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DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 64 • 12 PAGes • 5
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07 • 2016 MonDAY • MArch 06
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it Delhi, Guj, J-K on high alert after terror threat PAGE 08
IWD and Biodiversity Festival at Chizami
o F
T R u T H
— Confucius
UFC 196: McGregor taps out to Diaz, Tate takes title from Holm
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‘Indian Govt is conflicted between human rights & commercial agenda’ Morung Express news Dimapur | March 6
A global collaboration of NGOs has stated that the Indian Government appears “conflicted between human rights and a narrowly commercial agenda,” when it comes to dealing with the rights of indigenous people over their land. A report published last week by Oxfam, an international confederation of NGOs, acknowledged that India’s Forest Rights Act 2006, if fully implemented, could transform India, where around half of rural households depend on community or common lands for part of their livelihoods. It viewed that the Forest Rights Act, if fully implemented, “could enshrine control for 150 million men and women over up to half of the country’s forests, which are concentrated in India’s most impoverished areas... It would be the largest ever land reform in India and among the largest in the world.” The report cited how after a 10-year struggle, the London-based metal giant Vedanta gave up its battle to mine bauxite valued at $2 billion, which lay beneath the sacred territory of the Dongria Kondh indigenous people in eastern
India. “The company had failed to consult the people, who blockaded roads and rail lines and brought the project to a halt. In 2013, India’s Supreme Court ruled that mining contravened the country’s Forest Rights Act, the government withdrew the company’s right of access to the land, investors pulled out and the company’s credit rating plunged.” It further said that in the Kandhamal district of Odisha, officials collaborating with the NGO Vasundhara have developed mapping processes to help communities claim their forests. The test case was Loyendi. There, the Kondh tribe had been attempting to reclaim forests where they had legally cut bamboo until the state took the land 50 years ago and gave bamboo rights to local paper mills. Under India’s 2006 Forest Rights Act, forests became a community rather than a state asset. Villages with forest dwellers – about a quarter of all villages – are now entitled to a legally enforceable community forest, and access to government funds for forest management. Nobody can take land from communities in tribal areas without their approval. Affirming the law’s interpretation
grabs from more powerful entities like governments and corporations. It said that there is growing evidence of the vital role played by full legal ownership of land by indigenous peoples and local communities in preserving cultural diversity and in combating poverty and hunger, political instability and climate change. The importance of protecting and expanding indigenous and community ownership of land, it said, has been a key element in the negotiations of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change, and is central to their successful implementation. The report launched a ‘Global Call to Action on Indigenous and Community Land Rights,’ backed by more than 300 organizations all over the world. “It is a manifesto of solidarity with the ongoing struggles of indigenous peoples and local communities seeking to secure their land rights once and for all,” the report said. The report was a product of wide collaboration of various nongovernmental organisations including Land Rights Now, International Land Coalition, OXFAM, and the Rights and Resources Initiative.
Children watch a cartoon projected in a refugee camp at the Macedonian border in idomeni, Greece on March 6. (AP Photo)
LLRPO clarifies on Feb 13 meeting
DIMAPUR, MARCH 6 (MExN): The Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO) today issued a clarification with regard to the organisation’s February 13 meeting held at Bhandari. A press note from the LLRPO expressed shock at “persons who attended the meeting misinterpreting at their will what actually did not happen in the meeting.” The LLRPO said that press statement released by ten organisations of the Lotha community on March 4 “was a fabricated interpretation to create mistrust and confusion among us. Any matter pertaining to
Kohima traffic Blues
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
in 2013, India’s Supreme Court called the rights an ‘imperishable endowment’. While implementation of the law has been done in some areas, the report lamented that the government has also announced plans to privatize large parts of its forest estate. “And even a decade after the law came into force, many state administrations tasked with organizing the handover are stonewalling the process,” it stated. It noted that around half of rural households in India derive part of their income from resources on common or state lands often officially categorized as wastelands. For example, it cited how millions of rural Indians live by harvesting wild bamboo. “Community lands may also have huge value for tourism. But national statistics rarely capture this,” it added. The report titled ‘Common Ground’ informed that up to 2.5 billion people depend on indigenous and community lands, which make up over 50 percent of the land on the planet. However, it pointed out that they legally own only one-fifth of the land. The remaining five billion hectares remain unprotected and vulnerable to land
