C M Y K
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SunDAY • September 11 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 250 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself ‘We need to give space to women’
Bangladesh factory fire kills 23 pAGe 09
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
o F
T R u T H
— Abraham Joshua Heschel
Thangavelu wins gold at Rio Paralympics pAGe 02
pAGe 12
3000 citizens undertake repair work
Citizens from five Villages submits memorandum demanding resumption of road repair within one week
pitiable conditions of chakhabama-Zunheboto road
Chizokho Vero Kohima | September 10 Instead of listening to some random, dull and boring ‘clean election’ sermon, let’s go to Assam to buy fresh, organic vegetables.
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KU proposes 25% reservation for women DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 10 (MExN): Konyak Union (KU) has endorsed its support to the State Government for conduct of the Municipal and Town Council elections as proposed/declared in order to develop the long neglected and deprived urban towns in the state. At the same time, it also expressed support on the reservation for women in the municipal and town council elections, which according to the Union, should be based on “gradual observation and perseverance amongst the Naga society.” The KU has however proposed for “25% reservation for the women folks in the nomination that guarantees equal voting rights and status as empowered to those elected members.” This resolve was adopted during an emergency meeting of the KU on September 9 at Mon Town, which was attended by all its units, advisory board members and prominent leaders from Naginimora, Tizit, Mon, Aboi and Tobu, a press release received from KU president S Manlip Konyak and general secretary Nyangpong Konyak informed. The KU also appealed to all the political parties to immediately set-up eligible women candidates for the upcoming municipal and town council election whereby “empowering the women folks with equal political rights, status and dignity.” It also made fervent appeal to the ENPO, Naga Hoho, ENWO, NMA and all the Naga tribal organization and leaders to stand by 25% reservation for women. “A gradual and careful beginning will definitely felicitate in delivering positive outcome. Hence, such motives and understanding amongst the Naga civil society will deliver long awaited justice for our Naga women folks,” it added.
C M Y K
Apology to KU On September 10 issue of The Morung Express there were errors in a news report on Konyak Union’s press statement regarding their stand on 33% Women Reservation. We express our sincere regret and extend our apologies to KU and our readers. To clear the confusion created, we have published the corrected news report. The Morung Express
Irked by pitiable road condition between ChakhabamaZunheboto, about 3000 citizensbelongingtofivevillages namely Thenyizu, Chesezu, Chetheba,Chakhabamaand Chesezu Nasa today undertook road repairing work, which actually should have been carried out by the State Government. Both young and old joined in the mass social work at the road stretching 27 km between Chakhabama- Chetheba. Chozuba village, Runguzu Nasa, Khulazu Basa and Chozuba town also assisted this mass social work. “How many more years do we have to wait to have good road. Enough is enough. We want good roads,” an elderly man from Thenyizu village cried out in consternation.
Thenyizu, Chesezu, Chetheba, Chakhabama and Chesezu Nasa villagers repairing stretches of Chakhabama-Zunheboto road on Saturday. (Morung Photo)
Thenyizu village council chairman, Zhothiyi Dawhuo said citizens have been facing untold sufferings and it was not safe to travel on the said route. He urged the concerned authority to pay due attention. Chesezu village council chairman, Meleyi Khesoh said the pitiable road condition has affected farming and commercial activities as well. He alleged that many vehicular accidents
occurred as result of the pitiable road condition. Later, the citizens of Thenyizu village, Chesezu village, Chetheba town, Chesezu Nasa and Chakhabama village submitted a joint memorandum to Minister for National Highways & Mechanical Engineering, Nuklutoshi through EAC Chetheba. Thejakhrienuo Nisa, EAC Chetheba on behalf of the administration con-
veyed moral support to the citizens on their campaign to have a good road. She said the joint memorandum received from the five villages would be submitted to the concerned Minister at the earliest. Chokri Area Public Organization (CAPO) president, Vezhosa Chuzho and Chozuba Adhoc Town Committee vice chairman, Vediio Khesoh also extended support and solidarity to
the five villages. “The Kohima –Zunheboto road is our life-line of which about 46 Kms falls under our jurisdiction and through which our people have immensely benefitted for the past 60 years,” the memorandum read. However, it lamented that the construction of 2-Lane road from Chakhabama to Zunheboto “has nearly shut us out and brought us back to savage
and primitive lives again. Our wet terrace fields were destroyed; our irrigation canals were covered and untraceable. Our transportation has become dangerous, riskier and expensive.” In such a tricky and critical situation, the memorandum cautioned that the citizens can no longer remain a silent spectator. The citizens of the five villages has therefore demanded the resumption of
road repairing be initiated within one week from the date of submission of the memorandum and machineries/equipments be stationed at Chetheba town for emergency repairs. It further demanded that construction works should be resumed within one month time. The memorandum was duly attested by heads of the respective village council of the five villages.
