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www.morungexpress.com
The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 262
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www.morungexpress.com
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Tuesday, September 23, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4
The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity India test fires Mars spacecraft engine - after nine months
Emma Watson delivers stirring speech at UN
Tuensang: A Town Frozen In Nostalgia
[ PAGE 8]
[ PAGE 11]
[ PAGE 9]
[ PAGE 2]
UNGA to focus on war on extremists
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–Rollo May
Dipika settles for bronze in Asiad [ PAGE 12]
oil operations launched in Peren Chizokho Vero/ Ashikho Pfuzhe
Peren | September 22
A young Naga is seen angling for fresh water fish in a stream in Tuensang. In streams, baits are usually positioned at places where fishes hide or gather to feed- places that provide protection from the current and above-water predators or places where the current slows and food collects or sink. (Photo by Imojen I. Jamir)
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
nsf demands ‘fresh examination’
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 22 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has written to the Chairman of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) demanding “fresh examination” of the General Studies Paper-1 (multiple choice questions) in the recently held NPSC main examinations. The demand is being made in view of what the NSF termed as “irregularity and discrepancies” in the recently conducted examination. The NSF apprised the NPSC Chairman that “the questions set for the General Studies Paper – 1 (Multiple Choice Question) NPSC Civil Service Main Examination, 2014 has 119 ques-
tions copy-pasted from Tata McGraw 2013 edition out of the total 200 Multiple Choice Questions in the General Studies Paper 1.” “Since 119 questions
as the premier recruiting agency in the State, it is expected to persistently maintain high standard of the over-all examination system,” it added. The NSF demanded that the NPSC “nullify” the said paper and initiate fresh examination for the paper at the earliest possible time. Reminding that “this is not the first time that the company or the agency is making such errors…” the NSF further demanded that the license given to the company or agency for setting the NPSC question papers and evaluation should be “immediately cancelled.” It added that another competent and experienced company or agency should be engaged for the same.
Urges NPSC to ‘nullify’ General Studies Paper-1 multiple choice questions
Our CM Gogoi is the undisputed shadow boxing champion of Nagaland and Assam.
12 Hour Assam bandh today
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 22 (MExN): A conglomeration of 18 tribal unions in Assam has called for a twelve hour Assam Bandh on September 23. Reports in the Assam media informed that the bandh is scheduled to begin from 5:00am on Tuesday.
were copy pasted from Tata McGraw 2013 edition and out of which 50 question were current affairs of 2013, these 50 questions cannot be considered as 2014 current affairs,” stated the NSF. The federation said that to evaluate the capability of the candidates on the basis of the remaining 81 questions is “illogical and highly objectionable.” “More so, since NPSC is considered
Despite opposition from certain quarters, the launch of the pre-production phase on oil and natural gas operation in Peren district by Metropolitan Oil & Gas Private Limited (MOGPL) was held successfully at Old Jalukie village on Monday. Nagaland state Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, while launching the operation, stated that the Nagaland state government has framed its own rules and regulations on petroleum and natural gas. He said it is now up to the people to grab the opportunity and get maximum benefit out of it. He termed the venture as a “red letter day” for people of Peren district and the dawn of a new era of prosperity for the district as a whole. He further called upon people to respect the state’s rules on petroleum and natural gas. He alluded that the successful launching of oil exploration in the state was a victory of the state government over the union government with regard to safeguarding of Article 371 (A). Zeliang said that after much tussle and debate with the Centre, the state government had finally prevailed upon the Centre to frame modalities on exploration and exploitation of oil and natural gas, keeping in mind the best interest of the Naga people and the state. The CM assured that the Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulations, 2012 was passed by the Nagaland Legislative
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Assembly after consultation with tribal hohos, civil societies, concerned landowners and village councils. Zeliang said the state government and Naga people were compelled to revisit and study Article 371 (A) in depth, after the Naga people were taken for a ride earlier by the ONGC, when the latter had given little or nothing in return after extracting 1.5 million tons of crude petroleum in Wokha district. On allegations leveled against MOGPL that the oil company was not qualified, the CM said that after floating an expression of interest tender, MOGPL was the only company which came forward to risk an undertaking in Nagaland and offering the highest royalty to the state government and landowners. Dismissing ‘rumours’ on the credibility of MOGPL, the CM said the public should not be misled by a few vested interests who, he said, will always be against any positive step taken by the government. He urged the public to give MOGPL a chance to prove
their credibility and not to reject them out rightly. The CM assured the gathering that not a single product of petroleum will be taken away during the pre-production for a period of ten years. After preproduction operations, another agreement will be signed to take off the actual production, he added. He also clarified that the arrangement of Rs. 10,000 per sq km is only meant for payment of land access fee during the preproduction operations, wherein land compensation on damage caused to crops and property etc will come once the production process starts. He further said that oil operation in Nagaland was the one ray of hope for Nagas to become economically independent. “It is time that we learn not to always depend on others but also for other people to depend on us”, the Nagaland CM said. Nagaland state Home minister, Y Patton also assured the people of Peren district that the state government would never allow a repeat of the ONGC
experience. Supporting the venture, Naga Hoho president Chuba Ozukum urged the Company to maintain transparency in the eyes of the people and implement the agreement in the right perspective. President of the Zeliangrong Baudi (N) also assured to extend all necessary support to the company. “Now is the right time to use our resources for economic upliftment of our people,” said the Nagaland Director for Geology & Mining, who also attended the launch. He urged the company to deliver with sincerity and transparency. He further said that modalities on petroleum and natural gas framed by the state government are in favor of the land owners. NPNG board member Bendang Longchari, MLA Namri Nchang, President of the Kyong Hoho, representatives from MOGPL and representatives of the land owners from Old Jalukie, Mhai- Dungki and Old Beisumpui also spoke on the occasion. The function was chaired by Peren Deputy Commissioner, Peter Lichamo.
Discovering the village of Mbaupungwa Kaito calls for infrastructure led growth
Nagaland NLA Speaker condemns CM’s native ‘racial segregation’ village trying against NE people KOHIMA, SEPTEM- to find a place BER 22 (MExN): Nagaland Legislative Assembly of its own (NLA) Speaker, Chotisuh Sazo today stated that he is “disheartened to see the Northeasterners who served in various hotels and malls in Ahmedabad, Gujarat were asked to stay away during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to the city.” A press note from the NLA Speaker stated that although there have been reports of racial discrimination meted out to people from the NE in various major cities, this latest incident of “racial segregation… is an outright insult and humiliation to the people of the region. “The manner in which they have acted against the northeasterners at the city is unacceptable,” the NLA Speaker stated. He further asserted that this “highly questionable racial discriminatory acts meted out to the northeasterners deserve to be condemned in the strongest term as it had come from the top level.” The NLA Speaker further demanded a “thoroughly probe” into the incident.
Nagaland CM, TR Zeliang along with his cabinet colleagues, government and MOGPL officials at the launching of pre-production phase of oil and natural gas operation in Peren, at Old Jalukie village, Monday. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News Peren | September 22
As well known villages such as Ungma (Mokokchung district) and Tuophema (Kohima district), which happen to be the villages of former Chief Ministers SC Jamir and Neiphiu Rio respectively, Mbaupungwa village under Peren district, native village of present Chief Minister TR Zeliang is waiting to be discovered and to find a place of its own. Disconnected, almost deserted and left to fend for itself, Mbaupungwa village is nevertheless proud of its native son who has made it to the highest political office in Nagaland state. Quiet, peaceful and surrounded by natural beauty—high mountains, rolling hills and the lush green landscape, Mbaupungwa village is learning to live with what it has been blessed with, the land, its resources and nature.
The quiet village of Mbaupungwa surrounded by natural beauty. Beyond the Barak River bordering the village, one can see the mountain ranges of Naga inhabited areas presently under Manipur State. (Morung Photo)
But like most villages in interior Nagaland, there is no sign of proper development in and around Mbaupungwa village. The only thing that sustains people’s lives here is the land and its resource and villagers are toiling hard to plow and work the land to make ends meet. Mbaupungwa village at present is putting efforts to reap economic dividends from cultivation of the highly lucrative King chilly market. Blessed with fertile soil and climatic condition suitable for its growth, villagers have gone in for large scale cultivation of King
chilly. According to Kedaro Samding, a Village Council member, the produce is 100 percent organic and there is good demand from the markets in Dimapur. “We don’t require fertilizers, pesticides or even complicated irrigation tools. God has blessed us with natural solutions,” says Kedaro, among the few young people who have decided to stay behind and plow the land of his forefathers. Despite the poor road condition, Kedaro travels frequently during the harvest season ferrying the king chilly in his Tata Mo-
bile all the way to Dimapur. He is happy cultivating the land and earning a good profit. Another significant landscape of Mbaupungwa village is the Barak River, which flows along one side of the village bordering Manipur. Towards this part of Mbaupungwa, villagers have taken to large scale orange plantation. Expressing satisfaction over the elevation of TR Zeliang as the Chief Minister, villagers are hopeful of development coming their way, especially proper road connectivity and provision of housing in the village.
KOLKATA, SEPTEMBER 22 (MExN): Nagaland Minister for Industries and Commerce, G Kaito Aye has stated that “the key to development of the North East region has to be infrastructure led growth.” The Minister said this while speaking at the national conference on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) financing and strengthening MSME linkages in Kolkata on September 19 and 20. The Minister however lamented that the pace of development of infrastructure such as road connectivity, rail, air link and telecommunication in the region “has been far from satisfactory.” “While there is much hype on the huge outlays for road constructions in the North East region, the pace of progress has been too slow,” he stated. He cited deficiency in trained manpower, inaccessibility to credit, infrastructure bottlenecks and land documentation as constraining factors to development in the region. The Minister proposed that there needs to be in-built flexibility in the schemes to adapt to the prevailing conditions in each state. The concession in funding pattern alone does not fully address the problems, he stated. Kaito added that more emphasis needs to be
accorded to skill development with tailor made contents to fill skill gaps instead of standardized syllabus. In order to assist entrepreneurs and small businessesplanning to set up business, Kaito said that the National Institutions under the Ministry have to be more pro-active. The Minister further stated that there is an “acute need” for disseminating the various schemes of credit linkages, Credit Guarantee Scheme; Performance and Credit Rating Scheme; Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme so as to make these schemes accessible. While identifying bank coverage gaps, he further called for roping in services of locally based NBFCs, NGOs, SHGs, VDBs, etc to develop an effective alternative vehicle for delivery of bank-like services in such areas. In addition, banks, he stated need to come up with a mechanism for delivery of its services and set targets to increase credit flow especially to meet the working capital requirements in the industrial and SME sector in the NE States. The Minister further called for expanding banking networks by opening more Branches of Commercial Banks/Rural Banks in different parts of the state. While acknowledging
that the MSME Ministry has a number of programs to help and assist entrepreneurs and small businesses as well as institutions for imparting the required skill development inputs, the Minister however lamented that smaller states like Nagaland have not been able to take advantage of the array of schemes of the Ministry of MSME. “Nagaland has not been able to take up much tangible projects,” he stated. Informing that over 85% population of Nagaland is dependent on agriculture, he stated that the remaining are mostly salary earners with the state Government being the biggest employment provider in the absence of active private sector enterprises. The few fledging entrepreneurs, he stated, are essentially first generation entrepreneurs and businesspersons. The Minister further said that the difficult terrain of the mountainous state makes the even distribution of industrial activities “near impossible.” The Minister proposed that tourism, handloom & handicrafts, agri & allied sectors, forest, bamboo, medicinal & aromatic plants, mineral resources, human & social resources and industrial infrastructure are some of the possible areas for MSME intervention in the state.
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Dimapur
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Tuensang: A Town Frozen In Nostalgia Imti Longchar
Tuensang | September 22
Halfway into Tuensang town, a majestic church stands midway on a descending mountain slope- surrounded by a cluster of speckled tin roofed dwellings as if in a bow of obeisance. This panorama, hardly uncommon, is an engaging view from Old Chare village. It is striking that such a massive church can be build for a village. Sights and sound of familiar surrounding stirs the nostalgia in me with tinges of excitement on the prospect of setting foot once again on that reminiscent town where I had spent most part of my childhood and schooling. Thoughts on how the town will have transformed since my depart 15 years ago keeps me engrossed, frequently disrupted by epic battles fought between our Tata Sumo and quagmires of liquefied mud and potholes along the narrow sagging highway-155. The road to Tuensang hasn’t improved slightly over the decades. Rather it has worsened with bigger signs of tear. Remnants of tar and scratches of bitumen can only be seen in
some negligible stretches along the 115 kilometre road from Mokokchung. Once at NAP gate, a bird-eye view of my childhood town does not disappoint in digging memories out of me. Blanching a vista of rusted corrugated roofs dotting the azure mountainous landscapeexcept for the appearance of a handful of tall coloured concrete buildings protruding out of place- the scene looked straight out of my childhood recollection. A proud number of church buildings perched atop the hill also greet my sight; they, looking up as if it were in a contest on whose was the bigger structure. The clock tower which literally opens the door into the town, and whose second and minute hands never moved, welcomes me with a facelift, accompanied by the ticking music of its moving hands. I am told by a fellow passenger that the facelift is only recent, taken up by a concerned group from facebook-a social networking site. For the rest, nothing has changed. As I remembered, it took 30 minutes to stroll around the main ar-
A colony in Tuensang flanked by a Church and dotting brown roof .
tery of this town after which there is nothing much to walk about for. This time it took me an hour, not because the town had expanded, but on time spend trying to catch up conversation in shops I frequented as a child and see if they remembered. What was earlier a small
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Some of the participants during the IMPACT 5000 by 18’ entrepreneurship workshop held for Dimapur district.
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The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 22 (MExN): The ‘IMPACT 5000 by 18’ entrepreneurship workshop for Dimapur district was held from September 17 to 19. The campaign, which is to impact 5000 lives by 2018 is a step to address the urgency of the need of a healthier and stronger private sector and to encourage opportunity entrepreneurship because ‘scarcity creates opportunity’. This program is collaboration between YouthNet and the Department of Youth & Sports resources, Government of Nagaland. As part of travelling across
all districts to interact, discuss and brain storm on ideas and better execution of local business and with the help of BAN (Business Association of Nagaland) local entrepreneurs in and around Dimapur discussed topics such as assertive sales techniques, income, expense and financial analysis, target marketing and online branding etc. A press release issued by Youthnet stated that opportunity entrepreneurship is looking at problems and coming up with business opportunities. For example, while some participants discussed that power
was a problem, one participant said that selling inverters is where they made the most income. Some of the entrepreneurs could not rent shops because of the high rental costs so they went online, uploaded picture of their products from home and sold it to their customers. The facilitators for the workshop from YouthNet were Tomtsa Chishi and Lezo Putsure. At end of the workshop, the participants shared that this was a good networking platform for the entrepreneurs. The next workshop now moves to Zunheboto.
hilly town in the pursuit of a planned expansion still remains the small hilly town, underdeveloped and now drowned in architectural dross of crammed shabby buildings and steep squeezing pavements in congested colonies. A walk to Old Medical colony, my old neigh-
bourhood is a reflection of the morbid state this town had fallen into- different shaped buildings meshed together in tight spaces without legroom while the footpaths resembles narrow animal trails. At the mouth of veterinary colony road, tin and bamboo thatched dwell-
Dc& Deo Mkg informs on summary revision
ings which I was always afraid would crash down over my head every time I passed by, still stands precariously above the road. What most catches the eye for a new visitor is the condition of the roads ever where- with its wide craters that resembles dried up river beds and the nonexistent
drainage. Khaba, a neighbour of my Tuensang days still retains his young chubby image despite being 15 years older than the last time we met and was crossing 50. In his usual philosophical banter, he rues how the town with its unchanged townscape was deteriorating from within. “It’s a damning shell we live in. This town and its residents might not have aged with the passing of time. But like vampires, we are slowly withering away from the inside,” he says. A former students’ leader, who doesn’t wish to be named, is more explicit in explaining how shallow namesake development have stunted the growth of the town and its people. “15-20 years back, our roads was much better. Now all our roads and footpaths run like rivers and waterfalls during monsoon while on winter, we stumble over steep craters on the road. Our Civil Hospital is ill-equipped with shortage of Doctors; our diagnostic center is non functional due to lack of technician, out dated machineries and poor electrification, our government run educational institutions lack
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 22 (MExN): Officials of Land Resources Development Dimapur and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) held a day long interaction programme in the conference hall of Nagaland Regional Office, NABARD here on Monday. The programme initiated and organized by NABARD Dimapur was intended under the leadership of V. Chelladurai, General Manager, to discuss issues relating to the implementation of Integrated Watershed Managament Program (IWMP) in Dimapur district. Evan T Munsong, Manager NABARD Dimapur and Vanjamo Lotha of LRD Dimapur informed that NABARD is the agency to monitor the implementation of IWMP in the state of Nagaland.
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teachers, there is only one ATM booth in the whole of town which most of the time remain closed…” he sums up in a brief on what ails his town. It is the same decades old sores that find no remedy. Of course there is inequality ever ywhere around the world. And ever since the creation of Tuensang district, failure to spread development by the State government in an equitable manner along with high prevalence of corruption and ignorance has been the defining characteristics. The end product istoo many of its citizens are poor and too many areas have seen little or no development. Fifteen years is long time for human sojourn. In my fifteen voluble years, I grew out of childhood to an adult. So goes the same for development and progress, even if it is a far flung town like Tuensang in one of the corners of Nagaland. Sadly, the intimacy created by the world of a unified village and balanced growth which we so much harp about is lost here. For Tuensang, my childhood town, she remains frozen in time.
DSSU Freshers’ Meet held C
MokokchUNg, SEPTEMBER 22 (DIPR): Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer, Sushil Kumar Patel, has informed that Election Commission of India has announced the schedule of Special Summary Revision with reference to 01/01/2015 as the qualifying date as follows: Draft Publication of Rolls 15th October 2014, Period for filling of claims and objections from 15th October to 10th November 2014, reading of relevant part/ section of photo electoral rolls in Gram Sabha/Local Bodies and RWA meetings etc & verification of names 17th October and 30th October 2014, Special Campaign dates with Booth Level Agents of Political Parties for receiving Claims and Objections 19th October and 2nd November 2014, Disposal of Claims and Objections by 20th November 2014, updating the Database, merging of photographs, updating the control tables and preparation and printing of supplementary list by 20th December 2014 and Final publication of Electoral Rolls 5th January 2015.
Interaction on implementation of IWMP
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Students of New Life Bible College Dimapur presenting special number during DDSU Freshers’ Day at Town Hall on Monday. (Morung Photo)
DIMAPUR,SEPTEMBER 22 (MExN): Dimapur Sumi Students’ Union (DSSU) on Monday held its Freshers’ Meet cum Felicitation Programme at Town Hall Dimapur under the theme, “In Pursuit of Excellence.” Speaking as the chief guest, Parliamentar y Secretary for Jail, Home Guards & Civil Defence, Er.
Picto Shohe said that the students coming together like today was the beginning of pursuing for excellence after which they should work in unison. “To achieve our goal, we also have to control our mind over distractions along our path,” he added. He urged the students to walk with Christ if excel-
lence was in their minds. During the programme, Dreamz Unlimited staged a play on the menace of illegal immigrants which drew loud applause from the gathering. Kiboholi Chisho and Puloka Zhimo were adjudged Miss Freshers’ and Mr Freshers’ respectively of DDSU 2014.
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Queensberry Foundation Jalukie Branch closed St. Joseph’s college Jakhama Week begins
JAlUkIE, SEPTEMBER 22 (MExN): As per the decision taken at the office executives emergency meeting held on September 21, 2014, the Queensberry Foundation Jalukie Branch Office shall be closed with immediate effect on account of noncompliance to the grievances of the office staffs and for non-payment of
maturity amount to the clients. Jalukie Branch. QF Branch Manager Enoch Gonmei in a press release stated that after repeated pressure given by the branch office, for early settlement of maturity pay out to the clients, the action to protest against the head office was resolved and taken unanimously by
the branch executives. The office Executives had earlier on September 2, 2014 resolved to suspend the office usual activities till the matter is solved. However, the head office turned deaf ear and silent till date. “It is unfortunate on the part of Queensberry Foundation to have display such an irresponsible manner and negligent shown to the
clients and office staffs,” said the Branch Manager Enoch Gonmei. He also added that the staff executives are also clients, appointed as workers in the branch office of QF in Jalukie, Peren, “hence, the office staffs and all the clients shall equally move together for necessary and needful pressure till the matter is resolved. It ap-
peared that, the staffs are being blindfolded and clients manipulated by QF sweet sounding promises and assurances. The true colour turns white lies now. Therefore the office staffs resolved to strive together with the clients against the infidelity of the Head office till justice and solution is done to the deserving.”
