The Morung Express by The Morung Express

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The Morung Express

A Daily Publication of Morung for Indigenous Affairs & JustPeace

Dimapur VOL. III ISSUE 327

Dimapur-Kohima railway lines up DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): It’s out. The state government and the union Ministry of Railways is to introduce a new broad gauge railway line from Dimapur to Kohima covering a length of 125 kilometers. Under the Land acquisition Act of 1894, the public or persons whose lands are likely to be surveyed, are informed to submit claims and objections, if any, in written, within 30 days with effect from the date of issuance of this notice. The proposed new railway broad gauge line from the city to the capital, a circular from the Dimapur Commissioner of Dimapur said, may affect Dimapur, Nagarjan, Thahekhu, Diphupar, Sovima, Chumukedima, Tenephe, Balijan, Sokhovi, Pagalepahar, Khamkhya, Khaibong, Maova, Tsuma, Sochomuma, Sirhima Basa, Sirhima, Medziphema, Piphema, Chephema, Khobvuma, Peducha, Zabza, Kekruma and Thizama.

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‘India not staring at Recession’ NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES): Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has claimed that India is nowhere close to recession and that the country has successfully weathered the global economic storm. Chidambaram said that the only major impact of the ongoing global economic crisis has been on inflation, which will take some time to moderate. He, however, admitted that economic crisis will have a fallout on the growth rate this year. “India is nowhere near a recession. The growth estimate for first quarter of 2008-09 is 7.9 per cent and it will be good for the second quarter as well. Nevertheless we must be prepared for a temporary slowdown in Indian economy. Our effort will be to minimise the impact of crisis in the economy and return to the growth trajectory of nine per cent,” Chidambaram said after meeting a group of economic editors in New Delhi on Monday. “While it is difficult to quantify the impact of developments abroad and at home on GDP growth, it is possible to indicate factors that may result in some moderation in growth,” Chidambaram said. There has been a meltdown in global commodity prices led by decline in crude prices, the ministry said in the report released at the Economic Editors’ Conference. “The positive impact may get reflected through a moderation in inflation, improving the corporate profitability through input cost reductions and increasing their internal accruals,” the report said. Decline in crude prices have moderated the prices of products which use crude/products as inputs (fertilisers, chemicals, man-made fibres), energy substitutes (coal and gas), energy intensive products (metals), products used as bio fuels (edible oils, oilseeds, sugar) and primary commodities, which have competing synthetic products (natural rubber, cotton), the ministry said. Infla-

Workers crowd outside a garment factory as they leave for the day in Bangalore, Monday, November 24. According to the estimates of the Indian textile ministry, there will be job losses of about 500,000 in the next ﬁve months, India’s Commerce Secretary G.K. Pillai said last Friday. There are more than 720 garment factories in Bangalore with more than 350,000 workforce that mostly depend on export orders from the US, Europe and Australia. (AP Photo)

tion came down to 8.90 per cent as a result of falling global crude and metal prices. On overall growth, the report said many sectors in the economy would see a moderate impact of the crisis and domestic factors, while four sector, including agriculture and electricity, would face a “neutral” impact. Services would see a positive impact, while mining would face negligible impact, the report said. Community and social services sector relates to defence and social sector services, the report said, adding positive impact of pay commission and other wage increases should see growth to improve. The sectors, which would face moderate impact are manufacturing, exports, construction, transport, insurance and banking, business services and real estate, the ministry said and the sectors that would see a neutral impact are agriculture, electricity, communication, trade and recreation. In agriculture, growth would be more sensitive to weather-induced fluctuations, while electricity will not be affected by the global slowdown and may even see positive activity because of the Indo-US nuclear deal. While some working capital constraints have been reported, the overall impact is likely to be negligible, the ministry said. The trade and recreation sector’s sales continue to remain buoyant, it added. However, India could witness lesser inflow of portfolio capital despite India bagging the rank of second most preferred destination in the latest World Investment Report, the ministry said. This, it said, would be due to the need for the global players to recoup positions elsewhere rather than because of an absolute or relative decline in profitability. The report assesses global outlook as “uncertain” and “depressing”. The financial crisis has gravely impacted the global economy and the slowdown could prove to be the most severe since the great depression of the 1930s, it said.

Mizoram Polls: More women electorate, but few contestants AIZAWL, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): Sounds strange but it is true...in a state dominated by women electorate, there are only nine of them seeking mandate despite a request by the recently formed Women Welfare Front (WWF) to give representation to the fairer sex in the Mizoram legislative assembly. Of the 205 candidates for the December two 40-member Mizoram state assembly poll, only nine women are trying out their luck in the fray. The state has total 6,11,124 electorate of whom females constitute 3,08,84 outnumbering their male counterpart by 6,644 voters. Leading the small list of women candidates is Lalhlimpui of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) who is contesting from the prestigious Hrangturzo constituency in Serchhip district and locked in a three-cornered contest against Congress nominee Ronald Sapa Tlau and Mizo Peoples Comference (UDA) contestant Lalthansanga. Lalhlimpui has the distinction to become the only woman minister in the Laldenga ministry in 1987 when she won the assembly poll becoming the lone woman legislator and went ahead to become the minister of state for social welfare. Since then the state has not seen any woman entering the state assembly and their representation dwindled in the successive elections. Another prominent woman candidate this time is Lalhmingthangi Hmar who is a Zoram Nationalist Party (United Democratic Alliance) candidate and pitted against chief minister Zoramthanga in the prestigious Champhai south seat. Being a Presbyterinian church leader who resigned from the secretary of the Presbyterian Women Fellowship, Hmar, a theologian, says she has been “asked by God to serve the people”. Being one of the youngest contestants at 32, Hmar has been able to draw attention of the people in the prestigious and sensitive constituency bordering Myanmar. Continued on page 5

CBI books former Dimapur DC

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Alphageo gets 44 cr contract in Nagaland MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): Alphageo (India) today said it has bagged an order worth Rs 43.69 crore to provide seismic data to state-run ONGC. The company has bagged the contract over a period of two seasons in Nagaland, Alphageo said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. “The letter-of-award dated November 21 has been issued to the company,” the company said. Shares of the Alphageo (India) were trading at Rs 108.80, on the BSE.

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): After being rounded by the CBI for amassing disproportionate assets, former Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur Jyoti Kalash, IAS, has been booked by the agency. On UN deputation in Afghanistan, Kalash, a 1990batch Nagaland cadre officer, has been booked by the CBI for possessing assets disproportionate to his known source of income. Charges against him are his amassing illegal wealth amounting to Rs 37 Lakh. The probe agency filed a copy of the FIR against Jyoti Kalash, under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act in a special court here recently, reports said. The FIR alleged that Kalash acquired assets by corrupt and illegal means in his and family members’

names from the period since July 1990 till date. The officer acquired assets, including movable and immovable properties worth Rs 75.87 lakh while his expenditure, including education for his children, amounted to around Rs 32.05 lakh during the said period. The report said his income from known sources amounted to around Rs 70.25 lakh. His disproportionate assets were, thus, calculated by the probe agency to be Rs 37.66 lakh. The investigating agency informed the court that the source of the ‘over-half ’ of the officer’s assets is unknown. Jyoti Kalash entered into service on August 31, 1990. He was appointed Deputy Commissioner for Dimapur, on January 1, 1999 on deputation.

Violence against women: A Reality

Care center in Ukhrul opposed DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): An apex youth organization of the Tangkhuls, the Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long have expressed opposition to a proposal for a 10-bed community care centre in Ukhrul district. The organization said the assessment report of the Joint Apprisal (sic) Team about various NGOs in the district is “bogus, one-sided assessment” while the information and ratings given are ‘without proper assessment and verification’. “Therefore, TMNL will not allow the implementation of CCC in the district until and unless reassessment and verification is done properly about the contending NGOs of the district within December 2008 by the concerned authorities” stated the organization in a note today.

Y Merina Chishi Dimapur| November 24

ACROSS THE WORLD, violence against women and girls continue unabated despite efforts to curb such violence, by all societies. Irrespective of colour, age, culture and language, violence and injustice have crept into every society, and among Nagas, these realities don’t seem to have a hiding place any longer. Today is ‘International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women,’ a day to rise public awareness of the malady of violence against women. Many Naga women are of the view that gender inequality is a stark truth and this has played down the role of women in the Naga society. Most observers say violence

and discrimination is more prevalent in middle and lower-class societies, and the fact is a majority of Nagas belong to these categories. According to informal reports, domestic violence and human trafficking are the two serious areas of concerns for Nagas today. Domestic violence, something not many people bring out in the open is leading to gross violation of human rights. A lawyer said that basic civil right is under serious threat and the Naga “customary law” has little or no provision to protect women’s rights in regard to domestic violence. Most cases of domestic violence do not even reach the doors of the guardians of civil rights, the lawyer added. Continued on page 5

(with PTI inputs)

Wild elephant kills one DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): Reports have been received here that a man was killed several days back by a wild elephant in the remote Hayiyan/Lio areas in Wokha. The elephant is said to have killed an adivasi cultivator identified to be one Borli Orang while a couple of houses belonging to one Ezanlow Ezung and a Nyimbemo Tungoe of Hayiyan/ Lio village were destroyed by the elephant. According to a villager N Mhabemo Tungoe, terrified neighbors recalled how the rouge elephant first knocked down the deceased’s house as his family slept. The elephant tried to drag out a child but did not harm him. The elephant then pulled out the father and trampled him to the ground and knocked down the house of one Nyimbemo Tungoe while escaping into the jungle. The villager informed that a herd of wild elephants have been roaming around Hayiyan/Lio areas for quite sometime, throwing the villagers into fear even to go and attend to their fields. “I earnestly request the concern authorities to kindly take stock of the incident and extend all required compensations to the victims and also appeals to the government to do an appropriate action at the earliest to safeguard the villagers and allow the elephants to find their rightful habitat” the villager appealed.

CONCEPT NOTE The Northeast – a land of diverse cultures, scenic landscapes, warm peoples and a land of youth and energy cannot but be attracted to idealized beauty and feminine charm. The glow of youth which radiates from a people infatuated with its own youthfulness expresses itself most effectively in beauty pageants. And such events seek to ﬁnd the one young lady from among the many who possesses not only beauty, but wit, charm, intelligence and talent. She must represent raw but wholesome cultural, personal and family values. As such, she is more than just a beauty; she is a symbol of the complete woman. The Seven Sisters Miss Barak 2008 contest with the theme “Peace Through Culture and Identity “is an all inclusive attempt not only to showcase the beautiful people of the Northeast but also

to ﬁnd out ‘the’ lady from among the bevy of delightful women, representing all the states in the region. The challenge here will be to applaud beauty of the rare kind that lightens the mind, refreshes the eyes but most importantly one that deﬁnes the identity, culture, beauty and charm in all its aspects of the people of the Northeast. We believe that it is through a comprehensive understanding of this beauty that will create a sense of togetherness among the people in the region. In the midst of all kinds of turmoil and insecurities, this event is also an endeavor to highlight ‘beauty from ashes’. Beauty is radiance: it sends forth light and dispels the darkness of confusion, indecision, hatred and chaos. Beauty promotes peace. The Seven Sisters Miss Barak 2008 contest, will, therefore, put forth,

both, a proposal and an agenda for peace among all the people in the region. The Northeast has more than often been described as a region of ‘fear’. To the outside world, through this Pageant, we want to press home the message that ours is a land of serenity seen through the prism of the hearts of the people. It is a region that radiates joy in its very being and like an eagle spreading its auburn wings of spring; the land opens out its arms to all people of the world welcoming them into an experience that is archaic, undemanding yet heartwarming. Just as the Barak River murmuring through and sustaining the heart and souls of many a people in the Northeast, this event seeks to uphold the virtues by which the rich diversity of the land is bound. All are welcome.

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LOCAL

Tuesday 25 November 2008

‘People’s faith in govt declining’

Morung Express News Dimapur | November 24

AN NGO, the Confederation of Community Based Organisations of India (CCBO) Regional office Nagaland was today inaugurated by Umesh C Gaud, National Chairman of CCBO, at Vernal Estate, Mount View Colony, Purana Bazaar in Dimapur. Speaking as the chief guest, Gaud said NGOs are not a money-making agency for individuals, but rather it is an organisation that works for the welfare of the weaker section of the society. Referring to the CCBO, the national chairman said it was formed at Chattisgarh, to safeguard the rights of the rural people and to empower them through different activities. He made it clear that the CCBO is a platform to address the plight of the rural people and not a funding agency. Gaud maintained that the people’s faith in the functioning of the Government is slowly declining, so different NGOs are cropping up to highlight the grievances of people to the government. “CCBO is a medium through which rural people can enjoy development,” he said adding, “we will work to improve the living standard of rural people in the country.” O L Momin, National Vice-Chairman of CCBO and Regional Chairman, said that CCBO would make sure that each and every people of Nagaland can reap the benefits of the organisation. He continued that the NGO has signed various memorandum of understanding with different institutions to help the ‘grassroot’ people. He, however, asked the people to Nagaland to extend full cooperation and support to the organisation in its endeavours

CCBO Nagaland ofﬁce inaugurated

The office bearers of CCBO Regional office Nagaland along with national office bearers at Vernal Estate, in Dimapur on Monday. (Morung Photo)

towards developing rural people in the State. Others who spoke on the occasion included, P Sharma, Regional Chief Coordinator and National Executive Director, and Chaitali Chettri, Regional Joint Secretary.

MEx File

GM, DIC Mokokchung informs MOKOKCHUNG, NOVEMBER 24 (DIPR): The General Manager, DIC Mokokchung, R Phyobemo Lotha, has informed that all the applicants who have collected Health Insurance & Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Urjana forms from the DIC Mokokchung, may collect the first batch of Health Insurance Card from the DIC office.

CBCTTV Church dedication on Nov 30 DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The Chakhesang Baptist Church Toulazou Tenyimi Village will on November 30 be ‘declared’ and dedicated by Rev. K Lüruo, Executive Secretary of Chakhesang Baptist Church Council. Mosa Nukhu, Pastor of CBCTTV, in a press release has invited all the Chakhesang ‘plot holders’ in the village to attend and “bless the declaration.”

DCC Peren expels members DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The DCC Peren has expelled Akubo Zeliang, Joseph Nring, Haigam Kouring and Letgin Singson from the INC (Congress) party for a period of six years. The said members have been expelled as directed by the NPCC “since they have been found to have breached and tarnished the prestige of the party amounting to anti-party activity,” Heling Zeliang, President, DCC Peren, stated in a press statement. “This expulsion is made for the smooth and effective function of the party organisation in the district,” he added.

The programme was chaired by Dihilo, while Rev. Z Yabang Aier invoked God’s blessing. Arenla Toshi, Chairperson of CCBO Nagaland, welcomed the gathering and Inakhu Chishi, Assistant General Secretary of CCBO Nagaland, proposed the

KRC to organise free cleft palate, cleft lip surgery KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 24 (DIPR): Kohima Rotary Club on November 22 celebrated its 6th chartered night-cum-fund raising dinner in aid of cleft palate/ cleft lip patients at Holiday Inn. Gracing the occasion, Dr. Nicky Kire, Chairman of NKVIB, appreciated the noble step taken up by the district’s Rotary Club to serve the community and also assured them of his cooperation in future. Rtn. Dr. Kezevituo Keditsu made a PowerPoint presentation on cleft palate and cleft lip project during the fund raising dinner. Renowned singer Nise Meruno and his musician friends participated in the musical extravaganza. Earlier, the President of the club, Rtn. Dr. Nisatuo Mero welcomed the guests and thanked the musicians who

came forward so willingly to contribute their voices in this noble endeavour. He also expressed his gratitude to each and every individual for their active support. Further, Kohima Rotary Club will be organising a free cleft palate and cleft lip surgery in collaboration with Rotary Club of Imphal and Shija Hospital and Research Institute, Imphal. Clefts are a major problem in developing countries and most of the children cannot afford treatment though the deformity is totally treatable. Interested persons between the ages of 4 months to 40 years may avail this free medical treatment. Those interested may contact the President of Kohima Rotary Club and its members at 9856247654, 9436001870, 9856311491, 9436001858 and 9436070224.

Pre-Christmas celebrated at DBC C M Y K

The Morung Express

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 24 (DIPR): Addressing the Young Indians (YI) during the opening day of Young Indians Annual Retreat 2008, at Touphema Village, which started on November 21, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Alemtemshi Jamir, IAS, said Young Indians could help in the process of structural reforms, modern institutions, land reforms, income tax, land tax, etc. With the dynamics of modernity, changes can be confusing, yet everything will be comparatively possible if Young Indians can bring the voice of the youth to the notice of the Government wherein exclusive planning can be initiated, he maintained. Jamir also said that despite of the remoteness, Nagaland has a lot of potential and North-East as a whole has to be an integral part of the Look East Policy. The session was co-chaired by Vilar Solo, YI Kohima, while presentation on the Vision (a) 75 was given by Chairman YI, Jay Galla. The three-day programme concluded on November 23 last.

NAIP health camp touches Lungwa village DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): NAIP-SASRD, Nagaland University, successfully conducted a health camp at Lungwa village under Mon district on November 21 last with the help of the CMO office, Mon, under the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) with the theme ‘Livelihood improvement and Empowerment of Rural Poor through Sustainable Farming System in Mon, Nagaland’. It was also part of fulfilling its objective of creating awareness on various social issues such as sanitation, health and hygiene care. The medical camp began with a short speech on health awareness and personal hygiene by Dr. T Kikon, CMO Mon. Over 500 patients were examined and treated for various illnesses by a medical team led by Dr. Molusen, MO, SASRD NU. He was assisted by Dr. A P Singh, Dr. S N Sinha and Dr. Yingnei Konyak, Civil Hospital, Mon. The medical team was supported by personnel from Health Centre SASRD and Civil Hospital Mon. Medicines had been donated by various organisations and well-wishers, and were distributed free of cost to

Young children of Lungwa village line up for a health check at the free camp conducted under the National Agricultural Innovation Project by NU, on November 21.

the patients. The organisers in a press release further expressed their profound gratitude to the medical team, Dean of SASRD-NU, CMO Mon, Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association Dima-

pur, Dr. Akali Sema, Director CIH, Tongpang Longkumer, Pangjung Jamir, L M Merry, Dr. Alex Kithan, Philip, and Universal Computer, “for providing all help and medicines for the poor and needy.”

DC Mokokchung informs pensioners DTO Mon colour

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): A pre-Christmas cultural presentation programme was conducted at Discipleship Bible College, Dimapur on November 22 with Brigadier S Bhattacharya, VSM, 3 corps, Rangapahar, as the chief guest. He encouraged the students to follow faithfully in what they have believed. Rev. Dr. Nuklu Longkumer, Principal of DBC, delivered the welcome speech, while Obang Ozukum, Board Member, delivered the vote of thanks.

MOKOKCHUNG, NOVEMBER 24 (DIPR): Deputy Commissioner and President of Zila Sainik Board Mokokchung, Bendangkokba, has in a notification to all pensioners of Assam Rifles and regular army pensioners in Mokokchung district, informed them to report to the 30 AR Mokokchung on November 25 at 10 am. This is in regard to the conducting of ExServiceman Contributory Health Scheme (ESCHS), as some high-ranking army officers are expected from Rangapahar in this

PGSU (NUCK) to celebrate 16th Freshers Day KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The PGSU (NUCK) will be organising its 16th Freshers’ Day on November 28 next at Ura Academy Hall at 11:00 am. Naiba Konyak, Parliamentary Secretary for Sports & Youth Resources and Land Revenue, will grace the occasion as chief guest. In this regard, PGSU Executive members in a release issued by Toshimongba Longchar, Information Secretary, have requested that all the NU postgraduate students, teachers, non-teaching staff, well-wishers and seniors attend the occasion. All the newly selected students are to ‘compulsorily’ attend the occasion.

connection. The concerned are to also report with the following documents: 1. ESCHS forms duly filled up 2. Affidavit in original 3. Blood group certificate 4. ID card 5. 3 passport size photos each of self, wife and child 6. Photocopy of discharged book 7. Photocopy of discharge original from PRO Part II publication order of dependent.

Mokokchung piggery farmers trained in new technologies

TPGSU 6th freshers’ social KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The 6th Freshers’ Social of the Tenyimia Post Graduate Students’ Union (TPGSU), Kohima Campus, will be held at the Ura Academy Hall, Kohima on November 29, 2008 at 12:00 noon with Thejao Vihienuo, Registrar of Nagaland University as the chief guest. Informing this, Nieposalu Tetse-o, General Secretary of TPGSU, has directed all the Tenyimia students to attend the day without fail. Absentees will be imposed heavy fine as deemed fit, he added. The TPGSU has further extended invitation to all the other tribal students’ unions and well-wishers.

vote of thanks. Later, a seminar on ‘Revitalizing Society’ was held at the Indigenous Cultural Society Centre Nagaland at City Tower junction, in Dimapur. The seminar was organised by the CCBO, where social activist Dr. Hesheto Y Chishi spoke on the theme. Dr. Chishi said, “Today, we are in enculturation period, affixed between modern and traditional, western and eastern, technology and manual, developed and underdeveloped, educated and uneducated, rich and poor, privileged and underprivileged, men and women and forward and backward, and written and oral. Past tradition seems too old for youngsters and the advent of modern civilisation appears to be a subject of resent past to aged people, during which gap of communication, a cultural commotion has been created resulting in the ultimate loss of culture.” “Our NEI society is an agro literate cultural society and the language, life and habit of the people is rooted in agriculture. Language depicts a stable relationship between the nature and culture of the people where nature does not only represent the raw material but also act as inter webbed reality of a human society,” Dr. Chishi added. He also spoke on some issues including basic facts of today’s social problems, observation of alarming facts of diminishing egalitarian society, figure of present scenario and social concern. Speaking about NGOs, he said the organisations should have commitment to work for the welfare of the people and should sacrifice time. He pointed out that CCBO is very keen to help people to overcome social hurdles. “It is we who can bring change,” he concluded.

