November 25th, 2015

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

wednesdAY • november 25 • 2015

DIMAPUR • Vol. X • Issue 321 • 12 PAGes • 4

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

o F

C M Y K

T R u T H

The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. AHODs & HODs deliberate on Hornbill fest and NLA Session

Turkey downs Russian warplane near Syria border PAGe 9

PAGe 2

PAGe 12

chopper crash-lands in Meluri • Top govt officials were travelling from Kohima to Meluri • Six people including two pilots are injured Morung Express News Dimapur/Meluri | November 24

C M Y K

C M Y K

Six people onboard a Pawan Hans helicopter had a narrow escape on November 24 as the chopper crashlanded at the Meluri Helipad, Phek district.

All six onboard, including the two pilots, survived the crash with injuries.

Among the passengers included two officials from the Centre, Mukesh Mittal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (Disaster Management wing) and Ashok Kr. Singh, Additional Director, department of Agriculture, Government of India. They were visiting Meluri on an inspection tour and were accompanied by two Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) officials when the crash occurred.

The NSDMA officials were Johnny Ruangmei, OSD to NSDMA and David Thupitor, DPO, Disaster Management. The two-man helicopter crew comprised of Captain Viveshwaram and co-pilot Vijay Singh.

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Potholes brought the helicopter down? That’s crazy.

I think dust brought the helicopter down.

C M Y K

C M Y K

NPF says NPCC’s outburst on Speaker’s decision irrational DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The NPF Central Office has termed it unfortunate that the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has criticized the Office of the Speaker thereby bringing disrepute to the non-political office.

A rejoinder from the press bureau, NPF Central Office said the NPCC president has not applied his mind on the issue, and cited the 2014 ruling of the Guwahati High Court of when the Court had over-ruled the decision of the Speaker disqualifying three NCP MLAs who had merged with the BJP. The Court had ruled that according to the provisions of antidefection laws two-third of the legislators can merge with another political party.

The NPF said that it would have been surprising if the Speaker had not accepted the erstwhile Congress legislators’ merger with the NPF. It added that the Speaker had taken a considered decision taking into account rulings of the High Court, and the NPCC terming it as a “mockery” is tantamount to contempt of Court.

The helicopter, which provides passenger sorties in the state, was chartered by the NSDMA to take the officials from the Centre to inspect interior villages in Meluri sub-division, which were affected by flash floods in August this year.

The helicopter took off from Kohima and arrived at the Meluri Helipad at around 11:00 am. The Deputy Commissioner of Phek and other administrative officers were also present at the helipad to receive the officials.

General Manager of the Nagaland State Transport (NST), which oversees the operation of the Pawan Hans helicopter in the state, said that the accident occurred while landing. Quoting reports from Meluri, the GM said that it reportedly lost control as it touched ground. A thick cloud of dust kicked up by the rotor was stated to be the cause, the GM informed.

All the occupants were rushed to a Primary Health Centre in Meluri, where some of the injured received stitches. The injured

India hold the upper hand against Proteas in third Test

‘Adamant’ nagaland govt yet to pay teachers’ salaries When survival is jeopardized, situation compels an individual to act contrary to professional ethics: ANSTA

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) has slammed the Nagaland state government for non release of salaries to teachers in the state.

A press note from the ANSTA President, Ponchulo Wanth and Treasurer, Temjenyapang termed the scenario as “bleak,” while citing Special Education Teachers under IEDSS who have not been paid for the past 17 months; RMSA teachers not paid for 6 months, Hindi Teachers for 5 months; and SSA teachers for 3 months.

“The reason why salary is not paid to The Helicopter attempting to land at Meluri Helipad, Phek on November 24. the teachers is best known by the government because government is the appointing authority and teachers are normally appointed as per the availability of budget provision,” it stated.

The ANSTA stated that while services of the teachers are utilized in times of need, their wages are not paid “which is a serious crime being committed by the concerned authorities…” “That workers deserve to get wages is a universal truth and being mentioned several times in the Christian Bible.

The hope/aspiration/moral of many teachers has now been reduced to the lowest level owing to non-regular payment of salary.

Many hard working teachers are being made like beggars due to non-release of their salaries by the government in time,” it stated.

The situation is worsening with the coming of the festive season and the ending acaWreckage of the Helicopter after it crash landed. demic session, where expenditure shoots were later air lifted to Ko- ti by another Pawan Hans services in state because a up and all school related pending fees of the hima by an IAF chopper. helicopter. standby chopper has been children need be cleared (without which reFrom Kohima, the two piMeanwhile, the crash is brought in, stated the NST sult will be withheld), the ANSTA reminded.

It further stated that “when the basic neceslots were taken to Guwaha- unlikely to affect chopper General Manager.

sity (salary) of the teacher is not paid regularly, the situation itself compels teachers to hunt for other means for survival leaving aside the school duties.” “When survival of an individual is jeopardized, situation compels him to act in contrary to his/her professional ethics though it is difficult to swallow,” claimed the ANSTA. While asserting that students are the primary concern for them, it however stated that the government’s ‘unresponsive/adamant’ attitude compels “teachers to resort to agitation/strike which in turn hampers academic activities sometimes.”

It cautioned that failure to release the pending salaries would force the association to protest in the strongest terms.

Aggrieved Hindi teachers to protest on November 26

Meanwhile, the All Nagaland Aggrieved Hindi Teachers Association (ANAHTA) has decided to go ahead with the agitation on November 26 from 8:00am onwards. The ANAHTA is demanding release of pay and arrears due to Hindi teachers appointed under CSS (2012-13) immediately; implementation of the MHRD letter, dated November 27, 2014; and implementation of future RoP in vogue of the state as per appointment order. The ANAHTA stated that the teachers “can take it no longer” as repeated appeals to the department has turned out to be a “joke.” It stated that the officers are “completely oblivious to the untold hardships of the teachers...”

The All Nagaland Hindi Teachers Union (ANHTU) has also expressed support for the protest called by the ANAHTA. While informing that officers have assured that the process is underway, the ANHTU questioned, “why the department is taking such a long time” and whether the department had submitted the necessary documents to the centre on time.

C M Y K

C M Y K C M

Court summons NEHU, Kohima College NPA appalled by Gov’s support for on CM’s educational qualification issue AR diktat to Nagaland newspapers

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): A court order has summoned the Registrar, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Shillong and Principal/Registrar, Kohima College to produce records pertaining to the educational qualification of Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang.

In an order, Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kohima, Court, Tucuno Vamuzo, summoned the NEHU registrar to produce records of the educational qualification of the chief minister in respect of the examination of BA (Bachelor of Arts) held during the year 1978-1979 and 1979-1980.

It also summoned the principal/ registrar, Kohima College to produce records pertaining to the qualification of Zeliang along with his mark sheets in respect of the examination of BA held in the year 1979 and in the year 1980.

The Judicial Magistrate informed that it received a criminal complaint filed by one Maziezokho Nisa under section 125 A of the representation of

Peoples Act 1951 against the accused/ respondent TR Zeliang, Chief Minister of Nagaland.

In a separate press statement, Maziezokho Nisa alleged that TR Zeliang, who holds the highest office of the State, has made a false claim and declaration on his educational qualification and therefore has misled the people. “It is a great insult upon the entire Naga population and he no longer has any moral authority to continue in the chair,” the press statement from the individual claimed.

According to Nagaland Legislative Assembly record and election affidavit of 2013, the chief minister claimed to have graduated from Kohima Arts College in 1979 and 1980.

However, as per RTI information, he allegedly failed in all subjects in 1979 and had no record of appearing BA exams in 1980.

The court has fixed November 30, 2015 as the date of appearance for the complainant witnesses to record their statements.

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The Nagaland Press Association (NPA) today stated that it is disturbed and appalled at the outright support expressed by the Governor of Nagaland state, PB Acharya, to the Assam Rifles in curtailing the Editorial rights of Editors of local newspapers in Nagaland.

The NPA demanded that the Governor clarify his statement and the Assam Rifles withdraw its diktat imposed on the Nagaland media without delay.

“It is beyond our comprehension that the Governor of a State has empowered its soldiers to issue executive orders against the media which is considered as the fourth pillar in democracy,” said a statement from NPA President, K Temjen Jamir and Vice President, H Chishi.

The NPA questioned whether news reports re-

garding international terror outfits such as the ISIS or Al Qaeda that are routinely published in newspapers all over the world, in India, as well as in Nagaland, are now considered as unlawful by the executive or security forces of the State?

“If the publishing of news about threats and possibilities of trouble, or dangerous situations, likely to be created by an unlawful organisation is considered as support to the said organisation by the media, then the intelligence capabilities of the State are in serious doubt. It is tantamount to putting the security of the people and the State at great risk,” the NPA said.

It asserted that as responsible media persons working in conflict situations, “one of our primary roles is to provide balanced reports without any fear or favour so that the principle and objective of

the free press is served for the benefit of our society.”

As responsible and conscious media organisation in Nagaland State, the NPA stated it is disturbed by the thoughtless utterance of the Governor supporting the diktat of the Assam Rifles issued to media houses in Nagaland.

Governor’s statements highly questionable: Naga Hoho The Naga Hoho has meanwhile termed it “highly questionable” on the part of Nagaland Governor for “blindly supporting the diktats of Assam Rifles as if there is no established systems and government in Nagaland under the constitution of India.”

It urged the Nagaland state government to intervene immediately “on what is permissible under the law of the land.” The Naga Hoho re-

minded that it had previously apprised RN Ravi, Interlocutor to the Naga peace talks and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju on the violation of cease fire ground rules and intrusion on the freedom of press by the Assam Rifles.

The Naga Hoho further cited statements made by the Governor, which it stated have “demeaned the office with which the Naga people never had any confusion in the past.” Stating that the Naga Hoho cannot accept derogatory statement made by the Governor of Nagaland, it added: “We Nagas had no issues with the past Governors and we expect the present Governor, who’s office holds such high esteem by the Naga people, not to misuse it to project any religious issues which will hurt the sentiments of the people, after all India is a secular country.”

Y K

C M Y K

National Peace Convention in Nagaland from Jan 30-Feb 1, 2016 Morung Express News Dimapur | November 24

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

To address the rising threat of fundamentalism and violence in the world, the second edition of the National Peace Convention (NPC) 2016 will be held in Nagaland from January 30-February 1, 2016.

The occasion will see social activists, educationists, Rotarians, journalists, business persons, NGO representatives and people who will work for peace and universal solidarity from India and the world over converge in a unique pledge for peace at Hotel Acacia, Dimapur.

“There is an urgency of gathering the peace-loving people from all over the country and the world to

act for peace and human solidarity,” chairperson of the local organising committee of the Convention, Dr. CP Anto at a press conference at the Peace Channel conference hall here today. The NPC will coincide with the 10th founding anniversary of Peace Channel, a youth peace movement indigenous to Nagaland State.

The first NPC was held in Indore in 2015, which led to the National Peace Movement. The NPC’s second edition has been organised by this Movement in collaboration with Peace Channel, People’s Forum for Peace, Universal Solidarity Movement, Rotary International (Districts 3240 and 3040), North East Institute of Social Science & Research and other organisations.

“The entire North East

Local organising committee members of the National Peace Convention after the press conference held at Peace Channel conference hall in Dimapur on November 24 (Morung Photo)

region has been a cauldron of conflict and violence since the Independence of our country,” noted an overview, stating why Nagaland was chosen to host the second NPC. “As such, many of the North Eastern states have become synonymous with conflict and much about the North East

region is shielded from the other parts of India in different ways.”

The Convention will thus highlight the issues faced by the North East and attempt to formulate a way forward towards peace.

“Dimapur is mini India.

Many communities and religions converge here, and

it is required of us to work together for peace,” said Dr. Taku Longkumer of the People’s Forum for Peace.

More than 200 participants from India and abroad will witness talks by renowned personalities like Medha Patkar (social activist), Tushar Gandhi (great grandson of

MK Gandhi), Dr. Wati Aier (convenor, Forum for Naga Reconciliation), Niketu Iralu (peace activist), Dr. Thomas Menamparampil (Nobel Peace prize nominee) and KK Sema (IAS retd.) among many others.

700 more youth from the North East region, particularly Nagaland, will also converge at Town Hall, Dimapur on February 1, the last day of the Convention, to listen to a talk by KJ Alphons, a retired IAS officer and a leading name in the field of motivational talks for youth. February 1 will also see exposition of culture, traditions and artistic talents displayed by youth during a cultural fiesta.

Individuals or organisations interested in attending the convention may register with a fee of Rs. 2500 (does not include

accommodation or travel), informed the organising committee today. Accommodation for these participants has been arranged at Hotel Acacia, Hotel Theja Fort, Hotel De Oriental Dream, Don Bosco Agency for Integral Development Action and Development Association of Nagaland.

Registration is not needed for those participating in the program on February 1. The event also includes a sightseeing package of tourist attractions in different North Eastern states (after the Convention), for which registration has to be done separately. For details, people can write to nationalpeaceconvention2016@gmail.com, peacechannel05@gmail. com or contact the organisers at +91 9856092469.

Related news on Page 5

C M Y K C M Y K

C

2

wednesdAY 25•11•2015

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

C

M

M

Y

Y

K

AHODs & HODs deliberate on Inter-Ministerial Central Team visits Mon Hornbill fest and NLA Session Kohima, November 24 (mexN): The AHODs and HODs meeting was held in the Secretariat Conference Hall on November 24 where various agenda items and other important issues were discussed.

Chief Secretary, Pankaj Kumar IAS, who chaired the meeting, requested the AHODs and HODs to be on preparation for the winter session of NLA session which would be held on December 14 with the starred questions and other related matters and also with Departmental reports etc.

Secretary Tourism, Angau I. Thou requested all the AHODs and HODs to have cooperation and coordination with the Tourism Department for the ensuing Hornbill Festival. She informed the meeting that there would be ‘No Plastic Zone’ at Kisama during the Hornbill Festival and also informed about the dress code that everyone has to wear a piece of Naga traditional item on their attire.

Relating to the Hornbill Festival, the Chief Secretary said that there should be some selected officers to take care and to manage for the sitting arrangements especially during the inaugural programme.

He added that the flagship festival could probably create the image of the State.

In this regard the Secretary

C M Y K

C M Y K

Home also informed that the Home Department requires two Liaison Officers with vehicles, each from 12 selected Departments, and requested the Departments to send the names of the Liaison Officers who would also be in charge for necessary arrangements.

While reviewing the last meeting minutes, Chief Secretary, Pankaj Kumar IAS reminded the Departments that they should keep on updating their websites and that no department should be left with their websites not updated. The Chief Secretary also said that the information from many departments is yet to come as there are only 16 Departments which have been authenticated so far. Therefore, he requested the Departments to send their data to the P&AR Department for PIMS to be completed early.

The meeting also deliberated on New Pension Scheme where the Secretary Finance said that a meeting between the Finance Department and Treasuries and Accounts would be held shortly.

While reviewing the last meeting minutes the Director IPR, also informed about the pending Advertisement Bill by many Departments where the Chief Secretary and Secretary, Fi-

nance also informed on the single window clearance to be routed through IPR Department.

Regarding the Civil List 2016, the Chief Secretary requested all the Departments to update it in their website on or before December 15 as it is important to be included for compendium. In the meeting presentations were also given by Geology & Mining Department, Labour & Employment, NSDMA and SQCB. The Commissioner & Secretary IT&C also informed that the Department of IT&C will be organizing a 1 (one) day workshop/training programme on e-Governance awareness in collaboration with the e-Governance Academy, Estonia for State Legislators, Administrative Head of Departments and Head of Departments on November 27 at 12:00 noon at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima. During the programme the online application for issue of Schedule Tribe Certificates and the on-line application for issue of Indigenous Inhabitant Certificates under e-District Project will be launched by the Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang. Minister for IT&C, P. Paiwang Konyak will be gracing the occasion as the guest of honour.

moN, November 24 (DiPr): Inter-Ministerial Central Team led by Mukesh Mittal, Joint Secretary (LWE), Ministry of Home Affairs along with representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Road Transport & Highways and Rural Development visited Mon Headquarter on November 24 and inspected the landslide and land sinking area of Tanlao Ward.

After inspecting the affected homes and sinking areas a short meeting was held with the public of Tanlao ward. In his short speech, Mukesh Mittal assured the people that he will discuss the issues seriously with the Ministry to ensure the safety and development of the public. He also appealed to the Deputy Commissioner Inter-Ministerial Central Team led by Mukesh Mittal, Joint Secretary and others and DC Mon to adopt long term perspec- inspects the landslide and land sinking area of Tanlao Ward. (DIPR Photo)

tive plans to avoid such calamity in the future. He informed that the matter has been incorporated with the State Disaster Management Authority for assistances and termed the incident as very unfortunate for the people of Tanlao ward.

It may be mentioned that the area of Tanlao ward has been sinking slowly since 2012 affecting the lives and properties. Since then many families has evacuated their homes to safe locations while many more families are still living in a high risk zone. The School building of Edith Douglas was very badly affected by the land sinking compelling the school building to shift to a safe location. Over the years students of this school has suffered a lot interrupting their daily classes during monsoon seasons.

NERSNA Kohima silver Naga Chef Season jubilee on November 29 three is back

Kohima, November 24 (mexN): The North Eastern Region Service Nepali Association (NERSNA) Kohima will be celebrating its 25th years of Establishment by organizing a Silver Jubilee program on November 29 at State Academy Hall, Kohima at 11 am.

PB Acharya, Governor of Nagaland and Kiyaneilie Peseyie, Minister for Social Welfare & Parliamentary Affairs, Nagaland will grace

the occasion as Chief Guest and Guest of Honor.

The program will be marked by the release of Souvenir and memento followed by culturla program and lunch. A press note issued by Maniram Ale, President and Tekraj Rijal, General Secretaryhas informed all delegates attending the program to contact the following numbers for details of the program.

9856439782/9436435630

C

Assam Rifles conduct Ex-servicemen rally

DimaPur, November 24 (mexN): Assam Rifles conducted an exservicemen rally under the aegis of Headquarters IGAR (North) and Headquarters 6 Sector at Urban Hatt, Dimapur on November 24. The rally fulfilled its aim of reaching out to the Assam Rifles Ex-Servicemen residing in Nagaland/ Assam. 600 Ex Servicemen attended the event predominantly belonging to districts of Mokokchung, Wokha, Dimapur, Kohima and Peren, as well as those belonging to the Karbi Anglong and Golaghat districts of Assam which are located in the vicinity of Dimapur.

The Rally organized for the first time on such a large scale was a great hit among the Ex-Servicemen.

