C M Y K
C M Y K
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 141 • 12 PAGes • 5
www.morungexpress.com
TuesDAY • MAY 24 • 2016
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
o F
at present, our country needs women’s idealism and determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else With Gandhis at rock bottom, Cong comeback a daunting task PAGE 08
Public notice Delivery Time Effective June 2016 Please note that The Morung Express has a new publication deadline of 8:00 p.m., for all documents including press releases, articles and other news items. Any documents received after the new 8:00 p.m., deadline will be published in a later issue. The implementation of the 8:00 p.m. deadline for submission of press releases has enabled us to go to print early. As a result, beginning in June 2016, The Morung Express will now be available in the early morning hours in Jalukie, Tseminyu, Wokha, Zunheboto, Mokokchung, Mao Gate and Senapati. This is in addition to Dimapur and Kohima. We appreciate your continued support. The Morung Express
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
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Implement Women Reservation Bill: NPMCC DimapUR, may 23 (mexn): The Nagaland Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee (NPMCC) today asked that the Women Reservation Bill be immediately implemented. A press note from the NPMCC President, N Lucy, expressed appreciation that the NLA has passed the Women Reservation Bill. “Since the Supreme Court has given its ruling, there can be no second opinion leaving room only for implementation or else face contempt of court,” it stated. The NPMCC further demanded that there should not be any more delay in announcing elections to the town and municipal councils.
Law enforcement sensitized on HIV/AIDS and drug users
T R u T H
— Shirley Chisholm
Manchester United Van Gaal out, Mourinho in
PAGE 02
PAGe 12
have no ill feeling 21,000 teachers to go on ‘iagainst neiphiu rio’ 3 days mass casual leave NPF president Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu seek to dismiss rumours
• Teachers’ agitation to
affect 2069 government schools across Nagaland state • Demands bifurcation of Secondary/Elementary Education from Higher Secondary
Morung Express News Kohima | May 23
Morung Express News Kohima | May 23
From May 24 to May 26; 21,000 teachers in Nagaland will be availing three days mass casual leave in protest against the State Government’s failure to bifurcate Secondary/ Elementary Education from Higher Secondary in the Department of School Education. The agitation which has been spearheaded by the All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) and Nagaland Secondary Schools Field Officers Forum (NSSFOF) demands separation of the two cadres in order to produce quality education. The demand has been going on for 13 years, said ANSTA President Ponchulo Wanth. He said in order to shape and mould the destiny of the future generation, a peaceful environment and good coordination is needed. Wanth however lamented that there are clashes and tussles between the two cadres. And despite many requests, appeals and memorandums served to the government for 13 years, the demands have not been fulfilled. “Till today we didn’t get any response from the
Members of the All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) and Nagaland Secondary Schools Field Officers Forum (NSSFOF) who are set to head a protest of 21000 teachers across the state starting May 24.
higher ups,” stated Visato Koso, General Secretary, ANSTA. In the last meeting this year on April 26, an ultimatum was served where the agitators gave 20 days to the government to fulfill their demands. However with no response; the teachers have been left with no option but to launch the agitation. If no action takes place in the first phase, the second phase will start from June 1 where the teachers will cease work. “We are demanding for segregation of the two cadres so that we can function independently without encroaching in each other’s areas or interfering in each other’s affairs. We are hopeful that we can bring quality and systematic education. We are fighting for what is due to us,” affirmed Wanth. Although the agitation will affect the students, the committee is of the view that its primary concern is for the welfare of the students and to produce quality education.
Branch manager arrested for fraudulent withdrawal DimapUR, may 23 (mexn): Branch manager of Vijaya Bank, Tseminyu has been arrested for fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 88, 94,000 (Eighty-eight lakh ninety four thousand). The Kohima Police, in a press statement through the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (South) & PRO said a fixed deposit of Rs 1, 01, 71,504 (One crore one lakh seventy one thousand five hundred and four) at Vijaya Bank, Kohima was transferred to Vijaya Bank, Tseminyu without the consent or knowledge of the owner. Against this fixed deposit, the accused branch manager, identified by the police as one Yichanpemo Yanthan, who hails from Baghty, Wokha and presently residing at Oriental Colony is alleged to have forged the signature of the individual, applied for loan against the term deposit,
and sanctioned the loan against the term deposit amounting to Rs 87, 50,000. A Savings account was then opened at the Tseminyu Branch without the knowledge or consent of the owner by forging his signature and this was used in transferring and withdrawing the loan amount. When the owner eventually came to know of the transfer, he asked for withdrawal of his fixed deposit, which was transferred to Kohima and withdrawn. With no security for the loan taken, the branch manager was told to clear the loan (totaling Rs 88, 94,000 with the interest). After some delay, the loan was ‘seemingly’ cleared, police said. However, upon checking, it was detected that the loan was cleared only on paper but the cash amount was missing in the chest, police said.