NE has to be integral part of Look East Policy

Women shop for winter garments at a street in Dimapur, the commercial capital of India’s northeastern state of Nagaland, on Monday, November 24. The temperature in most part of the Indian northeastern state has dropped to freezing point. (Photo: Caisii Mao)

MOKOKCHUNG, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The training on introduction to Oriental Technologies on Smell Free Piggery Farming and Non-conventional Food Processing Program has been successfully completed at Moayimti Village in Mokokchung district. The training resource persons were Dr. S A Walling, Deputy Director, VHK Kohima, and Dr. Chungpong, VAS Longleng. Ngangshi Walling, Chairman of MVC, while appreciating the resource persons for imparting such training said,

“We were introduced to a different and new technology that was actually essential for the rural economic transformation. This is indeed a very important and encouraging enterprise for small farmers and the educated unemployed as well as for the big entrepreneurs as it requires low investment.” “Realising the immense potentialities in the village where more than 80% are under BPL, the practice of such technologies will give the answer to our search for sustainability of the economic life of

the rural population,” Walling added. He further expressed that the practice of such technologies would uplift the economy of the people even in solving the unemployment problem to a great extent. Expressing appreciation for the program, Walling encouraged, “As it is found to be highly beneficial for the people, we urge the concerned departments, especially the Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, to involve in organising such training in the days to come.”

codes Local, Zonal Taxis

MON, NOVEMBER 24 (DIPR): In view of some operators of Local Taxis and Zonal Taxis still found “plying with original colour,” without complying with the directive of the government, the District Transport Officer Mon, Pukhavi Sumi, has notified to all the operators of Local Taxis and Zonal Taxis within Mon District, to follow the prescribed colour for both, as follows: Local Taxis: Black and yellow, with black colour below window, and yellow colour above window and on top. On top of the windshield, the label in bold should read ‘Local Taxi’ in yellow colour on a black background. Zonal Taxis: Full yellow colour, and on top of the windshield the label in block ‘Zonal Taxi’ in yellow colour. Failure to comply with the order within the expiry date of one month from the date of issue of this notice would invite penalization as per the provision of the M.V. Act, the DTO warned.

BTC students presenting a local ‘Tati’ song during the 1st general conference of the Chakhesang Wrestling Association (CWA) held at CBCC, Rostrum, Pfütsero, on November 20. (Morung Photo/ Kuzhovesa Soho)

LOCAL

The Morung Express

Tuesday

25 November 2008

RJD executives deny NPF union

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): Following the recent reported joining of about 20 RJD executives into the NPF’s fold, two executives named in the group, today denied the claims. The two RJD executives are N Kaimang Chang and Vikugha Sema, state council member and general secretary respectively. Curiously, Kaimang Chang, in a note said “my appearance in RJD group photo who joined in NPF party…was done without proper understanding due to lack of proper explanation by the group about the present situation of the party”. He declared and ‘swore’ allegiance to the RJD. Chang also ‘apologized’ to RJD party’s members and of-

ficials “for arising confusion in the party set up due to lack of understanding”. In a separate note, Vikugha Sema said the report naming him among those who joined the NPF is “false and baseless”. In fact, Sema claimed, “some might have used my name for their personal interest and their political gain which is absolutely against my will and decision”. “Honestly” expressing commitment to continue working in the RJD, he requested “the concern responsible person who implicate my name should not repeat such false statement without my knowledge which is tantamount to character-assassination in near future”.

“Floral Galleria” to showcase indigenous ﬂoral wealth DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The Department of Horticulture is all set to hold “Floral Galleria 2008” from December 1 to 7 next at the Hortiscape, Heritage Village, Kisama. This is being organized in celebration of the year of Capacity Building. The exhibitioncum-competition will showcase a wide variety of orchids both indigenous and hybrid, Lilliums, Anthuriums, Roses, Bonsai, Dry flowers, Cacti and Succulents, and also on the spot flower arrangement of both dry and fresh flowers. The department will also open an avenue to showcase the rich indig-

enous floral wealth of the State by having a separate category of ferns and foliage as well as flowering plants native to the State. Limited sales stalls will also be made available on first-come-first basis. Participation is open to all flower lovers. The Department of Horticulture invites all interested entrepreneurs to participate in the Floral Galleria, 2008. Attractive cash prizes and certificates will be also awarded to the winners. The department also notified that entry forms will be available at the Directorate of Horticulture, Kohima, and the last date of receipt of entry form is November 29.

NSU condemns assault on student KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The Nerhema Students’ Union (NSU) has condemned the ‘verbal abuse’ and ‘physical assault’ to one of its member, Neingutuo Usou, s/o Khriezolie Usou, a class XI student of Baptist College of Kohima and presently holding the post of games and sports secretary on November 19 last, by five unidentified miscreants. “The union question the motive behind for targeting against an innocent student for no rhymes or reason and cautioned that, had anything happened to him, the NSU will leave no stone unturned. Also, it appealed that such thing should never happen to any innocent student because it cause mental trauma and hamper their career,” stated a press note issued by Thepfulhou Theünuo, president and Keneilhoulie Pienyü, general secretary, NSU.

Mokokchung D.C & District Sports Council (MDSC) president Bendangkokba, Longkümer Telecom Airtel Channel Partner, Mokokchung, M.B. Longkümer and Mokokchung District Football Association (MDFA) president N. Bendang Jamir at the handing over of Airtel sponsored track-suits to Mokokchung district football team at Longkümer Kilem on November 24. The Mokokchung team will be sporting a new look at the forthcoming Dr. T. Ao Inter-District Football Tournament 2008.

33 AR donates computers to PTC

PHEK, NOVEMBER 24 (DIPR): The 33 AR Phek donated a Computer Center to the Phek Town Council Office, under M.C.A Project, on November 22 last. Commandant, 33 AR, Col S S Patil, graced the function as the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, he said the main objective behind this center is to impart computer knowledge to the youth and students so that they realise their potential and value as human resources. He described the emerging trend and the need for the youth to mobilise themselves in the present computer age to make use of the available opportunities. He added that many projects/development were being taken up under the aegis of 33 AR and more project are in the offing in the near future and called upon the people to avail the opportunity. He pointed out that the situation in Phek has tremendously improved and is more peaceful compared to the year 2006-07 and appealed to the people to work towards a peaceful atmosphere.

Phek Town Council Chairman, Kupota Khesoh, Phek Area Public Organization President, Shevotso Rhakho, and Chakhesang Students Union Vice President, Mudosayi Huire, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Commandant, 33 AR, for donating computers to PTC office, “which demonstrates ‘Friends of the Hill people’”. They also expressed gratefulness to the CO and all officers concerned for their help and support providing maximum benefit to the people and further hoped that they would continue their benevolent service for the welfare of the people. The function was chaired by Chairman PTC, Kupota Khesoh, and opening prayer was pronounced by Pastor PTBC, Rev. D N Soho, welcome address was delivered by President, PAPO. Kutsapo village presented an indigenous song and a special number by CSU, while benediction was pronounced by Associate Pastor of Phek Town Baptist Church, Thupuchiyi Khesoh.

Kyong Hoho general conference on Nov 27, 28

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The general conference of Kyong (Lotha) Hoho will be held on November 27 and 28, 2008, at its HQ, LTC hall, Wokha Town from 10:00 am onwards. Informing this in a press release, Yansathung Jami, general secretary of Kyong Hoho, has directed all subordinate units of the Hoho to send delegates consisting of at least four members to attend the conference, while all village councils are to send three representatives led by their Council chairmen and secretaries. A new team of officers will be selected on November 28. Any important agenda to be discussed are to be addressed to the Chairman and submitted by November 26 evening, the Hoho directed, adding that any unit or village that “fail to attend the session will be seriously viewed.”

Dimapur

STARTING LINE-UP

Your daily Meetings, Appointments, Information and Reminder column

USLB meeting today

United Sangtam Likhüm Bümji (USLB) emergency meeting of all ofﬁce bearers, executive committee members, action committee members and advisory board members will be held on November 25 at DUDA Guest House Kohima at 2:00 pm. All above mentioned members are requested to attend the meeting positively. It is further informed that fooding and lodging will be borne by USLB. PDSC meeting today

There will be a meeting of the PDSC on November 25 at 10:00 am in the ofﬁce chamber of the Deputy Commissioner & Chairman, PDSC Peren. All members of PDSC are requested to make it convenient to attend the meeting.

ENPGSU, Kohima campus freshers’ meet KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland Post Graduate Students’ Union, Kohima Campus will hold its 12th freshers’ meet on November 26 at 10:00 am at DUDA Guest House, Kohima. T. Cholongse Sangtam, IAS, Secretary, Home and DUDA will grace the occasion as the chief guest. The Union informed all concerned members to come in traditional attire.

KDCC executive meeting KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 24 (MExN): The Kohima District Congress Committee will hold its executive meeting on November 26 at 11:00 am at the Congress Bhavan, Kohima. The meeting has been called to deliberate on some important issues, stated a release issued by KDCC president, Prasielie Pienyu. All DCC office bearers, ACCC presidents, executive members and frontal chiefs have been asked to attend the meeting. All ACCC presidents have also been directed to submit all the membership forms and list of members for the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan on or before the meeting without fail.

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

Coaching for:

1. INTENSIVE COACHING for Cl-10 & Cl-12 (Science, Arts & Commerce- 2009 Batch 2. NPSC, UPSC, NCS (Prelim-2009), SSC and other Competitive Exam 3. JEE & NERIST Entrance for- 2009 4. Spoken English & Computer Courses 5. Coaching for Sainik School Entrance. Contact: Ph 0370-2290672, 9436071373, 9863143388

Hostel available for both Boys & Girls

Aspiring for a Career in Defence Forces? For the ﬁrst time in Nagaland, avail the expertise and guidance from our panel of expert consultants comprising of a Ex-Army Ofﬁcer and an IIMM alumni for the following: • UPSC Written Exam for NDA & CDS • Direct Entry in Army/Navy/Air Force (Education/ Technical/Medical/Law (JAG)/Women Entry/NCC) • Commission in Territorial Army (Any able bodied male Indian citizen between 18 to 42 years of age) • Preparation for SSB Interviews • Preparatory Counseling for joining NDA/IMA/OTA and other Defence Institutions • Admission Counseling & documentation for RIMC/ Military Schools/Sainik Schools For more details contact: Beacon Consultancy Services 5th Mile, Behind Faith Service Station, Dimapur, Nagaland Tel: 03862- 287148 (O), +91- 9436650665 (M)

VDB New Peren NREGA The VDB New Peren Village fall under R.D. Block Peren to construct village approach Road under NREGA 1 and half kilometers connecting middle of the village. However, the scheme is really beneﬁted to the rural people perhaps everyone can avail the job whether rich or poor can get equal share. As such the villagers highly appreciate the Rural Development Department for bringing new scheme and to create more wages of the employment avenue of the rural area. We acknowledged the concerned ofﬁcers Shri Marsoba DPO DRDA Peren, P. Koza BDO Peren and Abraham J.E to supervise the worksite and to encourage the people and to explain more in detail of the scheme. Submitted by :Gumchube Village Council Chairman New Peren Village Ngangiateu VDB Secretary New Peren VDB Village

Hushmind Spunk3 Bulletin Spunk3 Schedule

Venue: DDSC Stadium, Dimapur 17th Dec. ‘08

: Gate opens at 4:00 p.m. Spunk3 Umbel/Spunk3 Grandeur (Female/ Male Model Contest) 10000/- Cash Prize /Gift hamper worth Rs. 5000/& Car Sound System worth 15,000/to the Best Model from Screwdriver. Ethel Konyak : On the Ramp. 18th Dec. ‘08 : Gate opens at 4:00 p.m. Spunks3 Troupers (Free style dance contest) 10000/- Cash Prize & 1 Promotional Show. Featuring : Higher Ground on Stage. 19th Dec. ‘08 : Gate opens at 4:00 p.m. Spunk3 Aria (Beat Contest) 15000/- Cash Prize & 1 Promotional Concert. 20th Dec. ‘08 : Gate opens at 4:00 p.m. Spunk3 Colors of the youth. Native Rising on the stage Last date of submission of forms: 30th November 2008. Forms available at: Dimapur (Music Ground/Screwdriver/ Archies/Encore Grace Restaurant, Chumukedima), Kohima (Dream Cafe), Mokokchung (Music Cave), Mon (Euphoria Restaurant),

Contact:

Hush Mind (03862-288049/235688 (O)/9856441288/9856264033/) (M) e-mail:hush_mind@rocketmeil.com, hushmindnaga@gmail.com

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY Maidan Garhi, New Delhi - 110 068

Invites Applications for Doctoral, M. Phil, Master’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Post Graduate Diplomas, Diplomas, Post Graduate Certiﬁcates and Certiﬁcate programmes round the year under walk in admission for

JANUARY 2009/ JULY 2009 SESSION Ph. D. Programme :

1. Doctor of Philosophy in Education, History, Tourism Studies, Political Sc., Economics, Sociology, Public Admn., Lib & Inf.Science, Nursing, Mathematics, Physics, Hindi, English, Commerce, Management, Social Work, Women’s Studies, Rural Development, Child Development, Gender & Development Studies, Food & Nutrition, Distance Education, Sri Aurobind Studies and Agriculture Extension(English Only) M. Phil Programme: 1. M. Phil in Sri Aurbindo Studies. Master Degree Programmes: 1. Master of Arts in Distance Education, English, Hindi, Economics, History, Education, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Commerce, Social Work, Rural Development, Computer Applications, Library and Information Science. Tourism Management, Sri Aurobindo Studies, Public Policy, Master of Commerce (in Finance and Taxation), Master of Business Administration (through Entrance Test), MBA in Banking & Finance, Master of Science in Dietetics and Food Service Management. M.Sc. in Hospitality Admn. 2. Mathematics with Application in Computer Science (offered in January session only) 3. M.A in Mass Communication (Offered in July Session Only) Bachelor Degree Programmes: 1. Bachelor of Arts, Commerce, Science, Social work, Tourism Studies, Computer Applications, Library and information Science, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Fashion Merchandising & Production, Bachelor of Education(through Entrance Test), B.Sc in Hospitality and Hotel Admn., Bachelor of Science(Nautical Science)(through Entrance Test), Bachelor of Commerce(A&F), Bachelor Preparatory Programme (BPP). 2. Bachelor of Science Nursing (Post Basic), B.Tech Civil (Construction Management) and B.Tech Civil (Water Resource Engineering), B.Tech Mechanical Engineering (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) (offered in January session only) 3. B.Sc(Hons) Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques and Bachelor of Arts in International Hospitality Administration (offered in July session only) Post Graduate Diplomas: 1. Post Graduate Diploma in Distance Education, Higher Education, Library Automation and Networking, Rural Development, Radio Prasaran, Translation, Journalism and Mass Communication, Audio Programme Production, International Business Operation, Disaster Management, Intellectual Property Rights, Environment and Sustainable Development, School leadership & Management, Participatory Management of Displacement, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Social Work, Studies in Indian Culture, Integral Education, P.G.Diploma in Management, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing Management, Operation Management, Plantation Management (offered only in cochin region), Acupuncture (online), 2. Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Cardiology, Maternal & Child Health, Folklore & Culture Studies, Adult Education (offered in July session only), 3. Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital & Health Management, Geriatric Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sales Management, Counselling, Family Therapy and Mediation ( Offered in January Session Only) Advanced Diplomas: 1. Advanced Diploma in Construction Management &Advanced Diploma in Water Resource Engineering (offered in January session only) 2. Advanced Diploma in Computer Integrated Manufacturing. The Common Prospectus can be obtained from the Registrar, SR&D, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068 and from all the Regional Centres of IGNOU whose addresses are given below by sending a sum of Rs.150/- through a Demand Draft drawn in favour of ‘IGNOU’ payable at New Delhi / the city of concerned Regional Centre/or paying Rs.100/- in cash at the respective sale counters. Please write your name and address on the back of the DD. An electronic version of the Prospectus is also available at IGNOU website at http://www.ignou.ac.in. Application form can be downloaded from the website and submitted alongwith DD for Rs.100/- in addition to the programme fee. Application forms can also be submitted online through the University website round the year. NOTE: The ﬁlled in forms submitted at concerned Regional Centres beyond the last dates mentioned above shall be treated in next session. Master of Business Administration (Banking & Finance), Doctoral Programmes and M.Phil The University invites applications for admission to Master of Business Administration (Banking & Finance)-January 2009 Cycle. The Prospectus which is already on sale, can be obtained from any of the Regional Centres listed below or Registrar (SR&E), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi - 110 068, on payment of Rs.500/- in cash or Rs.550/- through Demand Draft for sending by post. Candidate should be a member of Indian Institute of Bankers, should have passed the CAIIB examination and should be a Graduate working in the Banking or Financial Services Sector for at least two years. The last date for submission of the application form for MBA (B&F) at Regional Centre is 30-112008. Application form can also be downloaded from IGNOU website at http://www.ignou.ac.in and submitted along with DD for Rs. 500/- in addition to the Programme Fee. Application for admission to the Ph. D. Programme may be submitted on the prescribed form at any time during the year. Application received by September 30 and March 31, will be considered for admission to the January and July sessions respectively. The Prospectus and application form can be obtained from any of the Regional Centres or Registrar (SR&D), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110 068 on payment of Rs. 500/-in cash or Rs.550/- through Demand Draft for sending by post. The application form can also be downloaded and submitted along with an application fee of Rs. 500/- in the form of demand draft payable to IGNOU at New Delhi

Diploma Programmes: 1. Diploma in Civil Engineering (G), Dip. in Civil Engg. (Army Only), Diploma in HIV and Family Education, Creative Writing in English, Youth in Development Work, Early Childhood Care and Education, Nutrition and Health Education, Tourism Studies, Women’s Empowerment and Development, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Diploma in Retailing, Diploma in BPO, Diploma in Management, Diploma in Primary Education, Dip. in Electrical & Mech. Engg.(Army Only), Computer Integrated Manufacturing. 2. Diploma in Value added Products from fruits and Vegetables, Value added Products from Cereals, Pulses and oilseeds Meat Technology, Dairy Technology, Nursing Administration ( All are offered in January Session Only), Post Graduate Certificate: 1. Post Graduate Certificate in Cyber Laws, Endodontics,Oral Implantology(through Entrance Test), Project Management(Online). 2. Post Graduate Certificate in Patents Practice, Development Studies (Offered in January Session only) 3. P.G.Certificate in Bangla-Hindi Translation, Malyalam-Hindi Translation (Offered in July Session Only) 4. Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Development of Teachers(Only for teachers working in Navodaya Vidyalaya) Advanced Certificate Programmes: 1. Advanced Certificate in Power Distribution Management. Certificates Programmes: 1. Certificate in Disaster Management, Environmental Studies, Food and Nutrition, Human Rights, Guidance, Nutrition and Child Care, Consumer Protection, Rural Development, Teaching of English, Tourism Studies, Laboratory Techniques, HIV & Family Education, Food safety, Health Care Waste Management, Competency Enhancement for ANM/FHW, Newborn and Infant Care, Maternal and Child Health Care, Teaching of Primary School Mathematics, Business Skills, Functional English(Basic Level), Certificate in NGO Management, Certificate in Sericulture, Certificate in Organic Farming and Certificate Programme in German Language (Offered only in TamilNadu), Certificate in French Language, Janpnese language, Certificate Programme in Introduction to Sri Aurobindo Studies, Communication Skills for BPO, ITeS and Related Sectors, Certificate in Primary Education, Primary Teaching, Primary Curriculam & Instruction, Craft & Design(Pottery), Shoe Upper Cutting, Shoe Upper Stiching, Shoe Lasting & Finishing & Elementary Teacher Education. 2. Certificate in Computing, Performing & Visual Arts, Community Radio, Jewellery Designing, Handmade Paper Items (offered in January session only.) Non-Credit Courses: 1. Computer Literacy programme 2. Certificate Programme in Motorcycle Service and Repair. 3. Awareness-cum-Training Packages in Disability (Visual Impairment, Mental Retardation, Hearing Impairment & Cerebral Palsy) Appreciation Course: 1. Appreciation Course on Environment Admission Schedule

Jan 09 Availability of Common Prospectus Submission of filled in application forms at concerned Regional Centres

July 09 Session

ROUND THE YEAR 1st June to 30th November (without late

1st December to 30th April (without late fee) 1st May to 31st May (with late fee of Rs.200/-)

Application Forms, along with Prospectus, are available at IGNOU Regional Centre. The same are also available at the IGNOU Learner Support Centres at: 1) Nagaland College of Teacher Education, Kohima, 2) Dimapur Govt. College, 3) Bethesda Institute, Mokokchung, 4) St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama, 5) Wangkhao Govt. College, Mon, 6) AIDA Don Bosco Provincial House, Dimapur Regional Director IGNOU Kohima Regional Centre-20 Dzuvuru (Mhonkhola), NH-39, Near IOC Kohima-797 001, Nagaland

C M Y K

Tuesday

Dimapur

BUSINESS

25 November 2008

US unveils plan to rescue Citigroup

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 24 (AP): The US government unveiled a bold plan on Sunday to rescue troubled Citigroup, including taking a $20bn stake in the firm as well as guaranteeing hundreds of billions of dollars in risky assets. The action, announced jointly by the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., is aimed at shoring up a huge financial institution whose collapse would wreak havoc on the already crippled financial system and the US economy. The sweeping plan is geared to stemming a crisis of confidence in the company, whose stock has been hammered in the past week on worries about its financial health. “With these transactions, the US government is taking the actions necessary to strengthen the financial system and protect US taxpayers and the US

economy,” the three agencies said in a statement issued Sunday night. “We will continue to use all of our resources to preserve the strength of our banking institutions, and promote the process of repair and recovery and to manage risks,” they said. It is the latest in a string of high-profile government bailout efforts. The Fed in March provided financial backing to JPMorgan Chase’s buyout of ailing Bear Stearns. Six months later, the government was forced to take over mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and throw a financial lifeline, which was recently rejiggered, to insurer American International Group. Critics worry the actions could put billions of taxpayers’ dollars in jeopardy and encourage financial companies to take excessive risk on the belief that the government will bail them

out of their messes. The $20 billion cash injection by the Treasury Department will come from the $700 billion financial bailout package. The capital infusion follows an earlier one, of $25 billion, in Citigroup in which the government received an ownership stake. As part of the plan, Treasury and the FDIC will guarantee against the “possibility of unusually large losses” on up to $306bn of risky loans and securities backed by commercial and residential mortgages. Under the loss-sharing arrangement, Citigroup Inc. will assume the first $29 billion in losses on the risky pool of assets. Beyond that amount, the government would absorb 90 percent of the remaining losses, and Citigroup 10%. Money from the $700 billion bailout and funds from the FDIC would cover the government’s portion of potential losses. The Federal Reserve would finance the remaining

Economic growth to slow, outlook robust - govt

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A migrant worker carries a sofa in Guiyang, China’s southwest Guizhou province, Sunday, November 23. China is working on an additional economic stimulus plan to supplement the US$586 billion package announced this month with spending on health care and schools, according to a news report. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): India’s economy is likely to slow this fiscal year but growth of 7-8 percent will still be among the best given the financial crisis and a slowdown in major nations, the finance ministry said in a report on Monday. Prepared for a conference of financial editors, the report said the global growth outlook remained uncertain but the prospects for India’s expansion still looked fairly robust. “The circumstances continue to be largely favourable for sustained, rapid and more inclusive growth of the economy,” it said. Indian policymakers are grappling with the impact of the global financial crisis on the broader economy and have taken several steps in recent weeks, including sharp interest rate and banks’ reserve requirement cuts, to protect the economy. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said last week that despite an adverse international environment India could sustain growth of about 8 percent in the fiscal year to end March.

