C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 268
“
Panneerselvam becomes Tamil Nadu CM [ PAGE 8]
www.morungexpress.com
”
Comedy, we may say, is society protecting itself - with a smile Protest rally in Wokha today
Monday, September 29, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –J. B. Priestley
Yogeshwar Dutt ends India’s [ PAGE 2] 28-year wait for Hong Kong resort to tear gas to break up democracy protesters wrestling gold
Clooney marries Amal [ PAGE 11]
[ PAGE 09]
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Dear, wife, son, daughter, cousins, nephews, uncles, aunties, in-laws...I`m happy to announce that we have added 5 new relatives
The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your answer to 9862574165 Can the Naga people find a Common Ground to resolve differences? Yes
no
Others
Can nagas live without “non-locals” in nagaland? Yes
40% 43%
no Others
17%
Details on page 7
ATTENTION Dear Subscribers, Please inform us if The Morung Express is not being delivered to you on a regular basis by your paper hawker. Contact us directly at: 9856230555. The Morung Express
ECI observer for bye poll arrives Kohima, September 28 (mexN): The office of the Kohima District Election Officer has informed that the Election Commission of India General Observer for 11-Northern Angami-II A/C Bye Election, Laima Chozah has arrived in Kohima and is lodged at Circuit House, New Ministers Hill Kohima. Chozah is the Principal Secretary of the Human Rights Commission, West Bengal. A press note from the Assistant Election Officer, Kohima has informed that the ECI Observer can be contacted at 9615345093.
C M Y K
[ PAGE 12]
Nagaland insurgency to be resolved in a time-bound manner: TR Zeliang Kohima, September 28 (iaNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is “serious” and is looking at time-bound steps for an early resolution of the decades-old separatist problem in Nagaland, Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang said Saturday. “Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) have told us that the government has decided to adopt time-bound discussion to resolve the six-decade-old separatist Naga movement,” Zeliang told IANS in an exclusive interview here. The centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) entered into a ceasefire agreement in August 1997. More than 50 rounds of talks have been held to end the insurgency that is said to have claimed 25,000 lives since 1947. “I feel that the present government in New Delhi is serious and the new interlocutor R.N. Ravi is also serious about solution to the Naga political problem. The government has also invited the NSCN (IM) leader to New Delhi to resume talks and I am told they will be leaving soon. Therefore, we have high hopes that this problem can be addressed by the new government,” said Zeliang, who was once a Rajya Sabha member. However, Zeliang refused to reveal the formula for a lasting solution to the six-decade-old separatist movement in the state. “We (the Nagaland government) are not participating in the talks, we are only facilitators.... If the central government comes out with an offer, we will also play our role,” said Zeliang, who has been elected to the 60-member Nagaland assembly for five consecutive terms. “If that formula is acceptable to the
In this file photo women cadres of the Naga Army are seen here during a parade in one of the cease fire designated camps. Chief Minister for Nagaland state, TR Zeliang has expressed confidence that the Indian government will act to resolve the Naga issue in a time bound manner. Photo by Caisii Mao
people, all the separatist rebel factions should also agree. If it is not acceptable to the people, we cannot say anything. But if the offer given by the Indian government is acceptable to the people, we will also be a good facilitator,” he said. Asked for his response to the feeling among many Naga intellectuals and others that talks with the NSCN (IM) will not ensure lasting peace since other groups like the Naga National Council (which started the Naga secessionist movement) are not part of peace process, Zeliang said: “If the outcome of the talks is acceptable to the people, everybody should
agree. But if the outcome is not acceptable to the people, nobody will agree.” “But the Central government has taken note of the unique history of the Nagas. So their offer will be also genuine, which should be acceptable to the people....If the people agree, other factions also should agree,” he said. The NSCN (IM) has been fighting for an independent Nagaland for over six decades. But since the peace talks began, it has scaled down the demand to a “Greater Nagaland,” including parts of three neighbouring States to unite areas inhabited by around 1.5 million Nagas.
Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have opposed the demand. “Today, people think more about economic sovereignty. We should be self-sufficient. We should produce more than what we require, so that we can also export our products. So, that is the main focus of the people,” Zeliang stated. “The Nagaland assembly has passed four resolutions that all Naga inhabited areas should be integrated. But all depends on the talks, the outcome of the talks,” the chief minister added. Zeliang said his government would soon revive the assembly’s Joint Legis-
lators Forum to meet the negotiating parties in the peace talks, the Indian government and the rebel groups, as well as various political parties, to apprise them of the sense of the house and to urge upon them to expedite the peace process. On Manipur opposing the integration of the Naga inhabited areas in that state with Nagaland, Zeliang said, “If the central government thinks that this (integration of Naga inhabited areas) is workable, it should be accepted.” “If it is not within the Indian constitution, the constitution has to be amended. If it is within the constitution, they should work out the integration,” he added. “When Nagaland was created (carved out of Assam), the demarcation was done without the consent of the people....That is why the integration demand is a genuine demand. But it is up to the central government, whether they agree or not,” Zeliang said. But he hastened to add that Nagaland has no say in demanding the integration of ethnic Hemi Nagas inhabiting Myanmar’s Sagaing division as it is an “international issue”. On some sections of the Naga people opposing the appointment of R.N. Ravi, who retired as Intelligence Bureau special director, as the government interlocutor for the peace talks, Zeliang admitted that there are some sections of people who are apprehensive about his earlier statements on the issue. “I think he (Ravi) is prepared to work out a solution....I have discussed the issue with him. And he said: 17 years’ dialogue is too long. We should resolve this Naga problem. I think he is positive, so we expect that things would be ok”, the Nagaland chief minister concluded.
