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C M Y K
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tuesDAY • MAY 10 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 127 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
o F
T R u T H
So long as we have enough people in this country willing to fight for their rights, we’ll be called a democracy
— Roger Nash Baldwin
ESTD. 2005
How to stop people dying from aid shortages? Tackle the roots of crises PAGe 09
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
NSDMA provide relief money to affected villagers
PAGe 10
community-led conservation Movement for tribal rights Manipur increases wildlife population From may spread to other North East states
newmai news network Senapati | May 9
our Correspondent Kohima | May 9
The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Is the lack of foundation (eg: infrastructure, proxy teachers, delayed salary, text books) the primary cause for poor results in Nagaland Government High Schools? Yes
no
others
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2nd Asom-Naga round table meet on May 13 DIMAPUR, MAY 9 (MExN): The 2nd Round table meet between the Assam and Naga Civil societies under the aegis of the Asom Sahitya Sabha and the Naga Hoho will be held at Hotel Japfu, Kohima at 2:00 PM on May 13. A press note from the Naga Hoho informed that resource persons for the meet include Niketu Iralu, renowned social activist and Dr. Druva Jyoti Bora, President of the Asom Sahitya Sabha as the two main speakers. Tiameren, former Minister, Nagaland and Er Levi Rengma, Parliamentary Secretary for Housing, Government of Nagaland will be the Chief Guest and Guest of honour respectively. The Naga Hoho informed that the sessions will be divided into introductory and technical sessions, where some of the prominent citizens, academicians and Tribe Hoho Presidents and civil societies from Nagaland will be invited to participate in the programme. The round table will end up with a dinner along with the MLA’s from border areas/districts of both the states during which some of the local artists will entertain the gathering. It may be mentioned that the first Asom-Naga Round table meet was held at Guwahati on October 9, 2015, wherein the two neighbours “resolved in strengthening friendship and fraternity and to enhance cooperation between the people of two states in the areas of Art, literature, culture, trade and commerce, protection of environment and most of all the border problem between the two sisterly states.”
Mayweather raises prospect of a possible McGregor bout
PAGe 02
Now, one can hear birds chirping on the road side and in the jungles: CYF
Good news is they’ve forgotten their demand for salaries; bad news is now they are demanding your resignation...
P o W e R
Wild animals and bird’s population in Chakhesang areas under Phek district have reportedly registered a drastic increase following the biodiversity conservation effort of the Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO), which is enforced by the Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF). The jungles of Phek district was turning uncomfortably silent due to rampant hunting of animals and birds before the CPO intervened by way of imposition of ban on hunting all year round since the year 2000. “Now, one can hear birds chirping on the road side and in the jungles,” CYF president Welete Kapfo said. Besides, the ban on adding wild animals or bird’s meat in the menu during VIPs visit and use of wild animals as present also still stand, Kapfo said.
image of a chameleon changing its skin color into blue as captured by this photographer in Phek district. (Photo: Sanyi Dukru)
bird(s) shall be penalized Rs. 5000 per head. As part of enforcing the guidelines, the CYF in association with unit village youth leaders recently conducted its first phase surprise checking and penalized eight violators for trapping/hunting.
Use of chemical(s) for fishing banned The guidelines also prohibit use of any apparatus or equipment(s) (Battery, generator etc) for fishing in the Chakhesang inhabited areas of Phek district. A penalty of Rs. 5000 per head is imposed on Hunting prohibited the offender(s). Use of chemithroughout the year Hunting in Chakhesang cal (s) for fishing is banned inhabited areas in Phek dis- with a penalty of Rs. 5000 imtrict is prohibited throughout posed on the offender(s). the year. It prohibits hunting of bird(s) and wild animal(s) in- Indiscriminate burning cluding capturing, coursing, of jungle prohibited Indiscriminate burning snaring, trapping or baiting of jungle in the Chakhesang any wild animal(s)/ bird(s). A per guidelines of CYF, inhabited areas is strictly proany person carrying weap- hibited. A fine of Rs. 20,000 is on, explosives, firearms, imposed on defaulter(s). The poison, snares and traps or CYF stated that 19 villages instrument(s)/apparatus ca- had violated the resolution pable of anaesthetizing, de- (Indiscriminate burning of coying, destroying, injuring or jungle) this year. The villages include Thukilling any wild animal(s) or
vopisu village, Ketsapo village, Phusachodu village, Khezhakeno village, Mesulumi village, Phek village, Lozaphuhu village, Losami village, Siimi village, Pfutseromi village, Dziilha village, Thenyizu village, Kikruma village, Chizami village, Zhavame village, Leshemi village, Thetsiimi village, Thipuzu village and Runguzu Nagwii village. Ban on collection/extraction of medicinal plants CYF also stated that collection/extraction of medicinal plants in the Chakhesang inhabited areas of Phek district is banned. It has set a fine of Rs. 5000 as penalty on the culprit(s) and goods confiscated by the concerned authority. Ban on import of pig The CPO has also banned import of pigs for slaughter since 2000 within Chakhesang jurisdiction. The main objectives of the ban are to encourage local meat production, prevent cash drain and epidemic disease of pig. However, import of piglets weighting below 30 kg for rearing purpose is permitted
but only after acquiring permit from CYF office. Import of pig above the prescribed weight is strictly prohibited and defaulters are penalized with not less than Rs. 20,000. Second time offenders (s) are panelized with Rs. 20,000, which may also extent up to Rs. 50,000 and complete confiscation. According to Kapfo, as per a study conducted by Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Department, the imposition of ban on import of pork resulted in financial rotation of not less than Rs. 1 crore within the Chakhesang inhabited areas. It helped enhancement of rural economy as well as controlling epidemic diseases of pig. CYF appeals Meanwhile, CYF president has appealed to all to extend their support towards biodiversity conservation effort and work collectively to protect and conserve environment. He said the second phase of the surprise checking would take place soon. The CYF also plans to undertake poster campaign on biodiversity conservation.