Air India to slash fares

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES0: Bringing a sigh of relief for air travellers, state-owned carrier Air India has reportedly decided to cut fuel surcharge by 10-12 percent. This will bring down the overall airfare charged by the national flag carrier. According to reports, the airline is scheduled to implement the cut in fuel surcharge on domestic metro routes in December and further cuts would most likely be implemented

on other routes in January next year. While private airlines have decided to keep the current high prices, the state-owned carrier’s move might force the private players to do a rethink on their decision. The move came after state-run oil companies slashed the prices of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) by 12 percent, bringing down the price to Rs 39,767 per kilolitre compared with Rs 41,417 per kilolitre last November.

assets with a loan to Citigroup. As a condition of the rescue, Citigroup is barred from paying quarterly dividends to shareholders of more than 1 cent a share for three years unless the company obtains consent from the three federal agencies. The agreement also places restrictions on executive compensation, including bonuses. The once mighty company had at one time been the largest US bank by assets. Citigroup has seen its shares lose 60% of their value in the past week, reflecting a crisis of confidence among skittish investors. They are worried all the risky debt on Citigroup’s balance sheet will turn into losses as the economy worsens and the markets stay turbulent, losses that could be nearly impossible to reverse. Citigroup is such a large, interconnected player in the financial system that if it were to collapse it would cause further damage

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Honda to hike car prices by up to Rs 1.5 lakh NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES): The weak rupee is showing its ugly face. Honda is set to hike car prices across models by Rs 10000 to Rs 1.5 lakh from January next year to factor in increased production cost due to depreciation of the rupee and expensive raw materials. Jnaneswar Sen, marketing vicepresident for Honda Siel Cars, told TOI that the rupee depreciation has impacted the company’s production costs, forcing it to go for a price hike despite a slowdown in the market. “Many of the parts are imported and the rupee’s depreciation has made them expensive. Thus, we will be revising car prices with effect from the first week of January,” Sen said. The highest impact would be on the sports-utility vehicle CR-V, which is imported to India as a completely-built unit (CBU). “The price of the CR-V will go up by at least Rs 1.5 lakh,” Sen said. While price of the luxury sedan Accord will go up by Rs 30,000-50,000, Civic will likely to be dearer by Rs 10,000-20,000. “Many of the components used on the cars are imported from Japan and the US,” Sen said. Asked whether the City could also see revision in price, he said the company “may consider” it. “For the moment we do not plan to increase price of City as its new model has just been launched and we have to make deliveries at the an-

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): “Incredible India” is what the country’s energetic promotional campaign calls it. But behind the glossy brochures is an increasingly hard fight to entice foreign tourists. The worst financial crisis in 80 years, high oil prices and a slew of militant attacks has hit an industry that has basked in double-digit growth numbers of both domestic and foreign tourists in recent years, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism. October saw an increase of just 1.8 percent in the number of foreign tourist arrivals compared to the same time in 2007, prompting the Indian government to ask hotels to slash their prices by 10 to 15 percent in the hope of keeping demand high. “We are seeing the early stages of a slackening of the market,” Madhavan Menon, the managing director of Thomas Cook India Ltd, told Reuters, adding that: “2009 is going to be a difficult year.” A slump risks undermining India’s enormous growth potential in the tourism sector, which the U.N.’s World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said has also been let down in the past by a lack of adequate accommodation and poor infrastructure. Despite its vast size, diversity, and array of historical monuments, India still ranks at no. 42 in the world’s holiday destinations of choice -- below much smaller countries like Belgium (33rd) and Hungary (26nd), a UNWTO report said. Even so, India’s tourism industry is thought to contribute around 6 percent of the country’s GDP and give employment to more than 40 million people. As the tourist season kicks off in the winter months, both domestic and foreign travellers are still flocking to the famed Taj Mahal, with over 300,000 visiting the 17th century mausoleum in October alone. But because many of the 5 million foreign tourists who came to India in 2007 were from the United States and Britain -- among the hardest-hit countries in the glob-

al economic slowdown -- some travel continue to grow at a high level, despite agents and hoteliers are nervous. analysts’ predictions economic growth could slow to below 7 percent in the year Betting on the Russians to March 2009 from 9 percent or higher Even though tourist numbers are in the past three years. officiallygrowing,operatorssaythedata Althoughcrudeoilpriceshavefallen could be misleading, as foreign tour- to around $50 a barrel, government-set ists and corporations made advanced retail fuel prices remain uncomfortably bookings months before the financial high,andtouroperatorssaythisandhigh crisis took hold. “As compared to last air fares will take a toll on domestic touryear, we have received far fewer queries ism,whichaccountsforthevastmajority for the next tourist season,” Mahatam of visits. A general economic slowdown Singh of Touraids said. The luxurious may be affecting all sectors of Indian Raj Palace hotel in the desert state of tourism. Rinku Tripathi, a farmer from

The Taj Mahal attracts from 2 to 4 million visitors annually, with more than 200,000 from overseas. Most tourists visit in the cooler months of October, November and February. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”

Rajasthan says it is reaching out to the super-rich from Russia and the Middle East to make up for a “major downfall” in British and U.S. visitors. Middle East sheikhs and princes book up entire hotels in the pink walled city of Jaipur even if they do not use all the rooms, says Ankur Rara, the general manager of the Raj Palace hotel. “For them money is not a problem.” India’s tourism ministry says domestic demand will

Uttar Pradesh, could just about afford to take his family on a $100 holiday to see the historic Mughal monuments in India’s capital, but for others in his village it has become an unaffordable luxury. “Everybody wants to come to Delhi. But because of their financial position they can’t come right now.” Militant Attacks A string of militant attacks on Indi-

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nounced price. We have received as many as 5,000 bookings so far,” he said. The imported content on the Accord is about 75% and on the Civic about 22%. The new City has about 26% imported parts. The current price of CR-V variants is between Rs 17.7-19.9 lakh, the Accord between Rs 16.917.7 lakh and the Civic between Rs 11-12.8 lakh (all ex-showroom Delhi). The rupee has been weakening against the dollar for months and crossed Rs 50 last week. “The cost of imports from Japan alone has gone up by 30-35% in the last around three months,” Sen said. He said raw material prices also remained high despite softening in commodity prices. “While there has been talk of steel getting cheaper, the price of auto grade steel has still not come down,” he said. Honda’s price hike comes at a time when the car industry in India is in the grip of a slowdown due to record-high interest rates and tight retail financing by banks. Sales of Honda in the April-October 2008 period fell 28% at 24,952 units against 34,578 units in the corresponding period last year. The slowdown in sales has also forced the company to go slow on its upcoming second plant in Rajasthan where it has decided to delay production of cars from the earlier-scheduled 2009 to 2010.

India’s tourism begins to feel the global pinch

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to already fragile financial and economic conditions. The company has operations stretching around the globe in more than 100 countries. Analysts consider Citigroup the most vulnerable among the major US banks, especially after it failed to nab Wachovia Corp., which was bought instead by Wells Fargo & Co. That was a missed opportunity for Citi to gets its hands on much-needed US deposits that would bolster its cash position. Citigroup was especially hard hit by the meltdown in risky, subprime mortgages made to people with tarnished credit or low incomes. Foreclosures on those mortgages spiked, leaving Citi and other financial companies wracking up huge losses on the soured investments. The company has failed to turn a profit during the past four quarters and has announced plans to slash thousands of jobs.

The Morung Express

SUDOKU

CROSSWORD # 1162

The Morung Express number game

Sudoku # 1145

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)

an cities in 2008 scared some domestic and foreign visitors away from traditional hotspots, with the United States and Britain advising their citizens to be vigilant and avoid certain cities altogether. Sheela, a woman who did not want to give her second name, earns a living by painting elaborate henna patterns onto the palms of visitors at a park by New Delhi’s India Gate monument. After deadly bomb blasts rocked the capital in September, she only has a quarter of the customers compared to this time last year, and can only charge half the amount -- $5 per tattoo. “Before the blasts, both sides of the park were completely full.” That said, the effects of security fears tend to be localised and short-lived, because “the world has got used to terrorist attacks”, according to Menon of Thomas Cook India Ltd. But months of anti-India demonstrations and violent clashes between Indian troops and Muslim protesters across the picturesque state of Kashmir have brought tourism, one of the state’s biggest industries, to a standstill. Authorities say hotel occupancy has come down from 100 percent in June to almost zero in October across the restive region, where about 30 percent of its 10 million people depend directly or indirectly on tourism. “Tourism in Kashmir has vanished again,” said Azeem Tuman, the president of the Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association. However, the setbacks to India’s holiday industry are “not alarming”, says Devesh Chaturvedi, the director of India’s Ministry of Tourism, adding that “the tourists will still come but may reduce their spending”.The ministry has set itself a target of doubling the number of foreign tourist arrivals to 10 million per year by 2010, when India hosts the Commonwealth Games. But with officials worried Commonwealth Games infrastructure and accommodation may not be ready on time, the estimates of a doubling of tourism in two years may be rather optimistic.

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

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 #1144

ACROSS 1. ___ speak louder than words (7) 5. Pieces of ___ (5) 8. Trade ___ (7) 9. The Holy ___ (5) 10. __ the lion (3) 12. Lead by ___ (7) 14. A little rough around the ___ (5) 15. Last but not ___ (5) 20. Time is of the ___ (7) 22. Tic-Tac- ___ (3) 23. A ___ playing field (5) 25. Sorely ___ (7) 27. __ your bets (5) 28. Many happy ___ (7)

DOWN 1. Question and ___ (6) 2. ___ pink (7) 3. The ___ and only (3) 4. You can’t beat the ___ (6) 5. Chicken and ___ (3) 6. ___ the nettle (5) 7. Fortune ___ (6) 11. A drop in the ___ (5) 13. Secret ___ (5) 16. Helter ___ (7) 17. Health, ___ and happiness (6) 18. ___ late than never (6) 19. Jack of all ___ (6) 21. ___ by the bell (5) 24. Let sleeping dogs ___ (3) 26. ___ his match (3)

Answers to CROSSWORD #1161 Across: 1. Flake, 7. Creature, 8. Lives, 10. Vanquished, 12. Preserve, 14. Fray, 16. Walk, 17. Stressed, 20. Accumulate, 23. Hymns, 24. Outbreak, 25. Begin. Down: 1. Fillip, 2. Kiev, 3. Iraq, 4. Tacit, 5. Authorise, 6. Deadly, 9. Saved, ll. Replicate, 13. Vet, 15. Berth, 16. Weapon, 18. Damson, 19. Smirk, 21. Loan, 22. Eyre.

CAR MODEL

PRICE

SPARK 1.0 BASE

268,648

SPARK 1.0 PS

289,992

SPARK 1.0 LS

304,641

SPARK 1.0 LT

334,123

U-VA 1.2 BASE

401,753

U-VA 1.2 LS

444,299

U-VA 1.2 LT

484,090

SRV 1.6 OPT. PACK

790,100

AVEO 1.4 BASE

606,461

AVEO 1.4 LTD EDI

661,631

AVEO 1.4 LT OPT.PACK

754,930

TAVERA 2.5 LT 9S BS3

877,748

TAVERA 2.5 SSD1 7S (C) BS3

993,249

OPTRA ROYAL 1.6 LT (PETROL)

967,686

OPTRA MAGNUM 2.0 LT ACC (DIESEL)

1,074,547

CAPTIVA 2.0 LT VCDI

1,812,688

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

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

BUY(Rs) 48.94 72.79 5.44 500.99 12.28 30.03 135.65 12.54 61.73

SELL(Rs) 51.44 76.71 7.47 553.56 15.20 35.10 147.15 14.65 64.88

Tuesday

REGIONAL

The Morung Express

25 November 2008

Ulfa, NSCN turn to Arunachal for safety ITANAGAR, NOVEMBER 23 (THE TELEGRAPH): Ulfa and the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland are holding joint training sessions in three Arunachal Pradesh districts, fearing possible army crackdowns in Assam and Nagaland. A group of 30 newly recruited Ulfa cadres are undergoing a two months’ advanced training in villages bordering Changlang and Myanmar under the supervision of “sergeant commander” Anjan Borthakur of B company of Ulfa’s 28 battalion, the outfit’s publicity secre-

tary Michael Deka and the commander of NSCN (K) Siv Konyak. “After two months of training, the cadres will head for Myanmar to join other group members. It is an alarming trend. This is the first time that Ulfa and NSCN (K) are jointly conducting such advanced training courses in the state,” a source in police said. The officer said NSCN (K) “lieutenant” Konyak was the master trainer, aided by nine other trainers. The villages in Mahadevpur circle of Lohit district, Ponchau circle of Tirap district and Bordumsa circle of

Changlang district are the outfits’ new havens. Both groups have held recruitment drives in Lohit and received “satisfactory response”, sources said. Altogether 40 cadres enlisting their names in Mahikong, Malemna, Maling, Manchal areas under Mahadevpur circle in the district. The NSCN (K) also recruited about 20 cadres from Khanu, Khasa, Bonya, Konnu and Konsa areas of Tirap district in the past three months. Ulfa has also begun a fresh recruitment drives in Borkhet Chaimu, Chamro and Changlai villages of Changlang district.

Ulfa’s publicity secretary, who left Assam six months ago, shifted his base to Arunachal Pradesh that serves as an important corridor for militants. Konyak and Deka have reportedly sought the “help” of villagers in Chowkham, Namsai and Mahadevpur circle of Lohit besides villages of Bordumsa and Ponchau circle of Changlang and Tirap circles, asking them to “support” both outfits. They asked the “enterprising” village youths to join them in their cause, a police officer in Lohit said. The recent move has raised security concerns in

the state. In July, this year, NSCN (K) circulated a letter to the chieftains of 15 villages under Longding circle of Tirap district asking them to provide computer-savvy youths to join their ranks. Though the outfit had computer engineers and other professionals in its ranks but this was first such recruitment drive asking for “youth with specific requirements”. In January this year, the NSCN (K) abducted 39 school students from Tirap district within months of sending notices to 13 villages in the district asking for 200 boys to join the outfit. Later,

the outfit said the youths were not abducted but had joined the outfit voluntarily. The rising rebel movement in the state prompted the government to give away a large tract of land in the Papum Pare area to the army to set up a training facility last month. The stretch from Chessa to Chengmara on the Arunachal-Assam border is used by militants from Assam as an “escape route”. In September, the state government decided to allot 800 acres of land in Durpong, Chessa, Chengmara and Holongi areas of Papum Pare to the army.

Assam oil companies get some respite

GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES): Oil companies operating in Assam may have got some respite after a drastic fall in insurgencyrelated violence by some pressure groups, claiming themselves to be the sons of the soil, who have posed a serious threat to their smooth functioning in recent times. Oil companies, such as Oil India Limited (OIL) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), had been largely hit since the late 1980s when insurgency was at its peak in Assam. But there has been a dramatic improvement in the overall situation in recent time after two crack units of the 28th battalion of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) had come overground after declaring a unilateral truce with the Government. Apart from disrupting work and targeting employees in the field, the ULFA also used to abduct oil executives and make hefty monetary demands on the companies.

Talking to Express in Duliajan, Pranjit Deka, a spokesman of OIL, said it became very difficult for OIL to undertake works in the field owing to various demands and ultimatums served on the company by the pressure groups. The demands ranged from jobs to construction of roads, hospitals, community buildings etc. “Once the demands are met, they come up with new demands,” Deka said. According to him, there are over 100 pressure groups with whom OIL is currently engaged in talks. “They can never be pleased. These days they have been vocal over reservation of jobs but what can we do if there are no vacancies?” Deka asked while referring to the demands of some groups. “We can take only those steps as specified by the company. However, we still sometimes go out of the way but one must understand that we cannot do so all the time,” said Tridip Hazarika, another spokesman for OIL. “We have now taken a

very tough stand that we will not buckle under pressure and will file a complaint with the police against anyone responsible for destroying the OIL property,” Hazarika said while referring to the arrest of some youth for damaging OIL vehicles. In view of the various bandhs and blockades called by the pressure groups, OIL has often sufferred huge losses. The company suffers a loss of over Rs one crore if works are stalled for a day. On average, works are stalled for at least 15 days every year. “The administration often expresses its inability to contain so many pressure groups, scattered over so many areas,” Hazarika said. It may be mentioned that since its inception, OIL has always given top priority to the allround development of people residing in and around the company’s area of operation. “OIL is a responsible corporate entity deeply committed to socioeconomic development in its areas of operations,” he said.

Suryakiran Aerobatic Team of 59 Squadron, Indian Air Force performing precision maneuvering skill in the skies during a programme to commemorate the award of President's Standards, at Air Force station, Borjhar in Guwahati, on Sunday. In recognition of its selﬂess and meritorious service during peace and in war, the 59 Squadron was awarded the prestigious President's Standards by the President of India Pratibha Devi Singh on November 12 at Bangalore. (UB Photos)

Tripura passes bill to curb corruption SACS to launch publicity blitz against HIV/AIDS

AGARTALA, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES): The Left Front government in Tripura Monday passed a bill in the state assembly to check corruption and maintain transparency among the elected representatives and public functionaries.The assembly passed the Lokayukta (State Vigilance) Bill unanimously. “Under the bill, the Lokayukta will have the power to enquire and investigate charges of corrupt practices against

public functionaries and recommend suitable action if found guilty,” said Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. The elected representatives and public functionaries include chief minister, ministers, member of state assembly and elected representatives of local government bodies. “The bill enables the citizens to make complaints to the Lokayukta against any public functionaries for corrupt practices,” Sarkar told the house. According to the bill,

a sitting or retired judge of a high court will be appointed by the governor in consultation with the chief minister, the speaker, and leader of opposition to head the Lokayukta. According to the bill, if anybody makes any false complaint against public functionaries, he would be punished with imprisonment for a maximum term of one year and a fine of Rs.5,000. The bill will now be sent to President Pratibha Patil for her assent.

General strike to protest Imphal bomb blast

IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 24 (UNI): The Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the Ragailong bomb blast has called a 24 hour general strike tomorrow to protest the failure of the government to take action against the perpetrators of the blast. ''The government has failed to take action even though 17 people died and 20 in-

jured seriously in the blast on October 21'' JAC sources said. JAC has decided to call the strike to urge the government for pursuing the matter in the right earnest as none involved in the incident could be arrested so far though the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) had claimed responsibility for the blast, sources

added. Meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has assured that the government will provide all necessary assistance to the next of kins of all those killed and injured in the blast. Enquiry was going on, police said adding Assam Rifles and the elite police commandos were stationed in large numbers near the blast site.

Mizo poll ofﬁcial team leaves for Tripura Bru camps

AIZAWL, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES): A team of election officials left for Tripura on Monday to conduct polling at six relief camps where hundreds of Bru refugees had been lodged since 1997. Mizoram Joint Chief Electoral Officer Lalhmingthanga said on Monday that following instructions from the Election Commission, 8,061

Bru voters in the Tripura relief camps would exercise their franchise through postal ballots on November 26 and 27. Eight nodal officers and 35 desk officials would be on duty at Kaskau, Khakchangpara, Hansapara, Asapara, Halecherra and Naisingpara relief camps, Lalhmingthanga said. "The Bru voters would cast their votes from eight

in the morning to four in the afternoon and the drop boxes containing the postal ballots would be kept inside a strong trunk, sealed and brought to Aizawl after the polling is completed," the JECO said. Bru refugees who fled Mizoram in 1997 have been languishing in the six Tripura refugee camps while hundreds of them had returned since then.

