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TUESDAY • OcTObEr 25• 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 293 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
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T R u T H
Lack of will power has caused more failure than lack of intelligence or ability — Flower A. Newhouse Tata Sons replaces Cyrus P Mistry as Chairman PAGE 04
NEIMUN 2016 closes with focus on peace, justice and education
Hamilton cuts Rosberg’s F1 lead with 50th win
PAGE 05
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Honor ceasefire ground rules Naga orgs urges Assam Rifles Naga Hoho meets Chairman of Ceasefire Monitoring Group to appraise him over the high handedness on the part of security forces
Customers stand under lanterns for sale as they look at them at a roadside market ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Mumbai on October 23. (REUTERS)
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Protestors prevent Manipur CM from opening hospital in Ukhrul Bomb blast injures 1 IRB jawan; sniper firing injures 1 MR jawan. No group claims responsibility
“If you don’t release me right now, I swear, I will join politics!”
Neiphiu Rio Education Case Court rejects discharge petition of former VP, Kohima College
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KOhIMA, OCTOBER 24 (MExN): Judicial Magistrate First Class, Guahati High Court, Kohima Bench has rejected the discharge petition filed by former Vice Principal, Kohima College in connection to the education qualification certificate case of Nagaland MP Neiphiu Rio on October 21, 2016. The case is in connection to an FIR filed at Kohima North PS C/NO 20/2016 U/S 465/468 /471 /417 IPC GR 33/2016. At the hearing, the counsel for the applicant admitted that the provisional certificate issued to Neiphiu Rio as BA (Hons) instead of BA (Pass course) as an inadvertent mistake committed by her and that the said action was purely human and a clerical error without any intention. The prosecution represented by APP strongly objected to the discharge petition while arguing that the accused has signed the BA Certificate/educational qualification certificate and “admitted during interrogation /investigation that she has issued the BA (Pass) certificate and signed on behalf of the Principal who was away at that point of time.” After hearing the argument from both sides, the Judicial Magistrate First Class Tucunu Vamozo concluded, “Upon considering the report submitted by the investigating agency and on brief perusal, it may not be appropriate to discharge the present accused, therefore the discharge petition is herby rejected.”
IMPhAL, OCTOBER 24 (IANS): Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was on Monday prevented from inaugurating a district hospital in Ukhrul town after protesting tribals did not let him and his entourage move from the helipad. The Chief Minister waited for an hour after landing at 9.30 a.m. for crowds to assemble for the inauguration, and finding no one there, flew back to the state capital. Security reasons also prompted Ibobi Singh not to stay beyond an hour at Ukhrul town, on the border with Myanmar, after a bomb blast early on Monday injured a police man and damaged part of the building where he was to speak. An incidence of sniper firing in the area later left another security man injured. Protestors did not let Ibobi and his entourage to proceed from the helipad to Hundung for the inauguration of a district hospital and some other projects, including a power sub-station. With an eye to the January assembly polls, Ibobi has been inaugurating a string of projects in the state. The Tangkhul Naga Long group in Ukhrul was not amused since the 100-
bed district hospital at Hundung is just half completed. When Ibobi Singh did not heed to its appeal not to inaugurate the half-complete hospital since a “public curfew” was imposed, they decided to block the movement of the Chief Minister. When Ibobi Singh and his party landed at Ukhrul by chopper, it resembled a ghost town with all facilities shut and not a single soul sighted on the roads. Several men and women staged sit-in protests along the roads leading to Hundung, making it impossible for the Chief Minister to pass through. Ibobi Singh, who landed at 9.30 a.m., waited till 10.30 a.m., and then decided to return to his office by the same chopper. Some months back, tribals in Churachandpur district had blocked the roads when Ibobi Singh and other Ministers came to inaugurate two power sub-stations. Sources said in view of the protests by the people and ongoing construction of the hospital, it may not be inaugurated at all. Earlier, a bomb blast took place at 12.30 a.m. on Monday, injuring one Indian Reserve Batallion trooper and partially damaging the hall where Ibobi Singh was scheduled to speak to the people. One constable of 6 Manipur Rifles was also wounded when some snipers opened fire to prevent the Chief Minister’s entourage from proceeding to the venue. No group has claimed responsibility for the bomb blast or the sniper firing.
