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DIMAPUR • Vol. X • Issue 298 • 12 PAGes • 4
www.morungexpress.com
monDAY • november 02 • 2015
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail Fourth round of Bihar battle ends, 58 percent vote PAGe 8
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
New Delhi | November 1
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— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Radwanska wins maiden WTA Finals title
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15 years of fighting against the AFSPA Renthungo odyuo
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NEISSR commemorates Vigilance Awareness Week
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November 2, 2015 marks Irom Sharmila’s 15 year long battle against the imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, (AFSPA), 1958 and her primary demand for removal of AFSPA. Sharmila, a 42 year old poet and human rights defender from Manipur began her hunger strike What caused today’s riot? on November 2, 2000, deDal, Bollywood movie, manding the repeal of the dance, onion, cow...? AFSPA. Over the years Irom The Morung Express Sharmila’s protest against Poll QuEsTion AFSPA has gained popuVote on www.morungexpress.com lar support from cross secsMs your answer to 9862574165 tions of civil society. The imposition of the dracoHas Naga civil society nian act has cost numerous groups (Hohos, innocent lives in the North students, mothers, etc) been compromised East Region and Jammu by the Nagaland state and Kashmir. government? Why? 58 years since AFSPA was first promulgated in Yes no others the year 1958, it has been Do you consider the North criticized by several naEast as a single entity? Why tional and international Yes 22% bodies. “AFSPA has no role 68% no to play in Democracy…The 10% repeal of this law will not others only bring domestic law Details on page 7 more in line with international standards, but also send out a powerful message”, the UN has observed. The act has been deKohima, Novem- nounced by the UN High ber 1 (mexN): The Commissioner for Human Department of Rural De- Rights; the UN Special Rapvelopment (DRDA) em- porteur on Human Rights ployees have withdrawn Defenders; the UN Special their proposed ‘Pen Rapporteur on ExtrajudiDown’ strike which was cial, Summary or Arbitrary to be held on November executions; the High Level 2 and 3. A press note from the Project Director, DRDA, Kohima, Kevipodi Sophie and Project Director, DRDA Longleng, CI Meren informed that this decision was taken in view of the state government’s “positive re- DimaPUr, Novemsponse” to release their ber 1 (mexN): President salaries at the earliest. of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), K Therie today said that the BJP regime “under the spell of RSS with the agenda of racism and feudalism is not safe Kohima, Novem- for minorities anymore.” ber 1 (mexN): The Ko- “There is fear in the minds hima Village Youth Or- of the minorities that enganization (KVYO) has joy beef and freedom of informed the public that religion,” Therie said in a only one way traffic will press note. be allowed at the circular He claimed that there road,KohimaVillage.This will be change in the politiwill come into effect from cal equation in the nation November 2. In this, the and “maybe, sooner than public have been request- expected.” Stating that ed to follow the traffic rules for the safety and in- “the signs are prominent,” terest of the general pub- Therie cited how “the Inlic. The routes to be regu- telligentsia’s (writers, film lated are viz.:- Tanqueist/ producers, scientists, hisMission road via L Khel torians and artistes) revolt via T Khel via P Khel via D against the intolerances is one of the greatest revolts Khel via Mission Road. in the modern age. It is not
DRDA employees call off strike
Committee on the Status of Women; the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee; the Second Administrative Reforms Commission and the Prime Minister’s Working Group on Confidence-Building Measures in Jammu and Kashmir; the Justice Verma Committee; and the Justice Santosh Hegde Commission. In commemoration of Sharmila’s long battle, social activists and scholars organized a ‘Convention on Repeal AFSPA’ at New Delhi in a series of Solidarity Nationwide Protests to repeal AFSPA and to mark 15 years Sharmila’s hunger strike. Neingulo Krome, Secretary General of the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) reiterated the impact of AFSPA at the societal level, both across Manipur and Nagaland. He said AFSPA has further “segregated and separated” society. He called upon all civil society organizations to come together in a quest to fight against the removal of AFSPA and applauded the sacrifice of Irom Sharmila. Krome also took a dig at the Supra- Existential form of Indian Democracy which still upholds an outdated, colonial act that grants special powers to the armed forces in so called ‘disturbed areas.’ Social activist, Swami Agnivesh extended support of the Arya Samaj in solidarity with Irom
Human rights bodies urge India to release Sharmila and repeal AFSPA
social Activist and spiritual leader, swami Agnivesh addressing the gathering at the Convention on Repeal AFsPA to mark 15 years of irom sharmila’s hunger strike, at the indian social institute, new Delhi on sunday.
