landslide or be it earthquakes;however, it reduces vulnerability (e.g., better building practices) to events effects to around zero. Notwithstanding complicated instability about risk, such an analytics may rather rely on upon inventive ways to deal with vulnerability management, (for example, by stimulating a specific structure or upgrading and enhancing building/encompasses resilience in areas of contrasting vulnerability).

Anomalies in NPSC prelims result 2016 Amugha and Ato Sumi

NPSC Prelims 2016 aggrieved candidates

he recently declared NPSC prelims result raises some serious questions pertaining to the fulfillment of reservation policies as laid down in the commission’s notification and the compliance by the commission to it. A thorough analysis of the result, factoring in the number of candidates securing the general cut off mark of 125 and above as well as the number of candidates selected via prescribed reservation quota, hints at potential negligence of the reservation policies by the commission. Firstly, the commission has to set a selection standard irrespective of the reservation quota as the qualified candidates will be the policy makers who will determine the future of our state. In the recently declared prelims result, it is quiet astonishing as to how a general candidate’s cut off mark is 125 and a B.T candidate’s cut off mark is as low as 87. The disparity of 38 marks between the two shows disregard to the concept of merit which even-

tually leads to the selection of candidates who may not be competent enough. This system thus favors B.T candidates over general candidates. Secondly, according to the commission’s notification clause 2: “80% of the vacancies are reserved for candidates belonging to (i) any Naga Tribe (ii) Kuki (iii) Garo (iv) Mikir (v) Kachari, provided, such persons are Indigenous Inhabitant of the State of Nagaland. 25% of the vacancies are reserved for the candidates belonging (a) Konyak (b) Phom (c) Sangtam (d) Yimchunger (e) Chang and (f) Khiamniungan. Further, 12% of the vacancies are reserved for the candidates belonging to (a) Chakhesang (4%) (b) Pochury (2%) (c) Zeliang (4%) and (d) Sumis of Kiphire District (2%) issued vide Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department Notification NO.RCBT 5/87(Pt-II) dated 14th April, 2011 and 15th June, 2011. The above reservation is out of 80% for Indigenous Inhabitant candidates.” The last clause clearly states that reservation for the B.T candidates is 37% of 80% and not out of 100%.

So, accordingly in the recently declared result, 153 B.T candidates should have qualified under the B.T quota system as per the following calculations: Total no of qualified candidates in NPSC prelims 2016: 517 As per clause 2, 80% of the vacancies reserved: i.e 80% of 517 = 413 (approx) Since B.T reservation is out of 80% for Indigenous Inhabitant candidates as stated in the clause. Number of B.T candidates that should have qualified under quota system is 37% of 413 = 153 (approx) However the commission has ignored its own notification and selected 205 B.T candidates under quota which is more than the prescribed quota. It is utterly disappointing of the commission to have ignored the laid down rules and regulations blatantly. Unless the commission rectifies the declared result or issue a clarification with respect to this potential anomaly we have no other option but to approach the court “ALL OVER AGAIN” in order to seek justice.

Vulnerability reduction is a human rights issue Much more essential than the economic approach of reasoning is the human one, exemplified by the pictures of human sufferings and social disturbances that multiply in the quick aftermath of any type of catastrophe. Basic fundamental human needs for instances water, food, shelter, and security, are abruptly relinquished; lives are lost; families are sundered. Surely, emphasis on economic parts of disasters can seem insensitive to the genuine human issues in disaster management. In a human rights setting, issues of cost/benefits and level headed discussions over vulnerability lose their centrality, as well as they are rendered inappropriate. Assurance and enforcement of human rights are a core responsibility of the state. Let’s consider the state of differently abled people whose lives are still invisible in our own state of Nagaland. There are no Disabilities friendly setting, no fitting with wheelchair access devices in public buses, taxi service for individuals with disabilities who did not have their own means of transportation and more importantly theabsence of ramp in offices, churches and public spaces. The point is that people with disabilities are amongst the most vulnerable people during any disasters and they do deserve, as humans and citizens, to be fully integrated into our society, not marginalized from it. This means that they need the same access to resources that non-disabled people enjoy. Are we not denying them of their basic fundamental rights? Theirown family does not want to disclose the case of disabilities(different types) because mostly they fear the cause of any form of disabilities is basically a curse which cannot be exposed or cured so close them inside the house. Of course, there are cases where at least 10% (field survey) of them are doing well being supported by family members. One narra-

