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sunDAY • MAY 15 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 132 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it
P o W e R
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T R u T H
— Maya Angelou
All new Innova Crysta unveiled in Dimapur
U.S. to renew most Myanmar sanctions with changes to aid business
o F
Royal Challengers tame Gujarat Lions
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3759 houses damaged by ‘Good roads, citizens’ right’ cyclonic storms in one month
• Citizens take to the streets demanding good roads • Seek Governor’s intervention on execution of road repairs Dimapur | May 14
NSDMA says it disbursed Rs 2.5 crore as immediate relief to affected families
The year was 2012, a year when Nagaland witnessed two unique events in the history of the state. Unparalleled in nature and intent, the two events carved a long overdue course towards constructive citizen activism while kindling a proactive and non-violent approach against government apathy and below par governance. The first event was ‘Mission Potholes’, a concerted campaign that sought to draw the government’s attention to the poor road conditions. What started as mere “comments” in social media materialised into the commentators themselves engineering a symbolic protest. The other was a convergence of the citizenry at the town centre (Clock Tower) in Dimapur following weeks of frequent and extended periods of power outages. Reminiscent of the ‘Arab Spring’, albeit lesser in scale, it was a spontaneous response of citizens against the silence of the government, and the then Power Minister in particular, on the electricity crisis that gripped the state. While actions undertaken by localities in taking it upon itself to patch up roads has become common occurrence, the two events unwittingly set a precedent for citizens here to put to use democratic rights. Four years since, a campaign similar in nature is bubbling with a platform called the ‘Concerned Citizens of Nagaland’ (CCN) spearheading a ‘Campaign for Good Roads’ under the tagline ‘Good Roads, Citi-
DIMAPUR, MAY 14 (MExN): A total of 3759 houses were damaged during the cyclonic storms that ravaged different parts of the State in the last one month. This was contained in a report submitted by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) to the Chief Minister TR Zeliang today. According to a press statement issued by Media Cell, CMO, the Chief Minister, who is also the chairman of NSDMA, has disbursed almost Rs 2.5 crore as immediate relief for the affected families in the aftermath of the cyclonic storms. The Chief Minister had also undertaken an aerial survey of the affected areas in Mokokchung while on his way to attend the Moatsu festival at Sungratsu village and had handed over a check of Rs 10 lakh to the Deputy Commissioner the same day. He also announced equal amounts to the districts of Zunheboto and Mon, while Rs 5 lakh was announced for Longleng district. In the NSDMA report, as per the CMO press statement, in Zunheboto district, the unusual hailstorms at Suruhoto damaged 671 houses and 30 hectares of crops, and that an amount of Rs 39, 58,900 was given as immediate relief by Disaster Management Department. In Mokokchung district, hailstorm/windstorm incidents caused damages to 1,382 houses of which 283 kutcha houses were completely damaged, 280 kutcha houses severely damaged, and 746 kutcha houses were partially damaged. Further, 71 electric poles and 50 embankments were also damaged. An amount of Rs 72, 90,800 was given as immediate relief.
Morung Express news
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Volunteers during the CCn ‘Campaign for Good Roads’ in Dimapur on May 14.
zens’ Right’. The campaign formally took off on May 14 in Dimapur with the CCN members initiating a publicity drive to draw the general populace as well as the government’s attention. According to the CCN, the movement will be spread all around the state. As informed earlier, volunteers assembled at the Nagarjan junction today and distributed stickers bearing the campaign’s slogan on vehicles of willing commuters. Volunteers in smaller groups were later spread out to other important intersections of the city. One of the core members of CCN termed Saturday’s initiation as a “subtle move to create awareness.” The member chose not to comment further citing that the CCN has made its intention clear in the representation submitted to the Governor of Nagaland through the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur.
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The representation, while bringing the Governor’s attention to the deplorable road conditions, maintained that the CCN was the result of a group of likeminded individuals from different walk-of-life banding together through social media to start a peaceful people’s movement. Stating that the campaign has received overwhelming response,
the representation said, “We have received moral support and solidarity from the citizens and various organisations which signifies that an urgent desire for change in the condition of roads is strongly felt by the common people…” The change in condition of roads must come with quality workmanship for long-lasting and progressive development, it stated, while adding, “We take this opportunity to further appeal to the Government to rescue the citizens through progressive governance in the interest of public welfare.” It further sought the Governor’s immediate intervention to direct the officials in concern to execute road repair works “on a war footing.” “We are hopeful that the cries of the citizens would not fall on deaf ears and that the Government will heed this genuine desire of the masses and provide good and lasting roads to the citizens…”
PCI seeks special law to protect scribes US warns of China troops build-up on India border
NEW DELHI, MAY 14 (PTI): Strongly condemning the killing of two journalists in Bihar and Jharkhand, the Press Council of India (PCI) today demanded enactment of a special law to ensure safety of scribes even as it set up two fact-finding committees to probe the incidents. In a statement here, PCI chairperson C K Prasad also rued that in 96 per cent of such cases, the matter is not taken to logical conclusion. “It is a matter of grave concern that three journalists were killed in the country in the last four months and another died in a tragic accident while on the line of duty,” he said. “Corruption, extortions , “I urge upon the Government of Insexual immorality..killings... dia to enact a special law for protection let’s leave all these to God since we don’t have enough fund to take on such problems.”
