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monDAY • november 16 • 2015
DIMAPUR • Vol. X • Issue 312 • 12 PAGes • 4
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
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T R u T H
To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe — Marilyn vos Savant Pharmacy selling cancer drugs at heavy discount opened PAGe 8
Stretching the point: Rubber cottage industry in Nagaland
Holm stuns Rousey with 2nd round knockout
PAGe 2
PAGe 12
four GPrn/nscn cadres killed in tuensang district
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
AR claims it was an ‘accidental encounter’
no project, no funds... There’s nothing to do except to play ‘Candy crush’! C M Y K
The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Rather than taking honest responsibility for failures and challenges are Nagas hiding behind the cloak of religion? Yes
no
others
Will you be willing to provide your private land towards road construction and development in your area? Yes
13% 70%
no others
17%
Details on page 7
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Public Information All press statements, memorandums, articles, reports and news related documents should be sent to the official email address:
morung@gmail.com
Press releases will be accepted only till 8:00 pm Editor, The Morung Express
Power Dept seeks patience
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DIMAPUR, NIOBEMBER 15 (MExN): The Power Department has informed electricity consumers in Pfutsero that the department is working to restore electricity to the area, which has been affected due to the breakdown of a 1MVA power transformer at Chizami town. A press note from the Executive Engineer, Phek Electrical Division informed that the transformer has reached Dimapur central store for repairing. “We are trying to restore the power at an earliest,” he stated, while appealing for consumers to “bear with us for the inconvenience.”
A combination photo shows the blue, white and red colours of the French national flag lit up in buildings and towers around the world in tribute to the victims of the november 13, 2015 Paris attacks. (REUTERS)
IITF: NE traders hope to spread awareness about crafts
NEw DElhI, NOVEMBER 15 (IANS): Exhibitors from northeast Indian states like Nagaland, Assam and Manipur hope to spread awareness about their homeland and expand business at the ongoing 35th edition of India International Trade Fair here. Be it dry flowers made from corn, maize or mushroom, or tea and traditional outfits -- the stalls of northeast India are offering all this and more at the fair, which will conclude on November 27 at Pragati Maidan. “It’s my first time here.
Dry flowers are very popular in Delhi, so my friends told me to participate in the fair,” flower designer Aren Jamir from Nagaland told IANS. Another exhibitor from the state brought colourful dreamcatchers (a handmade object based on a hoop that is hung by the window or at the head of a bed for good luck) to the fair. Women can also buy earrings and neckpieces inspired by the dreamcatcher in colours like yellow, red and purple, to up the fashion quotient. The Nagaland stall also
has loin loom products, shawls with shells, bags, jackets and mobile phone pouches. “We have fests and exhibitions in Nagaland too and we earn profit. Delhi is expensive, but we are here to find new customers and to promote our products,” said Asezo Khanyo, a weaver from Nagaland. And of course, the dry king chilli, dry bamboo shoot and sticky rice also made it to the shelves of the stall. The Assam stall also has eri and muga silk products, handmade paper made
Petrol price hiked by 36 paise a litre, diesel 87 paise NEw DElhI, NOVEMBER 15 (IANS): State-run Indian Oil Corp. on Sunday announced a hike in the price of petrol by 36 paise a litre and of diesel by 87 paise at Delhi, effective midnight. The petrol and diesel rates will experience a corresponding increase in other states, the announcement said. “The current level of international product prices of petrol and diesel and INR-USD exchange rate warrant an increase in prices, the impact of which is being passed on to the consumers with
this price revision,” Indian Oil said in a statement here. The oil marketer said the price of petrol per litre from Monday will be Rs.61.06 in Delhi, Rs.66.39 in Kolkata, Rs.68.13 in Mumbai and Rs.61.38 in Chennai. Diesel will cost Rs.46.80 a litre in Delhi, Rs.50.29 in Kolkata, Rs.54.04 in Mumbai and Rs.48.00 in Chennai. The Indian basket of crude oil closed trading on Thursday at $42.41 a barrel. The figures for Friday will be available on Monday.
Wild elephants creating havoc at Aliba
Union Forest Minister arrives in Nagaland
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DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 15 (MExN): Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar arrived in Dimapur today to start off his tour of Nagaland state. A press note from the state Forest Department informed that the Union Minister was welcomed by Nicky Kire, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Nagaland and Principal Secretary, NN Zhasa, along with the officials of the Forest Department. Dr Anil Kumar, Additional PCCF from North East Zone Regional Office MoEF Shillong and Mughavi Zhimo, Director Airport Authority of India Nagaland, and Kesonyu Yhome , Deputy Commissioner Dimapur were also present to welcome the Union Minister. Javadekar halted briefly at Police House Chumukedima for lunch and later proceeded to Doyang via Helicopter to witness the Amur falcons.
