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 315

Today, Naga Reconciliation Soccer Match DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Forum for Naga Reconciliation appeals to the people to step forward and demonstrate their solidarity to the Naga reconciliation process by attending the Naga Reconciliation Soccer match on November 13 at the DDSC, Dimapur. The soccer match, to be played between the Naga “political groups” (factions) and Naga civil society, will commence by 12 noon. Due to security reasons and to avoid inconveniences at the DDSC, it is advised that the people should arrive at the ground well ahead of time, the forum today requested in a note of appeal. “The Forum for Naga Reconciliation urges the Naga people to continue expressing their support to the Naga reconciliation process and to pray that such public events will contribute in breaking down the walls of division, so that Nagas can all come together and reconcile on the basis of the historical and political rights of the Nagas” the forum appealed.

DE-ADDICTION LATEST STRATEGIES Drugs??? Alcohol??? will be held on 19th & 20th November 2008. For details Contact before 17th November, 2008 Contact No: 9436006641/ 03862-230390 email: doc@drchugh.com

CBI enlists SMS to nab crooks C M Y K

Newmai News Network Shillong | November 12

THE CENTRAL Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has adopted countrywide anticorruption awareness campaigns by sending messages (SMS) to the common man to create awareness about the CBI’s anti-corruption initiatives. Informing this today in Shillong, a CBI source said, almost all the service providers like Airtel, Vodafone, BSNL, Reliance, Aircel and Indicom have been asked to send SMS to mobile users. As a result of the campaigns, the complainants approaching anti-corruption branches of CBI have increased manifold. Further disclosing on about 40 successful ‘traps’ after receiving SMS from the public in the last one month, the CBI source said this has added new dimension in its fight against corrupt practices by enlisting the support of the common man. It is also serving as deterrence to proliferation of corruption, the source said. The telephone numbers being flashed by service provider BSNL in Shillongare2228221,2223142, 9436334745, 9436334746 and 9436334748.

SDSA gives ‘good will passage’ to stranded trucks

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) has given a ‘good will passage’ to all the Imphal bound trucks stranded at Mao Gate. The relaxation was offered after minutely discussing the suffering of the people and also because the transporters has been extending their cooperation and supporting the cause of the students’ body said a note issued by its publicity secretary L Caleb. Altogether 120 trucks left for Imphal at 1:00 pm informed the note. Though the relaxation was granted today, the SDSA has also stated that the blockade will continue until the government responded positively and the work taken by the government is found satisfactory by the public.

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Thursday, November 13, 2008 12 pages Rs. 3

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A clever person turns great troubles into little ones and little ones into none at all

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- Chinese Proverb

Nagaland Faces NO “Money Crisis”

Merina Y. Chishi

Dimapur | November 12

THE GLOBAL financial meltdown notwithstanding, the banking sector in Nagaland is sound and functioning normally without any liquidity crisis. Speaking to a cross-section of senior officials of both the public sector and private banks, The Morung Express has learned that public money including savings and other instruments such as Fixed Deposits (FD) are safe. So you need not be worried about your bank accounts and other investments. All the leading banks operating in the state gave this assurance of “safety” when it came to public savings and availability of money in the economy. As such, even the government need not be worried about a slowdown in its planned development programmes, said one banker while speaking to this reporter. In what will come as a big relief for the state’s rural sector, the Nagaland State Corporative Bank (NSCB) has also put on record that it has sufficient assets and security deposits under the Deposit Insurance & Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGR) and depositors’ money are in safe hands. The largest public sector bank, the State Bank of India (SBI) also claims it is not affected by the current crisis except for SBI Mutual Funds, which is determined by volatility of market. On the other side, while the current global financial crisis may not have had a direct impact on the local economy, financial experts in Nagaland are nonetheless “feeling the pinch.” Although the popular

theory is that the state will not be burdened by the global financial meltdown because its economy is yet to be fully integrated globally, some have expressed fears that job cuts, layoffs and a credit crunch will have some impact in the state. “Those Naga youths who have gone outside for jobs may be forced to return and as a result, unemployment may only soar”, says a media analyst. The other worry is that the credit crunch may impact development programmes in the state and as the local economy is basically dependent on government funding, business and economic growth may suffer. Even as there is cautious optimism about the current economic downturn, the continuing worry for people in Nagaland is the considerable rise in prices of essential commodities. Interestingly, this is attributed not to the global meltdown but to internal factors—unauthorized taxes, extortion and rampant self-regulated rates. Besides, the local market is down not due to the falling stock exchange but because of insecurity to life and property, it is observed. Meanwhile former Finance Commissioner and present Nagaland Commissioner, HK Khulu suggested that there should be greater awareness among the public. “Nagas are not bothered about the MRP (maximum retail price) of products and to a large extent, have to bear the brunt of higher prices due to such ignorance”, Khulu says. He pointed out that the Naga public must keep abreast about prices in neighboring states and suggested establishments of necessary mechanisms such as chamber of commerce.

Banks assure safety of public money, development programs

Experts from the Indian Air Force collecting samples following an MIG-21 trainee ﬁghter aircraft crashing into a paddy ﬁeld and injuring two pilots, at Gariapathar in Sivasagar district of Assam on the 12th. (UB Photo)

Assam Blasts: Exiled Bhutan leader arrested GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 12 (REUTERS): Police arrested a senior Bhutanese refugee leader on Wednesday in connection with bomb attacks in Assam that killed 86 people last month. Tenzing G Zangpo, general secretary of the Druk National Congress (DNC) of Bhutan, was arrested along with a senior leader of separatist Indian group, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), from Guwahati. Identifying

those behind the Oct. 30 blasts has been difficult in a region riddled with several longrunning armed insurgencies complicated by backing from Islamist groups based in neighbouring Bangladesh. "Zangpo has been sent to police custody for 10 days for interrogation," a senior police officer, who asked not to be named, told Reuters. Zangpo's party, banned in Bhutan, represents thousands of Bhutanese of Nepali

origin who fled to Nepal after being persecuted in Bhutan for demanding democracy. The DNC moved to distance itself from Zangpo. "Druk National Congress has nothing to do with his personal activities. His personal activities are neither shared with the party nor approved by the party," another general secretary of the DNC, told Reuters by phone from Nepal. Police said the other arrested rebel leader was the "home

secretary" of the NDFB, a tribal outfit fighting for an independent homeland for the Bodo tribes people in Assam. The NDFB and a splinter group of the United Liberation Force of Asom (ULFA) -both known to have bases inside Bangladesh and Bhutan -- have signed ceasefire deals with New Delhi. In 2003, Bhutan used its military to flush out NDFB and ULFA militants from its territory after prompting from India.

At Edmund’s, Change Healing for the Broken Children is Always Here & Now Refuge for traumatized children in Kohima Morung Express News

Bro. E V Miranda, principal of St. Edmund’s College, Shillong, sits in his ofﬁce under the watchful eye of Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, on whose name the foundation of the college is attributed to. Thannganing Hungyo Shillong | November 12

HIGH HEELS trotted into science labs and ‘Identity’ perfume wafted through the classrooms after St. Edmund’s College in Shillong decided to open its doors to the fine Y-chromosomally challenged species of the Homo Sapien. That was a decade ago. But

change is still here and now at the alma mater of many a successful Edmundian. For the ‘ancients’ who come visiting, profound nostalgia pervades the senses. The quaint environment is gone, but nothing can kill the memories so deeply entombed in a sacred corner of the heart. In place of the old wooden structures of a different era, sturdy concrete handsomely stands to accommodate mushrooming numbers of students and departments. Even ‘Down Shop’, that old pirate’s den where ‘puri’ and ‘chai’ mingled freely with tales of chivalry (and sometimes pseudo bravado), has been sacrificed at the altar of ultra modernity. Aye skipper, them scallywags have shaken me hearties to walk the gangplank and plunge into Ol’ Davy Jones’ Locker. Alright, alright, enough of the pirate gibberish! Brother E V Miranda, the principal of the Christian Brothers-founded college, has been, and is, part of the change. In the innocent days, he could recall the names of all the students, but now, keeping track of 27002800 names in the attendance registers is close to impossible. Taking into cognizance the need of technology-aided learning, he tells The Morung Express, “Every classroom will be multimedia-friendly.” Miranda poses a challenge: “There are many graduates with stylish degrees, but the question is, are people really being educated? Is there real education?” continued on page3

Kohima/Dimapur | November 12

IN EVERY conflict situation, the most affected are children, the ultimate victims. This is more so because adults come to accept the realities of change and situation, but for a child, he cannot recognize the reality of the situation that caused his trauma, suffering or pain. Naturally, this trauma and ill-past find stronger and easier hold on the fragile mind of the child which ultimately deepens to breed an emotionally and psychologically wounded personality. Nagaland has children in whom trauma and pain have been planted at an early age by various exigent conflict situations, from domestic violence to familial tribulations and from ‘militarization’ to socio-political conflicts, as being witnessed today. Awakening Bells Centre, a home for children affected by conflict situations was inaugurated today at Kruoliezou in Kohima village. Keduotuolie Mepfuo, chairman of Kohima Village Council declared the center open with many dignitaries in attendance including Additional Chief Secretary Banuo Z. Jamir. In her message, Sano Vamuzo, chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women appreciated setting up of the centre and called for showing care and concern for children ‘whose parents are no more because of conflict

situations’. “They are suffering and experiencing misery and hardships because of conflict situation,” she said. Vamuzo said the time has come to nurture a new generation. Highlighting the vision behind Awakening Bells Centre, Neidonuo Angami said 12 children from different villages have been confirmed so far to join this centre. “Every child has a Godgiven and inherent right to choose and build quality life and to hope for a new vision to live in an open society that is free from militarization and conflict-related traumas,” the center said. “Where there is conflict and war, there is trauma. The prolonged political turmoil in our land has left, in its wake, many children

traumatized.” With the urgent need that is felt to help and give hope to these broken children, the center was set up by concerned like-minded citizens to awaken the social, moral and spiritual consciousness of the people to the silent damage being done to children. Interacting with The Morung Express, Neidonuo Angami said trauma from conflict in children grows which would in turn affect deeply their later life. ‘In conflict situations, adults come to accept the change in realities, but for children they cannot recognize this and so, are affected deeply’ she said. Citing an instance, Angami said the child who has been affected by conflict situation tend to develop emotional health issues like depression and aggressiveness. This the centre desires to “arrest” with ‘psycho-social support’ Angami explained. Conforming to Sano Vamuzo’s reminder that the time has come to nurture a new generation, Angami implied that if trauma in children is left unaddressed, they grown into emotionally disturbed personalities and in turn be a liability on the society, so the vicious cycle continues. “We are not going to play the role of caretakers but just to offer support” Angami said and called for greater consciousness to the unspoken issues that characterize the minds of traumatized children. continued on page 3

‘Millions will die if AIDS funds Stop’

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 12 (REUTERS): Millions of people suffering from HIV/AIDS will die if major donors battling a global financial crisis cut funding even for six months, the head of the United Nations’ AIDS agency said on Wednesday. In such a scenario, the poorest countries in Africa and Asia would bear the brunt, with access to healthcare greatly reduced, Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS told Reuters in an interview. Experts and donors such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates have warned the global financial crisis could last two to three years, forcing rich countries to cut back spending on health aid. “If we interrupt (funding) even for six months or a year, it will result in millions of deaths,” Piot said. “If we interrupt these activities we will have to pay later as more people will become infected.” An estimated 33 million people worldwide were infected with HIV in 2007, slightly down from 33.2 million in 2006, due to intensified efforts to fight the disease, UNAIDS figures show. About three million people now received AIDS drugs in low- and middle-income countries, while the number of people dying of AIDS has dropped modestly. “High income countries, the so called donor countries, may decrease their budget for assistance and this budget is absolutely vital for the survival of millions of people in the poorest countries,” Piot said.

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Dimapur

13 November 2008

MEx File Special leave for Angami gazetted ofﬁcers KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (DIPR): In view of the Silver Jubilee of the Angami Gazetted Officers’ Krotho (AGOK), all members of the AGOK have been granted a day’s casual leave on Friday, November 14, to enable them to attend the silver jubilee celebrations. An order to this effect was issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Lalthara in Kohima today.

DEO Mkg on submission of reports MOKOKCHUNG, NOVEMBER 12 (DIPR): The District Education Officer Mokokchung, Y Lanutemjen, has directed all Deputy Inspectors of Schools and Sub-Inspectors of Schools to submit their inspection reports as per the format issued by the Education Department month-wise, for assessment and recommendation of the best VEC/WEC from Mokokchung district. All DISs and SISs are to submit the same to the Deputy Commissioner before November 18, 2008, without which no recommendation would be made from the district, and for which the concerned officials would be held responsible, the DEO informed.

State to observe cooperative week KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): Along with the rest of the country, the department of cooperation in collaboration with National Cooperative Union of India, Cooperative Education Field Project, Kohima district, will observe the 55th All India Cooperative Week here from November 14 under the theme ‘Autonomous and competitive cooperatives for Bharat Nirman.’ M Imtila Jamir, Registrar of Cooperative Societies Nagaland, will grace the inaugural function, while Keneiserianuo will be the resource person for the one-week candle making training organized to mark the occasion.

USSC directs educational institutions DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) has directed all heads of government educational institutions not to grant leave before the end of the academic session, including granting of advance for early part of the next academic session, “until there is a grave reason to consider.” In this connection, Thronglise, President of the USSC, in a release has notified all its federating units to be vigilant, and further directed that “if found violating this notification, matter be reported to the conference within three days for necessary action.”

Diphupar Angami Baptist Churches condemn DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Diphupar Angami Baptist Church A, B, C, and D have condemned the robbing of its pastor, the executive secretary of CBCC and a deacon on October 31 near the Diphupar Village gate. Vilotsol Angami, ‘Church Secretary A, B, C, D’, in a condemnation note stated that the three church leaders were gathered at the gate around 5:20 am to go to Kohima for the church jubilee programme, “when miscreants brandishing a pistol approached them and robbed them of their mobiles and money, despite the disclosure of their identity and the purpose of their journey.” The churches (A, B, C, D) in the release stated that such crime would bring the wrath of God not only to the criminals but to their family members too. The churches have also appealed against committing “such crime to God’s servants and mankind in future.” C M Y K

LOCAL

Thursday

‘Use your talents beyond national levels’

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The state-level science exhibition 2008 was held here today at the Government Higher Secondary School, Kohima, with Commissioner Secretary, Tourism, Art & Culture, Nagaland, Khekiya K Sema, IAS, as the chief guest. A total of 27 schools from 6 districts took part in the exhibition displaying 51 individual and group models. Imliyala Aier and Vesheta Hiesa from Northfield School Kohima bagged the first prize, while Kethronguloii and Visevoto from Mezhür Higher Secondary School, and Arunanand V Thomas from St. Mary’s School Kohima, were declared second and third respectively. Along with certificates and running trophies, the winners were awarded cash prizes of Rs.3000, Rs.2000 and Rs.1000 and a compound microscope each. Apart from the three winners, ten models were also selected to represent Nagaland state in the Eastern Science Fair, to be held on January 6 at BITM Kolkota. Terming the participants as ‘fortunate’, K Sema, IAS, in his inaugural address said that it was an opportunity for the students to exercise their minds and creativity through which

State-level Science Exhibition 2008

Khekiya K Sema, IAS, Secretary for Tourism, Art & Culture, discussing one of the projects with the participating students at the science exhibition held in Kohima, on Wednesday. (Morung Photo)

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (DIPR): Exhorting Zonal Taxi drivers during the second day of the training programme under ‘Year of Capacity Building’ this morning at Old MLA hostel building, Kohima’s Deputy Commissioner, Sachopra Vero, said that drivers should be aware of their roles and responsibilities in the society and expressed appreciation to the RTO for organising the programme. Discipline is very important in any field and drivers must learn and benefit from the training programme, Vero said, while stressing on their roles. He said that drivers should treat their profession with utmost sincerity since the lives of the passengers are in their hands, and added that Zonal

Taxi drivers should ensure the safety and comfort of the passengers. Referring to the traffic jams in the state capital, the Deputy Commissioner said that while the roads are narrow with less chance of expansion, the drivers should contribute to the easing of traffic congestion instead of aggravating the problem. He said that in addition to the narrow roads, the traffic jams were becoming serious due to the indiscipline of the drivers, wrong parking, and rash driving. Stating that most drivers do not follow traffic rules/signals thus leading to more chaos, Vero called upon the drivers to restrain themselves and follow necessary traffic rules and regulations, which would go a long way in relieving the traffic mess. The Deputy

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The NPF president, Dr. Shürhozelie, has responded yet again, to the NPCC’s ridiculing of his statement on the state media, explaining that his statement had merely been a reply to the queries directed to him. “When some friends asked me about the role played by the media in Nagaland, I have said that they are doing very well, they are second to none,” stated the NPF president adding that the Congress, however, were angry at his statement terming it as silly. He expressed confusion at the anger of

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The District Excise Enforcement personnel manning the Chumukedima check gate under the command of Asst. Inspector of Excise, B Apong, detected and seized 377 bottles of IMFL and beer during the period of duty from November 3 to 9. In this connection, 5 persons were arrested and penalised under the relevant section of the NLTP Act 1989, informed a release issued by Pitongse Sangtam, Suptd. Of Excise and Prohibition, Dimapur.

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Nokpu Baptist Church under Mokokchung District will celebrate its Centenary Year from December 27 to 29 at Nokpu Village under the theme ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice.’ The main speaker will include Rev. Art John, Pastor from USA, Walu Walling, Literature Secretary for ABAM, and Dr. L Sunep Aonok, Director of Love Outreach Mission. Maongtemjen Imchen, the Media & Publicity Cell member, in a release has extended invitation to all ‘Nokpurs’ living outside the village, including all village members of Assaringyim and Anuk Apang (in-laws of Nokpu Village), to join in the celebration.

Rio to open Namsang EAC HQ KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio will inaugurate the Namsang EAC Headquarter at Kongshong on November 28. This was stated by in a release issued by D Dako Phom, parliamentary secretary for transport & communication and mechanical engineering.

SVSU condoles demise of Bonoka Sangtam DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Singsi Village Students’ Union (SVSU) has mourned the demise of Bonoka Sangtam, a class IX student of Cambridge School, on November 8. Aketo Sangtam of SVSU, in a condolence message stated that late Bonoka was humble, honest and a dedicated student, and that his demise had created a vacuum in the union. The SVSU shared grief with the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul.

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) has directed the village councils of Kiphire and Langkok to strictly adhere to the MoU signed in the USSC Office, on November 8, for water supply from Langkok village to Kiphire village. The ‘fitting’ for the same will commence from November 10 onwards, the USSC informed, requesting public cooperation for early completion of the project. The Conference further acknowledged the power department for speeding up electrification from Sitimi town to Seyochung town, which would “ultimately avail electricity to entire Seyochung area.” T Kirithong Sangtam, USSC’s Finance Secretary, in a release informed, “The Conference, after spot verification hoped to finish within November 2008 and wished the concern department will do if the same pace of work is continued.” The USSC also expressed gratitude to C Kipili Sangtam, MLA and Chairman of NSMDC, and to the PHED and PWD (R&B) officers and staff, for extending “untiring help towards the developmental activities.”

Congressmen on the issue since it did not concern them and was a matter between the press and himself. Shürhozelie added that when he was again asked if he had any advice, he had conveyed his wish that the press be more positive so that negative news do not hit the headlines of the front page every time. This advise was a personal opinion, he said, continuing that “achievements”, according to him, had meant the coverage of achievements of people belonging to various professions, “which, in rare cases, may cover the achievement

of some Congressmen also.” The NPF president stated that because of the aforementioned statement by him, the Congress had gone on to accuse that there had been no development worth its name in the recent time. If this was the case, he questioned the Congress as to why they had been critical of the official residence of the DGP which was inaugurated just the other day. “The developments that we are taking up now are all permanent basis which will solve the Nagaland Government’s problem for some hundreds of years to come,” stated the press release, adding that

there were many more developments worth the name in progress. He stressed that the party would continue to maintain the trend for the development of the State even if some were angry with them. The press release issued by Dr. Shürhozelie exhorted all to be more reasonable and play positive roles in the real interest of the people, no matter which bench they belonged to. “If we want to be a ‘good watch dog’, one should not bark at every moving creature unreasonably,” maintained the NPF President, adding that it was not good to remain angry all the time.

Keppen encourages taking NSF condemns up jobs in the private sector terrorist acts

IMFL seized, 5 arrested

NBC to celebrate Centenary Year

Commissioner also reminded the drivers to maintain their vehicles and ‘go for regular servicing’, to prevent accidents occurring due to mechanical failure. He also warned the drivers against the practice of drunken driving. RTO Kohima, Mezayi Tetseo, in his keynote address said that the lifestyle of the people had improved due to the presence of vehicles. Stating that transport is the biggest sector providing employment to the people, next only to agriculture, and that drivers are the biggest contributors in making the nation economically strong, the RTO further called upon the drivers to expand their knowledge and skills so as to provide better public service.

