The Morung Express

C M Y K

The Morung Express Fit it. Forget it.

A Daily Publication of Morung for Indigenous Affairs & JustPeace

Dimapur VOL. III ISSUE 319

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Monday, November 17, 2008 12 pages Rs. 3

www.morungexpress.com

A flower cannot blossom without sunshine nor a garden without love

”

- Chinese Proverb

NPF looks for Continuity & Change Party Secretary General quits; Dr Shurhozelie to be re-elected President

Along Longkumer Morung Express News

A baby boy cries as he is vaccinated against measles in a camp for displaced people, on Sunday in Kibati, north of Goma in eastern Congo. (AP Photo)

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IN A major development for the ruling Nagaland People’s Front (NPF), its Secretary General Chubatemjen Ao has reportedly resigned from his post putting in his official papers to the party’s president ahead of the next NPF general convention to be held at Kohima on November 18. Highly reliable sources within the NPF confirmed that the secretary general personally wrote to the NPF president, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu, on November 1 making clear his decision to vacate the office of the secretary general. A copy of the resignation letter was also forwarded to the chairman of the NPF Election Board. Former minister and presently Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, Khekiho Zhimomi is reported to be heading the 11-member Election Board constituted on Novem-

ber 4 by the party president.

When contacted, Zhimomi did not mention about the resignation of Chubatemjen but disclosed that Dr Shurhozelie will continue as the party president.

While Dr Shurhozelie will be the only consensus candidate for the post of president, it is now all but certain that the NPF will have a new secretary general. Zhimomi indicated that a “consensus candidate” has already been shortlisted to take over from party veteran Chubatemjen.

Party sources informed that the final list of the shortlisted ‘consensus candidates’ will be forwarded to the Central Executive Committee tomorrow for taking a final decision. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has reportedly endorsed the continuation of Dr Shurhozelie as president in what is seen as an effort to ensure continuity even as the party looks to the future.

While it is not clear what could have prompted Chubatemjen to quit

his post, reliable sources disclosed that the senior party leader had cited “more than one reason” for taking such a major decision. It was reported that the secretary general had raised several pertinent issues confronting the NPF, but which were “not taken up seriously”. According to sources, one of the major points raised by Chubatemjen during a postelection Central Executive Committee meeting earlier in April, was on the question of how to ensure that the government including the MLAs remain accountable to the party.

The outgoing secretary general was reportedly of the view that it is the party which runs the government through their elected representatives. Wanting the NPF to be modeled on the lines of ‘Democratic Centralism’ as practiced by the Left parties, it was reported that Chubatemjen had even made suggestions that the ministers/parliamentary

secretaries address the NPF Central leaders at least twice a month, meaning that the party was kept informed of the activities of at least two departments in a month. Obviously this did not elicit much support or response from the party itself nor did it go down very well with those in the government.

During the same meeting, Chubatemjen reportedly expressed concern over the “the lack of discipline within the party” and that many in the party were “uncommitted and unclear” in their “political principles and visions” whereby “some were joining or remaining in the party only for personal ambitions or for some gainful privileges without having any vision for the people”.

The secretary general also reportedly suggested that the terms and conditions for enrolment in the party needed review and to make it more stringent. continued on page 3

Naga Idol for greater church role in AIDS fight Morung Express News Mokokchung | November 15

THE CHURCH, the government and every concerned citizen should play a more effective and bigger role in the fight against HIV/AIDS especially against stigma and discrimination, according to winner of the NSACS Naga Idol 3.08, Toshinaro who is going to be the brand ambassador of the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS).

Interacting with The Morung Express this morning at Tourist Lodge here

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before her departure for Kohima, Toshinaro expressed desire to reach out to those who are infected and affected by the disease. “I hope and pray that I would be able to reach out to those people,” she said.

Confessing that her interest in the contest intensified once it was declared that this year’s winner would become the brand ambassador of NSACS, Toshinaro gave reasons that her interest was mostly because she wanted to ‘contribute something to the society’. Toshinaro reiterated that the state has a high rate of people infected with AIDS and lamented

the stigma and discrimination. ‘People don’t come out in the open’ and ‘declare that they are suffering with the disease’, thereby leading to more and more infections, he explained.

In this regard, Toshinaro said the church should play a major role in tackling the disease and reach out to those living in misery with AIDS. “It is affecting many people’s life and I think the church people have a bigger work, they should take the lead initiative to help out to those people who are lonely,” she said. continued on page 3

Nagaland Media: Throes of Rebirth Al Ngullie Morung Express News

THE MEDIA in Nagaland is in a state of changeover – not so much for the inevitable changes which functional purposes of history and change compel, but a shift in the paradigm of the very purpose itself. The pivotal cause for this paradigm shift, amongst others, in the Nagaland media, is widely attributed to the gradual but inevitable rise of ‘realization’ in the minds of the harmonizing factors, which impact the role of the media. These harmonizing factors include the Naga masses and on the other hand, the growing indispensability and realization of the supreme importance that public platforms can actually create opinions of remedy and positive change.

Or worst, otherwise.

November 16 is National Press Day. The day is symbolic of a free and responsible Press movement in India, as much as it is an affirmation that the media is the moral watchdog to ensuring standards of holistic humanity.

This was the mutual and widely expressed opinion, of the journalists and media persons in the state The Morung Express interacted with, in the backdrop of National Press Day. In the conversations shared with senior media persons, three mutual and unanimous points kept surfacing all too often: the gradual “awakening process” of the masses to the role of the media as watchdog of the society; the insufferable tendency of certain sections and organizations in Nagaland, to dictate and intimidate what the media ought to do or not, and thirdly, the need for the new generation media to engage in generating debate and pro-action, apart from the established utility of expending information. The three points – realization about the indispensabil-

ity of the media, exploitation, or “bullying” by certain sections and debate-creating are observed to be the very reflections of the stage the Nagaland media is currently in.

“There are ways we can improve on” said Monalisa Changkija, Editor of one of the oldest English dailies in the state, Nagaland Page. “We have to come out on our own and not follow the trend set by the national, regional or even international media” Changkija explained. Queried on the “ways” to be improved, Changkija pointed to the quality of information-gathering. Interestingly, she held view that news reporting – which, these days, are generally “poor” – was much ‘better in the eighties’. Another point to the lacunae is the media community not engaging extensively in analyzing situations or generating opinions for wider participation of citizens’ minds on issues. Sensations – criminal issues or political vice – may not necessarily be the only ones to merit “investigative journalism”, she pointed out. It could be any issue, to be in-depth and this is a lack. “This is one of our weaknesses” Changkija said.

Conversely, Editor of Eastern Mirror Diethono Nakhro weighted a good weight of changes that have taken place over the last several years. She said the way to broaching issues have translated into what she called ‘conscious reporting’. “Certainly, we have a long way to go. Definitely we are seeing a lot of changes, in the sense, of reporting the ideas we put across…there is more conscious-reporting now” Nakhro said.

However, Nakhro, like all the journalists this daily interacted with, agreed that a large section of the Naga society has yet to grasp the idea of what the media, and what tacit role it plays, is all about.

‘Media in state not ‘independent’’

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For details Contact before 17th November, 2008 Contact No: 9436006641/ 03862-230390 email: doc@drchugh.com

continued on page 3

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C M Y K

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Dimapur

17 November 2008

MEx File PVSU informs I Div holders KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The Pangti Village Students’ Union has requested all the first division holders (Class X & above) to submit one Xerox copy each of their marksheet and admit card to any PVSU executive members. Stating this in a release, the Union’s information and publicity secretary, Renjamo E Odyuo, has informed that the last date for submission of the same has been fixed for November 20. For further information, one may contact Boremo Ngullie, education & statistical secretary, at mobile no. 9862875773.

Shops in Chumukedima to remain open till 8 pm DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The Chumukedima Students’ Union (CSU) has declared that all shops and business establishments within its jurisdiction are to remain open till 8 pm from December 1 till January 1, 2009, in view of the coming festive season. A press release from the union office further announced that the union members would keep a close vigil every evening until the shops closed during the stipulated time, and in case of any complaints or problems, the union has asked the concerned person to contact the following numbers: 9436013327, 99862228726, 9856702397 or 9856461424. The CSU further informed on its ban on any form of donation, like Christmas carols, door-to-door donation, etc., in the name of the festive season.

ESSU convenes meeting DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The Eastern Sumi Students’ Union (ESSU) has convened its 4th general meeting on November 21 at 10 am at Hotel Fira, Kohima. The meet that will be attended by all former officials and gazetted officers from Aghunato area, has been called in regard of the forthcoming golden jubilee, a press release from the ESSU informed. The union president informs all concerned persons to attend the meeting.

Govt. informs on State Boiler Attendant exam DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The State Boiler Attendant Examination Board has tentatively fixed the first and second class Boiler Attendant Examinations for the first week of February 2009 for viva voce and practicals. In this regard, all the intending candidates are to collect and submit the application forms on or before January 10, 2009, from the Secretary of the Board, Office of the Joint Labour Commission, Nagaland Kohima, during office hours.

ASOTN general meeting KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The Association of the Subordinate Officials of Treasuries, Nagaland (ASOTN) will hold a general meeting on November 19 at 10:00 am at the Red Cross Building, Kohima, pertaining to urgent service matter. All executive members and two representatives from district treasuries and one from sub-treasuries have been asked to attend the same positively. Further, the members have been asked to submit the membership fee for the session 2008-09, failing which a penalty will be imposed against the defaulters.

BJP members join NPF C M Y K

LOCAL

Monday

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): Seven Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from the state, district and ward level have joined the Nagaland Peoples’ Front, a press release from the Dimapur division NPF informed. The members include K Kahoto Chishi (vice president, BJMY), M Waban Ao (state secretary, BJYM), Shashi Nair (executive, BJYM), Ainul Haque (member), B Raju (member), Shyam (member) and Tinku (member), along with all the BJP supporters of Ward no. 6. Dimapur division NPF welcomed the leaders and expressed hope and confidence in them to help strengthen the regionalism in the state and Dimapur particularly.

The Morung Express

‘Carry out investigative journalism’ Zakir Hussain Dimapur | November 16

ADDITIONAL CHIEF Secretary and Development Commissioner, Alemtemshi Jamir, today appealed to media of Nagaland, particularly the print media, to focus more on economic and related fields rather than emphasising more on politics.

Maintaining that the State media should carry commentaries on economy in the local context and in regard to the present economic recession all over the world, he also advised the media persons to carry out ‘investigative journalism’ in the State, which according to him, was ‘lack in the State.’ He was speaking as the chief guest at the National Press Day, observed by the Dimapur Press Club (DPC) at the Tourist Lodge in Dimapur.

Stating that the media play a prominent role, Jamir said the media should be rational and professional since the printed word was very powerful for the common man, which could be a blessing or a curse. He continued that the impact of the fourth estate was very much of the Government since a single negative line against the department and the officer could raise many questions about their positive function.

He also admitted that ‘press’ was instrumental in controlling violence in the State.

Talking about the presence of competition among the newspapers, Jamir said

DPC observes National Press Day

Alemtemshi Jamir, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, addressing the media persons. (Sitting L-R) Aküm Longchari, V Abu Metha, Liremo Lotha and VZ Angami at the National Press Day observed by the DPC at the Tourist Lodge in Dimapur on Sunday. (Morung Photo)

that unity among newspapers was very important for the growth and development of the Naga society. He suggested the media persons to change and mould the thinking of the people in the positive direction.

“Change directed in the right and wrong direction depends on you, especially in Nagaland,” he added.

Sharing his personal view, Jamir said the media in the State should accept positive criticism and should display responsibility and maturity.

He further called upon the press clubs to highlight their

grievances and come forward with proposals to the government. Liremo Lotha, Superintendent of Police, Dimapur, said that the print media has occupied a very important position in Nagaland. He said that the media has been doing a commendable job as the fourth pillar of the State, with factual reports despite many hurdles.

V Abu Metha, Press Secretary to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, while commenting that the media has been regarded as the fourth estate of the Constitution, said Democracy cannot move ahead

without the fourth leg, so media has a great role and responsibility towards Democracy. Therefore, he said, “We must realise how we can contribute to the society.” Stating that the media had worked under difficult circumstances in the past in the State, he said the media, particularly the print media, has grown a lot and still have a lot of room for improvement. He called upon the media persons to be more professional.

Expressing his view, Metha said media persons with experience should be placed in decision making lev-

els of the State Government.

However, he said that this comes with performance and professionalism. He pointed out that despite the multiple tasking of media person, they are under paid. He also highlighted about the need of support from public and private sector in the growth of media.

Abu pointed out that despite the difficult circumstances that the media works under, it has proved its capability and that it has come off age. He further appealed to the media persons to rededicate themselves to the cause of the society, people and democracy.

“The Naga Media is very small community so we need to work together with responsibility and in critical solidarity so that we can enable a vibrant and relevant media,” said Aküm Longchari, Managing Director of The Morung Express. He said that the media in Nagaland should be more than just a ‘watch dog’; it should contribute towards the making of the moral imagination. Stating that Nagas need to be able to dream dreams, Aküm pointed out that the media should think and act outside the box, and that it should creatively empower the public to make conscious and informed decisions.

The Managing Director of The Morung Express challenged the local media to be relevant, so that it could truly strengthen the values of democracy and peace. Unless the Naga media asserted and strived to be a relevant communicator, it would be reduced to a state of mere existence. It is time for the media community to reflect, he asserted.

DMC Chairperson, Khekaho Assumi and Temjen Jamir, Editor of Tir Yim Yim also spoke on the occasion. The programme was attended by VZ Angami, Additional SP, Dimapur, Nungsang, member of DMC. Earlier, the programme was chaired by Dilip Sharma, president of DPC and the vote of thanks was proposed by Alem Jamir, treasurer of DPC. Lipok Temsu, Naga Idol finalist 2007 presented special song during the programme.

DTO Dimapur collects revenue of Rs.29,31,350

Seminar on child rights

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The enforcement staff under the charge of District Transport Officer, Dimapur, has collected revenue of Rs.29,31,350 by way of compounding fees during the last seven months (April to October 2008). The compounding fees are mostly collected from the Inter State Check Gate at Golaghat road during intermittent surprise checks conducted from time to time, as the department does not have a permanent check gate, it was informed.

Transport commissioner, T Meren Paul, has stated that such revelation has been necessitated in view of query and allegations received by the department from several public, casting doubts on whether the collection by the enforcement personnel of the Motor Vehicles department gets deposited.

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The Nagaland Child Rights Committee will be organising a one-day seminar on child rights here at the Zonal Council Hall on November 20.

Governor K Sankaranarayanan will grace the occasion as the chief guest.

Neingulo Krome, general secretary of Naga Hoho, will talk on ‘Child rights is human rights’, while Ela K, director of Prodigals’ Home, will speak on the topic ‘Realities of child trafficking’.

The function will be chaired

by Vilanuo Yhome.

Schoolchildren of Bethesda Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, perform a lively dance on Children’s Day, November 14.

Bailley Bridge foundation stone laid DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The foundation stone for the construction of Bailley Bridge at Pangsha, over the Yangmon River, was inaugurated on November 13

by EE Panteang, Advisor for DUDA, and Village Guard Nagaland, in the presence of more than 1000 people from the Phom and Konyak community. The President of Phom People Council, President of Konyak Union, Tobu Branch, ADC Tobu, EE PWD (R&B) Aboi, and other officials and public leaders were also present on the occasion.

The people of the two dis-

tricts expressed happiness to the DAN government headed

by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for fulfilling the desire of the people of the upper Konyak and Phom in particular, and the two districts in general.

The people of the area looked forward to the task, taken up by the government, being completed within the stipulated time, stated a release issued by S B Poangba Konyak, President of the Konyak Union, Tobu Branch. They also mentioned wish for maintenance of the road from Mon to Tuensang border and the Longleng-Tuensang road to Yangmon River.

Neiphiu Rio during the function said that once the road is operational, the whole upper Konyak and Phom would be benefited, as it would be the shortest route leading to the capital of Nagaland, and it would also improve the economic condition of the people, stated the release. Rio further assured the people that the work would be completed during the present DAN government regime.

Meanwhile, the public has requested the NPWD (R&B) Department to take up necessary steps for implementation, the release added.

Obituary Chosen missionary, beloved wife and loving mother Mrs. Vitoly Joseph has passed on for her heavenly home to her Heavenly Father. After a blessed life, she was called home on November 14, 2008 from New York, the United States, after a prolonged illness.

Loving wife and fellow missionary to Reverend Mati Joseph, pastor of the New Testament Church in Yonkers in New York, Late Vitoli Joseph lives on in the hearts and fond remembrances of her husband, three sons and two daughters and a grandson. She was born in December 25, 1953.

Brought up from Akuluto sub-division in Zunheboto, Late Vitoly Joseph married Reverend Mati Joseph on December 7, 1976.

Called to farther mission by God, she and her husband left for America and have been residing in New York seven years now and since. Vitoli Joseph, inspiration and strength to all she touched, lives on in the hearts she has left behind, for a brief moment.

Loving husband, children and relatives Ph. No. : 001-9144577678 (New York), 9436213476 (Dimapur)

Exhibition, sale at CSAA informs Tseminyu from Nov 24 DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The Nagaland Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd. Dimapur will be organising a district level exhibition-cumsale at Tseminyu Town from November 24 to 28. The office of the Development Commissioner for Handloom, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, New Delhi, will sponsor the event.

N Hushili Sema, Managing Director, has informed

that all societies, SHGs, individuals and interested participants may apply to the Project Cell, NHHDC Ltd, Half Nagarjan, Dimapur, for participation, on or before November 20 during office hours.

Participants coming from outside the district and state will be provided travelling allowances, while incentives will be provided to the participants.

For more information, one may contact at: 9436603059/ 9436602955/94360603173.

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The Chungtor Suro Akhiru Amulong has informed all its bonafide members residing in the village and outside that it will be collecting Rs.25 per student from class 2 onwards for its primary membership for the year 2008.

The Union Secretary General, Rongtsali L Sangtam, has requested all the students to make the payments on or before December 20 positively.

Old Riphyim celebrates Tokhu Emong DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): Tokhu Emong festival was celebrated at Old Riphyim, Wokha at the Tourist Complex with M Patton, Commissioner of Taxes & Excise, as the chief guest, a press release from the Old Riphyim Tokhu Emong Committee informed.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest dwelt on the importance of culture and customs. He pointed out that efforts must be made to narrow the generation gap, and even as science and technology advances at a rapid pace, traditions must still be preserved.

There is every hope for everyone to succeed, but it demands one real effort with dedica-

tion towards one’s goal, he reminded.

The chief guest also donated rupees one lakh to the community. Parliamentary Secretary Y Patton who was also present at the festival emphasised on the importance of forgiveness and the need to bury the hatchet of past differences and to reconcile. Other highlights of the Tokhu festival were variety show and a volleyball match. Meanwhile, the committee has expressed gratitude to M Patton and his family, Y Patton and his family, Chandemo Patton, Nzanbemo Jungio, captain Amos Ngullie, Old Riphyim Village Council, the participants and the general public.

Wokha DPDB meets in Bhandari

BHANDARI, NOVEMBER 16 (DIPR): The Wokha DPDB meeting for the month of November was held at Bhandari town at Deputy Commissioner’s office on November 12. R Yanthan, Deputy Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and chairman of the board, said the reason why the board’s November meeting was proposed to be held at Bhandari “is because Bhandari Assembly Constituency-Bhandari sub-division is the most fertile land having sufficient favorable land for all-round development.”

At the meeting, a proposal made by parliamentary secretary W Kithan for upgrading

the ADC Bhandari to an independent full-fledged ADC was widely deliberated and discussed by the members, including all four legislators of the district. The board approved the agenda for recommendation to the government for action.