A steel plate used as a makeshift gong to scare away wild elephants in the paddy fields of Aliba village. The Aliba valley which is cultivated by the villagers is being scourged by hordes of wild elephants for the past may years. The villagers have resorted to bursting firecrackers, making fires and using makeshift gongs (as seen in the picture) to scare away the elephants. (Photo by Toshi Kichu)
Morung Express news
Mokokchung | November 15
Wild elephants are creating havoc at Aliba village leaving the villagers at a quandary. Several wild elephants are attacking and destroying the ripe paddy fields of Aliba village, under Ongpangkong range of
Mokokchung district. “We have spent more than twenty thousand in buying crackers to scare the elephants away,” said Lanukaba Ponen, a citizen of Aliba. His paddy field is marked with footprints of the elephants. “We cannot shoot them, all we can do is burst crackers to scare them
away,” said Lanukaba. There are some twenty farmers in the Ailba valley. They are facing the same problem from the wild elephants. The farmers have appealed for the state government to look into the issue and respond to the plight of the people at the earliest.
from sugarcane and citronella plant for home decor, water hyacinth bags, bamboo spoons and knives. The Manipur stall, offering traditional wares, also has lots of handloom products -- muga silk, kurtas, dupattas, phanek and jackets. Tripura’s stall has mostly housed cane furniture, which aroused interest in a lot of consumers on the first day of the exposition. Cane products like glass-holders, pen stands, cups and plates can also be bought from Meghalaya stall.
TUENSANG, NOVEMBER 15 (MExN): Four cadres of the GPRN/NSCN were killed in a shooting in Tuensang district on November 15. The shooting took place at Laikunger (Leongkonger) village, which falls under Shamator sub-division. While there were contradictory versions on the nature of the killing, the Assam Rifles stated it was “accidental” and claimed that it occurred when security forces were operating based on information they received regarding movement of armed NSCN (K) cadres in the area. Unconfirmed reports stated that the shooting occurred around dawn. The four cadres were killed on the spot. They were identified as Sgt Maj. Sangkiu, Sgt Kiumnuhen, Pvt Tokiu and Pvt Wonchi. A press note from the PRO, Assam Rifles claimed that its personnel came under fire from inside a community hall complex, which resulted in a fire fight lasting almost two and a half hours. The AR further stated that they were not aware of the identity of the cadres while the encounter occurred. Only “later in the day, it came to light that these cadres belonged to the GPRN/NSCN,” the AR said. According to the AR, one AK-47, one M-16, two .303 rifles, along with 360 assorted live rounds were recovered from the slain cadres. The AR cited inputs from intelligence agencies in the past week regarding movement of NSCN (K) cadres from Myanmar across the Indo-Myanmar border in the districts of Mon, Tuensang, Zunheboto, Kiphire and Phek. “The NSCN (K) cadres had entered Nagaland to carry out subversive actions against the Security Forces as well as to collect extortion money from various agencies,” it stated. “There were also reports of movement of cadres of NSCN (IM), NSCN (KK) and NSCN(R) in these areas for collection of similar taxes,” it added.
The AR said that the office of the Chairman, Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG)/ Cease Fire Supervisory Board (CFSB) had been approached to “inform all the underground factions having Cease Fire with GoI not to venture out with weapons, specifically in the districts of Tuensang, Kiphire and Phek to prevent any accidental encounter with Security Forces.” It said that the various Naga political groups had been conveyed through the office of Chairman CFMG/ CFSB that if any movement has to take place with weapons then the same should be informed to the nearest Assam Rifles post commander. “Office of Chairman CFMG / CFSB had confirmed to the office of Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) that necessary instructions had been conveyed to the various underground factions,” it added. The slain GPRN/NSCN cadres, the AR claimed, had been “heavily armed” and was “operating in the area of Shamatore without intimating the security forces, and specifically without informing the nearest Assam Rifles post at Shamatore,” terming it as a “clear violation of the Cease Fire Ground Rules (CFGRs).” Terming the encounter as “accidental” and “unfortunate,” the AR appealed to all the Naga political groups to adhere to the CFGRs, and intimate movement of their armed cadres outside their Designated Camps to the HQ IGAR (North) or the nearest Sector HQ/ Assam Rifles Unit. Meanwhile, the GPRN/NSCN declined to comment on the incident until the Assam Rifles makes an official statement. “We will not comment until the AR statement appears in the papers,” said GPRN/NSCN MIP Secretary, Moa Walling when contacted. The CFSB is likely to meet on November 16. It was informed that members of the CFSB will be visiting the place of incident, likely by Monday.
