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 317

GPRN/NSCN on ‘insincere comments’ DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): The “NSCN/ GPRN” today criticized the NSCN (IM) for what it stated is the “insincere comments” made by the NSCN (IM) recently. Terming the outfit to be “perpetual skeptics”, a note from the “NSCN/ GPRN” publicity cell took note of VS Atem’s opinion as an indication that even top ranking “officials” of the NSCN (IM) are “ignorant” of the “fact” that “Naga people” have “evidently risen above” the “so-called national principle of the IM”. “What VS Atem fail to understand is that the GOI is simply using IM as the bait and the so-called political talks as the medium to frustrate the younger Naga generation to a forced-assimilation into Indian culture, history and politics” the note claimed. In regard to the Khehoi designated camp of the “GPRN/ NSCN”, the outfit asserted that it is “not backed by India in any manner and it harbors no terrorists” and that “designated camps exist simply to facilitate ceasefire mechanism between two entities”. The “GPRN/NSCN” while recognizing that “the support and appreciation of the Naga people to the ongoing Reconciliation process is genuinely visible and most certainly the Government of India must be watching very closely at the wind of change in Nagaland,” cautioned that “amid the thunderous applause, perpetual skeptics, however, continue to indulge in negative assumptions resultant of their stagnant revolutionary stand.”

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Church leaders, representatives of the Naga “political groups” (factions), members of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, factional violence orphans and the ‘United National Choir’ comprising young Naga men and women from the Naga groups circle around the Reconciliation cross for a mass prayer at the end of the Naga Reconciliation Soccer match on November 13 at the Dimapur stadium. All the Naga groups have agreed to reconciliation on the basis of the historical and political rights of the Nagas. On September 25, thirty-two Naga civil society organizations called for the end of all forms of violence between the factions. After ﬁve rounds of talks in Dimapur, the Naga Reconciliation process has now entered into a crucial phase. (Photo/Kazu)

Saturday, November 15, 2008 12 pages Rs. 3 - Chinese Proverb

India On the Moon

BANGALORE, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): India marked its presence on Moon on Friday night to be only the fourth nation to scale this historic milestone after a Moon Impact Probe with the national tricolour painted successfully landed on the lunar surface after being detached from unmanned spacecraft Chandrayaan-1. Joining the US, the erstwhile Soviet Union and the European Union, the 35-kg Moon Impact Probe(MIP) hit the moon exactly at 8.31 PM, about 25 minutes after the probe instrument descended from the satellite in what ISRO described as a “perfect operation”. Miniature Indian flags painted on four sides of the MIP signalled the country’s symbolic entry into moon to coincide with the birth anniversary of the country’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, observed as Children’s Day. “It will signify the entry of India on Moon,” an ISRO official said. The MIP is one of the 11 scientific instruments (payloads) onboard Chandrayaan-1, India’s first unmanned spacecraft mission to Moon launched on October 22 from Sriharikota spaceport. Developed by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre of Thiru-

vananthapuram, the primary objective of MIP is to demonstrate the technologies required for landing a probe at the desired location on the moon. The probe will help qualify some of the technologies related to future soft landing missions. This apart, scientific exploration of the moon at close distance is also intended using MIP. During its 20-minute descent to the moon’s surface, MIP took pictures and transmitted them back to the ground. The first pictures are expected to be made public on Saturday. ISRO officials say Chandrayaan-1 detached the Moon Impact Probe as planned. “The Moon was favourable to us. We have travelled all the way to the Moon. We have given Moon to India,” a relieved ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair told reporters in Bangalore. Former president and rocket scientist APJ Abdul Kalam was by Nair’s side when the country’s top space scientist made the announcement of the moonlanding. US was the first country whose flag adorned the moon and the success of the MIP landing on the earth’s natural satellite is the first hardlanding on the moon in 32 years. continued on page 3

NSACS Naga Idol ﬁnale today ‘Nagas are at the crossroads’

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The six ﬁnalist of NSACS Naga Idol with the prize car. The show culminates today.

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): The grand finale of the NSACS Naga Idol 3.08 will wind up in Mokokchung today, where the winner will drive away in a brand

new car and Rs. 1 Lakh. Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Chumben Murry, will be the chief guest of the music show. The six finalists will be performing with a live band consisting of seasoned musicians from all over Nagaland. Renowned local bands like Squadron, The Front Page News as well as Naga Idol judges Nise Meruno and Roselle Mero will also be performing tonight. The winner of the NSACS Naga Idol 3.08 will drive away with a brand new car and a cash prize of Rs.1, 00,000 to boot. The runners-up will receive a cash prize of Rs.1, 00,000. The other four finalists will also receive Rs. 25, 000 each. “Apart from the family members of the finalists, many wellwishers of the idols and music enthusiasts from all over the state are making a beeline to Mokokchung to witness the show. Taking into consideration all the efforts made so far to ensure that the show is one of a kind and the overwhelming response of the people, Xtratainment Unlimited is confident that for many, the night will be a night to remember for a long time” said a note from the organizers.

ZUNHEBOTO, NOVEMBER 14 (DIPR): Nagas are at the crossroads from all angles – socially, politically, culturally and lest regret should come later, modernization and invasion of foreign culture should not be allowed to do away with the Nagas’ rich cultural heritage said Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio speaking at the Ahuna celebra-

tions of the Sumis at Zunheboto on the 14th. ‘Christianity has come to stay but our culture and festivals must be preserved’ he said citing the Hornbill festival as an instance. He said character and identity are the most important of all social discourses, referring to the Nagas in the present context. ‘Today our society is in such

a situation where no church or underground leader or anyone can solve our perplexing problem. To march ahead, everyone must play their own respective role at this juncture with a clear vision and taking God as our director we must put our effort to take a stand for a peaceful Nagaland’ Rio explained. continued on page 3

History beckons the Nagas

A woman – widowed by factional violence – shakes hands with representatives of the Naga “political groups” (faction) as widows presented white roses to each of the representatives at the start of the Naga Reconciliation Soccer match, held at DDSC, Dimapur on November 13. (Photo/Kazu) Yanchen Yanthan Dimapur | November 14

AS MUCH as the slogan ‘Change we can believe in’ chanted by the democrats at the US presidential elections became a reality, a reality never witnessed in the history of American politics, where the US will now be headed by the first AfroAmerican president. It was a distinct change, a break from the past. America seized the opportunity in making history by choosing Barack Obama to be her president.

It never ceases to amaze us that history is made when nations seize moments in time, most often not knowing that it is going to alter the course of things that is to come. Not many gave the benefit of support to Obama when he announced his desire to run for the US presidential elections. However today history has been made. This would not have been possible had the American public not believed in the dream of a young senator from Illinois, who dared to dream and in the process brought the majority of Americans to rally

behind him. We have a lesson or two to gather from this great American dream. Skepticism has always been the word for many of us, to describe our expectations of any positive outcome from the many efforts made to bring about restoration among the Nagas. Our past has always come to haunt us and the experiential reality of the Nagas over the decades does not hold much to give the next generation a good reason to hope for. However there are reasons enough to give ourselves a

chance to dream yet again. And herein I would like to believe that we are at a critical juncture in history, that we are encountering a decisive moment that can either restore us or break us. Like many, I was cynical and uncertain in the efforts made by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation for healing and restoration of the Nagas’ land. As trivial as a football match may sound in a strife torn struggle that has gone past more than half a century, it is inevitable for eyebrows to be raised, as to what it would achieve when not much could be done in 50 years. Yet in the process, this has created an opportunity for the warring factions and civil society groups to come together which in my opinion would have been a near impossible task taking history into account. I was amused at the use of humor in a local daily right after the reconciliation match held in Kohima. The lighter moments between the erstwhile hostile sides were captured in the form of a comic strip. This only strengthens the fact that humor can be an effective tool and can work wonders in diluting the tension that exists between and amongst different groups. If only we had the privilege of hindsight, would we know what these steps initiated is leading us to. continued on page 3

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Dimapur

LOCAL

Saturday 15 November 2008

‘UGs alone cannot liberate the Nagas’

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio called upon the undergrounds, the public and the civil societies to shun violence and work unitedly for resettlement of the Nagas, with mutual understanding, respecting each other’s sentiments and problems. He was speaking at the inauguration of the newly upgraded SDO Head Quarter of Chen on November 12 and said, “Undergrounds alone cannot liberate the Nagas and the overgrounds alone cannot solved the Naga problems.” He maintained that Nagas are very small tribe with multi sub-tribes was further weaken and divided by the demarcation of International boundaries between India and Myanmar and the Sixteen Point Agreement which was done without the knowledge and concern of

the Nagas. He also expressed to integrate the Nagas politically and religiously under one roof. Expressing serious concern about the Nagas living in Myanmar, he asked the gathering to impart Education and Christianity for upliftment of social economic life of the Nagas in Myanmar. He said that any political party is for the welfare of the people however, at this time when Nagas are fighting for Self-existence, Nagas should not be rule by any other external force but by the Nagas themselves guided by the true Christian principles and moral values. Commenting on up gradation without post creation, he said the experts are at work planning to create posts for the newly upgraded headquarters for which he appealed to the people to extend

CM calls to work unitedly for Naga resettlement

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): Government of Nagaland sponsored a team of MLAs to go out on Foreign Study Tour under the Government’s “Year of Capacity Building” policy for capacity building at various levels. They made the tour under the capacity building scheme of MLAs to go on exposure-cumeducational study tour, for upgrading and updating their knowledge from October 20 to 30, 2008. The team members including Deo Nukhu, Kipili Sangtam, Tarie Zeliang, C.L. John Konyak, L. Temjen Jamir, Nuklutoshi Longkumer and Vikho-o Yhoshü visited the cities of Beijing, Seoul, Hongkong and Bangkok. In Seoul, Rev. Barnabas C.S. Moon of CONA International made all arrangements for showing the team various parts of the traditional and modern Korea. On November 26, they visited the biggest church in the world, Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, where Rev. David Yonggi Cho spoke on “The Lord Says” on Psalm 91:14-16. Team members were welcomed, introduced and much blessed. The team also held elaborate discussions with Rev. Moon on the proposed development projects of CONA International in Nagaland. He explained that the word CONA had been taken from the words “CO” from Corea (actual spelling of Korea in their own language) and “NA”

from Nagaland, for partnership of the people from Corea and Nagaland. CONA International has a highly capable team of MBAs, Architects, Engineers, Musicians, Hospitality and Aviation Specialists. Rev. Moon has taken initiatives to help the 30+ Naga students presently studying in Korea, and has the vision to work for the upliftment of the people and rural economy of Nagaland, and to support Nagas in world missions. In Beijing, the team visited the Great Wall of China and climbed up to the top. They visited Ming tombs, the Jade factory, Silk factory, the traditional Chinese medicine centre and other places. “The infrastructure developments, such as good roads, buildings and facilities with trade and commerce and tourism were all impressive by their achievements,” the team said in a press release. The team went around on Hongkong Island Tour, including Victoria Peak, and various vantage points in the city. The team went for City and Temple Tour of Bangkok. While sharing their experiences on food habit, friendliness and patriotism, the delegation members were kept waiting quite long at both Beijing airport and Hongkong airport by the Chinese authorities, on the ground that they did not look like Indians, the team added in the press release.

co-operation to the concern MLA, the Officers and the Government to provide peace & tranquility for further development in the state. MP (Lok Sabha) Wangyuh Konyak Thanked and congratulated the Chief Minister for up gradation and for showing special concerned for the people of Chen by visiting thrice. Minister for School Education, Nyeiwang Konyak in his address stressed on unity, peace and development and asked the people to extended full co-operation to the Government. Chairman, MARCOFED & DPDB, Mon C.L.John extended his gratitude to the Chief Minister and his Cabinet Colleagues

for up gradation. He also described Rio as ‘Man of words with Action’ Khoiwang, President Konyak Union also appreciated the DAN Government under the leadership of Neiphiu Rio for up gradating three EAC post under Mon District to SDO head quarter within a year. The function was chaired by SDO Civil, Mon Hq Orenthung. EAC, Chen Moatemsu Sangtam tendered with vote of thanks. S. Hongpi Konyak, DPRO, Mon in a release said that both male and female groups from Chen and Myanmar and special numbers by Choknyu Students Union marked the daylong celebration with cultural dance.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio seen with his colleagues during the inauguration of the Angjangyang SDO(C) HQ under Mon district. The CM also inaugurated a new EAC HQ at Chen also in Mon district on November 12, Thursday.

MLAs discuss proposed ‘CONA FAC observes National International’ in Nagaland Education Day

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The Morung Express

MOKOKCHUNG, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): Marking the National Education Day, the Fazal Ali College organized a seminar on communication strategy for Educators in the college Conference Hall on November 11, 2008. Narola Naizo Deptt of English and Dr. Wati Imchen were the main resources person for the seminar. The seminar were moderated by Limatola and recorded by Dr. Abhijit Bora. The Principal Kuholi Chishi open the programme with a brief introduction on the significance of the day and welcomed the participant. She also thanked the participant for making the programme success with a meaningful interaction and warm attendance.

Kyong Musicians Talent Nite Casio Roadshow underway

Y Thungchibemo Kikon, renowned Kyong composer and singer enthralling the crowd with his melodies songs at the IMC in Dimapur, on November 14. (Morung Photo)

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14(MExN): A good number of Kyong artists assembled today here at the Imliyanger Memorial Centre (IMC), to exhibit their potential, which has been dormant or not been acknowledged by the people since many years. It was the Dongphi Chokae Okho who provided these artists with a much needed platform to showcase their talents. The Modern Contemporary Kyong Musicians Talent Nite under the theme, “Be a part of transformation,” included 15 Kyong singers and 7 comedians. The programme which started at 3 pm, witnessed huge crowd including youngsters and elders. The confidence of the artists got better with the presence of Y Patton, Parliamentary Secretary for Irrigation and Flood Control, Mhathung Kithan, Commissioner and Secretary of Transport and Communication, Liremo Lotha, Superintendent of Police, Dimapur and other dignitaries.

Musicians trying a hand out of the pianos at the Casio Road Show at Kohima Our Correspondent Kohima | November 14

A TWO day Casio Road Show displaying a complete range of Casio keyboards and Digital pianos got underway here today at Unitex inc. opposite war cemetery. The road show will continue till tomorrow, November 15. Marking the company to number one position in the country, the company has launched eight new models, and as a promotional gesture, the company is offering flat discount of 5 % for all its range to be valid till the road show period. All music lovers especially Music schools and Music teachers are invited to come and try the products for a first hand experience. The show has been jointly organised by Casio (I) ltd and Unitex inc. For information contact 0370-2241621

Children Day Children Day Special Special

Tribute to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

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

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1st Death Anniversary

Late Motsunthung Ezung

A year has passed since you left us to be with the Lord. We all still hold you dear in our hearts and will forever cherish your memories. Loving Mum, Wife, Son, Daughter, Daughter-in-law, grand-daughter, brothers and sisters, nephews & nieces.

“Because your loving kindness is better than life, our lips shall praise you”. Ps 63:3

Children of Ebenezer Orphanage Home present a puppet show while celebrating children’s day with Amway India Enterprises Pvt Ltd. (Morung Photo)

The ofﬁcials of Airtel Dimapur Ofﬁce along with the children of Wondang-Ki Orphanage and Adoption Centre at Fellowship colony at Dimapur, on Friday. (Morung Photo)

Amway gifts vocational-cum- Airtel Children’s Day for Peace & Smile entertainment zone to Ebenezer DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): With the noble endeavor to make differences in the lives of children and in its continued effort to celebrate Children’s Day in its true spirit, Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Amway India Enterprises Pvt Ltd, unveiled Project Sunrise in Dimapur on November 14 last at the Hall provided by the Town Planning Office. Bickramjit Paul, Area Manager, Northeast, Amway India Enterprises Pvt Ltd. flagged off the Project by presenting a vocational cum entertainment zone to Akum Amri, Founder Director, Ebenezer Orphanage Home (EOH) in presence of the children and AOF representatives. Under the Sunrise Project, AOF focuses to provide quality education, healthcare, safe drinking water for children for a period of three years to start with. This project is part of the global welfare initiative for the less privileged child. AOF will partner Ebenezer Orphanage Home, for a three-year period. Set up by Amway, the vocational cum entertainment zone will be

used by the children of EOH. The vocational cum entertainment zone for the children of EOH set up by Amway, is equipped with computers, printer and video games. Amway has also set up a water purifier and cooler for the children, and is to conduct regular health check ups for the children. AOF and Ebenezer have worked together in the past. Bickramjit also added that Ebenezer is the first orphanage home in Northeast to which the Foundation is getting associated with. Moreover, adding to the celebration on Children’s Day, AOF members spent the day with the children of Ebenezer away from the orphanage at Green Park in Dimapur. All 22 children enjoyed the day with joy rides and lot of fun filled activities and mouthwatering delicacies. As an act of appreciation, the children of EOH presented songs, prayer and dance numbers. Delivering the vote of thanks Akum Amri, Founder Director expressed gratitude to Amway for the bring aid towards the Orphanage and also the Town Planning Office for providing the Hall.

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): Along with rest of the northeastern states of India, the Bharti Airtel Dimapur office celebrated Children’s Day with various events like, drawing and painting competition at its office at ARC, Zhimomi Tele Communication, Hussain building at Circular road, and paid a visit to Wondang-Ki Orphanage and Adoption Centre at Fellowship colony. Under the theme, “Peace for a better tomorrow,” the employees of Airtel pledged to bring ‘Smile’ on the faces of children across India. An official of Airtel while speaking to the children of the Centre said this initiative was adopted to give an everlasting smile on the faces of children. He also maintained that Airtel believes in working for social cause. The Director of the Centre also briefed

the officials of Airtel about the status of the Centre. The judge of the competition was Arony Rengma, lady wife of Colonel S Rengma of Assam Rifles and Training Centre and School (ARTC&S). Sudipto Choudhury, Chief Operating Officer of Bharti Airtel NESA in a press note stated that “Airtel is happy to involve and encourage children across the northeastern region in bringing out their latent talents. Especially in the wake of the recent past events, we hope to bring back the smiles to the faces of our future generation and pledge to shun the path of violence. During this daylong programme, children from underprivileged sections of the community, school students, children of Airtel customers and employees will participate in drawing/painting programmes organized by the company.”

Excitement marks LFHSC Children’s Day

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): In a tribute to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, whose birth anniversary is observed as Children’s Day all over the country, Livingstone Foundation Higher Secondary School Dimapur today brought out joy and laughter with several tickling acts by the Kidzee school teachers; while the senior teachers hummed to a more serious note. Nonetheless, the new avatar of the teachers certainly made the day. Amidst restless Kidzee children’s section and enthusiastic parents’, the school’s

co-administrator, Andrew Ahoto Sumi shared short anecdotes for the determination to work hard, while also sharing the “ten commandments” with parents. Former Minister of Nagaland, Kiyezhe Aye, who graced the occasion as chief guest told students to remember children who are less privileged on this day. He encouraged them to help the downtrodden children in whatever ways possible. On the other hand, Aye also urged students to have focus on their aspiration and work hard with grit and determination

to achieve those goals. Surprises await all of us but that can only be achieved through hard work and discipline, he said. He further told students to make use of opportunities provided by the institution so that they are well equipped and well versed for the future. The former minister exhorted the children by reminding them that “the future belongs top those who dream.” The ceremony also felicitated meritorious students in the field of academics, extra curricular activities and sports.

LOCAL|REGIONAL

The Morung Express

Saturday

15 November 2008

Energy Conservation- a national priority Our Correspondent

State level essay competition marks Energy Conservation Day

Kohima | November 14

OBSERVING ‘ENERGY Conservation Day’, the Nagaland State Designated Agency for Energy Conservation today organized a state level essay-writing competition here at the NSDA office. The award ceremony was held at Hotel Japfü, with Asangla Imti, Under Secretary, Department of Power as chief guest. Altogether 46 students representing different schools in the state took part in the competition. Shisadenla from Jubilee Memorial School, Mokokchung bagged the first prize, while W.Chubamenla Chang of Holy Angel School, Tuensang and Ingauringle of Government High School, Peren were declared second and third position winners. The three winners were awarded cash prizes of Rs.10, 000, Rs 8,000 and Rs.5,000 along with certificates. Ten other students were awarded consolation prizes of Rs.1, 000 each and a certificate of participation was given to all participants. Er.Khose Sale, S.E Power Department, L.Sunep, Lecturer,

Winners of the essay writing competition organized on the occasion of Energy Conservation Day, along with the chief guest at the award ceremony held at Hotel Japfu in Kohima.

Moameren, Lecturer and Kopelo tion. Lauding the active participa- gathering at the award ceremony Krome, Journalist were the judges tion of students in the competition, expressed hope that it will lead to at today’s essay-writing competi- the chief guest while addressing the spreading awareness on the impor-

tance of energy conservation. Stating that Energy Conservation is now a national priority, Asangla said that concrete steps should be taken to conserve energy. “It is not only a state issue or national issue but a global issue because of the limited amount of non-renewable energy sources”, she said. Taking note on the vast consumption of energy in the state (400 million units covering 1.40 lakh households approx) that is putting serious impact and threat to life, she called for a concerted effort towards conserving energy. Earlier, Chief Electrical Inspector, NSDA, Er. K.T Wabang Ao, while delivering his welcome speech said that the main objective of the competition was to propagate the message of Energy Conservation to various public and private sectors in the society. He further requested all the participants to be missionaries in spreading the message of conserving energy. In the programme, the NSDA also distributed various booklets, pamphlets and stickers on energy conservation to the students. Vote of thanks was proposed by U.Mishra, Electrical Inspector, NSDA.