The response was overwhelming and surpassed all expectations. The Rally provided the Ex-Servicemen an opportunity to resolve their grievances related to Pensions, CSD facilities, Medical or any other aspects concerning them. The Event included Stalls manned by repre-

DGAR, Lt. Gen. HJS Sachdev (seated) along with IGAR (N), Maj Gen MS Jaswal and other Assam Rifles officers interacting with Assam Rifles ex-servicemen and their widows at the Assam Rifles ex-servicemen rally held at Urban Haat, Dimapur, on Tuesday. (Morung Photo)

sentatives of Pension Cell, Record Branch, Pay and Allowance Office, Assam Rifles Ex-Servicemen Association (ARESA) and State Bank of India. For resolution of any other issues, a ‘General Grievance Cell’ was established in which specific problems faced by Assam Rifles Ex-Servicemen were registered and on the spot advice provid-

ed. For welfare of Ex-Servicemen, Stalls for Aadhar Card, CSD Smart Card, Waste Management, ICICI Bank, Postal Branch and Employment Forum were also established. These Stalls aimed at providing on the spot Aadhar/ Smart Cards, sensitize Ex-Servicemen about finance/ investment schemes and apprise them on employment op-

portunities.

A ‘Medical Camp’ was also established and medical facilities to include Eye Specialist, ENT Specialist, Dentist and Lady Doctor were made available and free medicines disbursed to the needy.

During the Rally, six Veer Naris and four War Veterans were also felicitated.

World Vasectomy Day observed DimaPur, November 24 (mexN): Female Sterilization & RCH Outreach Camp cum observation of World Vasectomy Day was organized at CHC Medziphema under Dimapur District on November 23.

The programme was held to make Family Planning and Sterilization for male and female easily accessible to all and to increase awareness of family planning, immunization, care during pregnancy and women and child health in general and also shape in-

formed citizens. The camp was also organized to create awareness on the facilities available to increase the general well-being of both mother and child.

During the camp, 14 Tubectomy were performed, 1 ICUD insertion was performed, and 190 condoms were distributed and 3 women opted for Mala-N contraceptive pills. A total of 72 availed free examination and medicines during the camp, of which there were 5 ANC cases, and 10 immunizations.

K

Penatavalent vaccine was also launched in CHC Medziphema during the camp to be included in the immunization schedule.

The team of medical personnel to perform the sterilization was led by Dr. Mhaleneinuo Modesta Belho, Gyneacologist, District Hospital, Dimapur. Dr. Lanuakum, DPO (RCH/UIP) also attended the programme as Supervisor. The Senior Medical Officer, Dr. M. Phom and his team of Medical Officers examined the OPD patients.

THANK YOU KUZHOLUZO (AZO) NIENU

Lieutenant General HJS Sachdev, AVSM, SM, Director General Assam Rifles while addressing the gathering brought out that that the welfare and well being of the Ex- Servicemen of Assam Rifles is of paramount significance to him and all steps will be taken to ensure that they will be looked after in all matters.

He also interacted with large number of Ex Servicemen personally to look into their grievances.

The Ex-Servicemen who attended the Rally conveyed their utmost satisfaction and pleasure at the conduct of the event and desired that such rallies should be held more frequently in the future also. They expressed their gratitude to the organizers for inviting them to the rally and the care that was taken into their welfare and well being.

Director General Assam Rifles complimented Major General M S Jaswal, YSM, SM, Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) and Brigadier Brijesh Dhiman, Commander, 6 Sector Assam Rifles for the excellent conduct of the Rally.

M Y K

Naga Chef Season Three participants with the organizers and the judges.

Kohima, November 24 (mexN): Naga Chef Season three is back to promote Naga indigenous cuisine and to provide a platform to entrepreneurial Naga chefs to showcase the delectable range of Naga food to the world. Naga Chef aspires to keep the age-old Naga recipes alive and to let the world discover the soul-filling and mouth-watering wonders of our local cuisine.

The screening round was conducted at Hotel Legacy, Kohima. To get into the competition the contestants presented full course meal of indigenous Naga cuisine to the judges, 14 contestants have qualified to compete for the prestigious Naga Chef Title which will commence from November 24.

For the third series we have some familiar contestants from the previous two series of Naga Chef. The competition has number of rounds that will help identify the different skills required to be a successful chef and entrepreneur. The contestants will be assessed on specific cooking skills like creativity and innovation, knowledge of local cuisine, art of cooking, ability

to work under pressure, attitude and teamwork.

The winner will be awarded a cash prize of 5 Lakhs and the top four contestants will get an opportunity to showcase their talents by running local food stalls during the Hornbill festival this year. The judges for the screening round were Chef Joel Basumatari, Alemjungla Jamir and Sentila T Yanger.

C M Y K

ANPHAT- dish of the day

Naga chef is organized by Synergy Group Enterprise and supported by Department of Tourism, Government of Nagaland. The pantry partner is The Green Caravan (linking Green Nagaland) which in partnership with Synergy Group will supply organic herbs and vegetables to the Naga chef pantry. The media partners are Nagaland post, Eastern Mirror and The Morung Express.

Butchers directed to utilize NPSC to celebrate golden jubilee DMC Modem Abattoir

DimaPur, November 24 (mexN): All butchers, meat traders or livestock dealer of Dimapur are informed that in view of providing safe and Hygienic meat to the consumers, all the animals viz Cattle, Buffalo,Pig and Goat are to be slaughtered in DMC Modem Abattoir located at Burma Camp, Khatkati Road, Dimapur .

Therefore, in pursuance of the guideline given by the Municipal Affairs Cell Government of Nagaland Vide No MA-102/2015 Dated Kohima; November 2, 2015, all the butchers and meat traders are directed to

utilize the facility and service of DMC Modem Abattoir already established for the said purpose with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, all butchers, meat traders or livestock dealer are directed to get registered their firm/ Name with DMC Veterinary Cell and obtain Trade License on or before December 31. This order shall come in to force with immediate Effect. Failing to comply with this order necessary action shall be initiated against the default/defaulter as per provisions of Nagaland Municipal Act 2001.

Kohima, November 24 (mexN): The Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) will be celebrating its golden jubilee on November 27 at 11:00 AM at NPSC Office, New Capital Complex, Kohima. Chief minister T.R. Zeliang will grace the occasion as the chief guest. NPSC chairman A. Yanang Konyak will deliver welcome address while power point presentation will be made by NPSC deputy secretary Kelhouseto Nakhro. Vote of thanks will be proposed by NPSC secretary Sarah R. Ritse.

Dimapur police launch website ‘A reflection of the Nagaland Police to march with the times’ Morung Express News Dimapur | November 24

C M Y K

Seen is the destroyed paddy field and the rice being distributed to the affected families The 19th A/C Phek NPF Unit through the kind contribution of its Hon’ble MLA Shri. K. Azo Nienu has distributed around 400 quintals of rice to the victims of Natural Calamity under 19th A/C Phek to those persons whose paddy fields has totally been wiped out during this monsoon season.

Therefore through this press release the President and his colleagues of 19th A/C NPF Phek express their heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble MLA Shri. K. Azo Nienu and family members for helping the Natural calamity victims under 19th A/C Phek.

API VADEO President, 19th A/C NPF Phek

NUCHICHO KEZHO General Secretary 19th A/C NPF Phek

The Dimapur police has gone online with the launch of its official website (www.dimapurpolice.in). The website was launched on November 24 by the DGP, LL Doungel at a programme held at the office of the Commissioner of Police.

The website was designed and created by the Dimapur police without any outside help, stated Commissioner of Police, Liremo Tsopoe Lotha. ACP

(Special Branch), Kilemtoshi was the brain behind the creation of the site. The launch of the site is one of the endeavours of the Dimapur to build stronger interface with the public, Lotha said, while adding that it is also a major leap for the Dimapur police for providing service through the tool of digital information.

The Director General of Police regarded the launch of the website as a reflection of the Nagaland Police to keep pace with the times.

While stating that the traditional ‘beat policing’ has

remained indispensible, he said that law enforcement cannot afford to only stick to traditional methods. “The information and services provided through the website will act as force multiplier for the department and at the same time make the services of the police to the citizens more convenient.” According to the DGP, the launch of the website also shows that the state police have good inhouse talents.

The website features general information of the Dimapur Police, besides

a portal for accessing and downloading forms for which initially citizens had to physically visit a police station or the Commissionerate to collect. Now, with ‘form downloading’ service available via the website citizens can do away with the trouble.

It also has a ‘Contact Us’ feature through which information or queries can be sought or be provided to the police. Individuals using this particular feature will have the choice of maintaining confidentiality of identity.

C M Y K

WednesdAY 25•11•2015

NORTH-EAST

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

3

BJP opens account in Manipur assembly Ruling CPI-M won two Nagar

Panchayats uncontested in Tripura

6 hurt in violent scuffle Cong retains seat in Mizoram, loses in M'laya during victory celebration ShilloNG AizAwl, November Marngar secured 1,257 votes only.

Our correspondent Imphal | November 24

The BJP on Tuesday opened its account in the Manipur assembly after its candidates were declared victorious in the November 21 by-poll held in the two assembly seats of Thongju and Thangmeiband constituencies in Imphal.

However, violence marred the victory celebration, injuring at least six people in gun fire. The injured have been admitted to Advanced Hospital here, according to sources.

BJP nominee Thongam Biswajit got a total of 14,605 votes defeating his closest ruling Congress candidate and former minister Bijoy Koijam who secured 11,393.

Manipur Democratic People's Front (MDPF) candidate Dr Gurumayum Tonsana Sharma managed to get only 54 votes.

In Thangmeiband, BJP candidate Khukmucham Joykishan won the seat securing 12,104 votes while INC nominee Jyotin Waikhom got 10,197. MDPF fielded Dr Gurumayum

Tonsana Sharma as party's candidate in both the constituencies. He secured only 55 votes in the constituency.

The by-poll was necessitated after the two assembly seats had been left vacant after sitting Trinamool Congress MLAs Thongam Biswajit and Khumukcham Joykishan were disqualified under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

With this victory, the BJP has opened its account in the Manipur assembly.

Now in the 60-member assembly, the ruling Congress has 50 MLAs, the Naga People's Front (NPF) and Trinamool Congress have four MLAs each and Nationalist Congress Party and Lok Janshakti Party have one MLA each.

At least six persons were reportedly wounded when guards manning UNACCO office building, a private financial institution, opened fire on a group of people celebrating the victory of BJP candidate Thongam Biswajit at Khonhman Zone-II in Thongju.

The incident occurred

North east Briefs

Union home secretary meets ULFA, Assam govt representatives

New Delhi, November 24 (iANS): Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi on Tuesday met representatives of the Assam government and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) here and reviewed the progress made in the ongoing parleys with the rebel group. "Discussions were cordial. The participants agreed to meet again as soon as mutually convenient to move the peace process forward," a ministry of home affairs statement here said. During the meeting, ULFA leaders, led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, appreciated the government efforts for the repatriation of ULFA leader Anup Chetia from Bangladesh. They urged the Centre to associate him (Anup Chetia) with the ongoing peace process as well. In response, the home secretary said the request would be examined by the authorities concerned.

One carrying arms nabbed along Assam-Meghalaya border GuwAhAti, November 24 (Pti): A 30-year-old man carrying arms and ammunition has been arrested along Assam-Meghalaya border in Assam's Kamrup (Metro) district today. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the police and CRPF nabbed the man from Noonmati village in the district this morning, a police spokesman said. The person has been identified as Ariston Ronghang and four SBML guns, three rounds of ammunitions and some gun making tools have been recovered from his possession. An FIR has been filed against the person and it was yet to be ascertained whether he belonged to any particular outfit, the spokesman added.

41 gm heroin seized in Mizoram AizAwl, November 24 (Pti): Forty-one grams of heroin was today seized by Mizoram Excise and Narcotics department's Anti Narcotic Squad in Aizawl today.

Department spokesperson Peter Zohmingthanga told PTI that the seized contraband is worth around Rs 1.2 lakh in the local market. Thanhmingliani (45) of Khawzawl in Mizoram-Myanmar border Champhai district was arrested in this connection and she was charged under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The drug was reportedly smuggled from Myanmar via 404-km-long porous Mizoram-Myanmar border. Meanwhile, the state excise and narcotics department declared Thursday, the polling day for election to the 19-seat Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) as a dry day. A press statement issued by the department said that officials, armed with breath analysers would be deployed in all the 19 counting centres . The votes polled would be counted in convenient halls within the respective wards immediately after completion of the polling.

PM pays tribute to Assamese War Hero Lachit Borphukan New Delhi, November 24 (Pti): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tribute to 17th century Assamese war hero Lachit Borphukan on his birth anniversary saying he is India's pride and his valour in the battle of Saraighat can never be forgotten. "On his birth anniversary, I salute Lachit Borphukan. He is India's pride and his valour during Saraighat war can never be forgotten," Modi tweeted. Borphukan was a commander in the erstwhile Ahom kingdom and is known for his leadership in the 1671 battle of Saraighat that thwarted a drawn-out attempt by Mughal forces to capture Assam.

24 (Pti): Opposition Hill State Democratic Party (HSPDP) today retained the Nongstoin Assembly seat in Meghalaya defeating ruling Congress candidate by a margin of over 2,700 votes in the November 21 bypoll.

This is the second loss for the ruling Congress in a span of one month after it lost badly in the Garo tribal council elections held last month.

HSPDP candidate Diostar Jyndiang won the bye-election by a margin of 2,763 votes over rival Congress candidate Gabriel Wahlang to retain the seat held by its former president for a very long time.

While Jyndiang secured a total of 11,179 votes, Congress candidate secured a total of 8,416 votes.

The lone woman contesting the byeelection, Fenella Nonglait, secured 3,128 votes and the Opposition United Democratic Party candidate Mosklandar

just after noon when large crowd of jubilant supporters of Thongam Biswajit who were participating in victory procession was blocked by UNACCO guards in front of the office building, resulting in a skirmish.

Consequently, some enraged members from the crowd slapped the guards followed by stone-pelting.

They further rained stones on the building and then

Meanwhile, former Mizoram health minister Lal Thanzara of Congress was today declared elected in the bypoll to Aizawl North-III Assembly seat with a thumping majority.

Lal Thanzara, who is the younger brother of Chief minister Lal Thanhawla, scored 1,498 more votes than the total number of votes secured by Mizo National Front candidate K Vanlalvena and NDA nominee Lalduhawma.

While Lal Thanzara scored 6,175 votes followed by Vanlalvena who bagged 2,790 votes, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee Lalduhawma managed to get 1,887 votes and NOTA at 64 votes.

The by-poll in the constituency was necessitated by the resignation of Lal Thanzara as a legislator and health minister on August 18 last due to allegations of 'conflict of interests'.

threw a number of petrol bombs on the building as well as the residential building of Ningombam Irabanta, the owner of the private bank.

The guards fired in retaliation injuring at least six people in the process.

Meanwhile, the UNACCO office, the residential building and three shops caught on fire in the incident. Two fire tenders

AGArtAlA, November 24 (Pti): The ruling CPI-M in Tripura has won all the 11 wards of Jirania Nagar Panchayat in West district, six of the eleven wards in Amarpur Nagar Panchayat in Gomati district and seven of the 15-member Municipal Council of Khowai district without any contest, a state election official said today.

Member Secretary of the state election commission, Tamal Mazumder told reporters that 886 candidates of different political parties and Independents were in the fray for the 20 civic bodies in Tripura, including the 49-member Agartala Municipal Corporation, which would go for poll on December 9. However, in the election to 49 wards of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) the opposition has put up candidates in all wards.

The CPI (M) has put up 42 candidates, CPI 3, RSP 2 and Forward Bloc 2; the Congress and BJP have put up 49 candidates each. 175 candidates are in the fray for AMC, Mazumder said. He

BJP's Assam MP alleges award returnees took money, apologises GuwAhAti, November 24 (iANS): Rameswar Teli, a BJP Lok Sabha member from Assam, on Tuesday alleged that litterateurs from across the country returned their Sahitya Akademi awards for money.

He later apologised, saying his statements were not intended to hurt anyone.

Addressing a press conference in Dibrugarh on Tuesday, Teli, who represents Dibrugarh constituency in the Lok Sabha, said renowned litterateurs including Assam's Homen Borgohain had taken Rs.10Rs.15 lakh and returned the awards to blame the BJP government at the centre.

"People who returned the awards were all those who got the Sahitya Akademi awards during the Congress tenure. They did not receive the awards during the BJP government's time. They returned the awards after taking Rs.10-Rs.15 lakh," he alleged.

Teli's remark, however, triggered sharp reactions from various sections of society, forcing the BJP leader to withdraw his statement immediately.

"I apologise to the people of Assam for my remarks. My statements were not intended to hurt anyone," Teli told news channels immediately after his remarks were telecast.

Noted litterateur Homen Borgohain, who is also a journalist, had last month returned the award to the Akademi as a mark of protest against growing intolerance in the country.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi termed Teli's allegation baseless, unfortunate and disrespectful.

"Such an allegation is an insult to the fraternity of journalism and intelligentsia in our society," Gogoi said.

Reacting to the allegation, Borgohain said: "I just want to say that if a politician resorts to this kind of comment, it is unfortunate. If this kind of politician comes and fills up political parties, it is unfortunate for the state."

Regional political party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) termed the allegation unfortunate and asked the Lok Sabha member to restrain himself, while farmers' body Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) also condemned Teli's statements.

Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who was recently appointed BJP's Assam unit chief, called up Borgohain and apologised for Teli's comments. He also asked the parliamentarian to apologise before the people.

Ministers, MPs concern over delay in NE projects New Delhi, November 24 (Pti): Union Ministers and MPs cutting across party lines today expressed concern over the delay in completion of various development projects in the Northeast and asked the state governments to ensure their speedy completion.

At the 3rd meeting of the Consultative Committee for the DoNER Ministry held here, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said state governments have a tendency to seek funds for new projects while the ongoing projects remained pending for long.

Secretary, DoNER, Naveen Verma informed the members that the backlog of projects now ran into more than Rs 2,000 crore.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who

participated in the discussion as a special invitee, underlined that project delays are unacceptable.

Singh stresses on timely completion of DoNER projects by the state governments.

Participating in the discussion, former Lok Sabha Speaker and National People's Party MP P A Sangma said the DoNER Ministry and the North-Eastern Council should not merely act as funding agencies, but also plan and monitor the projects.

Congress MP from Meghalaya Vincent H Pala proposed that vigilance and monitoring committee be constituted to oversee the timely execution of projects.

Members and the Union Minister also discussed the utilisation of

ASI releases four books in Braille on NE archaeological site GuwAhAti, November 24 (Pti): Four books, published in Braille, on archaeological sites in the North East have been released for the first time by the Archaeological Survey of India, Guwahati Circle here.

