The Morung Express by The Morung Express

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The Morung Express

A Daily Publication of Morung for Indigenous Affairs & JustPeace

Dimapur VOL. III ISSUE 333

Hornbill 2008 takes perch today KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): The week-long Hornbill Festival of Nagaland will start Monday, December 1, at the Naga Heritage complex in Kisama from 10:15 AM onwards. Governor K. Sankaranarayanan will be the chief guest while Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio will be the chief host. Chato Paphino, president of the Southern Angami GBs’ Association will be the tribal guest of honor. The inaugural function will be chaired by Yitachu, parliamentary secretary for Tourism and Art & Culture. While welcoming the chief guest, all the cultural troupes are to line up on both sides from the main gate to the VVIP rostrum. All the troupes will yodel followed by log-drumming from their respective Morungs. The inaugural will be followed by a cultural programme. Besides cultural troupes from different tribes, troupes from Tripura, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur and Sikkim states will also perform. The seven-day long festival will also be marked by a Korean food festival, Korea-India music festival, the Hornbill National Rock Contest, a Naga wrestling competition, exhibition and sale of various handlooms and handicrafts, art exhibitions, fashion shows from top Indian models, floral galleria, Hornbill motor rally, Kohima night bazaar, archives week, a special musical night by The Prodigal Son and craft bazaar amongst others.

The Morung Express WEEKLY POLL

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Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS YOUR ANSWER TO 9862574165 Is the Hornbill Festival the best way to promote Naga tourism? No Others Yes Last week’s poll result

Is it now time for the Nagaland government to lift the Prohibition Act? No Others Yes

38%

51%

11%

Details on page 7

Village councils for consultation on rail DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): With the state government and the Union Ministry of Railways set to introduce a new broad gauge line from Dimapur to Kohima covering a length of 125 kilometers, the village councils of Chekiye and Thilixu villages said to be taken into consultation as the proposed railway line will pass through their villages. A joint note issued by the Thilixu and Chekiye village councils’ executives said the villages have no objection to the proposed project but made clear the deputy commissioner of Dimapur, should take the two villages into consultation ‘to avoid any complications in future’. TVC chairman, Sukhavi told The Morung Express that although the villagers were told they would be consulted at the time of survey, their lands have been surveyed and marked for the project ‘without their knowledge’. That the railway line will run through 10 kilometers of Thilixu village, cutting across paddy fields, and about 1 kilometers of Chekiye village, the chairman said the DC’s circular for any “claims and objections” does ‘not feature the names of the two said villages’. The chairman has urged the DC to look into the matter and inform the survey department accordingly.

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Monday, December 1, 2008 12 pages Rs. 3 -Bono

The New Face of Violence

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 30 (AFP): They were more than just suicidal young men on a random shooting spree. With the battle of Mumbai over and close to 200 people dead, a picture began to emerge of an audacious assault underpinned by extensive preparation and training by a tightly knit, well-financed and meticulous militant outfit. “This was an extremely well-planned operation: the logistics, the timing,” said Robert Ayers, an international security expert at the Chatham House thinktank in London. “The operational planning was very, very professional.” Indian intelligence sources told AFP that eight of the Islamic militants involved in the attack had arrived in Mumbai a month ago. They rented a house and conducted “extensive reconnaissance missions.” There were also believed to be other infiltrators who stockpiled arms and ammunition, including in one of the two luxury hotels that were attacked. They were joined on Wednesday evening, when the assault began, by a second group who reached Mumbai from the sea, the sources said. The sources said the attackers were “all well-built and at the peak of their health, aged between 24 and 30, and were heavily trained in military tactics.” Continued on page 5

‘WELL-TRAINED, FINANCED AND PREPARED’ Patil Out, Chidambaram In NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 30 (AGENCIES): Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has resigned, owing moral responsibility for terror attacks in Mumbai and Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has been given the charge to head the home ministry. PM takes over the finance portfolio. Under fire from within his party and ruling allies for his inept handling of the security situation in the country, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil resigned on Sunday. Patil has submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, highly placed government sources said. The resignation is likely to be accepted and more resignations of top officials responsible for country’s security and intelligence gathering cannot be ruled out, they said. Patil’s resignation has also put a question mark on the continuation of Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who is also under intense party pressure to step down. Prime Minister Singh was reportedly unhappy with Patil’s performance in the wake of repeated terror attacks in different parts of the country. Beleagured Patil faced severe criticism at the Congress Working Committee meeting on Saturday night, and party president Sonia Gandhi’s disapproval of his handling of the ministry sealed his fate, it is learnt. Sonia pulled up Patil in the CWC meeting and wanted to know the reasons of intelligence failure that led to a serious situation in Mumbai, a senior party leader unwilling to be named said. Leaders who spoke at the CWC meet pointed out that the party could have to suffer heavily in the ongoing assembly elections in six states due to the government’s failure to check the increasing incidents of terrorism.

Israeli experts slam handling of hostage crisis

** FILE **In this November 26 ﬁle photo, a gunman walks at the Chatrapathi Sivaji Terminal railway station in Mumbai. Teams of gunmen stormed luxury hotels, a popular restaurant, hospitals and a crowded train station in coordinated attacks across Mumbai, taking Westerners hostage and leaving parts of the city under siege. (AP Photo)

JERUSALEM, NOVEMBER 30 (PTI): Israeli counter-terrorism experts have slammed the way India handled the hostage crisis in Mumbai, especially at Nariman House where Jewish people were taken as captive, saying the “colossal failure of intelligence” and slow op-

eration meant there was “no chance” of rescue. Acknowledging that Israel has never experienced a coordinated attack of such magnitude, the experts said India failed to contain the attacks and raided Nariman House too “lackadaisically”. Continued on page 5

The Face of 45 yrs Statehood AIDS and Women—The Morality Myth

Bonnie Konyak

Dimapur/Mon | November 30

AS NAGALAND WAKES up to its 45th Statehood Day on December 1, many ordinary people across the State will find it difficult to cheer or let alone even remember what it means to achieve statehood. The reasons are simple. For instance, like all state institutions in Nagaland, the Government’s health sector in Mon district is embroiled in gross neglect. But the pinch is felt more acutely in the district because there are no private health care institutions here. The District Civil Hospital in Mon, as the only hospital that caters to the entire population of nearly three lakh people has only 50 beds. And besides one small X-ray machine, the hospital has very little gadget for proper diagnosis of patients. “We have to send the patients to Sonari in Assam to get their ultrasound and then diagnose them” said one nurse while speak-

Health system in ruins as mother risks life ON THE NIGHT of November 22, 2008, Yatna Konyak, a 36 year old mother survived to live through probably the worst nightmare of a woman as she went into labour to give birth to twin daughters. It was a normal pregnancy with very few difficulties so Yatna did not feel the need to travel more than 35 kilometers from her village Wanching to Mon town in order to see a doctor. However, it proved almost fatal as the mother who had already given birth to nine previous children, (eight of them still surviving), did not realize the whole time that she was pregnant with twins. On the fateful night, Yatna went into labour at around midday but it

was at around 6:00 pm, that she gave birth to her first daughter. But they soon realized that there was another baby coming and after this, everything began to go wrong. In the absence of any doctor or properly trained nurse or even medical supplies, there was real panic in the entire village as the second twin could not be delivered. The only hope for this family was another woman in the village, Tonglih Konyak, who had previously undergone a short training as a thia (midwife) long time ago but she had lost her job when the government decided to cut expenses on “a job that was not required now”. Continued on page 5

ing to this reporter. Moreover, Mon Civil Hospital has altogether seven doctors including the Medical Superintendent, but the doctors are divided into two groups, ‘Kohima group’ and ‘Mon group’. The doctors have worked out a system by which the Kohima group, who are doctors with their homes and sometimes private clinics in Kohima, work at the district hospital for 15 days while the Mon doctors rest for 15 days and vice versa. The reason is, these out stationed doctors do not have government quarters in which to live and serve full-time. In addition to this, as mentioned earlier, the entire district including its sole hospital is without a gynecologist but the hospital has its very own bio-chemist for its non-existent laboratory. Ironically, the hospital has a surgical specialist who is rendered useless as there are no anesthetists to assist him in surgery. Continued on page 5

Y Merina Chishi

Dimapur| November 30

A volunteer wears a sticker, a red ribbon, the symbol of AIDS awareness, as Health authorities and the U.N. AIDS agency launched a campaign to ﬁght discrimination against people with AIDS in China, at the iconic Bird’s Nest national stadium grounds in Beijing, China, Sunday, November 30. After years of denying that AIDS was a problem, Chinese leaders have shifted gears dramatically in recent years, confronting the disease more openly and promising anonymous testing, free treatment for the poor and a ban on discrimination against people with the virus. (AP Photo)

THERE ARE STORIES that emerge from a place where AIDS is still considered “dirty” and associated with “morality;” and the brutal reality is that women are usually the ones who are associated with the latter. Thongpa’s husband died of AIDS in 2003 and today, she is heading for a similar fate. With full-blown AIDS, thirty-year-old Thongpa has come to accept that her life will end similarly. To top her anguish, her sisters-inlaw think she is “dirty” and treat her as an outcast in the family. Her plate and cup are kept separately and she has little access with the outside world. To escape constant sarcasm from her sisters-in-law, she works in the field whenever her health permits. The nearest place she can get her regular anti- retroviral treatment (ART) is three-hours walk from her village. Thong says she is ready to die. Continued on page 5

AFSPA extended in Manipur Newmai News Network Imphal | November 30

Tickets available at: Gravity, Big Bite, Dream Café, Crossword, Razhüprü. Unitex, Bible House, Central Café and at the Venue.

THE GOVERNMENT of Manipur has formally announced today the extension of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958 in entire Manipur excluding the Imphal Municipality Area for another year with effect from December 1. The current term of AFSPA expires on November 30. An official notification today signed by principal secretary (Home) PC Lawmkunga, states that the “the Government of Manipur is of the opinion that due to violent activities of various extremist/insurgent groups, the entire state of Manipur is in such a disturbed condition that the use of the Armed Forces in aid of civil power is necessary”. The Governor of Manipur is of the opinion that the areas within the state of Manipur be declared as a “Disturbed Area” under the provisions

of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, as amended from time to time. “Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act,1958 (Act no. of 1958) as amended from time to time, the Governor of Manipur hereby declares the entire state of Manipur excluding the Imphal Municipal area as ‘Disturbed Area’ for the period of one year with effect from December 1,2008” the notification said.

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Dimapur

LOCAL

Monday 1 December 2008

The Morung Express

Nagaland gets US support in ﬁght against AIDS

Rate of IDUs in Nagaland NUKSHINARO: HIV POSITIVE AND RARING TO GO down from 34% to 1.5% Asangla Imsong,

Morung Express News

Kohima | November 30

Dimapur| November 30

SHE COMES ACROSS AS just another quintessential girl nextdoor - warm, friendly and inviting. She could be mistaken for a college going girl with her petite frame and bubbly smile adding to her spunky persona. She is well qualified, highly informed, intelligent and walking the journey of life like any other. Nukshinaro, 28 years old, is HIV positive and this is just the beginning of the story. When I first met her a week ago during an IEC skill-building workshop at Guwahati, she had this familiar aura and I wondered if I had met her somewhere earlier. And when she candidly asked me whether I had seen her in the documentary “Candles of Tuensang”, I was left clueless for a while. This kind of a guileless pose can come only from a person who does not mince words in putting things across. I asked her what she was doing in “Candles of Tuensang” and she replied that she was seen giving her life testimony. Then it struck me and how. I vividly remember the screening of the documentary at Durbar hall, Raj Bhavan, Kohima two years ago. HIV/AIDS was something about which I had read a lot about but still to get familiar with the reality check of this chronic manageable disease prevailing in our society. “Candle of Tuensang” was an eye opener for the fact that it poignantly portrayed the HIV/AIDS scenario and the stigma attached in our social set-up, especially in inte-

ON THE EVE of World AIDS Day, representative of US Consulate General Kolkata lauded the efforts of N Naga DAO (The Network of Nagaland Drug and HIV/AIDS Organizations) in bringing down the rate of intravenous drug users (IDU) from 34% to 1.5%. Moulik D Berkana, Deputy Director of American Centre, viewed both HIV/AIDS and substance abuse as a major health challenge which requires an organized and thoughtful response from the healthcare community, and said it is inspiring to see so many organizations that work for such cause. Pointing out there are only two possible responses to looking at the issue, Berkana said, “We can either turn our eyes away in resignation and despair, or we can take decisive, historic action to turn the tide against this disease.” He said with firmness and conviction that substance abuse can be fought, and that “faith groups, teachers, and NGOs can work together to help build safe communities by helping victims of substance abuse”. He said America is committed in the fight against

Moulik D Berkana, Deputy Director of American Centre (third from left), seated with his colleagues and Savi Legise , President, Naga Council (left) at the Valedictory Session of the N Naga Dao programme at Town Hall, Dimapur. (Morung Photos)

AIDS and it leads the world in its level of support for HIV/AIDS relief. In partnership with several organizations across the globe, the American government is supporting more than two million people already infected with the disease, he informed. In Dimapur, the US government has initiated a community home based care and support programme for people living with HIV/AIDS, Berkana informed, and Project Concern International and their local partner Akimbo Society, Dimapur is being

supported under such programmes he added. The support services which includes Anti Retro Vital Therapy, counseling and HIV testing facilities, is giving care to more than 500 PLHAs. The US Consulate is also partnering with the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society and Naga Mothers Association to set-up a special AIDS pavilion at the Hornbill Festival where photo exhibit of courageous people is up for display. At the pavilion, he informed, will also be a series of film screenings and small group discussion.

rior areas. I remember the impact it left on the entire audience. How did she feel when her positive status first came to light? Fear, frustration, despair, anger? Nukshinaro says she felt only the sense of responsibility at that hopeless moment, to ignore the supposedly dark cloud looming over her and despite being singed and pulled apart, she knew she had to pick up all the lost threads and become whole again. That was in May 2005. After declaring her status on

World AIDS Day that particular year, Nukshinaro attended a PLHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS) fellowship and found her calling. She refused to succumb to the grim despair that other PLHAs were going through. What about social stigma and discrimination? With all the support from her family (after initial hiccups) and friends, especially her siblings, Nukshinaro says she is not bothered by any. And she has enough reasons to say so. Nukshinaro considers herself as

More desert RJD, joins ruling NPF

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DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): Seven more office bearers of the Nagaland RJD belonging to Wokha district have quit the party and decided to join the ruling NPF party. This was stated in a press note issued by K. Chantsuthung Kikon, Working President RJD Wokha district. Kikon informed that they were resigning from the RJD in order to join hands and work with the “indigenous Naga People’s Party” and to strengthen the hands of the Chief Minister and NPF President. Citing the earlier resignation of prominent leader TN Mannen and other senior party functionaries of the RJD Nagaland Unit, those who resigned pointed out that there was no future prospect for the Naga people due to lack of proper response from the Central RJD leaders and also the self centered nature of its State President. The executive members of RJD Wokha district who have resigned

Sub-unit of YUD formed

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MEXN):TheYimchungerUnion Dimapur (YUD) has formed a new sub-union of the Yimchunger Women Dimapur, a press release from the YUD informed. The new unit, Yimchungberu Arihako Dimapur is under the banner of YUD anditgoingtobeledbyTrusaloShaki as president and four other newly appointed office bearers. The new unit also has three executive members and W Sotsula, DDO (civil), Border Affairs as Advisor.

RJD appoints

DMC chairman Khekaho Assumi (third from left) and Naga Council president Savi Liegsie with ofﬁce bearers of the Dimapur District Beauty Parlour Owners Association pose for press photographer after an awareness programme for Beauty Parlour and Saloon Owners at hotel Saramati, Dimapur on Saturday. (Caisii Mao)

SVSU allege siphon of money by VDB secretary DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): The Sungkha Village Students’ Union (SVSU) has alleged misappropriation of NREGA scheme funds by one Mhonrao Humtsoe, VDB secretary to the tune of 28,066 rupees from the fifth phase and 1, 34,160 rupees from the sixth phase. A press note issued by three office bearers of the union, Lawrence Humtsoe, general secretary, Chopathung Lotha, finance secretary and Chumomo Lotha, games & sports secretary, stated out of the total withdrawal of 2,68,000 rupees in the fifth and 8,48,160 rupees in the sixth phases, the VDB secretary is alleged to have withdrawn a total of 1,62,760 rupees. The allegation is also supplemented with “not an inch of work done.” The union has on this matter appealed to the project director (DRSA), Wokha to look into the matter in the interest of the public.

Morung for Indigenous Affairs and JustPeace

Brave New World An Art Exhibit

Iris Yingzen Jimmy Chishi Seyiekelie Tepa

2nd December - 7th December, 2008 (Private Viewing on 1st December)

The Heritage, Old DC Bungalow, Kohima 10 am to 6 pm CHIEF PATRON

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): Within just three months of its inauguration, the Nagaland Zoological Park at Rangapahar has witnessed its first birth when a young Sambar deer was born on November 27, informed Obed Bohovi Swu, Officer-in-charge Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar. Both the mother and the young deer has been examined by a Veterinary Doctor from the Hospital, it was further informed. The Sambar which gave birth is one of the six were brought from Assam State Zoo, Guwahati on June 6, 2008. The officerin-charge informed that the birth of the Sambar has giv-

en a new lease of life to the park and the staff are elated and even more encouraged to work for the welfare of wildlife preservation. Meanwhile it was informed that the python which was operated and treated on November 21 has improved and is doing well in the rescue Centre. Dr LG Zhimomi, Deputy Director Veterinary Hospital Dimapur who has been closely monitoring its health has expressed happiness during his visit on November 27. With the festive season and the closing of academic session, the park is expected to have more visitors, the office-in-charge informed.

Living for the Gospel—Faithfuls journey on despite trials Akangjungla Longchar Dimapur | November 30

RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE in parts of India has occurred repeatedly in recent times and these outbreaks have been between the Hindu and Christian communities. The issues have centered on questions of conversion, poverty and growing influence of Christian and Hindu groups among tribal population etc. On many occasions, Christians have been accused of luring people with gifts of land, money, food and clothes. However, Christians have denied it now and again, refusing to abandon their religion in spite of beatings and attacks on their homes and churches. Mani Kumar Tamang, a converted Christian from a Buddhist background was chased out of his village and it is now one year since he met his parents back home at Kalimpong in Darjeeling. Nobody preached the gospel to this 20 year old man but he went to a Church where he was anointed by the Holy Spirit. Mani witnessed the first fruit of his Chris-

tian faith when his parents stopped drinking alcohol, which they were addicted to earlier, as he started praying for them. “No one forced me to change my faith. There was no farced conversion,” Mani says. Today, he is in Sikkim serving in a Church working mostly among the poor people. Next meet Sukraj Subha, staying at his uncle’s place who is a devout Christian. Sukraj Subha never liked listening to his uncle’s preaching but gradually he ‘realised it and accepted Christ.’ Originally from Takbya Basti situated at Darjeeling, Sukraj was earlier a Hindu. Some months after converting to Christianity, Sukraj returned home as his mother was seriously ill and she was taken to many doctors but her condition did not improve. Sukraj’s father, a well-known witch doctor in the village tried all that he could for his wife’s good health but failed. Later, Sukraj brought some Church pastors and leaders to pray for his ailing mother. Both his parents were ready to accept the gospel but their villagers did not allow them,

especially his father as they feared he would stop practicing his ‘witchcraft profession’. Shortly afterwards, Sukraj faced his father’s wrath who started to drink and picked up fights forcing him to reconvert into Hinduism. “My father disowned me because I refused to give up Christianity,” Sukraj recollects as he shares his testimony. For Pratiman Dorjee he had no idea that one fine day while out for shopping a new chapter in his life would dawn. “I went for shopping to some other town. There I heard little about the gospel but what I heard was enough for me to believe and I accepted Christian faith,” Pratiman says as he recollected that day’s event. It did not take long for the villager to make out that Pratiman and his wife was no longer Hindu. “The villagers came and beat me up without any reason. That night itself my wife and I had to leave our real village Dhakana at Bhutan, all empty handed,” Pratiman says. Years later when Pratiman and his wife had children grown old enough to go to school, seeking admission

Network of Nagaland Drugs & AIDS Organization (N-Naga DAO) in collaboration with Dimapur District AIDS Control Committee

Temsuyanger Longkumer

DIPR

New born Sambar at Zoological Park

from both the primary and active membership with effect from November 23, 2008 include K. Chantsuthung Kikon, Working President, Mhao Ngullie Vice President cum spokesman, K. Yisambeo Lotha Vice President, L. Nzio Lotha Vice President, Renthungo Lotha General Secretary (Administration), N. Longshio Shitiri General Secretary (Organization) and Chompanthung Ngullie, Advisor.

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30, (MExN): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Nagaland through a release has appointed the following new office bearers: R.K. Sharma as state general secretary, Sunep Phom – vice president, C. Aloi Phom – secretary, Iwoto Achumi – vice president and Tapu Thurr – vice president, administration (all for Dimapur district).

one of the very few fortunate PLHAs with a strong emotional support system for which she is very grateful. And this is the motive why she wants to contribute her bit for PLHAs, Presently working as PLHA Coordinator she wants society to do away with hypocrisy and accept PLHAs as part of society, to make the society aware that HIV/AIDS is not something to be looked upon with disdain. She wants to be the voice of the PLHAs living life confidently and further motivate them to lead emotionally stronger lives, to be able to stand up and spread consciousness among the people and to carve out the message of constructive livelihood. The task ahead is colossal but she is confident of facing the challenges with hope, perseverance and heart. I tell her that once, just once, surely, she must have woken up at night and pinched herself thinking where the hell she is heading to and maybe even shed a few secret tears. But with a pregnant smile, she tells me a story about a sixty plus woman in the West who has been living healthily for the past 20 years with HIV and still hale and hearty. That is real food for thought. Presently Nukshinaro is on Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) and life cannot get any better than this. My association with her has been brief as half-way through the workshop she had to leave for Delhi to attend another Conference. I could visualize the tapestry of dreams she had woven around her unsinkable soul. Meeting her was a gift. And truly, she does not have a list of 100 things to do before I die.