tive from the mother whose daughter is suffering from mental illness feels that prayer is the only solution and sooner or later she will get better. So, the question of sending her to aspecialschool or any training institute is something she does not encourage, seeking of mental help is way out of question. Is she safe within the house or does she have any awareness of hervulnerability to extreme events? Finally, the question lies, is it politically difficult to legitimize vulnerability reduction on monetary grounds?The past contentions recommend that risk can be reduced by reducing vulnerability. Yet, this approach frequently crosses paths with policy, politics, and economics. Without understanding the concept and delineating the different parameters of vulnerability, it will be very difficult for themanagement of risk assessment of any hazard area. However, introducing a new vulnerability management process can also be challenging. Risk reduction requires in advance expenses and reeks of ponderous government interventions; it is a tough political option that offers no benefits to the insurance industry. The significances of policy termsare that they interact with areas that demand clear policy frameworks within which the more specialized or technical parts of mitigation measure, conveyance can be undertaken but, the absence of rationality in these affected areas can culminate to inefficiency, delay postponement, and failure to align stakeholder predictions.In conclusion, the analysis of where to implement measures is supposed to be a driving force to raise the awareness of the people at risk and of the decision/policymakers for the need to invest in prevention. Funders and policy makers can seek to ensure that policies and guidelines are set up to fit disaster risk reduction disbursement emerging from different sources within a community.

Naga’s misconception about politics

Media Cell

Liberal Democratic Party of Nagaland

n the Naga society we have been led to believe that politics is evil, corrupted and an anti-social institution because ultimately it all leads to money and its deception on poor innocent civilians. The attitude of the people towards politics in Nagaland cannot be blamed because since the inception of our state government in 1963 we have come all the way to 2017 but still nothing good has ever come about in our society by means of righteous politics. But the notion of politics is only tarnished because we made the decisions of electing uneducated (not just in academic terms but also in terms of values in life) ignorant leaders to run our governments. In the civilized western societies since ancient times many scholars have defined the goals and scope of politics in refined forms which has lead to the evolution of ancient Greek and Roman politics into modern day’s democracy. But since it is in the nature of the Nagas to keep their perspective about life concealed to the boundary of Nagaland, let us examine the nature of politics

from our context. The goal of politics is getting to the bottom of the truth just like ‘art’ and presenting the civilians with a rational system to perceive our lives at. A system with its rational rules and regulations along with freedom for the individuals to co-exist in harmony, a rational system that could pardon or minimize the punishment of a burglar who only broke into the store to feed his weak hungry child, a system that could put a priest behind bars because he commits immoral behavior inside his domain. Ignorant may brand an ‘elephant thief’ and a ‘needle thief’ with the same amount of despise but on rational grounds the gravity of the crime matters and differs according to the motive and situation. The elements in our system should be smart and rational enough to distinguish the case identity of every circumstance. In such manner we Nagas have accepted that since there is corruption in our government, the nature of politics is the one to be blamed and accounted for when in fact it is not politics that is corrupted, it is the ignorant selfish people who are corrupted. For any intellectual person it is not difficult to assert that

there is no rational “politics with purpose” in our government. All there is are just a bunch of ignorant greedy businessmen who has no amount of vision and integrity and shame in there definition of life. And it is us the people to be blamed partially for too, for being weak and easily caving in to their obvious deceptions time and again. Are we Nagas really that ignorant or just simply lazy to stand up for our own rights. The truth for justice is not locked light years away in another galaxy it is right before us in our limits of perception. We can see, feel, taste, hear and smell the injustice in our system every single day in our life. We are reminded of the truth everyday when we travel uncomfortably due to poor road conditions, when we wait ages for govt. schemes only to find out it has been digested by the MLAs and the bureaucrats, when we see and smell the reek of disgusting sewage oozing out of the drains in the city streets, when we lose hope in life due to unemployment, these are the truths telling us to stop being ignorant and lazy and to stand up and fight for our rights if we think we deserve them.