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inister for Roads and Bridges, Y. Vikheho Swu when contacted said he was aware of the campaign for good roads which begun on Saturday. The R&B Minister who is currently out of station, however declined to give a comment while maintaining that he would address a press conference on the issue once he return from his trip.
In Longleng district, hailstorm incidents affected 34 villages from five circles namely, Yachem, Sakshi, YongnyahSadar and Longleng. The devastation left 342 partially damaged houses, 245 severely damaged houses and 56 fully damaged houses. An amount of Rs 23, 48,700 was given as immediate relief. In Mon district, significant damages were made to houses, road infrastructure, power line, schools and paddy fields in several pockets ofthe district. A total of 614 houses were damaged. An amount of Rs 53, 22,300 was given as immediate relief. In Wokha district, 449 houses were damaged by incidents of hailstorm/ windstorm. Damages were also caused to infrastructure and plantations. An amount of Rs 18, 14,400 was given as immediate relief. On the April 29, 2016, thunderstorms and windstorms were reported in Kohima and Dimapur and other sub-divisions of the districts but no major damage were reported. Officials from Disaster Management were immediately directed to the affected districts where they visited the sites of disasters. The officials assisted the district administration in assessing the damages and also in providing prompt financial relief. Disaster Management is constantly in contact with the District Administration/District Disaster Management Authorities monitoring the situation closely and specially assessing any significant needs. Disaster Management and the State Disaster Response Force are on ready alert mode for any eventuality, the CMO in its statement assured. Apart from the amounts released by the Chief Minister from the CM’s Relief Fund and the amounts released by the NSDMA, a proposal is being worked out for grant-in-aid to be taken up with the Government of India, it further informed.
of journalists and speedy trial of cases of attacks and assaults them in special fast track courts as recommended by the Sub-Committee for Safety of Journalists appointed by the Press Council,” the PCI chief, who is a former judge of the Supreme Court, said. He also noted that 96 per cent of the cases of killing of journalists have not been taken to logical conclusion and are either languishing in the courts or in some cases, investigation reached deadend in the last two decades, as reported by a Committee of the PCI. He called upon editors, managements and working journalists in the country to launch a campaign to sensitize the civil society on the dangers of killing of journalists with impunity.
WASHINGTON, MAY 14 (PTI): China has increased defence capabilities and deployed more troops along the Indian border, the Pentagon has said, as it warned of increasing Chinese military presence including bases in various parts of the world, particularly Pakistan. “We have noticed an increase in capability and force posture by the Chinese military in areas close to the border with India,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for East Asia Abraham M Denmark told reporters during a news conference here after Pentagon submitted its annual 2016 report to the US Congress on ‘Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China’.
However, Denmark said it is difficult to conclude on the real intention behind this. “It is difficult to say how much of this is driven by internal considerations to maintain internal stability, and how much of it is an external consideration,” he said in response to a question on China upgrading its military command in Tibet. The Defence Department also warned of China’s increasing military presence including bases in various parts of the world, in particular Pakistan - with which it has a “longstanding friendly relationship and similar strategic interests”. “China most likely will seek to establish additional naval logistics hubs in countries with which it has a long-
standing friendly relationship and similar strategic interests, such as Pakistan, and a precedent for hosting foreign militaries,” the report said. “After a five-day military standoff in September 2015 at Burtse in Northern Ladakh, China and India held a senior-level flag-officer meeting, agreed to maintain peace, and retreated to positions mutually acceptable to both sides,” it said. The Pentagon said tensions remain with India along their shared 4,057-km border over Arunachal Pradesh (which China asserts is part of Tibet and, therefore, of China), and over the Askai Chin region at the western end of the Tibetan Plateau, despite increases in ChinaIndia political and economic relations.