GANGTOK, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): Sikkim AIDS Control Society (SACS) will launch a campaign, including in the media, to spread awareness among people against AIDS on the occasion of World AIDS Day on December one, Project Director Namgyal T. Sherpa said on Monday. A candle will be lit and one minute's silence observed at all public health centres, district hospitals and community rural health centres on the occasion in the memory of those who had fallen prey to the dreaded disease, he told reporters in Gangtok. A poster and a post card

carrying messages against AIDS will be displayed at all prominent public places across the state and in the offices of the state government, public and private sector industrial units, Sherpa said. As part of the publicity against AIDS through media, clips with messages of prominent personalities would be aired on the local cable network and displayed in newspapers. A panel discussion recorded earlier will be telecast on the local cable around December 1. The SACS, through its network of NGOS, is staging a street play 'Repentance' in

the local languages, in all major towns of Sikkim today to be followed up by a week-long Red Ribbon campaign being launched tomorrow by a NGO 'Serenity Home', the SACS Project Director said. Another NGO 'Hope Centre' will organise a musical programme at Jorethang in South District against AIDS/HIV. Besides, a rock concert will be held in the state capital by a band from Darjeeling, while a forum - Sikkim Network of Positive People (SNP) will launch a sticker campaign and undertake distribution of information materials on HIV/ AIDS among taxi drivers.

DYFI supporters to resist ‘Gorkhaland’ demand

SILIGURI, NOVEMBER 23 (SNS): With an imminent threat of expulsion haunting, a number of DYFI activists hailing from three sub divisions of the Darjeeling hills have not minced words in denouncing the Gorkhaland demand. “We are invincibly convinced that a separate state carved out of West Bengal would not prove to be a panacea for the Hills. The real issue of development is being relegated to the background by a certain organisation only to reap political harvest out of the growing grievances of the common people,” said Shyam Pradhan, Mahesh Chetri, Ramesh Sharma and Keshar Pradhan, all activists of the CPI-M ‘s youth wing. They came to Siliguri to attend the two-day Darjeeling dis-

trict conference of the organisation, which has ended today. Earlier, addressing the open session of the conference on a school ground in Siliguri yesterday, the state urban development minister and a senior CPI-M leader Asok Bhattacharya said that the youth of the district especially from the Hills should come out in increasing number against the narrow politics being practised by the GJMM in the name of a separate state. “The separate state demand is unacceptable in the first place. Besides, the common people must understand that the demand is a bogey intentionally nurtured to capture power,” he said. Taking a cue from the minister's assertion the hill based youth leaders said that the people would

see through the narrow game being played in the name of ethnic identity. “Gorkhaland, even if it becomes a reality at any point of time, would definitely prove to be an illusion in terms of development expectation of the people. The real issue of the socio-economic and educational development of the Hills is being deliberately blurred in the sharpening ethnic pitch of separatist campaigning. We would resist the demand, come what may,” said Shyam Pradha, the Darjeeling district DYFI president. Endorsing the view, Mahesh Chettri, Ramesh Sharma and others said that around 70 delegates had come to Siliguri only to oppose the narrow, ethno based politics being practised in the hills.

Dimapur

Violence against women: A Reality

From page 1

Violence has also become a major cause of death, physical and mental disability among many Naga women today, a doctor said. He has had women patients come in with problems which they try to give explanation for, the doctor said and added, “A doctor can differentiate a fall in the bathroom and one of being hit.” Over the last few years, human trafficking has become an organized business in Nagaland. Non-governmental organizations working in this area say that even in this business, women and girls are more vulnerable targets. It is a trend to “adopt” girls preferably because they are more useful for manual work, an NGO worker said. Proven that most women and girls trafficked are from lower-income groups, many observers believe poverty is the influential factor for the rise in human trafficking. Unless the government addresses the core issue of eradicating poverty, human trafficking will never be curbed, the NGO worker said. Sexual violence is probably the most heinous crime which is often covered up. Recent cases of rape and murder of women across the state, including commercial sex workers (CSW) have raised the bar of crime to another level, observers feel. There have been reports of CSWs being raped, murdered in the most brutal manner and their bodies disposed in the Assam-Nagaland border. Studies also show women who are abused physically

by partners are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. A doctor working with UNAIDS said violence and HIV can be a deadly combination, doubling the risk of spreading the virus. Also the inability of women to say “no” to their partners have led to brutal forms of human rights violations and making the women population in Nagaland more vulnerable to HIV/ AIDS, the doctor said. The fear and stigma attached to the virus has also prevented many women from seeking redress thus taking the virus to a pandemic level, another doctor observed. There have also been reports of crimes against women in situations of armed conflicts, though many fear to speak about it. CSWs in Dimapur are reported to be picked up at gun points with no one to question the perpetrators. The picture is clear but there is still little awareness, a former women tribal hoho president said. There is a need for advocacy among women and seriously address the issue of human rights in Nagaland, she said. She added that in a society where violence and injustice prevails, there is something seriously wrong and women are always more vulnerable to such situations. The role of the State Women Commission is also under criticism for being a mere “watchdog” in Nagaland. NGO workers and interestingly many Naga men believe the women commission should play a more proactive role and address issues of violence and human right abuse in Nagaland.

More women electorates... From page 1

C Laldinkimi, a woman Independent candidate from the East Tuipui seat, is a well-known gospel singer whose music videos are often played in the channels of the local TV cable network. Zothankimi of the Congress is another prominent woman candidate from the prestigious Aizawl West 11 seat

and fighting against her is the powerful former chief minister and UDA chief ministerial candidate Brig T Sailo and Lalruatkima of the ruling MNF. This is the second time Zothankimi is contesting the assembly polls. She lost to Lalchamliana of the MNF, the current Speaker of the Assembly in Bilkhawthlir constituency in 2003.

Church leaders educate voters on free, fair polls

AIZAWL, NOVEMBER 23 (AGENCIES): On Sunday, political parties and candidates for the December 2 Mizoram Assembly elections kept themselves off from electioneering as it is purely a Church Day. However, for the church leaders it was the most important day to reach out to the people to tell them how to elect their representatives in the most free and fair manner as desired by the Election Commission. To ensure a free and fair poll, the Mizoram People’s Forum, a platform floated by the Mizoram Presbyterian Church and other NGOs, has issued a set of commandments to the political parties, candidates and voters which require them to strictly adhere to the election code of conduct. The NGOs, which have lent support to the Church in the formation of this community supervisory body, include the influential Young Mizo Association. The Forum has made the task of the Election Commission easier. More than 85 per cent of the population are Christians. MPF president and a Church elder Rev H. Vanlalauva and other leaders of the Forum

visited the Churches on Sunday and told the people about the commandments. “If we can make the people aware of the code of conduct, then the elections will really be free and fair,” he told reporters. The MPF has formed local and constituency-level forums in all 40 Assembly seats. Besides, there are district-level forums. At a meeting convened by the MPF, the political parties agreed that there would be no door-todoor campaign so that there would be no scope for bribing or influencing the voters by unfair means. The restriction on door-to-door campaign resulted in the sudden rise in sale and distribution of cell phone SIM cards as some candidates tried to reach out to the voters through SMS. The MPF has taken strong exception to this practice and directed the local or constituency forums to tell the candidates and their agents to immediately stop distribution of SIM cards. “If they do it again then we will report it to the Election Commission as it is a violation of code of conduct,” says Rev. Vanlalauva.

Assam artists express blast angst on canvas

GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): The deadly October 30 blasts that claimed 88 lives in Assam have touched the heart and soul of every section and the artist community of the state are no exception. "The devastating blasts have jolted our psyche, even now nearly a month after the incident we are yet to come to terms with the dastardly act and our angst have found expression on the canvas," said president of the Gauhati Artists' Guild Aminul Haque. "Immediately after the Three youngsters are seen pampering and preparing their pet dogs during All Breeds blasts, we organised art Open Dog Show organized by Guwahati Kennel Club at Gita Nagar High School play camps in Guwahati and ground, Mother Teresa Road (Zoo-Narengi Road), Guwahati. (UB PHOTOS)

Kokrajhar where artists portrayed the pain, suffering and the futility of such acts of violence," he said. Most of the canvases painted during these camps portrayed the fateful day and the mindless tragedy that the people had to undergo losing their near and dear ones. "We want to prove to the perpetrators of such acts that Assam is a land of unique culture where people have lived harmoniously since ages and it is through the language of art and culture that peace can prevail," Haque said. Shock, fear, disbelief and

the yearning for peace was the leitmotif of the canvases with black, red, yellow and white being the predominant colours. "People of Assam have for years suffered the pangs of insurgency and we have been giving expression to the hurt and the angry lot. The recent incident has left us shell-shocked and we picked up our brush once again to lodge a strong protest," said noted artist Neelpaban Baruah. Another exhibition of paintings and sculptures titled 'A Thursday' (October 30 was a Thursday) by eminent artists has

been put up at an art gallery here. The exhibition has been curated by artist Wahida Ahmed. The highlight of the exhibition is an acrylic canvas titled 'Let us Fly' portraying the story of four-year old Moromi Sarmah, the youngest victim of the blast, who along with her father lost her life in the blasts. The painting shows a young girl looking down from the canvas against the backdrop of the Tricolor with white butterflies in the background and its poignant portrayal has moved many viewers to tears. "The canvas moved me to

tears on seeing how a young life was wasted for no fault of her or her family," said visitor Arundhuti Barua, a mother of two. It is not only eminent artists who have been moved to express their angst on canvas but even young children participating in various art contests in the post-blast period end up drawing images of the blast. "In all art competitions I have attended recently, I found children tend to draw about the blast and how it has affected them or other children," said noted artist and secretary of the Gauhati Artists' Guild, Kishore Das.

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express TUESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2008 VOL. III ISSUE 327

Tibetan Pragmatism

he chasm between the old and the new school of thought within the Tibetan political community over the future of Tibet has been quite evidently expressed in recent years. The silence over the chasm by people in leadership only further infuriated the younger generation of Tibetan activist, who responded to the silence with a louder public call for a new approach to their call for independence. The call for a new approach got all the more louder as activists began to articulate their growing restlessness in highly public and visible platforms. This action was seen by analyst as a growing challenge to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leaders of the government in exile; and it was therefore only a matter of time before their silence was addressed. The intervention made by Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of the Tibetans to convene a six-day public dialogue at Dharamsala to discuss the future of the Tibetans was a strategic ways to in effect address the chasm between the old and new generation of Tibetan activist. In the end, the 600 odd Tibetans who convened at Dharamsala recommended the continuation of ‘middle way’ approach of the Dalai Lama to the Tibetan parliament. In doing so, the convention in one voice proclaimed to protect their political identity and to ensure that the non-violent struggle of the Tibetans is upheld. While affirming the middle way, the convention send a strong message to China that if they do not respond positively to appeals for meaningful autonomy for Tibet, then the Tibetans will decide to pursue independence. The convention was traditional diplomacy at its best, where the old power not only achieved in formulating a democratic consensus in support for continuation of the “middle way” but also succeeded in ensuring that the Dalai Lama was reaffirmed the mandate to be the “sole representative and leader of the Tibetan people.” This renewed mandate has stabilized the Dalai Lama’s negotiating power with China and he made it evidently clear to Chine when he pointed out on Sunday, “My trust in Chinese officials has become thinner and thinner.” The consensus arrived at by the Tibetan convention will have far reaching impact in how it negotiates its rights with India; and with the Dalai Lama stating that he is far from retirement, it has given the Tibetans the time to build new leadership while also safeguarding its political struggle without compromising on its commitment to a non-violent middle way. There is no doubt the Tibetans are at a cross roads and their leadership was under tremendous pressure to find a new path and to define clearly its political position on the future of Tibet. And in one decisive intervention, it has addressed all these doubts and for sometime it is unlikely to find any critical public dissent from within. By confronting the difficult issues head on and by using traditional diplomacy and pragmatism of finding consensus in a highly polarized situation, the Tibetan political leadership has through a participatory and consultative process of dialogue found an inclusive answer with a greater sense of purpose and a definite direction to the future. While all the issues of contention may not have totally been resolved, it has for the time being enabled the Tibetans to renew a greater sense of nationalism and the urgency to find a solution. There are lessons for the Nagas to draw out from this experience. Nagas too are in a state of crisis today and there strong and polarized points of views and with an uncertain future looming over the Naga people, the need for Nagas to define with clarity the direction of their future has become imperative and immediate. The method of consensus building through participatory dialogue chosen by the Tibetans is a worthy initiative; and an approach that does not contradict the Naga worldview. Is it therefore possible for the Nagas to convene a public dialogue in which all Naga stakeholders participate in a consensus building process that will focus on determining the direction in which the Naga people will follow and recommend the possible future options for the Naga political destiny? Unless Naga create opportunities to dialogue with each other, it is possible that the Naga will remain chained to their past.

LEFT WING |

Ahmad Chalabi

Thanks, but you can go now

he Iraq war is over. It ends five years too late and at far too terrible a cost in lives, money and idealism. The difficult and tortuous negotiations over the American withdrawal now coming to an end in Baghdad offer a distorted glimpse of what might have been. The independent, democratically elected Iraqi government now representing the interests of its people is nearly identical to the government that could have been formed in 2003. Five years of occupation have only hardened positions and damaged relations between America and Iraq. In fact, the only popular new political movements in Iraq are built around a desire for an end to the occupation, and the principal threat to the current government is its close relationship to the occupier. Nonetheless, President Bush’s democratic approach to Iraq has, in many ways, succeeded. Iraq has the strongest constitution, the fairest elections and the most democratic government in the Islamic Middle East. This success stems from the democratic ideal expressed by the United States, through the uncountable sacrifice of American and Iraqi lives, and through the Iraqis’ profound belief in the gift of our nation. Iraqi freedom is a debt to America we will never forget. This is true despite Bush’s manifest failure to honor his word. At one time, the liberation of Iraq was to be the centerpiece of a new regional order in the Middle East founded on a new American emphasis on democracy, human rights and free enterprise. Instead, Iraq has endured occupation; the authoritarian installation of a prime minister; the strong-armed removal of an elected leader; the indiscriminate arrest, torture and killing of Iraqi civilians without recourse to law; and an utterly corrupt reconstruction program that oversaw one of the biggest financial crimes in history, which has left average Iraqis with little water, power, health care, education or even food. Yet there are still those in Washington’s corridors of power who want to reduce Iraq to being an American puppet state, like Jordan or Egypt, nations governed through a corrosive mix of covert intelligence and military support spoon-fed to a permanent oligarchy. Iraq will not accept this. Barack Obama has every reason to support Iraq’s efforts to greatly increase the world supply of oil, expand trade with the U.S. and raise a new generation of Iraqis focused on education, achievement and cooperation. We must not be asked to focus on military expansion and arms purchases, which would mean raising yet another generation of ill-educated soldiers fit only for internal repression and external aggression. Iraqis want the closest possible relationship with the United States, and recognize its better nature as the strongest guarantor of international freedom, prosperity and peace. However, we will reject any attempts to curtail our rights to these universal precepts. We welcome Obama’s election as a herald of a new direction. It is our hope that his administration will offer Iraq a new and broader partnership. Iraq needs security assistance and guarantees for our funds in the New York Federal Reserve Bank. But we also need educational opportunity, cultural exchange, diplomatic support, trade agreements and the respectful approach due the world’s oldest civilization. We also hope that Obama will support the growing need for a regional agreement covering human rights and security encompassing Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran (and any other neighbors so inclined). We have all been victims of terrorism. The mutual fears that have been festering for decades, augmented by secret wars and the incitement of insurrection, are no longer acceptable. The United States has agreed to Iraq’s request to inscribe in any regional pact a prohibition against the use of Iraq’s territory and airspace to threaten or launch cross-border attacks. This laudable commitment gives us hope that America has a new collective vision of security in our region as not exclusively a function of armed force but also dependent on a profound comprehension of others’ fears. For the past five years, Iraq and America have had the closest of alliances. Now we must begin to work as more distinct partners, unified in opposition to terrorism and in commitment to democracy and human rights, but each standing alone as the guarantor of its people’s liberty and prosperity. Only wide-ranging bilateral negotiations under the leadership of Obama and the elected Iraqi leadership can be a foundation for this peaceful, productive and permanent partnership. Iraq stands ready. Ahmad Chalabi, a former oil minister of Iraq, is the chairman of the Iraqi National Congress

C O M M E N T A R Y

THE EDIT PAGE

Arthur Max | Associated Press

Fuel from food? The feast is over

n future years we may look back at second-generation biofuels, because the high end, a World Bank report in June cal- mal feed. Blaming biofuels for exploding the Great Mexican Tortilla Crisis second generation uses waste streams. culated that 70-75 percent of the price rise food prices “was an easy argument. Eiof 2006 as the time when ethanol They don’t enter the food-versus-fuel de- was due to biofuels and the cascading ef- ther you eat or you drive. If you look at it lost its vroom. Right or wrong, bate,” said Sharpe. “This is just stuff that fect they had on grain stocks, export bans a bit further, you see that is not the case,” Jurgensen said, speaking at a gleaming, and investor speculation. that was when blame firmly set- would be wasted otherwise.” “The moderation of global prices soon-to-be-open US$110 million biodieBut second-generation technology tled on biofuels for the surge in food prices. The diversion of American is still young, and Sharpe believes com- over the last few months is scant consola- sel factory at Rotterdam port. Peter van der Gaag corn from flour to fuel agrees. The head of put the flat corn bread BER-Rotterdam, buildout of reach for Mexico’s ing a plant in the port poorest. Two years later, city to convert 350,000 the search is on for ways tons of wheat a year to keep corn on the table into ethanol and gas, rather than in the gas said just 2 to 3 percent tank. Moving away from of the world’s wheat food crops, the biofuel goes toward ethanol. of the future may come How much impact can from the tall grass growit have on the price of ing wild by the roadside, bread? he asked. “Biofrom grain stalks left befuels are certainly not hind by the harvest, and to blame for poverty, from garbage dumps but it is easy for enviand dinner table scraps. ronmentalists to give a Carlo Bakker’s tiny bad name to biofuels,” biofuel operation, World he said. In fact, environMobile Plants, avoids mentalists are skeptical edibles. He says his miniof even nonfood biorefinery, loaded into a fuels, which consume shipping container on scarce water and are a flatbed truck, roams sometimes cultivated South Africa making on fertile cropland. biodiesel fuel from used “If biofuels were cooking oil, or from sungrown on degraded flower seeds or the jatroland, that could be a pha shrub, which grows good thing. But it has in poor soil with little to be seen with a lot of water. He says he plans caution,” said Frauke eventually to use organic Thies, a Greenpeace household waste as well. Bakker says one mobile A fossil fuel reﬁnery is seen in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Monday October 13 , 2008. A new reﬁnery for biodiesel made from campaigner for renewable energy. “We are not unit can make 1 million rapeseed is going into production as Europe increasingly looks to replace oil imports with homegrown biofuels. (AP Photo) opposed to biofuels in liters (260,000 gallons) per year, which he sells for $1 per liter, or mercial plants are still several years away. tion to the millions who are still facing principle, but the practices of today are $3.79 per gallon, on a par with regular die- Food prices rose steadily for the past three high domestic prices and have cut back not sustainable.” Even as scientists work years until they peaked last June. Before on eating nutritious food and investing on second-generation answers, foodstuffs sel prices. “We don’t compete with the food they retreated, the World Bank said corn in their child’s schooling,” a World Bank are likely to remain in the fuel chain for chain,” Bakker said during a biofuels prices had tripled since January 2005. Rice report said in October. Energy policies years to come because of government conference in Amsterdam. “We see op- and wheat weren’t far behind. Around the played a role. The European Union last subsidies. In the United States, biofuels portunities not only to make money but world, the poor - U.N. figures say the num- year mandated a 10 percent biofuel mix have been getting tax credits since 1978. to help people.” Governments encour- ber of undernourished is approaching 1 in transport fuels by 2020, and the U.S. Globally, the U.N. Food and Agriculture aged the switch to alternative fuels in billion - protested that they were hungrier set a production target of 36 billion gal- Organization estimates governments recent years to lessen dependence on than ever. Food riots erupted in 18 coun- lons of ethanol by 2022 - compared with supported biodiesel and ethanol with up imported oil. But producers are taking a tries, from Bangladesh to Haiti. Some 6.5 billion last year, which already con- to US$12 billion in 2006. Last year, 139 U.S. ethanol plants hard look at the food crops used as raw 75,000 Mexicans marched in their capital, sumed almost one-quarter of the U.S. material for these so-called first-gener- accusing the government of “stealing torti- corn crop. The EU mandate is being re- produced fuel equal to 5 percent of ation biofuels. After all, they too had to llas.” Some countries imposed export bans considered, and calls are being heard in U.S. gasoline consumption. As of July, however, just 33 cellulosic ethanol Washington to rethink the U.S. goal. pay more as prices spiked. “They got to hoard their grain stocks. Some producers say critics unfairly plants were in the pilot or demonstraWorld grain harvests had soared, burned. They don’t want to go through that problem again,” said Vicky Sharpe, reaching a record 2.3 billion tons last year. lump all biofuels together. “You should tion phase. Corn ethanol costs US$1 a director of Sustainable Development But demand continued to grow, not only look at biofuels as separate kinds of fuel,” gallon to make, but cellulosic fuel from Technology Canada, which administers a for biofuel but for animal feed to satisfy says Uwe Jurgensen, head of the Associa- stalks, leaves and straw costs US$5 to US$1 billion Canadian government fund an increasingly meaty diet for the grow- tion of Dutch Biofuels Producers. Bra- US$6. It requires the injection of ening middle class in India and China. Just zil’s massive ethanol industry, based on zymes to convert plant matter into to invest in clean technologies. Universities, corporate research labo- how much influence biofuels had on food sugarcane grown on just 1 percent of its sugars that are then fermented into ratories and startup companies are pour- prices is debatable. The U.S. Depart- arable land, has little impact on edible ethanol. Michigan State University’s ing millions of dollars into finding ways ment of Agriculture said biofuel produc- sugar. Biodiesel, the biofuel of choice in Mariam Sticklen is one scientist trying to break down woody or grassy biomass tion was responsible for just 3 percent of Europe, is made largely from rapeseed to reduce that cost, to about US$2 a galfor cellulosic ethanol – or second-gen- the global price increases. It said the real grown on disused land, Jurgensen said. lon, by genetically engineering crops to eration biofuel - that would unshackle culprits were oil prices, which pushed up Only 40 percent of the crushed rapeseed produce their own enzymes. “It’s still ethanol from the volatile food market. fertilizer and transportation costs, and the is refined into biodiesel, while the rest early days,” she said, “but the world “You will see a movement from first- to sharp drop in the dollar’s value. On the is processed into the food chain as ani- needs a no-food-for-fuel policy.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Appeal to Power Minister •Sir- Through your esteemed column, I wish to draw the attention of the Power Minister, Government of Nagaland towards the lackadaisical attitude of the Department officials. I wish to inform you that electricity has gone out of order in our village for more than (3) thress years now. Repeated appeals to the Executive Engineer (Power) Zunheboto and also to the Chief Engineer has failed to evoke any response, and the village continues to live in total darkness. On close observation it is understood that they have totally dis-regarded our repeated appeals and reminders which was also carried in the local dailies. Ith utmost respect for your esteemed authority, I wish to inform you that it will not be a very pleasant experience when the aggrieved public take their own course of cation against erring and irresponsible Government servants. I therefore, appeal once again to the Power Minister to look into our plight and restore electricity in our village before the onset of festivals. Khekaho Yeptho, President, Xukhepu Students Union Zunheboto