Observes

WORLD AIDS DAY 2008 Theme: Leadership

Dec 1st 2008 Venue: Town Hall, Dimapur Time: 10:00 am

Supported by:

PATRON

UNAIDS

was a problem for them. “They were refused admission to schools and I was also sacked from my job because we are Christians,” Pratiman says. At present, Pratiman is serving as a Pastor in Paro Area in Sikkim where he has to pay the price for being a Christian. He ends up paying more than the actual rent for his house besides other injustice frequently experienced because of his Christian tag. Mani Kumar Tamang, Pratiman Dorjee and Sukraj Subha are among many Christians who have a similar story to narrate about their difficult journey in life as faithfuls. Miles away from home 72 such Christian missionaries and church leaders mostly from Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal have come to Dimapur to attend a special programme on leadership and Bible School called ‘Autumn Rain Bible School, 2008’. For one entire month they are together camping at Life Spring Corner attending the Bible school which is hosted by Jesus Loves Gospel Ministry under the directorship of Rev. Robert Singh.

IGNOU notiﬁes End term exams ‘08

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has announced the Term End Examination for December 2008 would commence from December 1 and will conclude on December 30, 2008. IGNOU has established 650 examination centres that include 36 overseas centres and also 15 centres inside Jails for inmates. Examination Intimation Slips (Hall Tickets) have been issued to 2, 73,890 eligible students who are appearing in the Term End Examination. Students are advised to be in possession of the Identity Card issued by the University during the Examination. However, IGNOU also instructed Examination Centres to allow students that have their name

in the list of examinees for that centre, even if they do not possess the examination intimation slips (Hall Tickets) to appear in the examinations. Further, mobile phone will not be allowed inside the Examination Hall. Separate Hall tickets shall be issued to the students of BCA & MCA for Term End practicals. Students are advised to contact the respective Regional Centres in the last week of December for their practical examinations. Under Kohima Regional Centre, 661 students are appearing exams in 5 Exam Centres across the state. The detailed hall ticket status is also available on the University website and students can also download the hall tickets from IGNOU website www.ignou.ac.in.

LOCAL

The Morung Express

State needs ‘agenda’ for future: Governor

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): Nagaland Governor K. Sankaranarayanan has called for working on an agenda for the future, which will allow the youths to constructively and positively contribute to the growth and development of the State. Speaking on the occasion of Statehood Day (December 1), the Governor reminded that the architects of Nagaland State strived hard to create a State that reflected the aspirations and the identity of the people of the State. “In order to help realize the dreams of the founding fathers of the State we need to work on an agenda for the future, an agenda that helps the youth to constructively and positively contribute to the growth and development of the State,” Sankaranarayanan stated in his message. Pointing out that peace has been the most cherished goal for the State for all these years, Sankaranarayanan asserted that peace was today more than just a goal. “It is a right. A basic, fundamental right for all the citizens of the State,” the Governor stated while reminding that peace was needed in order to have growth and development and also to allow young Nagas to realize their dreams. The Governor also appealed for har-

mony cutting across tribes and communities and urged people to rise above narrow sectarian interests to take a view that is beneficial for the society. “The cause for a better future for our youth is reason enough for all leaders to come together and join hands to foster the spirit of unity and brotherhood. It will lead to better cohesion and harmony in society leading to Peace, thereby creating an environment for rapid Growth and Economic Development,” the Governor exhorted. Stating that Nagaland had opportunities waiting, the Governor put on record that the State had great potential in agriculture, horticulture, tourism and IT sectors. “Our youth are amongst the best in the hospitality and service sectors. The State Government has declared year 2008 as Year of Capacity Building. If we can translate this policy into action it can help build up capacities of our youth and give them skills that will help them to get employed and contribute to the State’s economy”. Sankaranarayanan pointed out that all this would require a firm commitment to resolve all differences and join hands for Economic Development. “With the age old

BJP lists moan points to BSNL

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30(MExN): The Nagaland BJP today dispatched a missive to the Dimapur BSNL, listing out a number of bad services that the telecom services company is said to be providing to the state’s subscribers. Listing out the bad services, a letter addressed to the general manager of Dimapur BSNL from the BJP said cellular subscribers are made to pay ‘unnecessary’ and ‘extra’ bills “due to sudden snapping of networks on and off ”. Every time the network is “snapped within few seconds and the users are made to pay extra/additional call charges without using the mobiles”, the BJP complained. The BJP said that the cellular network is quite poor especially in the districts of Zunheboto, Kiphire and Longleng “where the network is never available”. Here the BJP observed that some times

“bills are more than expected” due to erratic or “cross connections of mobiles”. The state BJP further took note of reports that tenders for civil works of the BSNL are being manipulated during awarding contract works. Guidelines are being flouted leading to poor quality and poor workmanship, it stated. The BJP further mentioned the oft-repeated complaints that phone bills never reach the subscribers. The monthly bills of cellular and landline phones never reach the customers, the party stated. Even the telecom department has the “daring habit” of cutting off lines even when subscribers “were not aware of their bills due to be paid as the bills did not reach them consumers”, the BJP lamented. The BSNL is urged to take necessary action in the grievances highlighted in this regard.

Two injured DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30, (MExN): Two persons sustained injuries this evening when their vehicle (NL10/6429) turned turtle at Naharbari junction on November 30 around 7:00 pm. The two were later admitted to Civil Hospital for treatment. Police disclosed it might have been a case of over speeding and rash driving.

Faculty Enrichment Programme questions ‘sense of value’

Naga tradition of joining hands and working together, I see hope in the future. I am confident that together we will overcome all obstacles and realize the vision of a vibrant and economically developed Nagaland that the founding fathers of the State had dreamed of,” the Governor stated. Extending his warm greetings to the people of Nagaland on the occasion of 45th anniversary of Statehood Day, Sankaranarayanan made mention of the annual Hornbill Festival celebrated along with the commemoration of Statehood and pointing out that this demonstrated the resolve to preserve the distinct culture and traditions of Nagas and ensuring participation in the Indian Union. The Nagaland Governor also took time to condemn the terror attacks in Mumbai, Guwahati and elsewhere and stated that this showed the numerous challenges the nation faces. “Our democratic fabric has the strength and capacity to defeat the evil designs of the perpetrators of such acts of violence. I salute our brave policemen and jawans who have the ability to meet all such challenges and ensure the unity and integrity of the nation”.

Participants of Bible School from Bhutan perform a Cultural dance during the Graduation Day Program of the Autumn Rain Bible School November 30. (Morung Photo)

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): A lot of singing, dancing, shouting and even whistling marked the Graduation Day program of the Autumn Rain Bible School, 2008 today at Life Spring Corner, Dimapur. This five week program for people of the Himalayan Region was hosted by the Jesus Loves Gospel Ministry (JLGM) and it was attended by 72 persons from Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal, Darjeeling, Upper Assam, Tibet border and Nagaland. After the 35 days of Bible School, the participants celebrated their graduation. Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Maongwati Aier, who was the Guest of Honour shared with the participants, the basis of his own faith in

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): The District Congress Committee Phek has expressed anguish and concern over the unabated factional clashes and killings among the national workers in the district. Raising these concerns at the joint meeting of District Congress Committee, ACCCs and frontal organizations of Phek district held on Saturday November 29 at SIRD Conference Hall, Phek town, DCC Phek appealed the national workers to “stop all kinds of hostilities towards each other, build peace and unite in the larger interest of the people”. DCC Phek in a note appended by Mikha Kenye, its president, also urged both the GoI and the national workers to work towards an early solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political problem. The Congress Phek division at the meet lashed out at DAN govt. for its ‘complete failure to provide safety and security to life’. Condemning the deteriorating law and order situation in the district DCC Phek questioned “the wisdom of the State Govt. in withdrawing the law enforcing forces from the district to elsewhere”. DCC Phek also noted that ‘rampant extortion, threat and intimidation, illegal taxa-

tion, unauthorized deduction from salaries of Govt. employees have become the order of the day.’ “The deteriorating law and order situation has brought the economic activities to almost a grinding halt,” the note stated. A number of serious concerns pertaining to the District were deliberated upon at the meet where R.L Akamba, Ex-MLA and vice president, NPCC i/c Phek district was the main speaker. Despite attaining the status of a district in 1973, DCC Phek lamented that it is “the only district HQ in Nagaland State without a single black-topped/all weather road” and protested “this step-motherly treatment” by the State Govt. The ‘skeletal presence of officers and staff in the district’s offices’ was taken note of, at the meet and demanded the state govt. to act fast to ensure regular attendance in the offices. DCC Phek also brought to notice a number of departments in the district. “The District Hospital, Phek has just two or three junior doctors in the station on most occasions. The situation in Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and Sub-Centres are not better in any way. Nine administrative posts and a SDPO post in the Phek district are said to

Jesus Christ. Witnessing how God had saved him from armed men several times, the DC emphatically remarked that he would continue to serve God everywhere he went since Jesus Christ was a God “who turned funeral services to resurrection services”. Earlier in the program, Cultural dances were performed by participants from Bhutan, Nepal and also from Resource persons from New Zealand. The Ordination and giving away of licenses was done by Director of Training ARBS, Rev. Robert Singh while the Prayer of Consecration was pronounced by JLGM members and New Zealand Team. The Speaker of the program was Principal of SBC, Tsuknungsangba Ao.

EXCEL COACHING AND COMPUTER CENTRE Mission Road, Near North Police Station- Kohima

be lying vacant. In Meluri subdivision, other than SDO (C), other offices are left without officers and staff.” On the present practice of making payments related to contract works in Kohima or Dimapur with the “Ministers and MLAs summoning the DDOs or (payments) through Bank Demand Draft”, DCC Phek demanded that such practices be stopped and that payments should be made only in the district headquarter. It further demanded the state govt. to implement the photographic electoral roll in order to remove election malpractices and allow genuine voters to participate in elec-

tion process. In addition, it demanded the state govt. to improve basic amenities in the district while DCC Phek also deplored ‘the near absent electricity supply, water supply and other essential services.’ The district Congress meet also appealed to “DAN MLAs from Phek district to defend/ protect the cause and interest of the people or bear the moral responsibility for failure and resign”.Itfurtheralsomadeappeal to “erstwhile congressmen and women from Phek district who had deserted the party to come back home and work together to salvage the people of Nagaland from perishing together.”

DYSU meeting today DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MEXN): All members of Dimapur Yachem Students’ Union are informed that the Union general meeting will be held on December 1 at 9:30 am at the residence of Union Treasury 4th mile. All members of DYSU are further informed to submit membership fee while attending the meeting without fail.

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KIPHIRE DISTRICT CMCF INTERVIEW This is to inform all the applicants/candidates of the Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund-2008-09 that the interview shall be held on 4th December 2008 at 08:00 am in the ofﬁce chamber of the Deputy Commissioner, Kiphire. All the applicants/candidates are directed to come with their original documents for the interview. No separate interview calling teller shall be issued again in the regard.

Hostel available for both Boys & Girls

administration and teachers in order to serve the larger community, whereas the present generation; students specialize themselves in Computer Science and other courses which offer a large amount of salary. He added that the whole sense of value is questioned. He further put forward a question to the faculty, what kind of higher education we mean for. Tokato K. Yeptho, Study Secretary, Communication Desk SCMI National Office in a press release said that the aim of this programme was to give intensive training to Christian teachers in higher education to make them more effective in classroom work and strengthen the campus ministry in Christian Colleges. These six days intense programme explores the importance of a Biblical approach to higher education and to help the faculty become more effective teachers. The Programme came to an end with the valedictory function where certificates were handed over to all the participants. Information about the two organisations can be accessed at www.scmindia.org and www.iapche.org

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): Following yesterday’s stand-off between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN (IM) at Seithekiema, near Patkai Christian College in Chumukedima, another day of tension and anxiety plagued the residents of the area today. After giving the activists of the outfit time to vacate the area yesterday, the Assam Rifles sent out another patrol around the area today at around 11: 30 am only to find that the NSCN (IM) activists were still around. The Assam Rifles were then joined by the civil administration and police at around 12 noon in another standoff which created enormous anxiety, fear and panic among the public of the area. The Assam Rifle personnel said the underground cadres were in full uniform and heavily armed both yesterday and today while the NSCN (IM) accused the AR of surrounding them ‘without provocation’. For the entire day, Naga civil society like the Naga women Hoho as well as the GBs gathered in the area to find a resolution to the standoff. It was only after the intervention of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation that any untoward situation was averted. Member of the Forum for Naga reconciliation including Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, Dr. Phughato and Naga Students’ federation chief Imchatoba, talked to the NSCN (IM) activists and requested the Assam Rifles to allow the faction time to vacate the area. Convener of the Forum for Naga reconciliation Rev. Dr. Wati Aier said the Assam Rifles’ Major had been very understanding in considering the students of nearby Patkai Christian College who were due to give their examinations on Monday, and had decided to withdraw the forces to allow the cadres time to vacate. Meanwhile, police source disclosed that the situation would be discussed at the higher level on Monday, between the Ceasefire Monitoring Group and the army officers.

Stop all hostilities: DCC Phek to factions Annual Hostel nite at TBHJ

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DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): The Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI) and the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education (IAPCHE) jointly organised the Faculty Enrichment Programme, an international event, from November 3 to 8, 2008, at the SCM Programme Center, Bangalore. The theme for the programme was ‘Christian Higher Education in the Context of Globalization’. Altogether, 32 participants from India and overseas attended the programme. Rt. Rev. Dr. Taranath Sagar, Bishop of Methodist Church and the President of the NCCI, inaugurated the programme, while Dr. Nick Lantinga, Executive Director of the IAPCHE, delivered the keynote address. The programme included Bible studies and sessions on theme and related issues from eminent resource persons both from India and overseas. Dr. C T Kurien, in his session on ‘Globalization and its impact on Education’, reminded that during the 40s, students opted to study law,

Dimapur

Bible School holds graduation day AR-NSCN (IM) stand-off creates tension

Coaching for:

Participants at the 5 day Faculty Enrichment Programme jointly organised by SCMI and IAPCHE at the SCM center Bangalore.

Monday

1 December 2008

L. Yantsowo Lotha Deputy Commissioner & Member Secretary, DCFC, Kiphire.

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N. HUSHILI SEMA Managing Director

even from abroad mainly to develop their personality besides having regular study hours and prayer meeting on alternate evenings. Meanwhile, the proprietor, wardens and the hostellers of Tyrannus Boys Hostel Jakhama wishes every one a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

LOST NOTICE

I, K. Khevito Ayemi am applying for the ESL and Class 9 promotion Exam Certiﬁcate as I have lost it. Name: K. Khevito Ayemi F/Name: Khatovi Ayemi M/Name: Itoli Ayemi School: Shalom Mission School Doyapur: Dimapur Year of passing: ESL: 2006 Reg. No. A 66337 Cl. 9 Promotion Exam; 2007 Reg. No. 7014791 Board: NBSE

Kiphire District Planning & Dev. Board Programme for

ADVENT CHRISTMAS-cum-DPDB MEETING (Hosted by Shri. T. Torechu, Parliamentary Secretary, CAWD) Date : - 5th December 2008 (Friday) Place : - Power Guest House, Longmatra. Time : - 10:00 a.m Theme : - “KNOW YOU, KNOW ME.” Christmas Father : - Shri. T. Torechu. Hon’ble Parl. Secy. CAWD & Chairman, DPDB, Kiphire. Leader : - Shri. L. YANTSOWO LOTHA. DC & Vice Chairman, DPDB, Kiphire. Order of Programme: 1. Invocation Prayer : - Pastor Thsari 2. Welcome address : - Shri Lenthüro, Head GB. 3. Welcome song : - Longmatra Area Students’ Union, i/c Tsolen, Naga Idol Contestant. 4. “What Christmas means to me” :Shri. C. Kipili Sangtam, MLA 5. Special Number : - DPDB members, Addl. S.P., Kiphire. 6. Christmas greeting : - Christmas Father. 7. Folk song : - Lithrolarü, Longmatra town. 8. Vote of thanks : - Chairman, KTC.

ADVENT CHRISTMAS FEAST Please Note: 1. All the DPDB members are requested to attend the programme without fail. 2. Special invitees: Presidents of USLB, Yimchunger Hoho, Kiphire; Sumi Hoho, Kiphire; Kiphire Area Sangtam Students Union, DB & GB Associations, KTC Members.

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You are cordially invited to the

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): The Tyrannus Boys Hostel Jakhama is celebrating its 2nd annual hostel nite-cum-Pre Christmas at its hostel premises on December 4 at 4:00 pm. Er. Eyono-o Kharutso, executive engineer, Directorate of Irrigation & Flood Control, Kohima will be the main speaker. Tihot K. Chishi will lead the services while Rupfuzo Puro will pronounce welcome address. Tyrannus Boys Hostel Jakhama with the motto “Personality development” is one of the private hostels exclusively runs for St. Joseph’s College students situated below St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama. The hostellers are provided with the opportunity to interact with people from different profession and

CRAFT BAZAR IN COMMEMORATING WITH HORN BILL FESTIVAL AT NAGA HERITAGE VILLAGE , KISAMA, KOHIMA FOR 10 DAYS FROM 1ST DECEMBER 2008. Participants from: Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram , Arunachal Pradesh , Sikkim & Nagaland.

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: Nagaland Handloom & Handicraft Development Corporation Ltd, Dimapur. : Office of the Development Commissioner for Handicraft, Ministry of Textiles, Govt.of India , New Delhi . Sd/N.HUSHILI SEMA Managing Director

C M Y K

Monday

Dimapur

BUSINESS

1 December 2008

Attacks chill economic prospects

MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 30 (AGENCIES): The deadly terror strike on India’s financial nerve centre clouds the future of Asia’s thirdlargest economy at a time when it already faces a significant slowdown, analysts say. Ruthless gunmen stormed luxury hotels, including the iconic Taj Mahal Palace, a landmark restaurant and the main train station, killing at least 195 people in a brazen attack that paralysed Mumbai for 60 hours. The murderous rampage, which Indians are calling their own 9/11, was clearly intended to “destabilise markets and scare off tourists,” said Nikhilesh Bhattacharyya, an economist at Moody’s Economy.com. The attack -- which also saw the gunmen single out Americans, Britons and Israelis -- “signifies an attack by extremists on India’s economic success and its closer and warmer economic and diplomatic ties with the West,” said Deepak Lalwani, India director at London’s Astaire and Partners. And the timing of the attack, the most devastating of a string this year, was “abysmal” from an Indian economic viewpoint, he said. The stock market is down by 55 percent this year, banks are facing a huge fund outflow due to the global financial crisis, the rupee is at record lows and growth has slowed significantly amid a widening

global recession. “There has been a continuing attempt to undermine India’s economy over the past four or five years and this (attack) is part of it,” said Ajai Sahni, head of the New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management. The images of gunbattles between militants and commandoes “flashed around the world are not going to be helpful,” said a Singapore banker on condition of anonymity. “The effect on investor sentiment and tourism will be pronounced.” Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram conceded the attacks could have a “negative” short-term impact but insisted the economy will “overcome” it. “Investor sentiment will be affected. But within a few weeks or months it will recover,” he said. India remains “an attractive investment destination.” He expects growth of at least seven percent for this year to March after three years of at least nine percent expansion. However, economists forecast growth as low as six percent this year and four percent for next year. In the immediate aftermath, the attacks will scare away tourists and business travellers, analysts say. “The singling out of American, British and Israelis as hostages indicates a new and worrying action by terrorists as this indicates an international agenda being fought on Indian soil,” Lalwani said. “The impact on tour-

Microsoft to buy Yahoo online search for $20 bn

C M Y K

The Morung Express

LONDON, NOVEMBER 30 (PTI): Software major Microsoft is in discussions to buy the online search business of Yahoo for about 20 billion dollars, media report says. A few months back, Yahoo had spurned a takeover bid from Microsoft worth more than 47 billion dollars. “Software giant Microsoft is in talks to acquire Yahoo’s online search business for 20 billion dollars (13 billion pounds). The proposal forms the centrepiece of a complex transaction that would see Microsoft support a new management team to take control of Yahoo. But there is no intention of Microsoft tabling another takeover bid for the web giant, after its aborted 47.5-billion dollar offer this summer,” The Sunday Times

has reported. According to the report, it is thought that Jonathan Miller, ex-chairman and chief executive of AOL, and Ross Levinsohn, a former president of Fox Interactive Media, have been lined up to lead the new management team. “Senior directors at Microsoft and Yahoo are understood to have agreed the broad terms of a deal, but there is no guarantee that it will succeed,” the publication said in a report published online today. The Sunday Times said that under the terms of the proposed transaction, Microsoft would provide a five-billion dollar facility to the Miller and Levinsohn management team. The duo would raise an additional five-billion dollar from external investors.

ism will be horrible. People will be scared, worried,” said Vijay Prakash, manager of a posh Mumbai restaurant. Foreign investors will “likely be worried about the safety of their employees and establishments”, said Rajeev Malik, economist at Australia’s Macquarie Research. But in the longer-term, as long as there are no major follow-up attacks, the impact should recede, analysts said. The “negative effects of the current attacks on tourism, investor confidence, rupee and equities will probably turn out to be temporary,” Malik said. Also “what the Islamist terrorist movement has been able to demonstrate in the past few years there is no place you can that is completely safe,” said security expert Robert Ayers at London’s Chatham House, an international affairs thinktank. “If people made inward investments based on the fear of terrorist attacks, there would be no investments... in all sorts of the places,” he said. However, cautioned Sahni of the Institute for Conflict Management, “if we keep seeing attacks of this magnitude, perceptions of India’s security are going to shift and it will impact directly on investment decisions.” Global credit ratings agency Standard and Poor’s said Friday it had no plans to downgrade India’s rating as long as the attack was “an isolated case.”