The books in braille include a guide book on Sivasagar, three brochures, a booklet on Sri Surya PaharArchaeological Museum in Goalpara and Stone Jar of North Cachar, Assam, Superintending Archaeologist Dr Milan Kumar Chauley said today.

along with a large number of police personnel rushed to the spot, but they were barred from entering the area by the angry crowd.

It is reported some 60 percent of the structures had been gutted in the fire till the filing of this report.

Sources said the UNACCO’s managing director is a staunch supporter of Congress candidate Bijoy Koijam.

886 candidates of different political parties and Independents were in the fray for the 20 civic bodies

The brochures in Braille include Monuments of Sonitpur and the four tombs (Maidams) of Ahom kings at Charaideo in Assam and monuments of Tripura, he said.

The publications in Braille are the first of its kind published by the Guwahati circle for the visually challenged visitors to the site and it has been printed at the Government Braille Press in Guwahati.

Chauley said that the guide book is the first of its kind by the Archaeological Survey of India printed in Braille and is for free distribution.

The book was released by Assam Governor P B Acharya during the ASI's ongoing 'World Heritage Week'.

The Week is celebrated every year from November 19 to November 25 to create awareness about the cultural heritage of the country.

The Guwahati Circle is celebrating the same this year at six of its monuments in the North East-- Rangghar and Ghanshyam House in Sivasagar, Bhubaneswari Temple at Rajnagar and Unakoti in Tripura, Sri Surya Pahar at Goalpara and Bamuni Hill at Tezpur in Assam.

Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR).

They also expressed concern over the delays in projects implementation and misappropriation of funds.

CHRIStIAn InStItutE OF HEALtH SCIEnCES & RESEARCH 4tH MILE, DIMApuR (REFERRAL HOSpItAL) VACANCIES BE in Civil Engineering (with minimum 2 years experience) Diploma in Civil Engineering (with minimum 5 years experience) for immediate appointment as site Engineer.

Candidates should submit the prescribed application form along with their supporting documents by 1st December 2015. Application form can be downloaded from our website (www.cihsr.in) or collect the form from the HR Department And address it to The HR Department, Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research, 4th Mile, Dimapur-797112 Or e-mail to: hrd.cihsr@gmail.com Contact Number: 03862-242555 (Extn no. 2213) ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION! Specialists at CIHSR (Referral Hospital) Doctor’s Name Specialty For whom Date Dr. Mithun Jacob Varghese Cardiology All patients with heart 6th to 12th December Associate Professor CMC Vellore diseases and high BP 2015 Dr. Suseena Nephrology All patients with 13th to 16th December Professor CMC Vellore kidney problems, 2015 kidney failures, and requires dialysis Book for appointments from now on.

Call 03862-242555,242531/32/33

CIHSR 8th Annual Day (Referral Hospital) Theme: “His compassion never fails.”

Lamentations 3:22

Exhibition of Hospital Services & Free Screening for Diabetes, Hypertension, Hepatitis B & C Screening for deafness (27th & 28th Nov) by : Nawka- Hearing Aid Centre (Guwahati) (for appointment call 03862-242532/3) Inauguration by:

FOR SALE

Land (100x110 feet) with RCC-foundation (3160 Sq feet) Near Imkonglenden Welcome Gate behind Super market (Dimapur).

Genuine buyers may contact: 9862922820

said that security arrangements were made to ensure a free, fair and smooth election to civic bodies statewide. The central government informed that no central paramilitary Force would be dispatched in the civic body elections.

Altogether 537,968 voters, including 268,754 females, are entitled to cast their votes in the municipal elections through Electronic Voting Machines. The Agartala municipality was elevated to the status of Agartala Municipal Corporation two years ago. The civic body was formed in princely Tripura in 1871 during the reign of Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya.

Chief minister Manik Sarkar, also CPI-M politburo member, will address altogether 24 rallies in eleven days between November 26 and December 6 in Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) area, 13 Municipal Councils and 6 Nagar Panchayats in the state, party sources said.

The state unit of BJP announced that MHRD minister Smriti Irani and Tollywood film and TV star, Roopa Ganguly would campaign for the party.

The three sitting Congress MLAs of Agartala, Sudip Roy Barman, also Leader of the opposition, Gopal Roy and Asish Saha are in the campaign. TPCC president Birajit Sinha, also a former minister is campaigning mostly in Nagar Panchayat areas of the state.

Dr. Kenny David

Associate Professor, CMC Vellore

Venue: CIHSR Campus, near Chapel area Date: November 28, 2015 Time: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

SÜMI KIPHIMI KÜQHAKULU (SKK) Platinum Jubilee

AZÜUMI KUPOSHUKULU (Old Timers Conclave)

KUKUSSÜ

Sümi sakiphemi khiu noqo no azüu 1940 lono 2015 mipe dolo Sümi Kiphimi Küqhakulu lo müla ighi keno kümütsü ‘Azüumi Kuposhukulu’ küpüghu lo puloniqhiyi ighi no Jubilee kükümügha ighilu peni ke alokivishi kussü ani.

Atsala : Ahunaqhi 27, 2015 KITOHO S. ROTOKHA Püghümipeu, PJPB

Ado : Ayi 5 Avelau

A-a : Cultural Hall HOLUVI CHOPHY Alakhumipeu

4

WednesdAY 25•11•2015

Business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Foreign banks buy up bulk of Indian state government debt MUMBAI, NoveMBer 24 (reUTerS): Three banks snapped up almost 90 percent of bonds sold by Indian states to foreigners, and turned them into derivatives, raising the prospect of more volatility in one of Asia’s best performing debt markets.

Several market participants involved in the sale said offshore units of Nomura, Standard Chartered (STAN.L) and Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAC.N) bought about 30 billion rupees ($451 million) of the 35 billion rupees on offer in October, the first window for foreigners to buy in.

Much of that debt was then sold for a hefty fee as derivatives known as total return swaps to offshore clients keen for the bonds’ higher yields, compared with India’s already popular sovereign debt,

and with similar guarantees.

In contrast, traditional buyers of the illiquid bonds are state banks, who hold the debt to maturity.

When contacted by Reuters, the three banks declined to comment.

India has been one of the most resilient emerging markets, with foreign buyers taking up about $9.7 billion of debt this calendar year, nearly exhausting available limits on sovereign debt purchases.

Those purchases have helped domestic debt return 7.8 percent so far this year, the highest in Asia, according to HSBC. Given that appetite and a need to expand its investor base, India let foreigners buy state bonds and also relaxed the investment ceiling in government bonds by around 56 billion rupees in Septem-

ber: the first step in a gradual opening.

“The main objective of (Reserve Bank of India) in opening these limits is to attract diverse and new sets of investors to the Indian bond market,” said a senior foreign bank treasury official based in Mumbai.

“But if eventually the FII (offshore) units of the foreign banks in India get to corner the limits, elbowing out the long term investors, then that leaves open a big risk of these trades unwinding and disrupting the Indian debt market.”

India’s central bank has sought to discourage “bond tourists”, favouring what it calls “real” investors, who would not flit in and out of the market.

Although currency and market risks have been

passed on to other buyers, a sharp sell-off could see these investors re-selling the derivatives back to the banks and forcing them to swap the debt or sell at a discount.

But with foreigners owning only 4 percent of Indian government debt versus 47 percent in Indonesia, for example - the impact of even a significant sell-off would likely be muted.

“We are less concerned as the liquidity in IGBs is one of the highest in the region, and foreign positioning remains a very low component of the outstanding market,” said Rohit Arora, interest rate strategist at Barclays in Singapore, referring to Indian government bonds.

The next window for foreigners to buy state government debt is on Jan. 1.

Fish feed distributed to the RKVY beneficiaries of Peren district on November 20. (DIPR Photo)

Financial Literacy Camp conducted at Sungratsu village MokokchUNg, NoveMBer 24 (MexN): To promote the cause of financial literacy, a one day Financial Literacy Camp (FLC) supported under FIF managed by NABARD was conducted at Sungratsu village on November 24 organized by Nagaland State Co-operative Bank Ltd in Collaboration with Care and Support Society in coordination with NABARD District Office, Mokokchung.

Programme was chaired by Imchawati Kichu, Managing Director, Care and Support Society, welcome address was addressed

by Imotemjen Chairman, Sungratsu Village Council.

During the programme, Temsulepden Assistant Branch Manager, FLC In charge Nagaland State Co-operative Bank Ltd, Mokokchung highlighted the objectives of the programme and discussed on im-

portance of banking, savings, financial planning, etc. he also benefits under, APY, PMSBY, PMJJBY and Credit Facilities.

Altogether 63 participants attended the programme. He emphasised that do not spend more than your income, Plug non essential expenses and increase your savings, needs are limited-spend, wants are unlimited-reduce, vices are risky-avoid.

Orange growers trained on Post harvest management Aquaculture management training at Jalukie

Officials during the farmers training on ‘Post harvest handling of mandarin orange’ held at Woroku village, under Wokha on November 23.

WokhA, NoveMBer 24 (MexN): With an aim to create awareness among the orange growers about the losses incurred due to improper post harvest management, a one day farmers training on ‘Post harvest handling of mandarin orange’ was organized by Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH), DAC, GoI, Medziphema and, District Horticulture office, Wokha, Dept of Horticulture at Woroku village, under Wokha on November 23.

Guest of Honor Dr. Lallan Ram, Director, CIH and the main resource person in his lecture stated that the North east states offer a very favorable agro-climatic condition for cultivation

of various citrus species. The most important citrus grown on commercial scale is Khasi mandarin orange which has a good market demand due to its excellent quality and occupies a rightful place in the horticultural wealth and economy of this region.

He also opined that the magnitude of post harvest losses in the region is quite high since the produce is handled in traditional way and fruits should be harvested at the proper stage for attaining desirable quality. Harvesting should be done during the cooler part of the day using a clipper and fruits with pedicel (2-3mm) in length to be harvested, sorted and graded according to the

_

LEISURE

Simple Rules - There is just one simple rule: “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.”

SUDOKU Game Number # 3415

W

O

SummeR VACAtiON SUN HOT BEACH WATER NOSCHOOL HAPPY BASEBALL FRISBEE SKATEBOARD SCOOTER BIKE SWIM FOOTBALL POOL BEACHBALL WATERPARK SIXFLAGS ICECREAM POPSICLES LAKE BARBEQUE HIKING HOTDOG HAMBURGER CHIPS SODA CAMPING FIREWORKS FISHING SPARKLERS

R

Y J H F N H P O R F F M U J I J A A Q Y

D

R L A K E G Q H I K I N G J D N B Z I U

Z L I F U R D Y N W A O C A M P I N G Y

B A E P E F U Y C T K S L L A B T O O F

JAlUkIe, NoveMBer 24 (DIpr): An RKVY sponsored training and demonstration programme for two days on Aquaculture management practices for grassroot levels of RKVY beneficiaries and fish farmers of Jalukie was conducted on 19th and 20th Nov 15 at SDFO Office Jalukie town. SDFO, Dory Yanthan,

A Meren Jamir FD and Haimia FD were the resource persons who talked on side selection and other basic requirements, species selection, best practices in grow out operation, post harvest management, integrated farming planning and economics. Demonstrations on method of feed preparation, water parameters

E

A A C Z B A J D O O J I P J K J L P X F

S W R G R R X H O H A D B Z L R S O I X

E P E D A H F N T W P B Z Q E I H R J N

A

B H A M B U R G E R A I D S C B E A C H

A U M R L R Z E R F I T G L Z W Q I T N

L L C F K L L A B H C A E B O F O G F F

R

L R O C O L L V W S L S H R P I Q K U T

K V R O J G E X N F G V K Q P A B R B Y

T W P K H V E R X N U S Y P P A H X W X

C

K R O P S C B I S K A T E B O A R D I R

C N E N O X S K L A O P A N N O Z K R O

DIMApUr, NoveMBer 24 (MexN): A team of 21 farmers from Dhansiripar Block, Dimapur District and two staff of Prodigals’ Home as facilitators undertook an exposure cum learning visit to ICAR Barapani, Regional Resource & Training Centre (RRTC), Umran, and Shillong in Meghalaya, from to November 19 to 21, organized by Prodigals’ Home and funded by Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust.

Anjani Kumar, Senoir Scientist and i/c Head Horticulture Division of ICAR Barapani facilitated the visiting team about various cultivation methods of tomato, chili, cabbages, SRI (System of rice intensification) and staking of French

The visiting farmers and staff of Prodigals’ Home at ICAR, Barapani.

beans on maize stalk. Shri.

Kulendro Sarania, Farm manager of Agriculture under RRTC took the visiting team around various demo plots of vegetables maintained by RRTC where preparation of nursery beds for various vegetables

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 3427

G D I P A B R G N I H S I F J K A A I P

V Z G P E W F V O B U I I K K N P Y M T

was explained at length.

The farmers were also enlightened about various methods for application of compositions such as cow dung, cow urine and oil cake as manure.

The farmers were unanimous in voicing their gratiDIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

G I M P S D U P O Y S A Y G O G H E Y O

tude to the Resource Persons, the funders and the organizers while expressing gladness about the exposure trip and the new learning they gained which they said, would inculcate into their farming own methods and practices.

STD CODE: 03862 232224; Emergency229529, 229474

Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital:

227930, 231081 228846

Shamrock Hospital

228254

Zion Hospital:

231864, 224117, 227337

Police Control Room

228400

Police Traffic Control

232106

East Police Station West Police Station

227607 232181

CIHSR (Referral Hospital)

242555/ 242533

Dimapur hospital

224041, 248011

Apollo Hospital Info Centre:

230695/ 9402435652

Railway:

131/228404

Indian Airlines

229366

ACROSS

1. Glove 5. Biblical kingdom 9. Fizzy drink 13. Unit of land 14. Fortuneteller’s card 16. Angers 17. Natural satellite 18. Come up 19. Harvest 20. Anxiety 22. Small spoons 24. Misled 26. Light purple 27. Streetcar 30. Declare null and void 33. One who warbles (British spelling) 35. Poisonous 37. K 38. Decorative jugs 41. An Old Testament king 42. Go in 45. Honor fighters 48. Angel 51. Catch sight of 52. To untwist 54. Easy gait 55. Made joyful 59. Like the Vikings

DOWN

1. Mother 2. Computer symbol 3. Cave dweller 4. Ductile 5. Estimated time of arrival 6. Blowgun missile 7. Bay window 8. Relating to Moses 9. Sandstorm 10. Chocolate cookie 11. University administrator 12. Vipers 15. Electrical pioneer 21. Express in words 23. Breathe hard 25. Expunge 27. Kid 28. Anagram of “Arson” 29. A type of evergreen tree 31. Incense

32. Enumerates 34. Crimson 36. Carryall 39. Carpet 40. Peddle 43. Scholarly 44. South African monetary unit 46. King of the jungle 47. Levied 49. Supplications 50. An airplane “garage” 53. A tea-like beverage 55. Calyx 56. Coil 57. Chills and fever 58. Sandwich shop 60. Give the cold shoulder 61. Modify 64. Snake-like fish Ans to CrossWord 3426

KOHIMA: 0370 2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC) DIMAPUR: 03862 232201/ 101 (O) 9436017479 (OC)

CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862 282777/101 (O) 9856158740 (OC) WOKHA: 03860 242215/101 (O) 9862039399 (OC)

MOKOKCHUNG: 0369 2226225/ 101 (O) 9436012949 (OC)

Nagaland Multispe- 248302, cialty Health & 09856006026 Research Centre

PHEK: 8414853765 (O) 9862130954(OC)

KOHIMA

ZUNHEBOTO: 03867 280304/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC)

STD CODE: 0370 100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202 08974997923

TUENSANG: 8414853766 (O) 8414853519 MON: 03869 251222/ 101 (O) 9436208480 (OC)

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE 62. Cartoon bear 63. Concur 65. Found on most beaches 66. Defeat decisively 67. Expensive fur 68. Decorative case 69. Type of sword 70. Train track 71. Money owed

FIRE STATIONS

Chumukedima Fire 282777 Brigade Nikos Hospital and 232032, 231031 Research Centre

Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home: Northeast Shuttles

H

O H O T D T I O P A L E D B Z Q U Q X X

and plankton estimation were also done. Altogether 30 participants attended from various villages. Panchikap, a successful fish farmer from Jalukie shared his experienced and encouraged the farmers. The farmers expressed deep gratitude to the department for organzing the training programme.

Farmers from Dimapur undertake exposure tour

Answer Number # 3414

S

I E C V Q K V G S E D G X I J W I S S P

sizes and should be packed in Corrugated fiberboard boxes which is light in weight, convenient to open and close and easy to handle and print instead of using wooden boxes or bamboo basket to protect and reduce post harvest losses.

Welcome & Short speech was also delivered by Meyasashi, DHO, Wokha Dept of Horticulture. In his brief remark he stated that Woroku village has about 20,000 fruiting plants but lamented that the production has come down to an alarming extent which is undoubtedly attributed to citrus decline which is not a specific diseases but is associated with combine effect of biotic and abiotic factors and seen across entire citrus belt of the region.

Hands on demonstration on Maturity indices, TSS: acid ratio, improved harvesting techniques, sorting, grading and packaging in special tray pack CFB boxes were demonstrated by Meyasashi, DHO Wokha & staff and A K singh, Technical Consultant, CIH and Sentiyangla, HS CIH. Certificate along with reading materials & training kits consisting of orange clipper, hand gloves tray type CFB boxes were distributed to the entire participant. The participants also expressed their gratitude to the Director CIH and state Horti.

Department for conducting such intensive and practical oriented training programme in the village level and mentioned that such training was first of its kind.

Toll free No. 1098 childline

KipHire: 8414853767 (O) 8974304572 (OC)

WE4WOMEN HELPLINE 08822911011

MOKOKCHUNG:

STD CODE: 0369

Police Station 1:

2226241

Police Station 2 :

2226214

Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home:

2226216 2226263

Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):

2226373/2229343

TAHAMZAM (formerly Senapati) STD CODE: 03871 Police Station: Fire Brigade

CURRENCY NOTES

222246 222491

BUY(Rs)

SELL(Rs)

US Dollars Sterling Pound Hong Kong Dollar Australian Dollar Singapore Dollar Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen

64.86 98.05 8.1 46.56 45.74 48.50 52.55

67.80 102.83 9.02 48.86 47.98 50.90 55.52

Euro

68.90

72.26

Thai Baht Korean Won New Zealand Dollar Chinese Yuan

1.75

1.95

0.0543

0.0605

42.24

44.32

9.76

10.88

6

WednesdAY 25•11•2015

IN FOCUS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express X issue 321X issue 185 Thursday 9volume July 2015 volume By dr. asangba Tzüdir

On the ‘New Recruitment Policy’

C O M M E N T A R Y

Francis Wade Foreign Policy

Burma’s Militarized Ministries

Will it be just another meaningless concealment beneath their deceptive rhetoric? Concepts however beautiful become meaningful only when they are applied in context

W

ith the cry against corruption growing louder by the day, the disclosure that the Government of Nagaland is working on a new recruitment policy that seeks to deliver not just fairness and transparency but also being judicious, calls for a check on their moral selves, sincerity and responsibility. That, the government of Nagaland was “determined to check the anomalies in recruitment policies” brings us to the question of what it is to be fair and transparent and judicious?