Temjenchila becomes ‘Carry out our tradition towards a greater future’ 6th Chakhesang Youth Conference held Star Kids Voice winner Z Rikhum Yim

Tuensang | November 14

TEMJENCHILA SANGTAM came out as winner of the Star Kids Voice competition, held at the Town Hall Tuensang on November 10 last. The competition was organized by the Freelancer Club of Tuensang, to provide a platform to upcoming tal-

ented children of Tuensang district. Temjenchila pocketed a sum of Rs. 15, 000 along with an acoustic guitar. The other four finalists also received cash prizes along with one acoustic guitar each. YP Chillio Khiam, president of ENSF graced the competition as the chief guest.

State BJP informs DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): The BJP Nagaland state office through a circular by T L Merry general secretary (Admn.) has informed of the inauguration of the BJP Nagaland state office at OC-3, Naga Shopping Arcade, Dimapur,on September 20 last and is now operational for official works. Merry also informed that State BJP office bearers will be regularly available in the office W.E.F. November 17, 2008, with working hours starting from 11:00 am.

Kohima DBDP meeting on Nov 17 KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 14 (DIPR): The monthly Kohima District Planning & Development Board meeting shall be held on November 17 at the Commissioner’s Office, Kohima at 12:30 p.m. Development Commissioner & Additional Chief Secretary, Alemtemshi IAS shall address the meeting through videoconferencing from the NIC State Unit, New Secretariat, Kohima. The meeting shall be held under the chairmanship of Chairman Kohima DPDB, MLA Dr Nicky Kire. All the DPDB members have been requested to attend the meeting positively. The special meeting is a part of the ‘Year of Capacity Building’ activities taken up by the Kohima DPDB.

KMC informs on cancellation of import permits DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): The Kohima Municipal Council has informed that the import permits for perishable items within Kohima city are cancelled with immediate effect. The decision was taken in the interest of the public and to control the exorbitant rise of price in market, said KMC further informing that permit holders for import permit are requested to refund their security deposit. The market will be directly controlled by the committee on Market and Slaughter Houses, KMC until further notice, informed Chairman of KMC.

EAC Dimapur calls coordination meeting DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): The office of the CC Dimapur as informed of a Co-ordination meeting of the EAC Dimapur with all the GB’s of Deputy Commissioner Court/Duncan-Bosti/Ao-Kashiram, Dimapur College and Dillai on November at 11:00 am, in the office Chamber of EAC Dimapur along with the SectorCommander, ABI Gurung ‘B’ Coy 9 NAP (IR) and west police station, ASI N.Nivele Angami. Informing this in a release, EAC Dimapur requested the concerned to make it convenient to attend the meeting positively.

‘Nagas are at the crossroads’ From page 1

Referring to the festivity of the forefathers, the chief minister said they never celebrated festivals by ‘borrowing’ but by ‘earning’. According to Rio “we must learn that our forefathers are hard workers and today we must retrospect where we stand”. He quoted a verse from the Bible “thou shall eat by the sweat of thy brow”. Also, referring to the replacement of the Ashoka Chakra by a ‘Mithun’ as the official logo for Nagaland State, Rio said it was to demonstrate the Naga identity, work culture, uniqueness and unity. The logo is historical, significant and dignified, he said. He wished God’s blessing on the Sumi Nagas. The programme was organized by Concerned Citizens Forum of Zunheboto.

PHEK, NOVEMBER 14 (DIPR): Minister for Urban Development and Higher Education Shurhozelie Liezietsu unfurled the ceremonial flag of the 6th Chakhesang Youth Conference as the chief guest held at Town Hall Phek on November 11-12 with the theme ‘Cherishing Youth in Nature.’ Addressing the huge gathering of youth from all Chakhesang villages, he said we are a people of well-defined culture and we should know our roots and origin. He said one of the common practices of our people have been the practice of cultivating ‘so well developed terrace field’ almost to the point of perfection and democratic government by tradition with high standard from time im-

ments’ policy of city development plan and briefed the people on how government is working towards building well plan cities and towns for installing better community development plan. The cultural exposition was followed by youth day feast. Minister for Health & Family Welfare Kuzholuzo Nienu the father of the feast also spoke on the occasion. He expressed his thankfulness to the chief guest Shürhozelie who is also the President of NPF Nagaland for his love and concern for the people of Chakhesang and to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his cabinet colleagues for their concern towards the upliftment of the people of Phek

Nagaland at the Inernatinal Trade fair

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): The India International Trade Fair 2008 was today inaugurated by M. Hamid. Ansari. Vice president of India at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Union Minister of commerce, GOI, Kamal Nath presided over the inaugural session. Special focus at this year’s trade fair is on Infrastructure and women empowerment. Kuolie Mere, PRO, Nagaland House, Delhi informed that the state pavilion of Nagaland is headed

by the state women development Department along with Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), and Nagaland Bio Resource Mission (NBRM)and Horticulture Department. The main attraction at the state pavilion this year is the high quality natural honey brought forth by the NBHM, with the ready to sell products. This is expected to attract huge buyers and investors in a large way. The other attraction is the high value

medicinal plants displayed by the NBRM. Some of the plants exhibited are one of the rarest species found only in the state, the note informed. Besides, the women department is showcasing products of the self help groups from the state, including agricultural produce like Naga chilli, passion fruit, cardamom and pineapples. The annual India International trade fair is expected to draw in a lot of attention as the Trade fair progresses.

India On the Moon

THSS informs on Golden Jubilee

The spacecraft on Thursday reached its final orbital home, about 100 km over the moon surface after ISRO scientists successfully carried out the last critical orbit lowering operation. The MIP consists of a C-band Radar Altimeter for continuous measurement of altitude of the probe, a video imaging system for acquiring images of the surface of moon from the descending probe and a mass spectrometer for measuring the constituents of extremely thin lunar atmosphere during its 20-minute descent to the lunar surface. The MIP withstood the impact of a hardlanding after it hit the lunar surface. From the op-

MOKOKCHUNG, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): Town Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung (erstwhile English K. G. School), will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee in April 2009. All the esteemed alumni are especially requested to attend this grand occasion positively. Principal THSS in a release informed that, in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee, the organizing Committee is also bringing out a magazine (Souvenir), so any alumni wishing to contribute articles, messages and wishes will be appreciated. For further information contact: 0369 – 2226442, 9436647076.

From page 1

Resource Centre gets new building DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): A centre for spiritual and vocational training for over a decade, Resource Centre, located at Darogapathar inaugurated the new administrative and training complex on November 13. Resource Centre has played a pivotal role in working with women, children and providing sustainable livelihood to the underprivileged. The new building was inaugurated by Minster for Health & Family Welfare, Kuzholuzo Nienu. Apprising the guests and well wishers present, an overview of Resource Centre by Dr. Adela Mero highlighted the areas in which the centre is engaged. Dr. Mero said that the areas of focus are on family counseling, pre-marital/ post-marital counseling, publication of Sunday

memorial. But sadly he said with the advent of modern society many social evils and practices have crept in to corrupt our society. So he called upon the youth of Chakhesang to carryout our tradition towards a greater future and he called upon the people saying ‘lets all work together for peace and unity inculcating a strong social fabric of trust and worthiness without prejudice with the essence of love and honesty – true to our God given nature for a well developed Nagaland as envisaged for our people’. He said education is not only meant for getting government job but also to develop our individual potentialities. He announced the govern-

school curriculum, etc. Thorough the Sunday school curriculum, Resource Centre has been able to reach out as many as twenty five children. Sr. Mero also informed that Sunday school materials are published and translated into five different vernacular languages. The centre also provides vocational training for craft and toy making to school drop- outs in order to provide them an alternate means of sustainable livelihood. Resource Centre pays special attention to children to bring them up through the word of God, Dr. Mero said. Sponsored by the State Social Welfare School, Resource Centre monitors primary schools around the area. Meanwhile, the new building is purposed to provide camping and counseling facilities.

erational circular orbit of about 100 km height passing over the polar regions of the moon, it is intended to conduct chemical, mineralogical and photo geological mapping of the moon with Chandrayaan-1’s 11 scientific instruments (payloads). After the successful release of MIP, the other scientific instruments would be turned on sequentially leading to the normal phase of the two-year mission. Buoyed by the success of its maiden lunar mission, India had said it will send a second unmanned spacecraft to the moon by 2012. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the second spacecraft would also place a probe on the moon’s surface.

IN THE COURT OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DIMAPUR No.M-931/08/7437-38

District: Nagaland Notice

Dt.Dimapur the 14th Nov. 2008

Notice is hereby given that Shri Jona Tep Vrs Thapi Semy resident of Dimapur under rules 50-51-52 Assam Land Revenue Regulation Act 1886 applied/claims/ objections concerning to the said land or any should be submitted to his/her court in written on or before 14.12.08. Schedule of Land and Boundary: Name of the patta holder: Jona Tep Village/Block No: Pudampukhuri Patta No: 17, Dag No: 293, Area: 04-00-00 ls

Sd/- Deputy Commission: Dimapur

IN THE COURT OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DIMAPUR No.M-922/08/7135-36

District: Nagaland Notice

Dt.Dimapur the 10th Nov. 2008

Notice is hereby given that Shri Suren Hasnu Vrs Khonbi Jemu resident of Dimapur under rules 50-51-52 Assam Land Revenue Regulation Act 1886 applied/ claims/objections concerning to the said land or any should be submitted to his/her court in written on or before 7.12.08. Schedule of Land and Boundary: Name of the patta holder: Suren Hasnu Village/Block No: Bamunpukhuri-1 Patta No: 219, Dag No: 304, Area: 05-00-00 ls

Sd/- Deputy Commission: Dimapur

EASTERN THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE JORHAT, ASSAM

Presents

FULLY ALIVE An Evening of Gospel Music

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

district. The function was chaired by CYF Advisor Thepuphi Kapuh, CPO President Yesone Veyie and also President of CSU. Opening prayer was pronounced by Kevengoyi Sakha Pastor Lozaphühü Baptist Church. Indigenous songs were presented by Mütsale village youth society and Mesulumi village youth. Act of blessing for the new office bearers was pronounced by PTBC Associate Pastor Thepuchyi Khesoh. The declaration of youth resolution was read out by the resolution committee convenor, closing remark by chairman and the benediction was pronounced by Dukhuyi Vadeo Ketsapo Baptist Church. A grand cultural exhibition from different villages followed a grand feast.

Lost and Found An ATM card belonging to a Mhasikhou Metha with the card’s account activation valid from April 2008 has been found. The person in concern has been requested to produce relevant documentary proof of ownership and acquire the said card from the head office of The Morung Express, at Duncan Basti, Dimapur.

Dimapur

STARTING LINE-UP

Your daily Meetings, Appointments, Information and Reminder column

PTMK general assembly 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. KSUK to meet November 15

The Konyak Students’ Union Kohima will hold an emergency meeting, for the forthcoming silver jubilee celebration, on November 15 at 10:30 a.m. at Union Mission Place, at PR Hill, Kohima. All ofﬁce bearers, silver jubilee committee members and CRs from all the institutions have been directed to attend the meeting positively. ENPO Diphupar Area social work November 15

The General of Eastern Nagaland Peoples Union Diphupar Area will hold a social work in Diphupar ‘A’ Naga Cemetary on November 15. All members residing within the jurisdiction are requested to participate and bring along ‘dao’, spade and gather in the cemetery by 6:00am without fail. KLOU GM November 17

The general meeting of the Kohima Lotha Ofﬁcers’ Union (KLOU) will be held on November 17 next at the conference hall of Hotel Japfü at 3:00 pm, with Minister for Agriculture Dr. Chumben Murry as the chief guest. C Mozhui, president of KLOU, has informed all members to attend the meeting posi-

3 persons arrested DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): The Excise Narcotic cell enforcement staff, based on a tip off, arrested one Niamuddin from Railway Station, Dimapur for illegal possession and trafficking of 1584 capsules of Spasmo proxyvon. The team was led by Benjong AIE I/c included Thathang AIE, Chingmak H/c, Khriesizo, Senka, Khetoshe, Bendang, Anglong, Nkhyingsao and Phongtin. The Excise Narcotic cell enforcement staff also in two other separate cases arrested Lulun Kuki on November 12 and Isak Jamir on November 14 for illegal possession of 144 capsules of spasmo proxyvon and 50 tablets of relipen. The excise team was led by I/C Tokuho AIR and Benjong AIE. The arrested persons have been remanded to judicial custody booked under the relevant section o D&C Act 1940.

History beckons the Nagas

From page 1

Today civil society and various warring groups are provided with a little window of hope towards restoration through the platform provided by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. Martin Luther said, “I have a dream.” It is one thing to have a dream and another for that dream to be envisioned by the masses. It was the dream of Barack Obama to run for the presidential elections but the vision of the dream had to be caught by the majority of the Americans to bring it to reality. The American majority gave their verdict. Given this little window of hope towards reconciliation and restoration much

will be determined by how civil society and the warring groups seize this opportunity. As for the general masses it is pertinent to keep on believing that reconciliation, healing and restoration will be a reality and therefore render support to the process. I cannot but only agree more with what Rev. Dr. Wati. Aier convener of Forum for Naga Reconciliation at the DDSC stadium said that this is “the moment in our history in which a new order is being born.” History will judge us and will let us know if we have seized this momentous opportunity to become history makers in the true sense.

CHRISTIAN HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL: DIMAPUR 2009 ADMISSION NOTICE

Date of Issue of Admission Forms Last Date of Issue Last Date of Submission Entrance Exam/Interview Date N.B: 1. 2. 3.

: : : :

17th November 2008 25th November 2008 26th November 2008 6th December 2008

Seats available for Class A Limited seats available on basis of vacancy for the following classes B,1,3,5,6,&7 No vacancy for classes 2 & 4 G. Haralu Vice-President Christian Hr.Sec.School, Dimapur

Do Visit Us At

The Special Handloom Expo At Local Ground Zunheboto Town For 15 Days W.E.F 12th November 2008. Enjoy The Handloom Colours Of North East. Organised By: Nagaland Handloom& Handicraft Development Corporation Ltd. Kuda Village, Dimapur, Nagaland. Sponsored By: Office Of The Development Commissioner For Handloom, Govt. Of India, Ministry Of Textiles, New Delhi.

C M Y K

Dimapur

Saturday

The Morung Express PUBLIC DISCOURSE |BUSINESS GPRN/NSCN on insincere comments

15 November 2008

Richest Indian tech czars

Anil Ambani Anil Ambani heads Reliance Communiactions which is one of the India's largest information and communication services company with over 50 million subscribers. Anil got RCom after he and brother Mukesh Ambani split the Reliance Group in 2005 in a deal brokered by their mother breaking the family's assets. Anil's plans to merge his Reliance Communications with South Africa's MTN in what would have been India's largest-ever overseas deal were scuttled in July after brother Mukesh threatened to sue, claiming he had right of ﬁrst refusal. The company's stock has fallen by almost 48 per cent since. In the last quarter, RCom saw 23.3 per cent rise in revenue to Rs 5,645 crore. Anil recently said that the company's GSM rollout (in remaining 14 circles) is on schedule and despite the liquidity crunch in the ﬁnancial markets; the funding requirement is fully in place. A marathon runner, early 2008 he raised $3 billion from the IPO of his Reliance Power, the biggest in India's history.

The global financial crisis has severely affected the Indian IT industry. With the industry's biggest market (US) and largest vertical (BFSI) badly hit, the industry is facing tough times. However, despite the economic downturn, Indian IT honchos have been able to keep their places in the Forbes' Richest Indians list. While the list has seen a few changes with some new names entering and some falling out, the six tech czars have largely kept their places intact (barring some minor changes). However, like all others, these technology CEOs too have witnessed huge erosion in their net worth visa-vis the year 2007. According to Forbes, the wealthiest Indians are worth 60 per cent less than a year ago. Here are the richest tech czars of India Inc.

The support and appreciation of the Naga people to the ongoing Reconciliation process is genuinely visible and most certainly the Government of India must be watching very closely at the wind of change in Nagaland. Amid the thunderous applause, perpetual skeptics, however, continue to indulge in negative assumptions resultant of their stagnant revolutionary stand. V S Atem’s opinion which appeared in the local dailies on 12th Nov. 2008 is an indication that even top ranking officials at Hebron are ignorant of the fact that Naga people have evidently risen above the so called national principle of the IM. GOI has all the dirty instruments at its disposal to sow the seeds of enmity among the Nagas, yet to accuse and put GPRN/NSCN at the mercy of IB and RAW is very unfortunate. Whether or not the Sumi Hoho takes excommunication orders from notorious IB and RAW is for the Hoho to answer. If V S Atem thinks that the Churches in Nagaland have given space to IB and RAW to operate, it is likely that very soon Hebron camp is preparing to initiate a new accusation against the church. What V S Atem fail

to understand is that the GOI is simply using IM as the bait and the so-called political talks as the medium to frustrate the younger Naga generation to a forced-assimilation into Indian culture, history and politics. It is highly regrettable that V S Atem has failed to grasp the practical reality of the Nagas towards the struggle. Accusing GPRN/NSCN of terrorism by men who initiates terrorist activities in Nagaland is uncalled for. In the name of National principle how many distinguished Naga men and women have been murdered in decades? V S Atem must know that Nagas can forgive but also possess decent memory too. He should look deep within and reconcile with the fact that solution to the IndoNaga Political problem shall remain a mere wish until the Nagas come together. History is clear; a splinter group cannot represent entire Nagas. A reconciled and united Nagas is the only hope. If V.S Atem believes GOI is insincere to IM, Nagas know that IM is insincere to Nagas and insincerity is growing each day. On the day of the reconciliation football match on 13th Nov. IM boys raided the residence of

Tokheho, U/secy, and GPRN/NSCN at Diphupar B Village at 5:30 in the morning, with a clear indication to harm the official, plenty of questions were sought from the family members, fortunately he was not at home. This is another abominable action on the part of IM cadres. Is the military above the civil administration at Hebron camp? Khehoi designated Camp of the GPRN/NSCN is not backed by India in any manner and it harbors no terrorists. Designated camps exist simply to facilitate ceasefire mechanism between two entities. Many groups are trained at Hebron camp and Atem is simply parroting GOI by calling those he trained as terrorists. This is again dirty politics. GPRN/NSCN shares its solidarity with all struggling people across the globe that possesses historical and political right and shall continue to do so. At this juncture, GPRN/NSCN, with the rest of the Nagas, would sincerely prefer to look to the future with hope, a hope that heals as well as replenishes. PUBLICITY CELL GPRN/NSCN.

Global crisis to hit India economy more in 2009 - WEF NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 14 (REUTERS): The global downturn will pressurise the Indian economy more next year and the government has to speed up reforms and boost investment to sustain high growth rates, a report said on Friday. The report jointly prepared by World Economic Forum and Confederation of Indian Industry also said India could see a sharp outflow of capital, and a fall in share and asset prices due to the global financial crisis. The report was released ahead of the annual India Economic Summit starting

Nov. 16 in New Delhi, where top government officials are expected to interact with heads of global firms. “India’s dependence on capital flows to finance its current account deficit is a macroeconomic risk and the global crisis could generate a sharp increase in capital outflows and a reduction in the availability of finance,” it said. “Clearly, the global economic picture will be harsher next year and there will be greater pressures on Indian economy.” The global credit crisis has rattled Indian markets as foreign investors sold shares worth more than

$12.5 billion so far this year while the rupee fell by more than 20 percent. “It (global crisis) could also weaken the balance sheets of the financial institutions, cause a further fall in share and asset prices, and challenge the macroeconomic situation due to shrinking global growth,” WEF said. Indian policymakers expect a moderation in economic growth to less than 8 percent in the year to March 2009, compared with 9 percent recorded in 2007/08 fiscal year. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cautioned that the global fi-

nancial crisis could be more severe and prolonged, and the government would take all necessary steps -- monetary and fiscal -- to protect growth. “A tighter environment may also help speed reforms and encourage greater efficiency,” WEF said, adding a great deal of political will and dialogue with different stakeholders would be required to take reforms forward. “...India’s growth is still strong relative to other economies and its growth story will continue to be one that will unfold over decades rather than years,” it added.

Haryana minister is country’s richest woman WB should help India, CHANDIGARH, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): A low-profile minister in the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in Haryana has emerged says Chidambaram as the richest woman in the country. Savitri Jindal, 58, who is the chair-

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Azim Premji Wipro Group chairman Azim Premji ranks seventh on the Forbes list with a net worth of $7 billion.Agraduate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, US, Premji took on the mantle of leadership at Wipro at the age of 21, after the sudden demise of his father in 1966. Under his leadership, the fledgling $ 2 million hydrogenated cooking fat company has grown to a $1.76 billion IT Services organisation serving customers across the globe. This year Wipro acquired outsourcing firm Infocrossing; bought Southeast Asian personal care products outfit Unza; opened software development center in Mexico. Son Rishad, Harvard Business School graduate, joined Wipro in July last year, setting buzz about a succession plan. As IT companies scramble to cope with the economic downturn, Wipro is among the two Indian software exporters that have shown significant revenue growth during the last few quarters. Also called `Penny-Pinching Billionaire' by Wall Street Journal, Premji reportedly drove a Ford Escort for eight years before trading it in for a new Toyota Corolla. He is known to usually walk to work from his nearby home. Paper plates were said to have been used at a luncheon in honor of his son Rishad's wedding a few years ago.