Terrorism will not change insurance structure

A shopkeeper opens his shop for the ﬁrst time since Wednesday night near Cafe Leopold, one of the areas where terrorists shot at people, in Mumbai on November 29. (AP Photo)

Over Rs 4,000 crore loss incurred during terror attacks MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 30 (PTI): The 60-hour terror ordeal that struck Mumbai on Wednesday night caused a blow of nearly Rs 4,000 crore to the financial capital of the country, industry experts said Saturday. “It is an overall loss of the economy as hotels, shops and all businesses were closed. A minimum of Rs 1,000 crore per day is lost when such a shut-down takes place,” Assocham Secretary D S Rawat said. “If you take the impact for four days due to the siege, then the overall loss could be over Rs 4,000 crore,” he added. On Thursday the Bombay Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange and Commodity exchanges were shut and many of the corporate offices

F DX R I W S I J TWJ Z SM J WC S D A T T C T T V Y CS K YN B SN A NC S QN V X T XMU HCR DHN UOP QT H

G A K S T Y X U E O Z B B G E N Z N Q J

R Z X G A W R C W M S Y G V B L C J Z R F

J K V T H O X E C L L N E H S I Q X R A

D S A N Z C WW T J S H A R QH Z R Z G D AM M AG F D H L E P WH A ODG O B I B C E S L O C I G J MU U PW S G A MGU

A N J R I O Y I B S I N D S D A P R G E

E E I W C O I D C U G F P T K O M I F L C

A U T F N Z H S H V R O E E O K Q E P D

A A G R Y W A A C W R K S K R D C J K B W

V E V P R A O H D X I G J O O A Z Q X Q

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 30 (AGENCIES): The restoration of the century-old Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in downtown Mumbai that was considerably damaged during the terror siege could take as much as 12 months and cost about Rs.5 billion (Rs.500 crore/$100 million), experts on structural engineering and architecture say. A sea-facing landmark of India’s commercial capital, offering a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea and the majestic Gateway of India, the hotel was built in 1903, with its architecture blending Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles. Thus, the restoration, will take that much more time and cost more than conventional restorations, the experts said, adding the services of professional institutions like the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) may also be required. “The Taj is one of our oldest hotels and a heritage structure. So, any restoration work would take a minimum of a year. It is my estimate that it could cost somewhere around Rs.500 crore,” said Pandurang Potnis, vice presi-

dent of the Indian Institute of Architecture. “You must understand that restoration work for such structures is a cumbersome process. It involves a detailed assessment of the damage with blueprints. Only then can the damaged structure be strengthened,” he added. “In India, this kind of technology is available with only a handful of institutions like the Archaeological Survey of India,” Potnis, who also runs Bangalorebased architecture consultancy firm under his name, told IANS. Visitors to the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel have come away in awe of its Indian influences, vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, archways, carpets and chandeliers, as also its collection of art and antique furniture. Jamsetji N. Tata, the

N NWEWL E A DMS G I E D S K I MS U I V D A E GMV L L T E OD C U P T R F B OO L Y D D T I E Z R H U L OC E I I F E I C U S VMB R J E T G I U V WM A L O U O V X L C Z L B U I S A Y J E E E R N R I H H R WA UQ TM J F Z A F U

SUDOKU

property, Indian Hotels Ltd., have said that they would take all measures to restore the Mumbai landmark and had an insurance policy against terror attacks. “We are not just determined, but completely committed, to rebuilding the institution. We will restore it to its fullest glory,” said company vice chairman R.K. Krishna Kumar. “The loss of life is extremely distressing, as is seeing a building as unique as this destroyed. The entire top floor has gone up in flames, but as soon as the dust settles we will go out there and begin the rebuilding,” Krishna Kumar added. Armed terrorists who had seized the hotel for four days earlier this week had set deliberate parts of it on fire in a bid to damage it. The hotel suffered further damage when commandos had moved against the terrorists FridaySaturday to wrest it back from them. Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata visited the property Saturday with his management team to inspect the damage and discuss measures for the hotel’s restoration.

legendary founder of India’s largest the past. A.K. Nagpal, the head of the industrial house, built the 565-room civil engineering department at the hotel much before the Gateway of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here, also said that structuralengineering was the trickiest part in restoration of damaged properties. “We have undertaken such consulting projects in the past and provide advice to even private companies,” added Nagpal, who specialises in areas like structural engineering and tall buildings. Rajesh Thambi, who runs an architectural design firm Saving Catalyst here, said India was completed in 1928 to com- that if it takes a skilled person around memorate the visit of Britain’s King five minutes to construct one sq ft of George V and Queen Mary. The grand carpeted area, restoration would take property, which will also require some anywhere between 45-50 minutes. “I experienced artisans and workers to would say that the cost of restoration refurbish and restore, has hosted roy- - it will take a lot of care while doing alty, heads of states, corporate honchos so - will be around Rs.1,500-Rs.2,000 and celebrities, among other guests in per square feet.” The owners of the

DAILY CROSS WORD C

Most financiers ask for a fire and a terrorism insurance for homes bought on loan. “Those who are not asking may start asking for insurance cover as collateral,” said an insurance official. Many insurance company chiefs believe that this incident would definitely bring in more awareness for insurance products like personal accident covers in a country where insurance penetration is low. “People will be more conscious and whoever is buying insurance will make sure he is adequately protected,” said, Deepak Sood, CEO of Future Generali Insurance. Basic life insurance policies don’t exclude death due to terrorist attacks. However, additional riders or add-on covers such as hospitalisation, critical illness, etc exclude loss of life resulting from war, hostilities or terrorist attacks. Riders or add-on covers offer additional protection apart from the main insurance policy at an additional cost. “It is too early to say. The base cover may continue to offer terrorism protection. I think the exclusion on the riders would be retained,” said Fabien Jeudy, vice president and chief actuary at Birla Sun Life Insurance. But insurers are not sure on whether a separate rider for terrorism is likely to be floated in the market.

‘Restoring Taj hotel’s glory may cost Rs.5 bn, take 12 months’

LEISURE W O

had reported skeletal staff presence as security forces tried to overcome terrorists, who struck at different parts of the city. Combined daily turnover of the BSE, NSE and the commodity exchanges is about Rs 32,710 crore. The attack on the city, which is also the entertainment hub of the country, has greatly affected the television and movie industry with a loss of about Rs 10 crore, estimated during the last three days of terrorist attacks. According to a film producer, who did not wish to be named said the biggest hit was the theatre business losing about Rs eight crore due to closure of screens. “TV and film production business is anyway affected and has suffered a loss of about Rs two crore,” he added.

MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 30 (AGENCIES):Asanaftermath of the terrorist attacks, many people have been rushing to insurance brokers demanding cover against such crises. However, insurance companies say the demand will neither change the way terrorism insurance is sold in the country nor will the premium shoot up. Most insurance companies that DNA Money spoke to said that terrorism cover will continue to be in-built in the personal accident cover. This means insurers would not demand additional premium from policyholders to provide protection for terrorism. Any claim to be paid for terrorist attacks is paid from a collection of the entire premium collected from all policy holders seeking terrorism cover. R Krishnamurthy, managing director, Watson Wyatt Insurance Consulting, said that he didn’t receive many terrorism claims. “The pool has so far been in surplus as not many claims for terrorism have been made,” he said. An official of a public general insurance company, however, said that rates may be reviewed. “We need to see whether claims from the current attack would affect the viability of the terrorism pool. If it is hard insurers may demand more premium.”

CROSSWORD # 1168

The Morung Express number game

Sudoku # 1151

DIMAPUR

Civil Hospital: Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital: Shamrock Hospital Zion Hospital: Fire Service: Police Control Room Police Trafﬁc Control East Police Station West Police Station CIHSR (Referral Hospital)

KOHIMA Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home: Answers to CROSSWORD #1167

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.”

Yesterdays answer Sudoku #1150

STD CODE: 03862

232224; Emergency- 229529, 229474 227930, 231081 233044, 228846 228254 231864, 230889 232201 228400 232106 227607, 228400 232181 242555/ 242531

STD CODE: 0370 2244279 2244923 2242897 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

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CURRENCY NOTES US Dollars Sterling Pound Hong Kong Dollar Japanese Yen /1000 Malaysian Ringtt Singapore Dollar Thai Bhat / 100 U.A.E. Dirhams Euro

BUY(Rs) 48.65 74.73 5.41 498.51 12.23 30.23 135.05 12.46 63.12

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REGIONAL/LOCAL

The Morung Express

Monday 1 December 2008

Dimapur

Mizo Polls: War of Words Intensiﬁes

Newmai News Network Aizawl | November 30

MIZORAM WILL go to poll in less than 48 hours from now but the war of words between the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the opposition Congress party over the use of underground elements in the electioneering is fast heating up. Both the main political parties are hurling allegations against each other of using militants in the poll process. The Mizo National Front (MNF) alleged that the Congress party is using the Hmar People's Council-Democratic (HPC-D) militants while forcing the people to vote for the latter political party, the Congress not only dismissing the allegation but hurls similar accusation against the rival party. Talking to Newmai News Network in Aizawl, K.L. Roohama, former MLA and leader of MNF, alleged that in some parts of Mizoram particularly in border areas the cadres of HPC-D have been threatening the people to vote for the Congress party or face the wrath of the outfit. K.L.Roohama who is

a journalist-turned politician said that there has been understanding between the Congress party and the HPC-D both in "New Delhi and in jungles but the the poll result will go in favour of the MNF as the people in Mizoram are deadly against the political parties maintaining nexus with the underground elements." The MNF leader also alleged that the Congress party has violated the rules laid down by the Mizoram People's Forum (MPF), an NGO sponsored by the powerful Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod to have clean, fair and peaceful assembly election in Mizoram. Rubbishing the allegation of the MNF, Union Minister and Congress observer for Mizoram, B.K. Handique said that his party would never do such thing. Rather he accused the MNF of using the militants in the poll process. Meanwhile, the people of Mizoram are all set to cast their votes for the 206 candidates in the fray of which nine are women for the 40 assembly seats of the state on Decem- Mizo people at market in Aizawl, the capital city of the north-eastern Indian state of Mizoram on November 30 where the ber 2. On December 8 the re- State Assembly Elections is scheduled to take place on December 2. Voting is scheduled to be held in 40 constituencies sults of the polls will be out. in the north-eastern state where some 600,000 people is expected to cast their votes. (UB Photos)

AIDS control on war-footing in AR Efforts on to bring administration to peoples’ doorstep

SHILLONG, NOVEMBER 30 (PTI): The Assam Rifles has started screening of its troops and their families for HIV, as the country’s oldest paramilitary force vowed that no stones would be left unturned to control this deadly disease in the force and in the region. “100 per cent screening of Assam Rifles troops and most of the families for HIV has been conducted and the process is still on,” an official statement from the force on the eve of World AIDS Day said on Sunday. It said special emphasis was being given to spreading awareness amongst troops and families by conducting lectures, screening movies, organizing slogan and poster competition at

the unit level in the entire force. Officials said that more than 600 personnel of the force have been found to be HIV-positive, of which nearly 70 have died of AIDS in the past decade. “This year, the Assam Rifles dedicates its efforts towards increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education amongst its soldiers. Training of peer educators is being done at all sectoral headquarters,” the statement said. It further informed that one antiretro viral therapy center, six voluntary confidential counseling and testing centers (VCCT) and 30 rapid diagnostic centers have been established across the region with assistance from the Union Home Ministry.

ITANAGAR, NOVEMBER 30 (UNI): In an effort to bring administration to the doorsteps of people residing in remote and inaccessible areas, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu inaugurated ‘Segi-Gusar Circle Office’ at remote Gusar village under Upper Subansiri district. Official sources here today said the Chief Minister also dedicated a Krishi Vigyan Kendra to the farm communities of Maro village in the district, sources added. Addressing a public meeting yesterday, the Chief Minister, while reiterating his mission towards safeguarding wildlife, exhorted the people to preserve nature and wildlife. ‘’Since mankind is attached to the nature, any

disturbance to her creates havoc by ways of disaster and epidemic,’’ Khandu said. ‘’Arunachal has a unique and virgin landscape which is also a bio-diversity hotspot and hunting practice would certainly spoil the ecology of the state,’’ he added. Deliberating upon various issues prioritised by his government in spheres of development like implementation of the Prime Minister’s package, Sixth Pay Commission, air and surface communication, the Chief Minister called for a collective effort from all sections of the society to push forward the underdeveloped state towards the goal of a progressive state. Advocating for encouraging Hydro Power, which would pave the way of economic develop-

AIDS and Women—The Morality Myth

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Dina is also HIV positive. After her husband’s death, her mother-in-law refused to look after her and a huge misunderstanding grew between them. She eventually left the house and three children behind, and went to work for a nongovernmental organization that works with people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). She has seen people give her disgusting stares and even been called “dirty woman.” The common thread between these two women’s lives is the route of transmission. Tracing back to the history of the route of transmission, these women’s husbands were intravenous drug users (IDU); but it is common for people to ignore this fact. Over the years that HIV/AIDS has dominated the psyche of Naga people, women’s role in containing the virus has often been the target and more

so, when the issue of “morality” emerges, women are often seen as the carrier of the virus. AIDS through IDU has reduced considerably over the years; the sexual route of transmission has increased. Not surprisingly women and the myth of morality have only increased. It is not that people are not sensitized enough, an HIV/ AIDS counsellor says, but the truth is the same people knowingly tend to brand the fairer sex as “immoral.” She pointed out many women contract the virus on first sexual contact but they still live with the stigma that people might think she is “immoral.” The counsellor said it is hard for the women to come out of that mindset due to pre conceived notion associated with AIDS and “morality.” It is felt there is gender discrimination even in regard to the issue and there is need to go deeper,

the counsellor says. For commercial sex workers (CSW), often regarded as the vulnerable population, there is little or no thought given about their customers i.e. the men. “The word CSW itself is discrimination,” an NGO worker based in Delhi said and wondered why people tend to stigmatize CSW’s while nobody questions the people who visit them. She said “men would often be the carriers of the virus because after they visit CSW’s, they go back and sleep with their wives.” A doctor working in the field of AIDS said, these days CSW’s are aware about the use of protection but often fail to protect themselves due to force and ignorance of their customers. “We have to look at it both ways. Infidelity is happening, but it is wrong for anyone to relate AIDS to morality; let alone brand women,” he said.

Although stigma and discrimination has reduced considerably over the years, there are places where character assassination has caused many women to live a secluded and stigmatized life. The church is seen as a force which can remove the taboo of relating AIDS to morality. But even here, a PLHA said “It is all about how a girl should behave, what girls should do and what girls should not do.” Unless we disassociate AIDS with morality, the next generation will perish, a social activist pointed out. She holds the view that men should also take equal responsibility for the spread of virus instead of throwing the blame on “immoral women.” (The women mentioned in this feature are based on real life oral testimonies conducted by this Reporter for Panos South Asia, New Delhi.)

ment in the state, Khandu said despite having abundant natural resources, the state had acute shortage of its own revenue and depended upon the Centre for funds. On being apprised of poor road connectivity in various villages of the district by local MLA Takar Marde, the Chief Minister assured to make all-out efforts so that the rural road network is taken up under Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Khandu said the implementation of the Prime Minister’s package was in full swing and the process of making operational the existing airstrips were under process and urged the encroachers to evacuate the occupied land, the sources added.

Thankfully, the hospital has a pediatric who along with the Medical Superintendent, an eye specialist, provides some “face-saving” mechanism to this lone hospital of the district. Another grappling problem is electricity, which according to sources in the hospital, is more acute in the hospital colony. There are gory tales of nurses having to deliver babies by candle light. Last month in October, when the colony transformer had broken down for more than two weeks, about 400 vials of immunization for children had been spoilt for lack of a freezer. The rest of the Health Centers in the rest of the district is no better with acute shortage of doctors faced by the department. Excluding, the civil hospital in the district headquarter, altogether there are 66 CHCs, PHCs and SHCs but only 14 Medical Officers (MO) to oversee them. Out of these 14 doctors, two are on study leave and according to the testimony of many villages; most of the MO are never in station in their place of posting. This causes great difficulties for the villagers

who often have to go all the way to the district hospital in Mon to be treated, only to be further referred to Assam due to lack of facilities in the only hospital in the district. While the people of the district struggle under such condition, an officer under the Chief Medical Office (CMO) in Mon remarks in sadness, “I am about to resolve not to say anything from this New Year…everything is so politicized…its hopeless” while adding that the only redemption from the problem would be to sensitize the people. According to the Nagaland State Human Development Report, by the year 2020, it is possible to see a developed Nagaland— with the population under control, the economy growing at accelerated pace, infrastructure such as transport, communication and power improved to modern levels and qualitative health care being provided to the people. The point is that even after 45 years of Statehood we are still groping in the dark. This news feature has been produced in fulfillment of a Media Fellowship with the National Foundation for India.

“The brazenness of this attack has taken everyone by surprise. Nobody believed that gunmen would walk into five-star hotels and begin shooting indiscriminately,” said Amit Chanda of the London-based Risk Advisory Group. At the train station, one witness recounted how gunmen took turns to shoot and reload, therefore maintaining a constant hail of bullets. Their calm, composed and confident expressions were caught on security cameras. “The terrorist group has invested a significant amount of time in preparing the plan for this attack,” said Rohan Gunaratna, author of the book ‘Inside Al-Qaeda.’

Since the nurse was unemployed, she had no medical supplies or equipments but most of all she did not think she was capable of dealing with such a complicated case. For this reason, Tonglih refused to accompany relatives who had come to fetch her to assist in the birth of the baby. However, when the relatives came for her the third time requesting her to help out, Tonglih relented and accompanied them. “There was something like a balloon which kept popping out but the woman in-charge there kept trying to push it in” says Tonglih adding that in her entire life, she had never seen anything like it. “I felt really scared because the mother had no energy left to push and I felt very inadequate to deal with the situation so I prayed to God that the mother does not die in my hands.” Tonglih decided to let the balloon-like object to fall out and a while later the baby appeared, leg first.

However, the story was far from over because soon the baby’s head got stuck and as the last option, Tonglih had to get permission from the father to save the mother even if the baby’s life had to be sacrificed. But by some miracle and a lot of patient caring, the second twin was born at 12:30 am, after almost seven hours of the first twin baby. But the mother Yatna is not out of the woods yet and is still suffering immensely from excessive loss of blood. Even after three days of giving birth, when this reporter had met her, Yatna was still unable to produce milk to breastfeed her twin girls while her entire body was swollen and tender. Yatna is just one of the thousands of women in Mon district who has gone through near death experiences for minor complications in the absence in proper medical aid. In a shocking disclosure, it was revealed that the entire district of Mon with a population of 2, 59,604, does

WITH ONLY two days to go for the assembly election in Mizoram, the general opinion here is that Mizoram is heading for a hung assembly. People have the feeling that no alliance or party will be able to retain the magic number to form government by its own in the 40-seat Mizoram Legislative Assembly. In the December 2 assembly election there will be a triangular contest among the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), main opposition Congress and United Democratic Alliance (UDA). UDA is again an alliance of Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC), farmers’ union called Zoram Kuthnathawktu Pawl (ZKP) and Zoram National Party (ZNP). Altogether Mizoram has 6,11,124 voters of which 3,08,884 are women and 302,240 men. Nine women out of the total 206 candidates are in the fray this time. Speculations have it that chief minister Zoramthanga and his Mizo National Front (MNF) retaining power may

Analysts and officials also pointed to the similarities between the Mumbai attacks and the AlQaeda network’s modus operandi: suicidal assaults against multiple high-profile sites designed to cause maximum casualties and chaos. The militants were also extremely disciplined throughout their fight to the death, according to an elite Indian commando involved in the 60-hour-long battle. “At times we found them matching us in combat and movement; it was their high degree of training that was prolonging the operation each hour,” the unidentified commando told the Hindustan Times newspaper. “They are either army regu-

Israeli experts slam handling of hostage crisis

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Eight Israeli hostages at Nariman House were found dead by commandos after they stormed the building sieged by terrorists. “When terrorists attack more than seven sites simultaneously, it’s very hard to handle. However, this difficulty was compounded by the lack of prior intelligence, which is the colossal failure in this story. This was an organisation in which dozens of people were surely involved,” Maj. Gen. David Tzur, a former commander of the police’s counter-terror unit ‘Yamam’, told daily ‘Ha’aretz’. “To the Indians’ credit, they were determined and sought contact (with the enemy) all the time,” Tzur told the daily, adding that a terrorist takeover of a hotel is “the nightmare of every counter-

terrorism unit,” because it is hard to effectively “cleanse” so large a site. However, the Israeli counter-terrorism expert was highly critical of the operation at Nariman House where he dubbed the twelve hour battle to liberate the building “unreasonable”. “There’s no chance in the world that captives will survive an incident that doesn’t end within minutes of the break-in,” he said. The Indians apparently assumed that the hostages had already been killed, Tzur added. Another counter-terrorism expert, ColLior Lotan, formerly a senior officer in the army’s elite Sayeret Matkal unit, said that the Indians “operated as if there were no hostages”. “When you’re rescuing captives, you enter fast, with maximum force, and try to

Health system in ruins as mother risks life From page 1

Aizawl | November 30

not have a single Gynecologist. One nurse based in the District Hospital of Mon disclosed that the only Gynecologist of Mon had been taken off to be attached to the better equipped Kohima some time back. “Now we refer all the cases that needs a specialist to Sonari (Assam)”, says the nurse on condition of anonymity. Another nurse also related how a pregnant mother who had come from the village all way to Mon had to be referred to Sonari. But unfortunately, the doctor in Assam was off duty and she had to be further taken to Sibsagar, by which time, it was too late and the baby was lost. The greatest irony however, is that Wanching village, where Yatna had her near-death experience while giving birth to twin daughters has a Sub-Health Centre with a doctor and nurses officially posted. The reality though, is that the sub-health centre is lying deserted with no furniture, medical supplies or personnel and villag-

not be a reality this time. Corruption charges heaping upon the chief minister have been a blow of his hope of coming back to power. Though the Congress is upbeat and the slight inclination of the voters towards the party is indicated, it is speculated that the Congress’ chance of obtaining the magic number is another far dream. The third front, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has least cutting edges of the three alliance-the Congress led alliance, that of MNF and the UDA. With this arithmatics, the Congress and the MNF chances of grabbing the kursi of power in Mizoram will be the side wherever the the UDA puts its weight atleast from outside. But will the UDA lend its support to any of these the Comgress led alliance and that of the MNF? Observers here feel that given this development, the under-dog like the UDA will become the kingmaker and if not treaded well by the major alliances like the Congress and the MNF, the king-maker in UDA will become the king itself.