19 villages of Langpangkong Range in naga hoho in crisis? Mokokchung pledge for fair elections 2018 Sumi Hoho disassociates Morung Express News Dimapur | September 10
The Langpangkong Students’ Conference (LKM) on September 10 asserted that the recently launched Clean Election Campaign will not remain a mere pledge on paper. As pledged by 19 villages and as many as 15 town-units falling within the traditional jurisdiction of Langpangkong range, Mokokchung on September 3, the LKM officials maintained that the campaign is here to stay and will carry on till its stated principles and objective become a precedent. “The whole concept is to let the people understand the power of voting to elect representatives of their choice,” said the LKM today at a media interaction in Dimapur. Engi-
neering a turnaround of the general impression towards electioneering by directly involving grass root leaders (village councils) is at the heart of the campaign. And by voting, it maintained, exercising one’s franchise will not be out of coercion or for personal material gain but out of measured freewill. Three Assembly Constituencies – 22 Arkakong, 21 Tuli and 24 Angetyongpang – falls under Langpangkong. Though a daunting task, the LKM said that it will use all avenues and resources available to reach out to as many individuals as possible. Stating that it has the endorsement of the churches, village councils, students and women’s bodies of the range, the LKM said that it is already in the process of sen-
sitising the people of the range on the tenets of the campaign. The resolution adopted and the subsequent pledge of September 3 is intended to address the many unethical practices that take place with impunity during electioneering. Proxy/ bogus voting, vote selling, use of violent and coercive tactics by employing NPG cadres, practice of villages declaring candidates of choice, grouping individuals to demand money, booth capturing and public and church leaders turning a blind eye are some of the issues the campaign seeks to address. Besides these issues, the LKM said that clearing up the electors’ roll is high on the agenda. The village councils will also be discouraged from issuing diktats to its members who have names registered in
Govt prohibits use of Samsung Galaxy Note7 on board aircraft
NEw DElhI, SEPTEMBER 10 (IANS): India’s civil aviation regulator on Friday prohibited the use of Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone on board aircraft. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the guidelines on the carriage and usage of the phone on board aircraft were issued after the recent safety related incidents involving the smartphone globally. In a public notice, the regulator advised travellers and the airlines to ensure that the communication device is not turned on or its battery charged on board the aircraft. The notice further detailed that the smartphone should not be stowed away in any checked-in baggage. However, the smartphone can be carried in a switched off mode in hand-baggage. “The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a public notice prohibiting the use of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 smartphone on board an aircraft,” said an official statement. “The Ministry has advised airlines and travelling public not to turn on or charge the said mobile during flights.” Earlier, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a
warning not to charge or switch on Galaxy Note7 on board aircraft. The stern warning came at a time when Samsung is dealing with a global recall of nearly 2.5 million Galaxy Note7 shipped so far across the world. Three Australian airlines have already barred passengers from using or charging the smartphone during flights. More than 35 cases of exploding batteries have been reported since the phone, which retails for $1,035, was launched on August 19. The smartphone was launched last month in India for Rs 59,900 with iris biometric scanner for enhanced security, upgraded S Pen and a dualcurved screen. Samsung on its part said that Galaxy Note7 sales have not started in India, and that the company has delayed sales to alleviate any safety concerns.
the towns or in another constituency to compulsorily register in the native village, it added. One motivating initiative of the campaign involves organising public meetings in the run up to the election, where intending candidates would be given a common podium to interact with the people. “We believe that the resolutions adopted will challenge the conscience of the candidates as well as the electors.” While urging villages to honestly declare if there is any instance of inflated electors’ roll, the LKM expressed optimism that the people will cooperate wholeheartedly. “We hope this spark will go beyond Langpangkong,” the LKM said, while adding that it intends to approach the ECI with the initiative.