Sunil Mittal Telecom czar Sunil Mittal ranks fourth with net worth of $7.9 billion. Mittal was also recently named among the 10 most influential telecom leaders in the world. Sunil recently said that the business conglomerate was aiming at $10 billion revenue by 2010. Apart from further expanding its flagship company and leading mobile operator, Bharti Airtel, which now contributes over 80 per cent to the group's revenue, the focus will be on its other ventures such as retail, agri-business and financial services. In May Bharti made a failed bid to acquire South African telco MTN. Urging the Government to actively provide support to the telecom sector and cut levies, Sunil recently said that the telecom companies were going to remote places and building telecom infrastructure. Sunil started his career at a young age of 18 after graduating from Punjab University and founded Bharti, with a modest capital, in the year 1976. Today, he heads a successful enterprise, among the top five in India, with a market capitalisation of over $ 35 billion employing over 30,000 people. Bharti has grown successfully in partnership with various leading companies of the world - Singapore Telecom, Vodafone, Warburg Pincus, British Telecom to name a few.

DAILY CROSS WORD

LEISURE W

D S

person of the Jindal Group, has been named as the richest woman in India in the latest Forbes list of richest Indians. Jindal is minister of state in the Hooda government looking after revenue, disaster management, consolidation, and rehabilitation and housing ministries. According to Forbes, Savitri Jindal has a net worth of US$2.9 billion, and is ranked 12th overall among the top-40 richest Indians who include the likes of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, expatriate steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, Reliance-ADAG chairman Anil Ambani and realty baron KP Singh. Jindal’s net worth, according to Forbes, came down from $8.5 billion in 2007 to 2.9 billion, mainly owing to the global financial meltdown. Last year, she was ranked 11th. The only other woman to figure in the list is Times of India Group’s chairperson Indu Jain (17th). Jindal is the mother of Congress member of parliament from Kurukshetra and industrialist Navin Jindal. She has three more sons and five daughters. Her late husband, OP Jindal, had set up the Jindal empire from Hisar town in Haryana nearly four decades ago. OP Jindal, who himself was a cabinet minister in the Hooda government, died when his private helicopter crashed near Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh Mar 31, 2005. His cabinet colleague Surender Singh, son of former Haryana chief minister and union defence minister Bansi Lal, was also killed in the crash. The Rs 1,500 billion Jindal group has interests in the iron, steel and power sectors. The group has nearly 50 plants in India and abroad, including South American countries like Chile, Bolivia and Peru. Savitri Jindal was inducted as a minister of state with independent charge in the Hooda government just weeks after her husband died. She contested the Hisar assembly seat, earlier represented by her husband, in the 2005 by-election and won it by a huge margin. The Jindal family mainly operates from Hisar, 300 km from Chandigarh. The family runs a well known school, Vidya Devi Jindal School, in the town.

FRANKFURT, NOVEMBER 14 (CNN-IBN): Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said that the World Bank should enhance assistance to India to help tide over the fallout of the global financial crisis on his way to the G-20 summit in Washington. ‘’The World Bank can step up lending to India from the present level of three billion dollars a year for Central and State projects and programmes. It is very important that the few countries that are able to drive economic growth and other countries which are put on the bandwagon of development, should not suffer in the period during which we grapple with the world crisis. Resources must be made available to developing countries, including India, so that they can continue to grow,: Chidambaram said. Chidambaram and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a brief stop in Frankfurt, on their way to Washington where the Finance Minister made the appeal. World leaders are meeting in the Washington to discuss ways to tackle the global financial meltdown. Manmohan Singh is likely to demand a bigger say for India in financial bodies such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He is also likely to express India’s desire to cooperate with China, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil with regard to monetary and fiscal policies.

A S T P H V L P P T J MG I V U Y S GD CQA E RU T I C C B U Z KHL P V CM MU D B K O W M N T O P T T M E A R T G

CROSSWORD # 1153

SUDOKU

The Morung Express number game

Sudoku # 1136

HT I S A C A M P F I R E T DWK NW S HFWO G S A I E GMN B I D O E Z R Q

K B OMN T K J WO R R OMO T V E I M

A H R R I R R E EWN G U E A E F Y YW OZH E K E P Z T F S I N B T NME A O

C I DH I T T G R T I V LWA N L E DT

UH R T H G I L H S A L F HH I H C N C

A U K HWU P O U I AWG R H S T D UW

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

CAR MODEL

PRICE

SPARK 1.0 BASE

268,648

SPARK 1.0 PS

289,992

G N I MM I W S T R A I G H T M NW R G

SPARK 1.0 LS

304,641

A S ZMO I A K X VWE L DDA P I Z O

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

T TK C A P K C A B I NO CU L A R S S AHDN A L G N E Y F R C I A D B V K Y

Y R T P R B A TH I NG S U I T I I NR XMN G N L O Z U P N H E O N A C P N K Y T T C I OKO F OO T AN P F N T B G F WW S N N R G T R G B X Y V H I F K B KQKWG D Q P T S Y U Y L R U C E L L

BACKPACK BAIT BASEBALLBAT BASKET BATHINGSUIT BINOCULARS BLOND BOOTS CAMPFIRE CAMPING CANOE CHILE CURLY ENGLAND FLASHLIGHT

HIKING LIFEJACKET MITT MORNING PADDLE PICNIC SHORT STRAIGHT SUNDAY SWIMMING TENNIS TENT THERMOS TOMORROW TOWEL

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 #1135

ACROSS 1. Predicted (10) 8. Loss of memory (7) 9. Hangman’s knot (5) 10. Actor, - - - Nolte (4) 11. Abominable Snowman (4) 12 Thus far (3) 14.. Sheep’s coat (6) 15. Singer [anag] (6) 18. Taxi (3) 20. Prowl (4) 21. Rotisserie (4) Group of nine (5) 24. Character in The Wombles (7) 25. Large draught animal (5,5)

DOWN 1. Flair; style (7) 2. Hop-drying kiln (4) 3. Labour defence secretary in 1964 (6) 4. Lookout (8) 5. Type of adhesive resin (5) 6. Splendid (11) 7. Joumey’s end (11) 13. Rodin and Epstein, perhaps! (8) 16. Beg (7) 17. Item of jeweJlery (6) 19. Backless seat.(5) 22. Jetty (4)

Answers to CROSSWORD #1152 Across: 1. Mumps, 7. Notional, 8. Sahib, 10. Dirty Harry, 12. Caffeine, 14. Feed, 16. Beet, 17. Alsatian, 20. Interested, 23. Sauce, 24. Devoured, 25. Delay. Down: 1. Mosaic, 2. Paid,3. Moal, 4. Right, 5. Energetic, 6. Played, 9. Bizet, 11. Effective, 13. Nill, 15. Games, 16. Blinds, 18. Ninety, 19. Group, 21. Seed, 22. Dace.

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) 48.03 71.43 5.34 481.99 12.17 29.83 134.40 12.31 61.37

SELL(Rs) 50.65 75.50 7.34 534.24 15.12 34.98 145.90 14.43 64.71

REGIONAL

The Morung Express

Saturday 15 November 2008

Dimapur

India-Bhutan rebel link ‘exposed’ By Subir Bhaumik

Calcutta \ BBC News

SEPARATIST REBELS from India's north-eastern state of Assam have developed links with dissidents from Bhutan, Indian officials have told the BBC. The Assam police are questioning a Bhutanese dissident leader for his alleged involvement in October's blasts in Assam that killed 84 people. Tenzing Zangpo belongs to the Druk National Congress that is opposed to Bhutan's ruling regime. Police say he has spoken of "close links" with rebels in Assam. Investigators told the BBC that Mr Zangpo said his group also had links with the fledgling Maoist movement in Bhutan. "India and Bhutan together want to destroy us, so we have to come closer

for survival," senior Assam police officials quoted Mr Zangpo as telling them. For more than a decade, Bhutanese dissident groups, specially those representing the Bhutanese refugees of Nepali origin, have tried to secure Indian support for their plans to march back to the kingdom through Indian territory. But as Delhi used tough police action to prevent the marches, the Bhutanese dissidents turned to India's enemies, Mr Zangpo is said to have told the Assam police. The separatist United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)- the former fighting for Assam's independence and the latter for an independent homeland for Bodo tribes people - had more than 30 bases in south-

Surrendered militants threaten fast unto death

AGARTALA, NOVEMBER 14 (UNI): The surrendered extremists of the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura’s (NLFT) Biswamohan faction have threatened to resort to fast unto death stir until the state government withdraws all pending cases against them. In a letter to Chief Minister Manik Sarkar yesterday, 43 NLFT returnees, who have been undergoing vocational training under Central government schemes at Lachi in South Tripura, said despite repeated pleas and subsequent assurance from government, the pending cases had not yet been withdrawn. “A large number of cases of murder, kidnapping and extortion are still pending against us in different courts in the state, which has become a cause of great anguish to us. Though the state government

has assured us to withdraw all cases, except murder, against the surrendered extremists, nothing has been done so far,” the letter underlined. The letter also pointed out that Special Branch (SB) authorities had advised them to collect all the case details from each of the police stations, but could not do so since they had been undergoing training. The returnees have issued ultimatum to the state government and sent a copy to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil as well as Tripura Governor D N Sahaya in this regard and said the date of agitation would be announced on November 25. Meanwhile, the vocational trainees/returnees, who have been undergoing training at Love Story Vocational Training Centre, have decided to launch hunger strike soon for the same demand.

ern Bhutan. The bases were demolished by Bhutan's royal army during an operation in December 2004. "Until then, the Assam separatists kept a safe distance from the Bhutanese dissident groups, who campaigned in India against the royal government's human rights abuses. But the equations changed after the Bhutanese military action," Mr Zangpo said, according to the Assam police. Police say he told them that the NDFB and the Ulfa train the Bhutanese Maoists and the Druk National Congress activists in bomb-making. He is also reported to have said that the Druk National Congress had set up some bases together with the Assam separatists in southern Bhutan again. Southern Bhutan has

been rocked by a spate of lowintensity explosions in recent months. Several people have died in these explosions. The Bhutanese Maoist party is made up mostly of "Bhupalis" (Nepali-speaking Bhutanese) who were chased away from the kingdom in the early 1990s. They received initial training from the Nepali Maoists before the latter decided to return to parliamentary politics by giving up their armed movement. "But now they depend on the Assam separatists for training in weapons and especially in bomb making," Assam police say Mr Zangpo said. According to police accounts of the questioning of Mr Zangpo, he also said Assam separatist groups had been bringing in explosives from Bangladesh through India's thin "north Bengal

corridor" and stocking them up in the clandestine bases in southern Bhutan. "The bombs that devastated Assam on 30 October were assembled in these small south Bhutan bases and brought into Assam across an open border," Mr Zangpo told the police after his arrest in Assam, they say. They were stray intelligence reports about the Assam separatists reviving their bases in recent months. But neither India's federal government nor the state government of Assam paid much heed to them. "A complacency had developed. Nobody believed south Bhutan could be used again by these rebels after such a comprehensive military operation in 2004. But one must realise that was a long time back," said a senior Assam police official.

School students holds a placard as celebrations of National Children’s Day in Agartala, Tripura on November 14. Street children like these often have a tough childhood in India’s ﬁnancial capital, deprived of basic education, housing and medical facilities. India, which celebrates Children’s day on November 14 each year, is estimated to be home to the second largest child population globally. (UB PHOTOS)

‘Mizoram government cheated us’ BJP sews up alliance with AGP

MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): The Mizoram government has been accused of cheating and breach of trust by a citybased technology firm for not paying the first instalment towards a satellite imagery and geographic information system project it had undertaken. On November 3, the MIDC police registered an FIR naming the Mizoram government as accused for not paying Rs 5.62 crore for the project’s first phase. Deputy commissioner of police (zone X) KMM Prasanna confirmed the case. He said, “It is too early to comment anything as investigations are on.’’ He said the FIR will be transferred to the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai crime branch for further investigation. According to the police, Rolta India Limited, lo-

cated at MIDC-Marol, had undertaken the project in 2004. The total cost of the project is Rs 14 crore. Police said that in August 2008, the company demanded that the government of Mizoram to make part payment against the completed portion of the work. The government replied that it had made the payment to Bijoy Roy, assistant vice-president at the company’s regional office in Kolkata on October 1. The payment was to be made in three phases as the work progressed. Rolta India’s sales head (India), S G Mukund said in the police complaint that the company in its letter of August 6, addressed to the government, informed about the completion of work and sought payment for speedy completion of the remaining work. According to Mukund’s

statement, joint director (survey) land revenue & director settlement (government of Mizoram) S Rolianthanga said the payment would be made by September 15. After the government failed to pay on the said date, the company sent another letter, Mukund said. On October 3, in another letter, the Mizoram government insisted that payment was made and Roy had issued receipts for the same. Roy, however, denied receiving any payment. Hiten Walia, who looks after the company’s sales in Mumbai, told TOI, “He is unaware of the matter as it was being dealt by Mukund.’’ A police officer said, “We have asked the company to submit the contract letters to study the mode of payment that was supposed to be done as per the contract,’’ the officer said.

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): After renewing its alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are working on finalising common electoral agenda with the Ajit Singhled Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh for the coming Lok Sabha election. Party’s senior leaders Jaswant Singh and Sushma Swaraj, who had been camping in Guwahati for three days, have finally clinched an electoral tie-up with the Chandra Mohan Patwari-led AGP, which, like the BJP, has two legislators in the Assam Assembly. A joint communiqué from leaders of the two parties through the BJP headquarters here said that they had “unanimously decided to work together in the Lok Sabha election to free Assam from the tyranny of the Congress misrule”.

The statement said that “the BJP and AGP will work together for permanent solution of basic issues of Assam, like implementation of the Assam Accord, sealing of the India-Bangladesh border, issuing photo identity cards after updating the NRC, permanent solution to flood and erosion problems by declaring them as national problems, restoration of peace in Assam through meaningful political dialogue with militant outfits, and granting ST status to six deserving communities of Assam as recommended by the Assam Assembly”. The AGP leaders had agreed to re-join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) during their meeting with BJP leader L K Advani last month. However, according to party sources, the tieup was formalised after prolonged meetings between Swaraj and Singh and the

AR organizes education tour for children

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (MExN): To enhance the standard of life of the local populace of the Samtal Salient, 44 Assam Rifles of 26 Sect under the aegis HQ IGAR (South) has undertaken numerous civic action activities such as Water Supply Schemes, Provision of Solar Lights, Construction of Community Halls and Playgrounds and assistance / education to villagers for improving their living conditions. The focus of all civic action activities is to uplift the way of life of locals who had been subjugated by militants for the last two decades and also to provide them a stepping stone to a better future, stated a release received from the Assam Rifles. In continuation of this seStudents and teachers of Gurukul Grammar Senior Secondary School of Gitanagar(East) took out a peace rally to protest against terrorism on Children’s day, November14 in ries of civic actions, the latest step taken on November 13 on Guwahati. (UB PHOTOS)

Kids in violence-hit NE want a secure future GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 14 (CNN-IBN): India’s North-East is no stranger to violence and the children in the region want to forget. “I do not want bombs, guns or violence. I want students from all commuities to live together and study well. This is the India of my dream,” says 14-year-old Biswajit Bhuiyan. Bhuiyan lives in a SOS Village in Guwahati along with several other children who have lost their parents. Many children in the North-East have lost their parents to violence yet together they make sure that their dreams are not fractured. “A child can only be happy when there is no violence. If their parents die in the violence, a child is the sufferer. A child is always the basic sufferer,” says Subash Kaul, Director of the SOS Village. Far removed from the madness of the violence, the children are holding on to each other. They are curious about the camera in as much as they are curious about the world. Not just in Assam, across the North-East it is this pleasant inquisitiveness and energy that gives hope that no dream will be lost. “Government should provide incentives for students to study,” says another child while a girl students wants teh government to have better healthcare facilities. And the citizens of the brave new world are leaving no moment idle to kickstart their dreams.

the eve of Children’s’ day, was the Education tour 2008 for children of Samtal Salient organized by 44 Assam Rifles of 26 Sect AR. As part of the project, the children for the first time will be visiting places of interest at Imphal, Dimapur, Agra and Delhi informed the release. The aim of this tour is to acquaint them with the culture of other states as also with the lifestyles in developed cities and imbibe in them a sense of belonging for their country. A group of 20 school Children, 5 girls and 15 boys accompanied by 3 teachers from the villages of Sehlon, Phoilen, Wayang, Tuitong, Kovang, Old Samtal, Tuileng and Moljol are participating in the tour. The flagging off ceremony was organized at HQ 26 Sect AR, Pallel which was attended by Brig Balbir Singh, DIG 26 Sect

AR, dignitaries from District Administration and persons from media. The tour was flagged off by Maj Gen AK Choudhary, SM, VSM, IGAR (S) who while addressing the children exhorted them to learn and enjoy themselves on the tour. This project marked the efforts by Assam Rifles towards promoting national integrity and patriotism amongst the local population. Commander 26 Sector Assam Rifles while interacting with the children and teachers emphasized on importance of learning and widening of horizon while being on tour. The event was highly appreciated by all the dignitaries of the civil administration and print media during its flagging off ceremony at Pallel. The villagers have also expressed their gratitude for such a noble effort by Assam Rifles.

AGP leaders during the last three days. Meanwhile, highly-placed BJP sources said the talks between party general secretary Arun Jaitley and RLD chief Ajit Singh on forging a combined strategy in West Uttar Pradesh were also expected to be clinched soon. Ajit Singh’s party has traditionally held sway over the overwhelmingly Jat population of West UP. It has 16 legislators in the UP Assembly. With the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) targeting the scheduled castes and Brahmin voters, the BJP feels an adjustment with the RLD would be beneficial to both. However, RLD sources said the talks were held up because of the BJP’s adamant stand on a couple of seats. But the BJP sources exuded confidence that the two parties would soon resolve their differences.

Meghalaya amends VAT to boost revenue SHILLONG, NOVEMBER 14 (PTI): Providing relief to small and petty contractors as well as aiming to enhance revenue collection, Meghalaya assembly has passed two bills amending the VAT and Passangers and Good Taxation Acts. The amendments were passed yesterday, state Taxation Minister J A Lyngdoh said adding the amendment to the Meghalaya VAT Act meant that industries in the state would no longer enjoy the benefit of Input Tax Credit(ITC). This, he said, would enhance revenue generation. So far industries had enjoyed exemptions under ITC at the cost of state government revenue as they pay only one per cent VAT, he said. As per the amendment, small and petty contractors will have to pay only four per cent VAT instead of 12.5 per cent. These contractors would no longer be required to maintain rigorous accounts as they would pay only 4 per cent VAT to the department directly. The amendment to the Meghalaya Passengers and Good Taxation Act would see an increase of 5 per cent in passenger s and goods tax from the existing 10 per cent. “With this the department is expected to earn revenue to the tune of Rs 1.40 crore per annum,’’ the minister said.

SDSA calls off indeﬁnite economic blockade MNF faces an uphill task this time

Newmai News Network Imphal | November 14

The Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) has decided to call off the indefinite economic blockade along the National Highway (NH) 39 for a period of 6 days after the assurance from Manipur Public Work Department (PWD) minister K. Ranjit who stated that works were underway to repair the highway. However, the students’ body warned that the blockade would resume from the midnight of November 19 if the repairing works of the highway was not satisfactory. The SDSA had called an indefinite economic blockade along the NH 39 on November 1 in view of the state government’s failure to check into and repair the bad condition of the highway. Supporting the stand of the students’ body the All Manipur Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union decided to stop transportation of oil from November 7. This had affected normal lives in the state especially in regards to scarcity of oil (petrol and diesel) in the state. However, following an understanding over 120 good laden trucks stranded at the Mao gate were given ‘goodwill passage’ on Wednesday, November 12, according to press release of the SDSA. But the economic blockade continued as informed by the SDSA that it would continue should the government fail to respond. Calling a meeting in this regards at the Senapati Bazaar Community Hall on Friday the SDSA gave the state government a period of 6 days to show its progress in the reparation work done along the NH-39. The state government represented by Works minister R. Ranjit, members of legislative assembly (MLAs) of Senapati

district Donkhomang Khongsai, K. Raina and Thorii along with other PWD and police officials. During the meeting the state government representatives requested the SDSA to call off the blockade ‘indefinitely’ with assurance that repairing works were underway. However, they were given 6 days time to show the progress of the work by the students’ body adding that the blockade would resume on the sixth day, i.e. midnight of November 19, if the works were not satisfactory. Stating that a 6-day period was rather too short a relaxation and a period to show the progress of the work, minister Ranjit requested the relaxation be extended to the month of December. Supporting him, MLA Thorii added that 6 days were too short considering the amount of work to done including transportation of machines and fuel needed for the work. Stating that it would take about 2-3 days to transport oil to the work place, the MLA also disclosed that even the ministers were having a hard time with the oil and there upon requested for more days terming the 6 days as ‘too short’. MLAs Raina and Donkhomang also stated that the decision of the SDSA to call off the blockade was done in the interest of the people and requested the students’ body to extend the relaxation upto the month of December. However, SDSA paying no heed to the minister and MLAs requests fixed a period of 6 days’ relaxation and affirmed that the blockade would resume on the midnight of November 19 should the work be dissatisfactory. Showing their displeasure to the requests of the state government the executive members of the students’ body even staged a walk out putting an end to the meeting. The meeting was also attended by

the Senapati Town Committee, Senapati Truck Owners’ Association, All Manipur Truck Owners’ Association, Drivers Union of all Manipur and the Senapati Women Society. During the meeting PWD minister Ranjit conveyed that the state government was doing its best to maintain the quality of the NH-39 with the Chief Minister to attend a meeting in Delhi on Saturday, November 15, regarding the national highway. The Works minister also disclosed that funds for the road between Imphal and Senapati had been sanctioned with repairing works underway adding that a good percentage of the work was completed. However, funds for the road between Mao and Senapati has not been sanctioned yet, nevertheless work has started in the interest of the public, informed the minister. He also disclosed that funds for the highway between Mao and Senapati for the year 2004-05 was not sanctioned due to a misunderstanding between the border road organisation (BRO) and PWD. However, even as the minister assured that best was being done to repair the condition of the NH-39, the various associations present at the meeting questioned why no developmental works which can satisfy the people were seen despite so many negotiations. Despite knowing the fact the blockades hurt the sentiments of the poor people and not the rich, the blockades had to be called as it is the only way to aware the government of the situation, added the leaders of the various associations. And amidst assurance from the Works minister that the state government was doing its best to improve the condition of the national highways, SDSA affirmed that the blockade would resume after the relaxation period if the works were not satisfactory.