The New Face of Violence

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The Face of 45th years Statehood

From page 1

Mizoram heading for Hung Assembly?

Newmai News Network

ers disclosed that the deserted building was recently occupied by the GREF personnel while repairing the road to the village. Many other health centers in the district suffer similar fate with no resident doctors, nurses or medical supplies while the building lies in shambles. This kind of neglect has led to heavy encroachment of many of the hospital compounds and one such example is the Naginimora Primary Health Centre (PHC), where the hospital land is being used for cultivation by the local people. As for Yatna, the ‘still-critical’ mother of the twins who now has ten children, the horrible experience has scarred her against having any more children but for that, the family who has no means of income, will have to spend more than Rs. 1000 to travel all the way to Mon or Assam for access to birth control. This news feature has been produced in fulfillment of a Media Fellowship with the National Foundation for India.

reach the hostages as quickly as possible, even at the price of casualties,” he said, adding “Here, they operated much more cautiously.” “It is not clear why the area was not cleared of bystanders, or why the comparatively risky option of a helicopter-borne assault was chosen,” they reportedly said. The explosion that blew in the ground-floor door occurred before soldiers landed on the rooftop, whereas for maximum effect, they should have occurred simultaneously, they noted.

lars or have done a long stint of commando training.” And according to a senior European diplomat based in India, the militant group apparently managed to plan, finance and train for the gruesome operation in total secrecy. “We all feared there would be some kind of attack against Mumbai. After the bombings in so many other Indian cities this year, I think everyone assumed Mumbai would be hit at some point,” he told AFP on condition he was not identified. “But as far as I know, no Western intelligence service had any specific, actionable information. It seems these particular guys managed to slip under everyone’s radar.”

BSF jawan killed in Tripura

KOLLAM, NOVEMBER 30 (AGENCIES): A BSF jawan, hailing from Kollam, was killed in Tripura according to information received here. Biju, 38, of Punnammoottil, Urukunnu in the district, was the deceased. He was killed in a mine blast triggered by terrorists in Tripura on Friday night. He had been working in the BSF for the last 15 years. Arrangement are being made to bring his body to his native place. He is survived by wife Binu, children Jivin and Jeeva.

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2008 VOL. III ISSUE 333

WORLD AIDS DAY, 2008

Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise “Lead, Empower & Deliver”

his year’s World AIDS Day also marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day campaign. Since 1988, the global community living with HIV has committed itself to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic globally and collectively using the most effective strategies and investing whatever resources it may require to contain and reverse the epidemic. However, the latest UNAIDS global report indicates clearly that the battle is far from being over in any part of the world. The Executive Director of UNAIDS himself admits, “What really concerns me is that while we’ve made measurable progress on access to treatment, we don’t have the same impact when it comes to HIV prevention. Is it because we need more time, or are we not on the right track?” This is a stark reality that leaders at all levels need to face and deal with. The theme for 2008 is focused on leadership with a message that leaders at all levels are expected to lead, empower and deliver. Despite much effort to ensure leaders keep their promise to halt the epidemic by investing more resources and focus of addressing larger challenges that contributes to the spread of the epidemic, progress in halting HIV is falling far short of targets. Over 25 million people have been lost to AIDS so far, and more than 4 million people are infected with HIV. This is despite the number of promises by world leaders to provide services to curb the rates of infection and to bring down death rates. Promises are not kept because there is lack of leadership – globally and locally. World AIDS Days can be a difficult and emotional time when people reflect on the damage that has been done by the epidemic and the lives that have been lost. However, it is also a valuable time to examine the progress that has been made and, more importantly, to focus on the work that is still to be done in halting the spread of the virus, improving access to treatment and health of the people who are affected by it, and in eradicating the stigma and prejudice that are still too often associated with HIV. At the beginning of the epidemic, HIV was diagnosed in relatively few women and young girls. Today, more than a quarter of a century later, women account for more than half of all new HIV infections. Around the world, about 15.4 million women are living with HIV. Structures and systems that sustain women’s vulnerability such as domestic violence, sexual assaults, rape, human trafficking, early or forced marriage and most importantly denying equal access to choices need to be exposed and challenged, if HIV epidemic amongst women is to be contained. To make prevention work, it is important that a bold and radical approach to school education and to out-of-school education for young people as well as for older people be initiated through the HIV programmes. That means resources need to be allocated. It means that support and training will be required for teachers, youth workers and community workers. It also means that there must be political courage and a willingness on the part of Government—at national and local level—to challenge entrenched attitudes and not allow resistance to the taking forward of certain radical work on sexual and reproductive health. It certainly means taking on proposals for campaign on stigma and prejudice against those who have HIV, for work to increase testing uptake, and a proper look at primary prevention strategies – even if it may require greater resources. It requires a strategic vision for the future, beyond World AIDS day events. The figures which get presented on World AIDS Day are always worrying, but the greater concern is the number of people with HIV who do not know that they have the virus. It is estimated that people who are unaware of their own HIV infection could account for between 53 and 70 per cent of all new sexually transmitted HIV infection. Late diagnosis has implications for the individual’s health. It can lead to diseases such pneumonia, TB heart, liver disease and some cancers. Reports indicate that nearly half of infected people who are diagnosed late show signs of an immune system that has already been compromised and around 7 per cent have an immune function that has been significantly damaged. Around a quarter of the HIV deaths that occur each year could be avoided through earlier access to diagnosis and treatment. The stigma that world AIDS day seeks to remove is part of the problem of late diagnosis. People are unwilling to get tested because of the fear of others finding out or because of the stigma. The delay in diagnosis can have a devastating effect on their health and the health of others. A new campaign is desperately needed—not the old poster or banner campaign—that will raise awareness and increase the level of information that people can access. Guest Editorial by Neichü Angami on the occasion of World AIDS Day

AIDS Around the World I cannot get AIDS because I am not gay. You can get AIDS from toilet seats. I cannot get AIDS becuase I am too cute. I cannot get AIDS because I do not have anal sex. Wrong!! Well, if you have not already figured it out, all of these statements are false. However, many people hold these misconceptions. You have made the first step to better educate yourself about HIV/ AIDS prevention. This web page is dedicated to educating young adults about HIV/AIDS and the ways in which it is spread. HIV/ AIDS is a concern for every living person, no one is immune to this disease. For this reason, we should all be concerned about learning as much as possible about this disease. Right now, there is no know cure for HIV/AIDS. Education is our only line of defense against a disease that by 1995 has claimed as many lives as the holocaust. In this page, we give you a brief history of the disease, some of the most recent statistics from the CDC, common misconceptions, and some personal stories. If you want to do more research on the AIDS virus check out the Links page for additional information. Risky Business was formed by two students who have taken an interest in educating other young adults. Contributed By Leo Sangit Jain, Leo Club Of Dimapur

S O U N D BITE “As the people of the world’s largest democracy recover from these attacks, they can count on the people of world’s oldest democracy to stand by their side.” George Bush, US President

“I would like to invite you to unite in prayer for the numerous victims of the brutal terrorist attacks of Bombay, in India, and the clashes that broke out in Jos, in Nigeria. The causes and circumstances of those tragic events are different, but both should be met with horror and disapproval.” Pope Benedict XVI

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Tarun Vĳay

INDIA BATTLES TO WIN

ndia knew about al-Qaida’s threat to attack Mumbai, but it played it down for apparent reasons of vote bank politics. A United States embassy’s communiqué issued in August 2006 had warned about India being a target of al-Qaida. Though it was issued cautioning about a possible attack around the Independence Day that year, it should have served as an alarm bell to the Indian establishment and activated them to gather more intelligence inputs on al-Qaida strategies on India. The advisory had said: “The embassy has learned that foreign terrorists, possibly including al-Qaida, allegedly intend to carry out a series of bombing attacks in and around New Delhi and Mumbai in the days leading up to India’s Independence Day on August 15, 2006”. We knew that India had been appearing in the speeches of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahirias as a ‘target’. In a message broadcast in April, 2006, bin Laden had referred to a “Crusader-Zionist-Hindu conspiracy against the Muslims”. But the government of India chose to play it down. As was reported in the Times of India. The American warning had appeared in August 2006. But a meeting about it took place next year. The TOI reported on 7th August 2007 under the headline’Centre plays down Qaida’s threat to India’, ‘A meeting attended by senior MHA officials, intelligence brass, SPG chief B V Wanchoo and Delhi’s commissioner of police Y S Dadwal, on Monday discussed the alleged threat from Al-Qaida.’ Quoting a senior official, it said that he tried to play down the issue but admitted that it had been discussed. “We assess everything threadbare and everyone should refrain from making a larger-than-life image of such threats, which can also prove to be wrong at times,” he said.

Proved to be wrong? In fact TOI can be credited for having warned the nation a year before the attack came. The above quoted report had said, “Terrorism analysts universally agree that India’s growing closeness to the US may have put it in the crosshairs of the international terror group. The recent announcement of the nuclear deal would have sharpened the focus. ..India’s vulnerability stems from several factors. India is a naturally soft state, which makes it easier for terrorists.” Why did Indian government not take it seriously and sought to play it down? Pray, what are we doing, have done or intend to do? A united tricoloured face that’s what India needs today. Every colour and assertion merging into one signpost of our Indianness - the tricolour. Mumbai represents the best of Indian minds, the real secular spirit and entrepreneurship. Its time we salute that spirit and bow our heads before those valiant soldiers, Navy’s commandos and policemen who fought and laid their lives for a cause so dear to us all- India. Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Kamte, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Gajendra Singh are our nation’s heroes. Let this moment inspire us to flutter tricolour atop our houses, offices, and work stations as a challenge and a victory sign to the cowards who attacked us thinking they can cow us down and instill fear in our hearts. Instead it has further reinforced our resolve to stay united and fight the weeds. How I wish that everything we do, whether creating a blog or buying a bike or a car, that must have an essential sign- the tricolour, like we have bindi or a cross or a 786 locket. It’s not an emotional outburst but

there are times when one has to forget the structural areas of frame worked worship to reach a greater god of a people. That, to me, can’t be anything else but Bharat that is India. If India survives our gods still may have a space to be in. We lost Kabul, Rawalpindi and Lahore. And our gods lost their space too. So be an atheist, if that suits you, but keep your faith in one icon, that’s India. Let a new Anand Math emerge against the invaders and let every colour that India wears be a part of it, as patriotically as tricolour inspires. While politicians failed, it’s the people and the soldiers who held the tricolour high and fluttering. And the nation saluted them with tears of pride and praise. Let this spirit be visible in other areas of national concerns too.

Ugly colours of politics Congress and BJP leaders should have been seen together in Mumbai to underline signature of united Indians ready to battle and win. But shamefully even on such occasion, party politics took over and the PM chose to trivialize the togetherness, which didn’t occur. This showed, once more, how ugly our politicians could become. That’s one reason common citizens have begun hating them and praying oh god, please get rid us of these irrelevant dons of the parliament. See the way ad campaigns of political parties have tried to encash the terror. Media houses and channels are playing in the hands of various political parties and their poll eve headlines catered to their political masters. It was so visible and apparent. One newspaper that campaigned against the Hindu Right as a Talibani propagandist, specially picking on Malegaon case, gave a headline’as forces fought terrorists, BJP is busy seeking votes’. It’s more like a cheap line from a politically opponent’s pamphlet rather than a journalist’s report. If BJP was doing that, what were Sonia and Manmohan Singh doing in Mumbai and why their cohorts used full-page ads to use Mumbai terror to attack their opponent, mixing Kandhar with Mumbai? What was the relevance of it? Attention diverted for vote banks? And when time permits, there would be many questions that would have to be answered. Did India pay a heavy price of diverting all security attention to a Malegaon probe giving the Mumbai attackers an unattended space and time they needed? In an interesting reference to it, a highly reputed Army officer Lt. General Ashok Joshi (retd.) wrote,” The indirect cost of the Malegaon-blast probe -- still climbing -- is very considerable. It is no one’s case that the Malegaon blast probe is either unimportant or unnecessary. It appears, however, that the probe exclusively held the attention of the security apparatus until November 26, 2008, when the disaster occurred. This could well have been an unintended consequence, but it was terrible.” Media’s ‘Gulag’ Then they say-India is at war. Really? When was it not in the last two decades? Do we have to form our opinion on the words of a de-nationalized media that use every such opportunity to introduce new clichés and idioms to increase their circulation and market brand value? Have you noticed the anchors on the TV screens whose theatrical maneuvers completely overshadowed the person who they were supposed to be interviewing and the ‘guests’ were simply used to have anchors pour their high-pitched speeches? It was so kiddish and morally downgrading that the entire episode of a serious jihadi war was reduced to a page

three tamasha , that inadvertently helped Jihadis inside the hotel as the news analysts have now commented. Not a single channel or newspaper devoted a space to question why did it happen to us? None discussed Osama’s threats and the Islamic angle to the entire episode. So terrified and disoriented our media persons have become having ‘possessed’ by a ‘hate the right wing Hindutva phobia’. They simply avoided discussing the basic issues. Was the real motive of the Jihadi attackers to cripple our Economy? Or hurting our business? And terrifying the western visitors and investors? Damaging India’s reputation as a safe business centre? Were all these the real goals or just the means to achieve a distant aim? The reporters whose every single line while reporting Malegaon was laced with ‘Hindu terrorism’ saw to it quite consciously not to mention ‘Islamic Jihadi’ even once in the passing. But there were efforts by a couple of media chatterers on the screen to mention ‘now we have Hindu terrorism too’ while discussing Mumbai’s agony! This hate attack of the seculars even in times of such a tragedy is as killing as were the gunshots of the Jihadis inside the Taj and Oberoi. And they have monopolised the channels and the print media turning them into virtual Gulags. The same crowd which has been singularly responsible for providing shields to the jihadi terrorism and speaking in the abusive language against the nationalist saffron side, was most vocal to question why police is not being given the appropriate arsenal, sophisticated guns and a proper combat ready uniform. The same words were heard when parliament was attacked. Nothing happened afterwards and none remembered it either. Police remains a soft target for the seculars and security forces are denied any rise in the sixth pay scales on the eve of Diwali. That much for their concern for men in Khaki and Olive green. None, yes none of them tried to ask one simple question, why it happened? What wrong India has done to al-Qaida or the terrorists’ organisations or their religious leaders that they should act in this horrendous manner? And is this the ‘first’ time, the very first and unique kind of an attack, which is the most ghastly so far? Why? And how? What had happened when the terrorists had attacked Akshar Dham? Do you remember the visuals and the commentaries and the reactions of the same old, seasoned and concerned glamorous media persons and leaders then? What had happened when they had attacked the parliament and the members of parliament were holed up inside the central hall and the security forces fought a fierce gun battle on 13th December 2001? Were all those attacks just casual, old fashioned and without any trace of uniqueness? And this was too unique because Taj being Taj, a super high elite was involved in the tragic incident, which was made to reminisce in the dark hours of the active war zone how they had met their first girl friend in its heritage building? Mumbai attack was like it had always been. Killings of the innocents and blasts before they prepared themselves to die. Why? Why they chose to kill our people even at the cost of their life? They were no small, ordinary thieves and suparikillers. Those who support their heinous crimes would call them ‘brave and committed’ men. Young, and ready to lay their lives for a cause so dear to them that they would forget the family bonds and a desire to live and enjoy this world. They were taught to prepare for a ‘big contribution’ to their faith and enjoy the

after-life up there. They believed in every thing that was taught and did what they did. Hence the question that must disturb us and make every Indian to seriously analyze and formulate a strategy is ‘why India is on their target?’ India hasn’t attacked them; on the contrary we always tried to project ourselves as friendly to Muslim countries even after getting insults and non-cooperation from them. Remember Rabat and the way Saudis and Malaysia has treated us and our people who are our blood and flesh. And the tightlipped Muslim countries during every war we fought. We are the victimes of their Jihad. Our land was bisected, our people were uprooted, killed and insulted, and our temples razed and land grabbed. Yet we chose the dialogue path. Then what’s the reson of this ‘revenge’? The answer lies in their ideological hatred for us, which has to be discussed on the intellectual level.

Weak leaders, strong commoners Unfortunately India never had such a weak ideological and political leadership. During the Moghuls, Portuguese and the British, we had best of leaders who led the society through literature, culture, religious reformism, helping organize resistance to the invaders and had no confusion regarding the friends and the foes. They were definitely helped by the moneyed elite too, but the moneybags were never allowed to influence decisions. Their biggest forte was credibility and an uncompromising, predictable behaviour. Today the biggest casualty of the Indian national movement has been the credibility gap and the growing influence of the moneyed, alienated elite with a colonized mindset that compels to convert our language and purposes into a secular framework before any inclusion in their invite list. The Congress, used to be a grand old alliance with a strong nationalist pitch. We have lost it to the same pressure groups that stand for a compromised hue of the alienated. And BJP is still fighting for its right-full space. Any war is first fought intellectually and then on the grounds. India is facing its worst ever ideological war since the days of Shivaji and Guru Govind Singh. The attackers are not coming here to loot or colonise us. They are here to attack what they still perceive a Hindu India that has to be broken to expand their school of thought and faith. It’s happening not because we have offended them. It’s happening for just being what we are. And we have begun to assert our individuality, our distinguished way of life, within our precincts. And that’s intolerable to them. The temple priests of Somnath or the Acharyas of Nalanda hadn’t gone to Turkistan or the barren lands of the Arabia to offend them and invite their wrath. We were always attacked for being just what we were. Hence this fight can’t be replied without going into the real causes of the war and preparing an intellectual resistance that strengthens the minds before that empowers the sinews. That has to be an inclusive bond defining cultural and civilisational stream. Stress on the elements that unite rather than those which divide. This war requires forging a united Indian resistance based on the love for our motherland and the elements that express her glory. We must ensure that the different faiths of worship do not get into a conflict with the patriotic fervour and we have shown, we can do it successfully, many times before. 1857 is one shining example of that. We showed it in 1971 and in Kargil too. We WILL show it this time too, come what may. The author is the Director, Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee Research Foundation

The reaction of the state

Dileep Padgaonkar

errorist attacks have shattered the peace in over half a dozen Indian cities during the past year alone. Yet none was fraught with so much risk for India’s secular and democratic polity as the ones that jolted Mumbai on Wednesday night. Mumbai is India’s financial and commercial capital. It is also arguably the most cosmopolitan metropolis in the country. By targeting, among other establishments, two of the city’s most opulent hotels, the Taj and the Trident, where the rich, famous and influential congregate, the terrorists struck at the very heart of a resurgent nation. The timing of the assault was equally significant: It came on the eve of elections to five provincial assemblies. The campaign rhetoric has polarized opinion along sharply antagonistic lines. It has essentially pitted the ruling Congress Party, which swears by secularism, against the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. After every terrorist attack in the past, the BJP denounced the Congress, which sought to mobilize the substantial Muslim vote its favor, for being soft on terrorism. Congress in turn debunked the BJP and its affiliates for Muslim-bashing. Indians have a peculiar word to describe this state of affairs - communalism which denotes a determined bid to exploit religious sentiments for electoral gain.