Manipur Bills: examining the different perspectives Nagaland-Manipur Peace Activists’ Meet ends Morung Express news Dimapur | May 14
Three contentious bills introduced by the Government of Manipur – The Protection of Manipur People Bill, The Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms Bill and The Manipur Shops and Establishments Bill – dominated the morning session of the last day of the Nagaland-Manipur Peace Activists’ Meet held here at Life Spring Corner from May 13 to 14. Peace activists from Manipur deliberating on “Issues from Manipur” were divided into four groups representing the Meiteis, Naga women, NGOs and mission workers. The Naga women group termed The Morung Express the bills as “anti tribal” since they Poll QuEsTion werethree passed in the Manipur Assembly Vote on www.morungexpress.com without the consent of the tribal peosMs your answer to 9862574165 ple or Hills Area Committee and thereIs the lack of foundation fore a violation of Article 371 (C) of the (eg: infrastructure, proxy Constitution. teachers, delayed salary, text A tribal representative from a books) the primary cause church based organization said the isfor poor results in Nagaland sue of implementation of Inner Line Government High Schools? Permit (ILP) in the Protection of Manipur Peoples’ Bill and as insisted by Yes no others the valley based Joint Action Commit-
tee (JAC) has created tension between the Meiteis and the tribals. Had the JAC consulted the tribal people, then the issue would not have gone thus far, the representative observed. He said there is lot at stake for the tribal people since the Hills districts (tribal land) cover 90% of Manipur’s total area though the tribals have only 20 representatives in the 60-member Manipur assembly. The representative also pointed out to a clause in the Protection of Manipur Peoples’ Bill which mentions 1951 as the cut-off year for a person to be called as indigenous inhabitant of Manipur. He said many tribals would be deprived of indigenous claim if the cutoff year was implemented since in the early 1950’s, most of the tribals were uneducated and ignorant of census exercise and still many were apprehensive of giving details during those troubled times. “Why go back to 1951 when Manipur itself attained statehood only in 1973,” another representative added. The tribal groups also expressed concern that under sections 14 (A) and 14 (B) of the Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms Bill, even non-Manipuris or non-tribals can purchase or be allotted tribal land. They pointed out to the two types of land holdings in the state, the “revenue land” of Imphal valley district and “reserved land” of Hills
district where land ownership remains with the people. The Meitei group said the difference between the valley and hill peoples on the three bills is one of “misunderstanding and misinterpretation.” The group maintained that of the three bills, only the third bill is new and cited the case of Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms Bill, which the group maintained was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1960, before Manipur attained statehood. The valley people are only insisting on what was passed by Parliament, a representative of the group said. The representative also raised doubts whether some groups in the Hill districts have used the opposition to the bills as an “opportunistic movement,” especially against the backdrop of the “Peace Agreement.” He also said the resignation of the NPF MLAs from Manipur Assembly has made the issue more volatile. He however admitted that the people pushing the bills should be more liberal and said the 1951 cut-off year should be changed to a later date, say 2016. Another representative from the valley group also admitted to “flaws” in the bills and said some interest groups might be working to push the bills in a hurry. Peace activist from Dimapur, Ahidur Rahman, chaired the session.
A way forward: listening & dialogue
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ollowing a sharing of issues through the day, the last session saw peace activists from Manipur and Nagaland come together in formulating a way forward from the current impasse. Deliberations gave rise to the creation of a ‘working group’ that would formulate the next course of action in order to bridge gaps through a process of dialogue between neighbouring communities residing in the two states. The “process oriented” NagalandManipur Peace Activists’ Meet was minutely moderated by NESRC’s Dr. Walter Fernandes leading to its successful outcome. “We have come together amidst a situation of anger, fear and hopelessness to find a space for just peace,” noted Dr. Pangernungba Kechu, lecturer at OTS, while summarizing the two-day meet during its valedictory session. It is here that “we need to develop a macro picture of just peace activism,” he reflected, by developing a narrative shorn from the securitization perspective of the State. The ‘working group’ formed today, Dr. Kechu hoped, would facilitate the understanding of the ‘other’ as well as the culture of dialogue, listening and respect. “We have to be informed by some normative standards,” he said. These
would include affirmation that every human culture is unique and we live in a world of interdependent existence which should create the onus for a shared humanity, working with a sense of “planetary citizenship,” guided by a paradigm of “feminine principles” that include an attitude of care and preservation. “As we collectively begin a journey of shared solidarity through sharing of stories, we hope to share each others’ concerns and engage with them together which will make the journey a meaningful one,” said the OTS lecturer. This would be further enhanced by tapping into the human trait of empathy, said Pradip Phanjoubam, Editor of Imphal Free Press, adding that empathy is “soft wired” as well as “nurtured” in human beings. Based on this, such platforms of sharing can be created at all levels (and also already exist, as in marketplaces) that facilitate day-to-day communication between neighbouring peoples, he noted. “It is only when the Nagas and Meiteis sit together and talk that we will realize that we have similar suffering and experiences,” he concluded, also observing how the Peace Activists’ Meet had already bridged some gaps in perception of each others’ states.