AIZAWL, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): Mizoram will go to the polls on December 2 amidst speculation about a triangular contest and a hung assembly. The Mizo National Front (MNF), which grabbed power in 1998 and 2003, however, faces an uphill task this year round owing to a strong anti-incumbency wave. In the 2003 elections, the party bagged 21 of the total 40 seats. The main opposition Congress and other smaller parties won 12 and seven seats respectively. Amidst speculation of a hung assembly, power contenders MNF and Congress are going all-out to forge electoral alliances with the smaller parties. The MNF has announced that it will continue its ties with the Mizoram Congress Party (MCP) and forge an alliance with Mara Democratic Front (MDF) and Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) in its bid to retain power for the third consecutive term. Similarly, the Congress, led by former chief minister Lal Thanhawla, has decided to go it with Mipui Tangrual Pawl (MTP) or People’s Front. The party has also included a splinter group of the MCP in its fold. Coalition politics is not

new here. Following the attainment of fullfledged statehood in 1987, the first government in Mizoram was formed in 1987 by the MNF after its merger with the Mizo Convention and Mizo Peace Forum. The second government in 1993 was also a coalition one formed by the Congress by forging a tie-up with the Mizoram Janata Dal. Meanwhile, no matter what their prospects are, the BJP, is still trying to find a base in Mizoram, and Lok Janshakti Party, relatively new in the state, has announced it will be in the poll fray. The triangular contest is expected among MNF, Congress and new coalition United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which was formed with the merger of the Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC), Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNF) and Zoram Kuthnathawktu Pawl (ZKP). Political analysts believe the decision of the Congress to forge an alliance with the Mipui Tangrual Pawl (MTP) and include the breakaway group of the MCP in its fold could brighten its prospects in the polls. The Congress has constituted a campaign committee that includes members from

the Northeast. With insurgency becoming a thing of the past and local issues holding sway, the MNF is expected to highlight the development work undertaken during its rule even as the Congress is girding up its loins to corner the MNF on charges of corruption within the government. For the smaller parties, development and eviction of Bangladeshi Chakma refugees could be their poll planks. As in Nagaland, the Church in Mizoram plays an important role in elections but the powerful Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), a conglomerate of prominent churches and other organisations, so far has not expressed its support for any parties. The MPF has already served “dos and don’ts” on all political parties over campaigning and selection of candidates. The dominant Presbyterian church has urged parties to field “clean” candidates. The state has 6,11,124 voters — 3,08,884 are women and 302,240 men. In 2003, seven women contested the polls but all of them lost. Despite this experience, all major political parties have decided to set up women candidates this year.

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2008 VOL. III ISSUE 317

Hope Indeed

he second Naga Reconciliation Soccer match on November 13 between the Naga political groups (aka Factions) and the Naga civil society has once again strengthened hope and given rise to new optimism that Nagas can indeed overcome all differences, given the opportunity and conducive space to engage through dialogue. The symbolism of the second reconciliation match has enabled the Naga public to realize that the first reconciliation match held in Kohima on October 9, was not just a chance encounter, it was a deliberate and conscious decision to publicly demonstrate that the Naga reconciliation process is committed to reconciliation, no matter how difficult the circumstances maybe. The reconciliation soccer matches involving the Naga political groups and the Naga civil society has become a crucial means in creating and enabling safe and democratic space for the Naga reconciliation process to be humanized and an opportunity for the Naga public to start forming a new imagination that transcends factionalism and tribalism. The need for public participation and intervention in the Naga reconciliation process is imperative; and the Naga public needs to be an active partner in encouraging and at times guiding the conflicting groups to continue in the journey towards reconciliation. The rationale for public intervention is one of essence; because in situations of protracted conflict, conflicting groups may be willing to reconcile, but often find themselves in a situation where they are not quite sure how to reconcile; or more importantly, have limited skills in the know-how of what is required for reconciliation to be achieved. The necessity for the Naga public to have a new imagination is critical if a common understanding amongst the Naga political groups is to be realized. The established inter-relation between the Naga public and the Naga political groups can help in providing opportunities that will facilitate courageous step towards reconciliation. The women and children - widowed and orphans as a result of the factional violence among Nagas - who chose to participate in the Naga reconciliation process reminds us of the moral question at stake, and all that it represents for the Nagas. While the differences between conflicting groups may be political, the consequences are usually human in nature. Hence the gesture in which the widows and orphans expressed their solidarity to the reconciliation process was the defining moment. As widows presented white roses to the members of the Naga political groups and as the orphans sang a song of hope and healing, the urgency in which the need for reconciliation to be achieved struck home. Understanding is the understanding of differences. And when you have the different Naga political groups come together to play as one team; and young men and women from the different groups come to sing together as one choir songs of healing and reconciliation, the willingness to forge one common understand is quite apparent. As such confidence and trust-building activities continue to be take place at regular intervals; the united desire for reconciliation is obvious. Unfortunately, it will need more than symbolism for reconciliation to take place. And we can only hope that those who are representing their respective groups in the meetings will choose to overcome their differences in the spirit of reconciliation.

LEFT WING |

Harry Lewis

Don't dim the Internet light

uppose that U.S. government regulators proposed to read all postal mail in order to protect American families from things they should not see. Anything not legally prohibited would be delivered. Any unlawful words, pictures, or videos would be thrown away. Sound like Orwell's "1984," or China? Perhaps. Yet change the technology from ink on paper to bits in wires - the zeroes and ones that flow through the Internet - and these are the plans of significant democracies. France is targeting copyrighted music and movies. Australian officials are going after child pornography - but may check for other bad stuff while they are at it. Objectionable snooping? Both governments say that law-abiding citizens have nothing to worry about. Could such ubiquitous surveillance gain traction in the United States, with its Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches? A proposal pending before the Federal Communications Commission raises just that possibility. It would provide Internet service to all Americans - with a catch. Content would be censored, free of "any images or text that otherwise would be harmful to teens and adolescents" under 18 years old. No one wants young children viewing pornography. But to enforce the FCC standard, someone would have to decide where the "harmful" line should be drawn. What about medical illustrations, or a newspaper story about female genital mutilation in Africa? To be safe for all ages, censors would have to exclude vast amounts of useful, lawful content. And since only 57 percent of Americans have broadband connections today, the censored service would for many people be the only service. Determining which ideas are "harmful" is not the government's job. Parents should judge what information their children should see - and should expect that older children will, as they always have, find ways around restrictive rules. The Internet censoring proposal follows other government efforts to limit speech in the digital world. In the 1990s, two U.S. anti-indecency laws were found unconstitutional because they unnecessarily limited communication among adults. "Perhaps," wrote one judge, "we do the minors of this country harm if First Amendment protections, which they will with age inherit fully, are chipped away in the name of their protection." Today parents fear that sexual predators will masquerade as children on MySpace and Facebook. In fact, there is no evidence that the Internet has increased the number of predators. Child sex abuse cases actually decreased 50 percent between 1990 and 2005. Most sexual propositions to youth come from peers, not adult strangers. Nonetheless, encouraged by state attorneys general, businesses are developing aggressive child safety tools. One product tracks a child's every keystroke, calling Daddy's cellphone whenever Johnny googles a prohibited word. Bills before Congress would block Wikipedia in school libraries, sacrificing a useful resource in order to restrict unsupervised use of social networking sites. Yet for every child caught talking to a pedophile online, hundreds would be discouraged from searching the Internet's vast electronic library for truths their parents will not tell them. Controlling every word children are saying and hearing, from birth to age 18, isn't child protection; it's the perfect preservation of prejudice and ignorance. Moreover, Internet censorship does not work. Documents can get past content filters if they are sent in encrypted form - and if encryption itself were banned, the network could not support secure electronic commerce. Radio and television speech codes were constitutionally justified in the 1930s by the limited capacity of the electromagnetic spectrum. Internet technology has no analogous limitation, so there is no legal justification for Internet censorship beyond the obscenity and libel prohibitions that apply to print media. The Internet has revived ancient fears about the risks of curiosity. The story of Eden and the myth of Prometheus teach that open access to knowledge is what makes us human, for better and worse. A key principle of democracy is that unfettered information flows bring public enlightenment. The Internet is the greatest information conduit ever invented. We should not dim its light to protect ourselves from what it may reveal. Harry Lewis is professor of computer science at Harvard and fellow of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society. He is co-author of "Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion."

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Kaveh L Afrasiabi

UN tackles Pillars of Intolerance

“Asia is the cradle of great religions that share noble values pursued by all humanity - values such as mercy, justice and peace. And yet, mankind has created so many conflicts in the name of religion ... All the great religions have a role to play in building peace.” - Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary general

NEW YORK - A high-level, two-day conference on the "culture of peace" is being held this week at United Nations (UN) headquarters this week. Attended by some 70 world leaders and senior officials from dozens of nations, including US President George W Bush and Israeli President Shimon Peres, the enlightening initiative come as recent UN reports have highlighted growing levels of xenophobia, gender, ethnic and racial discrimination, and outright cultural intolerance and religious bigotry around the world. The conference's stated aims are to promote the world's "common humanity" and the "innermost values of tolerance, diversity, and reciprocity", and aims to tackle these notions from the perspective of "faith-based" as well as other "ethical, philosophical traditions", said the head of UN's General Assembly, Miguel d'Escoto. Although he emphasized that the event is not strictly about religion, which he said "can be a very divisive subject". "Our world is experiencing an extremely difficult period, the worst since the founding of the United Nations," D'Escoto said in his opening remarks. "It is a time of numerous bankruptcies, but the worst is the moral bankruptcy of humankind's selfproclaimed 'more advanced societies', which has spread throughout the world." The fact that the "faith-based" conference is an initiative of Saudi Arabia, which forbids the public practice of other religious faiths, and which is regularly accused of systematic discrimination against women and religious minorities, has fueled controversy

at the UN. The recent news that Riyadh has been brokering dialogue between the Taliban and Afghan government has also not helped, given the Taliban's appalling record of human-rights violations against women and ethnic and religious minorities. It is also unclear whether the conference will become less of an opportunity to promote global peace than a chance for various governments, including Israel, to expound political propaganda. This especially in light of UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon's severe statement last week "deploring the plight of Palestinians in Gaza". Perhaps after attending this conference, Peres will be more amenable to lifting some of the restrictions in Gaza which cause daily suffering to many of its population of 1.5 million. As in the case of the Arab-Israeli conflict today, which has lost a lot of its initial secular underpinnings and has increasingly been seen in a Jewish versus Islamist fundamentalism context, most divisions in the world today are increasingly not caused by religion or culture, but are more based on economics and politics. As a pivotal issue in the contemporary, post 9/11 debates on Islam and "Islamic terrorism", the plight of Palestine epitomizes divisions in the Middle East, which has long been a bastion of anti-Americanism due to the widespread perception that the US government has followed unbalanced, pro-Israel policies. The outgoing Bush, who was due to address the conference on Thursday, may be the wrong US leader to speak there, given his leg-

acy of unilateralism, interventionism and benign neglect of Israeli expansionism - not to mention his administration's past lapses into incendiary rhetoric against "Islamofascism". The term, which equates Islamism with the European fascist movements of the early 20th century, has often used by pro-Israel pundits in the US, such as Bernard Lewis and Daniel Pipes, when they attempt to promote a culture of intolerance vis-a-vis Muslim-tolerant multiculturalism in the West. The times are changing, and presidentelect Barack Obama's election as the 44th president of the United States may be the harbinger of a more prudent US foreign policy that, in turn, could conceivably translate into a fading of anti-Americanism - not just in the Middle East, but also in Latin America and elsewhere. But for Obama to cause a sea-change in the world's view of America, he must persuade it that Washington's passage to a new post-hegemonic mindset is real and tangible, as opposed to merely cosmetic. This depends on multiple factors, such as whether the US will be prepared to accept a substantial dose of multilateralism without fearing the loss of its "pre-eminence" in world affairs, and whether or not it will adopt a more balanced approach to the Israel-Arab conflict. It must also push more vigorously for a viable Middle East peace conference, depart from its traditional addiction to hard power - particularly when dealing with adversaries that have challenged US hegemony - and use more soft power diplomacy.

As president, Obama could move quickly to overcome the post 9/11 "West versus Islam" culture of suspicion, by openly refuting the dangerous discourse of "clashing civilizations" that is tantamount to a defamation of Eastern religions. He could also embrace the UN initiative of "Alliance Among Civilizations", which has been created to promote "cross-cultural tolerance" as one of the "pillars of the world today", to paraphrase Ban's recent praise for this initiative. Certainly, Obama is well pre-disposed to join the UN-led fight against the scourge of racism - that is alarmingly on the rise per the latest reports by UN officials. The UN's special rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia, in November pointed out a connection between racism, poverty and rising discrimination against refugees, asylum-seekers and internally-displaced ethnic minorities. Another recent UN report cites the threat of rising neo-Nazism in Europe and Russia. As for gender- and religion-based discrimination, a new UN report by the special rapporteur on the freedom of religion paints a particularly gloomy picture, especially of negative developments in the Indian subcontinent. Religious minorities there are increasingly finding themselves subject to acts of bigotry, intimidation and violent attacks - often with the tacit assent of government officials, said the UN. This escalation of "incitement to racial and religious hatred" is not exclusive to India of course, but rather represents a global trend that will likely worsen as the global economic recession hits the developed and the developing nations. A successful war on poverty is an important precondition of winning the war on intolerance and discrimination, and this was reflected in a new UN survey that found two-thirds of Latin American youth feel they are discriminated against because they are poor. Another prerequisite to victory in the war against intolerance is the cultivation of a UN cosmopolitan culture of peace, a UN-based "identitarian" movement which promotes humanist values enshrined in the UN charter. The importance of events such as the UN conference, and other similar efforts, like the recent interfaith summit in Istanbul that led to the creation of a new Global Interfaith Network devoted to combating religious intolerance, poverty, AIDS, etc are raising the prominent role that religious groups can play in global affairs. Another important prerequisite, at least on the part of the world's Muslims, is to deepen their current peace-related efforts and to do a better job in disseminating Islam's message of peace, a message that has been much buried under piles of Western Islamophobia recently. But, in conclusion, perhaps the real protean value of the Saudi initiative is to highlight the rich sources of a culture of peace in the essential teachings of Islam, including the holy Koran: "If they resort to peace, so shall you."

Letters to the Editor Naga Consensus For Peace And Reconciliation •Sir- It took eleven years after entering into a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India before Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) launched an initiative to provide a platform for all factional groups and social bodies in Chiangmai to agree on a board framework and to define a new relationship that could well see the end of Naga insurgency and factional feud. The outcome needs to be hailed through the convention of hope fails to achieve a authority, yet well begun is half done. The forum has definitely risen above petty politics to overlook the fact that sovereignty in present context is a dead-end and impossible aim to achieve and sovereignty subsidized by Indian Union is an irrational and unethical objective. More than to anything else it is the mandate of the local Naga has surfaced to accept a solution that settles for a constitution within the constitution. The Fact that since last year peace initiatives has been voiced by various forums amplifies the fact that Naga has been yearning for peace. However, prerequisite to peace is reconciliation needs to be understood and looked at with a wide angled lens. This explains the fact why initiative launched by GB/DBs forum, church bodies failed to gather momentum, as all were efforts in isolation on different planes altogether. FNR seems to have learnt from others mistakes as evident from the homogenous mixture of participants and the pledge taken to initiate action towards Naga Peace, unity and reconciliation in the sprit of forgiveness and mutual acceptance. Having dwelled upon the positive initiative one needs to analyse the other side as well before drawing any conclusion. The fact that peace without reconciliation within factions can not able achieved need no amplification as one finds no change in the attitude of warning factions shedding blood almost on daily basic. Such peace initiatives looses its value when Naga brothers continue to get slaughtered to settle factional scores. Ideology at the highest level needs an orientation and change to influence it down at grass root level. The forum at Chiangmai was the ideal platform for shaking hands of Muivah and Khaplang yet they prefer to remain silent. Time has gone when speeches alone could generate wonders, present sit demands action on ground and will to enforce it. The future will continue to be dark till leadership at both level decide to shed age old rivalry and bitter experiences and burn them as past. Yet the bitter truth remains that time is running out

fast. The common man has suffered enough courtesy the long drawn of factional war. With tribal organization and apex bodies of church, NGOs voicing their opinion for peace no faction holds the right to call themselves the sole negotiator for the ‘Naga Cause’. The call of the day pledges to uphold the values of human rights and self-determination and exploitation without territorial demarcation among fellow Nagas. It serves as a wake up call to all factions to end the blood path and provide an umbrella to ensure all Nagas remain in peace. Future beckons ideas to transform into reality, dream into truth, words into actions and oath with sincerity the journey has begun and Nagas have joined it, only time will fell whether factions can resolve differences to form a part of the bandwagon less they chose to get marginalized within their own land. Peace and reconciliation seemed a distant dream yesterday yet today Nagaland stands on the threshold of achieving it.

solve the problems of the whole affairs unless there are like-minded people/groups. To me having a multiple tribes, like in Nagaland is an advantage to have a strong nation/state and so on, inspite of talking Nagas are unfortunate because of multiple tribes. Naga National leaders of various organizations should respond to the calls from the Naga civil societies forgetting their past differences if they love Nagas and at the same time the leaders of the various political parties too should understand the common goal instead of blaming each other for silly matters taking the advantage of different t political parties. There are many Naga intellectual persons now-a-days in Nagaland as every newspaper readers are aware of it through their write-up also should come out together to work for the acceptable solution for the Nagas. No one should conceive that I am bigger than him and he is smaller than me, however, in a society there are readers K V Angami to let the people towards the well being of the humanity Kohima that too should understand by every one.

“Reconciliation” Soccer Match a Good Gesture •Sir- It is worth to appreciate to “forum for Naga Reconciliation” under the able leadership of Rev.Dr. Wati Aier for organizing “Reconciliation” soccer match between Naga Civil Societies and Naga National Workers of different warring factions after go through serious of meetings with underground groups at the various levels. It is an outcome of the understandings among the different National Workers to come out publicly acknowledging the appeals of the Naga peoples that Deputy Kilonsers from both the NSCN groups who participated in the “Reconciliation” match on 13th November ’08 at Dimapur Stadium. Many people’s hearts were burst while widows of the slain soldiers presented flowers to United National players. Innocent publics are very happy now a days because there is no firing between factions and secretly killings also decreasing. We must thank and appreciate all the NGOs like Naga Hoho, ENPO, Tribal Hohos, NBCC, various Women Organizations and Political Affairs Committee of DAN Government for tirelessly working towards Naga Unification of various factions and also Naga Civil Societies. Both Civil Societies of various tribes and underground groups/organizations should come together to a negotiable table for sorting out Naga political problems before its too late otherwise there is a signs of a thing which lets to break into pieces. Only one group cannot

Nungsanglemba Chang NCS (Rtd)

Peace Channel acknowledges historic journey for peace •Sir- The Peace Channel Members of Nagaland appreciate and congratulate the Forum for Nagaland Reconciliation (FNR) under the able leadership of Dr. Wati Aier, Convener, and his team and the Christian Forum of Kohima. Your tireless effort and commitment in bringing about reconciliation and peace process among the different factions has brought a crystal landmark in the history of Nagaland. The novel idea of bring the factions together for a soccer match is indeed a noble idea. The number of people who attended the third reconciliation football match between united factions and the civil society at DDSC, Dimapur clearly indicate the whole hearted support for Peace and Reconciliation. The Participation and involvement of the widows and orphans whose loved ones were lost in violence is a sign of hope for unity among the Nagas; it enables all to reflect on our present and pledge to promote peaceful environment to live in. As this historic journey for peace and prosperity takes wings, Peace Channel Nagaland wishes all the stakeholders and right thinking individuals to alleviate the differences and strengthen the Peace building process. Peace Channel Desk Dimapur

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.