Fellow Nagas, don’t expect a benevolent Naga to spend 100 crores in election and take only his 50,000 salary and allocate the public funds for development. This is just naïve and ignorant on our part if we hope for them to. The solution to most of the problems in Nagaland it seems is only rational politics. We should not lose hope on our democratic government and politics instead we should lose hope on the ignorant leaders because a ‘silent society’ would only get what the mental capacity of a leader can offer. Just because our present politics is corrupted it doesn’t mean politics should be damned. A good politics could bring many good things and happiness not just in social platforms but also in our personal lives. If we accept the reality of our condition and decide to do something about it then together we could glorify Nagaland. It may be difficult at first but in the long run we could accomplish anything with our determination. As long as we wait for a supposedly “predestined protagonist” to come and change Nagaland then every Naga would be waiting until the world finally ends. “If you want to see a change, be the change.”- Mahatma Gandhi.

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.

Thursday 16•03•2017

EntErtainmEnt

k c a b l l o R ’ n k c o R g n i g n i r B

Morung express Feature

hen talented musicians in Nagaland get together and jam, one thing is inevitable. No matter which rhythm you sway to - good old classic rock is always bound to pop up at some point, given how much of it is in our heads, hearts and musical veins. Introducing Lords Of Rock (LOR)the latest musical offering from Nagaland formed with the sole purpose to revive Classic Rock and deliver the sound and the feel of the 80’s Rock n’ Roll scene . A collaboration of musicians from different bands and genresthe band has Imkumer Jamir and Toshimoa Jamir on the Guitars, Akihito Zhimomi playing Bass, Alemtemsu Ozukum on the Drums, and Clement Imsong on vocals. The band is managed by Rockstar EI pvt. Ltd. The musicians themselves in question here state they wanted to try out something different, rather than not going with the flow and in the direction where the contemporary music is

Alemtemsu Ozukum, Clement Imsong, Akihito Zhimomi, Toshimoa Jamir, Imkumer Jamir. (Photo Courtesy/Rain Drops Entertainment)

heading. LOR is the result of watching each other performing on stage. There have always been admiration enjoying each other perform on stage. With the

same taste in music, we ended up com- try rolling and that’s how it happened. ing up with the idea to “Rock and Roll”. Embodying the spirit of a genAfter the first couple of jamming ses- eration who just wanted to rock, LOR sions, there was already good chemis- band members feel that there was once

upon a time when rock music brought people together! “Unfortunately its fading away and we understand that there are many like us who still love the old school music, so we thought “why not?” Rock scene is still popular though it is declining in the charts, they opined. Their heavyweight moniker Lords Of Rock (LOR) was created by the band front man Clement and band manager Mike Mirucki. They explained, “Initially we were thinking of suitable names and we decided that we should be pay tribute to bands that we wanted to cover. Therefore Lords of Rock merged as the best option! We all loved it and so went with it.” With the music going on a roll, the band already has couple of gigs lined up in few major cities in India and an upcoming gig in Dimapur which will be unplugged. Don’t forget to check out Lords of Rock on Facebook and stay tuned for more. LOR had these final words to say: “People should expect really loud and good old Rock n Roll. From the rock vaults, we will be covering Guns N Roses, Bon Jovi, Extreme, Ozzy etc.” When rock stars get together, wonderful things happen! I guess we just have to hear it, to believe. Be there for the free open-air concert at The Garden, Super Market, Dimapur on March 17 at 6:00pm.

Now ShowiNg revIseD TICKeT rATes (silver) : `.120 (Gold) : `. 200 (recliner) : `. 400

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BBC viral interview family: 'We are happy with the blooper...it brought laughter to so many'

Pitbull to Receive Global Ambassador Award

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rammy-winning artist Pitbull will receive the first-ever Global Ambassador Award at the 48th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards ceremony on June 15. The special accolade, which will not be given annually but only when merited, celebrates artists and songwriters whose music has "true worldwide appeal, crossing genre, cultural and national boundaries." "Pitbull’s success, creativity, tireless musical collaboration and his wide-ranging social activism make him the ideal songwriter-performer to initiate the SHOF Global Ambassador Award," SHOF co-chairs Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and President/CEO Linda Moran, said in a statement. The Miami-born rapper's collabs have not only made him a global icon, but also a charttopping artist. "By the way, this is a win for US," he wrote on Twitter to celebrate the news. "I remember when rap was said to be a fad. We are now alongside some of the greatest writers in history."

he man at the centre of a viral BBC interview who was unceremoniously interrupted by his children live on air said on Wednesday he was flattered by the many "gentle sentiments" his family had received after millions watched the video online. Robert Kelly, an American associate professor at Pusan National University in South Korea, had been speaking to the BBC via Skype about the impeachment of president Park Geun-hye, when his daughter marched confidently into his home office. His nine-month-old son, James, slipped in shortly afterwards in a baby walker, followed by his wife, Kim Jung-a, who dramatically chased and expertly extracted both children as Kelly tried to maintain his on-camera composure. "We are just a regular family and raising two young children can be a

lot of work," Kelly said during a news conference at the university. "We love our children very much, and we are happy that our family blooper - our family error on television “ brought so much laughter to so many people."