Coming at the backdrop of corruption made more ominous by backdoor appointments, such concepts sounds more beautiful within the context but it can only become meaningful if such concepts are applied properly with the objective of creating a productive and transformative effect on our society.

The success of the recruitment policy will largely depend on how these concepts within the policy are ‘defined’ and applied. As of now, one can only hope that the government’s ‘commitment’ to fairness and transparency in the formulation of the new recruitment policy does not end in framing their self-image. Else, it becomes a bare and meaningless concealment beneath their deceptive rhetoric.

Considering the rampant recruitment and the whole ‘processes’ involved therein, it warrants an examination of the recruitment policy and their underlying concepts on their face as well as place value. To be fair means to treat people equally without favoritism, so that no one is favored over the other equal, wherein the other equal is unjustly discriminated. To be fair means to be reasonably right and that one’s right based on credibility should not be denied. On the issues related to fairness, as a case in point, it becomes tempting to raise certain questions relating to ‘reservation’. The whole idea of reservation needs a rethinking considering the divide between the so called ‘forward’ and the ‘struggling’ and not on the lines of tribes. One approach is to earmark certain colleges and students who had passed their qualifying exams from such college should not be entitled to reservation irrespective of gender or tribe. It may not be foolproof and perfect but more fair and just because even among the ‘struggling’ tribes the reservation privileges are often enjoyed only by those coming from economically stronger section that can afford better education from better colleges.

Transparency is another integral component of the recruitment policy. Transparency calls for disclosures in the entire process of recruitment and that the procedures do not have any hidden agendas. Simply put, to be transparent means to be open in all sense of the term so that it goes beyond the fulfillment of mere eligibility criteria so as to let pass through the back door. In being transparent, a space should be in place where the best among the qualified are selected. Finally, to be Judicious is to be backed by sound and thoughtful judgment. It demands care and sensibility. It demands the ‘faculty of practical judgment’ in deciding whether an action is morally right or wrong.

Only when these concepts are located within its true value, the recruitment policy will be able to deliver justice.

Looking at the positives of a policy that seeks to cater to fairness, transparency and being judicious, that, within such working principles, the policy will look to recruit the best and the deserving among the eligible. This will automatically shut the back door which will give a clear message that there is no place for mediocrity or just being average in a competitive world and thereby encourage hard work and skill as the only means to an end. Besides, as a way forward, it will have a transforming effect beginning with the mindsets that have so far been fed with negativities all around.

In sum, how the new policy of recruitment is formulated will have serious repercussion on our society. In the evolution of a civilized society, quality and excellence cannot and should not be sacrificed at the altar of mediocrity and corruption. Its failure will have serious consequences on the coming generations. On the whole, only through a collective responsibility can the policy work where each and every individual should be necessarily guided by the principle of the moral. It is for our well being, for a just, honorable and a transformed and civilized society.

(Dr. Asangba Tzüdir is an Editor with Heritage Publishing House.

He contributes a weekly guest editorial to Morung Express. Feedback and comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)

lEfT WING |

IANS

3D MRI can spot stroke risk in diabetic patients

P

eople with diabetes may be harbouring advanced vascular disease that could increase their risk of stroke, researchers warn.

The findings suggest that arterial imaging with 3D MRI could be useful in helping to determine stroke risk among diabetics. The carotid arteries are vessels on each side of the neck that supply oxygenated blood to the head.

Narrowing of the carotid arteries is associated with risk of stroke but less is known about stroke risk in people with little or no narrowing of these arteries.

For the new study, the team used 3D MRI to study the carotid arteries for evidence of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), an indicator of advanced atherosclerotic disease. "A recent analysis has shown that people with carotid artery narrowing and IPH have a five- to six-times higher risk of stroke in the near future compared to people without,” explained study author Tishan Maraj, imaging analyst at Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto.

Dr. Maraj and colleagues focused their study on people with diabetes. Of the 159 patients imaged, 37 (23.3 percent) had IPH in at least one carotid artery.

Five of the 37 patients had IPH in both carotid arteries. IPH was found in the absence of carotid artery narrowing and was associated with an increased carotid artery wall volume as measured by 3D MRI. "It was surprising that so many diabetic patients had this feature. So perhaps IPH is an early indicator of stroke risk that should be followed up,” Dr Maraj added.

Although there is no treatment for IPH at this time, Dr Maraj said identification of it may help with risk stratification and could even have applications in the non-diabetic population. "Even though you can't treat IPH, you can monitor patients a lot more closely," he concluded. The new research will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

I

t didn’t take long after polling stations across Burma closed on Nov. 8 for the country’s ruling party to concede defeat. “We lost,” Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) chairman Htay Oo said bluntly, unable to argue with early indications that suggested the party of Aung San Suu Kyi had won a convincing landslide. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) will dominate the new parliament in January. This is the second such victory for the party in 25 years, but the first that appears likely to be accepted.

The question now on the lips of many pundits watching this phase of the transition pertains to the military that has ruled Burma since 1962: Will it accept the results, or will it intervene and retake power?

In 1990, when nationwide elections gave the newly formed NLD nearly 80 percent of seats, the military quickly annulled the results. Scrambling to explain the decision, it argued the familiar line: that a country so beset by internal conflict and discord wasn’t ready for democracy. A statement by army chief Min Aung Hlaing in September suggested Burma now is.

“I have no plans for a military coup, [and] the military has no plans for it,” he said.

This may appear positive, but there are important reasons for the military’s newfound acquiescence.

Over the past year, it has expanded efforts to plant newly retired military officers in civilian posts across various pillars of government — in the Health and Education ministries, the Energy Ministry, the Supreme Court, and more. In addition, 25 percent of parliamentary seats are automatically reserved for military legislators who occupy positions that, in any genuine democracy, should be held by figures independent of the institutions they create policy for. On top of this, the 2008 constitution states that the Home Affairs, Defense, and Border Affairs ministries must be headed by serving military men, thereby giving the military control of the three ministries most integral to governance in Burma. So while parliament may finally have a civilian majority, the military will remain firmly embedded within the administrative and policy-making arenas, serving as a potential barrier to whatever legislation parliament seeks to pass that might weaken the military’s political powers — a process that must take place if the transition to civilian rule is to be successful.

This has profound consequences for genuine democratization in Burma. While the creeping militarization of lower-level posts within other ministries serves to keep them within the military’s orbit, this isn’t necessary for the three ministries of governance and their functionaries: They answer directly to the commander in chief. While the Defense Ministry controls the armed forces and the Border Af-

C

oncerned with the consequences of demographic decline and population ageing, especially with respect to economic growth, national defence and pensions and health care for the elderly, a growing number of governments are seeking to raise birth rates. Whereas nearly 40 years ago 13 countries had policies to raise fertility, today the number has increased four-fold to 56, representing more than one-third of the world’s population.

The most recent and largest addition to this pronatalist group of countries, which includes Australia, France, Germany, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Spain and Turkey, is China. The Chinese government announced that it will change its controversial one-child policy to a two-child policy per couple in order to balance population development and address the challenge of an ageing population.

Assuming a slight increase in its current fertility level, China’s population of 1.38 billion is projected – according to the UN medium variant – to peak by 2030 at 1.42 billion and then decline to 1 billion by the end of the century. However, if fertility were to remain constant at its current level, China’s population would soon begin declining, reaching around 0.8 billion by the year 2100. If fertility were to instantly reach the replacement level, an unlikely event, China’s population would grow to 1.51 billion by midcentury.

China’s population age structure is also becoming older than any time in the past. Whereas in 1950 less than five per cent of the Chinese were aged 65 years or older, today the proportion has doubled to 10 per cent. By 2035 China’s proportion elderly is expected to double again and reach one-third by around midcentury.

Similar to China, 82 other countries – accounting for almost half of the world’s population – are experiencing fertility rates below the replacement level of about two births per woman. As a result, the populations of 48 of those countries, including Germany, Japan,

The opposition won a big electoral victory — but in Burma, parliament is not where true power lies fairs Ministry oversees the affairs of ethnic states, the remit of the Home Affairs Ministry is more expansive: It controls both the police force and the General Administration Department, which manages all administrative functions from the state level down to village level, and which Human Rights Watch has said serves as a key instrument of local surveillance.

Through these ministries, the military has direct control over security and, via the General Administration Department, the entire structure of local governance in Burma. Those sectors are effectively beholden to unelected officials with a strong disposition toward preserving the military’s interests. “The chain of command for local administrators in every village and neighborhood in the country runs directly to the commander in chief, bypassing elected officials,” said Matthew Bugher, who last year co-authored a Harvard Law School International Human Rights Clinic report that traced war crimes committed in eastern Burma in 2005 and 2006 to the current home affairs minister, Lt. Gen. Ko Ko. The command structure of these ministries should give pause to those celebrating the victory of the NLD, which has rallied against the military’s dominance over Burma’s political affairs. Despite its soon-to-be parliamentary majority, the NLD will still not be able to radically alter who has oversight of those ministries without first overhauling the constitution. To do this, it must gain more than 75 percent of parliamentary votes; the fact that 25 percent of parliament comprises military men — as dictated by the constitution — ensures this is unlikely to happen.

The constitution was designed with the explicit intention of enshrining the military’s role in political life beyond the supposed transition. It is this document that, more than anything, explains Min Aung Hlaing’s nonchalance when asked whether a coup is likely. The military doesn’t need to retake power because it has never left and it won’t anytime soon. The constitution locks in its interests and limits exactly what structural reforms a majority civilian parliament can make.

It also provides the military a much-needed safety net. When a number of former officers were appointed to the Supreme Court in September, it was only to administrative positions. But as the International Com-

mission of Jurists notes, the constitution would allow them to take senior judicial positions if the president considers them to be “eminent jurists.” This allows for the insertion of people with vested interests in maintaining the impunity of the military into positions that enable them to influence court proceedings against the military. As a result, the Supreme Court loses its ability to oversee an institution that, more than any other in Burma, needs independent legal oversight.

But the militarization of Burma’s nominally civilian government also has more mundane day-to-day implications. A case in point is the Health Ministry, which is overseen by retired Maj. Gen. Than Aung.

Here, military officers have been posted to administrative positions that give them final say on appointments, promotions, and dismissals. They will strengthen Burma’s own glass ceiling, one that prevents any non-military figure from taking a position above that of their military colleagues, thereby leaving technically capable staff subordinated to untrained officers. This can only further stunt the development of a sector that ranks among the most poorly resourced in the world.

Looking to the shifting composition of parliament as a barometer of change in Burma is problematic because it ignores the fact that parliament is not the center of power that a democratic state requires it to be.

The NLD can, of course, make changes in many areas regardless of the constitution, ranging from infrastructural development to poverty reduction policies to bolstering social and environmental protections in investment laws. But if we’re looking for more fundamental transformation, the task becomes much harder because that kind of change is beholden to a constitution designed to be impervious to change. Even positions not protected by the constitution — administrative roles in the Education Ministry recently granted to former officers, for example — will be hard to overhaul. Any attempt to supplant these officers with people trained in their field will likely be viewed as a purge of the old guard and could compel the military to assert its primacy in ways that could endanger the democratization process.

Burma’s transition phase should be an opportunity to transform the hierarchy of power so that it is more accountable to the electorate. But any move to do so is being resisted by forces deep within that hierarchy that designed this transition with the knowledge that, on Nov. 8, 2015, the opposition would finally sweep to power. But that script made space only for a limited power. The Catch 22 that protects the Burmese elite — that changing the constitution requires changes to the constitution — means that a key component of a viable democracy, the civilianization of decision-making, may have to wait.

more Countries Want more Babies Joseph Chamie and Barry Mirkin Inter Press Service Russia and South Korea, are projected to be smaller and older by midcentury, even assuming modest gains in birth rates. If fertility rates were to remain constant at their current levels, the declines and ageing would be even more pronounced than currently expected.

In an attempt to counter those two major demographic trends, many governments have adopted a variety of policies to raise birth rates. At one extreme are draconian measures such as prohibiting contraception, sterilization, abortion and the education and employment of women. As those measures violate basic human rights, few governments are prepared to take such drastic steps to raise fertility.

Moreover, such measures have undesirable demographic consequences, including higher levels of unintended pregnancy, illegal abortion and maternal mortality.

Some governments are promoting marriage, childbearing and parenting through public relations campaigns, incentives and preferences. Such programs highlight the vital role of motherhood and its valuable contribution to the welfare and growth of the country. Australia and South Korea, for example, are among those making appeals to women to have one more child.

Also, Iran is considering legislation that would encourage businesses to prioritize the hiring of men with children.

Perhaps the most common pronatalist policies aim to reduce parent’s considerable financial costs for child-

bearing and child rearing. Those policies include cash bonuses at the time of a child’s birth and/or recurrent cash supplements for dependent children.

In Turkey, for example, parents are entitled to 300 Turkish lira (108 dollars) for the birth of their first child, 400 Turkish lira (144 dollars) for the second and 600 Turkish lira (215 dollars) for the fourth and subsequent child. One consequence of this legislation, however, has been the need for the provision of government financial assistance to needy families with large families.

Additional policies, especially popular among many Western countries, focus on making employment and family responsibilities “compatible” for working couples, especially mothers. In addition to extended maternity leave as well as paternity leave, other measures include part-time work, flexible working hours, working at home and family-friendly workplaces, including nurseries, as well as preschool and after-school care facilities.

However, the costs of family friendly policies are not insignificant. For example, with fertility at two children per woman, France’s extensive scheme of family benefits is estimated to cost four per cent of gross domestic product, one of the highest percentages in the European Union.

Some governments are also looking to selective immigration to maintain the size of their workforce and slow down the pace of population ageing. However, a recent United Nations study concluded that international

WRITE-WING

migration at current levels would be unable to compensate fully for the expected population decline. Between 2015 and 2050, the excess of deaths over births in Europe is projected to be 63 million, whereas the net number of international migrants to Europe is projected at 31 million, implying an overall shrinking of Europe’s population by about 32 million.

In addition, the financial costs, social integration and cultural impact of immigration have come to the political forefront in recent months. A growing tide of refugees and economic migrants – mainly from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Nigeria and Pakistan, estimated at over 800,000 – have arrived on the shores of the European Union since the beginning of 2015 to escape war, repression, discrimination and unemployment.

As part of its response, the EU is considering a plan to offer aid money and visas to African countries that agree to take back thousands of their citizens who are unlawfully residing within its borders.

Also aiming to stem the record inflows of refugees, various EU members have put up fences, imposed border controls and tightened asylum rules.

Other countries that are averse to encouraging immigration, such as Japan and South Korea, have instead opted to boost labour productivity as a means of compensating for a shrinking labour force. Those governments are also reviewing legislation to encourage more women to join and remain in the labour force by offering them family friendly work environments, improved career mobility and promotions to management and senior positions.

While family-oriented measures may encourage some women to have children, those policies are costly and their overall effect on fertility is weak or unclear. The many forces pushing fertility to low levels are simply too powerful for governments to overcome with dictates, financial incentives and public relations campaigns.

Joseph Chamie is former director of the United Nations Population Division and Barry Mirkin is former chief of the Population Policy Section of the United Nations Population Division

Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The morung express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: morung@gmail.com All letters (including those via email) should have the full name and Postal address of the sender.

Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

WednesdAY 25•11•2015

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Children’s rights, a founding dream

id the UN delegates in New York realise the importance of their decision when, on 20 November 1989, they unanimously voted for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which came into force the following year?

For the first time in history, an international treaty had put children at the centre of the political sphere.

The convention declares that “in all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.” It also affirms that states must not only respect children’s fundamental rights in the areas of health, nutrition and education, but also guarantee their right to identity “including nationality, name and family relations” and protection from all forms of violence. Last, but by no means least, it asserts children’s right to “freedom of thought, conscience and religion” and states that in all legal and administrative decisions concerning children, they may freely express their opinions, which must be “given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.”

How did the international community come up with such a binding treaty, which every signatory party is obliged to incorporate into their domestic laws? The convention is, in spite of this obligation, the most ratified international treaty in the world; only one country, the US, has yet to ratify.

The explanation is perhaps to be found in history; the convention’s long genesis has undoubtedly facilitated its acceptance. In past centuries, voices were often raised in favour of children not only receiving greater attention but also being granted proper status. In European history, for example, the cult of the Christ child in the Middle Ages was not enough to make society more congenial for children, considered as the “bad seed”, which needed to be corrected.

But in the Renaissance the importance of the individual vis-à-vis the Christian community began to be asserted. The historian Philippe Ariès describes this shift as the “birth of private life”, and it would lead in the Enlightenment to a new, less religious view of childhood, exemplified by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who wrote in Emile, or On Education (1762): “Expect nothing from him [the child] but the plain, simple truth, without addition or ornament and without vanity. [...] he asks nothing better than to extend his domain, to acquire rights over you, which will, he knows, be respected.”

This was an idealised view of the child, certainly, but it was also new. A few decades later it made no impression on the drafters of France’s civil code, though; the only status the Code Napoléon accorded children was that of heir, and it turned their mothers into minors. The code stipulated: “Incapable of contracting are: minors, interdicted persons, married women in the cases expressed by the law” (article 1124).

In the 19th century we have to look to literature, medicine and political philosophy to find more fruitful reflections on the rights of the child; they are there in Dickens and Hugo, later in Marx and Engels, and then in Freud, all of whom made children the subject of literary, psychological and political reflection.

The true foundations of the modern vision of

P

These rights have been proclaimed, but what of their practical implementation? There is still a long way to go: in France, one child in five is living under the poverty line; 30,000 are homeless; 9,000 live in shantytowns; 140,000 drop out of school every year (1). Across the world, in Syria and elsewhere, millions of children are risking their lives to flee from armed conflict, are suffering from malnutrition or have no access to medical care.

SPF sees this every day in its work in France — 44% of the people we help are children. As children are more vulnerable than adults, and protecting them is vital for the future of any society, we keep a very close watch over their needs, and encourage them to become active members of society.

Thousands of boys and girls take part in SPF’s solidarity activities, through our children’s movement, Copain du Monde (Friend of the World).