The result of this competitive demagoguery has been disastrous on many counts. Suspects in a terrorist attack have been picked up at random and denied their rights under the law. Allegations of torture by the police are routine. The suspects have been kept behind bars for years as court cases have dragged on. Convictions have been few and far between. Commissions set up to investigate certain particularly gory incidents of religious violence have taken their own time to produce their reports. Few are opened for public debate. The recommendations contained in these reports have been routinely ignored or implemented in a highly selective way. Muslims convicted in a case often have been punished while Hindus have been let off lightly or not punished at all. As a consequence, India’s Muslim community has begun to lose faith in the Indian state. This has led to the radicalization of Muslim youth. Religious extremism has pushed them on the path of violence. Increasing evidence suggests that some of them have joined the ranks of the international jihadi movements. To complicate matters further, a Hindu holy woman, a Hindu holy man, a serving officer of the Indian armed forces and some other Hindu extremists are under arrest for their alleged involvement

in certain terrorist attacks. Now the BJP is charging that the police, at the behest of their “secular” masters, are failing to observe the due process of law. Indeed, they charge that the Hindus have been framed in order to “appease” the Muslims in time for the elections to the provincial assemblies. In plain words, after the Muslims, it is the Hindus who have now started to question the credibility of the police and, by extension, of the Indian state. The Nov. 26 attacks in Mumbai can only compound fears in both communities that law enforcement authorities cannot be trusted to bring the guilty to book. Such fears set the stage for bloody confrontations. These fears cannot be calmed unless the Indian state cracks down on terrorism regardless of the religion of the suspects. That some Muslim youth are engaged in a war against the “infidels” can not be denied. That the approach of the secular parties to terrorism has been pusillanimous is also clear. But the refrain of the Hindu nationalists - “all Muslims are not terrorists but all terrorists are Muslims” - is no less wrong and dangerous. The pan-Islamist character of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai needs to be stressed. At the Taj Hotel the terrorists asked for the numbers of the rooms occupied by foreign, and especially American and British, guests. Another building they attacked housed Israeli

WRITE-WING

guests. Overnight Mumbai has been turned into a stage for “civilizations” to clash. Over the next few days and weeks many questions that have been raised regarding the murderous assault in Mumbai will need to be answered. Who are these terrorists? Who are their mentors and their accomplices? Where did they acquire their arms and their organizational skills? Why did the intelligence agencies fail to keep track of them? In the meantime, it is necessary to draw comfort from certain developments. At the time of writing, the attacks in Mumbai have not led to an outbreak of Hindu-Muslim violence in other parts of India. Politicians have chosen to be remarkably discreet. Members of both communities have condemned the terror attacks without indulging in a blame-game. Even more remarkable, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and the leader of the opposition, L. K Advani of the BJP, have agreed to visit Mumbai together to comfort family members who lost their kin in the carnage. The victims include senior-most officers of the Mumbai police. This single gesture by Singh and Advani will go some way to reassure a dazed and nervous India that the political establishment can still be trusted to rise above partisan passion. Dileep Padgaonkar, a former editor of The Times of India, edits the bimonthly magazine India & Global Affairs

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MONDAY

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

1 DECEMBER 2008

The Morung Express

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

What to make of the Mumbai attacks

POLL RESULTS

Is it now time for the Nagaland government to lift the Prohibition Act?

38%

51% •

11% •

YES

OTHERS

Some of those who voted YES had this to say: •

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Who are they kidding? High time they come to their senses and do something about the prohibition. The Act is a total farce. If it was going to work, it would have, long long time ago. No amount of banning it would ever result to any good given the scenario, time and place in Nagaland. How many more "sons and daughters" do we need to sacrifice before we let this Act go? No point of deceiving ourselves that prohibition exist when liquor if freely available everywhere in Nagaland. At least the government will benefit from the taxes if it is made legal. High time to lift.. Find me 10 people who don’t drink and I will find 100 people that drinks daily. I wonder prohibition act is there?? govt. has no moral rights to its citizen by enforcing such prohibition. Will the govt. ban drinking coffee cos it has nicotine? Yes, it should be lifted. We have enough Al Capones. Yes, government must lift prohibition act? Why: 1) To control black economy. 2) It gives a chance to drain our economy into the hands of the armed forces and its agencies leading to unwanted and unwarranted socio-political predicament. 3). To check nexus between antisocial unscrupulous politicians and bureaucrats. 4) To minimize the rate of mortality rate of drunkens due to adulterated liquor. Yep its time to act now. Prohibition has turned out to be a very serious environmental and health hazard issue. Its time to walk the talk. It’s a win-lose situation, we Nagas being the losers here. No more debates now. Lift prohibition, act immediately. Just do it. There is no point raising this issue anymore. As much as your newspaper is trying to start some much needed public debate on this issue, no one is listening anymore. So let prohibition continue in a superficial way, and let alcohol reign free in Nagaland at the same time. Whether prohibition is lifted or not, alcohol will continue to flow freely because the act does not have the total support of the public. Even those who are supposed to implement prohibition are drinkers, so how will they implement it sincerely. The time to lift the Prohibition has come long time back, but the ones who are advocating the continuation of prohibition keep doing so in the name of God and so when God's name is invoked who will oppose or question it. No one. This is the point. The situation on the ground says that prohibition should be lifted, but no one is willing to speak the truth because God's name is being used to legitimize prohibition. Is this not the reason why the Government introduced the prohibition act in the first place? Prohibition? What prohibition? There never was one!

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Some of those who voted NO had this to say: • • •

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Over 50 percent of all domestic and street violence are committed after imbibing alcohol. We cannot let the interest of the government and some few - wine baron - hold the Naga as hostage to their whims. No, because there is no reason to such a outrages rationale given by the state government if they have any at all. But I rather want to pose a question. Why is the government so keen to worryingly impose on the Nagas commodities like liquor- which we can live without. But find it extremely hard to lift even their index finger to provide the very crucial need for survivallike water supply, food and health services? To lift the Prohibition Act is not an issue of morality, religiosity or even the sermonic Sunday preaching. In a Naga context the implication and policy of Indian Government to annihi-

•

• No, legalized drinking will bring Naga’s downlate the Naga political movement through Lifall quor and Money should be accounted. There• No, it will multiply drunkards and wife beatfore the stance of the Naga people upon the ers Nagaland state government to implement the • No, Prohibition Act should never be lifted Prohibition Act is not only against the vices of by the Nagaland government. Nagaland is a alcoholism in Naga society. But to strongly set Christian state and should remain so. After all a position that Liquor as GoI have transpire what is so good about drinking wine? will not let Nagas be assimilated or annihilat• NO. Our children are immersed and suffered. ing enough loss and damaged- psychological, It seems to me, the Morung Foundation is dementally and emotionally by our current Naga termined to push for lifting prohibition of albloodshed, gunshot, violence and justification cohol!! Otherwise, why should this issue come of factional killing. We must protect any furup again and again? How can we know, next ther exposure and torture to our children by time, you wouldn't be advocating prostitution allowing them to witness we the elders, the or homosexuality?? grown up, the adults, the parents fighting, No, because the Nagas can survive without the stoned and plastered with vomits stumbling Government lifting the Prohibition Act. In out of the liquor shops by mid-day. My dear other words Nagas don’t need it. What Nagas Naga brothers and sisters, we can not allow need is for the Government in consultation such a situation. Lets stand together against with the Nagas to resolve the Naga factional the vices of Naga social and political life. and political violence. The urgency cannot be • Because an anti-Naga National stance is not emphasized enough when Naga critique the position of various If people are so desperate to drink make their own political factions within Nagaland. It is when bodo, rice beer etc. There are no legalistic enforceNagas, or any institution as in the case of the ment. It can be tolerated so long as social decorum state government now, revokes the Peoples will are maintained. But please lets not entertain the and reinforces an India policy of liquor introthought of legalizing it to buy over the counters duction and help in fragmenting Naga society. as if it is as simple as selling mineral water from Case point here is the current excitement crea shopkeeper. The ramifications are deeper and ating by the current government in Nagaland more seriously than what the Government are jusstate, which is but another federal unit of the tifying to lift the Prohibition Act. Indian Union to allow free liquor, so money Why are the politicians so worried about the Proflows into the pocket of their puppets. hibition Act. Focus first on the structures of the • No. Because I think we the Nagas have enough governance of the state. They can not even consources to kill, fight and hold position to levy trol the law and order of the state let alone the taxes by all the four factions with unpredictable political issue. Why use Alcoholism and the lost fluctuation. Liquor as the Government puts is of revenue through Alcohol as the scapegoat. highly profitable and source of unprecedented Two great movements defined the Naga peorevenue to the coffer of the state budget. Well ple movement like no other in Modern Naga fine. But the truth is the state government is history. Firstly the unprecedented Naga politiwillingly helpless to these forms of tax (extorcal movement for external self-determination. tion to be precise). If Liquor Act is revoke, to Secondly the Naga prohibition movement (at hold a solid position on the liquor import or proa narrower scale) during the late 80s and the duction to and for the state will be most attracearly 90s. Little research has being done so tive and lucrative bussiness in town. In other far on the Prohibition movement but it was words fighting becomes more determined, killunprecedented in any case in terms of mobiing much sweeter and easier. Dhansiri, Dikhu lization. Why is Nagaland state government and Doyang river will be running red. Saramati so keen to lift an Act that was initiated, prowhen it snows, will be scarlet red. Believe me posed and legislated as an Act by the Naga Nagaland will not be beautiful to behold. People. The whole point of the Government • Its a no, because distillery or liquor shops is not is to implement the will of the people not to the answer to the Naga problems. An objective manipulate and coerce their interest upon the construction and re-articulation of the Naga sopeople at their whims. Then, Now, and Later cial, cultural, ethical, economic, and political hisis not the time for the Government to lift the tory rather must be the priority. These are issues Prohibition Act unless a unanimous Naga the government should be worried and be discussmovement mandate against it. GoI or the state ing in their so call legislative Assembly sessions in Government here is a daunting message to you Kohima if they are concern for the people. - WE the NAGA PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF YOUR MANIPULATIVE CONSPIRACIES. Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say: PUT AN END TO IT. FULL STOP. Naga peoples' solution does no depend on the lift• Does it matter anymore? Whether there is prohiing up of prohibition act. This issue has become a bition or not it does not seems to matter because negative campaign done by the media against the Nagaland is as wet as it can be. Starting right moral and ethical stance of the Naga Christian from the top of the government, leaders drink church. In the name of liberal media, it should not and booze is openly available in most of the oftry to manipulate the common people's religious ficial gatherings and it flows endlessly. Prohibimodesty by fuming western secular religion. tion is no longer a fuss. There is prohibition but PROHIBITION FAILED, IMAGINE WHEN the booze flows like water in Nagaland and the IT IS LIFTED, NAGAS WILL FLOODED bootleggers are happy to make some dough, and WITH LIQUOR AND FACE MAXIMUM our Church leaders are happy that Nagaland is a PRE-MATURE DEATH. dry state. Everyone is a winner under the present Are the brains of the Naga legislative assemsituation. The bootleggers and the Church are bly so small that all they can make sound and probably on the same side when it comes to prowhimper is on the Prohibition Act? The state hibition, because both want prohibition to conis stinking with corruption and corpse and all tinue as both benefits from it. And that is okay, they are obsess is with liquor. Its a disgrace. as long as they are both getting what they want, The Naga peoples, the Civil society, and the people will have no shortage of booze. Church will tell the Nagaland Government to • The debate of prohibition now is quite pointless. revoke the Prohibition Act when we are ready. The Naga public and even visitors that come to Until then the Government can focus they enNagaland know that this is a big white lie and ergy on the good governance and deliberation a good joke, because liquor is flowing everyof the Naga people who vote that into the govwhere. The prohibition shows the contradiction ernment (excuse me, vote themselves at the in Naga society and like most things, the official barrel of guns). For once show your integrity line is something but the truth is quite the oppoand work for alleviation of the large scale povsite. Who profits from the prohibition? It is those erty, power struggle and delivering justice. We who want prohibition and the bootleggers who will be happy with that. Thank you. sell liquor. The supporters of prohibition and the The time is not right. The time will be right bootleggers are the partners in crime because it when the Government becomes accountable is only these two groups that want prohibition to to the budget; at least partially recall and discontinue. In the meantime the common man still tribute the peoples monetary resources that has access to either very cheap and adulterated has been used by the government – mafia – for liquor or they pay more for good branded liquor. personal interest, luxury and indulgence; after Prohibition in Nagaland is not about availability imploring and exploring employment through of alcohol, its about how can we cope with alcovarious industrial infrastructure; and commithol and its affects on society. Its clear that alcohol ted to the welfare of the majority Naga villagers. will be there, prohibition has not worked anyAfter such an action the Government can talk where in the world, so the government should with the people. Until then it is a No, No, No. rather focus on dealing with the effect on society Because the people still don’t know why the caused by the abuse of alcohol. Government want to lift the Prohibition Act? • With or without prohibition the alcohol will The argument that Surplus in revenue will be there for the taking. The issue is not about develop and make Nagaland prosperous is a the availability or the sale of liquor. It raises cheap shot which insults the intelligence of broader issues and I think it is high time at the Naga people. least a body is constituted to see if the prohibiNo, it will greatly disrupt educational institution should be lifted. tion

Kanishk Tharoor

he dust has yet to settle on the unfolding tragedy in Mumbai. At the time of writing, hostage situations persist in the Oberoi Hotel and the Nariman House, and commandos are still clearing the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Officials have not fully agreed on the chronology of events that have left at least one hundred people dead (including the city's antiterrorist chief Hemant Karkare) and injured hundreds others, but the verdict is already in: this is the worst attack India has ever seen. A sketch of what happened so far: on Wednesday night, armed gunmen landed by sea on various parts of glitzy south Mumbai, lobbing grenades and shooting indiscriminately as they stormed two hotels, a children's hospital, the city's major train station, and a high-rise complex home to many Israeli families. The militants took numerous hostages in the hotels, specifically targeting British and American citizens. They remain holed up in the Oberoi hotel and in the Nariman House. What makes this "India's 9/11", as it is being dubbed in the Indian press? India and Mumbai, in particular, are certainly no strangers to terrorist attacks. Bomb blasts have shaken towns and cities across the country for fifteen years since the massive attack on the Bombay Stock Exchange in 1993. Just two years ago, bombs on Mumbai's commuter rail system killed nearly two hundred people. Only half that number of people have perished so far in the last day's violence. It is the nature of the attacks that separates them from their numerous predecessors. The militants targeted iconic symbols - the majestic Gateway of India, the domed Taj hotel, the steepled Victoria Terminus - of the country's financial centre. Where prior attacks were concentrated on more pedestrian market places and public transport, today's militants hit the hub of the city's political and business classes and cultural glitterati. Prominent mumbaikars clutter the 24-hour news channels, recalling their visits to the famous Taj and expressing concern for loved ones and friends currently trapped in the hotel. For an elite that almost always emerges unscathed from violence in the country, the attack comes as a visceral shock. Indeed, the attack was calculated to draw unprecedented media attention. Going after foreigners guaranteed the glare of the global spotlight (tabloids in the UK, for instance, were depressingly quick to spin an attack on the "heart of the heart of India" as an attack simply against the west). Sports pages around the world also report on events in the city, as numerous international cricket matches scheduled in Mumbai will have to be re-arranged. Most importantly, perhaps, the run-and-gun tactics of the militants - as opposed to more routine bomb blasts - provided an ongoing drama perfect for the hungry cameras of India's many news networks. Such violence has plagued the hinterland gripped by Maoist insurgency, and continues to scar strife-torn Kashmir. The citizens of India's metropolises, however, never imagined machine guns and grenades reaching their cities, their streets. So if the character of the threat is novel, is its source new as well? Maybe not. Indian officials have long accused Pakistan's shadowy ISI intelligence service of planning and assisting terrorist incidents in the country. A heretofore unknown group - the "Deccan Mujahideen" - has claimed responsibility for the attack. But investigators suspect the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-backed Islamist militant group. Commandos heard the militants speaking in a Pakistani dialect of Punjabi. Investigators also suspect the gunmen to have landed from the sea, launching speedboats from a hijacked fishing trawler that has been found five miles off the coast. Lashkar-e-Taiba has been training maritime forces in Karachi, the Pakistani coastal metropolis. While relations have generally improved between New Delhi and Islamabad in recent years, further proof of Pakistani involvement may suspend the diplomatic thaw. Within New Delhi itself, the fallout may be more consequential. The principal opposition party - the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - often uses terrorism as a stick to beat the ruling Congress Party-led coalition. The Congress government trimmed much of the tough, anti-terror Patriot Act-style legislation put in place by the previous BJP-led government. With elections upcoming and the Congress increasingly nervous, the clamour for more aggressive and invasive counterterrorism may win the day. As one TV talking head insisted, the west's approach ought to be followed: "We have to compromise on individual freedoms. In the west, the citizen is being made much more transparent. That is what we must do as well." This article was ﬁrst published on 27 November 2008

CITIES AND NEW WARS: AFTER MUMBAI

Saskia Sassen

The attacks on India's commercial capital are on a global frontline of asymmetric urban warfare

he Mumbai attacks of 2627 November 2008 are part of an emerging type of urban violence. These were organised, simultaneous frontal assaults with grenades and machine-guns on ten high-profile sites in or near the central business and tourism district. This has affinities with

the asymmetric street warfare waged by the gangs in Rio de Janeiro that every now and then announce they will take over a major central area of the city from (say) 9am to 5pm: the result is shuttered shops and empty streets. If the police try to respond, it is open warfare, and the police rarely win this is a challenge for which the police are not trained. After 5pm the gangs withdraw. It is often said that all of this results from inadequate policing or crime waves. But that is too simple. There is a deeper transformation afoot. It is still rare but it is more frequently becoming visible. It is as if the centre no longer holds. Cities seem to be losing the capacity they have long had to

triage conflict - through commerce, through civic activity. The national state, confronted with a similar conflict, has historically chosen to go to war. In my new research project – on cities and war - I am studying whether cities are losing this capacity and are becoming sites for a range of new types of violence. Further, the new asymmetric wars have the effect of urbanising war. This brings with it a nasty twist: when national states go to war in the name of national security, nowadays major cities are likely to become a key frontline space. In older conventional wars, large armies needed large open fields or oceans to meet and fight, and these were the frontline spaces.

Today the search for national security may well become a source for urban insecurity. The “war on terror” reveals that cities become the theatres for asymmetric war, regardless of what side of the divide they are - allies or enemies. The attacks in Madrid, London, Casablanca, Bali, are symptomatic. So too is the United States’s conventional military aerial bombing: it took under three weeks to destroy the Iraqi army’s resistance and take over power in 2003. But then the asymmetric wars set in, with Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, and other Iraqi cities the sites of conflict - for years. Indeed, the fact that the Mumbai attackers evidently sought and prized Americans and British among the hostages they took,

is clearly related to George W Bush's declaration of war on Iraq and Britain’s supportive role. The traditional security paradigm based on national-state security does not accommodate this triangulation. What may be good to protect the national state apparatus may cost major cities and their people a high (increasingly high) price. In the dense and conflictive spaces of cities, a variety of forms of violence can be foreseen. Moreover, new kinds of crises may result from the major environmental disasters that are looming in our immediate futures. These will further challenge the traditional commercial and civic capacities that have allowed cities to avoid war when confronted

with conflict. These crises could feed the violence that can arise from extreme economic inequality, and racial and religious conflicts. The results will be felt particularly in cities because of the often extreme kinds of dependence of cities on complex systems - apartment buildings, hospitals, vast sewage systems, huge underground transport systems, whole electric grids – all dependent on computerised management vulnerable to breakdowns. A major mock experiment by Nasa found that by the fifth day of a breakdown in the computerised systems that manage the electric grid, a city like New York would be in extremis. In Mumbai’s tragedy can be glimpsed the image of a global future.

Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reﬂect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

C M Y K

Dimapur

1 December 2008

The Morung Express

Mumbai assault shows gaping holes in security NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 30 (AFP): The attacks on Mumbai have again highlighted the lack of coherence in India's counter terrorism strategy, its underfunded intelligence services and its poor rapid response networks, analysts say. India is not "soft on terrorism," its prime minister stated firmly in September, two months before the country's financial capital was ravaged by an attack of shocking scope and brutality. Premier Manmohan Singh has his critics, but whatever the opinion on how soft or hard his government is, the fact that India appears unable to protect itself from major acts of extremist violence has now become a matter of grim record. While the country is no stranger to attacks, the 60-hour assault on Mumbai by a dozen Islamist militants that claimed nearly 200 lives took an old problem to a horrifyingly new level. "If we do not wake up now then we should hang our heads in shame," commented security strategist Uday Bhaskar, a former head of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Past attacks have triggered familiar rounds of recrimination -- but little action. Singh's statement back in September came after a series of synchronised bomb blasts in New Delhi killed 22 people, and the prime minister at the time acknowledged "vast gaps" in intelligence gathering and vowed that steps would be taken. Barely a month later, serial blasts across the northeastern state of Assam killed 80 people. And then came Mumbai, with its deliberate targeting of two luxury hotels and its foreign guests, as well as a Jewish cultural centre where Israeli nationals were held hostage and then killed. "The sheer scale and

Captured terrorist says he has no regrets

An unidentiﬁed woman lights candles for the victims of Mumbai attack in front of Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, November 30. With corpses still being pulled from the once-besieged hotel, India's top security ofﬁcial offered his resignation Sunday as the government struggled under growing accusations of security failures following terror attacks. (AP Photo)

planning involved was markedly different from previous attacks -- it's a watershed attack," said Singapore-based security analyst Rohan Gunaratna, author of the book "Inside Al-Qaeda." The challenge that faces the Indian authorities in preventing such assaults in the future is immense, not least because of the country's size and social complexity. As well as the long-running Muslim separatist struggle in Kashmir, there are Maoist insurgencies in 15 of India's 31 states, and sectarian frictions that regularly boil over into violence. The country does boast some highly trained and effective special forces, such as the elite "Black Cats" of the National Security Guard who led operations to flush out the militants in Mumbai.