DMC for regulated ‘To be a good watchdog, do not bark unreasonably’ rates for vegetables

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union, Guwahati (ENSUG), held its annual social on November 8 at the Assam Academy Cultural Hall, a press release from the ENSUG informed. C L John, MLA, and M Sangtam, President of the Eastern Nagaland Gazetted Officers’ Association, graced the occasion as chief guest and guest of honour respectively. The ENSUG also released its third annual magazine under the caption ‘Zeal’. The union has expressed gratitude to the chief guest and guest of honour, all invitees, well-wishers and friends who were present at the function.

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): Minister for forest, environment, ecology & wildlife and excise, M C Konyak, will grace the silver jubilee celebration of the Government High School, Tamlu, on November 15.

they could use and expose their talents beyond state and national levels. Emphasising on the importance of food security, he said that although most of the Nagas are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, there was not much production from the state. In this connection, he called upon the students to be the ones to look for measures to improve the agricultural system and production in the state. “You are in the fertile situation of dreamland that can be small, but contribute,” he said. Also highlighting the concerns for energy conservation and global warming, Sema urged the students to critically analyse its impact and take up measures to preserve our biodiversity. He further called upon the students to educate others on the ill effects, prevention and remedy to save and make the earth a better place to live in. Earlier, the inaugural program was chaired by N Khevito, Additional Director of School Education, and a special number was presented by the students of Government Higher Secondary School, Kohima. The programme was organised by the Directorate of School Education in collaboration with NCERT, New Delhi, and BITM Kolkota.

Treat profession with utmost sincerity: DC Kohima USSC hopes for water supply by month end

ENSUG annual social held

Konyak at GHS Tamlu silver jubilee

The Morung Express

DMC Rate Control Co-convenor, S Vihuto Yeptho, addressing shoppers on the vegetable rate board put up at New Market, Dimapur. (Morung Photo)

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Dimapur Municipal Council has set up a rate chart displaying the prescribed rates of vegetables in the market for the convenience of vegetable buyers. S Vihuto Yeptho, co-convenor of Rate Control, has appealed to the public to make use of the rate board by referring to the rates written on the board while buying vegetables. He has informed that any changes made in the rate would be displayed on the board. Informing this through a press release, he further appealed to the public to cooperate with the DMC by reporting any vendors found selling vegetables at a higher price, through the phone number given on the rate chart board.

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (DIPR): A seminar on career prospects for secondary school students was conducted on November 11 last at Tseminyu. The seminar was organised by the Rengma Officers’ Forum (ROF). Er. G Keppen Rengma, Director of Industries & Commerce, Nagaland, as chief guest at the seminar, spoke on the topic ‘Employment opportunities in private sectors for educated youth in the state’. He stated that the youth today should change the mindset and practice of acquiring the best education outside the state and coming back to Nagaland to seek only government jobs. Er. Rengma stressed that other than government jobs, there were many other job avenues in private sectors, and enumerated the various important employment sectors, such as the industry enterprise, hospitality or tourism service, agro-food processing including horticulture, the financial, IT and construction sectors, womenbased self help groups, besides opening of educational or vocational institutions and job-oriented courses. The Director also encouraged the

students to go on educational exposure trips outside the state to enhance their horizons for the future besides taking part in various state government-organised programmes for the welfare of the students’ body, terming them as “very beneficial.” Zavise Rume, SCERT Nagaland, also presented a paper on the topic ‘Career prospects in modern education’. He stated that students have the responsibility to prepare for their future career to earn a rightful place in the modern world by being productive and useful citizens tomorrow. Rume reminded them of the different options for study after secondary school. The seminar also dwelt on career opportunities for matriculates and diploma courses offered in polytechnics for class 10 passed students, besides career opportunities after 10+2 and graduation and competitive exams. All schools located within the sub-division attended the seminar. The programme was chaired by Gwasinla, Senior Academic Officer and President of the Rengma Officers’ Forum.

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): In the midst of the catastrophic events that have hit Assam, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has issued a press statement condemning “the vicious and cowardly act of terrorism.” A press note issued by NSF president, Imchateba Imchen, stated it supports the people of Assam in calling for swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators and added, “terrorism and terrorists should not have any place in the civilized human society.” Expressing deep concern regarding the rise of terrorism around the region and across the world, the NSF stated that it condemns all such acts, “irrespective of motive.” Further stating that “rumors have been going around about threats of similar bombings in our region,” the note pointed out that terrorists intimidate people while also “sacrificing human life to serve their radical, extremists and farcical visions by abandoning every value except the will to power; they follow in the path of totalitarianism and they will follow that path all the way to where it ends in history’s unmarked grave of discarded lies.”

BRO defends ‘workmanship’ Pending pension cases to be disposed of by 2010 DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Border Road Organization in a rejoinder to the news item ‘Poor workmanship of BRO’ published on November 11, has stated that the present improvement works being carried out on NH-39 use the latest techniques including hot mix plants, sensor pavers and vibrator rollers. Maintaining that it is a professional organisation, the largest road building organisation, and the forerunner of road construction in the country, the Commander of 15 BRFT, Col K S Malladi, stated that works in Kohima town were being executed to improve the roads with as little inconvenience to the public as possible. Due

to congestion within the area, large modern equipments cannot be deployed, and hence, the organisation was constrained to resort to other methods including night work, stated the Commander. Infrastructural work in a busy township will cause some inevitable inconvenience to the public, stated the Commander, requesting the cooperation and assistance of all citizens “for the smooth execution of work to build a more beautiful Kohima.” Col Malladi also expressed regret over the November 8 incident in which a BRO official was manhandled while working in Kohima town, terming the incident as unfortunate.

Pension Adalat to be held on 15th of every month

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (DIPR): The Principal Secretary of the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR), C J Ponraj, has said that payment of pensionery benefits to retired employees later than the due date is a crime. He said that pensionery benefits are a legitimate right of the retired employees. Addressing a meeting of the Pension Nodal Officers of various departments in the Secretariat conference hall in Kohima on Tuesday, Ponraj said that it is the bounden duty of the government to provide retirement benefits in time. Quoting 68 of the CCS

(pension) Rules, 1972, the Principal Secretary said that delay in payment of pension is attributable to administrative lapses and there is a provision for fixing responsibility to the officers and staff dealing with such pension cases. He therefore called upon the Nodal Officers to accord importance to the pension matters asserting that the government was aiming to extend all pensionery benefits to the retired employees on the date of retirement from 2010. Ponraj said that all pending pension cases would be disposed of by 2010, as there would be less pension cases

due to the enhancement of retirement age from the existing 57 to 60 years. He informed all Nodal Officers to submit the list of employees likely to retire in the next six months with all details (along with soft copy) to the P&AR Department. Senior Deputy Accountant General, Nagaland, and his subordinate officers who also attended the meeting held discussions with the Nodal Officers with the aim to expedite the finalisation of pension cases. After the deliberations on pensionrelated matters and the problems faced by the departments, it was decided that a

Pension Adalat would be held on the 15th of every month. If the 15th happened to fall on a holiday, it will be held the next day, they decided. To begin with, the meeting decided to hold the Pension Adalat at the Police Department on December 15, 2008. In January, the same will be conducted at the School Education Department. The meeting also decided to conduct training of officers and staff dealing with pension on December 10, 2008, at the ATI. The Principal Secretary has informed all Directorates to nominate at least two staffers for the training.

LOCAL

The Morung Express

Thursday

13 November 2008

Culture of tuitions a ‘civilised extortion’ Our Correspondent

Kiphire | November 12

A ONE-DAY EDUCATION seminar, organised by the Kiphire Town Students’ Union (KTSSU) on the theme ‘The role of students in present society’, was conducted here on November 8 last at the Zisaji Presidency College auditorium. Hundreds of students from different schools in Kiphire town attended the programme. Addressing the gathering at the seminar, R Joshua, Chairman of KTC, exhorted the students to be sincere in studies

and denounce the culture of tuition, and called it a “civilised extortion.” Shahato, DIS, who also spoke at the seminar, said that practical education should be emphasised “in order to attain complete human.” Addl. SP Kiphire, Krodi Rhatso, NPS, exhorted the students and shared his view on the town saying, “Kiphire is a mini Nagaland because of unique culture, various tribe and sub tribe co-exist together peacefully, interwoven with unity and peace.” Without discipline and civic sense, education is not complete, he warned, and asked the student

STARTING LINE-UP

ENPUK general session today

community to inculcate it and to be role models. In the second session, speaking as the resource person, R Y Moses, Lecturer at ZPC, spoke on the topic ‘Education and Social change; a holistic approach to life’. He touched on the various aspects of education “that can make a complete human,” and compared the livese of renowned educationalists and great historians. Kiritong, finance secretary of USSC, also spoke about various areas where students can Participants of the Training of Trainers programme for District Master Trainers on Disaster act as catalysts of change in Risk Management pose for the camera. The training was held from November 3 to 7 at the Administrative Training Institute, Kohima. the present society.

NYK Phek to organise residential training camp

Monsieurs Tokheho Yeptho, K V Pusa, Nillo Rengma, the principal of the institution where you studied wants past pupils to guide and help Naga students presently enrolled in the college. Vice-Principal D Chaudhari has sifted through the pages of the college’s history for the past 38 years. In all these days, he has not submitted a single application for leave. That’s because at Edmund’s not a single class is missed – teachers have a tacit agreement. Hurt registers when he thinks of the good old days and the pulling down of the old buildings but he is quick to respond that the demolition “was a necessity.” The introduction of the Venetians into the campus did not really disturb the Martian at-

Kuzhovesa Soho

mosphere as “we are strict disciplinarians,” he says. Instead, the co-ed ambiance spurs competition, he testifies. Chaudhari finds an ally in Binoyargha Dam, a science student, who avers that “feelings of jealousy” towards the opposite sex drives him to work harder. His friend, Debojit Kumar Deb, flatly disagrees. His scientific point of view is that several boys are finding it difficult to secure admissions because of the spiraling population of girls. “If girls can enter boys’ colleges, why can’t boys enter all-girls’ colleges?” A Naga alumnus of the college has this to say: “Et tu Edmund’s! Why did you have to bring in girls on the year I left college?” He did not wish to be named, fearing a backlash from the missus.

NU informs on re-evaluation of results DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Nagaland University (BA Old Course and New Course) re-evaluation results were published by the NU on November 7. Otova Swu, Assistant Registrar (Examination) has, in this regard, informed the principals of colleges to immediately collect the marksheets of students of their colleges for re-evaluation from the office of the Controller of Examination, NU.

Tenyidie novel released KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): Renowned novelist and poetess, Kekhrievou Yhome, on November 11 released a Tenyidie novel entitled ‘Kephouma Zhakhra.’ Priced at Rs.80, the book is now available at Kohima: ACLS, Western Book Depot, ABC Book House, Good News Centre, Hill Book Centre, OM Book Store; and in Dimapur: ACLS, Christian Literature Centre.

Phek | November 12

WITH THE objective of imparting basic infrastructure to the Youth Club office bearers to organise games and sports at the village level, and to develop leadership qualities and personality, a weeklong Intensive Residential Training Camp under the Capacity Building program for Youth Office Bearers in games and sports, will be organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) Phek Office

at Pfütsero, from November 17 to 23, 2008. Y Laksman Singh, District Youth Coordinator (DYC), NYK Phek, said that the registered youth clubs/ associations’ office bearers, preferably President, General Secretary, or Secretary of Games & Sports who can communicate in English, may attend the said training. The DYC Phek informed that food and lodging would be provided by the NYK, and directed the participating youths to “bring adequate

Secretary’s report will be presented by Mhalezothie Khezhie, General Secretary of AGOK. The programme will be chaired by Vipralhou Kesiezie, Director of SCERT. Special items of the programme include adoption of seminar resolutions by the chairman, constitution amendments by Nino Iralu, nomination committee’s report by Dr. Viu Meru, consultant at NSACS, besides the new President’s speech. Ex-President of the Angami Public Organisation, Zapuvisie Lhousa, will give the exhortation. The chief guest

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Agro advisories for the farmers

Irregular irrigation causes cracking of carrot and radish. In onion and garlic, irrigation should be stopped three weeks before harvesting to ensure better keeping quality. French bean is susceptible to water stress at critical periods of growth – pre blooming, flowering and pod filling stages. In pea, moisture stress at flowering and subsequent pod filling stage is most undesirable affecting the yield and quality of pods. Earthing up is very important for radish as it helps in proper development of roots. Care should be taken that the field should not become dry and compact which can check root development. Staking should be provided to Bean, Tomato as it increases pod yield as well as seed quality. Prune and destroy the affected parts of the plants. Imtisenla Walling Agromet field Unit ICAR,Medziphema

EASTERN THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE JORHAT, ASSAM

Presents

Also Featuring Local Favorites Dimapur: IMC Hall, Dimapur Time: 5:00 PM Date: 16th of Nov.2008

Kohima: State Academy Hall Time: 5:30 PM Date: 14th Nov.2008

BEAUTIFUL BOOKS- CHENNAI Invites you to its

CHRiSTIAN BOOK FESTIVAL ‘08 Date & Time Venue 12-15 November, 2008 Town Baptist Church (Wednesday-Saturday) Near Christian Hr. Sec.School 9.00am- 5pm Dimapur

Discount on all items!

will also hoist the AGOK flag and release the souvenir magazine. Special folksong ‘Tati pfhe’ will be presented by the Viswema Youth. Vote of thanks will be presented by N Putsüre, IAS, Secretary of Land Resources and Advisor, AGOK. The cultural programme will witness different folksongs presented by cultural troupes from all the four Angami ranges. Organisers of the event have requested all members to attend the celebrations with their families and assemble at the venue by 10 am.

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Kohima Village Students’ Union (KVSU) under the initiative of nomination committee convenor, Dr. Ketshukietuo Dzuvichu, and member secretary Kereivilie Kire, with the KVSU president and four unit presidents, has elected the following members as office bearers for KVSU for the tenure 2008-2010: President – Neilhouvolie Mechulho, vice president – Vitsu Yhome, general secretary –Neitho-o Kuotsu, assistant general secretary – Babou Miachie-o, treasurer – Sedevizo Zatsu, finance secretary – Khriekeso Rutsa, games & sports secretary – Keviselhou Sekhose, assistant games & sports secretary – Neibazo Pienyu, librarian – Dziesetseinuo Kire, assistant librarian – Keneirieu Vizo, statistical secretary – Vivotuonuo Phewhuo, social & cultural secretary – Vithozo Khezhie, magazine secretary – Keneivio Liezietsu, information & publicity secretary – Ruokuoneitso Kire, food secretary – Khrieketouzo Solo and assistant food secretary – Dziesebeinuo Rutsa.

NAGALAND STATE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD. HEAD OFFICE :: DIMAPUR

FULLY ALIVE An Evening of Gospel Music

of the programme. The DYC further informed that 20 selected clubs for assistance of sports materials for the year 2008 in the district would be approved during the Camp. The despatched application forms for the training should be filled up and completed, along with three passport photographs of the club president, the DYC instructed, and added that the forms should reach the NYK, Phek office, on or before November 14, 2008.

NOTICE The 39th Annual General Meeting of the Nagaland State Co-operative Bank will be held on 11.12.2008 at 11:00 AM in the Conference hall of Head Office of the Bank (NSCB) at Dimapur. All Share Holders (Affiliated Coop. Societies) are hereby informed to collect the Notice & delegation form from the nearest branches of the Bank. Nomination Form for election to the Board of Directors of the Bank will be available from 12.11. 2008 to 20.11.2008 at two Districts Headquarters Branches viz Zunheboto & Phek and Nomination papers meant for Longleng district from Changtongia Branch as indicated in the Notice. The last date of submission of Nomination Paper to the Managing Director, NSCB Ltd. H.Q Dimapur is 24.11.2008 during working hours i.e, within 3:30 PM.

Sd/- Toshi Aier IAS Chairman

operative Week from Nov 14

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (DIPR): The National Co-operative Union of India, an apex organisation of the Indian Co-operative Movement, will be celebrating its 55th All India Co-operative Week from November 14 to 20, 2008, throughout the country. The theme for this year’s co-operative week is ‘Autonomous and Competitive Co-operatives for Bharat Nirman’.

KVSU elects new team, to hold conference on Nov 15

Weather forecasting for 8 Districts of Nagaland from 12th to 16th November 2008 Districts

warm bedding, sports materials and other personal belongings.” There will be a selection for the camp, where 20 boys and 20 girls will be selected. The selected youths are to report to the training camp on November 17 at 10 am. The NYK further added that strict discipline would be maintained throughout the duration of the camp, and that the participating youths would be expected to cooperate with the organisers for successful implementation

CM to grace AGOK silver jubilee celebration 55th All India Co-

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12 (DIPR): The Silver Jubilee celebration of the Angami Gazetted Officers’ Krotho (AGOK) will be held at 11 am on November 15 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Rüleizou, Kohima, with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as the chief guest. MLA K V Pusa will be the guest of honour on the occasion. Commissioner and Secretary of Rural Development, Viketol Sakhrie, will deliver the welcome address. Presidential address will be given by President of AGOK, Daso Paphino, while the General

Your daily Meetings, Appointments, Information and Reminder column

At Edmund’s, Change is Always... From page 1

Dimapur

Sd/- B.K. Thadani Managing Director

Meanwhile, the KVSU will hold its conference on November 15 at the KVC Hall by 10 am. In addition, the ‘handing and taking over’ of new office bearers will be held on the same day. Both the outgoing and newly elected executives have been asked to attend the same positively.

The 7th general session of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Kohima will take place on November 13 at DUDA Guest House, Kohima at 10:00 am with Minister for School Education Nyeiwang Konyak as the chief guest. All ENPUK members residing in Kohima are requested to attend the session positively and be attired in their respective tribal shawls. SU executive meeting today

Sangtam Union, Dimapur has convened an executive meeting on November 13 at 10:00 am at the residence of Imli Sangtam, Union treasurer. All the ofﬁce bearers, executive members, president and general secretary of Sangtamlarü Thsingmüjang, Sangtam Student Union Dimapur and the relieved president and general secretary of the union to attend the meeting without fail. PTMK general assembly on November 15

The Poumai Tsudomai Me Kohima will hold a general assembly meeting on November 15 at the Poumai Catholic Community Hall, Naga Bazar Kohima, at 11:00 am. Election of the new team of ofﬁce bearers and discussion will take place during the meeting. All the students, including advisors and well-wishers, have been requested to attend the same.

Healing for the Broken Children

From page 1

Neidonuo Angami informed that the center came into as a charity and humanitarian initiative and for now has to be run from own resources. Still, she said, it will be run by a dedicated team of administrators. A number of children have been registered for the home and sooner as they have completed their examinations, they are expected to be in residence. Angami also added that the center for now will cater only to children who are in most need although there are many families and children who share a similar need. Awakening Bells Centre hopes to help create a safe and enabling environment for affected children and journey with them to heal their deep, hidden wounds. This would help in nurturing and building them into responsible and

conscious persons of the society. With a 20-bed facility, the centre will provide ‘psycho-social’ support and community care for a period of 6 months to one year, depending on their needs and circumstances. The main objectives of the center is to provide a safe community-based residential facility to reduce the burden of child-care for extended families who are affected and empower them with life skills, social support and networks, to provide access to proper nutrition, informal education and health care and to create public awareness on trauma and enhance community participation in sharing responsibilities towards healing for traumatized children to grow up with a sense of security and hope. Earlier, Rev. Neirielie Mechieo, Sr. Pastor, Baptist Revival Church, Kohima said dedication prayer.

Royal Club meeting deferred The meeting of the Royal Club, Kohima, which had been scheduled for Friday, November 14, has been postponed. All members are hereby informed that the meeting will now be held on November 21, 2008, at the Club Building at 4 pm.

CORRIGENDUM In the news item captioned ‘Army Recruitment Rally at Wokha’ that appeared in the November 10, 2008, issue of Naga News, it was erroneously reported that ‘recruitment rally will be held on November 27, 2008 at Wokha’. It is clarified that the rally will be held at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, and for candidates from Wokha and Longleng districts, the specified date is November 27, 2008. The error is regretted. DIPR

CORRIGENDUM The meeting of the Congress Legislature Party will be held on November 17 at 11:00 am at the residence of C. Apok Jamir, MLA at ‘Walujen’ Half Nagarjan Dimapur and not as notified earlier.