They learn about the UNCRC so as to become responsible citizens, able to defend their rights. They also learn about people living under (sometimes dramatically) difficult conditions, in France and around the world, and this drives them to take action. They compete to find ever more creative ways to show solidarity: they collect money and other

donations, express sympathy through letters and drawings for people who are isolated or disaster victims. This summer the Copain du Monde club at Villeneuve-lès-Bouloc, in France’s Haute-Garonne, held a Solidarity Bike Ride for the second year running, cycling a total of 1,236 km and raising €600 to help schoolchildren in Masinandraina, Madagascar. In the Somme, children sold greetings cards to help pay for a new library at Souk Lakhmis Dades, Morocco.

More than a hundred Copain du Monde clubs have been set up in France since 2008; there are also clubs in Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Benin and El Salvador. Since August 2012, 45 members of Copain du Monde have been meeting every Saturday at Daoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. They have learned about their rights and are pursuing projects aimed at children, in particular, the building of a new playground. They have also established links with French Copain du Monde members at La Pennesur-Huveaune, near Marseilles.

The idea of the Copain du Monde movement is that children should learn through contact with children in other countries, enrich themselves by experiencing different cultures, learn to love (rather than hate) one another, and meet (rather than run away from) one another. Each summer since 2008, SPF has organised Copain du Monde Villages where children of different nationalities meet during school holidays to take part in cultural exchanges and solidarity projects (see Chailles, a window on the world).

In 2015 SPF’s 70th anniversary, our volunteers doubled their efforts, setting up 17 Copain du Monde Villages, which allowed children from nearly 70 countries (including Nepal, Haiti, Ukraine, Syria, Palestine, Vietnam and Israel) to spend time together. On 19 August, a Holidays for All Day (Journée des Oubliés des Vacances) in the Champ-de-Mars park in Paris brought together 70,000 children from around France whose right to holidays has been forgotten, and nearly a thousand foreign children whose right to a good life has been forgotten.

I appeal to all people of goodwill, everyone with a heart, to help us bring children’s rights alive through the Copain du Monde movement, in France and around the world, so that children can learn to live together and build solidarity for this 21st century.

the rights of the child were laid in Poland in the early 20th century. The Warsaw paediatrician Janusz Korczak developed a subversive strain of thought, severely critical of the patriarchal society of his time. He ended his life in Treblinka’s gas chambers in 1942, along with the 200 Jewish orphans whom he tried to protect to the last.

Any conceptual progress in children’s rights went into reverse after the second world war, despite the important work done by the League of Nations in the inter-war period to develop a normative framework. The UN did create Unicef in 1946, but its aim was to help children whose parents had been killed in the war. It was a response to an emergency rather than a legal advance. Three years after the war, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, despite its importance, made no mention of children’s rights, except the right to education and made childhood a mere adjunct to motherhood: “Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.”

But such a potent concept — that of the power of the most vulnerable — was not going to go away, especially in the post-war world, when the decolonisation process that followed Indian independence (1947) focused attention on the plight of tens of millions of children. The UN, taking up the concepts of the League of Nations, patiently drafted the convention that would, after 10 years of difficult negotiations, be passed by the UN General Assembly in 1989. A child is a person, the convention declared, and as such has rights, even if conditions are attached to some of these rights and are applied in accordance with the child’s development.

But does a legal victory count in the real world?

Has the lot of children fundamentally improved in the past 25 years? Did states ratify the convention for form’s sake without thinking about its

implementation? The first response seems selfevident: children’s rights have become a political matter over the years. No government, parliament or decision-making body can now ignore them.

And public opinion, which until recently tolerated the most outrageous violations of children’s rights, has become sensitive to them, sometimes even hypersensitive.

There has also been another, equally essential sort of progress: mortality rates among young children have seen a spectacular drop in the past quarter century: the number of children under five who die annually from preventable causes has fallen over that period from 15 million to under seven million. More children now go to school, girls in particular, who were previously seriously under-represented in education. Of course, advances of this sort are not all attributable to the convention, but it has made a powerful contribution to the political dynamic that has made them possible.

The battle has, of course, not yet been won.

Can it ever be? There is still huge room for improvement. Violence against children still seems uncontrollable worldwide, whether in wars, in which they are targets (forcibly recruited as child soldiers; young girls abducted and raped), in economic exploitation in which child labour is a significant ingredient, or as victims of sexual violence, including within the family.

The struggle, which has been going on for centuries, is not a lost cause, but leaders of all kinds still need to be convinced that children’s rights cannot be subsumed within a generalised humanitarian vision, nor confined to a feminist ghetto or an appendix to public policy. For that to happen, the same decision-makers need to show some genius, the same genius that according to Baudelaire was “the ability to recapture childhood at will”.

T

Le Monde diplomatique

aul Deyand I shared the same bench for two years and many memories together. Although a brilliant student, his real passion was singing and he would frequently entertain us with Kishore Kumar ballads.

His last song Kabhi alvida naa kehna, which he sang on our farewell night, still lingers on with many of us. Currently a professor of biotechnology in an Australian University, he still plays his guitar and is popular in his campus and also among the Indian expats.

Paul worked hard to reach where he is now. His father, a school teacher, expired in a road accident when Paul was in the sixth standard, living him and his mother alone in this world. His mother struggled with only the pension money, but never failed to encourage both of us to study hard. Now she leads an easy life in an apartment in Christian Basti with two domestic helps and frequently travels between Australia and India. She tells her two grand children to study hard, and keeps track of their academic progress.

Paul bought that flat seven years ago. It was an emotional moment for all of them. He later told me how important it was to have a property in the place where you were born and belong.

It is an emotional issue for almost everyone, more so for the NRIs. To facilitate people like Paul, both banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFC) offer “NRI home loans.”

For an applicant of NRI home loan,

Julien Lauprêtre

wenty-five years after the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was adopted, we should recall the importance of its principles, embodied in the 10 key rights that Secours Populaire Français (SPF) defends:

Claire Brisset

D

The Newspaper with an Opinion The Morung Express

Children’s rights matter

When a country is at war, suffering comes first. But to promote the values of solidarity, associations such as Secours Populaire Français get children from different backgrounds to meet each other. There are Copain du Monde villages all over, from Lebanon to France. Their work leads us to seriously consider the notion of children’s rights

• the right to a name and a nationality; • the right to food and lodging, and to grow up in acceptable conditions; • the right to receive medical care and treatment appropriate to their age; • the right to appropriate protection and support for disabled children; • the right to education; • the right to play, laugh and dream; • the right to culture; • the right to protection from violence and exploitation; • the right to aid and protection, especially for refugee children; and • the right to access information, express an opinion and be heard.

NRI home loan

two basic criteria, which both banks and NBFC ask for are minimum age of the applicant and years of income abroad. But these criteria vary widely across different lenders. For some public sector banks, the minimum age is 18 years and the tenure of working abroad is two years. For some private banks, the tenure of work is only one year, but the minimum age of the applicant has to be 25 years. And if you are a self-employed professional or businessman, then you should have a minimum earning experience of three years.

Some lenders also have a minimum earning amount. For example, if you are employed in Gulf countries, your minimum income per month should be 5,000 dirham and if you are engaged

in the USA, your minimum income should be 3,000 dollars a month.

Needless to say, the first document that will be asked for are your passport and visa. Thereafter, salary slips, employment contract or appointment letter and residence proof are the next line of mandatory documents to be produced before the lender. Most of the time, the lander will have some kind of presence in the country of the applicant. The applicant is asked to deposit the relevant documents in the overseas branch and the branch acts like a receiving agent and sends all the documents to the home branch. The onus of approving or rejecting the loan falls under the home branch in India.

The verification process starts from In-

dia and ends in India.

The difference between home loans for an NRI and a resident Indian does not exist anymore. Both resident Indians and NRIs pay the same interest for home loans. Even the processing charges are the same, but NRIs enjoy an upper cap of the processing charges to encourage a higher loan amount.

For the duration of the loan, same rules are applicable for both NRIs and resident applicants. Normally, the longest tenure is 25 to 30 years to repay the loan.

But some NBFCs prefers a shorter tenure for NRIs and in some cases, only ten years.

One distinct feature that must be discussed is that NRIs paying the loan must pay through Indian currencies, not through dollars or dirhams. Partha Das, the cluster manager of HDFC bank said that currently, the RBI only permits paying of home loan EMI from abroad from non-resident rupee (NRE) or nonresident ordinary rupee account (NRO).

Pre-payment of home loan for NRI is permitted, normally without any additional cost and is a very popular option which is frequently practised.

For resident Indians, saving on income tax through a home loan is very popular, especially for salaried employees. But for NRIs, it is different.

Since they don’t pay any income tax in India, this option does not arise. But if he/she has any other income from India and pays taxes, then talking to a tax consultant may help.

7

People are most productive when they follow their dreams and do what they are interested in. In the US, it is a common for students to enroll for career guidance and counseling programs which assist them in making and implementing informed educational and occupational choices. In India, the scenario is different. Youngsters are steered towards careers by the expectations of their parents and by the trends in society.

Students in Nagaland are expected to join the Science stream if they score well in Mathematics and Science in Class 10, even though they may be interested in Humanities. Many sit for UPSC, NPSC, and other competitive examinations without any actual zeal for those jobs.

A country can truly progress only if everyone is able to give their best, but which may never happen if careers are mismatched and creativity is curbed.

Room for Creativity VeduvoluKhusoh, Assistant professor, Department of English

J

ust a few weeks back I attended a “World Children’s Day” celebration. One thing that really left me flabbergasted from this celebration was when the speaker asked the children seating in rows what they would like to become in the future. Majority of the boys cried in unison “Engineer!” and the girls shouted “IAS officer!” The speaker was quite awed with the response. He stressed on the importance of Government jobs and exhorted them to work hard to become engineers, doctors, NP officers etc.

I don’t completely disagree with the speaker. Of course we need to encourage children to achieve these professions as we need them for ensuring the peace and progress of our society. But on the other hand, it’s high time we stop instilling only these ideas into their young and formative mindset – that only those who join these professions are high-water marks of human achievement.

Living in this 21st century, having a degree is just not enough anymore. With the increase in population and the number of students graduating every year, we simply can’t drill our children to focus on combating only for government jobs in our society. There are noble things that we can pursue other than government jobs. What is more important is to inculcate in them a creative and critical mind to uncover and unleash the power of each individual gift. We need to focus on their talents.

We need to sensitize and train their creative mind to come up with new ideas and solve everyday problems.

I have seen scores of people grudgingly appearing competitive exams year after year just to fulfill the desire of their parents and some of them actually failing miserably. They have passions of their own. They want to be entrepreneurs, musicians, artists, designers, farmers etc. but are too afraid to thwart their parent’s dream or they don’t get enough support from them since they deviate from their parents plans.

Picasso once said “All children are born artist. The problem is to remain an artist as we grow up, we don’t grow into creativity but we grow out of it.” I heartily agree with this because we have creative talents of our own. Not everyone is born to become engineers or doctors. Parents should understand this. We are all here on this planet to play our part with God-given talents. But along the way we educate ourselves or talk our way out of it. What a tragedy!

Unemployment problem in Nagaland will curtail significantly if we start fostering creativity at a young age and continue to nurture it as they grow up, adding more creative activities in schools and colleges. We start by not only encouraging them to have a mind of their own and pursue their passions in life but also reconstitute our conception of the richness of human capacity.

With the increase in population and subsequent decline of natural resources coupled by the advancement in technology at a sky-scraping speed, we are at a stage where we need to treat education and creativity equally. We do have a role model in this context. Our very own ZhokhoiChuzho, who started from a very humble beginning of acting in Nagamese movies, has now made his name in Bollywood. If we allow our children to be who they are and support their dreams, they would find a way to live contentedly and magnificently.

Here’s a short story of Gillian Lynne- a choreographer.

When she was at school she was really hopeless. The school in the 30’s wrote to her parents and said “we think Gillian has a problem”, she was fidgeting in the classroom and disturbing her classmates. Her mother took her to see a specialist. She was made to sit while her mother told the doctor how Gillian was having problems at school. At the end of it, the doctor asks if he could speak to her mother privately.

The doctor turned the radio on which was on his desk. The minute they left the room she was on her feet moving to the music. They watched her for a few minutes and the doctor told Gillian’s mother that Gillian is not sick- she’s a dancer.

Gillian was taken to dance class and eventually auditioned for the Royal Ballet School. She later founded her own company- The Gillian Lynne dance Company. She has been responsible for some of the most successful musical theater productions in history. She’s a multi-millionaire today.

What our children need is the right push and strongest support from their parents. Our only hope for the future of our next generation is to influence them with creative imagination and ideas so that they can face the future independently with innovative ideas and live a more meaningful life doing what they love.

“Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College.

For feedback or comments please email: admin@tetsocollege.org”.

Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

8

WEdnEsdAY 25•11•2015

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Aamir Khan on intolerance: BJP criticises, Cong backs New Delhi/MuMbai, NoveMber 24 (iaNS): Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan on Tuesday found himself in the centre of a political storm over his remarks on intolerance, with the BJP sharply criticising him and the Congress stoutly defending him. The actor-producer's candid remarks at an awards event in New Delhi the previous day set Twitter abuzz and left the film fraternity divided.

Aamir, 50, had said: "For the last six to eight months, there has been a growing despondency I would say. Kiran (wife Kiran Rao) and I have lived all our life in India. When I sit at home and talk to Kiran, for the first time she said, 'Should we move out of India?' Now that's a very disastrous and a big comment to make to me."

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju sought to contradict Aamir's assertion and said: "The record shows that the number of incidents of communal violence in the country have come down since NDA came to power.

Just to make a blatant statement that during NDA rule, the country has become intolerant, it unnecessarily tarnishes the image of the country."

The Congress, however, supported Aamir, with party vice president Rahul Gandhi suggesting that the Narendra

Speaking at the Ramnath Goenka awards held in New Delhi, Aamir Khan joined the intolerance debate and expressed 'alarm' and despondency over the rise in such cases 'in the last six to eight months'. (Express Photo)

Modi government reach out to the people to know why they felt disturbed.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Instead of branding all those who question the government and Modiji as unpatriotic, anti-national or 'motivated', the government would do better to reach out to people to under-

stand what's disturbing them."

In a quick rebuttal, the BJP said Rahul Gandhi supporting Aamir's comment only reeks of a conspiracy to defame the nation.

"We completely reject the comment of Aamir Khan. He is not scared but he is trying to scare people. Aamir Khan

makes a comment and Rahul Gandhi supports it. It becomes clear from Gandhi's comment that there is a conspiracy going on in the country to defame the nation," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told media persons in New Delhi.

"India gave him all the laurels and respect. He should not

forget that India made him a star," Hussain said.

A complaint was lodged against the "PK" star by short filmmaker Ullhas PR with Delhi Police over the remarks. Meanwhile, hundreds of activists of the Hindu Sena on Tuesday staged a loud demonstration outside Khan's residence in Mumbai protesting against his statement on intolerance. They were detained by the police and security beefed up around Aamir's house.

And stoking further the ongoing debate on the rising intolerance in the country, BJP parliamentarian Yogi Adityanath said in New Delhi that people were free to leave as it will reduce the country's population.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, however, said the Muslims would not leave the country, come what may, and that they would continue to live here as "proud Indians".

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal supported the actor, and tweeted: "BJP should stop silencing voices through abuses and threats. It's high time that the central government took concrete steps to instill a sense of security amongst people."

Several members of the film fraternity, including Anupam Kher, Ram Gopal Varma and Ashoke Pandit, slammed

Aamir, saying that he must spread hope and not fear.

Veteran actor Anupam -also a BJP supporter -- questioned Aamir on Twitter if he had asked Kiran "which country would she like to move out to".

"When did 'Incredible India' become 'Intolerant India' for you? Only in the last seven to eight months? #AtithiDevoBhavah," Anupam tweeted.

Aamir, in 2008, was appointed to endorse the tourism ministry's Incredible India campaign.

Ram Gopal Varma, too, wanted to know that when "Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman -- the three biggest stars of the Hindu country India are Muslims, I don't understand where intolerance is?"

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal, who starred in "OMG: Oh My God!" which questioned the existence of blind faith in godmen -- much like Aamir's blockbuster "PK", commented: "'PK' did rattle the belief of Hindus, but Aamir didn't face the wrath of Hindu or THE MAJORITY... but was superhit and made crores."

There also were some who backed Aamir -- music composer Vishal Dadlani of the Vishal-Shekhar duo, filmmaker Sanjay Gupta and veteran award-winning director Saeed Mirza, to name a few.

Dadlani said: "More power to your voice, @aamir_khan Sir! This is OUR country, it belongs to ALL Indians. Not to rabid lunatics from any party/religion.

Thanks to Aamir Sir, for speaking against intolerance! Proud to see the giants of film, use their voices for India."

"Look, you have points of view. Let them be heard. I heard about the statement of Aamir Khan this morning. In fact, I read about it. He has a point of view, let it be heard. We can debate it," veteran award-winning director Saeed Mirza told IANS on the sidelines of a parallel student's film festival organised by the students of the Film and Television Institute of India in Panaji.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt told a television channel: "Whatever he said was in a simple manner and what his wife told him. If people have issues and are afraid to live in India, the government should come forward and address those issues. Yes, the situation of the country has changed, it is not a political statement, it is the government's duty to listen to such voices."

Pakistani filmmaker Jamshed Mahmood Raza said: "If Aamir Khan is speaking out about intolerance and facing a backlash, the Indian actor is probably right."

Nations should coordinate as world faces terror threats: SC India, Singapore ink strategic partnership, half of Verhoeven and the which has been acknowlNew Delhi, NoveM- tions," a bench comprising on April 1, 1991 there. nine deals as PM Modi concludes visit "There is no middle Ministry of External Affairs edged by the Delhi High ber 24 (Pti): Coordina- Justice T S Thakur and Justion among countries is the need of the hour at a time when the world is facing terror threat, the Supreme Court said today while refusing to grant interim relief to a jailed French woman, facing extradition for her alleged role in the 1991 killing of a Chilean senator.

"You know what is happening in the world. At a time when terror incidents are increasing across the world, there should be coordination among na-

tice Kurian Joseph said.

The observations were made as the bench declined interim relief to 56-year-old Marie Emmanuelle Verhoeven, currently lodged in Tihar in the connection with the case.

Verhoeven has challenged her arrest and extradition proceedings initiated by the government at the request of Chile for her alleged involvement in the assassination of Senator Jaime Guzman Errazuriz

course. We are not going to release her for the interregnum period...she is accused of a terrorist activity," the bench said and made clear to her lawyer T R Andhyarujina that it will finally decide the plea after hearing both sides and fixed December 8 as the next date.

The bench heard brief arguments advanced by Andhyarujina and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P S Patwalia on be-

respectively before allowing both parties to file additional documents and adjourning the case.