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 24 (MExN): The Naga Hoho and Nagaland GB Federation (NGBF) has condemned the “excessive action” and “blatant act” of the 28th Assam Rifles, wherein one Naga Army of the GPRN/NSCN was killed and another injured at the surrounding area of Okotso village, Wokha on October 23, 2016. The Naga Hoho president, P Chuba Ozukum and general secretary, Mutsikhoyu Yhobu in a press statement said it was convinced that such killings could have been averted had the Assam Rifles
Lotha community to hold protest rally Oct 26 The Lotha Hoho and frontal organizations, Wokha have convened a public protest rally at Wokha town on October 26, 2016, to protest against what it termed as unprovoked violation of the peaceful atmosphere in Wokha district by the 28 Assam Rifles of Wokha, on October 23, 2016. A press note issued by Lotha Hoho chairman, Mhao Humtsoe and general secretary, Er Mhondamo Ovung informed that the protest rally would begin from 9am. In this connection, all concerned have been asked to attend the rally in their respective traditional attire, college and school uniforms at main police point, Wokha town. All educational institutions and business establishments have been requested to co-operate. The Lotha Hoho has also requested the district Administration and police to ensure security during the rally. dealt with such situation with better understanding and reasoning. “Very often, the security forces deliberately demean the existence of Naga armies under the pretext of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and therefore we appeal the Assam Rifles not to break the breach of trust and honor the ceasefire ground rules with all se-
riousness,” the Hoho maintained. It further appealed the Armed forces to maintain utmost restraint, rather than perpetrate violence and killing human life under the excuse of maintaining law and order. The Naga Hoho also informed that it met DF Pathak, chairman of Ceasefire Monitoring Group on Monday in Kohima in con-
nection with the incident and appraised the concerned over the highhandedness on the part of the security forces. In a separate press statement, the NGBF said the Assam Rifles calling themselves Friends of the Hills and trying to jeopardize the peace process is highly condemnable. “Any clarifications will not be substantiated for this act of cowardice…” NGBF president Shahlem Konyak and general secretary Shikuto Zalipu stated. It also pointed out that while Nagaland is under ceasefire with GoI for an amicable political solution, the attack took place in the heart of peace zone. The Federation has therefore urged the Government of India (GoI) to set up an inquiry commission, expose the culprits and award befitting punishment deemed fit under the law of the land. The Federation also conveyed their condolence to the bereaved family and speedy recovery to those injured.
Women reservation does not challenge Article 371 (A): JACWR
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 24 (MExN): In response to the recent spurt of articles and statements issued by various individuals and organizations on the issue of women reservation, the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) has sought to clarify that it had not challenged the provisions enjoyed by the Nagas under Article 371(A) nor the customary law as was projected. JACWR convenor Abeiu Meru and co-convenor Dr Rosemary Dzuvichu, in a press release issued on Monday evening, citied the Single Judge Order of October 2011, which has categorically clarified that women reservation in Municipalities has nothing to do with Article 371 (A). The Committee reminded all
Naga leaders including the different tribal leaders that in more than a thousand Naga villages, 25% reservation for women is being implemented in the Village Development Board (VDB), which is an important part of the traditional Village Councils in every village. “The state of Nagaland has also implemented the reservation policy for the backward tribes in education and employment for many decades. Despite the existence of customary laws and traditions, including Article 371 (A), all these reservation policies are being implemented and enjoyed by the Nagas, in accordance with the law and constitutional provisions,” the Committee pointed out. Therefore, likewise, reservation
for women is a constitutional mechanism to encourage women to participate actively in the political decision making bodies of urban governance namely, the Town Committees and Municipal Councils in the state, and has become a legal right for women, it stated. The Committee has therefore urged Naga brothers to “change their mindset and look ahead to a future of equal partnership with their women, who constitute the other half of Nagaland’s population.” Further, it asserted that neither the State Government nor the petitioners had asked for a Stay on holding of elections throughout the whole court process, whether be it in the High Court of the Supreme Court till date.