SATURDAY

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

15 NOVEMBER 2008

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

Myanmar's roadmap to undemocratic polls

Larry Jagan Inter Press Service

yanmar's military rulers have renewed efforts to eliminate all opposition to their authority in the leadup to planned elections in 2010. On Tuesday, 14 leading political activists, including five women from the so-called "88 Generation" students group, were each sentenced to 65 years in jail for their involvement in last year's Buddhist monk-led uprising, which became known around the world as the "Saffron" revolution. The jail terms are only the latest in a series of harsh sentences that Myanmar's authorities have handed down to artists, activists, bloggers, journalists and lawyers in recent weeks. "The junta is clearly conducting a major crackdown on all dissent in the country," Zin Linn, a leading Myanmar dissident and former political prisoner based in Bangkok, said. "They want to silence all opposition before the planned elections in 2010." A military-controlled court, held in-

side Yangon's notorious Insein prison, sentenced the 14 student leaders to long prison sentences for involvement in the August 2007 mass protests, which were sparked by a hike in fuel prices and rising food costs. The United Nations has said that at least 31 people were killed when troops were sent in to repress the mass demonstrations, which were led by columns of saffron-clad, shavenheaded Buddhist monks. The protests were the biggest challenge to the State Peace and Development Council since it seized power from another militaryrun regime 20 years ago. The 14 convicted included Ko Jimmy and his wife, Nilar Thein, who had to abandon her four-month-old daughter when she went into hiding during the post-demonstration military crackdown in September. Nilar Thein was arrested two months ago after being on the run for more than a year. The sentences were handed down behind closed doors, while family members and lawyers were barred from the court. "Is this [65 years] all you can do?" one of the activists, Min Zeya, report-

edly shouted at the judge. Nine other leaders of the opposition group, including the top three - Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Htay Kyew - were recently sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court. According to news reports, they continuously interrupted court proceedings by trying to shout down the judge and refused to accept the court's authority. They vowed to continue opposing the judicial system by using Gandhian tactics of non-violent civil disobedience. Since the contempt of court conviction, the nine have been moved to Maubin prison in the Irrawaddy Delta, west of the old capital Yangon - an area devastated by Cyclone Nargis in May. "We fear they will now face harsh treatment at the hands of the authorities there, because it is more isolated and family visits much more difficult," Myanmar activist Khin Omar, who is based in the northern Thai town of Chiang Mai, said. "The conditions in prison for political prisoners are getting worse and worse," she warned. Pro-democracy forefront Many of the group's members, who were at the forefront of the mass pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988, were tortured and given lengthy prison terms after the military coup 20 years ago. The activists resumed political activities after they were freed in November 2004, and had spearheaded protests against the junta, usually focusing on the country's deteriorating economy. Many analysts believe that the junta fears the students even more than the National League for Democracy (NLD), now led by detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The NLD convincingly won 1990 democratic elections, but was never allowed to form a civilian government. Suu Kyi has spent much of the past 20 years under house arrest in her home in Yangon. "They think they can handle the NLD, but they know they cannot control the students," said a Western diplomat who deals with Myanmar. The sentences will leave them in prison well past the election. Prominent labor rights activist, Su Su Nway, was sentenced to more than 12 years in jail for her political activities. She served nine months in prison more than two years ago for her work to stop forced labor. Ten members of the NLD from Bogalay in the Irrawaddy Delta were also sentenced to between eight and 24 years in prison. "These sentences are a clear signal to everyone that the regime will not tolerate any opposition in the lead up to the elections in 2010," Benjamin Zawacki, the Myanmar officer for the Britainbased human-rights organization Amnesty International said. Tuesday's sentences follow the arrest 10 months ago of one of Myanmar's best-known bloggers, Nay Phone Latt, for publishing a car-

toon of the country's top military leader, General Than Shwe, on his website. His trial was also held behind closed doors in Insein prison. The 28-year-old blogger, a former NLD member, was a major source of accurate and detailed information on the events of August and September 2007, both inside and outside the country, according to exiled Myanmar journalists working abroad. He was handed down 20 years and six months in jail. A wellknown poet, Saw Wai, was also recently sentenced to two years imprisonment for "inciting crimes against public tranquility". He was first arrested in January after his poem which mocked Than Shwe, entitled "February 14", was published in the Ah Chit (Love) Journal. The discrepancy between the sentences given to the blogger and the poet for essentially the same crime - denigrating Than Shwe - suggests that the regime is particularly worried about the opposition's use of technology, especially the Internet. Reports, pictures and videos transmitted through the Internet and mobile phones during the "Saffron" revolution, and in the aftermath of the cyclone, apparently had the generals worried. "They [the junta] are extremely worried about things they don't understand and cannot control," said Zawacki. "The blogger's sentence reflects the greater level of threat they see in postings on the Internet compared to poetry." Before Nay Phone Latt was sentenced, his defense counsel, Aung Thein, and another lawyer, Khin Maung Shein, were sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of the court. Their crime, Aung Thein told journalists, was attempting to defend their clients in court. More than 15 journalists are also still in detention awaiting trial, according to the Burma Media Association. Most of them are accused of publishing material on conditions in the cyclonedevastated areas and pointing out inadequacies in the government's relief effort. "The sentencing of the 88 group activists and the further arrests in recent days - of journalists, bloggers and forced labor complainants - is further evidence of the extent to which conditions in this country are deteriorating in terms of basic political freedoms," a Western diplomat based in Yangon said. "It clearly shows what we can expect in 2010," he said. Everyone who is opposed to the regime's roadmap to democracy and the constitution - foisted on the people through a referendum marked by intimidation and manipulation - is being targeted. "It's business as usual," said Zawacki. "They are using draconian prison sentences to warn people not to stand up to the regime. All that's changed is their rhetoric - there's no roadmap to political change," he said.

Craig brings fresh 'Solace' to super-spy Bond DAVID GERMAIN

Associated Press

ames Bond is still in a foul mood over that whole dead girlfriend thing from "Casino Royale." But the man who plays him is as happy as can be. Even as Daniel Craig ticks off all the injuries he sustained shooting "Quantum of Solace," he gushes about what a great job he has, updating the world's most-famous spy for a new era. Starring in one of the most-acclaimed installments in the franchise's history has carried Craig a long way since the dark, early days, when fans scorned him as a bad casting choice and scoffed at the notion of a blond, blue-eyed Bond. Craig's delivery as a raw, angry young 007 in "Casino Royale" has silenced the critics, though he suffered months of online slings and arrows leading up to the release of that 2006 hit. Fans didn't think he looked like Bond. They carped that his predecessor, Pierce Brosnan, should have had the chance to do another Bond flick or two. And they definitely didn't feel Craig, a stage-trained actor with little action experience, could act like Bond. "It is kind of name-calling at it's very basic level," the 40-year-old British actor recalled in an interview. "I understood the passion. Believe me, I do understand the passion. These movies mean a lot to people. I get it. But they mean a lot to me, as well. I don't feel out of place in this equation. "To respond to the criticism would have been the wrong thing to do. I'm sure some of it's still out there, but you can't please all the people." Based on early results for "Quantum of Solace," the caretakers of Bond have managed to please most of the people. In advance of its U.S. release Friday, the movie has been out in theaters overseas for two weekends, debuting as the No. 1 film in every country where it played and hauling in $160 million. "Quantum of Solace" picks up where "Casino Royale" left off, with Bond in such a vengeful mode over the loss of his lover that he goes rogue in pursuit of a shadowy group linked to her death. Craig's Bond shares great interplay with spymaster M (Judi Dench) and teams with a woman (Olga Kurylenko) on her own revenge mission as they track a phony environmentalist (Mathieu Amalric) trying to corner a South American water supply. The new movie expands on the makeover begun with "Casino Royale," in which the randy, sexist Bond of old gave way to a physically meaner but emotionally vulnerable man capable of having his heart broken. In "Quantum of Solace," Bond doesn't even drink his trademark martini, and he forgoes his cliched selfintroduction, "Bond, James Bond." "It needs to be refreshed," Craig said. "If it's just done where you tick off the boxes, OK, there, martini, 'Bond, James Bond,' and all that, it feels kind of a parody of itself. "And I think because of 'Austin Powers,' that didn't help. Very funny movies, but they have not helped the cause. He almost reinvented the whole genre by making fun of it. ... We

now have to kind of reinvent it again, so someone else can parody it. And I'm sure they will, very rapidly." "Quantum of Solace" runs well under two hours, the shortest in Bond history ("Casino Royale" ran nearly 40 minutes longer). Yet director Marc Forster, himself a target of fan gripes for his lack of action experience, packs "Quantum of Solace" with car chases, explosions, close escapes and a lot of hand-to-hand combat. Pro-

moting the film, Craig still bore signs of the toll the sixmonth shoot took. His right arm was in a sling from surgery to repair his injured shoulder. He got kicked in the face during a stunt and had to have eight stitches. In another scene, he "lost about a postage stamp worth of skin" on one of his fingers and had to have the wound cauterized at the emergency room. While he also took his lumps filming "Casino Royale," Craig found each injury on "Quantum of Solace" grabbing headlines. "There was this whole deal going on because it was like the curse of Bond," Craig said. "We had a very serious accident on the set. A stuntman was injured very badly. Thank God, he's absolutely fine now."

"It's part of the territory, really," he said. "The joke is that these things happened to me at the most inane times. The biggest stunts were fine. It's the way the world is. You put a thousand people together for six months, things will happen. Suddenly, I've become this stunt guy, I've got like a degree in anatomy. I could be an orthopedic surgeon." In his teens, Craig worked with Britain's National Youth Theatre and began his professional career on the London stage in the early 1990s. He moved into film and television, landing small parts in movies such as "Elizabeth," focusing heavily on independent productions. Craig eventually won key roles in "Road to Perdition" and Steven Spielberg's "Munich," along with leads in smaller films such as "Layer Cake" and "Enduring Love." Though he appeared in "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," Craig did not have the kind of background that screamed 007. For the keepers of Bond, though, Craig always was on their short list. "Any time you see him on screen, you can't take your eyes off him," said Bond producer Barbara Broccoli. "He has a real screen presence, real charisma. And those blue eyes. So it was obvious to us he would be the right person." "He's handsome, sexy, a leading actor of his generation, a really nice human being," said Broccoli's stepbrother, producer Michael Wilson. "So what else was there?" Director Forster said he signed on to make "Quantum of Solace" so he could work with Craig. Forster said Craig got a raw deal when fans complained about him before "Casino Royale" came out. "I heard how people were thinking he's not the right Bond, but I thought, well, he's a real actor," Forster said. "I thought that was actually very courageous and smart to choose him." At first, Craig himself thought he was the wrong choice to take on the role once played by Sean Connery and Roger Moore. He had grown up a moderate fan of Bond but could not see himself in the part when he met with Broccoli and Wilson. "I was like, 'Thank you, good luck with finding whoever it is who's going to play this.' But Barbara's very persistent. She kept at me," Craig said. "Finally, they presented me the script. I loved it. I went, 'Oh God, no. This is too good to turn down."' After "Casino Royale," Craig followed with a couple of studio duds opposite Nicole Kidman, "The Invasion" and "The Golden Compass." He's signed for two more Bond movies after "Quantum of Solace," whose continuation of the "Casino Royale" story line has some fans wondering if a trilogy is in the works. "I don't think we can do a direct sequel. We've done that now," Craig said. "But certainly, there is as far as the bad guys are concerned and the organization that we've set up, there's definitely room for bringing that in. But whether they stand as a trilogy, I don't know. "I'm hoping it's a good sign that people feel it should be a trilogy, because it means they feel there are untold stories there. I just feel myself instinctively that there are untold stories there. I want to throw the ball out there and see what happens."

The issues of Climate and Global Warming have today become the greatest challenge to the human strive for its continued and dignified existence. Together, they impact every aspect of life on earth and constitute a threat like never before in human history. Therefore in our humble attempt to create public awareness that will result in public action, the Morung for Indigenous Affairs and JustPeace in partnership with LEAD, is introducing the weekly Climate Change Corner, which will be published every Saturday. Hope you will find it useful.

An Individual’s response in a Climate Change Regime Takum Chang Climate Change LEADer, Nagaland

he pandoras box has been opened after much hype and deliberation on the issue of climate change in the previous articles by my peer CCL’s. They say, average global temperature has risen by 0.8 degree Celsius since the start of the industrial revolution. That may not sound much but the consequences are enormous. This rise in temperature is already damaging the ecosystem and endangering the livelihood of millions of people, and it is only the beginning. Scientists have proven that it is us humans who are responsible for this rise in temperature. We are causing climate change by polluting the atmosphere with too many pollutants. Climatic changes will accelerate if emissions continue on a “business-as-usual” trajectory. Prepare for disasters which will be greater than any seen to date. In this article, I wish to draw your thoughts towards an individual’s contribution to the possible threat that is eminent without our action NOW. Lets look at just one day of an individual in an era of Climate Change. Lets look at his daily schedule and consumption pattern and habits. Where can he mitigate? Where can he adapt? We rise from our deep slumber in the morning, brush our teeth, take a sip of tea or coffee (think, where these colgates, tea leafs, coffee, sugar etc. are processed by going through various stages of processing). The morning breakfast is prepared from heat energy derived either from LPG and or firewood by cutting down trees or from electric heaters. You and I can’t deny that we are contributors to the process of global warming. Consumption patterns may differ from person to person, however, I’m sure most of us consumes more than what is required. Many of us tend to use more energy than what is required for heating water. Burning more fuel wood or LPG is nothing more than emitting more pollutants in the atmosphere. Individuals residing in the same vicinity or colony can share vehicles while going to office, yet we tend to take our own vehicle creating more traffic jams and pollution. Who am I to question the liberty of an individual for resorting to own comfort zone, but it just proves purely an individual denial to the mitigation of climate changes. Should we attribute it to ignorance? Then I’m sorry we Nagas are still far behind. Look at the plastic packages where you throw in a day. Do we individuals have a personal resolution to have proper waste disposal at least at homes forgetting about public waste management? I’m sure that a civic sense of living starts from individuals so also applies to mitigating emissions. Think about pollutants both bio-degradable and non-biodegradable that we dispose. Often, individuals have a tendency to throw it in the nearest stream or burn it or dump it without realizing what it actually does. Can’t we resort to better means of recycling it? Think about our ground waters. We could see acute shortage of potable water in Kohima. If I talk about the change in patterns of occurrence of springs in the colonies, it’s all part and parcel of our doing. In the evenings, we like to watch movies at the same time listen to music. However, we can be more conscious citizens and turn off the light and unlimited usage of facilities which is not needed and be a green citizen for an evening! Here, I’m not talking about your ability to afford the bills, replace worn out appliances, however, the bottom line is the energy savings. The Government is talking about potentialities of eco-tourism and a boom in the tourism industry. The sad and gloomy side is that we don’t have much to show in the absence of proper waste management, without adequate water and power supply and above all depletion of our forests and eco-system. All Nagas are fond of hunting. A hunter is an individual, a firewood dealer is an individual, a Village Council or VDB or a Village Youth Society is comprised of individuals. One thing is for sure, if one individual starts realizing the importance of conservation, collectively many wonderful things can be achieved. Imagine yourself to be in your own village in 2050, what do you expect to see if we don’t act now? Expect to see brown leaves in place of green trees, absence of birds chirping, farmers struggling to cultivate their lands due to scarcity of water despite agriculture being their mainstay, absence of potable water, rise in diseases. My friend in the previous article has mentioned Kenny Ausubel, founder pioneer remarks “When we talk about saving the environment, in a way it’s misleading because the environment is going to survive. We’re the ones who may not survive.” The extinction of species will speed up, as animals and plants find themselves unable to adapt to rapid climatic changes. Scientist fear that one third of all existing species could have died out by 2050. Are we the ones (Nagas) on the top list of extinction? One has to get committed to protecting the environment by joining an initiative or a political party featuring in its program, or, organize a demonstration. In the climate change regime, it will be a necessity to come together starting from family and friends and then move on to colleagues at work, your boss, fellow – pupils at school, landlords and so on… One has to check one’s own home and one’s own habits and make a start with a few simple corrections then gradually progress to the more difficult ones. The main focus of the people will be saving energy by using it more efficiently and giving preference to renewable forms of energy. Climatefriendly industry and a climate friendly lifestyle will be crucial realistic goals. Conventional household appliances need to be changed and environment friendly appliances must be given preference during purchase. Although costlier, people will be more conscious of acquiring energy saving equipments, constructing energy efficient houses, etc. It will be very difficult for the poor farmers living in rural areas with very crude technology to cope with the necessity to change the living styles and standards in the climate change regime, while struggling with meeting the basic necessities of life. We can stop global warming, you and I as individuals-and all of us together have it within our own power to mitigate climate change. More conscientious management of time and resources will lead to improved quality of life, leaving behind less destructive ecological footprints. Simple things like switching off electrical appliances when not in use, minimizing the use of GHG emitting machines, recycling, water conservation, environment conservation, etc. to name a few. It will cost us a little effort whereas, doing nothing will cost us very heavily. The next ten years will be very crucial. We can and must protect our planet against climate change. It’s the only opportunity we’ve got. We are now at the threshold which decides disaster and destruction or effective mitigation to maintain the fragile balance. Yours and my every single action in a day may be that thin deciding line between destruction or continuity. The Climate Change Leaders (CCL) programme is sponsored by EHDRC, LEAD India (www.leadindia.org ). There are 8 CCL’s in Nagaland and 30 in the North East Region. The Nagaland CCL’s invite you to respond to this article on-line at www.morungexpress.com or email ccl.nagaland@gmail.com

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

Saturday 15 November 2008

The Morung Express

Low turnout as violence Adulterated milk kills 6 tribal children in India mars Chhattisgarh polls

RAIPUR, NOVEMBER 14 (PTI): Violence on Thursday marred the first phase of polling for 39 assembly seats in Chhattisgarh as suspected Naxalites set off two blasts injuring four security personnel in Maoist-infested Dantewada district. Three security personnel, including two police officer, were seriously injured in a landmine blast near Gorkha in Dantewada, police said, adding that the personnel were accompanying election officials to the polling booths in Bhejji. Another blast occurred in Chintalnar in the same district in which a CRPF jawan was injured. "It was a mine blast which targeted security personnel during a search operation," police said. Meanwhile, two Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Jagdalpur constituency and one in Dantewada were looted by Naxalites, Inspector General of Police, Bastar region, A N Upadhyay said. Turnout was thin especially in the tribal areas in the 39 assembly constituencies in 10 districts where polling was held amid unprecedented security, electoral officials said. Nearly 25 per cent turn-

out was reported by mid-day, deputy chief electoral officer Arvind Dixit said. Polling in 27 assembly constituencies began at about 8 AM while it started at 7 AM in 12 seats in Naxal-hit areas-- Dantewada, Konta, Bijapur, Chitrakote, Narayanpur, Bhanuprat-

assembly speaker Premprakash Pandey (Bhilai), sitting ministers Hemchand Yadav (Durg) and Lata Usendi (Kondagaon). The rest 51 seats in the 90-member House in 8 districts will be going to polls on November 20. Speaker Premprakash Pandey cast his vote in Bhilai

appur, Antagarh, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Bastar, Jagdalpur and Kanker. Voting will end in these constituencies at 3 PM. Electoral fortunes of 379 candidates will be sealed in the EVMs today, including prominent leaders -- chief minister Raman Singh from Rajnandgaon, leader of opposition Mahendra Karma (Dantewada),

assembly constituency. While, minister Hemchand Yadav, Congress leader Motilal Vora and his son Arun voted in Durg. Congress leader Mahendra Karma is pitted against Manish Kunjam of CPI from Dantewada constituency. Karma, known for being at the forefront of the Salwa Judum movement, has won

the seat three times -- two times consecutively on Congress ticket in 1998 (in undivided Madhya Pradesh) and in 2003 in the first assembly elections of Chhattisgarh state and once on a CPI ticket in 1980. Recently a case was registered against Karma for giving money to a tribal woman during his election campaign. Nearly 32.08 lakh female electorates and 31,89,489 male voters will be eligible to exercise their franchise at 8,879 polling booths during the first phase. The CRPF which already has 14 battalions (14,000 personnel) in the state for antiNaxal operations, has sent additional 88 companies (about 9000 personnel) as directed by the Election Commission for the polls. For the first time Border Security Force has also been pressed into action in the state with the deployment of 70 companies (about 700 personnel) of the force in the highly sensitive Dantewada, Bijapur and Jagdalpur districts. Polling officials and materials for 251 polling booths spanning across six assembly constituencies in Bastar division were transported by helicopters.

Schoolchildren eat a snack at a government-run boarding school after being discharged from a hospital in Bero near Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state, November 14. (AP Photo)

RANCHI, NOVEMBER 14 (REUTERS): Six tribal children died and more than 60 fell ill after drinking adulterated milk in a state school in Jharkhand, officials said on Friday. The students, aged between 8 and 13 years, began vomiting and complaining of stomach aches after drinking

milk and eating snacks on Thursday evening, officials said. More than 30 children are in hospital in Ranchi, nine in critical condition, doctors said. “Adulterated milk seems to have caused food poisoning,” said Bandhu Tirkey, the state’s Human Resources Development Minister, with-

out elaborating further. The school is run by the state’s welfare department to give free education and food to children of ethnic tribespeople, among the poorest and least-developed communities in India. The state government has suspended teachers from the school for derelic-

tion of duty, because food and drink is prepared under their supervision, an official said. Villagers gathered near the school on Friday to protest against the deaths. “We never imagined that free education and free food would cause the death of my son,” the father of one of the children said.