C M Y K

Dimapur

Thursday

PUBLIC DISCOURSE |BUSINESS

13 November 2008

Tech’s most powerful women

CHAIRMAN and CEO of Xerox Corp, Anne M Mulcahy tops the list of the most powerful tech women. She became CEO of Xerox in August 2001, and chairman on January 1, 2002. Mulcahy is credited of having pulled Xerox out of a near-fatal slump in 2002. Her ideas include colour printing, eco-friendly technologies and lucrative consulting services. To compete with rivals like Canon and Hewlett-Packard, Mulcahy doubled Xerox's software R&D budget to $1.5 billion. She began her Xerox career as a field sales representative in 1976 and assumed increasingly responsible sales and senior management positions. From 1992-1995, Mulcahy was vice president for human resources, responsible for compensation, benefits, human resource strategy, labor relations, management development and employee training. Mulcahy became chief staff officer in 1997 and corporate senior vice president in 1998. Prior to that, she served as vice president and staff officer for Customer Operations, covering South America and Central America, Europe, Asia and

C M Y K

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): The government will consider a cut in fuel prices if crude oil prices stabilise at levels where losses of oil companies are lower, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said on Wednesday. “Prime Minister has said we cannot reduce prices now because the oil companies are losing heavily,” Deora said. Deora wanted losses to come down further and crude prices to stabilise before considering a price cut. On his way back from his maiden three-day visit to the Gulf, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had yesterday said that the government will wait till public sector oil companies break-even on fuel sales be-

Anne Mulcahy, Chairman and CEO, Xerox Corp

Africa. Mulcahy earned a bachelor of arts degree in English/journalism from Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY. In addition to the Xerox board, she is a board director of Catalyst,

economies have come under pressure in recent months as investors unwind funding positions amid worries about a global recession. The problem for many of them is they cannot quickly access the credit they need because banks are hoarding money and refuse to lend to each other. The bleaker outlook for growth in the developing world is reflected in the World Bank's sharp cut in its growth forecast for developing countries to 4.6 percent for next year, from 6.4 percent projected in June. It also forecast that advanced economies will contract 0.1 percent next year, cutting its previous forecast, which projected growth of 2 percent. It said the world economy would not likely slow to 1 percent in 2009. Zoellick said the World Bank expected its lending this year to increase sharply to USD 35 billion compared to USD 13.5 billion last year. "We're trying to provide resources, but we're trying to target them at particular needs, whether it be infrastructure, social development, trade finance, and that is also a way of drawing in donors," he added.

Citigroup Inc, Fuji Xerox Company, Ltd, Target Corporation, The Washington Post Company, and is the chairman of the corporate governance task force of the Business Roundtable.

AMSTERDAM, NOVEMBER 11 (REUTERS): Dutch group Philips has developed an "intelligent pill" that contains a microprocessor, battery, wireless radio, pump and a drug reservoir to release medication in a specific area in the body. Philips, one of the world's biggest hospital equipment makers, said on Tuesday that the "iPill" capsule, measures acidity with a sensor to determine its location in the gut, and can then release drugs where they are needed. Delivering drugs to treat digestive tract disorders such as Crohn's disease directly to the

D S

location of the disease means doses can be lower, reducing side effects, Philips said. While capsules containing miniature cameras are already used as diagnostic tools, those lack the ability to deliver drugs, Philips said. The "iPill" can also measure the local temperature and report it wirelessly to an external receiver. The company plans to present the "iPill" at the annual meeting of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) in Atlanta this month. The iPill is a prototype but suitable for serial manufacturing, Philips said.

Banks say no to big Bollywood budgets

MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 12 (NDTV): The Kumars and the Khans of tinsel town will now have to settle for lesser money as banks are getting jittery over soaring budgets, which means that filmmakers will have to curb their extravagant movie budgets. London dreams was supposed to be a mega budget movie with a bill of over Rs 50 crore . But the dream has been shattered now as the money has dried up with banks refusing to loosen their purses to

Bollywood that received an industry status, a few years ago. Also many production houses are now being told by banks to cut down on their multi-million budgets, else forget the loan sanctioned. Kumar S Taurani, Managing Director, Tips Industries Ltd, said, “EXIM passed our loan but hasn’t given us the money yet.” State-run IDBI bank leads the pack and has an exposure limit of RS 1,000 crore up from Rs100 crore in 2002. It has till date funded more than 200 films in Hindi and regional

languages. However, EXIM Bank funds all Yash Raj Films. Jitender Balakrishnan, Deputy MD & Group Head Corporate Banking at IDBI Bank Ltd, said, “With budgets soaring, financing gets riskier.” The fear of slowdown is so fierce that banks are now very reluctant to fund even new films. Banks usually fund 40 to 50 per cent of a movie’s budget but with Bollywood flicks being made for over Rs 50 crore, they have reason enough to worry.

'Global ﬁnancial crisis will not affect Tourism in India' LONDON, NOVEMBER 12 (PTI): The current global financial downturn will not "completely" affect Indian tourism industry, a top official has said, underlining the need to promote sustainable tourism to make the country an ecologically and socially sensitive destination. "While it would be reasonable to expect this growth may slow down, it is not likely to be completely stopped by the turbulence that is shaking the world economy; and overall, there is every reason for the In-

dian tourism industry to be optimistic," Tourism Joint Secretary Leela Nandan said at the World Travel Market, annual tourism fair, here yesterday. India is very conscious of the need to promote sustainable tourism and wants to be seen as an ecologically and socially sensitive tourism destination, Nandan said. The number of international tourists visiting India has nearly doubled in last five years, rising from 2.73 million in 2003 to 5.07 million in 2007, according to official figures. Figures for the first nine months of 2008

show 3.87 million foreign arrivals in India, an increase of 10.4 per cent on the same period last year. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism sector has touched USD 10.7 billion, catapulting India into the top 20 destinations for international tourism receipts. Domestic figures have also nearly doubled in the last five years from 309 million in 2003 to 527 million in 2007. The Joint Secretary said India was implementing a two-pronged marketing strategy to promote tourism in the country.

Rejoinder to Maj. Z.D. Akho The revolutionary character of a person in any revolutionary organization is reflected by his power of endurance and tolerance in the face of any vexatious happenings in the organization. The adage "to err is human" is to be religiously guarded and no personal issue born out of inherent cynicism should be driven to the level of acrimonious issue to make a bargaining agenda. Worst is the use of contentious wording, resorting to media-bashing. This is as good as committing the cardinal sin criticizing the very organization that mould him. It is a matter of regret that the accommodative and conciliatory approach of NSCN towards the deserter Maj. Z.D. Akho has been unduly exploited by his over indulgence in antagonism against NSCN, and desperately inflating himself but only to rub the NSCN the wrong way. Lest the parroting version of Maj. Z.D. Akho is given any credit his manner of committing an act of impropriety has to be nullified but without going insidious. The travails of revolutionary life of Isak Chishi Swu, Khadao Yanthan and Th. Muivah is a living testimony today. The Nagas and the world is still watching the insurmountable spirit of these leaders in leading the Naga struggle. Going back to Indo-Naga history, the many unpleasant historical facts still lingers to testify the truth, how bitter it may now appear and how the Naga issue was kept alive till today. When the 16-point Agreements was brought in 1963 as arrived at between the government of India and the Naga People's Convention represented by Shilu, SC Jamir, Imkongliba etc. Isak Chishi Swu, and Muivah expressed shock at the way the Naga issue was handled by persons with vested interests. They distant themselves but with a show of condemnation. In 1968-69, when the Revolutionary Government of Nagaland was formed by Scato Swu, general Kaito, general Zuheto etc. Isak Chishi Swu, and Muivah were deadly opposed to it. The end of the Revolutionary Government came in August 16, 1963 when the revolutionary leaders surrendered to the Indian Government at Zunheboto during Prime Ministership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. About 1500 men laid down their arms. It was a real setback, and the Revolutionary leaders were rewarded by giving them top post in Border Security Force (BSF). General Zuheto was given BSF Commander and Zekiyhe as Deputy Commander, and Scato Swu was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Thus, the RGN ended in BSF. The 1975 Shillong Accord came as another blow in the attempt to bury the Naga issue. The Accord was signed with the blessing of Zashie Huire, President of the Federal Government of Nagaland and General Viyallie Metha, Chief of Federal Army. The signatories to the Shillong Accord are:- 1. I. Temjenba 2. S. Dehru 3. Z. Ramyo 4. M. Assa 5. Kevi Yally. A resolution was adopted at the emergency meeting held at Dihoma (Kohima District) on December 2, 1975 by the Federal Government of Nagaland endorsing the Shillong Accord and forwarding the same to A.Z. Phizo, President of the Naga National Council for his consent. The President did not officially endorse and accept the Shillong Accord. However, there never was an explicit statement from him condemning the Accord. Significantly, Isak Swu, Th. Muivah and Alee (foreign) command officials had earnestly asked for A.Z. Phizo's guidance and directive, at least three times in that particular year alone. But nothing was forthcoming. The leaders of the Alee Command reacted swiftly. On November 21, 1975, the signatories to the condemnation were Alee command dignitaries- Th. Muivah, Isak Swu Lorho, Venuh, Moire and Pamrei. They dubbed the representatives of Zashie Huire as "traitors". They also called upon the Nagas to resist 'any covert or overt' act of subjugating them and pledge anew to fight against invasion of any kind through to the end. Muivah and Isak Swu further referred to the Shillong Accord as the "most ignominious sell-out" made in the history of the Naga people. Significantly, the Naga decision arrived at in a Plebiscite conducted in 1951, was desperately targeted, in order to kill the Naga issue by bringing the 16-Point Agreements, and again by Shillong Accord. But the Naga Independence issue refused to die. And the credit in saving the Naga issue goes to Isak Chishi, Khadao and Muivah. The military coup d'edat of 1978, by the Federal Army and followed by another in 1988 by Khaplang, both organized at the initiatives of IB (Intelligence Bureau) and RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) failed to extinguish the flame of Naga Issue. Thank God for saving the Naga leaders who rekindled the passion of Naga struggle. The notorious IB and RAW however, never give up easily. In 2007 they organized another counter-revolution using Azheto Chophy but to end up miserably and to ultimately merged with K-group as a saving face in the name of their much hyped "unification" slogan. The name of NSCN was obsessively used by Azheto to hoodwink the Naga's but Nagas stood their ground against such mischievous unification initiative that was planted by Indian intelligence agencies with sugar coated Slogan. Where is your conscience Maj. Z.D. Akho? Where do you place yourself in the travails of Naga historical reality? Do you still stand to magnify yourself at the cost of our veteran and God-inspired leaders who have time and again rescued the Naga nation from the hands of Indian-backed marauders? There is no trace of any failure in the revolutionary leadership of Isak Swu, Khadao and Muivah till date. The Nagas cannot forget the whirlwind foreign campaign to successfully making NSCN as UNPO member in 1983 and followed by meetings in UN Committees in many occasions. Can you afford to close to your eyes to this historic achievement of NSCN under the Collective Leadership? Where do you collect the moral authority to place yourself in the place you are not qualified to claim? You were nobody yet in this world when all these factual historical incidents took place. Had you want to proof yourself as a person you projected to be, the right forum is the Council in Hebron where you could have been given full liberty to air your agenda or any grievances that you feel may impact the Naga national struggle. But to indulge in smear campaign against NSCN at the behest of anti-Naga agencies is simply going overboard. This never goes down well with the Naga culture either. Issued by: MIP/GPRN

DAILY CROSS WORD

LEISURE W

fore considering slashing fuel prices. International crude oil prices have slid from an alltime high of USD 147 to USD 60 a barrel, but public sector oil companies continue to make losses on sale of diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene. Oil firms make a profit of Rs 4.12 a litre on petrol but lose Rs 0.96 on every litre of diesel, Rs 22.40 per litre on kerosene and Rs 343.49 per LPG cylinder. State-run refiner IOC posted its largest-ever net loss of Rs 7,047.13 crore in July-September quarter. BPCL posted a net loss of Rs 2,625.17 crore in the second quarter on top of Rs 1,066.70 crore in April-June, while HPCL reported a loss of Rs 888.12 crore in Q1 and another Rs 3,218.92 crore in Q2.

Philips develops "intelligent pill"

More developing countries needing help to tackle ﬁnancial crisis WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): In recent weeks, more developing countries are turning to the World Bank to help ease the effects of the global credit squeeze, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Tuesday, a sign that a larger number of countries are being hit by the financial crisis. Zoellick said the World Bank is now estimating that global trade, the lifeblood of economies, will drop next year for the first time since 1982 as the world-wide credit crisis cuts into trade financing. "It is our estimate that trade could actually fall, not grow more slowly or have growth fall, but actually fall next year, for the first time since 1982," Zoellick said in an interview with Reuters ahead of a meeting of world leaders. He pointed at the Baltic Dry Index, a good gauge for supply and demand for basic shipping materials, including commodities, has fallen some 90 percent to 92 percent since the summer. "These are striking decreases," Zoellick said, adding that the Bank would increase funding for trade financing. Emerging market

Govt to consider fuel price cut if crude stabilises: Deora

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SUDOKU

The Morung Express number game

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DO A T E T A R A E B A F P N L A Z UM GV E DU E A AWE E L J A T OQH E T

P R WM O B H T E B A K J R H G K S S U 29

D I V I L T T NH X E Q X A RWX O O X C Y T N T C O I G A R O GWP E R QMY P UGDC U A B G O R G QMRWP L J Z WQ N N X L D U K E W K G Q Z Q R W T M AXKGN S V GNQRU S B C Z Y J S T S XX J S Y X B RN V J T I J J PME K BEAR BEAVER BONGO CAT DOG FISH FROG GIRAFFE HAMSTER HIPPO HORSE HYENA LEOPARD LION MOOSE

MOUSE PANTHER PIG PLATAPUS RABBIT RAT RHINO SHARK SHEEP STARFISH TIGER TOAD WARTHOG WILDEBEEST WOLF

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 #1133

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)

STD CODE: 03862

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

KOHIMA Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home:

STD CODE: 0370 2244279 2244923 2242897 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

CHEVROLET CARS PRICE LIST NOVEMBER’ 2008

ND V I B F O S A P V P E D E K C F U O

The Morung Express

ACROSS 1. Recluse (6) 4. Three-Legged stand (6) 7. Loathsome (4) 8. Evidoer (6) 9. Primate (3) 10. Roost (5) 13. Viewpoint (5) 15, Clumsy (5) 17. Tree secretion (5) 18. behind [nautical] (5) 20. Woe (5) 23. Speed (5) 26. Taste (3) 27. Exertion (6) 28. Illuminating device (4) 29. Thin down (6) 30. Straw-bedding (6)

DOWN 1. Large Cuban cigar {6) 2. Official judgment (6) 3. .A ~ - - of Honey. Film & song (5) 4. Uniform jacket (5) 5. Ceremonial march (6) 6. Hate (6) 10. Former capital of Scotland (5) 11. Corrodes (5) 12 Door supporters (5) 14. Writer (3) 16. Tweetie , cartoon canary (3) 18. Ludicrous (6) 19. Fund-raising campaign (6) 21. Affront (6) 22 Liar (6) 24. Leave Me - - -J Michael Jackson hit (5) 25. Sum (5)

Answers to CROSSWORD #1150 Across: 1. Pufﬁn, 7. Aromatic, 8. Pocket, 9. Unit, 10. Over, 12 Send, 14. Tare, 16. Eagle, 18. Upper, 21. Gale, 24. Hare, 26. Axed, 27. Hoof, 28. Famine, 29. Imperial, 30. Extent. Down: 1. Puppet, 2 Factor, 3. Nature, 4. Voting, 5. Style, 6. Scold, 11. Venue,12. Serge, 13. Null, 15. Aria, 17. Age, 19. Phobia, 20. Rafﬂe, 22. Admire, 23.EXcept, 24. Humid, 25. Ralph.

CAR MODEL

PRICE

SPARK 1.0 BASE

268,648

SPARK 1.0 PS

289,992

SPARK 1.0 LS

304,641

SPARK 1.0 LT

334,123

U-VA 1.2 BASE

401,753

U-VA 1.2 LS

444,299

U-VA 1.2 LT

484,090

SRV 1.6 OPT. PACK

790,100

AVEO 1.4 BASE

606,461

AVEO 1.4 LTD EDI

661,631

AVEO 1.4 LT OPT.PACK

754,930

TAVERA 2.5 LT 9S BS3

877,748

TAVERA 2.5 SSD1 7S (C) BS3

993,249

OPTRA ROYAL 1.6 LT (PETROL)

967,686

OPTRA MAGNUM 2.0 LT ACC (DIESEL)

1,074,547

CAPTIVA 2.0 LT VCDI

1,812,688

For details contact: Urban Station, Near NSC Petrol Pump, 6th Mile Dimapur. Ph No : 240994 CURRENCY EXCHANGE

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) 47.34 72.87 5.26 472.06 12.01 29.54 133.00 12.13 59.34

SELL(Rs) 49.88 76.96 7.24 522.80 14.92 34.60 144.50 14.21 62.51

Wednesday

REGIONAL

The Morung Express

5 November 2008

Dimapur

United in grief, Guwahati steps in to help blast injured

GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 4 (AGENCIES): United in grief and in their determination to overcome the trauma of Assam’s worst terror attack, people are queuing up outside hospitals here to donate blood and help the injured in the best way that they can. As Assam recovers from the string of 12 blasts Oct 30 - six of them here and the rest in places like Kokrajhar, Barpeta and Bongaigaon - that left 81 people dead and more than 300 injured, youngsters especially are doing all they can to express their solidarity. “If you can’t stand up and help those who need help in times like these, then when will you ever do it?” asks Rajashree Deka, a student of Cotton College in the city. “I was lucky to have escaped the blasts, but many others were not. In whatever way that I can, I want to help the victims. Donating blood was one of the immediate ways to do that and I did it,” she put it simply. The Guwahati Medical College (GMC) where 134 of the injured are admitted found itself turning away more than 300 volunteers who went to donate blood as it was already well stocked. According to Madhav Rajbonghsi, GMC deputy medical superintendent, the enthusiastic response has led to the hospital being stocked with 834 units of blood - more than its requirement. “Right after the blasts on Thursday, there was an advertisement in the local news channels that GMC is running short of blood sup-

ply considering the amount of victims who have been brought in. Soon after, hundreds of people started pouring in, eager to donate blood and do their bit to help the needy,” Rajbongshi told IANS. “Our requirement is 800 units of blood, but thanks to the people, we now have 834 units. We have been turning away volunteers now. Nearly 300 are still knocking our doors to donate blood.” Rajbongshi said they had been receiving units of blood from places like Tezpur, situated nearly 200 km from Guwahati. The volunteers include people like Rakesh Gohain, an advertising executive in the city who immediately stepped in to help when he got a forwarded message on his phone saying that there was a shortage in the blood banks. “My heart bleeds when I see the state of the city now. But at sunset, when all the roads, the flyovers light up with candles lit by people on the road marching and condemning the blasts, I feel stronger because I know that these things can’t divide us,” he said. Homemaker Raihana Rahman, who is still shaken by the incident, said her family was asked not to donate blood by hospital authorities since they were adequately stocked. “However, we and many others we know have left our contact numbers with the hospital so that in need we can step in to help,” Rahman said.

NE-expert IB chief helps Assam blasts probe

GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 4 (UNI): The Union Home Ministry has rushed Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief P C Haldar to Assam for assisting the probe in the serial blasts on October 30, which killed 82 and injured over 800. The IB Director, an expert on Northeast insurgency, was on a day-long visit to the state yesterday to help investigating agencies in their probe. Haldar had visited the state not merely as the IB chief, but also due to his long association with the region as his experience here would help in the investigations, state intelligence officials informed today. The IB chief had served in various capacities in the region and is known in the intelligence circuit as an expert in NaRelatives of Moromi Sharma, 5, who was seriously injured in Thursday’s bombings and died Tuesday, wail near her galand and Manipur insurbody in Gauhati, November 4. Indian police released a sketch Tuesday of a suspect they were hunting for involvement gency. Moreover, he has also gained much respect for his in deadly bomb blasts that killed at least 81 people in the country’s remote northeast. (AP Photo)

critical analysis in the functioning of militant outfits and their activities. During his visit to Assam yesterday, Nr Haldar is reported to have met top police officials and concentrated on collecting their views and examining the leads established so far. He also called on Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for a customary visit. The investigating authorities construed Haldar’s visit as a step in ensuring that the IB chief ’s vast experience in the region is of utmost utility at this juncture. The officials are, however, tightlipped about the progress of the probe, with a sketch of a suspect in the CJM campus blast here released today. Altogether nine synchronised blasts in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta Road and Bongaigaon on October 30 left 82 dead so far and over 800 people injured.