Naga political problem eroded ACAUT demands immediate work culture among Nagas: Rio cancellation of F&CS Tender Morung Express News
• Kaushal Mela and Orion Pradhan Mantri Dimapur | October 24 Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) Centre inaugurated Nagaland lone Lok Sabha • Orion Edutech intends to train and provide MP, Neiphiu Rio, today said employment to 6000 youth from Nagaland though Nagaland is rich in both human and natural resources, yet the State and its people remain poor as these two resources have not been exploited. The Lok Sabha MP said the North East Region including Nagaland has vast natural resources and educated youths to transform the region into a progressive region in terms of economy and development. Unfortunately, in the case of Nagaland, Rio said development and progress have failed to accelerate due to the unresolved Naga political problem, which also slowly eroded the work culture among Nagas. Citing the case of South Korea, Rio said the Koreans (like the Nagas) too went through a difficult period in the past but after World War II, they slowly rebuild their country to become one of the most progressive nations through their inspiring work culture. Presently, South Korea with around 96% skilled workers has the largest skilled force in the world, he said. Rio who inaugurated the Orion Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK)
Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio, inaugurating the Orion PMKK Centre and ‘Kaushal Mela’ in Dimapur, Monday. (Morung Photo)
Centre and ‘Kaushal Mela’ here at 3rd Mile opposite Chekiye village gate, said the need of the hour is to impart skill development training to the youth so that they can become skilled work force and employable in different industries and sectors. The MP said Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has the vision to make India into one of the largest skilled workforce in the world by imparting skill education to the millions of Indian youths who comprise 54 % of the population. Lauding Orion Edutech’s
endeavour to provide training and employment to 6,000 youths of Nagaland in three years, Rio further exhorted the trainees that a small and humble foundation or beginning is the stepping stone to big success stories. Vice president, Orion Edutech, Nitin Agarwal, in his introductory note on ‘Kaushal Mela’ and PMKK, said both the projects are part of the journey towards ‘Skill India’ and ‘Make in India’ as envisioned by Prime Minister Modi. He said India being the youngest (54% population 25
years and below) country in the world, the dream is to become the ‘global skill capital’ by imparting skill development programme to 400 million youths by 2020. Agarwal said the industry players have a special preference for North eastern youth for services such as beauty, hospitality, electronics etc and added the Region has a wealth of human and natural resources that can contribute to the overall social, economic, cultural and technological development of the country. He also informed that Orion Edutech, India’s leading skill development company, would be setting up 34 PMKK centres in the country, out of which 10 would be in NE including two in Nagaland -Dimapur and Kohima- by 2022. “Orion Edutech will be setting up 10 Multi Skill development training in Kohima and other parts of North east by December, 2016. Target is to provide employment opportunity to more than 1 lakh unemployed youth within next 3 years,” he informed. Two trainees also shared the training experience under Orion Edutech. More than 500 unemployed youth attended the event for enrollment in various job roles.
“Terms and conditions of tender documents a mockery… and clear case of manipulation to shelter department syndicates and cronies”
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 24 (MExN): Crying foul, the Against Corruption And Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has demanded the Food and Civil Supply Department (F&CS) to immediately cancel and rectify the recently called Notice Inviting Tender (NIT). ACAUT media cell, in a representation addressed to the Director, F&CS, apprehended that the department would tamper the tendering process in favour of individuals and syndicates who have been running the department as transporters and suppliers for the last 15-20 years without any proper open tendering process. “The department despite knowing that entire racket of siphoning and pilferage of PDS for the poor have been done by these contractors yet the department has not taken any action rather their contract has been extended year after year in a fraudulent manner,” it alleged. ACAUT also termed the terms and condition furnished in the Tender documents as a mockery and “one of its kind” never found in the national or Nagaland contract and supply tendering system “putting to shame all other corruptions.” Bringing comparison, ACAUT pointed out that for Nagaland as well as nationally, the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) for contract and supply is fixed @1-2%, while the F&CS has fixed at Rs 25 lakh irrespective of contract value. It also expressed surprise that the EMD
for all the districts is fixed uniformly which was a clear case of manipulation to “shelter department syndicates and cronies who has been running the department defacto for years.” Taking the case of Longleng and Zunheboto district, which has a supply of 1500MT and 4000MT respectively, ACAUT questioned how both could have the same EMD deposit of 25 lakh. On security deposit to any contract works, nationally and in Nagaland, the security deposit is fixed @3-5%. However, ACAUT alleged that the department irrespective of contract value had fixed Rs 75 lakh uniformly for the whole district, which it pointed out, was a “clear case of the department trying to manipulate and tamper tendering process to favour syndicates and individuals.” Further, taking the case of Longleng and Zunheboto, it revealed that both the district have the same security deposit of 75 lakh, despite the immense difference in the supply amount. Presently, ACAUT said the majority of contractors have given power of attorney to the third party, which it asserted, “clearly proves that those firms and individuals are not capable of carrying out the contract awarded to them.” “Despite that, the department has extended their contract year after year without transparent tendering process a clear case of corruption,” it alleged. In this connection, ACAUT has demanded that the department immediately black list those firms and individuals from participating in any contract and supply work in the department. Further, those APL contractors running their contract under power of attorney should immediately be blacklisted and tender called though NIT for transport of APL, it added.