Sharmila, and said: “we will fight together to repeal AFSPA. I salute her for her act of bravery.” He stated that the essence of Sharmila’s struggle is to sustain this movement through democratic means. Prof. Nandini Sundar, Professor, Delhi School of Economic, narrated stories of two scholars from AFSPA affected states that brought alive the pain, struggle and deep damages AFSPA does. “It is the duty of the world to tell the Mighty State that all humans are equal,” she remarked. Babloo Loitongbam, Human Rights Activist from Manipur, who has closely followed Irom Sharmila’s struggle against AFSPA said that it is important to remind the larger civil society on the “need to build momentum to repeal AFSPA”. He commented on the legal
Paradox- where Sharmila has been remanded to judicial custody 365 times; and the political paradoxthe illusive response from the state polity despite tall promises during elections. He also spoke about the discriminatory factor associated with AFSPA, where “top military officials have confessed against imposition of AFSPA in Naxalite areas,” while there is “no emotional connect with the North East and Jammu and Kashmir communities.” He further appealed to look at AFSPA from a larger perspective. “Irom Sharmila is not just about North East and Jammu and Kashmir, it’s about violation of democratic rights and values,” he said. Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika said that repealing AFSPA would reaffirm the democratic nature of India. He termed AFSPA as a
discriminatory law to degrade citizens. Stating that human security is crucial for economic growth, he remarked that insecurities and discriminatory laws should be addressed for the Act East Policy to achieve its potential. Earlier Fr. Denzel, Executive Director, Indian Social Institute, gave the welcome address and called upon the stakeholders to “reflect on the state of our nation”. Students, social activists and hosts of other academicians attended the event. Organizers for the Convention on Repeal AFSPA include Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, Association for Protection of civil Rights, Students Islamic Organization, Bonded Labour Liberation Front, Just Peace Foundation, Forum Asia and Human Rights Alert.
NeW DeLhi, November 1 (mexN): The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Human Rights Alert (Manipur), Amnesty International India and Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights, in a joint statement today, urged Indian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Irom Sharmila and repeal AFSPA. “Irom Sharmila’s 15 year hunger strike is a symbol of a brave struggle against injustice. The AFSPA has caused widespread human rights violations like enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, torture and sexual violence,” said Henri Tiphagne, Chairperson of FORUM-ASIA. In particular, “AFSPA has been used to justify killings on mere suspicion as well as granted virtual immunity through a clause prohibiting legal proceedings without sanction from the federal government, which is virtually never granted.” Sharmila was arrested shortly after she began her hunger strike and charged with attempting to commit suicide, a criminal offence under Indian law. “According to Section 309, a person convicted of the crime of attempted suicide may only be imprisoned a year. Since then Sharmila
has been arrested, released and rearrested to be released after a year of judicial custody where she is forced fed through a nasogastric tube,” said Babloo Loitongbam, Director of Human Rights Alert Manipur. Loitongbam stated that Sharmila has “never been convicted of charges of attempted suicide. The organizations termed the criminalization of Sharmila’s peaceful protest as against the spirit of Article 1 of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which guarantees the right of human rights defenders to promote and protect the realisation of human rights. Meanwhile, the Women in Governance-India (WinG-India), a network of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) from north east India and Dalit community has also urged the Government of India to free Irom Sharmila and repeal AFSPA. The impact of AFSPA on women and girls have been especially devastating ranging from sexual violence, displacement and loss of support bases, enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings of family members, lack of all forms of human security and constant sense of fear and dread, the WinG-India said in a press note released today.
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Trial run for India-MyanmarThere is fear in the minds of minorities, says NPCC President Thailand highway in December
One way traffic at Kohima village circular road
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only a protest but a revolt against the Modi regime.” The intelligentsia has made it clear, he said, by returning their respective awards in various disciplines, that they do not agree with Modi’s rule. “Society’s mental outlook is groomed by the intellectuals. It is the elites that rule from behind the curtain in modern civilization.” Despite intolerance exhibited by BJP MPs, RSS Cadres and BJP party workers continue to enjoy Modi’s support, he stated. “Although he has made some side remarks, he has not taken any disciplinary action against them. His Ministers report their performance to Nagpur and not to the people,” the NPCC President said. He added that citizens from the Northeast are
“looked upon differently for no fault of ours but because of our inherent culture, customs, religion and food. BJP wants the Northeast to surrender or starve and such a trend is unacceptable.” Therie cited how “already Shatrugan Sinha and Arun Shourie have come out in the open against Modi’s style. The Modi Government is not supported by many senior BJP leaders nor by the intellectuals. He has kept them behind the backdoor.” He further claimed that if the Bihar election is won by the ‘grand alliance,’ the Modi Government would “sink by itself.” “Modi will face a much stronger revolt within his party. His Government also does not have majority in the Rajya Sabha. If Modi is allowed
to rule, it may lead to the third multi-partition of India between the secular and feudal ideologists.” History has shown, affirmed Therie that “unless there is a serious threat to the citizens’ freedom, the intellectuals do not revolt.” “Most of the intellectual revolts recorded in history have changed political equations in the World and today, it appears India is heading for such change.” Asserting that the people of Nagaland “are not numb, deaf or blind to the situation,” Therie said that “our feelings are hurt and they are rubbing salt into where it hurts most. The Honourable MLAs too have feelings, but for them, power and money are greater than their Faith and future of the people.”