Ironic, we eased just before being hit by terror

C M Y K

NATIONAL

Monday

NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 30 (PTI): It is “ironic” that extra security measures, taken after being warned of a possible terror strike, were eased just before the terrorists assaulted the landmark Taj hotel, Tata group chief Ratan Tata said. Post attack, Tata rued that crisis infrastructure was “woefully poor” and the attacks revealed deficiencies in the law enforcement, especially in areas of crisis response and management. “We are indignant but not scared,” he quipped. Although he did not elaborate on the additional security measures, Tata felt even these steps could not have prevented the terrorists from entering the hotel. Speaking to CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, he said that “people could not park their cars in the portico, where you had to go through a metal detector” due to the additional security. “.... If I look at what (measures) we had (enacted)... It could not have stopped what took place,” Tata said, adding that the attackers did not come through the front door, where additional security measures had been temporarily enacted. “They did not come through that entrance.. They came from somewhere in the back... They knew what they were doing and they did not go through the front. All of our arrangements were in the front.

later in Assam were attributed to emerging home-grown Muslim militant groups, while the scale of the Mumbai attack pointed to far more sophisticated outfit. Accusations have focused on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba -- which carried out an audacious assault by gunmen on the Indian parliament in 2001. Kanwal Pal Singh Gill, the former Punjab police chief who was instrumental in crushing a bloody Sikh separatist campaign in the 1980s, said intelligence agencies should court recruits from India's large Muslim community. "We have to take Muslims into our confidence and get their help in going after these people," said Gill, who suggested that India's security apparatus had become over-politicised. "We have to give more em-

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 30 (AGENCIES): The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in Mumbai had been warned of a possible terrorist attack and had temporarily beefed up security, but nothing could have stopped the gunmen, Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group that owns the hotel, said in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday. The iconic Taj was one of two luxury hotels taken over by terrorists on Wednesday night. "It's ironic that we did have such a warning and we did have some (security) measures," Tata said in an interview to Fareed Zakaria to be broadcast on a news channel on Sunday. While Tata wouldn't elaborate on the nature of the warning, he said security measures — such as making guests walk through a metal detector and not allowing cars to park in the hotel's portico — were eased shortly before Wednesday night's mayhem. But even if the security detail was in place, it would not have prevented the terrorists from entering the hotel, Tata admitted. "They knew what they were doing, and they did not go through the front. All of our (security) arrangements are in the front," he said. "They planned everything. I believe the first thing they did, they shot a sniffer dog and his handler. They went through the

Manmohan Singh on Thursday morning and kept President-elect Barack Obama abreast of the developments. "We pledge the full support of the United States as India investigates these attacks, brings the guilty to justice, and sustained its democratic way of life," Bush said. The US President made no reference to Pakistan or its intelligence agency ISI, whose alleged role in the terror attack has attracted universal revulsion and disgust. He ended his brief remarks saying "May God bless the people of India." But officials said Bush had offered US help and cooperation on every front from intelligence to forensics to technical help - to bring the masterminds behind the Mumbai massacre to justice. Earlier, President-elect Barack Obama also called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to offer condolences and support in India's hour of crisis. In a separate statement, Obama too lavished praise on India's resilience, saying, "These terrorists who targeted innocent civilians will not defeat India's great democracy, nor shake the will of a global coalition to defeat them." "The United States must stand with India and all nations and people who are committed to destroying terrorist networks, and defeating their hate-filled ideology," he added.

said: “We wanted to blow up the Taj,” and added that the terror mission was planned at least four months ago. He said that a detailed recce was undertaken four months ago by another group, which included taking satellite pictures of the hotels and various locations and preparation of detailed maps. The terrorists, he told his interrogators, booked rooms in the Taj where they kept their ammunition. They booked room 630 for four days using fake identity cards from Mauritius. Posing as Malaysian students, they had many visitors. The police are now trying to locate these visitors. He has also said that he and his associate Ismail Khan were the ones who shot Mumbai AntiTerrorism Squad Chief Hemant Karkare, and top cops Vijay Salaskar and Ashok Kamthe. Salaskar was the first to be killed followed by Kamthe and Karkare. Qasab also revealed names and addresses of at least five locals in the city who helped in facilitating the ter-

ror operation. These people are said to have provided shelter, escorted them around and passed information on police stations and check posts, besides prominent landmarks. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria said: “We suspect there could be local assistants, but it is subject to verification. It will be very premature to comment on this at this stage as our investigations are going on. All the (identity) cards are in different names and of different banks. Now, we are at least trying to figure out how they procured credit cards from various banks.” Meanwhile, the Internet Protocol address of the Deccan Mujahideen, the group that sent an e-mail claiming responsibility, has been traced to outside India and police are now saying that the involvement of Dawood Ibrahim, the mastermind of the 1993 serial attacks in the city cannot be ruled out. Maria also told reporters here last evening that the police believe there could be another two or more terrorists still in the city.

phasis to preventive action, but unfortunately politics has crept into the handling of the terrorism which we are facing now," he said. One symptom of political interference is the huge time lag between policy proposal and adoption. "Recommendations made in the 1980s are being looked at today, it's ridiculous," said former intelligence bureau director Bhagat. Joginder Singh, a former director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, identified an almost total lack of accountability as a main factor behind India's failure to learn or improve from experience. "The truth is that we do not have a clear antiterrorist policy or strategy," Singh said. "What we do have is a knee-jerk reaction to events as they happen. And all is forgotten until the next Residents of Mumbai react in disbelief as they look at the damaged exterior of the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, November 30. (AP Photo) incident."

‘Taj hotel was warned of terrorist attack’

‘Mumbai will continue to be centre of prosperity’

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 30 (AGENCIES): Leaders of India can know that nations around the world support them in the face of the latest terrorist attack and they can count on the world's oldest democracy to stand by their side, President Bush said in a statement on Saturday on the Mumbai carnage, adding lavish praise for the idea of India and spirit of the Indian people. Arriving at the White House from his Camp David getaway, Bush read out a formal statement as soon as he stepped off his chopper with his wife Laura, adding to his earlier expressions of support and condolences. "The killers who struck this week are brutal and violent, but terror will not have the final word," Bush said, adding, "People of India are resilient. People of India are strong. They have built a vibrant, multiethnic democracy that can withstand this trial. Their financial capital of Mumbai will continue to be the center of commerce and prosperity." The US President, now at the tail-end of his presidency, said he had been monitoring the situation through the crisis, including holding a video conference this morning with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, India's envoy to Washington Ronen Sen, and the US Consul General in Mumbai, to review the situation. He had also spoken to Prime Minister

"But they are just one specialist force," said Arun Bhagat, former chief of the Indian Intelligence Bureau. The grassroots security scenario is often woeful, with a recent report by a national police research agency showing that the annual training budget for policemen in some states worked out at around 100 rupees (two dollars) per head. "The realisation that we are in a state of undeclared war has not trickled down to all security departments," Bhagat told AFP. "The fact that a bunch of men carrying rucksacks bulging with weaponry could roam around a city like Mumbai unchallenged means some basic training is missing somewhere from our police forces," he added. The September blasts in Delhi and the bombings a month

MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 30 (AGENCIES): Captured terrorist AA Qasab has told his interrogators that he had no regrets about carrying out his mission of mayhem in Mumbai this week, in which the death toll so far is 183 and the injury toll 295. On Saturday evening, he told Mumbai Police that the terrorist group that reportedly came out of Karachi via the sea route undertook the terrorist mission to avenge the death of Palestinians, and therefore, one of the main targets identified by them was Nariman House, which housed a Jewish synagogue visited by Israelis. The landmark Taj Mahal Palace Hotel was also targeted by the Faridkot resident and his fellow terrorists with the objective of attracting the maximum global attention, as the venue had frequent foreign visitors and guests. The terrorists also had plans to enter the Times of India building, but changed it after Qasab was fired upon by the police. Qasab, the lone terrorist in police custody till the second week of December,

kitchen." The Taj, which opened in 1903, is India's most famous hotel and also one of its most luxurious. Now, its charred interiors are marred by bullet holes and grenade blasts, its corridors soaked in blood. The attacks revealed huge gaps in the city's law enforcement and crisis management. "The infrastructure was woefully poor," Tata said, citing as examples the fact that it took firefighters three hours to get water to the hotel after a fire broke out, and policemen died despite wearing bullet-proof vests. Tata said that government agencies had been "very complacent because we've really not had this kind of terrorism inflicted upon us". But he also commended the people of Mumbai and hoped they would remain united. "Rather than have us succumb to this kind of terror, what it has done is given us a resolve that nobody can do this to us," he said. "We're indignant, but we're not scared." The Taj staff has pledged to restore the hotel to its former glory. "The general manager lost his whole family in one of the fires in the building," Tata said, referring to Karambir Kang, whose wife and two sons — aged 14 and 5 — were killed. "I went up to him today and told him how sorry I was, and he said, 'Sir, we are going to beat this. We are going to build this Taj back into what it was'."

India directs anger at politicians

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 30 (REUTERS): Indians blazed criticism against their political leaders on Sunday after the attacks in Mumbai which killed almost 200 people, saying their bickering and ineptness was at least partly responsible. As commandos gunned down the last of the militants, TV channels were divided between covering the operations and an outpouring of venom against both the ruling Congress party-led coalition and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "These are the people who are responsible for the system," author and columnist Shoba De, a Mumbai resident, said on one talk show. "The city would not have suffered the way it has had it not been for the complete and total abrogation of duty and the kind of negligence we've seen, the kind of indifference we've seen." Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil submitted his resignation to the prime minister on Sunday because of the attacks, the Con-

gress party said. But that may not be enough to satisfy critics. "Our politicians fiddle as innocents die," the Times of India said in a front-page comment. It said while the attacks engulfed Mumbai and hundreds were held hostage, saving them took precedence. "But today, as heaps of bodies lie in morgues ... it is time to ask our politicians, are you going back to playing politics with our lives? Or are you going to do something worthwhile with yours?" The Congress-party government was blamed for the loopholes that allowed the heavily armed Islamist attackers to come across the seas to land in Mumbai. Others decried the Hindu nationalist BJP for seeking electoral advantage. "There is rage," wrote a Mumbai resident in a blog published in the Indian Express. "A simmering against our so-called leaders. A simmering against the unpreparedness for this attack." Arun Shourie, a former BJP cabinet minister, said India's growing eco-

nomic prowess had masked governance problems. "I feel that this being mesmerised by growth rate figures is actually misleading, because the tree of the state is being hollowed by termites -- the political class," he told Reuters. National elections are due in May, and both sides of the political divide were seen using the Mumbai attacks for their own ends before state polls in Delhi on Saturday. The BJP said in a fullpage newspaper advertisement: "Brutal terror strikes at will. Weak government. Unwilling and incapable. Fight terror - Vote BJP." Congress, under fire from the BJP about national security during the 20 days of campaigning in Delhi shot back: "20 days of false campaigning cannot replace 10 years of development. Your decision". Columnist Vir Sanghvi wrote in the Hindustan Times: "We are fed up of politicians who use terrorism as an excuse to win votes. We are fed up of their incompetence. As far as we're concerned, they are all the same."

13.8% mothers follow WHO guidelines

Forensic experts look for evidence inside Nariman House, one of the sites of terrorist attacks, in Mumbai, November 30. This crowded, bustling ﬁnancial capital, wracked by three days bloodshed, slowly began puling itself back together Sunday as a once-besieged restaurant reopened its doors and Indians mourned their dead. (AP Photo)

Is Al-Qaida behind Mumbai terror attacks?

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 30 (NDTV): For the last three days, as the horror of Mumbai has unfolded, something about the images have told us that we've seen them before in other cities and in other countries across continents. As details of Mumbai's terror strike investigations trickle in, it's become increasingly clear that the intention of the terrorists was maximum damage and maximum impact. The attacks in Mumbai were unlike anything India's ever seen

before because of the meticulous planning and the scale of the attack. If September 9/11 changed the way the world looked at terrorism, the attacks in Mumbai come a close second in its targets, due to the fact that its victims cut across nationalities. The similarities don't end there. The burning Taj Hotel was a reminder of what happened in Islamabad on September 20, 2008, when the city's iconic Marriott Hotel went up in flames as an explosive-laden truck rammed into its gates.

And that's why the links are so worrying. Both September 9/11 and the Marriott bombings, among other attacks in Bali, Africa, London, Madrid have been carried out by AlQaida, though there is nothing official to substantiate that in Mumbai. The Mumbai police have said it's possible. Dawood Ibrahim is involved, alongwith Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Toiba. And if Al-Qaida is the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle, it will mark a sea-change in the way India now has to deal with terror.

PUNE, NOVEMBER 30 (AGENCIES): A study conducted by the Command Hospital and Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune has found an abysmally low rate of exclusive breastfeeding’ among mothers. Even as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued specific guidelines for the same purpose, merely 13.8% mothers follow them due to lack of awareness. The WHO recommendations clearly mention that breastfeeding to the newborn babies should start within an hour of the birth and should continue exclusively for six months to reduce chances of neonatal mortality. Even the experts discourage the use of artificial feeds and bottles. More awareness and social support is required to ensure rise in percentage of breastfeeding. While informing about the study, Surgeon Capt Sheila Mathai, neonatologist, AFMC told TOI, “Around 200 mothers from across the city were included in the study. We interacted with them during their visit to our civilian dispensary department. These mothers hail from lower and middle class families.” She added that “the study was conducted for three months. It was anchored by Priyanka Aiyyar, a student of AFMC. The mothers were asked questions about breastfeeding and why they don’t continue exclusive breast feeding for six months.” Mathai said that many mothers were unaware of the WHO recommendations. “Every breastfeeding mother needed support from her family, workplace and society to ensure that she is successful in giving

her baby breast milk.” She emphasised on the need to sensitise the society towards these healthy practices. Highlighting that the present average neonatal mortality rate stands at around 40 (neonatal mortality rate is the number of deaths during the first 28 days per 1,000 live births), Mathai added that the national goal is to bring this down to less than 30/1,000 live births by 2010. Emphasising on boosting up the neonatal care system, she said that leading causes of death include birth asphyxia, sepsis and low birth weight, and essential care of newborn babies should be taken. This essential care includes clean delivery practices, facilities for neonatal resuscitation, breastfeeding, provision of warmth, prevention of infection and extra care of the low birth weight baby. “Our study has shown there are many deeply penetrated social problems which lead to lack of awareness among mothers. We should try to inculcate awareness about breast-feeding since school education and try to sensitise the society towards the issue,” Mathai opined. When asked about the reasons due to which mothers prefer artificial feeds and bottles, Joystna Padalkar, president of Breast-Feeding Sub Chapter, Indian Academy of Pediatrics said that, “Many mothers stop breast-feeding due to physical weakness. They start giving supplements to new born babies. Due lack of knowledge some mothers blindly follow other mothers and do what they are doing. If a few mothers follow wrong practices, then all of them end up doing the same.”

9 INTERNATIONAL Thai police order airport protesters to disperse Monday

The Morung Express

1 December 2008

UN looks for better times with Obama

US President-Elect Barack Obama with his wife Michelle Obama

UNITED NATIONS, NOVEMBER 30 (REUTERS): Standing in the line of those hoping for a better deal from U.S. President-elect Barack Obama than they got from outgoing President George W. Bush is a body representing the entire world: the United Nations. Despite public protestations of neutrality in the Nov. 4 presidential election, there has been thinly disguised glee at U.N. headquarters that Democrat Obama defeated Republican John McCain. Some foresee Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20 as the end of a long dark night under the eight-

year Bush administration. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he looks forward to "an era of renewed partnership and a new multilateralism" with Obama -even though he also says he has managed to improve ties with Bush since taking over at the beginning of 2007. The United Nations fell foul early on of Bush administration hawks who considered the world body hostile to America's interests. The failure of the Security Council explicitly to endorse the 2003 U.S.led invasion of Iraq, and a statement by Ban's predecessor Kofi Annan that the inva-

sion was illegal, strengthened that view. In 2005, Bush named as his U.N. ambassador the sharp-tongued conservative John Bolton, a man who more than a decade before had said that if the U.N. skyscraper in Manhattan lost 10 of its 38 floors, "it wouldn't make a bit of difference." Because the U.S. Senate never confirmed him, Bolton had to step down the following year, but not before, critics say, he antagonized friends and foes alike -even if they admitted he was a hard worker who was always on top of his brief. Among other things, Bol-

ton appointed a former Bush deputy campaign manager, Mark Wallace, to pursue allegations of U.N. mismanagement, especially that the U.N. Development Program had channeled hard currency to the North Korean leadership. Later inquiries cleared UNDP of major wrongdoing. Although Bolton's successor, Zalmay Khalilzad, has sought to mend fences with other countries, senior U.N. officials are now hoping for much closer cooperation with an administration they believe will be far more aligned with U.N. goals. To the United Nations, the United States is crucial as the world's most powerful country, the host of its headquarters and the largest contributor to U.N. funds, paying 22 percent, albeit while often in arrears of up to $2 billion. So Obama's statements such as a comment in a 2007 "Foreign Affairs" magazine article that America needs to "rededicate itself to the (U.N.) organization and its mission" are music to U.N. ears. "The signals are that (Obama) will want to consult closely with allies and build a consensual approach as best he can," said one senior European diplomat. "The platform for change, and a lot of it is change away from Bush, is something which I think will get a very ready response in the world, which he will want to tap into." Dozens of U.S. foreign policy leaders, including Democratic and Republican former cabinet members, took out a full-page New York Times advertisement on Nov. 20 to urge the incoming administration to strengthen ties with the United Nations. "President-elect Obama has the opportunity to engage with the world and renew American leadership at the United Nations," said Timothy Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation, a U.N. advocacy group and

charity. Ban, who once by chance spent half an hour sitting next to Obama on a Washington-New York air shuttle and also spoke with him by telephone after the election, has said he is "very much encouraged" by the presidentelect. Senior U.N. officials have gone further. "Here's a person who looks at the world the same way we do," said one, adding that Ban and Obama were "talking from the same script." Ban's aides have been excited by Obama's views on combating climate change, a subject that tops the U.N. chief's agenda. Obama's promise to "fast track investments in a new green energy business sector" echoes what Ban has been saying. The issue will return to prominence next year as nations seek to agree a new climate treaty by December in Copenhagen to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. Bush rejected Kyoto and its emission targets, citing the need to safeguard U.S. industry. U.S. relations with the United Nations were an issue that barely figured in the election campaign and many Americans are ambivalent about a body they helped found but which has often seemed to fall short of the hopes placed in it. While opinion polls show the U.S. public broadly in favor of U.N. goals, a community of angry bloggers sees a corrupt organization dominated by foreign dictatorships that sucks in American money and spits out anti-American venom. Several websites exist to "watch" the U.N. and pounce on misdeeds. With perhaps half an eye in that direction, Obama has said the United Nations "requires far-reaching reform" and that its "management practices remain weak." U.N. officials are unfazed by such comments and say that Ban is as keen to overhaul the bureaucracy as the critics are.

Dimapur

Bangkok Police gather in formation near a checkpoint Sunday, November 30, at Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok. Demonstrators with the People’s Alliance for Democracy continue to hold both of Bangkok’s airports and say they will not leave until Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigns from ofﬁce. (AP Photo)

BANGKOK, NOVEMBER 30 (REUTERS): Thai police on Sunday again ordered anti-government protesters who have laid siege to the city's airports to disperse, banning gatherings of more than five people and warning offenders would be jailed or fined. Hours after a grenade blast wounded more than 50 protesters, and ahead of a big rally in the Thai capital planned by government supporters, the five-point statement did not say how police intended to enforce the emergency rules. Flights in and out of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International airport and the mostly-domestic Don Muang airport have been paralysed by a siege by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters seeking to overthrow the government. Sunday's statement was issued by Lieutenant-General Suchart Muenkaew Chief, the police negotiator at Don Muang airport. A separate police division is responsible for Suvarnabhumi. Much earlier, a grenade was thrown at Government House, the prime minister's office occupied by PAD supporters since August. The grenade blast at Government House was the latest aimed at the PAD supporters there and was among the most bloody. A PAD spokesman said 51 people were wounded, four critically. The sit-ins at Suvarnabhumi and the city's domestic hub, Don Muang, are the latest escalation in the PAD's "final battle" to unseat a prime minister it accuses of being a front for former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin, who is Somchai's brotherin-law, was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and lives in exile. He still has strong support among the urban and rural poor, and the pro-Thaksin Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) says it will bring 100,000 supporters to central Bangkok on Sunday afternoon in a show of support for the government. Veera Musikapong, a DAAD leader, told the Nation newspaper one focus of the rally would be the alleged bias of the courts. The Constitutional Court has moved with uncharacteristic speed

to conclude a vote fraud case on Tuesday, widely expected to lead to the disbanding of Somchai's People Power Party (PPP) and two other partners in the ruling coalition. "It is obvious that there is interference with justice. It was well planned, and this is a concealed coup," Veera said. If the court dissolves the three parties, Somchai and other leaders would be barred from politics and many cabinet ministers would have to step down. Police said they would try to keep the rival political groups away from each other. On Saturday night, about 150 riot police fled a checkpoint near Suvarnabhumi after they were attacked by PAD militants armed with iron rods and slingshots and hurling firecrackers. The chaos caused by the airport sit-ins has sparked rumours of a military coup, even though the army chief has said he will not seize control. Somchai has rejected military calls to hold a snap election. Deputy Prime Minister Olarn Chaipravat said the damage to Thailand's image, at a peak time for tourism, may cut arrivals by half to 6-7 million in 2009 and threatens a million jobs. The government is shuttling tourists to U-Tapao, a Vietnam War-era naval airbase 150 km east of Bangkok, as an alternative landing site for airlines, but travellers have complained of massive delays and confusion. Foreign governments are increasingly concerned. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said hundreds of Australians were stranded in Thailand and national carrier Qantas QAN had offered to put on extra flights to take them home. "It's very frustrating for us and it's very frustrating for those stranded Australians," he told Australian television. There was one bit of good news on Sunday. Around 460 Thai Muslims who have been sleeping at Suvarnabhumi since their flight to Mecca was cancelled by the protests are to do their pilgrimage after all, thanks to a chartered Iran Air flight from U-Tapao. "We are leaving today, finally," said Yusuf Waedaramae, 33, a Thai living in Australia who had come to Bangkok to take his mother to the haj.