“So many times we have been fooled by the Government,” said one teacher. The teachers have tried to reason why the Department of Higher and Technical Education was created when it had only three institutions. Meanwhile, the government has failed to bifurcate the Higher Secondary section, when there are already 41 Higher Secondary Schools in Nagaland with over 600 employees. The problems, as outlined by the ANSTA and NSSFOF in a memorandum submitted to all concerned agencies appear to be quite a handful. The different academic sessions has hampered the smooth functioning of the school where academic sessions, examination schedules and co curricular activities cannot be conducted together. “On a close observation of the past 6 years academic results of the HSLC & HSSLC examinations, it is found that in almost all the Government Higher Sec-
Gov approves transfer of Yimchunger govt employees displaced from Kiphire Kohima, may 23 (DipR): The Home Department General Administration Branch-I in an office memorandum informed that the Governor has allowed transfer of Government Officials belonging to Yimchunger Community who have been displaced from Kiphire Town due to the prevailing law and order situation. The memo stated that these officers may be attached to other offices outside Kiphire temporarily by the department concerned till the situation normalizes. Further, the Principal Director of the Treasuries & Accounts Nagaland has allowed pensioners to draw their monthly pension from their personal bank account from a designated Government Treasury outside Kiphire district. The memorandum has also directed all the AHODs/HODs of the displaced Government employees to take immediate and appropriate action.
GPRN/NSCN cautions against callous write ups
DimapUR, may 23 (mexn): The GPRN/NSCN today voiced out against “callous and factually incorrect write-ups...” A press note from the MIP of the GPRN/NSCN alleged that the NSCN (IM) “continues to feed the people of Nagaland with outrageous political assumptions more so, post August 3 Accord 2015.” It accused the NSCN (IM) of trying to subject the tribes of Nagaland to “ever changing political terminologies with a hope that a lie told many times over would, in the end, be taken as the truth.” It stated that it required the “prompt response from GPRN/ NSCN because the future of the Naga people cannot be built upon lies and deceit. It further refuted allegations that the Ato Kilonser of the GPRN/NSCN, N Kitovi Zhimo-
mi has “changed tracks in the Naga Reconciliation process.” Stating that the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), with the signing the Covenant of Reconciliation by Naga political groups, has “officially recorded all highest level meetings for posterity,” the GPRN/NSCN asked the NSCN (IM) to check visual and audio recordings of speeches made by NSCN (IM) General Secretary, Th Muivah and GPRN/NSCN Ato Kilonser, N Kitovi Zhimomi at 4th Mile Dimapur Agri Expo meeting in February 2012. It further asked the NSCN (IM) to look at recordings of the Niathu Resort meetings in 2012-13, and the Oriental Theological Seminary (OTS) meetings in 2013-14. The Naga Reconciliation process, it lamented, “lost its momentum because of the non-
disclosure of the charter of demands of NSCN (IM) despite repeated appeal for honest deliberations on the subjects by Naga leaders from other political groups.” The GPRN/NSCN further reminded the Government of India that the present Nagaland state is “not a discarded land inhabited by fools to allow every Toni, Dick and Harry to claim ownership.” “It belongs to indigenous Naga tribes with clear demarcated boundary with great loyalty to their ancestral homeland. Naga tribes live in peace and harmony and co-exist with communities of neighbouring states...the parties trying to decide the future of Nagaland without the consent of the people should clearly know the ramifications,” it cautioned. Full text on page 10
ondary Schools, the result of HSSLC is far better than the results of HSLC, which may be due to the lack of management experiences of Head in lower classes and the differential treatment towards the two cadres,” stated the memorandum, which further adds that the issue is affecting the teaching-learning process and academic performances of the students of the composite Government Higher Secondary Schools. The different entry points into service have given a higher advantage to Higher Secondary teachers in matters of promotion, which is disproportionate. The demands also mention that since ‘the cadre, seniority and promotional channel of the two cadres is different, they cannot be clubbed up together to work under one roof and there can be no meeting point in the service journey.’ The mass casual leave agitation will affect 2069 government schools across the state.