Further, the problem of the ‘man-elephant conflict” in Wokha district was discussed. The legislators raised the issue of compensation for damaged crops, for which the wildlife conservator in concern said the problem of shortage of funds in the department had been conveyed to the state government several times but no consideration had been made. He therefore ap-

pealed to the chairman and state legislators present to consider more funds so that the victims would be compensated.

Adding on the agenda of drug-related matters in the district, chairman R Yanthan said that Merapani and Bhandari are the main trafficking entrance points in the district. To this, agriculture minister Dr. Chumben Murry and parliamentary secretary Y Patton urged the administration and police in the district to control the increasing drug menace.

The DC of Wokha, A Wopen Lotha, made appeals to department officers and NGOs to cooperate and to assist in this matter.

LOCAL

The Morung Express

Monday

17 November 2008

Dimapur

3

More focus on women issues stressed STARTING LINE-UP

Our Correspondent

National Press Day observed in Kohima

Kohima | November 16

THE NEED to intensify the coverage on women issues in the state has been strongly felt during the observance of National Press Day here under the theme ‘Women & Media’ jointly organised by the Kohima Press Club (KPC) and Directorate of Information & Public Relations.

Sentiyanger Imchen, Commissioner and Secretary, IPR and Horticulture, in his address hoped that the press fraternity would play an important role in highlighting women issues and also other issues of public importance with seriousness. He also requested media persons to maintain the highest standard of reporting and focus on being “fair and without bias.”

He maintained that media occupied a very important space in society, adding that its power has increased tremendously. Also stating that the role of media is to provide information, entertainment and education, Imchen further requested media persons to give more attention towards educating public opinion.

The Commissioner and Secretary also challenged media persons to act as a catalyst for transforma-

Sentiyanger Imchen, Commissioner and Secretary, IPR and Horticulture along with Rosemary Dzuvichu and others at the National Press Day observed in Kohima on Sunday.

tion of society towards progress and overall development. Appreciating Nagaland Page for rendering a special feature on women every Friday,

Rosemary Dzuvichu, senior lecturer at the department of English, Nagaland University, requested other local media houses to adopt

NPF looks for Continuity & Change From Page 1

A family source close to the NPF secretary general also disclosed that the latter was especially hurt when he was accused by “certain sections” within the NPF for not helping the party candidate in 29 Jangpetkong A/C—the seat which was won by former Congress legislator party leader I. Imkong during the 2008 election. It was further disclosed that having served for a long time in a senior and important position within the NPF and before that the NPC, the secretary general was ‘unhappy’ with certain decisions including bypass-

ing him for a Rajya Sabha berth. Mr Chubatemjen is reported to have “reiterated” within the party forum that as a senior party leader he had “a rightful claim” to be the party nominee to the Rajya Sabha, which was denied to him. To recall, it may be mentioned that Chubatemjen was the then secretary general of the NPC when the regional party was later renamed into the present NPF in the year 2002 just ahead of the Assembly Elections in 2003, which saw the defeat of the SC Jamir led Congress government.

Meanwhile, notwithstanding the “differences”

within the party, sources disclosed that the outgoing secretary general also wanted to pass on the baton to other “suitable” persons who could address the “contemporary expectations and requirements” and that he was leaving without any resentment against anybody.

Party sources informed that the outgoing secretary general will be attending the party convention and that he will take a final bow from the political center stage on November 18 at Kohima.

(The writer is former Editor of The Morung Express and presently the Chief of Bureau)

similar approach by carrying out at least one feature article on women issues in a week. She was confident that such move would bring great

change and bear a “great contribution” from media houses.

She also requested the DIPR to give adequate coverage on the government’s programmes and schemes relating to women so that women in rural areas would be able to access necessary information and gain maximum benefit from there. Rosemary also asked media persons to lay special emphasis on health and safety sector of women, besides other issues like child marriage, empowerment of women, increasing rate of molestation of children, rising rate of HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, women in decision making, etc.

Further stressing on the need to provide basic information on trainings, loans and other business ventures, Rosemary added that such coverage would go a long way in terms of economic empowerment of women. Earlier, the function was chaired by KPC general secretary, Narain B Sagar, while Menguseu Suokhrie presented a special song. The programme concluded with vote of thanks

by Limawati, Deputy Director of IPR. Meanwhile, the KPC has expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for donating Rs.50,000 towards the KPC fund.

Your daily Meetings, Appointments, Information and Reminder column

KLOU general meeting today

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 positively.

NPF CEC meeting today

The meeting of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the NPF on the eve of the general convention will be held on November 17 at 4:00 pm at its central office, Kohima. The meeting will peruse and approve the report of the Election Board before submission to the general convention. All members are requested to attend the meeting without fail.

Information for heads of departments DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The office of the Sr. Dy. Accountant General (A&E) informs all heads of departments, government of Nagaland, that the annual GPF statements for the year 2007-08 will be issued from this office as per the following schedules. All heads of departments have been requested to deploy their respective nodal officers, preferably a gazetted officer, along with a letter of authenticity under the seal and signature of the head of department to collect the same on the assigned dates: November 17 (veterinary, jail, misc.), November 18 (CPF, Agri., IND, STY), November 19 (forest and medical), November 20 (police, GA) and November 21 (CW, education).

Naga Idol for greater church role in AIDS fight

From page 1

“I believe the church people, they have to support a lot and even the government and every concerned members of the society as well.” As of now she does not exactly know how she will contribute to the cause of AIDS or what plans the NSACS has to use her as the brand ambassador. “As of now I am not too sure, I have talked with those people, NSACS people and let’s see how it goes,” she said. It may be noted that Toshinaro is the third winner and the first female to win the Naga Idol contest, the earlier ones being Moanungsang and Rokoviotuo.

Toshinaro is the daughter of T Imnak Imchen and Y Temsula Longchar and is from Lirmen village under Mokokchung district. She is presently pursuing her masters in English from Nagaland University.

‘Everything happened so fast’ for the NSACS Naga Idol 3.08 that she believes to be is still in a dream, ‘on Cloud No 9’. However, despite her busy schedule and preparation to head back to Kohima, her home town, Toshinaro, took off some time from her busy schedule and interacted with The Morung Express.

Born into a family of five, Toshinaro has a deep and ‘natural’ husky voice which has been a sort of amusement for her friends who tease her if she is “Bryan Adam’s sister”.

An ardent talker with a cheery continence, she says with great glee, “I am more of a talker…than a writer.”

It wasn’t with much seriousness that she joked with her friends that she was to audition for the Naga Idol, and never thought that she

would come this far. Her trademark husky voice finally paid off. Now she is richer by one Lakh rupees and a brand new Maruti Alto and is the brand ambassador of Nagaland State Aids Control Society.

Graduated from Sazolie College in Jotsoma Kohima, Toshinaro is presently doing her MA in English, NU. She took up singing from a very young age and sang in ‘groups’ and solos in church services. She can play “guitar basics” and also “drums”.

A strong believer in Christ, Toshinaro however says she is the ‘worst’ of sinners, yet expressed strong belief that God takes care of her in every step and that God is there with her in every way. She thanks God for her success, her

friends and especially her family members who have been very supportive right from the beginning.

Interestingly, Toshinaro has no formal training in music and what she can sing is adaptations of western singers like Amy Grant, Jewel and others. She is more into gospel music and for her, lyrics catches her attention more in her selection for music. Music for her has a deeper meaning and sees music as a strong device which can heal and repair.

Of the days ahead as a ‘Naga Idol’ winner, Toshinaro foresees some criticism from society and also opportunities in her life; but she will take criticism in a ‘constructive way’. “I see it as a big challenge for me,” she maintains.

Nagaland Media: Throes of Rebirth LFS celebrates Children’s day with IGAR

From page 1

“Not that we do everything right, we do have our failings but we face problems” she said, referring to the insufferable pressure, diktat and worst, intimidation from certain sections of the society who have yet to “grasp” the media’s role in a given society. “There are many young people who are joining the media and coming up with better ideas and better thoughts,” she said but the pressure remains in dealing with those not versed are ill-informed about the tacit role of the media. “The only thing we can do is use our ‘pie’ constructively and know how to use it”. Nakhro expressed hope, that in a course of time, mindsets will change.

The Darker Page of the Story

It is no secret that a considerable section of the masses and many an organization in Nagaland impose diktats over what the media ought to do, be doing or express. While most readerships – including even the Naga “political groups” – are gradually realizing that the social media is independent, self-regulating democratic institution and beyond all tertiary affiliations, certain sections are inclined to “bully” the media into expressing a given opinion. A senior journalist, refusing to be named, echoed the one plain sentence of lamentation all journalists in Nagaland agree on: “What mind do you expect

from certain people who demand what page or which space their press statement should go?”

In fact, the common practice and expectation for most readerships in Nagaland sometimes borders on sheer ridiculousness. For instance, the current trend where some Naga “political groups” members even go to the extent of dictating terms what point of opinion, sentence, term or word (not to mention which page to be published or size of space given) should be published. Threats and intimidations against the media from one too many sections, even civil society organizations like certain students’ bodies, are an everyday affair.

This is the reality under which the media in Nagaland works.

Senior reporter and photojournalist Pradeep Pareek said this trend of intimidating newspapers by certain sections in carrying opinion has ebbed to some extend. But considering the general culture the “mediailliterate” practice when dealing with the media, the institution is not independent, Pareek said. He also agreed on the general dictum concerning the Nagaland media: “The media in Nagaland is not independent. No, it is not independent,” echoed Pareek, a veteran of more than 20 years in the profession. He however, said some changes can be seen that the masses and civil society, amongst others are slowing realizing that the media is

not a “notice board”. He contextualized his opinion on the pre-ceasefire period and post-ceasefire: “The situation was different during the preceasefire period and situation was difficult. But in the post-ceasefire period things are changing to some level. Yes, there are many who have no idea at all what the newspapers or journalists are all about. Our job is to write the truth and many people cannot digest the truth”.

Pareek further explained that the people should learn to be more “tolerant”. He was referring to the culture in Nagaland that most demand “the truth” but “when you write about it, about corruption and whatnot, they intimidate you and they cannot digest the truth”. Referring to the regular intimidation and “language” used by certain “mediailliterate” sections, Pareek pointed to the factor of fear that has resulted in the local “not writing about corruption, extortions, killings etc”.

They cannot dictate terms, he said, and they must come to realize that this is this role of the media.

“They cannot treat newspapers like notice boards. Immature readers cannot digest the truth,” he said. The senior journalist expressed hope that the scenario will change in time with the entry of more newspapers, television networks and proliferation of education not to mention of the growing number of educated, cultured,

intelligent and young professionals into journalism in the state.

President of Dimapur Press Club Dilip Sharma, while acknowledging certain positive changes, also echoed similar sentiment that the Nagaland media is in need of mature readership. People are slowing realizing the importance of the media, he said, and it is serving the people without bias.

“They are slowly realizing and being aware that the media and journalist shape the consciousness and the society,” Sharma said. However, he lamented, the aspect of intimidation has to be done away with and that “investigative stores” have to be placed on impetus. Highlighting a number of reasons relative to the aspect of threat from certain sections, not only civil society and politicians, he said the electronic media is “far ahead of us”. And the aspect of intimidation and the inability of the local media managements to self-regulate, be assertive and independent, is adding to the diseases already ailing the Naga society. “This is preventing our growth,” he explained.

Dilip also took snigger at what he called the “press release culture” practiced in Nagaland. “We have heavy office work and the press release culture. It is not practiced anywhere in India; no culture of press release; but we are obsessed with press releases so no investigative stories,” he quipped.

Antique wheels roll out in Shillong

Thannganing Hungyo

Shillong | November 16

MORRIS, FORD and Willys had a field day as they cruised through Shillong’s asphalt for the vintage and classic car rally pieced together by the North East Antique Wheels, recreating a delectable scenario of times past. 30 vehicles participated in the crowd-puller, among them a 1942 Harley Davidson motorcycle, a Ford T-model which was used in the movie ‘Gandhi’ and two jeeps that survived World War II. Kohima was to be represented by former chief secretary Talitemjen Ao’s wartime Dodge, but disappointed aficionados by not turning up.

Sporting a blue cravat with a vintage car textured on it, the man behind the show, Ashok Lyngdoh, said today’s demonstration was a formula for encouraging vintage car owners to maintain their street beauties instead of taking them

The Old and the Beautiful

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): On Children’s Day, Maj Gen A K Choudhary, SM, VSM, IGAR (South) visited Churachandpur Town and attended the function organized at Lalpuiphluaii Foundation School (LFS) as chief guest. He was accompanied

by Colonel Sandeep Kala, Officiating Commander, HQ 27 Sector Assam Rifles.

LFS students presented a number of cultural items including songs and dance, and prayers were said by stu-

dents and teaching staff. The IG in his address stressed upon quality education, sportsmanship, peace and harmony amongst the various people in society. He said that today’s children are the future of the nation and as it is very important to make a strong nation, we must mould there youth into strong and bright pillars of the nation.

He also appreciated the cultural performances given by the school children. Later the chief guest distributed prizes

to the staff and students and wished them for a bright and successful future.

The IG gave monitory assistance to COMFA for Muatam relief and also provided sports and stationary items to the school to improve facilities in the school campus. Concluding the celebrations, Principal of the school T Vunglallian thanked the General for sparing his valuable time and gracing the occasion by coming all the way from Imphal.

Herbert Spencer School celebrates Parents’ Day

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The 7th Annual Competition-cum-Parents’ Day 2008 of Herbert Spencer School at Walford, Dimapur, was held at the school premises with Nipusilie Angami, Additional Director and HOD, Directorate of School Education, Kohima, as the chief guest on November 14, 2008.Explaining the need for continuous comprehensive evaluation for students’

welfare, Nipusilie urged the school authorities to maintain such a pattern that would greatly assist in improving the results of students. He expressed appreciation to the authorities for trying to build such a school, and said that “if the school can retain good result, then it is very possible that the school will go a long way.” Nipusilie further added that both the parents and students’ active involvement is

important towards this end.

Besides the vote of thanks by the headmaster, and invocation prayer by Rev. Dr. S. Gangte, the audience was entertained by competitions and a dance carnival. Later, prizes were distributed to students.

It is pertinent to note that the school has been running for the past seven years now under the administrator, K M. Kom. Currently, the school has more than 200 students.

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.

Proud owners of a Ford T-model dress up in Victorian era fashion as they put on show their timeless beauty. (Right) A 1200 cc Harley Davidson motorcycle, manufactured in 1942, is parked for display during the North East Antique Wheels rally in Shillong on November 16.

to the scrap heap. “The rally gives them a reason to look after their cars,” he said.

The man of the moment, though, was 76-year-old Harish Das who drove his Morris Minor all the way from Tezpur to enter the event. “It feels

great, it feels nice,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

20-something year old R. Das, who inherited his grandfather’s Jaguar Mark IV only recently, confided that he has not had the time to flaunt his prized possession to his friends. The

bodywork has not been completely redone, he said.

Jeremy Wahlang, a wellknown figure in the music circuit, was more than impressed by today’s rally. He revved up his childhood memory of toying with the

Harley (back then with a side car), which was usually parked near Anjali Cinema Hall. Another auto buff, Raj Nahar, pleaded that given a chance he would love to be behind the wheels of a vintage car, if only for a test ride.

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

4

Dimapur

Monday

BUSINESS

17 November 2008

The Morung Express

WORLD LEADERS AGREE action plan for global growth

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 16 (AFP): World leaders agreed an action plan to restore global growth and prevent future financial upheaval at a crisis summit here, promising spending plans, a trade deal and reforms. A final statement from the leaders after one of the biggest international economic gatherings in years pledged responses on a number of fronts, with another meeting scheduled for April to flesh out policies.

Government spending plans are to be used to reverse immediate economic decline, a global trade deal is to be promoted to guard against protectionism, and financial regulation and world financial institutions are to be reformed. "We are determined to enhance our cooperation and work together to restore global growth and achieve needed reforms in the world's financial systems," the G20 said after the crisis summit here. The meeting of the Group of 20 nations, which represent 85 percent of the world economy, was convened by outgoing US President George W. Bush to tackle the financial crisis that is seen as the worst since the 1930s.

While weeks ago some had talked expansively of redrawing the financial system in a "Bretton Woods II" overhaul in Washington, the final communique amounted to a commitment to keep working on reforms. The G20 leaders tasked their finance ministers with drawing up a series of recommendations

by March 31 to be brought before a new summit in April, at a location to be announced shortly. Six areas will be specifically targeted: regulating those parts of the financial markets that have exacerbated the crisis, boosting transparency and reforming "fat cat" compensation practices.

The ministers, from the industrialized and emerging world, must also evaluate global accounting norms and the financing needs of international financial institutions. Finally, they must draw up a list of financial institutions whose collapse would imperil the global financial system. Bush said the leaders had agreed that both the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, the two main international financial institutions created in 1944 in Bretton Woods, should be modernized.

"We should reform the international financial institutions. Again, these institutions have been very important – the World Bank, IMF – but they were based on an economic order of 1944," he told a press conference. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told reporters "it is absolutely clear that we are trying to build new institutions for the future." The final communique was also significant in what it did not include.

There was no mention of the creation of a global financial market enforcer as demanded by some European and emerging countries but opposed by the US. "Regulation is first and foremost the responsibility of national regulators who constitute the first line of defense against market instability," the G20 statement stated. There was no reference to coordinated stimulus packages from governments either, an idea promoted by Britain. The final agreement said leaders would use "fiscal measures to stimulate domestic demand to rapid effect."

"I believe that you will see in the next few weeks significant further announcements (of tax and spending plans) by a number of countries," Brown said at a press conference.

President George W. Bush makes remarks at the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy in Washington, on November 15. (AP Photo)

G-20 agrees to stimulate economies, provide liquidity

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 16 (PTI): Facing the gravest economic crisis in decades, world leaders have agreed to initiate "strong and significant actions" to stimulate economies, bring transparency in financial system, offer liquidity and reform financial institutions to beat the looming recession.

At a G-20 summit convened by US President George

W Bush here yesterday, the leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, warned that "economic momentum is slowing substantially in major economies and the global outlook has weakened".The meeting witnessed a shift in balance of power in which key emerging economies like India and China demanded a greater say. "We need to ensure that any new

architecture we design is genuinely multilateral with adequate representation from countries reflecting changes in economic realities," Singh said addressing the summit. Singh asked world leaders to refrain from protectionism and pave way for multilateral regulatory supervision to avert the recurrence of crisis that has led to the world economy to the recession. Virtually respond-

ing to Singh's demand against protectionism, Bush said, "We are committed to the people in the developing world... We have deep desire to reduce trade deficit." "... That attitude (protectionism) was rejected, thankfully. And as a matter of fact, not only rejected, there is a determined effort to see if we can't complete the modalities for Doha by the end of December," Bush said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the summit "went positively" while Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hailed a new dimension to the "geo-political structure." The meeting of G20 countries, rather than the G7 group of rich countries favored in the past, reflects the rise of emerging economies and their increasingly important role in the world

economy. "There is no logic to making any political and economic decisions without the G20 members – developing countries must be part of the solution to the global financial crisis," said Lula. Despite the consensus for the broad ideas of the communique, the summit was severely hamstrung by the absence of the man of the moment: US presidentelect Barack Obama.

The Democrat sent former secretary of state Madeleine Albright and exRepublican lawmaker Jim Leach to meet with members of visiting delegations on his behalf. Bush, who bid an emphatic "goodbye" at the end of his press conference, said he had told fellow leaders that the United States would enjoy a "seamless" transition to Obama's new team. The sum-

mit, which involved the major industrialized powers as well as emerging giants Brazil, China, India and Russia, also concluded with a pledge to revive World Trade Organization talks begun in 2001 on a new global deal. The last attempt to clinch a deal in the Doha Round of talks, intended to boost global commerce by lowering trade barriers, fell apart in July in Geneva.