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Nagaland newspaper Editors affirm freedom of the press • Free flow of information and ideas essential to peace DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 15 (MExN): Editors of various English and Indigenous language newspapers in Nagaland today have asserted their role as an independent and responsible free press, and affirmed their commitment to the fourth pillar of democracy. The Editors made this assertion on National Press Day, commemorated on November 16 every year, while reflecting upon a notification issued to Nagalandbased media houses on October 25 this year by the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary unit of the Indian army. “We remain open to critical feedback, and believe that the free flow of information and ideas is essential to mutual understanding and peace in Nagaland,” stated the Editors, including Monalisa Changkija (Nagaland Page), Geoffery Yaden (Nagaland Post), Witoubou Newmai (Eastern Mirror), K Temjen Jamir (Tir Yimyim), M Kire (Capi) and Dr. Aküm Longchari (The Morung Express). The notification, issued by a Colonel of the General Staff for Assam Rifles, levelled, what the Editors termed, “serious charges” that “merit a response” from the Nagaland-based media and the wider media fraternity. In the joint statement, the Editors described the role of media organisations functioning in an environment of conflict “where the search for peace and justice is a critical component of our collective vision and mission in Nagaland.” They noted that as Editors, “our reporting has always been guided by a free, fair, forthright, sensitive
As proponents of the free press, the Editors of Nagaland-based newspapers have renewed their commitment to the right to freedom of speech and expression, peace, democracy and economic empowerment. In that, they shall: (a) remain impartial and non-partisan while exercising our editorial independence that is free from all influences by State, Non-State and Corporate entities; (b) continue to create and provide responsible and healthy spaces and opportunities that are open to diverse viewpoints in a sincere and sensitive manner without infringing on the news quality or the potential for constructive engagement; (c)continue to uphold and safeguard values and practices of nonviolence, democracy, liberty, inclusivity and peace; (d) continue to practice universally acceptable standards and ethics of journalism, in particular peace journalism, while upholding the right to freedom of speech and expression; (e) continue to exercise the right of free press – which also includes the right to freely gather and distribute news, information and ideas without restrictions; and (f) continue reporting events ethically with transparency, accountability and objectivity by verifying and authenticating our sources of information while respecting the principle of confidentiality. and unbiased approach as we work both within the backdrop of Naga history and our current reality.” This ensures that reporting is impartial and inclusive, promoting debate and dialogue, remaining open to critical feedback. Affirming that reporting news by, or from, banned organisations has always been in the spirit of “transparency, inclusivity and fairness,” Editors of the six newspapers maintained that at no point in history have the publications “intentionally” sought to “support a banned organization or to incite and promote violence.” The Editors, thus, expressed concern at the suggestion by the Assam Rifles of media support to an
unlawful organisation. “Is this an attempt to censor, weaken and ultimately silence the role of the media in Nagaland?” They maintained that citizens of Nagaland have the “basic and inalienable right to be informed,” as well as make “informed decisions pursuant to the dream we all share of a Nagaland that is thriving, peaceful and democratic.” Further, by implying that the Nagaland-based media is supporting a particular banned organization, “the Assam Rifles is, ipso facto, jeopardizing the personal safety and well being of the Editors and the media fraternity in Nagaland.” However, the Editors hoped that “this is not the spirit or intent” of the noti-
fication letter dated October 25, 2015, as well as that the joint statement should not be “misconstrued as a tacit support, or against any group in Nagaland.” Viewing the notification within the context of the long standing IndoNaga issue, the leaders of Nagaland’s media appreciated “the historical reality within which we live and work that has many forces as the pursuit of peace and justice,” involving “multiple actors and stakeholders” with “competing interests and positions.” However, the media in Nagaland has remained “non-partisan, impartial and independent by upholding indigenous and internationally accepted values of nonviolence, democracy and peace,” the editors affirmed. With the print media being the primary means of mass communication in Nagaland, “we have carefully and diligently ensured that the editorial process – individually and collectively – acts responsibly, without prejudice, and is guided by universally recognized standards and ethical norms of journalism.” Holding media houses in Nagaland responsible to the Press Council of India, the Editors remained open to “meeting and exploring with democratically elected membersoftheGovernment of Nagaland on issues that would enhance an environment where the media can function freely and where any issues that any party might object to – like the notification from Assam Rifles – can be addressed in a peaceful and constructive way.” Full text on page 6
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