Andhyarujina said the detention of the French woman was illegal as the red corner notice, which had led to her arrest, was later withdrawn and there was no valid extradition treaty existing between India and Chile.

The ASG opposed the contention saying there was a valid treaty existing between the two countries

Court in its judgement.

Earlier, the apex court had agreed to hear the plea of Verhoeven challenging her arrest and extradition proceedings in the case.

Besides seeking "immediate release", the plea, filed through lawyer Ramni Taneja, has also sought a direction to MEA, which is pursuing the extradition proceedings on behalf of Chile, to quash the ongoing inquiry before a magisterial court in New Delhi.

December 16 gangrape: NHRC Unending tests of Maggi cannot seeks info on juvenile’s release go on: Apex consumer court New Delhi, NoveMber 24 (ageNcieS): After receiving a complaint from the parents of the 23-year-old physiotherapy intern who was gangraped and murdered on December 16, 2012, the National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi government seeking information about the release of the juvenile convicted in the case, reportedly in December.

The parents of the victim wrote to the commission that “the juvenile, who was largely responsible for the death of their daughter and was the most brutal amongst all the offenders, is supposed to be released sometime in December”. He was convicted in the case and handed out a 3-year sentence at juvenile home, the maximum sentence under the Juvenile Justice Act. The commission observed that “there is no doubt that the complainants have undergone extreme agony and pain after the incident of rape and murder of their

daughter. The fears expressed by them need to be looked into.”

The victim’s parents have urged the commission to recommend to the government “to prepare a plan to protect the citizens from such delinquent juveniles post their release and also to strengthen the extant laws on the subject.”

“Such persons are a threat to the life and liberty of the common man. There should be a mechanism to keep a strict check on them so that people are not subjected to any risk of being harmed. The laws dealing with women and children should be strengthened.” the victim’s parents have stated, adding the rate of recidivism, in such cases, is fairly high.

According to the NHRC, the complainants have urged the commission to recommend that the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) which operates in countries like USA and Canada, be enacted in India.

New Delhi, NoveMber 24 (iaNS): Following the Rs.640-crore class action suit filed by the government against Nestle India, the apex consumer court on Tuesday said "unending testing of Maggi samples cannot go on". A bench of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), comprising Justice V.K. Jain and Justice B.C. Gupta, reserved its order on the decision on the tests.

The bench said it would decide later on the fresh tests on 31 samples of Maggi noodles, as requested by the government counsel on Monday. Although the bench agreed in principle to having the samples, identified by the government counsel, tested, it reserved the order and said the decision would be made later.

The court, after a nearly two-hour hearing, said it would decide in future regarding where the 31 samples would be tested, if at all fresh tests are called for.

The two parties, Swiss-giant Nestle's Indian arm, and the government of India went through nearly two hours of arguments before the bench on whether fresh tests must be allowed or not. A round of tests were ordered on October 15 on 13 samples of Maggi noodles from nine batches on a request by the government counsel.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong poses with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a selfie , at Komala Vilas Restaurant, Little India, Singapore. (PTI Photo)

SiNgaPore, NoveMber 24 (iaNS): India and Singapore signed a joint declaration on strategic partnership and nine bilateral accords on Tuesday, the concluding day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to this city state when he called Singapore Asia's lion. He also pledged to make the Indian tax regime more transparent and predictable.

It was a packed schedule for Modi as he began the day with a breakfast meeting with Singaporean leaders, met President Tony Tan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, witnessed the signing of the accords, attended a lunch hosted by Hsien, laid a wreath at the INA marker, visited the Institute of Technical Education that is involved in skill development, addressed the India-Singapore Economic Convention, briefly met select CEOs and finally addressed the Indian diaspora, whom he praised for building up the country's image.

Modi left for home late in the night. Singapore was the second leg of his visit that

earlier took him to Malaysia for the ASEANIndia Summit and the East Asia Summit.

Modi and Hsien signed the joint declaration to elevate bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership to deepen and broaden engagement in existing areas of cooperation and catalyse new ones ranging from political, defence and security cooperation to economic, cultural and people to people contact", an official statement said.

Besides this, two agreements on defence cooperation and loan of artifacts from India to Singapore, two executive programme/ operationalisation documents on arts and culture, and white-shipping, and five memorandums of agreement (MoUs) on cyber security, civil aviation, knowledge exchange in the field of planning, urban planning, and combating drug trafficking were also signed.

The 2 prime ministers also released 2 postal stamps showing Rashtrapati Bhavan and Istana, the Singaporean presidential palace, to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the 2 countries.

Nuclear club eyes Indian inclusion, but risks Pakistan's ire New Delhi, NoveMber 24 (reuterS): Diplomats have quietly launched a new push to induct India into a club of nuclear trading nations, but rather than increasing stability in South Asia, the move could escalate strains with rival Pakistan.

The chairman of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) visited New Delhi recently to meet Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj as part of a diplomatic "outreach" that seeks to build a consensus to admit India at its annual meeting next June.

Membership of the 48-nation club would bring India into the nuclear fold 41 years after it tested its first nuclear bomb, and give the nation of 1.25 billion a vested interest in curbing the world's most dangerous regional arms race.

"It's a very delicate process, but I think there is less and less justification for the impasse," Rafael Grossi, the Argentinian ambassador to Vienna who heads the

NSG, told Reuters in an interview.

Yet there are doubts.

For one, India has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT, which seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. And Pakistan, an ally of China, also aspires to join the NSG. With a history as a proliferator, Pakistan's accession would be a tough sell.

Because the NSG operates by consensus, admitting India alone would mean it could then bar its western neighbour from the club, potentially pushing Pakistan further to the fringes.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has been testing missiles that can reach all of India, and very short-range missiles that it insists could be used only if Indian troops cross onto Pakistani soil.

A seat at the NSG would strengthen India's geopolitical clout and help it capitalise on nuclear trade and technology transfer opportunities, while also raising

A surface-to-surface Agni V missile is displayed during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, in this file photo. (REUTERS Photo)

concern in Pakistan.

"India has a nuclear deal with the U.S., with France, it will soon have deals with Australia and Japan. So all this will of course complement its effort to get into NSG," said a senior Pakistani security official with knowledge of

nuclear issues.

"But people don't understand that India will use all this additional fuel (through civil nuclear deals) to make energy and have a lot more left over to use to make weapons.

"So at the end of it, the need for even more deter-

rence from our side will grow, not decrease."

UPPER HAND Pakistan sees a nuclear lead as vital insurance against possible aggression by its larger neighbour, and it appears to be gaining the upper hand over India in

the nuclear contest.

Analysts Toby Dalton and Michael Krepon estimate Pakistan is producing 20 nuclear warheads a year to India's five.

Yet defending that lead is a "losing proposition" that imposes huge costs on Pakistan's economy and strains its social fabric, they said.

In a report for the Carnegie and Stimson think tanks, Dalton and Krepon argued Pakistan should abandon its goal of "full-spectrum" deterrence against India and satisfy itself with "strategic" deterrence, or the ability to launch an effective counter-strike in the event of an attack.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence and partition in 1947, two over Kashmir.

Their disputed frontier is one of the world's most heavily militarised regions.

Border clashes and incursions pose a constant risk of escalation.

The U.S. State Department declined to comment

on specific discussions over Pakistan, but an official said Washington had not entered into talks on a civil nuclear pact with it.

Nor was it seeking a waiver for Pakistan to trade with the NSG. The United States was continuing to integrate India into the "global nonproliferation mainstream", this official also said, adding that Washington supported India's membership in the four multilateral export control regimes. One of those is the NSG. COMFORT LEVEL India's long road to nuclear legitimacy began with a bilateral deal with the United States in 2005 that, three years later, yielded an exemption allowing it to trade in sensitive nuclear technology with NSG nations.

New Delhi expressed its interest in 2010 in formally joining the nuclear club.

But India's lobbying has met with scepticism from European countries like

Austria and Switzerland, who have questioned its refusal to sign the NPT and give up nuclear weapons.

Indian negotiators now detect a change of tone, and are focusing on winning over European sceptics.

That, in turn, could bring round China, they calculate.

"We are optimistic; there is a desire within the NSG to bring this process to a conclusion sooner rather than later," one Indian diplomat told Reuters. "People are comfortable with India."

Despite two summit meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing has yet to signal its assent and may not agree, analysts caution.

Despite those concerns, India is upbeat: "France joined the NSG before ratifying the NonProliferation Treaty," said the Indian diplomat.

"It's not about arms controls. It's about export controls."

WednesdaY 25•11•2015

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

Turkey downs Russian warplane near Syria border Putin calls Turkey’s downing of Russian jet ‘stab in the back’

A Russian jet in flames after it was shot at by Turkish fighters for violating Turkish airspace in the mountainous area near the Turkish-Syrian border on November 24.

ANKARA/MOSCOW, NOveMbeR 24 (ReUTeRS): Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border on Tuesday, saying it had repeatedly violated its air space, one of the most serious publicly acknowledged clashes between a NATO member country and Russia for half a century.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the plane had been attacked when it was 1 km (0.62 mile) inside Syria and warned of “serious consequences” for what he termed a “stab in the back”. Russian and Turkish shares fell on fears of an escalation between the former Cold War enemies.

Each country summoned a diplomatic representative of the other and NATO called a meeting of its ambassadors for Tuesday afternoon. Footage from private Turkish broadcaster Haberturk TV showed the warplane going down in flames in a woodland area, a long

plume of smoke trailing behind it. The plane went down in area known by Turks as “Turkmen Mountain”, it said.

Separate footage from Turkey’s Anadolu Agency showed two pilots parachuting out of the jet before it crashed. A Syrian rebel group sent a video to Reuters that appeared to show one of the pilots immobile and badly wounded on the ground and an official from the group said he was dead.

Russia’s defence ministry said one of its Su-24 fighter jets had been downed in Syria and that, according to preliminary information, the pilots were able to eject. “For the entire duration of the flight, the aircraft was exclusively over Syrian territory,” it said.

The Turkish military said the aircraft had been warned 10 times in the space of five minutes about violating Turkish air space. Officials said a second plane had also approached the

border and been warned.

“The data we have is very clear. There were two planes approaching our border, we warned them as they were getting too close,” a senior Turkish official told Reuters.

“We warned them to avoid entering Turkish air space before they did, and we warned them many times. Our findings show clearly that Turkish air space was violated multiple times. And they violated it knowingly,” the official said.

A second official said the incident was not an action against any specific country but a move to defend Turkey’s sovereign territory within its rules of engagement.

SECOND PILOT Russia’s decision to launch separate air strikes in Syria mean Russian and NATO planes have been flying combat missions in the same air space for the first time since World War Two, tar-

SOCHI, RUSSIA, NOveMbeR 24 (ReUTeRS): President Vladimir Putin called Turkey’s downing of a Russian fighter jet a stab in the back administered by “the accomplices of terrorists,” saying the incident would have serious consequences for Moscow’s relations with Ankara.

Speaking in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday before a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Putin said the downed plane had been attacked inside Syria when it was 1 kilometre (0.62 miles) from the Turkish border and had come down 4 kilometres (2.49 miles) inside Syria.

That contradicted Turkey’s assertion that the aircraft had been warned multiple times that it was straying into Turkish airspace before it was shot down.

“Today’s loss is linked to a stab in the back delivered to us by accomplices of terrorists. I cannot qualify what

geting various insurgent groups close to Turkish borders.

A U.S. offi cial said U.S. forces were not involved in the downing of the Russian jet, which was the first time a Russian or Soviet military aircraft has been publicly acknowledged to have been shot down by a NATO member since the 1950s.

The incident appeared to scupper hopes of a rapprochement between Russia and the West in the wake of the Islamic State attacks in Paris, which led to calls for a united front against the radical jihadist group in Syria.

Russia’s main stock index fell more than two percent, while Turkish stocks fell 1.3 percent. Both the rouble and lira were weaker.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was briefed by the head of the military, while Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was due to report on the incident to NATO ambassadors at 1600 GMT. He also ordered consul-

happened today as anything else,” said a visibly furious Putin.

“Our plane was shot down on Syrian territory by an air-to-air missile from an F-16. It fell on Syrian territory 4 kilometres from the Turkish border. It was flying at 6,000 metres 1 kilometre from Turkish territory when it was attacked.”

Putin said Russian pilots and planes had in no way threatened Turkey, but had merely been carrying out their duty to fight Islamic State militants inside Syria.

“We established a long time ago that large quantities of oil and oil products from territory captured by Islamic State have been arriving on Turkish territory,” he said, saying that was how militants had been funding themselves.

“And now we get stabbed in our back and our planes, which are fighting terrorism, are struck. This despite the fact that we signed an agreement

tations with the United Nations and related countries.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said the warplane crashed in a mountainous area in the northern countryside of Latakia province, where there had been aerial bombardment earlier and where pro-government forces have been battling insurgents on the ground.

“A Russian pilot,” a voice is heard saying in the video sent to Reuters as men gather around the man on the ground. “God is great,” is also heard.

The rebel group that sent the video operates in the northwestern area of Syria, where groups including the Free Syrian Army are active but Islamic State, which has beheaded captives in the past, has no known presence.

The official from the group, who declined to be named for security reasons, did not mention the second Russian pilot.

Broadcaster CNN Turk earlier reported that one of the pilots was in the hands of Turkmen forces in Syria who were looking for the other one, citing local sources. Russian military helicopters were also searching for the pilots, Turkey’s Dogan news agency said.

Both Russia and its ally, Syria’s government, have carried out strikes in the area. A Syrian military source said the reported downing was being investigated.

Turkey called this week for a U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss attacks on Turkmens in neighbouring Syria, and last week Ankara summoned the Russian ambassador to protest against the bombing of their villages.

Ankara has traditionally expressed solidarity with Syrian Turkmens, who are Syrians of Turkish descent.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit Tur-

Almost 16 mn on HIV treatment 90% disasters are weather-related: UN NOveMbeR 24 Disasters”, found there were an Disasters at UCL University in as AIDS pandemic tide turns geNevA, (ReUTeRS): Weather-relat- average of 335 weather-related Louvain, Belgium, which coLONdON, NOveMbeR 24 (ReUTeRS): Some 15.8 million people are now on HIV treatment and a five-year strategy to end the threat of a never-ending AIDS pandemic is starting to show results, the United Nations AIDS programme said on Tuesday.

Estimates show new HIV infections have fallen by 35 percent since the peak of the three-decade-old pandemic in 2000, and AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 42 percent since a peak in 2004, UNAIDS said in a report timed for release before World Aids Day on December 1.

Even before the agency set out its strategy last year, the roughly 16 million people being treated by June 2015 was double the number in 2010. Barely 2.2 million were being treated ten years ago.

“Today we can say we move from despair to hope. Every five years we have more than doubled the number of people on life-saving treatment,” Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS’ executive director, told reporters at a briefing.

“If we manage to sustain our

investment and ... double the numbers of people put on treatment, we can really break the backbone of this epidemic.”

By the end of 2014, 36.9 million people were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, and more than half of them do not have access to treatment.

The World Health Organization says all people diagnosed as HIV positive should have immediate access to antiretroviral AIDS drugs, which hold the virus in check and give patients a good chance of a long and relatively healthy life.

Responding to the UNAIDS report, Sharonann Lynch, a policy adviser for the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), said all countries should “waste no time” in ensuring all HIV positive people are offered immediate treatment.

The report identified 35 countries that account for 90 percent of all new HIV infections. Focusing on them would have the greatest impact and reap huge benefits, it said.

ed disasters such as floods and heatwaves have occurred almost daily in the past decade, almost twice as often as two decades ago, with Asia being the hardest hit region, a UN report said.

While the report authors could not pin the increase wholly on climate change, they did say that the upward trend was likely to continue as extreme weather events increased.

Since 1995, weather disasters have killed 606,000 people, left 4.1 billion injured, homeless or in need of aid, and accounted for 90 percent of all disasters, it said.

A recent peak year was 2002, when drought in India hit 200 million and a sandstorm in China affected 100 million. But the standout mega-disaster was Cyclone Nargis, which killed 138,000 in Myanmar in 2008.

While geophysical causes such as earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis often grab the headlines, they only make up one in 10 of the disasters trawled from a database defined by the impact.

The report, called “The Human Cost of Weather Related

disasters annually between 2005 and August this year, up 14 percent from 1995-2004 and almost twice as many as in the years from 1985 to 1994.

“While scientists cannot calculate what percentage of this rise is due to climate change, predictions of more extreme weather in future almost certainly mean that we will witness a continued upward trend in weatherrelated disasters in the decades ahead,” the report said.

The release of the report comes a week before world leaders gather in Paris to discuss plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions and prevent world temperatures rising.

The United Nations says atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas that causes global warming, have risen to a new record every year for the past 30 years.

“All we can say is that certain disaster types are increasing.

Floods are definitely increasing,” said Debarati Guha-Sapir, professor at the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of

with our American partners to warn each other about air-to-air incidents and Turkey ... announced it was allegedly fighting against terrorism as part of the U.S. coalition.”

If Islamic State militants earned hundreds of millions of dollars from trading oil and enjoyed the protection of the armed forces “of entire governments” no wonder, said Putin, they behaved so boldly.

“We will of course analyse everything that happened and today’s tragic events will have serious consequences for Russo-Turkish relations,” he said.

Turkey is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Russians, and the two countries enjoy active diplomatic relations. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit Turkey on Wednesday, in a trip arranged before the incident, while Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to visit Russia for talks with Putin in December.

authored the report.

“Whether it’s increasing due to global warming, I think it’s safe to say the jury’s out on that.

But rather than focus on the ifs, whys and wherefores, I think we should focus on how to manage floods.”

Margareta Wahlstrom, head of the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), said floods were not just caused by heavy rain but also by poorly planned construction.

UNISDR estimates natural disasters of all types cause losses of $250 billion-$300 billion globally each year.

The report drew on a database of weather events that defines an event as a disaster if 10 or more people are killed, 100 or more are affected, a state of emergency is declared, or if there is a call for international assistance.

The countries hit by the highest number of weather-related disasters over the past decade were the United States, with 472, China with 441, India with 288, the Philippines with 274 and Indonesia with 163.

key on Wednesday to discuss Syria, in a trip arranged before this incident. Erdogan is meanwhile expected to visit Russia for talks with Putin in late December.

About 1,700 people have fled the mountainous Syrian area near to the Turkish border as a result of fighting in the last three days, a Turkish official said on Monday. Russian jets have bombed the area in support of ground operations by Syrian government forces.

Some Western analysts characterised the downing of the jet as a robust response by Turkey which they said created clear red lines for Russia and should thereby make further clashes less, rather than more likely.

“Reducing the margin for error in this way lowers, rather than raises, the potential for more serious clashes,” said Keir Giles, associate fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House in London.