Kelly's four-year-old daughter, Marion, who captured the internet's attention with her bright yellow top and confident swagger, sat beside Kelly during the news conference. Kim held baby James

on her lap. In a follow-up interview with the BBC on Wednesday, Kelly said he could see a mirror image of the room on his video screen as Marion walked through the door behind him.

"I was hoping that maybe my daughter might sit down and read a book or something, even for thirty seconds until we could just cut the interview, but once my son came in on the little roller, then it was sort of... then there was nothing I could do," Kelly told the BBC. The video was widely shared on social media, with the majority of comments expressing amusement over the incident. One version of the video on a BBC Facebook page had over 86 million views as of Wednesday. Kelly, who is an expert on North and South Korea and makes regular international media appearances, said he hoped the lightheartedness of the video would not harm him professionally. "I'm BBC Dad for a while so, I hope that people will still read my work," he said.

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set of commemorative David Bowie stamps were launched into space in a fitting tribute to the late galactic space rocker. The stamps honoring Bowie's most-beloved albums were sent into the stratosphere on helium balloons on Monday (March 13). According to the British Press Association, 52 sets of the stamps created to honor the one-year anniversary of the rocker's January 2016 death at age 69 were sent into the stratosphere on the special balloons

as an homage to Bowie's 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth. The flight reportedly reached a height of 111,876 feet traveling at a speed of 12 m.p.h. and after the balloons burst the stamps were expected to descend at a rate of 200 m.p.h., slowing to 8 m.p.h. by the time they reached the ground. Fans who correctly guess where the "stamps that fell to earth" landed can win one of the limited-edition versions, which were released on Tuesday (March 14). Source: Billboard

U2's 'Pop': A Reimagining of the Album 20 Years Later 'Despicable Me 3' introduces Gru's twin brother

U2's 'Pop' turned 20 this month, and to celebrate we assembled a new version of the album from live takes, remixes and re-recordings. (AP Photo)

were looming ominously," Bono said. "Pop never had the chance to be properly finished. It is really the most expensive demo session in the history of music." But during the course of the PopMart Tour they made heroic efforts to fix the thing, releasing new mixes of the songs as singles and fiddling with the live arrangements as the tour progressed. The work

03862-237226

Bowie Stamps launched into space

Source: Billboard

2 are going all out to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree this year, complete with a new super-deluxe box set and a stadium tour where they'll play the 1987 LP straight through. Lost in all the hubbub is another major U2 milestone. The 20th anniversary of 1997's Pop came and went this month without a peep from the U2 camp, but that's not really surprising. The electronica-influenced disc polarized fans and critics when it came out. With the exception of the soundtrack to their 1988 film Rattle and Hum, it was their first album that was seen as a disappointment, and it forced them to retreat back to a more traditional U2 sound for 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind. Looking back years later, U2 said the album was marred by their foolish decision to book a stadium tour long before it was ready. "Deadlines

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continued in 2002 when they released The Best of 1990–2000, which featured new mixes of some Pop songs. If you piece it all together, they practically made an entirely new version of the album. The band never did piece it all together, though, so – as promised on a recent Rolling Stone Music Now podcast – we did it for them. Here's a new version of