KU laments condition of Mon-Namtola road
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moN, November 1 (mexN): The Konyak Union (KU) has urged the Nagaland state government to immediately address the condition of the Mon-Namtola road. A press note from the KU said that ever since it had urged the state government for construction of Mon-Namtola road in 2010, “no such workable amount had been sanctioned for the particular road…” It further alleged that whenever some “eyewash sanction” was made available by the central government, the state government had failed to sanctions the state’s share. “Forget about the sanc-
tion of funds. The state government /PWD department could not deploy even a single PWD labour in the stretch of the 44.25 Kms Mon-Namtola road,” it further said. Lamenting the lack of funds and labour being provided towards this road, the KU termed the State PWD department as a “failed department,” which is not being able to deliver basic needs. The KU reminded that it had submitted a representation to the legislators of Mon district seeking a written reply on the detailed funding position for the Mon-Namtola road construction on or before October 20. In reply, the legislators
informed that they held a meeting with the Minister PWD (Road & Bridges), Commissioner & Secretary for Works & Housing, Chief Engineer PWD (Road & Bridges), and the Chief Minister on October 5. The meeting decided to handover the whole stretch of Mon-Namtola road to the PWD (National Highways) “since the same had been prioritized and earmarked by the Ministry of Road Transport and National Highways.” And till such initiation is taken-up by the National Highways, the State PWD Department will look after it and accordingly the road maintenance would start within
no time by the Department as stated in the letter, it was informed. While acknowledging the move by legislators from Mon, the KU however demanded that the maintenance of the road should start with immediate effect, on or before November 1, 2015. It stated that the KU would “closely watch how and when the maintenance of road works will start.” It further cautioned that failure to live up to this commitment and assurance, the Konyak Union would not remain mere spectators. It further asked citizens to “bear with our leaders for the time being.” It meanwhile sug-
gested that if required, the KU would organize a one week mass social work for the road. It appealed to the citizens of Mon district, including the district administration, security & para-military forces, Contractor & Supplier Union Mon District, all apex civil organizations, all 11 ward unions of Mon Town, leaders & senior citizens of Mon district, and well wishers to contribute their time, money, and machinery etc for maintenance of the road. It also sought co-operation from all the villages near the Mon-Namtola road to provide all available material within their jurisdiction.
KoLKata, November 1 (iaNS): The trial run for the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) trilateral highway connecting the country with southeast Asia is likely to begin from December, an official said on Sunday. “We are developing the protocol in advance and the agreement is expected to be signed by last week of March or the first week of April 2016. We hope that the trial run for IMT will commence in early December,” union Road Transport and
Highways Secretary Vijay Chibber said here. He said the endeavour was to use the IMT to integrate the SAARC and ASEAN regions. “We want the huge economic blocks - the SAARC region and the ASEAN region - to get integrated through the IMT agreement. “It has the blessings of three governments and also the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which is helping us not only putting the software act together but also providing us with
the adequate resources for development of improved road infrastructure that would connect these two major blocks,” said Chhiber. The highway from Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar will have three verticals - passenger cars, buses and trucks. Chibber was in the city to flag off the trial-run of a cargo vehicle under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-IndiaNepal (BBIN) sub-regional initiative for uninterrupted cargo movement.
Education without teachers unimaginable: Supreme Court NeW DeLhi, November 1 (Pti): Education without teachers is unimaginable like existence of an individual in an atmosphere without oxygen, the Supreme Court has said while voicing displeasure over lack of teachers in Telangana. “We are of the sanguine view that school education would become extinct without teachers and giving temptation to the students to come to school to play is nothing but an unacceptable apology for education. We say so as imparting of education without teachers is absolutely inconceivable like existence in an atmosphere sans oxygen is unthinkable,” a bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and P C Pant said after perusing an affidavit filed by the Telangana government. The affidavit filed by the Telangana chief secretary said some of the schools in the state were functioning without teachers as educators were opting only for urban areas and better connected villages. “Keeping in view the said situation, instructions have been issued that while transferring any teacher, if any school is left without any teacher, the district educational officer shall issue necessary orders to the effect that the junior most teacher will come back and work in the school from where he/she was relieved until alternate arrangements are made,” the affidavit said. It also said the state government after
going through latest student enrolment figures has decided to fill 7,974 vacancies by engaging vidya volunteers or academic instructors to overcome the problem of shortage of teachers which has been completed in all the schools. To this the bench said, “We do not intend to say that we are really perplexed about the assertions made, but we cannot refrain ourselves from saying that it is quite surprising that a state is thinking of imparting education with such adhocism by engaging vidya volunteers/academic instructors. “We have been also apprised that they have been engaged for a period of six months. This is a state of absolute adhocism which can never be appreciated,” the court said. Noting the state of affairs, the apex court directed the state government to commence the process of appointment of teachers in primary schools within three weeks. The bench also ordered the Secretary (Primary Education) of Telangana to file an affidavit regarding progress in the commencement of appointment process and also indicate as to how long it will take to fill up the vacant posts of teachers. The observation came while the court was hearing a petition filed by J K Raju, seeking a direction for providing toilet and drinking water facilities in the states’ schools.
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