Blasts leave permanent scar on peoples’ mind

GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 4 (AGENCIES): The devastating blasts which have claimed 84 lives in Assam not only changed the lives of family members of the victims but has traumatised both children and adults which likely to leave a permanent scar on their minds. Continuous visuals of the horror - charred and mangled bodies, shrieking and wailing of the injured, billowing smoke, damaged vehicles - telecast by TV channels since the day of the tragedy has numbed viewers with shock. The October 30 blasts have come as a big stress for the people

of Guwahati and most people, both victims and residents of the city, are in a state of shock, says clinical psychologist Sangita Dutta of Downtown Hospital in Guwahati. The blast will result in two major disorders for people, particularly children. They are ‘acute stress reaction’ (ASR) and ‘post traumatic stress disorder’ (PTSD) with the former having immediate effect and the latter with long-standing permanent impact, she says. Repeated watching of such visuals will add to the trauma resulting in lack of concentration, attention, repeated nightmares,

emotional numbing and anxiety disorders particularly among children, Dutta added. “My 10-year child, an addict of the cartoon channel till the other day, has become an avid viewer of local news channels since the day of the blast and talks of nothing else but about the incident,” says Suhana Barua, a mother of two children. Her neighbour, Prashanta Barua, points out that it is not the case with children alone and he, too, has been watching only news channels and though the repeated telecast of the scenes of horror sickens him, he can’t bring himself to switch off the televi-

sion. “It happened so close to home.... I could have been at the spot and become a victim. It is this thought that keeps me awake at night and even when I manage to get some sleep, I wake up with a start and scenes of the blast haunt me,” he says. Professor Mrinal Saikia pointed out that constant beaming of the blast scenes has “brought the devastation to our homes and we feel we were present at the sites. It is very difficult to shake off the images from our mind”. In an art competition held after the blast most of the children drew scenes of the incident with the message “We

want peace”, art teacher Kishore Das says. “Most of the children had not visited the blast sites but got the impression of the devastation from the television which is finding expression in their creativity,” he adds. The clinical psychologist said though it is necessary to telecast the visuals of the blast, it can be done in a balanced manner and repetition of disturbing shots should be avoided. “Disturbing scenes should be masked with blurred images and a warning to the viewers must be given before telecasting such scenes,” she adds.

Uranium smugglers arrested in Mizoram Elephants on the rise again

AIZAWL, NOVEMBER 4 (AGENCIES): Two uranium smugglers who were on their way to Myanmar have been arrested from a hotel in Mizoram, security officials said here Tuesday.Paramilitary Assam Rifles troopers along with Mizoram Police during a joint raid Monday caught the duo at a hotel in Champai, 112 km west of here, bordering Myanmar, an official of the Assam Rifles said. “Tawia, 20, a resident of Manipur, and Sangkhuma, 58, a local, were nabbed with a bottle filled with gray material,” the official said. “During interrogation, the Hindu devotees offering prayers during the Chath Puja celebration at the Brahmaputra detainees confessed that the Dyke in Dibrugarh on November 4. (UB PHOTOS) material was uranium, which

‘Rain water harvesting important for Meghalaya’

SHILLONG, NOVEMBER 4 (PTI): Megalaya Soil and Water Conservation Minister Nimarson Momin on Tuesday said the concept of Rain Water Harvesting assumes significance due to water scarcity in the state during summer. Addressing a workshop on Rain Water Harvesting organised by the Soil and Water Conservation Department here, Momin said it was unfortunate that Meghalaya which received abundance rainfall still faced with water scarcity in dry seasons due to the absence of rain water harvesting. Momin said his department had undertaken various measures for rain water conservation including building of micro dams, farm ponds

and watershed management schemes to augement the problem of water scarcity in the State. Meghalaya Chief Secretary, Ranjan Chatterjee said Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram in East Khasi Hills District received an anuual rainfaill of 12,000 mm and other places received an annual average rainfall of 3,600 mm and still faced with water water scarcity during the dry seasons. Chatterjee attributed this problem due to the land use and other requirement for irrigation and domestic purposes. He said the depletion of the natural resources was due to greed by some individuals and called on the communities to play an active role in this regard.

Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar accompanied by union cabinet secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar visited Meghalaya and told the antimining groups that uranium mining was safe and there was no fear of any health and environmental problems due to uranium mining. “We have advance technologies for safety performances in all the nuclear plants, on par with any international standard,” Kakodkar said. The Meghalaya government last month formed an expert committee to examine the views and apprehensions on health and environment to decide on open cast uranium mining in the northeastern state.

AGARTALA, NOVEMBER 4 (PTI): The Tripura government has decided to set-up an elephant reserve in the state to preserve the animal which had nearly disappeared due to large-scale poaching and migration to neighbouring Bangladesh. The latest census has shown that the population of the elephant has gone up from 38 in 2002, when the last census was taken, to 59 now, the State Board for Wild Life said. The chief wildlife warden, Atul Gupta, said the figure was excellent considering the rapid decline in the number of elephants over the last few years. Just 30 to 40 years ago, elephants were even seen on the streets of Agartala, forest

officials said. The rot actually started with the cutting down of forests for construction of a hydel power project on river Gomati. With the loss of their habitat, the elephants started migrating to Bangladesh where forests were abundant. Gupta said a large number of elephants had migrated to the Chittagong hill tracts in Bangladesh from the Gomati Wild Life Sanctuary. There was a time, according to British surveyor John Hunter’s report, when elephants outnumbered humans in the kingdom during the colonial times and it was the reason why the colonisers did not consider taking administrative control of the region.

‘Nameless bank’ becomes election issue

Newmai News Network Aizawl | November 4

THE ‘NAMELESS bank’ has become an election issue in the poll bound Mizoram with political parties hurling allegations on the ruling Mizo National Front government in the state. Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) president Lalduhoma has put the blame on the Mizo National Front (MNF) government over the current crisis faced by Mizoram over the issue of ‘nameless bank’ in Mizoram, according to Turnipui daily newspaper. ZNP is one of the components of United Democratic Alliance (UDA). According to the news-

UDA announces candidates for Mizoram assembly polls

AIZAWL, NOVEMBER 4 (AGENCIES): United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a pre-poll alliance of the Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC), Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) and a nonpolitical Zoram Kuthnathawktu Pawl (ZKP) or Farmers’ Union announced its candidates for the coming state elections. The UDA would contest 37 seats in the 40-member Mizoram Assembly. The elections in Mizoram will be held on December two next. The names of the candidates were announced in Aizwal in a function attended by former chief minister and MPC chief Brig. Thenphunga Sailo, former Lok Sabha member and ZNP president Lalduhoma and ZKP chief Thanbanglova. Sailo would contest from the prestigious Aizawl West-II and is likely to be pitted against Lalruatkima of the ruling Mizo National

they procure from neighbouring Meghalaya, and display to find prospective buyers in adjoining Myanmar,” the official added. The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) had proposed a Rs.10.46 billion open-cast uranium mining and processing plant at Mawthabah in the West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, the northeastern state having an estimated 9.22 million tonnes of uranium ore deposits. However, the UCIL had failed to make any progress to convince the state government, political parties and anti-mining groups, who opposed the move. Last month Atomic Energy

Front (MNF), who recently resigned as General Secretary of the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) and joined the ruling party on October 30. ZNP chief Lalduhoma would contest from Aizawl West-I constituency and from Tuivawl, the constituency which elected him to the state legislature in 2003 polls. Lalduhoma is likely to face his former Treasurer Andrew Lalherliana who recently joined the Congress in Aizawl West-I seat while he is likely to contest against the MNF nominee, Lalremtluanga son of the former assembly speaker J Thanghuama. The candidates announced include former minister Zosiama Pachuau who recently left the Congress, Col Lalchungnunga, former Speaker Kenneth Chawngliana, former deputy speaker Vanlalhlana and sitting MLA Sailothanga Sailo of the MPC.

paper, Lalduhoma had laid claim that a fake bank was set up during the time of Laldenga, the founder and first president of the Mizo National Front (MNF) party. “News that fake banks are set up in this state was heard two years ago but the MNF government refused to put a stamp on these steady growing banks. Had the government intervened earlier and made a raid no one would have been able to run away with public money. However, the state government gave a warning first and gave time for the officials of the fake bank to bail. It is now clear that the people and their hard-earned money is not safe

under the MNF government and if the United democratic Alliance (UDA) party forms the ministry in the upcoming elections, I promise that we will recover all the money deposited to the fake banks,” he was quoted as saying. The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) also released a statement accusing the state government of neglecting to take strong actions and now putting the state in turmoil with fear of riot and blood shed. The statement further urged the MNF government to take all necessary actions to recover all money depos- NO TO TERROR: Activists of the All Assam Unemployed Assocaition staging a sit in proited by innocent people to test in Guwahati on November 4 demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the fake banks. the October 30 serial bomb blast in Assam which killed at least 81 people. (UB Photos)

Police chiefs from Assam and Meghalaya on a developmental spree Northeast to meet in Delhi

GUWAHATI/SHILLONG, NOVEMBER 4 (ANI): Assam and Meghalaya seem to be on a developmental spree. Recently, President Pratibha Patil was on a five-day visit to Assam and Meghalaya and inaugurated several infrastructural and developmental projects in the region. In her first trip to the North East, the President announced many important educational and social projects for the two states. In the first leg of her visit Patil was in Assam, where she laid the foundation stone of the Tezpur Medical College. This medical college comes months after the inauguration of the Jorhat Medical College by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. While emphasizing on infrastructural development, Patil said, Making common health care

affordable should be the future direction of the medical world, especially in northeast India. Medical institutions, doctors and paramedics contribute to improving health parameters of the society for healthy citizens make a healthy nation, said Patil. The states of the northeast with their potential projects would definitely benefit the health of citizen who can boost the economic growth in this region, the President added. The residents of the state are also happy. Jitendra Baruah, a local resident of Assam, said, “If they open the medical college here in Tezpur it will be beneficial for all. It will benefit the doctors by providing them employment and they won”t have to go out of Assam. Thousands of local students

can study here and need not go out. Also they can practice in their own hometown. In the second phase of her visit, the President was in “Scotland of East”, Meghalaya. She inaugurated the Baljek airport at Tura in West Garo Hills District, something that the region was looking for years. Addressing the students in Meghalaya, the President appealed them to work for the development of a peaceful and prosperous North East. Bomb blasts, kidnapping for ransom, outright ransom and other forms of violence surfaces in society when there is inequality and lack of development. The recent developmental initiative of the Central Government is aimed at bringing parity between the north-east region and the rest of the country.

AGARTALA, NOVEMBER 4 (AGENCIES): The directors-general of police of the northeastern states would meet in New Delhi Wednesday to discuss strategies to deal with security threats in the region where at least 81 people were killed in Assam bomb blasts and 18 people were killed in a bomb blast in Manipur, an official said here Tuesday. The meeting, called by the union home ministry, assumes significance in view of the last month’s serial blasts in Assam, Manipur’s capital Imphal and Tripura’s capital Agartala. “The day-long meeting to be chaired by (Union Home Minister) Shivraj Patil would review the prevailing situation of the northeast region and formulate ways and means to tackle the rising security threat of the region,” an official told IANS. Police chiefs and intelligence officials of the northeastern states and heads

of central para-military forces would attend the meeting. The official said: “The meeting is expected to chalk out fresh security strategies to effectively deal with the prevailing situation.” “Strengthening of intelligence inputs and sharing them among the different states and central law enforcing agencies would also be discussed,” the official said, requesting not to be named. Top police and security officials are worried over the coming together of the northeast militants and the Islamic terrorist outfits based in Bangladesh and other countries. In Assam, at least 81 people were killed and over 300 wounded in serial blasts in Assam Oct 30. At least 18 people were killed and 44 more hurt in a powerful bomb blast in Imphal Oct 21. In Tripura, over 100 people were injured when powerful serial explosions took place in the Agartala October 1.

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2008 VOL. III ISSUE 315

Blame Game

e live in a continuous culture of blame; and it is based on this culture of blaming the ‘other’ that we define our existential worldview. This tragic and disastrous worldview nurtures a standpoint that constructs the meaning of right and wrong, not on values and principles which are life giving, but on very narrow and concrete understanding of humanity that is fear driven. This is often responsible for dichotomizing human life into pockets of insular thinking that clearly differentiates between ‘us’ and ‘them.’ Considering that the polarization is defined along the lines of ‘us versus them,’ the culture of blame inevitably leads in creating an unforgiving society which simultaneously breeds a culture of impunity for its own. Frequently in such knee jerk process of thinking, the polarization has little or nothing to do with the initial differences itself. Rather the fear and hate for the perceived other lies at the heart of its ideology. It doesn’t take much imagination to see how people find brief moments of unity when they have successfully identified the ‘other’ as the real source of their own insecurity. This practice of naming and branding has been quite evident in international relations, when the Democratic countries unleashed a campaign of hate and alienation against Communist states. In more recent times, repressive and insecure groups in the Islamic world demonize a mythical Christian ‘West’, while culturally confused, sceptical and frightened European and North American societies cling to the picture of a global militant Islam, determined to “destroy our way of life.” At the ground level, don’t you hear about locals blaming migrants and non-locals for their disadvantaged situation? It is not surprising that the concept of fear and the culture of blame have formed a mechanism that fuels most of the conflicts in the world today. This is not to dismiss the fact that some of the fears are real. Sure, some of these fears are very real and frightening. Yet, it is the exploitation of these fears that are the problem. And it will not be wrong to say that in a culture of blame, the exploitation of fear is a silent accomplice. It is the deliberate exploitation of fear that prevents the possibilities of finding a solution; and this breeds a collective untruthfulness, which makes any rational handling of such fears infinitely harder. The culture of blame and fear creates a mechanism which breeds a mentality that always seeks to mirror the one who is threatening you. It produces the zero-sum situation that criticizes and renders negotiations to futility. Worst of all, it gives a fragile society an interest in keeping some sort of conflict ongoing with the other. Consciously or not, political leaders in a variety of contexts are so reluctant and adamant to let go of an enemy who has become indispensable to their own stability. Invariably it only yields self-destruction and further chaotic fear. We are all guilty of immense evasion, and for colluding with the system of fear. No doubt the mechanism that keeps the culture of blame and fear running is universal and has been ingrained and conditioned in how we behave. Yet there is hope because this mechanism can be changed. It begins when we recognize that our complicity has ensured its continued survival and when we acknowledge that we do not have to perceive those who do not think like us to be a threat to everything. We must believe that there are certain life-giving values that will survive no matter what may happen to human history. We need to re-create a culture of hope that helps us to embrace and accommodate all of life.

LEFT WING |

H.D.S. Greenway

After the Silence

inety years have passed since that gray, drizzly morning when, shortly after 5:30, Matthias Erzberger, representing a defeated Germany, signed an armistice under the glare of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, the allied commander in chief. The scene was the field marshal’s private railway car on a siding in the forest of Compiegne, just north of Paris. By Nov. 11, 1918, the German Army was in retreat, revolution had broken out on the home front, the high seas fleet had mutinied, and Germany’s ally, Austria, had already left the war. While the German delegation was still attempting to negotiate, news came to Compiegne that the kaiser had abdicated and was on his way to exile in Holland. Two days later, word went out from the railway car to the armies in the field that hostilities would cease on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The war was over. “Is this the end?” Winston Churchill would ask nine years later in the concluding paragraph of his great, multivolume account of the war. Or would the Great War be “merely a chapter in a cruel and senseless story? Will a new generation in their turn be immolated to square the black accounts of Teuton and Gaul? Will our children bleed and gasp again in devastated lands?” Soon enough, Churchill’s grim question was answered. In June 1940, Adolf Hitler, in a theatrical act of revenge, made France surrender in that same railway car in the same forest, sitting in the same chair in which Marshal Foch had sat. The car was later taken to Germany and destroyed. Only a replica remains today. Mercifully the black accounts of Teuton and Gaul have now been settled. The rapprochement of Germany and France was, and remains, the cornerstone of the new Europe. But this did not happen until the great scourge of Soviet power, an unintended consequence of World War I, had swallowed up half the Continent. The peace of Paris that followed World War I tried to make sense of the great collapse of empires, to create some order out of the wreckage of Austria-Hungary and the vast regions of the Ottomans in Asia Minor. The attempt to forge a union of southern Slavs in the Balkans came apart 75 years later, when the external threat from first Germany and then Russia was no more. After great pain and bloodshed, seven national entities exist within the borders of what was once Yugoslavia. After World War II, it was the turn of the British, French and Portuguese empires to end; the anguish and great loss of life defined much of the last half of the 20th century. And then, at last, as the century was ending, what remained of the Russian empire under the Soviets died a remarkably peaceful death. But it was in the Ottoman domains that the attempts to establish a new order most spectacularly failed, and the Middle East has scarcely seen a peaceful month since. The British and French divided up the region in secret agreements. The French faced endless rebellions in Syria, and their attempt to create a country based on religion in Lebanon is still in doubt. The British faced similar rebellions in Iraq and in Palestine that roil the region to this day. Israel, another country based on religion, is no longer in doubt, but cannot find peace until the Palestinians find theirs. And Pakistan, the third country to be founded on religion, finds itself in crisis against religious extremists. What President Woodrow Wilson called the “war to end all wars” did no such thing, of course. But what would have really surprised Wilson is the extent to which America has tried to take over the imperial responsibilities of Britain and France. Thirty years of trying to prop up the old order in Indochina failed spectacularly. Today America is engaged in trying to impose its will on Iraq, which gave Britain no end of trouble, and in Afghanistan, where the British were never able to maintain order for long. America’s children continue to bleed and gasp again in devastated lands - 90 years after silence fell on the Western Front.

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

M K Bhadrakumar

India reels over Obama’s silence

iplomatic predicaments can at times be almost laughable. Indian officials were scurrying around like headless chickens because 120 anxious hours had passed and United States president-elect Barack Obama had not yet put a phone call through to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh - as he has done to at least nine other heads of state. The Indians could learn a thing or two from the Kremlin. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev found himself exactly in Manmohan's predicament when by November 8 his Kremlin telephone still had not rung. But 43-year-old Medvedev did a smart thing. He put a call through to Chicago to the 47-year old presidentelect. The Kremlin thereupon went ahead and publicized the conversation in an upbeat account. A budding controversy was nipped before it could blossom.

Kashmir issue reviving Young people move real fast. The embarrassment is acute in Delhi since 76-year-old Manmohan committed an incredible gaffe in the runup to the US elections in late September by telling the 65-year-old US President George W Bush that Indians "loved" him - ignoring how fast the American people's equation with their lameduck leader was deteriorating. Delhi finds it appalling that Obama phoned Pakistani leader Asif Zardari on Saturday and the two leaders reportedly discussed the Kashmir issue. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee promptly reacted, invoking the Simla Accord of 1972 as the cornerstone of India-Pakistan relations, which rules out third-party mediation over the disputed territory of Kashmir. It is a long while since an Indian statesman mentioned the Simla Accord. It is a "back-off" message and it comes amid reports that in a move to inspire Islamabad to perform better in the "war on terror", the incoming US administration may coax India into a settlement of the Kashmir problem and that Obama proposes to appoint former US president Bill Clinton as special envoy to undertake a sustained mediatory mission between India and Pakistan. Indians might have fondly overlooked Clinton's incurable flaws and warmed to him as president, but his anointment as Kashmir envoy will not go down well. Public opinion would see it as a failure of the government's foreign policy. And the ruling Congress party is gearing up for a string of tough provincial and federal elections. However, Obama may also be unwittingly exposing some of the fallacies underlying the Manmohan government's foreign policy - China, the war in Afghanistan and nuclear non-proliferation.

Floundering dreams Indian strategists blithely assume that Washington ascribes crucial importance to building up India as a counterweight to China. They estimate India stands to gain from the US's containment strategy towards China. But a containment strategy towards China may be the last thing on Obama's mind. China is a key player in any US effort to rebuild the global financial architecture, and Beijing is behaving like a "stakeholder". The Indian obsession with "great-power" status looks out of place in the changed context. George W Bush administration officials constantly drilled into Indian ears the importance of Delhi taking on responsibilities for the management of the world order. They visualized India as a junior partner in the strategy to control the wa-

terway between the Persian Gulf and the chokepoint of the Malacca Strait through which the bulk of China's oil imports is transported. Similarly, the Bush administration prodded Delhi to seriously consider military involvement in Afghanistan. Against the backdrop of the US-India civilian nuclear deal, audacious Indian strategists began fancying Delhi and Washington would move towards a "serious conversation" as regards the "full range of issues relating to Pakistan's political and strategic future".

