C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
MonDAY • SepteMber 19 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 258 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
Listen, the next revolution is gonna be a revolution of ideas US-led forces strike Syrian troops, prompting emergency UN meeting
By Sandemo Ngullie
i never promised you any Hospital, road, bus service, electricity, water! i only promised you ‘better living conditions!!
The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Is “tribalism” the main reason for the present divisions and lack of political cohesion in Naga society? Yes
no
others
Has Naga civil society organizations been co-opted by the government rather than standing up for people’s rights and aspirations? Yes
64%
no
20%
others
T R u T H
Rosberg back on top after Singapore thriller
PAGE 02
pAGe 12
Kashmir attack leaves 21 dead, india blames Pak SRINAGAR, SeptembeR 18 (ReuteRS): India directly accused Pakistan of being behind Sunday’s separatist attack on an army base near their disputed frontier that killed 17 soldiers, in one of the most deadly attacks in Kashmir in a quarter-century-old insurgency. Four “fidayeen” - or commando-style gunmen willing to fight to the death - were confirmed killed after penetrating the base in Uri near the Line of Control with Pakistan, an Indian army spokesman said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned what he called the “cowardly terror attack”. “I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,” Modi said in a series of Twitter posts. There has been no claim of responsibility. The raid comes amid heightened tension in India’s only Muslim-majority region, which has faced more than two months of protests following the July 8 killing of a popular separatist commander whose Hizbul Mujahideen group
is based in Pakistan. At least 78 civilians have been killed and thousands injured in street clashes with Indian security forces, who have been criticised by human rights groups for using excessive force. In an even stronger response, Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted: “Pakistan is a terrorist state and should be identified and isolated as such.” Pakistan rejected allegations that it was involved. “India immediately puts blame on Pakistan without doing any investigation. We reject this,” foreign ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria told Reuters. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence over Kashmir. Both claim the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in full but rule it only in part. CHOPPERS FLY IN, SMOKE RISES Local television reporters at the scene said the dawn raid had surprised soldiers at the Uri brigade headquarters in their sleep. The attackers torched a building and several tents
Army personnel in action inside the Army Brigade camp during a terror attack in uri, Jammu and Kashmir on sunday. (PTi Photo)
before the four were killed in a gunfight that lasted several hours. An army spokesman confirmed that the number of soldiers killed in the attack had risen to 17, making the toll far worse than a similar raid on an air force base in Punjab in January that India blamed on Pakistan-based militants. Reuters television footage showed helicopters flying in to evacuate the injured as an operation continued to secure the area. Smoke rose from the com-
pound, set in mountainous terrain. The Defence Ministry put the number of wounded at 35. Singh, the home minister, chaired a crisis meeting in New Delhi and cancelled trips to Russia and the United States. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the army chief of staff were on their way to Uri to oversee the operation to secure the area and investigate the attack. “There are definite and conclusive indications that the perpetrators of Uri at-
tack were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped,” Singh said in a series of strongly-worded tweets that were confirmed as genuine by his office. U.S. ambassador to India Richard Verma also “strongly condemned” the Uri attack, which weeks after Secretary of State John Kerry visited New Delhi for strategic talks. After that meeting Kerry urged Pakistan to do more to combat terrorism, while also announcing the resumption of tri-
lateral talks with India and Indian security forces in Afghanistan this month in Kashmir. New York, leaving IslamThe United Nations is abad looking isolated. holding its annual general assembly in New York, WORST BODY where Kashmir is likely COUNT IN YEARS to come onto the agenda, The military death toll amid concerns that India’s was the worst in Indian- tough rhetoric could herruled Kashmir since a raid ald a military escalation in December 2014, also between the South Asian near Uri which is to the neighbours. west of the region’s main Senior Indian journalcity of Srinagar, in which ist and commentator Shekeight soldiers and three po- har Gupta said Pakistan lice were killed. would be “delusional” to Before this attack, 102 think that India would not people had been killed in respond. “This India has separatist attacks in India’s moved on from old stratepart of the Himalayan re- gic restraint,” he said. gion this year. Among them Relations between Inwere 30 security personnel, dia and Pakistan have been 71 militants and one civil- on edge since the New-Year ian, according to a tally by attack on anIndian air force the New Delhi-based South base in Punjab, near the borAsia Terrorism Portal. der with Pakistan, that killed Modi recently raised seven uniformed men. the stakes in the nuclearIndia has blamed a Pakarmed neighbours’ de- istan-based militant group cades-old feud by express- for that and a string of othing support for separatists er attacks - including one in Pakistan’s resource-rich on Mumbai in 2008 that Baluchistan province. killed 166 people. After iniPakistan has, mean- tial progress, an attempt to while, called on the United conduct a joint investigaNations and the interna- tion into the airbase attack tional community to inves- lost momentum. The two tigate atrocities it alleges sides have frozen a tentahave been committed by tive peace dialogue.