Govt working on to spruce up human intelligence Former union minister Panja passes away Andhra to pay Muslim

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): In the light of successive terror strikes in different parts of the country, the government is sprucing up its human intelligence network by roping in people at grass-roots level to check such attacks. High-tech surveillance equipment are also being brought by the government to detect militants moving from one place to another with arms and explosives. “We have been focusing on for a long time the role of human intelligence - the information that comes from the police station and village officers. How we can make better use of that because we need a combination of top down intelligence and then the bottoms up approach,” Cabinet Secretary K C M Y K

M Chandrasekhar said in an interview to a news agency. “We are in the process of strengthening our intelligence machinery at the central level also. I think overall in the recent past, some success has been achieved,” Chandrasekhar said. His comments came against the backdrop of recent media reports criticising the Union Home Ministry for its alleged failure in gathering intelligence information about the nefarious plans of terror groups. The Cabinet Secretary said plenty of equipment are available in different parts of the world to take photographs of militants moving around, to detect arms, explosives, etc. “We are looking into that part. We have strengthened considerably our surveillance system,” he said.

Chandrasekhar said National Security Advisor M K Narayanan was also working on these issues with close coordination of state governments. Last week, the Centre decided to set up an intelligence coordination group for northeastern states for better sharing of information and implementation of the inputs at ground level effectively. The decision was taken at a meeting of Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of northeastern states. The meeting, which was chaired by Narayanan and attended by Chandrasekhar among others, was held following Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent visit to Assam where he highlighted the need for generating actionable intelligence.

Ajit Panja KOLKATA, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): Former union minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader Ajit Panja died of cancer at a private hospital in Kolkata early on Friday morning. He was 72 and is survived by his son and daughter. Hos-

pital sources said that Panja, who was admitted on 26th October, breathed his last at 4.30 am. Panja was a lawyer, a former minister and a stage actorA lawyer by profession, Ajit Panja was a six-time MP and a former union minister, besides being an actor who mesmerised audiences with his brilliant potrayal of Ramakrishna Paramhans on stage. Panja was elected to the West Bengal Assembly in 1971 for the first time and was Minister for Health and Family Planning in the Siddhartha Shankar Ray Government from 1972 to 1977. He rose to become the WBPCC president in 1980 and in the 1984 Lok Sabha polls, he was elected from the Calcutta North East constituency.

He held a number of portfolios in the Rajiv Gandhi government including that of Minister of State for Planning in 1985 and Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies in 1986.Panja held independent charge of the prestigious Information and Broadcasting Ministry from 1986 to 1988. He was also the Minister of State for Finance. Born in Kolkata in 1936, he studied in the Scottish Church College and Lincoln’s Inn. He was a member of Supreme Court Bar Association and Calcutta High Court Bar Association. A keen actor, Panja’s portrayal of Ramakrishna Paramhans in the Bengali play ‘Noti Binodini’ won him great appreciation.

In urban areas, earn Rs 455 a month: Govt

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): The sharp erosion in the value of money and the spiralling prices of essential items may have played havoc with people’s lives, making it difficult for them to maintain their living standards, but the government is stubbornly sticking to its definition of who is `poor’. In an astounding position before the Supreme Court, it has held that one has to earn only Rs 455 a month in urban areas and Rs 328 in rural areas to escape the poor tag. “At present, on 1999-2000 prices, the poverty line at all-India level is Rs 327.56 and Rs 454.11 for rural and urban people per capita per month respectively,” said the health and family welfare ministry in a recent affidavit which stood out for the ridiculously low figures. In the government’s scheme, the poverty An elderly diabetic person holds a placard at an aware- line drawn on the basis of monthly ness rally on World Diabetes Day in Calcutta, November income varies widely from state to state and from urban areas to rural 14. (AP Photo)

areas. To classify as poor in the four metros -- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai -- the person’s monthly income has to be less than Rs 506, Rs 540, Rs 410 and 475, respectively. Which means, if your daily earnings cross Rs 17 in Delhi, Rs 18 in Mumbai, Rs 14 in Kolkata and Rs 16 in Chennai, you are among those fortunate not to be counted by the government as poor. The health ministry’s affidavit was in response to a petition filed by an NGO `Azadi Bachao Andolan’, which had accused the government of being utterly non-serious towards alleviating poverty and its failure to control the rapidly increasing population. Despite using these ridiculously low monthly incomes to classify a person as poor, the government has identified a huge chunk -over 26 crore -- as poor because they do not even earn these paltry sums. Orissa and Bihar account for more than one-fifth of the total poor in India. In Orissa, where to be count-

ed as poor one has to earn less than Rs 474 per month in urban areas and Rs 324 in rural areas, a whopping 47.15% of the population is classified as poor. In Bihar, where corresponding monthly income figures are Rs 380 and Rs 333, as much as 42.6% of the population live below the poverty line. As per the health ministry’s affidavit, Jammu and Kashmir is least afflicted by poverty. The northernmost state, where urban and rural poverty lines are demarcated by a monthly income figure of Rs 421 and Rs 368, only 3.48% of its population is classified as poor. After narrating several steps to counter poverty in rural areas, the affidavit stated, “Reduction and alleviation of urban poverty, if not its complete eradication, has long been one of the objectives of planning. There have been encouraging trends in the reduction of urban poverty in both percentage and numeric terms though the urban poor still face ageold problems at the ground level.”

youths for terror bungle

HYDERABAD, NOVEMBER 14 (CNN-IBN): The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to compensate 21 Muslim youths who were wrongly detained and tortured during the Mecca Masjid, Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park blast probes. A government report says the detainees were made to strip, were physically abused and given electric shocks. In one case, a two liter water bottle was said to have been hung from the victim’s genitals. The government decided to compensate the detainees after they approached the Andhra Pradesh Minorities Commission. The compensation worth Rs 30,00 is being paid to them in the form of

an auto rickshaw. “Youth were arrested wrongly in the Gokul Chat, Lumbini Park and Mecca Masjid blasts on the basis of suspicion, but were proven innocent. Now compensation worth Rs 30,000 is being paid to them in the form of auto rickshaw,” said Andhra Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir. However, even though the government had admitted on November 8 that some Muslim youths were wrongly detained and tortured, no official is willing to talk on the subject. Nearly 70 Muslim men were detained by the police in the wake of the blasts that rocked Mecca Masjid, Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park in may and August 2007.

India wants UN to set up peacekeeping force to ﬁght piracy LONDON, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): India has asked the United Nations to set up a PeaceKeeping Force to tackle the growing menace of pirates particularly in the Gulf of Aden. “We suggested that the UN set up a Peace-Keeping Force under their auspices with a blue helmet which will provide a unified command. The suggestion was well received,” A P V N Sarma, Secretary, Department of Shipping, said. Sarma, who is here to attend the five-day Council Meeting of the International Maritime Organisation, last night said there was a detailed discussion on the issue during meeting chaired by Sweden. The 32 member countries attended the meeting that concluded today. “India strongly took up the view that unless concrete steps are taken under the auspices of the UN, the

problem will aggravate,” he said. India also suggested that seafarers should not be treated as criminals in case of accidents and cited the case of Indian crew members being detained in Korea for the last one year following a collision between a tanker and a barge. Indian crew were on the tanker. Indian Navy recently thwarted an attempt by pirates to capture an Indian merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The ship, M V Jag Arnav, had recently crossed the Suez Canal and was eastward bound when it was surrounded by pirates, who tried to board and hijack the ship. When the 38,265-tonne bulk carrier, owned by Mumbai-based Great Eastern Shipping company, raised an alarm, it caught the attention of the Indian Naval warship INS Tabar which was patrolling in the Gulf of Aden waters.

India TV viewers shop, New world beckons in ‘child-friendly’ villages Lt Col confesses to crime in narco-test sleep as soaps go off air

MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 14 (REUTERS): Television viewers in India are shopping, hitting the gym or sleeping early as an impasse between producers and workers in film and television over higher pay has forced broadcasters to air repeats of popular soaps. The lobby group representing thousands of workers in the film and television industry based in Mumbai is pressing for higher wages and more benefits that producers are unwilling to accept. “There has been no progress in our talks,” said Dharmesh Tiwari, president of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, which represents about 150,000 workers, and which had struck work for several days last month, as well. “They are asking us to reduce our demands, but we cannot tell or members to walk instead of taking a bus or eat less food.” Broadcasters say they are themselves under cost pressure. “The work disruption comes at the worst possible time (with)

an economic downturn and advertising degrowth,” the top broadcasters said in a joint statement. “Unless the dispute is resolved immediately, it will threaten the very survival of Hindi general entertainment as a category.”

RE-RUNS AND MORE RE-RUNS

Shoots in Mumbai, home to the Bollywood movie industry and the dominant Hindi-language general entertainment channels, ground to a halt more than two weeks ago, and broadcasters resorted to repeats of soaps and serials earlier this week. “We’re hoping for an early resolution ... no one’s in a position to absorb any further cost increases,” said Keertan Adyanthaya, general manager of Star Plus, the top broadcaster and a unit of News Corp’s Star India. Advertisers were supporting the broadcasters’ stand, he said, despite declining viewership for general entertainment channels, which account for about 35

percent of TV advertising revenue. Television makes up more than 40 percent of advertising revenue in India, which is estimated at about $5.2 billion for 2008, according to research firm Media Partners Asia. “A long-running dispute will have an adverse impact on ratings and advertising,” said Vivek Couto, executive director at MPA in Hong Kong. Already, profits of broadcasters, who include such global names as Sony Entertainment, NBC Universal, Viacom and Turner International, are under severe pressure from growing competition, rising production and distribution costs, moderating ad revenue and caps on subscriber revenues. For Amrut Mota, a homemaker, the crisis has hit home. “The TV is my way to spend time ... now I am going for walks, doing yoga, going shopping and seeing friends to kill time,” said Mota, who would stay up till 1 p.m. watching her favourite soaps. “There’s no fun in watching repeats.”

MEERUT, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): Razia Sultan’s eyes sparkle. Just 11, she is already a mix of power-lady and princess. Nothing in her mien gives away the fact that the eldest of nine siblings toiled for four hours every day after school to stitch footballs in Meerut for two years till 2004. But Razia’s come a long way since those days. Her village, Nanglakhumba, on the outskirts of Meerut in west UP, has been a child-friendly village, or bal mitra gram, for four years now. And Razia is an elected member of the bal mahapanchayat, a national body that deals with children’s issues such as labour and early marriage. She is the oldest among her nine siblings and clearly a beacon of sorts for her peer group. Razia’s transformation from football-maker to child activist who has ensured separate toilets for girls in her school, is a story of hope. Like thousands of others, Nanglakhumba village was a hub of child labour till villagers rooted out the practice and recognized that the road to a better future cannot be built on the labour of children. The shift in the villagers’

mindset was an outcome of an initiative by Bachpan Bachao Andolan working with a group of foreign NGOs for a project called Building Child Friendly Villages. Villages with intensive child labour are identified, followed by extensive awareness and goal-oriented programmes where villagers are weaned away from acceptance of child labour. Enrolment in schools is ensured and village-level surveillance is mounted so that no unscrupulous person exploits children. The panchayat is usually the first to acknowledge the evil of child labour. Communitylevel intervention leads to compulsory education. Every village where child labour is rooted out has its own bal panchayat, which interacts with the adults. The results are remarkable. In a report, child rights activist Bhuwan Ribhu says that in conservative Tewari village near Jaipur, an alert panchayat welcomed the initiative and one of its first actions was to shoot off complaint letters about the absence of a health worker and teachers in the local government school. The realization that villagers themselves can work towards improving their

lot has raised the community’s self-esteem. An active bal panchayat here vociferously advocates withdrawing children from work and curbing child marriage. But it’s easier said than done. Activists report facing stiff resistance in every village, but in the 10 years since the project has been implemented in India, 238 villages have become child-labour free, and at present 43 are in the process of conversion, says Umesh Gupta, an activist with Bachpan Bachao Andolan. It takes an average of two years to rid a village of the practice and make it a bal mitra gram. Nangalkhumba’s bal panchayat is headed by 11-year-old Ubed, the youngest of eight brothers. Pradhan Ubed, as he is called, is happy to record that his panchayat has pushed parents of 48 kids to enroll this year alone. He has a steely gaze and understated confidence. He wants to be a doctor. Razia asserts she will become a samajsevika. She is preparing for a meeting with the district magistrate on Nov 25. There are issues, she says, that need to be tackled. There’s no missing the purpose in her voice.

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 14 (NDTV): The prime accused in Malegaon blast case, Lt Colonel Purohit has confessed to his crime in the narco tests conducted on Friday, sources told NDTV. Purohit has accepted that the Nanded and Ajmer blasts were masterminded by Dayanand Pandey, a self styled guru, who was arrested by Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad from Kanpur. “As-

sociates instilled hatred against a community, so I did it,” Purohit said. The Lt Colonel also said that Pandey introduced him to Pragya Singh Thakur, a sadhvi, who is already arrested for her alleged links with Malegaon bombing. Purohit further said that at least five hundred people were trained for terror strikes. He revealed that Ahmedabad ashram sheltered these people.

INTERNATIONAL

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‘Bin Laden is isolated, Al-Qaeda resilient’

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 14 (AFP): Osama bin Laden, deeply isolated and likely near the rugged Afghanistan-Pakistan border, has been forced to devote much of his energy to his own security while his Al-Qaeda terror network remains resilient, CIA Director Michael Hayden said Thursday. “He is putting a lot of energy into his own survival, a lot of energy into his own security. In fact, he appears to be largely isolated from the day-to-day operations of the organization he nominally heads,” Hayden said in a speech, referring to Al-Qaeda. The CIA chief suggested that bin Laden was hiding somewhere in the remote Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, where he said Al-Qaeda has regrouped and bolstered its organization. Hayden described “the sheer challenge of surveying every square mile of that inhospitable and dangerous region,” and said “part of the explanation for his survival lies in the fact that he has worked to avoid detection.” But he said hunting down bin Laden remains a high priority for the Central Intelligence Agency. “Although there has been press speculation to the contrary, I can assure you that the hunt for bin Laden is very much at the top of CIA’s priority list.” He said killing or capturing the Saudi-born bin Laden would deal a severe blow to the terror group blamed for the attacks of September 11, 2001. “Because of his iconic stature, his death or capture clearly would have a significant impact on the confidence of his followers, both core Al-Qaeda and these unaffiliated extremists ... throughout the world.” In a speech before the Atlantic Council think tank examining the threat posed by Al-Qaeda, Hayden said the network had “suffered serious setbacks, but it remains a determined, adaptive enemy, unlike any our nation has ever faced.” Hayden, appointed in May 2006 by President George W. Bush, may soon be stepping down as CIA chief amid media speculation that presidentelect Barack Obama may choose to replace him and National Intelligence director Mike McConnell when he takes office on January 20. During the campaign Obama vowed to hunt down bin Laden, accus(FILE PHOTO) Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden in an undated photo. October 10, 2001. Afghanistan's ing Bush of diverting resources from ruling Taliban lifted restrictions on Bin Laden, giving him permission to conduct "Jihad," or holy war, the war in Afghanistan and the hunt for bin Laden to fight what he has called an against Afghanistan's enemies. (Photo by Getty Images)

unnecessary war in Iraq. In his speech, Hayden described the tribal areas of Pakistan as an Al-Qaeda “safe haven” that is linked to every major terrorist threat against the United States. “Let me be very clear: Today, virtually every major terrorist threat that my agency is aware of has threads back to the tribal areas. Whether it’s command and control, training, direction, money, capabilities, there is a connection to the FATA,” Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Al-Qaeda was on the retreat in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Iraq, while it had strengthened in Pakistan and expanded its activity into North Africa, Somalia and Yemen, he said. The group was cultivating Somali extremists, gaining strength in Yemen where attacks were on the rise, and striking Western targets in Algeria -including French tourists and workers. “North Africa, East Africa, Yemen serve as kind of a counterweight to the good news out of Iraq, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere,” he said, adding that the problems in North and East Africa were not as serious as previous threats elsewhere. Taking questions after his speech, Hayden said Al-Qaeda had exploited a peace deal orchestrated by General Pervez Musharraf ’s former government with militants in the tribal regions. Musharraf ’s approach, focusing on long-term development of the remote area, would have been “wise and far-seeing” except for the immediate threat posed by Al-Qaeda in Pakistan, he said. “But our enemies took advantage of that respite, took advantage of that breathing space to build up the kind of safe haven that I described in my remarks.” Hayden praised Pakistan’s new government for launching major military assaults on insurgents in the region, referring to “tough fighting against hardened militants.” He also said Pashtun separatists in Afghanistan had forged an “operational alliance” with Al-Qaeda fighters across the border in Pakistan, which became clear a year ago and was a “troubling” development. AlQaeda not only used Pakistan as a headquarters but now posed a direct threat to the government in Islamabad, he said, citing bin Laden’s call for open war against Pakistan after a military raid on the Qaeda-linked Red Mosque.

CHICAGO, NOVEMBER 14 (REUTERS): Sen. Hillary Clinton emerged Thursday as a candidate to be U.S. secretary of state for Barack Obama, months after he defeated her in an intense contest for the Democratic presidential nomination. Putting Clinton, wife of former President Bill Clinton, in the position could help heal whatever lingering divisions remain in the Democratic Party after her bitter battle with Obama. Obama passed over Ms. Clinton as his vice-presidential running mate in favor of Sen. Joe Biden, a decision that angered her ardent supporters and widened a rift in the party that Obama and Clinton later worked hard to heal. Her selection as top U.S. diplomat could also mean a more hawkish foreign policy than that advocated by Obama during his presidential campaign. On the campaign trail, Clinton was more reluctant than Obama to commit to a firm timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.

U.S. first lady Clinton devoted a great deal of time to the rights of women around the world, often traveling the globe with her daughter, Chelsea. As a presidential candidate, she argued for putting greater U.S. emphasis on defeating the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and in ensuring nuclear weapons do not spread.

Sen. Clinton considered for Secretary of State But both Obama and Clinton were adamant about improving the image of the United States abroad and correcting what they considered the "failed policies" of the outgoing Bush administration. Clinton was described by her office as having flown to Chicago Thursday on personal business. Neither her aides nor aides to President-elect Obama would say whether she was interviewed for the job by Obama, who spent a great part of the day behind closed doors in transition meetings at his Chicago office. "Any speculation about cabinet or other administration appointments is really for Presidentelect Obama's transition team to address," said Ms. Clinton's senior adviser, Philippe Reines. NBC News and The Washington Post reported that Ms. Clinton was under consideration for the top U.S. diplomatic position. This would mean Obama was expanding his search beyond other candidates mentioned for the job, such as

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat who lost the 2004 presidential election to George W. Bush, and Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican who backed Obama over Republican John McCain this year. The former first lady had argued during the Democratic primary campaign that. Obama was too inexperienced to be president. But they mended fences and during the Democratic National Convention in Denver, she declared that "Barack Obama is my candidate and he must be our president." She was at first considered the shoo-in to win the Democratic nomination only to watch the 47year-old Illinois senator defeat her in a series of decisive battles. Whether Clinton would want the position was immediately debated on cable television talk shows. After all, she wanted to be president, and why would she settle for anything less? "I think she has her sights

set higher than that," said Stephen Hayes, a columnist for the Weekly Standard Magazine, on CNN. On the other hand, Obama won election over McCain decisively and if he is successful in his first term, he very well could win again in 2012, probably putting the presidency out of reach for Clinton, who is now 61. As

Saturday 15 November 2008

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Prince Charles turns 60 waiting for throne

In this image made available in London on November 13, Britain's Prince Charles poses for a portrait to mark his 60th birthday, which he celebrates on Friday Nov. 14. (AP Photo)

LONDON, NOVEMBER 14 (AFP): Prince Charles will celebrate his 60th birthday on Friday surrounded by young people helped by his charities, as he passes a milestone year with little sign of an end to his long wait to be king. The heir to the British throne has been celebrating his birthday all week, with a star-studded comedy show one night and a black-tie gala the next, but will spend Friday meeting participants of a Prince’s Trust scheme in London. By his side will be Camilla, his wife of three years who confidants say has brought Charles happiness, even if the role he was born for still eludes him. His sons by Princess Diana, princes William and Harry, paid tribute to their father at a black-tie dinner thrown by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Thursday night, saying he was “an inspiration to us and so many others”. The princes also joked that because of their father’s age they were having an electric chairlift installed at his country home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire. Rock star Rod Stewart had been due to perform at the private event, attended by the queen and her husband Prince Philip and more than 400 European royalty, friends and members of Charles’ charitable organisations. It will be followed by an informal party thrown on Saturday by Camilla. The celebrations kicked-off on Wednesday with a comedy night at a southwest London theatre, with stars including Robin Williams, “Mr Bean” star Rowan Atkinson and “Monty Python” veteran John Cleese. “What better tribute to the heir to the throne of this formerly great country that we should bring him tonight to this cramped old theatre somewhere in the God-foresaken suburbs?” Cleese quipped. Fellow Python Eric

Idle, who performed his song “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life”, said afterwards: “Charles is a lovely man and he loves being around comics and loves people who are funny. “Just because he can be normal around us, I suppose.” At an age when many are considering retirement, Charles is still waiting to succeed the queen, who remains on the throne at 82 years old and shows few signs of slowing down. But he sounded philosophical about his position as he reflected on his landmark birthday. “It is all in the hands of the good Lord as to whether I survive or am vaguely compos mentis,” he told a BBC documentary to mark his birthday. “Our life is so short and insignificant in the great scheme of things.” Asked if he enjoyed his role, he replied: “I don’t know.” “Well, there’s bits of it,” he added. “It is something that I feel I must do to help as many other people as I possibly can and this country.” Commentators dismiss suggestions he is frustrated, noting that he has found personal happiness after marrying long-time companion Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005 and focusing on his extensive charity work. Charles divorced princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris 11 years ago, in 1996. The queen took the unusual step Wednesday of praising her eldest child’s work with the Prince’s Trust, which supports disadvantaged young people. “Countless lives have been transformed by the Prince’s Trust to which the Prince of Wales has brought vision and conviction,” she said after meeting volunteers with the organisation. “For Prince Philip and me, there can be no greater pleasure or comfort than to know that into his care are safely entrusted the guiding principles of public service and duty to others.”