Naga People’s Front (NPF) President, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu on Monday sought to dismiss ‘persisting’ rumors doing the round that the ongoing ‘crisis’ in the NPF camp was the outcome of power tussle between him and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio. “I have no ill feeling or grudge against him (Rio) and also I think no one was having any animosity against him,” Dr Liezietsu maintained while addressing a press conference at the NPF Central Office after a conference with office bearers of the 11th Northern Angami II party, which is Rio’s constituency. The main objective of the conference was to brief and clear the confusion arising out of the suspension of Neiphiu Rio, Dr Shurhozelie said. Rio was suspended from primary and active membership of the NPF on May 17, 2016 for alleged anti-party activities. Both Dr Shurhozelie and Rio are senior leaders and front-runners of the NPF party and credited for bringing the regional party to power by ousting the Congress. Rio, had however denied the charges against him in his reply to the show cause notice served to him, even asking for withdrawal of the same. Pointing out that the decision to suspend Rio was taken by the Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) of the NPF, Dr Shurhozelie asserted, “I am
only protecting the Constitution of the Party.” Dr Liezietsu also reiterated that Rio will continue as Lok Sabha MP and he therefore will have to follow the directives of the party. Without naming any, he however hinted that, “Sooner or later they are going to form a new party. We cannot stop them also.” Meanwhile commenting on NPF’s prospects at the 2018 general election, Dr Liezietsu said the party was still expecting some kind of solution from the ongoing political negotiations between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) before the election. “We still believe that the NSCN (IM) group is doing their best while trying to hammer out a solution,” he said. “In the event nothing comes out from the ongoing political negotiations before the coming State General elections, then we as a political party will be prepared to face the elections,” he said. Also remarking on Manipur election, Dr Liezietsu predicted that Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh might not be coming to power in the 2017 assembly election. He said that BJP will do well in valley and NPF will get at least 14/15 seat out of 20 in the hill areas. There will be coalition government in Manipur next time, he predicted. Dr Liezietsu also informed that Chief Minister TR Zeliang and Rajya Sabha MP KG Kenye would be attending the swearing –in –ceremony of the new government in Assam where Sarbananda Sonowal will take oath as Assam Chief Minister on Tuesday in Guwahati.
Restore citizenship and freedom of movement to Luithuis: ANSAM
Tahamzam (SenapaTi), may 23 (mexn): The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has stated today that it is “not too late” for the Government of India (GoI) to “take a more responsible approach” in the continued persecution of Naga human rights activists Luingam Luithui and his wife, Peingamla Luithui. Luingam’s passport was “impounded” by the Indian government in 1995 and Peingamla was denied a duplicate passport after hers was stolen in 1994. This forced them into “virtual exile” ever since. “It is time that the GOI demonstrate its duty towards individuals it is responsible for and fully restore their citizenship and their right to freedom of movement,” asserted the ANSAM in a press release today from its President, Seth Shatsang and General Secretary, Alexander Hutten. The statement has come in the light of an upcoming hearing regarding the case at the Delhi High Court on May 25. A petition was filed in 2014 to restore their citizenship rights. The ANSAM recalled that Luingam Luithui has been one of the “most inspiring figures of our time” in mobilising organised struggles against militarisation when state repression was “brutal and heavy.” This was at a time when Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in India were “still largely ignorant” of state repression in independent India. It was only the Emergency period in India that revealed these experiences for the first time. Luingam, as a student activist, “actively worked side by side” with civil rights activists from mainland India for the rights of ordinary citizens during this period, noted the ANSAM.
A file photo of Luingam Luithui and Peingamla Luithui
“For the first time, it also drew the attention of the mainland CSOs to the gross violation of human rights taking place in Naga areas.” Eventually, the ground was prepared and the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) was formed in 1978 which anchored the civil rights movement in the Naga areas. This was the precursor to several “path-breaking initiatives” concerning the social and political movement of the Nagas in which Luingam was “instrumental.” “He and his colleagues took several notable cases of military excesses to the Court of India for the first time making the ‘sovereign’ act of the Indian army judiciable,” the Association observed. Noting that his “commitment to human rights and justice extended beyond his own people,” the ANSAM described how Luingam played a “crucial role” in helping Late Laldenga, the leader of the Mizo National Front, and his family after he was arrested and detained on July 6 while in Delhi for peace
talks with the GoI in 1979, including arranging his lawyer Swaraj Kaushal. Starting civil society initiatives for the Naga cause in India led to “exploring the possibility of political solutions to the IndoNaga issue instead of viewing the conflict as simply a ‘law and order’ problem.” This was a critical turning point in the issue for both India and the Naga people. “Before he was exiled by the Indian state, he took the initiative of bringing into public discussions the issue of self-determination as basic human rights of all peoples and societies for a dignified existence,” explained the ANSAM. Luingam also played a crucial role in the formation of several mass-based platforms at the local, regional and international levels, including the International Alliance of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). Luingam Luithui, the ANSAM maintained, “is truly a person deeply committed to Universal Human Rights and Peace and Justice for all.”