Pop in the original sequence. It's not better – it's just different. To be clear, we're not saying here that Pop is a bad album. We love it. (The poster has proudly hung in this writer's childhood bedroom for the past 20 years.) This is just a way to hear what it may have sounded like had U2 had a little more time to work on it. Source: Rolling Stones

ew trailer of animated comedy film "Despicable Me 3" gives a sneak peak of the character Gru's twin brother. While the first trailer highlights the film's villain Balthazar Bratt (voiced by Trey Parker), the new sneak peek hilariously reveals that Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) actually has a twin brother named Dru, reports aceshowbiz.com. The sneak peek is set to Dr. Dre's song "What's the Difference" and begins with a butler telling Dru an important thing. "I really must have a word with you on behalf of your twin brother Dru," says the butler. Gru, who is shocked, replies: "Twin brother?!" The teaser switches to a scene in which Gru is taking a flight to visit his twin brother and yelling, "I can't wait to meet my brother!" At the end of the teaser, it is revealed that Dru lives in a huge mansion. The film's plot detail is

still kept under wraps, but it may focus on a sibling rivalry as well as Gru and Lucy's (voiced by Kristen Wiig) attempts to capture Bratt. The first "Despicable Me" movie was released in 2010 followed by 2013's "Despicable Me 2". "Despicable Me" spin-off "Minions" was released in 2015. Also voicing the characters

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Badrinath ki duLhania

in "Despicable Me 3" are Miranda Cosgrove (Margo), Dana Gaier (Edith), Nev Scharrel(Agnes), Russell Brand (Dr. Nefario), Andy Nyman (Clive), Pierre Coffin (Kevin the Minion/ Bob the Minion/ Stuart the Minion/ additional Minions) and Michael Beattie (The Scar-Faced Man). Source: IANS

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Logan

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ThursDAY 16•03•2017

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Leicester stun Sevilla to reach Champions League quarters

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LEICESTER, MaRCh 15 (REuTERS): From heroes to zeros and back again, Leicester City's remarkable rollercoaster ride took another twist as a superb 2-0 victory over Sevilla put them in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday. Down 2-1 from the first leg last month in Spain -- when they were also careering towards relegation -- Leicester rolled back the clock to last season's Premier League title heist as goals by skipper Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton put them in the last eight in their first crack at Europe's elite competition. Europa League aristocrats Sevilla's dream of a first appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals turned sour as Samir Nasri was sent off shortly before Steven N'Zonzi's 80th-minute penalty was saved by Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel. The Dane, whose father and former Champions League winner Peter was watching inside a pumped up King Power Stadium, also saved a penalty in the first leg in which a dominant Sevilla could have won by a landslide. "It is an unbelievable achievement for the club. I am proud of the boys and proud of everybody. We had a game plan, we stuck to it and it came off perfectly," Schmeichel, who made two other important saves, said. Leicester have now won all three matches since Ranieri, the man who led them to the Premier league title last May, paid the price for a woeful run of form that had the Foxes careering towards the ignominy

Juve through after penalty, red card end Porto hopes

Sevilla's Steven N'Zonzi has his penalty saved by Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel. (Reuters)

of relegation as champions. They are still just three points above the drop zone but with Ranieri's former assistant Craig Shakespeare confirmed in full-time charge, they can look forward to a potential clash with the likes of Barcelona or Real Madrid. It looked ominous for Champions League debutants Leicester in the early exchanges as Sevilla sought the away goal that would have put them in complete control of the tie. Leicester keeper Schmeichel made a great save to keep out Nasri's stinging shot, but Sevilla struggled to find the

passing rhythm that had overwhelmed their opponents in the first leg. A well-organised Leicester worked tirelessly and looked dangerous from set pieces and it was from a Riyad Mahrez free kick that they took the lead with skipper Morgan bundling the ball into the Sevilla net with his thigh in the 27th minute. Ahead on away goals the situation played perfectly into Leicester's hands as they sat deep and broke quickly with Jamie Vardy's pace always a threat. Sevilla upped the ante in the second half and came within a

coat of paint of equalising in the 54th minute when Sergio Escudero's swirling effort from 30 metres beat Schmeichel but struck the underside of the crossbar. It proved a pivotal moment as a minute later the ball dropped kindly for Marc Albrighton just inside the penalty area and he was allowed time and space to dispatch a left-foot shot past Sevilla keeper Sergio Rico. Sevilla went desperately in search of a goal but Nasri got himself needlessly sent off in the 74th minute after squaring up to Vardy and bumping foreheads.