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 10 (MExN): The Sumi Hoho has “fully” endorsed the resolution of the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) and in tandem declared its dissociationfromtheNagaHohoonSaturday. The CNTC resolution was made on August 31, 2016 following the expiry of the 30-day deadline served to Naga Hoho to “withdraw its endorsement” for Rongmei tribe recognition in Nagaland. A press statement issued by Sumi Hoho president Toniho Yepthomi and general secretary Vihuto Assumi maintained that the Hoho being a constituent tribal organization of CNTC fully endorsed the resolution made by the Council. It has therefore recalled all the Sumi representatives from the Naga Hoho with immediate effect. It went on to state that the CNTC was launched on December 8, 2012 with the endorsement of Ao Sen-
den, Lotha Hoho and Sumi Hoho. Again, with the approval of the three tribes’ apex organization, CNTC was elevated to state level apex organization on March 12, 2016. Subsequently, CNTC, in a meeting with the three tribes’ apex organizations on July 22, 2016 at Khehokhu village deliberated on the Rongmei tribe recognition issue and resolved to serve “ultimatum” of 30 days to the Naga Hoho to withdraw the endorsement given to the Government of Nagaland on September 22, 2008 to recognize the Rongmei tribe. Following Naga Hoho’s failure to comply with its demand, CNTC had a meeting with the three tribes’ apex organizations on August 24, 2016 and resolved to dissociate from Naga Hoho, the press statement of which appeared in the local dailies on September 1, 2016, the Sumi Hoho stated.
Nagaland: Irrelevance of current education system Our Correspondent
Meriema | September 10
The Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) held its third seminar on the topic ‘Education’ at Meriema, on September 10. The seminar was hosted by the Northern Angami Youth Organisation (NAYO) and the resource persons for the seminar were Dr. Visakhonu Hibo, Principal Japfü Christian College (JCC), Thejavizo Nakhro, NCS, EAC Sadar Kohima, Daniel Angami, NCS EAC Mokokchung. “Where do we stand now? We are standing at the door of complacency, the Shizo (Leave it) syndrome, with our ‘knows it all’ attitude without actually knowing anything. A day is soon coming when we will wake up in despair because the road to travel has come to a dead end,” viewed Dr. Visakhonu Hibo on the state of education and the complacent attitude of Nagas. With the changes in the governance, economy and progress in India, Dr. Hibo warned the dangers of opening Nagaland’s corridors to ASEAN countries and the world, which can usher in catastrophic changes such as flesh trades, extortions, cheaters and fraudsters if Nagas are not prepared. One solution to prepare for these changes, according to Dr. Hibo, is quality education that serves the definition of true education, ie, all round development of the individual.
“Our education is imbalanced. It tilts heavily towards literacy growth sans values, efficiency, and responsibility. Literacy wise we are above the country under every category but quality is way below others,” Dr. Hibo pointed out. In order to change the current system, Dr. Hibo suggested the need to start from foundation again by making the syllabi relevant to the Naga students, indigenizing the educa-
Angami Youth Organisation discourse on Education in Nagaland tion system so that the learner does not have to struggle with alien lessons, activities and ways of life. The education system must respect the culture of the Nagas so that they can identify common meeting grounds. While providing tips to the youth and students present at the seminar on preparing for Civil Services, EAC Mokokchung, Daniel Angami stressed on the importance of career guidance among young students so that they are prepared to follow the career of their talents and skills from a young age. One major reason for failure to crack exams is because of the mystification of exams, which often leads to half hearted attempts among students, pointed out
Thejavizo Nakhro, EAC Sadar, Kohima. The solution to de-mystifying exams is through career guidance and study groups which needs to begin from the rural setting, added Nakhro who also impressed on the importance of role models in building up a responsible and progressive citizen. Balancing one’s interests with academic pursuits was also highlighted. “To re-define knowledge or education, it should not just be book knowledge, but must include culture, ethos of the community and building the character of the individual to live in integrity and morality,” stated Nakhro. Panelists for the seminar include Dr. Hovithal Sothu, Deputy Director ATI, L Kenneth Punyü, Assistant Professor Kohima Science College, Jotsoma and Dr. Ketshukietuo Dzüvichü, Principal, Oriental College Kohima. Under the theme “Kelhou Kevi Ra” (loosely translated as the good and blessed Land), the 25 years celebration of AYO will focus on four Es namely Education, Economy, Environment and Ethos. As a prelude to the celebration, seminars on the four Es were conducted in the four Angami regions i.e., Northern Angami, Southern Angami, Western Angami and Chakhro region in August and September. The last seminar focusing on Environment will be held in the Southern Angami region in the coming week.