Nagaland Political Problem and the Present Situation •Sir-Many fellow Naga have spoken, written and prayed for peace and reconciliation among the Nagas. I too am writing of it because the present atmosphere of Nagaland is not getting any better. There have been too many blood-sheds, suspicions and hatred among our people and it pains me immensely. I would love to see peace and unity among the Nagas with one single voice as in the early days. I would like to request both the NSCN top leaders to stop killing of each other and also stop killing fellow Nagas and the business men because independence will not be achieved by doing so. For, how long will the killings of the Naga brethren and business men go on? How long will you keep killing your own members? How long will the government of India sleep over the dead bodies of the

will not help. All women’s organisation, irrespective of political affiliation, should focus a common platform with a single agenda. It must become a mass social movement and sent out message to all political parties, warning them that women will withdraw their backing in the next election if they do not support the reservation now. There are some elite males raising objection on implementation of women reservation bill in the Municipal and Town council election. Article 371A is also drawn out of proportion to suit their selfish interest. There is also some merit in the objection that reservation of seat for women would mean rotation of seats at every general election with the result the member will not be able to nurse their constituencies and also that candidates will be uncertain of anticipating their future constituencies. This will be thus, breaking their link with the electorate. All Naga elected members had sworn allegiance to the constitution of India. Therefore, they are expected to implement V.K. Sema the bill stringently without delay. This is Dimapur the right time to push the bill into action and we should stand firmly on the issue. On Women Reservation All options should also be explored to push the bill into practice even when the male •Sir-Women are not asking for grace and back-track their stand on the issue. charity. Their contribution to the cause of Zeneisulie Ate Loucii nation exceeds that of men. An International Labour organization study shows that “While women, represents 50% of the To, world adult population and a third of the official labour force, they perform nearly The Chief Minster two third of all working hours, receive a Government of Nagaland tenth of world income and own less than one percent of world property”. Therefore •Sir, with utmost respect and honor, we reservation for woman is not a bounty but on behalf of the Naga Christian Fellowonly a honest recognition of their contri- ship Korea convey warm greetings. bution to social development. It was a near blessing and a chance for Reservation for women would check the Naga Community in Korea that you the muddy politic that menfold have made a trip to South Korea in the month brought about. It would bring social con- of August, 2008. With all sincerity, we sciousness to political life. Women res- express our regret for not being able to ervation will also help in brushing the meet you on your arrival at the Incheon criminal-politicians nexus and other International Airport and in your brief dangerous element-nexus - the real dan- stay in Korea. But the fact is that, Sir, the ger to our democracy. NCFK has no foreknowledge of your visit I am afraid, the strategy of women’s to Korea, hence, failed to welcome you reservation has been faulty from the start. at the airport. Therefore, the Naga StuLobbying political leaders in their office dents in Korea cannot take the credit of

Nagas? Killings and hatred will not bring any solution for the Naga Independence, if this continues, then you will not achieve anything and all your sacrifices will be in vain and eventually you will get only an empty box from the Govt. of India. That, the Government of India will be compelled to settle the Naga political issue imacably without further delay provided both the sides stop the killings and other activities, which is the wish of every Naga, for your goals are one. Both the sides should give up the dividing policy and join hands for the settlement of the Naga cause because the Government of India will never negotiate with two parties. It is for the Naga common problem so the GoI will and can settle the problem with a single party only. Therefore, I want to request both the sides that though it is easies said than done, to re-think, to forgive and forget and reconcile for the settlement of the Naga political problem as early as possible.

welcoming you and singing “God bless my Nagaland,” as we were not there. We also would like to make it known to you that as per the appointment given to the NCFK office bearers, we waited for you at the Millennium Hotel (South) on August 24, 2008 from 6:00-7:00 pm. We regret that our meeting could not materialize. Ever since its inception, the NCFK is the one sole body that has sought to keep the Nagas in Korea together, safeguarding the welfare of the Nagas in Korea; social and religious, It is our prayer and request that future co-ordination and correspondence between Nagaland in Korea institutions may be made known to the NCFK so that we are kept aware and thus work together for the progress of our land and people. Yours sincerely, Putsato Naleo, Secretary, NCFK Katang Khuvung Chairman, NCFK

Road is now ﬁt upto its best service

•Sir-The state of Viola Colony, Lotha Colony and Nepali Kashiram Link-Road at Dimapur was as its worse not motorable as well as unfit for pedestrians. The undersigned appealed the Deputy Commissioner Dimapur for provision to develop the same and thereby the D.C. endorsed the appeal to be acknowledged by M/S Ansari &Co.Dimapur and M/S Mohan Singh Construction Co.Dimapur in the interest of public welfare. The two esteem companies subsequently took up the humanitarian service graciously and thus enable thirty trips of sand-gravels to fill up the dusty and potholed road. Now the said road is fit upto its best service for commuters and a sigh of relief to the general public. The undersigned, on behalf of all the general public extend our profound gratitude to the D.C. and the two esteem companies for their invaluable generous gesture. May God bless them all abundantly? I. Pangjung Tzudir GB Viola Colony N.V.O.Lotha GB Lotha Colony

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.

TUESDAY

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

25 NOVEMBER 2008

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

Great expectations awaits Michelle

Jocelyn Noveck | Associated Press

ure, there's plenty of pressure on Barack Obama. But imagine being his wife. The moving trucks haven't even arrived, and already Michelle Obama's being touted as the next Jackie Kennedy, the woman who'll infuse Washington with a sense of style and vigor not seen since the days of Camelot. Never mind that Obama has repeatedly indicated she'll focus first and foremost on getting her daughters settled. Expectations on all fronts are running high. Will she be a fashion trendsetter? Redefine and revitalize the capital's social scene? Be a globe-trot-

ting emissary for her spouse? Going beyond Kennedy, will she influence policy on family issues? Will she be an exemplary mom, hostess, ambassador, advocate and politician, combining it all without wrinkling feathers or breaking a sweat? Well, maybe. But if history is any guide, first ladies have long been victims of conflicting expectations and comparisons to those before them. So as she assumes one of the least defined but most scrutinized jobs in Washington, Obama might do well to take the advice of Rosalynn Carter: "I was going to be criticized no matter what I did," Carter once said, "so I might as well be criticized for something I wanted to do." One reason speculation is running rampant about Obama's plans and goals: She's said little about them, and her close friends, some of whom spoke openly to the media before the election, have spoken little since. She did give a brief glimpse of her thinking in an interview this week with "60 Minutes." "The primary focus for the first year will be making sure that the kids make it through the transition," she said, sitting alongside her husband. "But there are many issues that I care deeply about." She cited two that she focused on during the campaign: Military families, and the work-family balance. There's been speculation that Obama will be far more involved in policy than she's let on so far. But those who've been close to other first ladies say they well understand why she'd want to focus on her kids first. "It's a huge responsibility," says Paul Costello, former press aide to Rosalynn Carter, whose daughter, Amy, was only 9 when she arrived at the White House. "These kids are now instant international celebrities. You have to protect them from that." Still, Costello says, even between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., there are astounding opportunities. "The first lady has enormous authority and power in this country to shed light on things she cares about," he says. "She's a megastar. She'll be able to choose and transform issues that she finds important." Of course, that can lead to criticism, as it did for Carter, who famously became the first presidential spouse to sit in on Cabinet meetings. She figured it was the most efficient way of preparing herself to repre-

sent the administration. "It was as if she'd dropped a bomb on the South Lawn," says Costello. "It was so odd, because the first lady IS an ambassador for the president she's his eyes, ears and nose." Historian Carl Sferrazza Anthony says the public misperceived what Carter, who also maintained a weekly working lunch with her husband, was trying to do. "She was just avoiding having to bother him later with questions," says Anthony, of the National First Ladies Library. "She was on the perimeter of the room, along with policy aides, secretaries and assistants." If Carter was criticized for being too politically active, Nancy Reagan, her successor, was criticized for being too socially active (and spending money on new china). But they can at least take heart that criticism of first ladies goes back to the beginning of the Republic. Abigail Adams, the nation's second presidential spouse, was derisively called "Mrs. President" by an anti-Federalist, Albert Gallatin, for her partisan support of her Federalist husband, John. Dolley Madison, on the other hand, was admiringly called "Presidentress" by some for her role as a national symbol for all Americans, one who knew "how to strike the delicate balance between queen and commoner," Anthony says. But Elizabeth Monroe, who came next and was much less popular, suffered from the comparison. The wealthy Julia Tyler was called deemed overly regal or queenlike, but then her successor, Sarah Polk, was called "monstrously small" (meaning small-minded) by President Tyler himself, Anthony says. Even Eleanor Roosevelt, known for traveling the world and speaking out on issues from poverty to civil rights to women's rights, was not immune from criticism. And Jackie Kennedy herself, revered for her style and flair, was initially seen as too young, was once called "too darned snappy" in the press, and even had her hair described as "a mop." By the time Hillary Rodham Clinton came onto the scene, she was hardly the first to assume a strong political role. But Clinton, who'd been a successful attorney and children's advocate, went farther, establishing an office in the West Wing and accepting an assignment from her husband

to overhaul the nation's health care system. When that failed, it harmed the standing of both spouses. Laura Bush took a much more quiet approach, and thus is widely seen as a more traditional first lady. But over the years she has in fact traveled overseas on her own, delivered some of her husband's Saturday radio addresses and championed causes like women's rights in Afghanistan and pro-democracy activists in Myanmar. While Michelle Obama, with degrees from Princeton and Harvard Law, may arrive at the White House with a resume more like Clinton's, evidence suggests she may take a page from Laura Bush, approaching the political aspects of the job more gingerly. It might be a wise move not only for her image, but for her sanity. First, says Costello, the former Rosalynn Carter aide, "the requirements are beyond belief, from visiting schools to launching Navy boats to traveling overseas." Even more so in two years, when midterm elections take place and Obama, as a first lady, will be expected to campaign vigorously for her party. And on a purely social level, "there are innumerable events: receptions, lunches, a dozen or so Christmas parties. There will probably be state dinners to plan. There are big expectations that this couple will bring Washington alive again. They'll be expected to use the White House as a showcase for important social and cultural aspects of America." As if that - and the new first lady's own agenda - weren't enough, she's expected, just like Jackie Kennedy, to look great while doing it all. And to set trends, too. "I think readers have already shown what they want from Michelle Obama - they want her to bring style back to the White House," says Lesley Jane Seymour, editor of More, a magazine for women over 40. Its cover photo and interview with Obama made the October issue one of the year's best sellers. "This is a different world," says Seymour. "People say Barack Obama is 'post-race,' and you could say Michelle Obama is 'post-firstlady.' She's great-looking and accomplished, and not afraid to dress like it." Seymour particularly liked the close-fitting, bright red dress Obama wore to meet the Bushes at the White House. "She was saying, 'Here I Am,"' Seymour says. "I think she's gonna be gangbusters as first lady."

Violence against Women and Security

Swarna Rajagopalan

As the Violence Against Women fortnight kicks off internationally on November 25, Swarna Rajagopalan analyses why women’s physical survival and safety must be viewed as a security issue and why violence against women is as much a social concern as war, famine or terrorism

ince the fall of the Berlin Wall, there is consensus that something important has shifted in the real world that necessitates a shift in security thinking. It is now acknowledged that more wars take place within States than across them. State-building has been identified as a leading source of insecurity (for States by some, for everyone by others). Famine on a large scale challenges the survival of societies; as do disasters that can disrupt the fabric of social relationships. Climate change threatens small island-states like the Maldives, whose new president is now shopping for land to resettle his people in anticipation that the atollstate will be consumed by rising sea-levels. Those who write on non-traditional security admit migration and trafficking into their research agendas, understanding that these challenge the very foundations of the nationstate system. Struggles over land, livelihood and food are also now recognised as admissible into this agenda in the same way as militancy is. The reconstruction of society after a conflict, somewhere at the conjunction of the old nation-building and development agendas, is also accepted as a security subject. This catholic embrace stops short of women’s bodies. Violence against women is still not quite a security issue, unless it occurs in the context of one of the above situations or a traditional security crisis. Common, garden variety threats to the physical survival and safety of women are where the line is drawn, either out of an ingrained sense that home and person are not appropriate objects of interest for this field or as a compromise in the face of the protest that no field can include everything. As a prelude to analysing this discourse that excludes women’s physical survival and safety, let us take a quick look at some of the things we include under the ‘violence against women’ (henceforth, VAW) rubric. Women experience physical insecurity both by virtue of their position within a given socio-economic structure and by virtue of where they find themselves physically. Patriarchal societies value women first and foremost as mothers. Maternal health is therefore a useful point of departure for this review. A Unicef report states that one woman dies every five minutes of a pregnancy-related complication. One in every 70 women is at risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes and the risk is even greater for women below 24. The Maternal Mortality Ratio for Indian women is estimated at anywhere between 300 and 500 per 100,000 live births, depending on the source you consult. Debates over the woman’s right to choose versus the foetus’s right to be born are enter-

ing Indian discourse, obscuring the continuum between a prenatal death sentence by virtue of sex and the woman’s lack of reproductive autonomy. In India, statistics about sex selective abortions begin with the dramatic figure of about 10 million such abortions being performed over the last quartercentury and end with the horrific count of 3 million female foetuses being aborted annually. Both the right of the girl-child to be born and the long-term consequences for women and society are the issue here. Discrimination in matters of nutrition, healthcare and schooling apart, girls in situations of poverty are at risk of trafficking and early marriage. A majority of girls become victims of trafficking at a very early age, and about 35% of them blamed their families for their fate. Families are also responsible for forcing girls into early marriages. More than half of India’s girls marry before 18, and experience much greater risk of pregnancy-related complications as well as domestic violence. Add to this the threat of child sexual abuse, mostly at the hands of family members, and Indian girls do not seem to lead very secure lives. A serious impediment to simple improvements in a girl’s life is the threat of street sexual harassment. Being followed on the way to school, cat-calls at the busstop, being groped or pinched on a bus or being stalked foreshadow sexual violence. The threat of being harassed intimidates girls and, in a society that places a premium on virginity, persuades parents to stop their schooling at puberty. Lacking education, confidence or self-esteem, the girl has no inner defences against exploitation and society provides no external protections either. Marriage is seen as a solution to the problem of protecting a girl from the dangers of the public arena. Dowry, however, is one of the core causes of male-child preference. The practice of demanding and giving dowries has been spreading to communities where it was hitherto unknown. Dissatisfaction and avarice have combined to create social conditions where over 6,000 girls lose their lives annually in dowry-related deaths, according to the NCRB. Strict laws do not seem to deter families from demanding nor from feeling like their prestige is attached to giving. A shamefully large percentage of Indian women experience domestic violence. Nearly 37% of married women have experienced violence at some point and, perhaps more alarming, 54% of Indian women believe husbands have the right to beat their wives, according to the National Family Health Survey. Social and economic compulsions keep women in abusive marriages and, given the magnitude of the problem, there are still too few helplines and shelters. Infamous advice from India’s mythical lawgiver, Manu, enjoins women to seek the protection of their fathers, husbands and sons. Where fathers and husbands fail women, sons often do so as well. The abandoned widows of Brindavan and Varanasi are only the most dramatic instance of the cruelty of Indian society towards its elders. In homes around the country, senior citizens, particularly elderly, widowed women, are often subject to neglect and emotional abuse. Where cultural mores still constrain many from actually abandoning their ageing parents, what seniors surveyed described as ‘disrespect’ in fact borders on physical abuse.

This random review illustrates how unsafe women are in a variety of settings and roles. Considering that they constitute almost half a population of 1 billion, why does the survival and well-being of nearly 500 million citizens not find a place in security agendas? One reason is the binary view of the public and private spheres which security as a field inherits from traditional political philosophy. On the contrary, feminists argue that the personal is political. The contemporary exercise (reflected in this series of articles) of redefining security is the search for a middle ground between these positions. Somewhere between a social perspective that will not cross the threshold of a home or a relationship and one that would dismiss the distance between the two sides of the threshold, is an older political debate relating to personal freedom and privacy. How do we define where the limits lie in the relationship between the individual and the collective? Once crossed, what is an appropriate issue for intervention and what is off-limits? New security thinking has added a plethora of new referents for ‘security’ (a confounding plethora, traditionalists might say). That is, when we ask the question ‘whose security,’ we now answer with a much longer list than ‘State’ or ‘nation-state.’ Moreover, when we ask who creates insecurity, security scholars or policymakers shy away less from adding the State itself to the list. However, our view of who should create security still somehow ends up being State-centric. This blindsides us. Where we will not let the State step in, whether from a minimalist State perspective or otherwise, we still challenge its inaction (and its inability to act). Can the State enter kitchens in an anticipatory exercise to prevent kerosene from being poured over new brides? Can the State be a presence in the bedroom when a wife is repeatedly raped by her husband? Should the State uphold the mother’s right to choose to have a child or should it allow her to decide not to have a girl-child? Some of these questions have been resolved in practice. The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 is an example, as is the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2006. But their failure to completely stop the practices they condemn suggests that even a State with tremendous reach, awesome enforcement capability and reasonable political will cannot stop individuals from perpetrating violent acts sanguinely. Neighbours, extended family and alert local civil society organisations can go much further than a battery of laws and a police force. Social pressure and ostracism are greater deterrents than the likelihood that the victim or her supporters will term their experience as ‘abuse’ and report it to the police. Those who mistreat women must take comfort in the lack of social support options available to them, so that they must return to the site of abuse sooner or later. The next frontier in this exercise of reimagining security then is to explore the role of civil society in creating security (and insecurity). Citizen-driven initiatives are the order of the day with regard to most other issues, be it mohalla committees to preserve communal harmony or neighbourhood environmental groups like EXNORA. What is the scope for citizen action to create security for women within and outside the

home? What ethical and political issues are involved with initiating such action? Realistic assessments of what can be achieved are also needed, for which documentation of existing civil society efforts is important. There is another factor: cultural relativism and the reluctance of contemporary State and society in an age of political correctness. Patriarchal politics makes of women’s bodies easy shorthand for the politics of group identity. Women then carry the burden of socialisation, cultural preservation and physically standing for the community’s integrity and survival. If attacks on women are an easy way of expressing hostility towards a community, restrictions on women are a way for the community to articulate its borders—“We are XY-Z and therefore we require this or that of our women.” The rationale is ‘protection’—of the women, ergo, the community. A strange liberal inhibition prevents us from completely challenging these for fear of offending others or limiting the right of each community to define itself uniquely. Eggshell-walking and dogma are both inimical to an idea of security that is equitable as well as liberal. Why would we want to include violence against women in the security agenda? The most obvious reason is a political argument that anything that affects the survival of such a large part of society belongs in any discussion about survival and well-being. Second, using the term ‘security’ adds political leverage to any issue—visibility is greater, resources flow more easily and a sense of urgency is generated that may otherwise be lacking. Third, where violence is involved, collective attention and consideration are a must, and whether it is the State or society, it is imperative that one kind of violence merits the same attention as another. We cannot choose to which category of violence we will pay attention on the basis of motivation or victim identity. Arguments can also be made that link violence against women to larger consequences for society and State. Unbalanced sex ratios increase the likelihood of violence in society. Violence against women has epidemic qualities that place a large burden on the public health system. Fewer adults able to work optimally and children desensitised to violence are other consequences. However, these instrumental arguments—take care of this so you can move on and do other things—are less persuasive than the argument that the security of female citizens is intrinsically a good thing and as much a social concern as war, famine or terrorism. From intellectual and political standpoints, a discussion about violence against women as insecurity raises very interesting questions. Are there drawbacks to ‘securitising’ violence against women? Who will act to assure their security? What can we say about the relationship between State, society and female citizens based on the level of willingness to take action on this issue? Violence against women and women’s security also provides another instance for debating the freedom versus security, private versus public, universal versus relativist and minimalist versus pro-active State binaries that are actually among the oldest questions in politics. Thus, what we have been calling an exercise of redefinition or re-imagining ‘security’ is in fact also an exercise of remembering those fundamental political questions revisiting which is a pre-requisite to alert, vigilant citizenship.