Shashank Manohar resigns as ICC chairman MuMbaI, MaRCh 15 (REuTERS): India's Shashank Manohar has resigned as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to personal reasons, the governing body said on Wednesday. Manohar was elected unopposed on a two-year term as the ICC's first independent chairman in May last year and had pushed for reforms that would curtail the influence India, England and Australia wield over the game's finances and administration. "The ICC has confirmed it has received an email from Chairman Shashank Manohar tendering his resignation," the governing body said in a brief statement. "The ICC Board will assess the situation and next steps before making a further announcement." Earlier this month, the ICC agreed "in principle" on a governance structure that included a new revenue distribution model, which seeks to address the current imbalance favouring the 'Big Three'. A final decision on the new strucThe 3-day Annual Sports Meet of government High School, Burma Camp got ture will be taken when the ICC meets underway on March 15 with Asst. Head Mistress Rosemary Jamir unfurling the in April. flag and kicking off the meet at the school premises.

All Nagaland Tennis Championships

Holy Cross School sports underway

DIMapuR, MaRCh 15 (MExN): The 27th All Nagaland Tennis Championships will be held from March 23 to 25 at Chavino Memorial Complex, Kuda Village, Dimapur. According to a press release, the championship will feature events for boys U-14, boys U-16, Men's Singles and Doubles and Ladies singles. Interested players may contact the following people for more information: Vikhozolie- 84130 87643; David Kire- 94362 10338; Asa Khate- 9436261009.

Carmel Higher Sec Sports kicks off DIMapuR, MaRCh 15 (MExN): The Annual Sports Meet of Carmel Higher Secondary School, Dimapur kicked off on March 15 with S. Bokato Sema, Officer Incharge, Diphupar Police Station as the chief guest. According to a press release, the day began with a marathon race at 5:30 in the morning and was followed by the inaugural later in the morning. Highlights of the function included March Past by the four different houses, Aerobics, Flag hoisting etc. The Sports Meet will conclude on March 18.

Nasri received a second yellow card while Vardy, an irritation all night to Sevilla, was cautioned. Sevilla were handed a lifeline almost immediately though when Schmeichel clattered into Vitolo and the referee awarded a penalty. N'Zonzi was handed the task of putting Sevilla back into the tie but his weak kick was saved by Schmeichel. "The players can be immensely proud of themselves," Shakespeare said. "We rode our luck at times but the character was immense. When we needed Kasper the most he came up trumps."

TuRIN, MaRCh 15 (REuTERS): Juventus coasted into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Porto on Tuesday after a first-half penalty and red card ended the Portuguese side's lingering hopes of a comeback. Paulo Dybala converted the penalty three minutes before the break to complete a 3-0 aggregate win for the Serie A side after Porto defender Maximiliano Pereira blocked Gonzalo Higuain's goalbound shot with his arm and was sent off. The defeat put a dampener an historic evening for Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas who made a record 175th appearance in European competition, overhauling Paulo Maldini's total. The Italians never looked like relinquishing their 2-0 lead from the first leg of the last 16 tie in Portugal three weeks ago when Porto also played the second half with 10 men after Alex Telles was dismissed for two bookable offences. "There will always be a doubt as to whether it would have been different with eleven players," said Porto coach Nuno Espirito Santo. "It's not right for a team to be penalised twice, first with a penalty and then a red card." Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was not entirely satisfied. "We need to improve the quality of our football which in the second half left a lot to be desired," he said. "The result isn’t everything.” Porto, backed by a noisy contingent of fans who kept singing until the final whistle, had some early pressure without seriously testing Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Juve attacked in fits and starts and Mario Mandzukic had their first real effort with a powerful downward header which Casillas did well to hold. Porto's hopes of becoming the first team to claw back a 2-0 deficit away from home in a Champions League knockout stage tie ended at a Juventus corner. Former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Casillas made a reflex save from Mandzukic's close-range header but the ball rebounded straight to Higuain whose shot was on target. Pereira leapt in the way but the ball struck his out-stretched arm, the Uruguayan defender was sent off and Dybala confidently dispatched the penalty. Porto had their best chance early in the second half when Francisco Soares broke down the left and outmuscled Mehdi Benatia but the Brazilian, who has scored 10 goals in his last seven league games, shot wide with only Buffon to beat. The rest of the game was like a training session for Juve although Diogo Jota had another chance for the visitors when he broke away late on but shot into the side-netting.