Asia looks to summit loan pledge to help exporters BEIJING, NOVEMBER 16 (AP): Struggling Asian economies came away from a Washington meeting on the global economic crisis with a promise of more access to financing from international organizations that analysts said Sunday should help credit-starved exporters and calm markets from South Korea to India.

Leaders of major industrialized and developing nations meeting Saturday also pledged to give developing countries a bigger role in global financial bodies - a move long sought by China. Beijing welcomed the step but gave no indication whether it might respond by heeding appeals to use its $2 trillion in reserves to help expand a global bailout fund.

The Group of 20 leaders promised to expand access for developing countries to financing through the International Monetary Fund and other bodies, though they gave no figures on the possible size of lending or other details. "We have seen evidence of trade financing, as well as financing more generally for emerging markets, deteriorate," said Michael Buchanan, chief Asia economist for Goldman Sachs. "If the G-20 and IMF and donor countries can provide financing, that will help to alleviate that. That will be very significant." Exporters throughout Asia that depend on credit to pay for raw materials and to finance shipments say business has plunged as access to lending dries up.

Access to IMF loans could help governments in South Korea, India, Indonesia and other economies where investor anxiety about a possible scarcity of foreign currency has driven down exchange rates, said Citigroup economist Yiping Huang. South Korea's won has fallen by 33 percent against the U.S. dollar this year as investors pulled capital out of the country.

With a commitment to make money available, "in the short term we won't see such drastic changes in the currency," Huang said.

China welcomed the meeting as a step toward changes in international financial bodies.

"It will help to enhance the international community's confidence to deal with the financial crisis and concerns about development questions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement.

There was no mention of a possible Chinese contribution to an IMF bailout fund, which prime ministers Gordon Brown of Britain and Taro Aso of Japan have both called for. Aso has pledged $100 billion for the fund.

Chinese officials say the most important step they can take for global growth is to keep China's own economy stable. "China's economic power is growing, so China could contribute and help ease the financial crisis," said Wu Jinglian, a prominent Chinese economist and Cabinet adviser. "But the first priority is to keep our own economy growing. That will benefit every country in the world."

In Japan, the country's biggest business group called on the government to take action on a stimulus plan announced last month. "The government must swiftly implement this, and help the economy recovery as soon as possible," the Japan Business Federation said in a statement.

For South Korea, the meeting gave President Lee Myung-bak a chance to calm unease at home by being seen working alongside other leaders after a year of turmoil that has fed feelings of isolation among South Koreans, said Cheong In-kyo, a trade specialist at Seoul's Inha University. "The G-20 meeting this time might wipe out these sentiments," Cheong said.

Govt to aggressively use monetary, fiscal policies: PM

C M Y K

ON BOARD PM’s Special Aircraft, November 16 (PTI): Confident that inflation will come down further, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today gave firm indications that monetary and fiscal policies would be used aggressively in relation to interest rates.

About the prices of petroleum products, the Prime Minister gave no firm commitment that they would be reduced in the light of the fall Students discuss after appearing for a Common Admission Test (CAT) examination at a of international crude prices center in Ahmadabad on November 16. More than 275,000 students took the qualifying from a peak of USD 147 to about USD 56, but said “all test to get into the country's top seven business schools in India Sunday. (AP Photo)

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cial plane on the way back from Washington where he attended a summit of G-20 leaders on the current global financial crisis.

The Prime Minister was replying to a question on the possibility of reducing interest rates in the context of easing liquidity situation to tackle the economic crisis.

Singh said as far as India was concerned a stimulus package was already on and steps have been taken for ensuring increased liquidity. “If more is needed we will do more,” he added.

DAILY CROSS WORD

LEISURE W

options” were open on the question of reducing fuel prices. “As far as the interest rates are concerned that is the prerogative of the RBI. It will not not be proper for me to comment. But as I said it is an evolving situation.

“If the inflation rate comes down and we feel confident that inflation will not not be a problem, there is scope for manoeuvrability both in more aggressive use of monetary policy and more aggressive use of fiscal policy,” he told journalists accompanying him in his spe-

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EDKQ P E E A UU BMK X T S T A Y I XWP X K Z L D C X

CROSSWORD # 1154

SUDOKU

The Morung Express number game

Sudoku # 1137

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

7

YDA E R E BME T P E S A A 9

DS QO I E KXHRNT E T E

11

10

XP I A Y B O B OMV OO S U

15

16

23

VEDE COUGH S RHVK P

G BWK T G C L Y N F E E Z Q BECAUSE BIRTHDAY COLD COUGH COUGH EARACHE FEVER HEADACHE HOME LAST NOVEMBER OCTOBER

POOR READY SECOND SEPTEMBER SICK SORE STAY STOMACHACHE THIRD THROAT TOOTHACHE WHERE

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

OR S H B A V F B J E CWE X

FRC I UF F O E T J J ULM

20

22

21

E OMK T O H OM E B A OMR

Y I E A R A CHE R F J EMF

18 19

T S B S T R T C Y UMHD L E

14

17

HM U H O A I C A F E T N A D

S ARHE ADA CHE E T AH

13

12

KRO T C AQRXGOOC T P

Gujarat state Chief Minister Narendra Modi, right, talks to Founder World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab after a session at the India Economic Summit in New Delhi on November 16. (AP Photo)

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 #1136

24

ACROSS 1. Ludicrous (8) 5. Affinity (4) 7. Weaving machine (4) 8. Without mercy (8) 9. Actress, --- Mills (6) 12. Make merry (7) 15. ,Old saying (7) 19. Turn pale (6) .

21. Impressive (8) 22. Straw - - -’ Sam Peck in path film (4) 23. Brewery cart (4) 24. Clemency (8)

DOWN 1. Grimy (6) 2. Desert ruminant (5) 3. Tim ~ - -’ Rocky Horror Show .actor (5) 4. Diminutive (6) 5. ShortjacJcet(6) 6. Amount of medicine (6) 10. John Lennon’s wife, - -0110 (4) 11. Irish Gaelic (4) 12. Bone (3) 13. Actress, - - - Gascome (4) 14. Persia (4) 15. Self-confident (6) 16. Conceit (6) . 17. Emanating from the centre (6) 18. SCotch (6) 19. Commence (5) 20. Tennis star, - - - Agassi (5)

Answers to CROSSWORD #1153 Across: 3. Equipment, 8. Heat, 9. Insulate, 10. Peruse, 13. Lucky, 14. Octagon, 15.

Hit, 16. Turmoil, 17. Theme, 21. Aghast, 22. Jodhpurs, 23. Blur, 24. Reference.

Down: 1. Chipolata, 2. Capricorn, 4. Quiet, 5. Inspect, 6. Milk, 7. NATO, 11. Agreeable, 12 Inventory, 14. Oil, 15. Hirsule, 18. Basic, 19. Core 20. Shoe.

CAR MODEL

PRICE

SPARK 1.0 BASE

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SPARK 1.0 PS

289,992

SPARK 1.0 LS

304,641

SPARK 1.0 LT

334,123

U-VA 1.2 BASE

401,753

U-VA 1.2 LS

444,299

U-VA 1.2 LT

484,090

SRV 1.6 OPT. PACK

790,100

AVEO 1.4 BASE

606,461

AVEO 1.4 LTD EDI

661,631

AVEO 1.4 LT OPT.PACK

754,930

TAVERA 2.5 LT 9S BS3

877,748

TAVERA 2.5 SSD1 7S (C) BS3

993,249

OPTRA ROYAL 1.6 LT (PETROL)

967,686

OPTRA MAGNUM 2.0 LT ACC (DIESEL)

1,074,547

CAPTIVA 2.0 LT VCDI

1,812,688

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

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

BUY(Rs) 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

Monday

Demolition fuels border row ITANAGAR, NOVEMBER 16 (THE TELEGRAPH): Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are at loggerheads over an order from the Lakhimpur district administration to demolish a police check post in a disputed area. Arunachal Pradesh claims the police check post at Gumto falls under Doimukh circle of Papum Pare district. Sources in Papum Pare deputy commissioner’s office yesterday said tension was simmering in the area after deputy commissioner of Lakhimpur,

Jayant Narlekar, deputed a battalion of CRPF and Assam Police to the Gumto check post around 5.30pm on Thursday.

The Arunachal Pradesh authorities were alerted, when the contingent, along with Lakhimpur assistant superintendent of police M. Gayen, and divisional forest officer of Lakhimpur, V. Rahman, was crossing the Birup river at Gumto. A team from Doimukh police station immediately rushed to Gumto to take stock of the situation and so did Papum

Pare deputy commissioner Bidol Tayeng. He asked the Lakhimpur district administration to withdraw the demolition order and chalk out a solution.

Narlekar said he had ordered the demolition of the Gumto outpost as it was illegally constructed inside Assam’s boundary on November 7. “I inspected the Gumto area and found the Arunachal Pradesh authorities illegally constructing a police check post inside Assam’s territory. I wrote a letter and personally asked

the Papum Pare deputy commissioner, Bidol Tayeng, on November 7, to stop the construction.

“The Papum Pare district administration failed to take any action. So we decided to order the demolition of the Gumto police check post.

They violated the Supreme Court’s verdict, which makes it mandatory to demolish any construction illegally done inside any other state’s territory. Assam maintained status quo but Arunachal Pradesh has failed to do so.

We, therefore, have no option

but to demolish the Gumto police check post,” he said.

Tayeng, in reply to Narlekar’s letter, said: “The issue of constitutional boundary or status quo that you have raised in your letter is biased and not in totality of the inter-state AssamArunachal Pradesh border in Papum Pare and Lakhimpur districts.” Tayeng added that the Papum Pare administration would not succumb to any dictation or threat issued by Lakhimpur. He said his Lakhimpur counterpart should “not indulge in any

kind of misadventure at the otherwise peaceful Gumto (Arunachal Pradesh)-Moinajuli (Assam) area.”

“If you threaten or use your police force to demolish any structure within the Arunachal Pradesh territory, we will have to retaliate. None but you will be held responsible for provoking the situation,” Tayeng added. Assam further alleged that some Arunachal Pradesh villagers had illegally encroached on a vast tract of land inside Ranga reserve forest in Lakhimpur district.

Tripura to sell rubber wood boards in overseas market

AGARTALA, NOVEMBER 16 (PTI): Tripura, the second largest rubber-growing state, will sell processed rubber wood board, which can be used for making furniture, in the domestic and the overseas markets.

The Tripura Rubber Wood Factory, a rubber timber processing unit run by the Tripura Forest Development Plantation Corporation, has started producing solid rubber wood boards (8ftx4ft) of different thicknesses, TFDPC General Manager Arup Ratan Sharma said. The rubber wood and rubber wood boards can be used for making furniture, he said.

Tripura, which produces about 20,000 tonne annually, is the second largest rubbergrowing state in the country after Kerala. Up to 85,000 hectare have been identified for rubber plantation.

Encouraged by the huge production of rubber in the state and its potential for expansion, the Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) and the Rubber Board of India are setting up a rubber park, the second of it’s kind after Kerala.

The park would be set up on 50 acre at Bodhjungnagar, the industrial growth centre in West Tripura district, TIDC Chairman Pabi- Children from diferent community taking out a mass rally against bomb blasts, indiscriminate firing and inhuman acts by the Indian Armed Forces on November 16 at Moirang. (UB PHOTOS) tra Kar said.

Assam Blasts: AGP-led opposition demands CBI probe

GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 15 (AGENCIES): Accusing the ruling Congress of failure to stem the rise in terrorist activities in the state, the opposition combine, led

by Asom Gana Parishad, on Saturday demanded a CBI probe into the October 30 serial blasts in Assam and demanded the Tarun Gogoi government be dismissed.

Demanding that the October 30 serial blasts in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Bar-

peta and Bongaigaon be expeditiously probed, the parties at a meeting here cautioned the people to keep vigil against terrorist and fundamentalist forces.

The meeting also demanded immediate sealing of the international borders of Assam, AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowari told reporters later.

The meeting chaired by Patowari urged the militant organisations and the gov-

ernment to sit for talks to solve their problems across the table in the interest of peace and development of the state. Terming those responsible for the blasts as "anti-human, the opposition parties demanded stringent punishment be given to those behind the gameplan.

Demanding the dismissal of the Tarun Gogoi government for "failing to fight militancy and fundamentalism, besides protect the life

and property of people", the parties decided to observe a three-hour sit-in demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan here on November 22 from 11.00 am. The antiCongress parties taking part in the meeting were BJP, NCP, ASDC, BPPF and Samajwadi Party.Though the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) had assured to attend the meeting, they kept away as also CPI and CPI(M).

October 30 blasts affecting business Newmai News Network

Guwahati | November 16

APART FROM BRINGING fear psychosis in the mind of the people, the October 30 serial blasts tragedy has also very much affected the business establishments in the state as traders are now not free to carry out their activities for the obvious reason.

Traders fear that if the violent activities continue to persist in Assam, the problem for business community in Assam is certain.

According to official sources, the shops in the commercial hubs like Ganeshguri, Pan Bazar and Fancy Market in Guwahati have been witnessing very few customers as compared to the time before the serial blasts.

"This is mist probably because the people are still in the trauma after the recent serial blasts and prefer staying indoors," said a retailer based in Guwahati.

Many traders in the Ganeshguri area which was once, the most happening hang outs in Guwahati is reported to be facing a major Despite the banned imposed by the Supreme Court in 1996, illegally cut woods have been seen logged at the bank of setback in its business and the crowded market place the river Brahmaputra at Koilaghat in Dibrugarh on November 16. (UB Photos)

Manipur Transport Association demands tighter security along NHs Newmai News Network Imphal | November 16

A JOURNEY along the National Highway (NH) 39 leading to Manipur will be safer only when the Manipur chief minister of Manipur O. Ibobi Singh assurance for a tighter security measures including intensification of patrolling of security forces personnel along the national highway is materialized.

Ibobi said that the state government is pressing New Delhi to take the security of the highways leading to Manipur. The chief minister in a meeting recently held with the All Manipur Inter-State Bus Association had assured to intensify the patrolling of security forces personnel along the NH-39.

According to reports, Ibobi Singh, during a meeting with the Manipur transport association, assured that he would enhance the duties of the police stations and out-

posts located along the NH 39 while also assuring that the patrolling of security forces personnel would be intensified.

The was held following the suspension of all transport services along the NH 39 after the burning down of an inter-state bus service on October 23 by militants.

National Highways 39 and 53 leading to Manipur connecting the rest of the country have become a haven of criminal activities such as extortions and kidnappings.

Nagaland police had rescued two Manipuri drivers from Nagaland after criminals from Manipur abducted the drivers for ransom few days ago.

On August 24 last, a passenger bus of the Royal Tours and Travels (MN01-1448) was looted by 5 gunmen in the early hours in an area known as Uchan Makhong along NH 39, about half a kilometer away from Piphema

town in Kohima. The robbers had reportedly looted about Rs. 15,000 in cash, three mobile handsets and even body search some girl students travelling in the bus.

This incident was also followed by the kidnapping of three freight truck drivers on October 26 by unknown gunmen some where at Homepipe area of Dimapur in Nagaland. They were however released two days later after being paid a ransom of Rs. 15,000. According to reports, they were arrested for failing to pay the annual tax to the ‘concerned outfits’. However, the incident that still lingers in the minds of the people is the incident of October 23 wherein two persons were charred to death when the bus they were traveling in was set on fire by militants along NH 39 in Assam. The incident invited condemnation from all corners of the state including the government, civil and student organizations.

has become deserted these days. The traders were seen to be sitting idle in the peak hours and that heavy loss has been incurred among the traders since the blasts.

It has been reported that the worst hit in the business were the vendors of the perishable items such as fruits, vegetables that happen to be their only source of livelihood. One of the vegetable vendors named, Sunit Das lamented, “Due to poor sale after the blasts, most of our vegetables got wasted. I am incurring a loss of Rs. 500 everyday. This is my only source of livelihood and I cannot afford to throw away rotten vegetables."

Sources revealed that almost all kinds of trade like garment trade, silk garment business were affected due to the blasts.

According to reports, after the recent serial blasts the small and big traders alike had to keep their shops closed for many days at a stretch. The small traders as well as the big traders have been affected by the blasts and therefore the impact of the closing of the markets was 80 per cent reduction in their daily business, sources added.

17 November 2008

Dimapur

5

Centre reaffirms support for peace in NE AGARTALA, NOVEMBER 16 (UNI): The Centre has assured insurgency-infested states of Northeast to supplement support by providing security for vulnerable institutions and installations, strong surveillance on Bangladesh, Myanmar, China and Bhutan borders, including fencing of borders and intelligence sharing.

The latest report of Union Home Ministry revealed that 40 Indian Reserve Battalions (IRB), including eight each for Tripura and Assam and seven for Manipur, were sanctioned for the region in 2007-08 fiscal to deal with militancy while vigilance on international borders had also been augmented following recent incidents in Tripura and Assam.

The report expressed concern over security issues in Assam and Manipur and stated that the operation against ULFA in Assam was suspended in 2006 followed by peace negotiation initiative but suddenly they increased the attacks on civilians with the help of international terrorists. The violence attributable to some other insurgent outfits had also been observed in North Cachar Hill and Karbi Anglong districts, which affected the surface transport movement towards Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and south Assam to a large extent, the report underlined.

BJP for Security Council for North East GACHHIRAMPARA, NOVEMBER 16 (PTI): Issues like insurgency and infiltration from Myanmar and Bangladesh should be dealt with by a security council for the North East on the lines of the National Security Council, the BJP said. "We have demanded the formation of a North East Security Council to deal with security related issues of the region on a pattern similar to the National Security Council," BJP president Rajnath Singh said.

Stating that insurgency and infiltration had to be dealt with firmly, Singh said, a priority of the NDA, if elected, would be fencing of all borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh as in the west on the Indo-Pak border. He was campaigning among Reangs from Mizoram sheltered here, for the forthcoming Mizoram assembly polls. Rajnath said, "It is a matter of deep sorrow that you are now refugees in your own land.

We assure you that we will fulfill your demand for a tribal council for Reangs."

He attacked the Mizo National Front led by Zoramthanga and Congress led by Lalthanhawla, saying that these parties had ruled Mizoram for decades and were corrupt. Denying that the BJP was communal, he pointed out that party vice-president G S Goyal was Christian and many leaders were not Hindu. "Some political quarters are labelling the BJP as communal, but our party is the only party in the country which is non-communal and secular in nature."

About 35000 Reangs who had migrated to Tripura following ethnic clashes with Mizos since 1997 were now sheltered in six camps in Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura district. The Election Commission has allowed the Reangs to exercise their franchise through postal ballots.

Militants shot dead IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 16 (UNI): Two suspected militants were shot dead in an encounter by Imphal West District Police Commandos near Manipur University campus here last night. Police said an encounter took place near the University resulting in the death of two people. One .38 pistol with a live round, one US made carbine, two magazines and three rounds of ammunition were recovered. The bodies were sent to RIMS Hospital for identification and post-mortem, said the police.

Tripura alerts WB on possible terrorist attacks AGARTALA, NOVEMBER 16 (UNI): The Tripura police have alerted its West Bengal counterparts on possible terrorist attacks in a few locations of the state, official sources here today said. According to report, Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) B K Debbarma was informed by the BSF yesterday that a group of Bangladesh-based terrorists had been planning to strike in some important locations of West Bengal. Debbarma had also provided inputs on movements of anti-Indian forces in Bangladesh along with some other confessional statements of suspected international terrorist links.

It is worth noting here that this incident was perhaps the caused for the suspension of bus service along the national highways recently.

Regarding the security along the national highway, according to reports, O Ibobi Singh had informed on October 29 that the Assam Rifles and other military personnel were in-charge of the highway at the moment. He also conveyed that the state was pressuring the central government for help in security of the highways.