We found the WMD

Thomas L. Friedman

So, I have a confession and a suggestion. The confession: I go into restaurants these days, look around at the tables often still crowded with young people, and I have this urge to go from table to table and say: "You don't know me, but I have to tell you that you shouldn't be here. You should be saving your money. You should be home eating tuna fish. This financial crisis is so far from over. We are just at the end of the beginning. Please, wrap up that steak in a doggy bag and go home." Now you know why I don't get invited out for dinner much these days. If I had my druthers right now we Americans would convene a special session of Congress, amend the Constitution and move up the inauguration from Jan. 20 to Thanksgiving Day. Forget the inaugural balls; we can't afford them. Forget the grandstands; we don't need them. Just get me a Supreme Court justice and a Bible, and let's swear in Barack Obama right now - by choice with the same haste we did - by necessity - with LBJ in the back of Air Force One. Unfortunately, it would take too long for a majority of states to ratify such an amendment. What we can do now, though, said the congressional scholar Norman Ornstein, co-author of "The Broken Branch," is "ask President Bush to appoint Tim Geithner, Barack Obama's proposed Treasury secretary, immediately." Make him a Bush appointment and let him take over next week. This is not a knock on Hank Paulson. It's simply that we can't afford two months of transition where the markets don't know who is in charge or where we're going. At the same time, Congress should remain in permanent session to pass any needed legislation. This is the real "Code Red." As one banker remarked to me: "We finally found the WMD." They were buried in our own backyard - subprime mortgages and all the derivatives attached to them. Yet, it is obvious that President Bush can't mobilize the tools to defuse them - a massive stimulus program to improve infrastructure and create jobs, a broad-based homeowner initiative to limit foreclosures and stabilize housing prices, and therefore mortgage assets, more capital for bank balance sheets and, most importantly, a huge injection of optimism and confidence that we can and will pull out of this with a new economic team at the helm. The last point is something only a new President Obama can inject. What ails us right now is as much a loss of confidence - in our financial system and our leadership - as anything else. I have no illusions that Obama's arrival on the scene will be a magic wand, but it would help. Right now there is something deeply dysfunctional, bordering on scandalously irresponsible, in the fractious way our political elite are behaving - with business as usual in the most unusual economic moment of our lifetimes. They don't seem to understand: Our financial system is imperiled. "The unity seems to be gone. The emergency looks to be a little less pressing," Bill Frenzel, the former 10-term Republican congressman who is now with the Brookings Institution, was quoted by CNBC.com on Friday. I don't want to see Detroit's auto industry wiped out, but what are we supposed to do with auto executives who fly to Washington in three separate private jets, ask for a taxpayer bailout and offer no detailed plan for their own transformation? The stock and credit markets haven't been fooled. They have started to price financial stocks at Great Depression levels, not just recession levels. With $5, you can now buy one share of Citigroup and have enough left over for a bite at McDonalds. As a result, Barack Obama is possibly going to have to make the biggest call of his presidency - before it even starts. "A great judgment has to be made now as to just how big and bad the situation is," says Jeffrey Garten, the Yale School of Management professor of international finance. "This is a crucial judgment. Do we think that a couple of hundred billion more and couple of bad quarters will take care of this problem, or do we think that despite everything that we have done so far - despite the $700 billion fund to rescue banks, the lowering of interest rates and the way the Fed has stepped in directly to shore up certain markets - the bottom is nowhere in sight and we are staring at a deep hole that the entire world could fall into?" If it's the latter, then we need a huge catalyst of confidence and capital to turn this thing around. Only the new president and his team, synchronizing with the world's other big economies, can provide it. "The biggest mistake Obama could make," added Garten, "is thinking this problem is smaller than it is. On the other hand, there is far less danger in overestimating what will be necessary to solve it." Conventional wisdom says it's good for a new president to start at the bottom. The only way to go is up. That's true - unless the bottom falls out before he starts.

Peaceful Prayers Jude Ogunade

Let there be peace in the world. Let us all see peace and not war. Let us all have peace in the world. Let all our statesmen know no violence, Let all love peace with warm vehemence, Let all be clothed with passionate patience, Let all respect peace with real reverence. Let peace pervade every political terrain, Let peace calm the spirits of every domain, Let peace be at peace with every reign, Let each achieve peace with poor pain. Peace, to you we plead: come to us. Peace, we entreat you: deign on us. Peace, we want you: envelope us. Let our homes be adorned with peace, Let our streets be paved with peace, Let our cities be set on a hilltop of peace. Let peace taint our every thought. Let there be peace, let peace never cease Let there be peace, let war forever cease.

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

C M Y K

Dimapur

NATIONAL

Tuesday 25 November 2008

The Morung Express

State elections mirror struggles in General elections

BHOPAL, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): To grasp the obstacles the ruling Congress party faces in retaining power in India next year, look no further than M M Khan. A Muslim from a slum in Madhya Pradesh state, he should be a stalwart of the left-of-centre and secular-slanting government as it battles the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in state polls this month and a general election next year. But Khan is unsure that was meant to be. “The BJP’s done a great job here,” Khan said, referring to the BJP Madhya Pradesh government. “When Congress was here they did nothing. Now we see improvements in electricity, more wells.” The central state of Madhya Pradesh goes to polls on Thursday in one of six state elections testing the political waters for Congress and the BJP. The battle in one of India’s poorest states is a microcosm for many national issues, from party tactics to the growth of caste-based parties upsetting the traditional balance of power. Stakes are high. For the BJP, Madhya Pradesh accounts for nearly a fifth of their total parliamentary seats. For Congress, it is a chance to reverse a string of state election defeats as inflation and perceived weak leadership alienated voters.

J&K polls may break 36-yr-old ‘jinx’ on women lawmaker ‘limit’

Women supporters of Bahujan Samaj Party try to have a glimpse of their party president Mayawati, as she arrives for an election rally, in New Delhi on Monday, for the forthcoming Delhi assembly elections scheduled for November 29. (AP Photo)

“Now it’s time for Congress. Five years for BJP, now five years for Congress,” said Ansar Khan, who works for a car rental company in the state capital Bhopal. Khan’s view reflects an anti-incumbent trend in India, and Congress has high hopes of regaining Madhya Pradesh, which had been in the party’s hands for decades before a 2003 BJP victory. The vote is hard to predict. Polls are unreliable and a myriad of castes add to the complexity. But observers say

a host of problems have made a Congress victory more difficult. Congress should have an edge. Five years of BJP rule may have seen some progress, like with roads, but needs remain high in one of India’s poorest states. A study by the International Food Policy Research Institute placed Madhya Pradesh as India’s worst state in terms of hunger and malnutrition, ranked globally between Chad and Ethiopia. Water in Bhopal is available only every two days. Electric-

ity is intermittent. The state has seen three BJP chief ministers in five years amid party infighting. But observers say Congress rallies have often seen sparse support. As usual, the party has not named a chief ministerial candidate, meaning there is no political figurehead. To add to its problems, the Bahujan Samaj Party, a party based on Dalits led by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, has drawn large crowds and may also rob votes from Congress. Congress’s

message has been dispersed, often focussing on corruption allegations against BJP, an issue observers say does not resonate with all voters. In contrast, the BJP has one clear slogan, “development.” It is a similar “can do” formula – highlighting road building, for example – that helped it win Gujarat state this year despite being the incumbent state government. At a meeting in Vidisha town, two hours drive from Bhopal, BJP national leader L.K Advani helicoptered in

SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES): As a large number the fairer sex contests the Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir this time, people are waiting to see if a 36-year-old record for the highest number of women in the Assembly will be broken. It was in 1972 that four women were elected to the legislature, which still remains the highest figure for women MLAs in the state. Zainab Begum, Hajra Begum, Shanta Bharti and Nirmala Devi made it to the

Assembly then while four other female contestants – Khem Lata Wakhloo, Amina Begum, Hassan Ara Begum and Misra Bano – lost their security deposits after getting very few votes. All women were elected on Congress tickets. This year a large number of women are in the fray in the state and it remains to be seen whether the 36year-old record will be broken or they will have to wait for the next elections. As many as 10 women candidates are in the fray in the

first three phases of elections and a large number are expected to contest in the remaining phases. While some political observers say the boycott of polls by National Conference in the last polls helped the Congress candidates across the state to win, others negate this claim on the ground that most National Conference leaders took part in elections as Independent candidates. However, after 1972, it has been downhill for women as their numbers only declined.

to address several thousand followers, one of four rallies that day. His thundering speech made him appear less than his 82 years. “Congress does not have any achievements,” he told followers packed in the town centre. “They cannot control prices and they cannot solve many of the common man’s problems.” But Advani’s confidence may hide BJP’s own problems in the state, which bode ill for next year’s general election. Former chief minister Uma

Bharti, a crowd puller who runs a breakaway Hindu party, could eat into BJP votes. She has drawn voters unhappy with BJP’s moves to play down its Hindu nationalist card in favour of economic development slogans. “It’s very difficult to predict, but most likely it will be a hung parliament. Both the BJP and Congress are struggling,” said N.D. Sharma, a political columnist in Madhya Pradesh. He predicts Mayawati or Bharti could win more seats than anyone

expects. That may mean Mayawati or Bharti could hold the balance of power. It is the kind of third force that some see emerging in the 2009 election, further weakening national parties. Inthesmokeandmirrorsof election campaigns, neither the BJP nor Congress can rest easy. At the slum in Bhopal, Khan may have praised the BJP but his vote still looks likely to slip the other way. “My community votes for Congress, so I’ll follow them.” In India, old voting habits may die hard.

UPA govt soft on terror: Advani No Railway jobs to Marathis due to NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES): Attacking the UPA government again for being soft on terror, BJP leader and prime ministerial candidate LK Advani on Monday accused the Centre of being inactive for the last four years. Advani was reacting to the PM’s suggestion on Sunday for the formation of a special task force by the Central government to deal with terrorism. The task force, to be set up under the National Security Adviser on the lines of Department of Homeland Security in the US, will prepare the road map to tackle terrorism and Naxalism in the country in 100 days. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday stressed C M Y K

on the need for upgradation of intelligence machinery at the national and state level. He was speaking at a meet of the IGs and DGs in New Delhi. In an apparent reference to questions being raised over the Malegaon probe, Dr Singh said, “Aspersions are being cast on police’s capabilities.” “I suggest establishment of a task force which would initiate a 100-day plan to develop an integrated capability to address emerging challenges in areas such as left wing extremism, terrorism and insurgency,” Dr Singh said addressing the conference of the country’s top police officers here. The Prime Minister said that one of the areas in which the task force

would look into will be developing a Net-centric information command structure that enables both state and Central agencies to access and exploit information in a secure manner and well in time. The PM added that the task force could be headed by the National Security Advisor with proper representation from state and Central agencies. “In the period of 100 days, the task force should come up with a roadmap regarding the detailed steps to be taken immediately and also subsequent steps to be taken over the next several months so as to translate this vision of an integrated net-centric capability into reality,” he said.

Lalu’s serpent-like grip: Shiv Sena

MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): Holding Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav responsible for sidelining Maharashtrians in railway jobs, Shiv Sena today said this was happening because he has a “serpent’s grip” on the Railways. “Lalu says I belong to Maharashtra and Maharashtra belongs to me. His policy is – whatever is mine is mine and whatever belongs to others is also mine,” an editorial in Sena mouth-

piece ‘Saamana’ said today. The editorial said Prasad has a “serpent’s grip” on railways preventing Marathis to get a job in the recent times. “Right from the Sena’s inception, we have been saying that the Marathi ‘manoos’ should capture all fields, using intellect or strength. We even went to the extent of saying that goons and those operating illicit liquor dens should also be Marathi,” it said. “Intermittently, Lalu

gets this fit of national integration as in the latest case when he says he belongs to Maharashtra and Maharashtra belongs to him. He now has got a chance to prove that he belongs to Maharashtra. He should allow the ‘Shiv vada pav’ stalls promoted by the Sena to be set up at railway stations,” it said. “Lalu would have to provide Marathi youth only space needed for a table to set up these stalls which would

help 5,000 youth to get employment,” Saamana said. “Also, vada from Maharashtra and someone from outside Maharashtra cooking it won’t do. Give similar stalls for ‘dhokla’ in Gujarat and ‘idli-sambar’ in South India to locals there,” it said. If Lalu wants to taste our vada pav, he is welcome to visit the ‘Shiv vada pav’ sammelan organised by Sena at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, the editorial added.

Don’t deny justice for the sake TN CM convenes of rule book: SC to courts meeting to discuss

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): The Supreme Court has said courts should not go strictly by the rule book to deny justice to the deserving litigant as it would lead to miscarriage of justice. “All the rules of procedure are the handmaids of justice. The language employed by the draftsman of processual law may be liberal or stringent, but the fact remains that the object of prescribing procedure is to advance the cause of justice,” a Bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and Mukundakam Sharma observed. The apex court said in an adversarial system, no party should ordinarily be denied the opportunity of participating in the process of justice dispensation. “Unless compelled by express and

Uma Bharti distributing money to voters: Congress to EC TIKAMGARH (MP), NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): Congress candidate from Tikamgarh assembly constituency Yadvendra Singh has complained that Bharatiya Janshakti party president Uma Bharti, who is contesting the election against him, has been distributing money to voters. Singh, in a complaint faxed to the Election Commission last night, alleged that Bharti through her nephew Rajju has paid Rs 5,000 for the construction of a temple in Lar village, where she had also given a cheque for Rs 10,000 to one Devi Singh. The Congress nominee said that by doing so, Bharti has violated the model code of conduct for elections and demanded that the matter should be investigated and action should be taken against her.

specific language of the statute, the provisions of CPC or any other procedural enactment ought not to be construed in a manner which would leave the court helpless to meet extraordinary situations in the ends of justice,” the Bench observed. The apex court passed the ruling while upholding the appeal filed by Sambhaji, who had challenged a judgment of the Bombay High Court refusing to entertain an application moved by him after the mandatory 90 days prescribed under the civil procedure code in a civil dispute with his relatives. “The mortality of justice at the hands of law troubles a Judge’s conscience and points an angry interrogation at the law reformer,” the court said.

Lankan issue

CHENNAI, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): A meeting of leaders of legislature parties has been convened here tomorrow by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to discuss the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. The meeting would discuss the next course of action, Karunanidhi told reporters here today. He said the situation in Sri Lanka “is worsening day by day with the increased attacks on Tamils by Sri Lankan army.” The meeting would discuss the issue and leaders of the legislature parties and the presidents and general secretaries of these parties could participate, he said. He said PMK founder S Ramadoss and MDMK general secretary Vaiko were also being invited for the meeting. The decision to call the meeting was taken after consultations with Ramadoss, he said.

Workers of a garment factory buy vegetables as they leave after work in Bangalore, Monday, November 24. According to the estimates of the Indian textile ministry, there will be job losses of about 500,000 in the next ﬁve months, India’s Commerce Secretary G.K. Pillai said last Friday. There are more than 720 garment factories in Bangalore with a work force of more than 350,000 that mostly depend on export orders from U.S., Europe and Australia. (AP Photo)

India’s tourism begins to feel the global pinch

modation and poor infrastructure. Despite its vast size, diversity, and array of historical monuments, India still ranks at no. 42 in the world’s holiday destinations of choice – below much smaller countries like Belgium (33rd) and Hungary (26nd), a UNWTO report said. Even so, India’s tourism industry is thought to contribute around 6 percent of the country’s GDP and give employment to more than 40 million people. As the tourist season kicks off in the winter months, both domestic and foreign travellers are still flocking to the famed Taj Mahal, with over 300,000 visiting the 17th century mausoleum in October alone. But because many of the 5 million foreign tourists who came to India in 2007 were from the United States and Britain – among the hardest-hit countries in the global economic slowdown – some travel agents and hoteliers are nervous. Even though tourist numbers are officially growing, operators say the data could be misleading, as foreign tourists and corporations made advanced bookings months before the financial crisis took hold. “As compared to last year, we have received far fewer queries for

the next tourist season,” Mahatam Singh of Touraids said. The luxurious Raj Palace hotel in the desert state of Rajasthan says it is reaching out to the super-rich from Russia and the Middle East to make up for a “major downfall” in British and U.S. visitors. Middle East sheikhs and princes book up entire hotels in the pink walled city of Jaipur even if they do not use all the rooms, says Ankur Rara, the general manager of the Raj Palace hotel. “For them money is not a problem.” India’s tourism ministry says domestic demand will continue to grow at a high level, despite analysts’ predictions economic growth could slow to below 7 percent in the year to March 2009 from 9 percent or higher in the past three years. Although crude oil prices have fallen to around $50 a barrel, government-set retail fuel prices remain uncomfortably high, and tour operators say this and high air fares will take a toll on domestic tourism, which accounts for the vast majority of visits. A general economic slowdown may be affecting all sectors of Indian tourism. Rinku Tripathi, a farmer from Uttar Pradesh, could just about afford to take his family

on a $100 holiday to see the historic Mughal monuments in India’s capital, but for others in his village it has become an unaffordable luxury. “Everybody wants to come to Delhi. But because of their financial position they can’t come right now.” A string of militant attacks on Indian cities in 2008 scared some domestic and foreign visitors away from traditional hotspots, with the United States and Britain advising their citizens to be vigilant and avoid certain cities altogether. Sheela, a woman who did not want to give her second name, earns a living by painting elaborate henna patterns onto the palms of visitors at a park by New Delhi’s India Gate monument. After deadly bomb blasts rocked the capital in September, she only has a quarter of the customers compared to this time last year, and can only charge half the amount -- $5 per tattoo. “Before the blasts, both sides of the park were completely full.” That said, the effects of security fears tend to be localised and shortlived, because “the world has got used to terrorist attacks”, according to Menon of Thomas Cook India Ltd. But months of anti-India

demonstrations and violent clashes between Indian troops and Muslim protesters across the picturesque state of Kashmir have brought tourism, one of the state’s biggest industries, to a standstill. Authorities say hotel occupancy has come down from 100 percent in June to almost zero in October across the restive region, where about 30 percent of its 10 million people depend directly or indirectly on tourism. “Tourism in Kashmir has vanished again,” said Azeem Tuman, the president of the Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association. However, the setbacks to India’s holiday industry are “not alarming”, says Devesh Chaturvedi, the director of India’s Ministry of Tourism, adding that “the tourists will still come but may reduce their spending”. The ministry has set itself a target of doubling the number of foreign tourist arrivals to 10 million per year by 2010, when India hosts the Commonwealth Games. But with officials worried Commonwealth Games infrastructure and accommodation may not be ready on time, the estimates of a doubling of tourism in two years may be rather optimistic.

Togadia denies involvement in Malegaon blast AHMEDABAD, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): Terming as “false and malafide” the media reports of his involvement in the Malegaon blast, VHP leader Pravin Togadia today threatened to take legal action for dragging his name into the case. In a statement, his advocate Dipak Shukla said, “my client firmly denies any funding or involvement related to Abhinav Bharat or any of their affiliated or non-affiliated people in any of their activities.” A section of media reports said Togadia had funded Abhinav Bharat, the radical Hindu group which is suspected to be behind the September 29 Malegaon blast. The media reports had said arrested Army officer Lt Col Prasad Purohit, one of the accused in the blast, has reportedly told the CBI that Togadia was involved in the formation and funding of the organisation. Shukla has also threatened to take legal action against those who are trying to drag name of Togadia in the Malegaon blast. “Any attempt by any electronic media, print media, public or private communicators, government or private agency or anyone whosoever to spread the above or any such malafide, false, derogatory and criminally defamatory lies about my client will attract civil and criminal legal action as deemed fit,” he said in a statement.

MBA students arrested for kidnapping NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES): The Delhi Police on Monday arrested six persons in connection with the abduction of a businessman’s son recently. Among those arrested are two MBA students. According to the police, the students had invested money in stock market and suffered huge losses in the recent meltdown. To cover the loss they allegedly resorted to kidnapping as it seemed an easy way to earn money. The police is expected to hold a press conference on the case later in the day. Addressing a press conference, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), south Delhi, HGS Dhaliwal said that the kidnappers released the child when they realised that the police is in ‘hot pursuit’ to nab them. The DCP informed that the child was released at Okhla with his hands tied and mouth taped. “He was noticed by a passer-by, who then dropped him hom,” he said. Talking about the incident, Dhaliwal said that the boy Arjun was kidnapped when he was on his way to school. “The kidnappers took the child in a car on the pretext of asking the way,” he said.