Nagaland govt’s ‘apathy’ questioned NEAN public 2 allegedly assaulted by Ar man
Kohima, September 28 (mexN): The Kohima Lotha Hoho along with the Lotha Gazetted Officers Association and the Lotha Youth Hoho, on September 27, convened a consultative meeting on the Ralan issue. A press note from the KLH informed that the meeting decried the “apathy and inaction of the state government towards the conflict except verbal and newspaper declaration on peace.” It further lamented that the Nagaland state government “had not taken any concrete step, both administrative and material, help to the innocent victims of the six affected villages who are still languishing in makeshift camps and nearby village.” The KLH informed that the affected villagers “can neither go back to their homes nor their fields due to forceful prevention by Assam police and the so called neutral forces under the cover of imposed 144 CrPc promulgated by Golaghat DC which is effective only on our side.” The meeting also “questioned the efficiency of the Kyong Hoho, Wokha in leading
the Lothas during crisis of such magnitude.” It urged the Kyong Hoho to either “exhibit their capability or resign honorably forthwith.” The house further called upon the Nagaland state government to give all logistic support in resettlement of displaced villagers and take immediate strict action against Assam Government, who it alleged “blatantly violates all mutual agreements like 1972 & 79 and in defiance continue to establish more and more police posts and sends in convoys of Assam police to Lotha villages in a warlike mood.” The meeting asserted that it will take its own course of action if the state government does not take up the matter at the earliest; “and for which the State Government shall be held responsible for any eventualities.” The House further constituted an Action Committee of 21 members with Z R.Yanthan as Convener, T Ovung as Coconvener, W Kithan as Advisor and Ejanthung Ngullie as member secretary to take up the issue with the Nagaland state government and the Government of India.
voting on NLTP from today
DimapUr, September 28 (mexN): The North East Artists Network (NEAN) is scheduled to launch its ‘NLTP Public Voting Campaign 2014’ at 4:00pm on September 29 at the office chamber of the Dimapur Additional Deputy Commissioner, Elizabeth Ngully. A press note from NEAN Nagaland informed that details and guidelines will be provided during the launch. “It is a platform for the people to voice their opinion and without their participation this campaign would be meaningless,” it stated.
Drivers union decides not to transport army goods Morung Express news Dimapur | September 28
A truck driver and his handyman were allegedly assaulted by a Subedar of the 29 Assam Rifles at Piphema on Sunday at around 2:00am, causing serious injuries to the driver. The handyman was released after administering first-aid. Speaking to The Morung Express at Zion Hospital Dimapur, the truck driver, identified as S Abdul Kudus, informed that one Subedar Mishra assaulted him without any rhyme or reason while he was unveiling the covered mineral water in the
truck as demanded by the AR personnel while checking the vehicle. He informed that the Subedar continued to assault him even when his jawans tried to stop him. The driver alleged that Subedar Mishra, who was in an inebriated condition, also threatened to shoot him dead. Vehemently condemning the incident, the Dimapur District Truck Drivers’ Welfare Trade Union (DDTDWTU) has decided not to transport any army supply goods until the erring personnel is discharged from service. The union further stated that the Subedar instead of controlling his jawans had resorted to assaulting an innocent truck driver adding, “such irresponsible personnel must be discharged.” In this connection, the Union has filed an FIR at the Medziphema Police station.
Shamble of dreams: The State Stadium in Dimapur Limasenla Jamir
Dimapur | September 28
C M Y K
It looks more like the Colosseum of Rome in its final stages of ruin; only the Colosseum was ruined after being built. The to-be-biggest stadium in Dimapur, the State Stadium, lies in the ruins of its preconstruction negligence— incomplete and desolate. For years people have been waiting for the completion of the State Stadium, or the Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex in PWD, Dimapur. W Jamir is an aspiring footballer currently training with the State Sports Academy, which is basically a football ground adjacent to the incomplete stadium. He, or John, a regular runner on the mushy ground, do not appreciate the environment they are faced with but are pressed for choice. Professionals and aspiring sportspersons frequent the ground to hone their skills, both in the morning and evening hours— professionals in the mornings, and a young lot looking for some free air and fun in the evening.
The State Stadium in Dimapur lies in a condition of heightened neglect as Nagaland State neglects all sports-related infrastructure. (Morung Photo)
The ground and the space around it serve as a grazing ground for cattle, the tracks for driving lessons and enthusiastic drunk drivers. Given the lack of open community spaces in Dimapur, it is a dating ground, a recreational park and the perfect spot for night parties—heaps of bottles and cans are collected by rag-pickers every morning. The indoor badminton stadium, also on the premise, serves as a multi-purpose building where different sports are played at different intervals. Gurung, a worker under the
District Sports Office, residing near the stadium has lost count of the years the stadium has been under construction. Moa has played at the ground near the stadium since his childhood—and has watched the stadium area go from bad to worse. It saddens him to think that many talents will be wasted and many won’t be able to play and utilize the new stadium for two more generations if it continues to be built at the current pace. Naga youth has a knack towards sports. There are talents set to reach
their finish lines if they are provided proper training on proper infrastructure. Many people talk about promoting and encouraging youth in the arena of sports but the negligence and inattention towards sports infrastructure deprives young players of their rights and growth in their respective fields. The unfinished and the ever-under-construction State Stadium in Dimapur is one such example. The Dimapur District Sports Complex in Golaghat Road is in no better condition. The maintenance of the ground, and its surroundings, is at level zero. The District Sports Office, which is attached to the DDSC, was isolated with just a gatekeeper who comes to work. The Morung Express visited the sports office but no office worker was available. The cobwebs and locked doors at the District Sports Office symbolizes the neglect that sports face in Nagaland State—for sportspersons, it is a shamble of dreams. It also shows the dedication of the Government’s officers towards their duties, and their lack of seriousness towards sports.
C M Y K