DSPCA Mokokchung takes measures on animal welfare
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SAve AMUr FAlcoN AND leT TheM cArry oUr MeSSAge: Amur Falcons are
expected to arrive in Nagaland by the 1st week of October 2014 and will stay in the state for about 45 days. Wildlife Division, Dimapur, warden in a press release stated that during their stay over in the state as our visiting guest, they would visit many areas/ places of their importance in the state. When it comes to visit your areas/ places, please welcome them with honour of protection and let them carry the message of our love and concern for them to the world. “Amur Falcon, a pride for the state. Protect them to save our global image”
MokokchUNg, SEPTEMBER 22 (DIPR): A meeting of District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) Mokokchung was held on September 20 in the office chamber of Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung, Sushil Kumar Patel. The meeting had tread fare discussions on prevention of cruelty to animals and resolved to take the following measures for the welfare of the dumb creatures. The DSPCA restricted that killing of animals at Disturbed Area Belt of Assam- Nagaland. In this regard the DSPCA requested District police to enforce the restriction. The meeting felt that this enforcement would only prevent cruelty to animal but avoid law and order issues in the border.
It was also decided that safety measures be applied properly while transporting animals using trucks from one place to another as animals face trouble pain due to slippery steel base of the trucks which sometimes causes animals to fall out of the truck and get injured or killed. As such, the society issued directives to concerned authority (MCC&I) to take necessary action to ensure safety of the animals. The society further directed MCC&I to take necessary steps with regard to store house where animals are kept before slaughter and adequate food and water be given to the animals. In case of out- break of animal diseases, DVO should be informed to take necessary action with urgency.
W. Honje Konyak, DC of Kohima lights the lamp declaring open the weeklong annual College Week of St. Joseph’s College.
JAkhAMA, SEPTEMBER 22 (MExN): St. Joseph’s College declared their weeklong annual College Week open on September 22 in a formal inauguration ceremony which was held at the College Football Ground. W. Honje Konyak, DC of Kohima as the chief guest, graced the program. The Ceremony began with the introduction of the contingents, and a parade led by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) students. The Josephites were grouped into eight groups; Aztecs, Vikings, Legions,
Penguins, Dragon Knights, Blood Hounds, Oragon, and Achillians. The Chief Guest hoisted the flag and after which, the Principal, Rev. Fr. Abraham Lotha delivered the Welcome Address where he voiced that we should not wait for opportunities but take chances. He quoted Vince Lombardi, “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” After the lighting of the Torch, Singyang Konyak, Games and Sports Secretary, took charge of the Oath-Taking. The chief guest stressed on the importance of
Games and Sports and its role in mental and physical development. He said that “Sincerity, commitment, self-discipline and dedication”, are the secrets to success. In addition, W. Honje Konyak also officially inaugurated the College’s Bishop Abraham Memorial Indoor Stadium. The first day of the College Week started off with the preliminary rounds for activities such as Men’s and Women’s Badminton Singles, Volleyball and Basketball matches, Chess, Carom, Shot put, Air Rifle Shooting, etc.
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REgional
The Morung Express
Tuesday
23 September 2014
Dimapur
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Indefinite strike in M'laya Heavy rains effects normal life in North East 12 dead, more from Tuesday against than one lakh NGT’s coal mining ban affected in M'laya SHiLLONG, SEPTEMBER 22 (NNN): The indefinite-economic-strike sponsored by the Movement for Indigenous People’s Rights and Livelihood – Meghalaya (MIPRLM) will be effective across the eleven districts of Meghalaya from tomorrow, in protest against the State government’s failure to address the issue arising out of the blanket ban on coal mining. “We have decided to go ahead with indefinite strike from September 23 onwards,” MIPRLM vice chairman Erwin K Sutnga said here. He said that the economic strike will be effective across the state’s national highway wherein all good carrying and commercial vehicles are requested to cooperate with the strike called by the movement. The strike was called after the government failed to comply with its 10 day ultimatum which expired yesterday. “The situation in the state ofMeghalayaarisingoutofthe blanket ban on coal and sand by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given way to a situation where the Government of Meghalaya has failed to address the needs of the Mining Sector,” he said. According to him, the economic-strike-call (ESC) is a democratic call to stage a peaceful and non-violent
protest against the blanket ban of coal and sand by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and State government complicity in the same. “Notice has been given to the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya regarding the ESC,” he said MIPRL calls upon all affected people to support the Economic Strike Call (ESC). The vice chairman also said apart from those directly affected, we also call upon all right thinking people to come and join the protest because there is no section of society in Meghalaya in particular and many parts of India that have not been affected by the arbitrary orders of the NGT in this matter. He further stated that the strike is totally based on the legitimate demand to implement the 10 point issues submitted to the Chief Minister of Meghalaya on August 29 at Polo Grounds and September 3. MIPRL reiterates the need to implement Para 12 A Sub Para (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India to protect the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Peoples’ inalienable and absolute rights over tribal land and our unique land holding system and traditional rights and customs, he said. He added, this demand
Northeast Briefs WAD and Action Aid conducts free medical camp THOUBAL, SEPTEMBER 22 (MExN): A free health camp was organised jointly by Women Action Development (WAD) and Action Aid on September 21 at Hangul Santehl, under Thoubal District, Manipur. According to a press note from WAD secretary, Sobita Mangsatabam, along with free distribution of medicine more than 250 people were examined by a team of five doctors during the health camp. The local youth club, “Meira Paibis” and key stakeholders also extended their valuable contribution during the health camp, added the press note. Further it stated that, the camp was conducted with the support of ECHO project entitled “Humanitarian and psychosocial care and support to the people affected by conflict in Kashmir, Manipur and Andhra Pradesh"
Annual meet of DGPs, IGPs in Guwahati in Nov NEw DELHi, SEPTEMBER 22 (PTi): In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to hold key national events outside Delhi, the Home Ministry has decided to hold the annual meet of all DGPs and IGPs in Guwahati in November. This is for the first time that the conference of the country's top police brass will be held outside the national capital. The date for the conference has been tentatively fixed for November 21-22. Assam Police will host the conference that will see attendance of around 100 DGPs and IGPs of all states and para-military forces. Issues like left wing extremism, cross border terrorism, activities of Jehadi terror outfit will be top on the agenda. Filling up of vacant posts in police forces, circulation of fake currency notes, smuggling of narcotics and human trafficking will also be discussed threadbare in the two-day conference.
CBI to grill former Tripura editor in Saradha scam AGARTALA, SEPTEMBER 22 (iANS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to grill Tripura-based former newspaper editor and owner Sushil Chowdhury in connection with Saradha scam, official said here Monday. Chowdhury, 73, the former editor of Bengali daily 'Dainik Ganadoot', is presently serving a life term in Tripura central jail for killing three of his newspaper employees. "Saradha chit fund chief Sudipta Sen had paid lakhs of rupees to Chowdhury. Hence, the CBI officials would quiz Chowdhury," a senior police officer told IANS on condition of anonymity. The officer said : "Chowdhury was very close to Sen and the Tripura edition of 'Sakalbela', a now-defunct Bengali newspaper published by the Saradha group, was published from one of the houses owned by Chowdhury." He said the CBI is trying to ascertain whether the financial dealings between Sen and Chowdhury were purely business deals or something else.
includes the modification of all Central Laws applied to the state of Meghalaya done without recourse to the mandatory provisions of Para 12 A Sub Para (b). The MIPRL also calls upon trade unions, associations and Government employees, Banks and financial institutions to lend support to the ESC. MIPRL will neither support nor condone any act of coercion, use of force, threat or violence, arson leading to loss of private and public property, loss and/or injury of life and limb, Sutnga stated. The movement has also been demanding the immediate address of the economic hardship of the poor and those badly affected in the coal belts and relief measures to be instituted. Apart, it has also demanded the government to come out with a moratorium on payment of installments of loans from Banks financial institutions and Private Financiers availed by people in the mining sector amongst others. Further, Sutnga stated that the ESC will not affect private and small commercial vehicles within Meghalaya, schools, colleges, offices, markets, transporters and traders of sand, stone and chips which means normal life in general for the local people.
GAUHATi, SEPTEMBER 22 (AP): Heavy rains in parts of northeastern India triggered landslides and flash floods, killing at least seven people, officials said Monday. A senior police official in Meghalaya state said the deaths occurred in the northern part of the state. The rains also caused heavy damage in neighboring Assam state, where floods washed away several bridges and submerged homes in Goalpara district, local official Pritam Saikia said. Authorities asked residents to move to higher ground, and army troops and federal personnel rescued scores of people trapped by the floodwaters, he said. Two days of rain also caused heavy flooding in Assam's capital, Gauhati. Many neighborhoods in the city of 2 million were submerged in waist-deep water. The Bharalu River, which runs through the city, was threatening to breach its banks, police officials said. More heavy rains were forecast in the area over the next two days. The area is prone to flooding during the June-to-September annual monsoon season. In June, at least 11 people were killed in heavy flooding in Gauhati city.
A man carrying his son on his back wades through floodwaters in Gauhati, Assam on Monday, September 22. Officials say relentless rains in parts of northeastern India have triggered landslides and flash floods, killing at least seven people. (AP Photo)
Mizoram govt issues extreme weather condition warning AizAwL, SEPTEMBER 22 (PTi): The Mizoram government today issued a warning in all the eight districts saying there is a possibility of extreme weather conditions in the state and neighbouring states during the next two days. An official statement said the warning
came from the National Weather Forecasting Centre, India Meteorological Department, Ministry of Earth Sciences. The warning said heavy rainfall could hit NorthEastern states like Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura during September 23 and 24, the statement added.
Rejoinder to counter allegations by Sadar Hills ADC members iMPHAL, SEPTEMBER 22 (NNN): The counter-allegations made by Seikholal Haokip, Executive Member, Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council (ADC) which was published in local dailies today is devoid of merit, according to a dissident group of the Council led by vice-president, Paojalet Touthang. It is very unfortunate that the Sadar Hills ADC Executive Member had terribly failed to understand the spirit and intent of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971, stated a joint press release issued by Sadar Hills ADC Vice-President, Paojalet Touthang and Executive Members - Bonthaolung Panmei, Lunthang Haokip and Bhumi Prasad on Monday. Insisting that the ADCs are public/political institutions
and the department concerned had to perform functions only after obtaining administrative approval of the Executive Committee, it wondered, “How Seikholal Haokip could say that the ADCs are government institutions, and that administrations are carried out by the department concerned”. According to his own statements, the Chief Executive Officer is responsible for misusing crores of rupees from the Council funds, it alleged. It further asked the Executive Member to refer to section 27A(3) in the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 states that “All Administrative functions of the District Council as may be specified shall vest in the Executive Committee”. Therefore, the Chairman
as an Ex-officio Chairman of the Executive Committee or any Member of the Executive Committee can exercise administrative powers only in those areas that have been entrusted by a resolution of the Executive Committee or by a resolution of the District Council unless it has been expressly provided by the District Councils Act & Rules, it added. The State Government is highly appreciated for sanctioning Rs 1 Crore under the 13th Finance Commission for the construction of 100 water tanks for 100 Primary Schools, continued the release, but wondered how the department concerned could allegedly select those 100 Primary Schools (including some bogus schools) arbitrarily without the approval or guidelines,
of the Executive Committee or the House of the District Council. Regarding the opening of about 70 Anganwadi Centres, it strongly denied that the matter is outside the scope of the District Council and requested the Executive Member to kindly refer to Para No-3 of Order No-21/1/2003-S (SW) dated 04/12/2010 issued by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur which reads as 'District Councils may recommend sites for Anganwadi Centres to be selected.' ‘We would like to question why the Executive Member fails to clarify on alleged swindling of Rs 30 Lakh meant for construction of three community halls at Saikul block and another Rs 20 Lakh meant for construction of 2 MI Schemes
under TA & Hills fund 201112,’ the release added. The Executive Member is expected to know who is the head of the council administration and requested him to stop blaming the Vice Chairman because it is a “democratic expression of discontentment” by the majority members who can no longer tolerate the manner in which the council administration run in contrary to the spirit and intent of the District Councils Act & Rules under the Chairmanship of Haokholal Hangshing, it further added. It added that the Executive Member is also expected to know that the principles and ideologies of the Congress High Command cannot be used as a shield to protect the alleged wrong deeds of the Chairman.
HM orders probe into Ahmedabad Prominent politicians involved in RIMS graft case: Former Min SEPTEMBER eran politician quoted an the culprits are booked and hotel’s ‘diktat’ to Northeasterner iMPHAL, 22 (NNN): Former minister Imphal based local news- cleared the cloud of doubts NEw DELHi, SEPTEMBER 22 (PTi): Hours after the Union Home Ministry ordered a probe into reports that employees of an Ahmedabad hotel from the northeast were asked to stay away from duty during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit, the city police and hotel management have denied issuing any such instruction. “I am not aware of any such diktat given by police to the hotel authorities about their staff. We were just concerned about the Tibetans,” said Joint Commissioner of Police(JCP)Crime A K Sharma. JCP of Special Branch Vikas Sahay too said he was not aware of any such order having been issued. The Management of hotel Hyatt Ahmedabad
expressed surprise over the reports and claimed all staffers, including those from the northeast, did duty on September 17 when Xi had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi there. “There was no such order given to the hotel staff on that day. All staff, including those from the northeast, was present in the hotel and doing duty when Chinese President arrived. I am surprised as to how such baseless reports are doing the rounds,” said Marketing Manager of Hyatt Ahmedabad Ayesha Mishra. Earlier in the day, the Home Ministry had asked the Intelligence Bureau to ascertain the veracity of reports about the order and, if it was indeed issued, who did it and why.
and veteran politician O Joy has today alleged that, the involvement of prominent political leaders of Manipur in the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) graft case had been clearly indicated in the wake of the recent CBI raids at nine different places including the official quarters of two former directors of the Government premier hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju and BJP President Amit Shah have been urged in a letter to facilitate speedy investigation into the RIMS graft case and also to take up steps to cleanse other Central offices and institutions including Manipur University, O Joy told a press meet at the Press Club. In the letter, the vet-
paper which had reported that a letter was seized from a lady officer, written with her official seal during one of the raids carried out on September 12, asking a prominent political leader of Manipur to “refund” a sum of Rs 1 crore taken as bribe for not allowing the CBI to conduct inquiry into the RIMS graft case and for not removing former Director of RIMS, Dr L Sekharjit from his post. “The letter was shown to the media, but they were not allowed to photograph it”, Joy stated in his letter to the Central leaders, adding that, it implicates some prominent political leaders of Manipur in the alleged corruption case. In the letter, Joy requested the Central leaders to expedite the investigation into the graft case so that
Decline in insurgency paves way for development in Tripura AGARTALA, SEPTEMBER 22 (ANi): With a gradual decline in insurgency, development work has gained momentum in Tripura. The successful implementation of several schemes has benefitted rural areas and people now have access to basic facilities. Tarun Das, a rubber tapper, has been coming to Abhicharan village regularly to work in a rubber garden and earn his livelihood. This wouldn't have been possible some years back when people were not able to come to the village for fear of being abducted by militants. The decline of militancy has changed the face of the village
SHiLLONG, SEPTEMBER 22 (iANS): At least 12 people, including five children, have been killed in floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain in the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya, an official said Monday. "As of now, 12 people have been confirmed dead in various parts of Garo Hills. About 20 more people are feared dead in floods and landslides in other districts of Garo Hills," West Garo Hills district magistrate Pravin Bakshi told IANS. Bakshi said more than a lakh people have been displaced in the plain areas in Garo Hills region after the swollen Brahmaputra and Jingiram rivers submerged over 200 villages and cutting several important locations in the region. "Boats have been requisitioned to rescue people marooned in the flooded areas. A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is on its way from Guwahati in Assam to assist the emergency crews in the rescue operations," he said.The public health engineering and family welfare departments have been asked to arrange for drinking water and proper sanitation. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma would conduct an aerial survey Tuesday of the affected areas.
and has significantly impacted the lives of people like Tarun. "Earlier, we could not come here because militants used to abduct people for money. But now, the situation has changed and we can come here now and work peacefully," Tarun Das said. Situated under the Mohanpur sub-division of West Tripura, Abhicharan Village is inhabited mostly by tribals, and was once a bedrock of militancy. However, with peace returning to the area, rapid development is now taking place. Under the 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana', bridges and roads have been constructed, and the village is now well connected
with other parts of the state. Villagers now have proper electricity and drinking water as well. A villager Chandra Debbarma said, "During rainy season, we could not go to the market, and especially, carrying patients was very problematic. We used to take them in cradles to hospitals. But after the bridge was constructed, it has been a great help to us. Vehicle movement has started and students can go to school without any difficulty to get educated. The government is doing a lot for our development and peace has returned here." There is a greater scope for economic activities for people from within the village and out-
side now. A number of people, especially women, have found employment opportunities through MGNREGA. People are now taking up piggery and other self-employment activities. "Here, most women are engaged in backyard piggery through which they earn good profit. This has empowered them and made them self-employed. This extra income helps them to run their families smoothly and to educate their children. We are earning sitting in our homes and after completing our household chores," added Labana Debbarma, a villager. Under the National Rural Health Mission, health centers
have been set up and villagers can now avail the benefit of free medicines and checkups. The school that once used to be empty is now witnessing an increase in enrollments through the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, under which the students get free mid-day meal, books and stationery. Ruma Debbarma, a student said, "We come to school daily as we have regular classes and our teachers teach us with care. We get free books, bags, dress, tie, shoes and mid-day meal in our school." The overall development in Abhicharan village is a clear example of the impact of peace and successful implementation of welfare schemes.
hanging in the mind of general public and cleanse other Central offices and institutions including Manipur University.
lost
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QUOTATION INVITED FOR AUCTION OF MARUTI GYPSY
Sealed Quotation are invited from individuals/parties for sale of a Govt. Vehicle (Maruti Gypsy-Hard Top,1995 Model) in “as is where” basis which is lying at H.No.387-B,Duncan Bosti,Opp. Shamrock Hospital, Dimapur. Interested parties may inspect the vehicle from the mentioned address on any working days between 1000 Hrs & 1300 Hrs and post their Quotation to the Office of Special Bureau, Govt. of India, Post Box No.204 Dimapur, Nagaland-797112. Last date of submission of Quotation is 10th October 2014. Advertiser reserves the right to reject any quotation without assigning any reason thereon.
GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND DIRECRTORATE OF INDUSTRIES & COMMERCE ADVERTISEMENT Dated Kohima, the 22nd Sept. 2014
NO.IND/DEV/HORN-BILL/314/03: Interested Entrepreneurs those who are expert on Indigenous Local Produce are hereby invited for allotment of stall ( Exhibition cum sale of Handloom & Handicraft Products) at the Bamboo Pavilion, Naga Heritage Village at Kisama during the Hornbill Festival from 1st to 10th Dec .2014. An amount of Rs. 4000/- (Rupees four thousand only) will be charge per stall for 10(Ten) days and the banner will be provided by the department. No TA/DA will be paid to the participants. Stall will be allotted to the selected entrepreneurs by the Selection Committee of the department. Application in plain paper with detailed items to be displayed/exhibited/proper authentic address and contact number be submitted to the Directorate of Industries & Commerce (Exh.Branch),Kohima on or before 10th Oct 2014. All the display items will be screen out by the Committee for all the participant and strictly adhere to the selected items. No applications will be entertained after the last date of submission Sd/(Keneilel Angami) Director of Industries & Commerce
4
Dimapur
public discoursE
Tuesday 23 September 2014
The Morung Express
The Truth about Nagaland Concept on NLTP public voting Public Service Commission campaign 2014 E
E
ver since NLTP Act was introduced in the year 1989, its enforcement for the last 25 years has only been partially successful. It has neither been observed in toto nor has it been able to stem the flow of liquor in our state. On the contrary, it has only given rise to increment of illicit liquor, brewed and bottled spuriously by bootleggers who are making a tidy profit by flooding the state and making it available in every nook and corner. Prior to the NLTP coming into force IMFL was not popular in the rural areas, as the consumption of the locally brewed and much milder rice beer was more prevalent. Today the consumption of the much more intoxicating and harmful IMFL has increased drastically and reached alarming proportions. So how far has the Act been effective in curbing the death rate among the consumers and the harm it is causing to the society is only too obvious. Therefore, everyone is to see and take a seri-
ous note of it. All because the consumer does not have access to the availability of genuine brand that could make a marked difference in the rate of premature death and also greatly mitigate the harm inflicted by the spurious varieties; it is up to the individual themselves to ponder over the rationale behind the implementation of the NLTP Act. There is a great need for a much needed platform for the participation of the general masses, so that they can voice their opinion with regard to this Act. The best viable medium would be to conduct a voting campaign that could set the parameters for a decisive outcome during the course of the proposed special session on NLTP Act scheduled to take place within a short time. Whatever the consequence may result in, either in lifting or keeping its purview intact, every citizen will be bound to take responsibility either way rather than resting the blame on the government or the
Church body. Since the issue is hotly debated because of its highly sensitive and complicated nature, the involvement of every stake holder in our society is of utmost importance so that the decision makers can be absolutely confident of coming to a firm resolution for or against its implementation. Therefore, NEAN will be conducting a people friendly voting campaign, with the principle “one person one vote” so that citizens of the state can participate and share their views under the caption “NLTP Naga Voice Public Voting Campaign. “ It will be an honest survey which can be a driving force for a decisive outcome. And whatever decisions are to be taken, it should be in the interest of the people so that the state’s citizens will be equally responsible. Therefore, we should grab this opportunity and utilize the platform honestly to let our voice be heard in unison. The principle of honesty as well as transparency will
be maintained. The public voting will be launched on Monday 29thSeptember and will continue till 28th of October 2014. The organization neither supports nor is against the Act - it is a neutral body. The campaign is aiming at the following objectives: • To provide a platform so that every citizen of the state can participate and voice their opinions. • To let the voice of the general masses be heard in unison. • To identify the larger interest of the people. • To let the voice of the people incorporate with the decision makers. • To let the voice of the “NLTP NAGA VOICE “ public voting campaign to be used as a reference during the proposed special session on NLTP ACT 1989. NEAN (North East Artist Network) Nagaland
MuMbai, SepteMber 22 (bL): The Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4, priced at Rs. 3.43 crore, made its India debut today in Mumbai. The luxury super sports car that can go from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.2 seconds is armed with a V10 engine and can reach a top speed of 325 kmph. The Huracán, successor to the Gallardo, is Lamborghini’s endeavour to creating the next automotive legend. “Today, we are very proud to officially launch the new Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4 here in India,” bili Lamborghini, said in a Sebastian Henry, Head of press release. With its name inspired by South East Asia of Automo-
grEETing Dear PuanG,
Many many happy returns of the day. May our Almighty God bless you and fulfill your dreams. Enjoy your day to the fullest. From ,Roumon Loung
the Spanish art of bullfighting, the Huracán is designed to be bold and edgy with sculptural forms. The exterior is marked with LED-lighting technology – a first in the super sports car segement. Its hybrid chasis – made from carbon fibre and aluminium – is ultra-light, making the vehicle’s low dry weight just 1,422 kg. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and an all-wheel drive featuring a new hydraulic multi-plate clutch are a few of the many highlights in Lamborghini’s newest offering.
N
agaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act was first implemented the year I was born. Ironically, my father and some other men in my family have been alcoholics since then and this story is a common one among my peers. Having lived with alcoholics in the house and seeing how our society has functioned under the NLTP Act, I am not convinced of the change or deterrence the law has brought or can bring to a person’s drinking habits. Some may have misplaced the debate of lifting this prohibition by simply confining it only to the generation of revenues from the production for a deficit running government without looking into the prevailing ill-effects of it in our society and the ways to curb it. More than the economics involved in the lifting of this ban, one must not forget we now live in an era where individuals are becoming more aware of the ‘self’ within a state and thus, pushing the Act might only provoke its citizens to stand up and question the infringement of their personal choices and not necessarily bow to the prescribed norms. Imposition of laws and rules may not result in good behavior because natural tendency in many is to retaliate and we may
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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 # 3004
and untrue. I have appeared NPSC civil service exams for five long years. In my fourth attempt I got Secretariat Assistant and in my fifth attempt I got Block Development Officer, for which I haven’t paid even a single penny to anyone among the commission members neither I took help from any of the higher bureaucrats or politicians. So, I am a living example to prove the integrity and genuineness of the commission. Likewise, there are many successful candidates who got EAC, BDO, DSP etc, by means of their hard work, qualification and unceasing efforts. In fact, many of them are from humble family backgrounds and many of them are the sons and daughters of a cultivator, a fourth grade government servant or daily wage earner. It is true that there were some errors and loopholes in multiple choice question paper in the recently concluded NPSC main examination for which being the apex authority we blame the commission. Even though there are many
intellectuals and competent Nagas, in order to maintain secrecy, integrity and fairness while setting the question papers, the commission entrusts and outsources it to certain company outside the state with proper instruction and criteria. Though the commission is the controlling authority, they also don’t have any knowledge about what kinds of questions might be set by the entrusted company. Therefore, for all these faults on the part of the entrusted company, we should not fallaciously accuse and judge the probity of the commission. In the meantime, I would like to earnestly appeal to the NPSC to evaluate, introspect and correct those loopholes in the system so that it will not be repeated in the future. Also, for the recently concluded main exam, I would like to appeal to the commission to give justice to every paper so that it would be fair for all the aspiring candidates. Nukshimatong, Block Development Officer, Mokokchung
Beyond Economics
businEss
Lamborghini Huracán debuts in India
very citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression in a democratic country like India. However, we should not misuse this freedom by accusing someone or some constitutional body without genuine proved and valid reasons. The Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) is doing its best to select the most intellectual and the most competent candidates of the state to fill the different job vacancies within the Government of Nagaland for the past few decades. In fact, NPSC is one of the few State Public Service Commissions in India which has a record of conducting civil service examination every year for the wellbeing of the unemployed civil servant aspirants. For all these efforts, we all must be grateful to the commission. The recent accusation against NPSC by one gentleman, Toshi Longkumer (The Morung Express dated 11/09/14) Delhi which was published in some esteemed local newspaper is totally misleading, unfounded
only find ourselves in a chaos of the state being the enemy of the citizens. Instead, creating serious awareness and educating the people of the consequences of alcohol may offer better chances of influencing the personal choice of a person. With the debate running, maybe it’s time to question the passivity of the State and churches’ initiatives to rehabilitate the ones already severely affected by alcohol. What are the programs or institutions that have been set up as part of their effort in curbing the alcohol menace that has so deeply affected our society? An apt explanation of our situation today is as someone had once cited- “Imagine 2 cities A and B. In city A, town people notice that every few weeks a house catches fire so they create a fire department- a group of professionals with preposition fire fighting equipment and special expertise. In city B, town leaders do not create a fire department. When there’s a fire, they hurriedly cobble together some people and equipments to fight it.” We are like city B, particularly slow to build institutions to combat long running problems. Excessive drinking being an intrinsic problem needs to be addressed but not by
a law with no teeth. The 25 years have shown it’s weakness so now, experimenting a lift in the ban to see if the potential benefits claimed, appears to be a more beneficial way out than the unhealthy illegal market that exists. Stringent measures can be taken after lifting like setting timings and days for the shops to open, post forces at appropriate vicinities to keep a check on problems stirred by the people in their inebriated state etc. . Also, a cell can be started to specifically monitor the problem of alcoholism in the state and therein work out ways to curb excess consumptions. But recruiting various experts and not just anyone available would definitely yield better results. This will help the state in knowing the progress rather than mere health and road accident statistics and it will also guide them to take appropriate steps in this direction. Drinking indulgence cannot be stopped overnight nor can a law stop a person from drinking if he chooses to. But certainly, emphasis on spreading awareness and education on alcoholism and its ills might have a more positive effect in influencing an individual’s choice. Alcoholism is a disease that affects a person physically, mentally and spiritually.
DAILY CROSS WORD
CROSSWORD # 3011
DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:
Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital: Shamrock Hospital Zion Hospital:
KOHIMA
Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home:
M. Angami Forest colony, Kohima
STD CODE: 03862
Police Control Room Police Traffic Control East Police Station West Police Station CIHSR (Referral Hospital) Dimapur hospital Apollo Hospital Info Centre: Railway: Indian Airlines Chumukedima Fire Brigade Nikos Hospital and Research Centre Nagaland Multispecialty Health & Research Centre
Answer Number # 3003
Our common attitude of secluding such people will only lead to aggravating their dependence on it. The state and the church should lead in helping the already affected to come out of their plight and the society should follow suit by taking up the social responsibility of overcoming the condemning attitude towards alcoholics. Professional help like counsellors, psychiatrists, psychologists would help a great deal therefore, the church and state should recruit or look into training such people and not only press for a law which we know is bound to fail. The social responsibility to make these sessions accepted as healthy remedy without being too quick to condemn, judge or seclude such people lies in us. The NLTP act has not worked as it should have and it has no certainty that it will work out well this time round. As long as there is demand, there will be supply. Hence, weighing the costbenefit ratio and the authorities taking more pragmatic steps in curbing the problem rather than adding just another law in the book would be a better way out. Change is good. Why not try?
232224; Emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 228846 228254 231864, 224117, 227337 228400 232106 227607 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026
STD CODE: 0370
Northeast Shuttles
100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202
LADYCATHRINE ANNEDEBOURGH ELIZABETH JANE BINGLEY MRBENNET MRSBENNET LYDIA KITTY MARY DARCY WICKHAM NETHERFIELD LOUNGBOURN PEMBERLEY MRCOLLINS CHARLOTTE LADYLUCAS HILL ENGLAND LONDON SCOTLAND GAMBLER MRGARDIENER MRSGARDIENER
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ACROSS 1. Display 6. Not straight 10. Dash 14. European currency 15. Not under 16. Of higher order 17. Lingo 18. Container weight 19. Taverns 20. He works with rocks 22. Largest continent 23. Hindu princess 24. Relating to the teeth 26. Friends 30. 54 in Roman numerals 31. Long-haired wild ox 32. Two-toed sloth 33. Cards with 1 symbol 35. Clobbered 39. Poster color 41. Meal provider 43. Used a broom 44. Loyal (archaic) 46. Close 47. Not in 49. 16 in Roman numerals 50. Throw 51. Hyrax 54. Resound
56. Fully developed 57. A type of semiconductor 63. Desiccated 64. Telephoned 65. Tint 66. Ship part 67. Backside 68. Novices 69. Countercurrent 70. A doe or stag 71. Athletics
DOWN 1. Oceans 2. Brusque 3. Therefore 4. Midday 5. Banana oil, e.g. 6. Relating to plants 7. Ambiguous 8. Roman emperor 9. Chic 10. A long artificial mound 11. Not the most 12. Courtyards 13. Twangy, as a voice 21. Of the cheekbone 25. Where the sun rises 26. Places 27. Again 28. Disabled
29. Purportedly 34. Forager 36. Chocolate cookie 37. Orange pekoe 38. Makes a mistake 40. Decorative case 42. Assumed name 45. Scope 48. Foursome 51. A male duck 52. Broadcast 53. Caught a glimpse of 55. Enumerates 58. Unusual 59. Transport commercially 60. Tropical tuber 61. Smell 62. A musical pause Ans to CrossWord 3010
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) PHEK: 8414853765 (O) 9862130954(OC) ZUNHEBOTO: 03867 280304/101 (O) 9856156876 (OC)
MON: 03869 251222/101 (O) 9436208480 (OC) KIPHIRE: 8414853767 (O) 8974304572 (OC)
Toll free No. 1098 childline
O
KOHIMA: 0370 2222952/101 (O) 9402003086 (OC)
TUENSANG: 8414853766 (O) 8414853519
CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE
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FIRE STATIONS
STD CODE: 0369
Police Station 1: Police Station 2 :
2226241 2226214
Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home: Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):
2226216 2226263 2226373/2229343
TAHAMzAM (formerly Senapati) STD CODE: 03871 Police Station: Fire Brigade
222246 222491
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The Morung Express Oken Jeet Sandham
S
omeone whose life has been devoted to the cause of a political party and mostly living with the grassroots till the age of 83 might find some uncomfortable to do a job which restricts him from freely interacting with the masses. A man who remained loyal to his political party almost his lifetime without expecting much in return is quite rare and also any person from the mainland India willing to spend almost his entire lifetime in the northeastern part of India is also worth appreciating while imagining as to how he would have negotiated many unseen or seen situations socially, politically or otherwise. Today, the people of Nagaland are lucky to have a Governor who had been working as politician in their State for nearly 50 years. He is 83 today. That means, most of his prime life has been in Nagaland and during his pretty long years, he has been involved in various activities promoting cultural, educational and tribal values and exposing them to the rest of the country, while being
Tuesday 23 September 2014
PB Acharya – A people’s Governor
instrumental in making the BJP inroads into every nook and corner of the region. This Governor is none other than Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya, popularly known as PB Acharya. He was sworn in as the 19th Governor of Nagaland on July 19, 2014. In fact, he would not have become the Governor of Nagaland had then Mizoram Governor Vakkom B Purushothaman accepted the transfer order from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to become the Governor of Nagaland. Acharya was destined to become the Governor of Nagaland. Purushothaman resigned as Governor of Mizoram when he was transferred to Nagaland to become the Nagaland Governor saying the he was shifted “without consulting.” In fact, after the Narendra Modi Government was installed at the Center, there had been spate of resignations across the country by serving Governors who were appointed by the previous Congress-led UPA Government at the Center.
It was not accidental that at a felicitation program of the Northeast BJP and NDA legislators, MPs held on June 28, 2014 at Niathu Resort, Dimapur, where some of us in press while congratulating Acharya, who was also present there, told him that he would become the Governor of Nagaland soon. He looked emotional and speechless but was seen his inner joy and tacitly acknowledged our words because he knew very well some us in media who had almost 20 years of association with him in Nagaland. He knew we could not be wrong and we knew that. In his first interaction with the members of the Kohima Press Club (KPC) on August 16, 2014 at his Kohima Raj Bhavan residence, we reminded him what we had predicted for him at Niathu Resort, Dimapur. He held our hands tightly while giving his inimitable smiles without uttering a single word. He looked thrilled and overjoyed seeing every one of
us in his Kohima Raj Bhavan residence. He showed us his keen desire to strengthen people-to-people relationship not only in the State but also region’s people with the rest of the country through his rare, innovative and motivational educational programs. His enthusiasm to learn tribal dialects starting with Tenyidie shown during our interaction was a positive start towards his mission. Acharya’s idea of promoting Naga languages through various renowned Universities based in other major cities and states of India is praiseworthy. His idea is to let the mainland people learn the unique tribal languages and cultures. This way, many mainland Indians will come to know the importance and values of the lifestyles, cultures and languages of the northeast tribals. Introducing such innovative ideas in other Universities is unique for the fact that many Naga people already living in the major cities serving in various companies, industries or
offices will be approached to spare their times and impart their respective dialects in the Universities. This is still not everything. The octogenarian Governor has also deep concern for the fading educational system and also the chronic shortage of science and math teachers in Nagaland. 70 per cent of government teachers’ alleged absence in their schools has shocked him questioning, “Where will our poor students go if teachers are not willing to teach? No society can progress without proper education.” This unusual development might have pushed him to adopt one government school in Kohima where his wife Kavita Acharya would attend twice a week and teach around four subjects a day. This will definitely send a strong message to the people particularly the teaching community in Nagaland. It is laudable that the Governor has already in discussion with the University authorities in major cities at least to send some of their
faculty members to impart science and math in Nagaland and this way, he said, the faculty members would not only be giving services to the people of Nagaland but also experiencing values which they had not experienced earlier. This unique concept of educational exchange programs, he believes, will definitely reduce lot of gaps between the region and the rest of the country and, in the process it will also strengthen the national integration. Governor Acharya seems to be not interested remaining in the comforts of the Raj Bhavan. He wants to mingle with the people and is hardly bothered with his gubernatorial protocols. In his first interaction with the members of Kohima Press Club, he made it very clear that he wanted to meet with the press people as much as possible and wanted to keep the kind of relationship as he had before. In fact, his second meeting with the media fraternity that came less than a month on September 11,
2014 at his Kohima Raj Bhavan residence was unprecedented and massive. His second interaction with the local media persons became the most memorable one for the simple fact that he was talking all politics which any serving Governors of Nagaland rarely did in the past. He was firm and clear in his mind. He was so categorical while justifying his points that the 17 year long Naga peace process was quite long and the Naga people had suffered enough. “Enough is enough,” he rued adding time had come to solve the Naga political issue once and for all and Naga people wanted it. His ardent appeal to Nagas to accept the appointment of retired Special Director of Intelligence Bureau RN Ravi as new interlocutor for resumption of Center-NSCN (IM) talks manifests his resolve for settlement of the Naga issue. His disappointment on the prevailing pathetic financial problems facing the state could be seen
Dimapur
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while talking to the press at his Raj Bhavan residence and did not mince any words saying that corrupt officials should not be spared and urged the people to rise up against scourge of venalities. He, however, strongly believes that Nagaland can become one of the riches states in the country if its abundant natural resources are properly taped and utilized. It’s the first time a serving Governor throwing a massive lunch for the media in his second meeting with them and it was heartening to see that media fraternity used Governor’s Kohima Raj Bhavan residence as theirs. Before the media fraternity left his magnificent Raj Bhavan residence, Acharya again politely told them that “I want to meet you again next month and if possible, every month.” He has shown the Kohima Raj Bhavan as a creative center, a place of warmth, and it has truly become a people’s place and a place to gather. Governor Acharya lives a humble and simple life as usual and always wants to be with the people. This makes him quickly a people’s Governor.
The Morung Express is introducing “Public Space” as part of our intention to provide deliberate space for the opinions of the people to be expressed and heard through this newspaper. Nonetheless, The Morung Express points out that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.
One expelled 571 personnel commissioned into police service from Nagaland Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 22
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 22
Backed by Muslim Council Dimapur (MCD) and Muslim People’s Forum Dimapur (MPFD), the New Market Business Owners’ Association Dimapur (NMBOAD) on Monday expelled for a lifetime one Ahad Uddin for allegedly molesting a girl inside his shop on Sunday. According to two eyewitnesses, the accused was seen molesting and sexually abusing a girl who had come to buy clothes from his second-hand clothes shop run along the foothpath at AB Line, New Market on Sunday afternoon. During a joint meeting held among the NMBOAD, MCD, MPFD, eye-witnesses and the accused, the
The accused Ahad uddin. (Morung photo)
eye-witnesses said Uddin was seen inappropriately touching the girl against her wishes. During the meeting, the two Muslim organizations of Dimapur urged the NMBOAD to impose the strictest of punishment to the accused stating he had tarnished the image of all other Muslim community
in Dimapur. The Muslim leaders asserted that the likes of Uddin do not deserve to dwell in a civilized society. Reading out the decision of the meeting, NMBOAD president, Hokivi Chishi said the accused would be deported out of the State on Monday itself by train. He said that the responsibility of deporting the accused was shouldered on the two Muslim organizations. Ahad Uddin (24), son of Abdul Jabbar is a permanent resident of Rangarpara village P.O. Anglar Bazaar Ward no 2, PS. Badarpur under Karimganj district, Assam. He was a temporary resident of Zeliangrong village, near Faith Hospital Dimapur. He has been in Dimapur since the last one and half years.
The Director General of Police, Besesayo Kezo said that the police is the most visible arm of the government. “We’re everywhere, we can’t hide,” said the DGP addressing the ceremonial attestation parade of the 52nd batch of NAP/ IR/NHG recruits at the NAPTC Sports Stadium in Chumukedima, Dimapur on September 22. And with it, the DGP said, comes great responsibility, which
riculture & Veterinary departments interacted with the masses and recorded their grievances in the ‘get together’ – “Gaon Sabha”. President of Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam-Nagaland), BP Bora lauded the Jorhat administration for initiating to build such a platform where people living in the border can reach and speak to the top hierarchy of the district at their doorstep. Meanwhile, the district police representative, Dy. SP 1st APBn Hussain narrated some situations which were a result of ru-
mors “which engulfed tension in the border belt and its people.” He therefore urged the public not to propagate any false alarm which only harms them in the end. Coordinator of BPCC (A-N) also emphasized on the need to establish super specialty hospitals for the benefit of either side people, multipurpose cultural and sports complexes for exchange of sports and cultural extravaganzas at regular intervals between the people of Assam-Nagaland border areas. He opined that cooperative farming
may be encouraged in the common border areas at the fallow lands. He also suggested High School students belonging to border areas to alternately visit each other’s places on excursions during holidays. This, he said, can be worked out between the authorities of both states and education departments can take initiative and BPCC (A-N) can extend logistic support. The next round of Gaon Sabha will take place at Jungle Block High School near New Sonowal on September 23.