Congo rebel chief says “war” if no talks World AIDS Day: Big challenges 20 years on JOMBA, NOVEMBER 30 (REUTERS): Congolese Tutsi rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda threatened war on Saturday unless Congo's government entered a new round of talks with him. Nkunda, whose forces have routed government troops and gained swathes of territory in North Kivu province in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo since launching a new offensive in August, has repeatedly demanded negotiations. Nkunda said he had been told by the U.N. special envoy, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, that Kinshasa had accepted the principle of talks. "If there is no negotiation, let us say then there is war," Nkunda told reporters after meeting Obasanjo in the rebel commander's native village, Jomba. "I know that (the government) has no capacity to fight, so they have only one choice: negotiations," he said. "We asked for a response as to where, when, and with whom we are going to do these talks. For us, we propose Nairobi and for the mediator we proposed chief Obasanjo." Video footage of the meeting provided by the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, MONUC, showed Obasanjo criticising Nkunda for recent hostilities, including Thursday's capture of the town of

Ishasha, on the border with Uganda. "What has happened in the last 14 days has not made me happy," Obasanjo said, rising to his feet to address Nkunda, who remained seated at a low table. "I tried to build a relationship of trust, but I don't receive the same from you." Obasanjo said Nkunda should have informed him he was planning fresh offensives. "You are making me a laughing stock," he said. Nkunda, who wore a white robe with matching shoes and scarf, wrung his hands said the cease-fire he had declared applied only to fighting against the Congolese army, not against what he described as "foreign negative forces." That cease-fire has brought nearly two weeks of relative calm. But his men have continued attacking Congolese and Rwandan militia allies of the government. Obasanjo was in Congo on his second mission in two weeks to try to end fighting in North Kivu that has displaced some 250,000 civilians and at one point brought Nkunda's troops to within 10 km of the provincial capital, Goma. The envoy, who met President Joseph Kabila in the mineral-rich African country on Friday, has pressed for talks. Government ministers this week rebuffed the possibility of direct negotiations with Nkunda, calling for

him to return to a earlier peace pact signed in January. Emerging from his one-hour meeting with the rebel leader, Obasanjo avoided questions. "We have advanced the course of peace," he said. MONUC said clashes between Nkunda's National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) and armed groups erupted for a second day near Masisi town on Saturday. The roots of the North Kivu conflict stem from Rwanda's 1994 genocide, when extremist Hutu militias killed some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus before fleeing into Congo. That led to two wars and a humanitarian crisis that killed more than 5 million people, mostly from hunger and disease. Nkunda accuses Kabila of arming Rwandan Hutu rebels, including some perpetrators of the 1994 genocide, to fight alongside the weak and chaotic Congolese army. Around 1 million civilians have been displaced by clashes between the CNDP, the army, local Mai Mai militias, and Rwandan rebels since Nkunda relaunched his insurgency in late 2006. The U.N. Security Council agreed this month to send 3,000 troops to boost Congo's beleaguered mission, the world's largest peacekeeping force with around 17,000 soldiers and police.

PARIS,NOVEMBER30(AFP): As World AIDS Day is marked on Monday, the fight against the disease remains stymied by the of adequate treatment in poor countries and setbacks in finding an effective vaccine, experts say. To be sure, there have been plenty of advances over the past two decades. While 33 million people have the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) virus that causes AIDS, more are enjoying healthier, longer lives thanks to powerful new medications. Organisers of World AIDS Day -- built around the themes of leadership, self-responsibility and activism -- are calling on governments to follow through on promises of universal treatment, prevention, care and support. "We have effective treatments. We have no other choice than to offer them to all those who need them," said Jean-Francois Delfraissy, head of the French National Research Agency on AIDS and viral hepatitis (ANRS). But affordable and effective treatment remains a rarity in Africa, home to the majority of HIV-positive people, making prospects of universal access to medication remote in the near future. In poorer countries, the choice may eventually be between treating

203 Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders gather on the eve of the World AIDS Day in front of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Sunday, November 30, in Taipei, Taiwan. They joined a parade to raise awareness about AIDS prevention, part of activities staged in Taiwan. (AP Photo)

millions of HIV-positive patients, or offering more expensive treatment to some 500,000 people who are resistant to mainstream therapies, Delfraissy said. Even in wealthier nations like France, where 5,200 new HIVpositive cases were registered last year, thousands of others remain unaware they are infected. "Don't let AIDS pick up speed!" urges the French association AIDES, which plans to install a huge counter on the Paris opera

house showing the lag between new infections and treatment. On Friday, the United Nations urged countries to focus on the roots of the epidemic and draw on a panoply of tried-and-tested tools to help HIV from spreading among people most at risk. "There is no single magic bullet for HIV prevention," said outgoing UNAIDS executive director Peter Piot. Hopes for such a magic bullet were shattered last year, when scientists were forced to abandon two

advanced clinical trials of an AIDS vaccine by pharmaceutical company Merck, after they appeared to actually heighten the risk of infection. But AIDS research was given a boost in October when the 2008 Nobel Medicine Prize was bestowed to a pair of scientists who discovered HIV. Researchers have also discovered new molecules and have launched tests on new triple treatments that have proved effective for patients no longer responding to other therapies. Meanwhile, research on finding an effective AIDS shot continues. US scientists recently discovered a gene that may pave the way for a vaccine. Delfraissy, of ANRS, also predicts a revival in basic research to find molecules capable of attacking the virus at a stage where it has not yet been detected. Scientists are also interested in the cases of some HIV-positive people who never develop full-blown AIDS. "We have an impressive arsenal," said Father Pierre-Marie Girard, who heads the infectious disease unit for the Saint Antoine Hospital in Paris. One mark of success, he said, is those with HIV today talk of living and aging well with the virus -- with hopes of enjoying the same lifespan as those without.

Zimbabweans offered free graves as cholera spreads

HARARE, NOVEMBER 30 (REUTERS): The Zimbabwean capital, Harare, is offering free graves for victims of a cholera outbreak sweeping the southern African state, which a United Nations agency says is only the tip of a health crisis. Nearly 400 people have died from the disease, preventable and treatable under normal conditions, which has infected more than 9,400 in the country and spread to some of its neighbours. Harare City Council has decided to waive fees for burying victims of the waterborne disease as residents are already under pressure from an economic crisis, including shortages of food and banknotes, the state Herald newspaper said on Saturday. "Council has since resolved

to offer free graves to those who have died of cholera since most people are finding it hard to get cash to pay for the graves," it quoted the town clerk as saying. A grave in Harare costs an average of $30, a teacher's monthly salary at the current exchange rate. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday a lack of clean drinking water and adequate toilets were the main triggers for Zimbabwe's epidemic of cholera, a diarrhoeal disease that is especially fatal for children. WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said there are very few places where people infected with cholera in Zimbabwe can seek medical care, and the clinics that are open have Zimbabweans decant clean water supplied by the United Nations Children’s Funds far too few health workers to to Harare Thursday, November 27. A current outbreak of cholera in the country has claimed hundreds of lives. (AP Photo) contain the outbreak.

International aid groups are building latrines, distributing medicine and hygiene kits, delivering truckloads of water, and repairing blocked sewers across Zimbabwe to combat the cholera outbreak, which has moved into South Africa and Botswana. Zimbabwe state media reported on Saturday that a residents association in a town near Harare had taken the staterun water authority to court for failing to provide clean water. Pr e s i d e n t Robert Mugabe's government says the health system and the economy are collapsing because of sanctions imposed by Western powers it says are trying to oust him for seizing white-owned farms for redistribution to blacks. His critics say Mugabe, 84

and in power since independence from Britain in 1980, has ruined one of Africa's most promising economies through reckless policies and gross mismanagement. The economy is in virtual meltdown, with unemployment over 90 percent, inflation officially at 230 million percent, and people scrounging daily for food and cash. On Saturday, the Herald said six soldiers had been arrested in the last week for assaulting bank staff and commuters after failing to get cash at a bank. Analysts hope a power-sharing deal being negotiated between Mugabe and the opposition MDC after disputed elections early this year may help turn around the economy. A meeting in Kenya of the African Union's "panel of

the wise" advisory forum said on Saturday Zimbabwe's humanitarian situation was deteriorating and urged the AU to help speed the establishment of a national unity government in Harare. "The panel expressed deep concern at the prevailing humanitarian and socioeconomic situation in Zimbabwe and the ever escalating suffering of the civilian population," it said in a statement at the end of a two-day conference. It called on the AU and the Southern African Development Community, a regional grouping, "to instil a new sense of urgency in their efforts to overcome the current obstacles in the implementation of the power-sharing agreement and to take all actions required to this end."

Dimapur

SPORTS

Monday 1 December 2008

Magical Messi ﬁres Barca clear as Real Madrid crash

BARCELONA, NOVEMgio Busquets. "I'm happy as brimming with confidence BER 30 (AFP): A brace this was a step forward for following their draw against from Lionel Messi helped us and these are important Barcelona a week ago, conBarcelona clinch a 3-0 victopoints against a very strong tinued to take the game to ry over Sevilla on Saturday Real whose outlook further rival," said Guardiola. and open a six-point lead at "In the first half we were deteriorated with Wesley the top of the Spanish league sloppy and took a lot of Sneijder and Miguel Toras Real Madrid crashed 3-1 risks but after the break we res both limping off before at city rivals Getafe. Barcewere a lot better and more half-time. lona coach Pep Guardiola Fernando Gago did organised." Sevilla coach had told his players beforeManolo Jimenez said: "In graze the crossbar but Real hand to show commitment the second half they showed were unable to take a hold and it was needed against a what they are capable of do- of the game, and only a few Sevilla side who battled for ing. "In the first half Sevilla minutes after the interval every ball. played well and it was un- Albin knocked in his secThe game was played at fair that Barcelona went ond, slipping the ball past a frantic pace with few clear into the interval with a lead Iker Casillas. Real were givchances but it was Barcelona but afterwards they were en hope when Javier Saviwho made the most of theirs lethal. "The quality of Dan- ola finished well inside the with Messi once again the iel (Alves), Messi and Xavi area, after Juan Guti had outstanding player. In the (Hernandez) caused us a lot won back possession, but opening minutes Luis Faof damage and to say other- rather than building on the biano shot over from inside goal, Madrid soon lost imwise would be lying." the box for Sevilla but after Earlier, a convincing petus and it was Getafe who 20 minutes it was Samuel 3-1 victory by Getafe piled looked more likely to score Eto'o who opened the scorthe pressure on Real Ma- again. ing latching onto a loose ball With nine minutes to go drid coach Bernd Schuster in the area and firing home. whose side have now lost two Ikechukwu Uche secured Fabiano then went close out their last three league the win for Getafe with again and Frederic Kanoute games. "It was not a painful a clinical finish after the felt unlucky not to be awarddefeat because from the start hard work had been done ed a penalty after tumbling of the game it was clear that by his strike partner Albin. in the box following a chalit would have been very dif- On Sunday, Villarreal and lenge from Gerard Pique, ficult to win," said Schuster. Valencia both will be lookbut the clearest chance came "A lot of things happened ing for wins to boost their later for Kanoute who could in the match and at no time championship chances afonly hit the crossbar after did we have the feeling that ter dropping points in rebeating the offside trap. In we could win. Getafe were cent weeks. Villarreal travel the second half, both sides superior and they produced to bottom-placed Recreatiwere reduced to shots from vo Huelva looking to end a a spectacular game." distance before Messi took Schuster was forced four-match run in all comcentre stage. into fielding a makeshift petitions without a win. VaThe Argentine ran onto team with seven players un- lencia have lost their last two a ball from midfield and volavailable and they got off home matches against Racleyed into the corner from 25 to the worst possible start ing Santander and Sporting yards to extend Barca's lead conceding a goal after just Gijon, and they now face a after 78 minutes and then he three minutes with Juan Real Betis team which has completed his brace in injuAngel Albin converting a won their last three games ry time, rounding the keeper Jaime Gavilan cross. Getafe, away from home. before slotting home. Sevilla's night was made worse by (Top) Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, right, and Sevilla's Luis Fabiano, from Brazil, duels for the ball during their Spanish La Liga soccer match the controversial dismissal at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla on November 29. (AP Photo) (Bottom) Real Madrid players wait to resume the game after the Getafe's third of Fabiano for elbowing Ser- goal during their Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe, near Madrid on November 29. (AP Photo)

Bolton on rise after rout of Sunderland

Bolton Wanderers' Matthew Taylor, second right, beats Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, left, to score during their English Premier League soccer match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England on November 29. (AP Photo)

LONDON, NOVEMBER 30 (REUTERS): Bolton Wanderers illuminated a dull day in the Premier League on Saturday with a 4-1 victory at Sunderland that lifted them to seventh in the standings. Djibril Cisse gave Sunderland an early lead but Bolton, hot tips for relegation a few games ago,

hit back in style with Sweden striker Johan Elmander scoring twice to leave Sunderland in the bottom three. Fourth-placed Aston Villa failed to take advantage of the three sides above them not being in action, drawing 0-0 at home to Fulham when victory would have taken them above champions Manchester Unit-

ed. Hull City remained sixth after drawing 1-1 at Stoke City, Ricardo Fuller's penalty earning Stoke a point after Marlon King had given the visitors a glimpse of a fifth away league victory. Newcastle United edged out of the relegation zone thanks to a 0-0 draw at north east rivals Middlesbrough

while bottom club West Bromwich Albion lost 2-1 at Wigan Athletic and remain four points adrift of fourthbottom Newcastle. Leaders Chelsea host Arsenal on Sunday when Manchester United cross the city to tackle Manchester City. Second-placed Liverpool, behind Chelsea on goal

difference, are at home to West Ham United on Monday. Sunderland's Stadium of Light was largely empty long before the end as Roy Keane's side slumped to a third consecutive home league defeat to leave them mired in relegation trouble. "The last three or four weeks, particularly at home, we are conceding the kind of goals that make it impossible to win football matches," Keane, whose side face his old club Manchester United next week, told Sky Sports. Cisse's 11th-minute opener was the perfect start for Sunderland but the jitters returned seven minutes later when Matthew Taylor equalised with a header that went in off the bar. Gary Cahill quickly put Bolton in front and Sunderland's defence then fell apart either side of halftime as Elmander, the visitors' record signing from Toulouse, grabbed a brace. Bolton's victory leaves them just five points off the Champions League places and five points from the relegation zone as the Premier League's middle ground remains tightly packed.

Cole: I'd never want to play for Arsenal

LONDON, NOVEMBER 30 (AGENCIES): Joe Cole has turned up the pressure ahead of Chelsea’s meeting with Arsenal by claiming he would never want to play for a team like The Gunners. Chelsea host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon with Arsene Wenger’s team in desperate need of a win if they are to have any hope of staying in the title race. But while Cole admits Arsenal are one of the most stylish teams around, he says he would be unhappy at Emirates Stadium due to the team’s lack of silverware in recent years. He said: "In fairness to Arsenal, they are playing nice football, but look at the past four years and who's won the trophies? "They are fantastic to watch, but I wouldn't want to be playing for a team that didn't win anything. Winning trophies is what counts.

The Morung Express

State Level Half Marathon Race KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 30 (MExN): The state level Half Marathon Race will be held on December 7 at 7:00 AM whereby the best three runners from all the 11 districts will compete. It is also decided by the state level committee that the marathon race is made open to all those who are interested for which registration form is available in the Directorate of Youth Resources and Sports, Kohima. The competitors are to note that the last date of submission of registration form along with all required documents is December 5 during office hours. The competitors are asked to collect chess numbers from the Kohima Local Ground (Khuochiezie) on December 6 at 3: 00 PM onwards.

‘Indian football failed to take off after Asiad win’ JAIPUR, NOVEMBER 30 (PTI): India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia rued that football in the country failed to take off despite the national team winning the Asian Games gold twice (1951 and 1962) and finishing fourth in 1956 Melbourne Olympics. "Though we were a power in early 50s and won the Asian title and also finished fourth at Melbourne in the 1956 Olympics, Indian football failed to take off whereas Gulf countries and some of the Asian countries like Japan pumped in lot of money and did all possible things to reach where they are now," Bhutia, who was here for McDowell's Celebration Futsal Friendzy, said. Bhutia said a lot could have been done for Indian football like developing infrastructure and facilities but he was on the defensive when asked about All India Football Federation's role in improving the condition of soccer in the country. "I am not aware how much money FIFA is pumping in for India but whatever is coming is being utilised by AIFF. Still a lot money is needed. The kind which is in cricket is not here in football. The government, corporate sector and AIFF should all act in tandem to promote Indian football." Bhutia said the triumphs in the Nehru Cup and the AFC Challenge Cup were positive signs but lot more needs to be done. "These are positive signs but I feel a lot could have been done. With foreign clubs coming in and corporates coming in things will improve because it is a win-win situation for all," said Bhutia.

South Africa's Ryno Benjamin, right, scores the victory try against England as teammate Gio Aplon looks on during the ﬁnal of the Emirates Rugby Sevens in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on November 29. South Africa won 19-12. (AP Photo)

Los Angeles Clippers' Baron Davis (1) goes up to the hoop as he is fouled by Miami Heat's Michael Beasley during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday on November 29 in Los Angeles. The Clippers won 97-96. (AP Photo)

England waiting for security report on India LONDON, NOVEMBER 30 (REUTERS): England's cricket team could decide by Monday if they will return to India for two scheduled test matches following this week's attacks in Mumbai that killed nearly 200 people. "Clearly, we are committed to go back to play another test series if it is safe to do so," England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Hugh Morris told a news conference at Heathrow airport on Saturday after the team arrived back having cut short their one-day series. Morris said a security report would be compiled within the next 48 hours and that fringe players were ready if required to replace any team members not wishing to return to India. "I would not, if somebody felt strongly, force their arm," Morris said. "They would have the necessary information to make an informed decision but that would be a personal choice.

"We have to give them the most up-to-date security information and then clearly it will be a decision for the players to make. "The first test match starts on December 11 and clearly it is a very short time scale but, assuming the safety and security is OK, we would be returning in a short time." England captain Kevin Pietersen summed up the mood of the players, saying his blood had run cold after watching events in Mumbai unfold. "I'm still shaking from the atrocities in Mumbai," Pietersen was quoted as saying in Sunday's News of the World. "Every time I see the footage of the carnage in the Indian city, I realise how close we were to death. "I haven't slept thinking about the three-day rampage and siege. We were 800 miles from the attack, but suddenly we felt very vulnerable, especially as we had stayed at the targeted Taj Mahal Hotel just two weeks ago. "It makes my

blood run cold." The decision to return home with two one-day internationals still to play was made following the bloodshed in Mumbai where luxury hotels, including the landmark Taj Palace, cafes and railway stations were targeted. "The players, unsurprisingly, have been hugely affected by this," Morris told reporters. "We actually stayed at the Taj Palace hotel some two and a half week ago. We ate in those restaurants. We were served by the people there." Earlier, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Lalit Modi said the test matches would definitely go ahead but the second match in Mumbai would be moved. The sixth one-day match was scheduled for Guwahati on Saturday and the final game in New Delhi on Dec. 2. India were 5-0 up in the series. Hugh Morris, the managing director of the England and Wales Cricket Board speaks to the media during a press conference at a hotel at Heathrow Airport on November 29. (AP Photo)

Flintoff & Harmison not returning to India LONDON, NOVEMBER 30 (PTI): England will return to India to play their two-match Test series as per schedule, but without several senior players including talismanic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, according to a media report here. Following the terror attack on Mumbai, Flintoff and fast bowler Steve Harmison and perhaps another bowler in the squad of 15, are expected to pull out in the next two days, citing their children and wives as their prime consideration, a report in 'Sunday Telegraph' claimed. "Harmison has pulled out of tours before, but Flintoff's absence would deprive England of their best bowler in Indian conditions," the report said. "A lot hinges on the attitude of captain Pietersen, but assuming he is persuaded by ECB of the enormous compensation which would be demanded by the Indian board (running into millions of dollars) and falls into line, the rest of the England party will follow his lead," it said. England and Wales Cricket Board will make available by tomorrow a security risk assessment report on returning to India but the newspaper claimed that the report was just a formality and the ECB has already decided on going ahead with the Test series with first match starting in Ahmedabad on December 11. The report also said that England players are likely to have practice either in Dubai or Abu Dhabi instead of playing a three-day practice game at Vadodara from December 5-7, and then fly directly from there to Ahmedabad for the first Test.

C M Y K

E n t / Ta b l o i d

The Morung Express

Monday 1 December 2008

Dimapur

Swayze ‘says goodbye As Royals cut back ﬁnances, as cancer spreads’ will the Princes stay off the piste?