Barred by Britain, exiled Thai PM seeks new home

BANGKOK, NOVEMBER 14 (AP): Thailand's former prime minister once used tax havens to shelter the fortune he made in telecommunications. Now, as a fugitive facing jail time, he is seeking a haven for himself. Last month, a Thai court found Thaksin Shinawatra guilty of conflict of interest in a land deal and handed down a 2-year sentence. Thaksin had already fled to London, where he is reported to own a multimillion dollar apartment as well as a five-bedroom mansion in the suburbs. But then Britain canceled his visa while he was out of the country. As of Friday, he was in Hong Kong, but a close associate said he would be leaving soon. It's anybody's guess where he is headed next. Thai media are full of speculation. Bermuda? Dubai? The Central African Republic? Thaksin was prime minister from 2001 to 2006, when he was toppled in a military coup. He still wields influence with the current government, and protesters have occupied the main government office in Bangkok for the past three

months seeking to force his allies from power as well. Thaksin's conviction stems from his time as prime minister, when his wife bought land from a state agency, violating a ban on officials and spouses making contracts with the government. They still face several more serious charges. The former leader is not exactly trapped. First off, he is believed to have hundreds of millions of dollars at his disposal. Secondly, he has a Thai diplomatic passport, a courtesy given to former prime ministers in Thailand, allowing him visa-free entry to 40 countries. But as pressure mounts on the government to withdraw that privilege, Thaksin is looking increasingly like a man without a country. "His primary concern will be to move to a country without an extradition treaty with Thailand," says Dan Nardello, a former U.S. federal prosecutor who heads Nardello & Co., an investigations firm with offices in New York, London and Washington, D.C. "While it is difficult to generalize, former leaders in similar situations

also tend to turn to countries where they have a pre-existing personal or professional connection - for example, countries in which Thaksin was seen as instrumental in supporting trade," Nardello says. Jakrapob Penkair, a political ally of Thaksin, confirmed reports that the former prime minister is in Hong Kong. Reached by phone Friday, Jakrapob said Thaksin would be leaving soon, but declined to say where. China is frequently mentioned as a possible sanctuary. Thaksin has business associates in China and was "on vacation" there earlier this week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Chinese media reported that he had bought a home on a golf course at the Huabin Golf Club in northern Beijing, but a receptionist in the club's marketing department said it was just a rumor. China is unlikely to allow Thaksin to stay, unless the Thai government signals it would be fine leaving him in exile there. Thailand is too important a political and trade partner for Beijing to buck the government. China also

has an extradition treaty with Thailand. The two other places most frequently mentioned, the Bahamas and the United Arab Emirates, don't have extradition treaties. Fugitives and celebrities have long favored the Bahamas, including Robert Vesco, an American financier and major contributor to Richard Nixon's presidential campaign. Vesco fled embezzlement charges. The Caribbean archipelago's attractions include no taxes on income, capital gains or inheritances. Any foreigner who buys a home worth at least $500,000 can become eligible for permanent residence. In recent years, the Bahamas has introduced several proposals to strengthen laws against harboring fugitives from other countries. The Thai press has reported that the Bahamas may have given Thaksin honorary citizenship, but officials there said Thaksin has not made an asylum bid. "To the best of my knowledge, I am not aware of any request, nor has any honorary citizenship been granted for the former prime minister of Thailand," said Brent Symon-

ette, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. Likewise, officials in Bermuda, a British territory off the east coast of the United States, shot down reports he could be headed there. "I know nothing about it. It's absolutely not true," Premier Ewart Brown said Wednesday. The latest rumors suggest Thaksin may be looking to the United Arab Emirates, but that seems to be based on little more thanThaksin's recent sale of his British football club to a group of investors in Abu Dhabi. The Persian Gulf federation has played host to out-offavor overseas officials in the past. An immigration department official in Dubai said he was unaware of any interest by Thaksin in coming to the United Arab Emirates. The foreign ministry in Abu Dhabi, the capital, could not be reached for comment. Long shots include some impoverished African countries - Togo, the Central African Republic and Chad - that are reportedly seeking him as an economic adviser. Many African nations have sheltered out-of-power

In this Feb. 28, 2008 ﬁle photo, former Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra smiles as he greets supporters a the Bangkok airport, on his return from exile. Thaksin once used tax havens to shelter the fortune he made in telecommunications. Now, as a fugitive facing jail time, he's seeking a haven for himself. (AP Photo/File)

leaders from elsewhere on the continent, and some have agreed to deals brokered by more powerful nations looking for places to stash unsa-

vory ex-leaders. "Lots of countries would welcome him with open arms because he is business-savvy and policy-savvy. He can be an asset to any gov-

ernment," says Jakrapob, the ally of Thaksin. "But he likes being close to home. He likes Asia. He likes being close to his constituents."

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SPORTS

Saturday 15 November 2008

The Morung Express

Juventus join Inter at top

NZ looking to plot Aussie downfall with India recipe MELBOURNE, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): India’s recent Test series victory over Australia has given New Zealand hope and speedster Chris Martin believes they can inflict further ignominy on Ricky Ponting’s men. Australia take on New Zealand in two Tests, five One-day Internationals and Twenty20 match. The first Test starts in Brisbane on November 20 and Martin said their fast bowlers should try and work out a similar strategy used so effectively by Indian speedsters Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma against Australia. "I saw some incredible deliveries bowled (in India). The level that some of those guys -- Sharma and Zaheer – were bowling at, I think we need to look at ourselves and work out whether we can bowl those wicket-taking balls as well," Martin said. "We know we’ve got the firepower, it’s a matter of stringing it together on a more day-to-day basis, which is basically what Australia does." New Zealand are likely to go with a four-pronged pace attack in the first Test in teenager Tim Southee, Ian O’Brien, Kyle Mills and Martin, who missed the Bangladesh tour with a hamstring injury.

Three-tier security for 2nd India-England ODI INDORE, NOVEMBER 14 (PTI): Elaborate security arrangements will be in place when India will take on England in the second One-Day International match of the series at Usha Raje Cricket Ground on Monday. "A three-tier security arrangement will be in place for the One-Day International match as 1500 security personnel will be deployed in and around the venue," Anil Kumar, Inspector General of Police for Indore Range, said. He said that strict vigil will be maintained during the match and spectators will be thoroughly checked before they enter into the stadium premises. "We are expecting a large turnout during the match and therefore we are not taking any chance," Kumar added.

Juventus' Brazilian forward Carvalho Amauri, right, jumps for the ball with Genoa defender Matteo Ferrari during the Italian Serie A top league soccer match between Juventus and Genoa at the Olympic Stadium in Turin, on November 13. (AP Photo)

TURIN, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): Juventus routed Genoa 4-1 late on Thursday to join champions Inter Milan at the top of Serie A. Czech defender Zdenek Grygera charged into the box after a lay-off from Alessandro Del Piero and found the far bottom

corner from a tight angle to give the hosts the lead in the sixth minute. Brazilian striker Amauri doubled the advantage 20 minutes later, soaring to head in a Grygera cross from the right with power, before substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta made it 3-0 with

a cool finish in the 85th. Diego Milito pulled one back for Genoa with a penalty only for Sokratis Papastathopoulos to divert a Mauro Camoranesi cross from the right into his own net in stoppage time. Juventus's seventh consecutive victory in all

competitions gives them 24 points from 12 league games, the same tally Inter have notched in 11. Genoa responded positively to the early setback, with defender Matteo Ferrari nodding just over the bar and Milito coming close after sending his

markers dizzy with some superb dribbling. They also kept pressing after Amauri scored against the run of play and Raffaele Palladino spurned a great chance to score four minutes after the break. But they seemed to lose heart as their efforts went

unrewarded and Juventus eventually romped home amid a late goal flurry. Thursday's game was brought forward from this weekend's Serie A programme because the Italy rugby team are playing Argentina at Turin's Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Shanghai may axe F1 Grand Prix: ofﬁcial I'm looking for a miracle: Federer SHANGHAI, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): Shanghai is considering axing the loss-making Formula One Grand Prix after its contract runs out in 2010, a senior official told reporters. Qiu Weichang, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, said the situation was being assessed and a decision would be announced next year. “We're doing the assessment. By next year we should be able to give you an answer,” he said in an interview late on Thursday. China's biggest city spent 240 million dollars on the state-of-the-art Shang-

hai International Circuit and hosted its first Formula One race in 2004. But the event has been plagued by poor ticket sales and Qiu said its fate was in the balance. “We want to create a win-win situation, for our side and for Bernie and the F1 organisers as well,” he said. Qiu was also cool on the idea of night racing, which Ecclestone is pushing in Asia as a way to boost European TV audiences. Singapore held the first night Grand Prix in September. Formula One events are often run at a loss with this year's Australian Grand Prix

going 27 million dollars into the red. France recently cut its race over money worries. Asia is a huge growth market for the sport with South Korea due to host its first race in 2010 and India joining the circuit in 2011. Shanghai's ties have soured since Yu Zhifei, who helped bring Formula One to China, was jailed in January in a massive corruption crackdown that brought down the city's top official. The city has already pulled its annual Moto GP race, although Qiu said the circuit was in use for most of the year by car clubs and for private driving sessions.

SHANGHAI, NOVEMBER 14 (REUTERS): Top seed Roger Federer was left hoping for "a miracle" on Wednesday after being laid low by illness as he struggled to stay in the hunt for the Masters Cup title. Despite beating first alternate Radek Stepanek 7-6 6-4 in the Red Group on Wednesday, the world number two's defeat by Gilles Simon on Monday means he must now beat inform Andy Murray to avoid an end to his quest for a fifth Masters Cup. World number four Murray, who has a 3-2 career advantage over Federer, has enjoyed his best year on the circuit and although he has already qualified for the last four the Briton said he would be going all out for a win on Friday. "I guess I got really lucky my match was scheduled late today and then Radek was not playing with his own racket, so that made it a little bit more lucky," the Swiss player told reporters. "At the end of the day I still have a chance. I hope with a day of recovery I'll make a miracle happen here and get through to the semis." Already short of practice, the last thing Federer needed was the illness that struck him after the defeat by Simon. "I woke up in the morning and I was feeling terrible," he said. "Really upset stomach and couldn't Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton, left, shoots around Sacramento Kings center even practice. "I didn't go out Spencer Hawes during the second half of their NBA Basketball game in Los Angeles, on of the room. I'm just sort of trying to get over things. It November 12. The Kings won 103-98. (AP Photo)

UEFA President Michel Platini displays a Romanian national team shirt received as a present at the end of a press conference in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, Nov. 14, 2008. Platini is on a two-day visit to Romania to evaluate the progress in the construction of a new stadium that Romania hopes will increase it's chances to host the UEFA Cup ﬁnals in 2012.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Ferdinand backs drug test plans

would have been impossible to play yesterday." Federer has had a disappointing season by his high standards and ill health has played its part. He started the year suffering from mononucleosis and two weeks ago pulled out of the Paris Masters with

a bad back. The 27-year-old Federer has never gone out before the knockout stage at six previous Masters Cups. Czech Stepanek only came into the event as an 11th-hour replacement for injured American Andy Roddick.

MANCHESTER, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has backed the Football Association's plans to introduce more stringent drug testing in football. Ferdinand served an eight-month ban in 2003 for missing a drugs test. The new proposals would bring football into line with most other sports by forcing players to notify testers of their whereabouts for an hour a day. "It sounds fair. If it brings us up to the level of all the other sportsmen, then I'm in favour," said Ferdinand. "We get tested quite a lot anyway. A lot of players get tested three or four times a season so it would be no different to what we're used to. If the powers that be say moving to a new level and revealing where we are in advance is the right thing to do, then we'll get on with it." Since returning from his lengthy ban, which forced him to miss Euro 2004, the 30year-old has established himself as a cornerstone of the defence for both United and England. Ferdinand said he had missed the test because of forgetfulness, but his advice to young players was to learn from his mistake. "I'd say to them it's all part and parcel of the game," he said. "Whatever rules there are out there you have to deal with it. You have to make sure you're there to be tested and you have to let people know where you're going to be. Simple as that." The new proposals would also see players facing tests - for both recreational and performance-enhancing substances - at their homes, a move that has been opposed by Professional Footballers' Association. "We feel to invade the privacy of a player's home is a step too far," said PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor . "If we complain about anything to do with drug-testing people think we might have something to hide, but football's record is extremely good and there has been a virtual absence of any performance-enhancing drugs over decades." The tests aim to bring football into line with the World AntiDoping Agency (Wada) code, which requires football to align itself with the testing initiatives of Olympic and other team sports such as rugby and cricket. The scheme is expected to begin next season, with a new version of the Wada code set to be introduced on 1 January 2009.

Seven sports make case for place at 2016 Olympics

LAUSANNE, NOVEMBER 14 (AP): Seven sports made their case Friday for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Olympics, competing for two spots on the program. Baseball, golf, karate, rugby, softball, roller sports and squash made hour-long, closed-door presentations to the International Olympic Committe's program commission. The 16-member commission will deliver an influential report to the IOC's top decision-making body before a vote on the 2016 schedule to be held next year in Copenhagen, Denmark. The seven sports were rejected for the 2012 London Games program in voting by more than 100 IOC members three years ago.

Baseball and softball were dropped, while the other five failed to gather enough support for inclusion. The program commission, including eight IOC members and eight administrators from other sports, wants the candidates to demonstrate they have a worldwide audience and appeal to young people in order to join the existing 26 core sports on the Olympic program. Baseball made the first presentation Friday, and International Baseball Federation president Harvey Schiller told reporters the session went well. "I thought everybody was smiling," he said. Baseball was followed by golf, which was represented by PGA executive Ty Votaw and Peter Dawson of the Roy-

al & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland. "I think they felt we made a powerful presentation," Dawson said after the meeting. Schiller said the sixmember baseball delegation was asked if it could deliver major league players to a 16team Olympic tournament in August 2016. "We're committed to bringing the best players ever to the Olympic baseball tournament," he said. "We talked about our advances in drug testing. We have an agreement with the professional leagues in terms of out-of-competition testing for the events we sanction." Each sport must host an IOC delegation to observe an event, and baseball has invited officials to attend the World Baseball Classic

finals in Los Angeles next March. The golf delegation brought the trophy presented the last time the sport was played at the Olympics in 1904. Votaw said golf's strong points were "speaking with one voice, bringing top players, and worldwide participation," with the sport televised in 216 countries each week. "We would be able to promote golf in the Olympics and the Olympic movement across that platform every single week," Votaw said. "I think it was favorably received." The presentation featured video messages from Tiger Woods and Lorena Ochoa, the No. 1 players in the men's and women's game.

Golf's Olympic proposal is for 60-player men's and women's tournaments, one in each week of the Olympics. It has not been decided if the events would be strokeplay or matchplay format. Votaw said an IOC observer team could be invited to attend the Masters tournament at Augusta, Georgia. World Karate Federation president Antonio Espinos flew in from his world championships in Tokyo to attend. He said karate had 180 national federations and values of fairness and discipline. "We want to have increased resources to spread the social and educational values of karate," Espinos said. He said he answered IOC concerns about how contestants could protest

the judging of bouts across 10 classes, five each for men and women. Rugby fell from the Olympic program in 1924 and wants to come back with the seven-a-side, shorter version of the game for men and women, rather than the more established 15-a-side competition. International Rugby Board chief executive Mike Miller said the sport was a proven success at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, and was being added to the Pan-American and African Games schedules. "It is a format that works incredibly well over two or three days with packed houses," he said. International Softball Federation president Don

Porter said his sport's chances might have been helped when U.S. dominance at the Olympics was ended when the Americans lost to Japan in the gold medal game in Beijing. "More countries are getting to be more competitive and we're working toward that," he said, with more national cup contests in development. "We have got a lot of work to do and change is coming. We're doing what we need to make our sport exciting, interesting and available." The presentations at IOC headquarters were completed later Friday by roller sports and squash. The International Federation for Roller Sports proposes road races on city

streets for men and women. The World Squash Federation hopes that television-friendly, glass-enclosed courts can counter the sport's reputation as one that struggles to translate the speed of play to viewers. The program commission, which is chaired by Italian Franco Carraro, will present a report to the IOC executive board. The board meets next June to make recommendations to the full IOC membership. A simple majority is needed for a sport to be voted onto the program. The IOC will also select the 2016 host city during the Copenhagen session. The candidates are Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

C M Y K

Ent/Tabloid

The Morung Express

15 November 2008

Pitt ‘furious over Aniston’s attack on Jolie’

rad Pitt is said to be furious over over his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston's comments about his new love, Angelina Jolie, in a magazine interview. Burn After Reading star Pitt, 44, was believed to be angry about the Friends' star talking about Jolie's decision to spill the beans about falling in love with him while he was still married. In the interview with Vogue magazine, Aniston, 39, said she and her ex are on good terms and she has 'nothing but absolute admiration for him.' But a source close to the Pitt-Jolie camp told columnist Bill Zwecker the couple were 'totally thrown' by her remarks, thinking she had 'moved on and wouldn't want to reopen this old wound.' Zwecker commented: 'One would have to assume Pitt's irritation was due to Aniston's comment that it was 'uncool' Jolie came clean about falling in love with her married costar in Mr & Mrs Smith. 'But still, it was Pitt who cheated on Aniston leading to a horribly public split that was clearly humiliating for the popular actress.' Speaking to U.S. Vogue magazine about Mayer, 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 said she has nothing but admiration and claimed she still 'deeply, deeply cares about him.' Details of the interview, which has shocked Hollywood and made news across the world, was first reported by MailOnline. 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 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. She also talks about her current relationship with singer John Mayer, ex-boyfriend Vince Vaughan and her desire to have children. 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. 'Whoever said everything has to be forever, that's setting your hopes too high. It's too much pressure. And I think if you put that pressure on - yourself - because I did! 'Fairy tale! It has to be the right one! - that's unattainable.' Denying that she was unlucky in love, Aniston, who will be seen in the romantic film 'Marley and Me' at Christmas, said: 'This whole "Poor lonely Jen" thing, this idea that I'm so unlucky in love? I actually feel I've been unbelievably lucky in love. 'Just because at this stage my life doesn't have the traditional framework to it - the husband and the two kids and the house in Connecticut - it's mine. 'It's my experience. And if you don't like the way it looks, then stop looking at it! Because I feel good. I don't feel like I'm supposed to be any further along or somewhere that I'm not. I'm right where I'm supposed to be.' Aniston, who turns 40 next year, was full of praise for former boyfriend , comedy star Vince Vaughan. 'I call Vince my defibrillator,' she says. 'He literally brought me back to life. My first gasp of air was a big laugh! It was great. I love him. He's a bull in a china shop. He was lovely and fun and perfect for the time we had together. 'And I needed that. And it sort of ran its course.' The actress also says she is reconciled with her mother after years of not talking. The pair fell out when Nancy, 73, talked about her daughter to the press. In the interview, which is published in the US next week, Aniston reveals she has an English butler at her 10,000 sq ft home in Beverley Hills.

Designer Anand Jon guilty of rape, sex assaults

Mrs. Nagaland 2008 Mrs. Angelin (centre) ﬂanked by 1st Runners Up Mrs. Psipeni (left) and 2nd Runners Up Naro (right) have been selected to represent Nagaland in the forthcoming Darpan Mrs. North-East to be held in Guwahati on November 22, 2008. This was informed in a release issued by Ecclesia Entertainment, Dimapur.

elebrity fashion designer Anand Jon was convicted on Thursday of raping and sexually assaulting aspiring models as young as 14. Jon, 34, a rising designer who had dressed socialite Paris Hilton and singer Janet Jackson before his arrest last year, faces possible life imprisonment after a Los Angeles Superior Court jury found him guilty on 16 criminal counts. The crimes involved lewd acts on a child, rape and sexual battery in assaults between 2001 and 2007 against nine wouldbe models aged between 14 and 21. He was also convicted of possessing child pornography. Prosecutors said Jon lured girls and women to Los Angeles with the promise they could work as models and then attacked them. "He humiliated, degraded and took what he wanted from them. He was a predator who

took advantage of the weak people around him. He has no criminal sexual borders. If he didn't use force, he laced their drinks," prosecutor Frances Young told

the jury. Jon, whose full name is Anand Jon Alexander, denied the charges. His lawyers said the girls and young women were revenge seekers who had made up their stories or who had "invited what happened," and that there was little physical evidence. The designer was acquitted of four charges and the jury could not reach a verdict on three other counts. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 13. The Los Angeles District Attorney's office said Jon was facing a sentence of life in prison, with a 67-year wait before becoming eligible for parole. Jon has been in custody for a year because he is being investigated on similar charges in New York and Dallas. The Indian-born designer was profiled on the TV show "America's Next Top Model" in 2003 and selected by Newsweek magazine as one of the world's most successful South Asians in 2004.