INTERNATIONAL

The Morung Express

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Dimapur

Thai anti-govt protesters paralyse parliament BANGKOK, NOVEMBER 24 (AFP): Thousands of Thai protesters marched on parliament and other key buildings Monday in what they called a final battle against the government, forcing lawmakers to cancel an important sitting. Flag-waving demonstrators left from the prime minister's cabinet offices -- which they have been occupying since late August -- and fanned out through Bangkok's historic district in a bid to paralyse the legislature. Two busloads of protesters also arrived at an abandoned air terminal where premier Somchai Wongsawat and his cabinet have set up a makeshift base, with security guards letting them through in an attempt to avoid a clash. Police said about 18,000 people from the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) took part across Bangkok. Some demonstrators wore goggles and masks as protection from tear gas. House speaker Chai Chidchob called for calm and announced the postponement of a joint parliamentary session which was supposed to consider legislation on a major regional summit being held in Thailand in December. "I ask for all sides to stop the movement now. If you love the king, please return home," he said on parliament

radio, adding that the sitting was called off because elected MPs and senators could not enter the building. The PAD has led a sixmonth campaign aiming to topple the government elected in December, accusing it of being a proxy of exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006. Thaksin fled the country in August this year but a power battle is raging between those who support the billionaire and the old power elite in the military, palace and bureaucracy who want to purge Thailand of his influence. A sea of protesters dressed in yellow shirts and headbands which symbolise loyalty to the monarchy marched through the government district Monday, many waving national flags and portraits of deeply-revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Black-clad volunteer PAD security guards wielding homemade batons protected the crowd. About 2,000 police armed with shields were on duty to try to prevent a repeat of bloody street battles outside parliament on October 7 that left two protesters dead and nearly 500 people injured, officials have said. One group of protesters moved from parliament to the finance ministry, while anoth-

Thai PM says will not quit

Thai anti-government protesters set up a human roadblock on a road leading to parliament during a mass rally in Bangkok, Thailand Monday, November 24. Thousands of anti-government protesters surrounded Thailand’s Parliament on Monday, forcing legislators to postpone a joint session, while more demonstrators rallied at other government ofﬁces in an action billed as their ﬁnal bid to oust the administration. (AP Photo)

er group broke down a blockade on a road in front of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police headquarters, Thai television showed. Most demonstrators later left parliament but dozens then drove in buses to Don Mueang airport on the outskirts of Bangkok, where premier

New drug yields lab breakthrough against viruses PARIS, NOVEMBER 24 (AFP): An experimental drug tested on lab animals has shown remarkable success in tackling two viruses, including a close cousin to a feared bioterror pathogen, a study said. The drug, bavituximab, takes a novel tack in confronting viruses, which are notorious for mutations that evade or resist conventional pharmaceutical molecules. Instead of confronting the intruder head-on, bavituximab waits until the virus has infected the cell. At that point, a fatty molecule called phosphatidylserine, which is normally positioned on the cell wall's internal surface, flips to the outside of the cell. Bavituximab then latches onto the phosphatidylserine, sending a red flag to the body's immune system to dispatch white blood cells to destroy the infected cell. In a study in Nature Medicine, published by the London-based Nature group, bavituximab was put through its paces among guinea pigs infected with Pichinde virus -- a close relative of the Lassa fever virus, considered a potential bioterror weapon by the Pentagon. Animals that had not been inoculated with bavituximab were all killed; those who had received the injection had a 50percent survival rate. By giving the bavituximab group an addi-

Somchai -- Thaksin's brotherin-law -- has set up temporary offices, AFP reporters said. "The government are having a special cabinet meeting. Wherever they meet we will go," Somsak Kosaisuk, a key leader of the PAD, told the crowds outside

parliament. PAD co-founder Sondhi Limthongkul told AFP earlier that they could call on the crowds to besiege other locations including the stock exchange in their self-proclaimed "final battle" against the government. Three small blasts hit near

Sondhi's Bangkok offices early Monday, causing minor damage but no injuries. The PAD occupied Government House after massive rallies in late August. It launched its anti-government campaign in May and has called for Thailand's electoral

LIMA, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said on Sunday in Peru he has no intention of resigning in the face of major protests demanding his ouster. "We came in through democratic elections, so I am not thinking of resigning at all," he said in an interview with Reuters in Lima after a Pacific Rim economic summit. "I will exercise restraint to the utmost. We have to talk and try for reconciliation," said Somchai, who added that he saw no need to use stronger measures to quell the protests. Somchai spoke in Lima as thousands of anti-government protesters began marching to parliament in Bangkok on Monday, calling it the "final" push in their five-month campaign to unseat the administra-

tion. "If the government is going to be ousted, it should be by the parliamentary election or by the people in a ballot," he said, speaking in Thai through an interpreter. Somchai dismissed talk of a military putsch as a result of the standoff, saying "the military themselves have confirmed many, many times that there will not be a coup." He likewise played down the economic impact of the political turmoil, saying a bigger worry for Thailand was the global financial crisis that was the main topic of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. "What has happened in Thailand at the moment is very small scale -- one little spot in Bangkok itself. It does not destroy or affect much our economic basis," said Somchai.

system to be changed to include non-elected members. The alliance called for supporters to march on Monday to avenge the death of an activist in a grenade attack at the protest site last week. PAD leaders accuse the government of being behind that attack, which

also injured 29 protesters, as well as a similar explosion that killed one more protester and injured seven on Saturday. Somchai, who is currently in Peru for the APEC meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders, has denied any involvement and vowed an investigation into the violence.

Two Baghdad bomb attacks kill 18 BAGHDAD, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): A bomb blast killed 13 female government employees on a bus on their way to work in eastern Baghdad on Monday, and a female suicide bomber killed five people outside Baghdad's Green Zone compound, police said. The attacks are the latest in a series of explosions in the Iraqi capital, where violence has broadly fallen but insurgents have shown themselves still able to stage large-scale attacks. Police said the women worked at the Trade Ministry. A security official at the hospital, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak, said he had counted 13 bodies at the morgue. He added that four others were being treated for wounds. Baghdad security spokesman Major-General Qassim Moussawi said he had reports that a dozen were killed and that most of the victims burnt alive inside the bus. He said a bomb had been fastened to the bus itself. Such "sticky bombs" are increasingly being used by militants to assassinate govWearing a traditional Peruvian poncho, President George W. Bush gestures as ernment employees or secu-

tional injection with a standard anti-virus drug called ribavirin, the survival rate rose to 63 percent. The drug also provided 100-percent protection amongst mice exposed to a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV), whereas only 25 percent of untreated animals survived. Co-author Philip Thorpe, a professor of pharmacology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Texas, said the findings were exciting, for they raised the prospect of a "completely new class" of anti-viral drugs that may also sidestep the problem of mutation. "By targeting a property of the host cell rather than the virus itself, anti-PS [phosphatidylserine] antibodies have the potential to treat a range of viral infections," he said in a press release. "They should be less susceptible to the viral mutations that contribute to the development of drug resistance." Bavituximab, a monoclonal antibody, is currently in clinical trials by Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc. of California to treat patients with hepatitis C. Previous research has shown that phosphatidylserineflipping occurs in cells infected with influenza, the herpes simplex virus, viruses in the families of the smallpox and rabies viruses as well Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso stands below before the ofﬁcial group photo as HIV, UT Southwestern Medical of the 16th summit of the Asian Paciﬁc Economic Cooperation, APEC, in Lima, Sunday, November 23. (AP Photo) Center said.

An Iraqi civilian inspects the wreckage of a bus bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, November 24. A female suicide bomber blew herself up near an entrance to the U.S.-protected Green Zone and a bomb tore through a bus carrying Iraqi government employees in separate attacks on Monday, killing at least 18 people, Iraqi ofﬁcials said. (AP Photo)

rity officials. In the other attack, police said a female bomber wearing an explosives vest killed five people and wounded 12 just outside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses U.S. government employees and some Iraqi ministries. A Reuters reporter saw police hosing down blood from the streets after the bombing. Pieces of flesh spat-

tered the concrete blast walls protecting the compound. The U.S. military said two of the dead were Iraqi soldiers. Female suicide bombers are trademark tactic of Sunni Islamist al Qaeda, who use them because they less likely to be searched. Moussawi said he had reports the woman was mentally handicapped and did not know what she was doing.

Somali pirates want ‘Zimbabwe may soon collapse’ $15 mln for Saudi ship

JOHANNESBURG, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): Zimbabwe could soon collapse due to a political and economic crisis, South Africa's ANC leader Jacob Zuma said on Monday, setting out the opinion of prominent figures including former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. "They believe the situation is very bad. They believe things could collapse in a few months time in Zimbabwe," Zuma told reporters after meeting Annan, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and other prominent figures. Annan, Carter and human rights champion Graca Machel, who is Nelson Mandela's wife, are part of a group of prominent figures and former statesmen called The Elders. They were barred by Zimbabwe from visiting to assess a humanitarian crisis there this weekend. A cholera outbreak that has killed at least 294 people has seen hundreds of Zimbabweans infected with the disease streaming across the South African border to seek treatment, South African media reported on Monday. The power struggle between President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has overshadowed daily hardships including food and fuel shortages and hyperinflation that have driven millions of Zimbabweans out of the country and strained regional economies. Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF, the Movement for Democratic

US President Jimmy Carter, former UN secretary-general Koﬁ Annan, and Graca Machel, wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, seen from left, during meetings in Johannesburg, Sunday, November 23. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said Saturday he and others had been refused entry to Zimbabwe for a humanitarian mission. Carter says he and other members of The Elders group were informed Friday night by former South African President Thabo Mbeki that efforts to secure travel visas had failed. The Elders group was formed by Nelson Mandela and includes former U.N. Secretary-General Koﬁ Annan and Mandela’s wife Graca Machel, an international advocate for women’s and children’s rights. (AP Photo)

Change (MDC) and a smaller MDC faction will meet former South African President Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday to seek a breakthrough in stalled power-sharing talks, South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said. "The agreement is they will meet as of tomorrow and the facilitation team is working on that basis," Motlanthe told reporters after meeting Annan and Carter. ANC leader Zuma said it was clear that Zimbabwe's crisis had deteriorated to such an extent that there was an urgent need for action. "The situation has gone (beyond) where we could say 'wait and see'," he said, adding the ANC will be sending a delegation to Zimbabwe to assess the situation in the country. "We are pleading for the leadership (of the ruling party and opposition) for the sake of the people to find a solution that would help them move forward," Zuma said. Doubts have grown over Zimbabwe's Sept. 15 power-sharing agreement and Mugabe is trying to push through a constitutional amendment allowing him to name a cabinet alone, which could lead to the unravelling of the deal with the opposition. Tsvangirai has refused to enter the government, accusing Mugabe of trying to grab the powerful ministries. The main obstacle in talks is the issue of who runs the home affairs ministry, which oversees the police.

MOGADISHU, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): Somali pirates holding a Saudi supertanker after the largest hijacking in maritime history have reduced their ransom demand to $15 million, an Islamist leader and regional maritime group both said on Monday. The Nov. 15 capture of the Sirius Star -- with $100 million of oil and 25 crew members from Britain, Poland, Croatia, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines -- has focused world attention on rampant piracy off the failed Horn of Africa state. Scores of attacks this year have brought millions of dollars of ransom payments, hiked up shipping insurance costs, sent foreign naval patrols rushing to the area, and left about a dozen boats with more than 200 hostages still in pirate hands. The gang had originally been quoted as wanting $25 million to release the Sirius Star, which was captured far from Somali waters about 450 nautical miles southeast of Kenya. But Islamist spokesman Abdirahim Isse Adow, whose men are in the Haradheere area where the ship is being held offshore, said the demand went down. "Middlemen have given a $15 million ransom figure for the Saudi ship. That is the issue now," he said. Residents say pirates have taken the ship further out to about 100 km off the coast of central Somalia after Islamist militia

poured into the town in search of the pirates. Adow, who represents the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), says his men are out to confront the pirates and free the Saudi Arabian Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) because it is a "Muslim" ship. But residents say other Islamist militia want a cut of any ransom payment. Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of Mombasa-based East Africa Seafarers Programme, said his sources were confirming a reduced $15 million demand. "The ship has moved into deeper waters, but it cannot go too far because of patrols," he said. More than a dozen foreign warships are in the area, though analysts say the range Somali pirates operate in are too vast to ever properly control. The capture of the Sirius Star has stirred up the small dusty harbour of Haradheere into a frenzy of activity, witnesses say, with armed men riding back and forth on cars all over town. The Islamists, who have been fighting the Somali government and its Ethiopian military allies for two years, denounce piracy in public. But analysts say some factions are taking a share of spoils and using pirates to enable weapons deliveries by sea. Senior Somali officials are also on the take from piracy, diplomats in the region say. The government denies

that. "We are against this act and we shall hunt the ship wherever it sails, and free it," Islamist spokesman Adow said. Piracy has flourished off Somalia thanks to chaos onshore. The nation of 9 million people has suffered perpetual civil conflict since 1991 when warlords toppled a dictator. Neighbour Ethiopia, which has several thousand soldiers in Somalia backing up the weak, Western-backed government, said the international naval response would not solve piracy long-term. "The rich nations dispatching warships into the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to protect their cargo from pirates may achieve initial success," Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin told state TV. "But to believe that the growing piracy will end without tackling the 18-year-old crisis inside Somalia is futile." The minister said Ethiopia would withdraw troops from Somalia unless leaders there could bring stability. "There is no reason for our troops to stand guard to protect residential areas of Somali leaders who continue feuding while their country is being destroyed," he said. Seyoum said African nations contributing to a 3,000strong African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission may also withdraw if the Ethiopians go. AU officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Dimapur

SPORTS

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Barcelona winning streak halted by Getafe

FC Barcelona's Carles Pujol, right, vies for the ball with Getafe players during their Spanish League soccer match at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on November 23. (AP Photo)

MADRID, NOVEMBER 24 (AFP): Barcelona's impressive run of league wins stopped at nine as Getafe snatched a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou on Sunday as the league leaders allowed champions Real Madrid to make up ground in the title race. Barca are now three points ahead of Real at the top and it could have been just two had Mali international Seydou Keita not weighed in with a 71st-minute equaliser to cancel out Manu del Moral's opener. Moral curled in a 19th

minute opener to shock the home crowd, who were hoping for a 10th straight league win, and Barca looked to be heading for their first home defeat of the season. But former Sevilla team-mates Dani Alves and Keita, who joined Barca in the summer, combined for an equaliser and both Samuel Eto'o and Gerard Pique hit the crossbar for the hosts. "Perhaps we missed that cutting edge and the final ball but we dominated the match especially in the second half," said Barcelona

coach Pep Guardiola. "I want to thank everyone who came to the ground for applauding us at the end. You can't deceive the fans and the day we don't play well they won't applaud." The absence of Argentine Lionel Messi through a thigh strain did not help Barca's cause and it is uncertain whether he will be fit for Wednesday's Champions League match at Sporting Lisbon. "He is a special player that is key for us but I have others," added Guardiola. Barcelona have already

qualified for the knockout stages but are keen to go through as group winners. Earlier a stoppage time penalty from Jose Barkero left Atletico Madrid frustrated as the capital club dropped two vital points in a 1-1 draw at Numancia. Atletico were poised to close to within four points of Valencia and Sevilla, fifth and sixth respectively, after a sixth goal of the season from Uruguayan international Diego Forlan but Mariano Pernia gave away a late penalty and Barkero

cooly slotted home. Atletico's rivals Villarreal, Sevilla and Valencia had dropped valuable points but the draw means they failed to capitalise and Javier Aguirre's team stay six points off fifth-placed Sevilla. "I didn't touch the ball or the player," said Perea. "I wanted to avoid contact but then it was blown up for a penalty. "We are annoyed with ourselves because we could have killed off the game in the first half." Atletico manager Aguirre admitted the number of penalties

his team were conceding was worrying. "We have to analyse why we have conceded three late penalties in recent matches," said Aguirre. "I think it was a fair result overall but we will go back to Madrid with a sour taste in our mouth." The Champions League is next for Atletico on Wednesday with Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven the opponents. Atletico are joint top of Champions League group D with Liverpool on eight points but the home match against PSV will be played behind closed doors as UEFA punish Atletico for crowd trouble in their group match against Marseille at the Vicente Calderon. Elsewhere, Osasuna coach Jose Antonio Camacho reached a milestone with his 600th league match as a coach and celebrated it with a 3-1 victory as his side won for the first time this season. Almeria took an early lead but were handicapped by playing with ten men from the eighth minute and Camacho's side took advantage to climb off the foot of the table with Recreativo Huelva taking their place. Real Madrid's under-pressure coach Bernd Schuster watched his side go second with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Recreativo on Saturday. Real were far from convincing against Recre but striker Javier Saviola pointed out that the double champions are still within striking distance at the top of the table. "It's important that we string some wins together, which will give us confidence and make us stronger," said Saviola. "Only then will we see the better football. You shouldn't forget that we are right up there, and that's what really matters." Real are a point ahead of Villarreal, who lost 3-0 at home to Valladolid on Saturday. Villarreal need to dust themselves down quickly as they have to face Manchester United at El Madrigal in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Australia ﬁned for slow over-rate again MELBOURNE, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): The Australia team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 149-run victory against New Zealand in the November 20-23 first cricket Test played at Brisbane. Match Referee Chris Broad imposed the fines after Ricky Ponting's side was ruled to be three overs short of its target when time allowances were

taken into consideration, according to an ICC statement here. In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing over-rate penalties, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount. As such, Ponting was fined 30 per cent of his match

fee while his players have each received 15 per cent fines. Australia were also penalised for slow-over rate during their fourth and final Test against India in Nagpur earlier this month. The offence is contrary to Section J of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to slow overrates. For such offences, the decision of the ICC match referee is final and binding.

Andrew Symonds lands in trouble again

MELBOURNE, NOVEMBER 24 (PTI): Controversies continue to chase Andrew Symonds as the Australian all-rounder is now said to have picked up a fight at a pub, forcing Cricket Australia (CA) to have a look into the issue. Media reports here claim that Symonds, who has just returned to the national side

after missing the India tour, was allegedly involved in a physical altercation at a pub in Brisbane. "Symonds was understood to have been drinking at the popular Normanby Hotel in Red Hill with several members of the Australian rugby league team when the fight commenced. The incident is believed to

have occurred on Sunday evening..." reported'Sydney Morning Herald.' CA further said in the report that they were eliciting information on the matter. "We are getting as much information as possible to establish what did and did not happen. We understand there was an altercation," a CA spokesman said.

The Morung Express

Wenger offers axed Gallas a shock recall LONDON, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES): Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has said that he may recall axed skipper William Gallas if he apologises to his teammates. Defender Gallas was stripped of the captaincy and left out of Saturday’s defeat at Manchester City. However, a British daily quoted Wenger as saying: “Cesc Fabregas will be available and maybe Gallas. We can change a captain without making a political issue. Of course, he has a future

here but the less we talk the better.” Gallas is likely to have to say sorry to the whole squad before training this morning before Wenger reinstates him – a stipulation that could well represent far too large a helping of humble pie for the deposed club captain. But Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn has pleaded with Gallas to back down. He said: “If Gallas is to remain at the club, he has got to apologise.”

Arsenal's 11 big problems 1. Chelsea next Sunday is Arsene Wenger’s first major headache. Chelsea’s Michael Ballack has already written off Arsenal as title contenders after their five defeats. Wenger has won only once in his past 12 meetings with Chelsea. 2. The William Gallas issue is like an open sore for Wenger. After criticising team-mates for their lack of 'bottle’ and singling out Robin van Persie for insults, Gallas has become a major liability. The alternative captains are not great... Cesc Fabregas is young and untried and Manuel Almunia is not vocal enough. 3. Continuing rifts in his dressing room. Wenger has had trouble before. After Ashley Cole moved to Chelsea his new chief executive, Peter Kenyon, revealed Cole told him “there was a series of cliques at Arsenal and the team was primarily run by the French boys”. 4. The lack of height in the team, as exposed by Stoke. 5. Arsenal have still not found a new chief executive – an issue with the transfer window imminent. Wenger was said to have rejected recent candidate Paul Donovan from Vodafone. 6. Theo Walcott’s injury. The star winger will be out for months because of his dislocated shoulder. Injured Tomas Rosicky has also been missing. 7. Tottenham’s revival under Harry Redknapp has allowed Arsenal fans no chance to laugh at their London rivals. 8. Wenger’s 'I’ll win it with kids’ philosophy has seen them fall behind in the league. He needs to spend in January with the priorities a strong, tall centrehalf; a midfielder to replace Gilberto, Hleb and Flamini; and a new striker. 9. The lack of atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium, which has been compared to a library. 10. The board’s patience may be tested if Arsenal go for a fourth year without a trophy. 11. The 11 players who have, in the words of former captain Frank McLintock, been squabbling like nursery children.

Security beefed up in Cuttack ahead of ODI BHUBANESWAR, NOVEMBER 24 (AGENCIES): Security has been beefed up Monday in Orissa's twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack ahead of Wednesday`s One-day International cricket match to be played between India and England. Both the teams are expected to arrive here by a special chartered flight from Bangalore later in the day. The fifth ODI match will be played at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, 25 kms from the capital city of Bhubaneswar. The teams will be staying at the Mayfair Lagoon in Bhubaneswar. The administration claimed it had taken all meaEngland's cricket player Kevin Pietersen, center, gets a traditional welcome as he arrives with others in Bhubaneswar on November 24. India and England play the 5th one-dayer sures to prevent any untowin Cuttack on November 26. India clinched the series after winning the 4th successive ard incident. India's coach Greg one-dayer on Sunday. (AP Photo)

Chappell was man-handled at the Biju Patnaik Airport in January last year during an ODI between India and West Indies. "This time we are taking all measures to prevent any such incidents. We have deployed more than a hundred armed policemen at the airport. Besides, a large numbers of policemen are deployed in the hotel where the players would stay," a senior district police official said. "The total policemen deployed would be around a thousand," deputy commissioner of police HK Lal told. There is a mad rush of cricket lovers to watch this day and night match because of the conducive climate, an official of the Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) said.

Bolt and Isinbayeva named 2008 Athletes of the Year MONTE CARLO, NOVEMBER 24 (REUTERS): Olympic champions Usain Bolt of Jamaica and Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia were named 2008 World Athletes of the Year at the World Athletics Gala on Sunday. Bolt, 22, captured three gold medals at the Olympic Games in Beijing in August, sweeping the 100 and 200 metres and running the third leg on the victorious 4x100m relay. His run of 9.69 seconds in the 100 and 19.30 in the 200 were world records, as was the 37.10 performance by the Jamaican relay squad. "I have a motto that anything is possible, but this really is such an honour," said Bolt, who became Jamaica's first Olympic 100 metres champion. "Just to be included with every great name in the sport is wonderful. I'll try to

do it year after year." Isinbayeva, 26, raised her own world record in the pole vault three times, first to 5.03 metres in Rome and 5.04 in Monaco in June, and again to 5.05 when she successfully defended her Olympic title in Beijing. It was the second consecutive Olympic Games in which Isinbayeva set a world record. "I'm very proud. It feels like the first time," said Isinbayeva, who took athlete of the year honours in 2004 and 2005. While Bolt was an overwhelming favourite for the sport's top annual prize, Isinbayeva just edged out Ethiopian distance runner Tirunesh Dibaba, who produced an unprecedented Olympic double victory in the 5000 and 10,000 metres in Beijing. Dibaba, along with

Czech Olympic javelin champion Barbora Spotakova, instead shared the award for performance of the year. Spotakova broke the javelin world record with a 72.28 metres throw at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart in September. Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion Dayron Robles of Cuba, who broke the world record in his event with a 12.87 seconds run in June, won the men's performance of the year award. Kenyan teenager Pamela Jelimo, who rose from obscurity to finish the season unbeaten in the 800 metres, won the Revelation of the Year award. Jelimo, who captured Olympic gold and the $1 million IAAF Jackpot, only took up the event last April. Bolt and Isinbayeva each received $100,000.