Obama's Afghan strategy Obama threatens to shake up the daydreamers in Delhi. His top priority is to seek an exit strategy in Afghanistan. He will be wary of following in the tragic footsteps of president Lyndon Johnson who, like him, inherited a war (Vietnam), which ultimately consumed his presidency and destroyed his political life. Obama could as well have delivered LBJ's famous Great Society speech of May 1964 at the University of Michigan commencement. He is at a comparable point in the march of American history and politics. Equally, Obama empathizes with Pakistan's plight. He would assess that the moral and political responsibility for destabilizing Pakistan primarily lies with Washington and that as long as the Afghan war continues, Pakistan will remain in the vortex of volatility, which will affect regional stability. He may not necessarily opt for Central Command chief General David Petraeus' strategy of "surge" first followed by negotiations with the Taliban, but his campaign rhetoric that he is determined to win the Afghan war must be seen in its entire context. Washington accepts Pakistan has special interests in Afghanistan and the US needs to accommodate them. These include security guarantees against perceived Indian threats as well as regard for the Durand Line that separates Afghanistan and Pakistan. It shouldn't come as a surprise to Delhi if the US seeks a rollback of the scale of the Indian presence in Afghanistan.

Even-handed policy Two, Obama will actively seek to improve IndiaPakistan relations so that they become predictable. His inclination to bring in Clinton as special envoy must be seen from this perspective. He needs someone with persuasive skill to influence Delhi, while he focuses on Pakistan and the war. But Obama cannot be naive enough to conclude that his route to Afghan settlement lies through the treacherous minefields of the 60-yearold Kashmir dispute. Nor is Clinton unaware that India will never accept any redrawing of its boundaries. And Indians are famous for hunkering down, as he learned in the late 1990s when they went nuclear. Clinton would know his task essentially would be to probe the Indian offer to make the borders separating the two parts of Kashmir "irrelevant" within the overall framework of a durable peace process with Pakistan. Therefore, the high probability is that despite his fondness for travel, good food and diplomacy, he may still be reluctant to take up the challenging assignment in South Asia. Compared to the Cold War era when India withstood the hostile US stance on the Kashmir issue, it is in a far happier position today on the world arena. So, why are Indians going ballistic? The problem lies elsewhere. The Manmohan government frittered away a rare four-year spell of relative calm to provide responsive government

in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). A colossal failure of leadership in Delhi and massive political ineptitude locally in J&K incrementally sapped India's strong position. The consequent alienation of Kashmiri people runs deep. The challenge facing Delhi is to hold free and fair elections to the provincial assembly in J&K due in December, and to facilitate the formation of a government which the international community will regard as democratically elected. Delhi's fear is that any talk of US mediation may embolden Kashmiri secessionists. On balance, Obama can be expected to pursue an even-handed policy towards the two South Asian rivals India and Pakistan. But herein lies the rub. The expectation in Delhi is that the US ought to build up India as the pre-eminent power in the region. This is the real source of the angst among the Indian elite and strategists, even though the Obama administration will continue with the US policy to seek a strong relationship with India in the sphere of military and intelligence cooperation.

Nuclear deal may unravel Meanwhile, a potentially debilitating discord is appearing on the horizon. Obama supported the nuclear deal with India, which was recently ratified by the US Congress. But now it transpires, following "leaks" from Washington, that as early as September 23, Obama had written to Manmohan that his administration would regard the deal with India as a "central element" of the US's nuclear weapons policy. He put on record that his administration would press for the US's ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) "at the earliest practical day". Furthermore, he said his administration would "launch a major diplomatic initiative" to ensure that CTBT came into force. Obama added he would also pursue negotiations on a "verifiable, multilateral treaty" to end production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. Both with regard to the CTBT as well as an immediate moratorium on the production of fissile material, he wrote, "I very much hope and expect India will cooperate closely with the United States in these multilateral efforts". Curiously, the Manmohan government kept the letter under wraps until it became public knowledge last week. It was apprehensive that the letter challenges the official contention that the deal accords recognition to India as a nuclear weapons state. The letter touches a raw nerve. There is apprehension that Obama's thinking will be integrated into new US disarmament proposals that draw India into the global nuclear order through the CTBT and the fissile material production ban and impose on India a more stringent accounting of its nuclear material. Delhi's priority is to use the deal to provide the context to access to sensitive US military technology within the overall framework of the "strategic partnership". Surely, there is a grey area here. Did the Bush administration negotiate the deal with transparency? Hard to say. Are Indians so dumb as to be led up the garden path and hustled into a deal full of ambiguities? Not really. Only Bush and Manmohan would know. It appears India and the US have a growing need to retain Manmohan and Bush in their current jobs as lifetime heads of governments so that the strategic partnership can go from strength to strength. Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar was a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service. His assignments included the Soviet Union, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait and Turkey

Terror Has No Religion

Brinda Karat

he aggressive defence by the Shiv Sena of the terrorist activities of people acting in the name of Hindutva, combined with the BJP's refusal to condemn these activities, represent a danger mark in the political response to the rising tide of bomb attacks and violence against innocents. Any effort to give terrorism a communal colour will surely spell disaster for our country. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad once ascribed India's "inner vitality and resilience" to a "confluence of cultures, faiths and beliefs that has gone into the making of a composite India". In the Assam serial bomb blasts, Hindus, Muslims, and tribals were equally victims. It is our country's tragedy that we have before us another type of "confluence", the confluence of the blood of innocent victims, regardless of community, religion, sex or age. The death of five-year-old Morromi, her beautiful face and little body burnt beyond recognition, symbolises the helplessness of the innocent victim. Between 2004 and 2008, India has been the victim of at least 25 major bomb blasts in which 717 people were killed and hundreds injured. Earlier, after every such attack, investigating agencies would point to the involvement of Pakistan-based terrorist networks. In some cases such terrorists were identified, and many shot dead. A feature of recent terrorist attacks, however, is the involvement of a network of groups drawn from a small section of Indian Muslim youth, revealed in investigations. The failure of the state to ensure justice to the victims of communal attacks and to punish those guilty of serious crimes against the minorities is indeed attracting a few elements among Muslim youth to the extremist cause. Such feelings of alienation get exacerbated when Muslim youth in various localities are rounded up, harassed and tortured even when there is not a shred of evidence against them. We require the widest possible secular mobilisation against the profiling and demonisation of a whole community. Prominent Muslim organisations have condemned those involved in terrorist attacks. It is essential to isolate and fight back those extremist forces within the community who seek to exploit the genuine grievances of Muslims. These extremists are the enemies of the Muslim people at large and seek a social order that denies ordinary Muslims their fundamental human rights. Groups and individuals who are in a state of denial about the involvement of such elements, regardless of their intentions, can hardly be considered friends of the victimised minority community. Strong action must be taken against the guilty established through legal, transparent procedures and must apply to terror groups regardless of what religion they claim to represent. On the basis of the evidence it has, the Centre has pleaded before the Su-

preme Court for a continuation of the ban on SIMI. It is wrong for some parties to demand that the ban be lifted. The list of 32 organisations that are proscribed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act also includes terrorist organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen, Khalistan Zindabad Force, International Sikh Youth Federation and Babbar Khalsa International. Yet today when there is mounting evidence of involvement in terrorist attacks against the Bajrang Dal and other such organisations, the government has not taken action against them. It is such double standards that deeply compromise, if not put to question, the secular character of the state. Particularly disturbing is the report of the possible involvement of a serving army officer along with two ex-army officers, both of whom are linked to the Bhonsala Military School run by an RSS-founded trust in Nashik. This is the first time that a serving army officer is suspected to be involved in a terrorist crime of this nature. It is known that army recruitment is disallowed for anyone with political affiliations. But is the screening applied to all affiliations, including those who may have direct or indirect contacts with the RSS or affiliated organisations? The Bhonsala school was already on the radar of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in Maharashtra in the 2006 Nanded bomb blast case. The ATS unearthed a conspiracy by the Bajrang Dal in 2006 after a bomb they were making exploded and killed two of them. Two of the accused confessed that they underwent training at the branch in Nagpur. One of the accused stated that he attended a training camp organised there by the RSS in which two retired exservicemen and a retired officer of the Intelligence Bureau were present. Three dozen more, mainly Bajrang Dal activists, were also named. Shockingly, nothing came of this investigation. The cases were handed over to the CBI where the entire matter was given a quiet burial. Maharashtra is run by a Congress-led government. Why did it not act on the earlier ATS investigation? Who was responsible for the CBI's weakening of the case? Why has the Bhonsala school been allowed to function even after its links with the accused in the earlier Nanded case were established? Has any enquiry been conducted into its activities and if not, why so? What is the extent of penetration of such elements into our security forces? India's fight against terror is as much a political fight as an administrative one. Although extremist groups act in the name of religion, the vast majority of believers, whether Muslim or Hindu, abhor violence that kills innocent people. This is the abiding strength of our country. Terrorism cannot be ascribed to any one religion. The politics of secularism is the only means to ensure the unity of India in the fight against terror.

The writer is a CPM Rajya Sabha MP

Letters to the Editor Trauma Center at Pfutsero • Sir- It appeared in your paper today that a trauma center has been inaugurated at Pfutsero. It’s a matter of pride for the people of Pfutsero, being one of the only two places in Nagaland, to have such a center. But I want to put up my reasons for reservation to celebrate though I am from Pfutsero. Sir, AIIMS, the premiere institute of the country had a trauma center just last year after waiting for 22 years. So I wonder if we are in the position to have one and doubt if we understand what a trauma center is. At Pfutsero, we have a Community Health Center (CHC) which is no better than a Primary Health Center. A CHC is supposed to have specialists in surgery, medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics with X-ray and laboratory facilities. We are way, way behind to achieving that. And even if we have half the required standard, the CHC should be fairly OK in handling trauma considering present situation. How many vehicular accidents do we have? Or how many people cut their hands in the jungle or fall from stairs compared to those who have cough and fever, diarrhea, diabetes, malaria, TB, Typhoid, hypertension etc. How can a trauma center give better care to these traumas that the CHC can’t? Is the CHC overburdened that such a center is required? There’s no Naga Neurosurgeon yet. And how is a trauma center different from a general hospital without a Neurosurgeon? (Again how is a Neurosurgeon better than a general surgeon without CT scan, MRI, and an operational OT?). Telemedicine is almost useless in traumas which usually require emergency care. I have worked in Neurosurgery and Orthopedics which take care of traumas. Trauma patients are tossed between trauma center and general hospitals because they require multi-specialty care. It is a crazy idea to have a trauma center (be it Level IV or III) without a pre-existing functional general hospital. Dr. Sao Tunyi MPH, JNU, New Delhi

Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The Morung Express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: editor@morungexpress.com. All letters (including those via email) should have the full name and Postal address of the sender. Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reﬂect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

THURSSDAY

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

13 NOVEMBER 2008

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

Bhutan’s new king raises Asian eyebrows Dhruba Adhikary

n South Asia - a vast geographic region and the world’s most populous - it has been the area’s two smallest nations which have attracted the majority of recent media attention. Over the past week, the isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan and the tiny island nation of the Maldives both experienced political events of historic significance. In the Maldives, a country with just 300,000 citizens spread over an 1,200-island archipelago, Mohamed Nasheed, a former political prisoner, was named the country’s first democratically elected president. Nasheed, 41, unseated Asia’s longest-serving leader, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who had led the nation for 30 years before permitting democratic reform and losing an October 28 run-off vote. In one of his first statements, president-elect Nasheed said the nation would use some of its tourist dollars to buy dry land - possibly in India or Sri Lanka, according to the BBC should global warming raise sea levels to envelop the low-lying atolls which make up the Maldives. And across the region, in the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu, outgoing King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, 52, coronated his 28-year-old son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who now becomes the world’s youngest reigning monarch. The revered former king abdicated two years ago as part of his plan to peacefully transition Bhutan from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Needless to say, there were some extremely interested onlookers among the eight members of the Kathmandubased South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). With general elections ahead for India in 2009, and a similar transfer of power from monarchy to democracy now underway in Nepal, the two small countries provide an interesting test case. For the people of Nepal, the three-day festival in neighboring Bhutan has been an interesting development - and geographical proximity is not the only reason. The Nepalis witnessed the end of their 100-year-old monarchy in May - and it has not been a simple transition. The ceremony in Thimphu was also watched intently by the 100,000strong Bhutanese refugee community living in United Nations camps in eastern Nepal. The refugees expect the new, Oxford-educated king to call for their return to Bhutan from where they were evicted in the early 1990s. The extended pageantry of royal handover in Thimphu was also watched by a select group of invitees that included Indian President Pratibha Patil and Congress party head Sonia Gandhi, India’s Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and diplomats representing other countries. The entire show was brought to the world by international media, most of whom had dashed to Bhutan on the

eve of coronation. If their comments and reactions printed in the official Kuensel newspaper are anything to go by, most of the journalists seemed so overwhelmed by the scene’s Buddhist spirituality they did not look beneath the illuminated surface. One paper quoted one of the visiting journalists as saying that the monarchy in Bhutan was not only surviving, but was actually “thriving”. One BBC reporter, however, told his audience about the thorny issue of refugees. And few newshounds managed to mention the publicly recorded fact when the previous Bhutanese king’s marriage was announced in late 1988, through its embassy in New Delhi, the supposedly “bachelor” king already had four wives and eight children. The country’s Buddhist clergy at the time purportedly agreed to give legitimacy to the matter only after prolonged hesitation. In any case, how could the Bhutanese monarchy be “thriving” when its larger - and older - counterpart in neighboring Nepal was confined to the dustbin of history just six months ago in the wake of an armed Maoist insurgency? If such pro-monarchist media players took a closer look, they might find that the institution of monarchy is rapidly becoming an endangered species across the globe. Still, political pundits in the region continue to believe that monarchs who are prepared to synchro-

nize their traditional leadership with changing popular aspirations have a chance to extend the lifespan of their office. If the subject of refugees is kept from the international public’s eye, the Bhutanese monarchy stands a good chance. Analysts contend that the father of Bhutan’s new king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, avoided the mistakes made by the kings of Nepal, whom he once addressed as “brother”. For example, he took measures to appear as a king willing to lead his small country on the path of democracy. Elections were held in March, giving Bhutan its first elected government. A constitution was issued in August and now the king will no longer rule the nation through edicts and orders. In early 2005, when Nepal’s King Gyanendra staged a coup with the support of royal army, the monarch in Bhutan was busy circulating the draft of a statute which was to lay the foundation for a democratic order. Subsequently, Gyanendra lost the 240-year-old monarchy while Jigme created a democratic facade which appears to have given a fresh lease on life to the last Himalayan monarchy. Jigme looks wiser; he found it expedient to pass the crown to his son, whereas Nepal’s Gyanendra did not listen to suggestions to vacate the throne in favor of his grandson. He could have salvaged the monarchy, a section of Nepal’s intelligentsia still contend, for the sake of country’s uni-

ty and integrity. “Since the changes effected thus far are irreversible, it is fair to assume that Bhutan is firmly on the road to modernization “ said Gyan Chandra Acharya, the top government official at Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Acharya was by the side of Prime Minister Prachanda during his first meeting with the Bhutanese counterpart, Jigmi Thinley, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York in September. Among the issues discussed at the time was the situation of refugees. These political changes in Bhutan would not have been possible if New Delhi had not “actively” cooperated with the Bhutanese king and his advisors. Formally, such cooperation was the service of constitutional lawyer, K K Venugopal, who helped finalize the draft of the constitution put in place last August. The other important initiative taken by India was to upgrade, in February 2007, the 1949 treaty of friendship, taking out words that made it obligatory for Bhutan to be guided by India in the conduct of its foreign affairs. Nobody in the officialdom saw this as a mere formality, but subsequent events don’t indicate any break with tradition. The striking proof of this can be seen in voting patterns at the United Nations, where the ambassador of Bhutan always casts his vote for all resolutions supported by India.

Another striking example has been Bhutan’s perceived “inability” to host the SAARC summit even once since it was formed in 1985. With the exception of Afghanistan, a new member, all other member states have hosted the event at least twice. There have been one or two occasions where Bhutan took a different stand, but the king chose to “correct” his position afterwards. One such occasion arose at the Non-Aligned Movement summit held in Havana, Cuba, in 1979. The issue was external intervention in Cambodia (then Kampuchea) where Jigme’s statement included the following sentence: “We, as a small country, cannot endorse invasion. It is a dangerous precedent.” Apparently, New Delhi became touchy over the issue. It continued to bother the Bhutanese king for years, as was evident in an on-record conversation he had with Indian journalist M J Akbar in September 1988. The king, however, said he did not consider the merger of Sikkim with India in 1975 as the consequence of any invasion. Walter Laqueur’s book, A Dictionary of Politics, listed Sikkim, in 1973, as a Protectorate of India, Bhutan as a semi-independent state with an absolute monarchy and Nepal as an independent kingdom with a constitutional monarchy. If one were to compare the political map of the Himalayan region 35 years later, one finds changes that are too visible to be glossed over.

“I WAS DESTINED TO BE WHERE I AM” KUKNALIM.COM’s Yan Murry catches up with Amongla Aier, who is the first Naga woman to join the prestigious Indian Police Service (IPS). Amongla joined service in the year 2006 (Madhya Pradesh cadre). She is currently posted as City Supridentent of Police, Indore. Earlier this year, Amongla had commanded the official Independence Day parade of Madhya Pradesh. 1. Firstly, congratulations on being appointed as an I.P.S officer. You are the first Naga lady I.P.S officer. How does it feel to be inducted into the prestigious service? Amongla: Thank you. I feel it is a great honour and responsibility to be a fraternity of Indian police service and also for being the first IPS woman from Nagaland and I thank God for all the blessings so far. 2. Women usually do not opt for the Indian Police Service. Was it your dream to be a police officer? Amongla: Honestly, I never wanted to be in the IPS and I never even thought that I would be in this police service. I was kind of shocked and dismayed when I got IPS initially. But now I feel maybe I was destined to be where I am and maybe there is a greater plan of God for me to be in this service than to be in other service. 3. Tell us about your education and family background. Amongla: I have done most of my studies from Nagaland. I graduated from Patkai Christian college in economics. Then I went to do my PG in sociology from Delhi School of Economics-DU. My father is also an IPS in Nagaland so its like following in my fathers footsteps. My mom is a home maker and we are five siblings of which I am the eldest. 4. Cracking the Civil Service Exam is

5. For the benefit of Civil Service aspirants reading this interview, please give a few tips on how to crack the UPSC exam. Amongla: 1. Conviction from within, remember it’s a service not just a job that you are going to enter into. 2. Extensive study for prelims and intensive and selective study for mains. Be up to date with current affairs, read a lot- remember knowledge is power. 3. Interview is equally importantknowledge, language skills, confidence and personality are very important. It’s good if you can lead the board along to your plus areas. 4. It’s good to have a critical point of view, rather an analytical one where u can not only criticize but offer solutions at the same time. 5. Patience is very important here. Because one is not always lucky to clear the exam at one go, it is frustrating and tolling so I would practically advise to have something to fall back upon after your attempts are over- else its very difficult to start all over again after wasting so many years. 6. There is no substitute for hard work, remember once you have done your part God well do the rest. 7. Believe in yourself – think if others have done it why can’t I?

10 questions with Amongla Aier, IPS - First Naga lady IPS officer

fore and why? Amongla: There is no dearth for aspirants in CS. Everyone have different opinions on the salary matter, for many money is everything, while for some it is not. The trend as of now is that most of the new entrants have work experience prior to entering the civil service and most of them are professionals like doctors ,engineers, management graduate etc. so it shows that despite the salary package being offered by Govt there are many takers to the service. Civil service gives you not only recognition and status but gives you a larger playing field if you really want to make a difference. It gives you immense job satisfaction for your action and decision, which impacts a lot of people which you don’t get in the private sector.

no joke. How much time did you devote while preparing for the exam? Amongla: Well, I did put in a lot of hard work and time while preparing for the exam but most of all it was the prayer support and lot of good wishes from family and friends.that I am where I am now and perhaps it was destiny.

6. This year, you had commanded the official Independence Day Parade of Madhya Pradesh. That shows you are an able officer. Please describe the experience. What made your seniors choose you to lead the parade? Amongla: Its was a privilege to be commanding an independence day parade. Initially I was a little apprehensive because I had to command in Hindi and my pronunciation was not too strong but I worked on it and everything went out smoothly. And yes, commanding the parade did help in boosting my confidence and I am proud I got the opportunity. We are 4 officers in our batch and

all of us have our turn to lead a parade. My seniors wanted a lady officer to lead the parade and so I was there. 8. How is a typical day like for you as a police officer? Any hobbies you indulge in during your free time? Amongla: Police is a 24*7 work. There is no holiday, no weekly off. Here in Indore, all officers and men are putting in at least 15 hrs of work. I reach home at the earliest at 12.00pm every day. There is no date or time line. Right now there is just no room to indulge in hobbies.