06:00 - Seinfeld; 06:30 - The Simpsons; 07:00 - Last Comic Standing; 08:00 - Beauty And The Geek; 09:00 - How I Met Your Mother; 10:00 - Jimmy Kimmel; 11:00 - The Moment Of Truth; 12:00 - Blood Ties; 13:00 - The Unit; 14:00 - Beauty And The Geek; 15:00 - Last Comic Standing; 16:00 - Who Wants To Be A Superhero ?; 17:00 - Most Daring; 18:00 - Jimmy Kimmel; 19:00 - Smallville; 20:00 - Prison Break; 21:00 - Shark; 22:00 - Criminal Minds; 23:00 - Most Daring; 00:00 - Who Wants To Be A Superhero ?; 01:00 - SmalLville; 02:00 - Prison Break; 03:00 - Shark; 04:00 - Criminal Minds; 05:00 - Stacked; 05:30 - How I Met Your Mother 03:45 - Farz; 07:45 - Desh Devi; 11:45 - Style; 15:45 - Lakshya; 20:00 - The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen; 23:15 - City Hunter; 01:20 - Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani; 03:30 - Hera Pheri 06:00 - Austin Stevens: Most Dangerous... ; 07:00 - Teleshopping; 08:00 - Lords Of The Animals; 08:30 - All New Planet’s Funniest Animals; 09:00 - Corwin’s Quest; 10:00 - All New Planet’s Funniest Animals; 10:30 Young And Wild; 11:00 - O’shea’s Big Adventure; 12:00 - Big Cat Diary 4; 13:00 Nick Baker’s Weird Creatures; 14:00 - Austin Stevens: Most Dangerous...; 15:00 - Max’s Big Tracks; 16:00 - Eye Of The Hunter; 17:00 - Corwin’s Quest; 18:00 - Lords Of The Animals; 18:30 - All New Planet’s Funniest AnImals; 19:00 - O’shea’s Big Adventure; 20:00 - Big Cat Diary 4; 21:00 - Max’s Big Tracks; 22:00 - Equator; 23:00 - Eye Of The Hunter; 00:00 - Lords Of The Animals; 00:30 - All New Planet’s Funniest Animals; 01:00 - Teleshopping; 02:00 - Petsburgh Usa; 03:00 - Monkey Business; 04:00 - Petsburgh Usa; 05:00 - Monkey Business 06:00 - Telebrands; 07:00 - Planet Food; 08:00 - Wild Africa; 09:00 - A Baby Story; 09:30 - Amazing Baby Videos; 10:00 - Fight Quest; 11:00 - A Haunting; 12:00 - Dirty Jobs; 13:00 - Life In Cold Blood; 14:00 Discovery’s Biggest Shows; 16:00 - Wild Africa; 17:00 - A Haunting; 18:00 - Man Vs. Wild; 19:00 Wild Africa; 20:00 - Wild India; 21:00 - Discover India; 22:00 - Man vs. Wild; 23:00 - Man Made Marvels; 00:00 - Planet Earth; 01:00 - Telebrands ; 02:00 - Man Made Marvels; 03:00 - Extreme Machines II; 04:00 - Man vs. Wild; 05:00 - Man Made Marvels 06:00 - Seva Ganga; 06:30 - Vignan Shashwat Sukh Ka; 07:00 Sangam; 07:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi; 08:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi; 08:30 Plus Superhit; 11:30 - Bidaai; 15:30 - Plus Superhit; 19:00 - Kasturi; 20:00 - Nach Baliye - 04; 21:00 - Prithviraj Chauhan; 21:30 - Baa Bahoo Aur Baby; 22:00 - Star Voice Of India; 23:30 - Nach Baliye - 04; 00:00 - Kasturi; 00:30 - Ab Tak Ka Safar; 01:00 - Bidaai; 01:30 - Kis Desh Mein; 02:00 - Shararat; 02:30 - Kayamath; 03:00 - Ab Tak Ka Safar; 03:30 - Kahaani Ghar; 04:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi; 04:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi; 05:00 - Jai Maa Durga 05:15 - A Good Year; 07:15 - Ice Age; 09:00 - The Invincible Iron Man; 10:45 - Chapter 27; 112:30 My Life So Far; 14:30 - Terminator 2: Judgment Day; 17:05 - Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer; 19:00 - Federal Hill; 21:00 Scream 2; 23:20 - Seraphim Falls; 01:35 - Terminator 2: Judgment Day; 03:50 - Scary Movie 4; 05:15 - My Life So Far 1:30 - Pak V West Indies - 1st Odi H/L’s; 3:30 - European Tour Weekly 2008; 4:00 - Inside The Pga Tour 2008; 4:30 - Australian Golf-Western Australia Pga Champ Hls; 5:30 - Gillette World Of Sports; 6:00 - World Hockey Magazine; 6:30 - Great Centuries : -Herschelle Gibbs- 119; 7:00 - Wwe: Raw; 9:00 - Icl Hl’s - Final 1; 10:00 - Australian GolfWestern Australia Pga Champ Hls; 11:00 - European Tour Weekly 2008; 11:30 - Inside The Pga Tour 2008; 12:00 - Icl Hl’s - Final 1; 13:00 - World Hockey Magazine; 13:30 - Wwe: Ecw; 14:30 - Wwe: Smackdown; 16:30 - Pak V West Indies - -2nd Odi -1st Session; 20:00 - Pak V West Indies - 2nd Odi -Interval; 21:00 - Pak V West Indies - 2nd Odi - 2nd Session 06:00 - Striking Distance; 08:00 - Bring It On - All Or Nothing; 10:00 - Time Bomb; 11:45 - Recount; 14:00 - Shooter; 16:30 Stuart Little 2; 18:00 - Hollywood One On One 15 - ; 18:30 - The Cable Guy; 20:30 - Mumbai Calling; 21:00 - Balls Of Fury; 22:45 - The Covenant; 00:45 - Blood Brothers; 02:45 - Baseketball; 04:30 - Trespass

06:00 - Mann Mein Hai Visshwas; 07:00 Telebrands; 07:30 - Teleshopping; 08:50 - Box Office Muzic Hitz; 09:00 - Cid; 10:00 - Indian Idol 4; 14:00 - Kuch Naa Kaho; 18:00 - Khushi Ki Duniya; 18:30 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 19:00 - Comedy Circus; 20:00 - Boogie Woogie; 21:00 - Indian Idol 4; 21:30 - Comedy Circus; 23:30 - Boogie Woogie; 00:00 - Telebrands; 00:30 - Teleshopping; 01:00 - Boogie Woogie; 02:00 - Arslaan; 03:00 - Aahat - 3; 04:00 - Comedy Circus; 05:00 - Cid 6:00 - Numb3rs; 7:00 - The Amazing Race; 8:00 - 2007 Lg Action Sports Championships; 9:00 - David Blaine: Vertigo; 11:00 - Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!; 12:00 - Numb3rs; 1:00 - House; 2:00 - Cashmere Mafia; 3:00 - Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle; 5:00 - Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles; 6:00 Afterworld; 6:30 - Ebuzz; 7:00 - The Amazing Race; 8:00 - Sniper 3; 10:00 - Axn Xtreme: India Vs Pakistan; 11:00 - 24; 12:00 Moonlight; 1:00 - Cashmere Mafia; 2:00 - House; 3:00 - Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles; 4:00 - 24; 5:00 - Moonlight

Counting for Kohima District NSACS Naga Idol 3.08 underway at DC Conference Hall today. The counting for Kohima district was carried out by Orange Events (district partner) assisted by Kohima EAC’s.

Underwood a steady hitmaker after meteoric rise

Dimapur

06:00 - Global Telemall; 07:00 - Enjoying Everyday Life; 07:25 - Ek Nazar; 07:30 Jagran; 07:55exposure Jhalak; 08:00 Teleshopping; 08:25 - Ek Nazar; 08:30 - Jai Jai Tridev; 09:00 - Saat Phere; 10:30 - Ek Se Badhkar Ek - Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka; 12:30 - Movie; 20:00 - Ek Se Badhkar Ek - Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka; 21:00 - Naaginn; 21:30 - Aladdin; 22:00 - Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 200 - 9; 23:55ek Nazar; 00:00 - Asian Sky Shop; 00:55exposure; 01:00 - Asian Sky Shop; 02:00 - Shabhash India - Childrens SpEcial; 02:30 - Rakhi; 04:30 - Urja; 05:00 Ramayan; 05:30 - Narseva Narayan Seva

MISS BARAK 2008: Promoting social peace and harmony

iss Barak 2008 (Inter State Level for seven sisters North East India) will be celebrated on December 20, 2008 at District Mini Stadium Senapati Manipur. The Youth Hope Foundation is organizing Miss Barak 2008 under the theme “Peace through Culture and Identity” to promote social peace and harmony of North East India (Seven Sister State). The mega event is organised to promote the culture unity amidst the diversity of the people of seven sister and oneness of the region, cutting across political line and geographical factor. The event will be witness by indigenous food feast commencing on December 18 and 19, 2008 concluding with Miss Barak 2008. The prize of Miss Barak 2008 Rs 1 lakh, 50,000/- and 30,000/- respectively. The form can be obtained free from the Head Office, Broadway Complex, 2nd floor adjoining NPO Office N/H 39, Senapati Manipur 795106, and arrangement for obtaining form can be inform from office number 03871201444 (office hour 10 am to 3 pm) 9862061749/9436293104 (24 hours). Issuing of form commenced from November 15, 2008 and the last date for duly filled form submission will be December 5, 2008.

11 PRIME TIME Saturday

fter three years, Carrie Underwood is no longer the country newcomer on a meteoric rise. She's become a multiplatinum, steady hitmaker with two No. 1 albums and eight Top 5 singles, seven of them chart toppers. And while she may not be a veteran, she's certainly become one of country music's seasoned stars. "I'm a lot more comfortable with the process," she said recently. "I have two good albums under my belt, and now I can focus on what I really want to do and say." Perhaps as a nod to her established superstar status, Underwood joined as co-host the Country Music Association Awards, which aired live Wednesday on ABC. The 25-year-old also is nominated for album of the year and female vocalist, an honor she's won the last two years. "It's hard to get tired of it when it still seems so new," she said of her nominations. "I've only been doing this three years. For a lot of people it takes longer to get nominated. I'm lucky." After her "American Idol" win in 2005, Underwood was whisked into the studio to capitalize on her sudden fame. When her debut album "Some Hearts" sold phenomenal numbers, she felt a lot of pressure to follow it up. "I didn't want to be a one-album wonder kind of person," she recalled. That's no longer an issue. Her sophomore album "Carnival Ride" is approaching 3 million in sales at a time when very few releases reach that level, and it continues to spin off hits with her latest single, the poignant "Just a Dream," now No. 1 on Billboard's country chart. "There's no tried and true formula for making an album or picking songs. I sing songs that I'd like to hear on the radio. You kind of go with your gut and do things you like. Because even if it sold massively, I'd hate to sing songs that I didn't like onstage." Before "Idol," Underwood's idea of fame was about like everyone else's - all glitz and fun. Not anymore. "You never think about how much work goes into it. Now I think it's like I run a company. If I do good, everybody gets rewarded. So many people depend on me every night to do my job, and I depend on them. It's a business, too, and every night you go to work and if you do bad then everybody does bad. There's a lot of pressure and a lot of work involved. But when you work hard and everything goes right you see the fruits of your labor." She's emerged as the most successful "Idol" alum, an accomplishment she largely credits to finding a home right away with country fans. "The country music community didn't have to embrace me at all. That's where it started after 'Idol.' Radio was nice enough to play my stuff and fans were nice enough to request it. Then other people started opening their minds and their hearts, too. I feel so lucky that so many people opened their arms to me." This fall has been eventful for her. Underwood released a special edition of "Carnival Ride" with five holiday songs, recorded a cut on the "Elvis Presley Christmas Duets" CD and had her likeness in wax unveiled at Madame Tussauds in New York. After her headlining tour with Little Big Town ends next month, she'll take a couple of weeks off to "get away and clear my head" before starting on a third album. She's already sifting through material and will start writing her own songs after the tour. "I think I'm getting more comfortable with my writing abilities," she said. "I know that they're there now. In the beginning I was like 'I'll try it, and if I can't I won't mess with it again.' But I'm not one of those people that has to write every song because there are so many people out there who are great writers. But it is important to at least try."

05:40 - The Motorcycle Diaries; 07:30 Infomercial; 08:00 - Free Willy; 10:20 Stuart Little; 12:05 - Spider-Man; 14:50 OnceUponATimeInMexico;17:00-Gone In 60 Seconds; 19:30 - The Hollywood Reporter; 20:00 - Epk; 20:15 - Turner And Hooch; 22:30 - Maurice; 01:40 - Mr Bones; 03:10 - Arahan; 04:40 - Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple 06:00 - A Matter Of Taste With Vir Sanghvi; 06:30 - Hairy Biker’s Ride Again; 07:00 - Highlife Unlimited; 08:00 - Around The World; 09:00 - Madhur Jaffrey’s Flavours Of India; 09:30 - Dream Hotels; 10:00 - Beautiﬁcation With Ruby And Millie; 10:30 - Cover Shot; 11:00 - While You Were Out 3; 12:00 - Overhaulin’ 5; 13:00 - Cooking It; 13:30 - Take Home Chef 2; 14:00 - Adventures Of The Ladies Tailor; 14:30 Feast India; 15:00 - Nigella Feasts; 15:30 - British Biker Build Off; 16:00 - Million Dollar Agents; 17:00 - Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations; 18:00 - La Ink; 19:00 - Finest Hotels In The World; 19:30 - Indian Rendezvous; 20:00 - Getaway 2006; 20:30 - Hotel By The Bay; 21:00 - Food Paradise; 22:00 - American Chopper; 23:00 - Ballroom Bootcamp; 00:00 - Vegas Vegas; 01:00 - Food Paradise; 02:00 - The Presidential Tour; 03:00 - Kylie Kwong: My China; 03:30 - I Do, Let’s Eat!; 04:00 - Cover Shot; 04:30 Beautiﬁcation With Ruby And Millie; 05:00 - Amazing Vacation Homes; 05:30 - Superhomes 2 06:00 - Global Tele Mall; 07:00 Body And Soul; 07:30 - Tvc Sky Shop; 08:30 - Instant Khichdi; 09:00 - Hatim; 10:00 - Shaka Laka Boom Boom; 10:30 - Son Pari ; 11:00 - Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai; 13:00 - Dill Mill Gayye; 14:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 15:00 Movie; 18:30 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 19:00 - Dill Mill Gayye; 20:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 21:00 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Iv; 22:00 - Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai; 23:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 00:00 - Siddhanth; 01:00 - Tony B Show; 01:30 Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se; 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

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Ruthless India thrash dismal England

Celtic pay for fan pitch invasion

LONDON, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): Uefa has fined Celtic £42,000 after a supporter ran on the pitch at their Champions League match against Manchester United last week. The fan's actions cost Celtic an extra 20,000 euros (£17,000) after that figure was suspended following a similar incident last season. Celtic were fined £12,500 after a supporter confronted AC Milan's Dida. John Paul Murphy entered the playing area in the 35th minute of the Group E match, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Celtic were warned that the extra fine could be triggered should Uefa deem they had failed to control their fans again over the next two years. John Paul Murphy entered Celtic Park's playing area during the match, when the Scottish champions were leading 1-0. On Thursday, the 19-year-old pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to a breach of the peace and being drunk in a sports ground - and was remanded in custody with his sentence deferred. Uefa had awaited reports from the referee and match delegate before deciding on its next action. Punishments for pitch invasions available to Uefa's control and disciplinary committee range from fines to docking points or instructing European matches to be played behind closed doors. Part of the fine was imposed for the late start to the tie. An appeal may be lodged within three days, but a spokesman for Celtic said: "We accept the judgement and there will be no appeal." Manchester United could also face an investigation if match delegates mentioned alleged sectarian chanting by a section of their support at the same match.

Simon slides past Stepanek

Indian cricketers congratulate teammate Munaf Patel, second left, for dismissing England batsman Matthew Prior, left, during their ﬁrst one-day international cricket match in Rajkot, India, on November 14. (AP Photo)

dle

RAJKOT, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): Yuvraj Singh's century and an England batting collapse saw the tourists thrashed by India in the first of seven one-day internationals in Rajkot. Openers Virender Sehwag (85) and Gautam Gambhir (51) gave India a fine start before Yuvraj crafted 138 off 78 balls. Replying to India's 387-5, England fell to 38-4 with Zaheer Khan taking (3-26). Captain Kevin Pietersen (63) tried to haul his side back into the match but was run out and the tourists were soon dismissed for 229, a loss by 158 runs. Ravi Bopara weighed in with an impressive 54 not out but that will be of little consolation to England who, on this evidence, will struggle to work their way back into the series. The teams travel to Indore for the second ODI on Mon-

day with India, fresh from their Test series win against Australia, in scintillating form with both bat and ball. England, beaten 5-1 on their last visit to India in 2006 and without an ODI series victory there since 1984-85, will be aware of the uphill battle that lies ahead. Pietersen would have been delighted to win the toss on a grassy wicket that, with the 0900 local start time, was likely to offer the seam bowlers pace, bounce and movement in the opening stages. James Anderson and Stuart Broad probed away in search of early wickets but in Sehwag and Gambhir, the tourists were faced with world cricket's in-form first-wicket partnership. Sehwag was particularly fluent, exploiting the devilishly quick outfield by working anything short, full or into the legs for a flurry of

early boundaries. Gambhir soon burst into life and the pair dispatched every loose delivery, their running between the wickets was exemplary. Paul Collingwood saw Sehwag bludgeon his first two deliveries over mid-off and midwicket for sixes but that over, which went for 19 runs, was a sign of things to come. Initially England responded well - Flintoff was unfortunate to see an lbw appeal against Sehwag rejected by umpire Russell Tiffin and Samit Patel had Gambhir taken by Owais Shah at long-off. Patel had Sehwag caught brilliantly by a diving Ian Bell at midwicket but that brought Yuvraj to the crease and the fireworks duly began. The 26-year-old, who hit a Broad over for six maximums during the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, was suffering from a back injury but it

appeared to have anything but a detrimental affect on his batting. After Suresh Raina had belted Broad over midwicket and Pietersen over longon for sixes, Yuvraj smashed Flintoff and Harmison for huge sixes over long-on. Raina fell for 43 when he sliced a Flintoff full toss to Collingwood at backward point and, four balls later, Yusuf Pathan pulled Harmison weakly to Bell at midwicket. There would, however, be no let up for England and Yuvraj hit Broad for a flat six over cover point and pulled the next ball for four. With Mahendra Dhoni helping to keep the run-rate at over seven per over, Yuvraj was able to relax and the 44th over, bowled by Patel, went for 17 including two fours and yet another enormous six. The bowling became erratic and Dhoni lifted

Anderson over long-off for six before Yuvraj, aided by a runner because of a back complaint, completed the quickest one-day century by anyone against England.

Yuvraj played remarkable shots, none more so than when Flintoff was volleyed and half-volleyed over long-on for consecutive sixes.

SHANGHAI, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): Gilles Simon eased to a 6-1 6-4 Masters Cup victory over Radek Stepanek, and now faces an anxious wait to see if he has qualified for the semi-finals. The Frenchman must now wait and see if Roger Federer denies him a place in the last four with victory over the alreadyqualified Andy Murray. A second consecutive defeat for Stepanek, who was a last-minute replacement for the injured Andy Roddick, finishes bottom of the Red Group after a winless trip to Shanghai. Simon, who is enjoying an inspired 2008 after winning Masters titles in Casablanca, Indianapolis and Bucharest, marched through the first set of his final Group match with minimum fuss. After breaking Stepanek's opening service game, Simon turned on the style with a string of brutal groundstrokes to open up a 4-1 lead. The world number nine broke his Czech opponent again in the sixth game and wrapped up the opening set by holding his serve the following game. And, after breaking Stepanek's opening service game of the second set, it was a matter of when, rather than if, Simon would wrap up his second win of the tournament. To the world number 27's credit, he did make Simon work for his victory by holding serve at 5-3 down, however the unfazed Frenchman held with ease to seal the win.

Megson tips Liverpool for title LONDON, NOVEMBER 14 (AGENCIES): Bolton manager Gary Megson believes Liverpool are "genuine contenders" for this season's Premier League title. Rafa Benitez brings his Liverpool side to the Reebok Stadium for Saturday's early kick-off, and Megson has backed his opponents to win the league. "They seem settled and they are flying," said Megson. "They expect to be in the Champions League and picking up league titles and they are well capable of building on their great start this year." Liverpool last

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won the title in 1990 under the stewardship of Kenny Dalglish but they are currently second in the Premier League table, level on points with leaders Chelsea. And Megson believes that it is important for Benitez's team to win the league. "They've had top-class players...It seems incredible that it's been 18 years since they won the league. Yes, they've won plenty of cups during that time but, ultimately, you are judged on Premier League titles. But what has happened this year is that they have got off to a good start."

Majakong Sports Association, winner of MDFA Trophy 2008 posing for photograph during the closing ceremony at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex, Mokokchung. They beat Artand Youth Association by 3-1 to lift the Trophy. The winner pocketed a cash prize of Rs.40000 and certiﬁcates while the runners-up pocketed a cash of Rs.20000. Published, Printed and Edited by Aküm Longchari on behalf of Morung for Indigenous Affairs and JustPeace from House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur at Themba Printers and Telecommunications, Padum Pukhuri Village, Dimapur, Nagaland. Email : editor@morungexpress.com/newsdesk@morungexpress.com, morung@gmail.com. RNI No : NAGENG /2005/15430. House No.4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur 797112, Nagaland. Phone: Dimapur -(03862) News Desk- 281043, Admin -236871, Fax: (03862) 235194, Kohima - (0370) 2291952

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