Silver Cup: Tourniquets, Thunders, Hornbills win

[LEFT] Rokovoto of Kohima Thunders Royal Tourniquets receiving the man of the match award from NBCK Sunday School Teacher, Emilo Thapa on March 15. [RigHT] Hekqito of Kohima Hornbills ‘B’ receiving the man of the match award from former convener of Silver, Moon Thabah on March 15. Our Correspondent Kohima | March 15

Royal Tourniquets, Kohima Thunders and Kohima Hornbills ‘B’ won their respective matches on the third day of the ongoing 8th Silver Cup T-20 Cricket Tournament organised by the Nepali Baptist Church Youth Department at Jakhama Local Ground. Runners-up of last year’s edition – Kohima Hornbills ‘B’ playing the last match of the day knocked Woodland Cricket Club by 36 runs. Having won the toss, Hornbills elected to bat and set a target of 165 runs losing 8 wickets with Hekqito scoring highest with 32 runs followed by Sobin’s 26 runs. Woodland bowler Imti picked three wickets while Sepichum took 2 wickets.

March 16 matches

Peraciezie Royals vs Renegades CC Wokha @ 7am Victoria CC, Dmp vs Diphu XI @ 10am Silver White ‘B’ vs KODH CC @ 1pm Chasing the target, Tourniquets home in just Woodland CC lost just 4 10.3 overs. Longsasüng was wickets but only managed declared man of the match to score 128 runs in the for claiming 3 rival wickets 20 overs. Hekqito was de- and also scoring 15 runs. clared man of the match. In the second match of Earlier, in the first the day, Kohima Thunders match Royal Tourniquets beat Emerald Stars by 30 comfortably defeated Ko- runs. Capitals took to bat hima Capitals by 8 wickets. on winning the toss and set Winning the toss, Capitals a target of 120 losing 8 wickelected to bat first, but was ets in the 20 overs. Emerald bundled out in 16.1 overs bowler Hakho claimed two for a paltry 69 runs. Ve- wickets. zuta and Peteneizo scored Chasing the target, all 11 runs each for Kohima of Emerald’s batsmen were Capitals while Tourniquet back in the pavillion by 16.4 bowlers A. Chungshi and overs scoring just 89 runs. Akumtong claimed two Maremo claimed two wickwickets each. ets for Capitals while teamIn the run-chase, Tour- mate Rokovoto grabbed 3 niquets achieved the tar- wickets and also scored 12 get losing just 2 wickets. SS runs for the team to be adAlam’s 28 runs guiding the judged man of the match.

Man Utd charged over FA Cup tie conduct LoNDoN, MaRCh 15 (aFp): Manchester United were charged on Tuesday by the Football Association (FA) with failing to control their players during the explosive FA Cup quarterfinal with Chelsea, English football's ruling body said. United's Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera was sent off in the first half shortly after referee Michael Oliver warned captain Chris Smalling about the continual fouling of Chelsea's playmaker Eden Hazard. Marcos Rojo was also caught on camera seemingly stamping on Hazard's chest in the second half of the match which Chelsea won 1-0 to oust the holders, although the Argentine defender has not been charged. The FA have taken exception more to the reaction of the players when Olivier sent off Herrera, with several surrounding the official and arguing with him over the decision. "Manchester United have been charged for failing to control their players," a statement from the governing body read. "The club have until 6pm (1800GMT) on Friday, 17 March 2017 to respond to the charge." United will be relieved Rojo escaped a potential ban as Oliver's report made clear he had seen the incident.

Commissioner of Police, Limasunep iPS arrives at the annual sports meet of Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Dimapur on Wednesday. (Morung photo) Morung Express News Dimapur | March 15

The 51st Annual Sports of Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Dimapur kicked off with a colourful opening which was graced by Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, Limasunep IPS as the chief guest. Addressing a gathering of students, parents and faculty of the school, Limasunep described the school as an institution of excellence and progress that stands at the heights of educational institutions in the state. He said that the school has a rich alumni contributing to the society in different areas and urged the students to take it as an inspiration to play responsible roles as they grow up.

He was of the opinion that in the present era of ‘creative destruction’ where rapid changes take place, education was the only hope that gives power to deliberate and think positively and give meaning to a world full of confusion. Limasunep said God had gifted every person in different ways and added “educational institutions should promote to find the gem in a child.” He said sports is not only about winning but participation through which love, peace and harmony could be propagated. The Police Commissioner urged the students to have a sense of sacrifice and contribution towards fellow beings and develop oneness. The chief guest was accompanied by ACP Dimapur, Kaino.

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