And as per latest reports, the chief minister has assured to intensify the patrol along the NH 39 to tighten the security and make the journey safer for the passengers. Chief minister Ibobi Singh is also reported to have assured about state government’s intimation to Army’s 3 Corps to help in providing security along the national highway in Na- Aged Manipuri women fish vendors from remote areas of Manipur waits for the bus in a makeshift bus stand to go to Imphal to sell their fish on Sunday, November 16. (UB Photos) galand and Assam.

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IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Praful Bidwai

Uneasy About Obama Victory

MONDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2008 VOL. III ISSUE 319

Naga Media: An Agent of Change

T

oday the National Press day is being commemorated in the sub-continent; and what does this mean to the media community in Nagaland.

While the situation and circumstances in the Naga context is obviously quite different, the media in Nagaland must along with their own realities take into serious account the changing realities of the world. It is within these complex realities that the Naga media must exist and create its own sense of purpose and direction. The Naga media therefore needs to be understood from these contesting realities and the purpose driven standing point of those who are engaged in this profession called mass communication.

If media can be called as an “agent of change,” than its purpose needs to be relevant to the context and the people. In situations of strife the relation between fear and change cannot be ignored. Fear is at the heart of what constitutes the nature of change. Although fear is a natural phenomenon, it has often been used as an instrument by which people are ruled, or prevented from expressing their opinions. For instance, the fear of guns, fear of losing privileges, fear of being branded, fear of responsibilities and fear of change.

But, once people can take off and overcome that coat of fear, the powerful are no longer powerful and those in power become powerless because they no longer possess the power of fear over people. It is by overcoming fear that people can realize they are mediums of change.

Aung San Suu Kyi states "It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those subject to it." Mahatma Gandhi recognized that those in power need the powerless to survive, and that once the powerless understand that fact, they will act accordingly. It is the emotions of fear that define the distinction between doubt and certainty. Is it not fear that creates doubts in our minds and hearts? It is in this spectrum of emotions that the media is located. Media undoubtedly has the potential to be part of the critical yeast that kindles critical consciousness which empowers people to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, empirical truth reveals that media too has more often than not been responsible for creating fear, rather than liberating the human spirit. Therefore it is essential to analyze whether the media in the context of the Naga reality, is an instrument that facilitates constructive change, or caters to the powers that be. It is therefore important that the Naga media must be a critical element in enabling and empowering people to overcome fear, so that positive change is made possible.

There is an overwhelming need for the Naga media to go beyond describing a situation merely in terms of position or official statements. The Naga skyline is filled with lies, rumors, propaganda suspicions, hatred and accusations; and therefore, the Naga media has to go beyond the headlines and uncover the story behind the headline. The media must inform people by telling the truth - the truth of the people - and to promote an understanding led by facts. There is therefore a call for at least a minimum degree of truth searching; so that elements of an investigative form of communication becomes the touchstone of the Naga media. In a society that has been crippled by overwhelming circumstances, the media has to critically facilitate the growth of critical consciousness and thinking. The Naga media must reflectively ensure the vibrancy and dynamism of the Nagas and it should develop a deeper understanding of realities. For the Naga media to be a constructive agent of change, it must however first break free from its own chains and demonstrate the will to create a vision for a society that is hungry for change.

LEFT WING |

Jerome Bonnafont

We Cannot Afford To Fail

I

n the run-up to today's Washington summit, aimed at building a joint global answer to the financial crisis and restoring confidence, Europe, under the presidency of President Nicolas Sarkozy, has shown its determination to offer a strong proposal for action. This crisis is no accident. It stems from major imbalances that have been affecting the financial sector and which France, with other European countries, has strongly and consistently denounced. The market meltdown is the result of excessive risks taken for speculative reasons by under-regulated financial bodies and credit organisations. It also demonstrates a perversion of capitalism in which money and financial markets become an end in themselves and are no longer instruments for financing economic and industrial activities. It is the outcome of a policy where borrowing was almost considered superior to and more efficient than saving and investing.

The immediate victims of the tempest are obviously the financial actors and stock exchange markets. But the shock is far more violent, its ripples being felt worldwide and disrupting even more companies, denied access to credit, individuals who see their prospects severely threatened and countries faced with the risk of recession or insufficient growth. It is a risk for the global economy and for the success of poverty alleviation strategies. Faced with such a situation, it is the duty of governments to act strongly in order to make sure that the economy continues to grow. Each of ours has done so, by ensuring liquidity, saving threatened institutions, protecting our peoples' savings and deposits. It is worth underlining the solidarity shown by all members of the European Union. But in the era of interdependence, joint and coordinated action at the global level is also required. In keeping with the responsibilities thrust upon them by their people, governments must develop a strong collective response so as to avoid the repetition of such a disaster.

Hence the necessity to gather not only the G8, but also the economic giants and financial powers of our times, which obviously includes India, so that all stakeholders can assume their responsibilities and agree on a robust and efficient reform. That was the aim of the proposal presented to India during the EU-India summit on September 29 in Marseille, and to the US in Camp David, which resulted in the organisation of the summit in Washington. For this summit to be useful, Europe has put forward ambitious proposals based on four principles. First, no financial institution or market segment should escape the jurisdiction of a proportionate and adequate regulation, or at least a monitoring system. This is aimed at financial players such as credit rating agencies or leveraged funds. The effective implementation of this principle would be the responsibility of the national authorities, possibly under the supervision of international financial institutions. Measures should also be taken, at both the national and international levels, to protect the stability of international financial systems against uncooperative offshore financial centres.

Second, the new financial system must be based on responsibility and transparency. The financial operations information system must be more comprehensive. Mechanisms encouraging excessive risk-taking, namely securitisation risks and business executives' pay policies, should be controlled.

Ultimately, institutions defining financial accounting standards should be reformed so that there may be a real dialogue with prudential authorities.

Third, a better understanding of risks is required to prevent crises. Towards this end, major international financial groups should be monitored by relevant national authorities through a collective supervision system. An early warning system must be set up to identify risk growth or speculative bubbles in advance. Multilateral monitoring must be reformed to prevent and absorb global imbalances. Fourth, the IMF, which bears legitimacy and universality, must be made the pivot of a renovated international system. Its role and governance should be better structured, its means of intervention modernised and reinforced, including through new financing capabilities, so that it may act in a preventive manner and be of help to countries affected by the crisis. The Washington summit should determine a working method. A period of 100 days should be used to prepare measures stemming from the principles defined today. Another summit should be held at the end of this period to review their implementation, take fresh decisions on the regulation of the financial system and forward proposals on the international economic architecture.

Finally, Europe wants it to be clear that action at the financial level should be compatible with other efforts on major global issues. The trade round has to find a balanced and equitable outcome aimed at helping poorest countries find their place in the global trade system. The Doha conference on the follow-up of the commitments towards the Millennium Development Goals is of critical importance: the international community has to make sure that strategies for poverty alleviation, education for all, health, water sanitation, among others, receive a new impulse. Climate change discussions must result in a powerful post-Kyoto regime. We are living in a period when political action can shape the world for decades. Should we fail, we would not only face a period of gloom, but also run the risk of widespread protest from people confronted with a globalisation perceived as a threat.

If we succeed in launching the work on an enhanced financial architecture that the global economy requires, we stand the chance of restoring the conditions for a sustained growth rate worldwide. More than ever before, India and Europe can work together towards a better regulated globalisation and a world economy able to fulfil its primary task: creation of better living conditions for all, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

The writer is France's ambassador to India.

U

nlike the rest of the world, which has welcomed the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States, Indian policymakers have misgivings, rooted in his campaign statements on Kashmir, nuclear non-proliferation and business process outsourcing from the U.S. to India. However, according to independent commentators, these misgivings may be misplaced, not least because Obama is unlikely to translate his campaign remarks into actual policies, and because they underestimate the positive contribution that his presidency is likely to make at the global level.

Yet, some of these misgivings and apprehensions persist despite a long-awaited telephone call from the president-elect to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which materialised Thursday. Soon after his election, Obama had called the leaders of nine nations, including Pakistan, but did not make contact with Singh. Indian officials say Obama had tried to reach Singh earlier, but no call could be put through because Singh was on a visit to West Asia.

"Whatever the truth about difficulties in completing a telephone call in this age of communication and mobile telephone proliferation, the fact is that Indian policymakers have been loath to give up their preoccupation with George W. Bush," says Kamal Mitra Chenoy, a professor at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. "That probably was a factor in the lack of enthusiasm that they feel about welcoming the next president of

the U.S.,'' Chenoy said.

Chenoy added: "This is unfortunate given the historic character of Obama’s victory, the tectonic shift in the balance of forces that it represents in the globe’s most influential nation, and the hope it has kindled the world over in the possibility of major and radical change towards inclusion, equality, and respect for diversity and pluralism." The debate in the corridors of power in New Delhi is focused not so much on whether Obama will pursue a less arrogant, aggressive and unilateralist foreign policy, as on whether he will restore the ‘even-handed’ treatment of India and Pakistan that existed before the Bush administration came into power.

Similarly, Indian business leaders, especially in information technology-related companies, are more concerned with warding off pressures for restrictions on outsourcing from the U.S. to India than on exploring new opportunities and avenues of cooperation. The most worried lot in India are the foreign policy mandarins, who have for three years invested heavily in negotiating and completing the U.S.India nuclear cooperation deal, itself part of Washington’s effort to draw India into a close strategic relationship with itself.

As Kanwal Sibal, a former foreign secretary (chief of diplomatic service), puts it: " India's view of the U.S. has been heavily coloured by the nuclear deal. Politically and professionally, an excessive public show of gratitude to Bush, however appropriate in private for his staunch support for India, was

inadvisable and needlessly made the U.S.-India relationship personalitydriven rather than interest-driven."

Sibal here refers to Singh telling Bush in September: ‘’The people of India love you deeply..." This was widely criticised by the political opposition in this country and by many foreign policy and strategic experts.

So obsessed were Indian policymakers with portraying the nuclear deal as a great achievement, and as amounting to Bush's acceptance of India as a nuclear weapons state, that they did not publicise -- as they would normally have done -- a letter that Obama wrote to Singh on Sep. 23. In the letter, Obama regretted that he could not meet Singh during his September visit to the United States, and said he very much looked forward "to doing so in the near future". He also expressed his "great admiration for the courage you showed in shepherding the civil nuclear cooperation agreement through your Parliament, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group."

Obama added: "But I see this agreement only as a beginning of a much closer relationship between our two great countries. I would like to see U.S.-India relations grow across the board to reflect our shared interests, shared values, shared sense of threats, and ever burgeoning ties between our two economies and societies."

However, Obama also wrote: "I will work with the U.S. Senate to secure ratification of the international treaty [Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty] banning nuclear weapons testing at the earliest practical day, and then launch a major diplomatic initiative to ensure its entry into force."

He also promised to "pursue negotiation on a verifiable, multilateral treaty to end production of fissile material for nuclear weapons," known as the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT). This raised hackles in New Delhi because it is reluctant to sign either of these treaties and would like to build a substantial stockpile of bomb fuel and nuclear weapons before doing so. Obama’s stated positions on many issues are progressive, favour a more balanced and peaceful world, and deserve to be welcomed. These include Iran, Russia, and Son-of-Star-Wars-style ballistic missile defence (BMD).

If he begins a dialogue with Iran, stops NATO expansion, builds friendly relations with Russia, delays BMD deployment, and renews the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty due to expire next year, while de-alerting and disarming a substantial number of nuclear weapons, he

will have made a major contribution to defusing rivalries aggravated by the Republicans. Obama also holds that unless the U.S. and Russia radically reduce their nuclear arsenals, they won't be able to persuade smaller nations like Iran and North Korea to forgo their nuclear programmes.

But Indian policymakers have been lukewarm towards these positions because they view them through the narrow prisms of India-Pakistan relations, his remarks about mediating on the Kashmir issue with the possible involvement of former president Bill Clinton, and outsourcing. In practice, Obama is unlikely to want to undermine the competitiveness of U.S. industry by halting outsourcing. Many Indian IT industry leaders think so too.

His campaign statements on the Kashmir question are unlikely to translate into policy since they will have to take into account India’s reservations on the issue.

As his transition team recently clarified, the U.S. remains committed to supporting the bilateral India-Pakistan dialogue process to resolve Kashmir and other contentious issues. As for the CTBT, even Atal Behari Vajpayee was all prepared to sign it in 1999, after declaring a unilateral moratorium on nuclear test explosions, based on a careful strategic assessment that further testing is not necessary for an adequate minimum nuclear deterrent.

"If India is truly committed to global, universal nuclear disarmament, as it says it is, it must recognise that the CTBT and FMCT are indispensable steps in that process, says Achin Vanaik, professor of international relations and global politics at Delhi University. "India must stop being defensive about these treaties and actively help bring them into force. Vanaik said it was unlikely that ''Obama will risk damaging Washington’s relations with India by aggressively pushing agendas, especially regional ones that New Delhi is uncomfortable with. It is a sign of Indian policymakers’ diffidence and their lack of appreciation of India’s growing economic, political and strategic weight in today’s world that they think otherwise''.

Vanaik argues that India can positively engage Obama by seeking his cooperation in an initiative for reform of the global governance system, including a more democratic United Nations, restructuring of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation, by promoting a a more equitable international economic order, and by demanding a non-confrontational cooperative security system.

A Wanted Man in Burma

A

ntonio Graceffo is a wanted man. His crime? Supporting the Shan people in their rebellion against the ruling military junta in Burma, known euphemistically as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). A former successful Wall Street investment banker from Brooklyn turned travel and adventure writer, Antonio has authored numerous books, including about his adventures bicycling around Taiwan, bicycling across the Taklamakan Desert in China, and his time studying with the monks at the famous Shaolin Temple. More recently, he has been involved trying to bring the world's attention to the plight of the Burmese people suffering under the brutal reign of the SPDC. Since outside journalists are banned from entering the country, Antonio crossed the border under the protection of the Shan State Army (SSA) and began reporting on conditions in the country, interviewing victims of the SPDC's war against the people, writing about what he learned, and producing a series of videos featured on YouTube to bring awareness about the plight of the Shan. Perhaps more well known than the SSA are another resistance group known as the Karen National Union (KNU), and its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), who were featured in the 2008 movie "Rambo", starring Sylvester Stallone in the fourth installment in the film series.

But while Stallone played a fictional character, Antonio Graceffo, one could fairly say, is the real Rambo. An experienced martial artist featured on the Discovery Channel and in a number of martial arts films, Antonio was embedded with the Shan State Army and helped train Shan soldiers in the art of close-contact self-defense. Among Antonio's videos on YouTube are several featuring him demonstrating martial arts techniques and sparring with SSA soldiers. It is on a purported KNU website that an image of Antonio appears under a heading reading "wanted", reminiscent of an old Western poster -- except, of course, that Antonio is wearing the cap and uniform of the Shan State Army instead of a cowboy hat and leather vest, and holding a Kalashnikov rifle instead of a Winchester.

The website, MyanmarNargis.org, has a few telltale signs of being a false front operation--what is euphemistically known in the field as "counterintelligence"-- headed up in fact by the SPDC. Perhaps not least among these signs is the name, "Myanmar", which is the ruling regime's name-change for the country that is otherwise known -- particularly among opposition groups who do not recognize the regime -- as Burma.

And the fact that a "wanted" poster for a man who has helped the rebels on a website of a rebel organization is also more than slightly counter-intuitive. Antijunta groups Antonio remains in contact with confirmed to him that it is a disinformation site designed by the SPDC to create disunity and infighting among and within opposition groups. "Fortunately," says Antonio, "most people working on the Burma issue don’t trust anything written in Burmese. Each of the tribes has its own language and alphabet. Most of them are smart enough to use English on their websites to garner international support. The junta, it appears, is not that smart. But, since General Ne Win forcibly closed

all of Burma’s universities, to prevent smart people from meeting and exchanging political ideas, it is no wonder that they are slipping intellectually."

The text of the website page featuring the "wanted" poster, which requires the proper character encoding to be installed on one's computer in order to read it, was translated for Antonio by a person he described as "an exiled Burmese intellectual, who had to flee Burma and seek asylum in another country. He hates the junta with a passion and supports the resistance groups." The exile noted along with his translation to Antonio, "the KNU has cleared your name and so we cannot sell you by the kilo to them." (How very disappointing for those of us who know his whereabouts). The page heading, under the "wanted" poster, reads "The Former Marine Who Would Combine Military Forces with Terrorists." It describes the KNU, SSA and other resistance groups, as "armed terrorists" (perhaps--just maybe--another sign that the website is a counterintelligence front of the SPDC). It describes Antonio as "a former US Marine Italian race, American citizen", and as being the head of a small group travelling within the country. It says Antonio's group "is surely going to have to run and escape for their lives as they go through the Armed Forces' Offensives" but that "it is more certain they will die violent deaths."

Not very polite. Fortunately, Antonio is not actually in Burma currently -- nor was he during the period of time last month the website alleges he was moving through the country with his "group" -- a merry band,

no doubt. As much as the page seems designed to put people on the lookout for Antonio, it also seems intended to sow resentment among opposition leaders. Take, for instance, the insertion of this tidbit: "5th Brigade Commander Baw Kyaw Hair, on his part, was dissatisfied with how the present congress has appointed a central group in which General Tamlabaw's sons and daughters have important posts in the KNU." Baw Kyaw Hair's group "favors having a ceasefire with the present military government and exchange arms for peace", the website says. (The exiled translator noted to Antonio that "this is an SPDC phrase for complete surrendering of one's forces and one's weapons to SPDC -- very indicative of an SPDC author".) That author adds, "It is heard that 6th Brigade Commander Hsarmi is [also] dissatisfied with Tamlabaw's circle of family and friends." The intent thus seems to try to poison relations among rebel groups as much as to threaten Mr. Graceffo -- not that such a warning from the violent SPDC should be taken lightly. While Antonio always manages to keep his sense of humor, despite the danger and despite the ugliness he has witnessed firsthand, the oppression in Burma under the military junta of the SPDC is no laughing matter. It's high time the world took notice and took action. Antonio's courageous work in defiance of the ruling regime has been intended to further that goal. To close, in the words of Antonio, "please say a prayer for the people of Shan State."

Jeremy R. Hammond

Letters to the Editor Naga Reconciliation Is Possible; FNR grateful •Sir- The Naga Reconciliation Soccer match on November 13 at the Dimapur District Sports Complex was a historic moment and a symbolic public action that has instilled hope in all of us. While the Naga Reconciliation Soccer Match is only a means to enable and strengthen public participation in the process, through this event, we know that the Naga political groups are committed and sincere; and that Naga reconciliation is possible.

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation is overwhelmed by the support and the messages of solidarity that we have received from individuals and organizations all across the length and breadth of Naga-Lands. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation wishes to express our profound appreciation and thanks to all who have positively contributed to the successful organizing of the reconciliation soccer at the DDSC. We want to particularly express our gratitude to Dimapur DC, Moangwati Aier Dimapur Municipal Corporation Khekaho Assumi for extending monetary assistance towards the Naga Reconciliation Soccer match. We acknowledge and appreciate the Dimapur SP Liremo Lotha for taking the responsibility in creating a conducive and secure environment within the city during the event.

The FNR further expresses our appreciation to the Editors, journalist and the broader media community in Nagaland for their continuing support and for enabling publicity and awareness on the Naga Reconciliation process; to the DNSU and all young student friends for their proactive volunteering works and the public for their positive participation to witness this historic reconciliation football match. We also acknowledge all those individuals who have sincerely contributed in terms of labor and resources but wish to remain anonymous. We remain indebted to all those organizations that have come forward in strengthening the Naga reconciliation process. Thank you all for the partnership in action and for the solidarity demonstrated to translate our common hopes and dream into reality.