Dimapur based SEED German doctor in SJC Jakhama September 22 signs MoU with NSDC JaKhama, (mexN): Dr. med. Gerhard PülNeW DeLhi, September 22 (mexN): The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) on Monday signed an MoU with Dimapur based Society for Education, Empowerment & Development (SEED). With this, the Nagaland based organization has become NSDC’s first partner in North East India. Pinnacle Skills, SEED’s skill development division will be executing the skill development projects, informed a press release received here. CEO & Managing Director of NSDC Dilip Chenoy and CEO & Secretary of SEED/Pinnacle Skills Dr. Yan Murry signed the MoU at NSDC Head Quarters in New Delhi. NSDC was instituted by the Government of India to enhance, support and coordinate private sector initiatives for skill development through PPP models. NSDC targets to skill 150 million people by 2022. NSDC also works with State governments to build skill development programs. This partnership will enable Pinnacle Skills to scale up their skill development activities in North East India, stated the release. The organization is already working in Nagaland and Meghalaya.
horn, a practicing ophthalmologist, and his wife, Webke Pülhorn from Germany are staying at St. Joseph’s College for a period from September 14-30, as a part of their assignment through Senior Experten Service (SES), a non-profit organization, which includes providing free services to people with problems relating to the eyes. A press note from the college stated that, while Dr. Pülhorn sees students at the dispensary on campus, his wife spends her time as a temporary teacher of German language at the College. Dr. Pülhorn, who is an expert in his field, is passionate about his profession and has taken his aid to many countries such as China, Pakistan and Turkmenistan in the past years under SES, stated the release. It also mentioned Dr. Pülhorn stating that his treatments are rather limited due to unavailability of equipment.
every uniformed personnel must be conscious of. The NAPTC today witnessed the commissioning of 571 fresh recruits (men and women) into service after undergoing a gruelling 7-month long training. The recruits, whose educational qualifications ranged from under-matric to post-graduate degree holders, will join the armed branch of the Nagaland
Police and the Nagaland Home Guards. The report of the NAPTC commandant stated that 594 personnel reported for training at start, but 23 had to be turned away on disciplinary and health grounds. While stating that the primary duty of the police is to protect the society from anti-socials, the DGP added that discipline and serving with honesty lies
Corrigendum Apropos to the news item with the headline ‘NGO to conduct voting campaign on NLTP Act,’ which was published on September 17, 2014; it is hereby clarified that the organization’s name is North East Artist Network (NEAN) and not as published. The inadvertent error is regretted.
Assam-Nagaland ‘Border Week’ underway Jorhat, September 22 (mexN): In an attempt to thwart the fear psychosis amongst the people living in the border areas, especially Jorhat district adjoining with Mokokchung, Jorhat district administration organized ‘Border Week’ program at Selenghat block today along the Assam-Nagaland border. A press release informed that host of district officials representing the departments like PHED, PWD (R&B), Health, Education, Welfare, Rural Development, Food & Civil Supplies, Forest, ASEB, Ag-
‘Discipline & honesty paramount in police service’
MEx FILE BJP ticket distribution today Dimapur, September 22 (mexN): The Bharatiaya Janata Party (BJP), Nagaland Unit will organize the ticket distribution ceremony on September 23, 5:00 pm at Hotel Saramati. A press release from BJP Nagaland office secretary, Lachit Kachari further informed that the State Unit has entrusted the party workers with various responsibilities as follows: Campaign convenor - K. Medom Angami, P.Paiwang Konyak (Co-Covenor), and R. Sopu Angami; Protocol Committee - Vizopal Chaya (Kohima), Vihoshe James (Dimapur); Polling Committee - Dr. Hoshi (Convenor); Media Committee - Jaangsillung Gonmei, Kethole-u Metha.
Karbi Anglong and Dimapur Transporter Association meeting Dimapur, September 22 (mexN): All owners of trucks which ferry sand at NH-36 and 39 (Manja and Bokajan Road) have been informed that there will be a general meeting of all the owners on September 24 at Khatkhati, Gautam Bosti at 2:00 pm to discuss the present problem created by Karbi Farmers Association, “which has called bandh on sand carrying trucks without any reason.” President of Karbi Anglong and Dimapur Transporter Association, Anil Toppo in a press release requested all vehicle owners to be present at the meeting without fail. Fine will be imposed upon absentees, he stated.
Sechüyie conference on Oct 17
Dr. med. Gerhard Pülhorn and his wife, Webke Pülhorn from Germany.
Meanwhile, Webke, on her experiences, commented that the students at the college were very polite and eager to learn. According to the release, they both stressed on introducing other language classes besides English, and for more Naga students to opt for overseas studies, or for professional reasons, to widen their horizon and acquaint themselves with knowledge from all around the globe.
at the core of police training. The training regime may be tough but it is designed to “make a better person, to shape character” and not only imparting weapons handling, the DGP said while adding, “Discipline and control over one’s behaviour is the first thing a policeman should learn.” “At home, if your family notice certain positive
changes in your personality… then it is a compliment to police training (and) if they do not then the training would be a failure,” the DGP told the recruits. Stating that the police department is one which appreciates individual talents, in sports or other fields, the DGP added that the prospect of promotion is very bright in the department. “It’s either you go higher or remain at the bottom. If you’re honest, sincere and committed, you’ll become officers.”
Dimapur, September 22 (mexN): The Sechüyie (Sechü clansmen) conference will be held at Sechüma Village Council Hall at 11 am on October 17. According to the organisers, the function will be chaired by Satuo Sechü while Roziekolie Nipu will pronounce the invocation prayer. Greetings will be delivered by Pelevisie Rhatsu, chairman, Sechüma Village Council and special numbers by Sechüma Village Youth Organisation and Women Society. On the day, representatives from different villages and districts, including Neikhriehu Kense, president, Kuda Sechü Union (Dimapur), Virul Kikhi (Viswema village), Zachisato Tetseo (Thüvophisümi
village under Phek district), Thejao Vihienuo (Chiechama village) and Kumoi Rau (Jalukie under Peren district), will also exhort the gathering. The vote of thanks will be tendered by Chacha. All the villages have been asked to come with five representatives each.
cerned have been requested to attend the meeting positively.
KTBWU combined service
Kohima, September 22 (Dipr): The Kohima Town Baptist Women Union Combined Service will be held on September 26 at 3:00 pm at Paraciezie Baptist Church, No helicopter Kohima. The Service will be led by service for three days Apino Haralu and the main speaker Dimapur, September 22 will be Serenle Apon from Rengma (mexN): The State helicopter ser- Baptist Church, Kohima. vice will not be available for schedule as well as chartering for three Training of polling days, from September 26-28, due to personnel for bye-election mandatory servicing of the helicop- Kohima, September 22 ter. The regular service will resume (Dipr): The Deputy Commissionon September 29, informed general er & Returning Officer, Kohima W. manager, Nagaland State Transport, Honje Konyak has informed all the Senti Pongener in a press release. He government employees under Kofurther expressed regret for the in- hima Districts that the training of convenience caused. polling personnel for Bye-Election 11-Northern Angami-II A/C has NSF consultative meeting to been scheduled for Presiding OfDimapur, September 22 ficers and First Polling Officers on (mexN): Naga Students’ Federa- September 29 and for 2nd Polling tion (NSF) will have a consultative Officers and 3rd Polling Officers on meeting on September 25 at Zonal September 30 from 9:30 am onwards Council Hall, Kohima at 11:00 am. A at Zonal Council Hall. The DC furpress release from NSF assistant gen- ther informed that the appointment eral secretary, Kesosul Christopher order will be sent to the representaLtu informed that the consultative tive department shortly. This is for meeting will deliberate on the fol- advance information to all employlowing agendas: Assembly resolu- ees concerned. tion on setting up of the proposed Nagaland Special Development Landslide on Zones (NSDZ), Nagaland Liquor To- Mon-Tobu road tal Prohibition Act, and Draft Nagaland Investment Board (NIB) Bill. All moN, September 22 (Dipr): the senior leaders, federating units, A massive landslide on Mon–Tobu subordinate units have been asked road, 71 kms from Tobu, has cut off to positively attend the consultative all transport communications for the people of the area. The road is meeting. the only lifeline for the people of Tobu and therefore the Adhoc Town NPCC meeting notice Committee Tobu has appealed to the Dimapur, September 22 authorities concerned to take up the (mexN): There will be an emer- matter immediately in the interest of gency meeting of NPCC office bear- the public. ers and NPCC Election Committee Members on September 24 at 11:00 YAA consultative meeting am in Congress Bhavan, Kohima. All the members have requested to at- tueNSaNg, September 22 (mexN): Yimchungrü Akherü Aritend the meeting without fail. hako (YAA) has convened a conAKM executive meeting sultative meeting on October 3 at Pungro town. Therefore, General Dimapur, September 22 Secretary Shikiula has informed all (mexN): The office of the Ao Stu- the YAA officials, Planning Commitdents’ Conference (AKM) has in- tee and History Committee memformed all its executive members, bers of YAA Golden Jubilee to attend senior executives and the tribunal the meeting without fail. The meetmembers that the 5th executive ing will discuss some urgent matmeeting would be held on Septem- ters pertaining to “upcoming kick off ber 27 from 11:00 am at the AKM programme” and others related to conference hall. Therefore, all con- Golden Jubilee.
6
IN-FOCUS
The Power of Truth
The Morung Express TuEsDAy 23 sEPTEmbEr 2014 volumE IX IssuE 262
How ‘Special’ is it?
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he issue of the 'Nagaland Special Development Zone' (NSDZ) has been politicized and threatens to further divide and polarize Naga society. Both sides have expressed emotionally charged opinions and perspectives. Clearly, stepping back to gain a more objective and analytical standpoint of the NSDZ is required in order for discernment to take place that embraces everyone’s common good. Historically, the Naga people and their polity have been based on democratic consensus. Policy matters that have the people’s mandate can only be validated through a process that includes informed consent and the people’s democratic participation; anything less cannot claim to represent the people’s rights and interests. In this case, the Nagaland state government’s omission of not engaging the people through consultation or participation has bypassed the democratic character and unilaterally taken a decision that will have far reaching consequences on the Naga future. The proposed ‘Nagaland Special Development Zone’ impacts issues related to land, resources and decisionmaking. For Nagas, land is relational and central to their identity and defines who they are as a people. In Naga culture and tradition, land and resources are not merely a commodity, as they constitute the essence of their existence. Land also holds an ancestral relationship; once that relationship is severed, it also implies the distortion of relationship in the name of development. Without land, how can Nagas exercise their political, cultural and economic rights? Hence, once they lose their ancestral land and resources, they can no longer identify themselves as a people. In theory and in the name of development, employment and other incentives, the ‘Nagaland Special Development Zone’ may seem to be beneficial to the people. However, its most immediate consequence will be on the peopleland relationship. It implies the land may still belong to the people, but the people will no longer decide the destiny of the land, nor have any right over its resources. So from this point of view, the government, companies and big corporations will usurp our land and resources. This will strip people of their means to a livelihood, will alter the demography as migrant laborers will come in search of work, effectively destabilizing local economies. Scenarios such as this inevitably increase the chasm between the rich and the poor, pushing increasing numbers to societies’ margins. The long term consequences will forever change the Naga cultural, traditional, economic and political landscape. The Nagaland state government needs to do more and go beyond convening a consultation. Consultations of this nature are narrowly defined and limited only to representatives of an ‘apex organization,’ because at this moment in time, there seems to be a dilemma between ‘representative of the people’ and ‘representative for the people.’ Rather, the government would benefit from collaborating with people at the grassroots to assess the ground reality and identify the people’s actual needs in order to assure that their goals and methodology are truly people-centered.
lEfT wiNg |
Ban Ki-moon
Climate Summit to Spark Action
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n September 23, I have invited world leaders from government, business, finance and civil society to a Climate Summit in New York so they can show the world how they will advance action on climate change and move towards a meaningful universal new agreement next year at the December climate negotiations in Paris. This is the time for decisive global action. I have been pleased to see climate change rise on the political agenda and in the consciousness of people worldwide. But I remain alarmed that governments and businesses have still failed to act at the pace and scale needed. But I s ens e a change in the air. The opportunity for a more realistic dialogue and partnership has arrived. Ever more heads of government and business leaders are prepared to invest political and financial capital in the solutions we need. They understand that climate change is an issue for all people, all businesses, all governments. They recognise that we can avert the risks if we take determined action now. I am convening the Climate Summit more than a year before governments head to Paris to give everyone a platform to raise their level of ambition. Because it is not a negotiation, the Summit is a chance for every participant to showcase bold actions and initiatives instead of waiting to see what others will do. An unprecedented number of heads of state and government will attend the Summit. But it is not just for presidents and prime ministers. We have long realised that while governments have a vital role to play, action is needed from all sectors of society. That is why I have invited leaders from business, finance and civil society to make bold announcements and forge new partnerships that will support the transformative change the world needs to cut emissions and strengthen resilience to climate impacts. The sooner we act on climate change, the less it will cost us in lost lives and damaged economies. Economists are also showing that new technological advances and better policies that put a price on pollution mean that moving to a low-carbon economy is not only affordable, but can spur economic growth by creating jobs and business opportunities. All countries stand to benefit from climate action – cleaner, healthier air; more productive, climate-resilient agriculture; well-managed forests for water and energy security; and better designed, more livable urban areas. Instead of asking if we can afford to act, we should be asking what is stopping us, who is stopping us, and why? Let us join forces to push back against sceptics and entrenched interests. Let us support the scientists, economists, entrepreneurs and investors who can persuade government leaders and policy-makers that now is the time for climate action. Change is in the air. Solutions exist. The race is on. It’s time to lead.
‘Change is in the air. Solutions exist. The race is on. It’s time to lead’
C O M M E N T A R Y
THE EDIT PAGE
Pere Vilanova
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH: Catalonia’s sovereignist process
People wave “estelada” flags, that symbolize Catalonia's independence, during a demonstration calling for the independence of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain on Friday, September 19, 2014. A day after Scotland rejected breaking away from Britain, the regional parliament in Spain's Catalonia is expected to grant its leader the power to call a secession referendum that the central government in Madrid says would be illegal. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has vowed to prevent the November 9 vote that separatist Catalans want to hold in the wealthy Mediterranean region of 7.5 million people. Spain's constitution doesn't allow referendums that do not include all Spaniards and experts say Spain's Constitutional Court would rule the vote illegal. The referendum in Catalonia wouldn't result in secession; it would ask Catalans whether they favor secession. If the answer is Yes, Catalan regional leader Artur Mas says that would give him a political mandate to negotiate a path toward independence. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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here is no doubt that, once again, the march held during “La Diada”, on 11 September this year, was an international success. Up to 300 international journalists (from the BBC, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, TV5, and even Russia TV) attended the march. Half a million demonstrators, by some estimates (the Spanish government’s); almost two million, according to Barcelona’s Municipal Police. If we take an average estimate, 1 million people took to the streets, covering 12 km along the two most important, longest and widest avenues in Barcelona. There were many people there, it was very calm, and there were no incidents (none whatsoever—there’s merit in that), so it was a great success. But it was a success for the people, for their hopes. It remains to be seen how, again this year, this popular success is handled by a political class that, overall, doesn’t seem to be rising to the occasion—less and less so since the first major demonstration in 2012. Politicians on all sides repeat the same arguments—they all invoke a willingness to engage in dialogue that is directly proportional to the inflexibility of the respective positions. And in the end, what? According to experts from the Advisory Committee for the National Transition (Consell Assessor per a la Transició Nacional), a body that the Catalan government established back in the day to present the various internal and international legal avenues that were supposed to cover the sovereignist process, there were several legal routes to the consultation. In the end, they are all reduced to one: there may be a consultation (referendum) as long as there is a pact, a legal agreement negotiated with the State, and we already know that won’t happen because the Spanish government, the Popular Party, the PSOE, and almost every other Spanish party, are against it. There will be no pact. What’s left, then, is the famous plebiscite that, as the Catalan president told French newspaper Le Figaro a few months ago, is the most likely scenario. Calling this election is the exclusive competence of the president of the Generalitat, and therefore it’s legal. But it’s merely a regional parliamentary election, which some parties will consider a plebiscite (and will say so in their programmes), while others will not. What will change with this election is the Catalan Parliament’s party system, but not the underlying issue, because it’s not viable to illegally and unilaterally proclaim independence (and in fact, according to the latest polls, only 24% of Catalans would support such a radical move). At the same time, the issue of a supposed “international legality” is raised from time to time. President Mas invokes this in a mysterious tone, while the Advisory Committee for the National Transition cites various reasons—utterly inconsistent with the EU Treaty—why the government can’t guarantee any international support, because in terms of international legality, this is a Spanish internal issue. The European Union has been categorical about this, with no exceptions. Brussels has repeatedly stated that, if it secedes from Spain, Catalonia will remain outside the Union to all intents and purposes. And it’s worth recalling, by the way, that however European they may feel, Catalans are European right holders insofar as they are citizens of a member State: Spain. They may not like it, but this is how it is: Catalans are European citizens because they are…Spanish citizens. We already experienced this cycle in September 2012: a mass demonstration during La Diada (let’s be clear: it was a roaring success, and it made the headlines on CNN and the BBC). Then early elections in November 2012 and the fall of candidate Mas and his ultra personalised electoral campaign when he suddenly lost 12 seats. And then the new Diada in 2013, the success of the human chain and again the mantra “there will be a consultation on 9 November, 2014” without any indication of how this would happen. This year there were European elections (by the way, sovereignist parties announced they would present a single sovereignist candidate—where is he?), in spring 2015 there will be municipal elections, and in autumn general elections to the Spanish Parliament; there may also be a plebiscite in Catalonia. Too many elections for the average citizen not to experience “combat fatigue”, since, election after election, nothing happens in the end. Or rather, something does happen: a growing social frustration.