16%
Details on page 7
3 held for murder of 70 year old DImApuR, SeptembeR 18 (mexN): Three persons were arrested in connection with the September 11 murder of a 70 year-old man near Longphayimsen village, Mokokchung. The arrest occurred on September 15. According to the Mokokchung police, the three – identified as Imnawati Aier, Takusunep Longkumer and Lichemba Longkumer, all in their 20’s - were arrested from Longphayimsen village. While stating that the accused are in judicial custody, the police said that investigation was on to get to the bottom of the crime. The victim, identified as Tekachang was found dead on September 12 after he was reportedly called out of his home located at a paddy field near Longphayimsen by unidentified persons and taken away.
Naga man found dead in Chennai laid to rest
C M Y K
o F
— Bill Hicks
‘No society can progress without human resource development’
PAGE 09
reflections
P o W e R
DImApuR, SeptembeR 18 (mexN): The Naga Christian Fellowship (NCF) Chennai today informed that the dead body of a Naga man in Chennai has been identified by the Naga Students Union Chennai and NCF Chennai after receiving the information from the Sriperumbudur police and the hospital authority. A press note from the NCF Chennai informed that the deceased was identified as one Yimto Yimchunger (34). “After all the necessary formalities his funeral was conducted and laid to rest on Sunday in Chennai,” it informed. On behalf of the Naga community in Chennai, the NCF Chennai thanked the police and hospital authorities as well as the well wishers for their cooperation and prayer support. It further urged Nagas in and around Chennai to register themselves in NSUC and NCF Chennai for better coordination during emergency situations. It further urged that “everyone should restrain from making any official and important statements about the Nagas in Chennai without their knowledge to avoid confusion in any situation.”
Easy access to online info has reduced voter turnout
LoNDoN, SeptembeR 18 (IANS): Easy accessibility of political information through the internet medium has affected voter turnout, a study has found. The internet has allowed politicians to directly communicate their message to voters, circumventing the mainstream media which would traditionally filter information. The researchers have presented studies from a number of countries, comparing voter behaviour of municipalities with internet access to the ones without.It showed that municipalities with internet access faced a decrease in voter turnout, due to voters suddenly facing an overwhelmingly large pool of information and not knowing how to filter relevant knowledge efficiently.
“Similarly, the internet seemed to have reduced the importance of other media. However, the introduction of interactive social media helped voters to collect information more efficiently,” said Stephan Heblich, researcher at the University of Bristol. But the researcher stated there is a downside as voters can now be personally identified and strategically influenced by targeted information. The research showed that there is a thin line between desirable benefits of more efficient information dissemination and undesirable possibilities of voter manipulation. Therefore, policymakers need to consider introducing measures to educate voters to become more discriminating in their use of the internet.
Nagaland govt spent 900 Crore for Edu Dept salary our Correspondent Pfutsero | September 18
Parliamentary Secretary for Planning & Coordination, Evaluation & Monitoring Cell and Taxes, Neiba Kronu has informed that the state government spent more than Rs 900 crore last year, for payment of salaries to employees of the Education Department. He said this while inaugurating the new building of Government Middle School (GMS) Pfutsero town under Phek district on September 17. While maintaining that no society can progress and develop without human resource development, he lamented that it was unfortunate that somewhere something has gone wrong with the education system in Nagaland. He said in some place it serves the purpose but in some place nothing much happens. Kronu stated that the performance of government schools in the state cannot be compared with private players. However, he expressed happiness that GMS and GHS Pfutsero are doing well and lauded the concerned authority and the teaching staff for an excellent performance. Kronu further called for a joint effort on human resource development to build a progressive society.
fast food chains largest contributors of carbon emissions, reveals study
New DeLhI, SeptembeR 18 (IANS): Rapidly growing multinational fast food chains in India are the largest contributors to hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) emissions and could add the equivalent of nearly one million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2020, says a new international study. US-based McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway and Dunkin Donuts as well as India-based company Cafe Coffee Day and Britain-based Hindustan Unilever are among the eight fast food chains that could add the equivalent of nearly one million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2020, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) said in its report “Transitioning HFCs in India: The opportunity for climate-friendly cooling in the fast food industry” released on Friday. “Developing countries like India are expected to join a global HFC phase down, and it
behoves multinational corporations to do their part for the climate,” an official statement quoting EIA Global Climate Campaign Director Avipsa Mahapatra said. “With climate friendly, cost effective technologies already available, these companies have no excuse to rely on super greenhouse gases.” “We call on these companies to recognise the enormous potential for emissions reductions in India by reducing their refrigeration footprint and publicly commit to not install HFC-based equipment in their new stores from 2019,” Mahapatra said. The Indian fast food industry is expected to grow from $15 billion in size to more than $50 billion over the next five years. McDonald’s, with more than 350 stores in India and growing, has not transitioned to climate friendly alternatives in India, but in its Europe facilities, has
installed over 13,500 pieces of HFC-free equipment since 2010 and has piloted an entirely HFCfree store, says the EIA. Subway, the largest fast food chain by store count in the world, uses hydrocarbons in back counter chillers in the Britain and Ireland, but has no stated intent of going HFC-free in India. The EIA calls on the Indian government to ban the use of HFCs with a global warming potential higher than 1,000 in new food and beverage refrigeration equipment beginning January 1, 2018 in multinational food and beverage retailers. The Parties to the Montreal Protocol will meet in October to reach an agreement on the global phase down of HFCs. According to the EIA, a successful agreement has the potential to mitigate 100 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050.