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation once again declare our commitment to the cause for Naga reconciliation on the basis of the historical and political rights of the Nagas; and as are persuaded in our strive to affirm that the Naga reconciliation is in the common interest of all Nagas and for the future of our people.

Forum for Naga Reconciliation

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.

7

MONDAY

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

17 NOVEMBER 2008

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

A Buddhist messiah in Maoist Nepal?

Dhruba Adhikary & Charles McDermid

L

ike any deeply revered religious prophet worthy of his robes, Nepal's "Buddha Boy" has returned from the wilderness to spread enlightenment to the masses. The longlost mystic in question is Ram Bahadur Bamjan, who many believe is a true-tolife reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in about 560 BC and later became revered as Lord Buddha, the Enlightened One. In Hindu-majority Nepal, Hinduism and Buddhism frequently overlap.

Hindus believe in reincarnation, and Buddhists ascribe to the notion of rebirth - and in Nepal both faiths are often transfixed by religious wonders, miracles and mysteries. Only some 50% of Nepal's 25 million population is literate, and illiteracy is widespread in rural areas. So it was that Bamjan, looking every bit like a disheveled teenager, emerged from dense jungle on November 10, and got straight to work - preaching at a temple about 150 kilometers south of the capital Kathmandu.

He claimed that his soul-searching hiatus began in early 2005, and his first words were grim. "Incidents of death and destruction are on the rise because people have become indifferent to religious teachings," he announced to the 10,000 reported followers who flocked to the site on the day of his return.

Bamjan, whose age has been placed between 17 and 20, was raised in Nepal's devoutly Buddhist Taamaang community. He has been worshipped since 2005, when he was discovered meditating in the lotus position among the roots of an ancient tree. Local legend has it that he maintained the position for 10 months without food or water.

On his recent return, however, there was no sitting around. Adorned in a shimmering white cloth and appearing quite hale for a hermit, Bamjan kicked off his first sermon by narrating his quest for the "reason of death". It all began, he explained, when he witnessed a human cremation at the age of six.

Interestingly, his tale parallels the Buddhist stories in which Prince Siddhartha, before he reached enlightenment, is said to have seen deaths, diseases and infirmities associated with old age. Still, some among the congregation grew skeptical when they saw Bamjan, sporting long black hair, halt repeatedly during his 45-minute exegesis.

Each time the alleged Buddha paused, an acolyte came forward to whisper in his ear, seemingly prompting him to encourage his audience to pay attention if they intended on receiving happiness. Those who bowed and offered him khaadaa (holy scarves ) received blessings as he placed an august hand on their heads.

Villagers of Ratanpuri town, Bara

district, converged by the thousands at the Halkhoria forest to observe the "holy man". The crowd grew larger as a local Buddhist group advertised in newspapers and on radio networks. Instantly, the story captivated the domestic media and drew attention from major international news agencies.

No Buddhist organization has endorsed the claims of Ram Bahadur Bamjan, also known as Palden Dorjee, or his followers. Some have sent investigators to the area and are awaiting reports.

Remarks from Buddhist scholars thus far indicate divided opinion. "Bamjan seems to be someone blessed with divine power," Bekha Ratna Shakya, a devout Buddhist and a former mayor of Lalitpur town, told Asia Times Online.

Kedar Shakya, a writer and former Lumbini University associate, also supported Bamjan's holiness and argued that Bamjan should be allowed to continue to meditate. The return of Bamjan has prompted many Nepalese to recall an incident several years ago when the nation was fascinated by rumors that stone idols of Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god, had begun to drink milk.

Syncretism Nepal-style In Nepal, the distinction between Buddhist and Hindu can be nominal.

There are also temples in Nepal where the same stone idol is worshipped by Hindu and Buddhist priests. The tradition of Kumari is one striking ex-

The Morung Express

ample: an adolescent girl is selected to be the Hindu goddess, Kumari, but she must be from a Buddhist family. Kumari appears in public at least once a year and gives blessings to the reigning king. And, after all, Buddha was born as a prince to a Hindu king.

But culture is in an intense transition in Nepal. Since the monarchy was abolished in May, Kumari now offers her blessings to the elected president. Considering Nepal's devout and syncretic attitudes, the Bamjan episode is not without irony.

The post-monarchy government is currently made up of communists who do not support religion.

Maoist leader Prachanda, for example, avoids Hindu ceremonies and festivals. If he attends any religious function at all, it is perceived as a public relations exercise with an eye on votes from a particular community. (Newspapers once pictured him amid Muslims with prayer caps.)

As Nepal transitions from a Hindu monarchy to a secular republic, observers believe it has unwittingly opened itself to proselytizers of several religious groups. Even as many Maoists identify themselves as atheists or agnostics, some of their top leaders are said to be lured by affluent churches such as the Unification Church of the Reverend Moon.

Bamboozled by 'Buddha Boy' Many of the devotees now surrounding Bamjan have described the experience in shades of religious adoration. ("It was an amazing experience to hear and see him. I have no doubt now he is the reincarnation of Buddha," a woman named Sangeeta Lama told The Associated Press.)

But others are more dubious, including the government. Government officials told Asia Times Online that police were investigating a complaint that a Korean national was orchestrating the entire affair. Meanwhile, a group of local residents has called the hysteria a pretext to grab a large tract of lush forest land. They claim that their religion is being taken advantage of.

Doubts also persist as to why no medical check-up was done to determine if Bamjan did actually abstain from food or water during the past months. Others have asked why members of the audience were warned not to ask any questions regarding Bamjan's methods of meditation. One report claimed that a French journalist filmed Bamjan "nibbling on fruit while supposedly midway through a fast". According to the Australian, "Another correspondent found him asleep while he was supposed to be meditating."

Media reports also point out that when Bamjan emerged as a divine presence for the first time three years ago, devotees gave donations to the tune of 700,000 rupees (US$9,022). At that time, authorities discovered that Maoist elements were cashing in on the superstition prevalent in the region. Police later seized the alms. But Bamjan's emergence - be he holy man or charlatan - is an important cultural event for a transforming Nepal. The hype and hyperbole he inspires must be considered along with the happiness he has brought to true believers.

With democratic atheists in government, and a cautious eye on religious conflicts in neighboring countries, it is still unclear what role religion will have in the new Nepal. A teenager named Ram Bahadur Bamjan may bring some kind of enlightenment after all.

POLL RESULTS

Who should be responsible for the sanitation in your locality?

36%

34%

30%

MUNICIPALITY

PUBLIC

OTHERS

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

• • • •

It depends on whether it is private and public property. The responsibility of sanitation will depend on that. While the society at large is responsible for sanitation, because it effects everyone, we still need to define the matter in legal terms. The public is responsible for the sanitation of their own private property and also to ensure that waste does not flow into another person’s private property. The municipality is responsible for the public property and also to see that proper facilities are provided to private citizens to dispose off their waste material. So on the whole the municipality is responsible and I think this is clearly stated in the municipal act.

If not them who else is capable to do so? Unless we have a sewer and drainage system like cities, the municipal should be responsible.

Provide dustbin properly It will work better when there is a system in place and someone is answerable or accountable to it.

There is no proper dumping ground. Just look at the one before you reach Kohima, it’s a shame and it is a mirror image of Nagaland.

I feel the municipalities are responsible for ensuring that they maintain good dumping

grounds and to also create re-cycling facilities. know or keep the value of it, it will become A lot of the waste that are thrown away like useless. If one needs cleanliness at home he bottles, cans and paper can be recycled only needs it more outside. if everyone applies their mind. The public • In your own locality if u do not take care of it.. should be responsible for seeing that they put who will??? the garbage in order so that the municipality • If the government build public toilets, then can pick them up and throw them away to the let the local youth clubs maintain the cleandumping grounds. liness with proper water facility. If the local • Municipality should run an awareness camclubs take sincere initiative, funds will not be paign, only then public take responsibility... a constraint for buying materials required for Anyway, do we even have a municipal board maintenance. Do not blame the government if that works outside their office?/ all we hear of people do not have civic sense. Let us sanitize them is through newspapers, about some resigDimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung and all disnation and new appointees... trict towns. The standard of your toilet deter• Sanitation is the primary responsibility of the mines how civilize you are, health wise. municipality. Yes, there is no doubt the public • Public of course! But most people seem to is responsible for keeping their locality clean think that it is the duty of others to clean it for and hygienic, but when you talk in terms of them. Come on! There’s nothing degrading to sanitation, the municipality has to see that clean the drain and paths in your area! the garbage if being picked up regularly and that there is infrastructure in place to take care Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say: of dumping garbage, good drainage system • C'mon! We all carry our A**** around and we and seeing that health concerns are being addrop it when the call of nature arrives. Who dressed. should be responsible? The one carrying the • What are they doing/will do with the tax monA**! Likewise, we all should be responsible for ey if they don’t clean? While the public are rewe are the ones who drop it and we should pick sponsible for cleaning their surroundings the it up. It should start at HOME. Civic sense is Municipal council is totally responsible for never learnt on the streets. "sigh" drainage...etc. etc.

• Municipality and public are to be blame .The • Why else do they receive their salary for? ignorance of both are to be counted.

Surely not to create one controversy after an• Both because it belongs to both other, but to keep the city clean and healthy!

• Both the public and municipality has miser(the public has a role too, but the municipality ably failed in the area of sanitation. They keep has the bigger share!) blaming each other, whereas they both need • Municipality, because under the municipal to coordinate to see that sanitation is mainact, it was the duty of the municipal council tained. for sanitation work. If the public are compel to • It definitely starts with the public. But the muwork on sanitation job than they must be paid nicipality is also responsible in checking and instead. directing the drains.

Some of those who voted PUBLIC had this to say: • Most Naga towns are not planned at all and they all lack proper drainage system. This is • Every citizen is responsible the main cause of worry. So it’s a cycle that • Having a clean place to live in...means starting keeps going round and round. Even if the from throwing a sweet wrapper into a dustbin public take care of their waste, where do they to throwing our own garbage into the thrash throw it, there is no proper waste facility, and bin.."IT SHOULD START FROM US" not so they end up throwing it in another colony the public nor the municipal or others...if we and this does not solve the problem at all. For start then eventually it will pay off! sanitation, both public and municipality must • An individual knows his own need and to have be involved and the government must take an environmental hygiene. If the municipal care to see that proper drainage and waste fadid something good but if the public do not cilities are created.

A Target Forever Acquitted by the Supreme Court, but suspected by people everywhere Sar Geelani

A

Professor, University of Delhi

t 11.30 AM on November 6, 2008, I reached the Arts Faculty of Delhi University to chair a seminar on ‘Communalism, Fascism and Democracy: Rhetoric and Reality’. As I took my seat, I hardly knew that in just a few minutes I would be the focus of a brazen fascist attack. Barely had I sat down that a student approached me pretending to want to speak to me. But instead, he spat on me. Immediately, all hell broke loose. Members of the ABVP/RSS in the audience and outside the hall started screaming, and breaking furniture and windowpanes. Undeterred by the large police presence, they abused not just me but the entire Muslim community.

For a moment, I was shocked. But as the man who spat on me raised slogans, I realised that he was from the RSS-BJP culture. These are the people who murdered Prof. Sabherwal in Ujjain and, very recently, demonstrated this behaviour in Orissa and in Karnataka.

This is the fascism of those who claim to represent Indian culture. A wrong message goes out to the world that violence represents Indian culture. I have seen this fascism all the while since I was arrested as an accused in December 2001 in the Parliament attack case and even after I was acquitted in 2005.

Indeed, life after acquittal has been very difficult not just for me but also for my family. It’s a long story.

I have been identified as a target; anything can happen any moment. In 2005, there was an assassination attempt on me. I got six bullets. Doctors gave up hope but I miraculously survived. A year earlier, I had given an affidavit to the Supreme Court saying there was a danger to my life. There have been several other attempts. I know there is danger around me.

I avoid accompanying my wife and my children anywhere as I don’t want them identified with me. I tried to go shopping with them once or twice but it became impossible and we came back quickly. Earlier, when I was in prison, no Delhi school would admit my son (now in the 7th standard) and daughter (now in the 11th standard). I had to send them to Kashmir to study. Despite the Supreme Court acquitting me, no landlord would rent me his house.

Once, after my acquittal, my family and I were traveling to Jammu by train. A politician was travelling in the same coach. The next morning, one of his security personnel complained to me, “Geelanisaheb, you didn’t let us sleep last night.” Apparently, the politician was so scared of my being in the coach that he sat up the night and forced his security men to stay awake, too. Another time I was travelling by Shatabdi Express to Lucknow from Delhi to attend a meeting at the invitation of Magsaysay Award winner Sandeep Pandey. During the journey, I went to the washroom.

When I returned everyone was on tenterhooks about my luggage. Once I was attending a meeting at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi in 2004 when RSS activists surrounded it and began stoning it.

But some good things, too, have happened. Earlier this year, I was invited to deliver a lecture at IIT Kanpur on the issue of Kashmir. Those attending included some Hindu boys from Gujarat. My speech was roundly applauded. Later, at tea break, this group of Gujarati boys came up to me and began apologising.

I said: I have never met you, so why apologise? It so happened that when the death sentence on Parliament attack accused, Afzal Guru, was upheld, I had led a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Uma Bharti had organised a counter sit-in there, which these boys had joined. “We abused you that day,” they said. “We said a lot of things we are ashamed of now.”

The media has played a highly dubious role in turning the people against me. I remember the first time I was paraded before the media on December 16, 2001. Every TV channel and newspaper was there. It was like walking the ramp. I shouted: we are being framed. But no one reported what I said. Instead, their banner headlines said a university professor had led the terrorists. Throughout the trial, the media ignored the defence and only reported the police version.

After I was released from prison, I was aghast to see that every newspaper had — falsely — blown up my alleged role in terrorism, claiming that I had masterminded the Parliament attack. Many in the media had even equated me with Osama bin Laden.

A Hindi newspaper claimed I was running a terrorist network from England to Aligarh, a city I have never visited. Another report said I had recruited Omar Sheikh (who the then foreign minister, Jaswant Singh, had handed over to the Taliban in Kandahar) while he was studying at the London School of Economics — where I’ve never studied. A prominent Hindi TV news network made a film portraying me as the mastermind of not just the Parliament attack but of the entire militancy in Kashmir!

Finally, the High Court and then the Supreme Court acquitted me of all charges. In fact, the High Court found that the police had forged documents and fabricated the evidence. But the media portrayed a picture that is now stuck in the peoples’ minds. This is true for others, too. In Hyderabad, a court last week acquitted some Muslim youth held for the Mecca Masjid blast. The media hasn’t bothered to report this.

In Mumbai, a court had acquitted all the accused of bombing a bus in 2003. No one reported it.

I HAVE SEEN the intelligence agencies very closely. Sitting with them, I never felt I was in a government office of a democratic country. Instead, it felt like the RSS headquarters. These agencies are highly communalised. Unfortunately, there is a lot of embedded journalism going on. The intelligence agencies plant stories through many journalists, who happily publish them.

Most importantly, however, it is the people of India who have forgotten to question their government.

I repeatedly ask people: do you know who actually attacked Parliament on December 13, 2001? Nobody knows and nobody has asked. That is why, at the moment, things look bad. Prejudice rules. The democratic space is shrinking. We must resolve to suffer to preserve the open democratic space so that our future generations benefit.

Because I talk about the rights of the Kashmiri people I am a clear target. But that again is the government’s fault. If the Indian government had given the people a true picture of the Kashmir issue there would not have been these kinds of difficulties for us, or even for the government of India and Pakistan to resolve it. But there is so much false propaganda and misinformation that people don’t know what really is the Kashmir problem.

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

8

Dimapur

NATIONAL

Monday 17 November 2008

NEWS FILE Court raps doctor for bad handwriting

MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 16 (AFP): An Indian doctor has sworn a legal undertaking that she will improve her handwriting after judges complained that they could not read her spidery scrawl, media here said Saturday.

The radiologist from Thane, in the greater Mumbai area, had been asked to file a report in the case of a man who claimed that his underage daughter had been forced into marriage by a neighbour. The medic conducted an age test on the girl, found her to be over 18 and that she wanted to stay in the marriage, leading to the dismissal of her father’s case. But the doctor’s conclusions had to be relayed by telephone to the Bombay High Court Friday, as she was not present at the hearing and the two judges could not decipher her handwriting. The judges rejected her excuse that her writing was poor because she wrote hundreds of reports every day. “You may be dealing with hundreds of reports but you must write in legible hand,” they added. The doctor has signed a court affidavit pledging to improve her script, lawyers said.

Hijacked ship Stolt Valor released, Indian sailors safe MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 16 (PTI): M T Stolt Valor, a cargo ship with 18 Indian sailors on board and hijacked

by Somalian pirates in the Gulf of Aden two months back, has been released, National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) said today. The Indian sailors were on the way to Mumbai, it said. NUSI Chairman Abdul Gani said, “There is no major medical problem (among the sailors).” He refused to go into details about the release but said, “definitely ransom has been paid but we will not be able to go into details of the amount.” Gani also thanked the Indian Navy and said, “we appreciate the efforts of the Indian Navy. Definitely it (ship) would be escorted out safely from the danger zone.” Seema Goel, wife of Capt of the ship Prabhat Goel, told PTI, “I got an official information from DG shipping that the ship has been released by the hijackers today. “They will be reaching India in another four-five days,” she said. Asked whether any ransom was paid for the release, Goel said she had no information how the release was secured.

The Morung Express

‘Margaret Alva is an enemy of herself’

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 16 (AGENCIES): Congress general secretary M Veerappa Moily has said that senior party leader Margaret Alva, relieved of her party positions for her cashfor-tickets charges, was “an enemy of herself.”

In an interview, he denied that any coterie within the party was working against her and said: “She was an enemy of herself. I don’t think she needs any outside enemy on an issue like this.”

Asked if the party was justified in removing Alva from the posts held by her, Moily said it was unfortunate but inevitable since her public utterances were a breach of discipline.

Alva was relieved of her posts after she alleged on November 6 that the ticket distribution for the Karnataka Assembly elections in May 2008 had been bungled and that some party leaders had taken money to select candidates. “It was most unfortunate. We are not happy she had to go, but this was inevitable, particularly after the kind of statements she gave, which breached the party discipline,” Moily said.

Asked about an inquiry into Alva’s allegations, Moily said: “Where is the question?

When all these matters have been gone into by the A K Antony Committee, and thereafter there is no issue.

Since there are no issues, the question of examining (her allegations) did not arise.”

In reply to another question, he said: “We have made an inquiry. It’s a motivated allegation made by Yogendra Makwana; we have verified it, it is wrong.”

Makwana, a senior party leader and former union minister, had backed Alva’s allegations. Moily said there is no ban in the party on giving tickets to the kith and kin of politicians but there is an absolute transparency in the distribution of tickets. This, he said, was in accordance with the wishes of Rahul Gandhi, son of party president Sonia Gandhi and a general secretary.

“The Congress has not put a total ban on the kith and kin or the children of any politician. I can produce volumes and volumes of records to demonstrate there is absolute transparency and lots of interaction took place with everyone,” he said. “Ultimately, the outcome (selection of candidates) came out after a proper exercise and interaction.”

“It is very much in accor-

Cong to crack whip on rebels, dissidents

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 16 (PTI): Fearing that dissidents could topple its apple-cart, Congress wants to send a message to the rank and file by taking “strong” action against rebels continuing in the fray in the Delhi Assembly elections despite “cajoling” by senior leaders.

Though leaders who are clandestinely playing the “spoiler” against candidates may escape the wrath of the party for the time being, Congress is adamant in sending the message that it will not entertain dissidence at a time when it is fighting antiincumbency in the election.