Buoyed by positive response from various Mizoram based organizations, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against Anti-Tribal Bills is likely to take its campaign to other states of the NE soon. Leaders of the Committee informed Newmai News Network that intense discussion is underway to chalk out future course of action in this regard even as various modes of agitation initiated by the valley based organisations under the aegis of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) are going on in Imphal demanding the implementation of the three bills--the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue & land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Manipur Shop & Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015— which were passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly last year. Nine protesters lost their lives when security forces tried to control violent protests that erupted in south Manipur district of Churachandpur following the passing of the three government ILP Bills last year. The bills have been referred to as being “anti tribal” and violating the provision of Article 371C and the Manipur State Hill People Regulation, 1947. The Manipur State Government claimed that these three bills do not infringe on the existing rights of the tribal. The clarification from the government, have however, failed to allay the apprehension. It may be noted that May 7, 2016 marked the 250th day of agitation against the three bills. The JAC has alleged that the Congress-led State Government has now passed on the onus to the BJP for converting the three Bills into Acts. It said such divisive tactics of trying to garner political mileage while “displaying utmost contempt for tribal sen-
timents will surely be detrimental to the survival of any political party...” It may again be noted that on December 29, 2015 an 18-member delegation from the Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills met with the Chief Minister of Manipur and his non-tribal cabinet members requesting him to convene a Special Session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly to take a decision on their Charter of Demands submitted on November 9, 2015. Instead, the Chief Minister requested the delegation to give in writing the various parts and portions of the three bills. A six-page document outlining the same was submitted to the Chief Minister on January 11, 2016. “However, Manipur Government continue to show no interest in bringing about any solution to the current impasse and has not sent out any invitation for talks with the JAC ever since. Instead, it has been propagating baseless accusations that the JAC is refusing to talk to Manipur Government while in reality the JAC await invitation for talks from the State Government,” the committee alleged. According to the JAC, to the tribal people of Manipur, the three antitribal Bills have absolutely nothing to do with the Inner Line Permit System. It rather claimed that the withdrawn Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 and the proposed Manipur Unorganized Workers (Control of Infiltration) Bill, 2016 seem to be more in line with the ILP System than all the three “antitribal” Bills combined. The JAC expressed dismay that the constitutional rights of the tribal people in Manipur “have not been executed for many years now.” It however asserted that the movement against the bills and the JAC would not rest until a solution acceptable to the tribal people is achieved. It also cautioned that both the Union Government and the State Government would be held responsible, as any untoward incident would be the result of continued intentional ignorance and indifference to the plight of the tribal people of Manipur.
‘confronting realities: Why Parliament backs anti-hijacking bill providing for death penalty don’t we love ourselves?’
NU PGSU holds 14th Annual Literary Day Morung Express news Kohima | May 9
With the theme ‘Confronting Realities’, the Nagaland University (NU) Post Graduate Students’ Union (PGSU) Meriema Campus held its Literary Day on May 9 at State Academy Hall. The inaugural was graced by renowned Naga Poetess Nini Lungalang, Vice Principal, Northfield as the guest of honour and Mmhonlumo Kikon, Parliamentary Secretary, Labour, Employment & Skill Development & Border Affairs as the chief guest. Lungalang shared the confronting realities that young Nagas today face where many are trying to imitate what they are not. “You are the hope of the future. Unless you are yourself and realize yourself, you can never realize your potentials. Why don’t we love ourselves?” remarked Lungalang further asserting the need for the young to respect their bodies and minds and learning. “We treat ourselves so badly. We just sit back and expect everything from our government. We have to start waking up and confront reality. Be competent. Don’t try to be competitive. Instead of competing with individuals, why don’t you compete with yourself?” asserted Lungalang who also noted that the way to confronting realities is to have discipline which simply means to make an attempt to do the right thing. One crucial example cited by Lungalang was how the young today are not interested in studies any more. Students are ashamed to admit that they study. That’s a kind of inverted snobbery, pointed out Lungalang who further urged the students to discipline themselves and not to wait or depend on someone else to discipline. Lungalang
ended her speech with Shakespeare’s famous lines, “To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any men.” Expressing apprehensions whether the educational training or curriculum of the students is suited for employability of the students, Mmhonlumo Kikon appealed the students to share responsibility of the unemployment problem in the State. “Our idea of success is not based on our reality,” critiqued Kikon, adding that unless the students aspire to be the best, and change the attitude of depending on one’s parents and the government, Nagaland will continue to be mired in the same crisis for a long time. Citing the initiatives of the government of Nagaland where the government is currently training uneducated unemployed youth on basic skills of construction works for two months after which they are employed with the local contractors, Kikon also urged the students to support any activity which aims to promote employment in Nagaland whether big or small. Kikon also emphasized on the need of changing one’s concept of employment and to begin small changes. Also speaking on the debate theme, ‘Clean election in Nagaland is possible through Naga youths’ Kikon encouraged the students to take actions, question authority and change in their own homes and communities. “Once we start changing for what we can change, the State will change. We will have leaders we deserve,” concluded Kikon. The literary day was celebrated highlighted competitions in debates, extempore speech, aphoristic statement, art, creative short story, photography, poetry and duets and choirs. The topic for the literary debate was ‘Clean election in Nagaland is possible through Naga youths.’