lotha Hoho urged to ‘We need women to bring diversity to the table’ reconsider Pil on oil issue Vishu Rita Krocha
mokokchuNG, SeptembeR 18 (mexN): Parliamentary Secretary for Geology & Mining, Dr Imtiwapang Aier today made a fervent appeal to the Lotha Hoho to reconsider their ‘2nd PIL’ about the Nagaland Gas & Petroleum Act (NGPA) as it infringes on Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution. The Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Imtiwapang, while speaking with media persons on the sidelines of the inauguration of the designated coal depot at Tuli on last Friday, asserted that coal and oil are those blessed by God and that the Nagas must utilize it to the best of their abilities for their economic growth and sustainability. He also reminded, and reiterated about the ‘16 Point Agreement where it is stated that the land and its resources belongs to the people’. However, he regretted that the action of the Lotha Hoho in filing the PIL has threatened the ownership of the Naga people over its land and its resources by infringing on Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution. “There are other approaches,” said the Parliamentary Secretary for G&M. “Why not negotiate; the Nagaland state government is ever willing to listen. We are for the Naga people only.” The Parliamentary Secretary pointed that under the 16 Point agreement Nagaland was placed from being under ‘External Ministry’ to being under the Home Ministry. He further pointed out that the clause in Article 371 (A) where
it is stated that the development of Nagaland will be provided from the Consolidated Fund of India has also been has been taken away. In this connection, the Parliamentary Secretary cautioned that if the Naga people are not careful, the Government of India will surely dilute other provisions in Article 371 (A) especially, regarding the land and its resources. He said that if the Lotha Hoho takes the PIL to the Supreme Court, there is a very big chance that the Supreme Court may give the ruling in favor of the Indian Government, which will ultimately lead to the Naga people losing their ownership of the mineral resources in the land, especially petroleum and coal. He therefore earnestly urged the Naga people to seriously ponder upon the issue and take corrective steps. He maintained that coal and oil in Naga areas is a subject of the Naga people as empowered by Article 371 (A) and therefore the Naga people should instead discuss among themselves and do whatever is good for the people themselves. He therefore strongly urged the Lotha Hoho to negotiate with the state government instead of approaching the court. He said that the elected members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly are there for the greater interest of the whole Naga people only and added that any problem can be solved through negotiations.
Dimapur | September 18
The subject of contention that women are treated at par with men in Naga society has been a farfetched concept in many aspects. Girls had to seek permission not only from their parents but also the concerned village youth society if they were to journey to another town. Boys however were exempted from doing so. This was rigidly imposed in a couple of villages for several years until it was revoked in recent times and replaced with a rule that equally applies to both genders. The functioning of several organizations is also reflective of the role that women are given to play. Pointing to the post of “women coordinator” or “girls’ welfare secretary” that many organisations have, Entrepreneur Rekha Rose Dukru, while speaking to The Morung Express, said these posts are just for the sake of accommodat-
ing women. “When you are appointed to this post, you are expected to look after the presentation during programmes, take care of the decorations, refreshments etc. but you are not part of the decision making”, she lamented. With the society unfamiliar with women in decision making roles over the last many years, Hekani Jakhalu, one of the founders of YouthNet asserted that “it is important that we start seeing women in position, and tomorrow, after 5-10 years, our younger generation (our younger men) will accept it because they have grown up seeing women in decision making bodies.” Director of YouthNet, Lezo Putsure is of the firm belief that women should be represented because “when there is no voice in decision making, the whole reason of existence is not there.” “I think women are important because they bring diversity to the table,” he said while indicating
that over the last fifty years, we have been talking about bad roads and electricity whereas for a guy who is disabled, the bad road is not a concern but the need for access to at least move around. He reiterated that women bring issues which men don’t talk about such as drinking water, toilets, etc while stressing that these are voices that need to be heard across society. In this regard, he opined that ‘in the last fifty years, the conversations have been based on the same pattern with legislators talking about the same issues, same ideas and same strategies. “And look where we have come,” he added. Further stating that “women bring a new aspect to look at things differently”, he emphasized that “we need to evolve and adapt and redesign the way we progress in society. We need a new thinking process and we need perspectives from voices that have never been heard. We need
to talk about larger issues that affect the whole generation.” Reiterating the importance of the 33% reservation for women, he however said: “what I fear is reservation can also be tokenism. I just hope that the system is not exploited when women get in because what also happens is a lot of men lose out. A lot of capable man who might have stronger voices but not as much as power because women have the power, men might also lose out. So, these are issues that we have to be careful about.” But clearly advocating the need for diversity on the table, he maintained that when there is a woman who understands issues related to women for instance, she would be representing a lot of women and would, as well change the total aspect. “We tend to justify saying that we treat our women equal, but equality comes from having the power to decide”, he emphasized.