CTOR Patrick Swayze has reportedly started saying goodbye to family and friends after learning his cancer has spread to his liver. The Dirty Dancing and Ghost star, who in January was told he had pancreatic cancer, has started preparing himself for death, reports say "Patrick recently got word that the cancer had spread to his liver and that is what his doctors said would begin the countdown to the end," a source told National Enquirer magazine. "Patrick knew it was coming because he

was suffering increased weakness. "At times, he was so weak that he could barely walk without feeling faint. Sometimes he feels out of breath and has to sit down." Swayze, 56, told Lisa, his wife of 33 years, and his brother Donny that he doesn't have long to live. "Lisa phoned Donny in Los Angeles and told him he need to come to Chicago, where Patrick has been filming TV show The Beast. She was crying and scared Donny to death," the source told National Enquirer. "Donny got

the impression his brother was already on his deathbed because Lisa was saying Patrick wanted to say goodbye. She couldn't stop crying." Swayze has been undergoing pioneering Cyberknife radiotherapy at California's Stamford University Medical Centre, and had been making a steady recovery from the illness. He has finished filming The Beast in Chicago, where he has been putting in 12-hour days. He went to a party earlier this week to celebrate with Lisa and Donny. He stayed for one-and-a-quarter hours sitting on a couch the entire time, happily talking to people. Swayze's wife "mingled a little more than Patrick did, leaving the couch to grab a drink or talk to people, but mostly she remained at his side" a source told the US magazine. "Patrick let the party-goers come to him, never circulating around the room and rarely even standing up, but when others did come to him, he chatted at length with many of them." In October, his production team reported Swayze had missed only a day and a half of work. "I'm still fine to work, I haven't changed - oh, I have changed, what am I saying? It's a battle zone I go through. Chemo, no matter how you cut it, is hell on wheels," he told The New York Times.

In this November 9, photo released by the Imperial Household Agency for distribution on Sunday November 30, Prince Akishino of Japan, 2nd left, smiles as he poses with his family members, his wife Princess Kiko, 2nd right, with Prince Hisahito in her arms and daughters Princess Mako, left, and Princess Kako on the Akasaka imperial estate in Tokyo. Emperor Akihito’s second son, Akishino celebrated his 43rd birthday on Sunday. (AP Photo)

s the rest of the country braces itself for recession, I am pleased to report that Princes William and Harry will be keeping the Christmas spirit low-key. The boys, who are known to enjoy a tipple or two at this time of the year, have been told to keep a low profile, stay away from their favourite nightclubs and do charity work. Harry, 24, who has not been seen at his favourite London club Boujis for months, will present the Children of Courage Awards at Westminster Abbey a week on Wednesday. And William, 26, also has a number of charitable engagements lined up for when he returns shortly from the Caribbean - where he is training with the special forces. Both Princes will be at the Christmas dinner table at Sandringham this year, but the boys - who each have military commitments - are scaling back on luxury holidays and may not travel to Klosters for their annual skiing trip with their father in the New Year. 'There is a chance that Klosters won't happen as far as William and Harry are concerned,' says a friend. 'They are looking at alternatives and it might be they don't do the big family trip. They still want to go skiing but they may give Klosters a miss. The Queen and the rest of the family will also be scaling back on lavish holidays.' William, who will start training with the RAF in January, has made no plans as yet to jet off on an expensive holiday with his girlfriend Kate Middleton, while Harry is planning a low-key trip to Africa after Christmas. 'The boys are aware they can't be seen to be splashing cash while the rest of the country is struggling,' the friend adds. 'They won't be running up bills worth thousands in clubs and have been told to be discreet with any holiday plans. 'If they decide not to go to Klosters, it will be a major thing as they always go.' A Clarence House spokesman tells me: 'Both Princes will be busy with military commitments but a final decision will be made later on.'

Britney slapped with ban

op star Britney Spears’ father has banned her from alcohol, junk food and sex. Jamie Spears fears that his 26-year-old daughter is still fragile after her breakdown last year and worried the pressures of a comeback may push her over the edge. Therefore, he has introduced some strict rules for the singer, hoping they will keep her out of trouble while she’s in the UK. All alcohol was stopped from getting anywhere near her lips during the entire stay. And whenever the singer left her hotel room, she was surrounded at all times by a giant entourage to stop her spending any private time with male friends. The strict regime saw her locked in the Dorchester Hotel all day until her convoy arrived to whisk her off to the X Factor studios in Wembley. The pop princess was under curfew immediately after the live show too. She wasn’t allowed to hit any London clubs. “All of this is ridiculous — Jamie’s set up more protocols here than there is for a Royal visit,” News of the World quoted a source, as saying. “Jamie has felt guilty for a long time about letting Britney go off the rails and is determined it won’t happen again. “He thinks if he can remove all the temptations and vices that led her down her destructive path she can finally move on from her troubled past. “But already it’s proving difficult so he’s demanding staff must follow his orders — and Britney has to do the same,” the source added.

‘I don’t allow my children to go out’

ctress-mother and entrepreneur Pooja Bedi is worried about her children's safety after the threeday terror strike on Mumbai. She doesn't let kids go out because there is "no guarantee that they will return home safe". “I have two children, a daughter aged 11 and a son aged 8. I don't allow them to go to parks, malls, multiplexes and parks any more fearing for their lives,” Pooja Bedi, the daughter of yesteryear hero Kabir Bedi, told reporters from Mumbai. “I don't feel safe. Now that the war is over, the Shiv Sena will go on the rampage on the streets of the state Monday. "They will bring everything to a grinding halt. How can I allow my children to go out? There is no guarantee that they will return safe,” she said. The terror attack targeted the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Met-

ro Theatre and the Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station (formerly Victoria Terminus) among other places. Pooja, a regular at The Taj and The Oberoi, said she will never be able to feel the same again when she walks into the hotels again. “We used to frequent all the ravaged landmarks - The Taj Mahal Hotel, The Trident (Oberoi), (their restaurants) Frangipani, Sea Lounge and India Jones (a Teppanyaki restaurant). My kids loved to eat at Frangipani." “We have been let down repeatedly. You have the Shiv Sena and MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) violence on the streets and leaders do not care. Citizens are not allowed to possess guns to protect themselves unlike in the US and neither can they (government) protect us.” The government, she felt, has not done anything to bring the perpetrators of repeated terrorist attacks to book.

“The 1993 blast culprits are still at large. The attacks reflect pathetic governance,” said Pooja, who has hosted shows like "Not Just Page 3" and "Just Pooja" on the small screen. Model-tuned-actor Milind Soman concurs with Pooja. “It is depressing - demoralising with so much death and suffer-

ing around. It has happened before, but nothing has been done,” he said. Milind attributes the latest terror attack to lack of will and flawed strategies. “The television said there was no intelligence and they have been planning the attack for months. Unless the government becomes active and implements all its security measures, the attacks will never stop. “There is no point talking about anti-terror policies till it develops a will.” Showbiz and entertainment industry may have been hit, but life has to go on, round off both Milind and Pooja on a resigned note. At least 183 people, including 22 foreigners, were killed in the terror strike in Mumbai that began Wednesday night and ended only Saturday afternoon. Twenty security men also lost their lives and included some of the finest officers of A model takes to the cat-walk during a fashion show in Mizoram on November 29, night. (UB Photos) Mumbai police and two commandos.

PRIME TIME TV GUIDES 04:45 - Revenge of the Ninja 06:30 - All The Kings Men 09:00 - The Making Of The Da Vinci Code 09:30 - The Da Vinci Code 12:00 - The Gingerbread Man 14:15 - Silent Warnings 16:00 - The Holiday 18:45 - The Making Of Mr. Bean’s Holiday 19:00 - Robin Hood: Men in Tights 21:00 - The Bourne Ultimatum 23:15 - The Da Vinci Code 01:45 - Avenging Force 03:45 - Flashback

05:30 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 06:30 - Home Shanti Home 06:55 - V First Day First Show 07:00 - Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai 07:55 - V First Day First Show 08:00 - Asian Sky Shop 08:25 - V First Day First Show 08:30 - V Trailers 09:00 - Asian Sky Shop 09:30 - Dill Mill Gayye 09:55 - V First Day First Show 10:00 - D. O. N. 11:00 - Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun 11:25 - V First Day First Show 11:30 - V Trailers 12:00 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 13:00 - India Calling 13:30 - Dill Mill Gayye 13:55 - V First Day First Show 14:00 - Movie 17:00 - D. O. N. 18:00 - Dill Mill Gayye 18:30 - Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa 19:00 - Special Squad 19:55 - V First Day First Show 20:00 - Instant Khichdi 20:30 - Dill Mill Gayye 21:00 - Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa 21:30 - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai 22:00 - Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun

22:30 - Yeh Dil Chahe More 23:00 - Dill Mill Gayye 23:30 - Darna Mana Hai 00:00 - V First Day First Show 00:05V Trailers 00:30 - V First Day First Show 00:35 - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai 01:00 - India Calling 01:30 - Cook Na Kaho 02:00 - Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun 02:30 - Instant Khichdi 03:00 - Hey Yehii To Haii Who 03:30 - Guns and Roses 04:30 - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai

06:00 - Telebrands 07:00 - Dirty Jobs 08:00 - Hunters 09:00 - New Detectives - The Case Studies In Forensic Scie 10:00 - Revealed 11:00 - Routes Of Islam 12:00 - Amazing Baby Videos 12:30 - Baby Whisperer 1 13:00 - Planet Earth 14:00 - Discover India 15:00 - Fearless Planet 16:00 - Wild Discovery 17:00 - Wildlife Specials 18:00 - India With Sanjeev Bhaskar 19:00 - Raw Nature 20:00 - World’s Biggest Airliner 21:00 - Futureweapons 22:00 - I Shouldn’t Be Alive 23:00 - Extreme Engineering 3 00:00 - Wild Discovery 01:00 - Telebrands 02:00 - Extreme Engineering 3 03:00 - India With Sanjeev Bhaskar 04:00 - I Shouldn’t Be Alive 05:00 - Extreme Engineering 3

6:00 - CSI: Crime Scene Inves6:00 - The Amazing Race Asia 7:00 - Amazing Race Asia Memories 8:00 - Kidnapped

9:00 - The Amazing Race Asia 11:00 - Early Edition 12:00 - Pirate Master 1:00 - Mercury Rising 3:30 - eBuzz 5:00 - Top Design 6:00 - The Amazing Race Asia 7:00 - Kidnapped 8:00 - Pirate Master 9:00 - The Amazing Race 10:00 - Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! 11:00 - CSI: NY 12:00 - The Amazing Race 1:00 - Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! 2:00 - CSI: NY 3:00 - Early Edition 4:00 - Kidnapped 5:00 - Top Design

06:00 - Seva Ganga 06:30 - Vignan Shashwat Sukh Ka 07:00 - Sangam 07:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi 08:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi 08:30 - Kayamath 09:00 - Kumkum 09:30 - Kahaani Ghar 10:00 - Kis Desh Mein 10:30 - Hamari Devrani 11:00 - Grihasti 11:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi 12:00 - Bidaai 12:30 - Kis Desh Mein 13:00 - Kumkum 13:30 - Hamari Devrani 14:00 - Karam 14:30 - Grihasti 15:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi 15:30 - Kayamath 16:00 - Sangam 16:30 - Santaan 17:00 - Kasturi 17:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi 18:00 - Bidaai 18:30 - Hamari Devrani 19:00 - Sangam 19:30 - Santaan 20:00 - Raja Ki Ayegi 20:30 - Kis Desh Mein

21:00 - Bidaai 21:30 - Kasturi 22:00 - Kahaani Ghar 22:30 - Kyunki Saas Bhi 23:00 - Kayamath 23:30 - Karam 00:00 - Kasturi 00:30 - Kumkum 01:00 - Bidaai 01:30 - Kis Desh Mein 02:00 - Grihasti 02:30 - Kayamath 03:00 - Hamari Devrani 03:30 - Kahaani Ghar 04:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi

06:00 - Madhur Jaffrey’s Flavours of India 06:30 - Dream Hotels 07:00 - Food Paradise 08:00 - Honeymoon Adventures 08:30 - Getaway 200 - 6 09:00 - Hairy Biker’s Ride Again 09:30 - Feast India 10:00 - Innertainment 10:30 - Body And Soul 11:00 - Amazing Vacation Homes 11:30 - Superhomes 2 12:00 - American Chopper 13:00 - Kylie Kwong: My China 13:30 - Nigella Feasts 14:00 - Finest Hotels In The World 14:30 - Indian Rendezvous 15:00 - Getaway 200 - 6 15:30 - Hotel By The Bay 16:00 - Food Paradise 17:00 - American Chopper 18:00 - Ballroom Bootcamp 19:00 - Cruiseline 20:00 - Great Hotels Iii 20:30 - Cocktail Kings 21:00 - Indian Food Made Easy 21:30 - Nigella Feasts 22:00 - America The Wright Way 23:00 - Finest And Luxurious 00:00 - Miami Ink 3 01:00 - Jet Set 02:00 - Honeymoon Adventures 02:30 - Getaway 200 - 6 03:00 - Made To Order 3

03:30 - Kylie Kwong: My China 04:00 - Innertainment 04:30 - Body And Soul 05:00 - Monster House

06:00 - Fashion House 07:00 - Friday Night Lights 08:00 - Friends 09:00 - Carpoolers 09:30 - The Knights Of Prosperity 10:00 - Grey’s Anatomy 11:00 - Friday Night Lights 12:00 - America’s Got Talent 13:00 - Boston Legal 14:00 - The Ellen Degeneres Show 15:00 - Fashion House 16:00 - Cold Case 17:00 - Grey’s Anatomy 18:00 - Friday Night Lights 19:00 - Friends 20:30 - Whose Line is It Anyway? 21:00 - 30 - Rock 21:30 - Scrubs 22:00 - Ugly Betty 23:00 - Jimmy Kimmel 00:00 - Friends 01:00 - Seinfeld 01:30 - Whose Line is It Anyway? 02:00 - Grey’s Anatomy 03:00 - The Ellen Degeneres Show 04:00 - Cold Case 05:00 - The Simpsons 05:30 - Kenneth Copeland

05:50 - Dont Move 07:30 - Infomercial 08:00 - Baby Geniuses 10:10 - 7 Seconds 12:10 - Bringing Down the House 14:30 - Remember the Titans 17:00 - Get Shorty 17:30 - The Perfect Murder 19:15 - The Hollywood Reporter 20:15 - Little Black Book

22:30 - Batman and Robin

04:55 - 10 Items or Less 06:15 - A Good Year 08:30 - The Simpsons Movie 10:20 - Haven 12:10 - End Of Days 14:30 - Daddy and Them 16:30 - Babel 19:10 - Faithful 21:00 - Behind Enemy Lines 23:05 - Happy, Texas

04:00 - Star Gold Special 07:15 - Sabsey Favourite Kaun 07:45 - Telemall 08:00 - Subah Ho Gayi Mamu 09:30 - Star Gold Special 09:45 - Anaconda Returns 12:15 - Dil Tera Aashiq 16:00 - Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye 20:00 - Kismat 23:40 - Chameli 3:50 - Apna Bana Lo 04:30 - Balle Balle! Amritsar to L.A.

06:00 - Devi 07:00 - Telebrands 07:30 - Teleshopping 08:30 - Film Movie 12:00 - Comedy Circus 12:30 - Babul Ka Aangann 13:00 - Waqt Batayega Kaun 13:30 - Sujata 14:00 - Mann Mein Hai Visshwas

15:00 - Kuchh Is Tara 15:30 - Waqt Batayega Kaun 16:00 - Babul Ka Aangann 16:30 - Comedy Circus 18:00 - Boogie Woogie 18:30 - Babul Ka Aangann 19:00 - Jai Hanuman 19:30 - Sujata 20:00 - Mann Mein Hai Visshwas 21:00 - Aathvaan Vachan 21:30 - Babul Ka Aangann 22:00 - Sujata 22:30 - Waqt Batayega Kaun 23:00 - Aahat - 3 00:00 - Telebrands 00:30 - Teleshopping 01:00 - Sujata 01:30 - Waqt Batayega Kaun 02:00 - Babul Ka Aangann 02:30 - Aathvaan Vachan 03:00 - Mann Mein Hai Visshwas 04:00 - Devi 04:30 - Jai Hanuman 05:00 - Babul Ka Aangann

06:00 - Sadgamaya 06:30 - The Faith Show 07:00 - Enjoying Everyday Life 07:25 - Ek Nazar 07:30 - Sales Slot 07:55 - Exposure Jhalak 08:00 - Teleshopping 08:25 - Ek Nazar 08:30 - Jai Ganesh 09:00 - Ramayan 09:30 - Naaginn 10:00 - Vivaah 10:30 - Betiyann 11:00 - Ek Se Badhkar Ek 12:00 - Dulhann 12:30 - Maayka 13:00 - Kasamh Se 13:30 - Saat Phere 14:00 - Betiyann 14:30 - Ranbir Rano

15:00 - Rakhi 15:30 - Teen Bahuraaniyaan 16:00 - Dulhann 16:30 - Maayka 17:00 - Kasamh Se 17:30 - Saat Phere 18:00 - Betiyann 18:30 - Ranbir Rano 19:00 - Sansui TV Awards 08 21:00 - Haste Raho 23:00 - Rooh 00:00 - Asian Sky Shop 00:55 - Exposure 01:00 - Asian Sky Shop 02:00 - Teen Bahuraaniyaan 02:30 - Kasamh Se 03:00 - Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 04:00 - Vivaah 04:30 - Urja 05:00 - Parrivaar

06:00 - Animal Planet Safari 07:00 - Teleshopping 08:00 - Meerkat Manor 09:00 - Lyndal’s Lifeline 10:00 - Baby Planet 11:00 - Max’s Big Tracks 12:00 - Wild Africa 13:00 - Incredible Journeys with Steve Leonard 14:00 - Animal Planet Safari 15:00 - Penguin Safari With Nigel Marven 16:00 - The Most Extreme 17:00 - Lyndal’s Lifeline 18:00 - Meerkat Manor 19:00 - Max’s Big Tracks 20:00 - Wild Africa 21:00 - Penguin Safari With Nigel Marven 22:00 - Animal Planet Safari 23:00 - The Most Extreme 00:00 - Meerkat Manor 01:00 - Teleshopping 02:00 - Petsburgh USA (II) 03:00 - Monkey Business 8 04:00 - Petsburgh USA (II) 05:00 - Monkey Business 8

C M Y K

The

Morung

SPORTS

P 12

Manchester United edges Manchester City MANCHESTER, NOVEMBER 30 (AP): Wayne Rooney led 10-man Manchester United to a 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday in a heated 150th derby that saw Cristiano Ronaldo sent off. Rooney ended a sixweek goal drought as the European champions took on their neighbors for the first time since City was bought by a wealthy group from the United Arab Emirates. The England striker had been determined to show that United are the "Kings of Manchester," and his 42nd-minute goal - his 100th in club football - was decisive. City goalkeeper Joe Hart spilled Michael Carrick's shot from a tight angle, and Rooney was able to tap the ball into an unguarded net. The Red Devils, who played the last 22 minutes with 10 men, clung on to their slender advantage despite facing a far more assertive City in the second half. Ronaldo was booked for tripping Shaun WrightPhillips in the 59th and then sarcastically applauding referee Howard Webb. The Portugal winger was then shown a second yellow card for deliberately handling Rooney's corner in the 68th. To chants of "cheat," Ronaldo slowly trudged off the City of Manchester stadium field - one day before he is expected to be named European Player of the Year. Both teams had strikers worth a combined $100 million returning from injuries to get their first taste of the

dle

C M Y K

Manchester derby. But neither Robinho, City's record signing, nor Dimitar Berbatov, whose transfer City tried to hijack on the same day in September, made an impact. United prevented City's usually speedy attacking unit from making any inroads, with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar not troubled in the first half. Rooney had the first scoring chance early when

he turned in Park Ji-sung's cross, and jeers had already been targeted at Ronaldo by the time he leapt into congested penalty area to head Rooney's corner over. City's Micah Richards later collided with Nemanja Vidic when they went for a bouncing ball, with the United defender showing Webb stud marks on his stomach. Wright-Phillips hobbled briefly after Darren

Fletcher's foul, and the first booking came in the 21st when Rafael da Silva threw the ball away after challenging Robinho. Berbatov then flicked in Rafael's cross with a weak header that was turned around the post and shot wide, while Patrice Evra also struck high. The closest City came in the first half was when Richards shaved the post after getting a slight touch

on Stephen Ireland's shot. City manager Mark Hughes made several changes at halftime. Dietmar Hamann was replaced by defender Pablo Zabaleta, Elano took Darius Vassell's place, and Vincent Kompany was shifted out of defense into central midfield to take Hamann's position. Five minutes into his new role, Kompany unleashed a shot that went wide of Van der Sar's post.

Referee Howard Webb, 2nd right, holds up a red card for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, 2nd left, during their English Premier League soccer match against Manchester City at City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England on November. 30. (AP Photo)

Published, Printed and Edited by Ak端m Longchari on behalf of Morung for Indigenous Affairs and JustPeace from House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur at Themba Printers and Telecommunications, Padum Pukhuri Village, Dimapur, Nagaland. Email : editor@morungexpress.com/newsdesk@morungexpress.com, morung@gmail.com. RNI No : NAGENG /2005/15430. House No.4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur 797112, Nagaland. Phone: Dimapur -(03862) News Desk- 281043, Admin -236871, Fax: (03862) 235194, Kohima - (0370) 2291952

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