NEw DElhI, MAY 9 (IANS): The parliament on Monday gave nod to the Anti-Hijacking Bill that provides for death penalty to the offenders in case of death of hostages or security personnel with the Lok Sabha giving its assent to the legislation on Monday. The bill, which also has life imprisonment as punishment for the offence as well as confiscation of movable and immovable property of the accused, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on December 17, 2014 and cleared by the upper house of the parliament on May 5. Raju said with the bill’s passage, the definition of “hijack” has been widened and penalties enhanced. “We will continue to en-
sure safety of Indian skies,” he said. The bill amends the 1982 act which only provided for death penalty for the hijackers only in the event of death of the hostages. The Anti-Hijacking Act of 1982 had undergone minor changes in 1994. But the need for giving “more teeth” to law-enforcing agencies vis-a-vis aircraft hijacking was felt in India after the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 on December 24, 1999. The use of planes the 9/11 attacked also pushed the need to amend existing anti-hijacking laws. Under the new law, the central government may confer powers of investigation, arrest and prosecution on any officer of the central government or the National
Investigation Agency. It also says an accused cannot be released on bail or bond unless among other things, the designated court is satisfied that there is reason to believe the accused is innocent and is unlikely to commit any offence while on bail. The accused in the hijacking cases have to be tried by a sessions court which is notified to be a designated court by the state government concerned. “In case the investigation is carried out by the National Investigation Agency, the designated court shall be a court set up under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008,” the bill reads. During the debate, members cutting across party lines also remembered Neerja Bhanot, a Pan Am air hostess who died saving pas-
sengers on a hijacked flight in 1986. Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said she sacrificed her life while securing the passengers, while Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress said she was a courageous woman. Telangana Rashtra Samithi member B.N. Goud said the US-based Pan Am did not provide any compensation to Indian crew members. Bhanot, the senior-most flight attendant on board a Pan Am Mumbai-New York flight, was shot dead by terrorists who had hijacked the flight in Karachi on September 5, 1986. She also later became the youngest recipient of India’s highest peacetime military award for bravery, the Ashok Chakra.
campaign against bad roads on May 14
DIMAPUR, MAY 9 (MExN): An organization called the Concerned Citizens of Nagaland (CCN) is set to organize a campaign against the deplorable condition of roads in Nagaland on May 14. A press note from the CCN informed that the campaign, for the moment, will be held at Purana Bazaar and Nagarjan Junction, Dimapur simultaneously from 9:00am till 12:00noon on Saturday, May 14. It informed that this campaign aims to “portray the unbearable grievances and untold hardships faced by the public who commute daily through unmotorable roads even within city limits.” Its main objective, according to the CCN, is to demand quality roads, which is the right of every citizen. “The right-thinking citizens are no longer able to compromise our rights and
the Government is duty and honour bound to provide quality development to the people it represents and governs,” the CNN asserted. The CCN stated that the campaign will be held in a peaceful and non-violent manner with the members distributing free car stickers with slogans to every passing and willing vehicles and will also carry out a signature campaign from “everyone who supports the cause and wishes their voices to be heard by the Government.” The CCN has asked every individual, Churches, Organizations etc to participate in this campaign “by virtue of being concerned citizens of Nagaland themselves.” It further cautioned that the organization would not entertain any “mischief by any person(s) who may try to jeopardise the campaign by trying to
give a different picture to the peaceful, democratic campaign other than the citizens’ genuine cry for better roads.” It asked the District Administration and the Police to ensure that adequate security is provided on the day of the campaign to “dissuade any potential saboteurs or mischief makers from indulging in anti-social and anti-democratic activities.” “The Campaign is not politically motivated in any manner and the CCN is not against any particular leader. Rather, it is a reminder to the State Government of the deplorable road conditions and a wake-up call to action to accord immediate attention and quality workmanship for long-lasting development in the interest of good governance and public welfare which was in negligence for ages,” it added.