7. These days, youths have ample options in the private sector with attractive salaries. Do you still feel the Civil Services attract youths like be-

Sikkim is already a province of India, while Bhutan has effectively become a protectorate and Nepal has changed into a semi-independent state. Some pro-monarchist analysts say Sikkim lost its very existence due the king’s recalcitrant attitude towards New Delhi, Bhutan survives because its king found it expedient to adopt a “cooperative” approach with India, while Nepal, the largest among the three kingdoms, is swiftly losing its independence - and facing divisive forces from the southern plains adjoining India - after Gyanendra was overthrown for remaining an assertive head of the state. When made to face a discontent crowd in 1990, Gyanendra’s elder brother, then-king Birendra, chose to meet the people’s demand for democracy rather than compromise with New Delhi on issues such as security and water resources and jeopardize Nepal’s sovereign, independent identity. The pervasive influence of India in the region is often too obvious to skip the attention of even Indian analysts and commentators - such as Salman Haider, who once served as India’s foreign secretary. In an article published in The Statesman newspaper under the headline “Himalayan refugees”, Haider questioned New Delhi’s wisdom as early as December 2000 of remaining unconcerned about happenings in India’s backyard. He alluded to a United States plan, floated by a senior State Department official for the rehabilitation of refugees from Bhutan, the majority of whom are Nepali-speakers. In the official’s opinion, India should have taken the responsibility of bringing the two neighbors “closer in the task of implementing their agreement on the return of the refugees”. This, he said, would have discouraged the big power from carving out a role for itself in the sensitive Himalayan region which lies along the Chinese frontier. Meanwhile, the American initiative on the refugees has become operational with about 5,000 refugees finding shelters in the US and other Western countries. However, the majority are still living in the camps in Nepal and eager to return to their own homeland. Bhutan still looks unwilling to take a sizeable population back into its fold. Perhaps because statistics show a steep rise in per capita income after the mass exodus of the 1990s. The scenario would be different should New Delhi decide to change its policy and start persuading Bhutan to accept its citizens who were forced to leave the country when it was under a different king. “India stands to gain in several ways if such a deal could be worked out,” said exiled Bhutanese leader Tek Nath Rizal, who has been compared with South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. After all, Bhutan reported a population of 1.2 million at the time of joining the United Nations in 1971. It is now at 635,000.

8. With terrorist threats looming everywhere in India these days, has the job of police officers become difficult? What steps has been taken by your department to prevent/ counter terrorist attacks? Amongla: Yes, times have changed, the role of police has not only become difficult but challenging .With increasing threat to internal security from terrorist activities, communalism, regionalism, naxalism etc, the need for effective leadership from police is called for. We as a department is the most neglected, most criticized from all quarters of society because we are the most visible organ of Govt yet the society cannot do without us. We need to be more proactive and become tactically offensive, our intelligence network should be strengthened, there should be more intra- inter state coordination and also with other agencies. The constabulary and police station level should be trained well, we need good equipments and facilities,

most of all we need motivated leadership. Till now there is no concrete blueprint or plan to counter terrorism both at the national and state level. We follow a wait and watch policy. Our networking and intelligence inputs need to be improved. 9. How has the internet shaped the world today? What are your views on Cyber crime? Is the Indian police force well equipped to tackle cyber crimes? Amongla: Internet and the information technology have brought profound revolutionary changes in the world today like never before. It has brought people together through access to information at the press of a few key strokes. The world is in your palm now. Material changes have happened so fast that we are now at a loss with our own belief system and values. With any change there is bound to happen both the good and bad, rule of nature. Cyber crimes is one which is fast spreading a result of this IT revolution, no amount of traditional policing can stop this we need a paradigm shift in our approach with such crime. The criminals are technologically few steps ahead of us. We have just begun writing our FIRS in computer!! We need trained and committed people. At present we are in a very sorry state as far as cyber crime is concerned. Delhi and Mumbai police are comparatively doing better then the rest of the states. We need a lot of trained technical professionals which we don’t have now. Government should start investing in training and equipments in cyber related crimes and offences. Till then we are searching for the needle in the hay stack. 10. If you were not a police officer what would you rather be? Amongla: I really don’t know still. I want to do so many things before I die... maybe a fulltime wanderer!!!

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

NATIONAL

Thursday 13 November 2008

The Morung Express

NEWS FILE India successfully test ﬁres ‘Shaurya’ missile Canadian cops reinvestigate Kanishka case

CHANDIGARH, NOVEMBER 12 (CNN-IBN): A police team from Canada has arrived in Chandigarh to re-investigate the 1985 bombing of the Air India plane Kanishka. Five investigators from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating a few leads with connection to the plane crash. Canadian officials also visited Burail Jail on Tuesday and questioned Jagtar Singh Hawara. They are likely to question Paramjit Singh Bheora in the same jail on Wednesday. The two are suspected to have some information about the incident. Chandigarh Police has already assured their support to the investigators. The Air India Boeing 747 flight No. 182 Kanishka had exploded over the Atlantic ocean, over the Irish coast on June 23, 1985 killing all 329 people onboard., most of them Canadian citizens.

Six feared dead in Mumbai building collapse MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 12 (NDTV): Six people are feared dead after a portion of a five-storeyed building at Crawford market in south Mumbai collapsed on Wednesday.The victims are believed to be the members of Dr Sayeed’s family. Right beside the building,construction work was going on for another building and that could well have caused the accident. Rescue operations are on at the apartment and eight fire engines have been rushed to the spot.

BALASORE (ORISSA), NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): India today successfully test fired ‘Shaurya’, a medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, to be used by its Army. With a 600-km range, the missile is capable of hitting targets deep inside Pakistan and China. The indigenous missile was launched from an underground facility with an in-built canister at 11.25 am from Complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, DRDO sources said here. The sleek missile, with a flight duration of 485 seconds, roared into the sky leaving behind a thick yellow and white smoke on a clear sunny day, they added. The sophisticated tactical missile is capable of carrying conventional warheads with a payload of about one tonne. “With longer shelf-life, as it is stored in a canister just like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the Shaurya is easily transportable and user-friendly. This is a technology development project,” DRDO sources told PTI in New Delhi. Though there was speculation that the missile was a land version of the under development K-15 submarine launched ballistic missile, DRDO sources said the surface-to-surface missile had nothing to do with K-15 ‘Sa-

garika’ project. “The missile was test fired from a 30-40 feet deep pit with in-built canister specially designed for the purpose. There was no water in the pit,” the sources said. “The test was conducted to check some of the vital parameters of Shaurya missile,” the DRDO sources said. The solid propellant, twostaged missile is little over 10 metres in length and about halfa-metre in width, they said. During the test, the missile took off vertically and its entire trajectory was tracked through an integrated system of sophisticated radars, electro-optical tracking instruments, a chain of telemetry stations positioned in different points and two naval ships placed close to the impact point deep in the Bay of Bengal. As a precautionary measure, the district administration of Balasore temporarily evacuated 364 families residing within two km radius of the launch site and took them to safety at a nearby shelter before the missile test. The launch of Shaurya has come nearly nine months after India had successfully tested the ‘Sagarika’ missile under the K-15 project this February off the coast of Visakhapatnam from a pontoon simulating the conditions of a submarine.

3,000 people evacuated ahead of missile test

A missile lifts off from a test range in Balasore in eastern Indian state of Orissa, November 12. India successfully test-ﬁred the medium-range, surface-to surface missile on Wednesday, the defense ministry said. The new Shourya (Valor) missile has a range of 375 miles (600 kilometers), the ministry said in a statement that hailed the technology as "state of the art." (AP Photo)

BALASORE, NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): Over 3,000 people living near a defence base in Orissa’s Balasore district were evacuated Wednesday ahead of a missile test in the area, an official said. “About 3,010 people from five villages within two kilometres of the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur were evacuated in the morning,” District Collector A.C. Padhiary said. Scientists plan to carry out the first test-firing from land of the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) K-15 from the Chandipur defence base, about 230 km from state capital Bhubaneswar. The twostage missile, which can carry a payload up to one tonne, has a range of 700 km. It had earlier undergone four tests from the underwater platform. The K-15 missile has a length of around 11 metres, larger than the 8.5metre-long Prithvi short-range ballistic missile but smaller than 15-metre-long Agni-1 ballistic missile.

Congress senses a power shift from Sonia to Rahul

From left to right, Foreign Ministers of Nepal Upendra Yadav, Bhutan's Khandu Wangchuk's, Sri Lanka's Rohitha Bogollagama, India's Pranab Mukherjee, Myanmar's Nyan Win, Bangladesh's Iftekhar Ahmed Choudhury, and Thailand's Sukhumpong Ngonkam pose for the media in New Delhi, November 12. The foreign ministers are here for the second summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) meeting. (AP Photo)

C M Y K

Centre advises President not to sign Gujarat terror Bill NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): The Gujarat Control of Organised Crime(GUJCOC) has not found favours with the Union Home Ministry. According to a newspaper report, the ministry has forwarded the Bill to President Pratibha Patil recommending her not to sign it. The Home Ministry has counselled the President to urge the Gujarat government to make amends in the Bill to prevent its misuse, the paper reported. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi justifies the Bill and contends that it is based on Maharashtra’s stringent anti-terror law, MCOCA and is used by the Congress there. However Home Minister Shivaraj Patil argues that UPA cannot withdraw MCOCA as its assent was given by the previous NDA regime. It may be noted that the GUJCOC was passed by the Gujarat Assembly in 2003 and has been placed before the Cabinet on at least two occasions. However, no decision was taken. In 2006, the Cabinet returned the Bill to MHA to discuss with Law ministry over clauses which can be misused.

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 12 (CNN-IBN): A shell-shocked Congress realised that things may not calm down even if Sonia Gandhi accepts the resignation of General Secretary Margaret Alva. The party is in poll gear, preparations for the Lok Sabha elections are in full swing and this drastic step taken by Alva may swell the ranks of dissenters and rebels, raising question marks over Sonia being capable of keeping her stock together. Faced with the possibility of disciplinary action, Alva on Tuesday resigned from her post after her strong criticism of the party on ticket distribution created a storm in the Congress. With such a public outburst from a Sonia loyalist like Alva, who is in charge of seven important states including Maharshtra, Punjab and Haryana, the party seems to have been caught completely on the wrong foot. “She is unhappy that her son was denied a ticket. The motivation is solely that. Congress does not want to perpetuate nepotism,” party Spokes-

man Veerappa Moily said. Alva’s situation gets even more difficult with General Secretary Rahul Gandhi defending the ticket selection process. It is believed that several of Rahul’s Youth Congress nominees will be contesting the polls this time. “As General Secretary of the Youth Congress I just made some recommendations as far as the younger boys were concerned. Otherwise I am not unhappy with any ticket,” Rahul said. Rahul’s defence also brings out the schism within the Congress – the two power centres. Congress leaders are sensing a shift of power from Sonia to Rahul and 10 Janpath loyalists like Alva haven’t comprehended the trend. However, those who have understood the change in balance of power are not erring in their judgement. With Rahul increasingly occupying centerstage in the Congress, many see this as a power struggle between Sonia’s leaders and Rahul’s leaders. But for now it seems the loyalty shield around Sonia seems to be developing cracks.

Cong accepts Alva’s resignation

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 11 (PTI): Cracking the whip, Congress today accepted the resignation of party general secretary Margaret Alva and also relieved her as member of the Congress Working Committee in the wake of her stinging criticism over the distribution of tickets in the party. The action was taken a day after the 66-year-old leader sent her resignation to party chief Sonia Gandhi in the wake of controversy over her charge about sale of party tickets in the Karnataka assembly polls. Alva had come under sharp attack from a number of leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Digvijay Singh, Ashok Gehlot and party’s media department chairperson M Veerappa Moily. The refrain in the party was that the AICC General Secretary had committed a “gross breach of discipline”. Alva’s case

was referred to the Disciplinary Committee Chairman A K Antony before whom the leader had appeared some days back. Alva has been sulking for the past few months over the denial of ticket to her son Nivedith and it was compounded when here bete noire R V Deshpande was made the Karnataka PCC chief despite her reservations. Alva had been incharge of party affairs in several important states, including Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana. The announcement of her resignation being accepted was made by AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi. Antony has been made incharge of Maharashtra, Motilal Vora will look after party affairs in Haryana, Mohsina Kidwai (Punjab and Chandigarh) and Oscar Fernandes (Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland).

Chhattisgarh tribal voters unhappy with Cong

KANKER, NOVEMBER 12 (CNN-IBN): Safeguarding votes will be the key concern in the election session for the Congress as its ambitious employment guarantee scheme will come to haunt the party in the coming Assembly Elections. This is the key issue that is there in the minds of tribal voters. Chhattisgarh is the first state to go to polls on November 14 and the Congress has missed on various opportunities to woe their voters here. An opportunity came in the form of National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) to turn one of the oldest fields in Koilibeda, a village in Chhattisgarh, into a playground was completely lost by the party. This was one of the opportunities which could have helped the Congress in earning some political good will but the villagers say it was completely wasted. They say that the work done by the party was poor and unfair. “This ground became worse after leveling. The kids slip and fall, this is far worse now than it was,” says

a resident Rakesh Kumar Shukla. For Nirasha Bai, it was hard work and no pay despite the strict provision under NREGA that each person must be paid within 15 days of work. She says that she has worked for 90 days and now months have passed but there is no sign of her wages. Many trips to the sarpanch (head of village) have yielded nothing. In fact, there is no record of her work at all. “We went to the sarpanch They did not pay us. We worked so hard but they just didn’t pay us anything. They didn’t even mark us present.,” Nirasha Bai says. AlittledistanceawayisRainbai;the burden of the family rests firmly on her shoulders as her physically ailing husband cannot work. “Everyone has seen us working but now they are not paying us. If we had plucked tendu leaves instead we would have got money,” Rainbai says. False muster rolls is not the only form of corruption, use of machines is another. Ironically the man who used his tractor was not paid.

“I made 55 trips on my tractor. I earned Rs 16,000, the sarpanch gave me work but I haven’t been paid,” says Nathu Patel. The NREGA is one programme that the Congress party and the UPA Government is extremely proud of and hopes will help it win elections but on the ground, the reality seems to be quite different. The BJP state government is in charge of implementing the NREGA on the ground through the panchayati system but the anger against the state government is diluted because even in areas where Congress is in power at the grassroots level, NREGA has not fulfilled its promise; the Congress sarpanch makes an admission. “We used tractor to level the playground. We didn’t have eough workers,” says sarpanch Laxmi Duggal. But people on the ground are not forgiving the Government. “Who will vote for such a corrupt Government,” says a resident Deora Singh. Indian Air Force Chief Fali Homi Major, right, presents a cap to Indian President Pratibha They can understand no work and no Patel, center, during a function organized to present Presidential Colors to air force units pay but not hard work and no pay. in Bangalore, November 12. (AP Photo)

Obama calls PM, lays stress Govt targeting Hindu leaders without evidence: Rajnath Tracking the roots of Hindu militancy on Indo-US strategic ties NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): The wait is over. US President-elect Barack Obama finally telephoned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday. The President-elect emphasised on the significance of Indo-US relations and expressed the intention of his administration to closely work with India on important global issues. The interaction between the two leaders gains significance amid the reports that Obama is not planning to attend the G-20 summit in Washington, where he was assumed to meet the PM, who is scheduled to travel to Washington on November 15 for the meeting. According to reports coming from the Prime Minister’s Office, Singh congratulated Obama on his historic victory and said his success would be an inspiration for the oppressed people all over the world. Albeit Singh described Indo-US ties as “very good”, yet insisted on not to be “satisfied with the status quo”. The Prime Minister also invited Obama and his wife Mitchelle to visit India, the sources said. Obama praised Singh’s contribution to the progress of India as Finance Minister earlier and the Prime Minister now, the sources said. Singh received Obama’s call

at 8:30 AM today. Notably, Obama’s call came a day after Singh downplayed reports that the US President-elect ignored India while making telephone calls to leaders of various countries after his election to America’s top office. “No, this is not true... President Obama wanted to talk to me day before yesterday (November 8) (but) we could not establish contact because the time that was suggested was too short for me (to establish contact). Since then, I have been travelling... as soon as I go back (we will try to establish contact),” Singh said when asked if Obama had ignored New Delhi by not calling him. Singh was talking to reporters late last night on way back to New Delhi from his maiden three-day visit to the energy rich Gulf region. Obama had called 15 world leaders including Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari after being elected US President. As Singh did not get any call from Obama, there were suggestions that the next US President was ignoring India. Singh said Obama had written to him a “very warm” letter even before he was elected President. “I had myself written a warm letter to him,” he said. Singh was hopeful that IndoUS ties under Obama will further be strengthened.

RAIPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (PTI): Main opposition BJP today accused the Congress-led UPA government of “targeting” Hindu religious leaders by linking them to incidents of bomb blasts without “sufficient evidence”. The opposition party also came to the defence of Yogi Adityanath, BJP MP from Gorakhpur, whose name reportedly figured in the investigation into the Malegaon blasts case. “Linking Adityanath to the (Malegaon blast) case is not pro-

cedural but political,” BJP chief Rajnath Singh told reporters here. “Without sufficient evidence, the government is targeting Hindu religious leaders and ashrams. We find these actions of the government suspicious,” he said. Maintaining that the BJP was not against any probe, Singh said his party would oppose “distorted propaganda” against religious leaders. “The use of phrases like Hindu terrorism has political overtones,” Singh said, adding that “it is unimaginable that Yogi

Adityanath could be involved in any violent activities”. The BJP chief claimed that linking the BJP MP to the blast case was an attempt to malign the Goraksh Peeth which is revered by crores of people. “This government is confused on the issue of terrorism. It cannot view terrorism and Muslim community as two separate issues,” he said. Singh said linking some Army officers to the blast case without proper evidence would demoralise the armed forces.

PUNE, NOVEMBER 12 (NDTV): While the Army grapples with the possible involvement of a serving officer in the Malegaon blast, NDTV took a closer look at the ideological beginnings of the Abhinav Bharat – the hardline Hindu group whose members are under arrest for their role in Malegaon. (Watch) Pune is a perfect example of new India and its dreams and Ferguson college one of its temples. The leafy campus of the college was once home to Veer Savarkar, the man who first founded Abhinav Bharat as a forum to propagate his brand of Hindu nationalism. It was while he was a student here that Savarkar came under the influence of a man who propounded a very hardline Hindu militancy. The man was Damodar Chapakar who assassinated a British police officer in 1897 and he and two of his brothers were hung by the British a year later. Having clutched a Geeta and singing Vande Matram, Damodar went to the gallows. “It states that violence for the sake of good is actually a duty, so a man like Godse could say Gandhi Vadh; it makes murder almost a religious act,” said Prof Suhas Palshekar, Head of Department, Political History, Pune University. Savarkar wound up Abhinav An elderly Sikh woman, right, prays as Sikh holy men called Panj Pyare or the Beloved Bharat in 1952 but his vision had been Five lead a religious procession in the premises of Golden Temple, Sikh's holiest shrine, refined, the path to safeguarding relion the eve of 539th birth anniversary of the ﬁrst Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev, in Amritsar, gion was for Hindus to acquire miliNovember 12. (AP Photo)

tary training. In a speech around the time he said, “Let the Hindus therefore come forward now and enter the Army, the Navy and the Air-Force, render the Hindu military-minded, spirited and valorous and secure and stabilise the Hindu strength in Indian Military Forces of all arms.” The legacy of this thinking can be gauged even today. The Shiv Sena-BJP government in the mid-nineties set up military schools in almost each district of the state like the Rani Laxmi Bai military school for girls in Pune where Col Agashe, a former Gorkha officer is the commandant. “We teach them nationalism and want them to be nationalists,” said Col Srikant Agashe, former Army Officer. The students here get a modern education, they also get a somewhat narrow view of India and its problems. It is two military schools, the Bhosala Military School in Nashik and Nagpur, that are now being investigated by the Anti Terrorism Squad, places where the ATS believes Abhinav Bharat activists were trained. It’s no coincidence that Pune is also the base for the new revived Abhinav Bharat. Many point out that while the bulk of Maharashtra’s soldiers are Marathas, this militaristic mindset is confined to a small community. Is the thinking behind an act like the Malegoan blasts a synthesis of both these schools of thought?