“No one is bigger than party.

Those who deviate from party discipline will have to pay the price. Strong action will be taken,” DPCC president Jai Prakash Aggarwal told PTI. Aggarwal and other senior dance with Rahulji’s wishes that it (ticket distribution) has to be transparent, it has to be broadbased and it has to be done through (a) process,” Moily said. The interview will be telecast at 8.30 pm on Sunday. Alva was dropped on

leaders were flooded with complaints from candidates across the capital that some local leaders in their constituency were working against them. At a function organised here yesterday by the DPCC, some of the candidates were seen complaining to Aggarwal about local leaders working against them or offering no help in their area. Some sought Aggar- A boy fishes in a polluted lake in Hyderabad, Novemwal’s intervention, which was ber 16. (AP Photo) “promptly” assured, while others wanted strict action against the “spoiler” as one candidate put it. “Give it in writing and I know what to do” was the re- NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 16 (AGENCIES): Union sponse from Aggarwal. railway minister Lalu Prasad slammed BJP leader L K Congress is facing rebel Advani and called him a ‘terrorist’. candidates in Mehrauli and Even as the Malegaon blast probe continues, political Sangam Vihar. Former Delhi parties are using the twists and turns in the story to gain Mayor Satbir Singh is still in mileage ahead of elections. In the latest round of verbal the fray from Mehrauli, a Jat duels, Union railway minister Lalu Prasad slammed the dominated seat, where state Health Minister Yoganand BJP and Hindu groups who are suspected of involvement in the terror attacks.

Shastri is contesting.

Lashing out at the BJP, he called the party’s prime ministerial candidate a ‘terrorist’ and said such groups November 12 from the post of general secretary as well as were trying to destroy the unity of the nation. Lalu said, from the membership of the “I’ve always been saying it. The BJP and L K Advani are Congress Working Commit- terrorists. All of them should go to jail.” However, BJP tee, the party’s highest deci- leader Arun Jaitley dismissed Lalu’s comments deeming sion making body, and the it unworthy of reply. He said, “I think there are some peoCentral Election Committee ple who can singly lower the level of debate. They should not been given much of an importance.” on charges of indiscipline.

Lalu Yadav calls L K Advani ‘terrorist’

transition team gave Five dead, 18 missing in Kashmir bridge collapse No tussle between judiciary, Obama ‘positive indications’ on ties

C M Y K

The collapsed bridge is seen at Uri some 100 Kilometers (62 miles) west of Srinagar, November 16. (AP Photo)

SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER newly constructed bridge col- dian Kashmir, police said Sun16 (AFP): Five people were lapsed over a fast-flowing river day. Volunteers and police who killed and 18 missing after a in the Himalayan region of In- rushed to the site retrieved three

bodies from the debris of the bridge in Uri district, 106 kilometres (65 miles) west of Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar.

Two bodies were fished out of the Jhelum river that flows into neighbouring Pakistan-administered Kashmir over which the bridge was built, police officer Abdul Rashid told AFP by phone from Uri town. Most of the dead and missing were labourers involved in construction or locals using the bridge, Rashid said, adding that it was not immediately clear what caused the collapse. Heavy rain and snow was hampering the relief effort, witness Irshad Ahmed said. The bridge was to be officially opened later this month. Construction-related accidents are common in India, where building contractors are often accused of using shoddy materials and paying scant regard to safety.

executive, legislature: CJI

KOCHI, NOVEMBER 16 (PTI): Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan today rubbishes reports of tussle between judiciary, executive and legislature and said it to be a media creation. “There is no so called tussle.

It is only the creation of the media,” Balakrishnan said rubbishing reports in this regard.

“I met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee recently. There is no tussle,” the CJI said in an interview to Malyalam television channel ‘Asianet News’. “The Speaker has criticised the judiciary and when we get opportunity, we also reply back,” he said.

To bring down pendency of cases, each state should ask for more courts.

Judiciary is not getting whole-hearted support from the concerned state governments for setting up courts, he said. On corruption in judiciary, the

CJI said, “I have never said corruption is not there in judiciary... However, either most of the complaints against judges are vague or are being given by litigants who have lost cases.

We cannot inquire into such allegations... But when special instances are brought to the court’s notice like the case against Kolkata High Court judge, action has been initiated.” On ways to improve the judicial system in the country, Balakrishnan said the quality of justice system has to be improved.

Efforts are being made to ensure that media reported court proceedings in a correct and fair manner, he said, adding that a weeklong training for media personnel will be held at IGNOU to improve their quality.

Elaborating on the problem of pendency of cases, the CJI said, India is the only country where there is such huge pendency of cases.

ON BOARD PM’S SPECIAL AIRCRAFT, NOVEMBER 16 (PTI): US President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team has given “positive indications” to India about the bilateral ties and there is no reason to have any doubts about its intentions, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today. The Obama transition team deputed former Secretary of State Madeline Albright for interaction with the Indian side during the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington, Singh said, adding “they have given us all the positive indications.”

“There is no reason to have any doubts about the intentions of the Obama Administration towards us. From whatever contact we have had we have no reasons to be apprehensive about the change of the regime in the US,” he told reporters accompanying him in his aircraft on way back from the G-20 summit he had attended in Washington. Ahead of Singh’s US visit, Obama had telephoned the Prime Minister on Wednesday last and described the Indo-US strategic relationship as a “very important partnership.”

CBI did not take leads Protectionism should not be allowed’ of Nanded blast seriously

MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 16 (PTI): CBI investigations into the 2006 Nanded blast have come into question as the agency appears to have not taken due cognisance of deposition of one of the accused indicating first signs of militarisation of some of the self-styled right wing groups.

Sources in the Central security agencies said one of the accused, whose voice had to be restored after operating his vocal chord which was damaged in the blast, had told investigators that Naresh Rajkondwar, a Bajrang Dal activist, had allegedly planned three blasts outside mosques that shook Jalna and Parbani in Maharashtra in 2003 and 2004.

The Nanded bomb blast took place in the interven-

ing night of April 4 and 5, 2006 at the residence of Laxman Rajkondwar, allegedly a RSS worker. Rajkondwar’ son Naresh and Himanshu Panse who was VHP activist were killed while assembling the bomb.

Though the CBI has chargesheeted ten people in the case, sources said, it has not been able to trace back the leads provided by some of the accused who claimed to have admitted, before investigators, their role in the earlier blasts.

Recoveries made by the investigating agencies from Rajkondwar’s house included Muslim skull caps, fake beards and a plan showing that the target was to hit a Mosque at Aurangabad, nearly 200 km from Nanded.

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 16 (AGENCIES): Advocating a multifaceted approach to tide over the current economic crisis, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday coordinated global fiscal stimulus to help mitigate the severity and duration of the recession to give a strong signal to investors worldwide. Singh told the world leaders at the G-20 summit, convened by President George W Bush, that there was a need for a credible system of multilateral surveillance that can signal the emergence of imbalances as the crisis was “far from over”.

The economist-turned politician made a prescriptive address covering various areas needing urgent attention like reforms of the multilateral financial institutions to enhance con-

cessional flows, a caution against protectionist policies and changes in the global financial architecture to avoid recurrence of the crisis. In his five page address at the plenary session of the day-long summit, Singh also sought a mechanism of consultation that can yield results in terms of policy coordination. He was heard with rapt attention by leaders including Bush, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Russian President Dimitry Medvedev.

Cautioning that a slowing down of growth in developing countries would push millions of people into poverty, Singh said, “These are not transient impacts but will impact a full generation.” “It would be a great

pity if this growing support for open policies in the developing world is weakened because of a failure to protect developing countries from a recession which is not of their making. We need to take urgent steps to strengthen the global trading system and forestall any protectionist tendencies which always surface in times of recession,” PM Manmohan Singh said.

“Emerging market countries were not the cause of this crisis, but they are amongst its worst affected victims,” he added. “India is experiencing this negative impact. After growing at close to nine percent per year for four years, our growth rate is expected to slow down to between seven percent to 7.5 percent in the current finan- Children pay tributes to those killed in last month’s blasts in Assam state as they light cial year,” Manmohan Singh candles in Calcutta on November 16. The blasts that tore through India’s northeastern informed the summit.

Assam on October 30 killed 86 people and injured more than 300 others. (AP Photo)

Divide and rule? Parochial identity politics stoke fears BJP MLA commits suicide in Delhi

MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 16 (AFP): Parochial identity politics are gripping India’s most cosmopolitan city, Mumbai, stoking fears that intimidation and deadly violence used for local ends are threatening a fragile sense of national unity. At the centre of the row is Raj Thackeray, the leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party, who pushes a hard line of more jobs for people from Maharashtra state – of which Mumbai is the capital – and vigorously promotes the local Marathi language.

In that regard, he is the latest in a long line of Indian political leaders who look to secure their power base by tapping into the fierce sense of regional identity in this country of one billion people. But it is the violence that often follows Thackeray’s pronouncements – particularly towards north Indian migrant workers who flock to the

city to find jobs – that has caused concern in India’s financial capital and beyond.

MNS activists last month beat up north Indians who came to sit an exam to work on the railways and one man died after being thrown from a train. Violence then erupted after Thackeray was arrested and accused of inciting the unrest. This week the state government postponed the release of a film dealing with the struggle of north Indian migrant workers in Mumbai, fearing it could inflame real-life community tensions.

For now, Thackeray is on bail and banned from making public statements. But as some north Indians begin leaving Maharashtra – and those that have stayed behind live in fear -- many are bracing for the next flashpoint. Battle lines have already been drawn. In north India, there have been vio-

lent counter-protests and a political party has even offered to send its supporters to Mumbai to protect non-Maharashtrians.

Thackeray’s claims to be the guardian of local culture and identity, protecting it from the cheap labour of non-Marathi-speaking “outsiders”, mirrors the immigration debate around the world. He may have support, particularly among the city and state’s impoverished underclass, but some see his chauvinistic brand of rabble-rousing politics as damaging the image of Mumbai, Maharashtra and the country.

“Raj Thackeray is... dividing India by unleashing his goon squads on fellow Indians, with fatal consequences, just because they happen to come from outside the state,” the leading weekly magazine India Today said recently. Others have said the belligerent Thackeray embod-

ies the kind of sectarianism that independence and partition in 1947 – when the subcontinent was carved into Hindu-majority India and mainly Muslim Pakistan – were intended to eliminate.

Like many, Mahesh Vijapurkar, a former deputy editor at the English-language newspaper The Hindu, sees Raj Thackeray as a modern-day incarnation of his uncle Bal Thackeray who led a 1960s fight for a “Maharashtra for Marathis.” The ageing Bal is still leader of the Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party, of which MNS is an offshoot. It was Shiv Sena that changed the name of the former Bombay to Mumbai in the mid-1990s as part of a drive to reflect Marathi culture.

Its activists were also identified in a judicial report as being involved in the deadly communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in Mumbai in 1992-93 that left

more than 1,000 people dead. “He (Raj Thackeray) is exactly his uncle’s clone in every which way,” Vijapurkar told AFP. But the nephew has added economics into the mix of deep-seated Indian divisions along language, caste and regional lines, the former politics and government specialist added.

“People are getting worried about their share of the economic pie,” he said. How to resolve the tense situation is far from clear, as state elections in Maharashtra loom early next year. But there is a popular belief the ruling coalition in the state government here has been muted in its criticism of Thackeray hoping that a split in the vote between Shiv Sena and the MNS could well keep them in power. “It’s cynical politics of the state... In India you can play politics with regard to identity. It’s par for the course,” Vijapurkar said.

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 16 (PTI): Puran Chand Yogi, a sitting BJP MLA from Rajinder Nagar and the party’s candidate from the constituency for the Delhi assembly polls, allegedly committed suicide at his residence on Sunday. Yogi, 73, was found hanging from the ceiling of his house in Inderpuri in south-west Delhi at around 7.15am by his wife Asha, a senior police officer said.

The three-time MLA was pitted against Ramakant Goswami of the Congress in the elections and was actively campaigning in the constituency. His wife told police that Yogi had woken up at around 5am and asked for the keys to an upper floor room where his election materials were kept. At around 7.15am, his wife went upstairs only to

find him hanging, the officer said. Earlier, his family sources had said that the MLA had died following a heart attack. Yogi, formerly working with the Indian Oxygen Ltd, has a son and a daughter. Senior BJP leader and the party’s chief ministerial candidate V K Malhotra visited the MLA’s residence.

Born in Gujaranwala district of Pakistan in 1935, Yogi had been active in politics since 1967. He was first elected to the assembly in 1993 and was re-elected in 1998 and 2003. In the last assembly polls, he had defeated Raj Kumar Kohli of Congress by 891 votes. “In all probability, the election in Rajinder Nagar will be postponed and we will ask for a new candidate from the party,” a Delhi election official said.

The Morung Express

INTERNATIONAL

Monday 17 November 2008

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UN presses rebel leader on cease-fire

JOMBA, NOVEMBER 16 (AP): The U.N. special envoy to Congo met with the Central African country's main rebel leader Sunday for the first time, pressing to firmly establish a ceasefire even as the U.N. reported more heavy fighting in the east. The visit by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo came after he talked to Congo's president and the president of neighboring Angola in recent days, trying to get a resolution to Congo's political crisis.

Obasanjo flew Sunday by helicopter to the rebel-held town of Jomba, near the Ugandan border, and was greeted with a hug by gray-suited rebel leader Laurent Nkunda. After a two-hour meeting in a church compound, Obasanjo said the rebel leader agreed to maintain a fragile cease-fire. "(But) cease-fire maintenance is like dancing tango. One does not dance tango alone," Obasanjo noted.

Nkunda said the Congolese government had to support the cease-fire as well. He described his talks with Obasanjo as "exploratory" and lauded the envoy's involvement as "great."

Shortly afterward Obasanjo left for the regional capital, Goma. The U.N. envoy was due in Rwanda later Sunday for talks with that country's president, Paul Kagame, who wields strong influence over Nkunda.

Nkunda, a former general, quit Congo's army in 2004 and launched a rebellion he claims is aimed at protecting ethnic Tutsis from Hutu militias who fled to Congo after Rwanda's 1994 genocide that left more than 500,000 mostly Tutsis dead. Critics, however, say Nkunda is more interested in power and the country's min-

eral wealth. Ahead of the talks, clashes broke out in Ndeko, about 90 kilometers north of Goma, according Col. Jean-Paul Dietrich, a spokesman for the 17,000-strong peacekeeping mission.

Dietrich described the Sunday morning battle between government soldiers and rebels as "heavy" and said six army troops were wounded. "We gave them first aid and we will evacuate them by helicopter" to a local hospital, Dietrich said. Low-level fighting among armed groups has ground on for years in Congo's lawless North Kivu province, but violence sharply escalated in August and has since displaced 250,000 people.

On Saturday, Obasanjo said Congo President Joseph Kabila was willing to talk to Nkunda and "did not give anything that I would call conditions" for holding talks. "But we are at the exploratory stage now," he admitted.

Congo's government has said it is willing to meet Nkunda, but only along with the many other militias operating in the region - not alone. Nkunda has criticized the government for signing deals with Chinese companies to exploit the nation's mineral wealth.

On Friday, Obasanjo visited Angola to speak with President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, who assured him that no Angolan troops were in Congo despite numerous reports to the contrary.

Congo has called on Angola for military help, and some fear the current crisis could once again draw in other neighboring countries. Congo's devastating 1998-2002 war split the vast nation into rival fiefdoms and involved half a dozen African armies, including Angola's.

This six picture file composite image from November 3, shows Congolese war victims laying in Rutshuru's hospital, some 80 kms north of Goma, eastern Congo, after being wounded during recent fighting between troops loyal to Laurent Nkunda's rebel movement and the Congolese forces. Over 100 civilians have been treated in the hospital. Top row from left, Oliva (no age given), 20-year-old Elizabeth Kabaya and 12-year-old Martine Kanyange. Bottom row from left, 6-year old Gervais Semutaga, 11-year old Djemimana Ntabonimbsa and 8-year-old Samuel Semivumba. (AP Photo)

Ousted Thai PM Thaksin divorces NKorea reports another BANGKOK, NOVEMBER 16 (REUTERS): Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has divorced his wife of the last 32 years, Potjaman, his spokesman said on Sunday, although he offered few explanations for the shock separation. “I can confirm that he has divorced but I did not ask for further details as I consider that personal,” spokesman Pongthep Thepkanchana said. The divorce was believed to have taken place last week at the Thai consulate in Hong Kong, where Thaksin has spent time since the British government revoked his visa a week ago, Pongthep added.

The consulate declined to comment.

Thaksin’s opponents and the Thai media, which has remained largely hostile since his removal in a 2006 coup, speculated the divorce was either a stunt to elicit

sympathy back home or a financial decision to protect the couple’s assets, most of which are thought to be in Potjaman’s name. Nearly $2 billion has been frozen in Thaksin’s Thai bank accounts since the coup, and both he and his wife have been convicted of corruption or conflict of interest offences although have avoided jail by fleeing the country.

“I don’t believe they are divorcing because they can no longer spend their lives together. They have shared happiness and sadness for such a very long time,” said Sukhum Nualsakul, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Ramkhmhaeng University.

“It must be other reasons,” he said. Thaksin and Potjaman, who was renowned as a formidable behind-the-scenes political operator during his five years in office, have three adult children.

public appearance for Kim

SEOUL, NOVEMBER 16 (AFP): North Korea reported Sunday that its leader Kim Jong-Il has made another public appearance in an apparent attempt to quell continuing rumours over his health. The North's official Korean Central News Agency said Kim and his deputies had enjoyed a military art performance. "He warmly waved back to the enthusiastically cheering performers and congratulated them on their successful presentation," KCNA said, failing to state when and where the performance took place.

After he failed to attend a September 9 parade marking the country's 60th anniversary, South Korean and US ofIn this July 31, 2008 file photo, ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and ficials said Kim had suffered his wife Pojaman, left, arrive at criminal court in Bangkok, Thailand. Thaksin and Pojaman, a stroke around mid-August who married in 1976, divorced at the Thai Consul General Office in Hong Kong on Friday, but was recovering well. Last the English-language Nation and Bangkok Post newspapers reported. (AP Photo/File) week the Tokyo Broadcasting

System, citing an unnamed US intelligence source, reported that Kim, 66, suffered a second stroke in late October. South Korean officials could not confirm the report.

Kim's health is the subject of intense speculation because he has not publicly nominated a successor -- as his father had done more than 20 years before his death in 1994 -- to run the impoverished, nuclear-armed state.

North Korean state media have recently issued a series of still photos of Kim in public, in an apparent attempt to end the swirling speculation about his health. But they have all been undated, stoking even more rumours.

One of the photos, issued early this month, had been digitally altered to superimpose Kim's image onto a military group, experts said.

South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak said last week he believes the North Korean leader has no problem governing. "Chairman Kim is able to handle state affairs, and I understand (he has) no problem in running the country," Lee told an interview with local media.

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso also said earlier this month that Kim was probably in hospital but still capable of making decisions. Some Seoul officials and North Korea experts say Jang Song-Taek, Kim's brother-in-law, has become more powerful since Kim fell sick, with some believing he is effectively standing in for the supreme leader. Jang, 62, is said to be in charge of the security and police agencies, including the dreaded secret police.

‘Prince Charles wants to speak out as king’ LONDON, NOVEMBER 16 (AFP): Prince Charles, who has just turned 60, wants to break with tradition and keep speaking out on key issues when he becomes king, biographer Jonathan Dimbleby said in The Sunday Times.

Charles, the heir to the throne, is outspoken on several matters such as climate change and architecture. However, sovereigns traditionally keep their opinions out of the public domain.

"There are now discreet moves afoot to redefine the future role of the sovereign so that it would allow King Charles III to speak out on matters of national or international importance in ways that at the moment would be unthinkable," said broadcaster Dimbleby, a close friend of the prince who wrote an authorised biography of Charles.