Positive signs from North Korea: UN SeOUL, NOveMbeR 24 (ReUTeRS): U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he was discussing with North Korea the dates for his visit to the isolated state but no decision has been made in his first public comments on the trip since news reports last week said he would go soon.

Ban, who is South Korean, said he received “positive signs” from Pyongyang recently following his talks with the North’s foreign minister, in comments made to South Korean reporters at the United Nations and carried by YTN TV early on Tuesday.

“We are discussing when would be the good time for me to visit the North, but so far nothing has been decided,” he said, adding he is working to make the trip “at the earliest time.”

The United Nations had denied news reports about Ban’s visit to Pyongyang last week or this week.

If Ban’s visit does take place, he is expected to discuss U.N. sanctions against the North and its nuclear weapons programme, analysts have said.

The North is under multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions for its missile and nuclear tests, as well as separate U.S. and EU sanctions.

Ban had earlier this year made plans to visit an industrial park in the North operated jointly by the two Koreas.

But Pyongyang withdrew approval for the trip at the last minute without explanation.

Ban served as South Korea’s foreign minister from 2004 to 2006, a period of intense multinational negotiations aimed at ending the North’s nuclear programme.

Those talks led to a 2005 deal that later fell apart. North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

US issues global travel alert as manhunt continues for Paris attackers WASHINgTON/PARIS, NOveMbeR 24 (ReUTeRS): Citing ‘increased terrorist threats’ from militant groups in various regions of the world, the U.S. State Department issued a global alert on Monday for Americans planning to travel following deadly militant attacks in France and Mali.

As millions of Americans prepare to travel for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, the agency said potential attackers could target private or government interests.

The department did not advise people against travel but said U.S. citizens should be vigilant, especially in crowded places.

The State Department has regularly issued such worldwide travel alerts since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

A State Department official

said the latest alert, which expires Feb. 24, effectively updated past warnings.

In the statement on its website, the State Department said: “Current information suggests that (Islamic State), al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions.”

Although it did not mention the Nov. 13 Paris attacks claimed by the Islamic State group in which 130 died, the department noted that militants had carried out attacks in France, Nigeria, Denmark, Turkey, and Mali during the past year.

“Authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of (Islamic State) return from Syria and Iraq,” it said. “Additionally, there is a continuing threat from unaffiliated persons planning attacks in-

spired by major terrorist organizations but conducted on an individual basis.”

France and Belgium have launched a manhunt following the attacks in Paris, with a focus on Brussels barkeeper Salah Abdeslam, 26, who returned to the city from Paris hours after the attacks and is still at large.

Abdeslam’s mobile phone was detected after the attacks in the 18th district in the north of Paris, near an abandoned car that he had rented, and then later in Chatillon in the south, a source close to the investigation said.

Detectives were examining what appeared to be an explosive belt found in a litter bin in the town of Montrouge, south of the capital and not far from Chatillon.

The source said it was too soon to say whether the belt had been in contact with Abdeslam, whose

elder brother blew himself during the gun and suicide bomb attacks.

One theory was that Abdeslam had intended to blow himself up in the 18th district but had abandoned the plan, although it was not clear why.

“Maybe he had a technical problem with his explosive belt,” a police source said.

Fearing an imminent threat of a Paris-style attack, Belgium extended a maximum security alert in Brussels for a week but said the metro system and schools could reopen on Wednesday.

“We are still confronted with the threat we were facing yesterday,” Prime Minister Charles Michel said.

Potential targets remained shopping areas and public transport.

Belgium has been at the heart of investigations

into the Paris attacks since French law enforcement bodies said two of the suicide bombers had lived there. Three people have been charged in Belgium with terrorist offences, including two who travelled back with Abdeslam from Brussels.

SOLDIERS PATROL BRUSSELS As authorities tried to establish Abdeslam’s movements and whereabouts, a source said he travelled through Italy in August with a companion, but his presence caused no alarm because he was not a wanted man at the time.

His companion was Ahmet Dahmani, a Belgian man of Moroccan origin who was arrested in Turkey last week on suspicion of involvement in the Paris attacks, the investigative source said.

In Belgium, prosecutors said they had charged a fourth person with terrorist offences linked to the Paris attacks. They released all 15 others detained in police raids on Sunday. Two of five people detained on Monday were also released while the other three had their custody prolonged.

Soldiers patrolled the streets of Brussels, the bustling European Union capital, which has been in lockdown since Saturday. On the Grand Place, a historic central square that usually draws crowds of tourists, an armoured military vehicle was parked under an illuminated Christmas tree.

NATO, which raised its alert level after the Paris attacks, said its headquarters in the city were open, but some staff had been asked to work from home. EU institutions were also open with soldiers patrolling outside.

Interior Minister Jan Jambon told RTL radio, however, that the capital was still operating. “Apart from the closed metro and schools, life goes on in Brussels,” he said.

Workers were also setting up stalls for the city centre Christmas market, which is due to open on Friday, and organisers of the Davis Cup tennis final between Belgium and Britain in the city of Ghent, 55 km (35 miles) from the capital, said it would go ahead this weekend.

AIRCRAFT CARRIER French jets from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier struck Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria on Monday, while Britain offered France the use of an air base in Cyprus to hit the militants behind the Paris attacks.

French President Fran-

cois Hollande met British Prime Minister David Cameron in Paris as part of efforts to rally support for the fight against Islamic State. Hollande is also due to visit Washington and Moscow this week. The French president and U.S. President Barack Obama will hold a joint news conference on Tuesday morning, the White House said.

French jets taking off from the country’s flagship in the eastern Mediterranean destroyed targets in Ramadi and Mosul in Iraq on Monday in support of Iraqi forces on the ground, the French armed forces said in a statement.

In the evening, a raid was carried out on Islamic State’s Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, where the French armed forces said planes destroyed several facilities including a command centre.

10

wednesdAY 25•11•2015

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Mokokchung awaits Yoddha sunderland get rare win as fighting championship defoe punishes palace error

MOkOkchUNg, NO VEMBER 24 (MExN): The Yoddha Fighting Championship, is all set to be held at Mokokchung town on November 27 and 28 at the Multipurpose Sports complex, where renowned national fighters will enter the cage to compete.

Organized by MFC, the Yoddha Fighting Championship is being held in close collaboration with Yoddha FC based in Mumbai. The referees, judges, the time keeper and the cage will be provided by the Yoddha FC. The championship will be contested as per the rules and regulations of the Yoddha FC, which is in consonance with the world’s MMA regulations.

Altogether, more than twenty local fighters for all over Nagaland have registered for the championship.

Besides, sixteen Yoddha FC fighters from all over India will also participate in the competition. The most exciting part will be two exhibition matches between the four of the best national fighters during the event.

Notable among the fighters from India are Sashi Kant, Aleto Nagi, T Guite and Kishan Gupta from the flyweight (50-57 kg) category. In the Bantam weight (58-61 Kg) category, the national fighters are Gajendra K, Hemavi Aye, Roshan and Rohit Punder.

The featherweight (62-66 Kg) fighters from India to

compete are Dipesh Rasal, Imkong Jamir, Manas Daimar and Shantanu.

The organizers have earmarked more than Rs One Lakh as prize money to be awarded to the winners in the different categories.

During the championship, the local participants will be given the opportunity to compete with amateur MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) other Indian states.

Tickets priced at Rs 1000 (admit two) and Rs 300 (admit one) for each night are available at El Marcado (near Elate Hostel), The Restaurant (AM

Road), Walim Enterprises (FAC bus stand).

Meanwhile, the organizers – MFC – has made elaborate plans for food and lodging for the outstation fighters, the Yoddha FC officials and also for the whole two day championship.

It must be noted here that the Yoddha Fighting Championship is being organized as a promotional event keeping in mind that the Mixed Martial Arts (or MMA) is a fast growing sport all over the world, especially after the popular television show UFC (Ultimate fight championship),

becoming a favorite among the people all over.

The MFC, by organizing this championship, hopes that the local participants will take Mixed Martial Arts as a profession and excel in the field not only in the national but also in the international level.

The MFC will be organizing a Mixed Martial Arts workshop for interested people at the Multipurpose Sports Complex, Mokokchung on Thursday, November 26, 2015 where officials from the Combat Academy, Dimapur will train the participants. Those interested in MMA can contact the MFC at phone number – 07085474783 for further details.

The local fighters to compete in the championship are: Flyweight category Wanyum Konyak (Dimapur district), Avoto (Kohima district), Jongpongmar (Mokokchung dist), Beching Akai Konyak (Dimapur), Nokinyanger (Mokokchung), Imtiwapong (Mokokchung), Nungshimongba (Mokokchung), Lun (Dimapur), Lima Ao (Mokokchung).

Bantam weight category: Nungsangyanger (Mokokchung district), Pushen Khiam (Dimapur district), M Akho Konyak (Dimapur), Toshi (Mokokchung), Akito Konyak (Dimapur), Amit (Mokokchung), Limakumzuk (Mokokchung)

NFA informs Inter Dept Badminton tourney DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): All the selected players in the Stage-I for FIFA U-17 for FIFA- 2017 have been directed to report on November 30 at 9 am to Khuochozie, Kohima Local Ground, for the National selector positively regarding stage-II trial. A press note from the Nagaland Football Association (NFA) informed that Roko Angami (AFC ‘B’), Kevilhoubei and Ruopfii Meyase (AFC-‘c’) will assist the selector.

underway in Zunheboto

ZUNhEBOTO, NOVEMBER 24 (DIPR): The 5th Inter Departmental Badminton Tournament organized by the District Sports Council got underway at Indoor Stadium, Zunheboto on November 24. The inaugural programme was graced by Parliamentary Secretary, Law & Justice, SIRD, Er Picto Shohe as the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Er Picto said he was happy to be a part of the tournament which is meant to foster strong bond and respect among the government employees at Zunheboto. “Sport is very important in our lives and is a great source of recreational activity for young as well as the old,” he

said adding that badminton is the second most important sports in Nagaland after football. He hoped that the tournament will integrate all departments under Zunheboto district. Deputy Commissioner & Chairman, District Sports Council, Zunheboto, Temsu Longkumer, in his welcome address said the tournament is organized to provide opportunities to officers and staffs and urged the players to maintain true sportsmanship. The program was chaired by Vice Chairman, DSCZ, Vikaho Zhimomi and special presentation was given by Boloto Achumi. Altogether, 47 departments will be participating in the three day long tournament.

'big 3' of indian tennis set to reignite passions of city fans

kOLkATA, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): City's tennis aficionados will get a rare opportunity to witness the game's stars in action when Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and the legendary Martina Navratilova play an exhibition match here on Wednesday.

Titled 'Masters Kolkata', the event is part of the International Premier Tennis League's exhibition tour and the players next travel to Hyderabad and New Delhi on consecutive days ahead of the season of the franchise-based tournament beginning in Kobe on December 2.

The build-up tour has its founder and Indian tennis legend Bhupathi teaming up with his former mixed doubles part-

ner and current doubles World No 1 Sania in a rare engagement against Paes, who will play alongside the most successful women's tennis player of all time, Navratilova. Paes and Navratilova had won the mixed doubles title at the 2003 Australian Open and Wimbledon. The exhibition match will also see Bhupathi reuniting with Sania, with whom he had won two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.

"Season 1 of IPTL brought Indian tennis fans closer to tennis akin to Grand Slam action like never before. Yet, not everyone was able to experience that action up close and personal.

The understanding and familiarity between the four of us has resulted in Grand Slam finals

appearances and titles won.

This will only contribute to the quality of competitive tennis being played," Bhupathi said.

On how the promo tour lines up with his vision for the IPTL, Bhupathi said, "The response from season 1 was overwhelming and season 2 can only exceed expectations.

The addition of a new franchise and stars like Rafael Nadal and Leander joining the ranks will surely make for some wonderful tennis on the cards.

"Ultimately it is about connecting tennis fans in India and Asia with some of the world's best across the singles and doubles format. This exhibition tour is simply a taster of what to expect from IPTL Season 2," Bhupathi added.

legalise drugs in sport, says world title challenger Fury

LONDON, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): Tyson Fury, the British heavyweight boxer who fights for the world title in Germany on Saturday, says boxing has a "big problem" with doping and that the only way to combat it is to make drugs legal in all sports.

In the latest in a round of interviews publicising his challenge for Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko's three world titles in Dusseldorf at the weekend, the controversial Fury said he could tell if any sportsman had been doping. "I can look at a man and tell you if he's full of drugs by one glance at his body with his top off," he told

BBC radio. "Boxing has got a big problem with drugs. "Why don't they make drugs totally legal in sports and then it would be fully fair? "You can't tell me these sports people aren't tak-

ing drugs when they look like Greek gods.

"You can train for 100 years and your body will never look like that. "But if a man wants to pump himself full of drugs it's only shortening his life."

Robert Smith, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, told the BBC on Tuesday that he did not believe doping was a major problem in the sport.

A statement from board said it was "committed in its fight against drug use in professional boxing" and has "an extensive programme of out-of-competition testing and in-competition testing".

LONDON, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe cashed in on a horrendous defensive mix-up to give his struggling side a muchneeded 1-0 win at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Monday.

The team with the worst away record in the top flight pinched all three points at Selhurst Park to ruin Palace's best start to a Premier League season thanks to former England forward Defoe's persistence in the 80th minute. As Defoe tried to pounce on a loose ball, Scott Dann, trying to shield

it, made a mess of his attempted clearance, poking the ball past indecisive keeper Wayne Hennessy into the path of the Sunderland striker who muscled through to tap into an empty net.

The three points enabled Sunderland to move up to 18th with nine points, ahead of Bournemouth on goal difference and four in front of bottom club Aston Villa. Palace lie 10th with 19.

"He is a classy finisher," Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce said of Defoe.

"If you want someone to chase down what looks like a lost cause, it's him. De-

foe not giving up is why the goalkeeper and defender messed up."

"I got that little bit of luck that you need for the goal and I was just delighted," Defoe added on Sky Sports. "The lads put in the work during the international break and it paid off."

Palace, for all their second half pressure, missed the chance of a win which would have moved them to sixth in the table and came nearest to breaking the deadlock fleetingly when Bakary Sako's speculative left-foot strike flew just wide. Sunderland, though,

under new manager Allardyce, deserved only their second league win of the season defending stoutly and being enterprising on the counter attack.

They had earlier come closest to scoring when defender Younes Kaboul's header from a corner was cleared off the line by Yohan Cabaye. Allardyce added: "Defensively we were sound, rarely troubled in front of the opposition goal.

We frustrated the crowd, we frustrated Palace and then we came out with a fantastic win, our first away win of the season."

public discourse

paris and us

T

he recent act of terrorism in Paris which shocked the world and has taken around a hundred and fifty precious lives, left us something to be pondered upon. While the shocking news was immediately flashed out on every news channels worldwide, the meticulous and the pragmatic handling of the victims corpses and injured people were all very well handled by the French Government. In a very tactful, cautious and a matured way they only let the world know what happened without all those nitty-gritty and the itsy-bitsy gory details of the unfortunate incident.

No photos of blood spilled, victims laying dead around or people running helter skelter were seen circulating in the social media. It was dealt in a complete matured and the proper handling of that incident of such gigantic proportion of human catastrophe.

Wish we all learn something very big from it.

They showed a deep respect for not only the victims who lost their lives but as well for their families and relatives so that they will not go through a trauma or a nightmare seeing those photos of their near ones haunting them .The authorities made sure that such a tragic moment must not be relived by those awful memories brought back by videos and photos of the horrific incident.

But whenever some unfortunate or any untoward incident happens here, for an instance, photos of dead people during a gun battle, accident victims, fights, quarrels etc., we take pride like we are in some sort of a competition to win a prize by sending those pictures and photos to every people we know or every group we are tied up with in the social networking sites.

Many people think that others will gratify and praise them for spreading those pictures all over. But Wrong! The dead tell no tales and they cannot see anything, hear anything or feel anything. But what about the living ones?

The near and the dear ones of the deceased, who never knew what was in store for them and who never deserved to meet such a fate?

Wouldn’t those photos that you circulate around happily looking for that little pride and praise haunt them throughout their lives? What would you feel if any of your own family member or a relative meet with such an unfortunate incident and their dead corpses are spread all around the world? Do you ever feel like getting those photos or videos in your own phones, tablets or laptops?

Let us put yourselves in the place of those unfortunate families and relatives.

Even aftermath the incident, the people did not demand that government should resign or step down. Even the opposition did not demand the ouster of the President, Prime Minister or any of the Council of Ministers. Instead they all stood behind them showing unity and camaraderie. At Paris, it was only flowers, candles and prayers with tears at those unfortunate sides with people from every different community, religions expressing support and showing solidarity, hugging and holding one another in magnanimity. Let us respect not only the dead but also care for the sentiments of those families that are alive.

Jonah Achumi Middle Point, Dimapur.

"An Open Letter to Social Welfare Minister of Nagaland"

A

n open letter to social welfare minister of Nagaland. We the beneficiaries of OAP (old age pension) would like to seek the attention of the concern department minister for delaying in release of our pension money. It has been 3 (three) month delaying as compare to the past years. The financial crunch/constrain of the state govt. should not affect our meager expectation income yearly. Non release of old age pension scheme on time is severely affecting our physical health as we are solely depending on it for medical cheek up and clothing etc. Therefore, it’s a great injustice for the poor and needy grand

old age pensioners. If the central government is given for 9 months, why the government of Nagaland not able to add the remaining 3 months and release on time.

We the group of beneficiary resolved to go for strike if the state government does not release scheme before the first week of December 2015.

Achealiu (convenor) Joniliu Tabamliu Winitalakbo Kakana Tahilungliu Old age pension beneficiary group New Jalukie, Peren

REFLECTION ON “SECURITY REVIEWED AHEAD OF THE HORNBILL FESTIVAL” LemwangChuhwanglim

G

iving less priority to Hornbill festival, I am fascinated to reflect on the press released on 22nd November 2015 on the title mentioned above. It is inevitable that one of the most prestigious and crowded festivals like Hornbill in Nagaland requires security for the safety of every citizen who participates in the festival. However, Hornbill festival does not represent the moment of any fatal operation by any sane and insane human being. It is the festival of celebrating the freedom of freeness and secured feelings without being guarded by central security force like Assam Rifle.

Hornbill festival is not an Indian election where central force like Assam Rifle must be deployed in the expense of security avails to protect citizens.

Nagaland already has Nagaland Police and Indian Reserved Battalions (IRB) to secure citizens during Hornbill festival and to deploy Assam Rifle security is not an offset option. In every move, one of the best positive ideologies of any administration and NGOs is to choose the context to contextualize any initiative between security and people, culture and nature of insiders. Without which any action repercussions towards escalating incompatible phenomenon and I postulate such incompatible phenomenon would emerge if Assam Rifle is deployed as security during Hornbill festival. The phenomenon would bring more sufferings to the Nagas.