The Morung Express

INTERNATIONAL

Thursday 13 November 2008

'Building a government': Obama unleashes transition teams WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 12 (AFP): US president-elect Barack Obama is sending evaluators to study the sprawling US bureaucracy to help him determine how best to meet his administration's goals when he takes office on January 20. Obama's 450-strong transition team will scour more than 100 departments and agencies for data to underpin new policies as soon as his inauguration ushers in an historic presidency. Transition co-chair John Podesta promised on Tuesday that Obama would publish the names of aides who will begin burrowing into government monoliths such as the State Department, Treasury and the Pentagon as early as Monday. "This is part of our commitment to make this the most open and transparent transition in history," Podesta said at his first post-election press conference here called to outline the process of "building a government." "Under president-elect Obama and vice presidentelect Biden, the American people will see a transition of government that is efficient, that is organized, that is bipartisan and more open and transparent than others before." Podesta said the transition team would employ around 450 people in the US capital and Obama's hometown Chicago with a budget of 12 million dollars. As part of an accelerated effort to get the government up and running at a time of international turmoil, PoPresident-elect Obama, right, hugs Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth, director, Illi- desta said more than 100 nois Department of veterans Affairs, following a wreath laying ceremony at the Bronze interim security clearances had already been issued to Soldiers Memorial in honor of Veteran's Day on November 11, in Chicago. (AP Photo)

transition personnel. Obama said during his first postelection press conference last week that he would move with "deliberate haste" to fill cabinet positions. He has yet to make any nominations, though White House staff announcements are expected soon before heavy-hitting cabinet posts are announced -- likely in Chicago. The president-elect, honoring protocol that there is "only one president at a time," will stay away from the weekend's international economic summit in Washington. Some of his aides however will likely meet foreign delegates. On Tuesday, Obama advisors tried to dispel suggestions of tensions with the White House after it emerged that he had pressed outgoing President George W. Bush in private talks on Monday for immediate aide for reeling US auto giants. The New York Times cited unnamed sources as saying the president may agree to new funding for the troubled sector and a new economic stimulus package if Democrats pass a Colombia free trade pact which is stalled in Congress. Obama aides denied Bush offered the Colombia pact as part of a deal. "The topic of Colombia came up. There was no quid pro quo in the conversation," Podesta said. The Bush administration has promised unprecedented cooperation with the Obama transition team, and invited aides to the president-elect to shadow outgoing officials. Podesta, a former Clinton administration chief-of-staff, also said the nascent administration was working through

complicated issues involved in his campaign pledge to close the Guantanamo Bay "war on terror" camp in Cuba. The Democratic president-elect is already under fierce pressure from human rights groups to close the controversial high-security facility but faces a legal minefield in deciding where to house inmates and how to try them. "Senator Obama has said that he intends to close the facility at Guantanamo, that's a complicated matter," said Podesta. "It's under review ... when we have something to say about that, we'll say it. "I think that moving the process forward and undertaking the review of how one would exactly accomplish that is a project that the transition will undertake, and then will be implemented by the new administration." Any decision to close Guantanamo, which opened in 2002 and has scarred America's image abroad, will involve working out where to put inmates and require a new kind of legal structure to prosecute them. Obama's presidential transition team on Tuesday sidestepped a flurry of speculation that he would ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stay on in his administration. Gates has been praised in both parties for his role since taking over the job two years ago, and the Wall Street Journal cited two unnamed Obama advisers on Tuesday as saying the president-elect was leaning towards keeping Gates. Podesta said Obama had "great respect" for Gates, but would wait to hear the findings of experts he is sending to probe Defense Department operations.

‘Sexes equal in education, women lag in power’ GENEVA, NOVEMBER 12 (REUTERS): Women still lag far behind men in top political and decision-making roles, a waste of talent given that their access to education and healthcare is nearly equal, the World Economic Forum said on Wednesday. In its 2008 Global Gender Gap report, the think tank ranked Norway, Finland and Sweden as the countries with the greatest equality between the sexes, while Saudi Arabia, Chad and Yemen were the least equal. Averaging 130 national scores, the report found that girls and women have reached near-parity with their male peers in educational attain-

ment, health and survival, in both rich and poor countries. But economically, in terms of workforce participation and earning opportunities, and politically, in terms of empowerment, the gap between the sexes remains large. “The world’s women are nearly as educated and as healthy as men, but are nowhere to be found in terms of decisionmaking,” said Saadia Zahidi of the World Economic Forum, a Swiss-based think tank best known for its Davos summit held in January. “Given that women have almost closed the gap with men on health and education, it is a waste of their talents if they are not catching up in economics and politics,” she said. The report uses United Nations and other data to weigh how evenly each country shares its resources and opportunities between men and women. “The index does not penalise those countries that have low levels of education over-

all, for example, but rather those where the distribution of education is uneven between women and men,” said study co-author Ricardo Hausmann of Harvard University. Outside the Nordic region, which traditionally scores well on measures of gender parity, New Zealand placed fifth, in part because of its female political empowerment including the tenure of Helen Clark as prime minister. The Philippines, whose president is a woman, followed in sixth place, and Ireland, the Netherlands, and Latvia placed eighth, ninth and tenth respectively. The United States ranked 27th, ahead of its neighbour Canada for the first time since the gender gap report was launched three years ago. Canada fell 13 spots to 31st place. Trinidad, Argentina and Cuba were rated highest among Latin American and Caribbean countries, and Lesotho was the top-rated African state in gender parity.

Taiwan’s former prez held in graft probe

TAIPEI, NOVEMBER 12 (AFP): A Taiwan court ordered former president Chen Shui-bian locked up Wednesday in a corruption probe, tightening pressure on the onetime leader whose tenure was marred by allegations of scandal and sleaze. The court order capped 24 hours of high political drama on this tiny island, which saw the defiant Chen led away in handcuffs, taken to hospital after claiming he had been beaten by police, and then finally put behind bars. Officials said Chen -whose pro-independence policies in office repeatedly irked China, which claims Taiwan as its territory -- had been taken to a detention centre after a court hearing overnight. Chen was arrested Tuesday but has yet to be formally charged. He is accused of embezzling around 15 million Taiwan dollars (about 450,000 US) while in office, money laundering, taking bribes and forging documents. He said on Tuesday that he was being victimised by the China-friendly government, which succeeded him after eight years in office, because he was the “biggest stone” blocking the island’s reunification with the mainland. “The case is political persecution and a political witch hunt,” Chen said. “I will not be imprisoned in vain.... Long live Taiwan democracy. Long live Taiwan independence.” The pro-independence

opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) also cried foul, with spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang warning that “the prosecutors have no sufficient evidences to detain the former president... the event has polarised society.” Police tightened security around the detention centre outside Taipei early Wednesday morning after Chen’s supporters threatened protests. Chen’s successor, current President Ma Ying-jeou, has worked quickly to improve ties with China, opening new talks and airline connections between the mainland and Taiwan, which split in 1949 after a civil war. On Taiwanese radio, Ma rejected allegations that he was pursuing a political vendetta and said he would not intervene in the case of Chen -- the first Taiwan leader ever to be arrested. “I do not intervene in any case. I respect the judicial system,” the president said. “We do not feel any joy (from his detention).” China regards Taiwan as its territory -- and has threatened to invade if it declares independence -and the stand-off between the two has turned the Strait of Taiwan into one of the world’s most heavily militarised areas. China has repeatedly blocked Taiwan from joining international organisations, including the United Nations, and only around 20 countries give diplomatic recognition to Taiwan instead of

China. “Ma Ying-jeou wants to put me in jail as a sacrifice to appease China,” Chen told reporters on Tuesday. “I am very honoured and proud to play such a role.” Chen, a populist son of a poor farming family who rose to power on promises of safeguarding a “native Taiwanese” government separate from China, saw the pro-China Ma elected in a landslide in March to replace him. The vote was a massive repudiation of Chen’s rule, which was dogged by allegations of graft. His troubles began in 2006 when his sonin-law was arrested for alleged insider trading. He was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison. Chen has since admitted submitting falsified expense forms while in office but said the money was used for “secret diplomatic missions” and not for personal benefit. In a separate money-laundering case, prosecutors say 21 million US dollars was sent to Swiss bank accounts belonging to Chen’s daughter-inlaw in 2007. The funds have since been frozen. Chen has admitted his wife wired 20 million US dollars abroad from past campaign funds but said she did so without his knowledge. A total of eight people, including the ex-leader, his brother-in-law and several of his former top aides, have so far been detained for their roles in the scandals implicating the former first family, prosecutors said.

Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian raises his hands with handcuffs as he is led away from the Taiwan prosecutor's ofﬁce in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008. Chen was arrested as prosecutors sought formal approval to detain him in connection with corruption allegations. (AP Photo)

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A displaced boy struggles to balance water on his head as he makes his way across sharp lava rock towards a camp for displaced people, Tuesday, November 11, in Kibati, just north of Goma in eastern Congo. The humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo has exploded since rebel leader Laurent Nkunda launched an offensive Aug. 28, with around 50,000 refugees crowded around Kibati, packed into camps or sleeping out in the open, scrambling for the basics, including water to drink, wash, and cook. (AP Photo)

NKorea to close land border with South SEOUL, NOVEMBER 12 (REUTERS): Reclusive North Korea said on Wednesday it will close its land border with the South from next month, largely putting a stop to the few exchanges that exist between the states divided since the Cold War. The move follows growing anger in Pyongyang at the hardline approach of the South’s conservative government over its nuclear weapons programme. It accused its wealthy neighbour of taking their confrontation “beyond the danger level.” The little traffic there is across their heavily armed border is the product of agreements during 10 years of left-leaning leaders in Seoul. Relations between the states have increasingly frayed since February, when conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office pledging to get tough with Pyongyang but offering massive economic aid if it mended its ways. Last month, North Korea threatened to reduce the South to rubble unless it stopped civic groups from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the communist state. Analysts say the recent flood of such leaflets had rattled the North’s leaders. “The leaflets are going deeper into the country than before and this has increased concern in North Korea, especially because it comes at a time when there is speculation on (leader) Kim Jong-il’s health,” one South Korean government source said. There have been widespread reports that Kim, who heads the world’s first communist dynasty, may have suffered a serious stroke, although the North has insisted he is in good health and still firmly in charge. The North says agreements reached over the previous 10 years were being flouted since Lee took office. North Korea’s KCNA news agency said the border closure would take effect from December 1. “The South Korean puppet authorities should never forget that the present interKorean relations are at the crucial crossroads of existence and total severance,” it said. A Unification Ministry official in Seoul said it was not clear whether the North meant to close the border completely. “We don’t think it means complete closure,” he said. There are two main road crossings over the demilitarised zone that has divided the peninsula since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, for which a peace treaty has never been agreed. One leads to the Kaesong industrial park, operated by the South just across the border and the one tangible commercial link between the two, and takes tour groups on to nearby Kaesong city. The other is on the east side of the peninsula to another tour site, Mt Kumgang. That site was closed to tourists earlier this year after a South Korean tourist was shot dead. A rail link was opened for regular runs last December for the first time in almost 50 years but it carries almost no cargo. The North is likely to be further irritated by a decision by South Korea’s human rights agency, announced on Tuesday, to set up a committee to look at abuses in the North. Before Lee, South Korea had walked on egg shells when it came to human rights, feeling that open criticism of its neighbour would derail plans to draw the North closer through engagement. But conservatives, who argue human rights represent universal values, have said pressing North Korea now cannot harm a relationship that has soured severely. Koh Yu-hwan, Dongguk University professor of North Korea studies, said that with some predicting incoming U.S. President Barack Obama might take a softer approach towards the North, Pyongyang may be hoping to push the South to do likewise. “This is what the North Korean military can do in response to what they consider to be South Korea’s obstinate and hawkish policies towards the North. They also want to show that previous warnings are not just empty threats,” he said.

Nepal Maoists to return property seized in war KATHMANDU, NO VEMBER 12 (REUTERS): Nepal’s former Maoist rebels have said they will return land and property they seized during a decade-long civil war as part of a peace deal that brought them into the political mainstream. Maoists, who began fighting the monarchy in 1996, forced thousands from their homes when they seized land and property during the war that killed more than 13,000 people. Political parties complained the Maoists had not returned the seized property to its owners, despite promising to do so after emerging as the largest party in elections held in April under a

2006 peace deal. “We’ll return the seized property to their owners by mid-December,” Prime Minister Prachanda, the Maoist chief who still uses his nom de guerre rather than his real name Pushpa Kamal Dahal, told a special assembly late on Tuesday. “Compensation will be paid to those who do not get their property,” he said. The Maoists have also promised to let more than 200,000 people displaced by war return to their homes. They have vowed revolutionary land reforms and promised land to landless farmers in one of the world’s poorest countries.

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Thurssday 13 November 2008

The Morung Express

India could lose 2010 Commonwealth Games

Gamba Osaka celebrate defeating Adelaide United in the Asia Cup soccer ﬁnal and winning the 2008 AFC Championship League in Adelaide, Sydney on November 12. Osaka won the match 2-0. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): India could miss out on hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2010 if a dispute over the construction of the athletes' village is not resolved, a senior Games official said on Wednesday. The four-yearly Games featuring 71 teams from the Commonwealth countries are due to be held in the Indian capital of New Delhi from October 3-14, 2010. The athletes' village being built on the banks of the Yamuna river has been embroiled in a legal tussle after environmental groups protested the construction would ruin the river bed. The Delhi High Court has asked an environmental expert to probe if the village that is to house 8,500 athletes and officials should be built on the site. Austin Sealy, the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation co-ordination committee, said that he was concerned by the ongoing dispute. "Any change, at this late stage, to the Games village arrangements would seriously jeopardise India's hosting of the Games," Sealy said in a statement. "The organising committee has been urged to have the matter resolved as a matter of urgency." Sealy said he was equally worried by the delay in starting work on a new velodrome. "Less than two years is left for the Games, but construction work on the velodrome has not yet started," he said. "It is a matter of concern for us. We have urged the organising committee to do everything in their power to start the work." IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, who heads the Games organising committee, played down Sealy's concerns and promised that all venues would be completed in time. Sealy's committee will undertake another inspection of the venues in March.

Credit crunch could force Liverpool to sell Torres and Gerrard Rafa Benitez may have to sell key players like Torres and Gerrard if the credit crunch forces Liverpool's owners to repay the club's debt.

LIVERPOOL, NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): That's the warning from Keith Harris, the investment banker who has overseen the takeover of five elite clubs. Liverpool's co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett reportedly have to repay a £350 million loan to two banks - Wachovia and the Royal Bank of Scotland - in January. They have an option to extend the loan for a further six months, but with both banks facing dire financial worries, Harris believes they are unlikely to sanction continued lending. Painting a gloomy picture for football finance across the board, Harris said: "The one that worries me is Liverpool. Liverpool's debt is due in January, with maybe a six-month extension. "The two banks which are the principal lenders the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia - are two of

Pawar & Co. face perjury charges NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 12 (NDTV): Calcutta High Court on Wednesday ordered filing of criminal cases against six BCCI officials for committing perjury. The perjury case was filed by Dalmiya on July 20, 2007 on the day the High Court had declared that his suspension from the Board was illegal. The former top boss of Indian cricket had alleged in the perjury case under Section 340 of Criminal Procedure Code that the Board had submitted false documents before the court. Apart from the Board and Pawar, the perjury case was filed against Niranjan Shah, Shashank Manohar and Chirayu Amin - all top functionaries of the present BCCI management. Dalmiya's lawyer Arindam Banerjee alleged that the Board had placed forged documents before the High Court regarding condonation of time of application for the registration of an amendment to BCCI's Clause V of Rule 38, which relates to punitive action against a member of the Board. He claimed the Board had wrongly claimed to have got permission from the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration body to register the amendment at a later date. Stating that an amendment must be registered with TNSRA within three months, Dalmiya's lawyer claimed that the application for condonation of delay was filed six years after the amendment was made in September, 2000. It was applied for only after the suspension of Dalmiya, Banerjee claimed. Dalmiya had been suspended by the Board on December 16, 2006, and subsequently forced to resign from the post of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president. The former Indian cricket boss challenged the BCCI's punitive action against him before the Calcutta High Court, which after hearing out case, termed the suspension illegal on July 20, 2007. It was during the hearing of this case before the high court that the Board had produced false documents, Dalmiya alleged.

those that have suffered. Whether they want to lend it again or not, they may not be able to. "What normally happens in business is, if the banks won't finance, you have to raise equity." The most obvious way for a football club to raise equity in the short-term would be to sell players. And with Liverpool mounting a serious title challenge for the first time in many years, that prospect will terrify supporters. The other option would be for Hicks and Gillett to sell the club to Dubai International Capital - provided they are still interested. But Harris says the job of finding potential buyers for Premier League clubs is becoming increasingly problematic.m "It has never been more difficult to find buyers," said Harris. "It's no longer a question of price negotiation - it's 'should we?' People are wondering if

now is the time to spend." Meanwhile, Harris, speaking after a private address to football financiers in Zurich, reiterated there were still two offers on the table for Newcastle United but refused to name them. "The work is progressing. They are wealthy investment funds, not from the Middle East but they do tick the test," he added. "The people behind them are first rate. They are capable of doing the deal and of investing in and managing the future. I don't know how to predict when we might do the deal." Harris also believes the Premier League's fit and proper persons rule should be reviewed after the debacle of former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra, who was in charge at Eastlands for a mere 14 months before selling the club to Abu Dhabi Investment Group for almost dou-

ble what he paid. "When he was first introduced to me I competed with another major investment bank to become his adviser. "It wasn't me who said Man City, it was him who wanted the club," said Harris. "We did an investigation into him by one of the big detective agencies. We found there was a military regime that was out to get him at all costs. "We found that none of the allegations were proven and there was sufficient doubt in everyone's mind as to what the motivation was of the military government - in short we thought it was out to get him. "I actually thought I was siding with the underdog but it went wrong which is sad. I think that probably what will happen now is that there will be an amendment in the way the Premier League view these (kind of) circumstances."

Young Gunners outclass Latics Man United labours

Roddick pulls out of Masters Cup SHANGHAI, NOVEMBER 12 (AP): Andy Roddick has withdrawn from the Masters Cup after spraining his right ankle during practice, an injury that he said did not appear to be serious. Roddick made the announcement Wednesday, hours before he was to play Roger Federer in a Red Group match. He was replaced in the tournament by 26thranked Radek Stepanek, the first alternate here. Roddick said he rolled the ankle during a warmup drill for practice Tuesday and initially hoped treatment would allow him to play, but when he warmed up Wednesday afternoon, it was clear he couldn't be competitive. He estimated his movement at only 30 percent to 40 percent of normal, and that his powerful serve was particularly affected. "Unfortunately that's just not good enough to get it done at a tournament like this," Roddick said. "It's definitely a tough prospect trying to beat Roger with no serve and not being able to move much." Roddick said his trainer and a doctor told him the injury didn't appear to be serious, and he anticipated being able to do his planned training during the off-season. "I don't think we're looking at anything more than a week or so," he said.

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, left, goes for the ball with Wigan Athletic's, Paul Daniel De Ridder during their English League Cup soccer match at Arsenal's Emirates stadium in London on November 11. (AP Photo)

LONDON, NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): Arsenal's young guns produced another outstanding display to sent woeful Wigan crashing out of the Carling Cup with a stunning 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium. Two goals from Jay Simpson, on his first start for the club, and a third from Mexican starlet Carlos Vela put the Gunners into the fifth round. Steve Bruce's side were never in the game and but for a fabulous display from goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, Wigan would have lost by a much greater scoreline. The attacking potency of Wenger's youngsters had been evident as early as the 12th minute when Vela burst through the Wigan defence. He attempted to

round Kirkland in the Wigan goal but the keeper managed to get a hand to the ball and divert it to safety. But Wigan's inability to clear their lines only served up another chance for the Gunners and this time Simpson rattled the crossbar with a ferocious effort. Arsenal were now beginning to pick holes in the Wigan defence at will and when Vela set-up Kieran Gibbs in the 17th minute, it required another stunning save from Kirkland to keep the scores level. But Kirkland's heroics counted for nothing when he was finally beaten in the 41st minute. It was a typically clever Arsenal move as Simpson latched on to a superb through-ball from Jack Wilshere

and poked the ball beyond the keeper despite a late lunge from Mario Melchiot. And in the 67th minute, a stunning counter attack brought Arsenal their second. Vela ran the length of the Wigan half, leaving Emmerson Boyce trailing in his wake, before crossing for Simpson to apply a simple finish. The Mexican made it three for Arsenal in the 70th minute when he produced a superb chip over Kirkland from 18 yards to finish another wonderful night for the young Gunners. Wigan's night was made more miserable two minutes from time when they were robbed of a consolation goal by a fantastic double save from Lucasz Fabianski.