The breach of the social contract is devastating. And it’s not exclusive to Catalonia and its sovereignist process—it goes much further All this encourages ferocious competition among the parties, not mergers, single programmes or sovereignist movements led by a leader accepted only by his own party (with serious internal tensions). And all this—to the shame of the Catalan Parliament, which doesn’t have a Catalan electoral law (the only one of the 17 autonomous communities that doesn’t), or its own electoral board to organise the consultation— without a census, because in 34 years they’ve had no time to exercise this exclusive competence. Soon an absurd Consultation Law will be passed to fill this gap, which will barely see the light before it’s appealed and the Constitutional Court suspends it as a precautionary measure. That is, there isn’t, and there won’t be, any legal framework for the consultation/referendum that is supposed to take place on November 9. Who is responsible for this? Catalan political parties. That doesn’t mean that the other side—what is colloquially known as “Madrid”—is any better. Its stasis, and the spectacle that are Congress and the Spanish political class (with very few exceptions) are the flip side of the coin—a poor replay of the most traditional nationalism/stasis, which is two centuries old. Spain was built from the centre, from Madrid, “in Spanish”. That’s why many Catalans who are not particularly politicised have gradually become more radical, because they’ve been made to feel as if they were “flawed Spaniards”, as if they had some kind of congenital defect. For a start, having their own language, and speaking it in private and in public. And by the way, all Catalans are bilingual; most other Spaniards are not. This has been going on for too long. In mid-January 2013, first thing in the morning, it was announced on Catalan public radio that the Catalan Parliament had received five resolutions or proposals regarding the right to decide, almost one for each party. As far as unitary spirit goes, it’s not bad. Every year since 2012, on the day after La Diada, the parties (all of them) continue to play the most classic and predictable political game, in which their top priority is to differentiate themselves from other parties, compete for a supposedly disputed electorate, and display a lofty rhetoric about lofty abstract principles, while still accusing each other of almost every flaw and ill intention. Since then, the contradictions and tensions between every party—and within parties, between their leaders and cadres, or between the apparatus and its people—have worsened, and in this regard the results of the surveys are overwhelming. And these tensions and divisions increase exponentially among the separatists, compared with the other side. Every day, and on every occasion, citizens know what each politician is going to say, even if the sound is turned off on the TV. In other words, the problem is not that someone—from civil society, or intellectuals and opinion-makers—needs to discover some novel idea to make this democratic deterioration—or one of its worst forms: corruption—disappear. The problem is much more serious: ultimately, the social contract has been broken, that is, the set of mechanisms by means of which a democratic society delegates in a series of people (namely, the political class) the delicate task of managing the common interest. And here another problem emerges. There will be those who say that, ultimately, society itself has failed, that in a democracy we have the leaders we elect, etc. True, but the responsibility for mending the disaster is asymmetrical. Citizens can’t fix the behaviour of the political class, at least not in the short term. Because the object of such a reform are those responsible for carrying it out: political parties. In this context, their kleptocracy (they control everything, they take everything) doesn’t refer to the economic ambitions of such and such individual, however sad a daily spectacle that may be. Kleptocracy here refers to the absolute control that they wish to continue holding over every public institution, from the General Council of the Judiciary and the Constitutional Court to the governing boards of public media. Thus, it’s not about ideas, but
about behaviours. The breach of the social contract is devastating. And it’s not exclusive to Catalonia and its sovereignist process—it goes much further. But of course, going back to the by now classic analogy, what for many was going to be an unstoppable and magnificent soufflé seems to be going the way of a thick fondue. It’s not that it’s bad, but it’s heavy to digest. In sum, this whole ongoing political process is affected by various structural stress factors that are getting worse each year. The first of these stress factors is, of course, the crisis. In 2012, the rescue deal requested according to norms established outside Catalonia (and Spain)—in Brussels—was formalised. This rescue deal could be interpreted from various different political perspectives, but it was obviously necessary in the face of economic emergencies that could not be put off. Therefore, those who say that the structural solution to the crisis would be for Catalonia to unilaterally proclaim its independence this coming 9th of November, simply live in another galaxy. The second stress factor is that at no other time since 1977 have the general context and the nature of what we call European Union been so favourable to economic or political unilateralism. Does anybody believe that what Brussels, Durao Barroso, Van Rompuy, Draghi, Schultz, Junker and Merkel need now is a troublesome secession in one of its key states? And a new expansion, after the questionable results of the expansion to 28 members? The third structural stress factor is long-standing. It has been growing for years, but the crisis and its Catalan and Spanish versions have turned it into the main problem: the failure of our systems of political representation. That is, our systems of representation of social interests, which by definition are many and very diverse. Traditionally, in a representative democracy the parties, unions, associations and pressure groups were responsible for this task. The crisis has revealed an unprecedented structural imbalance, which has three symptoms (though not necessarily solutions): the rampant disrepute of party politics and its kleptomaniac appropriation of all kinds of institutions and bodies; the conglomerate of 15-M + Indignados, which has still not been able to successfully progress from protest to proposal (despite the new phenomenon of the Podemos party/movement, which did very well in the European elections); and an underlying misunderstanding about civil society, widely invoked by everyone, though in the end nobody knows who it refers to. This raises a problem that will be decisive to the outcome of the independence process: how to measure representation. Is it legitimate for citizens unhappy with the current situation to ask: “Ok, but how many people do you, the 15 M (Indignados) movement, represent?” The European election of 2014 began to answer this question in a significant, even spectacular, and measurable way: Podemos. It’s a lot, it’s new, it’s sociologically and politically fascinating, but it is what it is. For the time being, it’s all there is, and we’ll have to wait for future electoral processes to able to move from emotional responses to a clear verdict. But at the end of the day, one thing we can know for sure is that the current Catalan Parliament was voted by almost 3.5 million citizens, while this or that NGO, however many members it may have, represents only that number of members, even while it may also have considerable, growing, or dwindling social influence. But it remains to be proven that just because one defines oneself as “civil society”, one has as much, or more, legitimacy than the government and the parliament, elected by citizens. Ultimately, whether we like it or not, political, legislative, and budgetary decisions are made by the appropriate institutions. Citizens may demonstrate (or not, and it’s equally legitimate), but the political class has a long way to go before it’s exonerated for its primary responsibility in the structural imbalance we are experiencing. The test of the successive Diadas (2012/2013/2014) is not unambiguous; the underlying problem (the relationship between Catalonia and Spain) is anything but binary, it can’t be understood or solved in black and white terms. Catalan society is far more complex, pluralistic and fragmented than either side asserts or claims. And above all, success in terms of civic participation in one, two or three Diadas is no guarantee that society and the political class will reconcile. Some clever sovereignists, point out, rightly, that if these conclusions are true, it’s going to be a long road.
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TuEsday
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
23 September 2014
PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE
Tales of independent impoverished women arpita Chakrabarty
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contributoria.com
or Pushpa, a forty-year old lady with a slender figure, day starts as early as 4.30 in this shivering cold weather of Almora town located on the lap of Himalayas in the mountainous state of Uttarakhand in India. She puts a canister of water for heating on the stove fueled by wood she collected from the nearby deer park last evening while coming home. Her husband and five children are fast asleep in the one room on the ground floor rented for $16.5 where sunlight doesn’t reach every morning. Half an hour later, she takes bath in cosy water, quickly drapes a saree around herself and puts a kettle of water on the stove for tea. By then, her eldest daughter, 22-year-old Prema, wakes up and goes to take bath before the water gets cold. Slowly as the darkness melts away and sunlight begins to touch the houses with its warmth, a flock of parrots visits the long pine tree beside the house. Pushpa cooks breakfast – rotis and sabzi for her children and husband and eats breakfast with everyone sitting on the stone-paved floor covered by a torn rug. She packs the same food in her round steel lunchbox and leaves home. Pushpa works in a nearby private school as a cleaning woman and gets $50 as monthly wages. Each day she reaches school at 8.30 in the morning, cleans up desks, classrooms, and bathrooms before students and teachers start arriving at half past nine. Before prayers begin, Pushpa helps make tiny little kids stand in a line and during lunchtime she helps them eat their tiffin and often scolds them if they are mischievous. She hits the school bell five times at exactly three in the afternoon to call it a day for the school. Around half past three, she goes to a nearby home and cleans the cattleshed and collects grass for the two cows. An hour later, she goes to another house and washes utensils and cleans the floor. Sometimes she cleans the courtyard filled with dried leaves of pine trees. The cheerful Pushpa earns $20 monthly from these two houses. Here no weekly or monthly off is granted to her, else a day’s wages would be deducted. Pushpa reaches home at seven in the evening. On her way to home, she climbs the fence of a reserved forest area to collect firewood, without which she knows dinner can’t be cooked. She collects enough firewood to last this night and the next day morning and puts the heavy load on her head and gently walks down to her home around seven in the evening. After having a hard day, she is dead tired and wants to sleep for sometime. Pushpa’s husband stitches clothes in a nearby tailoring shop. He reaches home at eight in the evening after buying locally made cheap but unhealthy liquor from his daily income. Having pushed down a bottle everyday, he hits her for not giving him money to buy more drinks. Pushpa has four daughters and a son. Three daughters go to colleges, one teaches in a school and the son dropped from school when he was 16; he has not yet found a suitable employment. Having pushed down a bottle everyday, he hits her for not giving him money to buy more drinks. Pushpa tells her story casually to me one evening while we sit and watch eating away of the sun by hills of Kumaon. Like Pushpa, thousands of women are fiercely independent if one can label them so: they are often the breadwinners of their families – they take care of children’s education, collect firewood, prepare food at least thrice a day, feed cattle, work in the field and do every part of household chores, yet they are regularly abused and maltreated by their husbands who are found to jostle in front of beer shops after sunset. The region of Uttarakhand has a geographically different landscape than other states of the country with 64% of its land comes under forest area while more than 90% is hilly terrain. The total population of the state is about 8.5 million, with women accounting for about nearly half of
the total population. The state contributes. More than 70% of the state’s population lives in small villages scattering over the hill slopes. Like their counterparts in other rural areas of India, women form the stronghold of family units with their immense contribution in every sphere of household work. However, the enormity of their drudgery is very high here due to the ecological topography of the area including hilly landscape, harsh environment, steep slopes coupled with scarcity of water, fuel, and fodder near their home. Meet Deepa - a 28-year old young woman, has a lean figure, once beautiful and well maintained, is wearing a red saree with green borders. She has a seven-year old son studying at a local government-owned primary school in grade 1 and a three year-old daughter. Like Pushpa, her day starts before dawn breaks in and after taking bath and sipping morning tea with a piece of last night’s dry roti, she begins ploughing in 2-acre land that her in-laws own. Her son goes to school at 7.30 in the morning with a bunch of other kids from the same village and comes back after having eaten the mid-day meal in the school. Deepa’s husband is away working as a waiter in a restaurant in a nearby Bageshwar town. He sends home a money-order cheque of Rs 5,000 ($82) dollars every month as a responsibility to manage the finances of his home. He visits home for ten days once in six months and once he goes back to the town, all the responsibilities are given without a word, quite commonly, on the shoulders of his wife. Deepa takes care of her ageing in-laws, children and her father-in-law’s elder brother who did not marry. Her motherin-law has arthritis and hence cannot move frequently. Having no able-bodied person to share a part of the great deal of work, Deepa works in the field for about 10 hours every day growing vegetables and rice so that they do not have to buy from shops. In the morning, afternoon and night, she prepares roti and sabzi for all family members and sometimes when the sabzi doesn’t taste as it should, she has to hear rebukes for not making delicious sabzi and occasionally, while she makes more rotis in the kitchen, she overhears her inlaws speaking to each other that she has not been a good wife and daughter-in-law. There are times when she is hit by her mother-in-law in front of her little children for not attending to her when she is away in the field busy in shooing monkeys away and preventing them eat away all their tomatoes, capsicums and ladies fingers that she has grown over the year with her labour and sweat working from dawn to twilight. Deepa is never consulted on any subject that needs urgent attention and requires discussions and is generally decided by malemembers of the family. When her husband visits home, herin laws make complaints to him about her that she has not been working enough. After coming home for a few days, when her husband is annoyed by listening to accusations, he hits her out of fury and frustration. Deepa can’t even make a complaint in a local police station, because she knows she is alone and nobody will support her claims. Moreover, she feels saddened that if she lodges a protest, police will ask her in-laws to solve the matter on their own inviting more smacks. When the sabzi doesn’t taste as it should, she has to hear rebukes for not making delicious sabzi and occasionally while she makes more rotis in the kitchen, she overhears her in-laws speaking to each other that she has not been a good wife and daughter-in-law. Thanks to depletion of fertile soil, rising unemployment opportunities, lack of basic educational and healthcare centres and disenchantment with farming in farflung areas of this mountainous state, the out-migration of males in remote villages to urban areas in search of other means of livelihood has become the survival strategy. As a consequence, women almost unwillingly out of constraints fall prey to this enormous predicament. When young and able-bodied males migrate from remote villages out of survival compulsion, only children, aged parents and women are left behind to look after agriculture, cattle
and family resulting in an increase of workload drastically. Women toil 15-18 hours each day performing almost all agricultural activities, taking care of cattle, collecting wood fuel, fodder and water from nalla few kilometres away and carrying the heavy load on their back, resulting in drastic repercussions on their health. Even if males stay and hold on to farming for livelihood, spending everything on liquor is a source of torment in almost all households. Many rural women who could stand up courageously have come together in groups and held anti-liquor agitations in villages and towns and many a times stalled auction of India-made foreign liquor because addiction to cheap liquor ruined many families and has been the reason behind deaths of male members. Moreover, after toiling from sunrise to sunset and sharing men’s work in agriculture and enduring every bit of this daily ordeal, physical assault brings trauma and nightmare to these extremely hard-working gentle pahadi women. The plight of women belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled tribes is more severe due to poverty, illiteracy and lack of resources. Bhavhna shares a different tale than Pushpa and Deepa but similar in nature. Unlike Pushpa and Deepa who are not very educated and usually remain working in the field or at home, Bhavhna holds Bachelor’s and B. Ed degrees and now occupies a respected position at the local panchayat body. Bhavhna also teaches at a government primary school and meets representatives of the local body in a meeting held once in two weeks. Bhavhna from the outside might look like a role model for women like Pushpa and Deepa, but inside she knows she is merely a puppet. Though she makes a good earning, enough to live a life comfortably in a wooden house with her husband, two children and a mother-in-law who became a widow two years back, all decisions regarding tasks of the local administrative body are made by her husband who has a good rapport with other members of the body and Bhabhna is merely a proxy of her husband. Bhavhna is self-reliant in many situations, however, when it comes to making major decisions of the household or the panchayat body, her husband decides on her behalf and she is merely informed about the decisions. Women toil 15-18 hours each day performing almost all agricultural activities, taking care of cattle, collecting wood fuel, fodder and water from nalla few kilometres away and carrying the heavy load on their back, resulting in drastic repercussions on their health. Gender disparity in education still persists with parents sending sons to faraway schools in absence of quality education in villages, while girls are made to study till 8th class, after that they become a helping hand in household and agricultural activities. Lack of education, social awareness, and health-related information keep the hill women out of mainstream women development and empowerment. More and more women are made to undergo family planning surgeries to check birth control in government organised camps while the number of men who undergo vasectomy surgery are just a few in number. When I ask Pushpa, Deepa and Bhavna if they consider themselves independent women, Pushpa and Deepa give me broad smiles genuinely innocent of guile and for a minute they become silent. Having lack of knowledge about whatnots women throughout the world are achieving, they believe this is the norm for women in their villages. Thousands of women like Pushpa and Deepa do not understand what it is to be a strong, bold and liberated woman. For Bhavhna, although she understands the true meaning of a self-reliant woman, says the pahadi traditional society is not yet ready to accept such women. To be free-willed independent women in its real sense of the term is a far cry for these and many other guileless, hard-working, smiling women in pahad. One can only hope the mindset changes soon and these women acknowledge their rights and speak out for what they feel is fair and equitable to them.
Bottom-Up Climate Fix daniel C. Esty
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NYt
ORLD leaders are at the United Nations this week, at the invitation of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, to “champion an ambitious vision anchored in action that will enable a meaningful global agreement” on climate change next year. But if history is any guide, the dialogue is unlikely to produce the rampedup response we need to address the many threats we face from the unrelenting buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Government leaders have gathered multiple times over the past several decades to address climate change, most recently in 2009 in Copenhagen, where negotiators tried, but failed, to “seal the deal” with a new commitment to reduce emissions. Five years later, given the difficult geopolitics, there is little to show for it. Perhaps the world community should take a different approach before the next round of talks, in Paris in December 2015, ends with another Copenhagen-style outcome with minimal results. Smart people in the 20th century thought we could tackle climate change with a treaty in which the world’s nations agreed to “targets and timetables” for reducing emissions. These reductions would be implemented by top-down, national mandates and government support for clean energy technologies. But 22 years after the original climate agreement, emissions continue to rise and threats of significant harm loom larger. As one of those who, as an official at the Environmental Protection Agency, negotiated that first United Nations treaty in 1992, I believe we need to shift gears and try something new. Relying on national governments alone to deliver results is not enough, as the last two decades have shown. The real action on climate change around the world is coming from governors, mayors, corporate chief executives and community leaders. They are the ones best positioned to make change happen on the ground. Accordingly, we need to move from a top-down strategy to a bottom-up approach.
a Global Call for Climate action Massive mobilization is "a very important and telling turning point for the climate movement," activist says
lobal mobilization is exceeding expectations on Sunday, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets demanding action on climate change on the eve of the UN Climate Summit. In addition to the massive action in New York City, People's Climate demonstrations took place in cities and towns across continents, from rural villages to major urban centers. According to a press release sent out by 350.org and the global civic organization Avaaz, people in more than 156 countries joined 2646 events and rallies—in India, Tanzania, South Africa, Brazil, Germany, and Taiwan, among many others—in solidarity with the People's Climate March happening in Manhattan on Sunday. "We're starting today in New York with already thousands upon thousands of people having marched around the world," 350. org global communications director Hoda Baraka told Common Dreams, pointing to sizable events in Melbourne and Jakarta. "There's so much happening at the same time, it's quite breathtaking and moving and powerful, to be honest. It is, at the end of the day, a global moment. It's a global issue. All these different constituencies coming together for climate action—that's a really a
very important and telling turning point for the climate movement." A particularly urgent call came from the Pacific Islands, which given its elevation above sea level, is at the frontlines of the fight against climate change. There, from Tonga to Tuvalu to Tokelau, people rallied calling for 'Action, Not Words,' to protect their homes and livelihoods. In rural Papua New Guinea, students from a primary school marched to a nearby lighthouse, which has recently become semi-submerged due to rising sea levels. “We’re not waiting for politicians to move,” said Seia Mikaele Maiava, Pacific Climate Warrior from Tokelau. “This is a matter of survival for us. We’re not drowning, we’re standing up and fighting for our homes.” Organizers see Sunday's demonstrations as just the beginning of a series of actions that will continue in the lead up to the 2015 United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris. For example, people all across the Pacific are preparing to send 30 Pacific Climate Warriors with their canoes to block the world’s largest coal port in Australia in October. A global day of action against fracking is also planned for next month. “With hundreds of thousands marching in more than 2,500 protests worldwide, this is by a long way the largest climate mobilization in history," said Ricken Patel, executive director of Avaaz, in a statement. "It's a wake up call to politicians that climate change is not a green issue anymore, it's an everybody issue. The public has heard our scientists that everything we love is under threat, and we're prepared to fight for the only solution—a world powered by 100 percent safe, clean, sustainable energy.”
Mayors in Barcelona, Melbourne and the Brazilian city of Curitiba, for instance, are trying to expand public transportation. New York City’s former mayor Michael R. Bloomberg worked with pipeline companies to increase natural gas access so residents could shift from dirty fuel oil furnaces to cheaper and cleaner natural gas ones. British Columbia and Quebec have introduced cap-and-trade programs that put a price on greenhouse gas emissions, mak-
ing it more expensive to pollute and encouraging innovation. California has done the same thing. So have nine states in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic. In Connecticut, where I served as commissioner of energy and environmental protection, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, a Democrat, has begun a “green bank” that uses limited government money to leverage vastly increased flows of private capital for clean energy projects. These efforts show that the quest for a
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deirdre Fulton Common Dreams
clean energy future can be pursued in a serious, cost-effective and bipartisan manner without the impetus or imprimatur of national governments. Leaders in many industries have also stepped up, seeing sustainability as good for their bottom line. Unilever’s food divisions, for instance, have encouraged their supplier-farmers to adopt efficiency advances and lower-carbon production methods. Dow Chemical has developed a filtration system that reduces the energy used to purify water by 30 percent. Alcoa has helped Boeing and Ford achieve better fuel efficiency by reducing the weight of their planes and cars. These corporate successes and many more should be highlighted when world leaders gather in Paris to negotiate the next round of climate commitments. More fundamentally, why not invite leaders from states, provinces, cities and companies to join representatives of national governments in signing the anticipated 2015 climate change agreement? Sure, the focus of international relations for hundreds of years has been on nation-states, but there is no reason this has to be so. We should recalibrate our approach to engage local, regional and corporate leaders, especially on issues like climate change that require broad-based public support if we are to succeed. And while we’re at it, let’s shift away from the top-down way that the federal government subsidizes clean energy innovations, which relies on picking winners and assisting chosen industries and technologies. Instead, let’s promote a financing approach in which the government works to engage the private sector in delivering clean energy projects. This can be done with green banks and bonds and other private-sector clean energy finance mechanisms that could drastically increase the flow of capital into energy efficiency and renewable power. A privatemarket emphasis offers the prospect of not just more money and better projects, but also competition to lower costs. Conceding that the present approach isn’t working will be hard for some. But let’s hope this week’s gathering starts us down a new path.
“Arena of mind” portrays a space for idea germination, a field where ideas from multi-disciplinary viewpoints fertilize the world of intelligence. The writers aspire to envision a new future by exploring the mind, discovering new seeds of insights and unleashing them to enlightenment.