Every Naga citizen knows that Assam Rifle in Nagaland manipulates every opportunity to discriminate Nagas in many aspects by polarizing the theme “friends of the Hill people”. There is a constant palpable ideology of Assam Rifle in Nagaland towards the Naga public since the abrogation of the NSCN-K ceasefire. Taking cease fire abrogation as tool to implement central army power upon anyone, anywhere for any ingenuine and genuine

reasons, there is high potential for Assam Rifle to deteriorate the situation during Hornbill festival than ensuing security. I believe what my instinct says upon Nagas choosing Assam Rifle for security during the Naga Hornbill festival than choosing Nagaland Police/IRB, would being ramification of more gun battles in suspense of every silly reason as NSCNK indulgence.

Any traumatic mind is prone to intrigue silly reason towards creating bigger problem. Similarly, Assam Rifle who is traumatized by the NSCNK phobia would create suspected killing and torturing innocent Nagas during the festival.

I consider the decision of Nagaland Government and NGOS enacting Assam Rifle for security during Hornbill as a naïve initiative. It is naïve because the Nagaland Government and NGOS have given another opportunity to awaited Assam Rifle to use and misuse the moment to utilized security power in the name of relinquishing the engagement of NSCNK. What assures my hypothesis that Assam Rifle will inclement worst situations? The answer is based on the former regretful situations created

by Assam Rifles in expense of security power which killed and tortured many young innocent Nagas and the saddest part is the silence of the great Nagas in such agony.

Therefore, Nagas need to rethink of every decision making which takes in collaboration with any central force to regulate their power in Naga soil. I would prefer to face ill-treatment from my own brother for whatever reason it may be than being illtreated by foreigners in my homeland. The question remains ‘will Naga elders remain naïve every day to every decision making for common people, culture, nature and above all the innocence who remains subjugated in your decision making? I believe that your decision would remain submitted in the hands of our Lord which changes men’s plans to His plan.

Researcher & Activist Contact email: lemswang@gmail.com

Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

Wednesday 25•11•2015

Mtv Rock on winner Divine Connection opens for the Cross Culture 2015 concert in Bengaluru. The concert, which is India's Biggest Celebration of Christian Music, Arts and Culture featured Darlene Zschech, Martin Smith (Delirious) and many more.

5 Sushma Swaraj to grace Hornbill festival Union minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj will grace the much hyped Hornbill Festival of Nagaland starting from December 1.

Union Minister of Human Resource Development Smriti Irani and union culture minister Dr. Mahesh Sharma have also been confirmed to grace the festival.

This was announced by

Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang while addressing a press conference here on Monday.

The Chief Minister also stated that Union minister for railway and civil aviation will also be gracing the festival.

Meanwhile, massive preparations are on for the success of this ten day festival.

Organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments, Hornbill

Festival showcases a mé- tively. There will also be 10 lange of cultural displays consolation prizes of Rs. under one roof.

1000 each.

For further detail, conPainting Competition tact; Vilalhou Noudi Art The department of art executive Art & Culture@ and culture in collabora- 9436070315 or V. Hetoi tion with All Nagaland Fine Swu president ANFATA @ Arts Teachers’ Association 8575724966.

(ANFATA) is all set to organize painting competition State level flower showfor the students (Classes V cum-competition to X) at Artist’s Corner in As part of the Hornbill front of the World War –II Festival, the state’s hortiMuseum at The Naga Heri- culture department is ortage Village Kisama during ganizing state level flower the Hornbill Festival. show-cum-competition The competition theme from December 1 to 10 at is “Visual Art Motifs of Na- Horti- Scape, Naga Herigas.” tage Village, Kisama. The Participants have been event will also feature asked to submit their paint- farmers mela, display and ings before December 5 sales of fruits by horticulwith their names, class, ture department, display school with contact num- and sales of horticultural bers at the back side of the inputs by service providpainting sheet. ers, display and sales of The same can be sub- horticultural produce by mitted to Directorate of Art farmers, fruits, vegetables, & Culture Office, Kohima spices exhibition-cumor Bright Bakery at D.BS. competition. For further Junction Tinpati Kohima. details contact: DirecThe winner will receive torate of Horticulture, Rs. 10,000 while the 2nd Kohima. 9436408050/ and 3rd position will get Rs. 9774032232. e-mail: hor5000 and Rs. 3000 respec- tidte09@gmail.com

Tetseo Sisters presents folk songs and dances of Nagaland on Day Two of the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival 2015 in Imphal. This is the 7th edition of the festival commemorating the Sangai deer, unique to Manipur and celebrating the vibrant culture of Manipur while fostering friendly relations with its neighbouring States as well as neighbour countries like Myanmar, Thailand and China.

Hillstar

PRESENTS

NOW SHOWING

“Out of the Blue” in Dimapur City DECEMBER 15 2015, 6:00 PM NEZCC GROUND, DIMAPUR NAGALAND

TICKETS NOW ON SALE CONTACT: 9856237112 • 9436431564 • 9856124952 • 9862090429 DIMAPUR THE GARDEN ENCORE CAFE DESTINATION SYNERGY SYSTEMS LA PREMIERE FURTADOS

DIPHUPAR & 5TH MILE STATIONERY WORLD BAKE MY DAY HIBO STORE

KOHIMA TRAP OZONE CAFE UNITEX BIG BITE CAFE

CHUMUKEDIMA COMPUTER EMPORIUM ASSOCIATE SPONSOR

HOSPITALITY PARTNER

WOKHA M/S SHANPAN & SONS MOKOKCHUNG THE RESTAURANT ARIA

MAGAZINE PARTNER

MEDIA PARTNERS

EASTERN MIRROR WWW.MLTR.DK

C M Y K

FACEBOOK.COM/MICHAELLEARNSTOROCK

@OFFICIALMLTR

FACEBOOK.COM/LIVENOWEVENTS

Timings: 11:00 AM | 02:10 PM 05:20 pm | 08:30 pm

celebrating Hornbill Festival 2015 HORTI-SCAPE Kisama, Naga Heritage Village Dec 1 - 10, 2015

Activities

ATTRACTIVE Farmers Mela PRIZES State Level Flower Show-cum-Competition Display & Sales of fruits by Horticuture Department Display & Sales of horticultural inputs by Service Providers Display & Sales of horticultural produce by farmers State Level Fruits, Vegetables and Spices Exhibition-cum-Competition

Directorate of Horticulture New Capital Complex Entry Forms available in Horticulture Directorate & Horti-Scape Nagaland : Kohima CONTACTS : 797 001 Flowers : 94028 26095 Fruits & Vegetables : 94364 08050 / 97740 32232 e-mail : hortidte09@gmail.com

12

wednesdAY 25•11•2015

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

DPC annual sports meet concludes India hold the upper hand against Proteas in third Test

C M Y K

C M Y K

DimaPur, November 24 (mexN): Three exciting exhibition matches involving Editors marked the end of the 2-day annual sports meet of Dimapur Press Club (DPC) here at the Indoor Stadium today.

In the first exhibition match between Editors, K Temjen, Editor of Tir Yimyim took on Akum Longchari, Editor of Morung Express in Table Tennis; while the two editors teamed up to face DPC members Imti Longchar and Moa Jamir in TT doubles.

Team K Temjen and Akum Longchari also played another exhilarating badminton doubles match against DPC duo of Asangba and Paudi Renta.

Earlier, in the final competitive game of the sports meet, the penalty shootout, the Editor of Nagaland Page, Monalisa Changkija and Editor of Morung Express, Akum Longchari also sportingly participated, which was a huge en-

Results 1. Badminton Mixed Doubles 6. Carrom (Women) Winner: - Henlly Phom & Asungba Jamir Winner:- Nzano Runners-up: - Amongla & Moa Jamir Runners-up:- Temshinaro 2. Badminton Men’s Singles Winner: - Asungba Jamir Runners-up: Echanthung H 3. Badminton Women’s Doubles Winner:- Temshinaro & Akangchila Runners-up:- Nzano & Henlly Phom 4. Badminton Women’s Singles Winner:- Temshinaro Runners-up:- Renchano 5. Table Tennis Men’s Singles Winner: Imti Longchar Runners: Moa Jamir couragement to the DPC members.

In the sports meet, the DPC members were divided into to teams – Team A captained by Imkong Walling and Temshinaro as vice captain and Team B captained by Henley Phom and Caisii Mao as vice

7. Carrom (Men) Winner:- Mhathung Ngullie Runners-up:- Moa Longkumer 8. Chess Winner:- Caisii Mao Runners-up: Tasungtetla Z Longkumer 9. Penalty Shoot-Out Winner:- Team B Runners-up:- Team A 10. Editor’s Table Tennis Exhibition Match Winner: K Temjen Jamir Runners-up:- Dr Akum Longchari Overall Champion:- Team B

captain. Team B emerged as overall champion of the sports meet.

Later, the three Editors handed over the prize money along with certificates to the winners and runners up of the games played in the meet.

Meanwhile, the DPC

has expressed gratitude to the Chief Executive Officer, Chabou & Company, Dimapur for sponsoring the total prize money of the sports meet and DMC Administrator, H Atokhe Aye for sponsoring the cost of refreshment on both days of the sports meet.

FIFA ethics committee calls for lifetime ban on Platini

Paris, November 24 (iaNs): The investigatory chamber of FIFA's ethics committee has asked for a lifetime ban on Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) president Michel Platini for his involvement in corruption, lawyers of the French football official said on Tuesday.

The decision of the ethics committee will be officially announced in December, reports Efe. To follow the recommendation of the investigators would mean the end of Platini's career in football bureaus at a time when the Frenchman is running for the FIFA presidential election to be held on February 26, 2016. Platini's lawyer Thomas Clay described the investigatory chamber's decision, led by Trinidadian Vanessa Allard, as absurd, delusion-

al and discrediting the world football governing body, FIFA. According to Clay, the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee, which is investigating the payment of 1.8 million euros ($1.9 million) in 2011 by FIFA to Platini, asked late last week for the highest penalty possible.

The media speculated that a ban would be for six years, which also would have vetoed Platini's candidacy for the presidency of FIFA, but according to lawyers things have gone much farther.

The lifetime ban has only been issued twice by FIFA, against the American Chuck Blazer and against Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago, who were also involved in corruption.

NaGPur, November 24 (iaNs): Leading 1-0 in the four-match Test series after the washout in Bengaluru, India will aim to once again put up a dominating performance when the two sides face off in the third and penultimate match at the Vidarba Cricket Association Stadium here from Wednesday.

With the pitch in Jamtha sporting a dry and spin friendly track, one can expect a low-scoring game between World No.1 South Africa and the fourth ranked hosts.

As in the first two Tests, India will hold the edge with their spinning trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra and Ravindra Jadeja making the contest tougher for the visitors' batsman.

Both sides will be anxiously and waiting to take the field on Wednesday after the second Test at Bengaluru produced no result because rain washed out play and the outfield was wet.

India skipper Virat Kohli, who led his team to a thumping win inside three days in the first Test at Mohali, was very disappointed after the second was washed out after India took the upper hand by bowling out the visitors inside first day. So far in the series, the Indian spinners have been in the limelight for all the good reasons.

The seamers did not get too much support from the pitch and the wicket in Nagpur might go in favour of slower bowlers as well.

In terms of hosts' batting, barring opener Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, nothing much can be said about in the lowscoring first Test at Mohali.

With the likes of Shikhar

Kohli voices support for day-night Tests

NaGPur, November 24 (iaNs): Indian Test captain Virat Kohli has voiced his support for day-night Tests, the first of which will feature Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval from November 27.

He added that it is a big experiment and looks like an exciting concept. "It is a landmark Test. It is a big experiment. It is a big step towards changing something in Test cricket. I am hopeful that it will work. I also hope it can be another option as well," Kohli told reporters here.

Kohli also praised the two teams, Australia and New Zealand on taking up the challenge of playing in the first ever day and night Test.

"I'm glad two teams have actually agreed to play an official Test like that as an experiment. Credit to Australia and New Zealand, both, that they have decided to do this.

Hopefully it will be better for the game. It will be a step which we all will remember few years down the line. Let's hope so," he said.

The 27-year-old also said that cricketers need to contribute to the game however possible and believes that if the new idea adds excitement to the five-

day format,then the players should be game for it.

"As I said, it is a step towards something. If it is officially put into place it will be something different, it will be something exciting.

As cricketers we all should be willing and accepting of the fact that we need to step forward and contribute to the game however possible," Kohli said. "If this is a step towards improving the excitement and the popularity of Test cricket, then I think every team should be in for it." The right-handed batsman has not yet tried

his hand at pink-ball cricket, but has heard from other players that the pink ball was difficult to pick during the twilight period.

"I have heard a few of the players giving feedback on playing with the pink ball. The only thing that they were concerned about is that during twilight it is hard to pick up the ball. During the day it was still fine. And at night it was okay as well, but when the floodlights are not sort of on and the sun is going down is when they found it very difficult," he said.

Dhawan, Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane the batting looks quite strong but needs to click on the particular day.

The fielding by the Indians was spot on in the first Test and the opening day of the second Test. Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha proved quite effective with his stumpings and catches.

On the other hand, the visitors will once again rely

on their batsman Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers to deliver for them after the flop show by Faf du Plessis in the three innings so far.

Dean Elgar who showed his skills with the bat will come handy. The Proteas have some good memories from their last outing here.

The last time they played a Test in Nagpur was in February 2010 when

Amla scored a brilliant unbeaten 253 and the visitors went on to post a huge total of 558/6 declared in the first innings. In reply, India went on to lose the match by an innings and six runs, thanks to some terrific bowling by Dale Steyn which saw him claim 10 wickets in the match. That included a seven-wicket haul in the first innings.

Dale Steyn set to miss third test against India

NaGPur, November 24 (reuTers): South African spearhead Dale Steyn is struggling to be fit in time for the third test against India in what would be a big blow to the tourist's chances of levelling the series.

The world's top ranked bowler in tests, Steyn missed the washed-out second test in Bangalore and is still working his way back from a groin injury ahead of the third match, starting on Wednesday.

"Dale Steyn won't probably play in this test match, I don't think his injury has recovered fully," South Africa captain Hashim Amla told reporters on Tuesday.

"Not having Dale in the team is a

setback because not having the best bowler in the world is never a nice thing.

"But we've got to deal with it and we've got some good reserves. Hopefully, the guys who play will get a chance to stand out."

The last time South Africa played India in a test at the VCA Stadium in 2010, the tourists won by an innings with Steyn capturing 10 wickets in the match.

Amla also contributed heavily in that match, scoring a double century, but the 32-year-old has struggled for form on the current tour.

"I definitely would have liked to have got more runs in the one-dayers

and tests so far," Amla said. "Hopefully, the runs are still to come.

"We've got two big test matches to deal with."

India captain Virat Kohli said Steyn's absence would not make any difference to the way the hosts approached the match but he said they wanted to keep the pressure on Amla.

"The opposition will obviously look to target the captain because he is the one sort of making strategies," Kohli said.

"The opposition finds it very important for him to be not comfortable when he is batting out there especially if he is a batter. That is what I have experienced in the past as well."

C M Y K

C M Y K

Chennaiyin FC trash Delhi Dynamos

C M Y K

C M Y K

DeLHi, November 24 (aGeNCies): Chennaiyin FC handed Delhi Dynamos a 4-0 thrashing at the Marina Arena on Tuesday with goals from John Mendoza (17’), Bruno Pelissarri ( 21’) and Jeje Lalpekhlua (40’ and 54’).

The win takes Chennaiyin FC to the fourth position as they now trail Dynamos by a mere two points though the latter have a game in hand.

With Alessandro Potenza suspended, Mailson Alves was included in the starting eleven while Delhi named an unchanged lineup.

The first chance of the game came for the visitors as Nabi played

Malouda through who could only prod the ball wide off the goal.

The opening goal came in the 17th minute when Doblas came off his line to head a ball clear from a Jeje’s floater after a quick counterattack. However, the ball came straight to Mendoza who made no mistake in slotting the ball into an empty net. The very next minute saw Chicao test Edel with a powerful drive which saw Edel dive to his right to parry it away.

Chennaiyin FC doubled their lead in the 21st minute. Doblas’ miss-kick went straight to Pelissari who played it for Mendoza who in

turn squared it for Jeje whose effort was blocked by Doblas, but the rebound fell kindly for Pelissari, who precisely curled it in.

The home side had a couple of more efforts but Raphael and Pelissari skied their shots. Just before the half hour mark, Malouda won the ball off Wadoo and set up Robin whose left footed shot was parried over the crossbar by Edel.

With five minutes to go, Chennaiyin got a third, after Raphael played Mendoza through after a one-two. The Colombian played a pinpoint cross to Jeje, who calmly slotted it past Doblas.

Chennaiyin walked off at half time to a standing ovation.

In the second half, Carlos made the second change as he introduced Hans Mulder for Vinicius after bringing on Richard Gadze in place of Nabi towards the end of the first half.

In the fifty fourth minute, superb work by Raphael found Mendoza in the box, whose shot was blocked by Anas on the line. However, Jeje was on hand to slot in his second and Chennaiyin’s fourth.

A foul by Khabra on Gadze saw him pick his fourth yellow card and will be suspended for the next tie against Mumbai City FC. Malouda’s subsequent free kick was headed straight at Edel by an unmarked Chicao.

With fifteen minutes to go, Gadze got into an impressive position down Chennai’s left but Dhanachandra and Mendy ensured the cross never came in. In the same minute, Chennai went to having seven Indian players on the pitch, a record this season, as Balwant came on for the impressive Pelissari. Dhanachandra got clear of his marker and played in Jeje, whose attempt came back off Riise as the striker looked for his third goal.

The referee signaled three minutes of added time as Chennaiyin were content to play ping pong among themselves with the lion’s share of the possession, not letting Delhi much of the ball at all.

As the whistle blew, Delhi were aghast with themselves as Chennaiyin tamed the Lions and secured their first home clean sheet of the season thanks to a tactically astute all-round performance.

C M Y K

C M Y K

Published, Printed and Edited by Aküm Longchari on behalf of Morung for Indigenous Affairs and JustPeace from House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur at Themba Printers and Telecommunications, Padum Pukhuri Village, Dimapur, Nagaland.

RNI No : NAGENG /2005/15430. House No.4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur 797112, Nagaland. Phone: Dimapur -(03862) 248854, Fax: (03862) 235194, Kohima - (0370) 2291952

For news email: morung@gmail.com and for advertisements and circulation contact: (03862) 248854, Fax-235194 or email : morungad@yahoo.com

PO Reg No. NE/RN-722