IN CONTRAST at Old Trafford, Alex Ferguson's United laboured to an uninspiring 1-0 Carling Cup victory over QPR through a penalty from Carlos Tevez in the 76th minute after Daniel Welbeck was fouled by QPR defender Peter Ramage. With the game heading for extra-time in what had become a damp squib of a spectacle, substitute Danny Welbeck was brought down by QPR's Peter Ramage and Tevez fired home from the spot. United had failed to break down a resilient Rangers side and had looked blunt in attack and lackadaisical in possession. QPR had the ball in the net late on from Samuel Di Carmine, but the substitute wheeled away only to see a raised flag. Sir Alex Ferguson, unsurprisingly, rang the changes from the side beaten at Arsenal on Saturday, with Rodrigo Possebon coming back into the side for his first start since being stretchered off in the previous round against Middlesbrough. Rangers arrived at Old Trafford with the hope of pulling off a shock, knowing they were unlikely to be facing United’s strongest side, but they showed little ambition in the early stages and invited the hosts to come forward. United willingly obliged, pinning the hosts back in their own half, and testing the West Londoners with a succession of early corners. But it was 15 minutes before they had their first shot of the game as Tevez broke in from the left and fired the ball goalwards only for QPR keeper Radek Cerny to tip the ball around the post. For all the home side’s possession they struggled to break down a resilient QPR side who looked unlikely to test United’s stand-in keeper Tomasz Kuszczak. The few regular first-teamers in the United side were woefully below par with Anderson in particular guilty of gifting possession back to the visitors time and time again. But with extra-time looming, United were gifted a goal when referee Phil Dowd awarded them a 76th-minute penalty. Substitute Welbeck burst into the box and was brought down by QPR defender Ramage to leave the referee little choice. Tevez stepped up and gleefully accepted the opportunity to put the tie effectively to bed. QPR briefly threatened to draw level when Dexter Blackstock, who had toiled as a lone striker all night, dawdled on the ball when presented with a good chance with just over ten minutes to play, before substitute Di Carmine had the ball in the net only to have his celebrations cut short by the lineman’s flag. Nani had a great chance to put a gloss on the scoreline with seconds to play, but Cerny made an excellent save to ensure it remained 1-0.

C M Y K

Ent/Tabloid

The Morung Express

11 PRIME TIME Thursday

13 November 2008

‘What Angelina did was very uncool... but I’m still in touch with Brad,’ reveals Jennifer Aniston

or years, Jennifer Aniston has maintained a dignified silence about the woman who famously stole her husband. Now she has decided to share with the world her utter contempt for Angelina Jolie. In the forthcoming issue of U.S. Vogue, Miss Aniston, 39, gives a searing condemnation of her notorious nemesis. In an outburst that will lift the lid on their four-year feud, Miss Aniston icily described Jolie as 'uncool' for talking about how she fell in love with her husband while they were making a film. But of former husband Pitt she has nothing but admiration and says she still 'deeply, deeply cares about him.' A source said: 'This interview shows that Jennifer is no longer afraid of Angelina,' adding: 'It's hugely significant.' In her first full interview about the break-up of her marriage the former Friends star reveals she had no idea her husband was falling in love with Jolie as they filmed Mr and Mrs Smith in 2005. She said it was only two years ago that she found out the truth when Jolie gave an interview to Vogue magazine about how affair with Pitt began. During that interview, Miss Jolie condescendingly offered to meet with Miss Aniston to hash things out and resolve their feud. 'If she wanted to [meet] then I would be open to it,' she famously told the publication. Until that time Jolie and Pitt had maintained that they fell in love after Pitt split from Aniston after five years of marriage. Aniston said: 'There was stuff printed there that was definitely from a time when I was unaware that it was happening. I felt those details were a little inappropriate to discuss.' According to

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the interview, Aniston shakes her head in disbelief as she adds:'That stuff about how she couldn't wait to get to work every day? That was really uncool.' Her dislike of Jolie,33, is apparent in the full interview as at one stage she asks Jonathan Van Meter, who is interviewing her, to switch off a tape recorder when the 'Tomb Raider star is mentioned. Aniston also says a cartoon in which she is pictured pointing a shotgun at Jolie after the actress suggested they meet was one of the 'funniest things' she had ever seen. On her ex-husband Pitt, Aniston tells U.S. Vogue that they remain close friends. On Pitt she says: 'I have nothing but absolute admiration for him, and I'm proud of him. We have exchanged a few very kind hellos and wishing you wells and sending you love and congratulations on your babies.' On the divorce, Aniston says: 'Well, it never was that bad. I mean, look, it's not like divorce is something that you go, "Oooh, I can't wait to get divorced!" It doesn't feel like a tickle. But I've got to tell you, it's so vague at this point, it's so faraway in my mind, I can't even remember the darkness.I mean, in the end, we really had an amicable split. It wasn't mean and hateful and all of this stuff that they tried to create about Brad can't talk to Jen and Jen can't talk to Brad because this person won't allow it. It just didn't happen. The marriage didn't work out. And pretty soon after we separated, we got on and we had a long, long conversation with each other and said a lot of things, and ever since we've been unbelievably warm and respectful of each other.

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Nicole Kidman’s Baby! ‘We Adore One Another’

Cute: Oprah holds the intimate black and white photo of Nicole sleeping with Sunday

ennifer Aniston has a simple message when it comes to her on-again relationship with John Mayer: "People need to mind their own business," the actress tells Vogue in its December issue. Of course, Aniston, 39, understands why so many people are intrigued by their romance. There's the age difference – Mayer is nine years younger – and the musician's high-profile past relationships with starlets like Jessica Simpson. "Did you ever think Claudia Schiffer and David Copperfield made sense?" Aniston says, jokingly comparing her relationship to equally unexpected celebrity couples. "Did Susan Anton and Dudley Moore make sense? Wait! I got more!" When they met at an Oscar party last February, Aniston says she "barely knew his music." But the two began dating – Aniston flew to England where the rocker was touring – and their relationship developed before the cameras. Did she know it was going to work out at the time? "You know, it isn't designed," Aniston says. "Love just shows up and you go, 'Oh, wow, this is going to be a hayride and a half.' " When talking about Mayer's famous run-in with reporters outside a gym in Manhattan where he said about their split, "I don't want to waste somebody's time if something's not right," Aniston isn't ruffled. "He had to put that out there that he broke up with me," she says, about Mayer's comments. "And especially because it's me. It's not just some girl he’s dating. I get it. We're human. But I feel seriously protective of him and us." Adds Aniston: "It's funny when you hit a

Moore dislikes the more violent Bond

ovie audiences nowadays expect scenes of graphic violence in James Bond movies, unlike when Roger Moore played the super spy with a tonguein-cheek humor, the actor believes. "I am happy to have done it, but I'm sad that it has turned so violent," Moore said before "Quantum of Solace," starring Daniel Craig as a darker Agent 007, opens in North America on Friday. "That's keeping up with the times, it's what cinema-goers seem to want and it's proved by the box-office figures," Moore told Reuters in an interview about his memoir, "My Word is My Bond." The new Bond film opened in London on Oct 31, breaking the weekend box-office record with a gross of $25

million. It has taken in more than $106 million worldwide so far. Moore, 81, recalled being appalled at the violence in "A View to a Kill," the 1985 movie which was the last of the seven in which he played Bond. "That wasn't Bond," he said. In his book, Moore writes of his distaste for guns, ever since he was shot in the leg by a friend with a BB gun as a teenager. While making "The Man With the Golden Gun," director Guy Hamilton wanted Bond to be tougher and had him threaten to break Maud Adams' character's arm to get information, he writes. "That sort of characterisation didn't sit well with me, but Guy was keen to make my Bond a little more ruthless. "I suggested my Bond would have charmed the information out of her by bedding her first. My Bond was a lover and a giggler, but I went along with Guy," the actor wrote. Moore has not yet seen "Quantum of Solace," but based on Craig's first Bond film, "Casino Royale," believes it will be a success in North America too. "Daniel has done one Bond and he was in 'Munich' and ... he's done a lot of stuff, but his face, after one Bond film, that's all he needs. He is Bond." Asked about his own legacy as an actor known mostly for playing Bond and in TV series such as "The Saint," and "The Persuaders," with Tony Curtis, Moore said: "I would love to be remembered as one of the greatest Lears or Hamlets. But as that's not going to happen I'm quite happy I did Bond." His memoir is full of anecdotes about Hollywood and the stars he worked with such as Vivien Leigh, Mae West and Lana Turner. He also tells of his bust-up with Grace Jones during the filming of "A View to a Kill," when he forcibly pulled the plug on her stereo and flung a chair against the wall because she was playing loud rock music. The only child of a south London policeman, Moore also writes about growing up before and during World War Two, of evacuation to the country and air raids and getting -- and being fired from -- his first job with a cartoon film company. By the time he was called up, the war was over, but he served as an officer in Allied occupied Germany, where he ended up in the Army's entertainment regiment. That was his entree into show business, along with his marriage to singer Dorothy Squires. "You're not that good, so smile a lot when you come on!" his first repertory theatre manager told him. His first wife, who was a professional ice skater, was no less encouraging: "You'll never be an actor, your face is too weak, your jaw is too big and your mouth's too small."

Dimapur

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place in a relationship and you both realize [that] we maybe need to do something else, but you still really, really love each other. It's painful. There was no malicious intent. I deeply, deeply care about him; we talk, we adore one another. And that's where it is.” Equally candid about her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, Aniston says she has spoken to him since their divorce, and calls their split "amicable." "The marriage didn't work out," she tells the magazine. "Pretty soon after we separated, we got on the phone and we had a long, long conversation with each other and said a lot of things, and ever since we've been unbelievably warm and respectful of each other." Aniston, who says she's been "unbelievably lucky in love," is also practical about the subject. "Whoever said everything has to be forever," she says. "That's setting your hopes too high. It's too much pressure. And I think if you put that pressure on yourself … that's unattainable." A model presents a creation by Bosnian designer Emina Husedzinovic , during the Sarajevo Fashion Week in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo,late on Tuesday, November 11. (AP Photo)

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17:30 - Betiyann; 18:00 - Kasamh Se; 18:30 - Chhoti Bahu; 19:00 - Vivaah; 19:30 - Parrivaar; 20:00 - Dulhann; 20:30 Maayka; 21:00 - Kasamh Se; 21:30 - Saat Phere; 22:00 - Betiyann; 22:30 - Ranbir Rano; 23:00 - Waaris; 23:30 - Kasamh Se; 23:55 - Ek Nazar; 00:00 - Asian Sky Shop; 00:55 - Exposure; 01:00 - Asian Sky Shop; 02:00 - Khana Khazana; 02:30 - Namaste Cinema; 03:00 - Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009; 03:30 - Kahani Ab Tak; 04:00 - Vivaah; 04:30 - Urja; 05:00 - Ramayan; 05:30 - Narseva NaRayan Seva 06:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 06:30 - Jai Hanuman; 07:00 - Telebrands; 07:30 - Teleshopping; 08:30 Khel; 12:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 12:30 - Aathvaan Vachan; 13:00 - Boogie Woogie; 13:30 - Sujata; 14:00 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 14:30 - Hum Ladkiyan; 15:00 - Aathvaan Vachan; 15:30 Boogie Woogie; 16:00 - Babul Ka Aangann; 16:30 - Sujata; 17:00 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 17:30 Aathvaan Vachan; 18:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 18:30 - Babul Ka Aangann; 19:00 - Jai Hanuman; 19:25 - Idol Hot And Fever Capsule; 19:30 Indian Idol 4; 20:00 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 20:30 - Hum Ladkiyan; 21:00 - Aathvaan Vachan; 21:30 - Babul Ka Aangann; 22:00 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 22:30 - Hum Ladkiyan; 23:00 - Indian Idol 4; 00:00 - Telebrands; 00:30 - Teleshopping; 01:00 - Indian Idol 4; 01:30 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 02:00 - Babul Ka Aangann; 02:30 - Aathvaan Vachan; 03:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 03:30 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 04:00 - Devi; 04:30 - Jai Hanuman; 05:00 - Babul Ka Aangann; 05:30 - Aathvaan Vachan 6:00 - The 4400; 7:00 - Flipping Out; 8:00 Chuck; 9:00 - The 4400; 11:00 - Early Edition; 12:00 - Afterworld; 12:03 - World’s Most Amazing Videos; 1:00 - Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!; 2:00 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles; 3:00 - Sports Disasters 6; 5:00 - Flipping Out; 6:00 - The 4400; 7:00 - Afterworld; 7:03 - Chuck; 8:00 - World’s Most Amazing Videos; 9:00 - Video Zonkers; 10:00 - The Amazing Race Asia; 11:00 - Moonlight; 12:00 - Afterworld; 12:03 Video Zonkers; 1:00 - The Amazing Race Asia; 2:00 - Moonlight; 3:00 - Early Edition; 4:00 - Chuck; 5:00 - Flipping Out 06:00 - Citizen Verdict; 07:30 - Infomercial; 08:00 - Arahan; 10:05 - Submarine X-1; 12:05 - The Groomsemen; 14:15 - When A Man Loves A Woman; 17:00 - Epk; 17:15 - Sweet Home Alabama; 19:40 - Hollywoods 10 Best; 20:10 - Three Men And A Little Lady; 22:30 The Recruit; 01:00 - Sweet Home Alabama; 02:45 - Downfall; 04:15 - Marie And Bruce; 05:20 - Modigliani 06:00 - Madhur Jaffrey’s Flavours Of India; 06:30 - Hairy Biker’s Ride Again; 07:00 - Food Paradise; 08:00 - Travel Spies; 09:00 - Adventures Of The Ladies Tailor; 09:30 - Feast India; 10:00 - Shear Genius; 11:00 - Trading Spaces 4; 12:00 - Street Customs; 13:00 - I Do, Let’s Eat!; 13:30 - Take Home Chef 2; 14:00 - Uttaranchal; 14:30 - Madhur Jaffrey’s Flavours Of India; 15:00 - Monster House; 16:00 - Food Paradise; 17:00 - La Ink; 18:00 - Project Runway 2; 19:00 - Indian Rendezvous; 19:30 - Finest Hotels In The World; 20:00 - The Presidential Tour; 21:00 - In The Lap Of Luxury; 22:00 - Dream Hotels; 22:30 - Feast Bazaar Year 2006; 23:00 - Vegas Vegas; 00:00 - Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations; 01:00 - In The Lap Of Luxury; 02:00 - Travel Spies; 03:00 Take Home Chef 2; 03:30 - Cooking It; 04:00 - Shear Genius; 05:00 Superhomes 2; 05:30 - Amazing Vacation Homes 06:00 - Global Tele Mall; 06:30 - Global Tele Mall; 07:00 - Body And Soul; 07:30 - Tvc Sky Shop; 08:00 - Tvc Sky Shop; 08:30 - Instant Khichdi; 09:00 - Hatim; 10:00 - Shaka Laka Boom Boom; 10:30 - Son Pari ; 11:00 - Mum Tum Aur Hum; 11:30 - Shararat; 12:00 - Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai; 13:00 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Iv; 14:00 - Dill Mill Gayye; 14:30 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 15:00 - Movie; 18:30 - Anu Ki Ho Gayi Wah Bhai Wah; 19:00 - Dill Mill Gayye; 19:30 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 20:00 - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai; 20:30 - Dill Mill Gayye; 21:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 21:30 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge; 22:30 Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai; 23:00 - Dill Mill Gayye; 23:30 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 00:00 - Siddhanth; 01:00 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Iv; 02:30 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 03:00 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Iv; 04:00 - Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai; 05:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum

C M Y K

The

Morung

SPORTS

P 12

Madrid crash out of Copa after thriller Real Madrid have been dumped out of the Copa del Rey on the away goals rule despite a Raúl hat-trick to bring them within four minutes of qualification.

Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez, left, celebrates with Rafael Van der Vaart of the Netherlands, after he scored against 3rd division Real Union during a 4th round, 2nd leg Copa del Rey soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday November 11. (AP Photo)

MADRID, NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): Needing to overturn a 3-2 deficit, Bernd Schuster took no chances with his line-up as he fielded a strong starting XI, especially in attack, with the likes of Raúl, Rafael Van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Royston

dle

Drenthe leading the frontline. The men in white went on the attack immediately but were cruelly exposed at the back as Uníon took a shock lead on 14 minutes. But captain, Raúl, ever the leader, hauled them back into the contest and an

eventually hat-trick, along with a goal from youngster Alberto Bueno, look set to send them on their way to another splendid come from behind win. But a 90th minute goal from Unión striker Eneko Romo stunned the Bernabéu faithful and it proved

to be the crucial away goal that the Segunda B’outfit needed to dump Los Blancos out of the competition. Desperate to get the edge early on, Madrid expected went on the attack straight away. But that meant being exposed at the back and Unión took ad-

vantage of that. The visiting minnows who had three shots on target even before Bernd Schuster’s men could mount a significant attack and they were duly punished in the 14th minute when Salgado failed to clear a deep cross from the right to the back post and Abasolo ghosted in behind him to steer a low shot past Dudek. Unión continue to look threatening and the most likeliest to score again as the host struggled to create any meaningful chances. In fact, they had to wait until the 36th minute before they could breach the backline and fortunately for them, they made it count. Marcelo and Raúl combined to finally unlock the visiting defence and beat goalkeeper Edouard, who had barely been called upon up to this point. But it was the Basque outfit who ended the half stronger, as Salcedo and co. tested Dudek on a few occasions and gave Schuster a long, hard think during the interval on how to alleviate what was starting to become a catastrophic situation. As is so often the case this season, Madrid were caught out again at the start of the second period. Just four minutes in, Salcedo restored Unión’s lead when he latched on to a through ball that split the merengue backline and coolly slotted past a hapless Dudek.

But just like it was against Málaga at the weekend, the capital giants drew levelled 60 seconds later. Sneijder fed Saviola through on goal, who rolled the ball on for Raúl and the captain finished easily to make it 2-2 to bring the aggregate deficit down to just 4-5. It meant that Los Blancos needed two goals – without conceding – to secure their place in the round of 16 and they did exactly just that. Canterano Alberto Bueno came on to replace Drenthe on the hour mark and eight minutes later, he

scored his very first senior goal. Picking up a pass just outside of the penalty area, he spun past his marker and rifled in a fierce drive straight into the corner of the goal, leaving Edouard no chance. With the aggregate score at five apiece, Madrid still needed another goal and Raúl dutifully obliged when he struck four minutes from time to seal his hat-trick. Bueno cleverly dummied a low cross from the right to deceive Edouard and the veteran captain easily tapped the ball into the empty net.

But right at the death, Madrid were given a taste of their own comeback medicine. Substitute Eneko Romo once again took advantage of some slack defending as he towered above Metzelder to thump a header past Dudek. Despite four minutes of injury time, Los Merengues simply could not summon another miraculous fightback as their hopes of Copa del Rey success came to a premature end for another year at the hands of a third division side who outscored them on the away goals rule.

Federer wins, Murray cruises into semis Also on Wednesday, the high-flying Murray mauled eighth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-2 in 1 hour, 33 minutes to move to a perfect 2-0 in the Red Group. Simon (1-1) shocked Federer here on Monday. Murray broke Simon's serve on four occasions on Wednesday, while the overmatched Frenchman settled for only one break in defeat. The Brit is now 3-0 against Simon this year. The red-hot 21-year-old

Murray has won 16 of his last 17 matches overall. On Thursday, secondseeded Serbian Novak Djokovic (2-0) will face sixth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (0-2) and fourth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko (1-1) will tangle with seventhseeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro (1-1) in some Gold Group action. Djokovic beat Tsonga in the Australian Open final way back in January.

Andy Murray of Scotland greets spectators after winning over Gilles Simon of France during the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, China on November 12. (AP Photo)

SHANGHAI, NOVEMBER 12 (AGENCIES): U.S. Open champion Roger Federer and U.S. Open runner-up Andy Murray posted round-robin wins, while former world No. 1 Andy Roddick pulled out of his scheduled match against Federer at the $4.45 million Tennis Masters Cup. Murray qualified for the semifinals with his victory on Wednesday. The top-seeded and twotime defending Masters Cup champion Federer was scheduled to battle the fifthseeded Roddick on Day 4 here, but Roddick (0-1) pulled out of this week's fourplayer Red Group due to an ankle injury. The big-serving American was replaced in the field by 27th-ranked alternate Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic. The 13-time major titlist Federer snuck past the veteran Stepanek 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 on the indoor hardcourt at Qi Zhong Stadium. The C M Y K

Swiss needed 1 hour, 41 minutes to prevail, which he did with the help of three service breaks, compared to two for the Czech loser (0-1). Federer is now 7-2 lifetime against Stepanek, including 3-1 this year. The Czech stunned the Swiss in Rome back in May. The four-time overall Masters Cup titlist Federer is now 1-1 this week and will meet the third-seeded Murray here on Friday with a possible trip to the semifinals at stake for the former top-ranked superstar. It will mark a rematch of September's U.S. Open finale, which was won by Federer. Murray is 3-2 lifetime against Federer, including a 2-1 record this season. The reigning five-time U.S. Open champion Federer beat Spain's David Ferrer in last year's Masters Cup final. The Swiss great is the only former Masters Cup champ in this year's field.

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