NLTP Act: The need for healthy debate Moatangit Longkumer
Assistant professor Department of commerce St. Joseph’s college, Jakhama
T
he buzz discussion in the print media and much hyped issue amidst so many pertinent issues is on the liquor prohibition Act. The debate in favor of having Nagaland a wet or dry state is becoming emotive in nature rather than fetching a solution for the well-being of the people. I believe antagonism will only lead to division therefore a truce has to usher in, based on reasoning for common good. There are equally good arguments on both ends I wish to posture and present the contrast for the readers to draw their choice by preference. The Legitimacy of the Act There are good number of people in Nagaland who are good citizens but devoid of the basic biblical principle. For this group of people drinking is not a sin and it has become a part and parcel of daily living and a social etiquette. They find NBCC intruding into the precinct of the state, and also dictating individual freedom and liberty where no differences can be seen between the government, the Social Organizations and Religious bodies. There is no difference in trying to legislate morality by the RSS or VHP trying to bane Valentine’s Day and the NBCC trying to bane liquor or wine. So when a substantial junk of the population finds no wrong in drinking, the legitimacy of the act loses its validity. The Class Contrast Districts bordering or in proximity to Assam like Mokokchung, Wokha, Dimapur and Kohima are economically more well off as compared to the rest. A bottle of McDowell Rum that costs Rs 130 in Assam is sold for Rs 200 to Rs 300 in Dimapur or Mokokchung. Where as in the more interior regions, the cost on normal days are Rs 350-Rs 500, which is leading to drain of wealth at a higher level. Perhaps, this escalated price is not the only problem for the economically weaker class but also causes adverse effect on the health due to spurious nature of the liquor. The interior areas, having poorer health care facilities and resources in contrast to the economically advanced districts, are the worst victims of adulterated liquors. Even when we look at the intra district impact of liquor prohibition on the poor and rich classes, a bottle of beer during festivals escalates up to 600 rupees. Regardless of the class or price, the drinker will continue to purchase and consume the same and this situation hits hard on those consumers who are from the poorer section of the society. Market Analysis Naga youths, by now have realized the importance of business. Many are taking it as a profession because of the shrinking opportunity in the public sector. It is very fascinating to see that many people are earning good from the liquor industry, from old widows to highly educated students running shops and bars under the guise of a pan shop to big restaurants. A very interesting logic we can buy from Brendan Livingston of Rowan University, if there is a significant increase in the number of consumers after the legalization, it is a wrong choice but if the number of consumers remains to be similar during the prohibition and after the prohibition, legalization will most likely produce an improvement for society. The trend that I observe in Nagaland is the free flow of liquor even now in the state of prohibition, which can be inferred as doing harm to the Naga society because flow of spurious liquor and circulation of underground money. Therefore, if the Government is not able to check the free flow of liquor then, it is better to be legalized. So that more job avenue, lucrative business and better quality of liquor can be availed in the market. This way the state will also earn revenue, reduce unemployment and a legal circulation of liquid assets earned from the liquor business will take place. Revenue Loss and Death Tolls Because of this prohibition, it is estimated that there is loss of revenue from state exchequer, which is estimated to be Rs. 750 crores annually. It doesn’t help in creating employment opportunities and it is huge setback for the tourism department as argued by the state government. Here the other side of the coin is, we are not just losing the revenue and the employment opportunity but due to the over flow of spurious liquor, the revenue supposed to be earned by the state government is going into the pockets of the bootleggers and also encouraging them to institutionalize organized crimes. In this regard, the Assam government gets the major share of Nagaland state revenue. Our worry here should be not just the 750 crores, jobs and encouraging crime but the rise in the death of many Naga drinkers due to the spuriousness of the alcohol. Do away antagonism While considering the points being made by the side opposing the Act, there is also a need to comprehend the view of the ones for it. While, it is easy to portray the Church as being a hindrance to individual will, it must be considered that their position is also derived from valid concerns for people and is stemmed in real history of the state and its people. Concurrently, the Church too needs to open their eyes and understand that education and exposure to ideas have enabled people to achieve a much higher sense of awareness to what living in a democratic society entails. Many Nagas now require a spiritual guide that respects the individual need to be free and acts in a way that does not seem high minded. To conclude, there is a need for both sides to engage in a dialogue that is pursued with a mutual respect and understanding.
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Tuesday 23 September 2014
‘No second account needed to get Jan Dhan benefits’
NEW DELHI, SEptEmbEr 22 (IaNS): People desirous of availing benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) need not open another bank account in case they already hold one, the government Monday said . “The existing account holders can submit an application to the concerned branch to enable them to get a RuPay Debit Card in order to avail of the benefits of insurance under PMJDY,” the finance ministry said in a statement here. “Micro credit limit of Rs.5,000 can also be extended in existing bank accounts on application depending on the satisfactory conduct of the account,” it added. Saying that insurance benefits are available through the RuPay Card, the ministry reported that there had been complaints from some places about the availability of the account opening forms due to the huge rush and “certain people taking advantage of such situation.” Earlier in the month, the ministry had first reported on the problem. Informing that many existing account holders have opened a new account to avail of incentives announced under the scheme, the ministry said: “Publicity is being given that the benefits announced under PMJDY can be extended to the existing account holders in their previous accounts as well and new account need not be opened for this.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the pan-India financial inclusion scheme called “Jan Dhan Yojana” here on Aug 28 under which bank accounts and RuPay debit cards with an insurance cover of Rs.100,000 are being provided to millions who have been without access to formal banking facilities. As on date, 4.18 crore accounts have been opened under PMJDY, the statement said.
Infant abducted for sacrifice, rescued
gurgaoN, SEptEmbEr 22 (IaNS): A six-monthold girl, who was abducted from here for being sacrificed, was rescued from Delhi, police said Monday. The infant was abducted Saturday from her house near Pataudi Chowk. “The minor was kidnapped by a 35-year-old man who planned to sacrifice her during the upcoming ‘Navratras’,” a senior police officer told IANS. Accused Bablu, who is based in Delhi, is a labourer who often visited Gurgaon for work. He is yet to be arrested. The victim’s father is also a labourer and is known to the accused. “A ‘tantric’ had advised Bablu to sacrifice a baby to remove hurdles in his getting married,” police said. The baby was rescued from a slum area in Delhi in a joint operation by the Haryana and Delhi Police. “We are conducting raids to arrest the accused and the ‘tantric’,” police added.
India test fires Mars spacecraft engine
baNgaLorE, SEptEmbEr 22 (IaNS): India Monday successfully “woke up” from ninemonth slumber the engine of Mars spacecraft as it glided through deep space, and also became the first Asian country to enter the Martian sphere of influence. “The main liquid apogee motor (LAM) was test fired at 2.30 p.m. for nearly four seconds and we got a confirmation of its success 12.5 minutes later,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientific secretary V. Koteshwara Rao told IANS here. About 500 gm of the liquid fuel was used for test firing the engine. India also became the first Asian country to enter the Martian sphere of influence after the spacecraft swung into the gravitational pull of the red planet at 9 a.m. Monday. “Our navigators’ calculation shows that our Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) has entered the gravitational sphere of influence of Mars around 9 a.m. today (Monday),” the space agency said on the mission’s progress in its Facebook updates. “We have also successfully conducted the fourth course (trajectory) correction of the spacecraft to ensure its smooth insertion into the Martian orbit Wednesday at 7.30 a.m. from sun orbit using the LAM,” Rao said from the mission’s control centre at the space agency’s telemetry, tracking and command network (Istrac), 20 km
Mangalyaan will send colour images of Mars
A graphic released by ISRO depicting the sucessful test firing exercise of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission on Monday.
from this tech hub. The orbit insertion will take place when the spacecraft will be 423 km from the Martian surface and 215 million km away (radio distance) from the earth. “The spacecraft’s velocity (speed) has been reduced to 2.14 metres per second from 22.2 km per second to ensure the Orbiter does not escape the Mars’ sphere of influence and facilitate its transition into the Martian orbit,” Rao pointed out. India will be the first country in the world to insert a spacecraft into the
Modi to observe strict fast during maiden trip to the US NEW DELHI, SEptEmbEr 22 (rEutErS): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will observe a strict religious fast during his maiden trip to the United States, aides said on Monday, in a test both of the 64-year-old leader’s stamina and of protocol in the Obama White House. Throughout a gruelling schedule that features the United Nations General Assembly, a rally of Indian Americans at New York’s Madison Square Garden and talks with Obama in Washington, the devout Hindu will abstain from food. In keeping with the habits of a lifetime, Modi will restrict himself to a “liquid diet” throughout the Navratri festival, when India’s majority Hindus worship mother goddess Durga in all her manifestations. “He will only consume lemonade with some honey and a cup of tea every day,” a senior official in Modi’s office in New Delhi told Reuters. “He has been fasting for the last four decades and does not want to change this pattern even while he is travelling,” added the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Navratri, derived from
the ancient Sanskrit words ‘nine nights’, falls this year from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3. The festival spans Modi’s first trip to the United States since he triumphed in a general election in May. It culminates on the tenth day, known as Dussehra, which marks the victory of good over evil. Millions of Hindus fast, pray and dance to please the mother goddess during Navratri. Some restrict their diet to fruit and vegetables while spurning meat, onions and garlic. Others, like Modi, a strict vegetarian, do not eat at all. “He wakes up at 4 a.m., meditates, prays and carries his own bottle of lemonade with him,” said another government official who has worked closely with Modi for 12 years. “Doctors had suggested that he should consume fruits and more juices but he has refused to make any dietary additions during the Navratri celebrations,” said a senior minister in western state of Gujarat, where Modi served as chief minister for more than a decade. “In the U.S. you will not see him having dinner or lunch with Obama,” said the state minister, who is also close to Modi.
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Another Indian government source said the White House had been informed of Modi’s dietary requirements. The U.S. embassy in New Delhi declined to comment. U.S. officials have indicated that President Barack Obama would not treat Modi to a state dinner, as Modi did not hold the rank of head of state. Obama did, however, accord this honour to Modi’s predecessor, Manmohan Singh. As a young man, Modi left home to seek enlightenment, finding inspiration from the writings of philosopher-monk Swami Vivekananda, who propagated the Hindu faith at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. Modi’s Hindu nationalist credo came under close scrutiny over sectarian rioting in his home state of Gujarat in 2002 in which more than 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, were killed. Modi has denied wrongdoing and was exonerated in a Supreme Court investigation. In 2011, Modi fasted for three days to promote religious harmony in Gujarat, involving several Muslim religious leaders in the event to gain their political support.
Martian orbit in a maiden attempt, if the operation succeeds Sep 24. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to witness the historic occasion from the mission control centre here. The 475-kg (dry mass) Orbiter spacecraft with five scientific experiments onboard will explore the fourth planet away from the Sun. The Rs.450-crore ($70 million) ambitious Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) was launched Nov 5, 2013, on board a polar rocket from spaceport Sriharikota off Bay of Bengal, about 80 km northeast of Chennai.
The state-run ISRO will be the fourth space agency after National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US, Russian Federal Space Agency (RFSA), and the European Space Agency to have undertaken Mission to Mars. As the second smallest celestial body in the solar system, Mars is also known as red planet due to the presence of iron oxide in abundance, giving it a reddish appearance. Though both the Earth and Mars have equal period of revolution around their axis, Mars takes slight-
baNgaLorE, SEptEmbEr 22 (tNN): Following the successful re-firing of the main liquid engine of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) spacecraft for a minor trajectory change on Monday, Isro is planning to activate the colour camera payload and get the first images of the red planet by Wednesday afternoon. With Monday’s success, the possibility of MOM acquiring the desired orbit around Mars on Wednesday has reached near 100 per cent. Scientific secretary V Koteswara Rao told TOI: “Soon after the Mars orbit insertion operations on Wednesday is complete and things settle down, we will have the images transmitted back to earth. We are looking at afternoon.” The images, once transmitted will be received by ISRO’s Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) in Byalalu, Karnataka. Explaining Monday’s operations, he said: “The whole thing happened on the dot. There was not even a minor deviation from our plan. The spacecraft, and the engine are in great health, giving us a lot of confidence for Wednesday.” ISRO used 564g of fuel to re-fire the engine for about 4 seconds (3.986 seconds), which achieved a trajectory correction by reducing the speed by 2.18 metre per second. The spacecraft is currently travelling at a speed of 22-km per second. It would have to be reduced drastically to 1.6km/second so as to be inserted into the martian orbit. Even as the big challenge was overcome successfully on Monday, Tuesday cannot be quiet, Rao said. ly more - 24 hours and 37 minutes - to complete a revolution. The Earth takes 365 days to orbit sun while Mars takes 687 days to move around sun. “Mars sways human imagination like no other planet in the solar system because its conditions are believed to be hospitable as it is similar to the Earth in many ways,” ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan told IANS in an interview recently. Mars mission is a major step forward in our space programme and a turning point for us, as India will foray into the vast inter-plane-
tary space for the first time with an indigenous spacecraft to demonstrate our technological capabilities,” Radhakrishnan asserted. Co-incidentally, America’s spacecraft Maven (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) also entered the Martial orbit in early hours of Monday after a 10-month 442-million mile journey from the Earth to explore the red planet’s upper atmosphere, its history and climate for human expeditions in future.
UP unveils road safety ‘Love jihad’ is a social problem policy, first in India now embedded in religion: Uma
LuckNoW, SEptEmbEr 22 (IaNS): The Uttar Pradesh government Monday unveiled a State Road Safety Policy, aimed at minimizing deaths in road mishaps. The government has also set up a Road Safety Fund of Rs.100 crore to improve the traffic system. Of this, Rs.50 crore would be contributed by the World Bank, officials informed. Launching the policy, which is also the first by any state in the country, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said his government was very concerned about the rising number of casualties in road accidents and exhorted all stakeholders, including the health, transport, public works and the police department to make a combined effort to ensure more safety on roads in the state. Last year alone, more than 1.40 lakh people perished in road accidents in the state. The policy has been drafted with the help of the Bank and New Zealand.
aHmEDabaD, SEptEmbEr 22 (ptI): Amid a raging debate over ‘love jihad’, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Uma Bharti today said it is a “social problem” which has now come into the ambit of religion, and that “solution” to it can be found only by parents concerned and religious leaders. “Love jihad is a social problem which has now came into the frame of religion. I don’t want to comment further on this issue,” the Union Water Resources Minister said during her interaction with media in Siddhpur town of north Gujarat today.
‘Love jihad’ is a term coined by some Hindu groups for alleged efforts to get non-Muslim girls to convert to Islam through love affairs. The issue came to centrestage in recent bypolls in Uttar Pradesh where some BJP MPs raised it aggressively. Some BJP leaders from party-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh too have raise the bogey of ‘love jihad’ and demanded ban on non-Hindu youths from entering pandals meant for performing ‘garba’, a devotional dance in the praise of goddess Durga, in upcoming Navratri festival.
Don’t let down Modi: Shiv Sena to Muslims
mumbaI, SEptEmbEr 22 (IaNS): The Shiv Sena Monday urged Indian Muslims “not to let down” Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he praised the community for its patriotism and love for the country in an interview. “Modi has lauded Indian Muslims for their patriotism...He has initiated a new chapter by giving a guarantee of the community’s love for its motherland. Now, Muslims must not let him down,” Shiv Sena said in an editorial in the party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’. Frowning on Hindu hardliners, it said that by making this statement, Modi has not diluted his staunch Hindutva ideology. “Modi is the prime minister of the country and of all communi-
ties and people...But, he has been always painted as ‘anti-Muslim’ by pseudo-secularists of the country,” it pointed out. The editorial said the entire minority community cannot beheldresponsibleforthemisdeeds of a handful of Muslims indulging in terroractivities.Itrecalled“thetough but fair Hindutva” propounded by the Shiv Sena patriarch and founder late Bal Thackeray. “(Late) Bal Thackeray always said he was not against Muslims. But, always opposed those who celebrated Pakistani cricket team’s win against India...He considered such Muslims as traitors... Otherwise, he had the highest respect for nationalist Muslims,” it said. Now, Modi has spoken on similar lines, saying Indian Mus-
lims will live and ‘die’ for their country and will not be swayed by terror groups like Al-Qaeda - “so, their nationalist credentials cannot be doubted”, the editorial said. Unfortunately, the Shiv Sena lamented that certain communal elements attempted to create a schism between the 20-crore Muslims and other communities for their vested political interests. They were pampered by Congress and made to feel like “princes” while certain Muslim leaders relying on numbers, resorted to political bargaining - which is nothing short of terror, it said. It called upon Muslims to sing ‘Vande Mataram’ in tandem with the rest of the country, put a halt to the alleged anti-national teach-
ings imparted in ‘madrassas’ as claimed recently by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, and discard the “minority community veil” (burqa) which would result in many political shops downing shutters permanently. Once the politics of religion ends, India has the potential to progress and become an influential, global superpower, the Shiv Sena said. However, this is hampered by the ignorance and noncooperation of the community, who are influenced by certain leaders bent on keeping the community “in the ditch of backwardness”.‘Saamana’ appealed to the Muslims to get on to the national mainstream and not let down Modi for his appreciation of the community.
India cancels media dialogue with China
NEW DELHI, SEptEmbEr 22 (agENcIES): Amidst the standoff in Chumar area of Ladakh, India on Monday decided to withdraw clearances for Chinese editors who were scheduled to arrive here this week for a media exchange with Indian journalists. The tough decision taken by the government led by Narendra Modi comes a day after Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) pitched seven tents well within the Indian territory. The Chinese troops are not showing any signs of withdrawing from the territory. Think tank Observer Research Foundation, organiser of the event, said it just got a one-line fax stating that the clearances had been withdrawn. “Due to unavoidable complications, we have had to
postpone the India-China Media Exchange. We thank you all for agreeing to participate on Sep 24th -- and dinner -- and we will call on your participation again when we hold the event. But for now, it stands cancelled,” the organisers told participating Indian journalists. The Chinese troops, who had arrived in vehicles on Saturday in Chumar, 300 km from Leh, started erecting the tents in the Indian territory on Sunday despite repeated warnings by the Army to vacate the area, official sources said. Nearly 100 personnel of the PLA strength was estimated around Point 30R, a strategically important post, as it helps India to keep a vigil deep inside the occupied territory of Chinese, they said. This incursion was in addition to the 35-odd personnel
who were already camping at a hillock in the Chumar area itself, the sources said. The Chinese soldiers were demanding that Indian Army should withdraw simultaneously from the area but the Army had decided to dig in its heels. The Chinese soldiers had retreated to their territory on Thursday night. The Point 30R post has been frequented by PLA often as Indian Army has kept an observation post which dominates the Line of Actual Control(LAC) and gives advantage to India in keeping a vigil on the Chinese activity deep across the border. Chinese helicopters were again seen in action for dropping food packets for its soldiers but none of them violated the air space. The food packets were later collected by the PLA personnel and
stored inside the tents. The tension in this area erupted on Sunday when some of the Chinese workers, who were constructing road on their side, started entering into the Indian side and also claimed that they had orders to build road up to Tible, five km deep into the Indian territory, the sources said. The Indian Army asked the Chinese workers to leave, telling them that otherwise they would face prosecution under Indian laws for entering the country illegally. Chumar, the last village in Ladakh area bordering Himachal Pradesh, has been a bone of contention with China claiming it to be its own territory. In 2012, the PLA dropped some of its soldiers in this region and dismantled the makeshift storage tents of the Army and ITBP.