Traffic police for “smooth flow” of vehicular movement in Nagaland capital city Chizokho Vero Kohima | March 6
To ensure smooth flow of traffic in the state capital Church? look...i drink, i Kohima, the Kohima traffic smoke, i gamble. i cheat, i police along with the disrob. How can i go to church? trict administration have initiated various measures The Morung Express and more codes of traffic management are on card. Poll QuEsTion Talking to The Morung Vote on www.morungexpress.com Express, DSP (Traffic) SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Tekasosang Jamir said that expert technicians have Do you believe there is ‘tolerance’ in Naga taken the whole measuresociety? Why? ment of the road and that three lanes will be made wherever possible. Yes no others He said that making Are you satisfied by the three lane systems has performance of the new generation of Naga politicians been necessitated espeand bureaucrats? Why? cially in the main market 16% Yes area, one lane for parking 62% no “since we don’t have parking system.” He did admit 22% others that it would be a diffiDetails on page 7 cult task to make the road three lane, as there is very little space. However, he affirmed that the department The Morung Express would put its best efforts to now has an outlet at the cause. Nagarjan Junction Jamir said that while Police Point, Develwaiting for the completion opment Authority of of two multi-parking facilities, which are under conNagaland (DAN) buildstruction at Old NST and ing, adjacent to the Dimedical old directorate, mapur Town Hall. It they are planning to make will make the newspathree lane systems in these per more accessible to two areas. people living beyond “We have to keep parkthe Railway flyover— ing for the general public, press releases, adverespecially on the extreme tisements, letters to the right of the road,” he said editor, articles and bill adding that improper parkpayments can also be ing is a major obstruction submitted directly to to traffic flow. “We are trythe outlet from now on. ing our best not to obstruct
INFORMATION
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Vehicles lined up in a traffic jam in Kohima. The Kohima Traffic Police along with the District Administration have initiated several measures for smooth traffic flow in the capital.
Areas designated as No Parking Zones
• Opposite side (hill side) of Lotha Sector Church, Kezieke to Pezielietse Junction (Tin Patti) from 8am to 5pm. • 10 (ten) ft. On either side of the electric post in front of new Oking Hospital. • The stretch between Steel Bridge to Naga Bazar Church Junction on NHK-Pezielietsie (Tin Patti) road from 8 am to 5 pm.
Rutsa Bakery (near Old NST). • Near Razhü Point towards Traders Road. Movement of Medium Commercial Vehicles viz.Tata Mobiles, Mini Trucks, etc shall be restricted from 10 am to 12 noon between AG junction to Pezielietsei (Tin Patti) and From Agri police point to PHQ Junction. Mezhür Junction to Lower Chandmari road is designated as One Way EnRoad dividers to be placed on the fol- try only for vehicles coming from TCP Point effective from 8 am to 4 pm. Down lowing locations:• Phoolbari Police Point to Y Junction. vehicles shall not be allowed direct en• Kesa Market (near NST parking) till try/right turn except via TCP Point. the free flow of the vehicles, so we have already put up the road divider board in the busy road,” he said. Stating that vehicles parking from Keziekie to High School road cause obstruction to free flow of traffic, he said: “We want to declare the narrow road as no parking zone in this stretch of the road.” “We want to clear D’ Block parallel parking on the left hand side of the road,” he said adding that no heavy vehicle will be allowed to park. He added that parking in this curved and narrow road would be fined according to the law. “Presently, we are placing road dividers (made of
chain and barricades) in all the busy and commercial places in around Kohima town on trial basis for the smooth flow of traffic,” he further informed. “Once we find it is okay in easing the traffic jam then the administration and police will be constructing the permanent structure of road divider.” The Kohima Traffic Police is also planning to construct a traffic point in the old Tata parking area, to facilitate two lanes, one lane for right turn and the left for down vehicle. He also said that near the 2nd World War tank, one ‘round booth’ will be made called ‘Gulchakar.’
Also sharing the plan of the traffic police, he said, the vehicles coming down from BOC side to PWD office will have to take a U turn. This, according to Jamir would ease up traffic at the PWD junction. “We are trying to remove all the conflict zones. There so many conflict zones in Kohima town road,” he said adding that vehicles coming from PWD side going down to town have to take left turn and go up to Classic Island and take U turn to go to town. While the date for implementation of these measures was not revealed, Jamir appealed for cooperation from the public.