Prince Albert II of Monaco, left, poses for photographers with Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, right, and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, as they hold their "Athlete of the Year Awards", in Monaco on November 23. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year awards on Sunday. Bolt set world records in the 100 and 200 meters at the Beijing Games in August, and his third gold medal came in Jamaica's 400 relay, also a world record. He is the ﬁrst man to win the three Olympic events in a single games since Carl Lewis in 1984. Isinbayeva successfully defended her Olympic title and remained undefeated in outdoor competitions in 2008. (AP Photo)

C M Y K

E n t / Ta b l o i d

The Morung Express

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Dimapur

Celebrities

strip-search

trauma at Dubai airport

ome of Britain’s best-known stars – including singer Lily Allen and supermodel Agyness Deyn – were subjected to intimate strip-searches on their way to the lavish launch of the world’s most expensive resort in Dubai. Actor Rhys Ifans and Ms Deyn’s rockstar boyfriend Albert Hammond Jnr were also among more than 100 guests examined by Dubai Customs officials to ensure they were not smuggling drugs into the country. Ms Allen said she was left ‘terrified’ by her ordeal, while Ms Deyn said she found her treatment ‘traumatic’. The United Arab Emirates has a strict anti-drugs policy. Earlier this year British tourist Keith Brown was jailed for four years after a microscopic speck of cannabis was found on the sole of his shoe.

Officials targeted guests heading to the £20million four-day bash at the Atlantis resort last week, including many who have reputations for heavy partying. Ms Allen, for instance, has openly admitted to taking drugs since the age of 13. She told The Mail on Sunday she was subjected to an hourlong search at Dubai airport on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old said: ‘I was stripsearched, which was so nice as soon as you arrive. I knew I didn’t have anything on me so I wasn’t worried. I wasn’t paranoid, just terrified. ‘It was at the airport and took more than an hour. It was really scary as they didn’t tell you what they were doing, they just said, “Take off trousers” and I was like, “Ahhh help”.’ Ms Deyn, 25, said: ‘Both Albert and I were strip-searched. It was really traumatic.

It wasn’t the best experience in the world but it is their culture and you just have to respect it.’ Mr Ifans, who once said he lived ‘Don Juan moments of sex, drugs and drink for maybe months, seasons, years even’ did not wish to speak about his experience. But one of his travel companions said: ‘Rhys quivered to jelly as soon as the officers approached him. He was beside himself with worry. They made him strip bare and poked him about with plastic gloves. He had to hold his private parts out of the way while an officer did a thorough inspection. After nearly two hours of being interrogated and molested he was told to put his clothes back on and go on his way. He was very scared and at one point was close to tears as he honestly thought he was going to be banged up. It’s really put the wind up him. It will be the only thing he will remember about the trip – he tells everyone he comes into contact with. Normally he’s a jokey guy but this has been no laughing matter for him.’ Other guests at the four-day extravaganza to open the £1billion resort included Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, film stars Wesley Snipes and Lindsay Lohan, and singers Kylie Minogue and Shirley Bassey. Organisers did fear that Dubai’s strict laws would cause a problem for guests, and issued them all with a leaflet warning of the dangers of bringing drugs into the country. ‘It’s been very embarrassing for the organisers,’ said one insider. ‘They got celebrities for the publicity, and in return the stars were promised they would be treated like royalty. Many of them feel very shaken and violated by the strip searches. It’s ruined their trip.’.

Mariah Carey poses with the Soul/Rhythm & Blues Music Favorite Album Award for “E=MC2” backstage at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 23. (AP Photo)

Rihanna poses with her award for Favorite Female Artist, Soul/Rhythm & Blues Music backstage at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 23. (AP Photo)

Steve Tyler, left, and Joe Perry present the artist of the year award at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 23. (AP Photo)

Shailene Woodley, left, and David Archuleta present the country favorite male artist at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 23. (AP Photo)

‘I’m at ease with my looks post motherhood’ Madonna’s ‘Secret

H Grief at Ledger’s death ‘gets worse’

n emotional Williams, who has a three-yearold daughter with Ledger, said she missed him more than ever. "It's so sad," she said as she broke down in an interview with Newsweek for her upcoming film Wendy and Lucy. "I just wake up each day in a slightly different place — grief is like a moving river. "It's just that the more time that passes, the more you miss someone — in some ways it gets worse." Ledger died after a prescription drug overdose on January 22 in his New York apartment. He was 28. Williams, who met Ledger on the set of Brokeback Mountain, said she was willing to leave the film industry if she could not guarantee her daughter Matilda enough privacy. "It burns a fire inside of me, the shit I've seen people do to get at me or my daughter," she told Newsweek. "I won't forget it and I won’t support it — I don't want my daughter growing up feeling spied on or threatened." Williams, 28, said since Ledger’s death she wanted to be able to give Matilda security. “I want her to know what’s coming next.”

ollywood star Angelina Jolie says becoming a mother made her feel more secure and, for the first time, at ease with her looks. "I know this is going to sound corny, but I first became happy with the way I look when I became a mother," Jolie told dailymail.co.uk in an interview while dispelling rumours of post-natal depression and marital rifts. "There's this idea that beauty is when someone does your hair and puts a lot of make-up on you and sticks your face on the cover of a magazine. Is that beauty? You know what is beautiful? My mom (French actress Marcheline Bertrand) was beautiful to me, and I look more like my mom as I get older." Bertrand died last January from ovarian cancer at the age of 56. "Something else comes out of you when you become a parent and, as you get older, you start to see more character in your face. Now, when I look at myself, I just see somebody at peace, and I see a mom, and I see my own relatives in my face - and that's a kind of beauty that exists for everybody and doesn't disappear," the actress said. Jolie has regained her figure since the birth of her twins in July. "How did I get my figure back? Well, breastfeeding for a start. That and running around after six kids," said Jolie. Jolie is set to return to the big screen with "Changeling" and says as a parent she found portraying a traumatised mother in the film difficult. Directed by Clint Eastwood, "Changeling" is based on a true story and was, she says, the most harrowing role she has undertaken, causing nightmares and panic attacks. "I was wacko, emotionally, during this one. I just couldn't get the story out of my head." Set in Los Angeles of the 1920s,

the film casts Jolie as Christine Collins, a single mother whose nine-year-old son, Walter, goes missing while she's out at work. After anxiously waiting for news of Walter for months, Collins is told that the police have found him safe and well. But when she turns up to collect him at the local railway station - with press on hand to record the event, and police officers desperate to extract positive publicity from it - she instantly knows that the boy, although physically

similar, is not her son. "It's harrowing to make it. During this film I was much more paranoid about my own children - where they were, what they were doing. "I remember one weekend I'd taken a nap and Shiloh was asleep in her cradle, and when I woke up she was gone. I was freaking out. And nothing had happened - Brad had taken her and the rest of the kids to the park. But Walter's story haunted me. Throughout filming I was hugging the kids and keeping them close to me." "Changeling" was filmed in California in August and September last year, just as Angelina and her partner Brad Pitt were thinking of trying for another baby, so the subject matter was particularly traumatic for them. Denying rumours about post-natal depression and problems in her relationship with Pitt, she said: "There are things about me that are useful for people to read, and then there's stuff that's just silly. There are mistakes I've made, lessons I've learnt, which I'm happy to talk about. And I'd love to talk to other mothers about things I don't know how to do." The actress said she plans to make a film titled "The Mercenary: Love and Honor". "I'm going to make the film in February, and after that I won't work again for another year. But it was hard even to decide that. I had a lot of discussions at home can we balance things? Can mommy go to work? Can it be all right? Maybe I'll do a few months' work every year or so. "Brad and I are trying to balance our lives so that we raise our kids properly, and we are also trying to make sure we are fulfilled - as artists, as people. When we get film offers, we have to ask ourselves, 'Will it be a good thing for the family?'"

Dossier on Ritchie’

op superstar Madonna allegedly compiled a dossier of "unreasonable behaviour" by her husband Guy Ritchie - but decided to drop it from their divorce case after overhearing a tearful phone conversation between the filmmaker and her daughter Lourdes. The couple's split was made official on Friday (21Nov08), when they agreed to share custody of son Rocco, eight, and adopted David, three. In the divorce petition, Madonna cited the director's "unreasonable behaviour" as cause for the seven-and-ahalf year marriage break-up. And now a report claims the Material Girl had a file accusing the Snatch director of sex-

ist behaviour and boozy nights out. Britain's News of the World newspaper claims Madonna ordered their staff to keep track of his movements and record it in a logbook, which she planned to present to the court in their battle over custody of the kids. A source says, "Madonna was angry because she felt Guy had welshed (reneged) on the deal that they would keep the happily married image going until the end of her current tour. So she became determined to paint him as a drunken, lewd sexist. "She got staff to keep a record of every time he was out late or made an off-colour comment. It was bizarre as he's not a heavy drinker or abusive...

PRIME TIME TV GUIDES 04:30 - The Legend of Butch and Sundance 06:15 - Forbidden Secrets 08:00 - Touch The Top of The World 09:45 - Open Season 11:30 - Hollywood One On One 17 12:00 - The Da Vinci Code 14:30 - The Making Of The Da Vinci Code 15:00 - Max Knight: Ultra Spy 16:45 - The Making Of Happy Feet 17:00 - The Last Boyscout 19:00 - The Covenant 21:00 - A Mighty Heart 23:15 – Norbit 01:15 - A Scanner Darkly 03:15 - The Making Of Charlie’s Angels

03:45 - Countdown To Doomsday 05:45 - Hollywood Spotlight 06:00 - Equator 07:00 - Teleshopping 08:00 - Baby Planet 09:00 - Incredible Journeys with Steve Leonard 10:00 - Meerkat Manor 11:00 - Penguin Safari With Nigel Marven 12:00 - The Most Extreme 13:00 -Lyndal’s Lifeline 14:00 - Equator 15:00 -Wild South America 16:00 - Animal Battlegrounds 16:30 - Predators’ Prey 17:00 - Incredible Journeys with Steve Leonard 18:00 - Baby Planet

19:00 - Penguin Safari With Nigel Marven 20:00 - The Most Extreme 21:00 - Wild South America 22:00 - Animal Planet Safari 23:00 - Animal Battlegrounds 23:30 - Predators’ Prey 00 : 00 - Baby Planet 01:00 - Teleshopping 02:00 - Petsburgh USA (II) 03:00 - Monkey Business 7 04:00 - Petsburgh USA (II) 05:00 - Monkey Business

6:00 - The 4400 7:00 - The Amazing Race (Season XIII) 8:00 - PUSHING DAISIES 9:00 - The 4400 11:00 - Early Edition 12:00 - Pirate Master 1:00 - Top Design 2:00 - Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! 3:00 - CSI: NY (Season 4) 5:00 - The Amazing Race Asia (Season 3) 6:00 - The 4400 7:00 - PUSHING DAISIES 8:00 - Pirate Master 9:00 - So You Think You Can Dance 11:00 - House (Season 4) 12:00 - So You Think You Can Dance 2:00 - House (Season 4) 3:00 - Early Edition 4:00 - PUSHING DAISIES 5:00 - The Amazing Race Asia

06:00 - Telebrands 07:00 - Wildlife Specials 08:00 - Wild Discovery 09:00 - Fight Quest 10:00 - Futureweapons 11:00 - I Shouldn’t Be Alive

12:00 - A Baby Story 12:30Bringing Baby Home 13:00 - Wild Discovery 14:00 - Futureweapons 15:00 - Dirty Jobs 16:00 - Hunters 17:00 - I Shouldn’t Be Alive 18:00 - Michael Wood: The Story of India 19:00 - Wild Discovery 20:00 - Deadliest Catch 2 21:00 - Man Vs. Wild 22:00 - A Haunting 23:00 - Man Made Marvels 00 :00 - Hunters 01:00 - Telebrands 02:00 - Man Made Marvels 03:00 - Michael Wood: The Story of India 04:00 - A Haunting 05:00 - Man Made Marvels

06:00 - Global Tele Mall 07:00 - Body And Soul 07:30 - Tvc Sky Shop (Consumer) 08:30 - Instant Khichdi (Comedy) 09:00 - Hatim (Drama) 10:00 - Shaka Laka Boom Boom (Childrens) 10:30 - Son Pari 11:00 - Mum Tum Aur Hum 11:30 - Shararat (Comedy) 12:00 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge IV 13:00 - Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai 14:00 - Dill Mill Gayye 14:30 - Mile Jab Hum Tum 15:00 - Movie 18:30 - Anu Ki Ho Gayi Wah Bhai Wah 19:00 - Dill Mill Gayye 19:30 - Mile Jab Hum Tum 20:00 - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai 20:30 - Dill Mill Gayye 21:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum 21:30 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 22:30 - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai 23:00 - Dill Mill Gayye

23:30 - Mile Jab Hum Tum 00:00 - Siddhanth 01:00 - 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 04:30 - Dill Mill Gayye 05:00 - Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai

06:00 - Seva Ganga 06:30 - Vignan Shashwat Sukh Ka 07:00 - Sangam 07:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat 08:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 08:30 - Kayamath 09:00 - Kumkum 09:30 - Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii 10:00 - Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil 10:30 - Hamari Devrani 11:00 - Grihasti 11:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat 12:00 - Bidaai 12:30 - Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil 13:00 - Kumkum 13:30 - Hamari Devrani 14:00 - Karam Apnaa Apnaa 14:30 - Grihasti 15:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 15:30 - Kayamath 16:00 - Sangam 16:30 - Santaan 17:00 - Kasturi 17:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat 18:00 - Bidaai 18:30 - Hamari Devrani 19:00 - Sangam 19:30 - Santaan 20:00 - Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat 20:30 - Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil 21:00 - Bidaai

21:30 - Kasturi 22:00 - Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii 22:30 - Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 23:00 - Kayamath 23:30 - Karam Apnaa Apnaa 00:00 - Kasturi 00:30 - Kumkum 01:00 - Bidaai 01:30 - Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil 02:00 - Grihasti 02:30 - Kayamath 03:00 - Hamari Devrani 03:30 - Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii 04:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 04:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat

06:00 - Fashion House 07:00 - Friday Night Lights 08:00 - Seinfeld 08:30 - Friends 09:00 - 30 - Rock 09:30 - Scrubs 10:00 - Grey’s Anatomy 11:00 - Friday Night Lights 12:00 - Jimmy Kimmel 13:00 - Ugly Betty 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 - The Ellen Degeneres Show 20:00 - Seinfeld 20:30 - Friends 21:00 - 30 - Rock 21:30 - Scrubs 22:00 - Prison Break 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

0:00 - Zim v SL 2nd ODI HL’s 2:00 - Gillette World of Sports 2:30 - Dutch football 4:30 - ICL World Series HL’s - Pakistan v Bangladesh 6:30 - Gillette World of Sports 7:00 - NFL: Green Bay Packers @ New Orleans Saints 10:00 - ICL World Series HL’s Pakistan v Bangladesh 12:00 - WWE: Bottom Line 13:00 - Zim v SL - 3rd ODI - 1st Session: 16:30 - Zim v SL - 3rd ODI - interval 21:00 - WWE: After Burn 22:00 - Sportsnight 22:30 - WWE: Bottom Line 23:30 - ATP Tennis

06:00 - Hairy Biker’s Ride Again 06:30 - Feast India 07:00 - Jet Set 08:00 - Globe Trekker 10 09:00 - Indian Rendezvous 09:30 - Adventures Of The Ladies Tailor 10:00 - Trinny And Susannah Undress 11:00 - Monster House 12:00 - Overhaulin’ 5 13:00 - Kylie Kwong: My China 13:30 - Take Home Chef 2 14:00 - Cruiseline 15:00 - Great Hotels Iii 15:30 - Cocktail Kings 16:00 - Jet Set 17:00 - America The Wright Way 18:00 - Finest And Luxurious 19:00 - Feast Bazaar Year 200 - 6 19:30 - The Hairy Bikers Cookbook 20:00 - Cheese Slices

20:30 - Living With Modernism 21:00 - Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations 22:00 - Kylie Kwong: My China 22:30 - Lawrence Of America 23:00 - Beach Blast 00:00 - Work Out 01:00 - Monster Garage 02:00 - Globe Trekker 10 03:00 - Surf And Snack 04:00 - Trinny And Susannah Undress

05:30 - Shore Ditch 07:00 - Charlie Chaplin 07:30 - Infomercial 08:00 - The Worlds Fastest Indian 10:00 - Modigliani 12:45 - Dungeons and Dragons 15:00 - Tuck Everlasting 17:00 - The Color of Money 19:45 - Bringing Out The Dead 22:30 - Blind Guy Driving 00:45 - Epk 01:00 - Film Arahan 02:30 - Mr Bones 04:00 - Venom 05:30 - What Did You Do In The War Daddy

05:30 - Antonia and Jane 06:40 - Kindergarten Cop 08:50 - Power Rangers 10:45 Outside Providence 12:35 - The Lost City 15:20 - Teaching Mrs. Tingle 17:15 - Bridge to Terabithia 19:10 - Daniel Defoe’s:robinson Crusoe 21:00 - The Siege 23:15 - Déjà Vu 01:40 - The Lost City 04:05 - Teaching Mrs. Tingle 05:45 - Daniel Defoe’s:robinson Crusoe

00 - Sujata 06:30 - Jai Hanuman 07:00 - Telebrands 07:30 - Teleshopping 08:30 - Deewaar 12:00 - Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na 12:30 - Aathvaan Vachan 13:00 - Boogie Woogie 13:30 - Sujata 14:00 - Ustaadon Ke Ustaad 15:00 - Aathvaan Vachan 15:30 - Boogie Woogie 16:00 - Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na 16:30 - Comedy Circus 17:30 - Aathvaan Vachan 18:00 - Comedy Circus 18:30 - Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na 19:00 - Jai Hanuman 19:25 - Idol Hot And Fever Capsule 19:30 - Sujata 20:00 - Ustaadon Ke Ustaad 21:00 - Aathvaan Vachan 21:30 - Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na 22:00 - Yeh Shaam Mastani 23:00 - Comedy Circus 00:00 - Telebrands 00:30 - Teleshopping 01:00 - Sujata 01:30 - Comedy Circus 02:00 - Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na 02:30 - Aathvaan Vachan 03:00 - Ustaadon Ke Ustaad 04:00 - Devi 04:30 - Jai Hanuman 05:00 - Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na 05:30 - Aathvaan Vachan

C M Y K

The

Morung

SPORTS

Spain wins Davis Cup ances and their first home loss for 10 years. Verdasco, whose win gave Spain their third Davis Cup title, had himself been overlooked for Friday's opening singles but earned himself a chance by winning Saturday's doubles alongside Feliciano Lopez. Acasuso, ranked 48th, was thrown into the fray after Argentina's number one Juan Martin del Potro was ruled out with a pulled muscle in his right leg. "It's a dream. I've wanted this chance since I was a boy, few get it and even

fewer take it," said an elated Verdasco after defying a partisan 11,000 crowd at the indoor Islas Malvinas arena. "I think Rafael Nadal has...brought triumphs for the team...and it's thanks to his wins that we are here," said Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario. "But the players who are here deserve the repercussions. They have brought the team forward so they deserve all the headlines and the praise." Argentina, unbeaten in 13 home matches, had begun as firm favourites

but their chances nosedived when Del Potro was surprisingly beaten by Lopez on Friday and injured his leg in the process. A win in Saturday's doubles then put the visitors in the driving seat and the news that Del Potro would not play on Sunday was another blow. "Del Potro's absence was a big hole in the team and complicated things," said Argentina captain Alberto Mancini. "We were still close and had some chances but we ended up losing."

P 12

NFA clariﬁes

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24, (MExN): The Nagaland Football Association (NFA) in a rejoinder has clarified that the election of the AIFF president will not be held in the next annual general meeting. It also clarified that the NFA has not loss the right to nominate or contest and that they will regain their voting rights after participating in the Under-19 in December 2008 and Under-21 in January 2009.

Spain's tennis team members, surrounding the Davis Cup trophy, celebrate in Mar del Plata, Argentina on November 23. Spain's Fernando Verdasco defeated Argentina's Jose Acasuso 6-3, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the Davis Cup ﬁnal's third singles match. (AP Photo)

MAR DEL PLATA, NOVEMBER24(REUTERS): Spain overcame the absence of world number one Rafael Nadal to clinch the Davis

Cup on Sunday when Fernando Verdasco beat Jose Acasuso to give them a 3-1 win over Argentina in the final. Verdasco, brought in

to replace Spain's off-form number one David Ferrer, won 6-3 6-7 4-6 6-3 6-1 to hand Argentina their third defeat in three final appear-

CAYSA 44th Sports Meet from January 5

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 24, (MExN): The '44th Sports Meet' of the Chokri Youth Sports Association (CAYSA) will be held from January 5 to 15, 2009 at Thenyizumi Village. Chotisuh Sazo, Parliamentary Secretary, Social Security & Welfare, Child

dle

C M Y K

& Women Development will grace the opening ceremony of the 44th sports meet as the chief guest. The Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board, Neiba Kronu will also grace the inaugural day of 12th “Cultural Meet” as the chief guest stated a release issued by

its Assistant General Secretary, Besüvoi Nyekha. In the closing ceremony, Zhothisa Dawhuo, Under Secretary and Medongoi Chuzho, EAC, Chetheba will be attending as the guest of honor in the 12th cultural meet and 44th sports meet respectively, informed the release.

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

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