In this July 23, 2014 photo, a group of people share a room as they eat a meal after a day’s hard work in Mumbai. In 1981, nearly 1.7 billion Asians were living on less than $1.25 a day. Today, the figure is about 700 million. But vast numbers cannot aspire to rise much further. About 80 percent of the 3.6 billion people in developing Asian countries still live on less than $5 a day, many relying on day labor, rag picking or other meager livelihoods. Even migrants who arrived in cities years ago feel trapped in a seemingly permanent underclass. (AP Photo)
InternatIonal
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Tuesday 23 September 2014
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UNGA to focus on war on extremists
NEW YORK, SEptEmbER 22 (Ap): A brutal terrorist organization that calls itself a state but lacks recognition from any government will take center stage when more than 140 heads of state and government convene for the annual ministerial meeting of the U.N. General Assembly this week. The head of the socalled Islamic State, a man called Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has not been invited. But the danger posed by his jihadi army will be the overriding theme for an international community horrified by its atrocities in Iraq and Syria, along with a growing concern about random beheadings or larger terror attacks at home inspired by militants abroad. "Together, we will address the horrendous violence in Syria and Iraq, where conflict and governance failures have provided a breeding ground for extremist groups," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon told a news conference last week. With world leaders grappling to stitch together a coalition and plan of action, Ban said he hopes the General Assembly session will help produce an international consensus to act against the al-Qaida breakaway group, which U.S. intelligence officials estimate has up to 31,000 fighters including some 12,000 foreigners. On the sidelines of the global gathering, President Barack Obama will lead a summit meeting of the Security Council to focus on one aspect of the threat — foreign terrorist fighters. A draft resolution ex-
Islamic State urges attacks on US & French citizens
This Screen grab from an Islamic State group affiliated Twitter account, taken Sunday, Sept. 20, 2014, purports to show senior military commander Abu Wahib handing a flower to a child while visiting southern Iraq, as part of the group’s broad social media campaign. As the Islamic State group battles across Syria and Iraq, pushing back larger armies and ruling over entire cities, it is also waging an increasingly sophisticated media campaign that has rallied disenfranchised youth and outpaced the sluggish efforts of Arab governments to stem its appeal. The U.S. State Department launched a “Think Again Turn Away” campaign on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, with Arabic and English videos similar in style to those of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group but none have gained the traction of the Islamic State’s videos. (AP Photo)
pected to be adopted by the 15-member council would require all countries to prevent the recruitment and transport of would-be foreign fighters preparing to join terrorist groups such as the Islamic State. It would also require the 193 U.N. member states to ensure that their domestic laws and regulations punish their nationals who travel — or attempt to travel — to another country to plan or carry out terrorist acts, and it threatens sanctions against recruiters and financiers for al-Qaida associated groups. Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at
risk advisory company Maplecroft, said the U.N. General Assembly presents an opportunity for the U.S. to consolidate and expand its coalition against the Sunni extremist Islamic State group. "But while Obama may be able to broaden the coalition and secure additional commitments from allies, the session is unlikely to fundamentally impact the scope and nature of military operations in Syria and Iraq," he said. The Islamic State group was established in Iraq but spread in early 2013 to Syria, where it grew in the chaos of that country's civil war. Its fighters rampaged across northern and west-
ern Iraq in June, seizing a huge swath of land and sending tremors across the Middle East. The group now controls territory stretching from northern Syria to the outskirts of Baghdad. The militants have established what they call an Islamic state, or caliphate, ruled by their harsh interpretation of Islamic law. They have made no effort to hide their brutality, publicizing videos that show them killing their captives, including beheading two American journalists and a British aid worker. But the complexities and conflicting loyalties inherent in the Middle East present major obstacles to
bAGHDAD, SEptEmbER 22 (REutERS): Islamic State urged its followers on Monday to attack citizens of the United States, France and other countries which have joined a coalition to destroy the militant group. Islamic State spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani also taunted U.S. President Barack Obama and other Western “crusaders” in a statement carried by the SITE monitoring website, saying their forces faced inevitable defeat at the militants’ hands. Adnani said the intervention by the U.S.-led coalition would be the “final campaign of the crusaders.” “It will be broken and defeated, just as all your previous campaigns were broken and defeated,” Adnani said in the statement, which urged followers to attack U.S., French, Canadian, Australian and other nationals. In his statement, Adnani mocked Western leaders over their deepening military engagement in the region and said Obama was repeating the mistakes of his predecessor, George W. Bush. “If you fight it (Islamic State), it becomes stronger and tougher. If you leave it alone, it grows and expands. If Obama has promised you with defeating the Islamic State, then Bush has also lied before him,” Adnani said, according to the transcript. “DRAGGED TO DESTRUCTION”
achieving the international coalition Obama is trying to assemble to contain and ultimately eradicate the extremist group. Several key Sunni-ruled Arab countries, for various reasons, are reluctant to join. Moreover, the U.S. has rejected cooperating with two clear enemies of the Islamic State group: Syrian President Bashar Assad and his fellow Shiite ally Iran. For its part, Iran has also ruled out military coordination with the United States. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said Sunday that more countries were pledging support for the fight against Islamic
State group militants. However, she would not name them or detail their level of support. Power said more than 40 countries have spoken in support of the campaign against the militants, and they will announce their own plans in their own time. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described nations participating at a recent conference in Paris to hammer out an alliance against the Sunni extremists as "a coalition of repenters." He said that most nations there had supported the Islamic State group "in one form or another," starting with alQaida's emergence in Iraq
Addressing Obama directly, Adnani added: “O mule of the Jews, you claimed today that America would not be drawn into a war on the ground. No, it will be drawn and dragged ... to its death, grave and destruction.” Obamais sensitive to charges that he is being drawn into another long campaign that risks U.S. soldiers’ lives. While Obama has ruled out a combat mission, military officials say the reality of a protracted campaign in Iraq and possibly Syria may ultimately require greater use of U.S. troops, including tactical air strike spotters or front-line advisers embedded with Iraqi forces. Adnani criticised Kurdish fighters who are battling the Islamic State militants in both Syria and Iraq. “We do not fight Kurds because they are Kurds. Rather we fight the disbelievers amongst them, the allies of the crusaders and Jews in their war against the Muslims,” Adnani said, adding that there were many Muslim Kurds within the ranks of the Islamic State army. Adnani slammed Western inaction over the conflict in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have been embroiled in a three-year-old civil war with mainly Sunni Muslim fighters. He said the West had “looked the other way” when barrel bombs were dropped and chemical weapons were used against Muslim civilians.
following the U.S. invasion in 2003. At the end of the day, he said, they created "a Frankenstein that came to haunt its creators." He didn't name any coalition members, but many believe supporters in Saudi Arabia and Qatar have provided financing to the Islamic State group, and Turkey has allowed thousands of foreign fighters to cross into Syria and Iraq to join the militants. These regional Sunni powerhouses are reluctant to make a direct move that would be seen as aligning with the Shiite leaderships in Baghdad and Damascus and their Iranian backers.
It is this mix of rival powers and ideologies that will come together in New York this week at the General Assembly, and while backdoor dealings are common in Middle East diplomacy, it is unclear whether the meeting will help smooth out differences. "Conflicting agendas and mutual suspicion between key actors, such as the U.S., Iran and Saudi Arabia, will be difficult to overcome," Soltvedt said. "Despite the shared interests of world and regional powers in neutralizing the threat posed by the Islamic State, an effective joint effort by all concerned parties is unlikely."
Hong Kong students boycott class in battle for democracy Scotland: Voters ‘tricked’ in referendum HONG KONG, SEptEmbER 22 (Ap): Thousands of Hong Kong students boycotted classes Monday to protest Beijing’s decision to restrict electoral reforms in a weeklong strike marking the latest phase in the battle for democracy in the southern Chinese city. The strike comes as a dozens of Hong Kong’s tycoons and business leaders visit Beijing to discuss the reforms as China’s communist leaders seek to bolster support among the city’s billionaire elites for the government’s policies. Students rallied in the afternoon at the Chinese University of Hong Kong suburban campus. They plan to gather daily for the rest of the week in a park next to government headquarters downtown. Strike organizers are dismayed over Beijing’s decision in August to rule out open nominations for candidates under proposed guidelines for the first-ever elections to choose the city’s top leader, which have been promised for 2017. The National People’s Congress, China’s legislature, instead insists that candidates be vetted by an elite committee that’s similar to the body of mostly pro-Beijing elites that has until now selected the city’s leaders. Democracy groups reject such screening for loyalty to Beijing and demand elections that offer a genuine choice. The battle over democracy in Hong Kong has let to increasing tension in the city, with activists threatening to stage a mass “occupation” of the Asian financial hub’s central business district as early as Oct. 1 as part of a civil disobedience campaign to press their demands. About 380 academics and other school staff have signed a petition supporting the students, saying they should not “stand alone.” “At the minimum, (the strike) can provide a wakeup call to tens of thousands of university and secondary school students in Hong Kong,” said Dixon Sing, a professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and one of the organizers of the signature campaign. The organizers are “trying to inspire many other fellow classmates to be aware of and be devoted to the democratic movement.”
Students stage a rally at the Chinese University of Hong Kong campus in Hong Kong on Monday, September 22. Thousands of students boycotted classes Monday to protest Beijing’s decision to restrict electoral reforms in a weeklong strike marking the latest phase in the battle for democracy in the southern Chinese city. (AP Photo)
LONDON, SEptEmbER 22 (Ap): The debate over Scotland’s future fizzled amid a bitter war of words Sunday, with the Scottish leader claiming his countrymen were “tricked” into rejecting independence in a referendum and Britain’s three main political parties bickering over how to take political reform forward. Alex Salmond, Scotland’s outgoing independence leader, accused politicians in London of reneging on their promises to hand more power to Scots in a rare cross-party pact that he said played a crucial role in swinging the votes in favor of union in Thursday’s vote. His comments came after Prime Minister David Cameron stressed that plans to empower Scots should be linked to constitutional reform in England — a stance that fractured the fragile political consensus and drew attacks from across the spectrum. Just days earlier, Cameron and his political rivals had joined together in a vow to quickly pass laws to transfer key decision-making powers from London to Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. All three party leaders signed off on the pledge, which promised Scots new powers to decide on their tax, budget and welfare policies. Since then, Cameron said those
changes must be made “in tandem” with reform in the House of Commons to bar Scottish lawmakers from having a say on bills that only apply to England and Wales — a longstanding grievance that has come to the fore amid the debate. He also said it won’t be fair to devolve powers to Scotland without considering similar changes in the rest of the kingdom — England, Wales and Northern Ireland. “Millions of people in the rest of the U.K. have been listening to these debates, watching this campaign and rightly asking: ‘What will change for us? Why can’t we have the same powers and the same rights as those in Scotland?’” Cameron wrote in the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Critics say that throwing all those questions into one basket dilutes the three leaders’ joint pledge, and will inevitably delay the timetable of the promised return of powers to Scotland. “It’s the people who voted No because they believed these commitments from the Westminster leadership — these are the people who are feeling most angry, most hurt, most disappointed in Scotland today,” Salmond told the BBC. The politician has said he will step down as Scotland’s first minister in November, after the failure of his
pro-independence campaign. All three British parties insisted they would fulfill their vow, though they clearly differed on the English reform question. Nick Clegg, Cameron’s deputy and leader of the coalition’s junior party, the Liberal Democrats, said the promise to Scots “cannot be made contingent on other constitutional reforms.” The opposition Labour Party’s leader Ed Miliband similarly said that there could be “no ifs, no buts” about delivering new powers to Scotland. Vernon Bogdanor, a leading constitutional expert who used to teach Cameron at Oxford University, joined others in questioning the prime minister’s ability to deliver reform on time. Cameron had set a rapid timetable, calling for legislation to be published by January and passed before he calls elections. “Constitutional changes should not be made in a rush or for party advantage,” said Bogdanor, now at King’s College London. “To try and get this through by January or February is absurd.” “He (Cameron) is normally laid back, thoughtful and consensual. He made the concessions without consulting Parliament, and, it appears, without consulting the Cabinet. This appears rushed and panicky,” he added.
Worldwide rallies over climate change
NEW YORK, SEptEmbER 22 (AFp): Celebrities, political leaders and the masses rallied in New York and across the globe Sunday demanding urgent action on climate change, with organizers saying 600,000 people hit the streets. Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, UN chief Ban Ki-moon and Mayor Bill de Blasio all marched down New York’s Sixth Avenue, as part of what was proclaimed the largest climate protest worldwide in history. There were colorful and boisterous rallies in other major cities in Latin America, Europe, India and Australia, designed to build pressure ahead of a climate-change summit hosted by Ban in New York on Tuesday. In New York, where organizers said 310,000 people took part, elderly protesters -- leaning on walking sticks and sitting in wheelchairs -- joined young parents with children in strollers, adults in fancy dress and community groups. There were chants of “hey, hey, ho, ho, fossil fuels have got to go,” as the good-natured march snaked down Sixth Avenue with giant floats, balloons and banners with slogans such as “Urgent, Save our Planet.”
Ban, wearing a baseball cap and T-shirt with the words, “I’m for Climate Action,” praised de Blasio for announcing Sunday that New York would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050. “I am overwhelmed by such a strong power, energy and voice of the people, I hope this voice will be truly reflected to the leaders when they meet on September 23rd,” Ban told reporters. “There is no plan B because we do not have planet B. We have to work and galvanize our action.” The UN secretary general walked nine blocks in the parade with US former vice president Al Gore, who is now a climate advocate, de Blasio, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and French Ecology Minister Segolene Royal. “Our mission is to make this a decisive moment, a turning-point moment and I felt today that I was seeing history starting to be made,” de Blasio said. Melbourne to Bogota In addition to New York, another 270,000 people turned out at about 2,500 events around the world, organizers said. In London, an estimated
40,000 people paraded past Trafalgar Square and the Houses of Parliament, including actress Emma Thompson, who likened the threat posed by climate change to a Martian invasion. The pressure group Avaaz, which helped organize the rallies, said 30,000 people turned up in Melbourne and at least 15,000 in Berlin, where the crowd braved pouring rain, and another 5,000 in Rio de Janeiro. In Paris, where police estimated that 4,800 people protested, many came on bikes with banners that read, “Climate in danger” or “World leaders, act!” “Before we could say we didn’t know. Now we know. Climate change is already under way,” Nicolas Hulot, the French president’s special envoy for the protection of the planet, told the crowd. In Madrid, hundreds gathered in front of the environment ministry, brandishing signs with slogans including “There’s no Planet B,” “Change your life, not your climate,” and “Our climate, your decision.” In Cairns, Australia, where finance ministers from G20 nations were meeting, more than 100 people wearing green paper hearts around
their necks gathered outside the ven- whistles to make as much noise as cial conference in Paris in December ue. Hundreds also massed in Sydney possible at 1:00 pm. The UN meet- 2015 aimed at finalizing a new global and in New Delhi, where around 300 ing Tuesday sets the stage for a cru- climate change pact. protesters carried placards that read “I want to save forests” and “Coal kills”, as they shouted slogans and danced to pounding drum beats. An estimated 5,000 people, some on bicycles, rallied in the Colombian capital Bogota, where some played instruments made out of recycled materials to form a noisy backdrop. Two million signatures Ricken Patel, executive director of Avaaz, presented a petition signed by two million people to Ban in New York. “The march numbers are beating our wildest expectations,” Patel said. “Climate change is not a green issue anymore, it’s an everybody issue,” he said. The “People’s Climate March” in New York was endorsed by more than 1,400 organizations, including environment, faith and justice groups, as well as labor unions. Students mobilized marchers from more than 300 college campuses. After a moment of silence, slightly obscured in the chaos, participants used instruments, alarms and
Demonstrators make their way down Sixth Avenue in New York during the People’s Climate March Sunday, September 21, 2014. The march, along with similar gatherings scheduled in other cities worldwide, comes two days before the United Nations Climate Summit, where more than 120 world leaders will convene for a meeting aimed at galvanizing political will for a new global climate treaty by the end of 2015. (AP Photo)
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Tuesday 23 September 2014
Errani wins opener at inaugural Wuhan Open wuHAN, SEptEmBER 22 (Ap): Sara Errani reeled off the last six games of the match against Heather Watson of Britain to advance to the second round of the inaugural Wuhan Open with a 7-5, 6-4 victory Monday. After dropping the opening set, Watson came back to take 19 of the first 22 points of the second set to race out to a 4-0 lead. But the 11th-seeded Errani broke Watson's serve three times to close out the match in temperatures hovering around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit). "It was a really tough match. It was very hot today and she was playing very well," the Italian player said. "Very good forehand, very good serve — it wasn't easy for me, but I'm happy I could win the match." Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, the No. 12 seed, retired with a left ankle injury in the opening game of the third set after splitting the first two sets against American Madison Keys, 4-6, 6-3. In other matches, Australian qualifier Jarmila Gajdosova defeated 15th-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-1, 6-4, and Germany's Sabine Lisicki, a winner two weeks ago in Hong Kong, continued her good form with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 win over 14th-seeded Lucie Safarova. Almost all the WTA's top 20 players are in Wuhan, with the notable exception of hometown player Li Na, who announced her retirement last week on the eve of the tournament. The strength of the field and the more than $2 million on offer in prize money — equivalent to other large WTA tournaments in Cincinnati, Rome and Montreal — reflect the importance the women's tour continues to place on the booming Asian tennis market.
Three Nagas representing Indian sepaktakraw team in Asian Games kOHimA, SEptEmBER 22 (mExN): Western Angami Sports Association (WASA) has extended best wishes to its member Keneileno Nakhro who is part of the Indian women sepaktakraw team at the ongoing 17th Asian Games 2014 at Incheon, South Korea. WASA president Kevilesie Senotsu and general secretary Kevichülie Meyase, while congratulating Keneileno Nakhro for being selected to represent the country at the Asian Games, expressed hope that the Indian women sepaktakraw team will perform well and deliver a medal for the country. Mention be made that two fellow Nagas - Holshe Khrieo (Team coach) and Viseyie Koso (Men’s team) - have also been selected from Nagaland to represent the country in the sepaktakraw event in the ongoing Asian Games. The association, while sharing the joy with all three of them, hoped that they will put up their best performances and bring laurels to the country and state in particular.
The Morung Express
Barca cruise to keep La Liga lead
B ARCELONA, SEptEmBER 22 (Ap): Lionel Messi shrugged off a missed penalty and another injury to Neymar by scoring one goal and setting up two more to lead Barcelona to a 5-0 rout at 10-man Levante on Sunday as it stayed top of the Spanish league. Messi set up Neymar for the 34th-minute opener before flubbing a spot kick in the 42nd after being fouled by Loukas Vyntra, who was sent off. Barcelona didn't blink, however, and two minutes later Ivan Rakitic scored his first goal for Barcelona with a blistering strike from outside the area. Barcelona received another blow when Neymar went down with a left ankle injury in the 50th, but again Messi was there to square a pass for Neymar's replacement, Sandro Ramirez, to score in the 57th before Pedro Rodriguez added a goal from Jordi Alba' pass in the 64th. Messi then capped the demolition in the 77th after Levante goalkeeper Jesus Fernandez spilled the ball and watched as Messi chipped it back over his head. All told, Messi has played a direct part in nine of Barcelona's 12 goals in its five wins across all competitions, scoring three and assisting on six more. "Messi is one-of-akind," said Barcelona coach Luis Enrique. "He doesn't just dribble and score goals, he also assists like he did today, and in what a spectacular fash-
Barcelona's Neymar, right, from Brazil, duels for the ball with Levante's goalkeeper Jesus during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium in Valencia, Spain, on Sunday, September 21. (AP Photo)
ion." Equally as important for Luis Enrique's focus on improving Barcelona defense, his team has not allowed a goal this season. Barcelona's fourth win in as many rounds left it two points ahead of Sevilla after
its 3-1 win at Cordoba. Defending champion Atletico Madrid trails Barcelona by four points. Real Madrid is another two points adrift back in sixth place behind Granada, Valencia and Villarreal. Neymar went down
clutching his lower left leg after Pedro Lopez fell on top of him while contesting the ball. Barcelona team doctors attended him and signaled for a substitution even though Neymar was soon
on his feet and appeared to want to go back on. "Neymar twisted his ankle and suffered a sprain and we substituted him as a precaution," Luis Enrique said. "He asked for the change and later wanted to
try and continue playing, but we had already made the decision." In July, Neymar fractured a vertebra in his back during the World Cup. He recovered in time for the start of the season but then missed the league opener with an ankle sprain. Levante remained in last place and without a goal scored through four games. Elsewhere, Villarreal roared back from a two-goal deficit to rout Rayo Vallecano 4-2, while Almeria hung on for a wild 2-1 win at Real Sociedad to claim its first victory of the season after having both a player and its coach sent off. Sevilla outclassed Cordoba to remain undefeated. Colombia striker Carlos Bacca netted two goals, opening the scoring in the eighth and securing Sevilla's victory in the 88th when he converted a penalty. Stephane M'Bia came on in the 69th and three minutes later added Sevilla's second goal before Borja Garcia scored for Cordoba in the 83rd. Rayo looked set to romp after Gael Kakuta and Alberto Bueno scored goals in the 22nd and 29th minutes at El Madrigal Stadium. But Javier Espinosa sparked Villarreal's comeback in the 33rd. Villarreal dominated from there, with Ikechuwku Uche hitting the post three minutes later and testing Alvarez with a header that the goalie did well to push over his bar.
15th NSF MM trophy from October 1 Qatar will not host 2022 kOHimA, SEptEmBER 22 (mExN): Despite the short notice, Football teams are responding positively for the 15th NSF Martyr’s Memorial trophy which will be held from October 1 to 25 at Kohima Local Ground, organized by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF). Speaking to media, NSF Games and sport secretary Sikho Thou informed that the teams response is very impressive till now and hope more teams will join in the prestigious football tournament Mr. Thou said forms are already made available from September
19 while interested teams can collect it from the following places: Kohima – NSF Office and Sports World, Old Taxi Stand; Dimapur – Kiran Sports while in other districts forms will be available in the Federating Units of NSF. The last date of submission of entry form is September 26, he added. The entry fee is fixed at Rs.5000. The fixture will be drawn on September 28. Meanwhile last champion Nagaland Police and runner-up Naga United are requested to return the running trophies, which can be submitted to NSF office, Kohima.