the affairs of LLRPO has to be rooted through this office.” It informed that the LLRPO had not invited any media to the meeting and said that “any news is a creation of an unknown agency to tarnish and defame LLRPO.” It may be noted that on March 4, ten organizations of the Lotha community had condemned a statement allegedly made by a Kilo Kilonser of the NSCN (IM) at the LLRPO meeting that the NSCN (IM) has “identified 25 Lotha intellectuals as troublemakers and would initiate action against them.” The organizations, in their release claimed that this “has been
confirmed through people who attended the meeting.” The LLRPO however cautioned that the “unfounded statements of the persons who attended the meeting shall be held responsible for the mess and creating chaos amongst the community. This is an act of treachery and shall be accountable to the range.” It added that “misleading news and messages regarding LLRPO meeting of February 13, 2016 bears no validity and hence one should refrain and denounce it.” The LLRPO hoped that misunderstandings on this issue would be cleared “among us for the better cause of all.”
‘Protection of human life & dignity is crucial at all times’ GENEvA, MARCH 5 (MExN): The pro- rhetoric scar societies, he said. “They tection of human life and dignity is crucial might offer instant political gratification in at all times, said Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN some quarters, but they result in divisions High Commissioner for Human Rights in that cut deep. Racist, discriminatory and his opening statement to the 31st Regu- xenophobic rhetoric makes it even hardlar Session of the Human Rights Council er for minorities and outsiders to access equal opportunities and basic goods. And (HRC) on February 29. The Council met against a backdrop of so our societies are cleaved. Communities “accumulating departures” from the body grow further apart.” Similarly, when Governments clamp of institutions and laws which States built to codify their behaviour. “Gross violations down against grassroots activists, journalof international human rights law – which ists and political opponents – or scrap the clearly will lead to disastrous outcomes – guarantees of an independent judiciary – are being greeted with indifference,” not- “They are dismantling the integrity of their ed Ra’ad Al Hussein in his stirring speech. societies and the people’s trust and reDuring armed conflict or occupation, spect for fundamental institutions. Crusha complementary body of law – interna- ing human freedoms will not protect us tional humanitarian law – provides addi- from terrorism. It creates dangerous divitional protection, to safeguard the rights of sions and grievances that will lead to more violence,” the UN leadthose fighting, as well as civilians, the sick UN High Commissioner for er maintained. He urged poliand wounded, and Human Rights addresses cy-makers to deploy people who have laid 47 member states of the measures which “endown their weapons. Human Rights Council sure respect for huIt must be applied by man rights,” which will all parties: States – including all foreign forces, in the case of ex- then “extinguish violent extremism more ternal intervention – and non-State armed effectively, and more sustainably, than any crackdown. Justice and human rights groups. “These two great bodies of law are be- are the essential foundation of loyalty,” he ing violated shockingly, in multiple con- said. Ra’ad Al Hussein also urged the 47 flicts, with complete impunity,” observed Ra’ad Al Hussein, adding that it is “ex- Member States, which includes India, to tremely alarming” that so many conflicts, “rise above the crescendo of xenophobia.” crises and humanitarian emergencies are “Cities and civilizations have been irricurrently raging, with “repeated viola- gated by diversity, and have welcomed far tions” of the norms that protect people’s greater movements of people in the past,” he observed. rights and lives. Structural injustice and discriminaNoting that the effects of prolonged conflicts and emergencies will be “en- tion continue to deprive millions of people dured for generations,” the UN High Com- of their right to development. A “shocking missioner stated that “Whether they are number” of women are denied their funthe result of deliberate targeting or sys- damental equality, including their reprotemic incompetence, every single attack ductive rights. “Far too many” people are on civilians and protected civilian objects excluded from vital resources by prejudice must be fully, transparently and indepen- and by the force of crushing inequalities. “The inherent dignity and worth of the dently investigated.” “Instead of taking a reasoned and co- human person; equality between all men operative approach to settling challenges and women; the economic and social ad– including the rise of violent extremism, vancement of all peoples – these human the growing number of armed conflicts, rights principles are the basis of peace,” and the movement of people seeking asserted the leader. Urging them to “rise safety – many leaders are pandering to a above national self-interest and heal disimplistic nationalism, which mirrors visions instead of fuelling them,” he also the simplified and destructive ‘us’ versus asked the Member States to abide by and ‘them’ mind-set of the extremists, and fans protect international humanitarian and a rising wind of prejudice and fear. This bid human rights law. “I urge you to deploy your diplomatic to find unilateral quick fixes for issues that have broad roots is not only unprincipled, power to uphold peace and advance the protection of human rights for all people, it is illusory,” he asserted. Anti-immigrant and anti-minority in other States and within your own.”