Since inheriting the throne in 1952, Charles's mother Queen Elizabeth II has adhered to the tradition that the monarch's views are only heard by prime ministers and the privy council."To breach this convention, however cautiously,

would represent a seismic shift in the role of the sovereign," Dimbleby wrote. "It has the potential to be politically and constitutionally explosive." Charles would not speak out to the degree he does now, Dimbleby said. "But those who believe Britain needs an 'active' sovereign in the 21st century claim that it would be a waste of his experience and accumulated wisdom for it to be straightjacketed within the confines of an annual Christmas message or his weekly audience with the prime minister," he wrote.

Charles has told confidantes that he would like the role of monarch to evolve so that his experience and knowledge are not wasted once he inherits the throne, Dimbleby said. Supporters of the idea think it would be "missing a trick for him to be required to take a vow of monarchical silence." "This is not an issue that the prince likes to discuss in such terms even with his most trusted intimates," Dimbleby said.

However, "he has latterly intimated to one or two of his

confidants that he would like his present role to evolve so that once he inherits the crown, his knowledge and experience, his contacts and his unique ability to 'convene' others in the national interest could be put to good use rather than go to waste." Charles would speak "for the nation and to the nation" in the same vein as the presidents of Germany and Ireland. "Although these heads of state are required to be politically non-partisan, they are otherwise free to speak their mind in public," Dimbleby said.

The veteran broadcaster also said that talks were underway between Downing Street and Buckingham Palace about ending the ban on Catholic monarchs, which has prompted fears in royal circles about the disestablishment of the Church of England. The 1701 Act of Settlement bars monarchs or their heirs from becoming or marrying Catholics. However, reforming the act could be problematic as tinkering with the succession laws affects 15 other countries where the British monarch is head of state, including Can-

ada, Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica.

Charles continued his 60th birthday celebrations Saturday with a star-studded dinner at his country retreat, where he was serenaded by rocker Rod Stewart. The heir to the throne was entertained at his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire, southwest England, at a bash thrown by his second wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Among those attending were "Mr Bean" comedian Rowan Atkinson, while other acting luminaries included Oscarwinner Judi Dench and Joanna Lumley.

Saturday was yet another night of celebrations for the prince, following a comedy show on Wednesday and a black-tie gala dinner thrown

by Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday attended by more than 400 friends including European royalty. He spent his actual birthday on Friday in London meeting young people at projects led by the Prince's Trust and attending the Royal Opera House. The day was also marked by traditional gun salutes.

Britain's Prince Charles shields his eye from the sunlight, while visiting a Prince's Trust project at Beckton Community Centre in east London, on his 60th birthday on November 14. The Prince was attending the launch of Youth Week, a new project run by his Prince's Trust, which runs for seven days, and aims to challenge stereotypes about young people and encourage them to seek help from the trust. (AP Photo)

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Monday 17 November 2008

The Morung Express

Anelka double keeps Chelsea on top

BIRMINGHAM, NOVEMBER 16 (AFP): Nicolas Anelka maintained his magnificent start to life under Luiz Felipe Scolari to help Chelsea to a convincing 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns and into the Premier League record books.

The French international striker took his personal goal tally for the season to 13 as Scolari's team made it ten successive away wins in the Premier League and confirmed the worst fears of West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray.

Mowbray's candid admission that there are times when he goes into a game knowing that his side cannot win certainly proved true as Chelsea exposed the huge gulf in class over the Premier League's bottom side, in clambering back to the head of the title race. A few hours earlier they had lost their seat at the summit as a result of Liverpool's victory at Bolton Wanderers, but they are in no mood to surrender that position on a permanent basis under the guidance of Brazilian Scolari as the goals continue to flow in a manner never seen under former coach Jose Chelsea's Michael Ballack, left, is tackled by West Bromwich Albion's Paul Robinson, bottom right, as West Bromwich Albion's Kim Do-heon, center Mourinho.

Scolari has performed left, and Chelsea's Deco, center right, look on during their English Premier League soccer match at the Hawthorns, West Bromwich, England on wonders enough in his November 15. (AP Photo)

Yuvraj Singh in doubt for India's 2nd one-dayer INDORE, NOVEMBER 16 (AP): Acute back pain may force Yuvraj Singh out of India's second limited-overs international against England on Monday after the lefthander spurred the home side to a commanding win in the opening match. Yuvraj complained of back stress during Friday's first limited-overs international and used a runner as he posted an unbeaten 138 that helped India clinch a 158-run victory in the first of seven matches. India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Yuvraj's condition was improving, but a decision on whether to name him for the second one-dayer at the central Indian city of Indore will not be taken until Monday morning. "There's considerable improvement in Yuvraj's condition, but we'll take a final call on him just before the start of play," Dhoni said Sunday. Yuvraj's dazzling knock helped India clinch its highest ever victory by runs against England, whose previous biggest loss to India batting second was by 86 runs at Sydney in 1985. England allrounder and former limited-overs captain Paul Collingwood said Yuvraj's absence would be a big advantage for the tourists. "It was one of the best innings in one-day internationals, Yuvraj scored heavily against us even in the twenty20 World Championship" last year, Collingwood said. "If he's not able to play, obviously it would be bonus for us." Collingwood said pace bowler Ryan Sidebottom has regained fitness and could provide the variety that was missing from the England attack during the opening match. "We need to be more aggressive and we'll definitely bounce back," he said. " India will continue to be without pace spearhead Ishant Sharma, who also missed the opening limited-overs international in Rajkot due to an ankle sprain suffered during the final test match against Australia. Sharma was named player of the four-test series against Australia, which India clinched 2-0 just three days ahead of the limited-overs series with England. "Ishant is virtually out of this match," Dhoni said. Dhoni urged his players to guard against complacency after posting a big win in the first match, saying England should not be taken lightly. "We're always wary of becoming complacent," said Dhoni, who says the current England bowling attack is superior to the one that visited India two years ago. England's touring team drew the 2006 test series 1-1, but India dominated the limited-overs internationals 5-1.

"England's a good side. It has a very good attack and we're not taking it lightly," Dhoni said.

early months at Stamford Bridge, but his most telling contribution has been his impact on Nicolas Anelka, the French international so often referred to as "Le Sulk," but now with one of the broadest grins in the Premier League. Anelka superb form again ensured that Didier Drogba had to be satisfied with a place on the substitute's bench, just three days after his controversial coin throwing incident in the League Cup against Burnley and if Anelka continues like this he could remain their for some time.

He had already managed more goals on his own than Tony Mowbray's side collectively, prior to kick off and he made that statistic more embarrassing with two impressive finishes in the last eight minutes of the first half. His first was the result of Albion's inability to clear their defensive lines allowing Florent Malouda to guide a header into vast acres of space between Scott Carson and his defence and Anelka's devastating pace was matched with a sublime clip to punish another disappointing performance by the Albion goalkeeper.

Carson still harbours hopes of an England re-call, but, after last weekend's

rush of blood at Anfield, he again showed his fallibility by getting caught out at his near post by Jose Bosingwa's swerving shot from the corner of the penalty area and he could only palm the ball into his own net to gift Chelsea the lead. Abdoulaye Meite could not have wished for a more difficult return game, after a spell of inactivity with a thigh injury and in first half stoppage time his lack of first team minutes was cruelly exposed by the irrepressible Anelka.

Again his pace was simply too much to cope with, but he was assisted by some more uncertain goalkeeping from Carson, who allowed the Frenchman's shot to beat him at the near post. Only a wonderfully brave intervention

by Jonas Olsson deprived Anelka of a hat-trick, while Deco and Salomon Kalou were both guilty of taking one touch too many when they could see the whites of Carson's eyes.

Drogba was unable to get into the act himself in a final 15 minute cameo, but there was still time for Malouda to waste another wonderful opportunity and the only consolation for Mowbray and his team was avoiding a more embarrassing defeat.

China jails, fines Beijing Olympics ticket scalper Feeble Real lose at strugglers Valladolid

BEIJING, NOVEMBER 16 (AP): A man found guilty of scalping more than 500 tickets to the Beijing Olympics was sentenced to two and a half years in jail and a $65,000 fine, state media reported Sunday.

The 41-year-old Chinese national used illegally obtained identification information to book 527 Olympic tickets with 230,000 yuan ($34,000) through the organizers' online ticketing system, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Xinhua said the man, surnamed He, had agreed to obtain the tickets for two companies in

Beijing and Guangzhou - at a profit of 50 percent to 60 percent of official prices.

He was arrested by police on May 13, Xinhua said. Beijing Olympics organizers in the lead up to the games had warned that ticket scalping is illegal and anyone caught risked being detained for up to 15 days.

The police also raised the threat of re-education through labor, where Chinese can be sentenced to manual labor camps without trial. A total of seven million tickets were available for the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Olympics, three-quarters of which were

sold in China through the official ticketing Web site or at ticket outlets.

Between May 5, when the final round of Olympic ticket sales began in China, and July 27, police caught about 100 Chinese black marketers, some whom tried to sell tickets at up to 100 times their original value, state media earlier reported.

Olympic tickets were printed with warnings that they could not be resold or traded, and opening and closing ceremony tickets could only be transferred once to person approved by the organizers.

North Korean players celebrate after winning the FIFA under-17 Women's World Cup at North Harbor Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand on November 16. North Korea beat the USA 2-1 in their soccer final match. (AP Photo)

Ajax tops PSV 4-1 in Dutch league AMSTERDAM, NOVEMBER 16 (AP) - Ajax kept its title chase on track Sunday by beating PSV Eindhoven 4-1 to stay tied at the top of the Dutch league. Dennis Rommedahl, who has failed to establish a regular starting slot since coach Marco van Basten's offseason arrival, played a one-two with Urby Emanuelson and set up Uruguay winger Luis Su-

arez for Ajax's opening goal in the 27th. Midfielder Ibrahim Afellay equalized for PSV in the 56th from Danko Lazovic's cross but substitute Miralem Sulejmani restored the lead in the 74th, capitalizing on a rebound after PSV goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson failed to hold on to Emanuelson's hard shot. Erik Pieters made things worse for PSV, directing Suarez's goal-

GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 16 (AP): Diego Maradona arrived in Scotland on Sunday ahead of his first game in charge of Argentina's national team and, to the delight of the Scottish fans, autographed a photo of his famous "Hand of God" 1986 World Cup goal against England.

The soccer great is guaranteed a big welcome when Argentina faces the Scots at Hampden Park on Wednesday simply because of the home team's rivalry with neighbor England.

Maradona's two goals in that World Cup quarterfinal - one of them blatant cheating when he punched the ball into the net and the other an amazing dribble through the England defense five minutes later - earned Argentina a 2-1 victory in Mexico's Aztec Stadium on the way to its second title triumph.

Reporters and photogra-

phers waiting to see Maradona were kept away from him by police and, when asked how he felt on his arrival, he replied in Spanish: "Contento." His only response in English was "I don't speak English."

After initially climbing onto a bus, Maradona returned to the entrance of Glasgow airport and signed autographs, including on a poster of his famous handball goal against England.

Maradona's appointment has not met with universal approval in Argentina because of his volatile temperament, history of drug bans and alcohol abuse which left him hugely overweight and close to death.

But his health has revived and Argentina fans hope that he can transfer the ability he had as a player onto the bench as an inspirational coach alongside veteran manager Carlos Bilardo.

bound shot into his own net in the 78th and substitute Leonardo added the fourth in the 90th. It was only Ajax's second home victory against the defending champion since the opening of the Amsterdam Arena in 1996.

Ajax and NAC Breda lead the standings with 25 points each. AZ Alkmaar could join them later Sunday with a win at Vitesse Arnhem.

MADRID, NOVEMBER 16 (REUTERS): Real Madrid's poor run of form continued on Saturday when the Primera Liga champions lost 1-0 at struggling Real Valladolid and missed the chance to take over from Barcelona at the top of the table. Valladolid were thrashed 6-0 by Barca at the Nou Camp last weekend but shocked a sluggish-looking Real by taking the lead shortly after the break. Midfielder Fabian Canobbio found space on the edge of the penalty area and the Uruguayan lashed a left-foot shot high into the net past Iker Casillas. Real mounted a desperate charge for an equaliser and almost found one in the 75th minute but Valladolid keeper Sergio Asenjo saved two powerful drives from midfielder Wesley Sneijder in quick succes-

sion. Asenjo made a string of superb stops during the match and kept Raul's weak effort out near the end after the striker intercepted a stray back pass and was through on goal.

Real's misery was compounded shortly before the end when their Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession.

Barcelona visit Recreativo Huelva in Sunday's late match having won their last eight league games, scoring 33 goals. They have 25 points, one ahead of unbeaten Villarreal, who play at Malaga on Sunday.

Third-placed Valencia, who have 23 points, host Sporting Gijon later on Saturday (2100 GMT). Real remain fourth, also with 23 points but behind Valencia on goal difference, while Valladolid provisionally

jump to 10th with 13 points.

Real have leaked eight goals at the Bernabeu in their last three matches and suffered a humiliating midweek exit from the King's Cup to third-tier side Real Union. The pressure is increasing on coach Bernd Schuster who said after Saturday's defeat that his players were working hard but were feeling the absence of a number of first-choice players. The German's injury list includes Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is out for the season after having knee surgery, his compatriot Arjen Robben, central defender Pepe and midfielders Ruben de la Red and Mahamadou Diarra. "This was a match we did not think we would lose," Schuster told a news conference.

New Argentina coach arrives in Scotland

Paul Biedermann from Germany celebrates after winning the men's 200 meters freestyle final at the FINA short course swimming World Cup in Berlin on November 16. Biedermann set a new world record in 01:40:83 minutes. (AP Photo)

Argentina Coach and former footballer, Diego Maradona, centre, arrives with his team at Glasgow Airport, Scotland, on November 16. Argentina face Scotland in their International Challenge Match at Hampden Park on Wednesday.(AP Photo)

C M Y K

Ent/Tabloid

11 “I touch wood every day that my marriage will survive” PRIME TIME

The Morung Express

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icole Kidman has admitted she 'touches wood' every day in the hope that her second marriage will last. The Oscar-winning actress has a four-month-old daughter with country music star Keith Urban, who two-timed her with a 23-year-old model before their June 2006 wedding. Now Kidman, 41, says she is wary of taking their relationship for granted and that Urban endures a gruelling travel schedule to be with her as she is away filming so much.

During the filming of her new £100million blockbuster, Australia, which premieres in Sydney next week, the singer interrupted his US tour to fly back and forth to the outback to see her. Kidman, in an interview with USA Today, said: 'We're both willing to move mountains to make it work and, with that, you still touch wood. 'You commit to it and say, "Whatever we can do that's humanly possible, we're going to do." And that's it.

'I don't take any of it for granted. To have love again is a beautiful thing.' Kidman was devastated when first husband Tom Cruise

dumped her in 2001 after 11 years of marriage. Friends say Cruise's high-profile romance with Katie Holmes has continued to cast a shadow over Kidman's attempts to rebuild her life.

Holmes gave birth to daughter Suri in April 2006, and she and Cruise are the primary carers for the children he adopted with Kidman - Isabella, 15, and Connor, 13.

They address Holmes as 'mum', and Kidman has admitted: 'They call me "Nicole", which I hate.' After she finished filming Australia, Kidman retreated to the farm outside Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with Urban.

The birth in July of their daughter, Sunday Rose, brought her huge joy - but just four weeks later she flew back to Australia for reshoots. Amanda Wyatt, the model with whom Urban cheated before his wedding, believes the constant separation could threaten the marriage. She said: 'I feel sorry for Nicole. Keith cheated on her repeatedly with me. He hates to be alone - he needs somebody with him the whole time. 'I hope their marriage works but leopards don't change their spots.'

‘Prince Harry’s the perfect 007’

'The Love of My Life'

Charlize named ‘UN Messenger of Peace’ D

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Dimapur

06:00 - Fashion House; 07:00 - Friday Night Lights; 08:00 Seinfeld; 08:30 - Friends; 09:00 - Less Than Perfect; 09:30 Samantha Who?; 10:00 Grey’s Anatomy; 11:00 America’s Got Talent; 12:00 - Boston Legal; 14:00 - The Ellen Degeneres Show; 15:00 - Fashion House; 16:00 - Cold Case; 17:00 - Grey’s Anatomy; 18:00 - Friday Night Lights; 19:00 Friends; 19:30 - Seinfeld; 20:00 - Life With Bonnie; 20:30 According To Jim; 21:00 - Last Comic Standing; 22:00 - Ugly Betty; 23:00 - Jimmy Kimmel; 00:00 - FriEnds; 00:30 - Seinfeld; 01:00 The Simpsons; 01:30 - My Wife And Kids; 02:00 - Grey’s Anatomy; 03:00 - The Ellen Degeneres Show; 04:00 - Cold Case; 05:00 The Simpsons; 05:30 - Kenneth Copeland

05:10 - Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.; 07:45 - Global Tele Mall (Entertainment) ; 08:00 - Jhankaar Beats (Entertainment; 09:00 - Once Upon A Time In China - Iii) ; 12:00 - Film Desh Devi; 15:45 - Don; 17:45 - Don; 20:00 - Krrish; 00:00 Krrish; 00:15 - Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi; 03:00 - Inner World Of Shahrukh Khan; 04:00 - Star Gold Special ; 04:15 - Betaabi 06:00 - The Jeff Corwin Experience; 07:00 Teleshopping; 08:00 - Meerkat Manor; 09:00 Lyndal’s Lifeline; 10:00 - Baby Planet; 11:00 Max’s Big Tracks; 12:00 - Wild Africa; 13:00 - Incredible Journeys With Steve Leonard; 14:00 - The Jeff Corwin Experience; 15:00 Penguin Safari With Nigel Marven; 16:00 - The Most Extreme; 17:00 - Lyndal’s Lifeline; 18:00 - Meerkat Manor; 19:00 - Max’s Big Tracks; 20:00 - Wild Africa; 21:00 - Penguin Safari With Nigel Marven; 22:00 - Animal Planet Safari; 23:00 - The MoSt Extreme; 00:00 - Meerkat Manor; 01:00 - Teleshopping; 02:00 Petsburgh Usa; 03:00 - Monkey Business; 04:00 - Petsburgh Usa; 05:00 - Monkey Business 06:00 - Telebrands; 07:00 - Dirty Jobs; 08:00 - Planet Earth; 09:00 New Detectives - The Case Studies In Forensic Scie; 10:00 Discovery’s Biggest Shows; 12:00 - Amazing Baby Videos; 12:30 Baby Whisperer 1; 13:00 - Planet Earth; 14:00 - Discover India; 15:00 - Discovery On Demand; 16:00 - Wild Discovery; 17:00 - Wild Safari; 18:00 - India With Sanjeev Bhaskar; 19:00 - Hunters; 20:00 - Giant Of The Skies: Building The Airbus A380; 21:00 - Futureweapons; 22:00 - Man Vs. Wild; 23:00 - Extreme Engineering; 00:00 - Wild Discovery; 01:00 - Telebrands; 02:00 - Extreme Engineering; 03:00 - India With Sanjeev Bhaskar; 04:00 - I Shouldn’t Be Alive; 05:00 Extreme Engineering 06:00 - Seva Ganga; 06:30 - Vignan Shashwat Sukh Ka; 07:00 Sangam; 07:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi; 08:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi; 08:30 Kayamath; 09:00 - Kumkum; 09:30 - Kahaani Ghar; 10:00 - Kis Desh Mein Hai; 10:30 - Hamari Devrani; 11:00 - Grihasti; 11:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi; 12:00 - Bidaai; 12:30 - Kis Desh Mein Hai; 13:00 - Kumkum; 13:30 - Hamari Devrani; 14:00 - Karam; 14:30 - Grihasti; 15:00 Kyunki Saas Bhi; 15:30 - Kayamath; 16:00 - Sangam; 16:30 Santaan; 17:00 - Kasturi; 17:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi; 18:00 - Bidaai; 18:30 - Hamari Devrani; 19:00 - Sangam; 19:30 - Santaan; 20:00 - Raja Ki Ayegi; 20:30 - Kis Desh Mein Hai; 21:00 - Bidaai; 21:30 - Kasturi; 22:00 - Kahaani Ghar; 22:30 - Kyunki Saas Bhi; 23:00 Kayamath; 23:30 - Karam; 00:00 - Kasturi; 00:30 - Kumkum; 01:00 - Bidaai; 01:30 - Kis Desh Mein Hai; 02:00 - Grihasti; 02:30 Kayamath; 03:00 - Hamari Devrani; 03:30 - Kahaani Ghar; 04:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi; 04:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi; 05:00 - Disney Time

US actress Lindsay Lohan, left, and disc jockey Samantha Ronson, center, shop at the Colette shop in Paris, Saturday, November 15. (AP Photo)

velte star Jessica Alba didn't look like the typical new mom at the Keep A Child Alive 5th Annual Black Ball Thursday, but all she could talk about was her 5-month-old daughter, Honor Marie. "Everything is cute, everything is fun," the actress told PEOPLE, "including the explosive diarrhea – the best ever."