World Cup: FIFA member
BERLiN, SEptEmBER 22 (REutERS): The 2022 World Cup will not be held in Qatar because of the scorching temperatures in the Middle East country, FIFA Executive Committee member Theo Zwanziger said on Monday. "I personally think that in the end the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar," the German told Sport Bild on Monday. "Medics say that they Football team members collecting the entry form at NSF office , Kohima for cannot accept responsibilthe 15th NSF Martyr’s Memorial trophy. ity with a World Cup taking place under these conditions," the former German football (DFB) chief, who is now a member of the world soccer's governing body FIFA that awarded the tournament to Qatar in 2010. Al-
less Lampard equalizer denies former club Chelsea Playing extended my
career: Serena
Manchester City's Frank Lampard, right, scores the equalizing goal for his side during their English Premier League soccer match against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday September 21. (AP Photo)
mANCHEStER, SEptEmBER 22 (Ap): Frank Lampard made Chelsea pay for releasing him this summer after 13 years, scoring a trademark equalizer against his former club for Manchester City in a 1-1 draw between the two biggest contenders for the Premier League title on Sunday. Chelsea's four-match winning run to open the season was ended by its all-time record scorer, with Lampard arriving late in the box — as he did so often at Stamford Bridge — to sidefoot home in the 85th minute. Applauded on and off the pitch by Chelsea's traveling support, Lampard — keeping his head down — held his arm out in an attempt to hold off the advances of his joyous teammates and didn't celebrate his first goal for City. "It's not how I expected to say goodbye to the Chelsea fans," said Lampard, who is on loan at City until January from New York City. He described his reunion with Chelsea, for which he scored 211 goals, as "special and weird." Chelsea missed a great opportunity to open up an eightpoint cushion on City, relinquishing
a lead given to the visitors by substitute Andre Schuerrle in the 71st after his far-post tap-in from Eden Hazard's cross. City was down to 10 men by that stage after right back Pablo Zabaleta was given a second yellow card in the 66th for a lunge at Diego Costa, but still finished the stronger and was rewarded by the late intervention from substitute Lampard. City manager Manuel Pellegrini described Chelsea as a "small club" after the match for what he perceived to be its defensive tactics. He compared them to those adopted by Stoke, which beat City 1-0 in its last home game. "Today was (our) best game of the season, with the character to play against a big team with very good players that were just defending," Pellegrini said. Dropping points for the first time this season, Chelsea still ended the weekend with a threepoint lead over Southampton and its hardest match out of the way. Chelsea did the double over City last season, with its win at Etihad Sta-
dium in February widely hailed as a tactical clinic from Jose Mourinho. And the Portuguese coach was happy to ditch the flamboyance that had helped his team claim four straight wins. It made for a tense, edgy and physical battle that was dominated by defenses, with Eliaquim Mangala enjoying a strong starting debut for City after his big-money summer move from Porto. Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested until Thibaut Courtois saved from City striker Sergio Aguero early in the second half, with Edin Dzeko denied on the rebound by a lunging tackle from Ramires. The game turned on Zabaleta's sending-off — the Argentina defender apologized on Twitter afterward — and Diego Costa led a counterattack that ended with Hazard crossing from the right for Schuerrle to tap in unmarked. Cheered throughout by Chelsea's fans, Lampard had the last say by running onto a knockdown from the indefatiguable James Milner and slotting a shot under old friend John Terry and in at the near post.
NEw YORk, SEptEmBER 22 (AFp): World number one Serena Williams said Monday that playing less tennis has helped extend her glittering career, as she acknowledged in the wake of Li Na`s retirement that players` bodies can "betray" them. The American power hitter was speaking as she prepared to compete in China`s Wuhan Open, a WTA premier-ranked event which will hold its final on Saturday, the day after her 33rd birthday. China`s Li Na announced her retirement last Friday at the age of 32, citing chronic knee injuries, just months after she won her second Grand Slam. Williams and her sister Venus opted in the past few years to play less, a decision once bitterly criticised by pundits as disrespectful of the game. But she celebrated her 18th Grand Slam victory at the US Open earlier this month and shows no signs of losing her status as the world`s greatest female player. "As for playing less, I think throughout my career, I think it`s definitely been able to help me have a longer career," Williams said. "I think next year something I definitely want to continue to do is really focus on breaking records in the slams and doing the best I can in those events and the ones leading up to those." Williams said she spent little time practising before the $2.4 million Wuhan tournament, but was "ready".
though Qatar has insisted that a summer World Cup is viable thanks to cooling technologies it is developing for stadiums, training areas and fan zones, there is still widespread concern over the health of the players and visiting supporters. "They may be able to cool the stadiums but a World Cup does not take place only there," Zwanziger said. "Fans from around the world will be coming and travelling in this heat and the first life-threatening case will trigger an investigation by a state prosecutor. "That is not something that FIFA Exco members want to answer for." FIFA are looking to shift the tourna-
ment to a European winter date to avoid the scorching summer where temperatures routinely rise over 40 Celsius. However, talk of a potential change away from the usual June-July dates has resulted in plenty of opposition from domestic leagues around the world, worried the schedule switch would severely disrupt them. Both FIFA and Qatar World Cup organisers have also been fending off questions of corruption ever since they were awarded the tournament back in 2010, while Qatar has also been criticised for the conditions provided for migrant workers' in the tiny but wealthy Gulf state.
Federer to lead IPTL's India franchise
NEw DELHi, SEptEmBER 22 (iANS): Seventeen-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will spearhead Indian Aces, the country's franchise owned by consumer electronics company Micromax, in the inaugural edition of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), it was announced here Monday. However, Rafael Nadal, one of the greats of the sport who was to represent the Indian franchise, will not play in the Nov 28-Dec 13 tournament due to injury and the need for rehab time during the off season. "I am very disappointed to announce that I will not be part of the first edition of the IPTL. I was looking forward to representing Indian Aces and playing in front of fans in New Delhi in the exciting new league. I wish the team the very best and hope to be back next year," said Nadal in a statement. Marquee player Federer, 14-time Major champion Pete Sampras, Gael Monfils, former French Open winner Ana Ivanovic, Fabrice Santoro, and Indian aces Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna will make up the squad. "Namaste India! I'm really looking forward to making my first trip to New Delhi and playing for the Indian Aces. My team tells me that there are a lot of tennis fans and my supporters in the region, so I hope you can come out
and support me in December," Swiss ace Federer said in a televised message. It was also announced that the India leg will be held in New Delhi and not Mumbai, as was announced earlier. The India leg will be held at the IGI Stadium here Dec 6-8. "I welcome Micromax to the IPTL family as owners of the India franchise. This December, New Delhi will witness tennis action like never before, one that will change the way people enjoy the sport," said IPTL founder Mahesh Bhupathi. "As a tennis fan, I am excited to see Roger and Pete play for the same team, it's unprecedented! Indian sports fans are in for a real treat." The four-franchisee event will be played in Ma-
nila, Singapore, New Delhi and Dubai. The other franchises have been named UAE Royals, Manila Mavericks and Singapore Slammers, all of whom will be vying for a total prize money of $1 million. Each match will consist of five sets played by different players that will include men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles and legends' singles. Each game won counts as one point for the team total, and the team that wins the most games overall across the five sets wins the match. The traditional scoring format has been changed to single-set no-add scoring which will speed up the games and allow fans to see up to 24 players in one evening.
The Morung Express C M Y K
BALLROOM
Tuesday
Entertainment BY: Khrielasier Liezietsu MODELS Imnasen Jamir and Mary Shiu PHOTOGRAPHY Hopong Chang HAIR AND MAKE UP Lomi Shikhu
23 September 2014
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ctress and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson gave a powerful speech on gender equality at the U.N. on Saturday, helping to launch her new initiative, HeForShe. The campaign urges men to take a stand against gender inequality of all types. The Harry Potter and Bling Ring actresses speech was attended by Kiefer Sutherland and Forest Whitaker, among many he very talented and young fashion designer Khrielasier Liezietsu has released a new collection “Ballroom”. It is a mixed collection. In the others, E! Online reports. words of Khrielasier Liezietsu, “I took inspirations from ballroom and artistic royalty. The constructions of the costumes are western and Also present: United has ballroom volumes, the splash of colors are loud and sweet. This collection portrays woman as a feminine, royal and powerful woman.” Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who invoked Watson's most famous role while praising the star's efforts to advance the cause of equality. "She's been using her magic wand in her movie. I hope she will use [her] magic want to stop violence against women," he said, according to E! Online. The speech touched on many issues, including the confusion over the word feminism. "I was appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for U.N. Women six months ago and the more I've spoken about feminism, the
Rian Johnson
Begins Work on
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ilmmaker Rian Johnson has confirmed that he has begun working on Star Wars Episode VIII, which will follow director JJ Abrams's 2015
Episode VII. Lucasfilm and Disney announced in June that Looper filmmaker Johnson will write and direct Episode VIII, reported
Digital Spy. Rian recently revealed that he has always felt "a direct connection" to the Star Wars franchise. "For me, personally, I grew up not just watching those movies but playing with those toys," he said. "So growing up, the first movies I was making in my head were set in the Star Wars world. Honestly, it's the most fun I've ever had writing, it's just joyous," the director added of Episode VIII. Johnson went on to disclose that Lucasfilm only had one requirement for his upcoming movie. "Lucasfilm president
C M Y K
Meet the Bigg Boss 8 Contestants
gives foot T massages to dad Mahesh Bhatt for Rs 1000
elevision's popular celebrity reality show Bigg Boss kick started in the form of a grand event in Mumbai on September 21, with actor Salman Khan playing host for the fifth consecutive time. The game show promises to be laced with new plots, twists and devious turns orchestrated by 'Bigg Boss' himself. 12 contestants boarded the flight for an eventful journey on the game show. While some seek fame, others are banking on the show's reputation to catapult their faded career back into limelight. Some celebs have an agenda while some are here just to have fun. (Also Read: Bigg Boss 8 Begins With Usual Mix of Actors and Models)
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my needing his presence, as a child, as much as my mother's. I've seen young men suffering from mental illness, unable to ask for help, for fear it would make them less of a men— or less of a man. In fact, in the U.K., suicide is the biggest killer of men, between 20 to 49, eclipsing road accidents, cancer and coronary heart disease. I've seen men made fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success. Men don't have the benefits of equality, either." Watson acknowledged that some people hearing her speech may wonder, "Who is this Harry Potter girl? What is she doing at the U.N.?" "It's a really good question," Watson said. "I've been asking myself at the same thing. All I know is that I care about this problem and I want to make it better. And having seen what I've seen and given the chance, I feel my responsibility to say something. Statesman Edmund Burke said all that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing."
Kathleen Kennedy and her whole creative team have been so insistent on all the filmmakers they've been hiring for these new movies. They say, 'We want you to take it, and turn it into something that you really care about'," he said. "We'll see how the process plays out, but so far, that's a big part of the reason I'm in it, because that just seems like their attitude towards it. It's really exciting, actually," he added. JJ Abrams's Star Wars Episode VII opens on December 18, 2015. Episode VIII follows in 2017.
ALiA BhAtt
ilmmaker and ace tweeter Mahesh Bhatt shared pictures of his star daughter, Alia Bhatt massaging his legs, something she's been doing since she was a moppet. While papa's tired feet get the much-needed pampering, the foot-massages come at a price. Bhatt tells this diarist that while in school,
more I have realized that fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop." "Feminism," Watson continued, "is, by definition, the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes." Watson also spoke about how women "are choosing not to identify as feminists" and the word's apparent toxicity. She remarked, "Apparently, I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, 'too aggressive,' isolating and anti-men, unattractive, even. Why has the word become such an uncomfortable one?" Seeking to include men in her campaign, Watson spoke about how gender inequality can negatively affect men as much as women. "Gender equality is your issue too. Because to date, I've seen my father's role as a parent being valued less by society despite
he'd pay Rs 500 for the comfort his beti had to offer, now that she is all grown up, with endorsements and movies coming by the dozen, a hike was but inevitable. I also had to take inflation into account. Now, I pay her 1000 bucks, laughs Bhatt, adding with a sigh, But she doesn't have time the way she used to.
Here's a look at all the vimaan ke yatris: Minissha Lamba: Give it up for Minissha Lamba, who is all set for a tumultuous journey in the new season of this controversial reality show. The actress best known for her roles in films like Kidnap, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Well done Abba is looking up for a fresh start for her faded career with the backing of Bigg Boss.
Sonali Raut: Actress Sonali Raut, who failed to create a stir with her debut film The Xpose, is hoping that Bigg Boss would do that for her. Sonali is considerable new to the industry but seems like she is here to stay. Karishma Tanna: TV actress Karishma Tanna, who was last seen in hit film Grand Masti is a familiar face for Indian viewers. Having been a part of the small screen for the longest time, she is set to try her luck in the game show which has resurrected many careers. Natasa Stankovik: Siberian model Natasa Stankovik best known for her item song in Prakash Jha's Satyagraha, Aiyo ji hamri atariya mein, is set to dazzle the small screen with her charm and style. She boarded the Bigg Boss flight with the aim to improve her Hindi. She seems like Mickey Virus actress Elli Avram's replacement for the eighth season. Diandra Soares: The model who scandalised the fashion world by walking the ramp bald seems to have come to the right place. Diandra, who defi-
nitely has a flair for attention is much like model Sofia Hayat, who was last year's wild card entry. Bold and daring, Diandra's journey will be this season's highlight.
Boss bandwagon. The actor was reportedly recruited on Salman Khan's behest for the show. Ironically the actor was introduced by last year's yet another not-sosuccessful actor Armaan Kohli, who was favoured (despite his hot temper) by the show's host. Salman's favourites somehow always get through the Bigg Boss filter.
Soni Singh: TV actress Soni Singh is all set to put the vamp in her to good use in the show known for its high octane melodrama. The actress was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's TV Sushant Divgikar: Bigg Show Saraswatichandra as Boss' house has room for Kalika. celebs from all walks of life. Sushant Divgikar is Sukirti Kandpal: Televi- this years' representative sion's TKD (Tyaag ki devi), of LGBT (lesbian, gay, biSukirti Kandpal has also sexual and transgender) boarded the flight for the community. In the previeighth season of the show. ous seasons, celebs like She seems much like Pra- Imam A Siddique and tyusha Banerjee from last Bobby Darling have repreyear's season. sented the LGBT community in the show. Upen Patel: Actor Upen Patel made quite an entry Praneet Bhat: The show on the show with Salman's which thrives on its contesfavourite Elli Avram. The tants' politicking for their actor, it seems, is also here survival has actor Praneet to call for a second innings Bhat, who played the role of for his drowning career. Shakuni in the recently conWe have to wait and watch cluded Mahabharat series. whether Bigg Boss' wand does the trick for Upen. Gautan Gulati: Actor Gautan Gulati, who plays Aarya Babbar: Veteran a minor role in TV series actor Raj Babbar's not-so- Diya Aur Bati Hum is gearsuccessful son Aarya Bab- ing up for a big role in Bigg bar also joined the Bigg Boss 8 too.
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Medal Tally
Country China South Korea Japan Mongolia India
Gold 21 13 7 2 1
Silver 13 12 8 2 0
Bronze 17 15 11 4 5
Total 51 40 26 8 6
Japan’s Mami Umeki, in white, and Mongolia’s Munkhtuya Battulga compete in the women’s -78kg judo contest for bronze medal B at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, Monday, September 22. Japan won the bronze. (AP Photo)
Indian women win 25m team pistol bronze
INCHEON, SEptEmbEr 22 (ptI): The shooting range once again provided an early medal for the Indian contingent as the women's pistol trio of Rahi Sarnobat, Anisa Sayyed and Heena Sidhu shot down a bronze in the 25m range on day three of the competitions on Monday. The Indian trio tallied 1729 points, a whopping 18 adrift of silver medal winners China and two more behind gold medallists and hosts South Korea, to clinch the fourth medal from the pistol and rifle shooting range here. It was also the third bronze for the country from this venue. The only metal of any other colour, notably gold, has come through the efforts of army man Jitu Rai in the 50m pistol event. Anisa, in the second lot of shooters who went through the precision and rapid fire parts of the competition, provided the spark to fetch the bronze with a superb tally of 294 out of 300. Her precision round got her only 283 for an overall aggregate of 577. The other Indian expert in this rapid fire round, Rahi Sarnobat, fired 289 in precision and two more in the second stage rapid fire round to aggregate 580 points and also qualify for the eight-woman individual final with the eighth best score in the preliminaries. Heena Sidhu, whose pet event is the 10m air pistol in which the shooters take their own time while aiming at the target and then fire, had an expected splendid first round in which she recorded 291. But her inexperience in rapid fire showed as she got only 281 for an overall tally of 572. "There was a lot of pressure as we knew that me and Rahi had to do well in rapid fire as Heena is new to this format," said
Dipika settles for bronze in Asiad
INCHEON, SEptEmbEr 22 (ptI): Indian squash player Dipika Pallikal could not better the colour of her assured bronze as she lost to world number one Nicol David in the women's singles semifinals of the 17th Asian Games on Monday. The 23-year-old Indian was outplayed 4-11 4-11 5-11 by David, who took merely 25 minutes to storm into the final. The top-seeded Malaysian came into the match as the overwhelming favourite, having not lost a singles match since the sport was introduced in the 1998 Bangkok Games. And David was in top form from the word go Bronze medalists of the women's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Team shooting, from left, Rahi Jeevan Sarnobat, Anisa Sayyed and today as well and hardly Heena Sidhu of India, pose for photographers during the victory ceremony at the 17th Asian Games at Ongnyeon Interna- gave a chance to Pallikal, tional Shooting Range in Incheon, South Korea, Monday, September 22. (AP Photo) who had played a draining semifinal match against compatriot Joshana Chinappa yesterday. Bindra announced in July that dividual gold medal in the 10m air INCHEON, SEptEmbEr 22 India had won three (IANS): India's only individual Olym- the 2014 Glasgow Games would be rifle event at the Beijing Olympics. medals (all bronze) out of pic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra his last Commonwealth Games and Bindra, who was the youngest par- four categories at GuangMonday announced his retirement he finished it off in style by winning ticipant at the 1998 Commonwealth zhou 2010 and this time from competitive shooting, saying the his maiden singles Commonwealth Games, has fourth Commonwealth they look good for medals 2014 Asian Games would be his last, Games gold. The former World Gold medal. His previous three golds in all four categories inbut added that he would still give his Champion still hoped that he would were in pairs and singles in Glasgow. cluding the team last shot at the 2016 Olympic Games. be at Rio Olympics in 2016. "And He won singles silver medals in 2002 India has so far won Bindra, 31, will represent India in his yes, I will still try to be at Rio and my and 2010, and bronze in 2006. four medals (all bronze) Surprisingly, Bindra has only pet event, the 10-mtre air rifle event, bio is now most appropriate! Great at the Asian Games since here Tuesday. "Tomorrow will mark times and am sure there will be a few one Asian Games medal, a silver that came in the 2010 edition in 1998. Two of them have the end of my professional shooting more!" Bindra tweeted. In 2006, Bindra became the first Guangzhou. Perhaps a gold here at come courtesy men's sinlife! I will, however, still shoot, compete Indian shooter to become a World Incheon would be the perfect end- gles player Saurav Ghosal as a hobby shooter, training twice a week," Bindra, who won the gold in the Champion and two years later he ing to an illustrious career that in- and the rest in men's and women's team event. scripted history by winning the in- spired many. Beijing Olympics, said on Twitter.
Bindra announces retirement from professional shooting
Anisa. "It is my first Asian Games medal and I am very happy because otherwise people would have said that we did not deliver despite being rapid fire experts," she added. But elsewhere there was disappointment for the country when rifle shooter Ayonika Paul made the 10m finals but then
got eliminated after the 12th shot to finish seventh with 101.9. Her sequence of scores in the finals was 10.2, 10.2, 10.4, 9.9, 10.3, 104, 9.8, 10.5, 9.7, 10.5. She had tallied 417.7 in the preliminaries which was the second highest score of that stage but not considered for the finals in which all the qualifiers
start from scratch. Aonika's score was marginally lower than 2012 London Olympic champion Yu Siling's of China, but she could not reproduce the same form in the final where it becomes a virtual precision round, according to Indian shooting team's mental trainer Vaibav Agashe. "She is very strong men-
tally, wants to take pressure all the time. It's not a question of her not being able to take pressure, but she is a fast shooter while the finals call for the waiting game," said Agashe about the young Mumbai shooter who fetched a silver medal in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Agashe said it was just a
question of fine-tuning her for one or two months with focus on shooting in the finals. "Pressure is not the issue but the rhythm is (in the finals)," is what he feels. While Ayonika entered the final, the other two entrants -- 16-year-old CWG gold medallist Apurvi Chandela finished 12th with an overall score of
413.8 and Raj Chaudhary finished way behind at 35th with a tally of 407.6. The team, as a whole, got the 6th position with an overall aggregate of 1239.1. China won the team gold with 1253.8, Iran took the silver on the strength of a 1-2 finish from gold-medallist Khedmati Najmeh and E A Narges. They tallied
1245.9 points while hosts Korea (1241.6) grabbed the bronze. There was also a small controversy when the third Chinese shooter and eventual bronze winner Zhang Bin Bin was first eliminated from the competition for her rifle's weight not conforming to the limits imposed for the competition.
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