Alba says that life with Honor Marie has brought her and husband Cash Warren closer. "It brings family together. It brings friends together. It makes every decision that you make that much more important."

The next milestone in Honor's life: her first word. "I think she accidentally says 'Mama' when she's crying," says Alba. "But I don't know if it is on purpose yet."

So is Honor sleeping through the night?

"It depends on what you think sleeping through the night is," says Alba. "She gets a few bottles a night, yes. But she doesn't wake up and want to hang out." Despite her life as a busy new mom, Alba has found time to get back in shape. "I worked out – not for hours, but I definitely had to work out. And I ate, not a lot of sweets and not a lot of cream. I kept a pretty simple organic diet, which I do now anyway." All of which puts Alba in a happy place. "She's the love of my life," says Alba. "The love is profound.

She gives everything more meaning."

Monday

O

scar-winning South African-born actress Charlize Theron was named a United Nations messenger of peace on Friday, with a special focus on ending violence against women. Messengers of peace, of which there will now be 10, are celebrities

mainly from the fields of film, music, literature and sport who are charged with promoting UN activities and ideals through public appearances and media contacts. Theron, 33, won an Academy Award for her role in the 2003 movie "Monster," in which she played serial killer Aileen Wuornos, who came from a background of violence and abuse and was executed in Florida in 2002. In the 2005 film, "North Country" she played a woman who fights back against sexual harassment. She has been in dramas like "The Cider House Rules," thrillers such as "The Italian Job" and the special effects filled "AEon Flux."

Theron, named by Esquire magazine last year as its "Sexiest Woman Alive," has also been involved in charitable causes such as putting mobile health clinics in rural areas of her native South Africa where access to care is limited. She had her own experience of domestic violence at the age of 15 when her mother fatally shot her alcoholic father as he threatened the family in a drunken rage. Designating her a messenger of peace, UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon said, "You have used your voice, compassion and special relationship with the public to create a better world."

The other messengers of peace are actors George Clooney and Michael Douglas, musicians Daniel Barenboim, Midori Goto and Yo-Yo Ma, authors Paulo Coelho and Elie Wiesel, equestrian Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein and naturalist Jane Goodall.

aniel Craig has wnamed the ‘perfect’ man to replace him as James Bond – Prince Harry. The actor, who met the young Royal at the premiere of Quantum Of Solace, said: ‘I think Prince Harry would make a fantastic James Bond. He’s suave, and just a little bit dangerous. ‘Like Bond, he is unpredictable and would be a perfect Bond. He’s got everything it takes.’

Craig, 40, revealed how the 24-year-old soldier Prince made a cheeky crack on the red carpet in Leicester Square. Harry told the star, who had his arm in a sling after injuring his shoulder filming: ‘What the hell happened to you?

Tough day in the office?’ The Prince later joked to reporters that Craig isn’t even his favourite 007. He said: ‘There’s only one Bond, and that’s Sean Connery.’ Quantum Of Solace opened in America this weekend and is predicted to rake in £30million there. It has so far taken £100million at the box office worldwide.

Jennifer Aniston ‘Knows Me’

J

ohn Mayer was having a good time on the red carpet at Alicia Keys' Annual Keep a Child Alive Black Ball Thursday night. Must be because somebody's got his back. He started off the night by playfully grabbing the microphone of a reporter from the Tyra Banks Show to announce his own "talk show is going to be called John!" And while the singer may be joking about his next career move, he had some serious words about girlfriend Jennifer Aniston. "It's really nice to have somebody in life have your back," Mayer told PEOPLE. "That girl knows me ... so whether I go to bed alone or not, to have somebody who knows you in this world, that's a really nice thing."

So is there any chance that Mayer will follow in Aniston's footsteps and star on a television show? "There are rumors," Mayer admitted. "I'm going to keep them rumors for the time being. I want everything to be as baked as possible before it comes out of the oven." If Mayer were to have a show, he said, "it would be nice to go back to a form of entertainment that doesn't involve judging and criticizing. I'd like to entertain people with their phones down. It's time to watch TV and be entertained by great artists without having to have a say in it."

Entertain he did! Mayer got into a friendly bidding war with Queen Latifah over a lithograph during a live auction at the benefit. Fortunately, the charity was the big One of the NSACS Naga Idol 3.08 finalists enthralling the audience at the grand finale at the Town Hall, Mokokchung, on November 15 winner. There was an identical lithograph last. (Morung Photo) available so each star paid $100,000.

05:35 - Antonia And Jane; 06:45 Marvin’s Room; 08:50 - Wishful Thinking; 10:40 - Tom Yum Goong; 12:50 - Reign Of Fire; 14:55 - Dear Frankie; 17:05 - Kiss Of The Dragon; 19:00 - The Santa Clause; 21:00 - The Hot Chick; 23:05 - Last Exit; 01:00 - Wishful Thinking; 02:35 - Dear Frankie; 04:25 - She’s All That 0:00 - Winning Post; 0:30 Australian Golf-Western Australia Pga Champ Hls; 1:30 - Rugby League World Cup Live: Semi Final 1; 3:30 - Simply The Best; 4:00 - Fifa: Futbol Mundial; 4:30 - Pak V West Indies -2nd Odi H/L’s; 6:30 - Icl Hl’s - Final 2; 7:30 - Wwe:vintage Collection; 8:30 - Winning Post; 9:00 - Uefa Champions League Magazine Show 08; 9:30 - Dutch League; 11:30 - World Hockey Magazine; 12:00 - Pak V West Indies -2nd Odi - H/L’s; 14:00 - Atp Tennis; 14:30 Rugby League World Cup Live: Semi FinaL 2; 16:30 - Pak V West Indies -3rd Odi -1st Session; 18:30 - Icl: Final 3; 23:00 - Pak V West Indies 3rd Odi - 2nd Session 06:00 - Just Your Luck; 07:45 - Black Beauty; 09:30 - Reign Over Me; 12:00 Forbidden Secrets; 13:45 - Varsity Blues; 15:45 - The Making Of Norbit; 16:00 Hollywood One On One 15; 16:30 - The Prestige; 19:15 - I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer; 21:00 - The Last Boyscout; 23:00 - The Hitcher; 00:45 - Dark Storm; 02:30 - Boomerang; 04:45 - Juwanna Mann 06:00 - Sadgamaya; 06:30 - The Faith Show; 07:00 - Enjoying Everyday Life; 07:25 - Ek Nazar; 07:30 - Sales Slot; 07:55exposure Jhalak; 08:00 - Teleshopping; 08:25 - Ek Nazar; 08:30 - Jai Ganesh; 09:00 - Ramayan; 09:30 - Naaginn; 10:00 - Vivaah; 10:30 Betiyann; 11:00 - Maayka; 11:30 - Saat Phere; 12:00 - Dulhann; 12:30 - Kasamh Se; 13:00 Parrivaar; 13:30 - Rakhi; 14:00 - Teen Bahuraaniyaan; 14:30 Ranbir Rano; 15:00 - Dulhann; 15:30 - Maayka; 16:00 - Saat Phere; 16:30 - Kahani Ab Tak; 17:00 - Teen BahuRaaniyaan; 17:30 - Betiyann; 18:00 - Kasamh Se; 18:30 - Saat Phere; 19:00 - Vivaah; 19:30 - Shrii; 20:00 - Dulhann; 20:30 - Maayka; 21:00 Kasamh Se; 21:30 - Saat Phere; 22:00 - Betiyann; 22:30 - Ranbir Rano; 23:00 - Waaris; 23:30 - Kasamh Se; 23:55ek Nazar; 00 - :00 - Asian Sky Shop; 00:55exposure; 01:00 - Asian Sky Shop; 02:00 - Teen Bahuraaniyaan; 02:30 - Kasamh Se; 03:00 - Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 200 - 9; 04:00 - Vivaah; 04:30 - Urja; 05:00 Parrivaar; 05:30 - Narseva Narayan Seva 06:00 - Mann Mein Hai Visshwas; 07:00 Telebrands; 07:30 - Teleshopping; 08:30 Benaam Badshah; 12:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 12:30 - Aathvaan Vachan; 13:00 - Indian Idol 4; 13:30 - Sujata; 14:00 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 14:30 - Hum Ladkiyan; 15:00 - Aathvaan Vachan; 15:30 - Indian Idol 4; 16:00 - Babul Ka Aangann; 16:30 - Sujata; 17:00 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 17:30 - Aathvaan Vachan; 18:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 18:30 - Babul Ka Aangann; 19:00 - Jai Hanuman; 19:30 - Sujata; 20:00 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 20:30 - Hum Ladkiyan; 21:00 Aathvaan Vachan; 21:30 - Babul Ka Aangann; 22:00 - Sujata; 22:30 - Comedy Circus; 23:00 - Indian Idol 4; 00:00 - Telebrands; 00:30 - Teleshopping; 01:00 - Sujata; 01:30 - Comedy Circus; 02:00 - Babul Ka Aangann; 02:30 - Aathvaan Vachan; 03:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 03:30 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 04:00 - Devi; 04:30 - Jai Hanuman; 05:00 - Babul Ka Aangann; 05:30 - Aathvaan Vachan 05:50 - Shore Ditch; 07:30 - Infomercial; 08:00 - Ambush Bay; 10:30 - Edward Scissor Hands; 13:00 - Big Business; 15:00 - Mighty Aphrodite; 17:00 - Hollywoods 10 Best; 17:30 - The Motorcycle Diaries; 20:15 - Epk; 20:30 - Alex And Emma; 22:30 When A Man Loves A Woman; 01:15 Intermission; 02:45 - Basic; 04:15 - Modigliani 06:00 - Madhur Jaffrey’s Flavours Of India; 06:30 - Dream Hotels; 07:00 - Food Paradise; 08:00 Honeymoon Adventures; 08:30 Getaway 2006; 09:00 Uttaranchal; 09:30 - Feast India; 10:00 - Innertainment; 10:30 - Body And Soul; 11:00 - Amazing Vacation Homes; 11:30 - Superhomes 2; 12:00 - American Chopper; 13:00 - Cooking It; 13:30 - Take Home Chef 2; 14:00 - Finest Hotels In The World; 14:30 - Indian Rendezvous; 15:00 - Getaway 2006; 15:30 - Hotel By The Bay; 16:00 - Food Paradise; 17:00 - American Chopper; 18:00 - Ballroom Bootcamp; 19:00 - Cruiseline; 20:00 - Great Hotels Iii; 20:30 Cocktail Kings; 21:00 - Jet Set; 22:00 - America The Wright Way; 23:00 - Finest And Luxurious; 00:00 - Miami Ink 3; 01:00 - Jet Set; 02:00 - Honeymoon Adventures; 02:30 - Getaway 2006; 03:00 Made To Order 3; 03:30 - Kylie Kwong: My China; 04:00 Innertainment; 04:30 - Body And Soul; 05:00 - Monster House 06:00 - Global Tele Mall; 07:00 - Body And Soul ; 07:30 - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai; 08:00 - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai; 08:30 - Instant Khichdi; 09:00 - Yatra (Travel) ; 09:30 - Yatra; 10:00 - Jai Ganga Mai ; 11:00 Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai; 12:00 Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai; 13:00 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Iv; 14:00 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Iv; 15:00 - Movie; 18:30 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 19:00 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge; 19:30 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge; 20:00 Movie; 23:30 - MIle Jab Hum Tum; 00:00 - Siddhanth; 01:00 Tony B Show; 01:30 - Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se; 02:30 - Dill Mill Gayye; 03:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 03:30 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Iv; 04:30 - Dill Mill Gayye; 05:00 - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai; 05:30 - Mum Tum Aur Hum

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The

Morung

SPORTS

Djokovic lifts Masters Cup SHANGHAI, NOVEMBER 16(AP): Third-ranked Novak Djokovic claimed the Masters Cup with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in Sunday's final to end a six-month title drought. After Davydenko netted a serve return on match point, Djokovic repeatedly pumped both fists before throwing two rackets, his wristbands and shirt into the crowd. He went over to his family and coach, and they held a group hug, jumping several times together in joy. It was the Serb's first tournament victory since he won the Rome Masters in May and left him just 10 points behind Roger Federer in the men's rankings.

Overtaking the Swiss star will be no easy feat since Djokovic will have to defend his titles early in the year at the Australian Open and Indian Wells. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal has a substantial lead, although he is nursing a sore knee that kept him away from Shanghai. Djokovic, who said he was exhausted after needing nearly three hours to beat Gilles Simon in Saturday's semifinals, was sharp from the start. He won the first five games, allowing Davydenko only six points.

While the fans in packed Qi Zhong stadium clearly favored Djokovic, they roared when Davydenko finally got on the board to pull within 5-1. Djokovic had to fend off double break-point in the next game before finishing off the set with a deep backhand crosscourt that Davydenko couldn't handle.

Djokovic, who failed to win a set in three matches during

Novak Djokovic of Serbia raises his championship trophy during an awarding ceremony for the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, China on November 16. Djokovic beat Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 6-1, 7-5 in their final. (AP Photo)

his debut last year at the season-ending event, broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set, leaping high as he pumped

his fist.

Davydenko saved two match points while serving at 3-5. Djokovic, serving for

the match, smashed an ace to save one break-point at 1540, but showed some nerves as he followed with a double-

dle

fault to hand the game to Davydenko. Serving at 5-5, the Russian returned the favor, netting a forehand on

break-point. Djokovic didn't squander the opportunity, easily holding to finish off the match.

Earlier, Daniel Nestor of Canada and Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic beat Americans Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6 (3), 6-2 to win the doubles title and clinch the yearend ATP No. 1 ranking.

The Bryan twins, who were playing for their third title here, held the top ranking and won Olympic bronze at Beijing in August. "With all the points out there, having it hinge on ... a few points at the end of the season is pretty amazing," Bob Bryan said.

"I guess we've got to tip our hat to them. They played a great tournament and had a great year. We look forward to battling it out next year for the same thing."

Nestor and Zimonjic have now beaten the Americans three straight times and went through the tournament here undefeated, taking all three of their roundrobin matches and the semifinals. "To win the Masters Cup - for me for the first time, for Danny to defend the title - to play against the Bryans, who have been dominating the doubles the last four, five years, and to fight for No. 1 spot, you couldn't ask for more as an athlete," said Zimonjic, who won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in January with China's Sun Tiantian.

This was the final year for the Masters Cup in Shanghai. It will move to London next year, while Shanghai will get the Masters 1,000 event that has been held in Hamburg.

P 12

AKD sports meet held

Rev.Dr.N.Ricky Medom, Pastor NCF Praying for the Team

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The Annual Sports Meet of Angami Krotho Delhi (AKD) concluded successfully with much excitement on November 13 at the Sports Ground of Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi. Events like Basketball, Volleyball, Football and Tug were played between the North and the South team.

A friendly Football Match and Tug of war was also played against the Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union Delhi (ENSUD). The day saw the talents of the youngsters in various fields and also relationships being build up and strengthened, stated a release received from the AKD. The AKD has also thanked the ENSUD for their participation and also all those who actively participated for the success of the sports meet.

Ravel Club office dedicated DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): The office of the Ravel Club was dedicated on November 16, by Pfürovi, pastor of the Toulazou Angami Baptist Church at Toulazou Tenyimi village, Dimapur.

The function was attended by Khriehutuo Tsira, coach, State Athletics, Mintu Sinha, manager of Spark Cricket Club. Atikho Mao invoked God’s blessings and Neito Kapfo declared rules and regulations. The club consists of 29 members and 11 office bearers. The office bearers are Atikho Mao as manager, Esie Nqouri as president and Neito Kapfo as general secretary. This was stated in a press note issued by the general secretary of the club.

Capello denies fixing Beckham Milan move

Indian batsmen, from left, Gautam Ganbhir, Murali Vijay and Virender Sehwag look on during a practice session on the eve of the second one-day international cricket match between India and England in Indore on November 16. (AP Photo)

Gerrard ruled out of England-Germany game

LIVERPOOL, NOVEMBER 16 (AP): Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of England's friendly against Germany in Berlin on Wednesday because of a torn leg muscle.

Liverpool said the midfielder picked up the injury in the club's 2-0 victory at Bolton on Saturday. "A scan this morning has confirmed a tear in the adductor magnus muscle in his right leg,

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and he is expected to be out between seven to 10 days," said Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton.

The absence of Gerrard is another blow for England coach Fabio Capello, who has also lost Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and defender Rio Ferdinand to injuries. Chelsea's Joe and Ashley Cole and Wigan striker Emile Heskey had already been ruled out.

Chelsea also said that team captain and centerback John Terry is to have a scan on a foot injury to determine whether he can go to Berlin.

Although Capello plans to use the friendly to experiment with backup players, the Italian does not want to lose the continuity that has brought England four World Cup qualifying victories in its first four games. Now he looks certain to face the

MILAN, NOVEMBER 16 (REUTERS): England coach Fabio Capello has denied fixing up David Beckham's three-month loan move to AC Milan.

Speculation in Italy has been rife that the former Milan coach had asked Rossoneri chief executive Adriano Galliani to take the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder so he could stay fit and in contention for England during the U.S. close season.

Asked what part he had played in the loan, Capello told Sunday's Gazzetta Sportiva: "None. Galliani asked me my opinion on Beckham.

I told him that he is a good player and a good person.

"Galliani spoke to me after having decided to take Beckham, not before." However, Capello thinks the January move will be positive

for the 33-year-old, who was omitted for this Wednesday's friendly in Germany.

"I don't change my methods. Those who aren't playing don't join the national team," the Italian said. "If Galaxy had reached the playoffs, he would have been called up.

He is a good player, I am sure he will play at Milan."

England failed to reach Euro 2008 but have won four World Cup qualifiers out of four since Capello took over. He thinks his side are well-prepared for another crack at Germany, having famously won 5-1 in Munich in 2001.

"I believe my players are ready for a match of this level after the successes in qualification for South Africa 2010.

Now the players have faith in their ability and potential," he said.

Germans without half of his regular lineup.

He has also dropped David Beckham because he hasn't played competitive football since the Los Angeles Galaxy failed to reach the Major League Soccer playoffs.

The England players are due to train at Arsenal's London Colney ground on Monday before flying out to Germany on Tuesday.

Artang Youth Association, the runners-up football team of the recently concluded Mokokchung District Football Association Trophy 2008, today visited Dr.Imkongliba Memorial Hospital, Mokokchung. They presented goodwill gifts to about a hundred patients.

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.

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